1. Loneliness is inevitable, but you can seek ways to alleviate it.
It's hard not to feel lonely in a city with so many people who always seem to have something going on. When you live in such a fast-paced environment, it's easy to fall into solitude. Granted, lazy Sundays by yourself feel good from time to time, but sometimes you want genuine human interaction beyond late night partying. The good news is, Manhattan is a hub of events and festivals, especially in the summer. Even if you don't have plans to hang out with someone, you can probably find something fun to go to by yourself. Once you're there, you'll most likely encounter interesting people and maybe have good conversations with strangers.
2. You have to seek out friends.
I guess this is true of adult life in general, but it becomes harder to make friends after you leave the campus bubble. There are lots of apps where you can meet new people (beyond dating), such as the Meetup app, but because online interactions are more fickle, people are flakier than usual. There are also other avenues to meet friends, such as social events or classes. The only difference is, you have to be more active in connecting with people and actually make an effort to hang out.
3. You become more motivated.
This is a function of the people around you, and New Yorkers are by far some of the most hard-working and ambitious people out there. Whether it is their career or lifestyle, people just seem to have their stuff together. Of course, I am generalizing. However, from my observation, people care about the way they look. They dress nice and a lot of people are into being active and eating healthy. That mentality kind of rubs off, at least I would like to think. They care about enhancing themselves professionally, whether it's going to classes or networking events. Motivation also comes and goes, kind of like waves, but it's hard not to pick up on the energy when your co-worker or friend talk about their aspirations and goals.
What have you learned from moving to a new city?
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Favorite Korean Dramas From 2015 Part 1
I'm back with some more reviews! 2015 was an interesting year with lots of famous actors collaborating in dramas with great story plots. I lost my interest in some dramas as the story became boring while other dramas completely captivated me. One of my all time favorite dramas debuted in 2015!
Twenty Again:
This was an interesting concept. At first, I thought it was going to be about an older lady who thinks she's 20-years-old again after getting a head injury (like every other production with the same title), but this is actually about a 38-year-old lady who experiences college again. It's quite endearing when you get to reminisce about your college days while watch her struggle to adapt to the younger crowd. Of course, there are additional plots lines regarding her family and friends. Lots of real struggles, and definitely worth watching! 8.5/10Oh My Ghostess:
I came to like this drama after several episodes. For the first five or six episodes, I really wanted to shake the female lead for being so pathetic, but I waited, and it got much better. I think that was part of the plan, but it was so hard to stand her. I really liked the ghost character. She was really funny, and it got much better when she possessed the main lead. The acting was really good; It's hard to act with two completely different personalities at the same time, but Park Bo-Young pulled it off. I would recommend this drama. 8/10
Heart-to-Heart:
This drama talks about a girl with a red-face syndrome, where her face turns bright red when she gets flustered. She meets a typical businessman, and romance blooms. There wasn't anything unique about this drama, beyond the fact that she has an interesting medical condition that inhibits her from interacting with guys, but she eventually overcomes it and snags herself a boyfriend. 6/10The Time We Were Not in Love:
Birth of a Beauty:
Friday, December 11, 2015
What is Fear Holding Us Back From?
We often choose to let go of our desires and ambitions because of fear. The fear of rejection, the fear of social embarrassment, the fear of going down the wrong path, the fear of not meeting expectations, and the list goes on. This fear can be paralyzing. It's scary as sh*t, and very hard to deal with.
One thing that I found to be helpful is a cleansing of the mind, or mindful meditation. However, I do it a little bit differently.
Instead of just sitting there and trying not to think, I list all my fears and issues and mentally cross each out. It provides some peace. The other thing that helps is focus on a hobby or creating something. Time passes by so much faster when you want to finish making something.
Another resource that I found that helps with fear of rejection is the 100-day-rejection-challenge: http://fearbuster.com/100-days-of-rejection-therapy/
I want to try it out once within the next year, since rejection, especially face-to-face, is hard for me to overcome. I take it too personally sometimes, even though it really wasn't personal.
