I'm an hour and a half away from my last final for my junior year (not including one other big paper that I have yet to finish). I know I haven't posted anything in a while, so I'll fill you in on what's been happening in my life...
This last weekend was regionals, which was a huge disappointment as always. It was 90 degrees and sunny on Saturday, which usually means big trouble. We won our first two games and then lost to Pitt in the semis.. but the heat, combined with the fact that I was drinking water primarily (instead of gatorade, which replenishes bodily salts) gave me severe cramps. It was awful - it seemed like every possible muscle on both legs took turns cramping up. Eventually I was taken to the medical center at Princeton, where they stuck IV fluids in me. Yikes. I ended up having to take an exam the next morning (on a Sunday - fucked up, I know), and en route to Princeton I learned that we had lost our first game - meaning my season was over without me having any say in it. And so ended eight months of hard work.
Anyways, I'm soon to be a senior. Got elected captain of the Ultimate team here at Penn for next year, so I'm super excited for that. Major pwnage to be had all over the place. It's weird, I feel like I've gotten so much better at Ultimate while in college - I feel like I had no idea what I was doing out on the field for most of high school, until fall of senior year. Then my game really took off here in college, when I was put in a handler position.
I have a girlfriend, her name's Evan. We actually met at a party only a week into the spring semester (and no, it didn't begin as just some sketchy hookup). Since I'll be coming home in a few days, I'll definitely be disappointed to not see her for a while. But I would love for some of you guys to meet her eventually.
As for summer plans, I come home in a few days (like I just wrote), and I'll be studying for my MCAT for over a month. I take that exam in mid-June, and then I'm headed out to Spain for a summer-abroad program! From there I think I will be flying straight to Korea for a few weeks, and I'll be back in Eugene (at least for a few days) in late August.
Wish me luck on my ochem exam! And I'll see you all soon.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
health?
Started brainstorming for 2-pg Spanish essay at 6pm.
after much thinking about essay and idling about on computer,
Came up with essay topic at 8pm.
Watched football at 8pm.
Went to the grocery with roommates at 9:30pm
Cooked at 10pm.
Ate fettucine alfredo at 10:30pm.
Watched football at 10:30pm.
Ate cereal and idled about on computer at 12am.
Started writing essay at 12:30am.
Ate fettucine alfredo at 3:30am.
Finished writing essay at 4:15am.
Started blogging at 4:15am (estimated time of termination: 4:30).
--
Started sleeping at 4:30am.
Woke up at 9:30am.
...
ODed on caffeine for entirety of next day.
WOOOOO
Do you consider this to be healthy?
I apologize if that comes across as somewhat of a rhetorical question. It is. I don't have the slightest clue what is healthy anymore. If you lead a lifestyle that is 'healthier' than this then you are probably more qualified a medical school candidate than I am.
Oh boy, I'm ahead of schedule. It's only 4:28!
Impending doom apprehended: any suggestions for a cure for gastric ulcer much appreciated
after much thinking about essay and idling about on computer,
Came up with essay topic at 8pm.
Watched football at 8pm.
Went to the grocery with roommates at 9:30pm
Cooked at 10pm.
Ate fettucine alfredo at 10:30pm.
Watched football at 10:30pm.
Ate cereal and idled about on computer at 12am.
Started writing essay at 12:30am.
Ate fettucine alfredo at 3:30am.
Finished writing essay at 4:15am.
Started blogging at 4:15am (estimated time of termination: 4:30).
--
Started sleeping at 4:30am.
Woke up at 9:30am.
...
ODed on caffeine for entirety of next day.
WOOOOO
Do you consider this to be healthy?
I apologize if that comes across as somewhat of a rhetorical question. It is. I don't have the slightest clue what is healthy anymore. If you lead a lifestyle that is 'healthier' than this then you are probably more qualified a medical school candidate than I am.
Oh boy, I'm ahead of schedule. It's only 4:28!
Impending doom apprehended: any suggestions for a cure for gastric ulcer much appreciated
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
A lot on my mind, a lot on my plate, a lot on my mindplate???
I'll be honest. I've been lazy to update this thing. It's harder to muster up the willpower to update a blog when you're geographically much closer to those who read it - a sense, whether true or not, that those people will then automatically know what's going on in your life. Anyways..
I'm back at school. I have a busy semester ahead, with 20 hours of class divvied up among courses in organic chemistry, physics, spanish, neuroscience, and also one in humanities (a lecture called "The Information Age".. not very interesting so far). I am continuing my work in the ovarian cancer lab that I picked up with in March, as well as volunteering at the local hospital to gain some hands-on experience (and hopefully a gushy recommendation letter to med schools about how nice I was!). So far it hasn't been awful, but darker days are ahead.
