you don't have to be able to read Chinese to understand this...

I was at library studying last night...of course goofing off on the computer...came across this advertisement on someone's blog. Because I don't have the ear phone, so I was just watching the ad silently...I am not kidding you, I broke out into tears at the end of the ad. You don't have to be able to read the words on the ad (but it basically said it's from a true story)...the story in the ads:
63 year old grandma is going to visit her daughter who just recently gave birth to her grandchild in Venezuela. But she doesn't speak any Spanish, nor English...She flew from Taiwan to United States, then to Venezuela. At her destination, the security searched her purse and found out a bag of Chinese herbs (which...funny enough, sounds like pod in English...I truly doubt that she is speaking English, and they might not intend to make it sound that way. Just a side note, lol). It turns out that the herb is what she brought for her daughter, but the homeland security guys was ruthless on questioning her, and threat to imprison her because the "illegal drugs"...She is just a mom! A mom who cares for her child, who flight 20,000 miles over a period of 3 days, over 3 countries...just so she can go see her own child. What really gets me is that she totally remind me of my own mother...but it will be a long story if I keep writing.

Don't blame me if I haven't warn you...this is going to make you cry...
I would recommend to silence the video first, you will be amazed on how powerful just the images, pictures speaks thousands words.

The narrator at the end asked how did she do it, and the phrase poped out "tenacious, courage, and love"...AWWWWWWW



At another date, I want to post the true story where the idea of this ad comes from...be on the look out for that soon...

2009 reflection...

Have you ever question about your decisions? ever thought that did I make the right choice back then? It's the end of 2009, and I have to say...this was a peaceful year for me...nothing majorly changed, I am still a hardworking student in school, and vet school is my life...

But lately, I guess because it is the end of year, and everyone got to reflect on themselves...or I just got too much free time to myself and that gets me thinking...I thought what if the Dean's office never made to waitlist #12 two years ago, and I never get into vet school on the first try...would I still persist and apply the 2nd time?

Life would be completely different now if I never made to vet school...Would I be happier now? would I be on my way to earning an MBA and aiming to become a world best CEO's assistant? Would I have a totally different life? Would I be satisfied? There are so many "Would I" questions that could make a difference.

I never talked about my dreams in life on here. I am not afraid people would laugh at it, I don't remember since how old, I want to be a personal assistant, or secretary of some sort. Not the ones who just answer phones, but the ones who can actually making executive decisions...I was never able to find the correct word for it, either in Chinese or English...I have tried to tell people that I want to become a "secretary", most people say that I don't even need a college degree to fulfill that. My dad would laugh at me and keep mentioning "Secretary of State" is also a secretary...I was never interested in political world, he should know better, or he might just not want to face that fact that he spent thousands of dollars on me, getting me to a different country, pays for my education, and all I want to return to him is to become a little secretary. By all means, I respect all the secretaries out there working hard for their bosses...but what I dream about is not only simply taking phone calls and arrange schedules (though I would be very confident to say that I am pretty good at that :D). I think at the moment, an "assistant" would be more appropriately describe what I want to become.

Friends laugh at me, asking why would I ever want to work for someone else for the rest of my life. I don't know...I feel much more comfortable that way. I mean I do want to take responsible for my own action, but with some backup. I know since I was little that I am better fitted working behind the scenes...If I am an entertainment agent, I would be super happy to see my movie star standing on the stage getting an award, because deeply I know, I contribute to that, I made that happen. I don't want the whole world to recognize my work, may be only the people I care know, that's good enough for me. I would let other people to take the glory, as long as someone important knows that I was a vital part of that glory, I would be happy.

During vet school interview, they asked me if I don't make to vet school, if I have other plans...I told them I would like to try a wedding planner. I mean, their works are so joyful~ seeing couples get together...planning for their best day ever, stressful but rewarding. I have been part of a wedding twice now, and I fully enjoy the wedding day (as long as I am not the bride I think)...I thought if I am young enough, I would really like the job. Reminds me of the movie "27 dresses"...27 of course is not my goal, because in China, rumor said being part of the wedding is like going through a wedding yourself, and there's a 3 strike rule...attending 3 weddings as bridesmaid, you will find yourself not getting married...superstition...we will see...because I guarantee I am going to be part of a friend's wedding in the future (if she get married soon)...then I will fulfill my quota...but I don't care~ it's a fun experience to plan a wedding (as long as it's not mine). :D

Enough of rubbish, right now the plan is still stick with the original one. I like what I am learning right now, and "giving up" is not in my dictionary ;p

I am alive!

yes, I am alive and well! After a semester of battling with pharmacology, parasitolgy, pathology and nutrition, I think I deserve a well rested Chirstmas break.

