from 2016 to 2017

I had some time so I decided to jot down from my memory what happened in 2016. I made a video with snippets of events that happened in 2016. I know I missed some stuff but there were too many pictures to sort through. I failed to edit the photos because that would just make me procrastinate on finishing this project more.

Video clip link

 A lot of things has happened this year. I started off the new year in San Francisco (what better way than being in my favorite area of cali). After the new years vacation, I went back to school in full force. Completed my 2nd year of optometry school, including finishing up my big practical. I finally finished completing retakes and remediations that year. I also attended the OEP conference in March in Chicago. I made my first birthday dinner event that year and I cut my hair above the shoulders for the first time in a long time.

At the end of 2nd year, I attended the school's practice symposium and also went to a social networking event for dinner with docs.

That summer, I also transitioned from 2nd to 3rd year and was flung into clinic independently for the first time.  During the summer, 3rd years also have to take classes and one of the most difficult classes for the summer was "retinal diseases". After 10 weeks of suffering, finally passed that course! I also went on random food adventures, checked out food trucks in chicago during the summer, because we gotta have some fun after working hard right?

Each year as 2nd and 3rd years we have to attend at least one vision screening in the community. For 3rd year, I went to a screening in Chinatown during the summer to get it done with sooner. It was an interesting experience because there was probably about 10 or so students plus 1 attending doctor signing off on each patient. Most of the patients were Chinese (primarily Cantonese speaking) and there was 4 of us who could speak Chinese only (and only 1 could speak Cantonese) so the Chinese speaking students ended up doing case histories and directing patient flow while the other students did the other non-verbal tests.

The American Optometry Association (AOA) was in Boston during the July 4th weekend some friends and I went to Boston then as well. It was my first time in Boston and I had a lovely time there during the summer.
-went to Summer House Santa Monica in Chicago
 -went to New York City as a last minute trip decision.
-attended the American Academy of Optometry meeting in Anaheim and met up with friends in the area during that week.
-bought KMK prep books to study for boards, which I need to start seriously doing soon.

A day of exploration...

Crissy Field, San Francisco, CA: my favorite city in the US <3

Grant Park, Chicago, IL:

Day 5 in Seattle

We got brunch at Countryside Cafe, which is close to the airport. It's a pretty small restaurant in a small part of town and a lot of seniors tend to go there. I got Banana rum french toast because it sounded interesting-- but the whole thing basically just tasted like banana syrup lol.

We dropped off my dad at the airport because he flew back home a couple days earlier and then we headed up back to Seattle to check out the Space Needle and Chihuly Gardens. (It costs about $42/person for the combined package. It's a little cheaper if you go early morning or late night but we went during the mid-day).

Chihuly Gardens ------------->

Up in Space needle (only 40 floors)--------------------------->

^^ View from Space needle ^^

We then walked around Myrtle Edwards Park because it was nearby Space needle:

We headed to Kirkland where our hotel was for the night. We decided to get some food early since we had made a sushi reservation super late at night @ around 9:30pm.

^^ or meal at Kirkland Pho House ^^

Dinner time!
Shiro's ------------------------------>

^^ expensive Sushi at Shiro Sushi ^^

There's always a long line at Shiro's sushi. We got a small sushi platter, a dinner combo for $60 and a 17 piece sushi chef's combo for $80.

 We had to wait a little outside the sushi place so I took some pictures outside:

Day 5 is done! One more full day in Seattle! Hope you've been enjoying reading about my trip :)

Seattle Day 6- exploring the Fremont District

We left our hotel in Kirkland and drove back into downtown Seattle, in the Fremont district.
We first drove to Paseo, a Caribbean sandwich restaurant. The subs are really messy. caution: do not eat at the lake, especially on a windy day like we did. It is really messy- good, but sloppy lol. It sounds super romantic to have a picnic by the lake, but not with really sloppy and juicy sandwiches. Maybe light sandwiches like PB&J for a picnic next time?

^^ Fremont district streets, outside of Paseo restaurant ^^

We took the sandwiches on the go and ate them at Gas Works Park, also in Fremont district.

After lunch, we walked around and got a nice view of the lake here.

Gas Works Park ---------------------------------->

^^ Panoramic view from Gas works park-^^

 ^^ Whoops, the couple I accidentally got in the picture actually gives it a nice touch! ^^ 

After the park, we got some tea and mocha at Milstead Co. We stopped by the Fremont troll along the way as well.

Fremont troll ----------------------------------->

After that we decided to head to Golden Gardens Park, which is supposed to be a "real beach" with sand (but really it's a lake). 

Golden Gardens Park ------------------------------>

^^ The water is so nice and cold! I love it! ^^

Our last stop for today: University Village Shopping Center next to the University of Washington.

We took a look and walk around UW Campus as well.

^^ streets near UW: looks so much like Berkeley! ^^

UW Campus --------------------------->

We ate at Din Tai fung in the University Village Center! ----------------->

^^ there was lots of different flavors of Xiao Long Bao & dumplings ^^

^^ I love sesame (芝麻) in everything ^^

AAAANNNDDDD it's a WRAP!!
After dinner, we pretty much went back to our hotel near the airport. The next day we head back home and I'm headed back to Chicago to get my new apartment ready and get prepared to start my second year of optometry school. [I can't believe I'm a 2nd year already!!]

PNW 4th Day

We spent 1 night in Portland and today is our last day in Portland.

We went to the Columbia River Gorge, which is about 30 minutes drive from Portland.  There are many scenic routes, hikes, and waterfalls in the gorge, but we chose to go to Multnomah Falls. We arrived there around 11am and it was pretty crowded. I recommend going earlier if you can, but my crew members are not really early birds xD, haha.

Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge ---------------------------------->

^^ bottom of the falls ^^

^^ view from the half way point ^^

This is a good view for the faint at heart who didn't want to go to the top. It's pretty nice, but you don't get to see the water at the top!

It takes about 40 minutes to get to the top of the falls. There is a check point where you can stop and take pictures (one side is the waterfall, the other is the cliff part where you can see the skyline)

^^ Walk a little down and you can sit nearby the fall. ^^

^^ small little hole along the trail to the falls! ^^

After the gorge, we headed back on the Freeway 5 to Seattle. We didn't do much today. We walked around Costco and IKEA in Washington. 

^^ We found Sriracha stout beer at Costco. It wasn't that great though-- it was very bitter and it was weird thinking that I was drinking Sriracha... I would rather have regular beer. ^^

Then, we had dinner at nearby Sichuan (四川) restaurant in Renton, WA.