unbloggable things + a few announcements

I've been thinking a lot about unbloggable things lately. mostly because, a lot of them have been happening. both good, and bad. while I try to be an open and honest person both here and in real life, sometimes, there are just things that you can't/won't/shouldn't share with the world at large. yet, or ever.

reading this post and this post over the last week have really brought that home for me.

I realize it might seem silly to say anything at all... but sometimes the unbloggable things get in the way of the things you intend to actually share. such as the following:

we're going to Bali for Chinese New Year! the upside to Husband's school following a local schedule [and having to work Thanksgiving and Christmas] is that we get a few weeks off in Jan/Feb for CNY. last year we went to Thailand and the Philippines, this year we are planning to spend ten days in Bali, Indonesia. we're traveling with friends, but none of us have ever been to Bali.

SO. I need your suggestions on where to stay, what do do, and what to eat! I know parts of Bali are known for the night life, but we are more of a hang-on-the-beach or temple visiting kind of crew. I would love for you to send me any links or advice via comment, twitter or email.

and... I have some blogging news. for the past few months I've been taking this whole thing more seriously, posting more consistently, and have started sponsoring other blogs. this weekend, I caved to the great sale they have going on over at Passionfruit Ads and bought myself a membership. what does that mean? sometime in the coming weeks, you'll be able to hang out on my sidebar and become the best of internet buds with me.

that's right, I'm going to be offering sponsorships! it's something that I've debated with myself for a long time, but I've decided to take the plunge. I don't have all the details worked out yet, but obviously I'll be announcing when spots are available for purchase. if you're interested in booking a spot, send me an email and I'll be sure you're among the first to know when they're opening!

and that's all the announcements I have for today.

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packing list: my 12 travel essentials

since we just booked our trip to Japan for the spring, and are planning to book our Chinese New Year trip this week, I've been thinking a lot about packing. I've shared a packing list before, but I thought you might enjoy seeing which items I consider absolute essentials when I'm traveling. [it's probably way more things than most people would consider essential... but I've never been a light packer!]

1. tissue packets. these have saved my life so many times. no napkins? no problem. messy sneeze from the overdose of perfume from your neighbor on the plane? you're covered. not to mention in Asia, a lot of public toilets don't offer toilet paper, or will charge you extra for it.

2. hand sanitizer. because the world can be a dirty place.

3. swiss army knife. I've used this for opening bottles of wine, cutting bandage tape, opening stubborn packaging, trimming nails, rescuing hair stuck in crappy hotel hairdryers, and transforming a pair of harem pants into a skirt. the only downside is that you need to put it in your checked luggage.

4. sunscreen. nothing is worse than wasting away your vacation slathered in overpriced aloe in your hotel room. even if you're traveling in winter or heading to a non-tropical destination, you should bring sunscreen. [honestly, you should wear it everyday... but let's take baby steps.]

5. benadryl. I carry this for several reasons: food and bee allergies, calming anxious travelers, helping to sleep on planes, or adjusting for jetlag. I also bring immodium and pepto pills if I can. you never know when foreign food [or airplane meals] will upset your system.

6. journal and pens. you're going to want to remember this experience. what you saw, how you felt, what the name of that tasty dish you ate was, how to spell "Ayutthaya." write it down while it's still fresh in your mind so you can remember it for that blog post you're going to write.

7. a book and/or e-reader. for plane rides and poolside afternoons. there are pros and cons to both, but pick what works for you. I typically bring both so that my iPad can double as internet access, but I don't have to worry about my electronics taking a dip in the ocean.

8. scarf, wrap, or sarong. handy for chilly airplanes, covering up at the beach bar, or making an outfit temple-appropriate.

9. comfortable shoes. I know people have mixed feelings about TOMs, but these guys have saved me from blisters and sore knees through jungle hikes, temple climbing, and city streets.

