Ryan "Cooper" T. Chong
19 years old
Singer
Artist
Starbucks barista

Please click on the links below to navigate my site

Life In The Big Apple

2/20/2009 01:09:00 AM

Hey guys, this is my 2nd time typing this entry on my near-dead blog because for some stupid reason, when I pressed the backspace button, my browser decided to go back a page. Anyway I'm just gonna update you guys on what has been going on in my life.

School's out!

The Fall 2008 semester ended just before Christmas and I was happy to find out that I got a GPA of 3.538 because I wasn't confident in my English Literature and History of Graphic Design class. So yea, very happy about that. I'm currently taking this semester (Spring 2009) off mainly because I was unable to match anymore classes at QCC with SVA and I'm actually still waiting for Vivek, an advisor from Queens College and also one of my regular customers at Starbucks to send me back some advice and comments on my draft for my application essay to SVA.

Christmas

Christmas 2008 was very fun (and rather expensive too) thanks to my lovely partners from Flushing Starbucks. We all had the secret santa thing going on and a store party for us. I received this nice warm merino V-neck sweater from Anna, a merino turtleneck sweater from John Lim and a hoodie from J.R. Lots of clothes... I have to admit I'm not used to receiving clothing for Christmas. But hey, I loved all of them haha. The last time I had this much fun was during my last Christmas in Malaysia which would be in 2006, but back then I didn't have any school or work and I had a car, so yea, those were some of the best times of my life. 

Toronto and Philana

At the end of the year, I went to Toronto, Canada to visit Philana, to those who doesn't know her, she was one of the first new friends that I made when I arrived in Malaysia back in 95/96 (damn that was a long time ago). Well anyway, she had gone to Toronto to study at the York University there. At the time though, there was a strike going on so she hasn't been in class for about a month or two. I had planned the trip earlier before the strike had even begun, so that I would be there during the weeklong holiday she would be having between Christmas and a few days after New Years. What I didn't expect when buying the air tickets and stuff is for her to fly back to Malaysia for a vacation and to return the day before I arrived. I couldn't reschedule my flight and hotel so things kinda got complicated. To make things simple, lets just say my trip had the worst possible timing. Though I have to say it was nice seeing her after about two years, but I am kinda disappointed that we've drifted apart. 

DEBT!

Arriving back in New York, I faced my problem that has been bothering me till now: BILLS! The economy in the United States is in a very VERY bad shape right now, in Starbucks, people are being layed off, underperforming and slow stores are being closed, store hours are being cut, policies are being changed and most importantly, labor hours are being shortened which means less hours of work for me which leads to less money being earned. Considering the fact that my trip to Toronto had cost me more than US$1000.00 and that I owe my dad and my mom money doesn't help me at all. So far, I've managed to get rid of almost all my debt, only my credit card bill remains but thats at its normal level. However, my savings in nearly nil and there isn't much left in my checking account either. Basically, it means that I'm dead broke. 

Valentines day!! 

Valentines day! Usually, this marks the last day of a depressing period for me. Usually, I get pretty depressed during the ends of the year due to 3 holidays: Christmas, New Years and Valentines day. Why? Because I've been single for all my life and these are usually the holidays that people spend with that special someone. And I've got no one. Valentines day especially really does make me depressed. This time around however, I try to stay as happy as I can, even though I don't have a valentine (maybe next year... I hope) I got chocolates for a number of people. Originally I wanted to give them to the girls who were working that day but I only managed to catch 3 out of 5 of them so Anna got some from La Maison du Chocolat while Ginny and Ashley got some from Godiva. Carolina appeared at the time I was thinking of giving one to her (perfect timing) so I gave her some as well. As for the last box, I couldn't find anyone else to give it to so J.R, Arturo, Eric and Anna ate it. In addition to them, Merissa (my friend in Malaysia) should be getting hers in about 3 to 5 days time (make sure u share them with Pei Wern for me!)

