~:[CH12 - Day 212]:~ These Skies

 
~:[CH12 - Day 212]:~ These Skies

I looked up to the sky and it was beautiful. The formations overhead were enjoyable as I took shot after shot. Of course, I was tired from the weekend, not feeling fully recovered. As beautiful as a day is, it may be anything but. These skies will tell you one thing, but can it truly be a disguise. Yes, rainy days can be wonderful, sunny days can be miserable and so what it truly takes to understand people and situations is truly looking at things, no as they seem, but as they are. Despite being tired, I powered through editing folder after folder of photos. I didn't do anything glamorous today to make people say, wow, you had a great day, but it actually was. The fact that I powered through the fatigue and produced these albums which I truly enjoyed and appreciated was a beautiful thing. Confused yet? When I look at this photo, the sky in it reminds me of the impressionist painters and when I think of these artists, I think of endless possibilities of meanings and interpretations behind each piece. A piece that may seem joyous and happy, is simply portraying a facade that is outwardly portrayed while a dark piece may demonstrate the obstacles that have been overcome. Similarly, let's not assume that people around us are happy because they smile or not because they don't or that their lives are luxurious based on their social media posts, rather, let's take the time to stop quickly scrolling through our life's feed and slow down to truly understand and appreciate the things and people around us. These skies, disguise, these guys. 

~:[CH12 - Day 211]:~ Give It Your Best Shot

 
~:[CH12 - Day 211]:~ Give It Your Best Shot

I made it to the final day of the basketball summer session. I missed last week's scrimmage and so I wasn't quite ready for what I would witness. To watch five year olds plays basketball is quite chaotic, but extremely hilarious. From the battle to the ball to the easily distractible children, the hugs when someone gets hurt, and the running coast-to-coast with the ball, there were so many moments where I caught myself laughing. It reminded me so much of different stages of my life when I was just starting out at something. Some people were far ahead of others when you started, while others were clueless running around trying to figure out what's going on. Just like these children though, when we start out and find ourselves lost, we just got to keep moving around, doing what we can, and hope that we're doing it right. Life will sometimes give us some leeway and allow us to travel here and there so that when we become more experienced and learn more, we can figure it all out and do it correctly. The real key in life is not knowing how to do things right from the start, but giving it our best shot as we progress through life. At times, things will not work out like we planned or how we had hoped, but if we keep giving it our best shot, we'll eventually put that ball through life's hoop.

~:[CH12 - Day 210]:~ The Absence of Time

 
~:[CH12 - Day 210]:~ The Absence of Time

I didn't set an alarm on purpose. After an exhausting week, I allowed my body to determine what time I should wake up. It's easy to pack your days with task after task, but there are days where you can let it all go and just go with the flow. For the most part, I spent the day catching up on work. I finished up some designs I've been needing and wanting to do and realized just how much more time I needed to do all that I needed to do. Regardless, there will be time to do all that I need to do as we move forward or will there be? I guess we always come across these posts talking about we never really know when our time is up. I thought about that today as I wondered how much time do we all really have? We don't often think that our time is limited, but when you truly ponder about it, you realize more and more, just how precious life is. People often ask me, how do I do so much in the time that I have. Yes, I definitely could have days like today where I allow myself to sleep in and work on tasks that I could probably put off for another day, but at the same time, when you think about how precious time is, you begin to think, why didn't I make more use of my time? There are often days when I am tired, but many of those days are days where I feel satisfied. Every minute counts and I hope that we can make the most of those minutes as they are limited and at some point we'll arrive at a point where they'll be an absence of time. I hope that when we all reach that point, we'll be able to look back and smile knowing that we made the most of as many of those minutes as we could. 