If we didn't feel so much fear, we would have less inhibitions, and perhaps achieve more. However, fear is useful in helping us avoid risky situations. It's a tough line to walk, but I think a lot of people, including myself, are oftentimes buried deep in the shadows of fear.
What is fear holding you back from?
One thing that I found to be helpful is a cleansing of the mind, or mindful meditation. However, I do it a little bit differently.
Instead of just sitting there and trying not to think, I list all my fears and issues and mentally cross each out. It provides some peace. The other thing that helps is focus on a hobby or creating something. Time passes by so much faster when you want to finish making something.
Another resource that I found that helps with fear of rejection is the 100-day-rejection-challenge: http://fearbuster.com/100-days-of-rejection-therapy/
I want to try it out once within the next year, since rejection, especially face-to-face, is hard for me to overcome. I take it too personally sometimes, even though it really wasn't personal.
If we didn't feel so much fear, we would have less inhibitions, and perhaps achieve more. However, fear is useful in helping us avoid risky situations. It's a tough line to walk, but I think a lot of people, including myself, are oftentimes buried deep in the shadows of fear.
What is fear holding you back from?
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Blog Niche and Specialization
This blog is intended to be a fun project, and a space, for me and my friends to say whatever we wanted. If you've read our previous posts, then you know that we are all over the place, in a good way. I recently stumbled upon a blog about how to write good blogs (meta-blogging), and it stated that in order to be successful you need to have a special niche for your blog, whether it's cooking, raising babies, traveling, or how to write a successful blog. As someone who loves metaphors (and economic references), I will relate this back to professions.
As our society advances, people are becoming more and more specialized in what they do. A few decades ago you would have general surgeons, but now you have cardiac surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, ect. This system allows people to become really good at one thing, thus allowing society to advance as a whole, since due to opportunity cost, a person cannot be really good at multiple things. So if they just committed their time and energy to one thing, then they will be able to master it better than if they did not. Of course, there is also comparative advantage. A person who is naturally talented at something would do it better, and it is worth more, in terms of time and effort, for him to do it.
That being said, it is also valuable to know a little bit of everything. Our society has adapted to this trend of specialization, but humans are holistic creatures with multiple interests and passions. It is good to be multifaceted, and depending on the situation, knowing a little bit of everything is sometimes better than just knowing one thing really well. I try not to toot my own horn, but this is also why a liberal arts college is good for someone who does not know where their talent lies or wants to experience more than just one strand of thinking.
As our society advances, people are becoming more and more specialized in what they do. A few decades ago you would have general surgeons, but now you have cardiac surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, ect. This system allows people to become really good at one thing, thus allowing society to advance as a whole, since due to opportunity cost, a person cannot be really good at multiple things. So if they just committed their time and energy to one thing, then they will be able to master it better than if they did not. Of course, there is also comparative advantage. A person who is naturally talented at something would do it better, and it is worth more, in terms of time and effort, for him to do it.
That being said, it is also valuable to know a little bit of everything. Our society has adapted to this trend of specialization, but humans are holistic creatures with multiple interests and passions. It is good to be multifaceted, and depending on the situation, knowing a little bit of everything is sometimes better than just knowing one thing really well. I try not to toot my own horn, but this is also why a liberal arts college is good for someone who does not know where their talent lies or wants to experience more than just one strand of thinking.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Is Education For Everyone?
Of course.
Before you jump on me for overgeneralizing and assuming I ignorantly placed my ideals on other people without doing sufficient research, hear me out.
According to dictionary.reference.com, education is" the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life." So education is any type of learning, not necessarily institutional learning, and all humans receive education just by living.
Ah-ha, gotcha.
Just kidding. I actually do want to talk about formal education, namely higher education and the liberal arts education. The question: is higher education through a liberal arts method good for everyone?
Of course, it's not for everyone. I don't think there's anything on Earth that's good for everyone, besides oxygen, water, and nutrition. Even then you can argue what constitutes "good" and so on. In any case, the liberal arts education is fun, fulfilling, and life-changing for the right kind of person.