I want to say right now that I have never had a more clear view of the finish line than I do now, at least school/career-wise. I basically have planned out the courses I will need to take for the rest of college, the timeline of medical school admissions, etc.. etc.. I need to take some tough courses, raise my GPA, take my MCAT next summer, kiss professors' asses in the process and get recommendation letters, and then things will work themselves out. The application process for students who plan on going straight to medical school (without a gap year) apparently begins this upcoming spring for juniors. That is kinda coming up soon, yeah? I think my biggest goal will be to really, really focus on academics. Like never before. This year will really make or break my future, and I think that urgency is finally settling in my brain. No junioritis.. I can't afford it. It won't happen.
I think my plans for next summer are already coming together. Barring any radical changes, my plan is to take the mid-June MCAT. I think I would stay on campus and study, since all of my books are here anyways! Although it would be great to catch Yeon's graduation (as well as my cousin's UO grad), and I feel obligated to do so. I have to think that one out.
In mid- to late-June I would head to Spain for a month and a half for a summer-abroad program. Penn has an awesome program called 'Penn-in-Alicante', where students study Spanish language/culture at the University of Alicante. Alicante is located in the southern half of Spain's mediterranean coastline. I would take two courses there and wrap up my Spanish minor! My friend took that program this last summer and had good things to say, so I'm likely to head that way. (Hopefully Spain wins the World Cup while I'm there?!!)
And then to come home in late July, I think. Maybe for a few days. Though I haven't found home to be too interesting lately. My hope is to come home for a few days and relax, then spend 3-4 weeks in Korea, for the majority of August.
And then I've already completed another year.
I really enjoy trips to Korea - seeing family and friends is always good. But besides that, there's always the privilege of seeing a different culture. Wait, no, not just a different culture, but your INHERITED CULTURE. It was like my mind was finally ACTUALLY coming home after years of thinking my mind - my beliefs, customs, etc - was at home in the states. As if I had just been offered a red and a blue pill and I took the red. I think what I'm trying to say is that my MODE of thinking felt at home. I think like a Korean person, and that aspect was right at home in Korea.
I think physically I feel home in the US. I really do. I couldn't handle staying in Korea for too long, I think. The country is just too frickin claustrophobic. Mentally, though, I can reconcile. I think I still feel comfortable mentally in the states, but occasionally there are things that help reinforce the fact that I'm different here than the majority of the population. And by these things I point to things as diverse as Asian jokes, the difference in cuisine in the US and Korea, and the fact that I automatically get asked whether I'm Chinese or Japanese. Occasionally, if I mention that I'm actually Korean, I even get asked if I'm from North Korea.
..uh..
Like, what the fuck? It's as if you were just asked whether you were born and raised in Antarctica. I mean, it's comparable to that good friend you've had for a while who, even after you've gone to a college for two years, still can't tell you which college you actually go to.
I should go to bed.
I'm back at school. I have a busy semester ahead, with 20 hours of class divvied up among courses in organic chemistry, physics, spanish, neuroscience, and also one in humanities (a lecture called "The Information Age".. not very interesting so far). I am continuing my work in the ovarian cancer lab that I picked up with in March, as well as volunteering at the local hospital to gain some hands-on experience (and hopefully a gushy recommendation letter to med schools about how nice I was!). So far it hasn't been awful, but darker days are ahead.
I want to say right now that I have never had a more clear view of the finish line than I do now, at least school/career-wise. I basically have planned out the courses I will need to take for the rest of college, the timeline of medical school admissions, etc.. etc.. I need to take some tough courses, raise my GPA, take my MCAT next summer, kiss professors' asses in the process and get recommendation letters, and then things will work themselves out. The application process for students who plan on going straight to medical school (without a gap year) apparently begins this upcoming spring for juniors. That is kinda coming up soon, yeah? I think my biggest goal will be to really, really focus on academics. Like never before. This year will really make or break my future, and I think that urgency is finally settling in my brain. No junioritis.. I can't afford it. It won't happen.
I think my plans for next summer are already coming together. Barring any radical changes, my plan is to take the mid-June MCAT. I think I would stay on campus and study, since all of my books are here anyways! Although it would be great to catch Yeon's graduation (as well as my cousin's UO grad), and I feel obligated to do so. I have to think that one out.
In mid- to late-June I would head to Spain for a month and a half for a summer-abroad program. Penn has an awesome program called 'Penn-in-Alicante', where students study Spanish language/culture at the University of Alicante. Alicante is located in the southern half of Spain's mediterranean coastline. I would take two courses there and wrap up my Spanish minor! My friend took that program this last summer and had good things to say, so I'm likely to head that way. (Hopefully Spain wins the World Cup while I'm there?!!)
