Well, Life in Boxes readers, it's been fun.
I, Yuri Kim, will no longer be an editor for Life in Boxes effective November 14th. I am leaving because I recently joined the Americorps and I'll be moving out to Seattle for a year to work for the United Way of King County. It's such a big change that my life will be a bit too hectic for me to regularly post on the blog. So because of that, I'll be bowing out for the time being.
To give you a little more detail....
A few months ago, I found myself in a bit of a rut. I had been looking for a full-time job, but everywhere I wanted to work, I wasn't hired, and everything that I was hired for, I had no real interest in. After some soul searching, I realized that I was at a juncture in my life, post-college and pre-mortgage, where I could try something different. To that end, I joined the Americorps. I've always had a strong interest in public service and I saw the Americorps as an opportunity to do something I was interested in and at the same time go somewhere I'd never been. So when I got offered to work for United Way in Seattle, I took the chance.
Even though I'm leaving, I feel like I'm embodying the concept of Life in Boxes more now than ever. In less than a month's time, I need to once again put everything I own in as few boxes as possible and move to somewhere I've never been to before. And even though I roughly have a year of my life planned out, the details are very murky and anything past December of 2009 is still a mystery to me.
It's going to be different. I'm sure my year will be exciting, nerve-wrecking, sad, and enjoyable all at the same time. I think the most important thing is that I will be making a drastic change for the better. I'll be moving, living on my own and doing something I have a passion for.
Hopefully, I'll be able to make some time to keep you all updated on the trails and tribulations that comes with living below the poverty level in a strange new city. But for now, it's goodbye.
PS.
With my decision to leave, I've obviously shaken this blog up, so some changes are coming to Life in Boxes.
As you may have noticed, our "What are you doing this weekend?" posts are no more. The work started getting tedious and we feel like we can better utilize Fridays.
Also, our weekly features are going to change to monthly features. As editors, we found ourselves sort of forcing out features instead of becoming inspired to write them. Now, we'll have time to think carefully about what we want to write and give you something nice and meaty to chew on.
With the loss of one editor (me :x), there will be a slight drop in posts, but it should still be more than enough for you voracious readers!
Life in Boxes will still be around, sans me, and it'll probably be better than ever. Keep reading, I know I will!
Monday, November 3, 2008
[Feature] Leaving on a Jet Plane
Monday, October 27, 2008
[Feature] Too Old for Halloween?
Halloween has always been a fun, festive time of the year for as long as I could remember. Dressing up in costume, having adults willingly give you candy .. life did not get any better than that, for a kid.
But is Halloween really just for kids? Even in my group of friends, only a few of us are excited about Halloween, and even from that few, only 2-3 of us are making moves to get costumes and actually make some plans for the night.
So what gives? Why is it that Halloween no longer ignites that excitement and anticipation? Most likely because we're just "too old," right?
Talking to a friend the other night, we came upon the conversation about parents who do not allow their kids out to go trick-or-treating. We've all heard the myths - needles or razor blades in apples (ouch!), kidnappers waiting for kids to willingly walk up their steps, etc., so it's no wonder that today, rather than going out trick-or-treating, parents opt for Halloween parties at a known family's house or community-setting. But family-oriented Halloween nights call for adults to dress up in costume, too, and shoot, you would make a pretty good pirate, right?
But wait, we're not all at the age to be going to family Halloween parties. And trick-or-treating is a little too kiddie for us .. but that doesn't necessarily mean that Halloween has to be another Friday night. In recent years, despite it being a weekday or weekend night, Halloween has evolved from being just a kid's holiday, into a Mardi Gras-esque holiday for adults. Best example: The Village Halloween Parade in New York City. Definitely not a place for the youngsters, and a place for adults to strut their creative costumes. From skanky to classy, or funny to scary, the Village Halloween Parade has got it all, and you don't even have to embrace your inner child to enjoy it.
Other Halloween options include going to a Halloween-themed club, dressed in costumes and mingling with those who are old enough to enjoy Halloween with a drink.
Personally, I'll opt out of partying the night away, and might spend an hour or two trick-or-treating while I still look young enough to get carded.
Monday, October 20, 2008
[Feature] Weekend in Montreal
This weekend, I took a trip up to Montreal with my friend Stella (who I went on my Paris trip with earlier this year) and her fiancee Adam. Anyone who has talked to me since my Paris trip knows that I am in love with the City of Lights, and want to go back as soon as I can. Now, while Montreal is NO Paris and should not be confused for it, the facts that they have great architecture and everyone speaks French were good enough reasons for me to jump on this opportunity. We were only there for a 2 days, but you can see and get a lot done in a short time. Be sure to pack your GPS, walking shoes, and passport!
Quick Facts:
* Montreal is the largest city in the Canadian providence of Quebec.
* Official language is French, and it is the largest French-speaking city in North America, the second largest French speaking city after Paris.
* From NY, Montreal is 1 hour by plane, 7 hours by car.
See:
Old Montreal
The historic part of Montreal that is located downtown feels distinctively European. Great and looming facades of old buildings and cobbled local streets give it that Parisian feel. The City Hall is a beautiful building, and so is the Notre Dame Basilica (pictured on left), which reminded me of Paris's Sacre Coeur. Apparently there is a light and sound show, but we didn't see that, just the spectacular outside.
For us, the main attraction was Rue Saint-Paul, a cobblestone lined street that is probably the heart of Old Montreal. Lamp-lit buildings, tiny boutiques and souvenir shops, and restaurants line this street. It is decidedly very romantic (sorry I was the third wheel, Stella and Adam!) especially at night. The street is also the home of Bonsecours Market, which is a 2-story domed public market. It's almost like an artists' co-op, where jewelry makers, furniture designers, clothing and accessories designers, and other artists show and sell their art.
Do:
Montreal on Wheels 
Ok so this was my favorite and least favorite part of the trip. One of my 30 things to do before 30 was to learn how to ride a bike. I kinda accomplished that last Saturday, where I learned and rode around for 10 minutes before I had to call it a day. Well, exactly a week later, this past Saturday, we ended up renting bikes and biking around half of Montreal. Um, scary, considering I still am a newbie and am still scared of riding! Montreal on Wheels rents out bikes and rollerblades at $9/hr, and there are bike paths along the St. Lawrence River, which is what we did. We biked along the river past Habitat 67, which is a series of housing that looks like piles of blocks on top of each other (picture on right). Very experimental, very cool, very modern.
On our bikes, we ended up all the way on the other side of our starting point at the Biosphere, which was first built as the American Pavilion for Expo 67. It's a geodesic dome that is an amazing sight to see, and now houses a hydrology museum whose interactive kids section was the most fun for all of us. So all in all, from the bike rental place to the Biosphere and back was probably 3 miles. I DID IT! Minus my blisters, my butt hurting from the seat (TMI, I know), and my weird penchant for biking into oncoming bikers (I'm going to work on that) this riding excursion defined my Montreal experience for me.
