Tag: personal

February 10, 2019

Taking on Taiwan: A Change of Heart

Vividly, I can recall, the various mornings I’d rise early, go to my notebook, and sit by the window.  After about five or so minutes of staring out to the lake daydreaming, I would put my pen to the paper and write.  I couldn’t tell you how long I would write for, because I’d get lost in my fantasies.  Every time I write–even now–I forget all sense of time.  An hour or so later, I’d be ten pages deep into my scribbling and ranting.  Someone from my family would inform me it was time for breakfast and I’d leave my imaginary world, knowing I’d return to it shortly.  That, then and even now, is one of my favorite times in the day: writing time.
December 9, 2018

Culture Kids

Recently, a coworker of mine lent me the book Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.  For those of you who don’t know, it was on the U.S. Bestseller list and it’s a highly acclaimed book, and rightfully so.  Without giving too much away, the contents of the story are pretty simple: it’s about a teacher reconnecting with his student and their very last class together: a class all about life, and how to be a good human.  And as you may guess, it only took place on Tuesdays.
November 25, 2018

Travels from the Time Vault: Sweden

Twelve years ago, my father received an email from a local hockey coach.  We’d barely been in the Chicagoland area a year at this point, but the coach presented an idea worthy of consideration.  In the spring, coincidentally during spring break, he was taking a team to Stockholm, Sweden, and he asked if we would be willing to participate.  I’d be the only girl on an all boys team (and the first girl to every participate in the tournament), which to me, was just a small detail included in the entire offer.  I’d stay with a host family and we’d be there for a whole week, taking in the Swedish culture, playing against Swedes and some Finnish players, and exploring the city.  In my mind, it was a no brainer: we had to go.  Luckily, everything checked out.  Five months later, we gathered at the airport with the team and embarked for Arlanda International Airport.
October 7, 2018

Fall is for Family

Of all the seasons, my favorite is autumn.  Part of that is due to the beauty I saw growing up around this time of year.  In the Midwest, the leaves would change color, turning from vibrant green to rusted colors.  The trees would shed themselves of summer’s fragments and everyone would find their way to the orchards, ready to pick out the recent harvest: apples, pumpkins, fruits, vegetables, and then finish off a day in the fields with a drink of apple cider with mitten covered hands. 

September 23, 2018

Make the World Your Runway

It was a couple of weeks ago.  A Monday, just an ordinary Monday.  There I was, sick and on some strong cold medication, strutting down YiZhong street with my sunglasses on and my hair pulled back into a sleek braid.  Half of me was convinced I was going to fall flat on my face in front of a bunch of high school students outside of Family Mart, because my entire body was shaking from the medication.  The other half of me felt like I was on the runway at fashion week or something equally as ridiculous.  Thank you, Panadol, for that rush of unwarranted confidence.