And then to come home in late July, I think. Maybe for a few days. Though I haven't found home to be too interesting lately. My hope is to come home for a few days and relax, then spend 3-4 weeks in Korea, for the majority of August.
And then I've already completed another year.
I really enjoy trips to Korea - seeing family and friends is always good. But besides that, there's always the privilege of seeing a different culture. Wait, no, not just a different culture, but your INHERITED CULTURE. It was like my mind was finally ACTUALLY coming home after years of thinking my mind - my beliefs, customs, etc - was at home in the states. As if I had just been offered a red and a blue pill and I took the red. I think what I'm trying to say is that my MODE of thinking felt at home. I think like a Korean person, and that aspect was right at home in Korea.
I think physically I feel home in the US. I really do. I couldn't handle staying in Korea for too long, I think. The country is just too frickin claustrophobic. Mentally, though, I can reconcile. I think I still feel comfortable mentally in the states, but occasionally there are things that help reinforce the fact that I'm different here than the majority of the population. And by these things I point to things as diverse as Asian jokes, the difference in cuisine in the US and Korea, and the fact that I automatically get asked whether I'm Chinese or Japanese. Occasionally, if I mention that I'm actually Korean, I even get asked if I'm from North Korea.
..uh..
Like, what the fuck? It's as if you were just asked whether you were born and raised in Antarctica. I mean, it's comparable to that good friend you've had for a while who, even after you've gone to a college for two years, still can't tell you which college you actually go to.
I should go to bed.
Monday, May 11, 2009
purge
Damn, the pretzels in chex mix really suck. I am scouring the bag eating all of them now so they don't bother me later. No pain, no gain, as some might say.
I'm also packing to move out into my new house.
If you really like pretzels but don't like anything else in chex mix give me a call.
I'm also packing to move out into my new house.
If you really like pretzels but don't like anything else in chex mix give me a call.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Regionals '09
This next weekend is that thing known as the Metro East Regionals. In New Jersey. What a great place. (Chill out, I'm kidding.) It will be played pool-play format, which I really like. And the weather is supposed to be a balmy 80+ degrees both days. Yikes. All the sections have finished, so we have:
Upstate NY:
1) Cornell
2) RPI
3) Carleton U
4) SUNY-Buffalo
NJ/Metro NY:
1) Vassar
2) Columbia
West Penn:
1) Pittsburgh
2) Bucknell
3) Edinboro
East Penn:
1) Pennsylvania
2) Drexel
3) Lehigh
Colonial:
1) Maryland
2) Georgetown
3) Towson
4) American
Which I think the UPA lists in a seeded order (though it claims that it's not!):
http://www.upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?div=18&id=5918
- Pittsburgh 2712
- Cornell 2695
- Maryland 2488
- Pennsylvania 2366
- Georgetown 2415
- Bucknell 2382
- Edinboro 2419
- Towson 2358
- American 2212
- Vassar 2241
- Rensselaer Polytech 2220
- Carleton University 2285
- Drexel 2154
- Lehigh 2230
- Columbia 2219
- SUNY-Buffalo 2024
So obviously, the most solid region in the country! I'll tell you the truth... before this season started I probably didn't know that half of these qualifiers even existed as teams. This year, three of our top challengers didn't even make it out of their respective sections (Delaware and George Washington failed to qualify out of Colonial; Queens-Kingston didn't get their stuff in on time for Upstate NY).
I think we have a great chance to take one of the two bids to natties. The weather will be nice, which I think will play into our favor (we are NOT a poor-weather team). And our team also seems to be peaking at the right time. We had a practice this past Sunday which went great.
Pittsburgh and Cornell are overwhelming favorites. Pitt has won 10 straight and is 19-5 on the season. Cornell has won 16 straight and is 22-3. But I think on any given day we have a fighting chance to beat either team. The one time I have played Pittsburgh (last year) we won, so we definitely have a good shot this time around as well.
If we get through our pool unscathed, we will likely get our shot at Pittsburgh. If we took that game in the semis we would likely play either Cornell or Maryland the next afternoon for the regional title, and with essentially 2 games-to-go (2 chances!) in a row. That would be great. Wish us luck!
Upstate NY:
1) Cornell
2) RPI
3) Carleton U
4) SUNY-Buffalo
NJ/Metro NY:
1) Vassar
2) Columbia
West Penn:
1) Pittsburgh
2) Bucknell
3) Edinboro
East Penn:
1) Pennsylvania
2) Drexel
3) Lehigh
Colonial:
1) Maryland
2) Georgetown
3) Towson
4) American
Which I think the UPA lists in a seeded order (though it claims that it's not!):
http://www.upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?div=18&id=5918
- Pittsburgh 2712
- Cornell 2695
- Maryland 2488
- Pennsylvania 2366
- Georgetown 2415
- Bucknell 2382
- Edinboro 2419
- Towson 2358
- American 2212
- Vassar 2241
- Rensselaer Polytech 2220
- Carleton University 2285
- Drexel 2154
- Lehigh 2230
- Columbia 2219
- SUNY-Buffalo 2024
So obviously, the most solid region in the country! I'll tell you the truth... before this season started I probably didn't know that half of these qualifiers even existed as teams. This year, three of our top challengers didn't even make it out of their respective sections (Delaware and George Washington failed to qualify out of Colonial; Queens-Kingston didn't get their stuff in on time for Upstate NY).
