please take care

(starbucks in Shanghai, somewhere...this winter vacation)

I can't believe this is happening again.
Thanks for the monster, I really needed something to munch on my worries.

Keeping a blog was not only to keep the ones I care about updated about my life but as a place to reflect. But I've been trying so hard to keep it a happy and interesting one, not one of those blogs I keep writing about my troubles and problems. That's not the kind of blog I want.

I know you can lose your stuff anywhere in the world, but I've never really thought about it when I'm in starbucks in Taiwan. I'm not saying the crime rate is higher in Shanghai or anything, I was once pickpocketed my cell phone when I was in Vietnam, it's just that we seem to never notice some things before we actually lose them. Hmm, don't we hear this a lot?

So maybe I should have something just like this notice here to remind me everyday that I should take care of anything I have already. I do remind myself time to time, but sometimes we're just too stupid to realize what life would be if something was missing. I read on this design book saying the best designs are the stuff we never notice, such as the trees that give us air, and we only realize a bad design when something goes wrong. So "please take care" has a different meaning when a friend say this the next time, it means that you could lose them or they could lose you too. Just like how my notebook has once again abandoned me, it's still here, but it won't react to anything I do to it anymore. Please come back to me. PLEASE.

And now they're playing AKON's (sorry blame it on me) on the speakers. Yeah, I'll just blame it on you, too.

Wonder if I'll ever have the time to throw a party now.

routine

(Subway in Shanghai, this winter vacation)

My friend noticed that a lot a people in Shanghai wore dark clothes, most in black or grey.
We never knew why, though a few wore the color red, which I guess had to do with Chinese New Year.

Why do we have routines? Is it so we can spend more time on other things?
Gotta prioritize better or productivity can never be so low and still seem busy like hell.

So, now I have no reason to stop writing my blog, do I?

anti-theft

(picture taken this winter vacation in Ikea, Shanghai)

I need one of these anti-theft locks, right now.

For the ones who care and the the ones that have something between us, thank you.
I am lucky to have so many people in life to think about.

We need to develop some kind of anti-theft mechnism in life, so we can at least try to hold on to what ever we have left.

Friends and passion, the two I need most.

Or do I?

history

(Picture of Emily and Kiki's house, with Kiki's writing on the last day)

Better spend more time on my english, you'll know why when "history" is the only word you can come out for the title of a post. But I have a French final tommorrow...English can wait.

There's this debate on whether we should alter the past or not if we had the ability to travel through time. Some would say we could go back in time and change the things that we regreted or did not wish to hapen. But some say, history should stay because we are who we are today and the past has brought both good and bad.

A friend said so when we were on msn. She said that's why she cherishes the times in AIESEC, because the AIESEC we knew is still alive in us.

A friend showed me that I still had a long road to being fully mature.

A friend from high school proved that the experiences I had were worth something.

A friend held an party and it was not until then did I realise I could connect with people once more.

A friend and another one messaged me and we finally had a chat after such a long time.

A friend gave me new directions for the future and a person to refelct on.



So much has happened since my last post.
But so little have I finished.

what do you see

(rainy day at home, no idea when)

Ogilvy, will you become my first love?

Reading a lot lately. Most of them would have never made it in to my book list in the past but now they do. Thinking more about how I'm going to prepare myself for the coming year and much is clear.

Used to worry about if I really knew myself enough. Am I going in a direction everyone else wants me to think as a good path? Or do I really have the passion for what I want? I love music and visual art and of course movies. In the past I wanted to be a creative director or a movie director but then I wasn't so certain.

Anyway, after a lecture tonight by an AIESEC alumni (CEO of an company in KH) I think I'm more than ready to fight until sNCF. I guess the goals for this year are also clearer than ever and I don't care what others think, not even my parents this time. I thank them for being very supportive all the way though they are not too happy about where I'm headed. But this is my future and I'm the one who's going to take full responsibility, right?

Met with a few friends last week in a trip to Taipei and I'm scheduled for another one in December. There's so much I left in the past and I'm trying to find them back into life once again. Friends that I once knew, feelings I once had, experiences I should have experienced... I'm living more than I did in my past ten years. I'm packed with the courage I once had when I was young and I have the knowledge how to make that courage work, all I have to do is believe in what I love.

