Author Archives: yk687

Cold Coffe, Warm Company

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A few days ago, I had an opportunity to go to Gimmie coffee! in Ithaca commons. After a long week of assignments and preparations for final, it was a nice getaway from the campus environment and recharge. Although I wasn’t sure how coffee with strangers will go, I was excited what will happen.

One unique thing about Coffee and I is that I always get the iced coffee. It is not like I hate warm coffee. I think it is because I always thought coffee is simply a provider of caffeine, something I will chug through and get going to do work. In order to be ‘time efficient’, I get iced coffee so that I can easily drink and save time.

However, it was so different when I was at the rose event. Like usual, I got iced coffee and sweet to accompany it. We introduced ourselves, our major, and had some unique conversations. Like, unique coffee story, the reality vs. fantasy, meaning of literature, and many more deep thoughts and conversations.

As the event progressed through, I realized that drinking coffee at the moment was so different.  Feelings, flavors, sounds, and all these sensory perceptions I had about coffee, was so so different. I realized at the end of the event that coffee at the moment was beyond a just source of caffeine. It was a moment of memory, warmth of other people, and representation of the moment of peace. The cold coffee wasn’t so cold and bitter. The hour I spent on a cup of coffee meant so much to me, and can never equal all the other cup of coffees I had before. It was so strange to feel this way but now I know is that it is ok to have a break, and enjoy a cup of coffee. There is no need to rush in time. Enjoy given time with peacefulness. And maybe cup of coffe.

Punishing the bad: is tourture a right thing?

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This week’s Rose cafe was an about very sensitive topic: torture.  Nick Cheeseman, who is a researcher from ANU and Porpen, an activist, came in to talk about torture in South east Asia. He brought up this question of “does torture work?” to punish those who have committed a crime, a necessary step of punishment throughout SEAsia.

For me, I have never thought it was right. I had a friend who was from Thailand, whose uncle was in jail due to petty crime. However, the jail used torture on him because he has committed a crime. According to the uncle, who is now free, the torture was used as a “cure” and “teaching” to the prisoners. However, rather than preventing crime, it only increased hatred and feeling of vengeance among prisoners. I also think this method is very wrong. No prisoners need to be physically or forcefully harmed mentally. The fact that they are in prison is enough. I think it is important for prisons to reform so that rather than using torture, the government can use its power to prevent future crime, to help the integration of criminals back into society as able good citizens.

I also think that it is important to raise awareness of this issue. I was not informed of such occurrences in South East Asia until the rose seminar, which triggered me to do more research on the topic.

 

Busing that stress

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For table talk, we had conversation about some of the most important topic of college life: stress management. As the final week is rolling in, there is this big question of how are we going to keep out mental health good, while keeping up with all the works?

One thing that was brought up was how it was inconvenient for many students to use mental health care in Gannett. With need of multiple scheduling and finding the ‘right councilor’, there are multiple steps watch students have to take in order to get help. Students need to have easier access to mental health help here in Cornell.

Another thing we talked about was reward system: how each students should have a award in mind. A goal with sweet prize.  I realized that having some kind of reward at the end help me push through, even in tough time. For instance, when I finish my test and get certain grade out of it, I would treat myself to a nice dinner in commons. Because there is appropriate reward for the hard work, students can work even harder to achieve study goals.

One suggestion I did not get to share was that each house should have a mental wellness events every week, such as meditation session and counseling. It’s simple but effective management of mental wellness that is very accessible.

Sports=unificaiton

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This week I got to attend a seminar by Paul Wilcox.  Although I am not interested in sports, I was able to learn a lot about what sport actually does and how it has the power to connect multiple cultures and society.He talked about Transatlantic Series, which basically track meet between American and UK universities. He talked about how because of the experience, may athletes are able to experience and learn about multiple cultures. Wilcox talked about strangeness in finding love and passion in the same thing, even If the students are form different culture, country, and background. The long history of the Transatlantic series reminds the importance of cultural understanding, healthy competitive plays, and etc. The power to gather and learn is phenomenal and I am amazed by such a long standing tradition.

Can I tell The Truth?: Interview Tips

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For this week, I had the opportunity to attend interview tip session hosted by GRF Sarah. As someone who has interviewed and hosted an interview, Sarah taught us numerous tips on how to leave an impression and what approach each should take when it comes to a job interview.

