What Next???

Just realized it's been 3 months since my last post. During that time, I visited China, paused from school, vacationed in Costa Rica and returned to work only to give my two-weeks notice... Definitely not how I intended my life to play out. Haha! Sometimes even my spontaneity surprises me...

Fast forward to July 19th and it's my last day at Goldman Sachs. I had always bragged that when leaving the firm, I would cha-cha, shimmy and samba roll (youtube this if you're not familiar) my way out of the building. Instead, I received hugs from my three closest colleagues and walked out to their applause. This was way more emotional than I had anticipated.

What next?

I've heard this question a gazillion times since submitting my two-weeks notice. Honestly, nothing is solidified. I am truly flying by the proverbial seat of my skinny jean pants. So you know, this is incredibly scary and nerve-wracking. But it's how I know I'll find my next "thing".

Perky Blonde...

In January, I signed up for the Lehi - Thanksgiving Point half marathon on April 26, 2013. That was about four months to train. I could totally be in great shape for it, right? After putting together a detailed running plan, all I had to do was stick to it and I'd be jogging through the finish line like a malnourished Kenyan marathoner.

Except I didn't stick to my plan. Two jobs and school leave very little free time. I did jog three-five miles at least once a week. But my diet? The usual take outs... sigh. So you'd probably understand my panic as I approached the half marathon start line. And then it was go time. Below is a summary of my "journey"

At mile 3, my legs wanted to give up

At mile 5, I was passed by an elderly couple

At mile 7, I finally stopped jogging and started walking (halfway up a hill mind you)

At mile 9, I was still walking

At mile 10, I started jogging and caught up with a perky blonde.

At mile 12, perky blonde and I are running/walking while trying to beat each other

At finish line, perky blonde passes me two steps away from the finish line

Considering my current physical state, this is the most ambitious physical activity I've attempted. And while I wanted to give up between mile 7 and 10, I'm glad I did it. Who knows - I might sign up for another one...  And if perky blonde is there again, it's on!

Picture: Lee, Paul and I recovering after receiving our finisher medals...

5-6-7-8

Now that the tri-ward single adult general conference dance is over, I'm excited to get some free time back. If you don't live in Happy Valley, this is a major semi-annual social event for three local Polynesian single adult wards. At each dance, all three wards perform numbers/skits related to an underlying theme. Not sure why but I volunteered to teach a step routine in line with this year's theme of Boot Camp.

Random Fact #1: I was on a step team in college (bet you didn't know that...)

Random Fact #2: I enjoy teaching (maybe you knew that...)

Given both facts, I thought this would be easy. We probably needed a couple three-hour long practices, right? Wrong. In total, we practiced 23 hours these last two weeks. I yelled, shushed and barked 5-6-7-8 a million times (seriously tho...) And then it was the night of the dance and my ward was up:

Sure, there are a bunch of mistakes... But the raw energy and unity is infectious (how about that random person jumping in at the end???) My ward tore it up! And while I'm happy to have my week nights back, I'll definitely miss counting off 5-6-7-8 to these knuckleheads. Salt-Lake Se-cond (stomp clap!)

The One About Kanaval...

He asked me if I wanted to dance in a paint can. It was already 2am and yet the Caribbean guitar riffs  crackling in the air were unbelievably energizing. I said yes. 5 minutes later, this happened.

If you haven't been to Hispaniola, do it! I spent seven days touring both sides of the island -  Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo and Santiago) and Haiti (Cap Haitien). Of course, Haiti's national Kanaval was by far the craziest and largest 3-day party I've experienced. But DR was no slouch. El Meson De La Cava in Santo Domingo (actual restaurant in a cave) offered the best 16 oz steak I've had in awhile... And at only $30 USD. The capital city also had interesting sites related to Christopher Columbus.

This trip was 'zactly what I needed to regroup after a busy couple months. Ready to push these next couple months. Until my next trip... haha. China in May.

The One About 2012...

10 Best/Worst Moments of 2012!

WORST: Stanford loses to Oklahoma State in nail-biting Fiesta Bowl

Two words: Andrew. Luck. Sure, he's balling out as the Colts' record-setting QB. But his last game (and BCS bowl game at that!) in a Cardinal jersey should have ended with a 'W' and me rushing the field. Instead, Oklahoma made a field goal after Stanford blew one completely wide to seal the game. What should have been an epic celebration melted into jeers of "Laces Out!"

BEST: International Vacations

Peru (Lima and Cusco), Australia (Sydney), Samoa (Apia) and Italy (Rome).Yours truly visited four very different international locations in 2012. Macchu Picchu in Peru is a lock for the top spot. It's also where I committed to visiting each of the New seven wonders of the world. Two down. Five more to go. Takeaway for 2013: How to get paid for traveling and exploring different countries...

WORST: Sick as a dog

In early summer, I felt ragged. And I couldn't kick a cough for three weeks. So at my manager's insistence, I went to the local hospital for a checkup. Turns out, I had walking pneumonia and strep throat. Gaaah! Not sure how this happened but I was immediately placed on meds and quarantined in my room for an entire week.

