It's official!

My flights are booked, (most of) my hotels are reserved and now my passport is back in my hands with the required visas for my Asian Adventure!  Since I leave in less than a month, it's nice to cross these big items off my to-do list.

I start in Beijing and head to Zhengzhou second.  From there I go to Vietnam- Hanoi followed by Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).  Then it's back to China- Xi'an, Wuhan and Guangzhou.  I wrap up the trip with a few days on Guam. Altogether I'll be gone about 27 days, my longest work trip so far!

I still have lots of little details to take care of- notify my credit card companies that I'll be abroad, make sure my cell phone will work properly (love having a global ready phone!), pay bills, oh, and of course, pack! The end result of my packing is usually pretty organized but the process is fairly chaotic. I start with pulling out everything I think I might want, then try to pare it back down to the actual necessities.  My biggest packing challenge for this trip will be the temperature extremes- it is currently 16F in Beijing and 81F on Guam. I'm a fan of layers, so that will help, but this is a pretty broad range of climates!  My mom will actually be meeting me on Guam- I'm hoping I can send a few things that I won't need earlier in the trip with her to make some more room in my suitcase.  Anyone else have any good packing tips?

I'm a little concerned about how the beginning of Daylight Savings time will affect me, but I'm hoping I can absorb the change in my overall adjustment. What's one more hour when you are already 12-18 hours off of your usual time zone?

My mom gave me the purple cover for my passport a few years ago. Not only is it my favorite color, but it allows me to blend in with other nationalities waiting for Customs.  Of course as soon as I open my mouth, it's obvious I am American, but I like to think that until that point, people may wonder where I'm from. Maybe that's just because I like to guess where others are from, so I assume other people play the same game!

Three of my destinations are new for me, so I'm looking forward to seeing what those cities have to offer.  Guam is technically not new, but since I have no memories of it, it should be pretty exciting to see where I was born. I really have a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that this will be my fourth time to Vietnam. I'm even staying in hotels I have stayed in before so there will be a real sense of familiarity. Crazy to find that comfort on the other side of the world! My first trip to China included two of the biggest cultural attractions in Beijing- the Great Wall and the Forbidden City and we drove past several of the main Olympic venues last fall and I shopped at the Silk Market so I'll have to find something new to explore.

Aside from finishing preparations for this trip, I also have a quick trip to Alabama for a conference next week, a major event for work the day after I get back from Alabama and bridesmaid dress shopping in DC with one of my best friends two days before my flight leaves.  Hmm, now that I think about it, maybe I should start that packing now!!

Pink Swap!

This was my first time to participate in a Pink Swap hosted by Hopsy of Monograms and Manicures- and I hope it will not be my last!  I had fun putting together a package for my swap partner, Amy from Preppy Southern Belle.  I was honestly more concerned with making sure I found enough fun stuff to send, I almost forgot that I would have some treats coming my way!  Everything Amy selected was perfect, it's like she's known me for years! Here's a picture of the package:

Inside, were all these fun pink goodies!

I have recently been incorporating pashminas in my wardrobe.  The ones I have are all in the same (not pink) color family, so it's nice to be able to expand my options.  I was just talking about my addiction to lip gloss a few posts ago. The nail polishes are the perfect size to take with me on my travels. The bracelet is super cute, the notepad is a perfect addition to my desk at work and the note she included was a sweet touch. In summary, I love it all! Thanks again Amy, you were a great swap partner!

SUYL Link Up

As you will quickly learn, I am a novice blogger.  Like most of the other posts say, this is not something I would expect of myself, but you can't argue with Kelly's success rate so it must be worth a try!

My name is Erin.  I have lived in Virginia since I was about two. I work for my alma mater and have a job that allows me to travel quite a bit.  Family is very important to me- I have two older brothers, two nieces, three uncles, six aunts, twenty-three first cousins and even more second & third cousins. I'm also lucky enough to have a circle of friends who, to borrow someone else's phrase, are my family by choice.

