Author Archives: Tang-ren L.

Kansas School of Engineering Camp Review

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Student Involvement | School of Engineering

Hey Everyone!

One of the amazing opportunities I had this summer was going to an amazing camp at the University of Kansas for Engineering! This week long sleep-away camp was such an amazing experience since I am currently looking at careers in engineering.

Through the week I went to different classes where I learned more about the field of civil engineering and got to meet many different personals from the campus as well as see some guest speakers, like Phd students and professors.

Overall I would say this was a super fun camp and I would recommend it not only for people who are interested in engineering but also because of all the different people you get to meet from many different places.

Some of the cons of this camp were that it was in a different state, so it was definitely less of an environment that I was used to and in addition to planning for the camp you must also figure out the transportation. However, this camp was much more reasonably priced compared to many camps in California. Even including my flights, round trip it costed around one third of some of the other camps I was looking at located at some UC’s.

I would definitely recommend this camp for everyone because I think it’s such a fun experience, even if you aren’t too interested in engineering since it provides great insight into career options outside of engineering too, along with college guidance.

Ideas for Summer

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Hello everyone!

We are coming into the months of June, July and August and school is out! With all this new free time in our hands, here are some ideas of what to do for the summer:

  1. Beach trip – Enjoy a day at the beach, soaking up the sun and enjoying the waves. There’s nothing that says summer more than the beach! 
  2. Camping – Sometimes its nice to get away from our homes and go camping to enjoy nature. Even if you can’t go camping we can still connect with the outdoors by camping (you may want to do it in the morning before it gets hot)
  3. Movie Nights – One of the most fun things to do in the summer afternoons is an outside movie night. Most cities, like Mission Viejo, offer fun families movies in the parks to everyone. It’s especially fun to hang out outside with your friends at a movie.
  4. Farmer’s Markets – There are always so many farmers markets happening around Mission Viejo! It’s always so fun to enjoy the atmosphere of the bustling markets and enjoy all the tastes, flavors, and goods of the market. You don’t even need to buy anything to have a blast!
  5. Learn Something New – Even though its summertime and we should be relaxing in our break away from school, its not a bad time to learn something new! Whenever you have some free time on your hands and are feeling bored, its always ok to try and learn more about what you are curious about, like a skill or language!

I hope everyone has an amazing summer and may be able to use these ideas to have a fun summer!

Romeo and Juliet Play Review

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Personally, I enjoyed reading the play very much, especially since we were able to read some scenes in class. Even though at one point the Shakespearian language may be difficult to read at first, I thoroughly appreciated the language later. The grammar of the Elizabethan English was kind of confusing, but eventually it made sense. (My class called it “Yoda talk” because of the different orderings of phrases for the verbs and subjects)

Another way I was able to view the play was through the lens of West Side Story. I watched the 1950’s version, and I thought it was amazing how the ideas and themes of Shakespeare’s stories can be just as applicable in different times and settings. Through the dynamics between Maria and Tony, so many parallels can be made between the movie and the play.

Overall I would rate Romeo and Juliet a 8.5/10 for its amazing storytelling and descriptions and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a good story, and also push themselves with this challenging piece of literature. When watching the whole play. One point about the writing that I really enjoyed was the extended metaphors, and also Shakespeare’s wit in how he included double meanings in many of the things he writes, for both comedic and dramatic purposes.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Paris Museums Review

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Recently, my family and I went on vacation to Paris in France! Over the week we spent there, we went to many attractions, some of the main ones being the museums. There were so many museums available, and because I am under 18 I got in for free for all!

What I think is the most interesting in Paris is the support of the arts by the government. For all citizens of France, the museums were free until you turned 26, and for outside visitors 18! I thought that this was an amazing way to get youth interested in art and the value of it.

Although there were so many museums to visit (and we obviously couldn’t see all of them), here are some of my favorite museums we visited and my reviews (as well as tips):

The Louvre

One museum that I really enjoyed was the Louvre. We got there early in the morning when it first opened and it was still so busy! It was such a large museum with way too much to look at! Some notable things to look at were the Mona Lisa and so many other famous works of art! Personally, my favorite piece was the Winged Victory sculpture, but there were so many other pieces of art that were amazing! I would recommend taking it slow because there is so much to take in and it will be a long walking day because it is so big.

Musee d’Orsay

One of the notable museums in France was the Musee d’Orsay. With its beautiful architecture and its location along the river, it was definitely one notable building! (Fun fact: It was originally built as a train station for the World’s Fair before it was turned into a museum). I thought that this was a good museum especially because it did not require the same amount of walking as the other ones while still showcasing lots of art. While I was there, there was an exhibition of Vincent Van Gogh, which I enjoyed!

