This is it. The very last blogspot post! My first post was on February 1, 2009...wooooow it's been a while. I am really happy though that I kept up with this blogspot because I'm sure I'll love to read these posts later (much like how I'm enjoying reading diary entries from my 4th grade self). I'm still going to blog but just on another blog...or a tumblr. It's sad to leave blogspot behind since it has served me so well but it's time to go with the flow. :D It's ironic how I began blogspot because of peer pressure (only the good kind of course!) and now I'm moving on to tumblr for the same reason.

My reason for moving on is mostly because I'm starting college soon...as in tomorrow. I want to start a new blog so that my college friends won't be able to creep through my 81 other posts and discover things about me they should discover by asking me. I want our friendships to be like an experience rather than a research project. I don't know if that really makes sense outside of my head but oh well. Anyways, it's time to move on! I will keep this blog public for all of you who care to read this in the future. I will simply replace the link on my facebook with the link to my tumblr because that's how most people found out about my blog anyways. Okay talk to you all later [:

Goodbye.

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5 more days until Penn! This also means 5 more days until the end of this blog and the beginning of my Tumblr. But I'll talk more about that later.

Because my summer is coming to an end pretty quickly, I have been trying to relive my childhood. College--and with it my 18th birthday on the 21st--will mark an entrance into adulthood. I'm trying to hold on to being a kid for as long as possible. I've been rereading my old diary entries lately, and it's pretty interesting to see my own growth. I have pretty consistent entries since 2004. Entries that detail my elementary days, my middle school drama, shocco, math team, friends, movies, moving, vacations, and crushes. As I relive these days, I've experienced an improvement in grammar and maturity. It seems like the only worries I had in 2004 were boy problems...and they weren't even THAT important. Haha this makes it seem like I have a lot of problems now which isn't the case either. In fact, I'm living a pretty stress-free life. I hope I don't end up losing these journals because it would be really fun to reread them later [: This also shows me that I should really blog! I'll be able to read this in the future and relive this period of my life.

Today I also said goodbye to Krispy Kreme. I never thought I would actually miss waking up at 5 and pretending to be cheerful just to sell doughnuts to cranky customers. However, I've realized that being there really shaped who I want to be. Despite the hundreds of customers we serve daily, there are several that stand out. I respect these strangers so much despite not knowing much about them. I would like to dedicate this entry to them so that one day I can reread this and remember who I want to be like at this particular moment.

1. There is one lady who comes in every week to get 2 doughnuts (one always sour cream). Despite buying very little, she always tips us even though she comes through drive thru and tipping through drive thru is unheard of. She is always cheerful and makes it such a pleasure for us to serve her. After talking to her one day, we found out that she's a nurse and absolutely loves her job. Today she came in today and talked to us about college. She even remembered that Cindy wanted to go into medicine from a previous conversation. It astounds me how she has a place for complete strangers who serve her doughnuts and remembers our conversations. Today, I told her it was our last day before going off to college and she gave us $20 as a going away present. She gave it so willingly and it was really inspirational how she can give away money without a second thought to strangers.

2. There is an Indian man who comes in every day during the week to get 4 dozens of doughnuts. He is an engineering professor down at Pitt and comes in every day to buy doughnuts for his classes. He always remembers to buy one single doughnut and never specifies which one and allows us to pick. I was curious one day and asked why he didn't choose which doughnut he wanted. He explained that the doughnut was for the receptionist and wasn't for himself. This man is extremely giving and selfless. I have so much respect for him. Apparently he's been coming here for years day in and day out buying doughnuts for his students. It's not cheap...even though we give him a discount he still pays $16 every day for them. Not only that but he always brings us food whenever he comes. Usually he brings fruits so we can have a healthy snack because he knows we don't like doughnuts. The fruits are always washed so we can eat them right out of the bag. One time, he brought us half a cheesecake (not so healthy but still delicious!). Every time he comes in, he talks to us about life and even though it is only for 5-10 minutes at a time. He is memorable. He also gave us money for college...

