All About Work

Hey y'all! (still haven't lost my Southern touch, y'know?)

Two weeks ago, I started working at Butterfly Studio Salon on 5th Avenue. Although it graces the profile as a high-end salon with an affluent range of clients, the staff are some of the most down-to-earth New Yorkers I've ever met. Clients feel at home the moment they walk through the doors. The atmosphere is chic and cheerful, a nice balance between comfort and classy. 

The waiting area consists of vibrant orange cushions and a small fish pond with two Kois named after some of the product lines we carry (Shu Uemura and Kerastase). Clients can busy themselves with snacks, beverages and magazines while waiting to be attended to. 

I work 3 days a week at the front desk as a receptionist, greeting clients, scheduling appointments, answering phone calls, making beverages and ensuring that everyone (including the hair technicians) are happy. It's been great so far. I'm learning more about the products and services. My coworkers are amazing. Every now and then, I get various drinks requests from the clients. Most of them are fine with water or sparkling water (doesn't take a minute to prepare those) but sometimes they want something more, like a decaf cappuccino with skim milk on the side, or an iced coffee with "one-quarter soymilk and three-quarters black coffee without sugar but a packet of Splenda." They think we're Starbucks. Haha.

Honestly, I don't even drink coffee, much less know how to make it. When I first started, I felt like a lost lamb thrown into the world of coffee-making (I still do). Thankfully, my coworkers are understanding and patient enough to teach me how to make (and style) the drinks the right way. I learned that you shouldn't just serve hot tea in a cup with the teabag floating visibly. What you should do instead, is stick the teabag in a teapot with hot water, and serve that along with a matching black teacup. Presentation is pretty important. Okay, so we're not Starbucks. Starbucks doesn't care about presentation. We're technically an in-house cafe.

My morning routine goes something like this: I wake up, do my morning devotion, shower and dress, pack my lunch for the day, attempt to style my hair, and bolt before I miss the 9.55AM bus. 15 minutes later, I get to the subway station, rush down several flights of stairs and hop into the train that takes me to 23 Street, where I get off and grab a muffin or a granola and try to scarf it down as I cross the streets to get to work. I don't have time for a proper sit-down breakfast anymore, but I should probably wake up earlier so I can make myself a bowl of cereal or oatmeal.

These days, I try to cook a big dinner the night before and pack the leftovers for lunch so I won't have to eat out during my 30-minute lunch break. The last time I stepped outside for a quick lunch, I ended up shelling out $10 for Spanish rice, grilled turkey and vegetables. Some of you are probably thinking, "Ah but $10 for a meal is a very good deal!" It might be, but unless I'm making some big bucks, it's going to be pricey eating out all the time. I allow myself to eat out with friends every now and then, but when I'm alone, I cut back on all that because I'm reminded of my rent, bills and groceries. 

I love this job. Apart from the fact that it pays my rent and bills, it's always a joy working with a talented group of fun, friendly people. It's a humbling position, one that requires me to be extra polite and accommodating, and it also teaches me to multitask in hectic situations. It's a great experience and I wouldn't trade this for anything else. If I can put a smile on someone's face, it's totally worth it. This job is a blessing, and it's why I'm able to stay on in New York at least until the end of the year, or early next year.

Well, that's my part-time job. The real reason I came to New York was to gain some experience in journalism or magazine-writing. I interned at Fashionista for a few months, but that ended on the last day of May. 

Today, I went for an internship interview with Seen Heard Known, an interactive digital quarterly magazine that prides itself on fashion, lifestyle and other cool events around the city. The magazine is free and available for download across Apple, Android and other platforms. Log into your iTunes or Android Market and search for "SHK Magazine." Do check out the latest issue, "Summer Needs No Explanation." I assumed it was just like any other magazine, but I was wrong. It is interactive. It's a magazine in motion. The words dance across the screen, buttons are ready to be pushed to reveal more pictures and text, music rings through your earphones. The interface embodies beauty, elegance, creativity and innovation. I was mindblown. It's basically an app with beautiful graphics and lively, engaging content.

When I looked up the address last night, I realized that SHK's office is just A FIVE-MINUTE WALK from Butterfly Studio! They're both located in the same thriving area of the Flat Iron District, right beside Madison Square Park, where the long lines form every lunch hour for the famous Shake Shack burgers (There's even a Shack Cam on its website that lets you view how many people are currently standing in line.)

I met with the managing editor of SHK and she briefed me on the responsibilities and so forth... and to cut the long story short, I GOT THE EDITORIAL INTERNSHIP! I'll be starting with SHK at the end of August :) Yay! 

