Graduation
I graduated after four long (fleeting) and taxing (somewhat) years at UCLA on Saturday. It was definitely a full-day event, supposed to be full of fun and games and good company. Unfortunately for me, everyone in my family AND my boyfriend run on Korean Time, so I had to make a mad dash to Pauley Pavilion for the Economics commencement all alone. Thankfully, Lindsay and Kien were there with her entire family so I wasn't completely alone, but I might as well have been because her and her family were all chit-chatting away. I resolved to standing slightly off to the side, trying my best to look preoccupied by punching in random numbers on my cell phone for a good 15-minutes (not a joke). And another thing that sucked was that I didn't have a lei while EVERYONE and their moms had one (or two, or three). Yeah yeah, petty I know, but heck, little things like this count during a big ceremony like your graduation! I had no one to buy one for me, so again, I just stood there moseying around until we were allowed into the pavilion. Once in, I heard my mom yelling out my name. And sure enough, up in the bleachers section she was up on her feet waving a bright purple lei in the air like a mad woman! It was a Kodak moment as she tossed the lei high up in the air and I caught it, thinking to myself, 'YES, I HAVE ONE!!!'
Then proceeded the actual commencement which was BORING. UGH. The student speaker sucked and the keynote speaker was decent but he obviously was reading his entire speech, which definitely does not capture the attention of newly-grads. But after it was over, I guess the finite feeling of parting with the school finally sunk in. It just sucks that I'll never have the opportunity to bum around for long periods of time again. *sigh*
After the ceremony since none of us had anything better planned, we decided to make a group trip to Manna in Ktown. For those who may not know, it's an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ place that's not really a building but has a tent for a roof so you can smoke and eat if you're so inclined. So we stuffed ourselves silly and talked a bit then went over to James' house to play poker, only to have Lindsay sweep us all out (it was a $5 buy in, but still!). MAN she pretended like she didn't even know how to play! WTH?!
Anyway, it was a great fun-filled evening/night that measured all the way up to my expectations and much more. Family, friends, my loving bf, and good food...what more could I possibly want?
The family
James & I
Kien being weird
Kien being weird again!
Then proceeded the actual commencement which was BORING. UGH. The student speaker sucked and the keynote speaker was decent but he obviously was reading his entire speech, which definitely does not capture the attention of newly-grads. But after it was over, I guess the finite feeling of parting with the school finally sunk in. It just sucks that I'll never have the opportunity to bum around for long periods of time again. *sigh*
After the ceremony since none of us had anything better planned, we decided to make a group trip to Manna in Ktown. For those who may not know, it's an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ place that's not really a building but has a tent for a roof so you can smoke and eat if you're so inclined. So we stuffed ourselves silly and talked a bit then went over to James' house to play poker, only to have Lindsay sweep us all out (it was a $5 buy in, but still!). MAN she pretended like she didn't even know how to play! WTH?!
Anyway, it was a great fun-filled evening/night that measured all the way up to my expectations and much more. Family, friends, my loving bf, and good food...what more could I possibly want?
The family
James & I
Kien being weird
Kien being weird again!