10. snacks. I cannot tell you how many times I have been stuck in an airport with nothing to eat [thanks a lot, gluten sensitivity!] but bringing a stash of granola bars has also helped when we've arrived during late or early hours and nothing is open, or when we're out and about and it takes longer to find dinner than we expected. no one likes a hangry traveler.

11. camera. the Canon EOS M has become my favorite camera for traveling: size and weight of a point + shoot, touch screen controls like an iPhone, and photo quality of a DSLR. my advice is to bring whatever camera you are comfortable with - because that's the camera you will actually use. don't forget your extra battery and charger!

12. an open mind. [not pictured] the best part about traveling is the way it can change you. be respectful of the culture you're visiting, take it all in, and enjoy learning a little more about the world and about yourself.

what do you consider YOUR travel essentials?

[linking up with Chelsea, Rachel, and Betsy for the Expat Diaries]

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weekly wishes #6

since it's getting all festive up in here and this week's photo theme is animals, I have an excuse to trot this gem out once again. my cat Beaumont, looking grumpy in reindeer antlers circa 2010. because who doesn't love grumpy cat photos, or photos of cats in costume, or really just cat photos in general?

I'm going to keep myself from entering into a I-miss-my-kittens ramble, and instead assure you that Beau is plenty fat + happy living with my parents back in Michigan. [I'm pretty sure my parents are just glad that he hasn't tried to climb the tree this year... yet.] and our other fur baby Rocky is living the country life with my Mother-in-law, busy chasing mice and attacking her sewing projects.

but I said I wasn't going to ramble about cats...

which brings us to to weekly wishes. I crushed all 3 of last week's goals:
1. hang up the new curtains. 3M hooks got the trick done! I swear, I'm not sponsored by them.
2. have an awesome time at the Thanksgiving potluck. so much so, that I didn't take any pictures.
3. start decorating for Christmas. note tiny snowflake tree + mini ornaments above.

and this next week I want to:

1. transfer my life to Husband's old iPhone. a sad thing happened this morning. I dropped my iPhone [which doesn't get service in Taiwan but I still use with wi-fi] and the screen shattered. I've dropped this thing a billion times and for the past year have been living with one small crack. but this morning I was [as usual] trying to carry too many things at once and bam. thankfully Husband will let me use his [also now-defunct] phone so I can still instagram. because let's be honest, I might not survive otherwise.

2. post a new font download. you see the text on my weekly wishes photo? that's the latest font I've been cooking up. I think I've decided on a name, and you can expect a post with the download later this week. it's not strictly a holiday font, but I'm totally envisioning using it on my Christmas cards. and maybe a blog redesign. I'm really excited for this one!

3. have a tree decorating/Christmas movie date. growing up, we always used to put up our tree while watching the Muppet's Christmas Carol. while that is still on my to-watch list I would settle for Love Actually or even Die Hard [totally a Christmas movie] so long as there's a Husband and hot chocolate involved.

happy monday!

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thankful.

I committed the cardinal blogging sin. I didn't take any pictures of Thanksgiving this year. not a single one. but as Phyllis reminded me: sometimes you need to live your life, not photograph it.

I might not be able to show you what I'm thankful for, but I can still tell you. [don't worry, I won't further my transgressions by missing the obligatory Thanksgiving post. even if I'm a few days late.]

I'm thankful for the wonderful little community of expats we have here. for friends who are crazy and generous enough to invite 35 people over to their tiny apartment for a potluck dinner. I'm thankful for ironic conversations on the topic of artificial insemination for turkeys, for chubby babies and camping chairs and paper cups of red wine, for peppermint bark and cranberry sauce. and for green bean casserole, despite the gluten hangover it gave me.

I'm thankful for Husband. for the mornings he brings me coffee, for the times he wraps me up in blankets like a burrito, and for every single laugh. I'm thankful that he let me drag him out and shoot some photos to send my Mom for Christmas cards this afternoon. and for the hilarity caused by the people who stopped to take pictures of us taking pictures of ourselves. I'm thankful that my Husband has a job that allows me to spend time with him, but also allows me to spend time with myself.

