Last week was spent in sweet hangout days with sweetie Xuan. Coming from Atlanta, she took a week off to travel to D.C. She came for the people, as she said, not for sightseeing. As expected, we went to museums together. Museums in D.C. was really wonderful leisure time place--free of charge, full of wisdom. The most important thing is that they preserve arts which penetrates time and space.
I took her to Georgetown, where Voyo took me. I liked this place. It's a slow paced afternoon retreat hiding in this political center. It goes like a typical European town, with street artists performing, small but personalized boutiques, and carefree visitors. It's such a charmful and inclusive place. Artists find their room here, and upper-class also possess their space. The traditional contradiction between materialism and spirituality disappear. Instead, it flourishes as an perfect compromise of both.
The happiest time, of course, is the quality affair-sharing time. We trust each other like we were sisters. Being the only child in the family embedded the lonely gene into our body. We adore the time best friends sharing private business like sisters, because that's when we get the affirmation for what we think is right, and joint refutation of things irritate us. The most important thing is that, we know perfectly what each other like, want, everything--just between a blink of eyes.
Xuan kept saying she did not want to go back, yet she had to leave this morning. This is life. I need to focus on work this week. Holiday is temporarily over.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
independence at work
Since my first day in VOA, Voyo has taken the initiatives of teaching me every small details in television production, which is best demonstrated through the making of BC Log, Log sheet, Chyron etc. She moving to translation team next week, I will work as an independent intern next week together with another guy who will take Voyo's place. On one hand, I'm a little bit upset that I have to get to know another person as my colleague; On the other hand, I'm really glad I can do things according to my tempo, pushing everything forward within my plan.
Like other paradox in life, independence and dependence need to take turn to appear in life to add spice to it. Being independent has always being my biggest wish since I came abroad. That's what i should do, to my understanding, when I'm an adult and come to the point in life when I should try to live on my own. However, it's really tiring in life to be on one's own. Therefore, sometime I'm so missing the time when i was a kid and had parents as my most reliable pillar in my life, both spiritually and physically. Someone told me that, life does not give us what we want. That's true. Thus, we should get used to accepting everything if gives and believe that there is a reason, a purpose, and something to gain even in the worst situation.
I need to remind myself that don't hold a much too high expectation on something that's not very likely to happen. In that case, nothing rather than disappointment will come. Be hopeful and self-content.
Like other paradox in life, independence and dependence need to take turn to appear in life to add spice to it. Being independent has always being my biggest wish since I came abroad. That's what i should do, to my understanding, when I'm an adult and come to the point in life when I should try to live on my own. However, it's really tiring in life to be on one's own. Therefore, sometime I'm so missing the time when i was a kid and had parents as my most reliable pillar in my life, both spiritually and physically. Someone told me that, life does not give us what we want. That's true. Thus, we should get used to accepting everything if gives and believe that there is a reason, a purpose, and something to gain even in the worst situation.
I need to remind myself that don't hold a much too high expectation on something that's not very likely to happen. In that case, nothing rather than disappointment will come. Be hopeful and self-content.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Breath of Art
I never consider myself an art person. However, appreciating art may be the innate capability of every human being, and therefore, as a person with decent education, I fortunately succeed this capability and further more, enjoy doing this thanks to some part of my education. This is why I went to art museums today. Finally!
I love seeing those art works, because no matter I understand or not, various types of causal or irrelevant inspirations will be produced and sometimes even thrust into my head. Contemporary art is always hard for me to understand. My question is that what makes those art works which seem pretty simple and redoable hung there. For instance, there is a picture made up of numerous traces of ink. The guide introduced that the author of the work used a stick and just draw according to his subconsciousness. Yet this is so objective and explanation-directed. How could the views tell what the author was thinking about when he was inventing the painting, and why ours cannot be put in the gallery if we do the same thing. What makes the difference.
