Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

I know, I know, what am I, 7 years old?  I admit, though, I would love to trade places with Kate Middleton for a day.  There's just something enchanting thinking about it.

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

Union Square in NYC

The picture I chose for Day 5 is one I took of Union Square in New York while I interned there last year.  It is not the most interesting picture, and it is definitely not one that resembles the New York we usually see on tv, but this photo is the epitome of my experience there, which was one of the best experiences of my life.

My time in New York helped me grow so much, learn to be more independent, and make me want to experience as much as I can during this lifetime.  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to live in the city for a few months and enjoy this great place to its fullest.  It would take forever to list all of the things you can do in NY, but I've listed some of the places that I enjoyed most and would recommend for people to visit if they ever came to NY:


Places to Eat

1. Halal Cart on 53rd & 6th - My favorite food in New York was the chicken and rice from this cart.  The white sauce on top was really spicy, so I only asked for a little bit.  If I had lived closer to this cart, I would have probably had it 2 times a week.
2. Shake Shack - Burgers and fries are so good.  Good enough to wait an hour for, although I prefer it when there's no line!  Burger Joint, which is located in Le Parker Meridien Hotel, is also a good place to go, but I would still recommend Shake Shack first.
3. Crumbs - There's a cupcake place called Crumbs located on the SE corner of Union Square.   I lived about half a mile from Union Square, so I would walk there at least twice a week and stop by and get a cupcake.  My favorite was the Black Forest cupcake.  The inside was moist, and the chocolate was heavenly when I had milk to drink on the side.
4. Magnolia's Bakery - People rave about their cupcakes here.  While I still prefer Crumbs' cupcakes, I do agree that people should try Magnolia's cupcakes as well and make their own decisions.  I do, however, love Magnolia's banana pudding.  It's one dessert I would go out of my way for.
5. Mamoun's - This place has been around for decades, and I can see why.  The falafel and the chicken kebob with hummus were my favorites to get here.
6. Crif Dogs - New York hot dogs are famous, and this was the place to go to get one.  I remember I was craving a hot dog once so I bought it from a vendor when I was walking near Grand Central.  Such a disappointment.  After that, I would only go to Crif Dogs if I ever had a craving for hot dogs.
7. Ramen - I ate at a few different ramen places while in New York, like Momofuku, Men Kui Tei, and Ramen Setagaya.  The most popular place is Ippudo, but I never got around to making it there.  The ramen at these restaurants are much different than the instant ones I'm used to making at school.  The noodles are thicker, and the ingredients are a lot heartier in terms of meat and vegetables.  I am still partial to my instant Nong Shim Shin Ramyun, though.
8. Artichoke - This pizza place was only three blocks from my apartment, so it was really convenient.  I love the thin crust New York style pizza.  This place only has 3 or 4 varieties of pizza, but I usually got the margherita pizza.  There were also more well known pizza places, John's Pizzeria and Grimaldi's, which I tried to go to, but the lines were so long at both of them that I gave up and ate somewhere else.
9. Banh Mi Saigon & Paris Sandwich Bakery - When I was craving Vietnamese food, I would go to Chinatown with my cousin and get banh mi from Banh Mi Saigon.  This little shop had a jewelry counter in the front and a banh mi counter in the back.  Then, we would go to Paris Sandwich Bakery and get $1 green tea waffles and sit at the tables there and eat.  I miss those waffles.
10. Kun Jip & Wonjo - I loved the Korean food I ate while in NY.  It was probably one of my favorite types of food to eat while I was there.  The restaurants were always busy, so I always made a reservation beforehand.  Kun Jip was a smaller place that I ate at with one of my friends who was attending NYU Law at the time.  It was good and reasonably priced.  I also ate at Wonjo with my mom and cousins when I first moved up to NY.  It's a Korean barbecue place, and I remember the sauce on the pork being so tasty.  This place was a little pricier, but I think it's worth it.  It makes me hungry just thinking about it.
11. Ellen's Stardust Diner - This diner is located on Broadway, closer to the theater district.  The waiters and waitresses all sing and perform while you eat.  It's a very family-oriented and touristy type of restaurant, which is not a bad thing.  The atmosphere is fun, and it's a good place to try at least once.
12. Ashiya - We paid $35 on a Saturday night for all you can eat sushi and sake bombs.  We had to make a reservation, and while the sushi was pretty good, I enjoyed the upbeat, energetic atmosphere the most.  I remember people throughout the restaurant having a good time hitting the tables to make the sake shots fall into the cups, laughing and talking loudly.  It might not be for everyone, but if you know what you're getting into, it's a pretty good deal.
13. Russ & Daughter's - I walked 15 blocks to get their bagel and lox a few times.  The salmon is extremely fresh, and the simple meal left me feeling satisfied.
14. Devon & Blakely - I worked at Two World Financial Center, and if I ever bought my lunch, it was usually downstairs at D&B.  It's a normal soup, salad, sandwich shop, but I've never seen this chain down in Texas.  Anyway, my go-to meal would be the Blackened Chicken Panini, toasted, with chips.  This is more of a recommendation for a quick meal for regulars, and not so much for tourists.
15. Lula's - This place in East Village serves vegan ice cream and desserts that actually taste good.  I went here a lot with my cousin because he's allergic to dairy products.  Although I probably wouldn't come back here if I were only visiting NY for a short time (it's out of the way), I have really good memories of spending time with my cousin here, eating cold ice cream sundaes on cold nights.

