Sunday, August 25, 2013
Blessed
The past few weeks have been some of the happiest in memory. The formula has been simple:
1) I had one BBQ two weekends ago (my friend Josh's birthday party at Rodeo Beach in Marin), two BBQs last weekend (a Fuqua friend's party in Palo Alto and an Education Pioneers picnic in Golden Gate Park that I helped organize), and two BBQs this weekend (one yesterday in San Mateo for Vince'a daughter's birthday, and a pool party in Sonoma County hosted by the founder of our firm - see the photo below for the luxurious accommodations). The key is that I've been spending quality time with old friends, and also meeting new people. For me, it's critical that both old and new are tended to.
2) Health, specifically working out/playing sports to exhaustion. Last Tuesday night I played two soccer games and biked to Ocean Beach after work on Wednesday. I also went to a spin classed that wiped me out. I've been sleeping well because I go to bed satisfied that I have spent quality time with people, that work has been left at work, and that I have spent myself physically.
3) Learning. I've been trying a new routine of reading two Wall Street Journal articles before going to work.
4) Experiencing beauty, being in awe. Last week it was the redwoods and fog in Golden Gate Park, by bike ride to Ocean Beach. This weekend it was the fog covering Sutro Tower, my coworker Matt's incredible rooftop view from Russian Hill of Coit Tower and the Bay Bridge, the Sonoma countryside and Mark Kramer's rental house on a Sonoma hill (with infinity pool, etc.) and the view coming back into SF of fog completely covering the city.
5) Being open, not fixed. Trivia on Wednesday? Sure. Fuqua dinner on Friday? Sure. I've been saying "yes" to impromptu social engagements.
6) Looking forward to things, particularly soccer and college football seasons, and a cool speaking engagement for work.
7) That my work schedule has been very reasonable. This kind of underpins the whole thing.
1) I had one BBQ two weekends ago (my friend Josh's birthday party at Rodeo Beach in Marin), two BBQs last weekend (a Fuqua friend's party in Palo Alto and an Education Pioneers picnic in Golden Gate Park that I helped organize), and two BBQs this weekend (one yesterday in San Mateo for Vince'a daughter's birthday, and a pool party in Sonoma County hosted by the founder of our firm - see the photo below for the luxurious accommodations). The key is that I've been spending quality time with old friends, and also meeting new people. For me, it's critical that both old and new are tended to.
2) Health, specifically working out/playing sports to exhaustion. Last Tuesday night I played two soccer games and biked to Ocean Beach after work on Wednesday. I also went to a spin classed that wiped me out. I've been sleeping well because I go to bed satisfied that I have spent quality time with people, that work has been left at work, and that I have spent myself physically.
3) Learning. I've been trying a new routine of reading two Wall Street Journal articles before going to work.
4) Experiencing beauty, being in awe. Last week it was the redwoods and fog in Golden Gate Park, by bike ride to Ocean Beach. This weekend it was the fog covering Sutro Tower, my coworker Matt's incredible rooftop view from Russian Hill of Coit Tower and the Bay Bridge, the Sonoma countryside and Mark Kramer's rental house on a Sonoma hill (with infinity pool, etc.) and the view coming back into SF of fog completely covering the city.
5) Being open, not fixed. Trivia on Wednesday? Sure. Fuqua dinner on Friday? Sure. I've been saying "yes" to impromptu social engagements.
6) Looking forward to things, particularly soccer and college football seasons, and a cool speaking engagement for work.
7) That my work schedule has been very reasonable. This kind of underpins the whole thing.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Couldn't Help Myself
At 8pm Jenny was feeling much better. We found some Special K cereal bars for her to much on, and she was set for the night.
Fully confident that she was ok, I set out to see a bit of Amsterdam (with Jenny's encouragement. Don't worry... I didn't abandon my little sister). After consulting with a couple airport employees on where to go, I took the train down to Central Staation. It is gay pride weekend in Amsterdam, so the streets were pretty crowded. But it felt fun, and not overwhelming at all. I walked around the canals and through the red light district. Walking around a city for the first time is such a rush - everything is new and different, and walking around confidently as if this were my home turf is...well... A rush. With only a couple hours to spare, I observed everything I could, then ducked into a bar called Cafe Old Nickel for a beer. I hung out with a trio of old crusty Dutch guys and listened to some live blues music before heading out.
