Week 2 - Surf's Up!

Time is flying by! I can't believe another week has swept by. What fun it has been, and more stories to tell. I hope you enjoy :)

MONDAY
I actually went to FHE because I got up the courage to ask someone for a ride. I met the other Kitt that is in the ward, it was at his house!...I can't believe there is another person in this world named Kitt...spelled exactly like mine...When I met him, he told me that I need to go by my middle name. I said, then I will call you by your middle name...what is it? He said, Kitt is my middle name...I said, oh, so you should go by your first name like everyone else, majority rules. He will probably call me Virginia and I will call him Jamie...But, it is so confusing having another Kitt. This has never happened to me before! I turn every time I hear the name...I am glad it's his middle name, so I still haven't really met someone that really has my name...middle names don't count.

TUESDAY
My first coffee story. My manager's manager...so the manager of my whole sourcing team told me they were going for a coffee break as I was getting water from the sink. I said, "Oh, no, water break!" He laughed and asked, "You don't drink coffee?" When I said no, he replied, "Well, you will soon!" When they actually went on their coffee break I was on the phone. He looked at my manager and said, "Kitt's going to have her first coffee today! Let's go!" I apologized and said I couldn't come because of the call I was on...luckily I got out of it that time...It will be an interesting conversation with him when I actually have to explain later that I don't just not drink it, but I won't...his mind will probably be blown and hopefully I won't offend him. ...Later in the week another co-worker told me that I shouldn't start drinking coffee because it truly does become an addiction. Interesting. He is also the person that asked me if he should ever ask me to get coffee again after I declined the first time.

WEDNESDAY
I found out I am so lucky as to give the RS lesson on Sunday, to the RS that I know only about 5 people. Haha, it will be good though. I will get to know them much better by teaching them.

I got another computer screen! It's fun having two, sometimes three when I open up my laptop that usually sits on that doc by the phone. I have my own control tower! 

THURSDAY
The kid who kinda asked me on a date last week came over and we played SkipBo. I was grateful to not have to be alone in my apartment for another evening. It kinda gives me the creeps after being alone for so long. We had fun and it was good to get to know him better.

FRIDAY
I went to Kelly's bridal shower and won four roses for catching people saying Kelly, wedding, and bride. It was a fun evening and good to get to know some other sisters in the ward.

My roommate also came. Susan is funny. She called me because she couldn't find our apartment...this was about midnight. I was hoping to be asleep. She had so much energy though and started unpacking immediately. I figured she'd take a bed in the other room since no one else is here...nope, she chose to share mine. Interesting. She is a year younger than me and probably acts like all other undergrads...I am just used to Cougar School where they're a little more mature. I found out she has never met a Mormon, but she knows we have very "strict rules." She is from Korea and is Buddhist. I hope we have some good religious discussions. Two more Asians are coming to room with me too. This is going to be one interesting adventure! :)

SATURDAY - Surf Day!
I actually went surfing!!! Well, it was my first time ever so I mainly flushed my mouth and nose with salt water multiple times. Alex asked my last Sunday if I wanted to be his surfing buddy, and of course I agreed. Half of me thought he was joking and just saying it as a funny comment....but Monday night he got my number and called me to see if I wanted to go with him. Of course I agreed. Surfing has been on my bucket list for forever. We went to Pacifica, which was a beautiful beach! It was pretty foggy, so we didn't see the sun at all, but the wetsuits kept us nice and warm.

When I first got into the water, I had overwhelming fear! Oh, I was terrified! I almost backed out...but, I had paid the price to rent and Alex was very good at encouraging me to go deeper and eventually start paddling on my board. The hardest part is getting past where most of the waves crash. You have to fight the water. I felt like I would be taking one step forward and two steps back, but we eventually made it out past the crashing waves. I practiced paddling and turning around on my board and I finally caught a wave! I didn't try to stand up, I got onto my knees a little bit before I fell. I had a really good run when I actually went all the way to the shore riding on my knees with one in the air! Oh, what an awesome feeling it was to ride the wave. All the hard work and energy paid off. I caught a couple more, but that one was definitely my best. We surfed for a couple hours and went and ate lunch and headed back out for another hour or so.

