tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65776105878166910842024-03-13T10:03:09.034-07:00 Just a girl living in an extraordinary world Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-37523253190246030632015-08-18T23:15:00.001-07:002015-08-18T23:33:18.836-07:00How I Learned to Stop Planning for Love In my early 20's, I learned a very important lesson. I learned that in order to be happy one should always dream, make them into goals and set plans to achieve them. That's the first part of it. The second part is that you are to be <b>flexible</b>.<br />
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Many times, those are two conflicting desires for a strong headed person. I'm as stubborn as hell and in my adolescence if I didn't get exactly what I wanted, I would just turn around and decide that I didn't want anything to do with it at all. I could not negotiate, I could not compromise, and I settled for nothing less. The only times I would be flexible were the times I didn't care.<br />
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Then I became an expat and started traveling. Loads. I wasn't able to stick to what I wanted because there were so many options I didn't even know existed. I remember nights in Taipei when I decided that all I wanted to do was order food and eat it, and <i>whatever that looked like it would be okay</i>. It's pretty terrifying to order food when you can't read anything on the menu and no one speaks English. You just point at photos on the window and pray for the best. I became grateful every time I ordered a meal without duck blood or tofu, and learned how to just go with the flow. Once when I thought my Mandarin was getting better, I ordered a bubble tea with mango, coconut and green apple (vague guess) and ended up with three different bubble teas, one flavor each. I just took them all home as punishment for not studying harder. When I traveled, I used to have a list of places I absolutely HAD to see. I remember when I went to Bali, I was so set on going to this touristy beach for some reason, to see the sunset I guess. Then we met some locals who threw us on the back of their motorbikes and took us to these amazing cliff bars (haha like the power bar! but really, they were restaurants engraved on sections of a cliff) at the edge of the sea, and there I also saw the sunset. It was better than anything I could have planned on my own, and there I realized that having plans only take you so far. My place of work has a saying for this, and we call it 'Embracing the Adventure'. Love it, live it.<br />
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(Actual picture I took of this sunset in Bali)</div>
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Sooo. The man named Joe.<br />
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We got a little ahead of ourselves, and I'm pretty sure we were the only ones completely blind sighted. Long story short, it was like a beautiful slow-motion trainwreck. We went from long distance idealizing and romanticizing the crap out of each other to living in my petite studio together and discovering that we were human. We were devastated that it wasn't perfect, and I forgot to be flexible and watched it fall apart instead. Still, miraculously, we pulled ourselves together like the mature adults we are and had an incredible summer playing all over Oregon. We went hiking, road tripped down the coast, ate at my favorite restaurants and tried new ones, went wine tasting in Hood River, went to strip clubs, rock climbed, etc. We became friends, and then adventure buddies, and when I had to say goodbye to him at the airport I realized I had deeper feelings for him than I ever did before. It was not possible for me to care and miss him so much prior to his visit because we had not experienced life together (five hours in a casino bar in Las Vegas doesn't count, really). I tried to play it off cool but I missed him so much last week I ate a ton of burgers to fill the void.<br />
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What I'm trying to say, boys and girls, is that planning and being flexible applies to relationships. Find your person (probably the hardest part) and embrace the crap out of that adventure. Date someone you deserve and who deserves you, and plan a future together, but be flexible with what that could look like.<b> Choose to love each other, and be open minded to what the future might become. </b>This might be the only way it <u>can</u> work. As for me, we'll see.<br />
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One of many beer tastings with my Joe </div>
<br />Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-76155613672900293292015-07-01T23:56:00.001-07:002015-07-06T00:05:51.130-07:00What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas. As I type this, I'm dangling outside on my old school metal fire escape, relaxing with a Mason jar of red wine and enjoying the cool evening summer breeze. It's quiet, minus the faint <i>whoosh</i> of traffic going across the bridges in the twinkling distance. Last month I went to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, and while I had an amazing time everywhere I went, still nothing compares to coming home in the midst of Portland's glory months.<br />
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In the summer, every day feels like a vacation and every night feels like the weekend. I don't even want to sleep right now. We embrace the outdoors now more than ever before, and there is no reason to eat, drink, or party indoors-summer is here, baby. The endless BBQ's, river floats, beer festivals, fruit picking, the best is all yet to come. </div>
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<b>I love two things right now: 1) Portland and 2) a guy named Joe.</b><br />
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Yeah, aka the man I confirmed on Facebook as my boyfriend, seemingly out of nowhere. Kinda was. And we're serious about it; that Facebook status is almost equivalent to marriage in the world of us millennials. I had to double check a few times but like, it's official. It's been over a month and I still haven't found the right words to explain what we have without sounding completely mental.<br />
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Crazy story simplified, we met in Vegas (don't kill me mom) and <b><u>instantly</u></b> wanted to be together. Sure, he lives in Belfast and I live in Portland, but that hasn't stopped us. I know I've stated before that <a href="http://kalongwrites.blogspot.com/2015/03/life-as-i-know-it.html" target="_blank">if you love someone, then let them go</a>. That was before I met Joe, and now I believe that if you're ever lucky enough to meet someone this special, you better hold on with everything you've got. After over a year of me agonizing over the drama of relationships, Joe finally showed up, took my hand and we haven't looked back since. <b>I guess it really <u>can</u> be that simple.</b> We're learning more and falling harder for each other every day. He's coming to Portland this month to visit me, and although I don't know what the next steps will be, I know I adore him and we're so happy together. <b>Most of all, we're both excited to build a future together because we know it will be the beginning of an extraordinary adventure</b>. It's already a pretty epic story.<br />
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So, my life is pretty damn complete and now you know why. Plus, he has an accent, AND plenty of single friends so...ladies holla!<br />
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-3702515614844558392015-05-04T23:56:00.003-07:002015-05-04T23:56:58.653-07:00Ten Things I Learned in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 1.<b> Sunscreen is expensive there, bring as much as you can from home</b>. Even the locals tell me they have their relatives ship them sunscreen from Walmart! About $12 for an 8-ounce generic brand!? I swear this is how their drug stores stay in business..tourists will always be forced to buy overpriced, watery sunscreen or BURN!<br />
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2. Ordering at fancy restaurants costs just as much as in the States, and their portions are HUGE! <b>Share an entree with a friend, or eat street food</b>. Street taco trucks are everywhere and look filthy, but the locals do it and so can you, my friend. Plus, they're made fresh, they're dripping with deliciousness, and costs about 12 pesos (less than a buck).<br />
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3. <b>You will not die if you eat raw oysters sold under bridges at the beach</b>. I did it. My friend Rachelle did it. We are still alive and have NO RAGRETS.<br />
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4. <b>Tequila is actually really nice</b>. Please, go tequila tasting even if you hate tequila (remember to tip if you aren't buying any bottles). I discovered anejos, and now I'll never look back. I checked a bag in just so I could bring a few bottles home with me.<br />
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5. <b>There were no hot Australian surfers</b>. In fact, there were no hot men at all. This baffled me throughout my entire trip. My least favorite thing in the world? Traveling and not meeting cute guys. Siiiiigh. Maybe some other things can be worse, like slow internet or cold coffee. #firstworldproblems. But seriously,<i> this part was really weird.</i><br />
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6. <b>Who you travel with is crucial</b>. They will set the mood and pace of your entire adventure. Pick your travel buddies wisely-going on a trip with someone can be like an intense, dramatic, short-term relationship. Sometimes it's better to travel alone than with the wrong person. Luckily, I picked a friend who said YES to everything as much as I did, and still managed to not leave me passed out on public Mexcian buses. Yes, we were in a constant cycle of being hungover, intoxicated, or hungry so we did get on each other's nerves, but now we can laugh about everything and I love her more than ever.<br />
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7.<b> Hostels are seriously the best idea when you first arrive into a new town</b>. They're cheap, centrally located and you will almost ALWAYS meet cool people that will go on adventures with you the next day or point out some good ones. That's how we found out about Sayulita, and when we got there, we got invited to beach parties by our hostel mates too. However, by the end of the week we were beyond thrilled to check into our luxurious poolside Airbnb.<br />
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8. <b>There is an abundance of WiFi</b>. I think that was the main attraction of Puerta Vallarta, cause it certainly wasn't their nightlife or beaches. We never found whatever nice beaches there were to be enjoyed there. Still, I like WiFi so I wasn't miserable.<br />
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9. <b>It's okay to splurge a bit on touristy day trips/adventure packages.</b> One of my favorite days was going on a party catamaran to Las Marietas, a natural beach/cave reservoir. It was about $80 USD but we were picked up from the city center, served breakfast and lunch, they had an open bar the entire time, music, water slides, stripper poles, kayaks and paddle boards, snorkeling gear, the whole shebang. The journey was just as fun as the destination, and the tequila probably made it all a bit more magical.<br />
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10.<b> I'll have to go to a different part of Mexico if I actually want to experience Mexico. </b>Any pointers?<br />
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This is the plate of oysters we bought on the beach and devoured. $10 USD and we're perfectly fine. #livinontheedge</div>
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Going up north to spend a few days in Sayulita, a surf town, was a brilliant idea. </div>
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If a beach shack sells fresh coconuts and will fill it up with rum, just shut up and say yes. </div>
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My favorite little street in Sayulita! Fish tacos galore! </div>
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But really, the most decadent fish tacos for a buck? #getinmybelly </div>
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One day I will be a retired Canadian cougar and buy this Airbnb for myself. </div>
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The real thing. </div>
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This was the day I got sick from eating too many real things. </div>
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If you take a stroll along the Malecon in PV, you cannot miss the tequila stores. </div>
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It's always fun to have a waterproof camera/go-pro!!</div>
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Our party catameran was pretty dope. </div>
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This here was the money shot. I've been pinning this moment on Pintrest forever and now my life is pretty much complete. </div>
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You really need SPF 50. I'm still peeling. </div>
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-5105900305992914572015-04-21T22:37:00.003-07:002015-04-21T22:40:54.256-07:00On why I CAN'T EVEN. I've been trying to wrap up my post about Puerto Vallarta for about a week now, and I just can't do it yet. I suppose that is the discipline that writers must build-to write even when it doesn't feel natural. I'd so much rather write about things on my mind so I can pour and process everything out into palatable words, because that's how my thoughts start to make sense. Journals and diaries are probably better for this stuff, but typing is faster and I love the sound of my keyboard going 'click click click'...<br />
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I'm going to be 27 in a few weeks, 15 days to be exact. I'm pretty sure I cried the afternoon I turned 26, not because I was officially in my late 20's but because I had just moved back to Portland and wasn't where I wanted to be in life. A year later, I've done pretty well for myself career wise, become a blondie, backpacked South America and trekked Macchu Picchu, found a paddling team, created a beautiful home for myself, traveled a bunch, fostered new friendships, paid off a huge chunk of student loans, living a very blessed life and<i> I'm still single</i>. Roll your eyes all you want at this constantly revisited rant of mine, it's my blog so I'll write what I want :D<br />
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<b>Being single is not a disease, but I still hate it.</b> I HATE dating-I hate the drama, I hate the games, I hate the pride and the hurt and the guessing and the waiting. Whenever I'm happily single-always when I'm the MOST happily single-it'll attract a random dude and he'll fuck everything up. I've learned how to close doors and bounce back more swiftly than ever by now (practice, my dear) but I can't stop this cycle and frankly, I'm too old for this now. And it still hurts every time.<i><b> I literally can't even.</b></i> All I want is to be in a kind, fun, loving and secure relationship with someone I respect and adore, and someone who treats me how I deserve to me treated (text me back, don't be late and buy me flowers-ridiculous expectations I've been told recently. Is there a middle finger emoji? <i>Can someone make one please</i>?) I would still love to fall in love.<br />
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A few weeks ago I taught a workshop for my company on Online Dating 101. Specifically, how to work Tinder. It was a roaring success (so I've been told) but a part of me was whispering inside, "so you'll meet someone in person and maybe you'll like each other...and THEN what?" During Q&A, someone in the class asked how online dating has worked out for me and I had to confess-I've gone on many awesome dates but I've never MET anyone. At least none that I remember anyway-no fireworks, no one I had to tell mom about right away, no one I wanted to make breakfast for (going out for brunch tastes better anyway). Online dating is exciting at first, and then it gets repetitive and depressing. It's definitely worth a shot, I just haven't lucked out yet.<br />
