It wasn't too bad. I hope they come in the mail really soon, so then I can waive some classes or I'll have too much to do. Also, my TOEFL scores will make sure I can actually graduate on time. I don't know if I should say what I got here, since people might think I am bragging. I seriously don't know how I got such a high of a score, because I think at one point I actually fell asleep. It was more like nodding off for a minute or two...ha ha.
The thing I'm really mad about is that ETS still hasn't sent me the paper scores, so I can't go waive the classes yet. I hate bureaucracies, they're so inefficient! It gets on my nerves when people don't do what they say. Grrr!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Independent? Energetic?
I went to an interview with my teacher today. She (who will remain anonymous) said I seemed to be energetic, well-adjusted, and independent. That came as a kind of surprise, as I think that I only act more carefree in front of others after knowing them more. I suppose I am a bit talkative when I want to be and thus seem a bit more relaxed than new students usually are. Other teachers have said that to me too, but I never completely agree with them. For instance, my sophomore English Literature teacher once wrote a comment on my report card that I was independent and was very blunt. Well, in my journals, I suppose I am, since I don't think you should like to people for no reason. Or, for that matter, write fluff and bs your way through life, like some other students seemed to do. I guess everyone has their own insecurities.
Maybe though, I really have changed to become more adaptable to moving around. Let's see, I have moved about 3 or 4 big times that were major turning points in my life. The first time I remember was when I was 8, the year my brother was born (1997). At that time, I must have been in second grade and in the Brownies or Girl Scouts...lol not the ones you eat! We moved to make room for the new addition to our family. Of course the move after that was much more traumatic, which was to Taiwan. At that time, I felt it was very unfair to me to come live in Taiwan. I suppose middle school is not a great time for big moves, especially across great distances. We moved from California, where one gets quite used to comfort. And the other two times were going to Vancouver for college and then coming back, which seems to some people a great waste to my future opportunities. I think it is a good thing though, to be near family and loved ones, although I have to give up some things that in the long run would be better for me. I think I'll end up going to graduate school in the States, anyway, so it doesn't make much difference to me one way or the other.
I'm going to go watch MVs now, since it's long weekend! Woot!! Happy double twin day everyone ! (the few of you who actually read this thing)
Maybe though, I really have changed to become more adaptable to moving around. Let's see, I have moved about 3 or 4 big times that were major turning points in my life. The first time I remember was when I was 8, the year my brother was born (1997). At that time, I must have been in second grade and in the Brownies or Girl Scouts...lol not the ones you eat! We moved to make room for the new addition to our family. Of course the move after that was much more traumatic, which was to Taiwan. At that time, I felt it was very unfair to me to come live in Taiwan. I suppose middle school is not a great time for big moves, especially across great distances. We moved from California, where one gets quite used to comfort. And the other two times were going to Vancouver for college and then coming back, which seems to some people a great waste to my future opportunities. I think it is a good thing though, to be near family and loved ones, although I have to give up some things that in the long run would be better for me. I think I'll end up going to graduate school in the States, anyway, so it doesn't make much difference to me one way or the other.
I'm going to go watch MVs now, since it's long weekend! Woot!! Happy double twin day everyone ! (the few of you who actually read this thing)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Women's Rights in Taiwan: First Impression
I'm going to write something more substantial tomorrow. These are my thoughts about the article so far.
I completely agree that education is the way to go on these types of problems. Once people in Taiwan know the history of women's rights and the kinds of abuses women are victims of, it will be easier as a society to deal with rape or domestic violence more seriously. I took a women's studies course last year at UBC, actually, and it really opened up my mind to the kinds of prejudices and sexist beliefs many people still hold today in many parts of the world. Even in developed nations of the world, crimes against women occur almost every day. For instance, the women's studies center on UBC campus, a place considered liberal and open to people of all creeds and colors, was spray painted and the windows were smashed in a few times a year.
I didn't really know much of women's rights in Taiwan. since the course I took mainly talked about Canadian immigrants and places like Africa and the United States, places we hear about more often when it comes to women's rights. I think it's great that legislators are looking into better ways to handle the injustices that women face, because women's' place in society is important in maintaining the balance of everyday life. Taiwan's patriarchal society is too limiting to the young people that are looking for jobs and creating lives that the old standards of Taiwanese life cannot support. Students should be taught gender equality and take women's studies courses in college. At least, they should take one course about women's rights so that such knowledge can be available and their world view can be expanded. Maybe Taiwan's schools can't force children to learn gender equality, but social reformers should look to parents to rear their children to be aware of crimes against women and the wrong ways that men condescend women, as well as women who accept such crude behavior as normal.
