| Sunday, November 27, 2005 |
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I have a lot to be thankful for. Just being here at Wellesley and having a surrogate family of sisters and leaders is way more than I deserve. I'm making a list of things I am thankful for, and it seems like every moment there is something else I should be thankful for. Interesting fact I learnt lately: higher levels of gratitude bring about greater levels of happiness. Kind of a common sense, nothing new piece of news, but its so easy to miss in the busyness of life and all.
Our break started on Tuesday after classes- I cannot begin to express how liberating it felt. Just the knowledge that I can sleep more if I choose to, watch whatever I want and hang out with people without worrying about anything is wonderful. Hmm. Makes normal school sound like prison huh. Not really.. just that I try to sleep a decent amount so that I don't end up sleeping and drooling in class. Well, I don't think I do that ever, but just in case you know? We had a really interesting discussion about sleeping habits the other day while spending the night at Common house. Linda said that I snore quickly, and all of us had an image of me hyperventilating in my sleep- until she clarified that it was because I started to breathe heavily soon after I fell asleep. And no, thats not a euphemism- if you've heard real snoring, I don't snore. We watched sense and sensibility as well as roman holiday- I feel as though I'm learning more and more about "western culture" (either that or I've just been really ignorant all my life). Finally got around to watching Shiri too- I remember Hahn telling us to go watch it a really long time ago- and yes he's right- its a fantastic movie. Also caught Vera Drake- something I had wanted to watch but had not the opportunity till now. It was a sad story, but it was contemplative too, because it examines motives, the basis of judgement for what is right and wrong, and the justice of punishment. Hmm. Am I getting more artsy? Lol. Don't think this counts though.
I've decided on the topic for my final paper in philo - I'm going to write (type) about advertising of prescription drugs. I love having an investigative kind of paper to write- at the risk of sounding like a dork, I admit to liking paper research. Its just so rewarding when I find the specific piece of information that I'm looking for, and tying it in to the rest of the picture that I'm building. And its rather useful too, because it is a point of contention that gets talked about conceptually but not empirically. So thats my fun part- I get to mix numbers and words. And its not like I'm doing Plato, even though my prof and I discussed this (I was so proud of myself for being able to carry on an intellectual conversation with her. She is brillant.)
Wei (not alien) is gonna come to the states! Oh, speaking of people- I met up with Wei Li by chance.. we happen to have 3 mutual friends- how bizarre is that? |
posted by wenster @ 4:14 AM  |
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| Sunday, November 20, 2005 |
| Don't Cry For Me Princess Leia |
Last night was arguably the most entertaining night (in terms of artsy stuff) I've had all semester. Went to the Star Wars trilogy (parody) musical with Jan, Rachel, Melanie and Fiona- it was fantastic! We almost didn't get to go in because we were on the waiting list and there was a whole lobby full of people hoping to get tickets- I did not expect it to be so popular, but then again, it was at MIT and well... you know mit-ers. The set was cleverly and pretty professionally done- with fold ins and outs, hidden elevators and "special effects"-its amazing what happens when creativity and techiness combined can do. Costumes were true to the movie itself, right down to the big Jabba blob they made with the retractable tongue. 3PO was dressed really well, the costume was very stiff looking, but it allowed for movement. And the cast was great- there was a Wellesley first year playing Leia- and boy could she sing. Some of the characters were re-cast as women, like Lando and 3PO- don't know if that was on purpose, but it worked out. Even at the beginning there was the clever move of making that THF surround sound effect come on, followed by a "george lucas" going through the cards of "a long long time ago.." and then all of a sudden, the card goes "yada yada yada, you know the rest of the story". Their opening song had lines that said "Star trek tomorrow, trilogy tonight" with people dressed as trekkies being bumped off. Same went for harry potter- and given that harry potter opened not too long ago, it was very apt.
What I really enjoyed was how they brought out the "eww" in the part where luke and leia find out that they are siblings. Man.. I think everyone feels as that it was really necessary, seeing how the movie didn't address that at all. There was a lot of phantom of the opera music, as well as Les Mis, some miss saigon, some lion king and best of all, pirates of the carribean.
