I'm back! As promised, one of the first things I did was go to Chinatown. Yum. How I had missed it. I almost wanted to kiss its summer scented sidewalk (nothing like the smell of Chinatown).
I have never been so tanned before in my life. Europe was great for my complexion! As to be expected, my month long journey was exhausting but it was worth every minute. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had thus far. Being Marilynn's daughter, I took a zillion photos (over 7,000) and I have yet to organize which ones I should print.
More on my epic journey later as I select photos to upload to here. I have to be VERY selective...
But since I'm no longer world traveling, I created a new blog, The Yellow Umbrella. Here's the link: http://theyellowumbrella88.blogspot.com/
Monday, July 13, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
let the misadventures begin!
I spent my last day in Edinburgh yesterday and it was surreal. I really did not feel like it was the end. I was alone for the whole day (Semeli & Claire went to the Isle of Mull, and Sara was in Oxford) and I felt insanely homesick. I'm not sure i'm ready for such European adventures but I know when I start traveling i'll have a wonderful time but i'm apprehensive for traveling so long without a concrete place to call home. I'm ready to be home. But I want to have a once in a lifetime experience.
Today I woke up at 3:15 in the morning to catch my flight to London. I started off with a BANG. I had to pay 171 POUNDS in baggage fee. I thought my allowance was 20 kilos per bag...it was 20 kilos for both of them combined. I nearly cried at the the kiosk. Talk about starting off on the right foot. When I got to London proper, my godfather came to pick me up and we hauled my luggage to his office. Then I met with Sara and we ventured around London.
We started off in Westminster and made our way along the Thames. In front of the Tate Modern there was a fairytale festival. It had a bunch of booths for children doing interactive things. It made me want to be 8 again and it reminded me so much of New York. It was sunny and lively, chock full of children.
Now we are catching a 5:57 am train to Brussels (oh joy!) So once again I will be waking up at 3 in the morning. Oh three hours of sleep, what you'll do to me.
But here I go, Europe awaits!
Today I woke up at 3:15 in the morning to catch my flight to London. I started off with a BANG. I had to pay 171 POUNDS in baggage fee. I thought my allowance was 20 kilos per bag...it was 20 kilos for both of them combined. I nearly cried at the the kiosk. Talk about starting off on the right foot. When I got to London proper, my godfather came to pick me up and we hauled my luggage to his office. Then I met with Sara and we ventured around London.
We started off in Westminster and made our way along the Thames. In front of the Tate Modern there was a fairytale festival. It had a bunch of booths for children doing interactive things. It made me want to be 8 again and it reminded me so much of New York. It was sunny and lively, chock full of children.
Now we are catching a 5:57 am train to Brussels (oh joy!) So once again I will be waking up at 3 in the morning. Oh three hours of sleep, what you'll do to me.
But here I go, Europe awaits!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Spring in Full Bloom
jumping for joy!My computer this week has been woozy. Feeling severely under the weather. It's quite irritating because I don't know what happened to it. It's just running annoyingly slow. I have ran every virus check I have and de-fragmented my hard drive as well as cleaned my registry. I even called Dell to be told that I would have to WIPE my entire computer and restore it to how I first received it. Ugh. I have to wait until I get home to embark on such a matter.
Today I had my LAST exam. I am officially a senior. That is one SCARY thought. I thought the this exam would be the death of me, but luckily I vanquished it with my mind! Well, at least I thought I did. Fingers crossed.
Today, Semeli, Claire & I took full advantage of the beautiful weather today by going to the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. The flowers were all in bloom and though I got a wee bit sun burnt, walking around the grounds was quite refreshing. The various different plant life was impressive--but there were so many buzz buzz (bees). We walked from campus into New Town (land where we barely explored before) and walked along a river. The gnats were overwhelming. They were literally EVERYWHERE. Along the river there was a school of them just billions flying. But when we made it to the garden we took a leisurely stroll through them and it was breathtaking, especially with the crystal clear sky and fluffy cumulus clouds. We took some hilarious photos of ourselves and had a swell time.
I'm done! Tomorrow is the dreaded packing day. I just hope Fabrizio doesn't falter on me and fights to the end!
Today I had my LAST exam. I am officially a senior. That is one SCARY thought. I thought the this exam would be the death of me, but luckily I vanquished it with my mind! Well, at least I thought I did. Fingers crossed.
