A Communication Space for Jaeteuk and bestVase7265 only. (Please do not reply or respond, thank you)

So, my parents left for vacation this Tuesday morning. They will be back in a month, in Japan now, met up with my brother, who left for his vacation Nov. 10th, with two other friends. My parents will be in Japan first, then, will be in Hong Kong for like 10 days, visiting my Uncle's grave, as it's his first anniversary. Probably will see my Grandma too, as it's also been a year. Then, they will be back in Japan. Brother is gone for 5 weeks, so I have 3 weeks of freedom. At first, I thought it was freedom, but during our dinner on Monday, my mum was like, "Since you work a late shift on Sundays, getting home past midnight. Send us a message upon arriving home, so we know you got home safely." So, it looks like, it's not entirely freedom, I still need to check myself in with them.

But it was nice, tried new recipes for my meals. Started last night and tonight's dinner. Tonight's was  more successful than last night's. For the past couple of weeks, my Aunt has been trying to buy me a winter jacket, my parents meet up with her every other week for lunch. She has brought over 2 different ones, both were too small for me. So, the day before my parents left, my mum sent her a message that it's no rush, and that I don't have a good eye for fashion, so, she could just choose whatever, and make a purchase when there is discount. So, this morning, I got a message from my Aunt. She took a picture of the jacket, as she wore it on her, and asked if I liked it. So, I just copied what my mum said, saying I don't have a good eye for fashion, and that it's up to her. Then, she tried to ask me if I'm available next week to give it to me, asking me what days I worked. So, I told her the truth, that I worked Thursday to Sunday, but there's a possibility that I could pick up other shifts on days I'm off. So, I told her, it's not rush for me to have a winter jacket, that we could wait until my parents come back from vacation.

My mum also reminded me that I can't tell my Aunt I'm going on a Cruise with them in January 2026. Because the last time my parents when with my Aunt, my Aunt told them, that if ever we were going on cruises, to tell her. See if she wants to come along. Apparently, she specifically told my mum, she would like to go on a cruise with me along, that way, we could share a room together. But the thing is, she wants a suite that has two rooms connected with a door. I told my mum, bringing my Aunt along is not called vacation, because my Aunt knows little English, so we would have to be with her all the time. And because she doesn't understand English much, watching shows, won't be as fun, she also might want to sleep earlier. Bringing her along would not be a relaxing time, it'll be more like work. As we would need to care for her and be with her all the time. For me, now that I get paid vacation, going on vacation in between my work, it's a time to relax and have fun, not to "babysit" someone. But, my mum is right about one thing, my Aunt is getting old, in her 80s, she might not have many years left to travel. My cousin is not a respectful type of daughter either, and when she tags along (my Aunt has to pay for her own ticket, otherwise my cousin won't let her go), my Aunt is used like a slave for her grandkids. Which is very sad. 

We're going to Mexico, a birthday trip, before I start teaching February 2nd. My first cohort of students as a Clinical Instructor. We'd leave on Jan. 17th, but the College suddenly said there was going to be a meeting on the 21st, and I couldn't take the day off on the 22nd. So, we'll be flying out on the 23rd. Otherwise, we could've stayed at my Aunt's place for a few days before we board the cruise in LA.

Well, I'd better start winding down for bed now. Hope you're doing okay lately~

So, there is a concert I want to go to next year. Not sure if you've heard of Jackson Wang before. He's like a global icon, he's finally touring North America next year. I just saw a post this morning, the tickets go on sale this Thursday at 3pm PST. I'll need to take my coffee break minutes before 3pm, to fight for the tickets. It's going to be a steal for sure. I need to get the VIP 2 package. This will be a one-time thing for me, to spend however much it will cost to get that ticket. One of the most anticipated concerts I am wanting to attend. 

So, I went to the College this morning to pick up my Instructor Package. I'm home and looking it over now. It basically consists of, the attendance sheet, printouts for student's presentation and journal prompts. As well as evaluation packages, 6 copies each, as I will have six students. I thought there'd be a schedule of when the Presentations are due, but it's not in the package, so I might have to check online to see if there's an outline for the Clinical portion.

Over the past weekend, my brother went out for breakfast with a family friend. They used to meet up for breakfast at least once a month, but since he moved out further, they only meet up once every few months. The next day, my mum told me that the family friend announced that his younger brother got married on Boxing Day. We were all surprised, and didn't even know he was dating. Apparently, they met online, and he even had flown to the Philippines to meet her and that their relationship had gone on for 2 years already. 

