What am I doing during Springbreak?

I just recently got back from a trip to NOVA, and I had a lot of fun. After visiting Washington D.C, I went to the National Zoo. Surprisingly, I've never been to a zoo, so this was a good experience and a lot of fun. I've got to see animals that I've never seen before. Spring break has been relaxing lately, but I need to kick back into the studying mode as soon as possible. I still have a lot of things to do, a lot of studying to do, unfortunately. However, I can't seem to, because I also have a lot of things on my mind and other things to worry about as well. A lot of things are happening in April, and I'm currently preparing for them. I've been getting ready for my trip to Michigan in less than a month, and I'm stoked! After my trip, it's my sister's and my dad's birthday. I have yet to know what to get them, so I'm contemplating. Then my little niece is born!! My first niece ever! I'm extremely excited. I can't wait to see her when we go up to the New York. After that, my little nephew has his First Communion ceremony at his school. So many things are happening in my life, and I have so much to worry about. On top of that, I have school as well, and it's beginning to become very stressful, but I'm not going to let it get to that extreme. =)

Washington D.C

For spring break, I visited northern VA to visit some friends, and to visit some areas that I haven't been to in a long time. So today, I went to visit Washington D.C. I haven't been back here since I was about 7 years old, and I've forgotten how the area looked like. I've also forgotten how it feels to be in this historical presence. We first visited the Jefferson Memorial. After Jefferson Memorial, we visited the Washington Monument. We thought about going inside, but we didn't have the energy to walk up the monument =/. Then we went to see the WWII memorial, which I've never seen. It was heart felting to be in the memorial of the those that died in WWII. We then walked down the mall strip where Martin Luther King Jr gave his speech. Behind the mall strip stands the Lincoln Memorial. I've never seen the memorial with in real life, so it was something very important to me. Through looking at the pictures in history books, I always thought Lincoln was much smaller. But after seeing it in real life, he was huge! After visiting Lincoln, we visited the Vietnam Veteran Memorial. It was very nice to visit this memorial particularly because it's the war that's most important to me. I had a lot of fun today and I recommend those that never been to D.C should definitely go. =)

Spring Break starts

As soon as this day ends, my spring break starts. I'm a little excited, but a little scared. Excited that I will be going to DC to spend a few days relaxing. Maybe do some shopping, some sight seeing, and a lot of eating! =) On the other hand, I'm a little scared because I know I have so much schoolwork that I'm going to have to do before school starts again. Once school starts again, I have a 3 exams, a quiz, a book report due, and homework from every class. I would think that spring break is when I can leave my brain on campus and not have anything to worry about, but obviously I was wrong. No matter where you go, school work will always follow you =/ In the end, I have to just deal with it. So as I speak for myself and others as well, I hope everyone has a great spring break. Where ever you are, whether it's out of state or home, enjoy it while it lasts. It's only a week, but make sure you have some time to relax your brain as well as your body. Take care everyone, and Ms. Shaffer, enjoy San Francisco!! =)

Chuck-e-Cheese

So today, I took my nephews to their all time favorite place, Chuck-E-Cheese. For those of you who might not know what chuck-e-cheese is, it's basically an arcade with a lot of games for kids. My nephews love this place because they get to win tickets which you can trade in for toys depending on how much points you get. As I was sitting there watching my nephews as well as the other kids around playing the games, I start to realize that kids these days can get pretty competitive. Even at little ages, they understand what it means to lose or win, and I was extremely amazed by that. Even though this place is known to just have fun and enjoy the games, I notice that the majority of the kids that are there are only there to receive as much tickets as possible to get little toys that you can buy for $1 at local stores. #1 example are my nephews. Each nephew had equal amount of tokens, 125 each. But it depends on how you play the games in order to receive the amount of tickets. After all the tokens were used up, my nephews compared each others tickets to see who had the most. My little nephew ended up with the most, which meant that his older brother became extremely angry. He started a fit and of course, started crying. Just at the age of 7 and 6, they already know that losing doesn't feel good. It's quite interesting to understand how the mind of each age works psychologically. =)

Lack of communication

It is very typical for an asian family to have lack of communication in their household. It is hard to say what the reason is for that, but in this particular case, my family is a great example of it. I love my parents more than anything in this world, but the only thing I wish to change between us is the communication that we have. My parents are great when it comes to pushing my siblings and I to study hard and do well in school, however, they are not so great in guiding us through the life outside of school. I believe this is the reason because they were raised in a different country, and my siblings and I are basically americanize. Thus, the 2 culture and beliefs are entirely different and they collide when they meet. So when I have a problem in my life, my parents are never the first people I go to to vent. I go to my sisters. If I had ever gone to my parents to talk, they'll never understand the situation, and they'll eventually turn the tables and make matters worse than they already are. I get extremely sad when I hear my friends tell me that their parents are their best friends and that they can talk to them about anything. I only wish that I can have that connection as well with my parents, because I know that someday, they won't be here anymore and I would be extremely regretful realizing that I was never that close to my parents as I wish I could have been. They are the best parents that I can ever imagine, but I just wish they can understand that we no longer live in Vietnam, and that the century has changed. However, no matter how hard I try explaining to them that, they'll never budge and they will never change their traditional beliefs.

The trip that changed my life

It's very rare for me to have the chance to travel. I never have the opportunity to go on vacations because it's either I can't, no money, or I don't have the time to go. Surprisingly, my first trip ever was the trip that changed my life completely and how my perspective on life since then. In 2005, I took a trip to my home country where I was born, Vietnam. Since I left Vietnam, which was when I was only 2 years old, I've never been back. I don't remember anything about it, and I don't know anything about my country except through what I hear and pictures. Therefore, my parents along with 2 of my sisters went. As soon as I stepped down from the plane onto Vietnam's soil, I instantly felt a rush through my adrenaline. I immediately felt scared and worried that I would not be able to make it through the entire month here. I was so used to the lifestyle in America, that I wasn't sure I could handle the different conditions and climate in Vietnam. Everything was completely different. My relatives live in a village that is very small and very poor. Everything is dirty, no bathrooms, nothing to do, and extremely dusty. At first, I honestly couldn't do it, but as time went on, I got used to it. After the entire month I spent there, I gained an entire new perspective on life. I was so used to the lifestyle with everything presented to me on a silver platter. But after living in a different world for just a month, I realize that I cannot take life for granted, and that I should appreciate everything that I have because the people that I love back home, do not have anything. I am grateful for every second of everyday that I live, and I would not change it for a thing. =)

Teaching

I honestly love children, and I love being around them. Any opportunities that get me to be around them, I'd take it in a second. I love how they make me so happy, and how they all have different personalities. Not only do they keep me young, but they also let me view life on a different perspective. So I took on a volunteer job as a teacher at my local church. I taught there for about 3 years, and I truly could not have been happier with it. My students ranged from ages 6-8, and at those ages, they really do have amazing opinions as well as silly personalities. I looked forward to every week coming into the classroom, just to await for hugs from every one of them. Each hug warmed my heart and after every hug I received, nothing mattered for the rest of the day to me. I loved their silly jokes, and the goofy things they did. For instance, they made a song for me, and everytime they sang it to me, I'd laugh hysterically. As of now, I currently don't teach anymore. I really do miss it a lot, and I miss all of my students. Although I see them regularly in church, but I don't have that one to one connection to them anymore. That is why I took on the role of volunteering at the children's hospital. =)