~:[CH12 - Day 209]:~ The Wind in Our Sails

 
~:[CH12 - Day 209]:~ The Wind in Our Sails

The windows were rolled down and the sunroof open as the wind blew through my van on the way home. I was homeward bound as we laughed from the chaos that would ensue from such an idea. The wind rushed through the car and everyone's hair was flowing through the wind. When you think about it though, that wind is exactly what we need to get moving. Sometimes in our effort to find comfort and stability, we shield ourselves from the very thing that will push us forward. As while we may coast along towards our destination, there may be something else that could help us move forward and put the wind into our sails. As while we had a jam packed week, I think this moment was something that added so much to the memories of this week. It wasn't something special or spectacular, but a moment that was hilarious and memorable. In the end, what we did this week was pretty simple, but moments here and there such as these are the truly priceless memories that we'll all carry with us as we head forward with the wind in our sails. Life easily distracts us with the glitz and glamour that it can offer, when sometimes what we truly needed was something that life offers up for free. Yes, there are many Instagramable moments that arise from expensive events and limited edition items, but most of the most precious things cannot be captured through a social media post as in most cases, these moments are intangible.

~:[CH12 - Day 208]:~ Treasures

 
~:[CH12 - Day 208]:~ Treasures

We ventured out to La Jolla to take a little time at the beach. Most of the group ventured out on the waters and kayaked near the cover. I'll start with the bad news, we left a treasure at the bottom of the sea (in my underwater camera). The good news is that the day itself ended up being a treasure in itself. We brought back some Mammoth games and while at first they were wondering why they were doing it, they ended up getting into the game. Similarly, later that evening, they were a little slow in warming up at Boomers, however, by night's end, they were trying to squeeze in a few final moments before we left. It's easy to allow the things we lost to bring down our day, but things like that can be replace, while things such as these memories are things that we cannot replace as easily. Yes, there is a treasure at the bottom of the sea that someone will find one day, but it cannot compare to what's now stored at the bottom of my heart. 

~:[CH12 - Day 207]:~ On a Mission

~:[CH12 - Day 207]:~ On a Mission

We did get off to a little later of a start. We still were able to get a run in before exploring around the area. It's a place that I've gone to a lot and it's been good to see it change, yet also remain the same. There are always things I like to enjoy year after year, but also good to see new things pop up and changes being made. We were suppose to see the cliffs a lot earlier, however, we switched up our schedule in order to make our activities for the day fit together. It was nice to enjoy the farmers market before heading back to watch Barbie. While some may be expecting one thing, it definitely is a lot different than I expected as I didn't read into it at all or hear about it from anybody. I think it definitely has a lot of undertones that truly make you think about society in general. What are some of the changes do we need to make? Did our changes we made actually make progress or are they blankets to meet the quota and not truly help our society progress forward? It also makes me think about myself and think about what are we oblivious to, are we truly authentic, and where do I want to go as I head forward. In the end, there definitely were mixed views about it, but seemed like there were a good chunk who had a good impression of the movie overall. Regardless of their thoughts of it, I know it was a fun day and another one to add to the memories we've collected the past few days.
 

~:[CH12 - Day 206]:~ Jam Packed

~:[CH12 - Day 206]:~ Jam Packed

We explored a number of areas as we had another jam packed day. We ventured to the junior olympics course and did a little training before heading down to visit a number of neighborhoods. We hit up Hillcrest and the Seafront before we arrived at Balboa where they were mostly exhausted from the day already.  I was able to catch up with my cousins briefly, which always is a joy before we hit up the bowling alley for another fun evening. It definitely is tiring to try and fit so many things into a day, however, at the same time, sometimes when you push through to explore even when you're tired,  you'll uncover new places and find new experience. I always tend to do this when I travel and have done so far thus far here. Today was the busiest of all the days so hopefully we'll find more relaxing times ahead. 

~:[CH12 - Day 205]:~ ... and We're Off!

 
~:[CH12 - Day 205]:~ ... and We're Off!

It's always fun to have a team event. While it came earlier than we hoped, it was nice to end up enjoying a baseball game together with the team. It was definitely a packed house at the stadium as we enjoyed a nice overhead view of the game. The stadium is built so it's easy to catch a good glimpse of the game and from our seats, we could see the beautiful view of the stadium. We enjoyed the area of the Gaslamp briefly before the game and just kind of had a relaxing day at the ballpark. Attending games has been a newer tradition for us and I hope we can continue to enjoy this experience as one of our team events. In the end, the team lost, but with so many fans of other teams in the division, I can't say they were all sad about it. Hopefully, we have a good week of practices and events around the area and we'll see what tomorrow brings. 