We all wondered how they were going to reenact the fighter plane scenes- but once again, they managed to do little cardboard surround things that went with the people..remember that one scene where Han blocks vader from attacking luke? they used a hip check kind of thing. so hilarious. Goodness. The show was really long- 4 hours total, but it didn't feel draggy at all, because of the wit and energy the cast conveyed. I did need to go to the bathroom really bad for a while, but thats beside the point.
Also got to watch Andrea and Zeke sing in their respective acapella groups- so cute! I really liked one of the songs they sang (but as usual I forget the title). |
| posted by wenster @ 3:26 PM |
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| Tuesday, November 15, 2005 |
| Racoon! |
Saw one yesterday while I made my way to the Science Center.
At night.
Late.
It stared at me a little, swayed from side to side.
Did a little dance on the short wall, hissing all the while.
Came down from the wall, approached me.
I smiled.
It ran away.
The past week(s?) pretty much melded into each other- running to and from stuff, trying to stick as much work as I could into the shortest amount of time possible, loads of making decisions between responsibility, obligation and needs- and all I can say is that God has been faithful. Even when I slip up and forget to ask Him for help, He kept watching out for me.
Saw dear theng after a pretty long time- so handsome! My goodness. My little bro is growing up man.. got to spend some time with him, and you know what? I've decided that he's a cool kid. Haha. We've come a long way from the times of fighting over whose last bit of chocolate it is in the fridge.. I hope that he'll always know that he has his jie to depend on.
Had baptism service for a whole lotta people on Sunday- a lot of them really dear to me. Some guests were able to come, and one of them commented after hearing all the testimonies that she realized that she didn't have something that those who were baptized did. And that makes me feel so amazed, because we've been praying for her for a really long time, even gave her a bible before summer- its like a confirmation that God really works on our prayers.
Off to do more work! |
| posted by wenster @ 11:25 PM |
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| Tuesday, November 01, 2005 |
| So blessed |
I feel so so blessed. Actually, I've been feeling this way for the past week and more but didn't have the time to communicate it.
Its the first time I've been able to see the workings of God so clearly, and how each one of us figures into it- and you know what is even more amazing? I bet there is a lot more going on that I can't see. Another sister made a decision for Christ on Sunday, and her short testimony was really touching. I wish some of the people I'm praying for could've heard it, simply because it echoes all that we've been talking about lately- how disillusioning the world is, how they feel as though there has to be a higher purpose out there somehow.
Naps visited Wellesley on Sat.
It snowed.
He was supposed to call me and I was supposed to get the voice message so I could figure out what time to meet him (the woes of not having a cell) given that he took the bus- but he took a cab and I wasn't in my room to get the call. So he ended up waiting half an hour at admissions (and it was closed, no less)- before I got to him. Poor guy. I felt so bad. But he enjoyed the campus! (I'm so relieved. He didn't like MIT and I think MIT is pretty cool) and we hung out at the Lulu for quite a bit. The snow was bizarre though, its really early for it.
On Sunday, it was sunny.
The snow melted.
I got myself into Boston to meet Naps and his bro, Bai. Bai's really cute, he's the same age as Yen, and is looking for a college (hence the trip to the US from Thailand) so it was nice to get to talk to him and hear his view on things. We headed to Faneiul Hall for food - but I don't think they'll ever trust me with leading again, because I managed to miss a bus stop and had to go in circles a little- bet they were just too polite to say anything. We ate well though- I had a lovely breakfast burrito.. yums. We parted ways when I left for church- its quite odd how we (the whole crazy birthday group) met, and how the friendship is still being kept up for some of us. Rather nice actually- he's got loads of stories to tell, and even though half the time I call him old and boring, I think I behave more old and boring than he does. Lol. And on Sunday night Jenny, Theresa and I studied together at the Mac lab- it was a lot of fun. Did you know pomenegrate (sp?) seeds can be eaten? Well, at least I didn't. Man.. that is one good fruit. I loove the taste- but its so difficult to get enough of it!
Today we went trick or treating at the President's House- no costumes for me- such good brownie things- and I think the decor this year was especially cool. Ever mentioned that I don't really get Halloween? |
| posted by wenster @ 4:13 AM |
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