Eat: 
Definitely above all else, try the Montreal bagels. My friend Howard told me to do this, and also requested that I bring some back for him. They're less doughy than New York ones, but still really good. We went to Fairmount Bagel, which apparently is one of the best places to get an authentic Montreal bagel, and has been in business since 1919. We managed to beat the morning rush, but right after we grabbed ours the line was out the door.
Fairmount Bagel is also near Boulevard Saint-Laurent, also known as the hipster area. We visited on Sunday so a lot of the stores were either closed or opened late, but there was definitely a hip vibe among the people out and about as well as in the storefronts. Lots of unique boutiques and furniture stores, worth a walk around while munching on your bagel.
So, that's it. Remember, Montreal does not equal Paris, but for the road trip and the fact that you're that much closer to a European country without ever having to leave the North American continent makes the trip worth it. It's totally do-able in a weekend, so grab people you like, a gas-efficient car with a reliable GPS (we relied on ours THE ENTIRE TIME), and go! I think summer is the hot season for tourists, but I loved the drive up with the leaves changing color, and Montreal is also beautiful this time of the year.
Monday, October 6, 2008
[Feature] Why Buying Generic is Awesome (Spoiler: It Saves You Money)
Uhm, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but the economic sky is falling.
In times where every penny needs to be spent carefully, it seems fitting to talk about the pros and cons of buying generic goods.
There is a very powerful stigma around buying generic. You can mostly blame genius marketers and their ability to sell you their brand instead of the contents itself.
While some claims of generic goods not being as good as brand names are true, many more are completely unfounded. A lot of times, the generics are literally the same product packaged differently and sold for a few bucks cheaper.
Buying generic can usually save you a lot of money on your grocery bills without suffering any quality. So what should you go generic for and what should you avoid? Let me tell you how I roll....
Things I Buy Generic:
Over-The-Counter Drugs
I used to work at a drug store, so I have first-hand experience with the awesomeness that is generic medicine.
Things like Tylenol, Robitussin, and Claritin are all brands of medical ingredients. Usually, the drug companies that originally created these products hold exclusive patent rights to these formulas for around 7-12 years. Once that time is up, other companies can make generic versions with the exact same formulas! What's more, they sell the same active ingredients for a lot cheaper.
So next time you're sick, save yourself money and buy that Target Tussin instead of Robitussin.
Milk
Honestly, I didn't even know that milk had brands. Really. I just look for the cheapest milk and then dig to the back for the one with the best expiration date. Milk has always tasted like milk to me, whether it was the bottle with the flying cow or not.
One thing that I've always wanted to try though, is the milk in the glass bottles. Those just look like they would taste better (even though that's probably not true at all).
Batteries
While it's much better to invest in rechargeable batteries, if we're talking generic batteries vs. Duracell, it's generics for the win. Some argue that the charges don't hold as long or that they're more dangerous. First, even if the individual battery charge is weaker, chances are that cumulatively, the generic pack has more energy than the brand. Secondly, we have government agencies to make sure things like batteries are made safely and properly.
Especially when it comes to low-maintenance items (remotes, clocks, etc), generics batteries save you a butt-load of money in the long run.
Disposable Paper
By disposable paper, I mean any paper product that you throw out: paper towels, paper plates, toilet paper, etc.
I used to be a type of person who would not buy no-name toilet paper, but then I went to a friend's house and told them their toilet paper was really nice (TMI? -___-), to which they replied that it was Kirkland brand toilet paper. I was surprised and now will buy the oxymoronic high-end generic toilet paper. Because really, you end up throwing all of this out anyway. So why pay more?
The Generics Rule of Thumb
I'm not saying that everything generic is better and buying brand name is always a waste of money. Generally, Buying generic only works when the product has a simple, imitateable formula, or when they are identical to their brand name competitors.
That's why buying generic soda doesn't work. Coke keeps their formula secret for a reason. America's Choice just creates their own drink by attempting to deduce how Coke is made. It's not the same and that is evident in the taste.
The best way to figure out what you should buy generics or not is to compare two products side-by-side. Are they the exact same ingredients (generic drugs)? It is something that is not very difficult to mess up (milking a cow)? Will it even matter if the quality is a little worse (paper products)? If you can say yes to any of those, you're probably better off saving the extra money and going generic.
Of course, if you don't agree, tell me what you do/don't go generic for in the comments section!
Monday, September 29, 2008
[Feature] Fall Activities in NJ/NY
Autumn, Fall, whatever you call it, it's my most favorite season of the year. Sure, it might have to do with the fact that I was born and raised in the Garden State, but nothing is more awesome than seeing the beautiful Fall foliage, with all of its vivid colours of red, orange, yellow, and brown.
Besides nestling in a nice comfy chair, wearing pj's and your favorite college hoodie, and reading your favorite book whilst sipping on some hot chocolate, there are vast Fall activities that make the season feel especially awesome.
So get out your jackets and accessorize with that pretty scarf that you just bought - it's time for some Fall fun!
Six Flags: Fright Fest
Sure, you might say that you're too old for roller coasters (or you're afraid of heights?), or too old for the park in general (too many youths running around, I know that feeling) .. but Six Flags is pretty much at its best during Fright Fest. It might be the inner child in me who LOVES Halloween and being secretly intrigued by all things deemed "spooky," but the overall atmosphere of Six Flags during Fright Fest is pretty darn fun. From their red color-dyed fountain, to the random costumed employees (the dude with the chainsaw usually gets REALLY into it) .. it's fun to just go with a group of friends and walk around and see the different, Halloween-themed booths and attractions at "the Northeast's Biggest Halloween Party."
Apple Picking in NJ/NY
For as long as I can remember, Fall always meant apple-picking with the Park family. I remember long car rides, then reaching a fairly agricultural area in Jersey, armed with ladders, barrels, and those weird tools to help you reach apples all the way at the top of the tree. It felt a little bit like child labor, especially because the grownups were encouraging my cousins, siblings, and me to fill as many bags as apples as possible. Our reward? Apples, apple cider, and picking out our very own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.
Now, I find myself having that urge to go load up to go drag some people out for a scenic drive to the countryside, to go pick us some apples! (Also, yay for baking apple pies with them!)
Drive-In Movie Theater
This is one event that I have been dying to do. I've always loved the idea of drive-in theaters, and was very disheartened to find the old drive-in theater on 303 to be replaced by an agricultural depot (why, oh why, would you still keep up the old sign for the drive-in theater, though??).
Anyway, drive-in theaters are awesome, especially because they're pretty much dying out in our neck of the woods. The closest theater I can find is in Warwick, which is pretty much an hour drive away; but nonetheless, I definitely plan to see a double feature at a drive-in theater!