~:[CH12 - Day 204]:~ Smiling Under the Sun

 
~:[CH12 - Day 204]:~ Smiling Under the Sun

It's been a crazy 24 hours. After posting on IG, I guess one of the artists that performed is pretty famous on TikTok. Responses from Japan rolled in, so much so that the manager of the artist tracked me down at the festival. I spent a good part of the morning trying to respond before heading out for day 2. I run a number of errands for the week, then headed out for the event. While I thought there would be downtime, I found myself moving back and forth between stages. The timing seemed to be a little better today. Of course, the weather was a little more challenging as the sun beat down for a little while. Luckily, the clouds rolled in and it cool down. I didn't get sunburnt at the festival, but I was living with the aftermath of my sunburn from the bonfire on Friday. Carrying my camera with the strap around my neck aggravated the area a bit more. Of course, it's performers like Rihwa who really make a day better. Her style is very mellow, but she always has a lot of energy as her laughter is a little infectious. Even with the hot weather, my aggravated neck and shoulder, and the fatigue from the weekend, I felt good as she (and other performers), brought some good energy to the stage with lighten the mood and brought some happiness to the day. I enjoyed being at the festival, but headed home as I had a pile of work to do at home. I missed a few performances I wanted to shoot, but still yet, it was a great weekend full of music and photography. It definitely left me smiling under the Sunday sun. 

~:[CH12 - Day 203]:~ Connecting & Reconnecting

 
~:[CH12 - Day 203]:~ Connecting & Reconnecting

It's always fun to connect with people, but even better to reconnect. I was able to meet a number of new artists as I went to Rising Japan MusicFest. It wasn't crowded, but it allowed for me to easily take photos through the event. I was able to hear new artists and to reconnect with those I already knew. I met Kaoru in Orange County and we were able to connect in Japan. While I missed her concert in Tokyo, I am glad I got to see her perform again here in Long Beach. Some I was familiar with, while others I got to meet for the first time and form a connection in hopes that down the line we'll reconnect. Later that evening, I had another reconnect as I met up with my friend from the Philippines. We caught up in between performances. I was a little sad as it would probably be the last time I see both of them for the time being. Life finds a way to link you up with people and if you're lucky enough you'll either stay together or find your way back together. I definitely hope for those I met today, we'll find our way back together once again.

~:[CH12 - Day 202]:~ Togetherness

 
~:[CH12 - Day 202]:~ Togetherness

Another dreaded day at the beach, another day the athletes loved. When I got had to dust off all the sand, put my clothes in the garage, and  hope that my car doesn't smell like the beach tomorrow. As much as this day is dreaded by me, it's a day that the athletes enjoy and this group seemed to enjoy it too much. From the water to eating to sports and to the bonfire, they enjoyed each other's company, they got to know each other better, and they spend some precious moments together. Whether they realized it today or not, these are the moments they'll carry with them for years to come as many alum talk about their memory of the bonfires many years after they lave the program. What makes this moment so special? It's quite simple, it's being together and enjoying this moment together. While some of us may be extroverts and others introverts, the presence of people you enjoy the company of ends up being something you enjoy and celebrate. It's something you will remember years later and a memory you will hold as precious in the many you will encounter in your life. It could be the waves, the joy of soaking in the sun, but the reality is, what makes it special is sharing this moment with people you care about. I was burnt, my body was sore from playing basketball, and my body was covered in sand, but there's no doubt that I enjoyed watching them team be together. They sung together, they laughed together and most important, they simply existed together, which made this moment even more special. Even when you're in a place you may despise, I hope you'll discover just how much people can  help you overcome that disdain and appreciate the quality of these special moments. 

~:[CH12 - Day 201]:~ These Newbies

 
~:[CH12 - Day 201]:~ These Newbies

I can't think of a time that I went to a practice and not a single person knew the route/workout. In all honestly, it isn't a bad thing, but the reality is, it was a little mind-boggling. While we had a range of new and returning athletes, they had not attended this particular workout. It was a bit of a challenge starting out, but in the end, they figured out what to do and had a wonderful workout. Yes, these are newbies we had today, but it doesn't mean the workout didn't go well. I think, after doing something for so many years, it's easy to assume you won't have to go with the basics anymore, but the past few years have show me, that at times, you need to start from scratch and go through things you never thought you'd need to every again. This group was definitely exhausted by day's end, but they still had time to goof off and enjoy their time together, which is one of the reasons many of them go to these workouts anyway. Who knows if this will happen again, for now, I'll bookmark this as the first in awhile moment. 

