Saturday, November 6, 2010

V for vintage

I'm absolutely in love with all things classic cars, prince of bel-air hairstyles, and love. Two music videos that I have become obsessed with transport me into vintage worlds I so wish I was a part of- the clothes, the dance-offs, the adolescence, the wind whipping through my hair...
not a care in the world.
that's where I want to be.

Katy Perry: Teenage Dream

Nelly Furtado: The Night is Young


disclaimer: just to clarify, I do not condone making out with someone you meet that night, having sex with your teenage crush, or any other racy elements these music videos (esp. katy perry's) have gained the reputation for. I am condoning more 80's styles, dance parties, and amazing times with friends.
just saying :)

Friday, October 29, 2010

Chicken Bruschetta Salad

I am at work, and I feel that this salad is good enough to distract me from making nametags and writing bios and describe this delicious salad. Basically, it is what it sounds like (surprise!). It's a bruschetta in a salad, with some chicken tossed into it. Who would have thought bruschetta without being plopped on a delicious piece of toasted french bread would be SO good??
In this case, good means fresh, light, and still filling. So so delicious.

Cosi, you've done it again.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Fall is here

Now when the time of fruit and grain is come,
When apples hang above the orchard wall,
And from a tangle by the roadside stream
A scent of wild grapes fills the racy air,
Comes Autumn with her sun-burnt caravan,
Like a long gypsy train with trappings gay
And tattered colors of the Orient,
Moving slow-footed through the dreamy hills.
The woods of Wilton, at her coming, wear
Tints of Bokhara and of Samarcand;
The maples glow with their Pompeian red,
The hickories with burnt Etruscan gold;
And while the crickets fife along her march,
Behind her banners burns the crimson sun.

"Autumn" by Bliss Carman first appear in the Atlantic in 1916

The DMT experience

A DMT (hallucinogen drug) lab was found in a freshman dorm.

Here is a description/account of what happens when one takes DMT:

What can be said of DMT as an experience and in relation to our own spiritual emptiness? Does it offer us answers? Do the short-acting tryptamines offer an analogy to the ecstasy of the partnership society before Eden became a memory? And if they do, then what can we say about it?

What has impressed me repeatedly during my many glimpses into the world of the hallucinogenic indoles, and what seems generally to have escaped comment, is the transformation of narrative and language. The experience that engulfs one's entire being as one slips beneath the surface of the DMT ecstasy feels like the penetration of a membrane. The mind and the self literally unfold before one's eyes. There is a sense that one is made new, yet unchanged, as if one were made of gold and had just been recast in the furnace of one's birth. Breathing is normal, heartbeat steady, the mind clear and observing. But what of the world? What of incoming sensory data?

Under the influence of DMT, the world becomes an Arabian labyrinth, a palace, a more than possible Martian jewel, vast with motifs that flood the gaping mind with complex and wordless awe. Color and the sense of a reality-unlocking secret nearby pervade the experience. There is a sense of other times, and of one's own infancy, and of wonder, wonder and more wonder. It is an audience with the alien nuncio. In the midst of this experience, apparently at the end of human history, guarding gates that seem surely to open on the howling maelstrom of the unspeakable emptiness between the stars, is the Aeon.

The Aeon, as Heraclitus presciently observed, is a child at play with colored balls. Many diminutive beings are present there--the tykes, the self-transforming machine elves of hyperspace. Are they the children destined to be father to the man? One has the impression of entering into an ecology of souls that lies beyond the portals of what we naively call death. I do not know. Are they the synesthetic embodiment of ourselves as the Other, or of the Other as ourselves? Are they the elves lost to us since the fading of the magic light of childhood? Here is a tremendum barely to be told, an epiphany beyond our wildest dreams. Here is the realm of that which is stranger than we can suppose. here is the mystery, alive, unscathed, still as new for us as when our ancestors lived it fifteen thousand summers ago. The tryptamine entities offer the gift of new language, they sing in pearly voices that rain down as colored petals and flow through the air like hot metal to become toys and such gifts as gods would give their children. The sense of emotional connection is terrifying and intense. The Mysteries revealed are real and if ever fully told will leave no stone upon another in the small world we have gone so ill in.

