Hello...

...2022!

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by PAM 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The many new and not-so-new things that 2022 is offering...

very promising!

I started the year 2022 at my sister and brother-in-law's home in Boise, Idaho.  They live in the Southeast side of Boise, close to downtown and walking distance to the Boise State University where my sister works. There are a number of Parks around the area, and many local establishments such as coffee shops and other eating places that are unique and offer fresh and refreshing experiences.

Idaho is one of the most understated places in the United States of America (USA). It is usually described by those living in the more prominent States in the USA as provincial and backward, and mostly small town, therefore, boring and unappealing.  And yet, I found so many things that I thoroughly enjoyed and loved in Idaho, two of which are Sun Valley and Ketchum.  I enjoyed myself visiting these places in a way that I never did before while visiting some of the most prominent States, including California and New York. I even started posting about my experience in Idaho in this blog. Boise is also wonderful.  It is cosmopolitan enough but retains that small town charm in which people are nice, courteous and warm.  The place is quiet and peaceful, and the surrounding of mostly well-preserved environment is just beautiful.  So, sometimes it makes me wonder... those who say unfavorable things about Idaho, have they visited Idaho at all? 

***

In the year 2021, I saw many things that I've never seen before in my life - twists and turns, and the extreme kinds at that, too - that are mostly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. I even found myself at death's doorstep.  It was sobering and humbling.  And yet, there were many things to rejoice about, including my 'disqualification' to continue on 'to the other side' with death, and my sojourn at the Penn State University as a Humphrey Fellow that started in September 2021.  As such, I stepped aside from being Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to be on Sabbatical to pursue my Humphrey Fellowship.  While I am meeting many new people at Penn State, the whole experience is nothing life-changing as of yet, but it is giving me a break from my highly stressful life for the past nine years, and that's wonderful!  

The past years have been difficult, and it got difficult still when the pandemic unfolded. We lost family members, friends and other loved ones... and it was devastating.  However, those are all water under the bridge now, and we can only keep clutching the good memories to our chest while we keep moving forward past the devastation - guided by faith and propelled by hope.

***

The collage of photos above serves as my 'mood board' for 2022... I think.  I feel like 'slowing down' to a pace where I can appreciate God's beautiful creations more, and reflect on the blessings that I receive everyday.  As I move on to the next chapter of my personal and professional life, I feel its important now, more than ever before, to think about how I am making the most of these blessings, and whether or not I am taking and making enough opportunities to share them with those who have less.  As such, I need to prioritize by determining what is most important and essential as I reload my plate for 2022. So, help me God!

***

Photo credit:  I own all the photos used in this blog.         

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Woot, woot!

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by PAM

Simulating our simple aspiration for abundance for the year 2022.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And so, here we are... we survived 2021, and we are moving on to 2022!  As we do, my sister and I tried to usher in the year with our humble version of sumptuous home-cooked meal (well, mostly home-cooked, anyway), filling my sister and brother-in-law's little dining table. In the end, it was not the individual dishes that mattered, it was the offering of a meal and prayer of thanks for God's love and kindness in the previous year, and our humble prayers of continued blessings and God's love for the coming year.  

I feel fortunate to have celebrated the New Year with family - my constant, and therefore, very special, more so in this extraordinary times.  I have to say though that the food was really good!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

***

Photo credit:  The photos used in this post are mine.

Love begets love...

 ...always.

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by PAM

It's been more than two years since my kiddos from Class of 2019 in the Faculty of Engineering of my University graduated.  Four of them have taken and passed their licensure examination in the same year.  So, they are now registered engineers under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Republic of the Philippines.  As such, they are now employed in various industries, and it is always delightful to hear their updates.  The others who graduated in 2020 have yet to take the licensure examination, but most of them are already working as well.

When I was still in the Philippines, we usually get together virtually as the pandemic prevented us from seeing one another in-person.  I did not expect that, while I'm here in the US where there is 15-hour difference between our time zones (at least, where I am currently located), I would get the chance to see them even just virtually.  In fact, we have not gotten together virtually ever since I arrived in the US.  I am happy though that they did not let 2021 ended without us getting together.  Yesterday (evening of Dec. 30 for me, and afternoon of Dec. 31 for them), one of them organized a virtual get-together via Zoom.  Needless to say, I was very happy to see them.  They have grown... the pandemic sped up their professional and individual growth process, but they seemed to have adapted well.  They remain happy, optimistic and fun people!