I usually dislike making lists, since I think they take away a lot of meaning by condensing stories and experiences into numbered bullet points, but I think it's the most efficient way to convey my message without making you read six pages of my semi-coherent rambling.
Who Should Take the Liberal Arts Route?
1. Someone has the means to afford all four years at the private institution. This may include grants, scholarships, well-off family, education fund, ect.
2. Someone who has no idea what they want to do with their lives, but knows they want a career someday.
3. Someone who has a general idea of what they want to do, but needs to narrow down their field of interest with opportunities to explore their passions.
4. Someone who enjoys learning for the sake of learning, and who would be ok with exploring areas outside their comfort zone.
5. Someone who needs a transition between complete dependence and independence.
6. Someone who wants to enjoy a tight-knit community and good memories. *I will discuss memorable non-academic things I have experience thus far in my liberal arts education in the next post.
As you can see, the liberal arts education is suitable for a vast majority of people, but not for everyone. A lot of people think that the education is too pricey, but given the right circumstance, you could get a large grant or scholarship which will make the four years much more affordable. Sometimes it's cheaper to go to a liberal arts college rather than the in-state university. I would say, keep your options open, and research more about it!
Before you jump on me for overgeneralizing and assuming I ignorantly placed my ideals on other people without doing sufficient research, hear me out.
According to dictionary.reference.com, education is" the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life." So education is any type of learning, not necessarily institutional learning, and all humans receive education just by living.
Ah-ha, gotcha.
Just kidding. I actually do want to talk about formal education, namely higher education and the liberal arts education. The question: is higher education through a liberal arts method good for everyone?
Of course, it's not for everyone. I don't think there's anything on Earth that's good for everyone, besides oxygen, water, and nutrition. Even then you can argue what constitutes "good" and so on. In any case, the liberal arts education is fun, fulfilling, and life-changing for the right kind of person.
I usually dislike making lists, since I think they take away a lot of meaning by condensing stories and experiences into numbered bullet points, but I think it's the most efficient way to convey my message without making you read six pages of my semi-coherent rambling.
Who Should Take the Liberal Arts Route?
1. Someone has the means to afford all four years at the private institution. This may include grants, scholarships, well-off family, education fund, ect.
2. Someone who has no idea what they want to do with their lives, but knows they want a career someday.
3. Someone who has a general idea of what they want to do, but needs to narrow down their field of interest with opportunities to explore their passions.
4. Someone who enjoys learning for the sake of learning, and who would be ok with exploring areas outside their comfort zone.
5. Someone who needs a transition between complete dependence and independence.
6. Someone who wants to enjoy a tight-knit community and good memories. *I will discuss memorable non-academic things I have experience thus far in my liberal arts education in the next post.
As you can see, the liberal arts education is suitable for a vast majority of people, but not for everyone. A lot of people think that the education is too pricey, but given the right circumstance, you could get a large grant or scholarship which will make the four years much more affordable. Sometimes it's cheaper to go to a liberal arts college rather than the in-state university. I would say, keep your options open, and research more about it!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
What Am I Doing Here? Jump Off the Train?
I was recently listening to the radio and "I Do" by Susie Suh came on. One line stayed with me for a long time. As you can guess, it was "I don't know, what am I doing here?" It is a love song, but I didn't feel the love behind it, rather it brought me anxiety. I recently declared my major. Usually people are happy and excited to finally "discover" their passions in a certain area of academia, but to me this meant reality is much closer. Unlike other liberal arts students, or the perceived image of one, I didn't come to some sort of revelation, or have an enlightening "ah-ha" moment: I just chose the most rational and realistic major for me. This is because I came to a revelation years ago, where I realized that I have responsibilities. I never understood how people can just take time off and "discover themselves." In some aspect I was also jealous. If I was not moving forward, then that meant I was moving backwards. Time doesn't stop for you; thus, this prevented me from going to explore myself.