~:[CH12 - Day 200]:~ Rolling with the Changes

 
~:[CH12 - Day 200]:~ Rolling with the Changes

I originally was supposed to head out to LA today, but schedules got changed and I had to roll with the changes. It's easy to get hung up over changes, but honestly, what good would that do? I decided to use the time wisely and working on preparing for next week and the upcoming events ahead. One of those events, the Great Cow Run, isn't actually too far off. I finished designing the medal and am working on the shirt design for the event. I guess you could consider this a sneak peak into the design. It probably might be something EASELy guessed, but since I've always wanted to do an artsy one, this is the year. In the end, I didn't go to LA, but I accomplished a lot of the work I had planned for the days ahead and used my time as wisely as possible. Schedules will always change, but it doesn't mean it has to lead to a waste of a day. 

~:[CH12 - Day 199]:~ Cooling Off

 
~:[CH12 - Day 199]:~ Cooling Off

It's been hot lately. I was thinking about canceling our afternoon workout, but by the time we met up, it did cool off slightly. It always tends to do so as we close in on practice time, but the weather's been up, so it's been a little worrisome. Regardless, we survived the day. Boba was the magic key, both in the afternoon when catching up with an alum and after our afternoon practice. These double days are quite tiring sometimes, but it's just these types of moments that add a little more to the day and make them more memorable. While these athletes are out there to train to run, being able to spend time together and enjoy each other's company is even more important. I think that's also why they have such strong bonds even after leaving and I stay connected for years after they leave. By night's end, however, everyone was exhausted as the heat definitely took it's toll on us, however, it couldn't stop us from doing the work we needed to do and also from creating memories that we'll cherish. 

~:[CH12 - Day 198]:~ Core Values

 
~:[CH12 - Day 198]:~ Core Values

It was another week of morning practice. Getting back into the routine is not always easy. We sometimes have those who come and go depending on how they are feeling and so it's a little sad to see the fluctuation from day-to-day. Of course, it happens every year. We do have a core group that has been consistent and with them, we are making sure we keep working on the important things that we may have strayed away from since the pandemic. It's not easy to do, but slowly, I feel that we're getting there. In life we face the same challenges. I think the motivation for us to get back on our game or do things the way we did before is sometimes taxing. It also allows us to change up things that we should have changed in the past anyways to improve what's ahead for us. Who knows what the future holds, but after a productive day, I feel like I am a little more motivated leading to increased productivity and a lot of it is thanks to strengthening the core. Let's work on our foundations so it can be the driving force to help us in all aspects as we move forward. 

~:[CH12 - Day 197]:~ Just in Tune

 
~:[CH12 - Day 197]:~ Just in Tune

It's great to see when someone you know is doing something great. After my typical Sunday morning routine, I headed over to the gym to watch Jordan at basketball practice. It was fun to watch them go through the drills, get distracted, and try to refocus again. Mostly, it was great seeing them be silly and enjoy themselves. Afterward, I got some work done before heading out to watch my friend perform with his group. It was quite a trek, but without any traffic, it wasn't too bad. As I sat through the performances, I realized just how famous the performers in the concert were as I just listened and enjoyed the performances. Of course, the highlight was watching my friend and his group enjoy the stage and simply display the results of all their hard work. It's not easy to get to this stage, but when you finally do, I know it must feel amazing as even just watching and enjoying it alongside them makes me happy. I was happy to be able to chat for just a bit before heading home, as I hummed the various songs performed on the long drive home. It definitely was an event I was looking forward to and now that it's over, I am so glad that I made the time to be there for this whole day, as each of these moments harmonized together to make the perfect melody of life.

