My Trip To Japan

I recently went on a trip with my family to Japan this winter break, and I must say Japan never fails to impress me. I usually travel to Japan every year to go skiing in Niseko but I also get to visit Tokyo. Tokyo is a whole different place, the characters and the culture amazes me every time. While I was there I met up with my friend from college who lives in Tokyo, so it was really nice experiencing it from a "local". I also really enjoyed going around Tokyo taking thousands of photos everywhere. The ones above are only a few. Not sure if I'll be back next year but it definitely has to be one of my favorite countries.

 - EK

College is Weird

Yes College is kind of weird. But not in a bad way. 

I feel like I've waited for college my whole life. Researching since the age of 15 and dreaming about going to the "ideal school". Now I'm here sitting in my dorm room on my lifted bed at 12:46am writing on my blog.

The concept of "university", having the freedom and a whole new fresh start was something I've always looked forward too. Living in a whole new city and making new memories with different people. However, sometimes I forget that not everything is handed to me on a golden plate, especially how I feel in a new environment. I keep reminding myself that it is going to take me at least 8 months to feel comfortable or like a new environment and I think that is a great tactic (well for me, this is just my own opinions).

Let me put a picture in your head on how I imagined college to be like.

Clueless me walking through the hallways of my freshmen dorm built a little like a prison cell where were supposed to "cherish" and "grow" I start to move in all my stuff and of course I decide to leave my door open. I say hi to people walking past me and they introduce themselves and I do the same. During welcome week I would meet a range of amazing people and really click with a lot of them. I would then magically be part of a friend group with a good ratio of guys and girls. I then meet more of my friends through my lectures and other random places and I love it right away.

Sorry to break it to you but it isn't exactly like that, but it doesn't mean it's better than what I have actually experienced.

You simply can not predict the future a lot of the time. I believe everything happens for a reason. During move in and the first week I probably really became friends with about 4 people, you may be thinking wow you're so unsocial I thought you're supposed to meet so many people in the first week. One part of that is true and one of that is not. Yes, I met A LOT of people my first week but it doesn't mean we clicked or became friends. It takes more than just a "hey what's your name" to become friends with someone. However I met one of my closest friends here so far on the first week and I'm really happy about that. I expected everything to happen too quickly. I thought that making friends in classes would be easy but I was wrong and it is actually harder to make friends in classes because you go in, listen to the professor and then leave. Fortunately from the 2 months I have been here I have developed some friendships with some people in my classes and school work is getting better and more copable (that is not a word but you know what I mean). After 2 months I feel like I've found great friends that I can trust even though I'm still getting to know all of them.

Just remember that time heals and solves everything. You're hungry but you don't want to eat? wait it out. You're in a rut in college and want to transfer? Give it a year. I usually don't tell people to listen to my advice but from my own experiences time really helps.

If you have gotten this far, wow well done if I saw this on the internet I for sure would not read something this long written by a college freshmen.

Best,

Emma 

A New Chapter

It's been a while. I'm not very good at blogging but I mean who says I have to post all the time, but I should post more often. Well stating from the title my life is about to change quite a bit. I've graduated from High school, did the IB (and boy were those 2 years the roughest 2 years of my life), Turning 18 in a month and I'm going to be living and studying in the US in 3 months. Living in the US is going to be very different, I've lived in an asian country my whole life, even though I grew up in a western society I'm comfortable living in an asian environment. However things have to change and I'm excited, excited about the future (sorry if this is getting cheesy).

I will be attending Northeastern University and I'm going to be in the Business school. Even though I'm registered as a marketing major, I'm not entirely sure on what I want to do in the future or whether I want to still do marketing or not. I have been dreaming about living in Boston for a very long time and it is finally happening, and of course I was ecstatic when I first found out. I couldn't stop thinking about it at first, but now I feel like I've thought about it so much it is now a norm and I am no longer as "excited" as I was a few months ago. I mean don't get me wrong I am still very grateful and very excited to go to Northeastern, but right now after graduation and all the celebrations, my life has been quite dull. I feel like my emotions have been dulled (is that a word), all I do now is sleep, eat, watch tv shows, gym a little and maybe see the occasional friend. This is definitely a first world problem but I feel so unconnected being in Bangkok. Even though I've lived here for almost 15 years I feel different. My close family is back in Singapore where my room, belongings and my close friends are, who I really miss. 

After writing dozens of college essays I've noticed that they wanted to know where "home" is to me. home to me is not where my blood is or even where I'm "from" home is where I'm comfortable and happy. And I don't know whether I am those things back here in Bangkok. I'm here for 3 weeks which I mean is not torture but it's 3 weeks that I'm not sure what I'm going to do and what I'm going to spend my time doing.

I'm probably writing all of this for myself, but by any chance anyone is reading this, I hope you feel comfortable where you are. Have a great summer 

- Emma K.

x

Reasons Why Weight Loss is Dificult

Weight loss is usually a topic that is either talked a lot about or not at all. It is a sensitive topic. Myself included is in that population where we are struggling to get through the "weight loss journey". I thought I would tell you my story and what I have gone through in terms of body image, hope this can help someone or let them see what I see.

When I was younger I was a very small kid. However I love food A LOT and I'm probably underestimating how much I loved (still do) food. So imagine a small child who kept eating and eating until a point where her stomach had to expand because there was no more space. Those years were kind of a blur to me, but I remember getting chubbier as the years went by. Being chubby in elementary school did not make my life easier, kids would tell me I'm fat and ugly, and I would always be the one left out. But I feel like we all have to go through that stage to where we are now. My elementary school days were difficult, but it was a journey that I would not change.