I thought that I was gonna die before the finals started a week ago. And it turns out...I am still alive and breathing the fresh air coming through the window. Sometimes it's easy to say the word "die", and I have been saying it so many times since I started vet school, so I start to forget that I used to fear death, when I was 13. The thought of not knowing what is going to happen after wards, not knowing what new movies are coming out...not knowing what kind of fun my friends are gonna have...the fear of unknowns...

During our finals, one of our classmate's Fiancé passed away unexpectedly. So unexpect that I have to call my other classmate to confirm that it wasn't a practical joke, or a mistake of some kind...I am still in the shock stage of receiving the news, because this person actually sat next to me every other day (because he is a grad student, and taking one same class with us)...Now think hard, he is no longer with us, just like ... "poof"...disappeared...Life is strange, one minute you are talking to them and the next thing you heard is that he is no longer in your world...I think because we are so young, we never thought the "true death" is
this close. Beside the pass away of my grandparents, this is the 2nd time that someone I really know has gone. The other one is my boss from undergrad. She moved to another state and later on was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer metastisized to Brain, or vice versa...I found her news through a blog that put up by her beloved husband...

Sigh...I am not good at express myself, which is why I started this blog. But I can't really say anything on this matter any more. I am going to his funeral tomorrow, and I hope the best for his finance-my classmate. She is one tough woman. she decide to come back to school after the break, which, lots of people applause for that...I personally don't have a extensive relationship with another men, so I don't understand the toughness to overcome a death of the love ones...But I hope the best for her, and I firmly believe that my whole class and faculty and staff will stand behind her to support her morally.

I hate to end today's entry with such a depressing mood, but I think Daniel deserve a good ending, R.I.P.-Daniel Resnick

Never felt sleeping can be such a sweet thing...

This past two weeks has been pretty tough on me, I think I am hitting the mid-semester depression. After going through another semester without a break kind of put you into that situation. It looks like everyone around me is going through the same thing though. I know I should not compare myself to other people because that always put me in a bad mood, I am never as good as my classmates/friends/other people! But you just can't help to do it...every time when I feel so defeated by the exam, I would hear other people comments such as "that wasn't too bad", or when I accidentally hear them checking their answers, and find out that I missed the "easy questions", would you feel defeated? This Wed I had a pathology test, and I have been doing fine in that class-the only class that I could possibly end up with an A. But I think I might just lose it this week. But there's no-body to be blamed on, because I put off the study until couple days before the test. I can't help to be a procrastinator because I just can’t find the motivation to sit down and study…so very hard to focus, and this has been a problem since I started vet school…I am jealous at those hard core people who can sit and study for 10 hours without moving and be productive. Again, I am comparing myself to a separate identity, very stupid move.

Anyway, so because there’re so much information covered on this Path exam, I end up taking little naps on Wed morning, and my last nap was after 6a til 7a… I kept snoozing because…just because :p (you know when you are so sleep deprived you miss everything)…every time I go back to sleep I never felt so happy! Even just for 5 min, I felt so satisfy and fortunate that I can sleep 5 more min! It’s a sense of gratitude, and I bet my GABA (a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy) is probably releasing from the neuro junction like no-body’s business :D…but I actually was smiling after each snooze. Such a strange feeling.

Needless to say, I could do better on this exam because I really enjoy the class (some portion could have taught better though). But life is tough, and I have been complaining too much lately, I don’t feel like myself again. Think back to the hard corps days, I was proud to be a tough women…now I feel like I kept riding the “whinbulance” . Too weak.

At the end of the day, I was able to take a 2 hour nap after school. Again, never felt so satisfied at the end of the sleep. Now, I am re-adjusting my sleeping schedule (it has been pretty messy since last week, intermittent naps at 2am…), but that sense of happiness seems to gone to its happy place.