3. There is another lady who comes in twice a week. The first time I saw her, she asked me if I have worked in customer service before because apparently I was really bubbly haha. We talked and she left. The next time she came through drive thru and really made my day. She told me that she tells all of her friends to come to our Krispy Kreme because it was very friendly. She also calls me Ms. Smiley haha :] I found out that her son is actually getting his PhD in Physics at CMU and will be graduating soon. She asked me about college and I told her about my dreams. This is the first time I've shared my dreams with a stranger. We chatted and she told me she was going to come again to see me the next week. I'm sad I didn't get to see her this week because I called off on the day she usually came.

4. This next guy is Cindy's favorite customer because he's a truck driver. However, whenever he comes into the store his truck is always missing the tail. So it's essentially a man driving a truck head (something Cindy is fascinated with...don't know why). This man always orders 2 strawberry doughnuts and a medium hazelnut coffee. The total is somewhere around 4 dollars but he always tips a dollar. He's a truck driver making very little money...and somehow he tips every time he comes in.

Leaving Krispy Kreme was hard to do. After working for a year, I know the ins and outs of the store. I know how to serve customers and how to restock and what goes where. I know the customers and what they want. I'm just sad I won't see these customers again most likely. I can always visit the workers during my breaks but the customers...it's hard to catch them. I will miss the workers too...today Carol (she usually makes doughnuts on the days we work) and Derek (the manager) both gave us giftcards as a goodbye present. It was really thoughtful (especially Derek's hannah montana bag :p)...I know it takes a lot for them to give us these cards especially since they don't make that much to begin with. These people are truly inspirational and I really want to be as giving as they are when I'm older. Even now...I want to be like them. Hopefully I'll read this blogpost later and remember my goal.

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I've been trying to make the most of these last 2 weeks (2 weeks from today!) by visiting lots of people and experiencing new things. Yesterday Cindy and I decided to go down to Oakland to visit some people and had dinner with Andie. She told us some big news yesterday that left us pretty shocked and a bit sad. (Not being too detailed here because I'm not sure I'm allowed to say any more about it) Afterwards, she left with a friend and Cindy and I walked to Suzanna's apartment to hang out with her. It was definitely a lot of fun. I'm not very close to Suzanna since I've only met her maybe a month and a half ago but somehow we just clicked. Now it seems like we can talk about anything and it's really nice having a friend like her. We left at 10:30 because she had to go chalking with ACF for the meeting on Friday and we decided not to go along because it was getting late and I didn't want to be walking back to Pitt after midnight. Thus began our journey through Oakland in the darkness to my cousin's apartment. She's currently studying abroad right now and won't be home until this Sunday so we were able to stay in her apartment while she and her roommate were gone. It was definitely interesting since I don't quite remember how to get back to the apartment and there were very few people on the streets. Not to mention, Cindy was a little shaken up because she was scared. We eventually got back safely. The next challenge was opening the door. The door was fairly old and although the key fit and turned, the door wouldn't budge. It was actually pretty terrifying because the one thing I didn't want to do was call my parents since they called hours ago and I had told them we were already in the apartment (my parents are control freaks and would not approve of us going from Pitt to cmu past 9). I was actually contemplating spending the night in the hallway of the apartment at this point because we had been going at it for the past 20 minutes. At last it opened (apparently you have to turn it 3 times while twisting the handle to get in). We were pretty tired after all that and quickly fell asleep.

This morning we woke up and decided to try the crepe place we saw on our way back to the apartment last night. It was really good! (definitely harvard crepe quality) Afterwards we headed to the library because Cindy had never been in it before and I gave her a tour. I finally have the layout down! After that we went to go visit Rona who was down in Oakland waiting to volunteer at the UPMC there at 1. The adventures were pretty memorable so no need to discuss :p

One thing I've discovered lately is that I've been reconnecting with a lot of people from my past. The surprising thing is that although it should be awkward, it's not at all. Some of these people I haven't talked to in a year and even a year ago, we didn't talk that much. Perhaps several fluffy conversations. For example, tonight I talked to a guy I met at NHSI last year (camp I went to for 10 days). In the past, our conversations consisted of what we were going to do at camp and later, what tournaments we've gone to. Nothing too deep. However today in the time span of 2 hours, we discussed life, what he's been up to, and perhaps most strange, his current relationship problems. WHAT? All of this with a guy I've never had a deep conversation with before today and perhaps had 5 conversations with in the past.