God is awesome. I've been praying about a journalism/writing internship ever since my last one ended, and over the months, I've learned to surrender my dreams and desires to Him, trusting Him to lead me where He wants me to go. There were some rough patches in between, but it was through the hard moments that I was reminded once again of His unfailing love and mercy. He listens, He understands, and He provides. :) Praise God!

Blessed

Last weekend, I headed up to the mountains of Poconos with a group of friends from Times Square Church to celebrate Mae's birthday. Mae organized the trip. It was a refreshing retreat away from the hustle and bustle of New York City, and into the peaceful realm of nature. The rental house that we stayed at was situated among the trees and beside a large lake.

We arrived at the rental house slightly after 10PM. The sky was illuminated by the silvery glow of the moon and a rich sprinkling of stars. As the chilly night breeze enveloped us, we sat around the bonfire that the guys had successfully created from the chunks of wood and branches on the ground. And for the first time in my life, I roasted marshmallows. It was so much fun! I kept thinking, "Oh, so this is what I've been missing." Glad I was finally able to put an end to that. 

One of my friends brought glow sticks! We had a miniature "rave" party around the fire.

SunYoung, Mae, Chloe, Adam, me, Joy, Sean, Helena and Kay

Sean and Kay brought out the guitar and we all started worshiping. There we were, in the middle of the woods, just singing praises to Him and thanking Him for His blessings. The best worship stems from the heart, out of earnest desire for His grace.

Jon's artwork was achieved by decreasing my camera's shutter speed.

When we returned to the house, we sang Mae "Happy Birthday" and brought out cake! But since it was way past midnight, no one was really in the mood for sugar so we packed the cake back into the refrigerator after the birthday song. Lol.

The next morning, we gathered around the balcony for breakfast and a nice time of fellowship. 

Adam, Jon and Kay

Despite the afternoon rain, we couldn't resist a good game of badminton.

Chloe's game face

Kay and Sean, the wonderful couple

Half of them were Koreans, so I actually got to learn a bit of Korean over the weekend :) My goal is to converse fluently in Korean at the end of the year. We'll see about that!

For lunch, my friends cooked up a feast! While Jon cooked curry in the kitchen, Joy and May roasted pork and shrimps on the grill.

And the rest of us busied ourselves with the preparations. My task was peeling potatoes and de-skinning shrimps. Lol.

While waiting for lunch to be ready, I snacked on some crackers and tortilla chips. I mean, they were right there and I was hungry. Haha. 

Finally, lunch was ready. We sat around the table in the balcony and enjoyed a delicious meal of rice and curry, roast pork, salad, hot dogs and spicy shrimps on sticks. My friends could really cook! 

The hearty lunch left us with swollen bellies. So we hopped on a boat and explored a bit of the lake.

Such a beautiful weekend with an awesome bunch of people. Celebrated Mae's birthday, took a boat ride on the lake, roasted marshmallows and captured a plethora of precious moments. Truly a blessing!

Fortunate to Fly

I had the privilege to travel the west coast with my family. In December, they flew to the States for my graduation and the day after my graduation, we hopped on the plane to Los Angeles and stayed there for 4 days before moving on to San Francisco. From San Francisco, we made a quick trip to Las Vegas. In Vegas, we boarded a tour bus to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, then headed back to Vegas, and the next evening, flew back to San Francisco. Our long, adventure-filled family holiday came to an end yesterday. They're currently on their way home to Malaysia as I'm writing this. I came back to Arkansas last night and am thankful to be staying with the Neals, my second family.

 It wasn't easy saying goodbye to my family, after all the great times we'd shared together throughout those fun-filled weeks of traveling. The last time I'd seen them was in the summer of 2011, when I flew back to Malaysia for three months before returning to Arkansas to finish my final year of college. The first time I flew to the States was 2010, and that was really hard for me because I didn't want to say goodbye to them. I'd grown up under the shelter of my parents' wings for a long time. I depended on them for strength and wisdom. They were my mentors; they nurtured me and guided me through every moment in life.

So leaving my home and my family behind was a terribly painful thing to do - not only was I afraid, I was uncertain that I'd be fine on my own. They were concerned for me too. Of course, the first few months by myself in a foreign country wasn't totally easy, but as time went by, I got accustomed to the new culture and learned to adapt to my surroundings. I also learned to step out of my shell and embrace the unknown. I still depended on my parents for support, but I soon realized I was able to make big decisions on my own and rely on my judgment. I was able to handle important matters concerning myself without relying too much on my parents. 

