Asians, Nail Polish, and Soccer

I just have to say, I love the World Cup. It has become the no fail conversation topic. Whether I'm chatting with my brother, my co-workers, or the Frenchie, I can bring up the World Cup and suddenly the conversation takes a new level. For example, yesterday my cousin Rachael and I decided to go get our nails done so we went to this nail salon called #1 Nails. It was your typical Asian-staffed nail salon- the walls were covered with posters with Asian characters and exotic places, plastic hands with airbrushed nails were everywhere, and staff had little knowledge of English. But this pedicure experience was going to be different. Why? Because on the television screen in the back of the salon was the US vs. Ghana soccer game. Of course, I sat down and immediately started watching the game, as did the girl who was doing my nails. Pretty much, every employee in the joint and I were steadfastly watching the game. It was during this time that Ghana scored its second goal which would eventually lead to the US's elimination out of the Cup. The whole salon erupted with rage. A flurry of some South Asian dialect flittered among the nail specialists. I threw in a couple English words of disappointment to add to the atmosphere. At that moment, I entered into the inside circle of soccer commentary. The girl who was doing my nails started to use her limited English to show her opinion of the game. For example, she would say "Hurry, hurry USA!!" And so we had a link together. Though we may not have had the same social status, language, and race, we had soccer. And that was enough. It reminds me of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. I was there, you know. The trend at the Games was trading pins. People who would have never even glanced at one another were now talking amiably about pins, especially the infamous green jello pin. Chinese and Canadians, Frenchies and South Africans, New Yorkers and Utahns, were all brought together in unity over trading pins. The World Cup, and the Team USA's participation in it, is the same way. It has brought friends and strangers together for a bliss moment of "sports talk". I only hope that even with USA's elimination from the World Cup, mankind can retain the bonds created by a little fierce kicking of a soccer ball.

Road Trip- June 18-19

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move- Robert Louis Stevenson

Shortly after I finished my last post I loaded up my belongings into my purple '94 Honda Civic. Between Mom and I, we had 5 bags, plus a tote full of entertainment stuff we set in the back seat. We kept making runs into the house for items we almost forgot (ex. phone and camera charger, blow-dryer). I said my last goodbyes to my still half-asleep sister Brooke, grabbed the big bag of Jolly Ranchers Tay and Anna got me, and was finally ready to head out. Mom pulled out of the driveway and the garage door slowly closed shut. It was goodbye to my gray brick house until December. My birthday breakfast was none other than Starbucks. Mom ordered 2 venti peppermint hot chocolates. It was divinely delicious, so much that I could only drink about half before I was full.

Our first stop on my birthday road trip was the Outlets at Anthem. It was fashion bliss!!!! They had a Tommy Hilfiger outlet. So of course I went in and tried on almost their entire selection of clothes. In the end I bought a short-sleeved argyle sweater and some jeans, but nothing could compare to my happiness at being in a Tommy Hilfigir store. Afterwards, we went to Clavin Klein and bought some jeweled-color button-down shirts (Debbie Forrest would approve). Then, we checked out Ann Taylor where we found a darling coral cardigan on clearance. Overall, Anthem was a success and I was on a fashion high after buying such cute clothes.

Our next stop was Flagstaff where we had lunch at Fratelli's pizza. I always try to go to Fratelli's because it is the first place where I tried pesto pizza. So Mom and I got the slice special of a slice of pesto pizza, a salad, and a drink. We then sat down in the dark, bar-like dining area and watch the World Cup on the flat screens. The pizza was delish but not as good as the pesto pizza my family makes at home. Maybe we should start a pizza joint... nah.

At 6pm, we arrived in Kanab, Utah. We decided to stay at the Four Seasons Motel, which turned out to be a mistake. The word that comes to mind when thinking of the hotel is seedy. To make it worse, there was a bus-full of college age kids staying there too. And dinner at Escobar's was just okay. But me and Mom laughed off the mediocreness of our situation and enjoyed the small town novelty of Kanab. Here are a few pictures I took with my amazing new camera:

After an okay sleep, we rose, showered and was on the road again by 7am. We admired the quaintness of the small towns along the 89 but as cute as they were, I was asleep within the hour. I slept all the way to Beaver, Utah! But after I woke up, Mom and I talked and listened to talks on tape. There was one talk by Joni Morrison that was SO funny! I was afraid we were going to drive off the road because we were crying so hard!!! I know I couldn't see anything. Finally we made it to Provo and the nerves began to set in...

The Next Chapter

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is Youer than You."- Dr. Seuss

Today I turn 18 years old. Yeah, that's right, 18!! A whole new world of options has opened itself unto me. I can buy cigarettes (which I won't), buy spray paint (unlikely), get tried as an adult (hopefully that won't happen), and pet the puppies at the pet store (very very VERY likely). Already this morning I got several happy birthday posts on Facebook from my friends and I suspect I will have a lot more before the day is through. But the highlight of my birthday will be the road trip I'm taking with my mother to Utah.

Yes, road trip. Not only am I turning 18 today, I am also moving to Bountiful to work at my uncle's company over the summer. So I'm driving me and my stuff to Utah to stay. Figure it'll sound cool and rebellious when I tell people, "Oh yeah, you know, I moved out of my house the day I turned 18." Hehe. I plan to make this road trip relaxing and fun. No worries, even though we have to be in Provo tomorrow by 1pm for Colorguard auditions. I want to stop at scenic areas and take pictures. I want to eat at my favorite restaurants that are on the road to Utah. I want to sing and talk about nothing with my mama for hours on end. Basically, I want a birthday that kicks last year's birthday into oblivion.