Disneyland is for kids.

So it’s a good thing that I’m a big kid.

Although the rides and attractions are starting to bore me, the atmosphere of Disneyland keeps me excited and enthralled. My sister got hook-ups to get us into the park for free yesterday, which was a definite plus. I looked at the prices for a park-hopper ticket and it was well over $90. It was Fourth of July weekend so we assumed that the crowds were going to be crazy, but we were greeted with a tolerable amount of people; the maximum wait for a ride was 30-40mins.

We saw Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Queen of Hearts, The Mad Hatter, Darth Vader, Storm Trooper one and two, Darth Maul, Green Soldiers, Peter Pan, Alice, Ariel, and Tyson Chandler.

For our Taiwan friend, it was her first time (She even got a button to signify that).

Here she is with my sister, Pat, on the drug induced Winnie the Pooh ride.

I’ve been able to be more articulate with my Chinese now that I’ve been speaking it so frequently. Although, I was made fun of yesterday because I called a submarine a “sinking ship.”

We hit every major ride in both parks with the exception of Big Thunder Mountain.

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But honestly, I can feel myself backsliding. So many distractions and not enough care as of now. But it’ll soon change, I’m sure of it.

A: Mah Jong and Banana Cream Pie

What are two ingredients that create a great evening?

I used to watch my parents play Mah Jong in Taiwan until the wee hours of the night. I never really knew what they were doing and I was usually never allowed to watch. I learned how to play via the computer about ten years ago and since then have played sporadically with friends at school or wherever.

We played a little in the afternoon today and then all evening. Let’s just say I totally owned. My mom was surprised, which was funny.

Now that our Taiwan friend is here, I have so many things to do. Almost too many things to do. But I’m having a lot of fun.

I still need to get some things done though: VBS, various church things, micellaneous office things, registration for school. But it feels all secondary. It’s so easy to forget responsibilities when I’m having fun beating my mom in Mah Jong.

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Oh yeah, and  I’m going to Disneyland tomorrow – for free.

Santa Monica

Yesterday’s party was kind of surreal. I don’t think I’ll be doing that for a while.

We went to the pier today. The new ferris wheel is puny compared to what I remember of the previous one. It looks a lot shorter.

It feels like I’m twelve again.

Father please forgive me for I can not compose
The fear that lives within me, or the rate at which it grows.
If struggle has a purpose on the narrow road you’ve carved
Why do I dread my trespasses will leave a deadly scar?

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Some of my friends from Taiwan have decided to come and pay us a visit. I’ve known them since I was born and we have some history. Actually, the first vivid memory I have in my life included me fighting with one of my friends in Taiwan.

I was six years old and she was five and we both argued that we were each older than the other. “I’m this many!” I said while holding up six fingers. “Well, I’m this many!” she responded with five fingers. “And therefore older than you!” All of it was spoken in Chinese, of course.

We used to go back every summer to visit my dad in Taiwan and to hang out with our friends. We would tell each other ghost stories and scare each other so much that we would squeeze five little kids onto one twin sized bed. I can remember everything, the lighting, the bedsheets, the wallpaper…

We sort of lost touch with each other because our family hasn’t been back to Taiwan in about ten years. It wasn’t until last summer when the oldest, Yi Shuan, got married that we talked again.

My mother and theirs were friends in high school and are still great friends today.

Their youngest, Yi Hua, is one year younger than my brother, Andrew. And then the next girl is one year younger than me, Ah Kwai.

From the left: My mom’s friend, Ah Kwai, Yi Hua, Yi Shuan, Yi Jia.

Currently Yi Jia (Far right, also my sister’s age and best friend) is staying over at our house and will be seeing the sights of California. We’re taking her to Disneyland on Sunday and next weekend, Las Vegas. Ah Kwai, the one that argued with me about our ages, will be coming in two weeks and we’ll be taking them to Universal Studios.

It really feels like old times again. These girls are probably the only friends of mine that knew my dad.

I’m planning to return to Taiwan next summer and have a blast.

I hate journaling by hand; writing not typing.

When I write my thoughts on paper, I see all my faults. “I should’ve written that instead.” Or, “That spelling error really bugs me.” There’s something special about that backspace button.

It can collect my thoughts and organize them into exactly what I want to say.

Life is better with a backspace. If only it could be applied to other aspects of my life.

I discovered my distaste of hand journaling from my mountainous escapades. The first few days I sat diligently in my tent logging exactly what happened that day. But it got boring fast. When I’m sitting in front of a computer screen, it feels as if I can arrange my thoughts and emotions more effectively. I have more control of what’s in front of me. And the abilitiy to undo my words give me a sense of freedom. Once the ink hits the paper I’m liable for what it spells.

I learned quite a bit about myself in the wilderness. Some lessons were superficial like how much physical pain I can endure. But there were other challenges that I faced, namely spiritual road blocks.

I believe in God, but I have forgotten how to experience him.

I used to feel him through a community of brothers and sisters. I felt his love through others and through the smiles and concerns of my spiritual family. Since high school, my community has dwindled down drastically. I don’t know what to do. About four years later, and I’m still in this rut. Maybe it’s time to move on.