reeeeeeeading break.

Reading break should really be known as sleeping break. For all of you who don't know, Reading break is the university spring break that happens in February for most of the universities in the Vancouver area. It's been a sluggish reading break for me since all I did was catch up on sleep. Definitely not complaining about that since sleep is very difficult to come across these days. The excess of sleep will kick me in the butt soon since I was supposed to be doing homework and reading.

I started off my break by heading over the the island to visit one of my best girl friends who goes to school at UVIC - I mentioned this in an earlier post. It was a much needed girls weekend full of wine, girl talk, outings, piercings, singalongs and everything in between. During our last girls weekend in Whistler, we made a video to Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. This past weekend, we decided to do the same but to a different song. Take a look!!

VICTORIA 2013 

Hope you enjoyed the video! Until next time... ! xo

happy valentines day

happy valentines day lovers!

cheers to celebrating our love to everyone. 

infinite x's and o's.

nature vs nurture

There is always much debate regarding the results of nature versus nurture and its importance in childhood development. Each of us are born with unique characteristics and traits that shape who we are and the decisions we make. Among the amazing traits we're given, we're also given traits that aren't so appealing - whether it's jealousy, aggressive or angry traits, we all have it. 

Joseph Hall, a ten year old boy shot and killed his father two years ago. Child services had launched upwards of 23 investigations into the Hall home but came up with nothing. Joseph was born into a dysfunctional family surrounded by drugs, abuse and was said to be neglected throughout his childhood years. (Find out the full story HERE) His father was also apart of a Nazi group 60miles outside of LA where racism and prejudice is still very alive. Many of the Nazi meetings were held at the Hall household. 

Two years later, Joseph is now twelve years old and has been found guilty of his actions two years ago. During an interview, his grandma stated, "I knew he'd be a murderer, I just thought it'd kill later on." Do you think that Joseph was predestined to be a killer? Is it truly because it's in his genetics, the environment he grew up in or a combination of both? Is it fair that he's pled guilty to second degree murder?  

What are you thoughts on this case? on nature versus nurture in general? Leave your comments below! 

friends 4 evaaa

I'm so excited for this coming weekend, all of us girls are making the trip out to Victoria BC to visit our friend Laura - who is currently is studying at the University of Victoria. It'll be the first time since Christmas we'll all be together! 

CHRISTMAS 2012 <3

Some of us have been friends prior, but we all started hanging out, sharing our fruit roll ups around grade 3. It's been about 13 years that we've been really good friends. However, it wasn't always all smiles and laughter. Like any group of girls, we had our issues of bullying, self-esteem problems, stupid fights during field trips and all of the rest of the fun that comes along with growing up. 

At one point or another, all of us questioned whether our friendships would last. We were growing, maturing and trying to find our place in the world. Although we've had our rough times through the course of our friendship. If our friendship were to end, we'd still hold the highest respect for one another and not talk poorly of anyone. 

A couple weeks ago, I bumped into a few girls whom I used to play club volleyball with all throughout highschool. One of the girls mentioned she's no longer friends with her "best friend forever" then proceeded to go on a full fledged rant on how her now former best friend forever is a f*cking slut, whore, c*nt, dumb b*tch - every name that came to mind. It was odd to me that you can talk so poorly about if you guys had such a history together in the past. It just puzzles me when someone speaks so poorly about someone they were so close with in the past. 

Anyhow, I'm finding it extremely difficult to concentrate on my task - which is work because I'm so excited for the coming weekend! I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm beyond lucky to know I've got the most amazing friends in the world. Not many people can say this, but these girls have been my best friends since grade 3. 

Grade 4 - 9 years old.

December 2012.

What are your thoughts on friendships? 

#firstworldproblems

We've become such lazy arrogant individuals in the western world where we take everything for granted. I found this video on my friends' facebook page the other day and it's eye opening to watch. So many of us in today's society take what we have for granted and complain about the most absurd things. Complaining about leaving our charger in the other room, getting pickles even though we specifically asked for no pickles, throw a fit when our Toms get wet when it rains, turning the faucet a tad too far and scorching hot water comes out - the list literally goes on for DAYS.

I get it, we're lucky to be living in a country with such high living standards. There are hundreds of organizations to help the developing countries get clean water and education in an attempt to change their standard of living. Many of these organizations have been trying for quite a number of years - but where is the progress? Are those developing countries benefiting in the long-run from the help of these organizations. It seems as though they're tackling the problem at the wrong angle. They're helping to keep these kids alive by providing clean water and food, but that doesn't help them change their way of living.

It comes down to a sociological problem of lack of education and corrupt governments. With power crazed governments, it's difficult to make the change in these countries that need it. We have such high living standards in Canada and America because we've been educated and know that this is the "right" way of living.

My best friend, Jenna in Uganda this past year. 

It's sad to say that I don't think I'll be seeing this change in my lifetime. I'm happy that I've got friends who wish to see a change and have volunteered in developing countries in hopes of helping. But to be honest, to change those countries governments across the world are going to have to intervene on a global level.

What are your thoughts??

Western Skinny - Asian Fat

I came across this article today and reading it gave a weird uplifting feeling of relief. This conversation came up time and time again throughout my club volleyball seasons in highschool. We were all asian girls - with the odd white girl, 5'2-5'8. Some of us were petit, some of us weren't. For the petit girls, they literally ate anything and everything and still were the same size. But for us taller girls who had a bit more meat on us, it was difficult to keep up with the other girls' eating habits that consisted of junk food, soda and all the carbs in the world.

Body image has always been a struggle for me, it's a love hate relationship with my body, but I'm working on keeping a positive relationship with my body and food. I work out regularly to be able to eat the tasty - but fatty foods I love. In my household, my sister and I are quite tall, standing at 5'6 and 5'7. We've played sports our whole lives don't have the typical slender body type. We've got the broad shoulders from swimming, athletic legs from volleyball and strong arms from the combination of both sports. My mother however doesn't see this as being "athletic", she sees this as being fat. It doesn't help when my best girl friends have the generic slim, slender asian genes. Don't get me wrong, I have the best looking group of girlfriends, it's just hard to stand by them and be the "big girl."

WHISTLER 2012 <3 

I definitely agree with Jane who wrote the article, it's difficult to live in a world where traditional culture and standards clash with the western culture and standards.

What do you girls think?

ohana means family.

You never know how much you miss the constant fights, long car rides, sushi trips and pranks until they leave. My brother recently left to pursue his post graduate degree in Melbourne, Australia. 

Growing up with him wasn't always easy, he wasn't always the nicest brother but as we grew older I started to realize everything he did was out of love. He did things I may or may not have agreed with, but he did it to protect me. It scares me to know that you won't be around to help me out, look after me and be there to help screen any potential boyfriends. 

We ride together, die together, bad boys for life. <3

I know you're going to have an amazing experience, meeting new people and shape your future. I'm so excited for you and can't wait to hear all about your new adventures. 

"Ohana means family and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten." - Lilo & Stitch.

love always,

your baby sister.