A Look Back at 2018 – Top Three

Ok. So I haven’t completely abandoned this blog. I am posting here whenever I feel compelled to and when I have some time. 2018 is coming to a close and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the year that was. There were several huge milestones in my life and taking a look back at how God has orchestrated everything is comforting. Below are my top three moments of 2018.

You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.

– Jodi Piccoult

1. Japan: I finally made it to the land of the rising sun! Once upon a time, it was a lifelong dream of mine to go to Japan. I liked Japanese culture so much I even took Japanese lessons from the time I was 10 until I was done high school. After all of that, I grew interest in other things and Japan was stowed away in my mind. There was an opportunity to go travelling with my family to Japan and I took it in the spring of this year. It was an amazing time. And maybe one day I’ll write about it here. The proudest moment I had on this trip was not figuring out the transportation system or navigating the twisting roads of Japan, but instead, after 10 years of not speaking or hearing a word of Japan, I was able to communicate well enough to get my hair cut in Osaka! All to say, this was a pretty incredible trip where I not only learned a lot about my family, but about myself as well.
2. Brisbane, Australia: There is much to be said about hanging on and being patient with work. As the typical millennial working in a start up, it becomes exhausting and sometimes you lose sight of why you are working where you’re at. I am blessed with a good workplace and even better coworkers. This fall, our company was bought up by a global entity which led me to a week long trip to Brisbane to train people there. While it was exhausting travelling between school and to a different hemisphere, the experience was unparalleled. What I loved about going to Brisbane was that I saw a glimpse of a career path I want to explore and walk down for the first time in a long while. 2019 will be filled with opportunities to explore this.
3. University: I finally made it back to University! After years of hitting walls personally and professionally, I was unexpectedly offered a spot for a Masters program ONE WEEK before classes started. After months of follow up I had lost all hope for returning to University. Instead, I resigned myself to applying for college programs to brush up on some transferable and marketable skills. However, out of the blue, I was given the chance at completing a one-year Master’s program. With one semester out of three done, it has been an exhilarating four months filled with new friends, new knowledge, a different perspective, and new life goals.

This is my happy face and I’m hoping for more smiles in 2019!

There are so many things to be grateful for in 2018, but the thing that tops this is the community that God has brought into my life. I accepted Christ nine years ago into my life and while there have been plenty ups and downs, the one constant is how He sustains me at every turn. Praise be to God who is all knowing and all loving. With 2018, I started to put myself out there to be more involved in church. And with that, God has blessed me with a strong family-like community to not only receive from, but to also give to. That is probably the greatest revelation this year.

Postscript: There are other moments I have enjoyed and are grateful for this year. Both of these took time to get to but are important to me personally.

1. I reached 100 rides at Soul Cycle! For those who know me, I am completely proudly part of the Soul Cycle Tribe. There is something about pedalling towards the end of class in a dark studio that is fulfilling and freeing. The instructors truly make the sessions amazing and are so encouraging. I am also super grateful to the front of house staff who make every experience the best it can be.
2. New Friends! While this isn’t an achievement or a goal I set out for myself, being back in school gave me the opportunity to build and nurture new relationships. There are so many new friends I have made these last four months who have just added so much to my life and I hope our relationships continue to grow in the new year.

(un)Stuck

The inability to move. Whether this means in a particular position, place, or way of thinking.

Over the past five years, since graduation, every so often I feel stuck. There is no other word to describe it. Most times I would either feel stuck, physically to my location or stuck in my job.

The feeling of being stuck comes from the inability to see beyond what is immediately in front of me. Often times it tied back to fear. Fear of the unknown; fear of failure; fear of change; fear of success. Yes, the fear of success – now isn’t that an odd thought?

Why would I fear success? That seems like something to strive for, not fear.

Sometimes I still ponder over this. What is there to fear? Every one expects me to succeed at whatever I put my mind to, for the most part I do.

And there-in lies the answer. Responsibility and expectation.

Seems stupid, doesn’t it?

But what can be expected from a girl who was asked where the other 5% was when she showed her test scores?

Perfectionists are often times underachievers – because that means we have 100% guarantee of success without fear of repercussions. Expectations are met. Think about what could be, if we applied ourselves – the possibilities.

However, there is still a part within me who has dreams, goals, ambition. The other half of myself who often thinks of wonderful big projects, but fear of not succeeding 100% has led me to feeling stuck. When polar opposites pull on each other, the result is motionless – not going one way or another. Being stuck.

Over the course of this year (and how scary that half the year has gone by?) I am coming to grips with this part of me that fears success and what that means. And isn’t that the millennial trap? That we were all told how special we were and could do whatever we want? That we get points for doing everything, and that we can never be wrong.

But that’s a lie.

