tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82604345211294430592024-02-19T09:31:04.086+08:00Follow The Cable"If you can't decide in one day, you can't decide." (Munich)Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.comBlogger689125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-10674536969595539042016-10-02T08:52:00.001+08:002016-10-02T08:58:24.490+08:00Expectations vs RealityWe went to a beach wedding on North Padre Island last weekend. Here's what I learned:<br />
<br />
#1: I learned that Instagram-perfect beach hair does not apply to all humans equally.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWwPwc1zOEJ35PkX6Wn2HWjlH6XD5cNZuc2afG-_bYg4jw527sG-2tG9EZbUTvsMB8YjtH3itYeXCQOM9TiJ-i3EZnjYn8S4SJBVaKIE5waFrrfDeC_wUoXTC4HrMYHghq_G1A3jySQh6/s1600/beach+hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWwPwc1zOEJ35PkX6Wn2HWjlH6XD5cNZuc2afG-_bYg4jw527sG-2tG9EZbUTvsMB8YjtH3itYeXCQOM9TiJ-i3EZnjYn8S4SJBVaKIE5waFrrfDeC_wUoXTC4HrMYHghq_G1A3jySQh6/s400/beach+hair.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
#2: I also ran out of disposable slippers<b><i> and </i></b>made the incredibly clever decision of not bringing any slippers on the weekend trip to Corpus Christi. I brought only my Doc Martens, which happened to be floral rain boots, for the beach and aquarium.<br />
<br />
"I'll just be cool and walk barefoot in the hotel room," I said to myself.<br />
<br />
I learned that I couldn't handle it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7Je8AyeuKMmSHYX_zD6cgnqgaXo-q1-Ujn67_2uNzoObq8hIoq1tnnMDVMIH4fVeigNNuAmjShtB54x0wDmcJ0qkHWhYWzIociTDe0CQj-fIC7DIyJB-pag6Y2-m1zpjawmcGEnAu2-W/s1600/hotel+floors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7Je8AyeuKMmSHYX_zD6cgnqgaXo-q1-Ujn67_2uNzoObq8hIoq1tnnMDVMIH4fVeigNNuAmjShtB54x0wDmcJ0qkHWhYWzIociTDe0CQj-fIC7DIyJB-pag6Y2-m1zpjawmcGEnAu2-W/s400/hotel+floors.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
#3: I learned that I was the only person at the Texas State Aquarium terrified of touching a stingray. Even the smallest children laughed at my terrified screams. But I <i><b>did</b></i> pet a stingray - eventually, and with my husband helping hold my hand down in the water - and it was sheer awesomeness.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQGsDmv6-gGs2zZBVoHjwTT0B7NBnF0GzxRtbLgYxWkZlfmjjNZ8D45p6GnnGu4NORl9LQaINu99obyUqqY79N5f0lKI3ugxiS4ngqV3PuGgUwJecW-bk0ckPp7rHLEu2CYFCRVT3Vw0F/s1600/stingray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQGsDmv6-gGs2zZBVoHjwTT0B7NBnF0GzxRtbLgYxWkZlfmjjNZ8D45p6GnnGu4NORl9LQaINu99obyUqqY79N5f0lKI3ugxiS4ngqV3PuGgUwJecW-bk0ckPp7rHLEu2CYFCRVT3Vw0F/s320/stingray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-84642855981937640772016-08-29T07:32:00.003+08:002016-08-29T07:34:39.291+08:00#FirstSevenJobsRecently <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-your-first-seven-jobs-say-about-you-2016-08-08" target="_blank">#firstsevenjobs</a> was trending on Facebook and Twitter, but I never got around to participating. Then I started wondering, what <i>were</i> my first seven jobs? I'm only in my 20s but it still feels like a lifetime ago.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1) Florist's assistant</span></b></div>
<div>
My mom used to take me to the neighborhood mall behind our house in Malaysia all the time, so the mall employees watched me grow up. When I was around 10 years old I loved playing with the handheld price tag machine and help tag the products in stores while the adults chatted. My first job would probably be working Valentine's Day weekend for the florist. I was 12, and I pushed the cart full of roses around the mall asking patrons if they wanted to buy a rose for their loved ones. I worked with another 12-year-old girl, and we became total BFFs that weekend. Too bad I don't remember her name anymore... That was probably the first time I learned what "my feet are killing me" meant at the end of each work day!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2) Marketing intern</span></b></div>
<div>
I was 19 by the time I got my second job. Malaysian teens don't typically work after-school or summer jobs like most American kids. So it was my first year of college and I wanted to work with a nonprofit. I met a rep from <a href="http://arrow.org.my/" target="_blank">ARROW</a> at a career fair, and got a marketing internship with them. That was my first experience with empowerment and equality for women, specifically in developing countries. I remember taking the train with my coworker to go to the office, and walking for another half a mile to headquarters.</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3) Research assistant</span></b></div>
<div>
My third job was my first academic job, and it gave me the foundation of my other university jobs that I would later have. I'd been working with ARROW for about a month when one of my journalism professors emailed the class saying that he was hiring four research assistants for a media coding project about the Malaysian General Elections. He was hiring one RA for each major language used in the media coverage: Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil. I applied immediately, offering to take up the Malay position if other candidates didn't speak the language. Given that it was an Australian university, everyone spoke English but only a minority were fluent in Malay. After a skill eval, I was hired for the three-month project. My professor trained me in research skills and how to apply critical thinking to news articles.</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">4) Entrepreneur</span></b></div>
<div>
My fourth job - and one that would last for the next six years - was running my own business. It was in February 2009 when I decided to start a blog about online shops (blog-shops) that had sprung up. And <a href="http://yourshoppingkaki.com/" target="_blank">Your Shopping Kaki</a> was born. It was my first foray into marketing, public relations, advertising, economics, and applied journalism. Today, it has more than <a href="https://www.facebook.com/yourshoppingkaki/" target="_blank">8,000 Facebook fans</a> and my <a href="http://today-i-m-suhana.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">business development manager</a> runs it independently.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">5) Receptionist</span></b></div>
<div>
Summer break for Australian students is at the end of the year until the beginning of the new year, so the next summer break I got my fifth part-time job (while running my own business part-time). It was January 2010, and one of my friends from the YSK world was helping her fiance start his own physiotherapy clinic. She needed a part-time receptionist while they were ramping up, and she asked me if I would do it for 60 bucks a day. I thought it would be a good experience and something I hadn't done before, so I agreed. That was my first taste of human-facing customer service and developing professional phone skills, including dealing with unhappy customers. I also did cold-calling, which is good experience for anyone to have - gives you a newfound respect for people who have to do cold-calling as their full-time jobs!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">6) Newspaper columnist</span></b></div>
<div>
Because of YSK, I became one of the more popular bloggers in Malaysia, so a new online newspaper called <a href="http://www.themalaysianmirror.com/news/" target="_blank">The Malaysian Mirror</a> hired me in April 2010 to write a weekly column in their website for a few months. The goal was to introduce my readers to their newspaper. It was a heap of fun and I learned what it was like working with legit journalists as well as three other popular bloggers who also had weekly columns.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7) Teaching associate</b></span></div>
<div>
In 2013 I was doing an additional fourth year of college called Honors so that I could apply to grad schools in USA. While I was an Honors students, I taught Media Studies and Journalism tutorials to undergraduate students. That was when I discovered how much I love teaching and mentoring others! I enjoyed the job so much and was always excited to create new lesson plans and group exercises. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There you have it, my first seven jobs! Since then I've had another eight jobs, including the one I have now. I will say this, though: every single job/gig I've had leading up to this point has helped prepared me for the job I have now at IBM. And this is a job I consider my dream job!<br />
<br />
My dad always told me that I should never be afraid of hard work, and I think that having so many different jobs throughout the years - sometimes multiple jobs at the same time, while I was in college and grad school - has prepared me to be a very hard worker. You just cannot be lazy if you want to get everything done. But the hashtag isn't #myfirst15jobs so I'll say bye for now. :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-64259015650752511882016-07-13T01:52:00.002+08:002016-07-13T08:20:21.675+08:00From one campus to another.This time, it's been less than two months since I last blogged. <b><i>Progress!</i></b> Even though it's only been a couple of months, I feel like so much has happened.<br />
<br />
For starters, I've been to more kiddy birthday parties this year than any other type of party. What does this say about my newfound age group? Haha! Goodbye early 20s, hello late 20s? I can't believe I'm turning 28 at the end of this year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOf6tHdNHqP5lQ0qnpnc4fSuI2C8qm34B_kC2iDN9bE78VAOMW1UDqfZ0zTUCO35pqceHc4chpwgtSAYiRD_1l-5ohm6gfBsmnlAuiH-1LlYSrfS29YwEC7EiFL97_G67dN5NFLdY4pARH/s1600/mickey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOf6tHdNHqP5lQ0qnpnc4fSuI2C8qm34B_kC2iDN9bE78VAOMW1UDqfZ0zTUCO35pqceHc4chpwgtSAYiRD_1l-5ohm6gfBsmnlAuiH-1LlYSrfS29YwEC7EiFL97_G67dN5NFLdY4pARH/s640/mickey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_791956984"></span>Of course, at kiddy parties everyone asks you if you're having kids, and I'm still giving the "pfft no" response. How can we have kids when we're still (big) kids ourselves? We haven't even allowed ourselves to get a dog yet!<br />
<br />
And as testament to be dissipating youthfulness, for a few Friday nights I hung out with my coworkers-turned-awesome-friends... but we were always home by 9:00 pm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjO0peVG394f8m5M77Hcax6LQp1Xrw2ADLX6DB5pohcZBgogBsYjElmydkvUVRKvSzKBR3afDYAcfxv2H6Ozw24gFXy1ZUKgXkqkAbkfCc7is1PTL2i6B5oZvY9kaHvRtJ_cuKOCNcvBo0/s1600/work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjO0peVG394f8m5M77Hcax6LQp1Xrw2ADLX6DB5pohcZBgogBsYjElmydkvUVRKvSzKBR3afDYAcfxv2H6Ozw24gFXy1ZUKgXkqkAbkfCc7is1PTL2i6B5oZvY9kaHvRtJ_cuKOCNcvBo0/s640/work.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Kiddy birthday parties and farewell parties are definitely the two types of parties I frequent the most. We bid goodbye to a friend who is moving out of state. In a few short months I've already had to say bye to <b>two </b>friends in Austin who moved to other states. :( Considering I don't have that many friends in Austin yet (having just started a new life here last year), two is a lot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QHG6LIf47lZNDtfsmcmR1NgBp1zykWxXFvhUdqucuicAO2aLV4NL5XXZJ53dTjTz4mPOxctbzqOn61_GBPJAL5eb65XaD54NfzCkbBROKchYsPiNutc372QnIwRoemjnDR8m_c7EAjfh/s1600/dora+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QHG6LIf47lZNDtfsmcmR1NgBp1zykWxXFvhUdqucuicAO2aLV4NL5XXZJ53dTjTz4mPOxctbzqOn61_GBPJAL5eb65XaD54NfzCkbBROKchYsPiNutc372QnIwRoemjnDR8m_c7EAjfh/s640/dora+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I do love my friends in Austin, largely because we always celebrate Malaysian/Southeast Asian festivities and enjoy the same types of cuisine!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbX78guqQkG3xnQIXwSToGXB7iys4m1hdNZOM61WNO-DC8pIUjjuxseKJiW9yhG7SgnvO8iOWRdsPVRExDvvWqlCpbTwsGmyxozeGmAakCdI-oP1k4pbgoD72fR4meXAHqnAlc1Z3V8aN/s1600/hari+raya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbX78guqQkG3xnQIXwSToGXB7iys4m1hdNZOM61WNO-DC8pIUjjuxseKJiW9yhG7SgnvO8iOWRdsPVRExDvvWqlCpbTwsGmyxozeGmAakCdI-oP1k4pbgoD72fR4meXAHqnAlc1Z3V8aN/s640/hari+raya.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And probably the most important farewell party I attended this year so far was my own. That's right, I handed in my resignation letter last month! It's been such a good run with <a href="http://www.thsu.edu/">Texas Health and Science University</a>. I prepared a massive transition binder, trained different employees to take over different parts of my job, and bid adieu to a community of staff, faculty and students who left big footprints in my life in just under a year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSfvimBjQ9mHva9yuAB84ORlT9pI-0AyM4mZVF0OC607l9UU2llqCSvGHLl2v46dKB3ODuLcjzc1XeCOcwuZBD946GBGHVXNXsn9Gg8whgcmkpMvQEBPkG6fAO4hpOkk6Okzilq5R0gar/s1600/farewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSfvimBjQ9mHva9yuAB84ORlT9pI-0AyM4mZVF0OC607l9UU2llqCSvGHLl2v46dKB3ODuLcjzc1XeCOcwuZBD946GBGHVXNXsn9Gg8whgcmkpMvQEBPkG6fAO4hpOkk6Okzilq5R0gar/s640/farewell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Where to, next? I'm going back to my roots and the reason I came to USA to study: to work in the communication industry. In line with that, I'm going to be a portfolio marketing professional at IBM Austin! I feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to work there. Now I'm very, very, very excited to start. Can't wait for the first day I walk on to the IBM campus and call myself an IBMer! :)</div>
<br />Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-51567494612083781602016-05-16T00:53:00.003+08:002016-05-16T00:53:43.056+08:00Florida, Fort Worth & Being 27<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This morning, <a href="http://today-i-m-suhana.blogspot.com/">Datin Cynthia</a> pointed out that I hadn't been blogging for eight months now. Eight! So here I am, taking 20 minutes to blog about the past eight months.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In October last year, Darren and I flew to Orlando for Laura and Damon's wedding. I was so incredibly excited because it was my first time to Florida, I hadn't seen Laura since graduation in May last year, AND Universal Studios Orlando contained the world's only Harry Potter Land!<i> (Since then, another has opened in California, but at the time Florida had the only one, haha.)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ipiR0-lMpcMGKfLz_GbhvjNkpUu0PPQQuUg_AZXIXxbuILpl1VCc43qPvEXrTiHWbBSSSRhjgNeWPNRQKC_uk8t96b6xcEzHL9pPum0g5oqE2TbNW4T5aWrQ0NIUVsT_J_2R1IkM3zkZ/s1600/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ipiR0-lMpcMGKfLz_GbhvjNkpUu0PPQQuUg_AZXIXxbuILpl1VCc43qPvEXrTiHWbBSSSRhjgNeWPNRQKC_uk8t96b6xcEzHL9pPum0g5oqE2TbNW4T5aWrQ0NIUVsT_J_2R1IkM3zkZ/s400/wedding.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura, the beautiful bride! They got married 10-10-2015.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieQcJSaxV012tTHw3-iVA_T9gO2p_tpROe0Kur5ED0DpfXetKH80_OvqERdtFrHPg72knZfYqmX_Fub0GyjWHvQLI7F28kYr2x8IMxFkciX82CRo4PC1wawCv7dHm5H7guquQ4ON6HDa4/s1600/harry+potter+world+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieQcJSaxV012tTHw3-iVA_T9gO2p_tpROe0Kur5ED0DpfXetKH80_OvqERdtFrHPg72knZfYqmX_Fub0GyjWHvQLI7F28kYr2x8IMxFkciX82CRo4PC1wawCv7dHm5H7guquQ4ON6HDa4/s400/harry+potter+world+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd never been so happy to enter a theme park before!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHhpeJGE5yvN2GxJk2Kyab_486qqbzaGDCKTPqzos8Av8PAX7xCbFcTipjZl4-2OrZK2cg8PQI18xDVjMj5QiHRrB9_lbYBuVLfisCsJnpHcIeTB3m_j7kY4Pzgj6pe7GW_O4jumkdkpF/s1600/harry+potter+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHhpeJGE5yvN2GxJk2Kyab_486qqbzaGDCKTPqzos8Av8PAX7xCbFcTipjZl4-2OrZK2cg8PQI18xDVjMj5QiHRrB9_lbYBuVLfisCsJnpHcIeTB3m_j7kY4Pzgj6pe7GW_O4jumkdkpF/s640/harry+potter+world.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, I could go to Harry Potter land every weekend and not get bored.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Also in October, I attended my first ever baby shower! Ana hosted it for Wan, who has since given birth to a beautiful baby girl named Saffiya. :) </div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrs4j7X3JrWFFmvss9iAqvHg95zLWU72bG4gRv6VqJKqHn_fnivy8LBMMjBRUiUtBxGkG2oW99LVy2NdePS8H0BEpePIaQppusHFV-OxuN-_3fGgnoXwkqF08oJiLKhUYsBlEBbefHZPq/s1600/baby+shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrs4j7X3JrWFFmvss9iAqvHg95zLWU72bG4gRv6VqJKqHn_fnivy8LBMMjBRUiUtBxGkG2oW99LVy2NdePS8H0BEpePIaQppusHFV-OxuN-_3fGgnoXwkqF08oJiLKhUYsBlEBbefHZPq/s400/baby+shower.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Ana's gorgeous house, with awesome people!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then I turned 27 years old! Sometimes I forget that I'm already 27, and that I'm turning 28 this year, and I startle myself when I realize how quickly time flies. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was in my early 20s! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27hAh5Tagf20ovcZ4ijzrVmJ6NoJb9u6hgmgKYEZeaMzxGlvcU_yg2P7Gilxn2_hSDO2Ug3AFTLiAtogSwZCk84H-a_O1RIpCxf1tDAnNC1XGJ2lvgg7BFw-B1YJ64K1WS-JtEbHoIeKv/s1600/birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27hAh5Tagf20ovcZ4ijzrVmJ6NoJb9u6hgmgKYEZeaMzxGlvcU_yg2P7Gilxn2_hSDO2Ug3AFTLiAtogSwZCk84H-a_O1RIpCxf1tDAnNC1XGJ2lvgg7BFw-B1YJ64K1WS-JtEbHoIeKv/s400/birthday.