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myunhwak
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Country: United States
State: Connecticut
Expertise: walking on Orange, Hamonassett, ice-cream(summer)/hot chocolate(winter), reading (!!!), opera (no more broadway), scottish pastors, chatting, Korean dramas
Message: message me
Member Since:
12/14/2002
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| For a long time, the excitement in my life was thinking about Xiaoxiao's wedding (June 16, 2007). Xiaoxiao and I became friends about a year and a half ago through our John bible study and seeing her come to faith from her aetheist/hard-core science background to believing in the cleansing power of Jesus' blood and becoming committed to growth and service for our Lord has been a blessing. Like her name, Xiaoxiao is a small girl (but of course her chinese character doesn't mean small-small), so it was a physically odd pairing for tall Myun Hwa to be discipling small Xiaoxiao. But God has been very gracious in letting us become close friends through our bible studies and prayer times, and me becoming her wedding coordinator turned out to be a very fun and bonding experience. From Costco trips to decide all the food (no catering, just a 'dessert buffet), driving around orange and milford to figure out flowers, dropping by friend's houses to borrow their dinnerware for our serving platters, discussing decorations after pouring over public library loaned book on flowers and decor and wedding, to holding a bridal shower for her; what could have been a very stressful wedding planning turned into opportunities for prayer and thanksgiving when God answered or his grace was sufficient. Despite the many 'problems', e.g. Xiaoxiao's mom wasn't permitted a visa to come to the U.S. to attend the wedding, roses were half the size they expected, the reception hall was the church basement that has low ceilings and pipes that criss-cross like an exoskeleton, how to arrange flowers (???), I was really impressed with how Xiaoxiao refused to be discouraged or frustrated or how Chi (her fiance, now husband) was able to boost her faith and attitude. I am so happy for the two of them and pray that their life together would be glorifying to God and incredibly nurturing to each other, as I've already seen.
Some pictures.
Here's the bridal shower - can you tell I had fun with the food and decor? I think the 'hit' item was chinese dumplings, what I hoped would be a 'hit' (chocolate-whiskey bundt cake in the center, an epicurious recipe) was not, and the party favors using martha stewart's candle lighter bags made for a beauitful summer-y eye candy.
The weather was incredibly hot - the first thing people did when they got their plates to line up for the food is to use them as fans rather than food receptacles! (Xiaoxiao is in a white top and jeans).
Apparently, the american bridal shower tradition is to have 'charm-cakes'. Basically, you tie little charms (I got rings with plastic doves on them) with ribbons, then put the charms in the hole of the bundt cake and let the ribbons stream out. Then each person holds onto one ribbon, lifts out the charm from hole at the same time and see what they got. It's nice if you have different charms for everyone (baby carridges, milk bottles, etc.) but for frugality, I just had the same charm for everybody and one odd-one-out charm of a pair of red chinese 'blessing' shoes so that whoever got this got a prize. Here is everyone looking at the camera before finding out who got the 'blessing.'
The week after the bridal shower was a little break from wedding planning, and that was to go to Phili to see the Maks. It's so wonderful to see people that I knew from my Berkeley days because it just seems so far removed from me now. As typical of me, I got lost on the drive from the suburbs of Phili into the city, and Krissy and Adrian were kind enough to put on a smile when I finally drove into their hotel lobby. We had a very sweaty friday and saturday but that didn't deter us (them) from eating lots and lots of food. I was amazed at their steady appetite - here we're enjoying our first Phili cheesesteaks (actually a cheese-veggie, will need to work on stomaching a genuine cheese-steak next time!).
 
Needless to say, the wedding that happened the following weekend was beautiful, happy, and fun. I wish I had pictures from them, but it was impossible to find the time when I was desperately putting the food together till 15 minutes before the ceremony, at which point I got changed and groomed to read the scripture passage, then rushed down into the reception right after the ceremony and stayed in the kitchen baking quiches or refilling watermelon cubes or instructing people to do this/that that I didn't get hardly any pictures except these two. The first is of me and Juliana and Panle, the second is Rob and I  .
 
