Let me recount the past few days...

uncomfortable silence I guess it is hard and it takes some time for people to get reaquainted with each other no matter how close they were or are supposed to be. This is especially difficult when the only form of communication that ever took place between the two is "lecturer and a listener". My dad obviously is the lecturer *or story teller since's he is quite good at that, and me of course only listened (maybe not entirely true since I *talked back a lot). However, this form of communication is no longer suitable for our father/daughter relationship therefore for a LONG while there was this deadly silence. We had nothing to say to each other, or more appropriately we didn't know what to say. There's nothing really for him to lecture me about now that I am all "grown up" and working, which makes my job as a listener a difficult role to play. The thing is the plane arrived 20 minutes late too... so I pretty much sat there and observed those around me, and just sort of watched my dad and his friends or acquaintances chat... business related of course however I was definitely bored out of my mind. Or feeling uneasy I should say. But all in all, that uncomfortable silence eventually went away SLOWLY as we got to Vegas and started interacting with others other than ourselves. Not to mention I met this girl who was also there accompaning her dad at the shoe show-- as our dads chatted she found her way near me and started talking to me.... this all started when

Smile! Lets have two pretty girls stand together for a picture! "Ffffffucccckkkk!!!" I didn't even finish thinking that in my head before she came over to my side and put her left arm around my right arm, held it closely and tightly and there we all naturally formed a "picture" line and smiled. Talk about a quick reaction or so called fakeness on my part... I don't know.... I hope none of my "what the F" facial expression showed up on my face. All I know is those pictures taken better come out damn good! Anyway, putting the initial discomfort and minor shock aside, she's a pretty talkative, friendly and... girly girl. From all the physical appearance and traits she possessed, I made a general assumption and was right on target-- she's a very girly sensitive sorority girl from Berkeley who wishes to be in business however had to settle for literature instead, until she tries to apply for business for the second time and of course for that I wished her good luck. I honestly truly wished her good luck, she's made for business! Her "sweetness" and friendliness, her ability to approach people who looks like a bitch or if not who looks shy and reserved (HA!), her smile and that twinkle in the eye... she's totally right for business! Her and her dad seemed close too, and of course I found out later her dad has been supplying her shoes by going from factory to factory to get her shoes--- hellz, where the heck are my shoes at! (factory, in the warehouse, stacked on the very bottom role, invisible to the human eye...) Anyway, so after our lunch together ( yes you two girls sit together!) she suggested that we trade our numbers-- honestly I was thinking what for? But of course she said "oh if you ever go visit your dad in China we should go together"..... yes yes only if I get to go VISIT as much as you do. But that's cool, I like her, and if I do get a chance it would be fun traveling together but I am not exactly sensitive and kind, quite the opposite actually, I wonder how much of me can she take?

Are you 18? Ah and yes, the age, school, background check list-- it's a general topic people talk about and ask when they don't really care to get to know you or simply don't really know you! Most of them who's met me in the previous convention asked if I am still in school, sort of like catching up, or "hi I remember you from last year" blah blah BS. For those who don't really remember or know me asked what school I was going to, so yes after rounds of repeating my speech I grew tired of smiling and shaking hands-- I simply stood there from a distance to watch those somewhat cute models dancing and posing on the stage-- of course wearing those brand new Diesel shoes. I have to say, that girl who danced non stop although isn't exactly the best dancer, but there was something so very charming about her and I couldn't take my eyes off of her... just charming, I finally found myself the true meaning of a charming girl! And finally, out of all those people who asked what I do, one of them finally just asked me straight out for my age-- "how old are you?" 22... "oh you look like 18 year old, do you know that?" AH! That's why people kept asking me what school I go to... n speaking of age, it's so weird to report my age when the number that comes out of my mouth is no longer within the range of 18~20... I felt older all along until the people there kindly commented "oh only 22, still young" or "oh already 22, your dad must be proud". Yes yes, you bunch of liars! Or.. white liars! :P

shoe industry? no shoe industry no no, tech industry.... everyone I met there told me it is a good decision made on my part that I am not going into the shoe industry, question, if it is so fucking shitty, then why the fuck are you all in it! Of course it's just a comment people make, and of course I did think about it seriously.... the true reason why I am not in it or didn't try to go in it, is because I can't live up to my dad and uncle's reputation. It's just too much pressure and stress... if I want to be successful without people watching me like a hawk, I gotta be doing my own thing elsewhere... I can't possibly take the chance of being criticized for every mistakes I could make or be subject to comparison-- no way! The only way I would even step into the shoe industry is if I can become a buyer, then I would definitely give it a shot... :P Then we will see who gets criticized and who has some ass kissing to do.... :D

