Reflecting on Father's Day

It's been a while since I put pen to paper...or rather fingers to keyboard. I figured today would be a good time to get some words out considering the weekend has made more contemplative than usual.

Tomorrow is Father's Day but dad isn't around for me to wish him well. I usually don't talk much about him because I like to keep his words and memory safe from the prying and critical eyes of the world. However, my emotions have overflowed this morning and I feel the need to share them with the world in a few words.

I woke up this morning with a sense of listlessness, sadness, and distraction. My mind was elsewhere while my body did the usual morning routines. I remember his memory, his words, his resolute approach to life, loyalty, and his immense love for family. On my way out the door, my tears flowed freely down my face. I wanted a chance to sit down and cry but I did not want to wallow. After all, the day did not deserve tears or sadness just happiness and fond memories. I wanted a chance to sit down and remember but my mind was racing to fulfill the next thing on my list of things to do. I wanted a chance to hug someone and let out my frustrations and unload my sadness of the day but no one was around to give me a shoulder. 

In the five minutes that I waited while the bus came, I reflected. Am I living my life according to the principles he taught me? Am I living my life with dignity and respect? Am I working hard and not taking things for granted? Questions and memories overflowed and I was overwhelmed.

This was a sad morning. No one was around to see it and I didn't want anyone to see it.

Define - Fervor: Intense and passionate feeling

A natural high of happiness...

This past weekend was an amazing amount of good weather, kites, color, and good friends.

After an insane bi-polar D.C. winter characterized by a pathetic "snowquestration", this past weekend had amazingly bright skies. The sun was out, my shades were on, and I was able to walk around in flippy-floppies. Hello Spring! Good by nasty winter.

I experienced my first Holi Festival. A celebration of color and dancing. It didn't matter who you were...people embraced you, people threw color at you, and people danced alongside you. The festival was symbolic of new harvest, a triumph of good over evil, and a general celebration of happiness as we emerge into a new season. If there was such a thing as walking through a rainbow and coming out as the colors, it would be the Holi festival. I have never felt such concentrated amounts of happiness in one area in my whole life. People were on a natural high and the vibe was so addicting that I couldn't help but sing and dance with the crowd.

This past weekend was also the Japanese Kite Festival on the National Mall. The bright skies were littered with butterflies, airplanes, fish, cars, and every childhood object imaginable. Nothing says childhood dreams and flying objects like a kite festival. The children were out, the tourists were a nuisance, the families were sun bathing on the National Mall. It was a sight to behold and D.C. is magical in the spring when the cherry blossoms begin to bloom and people emerge from a dismal winter.

I was reunited with an old high school friend who was in town. I hadn't seen her in six years! We reminisced,  hugged, laughed, and reveled at how time passed us by and yet we could still pick up where we left off. The memories of old friendships and the upcoming possibilities of rekindling them in the near future made me realize how life is just too short to not keep in touch with those you may have left behind but who still played an integral part in shaping who you are today.

I was able to celebrate a birthday! A friend turned 25 and the usual Saturday night was full of music, dancing, and good drinks. A celebration of another year lived and many more years to come.

Easter Sunday came with an Easter Brunch Buffet. A gluttony of decent food and amazing company. A reminder that a hearty meal only tastes good when you have good friends to enjoy it with.

One weekend and one simple reminder why we should live with voracious spirit, laugh constantly, love each day,  and revel in simple moments that bring color to our lives.

Perspectives

There are those can help you understand the world a little better...

"About perspectives. To us earthlings, the big dipper, well, looks like a big dipper. But at another place in the universe, it will look like something else completely. So which perspective is right? Is it a dipper? Is it a line of dots? Is it all the perspectives of all the possible views on the constellation?" - My bestie, Jay

The Big Comfy Couch

The struggles of a young woman is a secret to the world. These past couple of months have been a torrent of emotions, frustrations, happiness, and restlessness. My life, thus far -> trees cracking against the cold winter winds, government shut down from an unknown storm, a fiscal cliff of uncertainty, and panic over an overflow of deadlines. 

2013 started with new beginnings, new feelings, anticipation, and excitement. On the third month, it has ebbed into the possibility that it could either get better or worse. Then again, therein lies the excitement because an unknown world is always an exciting one with dips and rises of what may become a roller coaster or a smooth drive along sunset boulevard watching the waves from down below.