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty much showered with gifts at work and at home! So thankful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGaYf6DDZCXVsF3DzQDbaMPMENBwONJ5oBrBP8WHUE99utoVQYY_N1RKdTouS9rU-WKKZI64mIo_09vNFIYM-waTgddZCT_FUwQSDMrLs36h3Z_YoHipHMTlE6bHMonNBuUYd1fjJT90I/s1600/birthday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGaYf6DDZCXVsF3DzQDbaMPMENBwONJ5oBrBP8WHUE99utoVQYY_N1RKdTouS9rU-WKKZI64mIo_09vNFIYM-waTgddZCT_FUwQSDMrLs36h3Z_YoHipHMTlE6bHMonNBuUYd1fjJT90I/s400/birthday2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coworkers threw a joint birthday party for me and Caleb!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then, in January, Darren took me to PAX South in San Antonio! It was so much fun. It was my first ever gaming convention. Events like this really deserve their own blog posts, but I remember each event blog post would take me about 4 hours to write! A summary blog post will have to do for now. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_Zp4XR-fODcxIDwfsQihQo-BhxnRdxDuVoh785zIFrq24QbVyKk8jkM7JcbpHie9GoVkaBNlAOQwP1SPptl11iutryVEKT8zACN2jO2FKjzuCwrsTd1ixgg7Ey89l9iy9j-whO9KKvwx/s1600/pax3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_Zp4XR-fODcxIDwfsQihQo-BhxnRdxDuVoh785zIFrq24QbVyKk8jkM7JcbpHie9GoVkaBNlAOQwP1SPptl11iutryVEKT8zACN2jO2FKjzuCwrsTd1ixgg7Ey89l9iy9j-whO9KKvwx/s400/pax3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all the booths!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03YsOI9RTn9_wZ7B_eNeQLE6xoEu4oMcoC8VBjw3VQrnhiyu5hMP0WiNsGiSRLCba4yEKGkavrss13-YJz4_pfBeeDB8Olx5_Xw2q72Fm7hcSHq0oTJSE8RBOmk_JwGN51OvKxW8KX31a/s1600/pax1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkULPTGGmR6QJTBad7mGXZ171ayNmXQfF5gwGeZeZ6-heZuYwEcLgAOQl0UONkpjdQ7VwYQKjrioIteo0YolU4859oF8cdzcve7CwqM-QmxSnnbLy9q3MB7lIBYq4N3DfzjODK647gPr5U/s1600/pax2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkULPTGGmR6QJTBad7mGXZ171ayNmXQfF5gwGeZeZ6-heZuYwEcLgAOQl0UONkpjdQ7VwYQKjrioIteo0YolU4859oF8cdzcve7CwqM-QmxSnnbLy9q3MB7lIBYq4N3DfzjODK647gPr5U/s320/pax2.jpg" width="180" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03YsOI9RTn9_wZ7B_eNeQLE6xoEu4oMcoC8VBjw3VQrnhiyu5hMP0WiNsGiSRLCba4yEKGkavrss13-YJz4_pfBeeDB8Olx5_Xw2q72Fm7hcSHq0oTJSE8RBOmk_JwGN51OvKxW8KX31a/s320/pax1.jpg" width="176" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And just last week, my company sent me to Fort Worth for a three-day conference. It was the ACICS Annual Conference, and I really did have a blast. Learned a lot, networked a ton, but it feels so good to be home after a few days away!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham1ut6ydP7SorXsZbAmGVLaQ-9LfHDAsGvUtnf1rylXs_boTjQIKSmhyRC6Qirurh3YTovLWUgdD-iquGFImpaX9UKoa3pXcJ6d8p5M3Nk25zz0X26AvM2fzaO1dyltJSa_DI_fsxiVRX/s1600/conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham1ut6ydP7SorXsZbAmGVLaQ-9LfHDAsGvUtnf1rylXs_boTjQIKSmhyRC6Qirurh3YTovLWUgdD-iquGFImpaX9UKoa3pXcJ6d8p5M3Nk25zz0X26AvM2fzaO1dyltJSa_DI_fsxiVRX/s400/conference.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I did, however, win a giant teddy bear. :)</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVfhXpvy_G0hbuJmzUbNuAFesixG9x49iMT59XDYAGjuHcisFgjfK4cAZ07QqjxT4KHalxSK0Yen7Hck4K0uFMozWINma4GxTqYn5vaiCbLK88mT1i_PWUrJdtoSs5jgB3UTeR-sEw_eX/s1600/teddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVfhXpvy_G0hbuJmzUbNuAFesixG9x49iMT59XDYAGjuHcisFgjfK4cAZ07QqjxT4KHalxSK0Yen7Hck4K0uFMozWINma4GxTqYn5vaiCbLK88mT1i_PWUrJdtoSs5jgB3UTeR-sEw_eX/s400/teddy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
P.S: I also got promoted to Director of Student Affairs & Strategic Operations!</div>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-13355639600980400002015-09-08T04:50:00.004+08:002015-09-08T04:54:15.025+08:00Star Wars, Cirque du Soleil & Sailor Moon.Seeing how seldom I have the time to blog, I'd better blog about the past three months before I forget and the next half of the year blurs with this one. Here are the highlights of the past three months of my life! :D<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uL3HYh_quqeXXHw-x0s-lXEgSXKRevEoKYFzOnw9c1uyySN4LWECtz3mPp3Ywvu10CpYWxWS2Uj8UfGRUrflBfXJ1w4yZ-9-2pKCnP4ej5V2VBzBJidXBvhSciKDJ0BNEuzYdgRog2_K/s1600/storm+trooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uL3HYh_quqeXXHw-x0s-lXEgSXKRevEoKYFzOnw9c1uyySN4LWECtz3mPp3Ywvu10CpYWxWS2Uj8UfGRUrflBfXJ1w4yZ-9-2pKCnP4ej5V2VBzBJidXBvhSciKDJ0BNEuzYdgRog2_K/s400/storm+trooper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<b>1. Star Wars</b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
Darren and I watched all six Star Wars movies! He'd already watched them before since he's a Star Wars fan, but it was my first time watching the older movies. I finally understand the whole story, haha! Also, I bought a giant Storm Trooper balloon from H-E-B to scare Darren with.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSbTtD8-tTu0cHelxxh7TY1VoLuHT1GWDgoxpQLHduP8dM_mJII5NSe9-308Jo3TjDkEt-HWuz3kYdBBSCUaoLUI6hutHEzhS4k7b46eJ93YPg8FFG445XS5mOuvmffTrXRu11XDupsP3/s1600/party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSbTtD8-tTu0cHelxxh7TY1VoLuHT1GWDgoxpQLHduP8dM_mJII5NSe9-308Jo3TjDkEt-HWuz3kYdBBSCUaoLUI6hutHEzhS4k7b46eJ93YPg8FFG445XS5mOuvmffTrXRu11XDupsP3/s400/party.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<b>2. House parties</b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
The Malaysian-Singaporean community in Austin is awesome, and I've been to several parties and meet-ups with them. :D The food is always amazing!</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAgVouQgIw_CcAtP1ylvJZGEd4O_HEJGmmyVyah-5SrGisxtecUwFtn2Gsn0S7N8mHuDGJNE_bOoxP_AobP3HQtRl5mMTyZS0DwblkJXiI-CjuLQbuKsRF62vprGXclGi4bG2KBhUIdan/s1600/kooza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAgVouQgIw_CcAtP1ylvJZGEd4O_HEJGmmyVyah-5SrGisxtecUwFtn2Gsn0S7N8mHuDGJNE_bOoxP_AobP3HQtRl5mMTyZS0DwblkJXiI-CjuLQbuKsRF62vprGXclGi4bG2KBhUIdan/s400/kooza.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<b>3. Cirque du Soleil - Kooza</b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
Darren got us tickets to Kooza for Friday night date night this weekend! It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time because of all the death-defying stunts. We were on the edge of our seats and squeezing each other's hands most of the time, especially when one performer almost fell off the tightrope!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b><b><br /></b>
<b></b><br /><b></b>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhF5hZY5yDnMcfQURKpqGA83fTjl2wqa4_keklJiaG3RyZOzcMkTbh2rrEZKnG1A_g48FSsyBGEHZtZIQLjIrHejW9RHKVqipEDINhzwzuItmrM0DFvPjkh4FGQDPCmiC7Omk9vPpPVlv/s1600/cards+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhF5hZY5yDnMcfQURKpqGA83fTjl2wqa4_keklJiaG3RyZOzcMkTbh2rrEZKnG1A_g48FSsyBGEHZtZIQLjIrHejW9RHKVqipEDINhzwzuItmrM0DFvPjkh4FGQDPCmiC7Omk9vPpPVlv/s400/cards+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<b>4. Handmade cards</b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
I've been making a lot of cards to send to my friends around the world. It's a lot of fun! I ask them what their favorite cartoon character is and draw it.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ06s-fKrimQzEtEq_c4gqH8exB8C6o8ZtBOjnsnKfqj2rTVdLKkFQMt6xvqtS-nxw2uBkV6NM1VhJ_-1_FPlCq-d6Q1rP7zfR1OE3M7vZiq0wzXVORS5ADbvZ7pOl4LC1qyWN33RyF_23/s1600/sailormoon+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ06s-fKrimQzEtEq_c4gqH8exB8C6o8ZtBOjnsnKfqj2rTVdLKkFQMt6xvqtS-nxw2uBkV6NM1VhJ_-1_FPlCq-d6Q1rP7zfR1OE3M7vZiq0wzXVORS5ADbvZ7pOl4LC1qyWN33RyF_23/s400/sailormoon+day.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<b>5. International Sailor Moon Day</b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
The fact that there's such thing as International Sailor Moon Day makes me so happy. Haha. Darren and I went to the convention in Austin and this was our loot!</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOrGFkbTvjG94y9-JzQ3XMPmMVIKA4JJotDnPT_0Ure8RgrdrZL-oQJc_FWq0ZhHe6yYEPJ1h991jUVAJIgcFCFYr0VIwQK8wcyRGoMh9-fX-bipGiLT1qSCDMmf3fSqyFzaegWBp_l2K/s1600/sailormoon+figurine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOrGFkbTvjG94y9-JzQ3XMPmMVIKA4JJotDnPT_0Ure8RgrdrZL-oQJc_FWq0ZhHe6yYEPJ1h991jUVAJIgcFCFYr0VIwQK8wcyRGoMh9-fX-bipGiLT1qSCDMmf3fSqyFzaegWBp_l2K/s400/sailormoon+figurine.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<b>6. Super Sailor Moon SH Figuarts</b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
My new favorite toy. Early birthday present from hubs. :D I also ordered a Figma archetype, which is my early birthday present to myself. That will only arrive at the end of the year because it's made to order from Japan.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-56994119326192443372015-09-08T03:48:00.001+08:002015-09-08T04:09:54.550+08:00My first full-time jobI can't believe it's been three months since I last blogged! Since I graduated in May, life has been rather hectic. I was working part-time as a digital analyst at Pierpont, but I knew I had to start looking for a full-time job after I got my green card in July. Also, a part of me really wanted to see how quickly I could find a job. (The "kiasu" part, yes, haha.)<br />
<br />
In August I went to a total of three in-person job interviews (there were some phone interviews where I quickly realized the job wasn't what I wanted, like sales jobs) -- didn't get the first job because they thought I was a flight risk for the entry-level position, didn't want the second job because they told me it was commission-based, aaaand I nailed the third interview!<br />
<br />
You're lookin' at the new Registrar and Administrator of <a href="http://www.thsu.edu/"><b>Texas Health and Science University</b>.</a> :D<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLuoiVr5UHdNFhdVUWQfvN8BaW4NyGGhbxtSrfTlh9WYGOQ4PoW2YfUGQX3uqNAF4FjWoqvreTDOH2ZV_EcHEC8JfDO2U27A6-m9oGPvJDODQYzujzTUkMMNMLdlZcDveeo7aP0w1bofz/s1600/job.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLuoiVr5UHdNFhdVUWQfvN8BaW4NyGGhbxtSrfTlh9WYGOQ4PoW2YfUGQX3uqNAF4FjWoqvreTDOH2ZV_EcHEC8JfDO2U27A6-m9oGPvJDODQYzujzTUkMMNMLdlZcDveeo7aP0w1bofz/s400/job.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
In case you're wondering "why are you working in a university and not in corporate?" you probably didn't know that I loved being a teacher in college. Helping students is my jam, and organizing stuff is something that comes so naturally to me that I love my job!<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, working in public relations agencies gave me a wealth of precious experience that I can apply to any daily situations in any work I do. But I think I've found that I'm meant to work in higher education. :)<br />
<br />
Saying goodbye to <a href="http://www.piercom.com/"><b>Pierpont</b></a> was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my career so far. First off, Pierpont is the first and only company I've ever worked at in Texas. They hired me as an intern last summer even though I didn't have any connections in the agency and just applied the old-fashioned way: from emailing in a resume and cover letter, doing a Skype interview (since I was in LA at the time) and a writing test. I have a lot of respect for companies that give "strangers" a chance without having a connection inside it, and also the intern coordinator Sylvester Palacios Jr. is one of the most humble people I've ever met in my life.<br />
<br />
Second, Pierpont wanted me to come back to work for them when they found out I was graduating from USC in May. I still remember meeting up with Michael Miller for lunch in April this year: I had planned to get career advice from him, but he ended up offering me a part-time job to be his digital apprentice. I don't think I could ever stop being grateful to him for having so much faith in me.<br />
<br />
I had hoped, of course, that I could end up working for Pierpont full-time, but as time passed I realized that I couldn't wait forever. In PR agencies around here, you usually don't get hired full-time until after you've interned for about a year. Living paycheck to paycheck on a part-time job for five months was proving to be increasingly stressful. It definitely gave me a new level of appreciation for money and how hard it is when there isn't enough money to have any savings. And I feel very, very uncomfortable when I don't have rainy day funds.<br />
<br />
Telling Michael and other Pierponters that I was leaving, though, kinda broke my heart a little bit. I felt like I was leaving my second home. However, they were so supportive and encouraging -- even though everyone said they would be sad to see me go, they said that I should pursue my dreams and career. I made them thank you cards and hired a cartoonist to draw caricatures of their faces as my farewell present. :) I also drew and colored their favorite childhood cartoons on to the cards.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACl0aqzYXDCb1f-3ncM7CpLKyHNcbByiMUUz3k-NS-CEiWOjc9lzW_kwakfpw6DT8p17AkP83H7dqCeMbTDFovQ9h_gwDKIHrN8P6vQY7lap27yIDMuMzb3tmB6tFHWMmf4qv7MrHCfmX/s1600/cards+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACl0aqzYXDCb1f-3ncM7CpLKyHNcbByiMUUz3k-NS-CEiWOjc9lzW_kwakfpw6DT8p17AkP83H7dqCeMbTDFovQ9h_gwDKIHrN8P6vQY7lap27yIDMuMzb3tmB6tFHWMmf4qv7MrHCfmX/s640/cards+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUdl0LmlnauS9vpm7nV6gUWS2P0m5uSuQT3m6sgV2KXYhdwb45QGZHNbQaatmkE95NWgZikmw4Qs2PQQNvgRylxywW6iCaVlKrYRRy8bcBCwtIs7kBwQl57rWONybdCmtOcXnU8S_YADI/s1600/cards+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUdl0LmlnauS9vpm7nV6gUWS2P0m5uSuQT3m6sgV2KXYhdwb45QGZHNbQaatmkE95NWgZikmw4Qs2PQQNvgRylxywW6iCaVlKrYRRy8bcBCwtIs7kBwQl57rWONybdCmtOcXnU8S_YADI/s640/cards+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
So after spending a total of nine months with Pierpont (last summer and this summer), I bid them a final farewell. I've learned an insane amount of knowledge from being a digital analyst: now I can analyze online advertisements and monitor the performance of any digital assets -- on top of all the PR things I already learned in school and through internships. And I also learned that people can be amazing, that people like Sylvester can be fair and humble, and people like Michael can have more confidence in me than I do in myself.<br />
<br />
I hope that someday I will be in a hiring position and I can pay it forward, all the kindness that I've had the privilege of experiencing in the working world.Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-8092959664714345842015-06-06T11:42:00.001+08:002015-06-06T11:53:48.628+08:00Life After Graduation: What's Next?I can't believe it's been nearly two months since I last blogged on here. Time whipped by and I'm all graduated. What now? What's next?<br />
<br />
<img height="266" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/19384_10153230533726291_7778750929737327788_n.jpg?oh=47e5f4c5804bfe1854d9e6508df250f8&oe=55F8CD30" width="400" /><br />
<i>At graduation with my family!</i><br />
<br />
I figured I should do a "10 things I've done since graduation" post before more time flew by and memory betrays me!<br />
<br />
<b>1. Said goodbye to Los Angeles</b><br />
<img height="225" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11060912_10153226757146291_7006613359949939283_n.jpg?oh=07a05b406682c880992006631247e9a7&oe=55E6C7B0" width="400" /><br />
It hit me when I was lying in bed on the last night in my studio apartment. It was my last night in a place I had spent most of the past two years in, and it felt really surreal moving out -- even though I was moving home to Texas. LA has been kind to me, for the most part, and I feel very lucky to have been there, and done that!<br />
<br />
<b>2. Continued working at <a href="http://www.piercom.com/">Pierpont Communications</a></b><br />
<img height="640" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/11127900_10153240464691291_7989975612228441808_n.jpg?oh=3d130f496c311071bd9bf1175bce02c1&oe=55FDEE4D" width="360" /><br />
Remember the public relations/integrated communications agency I interned in last summer? Well, they hired me three weeks before graduation! I didn't actually apply for any jobs, and was having lunch with my former Pierpont mentor when he offered me the gig. It caught me by surprise, but I accepted it right away because I believe in saying yes!<br />
<br />
Although I wish it was a full-time position, it's not. Instead, it's a paid internship position in the new digital department. I work with account services, analytics and online advertising management -- which makes me ultra uber mega grateful to be learning and refining technical skills each day at work. In the meantime, I haven't applied for any jobs yet. I reckon I'll give myself a "learning period" because being my supervisor's "digital apprentice" is such an amazing opportunity: he has such a wealth of experience and wisdom to share when it comes to all things digital and in client service too.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Ate my first snow cone</b><br />
<img height="225" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11015202_10153253043431291_4892993951747235018_n.jpg?oh=6db06778f1029aea37f98e240d192b2c&oe=55FFCC33" width="400" /><br />
