Singapore is weird. Small city, so many malls. for someone as mall-phobic as I am, it is a bit overwhelming. Not only are there a lot of malls (really really big malls), but somehow I kept ending up inside of them without meaning to. Since you get fined $1000 or four nights in jail for jaywalking, it's important not to. So you have to find the over passes and underpasses to walk anywhere. Well, as soon as you find an overpass inevitably it leads you into a mall or food court before you can get back to the street. Thing is, it's hot and humid here, so sometimes you are kind of releived to be in the a/c while going through the mall sensory overload.
Then there's the food. Fried, on sticks, in pockets with rice or noods. And some odd combinations. I was drooling over the donuts behind the donut counter until I saw their specialty, a spicy cheese donut on a bed of lettuce--what?! They also have a bunch of American food, like hot dogs (80 cents extra for the bun) with flavored mayo, you know, kiwi strawberry mayo an the like.
One thing I have found that I like are the bubble teas. Not only a refreshing drink, but also with every sip you get a chewey, gummy thing, yum.
That's all for singapore. They do also have a 'Little India' which gave me a small hint of what is to come.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
And Away We Go!
12 hours to Seoul
...in Seoul, wake up from sleeping, get off the plane (one of the last), walk through mirrory/glass jetways from the plane with all my hand baggage (a lot--did you see all those meds, had to carry them all on). Walk to a line, get a transfer card, walk to another line, go through security--after just gotten off a plane where 12 and some hours prior I'd just gone through security--go up an escalator to the gate area, stretch for 10 minutes, wait in line to board, go down an escalator back to where i started, back through the mirrory/glass walkway, step right foot first in to the plane (I am superstitious) and head back to 54k, my beloved window seat next to the two Canuks. Find my blanket freshly folded and back in the plastic bag it had be in 13 hours ago.
...in Seoul, wake up from sleeping, get off the plane (one of the last), walk through mirrory/glass jetways from the plane with all my hand baggage (a lot--did you see all those meds, had to carry them all on). Walk to a line, get a transfer card, walk to another line, go through security--after just gotten off a plane where 12 and some hours prior I'd just gone through security--go up an escalator to the gate area, stretch for 10 minutes, wait in line to board, go down an escalator back to where i started, back through the mirrory/glass walkway, step right foot first in to the plane (I am superstitious) and head back to 54k, my beloved window seat next to the two Canuks. Find my blanket freshly folded and back in the plastic bag it had be in 13 hours ago.
Packing
Packing is the worst. Especially when you couple it with packing up your room so someone else can live in it, AND knowing you are not supposed to bring a lot. Compound these things by the fact that yours truly is a procrastinating pack rat, and you understand.
Anyway, clothes weren't a problem, i brought what I wear in hot weather that I don't care too much about. It's the drugs that were interesting, see for yourself...
So it took me a while, and as hard as I tried to not over pack, now that I am here, I am pretty sure I did. Well, the good news is, there is a samsonite store in Hyderbad, so perhaps I will come home with new luggage, since the bag I brought had some issues, not to mention gave me nasty bruises on my arm!
Anyway, clothes weren't a problem, i brought what I wear in hot weather that I don't care too much about. It's the drugs that were interesting, see for yourself...
So it took me a while, and as hard as I tried to not over pack, now that I am here, I am pretty sure I did. Well, the good news is, there is a samsonite store in Hyderbad, so perhaps I will come home with new luggage, since the bag I brought had some issues, not to mention gave me nasty bruises on my arm!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Ambassador to Hyderabad!
I know the primary purpose of this blog was to write about my fundraising efforts for Cystic Fibrosis. But I liked the name of it so much I didn't want to have to pick a new one to talk about my travels. Plus, what better way to showcase how great a job the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has done raising money for life saving research than to give an example of what that life saving research enables. I'm healthy and happy and am not letting Cystic Fibrosis stop me from having amazing life experiences.