Palace of Versaillies

The Palace of Versailles was my favorite museum in Paris. Because it was in the countryside, I had to take a train there since it was farther away than the other attractions. However it was very fun with so much to do! My favorite part was walking around the gardens in the afternoon because all the plants were blooming and there was so much to see. Inside the palace was also huge, with so many rooms to walk through. My favorite room was probably the hall of mirrors because it was filled with gold and had great views of the gardens. One thing to prepare for is to bring a lot of water and wear comfortable shoes because this will be one of the biggest walking grounds because it is so big!

Overall, I think that all the museums in Paris I went to were amazing and what was especially cool about them was that I was able to get into all of them for free. I would recommend everyone to go to these museums whether you like art or not, because I think with the robust art and architecture there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Disneyland Paris Review

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Over spring break, me and my family made a trip to Paris and one of our days we spent at Disneyland Paris. I very much enjoyed my day, but beforehand would have liked some guides, so in case anyone is planning to go there, or just wants to know a little more about Disney Paris, here are some tips and my reviews.

Quick Overview:

Disneyland Paris has 2 parks, the main park (Disneyland Paris) and the Walt Disney Studios Park. The main park is much larger, featuring more of the classic Disney rides, similar to the park in Anaheim, with their own little twists. The Walt Disney Studios has some of the newer developments, like Toy Story Land and Avengers Campus. There are also many hotels near the parks.

My review:

I think that Disney Paris was super fun and a great place to spend a day at and even though I only spent a day at Disneyland Paris, I was still able to get on all the main rides at both parks, even being able to re-ride my favorites.

There were many rides ranging from super thrilling to pretty relaxed, and even though some were the same as the Disneyland Anaheim park, many were changed and different in their own ways. Some of my favorite rides were:

  • Hyperspace mountain: This space mountain was super thrilling and one of my favorite rides of the day! This coaster began with a launch uphill, giving great views of Discoveryland, and went  through many turns and a couple inversions. These exciting elements combined with the star wars graphics created an amazing experience.
  • Big Thunder Mountain: This was possibly my favorite part of the day. Through the whole coaster you got great views of the park because the roller coaster was located on an island, and although what some might consider a “tame” ride, it provided great thrills, and the ride itself was very long. I would recommend going on this at both day and night, because both provided great views of the park during the day, or lit up at night!
  • Avengers Flightforce: Flightforce was the most thrilling ride I went on all day. It was launched coaster themed Avengers where you went through many loops and sharp turns. All along the ride you were greeted with graphics of Captain Marvel and Iron man as you made your way through the indoor coaster. This was a super fun coaster overall, but one of the most surprising things about it was how short the line was. All day this line was under 20 minutes, and it may be because it was at the far end of the park, or it just didn’t have the audience in Disneyland Paris. Either way this was a fun packed coaster that I would recommend for anyone who wants a quick thrill.

Tips:

Going in, I did not know too much about the park, so here are some helpful tips for someone on their first visit:

  • Go to the rides you want to go on first: If there is a specific ride that you really want to go on, make sure to head there first to avoid long lines. Then, also, maybe later in the day you can be able to ride it again. To do this, you can go on the Disney Paris website, and see their attractions list in search for what you may be interested in
  • Go to Disneyland Paris, then Walt Disney Studios: If you have a park hopper, what I would recommend is starting your day off at Disneyland Paris (the main park), and then heading around halfway through your day to Walt Disney Hollywood Studios, where the lines are generally shorter. Once you have done all the desired rides at that park, then I would recommend going back to the main park to do the nighttime festivities, and ride any rides you want to repeat. For me this looked like getting to the main park at opening, around 2-3 pm going to Hollywood Studios, and then around 6-7 pm going back to the main park. This allows for you to have some time in your day at Hollywood studios, which has significantly less rides.
  • Preplan your day: Although you don’t need to know your exact agenda maybe before your trip look at the Disneyland Paris website for maps and attractions lists. Then remember some certain things that you want to do. But remember to keep it flexible because something will workout and some things might not, and especially do not overpack your schedule so you have time to just relax and enjoy the park

Overall, I think this is an amazing park! I would recommend this to people of all ages because there is so much to do for all ages.

