This year the event was held at the new convention center. The new convention center is big, clean and new. There was also another convention going on at the same time. It was EPIC and it's about sustainable living. We walked by to see if there was anything interesting to see and if it was worth to go see. It was nowhere as busy as Eat Vancouver.
We got to Eat Vancouver at 12:30. It opened at 11am. The strategy was to head to Bite of Vancouver first then look at the booths. Bite of Vancouver is the section were various restaurants offer bite size portions of a few of their menu items. I wanted to head there first because it would be busy later on the afternoon. There was still so many people. It was a mess. There was no organization with the line ups for the Bite of Vancouver booths. You didn't know where the line up ended. Some booths there was just a crowd of people. Beside the booths there was the seating area. The seating area had large tables and chairs. I think it took up too much space. It didn't make sense to have so many tables. It would've been better to use more of that space for lineup space for the booths. There was also a wine and beer area. We didn't end up going in because the line up was so long. We spent our time walking around the booths to see the products they were selling. There was also a travel section. There were different countries promoting travel to their countries. I think it makes sense because food is such an important part of discovering a different country. I think it would be better if the booths displayed some foods from their country. I only remember India booth displaying their spices and Indonesia had some foods to try from their country. There were also some cooking demonstrations and food seminars. We were there mainly for the Bite of Vancouver. After 2.5 hours of exploring and tasting the foods, it was time to go.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Day 228: High School Life
I watched Fame last night. It is about a bunch of high schools in a performing arts school. I realized that there are many shows that take place in high school. There was 90210 (the old, original one took place in a high school, I am not sure about the new one), 21 Jump Street (it was filmed in my high school), High School Musical, American Pie and Glee. I am sure there may be more but I don't know them. What is the fascination with high school life? Is it about all the drama? Is it about the ranging hormones?
High school was an interesting time for me. It was about which boy I liked and how I can get him to notice me. It was about passing notes in class. It was about gossiping on the phone at night with my friends. The last thing it was for me was about learning. I didn't do well in high school. I didn't want to study. It was about cliques and popularity. But in grade 12, it seemed like we were one. The common bond was that we were all graduating and going on our lives. Reality was sinking in. Everyone was going their separate ways. Some were going to post secondary school. Some were going to work.
Some things I learned from high school:
1- my life doesn't revolve around boys
2 - learning is a life long journey
3 - I should've studied harder
4 - I should've been more concern about my future and been more focused
High school was an interesting time for me. It was about which boy I liked and how I can get him to notice me. It was about passing notes in class. It was about gossiping on the phone at night with my friends. The last thing it was for me was about learning. I didn't do well in high school. I didn't want to study. It was about cliques and popularity. But in grade 12, it seemed like we were one. The common bond was that we were all graduating and going on our lives. Reality was sinking in. Everyone was going their separate ways. Some were going to post secondary school. Some were going to work.
Some things I learned from high school:
1- my life doesn't revolve around boys
2 - learning is a life long journey
3 - I should've studied harder
4 - I should've been more concern about my future and been more focused
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Day 227: Letters to Juliet
It was a last minute decision, but it was a good decision. My friend, a female, asked me to go watch a movie tonight. Because it was two of us going to watch a movie, I thought it would be a good idea to watch a 'chick flick'. It would be harder to drag guys to watch a chick flick.
It was a such a sappy love story. It was about a lady trying to rekindle her connection with her true love. In Verona there is Juliet's house. There are many ladies who visit the house and ask Juliet for advice regarding their love life. They write a letter or note addressed to her and tape it on the wall. There are these ladies who are Juliet's secretaries and they respond to the letters. There was this one letter that was hidden and written 50 years ago. The main character, Sophie, found the letter and wrote a response. That response letter sparked, Clare, the person who wrote the letter, to come to Verona. Clare wrote a letter to Juliet stating that she met her love of her life, Lorenzo, and she had to leave him. In Sophie's response letter she said if that was the love of her life she should go find him. Sophie and Clare meet and they go on a quest to find Lorenzo, Clare's true love. Of course at the end of the movie Clare finds her Lorenzo. So romantic that they find each other after 50 years of being apart. There were 74 men with the same name as the Lorenzo she fell in love with 50 years ago. They searched within the vicinity to find her Lorenzo.
It is such a sappy love story that I think something like that only happens in the movies. If I was Clare, I don't know what to think if I finally got a response after 50 years. Maybe it was a joke? It is true dedication to try to find her true love. I guess you would search high and low to find your first true love. Would I be like Clare to search for my true love? Maybe. I think it would depend on my situation in my life. Can I just go and leave everything to do my search? Do I have a support system in place? Do I have the time and money to do my search? If the answer is 'yes' to all the questions, I would do my search.
