I leave in two days. I'm soooo so excited! Although technically I will be in China/HK to study, I'm really looking forward to all the places that we're going to visit.
:]
Food, photography and other random things through the eyes of Victoria
Friday, July 1, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Late night thoughts
I think I become the most pensive during the wee hours of the night. What's been on my mind lately is him in particular. It's been a while since I've really had an interest in anyone. These past two years in college I've been finding new hobbies and activities to keep myself occupied, learn more about myself and work towards becoming a better person in general. The funny thing about love is that when you're actively searching for it, it doesn't come. But once you feel like life is up to speed and it's all jolly and good and you could care less of if you have a boyfriend or not, life presents you with someone who may be a potential significant other. The irony, ehh?
My expectations in a future significant other have changed quite a bit from pre-college after certain things happened. I can't say that I'm angry those particular things have happened because they truly opened my eyes on what traits really make a relationship and other things I should look out for before I become any further involved.
At this current stage, I'm at the point where I'm wondering if things will progress favorably, seeing as how well we have hit it off since we met. He's respectful, funny, dependable, easy to talk to and we have quite a bit in common. He seems like the type to take things slowly, and I understand that. We haven't known each other for that long, but I felt that we've let each other into our lives to the point where we might one day question that either we're becoming very good friends or may become something more than friends. There's so much happening now for the both of us and I realize that they just might turn into the reasons that can prevent a relationship from happening. It's difficult to say right now, but I've learned from past experiences to not overthink, set unrealistic expectations, and freak out over little things. Either way, I'm ready for what happens. If we only are friends, that's alright. But if we become something more, then that's even better.
Come what may.
My expectations in a future significant other have changed quite a bit from pre-college after certain things happened. I can't say that I'm angry those particular things have happened because they truly opened my eyes on what traits really make a relationship and other things I should look out for before I become any further involved.
At this current stage, I'm at the point where I'm wondering if things will progress favorably, seeing as how well we have hit it off since we met. He's respectful, funny, dependable, easy to talk to and we have quite a bit in common. He seems like the type to take things slowly, and I understand that. We haven't known each other for that long, but I felt that we've let each other into our lives to the point where we might one day question that either we're becoming very good friends or may become something more than friends. There's so much happening now for the both of us and I realize that they just might turn into the reasons that can prevent a relationship from happening. It's difficult to say right now, but I've learned from past experiences to not overthink, set unrealistic expectations, and freak out over little things. Either way, I'm ready for what happens. If we only are friends, that's alright. But if we become something more, then that's even better.
Come what may.
We aren't "owed" relationships... we earn them.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thoughts on the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 & sample photos
For the past few days I've been shooting a lot with my new Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 lens. Besides the sometimes harsh bokeh... I have to say that it's really growing on me. The focal length is just right for everyday shooting and works fabulously indoors. Before I had really considered waiting for the 50mm f/1.8 so I could buy that instead, but after shooting in some tight situations like in restaurants, I realized that this lens is a bit more practical especially for DX bodies. I'm extremely pleased with how sharp the lens is wide open and how beautifully it renders colors.
Since I'll be doing a lot of travel photography I've purchased two additional lenses, the Nikkor 55-300mm VR as well as a Sigma 10-20mm. They should serve me well for what I plan to shoot & film when I'm traveling. I only have a week left in San Jose and I am beyond excited and I can't wait to board my plane for Taiwan!!!!
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| Orchids at farmers' market | ISO 100, 1/1600s, F/1.8, Contrast levels slightly adjusted |
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| Cheesecake Factory - Calamari | ISO 1600, 1/30s, F/1.8 |
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| ISO 100, 1/60s, F/1.8 with built in flash |
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| ISO 100, 1/2000s, F/1.8 |
Since I'll be doing a lot of travel photography I've purchased two additional lenses, the Nikkor 55-300mm VR as well as a Sigma 10-20mm. They should serve me well for what I plan to shoot & film when I'm traveling. I only have a week left in San Jose and I am beyond excited and I can't wait to board my plane for Taiwan!!!!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Summer 2011 - Beginnings
Summer has finally started. Moving out of VDC turned out to be even more worrisome than finals, but luckily things worked out in the end thanks to some very helpful and reliable friends. Sad to say, there's too many flakers out there and I'm glad that there's still reliable people. I guess after my moving fiasco last year, I'm always surprised when I can actually depend on someone. For that, thanks you guys. :]
This summer I'm so happy to be able to study abroad in Beijing and HK to learn more about Chinese culture and how each city has evolved into important 21st century centers of commerce. I've never been to Beijing, so I'm more than excited. Despite all the city developments in the nation's capital, I'm more looking forward to traveling to the more rural and traditional parts of Beijing. I've always wanted to felt what it was like to walk the streets of old Beijing, the streets where my ancestors once walked, bought their groceries and housewares and such. People question with what I can now do with my major now that I've switched from a practical one to something that will hardly get me a job. Hard to say, since those who graduated with "practical degrees" have difficulty finding a job. Well, most of us already know that most of the time, the careers that people choose may not even be related to their majors. Aiya. Maybe I'll write more about it on another day.
