Overdue update in Taiwan

So I said I would upload pictures when I get a chance. Well, apparently the internet I have access to here in Taiwan are mostly all much too slow for that purpose, since my picture files are all quite large. Thus, I have decided to hold off on that and upload the pictures later on when I have a faster internet connection.

My couple weeks here in Taiwan has been fun and fattening, for sure. I have gained quite a few pounds, which means that the weight that I had lost going to the gym is now evened out. >___<>

I have been interning at an international law firm here in Taiwan; so from 8:30 to 5:30 I am pretty much tied to my desk at the office (my own little cubicle). At night, I usually go out with friends or family, and generally I don't get to bed until 1 or 2. I am actually getting less sleep now that I did when I was still in school. On the weekends I generally go up North to Taipei to visit, since that is the only free time I have.

This trip back I have managed to make a few new friends. At the internship, there are 3 other interns besides me. The oldest is a Jack; he already graduated from law school in Taiwan (which is a college major...unlike the US) and he has a LLM degree already. He is currently working on his JD at a law school in Texas. Karen is a first year undergraduate student at NYU. She is thinking about going to law school after college and so is testing the water before making up her mind. Finally, Paulin (pronounced just like Pauline) is a first year undergraduate/law student in Taiwan. Unlike the other 2, because Paulin does not have a strong English background, she is not in my department.

Outside of work, I have recently met Ada. She's been keeping me company this summer here in Taiwan. It's fun. I look forward to hanging out next week. =)

I was wondering, can someone recommend a brand or a place to buy good chocolate? I am looking for dark chocolate (around 75%) without anything inside. A little expensive is okay.

update

Well, first year of law school is over! yay~! as you can tell from the date of the last update, it has been awhile thanks to finals. So several unrelated updates follows:

First of all, the Pixar movie UP! is sensational and the Dug the dog is SO cute ^____^ Go watch it! hehehe

Russell: "Sit, boy"

Dog sits.

Russell: "Hey look, he's trained! shake."

Dog shakes hand.

Russell: "Uh-huh. Speak"

Dog: "Hi there"

Both Russell and Mr. Fredericksen in awe. 

Mr. Fredericksen: "Did that dog just say 'hi there'?"

Dog: "Ohh, yes. My name is Dug." 

Mr. Fredericksen: "Uuuwaaa!"

Dog:"I have just met you and I love you. My master made me this collar. He is a good and smart master and he made this collar so I may talk. SQUIRREL! My master is good and smart."

hahaha hilarious. =) youtube link here.

The nice thing about being a student is that we get summer vacation! I recently got a chance to catch up with some of my friends. First of all a little update on a few of my law school friends. Ginger left for the summer abroad program, which turned out to be a disaster. I hope she will be okay and return safely. Kainoa started work at a IP law firm. Other friends in other law schools also started working: Grace is working at the felony trial division in Cook County, Illinois; and Tiffany has also started work.

I found out that I would need a student visa instead of just a visitors visa for my semester abroad in Beijing. Therefore, my trip is now officially indefinitely delayed until I receive the paperwork from China. I am bummed out a little bit. Also, I wanted to visit Japan but my parents are against my going there while the N1H1 virus is rampant there; I will insist on going despite whatever risk they perceive exists because the risk is much lower than they imagine. Afterall, the US, i believe, has the most confirmed cases of deaths resulted from the virus.

Charles moved back to SF because his company, Incase, relocated. We were able to hang out a few times and catch a Lakers game before he left. Joey also moved back to LA, closer to George. It was fun gaming with them until 7 am and then played bball at the gym until lunch. Good ol' times. I also visited Angela at UCLA for a little bit and got a tour of Caltech--where she went for undergrad.  I've also met some of her friends, all of whom were quite friendly. A group of us went to see UP. I also went to Santa Monica, among other places. It is always fun to meet new people and go new places.

pictures taken with my new camera, Canon T1i (aka 500D), to be followed. The picture files are too big for me to upload at the moment. I will need to resize them before i can post. To be continued...

just one of those days...

blink of an eye

Time flies. It has already been a year. Everything looks so different. I am almost through with first year of law school. It certainly has been an interesting year.

I just turned in my last brief for LRW yesterday. so relieved. I got sick again for the semester and ended up with another cake.

Then, today, I got notice that I got into the comparative business law program in Beijing. I can't wait--for many reasons. I'm sure I will miss my friends, who I assume will miss me too. =P I guess we are all growing up and going our separate ways. I miss those days of just hanging out. Also, I definitely look forward to a new learning environment: travel to China, immerse in the culture, and broaden my horizon. Not to mention the fact that I am sure it will make my resume look better, because let's face it, economy is bad, I have to do what I got to do. A lot has happened over the course of the year. I think getting away will be a good for me.

good news! =)

I have two good news to share.

1. For those of you who are unaware, I applied to two study abroad programs in comparative business law. One during the summer and one for the fall semester. I have recently received notice that I got into the summer program at Tsinghua/Fudan University(it's a joint program)in China. I am still waiting to hear back from the Central University of Economics and Finance.

2. People who knows me well know that I used to not know how to swim or ride a bicycle. However, this is no longer the case! On Sunday, at the gathering for Charles' birthday at the Irvine park, I learned how to ride a bike!!! Muhahahaha. Also, technically I know how to swim since Penn High required you to know how to swim for PE. I do know how to swim, I just don't breathe so well...

starbucks experience

In the Diamond Bar Starbucks, I was reading for the next day's classes when a lady who was using her laptop suddenly got up and started yelling in (probably) Cantonese the English equivalent of, "My purse! My purse!" I turned my head and looked up and saw a guy running out out the door with a purse. She lady--she was wearing sneakers--almost instantaneously ran after him. Reacting to her plea for help, two other strangers got up and chased after him. I looked on, somewhat shocked. That girl was stupidly brave. Even if she had caught up to the guy, what was she going to do? Does she really think it is such a good idea to put up a fight with a guy who dared just grab her bag in a Starbucks with security cameras easily visible and full of people during the middle of the afternoon? Besides, he could have been carrying a weapon or something. He took her purse; it's just money. Everything in there is replaceable (at least I assume so). It's not worth risking to chase after him.

Regardless, the lady and the two gentlemen failed to chase down the robber. The Starbucks personnel was quick to call the police. From what I can overhear, I gathered that the guy got into a car and got away. I think either the lady or two guys got a glimpse of the car and partial license plate. I image that would make apprehending the criminal a bit easier. Amazing thing is, she gave her statement to the police, came back to the Starbucks, moved to a corner seat, and started to study again.

The lesson of the day is: don't leave your valuables in plain sight, even if you think it's safe because you are in a room filled with people and security cameras. Moreover, ladies who like to leave their purse behind them between their back and the back of the chair or those that like to hang their purse on the chair, take caution. This is why when walking with a girl (especially girlfriend or my mother) I would walk on the side she carries her purse. It is less likely for someone to run by and grab the purse if it is between me and the girl. This is just a little tip for guys out there to take care of your lady friend. =)

Be safe out there.

my friends

so this was my away message on AIM:

我討厭命運驕傲的神情
嘲笑我沒半點權利決定

and then one of my best friends puts this on his away message...

命運就在你的臉裡面

hahaha you punk!