"Aira"

    I never really understood my name before. I wondered why it was so different from all the kids in my classes at elementary school. My parents just thought the name would fit me and there's not much history behind it. As I got older I grew to love that I have a unique name. I've been told my name is pretty, but in my perspective I think the definitions of one kanji character mean "love", "affection", "indigo", and "orchid" have multiple beautiful meanings in each word. Hearing my name is the sound of my mom telling me to lower down the volume of a Coldplay or Kehlani song at 1 A.M. To me my name shows my unique character and that even if your name gets pronounced wrong by a new person or not being on a coke bottle to share with feel special because your name is special as well.

10 Things I'm Thankful For

1. I'm thankful for my mom's cooking. I'd choose her food over any 5 star restaurants.
2. I'm thankful for becoming an American citizen knowing that other countries including my own have more hardships.
3. I'm thankful for music, because I can listen to it no matter what I feel.
4. I'm thankful for smiles and laughter others being happy make me feel happy too.
5. I'm thankful for art and knowing I can create it as well. It shows more than just a picture and I admire it so much.
6. I'm thankful for my bed. It's nice to know that you woke up alive and well in your warm bed.
7. I'm thankful for living in a safe and quiet town.
8. I'm thankful for good people. They don't even have to be a friend, but you feel glad that you know someone with a good heart.
9. I'm thankful for books as if they were little portable movies.
10. I'm thankful for my family with the little things and big sacrifices for me. I'm incredibly happy that I have a happy and healthy family who will support me for my happiness.

Not So Glorious Food

The worst moment that I have ever encountered with food is balut. I love food, but even though I have eaten weird dishes balut particularly haunts me. Balut is a popular dish in South East Asian countries. It is a duck or a chicken's egg that is cooked when the bird is still developing. I would attach a photo, but I'd rather not see this dish when I look on my blog.

When I was little I used to love balut (before I knew that there was a bird inside). There was a soup in the egg that I thought tasted so good, and there was yolk inside the egg that I would eat as well. My grandma told me recently that she'd make sure the bird was very small to eat. Although, there was a time when I saw a bird's head popping out of my egg that wasn't quite small. I used my hands to cover my mouth to keep from screaming in horror. My family thought it was no big deal that a zombie looking baby bird was right in front of me. I watched them take the birds and slip them into their mouths as if they were nothing. My eyes would get wider in fear. No wonder my mom would open my balut, so I could not see the bird after she ate it. This was a terrifying experience for me as a child and a reason of my fear towards birds. A goal for me is to eat this bird and sleep in peace without it to haunt me ever again.

Trip pt.2 (Japan!)

The place I loved visiting in Japan was Osaka, although there are so many fun places you can go to! It's always nice to visit shrines, castles, and palaces in any of these places. In Hiroshima, you should visit their national peace park, Rabbit Island where you can play with the fluffy animals, and pet deer. If you go to Shibuya and Harajuku you can go to a sushi restaurants where you can order on a computer and you meal comes on a little train. You can also go to a cat cafe, so enjoy a drink and play with cats!
My favorite season to visit Japan is during spring, because of Sakura Hanami which means to admire the cherry blossoms when they bloom and even have a picnic with your family. During spring you can go to a flower festival and go boating at Inokashira Park and admire the cherry blossom petals in the lake.
I love to travel when it involves nature and fun places to experience.

A Trip To The Philippines!

A trip to the Philippines is always exciting for me. My favorite part is enjoying the nature there.Going om a zip line, Island hopping, swimming in the bright blue ocean, and even get sea urchins stuck in your foot.Island hopping is a great experience, because you can relax on a small boat with your friends and family and visit beautiful islands. The next time I visit the Philippines I plan swimming with whale sharks, kite surfing, and bringing a friend for her first experience in Asia!If you're not so outgoing you can visit The Mall of Asia, enjoy a virtual reality roller coaster ride, sing songs with your friends in a private karaoke room, and go to a nice cafe.

A Quote By Monet

This quote is from an artist named Claude Monet and was the founder of French impressionist paintings. He made many famous paintings of water lilies and compared how water lilies are nothing without water as he is with art.
 Many people are dedicated and are passionate of what they do, and could not go on if it's such a big part of their life. Such as Claude having art as a huge part of his life. I mostly think this quote goes out for students as they cannot live without someone they truly care about, and that person who gives them love and support back.
Continue what you love to do most and work hard, Stay with the people that make you happy and a better person.