I'm thankful to live on this funny little island, where sometimes you can wear tshirts in December. [though sometimes it's freezing and I'm thankful for space heaters and the miracle of sweatpants.] I'm thankful for the mountain I climbed this morning, the view from the top during our workout, and even the pushups Husband made me stop and do every 2 minutes on our run back down. I'm thankful that even though my knees feel old sometimes I can still run and move my body.

I'm thankful for the internet, and for the ability to connect with friends and family back home. I'm thankful that they support me, even when I'm far away. I'm thankful that I've found expat friends both online and in real life who can understand both the struggles and the awesome sauce that being an expat can bring into your life. I'm thankful for scooting and the opportunity to travel and that the theatre plays movies in English.

I'm thankful for you - yes, you - who are reading this blog. and that you probably won't judge my grammar too harshly.

I'm thankful... for a lot of things. I'm thankful for how much I've grown this past year. and I'm thankful to be thankful.

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Beijing // The Great Wall of China

remember that time Husband went to Beijing without me and got to visit the Great Wall? well, I made him take my camera so he would bring me back pictures for a post. I'm going to try something a little different though. since he was the one who actually visited the Wall, I'm handing the blog over and letting him tell you his experience firsthand...

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What can you say about a wall? Let alone what is argued to be the greatest wall of them all? Here’s a thought that came to mind.

Footsteps. Consider those who came before you. Consider your story in a place. I’m a history teacher, so naturally my thoughts often rush towards this avenue. In my classroom we call it point of view analysis, or POV for short. The analysis is a discussion of what POV existed and why it existed in the form that it did. My thoughts were on the people who came before and who were with me on that brisk November morning. A thought occurred to me halfway through our hike to the top, and I shared it with E, a student of mine who made the trek with me.

“Seriously, why bother with the wall? Isn’t climbing over a mountain enough for a Mongol?”

“I don’t think that’s the point, Mr. Walker. Besides, I’m pretty sure a Mongol could climb up here no problem.” E possesses gumption, that quality in a person that respectfully cries “bullshit” on whoever is speaking; it’s part of the reason why I like teaching her so much.

Our conversation made the trek seem lighter, but I couldn’t help but think that E had a point about the relative health of people. Here I was a pampered, somewhat “husky”, white guy. I could feel my heartbeat in my throat. I was motivated for a scenic view and the ability to say, “I climbed the wall.”

Those that came before must have had better motivation for their climb. “There are riches to be gained through conquering.” Or “I climb, because my life is to protect what’s on the other side.” These thoughts occurred to me between deep breaths and countless steps up. I’d have to imagine that be you a Mongol or a Chinese dynasty defender, you must have had a better standard of physical health and prowess. The fatigue in my quads, hamstrings, and calf muscles would later attest to that. I’m fairly certain a Mongol could pull 300 pounds on a deadlift and perhaps push half as much in an overhead squat. I was humbled; I’ve been eating more vegetables since I got home.

Those first few steps onto the wall, looking out onto the surrounding countryside awash with fall colors; my first words were an epiphany “Ok, I get it.” I’m sure that there are both practical and symbolic reasons for building and protecting or climbing and conquering; for me it was quite simple: this was a spot worth owning.

What’s the POV story behind my kids and I dropping our studies in Taiwan to wing our way towards Mainland China? We came, to Quest like A Tribe does, but more importantly we came for H20: Hope, Humanity, Opportunity.

