Mentally exhausted

This was a busy weekend, real good but very mentally exhausting. I volunteered at a film forum hosted by The Boston Initiative to Advance Human Rights discussing human trafficking all over the world. “Fighting Trafficking through Film” showed a total of 8 films and had experts of the subject, lawyers, directors of unique organizations in for panel discussions after every film. The films and documentaries were fantastic but incredibly difficult to watch. The panel discussions were all filled with great knowledge and suggestions. I wish more students and people around Boston knew about this film forum, I was really quite shocked that Emerson students didn’t know anything about this because we are known to be a film school after all.

Anyway, this film forum got me thinking all weekend about these issues, what my role is, what I can do and how I can promote these films to others to attempt to make a difference. One of the main thoughts I had through out the weekend was about my trip to Thailand during my Sophomore year of high school. I, along with 15 other girls, went to spend a week at New Life Center Foundation with girls who have been exploited and trafficked through various ways including slavery, sex, etc. We were partnered up with one of them and lived life with them for a week, doing what they do, getting to know them, etc. It is amazing to think back and remember that time the girl I was partnered up with started bawling the day before I left leaving me in a state of confusion. Not till that night did I find out from a translator that she was really sad because I was going to leave. I have a slight recollection of their stories, but I really wish I had been able to get to know her more, or any of the girls.

I wish I had more knowledge about the issue and what was happening around the world during that time. If I was to turn back time, or better yet, if I could do something now as a response to my thoughts, I’d prepare a presentation/lecture on the issue of human trafficking to prepare the team that will go on this interim to Thailand. Unfortunately, the interim no longer exists- perhaps in the long run, I’ll have to bring it back. (Just a thought)

I learnt so much over the weekend that each piece of information is hard to digest. It was very interesting to learn where human trafficking fits in from all different angles, from a law perspective, from a business perspective, supply and demand, psychologically, etc. Most importantly, remember that this issue is a repercussion from poverty and in the end, we have to tackle the root cause of poverty and not simply “rescue” the victims of the problem.

The issue of human trafficking involves every one around us and we can all do something to spread awareness and help. It’s sad to know that in certain countries, the biggest problem is trafficking is part of organized crime which means government officials are involved, hotel businesses are involved and gaining profit, etc. It’s easy to read and learn about it, then brush it off saying “it’s never going to end and trafficking will always be present” but as one of the panelists mentioned, “look at Domestic Violence in the states and see how far we’ve gone. There is a zero tolerance for Domestic Violence and as long as we keep working for the cause and keep spreading awareness, there will be an end for human trafficking.”

 

I can keep writing for a long time…. but I leave you with this.

Lina Nealon: “What we need is a broad cultural shift, and we can do it” to combat sex trafficking BITAHR#2012

 

Green Day American Idiot Broadway (Boston)

I haven’t seen a broadway musical in a long time which is unfortunate. I guess I never really spend the time looking for musicals to go to in Boston even though I am right in the middle of theater district but when I heard that American Idiot was coming to Boston, I knew I had to go see it. I’ve seen Green Day live in concert and it’s phenomenal. Billie Joe is absolutely brilliant and the concert atmosphere is something to die for.

I’ve heard good things about this musical and I was very intrigued in how they were going to make these green day songs into a show with a plot. After paying an arm and a leg for a ticket to the musical tonight, I have to say I am impressed and it was well worth it. The cast is fantastic, brilliant singers, dancers and has a great stage presence. The plot also went beyond my expectations, granted I didn’t have too much to start off with.

It was almost like a concert, there was not too many dialogues in the show which makes is very unique and different from other musicals. It makes it harder because the cast has to not only use the song but also their performance on stage to bring out the characters and the story. It was just over 2 hours and they sang 21 songs in total. Some newer, some older, some songs mashed together brilliantly as well.

The interview and video clip above touches upon some of the thoughts I have about the show and explains quite clearly the impact the production for this musical has on different types of audiences. It’s quite incredible how they turned a rock punk band into a unique performance. As Toronto Star calls it, this is “the first great musical of the 21st century!”

With that being said, it still has no comparison to the Green Day concert I had the opportunity to go to a few years ago in Hong Kong’s Asia World Expo. That concert left my ears ringing for days.

Back in the groove of school

Second semester junior year. Where did all the time go? Three years ago, I was in Phnom Penh, Cambodia as a teacher assistant for first grade. Two years ago, I was here in Boston enjoying my first winter with snow. A year ago, I was in the little town of Well in the Netherlands living in a 14th century castle and traveling around Europe. Now here I am, my second winter in Boston. It’s cold, and I forgot what it was like to live in the snow but thankfully it hasn’t been a bad winter at all.

Yesterday was the first day it’s really snowed all day and fortunately, I had nothing to do so I hibernated at home which is one of my favorite things to do now! I am in love with my apartment and it’s the last weekend I get to relax all day. Quidditch starts up again next weekend and I’m excited, but that means I’ll have to get my ass up and out of the house for practices.

[The view from my kitchen window looking out]

Anyhow, my classes are looking pretty good this semester. They require a ton of reading and paper writing but I’d rather do that than learn nothing at all. My professors are all pretty decent so I’m excited. It should be a good semester academic wise.

