The Innocence

There may not be a whole lot of time each day in our lives. A simple train ride for a single mom with her six year old daughter. The young girl excited to be on the train and to share her wonderful stories with her mom. The mom, hides her exhaustion after working countless tiring jobs to support them, smiles back. The moments. She's smiling, laughing, and just constantly being unable to remain seated for the duration of the ride.  She goes through and shows all the valentine cards she had received at school from her classmates. But there's one, it stands out, on one side its a picture of Barbie, the other a maze. Even if she did not know how to read, she is excited to do the maze. The card was given to her from her best friend. She tries, and tries to complete the maze... time after time, something goes wrong. She's determined to finish it. Why? Maybe she knew if she could do it, she could find her heart through the maze. The moment. She finishes it, glazes at her mom, and smiles...and thinks to herself "I did it..."


Just something I noticed and came up with on the train ride home after feeling miserable. Cherish those moments, as simple as a train ride home, and you'll notice the good around you. I'll end this post with a quote I just heard from a beautiful woman:


"You don't want to be young because you don't like the way things are. I don't blame you, but one day, you'll wake up and you'll be all grown up. It's inevitable." And being old ain't all dandy and awesome.

The Power of the Pause

So another class at George Brown College turns out to be golden. Speaking with confidence, who would have thought this would turn out to be so useful and most importantly fun. It doesn't hurt that our instructor has an amazing talent and ability to share his skills and knowledge with our class. At first, I was hesitant in taking this class as I previously had completed a communications course, but wow, what a completely different style of class. So for our most recent assignment was to tell a story to the class with the storytelling techniques we learned: one of it being the power of the pause, which I took full advantage of. Enjoy. It's based on my true story but altered a bit to have a more deep meaning to the end. I also wanted to highlight the good before the bad (another technique learned) and this was the incident that led me to retire from biking, but I have gone biking once more after this incident.




There I was, about to see the girl of my dreams. The one who’d still give me butterflies even after three years together. You know… the one who you could see as the mother of your children. I knew she was the one in my heart and it didn’t matter that we were just 18 at the time. I knew deep inside, she was the one.


Even without a car, we would still find ways to spend time together each time and this day was no exception. It was a bright day, a sunny day, a warm day, just one of those perfect days to ride our bikes. We had just spent our day under the clouds together, thinking of what lied ahead of us. We were laughing, relaxing, and enjoying one another’s company just like all the many times prior we had shared together. But like with all good things, and by the end of it all; it was time to go our separate ways home.


I hopped on my bike to race home for dinner. Speeding and swerving my way through intersections, around corners, and down a steep hill. Still going uncontrollably fast, an old couple suddenly appeared!!! I was shocked and thought to myself. Why are these old people walking so slowly and in the middle of the sidewalk!!?? With little time to react, my instincts led me to squeeze my brakes with all my might. *Screech* 


Instead of coming to a stop, I felt the air under my ass, and before I knew it, I was flying high above the ground. I close my eyes hoping I could avoid the old couple with my life flashing in front me. *Crashing noise* *Long Pause*


Darkness. It was all I could see. Just pitch black, darkness. My eyes slowing glazed opened and I saw a glimpse of the old couple, as they walked away, leaving me there, lying on the ground with blood around me. I struggled to my feet, but it was only after a couple of steps and glimpses around me to see the traffic light pole I had just flown into, until I crashed back down to earth. My eyes, they closed once again as I lay down on the side of the road. *Long pause*


My eyes open, I shake my head around, lost, confused, and asked myself where I am. I sat up, looked around, and here I was, just sitting up on my bed. Did it really happen I questioned myself or was it just a dream?

New Mentality

Yes. I understand. Yes. I know.

And yet... I still manage to get it wrong.

I am not giving up or anything at the moment, I am not a quitter.

I am trying to hold myself back and take a different perspective regarding this situation.

Maybe a change is needed. Maybe a change of mentality.

I thought it would be different this time around. But not everything in life goes as plan.

There are setbacks. But it's how we deal with the adversities that shape who we are as a person.

Whatever happens, happens. And I will need to continue working to reach my ultimate goals in life. Just may have to try harder. Work harder too.

I can't always fix problems on my own, sometimes a little push or encouragement is needed.

But today definitely helped open my eyes, to see maybe a new path that lies ahead.

Self Update

"Do you remember when I said I'd always be there?" Didn't know it back then, that I'd still mean it today.