In between big news, updates and laughter without restraint, I felt the familiar coziness of friendship and love from all of them despite the great physical distance between us.  It felt good and beautiful, and I thank God once again for these gifts of "spiritual kids" who warmed up cold days with their sincere care and affection, and lit up dark skies with their happy smiles and laughter!  I just love them, and I do believe they love me, too!

***

Photo credit:  I own the three winter photos in the collage while the Zoom photos belong to Keizer Bihasa.

Sleepy in Seattle... (Part 4)

 ...for about 60 hours.

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by PAM

You wouldn't think we'd visit Seattle and not be in Starbucks, would you?  No, of course not!  That's what I thought.  At that point, however, we did give up on getting our caffè latte at the famed first Starbucks store

Finally, a Starbucks Latte!

at the Pike Place as it was always crowded, and dine-in was not allowed.  I wonder whether the long queue was out of interest in the place, the love for coffee and/or caffeine, or just to stay warm, given the cold weather.  It seems that the motivation for establishing Starbucks was to overcome the cold that is constantly hovering over the 'rain city'.  Rather than merely enduring the cold, one can look forward to a freshly brewed coffee that is both good and unique.  And, as Seattle was growing into this world-renowned hi-technology base, those creative engineers and tech-guys need caffeine to keep their inventive adrenaline flowing.  So, yeah, it makes sense for coffee to be the city's 'official beverage'.  And this must be why Starbucks happened!

Anyway, after spending nearly two hours at the Space Needle, given that we only had two hours to continue our touristic activities before heading to the airport, we decided to go for the practical option: meet with my former student at the Starbucks Reserve Seattle Roastery.  This way, we can hit two birds with one stone.  As it turned out, it was a great decision!

It was my first time to visit a Starbucks Reserve Roastery.  I found out that there are only six in the world, and they are found in Seattle, Chicago, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo and Milano.  The Reserve in Seattle is the first to open.  It is in a 100-year old building in the Capitol Hill district of the 'rain city', which opened in 2014.  From the outside, it looks every inch a building from a different generation, indeed.  The only indication that it was from this generation is the prominent Starbucks logo, embossed prominently at the façade of the building, above the cornice of two column, and the Starbucks Reserve Insignia of a star and the capital letter "R" below it. Of course, when one peeks through the glass walls of the building, the interior is completely a structure from a future architecture and engineering. As such, the structure looked like a beautiful mix of marble and teak wood,

The Starbucks Reserve Seattle Roastery is awesome, period.

which framed the interesting scene of industrial coffee making and people enjoying their coffee inside the building that can be viewed from the outside through big glass windows. The place oozes hip culture vibes, coffee science and mastery of coffee brewing, and that ambiance of relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

And, speaking of relaxed and friendly atmosphere, I had the great pleasure of meeting again my former student from two-and-a-half decades ago after our last meeting from almost exactly one decade ago!  He was this kid who was unsure whether he was pursuing electronics engineering out of passion or just merely spinning his wheel. A decade later, he found employment with a global tech giant and has been trotting the globe with his young family while honing his skills in photography and some extreme sports.  He has reached a point these days, in which his satisfaction with his work and family life security are getting him excited to reach retirement so that he can dabble in other interests.  He said, "I am happy to have reached that point when I can say, I have enough."  And yet, he continues to work hard, reinventing himself constantly.  Needless to say, I am a very proud former teacher!  We met in Dallas, TX about twelve years ago while we were both traveling. He hasn't stopped traveling and enjoying some adrenaline rush in new adventures.  I did stop for a while but I hope to resume traveling, too - soon, hopefully.  Therefore, I hope for the COVID-19 pandemic to relent soon.

It is fitting that the Starbucks Reserve was our last stop in my mini vacation in Seattle with my sister.  It kind of summarizes what the city is all about:  a great deal of daring and innovation, a departure from what is common and just popular and into creating a new culture, overcoming a challenge viewed through the scope of small-mindedness towards transformation and reinvention of one's self, and respecting the environment and to try to coexist together.  For its current advancements and stature, Seattle is an uncomplicated city, and I loved it!

***

Photo credits:  All the photos used in this post are mine.

Sleepy in Seattle... (Part 3)

...for about 60 hours.

