You know, I realized something. Continue reading “Writing 101: Your Voice Will Find You”
Tag: Happiness
Plumber, Electrician, or Cellphone Repair?
Apparently, I’m not the only one who got a new job. My cousin, the one that used to live here, decided to hold off college and got a job selling Boba in China. I learn that from eavesdropping mom’s conversation with my aunt. My mom was disappointed and angry when she got the news. She started screaming at her sister which I don’t get at all. It’s not her fault or her decision. If he doesn’t want to go to college, isn’t that a good thing? It means he’s not coming back to the U.S. anytime soon, right?
Since then, every time she’d called home, though I don’t know why, she had suggested my aunt put my cousin in some sort of apprenticeship. “He needs to learn something.” My mom said. “Life isn’t just about math and science.” Sometimes, I feel like she treats everyone like illiterate sh**. Just because people chooses to not go to college doesn’t mean they’re stupid. Some people who chooses to go might be the stupid one. Take me, for example. My entire family didn’t go to college and they turned out just fine. My cousin from my father’s side is a manager of a business right out of high school. Of course, it didn’t help that he inherited the business from his dad but my point is a lot of people don’t go to college and they turn out just fine.
Anyway, so far, she’d suggested him to be a plumber, electrician, and cellphone repair. 
That last one was the most recent due to the fact my new job is in a cellphone repair shop. I didn’t even know those things existed until now and apparently, it does not exist in China. I wonder what people do if they accidentally drop their phone on the floor and break the glass. Do they just throw it away?
Did I mention she didn’t sound happy when I told her I got a new job?
That had been turned around last Friday when she suddenly was interested to know everything about my new job like what does the business do or how much is labor per hour.
The motive? Oh she always has a motive alright…
…and I figured it out in a jiffy. She wants to take over as usual. This time is different though. She doesn’t really wanted to take over my job, well she does but really, she wants to take over the cellphone repair guy’s job. She thought taking apart an iPhone is easy and that it’s no-brainer to fix a phone. She thought earning $70 an hour fixing a phone is easy. She wanted me to ask my boss to let her be the protegee of the cellphone repair guy.
Ha ha, very funny. I’m not going to do that. Nice try, though. The last thing I need is to have my mother breathing down my neck again. However, if I could learn a trade, I would learn cellphone repair. It looks profitable but I’ll have to learn it secretly maybe from the cellphone repair guy. He seems nice enough. 😉
Fantastic Relieving News
Daily Prompt: You get some incredibly, amazingly, wonderfully fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?
What is the fantastic news?
I feel so out of touch doing these daily prompts after not doing them for just a few short days. Anyway, my reaction depends on the news.
Last night, I did get some great news. My instructor had cancelled lecture for today. So I only have one class today. Yay! I was super relieved because so much studying in the last couple of days, I need a break. It looks like I will get one this week.
I peeked at the schedules for all my classes and it looks like my last assignment for my cost accounting class is due tomorrow and then that’s it except for the book report. My other two classes look like it’s winding down as well. That is wonderful for me.
Oh right, what was the first thing I did upon hearing the news? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I spent the night alone curling under two blankets watching TV. It’s freezing in the living room.
My mom’s off to training once again and she won’t be back until this afternoon. So last night was sort of my night off. After finding out this beautiful spring weather was going to turn on me, I went back to my blog and wrote a flash fiction along with reading a few posts to get my head in the groove again before heading off to bed.
I just cannot believe it’s going to get cold again and snow. I thought this warm weather’s going to last but apparently, winter is going to swoop in again.
Photo shot from beneath a tree
My Walk to My Job
Oh my gosh, I cannot believe that after so many days, I still fail to mention this… Continue reading “My Walk to My Job”
Smoother in Words
Today’s prompt is a tricky one, so I’m going to have to think about it. Meanwhile, I’m going to answer yesterday’s: How do you communicate differently online than in person, if at all? How do you communicate emotion and intent in a purely written medium? Continue reading “Smoother in Words”
#AtoZChallenge – A for Absolutely
Absolutely, what? You ask. I can think of a lot of adjective that can follow that word like annoyed, poofed, tired, exhausted, excited, psyched… Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – A for Absolutely”
So Close!
