Lam and Moon

Stephanie Lam and Jay Moon had a long yet great time today as they went to the Bronx Zoo and saw animals from tigers to lemurs to lions to polar bears. It was a brilliantly hot day as Stephanie applied sunscreen while Jay had to put on his sunglasses from the intense sun. They walked a lot but it was all worth it.

Then they walked from midtown all the way to lower manhattan, all the while having themselves Starbuck's while having conversations about Woody Allen, his jokes, Jay's lame jokes, fashion, ear piercing, and so much more that the happy couple could not remember. 

Jay was surprised... surprised, and thought that someone should put a blanket over him to hear that Jay-Z and Beyonce were on the verge of separating. Was it true? 

The happy couple Steph and Jay met up with Stephanie's friends all the way down in Chinatown and had dinner together. The food was great. It was Jay's first time meeting her friend, Monica and her boyfriend. Jay thought they were a happy couple but did not like how Monica called him quiet. Jay wanted to say something but he couldn't say it. To Jay personally it was a taboo word. When he heard it, he began to get frustrated because he heard that word described about him all his life and he's doing his best to avoid being that kind of guy. He was sick of hearing it. He wished that people didn't say that word aloud to him and kept it to themselves. The word meant so many negative things to him; it brought his reputation down and was insulted because he was that quiet in his childhood. So he didn't like that word. He just didn't. And the people who said it made him frustrated even more. It may not mean anything to the person who said it but it did for Jay. In fact Jay did not believe he was quiet. He only seemed quiet to the people he just met. Once people got to know Jay personally, he had a lot to say as if he was a enigmatic little kid, making jokes that did not make any sense but to himself only. He was like the protagonist from Murakami's short story Family Affair. He wanted to say that he was not quiet to Monica but he just let it by. He also didn't like how she said that Stephanie trained him to say certain things. Monica believed Jay was an obeyer. Obedient. And that made him feel like a dog. He was not a dog who followed orders. He was a leader, a normal human being. Jay is really appreciative for Steph because she respects and understands Jay, and Jay understands and respects Steph. Jay loves her with all his heart. 

Then all of them went down to the bookstore to shop around but did not find anything to buy. Then they walked all the way back to Chinatown, their feet so tired from all the walking they have done today. Steph was so full from eating and Jay was so worried. But when Steph said she was feeling better Jay felt so much better. Jay sent his girlfriend back home. They kissed, hugged, said i love you, see you tmrw, and off Jay went with a smile. He looked back and thought to himself that walking away from her was so hard for him because he always wanted to be with her. They had such a long, lovely day together that all of the positive events filled Jay's mind as he was walking back to the subway station. In Jay's mind was the afterglow of their time together. While walking down her block, he recited lines to a Bob Dylan song:

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true

Nothing that I wouldn't do

Go to the ends of Earth for you

To make you feel my love

To make you feel my love

At that moment Jay wanted someone to throw a blanket over him because he tired. And he wanted to be in the sheets with Steph. He dreamed about it.

It's been a little more than a week since school ended and now the days are going by slowly. It's been raining all week bits by bits. B recently started her job at the daycare, mom is working, and I'm here writing and reading and exercising. I've hit a few people up, a few people hit me up, but all in the long run seem disinterested to schedule a set rendezvous. I've been looking for a decent summer job, contacted a few, but got close to no replies. What can I expect. I polished up my resume. Just that there needed to be someone who was willing to read it. In the afternoon I ate some croissants, chugged down two glasses of milk, and yawned three times.

B and I was going to meet today, so I got up earlier than usual, ate some pan, brushed my teeth, shaved, and washed my face. I thought of the places we could go around the neighborhood, making a mental list of activities. As soon as I was about to get ready to change, I got a message from her saying that her friend wanted to hang for the day with her. A bit crestfallen yet understanding, I let it pass and told her to have fun. We were going to meet tomorrow anyway so it was all good.

"I'm sorry," she said.
"It's okay. We have all the time in the world."


I jogged around the lake two times with a couple breaks in between. Runners past me and I past them. It was the season where I needed to build up my body and maintain in good shape. In fact I was expected to attend sparring classes at my local dojang to improve on my training. I self-taught Pyongwon and Sipjin, going over the moves in my room while bumping into the boxes and luggages that I still haven't yet cleaned up since I got back from college. I resumed and did 100 push-ups, and took a quick shower.