This is TOTALLY MY FAV right now, so true!


Totally a reality...depicts my mental battle between sleeping vs. eating

An appreciative day, an emotional day, all these good things happen at same time

Sitting in the computer lab before class right now, and I feel that the reason I can sit here is because so many people have helped me alone the way. I am not a christian, but I like some of the concepts that I read from the Bible (mainly doing the right thing, and helping people), so my friends call me a "buddistian". Today, I feel that it's an amazing journey thus far, and I want to thank you whoever is up there put me at this place with these many amazing people around me.

I want to thank Nikki, with all your support alone the way, every time I ask, you always provide your honest opnion, and take on the task just as one of your own. I truly feel that you are a friend for life. You are always there supporting me, no matter how bizzard my opinion was :p It is a sad news that you are leaving soon (well, not for another 10 mon), but I am still trying to digest the fact that you won't be at the end of the road when I call. I guess party always has to end, but I better make the next 10 mon. as memoriable as it can be and spend tons of time with you!

Then I want to thanks Dr. Posey, everytime I talk to this man, he makes me want to cry: he always encourage me, no matter what kind of peculiar goal I have. He is a confident booster! I thought I would never find any professor here in Texas vet school who would understand me. He is a sensitive man, and appreciate my background and my hardness to go through school, appreciate my hardworking ethic, and ... just being purily supportive. Even though he probably will say the same thing to many students who came across his office, I feel that every time he says it to me, he means it. So...kudos for Dr. Posey~

One last person I want to thank today (because I am running out of time here) is Dr. Ashley. He is the reason that I think there must be someone up there watching me, and protect me. There's always an reason why you end up where you at, and I think the best thing ever happen to me is to meet Dr. Ashley here at vet school. His passion for China and veterinary medicine guide me through my tough times first year, and for the first time, I didn't think becoming a horse vet in China is a ridiculous idea. But I am still a buddistian :p

this is the first time, 5 of my buddies have sent out update at approximately the same time. Couple of them are first senders! I have had a hard time to ask them sending out updates since last we met (June 2008)...I think it is going to the right direction, and I would love to stay in touch with these buddies who went through the hardship of the Corps with me for 4 years. Friendship is priceless.

5 minutes ago, I received the news that I just got another scholarship from the Houston Aggie Mom's club! It's kinda of surprised that they still sending out award this late into the semester. But hey, I am not complaining.

all these good things happen at same time, I am kind of afraid it is not real, and too many good things happen at the same time, which means next week's exams are going to kill me...because all the good things already happened this week.

Fall In Love With a Gangster

Public Enemies (4.5 stars)

Starring:
Johnny Depp!!! (there should have nothing more to say about this charming actor),

Chrstian Bale (Bat-man~)

and Marion Cotillard (French, Academy award winner)


Director: Michael Mann (Directed The Insider, Ali, Miami Vice, and produced the Aviator, the Kingdom, and Hancock)

Before I watched the movie, I barely have any idea who John Dillinger was. I went to see the movie because I trust Johnny Depp. I would never doubt his choice of movie, same goes to Robert Downey Jr. , Al Pacino, and Brad Pitt. They got sense.

Walking out from the movie, I am in a stage of paradox. Not about the movie, but questioning my own ethic. The movie is about a criminal, a sly gangstar who rubs banks during the great depression era. But I look at Dillinger from the movie as a hero, and I thought he is actually a very charming and a very charismatic man. Where's my morale? For this, I blame on Johnny Depp. He portraited this character in such a way that viewers like me start feeling bad for the villain. I am not good at critic movies, but just want to share my thought. I can't critic on camera angle, or acting, but I like the story line. I think Depp successfully re-create another historical figure. Depp's Dillinger was a gentlemen, and somewhat like the Robinhood back in the old ages. He rub banks, but he won't take a person's money out of his pocket ("We are here for the bank's money, not yours, put it away"). He was kind of the man who take the secretary of the banker as hostage, but would still leave his trench coat with her to protect her from the coldness of the winter. He is not a murderer, he doesn't kill people because it is fun. He challenged the authorities by exploring the Chicaco police office Dillinger's Squad in the broad daylight. He was a charming man in the America's media's eye and to the general public. When he was captured (again) and drove down the street, the street people treat him like a celebrity. He was also the reason federal government moved on to establish the FBI (well, somewhat contributed to that). In this movie, I felt that he was a hero (don't shoot me because I usually despise the bad guys).Oh, and at the beginning, I couldn't stop to think him as the pirate in the movie, and his facial expression just reminded me so much of him in his successful movie triology. But his magic touch does not stop here, and he successfully (again) build another character of his in this movie. All I can say it's....It's Johnny Depp, what else can you expect?

