Please Note: This one is PURELY self-centered.
You know how the saying goes "Always a bridesmaid, NEVER a bride"?
No, this is not a rant about never getting married, it's about my birthday.
It's about how it's NEVER my birthday. It's ALWAYS Thanksgiving. October 7 is always inevitably THANKSGIVING weekend. No ifs, no ands, and no buts. ALWAYS Thanksgiving. I'm always second fiddle to Thanksgiving.
I never had an issue with this until university. You see in high school the majority was the minority. We were all Asian. Thanksgiving to us was a foreign holiday. It'd just be one meal with the parents and that's it. The rest of the weekend was ours. It also helped that none of us were living AWAY from home. So at that time all of us were trying to get OUT of the house, which meant I got my fete.
At university my friendships "diversified". Most of my friends were Caucasian and Thanksgiving was a BIG thing. Even the Asians left because once you leave home, you miss home. EVERYONE went home at Thanksgiving to celebrate....you know it, Thanksgiving. Which left me pretty much alone with no real celebration on the day of. {insert "All By Myself" by Celine Dion here}
I know we'd celebrate a week later. Or some friends would do things with me to make up for the day either before or after October 7th or some friends would call or would call AND serenade on the day of, and I appreciated all of that, but I longed for a party with all my closest friends on the day OF. Which at this point is pretty much impossible anyways since two members of my SWAT team are now out of the beautiful country of Ontario. It just doesn't feel like my birthday anymore a week later or a week before.
This is all to say I wish Thanksgiving was in November like the USA so the poor souls who are born the weekend of November 24-26 would have to deal with this, not me. Because I actually do enjoy Thanksgiving. I love stuffing, but it's ALWAYS on my birthday! But since this won't change unless I move out of the country (i.e. STINT...kidding) I will suck it up...now.
Another Disclaimer: I know I'm not the only one whose birthday lands on another major event. I feel the pain of my friends whose birthdays are ALWAYS Summit, Day of Evangelism, Christmas, project, and etc...
What prompted this? Trying to figure out when to host a shindig for said birthday and realizing that good dates are few and far between. 22 may have to pass quietly.
And puh-lease don't pity me. This is not me wanting attention or extra special stuff or sympathy or whatever. This is me wanting to get it out of my system once and for all.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Reality of Yellow Fever
Y'all have probably seen WongFu Production's "Yellow Fever" making fun of the "phenomenon" of white guys dating asian girls in North America.
Well here's the reality of it called "The Hunt for Foreign Husbands" on CBC's website on why white guys who are social pariahs in their native country automatically achieve stud status the minute they set foot in Asia. For example one lanky acne ridden dude dated 30 women within a month. Think Screech with the magnetism of Brad Pitt.
I haven't fully fleshed out my thoughts on this one yet. My first reaction is that of disgust and repulsion because I automatically assume that these men are just sexual predators preying on the unsuspecting and the innocent. But wait! What kind of girl dreams of having a forty year old balding white man with a beer belly as her Prince Charming? A gold digger!
The CBC shines a light on the motives of the women as well, and these motives aren't snow white either. The Asian women want to marry foreigners because they think they're richer and that the white guys can get them legal access to G8 countries. Read: permanent residency or citizenship. Apparently the trend nowadays is not even to marry for love, just the wallet. A person's character isn't even on the top ten.
In the end I guess it's all even in a warped sort of way. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. Everyone's using everyone else. Tis' a sad state of affairs.
For the record I am NOT against interracial marriages just in case someone random stumbled onto this page. My mom married a white guy. I know some beautiful interracial marriages where the couples married for the RIGHT reasons. It's just the warped reasons that irk me greatly.
I also know that I went to the polarized extremes. There are probably tons of motives in between.
Well here's the reality of it called "The Hunt for Foreign Husbands" on CBC's website on why white guys who are social pariahs in their native country automatically achieve stud status the minute they set foot in Asia. For example one lanky acne ridden dude dated 30 women within a month. Think Screech with the magnetism of Brad Pitt.
