The Last Blog Post for 2011 & New Years Resolutions!

Happy New Year
my friends!

Time really has zoomed! Every year, on December 31, I usually make a "Pre New Years" post! There is approximately 20 minutes left before 2012 hits! (Right now it is 11:40pm...). I have named this post the "last post" of 2011 since from tomorrow on, all posts will be labeled with a new year! New Years always brings me mixed feelings.. from being reflective to having hope for the better.
My 2011 experience really had its ups and downs, but I think it has really helped shaped me as I am growing older. (^v^) I guess one of the highlights of 2011 was being able to experience World Youth Day 2011 that took place in Madrid this year. That pilgrimage allowed me to experience adventures I never would have imagined to experience!

New Years Resolutions... 

I don't have too big of a list but here it goes!
1. To be able to succeed academically!! (^u^)
2. To spend more time with family and friends
3. Less procrastination and keeping on track in school and work!
4. Staying fit and healthy
5. Keeping a close relationship with God
6. To have fun and always be happy
7. Travel to Korea and visit my awesome teacher Amy!
8. To presevere even when obstacles come my way!
9. Enjoy every adventure that awaits me day by day
10. To keep blogging!

Well, I'm gonna head off to get ready for the countdown at my place! I wish all visitors a very Happy New Year! May all your wishes come true! Let us all begin the new journey of adventures in 2012!!!

Cheers!
Little Stars

Happy New Year!!!
Picture credit: usmanarif74 @Photobucket

Restaurant Experience Gone Wrong #2

"Be Assertive, not Passive
because you'll only be
angry at yourself."

Okay. So how do I put this? I have no idea what is wrong with the restauraunts in my city this year. I have been encountering some pretty bad servers lately.... from the crappy experience I got from the Viet restaurant now to the Chinese Restaurant who claims they have a pretty good Hot Pot deal. NO. Because some big jerk FORCED us to pay him tips..... I mean the hot pot was buffet style, what service do you expect? My friends and I perhaps experienced the worst "ripped off" experience ever. SERIOUSLY. Yet at the same time, all four of us were so mad at ourselves for not standing up to that jerk (let's refer to him as Mr. Window for privacy concerns).

The night started out being extremely fun and great, we laughed and joked as we ate and we ate a lot of really good stuff like beef and fish o(^v^)o, and all the hot pot goodies. But when it came to the time to pay, MR. WINDOW wrecked the fun atmosphere. Without actually showing us a cheque, he points to a pink slip and says: "Each of you have to pay 24 dollars."
Of course, my awesome friend did speak up and said: "Isn't it only 19 dollars, so..."
"Oh yah yah, like plus a small fee." he continues.     [(>w<)--WTF]

Oh okay, a small fee, for what? Yet, we were all so stoked at his rude attitude, we eventually just gave him the money and left. I mean we did not want to cause a scene with so many people lined up to pay. There are many lessons I have learned from this experience.

A. DON'T pay with cash, cause the jerk probably just took the money for himself.

B. SPEAK UP! Being passive, like we were, only results us in being angry at ourselves, yet we were the victims.

I really hope someone goes and catches Mr. Window for his rudeness. I mean seriously, forcing people to pay you tips? MAN YOU ARE CHEAP.

Thank you all for listening to my rant!

Only 3 MORE DAYS till Christmas!
Little Stars

"I'm not gonna serve you." .... Well your service is not worth my money.

I don't know if any of you have experienced this or not, if you have how did you deal with it? If not, well this is a rant about an incident that happened at lunch today. I don't wanna mention where this restauraunt is or what it is called. So, I am just going to refer to it as Restaurant X and the jerk host as Mr. Y.

Friday, end of the working days, a time to chill; a time to go out for lunch.

It stopped snowing and was rather warm today so of course my lovely mother and I decided we would go to our favorite Pho place for lunch. Restaurant X, we were usual customers, their pho isn't the best but they're quick and fast in terms of serving. I don't specifically like or dislike the place, but after today I think I've jumped to the dislike side.

12:30pm, lunch hour. Probably the worst time to go for lunch. We stepped inside the restaurant seeing that it was packed with people. A large crowd was waiting in the extremely small entrance area. My mother, being a sweetie like she always is decided she would respectfully wait in line for her turn to get a table. She even held the door for others! But, today was not our day. Two men swiftly walked in and went straight ahead of us and registered their name on a list.

WAIT. A LIST? WHAT? WHEN DID THEY HAVE THIS POLICY? Remember, we are usual customers (o_o).

