Do you know what Wednesday is?

So, I'm going to try really hard to update this more often. Brianna's going to be starting a blog too since she leaves for camp tomorrow. I'll post her link in here too in case anyone is interested! But I realize that this is a commitment I made to myself and to everyone else and I need to work harder when it comes to updating. I also think I am going to stop updating as much about day to day events and more about how I'm feeling and what I'm learning. Otherwise, you guys are going to be super bored.

On Saturday Kyo, Esther (communications person at LiNK) and I went to Sarang Church in Anaheim to self merch at a screening of the documentary 1040. It's about Christianity and New Asia. So--going to the screening was SO obnoxious. The only redeeming part of it was that I felt as though it opened my eyes to something I had yet to. They discussed the Great Comission and how they believe missionaries must spread the worst of Christ to those who have yet to hear it.

As everyone knows, I consider myself an agnostic. I have no idea what I believe in and don't have a strong faith in anything except being good to others. But, watching this film made me realize that I really need to educate myself about religion. Not just Christianity but Islam and Judaism and Budhism and whatever else. Because I do plan to work in nonprofits, and I hope to live my life fighting social injustices and human rights issues, I think these are important things to have a better understanding of. But in addition to the interpersonal relations it will improve, I think it has the chance of teaching me a lot about myself and others. So, I'm going to try and read the Bible this summer. Then the Koran and some parts of the Torah since most of it is covered in the New Testement. I think when Jason Ma said he things the second-coming of Jesus is bound to happen during our generation (not saying he's right...) I realized this was something I needed to learn about. Why be ignorant to religion when it helps to define so many people and is the cause of great love and great conflict and other such things? I'm not sure if I'm making sense. But I hope you guys understand what I am saying, at least somewhat.

Also, this summer I want to work on my journaling. Not just my blog (sorry) but my real journal too! Writing is such a good way of looking inside yourself and I feel like I often ignore my own emotions and doubts and beliefs and stuff. But I'm realizing other people my age dont just ignore themselves and justify it by saying "oh i'm young, who cares." Really, I have so many goals for myself this summer. Some I can share, other's I am not even sure of yet.

But okay -- enough emotion and insight for now. I'm going to go help Lindsay do her hair, make cookies and watch The Hills. We had a long day at the office, it's time for relaxing!

(today i was reminded why i hate being away from my family -- i also want to help. it kills me to know i am nowhere close to my grandpa while he wont eat and is saying crazy things. i need someone to help him, and im almost positive me being there would make no difference. it breaks my heart. but okay, time to be positive! and make cookies.)

Day Two!

So yesterday, right after I finished blogging, Jenn (the other regional manager) and her friend arrived! Her friend is in town visiting/for a museum conference so they were going to get lunch and then site see. Luckily for me, they invited me to tag along! First, we went to In 'N Out, which I have heard soso much about. It definitely lived up to the hype even though I don't eat meat. :) They said they compare to Five Guys but on the west coast. My opinion -- MUCH better than Five Guys. Then...since her friend is getting her masters in museum studies, we ended up going to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Getty. The LACMA was really awesome -- they had some incredible pieces of art hanging. And we walked around and just really got to enjoy the museum. We also saw the tar pits. I had two favorites...the entire pop art building and this crazy instillation in the front:

Then, we went to The Getty and let me tell you all that it was the most beautiful place I have seen in my entire life. First off, you park at the bottom of a mountain and take a tram to the top. Then everything you seem from that point on is absolute perfection. We spent an hour just walking around the oustide, because it is so incredible. The garden is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen...and I'm really not the kind of person who is into plants and whatnot. I hope when the other nomads get here (in 2 weeks! ahh!) we can go there and have a picnic. I need everyone I know to see The Getty. Even if you're not into art--you can have an amazing time there without even stepping foot into an exhibit. It's amazing. Also, we saw this incredible photography exhibit by Soo Kim, it was cut out photos of Iceland layered on each other...you should definitely look into it!

PS: sorry for the photos being such bad quality...I didn't bring my camera yesterday and I am waiting for my dad to send the camera cord...but I will get pictures from Jenn's friend, Rebecca, and post them. And once I get my cord, you can be sure I'll start taking muuuuch better pictures. :)

Throughout all of yesterday we drove through K-town, Little Ethiopia, downtown LA, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Sunset, Bel Air, and probably more that I can't even remember. We ate dinner at the cutest little thai restaraunt that had tons of tofu on it's menu (yay for LA being meat-free friendly). I also saw the Hollywood sign from a distance. I felt like such a tourist because when I spotted it I shrieked just a little bit, haha.

Today has been very relaxing which is good since yesterday I was awake, after only 2 hours of sleep, from 4:15 am - 10:30 pm, factoring in a 3 hour time difference. I've started to read a novel I've had for an entire year. I walked to the grocery store and got some stuff (food is definitely more expensive on the west coast, but seems so much cleaner so it's an even trade off). I watched a movie with Matt and Jenn earlier...can't remember what it's called but it's from the 70's with Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. I finally got to meet Danny, a North Korean refugee who LiNK actually rescued and brought to the US! And I got to meet the volunteer who flew in from South Korea but due to crazy jet lag, she's napping. I'm kind of sleepy...but I want to wait a little to go to sleep so I don't wake up in the middle of the night.

Tomorrow is my first day in the office and I am so excited to meet everyone and start working! I also have to learn how to drive the van...which I am not nearly as excited about. Hope everyone is doing well and if you're reading, comment! I'd like to know who is keeping up and who to direct my writing toward.

Hello Los Angeles!

So, I just arrived in LA. For my first time flying alone I think I did very well. The flight was easy, no turbulence and I even managed to keep my ears from popping without chewing gum. The only problem was that I forgot my iPod in the car and didn't realize until Brianna was all the way back at our apartment and until after I gone through security and was sitting at my gate. Luckily, because I got there so early (6 am...vomit!) I had time to go out, meet Bri, and get back through security in time to board the plane.

Matt, a regional manager (I think) for LiNK picked me up at the airport. He's really nice and actually knows a bunch of my friends from Current. He drove me around Torrance and showed me where the LiNK office is and some little grocery stores, Korean marts and other such things. Torrance is super cute! It's the last city within the limits of LA proper so you get the feel of a big city but with the atmosphere of a smaller town. There are amazing trees everywhere and the weather is INCREDIBLE. Apparently we are only 3 miles away from the beach and that guy Matt lives in a boat...so I should be getting to see some Pacific Ocean while I'm here.

Since I got to California earlier than most of the nomads, I get to choose my bed first. Apparently a woman named Jen and her friend are going to be here in like 2 hours so I'm excited to meet them and see what we have in store for today. Not much else to say -- just that I landed safely and can't wait for this to really get started. Matt told me that there are 12 nomads, divided into 3 teams. And they are going to try and have us each cover 1/3 of the entire country! I'm so excited but most of my nerves are gone. The only thing stressing me out is thinking about how much I am going to miss everyone.

Thank you all for reading. Here are some pictures of the nomad house, I took them before anyone else got here so they don't think I'm crazy. And I appologize for the quality...I forgot my camera cord at home so these are from my Blackberry. Dad is sending my cord asap!

This is the porch/front door.

The living room area. You can also see a little of the dining room.

The kitchen/dining room.

Another view of the living room/front door.

Hallway leading to the bedrooms.

This is the girl's room.

The bed I chose!

The boy's room/the boy's bathroom.

The other room, where 2 North Korean refugees live. I haven't met them...one is in Asia doing some speaking engagements and the other should be home sometime soon.