All in all, a successful night. I wish Jenny could have joined me. But perhaps seeing a city for the first time is better done alone. I hope she gets the chance tomorrow.
Fully confident that she was ok, I set out to see a bit of Amsterdam (with Jenny's encouragement. Don't worry... I didn't abandon my little sister). After consulting with a couple airport employees on where to go, I took the train down to Central Staation. It is gay pride weekend in Amsterdam, so the streets were pretty crowded. But it felt fun, and not overwhelming at all. I walked around the canals and through the red light district. Walking around a city for the first time is such a rush - everything is new and different, and walking around confidently as if this were my home turf is...well... A rush. With only a couple hours to spare, I observed everything I could, then ducked into a bar called Cafe Old Nickel for a beer. I hung out with a trio of old crusty Dutch guys and listened to some live blues music before heading out.
All in all, a successful night. I wish Jenny could have joined me. But perhaps seeing a city for the first time is better done alone. I hope she gets the chance tomorrow.
Awful Sickness, Amsterdam Love
Last night as my sister and I were going to the Dar es Salaam airport, she began to feel nauseous. She then spent the next hour in a bathroom trying to get rid of whatever awful food poisoning she had contracted. Jenny felt, and looked awful. A Duke PhD student (she is studying the chimpanzees with Jane Goodall's team) gave us some electrolyte mix, but Jenny couldn't keep it down.
Things were not looking good, but the desire to get home (and to get Jenny into the care of our parents) compelled us to get on the flight rather than stay in Tanzania. We didn't even discuss the matter.
Jenny spent at least half of the 8-hour flight in the lavatory. There was an American doctor on board who gave periodic advice and made sure the situation wasn't dire, and the KLM staff were excellent in their attentiveness and bedside manner.
By the time we got to Amsterdam, we knew we'd be missing our connecting flights in favor of a trip to the airport infirmary. I had reservations about going to a medical facility at an airport; as a kid I got severely dehydrated at Universal Studios and sat in their infirmary for a few hours sipping Gatorade - it was a decent place, but certainly not the same as a hospital. The nurse who took care of us was a 50-something man: friendly, but not very warm either. I think this is the Dutch manner.
Since our visit to the infirmary at 7 this morning, we have returned a few times as Jenny has oscillated from feeling bad to really bad. We tried to get on a late-afternoon flight to Atlanta, but Jenny felt extremely nauseous, so we decided to spend the night in Amsterdam for her to recover.
There are two hotels in the transit area (so we don't have to go out and go through security again). We booked a couple rooms for a nap and shower this afternoon. The rooms are more like cruise ship cabins than hotel rooms. I got a small standard room, which had little more than a cubby-hole bed and a combo shower/bathroom. The small room made Jenny claustrophobic, so we got her a room with a double bed. The convenience of these hotel rooms cannot be understated. You can pay 15 euros for a shower, 42 euros for a 4-hour block, or 82 euros or 24 hours. I don't think the cubby-hole beds would be viable in the US; Americans would rather go to a holiday inn than sleep in a weird little hole. But I'm totally impressed by this type of hotel - it has given Jenny and I tremendous comfort today.
Jenny just took a small nap in the infirmary, and is feeling better (for the moment). She has regained some color, and her nausea is gone. It's the first real sleep she has had in 36 hours. She didn't sleep at all last night, and I only slept 2 hours. We booked two rooms at the airport hotel tonight. It would be nice to have more space at a real hotel, but Jenny doesn't feel well enough to venture far from the nurses here, whose competence we trust.
So, all of this brings me to some bigtime love for the Amsterdam airport. I thought Terminal 2 at SFO had the best airport facilities. I was dead wrong. This airport does everything right. The food is overwhelmingly fresh (baguette sandwiches, fruit, smoothies everywhere), unlike most airports where Quizno's sandwich is the healthiest option you can find (ie NOT healthy). There is a huge, 3-room meditation complex with one large quiet room with reclining chairs, low lighting, and a zen-like projected silent move of a drive through Amsterdam and the Dutch countryside. There is a small library. The shops are tasteful and have stuff you'd actually want to buy. There is a casino. The whole airport just makes sense, and whoever designed it had the customer in mind.
I'm reminded if Austin Powers' Goldmember villain, who says "hey everyone, I am from Holland. Isn't that WEIRD?" Yeah, this airport is weird. And awesome. And it makes me want to come back to the Netherlands and see what else this weird country has to offer. Ideally we'd be able to go into the city and explore this evening or tomorrow, but Jenny isn't in good enough shape to do so. Next time. For tonight, we may go on a duty free shopping spree. We deserve it.
