Back to School Dance

Saturday-

Nothing to do on a Saturday night, so I decided to go check out the Back to School Dance. Theme was Marti Gras. We have the Back to School Dance outside in our open Quad, so that was something different. Anyway, IMO the dance was waaack. I had some good laughs though. Joking around with Allison was fun.

Sunday-

Chill with dad. Finish up some homework. Went to Ymass. Came home excited that Monday would be a Gold day and I get to start school at 845am. I receive a message from Justin that there is a Photography Club Board meeting first thing in the morning at 745am. So much for sleeping in. -____-

Dad comes home!

My dad is finally homeee!

Its been 2 months since he left for his trip to China/Vietnam. I was extremely happy. Spent the weekend with him.

First Week of School

Its been one week and already I'm coming home late, sleeping late, and falling asleep in classes.

Anyway, here is what my first week has been like:

Monday-

School at 7:45am. Long hours of classes during the day. After school I chilled for a bit and then headed off the Prospect High School for open gym Volleyball with Hieu. Come home tired from a 5 hour night, full day of school, and 2 hours of volleyball. Then I realize that I haven't even finished reading my summer reading that I have a test for the tomorrow. Spend the whole night finish watching the 5 hour movie while reading chapter summarizes and notes. Day repeats tomorrow.

Tuesday-

No collaboration. School at 7:45am again for Holy Cross Meeting. Summer reading test. I stay at school all the way until 8pm for a Bric Brothers Membership Renewal. Come home and do homework. Sleep late again, wake up early for the next day.

Wednesday-

School at 7:45am. Sleepy during classes. School is over. Chill for a bit. Open gym at Prospect until 6pm. Come home to a new lens! Yeeee! Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 ED AF-D push/pull version. I'm pretty happy about the lens. Procrastinate for hours. Do homework. Sleep late, wake up early.

Thursday-

So finaally I can sleep in because school starts at 8:45! Oh wait! Student Council meeting.

-_____- The only day out of the week I can sleep in, I have to be at school promptly at 7:45am. Yay.. Anyway, the first meeting of the year was pretty good. I have a good feel of how things work. Normal school biz. Falling asleep in all my classes. Get a referral at the end of school. Get out of it. Chill for a bit. Go home early! Chill with Lynn, but then I fall asleep and take a nap until 6. Finished up all my homework and now I'm a free man! Tomorrow is Friday!

Friday-

So today was just insanely hot. I had the last period of the day in the 400s, which has no AC. It felt like a sauna. Humidity rose because the room was packed. Why is the first week of school so hot when the last week of summer so cold? Anyway, after school we decided that it was the prefect time for swimming. Lynn, Mimi, and I went to Blush before to visit Matt and Chanda. Then, Mimi and I headed over to Angela's where I ran into Merrick and Kalani. Went swimming with Ariana, Jomar, Angela, Mimi, and I for a bit. Left soon after and went to dinner with mom. Drove back to the pool and just chilled. Spent the next few hours just chilling with Lucian, Troy, and Jomar. Miggy showed up hours later. It was a relaxing Friday.

Junior Year Survey

SCHOOL SURVEY 2009-2010

School: St. Francis High School

Grade: 11th, Junior

How was your first day?

Boring

What's your homeroom?

AP English with Courtney

Who are your teachers?

Daniels, Busbin, Segal, Schuggs, Quinn, Adams, Miranda, Kemp

What's your locker number?

239

Do you like your schedule?

Its pretty all right

What's your 6th period?

Spanish

Who sit's next to you?

Alec Parent, Kevin Ngo

Do you have any friend's in that class?

A couple

Who do you eat lunch with?

Friends

Are you joining any sports? If yes, which ones?

Possibly Volleyball, Lacrosse, or Track and Field

What is your hardest class?

AP English, Spanish

Who's your coolest teacher?

Daniels, Quinn

Are you mean to freshman?

I don't care too much.

Do you have uniform?

Dress Code

What do you like most about your school?

Education

Do you have any honors classes?

AP English

What class has the most annoying kids in it?

