In this page, you will get to explore the mind, events and feelings of a Chun Jui... ok, fine, judging from the past 22 years, my life is far from what you call "eventful" (in fact, "dull" might the be more appropriate adjective) but I'll try to keep my entries interesting!
Monday, March 24, 2003
YAY!!!! Today is one of my happiest days because I got accepted into the OISE/UT M.A. in Child Study and Education program!!! It was actually kinda weird because it was my brother who got the mail and handed me the OISE/UT envelope... it was kinda weird because as you might remember, my brother is in London, so it was a like a double surprise with my brother coming home unexpectedly for a quick visit AND getting the offer of admission at the same time! =) I am so happy!! But, it's a conditional offer, so I'd better not blow this last part of the school term...that would suck big time, if my marks dipped and get my offer retracted... *shudder* Scary...
Friday, March 21, 2003
As I'm writing this entry, I'm also watching the latest developments on the war in Iraq. As with the 9/11 event, I can't seem to turn myself away from news reports. It just seems to so unreal: with modern technology, we are now able to watch bombs and missiles going off as they happen on the other side of the world. It's like watching a movie with really good technological effects. It's kinda hard to believe that it's really happening to real people in real places as we're watching it happen on TV. In times like these, I'm just really grateful that I am living in Canada, a country where peace is so valued and emphasized. There are some Canadians, even Ernie Eves, who disagree on our government's non-participation in the war but I am really proud that our PM made that decision. I don't think there is any other country in the world that I would feel safe in during times of war other than Canada.
However, even though I feel relatively secure from war here in Canada, I wish I could say the same about the outbreak of the deadly atypical pneumonia. As many of you would know, I have many family members in Hong Kong and in China, and I would be lying if I said that I wasn't worried about their health. One of my cousins did email me to tell me that she is safe-- she is nurse in a HK hospital. Luckily, her hospital is relatively safe from the virus so far but she also said that it's scary for her to go to work, as she is in charge of the infection control unit. =/
YOu know, with the war going on and this outbreak of a deadly illness, it's almost kinda ironic that the world is going through such uncertain, scary times at this day in age. I mean, wars and deadly epidemics seem to only exist in history textbooks for children of baby boomers in North America. I mean, people have landed on the moon, humans have been cloned (or claimed to have been cloned), and yet, we're still vulnerable to war and illnesses. Can we really say that we've progressed then? Are we really that much more advanced than our ancestors from centuries ago? The threats to the world hundreds of years ago are the exact same ones we are facing today, the 21st century. Ironic, isn't it?
Sunday, March 9, 2003
So it snowed again. =/ grr... I really hate it when it snows, did I ever mention that? =P Anyway, Friday was a pretty busy but social day. It started off quite normally with me going to work and then picking my mom up from her singing class. Then, it was off to downtown to meet up with Cindy, Wendy, etc., to prepare for our SURPRISE party for Golnaz! =) It was to celebrate her amazing acceptance into the sociology grad program. We cooked dinner for her, tricked her into coming over to the house we were throwing the party at, and after a LONG time, she FINALLY came into the living room where we were all hiding. I had my camera ready and I snapped a photo of her as soon as we yelled "Surprise!" =P I hope it turns out well because the look on her face was just priceless. heehee...
Anyway, we all had a good time (some wine was involved, naturally) but then we all had to be somewhere else later in the evening, so we ended the party with an absolutely amazing dessert that Wendy made--a really, soft, light and moist strawberry shortcake! It was iced and had chocolate-dipped strawberries and chocolate shavings on top; it looked so professional! Anyway, I was meeting up with the HK gang at a bubble tea place on Spadina and Queen. It was pretty cool looking place and we managed to inhabit the couches in the middle of the place. It was so good to see them again, to catch up with what was going on with everybody. Oh, by the way, congratulations Tammy for your acceptance into law school at Queen's! =) Moaz and Courtney couldn't make it, which was too bad... I haven't seen the both of them since August!! Moaz, I still have your puzzle... =P
Yesterday was a total write-off in terms of doing school work. It was just one'em days... I was really moody and spacey, and any little thing made me want to cry. I do know why I felt that way and I really hope that yesterday was the last time I'll ever be sad about it. It gets frustrating, you know? Anyway, I'm back to my usual self today, so hopefully, I can actually do some work today!
