zan-blr-blog

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 30: Final Reflection

The last and final day of this 30-day consumption blog. Let’s do this. 

Today is Valentine’s Day. Just like I explained yesterday, I’m taking this day to myself, although, I’m in for another long day of more student org meetings. So it’s not quite like my ideal restful Valentine’s Day. I went to work, classes, and attended a MGC meeting that evening as a representative for my sorority. 

To maintain my sanity, I packed a tuna + avocado (hehe, a hint of green) sandwich, 2 clementines, and a hummus w/ flax seed chips. I then hit the gym with one of my sisters to take an All-Tonal Body class. It was pretty intensive, especially since I did 100 squats yesterday. Am aiming to do the 100 squats/day for 30 days challenge. I’m curious to see my results. 

A random side note, but I’m noticing that I use google calendar a lot, something that I never mentioned during my 30-day consumption. I’m able to plan out my day and feel organized. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without it. I’m constantly tweaking out my schedule, modifying it to fit many of my involvement on campus. 

As this is the final blog post, I want to do a brief reflection. When I first began, I was in a hot mess mentally, physically, and emotionally. I wasn’t feeling my best. I knew that my consumption were going to be of me attempting to find a way that worked best for me to feel okay again. I did consume a lot of green things. Avocado, matcha, green tea, etc..the color green started to resonate in an enlighten and healthy way. 

This is how I managed to keep sane despite my college student life. How did I manage to juggle/balance everything? It was all about prioritizing and being smart about it. At times, sacrifices were made. I knew it was also really, really important that I found the time, even for just an hour of my day, to do something I truly enjoyed. Like watching youtube videos, listening to music, or reading. 

In relating this to the themes of this course, it is a social norm for us to “work hard” in order for us to be successful. I mean, I’m not sure why I’m so involved with so many things either. Many college students can relate to this. Ask any college students (although I don’t want to generalize) about how packed their schedules are. It is also the people I surround myself with has shaped me to become who I am today. I surround myself with a college culture of students who are highly involved with so many things. I have learned a lot through my involvement, and one being to take each day as it is. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 29: Green Tea/Self-Love

More green tea. What’s new? I was pretty stoke when I saw that St. Paul Student Center was selling their homemade Green Tea ice cream. They also had more flavors like Coffee Cappuccino Chip, State Fair Chocolate Malt, Cinnamon...They honestly offer the best flavors and for a really affordable price. They understand the college struggle. 

I decided to consume ice cream because tomorrow is Valentine’s day. Granted, I’m not in a relationship. Celebrating Valentine’s to me is a day to celebrate me. Self-love is what many like minded individuals like myself strive for. And constructing the meaning behind self-love differs for each person. 

I don’t define self-love as a way to treat myself to luxurious items or do face masks. It can be. But it so much more than the physical items we treat ourselves with. Self-love is a matter of building a life that we don’t need to regularly escape from. It is letting yourself know it is okay to be who you are. It is knowing to accept your flaws, take your anxieties as it is. It is getting rid of negativity and allowing yourself to indulge in a beautiful mind. 

It is letting yourself be the hero in your life, and not the victim. It is choosing a life that feels good, not look good. It means becoming the person you want to be and are meant to be, and being your unapologetic self. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Collection Week 4. 

More greens. Starting to realize I actually do like green. I mean, green, charged battery are the best. Avocado, green tea, cabbage..say no more. Greens are simply healthy. It has so many benefits. think that’s why I feel happy when I consume anything green. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 28: Purpose

Today was a meh day. Had class, more project deadlines coming up. I’m just doing my best to be caught up. Already counting down the days until the end of the semester. The one thing that I really want to be done with are my involvement with student organizations. I’ve had leadership positions for over three years and things feel kind of repetitive. The only thing I want to focus on are my design work + studies + apply for internships. 

But finding the time to do so is hard. Time is another topic. But anyway. These past 28 days have been how I cope with my busy a’f schedule of 3 student groups involvement, work, and being a full-time student. While I do have a chill and optimistic attitude for the most part, I do get pretty tired of it. I just..want to be done with it. What benefits me being involved is that I have a purpose here, I’m getting the experience, I’m learning about other people, and myself. It looks pretty good on my resume, to say the least. But that’s not why I joined. 

Anyway, right now I’m just going through my day doing my best to get work done. I don’t have a particular method. I’m just doing things in the order that needs to be prioritized more I guess. The one thing keeping me sane is not only me finding the time to do the things I like (editing videos, watching youtube videos, reading, etc), but is the fact that I look forward for the future. I like to say having a goal in mind is my motivating factor. I need to work hard to achieve that goal. 