They are all pretty all right

Are you taking physical education?

Nope

Are you in band?

Nope

Who do you talk to most in 2nd period?

Probably James or Anjelica

What class do you miss most from last year?

2nd period Psychology, 3rd period Steel Drums

What teacher do you miss the most?

Mr. Mitchell

What's your 5th period?

Drawing 2/Painting

Does it seem fun?

Its pretty chill

Any crushes?

Cuties

What's your biggest goal for this year?

Stay on top of things. Do well on SAT and AP test

Who do you have a lot of classes with?

Not too many of my friends.

Who sits in front of you in English?

I move around

Would you ever go out with anyone in that class?

In English class? I'd hit a few of them.

Do you want a boyfriend/girlfriend this year?

We'll see.

Are you taking foreign language?

Spanish 3...-__-

Do you have any classes with upper/lower classmen?

All my classes are upperclassmen but in Art and Algebra2, I have some Freshman/Sophomores

What lunch do you have?

2nd Lunch or Lunch B. Sandwiches or special of the day.

Do you have a dean?

2 of them

What do you do during lunch?

Eat, Talk, Walk, Chill

How do you think this school year will be?

Hard, important, big work load and responsibilty. Mentally a make it or break it year. And an Identity Searching year.

First Day

First day of Junior Year.

So I guess I felt a change in the air this morning when I woke up. I wasn't complaining that school started, but I wasn't excited either. It was just another day and another thing I had to do. Summer was still in the air.

Anyway, I got to school and saw everyone and put all my stuff in my locker. The BRIC Bros had a meet and greet with the principle for introductions. Then I was off to class. First period with Mr. Daniels and Christian is going to be pretty fun. Religion is my only class with him though. I have all my classes in one area and I have to walk across campus to my locker. Fun. Anyway, the day went back pretty well. I think my teachers are pretty chill for the most part. I was pretty hungry in the morning, but when it came around to 5th period Drawing 2, when I normally would go to lunch, I was pretty alright. I guess adjusting back to having lunch at normal times was pretty easy, since I ate around noon throughout the whole summer.

Lunch with the seniors is pretty cool now. Getting to see everyone again, its cool. And then after lunch, I only have one more class until schools out. After school, Eric and Troy came to visit. They blended right in. No one noticed. We just chilled for awhile until we all went home.

This year seems like its going to be good. I want to have a positive attitude about it. It won't suck. I'm ready.

With the new dress code! I can wear jeans now! Except blue jeans.

WDIWT:

AnchorBlue Gray Jeans

AE White/Gray Button Up

Blk Supreme Lows

Blk Northface jacket

Gray Columbia backpack

Hair cut: short fauxhawk

Registration Day

It doesn't feel like I have school tomorrow. I feel like I'm going to wake up at 9AM and be super late. But its whatevers. School is cool. I don't mind it.

So here is my schedule for Junior year:

P1. Social Justice - Daniels/Moral Issues - Busbin

P2. Chemistry - Segal

P3. US History - Scharrenberg

P4. AP English - Quinn

P5. Drawing 2/Painting - Adams

P6. Spanish 3 - Miranda

P7. Algebra 2 - Kemp

I pretty much have like one class with everyone. My schedule is pretty all right. I'm just going to be walking across campus a lot. Greaaat. OH! and having second lunch is going to be cool. I have to get used to it though. One extra class before lunch, but less class after lunch. Eating and hanging out with my '10 friends is going to be fun.

Recap of Sophomore Year

So since tomorrow is the first day of Junior year, this is my recap of Sophomore year:

This past year has been a pretty good year overall. I had a lot of fun. It was a complete turn around from Freshman year. I made the best the school and made a new crew of friends. My classes were pretty fair and I did pretty well in school for the most part. The thing I remember most about Sophomore year is all the chilling I did after school. Playing cards, ice breakers, blasting music, and being loud and obnoxious so that the entire campus can hear us, but we wouldn't care. It was good times. We had many jokes and laughs to get by everyday. I was glad to have met the Seniors.