In addition to my daily teaching duties, I’m also a faculty advisor for our school’s chapter of the Global Issues Network (GIN). If you’ve never heard of us here’s a link to learn more. The short version, it’s an organization started by one who became disillusioned by the top-down nature of solving global issues (i.e. the UN, World Bank, etc.). GIN embodies a mentality of “think global, act local.” The idea is to inspire local community efforts, and a network of communication between these local communities. The hope is to inspire the growth of globally minded citizens whose work can aid in the resolution of global issues. Think dialogue vs. debate. It’s a model I can get behind. To give you an example, last year my kids worked on the issue of global migrant labor. Specifically we dealt with domestic migrant labor in Taiwan, and the exploitation rights that these people suffer under. It’s an eye-opening glimpse into the reality of how a great deal of labor is accomplished in the world. But this isn’t the place to discuss last year’s work.

What does this all have to do with traveling to Beijing?

Well, it was our annual conference, BeiGIN 2013. The conference theme was water, hence the H20: Hope, Humanity, Opportunity. The entire weekend was devoted to helping students and teachers alike to come together, share ideas, foster connections, and stimulate globally minded civic action. It was like being in a pressure-cooker of awesome. The caliber of people who attended was tremendous. I’d urge you to check out the conference website, especially the keynote speaker videos. Fun fact the website was made by 3 teenage girls at the International School of Beijing.

How did we end up on the Great Wall?

The host school provided this activity as an outlet to help a local issue in their community. Education for all, is a hot a topic in global issues. Our hike to the top of the wall was a part of the “Walk for Change.” An annual event focused on supporting the Love and Hope Center. The money raised will serve as school tuition for young people trapped in cycle of poverty.

Footsteps. My time on the Great Wall was brief. As one colleague put it, “I wish that we had a day to just keep walking up here.” I couldn’t agree more. I also think it’s important to stop and be mindful of your footsteps, and those that came before. Added time in this regard would’ve been welcomed by me. I imagine that the wall has seen a great deal of footsteps in its time. Its memory must be as long as the countless miles that it winds into the horizon. With regard to my memory, and to my footsteps, I’ll keep my moment of epiphany; “Ok I get it.” It’s that moment where I stood, where I saw the land, the faces of my students and thought about my footsteps—that is a spot worth owning.

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after reading this, I have to say I'm more convinced than ever that I need to take a trip to the Great Wall someday... and also that I married a pretty incredible person. I hope you enjoyed hearing from my other half!

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life lately + ww #5

happy monday! it's finally feeling like fall here in Taiwan. the weather has cooled off and Husband and I have tried to take full advantage, spending weekend mornings or sunsets walking in various parks. it's sweatshirt + moccasin weather. drink tea or spiked cocoa weather. but not yet turn-on-the-space-heater-my-bones-are-cold weather.

the past few weeks have involved a lot of Starbucks writing and sushi dates, attending high school basketball games, sending + receiving international mail, pulling over on the scoot home from dinner to watch spectacular sunsets or climb the rainbow bridge, ginger lemon tea and making plans.

what kind of plans? well, for starters, we just booked a trip to Tokyo Disneyland for next spring! we plan to see some of actual Tokyo too, but the main point of this trip is to go to Disney, because that's what I wanted to do for my birthday. a girl only turns 29 for the first time once, right?

I also have to mention, last friday I went on a Taipei adventure with a friend. we did some masterful MRT navigation, devoured a few platters of middle eastern food, and wandered around IKEA. I almost bought a stuffed broccoli toy for Husband, but opted for apple cinnamon candles and some new curtains instead [above.]

which means we should mention last week's wishes [or 2 weeks ago, whatever.]
1. have 2 or more writing sessions for the book.
2. go to Ikea and buy some bedroom curtains.
3. finish organizing my bookshelf.
in case you're looking for proof - I posted a picture of my finished bookshelf on instagram last week. but blogger is being weird tonight about square photos, so you'll either have to click the link or take my word for it.

this week's wishes:
1. hang up the new curtains. since my walls are cement, this will involve a system of 3M hooks and maybe some string. I am 98% sure my ninja improvisation skills are going to work.
2. have an awesome time at the Thanksgiving potluck. right now we have almost 25 teachers + family members planning to gather for dinner. definitely one way to beat the expat holiday blues.
3. start decorating for Christmas. I'm usually a strict not-until-after-Thanksgiving kind of girl, but this year has been tough to hold out. I am sooooo excited to start stringing lights + hanging ornaments!

