Life is so busy

It's getting really hard to find any downtime here at UVA. I'm finding myself staying up later and later as I study for more and more subjects. It's hard, and I really miss my old friends... I miss Teck Fresh and the goofy things we did over the summer... But that's okay, cause I've made some great friends here too. Emily Chau is one of my closest friends here. Haha, it's pretty late and I can't really think of anything to say. But I really do miss my home and my old life.

Updates

Hey guys, it's been a while since I blogged. Been studying and all that. Just wanna quickly recap what I've been doing since the last post.

I was involved in Tet Show, studied a bunch for different tests, got OKAY scores, (I hope I can pull out with at least a 3.3 this semester) and am now trying to go to JMU for a culture show. A lot of drama, etc. but its whatever right now. I've become more appreciative of VSA after Tet Show but things are starting to settle back to the way they were before. Go figure. I hope y'all have a good week, month, life. etc. New post when I'm not studying I promise.

-Vinh

Success

I am grateful for Natalie Nguyen.

Hey just wanted to put down some thoughts before the new decade. This year has been great and I've gone through so many big steps in my life this year that I gotta put it down somewhere. I've been through a lot and it's really shown me who I am and what really matters. I've met so many amazing people at UVA and have been involved in a lot that I just wanna quickly shout out my thoughts because I really don't want to forget how significant 2009 has been for me. I also want to say some quick words to the people that really mean a lot for me this year and have always been there for me.

Significant Events For Me in 2009:

• Got accepted into UVA


• Graduated from High School


• Turned 18


• Amazing Summer with Teck Fresh


• Lived on my own for more than 2 weeks


• Joined OYFA/VSA


• Let loose and started to go out


• Met a bunch of awesome people


• Met the Weedon Crew


• Formed Team Vianh


• Got an HD Camera

A couple years ago I wrote a pretty lengthy note on New Years Eve that was a reflection of who have meant a lot to me in my life up to that point. Looking back on what I wrote, my feelings are still the same today. So I wanted to revise that quote save me time to publish this note before its 2010.

"For the rest of '09, I feel so lucky to have met so many new people and friends. Many have brought me new ideals and perspectives about life, that I feel has improved my life and changed me for the better. Some of have made me laugh, some of them have encouraged me, and some just have made me happy. To be very brief, some of these people that I'm thankful for meeting this year or have gotten closer to are Alex Chou, ELDEREN LEE, Chris Kim, Sohwa Kim, Angela Kim, Anessa Caalim, Keia Del Rosario, Sofie Bitangcol, Emily Chau Ian Fajardo, Kyle Powers, Mama Tina Fernandez, Antonio Navarro, Lorenzo, CHI Kim Ho, Josh Borden, Crystal Lu, Agnes Kim, Sarah Seo, Jason Kim, Andria Song Tri Nguyen, Valerie Cardenas, Adrianne Castro, Natalie Nguyen, Vicky Nguyen, Sachi Ainge, Sarah Pietropaoli, Charles Wood, Nicole Martinez, Lynn Huang, Liz Kakouris, Kevin Padilla, Riz Magalong, Bobby Shoemaker, Alex Parker, and Zack Davis."

If I left you out sorry! The good thing about writing a note is that I can always edit it ;) I know this note is redundant seeing how I posted a Thanksgiving shout out last month, but 2009 really was a good year for me and everyone I've met has touched me in some way and I want them to know it :)

New Years Resolutions? I might as well post that up too right?

Goals for 2010

• Make it onto the UVA Dean's list


• Make a beautiful/funny HD film at UVA


• Learn to dance/bboy


• Go to Slaughter Gym and get big


• Reconnect with people I've lost contact with


• Meet more amazing people


• Less junk food


• Give more than I receive


• Streak the Lawn


• Maintain

I hope 2010 brings all of you a year full of happiness, success, peace, and prosperity. Lets keep the good times rolling :)

ANYWAYS, HAPPY NEW

YEAR FOLKS!

Happy Holidays!

Hey, hope everyone is having a good time at home with their families! It's been a while (again I know) and I really wish I update this blog on a daily basis but I get lazy haha. It's pretty weird how I come around to post every month, but it's nice to see the contrasts in my posts every month y'know? Not many people follow my blog anyways and it's for me to relieve my thoughts so its whatever right.

ANYWAYS, what's up with my life? I got home for my Winter Break from UVA on Friday, last week. I drove home with a 2nd year friend of mine named Josh. It was a really cool drive home, I got to learn a lot about him and I guess he got to learn a lot about me. We're in OYFA (Organization of Young Filipino Americans, I know I'm not Filipino. But you don't have to be) so we had a lot of topics to talk about. We talked about the stuff going on in our lives and I had a good time just sitting back and talking. Josh lives in Southern Virginia and he was driving up to NoVA (Northern Virginia) to attended our friend's (Sofie's) debut. To those that aren't familiar with Filipino Debuts, its pretty much a debutante ball for Filipino girls when they turn 18, like how the Spanish celebrate when their daughters turn 16. Consequently, Josh got stuck up in NoVA because on Saturday night, a HUGE snow storm hit our area that piled up around 2 feet of accumulated snow. It ended up closing the local schools for about 3 days (which they are loving because it gave the local highschoolers a 2 week Christmas Break)

Sunday night, I went to my first Filipino Debut. It was supposed to be on the night before but the snow storm ended up delaying the party and as a result, many guests from UVA couldn't drive up and attend. Although at first I was disappointed by the lack of familiar people I knew at the Debut (even Josh couldn't go because his car got snowed in at his Aunt's neighboorhood) I ended up having a lot of fun! There was good food, dancing, and a lot of happy people celebrating my friend's birthday. It got emotional at one point but it was a nice atmosphere.

