Mr Bean playing piano!!

Random thoughts

I guess it’s about time to think what I really want in my life. At this point, the mundane routine of my life makes me wonder aloud: why am I doing all these things? All the studies, working, and attempts to excel in every aspect of my life, where are all these leading to? Of course I can answer that; the apparent goal is to get a good job that will bring me loads of money so that I can enjoy my life in the future.

However, such notion is the exact thing that makes me feel sad. I’m in a system that tells me that this will be the ideal life. I will be happy if I can have tones of money, big circle of friends and a nice family. Will I? I do not really know, but knowing that this is the very same goal that millions of people on this planet pursue disturbs me. I somehow feel that we are no different that an army of ants which works incessantly to gather and store food as if such behavior is determined by an invisible and sickeningly cruel force.

I can see where this is leading to: religion. But as always, I am not inclined to discuss it as I feel that religion is something devised by someone wise and kind to cure the fear, uneasiness, loneliness and void in every soul. Maybe I should just be simple and stop squeezing myself into the tip of a bull’s horn (Chinese proverb).

(another voice in my head: EEENNNNOUGGHH!!!!!! Will you stop all these bullcr@p and GET YOUR ASS BACK TO YOUR TERM PAPER? f~!@#$%)

NBA - Detroit vs Dallas

Went to my first NBA game today (3-28-2006) in the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit. It was a game between the Detroit Pistons and the Dallas Mavericks. The game was intense, but we managed to secure a 97-90 victory at the end of the match. We had a lot of fun cheering with a crazy crowd of 22000 (about the stadium’s full capacity) and seeing all the extra performances (including magic show, cheerleading dance etc). I would say that the whole experience was definitely worth a whole lot more than the 20 bucks I paid!!!

Impressive crowd, isn't it?

In the Palace of Auburn Hills!!

Time out

The final score

Happy 21st birthday

The title says it all...I'm officially an adult (although I refuse to accept that fact...)

Group photo (in my room)

Birthday boys

An econ story

The economy is failing. Indicators are going the wrong direction, and the projected growth seemed inauspicious. For the first time, technology advancement appeared to have stalled, posing question to whether the economy can sustain its current level. Such recession at times came dangerously close to a depression. It was always the faith of the people that pulled the nation out of such embarrassing failure.

A bailout from the foreign investors or other economic powers is an impossibility, a fact the nation knows too well. It would be foolish to expect the homo-economus-like foreign investors to put down their self interest and start doing charity. It would be fortunate enough if they don't launch a capital flight at such times.

Ultimately, the government has to do something. A stimulus package is certainly to be devised, but could the government have enough foresight and sagacity to concoct the elixir? As usual, time will unfold everything. At the meantime, all the people can do is to support and have faith in their leaders.

Another week

The past week had been a tough one….had 2 midterms which I screwed badly. Life was pretty much like a vacuum cleaner – it sucks (a brilliant statement by vs I think?). Now, the only thing that cheers me up is the thought of being able to go back Msia in less than two months’ time. Really looking forward to the sleep-marathon that I will certainly engage in when I’m back home. It has been like eons since I last get a good night’s sleep and some real rest. And it’s certainly very comforting to know that the effects of sleep deprivation adds up: “sleeping only six hours a night for a week makes you as tired on the seventh night as if you had had no sleep at all” (quoted from Sanjay Gupta’s article on Times)

Okay, will sign off soon. Still feeling a bit dizzy from listening the one-hour long 7th symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich performed by Kirov Orchestra in Hill Auditorium…..it’s simply too long and too overwhelming. Guess I still prefer the more pop-classical….

p.s: ASB chapter update finally completed…

Saturday 3/4

We woke up at 6.30am, and Marjorie prepared breakfast for us. We left at about 7.30, and again, I took the second shift for the journey back home. Reached Ann Arbor at about 7.00pm.

Friday 3/3 - Last day in School!

School in morning. Science class was cancelled, as there was a dancing performance for the kids in the gym. In the afternoon, we had a Hmong party with Hmong dancing and Hmong food. We were all dressed in the traditional Hmong costume, and a party scene was shoot (for the play) in the cafeteria. It was a hard time for us, knowing that we were about to say goodbye to those adorable kids.

We went to the Perkin’s for dinner, and after that we were back packing, ready to leave.

In Hmong traditional costume!

Students in my class

Group photo with Mr Mark (ASB 2006 yay!)

My "niece" and "nephew"

5th graders

Thursday 3/2

School as usual in the morning. In the afternoon, we went to the Mall of America, which was a huge shopping mall and a tourist attraction in Minneapolis (In fact, it was the fifth biggest in the world). We were there looking for a present for Mark and Marjorie.

From the Mall of America, we went straight to Old Spaghetti Factory for a Michigan alumni dinner. We met up with another ASB group there, which was in the domestic violence issue. We chatted with the alumni, and I had had a delectable plate of ravioli.

After dinner, we went back and spend the whole night making cards for the kids.