Anyways, it's been awhile again, so let's catch up again. Winter break went by just like that (although it was 3 weeks long). Right now? I'm back in school for my second semester at George Brown College's Hospitality Tourism Leisure program. I have begun applying for jobs in hopes of employment with my school schedule only consisting of 17hrs because of my two exemptions from accounting and general electives. Sad to say, but I want the income so I can travel come summer term for at least a month and maybe work for the remaining ones.

I think I have come to the realization that I should involve myself in all the different aspects of the hospitality tourism leisure industries if my ultimate career goal is to be accomplished. This means working for a hotel, airline, restaurant, resort, cruise, and just anything that has to do with tourism and hospitality and even leisure.

But yeah, enough about me, it's past midnight and I've got a 9am morning class tomorrow.

TIme to catch up on things.

It's been awhile since we've had a conversation, so I thought it'd be nice to catch up on things. 
Lots has changed for me this year, 
Everything from pure happiness to profound heartbreak,
Has found its way to my 2011.
And honestly I wouldn't change anything if I could.


One of the biggest changes that this year has brought was a certain experience that taught me many valuable lessons.
I learned that even when your heart is broken and you feel like you can never be happy again, you have a choice.
Sometimes life will disappoint us, 
But we can choose how we react. 
We have the capacity to evolve, 
To develop perseverance and strength, 
Because of the pain.


Heres to 2011! Happy Holidays and Happy New Years!

p.s I am thinking of finally starting my travel blog/vlog about my travels and one about my experiences in Toronto- the restaurants and events.

I`m a HTL-er and I kinda like it

Yes, I know I have failed this miserably but I have good reason, mainly that I have been so busy with college. Who would have thought that college would have so much to do. 

Already finished five weeks of classes, seemed to go by like it was just yesterday that summer was ending... And with assignment after the other, and tests piling up, and group projects once again piling up... this sure ain't a stroll in the park.

Even after just five weeks, I may have uncovered what I might want to do in the future if I were to have a hospitality/tourism focused career (which I will explain later), learned so much about dining, wines, alcoholic drinks- all of which reminds me of my one time goal of becoming a restaurateur. I've involved myself with school and I'm enjoying it, learning new things, having free food/wine samples and meeting new people too. But the food and dining required in some assignments, I have really come to like the classes (except for having to pay for our own meals of course).

So what I think would be an excellent job in the future, although it may be just now, but for my own reference sake, what if I were to be an online travel adviser/tour guide/reviewer working with destination marketers to help tourists experience their vacations as locals and to be able to blog or vlog my journeys around the world. That would be the ultimate- to travel the world as a job. I wake up everyday in a new city. One can dream.

Yep, just a quick update on this blog, no fancy pictures or anything, just me, reflecting on the past 5 weeks of classes so far at the hospitality, tourism, leisure program at George Brown College.

The power of FaceTime

So I got a nice Facetime call from Mathew yesterday after they got back to Alameda from Reno and he had his first experience in preparing for kindergarten...He says he's excited to start school, so that's always something good to hear. And also reminded me that I should write something here again. So I guess this entry will be our trip to the Ontario Science Centre.


We went after having lunch at a congee/noodle restaraunt so we wouldn't need to pay for lunch there again, but like always, had to still buy some pizza from the cafeteria. We started our journey at the Ontario Science Centre at a new show/exhibit of forensic investigation, which included a show (CSI style). And the kids got scared, from the magic show and the pyrotechnics and loud sounds...The whole show included Mathew whining he wanted to leave, but he needs to be braver so we watch the entire show.

Then to the kids zone where they got to explore and play around the different stalls, especially the supermarket for kids. And lastly, their favourite thing to do was the balls that move around a specially designed track. "We could be there all day just watching them play with the balls."

Random Field Trips...

We brought them to one of the rib-fests happening around the city, this was the one in Scarborough..We had brought them to the one at Thompson Park the previous year and they had a variety of midway rides, but this one did not. Their midway rides consisted of ONE slide. Yup. Oh yeah, it was also Canada Day.

Since the sister had work I brought them to Mcdonalds Play Place and Mini-golfing one day. It was scorching hot and again, they complained of the heat and sun. Something they clearly are still not used to coming from the cool breezy Bay area.

39 days have gone and passed.

