Year 2014 Recap!

Hello everyone!

I haven't done a year-in-recap kind of a post, but this year has been such an incredible year filled with so many adventures that I thought it deserved a recap post.

It's hard to believe that I was at Rice studying earlier this year. I mean, I feel like I've been in Boston, studying at BU for years!  But apparently, that is not the case and I was, in fact, at Rice celebrating Mr. Lin's birthday with my lovely Rice studio just earlier this year!   aww, I do miss these lovely faces  =)

oh, and there's nothing like pictures of the Rodeo to remind you that you were very much so not in Boston when these were taken... haha

2014 was also the first year David and I competed in open level ballroom/latin competition!  Well, David had competed at that level before, but it was a totally new experience for me  =)  It was really fun, and I hope we get to do more of it in the future!

May of 2014 was a bitter sweet month as I prepared to graduate with my Master's degree from Rice - Shepherd School of Music.  I was uber excited to move to Boston and start a new chapter of my life there, but also, I knew I would miss all of the awesome friends I had made in Houston.

It was an incredible 2 years in Houston though, and I'm glad I got to know so many amazing peeps during my time there  ;)

But wait!  Before I could move to Boston and start my Doctorate degree, I took a few 'detours' during the summer.  First, to Korea,

Then, to Taiwan,

Then, to Virginia (Garth Newel Music Center) with the Meadowlark Trio,

Then, to Cali, meeting so many awesome people along the way.

oh, and sometime during all of that, I turned quarter of a century!  I am so blessed to have had incredible friends who threw me a surprise birthday party, as well as having this guy in my life who took me out to Uchi for a birthday dinner  =)    Quarter of a century has been good to me, and have I mentioned just how incredibly blessed I am?

After that wirlwind of a summer, I finally got myself to Boston.

a new home, new school, new friends  =)  all so exciting!

I'm so happy I found these girls to share the beautiful apartment that we call home.   

and for the roomy adventures that we take together  =)   Oh, one of my roomies, Shawn, also has a blog, so check her out here  =)

In November, David and I took a little trip to Cancun, Mexico, to celebrate D & D's wedding as well as our 2 year anniversary!  It was such a memorable trip, and I hope that we can go back there someday  =)

we stayed at Nizuc Resort and Spa during our stay there, and we absolutely loved it!  =)

David and I have been doing this long distance relationship thing this year, and though I don't have the best track record for doing long distance, it's been going well so far!  I think it works because we get to see each other every month or two, and We were so happy to spend Thanksgiving together this year  =)

A weekend full of wonderful food and company!  check out some of the posts here and here!

I am so incredibly lucky to have had so many amazing people in my life, like Bayla, my quirky and amazing teacher at BU.  She has made my transition to Boston so easy, and she has been a lifesaver in so many ways.  I'm so excited to spend the next 3 or so years with her learning and improving my craft  =)

2014, you have been good  =)

I'm so thankful for my family and my friends in all different parts of the world, and I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store!

Hope you all had a wonderful 2014, and hope your 2015 is filled with endless happiness, love, blessings, and peace!  =)

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy New Year!

--Janny

The Calm Before the Storm

Hello everyone!

I am almost done with the crazy couple of weeks I've been having, and today is quite blissfully chill.  I only have about 7 hours of things I have to do today, so other than practicing, I decided to catch up on the blog, write some emails that need to be written, etc.  Though I do have an orchestra concert tonight, this week is going to be the calm before the storm that is about to hit next week.... next week is my first recital here at Boston University, and I CAN'T BELIEVE IT IS SO SOON!!!!  Freaking out a little bit here...  but that's ok.. I still have a little bit of time to memorize and polish everything...  But anyway, if you are in Boston, I would love to see you at Boston University College of Fine Arts Concert Hall on November 7th at 8:30 PM for my recital!  =D

Anyway, for the pas couple of weeks, I have been able to do a bit of exploring in between practicing and rehearsing sessions!

A bit of different side of Boston from where Boston University is located  haha 

hanging out with this lovely lady

social dancing at MIT and finding a little bit of Rice  =)

hanging out with an old friend (like.. waay back to our teenage years) and eating some Thai food!

oh, this is Boston Phil, but I had to take a picture of all of the college students huddled around the food during a break  haha

and lastly, MONTAGE!!

It's a dance recital the BU Ballroom hosts every year, and I am so glad I got to catch half of it after the Boston Phil Concert!