Snow cone, shaved ice or American <i>ais kacang</i> - whatever you want to call it, it was so much fun to eat! Darren and I were shopping for a new stove when he decided we should take a break for a bit and drove us to the shaved ice store.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Witnessed the union of a beautiful family</b><br />
<img height="225" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11204389_10153250933626291_8465311139047715463_n.jpg?oh=36f1404f4ef45e8b68028d98359292eb&oe=55EA6B1D" width="400" /><br />
My brother-in-law Chris got married to Jeannette on July 23rd. It was such a beautiful wedding! I never cried at a wedding before, but when Jeannette danced with her three daughters to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLS0Y40WwlA">Martina McBride's "In My Daughter's Eyes"</a> I bawled like a five-year-old. All of a sudden I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I missed my mom and her warm embrace when ever I felt sad or dispirited. My mom's always been there for me, you know? And even though I'm all grown up and married now, it sometimes hits me that my mom isn't even a drive away from me -- she is a whole 20-hour flight away, whereas most other people here have their moms in the same city. :'( And then I was very embarrassed when my husband, grandmother-in-law and mother-in-law fussed over my tears and handed me tissues.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Decorated my office cubicle</b><br />
<img height="225" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11393237_10153282800421291_5145310153162253914_n.jpg?oh=c1fbd9b86b5fcd4d827df0e3e988aa24&oe=55F9DE41" width="400" /><br />
Seeing as I spend eight hours a day at the office, I decided to decorate my desk and cubicle walls. I don't have a full picture of it right now but this snapshot effectively shows you a glimpse of how I did it. I have pictures of my family and friends up on my cubicle walls too, and having a cosy cubicle helps so much to keep me motivated and keep me going.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Celebrated Aidan's 2nd birthday</b><br />
<img height="266" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11244578_10206198054808623_9148649858465667917_n.jpg?oh=84bbe385560907e3933de82163f40451&oe=55F57CC4" width="400" /><br />
One of my dearest friends in Texas, Ana, threw a Star Wars themed party for her adorable baby Aidan last weekend. That's her husband in the Storm Trooper costume! It was an amazing party with delicious food and lots of Malaysian and Singaporean friends with their families. I had so much fun! I also had a blast taking videos of the party and messages from guests to edit into a video. We're going to give the video to Aidan when he's older. :)<br />
<br />
<b>7. Started gaming a tiny little bit again</b><br />
<img height="225" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11391550_10153283785136291_2248054406868545966_n.jpg?oh=0a82b98c79e8dc90e5d3d8ce96878697&oe=55E86D56" width="400" /><br />
I used to think "Oh after grad school I'm going to have tons of time for gaming!" but I was delusional. For some weird reason I'm even busier now than when I was in school. Like everyone else I have to go to work on weekdays and run all my household errands/chores on Friday -- the only weekday I don't go into the office -- and then all my social activities are on weekends. Because I get home from work in the evening and we go to bed at 8pm, I have about 15-30 minutes of gameplay time that day if I'm not already exhausted or too busy doing something else. I'm also working on side projects that I won't blog about yet! But when I do steal some time away from real life to play, I love Star Wars: The Old Republic. :)<br />
<br />
<b>8. Started watching Shark Tank</b><br />
<img src="http://www.newsroomtuneup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Shark-Tank.jpg" height="245" width="400" /><br />
The entrepreneur in me squeals a little with glee every time I watch this. I like watching a show when I eat my meals at home, and after I finished my last show I decided to start watching Shark Tank. It is hands down my favorite show right now, even though I know I'm super late on cottoning on to its popularity.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Bought my very first plants!</b><br />
<img height="400" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10407164_10153289322521291_7740883835116096297_n.jpg?oh=6e73ec600dc39859095fd0ec10e5107c&oe=55ED0B09" width="400" /><br />
When I was very young, one day I got fascinated about growing plants. So my mom helped me in planting an onion. I ignored it after a couple of days, then over-watered it, then it died. Ever since then I haven't tried taking care of any plants. Even in my room in Malaysia I never watered the plants that my mom put in there, so they would constantly wither of thirst. But now that I'm a lot older, I feel myself being drawn to small plants. So I finally caved and bought two little bamboo shoots. I'm going to put one in my office cubicle and one in my nook at home, and pray I don't kill them.<br />
<br />
<b>10. Got highlights in my hair.</b><br />
<img height="320" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/11377127_10153290597036291_1310110248306992648_n.jpg?oh=0d9f7f3c7905dcb8fa8964c57431c3c0&oe=55F11BC3" width="176" /><br />
I've never gotten my hair professionally highlighted before, so I was very nervous about doing it. But my hair was looking like a big mass of thick darkness. Ordinarily I would try to color my hair myself with the bubble hair color from Korea, but I learned that color doesn't lift color. So I can't do highlights on the parts of my hair that are already colored! Thus, when I went for my (annual) haircut today I asked for highlights. I think this helps brighten up my head significantly. :)<br />
<br />
Until next time!Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-82434423329275535562015-04-11T13:16:00.002+08:002015-04-11T13:21:38.261+08:00Goodbye, and hello.<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end," said Seneca.</blockquote>
Well, Seneca, you said it.<br />
<br />
Grad school, and what is hopefully my final degree, is rapidly coming to an end. My Master's thesis has jumped through all the hoops held up by academic bureaucracies, and is now embedded forever in the folds of the <a href="http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll3/id/543755/rec/1">USC Digital Library</a>. I don't think anybody will ever find it and read it in the library database, though, so I fully intend to get parts of it published elsewhere. The very real issues faced by international graduates need to be confronted by universities, employers and lawmakers, imho.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/11099558_10153149548861291_4516597503970180440_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/11099558_10153149548861291_4516597503970180440_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The other end to my grad school journey is graduation, which is on May 15. Yesterday I received an email from the school congratulating me for winning this year's <b><span style="color: red;">Outstanding Strategic Public Relations Service Award</span></b>. I was so happy, especially because I picture my parents being really proud of me when I get an award like this! My professors told me that the faculty unanimously voted for me to receive this award, which makes me feel really moved. They must really believe in me, and well, everyone likes to feel appreciated!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/21315_10153146993951291_6038978701150649712_n.jpg?oh=ce2f6ad7ab854b56b13553126c820120&oe=55A002B5" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/21315_10153146993951291_6038978701150649712_n.jpg?oh=ce2f6ad7ab854b56b13553126c820120&oe=55A002B5" /></a></div>
I'm really excited for graduation, because Darren and my parents will be there cheering me on as I get my award and my degree. Yay! I wish An Nie could be there too, but I don't think it's worth the price of the flight tickets for her to fly all the way to LA just to watch me graduate and sit through a long ceremony.<br />
<br />
She was at my undergraduate graduation though, and she even got me my first and only graduation bouquet. One of my few regrets in life is not being there for her graduation three or four years ago, because I didn't know what date it was going to be on and got distracted with my own work. :( I remember her calling to ask if I was going to be there the next day, and I was so shocked that it was the next day and I had several assignments I was working on. I think I was even annoyed and asked her why she didn't tell me the date clearly and earlier on. She said she mentioned it before, but quickly admitted it was her mistake, even though it probably wasn't her fault, it was just that I didn't mark it in my calendar if she mentioned it a long time ago. But that's An Nie for you. She never gets mad at me. For years she let me get impatient with her and she still stuck by me since we were 18. I know I'm a better person now but... I wish I was less selfish when I was younger and when we were actually able to hang out in person, and I wish I took the time to pay attention to important moments in her life. She always paid attention to mine.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/382733_10150445050446291_669332844_n.jpg?oh=829bc1f4eb37c1feec0f869b58b2196a&oe=55DFC960" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/382733_10150445050446291_669332844_n.jpg?oh=829bc1f4eb37c1feec0f869b58b2196a&oe=55DFC960" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monash University graduation, circa 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
As an only child, I never really developed close attachments to specific friends. I always have multiple social circles existing at the same time, but they never overlapped and I evolve my circle of close friends as I go through different phases in life. Kindergarten, elementary school, high school, matriculation, law school, college, business friends, former students, grad school, coworkers, Malaysian expatriates in Austin.<br />
<br />
I have a bunch of friends from <b><span style="color: red;">elementary and high school </span></b>I still keep in close contact with: like Tse Mun, Denise, Carmen, Alison, and some from my tuition classes. Tuition classes were classes that we had to attend in private education centers after we got home from school. Yeah... Asian kids' lifestyle. I made a lot of friends through tuition classes, especially kids from other schools in the district. It was actually a really awesome way of networking, and most of the time I had more fun in tuition classes than classes at school!<br />
<br />
An Nie is my only friend from matriculation that I'm truly still friends with. When I first started <b><span style="color: purple;">South Australian Matriculation </span></b>at Taylor's, I remember having the time of my life because I felt like everybody's best friend, and I was getting invited to every social event or lunch gathering. I even tutored all my friends before our monthly tests, especially for economics and language classes. I was BFFs with a girl named Rameera but then she dropped out of the program. And another really close friend dropped out too. I started feeling lost. Then assignment season started and the people I thought were my friends turned on me when I wouldn't let them copy my projects. Not everyone, but a small group that I had really enjoyed hanging out with. That's when I got really close to An Nie, who was just a classmate before that "turning point."<br />
<br />
I had such close friends in <b><span style="color: #ea9999;">law school</span></b> but we lost touch after I dropped out, although each time I see Leila (my Iranian friend) it's like we were never apart, but it's hard to keep in touch with her because she doesn't go on social media much and she's back in Iran now raising a family.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1923580_10191231290_9254_n.jpg?oh=2f94bd9f7db181a5302c3081de321927&oe=55E11E76" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1923580_10191231290_9254_n.jpg?oh=2f94bd9f7db181a5302c3081de321927&oe=55E11E76" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My closest friends in law school, circa 2007</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I barely keep in touch with any friends from <b><span style="color: #38761d;">Monash</span></b>. Isn't that weird? I spent four years of my life there. I hung out with them every day on campus. I even went on international vacations with some of them. Jenny is one of the few friends I talk to every now and then that I knew from Monash. The rest, I correspond with on Facebook occasionally, but honestly they are just acquaintances now. It's weird how you finish college and you slowly but surely stop talking to each other, or stop having things in common to talk about anymore. May Yen was a girl I used to study with and hang out with frequently, but after she graduated we've exchanged maybe three emails in total. I used to go shopping all the time with Shaza, but now we're both married and in different countries, we rarely talk anymore. And my best friend in Monash was Jung Ai, a Korean girl who has now moved back to Korea. We spent sooo much time together and had such a fun four years together. Of course these are friendships I'd liked to have kept, but is it true to say that not all friendships can withstand distance, different communication preferences and different stages of life?<br />
<br />
My closest friends in Malaysia are really the ones I met through my <b><span style="color: red;">business world</span></b>. Oddly enough, these are friends I met online first: they either ran blog shops or start ups, and these are my friends who are as excited about business development and entrepreneurship as I am. Online friends quickly became real life friends, and we would meet up all the time. For example, despite being thousands of miles and several time zones away, <a href="http://today-i-m-suhana.blogspot.com/">Cynthia</a> remains one of my dearest friends to date. Between 2008 to 2012, I'd say I had a lot more entrepreneur friends because I was so deeply immersed in that world. Now, I don't even remember some of their names anymore - but back then, I knew the name of every store owner and the person behind each startup, and I would be talking nonstop saying hi to all my friends every time I went to an offline bazaar.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/blog.games.com/media/2012/08/uiimgtop-1343933047.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/blog.games.com/media/2012/08/uiimgtop-1343933047.png" /></a></div>
There were also my gamer-world friends. From ages 20 to 23 or so, I played PIMD (Party in my Dorm), Forsaken World and Rage of Bahamut (one at a time, not all at once). And I played them pretty hardcore. This meant a deeper immersion into the gaming worlds, resulting in online friends that I talked to everyday, and who knew me better than my real-life friends did at the time. They were really great friends, and I even ended up meeting a bunch of them in person. I still am friends with many of them to this day, even though I haven't had time to play games intensely in quite a few years.<br />
<br />
Then there are my <b><span style="color: red;">former students</span></b>. I don't keep in touch with all of them, but the ones who are on my social media are always around like colorful little butterflies, cheering on my journey in the U.S. and texting me that they miss me being in their classes. They will always have a special place in my heart. :)<br />
<br />
And now I have my <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">USC friends and Austin friends</span></b>, and they are really more than what I need because they are so supportive and caring. I don't think I have very, very close friends in either city because I'm always half-here and half-there, having to shuttle back and forth between states throughout the past two years. I hope I'll be able to develop more friendships, stronger friendships, the longer I am here in Austin.<br />
<br />
But my embedded trait as an only child stands: I don't get easily attached to my friends, because I am so accustomed to "losing" and "gaining" different friends as I go through different phases in life. It's probably a defense mechanism I developed from growing up, so that I wouldn't feel so sad all the time when we have to part ways. There are a rare few who stand the test of time and distance, like An Nie, and of course, Darren, who is my best friend in the whole world. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Although technically, I have been friends with An Nie longer than I've been friends with my husband, haha. :P)</span><br />
<br />
This brings me back to the point of this blog post: I'm okay with endings because every new beginning is some beginning's end. I've always had friends, and I'm sure I will always have friends -- but that doesn't mean I'm a stranger to losing dozens of close friends each time I make any life changes, no matter how small or big a change it is. It could be as small as changing to a different class in elementary school, installing a new game or moving to a different country like I have done.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