I always believed I am creative. Actually, everyone is. A friend wrote this on her msn, it said "There really is no such thing as art. There are only artists". We define what we see and create. So I really care about the athenticity of my work. But sometimes just like why some people buy fake stuff, who knows if it's real? It's also true that nothing is really original for everything must have a signature of something, but when I create something (which is much more difficult than copying and pasting) and no one believes so, makes me kinda frustrated. But it's true we all learn by copying in some way. Like when you read, you're learning someone elses opinion on an issue. You could come up with the same thing in life but when you read, you get it effortlessly. So is it true we only care for the results? I don't know but I'm sure I'm spending a little too much time writing a blog, which is almost 20 minutes.

Last question.

Do I really care about AIESEC too much sometimes it's more important to me than friends?

This must be some confusing post.

new new new

(Last sunday at the dome of 2009 world games in KH)

I'm forming a new team.
I'm learning a new language.
I'm preparing a new test.
I'm particing a new way of thinking.
I'm experiencing new places.
I'm reading new books.
I'm meeting new friends.

It's a new day everyday, so what am I going to see next year when I look back?
I'm still so new to this world and I need to adapt faster.
I agree that if you do just one thing but do it well is worth the time, but even after prioritizing there's still much to be done.

Finally we had a short but fun graduation trip for VPs in 0708 of SYLC. It was simple, a dinner, a breakfast and a room for overnight drinkning and fun. Trainees came (the new one from Canada, too) and brought friends and we had dinner at the Tripod king and breakfast at Midtown bagel (seems I don't really have many places to go to in KH). I've also been meeting with so many newies these days, one at a time taking around one hour each, I'm hoping not only can they get a better learning experience when they join the OC team of sNCF 2009 but have a better organized aiesec life plan.

It's dificult to really remember what you've done after you stop bloging for some time.

Going to meet with another manager tomorrow who sponsered us in the past and another prof on friday, please let me be prepared. I also have to finish my proposal as soon as I can and I still haven't planed my trip to China this winter.

Still, I'm trying to write a new post here everyday...

old old old

(In an ice cream parlor near SYU, closing these days. Used to be VPM location but the owner is closing it and taking an MBA program in our school.)

Was in Midtown the other day with a few friends.
A few obversations that day and after.

1. We were only two people and were seated in a corner during lunch time. The whole place was full with people but there was a time a large table for six opened and my friend wanted to move over. I thought we would be asking for too much if we did so and the table we had already suited me enough (my friend is very very very skinney, in fact) but she kept looking at the table for six and giving that look "I wish we were over there". We moved anyways. Didn't feel right the whole time but it would be even more annoying if my friend kept giving me the look.

2. Breakfast that day was almost twice the size (still one bagel though) and it was my first time not finsihing it, there was just too much eggs and cheese for one day.

3. A waitress I like a lot (she's just friendly) came to serve my table before my friend came and actually gave a warm welcome than just the normal "hi, can I take your order". It felt nice but rang a bell thinking "what does she remember about me".

4. Grandma was still at my house that day when I left, and she was leaving so I wouldn't see her when I came back. She said "listen to your parents" before I head out and I said "I will". But, I always listen, it just I don't always follow.

5. I noticed my pants fading color. Is it because of the rain?

6. This kid accidentally threw a baloon from behind, I handed it back to him with a smile.

7. Went to Wang's steak to celebrate my mom's bday. Haven't had steak for a long time but I didn't order steak in the end. Why is that so?

8. My friend's boyfriend (both from Sweeden) is finally getting his tattoo. Helped him do a bit of translation between him and the tattoo artist, I could tell he really wanted to bond with the guy doing his tattoo. It was a really cool experience actually being inside the shop though I didn't get to see the process.

Anyway, this is old stuff and there's so much of last two weeks I don't remember.

So back to today and good bye yesterday.
I'll just have to leave you in the past and on this post.

dilemma

(Guilin, this summer, after a boat ride in a stalactite cave)

It's not just two to decide from in life.
Just finished brunch, ready for an afternoon of intense study and reading.

I read this somewhere saying we all work hard to create more possibilities in life but actually take up too much time to focus on important things.

Sounds reasonable, right?
And you think you're rational enough to not do so?

But step back and think about your every day life, short term goals and what you're doing right now. I think the best observation related to this is preparing for a masters degree when you're not sure if you need one but just because everyone else is or having the thought "I might just waste the whole time anyway, better do something concrete". But what if you spent the year doing other things? I'm not saying "don't get a masters" but just explaining how we really do work hard to keep oportunities open, but have little information on the oportunities missed.

I am so happy how I'm living this year full of friends, in the conference organizing committee, reading and studing and living a healthy life. And the good news is, I'm finally going to start bicycling next week!!! Thanks Makiyo and Bear. Anyone interested?

