One of the best things in the world has got to be the relief felt upon finishing a paper. There's nothing like the joy in your heart as the last page eases out of the printer, the bounce in your step as you go to hand it in, the weight off of your shoulders. Definitely one of the best feelings in the world, but of course you have to go through at least a week of agonizing stress to reach that point.
Friday was the day that I finished my very last paper of my undergrad. Hip hip hurray, and an extra huzzah! The sun was streaming down on me, as I thoroughly savoured that moment. It seemed like everything in the world was ok.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Monday, March 05, 2007
Just When You Think You Know a Person...
...you find out that you don't.
Silas tagged me for "5 Things People Don't Know About Me" chain. the deal is that you list five things people don't usually know about you and tag 3 other people to continue the chain. Well hopefully my list of five things will boggle your mind. That's my underlying agenda.
1. Throughout all of high school, most of my preparation for post-secondary education was for art school. I was planning on going into animation or design. Business was my second choice, but I chickened out at the last minute because a college education was not as "prestigious" as a university education in my head. No pressure from mom. And I was scared of being a starving artist on the street because I had confidence issues. Sometimes I question this decision, but I have no doubt that God brought me to the University of Guelph for a reason. Now I don't think I would really care if I had a prestigious education or not--probably due to the fact that I'll get my pricey piece of paper in three months, so I think I would go to art school. Perhaps art still will be in my future someday.
2. In high school I tried out for the Miss Chinese Toronto beauty pageant, and when I was rejected, I was REALLY REALLY upset. In fact I threw a hissy fit. Literally. Sometimes it still hits a sore spot.
3. Sweet "girly" girls usually irritate me before I get to know them well because they remind me of what I am not, sweet and "girly". I know there are issues here. But who doesn't have them?
4. I have a barely visible, but still visible nonetheless scar on my right cheek [of the face not of the rear] from a dog bite that I got when I was in grade 3.
5. My worst fear is that someday I'll walk away from my faith not because I don't think it's true anymore but because of exogenous reasons such as temptation, hardship, torture, etc...
I tag Low on the Go, The Fish, and Kijirs
Silas tagged me for "5 Things People Don't Know About Me" chain. the deal is that you list five things people don't usually know about you and tag 3 other people to continue the chain. Well hopefully my list of five things will boggle your mind. That's my underlying agenda.
1. Throughout all of high school, most of my preparation for post-secondary education was for art school. I was planning on going into animation or design. Business was my second choice, but I chickened out at the last minute because a college education was not as "prestigious" as a university education in my head. No pressure from mom. And I was scared of being a starving artist on the street because I had confidence issues. Sometimes I question this decision, but I have no doubt that God brought me to the University of Guelph for a reason. Now I don't think I would really care if I had a prestigious education or not--probably due to the fact that I'll get my pricey piece of paper in three months, so I think I would go to art school. Perhaps art still will be in my future someday.
2. In high school I tried out for the Miss Chinese Toronto beauty pageant, and when I was rejected, I was REALLY REALLY upset. In fact I threw a hissy fit. Literally. Sometimes it still hits a sore spot.
3. Sweet "girly" girls usually irritate me before I get to know them well because they remind me of what I am not, sweet and "girly". I know there are issues here. But who doesn't have them?
4. I have a barely visible, but still visible nonetheless scar on my right cheek [of the face not of the rear] from a dog bite that I got when I was in grade 3.
5. My worst fear is that someday I'll walk away from my faith not because I don't think it's true anymore but because of exogenous reasons such as temptation, hardship, torture, etc...
I tag Low on the Go, The Fish, and Kijirs
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Mid-Night Poetry
Awakened in the night,
By a wee bit of stage fright,
I sit here bathed in computer's light,
Stomach grumbling and rumbling for a bite.
In early morn wake ups I do not delight,
For at midday heavy eyelids I must fight,
By drinking, nay, chugging caffiene with all my might,
Stomach churning and twisting from butterflies' flight.
Oh what a night, what a night.
(c) 2007 Shelly Chen
Woke up @ 4:30am this morning, and couldn't go back to sleep. Major presentation today. Although the butterflies are most likely the result of the mug of green tea downed at 9:30 last night. A bit of the jitters are probably for the presentation. On a brighter note, it seems the creative juices seem to flow better at 4:30 in the morning.
By a wee bit of stage fright,
I sit here bathed in computer's light,
Stomach grumbling and rumbling for a bite.
In early morn wake ups I do not delight,
For at midday heavy eyelids I must fight,
By drinking, nay, chugging caffiene with all my might,
Stomach churning and twisting from butterflies' flight.
Oh what a night, what a night.
