[mood | happy
]
[music| Sandy Lam- Scars]
恭喜發財﹗Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Tomorrow is Chinese New Year. I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and prosperous year ^___^
Charlie and I are going home to his parent’s house tonight. I have met them several times, but I’m still very shy/nervous.
I was off work Friday (and will be off Monday) it’s SO nice. I feel so relaxed…I wish every day was this way.
Anyways, off to the gym!
Dear friends,
Happy Valentine’s Day. Remember, someone out there loves you 
Waiting to hear your stories….
[Edit]
Some of you were asking what MY story was ^_^ Well, we just went to dinner at this place near home called Nirvanna Grille. It was nice, a set menu, less complicated. One of Charlie’s coworkers was also there with his fiance so that was fun. After eating, we just went home and relaxed. Getting old sucks >.<
And no…..no presents this year, which is fine, since I’m sporting a 2.0ct diamond on my left finger….tehehe ^_^
Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine’s or Single’s Awareness Day!
好久没有写在日记的。 其实说， 最近5个月发生好多事情，可是我一直都没写啦。
首先﹐我来讲一个故事。 这个故事有点复杂， 所以你们要好好注意唷。
这个故事里面有个男人， 两个女人。 不， 有一个夫妻， 一个女人。 那个夫妻在一起已经两年。 他们结婚的原因就是女生不想回台湾， 所以叫她男朋友娶了她比较方便啦。所以他們倆結了婚 。
那个妻子好幸福唷﹔ 她有个很好的丈夫， 很漂亮的家， 好多东西﹐ 等。 她因为没有工作每天可以做她随想要做的事。 那，丈夫一方面也很幸福﹔ 他有个人無法離開他的﹐ 一個人好好把家里整理好， 做饭给他吃等。 但是他也很笨﹐ 沒想到他被利用的。
反正外面的人﹐ 朋友們﹐ 家人﹐ 等一看来他们就知道他们真的不愉快。一點都不適合對方。
有一天男生认识一个很特别的女生。 他们變成好朋友， 越来越开始互相喜欢。 总之﹐他门慢慢谈恋爱。 那个男生离开他的老婆得時候， 老婆要他一直给他钱， 给他全部他们家的东西﹐車子， 等。 那个男生都给了。 第三者无话可说的让他们选择自己的線， 看他们一刀两断。
妻子很快有找到了新的男朋友， 因为她还没拿到了绿卡， 她现在要跟他新男朋友申请綠卡才結婚。 丈夫快快乐乐的跟那个第三者在一起， 他们已经定婚了。
后来， 真可惜的事情发生了， 男生哥哥死了。 本来那个男生叫他未婚妻陪他去， 他全家有叫她来， 可是﹐后来男的突然说她不用来， 因为这个是个家里的事情。 所以女生没来， 可是老婆来的。
那， 我问你们， 谁到底要给谁面子呢?
如果男生跟老婆一起来， 那不给未婚妻面子 (还有， 他父母觉得未婚妻没礼貌， 可是老婆真的很关心他们家)。
如果男生带未婚妻来， 那不给老婆面子 ﹐ 而大家都會很ㄍㄧㄥ。
到底要给谁面子呢?
[mood | tee heheeee
]
[music|FIR- Fly Away ]
I passed!
Ok so better than passed. I got all A’s so far. 3 classes down and 2 to go this summer.
I am totally shocked I got an A in Chinese. This had to be the hardest Chinese class I have taken. The final was awful. I think I’ll sign up for the next level. (Lol yes, I am a sadist)
Car sales
Ugh. I hate buying a car. It has to be one of the most annoying things. My VW is a piece of shit. Repairs on it cost more than my monthly payment. So…I have decided to get a new one.
Easy, right? No.
Trade in value sucks. The dealer won’t give me what I owe. In order to make me not go ‘upside down’ they said I could put 2k down. After that, it evens out the difference. This means I am really going in with 0 down. Then they want to factor tax and title into my payment.
Well, my friend said no, it was too much etc. The car I wanted only had 3 in the district (OR, CA) so when I called yesterday the dealer (oh, let’s not even get started on him) said it was sold. I checked inventory and they’re all gone now.
Apparently everyone and their mama wanted the same car.
So now I can’t get the car I wanted. I have to get a similar one minus the navi….so it does make it cheaper, but I have to buy a navi.
Anyone have any suggestions for a navi? I guess portable one isn’t that bad, right?
Gnats
Ugh. Our apartment is full of gnats. Gross! Anyone know how to rid of them?
Oh yeah….the car dealer
Hottttttttttttttttttttt….so hot that i forgot my own name when he introduced himself. I just sat there for like a minute saying “ummm…my name …umm” Thank God Alek jumped in and said “Hey, her name’s Nicole” Geee thanks! LOL
Anyways, I think he’s a little too obsessed (haha jk) friendly with me…the car I wanted is gone so we’re pretty much not making a deal. He constantly calls, emails and sends me messages on MSN. He even gave me his AIM.
Are dealers supposed to be that friendly? He’s an ABC, Taiwanese parents. I have better Chinese so I’m sure he thinks I’m weird.lol
Roommate
I need a roommate. Someone to either move in here in November (or before if needed). My roommate just informed me that she wants to move north of Irvine (we’re just south of there) to Costa Mesa because it’s closer to work and LA. Our rent is pretty ok here, but there’s no way I can afford the one bedroom again. Argh! Any suggestions? I would prefer a Chinese/Taiwanese one. I have no idea where to even begin looking other than Craigslist. Do you guys think it’s safe? Have any of you ever done that?
