Escape from WS!

SO I finally left my hometown for the first time in a long time! Early morning flight (as in 5:45) and we are in DC hanging out :)

So while my dad was otherwise occupied by his conference, I wandered the city aimlessly on foot because I think that's the best way to get to know a place :) I found the White House and watched the tourists for awhile, then ran into a sweet little farmer's market and bought a smoked salmon empenada (it was delicious), saw some construction. You know, today was the first time every I saw someone use a jackhammer in real life? I've only seen jackhammers in movies and Club Penguin :P I'm glad I've practiced crossing the road nonchalantly in Taiwan, because there were a lot of angsty tourists running around the crosswalks today. 

This afternoon after his conference was over, we wandered around Lincoln Memorial and did all that touristy stuff. And of course we went to Chinatown for dinner, a must for all big city vacations! 

I'm not sure what we're doing tomorrow. Besides try to find famous politicians and get a spot in Congress. 

RL

Ten Things on a Thursday

I don't have anything insightful to say today, but I feel like saying things anyway. Which brings us to.........Ten Random Things Going On in My Head Right Now.

1. I should wash my hair sometime before work tomorrow.
2. Is there a bug on my leg?
3. FINALLY tomorrow is Friday!!!!
4. Don't do any online shopping today, DON'T DO IT!!! 
5. Why do people bash things they know nothing about?
6. Man, I need to practice violin or viola. Probably both. Definitely both.
7. That quesadilla is gurgling in my tummy...
8. Is 8:30 pm too early to go to bed?
9. Has anyone's stomach actually exploded from eating too much?
10. Yeah, I could eat right now.

TOODLE DOO

RY

Internal Musings

Yesterday, I brought the incoming freshmen I'm working with (new international students taking part in the program I'm helping out with) to get USA cell phone plans taken care of. While I was waiting, the representatives from the cell phone carrier started trying to get me to convert to their plan, asking me questions about what carrier and plan I was with now, if I was a student and could qualify for their student discount, etc. etc. They were pretty good salespeople, but I politely declined ;)

In the midst of trying to shy away from their attempts to demonstrate how much better their prices were, I mentioned how I was already on a family plan and had a pretty good deal with my current carrier. When they asked me how many people were in my family, I told them without hesitating that there were four of us--my dad, mom, sister, and me. 

I really need to stop doing that. I don't continue to say that my mom is still a part of my family because I haven't come to terms or her passing from cancer; in fact, I have long since accepted that my life now no longer has that maternal figure (which is why, I think, I become very attached very quickly to almost all maternal figures I meet). Instead, I believe it is because I know of the societal expectation of the idea of a family, and that even with increasing rate of divorce, teenage pregnancy, and single parents, people confronted with atypical families are taken aback. This leads to questions, both voiced or left unsaid, about where a parent has gone. 

Herein lies my problem--when those questions have been asked of me, the questions "where is your mom," "what does your mom do for a living," and I have to tell them that she passed when I was in high school, the person asking almost always becomes awkward and apologizes, and it is difficult to get back into the previous conversation without a more somber air. As a person, I dislike inconveniencing people, and perhaps I avoid mentioning it to save the other person from that feeling of awkwardness, although I don't at all mind people asking. 

And that, my friends, is where I have fallen into the trap of the Looking Glass Self, a concept born by Charles Cooley, which is the idea that a person is not only shaped by personality, but also societal perceptions of him/her. Even though I am comfortable with the topic, I am made uncomfortable of it because of how society views it, and that unconsciously forces me to present myself dramaturgically. I need to work to be unafraid of the societal compression of characters and fall out of the "sameness" that it produces. 

I oftentimes wonder how my life would be different if my mom was still here, if I never took martial arts classes or played an instrument, if I hated school (yes, I have almost always liked to go to school), if I hadn't had certain experiences. But character is built so much from different aspects of life that it would be hard for anyone to imagine the answer to that question in their own lives. 

Rambling complete. Continue on with your lives. :) 

RL

TKD

If you're reading this, you probably know that TaeKwonDo was a pretty significant part of my life growing up in Winston-Salem. The TKD school was a place where I found an incredible family that grew alongside me and achieved amazing things with me. 

When I went to college, I found another family in the TKD club at Wake. It was a great group of people, albeit a small group, but I loved every single person there. I loved that I could not only continue doing a martial art that I enjoy and find comfort in, but I could also hang out with some fun people, especially when I was still a little bit lost in the first year. 

NOW that I'm on my own and trying out this "real life" ordeal, I knew that I would again find solace in another "TaeKwonDo family." Once I realized that I would have to move away from Winston Salem, I knew that TaeKwonDo would be the way to get my roots down into my new city. And I wasn't wrong! I found a little place called Olympic TaeKwonDo, where they embraced me with wide-open arms. I am so happy to be a student again and so excited that my new TaeKwonDo family is challenging me every single day. I've already had days and days of sore muscles, frustrating training sessions, and bruises from sparring. I'm loving it and can't wait to keep learning and refining everything I know.