This summer I was going to one, find a job, and two, get my drivers license. The latter was a must, as I did not have the chance last year. I took a few driving courses, but the school did not have any more lessons. This year I was going to get it, no matter what. I had to take the pre-licensing course again since the certificate from last year expired. For three hours I sat down with other students and adults watching cheesy 80s videos about the precautions in driving. The instructor was the same from last year. The same features, same way of speech. The man with 33 years of driving experience. He had a certain face that you couldn't quite remember the next day. Very normal, easygoing, and gets the point across decently.

I don't want this summer to be like my summer from last year, where I did close to nothing and wasn't as productive. As a college student that is already halfway done, it's vital to do something of value to me. Even better if it was something of value to my major. And my personal goals so far are to get my license, get back into shape, and get a summer job.

On a blissfully beautiful day where the sun was at its zenith, we were on the Staten Island ferry observing the panoramic scenery of the Manhattan island. The wind was heavy but as soon as we came to a halt at Manhattan, the weather began to become hot again.

For lunch we stopped by at a local pizza shop in the financial district as I admired the aesthetics of the old-fashioned buildings around. I never knew there was a place in the city like this where there were hidden alleyways and restaurants. We resumed to walk around all the way to Chinatown, failing to find a decent halal food stand. We ate at her recommended place as I had pork and she had chicken with mushrooms. Delicious as it filled my stomach good.

In the evening we sat by the river in Battery Park, watching the sun sink. With my arm around her we stood close and took in the light breeze and the drifting waters. Panting runners passed by behind us. All the while it reminded me of summer. With my itchy eyes from pollen, she and I stood there for a good half an hour. It was a peaceful moment with her, just she and I together watching the sun drift down by Jersey city. With her by my side, it was such a lovely feeling.

I sent her home when nighttime fell. We stood adjacent from her door, talking about how much fun we had today. Across the street two kitchen staff from a restaurant were loitering, smoking. A group of customers came out of the restaurant seeming to talk about the quality of the food. A cockroach ran across the street in front of us. All in all it was a quiet night. Cars barely passed by the block here.

"Every minute of my day is worth it when I'm with you," I said.

We hugged and kissed. We couldn't find the right moment to say good night. It was such a lovely date. This summer we were going to explore the entire N.Y.C. And it gets better and better.

Had a great evening date with B today as we strolled around Chinatown for some bubble tea and then proceeded to shop around Forever 21. For dinner we ate ramen, which B thought was too salty overall. So we switched bowls. I finished her miso, she finished my shio. Then we went to pinkberry that B treated me. It's so gucci to be with herrr.

B I know you're reading this as well and you are very welcome. I had a fun time as welll. You made the right choices for the skirt and the bag, B. Looks really nice on you. I wanna explore and do more things with you because it's so much fun! There are more Japanese dishes that we can try soon. Like okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and ochazuke, a dish that I wanted to try for a long time. It's like rice and salmon in tea. Hopefully you will find them delicious! heh. Let's dress up next time and go to new places and discover new things in the metropolis, okay B!!! Love you very MACHHH. Can't wait to see youuu

A Brief Chat with the Senior Instructor at University's Taekwondo Club

For one of my final papers for journalism, I wrote about the university's taekwondo club. Unfortunately, due to timing, one of my interviewees wrote to me after the deadline. To not put his efforts to waste, I've decided to recycle his answers here. 

Robert Kimmins is a third-degree black belt and senior instructor at the university's taekwondo club. He has been practicing the martial art for 8.5 years. He was greatly willing to answer a few questions regarding his taekwondo career. 

Why did you decide to practice taekwondo? What does it mean to you?


I decided to practice TKD at first as a hobby, but it grew into a passion over the years. It means the world to me, so hard to put into one little answer. Life without TKD is a dull one, and it is something I will be doing for a long time to come. And not just because I'm somewhat obligated to seeing as my shoulder is tattooed with a big symbol of TKD.

What do you enjoy about the club? What have you learned?

I love the atmosphere of the club. Compared to a traditional TKD school like mine back home, it is more laid-back yet still promotes a respectful, team-focused, helping environment. I've learned more about how to teach students in different ways as well as a tremendous amount of info about sparring I didn't know before coming to the club.

How did you feel when you first got your black belt?

I felt like a kid on Christmas when I got my first black belt! The feeling of accomplishment manifested in a physical form is just indescribably amazing.

As a senior, what is your takeaway from this club. Any particular memorable moments?

My takeaway from the club is certainly too large to put into words, but I'd say memories. One moment that stands out to me was in my Freshman year. Another student fell and twisted her ankle, so Master Fahrenkopf came right over, scooped her up, and just continued teaching without any hesitation. I think he was holding her while he was teaching (laughs).