Christian Bale's character was more like a villain to me than Depp's. I think at the end, he is out of his mind. His department reminds me of mafia instead of police force. I was surprised to see that he soon left the Beureau after Dillnger's death, and end his life by himselves. Sad character...completely gone psycho after chasing the American Number One Public Enemy. Lost his mind, poor guy.

Billie Frechette, Dillinger's women. I am just amazed how tough she was. In order to be an American's Number One Public Enemy's women, she must be tough. It was a sweet thing to see Dillinger really falls for a girl like her, and he was actually very dedicated to this one single women. He would risk his life for hers. I am glad that she is not just part of the ordinary love line, but she is actually a character. Her characters were well built up by Marion Cotillard.

At the end, Dillinger end his life in a quick and fast way. Of course he should be executed...because he was a bank rubber. It's a sad thing to watch it in the movie though, but I am sure during the real old days, people were happy.

"There were indeed a number of instances of subtle humor that few others than Johnny Depp can truly offer in addition to Director Michael Mann’s successful attempt in capturing the early-30s era in all aspects of the film. " (http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/10628)

Afterall, I just wanna say, Johnny Depp, you are amazing!~

~The End~

This World...

I just watched a youtube video about an Iranian girl (Neda) who was shot and killed in front of a camera, in less than 60 seconds. the video was shot in the past week, during the Iranian election fallout. I think pictures from the same incident made to many other medias...I debated a lot with myself whether I should post the video on the blog, at last I decided not to. To me, it is more shocking than anything else. But I think for most people, it is too bloody to watch. Neda means “voice” in farsi, and it became the symbol for the protest movement. The young teenage girl died in the arms of her howling father.

At least something good is happening on the other side of the world. I became a fan of a man called “waterman” from the Taiwanese Yahoo blog. Long story short, back in April of last year, this “Waterman” became a huge HIT in Taiwan. He wears a mask, looks like Ultraman from Japan. You might think he is nuts (in fact I thought that he is crazy when I first reading his blog). But he calls himself “Waterman”, and his motto is “drink more water, and help more people”. Last April, he started this project to help one group of people (or do one projectfor the community) per day, and do it for 15 days straight. Everyone can submit request to him, and he will do anything, I really mean ANYTHING... When he first started, no one was really paying attention, and he was doing it by himself. At the end of 15th day, his blog has over 10,000 daily viewers, and “he” is acting as a group, recruited many people to help, everywhere. It is an amazing act, and this year, he is still the same man. And released his album (yes, I mean, singing album, CD!!!) – I AM Waterman. Every single penny sold on the album will be donated to charity organization. People had asked him “who is waterman”, his answer was “look into the mirror yourself, that is waterman”. I admire his action, and applause to his thought. I like the fact that he is doing something out of his kind heart, and all he wants is to help people (and be eco-friendly as well). Nobody really knows who the real “waterman” is, I think he represent a concept, an idea, to help people, and make this world a better world.

If I ran out of thought to say, I think I might come back to talk more about him…

WATERMAN


Ultraman from Japan


Waterman is helping shelter pets to find a new home



Waterman helping a shy student to ask a girl out...yeah, that's right!

The Michael Jackson Phenomenon

hmmm...honestly, I thought I don’t know his music that well...until today. I didn't realize that how much he has "infiltrated" my life. Every single song played on radio today, I have heard of it in my life, or somewhat was familiar with. Thrill, Beat it, Billie Jane…Looking back, he has really been a significant singer in the history of modern music. He has impact many generations, even the teens today. His music is universal, people from all over the world to pay a tribute to him today. I know for fact that at least the Chinese and American radio station are dedicating some time today to play his old tunes, and I bet there are other international stations out there in the world played his music today. His influence is un-matchable.

