10 things to look forward to when coming back home.

Well friends its been at least 7 months since my last blog. I hope that I haven’t kept many of you waiting for my next post. Well As many of you already know, I am going back home because of a transfer I got from my current job at Trader Joes. This time the transfer wasn’t as difficult as it was months before. I decided to go back home, re-establish myself there and help my mom around the house before I move onto the next phase of my life. The next phase looks like it may be grad school. Maybe studying in higher education. I will probably elaborate more on that in the up and coming post, but this post is supposed to be a little more fun.

Since I haven’t lived at home in almost 4 years now, there are a few things that I’m looking forward to and cannot wait to share them with you. Outside of Family, Friends, and Church, there are things that I am excited about.

Oh by the way, my home is in Olympia, WA. Just about 60 miles south of Seattle. Here’s the list:

Crabbing at Westpot
Camping at Staircase
Big Toms Burger
Meconi’s
The Cascade Mountains
The Pacific Ocean
Teriyaki Restaurants
Four Actual Seasons
Seahawks Football on actual TV
Sitting right off the Puget Sound at sunset

There You are! If you ever decide that you want to come visit, I’ll show you what I’m talking about!

Sokkha

I have arrived!? I guess…

Well its been close to four months since my last post here. I guess in recent months I have had a lot on my plate, and now that school is over, I’m a little worried where I’ll end up. By the way, isn’t this where most college graduates are at in some point of their lives? I guess being 32 years old and have not arrived in the profession of my degree has given me a little anxiety. I know I have to trust in God. I also have not yet applied for any jobs. So that may be part of the problem. However, I know the solution, and that is exactly where I need to be headed.

I want to start this out with a few highlights of this past semester. The first one being my completion of all my classes at North Central and my pending graduation ceremony in May. Yes, since there was some trouble getting my mom to come out here in December, and after talking with her we decided it was best she would travel out to Minneapolis in May for the Big ceremony. So right now, I am just working and waiting for the day I receive my diploma. Pretty big deal right? However, I will be the one of the very few college graduates in my family and this includes my extended family as well. I may be the 3rd or 4th out of 17 cousins? My sister soon to follow in about a year and a half.

The second will be my completion of my Senior Project. This project is something that I am extremely proud of. For some of you that have watched and witnessed me work on my project, you knew how much effort and time I put into it. I did a research paper on church ministry burnout. Something that is not widely talked about in the church circles, but happens everywhere. My presentation on the project drew some pretty incredible praise by the department. Not only this was unexpected, but incredibly humbling. I never knew the magnitude that my project may have had on the professors who were listening to my presentation. There were some suggestions about teaching it in class and bringing it to the A/G district office to present, and maybe do a workshop on it. I was also given the opportunity to present it again in the department chapel the next day because it was so important for the future pastors in our department to hear. Talk about a humbling experience!

Another thing that happened is when I decided to move out of my apartment after December. I initially decided to live there at least through May, there was a sweet deal that came up along with a pretty sweet apartment with 3 pretty sweet roommates. While the move was bittersweet. It was bitter because I was leaving a lot of great friends on campus. Most of which I just had to walk across the street to see, and sweet because I am going to save a lot of money living a great apartment for a really good price.

Lastly, this is where maybe some of you are anticipating me finding a girl out here. Well It hasn’t happened yet. Are there prospects? Well there are always prospects, but none that has materialized into anything noteworthy.

This is how it feels like to be done with school! I am having a hard time plugging into activities into my free time because now there is no homework or classes to attend I don’t know what to do with myself. I need a vacation. I need another adventure. Have I arrived yet? Probably many cases I would say yes, but its… just…. boring.

Later,

Sokkha

Semester approaching.

Thanks for being patient with me (the two-three regular readers of my blog). As you guys know, it is the summer and life is nothing short of busy. Then again, I have had many opportunities to sit down and relax and enjoy the sunshine.

In July, I went to San Diego with two of my closest friends, Josh and Kevin. We had a great time and we did a lot of things there. Mainly, eat eat eat. I guess that’s what vacation is for right?

As many of you know I am entering my final semester at North Central. Whew! I have around 107 days left until I graduate! These last four years have gone by so fast and I am trying to cherish every moment I can.

I have been thinking lately how I want to be remember. Jeremy Williamson calls me “the staple of NCU.” Yes, its flattering, but not true at all. I recently have been hanging out with a couple of guys and have gotten close to them. I talked to my buddy Derek, who is a first year RA for NCU, that If i could be a mentor to him. He agreed that we should have some structure in accountability and bible reading in our lives. So with that in mind, we have to find a day of the week to do such a thing with him. I know I won’t be remembered for stuff I did here at NCU. I do know that the people who i invest time in will remember me for what I do in their lives. I know these things carry a long way than just being “the old man on campus.”

