~:[CH5 - Day 181]:~ The Giving of Alms

~:[CH5 - Day 181]:~ The Giving of Alms

One of the things I liked best about visiting Yangon is that the our we have had has been a local tour. We've visited the local markets and eaten at local eateries. Today was more of the same as we wandered the streets and grabbed Mohinga for breakfast. As you look around the area, it is quite crowded and everyone working like clockwork in these confined spaces. The area may not be eye-catching, but when you look closely, you find one of the most beautiful things about this city. Every morning, you can find the monks walking the streets and as they do, they receive alms from the locals and while many people do not have much to give, they give what they can. As I look closer at the people, you see the goodness in their hearts and despite not having much, they appreciate all that they have. I think that there is a lot to take from this as we have been so consumed by materialism and personal gain, myself included. While sometimes I feel that I am generous, by being here just for a few days, I realize that my generosity could spread even further. As while I wandered the streets and later on the grounds of the Shwedagon Pagoda again, I began to realize that I have a long way to go to be where I hope to be one day. As my last night in Yangon wrapped up, I wandered the streets of Chinatown, grabbed some more street food, before calling it a night. As I leave here, I know that I must make it a point to appreciate all that I have and when possible continue to give what I can to those around me to help ease their struggles so that they may do the same for those around them. As while I know we need to survive, the people in Yangon have figured something out that has allowed them to have just enough to make them happy while not forgetting their responsibility to help those who are less fortunate than themselves whether through the giving of alms or simply with a gesture, greeting, or smile. 

~:[CH5 - Day 180]:~ Rising Above the City

~:[CH5 - Day 180]:~ Rising Above the City

It was a little crazy as we had to wake up super early to get to the airport on time, The hotel was nice enough to pack a huge box breakfast for us since we were leaving before breakfast opened. That's the kind of service that De Naga has always provided and is definitely a recommended hotel in Chiang Mai. In any case, we made it to BKK and caught our transport to DMK for our flight to Yangon. In contrast to Thai Airways, Air Asia is one of the worst airlines I've flown as even knowing the fees that they charge, they hit us with every single charge they could, even charging for water on the plane. What a shame! Of course, that could not ruin the trip. We flew into the newly completed Yangon Airport, which definitely left this strange feeling inside as it almost felt desolate. The immigration officers came running over as they were late,  however, the process was a lot easier than I expected. It was a relief when I saw our tour guide, as I had not received any confirmation from them and was worried that they would not come at all. In the end, we arrived at the hotel and had some rest time before we headed out. We learned some important phrases for Myanmar and also learned about the history and culture, we received our names in Myanmar (mine is Yan Aung), before we experienced more of the local life. We had coffee and tea on the street, browsed the local street market and later on in the evening, had dinner on the street in Chinatown which was absolutely amazing. The menu included clear broth, noodles, rice porridge, and fried rice. After, we wandered the streets of Chinatown and saw all the delectable treats they had to offer and I even ran across the "Great Wall of Durian" and the many trays of grasshoppers. However, the highlight of the evening was sitting and waiting for the Shwedagon Pagoda to light up. It's always been a goal of mine to see it and I was glad to be able to see the amazing pagoda and its surrounding temples. It was simply awe-inspiring! We had another wonderful tour guide, Nyi, who really gave us great information and we ended the night having a good old time with our guide and driver. I was taken aback by the city and despite its crazy atmosphere on the streets, the people that we met on the day were all pretty amazing. As they say, don't always judge a book by its cover and had I done that, I am not sure I would have enjoyed this city as much as I have already. As I closed out the night, I took one last look out the window to see the top of the pagoda from my window in this beautiful room that was much nicer than expected. I can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store, but if nothing else, today was simply golden, just like Shwedagon Pagoda. 

~:[CH5 - Day 179]:~ A Fairytale of Its Own

~:[CH5 - Day 179]:~ A Fairytale of Its Own

I awoke in the morning excited for the adventure that was ahead. I was headed to the Arts in Paradise museum (a 3D museum) in order to meet my sponsor child Ami and her family. I was a little sad that her older sister was unable to go since she started to work, however, it was great to see the rest of the family. As we ventured through the museum, it was great to see the family enjoy the experience. From playing in the desert sands, to the ancient temples, along waterfalls and even in a snow globe with Olaf. It took a little while for everyone to open up (some of which was due to the car sickness from the ride to Chiang Mai), however, once they did, it seemed as if everyone had a pretty good time. We were able to spend some time eating at KFC, which they picked for their lunch since they had not had it before and then we shopped around a huge store to get them some items that they needed. It was fun to see them run around the store and find things that they needed that sometimes we take for granted that we have and can afford. It was amazing being able to catch up with the family and to see how they have grown so much including Ami. We ended the day at Swenson's with some ice cream and a gift exchange before we said our goodbyes. The end of the day came way to quickly, but it feels in the process of sponsoring a child, I've gained a second family. As the day continued to go on, I was reminded that every costs incurred today and in the process of sponsoring this family has been well worth it. Being able to write to each other and to see her and her family grown has been absolutely priceless and this trek that I am on through Asia was meant for this day. I may have climbed Mt. Fuji, ate all the street foods in Manila and will have a few more adventures along the way, but these few precious moments with Ami and her family, will never be surpassed on this trip. I wished the day could be longer as the family drove back in an opened topped truck hoping that the rain would not come down on them, but at least in this moment, we continued our own story and I got to see firsthand what a small sacrifice could do. Interestingly enough, as we headed back to our hotel, our translator mentioned how she was once a child of Compassion and it showed just how much the support has helped in allowing her to now become a sponsor herself. While not everyone has the resources to become a sponsor, I believe that the simple idea of doing what you can to help others is something that we must all do and in the end, we'll realize that what we put in will all be worth it in the end, not for ourselves, but for all of society. After walking the streets of Chiang Mai, as I laid down exhausted, my last few thoughts were, this truly has been an amazing adventure. As while I will miss Ami and her family dearly, I know that my connection with them will continue on.