I haven't fully fleshed out my thoughts on this one yet. My first reaction is that of disgust and repulsion because I automatically assume that these men are just sexual predators preying on the unsuspecting and the innocent. But wait! What kind of girl dreams of having a forty year old balding white man with a beer belly as her Prince Charming? A gold digger!
The CBC shines a light on the motives of the women as well, and these motives aren't snow white either. The Asian women want to marry foreigners because they think they're richer and that the white guys can get them legal access to G8 countries. Read: permanent residency or citizenship. Apparently the trend nowadays is not even to marry for love, just the wallet. A person's character isn't even on the top ten.
In the end I guess it's all even in a warped sort of way. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. Everyone's using everyone else. Tis' a sad state of affairs.
For the record I am NOT against interracial marriages just in case someone random stumbled onto this page. My mom married a white guy. I know some beautiful interracial marriages where the couples married for the RIGHT reasons. It's just the warped reasons that irk me greatly.
I also know that I went to the polarized extremes. There are probably tons of motives in between.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Cooking Conundrum
This entire summer I cooked an astounding TWO times excluding the times I boiled water for cup noodles, dumplings, and wontons. What a feat. Once was scrambled eggs. The other was your typical tomatoes and egg, red-roasted chicken, and stir fry. Thus far it doesn't look like my goal to become a great cook is off to a good start. Sadly enough I think my cooking skills have actually regressed.
To break out of the poor eating habits of a bachelorette I hit up T and T again today. (INSERT HALLELUJAH CHORUS FROM HANDEL'S MESSIAH) I needed inspiration to start cooking. The items on on the shelves were just screaming, "Cook me!" I bought some much needed ingredients that were hard to find in Guelph, but there are others that are still missing. I was so tempted to buy those prepackaged jars of sauces to cook with, but I am resolved not to cop out. Seriously how much authentic Szechuanese food can you get in Toronto? All those signs and labels claiming to be from Szechuan? LIES!
Aye, there's the rub. I long for the delicious food from my childhood, and long to make them, but I lack ingredients and an authentic teacher. Even the best cook in our family can't make REAL food from our province because of the lack of ingredients. No matter how much those labels claim to be from Szechuan, they're not. There are some ingredients that just can't be imported. Like Panda liver. Just kidding. So until the day China really takes over the world I'll have to make due with pseudo Chinese food whilst outside the Motherland.
Read: If my cooking sucks it's because I lack ingredients.
To break out of the poor eating habits of a bachelorette I hit up T and T again today. (INSERT HALLELUJAH CHORUS FROM HANDEL'S MESSIAH) I needed inspiration to start cooking. The items on on the shelves were just screaming, "Cook me!" I bought some much needed ingredients that were hard to find in Guelph, but there are others that are still missing. I was so tempted to buy those prepackaged jars of sauces to cook with, but I am resolved not to cop out. Seriously how much authentic Szechuanese food can you get in Toronto? All those signs and labels claiming to be from Szechuan? LIES!
Aye, there's the rub. I long for the delicious food from my childhood, and long to make them, but I lack ingredients and an authentic teacher. Even the best cook in our family can't make REAL food from our province because of the lack of ingredients. No matter how much those labels claim to be from Szechuan, they're not. There are some ingredients that just can't be imported. Like Panda liver. Just kidding. So until the day China really takes over the world I'll have to make due with pseudo Chinese food whilst outside the Motherland.
Read: If my cooking sucks it's because I lack ingredients.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The Warmth of Family
Sometimes I get so caught up being Miss Independent that I forget about how much warmth family brings, and how much I need family and community. Today during a bout of loneliness I got a call from my aunt in T.O. inviting me over for dinner. That was great in itself, but I think the best part was when she used a chinese term of endearment that mums use for their kids. It felt like a hug. I love family.
Homesick
I miss Guelph.
A lot.
Not just the people, but the city and the school itself.
The beauty, the memories, the dreams and the aspirations the university embodied.
