My First Summer In Redding

Some of my homies here in Redding. #Summer

I find myself sitting at a coffee shop, which is the next big thing to do while in Redding (LOL), but after two full months living in a city (a.k.a. village), which is about three hours away from anything, I can't help but enjoy this time that I have away from the familiar. 

Don't get me wrong I miss the brisk mornings, the fast-pace community, and the unending diversity that a cluster of cities like the Bay Area offers. I miss my family, eating homemade food, and waking up to smells that remind me of comfort and home. 

If you haven't picked up on the title of this blogpost, this is my first summer away from home (Da Bay). I got a job working on campus cleaning the buildings and resident halls of Simpson University along with nine other students and this whole experience has been a constant learning process. A learning process, not only in the job itself, but practically living on my own without the constant worry of deadlines, classes, and exams, which has been a main attachment that I have with Redding.

These past two months have consisted of getting acquainted with the whether, not knowing what to do in a city that doesn't get cool until 9:00PM-- even then it's still 98 degrees outside and I'm in bed by 9:30PM (because I have to be up by 6:00AM the following morning)-- and trying to stay on a budget. Sure, this may not seem like qualifications in which should be difficult to get adjusted to, but they are conditions in which I'm not familiar with. 

If you are at all aware with the geographic location of Redding, California, then you know how insanely hot it gets over the summer and for those that actually live here in Redding: you have my utmost respect and gratitude because I do not know how you guys do it. Redding has reached a high of 112 Degrees Fahrenheit and let me tell you, that I have not sweated as much as I have just standing outside. Even though, my job here at Simpson allows us to stay indoors for majority of the time, which I am so thankful for, but there are moments when we have clean outside of the building (mostly windows) and I feel like I'm in a sauna. *Slowly dies inside* There are other students here doing other things around campus, such as the Grounds Crew, and they have it hard. Their whole job is working outside in the heat mowing, cutting, pruning-- just about everything and I pray for their souls. Needless to say, they are the real MVP's!

As for doing things in Redding, the church community here is absolutely phenomenal. I attend Bethel church and I am in love with everything the church has to offer: the worship, messages, and people that I get to meet. But since the beginning of my summer break, God has put on my heart a deep desire for a sense of community. Not only with the community that I have with my co-workers and other friends that are staying in the Redding area, but wanting to be a part of a church body. Because Bethel is such a big church, it's hard finding that source of utilizing where God wants to use me in such big place. Before Bethel, I've attended other churches in the area, such as The Stirring Church and Haven, which is a young adult service at Little Country Church. So my first step was to get reconnected and see if God has anything for me there. 

So, I began attending The Stirring in the mornings and Haven at night, encouraged and excited to experience what God wants for me, which also has been a learning process. Because of this, I'm not going to stop attending Bethel church completely (they have a Friday night service that I plan on attending as well (LOL)).

While living on my own, I really want to take care of myself, which constituted watching what I ate and exercising often. For the past month, I've been going to the gym right after work and cooking more instead of eating out. Out of the two, I never know cooking would be SO HARD!!

Now with two months into figuring out Redding (more or less), I know God's not done with with me in this place. With one more semester to finish in my undergrad career, God's never going to take me out of school. Overall, I miss home deeply, but I think God is teaching me to find home wherever I am because He is home.

BookTube

If you aren't familiar with the world of "BookTube", it's basically a part of YouTube, but this corner of YouTube primarily involves the discussion and love for books! Ever since having started my Reading Bucket List, which I wrote a blog about that you are welcome to read later, I have been watching more of these, as they're called, "BookTubers." Watching the videos of these BookTubers, I have very much enjoyed learning about new books that are published as well as share the love, excitement, and joy for books! Although, watching these videos have made me want to go out to buy these said books, I have been able to stay on track with my Reading Bucket List, but may have probably sort of have gone out to buy those said books! I have the complete intention to read all of them, of course, but that just adds to my TBR pile, which brings to mind another aspect of BookTube.