Today’s prompt calls for: Tell us about a time things came this close to working out… but didn’t. What happened next? Would you like the chance to try again, or are you happy with how things eventually worked out?
Finally, a prompt I can answer in the short time that I have today. I’m leaving in a little bit to get my retainers adjusted. It’s time. Can you believe it’s been over two months since I’ve gotten my braces off? Time flies, doesn’t it?
Anyway, back to the prompt. The answer’s easy, October 2013. I took the Fundamental of
Engineers (FE) exam for the third time. I think I blogged about it at the time since I found this picture in my WP media library. It was a long and difficult exam; 8 hours and 180 questions. Every second counted and you had to know just about everything and anything to pass it. For my major, civil engineering, I only needed to get 50% to pass which was 90 questions.
I thought I did quite well that time. It was two months later in December when I got the results. Failed! I was super pissed because every single job out there required me to pass this damn exam. I felt like something was out to get me. How can I not pass this thing after three time? Most of my classmates passed the second time around and the Chinese international students even passed it the first time. So how can I not pass? Do I suck this much in engineering?
So I went to the detailed report to find the cause. It told me how many I got right in each of the 10 or 12 categories. I pulled out my calculator and punched in the numbers. 85! 85, that was the number of questions I’ve gotten correct and I needed 90. At that moment, I wanted to punch somebody’s lights out. 5 Questions, that was all I needed to pass and those 5 questions killed my chance of getting a job.
Now, of course I could take the exam again but honestly, I don’t even want to study another round for it. The material was too broad and there were too many things I couldn’t even ingest. Also, I hear now that the exam is on the computer and it’s even harder even though they reduced the number of questions from 180 to 110. I don’t think I will ever get my engineering license. At least I graduated, that’s all it matters, right?
Who would I choose?
Today’s Prompt: If you could have any author –living or dead – write your biography, who would you choose?
I don’t think I will choose any author to write my biography. I want to write it myself because I really don’t think anyone can truly portray me as a person except me. Well, except if something like body switching exist, I think I will write it myself because anyone can capture an event perfectly but can they capture an individual person’s thoughts and feelings?
I’ve actually had a classmate write my biography before. It was for a class assignment. She actually did pretty well, so well that my instructor felt sorry for me which is a little embarrassing to talk about. I was going through a bad time. I was stressed both at school and home and my mom was way way way worse than how she is now. My classmate focused on that part and my genetic disorder more than anything else. She kind of made my life sound like a soap opera.
If I wrote my biography myself, I would’ve tuned it down or something. I don’t think I like my life to be so dramatized. I mean look where that landed me, 5 sessions with a psychiatrist.
So thanks for the kind thought of having the author I wish to write my biography, WP but no thanks, I would rather to write it myself.
Too many flavors
All right, is it me or is today’s prompt incredibly vague? Is it asking us to choose an ice cream flavor? Or is it asking something else entirely different?
First of all, I’d like to say thank you for all the encouraging comments I’ve gotten about this morning’s post. I wrote it mostly to vent my anger and sadness. A person can only take so much. I feel better now that those feelings are no longer bottled inside. So thanks again.
Now, onto this ridiculously vague prompt. Since it mentioned the words, vanilla and chocolate, I am going to assume it’s talking about ice cream flavors. I’d say my favorite flavor is mint with chocolate chip but then this is the only flavor I’ve had whenever I get to choose. Chocolate chip cookie flavor is my runner-up but I really prefer the mint flavor. Personally, I will like any flavor as long as it doesn’t have nuts and coconut. Nuts hurt my gums and coconut is just one of my mom’s annoying obsessions. I don’t care much about it.
Anyway, I told you about my step-dad and his emotional roller-coaster, right? I know, my life’s been an emotional roller coaster and a never-ending nightmare.