I guess we can only take it one step at a time and inch our way forward. Could it be a year of risk taking? I have been known to play with caution and dip my toe in the water instead of cannon balling into unknown depths. Perhaps, I should take a different approach? A friend once said "better to give things a shot than die wondering."

Being a risk taker is always difficult because you leave yourself vulnerable to the unknown. You leave yourself open to life and you also expose yourself to its derision. It's scary and yet I'm on the edge looking down and it looks damn scary.

I told myself 2013 is a time to get out of my comfort zone...and I did that, in more ways than one. There are days where I crave the comfort zone, like a drug addict craves his next hit. However, nowadays I'm on my own and I only have the comfort of those close to me to encourage me onward.  I guess that is considered growing and maturing against the times. I take it on wholeheartedly but not without a sense of foreboding.

My friend calls the "comfort zone" as the big comfy couch. You miss it, you want to forget yourself in it, and you want to just forget the world when you're laying on top of it. In the process you also forget about yourself and you forget that the big comfy couch only serves to slow you down and forget your priorities.

In the end, life can come in the form of a thing, a person, a situation. It can give, take away, and provide. However, at the end of the day you are alone in dealing with it. Your decision will determine how to go forward. Your will power is what will drive it. It takes work. It takes effort. It takes risk.

Random Thoughts

What is a fleeting moment in a sea of constant turmoil and instability? When the waves surrender to the pull of the moon, the ocean becomes calm and listless. The unending waves pulled in different directions unknown.

Trying to be a morning person

Being a morning person is the most difficult thing EVER in your youth. I am convinced it is partly genetics and partly old age that factors into it. People often say, those who wake early are considered the most successful because they get things done. After all, as the old saying goes: early bird catches the worm. Ergo, I am on a quest to wake up at 6am every morning to get to the gym for an hour and be at work before my boss gets in at 8am. This self-inflicting sacrifice is purely a test to see if I can actually accomplish the impossible.

Monday Morning:

5:55am:

Thank god, I have 5 minutes until 6am. I can hit the snooze button and ignore my mom's call.

6am:

I struggle. I fight. I cry. I bury myself deeper in my mattress. Flip the covers over my head and curse the ticking clock.

6:05am:

I shove my head deeper in the pillow and allow the blanket warmth to seep through my bones.

6:20am:

I close my eyes tighter to shut the rest of the world from intruding in my comfort.

6: 30am:
The clock's ticking voice reverberates through my room in a limitless attempt to annoy the shit out of
me. I slowly push myself up thinking this is IT! This is the moment I will wake. I then look around in the dark room and in one huff I say "fuck it" and plop back under my covers, snuggling closer to the center of the mattress and into my blanket.

All the while, the clock keeps going..6:40, 6:41, 6:42, 6:43, 6:44, 6:45..

6:50 am:

My eyes open to adjust to the digital clock on my phone. Panic overtakes me. I jump out of bed rushing to the bathroom all the while shoving gym clothes in my bag while my toothbrush is hanging out of my mouth and one shoe on.

7am:

My 6am wake up goal is a blatant fail. My attempt to work against the slumber laws of physics crumbles before my eyes. My bleary eyes adjust to the cold morning light. My first step into a new day. Not quite the opening I wanted, but at least I wake. Perhaps productivity is on vacation today.

Wise Words When You Reach Your Quarter Life Century

Funny/Memorable quotes from my birthday:

1. "You're 25? Giiiiirl...it is prime age to get drunk, get laid, and get out." - Tisha, Office Front Desk.
2. "When I was 25 I was in Spain and I was in love...with many men." -Maribel
3. "When I turned 25 I had a quarter century crises and I cried to the cab driver." - Abra
4. "You got flowers and edible arrangements? That's like my graduation and all birthdays combined." - David

5. "Happy Wednesday" - Roland
6. It's okay to have fun and go crazy at your age. When you reach age 28 and onwards and you drink and go crazy-people will judge you." - Boss
7. "How old are you? 25? God, you're still a baby." - Boss
8. "At your age, I was high everyday...those were the good days. Then I got a job at the State department and those good days ended" - Lee
9. "25 is a milestone! 26 is nothing because it's all downhill from there..take me for example..I'm almost half way to a 100." -My bro

I am the asian that takes pictures of food, so shove it.