Places to Visit
I made notes on when admissions were free to certain areas.  Can you tell that I love discounts/free stuff?

1. Times Square - Great view during the day,and amazing to see all the lights at night.
2. Statue of Liberty - Take the Staten Island Ferry for free
3. Brooklyn Bridge - It takes almost 30 minutes to walk the bridge, but most of the time when I went with friends, we only walked halfway, took pictures, then turned back.
4. Financial District - The area includes Wall Street, Ground Zero, Battery Park, Merrill Lynch Bull, etc. but you'll have to do some walking to see it all.  If you're going to the Brooklyn Bridge anyway, you're practically in the financial district, so I would recommend to visit both at the same time.
5. Central Park - I was so amazed by how green the grass was, especially after getting used to the urban landscape for a few months.  This park is huge and so lively with people walking around, playing, or sunbathing.  It was cool to recognize some of the locations, such as the fountain in Friends or the scene from Enchanted, that I've seen in movies and shows before.
6. Metropolitan Museum of Art - If I could only visit one museum, I would choose The Met.  I spent hours in here.
7. The Cloisters - The Cloisters is a museum and garden that focus on the medieval time period.  It is far north, up near the 200's, and the atmosphere is very peaceful and quiet around there.  Because The Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I was able to pay to see The Cloisters in the morning and use the same pass to get into The Met in the afternoon.
8. Museum of Modern Art - Free on Fridays
9. Columbia & NYU Campuses - These two campuses are located on different sides of Manhattan, and they each have entirely different feels.  I personally liked Columbia more, but NYU was in the middle of everything.
10. Brooklyn Botanic Gardens - Free before noon on Saturdays
11. Lincoln Center - Free Thursday night performances
12. St. Patrick's Cathedral - Beautiful architecture.  I preferred going to a smaller church near my apartment, though, because there were too many people at St. Patrick's for me to feel like I was really going to mass.
13. Top of the Rock - You get to see NYC from high up on Rockefeller Center.  The Empire State Building is a popular building to go up in as well.  I don't know which one is better because I only went to Top of the Rock.
14. Macy's Flower Show - Only in April
15. Broadway Shows -  I love musicals.  So far, I've really enjoyed Phantom of the Opera (I saw twice), In the Heights (with Corbin Bleu), and Avenue Q (Off-Broadway now).
16. Shopping in SoHo - Although 5th Avenue is known for its fancy stores, which I think are worth seeing, too, my favorite area to actually shop in was SoHo.  There are a lot of boutiques that sell either special brands or off-brands at very affordable prices.  I went almost every weekend to SoHo just to window shop after the weather got a little warmer.
17. H&M - I seriously went to at least 6 different locations in Manhattan because anytime I was walking around and I saw an H&M, I had to go inside.  The largest location, and my favorite one, is on 51st & 5th.  It's right across the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral, and I remember going there after church!  This particular H&M is the largest one I saw with 3 stories.  Great selection for men's clothes as well.
18. Uniqlo - This Japanese brand store is located in SoHo.  They have smaller sized clothes that fit really well, and I tend to like the material they use.  I remember buying 3 shirts of the same style in 3 different colors from here because I liked it so much.  I never do that!

I've been writing for over an hour now, and I know there are many other places that I've forgotten to include on these lists.  Coincidentally, it's been exactly one year since I came back from New York.  I flew back on May 5th last year...I can't believe it.  I truly loved my time in New York, and I know I'll be back one day!

Day 04 - A picture of your night

A typical weeknight...facebooking and semi-studying.  Please excuse the messiness.

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

I don't think I can have just one favorite show.  Some shows are so different that they're not comparable.  Here are my Top 3:

Glee - A tv show about a motley group of high school students, doing what they love.  I love musicals and comedies, so this is one of my favorite shows of all time.

Devil Beside You / Why Why Love - I've mentioned these two dramas in previous posts, but my favorite Asian Drama cast plays in both series.  Mike He, Rainie Yang, and Kingone Wang have a special place in my heart.  I think I let myself get lost in these dramas, and I rooted for the characters.  Definitely a great escape if you're ever looking for one.

Project Runway - This is my favorite reality show.  I've watched all 8 seasons, and I hope they keep them coming!

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw.  All I am I owe to my mother."  --George Washington

My mom has been the shoulder I cried on, the blanket that kept me warm, and the coach that pushed me farther than I thought I could ever go all throughout my life.  I thank God for her everyday, and even though I am considered a young woman now, I will always see myself as her baby girl.