[mood | Furious
]
[music| Alex To- Qing Ren ]
The Chinese language has many dialects spoken yet Mandarin has always been the official language.
In Mandarin, there are two present types of writings: Traditional and Simplified Chinese characters.
Traditional Chinese has been the official form of writing for thousands of years. And from it, the Simplified form was born. In recent decades, China’s effort in trying to make Chinese easier for both her youth and foreigners resulted in this push of Simplified Chinese. However, at the same time, Traditional Chinese is still studied and widely recognized.
The purpose of Simplified Chinese was meant for an easier reading (with less characters) and less pen-strokes in writing characters. It is the attempt of making Chinese more phonetic rather than having many words pronounced the same.
The two forms of Chinese have always co-existed peacefully for many years. The importance of Traditional Chinese lies in the fact that each character represents a very specific meaning. This is of extreme importance because it allows the reader to understand a written word even without the word being in context.
Simplified Chinese, although convenient, fails to incorporate meaning into its characters. Many words of same phonetic sounds are replaced by a single character that possesses the same sound but lacks in meaning. The major downfall of Simplified Chinese is that it lacks meaning. Currently, historical texts are in Traditional Chinese, (simply because one can read and understand based on the author’s choice of words) however, if Traditional Chinese is to be replaced by Simplified Chinese, one would not be able to understand these texts/writings because words have lost their meanings, they simply represent a way of pronouncing the texts. As time progresses, this would result in the loss of history and culture.
UN’s action to “unify” the Chinese characters and recognize ONLY Simplified Chinese will have devastating impact upon the Chinese language, culture, history. Internationally, Traditional Chinese would be forgotten and neglected, it would only be a matter of time before Traditional Chinese becomes the next “Latin”. (the dead language) Along with this loss of language, would be a culture and history lost forever.
Although Simplified Chinese is an easier way to learn Chinese, but it should not be the only form of Chinese written language. It should be a convenience, not an absolute. By allowing it to become the “official” writing, the Chinese language would be in regression.
——————
Example of Simplified VS Traditional (provided by a fellow supporter)
The word Noodle in Chinese
Traditional: 麵 = 麥 + 面 (wheat + surface)
Simplified: 面 (surface/face/noodle)
*meaning in brackets
The Traditional form has two parts which helps to identify it as noodles. Simplified character only provides the pronouciation so the reader would be unable to determine the meaning without it’s context.
——————-
The above has been confirmed that the UN never used both Chinese forms. IN FACT, Traditional Chinese does not even exist in the UN anymore (except prior to early 1970′s).
In truth, I am uncertain what will become of this petition. After all, it is a few decades late. Although, what saddens me, is the fact that Traditional Chinese has already lost its ground.
People signed this petition to fight against Traditional Chinese being abolished. YET, now that we know it’s a fact, why should we not fight harder.
Some have claimed this to be a hoax. Others have supported and sent emails. I personally thank everyone of you who took time to come here regardless of your positions.
Please vote and say NO!
[mood | la di da di da ]
[music| Shakira- La Tortura ]
Happy Birthday to me..well, almost.
So tomorrow is my birthday. I don’t know if I should be excited or sad. The only real thought that has been going through my head is, “How did I get this old.” (Yes I am aware of the aging process for those of you who feel the need to be smart-asses 
)
It seems like just yesterday I was 20 or 21. One of my students asked me in class Friday how old I would be on Monday. I was amazed at student answers, “She’s going to be 21″ “No she’s not, she’s 24″. Finally, I stopped the discussion and told them I’d be 27.
“You’re not married yet!” exclaimed one of my 7th grade boys. “Oh my god, Miss Nikolena! You need to get married!” This then lead into other students wild imaginations getting the best of them with fantasies of Mr. Right coming to school during their period and proposing, etc.
Now my 7th graders are determined to have me married off by the end of the year. Amazing, their top choice for me is Jay Chou lol
*sigh why can’t I just have a fun and happy birthday like I did as a kid–just have fun and not worry so much about the candles on my cake 
[mood |lazy]
[music | Wilbur Pan- Bu de bu ai]
Alas…I can see!
I had lasik about a month ago…and I LOVE it!
That’s part of why I wasn’t online for a while though…had a few complications with my left eye, but it’s fine now. I am like 20/25 or something….once my eyes are less dry they said it should be 20/20.
It’s so awesome to see when u wake up. 
Friends come from afar…
Elaine came to visit me in LA a while back!!! ….fun times. It was so fun hanging out with her…and I am super excited to be in her wedding in Sept…
Oh and the bridesmaids dresses are awesome..and her wedding dress is gorgeous!
Fattyboombaladi
Ughhhhhhhhhh
I think need to lose like 15-20 lbs. Does anyone even know the right weight for 5’3-5’4?
I feel so fat, so just ugh lately…
I haven’t been working out as much as I did when I was in Portland, and I feel so fat now…bleh. Any suggestions? I have never been one to diet and I don’t mind working out….so help!
Summer…
is coming….can’t wait! I wish I were off vacationing in Greece or studying in Taiwan…but oh nooooo no no no. I have to take summer classes to clear my CA license. Fun! Oh and my students are being such brats…2 more weeks!
, claire 和我