Go OUT
As mentioned earlier, Fall is all about enjoying the foliage and general splendor of the crisp weather before it gets too cold. And the basic theme behind all of the Fall activities mentioned is to just go out! Go on a weekend road trip with friends to upstate NY, Canada - whatever floats your boat. Go hiking along the trails in Bear Mountain, or just go through a drive to visit the more agricultural aspect of New Jersey. Flea markets are also pretty cool to hit up (I got my old, 1950's typewriter down at Englishtown, NJ for $25!), and you also see a lot of other cute, little roadside stores along the way, too!
So go out, go for a drive, pick some apples, be a kid again with Halloween-festivities .. just go and enjoy the weather!
Monday, September 22, 2008
[Feature] It's time for a little self-control
Back in June, Steve Jobs made my dream come true by announcing the new iPhone 3G, at a mere $199 per pop. That was like getting an iPod cheap, except it would be a smart, nay genius, phone that would do SO MUCH MORE than just being a plain old iPod. While I had deemed the $500+ price tag for the first iPhone a way unnecessary expense for my modest budget, the announcement of this cheaper-and-better model made my heart flutter with hope. Come July, I would finally be getting one. I had grandiose plans of what I'd do with my phone- Facebook/Urbanspoon/Twitteriffic apps, check. Personalized ringtones ripped from my iTunes collection, check. Unlimited text messaging?? I was so prepared to never talk to anyone other than through text messages again.
Except... It turns out that when you're a current AT&T customer in the middle of a 2-year contract, there are a lot of fine print to sort through in your quest for an iPhone. The kicker for me being that I get to pay $200 extra dollars for the phone of my dreams, which is kind of an ironic and cruel punishment for being a loyal, pre-existing AT&T customer. Thanks, guys, I'm so glad I stuck with you all these years!
I cried about this a little. Well, not literally, but enough to annoy the people in my life with all my 'BUT I WANT AN IPHONE NOW' talk/whine. To prevent myself from giving in and getting one, I brought in the big guns- mainly instituting a slap bet with Julia, in which she was allowed to slap me if I broke down and got one. And for all of you who are rolling your eyes and being like 'it's not that great, there are better things to covet,' stop right there, I've already stopped listening to you.
The thing is, I can totally go get one right now, there's nothing holding me back (except the wrath of Julia's palm on my cheek). But I'm holding out, until at least my birthday in December (best.birthday present to myself.ever), OR if I'm really good, February '09, when I'm eligible for a phone upgrade. It seems so torturous, since I want it so much and can technically afford to go get one. However, here is why I'm holding out: self-restraint. I'm not very good at this. Say I've already had a ginormous breakfast of the Michael Phelps diet proportions. Dangle a biscuit in front of me, and I'm a goner. Say I make a (futile) no-shopping-this-week pact with myself. I'm bored at lunch, so I stop by J.Crew because looking never harmed anyone, and I leave the store with a shopping bag in hand. See where I'm going with this? I tell myself I'm NOT going to do things, and then I weasel my way out of it with irrational rationalizations.
Well not this time! If there's anything my desire for an iPhone taught me, it's that sometimes, my love for materialistic possessions outweigh my power of self-control and will. There was a time period when it seemed like EVERYONE I KNOW (and their moms) were getting an iPhone, and I was dreaming of one constantly. Obsessive? Yeah. Here we are weeks later, and I still REALLY REALLY want one, but I no longer dream about it constantly. You know, just at night when I close my eyes.
So from here on out, I am instituting my version of Lent, called JENt. (I know it's corny, ok??) I am practicing an intense 73ish-or-possibly-more days of self-restraint. The time will be used to think about my upcoming purchase, whether I really want it (the answer is YES), to save up money, give Apple time to come out with a better/cheaper one in time for the holidays, so forth. I think it's good to take a step back from the things you think you want and can't live without, and have a period of reflection, which is basically what real Lent is about. Also, the period of waiting will make the iPhone purchase that much sweeter. Cue heavens-opening-up music.
Now, I'm going to be annoying here and ask you to also think about giving up something with me. It's SO much more fun to have company when doing something, yeah? Also, misery loves company...what? I didn't say that..
But seriously. While I hold off on buying the iPhone until December/later, why don't you try putting a hold on something you're kinda sorta obsessed with, or partake in an act that will shake things up a bit in your life? My friend Ashley planted this seed in my head, and she's offered to give up handbag shopping during that period. If you know us girls at all, that is a big deal. My friend Leslie is giving up bacon. Yes, I don't know if I can go that long without bacon either. Fellow blogger Jorge is giving up eating pizza; it's his favorite food. I was touched by the support! Your period of Jent doesn't have to be quite so long- 73 days is practically the double of 40 days of normal Lent. But I think sometimes we all need to practice a period of self-discipline, which is why I'm advocating this.
It's going to be hard. I gave up coffee this past Lent and it wasn't easy. But I think you'll start to realize that maybe the things you think you absolutely need in your life, aren't so needed. And at the end of it all, you can be proud that you stuck to what you set out to achieve and climbed your Mt. Everest, whatever it may have been. So... Take my challenge. We're all in this together, and I promise it'll be rewarding.
Oh, and in the meantime, if you have an iPhone, try not to flaunt it in front of me TOO much. While I am SO happy! for you, I'd much rather be the one doing the flaunting. Hey, at least I'm being honest.
Monday, September 8, 2008
[Feature] Lessons I Learned in August
For me, last August was the most hectic months I've had in a long time. I went through a lot of pain, physically and financially. But in the end, it seems like it worked out for the better and I learned a few important lessons along the way. It all started with a job interview... [cue Wayne World-style flashback fingers]
Lesson One: Don't Wear Old Contact Lenses
I wanted to make sure I looked as presentable as possible for my interview, so I wore my contacts.
The thing is, I hadn't worn my contacts... in a long time. Like, so long I'm too embarrassed to say how long it actually was. But it was in the months range.
I had done similar things before, so I thought nothing of it. I just had clean the lenses as thoroughly as possible and slap them on. I'll be fine, right?
Wrong. WRONG.
I was fine for the interview and only had a little irritaiton. But by the end of the day, my one eye was bothering me so much, I had to take my contacts out. Normally, taking off my contacts would stop the pain, but this time it didn't. My eye became so scratchy, painful, and red that I couldn't even keep it open.
Apparently, I had developed something called a Corneal Ulcer, which in layman's terms means, ow my eye hurts a lot for a couple of days. Basically, the dirty contact lens I wore cut my cornea and filled it with dirty bacteria which started eating my eyeball. Corneal Ulcers can lead to blindness, which isn't as fun as Korean drama parodies make it out to be. Luckily, I opted to go to the emergency room pretty quickly, which made it something much easier to deal with.
So lesson #1: Don't wear dirty contacts. They rape your eyeballs. Older contacts makes you 10 times more likely to develop a corneal ulcer than new contacts.
It's cheaper to constantly buy new contacts then risk wearing old ones and paying for a hospital bill. Which leads me to my second lesson learned....
