Writing From Rome – Thoughts on Being 26 & Living My Dream Life

On November 12, 2014November 12, 2014 By Rebekka LienIn entrepreneur, travelLeave a comment

I’m sitting in a bed (I haven’t exactly slept on a real bed for 12 days) writing this blog post. The sun is reflecting the old rugged building and I’m staring at one of the most beautiful cities on earth, Rome.

I’ve made it, I’m here. I managed to couchsurf for the last 12 days in Paris due to the kindness of a stranger and I’ve been to more cities than I could imagine. I’m living my dream life. Did I think I would be living like this when I was a teenager? I knew I did not want to be like any of the church members I grew up with, don’t get me wrong, I am still close friends with some of them..but I mean the young adults (the ones that got stable jobs and got married, and then had 3 kids). I’m all for it if that’s what you want, but I knew that I wanted something more than that. I’m not saying that I don’t want to get married or have kids, but that’s not all my life is about. I’m also not belittling the dream of stability, but I also know that stability is not in a “stable” job or a 401k.

To me, stability is within ourselves. It’s in a higher being, it’s in becoming one with the spirit, it’s about entering into a deeper relationship with the one who created the whole earth.

My life is about making an impact in this world, becoming someone truly significant, truly phenomenal, truly groundbreaking. It’s about feeling alive and embracing every moment.

Sometimes I forget I’m only 26. I’ve tried so many things in my life that I forget there’s no rush to accomplish more, that whatever I do, I’ve already won because I’m only competing against myself…and the higher meaning is to embrace and live every single moment.

Stability? I don’t have that yet, not in the world’s eyes. But stability in the spirit? Yes, and the great thing is that even when the world keels over and the banks are destroyed, I’m stable because if God is for me, what and who can be against me?

Did I imagine that I’d be sitting here in Rome, hearing the traffic of the bustling city? No.

But I did imagine myself flying around the world, wearing my fashionable bag and outfit, feeling very powerful and in tune with myself. I left my stable 9 to 5 job in July 2011 to be the adventurous, entrepreneurial woman that I am. I still recall people popping 3 pain killers a day to kill the pain within. People cling onto worldly stability but the only stability is our sanity, is our inner peace.

You see, the only way to be happy is to see that you are unique in the eyes of God and that you have a higher purpose in this life. Until you find out who you really are, answer the calling of being the magnificent person you are and connect it with all the talents and skills you already have, you’ll feel miserable trying to fit into other peoples’ box of what you should be and what you should do.

A few years ago, I told myself, I’m totally the girl version of Tony Robbins. I also told people I was Asian Oprah. You see, most people get really frustrated because they don’t see enough progress. Progress takes time, every day at a time. It can take 30 years, 40 even for you to see fruition of your ideas. When I wrote my ebook, I knew it wasn’t the best that it could be, but it was magnificent enough for people to learn from. I knew I wasn’t as good as a speaker as Oprah, but I knew I was good enough, and that if I practiced, I’d be just as good….with the help of the spirit.

Everyday you are simply learning who you really are– people like to tell you otherwise, but everything you have within you is ENOUGH, more than enough to manifest your dream life and complete happiness. It’s all within you. You were born with it.

I left everything the world called stability. I didn’t have health insurance for 3 years, I was barely scraping by. I lost friends who didn’t understand why I was sacrificing everything to go after my vision. My family misunderstood me, called me crazy. They laughed when I said I would be Asian Oprah. Maybe I haven’t made millions, sold thousands of ebooks yet, but I sold a few, more and more….I’ve put myself out there and created workshops to help others, I’ve created courses and have seen people get healed and touched. I’m already there, I’m here. Here is all I have and I can either wait to be “successful” or I can call myself “a success” as is.

Every time I thought I couldn’t go on, another miracle happened. Days turned into months, months into years. That’s because I didn’t give up and I didn’t do it so others could like me, I did it because of a burning desire for something better, something significant, life changing. No I don’t want to live so I could retire. I want to live now. Every time I thought I was going to die broke, another idea came through and another miracle happened. When I want to give up, I look at the days, the years I’ve been able to be self-employed, the multiple streams of income I’ve been able to create without hating my life. GOSH am I lucky, am I blessed. But it took perseverance, it took vision.

I can wait for other people to approve of me, or I can know that I am approved of and loved for who I am.

Until you come alive now, you will never feel like you are enough. You are enough, you are magnificent, brilliant, a shining star. I believe in you.

