Q&A with Me

Since coming home to LA for the holidays, I have been asked many questions. Many of the questions are similar. Therefore, I thought it would be fun to do a Q&A session with myself. If this keeps people from asking me the same ol' questions in person, that would be great. But if I still get the same questions, I will not begrudge the questioner. I am honored that people even care about what's going on in my life and support me.

Q: Where did you go? Vancouver or Toronto? Is there a time difference?
A: Vancouver. It is in the same time zone as those in California.

Q: Which classes did you take this past semester/quarter?
A: Regent College is neither on a semester nor quarter system. Each term consists of 12 weeks (with final examinations in the last week) and 2 reading weeks. I took (1) Old Testament Foundations, (2) Perspectives on Biblical Languages (Greek & Hebrew), and (3) Christian Thought & Culture.

Q: Do you live in the dormitories? How far do you live from campus? How are your living conditions? How far are you from Richmond?
A: Regent College does not have dormitories; it is a Christian graduate school (no undergrads). I live approximately 3 miles from the school, which is on the same campus as the University of British Columbia (UBC). It takes me about 10 minutes via bus to get to school. I sometimes walk as well, if the weather is nice and I have time. I live in a tiny basement suite with really great landlords who make me yummy Chinese soup every Wednesday. I am a 1-hour bus ride (with one transfer) to Richmond. I usually only go down to Richmond if I have a ride.

Q: Isn't the food great in Vancouver? Do you eat out a lot?
A: The food is good in Vancouver, but there are far more varieties and better prices in LA. Since I'm a poor seminarian, I rarely eat out. I mostly cook my own food for all 3 meals. It's nice that Regent provides microwave ovens and a refrigerator for students' use.

Q: What has been the hardest thing about living away from home?
A: Loneliness. I have made some friends in Vancouver, but it's hard not having my immediate family and close friends around. And it's particularly hard being in a city with which I am not tremendously familiar. And there's definitely a sense of loneliness in knowing that my American Republican perspectives are in the minority. I am still shocked when evangelical Christians tell me they like Clinton (either one).

Q: Were you homesick? What did you miss the most?
A: I was homesick the entire time. I missed my family, my friends, work and my church... and having a car. Oh... I also missed the sunshine.

Q: What have you learned so far?
A: I have gained a lot of knowledge in school and it has been really hard work. But the biggest lesson God has been teaching me lately is about dependence on Him. In LA, I could always count on my familiar surroundings, work, and friends and family to feel security and success. But in the last 3 months, I have not had these things as readily available, if at all. So, in turn, I have been "forced" to acknowledge my need for God. He is the reason I am doing what I'm doing, even if it makes no sense to many other people. I have continued to wrestle with Him about various things, but my trust is in Him.

Q: What degree are you pursuing? How long will it take? What do you plan on doing afterwards?
A: I am enrolled to pursue a Master of Christian Studies (MCS), but I am still trying to figure out which concentration to pursue. I am interested in several of them, but am waiting for God to reveal to me which one to declare. I should be done with the program in 2-3 years. My future is in God's hands. I may go back to being an event planner or I may even end up in full-time traditional church ministry. In God, the possibilities are limitless.

Q: Have you met a potential husband in Vancouver?
A: No... but thanks for asking, Uncle Phil. =)

If you have additional questions, please feel free to ask me through the "comments" section.

Murky Water

Due to recent storms, the tap water in Vancouver is coming out murky. Therefore, I need to head to the market today to buy some bottled water... which won't be an easy task without a car. *Sigh* ...Can't wait to get back to LA where the air is murky, but the water is not. Haha.

American Thanksgiving Weekend

My cousin Terry drove up from Portland late Wednesday night.

On Thursday afternoon, we had some really good dim-sum down in Richmond, where Terry also took me around to run some errands. We even found some of the green peas I really like at the T&T Supermarket in Yaohan Centre... I bought all 6 bags in stock!

For Thanksgiving dinner, we met up with Auntie Susan, Uncle Paul, Lawrence and Kevin at Morton's Steakhouse for dinner. The dinner was really good. My ribeye was unbelievable! It practically melted in my mouth. There is nothing like a good steak.

On Friday night, Auntie Susan and Uncle Paul cooked a delicious roast beef and some Chinese dishes. It was so nice to eat a home-cooked Chinese meal amongst family. I also tried my hand at playing Wii with my cousins, but I have a terrible sense of video game movements and depth... I kept running into trees and fences in the cow-racing game.