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Some of my girlfriends have vowed to be single for a period of their lives, so they can focus on their careers and schooling. Rachelle, Rose, Erica, I see you and I wish I could be you. You guys are my heroines. I did that senior year of university already, and involuntarily did it this past year and it was great, so can I please have a boyfriend now? Wait-I'll be 27 soon.<br />
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I guess it's time to confess: <b>Boys, step aside. I'm looking for husband material this year</b>. Is there an app for that?<br />
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#butfirstletmetakeaselfie</div>
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<br />Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-16053131782785958172015-04-07T10:13:00.001-07:002015-04-07T10:13:12.231-07:00So I ran off to Canada last weekend. <div class="MsoNormal">
If you live in Portland and want a PLAYcation, Vancouver BC (oh, Canada!) is where it’s at. My friend Andrew and I decided to drive up there on a whim last weekend to celebrate a three-day weekend and it was AWESOME.</div>
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I learned a thing or two about Canadians while we were up there, which was refreshing since the last time I was on their soil was in middle school (?). By the way, it’s been agreed upon that Canada is the most boring vacation your family can do as a road trip during childhood. I almost didn’t want to go based on my memories of being dragged through every Chinatown by my parents, and having to get out of the car and get photos taken next to every horse drawn carriage. My friend had the same traumatic experience, but then we figured, if Portland got so much better after we turned 21 (or got fake IDs), how bad could Canada be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The first thing I learned was that Crown Royal at the duty-free store next to the border patrol is really, really cheap.</b> All the liquor is, but you can only bring back one liter to the States. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Second, I was reassured that <b>Canadians really are the friendliest people</b>! I guess this doesn’t say much because I usually just adore everyone (except for pretentious East Coast men) You can get a passport stamp at the border if you ask reallllly nicely and smile! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> We stayed at an adorable Airbnb in the West End (their version of Nob Hill or NW Portland) and our host was this sweet, down to earth, artsy blonde chick whom I instantly developed a girl crush on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Third, <b>Easter is a big deal</b>. I think Good Friday is an actual holiday that people get off work, and a lot of the shops and restaurants were closed due to it. Oh well. Also, <b>tea is a big deal.</b> I’m assuming it’s from the British influence? GAH I must not have paid enough attention at the museum, I’ll get to that later. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fourth, I’ve never seen so many restaurants in my life. <b>Food is everywhere,</b> and every street is packed with incredibly diverse cuisines, from Malaysian to seafood tapas. Vancouver locals are definitely foodies.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I made a list of things to do and places to dine and drink at during our drive up, curated from generous recommendations from friends and Google. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had two-ish full days and checked just about everything off our list (got shit DONE!), but it would have been great to stay and relax/shop for an extra day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Highlights: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Exploring Granville Public Market.</b> If Pike Place Market in Seattle was in Canada instead, this would be it. <i>Isn't it funny how if you’ve been to a lot of places, after a while everywhere you go reminds you of somewhere you’ve already been?</i> It’s comforting and annoying at the same time to me. Lots of fresh meats, pastas and delis serving gourmet local pastries, pies, etc. It’s under the bridge along a pretty waterfront as well! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Gastown</b>. This is a downtown, gritty bar district, which makes it glorious and also essential for any decent city. Although most of the shops were closed for the holiday, each bar was just a stone’s throw away from each other and packed. We popped into a few for drinks, and then hit up a highly recommended Japanese izakaya for dinner. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>GUU</b>. OMG. Is it bad that I lived in Asia for four years and I’m tempted to crown this place the best izakaya I’ve ever had?? I was beyond impressed with the quality and flavors of our meal, everything was perfection. I’m no foodie, but the fried chicken was breaded masterfully and so tender, the yakiudon was seasoned JUST right…best meal of our trip hand’s down. If you’re in Vancouver, GO EAT AT GUU. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Keepin’ it classy in Yaletown</b>. They say Yaletown is for yuppies, so I guess it was like Portland’s Pearl District..only there were a LOT of well dressed, drunk middle-aged folks on dates. That's just what I observed. Anyways, when a bartender at a swanky bar insists that you check out another swanky bar down the street, you should go. That’s how we discovered <b>George Lounge</b>, a plush, sexy joint playing 80’s music and packed with 40-year-old divorced housewives in 5 inch heels. No, I really loved it. Their cocktails were excellent (I’m a cocktail snob now, don’t you know?) and I was thrilled that mine came in a Chinese take-out box. Probably my favorite cocktail ever! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Taking the ferry to Victoria</b>, the capital and one of the oldest cities of British Columbia. I like taking ferries, I take them whenever I can because I’ve never been disappointed by the views. It was too windy to sit outside, but I could have stared out those windows for hours. Oh wait, I did. I’m too lazy to think of adjectives so here’s a photo. Protip: If you’re only here for a day, no need to bring your car (which will cost you $100+ CAD to drive on to the ferry each way). Double decker buses #72 and #70 picks people up right outside the terminal and brings you straight to downtown for $5 CAD round trip. You can buy bus passes in the gift shop on the ferry, you’re welcome.</div>
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Stumbling into <b>the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria</b>. Totally unplanned, but I saw this on the map and we decided to throw down the $16 CAD to check it out. THE MOST AMAZING MUSEUM I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. I’ll admit I usually don’t beeline to museums so I haven’t been to many, but I’ve still been to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and this was way better. It’s better than OMSI too. I walked through movie-set like exhibits learning about the colonization of British Colombia to now, it was just so done. Maybe I’ve just gotten older, but this was the highlight of Victoria for me, and it would have been such a shame if everyone missed it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh last thing I learned about Canadians- they adore Portland. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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And tomorrow, off to Mexico I go! <o:p></o:p></div>
Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-61937585908698133012015-03-11T22:37:00.000-07:002015-03-12T11:05:15.728-07:00Life as I know ItSO I haven't posted since the beginning of January, which was a very, very long time ago for someone who claims to be an aspiring writer.<br />
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Last week my little brother posted a disturbing Facebook note about a period of depression he went through alone, and how he has been saved by Jesus again. My parents wrote to me immediately to make sure I was aware, which I was, because I always know everything going on with everyone around me as long as it's on Social Media somewhere. EVERYTHING. </div>
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As for myself, I've spent the last few months being an <i>emotionally unavailable borderline alcoholic</i>. But you know what I've realized? So is everyone else like me, and we are all pretty reasonably happy this way! I keep on wondering if anything is wrong with me, but naw. I still have a cool job I love, I've successfully moved into a new apartment, I've traveled a bit here and there and will again soon, I hit the gym, I've made new friends, etc.etc so basically still a functioning adult. The emotionally unavailability of course is referring to men, but that's an old and boring story by now. <b>If you love someone, let them go. If you hate someone, let them go. Basically, let everyone go cause boys can be dumb.</b> I'm too busy being obsessed with other things.</div>
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For the past 2.5 weeks I've been completely obsessed with my new flat. I knew I would be, so it feels right to me. I'm really grateful to have found a studio I love so much, to have this blank canvas to create a home I can't wait to return to. There's been no holding back, what my baby lacks my baby gets. Antique armchairs, bar carts, chandeliers, all the things I've always wanted but never wanted to splurge on-I don't mind this time around because I've finally found a city I want to call my home base. <b>The longer I've lived here, the more I've fallen in love with Portland. It's just ridiculous</b>. Maybe I should get a toaster oven before I go out and get more mantle decor. </div>
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And when I finish, I'm flying off to Mexico to celebrate. Because life is short, travel is my therapy and <b>I think I can try liking tequila again.</b> Also, the Shamrock Run this coming Sunday was obviously not enough motivation for me to get back into shape (shoot though, it came up SO QUICKLY), so maybe Mexico will be. My girlfriend who is coming with me keeps on swearing to lose weight as well but so far we just end up hitting theee brunch and bars. #firstworldproblems</div>
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What other brain spillage can I afford to leak out. My schedule is working out again so that I can go resume dragonboat paddling and IT FEELS SO GOOD. Being out on the river is my happy place. It is my zen, it is my balance. And balance is the most important thing. </div>
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Over and out. </div>
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-12743089838147052912015-01-09T21:31:00.003-08:002015-01-09T21:31:46.025-08:00A Week in Taiwan<div class="MsoNormal">
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There is a place where you can sleep in until noon, work part time, eat out three meals a day, live in a sleek studio, party until 4am and save up enough to travel on the weekends. There, you can easily learn a very useful new language, discover and develop hobbies, enjoy the outdoors every day, and make life-long friends that will become your family. There are endless natural wonders to explore from enchanting mountain villages, hidden hot springs, to dreamy islands off the coast. There, strangers will help you with directions and the cost of living is low, yet the quality is superb. You don’t need a car, or even a scooter. You don’t need to come with much more than a suitcase, a degree of any sort, a couple hundred bucks and an open, adventurous mind.<b> Taipei is a gem,</b> and for years travelers have been streaming in to see if the rumors were true and end up staying because, well, they are. I have yet to meet anyone who didn’t fall in love with Taiwan. If you’re even consider it, stop it and just go. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My experience living in Taipei is difficult to put into words. Three years, three glorious, unforgettable years, flew by as I spent my early 20’s there. It’s just another one of those things where you have to experience it to understand what it's like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I got on the bus to leave Taiwan in September of 2013, I bawled uncontrollably throughout the whole 40-minute ride to the airport. I’m surprised the driver didn’t stop and ask me if I had just lost a family member. I’ve never even cried that hard over a boy before! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I didn’t think I would be coming back for a long time, and I feared that when I did, everything would be different. I thought I was losing a part of my world I would never be able to return to. It was time for me to close that chapter and move on, grow up, establish myself somewhere, and get a ‘real’ office job. Well, we all know how that turned out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This ‘real’ job gave me a pretty generous holiday break, and although I heavily considered Mexico at first, I couldn’t say no when my parents offered to meet me up in Taipei. I see them like, once a year if that, and if I were to pick somewhere to go ‘home’ for the holidays, Taipei with my friends and family would be it. So that’s how I ended back for a week. It was the best week I’ve spent in 2015 so far! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I didn’t do or go anywhere new, but I loved moment because every place held so many memories...the <i>familiarity </i>was exciting. Also, got so much quality time in with my forever friends and family. Here are some highlights of my trip: <o:p></o:p></div>
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WULAI: Wulai is an aboriginal village in the mountains, famous for hot springs and wild boar sausages. The buildings are bit run down, but the scenery as a whole is breathtaking. A river runs through the town, and you need to cross the bridge to make your way up the ‘Lover’s Path’ to see a waterfall! I went with my parents on their first day meeting me up, and they were sooooo slow due to holding hands the whole time. More on them later.</div>
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HIKING: One morning I got up really early and met two of my friends to do a random hike before they had work. It was really windy that day, and I was thrilled that I was able to get a breakfast sandwich to have once we got to the top. The views were astonishing, and our selfies did it no justice. <o:p></o:p><br />
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HALO: I really wasn’t sure where to spend my actual New Years Eve because so many of my friends were doing different things, and I wanted to spend it with everyone! In the end I decided to do the thing you should do, where you should be doing it. To me, that ended up to be partying and watching the fireworks at Taipei 101 from the balcony of one of the trendiest lounges in the city with friends that had flown in from all over the world. <b>It was seriously magical-we were so close to the fireworks the ashes could have fallen into our champagne glasses.</b> Epic way to begin an epic year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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BIKING: The weather was sunny every day I was in Taiwan, which is NOT what I remembered from past winters spent there. But hey, I wasn’t complaining. One day a group of friends and I all rented Ubikes and biked all afternoon through the city, alongside the river, and to Danshui, the fisherman’s wharf. When we got there, we fought through crowds on the historic touristy main street to get our deep-fried snack cravings sorted. I don’t like biking, but I will go with friends and especially if the destination includes food. Or booze. <o:p></o:p></div>
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PUB 45: A month ago, another returning friend and I planned a joint ‘welcome back’ party. There are no breweries (yet!) in Taipei, so we settled for Pub45, a simple bar stacked above an herbal medicine shop close to Shida. I used to go there and be depressed with their draft selection (still only two, still only Taiwan Beer or Stellar Artois) but it was alright this time cause I knew I would be back in Portland soon. :) It was one of the best nights during my trip cause one by one, familiar faces were approaching me with wide smiles and it was like I had never left. <o:p></o:p></div>