Today, Semeli, Claire & I took full advantage of the beautiful weather today by going to the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. The flowers were all in bloom and though I got a wee bit sun burnt, walking around the grounds was quite refreshing. The various different plant life was impressive--but there were so many buzz buzz (bees). We walked from campus into New Town (land where we barely explored before) and walked along a river. The gnats were overwhelming. They were literally EVERYWHERE. Along the river there was a school of them just billions flying. But when we made it to the garden we took a leisurely stroll through them and it was breathtaking, especially with the crystal clear sky and fluffy cumulus clouds. We took some hilarious photos of ourselves and had a swell time.
I'm done! Tomorrow is the dreaded packing day. I just hope Fabrizio doesn't falter on me and fights to the end!
NATURE!
the outside of the blue petals had a hint of purple
Beautiful
i LOVE the cloud reflections in the water!Saturday, May 16, 2009
Sorry Sorry
Hilarity. There was so much hilarity tonight. As everyone knows I have a HUGE Asian obsession and a particular fondness for Korean pop. Well in Korea there is a boy band called Super Junior. They have thirteen members (the biggest boy band in the WORLD. and yes, I know all their names) who are all very talented. They released the catchiest tune I have ever heard in my life, "sorry sorry". The beat is infectious, the dance moves intoxicating, and the hotness all consuming. Who cares if I don't understand what they're singing if they look that good doing it?! And how selfish would I be if I just kept this glorious song to myself? Extremely. So I, like a doting lover of k-pop, spread the joy to my friends. Hence, we have Sara, Semeli, Claire & I dancing our hearts out in black & white to the most revered Super Junior's, "sorry sorry". Watch the proper dance as thirteen wonderful Koreans dance their legs off. Then take a look and judge my severe lack of rhythm and timing. Just watch how we are ALL so into it, laughing hysterically. Pure comedy. Enjoy!
The real deal!
The real deal!
Our Sorry Sorry!
Friday, May 15, 2009
I win at life!
So you know those people at theater's who are so obnoxious and rude? And you just want to shut them up? Well, I was one of them tonight. I had tickets to go see West Side Story! I was super excited. Sara, Elaine and I sat down anticipating those catchy snaps and hearing, "I feel pretty, oh so pretty" sung live. It was an enjoyable fiasco. Entertaining, yes, but ridiculously over-the-top. I mean cornier than Kansas in August. It actually hurt me. The Maria had a horrible accent (though she's really from Portugal and Brazil) and Tony had a voice of a nightingale-except for when he missed several notes. The dancing was excellent. But the love, oh the sappy, sappy love. I know it's a fast pace love story--after all it is Romeo & Juliet. But, really?! There was a scene where Maria clamors, "my hands are cold" (in a devastatingly fake "Puerto Rican" accent) Maria then puts her hands on Tony's face and exclaims, "now they are so warm." Tony responds with heart wrenching conviction, "we are one now." If that's not bad enough, there was just lines that made your ears want to TURN off. Unfortunately, I cannot recall these gems.
But to the point on how I was the annoying one amongst the audience. Well, RIGHT before the drawing of the curtain, it's the rumble. So Tony accidentally stabs Bernardo (Maria's brother). Tony though, really wanted to stop the fight, but after his friend is killed he goes cray cray. As the reality of his actions settle in as Tony clutches the dead body and yells, "MARRRRRRRRRRIAAAAA" in this very very over dramatic fashion. It is dead silent but when he yells her name in vain I found it the funniest thing ever and I exclaimed loudly, "BAH!" A mixture of laughter and dumbfoundedness, except that the ENTIRE theater was SILENT and it was supposed to be a TENSE moment and my "BAH!" echoed off the walls! I couldn't help it. Really I couldn't. I had been biting my tongue trying to stifle my laughter (really, some gems, I don't know who wrote this production, but BAD!) I don't think I have ever been that awkward in front of SO many people. The guy sitting next to Sara laughed at my reaction. But I felt awkward and embarrassed for all of two minutes and then got my ice-cream for intermission (a WONDERFUL thing about U.K. theater, ice-cream during intermission, makes up for such small seats!)
