Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Words heard over lamb skewer and cinnamon bellini
"I feel like I always go to an Indian restaurant with you."
"Really?"
"Yeah, but this time, we're eating at a swanky restaurant by Westminster Abbey...
"... And not some dodgy apartment-turned-into-restaurant in shady Kowloon?"
"Yeah."
(Nostalgia)
"If I could find a job in NPO, I would do it in a heartbeat..."
"But...?"
"I want to sustain a lifestyle. It's not even that I want to make a lot of money. Well... it just that I want to be able to travel, whenever and wherever I want to."
"I hear you."
(The realists in all of us who want to do development work, but have tasted the private sector)
"If I were to do development work, I would do it in finance. Microfinance, business finance, etc. It's what I'm good at."
"Yeah, I see your point. I would approach it with job creation in the manufacturing sector."
"Exactly. We each know what interests us and what we're good at."
(Reaffirming personal goals and seeing how it connects with our careers thus far)
"Yeah... maybe we should retire for the night."
"Ok... well, how about another drink?"
"Oh, what the hell. How often do I get to see you?"
(Old habits die hard. Never retire too early when out with a good friend who has stamina for drinking (a.k.a. @ leaders).)
We both drank to a pleasant evening (and to the Big Ben). It's interesting to see how far we've come.
"Really?"
"Yeah, but this time, we're eating at a swanky restaurant by Westminster Abbey...
"... And not some dodgy apartment-turned-into-restaurant in shady Kowloon?"
"Yeah."
(Nostalgia)
"If I could find a job in NPO, I would do it in a heartbeat..."
"But...?"
"I want to sustain a lifestyle. It's not even that I want to make a lot of money. Well... it just that I want to be able to travel, whenever and wherever I want to."
"I hear you."
(The realists in all of us who want to do development work, but have tasted the private sector)
"If I were to do development work, I would do it in finance. Microfinance, business finance, etc. It's what I'm good at."
"Yeah, I see your point. I would approach it with job creation in the manufacturing sector."
"Exactly. We each know what interests us and what we're good at."
(Reaffirming personal goals and seeing how it connects with our careers thus far)
"Yeah... maybe we should retire for the night."
"Ok... well, how about another drink?"
"Oh, what the hell. How often do I get to see you?"
(Old habits die hard. Never retire too early when out with a good friend who has stamina for drinking (a.k.a. @ leaders).)
We both drank to a pleasant evening (and to the Big Ben). It's interesting to see how far we've come.
Rest ye' bones at chez Saki
June was official "visit Saki" month.
Jesse, Duylinh, and Jenny - they say they came to visit me. (But I secretly think they came for the cheese.) Wine never stopped flowing. Cheese was eaten daily. Terrific times were had. And Jesse gave me an election T-shirt of the Cameroonian dictator.
Madison represented - Ali, Jenna, and Adam made a pit stop in Paris during their Euro-trip.
And of course, the family visited. Dad, Rin, and Mom devoured half of Paris and saw it all. Unfortunately I had to work most days - I would come home and see the whole lot taking a nap on my bed and couch. Being a gluttonous tourist can be tiring at times ;) I had such a great time with them, and my Dad surprised me with how much he knew about French music.
Jesse, Duylinh, and Jenny - they say they came to visit me. (But I secretly think they came for the cheese.) Wine never stopped flowing. Cheese was eaten daily. Terrific times were had. And Jesse gave me an election T-shirt of the Cameroonian dictator.
Madison represented - Ali, Jenna, and Adam made a pit stop in Paris during their Euro-trip.
And of course, the family visited. Dad, Rin, and Mom devoured half of Paris and saw it all. Unfortunately I had to work most days - I would come home and see the whole lot taking a nap on my bed and couch. Being a gluttonous tourist can be tiring at times ;) I had such a great time with them, and my Dad surprised me with how much he knew about French music.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
There are 9million people living in Sweden
When you are at a creperie with your colleagues, this could be an interesting topic. I realize that I know nothing about the nordic region and silently tilt my ear to their conversation. Apparently Sweden is the head-honcho of the region. They are terrific to work with. Committed, but also good at avoiding making decisions if they want to.
I have guided every visitor to the ramen shop in Paris. Even my family had their dejeuner after the trek around the Louvre. Tonight, we're eating eel at Noadiwa. You can take the Japanese out of Japan, but you can't take Japan out of the Japanese.
The other day, I decided I wanted to go to Vegas. And gosh darn it, if I'm going to Vegas, I can think of no better cohorts than KK and PDD. It will be a glorious time (we know which 90lb. Korean girl is going to carry our sorry arses to the hotel). So, yes. If you're reading this, I have just invited you to go to Vegas with me.
And if you want to see a great panda act, click here.
I have guided every visitor to the ramen shop in Paris. Even my family had their dejeuner after the trek around the Louvre. Tonight, we're eating eel at Noadiwa. You can take the Japanese out of Japan, but you can't take Japan out of the Japanese.
The other day, I decided I wanted to go to Vegas. And gosh darn it, if I'm going to Vegas, I can think of no better cohorts than KK and PDD. It will be a glorious time (we know which 90lb. Korean girl is going to carry our sorry arses to the hotel). So, yes. If you're reading this, I have just invited you to go to Vegas with me.
And if you want to see a great panda act, click here.