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SHIFEN: This is a railroad town on the outskirts of the city where the yearly Sky Lantern Festival takes place. On normal days, friends and lovers can take the train out and release their own lanterns up into the night sky. I LOVE watching our glowing lanterns float up slowly into the darkness. I had no idea the rest of the world even knew about this until I saw Frozen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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SUN MOON LAKE: Spent two days with my parents at Sun Moon Lake, a popular honeymoon destination due to the scenery. This was my third time, and it was a nice break from the city. There are ferries that take you between 3 ports around the lake for sight-seeing and hiking. Last time I biked around the perimeter of the lake, but this time I was glad to relax and enjoy the views! All the food stalls were still right where I remembered them and I think my parents finally fell in love with Taiwan there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Actually, every day and everyone I met up with was a highlight, and if I go on I’ll never be able to be a travel blogger cause I’ll just be gushing about my friends and things I love and no one will ever take me seriously. I honestly don’t know who reads these posts, but apparently more people than I thought, and it’s so humbling! Especially the touch rugby guys ie. Ting, Spencer, Doug, what a nice surprise ;) Thank you, thank you for spending your precious time reading whatever spillage my mind randomly has. I’m always flattered at first, then I get really nervous and hope I haven't written anything embarrassing. EOM. (Finally found out that means End Of Message, duh.)<br />
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-21429866228841413342014-12-15T23:38:00.002-08:002014-12-16T00:28:54.244-08:00What it's like to work at Airbnb, yo. On Tuesday mornings my phone vibrates at 8:50am on my desk, and everyone at the office snags the last bagels from the toasters, fills up with coffee, and piles into our open area on the third floor for the weekly meeting. For any other workplace, this is probably a mundane, pain-in-the-ass gathering..but not at Airbnb.<br />
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Lots of people have asked me about what it's like to work at Airbnb. The way they ask, you'd think I worked at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. And I suppose, from what they've read online, magazine covers and the experiences they've had traveling with us, it's understandable. <b>Airbnb is unlike any other company in the world. </b></div>
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First off, I love working here because of the people. I don't know how they did it, but <i>I could sit through an international flight with anyone in my office.</i> Everyone has a story, we are all passionate, with a heart of gold. The people I work with every day have been hostel owners, baristas, magazine editors, non-profit founders, boutique owners, and any other profession you can think of that demands intelligence, resilience, hard work, and a love for people. Dreamers AND doers. We have our own unique hobbies and expertise outside of work that we share with each other, like fine beer tasting, button making, coffee roasting, marathon training, safety lanyard making, painting with Bob Ross, etc. Most of us love to host or attend fun, local events (like once I almost got killed in paintball), which makes living in Portland so much more interesting. We have a Happy Hour every Thursday, which means an open bar at super hipster venues and we all share coconut water with each other the next day. Well, not like SHARE..but we have loads at work and we drink it. Since most of us have lived in Portland for a fair amount of time, my colleagues are also a wealth of Portland knowledge. <b>It's really easy to belong at Airbnb because we're so diverse that you're bound to find someone with the same quirks.</b> We've also got each other's backs. If I'm ever in need of a pick-up truck or want brunch buddies, I know I can send out an office email and be taken care of. <b>Many of us are Airbnb hosts in Portland, and ALL of us have traveled and stayed at Airbnbs. We are fans. </b>I think if you want a spectacular company, you need to start with spectacular people. Airbnb knows this, and the people that continue to join us are just, so cool. </div>
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Second, our work. When I started in our office in Portland, we only had about 40 people. Now we have over 220 people, and we're still going to be growing into next year. That's just the Portland office, the headquarters are still in San Francisco. We are a start-up, but becoming one of the largest start-ups in the tech world. We are making history in live time, because we are changing how people travel<b>.</b> <b>The mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, and where there will be no more strangers.</b> Far fetched? I think not. On my last trip, almost every stranger I encountered became a friend. <i>Love and friendship is an international language</i>. In every new city I visited, I booked Airbnbs and so I had someone there waiting for me, to welcome me, to highlight the best places to go, and we left as good friends. No joke, we're Facebook friends and everything. I felt like an Airbnb commercial. Most of us in the Portland office are Trip Experience Specialists. <b>I talk on the phone every day with users, both hosts and guests from all over the world. They tell me everything, from the good to the bad, but one thing is apparent to me: everyone just wants a unique accommodation experience and to connect with others when they're traveling. And we do that. </b>One of my favorite things is that if a guest is having an unexpected experience, since I've had plenty of my own traveling mishaps, I can genuinely emphasize...and I can save them. <i>You have to have been through it in order to understand it</i>, and luckily my colleagues are also explorers, travelers, and determined free spirits with a deep concern for others. The great thing about Airbnb is that if something goes wrong, we will do everything within reason to save the day, whereas other companies won't. I feel good about the morals of our company and the choices I get to make, and I would not say the same of every company I've worked for in the past. <b>There's definitely a feeling of being a part of something bigger, and it's so exciting. </b></div>
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Third, the perks. I know this is what everyone is curious about. Yes, it's all true, and I don't take any of it for granted. <b>Airbnb takes very good care of their employees. We are, after all, Airbnb Family.</b> If you follow my Instagram (missw0ng, #airbnb #airbnbpdx #airfam), you know we have amazing, organic and local catered breakfasts and lunches every day. We have an espresso machine but also a selection of freshly brewed, gourmet coffee available. We get lots of vacation days, reasonably flexible schedules, beers on tap, impressive health care benefits, and travel credit with Airbnb. We get office picnics, team getaways, Bluestar/Voodoo/Wafflewindow deliveries, and the building is even dog-friendly. The pay is not bad either, and with the company growing so quickly there are lots of opportunities for upward mobility or to get involved with the community through Citizenship or designing office space. Oh, this week we finally revealed our office space to the public. Our office space might be the envy of all of downtown offices, with our yurt, tree house, hammocks and beautiful living room nooks. It's really nifty, and coworkers come in even on days off to hang out. We even have 'landing zones', which are like standing desks with cubbies so we have a place to store our stuff, but in an innovative, non-desk like way. We don't have assigned seats, and the views out the window make me fall in love with Portland all over again. We all have MacAirs, and tons of Airbnb swag. I could probably go a whole week just wearing Airbnb clothes. Gotta rep that RAUSCH<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">bélo. </span></span></div>
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<b>I love Airbnb as a host, a guest, and an employee. </b>It's been undoubtedly one of the best things that have ever happened to me, and every day I feel like the luckiest girl alive. There's magic where I work, and it's probably even <i>better t</i>han Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. </div>
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PS. We are allowed to bring guests in for tours or even for lunch! If you would like to come by let me know in advance. </div>
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Here's a nice little thing about us on <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2014/12/airbnb_shows_off_portland_oper.html" target="_blank">OregonLive</a>. </div>
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One of my favorite rooms</div>
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It feels like...a home. </div>
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Doggies are a big part of our family. </div>
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Even when it's raining outside, it looks so pretty from the inside. </div>
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Our treehouse! </div>
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-70016109905532034502014-12-10T00:17:00.001-08:002014-12-10T23:11:12.447-08:00Confessions of a Single Girl (oh shoot, that's me.)The best thing about traveling is that you get to experience the best of all worlds. I love making new friends, trying local food, picking up languages, seeing beautiful scenery..and then coming home and falling into my soft, ever-welcoming bed, enjoying craft beers, and having good times with my beloved, established friends. In fact, traveling makes me love my home even more...if I don't make that obvious enough.<br />
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But the holidays have got me feelin' funky. I know you wanna hear it, so I'll confess-<b>lately I've been kinda wanting to fall in love.</b> Like, the type where I end up going steady, in a committed relationship, with a boyfriend, whatever you want to call it. I have no idea how I could ever find one or what to feed it. Wanting to be in a relationship seems to be irrationally unpopular these days, for my age and in my city. <b>I think I may have just committed social suicide, but I don't really care. </b>Flirtations are easy to find (Tinder, duh!), but where do you find the boyfriends? At home, having a beer and watching Netflix? Well how the hell will I ever meet them then if they're all in their own homes?! Everyone seems to have someone that they belong with, and no matter how hard I try to focus on other insatiable hobbies, wanting companionship nags at me with the same force as wanting to travel. Traveling is much easier to gratify though, you just buy a plane ticket and go.<br />
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The problem is, my standards for an actual match won't stop rising and it's getting out of control. I think one of the most heart-wrenching moments during my trip in South America was when I was out kayaking with a French dude I met on the bus. We're just friends, and he stops padding to ask me in a heavy accent, "I don't understand. You are so pretty and fun. I just don't understand how you do not have a boyfriend." I just laughed and told him that <b>every time I like someone (and I rarely ever do) he's not right for me.</b> It was the simplest way I could explain it, and it's pretty accurate. I had proved it true just the week before, when I fell for a frustratingly charming man in La Paz. He was traveling through the country as well, and he just had this confident, playful grin and genuine energy to match. But we had to kiss goodbye, cause our buses were leaving in opposite directions and I'm not naive enough hope for anything more. See, never right for me.<br />
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How in the world, filled with billions of people, do two people meet and actually like each other? And what are the chances that even if they like each other's personalities, looks, have similar interests, goals, values, live in the same country, are ready to date, and have chemistry...who knows if they will want to commit to each other? And not fuck it up a week later?<b><i> I guess that's why they say love is magic. </i></b><br />
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I am very happy with my life, and I love the time I'm getting to spend with myself. I need the space and freedom to breathe, grow, create and be lazy if I want. I'm not mad about being single, and the bachelorette life has treated me well. I'm pretty awesome and I don't need this validated by a guy. But if I'm to be honest with myself, I'm still feelin' funky.<br />
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-81488176935202665732014-12-09T00:04:00.000-08:002014-12-09T09:43:51.257-08:00How I Survived Machu Picchu First off, I barely made it. Whoever told me that anyone with average fitness levels would have no problems is a liar. <b>Hiking the four day, three night Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was one of the hardest things I've ever done, mentally and physically</b>.<br />
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Maybe it was harder because I had expected it to be easy, and I admit I've been in better shape before. It's not my fault Portland is THE beer mecca and beer is my biggest weakness. Anyways! Hiking Machu Picchu now requires you to go with a guided tour group, and I went with <a href="http://www.llamapath.com/" target="_blank">Llamapath.</a> I highly recommend them, because they were amazing. If you want to do the classic 4-day trek that I did, you have to reserve your spot months in advance, like I did. In order to go in November, I paid for my spot in August. Otherwise, you can show up to Cusco, walk up to a tour agency, and buy a day package to go straight into the Machu Picchu ruins via bus. Don't be lame.<br />
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To prepare for this hike, I bought hiking boots and zippy pants, two things I would have never been caught dead wearing a year ago. But I figured everyone else would be wearing the same stuff there, and functionally is the most important thing (IT WAS). I was also convinced into renting hiking poles, and I forgot my sleeping bag so I had to rent that too. HOW did I forget a sleeping bag?! I brought my big Osprey backpack which was incredibly light whenever I had it on due to how the weight was designed to be distributed. Our group had a prep meeting the night before leaving in Cusco, so that they could tell us we were going to meet at 4am the following morning. I didn't even get a chance to go to the expat Irish bars!<br />
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If you go, bring clothing for all four seasons, 'cause the guide said it, and nothing was closer to the truth. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, a poncho, a really warm jacket, sunglasses, everything. Every day was different, but some days it would be scorching hot and then it would hail on us! My tent-mate (I got pitched with the only other single girl traveling alone..she was from Canada and let's just say we did NOT become best friends) (but I loved everyone else) brought duct tape to wrap around her toes to prevent blisters. Also, I carried my own backpack cause I didn't want to be a wussy, but in hindsight I wouldn't recommend it. Hire a porter, a native who works for the company to carry things for you-their calves are bigger than your head! Almost everyone in our group had a porter, and although I'm proud of myself for enduring the massive annoyance, I would have enjoyed the trek more if I had been free to prance around. The path was rocky and steep, with really massive inclines at some points and slippery, narrow descents. It was always changing and some parts were alongside cliff drops, so we had to focus on our footing.<br />
