Recently I've made the switch and am working towards a career in healthcare (again). A lot factors have led to this path and it wasn't easy leaving my last job. Thinking more about what I want in life, owning my career and being inspired pushed me to take the leap and go for it. While working at Genentech, the company was developing and testing a new multiple sclerosis (MS) drug called Ocrelizumab. No clue as to what MS is and being curious about it, I stumbled upon When I Walk on Netflix. After watching that Blood Brother was suggested on my home page. These two documentaries have made a big impact and inspired me to work in healthcare. Both are incredibly touching and insightful into MS, AIDS and humanity. If you have time, I highly recommend you watch them. I promise you'll be glad you did!
Right now I'm still figuring out what path to pursue and am leaning towards nursing or being a physician assistant. At the same time, I'm open to other careers. This is only the beginning and I'm learning more about different jobs in the medical field. If you have any advice or would like to share your story, I'm all ears!
Have you ever gone to one? Last month, I went to the
Seattle Wedding Show and Seattle Wedding Expo. One of my best friends is
getting married so I went for her and myself to get more information. I met up
with Leeching from L Events and we had a great time.
There were tons of photographers, cinematographers, wedding
consultants, officiants, florists, bakers, DJs, caterers and musicians. Did I mention that vendors also reduce their
prices? Not to mention, the number of prizes to win!
The
vendors are all at one place to cater to you and your needs. You get to meet a
number of them, get a better idea of their services and packages, taste and see
their products, ask lots of questions, and see if you guys click. This all
happens within one or two days.
Seattle Wedding Show
400+ vendors
8,000+ attendees
It’s huge! It’s a great place to go to get lots of ideas
based on the number of vendors and their high quality of work.
Also, if you want a professional or venue that has won
awards and many praises, this is the place for you to go. Top companies, such
as The Invisible Hostess, Bamboo Beats and Aria Style, are there to help you
with your special day. Also, budding professionals, including those at LightForm Film, are there to work with you.
Seattle Wedding Expo
70+ vendors
It’s a smaller wedding show. If you are on a tighter budget,
it’s a good place to check out.Many
vendors provide quality services and products. Their work ethic and services
are top-notch too. Some already have been recognized, such as by King 5’s Best
of Western Washington.
Advice
If you are getting married or know of someone who is, I highly recommend going to a bigger wedding
show. There are tons of
inspirations and many vendors to talk to.
Nice Little Facts
Weddings in the Seattle area average about $29,155 |
Wedding Report
In the Seattle area, the annual wedding market is $644
million | The Stranger
In the U.S., the annual wedding market is $40 billion | The
Stranger
Most Unique Service
at the Show
The Gottman Institute’s couples workshops. (Hey, after all I
am psych major!)
Photo (first to last):Blue Ribbon Cooking & Culinary School, MyCakes, Grand Event Rentals,Metropolitan Market, Blue Ribbon Cooking & Culinary School, Metropolitan Market
Whether you are a recent graduate finding a job (like me), a person working at a job they hate, or a person who is looking for a little motivation, The World Is Waiting For You Now is an inspiring post by Kute Blackson.I can't say how much this post encouraged me and I hope you will find it helpful too!
Here are some words that touched me the most:
Along the journey to your dreams fulfillment you will face challenges that test you.
In these moments things can sometimes seem tough. It can be easy to lose hope. You might sometimes wonder if your dreams will ever happen. You may even consider abandoning your dreams altogether, feeling as though you have given everything and have yet to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
These are the moments that it is easy to give up.
These are the moments that people give in.
But these are the very moments to LIVE everything you know deep in your heart.
...
It takes true courage to follow your dreams in this world that tries to shake you down to live in fear and survival.
If you are facing one of those challenging moments in life, but feel your dream to be truly authentic to your heart. Then you must commit, continue and trust bigger than your fears.
Graduation
has been looming over my mind for the past two years. At times, it
brought fear and anxiety. At other times, it brought happiness and hope.
The ceremonies were a compilation of days to celebrate and share the
end of a chapter and the start a new one. It was especially heartwarming
as family and friends helped commemorate graduation with me.
Being
a pretty emotional person, I was overwhelmed thinking about my
graduation dinner speech. So many good people were there through good
times and bad. They supported me from the time I was in my mother’s womb
to more recent years in college. They shared their wisdom and challenges, their
mistakes and triumphs, and their love and kindness. The quote “It takes a
village to raise a child” rang truer that day than any other day.
I
am incredibly blessed and grateful to have such a strong support
system. From my cousin Roni’s advice on confidence to the years my
mother worked 80-hour weeks so I can have a better life, family and
friends continue to shape me into a better human being. Thank you to
each and every one of you. A special shout-out to my mother, a
phenomenal role model. She has been and continues to be an unlimited source of
love, knowledge, inspiration, everything and more.
Throughout the years, here are some advice and lessons I've learned: * You are NOT invincible. * If you are going through a difficult time, tell someone you trust and you will be glad you did. * If you don’t get hired, why not bring out that entrepreneurial spirit. * Travel. Rather than staying in your own bubble, explore the world and meet it’s citizens. * Inspiration can come from unexpected people. * For job interviews, be the best version of you. * Those you love may not always be there due to illness or death, so cherish the time you have with them now.