BookTube is a culture all its own! As I continued to watch more videos of the BookTube world, I have learned words and phrases such as TBR (To Be Read), Book Haul(s), Book Unboxings, Goodreads, Book Tags, unhauls, etc. The list goes on. As much as I love sharing my love for books, watching these videos have also made me want to stop everything and just read so that I can buy even more books... I really need to get a job, just so that I can use that money to buy those books. But I thought, not only should I make a blogpost about BookTube and it's culture, but extend the world of BookTube with you!

Here are some of the BookTubers that I regularly watch! I hope and wish you the best as you try to restrain from  going to the nearest bookstore after watching these videos, unless your heart so desires! You're Welcome! Thank you for reading! :D

-Jacky

JoelBooks

Peruse Project

WhittyNovels

Summer Nostalgia: People

My Sophomore and Senior yearbooks!

As some of you may know, I'm currently on my summer vacation and as the month of May comes to a close, June is around the corner and during this time of the year it has become pretty nostalgic for me. A couple of weeks ago, I visited my old high school and I got to see some of my old teachers and a couple of my friends who are seniors now that I've missed a lot, and just thinking that around this time TWO YEARS ago-- I can't believe it's already been two years-- since I've graduated high school! That sounds so weird! I've always been used to saying, "I graduated last year"; "Last year, I did this..." or "Last year I did that.." I was so used to saying "last year," but now it's TWO years since its happened. 

Although, I don't miss the "high school" part of high school, I do miss the people. A little over a week ago, I got to hang out with one of my homies, which was so much fun! He's a senior in high school and I'm so excited for what he has planned for the future-- what he's doing now! While we hung out, he asked me about the kind of things we (my friends and I) do for fun, while in Redding at Simpson. I mentioned the dollar theater, Castle Crags, hiking, the lake, on-campus events, and Dutch Bos.-- all of which are pretty legitimate events and places to go to. But let's face it, Redding is a pretty small city and there really isn't much to do-- I apologize completely to the city of Redding and those that live there, I hope that statement does not offend you. But as I continued to think about the kind of things there are to do for fun, I probably made Simpson sound a lot more boring than it actually is, but now that I think about it, I didn't mention the people that makes Simpson fun! Throughout the academic year while at Redding, I continue to laugh uncontrollably, grow and live with such amazing, authentic, and crazy funny individuals that without them, Simpson would not have been as great as it is. 

That is where its been nostalgic. People. It's the people I went to high school with, graduated with, and shared memories with that, thinking of it now, haven't really talk to since my high school graduation. When I visited my old high school two weeks ago,I realized that after this class graduates (the Class of 2015) I will more or less know no one who attends El Cerrito High School. Well, besides my sister, who will be attending E.C. this upcoming fall, but that's besides the point. Due to graduation for the Class of 2015, I decided to look at my old year books. I reread my friends signatures and the paragraph/ page long entries about our time together and to tell you the truth, I laughed and almost cried. Trust me, I do not miss high school AT ALL, but I really miss the people I've gotten to know, all who I most likely will text/ call very soon! I should also admit, I probably wouldn't want to see the majority of the people I went to high school with just because it was high school. It's the people I've spent so much time with whether it were during class or on the softball field that I really miss hanging out with.

As I traced the hand writings of all of these people that I've spent 4, 3, or 2 years of my life with that signed my yearbook, I know without a doubt that we've all changed. I know I've changed that as I grow and become more of who I want to be, who God has created me to be, I want the people that I've become friends with to be a part of that. I know there still is social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, and all that good jazz, but there's nothing like spending physical/ legit face-to-face time with someone and becoming closer in language. What I mean by "becoming closer in language," (it's something I learned in Philosophy) which means "communication." In other words, the only way we tend to get to know people and grow in friendship is through communicating: language. It's talking and listening that I feel has established friendships and stronger bonds between people, two foundation social interactions that have been eminent factors in my personal friendships: Time. Spending time with people. I guess you could say time is one of my love languages because, now having spent two years in college, time is important and continual. Knowing that someone wants to spend time with me means a lot. Knowing that as precious as time is, they want to spend it with me.

