dream on

Because my faithful blog follower steve was disappointed by my picture-only post here I am with words! 

Today PT spoke about Joseph the dreamer and how we can thrive when we chase after our dreams. It was a really good sermon, it was one of those sermons that places fire under your heart. I think there are some people who have global sized dreams, like change the world big. And then there are others who just want a nice family and a steady income. I can't tell which one I am yet...In any case, I feel like I need to keep moving toward and instead I sat down and settled for stagnancy (not a word..) No settling, keep chasing, keep moving. I'm going to travel...I'm going to see more, I'm going to feel more, breathe in more

I experienced today, the liberating feeling of sharing with someone who simply does not know you, and will not know you in the future. It's just that conversation in that moment where you can get it off your chest, let it go and wave it goodbye. Someone whose judgments do not matter and you can just be raw with them for that one reason. It's almost like a gift, and I needed it. 

I had one of the chillest Saturdays ever. It was delightful. 

Laundry, cleaning, food channel, kite flying, diane's EGO showcase, grocery shopping, drama dinner, sleepy time

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my favorite line from Juno

Juno: I just need to know if it's possible for two people to stay happy together forever, or at least for a few years. 

Mac: It's not easy, that's for sure... In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with. 

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susan weekend

CV journalism girl reunion at the marina -- we're socal girls, who know legit beaches, but I guess a berkeley marina is aiite 

susan's ultimate gangster picture

can you tell we were really cold?

gotta have one of our timer shot pictures before susan leaves....

introducing: Susan the closet fob

Pictures pictures pictures

We all had a kick outta this one

vinovinovino!

I am in that "i want to blog everyday about everything bc there is suddenly so much to blog about" phase again. Hence, I will post another blog entry, about random things. 

So today, bc Sarah and I had no hot running water in our apt we both jumped through loops to feel clean. I suppose it wouldn't be too fair to expose Sarah on my blog so I will simply say our hair-washing and showering processes included:

1 pantene pro v shampoo

1 pantene pro v conditioner

2 pots 

2 bowls 

1 microwave 

1 stove 

In the end, it's kind of hilarious...but dang it made me realize how much we take hot water for granted. Hopefully our problems will be solved soon *fingers crossed* 

I realized there are only 3 weeks left of instruction! How awesome is that. But the end of a school year also means...finals, big events to plan such as banquets and seniors leaving, boo. Every time seniors leave Berkeley as I know it changes a little bit. Yesterday I complained to matt that i was sad i only had 2 more years of college left and all he said was "[insert shrug] well, you can't stay in college forever it wouldn't be fun that way" hmph. so much for sympathy!

On another note, the start of summer is so exciting! I like making lists of things I want to do each summer so here's my first draft:

1. sf moma & legion of honor

2. berkeley botanical gardens

3. find more tea places! they're quite fun 

4. learn how to cook more things...expand my arsenal!

5. get better at driving & not fear cars on the freeway

6. discover new restaurants and write reviews on them

7. berkeley hills 

8. go jogging consistently

9. spend more time at the marina, perhaps fly a kite

10. spend afternoons at bookstore corners with stacks & stacks of books, matilda style

ok! 10 for now. 

ps: idk why i named this post vinovinovino. but i really can't wait till I can drink wine with dinner. forreals.

[edit] pps: take out the wine! our hot water is up & runnin' again!!!!! ptL!!!!

What a day and it's only 2 PM

This morning I got up, and tried to get ready for my 9 AM class. I did what I normally do everyday, tried to hop into the shower but the water just would not turn hot. I thought I had mistakened the hot and cold but no that wasn't the case, it really just would not turn warm. I figured that was fine I mean I guess it happens...so I got ready and was just about to leave the apt when I realized my wallet was missing. My wallet with my ID card, translating to no bus pass, translating to having to walk to school with only 10 minutes to get to campus, no debit card meaning no ATM meaning no cash, and no license (doesn't do much for me anyway). That's when I had one of my nervous break downs. I didn't know where I put it and I felt unclean bc I hadn't showered and it was just not a good day. I let out a big sigh and probably woke up my roomate bc that's when she asked what was wrong. I gave up on going to class and just went back to sleep, seeing as how that was the only option I really had. The three hours before Lisa got back to me telling me she had it in her car I was really so distressed. Then I thought, what was the big deal anyway? I can go for a day without showering, and no one had swiped so far on my debit card, why was I acting as if the world was coming to an end? (My dramatic side overwhelms sometimes...) In Cambodia it didn't matter that the water didn't run at all in the morning, it didn't matter that we didn't have even a dollar to get through the day. So why was I acting like a chicken with its head cut off. I prayed and confessed, asking God to really help me not be so hung up over material goods. Things that are of this world and things that are not of heaven which is what we were really made to thirst and delight in. (People who haven't been to sg yet this week...we're talking about heaven! It's good stuff!) Then Lisa got back to me saying she had my wallet in her car (ptL!) and then I started trekking to class. I got to campus early so I sat out on a nice patch of grass under big shady trees to blog (hence, the entry) and just as I was taking a picture of the trees I hear a big plop as a big fat piece of bird poop lands on my beautiful white macbook. At this point I just had to laugh because I swear I could almost hear God laughing too "Rachel, you really wanted me to show you how to let go of your possessions right? Here's a little lesson/gift from me" I seriously carried my computer open to VLSB and found the nearest bathroom...laughing all the way. God, you're way too funny but thank You for teaching me..and showing me. All I have is Your provision, it's Yours and not mine. 