However, the biggest thing that differentiate contemporary art, according to my little understanding, is the function. Contemporary art, compared with traditional arts, is to exhibit the pragmatism and contemporary idea. Traditional arts are more focused within themselves, which means an art work is an art work itself; contemporary art becomes an art work with the help of, most often than not, its surroundings. That's means not only the work itself is involved, but also the wall it is hung on, even the person who is watching are part of it. It develops three-dimensionally, it often practice contrast and repetition. It is more concerned with idea and concepts rather than the expensiveness of the materials themselves.
When I left the gallery, still many of the works are not seen yet. I'm planning next time visit, with nice food and happy mood. When I have extra money, I would like to buy the art books in the bookstore, and do some reading there with a cup of coffee keeping me sober from the alcohol of art.
I love seeing those art works, because no matter I understand or not, various types of causal or irrelevant inspirations will be produced and sometimes even thrust into my head. Contemporary art is always hard for me to understand. My question is that what makes those art works which seem pretty simple and redoable hung there. For instance, there is a picture made up of numerous traces of ink. The guide introduced that the author of the work used a stick and just draw according to his subconsciousness. Yet this is so objective and explanation-directed. How could the views tell what the author was thinking about when he was inventing the painting, and why ours cannot be put in the gallery if we do the same thing. What makes the difference.
However, the biggest thing that differentiate contemporary art, according to my little understanding, is the function. Contemporary art, compared with traditional arts, is to exhibit the pragmatism and contemporary idea. Traditional arts are more focused within themselves, which means an art work is an art work itself; contemporary art becomes an art work with the help of, most often than not, its surroundings. That's means not only the work itself is involved, but also the wall it is hung on, even the person who is watching are part of it. It develops three-dimensionally, it often practice contrast and repetition. It is more concerned with idea and concepts rather than the expensiveness of the materials themselves.
When I left the gallery, still many of the works are not seen yet. I'm planning next time visit, with nice food and happy mood. When I have extra money, I would like to buy the art books in the bookstore, and do some reading there with a cup of coffee keeping me sober from the alcohol of art.
babysitting
If my friends are asked of my favourite things in this world, they are 99% sure to say babies. YES. I love babies, like bees like flowers. It is most miraculous that people come to this world as these little angles. A blink of their eyes, a giggling of their faces, a touch of their hands regenerate me any time whatever upset happening occur to me.
The time of babysitting starting as a part-time job remains a question hard to answer. However, it definitely is the best job for me now. Flexible time, getting paid and around babies are so precious to me. I'm not a greedy person. What I want is just to make ends meet on my own. Since I'm having a unpaid internship, I need to earn some money to pay for my tuition as well as living expense in D.C. during my spare time. However, internship is definitely the priority, because that's why I'm here for.
Hopefully I can start working next week since I think I'm sincere enough to convince the parents that I'm really a fit, and also that truly enjoy staying with kids.
The time of babysitting starting as a part-time job remains a question hard to answer. However, it definitely is the best job for me now. Flexible time, getting paid and around babies are so precious to me. I'm not a greedy person. What I want is just to make ends meet on my own. Since I'm having a unpaid internship, I need to earn some money to pay for my tuition as well as living expense in D.C. during my spare time. However, internship is definitely the priority, because that's why I'm here for.
Hopefully I can start working next week since I think I'm sincere enough to convince the parents that I'm really a fit, and also that truly enjoy staying with kids.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Almost on the track
The past three days offered so much for me to learn. Learning process is always gradual and nice to those who really pays attention rather than just listens without further digestion. In television production, there are challenging tasks like shot and edit videos, as well as time and patience demanding work such as preparation of BC Log, Rundown, and Log sheets. No matter what I'm doing, I try to perform it to the best using the least time. However, sometimes, it's a question itself that what "best" means and how we know it is the "best" already. This unresolvable issue provides the room and possibility for anyone to grow and improve.
From being totally new to Final Cut Pro till novice level, I'm experiencing the progress and accumulating the confidence and interest. Editing can be really fun. It's a producing process, which means creativity can play am important role. This occasionally makes me feel I belong to this industry. I know I'm a person who needs living in industries where freshness, creativity and fun swarm in. That's why i persist that advertising is where I belong. Now, I'm seeing myself fit for television production because of the editing process involved.