Thursday, March 6, 2003
Well, long time no update... let's see what has happened since the last entry? Oh, well, I had my interview with the M.T. program last week, and it went ok but not brilliantly. Which is ok because I don't really want to get into it. I was not nervous at all that day of the interview but I had started to feel little nervous minutes before it because while I was waiting for my turn, I find out from current students that this year, about 160-something people applied, only 40 were selected for interviews but only 20 out of those 40 will be admitted!! Why were they doing that? Well, apparently it's because this very new program is only offered at University of Toronto and nowhere else, and so, they are trying to make it very, very prestigious. You can't see it right now but I'm rolling my eyes as I type this! =P I rolled my eyes internally too when the students told me this last week. But, I can't say I'm really surprised--- it's at U of T, one of the snottiest (perhaps the snottiest) university in Canada, afterall! =) Anyway, the interview was about 20 minutes long with a panel of three people (two current students and one professor) interviewing me. Compared to the York interview, I wasn't as nervous for this one, although this one was definitely much more formal and nerve-filled than the M.A. one.
Second piece of big news--- in fact, so big that I can't believe I'm only writing about it NOW-- one of my very best friends, Liz, has set a wedding date!!! =D She and Chris will get married next year on September 4! Yes, that does sound like a long time away but it really isn't because churches need to be booked, dresses need to be picked out, a location for the reception needs to be confirmed (it's tentatively going to be at Liz's parents' house--5 minute walk from my house!), etc. And speaking of dresses, I am now officially appointed as bridesmaid (her sister is the maid of honour), and apparently, I will be wearing blue... don't know exactly what shade because Liz had some problems describing the shade she had in mind over the phone. =) This is so exciting!!! But at little scary too... I mean, a girl whom I've known since grade 2 is GETTING MARRIED. I still feel like a 16 year old at times (most of the time, actually) and you're telling me, my best friend is getting married and soon will start her own family??? It's scary!
And speaking of scary, anybody drive yesterday through all that snow?? I woke up, looked out the window and all I saw was white. My first thought was, "Ok, I am NOT going outside in this weather!" and I wouldn't have if I didn't already schedule an appointment with Cindy and Golnaz to meet with our professor. So then, after a lot of debate of whether I should ask to reschedule, I decided grudingly that I will indeed drag my bum to school. But the next question was "How?" Should I attempt to drive to Fairview and park there as I usually do, and brave the conditions on the roads or should I take the bus and let the bus driver worry about driving? I, of course, did not want to take the bus (you've read enough about my "qualms" with the TTC), as it would probably take 2 hours, instead of the regular half hour to get to Finch Station. Plus, the bus would be overheated and be filled with the nasty sweaty, musty, wet wool smell of other people. Ugh. I decided I would brave the snow and drove.
P.S. Pictures are being scanned and will be posted up shortly! (hopefully)
P.P.S. If there any pictures that you would like to download or a copy of that's on my website, let me know, and I can send them to you. I will probably be taking some down, so that I have more room to post up new ones! =)
It was indeed quite slippery on the 404. And it was quite eery to drive on a major highway without any other car in sight for a few minutes. I felt like I was the only one in the world who was crazy enough to be driving through the snow on the highway. I was going at maybe 30 km/hour, the fastest 40 km/hour, and I felt like I was being reckless. I had no idea what lane I was in. I felt like I was in one of those sweaty, delusional, wacky "dreams" you get when you have a fever. After a while, it felt kind of cool, actually. I felt like I owned the highway, a sojourner. So that was what crack heads must feel like when they're high and driving.
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