ceen and sees overseas

while i was grinding my box, it started raining. sparks were...

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 01:31:19 -0400

while i was grinding my box, it started raining. sparks were flying up as water was dripping down.

after MIG welding the set of frames. before grinding, after...

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 01:09:56 -0400

after MIG welding the set of frames. before grinding, after grinding.

first time MIG welding, got a little messy.

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 01:04:57 -0400

first time MIG welding, got a little messy.

hello everyone, it’s been too long. i’ve really...

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:56:53 -0400

hello everyone, it’s been too long. i’ve really missed traveling and also missed blogging about traveling.

i am currently in snowmass village/aspen, colorado taking a metal furniture workshop at anderson ranch. above is a picture of just part of the sculpture studio where our class is taking place. the entire ranch is beautiful, not to mention the city itself and the landscape. my professor is vivian beer who has done amazing metal work and a phenomenal instructor so far. this is my first time working with metal, and i’m really enjoying it so far. however, i think i am still a wood girl no doubt. it is nice learning a new material and developing a new appreciation since i have been so focused on wood.

i’ll be here for 2 weeks taking the workshop, which is every weekday from 9-5pm. usually i eat dinner there and then continue working until 9pm. tomorrow is fourth of july, and this will be my first time spending fourth of july in the states in about 4-5 year! really psyched to be spending it in aspen even though we will be having class. before i talk your ears off, here’s a great start to a new stream of photos from my time here so far.

reporting from austin, texas y’all! it already feels like...

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:59:13 -0500

reporting from austin, texas y’all! it already feels like summer here, it sucks!

ok wipe away all the negative energy… at least i’m done with two daunting applications and back working in the woodshop! my first stop in austin was elizabeth street cafe where my best friend bridget is working at now, we got half off our entire $80 bill. hm mmmm

anyways, hopefully i’ll be updating with taiwan memories due to withdrawals or getting the hell out of austin as soon as june! stay tuned…

taiwan wetland(ceen, me, david, bridget), 2010, photograph by...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:07:00 -0500

taiwan wetland(ceen, me, david, bridget), 2010, photograph by bethany dalby

i used to wish i grew up in another city or was of another ethnicity; like montreal so i knew both english and french or copenhagen so i had free education and health care or was a swedish-japanese so i could be cool like Yukimi from little dragon.
(source: nme)
but i have no regrets about being taiwanese or growing up in taiwan.

(source: whattofocuson-happiness)

it has made me appreciate food on a level that might not be comprehensible for non-taiwanese. (i’m sure anyone that travels as much as anthony bourdain understands though.) my aunt told me a story about how her american co-worker richard asked her and her friend what their(taiwanese) favorite food is. after contemplating for a long time, my aunt and her friend answered we like a variety. we have the best of every cuisine: taiwanese, japanese, thai, etc so we are not attached to any one kind of food like kimchi(koreans), miso soup(japanese), or pizza(americans). so true and so blessed to be taiwanese.

being taiwanese has made me speak chinese fluently(without a chinese accent). a skill deemed so valuable as i come to appreciate more everyday. i’ve met so many people living here still unable to speak chinese fluently after learning for a year. plus, everyone is jumping on the wagon to learn chinese even benny lewis who just arrived in taipei and posted in the taipei couchsurfing group on tips for learning mandarin in THREE MONTHS. his youtube video that explains his goal in detail has received many skeptical and critical comments. i do admire his attitude and ambitious goal but still… good luck man. here is his recent TEDx talk on learning languages.

mi padre + me at 2 months DANG i was fat and ugly

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:36:34 -0500

mi padre + me at 2 months

DANG i was fat and ugly

dreamer

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:23:00 -0500

most of my time in taiwan this winter was spent on a fellowship proposal. as the realist that i am, i know my efforts/time are a lost cause, but as my dear friends and mentors have convinced me: there’s no hurt in trying and applying for the fellowship (besides the fact that it’s taking time out of my precious stay in taiwan JOKING).

however, it would be SO nice to get the fellowship, which would allow me to go HERE:

(source: amy stein)

work in THIS WOODSHOP:

(source: hermitage artist retreat)

go HERE:

(source: boisbuchet)

learn from THEM:
(source: elitism)

and go back HERE:

(source: abdi.so)

i have officially jinxed my 0% chances, YIKES!

if that doesn’t convince you of couchsurfing, i...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:21:08 -0500

if that doesn’t convince you of couchsurfing, i don’t know what would.

although apparently couchsurfing isn’t for everyone, watch this video.

that is if you answer yes to any of these questions:

would you describe yourself as someone who needs to be in constant control of every situation?
when traveling is it essential for you to have all of the comforts of home?
are you an inconsiderate asshole?