I love to travel (good thing with my job!).  By the time I was 16, I had been to five of the seven continents. It might take me a while, but I'll make it to those last two one day! Some of my favorite personal trips have been to Ireland (I am a ginger after all!), Australia, Switzerland, Texas, Georgia (Atlanta and its suburbs), Chicago, Indiana, Wisconsin and Colorado.  Since I have not figured out a way to gather up all my friends and family in one place, I'm glad they live in fun places to visit!  My work travel has taken me to Asia (China, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong) several times as well as all over New Jersey & Virginia, parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland & New York and even down to North Carolina.

My current job is in higher education.  Growing up I thought I wanted to be a teacher yet I ended up majoring in Public Relations.  Sometimes I think about going back to school to earn a teaching certificate. I love being around kids but I'm not sure I have enough patience to dedicate myself to the career. Lucky for me my friends have some pretty great kids and I like to volunteer at my church nursery.  I know I want kids of my own one day, when the time is right.

Growing up as the youngest and only girl, I'm a bit of a sports fan.  My NFL team is the Packers but I tend to like more individual players than full-on teams.  One of my favorite childhood memories is my mom printing out signs for us to claim our preferred spot for watching the Super Bowl.  I usually ended up on the floor, but sometimes I snagged a spot on the couch!

I will go to almost any live sporting event whether it is college, professional, community or any other age level.  I'm not the most athletically capable person, but I'm willing to try anything once. Aside from the everyday adventures of life, I love a challenge.  I've been skydiving and white water rafting, among other things.

I enjoy cultural events- concerts, plays, speakers, etc.  A neighboring town has a Broadway musical series I've been enjoying this year.  I can also be just as happy curled up on the couch watching trashy television. Really it matters more to me who I am with than what we are doing- cheesy, but true.

If I had to pick my favorite season, I'd say spring.  Truthfully I love the beginning stages of each season- there's something about seeing the changes and knowing all the fun they will bring.  Summer brings vacations and lots of outdoor activities.  Fall means tailgates and changing leaves.  Winter (usually) means hot chocolate and snow days. The first warm days of Spring are so refreshing after the cold of the previous months. (Girly confession- I also love getting to change out my wardrobe for the season. It's like shopping without spending any money!)

I have a pretty great life, now I just want someone to share it with! My most recent blog post has several pictures of me and the one before that has an assortment of trivia about me, in case you need more!  If you'd like to know more, just let me know!

Erin

Picture Post!

I've never put pictures on my blog before and I'm not completely sure what I'm doing. I thought I'd try to just post a bunch of pictures in one post and see how it works out! (If anyone has advice for how to make this look better, please share!!)

This is me, getting ready to leave for one of my international work trips.  I was able to go carry-on only for two of my last three trips- not sure if I can do the same for my next one!

Candlelight tour of a historic home at Christmas time!

In case the globe doesn't give it away, I'm in Vietnam.  This was my most recent trip there, Fall 2011. I loved the image of the world in two hands with a dove on top!

I couldn't figure out how to make the last two pictures appear next to each other, but they're both from football games this fall.  I've been a football season ticket holder for my alma mater since the year after I graduated. I also like to take group pictures in the stands at each game :)

11 facts + 11 questions answered!

Since Beantown Prepster opened up this game to anyone who reads her blog, I thought it was a great topic for a post :)

The rules:
1. Post the rules.
2. Write 11 fun facts about yourself.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you and then create 11 new questions to ask people you tag.
4. Tag 11 people and link them to your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!!

11 Fun Things about Myself:

1) I almost always wear earrings, even to the gym- I feel naked without them! (I think it's because some part of my brain thinks I look undone if you can see the empty holes.)
 
2) I am leaving in a month for a (mostly) work trip to China, Vietnam and Guam.

3) I was born on Guam, but left before I was old enough to really form memories, so my mom is going to meet me there and show me around.