Lesson Two: Hospitals are Expensive.
Okay, I know this isn't a revolutionary discovery, but it's always worth reiterating: doctors drain your wallet. Especially if you're uninsured :(
After going to the ER, I had to make two visits to an opthamologist to make sure my eyes were healing up properly. During those two visits, I got about 10 minutes of face time with my doctor and had to pay $225 in total for it. Holy cow.
I later received my ER bill, which came out to $900 ($600 for the stay, $300 for medicines/shots).
And just when I thought it was over, the ER doctor sent me a bill for $220! What?!?! Doesn't the hospital pay him? Isn't that what the ER bill was for? Apparently not.
Needless to say, I was flabbergasted and my bank account cried itself to sleep that night.
Lesson Three: If You're Poor, the Government Can Help You.
This is the point in the article where things start looking up. Seeing as $1300 is not really affordable for me, I felt pretty screwed. Luckily, I remembered a lesson I learned while interning for my congressman: if you're poor, the government will help you out. Seriously, cynical people think the government only steals from you, but the truth is you can make it work for you.
Because I'm uninsured and make very little money, I applied for the state-run Charity Care, which is the New Jersey Hospital Care Payment Assistance Program. They are there to pay for some or all of your hospital bills if you cannot afford to pay for it yourselves. All you have to do is fill out an application that verifies your income and makes sure that you've been living in the state for three months. The process is fairly quick, as bureaucracies go, and extremely helpful for people like me. For more information about Charity Care, visit their website or call 1-866-588-5659.
I just recently gave in my application, so all I can do now is wait. Hopefully, I'll have learned all my lessons for a lot less money than expected!
Here's to more adventures, government assistance programs, and life lessons!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
[Feature] Back-to-School Shenanigans!
Back-to-school September conjures up different feelings in everyone. You might be excited at the thought of starting a new school year, whether it's your first year or your last, while others might be dreading the months that are to come. Whatever boat you may fall under, there is no denying that the school year is chock full of memories waiting to be made, and entertaining stories waiting to be told. To get you all in the mood for back to school time, whether you're a student or not, the editors of Life in Boxes are sharing with you our favorite stories from our school years. Feel free to share yours in the comments, the more the merrier. And to all you students out there, good luck!
Jen:
When I was in college, my roommate Stella and I decided to prank our friend May for April Fool's Day. We decided to use a roll of duct tape to cover her entire door, so that she'd be unable to open her door in the morning and would have to cut her way out. Well, our plan backfired when a) we timed the prank poorly so that May was actually awake when we were trying to tape her door, and b) she not only heard us trying to tape her door (note to self, duct tape is loud) but heard us giggling throughout the entire thing. Well, as a good sport, she let us finish the "prank" before vowing that she'd get us back.
Well, that she did. The next morning, I was running late to class as usual, and I totally ran into the bathroom to get my self together. When I reached for my shower basket, gone were my toothbrush, face wash, and contact lens solution, all replaced with such CUTE notes as, "I've decided to run away to the living room upstairs, come and find me!" or "Boohoo, you smell, I'm hiding somewhere in the bathroom on the other side of the dorm!" So instead of running to class, I was running all over my dorm, trying to track my toiletries down. Needless to say, I was NOT happy that I spent the morning frazzled, and that I was 15 min late for my 8-person English lit seminar. But, it was a pretty genius prank to pull, and I haven't thought of anything as creative to get her back with yet. I may not miss school, but I miss the freedom of dorm life, and having your friends live with/near you.
Julia:
What definitely made college an interesting experience for me was the living experience .. by means of dorms, and with a random roommate.
Freshman year of college, I decided to be different, and opted to room with a total stranger. In comes Jamie, a Jersey shore girl who was very ambitious and had plans of graduating school under the expected 4 years. I could tell she was a bit misled by my name ("Park" is also a non-Asian last name), and sort of thought it was cool to have an Asian roommate (mind you, I went to Rutgers, where a plethora of Asians is just a dorm room away). She tried to set me up with the only other Korean kid she knew (oh, the stories with that), and got into love-hate fights with her boyfriend, making for many nights when I would awkwardly go out for walks around the campus. And then there was the time I asked for a Q-tip, only to uncover her dresser drawer full of condoms. Yeah, after just one semester, I requested a roommate change.
And yes, there was lovely junior year. My roommate was pretty amiable, a central Jersey gal, who despite referring to Philadelphia as "the city," was pretty chills. She had a boyfriend who would visit pretty much every day, and even after she broke up with him, I would catch him lurking around our dorm. But then the infamous night happened: the night she came in drunk, with a male friend, and started sexing it up WHILE MY FRIEND AND I WERE STILL IN THE SAME ROOM. Mind you, I had told her in advance that my friend would be over for the night, and she knew that I had an early class the next morning. After hearing enough moaning and grunting, my friend and I left and stayed in the lounge for the remainder of the night. When I got back from class the next morning, she left me a note on my desk, profusely apologizing for the previous night's events, and telling me that she was going home for the weekend to give me space. I, on the other hand, went to the dean and requested my own space - a single dormitory; when that weekend came to an end, I was packing up my belongings, and left my ex-roommate with a double-single for her nighttime shenanigans.
Yuri:
One of my most memorable college experiences happened during the week before classes started during my Junior year.
It was unusually hot for September. Like, very, very, hot. Like, so hot that it was not possible to sleep in our non-air-conditioned rooms, hot. After a day of not being able to fall asleep, Julia and I (we lived in the same dorm building), decided to take actions into our own hands and went to sleep in the basement study lounge, which conveniently was air-conditioned.
The funny thing is, we were not the only ones there. Another guy from my floor had already brought his pillow and blanket down when we got there. We didn’t really exchange words, just sort of nodded at each other and tried to get comfortable on the ghetto polyester sofas.
We all made it through the first night quite happily, but the morning of the second day, we were awakened by the janitorial staff who told us that we weren’t allowed to sleep there.
Undeterred, Julia and I brought down our textbooks (even though classes hadn’t even started) in a futile attempt to make it look like we were studying all night in the lounge and had just fallen asleep there by accident.
The next day, we all woke up to the janitorial staff again. But this time, it wasn’t them telling us to leave; they were all just talking and chilling in the room. Like us, they were trying to escape the heat before they had to start work. I think they felt bad for us and just let us sleep in the lounge.
It was nice of them, but no matter what, it’s kind of creepy to wake up surrounded by strangers sitting near you and talking.
Eventually, the heat dissipated and we decided the weirdness of waking up to the janitorial staff by our feet wasn’t worth it and slept in our dorms again.