Today, I joined my parents for lunch with my cousins. My younger cousin who moved to New York with his girlfriend early 2025, nearing the end of our meal, my Aunt announced that his girlfriend is pregnant. My Uncle and Aunt will become grandparents in May 2026. This was another surprise, as I remember when he first moved to New York, he was telling his mum that they wouldn't end up with a kid before marriage. So, amongst the children within my generation (our parents' children), this cousin is the youngest. He's only 30, and became the first to have a kid before marriage. My other cousin, who is 2 years older than him, he married first, before having a son. He's been married for 2 years, but at least for him, the news didn't come as a surprise.

With this cousin, none of us thought he'd like to busy lifestyle of New York, and yet, he earns the most and can afford renting. He had always been the quiet one when we gather for meals on special dates (Christmas and Chinese New Years), always have his phone in hand, and hardly ever talks to anybody. After all these years, he's still the same. But like others have said, maybe when he's with his same-aged friends, he's more talkative. But you know, as the one who earns the most in my generation, we had always thought there should be at least one time, where he pays for the meal. During our car ride home, my mum said that she was a bit disappointed, as my Aunt didn't teach him to buy things for the elders (my other Aunt and my parents). As my Uncle is the younger brother of my dad, so, my parents and my other Aunt (who's the eldest), is like the elders of that cousin. My mum says, since we don't see him that often anymore, he expected that my Aunt would tell him, that out of manners, he should buy them something. And not be empty-handed, also, especially when his mum made the announcement that his girlfriend is pregnant. They should've asked the girl to come for the meal and meet us too. Like meet the dad's side of the family. Maybe during Chinese New Years, we might be able to meet her then? We'll see, her baby bump would be bigger by then, if she's due in May 2026.

Anyways..

You know, my mum didn't mention about the concert ticket I bought again. So, I won't say anything. I'm sure if she wants, she could find out possibly how much I might've paid for tickets, when I already told her it's not the regular ticket I bought. Actually, the other day, I tried to open my e-ticket, see if I could download it ahead of time, it wouldn't load.. So, I'll have to try again maybe closer to the day. It says to download it to the wallet (which I don't use my phone's wallet). I don't believe that it's safe to keep my credit cards on an electronic device. I like physical cards. But with the ticket, I'll have to see if I could open it and take a screenshot or something later on.

Hope your New Year is more settling and less stressful~

Just a little heads up. I'll be away on a Mexican Cruise with my parents. Flying out on my Birthday, the coming Friday. Staying a night at my Aunt's then, she will drop us off at the port where we board the cruise. For the past week, I've been making some last minute preparations for my class. I've also sent out an email to my students as welcome message and explained briefly what will be happening on their first day, with Orientation. Monday, I'll be busy for the first half of the day. With a dental cleaning appointment, a haircut, and needing to drop by the college to pick up my name tag.

Wednesday, I have a virtual meeting with other Clinical Instructors. A paid 30-minute meeting. I couldn't get Thursday off from work, so, I have to work it. Then we have an early flight on Friday, meaning we need to be at the airport by 6am, as we need to be at the airport 2 hours prior to our flight. I'm back on the 31st, and have taken the Sunday off. Then, class will start on Monday, February 2nd at 10am.

I'll drop by after my trip to share with you. Finally a "happier" birthday for me.

I'm back! Got home with Uber around 5:30pm. Took a shower, brother made spaghetti sauce, so we just cooked some pasta and prepared the salad. It's 8:30pm now.. will need to get ready for bed.. woke up at 5am this morning (dad messed up the alarm, suppose to wake up at 6am).. as we had to have breakfast on the cruise and walked off with our luggage before 8am... During our breakfast in the buffet, we witnessed a fire close to the Cruise Terminal happen right in front of our eyes! It was a block away from one of the entrances to the terminal parking lot.. Many fire engines were around the building on the corner.. Once we got into the Uber, the driver said, he was parked a block above the place and suddenly saw many police cars and fire engines.. I asked what kind of building it was, driver said it was a wooden home, like 100 years old.. and didn't have any residents.. I hope there really weren't any casualties, the whole place was up in flames. At first, I thought they had put it out, but then, I saw the flames again. By the time we left the cruise, it did look like they had it under control.. and since I didn't see any ambulances around, I'm guess there really were no casualties in the fire.