But I'm shortening my time on the phone these days. I think I'm getting a tumor.

Our new trainee from Canada is coming, our SYLC VP graduation trip is coming, my high school's anniversary is coming, a few more meetings are coming, trip to Taipei is coming, new books to read are coming, mid terms are coming...

GO sNCF. GO military test.

This is the best year ever.

I like sushi so much

(this summer, with my LCP elect, in 幕府 sushi)

I like a lot of things, too.

This guy from Holand was telling me I have this American way of saying things.
I asked how do you tell?
He answered, you're always saying stuff with "like" such as "it's like", "you're like"...

I like it when I have a friend who is honest to me.
I like it when I find a blog of a close friend that has a point in his posts.
I like it when I learn so much in conversations and meetings with different people.
I like it when I see so many people willing to help me in this year for sNCF.
I like it when I experience running out of the shower to open the door for my parents.
I like it when I sence that things are staring to START, such as the OCM today for instance.
I like it when I know I should wasted time and I try hard not to, still sometimes reminded.

I hate it when I realize i can only type sentences consisting of words...
but with no spirit to be seen in the whole article.
I need more input and more pratice.

I'm getting a really bad headache these days, better lay off the alchohol, not that I drink all the time, but a few beers yesterday at Flo's birthday party. Very fun indeed and Nozomi and I were planning a way to justify drinking, haha.

Sushi anyone?

10 minutes

(in SYU, today, on the streets beside the school of management, I have no idea who that guy is)

Can be a lot of time.
And that's how much I'm going to take to post my life today.

People respond to what they recieve. It's not how friendly you think you are that's going to give you good personal relationships, but being sensitive on how others accept your positive signals. It's been really nice to meet a few friends now and then (walking around school rather than by scooter could be the reason) and to making REAL contact with them.

French is getting tougher. The bigger the challenge the better. I don't know why so many friends are starting to take French lessons (not in the same school) and many are traveling to France, preparing to go there or they ARE from France. Emily said I don't have a FRENCH FACE, meaning it's awkward seeing my image saying "Bonjour". I guess she's right. Finally go the CD for the practices in the text book, let's see how far I go.

Trying to find a few snapshots for a document I need to hand in for the military test, I stumbled upon a lot of old pics taken in junior high and high school. I actually looked good in the past. And there were a few pics of me with some other friend but I have completely no merory of that person whatsoever.

Social marketing this morning the same. The funny thing is, I ran into Tanya yesterday, and she told me that the prof from IMC is the prof of social marketing's wife. Wow, sure is some coincidence? Good thing is I'm doing quite well in both classes, wouldn't want them going home and having dinner discussing about two different students and finding out it was all along me. That would need explaining.

Came home tonight thinking I might go for a swim. The leftovers fromt the tripod king
were till in the fridge and I thought maybe I'd finish them or I'll have to throw it away. But after dinner I just felt like doing nothing at all, since I'm going to spend my night studying until 12:00, and I was soooo stuffed again by the leftovers (I guess that's why they charge so much). Can't wait to go and study this saturday at midtown again. Poppin says she's gonna bring a friend and so am I.

Sigh.

Ten minutes are up and I used an extra one minute to type this...
Good night for today, bonjour for tomorrow!

facts

(Vietnam, last year summer, temple)

What kind of facts?
Numbers, usually used as the only concrete fact.
But we are blind with a single index, though rarely do we realize.

A few days without postings.
A few days without reflection.

The good thing of having a blog is when you look back and think about how you're treating your present, you find interesting facts. The time you use on study, interenet, friends...it's amazing how different the ratio we would want to have is to how we actually spend a day, especially without reflection.

So why is it we praise ourselves so much through different facts? Especially through numbers.
Is that what we want to construct ourselves on? Is that how we wish to be seen?

What is there to prove?

Anyway, I'm going to log a few things that occured these days.

Take the elevator often? Well, do you ever notice that it's repaired and maintained?
Normally not I guess. And do you ever notice there's someone DOing that job?

Had good breakfast this morning with my mom, it's her birthday by the way.
It's good to be able to wake up in the morning these days, maybe I'm finally being able to wake up with ease! Will it be so after a month? Let's give it a try tonight.

Got a few replies through email, more to do, more to think and even more email to send.
A few meetings ahead, too. But it's so nice to still be in school, I'm meeting soooo many people I once knew but never understood deaply. I'm feeling so different now, why so? More work to come but alot more dinners to have with you dear friends.

It's good to have a laugh now and then. Finally went online to search "south park".
This is the best episode I've watched. Not just it's funny, it's inspiring.