So here we go. Google does this cool thing called the Ambassador program, where for a quarter (three months in non-business people terms) a few lucky individuals get to spend time working from an office in another part of the world. Working on best practices and Google culture, increasing communication and just getting to know their team in that office. Google Checkout has a pretty large team in Hyderabad, so for Q1 '08 I get to spend my time working with them!
I've never been to Asia, and I've never lived abroad, this should be an amazing experience. Hold tight, here's my story....
So here we go. Google does this cool thing called the Ambassador program, where for a quarter (three months in non-business people terms) a few lucky individuals get to spend time working from an office in another part of the world. Working on best practices and Google culture, increasing communication and just getting to know their team in that office. Google Checkout has a pretty large team in Hyderabad, so for Q1 '08 I get to spend my time working with them!
I've never been to Asia, and I've never lived abroad, this should be an amazing experience. Hold tight, here's my story....
Monday, October 15, 2007
Ketchup
Ok, so I’ve been a bit of a slacker…more, I’ve been too busy going to Hawaii and then playing catch up at work to do this whole blogging thing…remember, it’s not totally my style.
First things first, THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
With your help I personally raised over $2.000.00 which will be doubled by Google, and overall, the first annual Climb for a Cure in San Francisco raised $40,000.00. Not bad for a first time event! And we already have a date saved for next year.
Same building, same set of stairs, September 20th, 2008. Be there.
Ok next, if you are still reading, here is a summary of events since I last ‘blogged’….
1) Cocktails for a Cure:
Here are some pictures: (TK as we used to say when i worked in news)
Mostly we just took your donations, enjoyed the drink specials (maybe a little too much), and raffled off some cool prizes. Then, when the bar kicked us out, a few of us were umm, smart enough to contiue going out in North Beach…necdless to say, that was not a fun Friday at work—but hey, all in the name of a good cause right?
2) the Stair Climb
Picture this, three over-hung humans and one who just got off a redeye climb into a station wagon on a drizzly Saturday morning at 9:00am. They then proceed to find absolutely everything funny, down to the story about the woman on her first plane trip who tried to receive wireless internet from her laptop. Imbibe coffee, bagels, Vitamin water. Discuss how hard it is going to be to climb the stairs, climb the stairs, make it to the top (in TEN minutes thank you), and wander around a vacant office area looking at the gorgeous view.
Wait, one of the hung over humans has disappeared, where did he go? Did he make it to the top? Surely, I mean, none of us saw him turn around.
Aaaah there he is, he’d been hiding in the men’s room trying not to throw up. Queue a large brunch complete with mimosas, and a nap.
So that’s it, we climbed some steps, we raised money for a great cause, and had a ton of fun in the meantime.
Soon there will be a Congratualtions and Thank you cocktail party for the Young Professionals Netowork who helped us get to that $40,000 number.
Now the question is, does this blog thing keep going?
First things first, THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
With your help I personally raised over $2.000.00 which will be doubled by Google, and overall, the first annual Climb for a Cure in San Francisco raised $40,000.00. Not bad for a first time event! And we already have a date saved for next year.
Same building, same set of stairs, September 20th, 2008. Be there.
Ok next, if you are still reading, here is a summary of events since I last ‘blogged’….
1) Cocktails for a Cure:
Here are some pictures: (TK as we used to say when i worked in news)
Mostly we just took your donations, enjoyed the drink specials (maybe a little too much), and raffled off some cool prizes. Then, when the bar kicked us out, a few of us were umm, smart enough to contiue going out in North Beach…necdless to say, that was not a fun Friday at work—but hey, all in the name of a good cause right?
2) the Stair Climb
Picture this, three over-hung humans and one who just got off a redeye climb into a station wagon on a drizzly Saturday morning at 9:00am. They then proceed to find absolutely everything funny, down to the story about the woman on her first plane trip who tried to receive wireless internet from her laptop. Imbibe coffee, bagels, Vitamin water. Discuss how hard it is going to be to climb the stairs, climb the stairs, make it to the top (in TEN minutes thank you), and wander around a vacant office area looking at the gorgeous view.
