XLIII : Last Semester of Undergrad - Week 1

So many times people have asked me some variation of "so, how was your day?" It could have become "how are classes?" or "how was your vacation?" Anything about whatever is going on in my life. And I always thought they were just being polite and asking it like "Hi! How are you?" as a greeting. So, I would always answer "good" and leave it at that. But after entering college and meeting many people, I found that some people really want to know the details. They say something like "so... what did you do?" Some sort of "how so" question to make me recall what I did. I think this process has made me more aware of what I actually do during break or class or whatever. Before, when I just said "good" and never elaborated on why it was good (not even in my diary!), I found it difficult to remember what in the world did I do to pass the time. Thus, I felt I didn't have many memories. I wanted to make at least this last semester more interesting by getting out there more. Undergrad has really changed how I view the world from my point. I enjoy it incredibly. Now, to recall some interesting things I encountered this first week.


I'm taking this Japanese anime class that meets every Tuesdays from 9-10:50am, and it's a critical studies class so it focuses on the messages and changes in anime. It's in the digital arts building a little ways off campus, but the room is awesome. Insulated perfectly for surround sound and great movie play-back. Tiny little movie theater in a way. In the first class, we watched a featurette (and the first 10 mins or so of the live action) called Blood: The Last Vampire. On the surface, it just looked like a vampire hunter killing off evil aliens that took on human form to live among the humans. However, without proper knowledge about Japanese history (and US relations), one may have missed the creator's criticism of the use of American bases in Japan during the Vietnam war and the American troops staying in Japan after WWII. After seeing how anime can (if not is) used as a way to convey criticisms or messages about society, technology, or any issue, I have a slightly different mindset when I think about the anime I have watched before. I had already noticed the mental and emotional depth in certain mangas I have finished and am currently following, but I hadn't thought of it in a way that reflected society.

I forget which day this was, but when I was washing dishes, I broke my cup (remember this?)from my elementary school friend, whom I lost contact with after junior high.

It was a gift that I had been reluctant to use for a few years, and I finally started using it freshman year of college, but only when I was at home. It was my retainer cup for a short while. I didn't start really using it as a cup until last year, so it's sad that I didn't get to use it much. But what's happened has happened and I can't change the fact that I broke it. For some reason, I didn't have as much emotional attachment to it as I thought, so it wasn't that hard to part with the pieces. I wonder why for some items, they are hard to part with because it's like parting with the memory of certain individuals. Maybe I've already accepted the fact that I lost contact with my elementary school friend a long long time ago. Feelings are strange.

On Thursday, I had microbiology lab. Walking to the lab, I passed by this:

a bunch of pigeons feasting on freshly fertilized soil! yumm. Pigeons are weird.

The same day, I bought my lab manual for physiology. It was around $17. Compared to the microbiology lab manual, it's about the same thickness:

But for some reason, the micro lab manual was about $73. Crazy. Our bookstore is weird.

And just yesterday, when I opened the freezer to just take a look at what goods are in it, I finally noticed this on my pack of udon:

I went "oops" and put in the fridge. I hope to finish it during week 2. I am weird.

I went home today (Sat 1/16) on a 10am flight and came back to LA on a 7pm flight. The whole purpose for the trip home was to replace my broken retainer (hmm, do I want a picture of it?). It was nostalgic visiting my orthodontist again. I hadn't been back since I first got my retainer about 6 years ago, which as also when I got my braces off! It was great to see the place unchanged. Totally unchanged. So, he checked my teeth and the bottom... uhh.. wire that acts as a permanent retainer-functioning thing cemented against the back of my teeth. He was surprised they were still tightly cemented on and happily told me how good my teeth were still in place since 6 years ago. Yay for taking good care of my teeth! He asked if I flossed every day, and I pretty much do, but not really for the sake of cleaning my teeth. That's just a small part of the reason why I floss. I want to use up the roll of floss I got my freshman year of college... I don't know why I take so long to use it up. Ah well. I think I have another one somewhere.

So, to wrap up. Because I called home so often this week and actually went home for a few hours, I really didn't feel like I wanted to stay home for too long. I saved this in my text message drafts when I was at the airport:
Whenever I go home to my parents, I cannot stay too long or else I will begin to feel I want to leave them. But for the while I am there, no matter the length of time, I feel a responsibility to be with them. Maybe it's because I feel the time I haven't been beside them physically can be made up by these precious moments I am alongside them. Or maybe it's because I can't let them go yet, not even close. Or maybe it's because I don't want to ever let them go. But when I leave them again, I don't have that longing to return soon. So much internal conflict.

I love how many of my self-analyses come when I'm in the bathroom.

I hate how there's a party next door. There was one last night already, haven't these people had enough of this place already?