finishing up the story...

So, a few months ago I posted about how I was extremely dissapointed when I  found out that I'm not able to go to the states. (in fact, that post is just below this one!) I'm really do appreciate all your support. I  remember the comment that Karen had posted: "I wonder what God has instore for you instead..."

Well, here comes the answer!!                     I ended up studying in Korea for a month!

Actually, I'm in Kyunghee Univ, in Seoul, Korea right now! (ok, actually I've already been here for two weeks!:)and I'll be staying for another two weeks before I go home.) Right now I'm taking summer courses here; it's a collaborative program of University of Pennsylvania and Kyunghee University.

The reason why I ended up in Korea is because, my school in Taiwan apparently felt really bad about me not going to the states, and the wanted to do something to make up for it. ( My school is so nice to me!) And they arranged things and offered me this opportunity of going to Korea for this summer program! (I think they initially wanted students to take exams and apply for this opportunity, so it's really nice of them to just simply offer it to me.) So I'm really happy and very thankful

It is true that God is in control and God knows the best.

Currently, I'm learning SO much here in Korea, and the courses are absolutely intriguing but well, kind of overwhelming too. It's cool to take classes from both Korean and American teachers; there's a huge culture difference, but I'm definitely enjoy it!

Despite the fact that I can't speak any Korean at all (oh well, at least I did learn how to say "thankyou", which is kon-sa-mi-da), I'm getting used to the life here. I pretty much used English here, or else, I simply don't speak, hehehe.  

Thanks again for all your encouragement! Kon-Sa-Mi-Da!! 

Hope you're all enjoying your summer! 

It's about time

 that I do some posting .

Just a brief story about what has been going on lately.

Starting from abut half a year ago, I had been preparing to apply for an exchange student program in my school. It's a really wonderful opportunuity not only because I would get to study abroad for a whole year but also since the school that I planned to apply for is the exactly the same school which my sister is currently studying in.   I I had not been sure whether or not I'm able to since our school only offers a single student to go while there are numerous students competing for this opportunity. Yet, I want go really really really BADLY.

Thus, I had put great efforts toward preparing for my application. I've took the TOEFL exam, prepared all sorts of resemes, autobiography, study plan, applied for a studying abroad scholarship and took the interview. It has been quite a long lengthy process with pressure. And finally the results came out....I GOT ACCEPTED!!

Yay for me right? I was so happy and thrilled and I thanked God so much for answering my prayers and giving me such a wonderful gift. All my friends and my family were extremely happy for me too. They even planned a farewell party for me and gave me really sweet cards and stuff congratulating me. I was just so overwhelmed by excitement and joy! Come to think of it, studying in the states, living with my sister for one whole year! How often does that happen?!

Yet, about a week ago, I recieved an e-mail from our school. The lady from our school's office has transend the e-mail from the school from the states to me... here's what it said:

Thank you very much for following up regarding Ms. Wu's application materials.  Unfortunately as Julie had written, it is not possible to accept another incoming student from National Cheng Kung University until we have had a chance to "catch-up" and send an outgoing student to your university.

Sometimes it takes a little bit of time for new exchange programs to be in the position to regularly send and receive students in the same year.  As we work with real funds, it is important for us to have a healthy exchange balance --We rely solely on the funds we collect from our outgoing students to pay the tuition fees for your incoming students.  I wish we had some more flexibility to offer a place to a second student now, but that is not the case this year. 

We typically select our outgoing exchange students in February (for the full year programs starting in Fall) and in September (for second semester programs).  By that time next year, we will know if we have a candidate to send to you and to even out the exchange balance.   It will help if we can be in contact before agreeing to send/receive a student and asking a student to complete the application documents that would be helpful in planning for each new year.

Thank you for your understanding!  We have truly enjoyed having Ms. Wang study at UGA -- so we look forward to having more students like her here in Georgia for 2008-09!