Social: dealing with busy schedules, but having a purpose with what I do. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 27: tsz

One of my friends is leaving to study abroad in Korea for the next six months. So my two closest friends and I gathered together one last time before she heads off next week. Though I spent a lot of money today, it was still pretty enjoyable. We went to Lynhall and the interior design is so, so pretty. It’s a very urban and hipster vibe. It’s like a mixture of a restaurant, but very homey feel. 

Many people there were so well-dressed. I’m thinking this is a social norm to dress extra nice when attending more fancy looking cafes. Even I made the attempt to look extra today. But it feels good to look nice. I think I would feel off if I had not. Plus I can take cute photos and pretend that I am boujee. (I’m kidding). 

Otherwise I consumed a matcha latte which had a really aesthetic design. TBH, I like Northern Coffeeworks matcha better. Lynhall’s was a little too chunky for my liking. Then I consumed this maple gravy on top of a cheddar scone, poached egg, sausage, and cranberry relish. It was delicious! What was not delicious was the overall price. $18 for bunch.......at least I was full by the end of it and had a good conversation with my girl friends. 

Social norm: to dress nice at fancy places + go to sunday brunches as a way to live a little and escape from reality. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 26: Creative Friends

Today was a fulfilling and satisfying day. One way I like to unwind after a long and busy week is to do some form of physical exercise. I woke up this morning and did yoga at the Weisman museum at 10:30AM. It was my first time actually and I really enjoyed it. I’m definitely going to become an avid participant for the next few months. Yoga at the museum only happens the second Saturday of each month. Yoga has become something I find complete comfort in. I’m able to breathe and feel relaxed doing so. 

I went back to my apartment, chilled for a bit and got ready for the Apparel Design’s “This is Now” fashion show. I went to support a friend who is a senior apparel designer. I’m a fan of his work. He did his piece on gender neutral collections. So unique, so great. After that, I went to the Vietnamese Student Association’s Tet Show to support another friend who modeled for one the apparel designers. Got to see her walk across the stage wearing a beautiful piece. 

Today was just simply inspiring and calming. I really love surrounding myself with like-minded individuals who want to create with a purpose. I aspire to be cool like them. A designer who can create and make a difference in the things I do. I want to figure out my purpose. Really curious to see where I’ll end up in two years (2020. the year I graduate). 

Tagging this as social for my creative group of friends. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 25: Multicultural Community

When I have the energy and the time to do so, I’ll go event hopping on Fridays. It used to be my weekly thing for the first two years of my undergrad. But now, I feel like I’m too lazy to attend events merely because it’s not as exciting to me. I’ve develop my own group of friends along the way, and am content with who I surround myself around. Making new friends can be tiring. 

But today, I did and while I feel extremely drained right now (consuming socializing and making friends, and the fact that I’m an introvert....), it did feel nice to say hello to new and old faces. It’s one way for me to take a break from business. Plus my involvement with student groups does not steer me away from the community. 

After work, I went to my student organization’s event. It was our Family House reveal. Pretty intimate; was great to see people enjoy themselves. I consumed soy milk + grass jelly. Yummm. Then afterwards, I attended KSA x Dokdo’s Lunar New Year event. It was held in the same building right after my student org’s event, so why not, right? I went there to support a few of my friends who are board members. 

Then I attended the MCAE Spring Showcase. It felt refreshing watching live performances. So many talented student groups that I don’t know of! So many amazing individuals. I was captivated by my syand’s spoken words. Linchpin was bomb. SLB was killing it. Many others were just so great. 

But in relating my consumption to the topic of cultural/social...it’s really clear that the community in which I surround myself around are also people who are looking to find a home away from home. It’s a norm for us to want to be with people who share similar interests. We are all a part of a community that carry similar missions. To bring awareness on the things we feel passionate for. 

It’s these people that inspire me. Especially those of the multicultural communities. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 24: Distance = Independence

Almost done with these blog posts. Yay. 

It took me an hour and a half to get to my first class today. From driving to the bus station, to taking the express bus, lightrail, and then the campus bus..I guess it makes sense. Eventually I’ll go back to commuting, and I’m okay with that. I used to complain a lot about commuting. But I’ve come to really appreciate being away from campus, too. 

When I was away from campus, even just for a night, it felt restful. I was far from the sight of campus and it felt like a little getaway. On the topic of living on campus, I definitely dealt with a bit of “homesickness” on the second month of being away. But I know it’s a normal feeling. It’s common to yearn being in an area of familiarity with people that mean most. It’s common to want to be home. 

