I survived half of senior year!

One more semester and i'm done.

Honestly, though, i'm scared and worried. All these questions pop up in my head while i'm having senioritis, and it's making me sigh a lot. First off, I have a harder schedule next semester (3 finance classes and 2 supply chain classes). I regret a bit on making this schedule easier [like, so much easier since one of my fun professors taught 2 of my classes]. On top of that, i have my internship for the spring, and i'm not sure if it will extend to a full-time position. Honestly, though, it's more like...graduation is coming soon and i'm not ready to go straight into the workforce. Do I want to travel a little bit first before i go back to work or should i prepare for grad school? I haven't even prep myself on taking the GMAT/GRE yet either >-> So many things to do in so little time.

Along the way, i had to prioritize a lot of things for next semester. For example, i had to drop one of my officer positions, and it was hard becuz i really like the club. I'll still be a member, but i won't be as involved in the decision making. I switched to a different position for my other org, and i feel much more relieved knowing that there's two other officers who will help me throughout the semester while i take care of the things that i wanted to continue doing (ex: bigger projects.

Anyway, after that, i felt much more organized, but i'm still scared. After college, there wont be this kind of environment anymore. I feel like i'm thinking too much in my head and not enjoying life at all. Once i start working, I will be forced to think about my future more seriously, which i'm still not sure about yet nor really prepared for :( I just feel so overwhelmed and i can't see myself where i want to be in 5 years. I just know i love school, and that's where i want to be dealing with somehow. For now, I'll just do this one step at a time and enjoy what i can now before it's too late.

Fyi, i'm actually in Galveston for an officer retreat and it was great being able to see the oceanic view and relax even for just a little bit. Makes me realize how much of a wanderer i really am. I WANT TO TRAVEL!

Alright. Gonna relax some more. Ciao!

This is going to be a stressful senior year and what i'm feeling after Harvey

Yup, it's my last year in school, and I'm feeling a whole lot of different emotions at the same time.

That feeling of anxiety of finding out what to do post-graduate is scary and relieving. Even though a lot of people want school to be done with, i'm not really ready for that yet. I'm one of the few who really likes to study and chill with my friends everyday, but i know that's not going to stay like that forever. Eventually, i'll have to move on and start working on my career and love life, basically adulthood. It's just sad and scary at the same time. If i could have one more year, i think i would be ready, but right now, i just feel rushed and not prepared. Maybe becuz my first year in college I was not active enough.

I spent my first year in college at a community college, and i wouldn't say it's not good becuz it helped saved me money. However, becuz of the atmosphere around me, i wasn't really involved on campus. I made a few friends, but all i did was just homework and then going to work. I remember when I started my first part-time job the first week of college. It was stressful, but it was worth the experience. I just wished I had done more during the summer breaks, esp studying abroad. I would've liked it if I had traveled during my first or second summer break, so i could spend this summer actually looking for an internship i may or may not like to continue at a company i might work in the future in the United States, particularly close to home. Like, literally, when i came back from HK, i've been very anxious trying to find what kind of job offers to get post-graduate. I'm not even sure if i should immediately go straight to graduate school either. I kind of want to, part-time at least, but i don't even know which school i should apply to, hence i'm not sure about costs either. It's just stressful trying to decide and do everything in one year. Plus, i want to spend it having fun, but with those thoughts in the back of my mind, i can't relax that long. Sigh, i think i'll just talk with my advisors and see what they think. But first, getting those job offers is important and looking up grad schools i might like to attend in the future. It's time to grow up.

Anyway, so Hurricane Harvey-lemma just tell u, it was scary and exhausting. Even though my house was one of the many houses that didn't flood, some weren't fortunate. It felt like a year before the clear blue sky came up again (in actuality, it was 5 days of relentless rain). I even got school off for almost 2 weeks, whereas connie got 2 full weeks off. Like damn, it was just horrible. At least 30 people died in the storm, and i'm so lucky not to be one of them. There's still some flooding here and there becuz of the release of water in the bayous & reservoirs. Sigh, becuz of this storm, deadlines and events have been pushed back (esp with one of my clubs), too and now i'm not even sure how it's going to go this semester. It's been a while since i felt a need to actually do something and donate. However, i know that people are going to expect that we, as an Enactus chapter of Houston, will have to do something, on a big scale, but we seriously don't have the manpower :( I wish we had something that could be a WOW opportunity, but it's just not going oh so well with all the date changes right now, along with my senior duties. STRESSSSSSSSSSSS

Ok, gonna go read some fanfic/watch some Running Man before I get more stressed on Labor Day. Last day off before it's time to go back to reality after all. Ciao.