~:[CH12 - Day 196]:~ Sometimes, Life's a B*ach

 
~:[CH12 - Day 196]:~ Sometimes, Life's a B*ach

It's not easy to get people on board early in a season, but this year, we had our largest group in some time (if not ever), join us for our Saturday morning run. They woke up early on a Saturday, pushed their limits, and enjoyed some quality time together. Of course, great moments can sometimes be accompanied by a stain, Enjoying the moment, I told one of my athletes to take my insta360 in the water and it got destroyed. I made the mistake thinking that my model was waterproof, when it was not. Previously, I made the opposite mistake, not knowing my first model was. Long story short, my camera got fried because of my mistake. Of course, when you look back at the day, a camera can be replaced, but memories cannot and I can definitely say that this group had a joyous time as they played on the beach today. I'm definitely sad as it was not the best time to take this hit, but at the same time, I still ended the day thinking that life is a beach and nothing less. Maybe today will make my distaste of the beach even greater, but at least good moments like these can try to counter it to make these beach days tolerable. 

~:[CH12 - Day 195]:~ Awkwardly Comfortable

 
~:[CH12 - Day 195]:~ Awkwardly Comfortable

I always wondering how at times I can be so comfortable and others be so awkward. I guess in life, we try to figure out who we are and even after awhile, we don't quite figure ourselves out. We try our best to search for answers or to work on ourselves and sometimes we never quite find the answer. Personally, I typically am fairly quiet, but around certain groups of people or individuals, I open up a lot more, which leaves different views of who I am. Sometimes I wonder, which actually is me? There's nothing wrong with either way about going about things, but sometimes you just wonder. Today was just as divergent as I suffered through trials, yet also had some moments of joy. On my way to shoot, my car battery died. I felt bad as I was suppose to meet someone up in LA, but I failed to come through. Luckily, I was able to get it fixed to get to LA and enjoy the rest of the day with a meetup for drinks then an unscheduled dinner outing with friends. It was in the moment when enjoyed the flame as they prepared our meal that I figured out that sometimes my awkwardness is eliminated by the comfort of my friends and loved ones. When I am with them, meeting new people is not as awkward, but when I am alone, I think it takes a lot longer to open up the gate so they can discover who I think is the real me. To all the future people I meet, I guess the story is, you'll get to know who I am over time; patience is key. Similarly, I guess it opened my eyes to when I meet new people as I'll keep in mind that maybe they just need some time to warm up to people they just met. Regardless, despite the trials of the day, the day ended up being lit and it was more than simply by the fire as they prepared our meal. 

~:[CH12 - Day 194]:~ Another Trip Around the Sun

 
~:[CH12 - Day 194]:~ Another Trip Around the Sun

Most people use this phrase when talking about their birthday, however, in this case, it's another year with another time trial. Every year, we host a time trial to see where we're starting and another later on to see where we'll end up. For now, it's not always easy to see how things will pan out during the season, but it gives us some info to make a hypothesis. It was quite the lengthy day as we got back into our routine of morning and afternoon practices, as we enjoyed our first two team meals of the season, as one of our athletes leaves for a few weeks, while the other celebrated a job well done under the sweltering sun. Who knows what will happen during our next trip around the sun, but all I know is, it is our job to make the most of every moment we have. My body is definitely tired today, but my heart and mind are so full of great memories of this day and I sincerely hope that your were just as wonderful.

~:[CH12 - Day 193]:~ In Search Of

 
~:[CH12 - Day 193]:~ In Search Of

In the morning, we had our annual scavenger hunt. While the feel is very similar every year, it always has its own vibe. It's a good process of problem solving, teamwork and of course exercise. I guess it's our annual donut run as well, as the team returns with donuts and we get to snack on them. Inflation was quite noticeable as even with the increase in money provided, we were able to get less items. After wrapping up practice, I got back to planning as I worked on a few plans for the season as well as editing some photos. I was making sure that I kept working so I didn't get tired by the evening's meeting. It was great to meet up with Tezukayama for the third time. After visiting in person in June, this was our second virtual meeting where our students helped them prepare for the conference. I am overjoyed that in just one year, the school was able to go from knowing nothing about MUN to attending their first conference. This weekend, the students will go to their first conference and I am excited to hear how they liked the experience. We worked on developing their speeches and by meeting's end, I felt like they were prepared for at least their opening speeches. It's challenging enough to do MUN in your own language, but these students have taken on the challenge of participating in a debate about an international issue in their second language, which is impressive. Similarly, I am proud of my students who showed up one of the two days (or both) to help these students, doing their best the pass the language barrier and help students in another classroom across the world develop the same confidence and skills they gained through the program over the years. They excitedly said their goodbyes and our students wished them luck. In life, I feel like we're always in search of something to help us feel fulfilled. In the process of researching, the students in Japan found their answers through research and found confidence as they collaborated and prepared. My students were able to find fulfillment and the joy of helping another student, as they found a connection through working with them. Albeit online, these connections will be something they'll remember for a long time moving forward and I'm definitely glad that in this chaotic journey of life, we found something that will leave a mark on our lives. My mind and body were quite tired after the meeting. I wrapped up prepping for tomorrow's time trial and then quickly dozed off, however, instead of falling deep into sleep in a dream of endless mazes, I found myself in search of nothing more, as today was a day where so much was found.