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What It’s Really Like To Live In A Hostel

On October 6, 2014October 6, 2014 By Rebekka LienIn travelLeave a comment

Some people get freaked out when I tell them I’m staying at a hostel.

Well, it’s not that scary. Movies like Taken and Hostel just instills fear in people, it keeps people from traveling because they think traveling has to cost a lot. Well, it doesn’t have to cost a lot. Plus, people think the world is a dangerous place or that perhaps they’ll get slaughtered and cut up or locked up in the basement of a hostel (aka the movies).

Here are some friends I’ve made in London (at the hostel). You meet a lot of life-long friends and you can travel with them 🙂

This is us the other night, we found the only hip hop club in London, after much persistence the DJ finally played DRAKE. Then we hit up another electronic and house club and sure enough, it was what I expected of the UK. Well, I didn’t expect so many hipsters. Brixton is the place to be and if you want to stay at a fun hostel, try Hootannany Hostel. There’s a great bar downstairs, I’ve gotten used to the noise with ear plugs, nothing can wake me up!

Great staff and lovely surroundings. I’ll be heading to Amsterdam on a megabus on Wednesday, if you’re there, would love to meet you- Rebekkalien@gmail.com

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Here’s the kitchen and our daily hang out place.

The common room where everyone lounges and watches hours of television, play guitar and relax

My attempt at making English food.

The Promised Land

On October 9, 2012October 9, 2012 By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

As you know the story of Isrealites trying to get to the promised land…well I feel that the last few days have been just that. My friend told me the story to encourage me.

He said, “you know how they had to go through Egypt and get to the promised land? Well, many elders never made it because even though God clothed, fed, and provided for them, they still complained…because it was taking forever and well, the journey was long”. We can complain, or we can trust God- he said. Some people will never get there because they keep complaining and never trust God.

“Sometimes we just need to shut up, let God take care of the people that bug us and trust that the promise is still there”.

Whatever you believe in, the universe, God, the forces will take you through to the promise land if we trust and focus on our promise.

As for the elements and people in our lives that hinder us from enjoying our life, shrug it off and trust. If we believe in our honesty, in what is true, then let the current take you.

Yes, let the flow of the river take you and focus on good.

For me, envisioning the times I traveled to various beautiful and heavenly locations in the world focused me on the beauty of life versus the negative circumstances. Why should you travel, because of this:

Me in Cairns, Australia. I was backpacking alone, had massive throw up sessions on the boat, but what do I remember? The oasis of the ocean, iridescent colors of fishes and ocean life; The ocean is my oasis.

When my body is embraced by the ocean, I only think of peace. Nothing else.

The Promise Land for me that month was the oasis of the ocean- the Great Barrier Reef. What it took for me to get there? I threw up about 5-6 times.

Other times? France – stranded and missed my airplane, slept in airport and didn’t shower for 4-5 days. Ecuador- saw the most amazing stingray snorkeling, got food poisoning and knew no spanish in hospital (got injected with what…I have no idea). China- feelings of culture shock, lived in a no AC apartment in 105 degrees heat, kept slipping and falling on my head stepping on rain puddles. I guess the list can go on a bit.

But last night, I thought about the good times. I thought about my promised land, the oasis, the quietness of the ocean, stillness, peace. This is what I thought about.

Watch this without sound:

Post Travel Syndrome

On June 20, 2012June 20, 2012 By Rebekka LienIn travelLeave a comment

For the past week and a half, I kept wondering what was so different about South America and United States. Finally, the word came to me “sterile”. Compared to days I spent dancing in Rio, my days in the US seems so sterile, so apart from bacteria, so safe, so clean, too clean, too safe.

Of course there are misconceptions of what Brazil is like. Not everyone is good looking, not everyone is the hot brown bod gentleman or lady. There are some seriously creepy men and the beaches are beautiful, but they are parts that aren’t that clean. Sanitary-wise, they don’t use disposable toilet seat covers and not everyone is that friendly.

Having said that, South America just seems so much more alive than the “to-the point” productive society that is LA. I’m trying really hard to analyze what is different and how I can transfer some of my travel lifestyle into my everyday life.

Some changes I am making:

1. Broaden my circle of friends: attend networking events, join groups, go to various demographic bars/clubs, events.

2. Go out more: in general, go out more…

3. Travel. Period. Sorry, I don’t think I can ever be normal again, travel just makes you weird. You just don’t think the same. You talk to strangers and want to be friends with people really unlike you and you get tired of the same environment. You get tired of the same demographic, the same roads, the same culture…

If you have any tips, help a sister out.

