Healthiest States in America

Whoopie, Hawaii is on the top five. 

Nous Ne Sommes Plus Morts.

Just came back from a screening of "Nous Ne Somme Plus Morts", by, François Woukoache, which was held at my school. 

This film was amazing. 

It wasn't the cinematography, etc, that made it amazing. It was the harsh realism that really caught me by the mouth and reeled me in... all the way in. I just sat there with my mouth gapping open because I could not believe what I was watching. 

This film is about the Rwandan Genocide that started in 1994 by the Hutus. It explores the after math of the genocide, four years later, 1998. There are interviews of students who were from Rwanda, but were able to escape before the outbreak of the genocide and their thoughts about the loss of their families, home, and culture. There were also scenes of various authors from different parts of Africa, who decided to band together and find out about the genocide and write a book about it, to bring awareness to the people in Africa. There is a lot more to the film also. Scenes of dead carcasses and skeletal remains were shown from the genocide. There were many, but nothing compared to the total number of people killed. It was harsh, but someone had to shed some light onto the aftermath of the genocide, and Francois Woukoache did. I wish I were able to express more about the film but I just can't grasp everything that I saw. There was so much, and, frankly, I am really overwhelmed with emotions and thoughts right now. I would recommend this film to anyone. It really made me think more about the situation of the genocide and how it is possible for an "inner-ethnic killing" could arise. Why would people of the same ethnic group, who all live together in the same continent be compelled to kill one another? If anyone ever has the answer, feel free to leave a comment because I really would like to know. 

After the film ended there was a questions and answers session. I wish I had asked an answer but I didn't want to annoy him with my questions, so I just listened. And after the questions and answers session I went up to Francois and introduced myself... actually more like made a fool of myself. His first language is French and because I spoke a little I felt that I should have spoken French to him. Big Mistake. This is what ended up happening. I walked up to him and shook this hand. Then I said "Bonjour! Je parle francais, un peu. Je voudrais dire, merci beaucoup." ("Hi! I speak very little French. I would like to say, Thank you very much.")Then I said something else but didn't once introduce my name to him! hahahaha. I realized that after I left. I feel so smart. 

Seriously, wth is wrong with me? I meet this amazing film director and that is what I say and don't even properly introduce myself?! lol.

Anyways, yesterday I watched another movie that the Resident Hall Advisors put on for us. It's called "Food Inc." I had heard of it before because my sister watched it and I finally got a chance to watch it. This film was also great because it is a documentary that exposes the truths about huge food companies, such as Tyson, Monsanto, etc and how they kind of monopolize the food industry. There is a lot I would like to say for this film but I will save it for later because I really need to do my readings and start on my paper. So until next time. Au revoir! 

"I'm a rattle snake, babe, I'm a fuel on fire..."

I haven't been updating as frequently because I have been busy with school. Shoot me.

It's the start of the weekend and I am very excited to just kick back and relax.

I can read as much as I want and not have a care in the world! 

I'm currently reading another book called "Contradictions" by Yang Gui-ja. It's a Korean book that has been translated. So far, it is really good. It has enticed me in and now I am trapped. 

The book is a really fast read because of the fluid, flowing dialogue and often realistic thoughts/point of view from the narrator, Jin Jin. 

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, it is not one of those books, like Twilight, which has kind of a specific audience target. "Contradictions" is a book that I feel anyone can relate to in one aspect or another. As a reader, I could really identify myself in Jin Jin, though we have different lives and problems, the main problem, which is that Jin Jin has her internal demons is definitely present in myself and others. This story is not one full of delicate fruit cake lines and content, it is a lot more emotional and actually psychological, if you really think deeply into it. So, now I really urge you to go and find yourself "Contradictions" and read it till you can't sit still. 

Aside from that, I am doing my laundry and the damn laundry machine ate two of my dollars. Fuck. If I could I'd beat it's ass down. 

Anyways, my roommate is gone again, this weekend. She always goes home every other week. I don't really mind because I like being in the room alone, especially because the room is small so I feel two people can make it feel really stuffy. Thank God, for these high, raised ceilings. Seriously, these spaceship rooms are something else. 

Tomorrow I am going hiking with my friends through the school. The hike is going to be in Marin. I am really excited to get out and see nature. It's nice to just go out and immerse yourself in nature, especially if you live in a city like SF, where there is not much green around, Golden Gate Park does not count because I feel like it is kind of artificial and too sculpted. 

Back home, I was always surrounded by greenery and I would hike often with my friends on ridges and stuff. Twas fun. Time to reconnect with mother nature. 

So, I have gained some weight, I can't tell how much. But I sure did. I know my body pretty well so if I gain some weight I notice it quick. I am not one to OBSESS over my body but I do like to keep in shape... and whenever I come back to college I always seem to gain so much weight. I blame it on all the stress and late night studying. Plus since I have been so busy I did not have any time to go running and my knee starting acting up.But, now I have started to run again, slowly. It's okay, I just want to get into shape again and lose all the weight I have gained. Muffin's are good and appealing but muffin tops... those are another story. 