There is one big difference between my step-dad and my mom. When he’s in his good 
moods, he is the world’s #1 dad. I remember this one time, he surprised me with ice cream from Amy’s Ice Cream, famous in Austin, Texas. He even got the flavors right, a scoop of chocolate chip cookie and a scoop of mint chocolate chip. It was the best ice cream I’ve ever had, way better than Dreyers and Breyers and no icicles from being in the fridge too long. It was silky smooth and delicious.
Or so I thought…
A few months after we moved to Utah, my mom’s friend and her neighbor hosted a neighborhood social. It was about harvest. We were invited even though we weren’t part of the neighborhood. It was all about eating, gathering, and celebrating the harvest. I have never seen so much varieties of the same food all my life.
The vegetables were all home-grown and when it came to dessert time, all the senior ladies and men arrived with large tubs of ice cream and lined them up on the picnic table. At first, I was a bit curious why every single tub was a different shape and color. Then someone told me that it was because they were homemade.
Homemade!
I’ve never had homemade ice cream before. I didn’t even know there’s a recipe for ice cream. “It’s a tasting.” Another told me. They said I’m to grab a small bowl and take a small scoop of each tub. We were even handed out a piece of paper and pencil so we could judge the flavors. I don’t remember which was my favorite. They were all so silky and creamy. It’s so hard.
I had thought I’ve tasted the best ice cream at Amy’s Ice Cream but apparently, the best is when it’s homemade.
Spring Break’s Over
I supposed I could’ve written something yesterday other than the usual Sunday Photo Fiction but I didn’t. Instead, I had spent most of the day yesterday doing homework for the first time since my spring break started. I guess I just want to get back into the groove of doing schoolwork.
Also, I’ve been a little under the weather since Saturday afternoon when I decided to take the afternoon off, lie on the reclining couch catching up on my favorite TV shows on Hulu while writing a little of a short story I’ve writing for a long time as well as napping. Wow, that’s a lot to do at the same time.
I’m almost caught up with my shows but I wound up with a big headache. Apparently, I’m not cut out to watch TV for more than two hours at a time.
Anyway, as of today, spring break is officially over. I guess that’s probably why I’m feeling a whole lot better this morning. It’s Monday and I’m finally home alone again. You know, I don’t get my mom’s schedule. She’s grown more and more confusing lately. Or is it me?
I could’ve sworn she told me last week that she was taking today and Wednesday off. I was dreading it the entire weekend because when she’s home, I cannot accomplish anything. Then it turned out, she’s working today and taking Wednesday off. I asked her when did it change, she told me, it’s always like this. Hmm, weird.
So what have I accomplished this spring break? Absolutely nothing except work which took almost the entire week. I barely did any writing except on here. I thought I could’ve written around 10,000 words but instead I’ve barely written 2,000.
On the bright side, the router crisis has finally been resolved. I no longer have to worry about switching back to the old router. Yesterday afternoon, my mom decided to head to Walmart to see about getting the burner phone recharged. The minutes are expiring in two days. While there, we decided to get a more expensive router; apparently cable internet works best with Netgear router.
When we got home, I plugged it in and voila it’s fixed. Even my old computer in my room has a stable connection. I am still skeptical though because now, the connection on my new computer is very slow. Will things ever be perfect around here?
Just a quick update.
All picture credits go to pinterest.
Things happen for a reason
So yesterday, I swapped my G router for a N router because I was tired of the internet signal always just barely reaching my room. Continue reading “Things happen for a reason”
What makes a teacher great?
What makes a teacher great? That’s what’s asking on today’s prompt.
I’ve had a lot of teachers and I mean a lot because unlike the university I’m attending now, my previous university had a lot of professors. During my five years at the university, I’ve never once had the same professor twice even when I was repeating a course. I guess either the university hires a lot of professors or I was just lucky not to have the same instructor twice.
At my current university, there aren’t a lot of instructors in the program. So far this semester, I have two instructors I had courses with last semester. I think they are both very great teachers. Better than the ones I had at my previous university? Hell yeah! So what if they are lacking a PhD? It doesn’t matter to me, as long as they know their stuff, that’s fine by me.
The most horrible instructor I’ve ever had was in one of my undergraduate courses two years ago. He was very unforgiving and tough, just two of the most important elements to make a horrible instructor.
