February 3, 2010
It is a love story...2
January 13, 2010
December 1, 2009
World AIDS Day - Dec 1
Dec 1st is the 2009 World AIDS Day (http://www.worldaidsday.org/). I'd like to share with you some thoughts in observance of the campaign.
In the last month, I have learned about HIV prevention, medical care, and research mainly through the Markey Pathway lectures and other seminars on campus. I have met HIV/ AIDS patients and admired their courage to speak in public about their illness, fear, and hope. There is no doubt HIV/ AIDS not only is a global health problem but also reveals a lot of social, economic, and cultural issues.
Among those issues, I am most shocked by an ongoing crime that HIV positive males rape and sexually abuse females who are virgins. A lot of victims are teenagers, toddlers, and even infants. This crime was started by a rumor that HIV positive individuals can be cured if they have sex with virgins. I am really shocked and angry about this intolerable behavior. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt and maybe one day a mother who likes to have a daughter. I cannot imagine that kind of crime happens to who I love and care.
Last week, I was touched by the speech Ms. Betty Makoni gave when she received CNN Hero 2009 (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/index.html). She firmly stated that the rumor about virgin and HIV and sexual abuse should be stopped right now. Betty Makoni and Girl Child Network Worldwide (http://girlchildnetworkworldwide.org/) have provided sexually-abused victims shelter and support.
I also thought a recent movie "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0929632/) raises the awareness of sexual abuse and HIV transmission.
HIV/ AIDS itself is terrible enough as a human disease; sexual abuse makes it an even bigger disaster to human society. I believe we can do a lot of things to stop sexual abuse: stop the rumor about HIV/ AIDS on public sites (blogs, forums, social networks...etc.); watch out for disadvantaged females; make a donation to nonprofit organizations that provide shelter and suport to sexually abused victims.
I believe any steps, big or small, can make a difference and help people in need.
September 28, 2009
What will we become?
I wonder what we will become when I am observing the high-ranked people around us.
They are supposed to be ideal role models.
They have power and fame.
I respect that they are smart, working hard, self-driven, efficient, and productive.
By any means, they are successful.
We don't, however, 100% want to become like them. Why?
Is it because they are arrogant? Stubborn? Self-centered (and they are god)? Control freak? Slave driver?
To me, I look for a mentor who not only teaches me what I need to know for my career but also is willing to assist me to become what I want to become.
The latter is very important to me because I don't like to work with someone who simply wants me to become like he/ she or who just wants me to follow orders.
I am very lucky that I have met two great mentors at Wash U in St. Louis.
July 29, 2009
July 26, 2009
Coldplay Viva La Vida concert
前天晚上去了 Coldplay Viva 演唱會，超讚的！ 當晚有種死而無憾的快感 （後來馬上想到我還沒去過陳琦貞, Cat Power 和 Snow Patrol 現場演唱，也還沒看到 Miss Saigon 音樂劇 ，所以還不能死）
Yellow 前奏開始的時候，舞台下方突然蹦出好多巨型黃色氣球，真的很大顆很大顆的氣球！
遠遠看很像有很多圓滾滾的月亮，讓我想起幾米的 "月亮忘記了" 裡的畫面。
黃氣球們從天上掉下來，人們接力地一個一個把它們又彈回天空，從舞台前方跳跳跳到整個草地席的最後排。
大家都好開心好開心，大人們背著小孩追氣球，全都玩在一塊了！
快到中場的時候，舞台燈熄了，我們正準備去排隊上廁所，突然聽到觀眾席的尖叫聲。
順著聲音望過去，原來 Coldplay 全組四人竟然走下舞台，穿過 VIP 席，往我們貧民區，喔不，是草地席走來！
他們登上一個大概一張桌子那麼大的小舞台，不插電的又唱了起來。
July 20, 2009
April 20, 2009
April 7, 2009
Bye bye, Many, we will miss you.
"Many", our beloved dog, passed away around 3 am this morning. She was 15 year old. She was the first dog in our family and had gone through a lot of difficult time with us. Time passed so fast. I still remembered the day I brought her home. She was a good dog. We miss her so much. My dad told me that Many stood the whole night before she left. We wondered if she knew she would not wake up again. I wish I could be there to see her for the last time. Hope she is safe in heaven now.
April 2, 2009
Wake up with love
The past two weeks, I set this song "Love" by John Lennon as my alarm. Every morning I would wake up with a smile and feel grateful that someone also appreciates love in a simple way.
This week I have been woken up by another love song "Sea of love" by Cat Power.
Ever since I started to use love songs as my alarm, I feel more energetic to get off of my bed in the early morning.
March 5, 2009
{Update} Music calendar
March:
3/6/09 Dance/Music I (http://www.slso.org/concert/index.htm#030609)
"In the first of two deliciously different concerts, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago adds the grace and power of the human form to works by Bach, Stravinsky and Bernstein, as played by the SLSO. Then a purely orchestral finale as the musicians unleash the sensual sounds of Ravel's Boléro."
David Robertson, conductor
Scott Andrews, clarinet
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (Whitaker Guest Artist)
(Performing Bach, Stravinsky and Bernstein)
Jim Vincent, artistic director
BACH Movements from Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 3 & 1
March 1, 2009
February 21, 2009
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
昨天 E 帶我去聽 Preservation Hall Jazz Band (PHJB) 現場
他們是從紐奧良來的聽說很有名的 Jazz band, 可惜我對 Jazz 不熟, 也沒做功課就去了
很驚喜地昨天現場氣氛超 high 的!
St. Louis 跟紐奧良都慶祝 Mardi Gras, 好多人應景穿 Mardi Gras 顏色: 綠, 黃, 紫 (Mardi Gras 由來: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras)
Jazz Band 不但從舞台上丟串珠給觀眾, 還跑下台來邊演奏邊跟大家跳舞, 後來一群人乾脆跳到台上去熱舞了起來!
就跟我在 Youtube 上找到這段他們在紐約的歡樂情形一樣!
Preservation Hall Jazz Band 的風格是現場即興演奏
January 31, 2009
January 29, 2009
January 21, 2009
January 12, 2009
December 6, 2008
December 6, 2008
November 12, 2008