My mom always told me that at the end of the day, the one constant in our lives is family. "Friends," she always tells me, "flow in and flow out like water in a river. Some hang around longer, circling the pebbles and stones, but eventually the water has to flow out because more is flowing in." </blockquote>
Like many friendships, chapters in life must come to an end, but it is exciting and empowering to begin on a new journey.Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-84533397663290160382015-03-27T03:32:00.004+08:002015-03-27T03:32:38.572+08:00Of brunches, budgets and bloggers.Why hello there, blog reader.<br />
<br />
I wonder if anyone still reads this blog, besides my husband and my parents. I wonder if my parents still read my blog at all, now that I'm somewhat grown up and rather predictable <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(*cough* boring)</span>. I used to read blogs all the time, trawling them everyday, peeking into windows of other people's lives. Then the whole Facebook phenomenon took over all my social circles, and I didn't need blogs anymore to indulge in kaypoh-busybody-voyeuristic activities. But there are five blogs I still read to this day. They have one thing in common: they are all based on honesty. And because I am constantly immersed in either public relations or social media, both of which always trying to showcase the better side of every situation, <b><span style="color: red;">real gritty honesty</span></b> is refreshing. So I read these blogs.<br />
<ol>
<li><b><a href="http://iaremunyee.com/">iaremunyee</a>:</b> I don't remember how or when I befriended Mun Yee, but I think we met somewhere in our academic social circles in Malaysia so I have her as a Facebook friend. Her status updates stood out to me, and one day she linked one of her blog posts on there. Ever since then, I have been following her blogging journey because she is one of the best writers I've ever read when it comes to love, heartbreak, healing and family. She has another blog called <a href="http://sekpaumei.blogspot.com/">Sek Pau Mei</a> too.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://today-i-m-suhana.blogspot.com/">Today I Am Suhana</a>: </b>One of my dearest friends in real life and my long-standing business partner, Cynthia blogs sporadically and every time she does it's an honest, funny glimpse into the life of a Malaysian career woman. I have been following her blog for about seven years now, because that's about how long we've been friends for. </li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.reloadfood.com/">A Growing Teenager Diary Malaysia</a>:</b> I've never met this blogger - nicknamed "Wah Bo Lui" (translated as "I have no money") - but he details his daily life so meticulously that I feel like I've met him. He comes from a starkly different background than mine, and for that reason his blog posts fascinate me. He writes about failure, food and family. Some people say that his blog posts are too negative, but I think they are just honest -- and he has the liberty to write so honestly because he is an anonymous blogger. While we have very different life stories, I think WBL's self-reflections of how his academic credentials lead to high expectations that he failed to meet is very relatable. I feel the fear all the time about whether or not I can translate all my years of education into a meaningful career, and not be a disappointment to those who have supported me. </li>
<li><b><a href="http://fourfeetnine.com/">fourfeetnine</a>:</b> Audrey is the wife of Timothy Tiah, founder of Southeast Asia's blog advertising empire. I know, it sounds really intimidating right? But she isn't intimidating at all -- on the contrary, she's the most humble and accessible "celebrity blogger" I've ever met. I've bumped into her at movie theatres in Malaysia, and she even agreed to be one of my interviewees for my undergrad thesis (which was about how blogging shapes the identities of young Malaysian women). Her blog is also very honest and funny, and I can relate to her because she (1) is a noob in the kitchen just like me, and (2) she gets mad, sad, scared, and doesn't try to portray a perfect version of herself on her blog.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/">Xiaxue</a>:</b> Xiaxue's blog is my guilty pleasure. She's funny, sarcastic and doesn't try to pretend to be someone she isn't. I've been reading her blog since I was a teenager, and I hope she never quits blogging because I really want to watch Dash grow up!</li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/10343523_10153111582001291_3451333375720344707_n.jpg?oh=317bc4aabf89fbc9f734fbc0de7acfc0&oe=55A6C328" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/10343523_10153111582001291_3451333375720344707_n.jpg?oh=317bc4aabf89fbc9f734fbc0de7acfc0&oe=55A6C328" width="640" /></a></div>
My friends often ask me what I'm up to in Austin these days, since I'm spending the whole semester far away from campus. The only things I miss about USC are lobster terragon (thank you, Grubhub, for feeding me through grad school); farmer's market every Wednesday in the quad; and my friends - including some truly amazing professors. Other than that, though, sure the campus is super beautiful but I figure it'll always be there, I can always visit it when ever I travel to LA. (Hopefully I will, because the Harry Potter section is opening at Universal Studios in 2016, haha.)<br />
<br />
So here in Austin, I mostly do my work on most days. Even though I'm far away from USC I still have my part-time job, my internship and Directed Research class. I watch Netflix and run errands on other days. I meet up with my friends once every week or couple of weeks. I have brunches with Melody, my stepmom-in-law. I hang out with Darren everyday. I have not, however, had the time to play games. Now that I received my Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card in the mail, it means I can start applying for jobs and legally work in USA. So I'm guessing I'll be even busier and will have even less time for gaming. Sacrifices must be made!<br />
<br />
Speaking of sacrifices, I'm also trying harder each month to budget more carefully. It turns out there's a big difference between budgeting for school and budgeting for a working life. With the semester coming to an end and basically school coming to an end, that means my allowance is running out and money is painfully finite. Money is no longer divided cleanly into "tuition fees" and "living expenses" -- instead, it's divided into utility bills, insurance bills, tax savings, maintenance fees (things break all the time!), phone bills, food, gas, entertainment (which will inevitably be a luxury), furniture/renovations (also a luxury, since there's still a lot we need to change in the house but we'll have to go slowly because money is, as I said, finite).<br />
<br />
My contract with USC for my 20-hour-work-week job will end in a month, because it was a part of my scholarship award. Graduation is May 15, and I'm feeling the pressure to find a paying job so we can pay our bills comfortably enough to still have savings. The unfortunate thing about jobs in the PR industry (the agency world, at least) is that most of them are internships - and I just can't afford to do an unpaid internship anymore. I used to think "I'll do it for the love of the work, not for the money" but as the realization of what it's like to have car, house, insurance and maintenance bills... all of that realization sets in and I know I'll have to<b><span style="color: red;"> find a middle ground</span></b>. Don't get me wrong, I have loved the internships I've done throughout graduate school, and I learned so much. But now that I'm graduating with a Master's degree I'm going to try my hardest to find a paying job.<br />
<br />
I'll have to start jobhunting in April. It really scares me. I've been monitoring joblists for two years now, so I would be able to keep tabs on what kind of opportunities are available out there for people with my skill set, and it just terrifies me because there's so much competition out there -- and how do I get myself noticed, how do I stand out from all the other candidates vying for the same job? Particularly since I didn't grow up in Texas, or in the U.S. for that matter, how will I measure up against applicants born and raised within a culture the employers share with them? Am I smart enough, approachable enough, good enough to get a decent job? And there's the other question of what kind of jobs do I want? Where can I help the most, which company can I work in where I will contribute the most value I could possibly have to give?<br />
<br />
P.S: Went to Rodeo Austin last weekend - it was my first rodeo! Particularly excited me because I always wanted to say "This ain't my first rodeo" and now I can.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11068027_10153103616581291_969235839432591191_n.jpg?oh=702500465c836f4142379b1a972c8953&oe=55A92E33" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11068027_10153103616581291_969235839432591191_n.jpg?oh=702500465c836f4142379b1a972c8953&oe=55A92E33" width="640" /></a></div>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-21496959399086513942015-03-05T07:33:00.003+08:002015-03-05T07:58:39.652+08:00Concoctions.Being a full-time student doing Skype meetings with professors once a week feels a lot like being a stay-at-home wife, because I don't go out to work and my schedule is entirely flexible. I love that I planned my semesters in such a way that I have such an unconventional workload for my final semester. I miss my friends at USC but being able to be with my husband every day is a whole other level of awesome.<br />
<div>
<br />
I'm still working on my thesis and Directed Research stuff as well as my internship and part-time job, but I do my work from home. It doesn't really feel like hardcore work when you get to do it from the comfort of your cosy nook in the house. In your pajamas. All day.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And so, I've been leveling up my domestic skills. Besides attaining an almost professional level of grocery shopping expertise, I've been braving more recipes in the kitchen. The kitchen is now stocked with canola oil, vegetable oil, garlic powder, flour, corn starch, sesame seeds (I love sesame seeds), shredded coconut, sesame oil, sesame sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce and Japanese sweet sauce. That's like the amateur cook's starter pack right there.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the past few weeks I've been trying variations of recipes and improving them a little each time. I thought it'd be fun to document my attempts on this blog!<br />
<br />
It all started when I decided to brave the idea of using the little rice cooker my parents gave me in December. It was like opening the wardrobe and discovering the whole Narnia universe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc0oLyvAtKf0sm0bDVrxYYgdcV706qWOHOkS-g-sxXUTV1oPI0brBUH-8pNg9WwrFudIW-kYMzQdyXR4zluzFtCZKfC3faWGCu_OIqZdTlJgj02lZaaRXeKdl6IEAw7r3iIHxbjuyJsJp/s1600/rice+cooker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc0oLyvAtKf0sm0bDVrxYYgdcV706qWOHOkS-g-sxXUTV1oPI0brBUH-8pNg9WwrFudIW-kYMzQdyXR4zluzFtCZKfC3faWGCu_OIqZdTlJgj02lZaaRXeKdl6IEAw7r3iIHxbjuyJsJp/s1600/rice+cooker.jpg" height="640" width="558" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/524201_10153037969521291_1715075330722642930_n.jpg?oh=53fc1a8a92dd4f1aa3a8ce209a6b31f2&oe=5585DC0D&__gda__=1434518631_b50b2810d9626639d7b54ffa882032ab" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/524201_10153037969521291_1715075330722642930_n.jpg?oh=53fc1a8a92dd4f1aa3a8ce209a6b31f2&oe=5585DC0D&__gda__=1434518631_b50b2810d9626639d7b54ffa882032ab" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
The very first day I started legitimately cooking I spent several hours in the kitchen. It gets addictive. I made coconut chicken tenders, sticky honey sesame chicken and fried rice. I say "legitimately cooking" because I've already been able to fry eggs, boil eggs and pan-fry chicken before this. I can also assemble sandwiches, but that was a lot less intimidating than working with flour, sauces and maneuvering rice around in a pan.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/10923191_10153037973241291_8105659297953972844_n.jpg?oh=f5ce00670bfc300a0022ce0594e99e3c&oe=558D1DD2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/10923191_10153037973241291_8105659297953972844_n.jpg?oh=f5ce00670bfc300a0022ce0594e99e3c&oe=558D1DD2" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
These are my coconut chicken tenders. Ever since I started making them, I've gotten almost a dozen requests from friends or my husband's coworkers for the recipe. (He brings them to work for lunch and shares them with his office.) So I got the recipe from <a href="http://paleoleap.com/coconut-crusted-chicken-strips/">Paleo Leap</a>, but I didn't use coconut flour because I wasn't going to buy a whole different type of flour for just one recipe (haha) although I did use coconut milk the second time I made this. I also pan-fry the tenders, instead of baking them, because my husband doesn't trust me to use the oven without him around. (I'm accident-prone, he says, and I don't disagree.) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My version of coconut chicken tenders is far from perfect as you can see in the picture, because the first time I made them I burned the coconut. I didn't realize that chicken took so much longer to cook than coconut does! The second time around I cooked it on low heat, but I still burned the coconut a little because the chicken still wouldn't cook fast enough before the coconut got burned. Next time I make this, though, I'm going to cut the chicken slices thinner so that they get cooked quicker.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/10996118_10153037977281291_521978517009128784_n.jpg?oh=5ab0dd445ebc3d1dff0b892537100c83&oe=558AEFC0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/10996118_10153037977281291_521978517009128784_n.jpg?oh=5ab0dd445ebc3d1dff0b892537100c83&oe=558AEFC0" width="640" /></a>I got really ambitious and decided I would make honey sesame chicken with fried rice for Darren. I combined <a href="http://lecremedelacrumb.com/2014/01/sticky-sesame-chicken-30-minutes.html">this recipe</a> and <a href="http://rasamalaysia.com/honey-sesame-chicken/2/">this one</a>, producing an untested concoction theory in my little yellow recipe book. Unfortunately I misinterpreted one of the steps and kind of failed with this one, but I think I'll do a better job next time. It made a pretty plate though, haha.<br />
<br />
And no, my husband didn't eat sesame chicken with fried rice. :( He said my fried rice smelled like peas, because I accidentally poured too much mixed vegetables into the fried rice, and I don't think he likes sesame oil, so I won't use that next time I try to make fried rice for him. He ended up eating the chicken alone, and I reckon he liked them enough for my first attempts!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/11024742_10153046376446291_1787632633764283710_n.jpg?oh=3ed3e019605f310e1dca8ade053987e6&oe=558ED58B" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/11024742_10153046376446291_1787632633764283710_n.jpg?oh=3ed3e019605f310e1dca8ade053987e6&oe=558ED58B" width="640" /></a><br />
My third major cooking attempt was for mihun goreng a.k.a. chow mei fun or fried noodles. It's a very popular Malaysian - or maybe Asian or Chinese - dish, so you can get the recipe <a href="https://ittacook.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/bihun-be-hoon-goreng-or-fried-rice-noodles/">here</a>. I used my mom's sauce recipe instead of anything I found online because I love my mom's mihun goreng.<br />
<br />
I received countless warnings that this was a really difficult dish to produce, so I was extra careful. It took me 3.5 hours total to make this, but it was so delicious. It's also so full of vegetables and protein that it's got to be healthier and more nutritious for me than any other food I cook! The second time I made this, I was too lazy to use onion and garlic, which resulted in a less tasty and less fragrant dish but saved me work and the hassle of buying onion & garlic (and chopping them!) so it's worth skipping those ingredients. :P<br />
<br />
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10391412_10153060396606291_3738578635519728250_n.jpg?oh=56600c0039699549b8ba9f50e0c21fd5&oe=5548F514&__gda__=1435157611_d47c4763976e09670b41a7b5ccbeab0e" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10391412_10153060396606291_3738578635519728250_n.jpg?oh=56600c0039699549b8ba9f50e0c21fd5&oe=5548F514&__gda__=1435157611_d47c4763976e09670b41a7b5ccbeab0e" width="640" /></a>Today I "created" a new dish - I call it "Leftover Fried Rice" because it's made up of leftovers that need to be used before they go bad: vegetables, meats, etc. I guess I could call it "Colorful Fried Rice" instead since it's really colorful. This one has eggs, a variation of honey sesame chicken, peas, carrots, corn, a ton of cabbage and a variety of sauces. I don't have a recipe for this because I didn't follow one... I just kind of made it up as I went along!<br />
<br />