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We hiked for hours every day, starting really early in the morning like 5am and then ending around 4-5pm for dinner. <b>I felt like I was in the army or something and we were on a mission, so I rarely complained</b>. Each day we had to cover certain distances in order to reach our next campsite, which the porters would run ahead to set up and prepare for us. We had delicious, elaborate multiple course meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, like ceviches, fried Kondor drumsticks, kababs, pizza, mashed potatoes, steak salads and even cake. It was like a magic show every time they brought out the next dish. <b>Everyone thought we were going to lose weight from hiking all day, but we certainly gained it back during meal times.</b> I guess our excuse was that we needed it for energy, but honestly everything just tasted so good, and it got extremely cold at night so we all almost overdosed on Milo and instant coffee.<br />
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<b>And the views really were breathtaking, just like everyone said. </b>It wasn't overrated at all. We took multiple breaks to drink water, reapply sunscreen, and take photos. I cried often whenever we got to a viewpoint (okay, maybe more like silently shed a few tears) because being amongst the clouds up in the mountains just filled me up with awe and appreciation for the beauty of our earth. And also, it felt really, really good to take my backpack off. Our guide would have us sit in a circle sometimes to tell us stories of the Incas as we overlooked ruins. It was hard for me to pay attention to the history of the stuff, even though I knew it was very important. I would just be the first to walk up and touch the rough stone surfaces and trace the cracks and patterns engraved there from so many years ago. Whenever we got to a site that had homes, I would walk through the doorways and try to picture which room I would want. From what our guide said, the Inca Trail was made to be a pilgrimage for the future rulers of their civilization, and the different sites along the way all served different purposes. He also told us tons of random facts, like how potatoes originated in Peru. Then the Spaniards brought them to Europe. And the Europeans brought them back to the States. Haha!<br />
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On Day Four, our whole group decided to be the first ones to reach the Sun Gate. Usually our group would camp at different sites, but on the last night all the other trek groups are at the same site, in order to get to Machu Picchu first thing in the morning. We had to get up at 2:50AM to be the first. WHAT THE HELL. I honestly didn't really care to be the first group in, but everyone was so adamant about it I just pretended to be excited too. The Sun Gate is a lookout point that overlooks all of Machu Picchu, the entrance. I was drenched in sweat from racing to the top with my group, so disgusting that I didn't even want to take a photo. OH! Did I mention there were no showers for the duration of the trek? Baby wipes all the way. The view was pretty, but I was so dizzy from it being a weird hour and running with the altitude that I was just happy to enter the site.<br />
<b><br /></b><b>You know how they say it's about the journey, not the destination? This was a perfect example.</b> I'm not saying that Machu Picchu wasn't impressive, but it wasn't much different from the other ruins we had passed on our way to get there. It was just a lot bigger, and flooded with tourists. Still, we had to get that money shot. You know, the one on the rock with Machu Picchu in the background. I had spent the entire trek rotating my thoughts between boys and how to post for this photo. There were also a lot of llamas wandering around, just to meet everyone's expectations. <b>But we were so damn triumphant about completing the journey, I bet we could have ended up anywhere and been happy. </b><br />
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After a few hours, I got on a bus to take us down to Agua Calientes, a little town 30 minutes away to recoup, eat, and prepare to take the train back to Cusco. I had a beer, but I would recommend skipping it and just getting a piso sour instead.<br />
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And that's it!<br />
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Dead Woman's Pass</div>
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Setting up camp after Day 1, a lady with a basket was selling beer haha</div>
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Good morning, our base camp of Day 3 and sweaty laundry</div>
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Day 3 ruins</div>
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Taking a moment to soak in the sun.</div>
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We ate well, really well. </div>
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Morning of Day 4, waiting for the Sun Gates to open-almost there! </div>
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Gringo Ladder, how bad do you wanna get there?</div>
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Money shot-group photo first. </div>
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It really was all about the journey. </div>
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Look, I found llamas!</div>
<br />Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-41963415087851207152014-11-27T23:36:00.001-08:002014-11-27T23:36:26.105-08:00A Moment to be ThankfulThanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, primarily centered on gathering with family for good food...and then going on shopping rampages afterwards. For me, I've witnessed others feel most homesick when spending this day abroad. We always made the best of it and each year, whether if I was in Taipei or Honduras, I was always thankful to be surrounded by people I loved and cared about.<br />
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I guess those warm and grateful feelings of spending this significant holiday with fellow foreigners and expats stuck with me. This year even though I'm back in Portland, I chose to have dinner with my dearest colleagues instead of relatives or family friends. I've been a Thanksgiving orphan for too long, so now there's something special about this special gathering with new friends. And the fact that each year I have friends to call my family on this day, that is a true blessing.<br />
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This year, like every year, I have more and more to be thankful for.<br />
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+I've moved back home to Portland, Oregon and have fallen in love with it all over again.<br />
+I've gotten a job with one of the best companies on earth, and an amazing work family as well.<br />
+I've moved into the neighborhood of my dreams and every day I feel lucky to walking to work.<br />
+I've collected more passport stamps, saw many beautiful sights, and lived to tell about them.<br />
+I've continued to meet and make friends that enrich my life and inspire me.<br />
+I've learned to marvel and enjoy the simple pleasures of the world, like gourmet bread, falling autumn leaves, drinkable tap water, yoga pants, and long conversations.<br />
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Portland is my home because my best friend was waiting to pick me up at the airport on Tuesday night. I'm not a very mushy person and I didn't even tell her, but I was moved to tears that someone wanted to welcome me back after weeks of me arriving at unknown places alone. Years, I suppose. This year, after all my travels, I'm most thankful for familiar faces I love and a place to call HOME.<br />
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"Travel not to find yourself, but to remember who you've been all along."<br />
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-69401208190785260682014-11-13T11:38:00.001-08:002014-11-13T12:44:11.178-08:00A Bit of BoliviaI landed in La Paz on Tuesday, the capital city of Bolivia and highest in the world. All the emergency warnings about altitude sickness worried me a bit when I was on the plane, but my, the view of the Andes from Cochabamba was unforgettable. As soon as I landed I remembered to move slowly so that I wouldn't faint, and I didn't! Yay! <div><br></div><div>La Paz is chaotic and smoggy, but somehow I find pockets of it to be simply charming. It's a tight city where everyone either takes taxis, hops on minibuses, or walks everywhere. There are cable lines making a jungle above street traffic, but no underground metro stations (my favorite! Boooo) The streets and buildings have colorful, weathered walls and the windows have seen better days, but they're beautiful to me that way. Most of the buildings are pretty low, and the streets are never level nor paved, so I can't see myself living here. Everywhere I walk is like going for a hike. I'm even wearing my hiking boots today! Sadly, I also discovered that their draught beers and coffee isn't very good at all. But the people are friendly and helpful, and I'm finally using my Spanish here! </div><div><br></div><div>I've been shamelessly checking off the touristy to-do lists. First stop has been Sagamaga street, aka Gringo Alley. It's the touristy street where they sell handicrafts, and tour packages and etc. Surprisingly, there are barely any foreigners there. I was expecting parties on the streets and Austrailians in dreadlocks, but this street is relatively modest and calm. Most gringos here are just passing through after Macchu Picchu and heading down south. I enjoyed browsing through the stalls of gorgeous rainbow hammocks, pillow cases, leather satchels, and trinklets but only bought bracelets due to my limited luggage situation (thee big backpack). </div><div><br></div><div>I also walked to Calle Juan (preserved history alley way), people watched at multiple plazas (pigeons galore!), zipped through museums, rode the scenic cable car, hiked up the San Francisco church's bell towers, browsed Witch's market (dried baby llamas ehhhh) and ate a ton of street food to make that typhoid vaccine worth it. I think if you're as ambitious as me, two days in La Paz is more than enough to do everything. Everything is super cheap too! </div><div><br></div><div>My favorite part of this place is how the streets look. They're always sloped so intriguingly in one way or the other, and since La Paz is in a valley, every picture I take has the mountains in the background. All the streets are gritty with 'cholitas' selling gum and Kleenex on the sidewalks, exactly like all the postcards I've ever seen of Bolivia. The lighting here is also spectacular, most of the photos I've taken don't even need filters! </div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow, I'm taking an overnight bus to the Uyuni Salt Flats, the main reason I've wanted to come to Bolivia and I'm super excited! I don't expect to have wifi on the buses, but you know, hope for everything and expect nothing :) Ciao! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-z0WP3uJrVuQ/VGUImrTuIXI/AAAAAAAABAA/oLjdwS7m7j8/s640/blogger-image--1495224881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-z0WP3uJrVuQ/VGUImrTuIXI/AAAAAAAABAA/oLjdwS7m7j8/s640/blogger-image--1495224881.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G2Of0Z_vOZI/VGUIiP-hAtI/AAAAAAAAA_4/MEpTDaA0KtU/s640/blogger-image-826828542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G2Of0Z_vOZI/VGUIiP-hAtI/AAAAAAAAA_4/MEpTDaA0KtU/s640/blogger-image-826828542.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CXrsWPH8N7E/VGUIrQZ6tII/AAAAAAAABAI/oiziPyLlAFs/s640/blogger-image--715327864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CXrsWPH8N7E/VGUIrQZ6tII/AAAAAAAABAI/oiziPyLlAFs/s640/blogger-image--715327864.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2wSxJYBpayc/VGUIwhLxv0I/AAAAAAAABAQ/cqzTPIU85dY/s640/blogger-image--203011849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2wSxJYBpayc/VGUIwhLxv0I/AAAAAAAABAQ/cqzTPIU85dY/s640/blogger-image--203011849.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g9qbTk9lqbI/VGUIfxOn_cI/AAAAAAAAA_w/ZTxeuJldgyY/s640/blogger-image-932309338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g9qbTk9lqbI/VGUIfxOn_cI/AAAAAAAAA_w/ZTxeuJldgyY/s640/blogger-image-932309338.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xeXEiKjrpVU/VGUIdbA0wwI/AAAAAAAAA_o/QNi0cbtXjho/s640/blogger-image--1601598411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xeXEiKjrpVU/VGUIdbA0wwI/AAAAAAAAA_o/QNi0cbtXjho/s640/blogger-image--1601598411.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-4412210699720658252014-11-09T07:05:00.000-08:002014-11-12T02:58:08.316-08:00Brazil, it was real. I'm coming back for you someday..<div><br></div>I´m at an internet cafe, waiting for the airport shuttle at the bus terminal. I cannot believe my week in Sao Paolo is over, but I am sure I will be back.<br>
I´ve always had this theory that within minutes of landing in a new city, people generally know if they can love it or leave it. Since I worked a full week at the Airbnb office during my stay here, I had to rapidly adapt to a routine that pretty much stimulating what my life would be like here...and yes, I could totally move here.<br>
Sao Paolo is the largest city in Brazil, and the world´s 12th biggest city. There are many types of neighborhoods: modern, old, colorful, swanky, hilly, all sprawled out with character. The metro system is fast and cheap and will take you everywhere you need to go. On Paulista Avenue, I found skyscrapers and that´s when I decided this city was big enough for me. The friends and aquaintances I´ve met here are friendly, open, intelligent and crazy creative. I completely fell in love with the street art, food, and energy of this place. Even more so, I´m captivated by the Portuguese language and have tried to learn as much Portuguese this week as could be reasonably expected.<div>To say that I've seen this city would be a huge understatement. That's what kills me when I leave a city I've fallen permanently in love with...there's no closure because I know there are so many places I haven't discovered yet. I didn't even get a chance to go to Rio de Janeiro!! There's a whole life here waiting for me to live. I would eats tons of fruit and drink 'vitaminas' and get really tan, wear white pants and tight floral dresses all the time and fall in love. My brazilian boyfriend and I would go for drinks with our friends at outdoor patio bars with live samba music. Why can't I just travel without envisioning moving my whole life?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5S2zPnYLue4/VGLf6q1r-aI/AAAAAAAAA_I/82CspZYiBGQ/s640/blogger-image--1165379027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5S2zPnYLue4/VGLf6q1r-aI/AAAAAAAAA_I/82CspZYiBGQ/s640/blogger-image--1165379027.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2_ZdhIGUDHw/VGLf3kDmh8I/AAAAAAAAA_A/CTxjbBNVkmY/s640/blogger-image--201930046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2_ZdhIGUDHw/VGLf3kDmh8I/AAAAAAAAA_A/CTxjbBNVkmY/s640/blogger-image--201930046.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>My colleagues here became my new friends and family. Boy, do Brazilians know how to party! These people are a blast, and have hearts of gold.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CnZwyU4KzLU/VGLf9B5FrEI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/lgpTC9yxL9I/s640/blogger-image--1738957509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CnZwyU4KzLU/VGLf9B5FrEI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/lgpTC9yxL9I/s640/blogger-image--1738957509.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QcqQ0p32z7Q/VGLf0ewZoZI/AAAAAAAAA-4/yarWbeV5tyY/s640/blogger-image-1063159928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QcqQ0p32z7Q/VGLf0ewZoZI/AAAAAAAAA-4/yarWbeV5tyY/s640/blogger-image-1063159928.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g1HjcivJwcI/VGLf_t-NFcI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/CVd_jCOv4ss/s640/blogger-image--1398232467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g1HjcivJwcI/VGLf_t-NFcI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/CVd_jCOv4ss/s640/blogger-image--1398232467.jpg"></a></div><br></div>No shortage of culture (good beer and good food) </div><br></div><div>Highlights: </div><div><br></div><div>+Meeting all my coworkers in Sao Paolo, was like a reunion of siblings separated at birth. (Okay at least that's how I felt) and going out to lunch with them everyday to a new spot, and them kissing me all the time. </div><div><br></div><div>+Staying with Wolfgang and Renata, super host in Brazil and getting to be a part of their amazing life, like testing recipes at their new co-kitchen space and being treated to homemade passion fruit pudding for breakfast. </div><div><br></div><div>+Venturing out to the Liberdade, the Japanses neighborhood and having the most amazing salmon handroll in my life. Then washing it down with super cheap local canned Skol beer. </div><div><br></div><div>+Meeting Brazilian friends and going for drinks at Aspicquelta avenue! Such a lively place and fun people. </div><div><br></div><div>+Browsing through Benedito Calixto open market for souvenirs and eating from the authentic food carts (I haven't gotten sick yet!!) </div><div><br></div><div>+Getting invited to a local balcony house party! The back opened up to a view of the city, I learned how to Samba...it was a magical night </div><div><br></div><div>+Finding and exploring Batman alley on Sunday morning. This is a tucked away alley in Vila Madalena where artists get to display their best work. Lots of people, tourists and locals alike, come here to marvel and take pictures of the art. </div><div><br></div><div>I want to add links and more photos but it's so hard doing everything by phone! Thanks for reading still, and I hope someday you'll get a chance to come to Sao Paolo!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-67299933822202512052014-11-04T13:24:00.002-08:002014-11-09T06:49:26.117-08:00Sao Paolo-Part OneSo I left my laptop at home for this trip, and I really wish I hadn't. Why? Because there is SO much I have to write now!<br />