In January of 2013, we had an ice storm here. It’s a rare weather phenomenon where the rain freezes the moment it hits the ground. Everywhere that day, the ground was shiny and slick was like an ice-skating rink, even my special shoes couldn’t help me stay on my feet. I slipped like six-times that day, just to get to bus stop. I was actually surprised I didn’t break anything internally.
I was in pain that night and there was a quiz in one of my classes the next day. I emailed the instructor early and told him…
I fell and hurt myself today. I don’t think I can come to class tomorrow. Is it okay if I make up the quiz some other time?
Nope, that was his answer. I’d be missing the first quiz of the semester and I couldn’t make it up. I went to talk to him again face-to-face and this time, it was like he didn’t understand my English at all. It was unbelievable.
About a week later, when he posted the grades onto the site, I saw I got a big fat zero on the quiz and his quizzes made up of 40% of the grade. In the end, because of that missing quiz, I didn’t pass the grade. I got a D+ instead of a C-, which was what I needed to pass the course. When I retook the class in my last semester of the undergraduate program, I discovered that he failed more than half of the class. Don’t you think that’s a horrible teacher?
So what makes a teacher great?
- A great teacher cares. Last Tuesday, there was a snow storm. I was late after nearly two hours of driving but I still made it to class. At the end of the class, the teacher told us. “If there’s a snow storm and you can’t come to class, please just tell me. I don’t want you guys to have any trouble trying to get to class.” She even posted all her notes online for those people that couldn’t make it that day.
- A great teacher is forgiving and sympathetic. If a clumsy student (like me) falls and hurts themselves and cannot come to class, a forgiving teacher would offer them sympathy and let them make up whatever work they missed another time.
- Last but not least, a great teacher is understanding. They understand the student’s need to pass the class and will help them in whatever way they can to help that student.
Fantastical Dreamscape
Daily Prompt: You’re having a nightmare, and have to choose between three doors. Pick one, and tell us about what you find on the other side.
Believe it or not, I feel like I’m having a nightmare today. My headache’s been alternating on and off and I’m starting to feel cold even though I’m not supposed to.
When I woke up this morning, I thought today would be an easy day. You know, do homework and write but I’ve forgotten I have work. I supposed it’s a good thing but I just don’t feel like working today. My day had just gotten worse when my mom called home mid-morning and said someone scratched the car door. “Why are you telling me?”
This is so her, complaining to me about her problems but I can’t do the same. Anyway, like always, she blamed me for it. I was like I didn’t park near anything yesterday. I’m beginning to think she scratched it this morning at work since her parking skill had become so awful lately. Last week, she almost took the mirror off backing out of the garage.
Plus, she’s in one of her moods again which it might be the cause of my headache. Last night, she came home from school and started complaining how dirty the counter was. I cleaned it, what do you want from me? Then like always, she insulted my generation (people born in the 90’s) saying we are all dirty and lazy. It made me so angry, I was literally clenching my fist while surfing the web. I mean, can you just leave me alone?
So if I was given three doors, one red, the other green with cool breeze blowing from the gap between the door, the third black. I would definitely choose the green door with cool breeze. I would open it and step into sunshine and a meadow full of flowers and it would be the most relaxing place. I won’t have to think about anything for a while and just lay there, bathe myself in sunlight.
Doesn’t that sound just like a dream? I really need that to get away from my mom’s unpredictable temper. Oh, by the way, I just got word that it was indeed her fault, not mine for scratching the door but she still blamed me for not looking closely to check this morning. It’s dark, how can you see something when it’s so damn dark?
Image credit: Pinterest
My Ideal Saturday Morning
Daily Prompt: What’s your ideal Saturday morning? Are you doing those things this morning? Why not?
My ideal Saturday morning is probably to sit in front of the computer blogging or reading a book while drinking Hot Cocoa and not be bothered by anyone. No homework, just write, read, and relax. Boy, I haven’t had those for a while, not since my mother’s monthly drill in September before my aunt and cousin got here.