Tomorrow, I'll need to do the laundry and wash my clothes.. and double-check all my paperwork that is needed for my students on Monday. The first week of February will all be on Orientation. So, the college confirmed with me on Wednesday, that the sixth student has finally registered for the Clinical.. so, I officially have six students in my first cohort. 

I also made an appointment for an interview for the Nexus card.. but it'll have to be during Easter Monday.. as all the Saturdays have been booked, and since with the class, I'll be teaching Monday to Friday.. as a Stat holiday for Easter Monday, and they have openings for the interview, I chose that day. 

This birthday was one to remember as well. Since I flew out on my birthday, and spent it with my Aunt who lives only an hour drive away from LAX. They took us out for lunch, as that was when we arrived at SNA, and went grocery shopping for our dinner and she insisted to buy me a cake. So I chose a small one and my uncle ended opening a bottle of champagne to go with cake. They drove us to the Cruise terminal the next day (Saturday morning).

I'm already thinking about my vacation for 2027. I might go visit my cousin, she has her own place in Tuscon.. I actually heard from my parents that she has one guest room, so, I contacted her and asked if I could visit her in my next vacation.. and she suggested that the best time to go is between October and April.. Which works out for me.. I could choose the same time as this year, and go in January.. If my Instructor role goes well, I'm hoping to teach 2 of the 3 terms each year.. Teaching the February and October terms. And going to her place in January, I can get away from the cold and rain at home.. It will be an adventure for me though.. it would be the first time I fly alone.. and so far away, with the need to connect flights..

We're only in February now.. I won't need to make a decision until later this year, when we need to plan for our 2027 vacation.. Lot's of time to think about it.. and do research to see how much it'd cost me for the airfare.. but with this new Instructor role, the pay per hour is nearly 2x more than what I current get.. So, by January 2027, I should be able to afford airfare to my cousin.

Anyways, it's just past 9pm now.. time for bed. Hope you have been well the past week, that your eyes aren't giving you too much discomfort.

So, the evening Supervisor has returned from vacation this past week, after our Stat on Monday. So, arranging the staff's assignment to align with my students is easier, than working with the morning Supervisor. I was told yesterday though, that from now until the end of March, the staff will encounter more days that would be short-staffed. As the flu season is very strong this year, and people are getting burnt out from all the OT they are picking up.. 

There will be more days like yesterday, where we were short-staffed by three people in the morning, so, I had to take two of my students under my own wing to teach them.. Which ended up being more tiring for me.. Of course, during the class I felt energized, it usually doesn't really kick in until my ride back home on the train.. my back felt sore and I almost fell asleep. But I went to treat myself for sushi, as both my brother and parents had dinner plans with their friends. So, it was nice to have some alone time, eating something I like.. I'd go to the Korean restaurant, but the past couple weeks, when I went there after work, I always ended up ordering take-out because it has been a full-house around 7pm on Fridays. So, I just order take-out, and use the food as my lunch for the next day.

I also got my first pay check as an Instructor, so must treat myself after a long, tiring day of class yesterday. Oh, on the train, ever since I started this new role, I've been seeing the same girl on my way home. I always end up sitting in the same spot as she's there usually 3 times a week. So, the day before, we finally talked to each other. At first we'd greet each other with a wave, but never had a conversation. But the day before, there was still a lot of time until the train departed, so we talked. I haven't seen her since last Friday until seeing her the past Thursday.. So, it turns out she's an Accountant, that works a couple of skytrain stops away.. that she works partial days in the office and at home, every 2 weeks, need to go into the office for 5 days.. So, she explained that she usually works remotely on Mondays and Fridays.. So, I shared what I do as well.. Except I just said I am instructor at a hospital, didn't give her the department, or what I was teaching though. As I figured she probably wouldn't have heard about it.. She gets off the train at the stop after mine.

For once, I was the one feeling sleeping on the train, as she's always the one that dozes off, while holding her phone.. She's usually watching videos, while on the train, I'm doing some paperwork for my students, or taking notes for things I want to tell my students in the next day. As in Instructor, I think the most difficult part so far, is pairing my students up with good staff members that are good teachers.. Being short-staffed doesn't help either.

How's the recovery from eye surgery going? I thought I'd give you some rest for your eyes after surgery, so I didn't make any posts.

