west meets east feast

Having two different cultures (that of my family and that of the society I live in) always makes holiday gatherings full of different kinds of food. I like to think that the two epicurean traditions can coexist well and not lead to some dichotomy in holiday celebration-ism.

This year, I experienced the phenomenon twice: once on Christmas Eve at home with my paternal grandparents (who are in town for a family friend's funeral) and then on Christmas Day in Sacramento with my maternal grandparents. For me, the holidays are not complete without turkey, a honey baked ham, and sparkling apple cider. For both sets of grandparents, any meal is not complete without tons of Chinese dishes. This leads to a dinner that seems like a hodge podge of food (hoards of food), but always ends up with satiated stomachs. Furthermore, there is always a heaping portion of love all around that reminds us why family comprises one of the strongest parts of our identities.

I have to admit, the meeting of two cultures, two minds, two hearts, or whatever it may be, always leads to the possibility of cacophony and discord. Nonetheless, we should be willing to take the chance to meld things together, to find out whether two things can converge and form a fit. Some of the best things in life would not exist if we did not take the chance to experiment and put together two seemingly dissimilar elements. From peanut butter and banana sandwiches to jean jackets and leg warmers, taking risks really allows for the opportunity that something great can emerge, or at least we can get a laugh out of our attempt.

The only issue . . . taking chances.

halfway there . . . meet me halfway.

As of this writing, I am halfway on the flight from BOS to SFO and also halfway done with law school. It naturally made sense to posit a theme dealing with halfness.

It is so so nice to feel a sense of relief that finals madness is over. After my final yesterday, I spent a glorious day with friends at two beer gardens with burgers and all you can eat wings, packed and cleaned up my entire apartment, and just basked in the fact that I could relax and finally have a life again.

This past semester has been such a challenging and fulfilling one for me. From clinic to journal to APALSA to schoolwork to running all the time, I have learned so much about myself, who I want to become, and what I value in life. I knew that this year was going to be a pivotal one for me in determining the course of my life and I have not been proven wrong. People say that 2L year is a lot easier than 1L, but I think that it is much busier, but nice because we have more of a sense of what it is that drives us.

Now I will be spending a little less than three weeks in the Bay Area and then about a week in Florida for some Disney adventures and the marathon. I still cannot believe that we are in the midst of a new year, which is sure to bring new stresses, revelations, and joys. I am excited not to necessarily turn over a new leaf, but to continue to grow.

After all, isn't the cup half full?

Perfect Pair

I have size 5 feet, 6 if I'm wearing knee high boots, which are my newest fashion obsession. Not only are my feet small, but they are also wide. This makes it a huge hassle to find the perfect pair of shoes, the shoes that make you want to go out for the night just so you have an excuse to wear them. And let me tell you, when I find that irresistible pair of shoes, those beautiful black leather heels that fit like a dream . . . I will no doubt buy them. These shoes almost always catch my eye when I am not even on the hunt for a fabulous pair. Regardless of the price (well, frankly, I am not browsing at Manolo Blahnik anyways), I will buy these shoes. Why? It's not everyday that you find something that you absolutely will treasure and have gratification that substantially outweighs any sense of regret over your purchase. In fact, it is a relatively rare occurrence that you will find that ideal match and Lord knows, having buyer's remorse is much less offensive than regretting not fighting for that flawless fit.

We always hear the saying that when you go shopping specifically for something you need, you never find it. When on a mission for that item that fits x, y, and z qualities, you are almost always bound to feel cheated, or worse, disappointed in the available selection. You will make concessions because of the necessity of having that thing, negotiations you would not have made otherwise except given the dire circumstances. Inevitably, you end up returning, exchanging, or hanging the dirty little secret in your closet after one or maybe two uses.

What I'm trying to say is, when you find that perfect (fill in the blank) for you, you do not let it go. You fight for it and know that at the end of the day, you have got yourself something worthwhile instead of letting it slip away in the hopes of finding an adequate alternative when you actually need it. Being blissful by surprise is much better than being blase by default, any day of the week. So, what really is stopping us from taking the plunge for that perfect pair when it comes our way?