I don't like wasting food or food ingredients so I tend to wing it sometimes - like whenever I have leftover flour, I'll just coat some meat with flour and egg mixture and maybe throw in some coconut. This resulted in coconut popcorn chicken that I think I could turn into a real recipe next time. I also hate wasting egg-and-milk mixture, so one time I just poured that into the pan thinking it would make an omelette. It turned into a pancake instead, and it was so delicious.<br />
<br />
There's a lot of Malaysian food I miss eating, so I'm definitely going to try and recreate them one by one! I'll keep you posted. :D</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-57542521227971387272015-02-17T03:56:00.002+08:002015-02-17T04:05:12.513+08:00Blogilates.I know January's the month when people usually start their workout attempts, so I'm a little late to the game. But I kinda didn't have any motivation to get healthy again until my husband decided to get healthier with me, and now it's fun because I have a fitness buddy. I guess doing anything alone isn't as fun as doing it with someone else, and I'm just lucky I get to do it with my best friend. So, armed with our <a href="https://www.fitbit.com/">Fitbits</a> and an <a href="https://www.fitbit.com/aria?gclid=CL-Htbyc58MCFSRo7AodpG0AAg">Aria scale</a> in our bathroom, here we are trying to get a little healthier one step at a time.<br />
<br />
I'm on the <a href="http://www.blogilates.com/blog/2014/12/30/new-beginners-calendar-2-0-for-2015/">Blogilates 4-week workout plan</a>, so I do a set of exercises each day based on the delightful Cassey Ho's YouTube tutorials. I really like this because it's a different workout everyday, prepared by a fitness instructor to target different parts of your body, and I don't even have to leave the house!<br />
<br />
<img height="360" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11001757_10153020199241291_8136293035924945269_n.jpg?oh=024b63a697301c0b6208398e55c60ed8&oe=555E51C3&__gda__=1435541180_69201019115f734caf18df78fd50b2c0" width="640" /><br />
<br />
After getting carpet burns though, I decided to buy a properly-cushioned exercise mat. I also got some 3-pound weights so that I could do arm workouts based on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1CohjEGbPc">Cassey's 6-minute arm video</a> and a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSZj19AUU5I">low-impact cardio workout by FitnessBlender</a>.<br />
<br />
<img height="360" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10425382_10153025588896291_2401705670205047398_n.jpg?oh=29dae50fc127e52260e8cea8b2d0ac91&oe=5552DCFF&__gda__=1435122330_c3b4a70baf5f3c48e08dc7c07636f39e" width="640" /><br />
<br />
After a couple of days of doing Cassey's pilates tutorials though, I got super duper sore and had to walk like I was balancing watermelons on my head. So I skipped a day and just resumed after that. :P I figure on days that I'm too sore to do a real pilates workout, I'll just exercise with my weighted hula hoop. That's always fun!<br />
<br />
On less fitness-crazed news, Valentine's Day was really special for me this year because of two reasons:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>Reason #1</u></b><br />
My father-in-law got married that day! I really adore Melody, his new bride, I reckon she's the person I'm closest to in the family (besides my husband, haha) and it feels nice to have a gal pal to turn to. :)</blockquote>
<img height="425" src="https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10427225_10153021441946291_3607644276900897068_n.jpg?oh=3f41a001ad65f0e03f1b8c6998ddea2e&oe=558FC712" width="640" /><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>Reason #2</u></b><br />
This is actually the very first Valentine's Day that Darren and I have got to spend together physically in person. Last year we were apart because I was in school in LA, and the year before that I was working in Malaysia at the time. So this was not only our first V-day as a married couple, it was also our very first one together in person. :) While I agree that it's a over-commercialized holiday that's meant to make people spend money, it just meant a lot to me to spend it with Darren. Other than that, our souvenir from V-day is a huge dinosaur balloon we've kept in the bathroom. I call it my pet dinosaur.</blockquote>
<img height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10991168_10153022208296291_1034781244846619807_n.jpg?oh=dd370257e38371c24bad50f7b8e386c0&oe=554FAC93&__gda__=1435951084_deadd33c6e010f29a40d5a1cbe040d71" width="640" /><br />
<br />
And a belated birthday (cheese)cake for hubs the day after Valentine's Day! Homemade New York cheesecake made from scratch by my favorite neighbor Ana. :D It's Star Wars themed, of course.<br />
<br />
<img height="425" src="https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11001783_10205357820163282_6069950839159409382_n.jpg?oh=2fc7ed579099cd7127093f9401b2b85b&oe=558B8105" width="640" /><br />
<br />Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-34437900188193382502015-02-15T01:19:00.002+08:002015-02-15T01:19:38.583+08:00Kitchen duty.When I was in my late teens I would always hang out at my best friend's house, and her mom would always put her and her sisters on kitchen duty. Debone the chicken, skewer the pork, chop the onions, pound the garlic, cook the rice, set the table, and the list goes on.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"You'll never find a husband if you can't cook," she would say, over and over again, to her daughters. "Nobody wants to marry a wife who can't perform her kitchen duties."</blockquote>
Recently I told Darren this, and he laughed because I was the perfect example of how a woman can get married despite being entirely useless in the kitchen. But how common of an example am I, really?<br />
<br />
How many women are actually unable to cook for their husbands? Is this something I should feel bad about, is it a responsibility I have to a happy home?<br />
<br />
I mean, my husband cooks for me about once a week and happily sets the table and serves dinner for both of us. This morning he was looking up chicken and fried rice recipes online so he could expand his kitchen repertoire.<br />
<br />
Archaic wife-in-the-kitchen mentality aside, I reckon that I should learn how to cook, a dish at a time, and maybe someday I'll be able to make a dish that Darren actually wants to eat. It would allow us to eat healthier meals, I think, and save money by not having to eat out or get takeout that much.<br />
<br />
So far, I'm able to pan-fry just about anything, scramble eggs, boil eggs, make instant noodles and make sandwiches.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, I'm absurdly proud of myself for being able to do any of these things - because not too long ago I was entirely useless in the kitchen. But the thing about being married to someone from a different culture is that your culinary tastes are different too, and there's nothing that I can make that my husband wants to eat. The food he wants to eat, I've never even had before. I wonder if other people have this issue too, and how they resolved it?<br />
<br />
<img height="360" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/988865_10153011378641291_8322430859104045606_n.jpg?oh=9f22019279a16709061ed2774b32baef&oe=55955EB7&__gda__=1431165758_7acfd42d4d0e99e697ce3a974c160217" width="640" /><br />
<br />
<img height="360" src="https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10636170_10153011378581291_130116829088169593_n.jpg?oh=3b12608328951b826a5da31633e38d27&oe=5549B5B9" width="640" /><br />
<br />
<img height="360" src="https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10846141_10153009401151291_9147102540072328708_n.jpg?oh=566a13cf18243ab53c576334bd4adcde&oe=555D5819" width="640" /><br />
<br />
<img height="360" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10985473_10153011465726291_6142604329263371287_n.jpg?oh=85fbaa4d222e62160022a898d3d7801d&oe=55603B86&__gda__=1432207571_492d261a72aada1946214b2744b6a3ac" width="640" />Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-90207097178252926152015-02-05T01:49:00.000+08:002015-02-05T02:02:16.478+08:00Grey Goo.I can't believe it's already been a month since I last blogged. I guess I've been busy, and life moves at a fast pace - until I fall sick, which is why I'm currently unproductive and thought I'd take a few minutes to update my blog.<br />
<br />
After I got married in winter break, I had to go back to USC for the spring semester. It was then that I realized that I didn't need to be in LA for the most part, because the only two classes I have this semester are Thesis and Directed Research. That means no conventional "classes" that are held in classrooms. It was kinda like, errr, why am I back here? I was mostly in my apartment, and I didn't even get to see my friends much because I didn't have any classes with them.<br />
<br />
So my flurry of tying-up-loose-ends paperwork began. I got permission from all my supervisors and advisors to stay in Austin until graduation week. So after just three weeks in LA, I flew back to Austin. Darren was ecstatic. He's still ecstatic. Home sweet home!<br />
<br />
Now I just have Skype meetings with my supervisors once a week and do my internship and job work from the comfort of my laptop at home in Leander. I cannot describe the joy and comfort of being able to wake up next to my husband every morning, instead of alone in my apartment with no kitchen.<br />
<br />
Of course, I always say that life is fair, and good stuff comes with not-so-good stuff too. When I arrived in Texas my husband was sick with a fever and cold, and we both knew that I would probably catch it too. I was hopeful though! But despite my relentless attempts to take vitamins and drink lots of water, I inevitably fell sick just as he started recovering. I felt like crap for the past few days, and now I'm feeling a little better but my nose is all stuffy and runny at the same time. All the same, I'd still rather feel like crap at home than anywhere else in the world.<br />
<br />
Oh and I titled this <a href="https://www.greybox.com/greygoo/en/">Grey Goo</a> because Darren was at <a href="http://south.paxsite.com/">PAX South</a> two weekends ago - that's where he caught his cold, actually - and he got a Grey Goo souvenir. It was a glob of "grey goo" that sticks and slides off walls when you throw it. It's surprisingly fun to play with, until we decided to try the ceiling. Suffice to say that it was really hard to get off and now there's a permanent mark on the ceiling where we threw the Grey Goo. Lmao.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrGwIspGgcmC7J-VR1kPZdlHC77pnVO2acvFdCfE94PsJ9agyy9ncGsIksrVO67p3TeZt-05Nt8ViTFRLiWzcfeHk3R68V81bWzKinzMZd5Rj40dS4beJm4O_GAOgWAFdxm5pwmNscJrR/s1600/grey+goo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrGwIspGgcmC7J-VR1kPZdlHC77pnVO2acvFdCfE94PsJ9agyy9ncGsIksrVO67p3TeZt-05Nt8ViTFRLiWzcfeHk3R68V81bWzKinzMZd5Rj40dS4beJm4O_GAOgWAFdxm5pwmNscJrR/s1600/grey+goo.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
On other news, our green card petition is underway and we're keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the best. That's another reason why it was more practical for me to stay in Texas than LA, because I would have to fly back a few times for green card processing stuff. It turns out it's really expensive to buy flight tickets on short notice, so we're really glad to be saving the money with just one flight!<br />
<br />
I'm definitely excited to vlog about our whole green card process and experience to share on YouTube once it's all done. But for now, I'll start making <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/pungshalene/videos">vlog videos</a> again about our wedding and probably grad school or life in general. I really miss making videos, it's so much fun!<br />
<br />
P.S: Speaking of Grey Goo, PAX and the gaming world, I actually started playing <a href="http://www.riftgame.com/en/">Rift</a> after I submitted the first draft of my thesis. I played it for about 3 days and then I got busy again, but maybe I'll pick it up again when I feel better. It was actually pretty fun even though I felt like a noob starting over in a new game - didn't even figure out I had to right-click instead of left-click to pick up items - but I got invited to a random guild and a couple of guildmates helped me out with some gameplay. So that was fun, when I felt a little less lost. :PSha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-72366076254508499762015-01-07T02:27:00.001+08:002015-01-07T02:27:13.665+08:00"How's married life?"Most popular question we've been asked since we tied the knot. I don't think we feel much different, since we were already living together before getting married, but I imagine if we did it the traditional way of getting-married-and-then-moving-in-together that it would feel very different. I reckon I'll make a video someday about why I believe that moving in together before getting married is awesome and makes things easier come the big day.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I do have a blog post today about <b><span style="color: red;">the top 5 things I've learned since getting married</span></b>:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#1: Paying property taxes is very much like doing any government thing anywhere in the world - take a number, get in line, wait an hour for your turn. I don't know why I had it in my head that I would waltz up to the tax office, march up to a front desk and hand my check over and be in and out in under five minutes!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10689497_10152895124271291_4665745259952792468_n.jpg?oh=1b1433aba70ad489d6be2891cf890bc8&oe=5523F8E1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10689497_10152895124271291_4665745259952792468_n.jpg?oh=1b1433aba70ad489d6be2891cf890bc8&oe=5523F8E1" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
#2: It's easy to stop having "dates" after getting married because you live together and feel very comfortable around each other. The local civic center is a great place for Friday night date nights! Darren took me to watch Cirque Dreamz Holidaze there and it was a lot of fun. :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q86/p843x403/10687211_10152896746476291_237983503437012323_n.jpg?oh=2a915274d201575f7f2867e6925c46ba&oe=552AC951" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q86/p843x403/10687211_10152896746476291_237983503437012323_n.jpg?oh=2a915274d201575f7f2867e6925c46ba&oe=552AC951" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
#3: Don't forget to spend time with your friends. After the wedding it was really easy to stay in our own little bubble, and after having a socializing-overdose with wedding and family stuff, all we wanted to do was stay in until we got cabin fever. However, we were really busy with chores and errands, and more family stuff for Christmas, so we didn't have a honeymoon yet. I'm kind of glad because I didn't lose touch with the outside world, and still spend time with my friends in Austin.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/16812_10152922773956291_106948193895842367_n.jpg?oh=afd0dd45e98bf73ac8406ce955c0d635&oe=552DF856" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/16812_10152922773956291_106948193895842367_n.jpg?oh=afd0dd45e98bf73ac8406ce955c0d635&oe=552DF856" width="640" /></a></div>
#4: Take pictures. Maybe it's a long-distance-relationship thing more than a marriage thing, but I don't know what I would do without taking at least one picture at each memory we make or adventure we take. I want our home to be filled with photos and memories so we'll always remember what it was like to have fun with each other, just in case someday when we're older we may forget.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10906561_10152907802206291_2104997260315033928_n.jpg?oh=a46a82f8a7947ce9dc9e7ac7990bd6a1&oe=55261980&__gda__=1430029115_1fa1280e835de221eabd74f5d4e471f2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10906561_10152907802206291_2104997260315033928_n.jpg?oh=a46a82f8a7947ce9dc9e7ac7990bd6a1&oe=55261980&__gda__=1430029115_1fa1280e835de221eabd74f5d4e471f2" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
