Honey, I am home...

LA, where everybody is a "somebody", traffic is a day long event, and the most physical activity people get in a day comes from working their thumbs on their not-so-dumb cellular. Everything is so Hollywood-glam-d-list-famous. This is VERY different from what I am used to and not in a good way. BUT! (and this is a huge BUT) There is one thing that keeps me coming back for more; my people. (And for the record, this goes out to my Monterey folks, "my people" does not only refer to the substantial increase of Filipinos/Asians/Pacific Islanders...ya jerks!) My people are those I've rolled with for some time now, those I don't have to REconnect with because that connection was never lost, those I didn't see or speak with for months at a time but since coming back, it's as though those five years were just five minutes. They got me, like I got them.

So check this out, it was hard to let go of what I had in Monterey-a good boyfriend, great friends, and a beautiful environment. Moving back wasn't even my first choice. I was an emotional mess the few weeks leading up to the big move and my first week an a half in LA; it was a tough transition. Waking up in the back unit of my parents' house took some getting used to. No more Monterey. No more Wilson Court. How do you even begin to let go of someone, people, and a place, you don't want to get over? Ah. It WAS hard. BUT! (yes, there's that but again) what's the perfect cure to any hardship and guaranteed to fix any issue? FRIENDS & FAMILY!

It's been so long since I've been able to kick it in LA with homies...(like reallllllly kick it) kickin it like conversing over bossa novas, pick up ball at Brace, coffee table beer pong, wine night, and shot gunning bud lights with my girls (hahaha!), and just chilling...with people who just get me and where I am in life. Honey, I am home. You guys are exactly what the doctor ordered. Because of you, I am happy; I have let go of Monterey and all that it came with.

For real, the friends I've made over the years in MB are incredibly-over-the-top-shoot-for-the-moon-amazing and a piece of me still wants to be up there with them...but I know I made the right decision. Five years on the good 'ol Ord was enough for me. On to another challenge waiting to be conquered...after a quick stop in LA.

To my people in Monterey, distance means nothing. I know next time we meet we will hang like we used to, laugh like we used to, and party like we used to. I miss you guys. A lot. A lot.

To my people in LA, you keep me grounded. You keep things interesting and me on my toes. You are my best friends (in Janette's case, you are my partna in crime!). We have until October to do it up right...

I love you all, whether you are in LA or Monterey or somewhere in between. I got you.

-kj

Thailand Update

Dude, I don't know if I can get use to this whole blogging thing (as you can tell by the month of inactivity). I mean, it took some effort to sit and write this bad boy. But anyway, here's a quick update on Thailand:

Medical clearance. check.
Police clearance. check.
Personal statement. check.
Updated resume. check.
Final recommendation. check.

My part is done. All the needed documents were sent in and now all I have to do is sit, wait, and dream (yes, dream) about where I will be placed in Thailand. Ohhh imagine the possibilities!!! wanna know what I think about that? WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Holy geez, I, kj de jesus, will be going to Thailand to teach English for 5 months! How insane is that?! I made this happen! And I am not average! Ahhhhh.... Blogging does this feeling inside me no justice. Like at all.

Think of the feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you're walking towards the airplane door right before jumping out--you know it's the "holy-schnikes-what-the-eff-am-I-doing" type feeling. Then think of that feeling you get from hanging out with someone you're diggin' like the squishy feeling that makes you randomly smile. Then think of the feeling you get from getting an A in a class you worked your ass off. So mix all that craziness together and you can start to understand a little bit of how I'm feeling.

Bottom line: I feel pretty freaking amazing.

With all this waiting though, i feel like I'm going crazy. You know when you have an energy overload and just need to work out? Or when you're riding in a car that's going too slow and you just want to jump out and start running because you feel like you can run faster than the car? Yea, it's suffocating to be so close to Thailand and still have to wait.

Time to start thinking about what I'm going to bring and how I'm going to fit it all in a large sized day pack...hmmm...