After intermission I resolved to be quiet and NOT laugh too loudly. It was an excellent plan...I had a wee outburst, but I stifled most of it with my sleeve. So they had a dream sequence representing a perfect world where Maria and Tony could be together without any racial or gang tensions. They were all dressed in white and suddenly Bernando and Riff come out in identical white wife beaters with a GIANT blood stain floating down the stage. It was ridiculous. I could handle all the parts that oozed cheese, but there was a completely UNNECESSARY scene. Gang rape. It was graphic for a stage production-the guys were holding down her ankles and arms as one guy was making thrusting motions on top of her. It was awful. I had to hold Elaine's hand because it was just disturbing. I don't know why it was there, maybe to show more racial tensions? But I think by the last fifteen minute we get it. They hate each other. They called them spics, raped Anita, and it was just enough. Finally, after Tony's untimely death Maria clutched the body. She was very still, silently sobbing when OUT OF NO WHERE she cries out to the gods, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I can't even tell you how bad of a production it was. I mean it managed to entertain me because of it's ridiculousness. I was extremely rude, but I tried to keep my laughs to myself. But the gang rape scene was unforgivable, it served absolutely NO purpose.
On another note, I got my hair cut for my summer trip! It's a lot shorter than I originally wanted. But I like it. I haven't had it this short since 5th grade. I know it's not really short short, but to me, it is. OH and i've got my train tickets! HELLO EUROPE, here I come!
new hair!
I had an exam today and I kicked its butt! Take that Chaucer! I decoded your ye old English ways!
PLUS I have officially made my mark on Edinburgh (not that I peed on anything...I didn't physically make my mark!) but I am now a published author for the Nomad magazine! The Nomad is a travel magazine written and run by students on campus. I had to submit my pieces and they were selected. This was in the beginning of first semester, so I did not think about it much nor was I expecting too much. Then surprise! I am published! What was even more of a pleasant surprise was that I got two whole pages to myself! TWO! The illustrations on my pages (they are the prettiest, not to be too vain, but they really are) were specifically drawn to my stories. I was impressed! =)
Oh and I had a lovely dinner with my flat mates Jane and Marika, because Marika was leaving for home (Norway) we exchanged our embarrassing stories, it was a lot of fun. Which made me sad that I did not take advantage of our proximity to each other sooner. They are both very nice and I'm beyond lucky that I moved into flat 18!
me, marika & jane in our kitchen
Well that's enough ramblings for today. =)
But to the point on how I was the annoying one amongst the audience. Well, RIGHT before the drawing of the curtain, it's the rumble. So Tony accidentally stabs Bernardo (Maria's brother). Tony though, really wanted to stop the fight, but after his friend is killed he goes cray cray. As the reality of his actions settle in as Tony clutches the dead body and yells, "MARRRRRRRRRRIAAAAA" in this very very over dramatic fashion. It is dead silent but when he yells her name in vain I found it the funniest thing ever and I exclaimed loudly, "BAH!" A mixture of laughter and dumbfoundedness, except that the ENTIRE theater was SILENT and it was supposed to be a TENSE moment and my "BAH!" echoed off the walls! I couldn't help it. Really I couldn't. I had been biting my tongue trying to stifle my laughter (really, some gems, I don't know who wrote this production, but BAD!) I don't think I have ever been that awkward in front of SO many people. The guy sitting next to Sara laughed at my reaction. But I felt awkward and embarrassed for all of two minutes and then got my ice-cream for intermission (a WONDERFUL thing about U.K. theater, ice-cream during intermission, makes up for such small seats!)
After intermission I resolved to be quiet and NOT laugh too loudly. It was an excellent plan...I had a wee outburst, but I stifled most of it with my sleeve. So they had a dream sequence representing a perfect world where Maria and Tony could be together without any racial or gang tensions. They were all dressed in white and suddenly Bernando and Riff come out in identical white wife beaters with a GIANT blood stain floating down the stage. It was ridiculous. I could handle all the parts that oozed cheese, but there was a completely UNNECESSARY scene. Gang rape. It was graphic for a stage production-the guys were holding down her ankles and arms as one guy was making thrusting motions on top of her. It was awful. I had to hold Elaine's hand because it was just disturbing. I don't know why it was there, maybe to show more racial tensions? But I think by the last fifteen minute we get it. They hate each other. They called them spics, raped Anita, and it was just enough. Finally, after Tony's untimely death Maria clutched the body. She was very still, silently sobbing when OUT OF NO WHERE she cries out to the gods, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I can't even tell you how bad of a production it was. I mean it managed to entertain me because of it's ridiculousness. I was extremely rude, but I tried to keep my laughs to myself. But the gang rape scene was unforgivable, it served absolutely NO purpose.