4) I disliked the name of the 'iPad' so much that I said I would never get one. I even told my mom when she bought one that she would have to ask my brother for help, not me. (I got around that by giving her advice on how to use her iPod and reminding her that most of the advice would work for both.)

5) My office just provided me with an iPad & I'm already addicted to using it.

6) My junior year in high school, my daily lunch consisted of a can of Diet Pepsi and a snack bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.  (What can I say, it let me keep half the lunch money my parents gave me!)

7) I had perfect attendance from kindergarten all the way through my high school graduation.

8) Since I had such a healthy childhood, getting a cold now can sometimes turn me into a baby.

9) My first word was 'book' and reading has always been a big hobby for me.

10) I am obsessed with Tervis Tumblers and I can't wait to get one of their new water bottles.

11) Anytime I go out of town, I like to leave behind a freshly made bed.  Sometimes this means getting up early to have time to do laundry before leaving.  It's worth it to me!


11 Questions from Beantown Prepster:

1) If you could have a theme song to play when you walk down the street what would it be?
Happy Girl by Martina McBride

2) If you could only watch one TV Show for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Bravo. (He talks about other shows and some current events, so I feel like I would still be in the know about other shows this way!)

3) French fries: Skinny and crispy or big and mushy?
Big and mushy!

4) What is your guilty pleasure outfit?
I have recently become obsessed with skinny jeans, but I'm not altogether confident in my ability to pull the look off, so it feels like a guilty pleasure when I do wear them!
 
5) Soda: Fountain, bottle or can?
Despite what I did in high school, now I only drink soda a few times a year at most. When I do, it's usually because I'm craving a straw, ice and something carbonated! Doesn't matter to me if it comes from a fountain, bottle or can though!
 
6) Favorite thing to do at the gym?
Lunges- I don't enjoy them at the time, but I can always feel that they worked afterwards!
 
7) If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
Such a tough question! I have been lucky to visit so many amazing cities around the world.  The last two summers have included trips to Texas (once to San Antonio and once to Austin) and I was surprised how much I loved both of those cities. So maybe it would be fun to live in Texas for a period of time? I'm also considering applying to a few jobs in Europe, so maybe it's just that I need a change of scenery!

8) What was your first animal and do you remember its name?
The first pet I can remember was a cocker spaniel named Duffy.  We got him when I was 3 or 4. He was the most patient animal and I loved walking him (in reality I was probably being walked BY him).

9) What is one thing that you carry in your purse that you absolutely cannot live without?
Some form of lip gloss/chapstick/balm.
 
10) What is your most embarrassing habit?
I'm not sure if this counts as a habit, but some of the silliest things make me cry.  I'm currently watching Betty White's 90th Birthday Celebration on my DVR.  It's the end and Betty, along with everyone who spoke on stage, is singing the theme song to the Golden Girls.  There are tears in my eyes. It's not so embarrassing when I'm alone, but can be awkward when other people are around!
 
11) If you could meet and be BFFs in real life with a blogger that you follow, who would it be and why?  
I feel funny answering this, since I mainly read blogs without commenting- I don't want anyone to think I'm a crazy follower!  I will say that if any of the bloggers I follow lived near me, I would welcome the chance to get to know them better!


I don't have many readers, so I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you read this and want me to be tagged, let me know!

She's beauty and she's grace...

...Miss Congeniality anyone?

I have mixed feelings on pageants and other beauty-centric competitions. I think the world portrayed on shows like 'Toddlers and Tiaras' is often sad and extreme, but is in fact reality for some people. I also recognize that the more mainstream systems provide a great deal of money to be put towards educational costs. Many of the women do care passionately about their platform, as well, and pursue those causes long after they stop wearing crowns. I know that the talent and interview portions are not supposed to be based on physical appearance, but when the other half of the score comes from swimsuits and evening gowns, it's hard not to make your picks based on looks.  On the other hand, if someone is beautiful on the outside, why shouldn't that be acknowledged?  It does not have to be at the exclusion of inner beauty. As long as we're up front about it, I'm not sure I see anything wrong with it.