Boba Shop Review

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Boba, or “Bubble Tea” as some people know it is a type of drink that contains both components of tea and toppings, such as boba, a chewy tapioca ball. It is the perfect refreshing drink for any day. Sound us, in Mission Viejo and surrounding areas, there are many places to get boba. However, with so many places to buy boba, I decided to review and rank different boba shops, since I am a frequent boba drinker. Here are some reviews of common boba places near Mission Viejo.

Sharetea:

Sharetea is one of the most common boba shops. It is a Taiwanese boba shop that serves a very large variety of drinks, and often has seasonal and limited time unique drinks to try. Sharetea is one of my favorite boba shops because of its quick service and relatively low prices. However, the drinks are made with powder and not real tea. Sharetea is one of my favorite boba shops for its relatively low prices, tasty drinks, and wide topping selection.

7 Leaves:

7 Leaves is more common in surrounding areas, like Irvine, but it still provides good service and drinks. 7 Leaves is a Vietnamese boba shop, so it has some drinks different from other places, like Sharetea, such as Vietnamese coffee. Although it is more expensive than other places, and the service tends to be slower, the drinks are very good, made with fresh tea and milk. I also really enjoy the texture of the boba from here and some drinks that stand out are the Assam Milk Tea,  the Oolong Milk Tea, and the Thai Tea. Along with this they have a selection of snacks like macaroons and croissants. However, one thing I don’t enjoy as much is the pricing as you have to pay for size upgrades and toppings are more expensive than other places, and the locations are generally farther away. I would recommend 7 leaves for their handcrafted drinks and the general aesthetics of their shops.

Ding Tea:

Ding Tea is another boba shop that serves Taiwanese boba, and it has many locations near Mission Viejo and the surrounding areas. Ding Tea has a very large variety of drinks, and I would recommend it for its fruit teas and slushes. My favorite drinks are the Mango Slush and Lychee tea. The service is typically good and some locations also have some small games like claw machines. One thing that I don’t think is the best is the toppings and their texture of the boba is not my favorite. However I think that Ding Tea is a solid boba shop and a good choice if someone wants boba and is new or does not really like the milk teas.

In all, boba is an amazing, refreshing drink and I would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t tried it. I would recommend Sharetea for it’s value prices and drink selection, 7 Leaves for the quality of their drinks, and Ding Tea for their fruit drinks and close locations. 

Happy Drinking!

Album Review – Evermore by Taylor Swift

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On December 11, 2020, Evermore was released by Taylor Swift as a surprise album. A sister album to Folklore, released five months earlier by Swift, Evermore is definitely one of Taylor Swift’s slower albums, but nevertheless a great listen.

Evermore is one of my favorite albums as it covers many topics like love, escapism, and nostalgia. 

Willow: The first track on Evermore, Swift does not hesitate to bring on one of the best songs on the album. Willow is a song about yearning for someone, and doing anything to get them, despite the obstacles that life throws at you.

Champagne Problems: Champagne Problems is one of the most powerful tracks on Evermore. This song is about someone who broke a relationship because of not feeling ready, and blaming themselves for it within their mourn. I especially like this song because of its beautiful melody that blends perfectly with Swift’s voice.

Gold Rush: One of the more upbeat tracks on Evermore, Gold Rush is one of my favorite songs on the record because of its beautiful tone and melodies that perfectly complement Taylor Swift’s voice. The song itself has a very daydreamy feel that I think makes the song relatable, applying to any situation where you are wishing something impossible would happen, not just the topic of the song.

Tolerate It: The notorious “fifth track” of the album, which is always slotted for the most powerful song on a Taylor Swift album, Tolerate tells the story of a woman who’s love is not recognized. I personally love this song and it is one of my favorites on the album for its powerful vocals, contrasting the pretty piano background music.

Coney Island: This song is personally my favorite on the album. Coney Island is a duet featuring The National about a lost love and missing the one you lost. I especially love how both of the vocals complement each other and make the song somehow feel sad but comforting at the same time.

I would rate Evermore 9.5/10 and I would definitely recommend this album to everyone who likes indie music.

Taylor Swift The Eras Tour Movie Review

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Overview

Starting in March, the US leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour began. With 52 dates of the US tour, and many more over South America and Europe, Taylor Swift created a 3 and a half hour show, composed of 44 songs creating an ultimate show that anyone would enjoy. The Eras tour broke record after record once started.

However, one problem for the fans was accessing tickets. The Eras Tour, in such demand, became very expensive and the tickets became hard to find. Lucky for me, I was able to snag a couple tickets during the presale, but many unfortunate fans did not have the ability to even buy tickets. Once the tickets were bought, scalpers were reselling them for over 5 times the value, making them unaffordable for many people and hard to get tickets that were decently priced. 