So that is all I got for you. Sorry it is a little unorganized.

Some ramblings.. (my top 5 movie endings of all-time)

So this summer has been pretty up and down and I really do not know what to think of it. I had a great time at home and finally got the San Diego trip nailed down. Lets just say, this summer will only get better. With the summer going so rapidly, there have been quite a few changes in my life. Nothing really to write home about, except blog, I have been getting to know quite a few new people this summer. It is extremely refreshing to meet new people and get to know them on a personal level.

There are, however, things that make me anxious. I think God is pulling me through these times and am getting over some of the things I worry about. After all, life is just too short to worry about silly things.

Recently, I bought a few books to read over the summer. It has been on my heart for some time now that I need to get into reading more on a recreational level. So I purchased from Barnes and Noble three novels. The first one being The Last of the Mohicans, A Tale of Two Cities, and the Odyssey. I think I will find some enjoyment as I delve into these books.

Finally, I want to talk about my top five movie endings of all time. (subject to change over time) Don’t worry, I won’t give away the ending, but a lot of it has to do with music and dancing. Here is the list!

1. Dirty Dancing-If you have seen this movie you’ll know what I’m talking about. No movie makes me feel as good as this movie after I watched it. Also it gets me romantically charged.
2. The Killing Fields-This is a part of my own families personal history in which they can completely identify with this movie. I remember watching it when I was about 6 years old in a movie theater with 300 other Cambodians. So powerful.
3. Braveheart-Well need I say more?
4. Rambo: First Blood-Great monologue!
5. The Visitor-Just a nice ending and very appropriate to the whole theme of the movie

There it is folks! Until next time!

The fastest 3 weeks of my life…

Well as some of you know I am currently in Washington (state) right now and just having a blast. There has been a lot going on in my life and the adventure just seems to get more and more interestingly amazing. Things are going as planned for the most part. I have taken advantage of the opportunity that I have had in hanging out with my family, friends, and people at church. Of course with every adventure, there are always some spontaneity. Thats an element of adventure right?

First of all i would like to start with somethings that stood out at work even before I came here to WA. There was a guy in my checkout line who looked partially stoned. He had explained to me about his travels from San Francisco and how he smuggled a joint (marijuana) in his pants. I just couldn’t help but to laugh inside. Yeah, terribly awkward, and incredibly funny moment in my life.

I did however survive the week of finals and did everything that was required of me to pass my classes. Okay, well i’m normally a good student, so i made it sound like i just survived, but if didn’t do the 3-12page papers, i probably would have gotten a C in some of those classes.

All in all, things are going super well here at home. Got into an argument with my mom (our love language) is a highlight and visited some of my favorite places. Here is the list of what I have done so far:

Arguing with my mother (like i said, our love language)

-Lattin’s Cider Mill (best apple fritters)
-Johnson’s Jerky House
-The Ram
-Dinner @ the Yoders
-Attend Faith Assembly (newly remodeled building)
-Erica’s Graduation Party
-Saw Wanda Stewart (highlight of my sunday morning)
Okay, I feel like i need to explain this. She is a spiritual mentor/mom in my life. If you know Wanda, you know how exciting it would be to see her. Just an amazing woman of God. Her husband John is pretty awesome too.

Here is a list of things i have planned and have not done:

-Steak with Kevin
-Mariner’s game
-Tugboat Annie’s (best crab artichoke dip ever!)
-Dinner with Aaron and Andrea
-Mom’s cooking (I know she’s a slacker!)
-Breakfast/Lunch with Peter
-Big Tom’s Burger

Well that’s about it. Thanks for reading guys. I do miss minneapolis a lot. Mainly because of a few people I would love to see right now. However, I am enjoying hanging out with the people that I have missed to see for the last 1 1/2 years.

Huey Lewis and the News..

I just bought their greatest hits, and I must say it is the best purchase I have made in a very long time. Totally Nostalgic music. If you haven’t heard them, try to. Try to put yourself in the context of good happy feeling soulful, 80s music. Some of his music is in the soundtrack to the Back to the Future series.
Here are some of my favorites:

Stuck with you
If this is it
Power of love
Doing it all for my baby
It’s All Right (a-cappella)
But its alright
Back in Time

Look them up on youtube. I hope you’ll find some enjoyment in these.

Wing Dings..

Well lately, it has been a Wing ding kind of week. A lot has happened in my life just in the last few days. Quite a few random things. I forgot to mention in my last blog that I had my bike stolen a few weeks back and recently got a new one. There that is out of the way.

I had a great bike ride friday afternoon, (Q, I know you’re CAJ). It was one of those breezy cool spring days that I couldn’t resist. There was a little reluctancy by the other person that went with me, but she enjoyed it all the way through! The weather was beautiful nonetheless and we traveled down alongside the Mississippissippippissippsii (however its spelled) river. It was awesome, and I got to my poetry reading in time to hear an incredible poet, Christine Nunez read some of her pieces.

