Author: justfiveletters

I love Jesus. ENFP, the "champion idealist." About 99.9% of what I've researched online and read in books about ENFPs are true. So if you want to know more about how I operate, just read about the ENFP. But hey, do get to know me personally. Thanks. I really love traveling. I'm fascinated by the undead. Like they say, zombies were people too. I sometimes think I wouldn't have anything to say if the entertainment industry didn't exist. I'm moderately obsessed. I'll admit it. I am a woman of passion. I'm easily moved and empathetic. I do have a fear of many things. Some of these things include: animals, clowns, sinkholes, and roller coasters. I also have a slight case of paranoia. I'm ready to be helped. Food is both a passion and a vice. My sensitive taste buds lead me to love the edible things in life, but it also has fueled a sort of need for instant gratification of sudden cravings. And yes, I absolutely adore cooking. I like to be creative in everything I do. And lastly, I strive to see the image of God in all people.

I Have Ceased to Be a College Student

Why, hello new identity. I am embracing the young-modern-day-hopeful-passionate-working woman persona. But let us reminisce for a bit.

I finished my last ever final at UCLA today at 12:58pm at lecture hall Humanities 169.

Well, let’s hope it is my last one. Feelings on the performance on my final are not of confidence and satisfaction, but I believe in praying hard. Real hard.

As strange as it may sound, a few days prior I was thinking of the endless possibilities of what I could do as I left that last final to express the overwhelmingly mixed feelings I had about finishing college. Party poppers, cartwheels, and an aluminum bat rampage all came to mind. None of them occurred. I know you were rooting for the aluminum bat rampage. So was I–I just couldn’t find one in time.

Upon exiting the last lecture hall I ever would as a student, I decided I’d go ahead and walk to Ackerman as I do after every class to unwind. There’s something about the student union at UCLA that makes me feel safe, entertained, and stimulated all at the same time. So I retreated there naturally.

After any even remotely significant event in my life, the cause for celebration always involves food. So a $5 Orange Berry Blitz from Jamba Juice seemed appropriate.

I proceeded to walk around campus while sipping on my fruity fun in a cup, and memories of the things that impacted me came up as I passed certain “hot spots.” Deep conversations with one person under a tree, a heated debate with a stranger on the validity of Jesus and the Bible on Bruin Walk, a huge anti-slavery campaign for two years on Bruin Plaza, late nights to the radio station, walks to InterVarsity’s large group meetings–it was endless.

I eventually stopped at Janss Steps and perched at the pillar on top of the steps. It took a bit of climbing, but it was a gorgeous view. I popped in my headphones and added the most appropriate songs to the soundtrack of my current emotions. One that I played a couple of times was Shawn McDonald’s “Take My Hand,” and as I put it on repeat, I actually wrote out a prayer for UCLA.

This prayer is one that I pray for the campus that I’m devoting the next two years to, but also as an homage to my time here. I wanted some level of knowledge and wisdom gained to be imparted.

A Prayer for UCLA

May God’s presence fill every person here.
May it overwhelm the grounds they walk on and the halls they pass through.
May love, compassion, and mercy always be of consideration, if not the ultimate intention.
May the desire to understand the things of this world always lead back to the one who understands it all.
May the lost, marginalized, underrepresented be forced to abandon those identities by those with hearts for social justice and a love for others.
May people be fostered and matured in a deeper community built on the greatest acceptance.
May advocacy be not a clanging symbol, but a resounding voice of hope and passion.
May identity not be dependent upon others, but the affirmation in one’s own unique self.
And may students leave this place as inspired, changed, and forever impacted for the better as I will.

That is my prayer for UCLA.

As I sat there waiting until I had to go into work, I absorbed the beauty of the campus and thanked God for every minute I was here.

The rest of the day was quite the roller coaster ride, and therefore I will continue this post in a new one tomorrow.

This is Amy Hu signing off for July 29th, 2009.

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I <3 San Francisco

San Francisco. I love everything about the city (well maybe except for its vehicular system).

I was born there, raised there for a while, and even peed on the street once. Yeah, we were at the laundromat with no restrooms and I was four with a bladder that didn’t accommodate my body to not leak out liquid for 5 hours. Well, can anyone? Apparently my Aunt Son Fei could. Unless she pulled a fast one on me and the people around us. Or a slow and painfully disturbing one…hm…I, along with many others, prefer the timely option.

I was able to go back to San Francisco last Saturday and visit the old neighborhood in North Beach. Tammy, Mel, Janice and I got to show Jenny around San Francisco considering she had never been up to the northern regions of the Golden State before. We hit up the Golden Gate Bridge, Little Italy, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square. I was hoping to fit in Chinatown and Union Square, but the hours zoomed by and not enough was left for us. It was extremely fun to be with wonderful company and enjoy the cool, crisp air of the Bay.

One day, I’ll probably live in San Francisco. That’s always been a long dream of mine to move there. But for now, I’ve fallen in love with Los Angeles. San Francisco will hold a special place in my heart. It’ll be extra special every time I trek up north.

This is Amy Hu signing off for July 26th, 2009.

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Affirmed

Words of affirmation and compliments have always been hard for me to take in. The more I think about it, I realize it’s because I don’t feel like it’s right of me to take them. I may be too concerned about crossing the line of being conceited or am just simply built a certain way because my family has reared me in a world of modesty and putting others before myself.

This deeper issue I bring up is all from going on two dates with one of the kindest, most caring, and fun guys I’ve ever come across. It’s just too bad it didn’t work out, and I had “the talk” with him today.

Through him, I realized that I am worth a pursuit, loved, and can actually attract a really good man.

It was the most interesting night, and on my way to meet him I was stopped by a homeless man on the street who was applying for an alcohol recovery program. He showed me the key chain pendant he had earned that day, and was so proud to tell me about it. After helping him out a little monetarily, I asked him a little more about the program and congratulated him for being on his way. He shouted in excitement that he was going to go back to Chicago and I wished him the best.

I left and told the man to take care for I was on my way to have a conversation I was dreading. He arrived right on time at the local Starbucks in Westwood on Broxton and Weyburn, and we actually had the most wonderful conversation. I’ve enjoyed every bit of getting to know him and he just continued to affirm me as to what an amazing man God was creating him to be.

I explained all there was to, and I couldn’t have asked for a more mature and loving response. I am excited to get to know him even more, and to remain good friends.

On my way out of the Broxton garage, the homeless man flagged me down once again and I was nervous because I was pulling out and only had essentially 10 seconds to explain to him I had just met him. But right when he took a closer look, he recognized me, and thanked me. No homeless man or woman has ever recognized me in my entire being. I say this because I’ve talked with some more than once. Again, I was affirmed that I was worth it and even human from, I’ll admit, the least likely people I would expect to.

God was teaching me, showing me, begging me to pay attention to something. I had never been told by another male being that I was beautiful (beside my own father) before. I had never been thanked by the opposite sex for being affirming and loving. I had never gone out on a date where someone genuinely was interested in getting to know me in all aspects of my life.

You see, I am learning that even a date or two can bring a woman’s confidence a thousand fold. I don’t mean to find your affirmation in those things, but I realize there’s a balance of knowing that God is doing something in your life through others as well as you being human and needing affirmation from other living souls.

This is Amy Hu signing off for July 16th, 2009.

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