How time really flies. Yes, I know I have not kept my blog commitment here: but 39days have passed since my little cousins were here. Their flight was yesterday morning and I received a nice phone call once they landed back in SFO. So here I am, working on this again, trying to document the adventures, struggles, and all the fun we shared together. I hope to have a new post each day this week for this.


I remember like it was last night, going to the airport to pick them up, delayed and all by Air Canada during their labour strike. From then on, we pretty much saw each other everyday, with some days in between left for me to sleep in. With the sister still having to work until the end of June, it was my will to entertain them in the meantime because after all, they came to Toronto early to attend my convocation with me.


Yeah, there aren't many pictures during June other than my convocation which I have already posted, but the first realistic field trip we took them was Whittmore Farm to play at the farm and do some strawberry picking! Enjoy.

Graduation

"As we go on, we will remember, all the times we, had together." 

So on Thursday it was finally my convocation day. The ridiculous part, it being at 9:30am, no not that, the part where we have to be there at 7:30am. I slept through my alarm, so I was already running late to get out of my house, for only both the bus to stop at a bus stop and wait for nobody, just stopped there for minutes. So much for being an express bus. And once on the subway, more delays, from Finch all the way to Davisville or Summerhill or something. Yes, the TTC always find ways to irritate me. Ok so I finally made there a bit past 8, not bad. The ceremony was also running late, we were all waiting, and lining up to go into the theatre, but we had to first walk a lap around the quad lol I kinda felt bad for the girls who all had heels. 


The ceremony was nice and as always I was at the end, thanks a lot to my surname being Yeung, I am always last nearly all the time. I felt my heart beating as it was nearing my turn, I don't know why, maybe the fear of doing something stupid while crossing the stage, or just finally realizing I really am going to be finished with my bachelor's degree. Whatever it was, it didn't affect me as I strut on through to give thanks and claim my degree!


Reception was nice and seeing my family there was special too. This was my first convocation, I didn't go to my high school one, but I did go to my sister's graduation at York. It was great to see my parents, my sister, my grandparents, and even my uncle with my little cousins there, all to give me hugs and more words of encouragement and congratulations. Then the photo frenzy occurred, though it was unfortunate I couldn't have a picture with all the friends I have made while at Ryerson, but I got it with some.


I'll end this post with some photos (which I saved from my Facebook album and its not the original files cause it would have taken a long time to upload those 8mb file each) and a thank you to Ryerson University for a decent and all the great wonderful people I had the privilege to work and meet to make my experience a surprisingly good 5 years of my young life. 

Sister and Me

Parents and Sister

Grandparents and Me

My cousins and Me 

James and Me

Karen and Me 

Steph and Me

Anna and Me 

Amy and Me 

Team Awesome, helped made summer school worthwhile

Ivan and Me

Missed K Trinh

Seoul 4.

Day four consisted a lot of things... particularly shopping. It did however include a stop at one of the old emperor's palace/temple where we took a couple of pictures. It had a similar design as those from China, but then again Korea has been influenced by China, Japan, and America.

Next was a stop at the popular spot of Myeong-dong...there were literally at least 100 make up stores in that one area. I did also find the Forever 21 in Seoul, which was pretty big like 3 floors and a larger male section. Too bad I couldn't find anything I liked...

At night, I tried going to see the fountain bridge at night, too bad the guide didn't provide much information and I couldn't see anything..I managed to take a couple of night shots though, but wasn't too happy I couldn't see the bridge. Dinner was nice, had authentic Korean barbecue...simply delicious.

Seoul 3.

On day 3, we moved from the Dart resort and drove back to Seoul. But we made a pit stop at this gorgeous herb city where there were vast flowers and beautiful scenery for all. I made a candle with colourful wax and all at their DIY place, and we had a very weird lunch, which I didn't really eat... It was literally flowers and grass plucked from the ground... so I just ate my bowl of rice and kimchi...

From there we drove for another hour to the closest South/North Korean border... it was surreal to visit a place where there was once war and is now a DMZ- demilitarized zone. To see the other side of Korea, it just felt good to be on the South side of it. There were barbed-wire throughout the whole perimeter and armed soldiers on patrol. The memorial picture depicts where South Koreans pray and pay their respects to their loved ones who died in North Korea during the war and was not brought back to South Korea for proper burial.

For dinner that night, we had a hot pot style dinner with pork and chicken with some veggies and tofu... and some more sitting on the floor. My legs were sore after...