I guess this entire blog post is on the topic of distance (sorry for the messiness), but it’s a social construct for us to understand that distance makes the “heart fonder”. Cliche, I know. But it’s true. Distance also teaches us self-sufficiency and transitions us to become more independent individuals. It’s what I longed for the longest time, especially in my early teens. I’m living the independent life I’ve always wished for. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 23: Kiko, the dog.

Today I went home after like a month and a half of drowning myself with campus things. It’s rare for me to head home on a weekday. But it was a special occasion, and that is, it’s my dog’s birthday! He turned 1 year old. So he’s still a baby even though he’s grown so much since we first got him. 

Being around my dog is a source of stress-reliever. I’ll connect it back to PAWS, the service we have on campus that helps students/anyone to relieve stress. Petting animals are a form for humans to feel more relaxed..their company entertains us. Often times they’re furry, and they’re soft enough to cuddle with. 

Which is the nice thing about having a pet in my family. I think that having my dog was such a perfect addition into bringing us more life into our lives. My dog brings happiness and compassion. He’s the one who welcomes us with pure enjoyment and never takes our presence for granted. 

Any family who owns a pet can understand this. They may be a lot of investment but I think the joy that comes to it is completely worth it. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 22: Breathe App

For my web design class, I’m designing an app. Which is actually pretty cool. But for inspo, I downloaded a random app from the Apple store to see what I could integrate into my own design. I coincidentally downloaded an app called “Breathe”. Little did I know, it fit so perfectly with my consumption project. 

As you already know, I’m constantly on a look out for ways to wind down after a busy day. The description provided on the breathe app is “If you’re feeling stressed, annoyed, or uncomfortable, slow down and take a deep breath. You’ll be amazed at the results”. 

When I began the app, it asked me what I felt and then had a list of descriptive words I could choose from. Today I felt “meh” both physically and mentally. Then I said I felt “confused, stressed, anxiety, etc”. Right after that, it gave me a list of what I could do to relieve that “meh” feeling. I chose to do a 15 minute yoga which helped me feel more at ease. 

The design is calming. It has a non-overbearing, bright punch color that signifies energy and happiness. The app was most importantly very easy to navigate. Had it been otherwise, it would have given me anxiety. Really enjoying this app so far. My consumption of this app is stimulated with feelings of calmness. I’m able to breathe a little. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 21: Healthy = Happy

Today was a pretty productive day. I hit the gym after what felt like a month. The craze of school and my jam packed schedule makes it so difficult for me to focus on my health. But today was a less busy day. I had no meetings to attend and wanted to utilize that freedom to go to the gym. 

I partially failed, but didn’t. I was initially planning to attend the Cycling group fitness class but chickened out. It’s definitely easier to go with a friend. But that’s what Thursday is for. Excited to attend one of the classes with my sisters. 

After the mid-evaluation I got from my blog posts, I definitely want to focus more on how I utilize my consumption to wind down after a busy day. Going to the gym is one of them. A workout, even for half an hour, makes me feel more awake. It’s the adrenaline that gives me a surge of energy. As they say, jogging gives us more energy than a nap. Being at the gym also motivates me when I see so many college students focus on themselves too. Fitness is the way to go.

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 20: Korean Culture Pt. 2

I’m pretty sure seeing Kris Wu yesterday was the biggest reason why I binged listened to Korean pop music again. I definitely listened to all of Kris’s songs. I enjoy July  and Juice a lot. July is so catchy. I would not have liked Juice a much if I had not listened to it in person. The song’s introduction will always remind me of Kris’s entrance on stage. I’ll remember feeling memorized and stunned by his beauty. Truly. He looked so, so good in person. Just like in photos, but better.  

I keep thinking about my previous post about consuming a form of Korean culture into my life. It’s become an important aspect of my life, in terms of how a part of my upbringings was entertained by Korean television shows, dramas, music, fashion, and beauty and skin care. I’m really intrigued by its cultural differences. It does not dominate my identity, entirely. But I do take pieces of it into my own. 

I’m actually not too sure why I am interested in the Korean culture a little bit more than the American culture. The way of life in Korean culture seems more..fresher. The music consumption satisfies my ears way more than the typical American music that often talks about sex and drugs. It’s less dirtier, I guess. The people I associate myself with are definitely in the same boat where we respect the culture and would love to adopt some of the practices and thinking into our own lives. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Week 3 Collection 

These are images I found on tumblr. More green stuff. I’m starting to realize how difficult it is for me to find green things that I find calming. I thought that Kendrick’s album cover was interesting. It’s normally a red typographic font. But it’s green and I think that changes the mood. It looks less intense. Possibly something I could do for my project. 