There are times where we will fail and will be wrong. But failure is a necessity in life. Failure shapes us and grows us in ways we could not have imagined. Think about babies, if we were all afraid of not walking correctly, all of human kind would still be wiggling on the ground. But we had to fail to know what true success is – it makes us realize the potential that is already there. We just went for it. Potential is great, but that’s all it is until actioned. How can we think to even move a step forward if that potential is not realized?

Becoming unstuck is an active choice I decide to make every day I decide on what to do. It doesn’t come naturally to me, but stuck is a much worse feeling, much worse alternative that paralyzes me. Every day of not moving forward eats away at time and effort I could spend attempting something, learning and growing.

Travel Bug: Copenhagen Day 4

Right by the sea, it is unsurprising that Copenhagen is a strategic location for canals used for water access into the city by ships, tradesmen and the naval army base. While less famous than its Dutch counterpart in Amsterdam, it mirrors it in activity, colourfulness and vibrancy. The canal, though not a major port today, still houses the naval army and plays home to many boats and yachts of its residences. As the canal stretches from Nyhavn (just off the coast of Øresund – the strait that separates Malmö, Sweden from Denmark) to Gammel Strand where Christiansborg lies, it shows off some of the best landmarks Copenhagen has to offer.

During his trip to Holland, King Christian V fell in love with the architecture and construct of the Dutch canals. Enamoured by its beauty, he replicated and built Christianhavn from the ground up just south of Copenhagen central. Unfortunately for the king who felt so inspired by the Dutch, his citizens did not feel the same; Christianhavn was too far from the centre of Copenhagen (it really isn’t I can attest to that! We walked from Christiansborg to the edge of Christianhavn and it takes approximately 15-20 minutes but I can understand the disillusionment when city life happened right outside your doorway.) So in his creativity and unprecedented ruling, Christian V decreed that whoever moved to Christianhavn would be tax exempted for 12 years. Needless to say, Christianhavn flourished and to this day is a lively, vibrant neighbourhood of Copenhagen. (Though no one did tell us what they were taxed after…)

The most famous part (or recognizable/most touristy) of the canal is Nyhavn. This colourful portion of the canal housed many affluent citizens, the most famous being Hans Christian Anderson who lived in No. 47 Nyhavn. For the better part of 18 years he lived there creating beautiful fairy-tale stories that we (especially the people of Disney) all know and love today. What makes Nyhavn great (besides the overpriced food…) are the houses with its colourful facade overlooking the canal. Each house has a story and different personality, some of the oldest having bee there since the 17th century. Nyhavn is also clean with blue water (unlike other canals) which makes it a pleasant area to stroll down.

Across Nyhavn is the lesser known Papirøen (or Paper Island) which is home to many art galleries, cheap street eats and a colourful marketplace. It was named as Paper Island as it was previously the storage location for paper for the Danish Press.

The canals of Copenhagen are primarily used now as access ways to homes, the naval base, ferry docks as well as channels for many tour boats to show off Copenhagen. Lyris and I hopped on (quite literally!) a Canal Tour boat and was whisked off to see the different corners of Copenhagen which would otherwise take us hours to get to (we did the tour in 1 hour.) The tour is a great introduction to the city of Copenhagen, the highlighted landmarks of Copenhagen gave us some ideas as to what to explore on our remaining days in the city. The boat tour is extremely relaxing and informative- I was extremely excited to see the Royal Opera House and the Royal Playhouse which lie across the canal from each other and of architectural marvel, super modern for housing some of e most traditional art forms. Simply breathtaking.

Seeing Copenhagen from the water provided a different appreciation for the city and elevated the relaxed atmosphere. It was calm and clean and getting to see all the colourful houses pass by created a beautiful Sunday afternoon. A canal tour of Copenhagen is a must do for everyone new to the city. We even got to see the “most disappointing attraction” in the world up close – The Little Mermaid. Dubbed as such for the fact that it is just a statue. Though I’m not sure what people were expecting….maybe they wanted her to break out in song to “Part of Your World.” I’m not sure. (Sidebar: We do have A Little Mermaid situated nicely in Stanley Park in Vancouver and if you have seen her I definitely forgoing to see her deliberately in Copenhagen.) All-in-all I continued to be enchanted by Copenhagen and could not wait to hit land again and continue our adventures through this charming city.

Travel Bug: Denmark – The Happiest Country

We finally made it! Even though we had a rough start to this trip, with delayed flights, rushing through customs and being on separate flights we arrived in the area of Østerbro in Copenhagen to our lovely Air BnB. 

Stepping onto the Metro from the airport heading into the city, I was a bit skeptical about Copenhagen. To be honest, the only thing I knew about it was that The Little Mermaid resided there and Danish patries are delicious. Regardless, I am here and am actually in love with the city after wandering around our neighborhood block for 30 minutes.