I dont' think I've ever written about my research. I guess from my blogs you'd never know that I'm a full-time graduate student in science. Well, I won't be writing about it today or anytime soon but I'm still at the same place working on the same stuff!
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| I owe this entry to a friend who's becoming a big part of my life now since a year ago - my boyfriend Rob :) Rob goes to my church, which is how we met, and after quite an interesting (AND arduous) two years, we decided to get together last summer. Since then, there's been two hall-mark adventures: Rob visiting my parents and my visiting Rob parents. So here's some pictures from both trips.
1. Rob came to visit me for 8 days over christmas in Hong Kong this past Christmas. We made sure we went to most of HK's exciting touristy spots to ensure a whetted apetite for another visit in the future (:D).
This is Hong Kong harbor - my family and Rob had just finished dinner at an amazing Peking duck restaurant so we were armed with content tummies and hearts.
I did take a family picture, too. My family was really happy to have Rob with us then, so he could take the pictures for us!
We did many hikes - Lantau Peak, Shek O to Big Wave Bay, and the Maclehose Trail going around Saiwan - that one was breathtaking!
Taitam reservoir where we had our lunch break. Then we continued to go over hills until we reached the ocean and what a view!
We planned to go up Sharp Peak, too - you can see it in the distance. I've never seen anything like it, and apparently it's very windy. But I was exhausted and it was already late afternoon, so Rob decided for us that we'll go there next time.
The day before we left for U.S., Rob treated me to an exquisite tea set at the Peninsula Hotel. I can still remember their mini-tiramisu, mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
2. Fast-forward four months and come Easter weekend, Rob and I went to Chicago to spend time with his parents. We toured the city (love Lake Michigan!), went to hear the Chicago Symphony play Mahler Symphony No.1 and Bruch's violin concerto, ate lots of yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmy food, and just had a happy time getting to know his parents. I'm afraid I don't have any parent shots, but here are some pics of Navy Pier by Lake Michigan. We went on the ferry for a bird's eye view of chicago (beautiful but very windy!). Our shadows our saying hello!
 
Rob's mom asked Rob and I to cut all the daffodils and bring them into the house before they die from the cold weather. So here is Rob cutting away, and I with the finished bouquet. So no, Rob didn't pick all the flowers in his garden to give to his girl, as my mom thought.
Can you tell that we're happy to be together?
So hopefully, I'll have more wordy and less picture updates in the future. But this documents one important part of my life for now!
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| Chin Hwa visited New Haven successfully in October this year. I say successfully, because she tried to visit me for my graduation at Berkeley in 2003 but didn't realize until after she bought her plane ticket last-minute that she needed to apply for a visa to come to the States. So after having lived 7 years in the States, Chin Hwa came for 1 week across the Atlantic to see how her sister fared. Picking her up from the airport in my svelte white Toyota: 
Knowing her dire diet in England, I fed her much Korean food: here's a sample of our breakfast (K-style seafood pancake, lots&lots of kimchi). Honestly, it didn't taste all that great because we couldn't figure out the right consistency for the pancake mix, but we didn't abandon our K-heritage :D 
She got to see some beautiful Fall sceneries. Here's a view of New Haven from East Rock. You feel like you can soar over the sea of autumn hues. This kind of nature, among many other reasons, was one of the most difficult things to think about leaving behind when I thought I was going to quit my grad program back in May and come to HK.     Then, of course we had to visit NYC. After frolicking the Met, testing the HUGE pretzels at the Central Park stands, we finally fed ourselves full with kimchee & dwaenjung jjeegae. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.    Then we drove to the Town of Kent in Litchfield where the Appalachian Trial runs. We had to cross a 30 ft long log strewn over a shallow but RAPID (=dangerous) river to reach the beginning of a trail. Chin Hwa crawled across the log and refused any pictures to be taken - thus the solo pictures of my balancing feat.  
Then we went to Kent Falls Park - besides the amazing 3 story high Fall, the trail was not particularly noteworthy. Then with the help of a friend flew kites in the strong winds at Lighthouse Point just beyond New Haven.   The night ended in New Haven's one and only AModern Pizza where we gorged on their "meat explosion" - pizza topped with all kinds of fatty greasy meat pieces. Again, Mmmmmmmmmmmm. And did I mention, GO BEARS! 
On Chin Hwa's last day, we went apple-picking at Lyman's Orchard. Apple is Chin Hwa's all-time favorite fruit since the day she was born (well, maybe since she started eating solid food), so this was a really wonderful experience for her. Unfortunately, because it was the end of October, most apples were gone. 
p.s. I'm in HK Dec 14-Jan 8. Will be updating more frequently, and if you're in HK, let me know  | | |
| God has been so good to me the past two months, and I feel that despite the almost overwhelming turmoil, he's made his grace all the more overpowering so that I stand in awe of him.
Children's church has been a real growing experience. Teaching children about God's holiness, Trinitarian existence, revelation through prophets and ultimately through Jesus, going through hymns, finding ways to motivate the children to learn and to LOVE God, and praying for them and with them, has been so eye-opening to the great joy to be had in children as well as the humbling recognition that we possess sinful selfish hearts that we just learn to better hide with added years. As I become better acquainted with God's desires for his children, seeing from Scripture His vision for the future generation, it brings me to my knees - how can I or anyone be found faithful to transfer a passion for His glory and truth to each of these hearts, each of these souls, each of these individual lives? On a lighter note, below are some fun moments:
1. Toilet paper mummy (poor Tae) 2. Ken with the kids - he'd like adopt Hailey one day.
 