Jorge
My first story is very gross, so let me warn you right now: if you're eating, this is the time to stop reading and resume reading this at some other time. During my junior year in college, part of our class went on a trip to Tokyo. We were there to learn more about Japanese business, but that took all of one day. The rest of the time we spent doing whatever it is we pleased. One night, a friend and I decided to get plastered. He then tries to hit on a girl but ends up making her cry (well, in his defense, she was drunk, too). To his detriment, his attempts to hit on her involved him trying to take off his pants. He miraculously makes it back to the lobby of the hotel, only to realize that he needs to go do #2 immediately, but his room was on the 19th floor. He gets in the first elevator he can, and fumbles his way through the door of his room. He opens the door to his bathroom and makes his way to the stall when the _______ hits the pants. He says the next thing he remembers is waking up on the toilet with his pants down and dumplings all over the floor. In his half drunken state, he showers and decides to clean up his mess by hosing the floor with the shower head. As he's walking out of the room to go sightseeing, the cleaning lady walks in and catches sight of the mess in the bathroom. That poor, frightened woman! My friend just smiled and points over to his roommate who's passed out on the bed and blames it on him.
This story is not gross at all, I promise. During sophomore year, my friend suspected that I was trying to get with his girlfriend of two weeks. One night he finds us talking in her bedroom alone, screams something indecipherable, and leaves with a slam of the door. I know, I'm extremely shady. I don't learn my lesson because I stay to talk to her roommate. About an hour later, we hear him coming back into the room, so me and the roommate climb into her bunk bed and pull the cover down so he can't see us. My friend spends the next hour talking to his girlfriend about their relationship, while I'm with her roommate, trying to suppress the laughter from all the drunken relationship talk he's mumbling about: "I just want to be with you." "Baby, I think we have a future." Agggggghhhh. My advice to all men: no relationship talk while under the influence. It makes us sound like pansies. Little did he know that I had actually persuaded her to give him a chance.
Monday, August 25, 2008
[Feature] An Experiment: Moving in with Roommates
A few months ago, I wrote a post about the idea of moving out, followed up by a post about what to do in order to prepare for the big move.
Initially, yours truly had written those posts in hopes of actually following through with it, but ended up not doing so, thanks to Asian parents and their forever suffocating tentacles, as well as thinking realistically (student loans, bills, etc.). Sigh. C'est la vie.
Anyway, as an investigative reporter, I ran away from home for the past 2 weeks in order to get a "real feel" for living outside of home. With no communication to the family, I was able to tap into a pseudo trial run of living away from home, all while living with 8 roommates.
First off, no matter what anyone ever says to you, literally living away from home is the best thing ever (well, especially after living away at school for four years, only to taste freedom and then return back home to your parents' rules). This can even apply to young-faced college freshmen who are preparing for their first year away from home, after 18 years of living under your parents' roof. I mean, as a young adult evolving into a full-fledged adult, it's kind of hard to be taken seriously when your mother still yells at you for not taking care of something, or if your daily life revolves around what time your parents expect you to be home by on a Tuesday night, because now, instead of being a "school day," your parents want you home because you have work the next day, as if you totally forgot about that.
With that said, initially, being able to relax at a house without worrying about chores to do before the parents getting home was awesome. My daily life at home involved me coming home straight after work to make sure that the sink wasn't full of dirty dishes, to make sure that any mess that either my younger brother or older sister made in the house was cleaned, and to throw in a load of laundry. Not really an enthralling thing to do, especially after a stressful day of work. And especially if it's not your own place. In order to be independent, you need to have your own space and just learn to do your own thing.
Anyway, living with roommates (4 boys, 3 dogs, and 1 girl) has amounted to an interesting experience. It really does feel like living at the dorms again .. but you know, replace the "going to class" with work, and part of the living situation is scolding the dogs for digging through the garbage, as well as the massive accumulation of dishes (hey, 6 busy people in one house amounts to a lot of dirty dishes!).
Besides dealing with cleaning duties and just making sure not to get in someone's way or causing a ruckus when people are trying to get some rest, living with roommates hasn't been that bad of an experience. And trust me, I've had my fair share of roommate horror stories: like the time in freshman year when my random roommate would get into HUGE love/hate fights with her boyfriend, to the point I would have to leave the room because of the awkwardness, or when I accidentally found her HUGE stash of condoms. Or like that time during junior year when my roommate came home piss-drunk and starting having sex while a friend and I were still in the room .. oh, college.
Anyway, after living away for 2 weeks, I can't say that I've missed living at home. Just the idea of going home after work without doing chores or worrying about anyone else but myself has been awesome. My current roommates are all amiable and fun to be with, and we have yet to step on each other's toes (knock on wood). But as great as this trial run has been, it's important to note a few things before you all decide to go out, find some roomies, and live up an independent life:
1. Make sure you are going to live with roommates you would be comfortable living with. Sure, you can get along with someone when you're all hanging out, but living with someone is on completely different grounds. You are going to see a lot of each other, whether it be you looking all grimey, or you living grimey. Just make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Luckily, my temporary roommates are pretty nifty people.
2. Pets might be a problem. I love dogs, and plan to get one or some when I officially move out. But after living with 3 of them, I've realized that I may be somewhat allergic to them. Make sure to have a talk with your potential roommate about pets and what you can do to compromise such a situation.
3. Compromise. You are not going to find the most compatible roommate ever. You cannot expect your roommate(s) to have the same living habits as you. Instead, you need to work with what you have, and hope that your good habits will rub off on others (and vice versa).
Sure, living out of home and with a few roommates might seem like living at a college dorm, but there are some real issues you need to work around, especially as an adult. 'Cause unlike college, there aren't any RA's to help settle differences with roommates, and you wouldn't be looking forward to the weekend to go back to a comfortable home, because baby, you are home.
So think twice about moving out and moving in with roommates. It can be as awesome as my two week experience, or it could be like your horrible freshman year dorming experience (but you'll be stuck with a one year leaase, and you can't make an appeal to the dean to switch roommates).
Monday, August 18, 2008
[Feature] Wal-Mart TV
I love grocery stores and large-scale chain stores. There's really no explanation for it, but something about the bright lights and shiny packaged products is so appealing to me, as well as the fact that I never leave one without buying something. My favorite store ever is Target, where I go maybe once every 2 weeks and end up spending an average of $40 on things I need and don't need. Target may be my favorite store, but I am utterly fascinated by the gigantor conglomerate Wal-Mart, the biggest retail chain in the history of retail chains. Ok, I don't know if that's an actual fact, but the company is the world's largest public corporation. I would say Wal-Mart makes enough, employs enough, and does enough (good and bad) to be a country of its own.
Wal-Mart was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, a businessman and entrepreneur, who also founded Sam's Club. Within 5 years of its open, Wal-Mart was bringing in a profit of $12.6 million in sales. Um, that's a lot of money now, imagine the value of it in 1968. Now with stores across the country and the world, Wal-Mart brings in over $300 billion in sales annually. In the US alone, their customer base is 100 million weekly, which is like a third of the US's population. See what I mean by Wal-Mart being a country of its own?