Dancing in Rio

Kicking Some Unwanted Balls & Throwing Up Cherries

On June 13, 2012June 13, 2012 By Rebekka LienIn travelLeave a comment

At the Books Hostel in Rio

I woke up at 5 am today, 4 hours jet-lagged. My computer had crashed last night, so any attempts of writing, contacting potential clients, or any type of freelance search was out the door.

To add, after drinking milk and tea, I felt nauseated. Then I threw up in a public bathroom. Cherries literally included, not on top, but in it.

I asked god why I always had to go through with things like this. Why can’t I just adjust back to life like normal people? Why can’t I be normal enough to have a normal job waiting for me?

Then I’m reminded that I’m supposed to LET GO.

This is a lesson that will take a long time to learn. Especially when the facts in your life don’t seem so stable, a little discouraging at best. Especially when you find yourself comparing yourself to other normal people who don’t go off for a month and experience the most life changing shit ever.

By the way, I’m quitting alcohol for a month. Please keep me accountable. I need to cleanse my body from travel bugs, literally.

I guess it’s easy to be negative, but I’ll try to be positive. I woke up with the most amazing travel story idea. I’m going to write about Traveling Solo As An Asian Woman- Not Your Typical Travel Story. I’ll also write about harassment I experienced being an Asian woman in South America. Scandalous enough for an article, scandalous enough for people to be intrigued. It’s not your typical story. Yet, at the end, coming out a wiser person, knowing how to avoid nasty stares, avoid forced kisses, avoid and kick some unwanted balls.

I didn’t really have an easy life growing up. But it has made me who I am today, I would not be the person I am today if it wasn’t for the hardships. But guess what, I think it’s time I became gloriously awesome and fought for as a speaker, teacher and consultant. Even if I don’t feel like it right now, especially since I threw up just now.

Since I can’t pitch stories to publications because my hard drive just crashed, I’ll wait for the universe to pamper and flourish me, according to the right time. Meanwhile, sitting at the Apple Store, I’ll finish this blog post with some pictures that could erase the image of me throwing up cherries. 😉

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Guess what, you are part of the universe that is sustaining this blog!

Some exclusive graffiti from Rio, Brazil.

Traveling Messes You Up

On June 10, 2012June 10, 2012 By Rebekka LienIn travelLeave a comment

On the beautiful Ipanema Beach. There are some big butts there, seriously.

I’m sitting on my couch, enjoying the stillness and quiet of my house. The leaves are orange and yellow, the sun rays reflected on the wooden floors, I’m back in LA. It all went by so fast. After a crazy week in Rio, Brazil- I woke up after a 6 hour bus ride from Rio to Sao Paulo. I was the last person on the bus because I barely slept at all in Rio. I had $49 in my account, plus bills to pay, but memories I will never forget. Travel really messes you up.

Big time.

My brain still feels overloaded with smells, pictures, flashes of dancing on the streets of Rio, holding my dress and spinning in circles. I remember conversations, people from all over the world- England, Uruguay, China, Switzerland, Austria, New York, the list goes on. I think of the fuzzy dogs that my host family had, getting lost and listening to the voice within, buses, strangers, lots of strangers. In fact, before my trip to South America, I did not know a single person that I was going to meet. Now that I’m back in LA, I am close friends with at least 15-20 people. Friends that I can message and stay with all over the world.

It’s a bit difficult to squish my trip all into one summary.

So for this post, I want to tell you about what I learned.

I learned that despite being alone at times, we are never alone. The world is full of strangers turned friends. In my quest to see Marco, my sponsored boy, I saw that 3rd world countries are happier than we imagine them to be. In fact, I can say that despite everything Americans have, we seem to pop more anti-depressants than the kids running around without shoes on.

I always wondered why I had the desire to live simply, yet loved the world of fashion and glam. I wondered why I loved the idea of free swag, high heels, makeup and gratis but also the idea of living out of a backpack and being anonymous.

Now I understand. Perhaps, my goal in life isn’t just to help the poor…perhaps it is to help the rich let go of security and stability to live the life they want. In Ecuador, I visited the jungle and saw communities drinking out of rivers. Yet, their simple lives caused them to appreciate people and relationships. In contrast, in America, we are constantly bombarded by material things and status. We are constantly virtually contacting people, but never for the simplicity of enjoying the moment.