Outside of school, I still hung out with my friends from all the different schools. I had the Homecoming Madness Month, which I went to 4 in a row. My friends of different groups met and we all became friends. The circle of friends kept growing. I also got my driver's license!

In the spring time, I was very disappointed for not making the volleyball team. It dragged me down for a bit, but I eventually decided to still be active and do track&field. I did jumping. After my lows of second semester with problems at school, home, and with my spiritual self, I pulled myself together and got back to being involved around school. I ran for class office and won and I was involved with the International Showcase. I began my rise and took on challenges. I applied for board memberships in three different clubs and got the position. I am now very active at school and looked for challenges, and I'm sure the coming year will bring some.

I can say that this past school year has brought many great experiences. I've gotten to know a lot of people and met many new friends. I've become proud to go to Saint Francis. Growing and understanding things better. I've started to get a small sense of my own self and who I am.

I can't say that next year will be the same, but I can always hope for it to be better. With many of my friends leaving the school, it will definitely be a different environment. Its going to be a challenge, but I am up for it.

SUMMER RECAP 2009

Here goes an attempt to recap summer. I hope I don't forget anything.

(Haha, since I can't find any summer surveys on MS, I'm just going to reuse from last year)

Survey #1
Summer Confessions-​​​
So far this summer,have you:
​​
Seen an ex?
At church

Told Someone I love you?
To the family and friends.

Cried​?​​​
In Vietnam

Wanted someone you couldnt have?​​​
Probably


Gotten super​hyper​?​​​
Yes


Did something you shouldnt have?​​​
It's all good I suppose

Stayed up all night​?​​​
Once or twice

Shopping?​​​
Yeah

Went swimming?​​​
Hit up the beaches of Vietnam and Angela's pool pretty often

Been asked out?
With the friends.

Asked​ someone out?
We got food

Lost someone close​?​​​
Raymond, where did you go? S'all good though. We coo.

Slept​in someone elses​ bed?
Yeah

Had someone sleep in your bed?
No, not this summer.

Regret something?​​​
Not too much

Been to a concert?​​​
No concerts, but live performances, jazz clubs, open mics

Flirted with someone?​​​
A few people

Almost died?​​​
I escaped Vietnam

Kissed someone?​​​
Nope

Who did you hang out with this week?​​​
Angela, Ariana, Jomar, Marti, Roseanne, KP, Victoria, Tracey, Jesse, JLai, Lucian, Marissa, Amanda, Khrysten, Troy, Lynn, Matt, and Chanda


Did you go anywhere on an airplane?Where​?​​​
Richmond, Virginia; Taipei, Taiwan; Saigon, Ca Mau, Hanoi, Pleiku, Vietnam

Seattle, Washington; Taipei, Taiwan; Saigon, Vietnam; Nha Trang, Vietnam

Did you make new friends?
Yeah, I'd say I made a bundle of new friends.

Did you get in trouble with your parents?​​​
No, not so much.

Did you go camping?​​​
CAMPING IN MY BACKYARD

Did you meet anyone that you hated​ at first​ but then grew to like?​​​
I don't think so

DID YOU SNEAK​OUT!​!​?​
I wouldn't call it sneaking out as much as just staying out late.

Any car accidents?​​​
Too close

Are any of your friends moving?​​​
Miggs is moving to Fremont

How late do you usually wake up?
No sleeping in this summer.... -___-

What did you do on the 4th of July?​​
I had a family dinner and then was off to Cardoza for fireworks

What night do you regret the most?​​​
None in particular

How many all-nighters did you pull?​​​
Maybe one

What shoes did you wear the most?​​​
Flip-flops, Tevas, Pumas

Did you run through any sprinklers​?​​​
I don't think so

Where​ did you hang out the most?​​​
Milpitas and Vietnam

Did you sing karaoke?​​​
Yes! Karaoke houses!

What was the best night of the summer?

​​​There were a couple of good ones.

Survey #2
Look Back To Sophomore year, 10th grade...

Who were your best friends?
Lynn, Christian Mara, and Jomar

Did you have a crush on anyone?
A few cuties.