It blows my mind to realize how important relationship is. It's really cool to think that in Genesis 2:18, the Lord says, "It is not good for the man to be alone," which I have interpreted as, we (us, you, me, people) were made for relationship! Correct me if I'm wrong, but God does not say "It is NOT good," again throughout the creation account besides having seen Adam needing a companion. I feel that this is not limited to JUST a significant other, but with family members, friends, and acquaintances. It's meeting new people and growing in relationship that I feel closest with God. To learn and love his people that I may pursue and love as He does. So, not only will I be reading and running this summer, but also pursuing relationship!

Thank you so much for reading! You the real MVP!

I hope you have a great day!

-Jacky

Summer Reading Bucket List

This Summer, one of the many things I want to do is read as many books as I can! Before I went crazy, I knew I wanted to start with a goal! With the month of May JUST starting, I've set a goal of 10 books in 4 months! It may sound cray, but I've heard people read at least 3-6 books a MONTH (#BookTube) and I am determined! Despite that comparison, I know I can do it! Before starting this goal, I came face to face with a hard decision of picking a book to read first, which took as as much time I could spare (very little time). So I did the most strategic way to pick my first book to read: Eeny, meeny, miney, moe. And as fate picked it, I landed on Everything Is Illuminated by Johnathan Safran Foer. The following list is the result of continuing with that Eeny, meeny, miney, moe strategy! 

*Summer Reading Bucket List

1. Everything Is Illuminated by Johnathan Safran Foer

2. The Martian by Andy Weir

3. Robopocalypse: A Novel by Daniel H. Wilson

4. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

5. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

6. The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker

7. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

8. The Giver by Lois Lowry

9. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

10. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstrern

Although I am very determined to finish this list before I head back to Simpson, I also want to make sure that I have fun with this list! The last thing I want to happen is reading becoming a hassle, but looking at this list now, I have noticed that this list has such a wide variety of genres. From contemporaries to apocalyptic fiction and YA Fiction to realistic fiction. I am so excited to start this Summer Reading Bucket List ASAP!! Wish me luck!

Thank you for reading!!

-Jacky 

*If you'd like to tag along with me on my reading progress, follow me on Goodreads!!

Plans for the Summer of 2015

It's almost the end of April already!!! I can't believe how fast my last semester of my sophomore year went by! (AAHHHHH!!!!) It drives me crazy to look back and remember all the things I've done, which I hope to share with you now that I am finally back home for the summer! Besides having planned taking classes, working, internship-ing (I think that's a word), and HOPEFULLY meeting up with some of my homies, I have a feeling it's going to be four long (and hopefully busy) months this summer! I miss everyone back at Simpson already! I can see it now, going back to campus in late August and awaiting the arrival of all my friends and all the other residences-- which reminds me!

I don't know if you were aware, but for the academic year of 2014-2015, I was a Resident Assistant (RA) for 1st Floor Irwin! Being an RA has been a GREAT blessing and so much has come from being an RA that I know that I wouldn't have built such strong relationships, grew to LIKE people (soon turned into love because people are actually really cool!), and become closer with God if it weren't for being an RA! But as of the 2015-2016 academic year at Simpson University, I will not only be an RA, but in 1st Floor of Morgan-Sharp!! It's a different building, but I know the Lord has even more things planned for me as I transition into a new team and group of girls!

I JUST finished my Sophomore and I can't stop thinking about next school year! But anyways, I am currently taking advantage of the freedom I have now, which consists of Netflix, popcorn, and sleeping until I get hungry! Just kidding! I wake up at least 5 minutes before I smell the food cooking so that I have enough time to brush my teeth! Okay, I'm completely kidding about that too! Although I do brush my teeth before I start my day, I'm going to really try to take advantage of the extra time on my hands before things start to get a little too hectic! Since being back from University, I have been running in the morning and trying my best to eat better! Being home, I know I tend to eat a lot more because it's NOT cafe food, so I plan to exercise more often! Just wish me luck that I keep it up *I type this with one hand as I put more popcorn into my mouth* 

I also hope to get up as early as 7:30A.M. for my morning runs-- only because my little sister is still in school and I really want to make an effort to get up early while also starting my day out with a run! I mention that my sister is still in school because now that I'm home, I can drop her off and her school is a little over half a mile from my old high school, including a lot of hills, so I run from her school to my high school and back! It's a good mile and a half give or take (I should mention again that there are a lot of HILLS!) 