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First of all, Portuguese is NOT Spanish. It kind of sounds like Spanish, but it's not. My ego has been slowly withering away with each conversation I've staggered to have with locals in Spanish, forget English. This has left me downloading Portuguese phrases on my phone asap, especially after I sat down for my first menu and didn't recognize a single word aside from áqua. I found my listing without any issues, and found out that my hosts are not only Superhosts, they will be flying out to San Francisco in a few weeks for the Host Open. They are awesome. They are so awesome that their kitchen has been replicated into the kitchen inside the Airbnb Sao Paolo office.<br />
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I spent the majority of my first evening lost in my neighborhood, Vila Malalena. It's considered a trendy, upscale and safe area with lots of restaurants bordering one end and there's a pretty crowded party street on the other side called Rua Aspicuelta. There is graffiti EVERYWHERE on EVERY wall in Sao Paolo, but it's most definitely not vandalism here-more like wall art. I was looking for an alley called Batman, which is a famous alley full of wall art that my host told me about but never found it. I was happy to see people drinking out on the sidewalks, and felt kind of out of place in my Chucks. I've been tripping nonstop, partially because all the buildings are built like rainbow, overcrowded teeth and I can't stop looking. And also because the side walks are literally broken up and slabs of concrete are everywhere. After I survived weaving through the crowds of beautiful tan people, I found myself staring at menus in Portuguese, searching for the only word I could make out: CERVEJA (beer.)<br />
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In front of a bar called <a href="http://www.melograno.com.br/" target="_blank">Melegrano</a>, the owner came out and asked what I was looking for. I asked if he had any beer and I've never seen an old man beam so proudly. Turns out Melegrano boosts one of the fanciest and largest emporium of fine local and import beers. He was thrilled to practice his English and brought out some dark beer he claimed to be the best porter in Brazil, something called Petroleum. It wasn't on tap, but I wasn't expecting too much. He poured it into a fancy glass for me, pointing out excitedly that it even flowed like car gas. It was perfect. I really enjoyed people watching out on the streets with club music thumping in the background, wondering if it was weird for me to be alone. I think I'm going to do that more when I get back to Portland and maybe pretend I'm just a mysterious lone traveler.<br />
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I have to leave this desktop now and go out after work. More later, CIAO!<br />
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Don't they look like toy houses??</div>
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My host's puppy, I want to steal him away. </div>
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My workspace this week, gonna have those sweets.</div>
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<br />Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-71789619897863883732014-10-13T00:31:00.000-07:002014-10-13T14:18:20.510-07:00On Getting Called Out...and everything else that's good. This week was pretty normal. <b>However, if I lived a thousand lives and this was one of them, I would be the luckiest girl in the world. (</b>My fave quote)<br />
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Keeping my life balanced is a ever-ending endeavor of mine, but I am super blessed with all the tools and strength to do so. It feels like every week I'm diving into a different form of self-improvement, from working on my personal finance skills, home decor, outdoor sports gear, cooking, travel planning, Spanish, dating (how this is positive is highly debatable) kickboxing, and even the Paleo diet. It's weird how everything usually lasts only about a week. It's not a bad thing, it's just a sign of my restlessness and insatiable appetite for living life. I have yet to get into my gardening stage, a canvas painting phase, or serious typewriting stage but I know it's going to happen eventually.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svpUxtoIZ2Q/VDt7hK7yD7I/AAAAAAAAA88/gqUDyHbBtDA/s1600/IMG_1500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svpUxtoIZ2Q/VDt7hK7yD7I/AAAAAAAAA88/gqUDyHbBtDA/s1600/IMG_1500.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>One form of self-improvement that I have not mentioned in forever is my relationship with God. It's definitely not a phase though, it's just who I am and will always be-a believer. I'm a Christian girl. Do I go around telling people this? NO. You can't tell it by the way I live, so I don't want to give people the wrong idea... However, once upon a time, being a follow of Jesus was my biggest identity. I even had a whole blog on my journey with Christ. He was my first and everything. I can't say that any particular incident turned me away or that I've turned away at all. I've just placed God on a shelf somewhere, and wandered off, globetrotting the world and falling in love and enjoying my whimsical little life and God is just there, getting dusty (and probably getting irritated and plotting to strike me with a lightening bolt to remind me that I'm NOT building towards my calling). That's not how it's supposed to be, and that's not what I want. <b>The hardest thing about stepping back into the God journey is that He will suck everything you have into it, including your soul. And then He will save it. </b><br />
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I've always believed that we don't get to choose Jesus, He chooses you. It's been burning in my heart for awhile, and so I went to service at Imago Dei this morning. The pastor shared a story about a tax collector named Zacchaeus who climbed up on a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus as He was walking by (Luke 19). And that's how most people 'seek' Jesus. <i>We are interested, but don't want to get too serious or too close. </i>The thing is, Jesus saw this man and He knew, and called him down. It's like trying not to make eye contact with your teacher or boss but they know you have an answer so they just call you out anyway.<br />
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I don't really have a point, just that Jesus shouldn't be a phase or something I balance into my life, I need Him to be the core and I just want an extra push. I'll push myself, but it's always good to be held accountable.<br />
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After all, He has poured SO many blessings into my life. Even if He hadn't...but He has. One of my friends has a routine Thankful Thursday post so that she is always reminding herself of things to be thankful for. I'm not that disciplined, so here's my just random list from this past week:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzXLgFG9u0o/VDt7hwjAicI/AAAAAAAAA9I/aDIjA7L6qYM/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzXLgFG9u0o/VDt7hwjAicI/AAAAAAAAA9I/aDIjA7L6qYM/s1600/image.jpeg" height="320" width="276" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rVBbvXml7sk/VDt76d_3TVI/AAAAAAAAA9s/vvKt3j0jICU/s1600/image%2B4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rVBbvXml7sk/VDt76d_3TVI/AAAAAAAAA9s/vvKt3j0jICU/s1600/image%2B4.jpeg" height="320" width="200" /></a>+<b>Having the best girl friends a girl could ask fo</b>r. My girl friends are funny, ambitious, smart, supportive, fierce, kind, loyal, gorgeous, strong, wise, and all over the world. I love that I can turn to anyone of them at any time to either go out for drinks or vent about school loans. I wouldn't be sane without them <3 Today I was especially happy to have one of my besties visit home, and for an amazing brunch.<br />
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+<b>Living where I live</b>. I don't mind staying in my NW Portland hood like, all the time. I love Trader Joes. I love Powells. I love Washington Park and the Popehouse. I especially love walking to work lately cause the leaves are CHANGINNNNNG COLORSSSSSS. I love that I can walk practically to anywhere I need to go to and that I feel perfectly safe doing so. There are still many restaurants I haven't been to yet..although I've been a regular at most of the bars :D As I've repeated many times before, moving back to Portland was the best thing I've done for myself in a long time.<br />
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+<b>My job</b>. Everyone knows I have a very cushy job loaded with too many perks and we are spoiled rotten. Monday we had a pizza and beer party after work to share stories in the office. On Tuesday the avocados were back, and macaroons. Wednesday we had a biker guy making us fruit smoothies and had massages, then a Timbers game. Thursday we had a keg of Pumpkin Beer, a Pumpkin bread bake off and a kil<br />
ler happy hour at the Bitter End. Friday we had more Pumpkin beer. I don't ever want to take this for granted and we all work hard every day. But <i>seriously</i>. I am so blessed to be SO taken care of.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9sOMUO1sQI/VDt7ifM8gJI/AAAAAAAAA9M/KPl45CugzJE/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9sOMUO1sQI/VDt7ifM8gJI/AAAAAAAAA9M/KPl45CugzJE/s1600/photo.PNG" height="320" width="242" /></a>+<b>Having the means to do this Paleo Diet</b>. No dairy? No grains? No processed foods or sugars? Not everyone has access to fresh fruits and veggies and organically farm-raised meat, but I do. I have been thinking about this privilege since I started two days ago, and I don't know why I get to have this choice but I do, and so I should treat my body better. So far I enjoy eating tons of salad with meat and eggs on it. It makes me go to the bathroom a lot. A LOT...so I must be losing weight. :)<br />
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+<b>Being able to travel</b>. Never an understated luxury. I don't care where you're from or where you've been, <i>but if you can travel, be grateful</i>. Truth be told I'm a bit nervous for my upcoming solo trip, but excited. I'm going to San Francisco next week for a short stint to process my Brazilian visa, and then in November I'll be off trekking through South America for three weeks, conquering Macchu Picchu at the end. I know some people spend their entire lives dreaming about this, so it's amazing that I'm just gonna do it next month. Yeah, JUST DO IT. Sometimes, I surprise myself.<br />
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+<b>That it's Autumn.</b> Time for scarves and plaid and corn mazes and PUMPKIN PATCHES! I don't give my guy friends credit for putting up with me, but I should. I'm thankful that my friend Andrew wanted to go to the pumpkin patch today and now I have two pumpkins I don't know what to do with.<br />
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<br />Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-16714904164517398752014-09-30T23:20:00.002-07:002014-10-01T07:15:49.453-07:00The Week I Thought I was In Love I can't believe my relationship posts got over 5x more views than my BELOVED TRAVEL ARTICLES. Sheesh you guys. I guess that just shows humans are obsessed with love, heartbreak, drama and everything in-between. Besides, my dating life is a tad bit more happenin' than my travels at the moment, since I'm not going ANYWHERE for another month. Oh, to San Francisco for a bit for besides that.<br />
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So what's the story today? At 26 years old, I finally understand <b>the difference between infatuation and love.</b> I met a guy last week, and it was magical. We couldn't get enough of each other, and I found myself letting all my guards down and telling him everything and wanting to share my future with him. Instantly. We texted all day and all night nonstop, to the point of my iPhone threatening to die before getting out of the office to see him almost every day. I was so head over heels that I've announced to my best friends that I was positive he was The One (they were all skeptical, as they should be. It's a wonder no one tried to slap me out of it). He was completely flawless and perfect to me, and I had decided that whatever issues that might come up, I would do whatever it took to resolve them so that we could continue to be happy together. <i>It was too good to be true</i>. I realized that I was ready to be in a relationship again, because I found the one I wanted to have it with. <b>For one week, I thought I had fallen in love and it was the best feeling ever. </b>Like getting hit with a train.<br />
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BUT.<br />
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The thing about infatuation is that it's like a drug, and it's like the cheap vanilla extract instead of the pure vanilla of love. <b>I became addicted to him.</b> Any texts/contact from him throughout the day were like shots of adrenaline. It was so hard to focus at work, and I would wake up too early every morning day dreaming about him. He told me he felt the same way. Scientifically speaking, my brain was releasing huge amount of dopamine which changed the wiring in my brain, then synaptic neurotransmitters made a connection between my lover and dopamine production and thus intensified my feelings for him which<u> vetoed all sense of logic</u>. Google it. I happily obsessed over him because it was being reciprocated, and I didn't see how I was subconsciously building up irrational expectations for him to maintain this incredible high. We foolishly declared how much we wanted to feel this way forever! Not his fault, not my fault, it was just the way it was.<br />
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The <b>tragedy </b>with infatuation is that 1) it's not reality, 2) it screws up judgement and 3) it's not sustainable. It's a dangerous stage, and sometimes it will turn into a healthy, long term relationship (if you actually find the right person)<b>...but I think more often than not it just ends and you feel like shit.</b> I panicked like an unreasonable, lovestruck girl when I sensed he wanted more space and therefore, got put into the 'crazy' category. Guys, please confirm but I'm pretty sure I know this already: I<b>f a guy puts a girl in the crazy box, you don't EVER get out of the crazy box.</b> Sigh. It's like guys getting put into the Asshole box. Or worse, the Friend box. UNFAIR FOR EVERYONE but since when was life ever fair?<br />
