Speed Dating

11.22.2008

I went on my first speed dating event. This was for a charity event. An acquitance of mine invited me. I always wanted to do it since I've seen it on TV & movies and it looked quite fun. Plus it was something different. The turn out was good. There was 16 girls and guys. So we had 16 five minutes date. You wouldn't think it but it was quite tiring. Five minutes really fly by since you really just get the basic info of that person. It's hard to tell if there is a "match" with someone. Overall, the people there was really nice. No love at first sight. This event consist of friends of friends so there was no complete strangers. I would do it again since I got to meet people I wouldn't have normally met.

You know what I realized? There's more quality guys here but more cuter guys in Atlanta :P Haha...good thing I take personality over looks :)

Road Trip

July 30, 2008
8:00 AM - met up with Esther at Mall of Georgia - left Georgia
12:00 PM - met up with Andrew for lunch in Charlotte
7:30 PM - arrived in Fairfax, VA
8:00 PM - went to small group with Eric


July 31, 2008
Went to Georgetown to shop
We had Ethiopian food - Eric and Esther's first time
Went to a Korean bar and met up with Andrew

Aug 1, 2008
1:30 PM - left Fairfax, VA
7:00 PM - arrived in NYC
went to D&B, Meat Packing District, and The Park

Aug 2, 2008
Went to The Park and this Korean bar

Aug 3, 2008
1:30 PM - left NYC
5:00 PM - arrived in Boston, MA

Aug 4, 2008
1st day of work

Furniture Shopping

I bought an Ikea dresser from a lister on Craig's List. When I got to her place, the dresser was bigger than I thought. We were not sure if the dresser could fit in my car. The couple asked if I knew anyone with a bigger car but I didn't. They helped me move it to the trunk. Half of the dresser was sticking out of the trunk.

(side note - the couple look so cute together! the guy was really nice and helpful. made me kinda miss having someone....)

As I was driving slowly home, it started to sprinkle. The sprinkle turned to rain. I was thinking, "Oh no! My dresser! It's getting wet!" When I got home, I was trying to move the dresser out of the trunk but I couldn't. It was horrible. I was getting soaked. I even skinned my ankle against the screen door. I called CS and asked if he was coming home anytime soon but he wasn't. Later on that night, Son called me and asked if I needed help moving the dresser into the house since he noticed it sticking out in my trunk. We moved it into my room.

This made me realize I am so glad that I have a roommate and a great landlord. When I was thinking of living by myself, I never consider all this hassle of moving furniture and having to do everything by myself. I would probably be even more lonelier living by myself.

Looking for a Place in Boston, MA

I flew into Boston today. I am staying for the weekend to look for a place. I already checked out two places. One seems like a potential.

When I got to the hotel, a wave of sadness hit me. I realized that this is happening. I'm moving away. I felt so lonely. I just started to cry.

I don't know if I can do this. I'm going to be so sad. I'm going to miss everyone.

Is this the right decision?

Coming to America

My mom came into my room and saw that my eyes were red. She asked me why I was crying. This was one of the few time she show concern for me. Probably because I never let my parents see me cry since I was a child. I told her I got off the phone with Soo Chin and she wasn't happy about me going to Boston. My mom told me who cares. Your parents are fine with you going. She's not supporting you. Then she told me how we came to America. This was my first time hearing it. She said Soo Chin bought Dad, me, and her a round trip ticket to America for a 6 month vacation. When six months came around, Soo Chin told Dad it was time to go. My mom said she didn't want to go. Soo Chin took me out of school. My parents moved out of my sister's house. I went to the restaurant with with Soo Chin's boyfriend at that time. My parents went around and found a Korean family babysitter for me to live with. That was when I was living with them during the weekday and saw my parents on weekends. June's sister told my mom to go to her salon and she would teach her how to cut hair. That was how my mom learned to cut hair. Later we moved to the apartment by Indian Creek where there was a Vietnamese family in the same complex. They became my babysitter when my parents went to work. We didn't associate with my sisters for two years at that time. Then June asked my mom to come to the salon to work. My mom said she never liked associating with Soo Chin and Sharlene. They always looked down upon us for not having family. They also said hateful things and lies. I want to be close to them but it's hard. I always feel constricted and incompetent when I'm with them.

Jason was really sweet to listen to me while I cried. He believed in me and knows I will do just fine. It's nice to have people who believe in you and support you. I'm really happy my Mom is really supportive. It's hard to be close since we never had that type of relationship. Makes me happy. My mom said she also want to move out of Georgia. I never realized that. There is so much I don't know about my family. Too many skeletons in the closet.

Parents

My parents said to marry a nice guy so that they don't have to worry about me. That was the first time they mention anything about marriage to me. I was thinking I'm the one who is worry about you guys. I have to make a lot of money so that I can support you guys in the future. I don't want you guys to be stress out about money.

Job Offer

I was offered the Material Master Supervisor position a couple of weeks ago shortly after Miroslav emailed me back about an interview. I told Robert that I could not make the proper decision at that time because of this other position I have previously applied for. Long story short, after three interviews, the recruiter called me this morning and made me an offer. This position is in Andover, MA. It didn't hit me that I will actually be moving if I accept the offer until I mentioned it to my parents at dinner tonight. I started tearing up when I was telling them this, realizing this could be one of the few times I will be home. I worry about my parents and how they will do without me. I've always been here to take care of everything. Georgia is my home. How can I leave it? I know how to get around. I know everyone here. I don't know what to do. I will just have to pray and ask God for guidance.