Not that Toronto is worse. Not that Toronto is better.
Toronto is just different.
Not that I don't like Toronto. I do. Immensely so.
It's just that Guelph holds a special place in my heart.
It was the place where dreams came true.
Where I came into my own. Where I grew up.
My home.
A lot.
Not just the people, but the city and the school itself.
The beauty, the memories, the dreams and the aspirations the university embodied.
Not that Toronto is worse. Not that Toronto is better.
Toronto is just different.
Not that I don't like Toronto. I do. Immensely so.
It's just that Guelph holds a special place in my heart.
It was the place where dreams came true.
Where I came into my own. Where I grew up.
My home.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Final Stretch
I've got around $1,300 in monthly support left to raise. Jesus totally brought in lots of monthly supporters this past week from previous support appointments, and I didn't do anything at all because of the busyness of moving. Praise God. I could totally be on campus by early September.
Goodbye. Hello.
Goodbye Guelph. Hello Toronto.
Goodbye 519. Hello 647.
Goodbye small town. Hello big city.
Goodbye uni-cultural. Hello diversity.
Goodbye blue sky. Hello smog.
Goodbye open streets. Hello congestion.
Goodbye Zehrs. Hello T&T.
Goodbye instant foods. Hello planned meals.
Goodbye house. Hello high rise apartment.
Goodbye mismatched furniture. Hello IKEA.
Goodbye sweats. Hello fashion.
Goodbye student life. Hello staff life.
Goodbye stressful studying. Hello fun learning.
Goodbye carefree (relatively) life. Hello life of responsibility (yet still fun).
Goodbye Guelph. Hello T.O.
I'm officially back in Toronto.
Goodbye 519. Hello 647.
Goodbye small town. Hello big city.
Goodbye uni-cultural. Hello diversity.
Goodbye blue sky. Hello smog.
Goodbye open streets. Hello congestion.
Goodbye Zehrs. Hello T&T.
Goodbye instant foods. Hello planned meals.
Goodbye house. Hello high rise apartment.
Goodbye mismatched furniture. Hello IKEA.
Goodbye sweats. Hello fashion.
Goodbye student life. Hello staff life.
Goodbye stressful studying. Hello fun learning.
Goodbye carefree (relatively) life. Hello life of responsibility (yet still fun).
Goodbye Guelph. Hello T.O.
I'm officially back in Toronto.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thwarted
I came home "early" from the staff BBQ to do some MPD tonight to pad my weekly update when I promptly fell asleep on the couch after a shower and a yummy dinner at 8 something at night. Doh. I'm going to go to bed, bed now.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Eat Those Words
For every major decision that I had to make I've had to eat my words.
When I was in high school and my friend Dave was heading off to university I scoffed at the fact that he was going to go to the University of Guelph. I thought to myself, "Who the heck would go to Guelph?!"
Then I actually CHOSE to go to Guelph.
My last year of high school I spent most of my economics class making fun of BAs. We mocked BAs because we thought it was such a useless degree. They'd end up filling up all the Mickey D's.
Then I CHOSE to switch to a BA program from a BCOMM.
When the Lord first called me to missions I adamantly said no. Missionaries don't make any money.
Now I'm on staff.
Tonight looking back at the archives of my old blog I found this:
meanwhile.....i have got to stop saying that i dislike canadian ministry. that might as well be saying "hey sign me up for canadian staff!!!" i've got to be open to anything and everything at any cost. my mouth goes shut now. i wonder if i already sealed my fate. oh geez more words to eat.
Yeah for Canadian staff!
Now I've learned to seal my lips regarding any major life decisions especially since the next major one would be marriage. Unfortunately I've already sworn that I wouldn't marry several guys. The good news is that I can't marry them all unless they all died one by one. So...here we go. We'll see how this all turns out in a few years.
When I was in high school and my friend Dave was heading off to university I scoffed at the fact that he was going to go to the University of Guelph. I thought to myself, "Who the heck would go to Guelph?!"
