From [09.12.16] Last Days of Ski Trip

After a week of skiing and silliness – in equal doses – I find myself in bed, recovering from repetitive strain injuries to my upper chest and hip that have added to my vocabulary such snazzy new words as “sacroiliac” and “piriformis.” Trust me; you’d rather not have a reason to know these words. I also have a 700-page book to read in about a week. Looks to be an exciting vacation, eh?

So let’s recap the last few days of Vail’s wildness, shall we? Let’s.

“Recovery Day” preceded condo pre-parties around our lodging and a “Wiggin’ Out” birthday party night, where I happily debuted my pink afro wig, in addition to lending out my wig collection to a number of my Kellogg comrades. (Speaking of wigs: News flash! Sean is on a mission to replenish and build my wig collection when he drops by Beijing next month. I am exuberant at the prospect of a flurry of new fake hair!!!).

The following day, you could tell people were beginning to lose steam as the day’s start time was pushed farther and farther back. I had a great time skiing with a new crew and pushing myself on some more challenging blues. I’ve come a looooong way from my faceplant into the ice at Sunday River circa 1996! After an apres featuring an incredible sunset, I dined with my KWEST Mystery friends at Wildflower, one of Vail’s top restaurants, for dinner. I must admit that while the conversation and company stimulated, the food underwhelmed. After dinner, at the bar crawl in Vail Village, I experienced the first twinges of my back/hip injury and called it an early night. The next day – the grand finale – saw me hitting my first black diamond, which I completed fully upright! I am the bidnezz, that’s right!

The week-long celebration concluded with a huge celebrity-themed bash. My creative condomates and I dressed up as the Muppets (I, of course, was Animal):

From [09.12.16] Last Days of Ski Trip

DJ Skribble helmed the shindig. As an electronic music enthusiast, I was a bit hesitant when I heard Skribble would be manning the decks. His moment of glory was most likely when he rocked the MTV masses at MTV Spring Break in the 1990s. Also, the Kellogg crowd isn’t necessarily the most house-crazy group of people; I was concerned that he might lose the crowd if he tried to get more Jersey Shore than recognizable party beats. But I have to hand it to him: He built a perfect set for the crowd, starting with a bunch of crowd-pleasing pop hits then moving through pop-house then old school hip hop and finally wrapping up with big room vocal house. I didn’t stay to the end (I had a call with a company at 8AM the next morning) but it was a fabulous night of music and mayhem. It is also where I danced my butt off through the pain in my hip and probably ended up in my current state as a result.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how naturally all fell into place on ski trip (this statement would most likely be strongly refuted by the hard-working members of the Ski Trip Committee). I came out of finals just wanting some R&R and must admit I was skeptical of more raucousness. But it was a blast, just the perfect amalgam of fun and freedom, rest and rabble-rousing. I, for one, can’t wait for next year.

As always, click here for pics:

[09.12.16] Last Days of Ski Trip

From [09.12.15] 80s Party and Slopeside Soiree

And the party/skiing continued Tuesday and Wednesday with the premier event of the week-long trip: the ’80s party. One of the reasons I was drawn to Kellogg is because the school embodied the ideals to which I subscribe:

1. The importance of teamwork
2. A supportive peer and faculty environment
3. Recognition of the supreme awesomeness of theme parties

As much as business school is about the business of business, it’s also about the business of fun. Here, that means sick theme parties packed with party people who take the costume thing to the next level. Last night, we all paid tribute to that fashion-forward (or backward!?) era which saw the birth of this old gal herself (1980s baby, what what!!). We rocked out hard to the stellar tunes of the Rocket Pockets, one of the two Kellogg bands. Their spot-on rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” rocks many a partygoer’s world.

After recovering hard today, we wrapped up the day at a slopeside soiree to indulge in a little free wine and food. Halfway through, but still so much fun to be had.

[09.12.15] 80s Party and Slopeside Soiree

From [09.12.13] Ski Trip Days 1-3

Long time, no blog. In no small part, this is because I felt people were more interested in me talking about an exotic Chinese temple as opposed to a Tuesday night at the local college bar playing beirut. BUT the past few days have been — if anything — eventful, and therefore I present you with the goings-on of Kellogg Ski Trip 2009: Vail.