(c) 2007 Shelly Chen
Woke up @ 4:30am this morning, and couldn't go back to sleep. Major presentation today. Although the butterflies are most likely the result of the mug of green tea downed at 9:30 last night. A bit of the jitters are probably for the presentation. On a brighter note, it seems the creative juices seem to flow better at 4:30 in the morning.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
I.S.A.D.
In honour of the Hallmark holiday most popularly known as Valentine's Day, but a.k.a. International Singles Awareness Day, I give you:
DTR: Defining the Relationship; The Conversation We All Dread.
My favourite is "God has a wonderful plan for my life...and you're not part of it." XD!
ENJOY! and a Happy Valentine's Day to all.
v^_^v
DTR: Defining the Relationship; The Conversation We All Dread.
My favourite is "God has a wonderful plan for my life...and you're not part of it." XD!
ENJOY! and a Happy Valentine's Day to all.
v^_^v
Monday, February 12, 2007
Roses are...black?
Baccara. Baccara roses. Black roses.
Technically they're not black. Dommage. I actually thought that they were genetically modified to turn black, but they're just an intense deep shade of burgundy. Nevertheless the 2 feet Baccara, Pierre, in my room is simply regal. It's absolutely breathtaking. I can go on and on...
Driving to church yesterday I noticed the quaint flower shop near the Salvation Army church advertise these black beauties and I knew I just had to get one. One cool thing about growing up is that I can finally achieve some childhood dreams o' mine. This being one of them. I took a zillion pictures of Pierre, because sadly he's not going to last, and Guelph doesn't come by Baccaras easily. Nor can I justify filling my vase with one weekly.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Not Again
So you're standing there listen to her talking....it's more like ranting. She's rehashing the same thing over and over again. The exact same topic, but said in slightly different ways. Yet not different enough to be interesting. "Come on I get the point. Really I do." She's run over the subject till it's dead and six feet under. You want to get out of the conversation to talk to someone else, but how do you do it in a polite manner? You shift your eyes. You nod, but oh that just got her going on another mini rant. How long is this going to last? It seems like the minutes are dragging....
Ok friends, I know for a fact that I have put you through this. If you've known me for an extended period of time, i.e. more than a day I have put you through this. Thank you for your grace, patience, and friendship, and for listening! :) I really appreciate it, and I'll try not to dwell on things too much.
Ok friends, I know for a fact that I have put you through this. If you've known me for an extended period of time, i.e. more than a day I have put you through this. Thank you for your grace, patience, and friendship, and for listening! :) I really appreciate it, and I'll try not to dwell on things too much.
Monday, February 05, 2007
For the Record
Hey Me in the Future,
For the record in the last semester of university at the age of 21, I was into, in no particular order or any semblance of organization.
1. watching HOUSE with Chelsea
2. the colour green, preferably a shade of lime with some turquoise thrown in
3. puzzling over sudokus in class
4. eyeing things at different angles to see if it would make a good photograph
5. plain black tea with milk and lots of sugar
6. the song of WC '06 "Mighty to Save"
7. laughing uncontrollaby at "farq-u-harson"
8. indian food
For the record in the last semester of university at the age of 21, I was into, in no particular order or any semblance of organization.
1. watching HOUSE with Chelsea
2. the colour green, preferably a shade of lime with some turquoise thrown in
3. puzzling over sudokus in class
4. eyeing things at different angles to see if it would make a good photograph
5. plain black tea with milk and lots of sugar
6. the song of WC '06 "Mighty to Save"
7. laughing uncontrollaby at "farq-u-harson"
8. indian food
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Tagged!
Katie V has made my day, I've been tagged.
So...here we go!
The Rules of Tagging
-grab the nearest book to me,
-turn to page 123,
-read 4 lines down
-record the next 3 lines
-tag 3 people
"...ordination of the apostles Jesus' first concern was with the multitudes while afterward the emphasis shifted to the disciples, and especially to the Twelve (Henry Latham, op.cit., pp.188-269. Whether such a deci..."
p.123 The Master Plan of Evangelism By Robert Coleman
To give context the book is a wee book, not even an inch thick so the excerpt is actually from the footnotes. Not the actual text. My DG's reading it this semester.
I tag: Lydia of the Low, Zoe, Lady of Klintberg, and Dan the Man Richardsen
So...here we go!
The Rules of Tagging
-grab the nearest book to me,
-turn to page 123,
-read 4 lines down
-record the next 3 lines
-tag 3 people
"...ordination of the apostles Jesus' first concern was with the multitudes while afterward the emphasis shifted to the disciples, and especially to the Twelve (Henry Latham, op.cit., pp.188-269. Whether such a deci..."
p.123 The Master Plan of Evangelism By Robert Coleman
To give context the book is a wee book, not even an inch thick so the excerpt is actually from the footnotes. Not the actual text. My DG's reading it this semester.