There is an atmosphere of an easy-going relaxed feel. People are quite reserved but it is never cold or rude. Once you get a Dane involved in conversation though, warmth and friendliness just pours out of them. 

Maybe it lies with the whole mystery of hygge (“HOO-ga”) and Denmark being the happiest country in the world for the third time in five years. This warmth and comfort invites you into the conversation and lifestyle of the Danish people. Stepping into a remodeled 500 year old flat complex already has me in love. I am never truly at a loss for words yet I find it hard to explain why within minutes I am already making plans to move and live here. Maybe it is just the atmosphere, the aesthetics of architecture, the big city vibe without the crazy metropolitan feel. Who knows. All I know is that for the next week there is an adventure to be had and I can’t wait to explore every inch of Copenhagen.

Here’s some lovely bills from the happiest country

Travel Bug: Day 1- Beautiful British Columbia Day 1

Traveling and vacationing in BC is quite a wonderful thing. Just a 14 hour drive from Edmonton to Vancouver, it is a gorgeous place to visit, especially with family. This time around, I find myself on a 10 day vacation on the west coast.

Normally when travelling to Vancouver, I actually visit Richmond – the mini Hong Kong of Canada, and bypass the rest of Vancouver proper. This time around, I actually get to visit the city of Vancouver. It is quite the novel thing for me.

First stop this morning, Granville Island. This little tourist hot spot has everything I relish in a coastal city – amazing seafood, bustling market, good coffee, friendly vendors, yacht dock, local entertainment and great shopping. A must stop destination for first time visitors to Vancouver. The first stop on Granville Island was the Public Market. JJ Bean Coffee serves up a piping hot drink and has a variety of blends and even teas for teaholics like me. Wandering around the market and chatting with vendors was the highlight of my day. They are super friendly and more than happy to share their story. Also, being able to try different food samples made the day even more enjoyable!! What I love about the public market is the variety of offerings. Check it out!

After the Public Market, I meandered around the docks. Watching liver performances as well as shop around all the cool little shops. There is a whole bunch to do, and a half a day exploration of the island was enjoyably exhausting for me.

In the afternoon, I made my way back to Richmond and went indoors to Aberdeen Centre. This mall is unlike any other in Canada (I think anyways.) The food court is filled with many different varieties of Asian cuisine for very decent pricing. It took me about 30 minutes to decide what I wanted to eat! The shopping is stellar as well. There is a Japanese $2 Store – Daiso, with very good quality things. However, it is very easy to get carried away in Daiso, I had to make sure what I was getting was a true novelty and I could not find anywhere else! There are a bunch of other stores in the mall with so many varieties (Yvonne, you’ve said that already! Yes! But variety is the best word to describe to Vancouver!)

There is quite a lot to see still in Vancouver! I’ve only scratched the surface of what this gem of a city is all about…

Travel Bug: Day 4 & 5 – AGO and Endless Food

Toronto is filled with art left, right and centre. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is home to art from around the world. Did you know if you are a Contributing Member of the AGO, you can treat up to 2 friends to see the beautiful works in the AGO. It’s a great way to introduce friends to the world of art and one of great iconic spots of Toronto. I was treated to a miniature ship model exhibit which was incredible. There were so many different models made out of so many different materials with a rich history and story attached to each ship. What I also love about the AGO is that you can make up your own stories to go with each creation and sometimes the work just speaks to you.

Food is something else Toronto is renowned for. New restaurants, dessert places, bubble tea shops, anything else you can imagine, pop up every single day. You can literally stop anywhere on the street and eat. It’s fantastic! One of the new places I tried out was Ramen Raijin. Delicious ramen and perfectly crispy karaage, my tastebuds were well satisfied.

There are also a number of great snack-time places downtown. Two of the new ones I tried were Chatime and ShareTea. Two great places for bubble tea, there are endless combinations and what I absolutely love the fact you can choose the level of sweetness and iciness. It’s worth the try for sure!

Travel Bug:Toronto Day 1 – Taking the Time

Apparently a little time in the air and travel is all I need for a bit of inspiration. It is always difficult to pull away from work, but it is necessary to do so! It’s not just about recharging and relaxing, but it is also letting yourself rest and focus on things not relating to work, to regain perspective, in a way.

After a rather enjoyable flight to the Big T.O., I landed to find out that Arsenal won the FA Cup for the second time in a row and for the 12th time overall (the most any club has ever won!) The rest of my day was bound to be positive after the result. Being picked up by my friend and spending a normal afternoon together is a great way to start my vacation. We reconnected, caught up and enjoyed an afternoon full of delicious goodness.

