Weekend WrapUp: Fireworks, Netflix, Little Mermaid

Working full time has made me appreciate weekends (aka FREEDOM) significantly more. With a car and extra money in my pocket, my free time has definitely gotten more action.

Friday: Extremely unproductive day at work. Our lab leader brought us together for a little powwow which involved catching up and consumption of his delicious home brew. Needless to say, any attempt at work after that was futile. Leaving a little earlier than usual, I battled traffic on my way to Pomona to visit BT. After fueling ourselves with tacos and Thai, we headed for CSU Pomona's 75th anniversary celebration. It was on a smaller scale than UCSD with minimal amount of free food but ended with some spectacular fireworks.

Saturday: Takeout from our favorite brunch place Kickback Jack's and hours in bed watching season 2 of Orange is the New Black was the epitome of a relaxing Saturday. Needing some fresh air, we headed to the market (Trader Joe's) for some sustenance and strolled around a park in Claremont. I threw together a sausage, tomato, arugula pasta with the help of my sous chef, and it didn't taste too bad!

Sunday: Due to Friday's hiccup, I spent most of the day working. Luckily, I had plans to go to the ballet to cheer me up. My lovely little cousin Cecilia was performing in her ballet school's production of "The Little Mermaid". It was filled with tons of adorable and talented ballerinas twirling in their bright colored dresses. We finished the night with a satisfying dinner at Sam Woo.

Monday (BONUS): So basically the day was mainly spent WERKING. Afterwards, John Tran and I weakly attempted physical activity by walking around Mile Square. We celebrated our attempt with a surprisingly delicious meal at CPK. No pictures because I am horrible at remembering to take them.

xoxo,

A

Destination: Greece

Starting off the first post with some blog worthy news. 
I booked my ticket a couple days ago and it has been a roller coaster of emotions. From stress to relief to excitement, you name it. The trip isn't until September but I want to share some helpful websites/tips and my personal preparation in upcoming posts. For now, here are my top reasons why you should throw your inhibitions to the wind and travel.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Scott Cameron

Have you ever thought about how big the Earth is? It would be such a shame not to enjoy the splendor of every continent especially since you gain a new perspective and appreciation for everything and everyone around you.  

“I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.” – James Baldwin

Europe holds a special place in my heart from AP Euro in high school to studying abroad my sophomore year. I have been extremely fortunate to visit Germany (Berlin, Kassel), France (Paris), Czech Republic (Prague), Switzerland (Zurich), and Spain (Barcelona). I can personally say that drinking cocoa underneath a twinkling Eiffel Tower or hiking up Parc Guell is truly breathtaking. 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

This quote should not only apply to travel but life in general.  Think more carpe diem and less YOLO, make the most out of your life but don't be reckless. If you make travel a priority, you could be the one jet-setting across the globe instead of liking it on Instagram. 

And finally wise words from a great Greek himself,

“Adventure is worthwhile.” – Aristotle 

xoxo,

A