Get Ready for Summer!

The cold and windy winter season is finally over. After the rainy season, it will soon be the start of Summer! Nothing feels better than spending time outside on a warm and sunny day, but in Taiwan, sometimes the weather can be scorching hot during the summer months! We've all heard about the potential dangers of exposing your skin to sunlight without protection, but are we aware of the correct way to apply sunscreen? Needless to say, it is important to wear sunscreen from the sun's damaging rays, but it is even more important to understand why and how to do it.

We all need some sun exposure, it keeps us healthy by giving us our source of vitamin D. However, too much unprotected exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, and even develop cancer if there is a family history.

So, what are UV rays? Sunlight comes in three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

1. UVC rays are the most dangerous, but thankfully, they are blocked by the ozone layer.

2. UVB rays cause sunburn, cataracts, and affects the immune system. Skin cancer may also develop with UVB sunburns.

3. UVA rays is the primary cause of aging and wrinkling, as well as contributing to skin cancer.

Before we learn how to apply sunscreen, we need to know to choose a good sunscreen! When buying a sunscreen product, read the label to for its SPF and PA protection. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and protects the skin from UVB rays. The most common SPF levels in Taiwan are SPF 30 and SPF 50. Since SPF represents the length of time you can stay in the sun without getting a sunburn. For instance, if a person's skin starts to burn after 10 minutes of sun exposure, then a sunscreen with SPF 15 protection would prolong the sunburn 15 times longer, which equals to 150 minutes. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, higher SPF levels does not mean better protection, and SPF 30 should already be enough for daily protection, unless if you are going to the beach. PA stands for Protection Grade, and provides protection against UVA rays. You can find products with PA+, PA++, and PA+++ protection. Unless you are staying out in the sun for long hours, PA+ and PA++ protection is adequate for daily activities. But one might wonder: Why not just buy a product with the highest protection if the prices are about the same? Though higher protection level means longer protection against the sun, it is also heavier on the skin, which may be uncomfortable on a day in the heat. Thus, one should avoid too much protection if unnecessary.

Lastly, the correct way to apply sunscreen!

1. It is recommended that you apply on sunscreen everyday as a daily basis, even when the weather is moderate.

2. Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before heading out so that a good layer of protection and form and stay on the skin.

3. When applying the sunscreen, don't forget about the ears and behind the neck! Some lip balms even provide SPF protection! Wearing sunglasses or using an umbrella is an effective way to prevent your eyes from harmful rays.

4. Put on generous amounts of sunscreen, a thin layer of sunscreen will not offer enough protection against the sun.

5. Reapply sunscreen approximately every 2 hours, since sweating may reduce the effects of the sunscreen.

Next time when you're heading out to enjoy the sunlight, don't forget your sun protection! Happy tanning, everyone!

Productivity V.S. Procrastination

 

Since the midterms are coming up next week, I thought I might write a blog post about managing your time wisely. Isn't it funny how we like to procrastinate and then try to finish the stacked workload until the brink of the deadline? Why is it that we do that? Is there a way to increase productivity and at the same time effectively use our time?

 

Let's start by talking about willpower. We always need at least a bit of willingness before we do something. Before we start our work, we tend to imagine the work we need to do beforehand, thus making it harder to actually start the work. Therefore, before we even begin, we are already discouraged to make the first step. Instead of doing what we need to do, we then focus on other trivial tasks just to make ourselves believe that we are actually doing something productive. In my case, I tend to clean the room and organize my closet and shelves before exams just to persuade myself that I am completing something, and not trying to escape from studying. On the contrary, when we actually start doing our work, whether it's the day before the deadline or hours before the exam, we find it really easy to finish the work in a limited amount of time. Interestingly, how our brain works is that it tells us to finish what we started. For instance, if we are in the middle of doing something, and then forced to stop doing it, we feel this itch inside us to complete what we left off. Combining these two facts, we can now come up with a strategy to fight against procrastination!

Step 1: Make a to-do list. The tasks will be less intimidating if we actually put it down on a list and tackle with them one by one!

Step 2: Set up a deadline for each and every one of the tasks. Though it might seem insignificant, but if you have a chart that reminds you of what you need to do, the chances of you starting it will be higher than having nothing at all!

Step 3: Don't force yourself to finish everything all at once. Break down your tasks into smaller portions and occasionally give yourself a break. Our attention span simply does not allow us to stay focused on one thing for too long, it's just too exhausting!

Step 4: At the end of the day, evaluate what you have done and what you haven't accomplished. This will make you feel like you haven't finished a certain task yet, and therefore you'd be more motivated to finish it the next day!

Step 5: Reward yourself when you finish a huge task, whether it's a project or a report, or even an essay!

To briefly summarize the tips, all you need to remember is to: PLAN >>> START WORKING >>> HAVE BREAKS >>> EVALUATE >>> TREAT YOURSELF! 