Check out "over logging" on http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/

Cheers!

today

(Terrance Fine Food Garden, today, this is what it looks like when you lie on the table)

How do we "see" today?
You see it before it really happens, and you look back to see it all over again.

I want to see today NOW.

Morning around 9 I went to IKEA for breafast. Never knew so many people came to IKEA this early for a bite and around 10 past 9 (restaraunt opens at 9), the tables were packed. We were lucky to get a table, many weren't. There was this huge fight in the cafeteria when we were finding our table, caused a lot of attention, and some guy from another table got annoyed and yelled at them saying something "take the fight somewhere else". Then around 10 we headed for Cafe Fiona (close to Mega department store) but the light was too dim to study. So we went riding across Kaohiung and checked a dozen of cafes (really, I think around 8 or 9), and after two hours we ended up going to a place next to Midtown bagel, Terrence Fine Food Garden.

So here we are.

Tonight we're having a family gathering (you know, the kind of family in the same department consisting of members from each grade?) at 6 pm, so that means I have 5 hours to study and send a few more emails. I'm giving a short presentation on monday for a class, but that won't take up too much of my time, I think.

Wonder what'll it be like tonight.
Also wondering what I'd have written on this post if I did it this night.

I guess there's just not too much to share when you have a day like this.
Or am I not making the best use of my 24-7?

So, how do we "see" today?

We can't.
We "LIVE" today, and each and every other day.


ps. It was nice to see you yesterday, dear Phoebe. You're gonna do just fine.

tripodking

(coffee shop near dream mall, Kaohsiung, yesterday, upsidedown)

What's a tripodking? To be honest, if I' didnt' write me blog in english I would never know.
It's interesting when you try and approach things in life that were once very familiar but so very different when you give it a different perspective.

Spent the day with emily after we met in SYLC's aiesec office in school right above 7-11 in a coffee shop. I haven't been inside our aiesec LC office for a long time, never really found the reason to be there (it's sooo hot and humid, especially for someone who sweats as hard as I do) and there wasn't much to do either. Emily and I had lunch there and left for a quiet afternoon working. She was preparing for the Newies Seminar in TFLC today and I was still trying to learn my French correctly and manage to get our national conference on track.

The afternoon was great, but it was around 6 when I proposed the idea we should have dinner at 鼎王, a famous hot pot restaurant. What is 鼎王? Well, that's what tripod king is. Check it out HERE. Emily was a bit reluctant but I could tell she wanted to go badly, since she's had the idea for nearly a week but wanted to keep her senses. She said she'll go if I can find another three to join us and soon I was making calls. Though in the end emily, julie and I ended up there, I could tell emily was already preparing for a nights battle with the hot pot.

They sure serve good food. A bit expensive, but after you've tried their hot pot, you can tell the difference. I went to bed with a very happy soul but dead stuffed belly.

This morning was a lecture at school about the financial crises that's been storming the whole world's economy these weeks. The lecturer was our past principle a few years ago, one I favor a lot, and he gave a short, clear two hour presentation. In my opinion about the whole situation is that people are too damn gready and if they can find a way to justify their actions they will. Is that the game I'm going to play in the future years? Wanted to ask a few questions but I already had a date with upjo to study this afternoon, so here we are in midtown bagel. Ordered my usual breakfast (they serve for the whole time) and now I'm trying to finish reading the powerpoints of our prof.

Let's hope I finish the first four chapters before today ends.

I'm lucky

(in Vietnam, last summer)

And you really are when you believe so.

Today was nice, simple.

Had some progress on my proposal and a nice conversation with a possible partner for our conference. I arived on time with my notebook to give a short presentation, she was busy so I waited for a few minutes. Another lady in the office offered me some tea and a magazine so I thanked her and stayed put. My contact then arrived soon and we head downstairs for a short meeting (three hours to be exact, maybe not so short) but I only spent around 20 minutes really giving my presentaion. We exchanged ideas on how our cooperation could be done and she shared some info on her unpleasant past experiences with students, which I must beware. She's actually the kind of big sister type of person, not the salesperson kind, trying to give you sharing about life and opinions. Let's see what'll come up this coming year, congrats to our possible cooperation!

Another thanks goes to a dear friend, when I read my mail today. I think most people have great ideas, it's just most people don't listen, especially to the ones that think more and speak less. Really glad to have so many people providing help on my way to the biggest event for me next year. Also got a couple of letters from the OCs for sNCF, seems we're finally going to have our first meeting! Bon!