Something I read about recently is also another reason why Wal-Mart fascinates me. Have you ever been to a supermarket or a Borders or something and seen TV screens airing in-store advertising, entertainment clips, things to buy, etc? I never really pay attention to those things, but in-store tv networks are interesting waves of the future, in regards to how things are marketed and advertised to consumers.
So it's not surprising that the Wal-Mart in-store TV network is the country's biggest and most sophisticated. About 3,100 out of 4,022 Wal-Mart stores carry Wal-Mart TV, which means that it has about 130 million viewers every 4 weeks. That number makes it the 5th largest television network in the US after NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX. Isn't that crazy??? And in addition to the money Wal-Mart makes selling stuff annually, you can add another $100 million to that, in the ad revenue they generate from selling spots on Wal-Mart TV to advertisers.
What does that matter to you? Well, later this year, Wal-Mart is rolling out their second generation network, which means they're really going to try hard to get your attention, and influence what you buy. They plan on building TVs closer to eye level as well as installing them at the ends of aisles, at checkouts, and even among shelves. So if you've never really paid attention to those in-store TVs before, you will now.
They'll also create special packages for advertisers. Say you're Dole and you want to sell bananas. Why, the TV in the produce section will pretty much point consumers to where they are, and that they should be buying the Dole brand. In the CD section? You might catch an ad for the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, complete with a display right next to the TV with CDs/DVDs/products from the nominees. Genius or annoying? How about both? We live in an age where consumers are getting smarter and more perceptive. Advertisers have to keep developing new ways to get our attention and keep it, without getting us annoyed. That's probably the hardest thing to do, but its interesting to see what advertisers come up with to try to reach that goal.
So the next time you're at a Wal-Mart, pay attention to what's going on around you. And if you walk out with items you didn't intend to buy before you entered the store, well, you've just made the-powers-to-be very happy.
Monday, August 11, 2008
[Feature] It's Time To Go!
Brett Favre was a Green Bay Packer from 1992 to 2007. 16 years. He turned the Packers from a struggling franchise to a perennial powerhouse. He won three consecutive MVPs and a Super Bowl title with the Packers. And now he's playing for the Jets. Well done, Brett. Seeing Favre in a Jets jersey is like seeing Jordan on the Wizards. It makes me throw up a little inside. Favre has inspired me too look at other people/things that should probably take a look at the clock and think about calling it a career.
Shaquille O'Neal
From one athlete to another. Unlike Favre, who is coming off one of his best seasons, O'Neal is a shell of his former self. Shaq's points per game have dropped in each of the past three seasons and he has missed at least 21 games in each of these seasons. At a whopper...err...whopping 325 pounds, Shaq will be requiring a crane to take him from one side of the court
to the other pretty soon. We love ya big fella, but it is time.
Steven Tyler/Mick Jagger
Alright, guys. It's been fun and when you were still doing this past 50 it was cute. You're both over 60 now. It's gone from cute to creepy. Rumor has it your wrinkles cause echoes. Those vocal chords have served you both well. You both have a quadrillion dollars to retire on. Steven, maybe you should concentrate on getting better songs for Rock Band.
Pop N' Fresh (aka The Pillsbury Doughboy)
I've had enough of you, Fresh. I'm on to you. Having wives poke you in the stomach so you can get your high? Home wrecker!
The Simpsons
As much as it kills me to say this, but maybe it's time. The Simpsons is my favorite show ever. It is by far the best cartoon ever created. I haven't quoted any other show as much as I have quoted The Simpsons. Their ability to come up with 20+ seasons of material is just mind-boggling impressive. However, I'm not as enthused by it as I was in years past. The last memorable episode they made was "Trilogy of Terror" back in 2001. (Though, I'm writing now that it's time they go off the air, but I'll be protesting when they actually do).
Ladies Named Ethel
I'm not sure if babies are actually named Ethel. I somewhat think that some women just change to that name at the very minute they turn old. Nevertheless, if your name is Ethel, you should probably think about retiring and start getting into Bridge, Gin Rummy, or Mah Jong.
AIM/MySpace
Both were mainstays of the Internet during their prime. But now they can barely get 50 year old single men to log on. I used AIM for a long time and still do once in a while, but it is just not the same. MySpace+Neatness+Sexiness=Facebook AIM-Crap=GChat.
GEICO Ads
The GEICO Gecko is the ad campaign version of Mick Jagger. This ad started out when people incorrectly called the annoyed gecko instead of calling GEICO. Then, suddenly, the gecko began working for GEICO. Clearly, GEICO brainwashed the gecko and forced it to speak with a British accent. Where's PETA when you need them? To boot, GEICO also runs the now tired Caveman commercials as well. Every time I see a GEICO commercial, my urge to kill rises.
Honorable Mention: America's Next Top Model, American Idol, Al Sharpton, Communism, Eye Ulcers, Montana
Monday, August 4, 2008
[Feature] What I'm Going to Do After I Win the Mega Millions Lottery
You probably don't know this about me, but I'm a future winner of the Mega Millions lottery. Yep. I've known this for about five years and I've already planned out how I'm going to handle winning. So today, I'm going to share my pseudo-knowledge with you.
Yes, I am a freak. But for what it's worth, I am a prepared freak....
The insanity that is the odds of you actually winning. 
The Mega Millions Lottery is a 12 state lottery that has produced the largest lottery jackpot in the world (a whopping $390 million dollars was up for grabs on March 6, 2007!). In order to win the jackpot, you need to be the lucky person to pick out all six numbers (five normal balls and one "Mega ball") from the ball pit. Falling short of picking the all six numbers will get you anywhere from $2 to $250,000.
Today, the jackpot is at $34 million dollars.
The chances of you winning that big jackpot are 1 in 175,711,536. Or in relative terms, 70 times the chances of you getting struck by lightning.
...
Okay, the odds aren't great. But then again, somebody has to win, right? Why can't it be you? Aside from the fact that it's actually going to be me, that is.
How much you actually end up winning
The first thing you have to know about winning the lottery is that you never get what they say you're going to get. That's because the Feds come up and grab 25% of your winnings before you even get a chance to look at it. Then, usually, your state government gets their turn and will take it's 3%-8.5% piece of the pie. However, if you're lucky enough to buy your ticket in New Jersey, Texas, California, or Washington, the state doesn't touch it.
So what started out as $34 million dollars goes down to anywhere between 22.6 million - 25.5 million. Still a lot of money... but you can't help but feel a little robbed. Damn you, government!
Lump Sum vs. Annuity
You are given two choices as to how you want to receive your not-so-hard-earned-money: in a lump sum or in annual payments. If you choose the annuity option, you'll receive a payment every year for 26 years that will add up the jackpot, minus the federal and state taxes. In the case of a $35 million, you'd receive $869,615 - $980,769 a year.
If you choose the lump sum, you get all your money in one gigantic check. However, you have to first lop off 40% to your jackpot. So your $35 million takes another hit, bringing you down to $13.3 million - $15 million in one payment.