Please describe a little about your demonstration team

The Demo Team was my idea to bring a new element to the club for members in whom I saw potential. It's purpose is multiple: it allows me to help a select amount of students to advance and expand their talent in ways not normally practiced, it allows for the club to gain some good publicity, and it's just downright fun! The nice thing about having a demo team is that it pushes each member of the team towards being perfectionists, which in turn (I have noticed) pushes them to aspire to greater levels in their normal training.

No Longer an Underclassman

School has finally ended, yesterday, after I finished my last final Tuesday morning. I haven't packed until an hour before I was to leave, as I realized that I had a lot more stuff than I had expected. From boxes to luggages. It took two hours just to load my stuff into the car. Note to self-- bring less stuff next year.

I somehow survived from having no meal swipes left on my card, which happened about a month ago. With Bs unlimited and grubhub delivery orders, I did not starve as much and made it through. 

I met with the senior instructor of taekwondo and the leader of the demo team and he lifted me up and hugged me with so much force that I couldn't breathe for a few seconds when he released me. We exchanged good byes, as he passed the torch to me to manage the taekwondo club. 

I spent time with B the rest of the Tuesday. We talked about how we were going to miss each other. I would always text her when I was downstairs, "K hereee" to her, then I would see her walking down the stairs from the window as she would open the front door. We would share the seat together as she would frequently be on Forever 21 on her mac. How we did laundry together as I tailed her from behind and noticed how cute she walked. How she would ask me, "Shower?" as we showered at the same time together as I carried the basket and she carried our towels and underwear. How we brushed our teeth together as we looked at ourselves in the mirror, how she would bring to me bagels and coffee every morning because of my zero meals. So many other things we do togetherrrr 

Then when it was time for me to pack, we hugged and kissed and I shed a tear that I couldn't control. That feeling of just saying bye to B regardless if we were going to see each other soon. 

While on the bus going back to my dorm to pack, I realized that sophomore year was coming to a close for me. That I was no longer considered an underclassman student, but rather, going one step closer into adulthood by the year. Years flew by. I still remember the rigorous and stressful time of college application during my senior year in high school and the time I first got accepted into college. 

And now I'm already half-way done with college. 

When I shoved in just about everything in the car and was ready to hit the road, I stumbled into one of the first friends I met in the school year. He was an international student from Japan, and I chanced to meet him during the new student orientation tour. The timing was worth noting, as we met back in August and now we said goodbye in May. 

So long, sophomore year!!!!

Finals Week and the Accumulating Work

"You can't get what you want unless you ask for it," were the words my journalism professor left to the class. And it's true. For me, personally, they mean a lot. Nothing is going to happen if you don't let someone know.

Because if you're standing still, you're already falling behind, says the president of the university.

Recently got a not-so-good haircut and I am kind of lamenting it.

About a week ago B and I attended a foam party, then we attended a taekwondo party the following night. On the way the cab driver was wearing a taekwondo dobok. One of the peculiar happenings.

The semester is winding down. B recently went home to bring some of her stuff back home. Even though she is only gone for a day, the feeling of helping her lug her oversized black portmanteau and seeing her get on the motor coach made me feel a bit sad. She's leaving but at the same time she's not.

Lost the taekwondo e-board elections, but there's always next year. Second time in a row that I was not able to claim the position as vice president. My speech was alright, made a few laugh, but it seems that the club sees the other candidate, in other words, the incumbent, as more fitting. Can't blame anyone.

But hey, I guess he is the Chuck Rangel of the taekwondo club.

Moreover one of the senior instructors recently taught his last class, and intents to pass the torch to myself and my other taekwondo colleague. Next year we are both going to not only be teaching most of the class, but also writing down the curriculum for promotional testing and facilitating them. Some huge responsibility ahead.

Finals are near but not quite. I feel like a rocket ship that is about to lift off. That feeling before you start something. That knowing pressure. I've gotten the review sheets and the descriptions, and now it's just all about time management and study.

Lately I haven't seen my roommate for weeks. I sleepover at Bs on campus, and my roommate's girlfriend sleeps at his place. There's this symbiotic mutualism where we both are happy.

Thinking back about the school year, I realized that I haven't met my goals that I've developed since the beginning of the school year. I had a lot of opportunities but I guess I just didn't have the right incentive. I had the opportunity to write and become a staff writer for the school newspaper and involve myself more in the Japanese Student Association. I had the chance to join more clubs. I need to build up my resume. I need to join more activities.