Okay, I should go get my laundry. Au revoir!

Milla Jovovich.

This is why I love her even more! Oh Milla, I wish to one day meet you! 

Speak Easy

I am so tired and I have a mean nasty tummy ache. 

Go away! 

I blame it on the choco cookie I ate. Damn school cafeteria food, I curse thee! 

Anyways, I have been doing some reading of my own and have found some really good books. The first one I am reading is Norwegian Wood by Murakami, the second in About a Boy by Nick Hornby and the last one is Kafka on the Shore by Murakami. I am circulating them and so far I find no difficulty in keeping up with the books. It's really nice to be able to unwind, lay on my bed and read a little before I go to sleep. 

It's also a great way to KNOCK OUT and snore away. ha. 

Anyways school is eating up all my time and I can't wait for the weekend. 

I can finally relax and be able to read some more and start drawing again. I have decided to finally get back into drawing and improve. Hopefully I stick with the plan of drawing once a day. I tend to procrastinate a lot so lets see if I even stick with this plan. Oh! And I have also decided to get back to running. I used to run during the beginning of this semester but then I got "runner's knee" and had to stop to recover and now my knees do not hurt anymore, so that means I can start running again. 

I am so excited because I want to be healthy and lose the weight I have gained throughout the semester. I blame it on stress and eating to help me stay up to study. Ugh. I feel horribly disgusting indulging in so much chocolate and processed foods. Thinking about it makes me want to poo it all out. 

Ohhhh, poooooooo. 

Anyways, my diet has not been good since I have come back to SF. Back at home I used to eat a lot healthier, with lots of fruits and veggies. But when I am here I tend to change my diet to accomodate the food at the school cafeteria. Our food is so unhealthy and the portions are really ridiculous. When you want pasta, you end up getting 4-5 portions instead of one. It is really gross. Same applies for everything else. Thats why I like the stations in which I can serve myself so I can control my portions. Plus, everyone here eats so many starch and bread products, so I end up eating it too because that is the only thing they offer. Bleh, I miss home food. Yummy yummy healthy home food. 

My mom is a health freak, so if she found out how I was eating she would probably tell me to buy some fruits and vegetables at the market to cook for myself. I could do that but I need to spend all the money on my card (flexi) that the school forces us to use for food. Those damn bastards. Thats the downfall of living in the dorms, we are forced to have flexi. ugh. Really who needs 1,900 dollras for food in a whole semester. It is such a ridiculous and disgusting amount of money for food. I can survive well without that much money for food a semester. 

One thing about my school is: they will try to take your money in anyway possible, but because they are religious, they try to do it as discreetly and "honorably" as possible. 

Sad but true. 

"...what you respond to in any work of art is the artist's struggle against his/her limitations."

- Kurt Vonnegut

Trick or treat.

This weekend was so nice and relaxing. Went to lunch with a friend on Friday afternoon. Had Thai at some place on Haight... it was mediocre. Not going back there again. Then went shopping around the area and got a black dress and blazer. Then went into Union by myself and did a little more shopping. Ended up buying the Minnie pants from Jcrew, black Franco Sarto loafers, a sheer ruffled top from Banana Republic, earrings from UO, and a short sleeved thick sweater wrap from H&M. Twas a nice day to just hang out by myself and do some therapy shopping. After I met up with my two other friends and then went to Nordstrom Rack, after that we headed to dinner at some Turkish restaurant called Troya on Clement for my friends birthday. Met all the girls there and had a delicious meal. I will definitely be going back there again. Service was amazing and the food was great. Prices are great too. Then, for dessert we went to Genki crepes and got some generic but good crepes. On Saturday, Halloween day, went to watch Coco avant Chanel by myself at the Sundance Kabuki Theater, another nice afternoon to myself. I enjoyed the movie so much, enough to make me cry. Gabrielle Coco Chanel was an amazing, touch, and strong woman, I really admire her. After went to La Boulangerie and got a baguette. Then headed back to school to get ready for trick or treating with my friends. I wore a pineapple costume, haha. It's from Japan that my mom got me when I was in second or first grade. My friends and I went to Laurel Heights where all the rich folks live and we scored. I honestly did not expect to get much candy but man these people are loaded. Their houses are gorgeous and they had tons and tons of candy. Great for us trick or treaters. After my friends and I baked cookies then called it a night. I was so tired from walking up and down stairs that lead to the doors and walking around street to street. I am getting old, I can already feel it. I remember when going trick or treating was no problem because I was so active when I was little but man at the end of the night my feet were as flat as pancakes. 

Left to Right: Me and Mary. Trick or treating group. Me in my new top, pant and shoes. (I secretly took that picture of me to send to my mom. ha. I am such a dork)