Friday, August 11, 2006
To Be Continued...
Well I never thought this day would come but this will be my last blog entry in here. As of 12:10am tonight, I will be flying to the East Coast to start life the through year journey through law school in Washington, DC.
I've thought about what to do about blogging. This is my SoCalled life, and seeing as how I will no longer be in Southern California, I didn't think it would be appropriate to keep writing in here. I want to keep this as like a time capsule of my college experience and not change the name or the look of it. Who ever thought that my little New Year's resolution in 2003 would result in over 1,200 entries about my college, life, and world experiences?
However, I have decided to keep writing at My DC'ed Life. While I will try to write daily, as I have been for the past three years, I can't make any promises right now. What I will promise is that I'll try to keep it at least someone interesting, not daily entries about torts or contracts. I plan to keep it similar in content as it is now: try to understand what the things in life mean, record memories, provide commentary on current events, make observations about the place I live in, and of course keep people updated on my life.
Though the blog is still in a prototype stage until I find a background I like and though I might not have internet right away to update, update your bookmarks if you will and you'll hear from me next time from DC.
posted by Kristina |
4:01 PM
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Thursday, August 10, 2006
Five Years Later
Five years ago, I had tickets to fly to Washington, DC for the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law. It was precisely one month after the September 11 attacks and needless to say my parents were a little apprehensive about me travelling by plane to a city that had recently been attacked. As I went through the airport, things were certainly different. For the first time, I had to take my shoes off when I went through the metal detector and was patted down. For the first time, I saw National Guardsmen pacing through the airport holding huge guns. I contemplated asking to take a picture with them because I was writing an article for my high school newspaper about flying post 9-11 but I decided that it probably wouldn't have been the best idea. I boarded a nearly empty plane and ended up sitting by an FBI agent. As my bus drove in from the airport, I was completely shocked to see a huge whole on the side of the Pentagon. While it was a surreal travel experience, it defintely gave me a better, though admittedly not complete, idea of the attacks which happened all the way across the country.
Tomorrow, I will once again go to Washington, DC for law. And I will go from someone disconnected from the East Coast to someone who is the heart of it. I'll arrive in the airport tomorrow to perhaps be meeted by the National Guard once again. Not only will I have to take off my shoes when going through security, I will have had to make sure that my carry on luggage contains no liquids. I personally don't see this as an inconvenience and I won't mind the long lines. All I want is safety and safety for everyone flying.
Five years later and not much as changed. Yet, should we really have expected much to change? As much as I can disagree with some things that the director of Homeland Security has done, I will agree with him on the fact five years is nothing for these terrorists who are still mad and still trying to seek revenge on things that have happened hundreds of years ago.
posted by Kristina |
6:59 PM
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Wednesday, August 09, 2006
"Has it hit you yet?"
People keep asking me that. Has it hit me that I'm moving across the country and going to law school. I shrug. But today it hit me and it hit me really hard. As I was taking a moment away from repacking to wash the dishes I felt like I had been bamboozled by a 4x4. Perhaps I had repressed my sadness of goodbyes too long with a stoic face or optimism of a new start. But yeah, it hit me in full force today and the tears that welled up when I said goodbye to a lot of people and things all came out today. I actually felt human again rather than a packing machine.
These jitters always come right before the "big day," I know. My goodness, the week before I took the LSAT I freaked out and thought I didn't want to go to law school anymore. But it all worked out nicely and I'm still excited to go to law school even if I'm nervous.
In the end I eased my nerves and curbed any massive panic attack with a lovely dinner in LA with some of my best friends (some I've known for a decade!) and watching Project Runway with my parents. And I also realized that along with being super excited, it's also ok to be apprehensive, a little scared, and sad.
posted by Kristina |
11:36 PM
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Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Blank White Walls
I woke up for the last time to my apartment in Westwood. The big difference this time was that I opened my eyes to an empty room. Instead of walls covered with posters, picture frames, and calendars, the walls were blank. Instead of a neatly arranged but stuffed closet, it was all cleared out. Instead of shelves full of books, they were empty. I thought an empty room would make me feel empty but instead, it made me really happy for lots of different reasons.
One of the most simple reasons is that I'm a person who hates clutter. And as much as I tried to avoid it living here, more and more stuff accumulated and it became too much by the end. As a lover of clean lines and simplicity, I feel like my side of the room has been stripped to the bare essentials. With my new start, I'm going to try to keep the room in my new apartment decorated but simple. While it was fun living with Megan, we had different design aesthetics so I'm excited to get a canvass to call my own.
Another obvious reason why I was glad to wake up to an empty room is that it meant I was finished packing. I hate packing because it always feels like such an overwhelming process, especially when you have so much stuff. As a person who loves having everything in its place, packing totally throws everything into chaos. Yet after an overly drawn out process, everything is finally packed up.
And finally, it felt very invigorating to wake up to an empty room because it's the beginning. While most people would see this as the end, my seemingly overly optimistic side sees these blanks walls and knows that another set of blank walls, ones that will be my new home and ready to be filled, shortly await me.
posted by Kristina |
11:57 AM
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Monday, August 07, 2006
Kids These Days
Being the oldest of my cousins on both sids of my family, I'm used to having a pack of toddlers as cousin. As they're growing up, some physically faster than others, it's weird to have some of them taller than me. In my mind, these kids will always be going to kindergarten, not high school getting their permits and taking SATs.