On Saturday, while looking for a Christmas craft and arts fair (which we never found), Terry and I came upon a Japanese knick-knack store. At first, we thought we'd just take a quick look because Japanese knick-knacks tend to be really expensive, but as it turned out, absolutely everything was only $1, $2 or $3, so we ended up being in there for nearly 2 hours! I came away with some random necessities, and Terry came away with some really nice Japanese bowls and sake set for only $2/piece. Afterwards, we had dinner at Parker Place and Terry left to drive back down to Portland that night.

On Sunday after church, Soo and I took the guest speakers out for dim-sum at Pink Pearl. It was fun watching them try dishes they had never had before, especially the chicken feet.
And that wraps up my American Thanksgiving weekend. How was yours?

In Search for Green Peas

I'm in search for these fried garlic green peas... a snack. Can anyone help me?

I've had them 4 times now, and would like to get my hands on them again. They're so yummy!

1. My brother brought them home.
2. I had them at Luke and Mandy's place in Calgary.
3. I found them at Asia Supermarket in Alhambra, but after buying all three bags in stock, they didn't restock.
4. I found them at T&T Supermarket in Richmond on Cambie St., but after buying all four bags in stock, they didn't restock.

Does anyone know a place that stocks this product regularly? Please let me know. Thanks.

Life's Lessons

Gossip & Rumors
SITUATION: I heard that there is some false information about me going around here in Vancouver. I don't know those who talked about me. And I only heard about the rumor when a good friend brought it out into the open in an effort to protect me. Needless to say, I was very angry and hurt when I heard about the rumor. I thought to myself, "How can people talk and make presumptions without even knowing me?" Yet, because I don't know these people, I cannot confront anyone. For two nights, I cried bitterly to God, begging for vindication. Very rarely do I ever feel so powerless... rarely do I ever feel so incapable of handling something. I know that these people do not have ill intentions towards me and probably have no idea the impact of their seemingly insignificant words. This is not the first time there have been false rumors about me. And in the scope of bad things to say about someone, this is not the worse. Yet, why am I so upset? I think it's because I'm trying to fit into a new place and such gossip makes it hard when I don't even have a clean slate on which to start.
LESSONS: (1) Being powerless is a reminder that without God, I have no deliverance. (2) Even words spoken with no ill intent can be hurtful. Therefore, (3) I ought to be extra careful how I speak about and speak to other people.

When Trust is Broken
SITUATION: In the past, my friend Dillon (name changed to protect identity) had hurt me. I am still friends with him and we're actually pretty good friends now. However, Dillon asked me recently, "Do you fully trust me?" It was then that I realized that I didn't actually trust him as much as I thought I did. In the back of my mind, I am always thinking, "Will I get hurt again?" I felt terrible that I was unable to answer in the affirmative. I usually trust people very easily at the beginning. But when they break that trust, it's hard for me to trust them again, no matter how much they try to prove themselves again. And it's even worse when I feel that the cause of hurt was intentional. So, after thinking and praying this through, I realized that if Dillon continues to be a good friend to me, the problem is no longer for him to fix. It is mine.
LESSONS: (1) It's normal and appropriate to not fully trust someone right away after the trust has been broken. (2) But as God entrusts me even after I've hurt Him so many times, I need to learn to trust others as well. (3) And as God has been willing to stick by my side even after I've hurt Him (often intentionally), I need to stick by my friends even after they've hurt me. (4) It's time for me to re-evaluate why I've been holding several friends at arm's length and pray for restoration.

Surprise Friendships
SITUATION: Since making the decision to come to Regent College and actually moving to Vancouver, I've faced many difficulties. But they don't surpass the blessings I've received. And one of those many blessings is that of friendship. I already have a handful of really, really good friends from LA with whom I have been close for several years. Therefore, I never made much effort in LA to make new friends. In fact, I don't think I even know how to make friends. And that was one of my greatest fears in moving to Vancouver. Yet God has provided. Even though she is in LA, I have actually found a new good friend in Betty. Her sincerity and brilliant humor have been a comfort and a joy to me. As for Vancouver, Soo has been a blessing to me. She's silly, pragmatic, principled and very passionate about God. Just being around her has been encouraging and inspirational. And there are several other people here in Vancouver with whom God is helping me to learn to develop friendships.
LESSONS: (1) I need friends. (2) Even in my pathetic inability to make friends, God provides. (3) There is nothing quite like getting to know and learning from Godly women.

I'll Be Home for Christmas... earlier!

December 14th to January 12th.

I'll Be Home for Christmas!

December 18th to January 12th.