071 Friends I Can't Wait to Meet Revisited

It’s been about a year and half since I wrote this post about people I am looking forward to meet in my future. I am revisiting this list because not only have I met these friends I have added more.

Nomadic Herdsman: Ok, the likelihood I am going to run into one of these guys is low but after reading The Alchemist, who wouldn't want to meet a shepherd boy turned adventurer in search of his dreams? Can you imagine the stories and seeds of wisdom just frothing out like a root beer float? I'll meet you Santiago at the Pyramids.
-----> (Update 12.23.11) Ana Laura Gonzales; it took me awhile to realize this one but my Pequena is a living embodiment of Paulo Coelho’s Santiago. She has a Personal Legend and the universe is conspiring to help her achieve it!

Prophetic Artist: Amy Shain (07.30.10)

Wine Aficionado: Stephen Anthony Lee (05.31.10)

Knight: ---

Parkour Dude: ---

Recent additions:
 
Boy with the Bread: Aka Peeta Mellark from Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games Trilogy. I adore this character. He’s kind, witty, charming and self-sacrificing. And he can bake bread and paint! HE’S SO GENUINE! Even though he is a fictional character, somewhere in the world a personality like him exists. What a friend he would make!

A prince: I’ve always wanted to meet someone royal just to say I have!
-----> (Update 09.18.2011) Prince Henry Ankrah; my very own mentee! Who would have known? And such a godly man as well. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Henry and Chioma Ankrah!

Walking Sunshine: This friend is the sort of person who radiates warmth and light by merely standing in their presence. You feel strengthened by their light like sunrays and you know a conversation with them will leave you with a smile and feeling better.
-----> (Update 12.23.2011) an individual who was also right under my nose! Thank you Miss Hanna Sung for entering my life and reminding me of how much I am in love with my Jesus.

059 Ana Laura

The picture to the right is of my pequeña, Ana Laura, taken from her Facebook. She is currently studying abroad in Argentina.

When I first met her, I thought to myself, "We have nothing in common - I don't know how this is going to work out". It also didn't help that her boyfriend (at the time) painted a tainted image of me because we shared a class together and claimed that I was sooooo "bossy". Whatever. I would hear of complaints that this girl would never make it to her tour times, events, etc. As her Grande, I felt partially responsible for the lack of commitment to the job and told myself that I would talk to her about quitting. But I changed my mind because I felt I wasn't close enough to really have the right to say these things to her and I am very glad I didn't.

A chicken pot pie, broken gifts, many "MVIB's", and three years later, this lady and I share something very unique that I would never have imagined.

Despite her small stature, Ana Laura is a force to be reckoned with. Strong, intelligent, beautiful, dramatic, and a dreamer are some of the words that can describe her. I may not always agree with some of her life decisions but it always seems to turn out for the better and in the process, she has grown into a more mature woman that I could ever aspire to be. I wrote her a letter in one of my journals while I was in Egypt that I wanted to post up on this blog, but I can't seem to find it. In the letter, I wrote to her saying how I was so proud of her and that everything she has gone through is a beautiful struggle that is a testament to her character and growth.

Ana Laura is one of those people who you can't forget. And if you do, you're missing out on one of the greatest adventures of all.

058

About a week ago, I spent an afternoon at my friend's ranch. One of the many highlights of the day was jumping off some rocks into a cool pool of water that coursed its way through their family's land. The experience was something out of a book, like A Separate Peace, but without anyone dying. It was so surreal.

After returning to campus, even though I was physically at school, my mind was still back in Oakdale, where I had just spent a great day with my friends. My mind was replaying the day's events of walking through a herd of cows, jumping into freezing water, flying kites, and simply enjoying nature. It's sad for me to say that I once thought places like this did not exist anymore and I could only read about it in books. I don't mean to say that there is not enough nature around for me to enjoy. What I mean is that this day was a very intimate experience shared among a group of 18 friends and only us, no tourists, no outsiders, simply friends.

At times where I was walking by myself, I would think, "God, this place is beautiful. You made this. Thanks".

That day was the best way to start off my spring break. I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to go back but I sure would like to come back.

Credits to Yvonne Mai for the photograph. BOY'S CLUB! :o)

047

When it comes to food, a saying that I enjoy living by is "Don't knock it before you try it" profoundly said by my good friend Harrison. I have tried many a-wonderful foods because of this saying. Take this picture of a casserole my roommate made for me as seen above. Last year, Jaclynn had asked me if I wanted to try some casserole she made out of bacon, tater tots, cheddar cheese and eggs. I disgustingly said, "I don't eat casseroles" but I reluctantly tried it anyway. As I bit into this heart-attack-in-a-casserole, I was sent into a paradise of cheddar cheese waterfalls, prancing bacon ponies, and potato fields that shimmered in the shining sun. Yah, it was damn delicious.

