About Me
- VJ
- I am an aspiring photographer with an avid interest in people, literature, international issues, and learning. My free time is either spent watching some boring :) documentary, taking pictures of people and places, or exploring the Internet.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Japan Trip
To save time and avoid repeating myself, I've decided to just post the photos from my trip to Japan on Facebook. Here, I will write about the stories from the trip, and some cultural observations, but uploading pictures to Facebook and Flickr is just too much when I don't have an Internet connection. If you read this and are not Facebook friends with me, let me know!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Japan!
Haven't gone anywhere so far, but here are the few pictures from our journey to the hotel.
Pocari Sweat, a type of sports drink.
Zac with a statue in honor of Godzilla.
The toilet seat in our hotel.
We get Internet in the hotel, so I should be able to update semi-regularly, though of course all the artsy pictures will have to wait until I get back to Columbus to edit and upload them. For now, it's the point-and-shoot camera that gets the glory.
Friday, August 7, 2009
More about Jobs
Today my advisor explained my current employment to someone by saying, "She's just taking a break for a couple of years."
Excuse me, Professor, but I am not "taking a break." "Taking a break" is what rich kids do when they realize they aren't actually employable, and go backpacking in Europe on their parents' dime or take an internship that they have to pay for. I am working my a** off, going to school full-time and working (almost) full-time, and as soon as I graduate I plan to take on another job.
What part of this sounds like a "break" to you? Oh, because it's not as prestigious as the job you have? Ah, but see, I like my job.
Note to Dad: I haven't actually gotten any comments from kids my age - they actually understand how tough the economy is, because many recent graduates can't even get jobs at all! So they're never judging me. For some reason it's the adults who apparently "expected more" from me, as if raising someone's kids is not a worthy enough position.
I've been thinking a lot about the kinds of jobs I may want to get to fill up the extra hours of the week. Of course, I'm going to spend three months advertising and networking in an attempt to make some spending money from photography, and perhaps I could eventually make a living on it. I'm going to finish some of the writing that I have in the works, submit it to publishers, and see what happens. If both of those ventures fail, I will look for a job with either Habitat for Humanity or the university, because of those could lead to other opportunities. And if that doesn't work, I will consider starting an ABA therapy job again, since now I have the luxury of a semi-fixed schedule and the time to search. I watched a 20/20 special on medical mysteries that ended with a girl with autism who was finally able to communicate by typing. This has helped a few kids already, but I wish everyone could find a way to express themselves. I'd love to work with another child to help them with autism, preferably not in a household with a secretly abusive/potentially murderous "father" this time : )
And if not that:
--> bartending
--> ESL instructor certification
--> Fulbright scholarship
--> Law school or grad school
--> Marry rich! : )
I think I'll achieve plenty, and even if it won't look good in an obituary, I think I'd rather just enjoy my life and know for myself that I used all my potential. I used to think that everyone's approval was necessary, but that was just because I used to always have it. Now that I am "disappointing" the same people I used to impress, I've realized that their opinions don't actually matter to me.
Excuse me, Professor, but I am not "taking a break." "Taking a break" is what rich kids do when they realize they aren't actually employable, and go backpacking in Europe on their parents' dime or take an internship that they have to pay for. I am working my a** off, going to school full-time and working (almost) full-time, and as soon as I graduate I plan to take on another job.
What part of this sounds like a "break" to you? Oh, because it's not as prestigious as the job you have? Ah, but see, I like my job.
Note to Dad: I haven't actually gotten any comments from kids my age - they actually understand how tough the economy is, because many recent graduates can't even get jobs at all! So they're never judging me. For some reason it's the adults who apparently "expected more" from me, as if raising someone's kids is not a worthy enough position.
I've been thinking a lot about the kinds of jobs I may want to get to fill up the extra hours of the week. Of course, I'm going to spend three months advertising and networking in an attempt to make some spending money from photography, and perhaps I could eventually make a living on it. I'm going to finish some of the writing that I have in the works, submit it to publishers, and see what happens. If both of those ventures fail, I will look for a job with either Habitat for Humanity or the university, because of those could lead to other opportunities. And if that doesn't work, I will consider starting an ABA therapy job again, since now I have the luxury of a semi-fixed schedule and the time to search. I watched a 20/20 special on medical mysteries that ended with a girl with autism who was finally able to communicate by typing. This has helped a few kids already, but I wish everyone could find a way to express themselves. I'd love to work with another child to help them with autism, preferably not in a household with a secretly abusive/potentially murderous "father" this time : )
And if not that:
--> bartending
--> ESL instructor certification
--> Fulbright scholarship
--> Law school or grad school
--> Marry rich! : )
I think I'll achieve plenty, and even if it won't look good in an obituary, I think I'd rather just enjoy my life and know for myself that I used all my potential. I used to think that everyone's approval was necessary, but that was just because I used to always have it. Now that I am "disappointing" the same people I used to impress, I've realized that their opinions don't actually matter to me.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Jobs
Way too busy to post, but oh well, I'm just digging my hole of stress deeper!
I'm working as a nanny, and although it wasn't exactly my career goal, I am just happy to have a job! Most of my other recently-graduated friends have also had to settle for jobs they could have gotten in high school - but to be fair, now high schoolers can't hardly get employed at all!
