Happy Obama Day!

Words can't even describe my feelings right now.
I am so excited for the next 4 yearso(^^o)(o^^)o わくわく, and I haven't had this feeling in a long time. After experiencing the devastating disappointment of the Gore v. Bush debacle, I didn't really have confidence in the election process. After this election, I can safely say that my faith has been restored!!
I was so touched by Obama's speech.
Some of my favorite parts:

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.

I'm glad he addressed just how difficult this journey will be. Sometimes I get really concerned that people are raising their expectation for Obama so high that he'd never be able to achieve their expectation. Hopefully, everyone will work together to overcome these times of crisis.

We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

I truly believe that the American spirit is much stronger and much more resilient than those who attack us. This was evident by the way we handled 9/11. I have never felt more patriotic than I did today.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

ZOMG. This just hit it out of the park!! p(*＾-＾*)q

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

This just spoke to the environmentalist in me. we must CHANGE!

＼（＾ ＾）／

Right now, I'm watching Obama and Michelle's first dance...and can I say "AWWWWWWW!!"
(*^^*)ﾎﾟｯ
They are so amazing together!! Michelle is so smart and so elegant, and her dress...AMAZING! Obama is just so suave and cool.

I'm so proud to call her my First Lady and him my President!
God Bless America!

Japan vs. Korea

I'm faced with quite a dilemma.┗(；´Д｀)┛
I just found out there is this great summer program in Japan that lasts 10 weeks and would be at a language intensive school...
on the other hand...
I've already applied to Korea for the language program there.
So I've turned to blogger to help me visualize my pros and cons...

Korea
Pros:
☆ Part of the EAP program, so transfer credits are guaranteed
☆ I've never been to Korea
☆ I love Korean food
☆ I would be with UC students around my age

Cons:
★ I don't really know Korean
★ It's really HOT
★ More expensive

Japan
Pros:
☆ I already know a bit of Japanese, so I'd be able to get around easier
☆ I like Japanese food
☆ I really want to achieve some sort of Japanese fluency
☆ It would look good if I decide to apply for the JET program
☆ Cheaper

Cons:
★ The program is not a part of my school, so credits are not guaranteed
★ Age-range in program is quite vast
★ Japan is overall more expensive (maybe?)

I guess I'll have to talk to my IR major adviser and the Japanese adviser (to make sure this program is legit) to weigh my options.(?(｡_。).｡o0O?？

If there is anyone that still reads this...feel free to weigh in!!
o(￣Д￣o)(o￣Д￣)o

Apparently...I'm going to Taiwan! International Chinese Language Program at NTU.
And yes. That is my FINAL decision!!

＼(＾▽＾*)So come visit me in Taiwan!!(*＾▽＾)／

Bikram Yoga

Like I posted in my previous post, one of my goals this year is to get healthy. (||| ×ｍ×)

So far, I've started to eat my meals on time and not miss any of them. I've actually packed lunch (a turkey breast and cheese sandwich) everyday!!

So for the second part of "getting healthy", I wanted to take a P.E. class. That didn't work out too well...(it was too early!! ﾊｧ━(-д-；)━ｧ... )

...sooo instead, I started taking yoga.
While searching on daviswiki, I found that there was a yoga studio near my apartment that taught the Bikram style of yoga.

If you don't know what Bikram yoga is, this is the wiki definition:

Bikram's Yoga, also known as Hot Yoga, is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury and a Los Angeles, California based company[1]. Bikram Yoga is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105°F (40.5°C) with a humidity of 40%. Classes are guided by specific dialogue including 26 postures and two breathing exercises. Classes last approximately 90-minutes.

After one session, I am officially ADDICTED!
わあい＼(^▽^＼)(/^▽^)/わあいっ
I've never sweat so much in my life, and I worked all my muscles.
I plan on going everyday except for Mondays (too many classes that day).
Hopefully, I can keep this up!!
Pray for my willpower!
(人･_･)♡ ♡(･_･人)

New Year's Resolution ~

1. GET HEALTHY!
---This means: eat less junk food, cook more at home, bring packed lunches, exercise instead of sitting at home watching TV or "studying", and no more midnight snacking!!

2. SAVE MONEY!
---This means: no more internet shopping, no more impulse buys, and spending smart on groceries.

3. DO MUCH BETTER IN SCHOOL!
---This means: more A's, no more procrastination, and more studying.

4. BE MORE ADVENTUROUS!
---This means: saying "yes" to things I normally wouldn't say "yes" to (of course, without compromising my morals), meeting more people, doing things on my "to-do list", and being more involved in clubs.

皆さんへ、
一緒に頑張りますか？
♪（*＾ー゜)ｖ（*＾▽＾*）*☆ガンバル☆♪

FINAL GRADES...

TWO "A's" and a "B+"...
ゎぁぃ♪ ヾ(*⌒∇⌒)八(⌒∇⌒*)ツ ゎぁぃ♪
Pretty happy about that!!
Strangely though, I got a B+ in the class that I like the most this quarter.
and the two classes I got A's in...well...let's just say that i rarely attended class.

Now it makes me excited for next quarter!!
I will be taking...
1. Economics 1A - Intro to Microeconomics
2. History 4C - History of Western Civilization
3. Chinese 112 - Intermediate Chinese
4. Psychology 142 - Social and Personality Development
5. P.E. - Weight Training for Beginners (this has to do with my new year's resolution...which I will post sometime closer to the new year...)

Half of the classes are really just freshman courses...since I need to start from the beginning for my new double major.
So it shouldn't be TOO bad. (fingers crossed)

I've also quit one of my jobs (which was a pretty awkward thing to do...since they were like, "why did you quit THIS job instead of the OTHER job?"...), since I was able to attain an internship with the Asian American Disparity Center. I'm happy that everything is going according to plan so far. Now...if only I could get some publications with my name out...that would be excellent.

On a slightly different subject,
My dad doesn't seem too happy with the fact that I'm doubling in International Relations. Nor does he seem to like the fact that I'm a Psychology (non-science degree...a.k.a. A.B. degree) major. He keeps asking me what I'll do with these degrees and what my future is going to be like with such "useless majors" that "ANYBODY can get".
☆⌒(＞。≪)イタイ
ouch dad. ouch.

Pass Time

I just signed up for all of my winter quarter classes in under 1 minute.
How freaking bomb is that?
And my schedule next year is pretty awesome...
1. History 4C
2. Chinese 112
3. Psychology 142
4. Economics 1A

And I don't start until 11:00 am!!
YES!