Rustik Tavern, Caesar Salad - with extra crunch

Rustik Tavern, Blueberry pancakes (more like face cakes)

Pho 75, Best Pho in town

Pho 75

Home-made chik-fil-a

Truckeroo, TaKorean

Truckeroo, The Aloha Truck

Truckeroo, Kalua Pig and Chicken Terryaki

Half-way to 50 and still lookin' good

My birthday is coming up in less than a month. 

I fail to comprehend the magnitude of turning 25. After all, it is ONLY half way to 50. After all, it is ONLY a quarter of a century. Come to think of it, in the past 25 years...I have lived through and indirectly witnessed the fall of the Berlin wall, the release and election of Nelson Mandela, 9/11 bombings, a war on terrorism, Saddam Hussein tried in court, the election President Obama-the first Africa-American President, the assassination of Osama Bin Laden, the Arab Spring, occupy wall street, the death of Michael Jackson, and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Life is amazing and there are always new events surfacing to make you wonder where the world is headed. I think in my lifetime I have read and seen unbelievable revolutions perpetuated by the rise in new media technology. My generation is truly connected in thought, spirit, and action. People have become more aware of the impact they have on their governments, institutions, and communities. Social media has challenged boundaries, geographies, beliefs, and personal capacities.

It is unbelievable how the last 25 years of this world is characterized by changes in interconnectedness, digital activism, new media, and finally political progress through the constant campaign of like minded individuals around the world who are the same age as me.

When the clock strikes 25 years old I know I still have so much more to do in this world. So much more to contribute. So much more to share.

Cheers to half-way to 50. Cheers to life.

DC Life - Chillin in Bloomingdales

After 3 months of job searching, I managed to nail a job back in my "first home away from home" - Washington, DC. After applying for a thousand jobs and submitting my resume into the black hole of unemployment waiting, I manage to get a yes.

Ergo, I packed my bags and headed to D.C. so I can make it in time for fourth of July :) aaaaand into a massive heatwave of (105 degrees F)

D.C. is beautiful in the summer except when it's scorching hot then I think it's close to hell.

I've been staying with my friend in her beautiful 1920s house. It's humungous and their rent is so cheap. (seething in jealousy) However, there is just so much room that I don't step on anyone's toes while crashing here and looking for a place to stay.

I have no idea how long I will stay. I have no idea if this was a good career move. I just know...when fate gives you a bone you better take it. There is so much to do in the city and NYC is just a four hour bus ride away. Trips to Europe is cheap from JFK airport AND I get to experience the four seasons. As much as I love the beach, I'd take East Coast living any day. At least there's more variety and opportunities to do something worthwhile.

This is a massive life changing decision ... and I am at a critical point in my life where my choices do matter because it will impact where I ultimately will be when I reach 30. One thing is for sure, at 30 I want be satisfied and established. I have a vision for what I intend to do and it is just a matter of figuring out how to get there and how to do it.

Laughter with a hearty meal is good for you..perhaps not for the waist line, but good for your soul.

It is amazing to be young and hungry. Not for life. Not for knowledge. But for FOOD.

I think know I gained a significant amount of weight during my three week vacation. In fact, my days were filled with non-stop eating. I barely bought any new clothes or new things because most of my money went to food.

I managed to take some pictures of the food I ate. However, most of the time I decided to just eat and leave the camera in the pocket. I guess this is where the fat ass youth stereotype plays in.

Anyway, I just wanted to post some of the most delicious, heart clogging, diabetes ensuing, and high blood pressure trigger foods I consumed this past week. There is more to life than just eating...and that would be eating with great company. Any meal is great when you have friends to enjoy the moment with.

Laughter with a hearty meal is good for you, perhaps not for the waist line, but good for your soul.

So I wanted to post some pictures of the food my friends and I ate and why it tasted good to the bone.

(Tre, 173 Ludlow Street, New York, NY. )

After a night of vodka, dancing, and Xbox Dancing my friends and I went to brunch for some unlimited champagne. Yes, how do you capitalize on a great night? You drink some more! 

