Thursday, April 12, 2007

Where I've Been...

(Cynthia and Marita in NYC at a Thai place)
Well, as you can see, my last posting was back in October. That is VERY sad, but this winter has been very slow on the Cultural Connections side and lots has happened in my life since then. I've basically isolated myself, but I regret to say that it's gotten me nowhere special. I'll give you the run down since October.

November 2006: This month, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I had a friend, Marita, come and visit me from Holland AND my friend, Sachi (Japan), towards the end of the month. I was also busying myself with moving. I had found a place out in Arlington, BUT there was a gap in between my move out date in the beginning of December and my move in date at the end of December so I had to live like a hobo for the month of....


December 2006: Homeless Days. Week 1: of homelessness was pretty good. My boss, Marcia, had offered to put me up in one of the rooms in her home. Her kiddies were simply adorable and I was so happy to be there in their happy home. Also, she already lived in Arlington where I worked, so it wasn't so bad of a commute. Week 2: I stayed with my friend, Amy, in Hyattsville, MD. Now this commute wasn't as bad as I thought and I actually ended up driving her to work at the Pentagon every morning. Not to mention, Amy and I have the same taste in food and movies, so it was like a week-long slumber party. Week 3: I stayed with my friend from Women for Women International in Silver Spring, now this was a commute. It was over an hour and a half each way. I swear I almost pulled my hair out, but I did like being back in Silver Spring. However, I wouldn't like to travel that far for work ever again!

January 2006: I went to Main State for the Global PAO Conference and debuted a newsletter that I started at work called, "PD Training News." It's a small step in merging the writing-and-work thing. In the meantime, all of my roommates, Fiona and Lindsay, moved into the place (I was there alone for about a week at the end of December) and we all got to know each other. Fiona works with me at FSI and Lindsay I met while doing an apartment search. The second part of January was marked by my meeting someone special, of whom I have yet to name on a public venue...

February 2006: Came and went. There were a few good moments here and there, but I was basically waiting for it to get warmer. Learned the chiropractors are all quacks, but that I actually need them.

March 2006: Trip to Warm Springs, VA with that special someone... I became the Newsletter Chair of the JET Alumni Association and created the "Sakura Times." I became an auntie again. My brother, Wade, and my sister-in-law, Dellena, welcomed ANOTHER baby boy into the world. This is their third boy together. He was born in Baumholder (their base), Germany.














April 2007: Wedding Season began....

Wedding Season!!!

Ok, so the next few posts you'll see on my blog will be ALL about weddings, because I'm now officially at that age where the wedding invitations are pouring in and I can't keep up!!! Ok, let's review:

  • Abraham Zuniga, a friend from high school, kicked it in September 2006, in Miami
  • Celia Bhattacharya and Ken Aragaki, friends from work, April 7, 2007, in NYC
  • Simon (my cousin) and Aisha, May 11, 2007, in NYC
  • Arsema (friend from Women for Women Int'l) and Teddy, June 23, in Punta Cana, Dom. Rep.
  • Violeta (friend from JET) and Michael, June 23, San Antonio and August 4, Holland
  • Michelle White and Shin (of Japan), August 13, Central VA area and Osaka, Japan
  • My friend, Valencia just got engaged, Wedding Date, TBA

I can't keep up with all these wedding dates and gifts and presents. I might as well start an emergency wedding gift fund. I'm very happy for my friends though, that they are finding love and are taking the plunge. I hope to one day (soon!) go there myself. I fantasize about that special day, but going to these weddings make me fantasize even more (especially when I go with friends to try on wedding dresses). I told a co-worker the other day that in the next 2-3 years I'll be invited to baby showers. Now, I hope by then that I'm at least engaged!

Celia and Ken's Wedding


The lovely couple cut their cake. Of the more than 6 years that I've known both of them as co-workers and then friends (we all started working at the International Center for Journalists at the same time), I have really come to connect with them as very special people in my life. I know that when I am around them, I can go back to being me and I can relax. No matter where I go in the world, I'll always remember these two.

ICFJ Connection


Mario and Jennifer Scherhoffer. Mario, Ken, Celia and I all worked at the International Center for Journalists over 5 years ago, so we've seen their love blossom over the years. Brings back memories...awww...

The Friends


Yasu "The Dentist," Jose "Valentino," and Andrew (Celia's brother) a.k.a. "The Bad Boys of Japan, Spain and America (by way of India and Spain).

Young-Jin (Korea), Marina (Celia's former roommate) and her husband, Dmitry (Russia). Quite the international crowd.

Other Esteemed Guests included a prominent Indian couple (don't ask me their names), Fred? (I'm told he does product placement in movies), the judge (and former neighbor of her parents) that married them, and to the far right is the Spanish Ambassador to the United Nations.

Celia's Family (Mostly from Spain)


The table of honor included the Bride and Groom and Celia's aunts and uncles (her mother, Pilar, is on the far right).











Celia and Gina. I miss that girl, now that she's in NYC.


Celia, Ken, her cute little cousin from Spain (doesn't she look like Celia's daughter) and me.

The wedding planner cuts the cake for Celia and Ken.

Monday, October 09, 2006

Abraham's Wedding on the Beach

My friend, Abraham Zuniga, from high school in Miami, got married on September 29th. I came down from DC to see the wedding and my old friends (whom most I haven't seen since high school) and my mom. The last time I visited, it was over a year ago to Miami on my way to go to the Dominican Republic.

The wedding was Friday morning at the Eden Roc hotel and resort, but Michelle, Robert and I were 1/2 an hour late. We had to go against Michelle's heel breaking (so she had to borrow my flip-flops), rush hour traffic, and a bad accident on I-95. By the time we got there, all we saw was the bride, Sarah Chasser, and groom sign the marriage license. We weren't the only ones late though.

The reception was nice and the food was delicious. It was a buffet breakfast with all kinds of desserts and fruits. The DJ was pretty good. The bride's grandfather was this 80+ year old man who got up and danced everytime he got the chance. I danced a bit and caught up with some old friends. Abraham is a Miami Police Officer, so most of his guests were his fellow cop friends and their significant others.

After the reception, he invited the remaining guests up to the Lucille Ball and Dezi Arnez penthouse where he and his wife stayed until they went on their vacation. It was good getting to know some of his other friends, but ultimately it was time for me and my friends to party later that night... in Las Olas...
Abraham and Sarah Zuniga walking back down the aisle after saying their vows. Their daughter is the little girl in the pretty dress. Posted by Picasa
More glamor shots of us as we were late for the wedding anyway. Michelle's shoe broke. There was a major accident on I-95 and we got stuck in traffic, so getting there on time would've never have happened. Posted by Picasa
The wedding cake. The food at the buffet was awesome! It was breakfast food. Posted by Picasa
Abraham had invited quite a few of us from high school. Here's some of us. Posted by Picasa
Me and Michelle. Posted by Picasa
Me and Robert (another high school friend). Posted by Picasa
Michelle and Herman. Posted by Picasa
The view from Abraham and Sarah's honeymoon penthouse at the Eden Roc hotel. Posted by Picasa