So, even though Jenny and I are stuck in an airport terminal, it could be a heck of a lot worse. Imagine being stuck in the Philadelphia airport. No way.
So - my game changer of the day is the category of "awesome airports" and all of their amenities. Second game changer is KLM. I have been extremely impressed by their professionalism throughout this ordeal. I have gone to their transfer center four times today, and have been satisfied each time. KLM won themselves a customer today.
Amsterdam airport, you rock. But I am still hoping Jenny recovers quickly so we can go home soon.
Things were not looking good, but the desire to get home (and to get Jenny into the care of our parents) compelled us to get on the flight rather than stay in Tanzania. We didn't even discuss the matter.
Jenny spent at least half of the 8-hour flight in the lavatory. There was an American doctor on board who gave periodic advice and made sure the situation wasn't dire, and the KLM staff were excellent in their attentiveness and bedside manner.
By the time we got to Amsterdam, we knew we'd be missing our connecting flights in favor of a trip to the airport infirmary. I had reservations about going to a medical facility at an airport; as a kid I got severely dehydrated at Universal Studios and sat in their infirmary for a few hours sipping Gatorade - it was a decent place, but certainly not the same as a hospital. The nurse who took care of us was a 50-something man: friendly, but not very warm either. I think this is the Dutch manner.
Since our visit to the infirmary at 7 this morning, we have returned a few times as Jenny has oscillated from feeling bad to really bad. We tried to get on a late-afternoon flight to Atlanta, but Jenny felt extremely nauseous, so we decided to spend the night in Amsterdam for her to recover.
There are two hotels in the transit area (so we don't have to go out and go through security again). We booked a couple rooms for a nap and shower this afternoon. The rooms are more like cruise ship cabins than hotel rooms. I got a small standard room, which had little more than a cubby-hole bed and a combo shower/bathroom. The small room made Jenny claustrophobic, so we got her a room with a double bed. The convenience of these hotel rooms cannot be understated. You can pay 15 euros for a shower, 42 euros for a 4-hour block, or 82 euros or 24 hours. I don't think the cubby-hole beds would be viable in the US; Americans would rather go to a holiday inn than sleep in a weird little hole. But I'm totally impressed by this type of hotel - it has given Jenny and I tremendous comfort today.
Jenny just took a small nap in the infirmary, and is feeling better (for the moment). She has regained some color, and her nausea is gone. It's the first real sleep she has had in 36 hours. She didn't sleep at all last night, and I only slept 2 hours. We booked two rooms at the airport hotel tonight. It would be nice to have more space at a real hotel, but Jenny doesn't feel well enough to venture far from the nurses here, whose competence we trust.
So, all of this brings me to some bigtime love for the Amsterdam airport. I thought Terminal 2 at SFO had the best airport facilities. I was dead wrong. This airport does everything right. The food is overwhelmingly fresh (baguette sandwiches, fruit, smoothies everywhere), unlike most airports where Quizno's sandwich is the healthiest option you can find (ie NOT healthy). There is a huge, 3-room meditation complex with one large quiet room with reclining chairs, low lighting, and a zen-like projected silent move of a drive through Amsterdam and the Dutch countryside. There is a small library. The shops are tasteful and have stuff you'd actually want to buy. There is a casino. The whole airport just makes sense, and whoever designed it had the customer in mind.
I'm reminded if Austin Powers' Goldmember villain, who says "hey everyone, I am from Holland. Isn't that WEIRD?" Yeah, this airport is weird. And awesome. And it makes me want to come back to the Netherlands and see what else this weird country has to offer. Ideally we'd be able to go into the city and explore this evening or tomorrow, but Jenny isn't in good enough shape to do so. Next time. For tonight, we may go on a duty free shopping spree. We deserve it.
So, even though Jenny and I are stuck in an airport terminal, it could be a heck of a lot worse. Imagine being stuck in the Philadelphia airport. No way.
So - my game changer of the day is the category of "awesome airports" and all of their amenities. Second game changer is KLM. I have been extremely impressed by their professionalism throughout this ordeal. I have gone to their transfer center four times today, and have been satisfied each time. KLM won themselves a customer today.
Amsterdam airport, you rock. But I am still hoping Jenny recovers quickly so we can go home soon.