Watched a bit of the third presidential debate on youtube, it's one and a half hour in total, might not finish but it sure is fun to watch. Wonder who has the time to watch something like this? Well I do, so I am lucky. If you're interested, check it out HERE.


A bit of reading, French or swimming for tonight? Let me think.

Maybe all of them :)


Let me finish the presentation for IMC first.


ps. Why is it I cannot log in msn tonight?

bridge over troubled water

(in hualien, this July)

If you have the fear of walking through a bridge, going on a coaster ride or coming on stage for a presentation, then you must know what it felt before and afterwards. It seems frightning at first thought, but when you actually do it and you recall the memory, you don't quite understand why the fear existed in the first place. Especially for presentations, you rethink the whole process afterward and wonder what if you did this or that would it be better and why was I nervous at all?

I think it's the same for anything in life. When you give too much thought in how something should be done, it becomes merely an idea. True execution is not just forcing yourself to have control and do what was meant to be done but to realize that all you're worrying about is nothing when finished. It's not courage but you understand it's only your mind that's giving you illusions of a not yet future.

So do what you have to .

This morning it was social marketing again. Thinking of the process in marketing used for social issues made me rethink the whole logic. When you do marketing for a product or service, you're trying to convince the target individual to buy the idea and to take a futher step, which in social marketing you're trying to raise the awarenss or change the action of target individuals. But the probelm here is, most probelms may not be completely created by the individual him/her self, such as not using a condemn or being a victim domestic abuse. But many campaigns and ads try and focus on making the target audience change behavior (such as start using a condemn or start to fight back on domestic abuse), but is that really going to change the problem? Do they really ask what is the reason they do so? Are they really trying to solve the core problem? For instance, if the society was comfortable with people having a condemn around and it was easy to purchase one without the shame, wouldn't it be easier for people to WANT to have a condemn around? I don't know the answer, there could be a lot of reasons, but I'm jsut saying the pressure shouldn't be on the individual him/her self, just as victoms of rape are often accused of their own carelessness when the other forces in this society should be responsible as well.

Afternoon was French!!! Man, is this class fun! We spent three hours practicing our pronounciation, grammer and of course a lot of new vocabulary. Had fun with my classmate for we were always in pairs doing conversation in French. I hope I keep up and after an year I'll at least have the basic skills to be left in Paris alone.

Slept a bit after I got home. Tired for no reason.

Well, due to sleep at 12:00. Better start working.
Meeting with a possible sponsership (partner maybe) tomorrow as well , wish me luck!!!

slow down

(inside SYU, road to class, today)

Right, slow down. Do that once in a while that is.
But why, you ask?
Because if you keep speeding on, you miss the chance to really look around and reflect.

Still, if you're sure where you're going, STEP ON IT!!!

Got back my book "The economy of aesthetices", which was lying in the office of general classes since I applyed for some social studies class there last week. But I have a new book in my hands already and I'm looking forward to finishing the both of them this week. Class this afternoon was short, we finished half an hour early so I head on to my next classroom and sat outside reading.

Midterms are coming, a few of them seem challenging, but mostly because I'm really taking this semester very very very serious. I'm starting to go through the most special experience of my life, one that I chose myself and have to live through.

But it was good that I slowed down a bit. I needed to prioritize clearly what I really need to do, what I want and what I see of me in ten years. Still have much to learn about leadership, problem soving and management, and the test of sNCF continues.

Had dinner today with JOJO. He was my teammate when I was VPER of SYLC, and we actually started to know each other better after we finished our term. He went to Cambodia this summer and if you're interested he wrote all about his journey HERE, feel free to check it out. He's the kind of person that speaks slow, soft and in short sentences, it's pretty difficult to understand him sometimes, but I always think it must be my own problem (well, it's easier thisway). Thanks for always being around to help out, and in this case, I'm really counting on it.

An alumni of TPLC, a CEO of a company now once said
"If you cannot help the people around you to grow and improve, you're worth nothing."
Please give me the ability to learn this by heart.

But I must slow down first.
Or I'm going to miss out what's really happening around me and overlook the people around me who they really are.
The biggist enemy is always yourself, eh?

5 hours

(temple incence in Guilin, this summer)

That's how long it takes from Taipei to Kaohsiung.

And that's what happens when you don't plan well with the most important things in life...

TIME and MONEY

It's lucky that I take the HSR now and then, leaving me sober and energetic with much more time to spare, of course a little less in the pocket. I didn't quite mind the ride back home, a bit tiresome but acceptable, but I did have to skip a class as a result.

