Category Archives: food

Jungle and Meeting Marco

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Hi friends!

I´m trying to type really fast so I dont have to pay so much at the cabinas, though it´s relatively cheap. First of all, I´m alive! I have mosquito bites but I am happy and well. The other day I got to meet Marco and his family, as well as visit a church project. There were so many kids, they were all super adorable. I wanted to cry when Marco gave me a hug, he loved the scrapbook and gifts I brought him. Especially, the ninjas I bought from my friend who makes them. He carried the plush toys when we went to the zoo together. He is currently 10 years old and his family is struggling financially.

We went to visit his house and he had a monito, monkey as a pet. On my lap is the monito.

My friend, that is a real monkey. It tried to bite me, but after awhile it fell asleep on my lap. Sorry about the botellia in the picture, haha.

Then, I went to the jungle…let´s say, it was one strange thing after another.The lights went out in the lodge, I had some dark dreams, and it was super hot and humid. But within 3 days I had made more than 5 friends that I can say, I´ll now be friends forever with. Ecuadorians are so helpful, they will take time out of their day to help you. They are not driven by money only, they value famillia more than anything.

Yesterday, after riding with a tour guide, a worker and their boss (it just so happened they were at the lodge visiting and they were nice enough to give me a ride back with them), I had to pee SO BAD. Necessito el bano so bad. Well, my friend told me I had to get on a certain bus, when the black market taxi stopped, it just so happened the bus was right across the street. So with my backpack, I jumped out the taxi, ran across the trafficked street and jumped onto a moving bus, yes it started moving.

Somehow God is protecting me and giving me rides everywhere. I can´t tell you how amazing I´ve felt meeting the people here, they really humble me and help me to see the valuable things in life. I´m so glad I came, I wish everyone could experience this.

I’m Not American, but I’m Los Angelesian

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Traveling a lot makes you see how much people hate Americans or have seriously demented ideas of Los Angeles.

I get several responses when I say I’m from Los Angeles.

1. OHHHHHhhhHHH, do you see celebrities??

2. Oh, Los Angeles. People talk like this “ommmmggggg!! ?? Like seriously???” right?

3. Are you Republican, and crazy American patriot, do you hate gays?

All of which are…beyond far from the truth. I did get one Aussie who said, “yah don’t girls dance like this?” and he had his ass up in the air, shaking it like it’s hot. No, no, no.

No, none of us, none of us sane people actually watch The Hills. No, we don’t really like Orange County, or whatever that show is. No, I don’t even own a freaking TV.

Then I, of course, had this drunken fight at a Travel Store in Sydney. There were no fists or blood involved. However, there was this European dude who insisted how much he hated Los Angeles and how he had a private tour guide to show him the INSIDER’S VIEW OF LOS ANGELES. Give me a freaking break. I said, “no offense, but you really need a local to show you the ropes”.

He wouldn’t take that answer. He said, “Los Angeles just sucks”.

Because he was so drunk, I couldn’t eloquently give my Los Angeles speech. So here goes, these are the questions I would ask him.

1. Did you get a local to show you around Santee Alley, take you around the freaking amazing hotdog and taco stands made by legit Mexicans?

2. Did you get an Asian to show you Alhambra and San Gabriel, Asian central, full of freaking amazing BOBA milk teas, phos, chinese food, dim sums, shaved ice, the list goes on.

3. Let me guess, you walked on Hollywood Blvd and did all the touristy things?

4. Did you know a hip avant garde lady like me who would have known all the best clubs to go dance in?

5. Did you go to the little areas of Los Angeles such as Ktown, China Town, Thai Town, etc, etc?

Did you eat good food? – then probably no, you did not really see Los Angeles.

 

Just When I Thought….

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Just when I thought God was going to work a certain way….

First: my roommate offered to buy me groceries- omg I have food in the fridge now!!!

Second: my awesome friend gave me a check for $600. Yep, only a spirit filled friend with the love of God would do such a thing. And also

Third: I finally feel reassured that God TRULY IS PROVIDING! :) I can say now I can eat full meals and more than that, that GOD truly is a provider an the perfect Father!!! Several angels have spoke to people to donate to my trip. I’m so blessed! Thank you for your generosity! You will receive 10 fold what you gave!

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Yesterday I saw a vision of myself with Jesus, me as a little girl at Disneyland. He bought me one of those mickey mouse hats and asked me what I wanted. We went go karting and also went on a ride. Jesus was all having fun with His hands up in the air. He wants to give all the desires of my heart. He asked me what I want to do with my life, I kept listing things. And He said “It’s done!”

