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Cloudreaver
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Name: Alex (Quang)
Country: United States
State: District of Columbia
Metro: Washington D.C.
Gender: Male
Interests: Currently: READ WRITE STUDY READ WRITE STUDY. Mandarin - Wo xiang shuo zhong wen. Dan Brown books, science books, relationship books. Foreign dramas - Stairway to Heaven, Autumn Love Story, My Sassy Girl, Windstruck. Chinese, Viet, and Korean love songs, hip hop/reggae/r & b, pop, old school rock, instrumentals. Tennis, basketball, pool, piano, guitar, cooking, psychology, philosophy, war, history, education.
Expertise: Talking, listening, making people happy
Occupation: Computer related
Industry: Education/Research
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  cloudreaver200
MSN: cloudreaver200@hotmail.com
Member Since:
2/16/2003
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| Happy New Year! 
It's been awhile. I am currently in Seoul, South Korea. I have been here for more than 2 months now. Tomorrow, I am going back to Washington, DC. And then, I will be touring around China in February and March. I am lucky enough to have a job that allows me to travel around the world. Yes, life is great. I started writing in this blog 3 years ago. It was out of sadness and despair. I needed a place to put my thoughts into writing, and an audience to listen to my words. I needed to find an outlet for my feelings. And after these 3 years, I have finally found peace and happiness. I am so proud of myself and my accomplishments. I hope that 2008 will be just as great as 2007 has been for me. My new year's resolutions for 2008: 1) Love and be loved 2) Be successful
3) Be happy | | |
| Currently Listening:
Richard Clayderman classics
I wish I had formal piano lessons when I was younger. My love for this instrument and its music has only grown over time. If you listen closely, very closely... you can follow an entire drama played out through the notes.
Quotes to live by
Whenever I come across a great piece of writing or quote, I always try to save it for future reference. Here are a few snippets:
"You cannot force someone to do something. All you can do is to make it easier or harder for them to make certain choices."
This is one of the reasons why I love to study psychology and human behavior. Part of the reason is so that I can influence people. Since I cannot force them to do what I want them to do, the next best thing is to understand their tendencies and motivations, their goals and dreams, so as to influence their decisions and push them in the right directions.
"Let me serve you... For your success determines my success."
I have personally seen how powerful this quote can be. Train yourself to unconsciously serve, whenever and wherever you can. Give yourself to others. Be helpful. People will be more willing to help you in return. It's about building relationships. You'll find that you'll go far in your business and personal life if you stand by this motto.
"Lives of great men all remind us that we can make our own lives sublime."
Follow the examples of great people. Indeed, I believe that individual success relies on a strong foundation of role models and heros, those whom we can admire and emulate in character, values, and actions.
"Death lies heavily on the man who, too well known to others, dies a stranger to himself."
Seneca is telling us to know ourselves first and foremost. Self-awareness is the key. Know thyself. I cannot stress this enough. It is extremely important in everything you do, and determines your success in life.
Self-awareness will enable you to do so much:
Direct your energy in positive ways.
Work to change and improve upon the things you lack.
Know what you want and need out of relationships.
Maintain balance and moderation in your life.
Attain lasting peace and happiness.
How do you become more self-aware? Read, listen, study, and learn. Find out what interests you. Find out what irks you. Be worldly. Talk to others... many different people, as much as possible. Communication is the key. Debate. Meditate. Reflect. Think about things in your life, your environment, your actions. Think think think. It's ok to overanalyze when it comes to self-understanding and self-awareness.
Awesome Xangans
I love reading blogs. One of the best ways to learn what women want... is to read what picky women write  It's very interesting and enlightening (and sometimes disheartening).
There are so many great writers and thinkers out there who dwarf me in their intelligence and wisdom. Their blogs have given me so much mind candy over the years.
Here are some great reads, check them out sometime:
lichunsah
spygirlny
citygirl007
xInsomniacx
franksabunch
 Liberty Mountain, PA
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| HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hello Xanga land! It's been awhile, hasn't it? Does anyone stop by anymore? Probably not, due to the lack of updates. I've been adjusting to life in Washington DC, and focusing on my future. Yes, I got the job that I hinted at in the last post.
I don't (publicly) blog anymore - I've developed other interests since moving here. Such as... 1) spending time with friends, 2) playing piano like crazy and 3) playing poker like crazy. Not to mention the DC life... so many places to go and people to see! My favorite spots: Cafe Asia in Rosslyn, Adams Morgan hookah bars, M Street and Georgetown, K Street Lounge, Tyson's Corner mall, Rockville Pike...
