Week 11 - Week of Food

The weeks keep flying by. I think I say that every time, but now, it is beginning to be reality and that's scary! But, don't worry, I'm still living it up. Here's what I had going on this week...mainly food...hence the title:

MONDAY
Work is just crazy busy, so that's about all I will say about work this week. I have a few interviews a day and then I answer emails and send emails and reach out to people. Plus, oodles of meetings in between. Not sure how I am supposed to get work done...oh, well.

FHE that night was fun. We went to Brother Hansen's home for dinner and spiritual thought. I enjoyed talking with people and relaxing outside. Baller came over after I got dessert and started talking with me. Then, slowly a bunch of other tall people started joining us for the conversation. So, we had to take a tall person pictures and through 5'4 in there for comparison purposes.

The angle makes the people in the front row look taller than they are. The two guys on the ends are both 6'5

TUESDAY
We got demolished in our volleyball game...again. Sand volleyball is just too hard to play with people who don't know how to play because you also can't move fast...

I had Korean barbecue with a real Korean! It was rated as one of the best places around and the wait was long, especially coming late from our volleyball game. We ate a ton of meat and a ton of delicious food. Have you ever seen this many plates on one table. It was a little overwhelming, I have to be honest. I ate part of the meal with chopsticks and part of it with a fork...there are just some things impossible to eat with chopsticks and my little Asians don't even remember learning how to use them, so they think it's hilarious to watch me try.

Grill w/o cover

Look at that mean she's cooking!!! So yummmyyy!

The pizza looking thing in the center, and the beef were my favorite things they served. The pie is what they call a pancake and it's just veggies, but it was so good! 

I think the pink is radish...not sure...didn't eat it.

My Asians chowing down. 

These noodles are served cold...they really do have a blue tint.

Sue, Ella, Me

Super sour yogurt...supposed to be dessert.

Look at all those dishes!!!! ...over $200 worth apparently.

WEDNESDAY
I met with my senior manager for the last time before he takes off to his new role. He came and picked me up and we went to Barefoot where he got coffee and I got my "kids cocoa." He teases me for getting hot chocolate by calling it kids cocoa. We had a great chat about career expectations and opportunities open after graduation. I was grateful he took time to chat with me. Later in the day I actually got to interview director level people. Pretty awesome!

Later that day, I got to meet two ladies who work in the Colorado office! They were in town and I was so excited to get to put a face to the voice I have heard for so long. I enjoyed it! I needed the entertainment and distraction in the middle of the afternoon. We went to dinner as a team that night...including the people who have left/will be leaving soon. It was fun to have the gang back together. We had yummy food and with all the alcohol, the bill came to over $500 for the 8 of us. Crazy! I was grateful when they said I didn't have to pay as much because I didn't have alcohol.

THURSDAY
Our Frisbee game was pretty intense. At first, it wasn't...we were losing 0-8. Then, we came back and only lost 8-11!!! It was an awesome come back...but, my losing streak continues...biggest losing streak of my life. It's good for me, is what people keep telling me.

I tried a new hair do...fish braid, can't believe my hair is long enough!!! This was towards the end of the day, so it's come out a little bit. 

This is what I came home to and this is what people do to try to find a way to get away from their hard times.

That wine bottle is huge...if you can't tell.

I talked to Sue pretty late into the evening. I was just asked to teach the Relief Society lesson, so I explained to her what I was teaching about and let her look at the Ensign. She read the article I was going to teach about and then looked through the entire magazine. When she got to the middle with all the pictures of the leaders, we had a big discussion about the organization of the Church. I described the different offices. She was fascinated and intrigued. I wish she would open her heart, maybe some day she will. It was  neat experience to be able to share the organization of the Church and talk about the Priesthood and callings and different things like that. I was grateful she had a listening ear to those things.

FRIDAY
I got my own cube at work, and worked until almost 10 o'clock at night...I guess that's what you get...But, I was working from home and baking cookies, so it was worth it.

Co-worker didn't want it...so, she said take it for your travels :) yay!!! 

I just couldn't help but take a picture of this leather fannypack...so hip. Haha, hip...

My cube...at least til I get kicked out 

There's actually a place I get to put my name plaque besides just on the desk! 

SATURDAY
We had a ward temple trip to the Sacramento Temple. It was gorgeous! It is small, bigger than the Gila Valley, but not by much. I drove up with Baller in his fancy powerful car. It was a fun ride and good to talk with him and get to know him better. I was grateful when he offered to give me a ride up. It made my life a whole lot easier. He came, along with three other elders to help with baptisms. We had a great turn out from the ward, and it was great to be in the temple!

Afterwards, we headed to Baller's house because he forgot stuff when he was there last time. As we were walking up he says, you probably don't know me well enough to meet my parents...I just laughed and said I didn't care. They were nice and I had a small chat with his mom. We changed and then went to Chatty Man's house for a pool party and bbq with other ward peeps. It was fun day and I was so glad I got to go. We got home around 8:30 and Baller asked if I wanted to come hang out at his place. I agreed and as we pulled up there were a lot of cars. He was confused and then realized there was a bachelor party happening there that night! Haha, he went in and found out there was and needless to say, he took me home and then went back to the party.

Only a small pic, didn't want to take too much time snapping pictures. 

SUNDAY
It was a pretty normal Sunday. I taught the Relief Society lesson, which multiple people said went well. So, I hope someone learned something. I was grateful for the opportunity to teach again. I didn't think I would be able to do it more than once. Dinner at the Calls' was delicious and I enjoyed the evening chatting with family.

One more post will be coming next week. I hope it is an exciting one with good stories for you to read. Thanks for reading!

Peace out.

-the tall girl

Week 10 - Trouble Trouble Trouble...

Only two weeks left out here!!! Time needs to slow down! I am getting pretty overwhelmed with work because it continues to pile up instead of calm down. So many full time employees are leaving, we just can't keep up. The amount of work is growing immensely, and my quality of work seems to be declining because there is so much...good to realize it and try make improvements. But, here's the week of adventures:

MONDAY
During my mentor session, my mentee started talking about how she wanted to use her artistic abilities to support the use of "natural drugs"...like hemp/marijuana. At that point, I had nothing to say. I just said that's interesting and tried to move topics. I couldn't even relate to her at that point...so sad that someone so young can be so affected by those things.

I got to teach the FHE lesson! Our FHE's are always with the whole ward because we don't have many people and even less come to FHE. There were maybe 15 people on time and were able to hear my lesson. I was grateful for the people who participated and made teaching much easier. I taught about President Packer's talk about eternal truths. I had a few people share how they came to know each member of the Godhead in their personal lives. It was a neat experience to hear their stories.

An additional 15 showed up about 30 minutes late for the pool party and BBQ. We played volleyball in the pool and then jumped in the hot tub for the last few minutes of being there. It was a very fun evening and I am so grateful I was there.

TUESDAY
We had an awesome session with the CMO. There were only about 6 of us mentors who were meeting with her and it was fun to ask her any questions we wanted. In answer to my question, she explained she would sometimes get in trouble for being so calm. She said people would get frustrated because they wouldn't know what she was thinking. Everything around her would be crazy and she would be the quiet person just listening. She would never yell or get frazzled. I think sometimes I get into the same kind of trouble, and she has used it as a strength and played it to her advantage, I hope I can do the same.

We had our sand volleyball game that night and, once again got destroyed...maybe we will win one game before I leave. :) I enjoyed playing with my roommates and I am glad I signed up for the league.

Headphone taco, isn't it genius! 

WEDNESDAY
This was the first hump day I have had in a while...at least it felt like a hump. My work load really started picking up. And, my senior manager put in his two weeks notice as well as another co-worker. It is hard to believe! I have seen what happens to a team when a new leader is put into place that the team doesn't agree with...it falls apart, and falls quickly. It's been sad to watch in my few weeks here...but, welcome to corporate America!

I got to relax that evening with my besties though. Koo and Olympian. We went to dinner and I got deep dish Chicago style pizza. It was stinkin expensive, but delicious! We walked around downtown Campbell and peeked in little shops. There was a candy store with this German candy, Happy Hippos...they are so delicious! I was introduced to them while living with cousin.

THURSDAY
I ended the day doing yoga with the girls I mentor. Koo is a certified yoga teacher and taught us some moves to help us relax the muscles strained by working on a computer all day. It felt great!

Yes, I did it in my work clothes. 

I got destroyed in my Frisbee game. We played a lot better, but still got crushed 3 to 11, I think. I love the workout and I love being able to play outside in the sun. It is beautiful here everyday and I am happy I get to enjoy it.