My mom, seeing this, obviously felt upset, she waited for so long and these two men line jumped. (>.<). right? So, my mom stepped up to the Mr. Y and said "Um sir, i was before those two gentlemen." He glared at my mom with disbelief and put his hand over the sign up sheet.

"No you weren't." he said.
"YES I was. Ask those two gentlemen" my mom replied.
With much disbelief, he asked the two men: "Was she before you guys."
For some odd reason those two men made it seem like my mom lined jump and unwillingly nodded their heads.

So Mr. Y unwillingly let my mom put her name above. My mom then made a suggestion to Mr. Y that they should make a sign saying "please sign up to wait for a table" and then told him: "You really shouldn't be acting like that, it was rude. Why would I lie about this?"

OKAY. That blew it. He got pissed and faked a chuckle. And then he made another extremely  rude comment about my mom that I didn't quite hear from the loud noise of the restaurant. Then, all I heard was my mom saying "SHUT UP." (uh oh.)

"You go then, if you're so unsatisfied, I'm not gonna serve you."
My mom, being a strong woman then said... "Well your service is not worth my money anyways." and we left.

It is funny isn't it? It was a simple problem from before, yet because of what they said to one another it became a major issue.

I am not saying I fully support my mom because well she did become quite angry at the guy. But I am definitely NOT supporting MR. Y either.

But just a personal thought: If we would just take a deep breath, and try to rephrase our words, maybe this problem would not have occured.

Conclusion to this incident? We're never gonna set foot in Restaurant X ever again.

Cheers!
Little Stars

Last Day of Fall Semester

Photo credit: Lettie6@Photobucket

Today has perhaps been the most touching day since the fall semester started back in September. Last year, first year of University, I didn't really enjoy it much since I went through much of a cultural shock. This year was different. I set new goals and new plans and went a different route. Let's just say I am quite glad I chose to do this because without this decision, I wouldn't have met such an amazing professor. I will not mention her name. but will only refer to her as Dr. P.

I only chose Sociology so that I could get a high GPA and that it transfers to the University I am applying to, since I want to switch to the nursing program there. I didn't expect very much of this class. The goals I had in mind at the very beginning were simple. Study. Do good. Get a good GPA. Done. However, after the first two weeks of Sociology, I began to fall in love with the class as my professor made it the best class of my whole semester.

Dr. P is a very different professor. She doesn't quite act like the usual professor. Rather, she treats her students like friends, engaging them in great group discussions and introduces them to new ideas and critical ways of thinking. She has great humor! Even though every Tuesday and Thursday, since the start of the semester, I would have to go from 8 AM morning class all the way to 5pm, sociology (even though it was late) was a class I never wanted to miss.

Today, our last class ended off with a very touching wrap up speech by Dr. P.
I will never forget what she said: "Go on and pursue the dream you have, I really hope all you do achieve them, it is okay to know your limits--don't be ashamed if you didn't achieve them when you have tried your best", "when the curve ball comes and hits you, get back up and go back on the treadmill!" She ended off with tears in her eyes.

Last year, when I was in the nursing program at the university I am in right now, I wasn't having a very good year, I didn't meet very nice professors. Hearing Dr. P say that I felt deeply touched, it seemed like she knew what we as students were going through. All the stress and disappointments and high expectations. Dr. P will always be one of the professors I will remember nad forever respect. Thank you ,Dr. P, you are an amazing woman, teacher, and nurse!

Good luck to all who have finals coming up!
Little Stars

Exams. Christmas Shopping. Sleep Deprived

December is really a month of stress!

"It's beginning to look a lot like STRESSMAS, everywhere you go!"

It's so true isn't it? I am sure many university or college students would agree with me. December is no doubt one of the busiest months of the whole year. Students, like myself are stressing out about exams and applications, Christmas shopping, and worse of all, we don't get enough sleep! o(>.<)o


Don't get me wrong, I love the Christmas season, REALLY! But, I guess with the fact that I have exams before the actual holiday, it really gives me migraines. I recently heard on the radio that many people are prone to suffer from depression during this time due to all the stress that the holiday season brings. NO KIDDING!

When the Christmas season hits a lot of people are "sucked" into the preparation from buying gifts to decorating the house, to hosting parties. MAN, with all of that, there is seriously not enough time to catch up on sleep...let alone have exams on top of all of that. YUCK!

So I just want to wish all my fellow university/ college readers good luck on your exams! And yes, have a very Merry Christmas!

Little Stars