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by PAM

As my phone's alarm sounded at about 7:30 a.m., I realized that my sister and I have been in Seattle for about 48 hours now.  Her primary reason for choosing Seattle for our brief vacation and bonding time was to visit the Space Needle as she failed to visit it the last time she was in the 'city of rain' with her husband.  That was her first time to be in Seattle, actually.  In my case, I just wanted a break from the

A promising morning on the last day of our visit.

University that was in the middle of nowhere.  I wanted to see a real city... which became a serious need after three months of being in State College, PA.  The place is not bad, in fact, it is a wonderful place... but it's too quiet.  Boise, ID where my sister and her husband live, and where I am currently taking my winter break, is quite cosmopolitan while it still maintains its small-town warmth but, hey, I come from Manila, Philippines - a MEGA city!  It's 'crazy'... and I crave 'crazy' after three months of counting trees rather than automobiles in the 'middle of nowhere' (my classmate's words, not mine) in PA. 

My sister and I chose Seattle because it's 'crazy' enough, close enough to Boise, ID that travel time is not insanely long, it has many things that are unique and exciting... and I haven't been to Seattle until this trip.  So far, so great!  And, we were excited to commence our third and final day of visit.  The Space Needle was priority today as well as a short meeting with my former student who now works in the area in a high-tech global company. We wanted to eat lunch or early dinner at Jollibee in

Saying goodbye to our 'home away from home',
The Westin, for the past 48 hours in Seattle.

Tukwila, WA but it was too far.  Without our own car, it was quite risky.  We decided to just play it by ear as far as eating at Jollibee was concerned.

As we haven't completely gotten rid of good ol' sleepiness, we took our time in the morning.  We ate leftovers from dinner, and some chunky cookies and fruits bought in the Farmers Market from the previous day.  The free coffee at Westin was not bad... it was Starbucks.  So, breakfast was satisfying.  Our flight back to Boise, ID was around 8pm.  So, we had almost the whole day to see some more of Seattle.  We checked out before setting out for the Space Needle.  We packed our bags and left them at the baggage storage of the hotel.  We descended from the 23rd floor of Westin's North Tower for the last time in that visit, and headed out.

The Space Needle was about 0.6 mi walking distance from the Westin via 5th Ave, which took about 15 minutes.  We had about an hour on our hands before our scheduled entrance to the Space Needle.  So,

A fortunate detour from 5th Ave to 6th Ave where
the phenomenal Amazon HQ is located.

we decided to make a little detour and walked along 6th Avenue instead to have a close look at the phenomenal Amazon HQ in Seattle.  Starting from the impressive "Spheres", Amazon's urban campus did not disappoint.  It did look like an architectural marvel.  My sister and I spent time walking around the grounds of the campus, taking in the shiny surfaces of the buildings and the indoor gardens inside the Spheres, which was reminiscent of the Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of the Sciences (CAS) in San Francisco.  I had the great opportunity to visit the CAS for the first time back in 2010, and again in 2012.  It was awesome both times.  Considering that the Amazon Spheres are still primarily a workplace, it wasn't too shabby for comparison.

We also enjoyed sightseeing along 6th Ave. where we found the celebrated Rubinstein Bagels and the tourists' highly acclaimed Lady Yum Macarons & Mischiefs.  Unfortunately, there is only so much our stomachs can take otherwise we would stuff ourselves with such heavenly goodies.  We walked towards the Space Needle in such good spirits, all the while seeing the iconic structure in front of us, which grew bigger as we moved closer amid the incredible buildings at the South Lake Union. We were also blessed with a very good weather... especially per Seattle standard. 

The Space Needle definitely lived up to our expectations.  It was amazing!  We felt the innovative Seattle spirit that it symbolizes.  The 185-meter tower was every inch an attempt for perfection - in

The excitement build-up as we prepared
to climb the top of the Space Needle.

engineering and technology, in architecture, in vision, and the desire to educate, entertain and inspire.  We simply loved it!  As we had a few more minutes before our scheduled entry to the saucer-shaped top house, we walked around the grounds and checked out their shop.  Surprisingly, we found many items in the shop that were reasonably priced, and we took advantage.  The climb to the top via limited-capacity elevator was exciting... and seeing Seattle for the first time from the top of the needle as the elevator opened was unforgettable!  When they said that it was "awe-inspiring", they weren't kidding!