We were exhausted and freezing by the time we finished...I had no physical energy to catch waves anymore. A couple times I got caught behind where the waves were crashing and didn't have enough energy to get up a little farther to actually catch one. As I got closer, I didn't have the energy to create momentum and the waves just crashed on top of me. I got better at not freaking out as the massive amounts of water rushed over my head not allowing me to get above water and the board pulling my leg in one direction. (Those swimming lessons as a kid really pay off!) I felt as soon as i got back on my board, another wave would crash on top of me and repeat the whole scenario. That's when I really started to pray that I could just get back to a place I could touch the bottom or that I would actually catch the final wave to get in. My calves were getting charlie horses from the cold water and pointing my toes for extended periods of time while paddling...the charlie horses scared me the most. I did get in and I was safe and I was grateful we both exhausted ourselves at the same time so we could leave.

The only injuries I walked away with are bruises on my hips and ribs where the bones rubbed against the board while I was paddling. I have a couple bruises on my elbows and the leg I wore the connector on has some bruises on the ankle. Even with all of this, I will go again. :) I loved it and enjoyed being in the water. Alex was a good teacher and it was fun to get to know him better. I am grateful I went and I am sure my entire body will be sore tomorrow...it is already sinking in. Getting into the hot tub when we got back felt so good! It helped us both relax and actually warm up.

Surf's Up at Pacifica Beach, CA

SUNDAY
This was a good day and another dinner provided for the ward by the lovely couple that feeds our ward twice a month just because of the goodness of their souls. I enjoyed the morning studying for my lesson. The lesson went pretty well, I think. In the middle of it, the RS president stood up and started squealing! A spider was descending from the ceiling! This girl had the bright idea to get a hymn book just to catch it and take it outside, but as she was carrying it, it started crawling towards her and she freaked out and threw the hymn book down the hall. I was in the middle of reading a quote and it was tricky to get back on track, but we made it. I am pretty sure the spider was more memorable than the lesson for most people.

I have some awesome stories coming, so stay tuned. Sure love ya.

Peace Out.

the tall girl

Week One - Can you survive in Silicon Valley without a smart phone?

HOME

First, some pics of my trip home and my adventures there:

Gilbert AZ Temple

 A quilt I made for my friend who is having a baby in July!

Pics from the 4-wheeler ride

This was practically the first question that I was asked when I arrived in San Jose. So far, I have survived...not that I haven't had to have someone right there with one, but I haven't had to personally use it. I may even get one from work, we'll see. So, I am here. I can't believe it and I kind of feel like I have been here forever. Here's a play by play of the last week of the tall girl's life. 

SATURDAY

Craziest day ever! Goodness. The airport was jam packed! This picture doesn't even do it justice. I arrived approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes before my flight. I ran through security and made it to my plane as they were calling my name wondering where I was. I was terrified I was going to miss my flight to San Jose.

Of course, my bags were checked late and there was no guarantee I would get them to San Jose on my flight. As I am sitting on the plane, with sweat dripping down my face and a need to go to the bathroom, I looked out the window to see my bags get put on the plane! What a miracle. As soon as the seatbelt sign went off, I was up and to the potty. It practically killed me. It was a little more stressful beginning than I expected. 

I arrived in San Jose and Papa's cousin picked me up from the airport. We stopped at my new place and then headed to their house for a BBQ. It was fun to meet some long lost cousins and I was happy to not have to spend the evening by myself wondering what to eat. 

Here is the swag I got in a goodie bag from my apartment and a few things from the first day. 

Here are the pics of my first apartment: 

I stayed in this quaint apartment for the first week in San Jose. It was nice, and I got to know some really fun people while I was there...even though I lived alone. 