In our conversation we compared ourselves to the joy luck club and who amongst our friends would die first in the Hunger Games.

(Papa Johns,  Lower East Side)

After 3 hours of cheese commercials, I finally caved in and suggested we buy cheesy bread for dinner that night. Another 1 hour of cheese commercials, my friend Roland finally surrendered and second my decision. 

We rented out Paranormal 3 and discussed reasons why the characters in the movie were stupid and if placed in that situation each one of us would have booked it the first time we smelled something fishy going on. 

(Dalessandro's Steaks, 600 Wendover St, Philadelphia, PA. ) 

 In this situation there was no talking and simply eating. Chili peppers in my cheesesteak, chili peppers on the side, and cheese whiz spread over every crevice of this dish. 

During the meal, we talked about a possible heart attack, onset of diabetes, clogged arteries, obesity, and why we are glorified fat asses...and yet we still kept on eating until there was nothing left but soggy oily bread and chili pepper cores.  

 

The Tombs (1226 36th Street, Washington, DC.) w/ Roland

 Back to the old Georgetown stomping grounds where my friend Roland and I drank 2 pitches of Blue Moon. 

We talked about what we would have done differently, the people in our lives, and where we hope to go in the future. 

That is what I call a best friend for life.  

 

(Thai Food Resto, A Thai Chef's house)

This amazing concoction of Thai dishes was heaven sent. $30 for 8 courses of food. 

There was no menu and you could not choose the dish you wanted. The moment you sat down the food came. Simplicity is an understatement when describing this restaurant because it was literally in the chef's living room. The decorations were old books, childhood drawings, and mismatched tables and couches.

Unlike most Thai restaurants in DC, this was not served with fancy garnishes. Instead, this was served on banana leaves and packed with spice. My friends categorized it as a "food boner".
No other place like it.
God Bless Thai People.

 Shake Shack (11 Madison Ave Frnt 1, New York, NY 10010) w/Kara

This had cheesy fries..need i say more?

Shake Shack with my fave Filipina, Kara. We talked about her bomb ass RN position in Brooklyn and her decision to go into Med School to be a surgeon. Inspiring. So proud of my friends and their successes.

Doughnut Plant (Chelsea) w/Kara

On our way to the High Line, we stopped by for some sugary desserts filled with custard and buttery diabetes goodness.

Jollibee (Queens)

Filipino Halo Halo. Reminiscing about our good old Philippines days.

Pakistani/Indian Food Joint somewhere along Lexington Ave. w/Asra :) 

Reminiscing about RHO Life and how we got paid to hang out with friends during Gtown Days.

Momofuku Noodle Bar (Lower East Side) w/ Lisa, Rols, Trinh

Last day in NYC and going all out Asian with a spoonful of sesame seeds.

Chick-fil-a (Christiana Mall, Delaware) w/Trinh and Rols

5 Chicken Burgers

3 Sides of Fries

Potential heart attack

Absolute deliciousness

A bunch of kids walked passed us and we thought we were setting a bad example with the food we were eating :D Then Roland stuffed his mouth with fries in front of them.

Hot and Spicy Crawfish (Adam's Morgan) - w/Thuy

Expensive shells

Tiny bodies

Finger Lickin' Good

2 lbs of crawfish were GONE.

The server thought we ate neatly. However, I beg to differ. I can't imagine how how messy it can get during dinner time.

$1 Oysters!!! :D w/Trinh

And literally having a high/lethargic feeling..

Honey Pig (Annandale, Virginia) w/Calvin, Thuy, Trinh

I walked out smelling like BBQ Pork Belly and Kim Chee

We stopped at Bon Chon but their kitchen closed early. Who does that?

We were disappointed to a point where we wanted to run over a guy, who walked out with the last take out, and steal his food..

The things we do for Korean food are unreal...

Korilla BBQ - Food Truck w/Kara

Korean food goodness in a nice Bento Box

I wanted to lick the sauce from the container...that's what did it for me.