It is very complicated, because later in his years, he does have a really bad reputation in the public. But his work in the music world is un-deniable. There are still many many people in Asia right now try to role play him on the television. He is truly a legend.

I have seen many comments on facebook about his death, most of them are “RIP, MJ”, or somewhere alone the line. Of course, there are individuals who also comment that he deserves what he got…NO BODY has the right to determine a person’s life, or determine what’s right for other people. I was very offended by their comment, and I think no matter what Michael Jackson did in the past, he should not receive comment such like that.


Talking to my co-worker, she was born in the 1990, and oddly, she can also recognize the lyrics and could sing alone when they were played on the radio. I mean she wasn’t even born in that era! Michael Jackson’s music truly has influence many generations and different races. I think there is no one who can surpass that. Today, I respect Michael and his contribution to the music industry; he is truly the King of Pop.

Best of luck, my friends.

One of my dearest buddies from the Corps-Reid, and his beloved wife, Brooke are leaving the States today for their peace corps assignment to Swaziland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaziland) . Technically, they are not out of the states until the 22nd, but they are heading over to DC to start their initial training and then head over to Africa tomorrow. I called him this morning just want to wish him a safe journey, and I could tell from their tone of voices that they are very anxious about this trip. I completely understand their feelings, going to a completely different country, don't know what's really waiting for them. At least they have each other for support. I had my parents with me when I first came to the States, but I still vividly remember that on the plane from L.A. to Houston, I think I had what you called today a "nervous breakdown". back then I didn't know better, and I was just scared what's coming into my way, thinking about going into a completely new environment with no English knowledge, worrying how will I do in classes...Dad comforted me back then. Now, I am a grow-up adult (that's still a scary word...), I will have to face the challenges myself.

Anyway, today's topic is Reid and Brooke. They are a very important part of my life now. I have known Reid since my fish year, and for the past 6 years (5 years undergrad and 1 year in Vet school), he has always been there for support. We hardly had any arguments, but that's because we are always brutal on each other...comment wise, so we take it out right there, in front of us. and he is always a manipulator (not in a bad way, but he is very manipulative, and can always find ways to get out of the guilt), a crowd clown, what I called "eye-ball attractor"...or what my buddies called "attention wh**e". He can come up with some crazy wild ideas and it's amazing over the years, I developed immunity towards him and all I can answer is a head shake and let him have his way around He had the same major as I did, BIMS, and so we went to class together our junior and senior year a lot. I used to remember that we would always run in our senior boots to try to catch the 7:10a bus from main campus to west campus...and I vividly remembered that Reid would always out run me (dah...) and turn around and comment about his move and that's how it stuck into my head...

Brooke was also in my unit, she is a year younger than me. I would say Brooke is the perfect fit for Reid. Reid is like a big kid who never grow up, he would have all these bizzar random thought and will put them into actions (ie: go into the tunnels on campus and try to find the secrete path; swimming in all the ponds/pools on campus; start a Nuke run tradition with the corps runners, go to bed at 4am when he has a marathon at 7am, and was late for the starting for 10 min, go on a diet with just Honey and peanut butter, and later on finds out it's scientifically prove to be healthy...the list goes on). Brooke are more rational, and Reid would only listen to Brooke. Brooke is also more mature and I like to talk to her because she is always encouraging, and positive, and will always be on my side no matter what. She has the " magic touch " that will calm me down, Reid does NOT have that ability on me.

Today, they are leaving from Dallas to D.C. and receive their official peace corps introduction workshop over night, then head over to a complete new world, helping citizens over there and educate the public about AIDS. I have been telling them (and of course they both already understand) that this is for a great cause, it's something that a great person will do, and the impact they leave behind is un-imaginable. I truly admire their action, and so very proud to be their friend. Next time I see them I will still be in school (bomber...), but I will be almost ready to get out in the real world. By then, they will be back from Africa, tanned, and stay in shape :D

Best of luck, my friends! I wish you both a very safe and rewarding journey!

PS: for those of you who are curious of their trip, log on to their blog : http://reidandbrooke.blogspot.com/