One of my goals this semester is also to have more fellowship and start getting involved in Cornerstone Church that I began going to last semester. It’s about a two minute walk from home and it’s really convenient Sundays especially when I have quidditch right afterwards. God is good and has been providing but I need to remember that as much as God is providing, we ourselves have to take those extra steps to grow closer to Him and people around us.

I pray that I continue to grow in faith and I can be a joyful witness to everyone around me.

 

Allure of the Sea – Royal Caribbean

The following was written on Day 3 of my week long cruise journey that officially finished this morning (MERRY CHRISTMAS!),

Over nine months ago, my cousins have already began to book this trip for me. I had a make a decision between going on a seven-day cruise or go home to Hong Kong for Christmas break. Now to come to think of it, I wonder which would’ve been cheaper. Anyway nine months later, I’m sitting on Allure of the Sea, the largest cruise ship in the world with just over 6,000 passengers and 2000+ staff on deck.

It’s day 3 and we just left Labadee, Haiti. Labadee is a private island with a beautiful beach and some really comfortable hammocks. As I laid there chatting with my cousins, I looked out to the ocean while trying to tune out the staff selling drinks and wondered whether this creation was affected by the earthquake a few years back. I thought of Christine and wondered how her city and family are doing. It’s been a few years and I’d imagine it to still be a hell hole despite the lack of coverage in the media.

As a first timer on a cruise, it’s an honor to be on such a big boat. It is quite the site and takes a good 5-10 minutes to walk from one side to the other. The garden, the pool, the architecture and the decorations is quite phenomenal but it does have its downfalls. For a first, there are 8000+ people on the boat, meaning the elevators are bound to be full most of the time. Many of the activities have a long weight and worse of all, the boat sways… quite a bit.

I don’t get sea sick normally. I go on junk trips in HK from 8am to 5pm, drinking, hanging out and relaxing and I never get sea sick but for some reason I had quite the migraine on day 2 at sea. My personal theory is that when I can see the sea and the boat is swaying, then I’m okay but it’s a different story when I’m in closed areas. A restaurant, my room, the gym, etc. It’s really frustrating and it made day 2 hell trying to walk around and do activities on the ship.

Cruises are interesting. There are activities planned for all ages at every hour of the day. Take a look at the schedule for the day and it might give you a headache. You have to study the daily planner the night before if you don’t want to miss anything important or fun. Although it is fantastic they give you so many options, it’s not really my type of relaxation. “Then go sit by the pool!” you would say….

Except with so many people on the boat, it gets quite noisy and hectic on the pool deck. Currently sitting at a cafe outside my room with a cup of ice coffee and it’s the most relaxed I’ve been the last few days. I guess being with a group of 20 people makes the whole vacation a bit hectic as well. We have a set time for lunch, dinner and shows and to be honest, there is not much time in between to do much.

Speaking of food, most everything is “all you can eat” on the boat. Politically speaking, it is “pre-paid”. At every meal, we can order as many dishes as we’d like. Everything is delicious, but there is only so much I can eat until I start feeling sick. After the first day, I had already ate so much that I was not hungry at every meal on day two. A little disappointing really but I like to enjoy my food and not simply stuff it down my throat. That’s not what I can say about my cousins and the rest of the group though.

“Why are you not eating? It’s free! Everything is already paid for so you better eat!” they say. Guilt trip? Maybe, or maybe they don’t believe I’m actually feeling sick from so much food. Either way, it’s quite sad the amount of food passengers stuff ourselves with on cruises just because it’s “paid” for.

It would be really interesting to compare the amount of food served and needed on a 7 day cruise to the amount of people that it can feed in countries where people are dying from starvation. Now imagine using those numbers are a marketing strategy, or a campaign. That would for sure stir emotions….. at least mine anyway.

Song of the day: “Slow down everyone, you’ve moving too fast. Frames can’t catch you when you’re moving li-ike that…”

Thanksgiving 2011

My friends have left, my housemates friends have left, and the house is finally quiet once again. It is still a mess but we’ll get that sorted one of these days. This was a very successful thanksgiving break. It felt like I was always on the go the last few days but it was good to spend time with my friends, cook at home, do some shopping and simply enjoy the house without doing any homework. Oops.

I cannot say I helped much on the cooking, for the most part was my house mate and my friend Dominic. They did a fantastic job though. My housemate also baked the rest of the weekend, she’s a star!

11 lb turkey

stuffing, turkey, mash potatoes, pasta, gravy, potatoes, asparagus, nom nom

Domo-kun cookies! (mascot of NHK, Japan)

Cinnamon rolls mmmmmm

Finally, the best house mate and friend!

Life in Boston would be drastically different if I wasn’t living at the ninja fort, if my housemate wasn’t Fumi, and if I hadn’t met her in general. You keep me sane, you cook awesome food, you listen to my ramblings, and you’re just hot. there, I said it!

Here’s to a great thanksgiving and to a relatively stress free two weeks before Christmas break! I’m getting very excited to spend time with my cousins, to be on a cruise and in the heat, and spend a real winter in Toronto (I am not so excited for snow and cold… but it’ll definitely be an experience)