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coffeeshop ramblings

my writing sessions typically take place at Starbucks. [trust me, I'm rolling my eyes at the stereotype I now fulfill.] but I have trouble focusing on serious book writing when I'm in the apartment and attached to the internet. so I load up my tote bag with my laptop, a notebook, a journal, pens and markers, and sometimes my iPad, and head across the street.

when I write in the afternoons, I try to keep myself from a caffeine overdose by sticking with tea. I'm about to further reinforce another stereotype, but my drink of choice has become a black tea latte with soy milk and only one pump of sugar. [lately though, my Starbucks had been out of soy milk. I'm hoping this is not like when Costco ran out of V8 and it never returned. because that would be sad for my lactose intolerant self.]

when I write in the mornings, I drink black coffee. because in the mornings I need caffiene. desperately. and though I could easily make coffee at home with my adorable tiny french press before going over to sit and write, I choose to support a multi-billion-dollar corporation by sipping a $2 coffee because... I like it.

for months I just did my best to ignore the Chinese chatter around me and the generic music being pumped over the speakers. but a few weeks ago I had a most brilliant [and obvious] idea: headphones. since then, most of my writing has been done to a combination of Fleetwood Mac's greatest hits, Lana del Ray, Sufjan Stevens, and M83.

M83's hurry up, we're dreaming album was one I listened to endlessly while driving carloads of my life  back and forth from NJ to MI last summer. it's electronic, but soothing, and I formed an emotional bond with this album relating to our move abroad. this morning at Starbucks I sat down with my grande brew and as the "intro" track played for what must be the hundredth time, I finally heard the opening lyrics. and at the risk of stereotyping myself, yet again, I will share those lyrics with you.

we didn't need a story, we didn't need a real world
we just had to keep walking
and we became the stories, we became the places
we were the lights, the deserts, the faraway worlds
we were you before you even existed

[you can also listen here, though the nature video is completely unrelated.]

I'm not entirely sure what the band meant, but what matters is what I heard in those words. I've been struggling with how to write this book, what to write this book about, and why I'm even bothering to write it. but I get it now. it's not about finding a story to write, because I am the story.

and that's all the random writing-related and vaguely philosophical thursday thoughts I have to bring you.

linking up with Nicole's new "treat yo self" thursday. watch this, then go here to join in.

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5 ways to beat the expat holiday blues

life overseas can be difficult, but especially so during the holiday season. at a time when you normally gather with family, your family is on the other side of the world. and even worse… they are all gathering without you.

I know, I know... I chose to move abroad and give up a lot of great things about life back home. but it doesn't make missing birthdays and weddings and holidays any easier.

for me, late October is when the expat holiday blues start to kick in. and depending on which holidays you celebrate... they can last all the way through Lent. American Thanksgiving is next week and that means I am starting to feel it in full force. BUT. here are some strategies that worked for me last year, to adjust my attitude and make my holidays a little more merry + bright. hopefully they can work for you too!

close, but not quite.

1. celebrate, even if it’s not what you’re used to.

last year when Thanksgiving approached, I was so depressed that I wouldn’t have my usual big family celebration that I didn’t want to do anything at all. but pretending that the holiday no longer exisits doesn’t make anything better. so I got my butt in gear and decided I wouldn’t let only having a toaster oven keep me from baking something, and went out and rocked my first expat Thanksgiving. if it’s something you celebrate, celebrate it.

3. make new traditions.