Halfway Done with Study Abroad Program T.T

I am halfway done with my internship, and I’m already starting to miss this city and lifestyle. Here are some reasons why:

One, I probably won’t be able to see the friends I’ve made here and my relatives again, or for a while at least.  They’ve made me come out of my comfort zone, more than the actual city to be honest. Hong Kong, to me, is like a mini city, so I feel like I could live here for a while (if the rent wasn’t expensive, that is). Back home, I would always hang out with my group, which mostly consists of Asians, so we generally have the same mindset. However, meeting my classmates and the other students from other programs have given me different perspectives on life that I never would’ve thought if I didn’t come here.

Two, I’m going to miss living by myself. Technically, I should be dorming with one of my classmates, but she got her own room, and so I have the whole room (double-bed one) to myself. This is pretty Gucci compared to everyone else living here. The space I occupy would probably cost at least one, or two, or even five hundred thousand US dollars if I weren’t in this study abroad program. Rent here is just ridiculously expensive. Everything else like tax is not paid, free market economy makes it easier for people to sell (fake) things without a license. Even 7-eleven can sell alcohol at a cheap price ($10 USD for a bottle) becuz they don’t need an alcohol license. (why I even know this, it’s a long story. Let’s just say I’m always surrounded by alcohol and smoke.)

Three, I’ll also miss my coworkers (and their sarcasm xD). The whole atmosphere feels just like home, well sorta. I’m the youngest and an intern, so the professionalism has to be there. Other than that though, I’ll miss hearing their funny comments every weekday. It makes time goes by faster, which I don’t want it to.

Four, this whole trip has been like a vacay to me. Once I go back to Houston, I’ll have to deal with reality again. That includes, college, planning out post-career life, club officer activities (for two clubs, actually), and home chores. Sigh, why didn’t I do this sooner? I wish I was going into junior year. I would have more time to explore myself and do other things, like research, volunteering, traveling, etc. internally, I feel like a kid just learning about life. I feel old, too. Bros, I’ve done a lot of first time stuff during this trip than the 20 years I’ve been in Houston. Like, WHAT WAS I DOING BACK THEN??? It’s going to suck going back and facing those responsibilities, but what can I do but face them? I can’t really complain at this point. I just need to take action and stop being lazy and shy with my feelings.

One thing I’m definitely going to be taking back home with me is newfound confidence. After talking with so many different people during this trip and experiencing a study abroad program, including an internship, I feel like I can do anything (well, not really). I’ve always wanted to travel and try working in a different city, and I DID! ^_^ That’s one, or well, a lot, of checks off my bucket list.

If there’s anything I won’t miss, though, it’s the pricing here. It’s at least a dollar and a half more than the pricing in Houston (for a Tall Starbucks frap…I know.)

Alright, I’m going to go resume watching my Chinese drama. I have at least 30 episodes to catch up, so got lots of time during this trip to finish it. I'll be watching Game of Thrones soon, too. K, Ciao.

P.S. I'll probably post some pics here, but honestly, you can just check them out on my Facebook page or Instagram (Suki Tu and suki_winnie, respectively). 

What's my work life and lifestyle like right now?

Well, i'm actually adjusting pretty quickly.

Maybe becuz i have already visited HK, but it was only like 3 days. Or maybe becuz i have relatives here, so i'm not that afraid and homesick as i was when i was in Kansas City. Or maybe it's the culture that is familiar to me yet filled with different people mixed together.

Like New York, HK is like a hotspot, attracting and connecting with different types of people. I see British, Korean, Japanese, Indians, Africans, Filipinos, you name it., everywhere (except for Vietnamese ppl, which i'm not sure why). So, one thing i learned last week was that when ranking the universities here, the # of international people are one of the most weighted criteria. And you know what? Mainland Chinese people are considered international students. Like what?? No wonder HK universities are ranked high af. They're literally next door to China, man.

Oh, and last Saturday was the Handover anniversary of HK, which is the day when Hong Kong was given back to China, and the President came over, too. What sucks tho i didn't really see protests, which i wanted to take pics of. That's like something i always wanted to 'take part of' tho not really get involved. The other girls in my program saw one and even got a British flag from one of the protesters (jelly >.<).  But, at least we saw the fireworks. Idk if that counts as a a thing to see thoooo >_> But bros, it was such a coincidence that the rain stopped when the fireworks stopped. It was something out of a movie scene. We couldn't get a good view nor take good pics cuz there was a thunderstorm and gusts over 70 mph, but there were still a lot of ppl who came out to see the fireworks. It became kind of a tradition since the handover, so yeah.