It’s crazy how I know God says who He is- but I still doubt at many times of the day. I am developing a cough- need prayer for this infirmity.

Preparing For My Trip

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The past month has been weeks of walking in faith. As an voluntarily unemployed woman, I plunged and bought a ticket to Australia. The past month I’ve been meeting up with lots of people, old and new friends, reconnecting and being inspired by their lives and their livelihood. I am proud to say that I’ll never go back to my old life, that I’ll never settle for the status quo. I’ll not be socialized by a society that likes to do what people tell them to. Today I went to my friends’ friend’s house and we did prophetic art, listening to God and drawing what we see in our mind’s eye. It was really encouraging because this guy drew me as the sun and these plants growing because of me. I was radiating music notes and the plants were dancing and growing. I was really encouraged by the image and thought that my path of music and dance will heal people!

I’m still deciding whether to travel without plans or to at least book some hostels and flights. Traveling is the best because you’re letting go of extraneous goods and meeting the essentials in life – eating, meeting friends, and simply loving each moment, whatever surprises come your way. I can’t wait to get on an airplane. The very thought excites me!

How I’m Able to Work and Travel Quite A Bit

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Hey Rebekka,

This is really an impulse message, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on this matter.

From my noticing of my facebook news feeds haha, it seems like you’re able to work and travel quite a bit. I’m kind of in one of those post-college moments where I think that before I get married in my early 30’s or late 20’s, I want to be able to travel the world and experience what there is to offer. At the same time, I know right now is an incredibly important time to start being smart with finances(adding money to your roth IRA, all that stuff).

My question is, how are you able to travel a lot, manage your work, and I guess keep an eye on your finances? I would love to hear your thoughts since you’ve been through this.

===============================================================================================

This seriously made my day. To know that I have inspired someone, or to help others question the norm and to live outside the socialized, pre-made box that is boring, mundane.

I will be answering this question, but I thought perhaps I’ll write up a few pointers.

3 KEY STEPS TO BECOMING A TRUE NOMAD

1. Trust in the Lord, not in your finance- money will never give you true happiness. You can have a million dollars, a billion dollars, a few cents, a dollar, and still be unhappy. Money is relative. Social status is also relative.

  • When you know that God loves you and is a provider, that He provides even for the sparrows and the ants- how much more He provides all that you need!!! Because He loves and cares for YOU! YES the UNIQUE YOU!

2. Work IS NOT your life, It Does Not Define You- Work should NOT define who you are. What you do does not define who you are. Yes, you may be an artist or accountant, but that’s not who you are. You are _________ (plug in your name). What you do overflows out of WHO you are- your beliefs, your convictions, your personality, your core, your spirit, your BEING.

  • You need to SHIFT out of that mentality. The world wants to socialize you to sit at a desk for 10 billion hours until the day you die and fall into your coffin. YOU DO NOT LIVE for vacations- that is a SAD way to live. Because you only get one week or two weeks, or three per year. If that’s so, the rest of the year is a waste of time.

3. Learn to TAKE RISK, for it is the ONLY path of a nomad- LEARN TO TAKE RISKS. Even if it’s a small one. If you usually drink lattes, get cappuccinos. If you only wear socks that match, wear ones that don’t. If you are scared of one thing, whatever it is, DO IT! YES, do that which scares you. There’s a reason you are scared of it, it means you are destined to conquer it!

  • Perhaps the normal thing to do is to count how much you are earning each day and be afraid to take days off for the things that you truly enjoy. Well, don’t live in FEAR, LIVE IN RISK! Live for that which your heart pounds LOUDLY for.

I took many days off work to attend seminars, conferences, travel and to refresh my soul. The several hundred dollars that were deducted from my paycheck could not have given me the joy that my travels did.

Let me ask you- Does a few hundred dollar more make a difference? Do you really need to get expensive clothes and bags? Do you really need to eat out all the time? Or would you rather backpack in a foreign state or country and enjoy the BLISS of meeting new people and animals.

Bottom LINE! I’d rather live in risk and change, then live in conformity and mediocrity, and eventually- hatred of my life. I’d rather have the NOW of not knowing where my income will come from, then the certainty of hum drum and boredom.

‎”the choice isn’t between success and failure; its between choosing risk and striving for greatness, or risk nothing and being certain of mediocrity” – forgot who I got this from….

Business Journey Not Only To the East, But Into Peoples’ Business

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“Product Description

With the rapid shift in global economic power, many Western companies are jumping onto the bandwagon towards Asia, lured by the rich returns that the region can potentially provide. However, many are ill prepared for the cultural challenges, many are too impatient and prescribed in their market entry strategies and many struggle with the possibility that there is an alternative Asian approach to business. Their success rate is very poor: early failure leads to frustration and stagnation.