~:[CH5 - Day 178]:~ Continuing this Adventure

~:[CH5 - Day 178]:~ Continuing this Adventure

It was a late wakeup call which allowed a slow moving morning and even a nice relaxing breakfast provided by the hotel. I love De Naga because it has such a traditional feel and the breakfast is pretty solid for an included breakfast. Our guide arrived early so we ventured out on our way. It wasn't long before we warmed up to our guide and driver who were awesome. We ventured to our first destination where we rode an elephant who only wanted to eat and then white water rafted down a brown river, leaving my arms sore and exhausted. Our boat got turned around a few times, but luckily, we made it through just fine. Wet and tired, we headed off to the Longneck Village in Chiang Mai. It was very quiet since it is low season and it was nice to have the village to ourselves. It is amazing at how well the work is by the villagers. The rings the longneck women wear are about 5kg and they wear up to 25 rings. From there we were taken to the Eagle Track Zipline course where we grabbed lunch. The course was a 35 part course woven through the jungle of the area. It was quite amazing and fun and our two guides for this were pretty animated and playful. Once secured, they often joked with us which made it quite amazing. I finished by hanging high above them in the trees as we all sang, "I believe I can fly." For a moment, I was a bird. Sadly, the best part of the adventure ended, but as we drove back to the city, Jod and Joe made some great conversation and it was great learning a lot about them. Jod has his own trekking company, so if you ever want to trek in Chiang Mai, look up Inchai Trekking Tours. Joe was also pretty cool and we talked about electronic music. We had to say goodbye at some point and with a snap of a photo, it marked the end of our journey together. After a quick nap, the adventure continued through the streets of Chiang Mai, which ended with a fabulous meal filled with papaya salad, morning glory, crispy pork, and much, much more. It has been an exhausting adventure, but around every turn, there is something new and fresh and I've been able to meet so many new people along the way. 

~ :[CH5 - Day 177]: ~ Along the Road

~ :[CH5 - Day 177]: ~ Along the Road

It was another early wakeup as our taxi rolled in at just past 6am. It was sad to say goodbye to the beauty and comfort of the Henry. I was truly impressed by it and glad to have stayed there. It was a perfect compliment to the stop in Manila. The wait in the airport was a little nerve-wracking as with all the stories of the airport and the fact that I may have gone through the wrong line and didn't know if they'd let me through. All was well. The first flight landed in Bangkok and it was a little chaotic trying to find where to go since the transfer situation was a little different. We eventually found our way, grabbed some delicious food such as Tom Yum and then boarded to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai was much busier than the last time I landed here. It was Sunday so it was night walking market right by the hotel! I enjoyed the street food and shops and was able to get the last few things for my sponsor child. After venturing the city, I had to clean up my bag which got destroyed by an exploding shampoo bottle but all in all, I couldn't be mad as it was another fabulous night. In a new city you always find some amazing things and this has been another one of those days where you discover all the hidden secrets along the road that the show the true beauty of this places.

~ :[CH5 - Day 176]: ~ Another Sunset

~ :[CH5 - Day 176]: ~ Another Sunset

In a city that I did the least research and in one I only knew one person (that I know of), I had one of the best full day experiences yet. I guess that's the case when that one person is someone you have known for over half your life even if life split you apart so many years ago. After rushing to the train station at 5:15am, we jetted away and used our plane ride to grab some sleep. I don't remember much more than lunch but when we arrived, it would be a mountain full of memories including all of those from Hugh school cross country. Kristine took care of us like we never missed a beat as she suggested our beautiful hotel, the Henry which was a mix of history and art; she also took us around trying all the local street foods, seeing various sites and ended the day with a beautiful Manila Bay sunset. The night finished with a fun dinner at the Singing Cooks & Waiters Atop before closing the night at Black Market. I was exhausted but surely enough thankful for the love and care showed by someone who I had an ohana bond with and her wonderful friends. The people here were so nice and while we had to watch ourselves a little more closely, I was definitely sad to see the sunset on my Manila adventure. 

~ :[CH5 - Day 175]: ~ Contrast

~ :[CH5 - Day 175]: ~ Contrast

It took a lot longer than expected to ascend the mountain, but when we reached the top, I raced the guide to the last gate. He won of course. Of course, that didn't matter as we each enjoyed the thrill of reaching the summit of Mt. Fuji. Since it was off-season, everything was closed and with a strong wind, it would mean we wouldn't stay on the summit long, but walking around and enjoying the feeling of accomplishment was grand. Of course, the way down is always the more challenging part in terms of not getting injured. Most of us flew down the mountain, but we ended up taking a bit to get our whole group down. The fog and rain caused some issues as we ended up getting split up, but in the end, we were reunited. When we all finally arrived at 5th station, it was a relief and as we reflected on what we accomplished, it made the moment even more exciting. We continued to boast in our accomplishment and good fortune as the weather played in our favor. We wished the next group of three going up good luck as they had to deal with the weather and with some last minute tips, we said our farewells. As I reflected on my way back to Tokyo, I kept thinking how amazing it was that we were able to accomplish this. The group went in nervous but came out on top of the world. Looking around at the peak, you realize that it was a struggle to get to the top, but ultimately, everytI'm you face adversity, you must get up and keep on going and while life has its ups and downs, you need to be sure to see the best in all the moments you have. As exhausted as I was, I grabbed my ticket to the airport for tomorrow, grabbed some Yoshinoya, caught up with Dave over shabu shabu before heading to the Robot Restaurant. The stark contrast of this trip was evident as in a single day, I went from ten hours on a mountain to a night on the crazy and packed streets of Tokyo. It's been fun and I will miss you Tokyo, but another adventure awaits; well, that is if I can wake up for my train. 