Ahhhh, this is the life. Even though I'm working on New Year's Day, at least I get to sit at Barnes and Noble, sip coffee, and work remotely from my laptop. I can take a break and write on Xanga, or read books anytime I want. Fun fun. I want to eventually work remotely from anywhere in the world... can you imagine the possibilities? Sitting at a cafe in Beijing or Tokyo or Hanoi, sipping on bubble tea, programming like a maniac. 8:00 PM... I finish my QC analysis, zip and send the files to the office, and hit the big city night life. Or go to the lake and ponder the meaning of life. Or get together with some new friends and chat the night away, learning a new language in the process. I can dream, can't I?Currently Reading:
  
Hmmm... how things have changed. Let me tell you a little story... Just sit back and relax...
At my interview, one of the first questions that they asked me was, "What are the most important things in life to you?" I immediately answered, "Love and Career. That's it. What else is there?" I should've said "Women and Money" haha. But that doesn't have a nice, interviewy ring to it. I actually surprised myself with the answer. It slipped out of my lips effortlessly, as if it was something which I've always believed (I haven't). Career Backtrack a few months from the interview (Tarantino style). It's amazing how one person can make a difference in your outlook and mentality. I was sitting in my kitchen when a friend of a friend came up to me to chat. She asked me what I was up to these days. When I told her that I was getting a master of education to teach, she was surprised. She said, "Wow... I didn't think you'd be a teacher. You seem like the type who would go for money and financial success. You seem to want more things in life." She really made me think... And she's right. I was only deluding myself by believing that happiness will come if I simply do what I enjoy - that is, if I teach. I'm just "not that type." The truth is, I do have more wants. I do have materialistic tendencies. I want money! I want power! I want everything! Or at least the knowledge that I can have almost anything I want. That is true contentment to me. And ever since I saw the New York Times article on class, I've made a conscious effort to get to 90% class level as soon as possible. By any means necessary! I guess it's just the competitive spirit in me. I must strive to excel at everything I do, and that includes social mobility.
So I searched and searched, and left grad school (for now), and moved to DC, in search of a better situation. It was a wise decision. I've more than doubled my salary, propelling myself to the 95th percentile of US individual income. Even though I have to work 50-60 hours a week... that just comes with the territory. The work is not bad, because I enjoy it (for the most part), and I'm really good at what I do (thank god). The key is to keep your eyes open. Look around. Seize opportunities. Know your skills and talents. Know the right people. Make the right decisions. Because if you play your cards right, anything is possible. Love The second source of happiness. I'll just say one thing here - the love of your family may very well be the single most important thing in life. To have a fulfilling life, make sure that you love your family unconditionally. And if you don't have a family, you can always create a "surrogate family" - with your closest and best friends. For we are not islands drifting in the sea. Relationships are what define us. They add meat to our bones. So we must love and cherish whomever we are lucky enough to be "related" to. Do not take them for granted! Visioning My company's leadership coach is really cool. She gave a seminar on "Vision". Although she's referring to career goals, I wish to extend it to life goals as well. Having vision is soooo important. You have to try to predict the future, so that you can control it. Where do you see yourself in 1,5, 10 years? What will you be doing? What types of people will you associate with? I have many short and long-term visions, and if I can make most of them come true, then I will be the happiest man alive. I swear. Hmmm... live on my own by 20. Check. Make 6 figures by 30. Check. Have 1 million net worth by 40... With a standard rate of return on investments, while avoiding capital gains taxes by utilizing offshore accounts, that's a check (unless I fall in love with a gold digger :)
And... retire by 50. Now that's a real vision. I am so happy and content right now. 2006 has treated me well. I can't wait until tomorrow, the next day, the next week, the next month, the next year. I can't wait to travel more. I can't wait to see who I will meet next. Who will teach me more about myself, and who will breathe easier because I have lived? I don't know how long I will stay in DC. In any case, I like big cities, and I want to live in the biggest and most successful cities in the world. You know what's a cool city to live in? Dubai! I must go there soon and see what all the fuss is about. 2007 New Year'sResolutions Let's finish this off with some goals for 2007. 1) Be more disciplined 2) Be more aware of my surroundings 3) Always remember my past, so as to not repeat the same mistakes 4) Maintain balance and moderation in my life 5) Read, write, study, learn 6) Save more on taxes, invest more money That's about it. Good luck, and may fortune shine brightly on everyone's future. DC Friends
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| Currently Reading:
Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom
Main thing I learned from this book - Embrace your emotions. Feel the full power and effect of it. Because once you've experienced it, you can control it. You can mold it. And then you can detach yourself from it.