the beauty of nakedness... Since papa felt bad for whoever that was treating for dinner, who booked a tiny room with limited seating, I had to go walk around the whole casino and possibly eat dinner by myself in public (oh no! na, just not in Vegas...), it was an unique vegas experience for me. So I set up an appointment for myself at 9 for spa, neck-shoulder-back massage... decided to walk around to kill time. I wondered off to Mandalay's Shark Reef and managed to waste a good 30 minutes there, it was very educational I have to say, I learned a lot. Then before I went for my spa I bought myself some French pastry and Rasberry ice cream, then realized that was a dumb decision since it was close to my spa check in time so I had to swallow my food and try to stuff as much ice cream in as possible. Realized again back at the hotel room that there was NO FRIDGE! (what! everything but a damn fridge!) So I ended up bringing my ice cream to the spa, stored it there at their fridge, then enjoyed my nice couple hr there. The shower was amazing, nothing spectacular about it but I just liked it so much. Took my long shower, went to the massage room... then came out and just went into the jacuzzi. I wasn't so sure whether it was meant for naked people to step in or for people dressed properly in swimming suits, however I recalled coming in I saw women in the hot tub naked, and you couldn't see anything except their shoulders! So I carefully found myself a corner and as I was getting ready to take off the robe and step in, this cleaning lady came and was about to sit down... so I had to wrap myself up again. But eventually I just took it off, jumped in, and enjoyed the whole place to myself! Felt very liberated... and I was imaging how nice it would have been to be there with friends (of course not naked) or cousin Grace, that would have been fun... ah the clubs, bars, I missed it all this time. But I did get to take another shower after the hottubbing... what can I say, the shower there was great!

New Korea Restaurant We ate at the same Chinese restaurant 3 days while we stayed at vegas, each time we had something different, and I must admit each time it was filling and delicious. On sunday we came back (first missed the plan so we were on standby, almost didn't make it back!) and my uncle decided we should go to the korean restaurant that barely opened by our house on beach a couple weeks ago-- thinking that it would be like tofu soup and Korean BBQ, we went in and found ourselves stuck with only three choices-- three choices that we couldn't understand. The solution was to order one of each. I have to say, the minced sliced beef dish was good, but we got too much soup-- one beef soup and one vegitable soup. I guess the lesson learned here is do not order everything before we figure out what we were ordering, I thought the food was good-- but I missed my tofu and bbq... next time...

idyllwild art academy, the hidden heaven for those serious artists/nature lovers lets see, 5000 ft up in the moutain, close to palm springs but not like palm springs-- cold, deserted, surronded by trees and... trees. It was not the place for me, and I think not the place for my brother. Total of 249 students and to make it a good rounded 250, they need to recruit at least one more student. If it was up to me I would say forget about this crap, one cheap ass basketball court, one run down swimming pool, couple dorms (horrible), one TV that rotates around to different dorms throughout the year.... yes this place is definitely for someone who is truly serious about music, art, dance, film.... since their focus is on that, not their academics. Of course the vice principal said academics are important, however I didn't see kids in classes... I heard music, I saw some kids filming.. and I guess that's nice. I think it's a nice place to stay at for a couple of weeks like band camp, but not a place to live at through out the year for four years of a young teenager's life. It's like locking them up by throwing them there with nowhere else to go, nothing else to do, but to study and play the violin or something. I wouldn't object if the kid knows what he wants to do by age 15-- if he's sure he wants to be a musician, or an artist, or a dancer, but it's cruel to throw an international kid to that place when he is still young and yet to find his place.... dunno-- maybe I am just being selfish (definitely cannot imagine myself driving 2.5 hrs each way back and fourth 4 times on weekends) or maybe I do know my brother a little better than I think I do-- that place, is not for him.

Tuesday, last day of my dad's stay as well as the last day of my extended weekend... checked out open house, opened a savings account, went to the mall to check out shoes, bought coffee beans, all the little things that we do together as a family. Then had dinner with dad's friend, wife, and my uncle.... it was a nice ending to the short trip. I regret not taking the left over food... but all is well. I wonder when will I get to travel back to Taiwan? Hopefully soon (for vacation, not to stay...)