So bascially, the conclusion is: I'm not going after all. It is really frustrating to know this esp since I have been so anticipating to go. 

It's not easy, but I know that God knows better. Not all stories end with a happy ending, or seemingly happy ending. But I do encourage myself and everybody to keep faith, knowing that God is faithful and plans the best for the best.

Oh, and I've been enjoying reading all of your xanga posts though I haven't posted for like a decade:)!

Halo.

A LOT has been going on during the time of my "not posting on xanga", but I have been enjoying reading about what you guys have been up to: )!

I realize that the longer that I refrain from posting, the more I have no idea what to post about.  Likewise, once I start posting, I think all the ideas and inspirations will come together gradually.

I'm already half way through this semester. Mid-term approaching.

The workload in sophomore year is actually quite lighter than freshmen year.

I'm spending huge portions of time in the school's fellowship service, which makes a lot busier than last year. 

Duh, it seems like my life right now is not too bad. Yet  I think I'm not enjoying it the way I should. Recently I've been getting this feeling that...life should me much more simple. I'm forcing myself to make things too complicated. Sometimes makes me miss childhood...things are always a lot easier when you're only a kid.

I suppose I'm sort of in a "passing through" phase right now.

Right now I'm looking forward to Fall break...I wanna go home.  

Oooo... Still can't believe that it's been almost a year since I entered college. Yet when I look back and think of everything that I have gone through, it's all more than I could hope or dream of!!

Sometimes I feel like there are lessons that I could never learn well. Like the lesson of trusting in the Lord. I've lived for 19 years and so far, God has never let me down. Of course, there are times when I felt so down and so frustrated by my own weakness, times when I couldn't understand why certain things are happening to me, and times when I argue and complain to the Lord, but now that I look back at all those things that I have been through, they are all awesome testimonies of the faithfulness of God.

So, if a person has received so much grace from the Lord and witnessed the faithfulness of God so many times, then logically speaking, this person should find it very easy to trust and is more than willing to trust in the Lord.   But I don't think that's the case for me. Sometimes I feel like a spoiled kid.

Okay, not exaclty like a spoiled kid, but sometimes I feel like I really want to meddle in stuff because I'm not able to trust in God completely. I feel like I need to prepare some back-ups, just in case God fails to succeed in His plans, which never happend and will never happen, I believe.  Or sometimes I just get confused about the line between making plans for my future and meddling in the plans God has for me.

Anywayz. Random thoughts. I just wanted to say that this year has been another great testimony of God faithfulness yet I'm still trying very hard to learn the lesson of errr...trusting in the Lord.

This semester is going to end in less then two days. I'm totally excited about summer vacation.

Hope you all have a nice day!

(Early) Surprise 19th  Birthday Party

 I just realized that using the word "surprise" is kind of ironic, since they totally did not surprise me. Hehehe. But it was all still very sweet and touching; )! And I'm so thankful for such a great group of friends!

These are my friends from our school's fellowship. This picture was taken by the lake in our campus. They planned to throw me into the lake, but I was too tough for them.

(Aww. sorry about the blurry picture)

We had a day off yesterday because of the typhoon. But luckily, the seniors' annual second foreign language drama performance wasn't canceled. So my friends from the school fellowship and I went to see the drama together in the evening.

The evening was plesant. But I did notice how my friends would constantly whisper about stuff and point at me every once in awhile. Then when I wanted to go out the auditoriun to catch some fresh air, they literally shoveled me back in, and made up this goofy excuse to prevent me from going out the auditorium. I decided not to give them a hard time, so I obediently went back in.

After the whole show ended, they told me that we're going to the lake to share our prayer requests. No sooner than we arrived to the lake, the girls presented my 19 year old birthday cake and they all sang Happy Birthday to me!! It was really sweet in an embarrassing sort of way~ ^^~but I liked it! We then chatted about and craved junk food~ They al prayed for me in the end; )! I love you all so much!!

Here's a nicer picture of us all: