Me blog moved here.

Me moved here. Me no longer in Taiwan. Me change worlds. http://newyorkalakeiko.blogspot.com/.

My desk bench was pretty much empty before I came along..

Only lacks some of my personal touches...whales whales whales..or maybe DNA DNA DNA?
On the right of my desk, is my lab work bench area where I will make scientific discoveries of ginormous proportions.




The lab is pretty big- this is only facing one side of the lab.

New Beginnings at Mount Sinai..

Every employee goes through this before they officially start working on their job.
For 3-4 years now, these sessions have been almost full and they happen every week.

Today, I got my ID badge which makes everything so official in my heart!

We also did a scavenger hunt where they sent us off with a map around the main hospital to help us discover these tunnels that run throughout all the buildings of the hospital campus...
The guy who did training today used to be an actor/improv and so he was really animated throughout the whole day..we had a few guest speakers including the CEO of Mt Sinai himself. He was all about money and customer services!

I had lunch with Laurie although she ate already so she just watched me eat..

Lobster just like in restos!!!!

Why eat out when you can eat in but it's like eating out? Dave's dad and mom's home cooking!




And isn't this the most perfect looking NY Pizza? Except for that missing peperoni. 3 freakin' dollar 25!

Almost there...

I'm almostttt an employee of Mount Sinaiiii..


Today, I signed some papers...but it is just in agreement to the offer. The job is mine if I pass all the tests today! I got two bandaids on each arm..One from Tb test and another from blood work. I also peed in a cup to take my first drug test! Yay!

I am given a big employee package with lots and lots of things to read.

What a long day.

I still have to get through another hurdle..my TN visa. I hope everything comes through for me next week and by April 5, it will be smooth sailing.

Central Park,Whole Foods, Waffles and Cupcake!

New blog title..

Oooh ..I thought I needed to create a new blog so I can have a different blog title!

I couldn't find a good title for my blog but this should do for now "Keiko State of Mind" ooohh subtle...and I didn't want to refer to NEW YORK in my title in case I find myself in another country one day and my blog wouldn't make sense again.

My hopes are incredibly, too dangerously high for this job ..It always happens..I'm TOO optimistic although I try to play it down...Must keep my mind off it with.... This would be a good time to play with a kitty.

I miss them...

I want to make them proud and find me a good job..
They are great motivators for my job hunting..but also all these fabuloso NY clothing stores I want to get my hands on too! :)

It seems so long ago...

I can't remember the last time I put on my high heels, took time to paint my face with makeup, glued subtle eye lashes, put on my fav gloss, did my hair, put something pretty and sexy ..and went out with my girl friends to get tipsy and dance all night long until I couldn't dance no more...

It hasn't been that long I'm sure but it feels like it's been FOREVER ...

From Tokyo airport

ohhh

I SAW MY GREEN TEA flavored KIT KATssss here at the NARITA airport..oh me gawd..I searched far and wide for them as every time I go into some Asian import store, I would seek for these Kit Kats...so so rare..like a narwhal sighting .. and I have only tried them ONCE in my life (or twice)!

And here they are...in wild abandon all over the airport stores ..as if they were nothing at all.. I controlled myself and didn't buy the box of 10 for a steep 15$ US..well, a week ago, i would have bought them without thinking but now, i'm a sorta new me under budget (ahaha so unrealistic)...So I got 5 individual bars instead.....three green tea and two other flavors I've never tried...Milk tea and Cherry/green tea...I will prlly regret not buying more of the Green tea ones but it'll just make me eating them more appreciative..sighs...maybe I won't love them like I used to and thankful I didn't get more?..ever thought of THAT?

omg omg i wish I could buy the box...It just seems ashamed to have found them...I try to save money in the weirdest places. Its also because I feel guilty already for indulging in a 9$ bowl of ramen 2 hrs before my flight....hunger destroys my budget!...well, it's eating RAMEN in freakin' Japan...not like I'm having Burger King or somethin'...yes yes good excuse.

steadyyy

dad wanted to take a non-blurry pic in the dark..so he hung the camera on a tree branch..steadyyy

End of an era..just kidding.

A new blog with a possible new title is coming .. :)

I need a new camera!

Yak Yak Yak

Picking my yak to ride on...well, the one I picked was apparently not cooperative so he picked one for me instead :(


I wanted this really long-haired sexy one.


For 50 RMB to sit on a yak and take pics, I made sure I got plenty of shots ..I think I had 5 different poses but these came out best..The guy told me how to pose with my arms and it definitely looks more interesting than just sitting there and smiling!









Winning shot!..90 degrees rotation makes all the difference..


Daddy checking out Yak quality?

Little foot in the forest...

"wildlife encounter" ..a yak does her thing while I pose with her.

Chinese New Years crowd in Lijiang.. le sigh.

Waiting for a cable car ride up the mountain..

Can't take these two anywhere..but it's no fun without them.

Playing in the snow..



Demonstrating how to use the bathtub in hotel room.


Biting food off mom's hands..