I can really use some me time but unfortunately, I can’t do it today. I have to volunteer to file taxes for the low income this morning and then who knows what my mom will drag me to do after. I’m in the computer lab right now, waiting for my first customer, who know when that’s going to be. So I’m taking this chance to answer this insanely trivial daily prompt.
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy my short crime-solving story I published this morning. 🙂
To you…
Today is Valentine’s Day and my cousin’s birthday, not the pain in the a– cousin. I probably should send him a birthday card, after all, it’s not everyday one gets to turn 19. Continue reading “To you…”
Secretive
Ah, finally, some peace and quiet. Continue reading “Secretive”
One of those days…
I guess I should be proud of myself today. I have just finish a 7-hour workday. I am still not finished with my work, still have a long way to go.
I woke up this morning feeling extremely weird from a series of obscure dreams that I can only dimly recall. I looked at the prompt and the only thing I can describe it is blank. I absolutely cannot recall the last time someone told me they were proud of me.
Actually, I think my mom said it once a few days ago but I can’t remember why. Anyway, I guess I am just having one of those days when I am awake but my brain isn’t. I mean, I’m even having a hard time translating articles.
I think I might just need some inspiration. Or perhaps I just been non-stop thinking about that in two days, my aunt and cousin will go back to China and I will no longer have to cook my lunch before they get home and best of all, no more rice for dinner. Six months, 100 lb of rice, that’s enough.
Now if you’d excuse me, I’d like to look at some breathtaking photographs on pinterest. Here’s a phenomenal one. 🙂
Yuck, No Thanks
About four years ago, I applied for an internship with the city. I remember reading the job description and about a third of a way down, there was a bullet that said the interns are responsible to do routine visit to the sewer pipeline. My skin just started prickling at the words “routing visit”.
I didn’t get the internship probably because of my nervousness and my lack of interviewing skills. Honestly though, the interviewing lady that never smiles will making me anxious. I felt good at the end of the interview but I guess it just wasn’t my destiny to work for the city. I’d tried again two years later, still no luck.
My friend got the internship though but they let her go after a semester. Man, I should’ve asked her, “did you get to look at the sewer?” But it never came up in our conversations.
Anyway, I wouldn’t say I would object if anyone ever needs me to go visit the sewer but I will sure take a lot of precaution (full hazmat suit and everything) because I will never let any skin of mine will ever touch sewage water. But if I have any say in this, no thanks, you can explore the sewage yourself.
Breaking the Rules
I know there are many people who grew up in a household with an established set of rules, probably written on a piece of construction paper on the wall. Continue reading “Breaking the Rules”
Blogging 201: Set Three Goals
I think I should probably say, “Happy 2-year Anniversary!” to this little growing blog of mine. Yup, it was on February 3, 2013 I wrote my first post on here. I think I’ve mentioned this before. Continue reading “Blogging 201: Set Three Goals”
The Existence of this Colorful World
Daily Prompt: You have three hundred words to justify the existence of your favorite person, place, or thing. Failure to convince will result in it vanishing without a trace. Go!
Okay, so last week, I finally finished reading “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. It took me almost three weeks of starting and stopping reading but I finished it. I must admit though, it wasn’t as exciting as the movie but the lesson was well taught. It is about the main character discovering that living in a world of sameness isn’t all that great.
I have to admit, I do see the ups and downs of living in this kind of world where everything is assigned even homes, spouses, and children and everyone is guaranteed a full stomach, clothed, and warm bed.
The downs? No colors and feelings. They simply don’t exist because everyone in the world of sameness was genetically modified to not have those things. Some people for some reason have them though.
I wrote a post I believe last May. When I was writing it, I was sort of complaining about not finding a pretty dress to wear for my Graduation because the colors of my clothes just aren’t really suiting me. So I went on a rant and said I wished our world was lack of color. For one thing, no color means I’ll have an easier time when shopping for clothes. At least I wouldn’t be so torn between choosing from so many different colors.
Anyway, after reading this book, I have come to realize that living in a world of sameness sucks. I mean how can you tell people apart when they are all the same. Sure they don’t look alike but still, no colors, no feelings? I would rather live in a world with colors and feelings. Even with a little struggle, it’s worth it.
