Irashai Sushi and Teriyaki

The best sushi place in Boston, hands down would have to be Irashai Sushi and Teriyaki. It’s cheap and the definition of delicious. They have a variety of traditional rolls, signature rolls, and an all-day lunch combo. Located in the heart of China Town it’s a small sit down restaurant. I always do take-out and I am never disappointed with the quality of the food or service. You can find their menu online at www.irashaisushi.com. Did I mention they have great yelp reviews? – Kalene

 

Mike Pastry’s

As others mentioned Mike Pastry’s has outstanding cannoli’s. They have a reasonable price of $3.50 per cannoli. As soon as you walk in the door you’re hit with the aroma of baked goods. The place is always packed but it it well worth the wait. I would recommend trying the pumpkin spice cannoli. It’s delicious! – Kalene

 

 

 

 

High Spot Deli

A great place to grab a bite to eat in between classes is the High Spot Deli. It’s located on 10 Beacon street. It’s across the street from the State House. The Deli serves breakfast and lunch Monday-Sunday. It’s a great break from the cafeteria food and it’s cheap and delicious. They have a wide variety of wraps, sandwiches, pizza, and salad. The food is prepared right in front of you like any traditional deli.  It’s a nice place to sit down to eat with friends in between classes. I strongly recommend you try this place out. – Kalene

Boston Blinks!

On Saturday November 17, I attended Faneuil Hall’s “Blink! A Light and Sound Extravaganza”. This event is the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree in the open market. The tree is 85 feet tall and has over 350,000 LED lights. Christmas time is one of my favorite times of the year so attending the tree lighting was a must for me. The lighting of the tree was beautiful and the music selection was great. Christmas spirit was in the air. Last night wasn’t the only night of the lighting of the tree. They will continue the Blink! Festivities until December 31st. To find out more information about Boston Blinks you can follow them on twitter @FaneuilHall. – Kalene

Boston Duck Tours

Two weeks ago my cousin made a visit to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Seeing that it was her first time in the city and I am still new to the area we decided to go on a Boston Duck Tour. It was fun and informative time. Knowledge and fun, what more could you want? The tour guide had a great sense of humor and was knowledgeable about the area as we moved from landmark to landmark. It was a great way to learn about the history of Boston and see the different buildings in our surrounding area. The jokes were cheesy but that’s my kind of humor. I would highly recommend going on a tour. Did I mention students get a discount? – Kalene

Biggest Fears ?

What are my biggest fears ? That is a tough one, for my training has me to let go of fear. A wise friend once told me, “Once you give in to fear, the darkness comes.” If you let fear consume you, then you will loose everything. Fear has a power that can paralyze us to very core. It can crush us, consume us, and obliterate us. Unless we control fear, then we can let go of the darkness. My biggest fear is loosing, not a video game, loosing to the world. For me to loose to the world is me accepting what they said me; allowing myself to be dominated by reminders of my failures. But I won’t allow it, not without fighting. A lot of people say I can make it out there in the world . . . but I am still here, I am still fighting, and I am going to do what ever it takes to make it out in the world. Someday, the world will see me not just as fighter, but as a person, who rose to the top despite the hate and rejection. Someday

Life as a Martial Artist

There’s a lot of stereotypes when it comes to martial arts. One of the major stereotypes is that it promotes violence and aggression in people. As a martial artist, I know for a fact that is not true. It is true that you learn techniques that can physically hurt someone, but with each new technique comes new abilities, each requiring discipline. People see black-belts as “Masters” of a martial art. Partly true, while they have reached the highest rank of progress, it does not mean they mastered every aspect of the style.  To reach the rank of black, a person must dedicate his time in the teachings, the techniques, and overall the life revolving around martial arts as a whole. Only then will a person be worthy of reaching black.

Mediation Advice

Merlin\’s Magic – Reiki Light Touch

 

One of the best ways for me to relax is through meditation. Although I don’t practice the traditional mediation like many others, there is more than just one way to meditate. The key is variety, try to look at other options outside the box. Some other meditation forms are:  standing, walking, breathing, reflecting, etc. Try to look for area that suits you. I personally prefer to stand at a window or rooftop and just stare at the world moving. I find it very relaxing as it helps center my mind and open my heart to the wonders of life.

 

The Lake of Reflection

In Boston Common, far down the Common Park, there is a beautiful lake at night that I personally call the “Lake of Reflection”.  As the name implies, the lake reflects everything in Boston, from the night sky, to the beautiful lights of the city. Also this lake allows me to reflect on how life has turned out for me. Some times in life, it is best to have a moment where you can reflect on how your life turned out, and make any improvements or release any unpleasant  memories. This is a good place to reflect and a good place to relax and kick back. I strongly recommend everyone go to this lake on their free time and enjoy its beauty.