Then to top off the night, I grilled some chicken with some friends so we can watch the Seattle Mariners bash on the Detroit Tigers. Then once again on Saturday. It was a great hangout and quite a few people showed up for the food, and not so much for the game.

On Sunday, I went to the new and exciting Target Field to watch the hometown Minnesota twins get hammered by KC royals. The game was great! NOT because the twins lost, but because there was a lot of action, and also the Park was a great experience. It is a beautiful park with great places to roam. I will say the viewing outside of the skyline was not that great and the food selection was mediocre. I love Safeco’s food selection and the private businesses that are vended there. I also love Safeco’s viewing of the seattle skyline, the mountains, and everything else. I will say Target Field is more modern and waay more accessible than Safeco. I just walked up to the stadium and there I was at my seats.. It was a great thing.

Lastly, I am sadden at the lost of the Stewart Family. Austin, if you read this, my prayers and thoughts are with you bro. You know I love your family very much and I am sorry that your mother is no longer with us. I am glad that she is no longer suffering and I am so very glad she is with the Lord. She was a fighter and I will always see her as one of my church moms.

God Bless you all!

My First finished poem.

Some of you know my dark past. I know everyone has them. This is about an experience I had with a gang when I was 14 years old. Granted it was not a huge gang. More like a bunch of riff raffs running around creating some mischief. I will say I did get into one “gang” fight. This piece is called “initiation” and it an account of what happened to me when I was Initiated. Thanks for reading.

Initiation

Who hit me?
I am not a victim,
This is voluntary.

I did not defend
the swing of each fist
into my body.

Allowing the kicking
of tree trunk legs
to cut me down.

My heart racing with
hard breathing,
absorbing every blow.

As the time expired,
those arms and legs get tired,
coming to a halt.

With escaping grief
a sigh of relief,
I become one of them.

-Sokkha Chan

Spring=New Beginnings

Again, its been a while since I last posted. I think the last post on communication was a successful one. I have been talking to people who I normally do not talk to. Its been great.

Recently, in my life, I have had some things that I am contemplating. There are issues in my mind that I am annoyingly confused about. I feel like I have to make certain decisions in my life and hope that they work out in the future. I know there are some decisions that I want to make, and I know they will not be good for me. I’m sorry this is a little vague, but as I am struggling to find peace in this situation, I hope I can bring clarity in the future. Maybe I need that one good cry. Its been over a year since I have had one.

Quick updates: I left for easter break to see my friend Rebekah. She was an awesome host. My buddy Joe and I went to hang out at her parents house where we stayed for 4 nights. I felt so at home there and their hospitality was amazing. We also took a day trip to Chicago. I had a great time there and of course, went to the Sears Tower (I refuse to call it Willis Tower) and Gino’s East Pizza. Those were outstanding places!

I am glad that Spring is here, and the weather is wonderful. Bike riding with friends is one of my most favorite things to do. I think I have gone with at least 4-5 different people so far. I am going with a new person this friday. I think we’ll have a lot fun. There is nothing like it!

As some of you know I am taking a poetry class, and am loving it. I am thinking about posting some of my poems. I am a little nervous, but I think I will. Some of them are dark, some fun, some quirky, some serious. I think i have my grounds covered. So watch out for them in the next couple of weeks. Anyways, Thats all i have for you right now. Thanks for reading! (The 3-4 of you!)

The home Stretch..

Well friends, I am in the second half of my semester. This semester has been going by so fast. Two weeks ago I had a spring break and was able to visit my friend Becky and hang out with her family. Her dad is a pretty legit dude I must say. Her mom is the sweetest thing. Becky on the hand is quite different from both her parents…in a good way. . (I love you Becky). In another week I am going to be off for Easter break! This time my buddy and I (Joe) will visit a friend near Davenport, IA. It will be quiet fun to hang out with her since I haven’t seen her since the first time I met her. She’s a pretty chill gal and look forward to kicking it as well, not to mention we have a planned trip to Chicago! Woot Woot!

Anyways, life is going well. I’m doing well in all my classes. I did not do so hot on one of my midterms. They were a little more difficult than I thought they would be. Nonetheless, I’m passing! Also, I recently registered for my final semester here at North Central. I am pretty excited about that. Well that is really all I got for you. I told you I would blog more. However, here are some websites that I enjoy visiting and get a kick out of when I read their blogs.

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com -why america is overweight
http://mylifeisaverage.com -average things that come to life
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com -self explanatory
http://iamawesome.com -yes you are

Yes, all these are clean sites. They are just really funny!

love you all!

Sokkha