Yes, in the midst of a crazy education in everything I haven’t studied before — debits and credits = WTF!?!?! — I’ve journeyed to the snow-laden celebrity center of Vail, Colorado, to let loose on the slick slopes and maybe cause some mayhem in the process. I’m not alone: Eight hundred — yes, EIGHT HUNDRED!!! — of my classmates are tapping the Rockies with me. The past few powder-filled days have been snow-packed with downhill action, in addition to slope-side shenanigans including a Rock Band contest. Check out my pics below for a taste of the action.

[09.12.13] Ski Trip Days 1-3

Apologies for the blog blackout! I didn’t pay mah billz and let the domain lapse. All fixed now!

From [09.10.19] Autumn in Evanston

I’ve been terrible about posting — not to mention keeping in touch with family and friends — primarily because my brain and my free time have been hijacked by business school, but today’s gorgeous weather was too amazing not to share. I took a much needed jaunt around my new hood, immortalizing the crimson and saffron foliage just coming into peak form. Yes, I took photos of leaves for an hour and a half. Do I have time for this? Hell, no. Was it a much-needed nice non-school diversion. Absolutely.

Enjoy!

[09.10.19] Autumn in Evanston

From [09.08.22] Kuala Lumpur

I’m about a month behind divulging the details of my mystery adventure to Malaysia, but the memories are still salient and bright. Some background: Every year, Kellogg offers a pre-enrollment activity called KWEST – Kellogg Worldwide Experience and Service Trips. Historically, the trips are light on the service and heavy on the group-bonding experiences. About 20 trips take approximately 80% of the incoming student body to destinations as far flung as Chile, Egypt and Sweden. The trips are voluntary, but highly recommended as “you’ll meet some of your best friends on KWEST” slips off the lips of nearly every Kellogg alum.

Moreover, KWEST has a very special catch: for the week-long duration of the trip, you and your fellow KWESTees swear not to divulge the more menial, but easily accessible, parts of your background, such as where you went to college, your profession, your hometown and your most recent geographic location. With the mundane removed, people are forced to get to know each other beyond the basics, and not make judgments on stereotypes and connotations that may first come to mind.

At first, the idea of spending more money and time traveling after a whirlwind year in China and a summer trekking around the States intimidated me – and my wallet. But more than the travelling experience, the prospect of getting to know some classmates on such an intense journey lured me into applying. Taking a big risk, I ranked first what is arguably the most sought after trip: the Mystery Trip. Every year, 20 incoming students accompany 5 second year students on an adventure to an unknown country, with a mystery itinerary. Since I’ve traveled so extensively so recently, the risk of heading back to somewhere I’d been was high. But I also felt that the people I would encounter on such a trip would possess a high cool quotient.
And ultimately, I was not disappointed. After a night of drinking and revelry that took us on a scavenger hunt around Evanston, we boarded a big yellow school bus to O’Hare.

Night before photos here:

[09.08.21] Pre-KWEST Party

After a few well-planned fake outs, the revelation of destination Malaysia yielded a roar of excitement from our motley crew. Nearly 24 hours later, including a stopover in Seoul, we disembarked in Kuala Lumpur. Having traveled through Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, I assumed KL would bear the same marks of upwardly mobile SE Asian cities: pollution, crowds, haphazard architecture. Um, no. The brilliant blue skies, unclogged by smog and soot, exploded above innovative architecture. What colonial architecture remained existed in an air of romanticism more than one of decay, such as that endemic in Cambodia. The people, both friendly and modest, embodied the breezy nonchalance of those that know they live in a thoroughly modern city. And though I am not one to awe at modern skyscraping marvels, the Petronas Towers’s twinkling spires won even this skeptic over. While our two days in KL merely scratched the surface of Malaysian culture and commerce, I was distinctly impressed.