~:[CH12 - Day 192]:~ Back into the Grind

 
~:[CH12 - Day 192]:~ Back into the Grind

When you have a break from what your routine is, sometimes it's hard to get back into it. While I've done this work trip the past few years, it's always a little tough to get back into the grind. Similarly, I know for the athletes, the challenge is probably similar. To get into the routine of things including waking up so early is probably a challenge, but I am always happy to see them doing what they can to make it work out. This year, so far, the groups have been doing well at staying on top of things and I hope they continue to do so. It felt a little weird being a Tuesday and not going to afternoon practice, however, because of the transition, we wait until Thursday to have our first. For the rest of the evening, I got back to working on some logistics and caught part of the all-start game. It's great to have breaks in life and ways to mix things up, but it also means you'll need to find a way to get back into the grind. 

~:[CH12 - Day 191]:~ Day 1

 
~:[CH12 - Day 191]:~ Day 1

It's weird to hit the ground running especially when you're not sure of the route. With all the construction going on, it's been a little more challenging to plan, not knowing exactly where to go. We ended up back relatively close to where we were before, which is nice, but it also meant that we had athletes going to the wrong side of the campus since we were restricted from entering there. Regardless, we had a decent showing for the first day with about fifty athletes even though we had some out on vacation and the similar. The group was pretty on top of things and while we still need to work on a few things, I was fairly pleased at their work and progress. In terms of my productivity, the early wake up meant a little bit of fatigue, which hit me hard, but I let myself rest it off a bit, before getting some work in. I have most things line up and now need to begin working on the projects that are down the line. It feels a little strange to be back, but I was also pretty happy to be back, welcomed by this beautiful day 1. 

~:[CH12 - Day 190]:~ Rest & Work

 
~:[CH12 - Day 190]:~ Rest & Work

I didn't set an alarm today ... on purpose. I knew I would be tired, so I wanted to let my body decide when to wake up. I had a meeting, but not until later in the evening and I knew I wouldn't sleep until then. With no alarm, I did wake up later than expected, but felt good when I woke up. It's not easy to find the time to allow yourself to sleep, but today, I did. I did some odds and ends, before making my regular Sunday run to get boba. It was just the energy I needed to power through the rest of the day. I finished up a draft of edits and then headed to the meeting where my students made me so proud. They worked with students from across the world and helped them prepare for their first MUN conferences. It's challenging enough trying to go to your first conference, but when you attend a conference in your second language, it's even more overwhelming. In the end, it seemed like our students were able to pass on some knowledge to these students in Japan and they in turn got an experience that they will remember for a long time moving forward. As I went back to preparing for the week ahead, I had a little bounce in my step as I was happy to have a productive and successful day. While there are definitely things I will miss about being away, they often say, there's no place like home. While drinking my rose vanilla milk tea with egg pudding, I couldn't agree more. 