More green things to consider: eco-friendly, yoga, full-charged battery. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 19: Superbowl = Social Cohesion

While I have mixed feelings over the Superbowl culture because of the increased human trafficking..I will have to admit, I enjoyed the liveliness as I wandered around Nicolet Mall. I felt like a tourist in my own city, truly. It was a cool feeling. Another reminder why Minnesota isn’t so bad. 

I’ll categorize this as social because it’s a societal construct to enjoy watching sports. I feel like in the American culture, it’s an enjoyment to be with friends and family, and watch a game of football in the living room. It provides people the reason to have a get-together. There’s that pressure of socialization though, whether we understand the game or not, we’re expected to be with other people. 

I personally have never been interested in the culture of watching sports. Why? I don’t find it exciting. I am not able to understand the rules. I hold no judgement to those who do enjoy it though. If you’re wondering, I wandered the streets down Nicolet Mall to see one of my idols, Kris Wu. 

Perhaps this can also be labeled as culture because I am exposed to the fandom of international artists. I chose to idolize Kris. I admire his drive and passion to pursue opportunities beyond his own. I knew of Kris Wu six years ago. At the time, I was a huge fan. I enjoyed his songs and his humorous and kind personality. What I admire most is his willingness to leave his former group to be happier in the space he is now. I could not be more proud. Let’s just say I’m still at a daze seeing Kris Wu. 

When would I ever get the opportunity to be so close to Kris and at no cost??

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 18: Korean Culture

Today I consumed Korean BBQ for dinner. A few of my old board members and I gathered together that evening to celebrate our two board members who will leave for Korea for the rest of the year. As I write this, I’m starting to believe it’s become like a cultural norm to be fond over Korean culture. 

I guess I see the popularity among Korean culture, or furthermore, East Asian cultures within the entire Asian demographics. I know a part of it has to do with privilege and that they fit the ideal standards of a lot of things. This is not to say those who eat Korean BBQ obsess over the Korean culture. 

But Korean BBQ, Korean Dramas have become a form of entertainment and comfort food. It’s like everyone craves it because it makes them feel at ease. How did it become like this? I am genuinely curious. Because I too, enjoy it. I’m starting to believe it’s a cultural norm to like these kind of stuff. You see your peers fond over it, and when you’re surrounded by this type of exposure, you’re also influenced into the Korean culture. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 17: Chill Vibes

Chill vibes. I gravitate towards and try to live up to that. I think, being chill means being optimistic about things and not letting things get to me personally. I’m not actually sure why I’m suddenly saying this. I guess I’m talking more specifically about stress because I know things will become stressful juggling with a lot of things. 

So that’s probably why I am consuming / gravitating towards lush lofi, hip hop instrumental music right now. It calms me and helps me focus as I multitask with other things. I like to say this type of music is how I want to live my life like. On the beat, calm, and chill. It’s truly a way of life. Like if there was any type of music I’d like to describe my identity, it would be this type of music. 

Consuming this type of music reminds me of my travel adventures. When I make recap videos, I often like to use lofi instrumentals because the music does not distract from the visual components. Which is similar to when I do work while listening. 

But anyway, I consumed a packed lunch of rice cracker + peanut butter + raisins. I later grabbed dinner with one of my sisters to catch up. I had BBQ Pork with Dumpling noodle soup at Hong Kong Noodles. It was super good and fulfilling. A big bowl for $10. Ended with leftovers which I will likely consume tomorrow morning. 

[zan-blr-blog]

Day 16: Lunch Bag + Social

I forgot to mention. A few days ago, I bought a lunch bag at Target for $5.99 and it’s been a complete lifesaver. It’s midway through the week and I haven’t bought food from fast-food places yet. Except that today, I will consume Chipotle. But my excuse is that I’ll be catching up with one my sisters. When it comes to bonding with my friends, I’m okay with spending money on food. 

Okay, it is now 10:30 at night and I’ve consumed a lot of socializing..Class ended an hour early, which was amazing. I headed to Coffman primarily for three reasons: 1. To see my friend again before she leaves for Korea in a couple of weeks, 2. To grab my certificate for achieving academic success, and 3. to take out cash for rent money. 

I did consume a lot of social interactions during my time there. I met up with a few of my sisters, saw my ISM, and saw a few of my old ASU board members + friends in the community. Something about being there..feels so off to me. Like it’s not the same anymore. But I think the change is okay though. It’s a reminder that the only constant thing in life is change. 

I also coincidentally saw one of my mentees on the campus connector and interacted with her for a little bit. And then caught up with my other sister! 

Labeling this as culture because I wouldn’t be who I am without my involvement with student orgs and meeting everyone along the way.