While in KL, we played soccer with a group of underprivileged children (and of course they kicked our butts), wandered through the neighborhoods that blend Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, toured temples and sights beyond the city center and, most importantly, enjoyed a hilarious and frenetic night of dancing and mayhem at probably one of the cheesiest clubs in which I have ever stepped, the Aloha. The highlight was a Thai cover band that cranked out the tunes of the Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga with a mind-blowing fervor and excitement. We should all pray they go on tour.

[09.08.22] Kuala Lumpur

I had been told that my first few weeks at business school would be busy, but I had not expected the grueling (but mostly fun) schedule that would smack me upside the head as soon as I departed for my KWEST trip (more on that later). After two straight weeks of go-go-go, I finally have a few minutes of quiet time to myself to update you on the latest happenings, my new home and the life phase into which I have descended for the next two years. Watch this space!

From [09.07.14] New York From Above

Check out some amazing pics I snapped from my JetBlue flight from Orlando to Boston! I was watching TV the entire flight with the window down when I suddenly had the urge to take a glimpse and the clouds. To my surprise and delight, at that very second we were soaring over Manhattan! talk about timing. In a week’s time I had two near brushes with the city I love the most: once when I transferred in Newark and then this. I guess I’m always subconsciously in a New York state of mind!

Lower Manhattan to Midtown:

From [09.07.14] New York From Above

Central Park and Uptown:

From [09.07.14] New York From Above

[09.07.14] New York From Above

From [09.07.04] Return to the US and 4th of July

After 14 hours aboard various China Eastern flights that were a lot less painful than I had anticipated — with the exception of some epically disgusting “chicken” and noodles — we touched down in our homeland once again. The only mild panic I experienced crept up when we were singled out for agricultural inspection. Normally, this isn’t a problem as I don’t make a habit of traveling with raw meats and fish from far-flung locales. However, as a special treat for some gourmand friends, I smuggled back in quite a number of bags of Sichuan peppercorns, the numbing, metallic-tasting spice native to the central region of China. These tongue-tickling spheres harbor a citrus canker that can threaten US citrus crops, not being native to North America. Therefore, import of the peppercorns is banned unless they have been heated above 160 degrees F. I’m pretty sure the peppers I’m packing are simply dried and not roasted, so I sweat it out as my bags went through the scanner. Luckily, we were either not found out or within import laws and we stepped into the States happy to be home.

We spent the next week in the Los Angeles area with Sean’s family, taking time out to enjoy a massive BBQ dinner in downtown LA with a few friends. By Friday, we were traveling again, this time driving to the Bay Area to visit with friends and family. We had a lovely time seeing friends Reina and Alex along with their new son, Cameron, and spent considerable time eating, laughing and enjoying the company of Brendan and Sunny, soon to be parents. Finally, we were able to see my Uncle Bob and Sean’s Grandpa Frank, who I met for the firs time. Grandpa Frank is a serious sports fisherman, and a 6-foot sailfish gleams down on all visitors to his house. The next week, I relaxed poolside with my own grandfather and great aunt, enjoying the lack of internet and the sunshine.

This is the life.

[09.07.04] Return to the US and 4th of July

From [09.06.28] Beer Garden Bye-Bye

After two great nights of parties, we didn’t think we had it in us anymore, supposing Sunday night to be a quiet night at home with a lowkey dinner at the local Wudaokou beer garden. Haha … what a joke that we thought anything in the Wu with our friends could be “quiet”!

The “evening” — which was really 4PM — began with our friends Natasha and Anne bringing over two bottles of wine for a “house cooling” party. We recapped some of our favorite Chinese adventures and headed over to the beer garden to meet the Swedes and our friends from Cuba and Greece for some chuanr and chitchat.

The beer garden is packed with Chinese food stalls as well as cheap ($0.25) draft Tsingtao beer, and offers some great Chinese cultural encounters, such as the chuanr cooks who use hairdryers to speed up the skewers’ cooking process. All of our closest friends from school still left in town got together for one last night of reverie that included Cuban cigars, lots of beer, a giant heart made of small, bulbous balloons and a late night stop at our local hot dog joint, Crazy Dogs.

Even though we didn’t turn in until 2AM and had to get up a mere four hours later, it was worth it. We’ll miss our Beijing good times, good food and good friends!

[09.06.28] Beer Garden Bye-Bye