The Last Day of Summer & The Start of Something NEW

This is my last day of summer! Tomorrow I am moving to Berkeley, which is only an hour and a half away from my home. I should be packing right now, but I am too tired and lazy to do so. Labor Day weekend is coming up, so I might as well just come back next weekend and grab whatever I still need or forgot to bring. Isn't that much simpler than lugging everything and having so much stuff that I won't use? I am quite excited about living somewhere else than San Jose for a change. Berkeley has interesting shops and eateries. Besides, it's right across the bay from San Francisco. Since there's a BART station right next to campus, I can take it right into the city.

Also, tomorrow is the closing ceremony of the Olympics! We get cable in our room (included in our tuition) and I can't believe Berkeley has more channels than I do at home. There's everything but the premium channels. I could spend my whole academic at career in my dorm watching television, but that wouldn't be a smart thing to do: spend $26,000 a year on cable television. :P Hopefully my roommate has a spare TV to bring so we can watch the Olympics closing ceremony. If not, then I'll find some way to watch it. Maybe record it or find it online.

Well, I am headed off to Berkeley while all the other UC students are still squatting at home drooling for another month. This has been such an awesome summer and I am READY for school. Berkeley, HERE I COME! GO BEARS!

Taiwan Vlog #1

Finally, after a long wait, here's my first video in Taiwan!



More videos to come...

Sweet Home California

I'M BACK HOME! It feels so great to be back home in my own warm bed, in my own clean bathroom, without the annoying mosquitoes and gianormous cockroaches. Now, I can finally enjoy things in the comfort of my home...like watching the Olympics!

And guess what was waiting for me when I got home? (This was totally unexpected.) I won free tickets to Warped Tour at Shoreline Amphitheatre this Friday from peta2!

This also arrived as well: my signed Legally Blonde Playbill! (Sorry, didn't get a chance to rotate the photo.)

Now I'm off to watch Olympic re-runs on TV. Stupid time difference. Go TEAM USA!

The Lounge

For another time here in Taiwan, I have internet. Currently, I'm in the Evergreen Lounge. There's unlimited food and beverage, live Olympic coverage of the USA vs. China men's basketball game, and Wi-Fi. How sweet is that? There are dozens of people here on their computers chatting, doing business, and other things. The guy next to me is on facebook. There's also a game room with four Xbox 360 consoles.

My flight leaves in about 50 minutes, but boarding begins in 20. For sure, this will be the last time I will have access to internet until I get home. My Olympic fever is getting more and more severe as the days progress. See you guys in 12 hours!

Frustration

Local Time: Sunday, August 10, 2008 1:31am

Don't you hate it when you lose a very LONG post that you put alot of effort and insight into it? I do.

It just happened.

Expect a post when I get back home.

Father's Day...Today?

Happy Father's Day! Make no mistake, today is Father's Day in Taiwan. In Chinese, father is ba ba, which sounds like 8/8 (August 8th). So the people of Taiwan celebrate their Father's Day each year on this day.

Also, I forgot to mention: According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, yesterday (lunar: 7th month of the 7th day, Gregorian: August 7th) was Valentine's Day. Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

So this should be my last post in Taiwan because I won't have internet connection until I land in the states Sunday night, unless I miraculously get internet. Anyways, this has been an fantastic trip, much different from previous trips. Although I didn't have many opportunities to explore the night markets, I had a great time living up in the mountains with my great aunt and uncle with the fresh air and nature. See you guys back in the states, for the five of you that read this blog. I'll upload videos onto YouTube once I get home.

Have fun watching the Olympics in Beijing!

MASSIVE Photo Update: Taiwan

Our plane to Taiwan

Night time in the sky

The bug that I found in my food

High Speed Rail from Taichung to Banciao/Taipei

Dragonfly

The creek next to my great aunt and uncle's house after the flood

A warning sign next to the creek

Around the residence

The local police station

The sign post for our street

Inside Costco

Ximending, where they sell the latest fashions

Neidong National Forest

Neidong National Forest

Neidong National Forest

Neidong National Forest

Neidong National Forest

One of the many spiders I encountered in Neidong

Neidong National Forest

At the Computer Applications Show

Inside Taipei 101. It's basically this large mall selling expensive goods.

Another view inside Taipei 101

My cousin and I

My cousin with the large duck

Me and the large duck

My cousin and her broken umbrella

Dharma Drum Mountain

Dharma Drum Mountain

The infamous satellite houses located next to the ocean which have been unoccupied for more than 30 years

There's no place like home

The view of Danshui at sunset from the 24th floor of our building

Another view at sunset

My favorite shot of the sunset

The view of Danshui at night

Me at Starbucks

I leave Taiwan on Sunday! It's been a fun, long, and tiring trip. This trip has made me realize the numerous comforts of home.