Tonight as I was playing with my iPod, I decided to put some photos on it. These weren’t the best photos of me or my friends–many were taken in poor lighting or from awkward angles–but they were ones that captured some of my happiest [recent] moments with the people who matter the most to me and I wanted to be able to carry them around with me. Without further ado, I present…
-Taco hopping night! My friend Rhea and I had one night when we decided to hunt down a taco truck. Rather than stop at one truck, we ended up frequenting two (the second being the red school bus one), devouring our tasty purchases in the shady parking lots. We then compared the taco truck’s tacos to Chubby’s (over on Ninth Street). Our evening ended back on campus at the Dillo, where we enjoyed the beauty of food points. More recently, when Rhea came to visit me in LA, we were super hungry after a night out clubbing w/some girls. We ended up in Venice beach, where we ate delicious Cuban sliders from a street cart. So, yeah. The conclusion of this bullet is that street food+Rhea=good times. hahah.
-Numerous explorations with my bestie Rita. Raleigh was definitely one of the first ones to come to mind, but our little escapades during the cruise were also ridiculously fun. Even Durham and Chapel Hill were unescaped by us. Visiting our favorite Durham thrift store (and giving her my socks to wear) and visiting UNC also top the list.
-I don’t get to see my best friend from high school often, but whenever I do we have an amazing time. Last time I saw Hollie, we drove to Gainesville where we tie dyed tshirts, hopped in a photo booth, and enjoyed downtown. Another time when we were in Gainesville (or Gangsterville, ha), we visited my good friends Chris & Nitu. A ridiculous party went down that eventually devolved into all of us collapsing on the floor in a pile and spooning.
-During my last finals week at Duke, I was itching to get away from the intense, confining atmosphere of Duke libraries. Instead, I visited cafes on Ninth Street, studied in a rocker on the Documentary Studies house porch, and more. One night I decided to accompany my friend Linda to Smith Warehouse. As Linda worked on her painting, I sat in the vibrant studio and attempted to study. There was something so magical about being in an empty building late at night, surrounded by art. I could feel the inspiration of many others whizzing around me as I studied. During one study break, Linda and I goofed around and hit up a vending machine. The Vending Machine Gods decided to smile upon our fortune by giving us not two, not three…but FIVE bags of Doritos when we had only paid for one (take THAT! vending machine in Perkins that stole my money). We took it as a very good omen for our upcoming exams.
-Enjoying the nightlife in Boston with my old friends Penn & Reebs. I met both the summer before college while in Taiwan. A group of us hung out almost every day for a month and a half, exploring kooky restaurants and nightmarkets in Taiwan. Though I felt close to them by the end of it, I never expected to get long-term friendships out of the experience. Fast forward four years later and the three of us were reunited in Boston. While I met up with each quite a few times, m
y favorite night was when we went exploring down by the harbor. We fielded off weird tattooed guys, traipsed along the Columbus walkway, sat by the water and talked for ages, and ended up in Little Italy. That night, I realized that even though we might not talk all the time or see each other often, we share a special kind of friendship. I know they’ll always have my back and I’ll always have theirs. And when I next see them, I can guarantee we’ll have a great time.
-Barhopping in Chapel Hill with my friends Xiao and Liwei. We started out on the rooftop of “Top of the Hill”, enjoying a night view of the town, and ended up making three other stops. Between finding out where Liwei’s lab stashes their beer (haha) and getting lost trying to find “the cave”, I shared a lot of great laughs with these two.
-All I will say is: fiesta de ABC. haha. You’re welcome for the strategic crop and paint, Rita.
-LDOC and tailgates. I loveeee tailgate. Almost every tailgate instantly became one of my better memories of Duke.
-Hanging with my freshmen. I had several good friends my senior year who were freshmen. I think a part of me just liked mentoring them and being around people who were so naive and wonderfully real. By my my senior year, I was feeling pretty jaded about Duke, but these freshmen reminded me of how great college was. Teaching them how to play kings, fighting over tomatoes at Olive Garden, or late night meals at Honey’s are memories I continue to look back on fondly. Oh, and antagonizing Patrick. Always great. (Which reminds me, PATRICK DANCING IN BUNNY EARS! AN EXCELLENT MEMORY. HAHA YESS.)
-Memories with the fam. Vacays and inside jokes.
Looking back on all of these memories reminds me of how blessed I am. Thanks for being a part of my life. <3 Now, enough with the mush! Get your butt over here so we can go and have even moreee fun!