My sister and I spent about an hour going around the open-air view deck at the top house.  We took photos and videos, and simply admired the beauty of Seattle - its harbor and piers, the phenomenal buildings that speak of the level of engineering and technology that Seattle nurtures to leading innovations, the variety of architectural phenomena that spoke of taste and standard of the locals and the vision of everyone for this city that they love collectively, the shared spaces all over the city where

Every second atop the Space Needle was
incredibly fun!

residents celebrate their history, iconic achievements and their future, and the beauty of nature, preserved amidst all the incredible progress around.  It was enjoyable as it was educational.  

All the excitement and adrenaline rush made us hungry after a while, so we decided to eat late lunch at the top of the needle.  We decided against eating at the Loupe Lounge and ate at their snacks bar instead.  The food was delicious and satisfying... the chicken tenders are highly recommended.  After lunch, we went to check out the revolving glass floor one level below the open-air view deck and where the Loupe Lounge was located.  We did not only see the city from the glass walls in front of us but also through the glass floors underneath us - amazing!   

We felt that an hour-and-a-half of being at the top of the Space Needle was not enough but we wanted to save some for the next visit... hopefully with more family members.  For this visit, we contented ourselves with the great feeling of having flown the atmosphere of this 'rainy city', almost touching the thick gray clouds that hung over it almost constantly, and thankful that within the three days that we were in the city, the clouds kindly held on and never let go of the rain that it was keeping.  We, on the other hand, stayed a little sleepy... and so, it was time to wake up.  Starbucks, here we come!

To be continued.... 

***

Photo credit:  All the photos used in this entry are mine.

Sleepy in Seattle... (Part 2)

 ...for about 60 hours.

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by PAM

The second day of our visit to Seattle was a 'lazy' one.  The adrenaline rush on our first night in the city that kept us awake until very late the night before and our sleep deprivation the night before

Day 2 of our visit started with a fine Seattle morning -
viewed from our window at the Westin.

 our flight had caught up with us.  We woke up at about 8:00 in the morning but we had no desire to get up and venture out towards the Pike Place to finally pickup that Starbucks latte, especially that the weather forecast indicated rain all day.  So, we ended up ordering brunch from The Relish at the Westin lobby.  I had an 'All-American' breakfast, which was so huge that, after eating, the bed had never looked more inviting than ever before, a tumbler of coffee notwithstanding! Aaarrgh... and then we opened the window, and an inviting view greeted us!

Naturally, the nice weather pulled us out of bed, and into the streets of downtown Seattle!  Our original plan was to visit the Seattle Museum of Art and the Aquarium, and smaller places in between, and then the Space Needle in the late afternoon to evening to watch the city lights. Given our late start, however, we decided to prioritize the Aquarium during the day thinking that it should be interesting to visit the aquarium of a harbor city like Seattle.  So, from the Westin, we headed to the Union St. along 5th Ave. towards the Alaskan Way.  The towering building that is the former IBM Seattle HQ beckoned us to walk further along 5th Ave. towards University St. before

Very happy to see some of Seattle's not-so-hidden gems
as we walked around downtown.

turning towards Alaskan Way.  We were glad that we did so because, not only is the Seattle Museum of Arts along University St., the  Fairmont Olympic Hotel and the Benaroya Hall - home of the Seattle Symphony, were also in that street.  And, the Garden of Remembrance was also located in the area, and we were so happy to see it because, to be honest, we did not expect to find it there.  The understated monument was meant to honor some 8,000 residents of Washington State who fought in different wars, from World War II to Afghanistan.  There were passages from poems and personal letters exchanged between the soldiers and their families.  We found two names of soldiers who were stationed in the Philippines... and it was quite sobering, given our surging vacation spirits.

After checking out Garden of Remembrance, we crossed the 2nd Ave. towards the Harbor Steps.  The little city 'nook' was in between two condominium buildings with cozy-looking little coffee shops, and many little places to sit, read, work, and just admire the harbor below towards Alaskan Way. A gentleman was walking his dog, a very cute and friendly rough collie named Annie.  She spontaneously ran and jumped with happiness towards me when I said hello to her.  It was a cheerful and warm little moment in a supposed 'cold' city, and I loved it!