Then I actually CHOSE to go to Guelph.
My last year of high school I spent most of my economics class making fun of BAs. We mocked BAs because we thought it was such a useless degree. They'd end up filling up all the Mickey D's.
Then I CHOSE to switch to a BA program from a BCOMM.
When the Lord first called me to missions I adamantly said no. Missionaries don't make any money.
Now I'm on staff.
Tonight looking back at the archives of my old blog I found this:
meanwhile.....i have got to stop saying that i dislike canadian ministry. that might as well be saying "hey sign me up for canadian staff!!!" i've got to be open to anything and everything at any cost. my mouth goes shut now. i wonder if i already sealed my fate. oh geez more words to eat.
Yeah for Canadian staff!
Now I've learned to seal my lips regarding any major life decisions especially since the next major one would be marriage. Unfortunately I've already sworn that I wouldn't marry several guys. The good news is that I can't marry them all unless they all died one by one. So...here we go. We'll see how this all turns out in a few years.
Monday, August 06, 2007
AMEN SISTAH!
"Allow a man to win your heart, she would say. And if he doesn’t want to, then why would you want him?"
Wow. How refreshing. That quotation was from a recent post from girltalk.blogs.com. (In case you're wondering it's the Week 6 Book Club Discussion) It wasn't anything new, but it was so good to read it and be reaffirmed in my convictions. It's tempting to want to flirt, to want attention, to feel validated, and to feel in control of one's marital status instead of waiting on the Lord. But I firmly believe in that men are called to initiate.
Call me prudish. Call me uber conservative. Old-fashioned. I'd actually delight in that.
A woman's heart is precious, valuable, and worth being sought after. I'm not going to throw mine at someone who barely cares, or even someone who cares, but not enough. Been there done that. Not doing it again. It's such a lie when guys say they need a sign that the girl is interested before they ask. In Aban's words, "MAN UP." Who wants a coward for a husband?
End Rant.
Footnote: I know John Ensor suggested "crackling leaves" so to speak. Fine, but I'm not talking about that. There are times when girls take crackling leaves to mean chopping down the tree and watching it whack the guy on top of the head.
Wow. How refreshing. That quotation was from a recent post from girltalk.blogs.com. (In case you're wondering it's the Week 6 Book Club Discussion) It wasn't anything new, but it was so good to read it and be reaffirmed in my convictions. It's tempting to want to flirt, to want attention, to feel validated, and to feel in control of one's marital status instead of waiting on the Lord. But I firmly believe in that men are called to initiate.
Call me prudish. Call me uber conservative. Old-fashioned. I'd actually delight in that.
A woman's heart is precious, valuable, and worth being sought after. I'm not going to throw mine at someone who barely cares, or even someone who cares, but not enough. Been there done that. Not doing it again. It's such a lie when guys say they need a sign that the girl is interested before they ask. In Aban's words, "MAN UP." Who wants a coward for a husband?
End Rant.
Footnote: I know John Ensor suggested "crackling leaves" so to speak. Fine, but I'm not talking about that. There are times when girls take crackling leaves to mean chopping down the tree and watching it whack the guy on top of the head.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
The Very First Campus Ministry Days and Staff Conference
I.
LOVED.
IT.
It was pretty much awesome chilling with THE coolest people alive, fellowshiping, learning from Jesus, having fun, worshipping, and of course eating lunch with Mark Driscoll. I had a BLAST.
Campus Ministry Days Highlights
~Laughing at all the MET jokes during Module 1. Then as I was looking around I noticed it was only us young 'uns laughing. I felt immature. :P 'Tis good to be at the bottom of the food chain again.
~Being back in high school in the Module 1 classroom.
~Daily walks with B. Mitts with synched iPods.
~The CUTE babies
~The older staff that just ooze coolness, wisdom, and godliness. "You're so cool! I want to be just like you."
~Ticket to Ride. My new favourite game.
~The food! It was sooo good. I was so sad I couldn't eat more because of my silly stomach.
