good tidings for Christmas, and a happy new year :)

Greater Taipei area, as seen from Mao Kong, with Taipei 101 visible in the background

I've not yet finished posting about my last trip to Taiwan (I've since been home in Toronto), and now I will be ahead of myself -- I have accepted a job offer from Taipei, and will be flying back there tomorrow evening.  Back to the city where I was born, and where I spent the first seven years of my life!

I'm a tad nervous about the challenges ahead, and sad to leave my friends and family here in Toronto; mostly, however, I'm extremely excited to be beginning a new adventure, and to rediscover my own culture that has become so alienated from my adult self.

As a friend wisely told me recently -- when we are feeling challenged, we are actually growing.  When we cease to be challenged, we cease to grow.  (And if we cease to grow, we eventually wither away.  And if we wither away...)

Life is at crossroads right now.  There are many paths, and I can't see any of them very clearly...and I'm walking round and round at the intersection, waiting for...what?  One of the paths to become clearer to me?  Courage to go down a path and not look back?  At any rate, I'm still here.  I just need a bit more time.

My grandfather passed away last week, after a long fight with many different illness.  He would have turned 90 this year.  I never got to know him very well, having grown up on the other side of the world, and never having been able to communicate to each other as we speak different dialects.  In his later years, he grew quite deaf; being naturally an introverted, quiet man, he became even more consciously mute.  I remember him to have the sweetest smile.  I know he's in a much better place now.

These are a couple of the very few photographs I have with him, on my last visit back to Taiwan in 2008.

My lovely grandparents celebrated their 60th Diamond Anniversary just a few years ago, and I always remember my grandmother being quoted on the local newspaper: the key to a successful marriage, she said, is "tolerance" -- !!  Or perhaps this is better translated into English as "compromise and patience".  You have to give each other space, and remember what matters in the end is that you want to stay together.

I'll be flying back to Taiwan in a few days to attend the funeral, and to give my grandmother a big hug and kiss.

Presenting a random assortment of moments of the past two months of my life:

In early December, I completed writing my master's thesis, packed up and said goodbye to my student life in Berkeley.  I left California armed with a year and a half of incredible learning and memories, and the life-long friendships of many amazing individuals that I've been so fortunate to meet.

From San Francisco, Pocket Ninja and I made it to Philadelphia for a whirlwind visit;

From Philly, I hopped on a bus to the Empire State, city of my dreams.  If I still had any doubts that my heart truly belongs to the east coast, it disappeared as soon as I stepped out of the bus and into the streets of New York, breathed in the chilly air and looked up at the skyscrapers.  I've missed living in a true metropolis.

I finally got to visit the newly completed Lincoln Center, which I was quite impressed with.  Doesn't it look especially romantic at night?  Fingers crossed that I'll get a chance to attend an opera or ballet here sometime this year.

We didn't get to dine at the new restaurant at the center, but I was fascinated by its street presence, showcasing its kitchen full of chefs and sous-chefs to all of New York.  Here's my friend HC trying to get a good shot of the action:

I escaped New York before the blizzards hit, and at last made it home to Toronto.  It's been so good to be back in my own city.

So, goodbye 2010, year of change; and hello 2011, which I know is going to be just as wild.  I'll be taking a little break to reassess my goals and dreams, and see where the winds take me in a few weeks.  Until then, happy new year to you.

it was my birthday last week, which coincided with my parents' visit to California.  and so, for the first time in five years, i got to celebrate my day with the majority of my family -- we were only missing my brother, who had to remain behind in Toronto.  sorry, brie!

i love my new toy, which i've already downloaded lots of (free!) classic books onto.  complete with a beautiful case too - even comes with a reading light at the corner.

other than a fantastic birthday dinner and cake (i've missed having birthday cakes, and gosh, i forgot how awesome it is.  one should ALWAYS have cake on one's birthday), we took a lovely roadtrip to monterey and hearst castle, resulting in lots of photos which i'll have to post later.  right now i'm pretty much living in the law library on campus, trying to finish the first draft of my thesis.  (shhhh!)

who am i kidding.  between finishing up my masters thesis (only four more weeks left!) and enjoying the summer here in san francisco (the coldest summer i've ever had), updating this blog is the furthest thing from my mind.  this blog is going on hibernation until the fall, when the weather turns warmer once again in the bay area.  see you then.

hi!  i'm back to the blogging world, for good this time i hope.  the worst of the semester is over, and my schedule is slowly returning to normal.  i even graduate unofficially next week - ceremony, caps and gowns and pictures.  although the certificate will be withheld until i hand in my final thesis sometime in the fall.  goodbye, long sleepless nights of studio life.  it was painful at times but i'm sure i'll look back and miss every moment.

despite the madness, i'm proud that i have managed to keep up the drawing and writing in my sketchbook -- it's finally become a fully integrated part of my life.  i can't wait to finally explore san francisco now that i have more time to get out of berkeley!  i can smell summer in the air, and it is sure intoxicating.