On face value, many people would think that getting the annuity payments would be more cost-effective. But in reality, conventional wisdom says that grabbing the lump sum is a better bet.
Why, you ask? Think about the numbers. If you take the lump sum, in order for you to feel good about your decision, you need to somehow net a return of $980,769 a year. With $15 million, that is looking for a 6.54% return on your money. Even with conservative investments like CDs and savings accounts, you can get a decent 4% return. Not exactly 6.54%, but close enough.
But more importantly, with having all of your money immediately, you are given much more flexibility. With that much money, you can take a couple of risks in your investment portfolio, which can yield much more than 6.54% returns. Your money can go into venture capital or starting up your own business, both things that would be severely limited on 980,769 a year. Or consider this: if you want to buy a $1 million dollar house, you'd be better off paying it in full then taking out a money draining mortgage.
So in the end, the lump sum has much more potential and flexibility than waiting 26 years to collect all of your money. Especially because you'll be rich enough to hire a fancy-shmancy number-cruncher that will make sure you get the most out of your investments.
After finding out that you've won
Surprisingly enough, you should know how you want your money (lump sum or annuity) even before you buy your ticket. States like New York and Texas don't let you change your mind after your ticket has been printed, so that decision is a big one.
Of course, after getting through the small hurdle of actually winning, there are about a million other things you need to figure out. Rule #1, however, should be to get out of town and change your number. You need to disappear for a while before even claiming the prize to get all of your ducks in a row. That means hiring a tax attorney that specializes in lottery winners and getting a good financial adviser, hopefully one recommended by a successful friend you have.
At the same time, you should make sure that you write your name, address, and signature on the back of your lottery ticket and put it in a safety deposit box. Because, hell, if you lose that, you lose your chance of getting a dime.
After making sure that you know what you're doing with your money, then you can claim your ticket and deal with the family members you've never known about and charities asking for money. Of course, that is something that you can't give advice to. Just one of the things you need to deal with as a huge lottery winner.
Conclusion
In the end, winning a big lottery prize can be a blessing or a curse. The most important thing is to keep your head on straight and avoid diving too deep into vices. Seriously, most of those lottery horror stories seem to end up with somebody getting involved with drugs, alcohol, gambling, or a combination of all three.
If you avoid drama and stay smart, you'll be one happy millionaire, just like the future me.
Sources
USA Mega - Great lotto resource. Helped me with all the numbers and taxes
Bankrate - Another useful lottery site. Gives advice and has a neat little "Lotto Savvy" quiz
Mega Millions Wikipedia
Mega Millions Official Website
Advice on Winning the Mega Millions @ AJC.com
Monday, July 28, 2008
[Feature] Posthumous Fame (and Heath Ledger)
As said in a previous post, The Dark Knight exceeded all expectations for me. Sure, a lot of people might think that the film itself is overhyped and just a “good movie,” rather than a great film, but in my opinion, what makes The Dark Knight such a great film is the late Heath Ledger’s performance. I mean, for a movie with a PG-13 rating, the movie gave me enough chills, without the excess of blood and violence. Now talks about a posthumous Oscar nomination for Ledger seems to be the talk of Tinsel Town, which is debatable amongst both the elite in Hollywood, as well as film critics, and fans.
In terms of posthumous fame (that is, fame after death), there are three important factors in understanding how and why the dead are preserved in our society: the role of media (and digital media), collective remembering (and storytelling), as well as the fans themselves.
The Dark Knight has been continuously sold out at theaters across the states, even after its July 18th release. Many are flocking to the theaters because of their love for the comic series. But besides the fanboys of the Batman series, the film has been selling out due to the curiosity around Heath Ledger's last performance before his untimely death.
It’s common to see a celebrity rise to fame after such a rousing performance, but posthumous fame amongst deceased celebrities has been a fad in Hollywood for some time now. This reflects the importance of society and the role it plays in keeping the dead alive through memory; because of our susceptibility to popular culture, as a society, we are infatuated with any sort of celebrity - more typically, movie stars. And death? Well, death is part of our lives, whether we like it or not, so it piques the mind in various, curious ways.
When dealing with death in general, as a society we tend to communally share in mourning with those associated with the dead. But when denied attendance to a beloved celebrity’s funeral, fans turn to online “webshrines,” such as website memorials, online discussions in message boards, etc., to build a community amongst mourners, negotiating conflicting feelings over death, and immortalizing and magnifying the dead.
In remembering the almost mythicized actors, such as James Dean, we engage in collective remembering and storytelling as a social interaction with one another, as stories about the celebrity are a kind of currency of social imagination. And finally, as a society we identify with those similar to us, in order to establish a sense of interpersonal connection, such as in the case with fans believing that James Dean identifies with them (a la, Rebel Without A Cause), as they identify with him. By viewing a celebrity to be something more personal to us, fans tend to see themselves in an active relationship with their idol, thus keeping them in loyal even after their deaths.
But I'm not saying that Heath Ledger is the James Dean of our generation. I mean, personally, I was never infatuated with James Dean (mostly because it wasn't something that happened during my lifetime), but Heath Ledger has always been a modest actor in my eyes. I LOVED him in The Patriot, and thought he was decent in Ten Things I Hate About You (yeah, I have yet to see Brokeback Mountain, but I will). But when it all comes down to it, Ledger made the Joker his own, thus resulting in a really chilling performance, and his death has nothing to do with it.
Sure, you can blame the media for building buzz around his performance, thus over-hyping the film for you, and his hardcore fans for making a big deal for their beloved actor, but if you have seen the movie, think about how the movie would've been like without him. Kind of lame, right?
And that's why he was that good. And that's why he has the right for posthumous recognition. So for all those who are saying that Heath Ledger doesn't deserve any sort of recognition for his performance and is really getting an Oscar nod just because he's dead, suck on it.
And I'll end it with this quote from (you guessed it!) The Office:
Michael Scott: Game, set, match. Point. Scott. Game over. End of game.
Monday, July 14, 2008
[Feature] Five Skills Every Guy Should Have
Despite what women say, being a guy is a tough job. You need to be able to do, make, and know a lot of things in order to maintain your masculinity. After all, the minute a girl fixes your car for you, you are revoked of your man-license.
So to prevent any potential embarrassments, I've compiled a list of five skills every guy needs in order to be a real man. This by no means is a complete list, but it's definitely a good start.
So in order to be a man, every guy should know...
How to Tie a Tie
Since wearing a clip-on anything is automatically not cool, when it comes to ties, you are stuck with two choices. You can ask someone to do it for you and then never undo the knot (what I used to do -__-), or you can take a few minutes to learn yourself. Learning a knot or two is simple, and after some practice, it becomes fairly automatic.
When I learned I used a combination of diagrams from Tie-a-Tie.net and videos from metacafe.com and it really helped. Remember, practice makes perfect!