Besides running and eating healthier, I also want to read as much as I can! Since I don't normally have time to read for fun while in school because of the amount of papers, meetings, classes, and other reading assignments, I hope to fill my imagination with the worlds that have been bravely shared by numerous authors! Although I may have not had the time over the academic year, that didn't stop me from buying books, so I'm well over stocked for this summer! After every book I finish I hope to post a book review about them and if you have any recommendations, let me know about what books I should read!

Above everything I've mentioned that I'd like to do this summer, I hope to continue to grow and strengthen my relationship with the Lord even more! On my long drive home from Simpson (3 hours long) I pray. I pray and talk with the Lord for I don't know how long and it mostly ends with tears of joy and I am quickly reminded that I have to see in order to drive, so I also pray that I get home safely! This summer with all the things I have planned, I know that it might not be what God has planned. One thing is for sure, I want to glorify Him in anything and everything He does have planned for me. I hope that connecting with people does not stop at Simpson and I don't want to find myself spiritually dry. I think this summer and what was very eminent this past semester is prayer. This summer, I want to make sure I spend in prayer. Prayer for the summer, a potential internship, summer classes, and work. I also pray for the upcoming academic year, Simpson University, and Student Development. For my family and friends, for motivation and peace, and for new experiences-- experiences lived and remained with the Father and Christ my savior!

That is what I'd like to do this summer! 

Thank you so much for reading! <3 comment-3--="">

-Jacky

Summer of Movies

Ever since I was very little, I loved watching movies and going to the movie theaters. I remember that every time my mom or dad would say, "We're going to the movie theater!" Me and my younger sister would get really excited and run to our room to put our "bye-bye" clothes on as we'd call them. ("bye-bye" because when we'd go somewhere we'd say "bye-bye" which are just clothes we'd wear when we'd go somewhere.) 

I always thought that the movie theater was a magical place. Each theater held a different realm with it's accompanied adventures. Although I can't remember what movie I first watched in a theater, I can remember how I felt. Every time we arrived at the movie theater, I would be just as excited. Even to this day, I get so excited when I'm on my way to a movie theater. 

This summer, my outlook in movies shifted. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed watching films, going to the movie theaters and experiencing the adventures with the characters on screen. What dramatically changed with this shift of perspective is the aspects that go into the film, such as the directing, producing, acting, and photography. I think this started while I was watching a YouTuber, Jack Howard, who discusses the different facets and work that go into a film. This opened my eyes to a whole different world of what happens behind the camera. 

Now when I watch movies, I pay attention to different elements of the film, such as the music, the actors/ actresses, and the positions of the camera angles. This in no way has burdened me from just enjoying a movie, I feel that it actually has enhanced the way I watch a movie. Movies that I think are really good wouldn't normally make me think of those elements to point out. But in someway that they do, it would because I really like it, which may happen occasionally. But if I start to notice many things about the film, I've noticed that it is because I'm not enjoying the film. 

During this summer in particular, with the new perspective I had on films, I watched a good amount of movies. I've watched, "Transformers: Age of Extinction", "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes", "Maleficent", "X- Men: Days of Future Pass", "Godzilla", and "Guardians of the Galaxy". I've listed just some of summer  movie blockbusters and I have to say that there are some on this list that I enjoyed watching and others that I didn't.

The top 2 I would say were my favorite to watch were X- Men: Days of Future Past and Guardians of the Galaxy. Both completely different styles of directing, but nonetheless were SO GOOD!!! X-Men was mind blowing and Guardians of the Galaxy was EPIC! Both of the movies soundtracks were good and scripts were well- written. The characters in both movies were well developed and the acting was flawless. These two films were the dynamic duo of my summer.

Empire Magazine is definitely one of the main things that has helped foster my love for films. Ever since I bought my first  copy of Issue: 299, I am addicted. I only look forward to the films that come close to topping my summer movie duo and my love for movies to continue to grow.