I think we have a great chance to take one of the two bids to natties. The weather will be nice, which I think will play into our favor (we are NOT a poor-weather team). And our team also seems to be peaking at the right time. We had a practice this past Sunday which went great.
Pittsburgh and Cornell are overwhelming favorites. Pitt has won 10 straight and is 19-5 on the season. Cornell has won 16 straight and is 22-3. But I think on any given day we have a fighting chance to beat either team. The one time I have played Pittsburgh (last year) we won, so we definitely have a good shot this time around as well.
If we get through our pool unscathed, we will likely get our shot at Pittsburgh. If we took that game in the semis we would likely play either Cornell or Maryland the next afternoon for the regional title, and with essentially 2 games-to-go (2 chances!) in a row. That would be great. Wish us luck!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Just a post.
An anecdote-
Tournament second day is canceled, so I get back to my apartment at 1. I go out to throw a disc with some friends. It is 6pm. It is sunny and 74 degrees when I go outside. 15 minutes have passed. Blue skies turn into light yellow clouds, a robust mix of storm clouds with sun and thunder. All hell breaks loose. It hails very much, hail the size of bottlecaps if bottlecaps were spherical. People run for cover, cars stop, the street is ankle-deep in water within a minute.
That was the weirdest weather incident I have ever witnessed! Upon seeing the yellow cloud-mix to the west, I mentioned to my friend that "the weather seems really end-of-the-world-like". Later, I talked to someone else who told me that one time, he and his friends were outside and their hair started gathering static, and they ran like no other. Apparently, that happens right before you are about to be struck by lightning. Scary.
Anyways, our tournament this weekend was partially canceled. The weather today was mostly great (see above), but we didn't get to play because we annihilated the fields yesterday in stormy conditions. We beat our Ivy League compatriots Columbia and Harvard.
I start laboratory research tomorrow. I am going to be working in the lab of a researcher at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's (HUP) Biomedical Research Building. He conducts research in ovarian cancer (hold your giggles, stop judging me), and what I would do eventually is biologically engineer some tumor-fighting molecules called 'lymphocytes'. It's not a paid position as of now, but once I learn the basic lab techniques and get a hang of what I'm doing, I'm going to ask for a salary. I also think I'm going to continue with research after school is over, probably until late-June/early-July, so that my entire summer is not wasted on frolicking.
That being said, there is almost nothing that I love more than summer in Eugene. The best part is playing some disc in the late afternoon or early evening and then just hanging out on the fields with people you love.
Tournament second day is canceled, so I get back to my apartment at 1. I go out to throw a disc with some friends. It is 6pm. It is sunny and 74 degrees when I go outside. 15 minutes have passed. Blue skies turn into light yellow clouds, a robust mix of storm clouds with sun and thunder. All hell breaks loose. It hails very much, hail the size of bottlecaps if bottlecaps were spherical. People run for cover, cars stop, the street is ankle-deep in water within a minute.
That was the weirdest weather incident I have ever witnessed! Upon seeing the yellow cloud-mix to the west, I mentioned to my friend that "the weather seems really end-of-the-world-like". Later, I talked to someone else who told me that one time, he and his friends were outside and their hair started gathering static, and they ran like no other. Apparently, that happens right before you are about to be struck by lightning. Scary.
Anyways, our tournament this weekend was partially canceled. The weather today was mostly great (see above), but we didn't get to play because we annihilated the fields yesterday in stormy conditions. We beat our Ivy League compatriots Columbia and Harvard.
I start laboratory research tomorrow. I am going to be working in the lab of a researcher at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's (HUP) Biomedical Research Building. He conducts research in ovarian cancer (hold your giggles, stop judging me), and what I would do eventually is biologically engineer some tumor-fighting molecules called 'lymphocytes'. It's not a paid position as of now, but once I learn the basic lab techniques and get a hang of what I'm doing, I'm going to ask for a salary. I also think I'm going to continue with research after school is over, probably until late-June/early-July, so that my entire summer is not wasted on frolicking.
That being said, there is almost nothing that I love more than summer in Eugene. The best part is playing some disc in the late afternoon or early evening and then just hanging out on the fields with people you love.
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