I completely agree that education is the way to go on these types of problems. Once people in Taiwan know the history of women's rights and the kinds of abuses women are victims of, it will be easier as a society to deal with rape or domestic violence more seriously. I took a women's studies course last year at UBC, actually, and it really opened up my mind to the kinds of prejudices and sexist beliefs many people still hold today in many parts of the world. Even in developed nations of the world, crimes against women occur almost every day. For instance, the women's studies center on UBC campus, a place considered liberal and open to people of all creeds and colors, was spray painted and the windows were smashed in a few times a year.
I didn't really know much of women's rights in Taiwan. since the course I took mainly talked about Canadian immigrants and places like Africa and the United States, places we hear about more often when it comes to women's rights. I think it's great that legislators are looking into better ways to handle the injustices that women face, because women's' place in society is important in maintaining the balance of everyday life. Taiwan's patriarchal society is too limiting to the young people that are looking for jobs and creating lives that the old standards of Taiwanese life cannot support. Students should be taught gender equality and take women's studies courses in college. At least, they should take one course about women's rights so that such knowledge can be available and their world view can be expanded. Maybe Taiwan's schools can't force children to learn gender equality, but social reformers should look to parents to rear their children to be aware of crimes against women and the wrong ways that men condescend women, as well as women who accept such crude behavior as normal.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Pleasantly Surprised~ I PASSED MY DRIVER'S TEST!
And on the first time too. I thought I would take 11 times like my great aunt. Ok, maybe more around 2 times. When I was taking the written portion, I swear I almost had a heart attack. Standing outside waiting for the results was the worst. Everyone is flipping through the book and staring uneasily at each other. You'd think it was their first high school dance and no one asked them to dance. Fortunately, almost everyone passed, except 3 guys. I guess they'll take it again next week. I thought it was interesting how each test has your name and ID number on it.
For the driving part, I almost fell asleep. Lol, I got up too early to study because I fell asleep reading traffic laws several times the night before. Yeah, I had insomnia for most of the night so I didn't feel extremely well. The important thing is, on Monday I'll be able to officially hold my new driver's license :P I wonder what it looks and smells like. Haha.
For the driving part, I almost fell asleep. Lol, I got up too early to study because I fell asleep reading traffic laws several times the night before. Yeah, I had insomnia for most of the night so I didn't feel extremely well. The important thing is, on Monday I'll be able to officially hold my new driver's license :P I wonder what it looks and smells like. Haha.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
What do I think of the Humanities?
My English teacher in 9th and 12th grade said this to our class once: "You can tell how a good a school is by looking at how developed their humanities departments are. If their humanities are weak, don't go to that school. If they don't have any, don't even consider it!" Well, I might have modified the last part. In essence, that is what he said.
As for me, I agree with the article. Studies in the Humanities are hot right now. After graduating from college or university, many humanities majors get great job offers. I've heard of a Philosophy major from UVA that was offered over 100,00 US dollars a year as starting salary minus bonuses and stocks to be an analyst at Goldman Sachs the year before he graduated. Companies like humanities graduates because they are, as mentioned in the question, taught critical thinking skills. At many colleges and universities, the Arts Department is the biggest of the whole school. For example, UBC, my old university, has an Arts department that had maybe 10,000 or so students, not including faculty and administrators. Many doctors, lawyers, business graduates, etc. also started out as Arts or humanities majors as well. they just later changed fields later in their four years or in graduate school. Doesn't this indicate the popularity and influence of humanities studies?
In the future, humanities will start playing an important role again. I think it will because such education is broad enough to give you an understanding of not just history or sociology or English, but a mix of all the humanities subjects. Arts majors also have in-depth study of their own fields as well. In many other programs that I have heard of, lots of classes are pass or fail, so students tend to want to get extremely good grades so they can go to medical school or law school or get an MBA. However, Arts degrees tend to emphasize the learning and thinking process. I am, of course, very biased because I'm more attracted to the humanities and arts of all kinds. Other fields are also interesting, I'm sure, but they seem very dense. Some seem to be too limiting or too objective so that when you study them, you lose focus on everything else. Of course, an artist has got to eat, too. What is society without art, without knowledge of all different fields? That is probably why lots of arts majors are getting hired right out of college without a graduate degree-companies want a diverse point of view on what options they have. They also want the creative juices and analytical muscle that can inject their future projects with fresh ideas. In my opinion, the future will be focused on the Humanities and not science.
As for me, I agree with the article. Studies in the Humanities are hot right now. After graduating from college or university, many humanities majors get great job offers. I've heard of a Philosophy major from UVA that was offered over 100,00 US dollars a year as starting salary minus bonuses and stocks to be an analyst at Goldman Sachs the year before he graduated. Companies like humanities graduates because they are, as mentioned in the question, taught critical thinking skills. At many colleges and universities, the Arts Department is the biggest of the whole school. For example, UBC, my old university, has an Arts department that had maybe 10,000 or so students, not including faculty and administrators. Many doctors, lawyers, business graduates, etc. also started out as Arts or humanities majors as well. they just later changed fields later in their four years or in graduate school. Doesn't this indicate the popularity and influence of humanities studies?
