Lake Piru

Before I moved back into UCLA, my family took a trip to visit Lake Piru.
Renting a motor boat, we steered our way around the lake and had a little picnic near the mountain banks. At one point, the boat was caught by the reeds in the water, and we were stuck for around 30 minutes. After that scary episode, we made it out alive and continued our trek around the lake. I'm a bit tired at the moment so I'll stop here.
Cheers

Obsession

It appears as though some people think I am obsessed with test scores and grades. This assumption may stem from my serious attitude towards my studies and my enjoyment of school. Please allow me the opportunity to trivialize this assumption.

I could care less what your grades or test scores are. They do little to show me who you are as an individual and what experiences you have been through. Friends, I care about who you are, not what your GPA is. A little favor I would ask of people is that they not constantly ask me my grades or my grade point average. Instead, I would love for people to ask whether I am learning and what I am being exposed to through my classes and opportunities outside of the classroom. In addition, my choice to major in economics is not a means to an end. So please stop asking what I am going to do with my major and whether I am going to go into business (the term "business" is so vague...in fact, we are ALL going into business by way of exchanging dollars for goods and services, etc etc). I am studying economics because I love what the subject entails with respects to a systems approach towards problems and resources. I understand that many students look at college as a means to a higher salary and better career prospects. We are all placed in different circumstances and face different pressures from within and family support.

Proverbs 27:1
"Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth."

I pray that my plans are in tune with God's plan to use me as a tool.


Life may not turn out the way you wanted it to churn out...but isn't that the exciting part?

El Camino Frances

One week ago I finished a journey of a lifetime. As I rest at home, it's hard to imagine that for two weeks I was walking 20 miles a day through the Spanish countryside (mostly the Galicia region) and surviving on bread and cheese.

A little background on the Camino de Santiago:
There are 3 pilgrimages that have been popularized in Christianity, to Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela. The Camino de Santiago has a couple different routes for people coming from all over Europe: Camino Norte, Camino Ingles, Camino Frances, Camino Portugues, and I think one more. Basically all these routes end up in Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of the Apostle James are located. James journeyed to Western Europe to evangelize, and was eventually beheaded under the orders of King Herrod. His remains were then transported to the region where he had feverantly spread the gospel.

I journeyed along the Camino Frances (if you start at the origin, it takes more than a month) for 2 weeks. Life was made so simple to the point that you realize you have too much junk and start throwing stuff away to make your rucksack lighter. Since food was scarce in the countryside, countless meals consisted of bread and cheese. However, these meals were the best I have ever had. Euipped with only a bible and a journal, I spend hours upon hours every day absorbed in who I am becoming and what is really important to me. The simple cafe con leche in the morning lifted my spirits as I woke up at 5:30 every day to begin my walk. Meeting people from Poland, Germany, Belgium, France, Canada, and many other places, I was able to engage in conversation from Putin to how to react to your children's mistakes. Many of the pilgrims were limited in English, so the language barrier was an impediment to prolonged conversation. But sharing....
I just realized it would take way too long to actually express what went on during the Camino, including realizations about people, myself, and God.
Those two weeks helped me realize how little I really do know. Strangely, acknowledging how little I know has actually encouraged me and given me strength.

I embody countless human faults and failures, but that makes me all the more secure. I'm not impressed by fancy cars and pretentious behavior. Every person is special, no matter what occupation, school, family, dreams, etc.

So much happened during this journey, so I'm sorry that I can't provide a one page synopsis of the Camino de Santiago. All I can say is that we are all blessed.