At first I was bummed that I wouldn't be using my college degree right away, especially because many people have said that they are disappointed in me. I think that's ridiculous; if I'm not disappointed in myself, what right does anyone else have to be disappointed in me? I'm old enough now to be able to set my own standards, and not worry about living up to someone else's.
Once I got over being hurt by people's remarks, I realized that this terrible economy could be a blessing in disguise. For 1), I will be able to tell my kids that "I entered the job market during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression!" and of course I had to walk to work three miles, uphill both ways. And 2), instead of focusing on a prestigious job title that will impress people, I will be focusing on my hobbies, like photography and writing. Who knows, maybe I'll be famous for that!
I am so looking forward to graduation - not necessarily for the ceremony, but because my workload will be reduced about 50% by then! I miss my friends, I miss bumming around and watching TV or surfing the Internet, and I really miss spending hours taking photos!
I'm working as a nanny, and although it wasn't exactly my career goal, I am just happy to have a job! Most of my other recently-graduated friends have also had to settle for jobs they could have gotten in high school - but to be fair, now high schoolers can't hardly get employed at all!
At first I was bummed that I wouldn't be using my college degree right away, especially because many people have said that they are disappointed in me. I think that's ridiculous; if I'm not disappointed in myself, what right does anyone else have to be disappointed in me? I'm old enough now to be able to set my own standards, and not worry about living up to someone else's.
Once I got over being hurt by people's remarks, I realized that this terrible economy could be a blessing in disguise. For 1), I will be able to tell my kids that "I entered the job market during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression!" and of course I had to walk to work three miles, uphill both ways. And 2), instead of focusing on a prestigious job title that will impress people, I will be focusing on my hobbies, like photography and writing. Who knows, maybe I'll be famous for that!
I am so looking forward to graduation - not necessarily for the ceremony, but because my workload will be reduced about 50% by then! I miss my friends, I miss bumming around and watching TV or surfing the Internet, and I really miss spending hours taking photos!
Friday, June 19, 2009
A Message to the President
Dear President Obama,
When you first took office, you claimed that you couldn't work on civil rights because there are "more pressing issues" like the economy. After throwing billions of dollars at the economy, with obviously no effect, it seems like maybe you shouldn't be messing with it. Now, North Korea is threatening to bomb us, which you'd think would also be a "more pressing issue." But all you can say is that you're "deeply concerned" and "thinking about" what to do. WE MIGHT GET BOMBED and you are still yammering on about unemployment statistics. With all due respect, Mr. President, what the hell. I wish Hillary Clinton had won the election.
Sincerely,
me
When you first took office, you claimed that you couldn't work on civil rights because there are "more pressing issues" like the economy. After throwing billions of dollars at the economy, with obviously no effect, it seems like maybe you shouldn't be messing with it. Now, North Korea is threatening to bomb us, which you'd think would also be a "more pressing issue." But all you can say is that you're "deeply concerned" and "thinking about" what to do. WE MIGHT GET BOMBED and you are still yammering on about unemployment statistics. With all due respect, Mr. President, what the hell. I wish Hillary Clinton had won the election.
Sincerely,
me
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Dear U.S. Government
Dear U.S. Government,
Quit harassing me. I do not recall electing you Moral Arbiter of the World, so what gives you the right to say how I live my life (provided it's not harming anyone else)?
Here's the deal. I will happily give you a small portion of my paycheck each month, in return for you building my roads, taking care of those who can't care for themselves, and making sure I am not killed. Other than that, I don't need your help. I don't need you to help me deal with credit card companies, or run the banks, or tell me who is allowed to enter into legal partnerships with each other. None of these things are your business!
Love,
me
P.S. Sorry to those of you who do not like reading angry rants. I am trying really hard to stop being angry about injustices, but I just can't quit!
Quit harassing me. I do not recall electing you Moral Arbiter of the World, so what gives you the right to say how I live my life (provided it's not harming anyone else)?
Here's the deal. I will happily give you a small portion of my paycheck each month, in return for you building my roads, taking care of those who can't care for themselves, and making sure I am not killed. Other than that, I don't need your help. I don't need you to help me deal with credit card companies, or run the banks, or tell me who is allowed to enter into legal partnerships with each other. None of these things are your business!
Love,
me
P.S. Sorry to those of you who do not like reading angry rants. I am trying really hard to stop being angry about injustices, but I just can't quit!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
My First Time-Lapse Video
So exciting! I can't wait to try more of these.
Hint to anyone else wishing to try this: I had to put sunglasses on my webcam, because the sun was too bright and the clouds were completely overexposed. Literally, I propped up a pair of sunglasses on a matchbox and placed my webcam behind the eyepiece. The little blur in the bottom right-hand corner is the matchbox - oops! But I'm still practicing.
Hint to anyone else wishing to try this: I had to put sunglasses on my webcam, because the sun was too bright and the clouds were completely overexposed. Literally, I propped up a pair of sunglasses on a matchbox and placed my webcam behind the eyepiece. The little blur in the bottom right-hand corner is the matchbox - oops! But I'm still practicing.
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