life lately: back in the game

I'm finally out of school for the summer, and I'll be back on the blog weekly now! It's been a while, and I'm feeling a little bit rusty, but I'm looking forward to getting back in the routine.

I tend to shy away from writing posts about what I've been doing, because I'm never really sure whether people find my life all that interesting (sometimes I don't), but it has been a while:

Going: to the beach (-each)! We've had a heat wave the past week, and headed out the minute the last class ended. NorCal beaches are always a bit chilly in the water though, so we just tanned and took (lots) of photos.

Watching: a fashion show at Stanford! It wasn't as big as I had expected, but it was still fun to see. I was surprised at how fast the looks went by, especially since we'd gotten there earlier for seats.

Listening: BFD at Shoreline Amphitheater! It was my first music festival, and I absolutely loved it. It was sweltering and humid, but hearing the bands live and being able to feel the bass vibrating was amazing. My favorite was Lucius, and Finish Ticket also had great charisma and energy.

Doing: Being more fit! We took the dogs a couple times up to the mountains, and they loved it.

Seeing: The new exhibit, Living Digital Space and Future Parks, at the PACE Gallery in Menlo Park. We went on a weekend, so it was quite crowded and hot, but I enjoyed seeing the works. Crystal Universe and Flowers and People, Cannot be Controlled but Live Together are great for photo ops.

Trying: Lush! I went to the grand opening of the store at Stanford, and they gave out some free goodies! I've been working my way through Roots and H'Suan Wen Hua, and both are amazing (though pricey!)

Visiting: The Oscar de la Renta Retrospective at the de Young. I went almost the last weekend, and it was packed! I was glad that so many people were interested in fashion, but it also made it difficult to really appreciate his work. I also wish they had models, so you could see the fabrics in motion, rather than simply on mannequins.

Reading: Always Pack A Party Dress by Amanda Brooks. I can never get enough of fashion biographies, and have already reviewed and read a handful!

I've had a great time out there not worrying about driving traffic to the blog or coming up with new ideas to write about, but I'm excited to be back and creating more content. With that said, I'm still a bit dry on things I want to discuss, so let me know what you'd like!

xx
Angelina

Follow

behind the scenes: dancing at the cantor

Recently I've been on a bit of a creative streak, and finally got around to making a dance video with a friend. It was a lot of work (and a lot of trial and error), but I'm so happy to share the results with you.

1: Inspiration
Originally, my idea was to conduct an interview with someone, in Vogue's 73 Questions style. However, I ran into a road bump when I realized it would be very hard to showcase my own personal fashion (one of the points I wanted to hit), while interviewing someone else.

I focused on the idea of a fluid, fashion-orientated video, with a bit of theatricality, and it morphed into a dance video, inspire by Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler's Glamour video - which I've watched too many times to count already, and highly recommend!

2: Brainstorm
I took my two videos, and meshed them together to create the wardrobe, soundtrack, and venue. I already had a dancer in mind, as we've been friends for ages, and have already filmed before, so that was a breeze.

I then raided other people's closets (I'm a bit of a safe dresser), and assembled a collection of 5 outfits that were my style, but elevated.

3: Shoot
The day of the shoot we ran into a couple of bumps. I was set on the idea of shooting in an art museum, which was technically not allowed (we didn't have a PR permit, as I didn't think they would let a ballerina prance around next to Thiebauds and Diebenkorns). A lot of the shots inside (the marble and the gallery spaces), were shot incognito, which limited us in terms of angle of view and doing retakes.

In the end though, I really like how it came out, and all the different places we shot at - though I still wish I had more from the marble staircase.

4: Post-processing
As someone who only has a very basic grasp of iMovie, all I did was try and match the movements with the music. Which, surprisingly, took a lot of work!

I also switched out the music last minute; I was planning on using "Comment Te Dire Adieu" by Françoise Hardy, but chose "Cruel" by St. Vincent instead, because it has more of an editorial feel. Because the beat and tempo were the same, it worked better than expected.

I would have also shot with higher resolution, so it looked a bit more professional. And probably found one of those rigs so I wasn't so shaky!

I would so appreciate it if you could take a look and let me know what you think!

xx
Angelina

p.s. here's a piece called Dancing at the Louvre by Faith Ringgold (;

spring break: cairo, egypt

Now that exams are coming up, there's nothing better than sifting through travel photos and reminiscing about faraway places.

