Chicago via Incheon International Airport

I have officially been in Chicago for a day now. My apartment is unfurnished but YES, I have my internet and laptop all set up. Compared to Melbourne, Chicago is HUGE! I’m living in a pretty convenient place though. There’s a McDonalds in the building, although I am not entirely sure that that is a good thing at all. There’s also a few other restaurants and a supermarket. I have read some bad stuff about this place though… so we’ll see. I’m staying in a studio apartment but compared to my studio in Unilodge in Melbourne, this apartment is like a mansion.

Anyway I wanted to talk a little bit about the Icheon International Airport. I took Korean Airlines so my transit stop was in Incheon. This airport is ranked number 1 this year, ahead of Changi (Singapore) and Hong Kong. This airport is in fact very pleasant and convenient. The security check for transitors is simple, just scanning hand carry items, and additional manual bag checking for those travelling to US. I personally didn’t have to take off my shoes but I saw some people did have to. The airport features a host of shopping outlets, food courts, lounges, free internet, and even some R&R activities (for a fee of course). The airport is busy but not over crowded and is in fact very quiet, and fairly clean. Toilet cubicles are a little small though, I would prefer is you were able to drag some bags into the stalls. There’s also Korean culture center where passengers waiting for flights can participate in some traditional Korean activities like fan painting for free and you get to keep the fan.

Side note – I was amazed how easily I got into the US. Immigration was a breeze, they didn’t detain me or anything just needed my I-20.

The Return

Ok, so I know I haven’t updated my blog in a long long looooooong time and I’m pretty sure that no one even bothers with my blog anyway. However this has been mentioned a few times by my good friends Shal and Ash, so I’ve decided I will make a come back. At the moment I am preparing for my exams, most probably the most important exams so far, so technically this is just a pre-return post. But I am determined to bring my blog back to life! Stay tuned everyone… I’ll be back!!

Can’t Blame You For Being Confused, Guys…

An article on chivalry on Yahoo! made me realise how confused guys must be sometimes. If they are too chivalrous, we may think they are just creepy and if they don’t do anything, we think they are jerks. I never really thought about until I read the article. For example, when a guy doesn’t hold the door open when he’s just like a few steps in front of me, I think: “how ungentlemanly”, and if they are holding the door open but I’m actually little ar behind, I will feel the need to walk faster and wish they would just not hold it open. Those poor guys out there who just don’t know what to do in a situation. Although being nice is always the better choice, there’s being nice and then there’s “thinking” you’re being nice. If it’s a simple situation like holding the door open or helping with heavy items, even if we didn’t need it, we would still be thankful. However if it something that is a little more conplicated like a girl and guy having a heated arguement or a girl is alone and totally drunk on the streets, think first before you do anything, doing the wrong thing may just make things worse or get yourself in trouble. But then again, I’m sure it’s not just guys who get into these situations, so I guess everyone must be confused.

On another note, the Australian Open this year was great for men’s tennis! Anyone as stoked as I was that Federer wasn’t in the finals?! Congratz Djokovic and Sharapova.

Women In High Places

Taking a que from Cashmere Mafia the new ABC show, it made me very curious as to what do men actually think about being in a relationship with a woman who has a “higher status” in terms of higher paying job and is more successful.

Is it such a crime for a woman who ‘wants it all’? So ok I think that it’s a little sad that these days some people have nannies raising their children for them. If that’s the case I can see how that would make some more ‘conservative’ men prefer their wives to be more family orientated. But I’m sure there are women out there who can juggle family and career. So let’s say that a woman can have a great career while taking care of family business just fine. How does it make a difference if the woman makes more money than the guy? Does that make him feel inferior? Does that make him feel useless? What is it? Is it just an ego thing or is there something deeper?

I guess people will always want to be the best at what they do, irrespective of what gender they are. But why should that have any effect on a relationship? I guess being a person who has no experience what so ever, means I can’t really give my view on the situation. I’m just want to know what people really think about this issue.

Please, please, if you are reading this, please leave a comment tell me what you think. You can be annonymous if you want.

On another note, thanks to the writer’s strike, I’ve started watching two new TV shows: Mad Men and Cashmere Mafia. I’ve only just seen the first episode of both and Mad Men seems to be a very intense drama but it won two Golden Globes this year including one for best Drama Series so I’ll see how that goes. Cashmere Mafia on the other hand is a drama/comedy, more of what I prefer watching. It’s the new Sex and the City but less about the sex and fashion, and more about women in high places.

Update (Part 1)

Relaxation

     

Been to the Royal Botanic Gardens a few times for some relaxation… I really love that place… especially when the weather is nice!

Rotaract

   

Even though we are lacking in members… Rotaract has been quite active this semester… that was one of our projects at the 3 Towers event in Richmond.

Shalini’s Visit – Ballarat Day Trip

                     

Shalini came down to Melbourne again over the spring break which gave us some opportunities to meet up with some Assuntarians… mostly our time was spent eating! We also had a day trip to Ballarat… I drove! My first time driving in Australia… was kinda weird and I was very very nervous at first but I wasn’t too bad… Surprise of the trip was when we found a cafe called Assunta’s… the sign was in school colours as well and they even had a student’s special… hehe… then again Ballarat was full of Irishmen back in the day during the gold rush…

Grampians Road Trip

                      

The last weekend of the spring break, I went on a road trip with a bunch of O’Connell people… It was FUN!! Except for the driving… driving sucks… but I had a great time none the less… We stayed in a caravan park, went to the J-ward, night winery tour, went hiking up the Grampians, and the Ballarat Wildlife Park in Ballarat… the scenery was awesome… it was great to get out of the city for awhile… saw loads of kangaroos (including road kill) as well as an albino one… good fun!

Laziness…!!!

Wow… I haven’t updated my blog in awhile… I mean months! Sorry to those people who actually used to come and check my blog… I guess everyone would have thought I stopped blogging all together… maybe I’ll find time soon to do a full summary of this semester’s happenings… until then… take care!

Random Photos

From Olive Picking: – more info go to http://www.rotaractcarlton.org.au

      

From Royal Botanic Gardens:

              

From Noa & Jo’s Farewell:

  

Random:

 

Home… Home On The Range…

Not exactly on the range… And another semester has just ended and I am home… I wish I could have stayed longer in Melbourne but sadly couldn’t… Oh well… and so the holiday begins… Hmmmm…