I met foreigners who wanted to volunteer in Ecuador, and now I realize, these 3rd world country kids should teach us 1st world folks how to live and love. Going to South America taught me the hospitality of a stranger. Strangers took time out of their day to help me, they literally laughed and smiled for no reason, they were open to you, not closed off or busy.

Brazilians seriously know how to party. This is something we can learn from. I am a different person from last month. For days I didn’t look at a phone or know what time it was, but the natural inclination of what I felt enabled me to live according to my inner self, the people around me, and free myself from time constraints.

The more I travel, the more strangers I meet, the more my craving to be alive and to break out of social constraints increase. We don’t have to be slaves to society, we can be trailblazers, we can still live the life we want when we’re all grown up. I can’t say I have it all figured out, because even now I don’t know where my next paycheck is coming from…but I have experienced it all, I really do live in faith knowing I’m not crazy, but destined for greatness.

After arriving in Rio after a 6 hour bus ride sleeping sitting up, 2 hours trying to find the hostel, I met these 3 friends. I must have been crazy because I decided to hike 2.5 hours to see the Christo. Midway, I stopped several times to hear the quietness of the forest. I had come to Brazil to be still. This was it. After half- dying, hearing the pounding of my heart and running up to the Christo, I started screaming JESUS I’M HERE.

The Christo was startling, beautiful. I was sad to see he didnt have eye pupils. It just shows that statues can’t represent anyone.

Jesus I made it! I climb 2 hours to see you.

Watching the sunset in Rio @ the Christo

South America: Finding Home in Brazil

On May 24, 2012May 24, 2012 By Rebekka LienIn travel2 Comments

Yes, that is my name on a towel. This is my first time couchsurfing and I was a little hesitant, but the family has been incredibly nice. They have one dog and two cats, the dog is named “Maggie” and has two poofy hairdo´s on the side of its head.

I now have complete access to internet, it`s incredible. After a horrible experience dying from food poisoning in Ecuador, I had to fly back to Quito and then to Brazil. Yesterday was a full day of flying, and my stomach was aching so bad. But thank God, today I feel great and I´ve learned a few Portugeuse words…unfortunately, with a Brazilian computer, I can´t spell check my English.

Small note of gratefulness: I had thrown away my crappy towel in Ecuador because I didn´t want to carry too much. On the way to the house, I asked my friend if they had an extra towel. When I got to there, they told me to look in the bathroom….voila- a new towel with my name on it. This may be a small surprise, but to me I knew that god had provided one with my very name on it. He sure takes care of His kids.

Everytime I look at the picture I am reminded that I have a home here in Brazil. I´ve been looking into a lot of travel writing sites, am trying to stop myself from compulsive workaholic behavior and not submit while I´m here. I know that I have something lined up in the states, there´s no human explanation, but my friend said that I´ll be working one on one with people, some kind of consulting work.

After going to the jungle, meeting Marco and working with the kids, I had 3 days. Even though, I didn´t have the money, I knew I had to go to the Galapagos Island because when would I return to Ecuador again? I put it on credit (yes, I know, not too smart, but somtimes you have to sacrifice, plus it´s not like I have college loans) and flew there. I got sick the second day, wabam, diarrhea and vomit galore. I was praying my ass off (to put it nicely) and tons of people were back home to support me. But I felt completely alone and vulnerable.

As a 3rd world country, Ecuador sure had awesome hospitals. As a foreigner, I got to see the nurse for free and only had to pay 21 bucks for medication. They stabbed my arm with a vaccination shot and gave me some acid eating medicine. Wow, if I was in America, I would be screwed over with tons of bills.

Some pictures while I was still alive:

Galapagos

Turtoise

No I´m not in Taiwan, but there´s a street like the night market. There I met a Taiwanese, no kidding, straight from Taiwan. It felt good to talk in Mandarin because I had been speaking really bad Spanglish for 10 days.

I will expand on more when I return to the states. More posts to come!! And do keep the comments coming!! I love them! God bless!

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Jungle and Meeting Marco

On May 18, 2012May 18, 2012 By Rebekka LienIn food, travel2 Comments

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.

Fanta and Rice Breakfasts, Hot Summer Humid Nights in Ecuador

On May 15, 2012 By Rebekka LienIn travel7 Comments

Hi Friend!