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Events that unfolded after this incident made it clear to me that <u>it was not love</u>. Damn it, hindsight always kills me. Usually it might have taken me weeks to figure out, but I'm so much wiser now. If he had loved me, he would not have put me in the Crazy box. If I had loved him, I wouldn't have whined about him wanting to do what was most important to him. I wouldn't have been a selfish little moron trying to keep him all to myself. If he had really loved me, he wouldn't have shut down and pulled away from me. If I had really loved him, I wouldn't have looked at him like he was magic but instead with loyalty and kindness. If we had loved each other, we would have tried to work things out. <b>Love is about putting each other first, and making them feel secure and supported. Real love is accepting each other and seeing each other clearly, then choosing to commit to them anyway. </b><br />
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<i>So I failed at falling in love</i>. HAHA! Figures. It was only seven days, but the withdrawals are painful, and oddly feel quite similar to heartbreak. As in, it hurts. <b>I could have loved him</b>, if he had stuck around-but the fact that he didn't just shows it wasn't meant to be. I feel much, much better though after writing/processing this...and you know what? Next time I'll know the difference. I know there will be a next time because I'm actually not crazy. In fact, I'm going off to be amazing now. I love my bed.<br />
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<br />Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-62526454101020123432014-09-14T16:15:00.001-07:002014-09-14T16:36:50.239-07:00My favorite summer things to do in Oregon<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been spending most of my time doing things rather than
writing about them, and I’m a bit sorry but not sorry for
doing so. This tends to happen most during the summer time, and since the end
is near I’ve been saying YES to every opportunity in or around town that arises
for me to bask in summer adventures in all her glory. Here are some activities
I highly recommend to do, in no particular order, in case you wanna live in Oregon for a summer (or
forever):</div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-Driving and hiking around the <b>Columbia River
Gorge</b>: Along the border of Washington and Oregon, these are my favorite views
of the Pacific Northwest. Drive up a smooth highway carved off the edge of
endless forest-covered mountains, with a sparkling river below, and stop at
trailheads to begin your hike. There are numerous hikes up along this Gorge and
they are all fantastic. My favorite is still Angel’s Rest, because the views
are spectacular and I’ve seen the most chipmunks there. The Multnomah Falls are
in this area as well, so is Crown Point and you can continue up to Hood River. Check out these
hikes: </span><a href="http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Columbia_River_Gorge_Hikes" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Columbia_River_Gorge_Hikes</a><br />
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-<b>Floating down the Sandy River</b>. It’s a thing. This
is the perfect adventure with your friends on a sizzling hot summer day, when
you’ve got the whole day to worry about nothing. Make sure you have at least
two cars, one to park at the start (wherever you choose to start, Dabney is the
most popular lot) and one at the end (Lewis and Clark is where most people turn
in). Grab a cooler, stock it with beverages, bring rope to tie your group together,
load up your tubes and get your tan on. I love dipping into the water when it
gets too hot, toasting to new friends along the way, and extra kudos if you’ve
got waterproof speakers! Beware; you may be sunburnt with a midday hangover by
the time you pull your inner tubes out of the water. Prepare to spend the majority of your day in the river, the float can take anywhere between 3-4 hours to 7 hours depending on the current. Make sure not to leave any litter behind!</span><br />
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-<b>Beer festivals</b>. No summer in town is complete without spending numerous weekends chipping in those tokens for multiple tasters of delicious beer. I think I’ve hit almost every major beer fest this summer, from the organic, local, specialties and internationals. I usually hear about them by word of mouth. I love the white tents, the drunken old people, the confused lines for tapped out editions, the accompanying concerts in parking lots and parks, and running into everyone from high school. Most of all I love how they’re always outside and beer just tastes better when you can drink it outside! Here’s a nifty guide: <a href="http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-21936-beer-guide-2014-calendar.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-21936-beer-guide-2014-calendar.html</a></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-<b>Movies at the park</b>. They’re free, play classics,
and you can have a dinner picnic with your friends! Perfect weekday activity
for a chill evening, plus the location is always changing so you can explore
new parks. Make sure to bring a blanket, lawn chairs if you’re smart, and
munchies! The only downside is that you can’t drink alcohol, because it’s a
park and you might be watching Nemo with little kids. Upside, the little kids
might give you their glow sticks for no reason. It’s happened to me. Looks like
the season just ended, but there’s always next year! </span><br />
<a href="https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/489142" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/489142</a><br />
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-<b>Drinking on bar patios</b>. I’m really good at drinking
beer when there are so many amazing brews just steps from my door. I love
sitting in the back patios where they have strings of little Christmas lights
above the tables and you can gather tons of your friends or go on causal dates.
There are plenty of these patios all around Portland, but the ones on 21</span><sup style="text-indent: -0.25in;">st</sup><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> are the most convenient for me cause I live there. The warm summer night breeze combined with a chilled mojito is just perfect for hanging out on those wooden bench tables. Decks close at 10pm. I also love catching up with friends down by the Brewery blocks at Rogue, Deschutes and Bridgeport. I have also been introduced to Bailey’s Taproom this summer and it’s changed my life a little. The possibilities are endless, so you’ll never go thirsty. Below left is the patio outside of Valentine's, and right is White Owl Society. </span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-Running up Washington Park to see <b>the Rose
Garden</b>. I do this at least once a week, and I know its cliché but it’s my happy
place. The Portland International Rose Garden draws visitors from all over to
admire the vast rows of roses in all colors and variations. It’s just a
beautiful sight and there are always people with big cameras and couples
strolling through. There are numerous trail paths weaving around the garden and
I will sometimes continue on running into the woods. I think the time to go is
in June/July, but it’s September now and there are still plenty of roses in
full bloom. Don’t miss the Japanese Gardens while you’re there. </span><a href="http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?&propertyid=1113&action=viewpark" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?&propertyid=1113&action=viewpark</a><br />
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<span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">-Heading out to <b>the Oregon Coast</b>. I hesitate in
putting this one in cause I’ve only made it out to the coast once this summer,
but I hope to get out there again soon, plus I grew up making multiple trips a
year. The Coast is about 2-3 hours out from Portland, depending on which beach
you have chosen. Seaside is my favorite for a touristy beach, and Pacific City
is my favorite getaway beach. The Pacific Ocean is NOT warm, but the sand is hot in the summer time, and I LOVE the little towns and seaside
cottages. The seafood is phenomenal (have oysters! Clam chowder! Crab
omelets!), have an ice cream and rent a funky bike. The sunsets are gorgeous on
the coast, and remember to bring a windbreaker. </span><a href="http://traveloregon.com/cities-regions/oregon-coast/" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">http://traveloregon.com/cities-regions/oregon-coast/</a></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-<b>Going to Timbers Games</b>. I went to my first game
on a whim, and I knew it wasn’t going to be my last. The Portland Army is a
fierce and passionate crowd as any-if you come to a game you must sit in the
Army section. We have our own war chants and victory songs, and the audience is
so captivated and fueled on microbrews that no one sits down. If you love
soccer, you will have a blast. If you don’t, you will still have a blast and
probably leave as a lifelong Timbers fan. Season is almost over, so grab your
tickets! Here are some chants for your entertainment: </span><a href="http://timbersarmychants.blogspot.com/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">http://timbersarmychants.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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<b>-Skipping brunch to go for pho or ramen</b>. I’m not going to go too far into the crazy food scene here, so I’ll just stick to this. As much as I love a nice omelet and hashBROWNS, after a wild night out on the town all I want is broth and noodles. It might be an Asian thing, and it’s a good thing cause the lines for the best noodle joints aren’t 2-3 hours long and the worse thing when you’re hung over is having to wait for food. My favorite place for wonton noodles is Good Taste in Chinatwon. For pho it’s gotta be Pho Hung on 82<sup style="text-indent: -0.25in;">nd</sup> although Luc Loc is trendier and closer so I go there too. I just discovered Boxer Ramen and I’m so happy it’s down the street from my house, and definitely hits the spot. <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">My
picks are confirmed here, under the 10 Best Asian Noodles in Portland: </span><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/eat/portland/best-asian-noodles-in-portland" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">http://www.thrillist.com/eat/portland/best-asian-noodles-in-portland</a><br />
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-Always
having <b>back up indoor activities.</b> Remember it still rains here, that’s why we
have living room theaters, Glowing Greens 3D underground mini-golf ranges, DIY
painting studios, Powell’s Bookstore, Ground Kontrol Arcade, and of course our
cozy homes. I suppose beer can also be consumed indoors once we have to. I’ve
spent so much time outside this summer I’ve barely been home. Right now I’m in
bed on a Sunday and I wanna stay here all day.</span><br />
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There is still SO, so much more to do in and around the city that I don’t know about or haven’t gone to yet. That’s another thing I love about this place, that it’s a new city to me because it’s evolved so much but the roots are still where I remembered them. I am looking forward to Autumn, and all that entails. Pumpkin beer, haunted corn mazes, OSU football games…I’m ready for you. <o:p></o:p><br />
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**All photos are my own except the the movies in the park one. Mine all turned out too dark for those :) </div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-OVNLCIARdlM%2FVBYX-Z0SYxI%2FAAAAAAAAA6k%2Fish7lpTuye4%2Fs1600%2Fimage_7.jpeg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVNLCIARdlM/VBYX-Z0SYxI/AAAAAAAAA6k/ish7lpTuye4/s1600/image_7.jpeg" -->Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-50011870796071077032014-08-18T00:39:00.001-07:002014-08-18T00:46:16.474-07:00Redundant Love Advice Part Three (All About Tinder)Seeing all these beautiful wedding photos emerge on my newsfeed every weekend makes me feel weird. First of all, they're people my age. Younger than me, even. Second of all, WHY WASN'T I INVITED TO THE PARTY? Jk. Uh, I'm available as a plus one, okay? As long as it's not a date...<br />
<br />
Third, it's a reminder that relationships are hard to keep forever, so when two people commit to doing it, it's worthy of a celebration. First dates are not, as they are easy come and easy go. This week was a rough one, and at the end of it, it's plain for me to see that I can be an expert at beginning a relationship, but I sure as hell suck at keeping one.<br />
<br />
<b>So I dipped my toes into Tinder on Monday,</b> 50% out of curiosity and 50%...well actually I guess boredom. I feel like everyone disses it, but have it themselves. If you're reading this and you're single-either you're already on it or you've thought of it or you've done it in the past. I know who you are!!!<br />
<br />
I could only bear to swipe right once in about every 80 pics...which didn't surprise me at all. I often got stuck with just my own face, Tinder desperately trying to gather more men within my 5 mile radius to reject. Guys on Tinder in Portland need to take their sunglasses off, trim their beards, and do something other than stand in front of a waterfall with their baby niece. Anyways, I quickly matched with a handful of suitors and swiftly accepted arrangements to meet up throughout the week. I chose tall handsome men with remarkably nice smiles and funny profile lines. I'm deleting my Tinder tonight though.<br />
<br />
Long story short, <i>don't date if you're not actually looking for a relationship</i>. Tinder is indeed good for people that want to date causally and hook up, but there's definitely potential for more if that's what both parties are interested in. I enjoyed going on dates, but at the end of the week I felt like I missed out on a lot of activities and time I would rather have spent with friends or by myself. I won't be making plans to see any of them again.<b> Dating without a purpose made me feel unbalanced and I didn't like it.</b> I'm not ready to fall in love and start a relationship, so I had to cut out the actions of pretending to do so. Plus, 'meeting up for a casual drink' all the time will eventually make you fat. For the record though, the Tinder dates I met accurately reflected their photos and I was quite impressed and pleased that they existed. Guess I was lucky!<br />
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So what is my amazing, pivotal advice for everyone out of all this?<br />
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1. <b>BE PUNCTUAL</b>. This is kind of unrelated, but important. If you are running late, keep them updated. This is my #1 deal breaker/pet peeve. Respect people's plans and just imagine that they are missing their mom's birthday to hang out with you. They could be. You wouldn't leave them hanging on their sofa while they could be having cake with their family, would you? WOULD YOU?! For me, every time I make plans it means that I'm saying no to something else. If that person is late, I feel upset because I could have spent that time doing something more fun than waiting.<br />
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2. <b>Don't date if you're not open and ready to start a relationship.</b> It sucks to meet someone incredible and then have to let them down. This should be obvious, but some people (hi hi hi hi) forget.<br />
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3.<b> Reject/accept rejection gracefully</b>. To boys and especially girls, be kind when you are saying no. I have a hard to navigating this skill...I am just awkward about it and sometimes-I'll only admit it on here-I play dumb. I'm no idiot lol but I need to work on being more straightforward. But however you do it, always be kind.<br />
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If they say no to you, notice <u>how</u> they deliver the news. If they were gracious and honest, then realize that they aren't complete assholes-they are just not ready and the situation is not right. Respect them, even if it hurts. I can personally relate to this. If they aren't nice about it, let them go cause you don't want to date mean people anyway.<br />