News agencies have their own various search database and according searching ways within themselves. This means new training needs to be received for new comers. Pecan, Dalet and Dalet Plus are so integral for my jobs. The more I practice, the better and quicker i can perform. It is a universal rule that one can sharpen and improve their skills by themselves once they are led into the door. This is more than true. I'm currently pushing myself into the doors, and much will come following that :-)
From being totally new to Final Cut Pro till novice level, I'm experiencing the progress and accumulating the confidence and interest. Editing can be really fun. It's a producing process, which means creativity can play am important role. This occasionally makes me feel I belong to this industry. I know I'm a person who needs living in industries where freshness, creativity and fun swarm in. That's why i persist that advertising is where I belong. Now, I'm seeing myself fit for television production because of the editing process involved.
News agencies have their own various search database and according searching ways within themselves. This means new training needs to be received for new comers. Pecan, Dalet and Dalet Plus are so integral for my jobs. The more I practice, the better and quicker i can perform. It is a universal rule that one can sharpen and improve their skills by themselves once they are led into the door. This is more than true. I'm currently pushing myself into the doors, and much will come following that :-)
Monday, September 14, 2009
09/14/09--First day of the week. Let's sift stories
The first week passed quickly, swallowing up everything like a starving kid without intention to telling which food are delicately cooked and which are messed up ones. Now the second week starts, and I'm able to getting down to approaching each detail during production.
There is no doubt that my graduate study equipped me with adequate theoretical knowledge. However, one-year time span prompts me through without squeezing the time out to master enough skills for designing and editing purposes. Thanks to electronic publishing, I was able to taste the flavor of InDesign and Allustrator. I trained myself of SPSS through research work assigned by Prof. Cheng, which is aequally helpful. However, lacking of practical and necessary techniques like Final Cut Pro and Photoshop are still obstacles for my improvement. Therefore, I'm gearing up to learn them with full momentum. Hopefully, I can make big progress within the first month.
Having picked five news with Voyo today, I edited two of them. Tomorrow may be really busy because not only the stories have to be ready, but also we have to start cutting the videos. Of course, busy days are time when I can learn most. Good night to myself and gear up for tomorrow.
There is no doubt that my graduate study equipped me with adequate theoretical knowledge. However, one-year time span prompts me through without squeezing the time out to master enough skills for designing and editing purposes. Thanks to electronic publishing, I was able to taste the flavor of InDesign and Allustrator. I trained myself of SPSS through research work assigned by Prof. Cheng, which is aequally helpful. However, lacking of practical and necessary techniques like Final Cut Pro and Photoshop are still obstacles for my improvement. Therefore, I'm gearing up to learn them with full momentum. Hopefully, I can make big progress within the first month.
Having picked five news with Voyo today, I edited two of them. Tomorrow may be really busy because not only the stories have to be ready, but also we have to start cutting the videos. Of course, busy days are time when I can learn most. Good night to myself and gear up for tomorrow.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Accidentally in bars--let's talk about drinking
It's frustrating when people take it for granted that I'm from OSU when i actually say Ohio University. I'm strongly aware that OU may be not as renowned as OSU in some regards. Come on, we have a pretty decent journalism major, and a happy-and-sad reputation for drinking. I'm not advocating for a binge, but the bar culture there, wow, is really something.
It seems inappropriate, to some degree, to start this blog with alcohol because this blog is supposed to be devoted to my intern life, so probably should deal with my learning and mistakes. However, you can say that I'm desperately imbued with the alcohol spirit due to my one year stay in Athens, a small town with a huge drinking culture.
There is a saying in China that a person's character can be best detected from their drinking. My observation of tonight is that D.C., as a political center, has also fostered a locally unique drinking culture. Most people going bars are not for fun or aversion from undesired something. Instead, they are discussing serious businesses or current controversial political issues. Dressing either very casually or formally, they are not thinking too much because that is not going to affect a lot what they want. In Athens, bars are places where many people get their second life, which means that they either are in need of getting drunk or making people drunk. In a word, drunkenness is their final destination. Therefore, they effortfully dress themselves so that they can get drunk quickly receiving enough free drinks bought by those momentary lovers. It's all about tonight.
