Roaming Horned Frog

April 11, 2012

Really? I haven't posted since November? Wow. I'm really disappointed in myself. I have so much to cover, but I'm not sure how to piece it all together.

I applied for another job on campus and wasn't offered an on-campus interview. I am very okay with that decision. I actually really love my current job and have my dream staff next year :)

I keep having weird dreams. I dreamed last night that my parents had a restaurant again and there were rude customers. I also had a second dream where they had a fruit orchard and vegetable garden. Unlimited strawberries. Enough said.

Like I probably said in my last post, I'll try to keep updating. I've tried to write in my journal, but I'm not doing a good job in writing in it as well. It's been a really busy spring semester.

Love,

CW

November 26, 2011

I am blogging from my new iPad2! This was an exciting purchase for Black Friday 2011. Here's the list of what I purchased this year:

*Shark Steam Mop
*Luggage Set
*Pyrex 20 piece set
*Sewing Machine
*Electric Griddle
*Memory Foam Bath Mats
*Pea Coat
*Jeans
*Pajama Pants
*iPad2
*GPS: Garmin

This is the most that I have done for myself. I need to figure out what i'm going to get my parents and my brother.

Another note: I've started watching Mad Men. I can't believe i've been missing out on this show. Where have I been? This is a really interesting show with multiple characters that have multiple issues. I think I'm in love with Don Draper.

Okay...I think that's all for this post. I'll talk with y'all later.

xoxo

Cledes

July 15, 2011

So i've been watching a Korean Drama that came out in 2009 called Flowers over Boys. It's basically a Cinderella/Little Mermaid story. I'd consider myself a hopeless romantic. I was so much television. The movies always give us stories that give us hope of a life that we wish to have.

I have to wake up and realize that my life is not what I hope it could be. I have to accept my destiny and just take one day at a time. Who knows why people come into our lives. People who come into our lives have this purpose: to teach us something. Our parents/guardians/family who are a part of our lives or not teach us to love, hate, cherish, and hope. Mentors come into our lives to guide us to places where we never thought we could go. Friends share with us their heartache and happiness.

People also leave our lives. As time passes by, we lose touch. Sometimes, it's sudden. It's always hard to let go and move on. Once a person comes into your life, you never forget how they have changed you. You look up to those people who supported and encouraged you. You learn to love them. You are inspired by them.

Sometimes I feel like I'm dreaming. Dreaming that one day I can wake up and say what I really wanted to say. This is not a dream. It is reality. Sometimes I just want to lay down in a field and look at the clouds during the day and the stars at night and not think about anything. I just want to float.

Like atoms that collide, people collide with purpose. It's part of our destiny. The hardest part is living through it and understanding why things happen. Even though it's been three years, it seems like yesterday and I just can't stop thinking about what if. A couple of weeks ago, I saw this movie and at one point, these words made my heart stop:

"'What' and ‘if’ two words as nonthreatening
as words come. But put
them together side-by-side and they
have the power to haunt you for the
rest of your life: ‘What if?'..."

"I don't know how your story ended.
But I know that if what you felt
then was love - true love - then
it's never too late. If it was true
then it why wouldn't it be true
now? You need only the courage to
follow your heart..."

"I don't know what a love like that
feels like... a love to leave loved
ones for, a love to cross oceans
for... but I'd like to believe if I
ever felt it. I'd have the courage
to seize it. I hope you had the
courage to seize it, Claire. And if
you didn't, I hope one day that you
will."

Didn't I tell you I was a hopeless romantic?

I'm rambling. Don't know who is all going to read this, but I just can't stop thinking about how I need to stop being selfish and just take things the way they are.

I want to get a Ph.d. I want to help others. My mother always told me that I had a problem of helping others outside of the family and being selfish at home. My ultimate goal is to pay-it-forward to others. Whether people want my help or not, I just want to be a part of their life and hope that one day they can look back and think about how I've helped them or guided them like Greg did for me.

One day, my happiness will come. I just have to be patient. I feel like I haven't really lived life. Almost 25 and still so much to learn. I am patient. Don't get me wrong...I'm a really happy and optimistic person. I just go through some tough times. My aunt always says that we suffer at points of our life, but in the end, we reap the benefits later.

Until next time, I'll keep watching my Korean dramas and try to update this blog. It's hard, but I will try.