I tag: Lydia of the Low, Zoe, Lady of Klintberg, and Dan the Man Richardsen
Friday, February 02, 2007
Application for Graduation
Signed, sealed, and....waiting for it to be delivered. I have applied to graduate.
Shelly Chen
Bachelor of Arts, Honours.
Major International Development
Emphasis Economic and Business Development
Minor Economics
No turning back now. It's terrifying. Graduation is like this oncoming massive locomotive that seems to be rushing towards me. I've worked to get here for the past 16 years of my life. Now that the end is looming, it's like, "So this is it?"
I know I'm on staff and all, but that's the real world. A part of me wants to stay on being a student just so I can stay in the nest.
Grad school anyone?
Shelly Chen
Bachelor of Arts, Honours.
Major International Development
Emphasis Economic and Business Development
Minor Economics
No turning back now. It's terrifying. Graduation is like this oncoming massive locomotive that seems to be rushing towards me. I've worked to get here for the past 16 years of my life. Now that the end is looming, it's like, "So this is it?"
I know I'm on staff and all, but that's the real world. A part of me wants to stay on being a student just so I can stay in the nest.
Grad school anyone?
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Staying Put
It's settled. I'm staying here in Canada for this coming year. STINT is a no-go, at least for this year. I'm a bit disappointed, but not really. Both options had its perks and challenges. There's a part of me that's a bit relieved that I won't have to support-raise my entire salary within two-three months of graduation and then jet off to another continent. Although I'm still praying that I'll be on campus by next September.
No need to sell off the furniture. No need to pack and move everything back to New York. No need to miss out on experiencing the "firsts" of staff with my friends.
One more year to train and prepare. One more year to enjoy the freedoms, the comforts, and the beauty of Canada. One more year to improve my language skills. One more year to get to go to Summit and WC. OH AND THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING ON PROJECT AS STAFF.
Hey so overall I think I'm actually pretty pumped about staying here.
No need to sell off the furniture. No need to pack and move everything back to New York. No need to miss out on experiencing the "firsts" of staff with my friends.
One more year to train and prepare. One more year to enjoy the freedoms, the comforts, and the beauty of Canada. One more year to improve my language skills. One more year to get to go to Summit and WC. OH AND THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING ON PROJECT AS STAFF.
Hey so overall I think I'm actually pretty pumped about staying here.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
A Thousand Words
You know what they say about pictures; one is worth a thousand words. Inspired by the photos that Beth posted on her blog, I took up my camera again, and returned to my asian roots this week. It's really helping me to beat the winter blahs by seeing the beauty in the everyday. This world is full of signs of God's grace. Seeing as how my blog has been lacking in words, perhaps my pictures will make up for it.
May I introduce signs of grace my new photoblog. For now it'll be old pictures because I've lost my USB adapter for my camera. There is a sinking feeling that it might be somewhere in Austria, but once I get another cable, I'll be able to upload some pictures that I've been taking recently.
I'm excited to see how far I can push my little Nikon. Silas' advice about using what one has really challenged me. That's not to say I don't want bigger and better toys though. :D Mhmmm...Digi SLRs.
May I introduce signs of grace my new photoblog. For now it'll be old pictures because I've lost my USB adapter for my camera. There is a sinking feeling that it might be somewhere in Austria, but once I get another cable, I'll be able to upload some pictures that I've been taking recently.
I'm excited to see how far I can push my little Nikon. Silas' advice about using what one has really challenged me. That's not to say I don't want bigger and better toys though. :D Mhmmm...Digi SLRs.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Vindicated
"Starbucks runs into a forbidding PR attack."
When I was at the Forbidden City, I was really peeved at the Starbucks that was housed there. Now I am as much of an aficionado of Starbuck's as any other coffee lover, but to see a Starbuck's in the Forbidden city was such an insult. So much so that I tried (unsuccessfully) to boycott it. Despite my lack of self-control I was still annoyed at the multinational corporation because you don't see Starbucks at other cultural sites. i.e. The Louvre or The Pyramids.
So when I read the the almost full page article on how Starbucks is getting bad PR, I felt vindicated. The article is in the National Post, and expresses much of my sentiments exactly.
"All I want is for Starbucks to move out of the Forbidden City peacefully; quietly. And we'll continue enjoying Starbucks elsewhere in the city." Amen brother!
When I was at the Forbidden City, I was really peeved at the Starbucks that was housed there. Now I am as much of an aficionado of Starbuck's as any other coffee lover, but to see a Starbuck's in the Forbidden city was such an insult. So much so that I tried (unsuccessfully) to boycott it. Despite my lack of self-control I was still annoyed at the multinational corporation because you don't see Starbucks at other cultural sites. i.e. The Louvre or The Pyramids.