The tour of the Seattle Aquarium was a competition for space with a 'multitude' of screaming, giggly or nerd-out kids and kids-at-heart... and those include the marine lives themselves!  Until now, I

Experiencing the homey and fun Seattle Aquarium.

 cannot figure out whether that was a good part of the Seattle trip or not.  Good because the displayed collection was not bad at all and the volunteers who enthusiastically guided us did more than a satisfactory job; 'not' because I have already been to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, the Aquarium at Monterey Bay, and that one in Singapore... and those set the bar very high!  They may not have a dolphin show in Seattle, and that's a shame, but I did have a lot of laugh just watching the sea otters and the seals do their thing.  They are hilarious creatures - without even trying.  I also loved the kids' reactions towards the colorful fishes in the pacific habitat.  "Neemo, where are you?  I'm here for you, Neemo," said one - with real feelings.  Another said, "Mom, this is stressful, there are so many Dorys here! Which was is the real Dory?" I swear, the kid was not kidding.  My sister had fun playing with the sea urchins... I did, too!

From the Aquarium, we went walking back to the Pike Place.  We sort of given up on getting a latte at the original Starbucks but we were determined to eat late lunch-early dinner at the Pike Place Chowder.  As it was 3:30 pm already by the time we reached Post Alley at the Pike Place where the

Sampling the very popular clam chowder of the
Pike Place Chowder and chocolates of Gosanko Chocolate.

 world-renowned eating place was, we thought we'll find a little place to sit and enjoy our chowder. Boy, we were so wrong!  The little place was bursting to the seams.  So, we decided to buy our food there instead, and then headed back to the hotel to enjoy our chowder experience. We also swung by the little chocolate shop at the Post Alley, Gosanko Chocolate, to get dessert.  The variety of chocolates in that place was insane... and we went 'crazy' that we ended up spending more than what we planned to spend!  Oh, well... it's chocolates.

People who recommended the Pike Place Chowder were not kidding.  Their clam chowder was DE.LI.CIOUS, I could cry!  And, I do believe that we made the right decision to bring the food to our hotel room.  I am quite sure that the coziness of the room added to the flavor of the New England

Sleepiness made us settle for this view rather than the
360 deg view of Seattle from the Space Needle.

 clam chowder in Pike Place Chowder's very own hall-of-fame recipe.  It was so rich and so filled with chunks of clams; and the balanced flavors enhanced by herbs and spices were quite unforgettable.   

So, yeah, it was great!  The only thing is, after eating the clam chowder and half of our lobster rolls, the invitation of our cozy beds prevailed... we took a nap!  By the time we overcame sleepiness, it was almost dark, and we had to reschedule our visit to the Space Needle.  Rather than watching the Seattle lights from the famed tower, we settled for watching a little part of Seattle from our hotel window... until sleepiness once again took over.  Oh, well... 'tomorrow is another day.'

To be continued....

***

Photo credits:  All the photos used in this entry are mine.  

Sleepy in Seattle... (Part 1)

 ...for about 60 hours.

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by PAM

Yes, I am talking about Seattle - that famed city in Washington State, home of the 'sleepless' widower, Sam Baldwin, and his son, Jonah, with whom Annie Reed of Baltimore fell in love in that iconic 90s romcom, "Sleepless in Seattle", starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.  My sister and I decided to visit the said city because the first time she visited it three years ago with her husband they were unable to visit the Space Needle.  Since then, the Space Needle has been that one annoying 'could-have-been' of hers whenever she thinks of Seattle.  I haven't been to Seattle, so we  

   
Part of our drive from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to downtown Seattle.

both took advantage of the opportunity to visit the 'rainy city' during my winter break from Penn State.  Luckily, Alaska Airlines had an affordable deal for people like us who did not plan ahead.  And still very luckily, The Westin in downtown Seattle decided to join the roster of affordable hotels this season of generosity, and it's halfway between the Space Needle and the Pike Place where most of the iconic tourist spots are located.

As our flight from Boise, Idaho left at 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday, we had to get up at around 4:30 in the morning.  We reached the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at about 7:00 a.m., local time.  And,

Experiencing West Lake and the Public Market at
Pike Place on an early Sunday morning.

because we would be too freakishly lucky if Westin would allow a very early check-in, we just pre-checked-in and left our stuff in their baggage storage.  We then went to walk down about five blocks to the Pike Place at about 8:00 in the morning through the West Lake Center.  Unfortunately, the original Starbucks store opened at 10:00 a.m., and we were both starved and needing caffeine. So, we settled for breads at a local bakeshop and bottled water.  Apparently, all the coffee makers in the area were still 'sleeping'.  So, we went about the place sleepy and freezing but fascinated nevertheless.  By the time we made our way back to Starbucks, there was a looong queue, snaking around Pike Place.  We figured that by the time we reach the front of the queue, it would be lunch time; and without caffeine, we doubted that we can get through that without falling asleep in the street.  

