an unexpected detour

a white northern world, an unexpected detour on the way back to state college.
Great Falls National Park, VA
wow! an owl sleeping in the tree.
Jefferson Memorial, a view from the top of Washington Monument.
a snow storm is chasing us home.

Erie, PA

I prefer waters... but I am not a wit. It was a great get-away trip to Erie Lake.

又開學了!

開學第四週! 打亂了暑假期間的規律作息..... 這學期修的課看似不重, 但是準備起來也是花了很多時間...Negotiation 每週都有一次實地演練協商談判的機會,這門課得不斷的腦力激盪,找出雙贏的機制說服對方達成協議. Immigration 算是給自己一個交待的課吧, 還記得之前在台灣同學聚會中,常常遇到的問題是...."那以後我要移民就靠你了!" 似乎對大多數人而言 Immigration該是我的必修.... Refugee Clinic 兩人一組接一個上訴案子 Writing and Editing 加強英文寫作囉! Professional Responsibility 畢修課, 不是用來考過MPRE的一堂課, 不過目前上課挺有趣的, 討論的議題似乎都沒有一定的解答...到時見機行事吧! 15學分....

paintings -watercolor

the color of orange
My dear bottle

ducky
the Thinker sculpture painting

a trip to Philly without a camera and some thoughts

I am into art and music recently. I started my watercolor painting class two weeks ago…

Last weekend, I visited Philadelphia with a friend and her friend (ps. we all friends now.).
I revisited several famous spots where I have been to in the summer of 2003, such as Liberty Bell, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Old City Hall…
I am glad that my friends have visited all the must-go spots in her tour guide book within 26 hours. On the walk to the east side, Penn’s Landing, from the bus terminal we got to visitor center, Liberty Bell, American Philosophical Association, Washington Square, Polish museum, Independence Seaport Museum Shop… It was so sizzling that we took a bus on the way to the west side of the city. We got off the bus in front of The Thinker at Rodin Museum. After seeing The Gates of Hell, The Thinker, The Kiss, it’s about the dinner time. On the way to Chinatown for dinner, we also passed by Logan Square, LOVE Park, City Hall….After the dinner at Chinatown, it’s time to go to the hostel which is kind of far from the City Center. The Hostel located in the West Fairmont Park costs about 23 dollars a night. Since all the affordable hotels are not available, we decide to adventure a night in the hostel. Well, it was a nice and friendly hostel actually. But it took about 25 minutes by bus from the city centre to get to the closest bus stop. After the bus ride, it takes about another 25 minutes to get to the hostel by walk. During the night, it was not a pleasant walk there especially for a stranger because being exhausted and in the darkness, you feel that you would never get to the end of the road where the hostel is located. With a car, getting there should be easier.

The next morning, we went to Philadelphia Museum of Art. Compared with the last visit 4 years ago, this time I went inside the museum finally. Last visit, due to the time constraint, the tour to the Art Museum only allowed taking a picture with Rocky’s shoe prints. Anyway, I loved the museum! It is not just a gallery; the second floor exhibition presents different cultures in Europe and in Asia via mimic decoration.... I enjoyed the painting by impressionists which is the common interest btw me and Caspar. I like Monet; he likes Renoir…. Anyway, the trip in Philly ends at the Museum of Art….

Okay, back to the first idea of writing this post, I was thinking about my recent interests in painting and music. During the summer, after work, I have plenty of free time (not thinking of the coming MPRE). At the beginning, I spent most of the time watching TV until July. I started wondering what else I can do besides relaxing in front of TV all the summer nights. Yes, I guess watching TV made me lonely. After turning off the TV, I felt the room in silence suddenly and I felt empty and sad for myself. I know I was wasting my life. Finally, I started a watercolor painting class downtown. And after the first Jazz Festival, I regularly listened to the Jazz broadcasts at night. I feel better of myself that doing something interesting and meaningful.

jazz up!

I like jazz since I went to the first jazz festival in my life a month ago. It is creative, respectful and lively. Thanks to Cynthia, I really enjoyed the concerts. The festival lasted for a weekend. I have to say that I did not appreciate it at the beginning. But the more I listened, the more I understood. I think that it takes some patience and a relaxed mind to let the jazz come into your feelings. A lady at the concert told me that the jazz was dying becasue not many people cared about it, compared with pop music. In fact, 95% of the people attending the concert that weekend were middle aged. It's kind of sad though. But I believe that most of the people would enjoy the jazz if they ever have the chance to feel its beauty.