Cost of Living
After much thought, I've decided that when given the choice, you should choose the most expensive city to live in. Screw cost of living comparisons. That doesn't tell you the whole story. What most people fail to realize is that the proportional raise you get for living in a more expensive city results in a higher nominal raise. This assumes that you can find comparable pay for the same type of work.
Ok here's an example. Suppose you make 50K in city A. Suppose that the cost of living index says that in order to maintain the same living standards, you need 70K to live in city B. So if food costs you 5K in city A (10% of your income), then it will cost you 7K in city B (10% of your income). Let's say that after taxes, food, housing, transportation, healthcare, etc, you have 20% of your income left to save. In city A, you'll save 10K, while in city B, you'll save 14K. So you get to save 4K more in city B. Therefore, assuming you can find that 70K job, and assuming you don't spend all of your money, you will make more money living in city B.
So my conclusion is this: Choose an expensive city to live in, then start finding jobs with comparable pay, adjusted for cost of living. I could invest the extra money (cuz you need money to build wealth), buy my parents a house, use it for travel, pay off my student/car loans, etc etc. The possibilities are endless. Why do you think so many citizens of developing countries try to emigrate to expensive countries such as the U.S. and Japan? Why don't we try to "emigrate" to more expensive areas of the U.S. ourselves?
Money is everything  Yup I said it - money is everything.
Lovemaps
Why do we love certain people and not others? One answer could be found in the concept of a lovemap. This is "a developmental representation or template in the mind and in the brain depicting the idealized lover" (John Money). Our preferences are based on a map that is developed through time. Our love is given to those who are reflections of our ideal self.
We form lovemaps at an early age, starting with our interactions with our parents. If you're a girl, then your dad has a huge impact on how you view men. If he's quiet and serious, then you'll find quiet, serious men more attractive in adulthood. If he's funny and charming, then you'll love the comedic Casanovas of the world. And if he's abusive, then you'll cling on to a lover even if he abuses you, since you're more accepting of that type of behavior.
Same thing for guys.
Your lovemap is always changing throughout life, based on your experiences and how you grow/develop. If you were close to a giving, helpful person whom you really admired, then you'll be more drawn to giving, helpful people in the future.
How do you figure out a person's lovemap? Well, start by asking questions... lots of them. Communication is the key. See what makes them tick, and then try to do things that would make them happy. At the same time, try to not do things that would make them view you in a negative light.
How do you change another person's lovemap? Again, you do this by making them happy. You can slowly change their values and perceptions by showing them the positive results of your own actions. Show them that there are benefits to being with you. Make them happy, and they will slowly incorporate your actions and personality into their own lovemaps.
The important thing is, find your own lovemap. Then you'll understand why you do the things you do, why you fall for certain people, and how your past can affect your future relationships. Knowledge is power, right?
Love Languages
This concept explains how you show your love to others. There are 5 ways:
1) Words of Affirmation - "I love you", "I care about you"
2) Giving/Receiving Gifts - Buying clothes, giving flowers
3) Quality Time - Walking along the beach, watching a movie together
4) Acts of Service - Doing their homework, fixing their car
5) Physical Touch - Hugging, kissing
Everyone has a different way of showing love. Some like to give gifts, while others like to spend quality time together. This also affects how you want others to show you love in return. Conflict arises when two people have different love languages. No matter how much you tell her you love her, she doesn't believe it until you show her through your actions. Sound familiar?
Like lovemaps, love languages are developed as you're growing up. If your parents gave you words of affirmation, then you'd expect the same from your lover. If daddy bought you toys and clothes when you were young, you'd want the same from your boyfriend. Of course, these languages can change through time, as you grow and develop.
This is my ordering:
1) Acts of Service
2) Giving/Receiving Gifts
3) Quality Time
4) Physical Touch
5) Words of Affirmation
Now I know why I like to cook for girls, drive them places, and clean their rooms...
Hmmm... I wonder if she knows why I do her homework for her? haha... she's smart, I'm sure she can figure it out...
Love as a Gift
Some people are so naive and shortsighted. If someone shows you love, then appreciate it and be happy about it. Don't treat them badly just because you have more power over them. I have respect and appreciation for all those who have shown me love over the years. I'm happy to have touched their heart and brought them these emotions.
Even if you don't feel the same way about the person, you should be grateful for them. Because there will be a time when you wish you had more love in your life. What goes around comes around.
I think it just takes maturity and growing up to realize this.
Ayn Rand said it best: "Love is the expression of one's values, the greatest
reward you can earn for the moral qualities you have achieved in your
character and person."