So, we decided to return to the hotel to check-in and to take a nap.  By the time we awoke, it was

Experiencing the amazing sights, sounds and taste of Seattle.

 lunchtime.  We returned to the Pike Place but the queue at Starbucks was even longer than when we left, and the whole Pike Place was very crowded... notwithstanding covid omicron variant scare.  So, we decided to eat in the Farmer's Market.  We found a cozy restaurant overlooking Piers 57 to 59, in which the iconic Seattle Great Wheel stood prominently.

After lunch, we walked around Pike Place and downtown Seattle as we were gifted with a favorable weather... meaning, it was not raining.  We found specialty stores and a number of highly-recommended places for eating and sampling local brews.  After feasting our senses on the local Seattle stuff, we returned to our hotel to rest our legs a bit.  By about 3:30 pm, we were ready to venture to the harbor and see the 'rainy city' from the Great Wheel.  We were debating with ourselves whether to go there in the evening to experience the light show as well, but we decided to take advantage of daylight to see the city since it was our first time to ride the famed Wheel.  So, we took our time walking the 0.6 mile or so distance from our hotel, identifying spots that we wish to see from a better vantage point up the Wheel.  So, along the way, we feasted our eyes on the grandiose of Seattle's hi-tech architecture. It was quite terrific, and we were excited to see all from the Wheel!  

The entrance towards the Wheel was through the Miners Landing along Alaskan Way at Pier 57.

Experiencing the beauty of this 'rainy city' from the
Seattle Great Wheel.

 There was a variety of places to eat sea food delicacies and a fascinating exhibit on Alaskan Gold Rush.  It was a bit of history recreated into a fantasy land for kids and kids-at-heart to enjoy... but the main attraction is the Great Wheel, which did not disappoint!  The experience was quite unforgettable especially that the sun was starting to set by the time we commenced our three-round ride.  The dramatic colors of sunset took over the Seattle horizon, winning over the gray clouds that hung over the skies, masking the sun all day long.  It was quite beautiful.  As the warm colors of sunset hit the glass outer walls of the buildings in the city and the water at the harbor, the dramatic colors were reflected back to the ambient atmosphere.  The effect was surreal,  The city that was made serene by the thin gray clouds looked as if it was shrouded with the colors of sunset.  It was truly a sight to behold!  In the future, when I think of Seattle, I'd probably think of that moment as my defining experience of the city.

As we took videos and tons of photos, it felt like darkness overcame the city real quick, and by the time we were walking away from Pier 57, the temperature was dropping quickly as well.

A bit chilly but a lovely early evening walk at the
harbor along Alaskan Way.

 Nevertheless, we chose to walk along the harbor towards Pier 66 where the Bell Street Cruise Terminal is located, and the original Port of Seattle was.  We took the foot bridge to cross over the Alaskan Way, giving us a beautiful view of the harbor with the dimmed colors of sunset and the new rows of ultra-modern city residences across.  It was a long walk but it was worth it.  There was a mix of tourists and locals who were walking with us, and the mix of interest about the city and the pride for the city that our companions exude added to the charm of the first day of our visit.  Of course, there were instances when we had to deflect the curiosity of bewildered-appearing men who wandered the streets, but the city's security people who rounded the streets efficiently kept the experience towards more favorable for tourists like us than not. 

We returned to our hotel very satisfied of our first 12 hours of visit.  Dinner was leftover from lunch, which was a lot, plus fresh fruits from the Farmers Market with delicious locally made chocolates for dessert, and cookies for late snacks.  As we took about 20,000 steps all day, we were quite exhausted... and very sleepy, too!

To be continued....

***

Photo credit:  All the photos and video used in this entry are mine.