#5: The second-most popular question we've been asked is "So when are you guys planning to have kids?" (or a variation: "How many kids are you planning to have?") It's really quite a terrifying question because neither of us are good with babies or kids (cue: picture of me laughing as I made my friends' baby cry when I held him) and we feel like we can't even begin to afford one. I don't think there is a need to rush into having kids or even rush into a decision. I wonder if there are newlyweds or young-ish couples who actually have kids just because their families/communities are pressuring them to. :/ I think people just shouldn't ask such a private and personal question of couples, because you have no idea if someone is fighting a private battle - like what if a couple has been trying to conceive for years but haven't been able to, and they have been disappointed over and over again, or have spent a ton of their savings for fertility treatments?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/10897984_10152923218886291_8916409842899331094_n.jpg?oh=68aa1c92369b859c7243949c4234778c&oe=552D3392" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/10897984_10152923218886291_8916409842899331094_n.jpg?oh=68aa1c92369b859c7243949c4234778c&oe=552D3392" width="180" /></a></div>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-40788203833516513022015-01-07T02:08:00.003+08:002015-01-07T02:08:47.198+08:00Christmas 2014Last month's Christmas festivities were the most eventful I've ever had in my life! I mean, considering that I never really celebrated Christmas until I moved to Texas because my family is primarily Buddhist.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Darren and I went to three Christmas parties!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first one was a potluck party at his office. SO GOOD.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10411719_10152881317136291_7245864874254078762_n.jpg?oh=c2010eefbd926b0cdcfb867e10725d4e&oe=55248BE5" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10411719_10152881317136291_7245864874254078762_n.jpg?oh=c2010eefbd926b0cdcfb867e10725d4e&oe=55248BE5" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/62632_10152881317391291_7397795503400073511_n.jpg?oh=62e7165451631f9b35ec18e85cdf0c40&oe=55209CC9" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/62632_10152881317391291_7397795503400073511_n.jpg?oh=62e7165451631f9b35ec18e85cdf0c40&oe=55209CC9" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/1908477_10152881317486291_9083218099943334994_n.jpg?oh=e67a0a1e2e952808b70e5d9d42b827aa&oe=553445F2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/1908477_10152881317486291_9083218099943334994_n.jpg?oh=e67a0a1e2e952808b70e5d9d42b827aa&oe=553445F2" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
I even tried tamales for the first time - yummy! One of his coworker's wives made it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The second party was for actual-Christmas-day in San Antonio at Grandma Evelyn & Grandpa Nelson's.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10648235_10152886859776291_1087193131908170769_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10648235_10152886859776291_1087193131908170769_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10887429_10152886861311291_3401739511650234269_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10887429_10152886861311291_3401739511650234269_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
The third Christmas party was at my brother-in-law's home in Round Rock. This time we had all the kiddos there!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10869455_10152893960196291_6566346907835202252_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10869455_10152893960196291_6566346907835202252_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
I had a ton of fun wrapping presents for the first time without my mom's help!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/q84/p843x403/1920514_10152892877666291_8669365766447920227_n.jpg?oh=1989ad00a84ed8b32b5132fa9d4dd332&oe=55419A59&__gda__=1428904935_ea36af6890dd51651dbb285b3aee0a11" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/q84/p843x403/1920514_10152892877666291_8669365766447920227_n.jpg?oh=1989ad00a84ed8b32b5132fa9d4dd332&oe=55419A59&__gda__=1428904935_ea36af6890dd51651dbb285b3aee0a11" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10257265_10152893940561291_280792113411887851_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10257265_10152893940561291_280792113411887851_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
Darren and I were in charge of the birthday cake so we got an ice-cream cake in the shape of a snowman's head. Haha!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10495698_10152893950451291_8319455457662145369_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10495698_10152893950451291_8319455457662145369_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-81826988890503606242014-12-28T11:30:00.002+08:002014-12-28T13:16:15.484+08:00The $1,500 Wedding Budget ChallengeWhen I was little, I thought I was going to get married and have babies when I turned 25 - just like my mom did. Of course, life never turns out exactly the way you plan it. So I got married at 26 instead and have no plans for increasing the world population with babies just yet. As I grew older I didn't think I was going to get married this early -- early in terms of the modern woman anyway -- but this felt right. :)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10750383_10152891422746291_475353390749399664_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10750383_10152891422746291_475353390749399664_o.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
I know I kept <a href="http://austinlyeverafter.wordpress.com/">a wedding blog</a> to be an info-depository, but now that the wedding is over I don't think I'd update that again. I've updated this personal blog for years, though, so I thought it'd make sense to blog about our wedding here on Follow The Cable.<br />
<br />
We had our wedding at <a href="http://www.chapeldulcinea.org/">Chapel Dulcinea</a> in Austin. We picked it for three reasons:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>It's free! Remember my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh4CW0EHwV3_GRct8ia2EVTxNqP34Zncj">$1,500 wedding budget challenge</a>? I totally nailed it, and will vlog about it over time. We paid a $400 refundable deposit to get the spot for December 20 from 3-5 pm, then got the full refund when we showed up for the wedding.</li>
<li>It's beautiful. With the exception of poor weather conditions, it was pretty much set up for beauty: an outdoor wedding on top of hill country, with a great view and photo ops everywhere for your guests.</li>
<li>The free reception area is a two-minute walk away. I think the biggest price tag for weddings is usually for the venue or the food during the reception. Renting out a venue usually costs a few thousand dollars just for a few hours. With the Canadian Diamond Pavilion right next to the chapel, we got to serve our guests cake and champagne without having to rent out an additional space.</li>
</ol>
<div>
It was a small wedding because the chapel can only accommodate a certain number of guests. We invited 41 guests but 32 showed up on that day. By having a smaller guest list, we had fewer no-shows, which also saved us on the "money wasted" spectrum since our service provider charges by the guest list. And there are <b><i>always </i></b>no-shows at weddings!</div>
<br />
I used a San Antonio-based wedding service provider called <a href="http://everlastingelopements.com/">Everlasting Elopements</a> that sorted out the Reverend, florist, baker, photographer and venue set-up/clean-up for us. All I had to do after that was contact the florist and baker to discuss the details of what we wanted for the wedding cake and flowers, and choose the vows.<br />
<br />
And here's the big question: did we meet the $1,500 budget challenge?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Service providers: $736.57</li>
<li>My wedding dress from <a href="http://asos.com/">ASOS</a>: $140</li>
<li>My wedding shoes from Macy's: $30</li>
<li>Darren's wedding shirt, vest, pants & tie: $140</li>
<li>Engagement photoshoot: $150</li>
<li>Handmade guestbook: $10</li>
<li>Handmade hot chocolate wedding favors: $50</li>
<li>Handmade wedding invitations & Thank You cards: $15, with borrowed tools from Melody</li>
<li>Hair & makeup: Free & done by my good friend Ana</li>
<li>Wedding signage: Done by equally good friend Sharon</li>
<li>Wedding manicure & pedicure: Gifts from our friends Linda & Beth</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Total wedding cost: <u>$1,271.57</u> = <span style="color: red;">CHALLENGE COMPLETED!</span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, our property taxes and green card application fees are higher than we expected, so the excess money from the wedding budget is merely being redirected to our responsibilities. However, I'm extremely pleased with myself for pulling off a wedding in under $1,300. :D<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10847269_10152891430991291_6546955411014334334_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10847269_10152891430991291_6546955411014334334_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family, which is now a combination of Darren's and mine: Greg, Melody, Nelson, Evelyn, me & Darren, Kayli, Chris, Shannon, Jeannette, Travis, mom & dad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10697325_10152891430291291_6319656379775100946_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10697325_10152891430291291_6319656379775100946_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Texas friends: Conrad, Sharon, Ricky, Megan, Doug, Catherine, Linda, Ana & her baby Aidan, Wan, Alice & Mike Fuller with their kids Alexis and Ethan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10869653_10152891431601291_252610175966586333_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10869653_10152891431601291_252610175966586333_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My USC friends who traveled from LA & Florida: Vero, Ran, Laura & Cynthia!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10887111_10152891428561291_4444261188680861235_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10887111_10152891428561291_4444261188680861235_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our custom-made Pacman-themed wedding cake. Lemon flavor & delicious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/q82/p180x540/1403069_10152891414301291_7084479249240437946_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/q82/p180x540/1403069_10152891414301291_7084479249240437946_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strolling into the "sunset" - Photo by Austin Stuart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10629484_10152891427171291_4000954380112647325_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10629484_10152891427171291_4000954380112647325_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us taking a few minutes before we head to the reception to mingle with guests. Photo by Austin Stuart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10885077_10152891417616291_4799478878471046502_n.jpg?oh=a608797779aba857d3f89ae21cc2f43e&oe=54FA84E7" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10885077_10152891417616291_4799478878471046502_n.jpg?oh=a608797779aba857d3f89ae21cc2f43e&oe=54FA84E7" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The officiant who married us: Reverend Peter Johnson! Photo by Austin Stuart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10887312_10152891417491291_3503061464347373829_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10887312_10152891417491291_3503061464347373829_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our awesome wedding photographer! Photo by Austin Stuart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10838242_10152891415746291_7867102518974092141_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10838242_10152891415746291_7867102518974092141_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Chapel Dulcinea. Thank you for being free & helping young couples like us afford getting married! Photo by Austin Stuart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10750383_10152891422746291_475353390749399664_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10365610_10152891426101291_1881086017830968557_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10365610_10152891426101291_1881086017830968557_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture because Darren looks so handsome! Photo by Austin Stuart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10610510_10152891426591291_4357592602005973079_n.jpg?oh=cafbe4128835e8c25a109da81e200e81&oe=553177F3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10610510_10152891426591291_4357592602005973079_n.jpg?oh=cafbe4128835e8c25a109da81e200e81&oe=553177F3" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then I ruined his turn of being the focus :P Photo by Austin Stuart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10562542_10152891427716291_3413801484002715035_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/p180x540/10562542_10152891427716291_3413801484002715035_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So glad I got bubble wands for the wedding. The bubble pictures turned out so fun! Photo by Austin Stuart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-64224431109958620522014-12-01T10:01:00.001+08:002014-12-01T10:04:39.125+08:00Over the hill.Yesterday we went up in arms and into the battlefield when it came time to choose our wedding vows. I wanted Option 5, with a romantic flowery schpeel that was the stuff of teenage girls' dreams. The kind of stuff Edward Cullen would say to Bella. But Darren wanted Option 2, which was simple.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It's too cheesy," he complained about my Option 5.<br />
"It's too ordinary," I complained about his Option 2.<br />
"I'm never going to be able to say the Option 5 vows," he said. "'When you need to know the depth of my love for you, look not to the ring, but into my heart?' That's so cheesy!"</blockquote>
Finally we decided to combine the parts from Options 2 and 5 that we both liked, and came up with a customized vow. It isn't cheesy anymore, and not boring either, because I got to jazz Option 2 up with the cool parts of Option 5.<br />
<br />
Later, he sent me a picture he found that said:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I know we've been together for kind of a while now and life isn't all hot dates and romance all the time anymore but I want you to know that there is nobody I would rather do it with than you. Also: you make me so happy. It's kind of embarrassing."</blockquote>
I told him he was cheesy after all. And he threw his hands up in the air, pretending to give up. But I thought to myself, he's the sweetest person I've ever had the privilege of having in my life. And I wouldn't trade him for anyone -- not even Edward Cullen. (And that's saying a lot!)<br />
<br />
The most important lesson I learned when I was 25, I think, is the importance of compromise in a relationship.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10704181_10152827529761291_1359520101875830931_n.jpg?oh=90a57a992d161edf365e018df31c8871&oe=5503AAF4&__gda__=1426532889_08ecc4e833b3e78d67853eacdd3c3e6d" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10704181_10152827529761291_1359520101875830931_n.jpg?oh=90a57a992d161edf365e018df31c8871&oe=5503AAF4&__gda__=1426532889_08ecc4e833b3e78d67853eacdd3c3e6d" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Now that I'm 26, I wonder what this year will bring for me. It's my last five days in LA before winter break. It's hard to believe that when I return next year, I'll be a married woman. I don't think I'll feel any different, other than having a different ring on my finger, and probably being worried all the time of that one falling off.<br />
<br />
I got rehired as a <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Social Media Associate for the Strategic Communication & Public Relations Center</b></span>, so I'll still be working for USC next year. I'll still be <span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>interning at LMJPR</b></span> in addition to my job and classes. In fact, things will be pretty much the same as this semester - with one big difference.<br />
<br />
Soon I will be <b><span style="color: #e06666;">retiring as co-president of TriSight</span></b>, which will be a huge load off of my shoulders. Our successors take over in January. I can't wait! Even though being co-president has been the most rewarding extracurricular experience I've ever had, it has been a black hole of time and energy. This semester it's felt like I have three part-time jobs in addition to overloading on classes in grad school, wedding planning and green card paperwork. I know lots of people have it harder, but I felt hopelessly overwhelmed sometimes and got sick more times this semester than ever in my life.<br />
<br />
I just think I bit off more than I could chew, but I've survived the semester so maybe I could handle it after all. :)<br />
<br />
However... that doesn't mean I want to take on that much again. With my chapter closed in TriSight, I can focus on completing my thesis, tending to green card matters, my job and internship, as well as Directed Research class with Dr. Kjerstin Thorson come springtime. Because I overloaded on classes at every opportunity this year, next semester I only have my thesis and Directed Research to do. I did this so I wouldn't miss classes while I'm flying to Texas for green card interviews and stuff.<br />
<br />
I'm a big believer in planning ahead. :)<br />
<br />
Other than that, I guess Darren and I will be working on getting my green card. Then I'll start applying for jobs. When I was younger I always dreamed that I would get job offers before I even graduated, but now that I'm 26 I'm starting to see how unrealistic that dream is. I actually had a few job offers before I completed my Bachelor's degree - largely because I was the founder of <a href="http://yourshoppingkaki.com/">YourShoppingKaki</a> and a fair few people wanted me in their companies, but since I turned all of them down to pursue a new life in America... I'm back to the drawing board in a huge country where nobody knows my name.<br />