After all, difference is good. It’s beautiful.
Optimism Backfired
Daily Prompt: Tell us how your week went by putting together a playlist of five songs that represent it.
Five songs? I can’t possibly put together a playlist that represented how my week went. One reason being I do not know a song that truly describes everyday of my week. The other is that I feel terribly embarrassed when it comes to sharing the books I am reading, the 
shows I watch, and the music I like. I’m afraid that if people know I still watch Disney Channel and listen to Disney Kids music (oops), they would laugh at me. Unfortunately, I’ve been watching the mouse network and listening to its music since I’ve arrived in America and I am not going to stop anytime soon.
Anyway, my week had been a total roller coaster, I think. I can’t remember most of it. I remember yesterday though and boy, was I pissed! My mom was urging me to finish the case briefs (which I’ve been doing all week) on the one hand while whining about her job order on the other. I mean how can I possibly concentrate with someone constant shouting and barging in and out my room?
Early yesterday morning, she went to the school to take the first exam for her class. She didn’t come back until around 2 hours later and the second she stepped through the door, she immediately started complaining about the air force dentist extracting two of her molars.
“I didn’t know you were going to the dentist.” I said to her.
“No!” She answered exasperatedly. It turned out her status had been downgrade the day before. She’s in military, you see. Apparently when you’re downgraded, it meant your job was in trouble.
So in order for her to keep her job, she had to get two of her molars extracted at the last second. Ouch!
She told me her molars were rotten, that it was blacker than a plum when they pulled it. Her words, not mine.
The entire afternoon, she was complaining about her toothache. I got to the point that I was so darn frustrated at the sound of her and anyone’s voice. I just want to scream.
Then last night, we attended our last instructor-led training for VITA before I’m set to volunteer next week or maybe even the week after. This morning, we finally got certified to file people’s taxes! I’m so excited!
Oh, I think the biggest thing this week would be today, I have decided to drop my Business Law class. I just cannot handle it. There are just too much homework and with work and volunteering, it’s too overwhelming for me. Also, the teacher is kind of ridiculous. It takes him like a month to answer a single email. And I don’t even think he grade any of my homework!
Yesterday, I got my grade back for my last assignment, he gave me a 50! He said it’s because my assignment had 55% similar when it fact it’s only 16% similar. He looked at my first submission instead of my third. So last night, while I was sleeping restlessly, tossing around thinking of the pile of work I have to do today and I decided. I cannot do it any longer. This simply cannot go on any longer. It’s not really like me but I am giving up.
Two weeks ago, my mom had already asked me to drop and get a full refund but I was too darn optimistic that the class will only get better. Now, I can only get 80% of my money back. Oh well, it’s better than nothing. Ugh, sometimes, I really hate my optimistic spirit.
Oh, and since this prompt is about sharing music, I thought I’d this old favorite of mine. Actually, it’s not that old, I just haven’t listen to it for a long while. Embarrassingly, I have to say it’s teen music, Disney, and kind of hip pop but it’s a positive track unlike most of the music nowadays.
I thought to relive a little of my old simple life, back when I still lived in an apartment and something isn’t constantly needing fixing. As for school, maybe after I dropped my Business Law class, it will free up my time just a little. Then my other classes won’t feel so neglected anymore. I will just have to try again in the fall. I guess just keep moving forward.
Happy and Accomplished
I feel like I’ve finally accomplished something today. I have completed my assignment that’s due tomorrow after another round of Beat the System. Hopefully, my instructor will settle for a 3% similarities. It’s a different instructor than Business Law.
I’ve also completed the homework that’s due on Wednesday. Finally! Now if I can just finish yet this week’s Business Law homework, I’d be the happiest girl on Earth.
I won’t say much. I began scribbling down an idea that’s been stuck inside me for a few weeks now. I feel like it’s going to burst. I’ve finally finished the character list yet again for the novel I’ve been trying to write for about two years now. This will be my fourth possibly fifth rewrite as well as change of characters. Like most writers say, the first novel is always the hardest. I agree with them completely.
Before I go though, I like to share this photograph I’ve found on pinterest.
This is Another Story 