It was so fun to see all of the different groups, like this hip hop group!  i kept looking for my baby bro there because he's in a similar dance team at his school as well haha

and of course, cheering on these lovely folks who danced their hearts out  =)  it was so much fun to watch, and I was so proud!!  haha

after the show, we all went to the Sunset Cantina to celebrate! I've been eating really healthy lately, mostly because I simply don't have time to cook and so smoothies and over-night oats are all I can have...  The other day, I had a dream about eating pizza, so I figured a little eating out was in order!

and this plate of nachos was so. freaking. good.  pulled pork nachos all the way!

If you want to watch a little bit of Paso Doble action from Montage, go ahead and click the video box above!  =)

thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!
--Janny

Rice Graduation 2014!

Hello everyone!

Almost exactly 2 years ago, I started this blog, having just graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln with my Bachelor's degree.  And here I am, 2 years and 2 days later, in the exact same spot at home, having just graduated from Rice University with my Master's degree!! man,, time has really flown by!  2 years of my life...  I can't believe it!  

I feel so blessed to have had the chance to study and meet so many amazing people at Rice these past two years, and though it was only 2 years (and that's really quite a short period of time), I have really come to think of Rice as home..  While I am so excited for the next chapter of my life to begin in Boston (one of my favorite cities), saying good bye to Rice and everyone there was definitely bitter sweet.

But before I get too sappy, let's get on with the festivities!

GRADUATION!!!  YAYYYYY!!!

Such a joyous occasion, isn't it?  

No matter how much you love the school, and no matter how sad it will be to leave it and move on, there's something incredibly exciting about graduating.  The whole school is full of energy, there are friends and family everywhere, and really, just the whole atmosphere is electrifying.  All of the hours toiling away in the practice room or in the library, the blood and the tears... (ok, maybe not blood... mm actually, yes blood. mmhmm)  it was all worth it, and you are finally done!!!

Rice decided to have 2 ceremonies, one for each of the degrees (Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate) and one for everyone, and since my Dad was coming, I decided to attend both! The only downside to attending both of the ceremonies was probably the fact that we had to line up at the crack of dawn... ok, so maybe not really the crack of dawn, but 7:30 A.M is close enough for me haha.  I had doubts about whether or not I could wake up for it, but what do ya know, I managed to get myself out of bed at 6, get ready, and line up in time!  Now, they probably didn't need us to be there so early because we had about an hour to burn as we waited for the ceremony to actually begin, but we made good use of that time and took some photos!

yay for sneaking in my phone to the ceremony   haha

and we also got in a selfie right before we were called to line up to enter   haha

and here we go!

Rice had separate ceremonies for Undergrads, Master's, and Doctorate candidates so that the Commencement wouldn't be so long, and that made our ceremony really short.  all of us got to go up and take our fake diplomas (real ones are coming in the mail in about 6 weeks I guess) and it only took about 45 minutes!

After the ceremony, there was a reception at the music building (wait.. where is that building again..? haha), and lots and lots and llooottss of photo taking, so here are a couple of those  =)

With Daddy!!

and with the boy. We met during my first semester at Rice and started dating soon after, so Rice will always have a special place in our hearts  =)

got the hood (that goes all the way to my butt) for my degree, pink velvet for music (why!! why pink?!  ok, I suppose pink isn't so bad  haha), and blue and silver chevron for Rice!  =D

and the Master's degree graduating class of 2014!!  

wooohooooo~~  We're freeeeee~~

oops, the professors joined us. getting our acts together and posing nicely for one more photo  haha

The next day, we had the Commencement for the whole school with a very inspiring speech by Dr. Gayle, President and CEO of CARE USA. That day, we were so incredibly thankful that we didn't have to sit through everyone going up to the stage, shaking hands with the president, getting our fake degrees, and walking back down.  Houston is in full summer mode and the ceremony was outside in the blazing sun, so even though I was wearing a light summer dress under the robe, I was still dying by the time the shortened ceremony was over.  Thankfully, the Graduate Student Association had icy water bottles ready for us when we walked through the archway (symbolic tradition for Rice folks)! We just had to go find the banner, and we were awarded with the life-saving liquid.  If you think that was a dramatic statement, you obviously didn't sit in the blazing Houston summer sun for a few hours in cap and gown...  haha

Rice, it's been incredible.  Thank you so much for all of the opportunities and the awesome people you bring together.  I will miss you and everyone that makes you so freakin amazing  ;)

I'm now back in Seattle, and I'm not sure that it has really sunk in that I won't be returning to Rice next year... but I'm super excited for this summer filled with traveling and performing, and I can't wait to share those adventures with you!  

Thank you for letting me share my life transitioning to and then living the graduate school life at Rice , and I hope to see you around as I do it all over again at Boston University for the next few years!  =)

Have a wonderful week, and thanks for stopping by!

--Janny