Did you ditch class?
I'd skip the ends of some classes
Did you get suspended?

Nope.
What was your favorite class?

Probably Steel Drums with Mitchell and Psychology with Ferera for chillin 75% of the time.

What was your school's name?
St. Francis High School

If you could go back would you?
Looking back, I'm glad I go to SFHS. Complete turn around from last year.

Where did you sit at lunch?
Most day's in Brother Sam's room.

Who was your biology teacher this year?
I had Mr. Andrew Welsh for Bio. He reminded me of Joey from Full House.

What's your most memorable moment?
Probably days after school when we would all just chill and play cards and ice breakers.

What action do you regret the most?
Not doing well in my Bio SAT-II

What did you spend the most time doing on weekends?
Chillin' out, maxin' relaxin', actin all cool

Did you make any lifelong friendships?
I'm pretty sure I did.

Have any enemies?
Not so much.

Did you ever dress out of the dress code?
As much as I could

Did you get your lunch from the school or bring it?
Both
Who did you sit with at lunch?

The Little Asia of SFHS.

What was your class schedule?
01: Spanish 2
02: Colonial History/Behavioral Psychology
03: Steel Drums
04: Geometry H
05: Biology

06: Living the Life/New Testament
07: English 2


Did you ever skip a whole day of school even though you weren't sick?
I don't think so.
Ever embarrass yourself in front of a large group of people/
Possibly, probably, who cares
Ever stayed up all night, then sleep all day at school?
YES

What was your worst subject?
Spanish, first semester
What's your advice for incoming Sophomores?

Don't mess up, this year matters.

All right, here is a list of accomplishments/things I did this summer:

-Photoshoots, improving in photography

-Sister's wedding!

-family reunion

-swimming

-some BBQs

-Parties

-East Coast

-LSVN 2009!

-Lack of summer reading

-New experiences, new friends

-Just chill vibe

-Working

I would say that this was a great summer. Many new sights and experiences, new friends, and a better sense of what it means to be a Vietnamese-Catholic.

Last Swim of the Summer!

So today we had our last swim of the summer at Angela's pool.

Around 1Pm we met at Las Vegas for lunch. We had a surprising amount of people show up, so it was all fun. Went to the pool and I just chilled. No need to be anxious or sad. I laid down resting and took it easy. It wasn't until the guys and girls were playing keep away and the guys were short a player that I joined in. It was all pure fun. We chilled at the pool for a good couple of hours. Afterwards, we walked to Angelas and chilled there for a bit before we all got hungry. We decided to get Lee Sandwiches and meet back at my place. Class schedules were posted online, so I went home to check. We ate dinner and hung out some more at my place until everyone left. It was a good day.

Summer Work Grant

So much for sleeping in during summer...

So this week, I had summer work grant at SFHS from 8AM-230PM everyday. We did yard work, lifting and moving things, cleaning desks, sweeping and mopping floors and lockers, raking leaves, scrapping gum, and basically cleaning the whole school. SO MUCH FUN.

I was seriously so exhausted everyday that I would fall asleep super early, like around 8pm. My hands got all callus-y. On Monday and Tuesday I had meetings after work so I wouldn't get home until 5pmish. Having 9 hour days at school BEFORE school even starts is greaaaat.

I don't remember the last time my body was so exhausted. Especially after just coming back from Vietnam for 4 weeks. And looking forward to school starting? No.

I guess its worth it because I get money to pay tuition for school. Here's a taste of adulthood.