In the future, humanities will start playing an important role again. I think it will because such education is broad enough to give you an understanding of not just history or sociology or English, but a mix of all the humanities subjects. Arts majors also have in-depth study of their own fields as well. In many other programs that I have heard of, lots of classes are pass or fail, so students tend to want to get extremely good grades so they can go to medical school or law school or get an MBA. However, Arts degrees tend to emphasize the learning and thinking process. I am, of course, very biased because I'm more attracted to the humanities and arts of all kinds. Other fields are also interesting, I'm sure, but they seem very dense. Some seem to be too limiting or too objective so that when you study them, you lose focus on everything else. Of course, an artist has got to eat, too. What is society without art, without knowledge of all different fields? That is probably why lots of arts majors are getting hired right out of college without a graduate degree-companies want a diverse point of view on what options they have. They also want the creative juices and analytical muscle that can inject their future projects with fresh ideas. In my opinion, the future will be focused on the Humanities and not science.
It seems I get mad often, at least for the past few weeks.
I think there must be something happening to my body. Not in a hormonal, puberty kind of way either, but more emotional. Wait, maybe emotional things occur from too many hormones too, but different hormones. I don't remember my biology or else I would've gone to medical school like I orginially planned to do. Bah, life is full of change- one of the few things more experienced people say never change, like death and taxes.
I haven't had such big mood swings since my family moved to Taiwan. Ah, I remember that summer my parents decided to uproot our fairly uncomplicated (to me it was, I was 14? It's been too long) lifestyle in California and take us to a foreign land. At least, I remember crying at my grandmother's house until all the tissues were gone from the box. And another needed to be found quickly, or the tears would never stop.
One of my friends in Vancouver was like that last year. She was lazy when she normally was driven and hardworking, didn't eat well, and constantly slept for longperiods of time, often skipping work or class. She said it had to do with a woman's body becoming able to produce children once you turn 20 or so. I'm not sure if she is right or not, but she was a chemistry and physics major. Maybe I have anemia or some other disease that is causing me to flare up randomly and childishly for no reason at all. If there is, someone let me know. I feel as if nothing really matters, no matter how many ideals and dreams you have. It's all going to get taken away from you. That's why we are supposed to appreciate and live life to the fullest and richest that we can.
Thinks deeply for a while.....
I haven't had such big mood swings since my family moved to Taiwan. Ah, I remember that summer my parents decided to uproot our fairly uncomplicated (to me it was, I was 14? It's been too long) lifestyle in California and take us to a foreign land. At least, I remember crying at my grandmother's house until all the tissues were gone from the box. And another needed to be found quickly, or the tears would never stop.
One of my friends in Vancouver was like that last year. She was lazy when she normally was driven and hardworking, didn't eat well, and constantly slept for longperiods of time, often skipping work or class. She said it had to do with a woman's body becoming able to produce children once you turn 20 or so. I'm not sure if she is right or not, but she was a chemistry and physics major. Maybe I have anemia or some other disease that is causing me to flare up randomly and childishly for no reason at all. If there is, someone let me know. I feel as if nothing really matters, no matter how many ideals and dreams you have. It's all going to get taken away from you. That's why we are supposed to appreciate and live life to the fullest and richest that we can.
Thinks deeply for a while.....
Monday, September 29, 2008
Bad Weather=Bad Headache
It's tough being small. It means that when you get into a car to drive, you have to make billions of adjustments just to see the mirrors. It also means when you get a headache, it builds and builds until it says "stop!" but you can't because you are in a big car going 80-90 km per hour on the freeway. Sigh, and then the headache goes from the head to the mouth and out comes bad things that people do not want to hear.
Mmmmm (makes whiny sound, then pouts)
Such is life. After acting out, one must introspect and apolgize accordingly. Or it would be of utmost embarrasment and shame. Especially to one's parents, if, of course, they are involved with said incidents. Do I begin to sound like Lemony Snicket (although this author may have nothing to do with my writing at all lol)? Very well, I shall desist in commenting further. Until next time~au revoir!
Mmmmm (makes whiny sound, then pouts)
Such is life. After acting out, one must introspect and apolgize accordingly. Or it would be of utmost embarrasment and shame. Especially to one's parents, if, of course, they are involved with said incidents. Do I begin to sound like Lemony Snicket (although this author may have nothing to do with my writing at all lol)? Very well, I shall desist in commenting further. Until next time~au revoir!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
the Most Boring Class Ever
My mom is taking 氣功 (qigong) classes. Not the kung-fu kind, but the deep breathing plus changing your body's energy kind. I mean, I guess it wouldn't be so bad if the teacher at these meetings taught qigong practices and postures. The problem is that when we (my brother and I) get dragged along to one of the classes, the teacher always talks about random events in her own life and about her other students or her own teachers. Her voice drones on and on in this monotonous tone for what was it.....3 or 4 hours. At night too! I think she would fail to get a teacher's license. And when she teaches, or tries to teach, she says things really fast and doesn't really explain any of the text in the book at all. This is only my own opinion, although I did fall asleep 3 times. She had the windows and doors closed, and the AC was only on about half the time. I felt like I was dying from carbon dioxide poisoning.