I’m not going to lie. the fact that Husband has to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas really sucks. the usual lay-around-in-pajamas-all-day was not an option [for him.] but we actually had quite an awesome Christmas, and started a bunch of new traditions we hope to repeat: decorating our tiny tree, Christmas Eve buffet dinner with friends, Christmas morning pancake breakfast, holiday movie marathon, and a feast of appetizers for Christmas dinner. this year, instead of bemoaning that we have to do non-traditional Christmas shopping or that no one we know owns an oven big enough to roast a turkey, we're looking forward to finding new ways to celebrate.

yes, I skype with my cat sometimes.

3. keep in touch.

so you can't be physically with your family while they open presents. but there is this great little thing called technology... use it! my family has a tradition of playing board games together [and drinking] after Thanksgiving dinner. one year when I lived in New Jersey and couldn’t make it back to Michigan, I played a game with them via text message. last year, I played over skype. and for once, the time difference came in handy. I was able to skype with my family on their Christmas eve while it was my Christmas morning, and with Husband's family their Christmas morning and our Christmas Day evening.

4. splurge on some comfort.

buying imported food items can be expensive. but if you’re only going to make green bean casserole once a year, it’s worth spending $8 on french fried onions for that taste of home. [or at least I think so!] if you are living in a location that doesn't have overpriced import stores, check out sites like iHerb for online delivery, or ask your family/friends to mail you some ingredients in their next care package.

5. come together.

chances are, you aren’t the only expat in your area. being with friends who can commiserate is helpful. being with friends who can turn it into a celebration is even better. and hey- maybe some of your local friends would live to experience an American Thanksgiving dinner too. last year our expat friends all got together for a Thanksgiving potluck, and this year we are planning to have twice as many people. and for Christmas, we all went to a nice hotel for a fancy buffet. it's more fun to celebrate with friends... and there are fewer dishes to wash!

hopefully some of these tips can be helpful for anyone out there who won't be spending the holidays with family, expat or not. the trick is you have to choose to make it a great holiday, regardless of where you are or who you're with. I'd love to hear your ideas too - how you fight the holiday blues?

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Ayutthaya // Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the second temple complex we visited on our tour of Ayutthaya. the ruins on this expansive site were once home to the royal palace [in 1350 AD] and a monastic site a century after that.

on the day that we visited, the site was full of children on school trips... including several who asked us to sign a paper stating they gave us a tour, and others who asked to pose for pictures. [obviously I had to take a picture of the picture taking...]

there were also some dogs - easier to spot than the cats at Wat Pho.

next to the site of Wat Phra Si Sanphet there is a more modern temple with a giant golden buddha inside, a decent size market where you can find local souvenirs, snacks, and drinks [we stopped for some coconuts] and also restroom facilities. in fact, this is the place where I lost my squat toilet virginity - a mere six days shy of my one-year expat anniversary. but that's a story for another time...

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a letter to my pre-expat self

every month, Belinda hosts a link-up called the Expat Q&A where expats answer questions about... being expats. the questions for this month were: What advice would you give to your pre-expat self? and How do you reconcile what you thought life would be like in your new home and it is in actuality? this is my first time joining in, and I took a less traditional approach to writing my answers. I decided to write a letter to my pre-expat self. the girl I was then really didn't know what she was getting into... but I like to think it worked out ok.

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dear me:

you're moving abroad. to Taiwan, of all places. [bet you didn't see that one coming.] right now you are riding the high of endless possibilities. hold on to that feeling. put it in a box where you can take it out and savor it again from time to time, because you're going to need it. there will come a time when your adventure won't seem so wondrous and exciting. there will be a time when you question... everything. there will be days when you want to give up and break down and admit defeat by moving back home. 

but you won't do it.

you'll stick it out through culture shock and bouts of depression, because you're nothing if not stubbon. and because there will be days that make all the trouble more than worth it. the things you will see, the places you will go, the world you will discover will amaze you. with everything you know stripped away, you will finally be forced to learn about yourself. you'll find how strong you really are. how brave. 

you'll learn new things about your Husband too. things that ten years of knowing each other in a safe and normal environment never unearthed. how alike you are. how much you can rely on each other for support... because you will be all the other has. it certainly won't be easy, but it will bond you tighter together than anything else.