Monday, July 29, 2013
I Am Here
Tanzania, Part 1
It's Monday, but I'm not really aware of this fact. A great benefit of travel is that you lose track of the days, and that happened soon after Jenny and I arrived in Tanzania. With no conception of whether or not it's a workday or weekend, my mind is very much focused on the present moment.
Jenny and I are on the balcony of our second-story hotel room (the Sunshine Hotel near Matemwe on the island of Zanzibar. It was sunny and warm yesterday, but today's afternoon has been windy, muggy, and overcast. We had plans to read and journal by the pool, but retreated to our balcony to escape the wind.
We arrived at Kilimanjaro airport 9 days ago after a very long flight (for me, SFO to Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, taking 28 hours). My last intercontinental flight was on business class (to India), which totally spoiled me. I begrudged not flying business class until the flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, when I sat by a Norwegian family and chatted them up. Quickly I remembered a reason why I travel - to meet people, compare notes on our respective lives, and to learn. So with this conversation, my vacation began.
I used to be an aisle person (and still am on business flights), but have started to prefer window seats so I can see things from above. I've been taking window-seat photos since right before business school, and will make an album of these photos someday. On the trip to Kilimanjaro, I saw the Dutch irrigation system, Venice, the North African coast (incredibly cool - light blue water contrasted with white sand and a circularly-planned city, which might have been Tripoli), and the Sahara desert.
Tired from our trip, Baraka met us at the airport to take us to the Ahadi Lodge in Arusha. He picked us up in a massive Land Cruiser, which we were pleased to find out we'd be using for the safari. Baraka seemed like a nice, and knowledgeable safari guide, and had a hilarious way of saying "eh heh" after everything. We liked him.
The Ahadi Lodge is located down a dirt road, and is basically a walled garden in the midst of poverty. The food is all western-style, and delicious. There are about 8-10 rooms, and we were one of only a few guests our first night. To my dad's horror, the bathroom only had a curtain separating it from the main room. We did our best to sleep, but roosters and dogs started making a racket around 4 or 5am, so we didn't get much sleep.
My hands are getting tired of typing, so I'll continue this blog post in a bit.
Jenny and I are on the balcony of our second-story hotel room (the Sunshine Hotel near Matemwe on the island of Zanzibar. It was sunny and warm yesterday, but today's afternoon has been windy, muggy, and overcast. We had plans to read and journal by the pool, but retreated to our balcony to escape the wind.
We arrived at Kilimanjaro airport 9 days ago after a very long flight (for me, SFO to Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, taking 28 hours). My last intercontinental flight was on business class (to India), which totally spoiled me. I begrudged not flying business class until the flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, when I sat by a Norwegian family and chatted them up. Quickly I remembered a reason why I travel - to meet people, compare notes on our respective lives, and to learn. So with this conversation, my vacation began.
I used to be an aisle person (and still am on business flights), but have started to prefer window seats so I can see things from above. I've been taking window-seat photos since right before business school, and will make an album of these photos someday. On the trip to Kilimanjaro, I saw the Dutch irrigation system, Venice, the North African coast (incredibly cool - light blue water contrasted with white sand and a circularly-planned city, which might have been Tripoli), and the Sahara desert.
Tired from our trip, Baraka met us at the airport to take us to the Ahadi Lodge in Arusha. He picked us up in a massive Land Cruiser, which we were pleased to find out we'd be using for the safari. Baraka seemed like a nice, and knowledgeable safari guide, and had a hilarious way of saying "eh heh" after everything. We liked him.
The Ahadi Lodge is located down a dirt road, and is basically a walled garden in the midst of poverty. The food is all western-style, and delicious. There are about 8-10 rooms, and we were one of only a few guests our first night. To my dad's horror, the bathroom only had a curtain separating it from the main room. We did our best to sleep, but roosters and dogs started making a racket around 4 or 5am, so we didn't get much sleep.
My hands are getting tired of typing, so I'll continue this blog post in a bit.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Videos from Outward Bound
Here are some videos from my Solo during Outward Bound a few months ago.
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
My new blog on FSG's website
Friends, I just posted a new piece on FSG's Education and Youth blog. Please check it out and post a comment (this is how I measure success... the number of comments posted!). The blog is about my Outward Bound's philosophy, a bit about my Outward Bound adventure, and the benefits of such experiences for youth. Click here to read the blog.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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