A summer in Harrisburg, PA

Harrisburg is a cute city. I did not expected its beauty until I explored it. One more month, I am going back to State College. I would miss it.
The Italina Lake is close to my apartment. White water lilies, ducks, summer concerts...
Biking everyday back and forward, a great way to enjoy the summer time along the Susquehanna River....

Movies: Evening, Harry Potter V and Spiderman III

The movie I went alone last Sunday afternoon gave me some thoughts. I saw "Evening" in the Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg, an independent/art movie theater. What would I do if I were Ann? Would I make the same decision as she gave up the true love and regretted for whole life? Would I choose to live my own choice and try to be happy? Does it really matter at the end? When should we "Do what we should do" or "do what we want to do"? I guess every story has a happy ending depending on how you determine it. And what really matters is whether the decision ever makes that person happy. Maybe the happiness is not the greatest or the perfect one, but it is worthwhile; otherwise, a rational person would not make that choice. "It's at least good that there is a choice." However, I really believe that there is always a choice as in Harry Potter V and Spiderman III. We need courage and wit!

Nigara Falls

This was a great trip. A spiritual cleaning after the finals.
Casper said anything unhappy will disappear when you see it.

A bridge connecting Canada and USA.....
water falling from one lake to the other...
This is one of my favorite lakes locating in Buffalo, NY.
So peaceful, isn't it?!

機會! 命運? 緣分....

記得玩大富翁時 骰子滾到機會或命運的時候 不是發財就是賠錢再不然就是豁免與罪罰..... 但人生中的機會與命運似乎卻不是這樣easy.....

昨天搬進朋友的公寓, 位於Harrisburg, PA. 收拾整理完畢, 雖然疲累但是腦子卻不停的轉著......
想著想著... 記得去年LL.M.畢業前, Jason 載著Grace和我到Harrisburg騎腳踏車. 沿著河岸騎著, 風徐徐吹著....除了要避開團團的飛蚊之外, 一切完美, 風景天氣...

當時認為或許那將是我第一次也是最後一次到Harrisburg騎腳踏車了吧. 哪知命運與機會還是帶我再度造訪此地, 並且將要我天天騎車去實習..... 我想此時的心情與感受已不在和去年此時的感覺一樣了.

昨天才得知Joe (Seema's BF) 的暑期實習地點居然跟我在同一棟大樓, 同一個辦公室,同樣的老闆.....早知如此就答應Seema和她一起住了.... 如此一來互相照應, 往返 Harrisburg - Carlisle..... 機會, 命運, 或許也是緣分吧...... 不過至少Joe, Seema 和我可以一起約吃午餐吧.

關於此實習申請過程也是個波折. 但是暫且不提.... 一切將會是個新開始! 加油囉!

Anyway, Good luck!!

Longwood Gardens

Caspar and I both like plants. Last weekend, we visited the Longwood Gardens built by Mr. DuPont. It's so amazing and beautiful. Lots of creative ideas to make a beautiful yard. Spring is the orchid blooming season. Summer is a great time to visit the waterlilies on the ponds. I bet that in fall, the trees will have all colors. In the winter, the snow will make it a white world. I love flowers!

zzz..

考完試了! 這次期末考為期二週半. 大部分美國同學們都希望能早早結束. 或許長痛不如短痛吧! 雖然理想狀況是, 時間拉長會有更多充裕時間準備. 但是要皮繃的緊緊的半個月, 遲早會彈性疲乏. 呼.... 今天下午把22小時奮鬥的Transnational Law take home 交出, 唯一的心得是, 總是學不乖.... 明知take home絕不是老師說的三小時內可以解決, 要不是真的對這堂課有興趣, 要我與睡眠奮仗, 是不可能的...... 唉..先去睡了.... 我已經不知道在說什麼.. 不斷按錯鍵盤...手眼腦已經不協調了..... Huifen, 我暫時update 到這裡....

update myself

I am still using my blog. Just lazy recently... have come back from Taiwan for a while, didn't have the chance to meet all friends while I was home. School started for several weeks, this semester is even harder. I feel so confused about Constitutional Law. 16 credits.... Recently, waiting results for a summer internship, just turned in my closed brief assignment. Valentine's Day just passed. So, "Happy Valentine's Day!" two days ago. It was a snowy day, all day snowing. Ha ha...I went outside and had my first snow angel. That was great lying on the empty parking lot, watching the grey sky, feeling the snow dropping on the face. Well, it wasn't that cold I thought. Caspar watched me fooling around in the snow. That's my 021407. I heard that tomorrow is going to snow again... wanna go skiing, even though I don't know how....