Ok it has been 3 days and I still haven’t heard from Amy in Thailand to confirm my job. Up to this point she has always been quick in responding my emails and inquiries. Her quick response was one reason why SFU approved it, they feel comfortable with her…. Should I even be worried? A few weeks in our telephone conversation she has already said she’s expecting me in January, do I even need to confirm with her? I figured I finally got approval from the school, I should let her know I am 100% sure I’ll be there.
I’m starting to worry… maybe I’m being paranoid and should just be patient. I’m thinking if I still don’t hear from her, I will call her Sunday night, which is Monday afternoon there…. Any suggestions?
已經三天了我還沒有拿打泰國的email. 我是要他們知道我是一定會來得, 然後在等他們回到我說沒問題. 前幾個星期我是有跟他們在電話講話, 他特別說我們明年見面… 那這星期大學才說我可以去, 已經過了很久, 想再說我一定會去了. 如果他們已經叫我一月去的話, 還要再問一次嗎? 我是怕說他們會忘記, 可是我前幾個星期都有一直寫email, 多問問題. 寫的時候他就會馬上回答, 那這次回答那麼慢, 為什麼?
那已經三天了, 我是怕說會不會不要我了? 還是他們現在很忙沒有時間回答. 我跟媽媽說如果星期天還沒有收到email, 那我就跟他們打個電話. 那時候應該是星期一的下午, 他應該是在上班.
你想說呢? 我是想太多嗎? 我是很想要這工作, 等大學已經很久了, 現在終於說可以去了, 又有這問題!!!! 我像我媽想太多!!
Wow, I cannot believe what just happened today. Totally unexpected. Paul asked me to go see him in his office and informed me that SFU Co-op will approve my request to go work with illegal Burmese refugees in Thailand under international co-op. I was just saying last week that he and Caroline were not too keen on the idea and that they disapprove. However, they did tell me they will run the idea by another coordinator and a manager and it turns out they share a different view.
So now I just emailed Amy in Thailand and ask her to confirm that she is still expecting me in January. After that there’s so much to do… for example go get my shots and get a new passport so that I can travel in China after Thailand.
Really didn’t think this would go through. I just spent last night working on a new cover letter for a GIS position at the BC Oil & Gas Commission in Fort St. John, BC… That was a waste of time!
Now I just wait for confirmation that they are still expecting me... I hope she gets back to me soon.
我現在好高興! 記不記得我上個星期有說我在泰國找的工作, 大學本來是不想我去的, 可是今天大學又有些人有說沒問題, 叫我去. 今天我老師才跟我說的. 那看起來我是會去的, 我大概明年一月二號就走了, 工作到四月份然後去中國玩到六月. 我六月十五號就要到美國, 我的朋友的姐姐要結婚. 這姐姐就是再我的照片的上面.
那我現在要email 泰國的人, 跟他們說我的大學說可以, 再看他們還是不是要我. 因該是沒有問題的. 如果沒有問題的話, 我有很多事要辦的. 第一我需要去拿個新護照. 我四月在泰國工作作完的時候, 我想去中國看一看. 我的加拿大護照裡面說我是在
“台北,台灣” 生的. 中國說護照里不能說”台北, 台灣”, 只能說”台灣”, 不能寫台北. 這樣的話台灣才看起來不是個國家. 有寫”台北,台灣” 的話就不能進中國. 這些中國人………
第二件事就是去打針. 我是要去過六個月所以不想生病!
我現在就先等泰國回答我的email. 因該是說沒有問題. 我上次跟他們談話的時候就叫我一月份去.
Not too much going on but because I'm bored at the school library, so I thought I update. I just finished editing my take-home exam essay and I think it's alright. Good introduction and conclusion but not so sure about the body. The prof is expecting a well-written 6 page paper since this is a take home essay exam... no research, just repeat what he has discussed in class. Blah!!
With this paper finished, it marks the halfway point through the semester. Midterms are all finished and the last few weeks will definately go by fast... unfortunately there's gonna be tons of work. I will start working on my projects either this week or next week. Got another paper due tomorrow. Let the good times roll baby!!!
Time to go to tutorial and hand this sucker in.
What started off as a 20 minute drive home ended up being a 2 hr drive home... Here is the story of my adventure from SFU to my home.
Normally to get from Burnaby and Vancouver to North Vancouver I would have to take Second Narrows Bridge to get over the water. Well as I was sitting on Hastings street few blocks away from the bridge.... there were traffick backed that I hadn't moved in like 20 minutes. I thought... screw this, I'll never make it home with this traffick. I then decided I'll take the long way and go through downtown Vancouver and get on the Lion's Gate Bridge... all the way on the other side of town.
It turns out that there was someone that wanted to commit suicide on the Second Narrow's Bridge... the bridge was shut down from 9am to about 2pm, trying to get the guy down. The reason why they shut down both directions on the bridge was because we have and I stress, assholes, who would shout out "Jump right in your moron".