<br />
The hardest part is that I don't know where I want to go to work either, whether in a public relations agency or in-house, or in a government or financial sector. Nonprofit or start-up? Established big leagues or go boutique? The possibilities seem endless, but how employable am I? I wonder who my competitors are, as May unleashes a storm of graduates to snap up job vacancies and internships in Austin.Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-60587937091391875092014-11-25T02:52:00.001+08:002014-11-25T03:02:58.485+08:00Six days to twenty-six.Since it's smack in the middle of finals season, I think it's safe to say this will be the last blog post I get to write while I'm still 25.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I'm going to be over the hill at the end of the month," I said to Darren.<br />
"You're full of crap," he laughed.</blockquote>
While my younger-than-me-by-1-year-and-2-months S.O. tells me I'm nowhere near greyhood, I have a short white hair on the top of my head that I've been trying to pluck out for the entire semester. But because it's so short, it's hard to grab and yank out. As a result, I've been walking around for the past three months with a white hair on the top of my head and hoping nobody notices.<br />
<br />
I know, I know. Smallest problem in the world.<br />
<br />
On a brighter note, here are some highlights from the past month that I haven't been blogging!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10392464_10152770304981291_4845818929231628264_n.jpg?oh=3d11901d89699fe8737f47d6c86b39b2&oe=54DCBE07&__gda__=1423620946_7f0e445ea02a0ce387a22bc4d28d0c09" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10392464_10152770304981291_4845818929231628264_n.jpg?oh=3d11901d89699fe8737f47d6c86b39b2&oe=54DCBE07&__gda__=1423620946_7f0e445ea02a0ce387a22bc4d28d0c09" width="640" /></a></div>
Went to eat nasi lemak and other Malaysian food at Pappa Rich in Koreatown! It is definitely my favorite restaurant in LA now. I just wish they offered delivery services, because I don't have a car here!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10685390_10152800092001291_5488024138464462225_n.jpg?oh=0f84bdfd49a2991783b2612bea4384af&oe=550840B3&__gda__=1426978022_f24304a62a63b84793fb9744d0a741d3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10685390_10152800092001291_5488024138464462225_n.jpg?oh=0f84bdfd49a2991783b2612bea4384af&oe=550840B3&__gda__=1426978022_f24304a62a63b84793fb9744d0a741d3" width="640" /></a></div>
Laura took me to Disneyland again as a thank-you treat for being co-presidents with her on TriSight. :D I enjoyed Disneyland, but as usual I was terrified on all the rides. Just look at my face on Splash Mountain: that's pretty much how I look on ALL the rides!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1604978_10152807684741291_5909275286442296859_n.jpg?oh=a0c8c334543d9f87081047b7de82d3e0&oe=551DED08&__gda__=1427225905_6ad55cc45c9e9ce746e1ef870c6d958d" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1604978_10152807684741291_5909275286442296859_n.jpg?oh=a0c8c334543d9f87081047b7de82d3e0&oe=551DED08&__gda__=1427225905_6ad55cc45c9e9ce746e1ef870c6d958d" width="640" /></a></div>
We finished our last social media shift at the Wallis Media Center. I never thought it was going to be fun to do four-hour shifts each week, but it gave me the opportunity to get to know my classmates so much better! It's because we work in small teams of three, and I decided to play roulette with the schedule so I got to team up with as many different people as possible. A decision I certainly don't regret! :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/1470103_10152812121066291_4653647182275069957_n.jpg?oh=98ba824cfdb3ebe407eade8fae3e5744&oe=54D7FAD5" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/1470103_10152812121066291_4653647182275069957_n.jpg?oh=98ba824cfdb3ebe407eade8fae3e5744&oe=54D7FAD5" width="640" /></a></div>
My Personal Branding professor, <a href="http://jessweiner.com/">Jess Weiner</a>, found out a couple of months ago that I'm a not-so-secret fan of Ever After High and Monster High. She said she would rock my world before the semester ended. Last Thursday night, she brought a mysterious Monster High bag to class. I didn't notice it at first because, well, I'm not exactly the most observant person around when I didn't turn on my "observe the environment now!" inner switch. My friends shouted at me to look at her, and then I gasped. Then Jess made me wait til the end of our three-hour class before announcing that she had one thing left to do before she let us go for the night...<br />
<br />
AND THEN SHE GAVE ME THREE DOLLS. I cried. In front of everyone. While they held out their phone cameras taking videos of me sobbing in happiness.Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-3014434430821321852014-10-25T12:48:00.003+08:002014-10-25T12:53:16.975+08:00Do nice guys really finish last?Ask any Malaysian kid: if you go to public school in the suburbs, the kind where your parents and your friends' parents come visit during recess, the type of school where there's a PTA meeting every month so your teachers can tell your parents if you've been too naughty in class -- you're going to feel the heat of competition making the comfy seat uncomfortably hot and you're going to feel compelled to stand up and stand out. This was more so in elementary school than later years, but that's when our personalities are shaped.<br />
<br />
Every time there was a test, we would make score comparison charts featuring everyone else in class - like Excel for children, but with pen and paper in our composition books. "How much did you get for <i>Bahasa Inggeris</i>? What about <i>Matematik</i>? What about <i>Sains</i>?" We'd fill out each other's charts, skulking around classrooms in rotation to get everyone's grades. Then we'd tally up the totals to create class rankings.<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, and we were about ten years old.<br />
<br />
The weird thing about this anecdote is that even if I could turn back time, I wouldn't change anything about the past. As horribly embarrassing as it is to look back at the silly things we did as children, I think having that sort of foundation in being competitive meant I could survive -- even thrive. I believe that being competitive gives you the ambition to improve, to be better than your best self and not to rest on your laurels. Being competitive goes hand in hand with being able to set goals and compete with yourself and the world around you to try your damn hardest to attain them.<br />
<br />
But many people view me as not assertive enough, not aggressive enough... because even though I believe I am a fundamentally competitive person, there are so many hundreds of thousands of people more competitive than I am. There's always someone who wants something more and will do anything to get it.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10423649_10152715672156291_4215479233280213547_n.jpg?oh=ea70951ed7ebc6d90c445ec68fc91f7e&oe=54E5F61E" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10423649_10152715672156291_4215479233280213547_n.jpg?oh=ea70951ed7ebc6d90c445ec68fc91f7e&oe=54E5F61E" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The sign says "No Parking Here"<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So here's my question: <b><span style="color: red;">where do you draw the line?</span></b> If you're running a race and your opponent stumbles and falls, do you turn back to give him a hand to help him back up on his feet... or do you take advantage of his fall to race to victory?<br />
<br />
I don't have a hard and fast answer to that -- I'd say it depends on how badly I want the prize at the end of the race, what kind of person I feel my opponent is and what I have riding on this competition. But I don't believe I could deliberately do anything to harm someone else on the path to my goals. Maybe it's because I'm fortunate enough not to have to want anything that badly, or maybe I'm just fortunate enough to not desire for so many of the things that so many people wants -- fame, power, excessive wealth.<br />
<br />
One of my professors says that there's always a low-hanging fruit, mid-hanging fruit and high-hanging fruit. I'm okay with just enough, with that low-hanging fruit: I don't want to be famous or powerful, I just want to like my job and be good at it, take home enough money to comfortably pay the bills plus have enough for emergencies and savings, have a life, be a good person.<br />
<br />
But no nice guys finish last? Being in LA for over a year now, I've come to realize that even though PR people have the knack to be really friendly and charismatic, the truth is that public relations is a competitive industry with lots of politics and cutthroat ladder-climbing... just like every other job! However, last week we had a guest speaker in one of our classes who was a specialist at lobbying and spinning. She said something that I thought was very profound: "Always bank goodwill."<br />
<br />
She meant that having goodwill with people we worked with would open doors for us in the long-term, and that's why we should never step on other people if we can help it. Currying favors, gaining a reputation for being a good person without being a pushover and developing rapport with people seemed to be a key to success. And I ate it up: I love being the good guy, even though sometimes I have to put on my boss hat when people screw up or don't do their weight. But I love goodwill. If I could do PR for Goodwill or Make-A-Wish or a nonprofit and still be able to pay the bills, I would love my job. Maybe I'll get lucky and score a job managing CSR or charitable initiatives at a corporation.<br />
<br />
In grad school we often have to talk about our career goals. "I want to be the CEO of Microsoft," someone says. "I want to be the president of a university," someone else says. "I want to run my own business and expand it across three countries," says another someone.<br />
<br />
When it comes to my turn I never feel like I have an answer on the same level of ambition as anybody else. I can't say "I just want to be happy" because that sounds cliche even if it's the truth. I usually ramble something like <span style="color: #e06666;">"I'm open to opportunities that I come by, but I hope to work in areas of my interest: digital, social, multicultural."</span><br />
<br />
How do I know what my career goals are if I don't know what's available? I need to try my hand at jobs I can get, and then carve out a career path based on the interests and expertise I develop, connections I make and opportunities that arise. It's hard enough that I'll be in a city I didn't grow up in with only a handful of friends: I guess I never was one for ambitions unless it was something I felt I could realistically make happen.Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-81123737588052579702014-10-18T06:45:00.003+08:002014-10-18T06:45:42.212+08:00Retweetability.I imagine that if someone from the 90s came to the world today, he or she would be so confused by words like "retweetability" and "shareable." <div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfA06b3NORYXgDXeYRzUcdwMxahnvtV-mmXkmD7sAtXJoZD5k0iT8bbvzTA0lM6YAj9bJ_b6B3ewn9hi-gXPyYvg83wv_DeI0gQR7pYFLBWlXVLNtLJIPnBS6kgkw834J8CLsOY01KQcB/s1600/usc+annenberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfA06b3NORYXgDXeYRzUcdwMxahnvtV-mmXkmD7sAtXJoZD5k0iT8bbvzTA0lM6YAj9bJ_b6B3ewn9hi-gXPyYvg83wv_DeI0gQR7pYFLBWlXVLNtLJIPnBS6kgkw834J8CLsOY01KQcB/s1600/usc+annenberg.jpg" height="300" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
Is it strange that I'm excited because USC Annenberg retweeted my tweet on its <a href="https://twitter.com/USCAnnenberg">Twitter page</a>? I mean, first of all, this was a school that I was praying and praying to be accepted into - less than two years ago! A world-famous university with the best public relations graduate program in the world! And just two years later I'm actually a part of the people who do social media thingamajigs behind the scenes for the institution. Yup, that's worthy of a multiple-chin smile. :D)))</div>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-86553098232216545702014-10-16T11:41:00.001+08:002014-10-16T11:41:27.294+08:00A Trojan Longhorn? Almost!There I was, wearing a cardinal-and-gold USC shirt, pulling my neon yellow suitcase into the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. I flew in from LAX in the wee hours of Friday morning to accompany Darren on his company trip to Dallas. It sounded like the perfect weekend: a trip with his lovely coworkers to the Red River Showdown, the state fair and dinner at Dave and Buster's -- powered up game card included! Plus a glorious stay in a very comfy hotel (I don't know why I didn't pay attention to the hotel name, because the bed and bathroom were amazing).<br />
<br />
<b>Best. Weekend. Ever.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10687029_10152725585941291_2105957368380119904_n.jpg?oh=60c537b6a6ec1ce38c2445c8ec139552&oe=54C3F327&__gda__=1420568280_2cb10144f451d8a13552281af712b0de" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10420761_10152725171781291_4041895801161346918_n.jpg?oh=ac77c0b3de518146cc2e8863b207549b&oe=54ADB583" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10420761_10152725171781291_4041895801161346918_n.jpg?oh=ac77c0b3de518146cc2e8863b207549b&oe=54ADB583" width="400" /></a></div>
It was even totally okay that I had to study for the trip. That's right: despite the fact that this was my four-day escape from the stress-inducing terror that is grad school, I had to immerse myself in video tutorials about American college football.<br />
<br />
I'm really not a sports fan. But after all those videos plus Darren's explanations, and sitting through all four quarters of a 3.5 hour football game, I think I finally leveled up. :D<br />
<br />
I also experienced a tailgate for the first time, since the fair was one gigantic tailgate. I loved the Texas State Fair, seriously, I want to go back every year. There are amazing ride and games and food. Wish it was in Austin instead of Dallas, and I wish you didn't need to buy football tickets to enter the fair. :( Cos those football tickets are really expensive.<br />
<br />
But anyway! It was really fun watching the Longhorns try to defeat the Sooners. It was such a close fight at 26 vs 31, and so much action happened in the fourth quarter. Look at me, using all these football words and actually understanding what I'm writing!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10687029_10152725585941291_2105957368380119904_n.jpg?oh=60c537b6a6ec1ce38c2445c8ec139552&oe=54C3F327&__gda__=1420568280_2cb10144f451d8a13552281af712b0de" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/10687029_10152725585941291_2105957368380119904_n.jpg?oh=60c537b6a6ec1ce38c2445c8ec139552&oe=54C3F327&__gda__=1420568280_2cb10144f451d8a13552281af712b0de" width="400" /></a></div>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-77824431670255084792014-10-08T16:05:00.002+08:002014-10-08T16:13:03.776+08:00Weight.When I was younger all I cared about<br />
were the numbers on a scale that would tell me<br />
if I should be praised for smaller numbers<br />
if I was worthy;<br />
<br />
Or if I should be punished for lacking discipline,<br />
self-preservation, motivation, a desire to succeed<br />
Because where I come from, a girl's weight<br />
is her defining trait, the only she could need;<br />
<br />
Then I grew older and up and sideways<br />
two dress sizes bigger life still went on<br />
And men started to call me curvy<br />
and used words I never thought<br />
would be associated with me -<br />
womanly, sexy.<br />
<br />
But beyond the numbers on a scale<br />
I grew up and found a desire within me<br />
to put aside the digits and care<br />
about living longer, being healthier,<br />
so I wouldn't put my loved ones in despair.<br />
<br />
In growing up I realized<br />
the weight that matters isn't related to BMI<br />
but the weight that we shoulder<br />
of baggage from the past<br />
of fears of the future<br />
bills of the present.<br />
<br />
This weight is real, it matters far more<br />
than whether your stomach looks flat in<br />
that bodycon dress;<br />
I'll gladly carry the weight of my responsibilities<br />
be healthy, be happy, as for the rest --<br />
I couldn't care less.<br />
<br />
* * *<br />
I think I never realized this when I was younger, but I was bullied as a child and as a teenager for being overweight. I dismissed them as "jokes" because they weren't anything like the hardcore bullying that gets reported in newspapers or made into Hallmark movies, but as I grew older I realized that I was bullied -- but just never knew to label it that way because being hurt and going home crying couldn't possibly mean that my "friends" were bullying me. Eventually<i> - when I have more time! - </i>I will vlog about that experience and the revelations that came out of it, because I think there are a lot of young girls out there who go through the same things... and don't know why it makes them so sad. I just wanted to take five minutes to say <b><span style="color: red;">hey, you're not alone, and I came out stronger so you will too!</span></b>Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-40907625906388690172014-10-05T08:18:00.004+08:002014-10-06T04:03:29.996+08:00Time.If I had more free time and less work to do, I would do more of the things I love instead of things that just need to be done.<br />
