Here is Taiwan Day Carnival

August 3rd to me is another wonderful day as well, except I was a little bit exhausted (because I need to wake up at 7 AM, which I overslept for 30 minutes...XD), and except the political tendency is a little bit different from mine XD But overall, people there are quite friendly and nice, they actually did not mention our former Mr. President that much in public.

I was at the Bobolink Park since maybe 9:30 AM, arranging the chairs and later being the one selling the coupons for others. As their volunteers, we can have $10CAD from them to purchasing stuff there. They had roughly 20 something booths, most of which are food, as you can see from my picasa album. Since it is Taiwan Day Festival (or Carnival, whatever...), the food sold there are all traditional Taiwanese cuisines, such as Taiwanese meat ball, rice dumpling, cold noodles, various rice cakes, even the wheeled-shaped cake!!!!! You should know how I miss them!!!! Though I stayed there for over 7 hours, I was really happy and had a lot of the so-called "rewards." In addition to the $10CAD coupon that I used to buy rice dumplings, wheel-shaped cake, glutinous oil rice, and rice noodles, they also gave me some extra stuff, such as lunch box with pork spareribs, sugarcoated haws on a stick, vegetables, Starbucks coffee, kimchi, crackers, and sandwiches. I also took the free World Journal, on which I may be able to find some job opportunity. I even played hula hoop with little kids XD

Initially when I saw the yellow pin, out of curiosity I put it on my chest.After realizing it is for Mr. Chen, I took it off from my chest XD. We had some leaflet promoting their activities on our booth desk. Most people felt ok / nothing with the leaflet, yet I did encounter few people who came to our desk for buying coupons showed their disagreement on their face and even did not want to buy coupons when realizing what the leaflet is about XD Under such circumstance, What I can do was nothing but merely try to comfort them by saying that this is only for reference and you don't have to agree with that...XD I also told them that "see...I don't wear the pin either (smile XD)" This is really interesting experience to me haha...

Overall today is a wonderful day to me, though I needed to wake up early and worked as their activity volunteers, staying there for more than 7 hours. Actually I did know some volunteers did not stay as long as I did; yet, after all, I wasn't busy, thus I stayed there almost at the end of the whole activity, helping them to recover the site. By the way, I need to thank my U-Pass, the almost-omnipotent bus and skytrain ticket. With U-Pass, I don't have to pay any extra money for taking the bus and skytrain. The fee is completely covered in my tuition. I love it haha!!!

Here I am at Harrison Beach

Yesterday I went to Harrison Beach with James family, Yuki, and John. I really had a great time there!! The scenery is so beautiful that I almost want to come here whenever I have free time, haha. You can swim there, row your rubber boat, or just play with water. Of course you may choose to stay at the resort villa if you can afford as well,'cause the view is really awesome as well.

What I wore is the SFU pink T-shirt and black short pants, with my birkenstock, which, I think, is probably the most convenient shoes I ever had. I did bring my swimming suit, though; yet I was too lazy to change it. Anyways, merely playing with water is such a wonderful blessing to me already. I am content with what I can possess and experience.

I hope one day I can go to Harrison Beach with my beloved ones, Mom, Annie, or WTC. However, as I don't have a car, I think this is probably the so-called "mission impossible"...

Hey come on! I think we still can do something that meets our ability. Say, I actually can take you shopping at the Metrotown, or take the SeaBus to North Van, haha!

Tomorrow I'm going to the Taiwanese Festival. Hopefully I can meet some people who are nice and who can provide some job opportunity to me later when I graduate.

Here Comes My 2009 Summer Break

With the completion of the in-class research and learning object design, now here comes my first summer break since my arrival in Van last year.

Comparing with my previous two semesters, both of which were overwhelmed by three courses per semester, this semester is obviously less overwhelming to me. At least, I only took two courses this semester, and I don't have any part-time job, which I was disappointed with. Anyways, I lead a more relaxed and healthier life this semester. I really enjoy it.

I'm looking forward to my summer break, with some excitement and some anxiety at the same time. I have some fabulous schedules, going around to different places, having fun hanging around with people, and learning new things. Yet I have a very specific goal that I need to realize during this summer break, or maybe, more precisely, from summer break until the end of this November. It's my Comprehensive Exam. I finally decided to stick to my original admission, Master of Education, though I seemed to spend lots of time figuring this out. Yet I don't think it's a waste of time, 'cause it always takes some time to figure things out, especially when it is your future that you are exploring.