Home Made Pork Roast w/Trinh

Brined and Marinated with Oranges (that were about to go bad), sugar, bay leaves, garlic, and onions

Plus Trinh's Secret "Trinh Sauce"

Bathed in Coconut Juice

Roasted for 8+ hours and eaten with tender loving care

NYC Living: The Battle in my 20s

At the moment, I am staying with my friend Lisa and her roomie Therese. Their apartment is in Manhattan's Lower East Side. It's so nice and the place reminds me of collegiate living. However, instead of college students the people outside are college students turned professional. There are families also living in the complex, which is weird because I keep thinking this place is a fancy college dorm.  As I fry spam for breakfast this morning the hustle and bustle of people outside has caught my attention.  I wonder for a minute what it would be like to live and work in the city. From my first two days, I love it already. I love city life. I love that there is something to do everyday. I love that it is so diverse. I love that I can go anywhere with just a metrocard and not have to pay for a car or gas.

However, my number one buzzkill thus far are the prices. It is ridiculously expensive to live in New York city. You will need to earn a 6 figure income in order to live comfortably. Most of my friends live on the outskirts, like Brooklyn, because rent is cheaper. Hence, if I really allow myself to consider living here I need to come to the realization that it will be tough on finances. I have to either find a good job right off the bat or intern (suffer for 3-6 months) and pray that they hire me full time on an income level that I can survive on.

As much as I love being young, going out, and being with my girls. I realize mid-20s can be tough shit. It is difficult to get noticed amongst the 100s of qualified job applicants. I have to learn the virtue of patience and determination in the face of constant rejections and no call backs. I have to chug out resumes and cover letters like a machine and send them to as many places I can think of. I have to reconsider interning in order to get my foot in the door. Essentially, everyday lived is a day of possibilities. Some days may have more bad luck than good luck. However, I have learned to take it as it comes and pray for the best.

This contemplation did not come from nothing, though I know it may seem kind of out there. The last time I was in NYC was for a cosmopolitan photo shoot. My friends and I won a a contest and we were featured in a Dove ad. I remembered our bright and hopeful magazine statements about our future and what what challenges we faced thus far. Our perception at that time was innocent and we never really understood the depths of those challenges until we lived it out of college. I know the challenges will always be there but I have learned that taking chances is important and I think above all else that is what separates our generation from those in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Our generation is for taking chances and living a life that is often undecided and scary. However, the thrill is once in a life time.

Going along these lines, I remembered when I met my h.s. friend Joey for the first time in almost 6 years on Monday. He is an aspiring photographer working in the city and when I asked him how he came about his job now he simply said, "I had to lift shit."

Yes, he had to lift shit. He had to work his way up. He had to be the slave. He had to make due with what he can and try his best to earn the respect of his colleagues. That is the reality of our 20s. We have to take chances, move out on our own, and lift people's shit. I think that is a perfect way to end this overlong blog post. The reality of me moving to NYC will have to be understood before I make any real decisions.

Thank you concrete jungle for making me realize how thankful I am to be young and how much harder I have to work to get to where I need to go.

NYC Living: Staying Out Until The Sun Rises

In an amazing feat I have managed to afford a flight to New York City to visit my college besties. Well, they're more than that, they're like the brothers and sisters I never had. :) So to me, they are more than just friends, they're family. Granted we've been apart for 3 years and because we are so busy and far apart it is difficult to try and catch up. However, when those moments come they are memorable.

For Memorial Day weekend, my friend Marybeth graciously granted me a buddy pass to fly with United Airlines as a standby passenger. $500 for RT between East Coast and Hawaii? Fuck Yes! I will gladly stand in the long standby lines if it means I get to see my friends again.

The first day I arrived (Sunday), I did not have a chance to rest. I stayed with my friend Polliann (she is so awesome because she graduated from Seton Hall law school) who rented out a hotel room at Hotel Pennsylvania (Across Penn Station) for the sole purpose of having a weekend celebration for her graduation. Mind you, weekend celebration equates to the longest post celebratory shit show. She has been partying it out since Thursday night (Graduation day) and was going at it for 5 days straight. Unbelievable. My first night out in the big city was amazing. The night life was thriving. The people were bumpin' to the music. The guys were gracious enough to buy drinks for ladies. It was so surreal and I felt like I would wake up any moment.

