Author Archives: Wendy Lu

About Wendy Lu

My name is Wendy Lu. I love to write stories about ordinary people who do extraordinary things. My notebook includes bits and pieces of poetry, random dialogue from overheard conversations and the occasional light bulb idea.

Tuesday, 09 August, 2011

Home, finally.

QOTD: Imagine you have one full day to drop all obligations (chores, work, cooking, blogging) and go anywhere you wanted regardless of money/time/travel constraints. Where would you go?

Home sweet home, finally!

It feels absolutely AMAZING to be back home, snuggling in my own squishy bed and eating endless slices of real pizza with real cheese on top. This year’s trip to China was definitely the longest we’ve ever had, setting a record of one month and one week! And I could definitely feel the effects of such longevity away from home.

When we stepped off the airplane and into the airport, I got almost excited when I saw Americans walking around with their luggage trolleys and speaking English. I got even more excited when I visited the ladies’ room and realized, no longer did I have to use my own toilet paper–it was provided! Those were the beginning moments of what would become a renewed appreciation for the amazing country that is America. (Yeah, I know Fourth of July is over but it’s never too late to celebrate your country, right?)

Saturday, 09 July, 2011

Greetings From China!

HEY EVERYONE!!! It’s Red Angel here, giving you all virtual hugs and dumplings from the other side of the world. :) I have been here for about a week, but it has been brought to my attention that unfortunately Blogspot is inaccessible here in China due to government regulations (in fact, it’s my good friend who is posting this for me as I cannot do so myself). It has been a very frustrating discovery, but the GOOD NEWS is that I am actually guest posting about my trip in China at Sleepy Hollow Books blog. I am currently updating about once a week (scroll down for my first two posts on Jin Chang Hu Park and my arrival), and while my posts will cover everything from delicious local eats to beautiful tourist attractions, I will focus on youth and reading culture here in China.

Hope to see you at SHB! Enjoy. =) See you back here on TRA in August!”

Wednesday, 29 June, 2011

30-Day Challenge 28: Re-Cap on 19th Birthday + Annual China Trip!

QOTD: How do you keep your email organized and de-cluttered?

Day 28: In this past month, what is something you have learned? Well, I learned that I can read a book really fast if I really want to and if I really need to. Honestly, I spent about four hours today reading the last fifty pages of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert! I think that’s the most I’ve read in a day since Harry Potter #7 came out.

Thank you everybody for all the wonderful birthday wishes and sweet comments! :) I truly enjoyed participating the Favorite Book Challenge and reading everybody else’s entries. I have so much on my To Be Read List now it’s not even funny. Well maybe a little bit considering I am a very slow reader! Honestly…I read every page at least twice. Har, harr. Anybody else like that?

On a different note, I went to dinner at Olive Garden with my awesome family and one of my best friends. I got the Chicken Scampi and it was, um, nothing short of amazing. Seriously….it was so good I was too excited and impatient to take photos for you all. So if you ever go, get the Chicken Scampi. It’s basically heaven on a plate. TOTAL YUM.

Wednesday, 22 June, 2011

19th Birthday Blogfest: The Favorite Book Challenge

Question of the Day: What is your favorite type of cake? Describe the perfect slice…include any toppings or fruit or flavors :) I want to hear about the yummiest, sweetest, most divine cakes you can imagine!!!

Yayyy I am officially 19 years old, as of 9:15am this morning! *does happy dance* I’ll be pretty busy for the rest of the day but I had to post and share my happiness with you all. I don’t quite feel 19 yet but I’m sure it will hit me soon at some point–probably right before I dig into the birthday cake that is anxiously waiting for me in the fridge. *nom, nom*

Speaking of cake, be sure to tell me what is your favorite kind of cake and what your ideal cake would be! Everyone loves a good cake fantasy. :) In my next post I’ll share with you photos of my own cake as well as other visuals of my festivities! Also I’d like to take a moment to thank all of my family and friends for always being there for me and for making today so amazing already–and it’s not even the afternoon yet!

Since I already hosted my 100-Followers Inanimation Blogfest not too long ago, I decided instead to participate in a blogfest myself! And just in time…

Today is the last day to participate in Teralyn Rose Pilgrim’s Favorite Book Challenge Blogfest over at A Writer’s Journey (click the previous link to see the other entries)! The idea is to choose my top five favorite books of all time (this is a challenge, indeed), and for each book write two lines on what it’s about and why I like it so much. So here goes!

Sunday, 19 June, 2011

Happy Father’s Day!!!

Question of the Day: Tell us what makes your father the best dad in the world! :)

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!

Here’s to all the dads, uncles, grandfathers, stepfathers, and every other father figure out there!!! Thanks for saving us every single day, just by being there for us. :) YOU’RE THE GREATEST SUPER-DADS EVER.

Friday, 17 June, 2011

30-Day Challenge 25, 26, 27: Letters to People (in Chinese!)

Question of the Day: If you could spend one semester studying any language at all (regardless of time or money constraints), what would it be?

