One of my favorite pass-time activities is trying out various cuisines and exploring restaurants. If I’m not in school, at home, or doing work, I am most likely sitting at some restaurant with friends, eating. Luckily, my passion for eating runs in my family, so whenever I come home to see my parents, they always treat me to the most delicious food! I’ve never been a big fan of traditional German food; a plate full of sauerkraut, sausages and a good ol’ pile of potatoes. However, my parents were convinced that a certain restaurant just on the outskirts of my little town would make me change my mind.

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An old Vaudeville/Variety theater still stands in the center of my city so my family and I decided to spend our Friday night going back in time to check out the show. A live theater, I haven’t been to one of those in years! The combination of going to a show and the opportunity to dress up made me excited! I decided on a simple gray strapless dress from BCBG that I didn’t think I’d get to wear during my stay. I let my hair flow with light curls and I wore a pair of black heels that aren’t made for walking. But, I think it was the three-diamond necklace and small studs that finished the look. Diamonds, indeed, are a girl’s best friend. *wink*

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Part of the reason why I was so excited to leave my hectic Los Angeles lifestyle was so I could enjoy the peaceful rural atmosphere and, temporarily, distance myself from the city. I decided to connect with Mother Nature and spend a casual day out in the wild and explore the forest and hope not to get lost. Our house is located in the middle of nowhere; green fields and forests all around; cows and horses; and a small neighborhood where everyone knows everyone and my mother is the only Asian woman around for miles. I was pretty certain that I wasn’t going to be meeting any new people in the forest, unless some Yeti came to attack me, so I simply pulled on a pair of comfortable, blue, Levi jeans and a casual black and white, stripped short-sleeve shirt that I bought from Velvet last summer. I had my mom’s Timberland boots on and I wore my hair back in a ponytail and, on my mom’s request, I took a light blue zip-up hoodie that had a picture of a white tiger on the back. I was ready for my outing!

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Today was a day for me; a full day where I was able to relax and feel stress-free! Whatever I was going to do, I wanted to take advantage of the fact that I am surrounded by culture and history, so I decided to be adventurous and explore. Well, not so much explore, but rather do some research on museums or attractions close to the area and go. My parents had plans together and left early in the morning, so I was kind of looking forward to me-time. I found out that my town is famous for old castles that had been passed on from generation to generation, some of which are still available for public viewing. Castles are something that I don’t see everyday in LA, other than the Magic Castle in Hollywood, so I decided to spend the day back in time.

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One of the negative things about being back with my parents is that I can’t sleep in as late as I usually like to. My first day back from Berlin I planned to relax and chill-out, but instead, I was forced to get up bright and early to go volunteer as a teacher’s assistant at my mom’s German language school. I had completely forgotten that I accepted a small part-time job at her school during my stay here. I usually tend to plan out my outfits a day before, so it caught me off guard that I quickly had to pull something together that is presentable to a university professor. First impressions are so important, so my primary concern was professionalism. I wasn’t planning to show up in jeans, so I ruffled through my suitcase that was still packed and somehow managed to find my black slacks. I matched it with a stripped blue and white blouse from White + Warren that fits really nicely on my waist, and pulled on a vest on top of it. I let the collar of the blouse stick out of my vest and filled the bare part of my chest with a small diamond necklace. My hair was pulled back and I wore light, brown, eye makeup.

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One word: shopping! Before I headed back to my little town, I decided to spend the morning and early afternoon away from sightseeing and stroll along the shopping district of Berlin. Not to mention the weather today was, surprisingly, really nice; something that must be taken advantage of in Germany at this time of the year.

Excited about the sun, I decided to be summery and wear a white and navy blue summer dress from American Apparel. What I love so much about the dress is the casualness of the design. It’s knee length and has a sort of layered design at the bottom of the dress. The color is simply amazing; white at the bottom and gradually turning into a shade of blue, and eventually a navy blue at the top. It has small sleeves and a collared neck top. This is the kind of outfit I can wear to a picnic and also to the beach, it’s a perfect match for everything! The best thing about it is that it goes great with both heels and flats, so it really depends on what you will be doing that day. As for me, because I knew that I would be doing some light walking, I decided to slip into a pair of navy blue heels from American Apparel.