But since I'll be abroad all summer, it means one thing...... lots of chances for different kinds of photography!! Landscape, architectural, portrait, street... I can't wait try them all and be able to improve my skills and learn as many new things as I can.
I'll be back to write more! Good night everyone. :]
This summer I'm so happy to be able to study abroad in Beijing and HK to learn more about Chinese culture and how each city has evolved into important 21st century centers of commerce. I've never been to Beijing, so I'm more than excited. Despite all the city developments in the nation's capital, I'm more looking forward to traveling to the more rural and traditional parts of Beijing. I've always wanted to felt what it was like to walk the streets of old Beijing, the streets where my ancestors once walked, bought their groceries and housewares and such. People question with what I can now do with my major now that I've switched from a practical one to something that will hardly get me a job. Hard to say, since those who graduated with "practical degrees" have difficulty finding a job. Well, most of us already know that most of the time, the careers that people choose may not even be related to their majors. Aiya. Maybe I'll write more about it on another day.
But since I'll be abroad all summer, it means one thing...... lots of chances for different kinds of photography!! Landscape, architectural, portrait, street... I can't wait try them all and be able to improve my skills and learn as many new things as I can.
I'll be back to write more! Good night everyone. :]
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Beginning
Hello everyone, friends and future readers! :]
I've created this blog to serve as a personal blog, sharing my photography, food creations, thoughts, music I'm currently listening to, or just random things from the internet that I would share with you all. From here on out I will do my best to blog at least once a week!! There's just so much going on in college life that's blog-worthy and it would be a shame if I forget those memories.
So to start off this blog, I'll do a myspace/tumblr style "100 truths"....
WHAT WAS YOUR:
1. last beverage = Jasmine milk tea
2. last phone call = Mom
3. last text message = Super
4. last song you listened to = GD & TOP - Baby Goodnight
5. last time you cried = can't remember.
HAVE YOU EVER:
6. dated someone twice = nope
7. been cheated on = i don’t think so
8. kissed someone & regretted it = nope
9. lost someone special = yeah. doesn't it happen to everyone at one point?
10. been depressed = yeah. especially when I took calculus.
11. been drunk and threw up = nope, don't drink.
LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:
12. blue
13. silver
14. black
THIS YEAR HAVE YOU: (2011)
15. Made a new friend = of course! :]
16. Fallen out of love =nope
17. Laughed until you cried = it's been a while, but I think so!
18. Met someone who changed you = yeah
19. Found out who your true friends were = I suppose?
20. Found out someone was talking about you =sure?
21. Kissed anyone on your fb friend’s list =nopee
GENERAL:
22. How many people on your fb friends list do you know in real life = most of them... like 95%
24. Do you have any pets = yes! fishies. goldfish, koi, guppies and shrimp!
25. Do you want to change your name =nope, I like my name!
26. What time did you wake up today = 11 AM
28. What were you doing at midnight last night = writing my interview paper for history.... meh.
29. Name something you CANNOT wait for = travel study in Beijing & Hong Kong!! Taiwan after that! YEEAH~!!!
30. Last time you saw your Mother = last night on Skype! I love technology.
31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life = i want a job.. I could definitely use the money. Particularly, I want to start working in the culinary industry asap to gain experience.
32. What are you listening to right now = 2NE1 - Can't Nobody
33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom = maybe. I'm bad with names.