Good thing I ran out of the room after the class was over and took a walk with my brother. Jonathan was also bored as hell (excuse the cussing which might show up more often in future posts). Good thing also that there's a typhoon too so I can 降火氣.
Anyways, I posted wrong information. Elva was in Taiwan but went to Beijing again, either yesterday or the day before. Wow I sound like a real stalker. But she said so on her blog, so I guess it's ok. I don't know what she's doing there though. Hmm, I will look into that later. But I do know she is going to have a book coming out in December :) That's also when my birthday is! Lol, maybe it will be on the same day, but that is just me being very wishful. Haha. I want to go to her concert in June too. Must save money!!! Oh and for other reasons too, I want to try to go to Vancouver to see my friends. Sigh, we'll see. Maybe next year I'll go instead, since one of my friends might come here at that time. She didn't tell me her plans yet, so I'll have to wait.
Good thing I ran out of the room after the class was over and took a walk with my brother. Jonathan was also bored as hell (excuse the cussing which might show up more often in future posts). Good thing also that there's a typhoon too so I can 降火氣.
Anyways, I posted wrong information. Elva was in Taiwan but went to Beijing again, either yesterday or the day before. Wow I sound like a real stalker. But she said so on her blog, so I guess it's ok. I don't know what she's doing there though. Hmm, I will look into that later. But I do know she is going to have a book coming out in December :) That's also when my birthday is! Lol, maybe it will be on the same day, but that is just me being very wishful. Haha. I want to go to her concert in June too. Must save money!!! Oh and for other reasons too, I want to try to go to Vancouver to see my friends. Sigh, we'll see. Maybe next year I'll go instead, since one of my friends might come here at that time. She didn't tell me her plans yet, so I'll have to wait.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The Most Boring Class Ever....and OMG!!! I'm going to take my driving test next week!!!
I went on the road for the first time yesterday! Yes, I mean driving on the road. And we went at around 5-6 so it was ruch hour traffic. I kept griiping the wheel to tight and loked in every direction. My driving coach is really cute, he said "If you hang on so tight, your Mom will think you have anxiety issues!" He is so funny sometimes. I think I go too fast, but luckily I didn't go over the speed limit. Although there were a couple times I almost crashed into the cars in front of me. I bet the other student sitting in back was extrememly nervous hahaha. The test is next Friday!!! I hope I pass the writing part....have to get on that right away. It would be extrememly embarrassing if I fail and get my name called. But then I have to take Friday morning off. Hmm....
In other news...what is up with the weather? Isn't there a typhoon coming or something? It is sunny and summery at my house in Bao Shan. Maybe it is going to come in the afternoon or early next morning.
I also notice I didn't change my last post. I feel asleep hehehe. >< I was really mad at my brother then, but then it was all my fault because I didn't even tell him I slept past the bus stop. I jsut hung up on him and walked really in no direction at all, until I noticed I was lost. Hahaha. I went to eat by myself after that and waited for my mom to pick up my brother.
Feeling lazy but i have to do lots of readings....and eat lunch! Ok, I'll come back later and update on Elva! :) and whatever else i missed (the most boring class ever...but remind me cuz i might forget about it)
In other news...what is up with the weather? Isn't there a typhoon coming or something? It is sunny and summery at my house in Bao Shan. Maybe it is going to come in the afternoon or early next morning.
I also notice I didn't change my last post. I feel asleep hehehe. >< I was really mad at my brother then, but then it was all my fault because I didn't even tell him I slept past the bus stop. I jsut hung up on him and walked really in no direction at all, until I noticed I was lost. Hahaha. I went to eat by myself after that and waited for my mom to pick up my brother.
Feeling lazy but i have to do lots of readings....and eat lunch! Ok, I'll come back later and update on Elva! :) and whatever else i missed (the most boring class ever...but remind me cuz i might forget about it)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Slept Past the Bus Stop
Yeah, I did that. And then I had to walk like 3 blocks back to Hotel Royal. Then I got mad because I walked to three different restaurants and didn't find my brother. Well he was supposed to meet me at Hotel Royal but he never came. After that I just went to eat by myself.
Ok, I'll come back later when I'm not really tired and reedit this.
Ok, I'll come back later when I'm not really tired and reedit this.
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