Soledad

Soledad, originally uploaded by mzkaew.

I want to prove you wrong.

Jan 23rd 2011

worried about your future? here's your answer.

Emily Oster, an economist at University of Chicago.

This is actually what I want to do in the future, being able to apply the economic theories/approach to tackle of the problem of public health and using the epidemiological data.

Emily Oster flips our thinking on AIDS in Africa | Video on TED.com

Note: this was recorded in the year 2007. So data might be outdated.

-People with longer life expectancy would more likely change their behaviors (i.e. it's all about incentive!)

-AIDS as the opportunity cost of engaging in a sexual intercourse, whether it's a long-term relationship, or a one-night-stand.

Thank you 2010!

2010 was indeed an eventful year. Many things happened, both good and bad. I just want to recap what happened in 2010 in a series of pictures according to the seasons. I hope you all enjoy my story.

My 2010 started in Bangkok, Thailand where I just have a quiet night at home with my family. I'm not much of a person who would go out and party during NYE. It's just a little too much for me. Our family, however, had a little vacation to the mountain and the beach.

Kwae River. 

The room that Beckham stayed in. Wow.

Home for the holidays!

Purikura in Seattle, at the beginning of winter quarter!

Hi Bob.

Go Canadaa! Winter Olympic in Vancouver!

Pick's creation over the winter quarter!

Thanks Sean, for making sure that we go there!

Spring break in SF, where our friendships bloom! Best Spring break so far!

Yearly tulip visits!
This is when I started blogging! :) yay!

Thailand's UW Alumni event at UW Seattle!

The NERDY representation of our friendship!

Spring quarter, Spring parties. :)

Relay for life. One of the most painful nights at UW. It was pouring outside, and we were trying to sleep.  -_-!

Our dearest, graduating.

Bedlam Cafe, studying still dawn with Catherine, Kelsey and Sam!

This picture sums up my Spring Quarter. Ugh, 21 credits. never again.

The unfortunate event happened in Thailand during mid-May.

Ah, the typical summer. if you know what I mean. A little boost, a couple dancing queens, some real good time.

Internship at Phatra. This is what I do every single morning for two months!

Rayong, Thailand, another family vacation!

Christmas Alone with Crepe Cake and Lasagna!

As unfortunate and sad as it actually sounds.. spending Christmas Eve alone is not that bad. Or I am really good at fooling myself. But in reality, I have never really celebrate Christmas before. Our country/family is more the New-Year celebration type. But being in Seattle, where almost everybody celebrate Christmas is a little depressing.

Two friends bailed on me at the very last minute. It's not like they don't have a legit reason, but I can't help to be a little disappointed. It kinda pissed me off knowing that I could have been somewhere else, if I didn't have the plan with them and have them cancelled on me later in the day. I could have been at a friend's place for little Christmas gathering.

However, I did accomplished a couple of things on this Christmas Eve! I made my first cake EVER. Well, making them alone for the first time I mean. I made crepe cake, one of my favorite ever. EVER. I remember my friend bought my crepe cake for my birthday and I did the same for my grandpa's birthday! Uggh, what a summer. :)

Here it is..

The unconditional love, that comes with worries.

i think someone followed me on the way home tonight.

yes, it was indeed scary. i was really scared. well, i'm really scared.


I decided to buy some pepper spray, since something really creepy just happened to my roommate too. :(


and then I decided to tell my dad. despite the fact that i know he would get worried. Like really worried. (I personally think he has implanted my paranoia about this kind of thing in my head..) but then I feel relieved when I tell him. :( i just want to sense of security, especially from him.

so he told me to be careful. :(
I will, I love you dad.



I love my dad.

Is it really okay...?

these days I have been feeling.. not like myself today.

I feel like I'm losing the grips of everything that I have to take care. I feel like I've lost my ability to control my life.

Moreover, everyone keeps saying that everything is going to be alright. But is it really?

I hate it when I'm confused about my own life, and I keep postponing it. I kept thinking that I can do this or that since my fields of study is pretty broad. But can I really be that carefree?

Can I really simply just don't care about people in my life and just move on with all I've got?


Of course I can't be selfish. I would never do that... But sometimes it's just tiring. It really is.


See what I mean when I said that I'm losing the grip of my own life? I lost the ability to prioritize. I feel so vulnerable, but yet there's no one to lean on. Well, not currently with me right now anyway.


And I just want to say that I give up. But I haven't given up, and my heart has not given up on me. I know I can do it. But I just hate this confusion. I want to move on. I want to know.



I hope November aren't going to stay like this forever. I really hope not.

oops. HALLOWEEN GONE WRONG. or not!

I had a good time this weekend, the Halloween weekend. :) Well, technically, if i don't get a job here, this is my last halloween in Seattle, which my roommate doesn't permit me to talk about it. But oh well, we went out on Friday and Saturday nights. And it was a lot of fun.

There weren't that many impressive costumes out there this year though. I am sort of disappointed. I mean last week, when I was with Starlight Children's Trick or Treating night, there were so many kids in the most adorable costumes ever! :) But yah, adults and kids. Definitely different.