The second night we headed out again. Instead this time, we were hard pressed to find a place open on a weekday. We were also turned off by the fact that shots were $17! It was definitely a "What the hell?!" moment and we were loosing faith that the 5 day celebratory event was finally coming to a close.

However, the heavens opened up. God proclaimed, "You shall have fun tonight" and proceeded to send us two random Jewish club promoters who paid for our entire night of table service and unlimited vodka. Alleluia! Thereafter, we proceeded to Time's Square at 4am and roamed the streets to find a local Mcdonalds. I must say chicken mcnuggets taste so much better at 4am in the morning when you are high on life.

As my amazing friend Lisa says,  

"You know it was a good night when you're out while the sun comes up."

The past two days thus far is a testament to that.


The following day, I wanted to go exploring on my own because it's nice to go at your own pace. It was liberating to navigate my way around the city. I got lost a few times but I got the hang of it eventually. :)

I visited Mr. Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. I grew up watching the shows so I thought it would be nice to see all the cool stuff he hoarded. Yes, I kid you not, Mr. Ripley is a freakin' hoarder! He collected everything! Beer canisters, masks, pictures, figurines, shrunken heads. He was an amazing adventurer and very well known for his travels. His museum made me realize everyone has something special in them. Even if it may not be realized, it's definitely there.


My walk through Midtown took me through all the usual places, Time's Square, Rockefeller, Top of the Rock, Bryant Park. However, only two places amazed me.

9th ave and the NYC Public Library. 

9th Ave is a foodie dream. All shops of different foods, culture, and diversity. Strolling down, part of me wished I had enough cash to try everything. The smell of halal, curry, samosas, and spice left my mouth watering. The district is so diverse and I was in love with it automatically. 

NYC Public Library is a nerd heaven. I was impressed that the library is open to everyone. The study rooms were filled to the max. The books were shelved high to the cathedral ceiling. I strolled around around and took some time to read a few excerpts from books and sat amongst the throng of people studying or lounging around. The hall ways were lined with artwork. The marble structure of the whole building was impressive. The grand opening paid homage to the people who gave money to start the library. Knowledge is truly shared in that place. The realization gave me a very distinct feeling of American patriotism. After living in the Philippines for 3 years and not finding a single library or having access to this amount of knowledge, I was definitely thankful for the opportunity.

An excerpt from my old Valedictorian speech :D

I opened my old high school journal and out popped my old valedictorian speech. It's been years since I saw these words. I realize I need to find my old determined self once again. I was so competitive and probably overly ambitious. That side of my personality waned a bit over the years but I realized I need to get it back.


#lifeontrack

"I stood still for a moment wishing I could get one more year in high school. However, I knew I could not and truth be told I did not want to because I experienced all my school had to offer. I have no regrets because I did everything I could and I succeeded to the best of my ability. Lastly, I have no fear in taking the next step, turning the next page, and taking the next jump. The risk is worth it and I hope we all take it. Fellow classmates, let us all look to the future with determination to fearlessly conquer our dreams."

Families are Forever

Rest in Peace cousin Carlito :'( Love yea, I wish I had met you!. Times like this we should keep our head up high and stay strong!! Grandma's taking this the hardest, she thanks you for all that you have done!!!!! Death leaves a heartache no one can heal while love leaves a memory no one can ever steal. Families are FOREVER♥ FLY WITH THE ANGELS, COUSIN!
"For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help"
Psalm 22:24

 ♥ REST IN PEACE UNCLE CARLITO ♥ WE LOVE YOU Love Always,MAKAYLA && MALIKAI! -we never knew you but heard alot of good thing about you. Our heart aches for your wife && kids. But now you have no pain && you are not suffering no more now you can REST IN PEACE! KAT && UNCLE BOY Stay STRONG && COME back home to us SAFELY!!! FAMILIES ARE FOREVER && ALWAYS ♥

Rest In Love CARLITO, I love you cuz! UNKO BOY AND KATZ KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, stay strong! To the rest of MY FAMILY IN THE PHILIPPINES LOVE YOU ALL,be strong for each other! :) *families are forever*!

 -

A close family member died today. Just taking a moment to memorialize the love we have for family.