Emily was nice enough to give me a ride home for I was almost broke when I arrived. We talked a bit about how she and SYLC was doing, seems she's going through a very tough period.

Got my new book through the mail today when I got home. It's called predictadly irational, wanted to read the English version but I was a member of 天下文化 so I only had to pay around half the price tag for the Chinese version. Let's see if I finish it before this month ends.


Life's like this.
When you feel poor, you spend your money carefully or you try your best to earn more.
It's the same with everything else.
I feel quite poor about the training I've given myself and the time I've had left.
Let's see if my actions shift, even just a little bit.


Spent the last few days with bunch of NTU students.

I believe it's really the place that creates the person, could be the same other way around but I haven't had such a nice debate (actually conversation) for a long time.
Guess it's also because the time they spend on ptt?


Making a big decision this week, maybe a couple.

Flash back.

(In 碧潭, Taipei, today.)

Four days in Taipei, four days of complete escape of my almost rigid brain.
Am I really in a new state of mind or is it the alcohol that's doing the job?

Spent a day in taipei moving, helping the sister of a very close friend of mine to get her stuff in her new apartment. Very nice two floor apartment with all the furnature in place just waiting for a new owner. Met with their mom and we had lunch together before we started to unpack, got a 3.5G internet usb modem for the sister's notebook and had 鮮芋仙 (new chain store of shaved ice and sweets in TW, growing rapedly these days) for desert. We had some fun doing the unpacking and organizing, I haven't seen so many text books from high school for a long time, brings back memories they do. Don't quite remember much of the geography, math, literature...but it still felt familiar, though I'd do poor on any given test. (GOD, what was I doing in high school...)

It was around 5 pm when I noticed my friend saint searching for a friend to drink. I don't drink that often and never once have I done so in Taipei. I asked if she needed help on finding a few friends and I as soon as I got the "GO" signal I sent a sms to nearly everyone I knew, through my personal phonebook, facebook, aiesec, high school...anything I could get my hands on. But a lot of them were back home for double tenth's and many didn't reply. I was online msning as soon as i could but it was pretty difficult to find the right people. After a few hours trying frustrated, we finally decided who was going and where to.

9%, that's where we went. Right next to ROXY, and it took us a few minutes to decide which was our final deision. It was quite dark (aren't they all) and it was 600 for the guys, drinks unlimited. I was inside and soon we were having our first round and on to the dance floor. But that's almost about what I remember about that night. Yup, you guessed right. I had my first drunk experience. It was still awful the next morning when I head to 新店 on the MRT to meet with my 0708 teammates for our graduation trip. And sure did I get the WHOLE hangover package, the dizzyness on the one hour trip on the bus to 烏來 was sooooo awful I nearly didn't make it to our hostel. The host there gave me a cup of tea and I sat there trying to come back again, 佳欣 said if I threw up I might feel better.

She was right.

I was completely back to my own self!!!

Well, the two days of our 0708 LCP grad trip was quite free, the eight of us spent hours talking and having a good time. It was not until a few hours ago did we finally part from each other and head back home. Most of what we did was eat, sleep and chat. I guess it was the feeling that we could stop thinking of our resposibilities for two days and just do nothing at all, with good company of course.

Thank you 0708 LCPs of AIESEC TW.

I decided to change the rules on this post, too.
Another picture on 10/10. When was the last time you saw a rainbow?

(Taipei train station, 10/10.)

Lunch was superB!

(wall of QK in 公館, taipei, taken today)

You're experiencing the afernoon of Jimmy Weng. This is what it looks like when I turn my head away from my notebook, the wall of QK in Taipei, 公館. The B in the title was an accident but I think it looks fine, not marketing BLOGGER whatsoever (but if they're willing to pay, that'll be a different matter).

Woke up at 7:00 this morning again but stayed in bed till 7:40, finally did I have the nerve to kick myself out of bed and start packing. Head to the high speed rairoad station and was fortunate enough to get on the 9:06 train, which only takes one and a half hr to arive in Taipei. Though I mislooked the price for the ticket which is normally 1000 somthing because there's no discount the day before a holiday, which is tomorrow (the double tenth day), but I'll take it. Stupid enough to not bring a book, I spent the morning using my notebook to finish some work on sNCF, a few connection maps and a full JD for different OC positions. Is is about time I start worrying about whether I'll pull this off? Hey, when do I EVER worry. It'll be a great conference and definately rewarding XP.