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Finally, an evening to dance the night away! On my last day here in Berlin, I made plans to go salsa dancing with one of my friends. I learned the Cuban salsa when I was a freshman in college and, since then, it has been my favorite dance genre. Whether you’re a pro or simply know the basic steps, dancing is a necessary skill to have. It’s like learning how to ride a bike; once you learn it you’ll never forget it. Well, maybe, I’m just speaking for myself, but it immediately comes back to you. I was overjoyed for the evening I had planned and decided to get ready at my friend’s house. After all, getting ready and dressing up is half the fun.

Okay, I must admit, I was extremely nervous! I hadn’t been salsa dancing in, about, a year and I was afraid that I was going to be a total shipwreck! To cover up my anxiety and, just in case I messed up, I decided to shine on the outside. I wanted to wear something flow-y and feminine; as this was the kind of outfit I always wore when I used to dance more often. My plan was to be as comfortable as possible. My dress was silky red on the bottom and brown and black on top. It had small shoulder straps and the front cut down to my chest, but wasn’t too revealing. I decided on brown heels that wouldn’t butcher my feet. I let my hair down, aiming for a “wild” look with sexy eye make up. You know, the “smoky” effect, with eyeliner. I looked confident on the outside, but inside I was a twisted knot!

Every step on the dance floor was a step back in time. Once the music started kicking and the crowd was moving, salsa seemed easier than, ever, before. It was an outdoors event, and my flow-y dress was perfect for the weather. One thing that is important to me when I’m dancing is feeling feminine. If I was a man and I was trying to lead a woman on the dance floor, I would much rather enjoy dancing with a woman who has a certain, lady-like charm to her appearance and her moves. I like to create an aura of femininity through my outfit, hair and eye makeup, as well as, my moves on the floor. Dancing is exactly what I needed. It was so nice to be able to have this experience on my last night in Berlin, but most of all, share it with my friend.

Love always,
Mia

I am so thankful for sneakers and flat shoes! Comfortable heels are so hard to find, and even the most comfy ones will eventually begin to hurt your feet. Today was another full day of walking around so, once again, I planned my outfit around my Keds sneakers. I’ve been so busy trying to look professional and formal during the past few days that I really looked forward to wearing my Lucky Brand jeans and blue collared American Apparel shirt. I decided to go for a, more, simple look and wore light eye makeup and let my hair down. Casual, comfortable, but stylish.

From 1300 AD to modern times, I noticed that fashion is eternal. I visited the Egyptian Museum of Berlin and saw statues and pictures of some of the most beautiful women of that time. Most were the wives of pharaohs, so beauty and appearance must have been one of their priorities. One stunning statue that caught my eye was of the beautiful Nefertiti, the wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Akhenaton. Her profile and facial features captured the attention of many, and her long neck, high cheekbones and slight smile on her red lips is truly unforgettable.

From the past to the present, I realized that not much has really changed in terms of women (and, some men) working hard to be fashionable and beautiful. No matter what era, it seems to have been a priority in various cultures. While we all have our personal opinions on what defines someone as beautiful, there are many “tricks” and techniques that women have used over the years to display their beauty. This may be maintaining a long, slender figure or having arched eyebrows or big, wide eyes.

Fashion, on the other hand, definitely has had some tweaking here and there. Even though I like dressing up and looking formal for a nice occasion, I can still define a casual outfit, of jeans and a t-shirt (with no holes or rips), a beautiful outfit. I enjoy dressing casual because I feel comfortable but, most of all, happy. Women in 1300 AD viewed fashion as a symbol of wealth and prosperity, but it also must have given them a feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction. Fashion, in my opinion, is a way to convey a certain message about who you are to the public. It’s a personal statement and a display of your personality. Even though it’s, definitely, nice to dress a certain way every day, I like to spice up my image by varying from casual to feminine to sporty to business. Life is too short; sometimes you just have to go for it. Bottom line: Switch it up, sometimes!

Love always,
Mia

I spent the entire day wandering around Berlin in a pencil skirt and heels, not to mention uncomfortable Ralph Lauren shoes that weren’t made for walking.

My parents met up with an old friend still living in Berlin, and he invited us to dinner. He is a producer of a well-known television show in Germany, so I figured it would be a good opportunity for me to make new connections and practice networking. I didn’t want to overdo it by wearing a full-on business suit; I wanted to project classiness, so I chose my Robert Rodriguez pencil skirt that I’d gotten from 365hangers and a light pink shirt with small sleeves and buttons down the front. I chose small, gold hoop earrings, a matching necklace and a slight touch of Chanel’s Mademoiselle perfume.