I traveled to Istanbul, Cairo, Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos, and will be covering them in posts coming up!

Thoughts + impressions

• It's definitely a bustling city, and not somewhere you should go to if you're not in the mood for adventure and new experiences.
• There are a fair amount of soldiers, especially in the areas around the embassies; I only saw men.
• Navigating the city can be stressful if you don't speak or read Arabic.
• Traffic is crazy! It's like NYC, but louder (if possible) and even more people everywhere.
• There aren't a lot of tourists who visit Egypt because of the 2011 revolution, so many of the schoolchildren were very curious, and wanted to take photos with us! It was an interesting feeling, especially as I'm usually the one trying to get everyone to take photos with/for me at home.

Must know

• Everyone is quite conservative in their dress: although it was in the high 90s when I went, no one wore short sleeves, and shorts of any kind are out of the question for women. I wore loose and breathable black track pants for the 3 days I was there, and I felt very comfortable in them. 
• I wouldn't recommend wearing open toed shoes of any kind either, as the streets are not the cleanest, and quite dusty as well.
• Taxi fares have to be negotiated every time! While I've heard that the white cabs are the newer ones that run meters, I would recommend agreeing on a price beforehand. When we went with the meter, the cabbie would take a longer route, or it would be obvious that he had altered the meter to increase faster. 
• Carry change for taxis. They won't always want to give you change, or may not carry the right amount of bills.
• When paying for services like camel rides or tours, make sure to state the price you're willing to pay in the simplest terms; don't say anything like "£60 for the 3 of us". Also clearly state exactly what you will be paying for, so they don't try and charge you extra for something typically expected, such as dropping you off on the right side of the road.
• If you are a student, there is usually a student price for admission, but you can only get it if you bring your school ID. They won't make exceptions, even if you look younger/your age.

Where to go + what to do

• The pyramids of course! We didn't go with a tour, nor did we visit the inside, so it was a leisurely 3 hours, including the commute there. Foreign tourists are the minority, most of the visitors were schoolchildren from outside of Cairo. They asked to take lots of photos (and snuck a few as well), and tried to start some conversations.
• We took a short camel ride, which I would recommend if you've never tried it before, but otherwise, I'm not sure it would be worth it. I've read that the "official" prices are £50/person, but we ended up with £120/person - we tried to go with £40/person for the 3 of us, but they misunderstood. The base price they give you is typically the shortest ride to whatever pyramid is closer; be aware that if you want to go farther, it will cost more.
• While I was a bit disappointed by the Egyptian Museum, it still contains many priceless artifacts. There was no coherent layout or map, and many of the works didn't have plaques explaining what they were or even their names. Parts of it were dimly lit, and it resembled a storage warehouse more than a museum. But I did get to see King Tut's tomb!
• The Citadel was a great change of pace from the noise and dust of the streets, and it has a couple of amazing structures inside, including the Sultan Hassan Mosque, as well as the Mohamed Ali Mosque.
• Zamalek is a nicer neighborhood to walk around in; there are a few embassies there, and it's more for the upper middle class. 

All in all, visiting Cairo was a unique experience, though it did have its bumps. It would not be somewhere I would travel with with a first time friend, as traveling itself is trying, but when you add language barriers, heat, and lots of negotiating, it makes things rocky. 

As with all places, I did meet some interesting and incredibly kind people, as well as some that drove me nuts. 

What other places do you have a love-hate relationship with? What's a country you've been to that was the most different from home? Where would you like to visit?

xx
Angelina

Follow

p.s. things will be a little slow around here as I'm heading into exams, but summer's just around the corner (thankfully)!

first impressions of therapy

A month or so ago, I went in for my first therapy session. It was something I'd wanted to try for a while, but hadn't gotten around to it until recently.

While it can have negative connotations, I believe it's something that you should consider when you're feeling down, or just need someone to talk to.

Find out who + how
Therapy can be expensive. There are a couple of online alternatives, like 7 Cups, but I prefer talking and face to face interaction more. It's a personal preference though.

I started out asking my insurance company for a list of pre-approved therapists. I'm not completely sure on how the process may be different for other companies, but it wasn't too much of a hassle - of course I procrastinated until the morning of my appointment to do it.