It was a such a sappy love story. It was about a lady trying to rekindle her connection with her true love. In Verona there is Juliet's house. There are many ladies who visit the house and ask Juliet for advice regarding their love life. They write a letter or note addressed to her and tape it on the wall. There are these ladies who are Juliet's secretaries and they respond to the letters. There was this one letter that was hidden and written 50 years ago. The main character, Sophie, found the letter and wrote a response. That response letter sparked, Clare, the person who wrote the letter, to come to Verona. Clare wrote a letter to Juliet stating that she met her love of her life, Lorenzo, and she had to leave him. In Sophie's response letter she said if that was the love of her life she should go find him. Sophie and Clare meet and they go on a quest to find Lorenzo, Clare's true love. Of course at the end of the movie Clare finds her Lorenzo. So romantic that they find each other after 50 years of being apart. There were 74 men with the same name as the Lorenzo she fell in love with 50 years ago. They searched within the vicinity to find her Lorenzo.
It is such a sappy love story that I think something like that only happens in the movies. If I was Clare, I don't know what to think if I finally got a response after 50 years. Maybe it was a joke? It is true dedication to try to find her true love. I guess you would search high and low to find your first true love. Would I be like Clare to search for my true love? Maybe. I think it would depend on my situation in my life. Can I just go and leave everything to do my search? Do I have a support system in place? Do I have the time and money to do my search? If the answer is 'yes' to all the questions, I would do my search.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Day 226: Donating / philanthropy
I have done lots of volunteer work in my lifetime. I haven't been volunteering in the last few years. I would like to get back into it.
I have been thinking the last few nights about organizing a team to do volunteer work. I am thinking about helping kids and / or schools, feeding the homeless, volunteer at festivals, etc. I would like to contribute to society. I donated money to the Canucks charity. I know donating money is good. But maybe by giving my time it will be more valued / cherished. If I give money, I don't know if all my money will go to the cause I believe in.
Volunteering is about giving to others. I have volunteered with kids at a summer day camp and at the Boys and Girls club. It is nice to know that they look up to you as a role model and you make a difference in their lives. I volunteered with various festivals. The many festivals rely on volunteers. What I haven't done before was giving to the homeless. I am thinking of providing food for them in the Downtown Eastside. It will be totally out of my comfort zone. I have to give it more thought before it becomes reality.
I have been thinking the last few nights about organizing a team to do volunteer work. I am thinking about helping kids and / or schools, feeding the homeless, volunteer at festivals, etc. I would like to contribute to society. I donated money to the Canucks charity. I know donating money is good. But maybe by giving my time it will be more valued / cherished. If I give money, I don't know if all my money will go to the cause I believe in.
Volunteering is about giving to others. I have volunteered with kids at a summer day camp and at the Boys and Girls club. It is nice to know that they look up to you as a role model and you make a difference in their lives. I volunteered with various festivals. The many festivals rely on volunteers. What I haven't done before was giving to the homeless. I am thinking of providing food for them in the Downtown Eastside. It will be totally out of my comfort zone. I have to give it more thought before it becomes reality.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Day 225: Adoption
I was watching Glee tonight. (Not surprising cause it's Tuesday night.) One of the minor storylines is adoption. Quinn is giving her baby up for adoption. Originally Quinn was going to give it to Terry, Mr Shu's then wife. But Mr Shu and Terry broke up. I am not sure if Quinn will still be giving the baby to Terry anymore. Rachel was on a quest to find her mother. She found out that her mother is the coach for the competing team, Vocal Adrenaline. Her mother was paid as a surrogate and never had contact with Rachel since she was born.
I think adoption is a personal choice and it depends on your situation. If I were to carry a baby for 9 months I would build a bond with it. There is the emotional bond and the physical bond. It would be very hard for me to let it go to someone else. For the next 18 years (assuming I don't have contact with the baby till it is 18), I can't help but to think about the baby and the future of the baby. When it gets older, will it want to find me? What if the baby (now adult) doesn't want to locate me or talk to me? I would be so hurt.
I think there is a maternal instinct for most woman to want to become a mother. It may come early for some and later for others. In this generation, I think it comes later. I wanted to have kids in my 20's. Looking back I wasn't ready to have kids at all. I was too busy going out and enjoying my life. Now in my 30's I am more ready than I was when I was in my 20's. I think you can be ready if you have one already and are preparing for another one. But if it is your first baby, it's all about the trials and tribulations.
The only way I would give my kid up for adoption is if I didn't know I was pregnant until after I was 5 months and I am not ready to raise a kid. I am pretty sure I will know if I am pregnant before I am 5 months along. If I found out before 5 months and didn't want to keep it, I would have it taken care of. I don't think my parents would approve of my decision of giving it up for adoption. The concept of giving up a baby for adoption is very foreign to them. They didn't live in a society where babies were given up for adoption, maybe abandoned but not given up for adoption. They don't know anyone who gave their kids up for adoption. They are in their retirement stage. If I have any kids, I'm sure they have the time to spare to help me babysit.