<3 Cleda

June 17, 2011

I can't believe that it's been almost a year since I last posted. Lots of apologies.

Yusi (http://urbanyousee.blogspot.com/) actually inspired me to blog again. She posted a tweet about blogging again.

I'm completing my first year as a Resident Director at the University of Illinois (UC). I've been through lots of laughs, tears, hugs, and frustrations in my first year. I had to find my place and figure out a lot of things with the help of my wonderful coach (another RD), Liz, my co-RD, Thomas, and my AC, Melissa. Also, I wasn't the only new person as I thought I was. Jessica came to Urbana North! We have our 2-person cohort and it's fantastic. Shopping trips, meals, pool time and stories. Sister from another mother.

In a nutshell, I've learned to manage a staff of 11 Resident Assistants and 1 Multicultural Advocate, provide leadership opportunities to students in our Black Student Union, Ebony Umoja, and find ways to grow as a new professional. I applied to be the Executive Director of the Midwest Asian American Student Union (MAASU) and did not get it. I learned that it was best that I didn't get the position because of my lack of experience in working with Asian American students. Being a first generation Asian American student myself, I understand my history and my identity development but lacked the experience and understanding of other students in the Midwest. I was able to co-advise the Orange and Blue Illini Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary and I advised the GLACURH delegation and the NACURH delegation. This was a phenomenal experience and I am excited to continue as an advisor for this group. Next year I will also advise AASHO. This is our Asian American Student Housing Organization. I will definitely be attending the MAASU fall and spring conferences and am excited about presenting as well. I enjoyed my time as a co-advisor for the Residence Hall Judicial Commission (RHJC). It seems that I did a lot of supervision and advising this year.

I hope this summer I can begin working on some research on First Generation Asian American Students as well as Multiracial and Multiethnic students. In addition, I am planning to do a literature review on the Sophomore Year Experience. Hoping that this will prepare me for the Ph.D. I need to continually read and write so I can be motivated for the Ph.D.

I got a dog about 3 weeks after I moved to Urbana-Champaign. Her name is Roxie. She is a cutie:
She's a chihuahua mix that is about 7.5 lbs. I am learning a lot from her. It's hard to go away on weekend trip and EXPENSIVE. I have to put her in boarding at her vet because I feel bad in asking my coworkers to take care of her. I never want to burden them. That's why I just pay the $10/night to keep her at her vet.

I have a BF! His name is Drue. This week marks 7 months that we've been together. All I can say is that I'm very happy and he brings out the best in me. =)

Ambika (my best friend) is still in Switzerland. We try to Skype, but I'm a slacker. I'm her coach right now. She's got a lot of ambitious goals and I am supposed to help her with them.

I've started a Spending Fast (more like a diet). I'm hoping to pay off all of my credit cards and store cards by December. In addition to the cards, I have about $24,000 in grad school loans that I am hoping to pay off in 2 years. I want to be able to write a check for my parents so that they can use that money towards their business. I owe them a lot for their support and their wisdom. I was inspired by Anna (http://www.andthenshesaved.com/) who saved $18,000 in a year! Hoping I can do about the same? We'll see. I need to stop eating out and really eat what I have in my pantry and freezer. I have this habit of buying what I want at the moment and not eating/cooking it so I freeze everything. Ugh. I also have this bad habit of buying clothes and I don't wear (one of my aunts has this problem as well).

Oh...btw: I'm going to be on a BOAT in about 10 days!!!! I had scheduled a week of vacation in Alabama to visit Aunts/Uncles/Cousins/Grandparents and then a week in Texas with my parents and brother. I called my aunt to tell her when I was coming and she said, "Ok, I'm going to book a cruise." So, 11 family members are going on a Cruise from Mobile, AL to COZUMEL!!!!

I can't wait to post pictures and such! I haven't been on a cruise since I was 4 years old (Disney cruise with grandparents -- saw the pics, but don't remember a thing).

Before my vacation, i'm going to a wedding in Detroit. Can't wait to celebrate Demetrius' and Stephanie's marriage!

Here's my driving schedule:
6/24: IL---> MI
6/25: MI---> OH (stay the night in Cincinnati)
6/26: OH---> AL
7/3: AL--->TX
7/10: TX---> IL

Lots of driving. Thank goodness I have a new car that is hybrid. Traded in the Toyota during Spring Break (March) for a 2010 Prius that my parents got in January. Plus, I love my tinted windows!