So when I read the the almost full page article on how Starbucks is getting bad PR, I felt vindicated. The article is in the National Post, and expresses much of my sentiments exactly.
"All I want is for Starbucks to move out of the Forbidden City peacefully; quietly. And we'll continue enjoying Starbucks elsewhere in the city." Amen brother!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Tray-Bogganing
Tonight after our volleyball game, my girls and I hiked it to this huge hill in Guelph to go tray-bogganing. That is to slide down hills on food trays, and slide down we did. The key apparently is to keep your feet in the air.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
1 down 11 more left
Last night it hit me as I was greeting and hugging familiar faces at the Weekly Meeting that this is THE last semester for me to be a part of the wonderful community of C4Cers at Guelph. It has finally sunk in, but I really don't know how to deal with it. Time please stop while I get my head around this.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Bang
Talk about starting the year off with a bang. Tonight we, as in two of my housemates and I spent half of the evening at the one and only Guelph General Hospital ER. Why? Just so we could watch some Apprentice. No actually, all kidding aside, Chelsea our brand spanking new roommate cut her finger on a can and needed stitches so we accompanied her.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Freeze or Frump
Oh, the tyranny of fashion.
This year's dilemma: "Do I want to freeze or do I want to look frumpy?" Mini-skirt/capris' or thick sweaters/cardigans? At least that's the way it seems to me. Not that all sweaters and cardigans equal frump for everyone. But woe is me! because I can't pull them off without looking middle aged. 'Tis sad. 'Tis sad. I won't even venture into the other "option"...The storefronts look like they're in the middle of summer when it's December outside. Bah humbug!
This year's dilemma: "Do I want to freeze or do I want to look frumpy?" Mini-skirt/capris' or thick sweaters/cardigans? At least that's the way it seems to me. Not that all sweaters and cardigans equal frump for everyone. But woe is me! because I can't pull them off without looking middle aged. 'Tis sad. 'Tis sad. I won't even venture into the other "option"...The storefronts look like they're in the middle of summer when it's December outside. Bah humbug!
Monday, December 11, 2006
Quote of the Exam Time
Calvin: "You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood."
Hobbes: "What mood is that?"
Calvin: "Last-minute panic."
Replace creativity with discipline, and that'll describe me perfectly. The irony is I found that quote in Cheryl's profile while I was browsing through the Rocky Mountain Project memory book.
Hobbes: "What mood is that?"
Calvin: "Last-minute panic."
Replace creativity with discipline, and that'll describe me perfectly. The irony is I found that quote in Cheryl's profile while I was browsing through the Rocky Mountain Project memory book.
Feathers in the Wind
A post is like a sack bulging with down feathers, words ready to be let loose to the whole world in a single moment, never to be reclaimed. One click, and it's there for the whole world to see for better or for worse.
But then if I really think about it, it's only my friends who read this blog, and the occasional creepy stalker from Iceland. I have nothing against Iceland it's just the first country that popped into my head. Unless my blog really merits literary attention, which it doesn't at this point, no stranger would venture again into this domain after one viewing. So why am I hesitant about posting now? These possibilities have never stopped me before. Have I grown wiser or more paranoid? Or both?
It's not that I lack words. Not at all, I've been stuffing that sack full of feathers. I'm just reluctant to let go of it. The end may be coming...maybe.
But then if I really think about it, it's only my friends who read this blog, and the occasional creepy stalker from Iceland. I have nothing against Iceland it's just the first country that popped into my head. Unless my blog really merits literary attention, which it doesn't at this point, no stranger would venture again into this domain after one viewing. So why am I hesitant about posting now? These possibilities have never stopped me before. Have I grown wiser or more paranoid? Or both?
It's not that I lack words. Not at all, I've been stuffing that sack full of feathers. I'm just reluctant to let go of it. The end may be coming...maybe.
Friday, December 01, 2006
"and...she's staff"
the dg on the day i was accepted as staff was our christmas/chilling dg. kirsten brought us lots of goodies. chocolate balls, jujubes, mini candy canes, and jelly beans. at one point i was sprawled in my chair, head tilted back, with a mini candy cane covered in slobber sticking out of my mouth like a five year old. kirsten looks over, and says "and...she's staff."
needless to say i promptly sucked the candy cane back into my mouth out of sight, and snapped to attention. i just thought it was so funny. i'll definitely remember it in years to come.
needless to say i promptly sucked the candy cane back into my mouth out of sight, and snapped to attention. i just thought it was so funny. i'll definitely remember it in years to come.
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