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Thursday, 18 September 2008

I can't believe I'm here!

Oh... its been too long!

So, I'm finally at school. I still can't believe it!

Well, its been a crazy month and half since I got here. I'm still getting used to Ithaca and school life. I knew it was going to be busy - but I don't think I could have prepared myself for all of the stuff going on.

People -
I'm so grateful that I have awesome classmates! My class is pretty small - 269 (vs. 900 in some other MBA programs) and so far so good! I've met a few girls too who I think will become life long friends. I've been having fun getting to more east coast people. They are just slightly different from west coast people - but all good people.

Academics -
Holy crap. Professors load on a crazy amount of hw. Seriously - I have so much work too do! Plus all the quizzes and midterms. Aish!

Johnson School -
The program seriously has met all my expectations and beyond!!!! There so much stuff going on all the time! One of the nice things, every Thursday we have Sage Socials (Sage Hall is the name of the business building here) where they have a theme and free drinks. Today was pizza and beer. Last week was Purity Ice-cream. ITs nice - you really get to meet lots of new people there.

Career -
So, I was pretty set on restaurant stuff. But I have taken a turn - at least in the short run. I am looking to to marketing and CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) for my internship. Its crazy how quickly all the career stuff came about. From my updated resume to corporate breakfasts and briefings - I always have to be on my A-game. In fact - I'm going to a Welch's Grape corporate breifing tonight!

Ithaca -
Man is it different out here! Upside - no traffic, clean air, beautiful waterfalls and scenrery. Downside - not California. Lots of wierd stuff here too. More on that next time.

Overall -
Juggling the best I can. I was extremely stressed out up until about a week ago when I talked to a second year - Andrea. She said, "Connie - every person I went to school with last year, is still here with me this year." That completely put things into perspective for me. Its an interesting experience. Over all though, I think I'll be okay. : D

Miss home - I miss all of you back in Cali. Especially my parents, my sis, and Hsiang. I've never been away away from home before and its tough. Nice thing is that I have a webcam and I saw Hsiang last night and my parents this morning. So nice to see thier faces. ; D

Coming Home! I'll be back in LA from October 15 - 18. Cornell has a Fall Break - similar to spring break. I am SOOOOOO excited to be going back home. People, food, home, Costco - can't wait!!!!

More pics next time!

Tuesday, 06 May 2008

Its about time...

for a picture update! So I've been slacking big time on my xanga posts! So I'm going to have to start my posts by month.

January was an amazing month! Starting with New Year's @ Geetu's, Jennie's Bridal Shower, Hsiang and Connie anniversary trip to Oahu, Park Fellowship Weekend @ Cornell, and Jennie's wedding(which I was absent at.. but there in spirit!).

So in that order... HAPPY NEW YEAR! I have to thank Geetu for hosting another great together @ her condo off Ocean in Long Beach.

Jennie's Bridal Shower is definitely one of the most fun weekends I have ever had to plan. I really have to give HUGE thanks to my partner in crime, Jen Chang for everything! Jennie... I know you had lots of fun, you deserve the best!

Night 1 @ Tao...

Next on the agenda that weekend was the Bridal Shower Brunch @ Bouchon located in the Venetian. Notice the custom menu!

The BIG night was Saturday night. I'm not going to talk about details... but this night was crazy!!!

For our anniversary, Hsiang and I decided to go to Oahu again. We absolutely love it there! Why??? The food! Especially Giovanni's! Anyway, I'm glad that after all these years, Hsiang can make me laugh like no other!

My pictures are all out of order.. but here are all of my favorites.

What a treat..we were able to snap pics of a rainbow on our last day...

The weekend after Oahu was Jennie's wedding! I was so sad to miss it, but congratulations again you two!!! I love this picture of the both of them...

See Jennie's xangafor more weddding pics! www.xanga.com/jenn220

While they were getting married, I was busy at Cornell taking care of business! See my prior post to read why! Anyway, I can't wait to start school this fall. Here's a picture of the building where I'll be spending the next 2 years at! Sage Hall...

My plan is to update my xanga with pics from Feb, March, and April by next week. Pictures to come...

Feb: Faesea's B-Day @ Roy's, Faesea's & Arlene's wedding, Geetu's Birthday dinner
March: Linda's Birthday @ Boiling crab, Bon's Birthday, Carbon with Jen and Jane, St. Patty's @ Muldoon's, K1 Indoor Go Kart racing
April: Destination Johnson weekend @ Cornell, Honey Pig & Miru, Jennie's Birthday @ Time out Tavern, and my 26th birthday @ Heu

I just had dinner with Jason the J-Ho and Jan tonight to catch up (J-Ho and I go waaaaay back to days of OB @ SC.. hahaha). Anyway, after talking about what we've been up to, I realized that I was able to keep up with what he's been doing by reading my xanga subscription. I'm going to try hard to keep up with my posts. Although I typically don't write much, I think pics tell the story better.