SUNDAY

I was picked up for church by a kid who has now become a good friend. He said to look for a black prius, so I was expecting just him...Pretty soon, up rolls a prius and 4 men jamming out to not Sunday music. Haha, I started laughing. Binh got out of the car and asked, "Are you Kitt?!" When I said yes, he hopped out and opened the door so I could sit in the front seat. I seriously felt like the girls on the Pink Bible P&P when they are going to church...hair blowing everywhere and jamming to some tunes. They were a funny bunch of kids. 

MONDAY

First day at eBay!! Wow, it was pretty fun and very exhausting. I enjoyed getting to know people. I was one of two undergrad interns, the tallest, one of two white girls, and the only one from BYU…the only Mormon. Jesse Beckom asked me straight up if I was a Mormon, he’s the first and I’m sure many more to come. He’s also an Olympic athlete…no big deal. He was on the men’s bobsled team and is down here to get some experience in business so he can move forward with a career. I worked out when I got home and then went to the Asian market with Jesse to see all the crazy random and scary stuff they have there. Then we went to Burger King to get cash. He's a pretty dang good body guard I'd say. :)

 Yes, this is a pez machine wall.

I was a bit over dressed...believe it or not. 

TUESDAY

A pretty good first day on the job. I actually met my team. They are all super nice. I am doing training with a lady who is in Texas! Welcome to a global company. I spent the day on the phone and watching her share her screen with me. Pretty crazy. I got a fancy new computer that is touch screen!! Ahhh! Haha, wish I could keep it. I ate my first Vietnamese food today, and it was pretty good. I enjoyed it! Lunch was funny with these three ladies. They found out I was Mormon and were kind of horrified/surprised. We had an interesting conversation about young marraiges…Connie thought she was young at the age of 26! What a different culture I am in. This is going to be fun! 

This is Jesse's hand, not mine haha.

THURSDAY

We had a work social where we played Bocci ball, indoors, on a bocci ball court/bar.Who has ever heard of that?! Most of my co-workers drank while we were there. Such an interesting phenomenon that it is. I have now seen alcohol at work twice...there was a baby shower on my first day, which there was wine at. I didn't drink...just in case you were wondering. I am surrounded by interesting humor and words all day, I will need to work to make sure I don't repeat. ;) I won this for being the only person on my team that didn't leave the game part way through...we kind of made a come back too. 

It says, "Kitt Bryce, Preseverance Under Fire"

My name plate.

FRIDAY

I got asked on a date...kinda. I moved into a new place that is absolutely ridiculously nice...here are some pics. But, I planned to watch a movie with Kelly because she helped me move and I now had a nice lounge and theater room in the complex to watch movies. He ended up joining us instead of doing what he thought about doing...maybe a date later...we'll see. 

SATURDAY

The kid who asked me out called up and said he ran into someone from the ward and they were heading to the beach in Santa Cruz!! So, we joined the fun! It was awesome! It got cold at night, but it was the perfect day. I wish I had some pics to share about this, but it didn't work out. I thoroughly enjoyed myself tho. I loved playing in the sand, water, and sun. It was relaxing and beautiful. It was seriously a day and evening trip. I didn't get home until about 11. Long day, but full of fun! I hope we get to go to the beach often. 

SUNDAY

I am going to stay in the MV ward. I just grew too close to the people in a short time and I don't want to leave. I enjoyed a fireside from Kris Anne that night about the brain. It was again solidified that I am a left brained person. Interesting...but, that's how every test has resulted. I enjoyed Sunday, although they are usually busy. 

Off to another week of work. I hope you have enjoyed reading. If I get too boring, let me know and I will tone it down. 

One thing I have learned already, is staying close to the Savior is so important. Putting the Gospel first can be hard, especially when it comes to daily stuff. But, when you do it, you are blessed. 

Take care.

-the tall girl