I think adoption is a personal choice and it depends on your situation. If I were to carry a baby for 9 months I would build a bond with it. There is the emotional bond and the physical bond. It would be very hard for me to let it go to someone else. For the next 18 years (assuming I don't have contact with the baby till it is 18), I can't help but to think about the baby and the future of the baby. When it gets older, will it want to find me? What if the baby (now adult) doesn't want to locate me or talk to me? I would be so hurt.
I think there is a maternal instinct for most woman to want to become a mother. It may come early for some and later for others. In this generation, I think it comes later. I wanted to have kids in my 20's. Looking back I wasn't ready to have kids at all. I was too busy going out and enjoying my life. Now in my 30's I am more ready than I was when I was in my 20's. I think you can be ready if you have one already and are preparing for another one. But if it is your first baby, it's all about the trials and tribulations.
The only way I would give my kid up for adoption is if I didn't know I was pregnant until after I was 5 months and I am not ready to raise a kid. I am pretty sure I will know if I am pregnant before I am 5 months along. If I found out before 5 months and didn't want to keep it, I would have it taken care of. I don't think my parents would approve of my decision of giving it up for adoption. The concept of giving up a baby for adoption is very foreign to them. They didn't live in a society where babies were given up for adoption, maybe abandoned but not given up for adoption. They don't know anyone who gave their kids up for adoption. They are in their retirement stage. If I have any kids, I'm sure they have the time to spare to help me babysit.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Day 224: What is on your bucket list?
I have my bucket list. I am not sure how many people are following my adventures in completing my bucket list. But I would like to turn the tables around. I would like to help my friends with their bucket list.
I know everyone has something on their bucket list. You may not have written it down like I have. But there is something in your mind that you have always wanted to do. It can be something small or something big. You just have to weed out all the interruptions and excuses. What is it that you want to do before you die? Do you want to do some traveling? Do you want to learn a new skill? How can I help you? You don't want to die knowing that you haven't at least tried.
I know everyone has something on their bucket list. You may not have written it down like I have. But there is something in your mind that you have always wanted to do. It can be something small or something big. You just have to weed out all the interruptions and excuses. What is it that you want to do before you die? Do you want to do some traveling? Do you want to learn a new skill? How can I help you? You don't want to die knowing that you haven't at least tried.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Day 223: Valentine's Day
It just came out on DVD. It's a interesting movie. It is about many couples and how they celebrate Valentine's Day. There are many A listers in the movie. There are couples who are love birds. There are ladies who are anti-Valentines. There are 'unconventional' couples. There is a couple who broke up on Valentine's day.
I know it's May and it's three months past Valentine's Day but I'm still going to write my thoughts on it. This year's Valentine's Day was also Chinese New Year during the Olympics. I hung out with a group of friends, most of them are single. We spent our time together hanging out seeing Olympic festivities. I think Valentines Day is a commercialized Hallmark holiday. If you are in a relationship, you are expected to give your significant other presents to show your love / lust / infatuation for each other. If you don't give each other presents, does it mean you don't love / like each other? I just wish there wasn't that expectation. Maybe I can give my significant other presents on other days which may hold more meaning? I can show my love on any random day to show I care. Last year I gave my ex some chocolate, some romantic hearts with romantic messages. That relationship didn't last long. Well, all that time and effort to waste! If it was a long term relationship with someone I loved, I wouldn't think of it as such a waste of time and effort. He gave me a recipe book on street food of various countries. Yes, it's the thought that counts. But it seemed so uneven. His gift wasn't so romantic. But how do I know what he would give me? I can't take some stuff back if I think I gave him too much. Maybe we should just come to an agreement on what to give each other? Maybe just exchange cards?
I know it's May and it's three months past Valentine's Day but I'm still going to write my thoughts on it. This year's Valentine's Day was also Chinese New Year during the Olympics. I hung out with a group of friends, most of them are single. We spent our time together hanging out seeing Olympic festivities. I think Valentines Day is a commercialized Hallmark holiday. If you are in a relationship, you are expected to give your significant other presents to show your love / lust / infatuation for each other. If you don't give each other presents, does it mean you don't love / like each other? I just wish there wasn't that expectation. Maybe I can give my significant other presents on other days which may hold more meaning? I can show my love on any random day to show I care. Last year I gave my ex some chocolate, some romantic hearts with romantic messages. That relationship didn't last long. Well, all that time and effort to waste! If it was a long term relationship with someone I loved, I wouldn't think of it as such a waste of time and effort. He gave me a recipe book on street food of various countries. Yes, it's the thought that counts. But it seemed so uneven. His gift wasn't so romantic. But how do I know what he would give me? I can't take some stuff back if I think I gave him too much. Maybe we should just come to an agreement on what to give each other? Maybe just exchange cards?
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