Taking it to the Streets， Specifically Nostalgia Ave

In pursuit of my goal to run a 5k, I knew I had to start running outside again. The weather has been beautiful here, so I went down to my grandparents' house (which I care for while they're at house #2), calculated a route via a map, and went for it.

Well, the turn I had planned on was in the middle of a hill, and I wanted to finish the hill. And got lost. So, in addition to being massacred by hills today, I also added an extra mile to my route. My body's holding up surprisingly well. Ha, we'll see if I say that tomorrow.

My friends are all graduating this weekend, and I've been creeping on their photos of senior week via facebook. I've never regretted transferring. Academically, it's been a dream come true for me. But I sacrificed a wonderful social life to do so. And as I watch my friends say goodbye, I really realize what I gave up. I shared a journey with these people for so long, so it's weird not finishing it with them.

So I'm drowning my sorrows in Anime.

It's been ages since I turned on some real, Japanese Anime. But...the discovery that one of the shows that once got me into anime is online has resulted in an absolute time drain. It's also trippy to hear Japanese again. Funny, because I still remember most grammar principles, but have lost vocabulary. So I get negation, "let's ______", politeness, etc, but nothing else. It's also trippy to watch from a Chinese perspective. I can now HEAR the borrowed words in a way I never put together before.

It makes me want to study Japanese again. Maybe AFTER I complete the class that my instructor says "is not advised for people with jobs, a full class load, or any other significant time commitments". Bite me, Chinese 411. 给我咬法。

Sometimes...

I think back to China.

The weather has been crazy around here lately. One minute sun, 2 seconds later ferocious hail.

Nanjing was like that. But then again, Nanjing is known to be like that.

One day I left for school with only a light jacket. It was warm in the morning. I made my 2 mile walk there(by the way I chose to walk. I could have bussed.), but halfway through my walk home, it started to pour.

And I mean pour. It can (literally) monsoon in Nanjing. Within 2 minutes I am soaked. Soaked with filthy China water, since the air has picked up all the pollutants. And I still had a mile to go.

Then this little old man, someone I had never met before, offers me his spare umbrella. And we walk most of the mile to my house, until we parted ways at the last intersection.

And I wonder, who in America would do that? Would you, if you saw a little lost foreigner stuck in the rain? Silly little foreigner, who didn't know that you ALWAYS bring your umbrella in Nanjing.

I don't know that man's name. But I will never forget him.

Goals:

~Run a 5K in under my best High School time (27 mins) by July

~Drop to 30% body fat by July

~Drop to 20% body fat by September 30th

~Get in to high level 4th Year Chinese

~Graduate by June 2011

Right now:

I can run .5 of a mile

I am at 38% Body Fat

I am on the border of Honors 4th Year

I am on track to graduate as long as I do not drop any classes.

原来每个女孩不简单！！

考试考完了！！ 啊， 那让我很高兴， 很轻松！ 今天上课考完了以后，我们听了中文的歌。 当然我的“老朋友” 《《（对面的女孩）看过来》》是我们听的歌。 所以下课以后我回家为了下裁那个歌。

可是。。。我在星期一有另外的大考试跟一篇文章。 不要！ 不要！

Life

Hahaha, as if I have one these days. My days have been eaten up by my studies, and truly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love throwing myself into learning, and I like my classes this quarter. Chinese is coming along nicely, and I'm pretty happy with my progress.

As for other things, I ended it with my last boyfriend, known here as Space Cat. It wasn't working, and I didn't have the time or energy to make it work. I'm upset, but I know I made the right decision. School is my number one right now, and theoretically, I have the rest of my life to spend with "The One". I never regret relationships, because I think that it is truly a gift to be able to get to know someone on that level. Also, opening myself up to others (I'm normally a very closed person) helps me to learn more about myself. I know that personally, I benefit from every boyfriend I have. And they all have a special place in my heart. I'm not looking for anyone new. Right now I want to take some time for me and my life. Plus, I think the best people come into your life when you just let God bring them in as He will!

I'm in a good place right now, though I could be better...Midterms are on Monday!

Body Harmony???

One of the things I've learned is how to listen to my body. And some days, my body wants really weird things. Or doesn't want normal things.

Today, I wasn't hungry. At all. And all my body wanted was to work out. So that's what I did.

Weird. Very weird.

Recipe!

Couscous Marinara (serves 1)
1/3 cup dried couscous
1/2+ cup marinara (to taste)
1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper (optional)
2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

Cook couscous according to your preferred method (3/4 cup boiling water and dash olive oil, boil water, stir in couscous, cover and remove from heat, let sit 5 minutes)

Add red pepper to marinara, heat until simmering.

After both have been cooked, mix couscous and marinara. Add balsamic and stir.

Alter the recipe to your personal tastes.

Yummy!