FINALLY got up early(and got JU ready as fast as possible to...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:39:04 -0500

FINALLY got up early(and got JU ready as fast as possible to leave) for coffee ally’s ice cream with cotton candy and espresso and it did not disappoint, recommended by hungry girl.

the whole process of preparing it is a spectacle, or as jbo would call it a reverse volcano, we documented it for your viewing pleasure.

GRACE AMBROSE: RIP ESME BARRERA

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:37:44 -0500

GRACE AMBROSE: RIP ESME BARRERA:

g-m-a:

Esme and Herbie

Many of you have undoubtedly seen this somewhere online already. Esme Barrera was murdered in Austin, Texas on New Year’s Day after walking home two blocks from a party.

I was lucky enough to meet Esme this March at Waterloo Records during SXSW. She snuck me a piece…

onsen PAPAWAQA, i feel like i’m yelling in taiwan...

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:28:24 -0500

onsen PAPAWAQA, i feel like i’m yelling in taiwan aboriginal dialect

drove through beautiful scenic (dizzy) route through taiwan to...

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:20:00 -0500

drove through beautiful scenic (dizzy) route through taiwan to osen papawaqa in miaoli with the fam and ju’s fam. at onsen papawaqa, we enjoyed a personal hot tub with the view of natural springs, some hot spring action, and an hour long spa/massage treatment.

another gem i’ve found via shuflies is t.loafer. where i...

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:38:00 -0500

another gem i’ve found via shuflies is t.loafer. where i met couchsurfer evans.

the set up is not as ideal for working but perfect for meeting fellow couchsurfers. the cafe is so chill, and i love how the worker doesn’t bother you or try to sell you stuff like most taiwanese vendors. a taiwanese hipster makes all the drinks and food(various flavors of toast) from behind a small counter in the corner, he even manually grinds the coffee beans. it feels like you’re sitting at a friends apartment when you’re at the cafe.

see shuflies post for better pictures and more info.

it is unfortunate that i have to spend most of my time in taiwan...

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:22:00 -0500

it is unfortunate that i have to spend most of my time in taiwan working on stuff. at least i’ve found some cozy coffee shops near guting to work in while listening to good tunes. my most frequented cafe is mooi trouve, recommended by shuflies, read her blog post for more pictures and info.

(source: shuflies)

The inside of the cafe is decorated to highlight the ceiling with its hinoki (or Japanese cypress) beams. I love the smell of hinoki wood, especially during the summer. The store sells vintage housewares from Germany, France and other European countries.

this is a screenshot of my google analytics, a service that...

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:44:00 -0500

this is a screenshot of my google analytics, a service that generates detailed statistics about the visitors to a website.

taipei is leading right now with 36 visits, which is probably the efforts of myself+my mother, austin comes in second with 14 visits, myself again. nothing surprising. bangkok is third with 6 visits(thanks to my thai friend nuch i’m guessing?). i think i’m most surprised by the istanbul taking 10th with 3 visits. i guess i have a turkish fan.

and one visit from sudan, what?

oh the wonders of google and google analytics. anyways, thank you all visitors(*cough* myself and my mom)!

small ceen. Château de Versailles. 2011.

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:34:30 -0500

small ceen. Château de Versailles. 2011.

typical conversation. berlin. 2011. come play with me in taipei...

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:18:00 -0500

typical conversation. berlin. 2011.

come play with me in taipei please.

4 individuals(one is the black blob climbing in the top left...

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:34:00 -0500

4 individuals(one is the black blob climbing in the top left corner), 1 bike, 1 empty amphitheater, infinite love for traveling

concluded our night at the daan forest park with some painful...

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:29:35 -0500

concluded our night at the daan forest park with some painful feet massages