I shouldn’t have worn the Ralph Lauren shoes. Who could have known that we would get lost trying to find the restaurant and that we wouldn’t turn to taxis for help? Still, I held in all of my frustration, despite ending up with small blisters on my feet; but I was most upset that my heels were now slightly run-down from the pavement. Sigh. But, being a grown-up, I wasn’t going to let a pair of shoes ruin my evening, so I forced a smile and reminded myself that I was on vacation. It was worth it. The night was a success. I was able to practice my German, and I learned some of the similarities and differences between the television industries in the US versus Europe. I realized that it’s about “who you know” and your connections that will get you in the door in the US, while in Europe it’s based more on your experience. In the US it helps to be experienced, but knowing the right people is more vital.

I was so relieved afterwards. I would have felt much more nervous and anxious if I had worn a business suit; it would have felt like an interview! Wearing jeans would have made me feel “too casual,” and I wouldn’t have been able to talk about my career as efficiently as I did. I finished the dinner with his business card in my hand. I just hope he didn’t notice that my shoes were off under the table…

Love always,
Mia

I try to experience at least one “first” everyday; whether it’s learning a new word or jumping out of an airplane. No, I didn’t go skydiving, but I did experience my first concert at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. I got to see an unforgettable show by the Japanese music-genius, Seiji Ozawa. As a piano player, classical music blows me away and I’ve never had the opportunity to see a live orchestra.

The evening started as a surprise. All I was told by my parents was to wear something formal. I had no idea where we were going. Not knowing what to expect, I decided to play it safe and wore a knee-length cocktail dress. I tend to wear solid colors when I’m unsure of where I’m going, so I went with dark violet; one of my favorite colors for a dress. It was a chic sleeveless, with no patterns. Formal to me means simplicity; I don’t like to clutter myself with jewelry that will take the focus off my outfit, so I wore a three-piece diamond necklace with matching earrings and a bracelet. My father always tells me to wear my hair in an up-do when I dress formal, so that’s exactly what I did.

When we got off at the Potsdamer Platz train station, I saw the great historic building and my heart nearly stopped. I couldn’t believe that I was about to witness my first orchestra! I tried to keep my cool and act like a lady, however, I quickly lost my breath when I stepped into the building and saw the people around me. I was surrounded by sheer elegance and beauty. The women around me wore beautiful outfits varying from long dresses of every color and style, to velvety-looking pants. I felt like I’d stepped into a world that I was completely unfamiliar with; I even saw men with tuxedoes and top hats! After a few minutes of admiration, I remembered to breathe and started to feel a little more comfortable.

I’ve never felt teary from music before. Conductor Seiji Ozawa creates music that can not be described in words; it’s magical. The finale of the concert was one of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies. I lost track of reality and was blown away by the combination of all these instruments; I couldn’t believe my ears! If you’ve never been to an orchestra before, or think that you probably won’t enjoy one, I highly recommend that you, at least, give one a try. It’s an experience that everyone should have once in their life. It’s also worth seeing a room full of people where not one person is wearing jeans *wink* Tonight was, definitely, a first that I’ll always remember!

Love always,
Mia

I noticed something magical in myself today. I realized that I’m more European than I’d realized. Being back in Europe, after a long two year absence, made me realize that I missed being surrounded by buildings that date back 300 years and in a city that holds a long history. Every corner of Berlin seems to have a story to tell; whether it’s a 600-year-old palace where the princess of Germany lived or an area that was once divided in two by a wall.

Today was dedicated to sightseeing and going back to my German roots. This inevitably meant a lot of walking. As my feet were literary about to fall off yesterday, today’s priority was comfort. I planned my outfit around my pair of black, comfortable, Keds. As a petite girl, who doesn’t have the longest legs, it’s hard for me to wear flat shoes and, yet, look taller than I actually am. In order to accomplish my “taller look,” I have to wear a pair of pants that aren’t too tight around my thighs, but still nicely fit, and don’t drag the dirt off the floor. In other words: the perfect pair of jeans. Every girl should have, at least, one. I got mine from Levis; I matched it with a blue and white blouse with vertical stripes that emphasized my waist. If I’m not wearing heels, I tend to wear stripes to make me look taller and slimmer.

As predicted, I spent the whole day exploring the city by foot. I was struck the most by a memorial for hundreds of people that attempted to cross the border from East Berlin to the West. Every cross had a name, date of birth and death, followed by a short description of how they died. Many were young, ambitious adults who sought for a brighter future, as well as individuals who risked their lives to be with their families. The wall stood for 28 years, until it was finally demolished on November 9, 1989. It’s hard to believe that this was an event in history that took place only 20 years ago. As my family and I walked along the path, where the wall once stood, my father told us stories of when he was a student in Berlin and what it was like to see the wall and live with it. Because my parents have first-hand experience of what it was like having a wall separate the city, I felt much more emotional for the people who were murdered trying to cross the border to a better life.