One important aspect Sara introduced was the two-way conversation must happen in all interview. Rather than the interviewee questioning interviewer, the interviewer should balance the conversation, a talk rather than questioning. By doing so, you can talk more honestly and boldly to the interviewer, and the interviewee will be impressed by the fluent, enjoyable conversation.

In addition, I learned that it is ok to be unique when it comes to interviewing. I remember all the tips and trick of the interview where very obvious as if there were an unwritten rule for all types. Rather than giving cookie cutter answer and view on the question, take advantage of it and twist it. The person who does it will stand out and the interviewer knows that you know how to take a risk and be bold!

I am hoping to in the future extend my knowledge and hopefully do a mock interview with numerous people so that I can get used to interviewing.

Fat: Do I need it?

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For rose café, Jonathan Robins came in to talk about the most controversial and popular nutrition: fats.

It was interesting to know a historical perspective. All the time, fat was a bad nutrition that was linked to negative health effect.

He brought up an interesting fact on how vegetable oils (plant based oils) are doing more damage than eating animal based fat. One thing is that people seek more animal fat and oil because of vegetable oil. Because when vegetable oil is made, such as out of soybean, the residue is used to feed the animals, which increases the number of livestock raised, causing an increase in meat production. In addition, palm tree oils, which is now a large part of diet and food production, is damaging ecosystem due to deforestation and hazing due to the burning of trees. It made me reflect on why fat exists and if fat is really necessary. Yes, it tastes good. However, the extent of fat and oil goes far beyond just unhealthiness. It negatively affects the planet. I realize that I need to eat healthy, for both planets and for myself.

Food passing over

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When I saw the posting for rose café, I was interested in the fact that the topic touched on two area: Martha Van Ressler (Human Ecology) and Flora rose house. It was interesting to the fact that  I got to gain knowledge about my home college and my residency.I was surprised to know how Flora Rose specialized in food science and helped the USA during a time of war and the great depression. She focused on creating foods that are high in nutrition yet cost efficient, aiding many to be knowledgeable about nutrition.I noticed that America place great value of nutrition on sugar, carb, and fat in the result of great depression and still does too in modern time. Unlike many other countries, which focus a lot on spice and flavor, American diet has a lot to do with fatty richness. I remember having a hard time getting used to American food when I moved here, because of lack of spice and diverse flavors. It is interesting to see how long history has influenced so much of modern diet.

No choice

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Last Friday I got to watch my childhood movie: The Matrix.

I remember watching this movie when I was 13 years old. Back then I was naïve and young. I thought how Keanu Reeve’s hair was weird and disgusted by the skin drilling scene.

When I watched the movie again, I remember being so bizarre. Primitive CG, awkward her act, awkward storyline and etc.

However, I feel like the Matrix reflects on how I have been receiving a daily dose of the blue pill. Back when I was a child when I lived in world of imagination. When watching a bizarre movie like the matrix or spirited away, I never judged how ‘real’ it was. However, as time went by, when I had the chance to take the red pill through books, movies, and etc, I always prioritize reality questioning everything in the imaginative world.

I feel like the matrix made me rethink about myself and how I see my world. One thing I realized is that in order for me to survive the world I am in right now, I have to keep my head in reality. Rather than choice, I am fed with the blue pill. Will there be one day I will be able to have a choice of my own? Because red pill sounds so nice…. Running away from reality.

Writing for sucess

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I first want to say thank god for the personal statement workshop! I was pretty stumped on what I was supposed to do in the cover letter for my summer internship application. Since I am a design major, I was new in writing a personal statement, since most of the time were replaced by portfolio. In addition, I am planning to apply for architecture grad school, where the personal statement is a must and has to be the best.

Dr.Hill and Magdala pointed out that the most important part of writing the personal statement: What is it? Personals statement is just like a business proposal, writing down what he or she will do during the time of stay in the university. All the expectation and facts differ from university to university. Dr. Hill and Magdala pointed out the importance of research and getting in contact with people in university or workplace. Whether it is a current attendee or a superior, it is important to be highly knowledgeable of the institution which the letter is being written to.

I was surprised by Dr.Hill’s revealing of truth. That person spends less than 7 seconds on a personal letter. In addition, the letter goes through word scanner and point out only the ones with word choices of excellence or superior, which points out talents and ability of the applicant. I was shocked by the information. How can a long personal statement, which is spent numerous month to write and apply, is spent so little time on it.

With all the information, I got to know how competitive the application process is. I think I know now that I must spend all my time and focus, and make sure to focus my personal statement on expressing my goals and myself.