Savor the Moment.

Julio (or Johnny as he's affectionately known) and I

The scary thing about the scary tanning was that it worked. This picture was taken the day after I went tanning. In 12 minutes I got as dark as I usually do going out to the Thousand Islands (In Indonesia) for a weekend. I wouldn't recommend religious tanning though, if you want to keep looking young. There's also that little problem called cancer (just ask my Grandfather, who has monthly trips to the Dermatologist). Props to those of you who are OK with who you are, and how you look like.

Danie and El Espantoso posing together for my documentation.

This adventure begins one sleepy Saturday afternoon, with my darling twin sister Danielle citing severe psychological trauma from the lack of sun (well, we do live in Seattle). Since the skies were overcast, sunning herself at a sun salon seemed like the next best logical choice. Guess who she wanted to drag along.

Now, I have never tanned in my life, and the idea of sitting in a hot glass coffin didn't sound too pleasant, but I went along for the ride anyway. Danie and I haven’t spent enough time together, and I figured it would be a good “quality bonding experience”. Not so much.

The monstrosity posted above is a top-of-the-line Italian tanning station, apparently the black diamonds of the tanning line, instead of the bunny trail I was anticipating. It closes automatically, whirrs and blinks, and has some computer-animated voice greet you and asks you to relax. It got extremely hot in their, and sweating on glass isn’t the most comfortable experience. Additionally, the light emitted by the contraption was a neon-purple…

That was the first, and most likely the last experience I will have in a tanning salon. Besides, I’m ok in my own skin, even though I inherited more of my father’s whiteness than I bargained for.

I have realized that many important events in my life have occured privious to this blog's creation. I will try to update everyone on these events by backtracking a little bit.

Don't be surprized if I don't go in order, life it seems is not quite linear to me.
Riani

For those of you who don't know, I'm a senior at the University of Washington in Seattle, graduating from the Jackson School of International Studies. As seniors, we are all required to take a course called Taskforce. With 15 other peers, policy recommendations on particular subject for the US government or international institutions are researched and written. (I did policy recommendations for the World Bank.) The 300-500 page report is then sent to an expert (suspiciously from around the Seattle area on many accounts) who then administers a defense.

With such hoop-lah, you would think that Taskforce was awesome. Talking to many though, it was not a "course to remember". Our Prof barely made it to class, failed to read our papers and generally provided mediocre leadership and guidance. Thankfully, I had the privilege of working with a fantastic group of individuals who supported each other.

After the defense, all of the taskforces (I think there were 10) get together for a formal dinner... The photo above was taken after the dinner at a pub which the Jackson School overtook, where drinks and merriment were accompanied by laughter.

The lovely ladies in the picture above have been my peers since I first started at the UW . Vanja, to my left is Croatian, Monique to my right is Thai-American and Debbie to my extreme right is Zambian. Extra points to those who can locate all three countries on a map. =)

Below, is a picture of my taskforce after the dinner.

So I managed to drag Andy along for spring break in Florida, a much needed sun-break from winter-weary Seattle. (Rain, rain, rain).

This picture was taken on South Beach in Miami, FL. It was a beautiful day out, not a cloud in the sky. It was also, incredebly HOT.

We managed to visit my grandparents, my friends from highschool as well as my amazing neighbors. We attended an easter egg hunt (with money in the eggs, I racked up $55 worth of eggs) and a night out playing mini-golf with highschool friends.
Andy & I: Southbeach, Miami FL

Florida was still covered with blue roofs, evidence that the area still had not recovered from the Hurricanes of last season. In fact, easter dinner over at Zack Smith's house co-incided with roofing day. Zack's mom, Paula shrugged the whole thing off and said "what do I say, come back later? We've been waiting 4 months." Others in the country don't realize the extent of the damage, or the depth of the desruption of daily life. I am thankful that we live in a Hurricane-free environment (says the girl in Mt. St. Helens backyard.)

Going back to Florida was a chapter closer for me, it was a way to see my grandparents and come to terms with the events of my childhood. The town was too small, the school not challenging... I know that I belong elsewhere, but am thankful for the positive experiances that had occured.

My AP Environmental Science teacher taught me about passion for life and learning and my guidance counciler paid for my graduation gown when I couldn't afford it. My friends who would wake me at 6am on Saturday morning to watch the sunrise over the beautiful blue ocean, or the parents who took me in as their own.

If there is anything that I have learned, and hopefully will never forget, is that there is good everywhere you go. Just open your hearts to it, and love will find its way.

Zack and I the night we went to play mini-golf. It was one of the most fun nights I've ever had. There's something about getting the people you care about together, and just being able t0 hang out, goof off and relax. With so many people in our group playing, we were able to break off in little groups and enjoy each other's company. Here is a picture of Zack and I, which I love. Zack is a friend from highschool, who came back to Indonesia with me in 1999. He's grounded and dry-humored, and I'm so glad we got to see each other again.