34. What’s getting on your nerves right now = insomnia, lots of papers to write. sigh.
35. Most visited webpages = Facebook,Yahoo, Youtube
37. Nicknames = Vicky, Vic, Vicko, Pookie
38. Relationship Status = single
39. Zodiac sign = Libra
40. He or She? = she
41. Elementary? = Holly Oak
42. Middle School = LeyVa
43. High school/College = Silver Creek/UCI, CUHK, China Foreign Affairs Univ
44. Hair colour = dark brown.
45. Long or short? = long hair
46. Height = 5’1”
47. Do you have a crush on someone? = JIMMY WONG <3
48: What do you like about yourself? i like how thoughtful I can be.
49. Piercings = ears
50. Tattoo = never
51. Righty or lefty= right
FIRSTS :
52. First surgery = wisdom teeth surgery
53. First piercing = ears
54. First best friend =first true best friend: Josephine
55. First sport you joined = equestrian! go UCI!! :]
56. First vacation =Taiwan
58. First pair of trainers = .... what?
RIGHT NOW:
59. Eating = nothing.
60. Drinking =jasmine tea
61. I’m about to = go sleep. it's 5:43 AM. me and my messed up sleep schedule.... oi.
62. Listening to = Taeyang - I Need A Girl
62. Waiting for = summer in Asia <3
YOUR FUTURE :
64. Want kids? = not really.
65. Get Married? = yes of course!
66. Career? Executive chef/Restaurant owner. (I'll get here someday. :])
WHICH IS BETTER :
67. Lips or eyes? = eyes.
68. Hugs or kisses = kisses (:
69. Shorter or taller = taller. :3
70. Older or Younger = older.
71. Romantic or spontaneous = both~
72. Nice stomach or nice arms = arms.. x]
73. Sensitive or loud = they just need to know when to be loud and when to be sensitive.. i don’t think i could deal with a person who is “always” loud or “always” sensitive… i like them to be balanced
74. Hook-up or relationship = relationship.
75. Trouble maker or hesitant = I prefer the word "mischievous". ;]
HAVE YOU EVER :
76. Kissed a stranger = maybe
77. Drank hard liquor = yeah
78. Lost glasses/contacts =nope
79. Sex on first date = no way
80. Broke someone’s heart = yes :[
81. Had your own heart broken = yes :[
82. Been arrested = nope
83. Turned someone down = yeah
84. Cried when someone died = yeah..
85. Fallen for a friend? = yes...
DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
86. Yourself = yes.
87. Miracles = yeah
88. Love at first sight = in my opinion it's more like "attraction at first sight"
89. Heaven = nope
90. Santa Claus = nope
91. Kiss on the first date = maybe, if things go well?
92. Angels = nope
ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
93. Had more than one bf/gf at the same time? = I'm not that kind of girl.
95. Did you sing today? = yess I love to sing my heart out when it's just me in my apartment alone :D
96. Ever cheated on somebody? = never.
97. If you could go back in time, how far would you go, and why? = back when i was in middle school so I could sleep early.... AND BE ABLE TO GROW TALLER.
98. If you could pick a day from last year and relive it, what would it be? = not one day; all the days I spent with my family in Taiwan. Each day was amazing.
99. Are you afraid of falling in love? = no
100. Posting this as 100 truths? = sure.
So with that I bid you all good night, or good morning for those who are early risers. There's more to come for this blog, I promise! <3
-Victoria
I've created this blog to serve as a personal blog, sharing my photography, food creations, thoughts, music I'm currently listening to, or just random things from the internet that I would share with you all. From here on out I will do my best to blog at least once a week!! There's just so much going on in college life that's blog-worthy and it would be a shame if I forget those memories.
So to start off this blog, I'll do a myspace/tumblr style "100 truths"....
WHAT WAS YOUR:
1. last beverage = Jasmine milk tea
2. last phone call = Mom
3. last text message = Super
4. last song you listened to = GD & TOP - Baby Goodnight
5. last time you cried = can't remember.
HAVE YOU EVER:
6. dated someone twice = nope
7. been cheated on = i don’t think so
8. kissed someone & regretted it = nope
9. lost someone special = yeah. doesn't it happen to everyone at one point?
10. been depressed = yeah. especially when I took calculus.
11. been drunk and threw up = nope, don't drink.
LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:
12. blue
13. silver
14. black
THIS YEAR HAVE YOU: (2011)
15. Made a new friend = of course! :]
16. Fallen out of love =nope
17. Laughed until you cried = it's been a while, but I think so!
18. Met someone who changed you = yeah
19. Found out who your true friends were = I suppose?
20. Found out someone was talking about you =sure?
21. Kissed anyone on your fb friend’s list =nopee
GENERAL:
22. How many people on your fb friends list do you know in real life = most of them... like 95%
24. Do you have any pets = yes! fishies. goldfish, koi, guppies and shrimp!
25. Do you want to change your name =nope, I like my name!
26. What time did you wake up today = 11 AM
28. What were you doing at midnight last night = writing my interview paper for history.... meh.
29. Name something you CANNOT wait for = travel study in Beijing & Hong Kong!! Taiwan after that! YEEAH~!!!
30. Last time you saw your Mother = last night on Skype! I love technology.
31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life = i want a job.. I could definitely use the money. Particularly, I want to start working in the culinary industry asap to gain experience.
32. What are you listening to right now = 2NE1 - Can't Nobody
33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom = maybe. I'm bad with names.
34. What’s getting on your nerves right now = insomnia, lots of papers to write. sigh.
35. Most visited webpages = Facebook,Yahoo, Youtube
37. Nicknames = Vicky, Vic, Vicko, Pookie
38. Relationship Status = single
39. Zodiac sign = Libra
40. He or She? = she
41. Elementary? = Holly Oak
42. Middle School = LeyVa
43. High school/College = Silver Creek/UCI, CUHK, China Foreign Affairs Univ
44. Hair colour = dark brown.
45. Long or short? = long hair
46. Height = 5’1”
47. Do you have a crush on someone? = JIMMY WONG <3
48: What do you like about yourself? i like how thoughtful I can be.
49. Piercings = ears
50. Tattoo = never
51. Righty or lefty= right
FIRSTS :
52. First surgery = wisdom teeth surgery
53. First piercing = ears
54. First best friend =first true best friend: Josephine
55. First sport you joined = equestrian! go UCI!! :]
56. First vacation =Taiwan
58. First pair of trainers = .... what?
RIGHT NOW:
59. Eating = nothing.
60. Drinking =jasmine tea
61. I’m about to = go sleep. it's 5:43 AM. me and my messed up sleep schedule.... oi.
62. Listening to = Taeyang - I Need A Girl
62. Waiting for = summer in Asia <3
YOUR FUTURE :
64. Want kids? = not really.
65. Get Married? = yes of course!
66. Career? Executive chef/Restaurant owner. (I'll get here someday. :])
WHICH IS BETTER :
67. Lips or eyes? = eyes.
68. Hugs or kisses = kisses (:
69. Shorter or taller = taller. :3
70. Older or Younger = older.
71. Romantic or spontaneous = both~
72. Nice stomach or nice arms = arms.. x]
73. Sensitive or loud = they just need to know when to be loud and when to be sensitive.. i don’t think i could deal with a person who is “always” loud or “always” sensitive… i like them to be balanced
74. Hook-up or relationship = relationship.
75. Trouble maker or hesitant = I prefer the word "mischievous". ;]
HAVE YOU EVER :
76. Kissed a stranger = maybe
77. Drank hard liquor = yeah
78. Lost glasses/contacts =nope
79. Sex on first date = no way
80. Broke someone’s heart = yes :[
81. Had your own heart broken = yes :[
82. Been arrested = nope
83. Turned someone down = yeah
84. Cried when someone died = yeah..
85. Fallen for a friend? = yes...
DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
86. Yourself = yes.
87. Miracles = yeah
88. Love at first sight = in my opinion it's more like "attraction at first sight"
89. Heaven = nope
90. Santa Claus = nope
91. Kiss on the first date = maybe, if things go well?
92. Angels = nope
ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
93. Had more than one bf/gf at the same time? = I'm not that kind of girl.
95. Did you sing today? = yess I love to sing my heart out when it's just me in my apartment alone :D
96. Ever cheated on somebody? = never.
97. If you could go back in time, how far would you go, and why? = back when i was in middle school so I could sleep early.... AND BE ABLE TO GROW TALLER.
98. If you could pick a day from last year and relive it, what would it be? = not one day; all the days I spent with my family in Taiwan. Each day was amazing.
99. Are you afraid of falling in love? = no
100. Posting this as 100 truths? = sure.
So with that I bid you all good night, or good morning for those who are early risers. There's more to come for this blog, I promise! <3
-Victoria
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