volunteering

Wow, it's ironic that I wrote yesterday about my love for traveling...

One of my good friends just asked me if I would be interested in volunteering at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic as an alternative winter break. OF COURSE I'm interested!!!

1. I've always believed that volunteering and participating in community service is important
2. I love speaking in Spanish (it isn't required for this program, but I know I'd use it 
3. I love to travel (I studied in Mexico 5 weeks this summer and hope to do more!) 

 Photo by naya_girl

This would be an amazing opportunity for me, and I know I would absolutely love it! I  have a great desire to go, and I really hope it will be possible. I'll definitely keep you updated!

Has anyone else volunteered abroad?

mp3

I hardly spent anytime surfing the Internet yesterday, and I didn't even read the blogs I follow. Now, this wasn't because I was out of the house or super busy. I actually sat in front of my computer all day...

I was downloading music to my new Zune.

I've had the first generation 30 GB Zune for 3 years now. It doesn't work consistently and yesterday, the software wouldn't recognize that the device was plugged in. So what does that mean? I couldn't sync anything to the Zune.

Music has always been a huge part of my life - I use my Zune all the time! When this happened, I just freaked out a little. Actually, I freaked out a lot. I bought the new 120 GB Zune yesterday, and I'm so glad I have it: it's new, it works, it's better, and I don't have to worry about replacing all of my music that I've used before.

Photo by Asian Image

I'm relieved now that I have a new player. Without music, I don't know what I would do!!

How often do you use your mp3 player?

airplanes

Yesterday at the office, I was working on the Mac, editing some video. I faced the window the whole time, and I couldn't help but notice all of the planes flying into the airport. Plane after plane, minute after minute.

I used to be afraid of flying, but after traveling via plane to come home from college each time, I've become quite used to it. I actually consider myself an "expert flier" now. I love flying.

Photo by Felipe Barrientos

The real reason why I love flying though is that I love to travel. I want to see the world. I'd like to learn about more cultures and different groups of people. I want to visit Spain, Chile, Argentina, Asia, Australia, France, Italy, and more.

Not only is it an enjoyable experience when I travel, but also an important experience. I believe that it is important for an individual to travel and learn about different cultures in order to have a better, more knowledgeable understanding of the world.

Do you agree?

a word from thoreau

Photo by ღĴęNňζ™

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

- Henry David Thoreau

I live by this. Will you?

the time traveler's wife

After seeing the trailer for "The Time Traveler's Wife," which is based on a novel by Audrey Niffenegger and stars Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana, I was intrigued by the plot of the movie: a woman and a man in love, but because he travels through time, she never knows when they will be together - or for how long.

 Photo from IMDB

One of my weakness is, well, anything that has to do with a love story. So naturally, I decided that I would have to buy the novel and read it before I saw the movie. And soon.

I started reading the novel on the drive home from Toronto and haven't been able to put the book down since! I'll be sure to give you my final thoughts on the novel once I'm finished.

I'm currently close to being halfway through the novel, and absolutely cannot wait to see the movie after its release next Friday. Of course, the book will seem better to me than the movie - I've always believed the scenes my mind creates while reading are always better than any Hollywood adaptation. In any case, it's fun to compare the movie to what you had imagined the scene would be like while reading.

Do you try to read the book before watching the movie like I do?

return

After the long weekend, I am back (and ready to continue writing here, since I didn't post as much this weekend)! I thoroughly enjoyed visiting our family in Toronto, and although spending a total of 24 hours in the car this weekend was very difficult, it was worth it.

While exploring downtown Toronto, I noticed there were so many different ethnic groups there - Chinese, Filipino, French, European (in general), Korean, Arabic, and more. I had never been to a place where there was such a mix of people! And we call the United States of America the melting pot?? Toronto is more of a melting pot in my opinion.

Of course, being with my relatives was the best part. We rarely get to see them since we live so far away from each other, and I was able to see my cousin who I haven't seen in over 10 years! She was the girl who was getting married.

Speaking of marriage and the wedding...all of the weddings I have gone to were for people I didn't know. This time, it was different. This weekend was the first time I had gone to a wedding in which the bride was a woman who was close to me, either as a relative or a friend.

I was able to help with certain parts of the wedding and reception, to watch my cousin and her bridesmaids prepare for the wedding, and talk to her about how she felt about everything. I'm happy for them, and I wish them the best.

Photo by sparktography

Did I mention that I caught the bouquet? Well, I did.

Looking back on it, it was a great weekend. How was yours?