Taipei was raining when I arived at NTU and I had to go inside Eslite bookstore to keep myself dry. But Dereck and Sandy showed up much on time so we head for Sababa for lunch. They serve a variety of pitas, Dereck and I both had two and Sandy ordered a salad. Quite nice this Sababa, seen it's ad before in magazines but never thought I'd be there in person, thank you Sandy:) It was the first good converstion I'd have with them since I met them in APXLDS in 2005 (or 2006?), we were always seperated by distance (to be honest, I was the one seperated...) and we had quite a nice time chatting as Alumni. I hate gossip but it's just too rewarding when you get to hear some, and you tend to share back as well. Ain't that strange? I read in an article some time ago that if your company has gossip going around your company has better information connection between employees, wonder how they measured that??? Dear Dereck's joining the army in ten days and was very helpful to offer me his notes on preparing for the exam of reserve officers. He scored really high...I better get prepared right away.

It's all sun right now and I'm sitting by a window, a really nice place to spend the afternoon when I have to wait for my friend until 7 pm. Accidentally saw our 0506 MCP Mathew across my table (why did I not go by and say hello? he's leaving right now as I type this sentence) and another AIESECer from...wait... I actually don't know. The latter busy for the newie seminars that are coming in a week, I truely hope AIESEC in TW will do well this year.

Well, better start now, almost 3:30.
Many emails to send, things to prepare and material to read.
You're welcome to wish me luck, but please do invite me for lunch if you're free.

The Journey Begins.

(photo taken of one window in 2006.7.14 in my old room)

Why is it there are times you get the feeling that everything is in place and waiting for you to make the call and start? Well, there's still a not of uncertainty in my next year but I think I'm ready to go on to the next stage. The sudden rush of blood (I use this sentence a lot for no reason) and so many ideas come in your mind and all you need to do is execute. But hey, execute, the most mysterious word in the universe... the one thing that needs great control to truly command.

Met with the Prof this morning, I was up around 7a.m. and arived at school almost 8:20. I found the Prof's office and waited outside since our meeting was at 9:00. But while I was outside writing on my notes, the door suddenly opened!!! She was already inside and was just about to brush her teeth. Very awkward moment indeed as she invited me in and was planning to talk to me first until I insisted on her to finish what she was meaning to. The meeting went well, just in time for "social marketing" at 9:00 and I got a few ideas (or should I say courage?) to begin the first step of my project, the AIESEC summer national conference of 2009 as OCP.

It was nice to meet the students in social marketing for only one fifth of the class were TW students, many from Sweeden, France, Holland...mostly Europe. After two weeks fo class finally we're getting familiar with each other and the best thing is... I now have authentic friends now who REALLY speak French! The best advatage for taking this class, though when the Prof goes through his material I'm also thinking how I can actually market AIESEC for the coming year. Ideas, ideas...

Afternoon was French and wow, I can't wait for next year to come! Never realized learning a new language is such a rewarding experience, never felt that way when I was learning Japanese, but my mindset was different two years ago. I need to improve as much as I can, a little late but still worth every second.

After coming home I made a very special and unusual decision. I went out with my parents and grandma. I really have work on my hands and there are a few books I'm looking forward to finish, but I thought I should give them a bit of my time, which in the end was 4 hours. The reason I'm here in Kaohsing is because a friend I was to meet tonight was caught up in a last minute meeting and I decided to go north tomorrow morning. That left me with a free night to do whatever I wished, but this evening was quite enjoyable. Never really had the time to chat with my grandma that much (because she travels around to each child's faily) and to really take time to look at her, I caught myself gazing at her sensing the beauty of age.

What is left in years following?

For me?

My Journey Begins.

Standing on a raft half in water.

(aboard a raft on the Li river in Guilin this summer)

Maybe that's why they don't sink.
If you never acknowledge the existence of a possible crisis, how do you stay sharp and ahead?
Not trying to compete but to keep at least one step or two before things get messy.

A new book stack has formed on my desk just to remind you that you have serious reading to finish.(I'm talking to myself, ok?) Without a goal for reading, a book that normally take a month to finish will end up trash in a few years even before you check out the contents. (though in the past I NEVER read the contents, I do now)

Had a quick lunch this noon, said goodbye to my grandma (she's staying at our house for some time) and I went straight to school for class. It's nice to be on schedule with the syllabus and I sure learned a lot today. Which means, I'd better start preparing for my mid terms, even though in a few classes I'm just an auditor. Spent some time talking to 昭慶 (no idea what her English name is) about how we choose what to read before class, and I really didn't get the time to have progress in my new book (actually a book I finished halfway some a few months ago).

