For a reminder of how independent, how sociable I am…at this age during this time…a list of things I learned during my Thanksgiving trip to the Bay Area:
If the girl sitting next to you is making trivial conversation that you don\’t want to listen to, perform a user test or a concept validation session with her. It will shut her up afterwards.
Always choose the window seat. Not only can you sleep easier (against the window), you will be safer from falling overhead items. Of course, a trade-off is that you won\’t be able to exit the plane as easily.
My mom trusts Yahoo Maps better than signs on the road. (We took a one mile detour to the freeway even though the onramp was right next to the SJC airport.
Like my last trip to the Bay Area in August, I absolutely hate driving between the South Bay and the East Bay.
My mom loves Cantonese movies.
Always check if all belongings have been accounted for when leaving a friend\’s car. Especially the digital camera.
If there\’s a debate about living on the East Coast and the West Coast, just shut up. You\’re never going to win.
I\’ll never get enough of Berkeley especially when I walk past any place that I used to roam such as Milano, Strada Cafe and Sufficient Grounds.
The Old Teahouse will never get my vote.
If I plug in the AC adapter to my laptop, the audio will be louder than without.
I know some people who apparently like me enough to drive all the way to the East Bay from Palo Alto, San Mateo and Sunnyvale to see me. Thank you Arthur! Thank you Guy! Thank you Will! Thank you Braden! And thank you Alex (even though you were seeing your family nearby)!
My sister always provides advice not criticisms. Just the way I like it.
My mom actually knows how to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. A prepared turkey from Safeway, mashed potatoes from a box, and corn from a can should do it.
Intruding families on Thanksgiving is ok. Just remember to call at least 30 minutes ahead of time. Be prepared to be offered their leftovers. Always accept. And apologize for your presence. Always thank the cook.
Lulu shall always want to see me!
Even if you get to Circuit City 15 minutes after the door has opened (at 5 am), the $9.99 512 mb compactflash card will be sold out.
Always go to Black Friday in pairs. One person will find the item. The other person will get in line. Efficiency in its greatest form.
The English Rose Tea House in Pleasanton is highly recommended by Lulu, my sister and me. Ask for Darjeeling. Fruit teas taste like the fruit, don\’t get them without sampling first. Be sure to try the scones. Expect a service unsurpassed anything you have experienced before. All for under $20. Expect a lot of pink.
Grandmothers are cute.
People in their twenties aren\’t supposed to mix well with people in their fifties in a college bar. But I still thought it was rather cute how the uncle was rejected from coming when suddenly my friend said, \”Jenn and I have a lot to catch up on. Grad student stuff, you know.\”
Albatross Pub. Highly recommended.
I lose easily in all games. Darts. Big 2. Speed. I am a sore loser.
I get tired of CDs after listening to them after 3 times. Minibosses is a little weird to listen to in a car.
My dad will always get a haircut in San Francisco chinatown because it is $5/haircut.
Marching bands in chinatown mean a funeral procession.
You will always find an illegal baton in a store in Chinatown.
A Malaysian restaurant around the corner of Chinatown (forgot the name unfortunately) has great mango chicken, seafood soup and haisen chicken. Ask for low spiceness if you\’re spice-sensitive like me.
Wool jackets were only $29.99 at Target last weekend. Usually you find similar coats for around $115 at most stores.
If you accidentally take the wrong road and end up at the SF Bay Bridge toll, you can ask the operator if you can make a turnaround and you won\’t need to pay the toll.
Treasure Island exit is on the left side of the freeway.
If a friend who is an artist at heart agrees to meeting around 7:30 pm, don\’t expect arrival until 10 pm.
ETCers are a bunch of gossips.
Apparently, their life is very Real World like. On the first day of their program, their director cautioned, \”Don\’t have sex.\” Guess what happened.
They also are somewhat immature. Social events encompass such activities as drawing penises on their Nintendo DSes and talking about fecal matter in underwear. *cough*
Au Couquelt Cafe is open until 1:30 am.
Did I mention that I love Darjeeling tea?
Powerbook batteries will only last one hour after almost 1.75 years of daily use.
Don\’t drive over curbs. It is embarrassing.
If I am in the car with my parents on any random weekend day, I will suddenly find myself in Costco without explanation.
My mom will nag me to death (aka call my cellphone) about coming home regardless of whether I am 18, 23, or even 31.
I think I will be working in the Bay Area. But somewhere besides the East Bay.
wast ist un ETCer? eh?
I am not ETCer. I am a mHCIer!