FRIDAY
This was my day of trouble...hopefully it's not three strikes and you're out...

1. I was sent an email from property management telling us we were in violation of the lease because someone had filed complaints that people were on our porch smoking marijuana and being noisy after hours. :/ ...I was grateful when Sue wrote back accepting full responsibility. And, I was happy they hadn't contacted our employer or fined us. We were blessed! Sue thought I would be pretty upset, but what would getting upset do...nothing. And, it wasn't my problem.
2. I sent an email to the wrong person. Luckily, I had already scheduled a time to meet with the person I sent the wrong email to and nothing too bad happened...I was just embarrassed. 
3. I somehow allowed a candidate to access internal information. He's already debating whether to come to the company and then I do that. I got a call and email from multiple people about it...it's still kind of haunting me and I am sure on Monday I will be facing the bulk of the damage. Right now I can't do anything because I don't know what to do. 

Luckily, my day ended well with a date with Baller! We went to dinner at Red Robin and watched the new Planet of the Apes movie. I was happy to get some good American food in me and the movie was pretty good. I didn't have high expectations though, since I have never seen the first. Baller and I have a lot in common and it was nice to be on a date with someone I can relate to a little bit more. He was nice and a gentlemen. We'll probably go on at least one more date before I leave. 

SATURDAY
I woke up and went running, grocery shopping, did laundry, cooked, video chatted with Bro, and enjoyed chilling in my house with no one else around. :) I rarely get this much time to myself...it's been nice.

SUNDAY
I stayed for Linger Longer after the meeting and it is really whatever people bring is what we eat…needless to say, I was at the back of the line and ate a half of a PB&J sandwich, popcorn out of a bag, fishies, and a Kool-Aid jammer. Pretty awesome. 

While waiting in line, I was talking with my good friend from France. He asked me what I was planning to do after graduation and the summer. He asked if I would accept an offer, if I were to receive one. I told him I wouldn't start work until about February because I will work forever so might as well take a break. He quickly responded, "You're an LDS woman, I highly doubt you will be working forever." I laughed and said, yes, but until I don't work anymore I will be working. I was grateful for his assumption I want to be a wife and mother, it is a correct one.

peace out.

-the tall girl

Week 9 - Power it UP in SF

Week 9 has already come and gone. I cannot believe it. Time is flying and I hope I am taking advantage of everything I can.

MONDAY
My shoe broke on the way to work. Happy Monday! I tripped, and it busted open. I walked around with only one shoe for most of the day. I tried to tape it...that lasted up and down the stairs. I took a picture with a group of people with only one shoe. My co-worker found out and she was not about to let me walk all the way back to the train station with only one shoe...which, I was grateful for. She went without me knowing and bought me probably the most expensive pair of flipflops I have ever owned. They are made of the rubber trees in Thailand. Awesome :)

I left work a little early and made dinner for the sista missionaries. I invited all of my roommates to join, but only Sue and Suh joined. The dinner turned out amazingly and I enjoyed being able to cook a full meal for other people. The table was set nicely, as you can see below. The sisters asked if they could share a message before they left, and Sue thought they were kidding...I should have warned her. But, I didn't. They taught about Heavenly Father. We watched a video, Earthly Father/Heavenly Father. It is really good, I felt the Spirit strongly during it. I think when the Spirit comes Sue gets very uncomfortable. I testified about why I believe and how I have come to know Heavenly Father is real. We read a couple scriptures and the missionaries challenged Sue and Suh to pray to God. Suh already does, and Sue said she would try. I hope she is saying her prayers. Sue was really confused about what believing and having faith means. We read a scripture that promises if we ask, we shall come to know. I explained it doesn't matter what level of belief we are at, all we need to do is to try and ask believing we may receive an answer. I hope she has put my words to the test. Suh was really interested in what the Book of Mormon was. She asked about it and the missionaries gave her a Book of Mormon. I need to follow up with her and see if she has read any of it. I was grateful to have the sisters in my home. It also made me very grateful for the father I have who always takes control of things in the home and presides over meals and conversations with guests...it was hard being that person because at times I felt awkward.