What it was like
As I've only been to one therapist, I can't make any generalizations, but my experience was similar to what you'd see in a movie. I went into a calming, quiet room, where I waited by myself for a couple of minutes. Then my therapist came in and introduced herself, and we went into the "therapy room".

It too, was calming and quiet, with artwork and lots of books and games. My therapist started out with a brief description of what psychotherapy was (I gather that it's a lot about feelings? And how to deal with them?), and then some questions about what was bothering me.

I went in a bit of circular path, but my real issue was my lack of "real" friends. It's been something that's bothered me for quite a bit, and it really hit hard last year, but since then it's petered out. However, it was still beneficial for me to go in and talk to someone who was there to help me sort my way through it.

There was quite a lot of "And how does that make you feel?"s, and also pauses, which encouraged me to talk more. I was never interrupted, which does help encourage opening up more.

What I didn't know beforehand
You really do need to have something to work on, or be feeling negative. Therapists help you work through that, and without a "stumbling block", there isn't too much they can do for you.

They also don't tell you what to do. Instead, they ask you questions and help guide you to understanding yourself more and how to fix your problems (sounds like a bunch of spiritual mumbo-jumbo, but it's accurate).

I'd also strongly suggest scheduling your first appointment at the end of the day, because you don't know how you'll feel afterwards. I went in expecting to come out fine, but I cried and looked puffy, and would not have wanted to go back to school afterwards.

Wrapping up
I don't go to therapy frequently, mainly because my insurance only covers a set amount of visits per year, but also because I feel like writing on the blog is a form of therapy for me, and I can work out many of the kinks myself.

However, I enjoyed having someone to talk to, and it made me feel much lighter afterwards.

Of course, if therapy isn't your thing, I'm always here for you as well! <3

Have you ever tried therapy? How do you cheer yourself up when you're down? What's the nicest thing someone's ever done for you or vice versa?

xx

Angelina

p.s. next week I'll be writing about Egypt (last week was Istanbul!)

Follow

spring break: istanbul, turkey

Hello again! I've been out for a couple weeks, traveling, and it's been good to take a break from the daily grind.

I traveled to Istanbul, Cairo, Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos - of course I'll be writing about all of them (see last summer's travels).

Thoughts + impressions

• So many animals on the streets! The city has a program that vaccinates the cats and dogs, and they're all quite friendly as well. When we took an early morning walk, a couple of dogs followed us around after we pet them. 
• It can be a bit tiring to navigate shops, as the sellers will call out to you repeatedly. In my case, they also tried to guess where I was from "originally".
• The call to prayers are so exotic and interesting to hear, especially being from the US. I think the associations with the hijab and niqab are frequently negative, but I found people to be friendly and interesting to talk to.
• The streets and public places were all clean and well maintained - I saw people maintaining it everyday around 5am!
• Although Istanbul isn't near the border, there were some Syrian refugees who would ask for money, especially children. 

Where to go + what to do

• The Sultanahmet district is quite nice, and you can visit the Aya Sofya/Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, and Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque) easily. Within walking distance is also the Grand Bazaar.
• A Turkish bath is a unique experience! Especially after a long day of walking around, it's very relaxing. We went to Cagaloglu Hamam, also within walking distance. There are different options and price points, but it's basically a scrub and sauna. 
• Lots of eating - there are so many vendors in the Grand Bazaar that have delicious kebabs. Ask the locals where they go for better prices. 
• Turkish tea, Turkish delight, and baklava are everywhere as well! We went to Hafiz Mustafa, but there were many shops in all neighbourhoods. 
• While we skipped Topkapi Palace, we did visit the Archeological Museum, which is in the same square. They have a large selection of art, with great descriptions so you can actually understand what you're seeing as well!
• We did go to Dolmabahce Palace, which was well maintained - you can only visit with a tour, must wear shoe covers, and can't take photos. While a little restrictive, it pays off with the incredible works they have on display as they were in the past.

Blue Mosque early in the morning.

The view from the room, and in the upper level of the Hagia Sophia.

Stray cats and dogs everywhere!

Color: taking advantage of jet lag, and Dolmabace.

I hope everyone's had a great month so far - I'm excited for summer! I've been experiencing new things, and doing lots of shoots, so I'm excited to share it all. 

Have you been to Istanbul or Turkey before? What's your favorite kind of food? Do you take lots of photos when traveling?

