Good Morning UK

Reasons why I’m Ready to come back to CALIFORNIA

SERIOUSLY. ENGLAND. 10 degree weather in June? right after a week of 25+ degrees… HOW? It’s not even this cold during the winter in California. 

Some other signs of California deprivation:

1. Last week, when I was in London, I walked into a store. And I was greeted by the most pleasant surprise! Air Conditioning! HAHA, at that moment, I realized, I haven’t been in AC this whole time! I totally forgot this technology existed. 

2. I was looking through my friend’s album of Utah/Colorado, typical American Landscapes. All I could think of was, MOUNTAINS. How I have missed youu! It also didn’t occur to me that such a basic part of my life in California was missing here! UK is so flat!

3. One of the things that I look forward to a lot coming home is simply getting picked up by my parents with our own car. ( as opposed to having to public transport it). I AM SO EXCITED to be able to fall asleep in my own car, you have no idea! 

Long Lost Twin?

Out of the distractions of studying yesterday, I accomplished something.

I found my “long lost twin”. Every time I look at this one picture of her on her FB, I think it’s me, and then realize it’s not because it’s obviously on her FB wall. Msg me if you’re curious & I’ll show you :p I feel a little creepy posting a picture of someone else on my tumblr. 

It’s such a weird feeling! It took me at least half an hour to get over how similar we look, well from specific angles I guess. 

Anyways, I’m at the library, on a weekend!!!!! I feel like I’m working overtime, I should get paid X1.5 SIGHHH 3 more days until playtime again! So excited to see everyoneeeee!!!!!!! 

Everyone’s already asking me if I’m going to keep updating my tumblr when I get back… I still have 3 weeks hereee!!

Well, the short answer is, I update only  when I have something to say. I’ve had a lot to say these past months, but I have a feeling I won’t have too much to talk about when I get home… but I’ll keep updating if the inspiration comes.. hahah :)

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I don’t think I’ve been lazier than now in my entire life. I’ve been putting off groceries for about 3 days now. Today, I had completely no food left, except for 2 eggs. I had no choice but to go grocery shop. PS. I’ve also successfully avoided cooking for about a week now, by eating dumplings & udon X5. hahhah

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Does walking count as a hobby? I love walking with people. Walking around in circles, around lakes, up hills, down hills, around the city, down College Street, through the woods, on the beach, anywhere outside really. Especially super early in the morning or super late at night. The feeling of having the world to ourselves. 

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While I was in the study center/space today, next to me was a group of students of various ethnic background. They were having a very intense conversation about America. They discussed so many issues, from nuclear weapons to September 11th, issues that I as an American, never really pause to think about. …Let’s just say, America isn’t quite popular in many parts of the world. But I knew that already. Sometimes it’s nice I don’t look quite American :D 

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It’s Diamond Jubileeee this upcoming week! England is so decorated & festive, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s reign. Happy Jubilee!!! 

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Drizzle. Today, the weather forecast actually said drizzle. I just found that funny, I’ve never seen that on the weather forecast. Isn’t it usually, Sunny, Cloudy, Showers, Rain, T-storms, or Snow. I’ve never seen drizzle!! hahaha. Well, it was quite accurate, drizzling all day long. Rain x7 next week. Hello again UK weather. 

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LIstening to :

 Lights- Ellie Goulding

 自然醒－林宥嘉

Globalization

I’ve been meaning to point this out for a really long time. Our world is so huge! Yet we always say, small world! 

Nowdays, the distance, the ocean is nothing. We have friends and relationships all over the world.

Today, I talked to friends in 4 different time zones. 4!!!!! If I included the last two days, that would be 6 different time zones, all different!!!!!! I must’ve said good night to people about 4 times in 1 day. HAHAHHA

I don’t know if that proves my point about globalization, OR rather, that I haven’t been very productive. 

Pieces

A song, a scent, a conversation with an old friend. all of a sudden, I find myself tangled up in the details of my own past. It’s actually quite overwhelming when you stop to think about all the people, the places, the memories, the details, the interactions…

.. sitting in front of the TV on hot Shanghai evenings, watching shows like 情深深雨濛濛 with the grandparents…

…exhausted to the point that I can’t even pull myself out of the pool. laps after laps, no break in between.

… feeling extremely untalented at art lessons, on a weekly 2 hr basis.

….not speaking english yet somehow communicating with my first friend in California, she’s Japanese

… chatting it up with the elderlies at the hospital, looking forward to every friday, when I’ll have a chance to put a smile on their faces

… playing with kids, finding that meticulous balance between adoring them and trying to not let them to step all over me ( b/c I’m so nice)

….being the new girl, at so many different schools.

… carpool buddies, work friends, gym buddies, weekly lunch friends, high school friends…

… spending countless number of hours with mr.piano. i miss you dearly actually.

.. studying.. prom… feeling awkward..all the usual teenager stuff… 

It’s just so weird when I look at all of that, and realize, that’s all pieces of my past, it’s me. It’s what made me ME. 

What’s even more strange is that we still have so much more time, so many more new people & experiences waiting for us.

anyways memories overload. time for a nap.

2 MORE EXAMS 

Trivial Matters

You know your hair is too long & need a haircut when your neck starts to hurt when studying bc it’s too heavy when tied up into a ponytail. And when there are 3 way split ends at the end.

Hmmm, I’m debating what I should do with my hair when I get back…

haha, My Tumblr is going through such sad times, the glorious old days of eye-catching pictures from travelings are gone. The little anecdotes of discoveries & interesting cultural differences are also gone. Along with reflective musings. It’s all the trivial little things these days, writing something down so they can remind me of what happened each day & what was on my mind at the time. Blame it on Exams. 

Although I think My Tumblr accurately captures the different phases I’ve gone through during my time here. Obviously in the anti-social studying phase right now. 

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Anyways, tomorrow’s JUNE! Half way point in the year, we’re half way through 2012!!!!  Happy June!!!

The Stakes are High

The thing with having 100% of your grade based on just 1 assignment or 1 exam is that it’s just so much pressure at once.

But, the good thing is, when you do well on that 1 thing, you are set! 

I’m taking a small Tumblr break in celebration! :P

HAHAH I sound so “assiduous”, but actually every night after dinner, I have 0 productivity. Just 1 massive break. ugggh frustration. 

3 MORE EXAMS. GO GEFFLIN GO. GO GEFFLIN GO. GO GO GO. 

Definitely woke up to a sad dream this morning

In my dream…3 things made me sad:

1. I returned to America

2. For some reason, my parents sold our house, and now we are suppose to live in a small apartment…

3. I checked into SFO airport on FB saying I’m back!, and NO ONE cared. 0 likes and comments. 

HAHHAHA I was so sad from the combination of those 3 things, and then my alarm went off…shows you what’s been on my mind recently.. California & FB.

It’s getting to the time that I have to start budgeting/ carefully ration everything.

When I pick up my toothpaste, my contact lense solution or my Nutella (etc), I always think about how much to use so that I can either drag it out so it’ll last me until I leave, or use a bit more than I need so I don’t waste too much.

Every time I do that, it’s a little bit of bittersweetness. 

On a related note, I used up 2 pens & a whole notebook (80pages) within .. less than 3 weeks? I have never gone through so much school supplies in such a compact period of time!! Hahaha, definitely reflects very well  how the education system differs in US & UK. ( But I suppose I usually don’t solely rely on 1 notebook or pen back at home.. usually I diversify my usage.. haha). 

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You probably always hear me say, “cheap is never a reason to buy” - it’s a consumer trap. YET, I’m so tempted to buy stuff from ZARA here because it’s cheaper here than in the US. Someone stop me please.