Dinner

Dessert

TUESDAY
I had dinner with Surfer Boy and showed up late to my first sand volleyball match for intern intramurals. We had to forfeit because we didn't have enough people. We just played for fun instead. My team is actually probably going to be really bad...but, it's all fun and games. It is good to be doing stuff with interns.

WEDNESDAY
So, my friend Adi is Indian. He is super funny, and recently I've been able to tell he's been interested...but, I kind of ignore it. On our way to the intern welcome cocktail party, we started chatting. Somehow we got on the topic of how I grew up on a farm and my Papa owns lots of land. Adi then asked, so, as the daughter, "does your husband get a cut of that land? I could really use some land." I laughed and responded that I have no idea what the cut of land is for me. He continued to ask why I don't drink. I responded it was because of my religion. He had never heard of Mormons before, so it was fun to explain to him the things we don't do and watch his jaw drop. He then asked if I have had boyfriends before. When I said yes, he said well, of course they drank! When I responded that they didn't, he was even more shocked! He then connected the dots and said, oh, you only date people who are in your religion. I agreed and he asked if there was no hope for him then. I laughed and said he could always change. When we arrived at the cocktail reception, he asked if he had to start that change right now and not drink. I told him he could do what he wanted, he liked that response and went off to drink. Such a funny conversation and I can now honestly say someone wanted to date me for my inheritance.

The cocktail party was fun, I picked out the Utah interns no problem. They looked a little uncomfortable and one was wearing a Utah State shirt. They had ladder ball, big connect four, and big jenga there to play as well.

THURSDAY
I headed to SF for the big intern conference where we powered it up about eBay! It was awesome! We got there for the opening session and enjoyed hearing the President of Marketplaces speak as well as another executive. The CEO made a special video for us since he was traveling this week. Later that night we partied it up! There was a laser tag course, which was awesome, check out the pic below. Up on the 47th floor where they were having happy hour, was cityscape. You could see the entire city. It was pretty awesome. They also had a special photo booth where you would video for 7 seconds and then they would print a flip book of you and the group...so cool! Check out the pics from the night.

Kick off meeting, and that's not a filter...the room was blue with lights! 

We killed 47 people in 7 minutes during the 2nd game, the first game we only got 10. 

CityScape

The Flipbook, I am the one in the back with the cowgirl hat.

Of course I stayed up late chatting with my roommate that night, it's never fun to go to bed on time when you have to be up at 7:30.

FRIDAY
We had some awesome good speakers in the morning and then some big breakout sessions that afternoon. I learned about communication, design, and top 10 tips to make a good career from PayPal leaders. I enjoyed the break outs and had a lot of fun networking with people. At night, was when I over did it in the food industry...Plus, it was also casino night, we just had a ticket to go get chips to play with, but I didn't gamble. I was too interested in the chocolate fountain...as you can see, it is the largest fountain I have ever seen.

My and roomy

Yes, those are corndog bites and a waffle chickens sandwich...

I went on a bus tour of the city right after that. It was so much fun!!! My hair was so wind tossed after it that I could not comb it out...that has never happened to me before. Usually, my hair is so fine it combs right out. Going across the Golden Gate bridge I felt the strongest wind I have ever felt. If I had pulled my phone out, it would have blown out of my hands. It was fun to be in the city and see what you always here about and what everyone says you need to see. Here are some pictures :)

Me and my Peeps

Copper covered.......

remind you of princess diaries?

pretty building

cars

my Hotel

And, I went into my first bars that night. I had a friend who was sober with me and we went to a normal bar and then to karaoke bar. Both were within a block of the hotel and I made sure I knew my location at all times and avoided all the shady people. Here's a pic, just to show I went there. The karaoke was really terrible...which is expected for drunk people. Don't worry, I had my fix and I was safe and I did it for the experience...and I won't be frequenting bars while out here.

the karaoke bar

SATURDAY
I tried to relax and catch up on sleep and enjoyed relaxing at my house. Surfer Boy, Chatty Man, and Girl came over to play games and then we went and joined other ward peeps for a game of capture the flag. I was definitely out too late again, but you only live once and my time here is ticking down.

SUNDAY
Church was great, got to sit by Curly and then enjoyed dinner at the Calls. They are so kind to feed us twice a month, I feel very blessed.

I hope you are all well. I sure love you. Thank you for your support and love and reading my blog. It's always fun to see people actually read it.

Peace out.

-the tall girl