Una invitación a una celebración conmigo!

The past 3 years has been a very challenging and exciting voyage for me. It was surely filled with hard work, optimism-pessimism twister days, carefree laughter, hopeful prayers, as well as proud-and-down-moments tears. Not to forget, bottomless coffee and draggin’-out-of-bed ritual as epic morning routines. To my surprise, it was not easy, although it was doable. But more importantly, I learned that, although external influences were powerful, my self-wills and disposition have been my biggest challenges (maybe they will always be).

Time indeed flies and as I officially wrapped up this chapter, I am now standing again for another new beginning of my life. I would like to always remind myself that great mind comes with great responsibilities. Thus, I am thrilled to embrace the world, to contribute for the good and refuse to give in to the bad, as an individual filled with grace, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a girlfriend, a (good) friend, a student (of life), an employee, a colleague, a neighbor, and a stranger (and many more to come in the future).

Therefore, as a crossing point of those promise and premises, I would like to celebrate this occasion with you all in my graduation ceremony on May 15, 2011 at Rutgers University. Do not worry of bringing cool balloons and lovely flowers (although thick ang bao(s) are much appreciated)! Your presence is simply heartwarming. Last but not least, I would like to thank each of you, to have been part of where I am standing today and hopefully in the future too!

Stay hungry – stay foolish!

Unexpected conversation

I hope it is not only me who feels like avoiding somebody whom you felt so different from. I am fully aware that it seems too anti-social, but for a lack of better reasons, it's just hard to find a common ground or an interesting topic to converse, we think. Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-social but unfortunately, that is what I tend to do. But this one conversation that I had 2 weeks ago, proved me wrong. There is nothing to worry about, and being yourself is just most comfortable. In the end being different makes you unique. I am proud that this time I can fight this negative thought. Otherwise, I almost missed an opportunity to meet a person who shares a very similar vision about life and how we want to plan our future. Yet, we have completely different personality.

Don't even ask me about my first impression of him. He reminded me of Chuck Bass, so arrogant and full of attitude. His face was so intimidating! Smirky smiles, pointy eyes, and fake friendliness haha... and they were just not warm. I quickly pulled my hand and turned my head after I introduced myself. That's it, no more fake friends I thought. But, I just don't get away too easily. Couple friends decided to go to a lounge, and we ended up sitting next to each other! Awkward! Then he started asking me some questions and we started talking on and on... we talked about many things from study to work, us to family, now and future, plan and fear, and bottomline, sincerity. I just never expect that to happen, especially with a person like his type. Not a dot.

Everything just happened too fast and left such an impression on me. I did not even say goodbye that night when I left, I am not sure where he was actually. I just hope that we can keep in touch nevertheless. And because of this chance, two questions were then popped in my head. Have I not explored the world? Have I been too hard to myself that I define myself too shallowly? Well I just wanna say thanks to you Mr. super-outgoing, you helped me open my eyes. All the best. And actually I'm proud of myself that I tore down my imaginary boundary about us!

Couldn't be by myself...

Ugghh.. my back hurts after about 2 hours of shoveling the snow around my car. There was a snow storm 3 days back and since I parked in the corner of the parking lot and I did not shovel the next morning, I decided to let it sit there and used my house-mate's car, a 4WD. Oh yea.. a bit of shoveling and I am out of the jam-packed 20" snow! I was giggling and poor Civic next to me, the couple has been shoveling here and there and yet the car didn't move.

Oh well, revenge time, the plower actually came and cleaned the parking lot. Unfortunately they plowed the snow and make a snow-barricade around my car. They tried to contact me to move my car and daaa... I was at work! So today first thing in the morning I plowed that barricade. Good thing, it was quite sunny but the snow has become quite ice-hard and harder to shovel! But I made it.

That was the time that I realized... gosh...I probably don't want to be alone (soon and for the rest of my life!). And now I questioned myself how was that possible that I lived by myself for 2 years? But more, there was a time, when I was naive and careless and thought to myself, so what if I do not find someone to marry. I can be by myself! Hahaha... well it is a simplified definition of a husband, isn't it? someone to plow the snow for you?! I did not mean that way but I guess it is more to a representative of a bigger picture, that human are not supposed to be alone. and I ate my own words! (quote this from a friend post in facebook). And the question now, is it worth it for me to spend my time here for work while being away from my loved ones? Tell me abut priority vs trade-offs -_- Only time can tell... but I just hope that I did not make a mistake, and if I do change my mind, I hope it will not be too late.