Freshman year of college is over; I feel like I have wasted an entire year and haven't learned a single thing - but I do think that some day, I will look back on all of this, all the ridiculous all-nighters, the inspiring yet maddening talks, the hugs when I needed them most (and when I needed them least), the half-hearted confessions and well-kept secrets, the back (and mind) breaking work, and and perhaps I will appreciate it. Or not. We'll see. I miss all of you (back home, at school), and can't wait to see you in the various places that I will be this summer.

Which brings me to another list. My goals for the summer:
_____1) Chinese scroll and poem illustration project for Grandfathers' big 80 and 90. Prepare yourselves for a 30 page piece of fantastic-art.
_____2) My very own Humument [link] It'll be personal and cryptic, so look out for it.
_____3) Anatomy lessons (for free, meaning I'll be at the library quite a bit). Learning the human body, one feature per day (maybe). It's time I learned how to draw because this stuff is just crap.
_____4) Learning Chinese 130x. I'm only at conversational level. This is unacceptable. I am aiming for simple-story/newspaper reading/writing comprehension by the end of the summer. This way, I won't be so overwhelmed next year, but it also means I will be in the library even MORE!
_____5) Learning French (literature). I need to increase my vocabulary and conversational ability range above comprehension of Exupery's Le Petit Prince and Sartre's Hui Clos. I have Rhinoceros by Ionesco on my shelf right now.
_____6) Go to China for the first time in 10 years. Perhaps I will be able to bring a DSLR with me, but with recent swine flu developments, I don't know if this trip is going to work. I don't want to be quarantined while over there. However, I would love to visit all the places I learned about in Chinese class ...
_____7) Commissions. If you want, note me.

This list is really more for myself, to keep me on track for the academic and recreational plans for the summer. I'm working a full time job as well, so this might be difficult. I'll pull through; wish me luck!