God's other means of great blessing has been through the seeker bible study that He's allowed me to start since last August. It began with Xuesong (red shirt) and I going over John, then Tiantian (right black shirt) and Beibei (orange shirt) joined soon after. Panle (pink shirt), who is my room mate (left black shirt) Juliana's friend joined since November. Panle has been a Christian for two years and her electric enthusiasm for sharing the gospel has really encouraged the girls. And at this time, I can praise God for all three girls, plus one more (Xiaoxiao, who joined us a month ago), having confessed with their mouths and hearts that Jesus Christ is indeed their Lord and Savior. Hallelujah! Interestingly, they're all Chinese. I don't know what it is with me and Chinese people - ever since I lived in Hong Kong, it seems like I make all my significant ties with the zhongguoren :)
Professionally, I've never been so discouraged. Graduate School research has just hit rock bottom. After three years I see no fruit, and if any progress, it's at a snail pace that I feel will lead me no where. I've been thinking much about quitting, doing something else, even going back to Hong Kong. Thankfully, God provided Phillip - my beautiful magenta Phalaenopsis orchid hand-picked from IKEA. Please meet Phillip:
 He's so beautiful, making my room look pretty classy and even girly. Above all, it reminds me of God's Sovereignty and power, how he remembers the weak and the delicate, how I need not worry (Matthew 6:25-34). In the mean time, I'm taking this week off from 'work' (lab research) to think and pray through what actions to take. Thankfully, my advisor is really compassionate and understanding - she's willing to let me stay in her lab as I decide on what to do with my future. This was the biggest worry before hand, because I thought she'd want me to leave immediately so she doesn't have to support me financially anymore. Then I'd have had to fly back to Hong Kong withing 14 days of my withdrawal by immigration rules. And that would have been really difficult as I tear myself away from everything I've come to love, treasure, and see God's hand in. Thank you so much to those of you who have been giving me willing counsel, support, and uplifted me to my heavenly Father. I need His wisdom and do appreciate your hearts.
I'm also occupied partly with bridesmaid responsibilities of my wonderful friend Kristin Henry. Bridal shower was last friday, and everything went smoothly. I was so proud to be able to present her with the raciest of all the gifts - something I eyed in the sexy little thing collection of Victoria Secret. It's basically a black thong with ropes of little rhinestones running on the backside instead of a string. Honestly, I don't think I'd ever wear anything like that - thongs, bikinis, no thank you! But it's so much fun to buy them for others when you know they won't be offended. Hahaha, beware Krissy! Anyway, below is a picture of Kristin and i by Phelps gate during the famous daffodil season. 
But being a bridesmaid also means I see some of the behind-the-scenes planning necessary for a wedding, and the emotional/mental/physical impact that can have on the couple to be wed. It's certainly too often too much to handle, but I'm glad to say, I think I still would like to be a bride if only God will provide a man I can love enough
Besides getting married, I think more about what it might be like to have kids. And besides being involved with Children's Church, I'm getting to know the Hinksons' children better, which makes me much more hopeful about the joys of motherhood. Vienna (9), Geneva (5,6?), and Isabella (3) are the CUTEST, AFFECTIONATIST, ENERGETIC kids I've seen in a long time. And I can certainly see much of that coming from their amazing godly parents Jon and Anita. In particular, Anita is so spunky, aware, considerate - she sees her role as mother and wife with so much humor and grace it makes me hopeful that maybe it's not that impossible. Anyway, below is a picture of Geneva matching her hands against mine, and Isabella eyeing the decadent chocolate birthday cake with m&m icing that Anita made for her. I actually wanted just a picture of her, but she refused to take any pictures without her cake.
 
Finally, for those of you who love beaches and love to hear the waves lapping onto the sand, or just watch a deeply orange sunset sink into the blue-green horizon, here's pictures of my favorite CT beach, Hammonasset:
 
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| Do you have lots of silver jewelry at home that you can't wear anymore because they've turned black? Well, I had one particular silver bracelet that my father gave me for my graduation 2 1/2 years ago, and it was turning so dirty-colored I couldn't wear it anymore. I learned online that you can: line a bowl with alumnium foil, add 1/2 cup boiling water, 1 ts baking soda, stir (it'll sizzle), then add your silver paraphernalia making sure it's contacting the aluminium. And in no more than 10 sec (few seconds for the less dirty ones) will your jewelry look like brand new. Below is a picture of my testimony:
Before: After:
 
Apparently, there's some transfer of sulfur-containing contaminant from the silver to the aluminium, which is a better recipient than silver. Anyway, it's a very fun exercise - you should try it in your next 5 minute study break | | |
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