Sightseeing was much more efficient thanks to my comfortable Keds and jeans. I had no complaints about walking. I’m so used to relying on my car in LA, I thought I wouldn’t make it past a 12-hour day of walking. Living in a busy city like LA sometimes makes me forget about my roots and heritage, it’s so easy to be accustomed to the Californian lifestyle. Coming back to Germany and seeing so much of my country’s history is like a flash of reality. I’m glad that I still have some European in me.

Love always,
Mia

One piece of advice: always pack your suitcase with clothing for every occasion. You never know what items of clothing you will suddenly need. I learned this life lesson today when I found out that I needed a business suit for a meeting with the head of the PR department at a local television company. Okay, so, long story short; before I left for Berlin, I got in touch with my childhood friend who currently lives there and we decided to meet up. She’s been interning at a company that deals with a large majority of the television production in Germany. I must admit, I was a little jealous and wondered how she got her foot through the door. So, this morning she called and invited me to an event that her company was hosting. To my great surprise, she invited me to go with her! I quickly accepted; but then it dawned on me that I didn’t have any professional attire!

I rushed to the shopping district to find the perfect business outfit. Let me tell you, this wasn’t easy! My body isn’t typical European size. Pants that would fit nicely around my waist would be too long in length and last minute tailoring wasn’t an option. I decided to forget about finding pants and, instead, settled on a dark-gray, pencil skirt and a white blouse with thin, black, vertical stripes. I matched it with a lighter gray suit jacket and black Armani shoes. Even though it took me all afternoon to find this outfit, this was a record for me. Normally, finding business wear takes me, at least, a week!

Appearance wise, I would have been completely embarrassed if it wasn’t for my quick find. Everyone around me, including my friend, were professionally dressed; it, actually, really overwhelmed me. I had to network and professionally introduce myself in German, which is something that I’ve never done before. I was very nervous! Luckily, I looked the part and even received a few business cards. Phew!

So, moral of the story: Pack lightly, but make sure you pack everything! Life is full of spontaneous events, that’s what makes it so exciting.

Love always,
Mia

My initial thoughts of relaxing during my time at home didn’t last very long. It seems like my parents have at least one event planned for me while I’m here. Today my mother arranged for me to speak to her German class and talk about the cultural differences between Asia, Europe, and the US. I was really nervous about going. It would be my first time speaking in front of an audience, and I had to do the whole presentation in German! I spent the whole morning brainstorming similarities and differences and practicing in front of the mirror.

I thought about wearing jeans and a nice shirt, but I decided I’d try and dress more professional just in case I mess up. That didn’t mean I wanted to look too over-the-top, so I aimed for a look that was professional with a touch of casual. I decided on a pair of black pants and a short sleeve, button down, lavender shirt. A pair of heels should always be worn when attempting a business-type look, and accessories are always a must! Unfortunately, I’d forgotten my pair of diamond studs back in California, so I asked my mom for the studs she wore yesterday on her birthday. After looking at every angle of myself in the mirror, I already felt more prepared.

To be clear, I am not a public speaker. I’ve always had trouble speaking in front of an audience, and I suddenly began to feel nervous. I was one of those kids back in high school who always shook during class presentations, and my voice always cracked when I tried to make an important point. But, I think my clothes had a lot to do with my performance. I never used to dress up in high school, even for important presentations. I felt somewhat more confident thanks to the professional attire I was wearing. I knew that if I spoke with confidence, no one would be able to tell that my blood pressure was rising. When we got there, I stood up straight, tucked my lavender shirt in and faced my greatest fear.

Okay, so I guess I overreacted a little. Once I was up in front of the audience, everything went smoothly. Without speaking German on a daily basis, I still was easily able to explain the cultural similarities and differences between the three countries, using myself as an example. I would look at my mom, every so often, and see her smile, and I felt like she was cheering me on. As strange as it may sound, my mom’s studs and the outfit I wore made me feel professional and comfortable. Thank god I wasn’t wearing jeans!