I was becoming more independent, and I was proud of myself for this. The environment coaxed me out of my shell. I didn't think I was capable of it, but time proved me wrong. 

When I saw my family again in December, I was overwhelmed. I hadn't seen them in over a year. It was an emotional moment for all of us as we huddled together in a tight embrace, each of us trying to stifle our tears. I was able to feel the warmth of their hugs and smell their familiar scents on their shoulders. I didn't have to go home to feel at home - home had come to me.

 I remember hugging my mom at the airport, thinking how lucky I was to be able to hold her in my arms again and how I wish I didn't have to let go. I knew time was running out because in a couple of weeks, they'd be on the plane back to Malaysia and I'd be on my own again. 

During the trip, while they depended on me for navigating and organizing the trip, I depended on them for comfort and strength. Once again, I felt like that scared girl at the brink of leaving her home. I'd forgotten what it was like to trust my parents with the tough decisions. It was nice having them around as familiar pillars of strength.

 So when they left, I was hit with that same void of fear. Not knowing what my future would be like. Not knowing if I'd make the right decisions concerning my employment and living situation. Not knowing if I'd make it in the real world. Suddenly I wanted my parents to help me with the big decisions so I wouldn't have to make them myself. 

But I knew there was only so much they could do. The rest of it was up to me. It was my future, and I had to call the shots. Before they left, my dad told me, "No matter what happens. We will always support you."

Just two days ago, we were having breakfast together as a family at a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. We joked around and talked about the rest of the plans for our final day in the city. And yesterday, I hugged them goodbye before watching them fade into the line of people at the security checkpoint. The moment I turned and walked away, I knew I was on my own again. I'm not sure when I'll see them again. It could be 6 months or longer. Maybe even a year.

I'm really grateful that my parents chose to support my decision to study in America. They released me into the realms of this country, one so far and different from the one I grew up in. By doing so, they allowed me to find my own wings. I'd been living under the comfort of their loving wings for so long that I never had to use my own. This discovery led to a fresh sense of determination and courage that fueled a lot of my decisions.

I was fine on my own and I will continue to be. I've graduated and now a whole new world awaits me. I haven't found a job yet, but I'll keep looking. I don't know where this new journey will take me, but I'll have to keep going to find out. 

It's time to lift those wings again and fly.

2012

Happy New Year!

I still can't believe it's 2013 already. I woke up this morning thinking it was still December, and then it hit me. January 1 2013. A brand new day, a brand new year.

It doesn't feel like a whole new year yet. And why should it? 2012 was special. It was big, it was spectacular, it was an adventure. And I wasn't ready to let the adventure end. 

Honestly, 2012 wasn't an easy year. I had to endure some really painful, difficult moments last year. But 2012 was a platform for growth. It showed me another side of myself I never knew I had - the more independent side. I was making big decisions for myself, going places I never imagined I'd go, and leaving my mark in the process. 

I spent half the year worrying over the internship I needed to do for college credit. I poured my time into search engines and resumes. When my university turned down several internships that I proposed, I was crushed. Time was running out and I didn't have a specific plan for my summer yet. I finally found the ideal summer internship with Lusso Bags, a company based in San Diego with a strong passion to improve the community and to put an end to human trafficking.

Unfortunately, my university refused to grant me college credit for that. I was told I could go ahead and do the internship anyway, but I'd still have to do another internship that would count for college credit or I wouldn't be able to graduate. So I spent my summer as an online intern for Lusso Bags. I learned a lot during those few months. Most of my responsibilities involved researching, interviewing and writing. I got the chance to interview some inspirational individuals with a huge heart for the human condition. I felt honored to be on the receiving end of their information.

I also traveled to New York for a month during the summer. I stayed with my mom's family friends, who treated me with so much kindness. They took care of me and ensured that I had a good time in the city. I felt incredibly blessed! :) I could not have asked for a more generous and hospitable family in New York. 

I was nervous about getting around on my own but I learned to overcome that fear. New York taught me to be tougher and more independent. I had to quicken my pace to match the city's. It wasn't so hard after a while. I loved it there. I vowed to return. That's why I'm heading to New York this month. I plan to get a job there. Wish me luck!

And then I graduated with a summa cum laude. I outdid myself. I wasn't expecting to graduate with such a high distinction, so I was totally caught off guard when the news arrived. But I owe all of this to God. He made this possible. I couldn't have done it on my own. He deserves the highest praise and glory for all the good things He did in my life.