   

Saturday Photo

Christmas = Generosity + Giving + lots of laughter and cheers

Last December 11, 2021, together with seven of my peers in the 2021-2022 Humphrey Fellows at Penn State University, I joined community volunteers in one of the most cherished American holiday traditions in the spirit of generosity and sharing - the annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots, organized by the United States Marine Corps Reserve.  We celebrated the end of a remarkable Fall semester by trying to show our own generosity and eagerness to share our time with our Penn State and State College community in service to others.  Accompanied by our community hosts, Star Campbell, Jane Reese, and Jack and Joyce Igoe, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, we volunteered to sort and pack toys in bags to be distributed to economically disadvantaged children in Centre County, PA.  Our hosts assisted us to personally sign Christmas cards to accompany the bags of toys.

As we look forward to spending the holidays in the United States, which is a first for some of us, we took time to volunteer in the Christmas spirit for our host community.  Along with community members, we helped organize and pack hundreds of bags of new toys that were donated from State College and surrounding communities.  It was marvelous to see the amazing volume of toys and the spirit of gift-giving and sharing in the community!  We found out that, last year, there were 18,561 toys distributed to 8,319 children.  We certainly hope that more children will benefit from this worthy community endeavor this year.

I was impressed by the spirit of unity and cooperation in the community that made Toys for Tots possible. It was remarkable!  That day, I experienced another of the many sides of the United States – that side that happily puts giving and service to others first and foremost, and it was infectious. As we were sorting toys, my community host, Jane Reese, started to hum a Christmas carol, and all hummed along.  Most of us were giggling and skipping around to the rhythm of the song while observing social distancing. Before we knew it, we had sorted thousands of toys.  Our hearts were full but we felt as light as feather – I loved it!

***

Note:  The photo used in this entry is mine.  Parts of this entry have been published in the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program Newsletter, published by the Institute of International Education (IIE). 

QOTD

 QOTD #28:  Life's surprises are the best kind.

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by PAM

"Everyday is a new day.  It is better to be lucky.  But I would rather be exact.  Then when luck comes you are ready."

 - Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

To spend the week-long Thanksgiving break at my sister's and brother-in-law's place in Boise, ID was a given.  They are my only family in this country, and we haven't seen each other since my last visit back in 2019.  Although that was only two years ago, so many things happened in between, most of which are pandemic-related, two of which involved death and a near-death experiences, were traumatic for all of us and they  

At Boise at my sister's, I had no idea what
awesomeness was waiting for us at
Sun Valley & Ketchum.

changed our lives forever. So, naturally, it is a good idea to catch-up.  The Thanksgiving break gave us that opportunity.

Surprisingly, the visit was not as emotional as I anticipated, especially that our father's first death anniversary was only about two weeks away during the time of my visit.  And, I haven't fully recovered from the trauma of being a COVID-19 survivor.  I guess the chance to see each other face-to-face after all the things that we endured over the last two years outweighed the need to assess whether we already have or yet to heal.  It seemed that the happiness to see each other, especially my sister and I, did most of the healing, and in an instant, too.  The rest of the trauma became just negligible.  Indeed, this is a pleasant surprise!

In their attempt to celebrate Thanksgiving together and to take a little vacation, my sister and brother-in-law planned a trip to the lovely, lovely city called Sun Valley, ID.  It is a place famous for its association with the legendary American novelist and Nobel Laureate, Ernest Hemingway.  It is well-known that he first stayed in the famous Sun Valley Lodge in 1939 while writing his novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls.  I do like Hemingway.  He was one of the authors whose works we studied back in the early 1980s in my Junior High School years in the Philippines.  We specifically studied his Pulitzer-winning work, The Old Man and the Sea.  During that time, 

The Hemingway Memorial in Sun
Valley, just a preview of the
awesomeness that Sun Valley
& Ketchum are!

his grand daughters, (the late) Margaux Hemingway and Mariel Hemingway, were quite well-known young actresses, which added to the interest in studying his works.  I have to say, however, that I do not recall his association with Sun Valley, ID.  

Aside from Sun Valley, we also visited Ketchum, ID, which was the last home of Ernest Hemingway, and where his remains are buried.  In fact, we stayed in Hotel Ketchum - a beautiful tourist accommodation place right in the middle of the city but with the lovely snowcapped mountains around it seeming to envelope it.  We traveled back and forth between Ketchum and Sun Valley, mostly just walking.  I do think that the two cities are almost one and the same - in beauty and overall character.  It was so easy to walk between their centers, and just admire the breathtaking sceneries in between.  I loved it that the two cities are so understated, and almost 'hidden' from tourists. Except for the few mansions at the hills, overlooking the Sun Valley golf course below, the environment seemed unadulterated and carefully preserved in both cities.  They are lively cities, too, with enough good places to eat.  Shopping was also interesting with all the unique finds in those boutiques and regular stores that seemed to jump out of a Hallmark TV movie.  People are accommodating and friendly, but not overly so.  Both cities are quiet places without looking deserted.  At some point, my sister and I sat on a bench to admire the hills and the creek below, which sparkled from the rays of the sun... we did not realize that we were sitting there for more than an hour already despite the cold.  It is too beautiful and serene!  It is so refreshing compared with the big, noisy and tiresome cities of the United States!