How to Play Poker
Taking other people's money is truly a gratifying and very manly. And the best way to do that is to play poker.
About.com has instructions on how to play poker. The game that everyone nowadays knows is Texas Hold'em. While that's all well and good, you'll be better off learning a few other games (7 Card Stud, Omaha, etc) to broaden your horizons.
And if you want to be the one taking the money, not the one losing it, you should practice for free at Party Poker and read a book or two on strategy. One of my favorite is Phil Hellmuth's Play Poker Like the Pros.
How to Fix a Car Emergency
Nothing's worse than having a car emergency and not being able to do anything about it. The two most common car emergencies are having a dead battery (needing a jump-start) and getting a flat (replacing a tire).
If your car battery is dead, you'll know because your lights and your radios will be weak or won't work at all. That will suck. But, if you have a set a jumper cables and another car, you'll be up and running in just a few minutes. Youtube is full of videos on jump-starting cars. This is my favorite of the bunch. Don't forget: red to dead!
Fixing a flat tire takes a bit more work, but learning how to handle the situation will help you save face and save on expensive towing fees. eHow.com has a good guide on changing tires. If it helps, you can even print out their step-by-step guide.
How to Grill a Steak
Having good barbecue skills in general is an important feature in a man. Being able to grill a good steak, however, is the epitome of grill skills.
When it comes to grilling, meat temperature is key. If you get yourself a meat thermometer and read Howtogrillsteak.com, you'll always have a solid piece of meat.
By the way, please don't cook your steaks well-done, that makes the steak gods cry.
How to Enjoy Beer
Guys and alcohol go hand-in-hand. If you're in any social environment with other guys, beer seems to be around. If you don't like the taste of beer (like me), it kind of sucks.
Luckily, Wikihow.com has a pretty good article on different beers to try and how they should be enjoyed. Maybe you've been drinking Coor's Light all your life when what you really needed was a nice, dark Guinness.
If you still can't find something that fits your palette, then fake it 'til you make it. Beer is an acquired taste. Just keep nursing that bottle until you can chug it without making a stink face.
Follow a Sport
This is one area that I'm lacking in. Talking sports is probably one of the greatest ice breakers to have. Being able to answer the question, "How 'bout them Yankees?" can very easily get a conversation going.
To get yourself inundated on the ins and outs of a sport, Howstuffworks.com is a lifesaver. They explain even the most obvious details of sports like baseball, basketball, and football. After that, a lot of SportsCenter will make sure that the letters RBI and ERA actually mean something to you.
Monday, July 7, 2008
30 Things To Do Before You're 30 (part 5)
After turning 21, the next major age milestone to look forward to (or rather, to fear), is turning 30. That big scary number that means you're officially not a kid anymore. Hell, you become a different age demographic.Some people embrace the number, others pray it won't ever arrive. Well, we at Life in Boxes make lists for it.
If you've been following our blog for the past couple of weeks, you will have noticed that we've been going through our 30 Things To Do Before You're 30 list. Each of the editors (Jorge, Yuri, Jen, and Julia) has had a chance to submit our top five favorite things to do, and we've also asked you, our readers, for your top thing you want to accomplish before you hit the big 3-0.
Today, we finish off the list, combining some ideas from the editors and also including reader suggestions. Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are the last 10 things we want to do before we turn thirty....
10. Do Something Illegal
When you're younger than 30, you're allowed to do crazy / stupid things and blame it on being young and reckless. So on occasion, you need to use that right to do things that are... not fully lawful. I'm not saying you should rob a bank, but you know, do something that you can tell your kids about when you're old and wrinkly.
9. Do Something Charitable (submitted by Sang)
When you get older, you start getting more responsibilities and priorities in your life. It's essential, then, to take the time while you still have it to make some kind of difference in the world. Whether it's volunteering at a soup kitchen, sponsoring a child, becoming a big brother, or even joining the Peace Corps, it's great to give time and resources to a great cause when you have the chance.
8. Fill-in Your Missing Childhood Moments (submitted by Sym)
Okay, so Sym actually suggested "learn how to swim." But in reality, it's really about filling-in the parts of a typical childhood that you missed. For some, it's learning how to swim. For others, it's learning how to ride a bike. The point is that you have to fulfill childhood dreams while you are still (relatively) young.
7. Make a Million Dollars (submitted by Anonymous)
While making a million dollars before you're 30 is a lofty goal, to say the least, many of us would like to be well-off by the time we're 30. While measurements of financial success will vary between people (some people will settle for a car and a roof over their head, while others want a six-figure salary), everyone wants to be able to have enough money to live at least comfortably and happily.
6. Appear In a Movie/TV Show
How awesome would it be call your friends so they can check you out on the season finale of Heroes? Think about having people stopping you on the street and asking for your autograph. What about signing your first starring role in a blockbuster film. Or you can settle for one line in Law & Order. Whatever it takes to get that Screen Actors Guild card.
5. Make an Album
Songwriting/composing/producing is an arduous and time consuming task. The amount of self scrutiny is enough to drive a person mad. Anyone that can put 10 songs together and make it sound decent deserves some serious credit. It may be a piece of crap to the rest of the world, but to the creator it is nothing short of brilliance.
4. Travel the World (submitted by Carrie)
A lot of people do not have the chance to go backpacking across Europe or even visit the other side of the coast. But after you graduate from college, you start saving up money for attainable goals, whether it's for a new car, to move out, or go on very much needed vacations to see the world. This ties in with Yuri's road trip, Jen's trip to London, and Julia's goal to visit all 50 states, but to sum it all up, traveling is definitely on the itinerary for something to do before turning 30.
3. Be Part of a Wedding Party
Whether if it's as the bride, groom, best man, maid of honor, a groomsman, or a bridesmaid, being part of a wedding party is an altogether exciting experience to share with loved ones. You not only learn the ropes of what goes on in putting a wedding together, but you get to witness what love (or something like it) can lead to in a relationship.
2. Start a Blog
The editors of Life in Boxes know all too well the fun and sweat that go into writing for and maintaining a blog. While we may not be the next Perez Hilton or Matt Drudge, we genuinely enjoy blogging about relevant issues in pop culture and society, and connecting with readers through our writing. Starting your own blog can be a great way to write about everything from the things you enjoy (or hate) and want others to know about, or to recap your very exciting life in one simple click-and-publish routine. Don't be discouraged if you have very few readers at first (you, your friends, your mom), as everyone has humble beginnings. Who knows, maybe you will be the next Perez or Drudge!
1. Be Satisfied with the Choices You Make (or Decide What To Do With Your Life)
Many people who recently graduate from college have no idea what to do with their lives. Hopefully by the time the big 3-0 comes around, they will at least have some sort of direction in life. Right now, the possibilities seem endless - sticking with what you've got, finding something better, going to grad school, ... - the list can go on and on. The important this is that by the time your 30 you know what you want.
