January 26, 2017

  • Having children

    I recently saw a picture of a bunch of my elementary school friends getting together for lunch. All of them had babies/kids with them (is that why I wasn't invited?). I'm in my thirties now and, recently, I've been wondering about whether or not I will ever have children. The ticking biological clock is incessantly pressuring me to make a decision. "Decide now," it ticks, "or forever hold your peace."

    On the one hand, I wonder - if I choose not to have children, will I miss out on a human experience that others seem to love? Would my life somehow be less vivid, less complete? Would I miss out on the experience of learning how to be a mother, how to help a child grow up? Would I miss the transformation from a being that goes from something utterly dependent on me, to an independent, thoughtful being? Will I be lonely in my old age?

    On the other hand, I myself am also complete being. If I choose to have children - will I miss out on hiking, working, traveling, and car activities -
    things that I love to do? Would I lose out on being able to visit 50+ countries in the world, would I still be able to visit all the national parks? Will I miss out on amazing adventures? Will having children hurt my career? Will it be damaging to my health, my body?

    In a way, maybe it is not up to me in the end. Finding a person with whom to have a child with is not so easy either.

May 5, 2012

  • 2012

    Year in Pictures (so far)
    1. Traveling to Singapore, Bangladesh, and Vietnam

    Singapore! :)

    Food in Singapore

    Bangladesh

    Food in Bangladesh - in a country where 49% of the population lives below the national poverty line
    More about Bangladesh soon...

    Vietnam :)

    Food in Vietnam
    2. Finishing off First Year B-School

    3. Marrying the most amazing man I've ever met. :)
    (Hand-drawn by my husband!) :)

    4. Getting an internship at the UN :)

June 21, 2011

  • California Travels

    Point Reyes National Shoreline

    Death Valley National Park
    Artist's Palette

    View from Dante's Peak - on a clear day, you can see the lowest point (Badwater) and the highest point (Mt. Whitney)

    Sequoia National Park
    Finally... a full-body photo of me - and the Giant Sequoia :)

    King's Canyon

    Morro Rock

    Sierra Nevada Mountains

    June Lake

    Mono Lake

    And this was all within the same week in California!! :)

June 20, 2011

  • Hawai'i Update #1

    How lucky I am, to be a part of this amazing energy group.  My group-mates are all incredibly bright and talented; I'm impressed by their inquisitive minds, keen insights, and sharp questions. Yale picks good people.  Honestly, I often wonder how the hell I got selected.

    I'm on the Big Island of Hawai'i now - the island of active volcanoes, breathtaking waterfalls, lush rainforests, and pristine beaches. I have met a few people on the island; and I think that what makes this island so special is everyone's hospitality and kindness.  The other day, I took a quick stroll through the neighborhood, and everywhere I turned, neighbors waved at me and shouted "aloha!"

    That said, not everything in life is perfect. I feel a little out of my element here.  I'm working in the energy field, something I know little about, so there's a steep learning curve for me.  The gorgeous 4-bedroom house that we live in is constantly being invaded by roaches, ants, maggots (??), geckos, and other odd insects (this has actually been more entertaining than a real annoyance).  And then there's a certain someone that I miss a lot...

April 29, 2011

  • Summer Plans

    1. Working in Northern California from May 10th through June 13th

    2. Working in Hawai'i from June 14th through August 9th; Developing the State's Energy Plan

    3. Business School begins August 10th :)

January 14, 2011

  • Cancun, Mexico

    UNFCCC COP16 :)

    I have a bunch more that all look like this... I spent hours here:

    Brazil Pavilion (My favorite pavilion)

    Shop inside Cancun Messe

    The Hotel :)

    Food..

December 9, 2010

  • Cool Stuff :)

    Greetings from Cancun, Mexico! :) I'm writing to you from the UN Climate Change Conference! :)

    It has been such an incredible experience here.
    I:
    - Had a 1-on-1 dinner with the Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat (UNEP) :) He was extremely encouraging and inspirational. :)
    - Saw Ban-Ki-Moon and the President of Mexico in person! :)
    - Did my B-school interview remotely today. :) I memorized 50 questions and answers, did 8 practice interviews... and she still managed to pop a question on me that I didn't know the answer to. :p  After thinking for 20 seconds, I think I answered it well.  (I hope).  I'll find out on December 16th... :)  

    On the negative side...
    I'm being eaten alive by bugs!! Over 20 bug bites. Ugh. :p Hope they aren't bed bugs...

November 21, 2010

  • From the dying...

    Bronnie Ware works in pallitative care -- with patients near the end of their life. In this post, she writes powerfully about the the top regrets that have surfaced again and again from her patients on their death beds. I've pasted the list of five below.

    1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

    This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

    It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

    2. I wish I didn't work so hard.

    This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

    By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

    3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

    Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

    We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

    4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

    Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

    It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

    5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

    This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice.  They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

    When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

    From: http://ben.casnocha.com/2010/11/regrets-of-the-dying.html#comments

November 8, 2010

November 2, 2010

  • Love data? Check this out :)

    When do people break up during the year?
    How much is African debt?
    How big is our military budget?

    Check out his Left/Right map here: http://infobeautiful2.s3.amazonaws.com/leftright_EU_1416.gif