You're probably thinking: "Wow, this person needs to chill. One year does not make that big of a difference." I totally agree with you. In the grand scheme of time, one year may not really make a difference, and life might be much better if I take that time and do something meaningful and fun, but the problem is I don't know what would be meaningful, and it's hard to get off the train once it's on its way (prepare for an extended metaphor). Jumping off a moving train would hurt you more than if you just waited till the train stops at the destination. I'm riding the train called education, and the destination is a degree(s) and open doors to the "real world."Once I step onto the platform, I will have to pick up all the knowledge and skills I have accumulated over the years and head into the work force. It's scary. There won't be anyone waiting at the end with a sign that says "welcome, I'm here to help you with all your needs," but I'll be on sturdy ground. If I jump off the train now, even with the intent of trying to get back on again, I would be doing myself a disservice. Jumping off can be associated with taking time off, dropping out of school, or not continuing further education (i.e grad school) when you intend to "sometime in the future." It is harder to get back on once you get off, especially when you're trying to get on a moving train, not to mention your bruises and broken bones from jumping off in the first place will hinder you. For example, if you drop out of school, then you would have wasted the tuition you paid for the first few years, which probably bruised your savings. Sure you'll have to get off eventually, but you have a clear path in mind at the end, whereas you have no idea where you'll land or how you'll land if you just forfeit in the middle and jump off.
The only reason I would jump off now is if I think I will not make it to the end, and if I don't jump off then I'll suffer more (increasing debt, emotional trauma, ect), so I would rather take the calculated risk. But that's an extreme case I am not facing right now. What I'm trying to say is, I think one should stick with their plan till the end and not panic and forfeit in the middle, because it will hurt more. Even if the trip is getting difficult and it's no longer fun, the end will be worth it (given that you carefully picked your destination). Additionally, the alternative is not any better, so why not just stick with it.
So for all kids who are thinking of dropping out or taking time off: You better have a clear goal in mind that you will fight for and work hard toward (in which case you're jumping onto another train: train hopping anyone?), or else you'll end up broken with regret.
NOTE: This metaphor does not work for everything. If the train is an abusive relationship, then yes, please jump off the train, in fact, hurl yourself off, because that train is headed toward agony, pain, and maybe even death, and you don't want to go there. Any alternative is better.
You're probably thinking: "Wow, this person needs to chill. One year does not make that big of a difference." I totally agree with you. In the grand scheme of time, one year may not really make a difference, and life might be much better if I take that time and do something meaningful and fun, but the problem is I don't know what would be meaningful, and it's hard to get off the train once it's on its way (prepare for an extended metaphor). Jumping off a moving train would hurt you more than if you just waited till the train stops at the destination. I'm riding the train called education, and the destination is a degree(s) and open doors to the "real world."Once I step onto the platform, I will have to pick up all the knowledge and skills I have accumulated over the years and head into the work force. It's scary. There won't be anyone waiting at the end with a sign that says "welcome, I'm here to help you with all your needs," but I'll be on sturdy ground. If I jump off the train now, even with the intent of trying to get back on again, I would be doing myself a disservice. Jumping off can be associated with taking time off, dropping out of school, or not continuing further education (i.e grad school) when you intend to "sometime in the future." It is harder to get back on once you get off, especially when you're trying to get on a moving train, not to mention your bruises and broken bones from jumping off in the first place will hinder you. For example, if you drop out of school, then you would have wasted the tuition you paid for the first few years, which probably bruised your savings. Sure you'll have to get off eventually, but you have a clear path in mind at the end, whereas you have no idea where you'll land or how you'll land if you just forfeit in the middle and jump off.The only reason I would jump off now is if I think I will not make it to the end, and if I don't jump off then I'll suffer more (increasing debt, emotional trauma, ect), so I would rather take the calculated risk. But that's an extreme case I am not facing right now. What I'm trying to say is, I think one should stick with their plan till the end and not panic and forfeit in the middle, because it will hurt more. Even if the trip is getting difficult and it's no longer fun, the end will be worth it (given that you carefully picked your destination). Additionally, the alternative is not any better, so why not just stick with it.