Thursday 8/13:

- Work

- Chilled with Troy at Blush

- 3 Hour Nap

- Chilled with Matt and Chanda and got Falafel's

- Went to Lorraine's

Friday 8/14:

- Work

- Swimming at Angela's Pool

- Chilled at Angela's with Troy, Justin, Lucian, and Ariana

- Chilled at my place and had deep conversations with Troy

Saturday 8/15:

- Troy and Chanda come over

- Summer reading party

- Failed and played Wii

- McD's and Blush with Lynn and Sugi

- Watched Ratatouille

- Watched Diners, Drive-Inns, and Dives

- Chilled on the drive way

Sunday 8/16: Freshman Retreat 7AM-5:30PM

Long ass day. Arrived at school at 7AM and decorated the room. Lots of prep work. By 9 the freshman came and the retreat began. Blahblahblah, retreat stuff. BRIC Bro's had a public appearance and talk to the freshman class. Hella tired by 4pm, almost falling asleep during mass. Clean-up. Done by 5pm. Deciding if I should go to Matt MacDonald's party. Went home and crashed for 3 hours. Went to dinner. Ymass. Signed up to EM. Went home and then to Blush with Mimi, A. Runes, Chanda, and Andy to see Allison R. perform.

Monday 8/17:

- Read Pride&Prejudice all day, still not done!

- Watch Pride&Prejudice the movie

- Hair cut, fauxhawk is back

No rush, just chilling

So these past few days have been pretty chill. I'm trying to not let these last days of summer rush by so I'm just trying to let everything soak in as the days go by.

Friday:

This afternoon I drove to the Saratoga/Cambell area to Nghia's house to pick up Frere's laptop which is full of all 6,000 pictures I took in Vietnam. Later that day, Matt came over and we chilled for a bit before heading over to Blush. We then went to pick up Chanda and Miggy. As the sun went down, we drove up Sierra rode to see the sunset. For dinner, we went to Pho Kim Long. My first Vietnamese meal since coming back to the US. We just chilled at my dad's place for a couple hours after.

Saturday:

This morning I woke up and edited pictures from the trip. Around 2pm, Mimi and I went back to the Saratoga/Cambell area to see Harry Potter 6 with Nghia, Hieu, Amanda, Hai, and Tracey. It was a small LSVN09 reunion. The movie was pretty good. I got most of it for not reading the books. I kind of want to read them now. Anyway, we chilled and had In-N-Out after.

I don't remember the rest of this day.

Sunday:

Today I headed over to Matt's house to chill. Miggy and Eric came soon after. I had Sendai for dinner with my mom and grandma and then headed back to Matt's. They wanted to go to Ymass at Saint Pats for the first time. So we went to church and I think they enjoyed ymass. After, Lynn, Chanda, Miggy, Mimi, and I went to Q-cup and chilled at my house. I dropped everyone else off after.

I'm Home - Surprised

I am now back in the United States. Landed on Wednesday at 430PM. Why is it so cold here? I miss Vietnam already. Its a weird feeling coming home. When I first arrived in Vietnam, it was like a switch had been turned on and I was instantly in "Vietnam Mode" and now that I'm back, that switch suddenly changes back to "California Mode". And it seems like I lose all the feelings of Vietnam within the instant I step off the plane. But I guess all I can do is try to retain what I've learned from back East and bring it Westward.

I'm feeling the fast life again, though. Coming back, I'm just loaded on things I have to do and things that have to be finished. There is so much to prepare for and not enough time.

Anyway, tonight was a pretty good night. I didn't have anything planned for the day because I just came back and was just resting and relaxing when Jomar asked me to come over to play Rock Band at 530pm. I wasn't in any rush to go or anything so I just took my time and edited pictures from the trip. It wasn't until about 630ish that Miggy and Jomar came to my door and got me to go. So we were walking down the street to Jomar's when I see Christian's car pulled up in the front and I'm like, "Wtf? What is Christian's car doing here? Is he here?" Jomar opens up his garage and there everyone is. Standing there with smiles on their faces and yelling, "Surprise! Welcome back!" I was completely surprised. I was wondering why so many people were asking me what I was doing today or tonight. Haha

Thank you everyone you was a part of the plan! I really appreciate it! I think that was my first surprise party. Thank you's to Jomar, Ariana, Miggy, Angela, Marti, Shimono, Marissa, Sharon, Roseanne, Lynn, Justin Lai, Matt Ganan, Christian, Mark, Chanda, Shawna, and Russell!

P.S. - I'll put up all my adventures in Vietnam along with pictures soon! Warning, may take a few weeks. 10+GBs of pictures.