This post was actually inspired by the book Eat, Pray, Love (author Elizabeth Gilbert) in which Liz herself embarks on an adventure to Italy, India and Indonesia. I am currently reading Part One and Liz explains why Italian is so beautiful and why she has this passionate desire to completely immerse herself in this language.

During my freshman year of college, I got to take Mandarin Chinese–and I have to say it is absolutely wonderful. I’ve always been surrounded by family members who instead speak Shanghainese, the primary dialect in Shanghai, China, so I thought that this would be an excellent opportunity to learn more about and of the #1 most popular language in the world (Spanish in #2 and English is #3).

Now, I love Mandarin as much as Liz loves Italian. And I am proud to say that I am now able to write, read and speak basic Mandarin. HURRAY!!! Sadly, the reading part is most difficult for me since it’s not an innate skill. As I will be travelling to China next month (woohoo SO EXCITED) I definitely think I need to brush up on my Chinese (both Mandarin and Shanghainese).

So for today’s Challenge, as part of my 30-Day ~~Tumblr~~ Blog Challenge, I’m going to write letters in Chinese! Awesome excuse to practice, no?

First I’ll show the letter I wrote in Chinese, and then I’ll add the English translation below. Enjoy!!! Do any of you know Mandarin or Shanghainese (if so could you see if I wrote the letters correctly? hehe)

Friday, 10 June, 2011

30-Day Challenge 24: “Why I Write YA” Blogfest

Question of the Day: Why do YOU write (or read) YA?

Day 24: What are five things you like about yourself?

1) I am extremely compassionate and empathetic towards people who are struggling through difficult situations, especially if they are health-related.

2) I like having a quirky obsession with Smallville, Superman, and comics in general; I actually don’t know many girls who enjoy comics and superheroes.

3) My love for writing makes me feel happy and purposeful every single day; why wouldn’t I like a trait that makes me happy?

4) I think that my ability to be extremely self-aware prevents me from going insane on a daily basis; I’m glad that I can keep up with my thoughts and feelings, compartmentalize them in my mind, and take control over them before they take over me

5) Family and the people I care about are number one. Because I have met some extremely appalling people in my life who don’t really practice the good habit of putting themselves in others’ shoes, the kind and genuine individuals whom have I had the good fortune to meet, befriend and now love are very important to me. I do and would do anything for them.

Wednesday, 08 June, 2011

30-Day Challenge 23: The Secrets to a Hot Blog

Question of the Day: Today, I’d like to know what you think of my blog layout. I need your critique, your feedback! Should I stick with it? Is the foreground a little too narrow? What can I do to make my blog appearance more attractive to my readers’ eyes?

Day 23: Something you crave for a lot. Oh my!! I will definitely have to say my craving for Smartfood popcorn is rather alarming and sempiternal. This popcorn has been my #1 go-to snack since before my age had double digits.

Today I’d like to talk about what makes a hot blog…..hot. Look on your Blog Profile, scroll down to your List of Blogs. What about those blogs made you want to follow them in the first place? Was it the colorful layout, the sexy font, the helpful content in posts, or perhaps the unique blog name?

I wouldn’t call myself picky, but there are some absolute musts in my rulebook that, when I look at a blog, make me want to go ‘w-o-w-z-a gimme summa dat!’, and hit ‘Follow.’

Check out these tips I’ve gathered during my time as a blogger, think about what attracts you to a blog, and ask yourself:

Does your blog need a makeover? Or is it one of the hottest blogs on the block?

Sunday, 05 June, 2011

30-Day Challenge 22: Summer Reading List

Question of the Day: What books have you read this year so far (not that I need any more on my To Be Read List!)

Day 22: What do you see yourself doing in ten years? Oh my, 28 years old is hard to think about when I can hardly believe I am almost 19 (mark your calendars, June 22 is coming up people…just kidding haha). Hopefully, I will be living comfortably in Boston, married to the love of my life, and working for a hot shot magazine or newspaper. Self? Elle? Time? Boston Globe? I live to dream big and dream on until dreams = reality.

One of my 2011 Resolutions is to complete the 24-Book Challenge. I didn’t read nearly as much last year as I would have liked to and should have, so I’ve been trying to make up for that since New Years’. What makes summer so amazing for me is that suddenly I have all this comely free time to do things I never had time to do during the school year–and that includes READING. :D

So what’s on my Summer Reading List? My goal is to read eight out of the twenty-four.

Sunday, 29 May, 2011

30-Day Challenge 21: “Easy A” Movie Review

QOTD: Have you ever seen a movie that was loved by most but hated by you?

Day 21: A picture of something that makes you happy.

Why, do you ask, does this picture make me happy? Well for one, it’s FOOD. More specifically, it’s p-a-s-t-a, probably my favorite foods of all time (besides chocolate, of course hehe). But this particular dish makes me smile because this was the result of my very first independent cooking lesson. Using a simple recipe from my SparkRecipes BlackBerry phone app, I concocted this delicious lunch for myself last week. Reaction? Quite truthfully, it was one of the best pasta I’ve ever eaten–and that’s saying A LOT! Two hours of squinting at the labels on ingredients and praying that I wouldn’t burn anything was totally worth it.

Wendy Lu Writes