What are some tips you would like to share? I would love to hear them!
I love going to events. Events celebrate human achievements, inspire creativity and action, raise people’s awareness of problems and resolutions, gather various groups together, reflect current progress and future changes and create moments that will forever be remembered. In these ways, events are special and unique. While studying abroad in Berlin, I knew I wanted to attend local and citywide events. I attended the Mauerpark Flea Market, Asian Film Festival, Festival of Lights, Hertha soccer game and the World Photo Exhibit. All these events gave me a glimpse of the rich, cultural fabric of Berlin and the diverse interests of its residents.
I had a hard time figuring out exactly what I wanted to do. At first I wanted to create a program for an event in Berlin. Now, I'm thinking about doing a Berlin Wall walking tour. It would start at the Markisches Museum. Then visitors and locals would walk to the Engelbecken, St. Thomas Church, Schilling Bridge and Heinrich-Heine-Strasse U-bahn station. Lastly, they would take the U-bahn to the Berlin Wall Memorial.
For the media part of the project, I am going to make a short film based on the experience of a person on the tour. In addition to including what the individual sees, pictures and texts are included to bring context to the site of what it used to look and the events that occurred there. All these combined will inform them of how the Wall affected the landscape, Berlin residents, and Germany's representation of itself to the world.
For the written portion, I am going to create an information packet for the tour guide. It will include the route, the meaning of the Wall and the history and importance of each site.
Dresden is a beautiful city lined with baroque and rococo style buildings in Old Town. Based on panoramic pictures of the city, you wouldn't have guessed that it was heavily destroyed by Allied firebombings near the end of WWII. Major landmarks destroyed include the Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace and Semperoper. Years earlier, the Nazis burned the Dresden synagogue to the ground during Kristallnacht. With so much destruction, it was imperative for the German Democratic Republic (GDR) to commemorate the sites and rebuild the baroque landscape.
After German reunification, city officials and residents wanted to restore the city to look like it was before WWII and the GDR. To promote tourism, city officials were driven to bring back the city’s culture and beauty. They accomplished this as I explored Dresden. The Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace, Sempereoper, New Synagogue and the Dresden Military History Museum were fascinating. Some of my favorite sites were the grand Frauenkirche, the porcelain collection at the Zwinger Palace and the breathtaking view from the top floor of the Military History Museum.
Once I got off at Schonhauser Allee U-bahn station, I wondered around. Not knowing exactly where I was heading, I arrived at a park at Seelower Strasse and Paul-Robeson-Strasse. It’s a safe, neighborhood park with a soccer field and two playgrounds.
If you sit quietly and take the time to see what people are doing and what's going around, you can hear birds chirping, see the colorful autumn leaves falling from trees, a group of friends having a picnic, people playing with their dogs, and people sitting at the benches talking or lounging away. It felt very peaceful as I absorbed everything around me. It was different from all the other places I’ve posted in this blog. No tourists were around and it was wonderful to see another facet of Berlin.
The next place I wondered to was Gethsemane Church, on Stargarder Strasse and Greifenhagener Strasse. At first, I thought it was a normal church; however, information panels inside and in front of the church let visitors understand the historical events that have occurred there. For example, Pastor Walter Wendland, his family, and the community offered a safe haven for persecuted Jews and thousands of protestors gathered here during the Peaceful Revolution (1989). It made it more clear to me the various impact churches have. In my mind, I’ve always associated them with mainly helping the poor. Learning that churches and their community have protected diverse groups and encouraged human rights activism expanded my appreciation of what churches and it's community has accomplished.
After looking around I left and walked along Stargarder Strasse. That’s when I saw Eispatisserie Hokey Pokey. Since I did some research about amazingly delicious restaurants and shops in Prenzlauer Berg, I knew I wanted to try Hokey Pokey’s ice cream. The guy was really friendly. He was great because he explained any questions I had and even had the patience to translate and describe around 25 flavors. I got a scoop of Tonkabohne mit Weißer Schokolade (Tonka beanswith chocolate) and Hokey Pokey (vanilla with crispy caramel bits). Tonkabohne mit Weißer Schokolade was absolutely delicious, especially the chocolate. It’s the best chocolate I have had so far in Berlin. As for the caramel in Hokey Pokey, it looked like molecular gastronomy was used to make it. How fun and cool!
Overall, I like Prenzlauer Berg a lot. I will be coming back!
Thrill, excitement, and anticipation filled the air with thousands of roaring fans. Hertha Berlin was playing against Borussia Mönchengladbach at Olympic Stadium.
I was so happy to get the chance to go to the soccer game with my classmates. My first soccer game ever, and it was in Berlin! I learned the rules of the game as the players played offense and defense. Sporting my white and blue, I cheered enthusiastically for Hertha. The bright lights, enormous green field, crowd’s energy, and beautiful stadium made my experience that much better. You wouldn’t have known it, but the current stadium was built 75 years ago for the 1936 Summer Olympics. I’m sure the renovations for the 2006 FIFA World Cup had a part to do with that too.