With this bridge off limits, it meant more traffick on Lions Gate because these are the only two ways to get over the water, the two bridges, to North and West Vancouver. And once again with all these vehicles that are trying to make it over that one bridge... that meant everyone had to deal with the domino backed traffick.
One thing I did notice, while sitting there listening to the radio play Canadian born Avril Lavigne's and Matthew Good's music, was that everyone just sat there with their car idled. Like hello!!! So much of our precious expensive gas are being wasted... why not just turn off the car? Do we really think we can march into China and India and say "It's great that your quality of life is getting better and better... but be a good global citizen and stop using so much oil and gas because we 'need' it." Or do we really think we have a right to just tell those Nigerians to get their butt back to work? Let's think about it for a second... if it is illegal to idle your car in school parking lots so that our children wont inhale polluted air, shouldn't the same law apply if traffick was like a parking lot?
So I made it after 2 hours of traffick in Vancouver... it turns out when the Second Narrows Bridge was opened around 2pm, Lions Gate was closed right after for about an hour.... why?... a second guy attempted to jump. Both men are now in hospitals getting psychiatri evaluation. I'm glad I made it back to North Van before that happened or else I would of been more than 30 minutes late for work. My mom's friend, however, was stuck... hehe
我今天寫的很多, 要寫中文會寫太久, 所以我大概的講一下. 我今天從大學開車開回家的時候, 馬路上的車特別多因為警察把回家的橋擋起來了. 从溫哥華到北溫(我們住的地方)需要過個橋, 那因為有個人要想自殺, 他就再橋上一直要跳橋. 因該只是20 分鐘, 我為了要回家在去上班, 就要用別的橋. 那下個橋是在溫哥華的別邊, 走的話就要比較久. 總共走了2小時. 不應該那麼久, 一個小時就應該可以了. 可是因為別人也要走這條路, 車子又更多. 別人像我不能用那第一個橋, 之能大家用第二座橋.
School can actually be interesting if it weren't for all these midterms... I'm fine with just going for the lectures.
Right now I'm studying for my GIScience exam tomorrow. The course has been good... the computer lab is the best part! Hopefully I can find a job that is related to GIS, environmental issues and you guessed it, travel around the world. GIS will also help pay for a brand new Mazda 3. Saw the perfect one yesterday with the colour that I want and I just stood there and drooled. Then my mom dragged me away.... ZOOM ZOOM.
Back to the books.
It was announced today that Burma’s prime minister, Khin Nyunt, has “resigned” for health reason, but Thailand’s spokesperson said that he was ousted from power. Curse those power hungry military leaders.
And today I met with Caroline who regrettably told me that I cannot work with Burmese refugees in Thailand under co-op. This is because I’m working with illegal refugees as a “tourist” and without Thai government's knowledge. The Thai government’s position is that these refugees are illegal so if I get caught, I'm in trouble. If Burma catches me, then let's hope I made some powerful friends in Canada or US. I guess I can’t blame SFU for being concerned. I still have one last chance… the director of co-op will review this and Caroline said they might have different opinion. She did encourage me to go, just not for co-op. I am sorta thinking about that option... although not really.
On a bright note I’m physically feeling a lot better. Feels great!!! :o)
Finished my exam for Asian studies... surprised me with a few questions which I didn't think was gonna be asked. I should be okay though. Got 2 more this week.
我前幾個星期有在泰國找到工作, 是教英文給緬甸難民. 泰國是要我去的可是我跟學校講的時候, 他們不是很想送我去. 我在大學需要上班四個學期, 可是他們說不能用這工作. 他們說如果我還想去得話, 我可以去可是學校不承認, 跟大學沒有關係的事. 那我還要不要去就不知道了. 如果要的話, 就要明年五月到7月.
很懊惱!
我的頭好多了. 昨天開始就沒有痛了.
阿姨, 小齊有說她想回台灣去看結婚. 現在還不知道他到底會不會去. 媽媽是不能取得因為她要上班.
Well I like to say things have been going well here but it has pretty much sucked. My headaches still haven’t gone away yet. It has bothered me everyday. Started exactly 2 weeks ago and it’s interfering with my studies. Got 3 exams this week and have fallen behind in readings and assignments. I will be going back to the doctor sometime this week and see what the deal is. Last week the doctor examined me and couldn’t come up with anything. She said I’ve even got an athlete’s heartbeat and very healthy, told me to come back if it doesn’t go away. I will also pay a visit to my optometrist… I’ve noticed that my eyes gets really strained from moving my head too fast and bright lights. A lot of times, not all, it’s how my headaches get started.
As for my job in Thailand, that’s not going to well either. I met with the geography coordinator and he said there’s seems to be lack of structure and supervision, and that he is hesitant about this job. I’ve been keeping touch with the organization and a volunteer there to get more information so I hope I will be able to convince him. If this doesn’t get turned into co-op, then I don’t think I will be going.
現在這遍的是不是說很好. 我的頭一直痛. 已經兩個星期了, 每天都有. 我的工課也沒有做得很, 頭都很不舒服. 這星期還有三個考試. 這幾天我會再去看醫生. 上次去的時候, 他說我是很健康, 找不到什麼問題.