May Memories..listless and nostalgic

I should be finishing this paper but I am not feeling the inspiration at the moment. Maybe writing random shit will help me get through my writing funk. It is now May! We are now almost halfway through 2012! How freaky is that?! May is also Graduation season. My Facebook feed is full of undergrad friends talking about their last class, their last paper, senior parties, and graduation day.

Is it weird that I will be 3 years out of school as of June and yet I am still very cognizant of what it felt when I got out of my last class and finished my last final? A "bitter sweet moment" is an understatement. It was an unyielding and overwhelming sadness! I could not wrap my head around the fact that I will soon close a part of my life that was so integral to my personal and professional growth. I still have all the thank you notes from my Club Flipino family tucked away in a box so they won't fade. I still have all my Georgetown t-shirts (accumulated over 4 years) of different colors and from different clubs and events I was involved in. I still plan to make it into a quilt..eventually. However, I have yet to find time to learn about basic sewing to make happen. :(

3 years have passed by and yet I find myself reliving memories at random. Most of my facebook albums from 4 years of undergrad life is set to private and only I can see them. I felt it was inappropriate to leave them up since the people who friend me nowadays are co-workers. It wouldn't be very professional if there was a picture of me hanging over a toilet being seen around work. :) So most of the albums are closed and there are some moments when I flip through them and I still laugh at the distant memory of what was. It is a nice pick me up moment that gives me a bit of happiness during the most dullest or frustrating moments of my life.

I guess I shouldn't really be blogging about this since I'm still in single digit years after graduating. However, nostalgia hits me hard sometimes and I felt I could put those feelings on paper just for fun. It's always nice to reminisce...but it gives us encouragement to continue living and make new memories, new pictures, and new albums. Eventually those albums will close and we'll look at the memory in fondness and appreciate our life even more.

Where can I take survival courses?

This article totally fits with the whole "survivor mode" blog I made yesterday.


Victoria Grover, Utah Hiker, Survives 4 Days In Dixie National Forest

I think all college students should undergo a proficiency exam on surviving the outdoors to supplement our research, analytic, and language background. You may never know when you will need it. I now regret not doing Girls Scouts as a kid. I am definitely making my kids participate in girls/boy scouts so they can survive in the "arena" (lame hunger games joke, but I can't help myself) or more aptly named the real world.

I think hunter/gatherer cultures are on the right track. To reach the age of maturity, you need to survive in the wildernesses. The tribe will dump you in the middle of no where and you have to find your way back home at the tender age of 12 or 13. I watched an episode on National Geographic where a tribe would circumcise young boys and leave them out in the wilderness to survive. If they were successful they were hailed as men of the tribe. If they failed...well that would just suck. 


Alright, I'm adding "survival courses" to my list of basic skills to have. Thank you huff post.

Plan B Network: brokers, airline employees, sales associates, and marketing professionals

So I just got another inspiration to supplement my earlier blog on survival skills.

I realized in addition to survival skills, you're going to need people to help you along the way.

I've been to so many networking events and conferences I have lost count on how many business cards passed through my hands. One regret is not taking note of the special people that come my way. The people who can get you out of sticky situations when you find yourself cornered. The people who can bail you out or vouch for you when you are need the extra help.

If you're going to so many networking events, it's good to develop a network of people you can develop a professional relationship with. Call this your "plan B network" if your friends and family can't help you. I am constantly jealous of people who are well connected. They have connections in high places that most normal people, like myself, can't dream of.

Networking events are in fact the best place to expand your network for career and personal objectives. The difficult part is maintaining the relationship (save for another blog) and not just using them for what they can offer.

Rules of engagement:

• If you can't keep the professional relationship going, don't bother asking for the favor. 
• Likewise, put yourself out there for whatever service you can provide
• Don't abuse the privileged and don't flaunt it.