This year, I asked her to make the casserole again for my 22nd birthday. Much to my delight, after a short morning of classes, I come back greeted by the savory aroma of delicious casserole. Never again will I hate on food that I haven't tried.

026

Ever since my freshman year of undergrad, my engineering friends would always poke fun at us pre-pharms. I recently took my written test to see whether I would be certified to administer immunizations to patients and I feel pretty good about it. This one is for Todd, who's having a blast at NASA right now.

024

Cosplay. According to the internet, cosplay or costume play is a form of art in which people dress up as characters or ideas. This past weekend, a couple of friends of mine and I cosplayed for SacAnime. So my friend and I have been wanting to cosplay since our freshman year of high school and we finally hit the local fabric store and whipped out the sewing machine to make sailor fukus, a Japanese school girl uniform. We even had a couple people who wanted to take pictures with us.

It was pretty fun and now I get to cross off "cosplay" on my bucket list of things I want to do. Costumes are fun to wear because it allows you to be someone else while you're wearing it but by the end of the day, I am glad I can just be me.

Photo courtesy of Elaina Khoo

022

Snippets of this past weekend:

After 3 grueling long hours inside Faye Spanos, the PharmD Candidates of 2013 emerge to the bright, outside world where we were surrounded by loved ones. Here's my freshman and sophomore roommate from undergrad Anna aka Roomie.

My favorite Pacific Copts and I saying "GIBNA!" to the camera.

My #1 supporters, through thick and thin, and oh how I love them.

010

Jasmine is a Persian name. Its meaning comes from the flower that shares its namesake. People have said that the name Jasmine also reminds them of a pretty, gentle, and free-spirited girl.

Let me tell you more about the Jasmine I know.

"Pretty" does not do her justice, in fact, she is RADIANT. I would compare Jasmine to a clear night sky - shining, bright, face comparable to the full moon and hair like a meteor shower against a blanket of black velvet.

And like the night sky, the depth of our friendship is fathomless and beautiful. The blessings of this sisterhood is numerous like the stars.

Genuine, honest, trustworthy, insightful, loving, thoughtful, respectful, fearless, sensitive, emotional, curious, are a few words to describe her.

She shares a deep love for the world's peoples, justice, simplicity, and ridiculousness :) I don't know who else would dress up as a takami roll for Halloween, support a child in Thailand, speak out against the sex-trade, live in an apartment with the bare necessities, invite me to pick strawberries and green eggs, stalk old people with me while whispering in their ears, dress up as secret agents and pretend to be body guards, visit me even though we go to different schools, cry with me when I share my heart, laugh with me because we met a little boy who looked like Prince Zuko, or get fat with me while eating free samples at Farmer's market.

Any guy would be so fortunate to be with her! I'm so excited to see what the future has in store for my dear Jasmine.

This is a glimpse of the Jasmine I know and you should get to know her.

003 Friends I Can't Wait to Meet

As I prepare for my summer travels, I think about all the different sorts of people I'll be meeting and missing. After much thought, I've narrowed it down to 5 friends I can't wait to meet in the future. Onwards...

Nomadic Herdsman: Ok, the likelihood I am going to run into one of these guys is low but after reading The Alchemist, who wouldn't want to meet a shepherd boy turned adventurer in search of his dreams? Can you imagine the stories and seeds of wisdom just frothing out like a rootbeer float? I'll meet you Santiago at the Pyramids.

Prophetic Artist: Whatever they do, say, think is pure gold. Even when they sneeze, flecks of gold sprays out like a shower of sunshine. One cannot help but be overwhelmed and moved by their art that is blessed by the divine. I just want to be inspired.
----->(Update 07.30.10) Amy Shain

Wine Aficionado: As a somewhat newly fledged 21 year old, I have developed a slight taste for alcohol and it would be great to have a buddy who knows what's good and what's bad while also enjoying a glass/chalice/flagon/uterus with me while making fun of each other in my attempts in building up enzymes to resist the Asian glow!
----->(Update 05.31.10) Found him! And he was under my nose the entire time: Stephen Anthony Lee

Knight: Not one of those school/club mascots, but someone who embodies the Chivalric code. It's probably close to impossible to uphold those ideals which makes this friend all the more rare and worth getting to know. Next to my best friends, this friend is almost too ideal. This type of friend is more figurative than literal, though it would be cool if he/she had a horse.

Parkour Dude: Who wouldn't want an urban ninja as a friend!? It'll be hard to keep up but at least I would bring a first aid kit in case of any accidents lol.