Myself

I've noticed something about myself recently: my personality is made out of the different people that I hang out with/interact with. For example: Vincent's wth sort of look, Ginny's stare and Anna's laughter. The only thing that I would say that I've picked up on my own is that I tend to be quieter when I'm not at work, even when hanging out with my partners. I miss my high school days when I used to be the one in charge, when I had the confidence in myself, when I dared to challenge authority (up to a point). Ever since I came back to the US, I feel like all that was left in a briefcase that I had left behind in Malaysia. It could be because I feel intimidated by the people here, I mean, I'm an American Born Chinese who grew up in a completely different culture and environment compared to most people that I hang out with here, or maybe its because I'm too self-concious. Anna and J.R., two of my shift supervisors that I'm closest to, has both talked to me about this when I was being all frustrated and stuff about being paid a miniscule $150 to design a political campaign logo and business card. When I'm at home, I'm the eldest, I take responsibility as I see fit but when I'm out there, I feel like a kid, I mean literally as well. I'm not exactly what you call the tallest guy in the store. In fact I think I'm the 2nd shortest. Am I? Yea I think I am. J.R. is like an older brother to me in the store, being my shift supervisor, once cascade leader and as well as one of my learning coaches and although I don't work with Anna very often, I do keep in contact with her a lot and she's my current cascade leader. I guess she's my older sister then and since J.R. is being transferred to Whitestone, I have a feeling I'll be hanging around Anna a lot more often. LOL. But yea, we had dinner last night and she did kinda talk to me about these things, about me needing to find my true self and not just a person who's personality is influenced by the people around me. As in, I need to find my own personality. And this is coming from someone who's majoring in sociology. Its just that, I'm not sure how to. I don't even know which one is my real sort of personality. Now that I think about it, I feel like Rise Kujikawa from Persona 4. She seems to have this sort of problem too. Or actually I'm like most of the characters. Where they all have hidden sides to their personality that they don't want to share with others and that they are in denial of that other part of their personality.

Finally, Vincent and Bi Lin are attempting to come over to New York City to further their studies and I'm really hoping that they do. It'll be great to see them again. 

12/17/2008 10:44:00 AM

12/16/2008 09:26:00 PM

11/29/2008 11:48:00 AM

10/30/2008 09:17:00 PM

10/30/2008 08:57:00 PM

10/30/2008 08:54:00 PM

10/21/2008 09:04:00 PM

10/18/2008 10:56:00 PM

Hello there, I haven't been updating my blog that often... lol... anyway... I just finished watching the whole series of The Melancholy of Haruni Suzumiya or Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu as it is known in Japanese. Its a rather short anime series that I was introduced to while I was at the NY Anime Fest. Anyway, the story is about this girl and basically, everything revolves around this girl. But she just isn't aware of it. Basically, she's very eccentric. She's apparently not interested in normal humans and wants to have fun with aliens, time travelers and espers. Which actually came true.. Just that she doesn't know that the 3 out of 4 other members in her SOS Brigade are an alien, a time traveler and an esper. 

Anyway, work has been alright for me... just been getting pretty tired lately and I don't think I'm performing up to optimum standards -in my opinion. 

School has been.... bothersome... Only class I enjoy is Drawing 1 and Electronic Imaging and Advertising Design and Layout... But the latter one is on a Thursday and I hate Thursdays cause I'm in school for 9 hours straight: 2 hours for the first class, 4 hours for the 2nd and 3 hours for the third class. 

I've made 2 new friends in my drawing 1 class the week I went to the Anime fest. Luis and Christine. Luis is a year younger than I am. A freshman in QCC and actually doing alright in his drawings. Definately improving.  

Christine is pretty interesting as well. My first Greek friend and an interesting personality. Plus she's fun to draw. A little bit challenging at times since I'm more used to drawing asian people. Or more particularly, asian girls.

Luis

Christine

US$114 sushi & sashimi lunch with Christine, Amanda, Luis and Tom