<br />
<b>I would sketch </b>cartoons in my sketchbook and color them in with Sharpies.<br />
<br />
<b>I would learn to play the ukulele and guitar</b>, but I understand now that I don't have that kind of luxury of time in grad school. I had Darren take my ukulele to Austin with him when he left LA in early September. His dad gave us a gorgeous guitar that I really want to learn how to play, but I wonder if I will have more or less time when I graduate and get a job.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHLosizEepLZe_WzZmCCCD8KQbbOt3fCaEjlvPLSZ0wZL-E0kmV8GdejEHS_Gp8qzbYtyO5t-iGWoop_vywHsMr1h_jlWoFhgO_i3sWDmFiDHKazqiggRvUTkEDYtYx9hYfHVZWrddLPO/s1600/guitar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHLosizEepLZe_WzZmCCCD8KQbbOt3fCaEjlvPLSZ0wZL-E0kmV8GdejEHS_Gp8qzbYtyO5t-iGWoop_vywHsMr1h_jlWoFhgO_i3sWDmFiDHKazqiggRvUTkEDYtYx9hYfHVZWrddLPO/s1600/guitar.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>I would vlog more regularly.</b> I haven't made a single video since the Fall semester began. I would make videos and teach myself to edit better, learning more styles and techniques through YouTube.<br />
<br />
<b>I would write more</b>, both poetry and blogging. I'm a member of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/676435812401761/">The Writer's Tower</a> and I haven't contributed in months. When I was younger I always wanted to write a book someday, and be a published author, but I've since given up that dream because I know I don't have the time or discipline... especially when what I do every week is write several essays and reports for school and work.<br />
<br />
<b>I would learn Spanish. </b>It's such a useful language to know in Texas. It bums me out that I can only say a few phrases.<br />
<br />
<b>I would do volunteer work once a week</b>. Being in LA, in this temporary situation, without a car, is difficult for this. Most people volunteer on weekends -- I spend my weekends cooped up in my apartment doing homework, because it's the only time I have to get the bulk of my assignments done. I want to be able to do something more with my life than only help myself, and I really hope that when I graduate I will be able to take a few hours a week to incorporate volunteer work in my lifestyle.<br />
<br />
<b>I would spend more time with my friends.</b> I really don't spend much time with my friends, not this semester anyway: we all have classes, internships, jobs, relationships and a crap ton of homework -- and sometimes I'm honestly just too lazy to add one more thing to do my to-do list to schedule time to meet up with a friend I haven't seen in a while. I would try to be a better friend.<br />
<br />
I <i>won't</i> say that I would spend more time with my family because they are the only ones I proactively take time to spend with everyday -- my parents and my fiance. I guess my mom always taught me that no matter what happens in life, the only people who will always be by your side are your family.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Friends come and go through different stages in life," she told me. </blockquote>
I think it was when I was a teenager, crying because someone had decided to stop being my friend. Back then, I cared way too much about being liked. Now I really don't care, because I can't control what other people want to think or say about me, they don't matter anyway - and I have way more important things to do.<br />
<br />
So I wanna say that I have my priorities in layers:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>My family: my parents and my partner. They'll <i><b>always </b></i>be my number ones. </li>
<li>My responsibilities: School, work, TriSight. I take pride in being reliable.</li>
<li>My friends. Is it bad that this is number 3? I don't know. Some people have friends as number 1. But this is my reality anyway: I try my best to make time for my best friends, especially if they need me right now, and then friends who have proven themselves as people I should really appreciate; and then just people I know because our paths have crossed at this point in time. </li>
</ol>
<br />
I've lost a lot of friends in the past 20 plus years. A few of them passed away too young, but most of them I lost through the passage of time and decisions that separated us. Which makes me wonder if life is too short not to be doing the things I love.<br />
<br />
But the things I love don't pay the bills or get me through my classes. Conundrums. Maybe, despite how organized and responsible I am, I'm just bad at time management.Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-27759173168514975042014-09-28T15:29:00.001+08:002014-09-28T15:29:03.823+08:00The dog and the bone.When I was little, one of the first fables I was ever told was the tale of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dog_and_Its_Reflection">the dog and the bone</a>. Basically, there was a dog with a bone. He was walking past a river and saw his reflection, but thought it was another dog with a bone. He got greedy and wanted to get that dog's bone too, but when he opened his mouth he dropped his own bone into the water.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.jgoliverstudio.com/img_child/dog_bone2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.jgoliverstudio.com/img_child/dog_bone2.jpg" height="587" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I was going through my old blog posts when I realized that I described <a href="http://pungshalene.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-last-blueberry-and-raisin-bread.html">last semester</a> as the most tiring semester ever. Ha, how wrong I was! Or, well, I was right at the time, but then this semester I'm kinda like the dog in the tale of the dog and the bone. :( I have a feeling that I bit off more than I can chew, but if I can increasingly handle a larger workload, that must mean that I'm... growing up?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Last semester I took four classes and felt the strain. <b><span style="color: blue;">This semester, I'm taking FIVE classes.</span></b> I wasn't trying to outdo myself, because I was initially just taking four classes including a thesis class. Then I landed a paid internship and had to enroll in a class called Journalism Internship. I thought there wouldn't be any work to do for it since you already have to do an internship to take the class, but it turns out there's an assignment due for that class every week as well as a midterm and final paper!</li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">I'm still a Project Associate at USC.</span></b> But after two semesters of working for Professor Aimei Yang, the school gave me a new assignment: I'm a social media associate for the Strategic Communication and Public Relations Center at USC, working under the direction of the Program Director, Jerry Swerling. </li>
<li><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">I'm still the co-president of <a href="http://trisight.org/">TriSight</a>.</span></b> Running a student organization is time-consuming and hugely draining, because you're managing people - and people are the most challenging segment to manage! I also got a bit too ambitious and launched a whole bunch of new incentive programs this semester, which contributed to the burning-out-within-three-weeks.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #e06666;">This semester, we start working on our Master's thesis.</span></b> It stretches across this semester and the next, but the bulk of the work is done this semester and during winter break. Next semester is just about editing and making improvements for each revised version. Anyone who has done a thesis before will understand how stressful and taxing the process is.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I'm working on the green card application packet with Darren.</span></b> This process is similar to the strenuous process of applying for grad school in the U.S. -- a lot of forms to fill, a lot of information and materials to get, and I'll have to get a medical test done on me too. Next semester we'll be continuing this process because post-filing, there's a biometrics appointment and the green card interview, etc.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: lime;">I'm doing an internship at <a href="http://www.lauraminjackson.com/">LMJPR</a>.</span></b> I love the work, honestly, the agency primarily specializes in healthcare PR and I find it so meaningful and interesting. Plus Laura Jackson is an amazing boss. </li>
</ul>
<div>
But yes... I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I get really stressed out sometimes but most of the time I try my best to handle all my responsibilities calmly. Because it's all a part of challenging yourself and growing up, right? I am also not job-hunting until next year because I think I cannot handle any more commitments for the rest of this year. :/ I'll cross that bridge when it comes!</div>
Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260434521129443059.post-24166600048396993302014-09-28T14:33:00.004+08:002014-09-28T14:35:28.557+08:00Missing me.Is it weird that I miss being myself?
<br />
<br />
I miss feeling like myself, with my gregarious appetite and bouncy energy. Pneumonia is the longest illness I've ever had, I think, and even though it's not even a serious case -- it's only "mild pneumonia" I still feel like I'm running on 60% battery all the time. It's a strangely unpleasant feeling.<br />
<br />
I went to the doctor for my second x-ray and he said that I'm doing great: on the mend, and I should be myself again in a few weeks.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The body takes time to heal," he told me, when I asked him why my voice was so hoarse and weak.</blockquote>
So yeah. <b><i>I miss me. </i></b>I know I'm being a big baby, it's not even a serious illness compared to the really serious illnesses some people have, but I feel so alone and far away from Darren and my parents that it just makes me feel like crying because nobody can hug me and bring me soup. <i>(And there have been times, embarrassingly, when I did lie in bed crying while I had a fever for six days... just because I felt sick and alone and missed my mom, dad, and fiance.)</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsaW2n-RSPAusH7nCd2VMko7ochsmqbnyrhnGcSNSCPycq465GOT2HbooUdq369J2P-ymfb5zI4uFhaMkyV_VtVzF9GLNeuoP8KRd5bJMOaCwsL2nxJS5lk1I5z_CjlhcXmmnpc7kaX0C/s1600/IMG_2100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsaW2n-RSPAusH7nCd2VMko7ochsmqbnyrhnGcSNSCPycq465GOT2HbooUdq369J2P-ymfb5zI4uFhaMkyV_VtVzF9GLNeuoP8KRd5bJMOaCwsL2nxJS5lk1I5z_CjlhcXmmnpc7kaX0C/s1600/IMG_2100.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On the bright side, going to the Engemann Health Center so often gets my blood pressure checked a fair bit. And the nurse told me that my blood pressure is great! I felt really happy and hugely relieved because I thought I might have developed high blood pressure, what with the stress and poor eating habits over the last year, but maybe my newfound appreciation for fruits and orange juice made me healthier again.<br />
<br />
It's ironic that it took getting sick to make me take steps to get healthy. I don't think I'll ever be thin, or even slim, but I sure don't want to be in a position where I have a crap immune system or can't walk up the stairs at 40.<br />
<br />
Part of why I'm blogging my heart out right now is to spark a part of myself that will make me feel like <i><b>me</b></i> again. Also, one of my blog readers <a href="https://twitter.com/pungshalene">tweeted me</a> congrats on my engagement, which makes me feel like there are actual humans reading this blog and I'm not just talking to myself. I like sharing my experiences in my life, and this blog also helps me remember things that I otherwise would forget.<br />
<br />
This weekend I'm staying home to work on my assignments, particularly getting started on my midterms because I'm taking a mini-vacation for the Red River Shootout in October. And the only way I can get away for a weekend during a semester at grad school is to work extra hard before the trip. I see my classmates in grad school going to Vegas a bunch of times during the semester and I can't help but envy them: they must be doing something I'm not in terms of time management. If I had more weekends off I could be in Austin more and not feel so wretchedly lonely and transportation-deprived in LA.<br />
<br />
Speaking of transportation, the crime rate in the USC area is spiraling to a level that scares me. I literally have moments where I feel frightened while walking home from class at night - just last week I heard a woman shouting (at nobody?) down the street I was walking, and it was deserted. There are supposed to be campus security guards (we call them "yellow jackets") stationed at high-traffic corners, and sometimes there's one on my street but more than half the time there's nobody there. And it scares me, because a few days ago someone tried to rob a girl on the street next to my apartment, even though it was 8:00 a.m. and she was walking to school. So I've been taking the school bus/USC tram/shuttle service to and from class whenever I can, just to reduce the risk of being harmed. And the bus service really disappoints me sometimes, because the wait is long - it's supposed to come once every 30 minutes but most of the time it takes way longer - and during all "peak hours" the bus is always full and has to tell waiting students to wait for the next bus. That means another 30 minutes' wait. All my classes end late at night, then I end up waiting 40-60 minutes for the bus, which means I get home really late. It's tiring and contributes to worse health, imho.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">What USC should do is invest more in security guards so students can walk home safely. And/or invest in an extra bus for peak hours... which can be identified just by asking the bus drivers.</span></b> Overall, I find the transportation and security provided by the university to be better-than-nothing, but still disappointing because such a good - and expensive - university should be able to do better. Maybe there are internal issues it's facing that I don't understand, but from a student/consumer's point of view, I think the students' safety should be their number 1 priority. :( I feel bad that my parents are worried about my safety everyday while I'm here at USC:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Just nine months to go," my dad said at the start of the semester. "Hope everything will be ok." </blockquote>
On one hand, he could just be hoping everything will be okay in terms of me being able to graduate and get my Master's degree. Especially since I have a haunting failure of dropping out of law school at the end of second year, which comes back to worry me every now and then whether I'm a quitter or if I have it in me to finish what I started. But when he said it, I read it as "nine months to go, hope you will be safe in a high-crime area."<br />
<br />
I should preface this concern about crime in the area by mentioning that over the summer, a USC grad student was killed while walking home from a study group. He was assaulted by a group of people, and then he died from his injuries. He was an international student from China, so the incident really struck a chord among the international student community - who tend to live in campus housing near the university. My Chinese friends are furious because they said the "yellow jackets" were practically nonexistent over the summer break, which is frustrating because many international students actually attend summer school over the break. So it's not like there are no students around to protect.<br />
<br />
Two years ago, a pair of Chinese USC students were shot and killed in their car near campus. Same outrage happened... and then over time, I guess people forgot about it. I didn't even remember it when I applied to USC. And I figured the school would beef up security after something as tragic as that happening. I feel like they did improve security, and it's hard to control bad things that happen when there are so many poor and homeless people in the neighborhood... so the least they can do is provide an extra school bus during rush hours so students can take the school bus instead of walk.<br />
<br />
I always try not to blog about negative or depressing issues on my blog, but I think it's time that I speak my mind about matters close to my heart. Do I regret choosing to study at USC? Of course not: it still has the top public relations graduate program in the world. Do I regret that the environment is like this? Yes, but it's pretty much wound in red tape and out of my control so the only thing I can do is take active precautions to lower the risk I put myself in.<br />
<br />
That's all anyone can do, really. :(Sha-Lenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455564126983892627noreply@blogger.com0