Well...the summer definitely hasn't panned out anything near what I expected. After 3 and a half days in Beijing, I decided to discontinue my involvement with the project I was going to be working on this summer, leave Beijing, and start my own venture. I won't discuss the details of why I had to quit, but as someone who has worked in China before and someone who has never quit and ran in the same day, I'd say I have very legitimate reasons for leaving.
I have over 2 months ahead of me. The uncertainty is both scary and exciting. The idea of doing my own thing (I hesitate to call it a startup), has been swimming around in my head for a long while, but now that I'm actually putting a foot forward and starting this long awaited project, to say I'm a tad bit scared would be an understatement. I have no doubt that every aspiring entrepreneur goes through stages of fear and doubt. I just never thought I would actually do it myself. However, I'm in the midst of grad school, have a whole summer ahead of me, good resources at my disposal, so why not? Everyone has to start somewhere, but it's not until you take that leap to start your own venture that success becomes a possibility. Besides working on my own project, I will also be doing some traveling. Tentatively planned so far is a trip to Yulin which is in the next province over. After that, I might be heading to Japan.
The last few week have been quite stressful, but at the same time, incredibly random and strange. I think I'm a magnet for random and strange, and as China seems to be its own magnet of random and strange, well, put me in China and all sorts of bizarre things are bound to happen. I'm just glad that I'm now removed from the main source of stress and can start to enjoy my summer.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
On Call
Sorry for disappearing for almost 3 weeks. I've basically been on call since arriving without any knowledge of where I need to be and when until the very last minute. I ended up staying in Shanghai for an extra week, and having just arrived in Guangzhou a few days ago, I've just been informed about an hour ago I need to catch a flight to Beijing tomorrow to start work. I did not even know Beijing was part of the plan until a few days ago...I'm trying not to rip my hair out, but luckily, I've been blessed with a thick head of hair.
I promise to post pictures and more interesting stories once my work situation has been settled though I have a feeling I might be on my toes for the rest of this summer...Stay tuned!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
It's time again.
I can't believe it's time to take off again for another travel adventure. FYI, please disregard the last post about tumblr. I don't think I ever updated that thing even once.
I will be (hopefully) updating this blog quite regularly about my travels in China during the next 3 months and my work in developing an online English language learning platform. I actually don't have everything set in stone even though I'm leaving tomorrow, but I'm okay with the uncertainty. Last summer while traveling in Europe, I wouldn't know my schedule till probably the week before so at least this time around, I have a general idea of where I'll be and when.
For those of you who read my blog, please keep in touch and let me know about your summer adventures as well!
I will be (hopefully) updating this blog quite regularly about my travels in China during the next 3 months and my work in developing an online English language learning platform. I actually don't have everything set in stone even though I'm leaving tomorrow, but I'm okay with the uncertainty. Last summer while traveling in Europe, I wouldn't know my schedule till probably the week before so at least this time around, I have a general idea of where I'll be and when.
For those of you who read my blog, please keep in touch and let me know about your summer adventures as well!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Hiatus
Hey guys. So now that I'm temporarily sedentary, it's time to leave this blog till my next adventure. For now, please refer to boboxfish.tumblr.com for NYC shenanigans and updates. :)
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Quick Break
New York City is like a well-oiled machine that never stops. I feel like I'm always running (figuratively and literally), but in a good way. I've never liked being idle, so I feel like this city personifies how I feel most of the time.