~:[CH12 - Day 189]:~ Grand Welcoming

 
~:[CH12 - Day 189]:~ Grand Welcoming

The return day is always an exhausting one. It's one of the longest days of the year as I have to pack, take my luggage through the airport, and then making it through an extended day. My luggage happened to be way over weight, but luckily I have benefits on JAL, so I am allowed a few more pounds. I got to the airport and enjoy the food as I waited for my flight. In the airport, I edited away as I had a long batch of photos to work on and I wanted to get a head start. I was excited to board as they moved my seat, which was quite spacious and I laid my head back to nap. I was able to get a movie in while I ate, fell asleep during the next and for the remainder of the flight. Just as we were heading into descent, I stumbled across a great movie, but I didn't get to finish. I later found out, it wouldn't be released in the US until September. Just my luck. Regardless, it was nice to be back. I felt the absence of humidity and of course, while tired, welcomed back as I got to see all of my family on the day I returned. I unpacked, sorted through my media and actually started on my stack of work, which was incredible productivity for the return day. I definitely am sad to leave but also looking forward to being back. There are definitely the ups and downs that come with returning home, but I definitely look forward to making the most of it and it all started off on the right foot, with a grand welcoming.

~:[CH12 - Day 188]:~ Reasons to Celebrate

 
~:[CH12 - Day 188]:~ Reasons to Celebrate

I had a morning shoot and wasn't sure what to do for the remainder of this final day. In May, I went to a museum showing off the various floats used in the summer and fall and thought it would be cool to see a festival in person. My timing never quite worked out, but on the new Threads, I came across a post about a summer festival that might just work out. I headed towards the site (or so I thought). Although there was a festival of sorts in the area, it wasn't what I thought it was. I actually was an hour in then wrong directionm Should I give up? I took a short rest and decided to make the trek to Narita for the Narita Gion Festival. Twice I boarded a local train instead of the express and delayed my trip even longer. I arrived and just as I got off, I followed the crowds, walked down a street, and the floats moved along the streets right in front of me. Strangely, the delays may have allowed me to get the timing right, as I walked right into the center of the celebration. Life sometimes misdirects you on purpose. It's easy to be discouraged and you may want to call it a day, but sometimes when you persevere, you'll find a reason to celebrate. It was a great way to celebrate my last evening. I came back exhausted, however, I forced myself to finish packing so I could just roll out of bed in the morning. I'm exhausted as it was a long trek, but also one filled with so many memories and so many reasons to celebrate. 

~:[CH12 - Day 187]:~ Our Stage

~:[CH12 - Day 187]:~ Our Stage

It was pretty exciting to coordinate this shoot. While it wasn't a typical shoot, I was capturing the practice leading up to an upcoming performance in Japan. I was sad to learn that I would be missing it, be glad that we got to connect and get this done. This dancer is a principal dancer in a ballet in Europe, but just happened to be in Japan at the time. To watch the attention to detail was incredible as they worked on just the slightest movements to ensure everything was perfect. It made me think a lot about our own lives. We all have our very own stage in life. As we prepare for what's coming, we need to fine tune things and work on every detail that will make things ahead a success. Sometimes we fail to do so and we make it work while at other times, we fail. In other cases, we work so hard to make it work and still fail, while other times, we shine. Life is our stage and I hope that we do our best to give ourselves the best opportunity at finding success. While doing so may not guarantee we will succeed, it does improve our chances and gives us the opportunity to fly. I sat there in awe I saw him execute move after move and while he claims it wasn't the most exciting practice to watch, I was thrilled to see every movement and motion and do my best to capture them. As I close out my last few days here, I would have to say that there were some great moments on this stage in my life and moments I wish I could adjust and improve, but regardless, I did what I could this time and hope that it better prepares me for the next stage in life. 

~:[CH12 - Day 186]:~ A Little Spice

 
~:[CH12 - Day 186]:~ A Little Spice

I was tired, but it was nice to return back to home base. It was fun having new scenery, but it also is nice to have some familiarity. Of course, after dropping off my stuff, I headed to my normal spot to fuel up, before meeting up with my friends. I was a little resistant to go out as I did have some work to do, but I went out and it was definitely worth it. It's always a debate whether you should go out on a particular day, but sometimes, you just go for it. Just like adding some spice to my ramen, Hanging out with my friends today added a little spice to my day. Sometimes you need to rest, but other days you need to power through and just see what that extra effort brings you. Today it added a little extra to this day and to this trip and looking back, I don't regret it one bit. Of course, something else could be said for the spicy ramen. I'll regret that tomorrow. Just kidding. 

