maudy's journal

Three-month long summer break isn't happening to me this time as I thought before. Weeks ago, I called my department just to make sure that my spring assistantship didn't include summer tuition waiver. I've asked them about this and they said it only covered last spring tuition. I thought I would regret it if I didn't make sure one more time. After the secretary of my department asked here and there, surprisingly he said YES, I got tuition waiver for summer. WOW! that's a big deal for me. Summer tuition cost almost the same as fall/spring tuition.

For that reason, I am taking classes this summer. I know I'll miss waking up late and all the luxury of having break, but I am also excited to take prerequisite and elective classes. It could be intense, stressful, busy, but it is a great opportunity for me to learn while it's free Looking at table of classes that are offered this summer, I am confused what to pick. There are many interesting classes. If only I have more time...

As for next year, we still don't know how to pay the tuition. I just got rejected for GA position that I applied I deeply hope I can get the other position that I applied. Help me God.....

Hubby and I had a great time in Indiana last Memorial Day weekend. Tourist destination is very limited in that area, but we have a lot of good friends and a brother there that charm us to drive up there at least once a year. In my homecountry, driving for nine hour seems to be tiring and frustrating because of its ineffective infrastructure. Here in this country, nine-hour-driving is enjoyable. Some of my friend even consider nine-hour-driving easier than the hassle of flying with the to the same destination. I like to see hills half the there, and then flat area with corn field on the other half.
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The sweet unique smell of hardwood floor mixed with old brick wall greeted me as soon as I opened the main door. That was the sniff I whiffed for more than two years when I was volunteering at SB, an architecture firm at downtown. I directed a prayer for extra strength and guidance whenever I was going to work back in those days. Being a volunteer at a commercial and professional firm often left me confused. I wished I could help as much as I could, but one-day-a-week work didn't allow me to have big responsibilities. I wished my colleagues gave me piles of work without worrying that I did favors for them. My experience there seconded that professionalism is important for both parties.

Anyway, I was so blessed to know all of such nice people there that's fun to work with. My boss... oh, he is such an amiable tall person. The work atmosphere at that firm is something that people will miss when they leave the firm. It wasn't random as I thought before that I could be a volunteer at that great firm. It is rather impossible for people with my situation to work in a local company. But my dear friend introduced me to her friend, SB owner and asked if I could be an intern at his company. Working there helped me a lot to catch up with knowledge in American architecture and to grasp American culture from my colleague as well.

My friend RM arranged an informal lunch reunion for me this noon. We met at office at 11:30 then walked to a restaurant. The restaurant wasn't a regular place, it is an astonishing downtown preservation project done by SB firm. Bob invited me, so I could see the finished project which I became small part of the process during my intern time. Before and after eating, Steve and Bob gave me a tour around the building. It was such a treat to have "meet the architects" time I recalled some parts that I saw when I was measuring the existing building before construction and also from drawing during the design process. I was amazed! That rusty abandoned old building has become a pride of Market Square community in this city.

When I was taking the building tour with my tour-guide friends, deep down in my heart I miss this field so much. Then hastily I convince myself that taking my degree right now doesn't mean that I am leaving architecture world. I am adding my knowledge.

The lunch time was time to catch up with my friends' life. Two of my friends have been a wife for several weeks! One has become a grandma! There's also my friend who got laid off and still in a job hunting. Back to the office, RM showed me recent projects. He said the demand has decreased recently because of the economic condition but they are getting more works next month. I am happy that the office survives despite the monetary crisis, and I believe their unique style, creative solving problem and fun to work will attract more customers. I enjoyed my lunch time today. Thanks to RM who organized the small reunion, and...for treating me lunch!

Dolly Parton is an iconic woman native to East TN famous for her spirit of chasing her dream and her pure heart to share what she has to others. Her unquestionable achievements took her to receive an honorary doctorate of humane and musical letters from University of Tennessee on last week's commencement. On that moment, she sang two songs, one was song about TN, and the other one was prompting people to try hard to pursuit their dream. O how I wish she could come to my own commencement

I am inspired by her since I read about her several years ago. Before that, all I knew about her was her beauty surgery that I thought was unnecessary. Hearing the song she sang on the commencement, I was once again encouraged to keep trying the best, not to let myself or others let my dream die. It's never too late, it's never too old for them who keep chasing their dream, and for them who live in their dream.



Try
by: Dolly Parton

I've chased after rainbows
I've captured one or two
I've reached for the stars
and I have even held a few
I've walked that lonesome valley
Topped the mountain
Soared the sky
I’ve laughed and I’ve cried

But I have always tried
Cause I’ve always been a dreamer
And dreams are special things
But dreams are of no value
If their not equipped with wings
So secure yourself for climbing
Make ready for the sky
Don’t let your chance go by

You’ll make it if you try
So try to be the first one up the mountain
The highest flying dreamer in the sky
And try your best to be an inspiration
For others that are still afraid and shy

And try to make the most of every moment
Cause if you never try you never win
So try each day to try a little harder
And if you fail get up and try again

You know nothing is impossible
If you can just believe
Don’t live you life in shackles when faith can be the key
The winners one that keeps determination
And is the highest who’s not afraid to fly
And not afraid to try.

So try to be the first one up the mountain
And try to be the first to touch the sky
And don’t let somebody tell you, you can’t do it
And if they say that show ‘em it’s a lie

And if you fail at first just keep on tryin
Cause you are not a failure in God’s eyes
So spread your wings and let the magic happen
Cause you’ll never really know if you don’t try

And the first step is the one that’s always hardest
But you’ll never really know if you don’t try

You have to try

Working with Windows often aggravates me. There would be something weird happens that demands me to reboot my computer.

When I was panic on finishing my 3D model, I realized that my undo button didn't work. After some attempts to change the setting, I decided to reboot my computer. Rebooting computer is not pleasing since I had to close all the applications I was having then restarted the computer and re-opened the files when it got back on. Yet even after rebooting the undo didn't work.

I was really really frustrated with my busyness and annoyed with the absence of undo button. Without undo, I had to be really careful before doing anything; or when I made mistake I had to close the file without saving it and have it re-opened .

Then I thought, there is no undo button in life. We have to be careful for what we act, think, and say. Once we do something wrong, we have to face the consequences. Sometime it can be over with in short time, but sometime we have to face the rippling effects for years or forever.

So, keep praying and doing the best. For you who bears consequence from the past, don't give up! There will be light for them who trust in Him.