I went home halfway through class on Wednesday, as I had a fever Tuesday night and I was feeling hot and cold all morning. So, my students get to go home early too. We left at 1pm and I told the College I needed another day off. So, I'll return to class on Friday, and the presentations from the other three students will be done together. I'm just waiting for the College to confirm, if I need to make up for the time that I was sick for the students, meaning, adding an hour to our Clinical for 10 days.

I rested mostly in bed today. Woke up to eat and drink fluids. I couldn't sleep last night though, woke up every hour, coughing. I guess Tylenol doesn't work for me. Will need to take something else tonight to sleep. My students think it's because of stress that my immune system declined, on top of days that were raining and cold. Stress for that one student who I see no improvement, and we're halfway through Clinical. Next week, I'll be going over their mid-evaluations. With that student, I'll need to state everything that is still lacking, and make it clear to her, if improvement is not seen by the end, she may not pass the program. 

So, it's Good Friday. I get to work! It's a Super Stat, which means it's x2 the pay. But I'm working the afternoon shift, 3-11pm. It should've been 3:30pm to 11:30pm, but because I need a 12-hr window in between my Saturday shift, my supervisor had me start 30 minutes earlier. I also need to arrive a bit earlier, before the nurse leaves for the day. As I need to grab something from the Supervisor's office, and the nurse has access and I don't. I mean, I could wait until tomorrow, since I'll be driving both days. But, I thought I'd get it a day earlier. I need to start working on my final grading for my students.

Can you believe it, there's only 3 more weeks left! Yesterday, one my Supervisors had a chat with me. She revealed, Management was hoping to hire all six students, but the three that I don't recommend, they observed with the same result. I think it is mainly because the hospital really needs more Casuals, as the permanent staff are constantly taking advantage of the overtime shifts. Meaning, they accept the overtime shift, then, end up calling in sick for them. That way, they get paid more. The other problem is, because these shifts are given based on seniority, the same staff member always takes it all. Leaving others with no chance of working any overtime shifts. 

Also, during our discussion, she once again mentioned how two other staff had wanted to be Clinical Instructors too.. but, she did not feel they were good candidates. I then asked her, what was it in mean, that she felt I could be a good candidate? She said she base it on her intuition of a person when she first meets them. So, I said, was it during my interview then? She said I gave her a very positive vibe, that she felt that I'd be responsible and that I had potential to go further. She said, she just chose me, and went to the Manager and told her I'd be someone she'd appoint to be the Clinical Instructor for our site. She said, her decision, her gut feeling, and intuition is always on point. So, when she informed the Manager, she has already made her mind, and had spoken to me already. Her words made me feel honoured, that based on first impression, she trusted me and could see that I would be a good Clinical Instructor. I think, our personalities are similar to an extent, as we're both Aquarius, so gut feeling she gets when she reads people, I pick it up right away too. 

I received an email yesterday in regards to pre-registering for early check-in for my VIP experience for Sunday's concert! I have to arrive by 3:45pm. Which means, I need to leave my house by 1:45pm, in case there's traffic. I will Uber. But this will also mean, there won't be time for dinner. So, I'll have to have a full lunch before I go. I plan to bring a lot of cough drops though, maybe a mask, in case I get into a coughing fit. I won't wear it yet though. Yes, I am still coughing. Actually, when I woke up this morning, I suddenly felt my throat super dry and my voice suddenly cracked. So, I don't think I'll be better by Sunday. I'll just bring a mask with me, just in case. But it'll make me stand out, because probably no one else would be wearing a mask during a concert! I wrote an encouragement letter, but most likely won't be able to give it to him. But I'll bring it anyways. 

So, remember how my dad wasn't feeling well the past Easter weekend, and my mum told him not to join the lunch with my Uncle on the past Monday? Well, I think I caught his virus that day.. as I ended up sitting beside him. I'm in my second round of being sick.. and I haven't even recovered from the previous one, with the coughing. Now, it's back to runny nose, and more coughs at nighttime.. it was finally getting better at night, being able to sleep through it.. now, that the coughs are back..

This is not a good time to be sick, again. In my last two weeks of class, this is supposedly the most stressful time for me. As I will be testing my students individually this coming week, and in our final week, I'll be grading them. I guess with the stress, it also decreases my immunity, as my stress always lead to disturbed sleep. I just took some medicine, will work on my grading, need to write comments on their evaluations. Don't have much time to sit and do this.