Getting a pic of a piece of rock that looks like cow dung..



Inappropriate grabbing

AWWWW...ewwwwww aw ew aw ew

Video of the smooch.

Kiss kiss for free meat..

I took my parents to Ken Pai today to take advantage of a more quiet night since it's always packed and rowdy there. Ken Pai is usually for the younger crowd. A free meat dish for a 10 secs kiss and free beer at 8 pm when you chug your drink.
They did NOT want to kiss at first...but then when I told them it was for free meat..






Free meat

Hey, let's hold hands 24/7..

hold hands here, there, everywhere! Aren't her arms tired? They held the entire way from Taipei main station until I got off ...



Maybe she's afraid he'll run away when the mrt stops...

Even if they were in love, I still don't get it.

Gotta start checking pockets before throwing stuff in laundry machine...

When I found it..I thought..oh shit. Chou Mama's going to be so pissed because since I was born, she has told me to check my pockets before putting stuff in the washing machines. I rarely do.

I've left many things...things that survive like money and coins..and things that don't survive like ipods (isad). This time, I left my magnetic card which opens doors to our condominium buildings, in the washer AND dryer! Tumble trouble.

So I went downstairs to inquiry about a replacement card. The security agent decides to check my crippled card although I made fun of him because I was so sure it was finished...and to my amazement..it still works!
It won't fit nicely in my wallet anymore but I can't wait to show mum and tell her that I didn't have to waste 200 nt after all to get a new card.

Yoga

I pay for 4 classes of yoga per month..most are 60 minutes classes. So when today, my hour class was 80% talk and 20% bending, I was not happy at all. Especially when I don't understand his HK/ABC accent. Sure he explained where each strand of muscle is suppose to be for the cobra, warrior 2 and downward dog but it's not what I paid for. Although probably most of the students didn't mind since they pay for unlimited classes, the teacher says that, learning to be calm, appreciate, willing to learn..is something yogi-like. So for those who do not want to listen and eager to sweat, then you are not learning blablabla. And I hate partnering with strangers..especially when you have to touch their feet...! And they gotta touch mine too! bahaha

Just when I was wondering, how I can make a little money..

I get a call todayyy ...Three days at ICRT before New Years..Even though it's a few hours per day, I will still get a pay! Ha! Aren't they lucky I am free as a bird and can step in like this... tweet.

Woozy..

I started feeling woozy and thought something was wrong with me or I was about to faint. Then I looked over at my hanging jewelry which were swaying back and forth and remembered..oh yea..I'm back in Taiwan now and it's just another little earthquake stirring things up.

lalalala

I got to start counting how many jobs I'm applying to again. I have been good with consistently applying for jobs here and there every few days. Maybe I should stick with one type of job... It seems like there are so many different types of jobs I want to do out there! Surgical assistant!! woooh blood.

February 7th..

Thirsty

Doc: " A Shark Made in Taiwan"

I just watched this documentary on Animal Planet about whale sharks and I was like...Whaaaaat Why is Taiwan the only country that has not yet banned whale shark fishing? These gentle giants that can feed a small village is an endangered species and so great to look at.

So then I became all sad that Taipei is the biggest consumer of whale shark meat but also thinking, why come I have not tasted this shark meat yet? Maybe I just can't read Chinese menus well.

I do some Google research and find out that the stupid documentary was filmed in 2004 and according to China Post, whale shark fishing has been banned since Summer 2008! Yay!

Whale sharks were captured and sold to aquariums around the world. They were filming one whale shark being captured and sent to an aquarium in Hualien. Sold for approx. 7500$USD .

"Finally, the whale shark has arrived. She will now enter her prison where she'll entertain guests by swimming in circles for dozens of years".

Applecare cares for me

Since I purchased my first Mac laptop which was a black Macbook back in 2005, I got the Applecare plan with it and it has definitely been worth it! I get to complain about every little thing that bothers me..even chipped letters on my keyboard! I've had a replacement laptop in 2007 because the first generation of Macbook was a total fail (also got a new extended Applecare plan with it), new batteries (you get a new battery if battery life is below a certain percentage), new top casings (3 times!), new hard drive (that was a bitch when it failed on me), new sound card and today, I got my power adapter replaced! They even cover the power adapters to my surprise!...My Applecare plan ends Aug '10 and I'm hoping very very much that my computer completely dies on me so I can get another new replacement laptop... which will probably be their latest Macbooks muhahaha Although I wish for an all-silver 17' Macbook Pro if I had to choose. yum.

Must find THIS exact YAK that Nikkie was on in Yunnan

He looks so cool. I should be able to meet him on day 7 of my trip..

My top travel destinations..

In no particular order..

1. Europe (Spain, Italy (Rome, Venice, Malta islands), Swiss, Greek islands, South of France)


2. Egypt or Jordan


3. Maldives

5. Beunos Aires/Antartica

6. Lizard Island, Great Reef barrier in Australia

7. Machu Pichu

8. Phi Phi, Thailand

9. Molokai, Hawaii

10.Perito Moreno Glacier