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My first job was a memorable one. Six Flags Magic Mountain is probably among the most exciting ways to earn a paycheck. Shouting kids, screaming adults, terrifying roller coasters and some of the best co-workers a person could ask for.

PHOTOS: UCI this past week in photos.

On Feb. 26, the Taiwanese American Organization (TAO) hosted the second annual Lantern Festival and Night Market in celebration of Lunar New Year, the year of the rabbit. TAO is an organization that educates students about Taiwanese culture through social and cultural activities such as this event.

PHOTOS: Slices of life from the past week at UC Irvine from your New University photographers.

Nowadays, I normally eat and write about “good” food, dishes I wouldn’t mind spending a few hours cooking or a week’s salary paying for. But there was once a simpler time when my parents would make dinner, when I didn’t know how to build a fond or julienne carrots or even use a knife correctly. A time when I didn’t know or care who Bobby Flay was.

A little boy peeked out from behind the white curtain. His face immediately broke into a smile that stretched from cheek to cheek, and he promptly ran out the door as fast as his little legs could carry him.

On a Tuesday night in Social Ecology II room 1306, there are nimble fingers moving. These fingers are not busy calculating math problems, nor are they busy writing essays – they are in the midst of knitting. Huddled in a large circle, the murmurs of the students can be heard, but all stay focused on creating a delicate rectangular piece. This room has become the home of members of the DIY Craft and Art Club, and knitting is just one of the projects brought to campus by the organization. The DIY Craft and Art Club, which was started in the summer of 2009, promotes self-expression and has grown over the last year.

With the hectic lives of college students revolving around classes, homework, jobs, family and friends, it can sometimes be difficult to take a step back from the complexities of life and find joy in the simple things. Natural occurrences such as the setting of the sun or the sweet tune of a bird become buried and unrecognized underneath the infinite demands carried by students.

It’s February in Southern California, and you know what that means: it’s time to hit the beach! Just kidding, mostly. Still, we ought to take advantage of our perpetual sun. As the only UC in the OC, we have quite the selection of fine beaches to visit all around us. Sure, we aren’t located directly on the oceanfront like our cousins down at UCSB, but a short drive, bus ride or bicycle trip allows us much more variety.

After a year marked by Bieber-fever, KFC Double Downs and Conan O’Brien rocking the jeggings, things might be taking a turn for the classier. Here are some of the top projected trends for 2011.

Recently, I’ve had a craving for “sundubu,” a spicy red Korean stew with chunks of soft tofu. However, BCD Tofu House at Diamond Jamboree never really agreed with either my palate or my wallet. Kaju Tofu is much better in quality, but it’s on the other side of town, making it unattractive for someone as lazy as me to go to. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that I was pretty excited when Koba Tofu Grill moved into the old Blockbuster Video on Campus Drive.

Another week through the eyes of the New University photographers.