On another note, I got my hair cut for my summer trip! It's a lot shorter than I originally wanted. But I like it. I haven't had it this short since 5th grade. I know it's not really short short, but to me, it is. OH and i've got my train tickets! HELLO EUROPE, here I come!
new hair!I had an exam today and I kicked its butt! Take that Chaucer! I decoded your ye old English ways!
PLUS I have officially made my mark on Edinburgh (not that I peed on anything...I didn't physically make my mark!) but I am now a published author for the Nomad magazine! The Nomad is a travel magazine written and run by students on campus. I had to submit my pieces and they were selected. This was in the beginning of first semester, so I did not think about it much nor was I expecting too much. Then surprise! I am published! What was even more of a pleasant surprise was that I got two whole pages to myself! TWO! The illustrations on my pages (they are the prettiest, not to be too vain, but they really are) were specifically drawn to my stories. I was impressed! =)
Oh and I had a lovely dinner with my flat mates Jane and Marika, because Marika was leaving for home (Norway) we exchanged our embarrassing stories, it was a lot of fun. Which made me sad that I did not take advantage of our proximity to each other sooner. They are both very nice and I'm beyond lucky that I moved into flat 18!
me, marika & jane in our kitchenWell that's enough ramblings for today. =)
Monday, May 4, 2009
The trip of the fat elk, sneaky coyote, dancing wolf, dirty duck, & horse's head
It's official. I am having a European adventure! On May 24th I depart Edinburgh and make my way all around Europe!
The cities...
London
Brussels
Amsterdam
Munich
Prague
Vienna
Venice
Milan
Rome
Pisa
Bologna
Zurich
Berne
Basel
Geneva
Marseille
Perpignan
Paris
YAYAYYAYAYAY!
The cities...
London
Brussels
Amsterdam
Munich
Prague
Vienna
Venice
Milan
Rome
Pisa
Bologna
Zurich
Berne
Basel
Geneva
Marseille
Perpignan
Paris
YAYAYYAYAYAY!
Monday, April 20, 2009
State of Play (ed)
Tonight Claire and I went to our local movie theater, the Cameo. We were excited and anticipating the screening of "State of Play," the new Kevin MacDonald movie (staring Russel Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, so forth). After the movie there would be a live discussion with the director. Lies. Well not exactly lies, it was live, yes, but in Notting Hill. They had a live stream broadcast to Edinburgh and 50 other cities in the U.K. We felt robbed! We were so excited, thinking of questions to ask, speculating whether or not Russel would be there (the director is Scottish, so we assumed he would be there!) Despite the rude shock the movie itself was good.
It's about a journalist, Cal (Russel) and his college friend, Congressman Stephan Collins (Ben!) and the scandal he uncovers linking two seemingly random deaths together. It was written by the same man who wrote the Bourne movies and Kevin MacDonald had previously directed "The Last King of Scotland." It was suspenseful. In the first five minutes you see a man running for his life, encountering cars and motorcycles to escape from his pursuer. You of course do not see who is chasing him or why he is so panicked. I was on the edge of my seat. Literally. The music selection was excellent--conveying the right amounts of tension and as a viewer I was aware of the danger the characters were in. There were several instances of my fingers in my ear trying to steer clear of any unwanted suspense. Then again, I am a chicken. The movie was shot with precision and it was such a disappointment I could not ask the director any questions. The movie had the best recipe for a suspenseful drama. It had tension, drive & motive, plot, twists and was fantastically acted. I approve!
It's about a journalist, Cal (Russel) and his college friend, Congressman Stephan Collins (Ben!) and the scandal he uncovers linking two seemingly random deaths together. It was written by the same man who wrote the Bourne movies and Kevin MacDonald had previously directed "The Last King of Scotland." It was suspenseful. In the first five minutes you see a man running for his life, encountering cars and motorcycles to escape from his pursuer. You of course do not see who is chasing him or why he is so panicked. I was on the edge of my seat. Literally. The music selection was excellent--conveying the right amounts of tension and as a viewer I was aware of the danger the characters were in. There were several instances of my fingers in my ear trying to steer clear of any unwanted suspense. Then again, I am a chicken. The movie was shot with precision and it was such a disappointment I could not ask the director any questions. The movie had the best recipe for a suspenseful drama. It had tension, drive & motive, plot, twists and was fantastically acted. I approve!
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