My girls and I, Christmas 2004 at the Townsend's

When I first moved to Washington, I spent the first Christmas by myself. My boyfriend at the time went to Australia to be with his family and all my roommates went home for the holidays. I was alone, in my apartment for four whole days feeling sorry for myself. I vowed I would never experience such a miserable Christmas again, at least, when it was in my control.

The next year, my father invited me to spend Christmas with him in Canada... It would be the first time I saw him in 5 years. I found out a little later that I would actually spend Christmas with my step-mother and step-brother (who I have never met) before he would arrive a couple of days later. Hmmmmmmm.

I called Christopher Townsend, a guy I met in the dorms who I don't have any relation to (even though we have the same last name, almost). I pleaded him to take me in for the holidays, like a bedraggled puppy with no home. Chris did, and I had a wonderful time. It was the beginning of a tradition, something I have had to grow accustomed to. The next Christmas I came over to wrap presents on Christmas Eve, and the next Christmas, my sisters had moved to the States.

The Townsends took the Townshends in, and we had a wonderful time. There were lots of sleeping involved, roaring fires and fresh pumpkin pie. There were warm hugs and personal conversations, chocolate chip cookies and lots and lots presents, for everyone. Christmas to me has become memories at the Townsend’s house, of laughter and of love. We went to Church, and sat together at pew, listening to the bell choir. As I looked to my left and right, I finally realized what I had been missing. Family.

For the first time in five years, I felt like I belonged. My sisters were in touching distance, my surrogate family by my side. With a smile on my face, and tear in my eye, I could finally rest, feeling fulfilled and happy.

I added some more photos from Christmas to share.


Danie dropped like a flea after Christmas dinner


Chris dropped like a flea after Christmas dinner


Sarah upstaging me during our posing


Sarah and Estelle, getting pretty in the Bathroom


Estelle, Sarah and I after opening presents early Christmas morning

Ahhh the Canadian's! Wonderfully happy and content people, living it up in the frozen north! Did you know that 90% of all Canadian's live within 100 miles of the US border? I don't think it has anything to do with us (they would rather be far away from us, I think) but the weather factor. Vancouver, Canada is actually Andrew's first taste of freedom from American soil! This posting is all about our frozen adventures with our friendly northern neighbors.

If you take out a map of North America, you will see that Seattle is only a mere 2 1/2 hours away from the Canadian border. Andy, up until Christmas 2004 had NEVER left Uncle Sam's back yard. As a girl who had her passport years before a credit card or checkbook, I decided his lack of travel needed to change. Although deep down inside, Canada doesn't really count as "foreign territory", it was a good (and cheap) place to start. We drove up in the morning, with tasty Starbucks Christmas Peppermint Mocha's in hand, commenting on the beautiful “Seattle” weather (crappy and overcast) and traffic (bumper to bumper all the way up to Everett). But, we did take a detour, just south of Bellingham (about ½ hour from the border) there's a scenic road worth taking, which winds up Puget Sound's coastline, presenting beautiful views...

Andrew took the time to shoot photos of me with the great backdrop, but more importantly...

The snaking roads that only a car enthusiast would care to take pictures of. Not that I'm jealous or anything, of inanimate, man-made constructions... =)

So we make it to the border, and are disappointed with the lack of Canadian Mounties. Only grumpy boarder guards, who grumps are surpassed only by the American ones on the way home.

I've been to Vancouver many times, but never during Christmas... How beautiful it was! The lights among the trees, the garlands affixed on every streetlamp... The crazy street performers in their full regalia…

(Exhibit A: Gold man with Santa Hat - moved like a robot when money is dropped in gold box).

We went to Canada initially for Andy's sake, but also to get away from the American Christmas Craze. We didn't do so well; we ended up buying nothing but a pair of flannel pajama pants from Old Navy. Could have gone down the street and saved a bunch of money on gas, and tax (Canada has a 14% sales tax). But those crazy Canadians know how to enjoy their shopping around Christmas time! There were garlands and wreaths along the walkways, lights among the trees and plenty of entertainment along the way. One of the malls hosted life-sized toys, which moved when a donation is made to the box for the children’s hospital.

Below is a toy soldier, one of the many toys found strewn across the mall. There were also Ballerinas, Geishas and Cowboys.

The Starbucks was also an interesting phenomena. Notice the one ACROSS THE STREET in downtown, busy Vancouver. The scariest thing about it, I believe, is the fact that Starbucks can afford to keep both open. In Seattle alone, there are close to 500 Starbucks Stores within the city limits. Watch out Mc Donald’s!

Across the street was a department store which also joined in to the Crazy Christmas Spirit. Andy and I spotted this cool chick at a cosmetics counter. How Las Vegas Show Girls ended up in the frozen north I don’t know… But they were getting all the boy’s attention. And you know how much makeup boys like to buy.

Andy and I also found some pretty cool backgrounds for photos - among them a giant red spring and a multi-colored playground apparatus. There are some of my fave pictures that Andy took.