Anyways, I'm just taking a little break from reading to post some NYC pictures. Enjoy! :)
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| Jack is pouting after I told him I couldn't take him out since I needed to study. |
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| I helped table at the Columbia main campus. Nothing will ever beat flyering for TR though. Fun times! |
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| Jack is not very social with other dogs...hahaha. |
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| Dinner with the roommates and Gina, visiting from LA. Gina is the girl with the striped shirt. I haven't seen that girl since high school despite having sort of grown up together. |
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| Just a little glimpse into graduate life. |
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| So I met this guy at a couchsurfing hang out. He CLAIMED to be Tim Henman who I did not realize is a famous retired tennis player. Anyways, he did look quite like the guy I googled though a bit too young. |
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| Shakespeare in the Park - Into the Woods. Amy Adams starred as the Baker's Wife! |
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| A T-Rex skull at the Museum of Natural History. |
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| Small group at Albert's. |
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| Albert playing with Jack instead of singing. I also like to use Jack as a foot rest. :D |
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| Outside the Museum of Natural History |
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| Outdoor Cinema in Central Park. Date night with Jack. |
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| Hanging with some couch surfers. |
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| Jack after a long walk. |
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| One of the many awesome views while I jog through Central Park. |
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| Goofing around at FAO Schwartz. Albert, Sara, Robert, and Janis came to visit! |
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| Fashion Night Out with a couple of TC students. We got free cupcakes which made fighting through all the crowds worth it...I suppose... |
Monday, September 10, 2012
A New Chapter
It's hard to believe it was less than a month ago I was still on the other side of the world and only 3 weeks ago that I started the graduate student life, a life that already feels like the norm. New York has been a dream of mine since I first came here with my best friend almost 3 years ago during the holiday season. There was just something about this city that made me literally fall in love with it. The snow, the energy, the holiday spirit, the passion, the languages, and of course, the food. These things all came together to form a city that has inspired so many stories.
Ironically, my life has become quieter since settling down in NYC. I did manage to fit in a ton of fun things before school started such as Shakespeare in the Park, a comedy show, couchsurfing hang out, and some city exploration, but mostly, I do a lot of reading and hanging out with my new best friend, Jack Chen. Jack and I bonded instantly despite my utter repulsion for his kind. I think it was his persistence...or maybe his kind eyes. Since our fateful meeting 3 weeks ago, we spend long hours in Central Park, by the Hudson River, and the occasional city wandering. I've helped him get into shape. Sometimes, he just sits with me as I read on one of the park benches or accompanies me to church. Now I understand they call his kind man's best friend. He's definitely become mine here in the city. <3
Graduate school is also even more amazing than I ever imagined. I can't even begin to explain how incredible it is to be surrounded by so many people who are just as passionate about education as I am. My professors are all leading figures in their respective fields within education, and though I spend countless hours reading, I actually kind of like it. I've even found that my recent interest in programming has come in handy since one of my classes requires some basic programming with regards to data analysis. I can't believe I ever thought I wasn't cut out for the academic world because this is totally my thing to nerd it out. I absolutely love it.
During a meeting on Saturday night, it suddenly dawned on me that I was going to stay. I can't really explain it except that it was a very similar gut reaction I got when I was certain I would choose UCLA as my undergraduate university. Something stopped me and instead, led me to the acceptance letter from Cal. I'm not really sure where I stand with the whole metaphysical and spiritual realm. I'm still deciding whether or not I fully believe in it, but I just know that sitting there I just suddenly knew that I'd be staying here a lot longer than I had planned. Who knows, maybe I won't, but we'll see. Life has never disappointed me when it comes to surprises.
Ironically, my life has become quieter since settling down in NYC. I did manage to fit in a ton of fun things before school started such as Shakespeare in the Park, a comedy show, couchsurfing hang out, and some city exploration, but mostly, I do a lot of reading and hanging out with my new best friend, Jack Chen. Jack and I bonded instantly despite my utter repulsion for his kind. I think it was his persistence...or maybe his kind eyes. Since our fateful meeting 3 weeks ago, we spend long hours in Central Park, by the Hudson River, and the occasional city wandering. I've helped him get into shape. Sometimes, he just sits with me as I read on one of the park benches or accompanies me to church. Now I understand they call his kind man's best friend. He's definitely become mine here in the city. <3
Graduate school is also even more amazing than I ever imagined. I can't even begin to explain how incredible it is to be surrounded by so many people who are just as passionate about education as I am. My professors are all leading figures in their respective fields within education, and though I spend countless hours reading, I actually kind of like it. I've even found that my recent interest in programming has come in handy since one of my classes requires some basic programming with regards to data analysis. I can't believe I ever thought I wasn't cut out for the academic world because this is totally my thing to nerd it out. I absolutely love it.
During a meeting on Saturday night, it suddenly dawned on me that I was going to stay. I can't really explain it except that it was a very similar gut reaction I got when I was certain I would choose UCLA as my undergraduate university. Something stopped me and instead, led me to the acceptance letter from Cal. I'm not really sure where I stand with the whole metaphysical and spiritual realm. I'm still deciding whether or not I fully believe in it, but I just know that sitting there I just suddenly knew that I'd be staying here a lot longer than I had planned. Who knows, maybe I won't, but we'll see. Life has never disappointed me when it comes to surprises.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Paris
Once again, this is an update of my Europe trip that ended about 3 weeks ago. Real-time updates coming soon..