~ :[CH5 - Day 174]: ~ Head in the Clouds

~ :[CH5 - Day 174]: ~ Head in the Clouds

We had a relaxing morning as our pickup was not until 9:30am which was hours after our normal departures this week. There was nervousness in our group as no one knew what to expect and the weather was a little unpredictable. We arrived at fifth station on the Subashiri Trail. We were hiking off season so the trail was closed and many of the huts were closed also. The weather was amazing as the clouds rolled through the majestic forests which made it seem movie like as we ascended the mountain. Our guide Yosuke cruised up the mountain non-chalantly and took us segment by segment up the mountain. We had a good group and we're able to ascend to just over 2700m today. We stopped at a mountain hut a little lower than planned since our planned hut was damaged in an avalanche. It was amazing being above the clouds and I was completely in love ... with the mountain that is. We talked and then ate a pretty hefty dinner which ended with curry before we all turned in. My cozy little cubby hole was nice and while it took me a bit to find the warmth I hoped for, I had a good night's sleep. It will be a tough trek tomorrow but I am excited to see what is ahead as I do not know what is ahead when your head is already in the clouds.

~ :[CH5 - Day 173]: ~ Good Fortune

~ :[CH5 - Day 173]: ~ Good Fortune

The change of pace was quite evident as we went from the more modernized city of Tokyo to being transported to a more historical Kyoto. Kyoto was truly amazing. After a long trek up to Kyoto, we wandered into the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove which was simply majestic. When look back at the pictures, it was sad but true ... there is no way that a picture can capture the beauty and amazingness of the grove. In the area, we wandered through a garden, around a few temples, and enjoyed the environment and feel of the area. The only thing I would say that wasn't good about the whole day was the boba. Gross, sadly. After eating curry udon, we headed to the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, which most people know because of the gates. While we were limited on time a bit, it was well worth it to venture through as many gates as possible. While couldn't complete them all, it was incredible to walk through as many as we did to see the amazingness of it all. We headed through the surrounding city and took in the smell of all the vendors. It was great to take it all in and we settled on a ramen shop that was barely noticeable. It wasn't crowded but I ended up ordering the cold ramen on a very humid day. It was absolutely wonderful. I cleaned out the bowl and was sad that I didn't have any more left. After buying a few things, we headed back and crashed the whole way back to Tokyo. It was a much needed rest. I headed out to meet my friend and after a pretty good dinner, we met up with another friend after she got off of work. We hung out in Shinjuku and I was lucky enough to be able to see a lot of the local life. His friend was fabulous as she was filled with so much energy and vibrancy! It was getting late, so I headed back home knowing that tomorrow will bring a super physically challenging day. As I look back on the day, as exhausting as it was, it was definitely a wonderful day filled with so many great surprises. As while I have not a clue what my fortune was, I'm sure that it resembled something of great days ahead, as it truly was another wonderful day. 

~ :[CH5 - Day 172]: ~ Masterfully Done

~ :[CH5 - Day 172]: ~ Masterfully Done

It was a strange feeling in the morning as I shot up wide awake at 5am and could not go back to sleep. My alarm was set for 5:45am, so there really wasn't much of a point. Trying to figure out this train system was a bit crazy and with going just as the rush hour was about to begin was not the best of decisions. We were packed in, but not as much as it would have been about thirty minutes later. After wandering around the terminal, we finally figured everything out and we were on our way to Shiroshizao Station. Being on the bullet train was amazing and watching how they transition the cars is just as amazing. I don't remember a thing from riding them before, but I won't forget much after riding them this time. It was incredible. We zoomed up Japan until we arrived at Shiroshizao Station where we took a cab to Zao Fox Village. It is quite expensive to get there via taxi, but there really isn't any other option. In the end, the trip was well worth it as it became a memorable part of the trip and I really did learn what the fox says. I'm not telling ;) I ventured back to Tokyo and hustled in order to get changed before heading out to Sushi Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi (the restaurant of Jiro's son). While not the original, it was still amazing. The tastes were indescribable, Takashi was quite entertaining and lively, and the experience as a whole was incredible. It was interesting to see how intricate his cuts were, how they paired everything and how they specified how to each every piece, and how strict he was when working with the other chefs as imperfection seemed something that he did not want to tolerate. Every motion was very calculate, every glass remained filled, and ever dish tasted as it should. After taking a picture and saying our goodbyes, we walked from Roppongi to Shibuya where we watched the amazing crossing and even ran into a group who was doing a signing. We relaxed before I headed to catch up with one of my friends who moved from Los Angeles back to Japan. It was great catching up and it was weird to see her after a few years. I was exhausted by the end of the night, but there was something about tonight that was truly masterful about each slice of the day.

~ :[CH5 - Day 171]: ~ A Change of Pace

~ :[CH5 - Day 171]: ~ A Change of Pace

It was a very short "day" as with the flight combined with the time change, I pretty much lost a day. However, there is never a lesson lost in a day, no matter how short. I noticed the efficiency in Japan, as we sped through the customs area and everything was pretty organized. I noticed the respect for even things as simple as passing by someone or following the line on the ground when waiting for your bags. I also noticed the technology and how everything seems a little updated. As I walked into the room, it was nice surprise to see a room that was a little bigger than expected, knowing that rooms in Japan can be very, let's say, cozy. However, the most important lesson I took from today was while watching movies on the plane. I ended up watching part of three movies and one in full, Himalayas. It was a movie about climbers from Korea and their challenges and adventures. I think the best part of the movie was thinking about the loyalty involved and no matter what you would have to go through, it was worth it if it was for someone you cared about, yet also making sure that it did not blind you from what was around. All in all, it was an exhausting short "day" and I am now ready to take on Tokyo! 