Good Luck! (And remember, no multi-tasking because it is not productive and it also decreases work efficiency!)

Reminiscence

During the four-day holiday, I went to Shen Keng Old Street, which is only a few bus stops from NCCU. I was impressed by the ancient-looking streets and antique shops, but was kind of disappointed because they aren't authentic. You could easily tell that it was built and modified to look timeworn for the purpose of attracting tourists. Nevertheless, it is still a great place for people who would like to experience what it is like in the old days, to be surrounded by red brick houses, crimson lanterns, as well as restaurants with wooden stools and tables. It felt nice being there, yet sad somehow, probably because it reminded me of my grandmother. She passed away when I was in middle school, and all that's left in my memories of her are the good times when she gave me nothing but love.

My grandparents lived in a suburban village in Changhua, where some of the houses are more than a hundred years old! Everyone in the village have the same last name, Su, hence the name of the neighborhood "Grand House of the Su Family". You could see red bricks and wooden furniture almost everywhere, along with faded red couplets on rusty doors. Beside my grandparents' house is a well where the villagers used to come get water from, and next to it are two trees that stand on the village entrance like guardians. Directly in front of that is the traditional three section compound, in which the central building is the Shrine of the Su Family with our own God that we worship. The two wing buildings are resident houses, and the open space is where we hold festivals and religious ceremonies. Following the red brick road in front of my grandparents' house will lead you directly to a mysterious bamboo forest. It's so quiet and calming there it is like a fictitious land, dissociated with the rest of the world. When I was young, I'd imagine myself as Dorothy, following the red brick path and escaping into my own land of peace. Past the arch of bamboo trees are acres of fields and croplands, where my grandmother would catch butterflies to cheer me up. There were so many fond memories of this place that I cherish so much that emotions would pour out uncontrollably whenever I go back for a visit (which I haven't for a very long time). I feel lucky to have this cultural heritage, because to me, this place is my sanctuary, a retreat away from the turmoil of the world, which will always have its special place in my heart.

Goose bumps

Have you ever what is the physiology behind goose bumps?

Scientifically speaking, goose bumps are called cutis anserina. It is an involuntary relflex of muscle contraction caused by adrenaline, where our body hair stands up when we are cold or when we are intimidated. For instance, we often get goose bumps when we feel fear, pleasure, or frightened.

Remember in spooky cartoons where a cat's hair would shoot up at the sight of a ghost? Cats do this when they feel threatened, which triggers the fight or flight response. As their hairs stand up, they appear bigger and more intimidating. This reaction is similar to humans having goose bumps. Humans developed goose bumps when we used to have long hair. This reaction protects us from the coldness, as the hair traps air, it creates warmth and prevents us from losing body heat.

However, what is the scientific explanation behind frisson? Frisson is the chill that we feel when we listen to music. One of the theories that explains this unusual reaction states that it is caused by a sudden change of the volume of the music, or when the music reaches an unexpected section. When this happens, our brain might associate this to potential danger, triggering goose bumps, or frisson. This theory, however, is unable to truly explain the emotional aspect to frisson, as sometimes what we feel might not necessarily be fear, but instead, we might be touched or moved by the music and still have the same reaction. Yet another fascinating thing about the brain which we cannot fully explain. After all, if the complexity of the brain can be so easily deciphered, then how do we expect it to create such greatness?

The New Generation of Taiwanese...Southeast Asians!

 

When we hear about Southeast Asia, what is the first thing that comes to our mind? Beaches in Thailand? Vietnamese cuisine? Indonesian spice? The Merlion in Singapore? Or perhaps the Angkor Wat in Cambodia? Though it is true that Taiwanese people are becoming more and more familiarized with the southeastern culture, there is still a serious issue in our society nowadays...discrimination.

This week in one of my classes, we saw videos and documentaries reflecting family and social issues concerning new immigrants and their children. According to the teacher, out of ten new born babies in Taiwan, one of them is of Southeast Asian descendant. Taiwan has become more internationalized with different people coming from different countries to start a new life. However, many of these new immigrants, especially labors and caretakers, are often looked down upon. There is a stereotype that they are all dark-colored, dirty, uneducated, impolite, and poor. Though it is true that most Southeast Asian people come to Taiwan from a less fortunate family background to live a better life, it is not right to think less of them and assume that they are less civilized than we are. My family has been living in Thailand for over 20 years, so it hurts when I hear Taiwanese speak ill of the people from my country. After all, Thailand is my hometown and Taiwanese is my nationality.