hanbok

I think it may have started a year ago...I started telling my mom I wanted to wear a hanbok (traditional Korean dress) She rolled her eyes at me and reminded me of how much I used to abhor wearing them on New Years Day when my grandmother would send me and my sister new ones every year, different colors and patterns. The fabric was rough in different parts on my legs and sometimes they'd get so tight that I'd have trouble breathing. And it got so hot too, so many layers. But once my grandmother stopped sending them to us because we started complaining and we were growing too quickly, I started missing them. It's one part of Korean culture I especially love. They are so beautiful, so vibrant and even though the structure of the dress is simple, each hanbok looks so different according to color and design. They're equally elegant too, not revealing or form fitting (in true respectful Korean fashion) but still beautiful. The last time I wore a hanbok was for my 거문고 (guh-mun-go: traditional Korean instrument) concert around six years ago.. Imagine when people were wearing these everyday, everywhere. Ahhh! I can't wait till my next hanbok....

sundress

It was an awesome weekend. From beginning to end. Been a while since I had a weekend like this. Starting with Friday all the way until today. Busy, no doubt and quite hectic at times but still so refreshing, and in all ways...all so worth it. 

And today, the sun came out after a week of a few rainy days. I wore a sundress for the first time this year. I love sun dresses. I love the way you get to feel the sun on your back. Other things I love....having new music to listen to in my "recently added" playlist, sunsets, good conversation, dancing with friends in the backseat to bumpin' bumpin music, talented musicians ahem ahem ryan leslie ahem, random txt msgs for no reason.

plates...?

"민영아, 너를 담을 수 있는 그릇을 찾아야된다" -- mommy lee

crackberry just got cooler

i can charge my phone with my camera charger. this is amazing.

what you know about that, iphone? 

Unexpected gift

that saved my life!

I'm blogging from work again, it's one of my favorite places to blog from because it makes the time go by so much quicker. As some of you know one of the things I do at work is make evaluation packets for professors at Haas. I make them, and I get them back after students have filled them out and I even have to read through some of them (you'd be surprised the sorts of crazy things I read sometimes) but in the process of making these packets I have to count out these evaluation sheets, manually. It kind of sucks sometimes, especially when I lose count at 134 at which point I choose to estimate (hehe). But today, my boss came in with this scale machine that counts and weighs pieces of paper! It's super accurate too because I tested it a few times and it accurately measured the stack each time! Which means I don't have to manually count paper ever again! It was such an unexpected gift, that came out of nowhere. And really, she didn't have to get it for me because she's not the one who's sitting there and counting these. But she got it anyway and it really made my day.

I would take a picture of it to show you guys but I'm too excited to start putting this machine to good use!

Right Here

Today as I was walking to class I saw a group of families standing in front of VLSB with a tour guide showing them the sights. I thought of how it's already been 2 years since I was standing there with them, checking to see if Berkeley could be a place I'd call home for the next few years. The ever so familiar look of "can my kid really survive here??" on some of the parents' faces made me laugh inside as I thought of my parents as they tried to decide if this was the best choice for me. The prospective students looked excited and nervous, trying to picture themselves at a place like this. And it hit me, that season for me has passed, and it's never coming back. There will never be another period like this again, and it's already half done. That means...I have to make the most of the next few years. And....get ready to transition into the next season. It's all about having one come to an end and diving into the next. The idea is kind of scary and a little unsettling but it is what it is and it's going to happen, whether I'm ready for it or not. I wonder what my next season will look like...

Today I was at Bear's Lair with Joanne and out of nowhere I started singing the Right Here song by Jeremy Camp & KJ-52  (I recently discovered it in Matt's car and I can only remember the main chorus but I still really like it) and sometimes when I'm singing I don't realize it's happening out loud bc I like to sing in my head but today I guess Joanne heard it. And as I was serenading her with my version of Right Here it occurred to me, He is right here. In our conversation, in our El Tacontento date, walking with me to class. So easy to slip and think I'm alone, like He doesn't know, like He doesn't see me. But He does! And You're right here...next to me as I'm writing my blog. Thank You, for seeing me, for remembering me, for being right here with me. If you haven't heard the song, you should! You might just like it :)

I don't really know what to put here

Been a busy week, it's Thursday but it feels like this week lasted 2 weeks long, so many things happened. It's all really draining, but at the end of it all, all I really wanna say is Thank you Lord, that you are a God who uses darkness, desperation, weakness and vulnerability to show grace and turn it into something beautiful. Something like reconciliation, mending of relationships, and peace within. Only You, make such things possible. So I will be patient, I will stand in awe, and I will wait.

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I wanna go to the Marina.