However, on October 13th, the Eras Tour movie came out, allowing fans to be able to access the movie and see it on the big screen. A recording of Taylor Swift’s performances in Los Angeles at Sofi Stadium, the movie was an immediate smash hit, allowing everyone to be able to watch the movie. Many people even treated the movie as the concert experience, standing up and singing and trading friendship bracelets. Later on December 13, Taylor Swift released The Eras Tour- Extended Version, which made the movie available to rent on demand and included 3 additional songs that were not included in the original movie in theaters.

Review:

My personal thoughts on the movie was that it was really good and I would give it a 9.5/10. The concert movie stood out for the following reasons:

  • The movie was a very good recreation of the show in person and I thought that the film did a good job in capturing the feel of the concert with the energy of the fans and Taylor Swift.
  • I liked how the movie was very good at showing the watcher what the tour was, by directing where the watcher should look, while also showing the other parts of the tour, like dancer features. I thought that this was very nice because when I saw the concert, I was far away from the stage, so I liked being able to see everything up close.
  • I liked how the movie showed different aspects of the show by using cameras on stage to show Taylor Swift while also using cameras above the stage and drones to help show aerial views of the stage and the audience. I especially liked when they panned to the audience and all the light bracelets lit up, like a sea of light.

The only thing that I did not enjoy as much in the movie was that it felt very shortened. Like the transitions between the different sets were cut, and they removed 4 songs from the set list. However, I get this as the film was trying to stay shorter- cutting the concert experience from 3 and a half hours to 2 hours and 45 minutes.

I think that The Eras Tour concert film was really good and I would not just recommend it to people who enjoy Taylor Swift’s music, but to anyone who is open to having a great time because it is enjoyable for everyone.

For the people who were not able to see the movie in theaters, the movie is now coming out on Disney+ on March 17th!

Album Review- Folklore by Taylor Swift

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In 2020, Taylor Swift released her eighth studio album Folklore, an anthology album where every song tells a different story. These stories cover topics from love, to escapism, to nostalgia. I especially love this album because of its indie-pop feel. Here are some of my favorite tracks on the album and why.

Cardigan: One of my favorite songs on the album is Cardigan because of its nostalgic feel about looking back on what it was like to be carefree and young, like when the song says, “when you are young they assume you know nothing.”

The Last Great American Dynasty: Another one of my favorite songs on the album is The Last Great American Story, which is based off of the previous owner of Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island house, Rebekah Harkness. One of my favorite parts of this song is the storytelling within the song about her house’s history.

Exile (Feat. Bon Iver): Exile is one of the sadder songs on the Folklore album, but I still like it very much. One of my favorite parts of this song is how Bon Iver and Taylor Swift’s voices both contribute to the song’s sound and story so much through the duet.

The Lakes: One of my favorite songs on Folklore is the bonus track The Lakes. The Lakes is about escapism and the need to escape from your daily life, which is something that everyone can relate to. Another theme I like in this song is letting your old self go so you can venture and find your new self.

Overall, Folklore is a creative album with many great songs on it, and these were just a few. I would rate this 10/10 and I would recommend for everyone to take a shot at it!

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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Genre: Young-Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

In the not so distant future, in a place once called “North America” lies a not so distant country named Panem. Divided into 13 districts, with an uber rich Capitol, much of Panem lives in poverty and is there to serve only the uber rich. Every year the Capitol, where the country’s most rich and powerful people live, hosts a large, televised event called the Hunger Games: where 2 people from each district are chosen to fight to the death.

In District 12, Primrose Everdeen is chosen, until her sister, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her spot, along with a boy named Peeta. Once Katniss makes it to the Capitol, her eyes are opened to how the other side lives as everyone is well fed and healthy, showing her the unjust reality of life in the districts.

Once in the Hunger Games, Katniss must try and survive the harsh conditions of the environment while also trying to survive against her competitors who all also want to survive. From the twisting terrors that Katniss goes through, to the emotional challenges she faces, The Hunger Games is a truly enjoyable page turner.

Review:

I would give this book a 9/10 because it was a very interesting read that any teen or adult could enjoy. Here are some of my notes that though when I read this book:

  1. I really enjoyed this book because while it was interesting and mainly serious and dark, I liked how it was lightened with friendships and relationships that grew in the competition and throughout the book.
  1. I thought that the concept of this book was a very interesting one because, it sort of relates the past with the future as I thought that the games were similar to gladiator battles in Ancient Rome
  1. I thought that this book was a very captivating book that will make you never want to put it down until you finish it.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.