~The P and W. 'Twas so refreshing.
~Hanging with THE funnest staff team ever. YEAH Toronto. I love my team.
~The list goes on...
Staff Conference
I just have to say that having Mark Driscoll as the speaker for my first staff conference pretty much made my entire year. Yeah that's right, year. It also helped that two friends and I got to go eat lunch with Mark and his personal assistant on the last day. Jesus really spoke to me through Mark's sermons, and I took away a lot from those talks.
I'm still munching on them in my head. That man just loves Jesus, his family, and knows his Bible. I pretty much want to be like him. So in summary, I really admire and respect Mark Driscoll. Listening to him speak in person was the best way to kickoff my staff career.
Other comments.
~I am in dire need of exercise because I had to walk up all the hills when Lyds and I went biking.
~I love having my own bed at staff conference. Woooo-hoooooooo. No sleeping stiffly because I'm scared I'm going hurt someone with my violent tossing and turning. No profuse apologies the next morning for tearing the blankets away. That said no need to give disclaimers to potential roommates. Just me and the pillows. Yay.
LOVED.
IT.
It was pretty much awesome chilling with THE coolest people alive, fellowshiping, learning from Jesus, having fun, worshipping, and of course eating lunch with Mark Driscoll. I had a BLAST.
Campus Ministry Days Highlights
~Laughing at all the MET jokes during Module 1. Then as I was looking around I noticed it was only us young 'uns laughing. I felt immature. :P 'Tis good to be at the bottom of the food chain again.
~Being back in high school in the Module 1 classroom.
~Daily walks with B. Mitts with synched iPods.
~The CUTE babies
~The older staff that just ooze coolness, wisdom, and godliness. "You're so cool! I want to be just like you."
~Ticket to Ride. My new favourite game.
~The food! It was sooo good. I was so sad I couldn't eat more because of my silly stomach.
~The P and W. 'Twas so refreshing.
~Hanging with THE funnest staff team ever. YEAH Toronto. I love my team.
~The list goes on...
Staff Conference
I just have to say that having Mark Driscoll as the speaker for my first staff conference pretty much made my entire year. Yeah that's right, year. It also helped that two friends and I got to go eat lunch with Mark and his personal assistant on the last day. Jesus really spoke to me through Mark's sermons, and I took away a lot from those talks.
I'm still munching on them in my head. That man just loves Jesus, his family, and knows his Bible. I pretty much want to be like him. So in summary, I really admire and respect Mark Driscoll. Listening to him speak in person was the best way to kickoff my staff career.
Other comments.
~I am in dire need of exercise because I had to walk up all the hills when Lyds and I went biking.
~I love having my own bed at staff conference. Woooo-hoooooooo. No sleeping stiffly because I'm scared I'm going hurt someone with my violent tossing and turning. No profuse apologies the next morning for tearing the blankets away. That said no need to give disclaimers to potential roommates. Just me and the pillows. Yay.
50%!!!
Halfway there!
Well actually a wee bit more than halfway there, but I always promised myself I'd celebrate by blogging about it when I did hit 50%. I was at campus ministry days when I hit 50% so I didn't really have enough concentration/energy/time to sit down and write a decent blog post. But praise the Lord! It came in such a wonderful way. One of my project supporters just sent me an email after getting my last newsletter telling me they were encouraged by my passion and that they were coming on for a significant amount monthly starting immediately. I was blown away. It was so totally cool.
Now for the next 50%. It's so close I can taste it.
Well actually a wee bit more than halfway there, but I always promised myself I'd celebrate by blogging about it when I did hit 50%. I was at campus ministry days when I hit 50% so I didn't really have enough concentration/energy/time to sit down and write a decent blog post. But praise the Lord! It came in such a wonderful way. One of my project supporters just sent me an email after getting my last newsletter telling me they were encouraged by my passion and that they were coming on for a significant amount monthly starting immediately. I was blown away. It was so totally cool.
Now for the next 50%. It's so close I can taste it.
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