~:[CH5 - Day 170]: ~ When the Sky Meets the Sea

~:[CH5 - Day 170]: ~ When the Sky Meets the Sea

Life is and never will be perfect. There will be storms, you will fall, but the true testament of how life will be, if you can weather the storms and get up when you fall. Today was one of those days where every thing that tried to stop our beautiful trek failed all because we were ready. My alarm went off at our predesignated 7:00am after a 2:00am arrival. It was exhausting. However, by the time I got up, showered and ready, it was already 8am or so I thought. When checking on the weather, I realized that there was no light outside and it was then that I realized my phone never reset to the local time. My phone three hours ahead and I was ready to hike a few hours too early. I was able to get back to sleep, but deeply embarrassed. However, the mistake meant that we got to venture to the musubi cafe and enjoy some delicious food before heading on our hike. We headed up Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail and right when we did, it started to rain. The uphill dirt trail turned into mud and made it every challenging and despite the cloud cover, at every moment we turned back to see the view, the clouds cleared and even a rainbow appeared. As one of my past cross country teams said, "no rain, no rainbows." It was completely fitting. As we ventured up, we made it to the swing and headed up the stairs to catch the incredible views. On the way back down, we slipped, the entire way. Ultimately, I took two huge dives into the mud and I was covered in mud, but it ended up being a great laughing moment, as I got up and cleaned up as best as I could. After cleaning up, we drove up the coast and hit up the winward side of O'ahu with no time constraints and no schedule. We hit up a number of wonderful sites that I had not stopped at before eating at Ono Seafood and then Waiola for some shave ice where I got Obama's Rainbow. With some issues at check-in, we ended up being able to get through, catch the end of the NBA Finals and hang out for a bit before heading on our flight to Tokyo. It was a very exhausted, yet fun-filled "layover" in Honolulu, but I got see the beauty of life, both in the adventures it provided and in the natural beauty that O'ahu provided. Hopefully, we face less issues tomorrow, however, if there are issues, I know that I will do my best to get back up and get ready for everything else that comes my way. 

~:[CH5 - Day 169]: ~ Circles

~:[CH5 - Day 169]: ~ Circles

The morning brought the return of my normal hair. While I'll vary it, it was nice to have it back for a little while while I venture off to another place. I ran through all my errands for the day including cleaning my room. It was amazing to see it put pack in pre-trip/pre-video stages. As I began finishing up, I kept coming across things that I needed or even some sentimental items that brought back old memories. I headed off to grab some poke before stopping at the mall and Daiso to burn some time before we left. Terry came and picked us up and yelled, "Uber for Jason Watanabe" out loud and my mom thought he was actually an Uber. There was no traffic so we ended up being super early. We wandered around the lounge and finally got on the plane. The plane sat on the ground for awhile and I guess a lot of it had to do with a previous plane that had been canceled so our flight was completely filled. I don't remember much after that except for a man from Florida who said, whispered I have ADHD then proceeded to give us all blankets and when waking up, having a different person sitting there. When arriving in Honolulu, it was very late, but we had not eaten dinner, so we stopped off at Zippy's! It was already past midnight as we searched for our hotel. We circled around for awhile including the same block about nine times before and after checking in. We finally found the hotel and the parking garage and headed upstairs. The elevator was the tiniest thing ever. The room was super basic, but the bathroom was somewhat classic. Strange. It was 2am before I hit the bed and in a little bit, it would be off to lala land. It was an exhausting first day, but it's only half the journey to the mother land. I got a great story for tomorrow. Good night! 

~:[CH5 - Day 168]: ~ Making the Most of It

~:[CH5 - Day 168]: ~ Making the Most of It

It was my first day off of the year. I was determined to make the most of it. After waking up to clean up around the house, I headed out to meet a number of people. I chatted with Ian over Starbucks, Rhea over TapEx, then headed to Sender One to climb and eat Yoshinoya with Jamie. I was pretty beat after all of that and having to deal with the massive walls and challenging climbs such as the bouldering seen above. No, it is not a flipped picture and yes, I was struggling. I was cheating though, because I was holding two different colors. In any case, it was great refreshing my belay skills and learning a lot of new things thanks to the generosity of my friend Jamie! I rushed home to shower before heading out with my family to celebrate my dad's birthday! I am so really blessed to have a father who is so dedicated to our family and does all he can to make sure that we are taken care of. While the service was not good at his "favorite" buffet and we will likely not return, it was great to spend time with my family and just enjoy this celebration together. In the end, I typed up all the paperwork for the trip and organized it as much as I ever had before I headed out to Afters to meet up with a few more people. I did some laundry, packed, and spent my final day here in Cerritos appreciating all the wonderful things I have been blessed with. While adventures and friends await for me abroad, I'm going to make the most out of every moment I have here before I leave. It's truly been a blessing and I appreciate all these wonderful moments and all the people I have shared those moments with like days like today.

~:[CH5 - Day 167]: ~ Closing It Out

~:[CH5 - Day 167]: ~ Closing It Out

Almost as soon as I had left for Vegas, I was back. An early wake up led to a farewell and a departure from this "fantasy world" where you can go anywhere in the world that you want. As I ventured home, I thought about the year and recapped it all. It was an amazing year. I was pretty happy of everything that I survived and accomplished and while it was a tough year, it was worth it all in the end. The desks in my room were all jumbled, which made it a challenge to finish the clean up process, however, I moved the desks around and was able to clean up the room even though I ended up staying later into the evening. It's always a strange feeling when the cabinets are locked up, my desk is absolutely clear and nothing is on the white board (cleared after the photo). However, as soon as the chapter ends, another shall begin. For the seniors, it will be one in whatever school they decide to attend or whatever occupation they will begin their career; for the underclassmen, it will be another year older and another year wiser (maybe); for the incoming freshman, it's a new environment that they'll need to adapt to; and for the teacher, it's a new group of minds that they must fill with knowledge and test if they can remember and use this information going forward. There is so much time and effort put in by so many people and while there is a lot going on, the story is not about our rankings, how many awards we win, or even what other people think about us; however, it's all about, did you impact that life of someone else today? Did you learn something that you can apply today? Did you grow today? Did you challenge yourself today? Etc, etc. etc. Everyday is filled with a question and a self-analysis and it is your job to use that analysis to figure out, what is the right answer for YOU? For everyone, there will be a different answer, however, what remains constant is, we must do what we can to make this world a better place and as I close this message out, I remind you that while a job may provide you with riches greater than you could have ever imagined, the richest of rich experience riches that they could not ever have imagined and it is for this experience whether among peers, among colleagues or somewhere in between that will ultimate make us all better. 