There's me with my friends and the lovely birthday girl :)

It was a little awkward at first because almost NO ONE from UVA showed up. But that's alright, it turned out to be a very lovely evening.

It was also a PARTY, so of course I got my groove on :)
Check out the birthday girl's reaction! LOVE IT haha

It's really nice to be home and it's been very relaxing. I ended my first semester of UVA with a 3.3 GPA, which I'm both pleasantly surprised and disappointed in. For one thing, I did not think I would end up with a 3.3 GPA but when It came out, it made me realize how CLOSE I was to UVA's Dean's List (3.4 GPA). It made me think that if I worked just a LITTLE bit harder, or was a little bit less careless, I could have made the Dean's List! Also, it really shows a stark contrast with my highschool GPA. I remember ending my freshman year in high school with a 3.85 GPA. It's crazy and stressful because I am trying to get into Medical School which requires at least a 3.5 GPA to be considered competitive. I can still hear my mom's concerned voice when she heard the GPA I received. "Mom I got a 3.3" "3.3?! That's so low!"

But it's whatever, UVA is difficult and I guess I should be happy with a 3.3 GPA with the high standards UVA has. But it has definitely motivated me to improve and they say 1st semester is the most difficult (but at the same time I've heard it all goes downhill from there) I'm determined to succeed however, and I want to be a doctor.

Anyways, I participated in a secret Santa lately with some of my closest friends. The limit was $25 to spend and I bought my secret Santa a furry hat and scarf that totaled up to $24.95. PERFECT! I think she liked it because she was wearing the scarf and hat right after I gave it to her. It was fun getting to see my friends again. My gift, unfortunately, wasn't that great. I was hoping to get a new white cap or a nice shirt at the least but my secret santa ended up getting me an Astro Boy lunch box.



But whatever, I'm really glad I was able to make my secret Santa happy and I think she genuinely liked my gifts. I gotta thank my friend Andria for helping me pick those out.

So what have I been doing at UVA? Well during finals week, instead of studying, I decided to jam with my friends from OYFA, Ian Fajardo. We got into a local competition with Josh where we would post a musical video in response to each other on Facebook. Here's one of our videos :)



Other than that, I've gained about 9 lb in the last 3 months from UVA food. I'm planning on getting fit again over winter break. I've also picked up bboying! I'll update once I get decent. Anyways, I think this post should make up for my month of absence. Happy Holidays everyone, and be safe!

Blessed and Stressed

It's been a while since my last post but I think its excusable seeing as how busy I've been for the last 2 months.

First off, I want to say that I miss home, I miss my friends (Teck Fresh, Sohwa, and Angela especially), and Mimi (my dog). Thanksgiving break is next week so it wont' be long before I see them again. I am always thinking of all of you and wish that I can get to see you guys as soon as possible. Hearing words from you aren't the same as talking to you guys face to face. I love and miss you all very much.

UVA is both a blessed and one of the most stressful places I've ever been. I've adjusted to living but am still not used to not exceeding academically here at UVA. It's tough and I hate how tough it is. It's fuckin stressful because it's the first time I'm getting Bs on a regular basis. But I'm also getting involved with the orgs here at UVA.


First off, I've been Historian for the Vietnamese Student Association for about 1 month now and I gotta say that I fairly enjoy making slideshows for VSA and giving back to this very communal org. However, the downside would be that I have to attend ALL the VSA events and meetings that keep me away from participating in other orgs that I equally enjoy.


The Organization of Young Filipino Americans, especially, is an organization that I am in love with. The sense of family the Filipinos transcends into this Org and I couldn't be happier. I've gotten so close to people like Kyle, Keia, Anessa, Ian, and Sofie that they're the closest physical family I've got here at UVA. I <3 my OYFA bigs too. They're seriously amazing and are the closest things to older siblings that I have ever gotten in my life. They're funny, supportive, caring and I love all of them, especially Mama. Love is the only genuine word that I can use to describe OYFA.

I'm going to go to VCU this weekend for a Filipino Culture Convention. It should be interesting but I'm looking forward more to the family bonding that I know is gonna be happening. It should give me a chance to unwind after a hell week of papers and exams. I can't describe how disappointed I am at myself for not doing as well academically but with the support of all my friends here at UVA, I'm getting by. Hope the next post won't take as long to post.

UVA is amazing