I've probably had more intense and deep conversations with strangers or acquaintances lately than I've had with good friends. (with the exception of Rona whom I can always have deep conversations with) It's strange but somehow refreshing. I don't want to stop [:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCoaBN6iOu0

HAHAHA :D

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This weekend I've discovered that I'm stronger than I give myself credit for [: cool stuff. However I do believe I'm coming down with the cold so hopefully I'll be able to overcome that. Having a cold in the summer seems so contradictory :p

Today Rona and I chilled at the mall and basically embarrassed the entire Asian race. Today's adventures include:

running into Godiva to get chocolate samples while pretending to admire the new ice cream truffles when in reality we're waiting for the annoying salesman to step away from the stash. This happened within 5 minutes of eating chicken...lots and lots of it. We're fatties :p

discussing what we would do if we found out we were pregnant with a live chicken. people judged.

going into claire's and giggling obnoxiously over a hamburger lunch box and how we should bring rice to school in it

putting on pants that are way too tight, making fun of each other, and eating more chicken.

yup. we're pretty classy.

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The other day I was given the opportunity to share my dreams with a complete stranger. I don't know her name...just that she's from Peters township and her son is soon getting a PhD in Physics from CMU. I only talked to this stranger for no more than 5 minutes but in that time, she was able to make my day, my week with nothing more than words. I went on with the rest of my day with an inner happiness that is indescribable, ignoring rude customers. Of course that happiness was quickly brought down later in the night, but that's another topic for another time. But it simply fascinated me how she can brighten hours of my day with a short conversation. Then I began thinking. Why can't we all do it? It doesn't demand much...just several minutes of your day, sincerity, and willingness. That's all it takes. No money, no gifts, nothing that can be costly in any way (unless you consider those 5 minutes precious). So that's my challenge. Compliment a complete stranger [: Or if that's even too much--put on a smile next time you go into a store. Even that small of a gesture can be inspiring.

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I know I've probably used this song as a title before, but it's so perfect I have to use it again. [: Yesterday, I drove to Moon to see April, who I haven't seen for 2 years? On our way there, we passed by what can be accurately described as a picture perfect place. My parents didn't want me to drive on 79 so instead they found some back roads that passed through Sewickley Heights. For those of you who don't know about Sewickley, it has some of the biggest estates I have ever seen. However, it also has so many beautiful farms dotted with trees, barns, and horses. To make it even better, we drove past during the beginning of sunset which casted a beautiful orange hue on the landscape. The road we traveled down was only a little better than a dirt path and had no lane markings. We decided to stop to take some pictures










Sewickley house being built :p the workers stared at us while we took pictures in our car.

Being there, even for no more than 5 minutes, has inspired me to travel. I want to find more places like this one! I want to explore places that aren't known to tourists so I can go, bring a book, and have a picnic in the field. [: Maybe this is another dream. It is pictures like these that inspired me at a young age to tell my parents that I wanted to be a farmer :p Of course that didn't go over too well and they laughed at me. Oh well, I didn't think it through then anyways since I don't like planting things. I only wanted to enjoy the view. Maybe I'll just explore for now [:

Visiting April also made me realize how much I miss our Chinese school group [: You girls are the best. You made my sunday afternoons interesting, and now we're all grown up. I saw Winona earlier this summer, and she's still the dork she is [: April is still super sweet. I'm going to school next year with Kathryn. And Chelsea is pursuing her dreams of photography. I will never forget them.

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My name is Connie
I'm currently a Senior
This is a piece of my life. [:

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