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts

As I mentioned in my last post, my theme for the month of May is to do the 30-day photo challenge.  We shall see how this goes.

Day 1 asks for 10 facts about myself and a photo.

1. My favorite color is blue.
2. I am usually shy around a group of new people.
3. I love chocolate.  My favorite is milk or dark chocolate.  White chocolate is a bit sweet for me.  One of my favorite snacks is the Lu Petit Ecolier with a biscuit on the bottom and chocolate on the top.
4. I want to design my own house one day.  I'm not an architect or an interior designer, but I used to read the Homes section every Saturday and Sunday when I was smaller, looking at pictures of houses and floor plans.  I am also very intrigued by tiny apartments/houses that are nicely decorated and cleverly planned.  (This isn't my style of apartment, but I love the creativity!)
5. Laughing keeps my heart feeling young.  Listening to funny stories and jokes are the best.  I don't care if they're corny, dirty, long, or short.  Here's one just for fun:  How do you make a tissue dance?  Put a little boogie in it.
6. Tetris is my favorite video/computer game.  I also get sidetracked by unproductive games like Cake Mania, Angry Birds, and Tapfish as well.  On a similar note, I enjoy doing crossword puzzles, word search, and logic puzzles or brain teasers.
7. I like watching fireworks.  I think they're romantic, and they're special because they only happen on special occasions.
8. Dogs > Cats.  I'm definitely a dog lover.  I have one dog named Brownie who's 14 years old.  She's a Welsh Corgi mix, and she's my little girl!
9. My favorite tv shows are currently Glee and Modern Family.  I used to watch Ugly Betty and Lost, but those have finished airing.  When I have time, I want to watch the following shows which have been recommended to me by various people:  Dexter, Fringe, How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development...The list is never-ending.
10. I agree with the saying, "It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all."

Study Break

Hello again!  It's been so long since I've written. *sigh*  I actually have a paper due for my Law for Finance class tomorrow, but of course, I don't want to do it...so what's a better way to use my time than to write a new post and listen to music!

I'll keep this short because I really do need to finish researching and start writing, but while I was away, I thought about what direction I wanted to take this blog.  I've been all over the place with my postings, and I just wondered if it would be more interesting to have a set theme or topic to focus on.  I'll try this for a while and see where it takes me!

So, for this next month, I want to try to do one of those 30-day photo challenges.  I've seen friends do them on facebook, and it seems like a good thing to try.  I'll start that with my next post.  :)

Back to the Grind

10 days left until I take REG...time for the home stretch.  See you in two weeks -_-

Before I go AWOL, there are two great things I'd like to share:
1) I passed FAR and BEC!
2) This video is impressive:

Funny Pages

I ran across this note on a friend's Facebook and had a good laugh.  Enjoy!

HELL EXPLAINED BY A CHEMISTRY STUDENT

The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so profound that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well :

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct......leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my G**."

 

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY "A".

If I Should Grow Older...

Sarah Kay:  If I Should Have A Daughter...

I didn't know what to expect when I clicked on this video, but once I started watching, I was sucked in.  Her words are so beautiful, and they paint such a vivid picture that reaches inside you and stays with you.  I especially loved the lines:

I'm going to paint the solar system on the back of her hands 
So that she has to learn the entire universe before she can say
"Oh, I know that like the back of my hand."

She's such a talented young woman.  I've heard other artists perform spoken word poetry before.  Some were good, and some seemed angry.  I would describe Sarah Kay's poetry as inspiring.  After listening to her talk, I decided to write a poem as well:

When my parents are no longer beside me, but are up in the sky

where the birds fly, where balloons float away

and become little specks in the universe,

When I look to the future, will I be happy?  Satisfied?

I've always had something pulling me forward:  

summers, college, graduation

When life becomes stable and smooth like a perfectly iced cake,

will I still feel the pull forward, or will the tide recede?

We have so much energy and vibrance as kids. 

Where does it all go?

Does it evaporate like steam, 

only to come down again as tears and sweat?

Do we learn to store it away like a prized piece of candy 

that we take out only on special days?

Do we pass it on to the littler ones and reminisce on the side 

because that's how it should be?

I enjoy speaking to older people because they always have stories.

As the words pour out through their weathered lips,

their eyes shine with the life of their younger years.  

When I grow older, I want to have stories to tell.

I want a library.

How can I gain so many experiences in such a short lifetime?
Experiences that are meaningful, unforgettable, unregrettable.
I can learn from others and create my own memories,
take every opportunity to live a new day, and not sleep them away
because I can sleep as much as I want after I die. 
Will that be enough?


When I grow older, I want to have stories to tell.
I want to understand why people do what they do.
I want to have opinions on things that matter.
I want to make good decisions,
even when I don't know what will happen.
I want to be able to fight when I must with passion and loyalty,
but when the war is over, I want to foster peace always.
I want to love unconditionally.
I want to be a good person, 
and I hope to inspire others along the way.