While I did not expect Sun Valley and Ketchum to be so gloriously beautiful, I get it why the award-

The Hotel Ketchum - a great and practical
alternative to the legendary Sun Valley Lodge. 

winning novelist Hemingway whose personality was the very meaning of 'larger than life' especially in his younger days would choose to settle there after galivanting in the glittery cities of France, Spain and Cuba, and the big cities of the United States.  The drive from Boise to Ketchum and Sun Valley alone was incredible, filled with dramatic sceneries overwhelming the senses one after another without even trying. The long range of snow-capped mountains and the expanse of valleys below, bathed in the rays of the veiled sun in the approaching winter, were totally a thing to behold.  Getting 'up close and personal', and actually climbing a part of those mountains, is a totally unforgettable experience!  What a pleasant surprise, indeed, I thank my lucky stars!

To be continued in more details in the next post....

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Photo credit:  All the photos used in this post are mine.

   

Writing, er, blogging...

 ...reloaded!

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by PAM

Ah... I can't believe it's almost been a year since I last visited this private space of mine in the virtual world!  This 'side of the world used to be a blogging space... but now, it is predominantly a vlogging space.  Over the last two years, vlogging has become mainstream.  And why not?  It is quick to digest, more visual, and the audience need not flex their imagination too much.  It's all been worked out for them readily.  The vlogs are designed so that contents draw certain reactions from the audience.  Therefore, the reactions are expected... well, most of them, anyway.  As such, vlogging does conform better with what the world has become, following the advent of Industry 4.0.  The art of putting spotlight on one's self, one's interest and one's opinions and beliefs has become a second nature to everyone regardless of whether one's beliefs an opinions are right or wrong.  This is supported by the ever-evolving social media and the multitude of multi-media apps that are mostly based on data mining and data analytics - powerful tools that found their use in producing a parallel virtual universe for each individual.    

Basically, anybody with a smart phone and an opinion can vlog... as a vlogger need not learn the art and techniques of writing - a challenge that prevented many before from expressing opinions using amateur

Trying to survive the virtual world through
through Zoom Meet.

 journalism approach and in a non-ranting manner, too.  What the vlogger needs to learn well though is the art of using voice tones, intonations and speech pacing, visuals and audio, body language and the general blend of body language and speech to get the message across. In many cases, vloggers have these skills as natural "gifts", and all they need to do is bring them into the virtual world.  I am not sure how much of the vlog content is created by the vlogger, and how much is written by a content designer.  I guess it varies from one vlogger to another.  In any case, vlogging involves relevant virtual technologies for a very good production; and production has become a serious 'business' as it can fetch the vlogger a handsome sum, too.  Thankfully, many vlogs are very useful, and informative.  These are the kinds where the objective of the vlogger is not just to express an opinion to influence others, but to offer an expert's perspective on a topic, or to share honed talents and special interests with those who wish to improve their own talents and/or educate themselves in the same field of special interests.  To me, some of the most enjoyable vlogs are those in the entertainment and education fields. 

Have I embraced vlogging ?  Well, I do have a YouTube (YT) channel since 2011.  I have several videos posted, not in a vlog format... yet.  Who knows, when I finally take a Sabbatical Leave next Academic Year, I would have time to curate my YT channel, and merge this blog with it to create a blog-vlog composite.  I might throw in my Instagram in the mix, too.  That might just make me a legit netizen then. 

Oh, yes, the world has evolved so much in just one year... and it keeps evolving still.  Some aspects of the evolution followed the pre-pandemic trajectory, but we also saw how many aspects shot up to become the 'new normal'... and there is no turning back. We really can't stay contented where we are... or, maybe we can, too.  We just cannot expect to understand the world, and be understood by the world, if we chose to stay still.

At the moment, I am staying but not... still.

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