random picture post | Nashville

It has been requested that I sprinkle my blog with Nashville pictures. So, here I go. These are all from my phone yesterday, when I hopped in my car, got on the freeway and drove without any destination…

 

when winter turns to spring

I’m sitting in “my” Starbucks. Some people refer to it as ShandaBux. I love those people (for reasons other than their naming Starbucks after me). This place is so very familiar and so very full of memories. This store. This table. This city. These friends. They were home for me for several years. I know my way around. I’m comfortable.

And now I’m here, visiting – again, on my way to a new home.

A new home. It’s not familiar. It contains only a few memories. I know only a few people. But I know it’s where I belong. And someday, places there will feel as familiar to me as this place. And I’ll know my way around. And it will be full of memories.

Tonight I’m thankful for seasons changing… I think I’m in that spot when winter turns to spring. It’s a beautiful time. A time to keep my eyes open and soak it all in.

(Stream of conscious phone blogging is kinda fun. Goodnight!)

{random picture post} | nothing really… but soooooo much!

Ommm… It’s December 14th! December is nearly half over. How did that happen? And how have I not blogged, AT all, in December so far!? I’m sure a lot of you are really disappointed with me. ;)

I went to Riverside and Anaheim this past weekend to see some dear friends from college days! Some of them asked questions like: “So, what’s going on?” or “What’s new?” or “What have you been up to?”

My initial answer usually comes in the form of a vague statement like, “Ohhhh… nothing really… but soooooo much!” Which of course leads to a lot more questions and required explanations about the mysteries of the life of Shanda. My life really does baffle people at times. It baffles me too. Don’t you worry. But I also love it. Which makes sense, seeing as how it’s the life I’m choosing to live…

Anyway, it is that “Ohhhh… nothing really… but soooooo much!” … that is making writing blog posts challenging. I’m still in a bit of a holding pattern. But I now know where I’m headed. I just haven’t figured out quite yet HOW I’m getting there. But I’m working on it. And waiting and trusting. (More on that in a later post. Coming soon. I promise!)

For now, I’m going to start with an easy photo dump/random picture post in which I will tell you a little bit about lately and remind you myself that I have a blog.

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11. 12.

1. Chitty (my car) seems to have bit the dust. 2. I flew to TX and so did my Asia Roommate Ashley. I took her to In N Out! She loved it! 3. Ashley and I went to Kirsten and Daniel’s wedding in Dallas. (Kirsten is an Asia family member!) 4 and 5. I enjoyed some Texas sunsets. 6. I enjoyed some colorful leaves on my way to the airport to fly back to CA. I know Texas doesn’t REALLY get all the seasons, but they do have more than San Diego does. And I miss that. 7. My brother, Ben, played the piano like Ray Charles. 8. I drank a “local latte” that reminded me much of “the Tommy,” which may or may not mean something to you. It was made with local Tennessee honey and cinnamon. (This is a clue.) 9. I flew AGAIN and enjoyed the view from above the clouds, which STILL feels like a metaphor for my current state in life. 10 and 11. Lindsey took me on a geocaching adventure as a bit of a birthday extravaganza (a few weeks after my birthday). The adventure involved exploring a park and the back of a Target building, maybe looking under trash cans and around high voltage boxes and feeling through spider webs. Walking back and forth and back and forth looking for anything that might be our geocaching treasure while watching our conflicting compasses (gps on our phones) tell us that it wasn’t quite sure where we should go but that we were CLOSE. And while this all sounds kind of… not that great… and we kind of failed… It really was quite fun! I plan to geocache again soon! 12. I took more pictures of sunsets. Apparently, I like those.

{Random Picture Post} | always make me smile and miss…

There are some pictures that will ALWAYS make me smile and miss… 

… laughing with these ladies:

… hilariously pitiful adventures with “Mr. Wu” (who is not in this picture, and yet he IS):

… dinner parties with the office crew:

… falling asleep on trains (I’m REALLY good at that):

… being dramatic at KTV:

Happy International Sunday to me

I had a super day today. It was filled with all sorts of international-ness.

First, I was highly amused by this greatness:

I’m sure I’ve seen this place many times before and never thought a thing about it. But NOW, I find it hilarious. (A Spanish speaking Chinese restaurant?)

Next, I went with Anissa and her 11 year old nieces to the International Houses in Balboa Park, which apparently I went to as a small child but have no memory of. Anissa was mortified that I didn’t know what they were. We have now fixed that and I’ll likely go back again.

There are houses to represent different countries from all over the world. You walk through them and learn about the cultures, try foods, see traditional clothes, and maybe even talk to a person who is from there. Outside there are concerts, and all kinds of cultural things going on. As you walk through the grass you see people of every skin color you can imagine.

Perfect Sunday…
for a girl who still can’t get over how many white people she sees everyday!

We gave the girls a LOT of geography lessons! We ate Czech/Slovak potato pancakes! Mmm! The girls were given Chinese names and had them written on papers to keep. (The China house was their favorite!) We all had our names written in Hebrew and talked to an adorable old Jewish man from New York for quite a while. We learned about the wars between Turkey and Poland from a man with an AWESOME polish accent. The girls decided that all the traditional dolls were creepy and they would NOT want them in their room. We learned that in Norway they put sour cream on waffles, with jam or fruit. And we tried it. And it’s GOOD.

     

Next, Anissa, Dana, and I went to Happy Hour Sushi Sunday! Mmmmmm.

Then! One of my good friends in Asia chatted with me and asked if we could talk, so we did on skype on my phone. So. Great! I went back to my – “I must speak in complete and clear sentences. I can not use any contractions.” I taught him what “My foot is asleep!” means and what cinnamon is. He told me that he REALLY misses my french toast and syrup! We talked about our lives. And, he asked if I could send him some new pictures of me and my family and the things I’ve been doing. I did. He emailed me back and said that he had a picture of the two of us.

So. Cute. :)

Happy International Sunday to me.