A follow up meeting with my doctor led me to believe that my stress levels were unusually high. Definitely a wake up call to take care of myself.

BEST: Work Opportunities

In May, I was asked to help build out a new team related to loans and equity investments benefitting low to moderate income communities. This would be in addition to my current responsibilities. Seven months (and two business trips to NYC!) later, I'm near completion of my mandate and ready for a new challenge. Keeping my fingers crossed that another amazing opportunity (travel included pls...) comes my way.

WORST: RIP Dad

Don't feel the need to elaborate any further.

Miss you, Dad.

BEST:  New Church Calling

I can completely relate to Bilbo Baggins from the Hobbit. While minding my own business, I became engaged in confusing but playful wordplay with an elderly fellow. While Bilbo met Gandolph, I was introduced to Bishop McMurray. He oversees the church/ward I attend. Two months later, he asked me to serve as Activities Committee Chair. As it's a pretty large undertaking, I, like Bilbo, was hesitant. But the relationships and blessings stemming from this position were worth overturning any initial hesitation.

BEST/WORST: Old/New Roommate

Vanity made my list last year as my new adorkable roommate. I find it rare to meet someone else so different yet completely complimentary. Which is why it was a bummer that she moved out in September. But then Ese moved in soon after. Technically my niece, Ese isn't at all like Vanity. And I'm grateful for that. Ese is undeniably fiery and wears her heart on her sleeve - the traits I definitely want to be surrounded with in 2013.



WORST: Weight gain

I knew I had put on some weight after the holidays in 2011. But any holiday weight is usually gone by spring. No big deal. And then I saw recent pictures of me... Growing up in Hawaii/Samoa, we used to make fun of people that moved to the mainland and got huge... I'm now one of them. Just look at my family picture. haha.


BEST: Christmas with the entire family

With my dad passing away in July, it was imperative that my whole family be together for the holidays. I didn't think it was possible but by Christmas Eve, my mom, siblings and grandchildren were chilling in my living room. In typical fashion, we ate, laughed and gave counsel. It was one of my father's hopes fulfilled - that our family bond remain as close-knit as it was when he was alive. 

The One About Rome...

My mind is made up. If I weren't Samoan, I'd want to be Italian. Five days in Rome will do that to you.

Favorite Sites: Coliseum and Sistine Chapel

Sure, both are well known attractions but they were so impressionable and wondrous. While walking through the arches of the Coliseum, I could really imagine a boisterous crowd cheering for their favorite warriors and/or secretly hoping their fate was sealed by a large saber tooth tiger... haha. The Sistine Chapel silenced my heart. Well-known biblical characters came alive at every inch of the chapel. I spent 20 minutes poring over every image beautifully detailed in dreamy colors.

Favorite Restaurant: Trattoria al Varesino

Tucked away in a very small basement off of via Marghera and Veranese was my favorite restaurant. Completely run by patriarch Fernando and his family, Varesino produced the best spaghetti carbonara I've ever eaten. But I was more in love with their homemade ravioli, beef steak and tiramisu (hold on to your seat!) from my second trip (yes, I ate dinner there twice...)  And the environment was homely. Fernando and his family knew most of the customers by their first names. To borrow from Olive Garden: When you're here, you're family... And I felt like it.

Favorite Moment: Emaline Fonoti

This trip cemented one thing for me: I am my mother's son. I completely forgot how similar we are. I basically went to Rome with myself (in ~30 years). My ability to quickly develop relationships with others, bargain shop and survive in any environment were innately passed down from my mom. As travel companions, I never once worried if we were separated or randomly took the wrong bus/train. We somehow always caught up with each other and adapted seamlessly (well... for the most part! haha) to any circumstance. We didn't even need to talk most times as we wordlessly followed each other throughout Rome. 

New 7 Wonders Of The World Updated

Taj Mahal (Agra, India) 

Chichen Itza (Yucatan, Mexico)

Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) 

Petra (Ma'an Governorate, Jordan) 

Great Wall of China (Beijing, China) - NEXT

Colloseum (Rome, Italy) 

Macchu Picchu (Cusco region, Peru) 

The One About The Cheshire Cat...

I randomly re-read Alice in Wonderland after finding a very used copy at the airport. I enjoyed the dizzying conversations between Alice and her nonsensical acquaintances but one particular interaction stood out.

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here? 

Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to

Alice: I don't care where

Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't matter which way you go 

Almost three months since we buried my father in Samoa and I'm finally realizing how dazed I've been.  In my hastiness to cope with this sentimental loss, I've continued a vigorous routine of work and school (and work again) with no true sense of direction or purpose. I've wallowed into just surviving each new day. My new church calling as activities chair has helped tremendously. Serving others has that tendency of putting life back into perspective. I still think of my dad every day with incredible sadness. But I'm at least slowly hobbling on a path away from aimless wandering. After all, my dad would have never approved of me asking a cat for directions...

Up to Bat: Starting 2nd half of last semester of my first year (dizzying, right?)

On Deck: Trip to Rome with the Madre in 3 weeks 

In the Hole: Christmas/Holidays with the entire family!