Anyway, it has already been two and a half weeks. My sleep schedule went back to the way it was (meaning i stay up til past midnight). Living by myself has been alright so far. I don't really have any big issues since i need to learn how to manage a work and life style on my own. Work place is nice: there's a lounge, i have my own desk, my co-workers are the best, and restrooms. They're pretty scarce here, esp with the toilet paper. I will probably get lonely after the other intern leaves tho. He's also a fellow Coog who graduated in 2012 :D It's nice having somebody like that who understands where you're from. This is his last week, and he's going back to London for his Master's, which is cool. Lots of traveling, which i want to do in the future. But, i'll take things one step at a time. It was nice getting some advice from him post graduate life becuz i'm not really with alumnus at my school. But now, i think after being separated from my usual group of people, i feel a lil bit more confident talking with people (except boys). I can nvr get inside their heads. I can be rational with them, but other than that...let's just say i'm not good beyond the friend scale lol.

If anything tho, i haven't even explored 1/3rd of the city yet. With more field trips to come, i hope to meet more students from other programs and see more of the rawness of the city. Lots of first times i will be experiencing during this trip, oh, which includes my first time to a legit bar lol. I'll save that story for another time....ahahaha

Ok, ciao.

Finally in Hong Kong!

It has been a long week. I'm still a little bit jet lag from Houston time, but I think it should be gone by Sunday.

I am excited coming back to HK (Hong Kong) after 3 years ago. I am actually glad that I have relatives here because I get pretty homesick really easily, and I'm going to meet my grandma's sister and her nephew whom I love a lot later today. Coming into this program, my expectations were a little bit dif than what i thought. There's actually only 4 people in my specific program (altho one is in a Master's program, so i dont think it's the same as the 3 of us). Also, class is nowhere near the HKU or affiliated with it, so our class is from 6-9pm on fridays after work... Not sure that was in the syllabus i read, but ok...still not comfortable going home that late tho. Plus, i think they're changing up the assignment. A.g.a.i.n. Oh well, i have a pretty big tolerance, but once i realize something's not going to work, i gotta say something. 

Anyway, here goes my other first impressions:

1. Hotel room is small. I swear, they took a queen size bed, split it in half and separate it by only a foot, as described by my roommate. But, as you can c in the pics below, there are a lot of tall buildings and apartments here. HK is like 70% full of green stuff, you name it: mountains, grass, parks, etc. So everything is cramped and there's always somebody around the corner. It's actually pretty safe cuz of this type of living environment. You can't get away from committing a crime. 

2. WiFi is slow af. I can't even Google search something without waiting for like 5 mins or so. >_> I try to stay connected as much as i can on my free time, esp when i ride on the subway train to go to work and going back home. Plus, it seems like everybody is on their phone doing something. They do that or stare into you like you did something wrong. >.<'

3. Lots of skyscrapers. My neck hurts every time i try to sight-see the city from the ground. But, it's still pretty eye-boggling with all the designs.

4. Humid and rainy. Right now, it's typhoon season, so it has been raining often since i came here. As a matter of fact, it's sprinkling right now.
5. Everyone is doing something. No time is wasted. Literally HK island oozes productiveness everywhere. Plus, the people are very observant. Like, a seat would get snatched away quickly on the subway and people can tell when they leave. And the elevators here, omg, they're so sensitive that you can just touch it lightly to light it up. If touch it longer it will undo the action, meaning, if u pressed the wrong floor, u can undo it. *.* man, if only things here were like this back home in Texas. 

Ok, so maybe there are more complaints than compliments right now, BUT i'm sure i'll get use to this lifestyle quickly. I haven't really explored the city at all honestly, so what i just said before are mostly technical things which i pay more attention to. I'll post something with more interesting stories next time. Until then, here are some pics i took:

Alright. Ciao. 

A month before I leave for Hong Kong

I'm anxious and excited at the same time.

I'm not sure what i'm feeling anymore honestly. it seems like a dream come true but the thought is also making me uncomfortable knowing that i will be away from home for two months. Even though it may not seem as long as some people might think, it would be my 2nd time away from family and friends that long.

The first time was with my club members to Kansas City, Missouri, and it was awesome experience. I really liked the feeling of doing something out of Houston. I didn't know what to expect, and for my first trip it was cool. Altho it wasn't exactly the same becuz it was for club work, so most of my conversations were about club work. When I think about how my internship in Hong Kong will be like, it's a lonely feeling. I've felt a little bit homesick, but more so of missing my grandma. Whenever i see her, it feels like home more than anything else. Of course, i want to travel, but seeing her as much as i can before she goes to a better place is what i want more for now. Before i graduated high school, i was anxious whether or not she would make it to my graduation. I am a first-generation student in my immediate family, so it's a first time for my parents and Grams to see someone go to college who will mostly away from home. That's mostly why i wanted to stay in the city for my undergrad while i travel here and there for short periods of time.