~:[CH5 - Day 166]: ~ Transported

~:[CH5 - Day 166]: ~ Transported

After finishing up work in the morning, I did what I do; I made the most of the day. I transported myself for an evening in Vegas, on a very quick turnaround. We quickly ventured along the strip, showing a first-timer, all that Vegas had to offer. We toured through the entire "world" along the strip and saw all these amazing sites in just one place. The day would be one for the sports and the slots, but not for the tables. However, tonight didn't end up being about the win, it became more about the experience and the time we got to spend together. I was truly exhausted, however, at some point, you get to decide, can I truly make the most of this day. While you don't have to do a crazy mini-adventure like this, but you should do all you can to make each day filled with encounters and experiences that will leave you as a better person after you are through. Though it was not long before I had to head back so I could be at work, for a moment, I was transported back to a place where the whole world was my oyster and boy did I wear that pearl it contained proudly.

~:[CH5 - Day 165]: ~ The Grand Finale

~:[CH5 - Day 165]: ~ The Grand Finale

The exhaustion ran through my body, but today was well worth ever push. I think most people know that tingly feeling you get in your body when you feel like your muscles are about to stop working from fatigue. As I rolled into class on Tuesday, I knew that I had to watch myself. After entertaining the class with my last two music videos, I finished up grades and headed to graduation practice. Somehow, the cold overcast morning turned into a humid afternoon. Of course, it would do this for graduation practice. We survived. I stopped at Dolphin Bay for a quick meal before heading back to Gahr for graduation. It always amazes me how fast four years goes and how amazing it is to see just how much these students have grown over the course of this time. Taking photographs was exhausting and with over 2000 shots, I went through all my batteries and had to try to get the last few shots without it. While a batch of photos didn't come out, it wasn't too bad for how many photos I took. As I looked at the photos, I couldn't help think, where will all these students be down the road? Mr. Walker put it best, however, as he said, let tonight not be your grand finale. As always, our fireworks lit up the sky, as people were in awe of how amazing our graduation is and that was truly a reminder that the future of these students is going to be dynamic. They are going to light up the sky for many years and decades to come and like our graduation, they will become the talk of others, as they will be remembered for how amazing they were. Seniors, while there may be some duds in your future, know that most of what you do will light up the sky. Each of them coming in their own shape, size and color, appreciate each and every one, as every moment that you have in the future is special. Don't forget to appreciate every moment and "ooooooh" and "awweeeee" for each, as time is precious and thus, none of it should be taken for granted. I sat there as the last of the fireworks went off and while my body ready to go to sleep, I had to take one last look around to know that the show has just begun for all of these young mind. Best of luck and congratulations!

~:[CH5 - Day 164]: ~ Finish Line

~:[CH5 - Day 164]: ~ Finish Line

I'm truly exhausted during another late night. Finishing most everything up during the day, I grabbed lunch with Charles before heading to home to edit the audio for the final two music videos. It took awhile and I am probably going to have to redo one of them after the fact. I ran out of time, as I headed to the sculpture garden to record. I ran into some seniors and they made a cameo in the video. Very cool. We headed to school to finish off the shoot and then I stayed to finish the audio (or try to). I finished one song before our cross country parent meeting. I felt like sleeping. I got a pick me up with TapEx before heading home to wrap up the final song and shoot. I couldn't shoot outside anymore because it was dark, so it was all inside with about ten costume changes. I wrapped it all up and although conversions have taken forever, I finished up my first video and shoot breeze through the final one by mornings end before I head to school. I'm am truly exhausted and wish I could finish up a few things I want / need to, but with the deadline approaching tomorrow, I must focus on that finish line. I am about nine hours away from unofficial summer (no more students) and + two days from official summer. I am so excited ... to sleep. A few more hours of work ahead, but for now, I wish you all who are probably already in your beds and maybe even ready to wake up a great morning. It is a great one. Let's make it a point to spread the cheer and do a few good deeds today and everyday if possible! It might be that the finish line is near, but regardless, it's time that this world makes that change and changing the world begins with us.

~:[CH5 - Day 163]: ~ The Lag

~:[CH5 - Day 163]: ~ The Lag

There seemed to be a lag through most of the day. I lagged in the morning a bit as I headed out to junior olympics. While the actual competition went by quickly, as I was working, I lagged behind even more. I took a short nap, which put me behind even more and then my computer simply lagged today. Maybe the entire lag was trying to send me a sign. A sign that in the process of doing all these things that are on my to-do lists, I need to allow it to lag behind to spend time with my friends and family. The horrific tragedy in Orlando reminds us that we live in a unpredictable world and we never really know what tomorrow is going to bring, if there is a tomorrow at all. There is a lot of to-dos on the list in each of our lives and even more on the to-do list of our country,  however, we also can't get caught up in that process and forget about those we love. Today, we must remember all those impacted by today's tragedy and in that reminder, we must remember to cherish each moment as if it our last. Our prayers can go out to the victims of this tragedy, but I think it's about time that we take action and that is something we cannot afford to lag on. The time is now. While I lagged late into the morning finish my video as I thought about everything that went on during the day, I was happy that I got to create this music video for these students who gave so much of themselves to help raise this money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Every ounce of sleep I lost was well worth honoring and cherishing these special moments that we shared together.