Hot Yoga

04.08.2008

I took my first hot yoga on that day in Louisville, KY. It was Bikram yoga. It was intense. Kicked my butt! The room was between 107-110 degree. Halfway through, I was thinking what have I gotten myself into. I was considering leaving but I stuck it through. I'm glad since I hate being a quitter. Afterward, I did feel better. The lady next to me asked me after class if this was my first time and it was. She was like oh you did pretty good. I was getting lightheaded toward the end of class. But at least I made it through. It's a great experience for everyone. The only reason I took it is because my pilate's teacher was like yoga is great for the body so I wanted to try it out. Plus Mei said it was awesome too. I'm thinking of taking more classes to see how it is.

Seattle, WA

March 9-16, 2008

Went to the Philips campus in Bothell, WA. Worked with John Sear's team helping out on the MNP to MP1 OneSAP migration. John Sear's team is like one big happy family.

We flew in Sunday. Dwayne and I went to the Pacific Place. It was really nice. We ate at Pike Place Chowder. That was the best clam chowder I ever had! So yummy! Nordstorm flagship was there. They had like five floors. Macy's had like seven floors. The top floor had pictures of Lucille Ball and other famous actors and actresses. Ate at Sushizo for dinner. Really fresh sushi!

On Friday, we went to Chinatown but most everything was closed. I guess we went too late. We went to this small hole in the wall Hong Kong restaurant. They specialize in clay pot rice and congee dishes. I had the black bean ribs. Yummy!

I would love to go back to Seattle again for pleasure and take the ferry to Vancouver. There was a lot of Asian people there. It's really nice and beautiful there...except for all the rain they get. I wouldn't mind moving there even though Albert says that they have the highest suicide rate. *sigh. I need to get out of Atlanta.

Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:11

See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

If a person has world sorrow, then that leads to death.

Goldy sorrow leads to repentance.

Paul (the writer) is telling them that Godly sorrow is good. That leads to an eagerness to be clear of their sin, etc.

If you are sad about sinfulness but your sadness leads you to want to repent then that's Godly sorrow.

Worldly sorrow leads to death (i.e. suicide).

Judas Iscariot and Peter betrayed Jesus but there was a difference.

Peter had Godly sorrow which lead to his repentance. Judas had worldly sorrow which lead to his death.

Peter cried really hard and ended up being an amazing church leader. Judas hung himself.

Tithe

Malachi 3:8-12

8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.

Here, tithes is not money. The tithes Jesus is talking about is the offering of the crops.

floodgates of heaven = rain

Why Study the Word for Yourself?

Matthew 13

verses 1-9 & 18-23

The Parable of the Sower

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."

18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."


This was sent to me from Spiritual Understudy. At the end, it wrote for me: "Don't be the red, be the blue". I see how the red is me. I have recently became a Christian. I was happy. But when people ask me certain question about the Bible and God, I feel like I can't answer very well. Meaning, I have no roots in the ground of the Bible. I need to start learning the Bible to have a strong foundation and not let my faith waiver.

Happy Valentine's Day

So I send out some a text message that said the following to my friends:

Roses are read.
Some condoms are blue.
STD's are contagious
So watch out who you screw!
Happy Valentine's Day!

These are some of the replies I got back:

- Damn. I am gonna skip sex today since you just said that. Hehe

- But I thought you were clean?

- Hahaha are YOU trying to tell me something Hmm..??

- I hope that wasn't targeted at just me lol

- It's ok if you like blue condoms, it's not that weird!

- Likewise! use condoms!

- U too. No screwing tonight. Just supporting them single moms ;)

- But I need a screw!

-Haha....thanks for the advice!

Church

Church is the name given to believers. It is not a religion. The goal of any religion is to absolve sin but that is where religion falls short. It absolves nothing. Only belief in God's grace will absolve sins and that DOES NOT REQUIRE going to church service!

Ephesians 6:13-17

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

By Ishmael Beah

This is a fantastic book. This is an autobiography of a 12 years old boy soldier caught up in Sierra Leone's civil war. It is so hard to imagine that a war is going on on the other side of the world. Living in the United States, I do believe that the media do censor a lot of stuff of what is going on in the world. Reading this book, it's so hard to imagine everything this 12 years old boy had to go through. To lose your family and having to join the army to survive. Then to become immune to the killing. I guess it is true. When you are regularly expose to mutilation, you are no longer disguised by it or surprise. This has made me very thankful for the living environment we have in the United States and appreciate everything we have. What I thought was pretty cool was that the rehabilitation center that Ishmael was brought to was sponsored by UNICEF and partnering NGOs. I remembered in high school, I would help raise money for UNICEF but I never really understood what they did. I guess every little bit did help. It made me happy that everybody's effort to help raise money for UNICEF, no matter how small, helped. Sometimes it is hard to see the impact you may have on the world.

Ruth 1:16-17

"Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."