So for all kids who are thinking of dropping out or taking time off: You better have a clear goal in mind that you will fight for and work hard toward (in which case you're jumping onto another train: train hopping anyone?), or else you'll end up broken with regret.
NOTE: This metaphor does not work for everything. If the train is an abusive relationship, then yes, please jump off the train, in fact, hurl yourself off, because that train is headed toward agony, pain, and maybe even death, and you don't want to go there. Any alternative is better.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Korean Drama Review #3: 50 Episodes Plus Version
Ojakgyo Brothers
Genera: Family, Rich vrs Poor, Romance, Generation
This was one of the longest dramas I've watched. It is about 50 or so episodes, but each one was worth it. I first saw Joo Won in this drama, and I liked him immediately. I especially like some of the traits his character in this drama had. I liked Uee as well, and I think they had good chemistry. The story is about a pompous rich girl falling from grace, and needing to turn to an old family acquaintance for help. At first she struggles due to her personality and unwillingness to cooperate. Eventually they accept her as family after many ups and downs. This drama was interesting in that it turned the villain into one of your favorite characters. In a way it's saying that everyone is redeemable.
Smile, You
Genera: Family, Romance, Rich vrs. Poor
The themes are pretty consistent among the longer dramas I've watched, but I guess it could be that 50 episodes and above dramas tend to be about those things. This drama is also about a rich girl going to live with a poorer family. Unlike the Ojakgyo brothers, this also talks about her side of the family. Instead of one person moving in, it's about two families coming together. The male lead is very homey. It was definitely a change from the usual leads of the dramas I have watched. There are a lot of heartfelt moments in this drama. You can easily get lost in their world! Also, a couple in this drama got married in life! Can you guess which one?
The Jewel in the Palace
Genera: Historical Fiction, Romance, Medicine
I watched this drama with my parents. This famous drama propelled the Korean entertainment industry. It is about a little girl that entered the royal court and becomes an amazing cook. She later wins the favor of the King, after many difficult trials, and becomes his personal physician. She had ambitions no women in her situation dared to have. She had to flee because her practices were not in line with what the others believed at the time, such as surgery. This is based on the true story of Jang Geum, a famous female doctor during the 16th century. This drama teaches you a lot about the Korean culture, and is a good break from the usual romance and family drama.
This drama hits closer to home for the Asian-American viewers. This is about a Korean immigrant (Korean-Australian) who's father wishes her to marry a Korean man. She agrees to "date" a childhood friend to appease her father, but if it doesn't work out, then she gets to do whatever she wants. She goes in with the mindset to stick it out for a few months, but because this is a drama, she ends up falling for the childhood friend. This is different from the other dramas in that it only has 31 episodes. The best part about this drama is the two lead actors got married in real life.
This does not say anything about the ending! However you can imagine how great the chemistry was.
Genera: Family, Rich vrs Poor, Romance, Generation
Smile, You
Genera: Family, Romance, Rich vrs. Poor
The themes are pretty consistent among the longer dramas I've watched, but I guess it could be that 50 episodes and above dramas tend to be about those things. This drama is also about a rich girl going to live with a poorer family. Unlike the Ojakgyo brothers, this also talks about her side of the family. Instead of one person moving in, it's about two families coming together. The male lead is very homey. It was definitely a change from the usual leads of the dramas I have watched. There are a lot of heartfelt moments in this drama. You can easily get lost in their world! Also, a couple in this drama got married in life! Can you guess which one?
The Jewel in the Palace
Genera: Historical Fiction, Romance, Medicine
I watched this drama with my parents. This famous drama propelled the Korean entertainment industry. It is about a little girl that entered the royal court and becomes an amazing cook. She later wins the favor of the King, after many difficult trials, and becomes his personal physician. She had ambitions no women in her situation dared to have. She had to flee because her practices were not in line with what the others believed at the time, such as surgery. This is based on the true story of Jang Geum, a famous female doctor during the 16th century. This drama teaches you a lot about the Korean culture, and is a good break from the usual romance and family drama.
Creating Destiny
Genera: Family, Cultural Differences, Romance
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