~:[CH5 - Day 162]: ~ Time to Celebrate

~:[CH5 - Day 162]: ~ Time to Celebrate

I got to sleep in and it was fabulous. After a nice rest, I worked on my class music video all day before driving down to UCSD for graduation! The traffic was horrible, so the normally relaxing drive down there was backed up most of the way. I did expect the parking situation to be bad and I ended up parking down at the Gliderport, which actually wasn't too bad of spot to be, especially since I knew exactly where I was since it was my Ragnar Relay leg! I thought I was late, but walked in just in time as the graduates began to walk! I was able to see both Ivan and Audrey, which was awesome, but to my surprise, there were a number of people that I knew there. I ran into at least fifteen to twenty people at the ceremony! We grabbed a nice bowl of pho before heading our separate ways, however, it is pretty awesome to be able to celebrate with these two and a number of others who successfully navigated to the next level of their lives. It seemed like only yesterday that we were all at cross country practice, Mammoth Camp and more and now they are Triton alumni! There are so many memories we already share and I hope that there are many more moments ahead. I couldn't get a normal picture of them both at the same time ... well, I guess Audrey eating is normal, so this might be the perfect shot. I had a number of graduation events today, but since they conflicted, I was glad to at least attend one. Congratulations to all the others who graduated today / this weekend at Riverside, Irvine, Santa Barbara and more! I guess it's about time that we all get back together to celebrate this momentous occasion. 

~:[CH5 - Day 161]: ~ And So It Begins ...

~:[CH5 - Day 161]: ~ And So It Begins ...

It was weird walking into school today. One-fourth of our school wasn't present. The seniors were gone and the campus felt ghost-townish at times. However, regardless of that, it was business as usual. Review day is always a little stressful with table trivia, but it is pretty fun. It's engaging and with the "twists," it keeps things fair and competitive. It also plays into the "greed" lessons we learned during the Great Depression simulation. The day continued its busy streak as I headed to the TC to plan more for the music video with my IAs before having out first captain's meeting  It was great to start off with them and I am excited for what is ahead for this group as they are pretty young (one senior) and also motivated. I quickly headed back to school to shoot a small portion of our music video since it takes a little bit of work to get the IAs into the video. We were successful in doing so and I am hoping that our last clip came out, as the power to my camera went out and it shut down. We'll see right after this. I spent the rest of the evening writing the songs and getting ready for tomorrow's record and editing morning session. We'll see how it goes! It feels really weird that today was our last official day of classes and now we just have finals. I have a number of things to do next week before I leave for Asia, but I am excited for what's ahead and cannot wait for all the adventures that await this weekend and beyond. 

~:[CH5 - Day 160]: ~ Magic

~:[CH5 - Day 160]: ~ Magic

Today was a busy day. With the seniors leaving, it was the day to return text books, say the final goodbyes, and for the freshman, their last chance to say goodbye to their IAs. It was a sad day, but also a magical one. After finishing up some emotional speeches, it became apparent that parting ways would be a lot harder than expected. Tears flowed through my classes and I was glad to see that this year's IA group did their job well. They each connected with their freshmen and found their own ways to make a difference in their MUN careers. Not being biased, I think that MUN is a program that connects people with each other, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that they grow simultaneously. It's an extremely difficult class, but after becoming battle tested, many of my freshman mature beyond their years and by the time they graduate are more than prepared for college. They find a way to manage their time easily, they are leaders, and they are open-minded and knowledgeable. Each year, I am so proud of every group that survives a year and a lot of their success has to do with the IAs. In the end, the goodbyes were exchanged as I wandered away to catch up with my friends after work. I kept thinking, how wonderful it is to build connections like this because they can blossom into connections like the one with my friend Janie who I also met in high school. It was nice relaxing for a bit before finishing up work, but in the end, I needed to get away and celebrate and so I did. I ended up at Disneyland, stopping at California Adventure for World of Color, then over to Disneyland for a few rides. The who time, I thought, what a perfect ending to a magical day. As the projections displayed on the walls of water in front me, I couldn't help but project the images of this year on them. Thinking of how far these freshman have come this year and how far these seniors have come over their past four years boggled my mind. In the end, a thank you is not good enough for these seniors who poured so much into their years in the MUN program, but to you all, I do give a big thank you, because the impact you have on a program is immeasurable. It will be a little quieter tomorrow as I turn to my left and no one will be sitting there, but in reality, these three seniors IAs already left their mark in the hearts and the minds of these freshman and no matter how far they go, a piece of them will always be apart of our program.

~:[CH5 - Day 159]: ~ To Bleed

~:[CH5 - Day 159]: ~ To Bleed

The last couple of days in class have been pretty tough to handle, but also inspiring as well. With our character speeches, our freshman are to address a topic of character in a very open ended prompt. While many of my students take a more comfortable route, a number of my students took a very personal route, they opened up, and ultimately, I feel that they grew significantly from it. From addressing all the personal issues they faced and how the good characters of others have helped them through, it helped me gain an even greater understanding of what the impact of a few acts of kindness can do. I did not realize how impactful this assignment would be this year, but it was. While it was difficult to sit in the class during many of these, in the end, it motivated me to try and do my best to make an effort to understand people more. As while many of have faced many issues in our lives that have left scars, the ability to move on from these moments is determined a lot by the support system we have around us and their willingness to lend a helping hand. Sometimes it's very inconvenient to lend this helping hand, but in the end, the value of the extra effort will be repaid two fold or more. As I thought about all the issues being discussed in my class, I thought of nothing more than, how impressed I was with the bravery and courage of my freshman to step up and to be so open about their lives. It was challenging, but in the end, as a class, we bled together, in hopes that as a class, we could heal together. By doing so, the scars that could remind us all the bad that has happened to us, can now remind us of all the goodness that we were the recipients of when we were trying to heal. 