Love always,
Mia

I’m back home in Germany, and I made it just in time to celebrate my mom’s birthday! We decided to go out to dinner so I didn’t have that much time to settle down and relax. Instead, I had to quickly change out of my casual jeans and t-shirt from yesterday and into something dressy! Luckily, I brought one of my favorite dresses with me and I didn’t have to dig too far in my clunky suitcase to find it. It’s a wine red, knee-length dress with a lacey pattern on the sleeves. It has a V-cut in the front, which makes it perfect to wear a small diamond necklace. I like to wear jewelry to enhance the outfit and I make sure that my bling is not too big, especially when wearing an elegant dress. I don’t want my jewelry to outshine my outfit. I chose wear my black, lacey, stiletto heels that match the sleeves of the dress. I love dressing up. Getting ready was half the fun.

We went to a French restaurant in the center of the city. It was so nice being with my family and enjoying a nice, semi-formal dinner; something that we haven’t done in nearly two years! My mom’s diamond studs with her matching necklace made her looked gorgeous. It really enhanced the black skirt and grey blouse she was wearing. I was honestly surprised at how great both my parents looked. My father complimented me especially on my outfit and how great it looked with a slight wave in my hair. The V-cut works well on petite body sizes, such as mine, and a small necklace is always a plus. Coming from my father, I know the dress really must have looked good on me.

Throughout dinner, I filled my parents in on everything that has happened to me; such as getting into graduate school; and how much I love my program; living in Los Angeles and the hectic city life; and of course my love for modeling! Apparently, I’ve changed since we last saw each other and my dad kept telling me how he sees his little girl growing up. I think it makes my parents slightly sad how independent I have become, but honestly, I still feel like a kid!  Life is not fun when you’re too serious.

It’s so surreal to be back as it’s been nearly two years since I’ve slept in my old room. I was impressed with the various improvements my parents have done around the house, including a small Japanese-style garden with a stone temple. Compared to LA, our house is located in the middle of nowhere, literally. We live in a small town surrounded by fields and cows, and for the next month I’ll be waking up to the sound of chickens instead of car sirens and traffic. It’s going to be a great time to relax and get away from the hectic city life.

Love always,
Mia

I’m flying home today. Well, to be honest I don’t really know where home is. For now, let’s just say that my home is Germany because that’s where I’m going. Packing a month’s worth of clothing is not easy. I nearly had a panic attack when my suitcase didn’t close, and it really looked like it was going to explode! But, even before I started packing, I laid out what I was going to wear during my long journey home. My priority was, as usual, comfort. If I was going to be sitting on a 10-hour flight, I needed to be in clothing that I could lounge around in, and still look trendy. While sweatpants are probably the most comfortable item of clothing that exists, I decided to step it up a notch and stick to my not-too-tight jeans that go well with my Keds sneakers. I only have two pairs of jeans that are at my perfect leg length and that I can wear sneakers with. It’s not easy finding a pair that doesn’t make me look too short. I decided on a black T-shirt that has zebra and rose patterns on it. Even though it sounds like a strange combination, it’s one of my favorite, simple, T-shirts.

The day started out hectic. I realized that I had so many more things to do before heading to the airport. On top of that, getting my luggage in the car was not a party. Pressed for time, I rushed around handling last minute errands trying to get everything done. Despite all the stress, I couldn’t be happier in my Keds, jeans, and T-shirt. I would not have been a happy camper if I had been dashing around LA in heels and a miniskirt! I’m not one of THOSE girls, and I know how to dress down and still look great. But, it didn’t take me long to figure out that long jeans + spring SoCal weather + running around Los Angeles = HOT! (temperature wise, that is ) Oh, not to mention that the socks I was wearing seemed to have been permanently glued on to my feet!

After grabbing some yummy sushi, I headed to the airport. I was relieved once my luggage was checked in and I was at the gate waiting for my flight to board. Everything seemed to happen much more smoothly once I was ready to fly. My legs no longer stuck against my jeans; my socks and feet seemed to have separated themselves; and I no longer felt frantic about traveling. Stress gradually turned into excitement and I looked forward to seeing my parents once again.

I was finally on the first leg of my trip and I couldn’t wait to get there. I began scanning the passengers around me and couldn’t help noticing a blond girl standing diagonally from where I was sitting. She had a blue sundress on with large heels, and a bikini top! Why on earth would someone wear a bikini top when you’re about to fly halfway around the world? So Hollywood. I watched her shift uncomfortably back and forth as I lounged comfily in my jeans and T. One month in Europe, and a trip to fashionable Italy with my mom! Can’t wait!

Love always,
Mia