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4. <b>Be happy for your friends that are getting married or engaged.</b> You'll be there too someday, and they'll be there, 'liking' all your photos and offering marriage advice. Ask them for the name of their photographer if you love their photos, and keep a secret list to go for YOUR wedding someday. After all, you'll want your photos to look great on Facebook too ;)<br />
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My lonely Tinder screen because I've so kindly rejected everyone. </div>
<br />Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-90991462717724098302014-08-11T01:57:00.003-07:002014-08-11T02:00:07.186-07:00Redundant Love Advice Part Two This one is meant for the ladies. What this really is, is a reminder to myself as well. Being a single girl in Portland has been very…interesting. It doesn't help that I'm not particularly attracted to bearded, vegan men that love their bikes more than their own souls. However, all you other women that are into that are golden, because the guys here as a whole are friendly, adventurous and intelligent.<br />
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I really don't have many single girl friends. I wish I did, so I would have more playmates to go out with. But the reality is that most of my best friends are taken, and so I've been left to navigate through solo-land alone. Sure I love bouncing advice and thoughts off people, but the choice is always up to me at the end. I have built up plenty of knowledge and my own theories throughout the years, but as we grow and evolve, so does the way we handle ourselves in relationships. Oh man, disclaimer again: I am drinking boxed wine in my bedroom full of Ikea furniture on a Sunday night. Take everything I write with a grain of salt, and a shot to chase it down if needed.<br />
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Here's what I think the world (of women) need to know:<br />
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<b>1. Know your worth.</b> You are worth AT LOT. We are beautifully made, smart and (I quote Mao Zedong) we hold up half the sky. So, don't let men treat you badly. Badly is being disrespectful, degrading, dismissive, controlling, and intentionally hurtful. Know the difference between that and a guy just being a guy (ie. busy rock climbing so he doesn't text you back immediately.) I'm still learning the difference, and sometimes I have to take two steps back before I can cool off and see that miscommunication happens.<i> I tend to think that every guy out there is secretly plotting to woo me and destroy me. </i>But seriously, if you meet a guy and he really isn't making an effort to engage you, he's probably not going to be investing in any type of relationship. Suck it up, and move on. Don't waste your precious time, girl.<br />
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I was/am such a daddy's girl (Hi dad!). When I was in my teens, he used to take me out on dates. My dad always picked me up ON TIME (more on this for the guys in next post), paid for our dinners, listened to me talk for hours, and would always call me back. It's set a certain standard for me. It's not hard for men to do, and I think every woman deserves to feel treasured and safe if she is with someone. That's why when a guy's idea of a first date is to invite me over for a movie at his place after 10pm, I basically tell him to quit being a bro and write him off. Don't put up with anything less than what you deserve, whether it's your first date or a three year relationship.<br />
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<b>2. Give the nice guys a chance. </b>They will usually treat you much better than the hot, shirtless guy who has girls hanging all over him on his Instagram. But really, don't scratch them off until you get to know them a bit. Chances are, they will be the ones who look at you like you're magic, and they will be the ones with crazy hobbies and will invite you to share their world. They will be the ones who are proud to introduce you to their friends and family. They are ambitious, secure, and ready to have someone to love. <i>They are the ones who aren't afraid to plan out a future with you, and they are the type I will probably marry</i>. Nice guys are usually average looking, nerdy, and have really great smiles. I dated a nice guy once, and I was so glad I did. As I got to know him more, his personality made him more attractive to me and the way he respected me built up my gratitude and love for him. You will find this type of guy on your sports team, at the bookstore, sushi restaurants, career summits, start up mixers or REI. And traveling, of course.<br />
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Don't date them if all you want is to feel worshiped, that's really unfair. If anything, that is the one thing that holds me back from dating nice guys…if they seem too engrossed with you as a trophy. You'll know if that's the case and if so, just gently…ignore them. LOL sorry I know I should say something else but I don't know how to handle this either. And this is unfortunately common for single girls sometimes. Sigh, friend zone announcement it is.<br />
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<b>3. Go ask him out, dammit.</b> Guys LOVE it when you make the first move. Why? Imagine being the one always having to throw yourself out there and risk a 50/50 chance of rejection. It's breaking an obnoxious norm, and makes you instantly wildly cool. I know, that means YOU have to risk rejection. But guess what, the chances of that are WAY lower than we think, and especially since if we ask first, they will be so shocked they will probably say yes. They won't say no unless they are already in a relationship, or, in my case, gay. That's right, I get kindly rejected by gay men often. At least they think it's flattering and adorable and I just feel stupid, not rejected.<br />
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Anyways, the worst that can happen is that they say no. You'll live. But success rates are extremely high and you'll start off with them already impressed. I know, because I am not afraid to ask guys out if I see what I like, which doesn't happen here though...<br />
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<b>4. Enjoy being single. Let's be real. If you're single, it's not gonna last long.</b> Think about when you've been in a fight w your significant other and it's going nowhere and you feel so emotionally attached yet drained and you kinda want to just die…and then you see your girlfriends frolicking along getting ice cream with cute guys. IF YOU'RE SINGLE, BE GRATEFUL. I have to tell myself this sometimes, but it's so true. Being single is a gift, it's a precious window of time for us to figure out our careers and try to balance life out and deepen our friendships. It's our time to become more of who we want to be in the future and to define what we want for our lives. This is our break so that we can catch our breath and enjoy each day at our own pace. I love being able to join my friends for happy hour whenever I feel like it. I love setting my own schedule for the gym, and changing my mind if I feel like it. I don't need permission for how to spend my money, I don't even have to shower if I don't feel like it! Also, single people that are content being single don't have to tell people they are happy being single all the time, because they are so busy being happily single. I somehow have the energy to do both, lucky you!<br />
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Would I have gone off backpacking with friends if I wasn't single? …well actually yeah. This is the Upper Twin Lake in Oregon, was here yesterday.</div>
Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-28047556184656999202014-08-05T23:45:00.001-07:002014-08-06T00:00:12.200-07:00Redundant Love Advice Part OnePeople wanted me to write a thing or two about relationships. Why? <b>I don't know</b>-I've always failed at them and they've sucked the life out of me. I guess I should probably write a book about what <i>doesn't </i>work and what yo<i>u shouldn't</i> look for and what you <i>can't</i> believe? I brought this up today to a friend (an ex, nonetheless) and he brilliantly pointed out that people who write about relationships don't have to have solutions, they only have to address a common issue that people can relate to and get people thinking and/or inspired. So then I guess I'm good to go!<br />
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The best thing about having such a vast history of unique, intense, traumatizing and blissful encounters with love is that in the end, you know yourself more than anyone else can claim to.<br />
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I guess since most of my girlfriends are all either hitched or hooked up forever, it's been my guys friends who have been picking at my brain. They want to know the answer to the most perplexing question known to the history of manhood: <i>how to get a girl to fall in love/go out with you</i>. Different things yes, but whatever-one thing could lead to the other. Rather, sometimes I wonder if they want to know how to get a girl similar to myself. I'm only concluding that because they're asking me and not married women, whom would actually know what they're talking about.<br />
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The following are strictly OPINIONS from the perspective of THIS happy, single, charming, active, attractive (society tells me anyway!) well-traveled, educated, and employed 26 year old woman. I shouldn't even be giving advice but hey, you asked and thus you shall receive.<br />
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1. First, start with the basics and <b>be on my leve</b>l.<i> Be the type of person you wish to date</i>. (ie. be happy, single, charming, active, attractive, well-traveled, educated and employed..and preferably older than me.) Simple.<br />
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2. Second,<b> love your life</b>. Have hobbies, passions, projects, dreams, and/or exciting plans for the future. Be working on improving yourself and others around you. I melt for guys that volunteer. I also love it when someone starts talking about doing something they love, and you can feel the energy beaming out of them because they're so passionate about it. It could be a sports team they play in, a community group they're starting, why, even if they are beer connoisseurs and love beer tasting! <i>Enthusiasm for life is infectious,</i> and if they have it, I'll want to share it with them and share mine as well! Just have something to share and bring to the table, okay?<br />
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3.<b> Be assertive. </b>I cannot emphasize this enough. <b>BE ASSERTIVE!!!</b> What HAPPENED, American millennials?! Why do guys beat around the bush so much? It's such a shame when guys I would otherwise be interested in, just don't ask. They hint and suggest and elude...but I gotta see if you've got the balls. Pretty girls can be intimidating I know, but I bet you would be surprised at how relieved they would be if you just <i>said the words</i> instead of complimenting them here and there all day like everyone else does. What are the words? "<b>Do you want to go out with me <strike>sometime</strike> this friday? There's <span style="font-size: x-small; text-decoration: underline;">(something cool going on)</span></b><b> at the _________. Can I pick you up/meet you there at _______pm?" </b>Is that so hard? And if they can't make it, they'll be impressed enough to offer to do something else another time! Works for me, anyways. If I absolutely cannot stand you and you smell, then I will say no and walk away. That's the worst that can ever happen and it's not even that bad! Just imagine me stepping into dog poo.<br />
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4. Speaking of smells, <b>wear cologne</b>. Divine cologne, of course. This is probably just me. I love it when a guy smells good. It either means that he's putting in effort to present himself nicely (which are always +1) or he just has good taste. It's also a pheromone thing. I'm a hypocrite at this because I rarely wear perfume. I get paranoid of spritzing too much and giving people around me headaches. I should work on that.<br />
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I know guys, this is a lot and it's mind blowing ;) Maybe I should stop and let it all sink in while I sleep since I love my bed more than any man right now. If you like what I've written or are strongly offended either way let me know. If you get a date this weekend I take credit for it. I think most of you will make fun of me and that's okay, I CAN TAKE IT CAUSE I KNOW MYSELF haha I still haven't opened up my comment boxes again due to a crazy stalker, so write me via FB :) Or better yet, you give ME some advice.<br />
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Buenas noches x<br />
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-11540036039349904622014-08-04T22:42:00.000-07:002014-08-04T22:54:42.225-07:00So begins AugustHello, August. You came quickly. Remember when summer used to be defined by summer breaks from school? Now it's just the weather that makes the difference, and thank goodness in Portland, summer has been endless. Wow, I don't know if I've ever loved a city more.<br />
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It's challenging for me to write about Portland, because I don't really know who is reading this and who I am writing it for. If you live in Portland, nothing I write is interesting haha. If you don't? Maybe Portland will become a dream destination. It is one of the last 'affordable' cool cities to live in, and everyone here is pretty much as happy as a clam.<br />
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For the past two weeks I've been in training at work to gear us up to the next level, yo. It's been an interesting two weeks, with some bonding and tiffs in work relationships. It's interesting to see how the dynamics of a start up office can evolve with a continuous influx of new hires, internal promotions and an ever-transforming office space. We even had a surprise visit from one of our CEOs, Brian Chesky on Thursday. Thank goodness I was in a dress and not sweats that day. Oh also, I dyed my hair blonde. I love it, it's everything I had ever imagined, and blondes really DO have a lot of fun! I'm not sure why it took me so long...<br />
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On Friday following pizza and avoiding beer after work, I went to check out a game of Ultimate Frisbee at a park in my neighborhood. It was pitch black by 10pm, but we had light up headbands and frisbees, and<i> it was so much fun OMG.</i> I met a whole set of strangers, potential friends if I return, and I think I will. If you're in Portland, you should come check it out! Every Friday at 9am, Wallace Park in the NW. :) They're cool people. I'm a cool people.<br />
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Saturday was for floating the Sandy river. We had a BBQ and then invaded the river! Basically you grab a bunch of friends, blow up inner tubes, and float down the river with a cooler of beer, surrounded by the forest and nature and people getting high in the bushes off the banks. It's one of my favorite Oregon summer activities, and no summer is complete without a river float. It can get kinda messy and you have to be careful in certain parts of the river, but if you use common sense and don't get too wasted, it's a perfect way to spend a Saturday. Probably one of the best ways, cause you can't do it anywhere else that I've been to.<br />
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I went searching for 'my' cafe on Sunday. Everyone in Portland has a go-to cafe in their neighborhood. I don't yet...so I set out to find one. Long story short, I failed. Vivace, Barista..I just know when I want to spend a whole day at a cafe and neither of them were it. Well, I stayed at one for the majority of the day anyway to iron out details for my upcoming trip. The more I research South America, the more obsessed I'm getting! I also had my first Spanish tutoring lesson on Sunday. My tutor was sooooo impressed with how good my spanish already is. NOT! But I have no doubt I'll be ready when the time comes, and I'm so excited!<br />