My beautiful new uniform with my name stitched in it! Now I HAVE to stay!!! :)

Feeling so lucky to have found a place like this where I can feel at home!!

So yes, I'm so glad my mom forced me to go to my first TKD class when I was in fourth grade, because it has given me so many opportunities outside of the martial art itself. For any kids out there, never give up on your hobbies!!! Because those hobbies will help you find family wherever you go in the future (and help you fight boredom when you go home after work...)

TOODLE-LOO!

RY

Help I don't know what to do with my life now

The program I was working with just ended, like at noon today. And so I drove an airport shuttle and then we had late lunch with our staff and then I moved out of my room and now I'm home and I don't know what to do now help

Literally every day for the past 3 1/2 weeks was a packed schedule from 8 AM to 11:30 PM. (Okay I wasn't required to go to everything but I felt that if the kids had to, I should be there, so I did :P) And now, I have until noon tomorrow to just relax but I feel like I'm being so unproductive....

Tomorrow, I'm starting work (volunteer work) again with the same office that led LENS (the Center for Global Programs and Studies) for another three week program for incoming international students. I'm driving the first airport shuttle, so even though I don't even officially work for the program I'll be the first face they see O_o This program, though, is thankfully much less packed (for me, at least) than LENS. I won't have to be at every single class (although knowing me, I will make an effort to be "present" for the students) and there are a lot more outings so the students can see American culture. 

I AM EXHAUSTED but feeling very satisfied with life, like I made a difference in some of the kids' lives :) some of them have such intense life stories and are so much more mature than most high schoolers because their experiences forced them to be, and I love them all for it. I also met a lot of cool people in our staff along the way (most of which I'll see tomorrow since I'm working with them again :P)! Best summer break accomplishment :D well, that and getting an A in Cell Bio in summer school ;)

ZIP LINING

TODAY I WENT ZIP LINING at Sander's Ridge in Booneville, a sustainable farm, vineyard, and zipline center all in one. It was very cool, to say the least. And the kids have been working so hard lately it was nice to have a change of pace. Although, while ziplining, I went straight through a couple of trees because our guide shook the line and sent me right into them ;) 

Lately, I think they've realized that they're leaving soon (Saturday) and are being more social with other cliques. It's amazing to see how much they've grown (and they have grown, whether they think it or not) and bonded in the past three weeks. 

Playing Big Booty

RL

Boxes and Things

The packaging of an item helps create brand identity and defines the character of the product itself. In the grand scheme of things, the aesthetic of a wristwatch box doesn't REALLY matter, but the marketability of the watch relies largely on what it's packed in (especially for new products). It's something many of us don't actively think about when we browse the shelves, but we find it odd when it is missing. Recently, I've been increasingly interested in the importance of multi-sensory appeal in product packaging, and I've found some cool ones to share with whomever might be at all interested...

Starting with the classic shopping bag - but look at the color contrast on the sides and the cute little bow! It's basically a gift bag!!

If I saw a whole aisle of tissues, I would 150% buy these. They have less tissues in them, but who wouldn't want these boxes sitting on your coffee table??

Monochrome things don't have to be boring. This bottle looks SO awesome and the box is even MORE awesome. (Plus, orange is the best color ever)

I love when a part of the product sticks out of the packaging for a cool purpose. Like how this watch sticks out to make a handle for the box!!

This box was designed by a cookie-delivery business and it is so appropriate and adorable, I CAN'T EVEN!!!

Simplicity is also beauty. I love how the boards inside the shirt give it structure, but you can still see its message on the front. LOVE IT.

This pistachio packaging is so perfect for snacking on the go! And it resembles a freaking pistachio...I'm obsessed.

Even though these earbuds won't stay like this for very long, I would absolutely buy these over other earbuds that weren't in a music note shape.

Nike "Air" tennis shoes. I don't know if I like this packaging, but it sure is interesting and appropriate to the shoes' name..!!

Anything in a wooden crate/box is a win for me. Wine + wooden box = Must-buy.

This is the packaging for a Japanese snack called "onigiri." It's SOOOO well designed that when you follow the instructions, it will peel back the plastic while simultaneously wrapping the rice ball with the seaweed paper. It's insane. But difficult to grasp on your first (or second or third) try! 

Okay....I know that was A LOT to see. I'm sorry!!! But I couldn't leave out any of those! If you all ever see any awesome packaging, then let me know because I am completely obsessed.

TOODLES!!!!!!!!!!!

RY