Many associations in Taiwan have risen up to provide new immigrants and their children education of their native countries, as well as support for abuse or discrimination. It is comforting to know that there are still people who care for the rights of these minorities, who will soon become the majority of Taiwanese, since their children will be the new generation of Taiwan. I guess what I want to say in this blog post is that I wish people would open up their minds and learn to accept and appreciate these people who come to Taiwan to do the jobs that no one else here is willing to do. Many have given up their life there and made a lot of sacrifices to come to an unfamiliar environment with a whole new language, which must be hard for them to adjust to. Other than compassionate, we can also try to approach and engage in their rich, diverse cultures and their wonderful customs and traditions...Let's be honest, who doesn't like delicious Vietnamese food and a relaxing Thai massage?

The Miniature Earth

I remember my high school Biology teacher showed me this years ago. He was one of my favorite teachers, due to his love for the planet Earth and his passion for marine animals. Not only was he academically a good teacher, he was also a good mentor, as he always taught us to appreciate nature and what we have. He was the one that raised my awareness about recycling and conserving energy/water resources.

 

http://www.miniature-earth.com/

I think what I learned from this video is to be grateful for what I have. Sometimes we never see the insignificant things in life until we lose them, and this can mean anything, literally anything, in life. Before I moved out from my home in Thailand and started living alone in Taiwan, I used to take everything for granted. I grew up with people around me that are from wealthy families, some even Thai royalty! They lived in big houses with swimming pools and even parking lots with imported sport cars. Back then, I felt so inferior that my greatest fear was for them to come visit my house, which was why I never invited any of my friends over. My life was so superficial that I used to starve myself just to save up my allowance for buying designer clothes. I cared about how people perceive me and I was afraid of being judged, but now, I feel ashamed of myself from having those thoughts. As we age and become more independent, we start to see things differently and we start to learn to appreciate what was given to us. Recently, I argued with my father over the phone. An emergency occurred, and I have to return to Thailand twice within two weeks. With such a short notice, I had to book my flight, apply for Visa and permission to leave Taiwan, as well as the documents to bring home. I was so stressed because I had to miss classes and do make up assignments that I got impatient with my father. I felt bad after hanging up the phone. He has given me so much in my life, yet when some things don't go right, I immediately lash it out on him or my mother, which is why lately I've been doing a lot of thinking and reflection. Although I used to blame my parents for neglecting me because of work, I should really be thankful for what they are doing for me.

So, the lesson from this week is to learn to appreciate everything in life...food, clean supply of water, your phone, your computer, internet access, education, clothes, a bed to sleep in, and somewhere to rest when it's raining outside! Above all, don't forget to thank your parents and tell them that you love them!

My New iPhone

After going through a series of frustrating events, I've finally gotten my new iPhone to work. I've been so addicted to it that I haven't been doing anything productive lately, mostly because I can't keep my hands off of it! Before the iPhone, I was using an old Nokia, which has done its job for nearly three years. I've always hesitated to switch into a smart phone because I'm quite skeptical when it comes to the latest technology and electronic gadgets. What prompted me to change into an iPhone was that I've finally felt the "need" to own a smart phone. It's pretty sad if you think about it. We are so immersed in the virtual world that we would actually feel insecure without having a mobile device to pull us away from reality and into cellphone applications (as if we haven't spent enough time on Facebook, Youtube, or other social networking websites).

Like I said, I've never been a big fan of Beats, iPads, MacBooks, but you can't help but see people around you swiping on their screens with their heads hung low, which, to make things worse, reminds you of the fact that you're the only one without a smart phone, so basically, it's hard not to conform and enter the new era of technology like everyone else. What can I say? Welcome to the 21st Century!

My initial purpose of buying a new smart phone was to avoid that awkward situation where one of my friends will start to say something I completely have no idea of, and then say, "Oh? Haven't I told you the story yet? I must have missed you out because you don't have the "Line" App!", or, "We chatted on "What's App", and both decided not to attend the event, sorry for not informing you earlier!", but apparently, having an iPhone isn't any better. Don't get me wrong, having a smart phone is really convenient and it keeps you entertained while waiting for a friend or traveling alone, but I miss the times when we could have lunch with friends without people checking messages, uploading photos, or posting comments on someone else's wall posts. We are so occupied with being "involved" and "included", and feeling like we need to be "a-part-of-something" that we forget the times when we could sit on a bus and stare out the window, or enjoy the company of friends without being interrupted by our phone's notification alert. I guess this was the major reason why I decided to get an iPhone, I didn't want to feel left out. It's ironic how supposedly having a smart phone should make you feel more connected with your friends and socialize more, yet this invisible barrier seems to be separating and limiting direct contacts with people. After all, you can say whatever you want or type anything you wish on the Internet, but it's the face-to-face engagements, the exchange of conversations, the smiles, the hugs, the facial expressions that counts, that actually means something, something that is going to stay in our memory.

I'm still trying to figure out this love-hate relationship, but besides that, I'm totally digging the new iPhone 5!