life won't be what you expect.

you really don't know much of anything about life in Asia. half of the foods you assumed were made of rice and are gluten free... are not. glutinous western food will be everywhere to tempt you, and you will have to make a conscious choice not to eat it. you will have to be wary of tiny shrimp, too. they will be everywhere in your food, hiding in places you would never think to look. [stock up on bendryl - epipens aren't available in Taiwan.]

not everything will be cheap just because it's not America. make sure you check price tags carefully and do the math to convert the currency. otherwise you will end up paying $100 US for a clothes drying rack. [though, in your defense, it is a very nice drying rack.] don't waste your money at the import store either. go to the local markets for your fruits + veggies, and Costco for your cheese + tortilla chips. also... eat as much baby spinach, ranch dressing, and bacon as you can get before leaving the states. strangely enough, those are the three foods you will miss most. they will have "bacon" in Taiwan, but you'll soon discover that it is [as with most other Western foods] close, but not quite.

don't bother buying that $300 Rosetta Stone program, because you won't use it. you aren't going to need it because getting around Taiwan comfortably requires little to no knowledge of Mandarin Chinese. and because a few weeks into life in Taiwan you're going to realize that you actually enjoy not having to overhear other people's conversations. DO buy the expensive scooter helmets. they are going to save your noggin, though unfortunately not your knee.

everything is going to change.

the way you look at the world will be altered. your experiences will make you both appreciative and embarrassed of your nationality. you'll lose the need to plan everything down to the details, and the tendency to panic when things go wrong. [because - I hate to tell you this - things will go wrong.] you'll gain some perspective about the things and people in your life who truly matter. and once you realize this, you'll change too.

you're going to become a whole new person. one who non-ironically sits in starbucks with your laptop... because you're going to write a book. one who stops trying to blend in... because people will stare anyway. one who does what you love and embraces what makes you happy... because you'll finally realize that choosing to do so is an option.

some people will think you are crazy. and it might be true that no one gives up their job and friends and entire life to move far far away without being at least a little crazy. but the people who love you will support you, even if they don't understand. 

but most of all, don't let it become normal. just as you can live a wild and interesting life anywhere you are if you do it right, you can live a predictable and boring one anywhere if you do it wrong. if you can be brave enough to embrace a little madness, you can have one hell of an adventure.

you're going to be uncomfortable - embrace it. you're going to feel fear - lean into it. that's where the growth happens. trust me. or really... trust yourself.

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Chicago // the bean

growing up in Michigan, I have been to Chicago several times. but. I had never been to the bean. so when I went to visit my cousin this summer, I knew we had to go to Millennium Park and see it.

technically this silver sculpture is called "the cloud gate," but everyone just calls it "the bean". it's one of those ultra-touristy but still iconic things that you just have to do once when you visit Chicago. [like going to the Empire State Building in New York, or the Eiffel Tower in Paris.] typically I like to attempt to blend in when I'm traveling, but sometimes you just have to ham it up and wear the tourist label proudly.

the bean is huge and reflective, and it's pretty much impossible to get a clear shot without anyone walking through your path. we handed our cameras over to a bunch of teenage boys from New Zealand and this was they best they could give us. [my phone came back with a few new selfies.]

my favorite thing about the bean is how it reflects the city skyline. we had a bright, clear day and the sky was almost blindingly blue. actually, I bet the clouds would look amazing reflected, and that's probably where the name comes from. maybe I'm getting a touch of homesickness looking at these pictures... but the midwest has sky like nowhere else I've been.

I don't really have much else to say about the bean. it's a just big rounded mirror swarmed by tourists, but you should go see it anyway. you can always stop by the nearby Art Institute or check out the lakeshore while you're there. or you can head to the overpriced cafe on the lower level of the terrace... maybe you'll luck out like I did and find five dollars there.

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