Wait, one of the hung over humans has disappeared, where did he go? Did he make it to the top? Surely, I mean, none of us saw him turn around.
Aaaah there he is, he’d been hiding in the men’s room trying not to throw up. Queue a large brunch complete with mimosas, and a nap.
So that’s it, we climbed some steps, we raised money for a great cause, and had a ton of fun in the meantime.
Soon there will be a Congratualtions and Thank you cocktail party for the Young Professionals Netowork who helped us get to that $40,000 number.
Now the question is, does this blog thing keep going?
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Pictures!
Ok, here are pictures from CF Professionals Part II. Enjoy!
So what's going on next? Glad you asked, Cocktails for a Cure is going on. Yes, that's right, Cocktails for a Cure, the San Francisco version--please excuse me for not being more original with the title, but it worked so well for my NYC events, I might as well use it again!
Here is the Evite
Taylor and I are having our own event. Rosewood Bar in North Beach, your donation at the door gets you drink specials all night and you can buy raffle tickets. We did a great job canvasing our neighborhood, and many of the local businesses were so generous!
Enticed yet? Join us!
So what's going on next? Glad you asked, Cocktails for a Cure is going on. Yes, that's right, Cocktails for a Cure, the San Francisco version--please excuse me for not being more original with the title, but it worked so well for my NYC events, I might as well use it again!
Here is the Evite
Taylor and I are having our own event. Rosewood Bar in North Beach, your donation at the door gets you drink specials all night and you can buy raffle tickets. We did a great job canvasing our neighborhood, and many of the local businesses were so generous!
- $90 Gift Certificate to Red Chair Salon for an amazing hair cut (yes, I used to say, WTF who pays that much, but have you seen my hair lately? who else would you trust to chop of 8 inches?)
- A magnum(yes, that's right, I said magnum) bottle of great Champange from
- Biondivino- www.biondivino.com in Russian Hill
- $75 Gift Certificate to Perry's on Union street (or any of their other locations)
- Cool sunglasses from Big Swingin Cycle on Van Ness
- Gift Certificates to Za's Pizza
- Gift Certificates to Nick's Crispy Tacos
- CANDY! from The Candy Store www.thecandystoresf.com
- Oh and a surprise gift from Lombardi's Sports on Polk Street lombardisports.com
Enticed yet? Join us!
Friday, September 7, 2007
Three weeks and counting...
AlyTalksALot went on vacation...Maine was quite nice.
Now it's back to fundraising! Less than a month before the big event. Professionals event II was lovely, a few less people than usual, but no less fun. Pictures to come once I get them off my camera!
Now on to the next one. Thursday Sept 13th, 7pm Rosewood Bar in North Beach. Taylor and I made a lovely evite, we also used Facebook invitations. This was my first foray into invites on Facebook, hopefully it will work well-I mean, always fun to see pictures of everyone coming to the event. If they're cute, you know you should definitely be there ;)
Basically, everyone gives a donation at the door, then gets drink specials for the night. We are also working on a raffle to raise a lil extra. Raffle items TK as we used to say when I looked at pictures for a living.
Want to see pictures of my nephew? I am not sure that will encourage you to donate, but you never know...
Now it's back to fundraising! Less than a month before the big event. Professionals event II was lovely, a few less people than usual, but no less fun. Pictures to come once I get them off my camera!
Now on to the next one. Thursday Sept 13th, 7pm Rosewood Bar in North Beach. Taylor and I made a lovely evite, we also used Facebook invitations. This was my first foray into invites on Facebook, hopefully it will work well-I mean, always fun to see pictures of everyone coming to the event. If they're cute, you know you should definitely be there ;)
Basically, everyone gives a donation at the door, then gets drink specials for the night. We are also working on a raffle to raise a lil extra. Raffle items TK as we used to say when I looked at pictures for a living.
Want to see pictures of my nephew? I am not sure that will encourage you to donate, but you never know...
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