~:[CH12 - Day 185]:~ All Around the World

 
~:[CH12 - Day 185]:~ All Around the World

For those who know me, you know that I love Pepsi. It's funny because when I travel around, I know which countries are easy to get Pepsi and which ones are a little more challenging. Japan is a bit of a challenge sometimes even though some of the machines are Pepsi machines. Even if they have Pepsi, sometimes, it's a different type, which doesn't taste good. One country I haven't had too much trouble finding Pepsi in was Thailand. On this relaxing day before I flew out, I enjoyed a good meal and of course, ate it with a delicious Pepsi. I know, I know, it's not good for me, but while I am traveling, I'll drink it every few days as my reward for being away. To top it off, it ended up being about $0.55. I guess for all of us, there is some guilty pleasure you may try to enjoy wherever you go and for me, this is it. I guess all this Pepsi has replaced my normal milk tea habit? What is your guilty pleasure?

~:[CH12 - Day 184]:~ The Greatest Gift

~:[CH12 - Day 184]:~ The Greatest Gift

We may be thousand of miles apart, but we're just seconds away due to technology. As I made a mini-trek to Thailand, some may say it would use a lot of time to go there for just a short stayover, but it truly was an investment in our friendship. Seven years ago, I walked into the doors of a restaurant (The Sixth) and we were forever connected. Everytime I come, I make time to visit my three wonderful friends. Together, we eat and chat, just enjoying the beautiful time we share together. It's great to see the restaurant busy even with an expansion. While it means we can't chat much initially, my greatest wish for them was to have their business succeed. They are two of the kindest people ever and deserve it. I ventured with Ami to the aquarium while they wrapped up their business for the day. It was fun as we had just the right amount of time before heading back. As always, we had a wonderful night eating and exploring and while brief, that time together was the greatest gift. As I grew older, I realized my love language was never gifts, rather, I appreciated the the time and sincerity, which were greater gifts than anything physical could be. I was truly happy by night's end, but also sad that us four would part ways again. While technology will keep us connected until the next time, for now, we'll have to reminisce about these fabulous moments we got to share together. 

~:[CH12 - Day 183]:~ Out of Our Hands

 

~:[CH12 - Day 183]:~ Out of Our Hands

Sometimes, we can't control things in life. We can decided for a judge/official, we can control the weather, and sometimes, obstacles in life pop up, that we can't do much about. Sure, we can prepare to avoid as many of these situations as possible, but sometimes things are out of our hands and we just need to allow life to take its course. Today, we boarded our plane and got announcement after announcement that it was delayed due to technically isses. After a few hours, we deplaned, they gave us meal vouchers and finally reboarded us. I finally arrived five hours later than planned, which led to a canceled last minute meeting. Regardless though, I had no hands on the control. I could have tried to find another flight, but the reality is, we just didn't know. In lifen when these things happen, sometimes we just need to show patience and calm. It's definitely frustrating, but there is also not much I can do, so why stress about it. I'll do what I can, but otherwise, I'll just have to wait. I hope we can show some understanding in these moments and also some trust. For me, in these trying times, I try not to worry knowing that I have someone watching over me helping me navigate these challenging times. For each of us, we can find a source of comfort as we remember that when it's out of our hands, sometimes we just need to take a deep breath and hope for the best. 

~:[CH12 - Day 182]:~ The Narrow Alleys

 
~:[CH12 - Day 182]:~ The Narrow Alleys

I almost didn't stop in Seoul when my original plans got canceled, but I thought I'd make a stop and eat with a few people on my mini-trek away from Japan. It was nice to catch up as we dealt with the heat of the day. I couldn't complain due to the clear skies, but it definitely was a challenge walking in the heat. We wandered through a lot of small alleyways as we found a few places that were a bit more obscure. They may not have been found by a casual tourist, but someone who did their research or a local who frequents it are the ones found there. From a delicious restaurant in Insandong to a back alley cafe in Myeongdong, it definitely was a fun adventure. We didn't have an exact plan, but so glad that they were kind enough to find places to stop as I had no agenda for the day. I was definitely exhausted by days end, but truly enjoyed my day in Seoul. Just like a narrow alleyway, our time together may be minimal, but within that small amount of space, I hope we can find something to remember and cherish into the future.