I´ve finally got the time to blog about my first 2 days in Ecuador. The manager of the internet place just asked me if I´m married, it´s not very unlikely that random strangers will make conversation with you by asking about your boyfriend or spouse. He said, “your boyfriend is in Ecuador?”. To which I said “America”.

I´m in a random hole in the wall internet cafe, except there´s no cafe. It´s called a “cabina”. I rode in a 5 hour bus to Tena from Quito today. What I´ve fortunately realized is that Ecuador is probably the most beautiful place on earth, and also the people are one of the kindest people on earth as well. Unlike the pre- warnings that “omg”, you are going to get robbed and beware of men there, men in fact, especially the older ones have been like papas to me. Today on the bus, I met a bus driver who helped me find a hostel and find my way around Tena. Then previously, a medicine salesman helped me get to the terminal and take the right bus to Tena. He was very kind, though I don´t understand why he said he wanted to see the movies with me when I already told him I had a boyfriend.

Having said, Ï paid 10 bucks to stay at a hostel. The hostel has a little gap above the door so you can hear what drama the owners are watching. The amazonias get really cold at night, though during the day, it´s like living 24-7 in a hot steam bath. I feel yucky. It feels like living in Taiwan. The night, the markets do resemble Taiwan markets from 15 years ago. Though Taiwan is now much cleaner and more modernized.

I was thinking about how I´m the only asian woman walking on the street. Sometimes you start to feel like an exotic animal that everyone stares at. Now I know how white people feel in Asia, except in this case, it´s an Asian in Ecuador. Staring is very normal it seems.

And private space doesn´t exist. Personal space? What? When people point to tell you something, they definitely cross your American space by bypassing the normal boundaries. Of course, I´m crossed and pissed. Though I´ve realized, hey, they are not the only ones. Sometimes they don´t stop talking until you tell them, ¨”I´m going to take a nap”.

This morning, I was freaking out about how I would get to Tena, I prayed. Then, when I was buying a 30 cent comb the medicine salesman happened to just be going there. Thank god! I would say, Ecuadorians are WAY more hospitable than people in LA. I mean no one in LA would take the time to help you. Plus, if you think about it, no one goes walking in Skidrow at night anyways. All the things you do at home, is what you would do in a foreign country.

Speaking of foreign, I hope that I never act foreign, besides the language barrier. I hope I´m never someone that treats local with disrespect and no offense, ¨”act really white”. I was analyzing and observing today, and thinking about what it means to be foreign. And of course, how everything my American friends warned me of, happens to be 99 percent not true. Of course, we have to be careful wherever we go, but my time in Ecuador, for the two days, have proven to be positive…..besides feeling like an exotic animal and the sometimes ¨freaking annoying remarks “cheennnnaaa” as in Chinese. Because the very idea that a Chinese would come from Los Angeles seems so foreign, I have to try really hard to be patient.

More to come….

Love, bekka

My First Photo Journal – Mi Nombre Es Rebekka

On May 3, 2012 By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

My First Photo Journal entry! ….the end says “but I have FAITH!” You can contribute to my volunteer trip here.

I just had this ingenious idea right now and decided to share my journal with you. I’ll be posting doodles as I go to Ecuador and Brazil. I won’t be bringing my laptop due to safety and well, my mac is my life, so I’ll be handwriting all my experiences. These doodles will eventually become a little book that I’ll sell and all individual doodles will be for sale on Etsy!

Today, I went to Healthy Traveler in Pasadena to get my yellow fever vaccination. I had a moment of squeaking before I had to sit down and get the shot. I was anticipating a long drawn out shot, but it literally was a stab in the arm and VOILA it was done! Cha-Ching $154 please. Throw-up. Yep, the cost of traveling to a 3rd world country is much higher.

Furthermore, I found out I actually leave ON Mother’s day, the night of (1:30 ish am). Here’s a poem for ya’lls.

Push and pull, our story goes. I’m holding back, a flood of emotions, allowing the gift that is me, space and time. The essence of doing nothing, waiting feels like a suffocation. Though, each moment, I’m breathing, being in the present. He once said, breathe and pull yourself to the present since all you have is now.

In the gift of space and time, trusting that love is true even when words are not spoken. This is my dilemma. Why is it so hard to just be? To give up trying and receive. To give up pushing so you can push forward. To let go and breathe, letting love be free, flowing, not suffocated or silenced. Now I know that love was never easy, love was never just admiration and immature play…love is, more complex, more present, more simple. It is a dichotomy that can only be learned through experience.