Regarding the comps, I make up mind that I will work on the assigned readings and English composition during this coming summer break. This is no easy task, for I know I am always a procrastinator. Yet it can be an easy task, as long as I am persistent and diligent enough. I know I CAN AND WILL MAKE IT.

Here's the list of what I'm going to do during my summer break:
1.preparing comps (reading & writing)
2.CLCS volunteering / having fun and going around
3.exercise (gym & swimming)
4.finding a job
5.MS Bike Tour Route Marshal Volunteer
6.Graduate Orientation Volunteer
7.English speaking and listening
8.AIESEC

Ready to begin, my summer break!

this is a test

to test what the default font in blogspot is.

So I Guess It's Crystal Clear

Time for making a decision.

Not a message, not a sentence, not even a word. Even I said I got a stomacheache. As you are emotionless to me, I will do the same thing to you. It may be hard, but I know it will not be that hard, as long as I determine to do so.

Don't blame me I don't give you enough time. I believe you know what I am saying and do remember what I am saying. Yes as I say you have the right to make no choice, which is also a choice, I will make my own choice now.

Nothing is contant. So now I change my mind and won't tell you what I plan these days. You shall know that's really discouraging. I will remove you from my plan and my mind, and you will not be the reason for me either to go back or to stay.

As you want to remain silent and pretend nothing happened, I will realize what you wish. No more bothering from me and you will be happy ever after. Disappearing, and then strangers.

Now I see five years is nothing more than lots of days passed by.

It's hard, yet I know I can quit everything and you. I can be independent, and I will let you regret what you did to me. I will not feel angry with you, for I won't be affcted by someone I don't care.

Falling apart, from now on.

Program Institute & Comprehensive Exam

Graduation Graphics

Obviously, for an M.Ed student like me, the Program Institute is really helpful this time.

The Indian cuisine is yummy; the instructors and those who tool the exam are nice and willing to provide lots of tips for preparing and writing comps. We have some thorough discussion on the sample questions that may appear in comps; we now know more details about how a comps will be like and its general procedure. We now know roughly how much we should write in a comps, how we can write it, and how much time we have in writing comps...

What I have from the Program Institute is more than the aforementioned, though. It makes me realize how far I fall behind if I want to pass the comps with a satisfying grade. Technically, this is not true, as we will only get feedback such as suggestions for revision, pass, or failed, but not the exact marks. Reading and discussing the sample question make me realize I am really poor at critical thinking, reasoning / defending / justifying my position. I don't know how to interpret the question, nor do I know how to set the context for me to compose the content. Worse than that, I can hardly relate all the readings I used to read with the question. These will definately weaken my statement afterwards. Also, I have huge room for improvement regarding my English writing...

During the session I actually start to think what I can do to prepare the comps. I wanna take advantage of this blog to imrpove my English writing skills. It would be better if I can find someone to review my composition then or to have similar writing training with me so that we can encourage and monitor each other. The idea of forming a study group for reading the assigned readings and training for reasoning also comes to my mind. Yet I am not sure if I can make it or not. It is reasonable that I think of forming a study group, 'cause I had similar experience before. It's just that different cultures in different contry and different demands that may matter if I can establish this group. Oh, my determination also matters, for sure.

I think I may have these "brilliant(?)" ideas, yet what's more important is that whether or not I can realize them step by step. Currently I am busy with this semester and might not have so much extra time and efforts. I hope I can start to realize them once this semester finishes. Let's see how far I can go. I hope it's more than 85%. We'll see.

This is the PROMISE to myself.

Procrastinator as I am

Or maybe it is because I lose my passion and direction toward future again.

Not so clear how I feel right at this moment. Only to know that I was so inefficient during the past two days, spending almost all day long sitting in front of my Toshiba laptop and working on Flash, which is so challenging to me that I don't know if I can make it on my assignment...

So true that last week I was so diligent in getting everything done, effieciently and in a well-organized way. Seems that I was way too hard last week so that I feel kind of exhausted right now...So true that people do need to take a break once in a while to move forward...right?

How much I hope myself can be back to normal, mentally and physically. Minimize as much negative feeling and procrastination and bewilderment as possible. Can I? On my Plurk the title is "construct a future I envision," yet I'm not sure what I envion for...Very often I told myself I can only move forward while keeping learning and failing and correcting at the same time...Maybe what I encounter now is nothing but the periodical depression...

Yes they must be periodical depression and I shall not be defeated by it.