But what if there were a faster way to appreciate the new Asia, to understand better how Asians strategize and practice business? How could companies avoid the many pitfalls and accelerate their learning curves? What could make them sit up and realize that a fresh business approach to Asia, combining the best of East and West, could substantially increase their success rate?

Professor Chow-Hou Wee and Fred Combe share their combined academic and real world wisdom in an East-meets-West collaboration. In this book, they blend the practical, cultural, and historical realities of doing business in Asia with anecdotes and refreshing insights from great Asian influencers as well as the works of Chinese philosophers and strategists, notably, Sun Zi Bingfa, the most well known Chinese military treatise in the world.

Throughout the book, the authors explore why Asians and Westerners think and operate differently, examine how the West needs to urgently reappraise its role in Asia and propose that the West adopt a new business approach that combines Asian and Western strategy.”

Culture doesn’t matter- think again. I love this book…not because I finished it, but because it talks about the roots of how Chinese people do business, and it goes WAY BACK in history. This really interests me, BIG TIME. I seriously thank my Lord for making me how I am, because somehow I’m able to understand both. I was sitting there eating with friends and had this weird feeling, oh yah, huh- im like the only Asian here. As much as we don’t want to label ourselves, it is what it is. And the best thing is- to be okay with it. Tis I am. I have the habit of analyzing peoples’ expressions, speech, and culture.

Usually this goes through my mind:

“oh she’s feeling uncomfortable because she has no idea what that term means”

“now, she feels awkward because she doesn’t want her to feel ignorant….so she is suppressing her negative awe”

“he probably feels left out, he is sitting there just watching”

“he is quite introverted, probably processing what is going on”

“I have no idea why I am thinking all this, let me wake up and get back into the conversation”

Yes. The most awkward times in my life is when I KNOW that people are insecure and all are trying to be people they ARE NOT. It creeps me out so much, I hate when I fake myself. I don’t feel right because I am outside my skin. That’s why, I prefer to be silent if people are trying too hard. I just watch and observe- which makes people uncomfortable too because then they ask me, “why are you so quiet”. In my german ways, I almost want to scream “because you guys are idiots and trying too hard to impress each other, and it’s stupid”. And I don’t want to be here- the end.

Haha. But no, seriously. Trying to be someone else is tiring, so silence is golden in those situations. For reals.

But anyways, yes, this book is incredible and I must buy it instead of reading it at Borders.

Selling Vegan In Our Fast Food Age

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First off- THANK YOU ALL who commented on my blog entry. I really had no idea people, strangers, in fact, could find my blog. But now, I know there are people listening to my rampant thoughts!

A few days ago, I followed my vegan catering friends, Isabel and Stephanie (Vegan Venom Baking and Vegan Goodies Cater Co.) into the alleys of LA, specifically The Smells. I believe it is a non-profit venue? Someone confirm that with me. Kimya Dawson, the amazing singer of Juno soundtrack, was the key performer. HOLLA was I excited. That day I had a 3 pm class at FIDM. I rode the bus, accidentally leaving my whole school notebook, syllabus, and folder. Talk about being absent- minded. Then I walk into my class and wonder why people are so comfy. I tap this girl’s shoulder, “is this the first day of this class?”. She looks at me ridiculously, “no, it’s the 2nd week of school”. Oh.

In that case.

My face grew hot with embarrassment. Now mind you, I don’t get embarrassed easily, at ALL.

Moving on with The Smells. A self- created video and pictures below to amuse you:

1. A tour of the place plus great Dawson music: I’m working on uploading videos more and more.

2. My Vegan friends (I actually like meat, not vegan myself) and their food table:

3. Hello talk about political art and the expression of thoughts: LOVE IT!

4. Cds and records to blow your mind:

5. We’re All Nuts: It’s quite true.

6. Creatures of the night, right next to the bathrooms.

7. My favorite subject- the bathroom

8. Taco Dance: at the end, people were leaving and we wanted to make sure people stayed for our taco/horchata combo special. I drew this AWESOME picture and hooked it onto some random hook on the wall. Then we created a taco dance to make sure people stop in their tracks.

9. Last of all: The great Kimya Dawson standing next to ME!! OH MY DEER! I love your lyrics and songs if you ever read this Kimya.

Don’t forget to a fan “vegan venom baking” and “Vegan Cater Co.” on facebook!

I will be blogging about kids clothes next time. I’m addicted to the colors, cuteness, and the awesome designs you can create for kids.