I remember watching Miss America every year while I was growing up, enthralled by how pretty and poised everyone was on stage. My gymnastics coach was our state title holder and she was as sweet and nice of a person as you could want in a role model. I attended a few local pageants when older girls from school were competing, but was never really interested in trying myself. I think my mom was grateful for that, as despite the years of dance recitals I participated in, she is NOT a stage mom!

I am admittedly a pageant snob when it comes to Miss America vs Miss USA. I can't really justify it, but I feel like Miss A is more about the whole person, while Miss USA is just about the flash. Some of that also comes from a former roommate who is a huge fan of the Miss America organization.  In fact, while we were roommates, the then-current Miss A visited our campus and I was able to arrange a surprise birthday dinner with her, prior to her event. In case you were wondering, the crown is kept in a box when it's not on her head and she has a crown pin that she wears for certain events. That particular Miss A also frequented Outback Steakhouse, knowing there would be some consistency in the menu, ordered the same thing almost every time.

As soon as one my students mentioned she would be celebrating her 21st birthday by drinking cocktails and watching Miss America with her roommates, I knew I wanted to do something similar!  I will be watching tonight with one of my best girlfriends, munching on probably unhealthy snacks (although I do have a bag of carrots in my fridge!), sipping apple cider (she's expecting, so no bubbly for us!) and doing our best to predict how the actual judges will rate each contestant. I usually find myself rooting for specific states that I've either lived in or where loved ones reside. Then if/when they are all eliminated, I pick a finalist at random.

Who do you think will be crowned tonight?

Overwhelmed

I promise this blog is not going to be totally devoted to me venting...however facebook and twitter are not the best outlet for me and sometimes I just need to empty my brain of the stressful things so that I can fill it with more exciting and positive things!

This week has been on the stressful side for me.  My car is having major issues (the speedometer needle either stays at 0 or bounces around intermittently among other things) and not only is it hard not knowing what's going on or how much it will cost, being without a car is also challenging.  I live within walking distance of work which helps. I don't, however, live within walking distance of the gym and a few other key places!  Fingers crossed the car comes back to me soon!

We also have a lot going on at work and during the last few days, I have felt like I'm being pulled in a million different directions at once. Yesterday my biggest desire was to curl up in a ball somewhere, but I resisted. I coordinate our student calling campaign for some of our admitted students (which is not always as supported by the rest of the office as I might like), I have a 3 week long international trip to plan before March, I manage technology for our office (which I am not completely qualified to do, so that gets pretty interesting), in the next 5 weeks I need to read a million (or a few hundred at least) applications, catch up on the endless stream of emails coming into both my personal account and the department account I'm responsible for maintaining, misc responsibilities for the student groups I co-advise, oh and take care of some letters of recommendation for grad school that a student asked me to write (so honored to have been asked, another sign that I'm really a grown up!).

I'm also behind on personal emails, text messages, phone calls, etc, so I'm hoping to spend some time this weekend catching up in that area.  I think what stresses me is not the specifics of what I need to do, rather the timing of everything and having other people needing or wanting me to do something when I feel like I need just a moment to breathe.

Some positives from this week include:
I was able to sustain a game of phone tag with one of my best girlfriends resulting in her asking me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding: yay! She and I have been close almost since the moment we met, so I am so honored to be part of her special day.

I work with some of the most amazing students. Their energy and passion can be contagious and they teach me things almost daily (especially that even when I don't think they are going to accomplish what I asked of them, they will, just in their own way).

My alma mater is a pretty special community and being part of the process that brings new people in is pretty great. I know not everyone wants to attend the school, but the reactions of those that do bring a huge smile to my face.

I am participating in my first ever blog swap, for which I am very excited!