First we went to Mama Bear Taiwanese Cuisine which was satisfying for my starved tummy. The noodles were super silky and the right amount of chewy with the perfect ratio between sauce and noodles. There were also a wide variety of popular Taiwanese snacks including one of my favourites, a doughy thing pancake wrapped around pork floss and egg.

Fittingly, Chinese dessert was to follow. Along Highway 7, there is a complex called Times Square which has A LOT of food places. We went to one called Health. Herb. Harmony. Yes, that is it’s actual name. And it has some of the most authentic Chinese desserts I’ve ever had in North America. There is nothing fancy about this place, in fact, it looks like a rundown old Chinese restaurant. But the dessert is absolutely phenomenal. Trust us and just try whatever on the menu, it will not disappoint. Try 207 and 219 for those with extreme sweet tooth, and for custard-loving souls, my personal favourite is 132 with ginger. Just trust us.

Finally, we wrapped up the night with good ol’ soondubu jigae, a Korean soft tofu soup. Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu has a menu dedicated to soondubu, there are six different kinds of soondubu and three alternatives for those who do not like tofu soup. The portion sizes are perfect for individual eat, not too much and not too little, and thoroughly satisfying.

That’s about my first couple hours in Toronto. There are a lot more places to try out, and places to view. Keep coming back to read about my time in Toronto and follow me on Instagram to visually enjoy!

First Day of Spring

Ok yes…the first day of spring was actually YESTERDAY, but really, with the weather like it is, it pretty much is the second coming of winer. And not a pretty one. Snow is not fun when you have to shovel. Anyways, I am getting away from what I am trying to write. So!

It’s already the middle of March and I haven’t made a list yet! So here’s a list of goals I want to achieve this year. Since starting a new job, I haven’t quite looked after myself as much as I should, and I haven’t looked for ways to grow and learn outside my profession. If you have any suggestions to help me with my goal, please let me know! You will be rewarded with tea and lots of smiles.

1. Write once a month (and simultaneously try something new in Edmonton)
2. Go swimming (more than once)
3. Learn a new skill (last year it was horseback riding, what will it be this year?)
4. Re-learn basic French
5. Try 3 new tea companies and profile them
6. Develop an awesome business idea
7. Get into grad school

Too boring? Not awesome enough? Or just amazing goals?! Let me know what you think and let’s make these things happen!

Lacking a Bit of Inspiration

What happens when I lack inspiration for writing? Just start writing.

Sounds crazy right?

But really, there has been nothing really exciting to write about. Nothing really for me to report on. Nothing really to review. Do I feel like my life is lacklustre right now? Not really. I might have too much on my mind and don’t know how to express my thoughts and feeling. I might truly have nothing to say. Maybe nothing has been inspiring me lately. Or maybe it’s just too comfortable being a couch potato and rewatching Arsenal games.

Maybe words just aren’t coming to me. Maybe everything I have to say has been said. (Doubt it). Maybe I don’t know what to say. 

Hopefully this nothing post will spark some inspiration. I find sometimes when you want to do something, you just have to do it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It is most likely riddled with mistakes and frankly mediocre at best. But I guess this is the start of something. What that something is….I have no idea. 

So this is my first post of 2015. Let’s see what adventures this year has for me. I have to start somewhere. Right?

Closet in a Wall: BiBO – The Smallest Wine Bar in Canada

One of the coolest things about having a friend who loves wine and fine-dining is that I get to explore all these cool places in Edmonton that I didn’t know existed. I have only seen these cozy wine places in movies (or in my imagination).

I spent a couple Saturdays ago at BiBO, right beside Culina in the university area. It claims to be the smallest wine bar in Canada. It fits 10 people where you just come and go as you like. BiBO is dark and dim, but rather than being ominous, it has an intimate atmosphere where everyone is extremely friendly and talkative. Being a noob to the wine scene, I had no idea what to expect and my experience was thoroughly enjoyable.

BiBO exceeded my expectations; it has easily become one of my favourite places in the city. Stepping into BiBO is like stepping into a movie. It’s you, your friend, other people and the bartender, Dianna. She knows her wine and this little place is all hers to run. Dianna is a fantastic wine connoisseur and a fantastic host. She’s lovely and so much fun, everything you want in a wine bar looking to unwind.

BiBO has a wide rotating selection of wines, port, bubblies and many others. I definitely did not know where to start (not being a wine connoisseur) but Dianna was more than happy to help and I was given a couple really good selections. I think from my experience, I have discovered one of my favourite wines, Viognier. I tried a viognier from Canada, Stable Door. It was exquisite and was the perfect balance between crisp and sweet. The framboise port was also an amazing wrap-up to the evening.

Overall, BiBO is a must go-to for anyone looking to unwind and enjoy a quiet yet warm atmosphere.