~:[CH5 - Day 158]: ~ Spotlights

~:[CH5 - Day 158]: ~ Spotlights

I woke up and headed out the door. I was hoping that today would be a good day despite having a half peeling face (sunburn). After rolling through first period, my freshmen each got their ice cream (finally). About half of them go their chance to give their character speeches. Little did I know how emotional the day would get. By fourth period, the speeches began getting intense and tears flowed through the eyes of many in the class. In their vulnerability, these students found their strength and in their own strength, they found unity with one another. I am not sure if I have ever felt such interconnectedness from a class when they left my class room, but today, I felt it. It was a good feeling. A meeting I thought would have taken a long time was quick and painless and so I headed to the polls to vote and all went as planned. As I headed back, I took care of my last bit of business before heading home to try and get more work done. After a quick nap, I headed out to the Pantegas Theater to catch 42nd Street. I got the tickets for super cheap and at the last minute and it was quite worth it. Despite being an older musical set in the 1930s, it still was intriguing and I knew a lot of the songs. A great night got better with a quick stop at Wurstkuche, where I downed a duck/bacon sausage and across from me, the choice was a rattlesnake and rabbit sausage both with a side of truffle fries. Oh, life is good and while there were challenges, by facing them head on, we find strengths, our abilities, and in turn, ourselves. The Broadway lights often shine on some of the most famous stars, but today I saw even more that a star in someone's life needs not a spotlight, but simply the ability to love and be there to come to the aide of those around them; to guide them when they are lost, to pick them up when they have fallen, and to simply listen to help lighten the load on the shoulders of a friend. Today was a good day, oh yes, it was good.

~:[CH5 - Day 157]: ~ The Daily Battle

~:[CH5 - Day 157]: ~ The Daily Battle

It was only fitting that I came across this key chain today, as our seniors reflected on their high school careers, looked into the future, and the freshman address the issues of character. It's often a difficult day as the ability to demonstrate good character is a constant battle. We all have our struggles with staying on track, whether it is to love with all our heart, respect all even in the most challenging of situations, to never give up even when things seem insurmountable, and to demonstrate a balance when times are pushing to the extremes. As I thing about all I've done or have not done to follow in the footsteps on my lesson, it motivates me to continue on the path of doing what I need to do to truly follow what I am trying to teach to the class. Character values is something that our current society desperately needs. We live in such a "me" society, where hatred (often out of fear), discrimination, and individualism reign supreme. We are quick to cast judgement, often leading to assumptions that may not be true, and expel those who we fell that are different. This is not the change that I wanted to see in this world and I'm sure that Gandhi would wholeheartedly agree with me. This is a country build off the idea of freedom. Not freedom for one, for some, but for all. However, in order for us to truly enjoy freedom, we must learn to love and respect each other. With such a divisive society, our fight is not going to further our cause, but rather, just bring both sides down. It is essential that we take the proper steps to reverse this cycle that is pulling us down before we are pulled to far and shatter across the floor. We must understand that no one is perfect, but it is in our imperfections that we discover our diversity and a reason for us to learn from each other so that we can love one another. Whether you are religious or not, I hope that we can all understand that we cannot tolerate hate, discrimination, or mistreatment of anyone and while there will be times where we veer away from the path we hope the follow, we must do what we can to guide ourselves back, so that we can truly win this daily battle. I challenge each of you to move forward in the direction that many of the great historical figures encouraged us, that our parents encouraged us, and that our friends encouraged us; one that will further our society, rather than drag it down. Seek out opportunities to help others to bring joy to their lives and in turn yours. As it is in the happiness in others that we will realize the wealth that we truly possess. Soon, we'll set out on our next daily battle and the question is, how will you go about it? You have the ability to dictate how you go about your day, the question is, will you allow yourself to go about it in a positive way or will you contribute to the society that is crumbling before our very eyes. It's not about politics or economics, but simply doing what is right. With a foundation based on character, I'm sure that in the end, the victory will be ours. Turn to your neighbor and love them, not because they are like you, but because you embrace them for who they are, truly understanding that they are different. None of us are perfect and none of us ever will be and it is with this realization that we can begin our quest. 

~:[CH5 - Day 156]: ~ Overcoming

~:[CH5 - Day 156]: ~ Overcoming

This week was one of the toughest of my life. Not emotionally, but mentally and physically. I kept thinking to myself, how am I going to make it through. My body felt like it was going to break and I had to find a way to keep myself going. As I made it to Friday, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. When the end of the elementary track meet arrived, I felt as if I were walking on clouds and allowed me to enjoy CHS Idol. As I skipped the half marathon to allow myself to relax, I kept thinking how wonderful it is to stay at home and be able to have more time to have some time to catch up and reflect. I am lost without some reflection time and the minimal time I got this week, definitely left me in a state where I felt as if I could not make it. As I talked about in the poem, we are always capable. We can reach the peak of every mountain that is presented to us. While we must approach each challenge differently and plan accordingly, by doing it correctly, the peak is just the beginning of where our road will head. Obviously, with the support of those around us, this journey will become even easier. Thank you to everyone who helped make the survival of this week possible, from your supportive words to your helping hand, or even a gentle glance that said, "you can do this." As I reached the peak yesterday, I felt the glory of accomplishment and today, I spent all day enjoying the view. Tomorrow is a new day and a new challenge awaits, but as I look back, I look up to what I was able to accomplish and realize that, we are very capable if we only believe in ourselves.