Then comes middle school, this was a time where my growth spurt started to develop a lot faster than I expected. At the age of 11 I grew so much I stretched my whole body, I got thinner. But if I were to think back to what I thought about myself, I was not happy with my body, I thought I was fat. I would wear long sleeves in the swimming pool just because I was insecure about my body. Looking back now, I should have never been so worried. At that time my parents also forced me to join the swimming team and that was one of the reasons why I got so skinny. When I looked at old pictures I was surprised by how skinny I was, but never once when I was at that stage happy with my body. I was still very insecure about every inch of it. After 2 years in the swimming team I decided to quit because I hated swimming. One tip, working out should be a least a little bit enjoyable, if it is torture to you then even if you keep trying it won't last long because you would rather do something you love.

As years past after I quit swimming, it was no surprise I gained weight. I gradually gained it every year. I have tried the low carb diet, nutrition plans and different alternatives and somehow it never stuck. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming the diets but it was me. I only have will power to a certain extent. A lot of what I have been focusing on lately is whether I am happy or not, and the truth is I'm not sure. I see myself and I know that I'm not happy with my body. And of course there are days where I try to be healthy but there are days that are not so healthy. The same goes with diets, I recently watched a Blogilates video about her dieting experience and how it harmed her than better her. So my big point about this is motivation and will power is hard to get and if you have a lot of that then go be the person you want to be. Just know thats it's ok to be in that stage, I'm still in that stage of not knowing what to eat and what to think about myself. Keep trying and I'm sure you'll get there.

-EK

Travel Diary #1: 3 Days in Paris

I was actually in Paris in July during the summer, and wanted to share some photos, and a video I made for my youtube channel. I remember going to Paris when I was 7, and I was so happy to be back 10 years later. Even though Paris is beautiful and it is a place I will never forget, going to paris in the summer is hectic, it's peak season. So advice to future me and to all of you, if you don't like big crowds avoid paris in the summer time, but if it's up your ally then go for it. Either way Paris is still are marvellous place. Till next time Paris.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the Paris attacks. 

I apologize for my obnoxious tourist photo by the louvre, did it for the instagram.

-EK

How to Deal with College Rejection 101

Rejection can be hard no matter how little or big it is, and US university early outcomes are in season. It is also common to have a dream school and it can't be easy to see a rejection from that school because it may feel like they think you're not "good enough". I am writing this because I just went through this and it wasn't easy but it gets better, trust me. So here are some of my tips that have somewhat worked for me.

1. You don't have to be okay right away.

If it is a university you have been dreaming of going to your whole life, it's not going to be easy on you so it's ok to be sad, let yourself be sad, because it's going to help in the long run. Also I have read somewhere to treat this like a breakup, it will take time for you to "get over it".

2. Talk to someone

For me this helped a lot, it gave me another perspective that made me feel better about the situation. So whoever you trust and feel comfortable with, just talk to them and I'm sure they will help you feel better.

3. Hangout with friends or family

Having company can really help, go hang out with your friends can help you forget about it a bit.

4. Go Shopping

If you enjoy shopping then this is probably one of my top tips, because from my own experience I did this the day after I got the rejection and helped tremendously!

5. Go Exercise

I know you probably did not want to hear this but yes, exercise is going to help you feel better, it releases endorphins which are chemicals that make you feel happier, plus you get a workout out of it.

6. Know that it wasn't meant to be

Yes I know this is may be cliché but personally I believe everything happens for a reason.

7. You will end up in a place that you will love

Just like what I said before you will end up where you were meant to be.

So those are just some of my tips if you're going through this, and just know that if you're having a hard time dealing this, just know that everything eventually will get better.

- EK 

5 Songs in October

You're probably thinking "but its november" well starting from today every month I will be posting 5 songs I've been loving for each month that passes. Before I start with the list, I'll have to explain to you my music taste. It varies a lot I could be loving a indie pop song one day and the next I'll be jamming out to kanye west. So don't be surprised if the list is looking kind off strange. Also, these are not in order.

1. Endlessly feat. Anna Yvette - Dabin

If I had to describe this song I would say the genre would be deep house + dubstep, which is personally one of my favorite genres. Theres this one part of the song where it drops, and it really ties everything together. If you like Flume then I think you would like this. 

2. Elevate - St. Lucia

This song just brightens my day every time I listen to it. If you're feeling sad then I assure you that this song will make things better. I would describe this as indie pop, and reminds me of the knocks. 

3. Style - Taylor Swift

I cannot begin to explain how amazing 1989 is! the whole album is absolute perfection. However, if I had to chose one song it would definitely be style, theres a fun vibe to it, where you can dance a long to it with your friends. Taylor's transition to the pop world definitely proved herself well in this album. And also a record breaking sale record of over a million albums sold in only a week! 

4. From Eden - Hozier

When I first heard of Hozier's songs I was a bit skeptical, and I didn't know if I liked it or not. But this song definitely stood out and its my song in the album. I wasn't sure what genre it was so I googled it and it came out as indie rock/soul, which I think is quite a good description of his songs. Its a song you listen to when you're reading a book, or if you're a blogger its the perfect song to listen while blogging. 

5. Years Of War - Porter Robinson

Porter Robinson's songs really grew on me, at first I wasn't very fond of it but after awhile I really started to like it. I would describe the genre of the song as electronic/house, which is one of my favorite genres to listen to. Theres always such a happy vibe in his songs and its just makes you more energetic. If you need a good song to listen to while running, search up Porter Robinson and his songs well definitely keep you motivated. 

What songs did you love in the month of October?

- EK