I'm not a big drinker, but I'm getting bigger. I prefer Athens, not because that I'm a hug fan of drinking spree, but that for me, the best part of drinking is all about becoming tipsy. I can only reach this state of mind in bars on Court Street in Athens. Hey, by the way, i miss you, Athenians. Bottom up!
It seems inappropriate, to some degree, to start this blog with alcohol because this blog is supposed to be devoted to my intern life, so probably should deal with my learning and mistakes. However, you can say that I'm desperately imbued with the alcohol spirit due to my one year stay in Athens, a small town with a huge drinking culture.
There is a saying in China that a person's character can be best detected from their drinking. My observation of tonight is that D.C., as a political center, has also fostered a locally unique drinking culture. Most people going bars are not for fun or aversion from undesired something. Instead, they are discussing serious businesses or current controversial political issues. Dressing either very casually or formally, they are not thinking too much because that is not going to affect a lot what they want. In Athens, bars are places where many people get their second life, which means that they either are in need of getting drunk or making people drunk. In a word, drunkenness is their final destination. Therefore, they effortfully dress themselves so that they can get drunk quickly receiving enough free drinks bought by those momentary lovers. It's all about tonight.
I'm not a big drinker, but I'm getting bigger. I prefer Athens, not because that I'm a hug fan of drinking spree, but that for me, the best part of drinking is all about becoming tipsy. I can only reach this state of mind in bars on Court Street in Athens. Hey, by the way, i miss you, Athenians. Bottom up!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
at the beginning of my D.C. life
I appreciate life a lot, not only because it kisses me with unaffordable joy all of a sudden, but also it slashes me, immediately after happiness, with killing bitterness. This is the charm.
My life in D.C., till now, is definitely the first half. I'm fortunate enough to have a very good friend who helps me with everything here, so my deepest gratitude goes to her. Another person i feel grateful to is my roommate who generously rents her fully-furnished apartment to me at a unbeatable price. I'm also grateful that grocery price and tax rate are not unbelievably high comparing with products in Athens, OH. This is really great for someone like me who vows to support myself through this unpaid internship.
Everything is good except for the often mentioned danger. Danger is everywhere if we are not danger conscious. Of course big cities are bigger breeding place for crime and danger since everything goes BIG includes danger. However, reciprocity is applicable everywhere in life. If you are a safe person, life will treat you safe according to my little observation.
I will go China Town today to purchase some necessary seasoning and additives for cooking. Life in D.C. officially starts tomorrow on my first day to VOA. I'm looking forward to the expected joy it will bring about, and also fully aware of the frustration and obstacles that come possibly through the way. Therefore, my principle is to embrace the good and be aware of and prepared for the potential bad. In this way, I'm unbeatable, hopefully.
My life in D.C., till now, is definitely the first half. I'm fortunate enough to have a very good friend who helps me with everything here, so my deepest gratitude goes to her. Another person i feel grateful to is my roommate who generously rents her fully-furnished apartment to me at a unbeatable price. I'm also grateful that grocery price and tax rate are not unbelievably high comparing with products in Athens, OH. This is really great for someone like me who vows to support myself through this unpaid internship.
Everything is good except for the often mentioned danger. Danger is everywhere if we are not danger conscious. Of course big cities are bigger breeding place for crime and danger since everything goes BIG includes danger. However, reciprocity is applicable everywhere in life. If you are a safe person, life will treat you safe according to my little observation.
I will go China Town today to purchase some necessary seasoning and additives for cooking. Life in D.C. officially starts tomorrow on my first day to VOA. I'm looking forward to the expected joy it will bring about, and also fully aware of the frustration and obstacles that come possibly through the way. Therefore, my principle is to embrace the good and be aware of and prepared for the potential bad. In this way, I'm unbeatable, hopefully.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