This is not the mercurial world of the UFO, to be invoked from lonely hilltops; this is not the siren song of lost Atlantis wailing through the trailer courts of crack-crazed America. DMT is not one of our irrational illusions. What we experience in the presence of DMT is real news. It is a nearby dimension-- frightening, transformative, and beyond our powers to imagine, and yet to be explored in the usual way. We must send fearless experts, whatever that may come to mean, to explore and to report on what they find.

What strikes me the most is the first sentence. This experience is a sort of spiritual one. And I guess speaks to those who are searching for this experience, this fulfillment. And maybe that's why religion, in this growing impersonalized world is becoming a popular pursuit and more potent force in all things international. Oh, and drugs, too.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

pronounced: Sheen-Jyang

I will be abroad for 6 weeks in a region of the world that I had never even heard of until last year. It seems to be a pattern- who knew I would end up living in Turkey for half a year?

I am so excited to be going to intentionally be a part of the community and befriend [hopefully voluntarily] local college students, be part of a team with a purpose and passion, and explore another part of God's creation.

it's supposed to be beautiful; I'll let you know.


Friday, July 2, 2010

short-cutting short cuts

Warning: a venting entry

I don't think short-cuts are all that they are cut out to be *excuse the pun*. Oftentimes, I find myself taking a longer time thinking of creating a short-cut or making a short cut than it would take to do the actual task. And I guess my essential problem in all this (besides being clearly pissed after spending ten minutes trying to make a short cut for something that I knew I could do in 5 minutes) is that this is a cultural phenomenon. We are obsessed with cutting everything short- Youtube clips, links left and right, I could go on and on- and I know why. Because I am absolutely sucked into this cultural mindset, probably more than people around me. When it comes down to it, the reason why we are willing to spend money and time to do things "faster" means that we will be able to get more out of life- that is, if we're all guaranteed the same amount of time on this earth. I find myself continually preoccupied in efficiency, and actually lose more time stressing, redirecting, etc. etc. with the initial intention of making things easier and faster...so I could what?
Pull my hair out about figuring out how to do other things faster?

Sigh.

This book actually goes into what I think is the region of my purpose of this entry. We are getting stupider with the internet, or maybe with Google. I love Google, can't live without it, would probably marry it if I could (or someone who works there)...but the fact stands that I waste SO much time because of it and this contributes to my frustration at my 'lack of' efficiency and this vicious addiction of doing more things for the purpose of doing more things.


*Deep breath*
next entry will be more demure and tranquil

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Mac-less

My computer won't turn on.

I don't really know what to do with myself.

Maybe a wake up call to get my head in the game...for finals.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Cherry Blossom Cupcake...?


Georgetown Cupcake would.
For those of you who are not from the Georgetown scene, or DC area for that matter, the Cherry Blossom cupcake is a seasonal specialty that one of the boutique cupcake shops in DC (in my current neighborhood) has out. It's a vanilla cupcake with berries mixed in, with cream cheese frosting. Yum. And courtesy of Aeyoung 언니. <3

Thursday, April 8, 2010

IR Freak.


“If you and the international community pressure me more, I swear that I am going to join the Taliban,” Mr. Karzai said, according to the Parliament member.

Really, Karzai?

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

digging deep

An interesting article I came upon resonated deeply with me.

I am one to have deep, long talks with people, even strangers (sometimes those are the best). But am I happier?

Maybe. Sometimes I wish I was one who could be be more light-hearted and carefree...and generally take myself less seriously. Frankly, it's all about striking a balance.

Don't bro out and talk about nothing significant,
but don't take yourself super seriously and think that you alone have the burden of saving the world.

10 years from now

This man has got it all.
the looks, the youth, the smarts, the international experience...

A graduate of Georgetown's SFS, the same school I am in, this puts some pressure on my future, which is especially uncertain with respect to this summer. I feel like I'm flailing.

...I wonder where I'll be ten years from now?

Also, appropriate time to say this: I'm so proud to be a Hoya. :)

sweet dreams




I've seen these on so many blogs, I feel that I have to hop on the band wagon. I have never had these famous macaroons, nor have I ever seen them in real life...but the pictures make me quite happy. I wonder what would happen if I actually was able to eat one.

I mean, look how wiki describes them:
The confectionery is characterized by its smooth, domed top, ruffled circumference, and flat base. Connoisseurs prize a delicate, egg shell-like crust that yields to a moist and airy interior. The French macaron differs from other macarons in that it is filled with cream or butter like a sandwich cookie, and can be found in a wider variety of flavors that range from the traditional (raspberry, chocolate) to the exotic (foie gras, truffle).

yum. but i may pass on the foie gras.







Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Xinjiang Province of China


Service, community, and spreading love.

Summer 2010.

Should I be here?







Sunday, April 4, 2010

He is Risen


38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

He lived in humility, died for love, and rose in victory.




An ode to beautiful women everywhere



Many people may not have known, but when I was younger, I wanted to be white. A brunette with long legs and lashes that went for miles, specifically. It's tough to have typical Asian characteristics that may have been considered good wife material back when the Mongols only had one thing on their mind- conquering every piece of land they could reach- but for today's standards...not the best. Glamour, beauty, and elegance were embodied in women like Grace Kelly, Julie London, or Coco Chanel. Classic and sophisticated. Their styles were simple yet timeless and fashion today resonates with theirs from long ago. Also, interesting how back then, there weren't tools like airbrushing and photoshop...

Simple steps to follow Grace Kelly: In the steps of Grace Kelly...

Grace Kelly


Julie London


Coco Chanel


Also, note to self: wear your pearls more often. It significantly ups your classiness.



Tuesday, March 30, 2010

It's official: I'm addicted

Roughly translated, Catch Me a Star <or for some reason, "Stars falling from the sky">, this Korean mini-series has become my latest obsession. This has actually become a out-of-proportion because Korean dramas have the ability to hook one like no other media/TV show/whatever can. Korean dramas actually induce drug-addicted/alcoholic behavior. I have stayed up to hours without any rational reason, been willing to sacrifice my health and school work regiment, and stare blankly at my computer screen half brain dead. This is precisely why I try my very best to stay away from Korean dramas during the school year as much as possible, and I have been good until now. Every episode ends with a cliffhanger (guaranteed), and when all 20 1-hour long episodes are available to you at once...let's just say that I could have used my last 5 days in a much more worthy ways.

But, I know it's not just me. You Koreans (for the most part) know what I'm talking about.

Not to justify my addiction in any way (because that's what addicts usually do...), this drama is so spectacularly cute and makes me miss home like no other. Yes, my family isn't actually very Korean, but the drama has 5 little kids as part of its starring cast and they are all charming and adorable kids. They make me miss family in Korea, not to mention the title character reminds me a bit of my mommy.

Also, Korean dramas are extremely idealistic about love. Basically a glorified Cinderella story, this particular drama has the main character come into the house of a big-shot lawyer as his maid, and slowly chip away at his icy character with her kluzty-cuteness and inability to bite her tongue at appropriate moments. A revelation for me through a character like hers is the value placed on unique characters in many Korean dramas. Usually, there's a character with some sort of quirky characteristic that sets them apart (personality or situation-wise) from different groups. They are individuals that ultimately have special and happy endings. This is a huge departure from what I believe characterize the general Korean population- homogeneous. Not that all Koreans are the same, but there is a strong Confucian legacy of communality and conformity. These characteristics are at the core of the differences between the East and the West- rugged American individualism vs. submissive Korean groupness.

I just spent a Monday night, when I could have spent more time with my friend for his 21st/done more readings/slept to analyze this drama. As if 20+ hours wasn't enough...

Music I love...in places I love

Music is a form of art.
But so are music videos.

I've come to appreciate the beauty that music videos can add to music itself. For one not particularly attached to one type of music, I think I can confidently say that these two music videos make me quite happy when I need a pick-me-up. I've also had the great privilege of going to both places that these music videos are set in.
Koop Island Blues, by Koop Island (Paris)

You, by Fly Gypsy (Jamaica)

Monday, February 15, 2010

Valentine's Day

let's not be presumptuous and say these couples are actually in love, but can we give them the benefit of doubt?
it would make me so happy.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

A new decade, a new year, a new start


Everyone likes a clean slate, right?

So this year...I'm going to stop hoarding ideas and insights to myself and try to be more attentive to this blog.

Speaking of clean slates, I've just realized how much my family means to me. Sp
ecifically, my mother. I am a difficult child, a difficult girl. No, I wasn't really the type to rebel (go figure) because my parents were always quite lenient. But I usually set up a fortress so that people can't get to me. I do that sometimes with my mom, because she knows me the most. And it makes me a difficult person. But she still loves me.

I love my mom.