Surprisingly, the time passed quickly and before I knew it, the game was over. I really enjoyed being there and would recommend anyone to go a game.
* On a side note, I have to admit I’m not a big fan of soccer. Since I don’t know much about soccer, I give huge props to those who can play it well.
The Asian Film Festival in Berlin was the first film festival I have gone to. I attended a panel discussion called “Imagine(d) Kinship: Gender, Sexuality, and Kinship in Hong Kong Independent Film” and went to see Banga Banga – He Is On Duty.
I was really surprised with the number of guests at the lecture. There were about 15 people there. When I imagined a film festival, I always thought there would be at least 50 people at each lecture and screening.
During the lecture, views of LGQT by Hong Kong residents, representation in the media, funding for producing and distributing films, sexuality and social discourse were discussed. Gum Gum, a lesbian film producer, was specifically mentioned. Her short film iD is an animation of a clay figure deciding on which of the 3 chairs to sit on. In the end the figure puts all three together and lays on them. My interpretation is that the chairs represent fitting into one heterogeneous sexual identity. The film shows viewers to go beyond the limited options of heterosexuality.
Guests about to watch Banga Banga
On the last night of the festival, I went to the Koreanisches Kulturzentrum (Korean Culture Center) to see Banga Banga. I HIGHLY recommend the film. It not only talks seriously about deeper social issues of immigration factory workers, power relationships between supervisors and immigrant employees, discrimination against immigrants, worker rights, identity, globalization and morals, but also the movie is a comedy that will make you laugh and cry from one moment to the next.
My favorite quote: "If you can’t give to the poor, don’t steal from them."
In addition to what I learned from the festival, I enjoy that independent films speak to social issues a lot more than commercial films.
Over the weekend, my class went on a trip to Weimar and Dessau. We learned more about the foundations of the Bauhuas School through seeing close-up examples of the style and understanding in-depth about the school’s history. Walter Gropius, founded and designed the Bauhaus. He developed the latest design style, which incorporated “new” materials of the period. This includes glass, iron and concrete. A fundamental objective of Bauhaus design is creating simple, functional objects that effectively use space, material, time and money.
Tour
At the Bauhaus School in Dessau, we had a wonderful informational tour. On campus, we visited the theatre, cafeteria, dormitory and Director’s room. The tour was my favorite part of the day because I got to appreciate Bauhaus principles and aesthetics as a saw its purpose more clearly through creations.
Bauhuas School in Dessau
One principle is that the use of color has to be understandable. A more vibrant color, such as a bright orange, immediately grab student and visitor attention. Therefore, the bright orange outlines the door they should enter, such as the door leading to the workshop building. In comparison, a door leading to the cafeteria’s kitchen is outlined in grey, which makes it less noticeable and inviting, because it is only for kitchen staff to enter. As I thought more about Bauhaus principles, it not only incorporates clean, new materials, but it also considers people's natural instincts of color.
On the same night, I attended the Festival of Lights, a citywide illumination event at major Berlin monuments and landmarks. Since the festival center is at Potsdamer Platz, I went there to check it out. As I walked up the stairs from the U-bahn station, I could feel my excitement rising as crowds passed by. I’ve been wanting to see it for a while.
Once on the street, I immediately noticed Faces of Berlin, a mask with a video projection of Berliners, the city, monuments and animations. It was amazing to see because the light installation helps you understand what makes Berlin Berlin through the eyes of the artist. Of course, you can interpret it differently from the artist’s original message. Art is completely subjective.
Additional installations and activities in the area include a tree-lighted street, a pond filled with brightly-lit origami boats, colored penguins surrounding a light sculpture, a light motion-sensor screen and a neon floor game.
The Ritter Sport Schokoladenwelt and Festival of Lights revolve around branding, identity and consumerism. The executives at Ritter Sport are using the store strategically to promote and market the company. The store is located a block from Unter den Linden, a buzzing street lined with numerous tourists throughout the year as they visit museums, monuments and landmarks. Also, the store is specifically designed to make visitors feel welcomed and happy as they enter the colorful, bright shop filled with chocolate. Creating the store advances Ritter Sport’s identity as a legitimate international company and teaches customers its history, philosophy, non-profit collaborations and current projects.
The Festival of Lights entices tourists and locals to enjoy a night on the town, while advancing Berlin’s identity to be the city of the 21st century. The festival is a contemporary celebration of the city, its history and people. In addition, the event celebrates and makes the structures and monuments highlighted even more important. It’s a way for Berliners and visitors to create new memories of Berlin. The wonderful, eye-boggling event is inspiring and showcases Berlin, production companies, sightseeing tours and artists. Keep in mind that it increases revenue for corporations and local businesses too.
Hello! I am in my 20s living in the Bay Area and originally from Seattle. I enjoy sharing inspirations, experiences and creativity to foster joy, self-awareness and action.