So much more has happened last year that shaped me into a better person. To list everything here would take another 50 paragraphs or more. :P But I must say that I'm grateful for everything and everyone I encountered. I really am.

I faced things. I failed sometimes. I learned from them. I grew.

But I owe it all to my support system - the friends and family who never left my side, the people who loved and encouraged me and cheered me on, the ones who gave me the strength to run this marathon when I lacked the energy or the drive.

2012 was amazing! I wouldn't trade it for anything else. Those memories were irreplaceable! :) The fun doesn't stop there. It believe it will spill into 2013, coloring the year with more joy than ever.

The adventure continues. ;)

Wishing you a blessed 2013! :) 

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Thanksgiving is already turning into one of my favorite holidays. It’s that time of the year when the trees are still colored with shades of autumn, and the air is crisp and punctuated with the smell of roast turkey and fresh apples.

I woke up this morning, thanking God for another lovely day. 

Thanksgiving is the perfect reason to get reunited with family. 

Well, my family’s 9,500 miles away in Malaysia, so I spent Thanksgiving with my American family – the Neals.

They sort of “adopted” me. ;) I’m so thankful to have met the Neals. They’re a crazy, hilarious, loving family who support each other in every way possible. They welcomed me into their home with so much warmth and introduced me to the Southern culture. They even taught me how to speak with an Arkansan twang: "Get yer country fried chickin'!"

Here’s a brief update about my first Thanksgiving with the Neals and their extended families. 

I got there an hour before everyone else started arriving and met Molly, Taylor’s kitten. Molly’s a feisty little thing. She’s really cute, but she hates being held. Whenever someone picks her up to snuggle, she growls and starts whining like a tortured soul. I have never met a kitten who hates being picked up. But then again, I’m more of a dog person than a cat person, so who am I to talk about kittens’ behaviors? Lol. 

One of the best things about Thanksgiving is the food. Oh, gosh. It's like Christmas, when people exercise their inner cook and whip up all sorts of yummilicious treats.

Deviled eggs

My plate of ham, country green beans, deviled egg, butter roll, chicken stuffing and mashed potatoes.

That wasn't even all the food we had. There was buttered corn, pudding, cheese balls and salted crackers, pink salad, banana pudding, carrot cake, chocolate cake, chocolate-coated balls of peanut butter and cream cheese and cupcakes with dark chocolate frosting.

I might have left one or two more things out of the list, but you get the picture. :) We stuffed ourselves with so much food that when the banana pudding was brought out, someone exclaimed, "Get that thing away from me. I am going to puke if I take one more bite because I am about to explode."

When you actually get to the heart of Thanksgiving, you realize that it's not all about the food. Thanksgiving is about the people.

Taylor, my "sister" from another mother. :) She's awesome! 

Meet Gracie! She's pretty much like a human being.

Cathy (Taylor's mom) and mamaw, Taylor's grandmother.

Sue Ellyn, Jason and LaDonna

Being around them was great, but it also made me miss my family a whole lot more. 

I'm thankful for my family back in Malaysia, for their unconditional love, support and encouragement throughout every step of my life. I couldn't have asked God for a better family. Every single day, I miss them even more. But the thought of seeing them in less than a month (because they're attending my graduation!) is exciting. :)

I am thankful for the Neals, for their generosity and warmth and for treating me like their own. They welcomed me into their lives, took me places, cooked me delicious Southern meals, helped me through some of the craziest moments of my college semesters, and offered me the sense of a warm, Southern family.

I am thankful for a loving boyfriend who has been there for me through the thick and thin of our almost 4-year long distance relationship. Thanks to the advancement of technology, we've been able to stay in touch through Skype and Whatsapp. It's really, really tough. But he makes all of this worth it.

I am thankful for friends who have my back - friends who love me for who I am, friends who encourage me, friends who build me up, friends who are able to laugh with me and share silly moments with me. They mean the world to me! True friends are hard to come by, so I thank God for each and every one of these special people He's placed in my life.

On top of everything else, I'm thankful for where I am today, for the circumstances I've had to endure to get here, for the people who made all of this possible, and for God's unfailing strength and grace that bolstered me through all 22 years of my life. Everything originated from Him, and without Him, there would be no Thanksgiving. :)

I'm also thankful to the lady who sold me the African hair clip last weekend.

Thanksgiving shouldn't be limited to just one day. Each day is Thanksgiving, a chance to celebrate the good things in life and to be grateful for everything you have. 

What are you thankful for? :)