I have a 3 day weekend right now because of Thanksgiving... Canadian Thanksgiving that is. I didn't know till earlier last week when someone told me that we didn’t have classes this Monday. When I first found out about this I was like "what the... Thanksgiving already? It can't be..." I still think it is in November after 4 years of living up here.
Which brings to my second point... why is there Thanksgiving in Canada? I've asked tons of people and no one seems to know. One thing is for sure, it is not as big up here as it is down there in the sense that TV commercials don't keep stressing it's the holidays and there are no children's play of pilgrims and Indians in elementary school. It just really quiet here in comparison. If it wasn't for the day off, I probably wouldn't have known it was Thanksgiving.
I ended up having Thanksgiving dinner with Jason's family. I'm thankful for dinner with the Sproules and not having to get up at 6:30am this Monday for my morning class. :o)
我這星期有三天的假期. 是因為星期一(十月十一號)是加拿大的感恩節. 我本來是不知道的. 上星期二有個同學跟我說下星期一不用上課, 我就想說奇怪為什麼? 她一解釋的時候, 我就想“奇怪, 感恩節因該不是那麼早吧?”結果他說對的. 我是一直想到美國的感恩節! 我是因為在美國長大, 習慣一直想到美國的感恩節. 他們的是再十一月二十五號.
第二就是說加拿大為什麼有個感恩節? 我問了很多加拿大人, 他們都不知道為什麼. 在美國每個人都知道為什麼有感恩節. 那邊的感恩節是很大的. 在加拿大的話, 就很小. 兩個國家的感恩節差得太多, 這節目在美國是比在加拿大還大又是在不一樣的時候, 我就想說加拿大感恩節的歷史是什麼, 則麼來的? 我查了一下終於知道了. 我用中文不會解釋, 所以就不說了!
在感恩節家人一起吃晚飯, 要說感謝什麼東西. 就是說對我們身活要感謝什麼. 我感謝明天(星期一)不用六點半起床去上課
上星期四是我的生日. 明天我媽要帶我和弟弟出去吃飯.
I can definately think of better ways to spend my birthday instead of going to classes and then work a 8 hr shift. It's all good though, will be going out with friends on Friday.
This whole week I've been having headaches. It started Monday and still hasn't gone away yet... having one right now at work. Alya says its stress from classes, coop, and work. I'm not sure so sure that's it... the work load hasn't even begun yet! I will take it easy this weekend and don't have to write anymore cover letters. Got an essay due Tuesday though. >.<
As most of you know, this week I was unofficially hired on the phone to work with the Burmese refugees in Thailand. I think I will take the job despite some safety issues. Today I went to Capilano College to pick up a reference letter from my past prof and now ready to send out the application to Asia. Now I just have to talk to Paul on Tuesday and get his permission to turn this into co-op internship. My other coordinator has already given me her permission. :o)
So it looks I will be going to Thailand again. I should seriously get my dad to buy our old house. It was vacant when I checked 2 years ago. Anyways, I won't know exactly what I will be doing but Amy gauranteed me a placement with one of the organizations when I get there. She says they are always short on volunteers, not short on jobs. So of course this could all go down the drain once I arrive but I'm hoping they are professional and have their act together.
From now on I will be writing in traditional Chinese instead of simplified, which is what I’ve been doing. I am changing it because aesthetically it looks more appealing and has a 5000 year history as it evolved into what it is today. The traditional writing was literally changed overnight into the simplified system because it was easier for the illiterate Chinese population to learn. For example, the word “dragon” in traditional is 龍. In simplified it is 龙. Huge difference huh? Another example is 為 (traditional) and 为 (simplified), this means “because”.
The second reason is because my friends and relatives think I should write traditional because I’m from Taiwan. Pretty much Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan use traditional one, only China uses simplified. There will be days when I will use simplified because I plan on doing my field research in China for grad school… so I need the practice.
Two weeks ago I applied to an organization that works with Burmese refugees in Thailand. This past Friday they responded and asked me to fill out their official application form. So I think this means they’re interested in me. So far I have applied to 2 other jobs in Canada (Victoria & Calgary), will be writing another cover letter Sunday. I really want to get something before the end of the semester.
我現在可以寫繁體字了!
阿姨, 我今天有收到大阿姨的email. 您可不可以請教他在這上面跟我寫信. 我的email 不讓我看中文. 我是應為看不到, 我還把這email 送給我朋友的email, 然後叫他幫我看是誰寫, 也叫他告訴我裡面是寫什麼.
我感覺二阿姨人當得滿好. 有看到可憐的動物, 她就會拿來養. 我媽說二阿姨以前是很不喜歡狗的, 她說的對嗎?
現在每發生什麼事. 還在大學找工作. 我現在有找到了四, 已經寫了三個性, 下一部就要等他們回答了. 下幾個星期還會有些工作. 找工作太麻煩了!