Hello!

Dear Potential Employers:

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I have included this link to serve as a writing sample because it is something I am quite proud of. Though I wrote in it as a way to stay connected to my friends and family, it has now established audiences from all over the globe, with people mostly finding the blog via Google. This blog was actively updated - almost everyday (even when I was dead-tired and about to fall into a food coma on my laptop). I was abroad in Taiwan during Summer 2009, for an art museum research internship, as well as Spring 2010, for study abroad.

Writing this blog has not only improved my writing abilities, but it also cultivated my love of playing with words and passion for creative writing. And, of course, I loved writing about all the food I devoured in Taiwan!

With this blog, I hope you can gather a good sense of who I am and my creativity - including writing and photography.

Happy browsing!

honestly,

it has been pretty hard adjusting to life back in the States. Obviously, there is reverse culture shock, and I miss Taiwan very, very much. I have been at home, now, for about a month and I still can't believe I'm here.. I continue to daydream and keep thinking that I will wake up in Taipei - back on my fake wooden bed frame :p Sighh. Teleportation would certainly be a nice invention.

someday, there's a way. someday, there's a way I know it.

in process.

Bermuda blog is currently in process :) I've been writing new posts here and there. Check it out: http://lininbermuda.blogspot.com/

where in the world is lin?

Hello from BERMUDA!!! I arrived here yesterday (Tuesday 6/29), and have fallen completely in love with it.... the chill lifestyle, friendly people, the culture, daily night festivals, the gorgeous turquoise water... everything! Only that I am pooped with a cough + cold and an eye infection in my right eye--or maybe my right eye contact lenses are defective because something does feel a bit odd about them [I think the manufacturer forgot to trim them or something because it looks larger than normal].

I'm thinking about making a blog just for my trip because there is SO much to say about Bermuda. The rich history, mannerisms of the locals, traditions and customs... Bermuda is certainly not just about the beautiful waters and coral reefs! The blog will be published when I return home because I did not bring any of my camera cables, and I'm using my mom's tiny mini-laptop that comes with a tiny keyboard...

In the meantime, I'll just say that we are staying in a cute, cozy inn in St. George parish, which is located at the Northeast tip of Bermuda. We'll be here for 6 days/5 nights. Once my cough is gone, my brother will take us snorkeling and kayaking. I brought a few disposable waterproof cameras, so I will finally have my own photos from underwater adventures!

home.

Yup, touched down in LA about 4 hours ago. Back to reality. Time to recollect myself, catch up on sleep, and pick up where I left off. Need to get back on track, too, in terms of working out...4 mile runs around the loop, morning Sunday hikes at Crystal Cove, and walk my dogs twice a day.

On a happier note, no more mosquitoes and humidity!!!! For some reason, just this week, I got 6 hideous mosquito bites on my face. I don't understand why they like my nose so much. Oh well. It felt nice to take a deep breath of the air when I stepped out of the airport. Yes, LA is polluted too, but it certainly is not as bad as Taipei. Ahh, the weather is amazing! I just need to open my window and can enjoy the ocean breeze =)

au revoir taipei!

I had waaaay too much FUN in Taipei (and other travels in Taiwan) this semester. This semester has been an amazing, enlightening, growing, crazy experience. Many memories I will never ever forget. Sounds cliche, yes, but I am so glad I chose to come here to study abroad. I made great friends from all over the globe, ate plenty of goooood food, spent valuable time with my family, improved my Chinese speaking skills (my pronunciation especially), and of course learned a lot about myself. These past four months have undoubtedly been the best four months of my life!

To all my friends and family who have been keeping in touch with me via this blog, thank you for taking the time to do so, I know you get giddy when you receive a newsletter from me :) Most importantly, I thank my parents for particularly letting me to come here. I've never been away from home for this long and thousands of thousands miles away. And thanks to all the other readers who stumbled across my blog...hope this blog helped you somewhat in whatever you were searching for!

From this experience, I truly feel like a changed person. Sounds corny, yes? Haha, but I honestly do! Now I know the feeling of Taiwan's tourism motto "Taiwan touch your heart." I can't wait to be back.

And, as this post is posted to my blog [I am writing for future] at 6:40pm, my plane is preparing for takeoff, and I will be on my way home. See ya later, Taiwan!!!

life is all about FUN :)

Memories. This semester I.....lost 2.5 toenails. Caught at least four food bugs. Death by fried mozzarella sticks, fried onions, french fries, and fried lemon chicken strips at 3am. Went to the gym at 6am everyday for an entire week. Snorkeled for the first time ever, and loved it. Saw the sun rise and went to sleep at 8am after a few crazy adventures on one Friday night. Bought waaaaay too many clothes (ex. 8 dresses, 5 pairs of shoes). Started to eat pork again. Almost got hit by cars and mopeds too many times to count. Death by heels and cig smell four nights in a row during 2nd to last week. Spent a worthy 85NT on one little macaron at a Japanese/French bakery inside posh Bellavita (new, expensive mall). Ran in the rain by the river--though, it felt incredibly invigorating. Met up with two food bloggers, to eat of course. Ruined two pairs of nice leather shoes...one of which I am forced to throw away *sad face*. Slept a mere 2 hours and still went to the gym at 6am one day. Spontaneity at its best--last night in TAIPEI was going to be lounge bar hopping, we ended up first at Organo, then Bar Code, slummy Babe18 [had an awkward encounter with 2 nieces], KTV allllll in one night--then home at 6:30am......


Yes, quite a fun, crazy roller coaster ride, this semester. Taiwan touched my heart, for sure. Taipei summer 2011 can't come fast enough!