~:[CH5 - Day 155]: ~ Back on Track

~:[CH5 - Day 155]: ~ Back on Track

I'm sunburned, sore in places I never knew existed, and just plain exhausted. I don't remember a stretch this bad in awhile and my stress level has dropped significant recently. It's an amazing feeling. However, after spending every waking moment this week collecting for banquet, organization, planning, editing and more, I finally have that feeling that I am done. Although, I am probably going to miss my half marathon tomorrow because of the fatigue I feel right now, this whole stretch was challenging, but it taught me a lot about myself and what I am capable of. I did it. I woke up this morning early as it was my first year as the starter for the elementary track meet. The kids were mostly so small and so cute, but learning to deal with distracted children is quite the challenge ... oh wait, I'm used to it :) ... after going most of the day without too many issues, I accidentally started a race before they were ready to go, resulting in a re-start. DOH! Overall though, it was a great experience and glad that I got to meet so many new people in the process of running the meet. I quickly grabbed a drink at Cha2O and dinner at Sweetee Thai before getting ready for the evening. It was CHS Idol night and there were some great performances. It was a lot easier shooting in the theater and I was able to get a great spot. As always, I was blown away by the performances and agreed with the judges in saying, there were so many talented students. One of the judges was the amazingly talented, Ruben! A superstar in my book. As I ventured home and sat down, I felt the fatigue hit me like a brick wall, and now I am doing my best to stay awake, but at least I know that I am done. I finished. I made it through this stretch. A stretch that at some points, I didn't think I'd ever survive, but I did, I'm back and track and ready to roll ... well, that is after an eternal nap. Good night world! 

~:[CH5 - Day 154]: ~ I Couldn't Be Happier

~:[CH5 - Day 154]: ~ I Couldn't Be Happier

The song from Wicked keeps playing in my head, "I couldn't be happier ..." and it's true. After enduring a busy night prepping, a busier day prepping, and fighting the fatigue that was taking over my body, it was finally time for my last banquet of the school year. I wasn't sure how it would end up, but something strange happened as the stress of hoping everything would get done, turned into, what should we do next now that everything is complete? The banquet finished early and aside from Arthur keying off the emergency exit alarm (he'll never live this down) and a few missing plaques, the night went extraordinarily well. I was lucky to be able to capture this image of all the coaching staff from this year together. There was a special aura about this season and while our record may not show it, this was a group of coaches that I got along with exceptionally well. I felt comfortable with each of them in their areas and knew that they would get their athletes to perform at the level that they should. I realized even more tonight just how lucky I am to work with such a great staff of coaches, especially after hearing all the great words that they had to say. These are great people raising great athletes and really, that how it needs to be. As we honored this team of athletes who I was so proud of this year, I kept smiling because there was so much good that surrounded me and ultimately, it's a feeling that can't be beat. As my eyes weighed heavy as I looked forward to the bed that awaited me, I was proud of the job that my coaches did, all the great things that our athletes accomplished, and for the program that has raised so many great individuals that will impact the worlds in amazing ways. As bad as my body feels, my soul is inspired,which is why, I couldn't be happier today, because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true ... and while I may be actively living in this dream, I realized that I've found happiness and whether this is dream or reality, I'm going to soak it all in and enjoy it while I can. 

~:[CH5 - Day 153]: ~ The Beginning of the End

~:[CH5 - Day 153]: ~ The Beginning of the End

It's the final stretch of craziness as the year winds down. With Premios de Oro and Senior Awards already in the book, the focus now is on banquets and a few other end of the year events. As I woke up this morning, I was exhausted. I've pulled all-nighters as if I was studying for finals in college as I prepped for these final few banquets. I dragged myself through the day as I wrapped everything up and things were good to go. We were missing a few things that did not arrive yet, however, we were ready otherwise. The night is always a tough one, as we say farewell to a group of 40+ that we know so well. A group that we take across the country, spending a week at a time, touring, debating, and simply getting to know one another. The video sums up the year, as it captures many of the moments that not everyone gets to see, as while we are one program, all the different students have their own route. With every passing year, it does not get easier, as another group of young students head off to find their successful routes. Our alumni have accomplished so much and have shown what the skills they gained through the program can help them do and I am confident that this group is no different. By the end of the night, the memories of the past still resonated in my mind. I thought to myself, I am exhausted. Is this all worth it? The answer was pretty simple ... of course. I guess being inspired by an advisor who gave every living moment he had before he was taken too soon by cancer, shows that I can still give more and that if you truly love something, it's worth giving up everything for it. I always say that I may not have a million dollars (or any money at all), but the reality is, I am wealthy in a way that no money can buy and I am reminded about that very often. Where the world will take me in the future ... I cannot predict, but for now, this is where I want to be and as exhausted as I was still prepping for another banquet after the MUN banquet, I can't help but smile, because how can you  not when you're as lucky as this. 

~:[CH5 - Day 152]: ~ A Special Close Encounter

~:[CH5 - Day 152]: ~ A Special Close Encounter

I got my fortune and it said, you will experience a special close encounter or something along those lines. Thinking about this, maybe my lunch was where this encounter would be. As we talked, I began to see even more of the challenges that life provides and what we must do in order to ensure that we can rise above these challenges. I've always believed that we are only given challenges that we can overcome and the tougher the challenges we overcome, the stronger we will be as long as we learn from the experiences we had. As we talking about the ups and downs of life, it really reached me in a way that continued to keep my thought process going through the day. I ran a number of errands through the day and even had to head back to Costco. I was pretty tired, but I kept pushing through. I worked on the video a bit more before heading to Senior Awards Night and it was great to see some of my students honored for their excellence including a number receiving life passes and the highest honor, Escudo de Oro. I went home to finish up the video, but realized even more that life is going to stress you out, you're going to busy and sometimes, you're going to feel as if you just want to quit, but that is the beauty of life, because at some point, with the right mindset and assistance from those around you, you will overcome these challenges and have that special encounter that was promised in your future ... an encounter with the you that has always be waiting to be discovered who is capable of things greater than you could have ever imagined. No matter how dire your situation, know that you can overcome and when you finally reach that peak, the feeling is something that you may have simply dreamed of, but was waiting for you to realize it for all these years.