One of the classes I took today is a a general knowledge course called "math analysis", I think.
It was helping me review what I learned in statistics, but in a diferent way. Too bad they didn't have this class before I learned statistics or I may have done a lot better.

Though I wonder what the people in this course are thinking? I can never tell, I'm already past that age. A good improvement for thyself is I was very very focused during the two classes today, or to say for this past month it's been so. Dunno why?

Leaving to Taipei tomorrow afternoon, still some work to be done.
Also be meeting a Prof or two tomorrow, better be prepared!

Off for a swim!!!

full ahead

(photo of a cloud moutain in Guilin, quite interesting eh?)

Didn't go swimming today.
Finally I've realised my body is really really not in shape and something must be done about it.
Less food intake and more exercise, that's what I definately need.
But instead, I chose to sit in front of my PC, think a bit about my past 24 hrs and write my blog.
I'll be studying before midnight though.

So in the morning I was trying to find the post office to send a "money bag" for the hostel in 烏來 for our 0708 LCP graduation trip. Finally the time and place (people as well) are aranged, I really need more time. So help me... myself. (thanks GOD, but I should take care of this.)

Last night was nice, met Nozomi and Conk. Had a short (three hour) conversation on the possibility of a project and I'm thinking there's a possibility making this into something bigger! Wonder how it'll turn out, but I'm gonna try and help.

Something really funny happened was when Nozomi was drinking tea out of a bowl, her tea bag hit her on the forehead and she was almost knocked out!!! At least she acted so, but stayed calm or tried to, and I was there to see it all happen. Sorry Conk, didn't mean to laugh so hard when you were talking la.

Today was finally my first class of Integrated Marketing Communication. I think it's gonna be a great semester, team members look great... two exchange students from France and Sweeden, two SYU students majoring in foreign litarature. The Prof seems well prepared (I hope) and the whole course is conducted in English, which gave me the opportunity to check out how the level of this class was. A few actually surprised me to be honest.

Another class of basic Psychology was nice as well, got there in time and it was two hours of a bit of Psy history. I've gotta get some time to read a whole book, there are a few at home actually.

Ever wonder why some people never learn to email?
You spend so much time trying to explaing over msn or the phone.
What's so difficult with a simple reply?

I don't know, but I really gotta think about how this could be solved.

Time is still not in it's best use.


The sky was really nice tonight when I left school.
Too bad my camera wasn't with me.

If you're willing to wait...

(photo when in Guilin this summer, check it out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilin, which I did so just to make sure I was spelling Guilin right)

I had no idea how to end the title of this post.
But, if you're willing to wait, you get to see the whole article, which is quite similar to what I intended to express.


Last night after a few hours struggling with French (I am completely new, only had one class and a text book with no Chinese or Engish written), a friend messaged me on msn telling me a opinion on a book. I noticed on his msn status he wrote "Anyone care for Carrefour?" and asked him if he was going to ask me out.

Soon we were set to meet at ten pm at Carrefour giving me a two hour window to fill in. So I called Emily and asked her if she'd like to meet me early and the both of us could catch up on some reading. So it was around 7:30, I took a quick swim, shower and head out.

I was at Carrefour reading when Emily messeged me that she'll arive late (she was picking up a trainee). I was soooo hungry at the moment but still decided to wait until her arival thinking she spoke of coupons to Mcdonalds before. But half an hour before 10:00 she called and said she may not make it and that our trainee Dinul brought food! I was welcome to come but due to my previous appointment I could not leave of course.

So I put my book in the back of my scooter and went inside the market to check out some latest 3C stuff, and guess who I met? A friend from high school, also studying in SYU. We had a little chat while I was still in hunger so off to the bakery we went. Finally it was 10:00, I still managed not to buy anything and we were at the check out counter (or is it cashier?) when the friend I was going to meet here at 10:00 called to say he lost his scooter keys.

Wow.

Eventually I ended up at Emily's place meeting Kiki, Dinul and Nozomi.
Still no dinner, didn't meet anyone I was meant to and ran in to a long lost friend.

At least I'm almost finishing my book.
Wonder what would have happened if I got something to eat.


But if you're willing to wait...
Let's see how today turns out.

This is where it all starts.

(photo of a building in Sun Yat-sen University some day when I was heading to class)

This is my motto for this year.

"If I have something to say,
it must mean I have nothing to do.。"

Not only does it mean I'm trying to spend more time actually doing things, I've decided not to explain too much or speak of unfinished projects, at least before there is something really worth sharing.

Finally in life I realize there are some friends I cherish, and this is the place I choose to let them take a closer look at my life.

2008.10.4
Jimmy Weng