|
|
|
|
Weekends in California!
First two weeks -- California!
Europe Roadtrip 1 weekend - 11 countries - 4700 kilometers (over 2900 miles) - No sleep Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy. Hi Mrs. Vicki Tea! J
So I was supposed to go to Germany on Saturday to meet my cousin. But when I got there, I wasn't able to meet him, but ended up touring the city instead....seeing Checkpoint Charlie (and it's museum), the Berlin Wall, The Brandenburg Gate, and the new Sony Center. I then drove down to Poland and visited Wroclaw, Poland. That evening, visited Prague and Vienna with Bratislava in between. I pulled into Budapest, Hungary early on Sunday morning. I took a wrong turn and ended up in Ukraine. After driving 10 miles towards Romania in the Ukraine, I decided it was best to turn around due to the extremely poor conditions. Anyway, I am thankful for the countless blessings God has given to me. Why am I so blessed? I don't understand at times. I need to have compassion, love, and giving heart to those in need. On my way back into Hungary from Ukraine, there was a two hour line of cars waiting to pass over the border. People were not happy. I talked to some of the soldiers, asked about their lives, and talked about mine. One of the soldiers asked me why I wasn't married yet...I told him I have a girlfriend and would like to get married. He said he was going to get married next year... I told him hopefully me as well. We also talked about his extended family in Canada. Before I knew it, he pulled about 50 cars waiting in line to the side and moved my car up to the front...wished me well as I crossed the rickety bridge over the river back into Hungary. I then drove across Hungary through Croatia and Slovenia and hit a snowstorm in the mountains. In Croatia and Slovenia, they would have a signs on the side of the road commemorating the mass-graves found nearby... sent shivers through my spine. This trip was quite an adventure... with quick stops for pictures... but good reminders to be thankful for what God has given to me. My girlfriend is staying with my parents and sister all weekend (because of the Malibu fire). I wish I could be with her...I'm so jealous!!!
Transition - California I went back to California again for some interviews last week. Thankfully, everything worked out and I am excited about returning to California! I will be working back at Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine on November 1st. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera by my side on this trip. However, I had a great time with Stephie, her family, and my family. Her parents and sister/brother-in-law and I had a nice dinner on San Francisco Bay...it was special to be with them. Stephie and I went to Old Pasadena to the Melting-Pot and had chocolate and cheese fondue! (yes... we were 6000 miles away from Switzerland!). We had a great time shopping together... With my family, we all went to church and then out to brunch in Laguna Beach. It was so special to be with Stephie...
Switzerland Encore! (Switzerland again!) I invited Stephie to come over to go with me to "the Fall TNT Bible Study Retreat weekend" in Anzere, Switzerland. We visited Edwards Lifesciences colleagues on Friday night in Lausanne before heading up to Chalet Wildhorn in the Alps. With the Bible study group over the weekend, we had good singing, prayer, a study in Hebrews 2, fondue, and several intense games of Mafia. Stephie and I had a "Swiss experience" together and visited a glacier high in the Alps on Saturday afternoon. Sunday afternoon, we went to church together and I introduced her to my friends there. It was a very special time with her...
Labor Day Week - Return to California I went back to California again for a much-anticipated week of visiting Stephie, her family, and friends. We drove up and spent Labor Day weekend with her family and toured UC Berkeley (before watching a Cal footbal game) and San Francisco with them. We then drove to LA, cruised Balboa Bay, and met my family and some of my friends for bowling. We ended the week at Disneyland...with so many more great memories over the 9 days. It was a very special time...
Quick visit to California Saturday, August 25 Forget the moving crate! I visited Los Angeles for about 15 hours this past weekend...to "bring luggage back" from Switzerland. J Ok...truly, you CAN go on a date in LA from Switzerland for the weekend! Stephie and I ended up stopping by my family's house during a dinner party and then going out afterwards. The visit was short but sweet...a very special time with Stephie and my family.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
