What is the purpose of a door? This fairly simple contraption can serve as a passageway between two different areas. A closed door acts as a barrier to prevent those without access from entering. An open door naturally serves as an invitation to enter. Doors come in all different sizes and shapes, each design serving a specific predetermined ( Read more... )

Now that I am officially done with my program at UCLA, I am able to get a sense of closure to my life in academia. There are two things that strike me immediately when I glance back at how it all unfolded. The first is how thankful I am to have had God's guidance throughout the entire journey (or for those who don't believe, you may call it ( Read more... )

After having lived with this guy for close to 9 months, I am gradually putting together the pieces to form a more complete picture of who he is. He's a rather interesting individual if you consider the fact that I haven't known anyone quite like him in my life. On the outside he appears to be a simple, small-town, prim and proper white male, but ( Read more... )

The past month has been busy and hectic as I've been trying to juggle school work/projects along with job interviews. I just recently found out that my master's comprehensive exam is scheduled on the Monday AFTER my graduation ceremony. On the upside, I'll have more time to study for it since my whole degree essentially hinges on that one exam. ( Read more... )

When I was in grade school I was fond of a type of children's fiction that places the reader into the actual plot of the book. As the story progresses, the reader is prompted with decisions that change the course of the plot. When the reader comes to a decision, he would turn to the appropriate page and the story continues until you reach one of ( Read more... )

Today I randomly met an old classmate from high school while walking back to my apartment from campus. It was perhaps the most awkward conversation I've had with anyone in a long time. I usually fare pretty well with talking to just about anybody under any circumstances but this guy just gave me a hard time. He seemed like he was trying to dodge ( Read more... )

Impromptu - A single-movement, piano composition of the Romantic era, usually short, that has a spontaneous character; an instrumental piece that gives the impression of having been improvised. The term implies a freedom of style and a casual nature.

Having lived with a white roommate for over 2 quarters now, I noticed a major difference between our cooking styles. I am referring particularly to the amount of taste we put into our food in terms of spices, sauces, etc. My parents aren't big on heavy flavors so I've been accustomed to foods that some people might consider to be bland. My ( Read more... )

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to spend time with my cousins at Las Vegas. I know I've written about the experience before but this is regarding something completely different from all the fun and games. It's amazing how much you can learn about someone just by spending a few days with them. My cousin got married a few months back and ( Read more... )

Time is flying by me at the speed of light. I don't like the fact that I've gone through half of my year at UCLA. I absolutely hate the quarter system because I get the feeling that a lot of material is rushed due to the lack of sufficient time to cover everything. However, besides that, everything else has been quite an enriching experience. I ( Read more... )