Just for you Jason! An old throw back picture from spring break in Shanghai our last year of SC... Eeek! That was over 4 years ago!

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

Oh my goodness!!!

Monday afternoon:
Cornell: Hello Connie, we are calling to let you know that you are officially off the wait-list for the Park Fellowship!
Me: Um... uh.... Does this mean that I can assume that I am now a Park Fellow?
Cornell: YES! Congratulations! We would like to inform you that you have been selected as a Park Leadership Fellow!
Me: ***Screaming with excitement*** Thank you!!!! (And bunch of other stuff that I said that went on forever.)
Cornell: Now Connie, just to make it clear, you will be forfeiting your merit scholarship for the full fellowship. Just so that you understand.
Me: Oh yes... I am more that glad to trade that in! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!
http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/park/
**********
Oh man... after everything that I have been through and all the hard work I put in, everything literally paid off. Everything truely happens for a reason. I literally took the GMAT 5 times over the course of a year and half before I got a score that I was happy with and spent almost 6 months working on applications and visiting schools. 2 years worth of hard work!
Never did I ever expect to get to ever have my MBA education fully paid for and to have such an honor. I am so lucky to have such supportive parents, sister, boyfriend, and friends who have encouraged me throughout the entire time and to help me pick up the emotional pieces each time I hit a roadblock. I can't imagine where I would be without everyone's support.
My sincerest thank you to everyone.
(Jennie & Minh: I didn't miss your wedding for nothing!)

Saturday, 02 February 2008

Big update coming soon!

In the meantime, it's official!

Sunday, 16 September 2007

My massive picture update!

So... Hsiang and I just went to Doughboy's and to MILK this evening where I had a medium sized non-fat latte. AND BOY! Am I still awake! Anyway, I thought I would finally take the time to update my xanga!

So... by chronological order from most recent to about mid July, here are most of the pics of what I've been up to. July and August brought a bunch of birthdays! Let me know how many you count up!

Another update from July to February will probably come in another few months! Hahahah!!!

Hsiang's blue belt/green stripe ceremony.
I'm so proud of my karate boy. I snapped a pic of him waving at me!

Brunch @ Las Brisas with my girls.

LA Tofu Festival w/ Christina, Linda, Ning, Hsiang, Mr. Tofu himself!

Happy Birthday Henry!
We had so much fun hitting up The Dime and Lola's off Fairfax. WE even saw Matt Leinhart @ Lola's.. well sort of.

Happy Birthday Babe!
Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate Hsiang's lobster dinner! It was a lot of fun and a lot of food!!! Thanks to Julie for the pretty coffee cheesecake!

SF Trip
Hsiang and I went up north for Hsiang's Love Boat friend Sophia's wedding. We did lots of different things in SF that we've never done before!

SF Day 1
Saw Byron and company @ Long Beach airport...

Mum's... Hsiang's first b-day treat.

Morton's Steakhouse... Hsiang's second b-day treat....

I love this SF heart.. so cute!

SF Day 2
When Julie, Hsiang and I went to SF years ago, Hsiang snapped a picture very similar to the ones below. Hsiang only needed one try.. where as I took a few more tries embarrassing the crap out of Hsiang.

Sophia's wedding. The wedding was beautiful!

SF Day 3
Hsiang and I rented bikes and rode all the way to Sausalito. Who knew it was an actual city! I always thought it was the Peperidge Farm cookie. Hahaha. We got awesome views of the bridge - and some pics of trying to do some cool mid-air shots.

Happy Birthday John!
We went to my favorite place, FAT FISH and the Abbey afterwards. It was such a treat having John back for the summer. He's off to Law School right now in Washington. Good luck John!

Happy Birthday Steve-o!
Jenna threw him a bomb-ass party at her parent's place in Fullerton. Lots of fun, food, dancing, and company.

Happy Birthday Julie!
My best friend turns 25, Sideways style! We all went down to Los Olivos.

Happy Brithday Ed!
I don't have very many pics of his birthday dinner, but Ed looks mighty cute in this one.

Bungalows & Little Temple with Jen
We both enjoyed a rasberry mojito before dancing it up at Little Temple. It's always nice to hang out with Jen. I can't believe it's been 11 years since we've first met!

Whew! I'm exhausted! I forgot how long entries like this take to update. For once in a long time I didn't use the lazy slide thingy. Anyway, nice to share pictures with you again. = )