Not eating homemade food really made me think how grateful i am for my Grams. She cooks everyday (with occasional eating out sessions) and, boy, she cooks EVERYTHING, including tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, etc. Stuff that I would like to eat somewhat more raw? lol, but yeah after eating out for the whole 4 days without her being by my side to lecture me about eating raw food, i realized how much i missed her voice and face. Welp, I'm coming back to houston in about 3 hours anyway, so i'll see her soon ^_^

Until then, ciao!

Busiest Month Yet

Haven't felt this stressed or busy since high school.

Bros, like, i've been writing lots of essays (plus editing them) for study abroad scholarships, 5 senior classes, officer duties, volunteering, and working part-time. Now that i've completed a lot of stuff, i can worry about my exams now. Oh well, it's good stress. I considered it as productive instead since there aren't any negative feelings. I still make time for dramas, variety shows, and anime.

Let's see...i don't really have anything to update except of the 'good' stress i'm handling right now. OH, uh, well it's not really an update, but more like, MY ALLERGIES ACTING UP AGAIN. UGH.
T___T literally, every minute i'm sniffing, sneezing, snoozing, and feeling foggy. Medicine barely last me for an hour or so, then i forget to bring them to school the res to of the day >_>
I never had allergic reactions until recently in the last two or so years. I wonder if my immune system is getting worse....i haven't been exercising as much as i wanted to either, so that could've contributed to my condition now. Ah well, i can deal with it (if i remember to bring my medicine).

Alright, gonna continue editing my Gilman essays. GL to me. Ciao.

I'm getting sucked into...

the world of khiphop. A new genre to my diverse music playlist. Yay!

First of all, first week of school of the year is over and i'm really excited. Although my classes are harder, i think i can absorb the material now better. Before, i took classes that were completely just doing tests, and i'm really bad at conceptual questions, too. Now, there are more project-based things to do, which i'm excited and anxious about. What if i don't work well with my team members? I'm kinda an individualist, so it will be a challenge for me, but i hope to do well.

Next topic: Sherlock. So i finished watching the last ep of the 4th series. And idk what to think anymore lol....uh...you can see what i thought in Tumblr (honeypoohbear) for that. But, i loved it nevertheless. No matter what, it still triumphs over other shows i have watched.

Anyway, back to the title. So, I was watching Hip Hop Tribe: Game of Thrones season 2 (a korean celebrity rapping competition show), and i learned a lot about some artists in the korean hip hop world. You know how US hip hop originated from NY and the Bronx? Well, i started to get interested in how hip hop is being cultured there. Really interesting. And you can already guess it, I'm a huge Big Bang and YG stan. My first hmmm..you could say R&B/hip hop song I listened to was Wedding Dress by Taeyang. My interest grew after watching Show Me the Money and a few hiphop artists on korean variety shows like Running Man. So now i'm listening to other artists, such as Dok2, Changmo, Simon D, Jay Park, BeWhy, and recently E Sens and a lot more. I think i am getting too turnt these days xD I even added one of these videos in my blog playlist. Check them out (even though i may not understand some of the lyrics sometimes) Wish there were more translations T.T

Ok, gonna do some hw now...byes

First Day of School of the Year

Happy New Year~~~ Year of the Chicken!

Seems like this year is off to an okay start. I didn't go out to do fireworks as I usually do with my friends since i wanted to hang out with my fam. So, it feels dull so far. But, today was the first day back to school, so i'm excited and anxious >.<

Ofc, that big headache came in again as usual. Back-to-school days are always like that, but i at least i feel more motivated. Spring semesters are better than fall ones since i'm already used to it with only a month-long break in between. Hope to learn a lot this semester before summer begins. I just need to find the motivation and the right people to support me.

I probably won't write much in the meantime, so, hopefully, the next time i come back here i will feel better and have much to write about :)

Until then, bye! gonna go now and take a nap.

The nerd addiction is too real

Bruh, it's that time again when i get back into the anime and kpop/drama world. This past week, i wept over the news of Running Man ending and rewatching anime eps like Yuri on Ice. The hype is realllll. Man, the anime is a really nice rom-comedy, one i haven't watched in years. Nothing awk about the fact that it's based on a gay relationship which i totally support in real life as well. Definitely on my list of top fav animes of all time

As for Running Man, i can't believe it's ending next year #7012forever :'(
After watching something for 5+ years, especially a reality comedy show with the same 7 members throughout, the feeling runs in you pretty deeply. I love the family atmosphere of the cast members. There's so much dynamic b/w them that the relationship is much stronger than a cast in a show just making gags. You can literally see their real personalities and feel like you're're in there, too. I thrive in that kind of atmosphere in real life, too. I love to laugh around my friends and talk about random shiz/life topics. It just makes my whole day better when you let your feelings go.

Alright...i really need to sleep now. Eyes starting to sag even tho school ended.