Love as a reward - what a great concept! That's why I give it out sparingly. Yup, my love is valuable - only those who deserve it will earn it as a reward.
The Next Big Thing
Monday, May 8th is a big day for me. I'm flying to DC Sunday night. I've prepared as much as I can... now it's up to fate. Only time will tell...
I'm in a huge writing mood, can you tell? Anyone actually read the whole thing??
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Thoreau would be proud...
I've found my own little Walden Pond for the past few months, doing
things that I want to do and living the way I want to live. Retreating
into a world all your own is fine... but as they say... "you are not an
island". Eventually I would have to stop writing in my private
cloudreaverjournal xanga and do a public entry
Everyone should keep a private journal. With only yourself as the
audience, you can analyze more things and really dig deep into your
soul and psyche. You can also chronicle details of your life for future
memories. The public gets bored easily if you talk about where you went
for lunch at 11:15 AM on Tuesday.
My Dream Vacation
"Gunung Kawi Rice Paddies" - Jeff Lieberman
Just stare into the landscape and picture yourself there...
I would love to live in this environment for like, 1 month. It would be
great to get in touch with my "country self". I think that deep down
inside many of us Asians, there is still a tie to the thousands of
years of hunter gatherer and agrarian lifestyle (you know, rice
fields). I want to soak my feet in these wet paddies, waiting for the
impending storm, dancing in the rain while wearing nothing but like a
silk shirt. Just me and the hot village girl heheh. Reminds me of the
korean story "Shower", where two innocent kids fell in love in the rain
as it washed away their inhibitions and brought out their instinctive
passions.
It sounds weird, but that would be a great escape from modern life, dontcha think?
Yeah, can you tell I've been watching Asian movies lately?
Other things that I've been doing:
Poker - I've got a group of guys that I play with, and I've been
immersing myself in the intricacies of the game. I've read books and
analyzed strategies on it. I've even won a few hundred bucks online.
It's only a phase, like my chess phase. It'll pass once I get bored
with it, or reach a plateau in my learning curve.
Mahjong - An old friend of mine
got me into this. It's my next challenge... I will become expert at
this game and beat it to a pulp! Chinese fobs beware.
Ballroom Dancing - What started
as a few charity concerts - 1 for orphaned Vietnamese children and 1
for human trafficking in Asia - developed into a genuine interest in
the rhumba, tango, meringue, etc etc. Then I discovered that hip hop
dancing in the clubs was horrible preparation for these new dances, so
I've kinda stopped learning out of fear of permanently damaging some
poor damsel's toes.
Tae Kwon Do - I'm learning the
awesome kicks of this martial arts. Remember Hwoarang from the Tekken
series? I think the forms are amazing, and very beautiful when they're
executed correctly.
Muay Thai - A powerful
standing-up fighting technique, used extensively in mixed martial arts.
I got interested in this after watching some Thai movies, and seeing it
in action in MMA tournaments. It's not as elegant as Tae Kwon Do, but
more deadly. I think it looks like chicken-fighting. But I don't know
how I can get some practice doing these moves? Any experts out there? I
wanna spar, even though I suck.
I'm not a violent person, but the pain will be worth it to learn these sports.
I am also approaching my 2 year anniversary working for the University.
I've learned so much working here, and I thought I'd try leveraging my
experience to see what's out there. I will be applying for
positions in the West coast (LA where my aunt is) and East coast (DC
where my best college friend is). I will only consider positions that
would increase my salary by at least 50%. Otherwise I'll wait it out at
the U and keep taking classes for free. Seriously though, I've been
underpaid for way too long. And yes, I am worth it
Oh yeah... long overdue... but the January 21 thing that I talked about
in my last entry was the VCM New Year's Mr. Viet Contest for 2006. I
came in 2nd, which was a curse because my friends forever called me
"Mr. Semi-Viet" after that. Sigh... I can never win.
My favorite memory was the talent competition, for which I did a
Vietnamese rendition of Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin on the guitar. A
song that is very close to my heart...
"Beauty Pageant"
Finally, I've noticed that like 90% of the people who come to my site
found it through Google searching for "Guang Liang Tong Hua" or "Yiruma
sheet music" or "My Immortal piano score" or whatnot.
So as a friendly gesture to all you strangers visiting my humble xanga, I'll give
you what you want. Just make sure you put it to good use and actually
learn to play these songs. They're some of my most favoritest.
Guang Liang - Tong Hua Piano 1
Guang Liang - Tong Hua Piano 2
Yiruma - River Flows In You Piano
Yiruma - Kiss the Rain Piano
Evanescence - My Immortal Piano
Ok that's the update on me. See y'all in another 3 months! (jk)
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