It sure doesn't help that kids these days are growing up faster at a younger age. As I was hanging out with my 10 year old cousin at our family gathering, she asked to use the computer to check her email and myspace page. Really, what can 10 year olds email about? Then she was telling me about how she was getting a cell phone. Even though her parents are giving it to her so she can walk home from the community center, I sure hope she doesn't rack up the text messaging bills her friends seem to be incurring. She was telling me how they send messages back and forth to each other during class. This is 4th grade, aren't you supposed to be building missions or something? I don't even send texts during my big boring lectures.
And probably the worst was this other girl at the family event has a cell phone and she's 6! Again, for emergencies but it's crazy for a kindergartner.
Sheesh, I feel like if I'm doing these "where has the time gone" "kids grow up so fast bit" at 22, it's going to be far worse when I'm a parent.
On a random note: I am done packing. Wohoo!
posted by Kristina |
7:50 PM
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Sunday, August 06, 2006
Asian Americaness
Yesterday my parents and I went out with old family friends that they've known for decades. They're a retired but very vibrant Chinese couple who have retired not to far from our San Clemente house. Honestly, I usually get bored when visiting older family friends but I love this couple and talking with them. They're on top of their game and love talking about liberal politics and current events. As the night progressed, we somehow got onto the subject of how Asians, no matter how long they've been here, will always be perceived as foreign. People always ask me where I was born and I politely respond Minnesota.
Even though there probably are more recent Asian immigrants than, for example European immigrants, we'll always look different. However, there was a revelation around the table as we kept talking. As innocently naiive or just ignorant a lot of people in this country can be, a lot of Asian Americans perpetuate the stereotype of foreignness by simply isolating themselves. There's absolutely nothing wrong with trying to maintain one's culture but I don't think it says in any culture that you can not associate with other races and ethnicities.
At UCLA, this self described bastion of diversity and acceptance, you see a lot of races stick just to themselves. They will only eat, study with, and socialize with people of their own race. My dad noted that this carries all the way up to even the company that he works at. While he sits at a table with people of all types of backgrounds, in the corner is the "Asian table". Moreover, so many Asian people have this great distrust of caucasians. Sure, there are some people who aren't trustwothy but that transcends through all races. And don't even get me started on how Asians are shooting themselves in the foot by being one of the races with the lowest voting turnout. When you isolate yourself like this I just think you really miss out on meeting great people and you ingrain in people's minds that you're different.
I think my parents provide a good example of how you can "assimilate" with other races but still maintain your culture. My mom's work resembles the United Nations and she hangs out with all of them, and same with my dad (especially with his very Russian friend who he drinks vodka with). Yet this weekend when we had a huge family get together in honor of my grandmother's anniversary of her passing, all the Vietnamese traditions were upheld. From the plates of fruits to the plate and plate of authentic Vietnamese food, their heritage was still intact.
posted by Kristina |
5:09 PM
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Saturday, August 05, 2006
My Californian Paradise
So I realized when I woke up this morning that this would be my last weekend in San Clemente for the next three months. I must admit that I've grown quite attached to the place upon coming here practically every weekend this summer. It pretty much embodies the aspects of California that I like. There's the perfect weather that isn't dreadfully hot like Santa Clarita, an ocean view from the backyard, smogless skies, and hiking trails to look over the whole city. And then there are the aspects of this house that I always wanted growing up like a community pool, backyard bbqs all year long, a luxurious queen size bed, centralized location where my extended family would actually visit, and dark purple walls in my room. It's like my little utopia that I'm leaving.
Funny that we haven't had this house for more than 2 years I've become much more attached to it than my house in Santa Clarita. Even though there are more childhood memories there, I feel like this house is more me. I helped pick out all of the beautiful furniture, picked out the color of my walls, bought the firepit in the backyard with my brother for our parents Christmas gift, and generally have felt like I've spent more time bonding with my parents here. No tv, no friends to go hang out with, and a slow dialup connection will do that for you.
But it's time for me to leave another suburb and venture out to the city. It's like Fievel Goes West but in the opposite direction. At least I know that my trips back to California will be to a house I love...oh, and I guess a family I love too :)
posted by Kristina |
11:12 PM
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Everything You Need to Know and Little Bit More...
My SoCalled Life
Well I have to give credit where credit should be given so major kudos to mon ami Kyle Terwillger
for coming up with the ingenious title! In case you missed it, its a play off of the TV show my So Called Life and the fact
that I live in Southern California.
Why Blog?
Where better to provide a snapshot of experiences as a young woman and
college student in one of the most unique places in the world. And where better
to rationalize the unexplainable, appreciate the goodness, and share my point of
view. This isn't my deepest secrets or a place for me to mope, it's just my
socalled life.
The Basics
Birthdate: June 7
Birthplace: Minneapolis, MN
Home: Stevenson Ranch, CA
Occupation: UCLA Student
The Academic Side
Major: Political Science,
American Politics Concentration
Minor: Public Policy
UCLA Activities
Bruin Democrats
USAC Internal Vice Pres.
Student Alumni Association
Poli Sci Research
University Catholic Center
Archives:
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