Here's my mini list of what sort of people to have in your network :)

1. People with access to a private jet
2. Secretaries! (Any secretary to any official because they can "squeeze you in" for an appointment if they like you well enough)
3. Marketing/PR people for hotels, restaurants, and bars (Can you smell the freebies coming your way?)
4. Someone in borders and customs
5. Someone who previously/is working in the IRS
6. Real Estate broker
7. Financial broker (My friend Jed offered to help with reinvesting my mom's retirement money in the Philippines)
8. Airline employees (When my friend Roland found out his grandma suddenly died he was able to get an emergency buddy pass from a friend of ours, Marybeth, because her mom works for United Airlines)
9. Electronics sales associate
10. Car dealership sales associate
11. A cop (usually name dropping when you're pulled over gets you off with a "warning")
12. Event organizers/managers (I had an experience when I knew the event organizer for a concert! He let my friends and I through security and got us front row tickets for free) 
13. A "really god lawyer" because legal shit is tricky and you need someone on your red corner if the government/enemies are in the blue corner (Thank you @roxiemacasang)

If you have anymore ideas to add to my list, let me know! 

Learning how to hack a computer, shoot a gun, evasive driving, and other survival skills

Today my mom and I bought our first ever flat screen TV. How is this such a radical move? Well, if you know my mom you'll know that she will NEVER buy anything new. She will always get something second hand if it is still good. With enough prodding I managed to convince her we needed it. haha SCORE!

Along with our TV, we bought a TV stand. The sample display looked so simple to assemble. I thought it would be a piece of cake. I mean how hard can it be right? After sitting through hours of statistics and economics, assembling a TV should be mickey mouse.

I was dead wrong.

It took me 2 hours! 2 miserable hours of assembling a stinking TV stand. 2 hours of my life I can never get back.

When the task was done I cried in happiness and then I wanted to take a sledge hammer and destroy it. I thought to myself, what is the use of 4 years of education when I can't even put together a TV stand efficiently?

If the world came to an end, I'd probably be the first one eaten by zombies. So what can I do to make my chances of surviving higher in the event the world faced Armageddon?  What can I do to make my chances of surviving higher in general?

Basic life skills I still need to learn are (don't laugh at my ignorance, I'm a work in process):

1. Pick locks
2. Change flat tires
3. Jump start a car
4. Be a Gardner
5. Be a pseudo-car mechanic
6. Sew my own clothes
7. Hack a computer
8. Play the guitar
9. Evasive driving
10. Shoot a gun
11. Start a fire (without a match)
12. Hunt and cook wild animals


Clearly, there should be more on this list but I haven't had time to think things through. However, you get the picture. Who knows when you're stuck in a rut and you'll need one of those "essential life skills" to get you out.

Yes, picking a lock, hacking a computer, and evasive driving can be borderline illegal. However, illegal skills are usually the most worthwhile skills to have.

If you have any ideas, let me know. I'll add it on my list. :D

HBO Girls - Does it apply to me?

There has been so much debate regarding the the HBO show "Girls" that I thought I could put in my two cents as well.

Race debate aside, I thought the basic premise of the show is interesting and fresh. Young people in their mid 20s are plagued by student loans, living off of parent support, and trying to make ends meet by working in a job that that will hopefully lead to the perfect career. Don't get me wrong, one size does not fit all and the show may not be applicable to all. In fact many young people I know have the good life  have become successful and happy in their careers.

The show gives off a vulnerability that most people my age try to hide. The first time I watched it I identified with the character because it is such a pain to find a job that fits personal expectations. I have gone through it and I am still going through it. It sucks. However, unlike the main character, I would not stick around for a year in an unpaid internship and allow myself to be used and abused. I have a bit more dignity than that. Moreover, I wouldn't give up on myself and I would continuously work hard to find a career that mattered to me. Sometimes we have to put a significant amount of hard work, determination, and ambition to get what we want.

I guess that is where my parent's mentality comes into play. Through their experience, I realized you cannot wait for opportunities to come your way, you cannot wait for that elusive position to be available for you, you cannot wait for your boss to promote you. If you personally believe you are worth it you need to cease opportunities for yourself. Life is too short to be waiting.

So in the end, yes "Girls" is a perfect depiction of mid-20s struggle but I have to argue against the portrayed weakness of my generation. We aren't focused just on sex, boys, and complaining of what challenges may come our way. I like to think we are fighters. We are more motivated to prove ourselves. We are more ambitious to start new ventures. We are unwilling to sit idly by while the world passes us over. I think we need to give our generation more credit for facing a recession, social discontent, and adapting to a fast paced world.

We'll see how the show goes. One thing is for sure, I hope the characters evolve beyond their misery and constant complaining.