The last stretch of my trip returned me to Paris where I had previously visited for one night with the not-so-Grand Holidays tour group. This time around, I was with Nic and Melie, both currently living in Paris and both born and raised in France. I met Nic and Melie back in 2009 when I was living in Shanghai.
I can definitely see why people call Paris the city of love. It's absolutely beautiful with its old-style architecture, the River Seine which runs through the city, and its famous landmarks such as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. I visited the main tourist attractions of course - the former two mentioned, the Musee D'Orsay, Montmarte district, Moulin Rouge, Notre Dame, and the Catacombs. Of all these places, however, my favorite was simply walking along the River Seine. Street vendors line the vendor selling art, used books, and some souvenirs, not too much to make the strip seem overly touristic which I hate. Call me a hypocrite, but I just hate tourists. I don't hate the tourist himself, but I hate going to a place where you have to scour the crowd looking for a local and where the place seems as if it was built specifically for tourists (a.k.a. a tourist trap). I know, there are so many cool things to see and do in Paris, and in the summertime, it is virtually impossible to avoid bumping into tourists. Walking along the River Seine made me feel like I was finally in Paris, free of tourist crowds and tourist items. I also have an affinity for used books so the rows upon rows of used French books kept my otherwise short attention span.
So here is where my trip draws to a close, nothing crazy or worthy of a good travel story to tell to strangers, but it was a nice couple days with some old friends experiencing Paris as they know it - home. It's been a good trip full of reunions, new experiences, and cultural learning. I even picked up a few key phrases in Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Ukrainian. By key I mean knowing how to say please, thank you, where is the bathroom, and little slut. I love traveling, but it was nice to go home to friends and family back in beautiful California though only for a few days since my next big adventure awaits....in New York City.
The last stretch of my trip returned me to Paris where I had previously visited for one night with the not-so-Grand Holidays tour group. This time around, I was with Nic and Melie, both currently living in Paris and both born and raised in France. I met Nic and Melie back in 2009 when I was living in Shanghai.
I can definitely see why people call Paris the city of love. It's absolutely beautiful with its old-style architecture, the River Seine which runs through the city, and its famous landmarks such as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. I visited the main tourist attractions of course - the former two mentioned, the Musee D'Orsay, Montmarte district, Moulin Rouge, Notre Dame, and the Catacombs. Of all these places, however, my favorite was simply walking along the River Seine. Street vendors line the vendor selling art, used books, and some souvenirs, not too much to make the strip seem overly touristic which I hate. Call me a hypocrite, but I just hate tourists. I don't hate the tourist himself, but I hate going to a place where you have to scour the crowd looking for a local and where the place seems as if it was built specifically for tourists (a.k.a. a tourist trap). I know, there are so many cool things to see and do in Paris, and in the summertime, it is virtually impossible to avoid bumping into tourists. Walking along the River Seine made me feel like I was finally in Paris, free of tourist crowds and tourist items. I also have an affinity for used books so the rows upon rows of used French books kept my otherwise short attention span.
So here is where my trip draws to a close, nothing crazy or worthy of a good travel story to tell to strangers, but it was a nice couple days with some old friends experiencing Paris as they know it - home. It's been a good trip full of reunions, new experiences, and cultural learning. I even picked up a few key phrases in Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Ukrainian. By key I mean knowing how to say please, thank you, where is the bathroom, and little slut. I love traveling, but it was nice to go home to friends and family back in beautiful California though only for a few days since my next big adventure awaits....in New York City.
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| Attack of the GIANT |
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| We waited about 2 hours and finally got to the entrance outside the Catacombs! |
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| Yay |
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| Scary being surrounded by hundreds of dead people... |
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| Moulin Rouge |
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| Inception |
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| View from the Eiffel Tower |
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| Failed attempt at an interesting Eiffel Tower picture |
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| These used book stands lined the River Seine. |
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| At the Louvre |
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| The return of the French olympians. Hoards of people walking on the Champs Elysees to catch a glimpse of the medalists. |
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| The French olympians |
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| Mmm...French crepes. :) |
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| Happy reunion |
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