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I spent today mostly outside, relaxing at a park and getting ice cream with my bestie Julie and her daughter. Although I'm terrified of having my own, I can't help but admire how much my friend has grown and pulled up her big-girl panties to be a mother. Most of my besties from high school are mothers too now, actually. While everyone is posting pictures of their kids on Instagram, I just post food. At least you can eat food? But really, parenthood is incredibly overwhelming and I am so proud of them for taking it on.<br />
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I'll leave you with something that stuck out to me from our CEO's spill that made us all teary. Lots of things he said made us teary..I'm not sure how he does it. But this applies to everyone reading:<br />
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<i>"If you end up living a thousand lives, and <b>this one</b> gets to be one of them, you are lucky."</i> -B. Chesky<br />
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After work on Thursday we were surprised by an army of pedicabs to take us to our company happy hour. Most spoiled employees ever? I think so <3 </div>
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Every summer I've been away, I've dreamt of coming back for this! </div>
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Hitting up the urban parks throughout the city center. Oh, summer time. </div>
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I still love that vino blanco con mis amigos! </div>
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-36120872187054576672014-07-23T22:04:00.001-07:002014-07-23T22:04:48.927-07:00For the record"We all have the potential to fall in love a thousand times in our lifetime. It's easy. They all count. But there are certain people you love who do something else; they define how you classify what love is supposed to feel like. These can be the most important people in your life, and you'll meet maybe four or five of these people over the span of 80 years. But there's one more tier to all this; there is always one person you love who becomes that definition.<br />
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It usually happens retrospectively, but it happens eventually. <b>This is the person who unknowingly set the template for what you will always love about other people, even if some of these lovable qualities are self-destructive and unreasonable. </b>The person who defines your understanding of love is not inherently different than anyone else, and they're often just the person you happen to meet the first time you really, really, want to love someone. But that person will wins. They win, and you lose. Because for the rest of your life, they will control how you feel about everyone else."</div>
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-Instagram of a past love.</div>
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You win. </div>
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-79168528277832911252014-07-20T23:03:00.000-07:002014-07-20T23:28:13.861-07:00Why I CAN have nice things now. I never thought I would enjoy being alone. <b>But I so do.</b><br />
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Maybe it's a sign of getting older, or maybe it's just how life goes when you get more of a sense of self. Maybe this whole time I've been a closet introvert. I really don't know how it happened, but I'm so happy and relieved to do things alone lately that I surprise myself. </div>
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I have mixed feelings about the fact that, most of my life I've had a boyfriend. Like, ever since I started dating. Looking back, none of them worked out and I was always happiest when I was single. It's hard to remain single. I've concluded that it must be because girls are the most attractive when they are content and passionate about life. Men are drawn to confident, ambitious women. I'm not saying that women in relationships aren't-I know many strong and wonderful women whom are blooming with great men by their sides. I'm just not one of them, and sadly I don't think I ever have been. I think I've shared an excerpt from this uber-depressing single Christian women's book once about two types of women. One type would rather use paper plates and plastic forks at home than nice china because they are waiting to find husbands to buy nice things and make a home with. The other type buys nice things even if they are alone, just for the sake of enjoying nice things themselves. Hell, they might even throw it down for a house on their own. Anyways...I've decided I can have nice things. </div>
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And I think after over a decade of dating, I now feel nothing but overwhelmingly free. Just, completely free and whole. I don't need another half after all, and I'm not missing any pieces. It's liberating when you suddenly realize you don't WANT to date. I only want play dates. And not <i>that </i>type of playdate either, you pervs. I also love my old/new friends but I don't need to be with them all the time either! It's unreal. Well, if you know <i>me</i> that is.<br />
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My mother is worried that I must have given up on life and taken to the bars, but no mother. I'm fine! I only drink a lot because there are so many cool places to drink near me, I have such great company, and Oregon beer is the BEST. I'm better than fine. I LOVE my job and feel tremendously lucky and grateful every day to be working in a community of other energetic, adventurous young folks that believe in connecting people as they explore the world. I can't believe my deepest fear is directly countered by my work slogan-<b>BELONG ANYWHERE</b>. I refuse to comment on the new logo.<br />
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So what HAVE I been doing? Well, I'm planning a long, single backpacking journey to South America later this year. I started volunteering at a homeless cafe. I got a new phone and with it, and phone contract (haven't committed to one for the last 5 years). I helped design and create a creative temp space room at work. Planning a getaway to Hawaii this fall. Facials. Went to another Timbers game. Taking up every opportunity to go on hikes and breweries. Went camping to remind myself I don't actually like camping. Trying really hard to go to the gym regularly and keeping an eye out for alternative fitness programs. Shopping for pretty clothes and shoes I like. I found a spanish school so I can start taking lessons again soon! Who knows, maybe I'll get a canvas and even start painting again. <i>All these things make my soul happy.</i><br />
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I don't know where the journey will go, but I know where it begins.<br />
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PS. If any of you have responded to a post earlier last week about an offer by my work, don't worry! It was postponed but it will roll out this upcoming week. :)<br />
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PPS. Don't forget Brewfest this week!!!<br />
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Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-12129160511902089202014-06-17T23:41:00.001-07:002014-06-17T23:41:57.156-07:00Avocados, Portland, and lost love. I don't really know where to start here, I guess I can start anywhere. At times when I'm feeling down, I draw myself to tears of frustration from trying to find words to understand my emotions. It's been a long time since the last time I felt this way.<i> I find it hard to justify feeling sad, when I have so many blessings in my life.</i> I <strike>almost</strike> feel guilty for not being happy constantly, because honestly I truly lead a wonderful life.<br />
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But we have to remember to be kind to ourselves, and even more importantly, to just <b>BE</b> ourselves-whether we're in good form or not.<br />
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Writers write best when they are sad anyways, me thinks.<br />
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I am sad because I am heartbroken again. And although it is not a new feeling, it always hurts more than I remembered, and cuts deeper than I realize. I love avocados. My heart is like an avocado, scooped out and smashed into glop, left in a glass bowl for people to smear on their bagels every morning at work. Wait, no..but those avocados are so good.<br />
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Somehow I still cannot control my ability to love and to hope.<b> I can't believe I still believe in love</b>. Even though I am a bit crazy, selfish and traumatized, I have faith that God still has the perfect man out there for me somewhere. Maybe He's still waiting for me to learn how to master the art of patience, which I dread may be inherit in my character (impatience), and become the ruin to any forever-type of relationships.<br />
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For now at least I can sulk on my futon bed, because I don't deserve a king sized bed because I am 26 and alone. To be fair, people have survived worse things in life.<br />
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VENT SESSION ENDED.<br />
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Switching gears, we checked off tons of Oregonian To Do's during his visit. I was so happy to host and finally show him my hometown as I've been rediscovering it myself. <i>There is something magical about watching someone experience a city you love, for the first time</i>. We've talked about it for so long, and I've been to Ireland three times, so it was due time for Cormac to journey to Portlandia.<br />
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Highlights:<br />
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Morning hike up to see the Rose Garden </div>
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Finding amazing brunch spots! </div>
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Biking around and enjoying downtown Portland (bikes not shown)</div>
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Saturday Market, Rose Festival, Meet the Fleet </div>
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Cormac capturing this priceless moment with my chipmunk pal </div>
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Hiking up Angel's Rest and stopping by Multnomah Falls </div>
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Having our fill of epic brunches, smiles included</div>
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Stayed in a cabin in the woods with alpacas! </div>
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Had a campfire and made s'mores <3 <3 </div>
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<span id="goog_29305137"></span><span id="goog_29305138"></span>I'm out of words for now, and I feel much better. No matter how bad today may have been, tomorrow may be the best day of your life-so just get through.<br />
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xoxo KalongKalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6577610587816691084.post-84203306660133541292014-06-02T00:12:00.001-07:002014-06-02T00:24:39.331-07:00A Portland Love Affair I never knew growing up native in NE Portland would some day make me a commodity in my own city. When I was overseas I got asked where I was from all the time. Now I'm back home and people STILL ask me where I'm from. And then when I say HERE, they go, 'Wow. A real Portlandian!' When did this happen?! Whatever, I'll take it.<br />
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Since I've been back in town, life has been more interesting than I remembered leaving it. I've never lived downtown before cause my parents were here, but since they aren't anymore I had the perfect excuse to find a lovely 1920's flat in NW, complete with a clawfoot bathtub and two roommates. It takes me about 20 mins every morning to stroll past parks and awakening boutiques to arrive at work. I adore my walks to work. Cyclists whiz by, guys with mustaches, cropped skinny jeans and messenger bags walk past, and homeless people wish me good mornings and compliment my hair. I mentally window shop as I pass by vintage furniture shops and thank God for the beautiful weather, and my job.<br />
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The vibe and culture at Airbnb in Portland is second to none. No boring people, no boring days. It is the aura of Portland herself in her grandest displays of hospitality. Which basically means bike storage areas, microbrews in the fridge, and endless vegan, gluten-free and organic catered lunches. We sit wherever we feel like, and I get a million GIF's a day of kittens and sitcom celebrities. There's always meet ups going on outside of the office, whether it's an organized afternoon of kickball + a keg, or karaoke nights. There's a lunch-time running group, a brunch group, an outdoor yoga group, everything and anything. I've been busy, and my alcohol tolerance has grown amusingly high. My colleagues are a younger, hip crowd in our mid 20's to mid 30's with dogs (that they bring to the office) and they all have fun, random facts and passions. Sometimes I feel like I don't fit in cause I don't professionally bike race or work part time as an EMT, but then it's obvious how much I DO. Since we're all so unique, we all fit in by just being different people. Ah, the diversity is wonderful.<br />
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I'm rediscovering so many new reasons to love Portland, and it's easy because there are so many people here to show me how.<br />
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One reason? Thrift shops. One of my roommates loves going to Goodwill for house furnishings. When I first went in there I was blown away by how much cool STUFF they had for so cheap! I've always had this mentality that thrift shops were only a place to donate things. But we actually bought silverware there for $.27 each piece. Think that's weird and unsanitary? So did I..until Sam pointed out that all restaurants reuse their silverware. Mind=blown. Also, there have been many times at work when I've complimented someone on their clothes and they'll tell me they got it at Goodwill or Salvation Army. And I am curious now.<br />
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Another reason? I never get bad coffee. Another reason? No such thing as a bad pint. Another? I live right across the street from Trader Joe's. Another? No sales tax. Another? The outdoors. Oh, yes.<br />
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The outdoors. After living in SE Asia and central America, every day I am happy to be breathing in clean, crisp air. I am also surrounded by trees, and trees make me happy-and so do roses, and they are blooming all over Portland as well. Actually, Washington Park is a few minutes walk from my block, and therein lies the landmark Rose Garden and plentiful hiking trails. Yesterday I went out to Sauvie Island, where I used to go U-pick fruit on weekends as a little girl with my family. Only now that we're grown ups, friends and I had mimosas all afternoon in the sand. This morning we drove along the Gorge and hiked up to Punchbowl to see some pretty waterfalls. Few weeks ago, we went out to the Oregon Coast and made a bonfire on the beach after our hair got all tangled from the relentless wind.<br />
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How's life? Excellent. How am I liking Portland? Very, very much so.<br />
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Sunny afternoon dipping toes in the Columbia River on Sauvie Island </div>
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Snippet of my Instagram of typical Thursday at work :) #airbnb</div>
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Bonfires on the coast at Rockaway Beach</div>
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Rummaging for the goods at Goodwill! I shall return. </div>
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Eagle Creek Trails, heading for the Punchbowl, a popular family friendly hike. </div>
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The infamous postcard sign of Portland. </div>
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My darling bathroom, still lots of touches to add! </div>
<br />Kalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861764760995638527noreply@blogger.com0