Good to be back!

xx

Angelina

Follow

what's in a name?

That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet.

For a long time, I had trouble really taking this to heart.

My name was the first thing people noticed about me, the strangeness, how foreign it sounded. They couldn't figure out my gender based solely on it, and when teachers would take roll, frequently they'd call me by my last name.

It made me uncomfortable, to say the least. In middle school, I handed out little slips on the first day of school, saying, "Hello, my legal name is Zhiyi, but I go by Angelina. Thanks!"

I followed these with additional slips the next class, as a reminder: "In case you forgot, Zhiyi goes by Angelina". I was very thorough in making sure my classmates would never find out my Chinese name, because they would undoubtedly ask me about it.

I slipped up, and "Zucchini" became a popular nickname that year.

Wearing: J Crew striped silk tee (similar), Lush envelope soft pant (similar), Sam Edelman Felicia flats

Most people curiously ask how to pronounce it, and I simply tell them, "It's Angelina". I had this one teacher who would not let it go however, and interrogated me in front of the class. I was absolutely mortified, and I just wanted to sink into a puddle where no one would notice me.

It isn't that I'm ashamed of my heritage. It's just rare that anyone is able to pronounce it correctly, including other Asian people.

I was afraid, and sometimes still am, that what's on the surface will be the only thing people notice about me. I feel as though it will create a divide between myself and my peers, and emphasize the differences. Differences and diversity, of course, is a good thing, but it can also scare some people.

I'm someone who can't survive without friends, but simultaneously, it can be hard for me to initiate things.

Photography by Serina

It's all part of an ongoing struggle on my identity. I'm not a Chinese person from China, nor an American who grew up here. I'm Chinese-American. And I'm still figuring out what that means to me.

Do you have an "unusual" name? Have you ever felt like an outsider because of your heritage? How do you feel about your ethnicity?

xx

Angelina

In response to "Woes of Having an Unusual Name" by Noor Unnahar.

Follow
p.s. - I'm currently traveling for spring break, and will be back in mid April. See you then! (:

marching ahead

Hello! Long time no see. I've been having a great time out, and things are moving so quickly, I haven't had time to just sit down and write. Marching ahead, get it (it was too good to pass up)?

It's a novel experience for me as someone who likes to work with a schedule that's not too hectic, as being around people for too long can make me tired. But I've been loving it lately!

Being an extra for a film
This is something I've wanted to do for ages, and I'm so glad I got to cross it off the bucket list! I actually considered bailing, as it was for quite a long time, and I wasn't sure I could handle it. But I knew I would regret not taking the chance, and I'd always wonder "what if".

It was both very fast paced and very slow. The extras waited around for the majority of the time, until they wanted us for a scene. Then we were told to hold red Solo cups and pretend to talk very animatedly, but quietly. I caught a couple glimpses of the footage, but I can't wait to see the whole thing!

Snupped gel phone case, Cuyana mini saddle bag, J.Crew italian matte convertible bikini in hilltop olive (hurry, on sale!)

Designing my own phone case
I'm quite picky with what cases I get. Along with your laptop, your phone says a lot about you, and many people see it throughout the course of a day (if you're like me and constantly on your phone anyways). I was ecstatic when the people at Snupped* reached out to me, and obviously I included a quote about fashion.

Overall, the quality is good. It's made of silicon, but it feels more durable and is soft to the touch. I specifically made it in Rose Quartz (keeping up with the times?), but I'm a bit bummed that the edges have already stained from my jeans over the past month.


Taking new photos
I've been into photography for ages, but I've never been able to strong arm any guy friends into modeling for me. I finally convinced one, and I'm in love with how these photos turned out. I now have 100+ photos of him on my camera roll to post to Instagram..

You can see more of my work here as well!

Abercrombie & Fitch embroidered tank (similar), Lucca Couture floral zip dress (similar)

Spring has sprung
The weather is also much warmer in California now, it's in the high 60s and low 70s. Time to switch out the sweaters for lighter layers (which I'm still trying to get rid of, if anyone needs new clothes ;))! While I love not having to shave or worry about sweat stains, I was also running out of cute ways to stay warm. A sneak peek of some clothes I've yet to debut on the blog!

How have you been in the past 2 weeks? What's on your bucket list? How's the weather where you are?

xx

Angelina