I should first evaluate if I achieved my goals for last year.
1. Write diary: yes i did and continuing doing even now. i wrote almost everyday, except days i was too tired or forgot to bring a pen into camping tent.
2. Read two books each month: well, almost made it. I spent too much time playing since Nov, therefore I didn't meet the quota during the last two months of 2007. The rest were ok, I also tried to read couple English novels.
3. Take Photoshop exam: didn't make it at all. two reason: first, not until i made this resolution that i realize photoshop is releasing new version, of course i won't be able to take it since i am not familiar with the new one at all. second, i changed my mind and thinking a real photoshop expert doesn't need the certificate to prove anything. portfolio talks.
4. Study Japanese: I honestly totally didn't remember why i had this thought. right now i am actually not too into Japanese at all...
5. Visiting Taiwan and Beijing: this can't really be counted as new year resolution, but i included it and really made it. It's fun trip, made me think a lot and made me grew older. well, i mean, mature.
2/01/2008
11/16/2007
The Charm of iPhone
Recently I got a request from a friend in Taiwan asking me if I can get an iPhone for her. Since I already heard so many people in Asia talking about it, naturally, I thought it's released in Asia, but apparently not yet.
So I talked to another friend who's in Taiwan and already owned an iPhone about his experiences. Obviously he got it from some acquaintances too, and spent similar amount of money as buying it here -- compare to original price + sales tax, he spent only 10-20USD more. It's a good deal if you're getting something like this from the US back to Taiwan.
I have to admit, iPhone is pretty cute and handy, I would like to have one too, but only if i can pay $99 to get one. I guess it's probably because I am not working in the IT related field, therefore I am not that a big fan of high tech gadgets. Or my natural-born stinginess is stopping me from getting anything that's depreciating.
More likely, I am brain-washed by the stoneaged moblie phones in the US (comapring to Europe and Asia) and didn't feel the need of getting something really cool. No, I don't think I am too old for cool things, I am just have different thoughts, I like stuff that can create more physical values.
My friend who already owned the iPhone told me that it's actually pretty slow comparing to his other 3G phone. Honestly, I think 3G phone is cooler and faster, it should be more useful than iPhone (that's another evidence to prove US cellphones are in stoneage, iPhone doesn't have 3G). But iPhone has very nice interface and sleek design, that's why people love it, even though it's still slow in Asian standard.
This statement triggers another thought: if it's not that great, why would you spend that much amount of money on it? Sorry my friend, I am not doubting your decision, it's just because I live in a stoneage place, I don't see many cool phones around, therefore I haven't felt the need to have a really nice one. I know if I am in Taiwan, I might want to get a super cool phone too. Here, I have no one to compare with, so there's really no need to get something like that. Plus, everyone I know that owns an iPhone or Smartphone or Blackberry, couldn't help themselves but checking work emails anytime anywhere they can, it's like being haunted. It's of course very convenient, but sometimes I really just want to have a nice face-to-face conversation with them, so, please stop playing your cellphones!
Finally, I read lots news about Taiwan's living expense going up fast but the salary isn't, and lots people complaining life is tough. Well, with average $1000-2000/month (before tax), and many people spending $400+ on each cellphone, maybe the newspaper is a bit exaggerating.
So I talked to another friend who's in Taiwan and already owned an iPhone about his experiences. Obviously he got it from some acquaintances too, and spent similar amount of money as buying it here -- compare to original price + sales tax, he spent only 10-20USD more. It's a good deal if you're getting something like this from the US back to Taiwan.
I have to admit, iPhone is pretty cute and handy, I would like to have one too, but only if i can pay $99 to get one. I guess it's probably because I am not working in the IT related field, therefore I am not that a big fan of high tech gadgets. Or my natural-born stinginess is stopping me from getting anything that's depreciating.
More likely, I am brain-washed by the stoneaged moblie phones in the US (comapring to Europe and Asia) and didn't feel the need of getting something really cool. No, I don't think I am too old for cool things, I am just have different thoughts, I like stuff that can create more physical values.
My friend who already owned the iPhone told me that it's actually pretty slow comparing to his other 3G phone. Honestly, I think 3G phone is cooler and faster, it should be more useful than iPhone (that's another evidence to prove US cellphones are in stoneage, iPhone doesn't have 3G). But iPhone has very nice interface and sleek design, that's why people love it, even though it's still slow in Asian standard.
This statement triggers another thought: if it's not that great, why would you spend that much amount of money on it? Sorry my friend, I am not doubting your decision, it's just because I live in a stoneage place, I don't see many cool phones around, therefore I haven't felt the need to have a really nice one. I know if I am in Taiwan, I might want to get a super cool phone too. Here, I have no one to compare with, so there's really no need to get something like that. Plus, everyone I know that owns an iPhone or Smartphone or Blackberry, couldn't help themselves but checking work emails anytime anywhere they can, it's like being haunted. It's of course very convenient, but sometimes I really just want to have a nice face-to-face conversation with them, so, please stop playing your cellphones!
Finally, I read lots news about Taiwan's living expense going up fast but the salary isn't, and lots people complaining life is tough. Well, with average $1000-2000/month (before tax), and many people spending $400+ on each cellphone, maybe the newspaper is a bit exaggerating.
10/31/2007
The Great Asia Trip
When talking about our hometown to Americans, I always say "our hometown in Asia." two reasons, first, it gets tiring to say Taiwan is an island outside China, nope we're not under China government. second, Eddie's home is in China, different from Taiwan. So it's always easier to say "we're going back to Asia" instead of saying "we're going to beijing coz Eddie's parents live there and i'll go back to Taiwan myself coz it's hard to get Eddie a Taiwan visa...why? coz he has chinese passport... well, you know, the situation between taiwan and china is kinda tense... blah blah." it's just endless.
So, after couple years of waiting, we finally get to make this "going back home" trip happening! Eddie is pretty excited coz he hasn't gone back to two years and same to me, haven't seen my dear friends for more than 2.5 years. gosh i miss you all!
except the excitment of see my family and friends in taiwan (they're probably the only reason that makes me feel taiwan is my hometown, other than that, the whole island is kinda going downhill, i felt sad about that), i am also excited about visitng beijing. it's a whole new place to me, and i've heard enough about it, even read the map of it (yes i like reading map, it's a great restroom reading material). i'd bet i can easily find out 10 things i don't like about Beijing (actually, i already have couple of them on the list), but i am still excited to see a whole different place with an outsider's vision. a photographer's point of view.
it'll be interesting. i think.
hopefully the shopping for fake brand-name stuff will be interesting too, ha!
So, after couple years of waiting, we finally get to make this "going back home" trip happening! Eddie is pretty excited coz he hasn't gone back to two years and same to me, haven't seen my dear friends for more than 2.5 years. gosh i miss you all!
except the excitment of see my family and friends in taiwan (they're probably the only reason that makes me feel taiwan is my hometown, other than that, the whole island is kinda going downhill, i felt sad about that), i am also excited about visitng beijing. it's a whole new place to me, and i've heard enough about it, even read the map of it (yes i like reading map, it's a great restroom reading material). i'd bet i can easily find out 10 things i don't like about Beijing (actually, i already have couple of them on the list), but i am still excited to see a whole different place with an outsider's vision. a photographer's point of view.
it'll be interesting. i think.
hopefully the shopping for fake brand-name stuff will be interesting too, ha!
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