Someone I met today is someone I already kind of know.
He owns a restaurant I frequent, and today he seemed a little snappier than usual. I know he had a death in the family recently. Death changes people, and sometimes the person you meet isn't quite the same as the person you knew before.
Someone I met today has his own business. That's pretty standard for a lot of people I meet... Although, after talking with him today, I just wonder what you expect from customers when you're the business owner... And how that differs when you're on the customer side.
I suppose there's some cognitive dissonance around what your expectations are for yourself vs. what they are for other people.
When we decided to make the trip, it was kind of a spur of the moment. It all started with us looking through my former coworker's Iceland pictures... And a look at this Airbnb.
To be clear, we went around booking the vacation a little backwards, maybe because we were set on going to see the Northern Lights as a result of the Airbnb. In fact, we ended up booking the Airbnb first because it was what we fell in love with first. I won't review it here though, it'll come up as I blog in the coming posts.
It took us a few months of planning, and through our discussions we kind of amassed the following tools and tips to help us out.
If you use gmail as your primary email, you probably know it scans your emails to give you targeted ads. If you didn't already know that, you know it now. The reason this feature is nice is because Google Trips is an app that consolidates as much of your trip information as possible based on your emails. It also recommended nearby attractions and offered an offline map of the city (if available). It has some other tabs, which we didn't use as much because of the following.
Meet Google Trips. It's designed to give you everything you need to have the best vacation, right at your fingertips. Fill each day of your trip with fun activities you love without all the work. Go with Google Trips, available now on Android (https://goo.gl/XJEJjZ) and iOS (https://goo.gl/8ATFCy).
Google Maps is great, especially if you do most of your planning on a computer. You can create maps with your own landmarks, indicators, and share it with people. It was really nice to be able to whip the phone out and see what was nearby without having to look at a list first. The map was the list. Google Maps and Google Trips don't speak very well to each other, and it's a little clunky when it comes to sharing it. We relied heavily on this while planning what we wanted to do, and used it while we were trying to find something new to do in NYC.
I love Hawaiian Airlines. I like the service and I'm generally willing to pay the premium on their tickets because of it. Since I like flying them so much, and because they do a lot of direct flights from major cities, I signed up for their promotional emails. I also encourage people who want to fly with them or are looking for good sales to sign up for it.
Hopper is an app that monitors flight fares across all airlines. Promotional emails are good, but something monitoring them for you is better. You can set dates in the app, and scroll through different months to be able to see the trends throughout the year. This is a little bit more convenient because you'll get notifications instead of checking your spam folder. This was how we knew when to score our $800 tickets, round-trip, direct flights to NYC... on Hawaiian.
Neither of us have been somewhere cold. Ever. We used OneNote to keep track of our flight itineraries, Known Traveler Numbers, budgets, research on cold weather, checklists, you name it. It's easy to share, and available on literally any platform.
$80 for 5 years? Why not? It's useful if you're flying domestically. You could also do Global Traveler, which I hear is a little bit more stringent and costs more. Either way, it becomes easier to travel through TSA without all the nonsense about liquids and shoes and computers. I'd give yourself at least 3 months before your intended travel dates, just in case it takes a while. I think it only takes about 6 weeks but better safe than sorry.
Youtube makes it to the list because it helped me stay excited for the trip. 9 months is a long time to be planning something, and the time equivalent to having a baby. Youtubing things people like to do, see, eat... Or maybe things you want to do, see, and eat will help you get an idea of whether or not the experience is one you want.
Tam used a referral with Lyft to get $5 off our first 10 rides. Definitely a good deal around the city, especially since we used it less than that! Sign up before or after your flight to maximize the time limit they have on you redeeming your referral promotion.
I think something that helped our vacation was my willingness to ask my former coworker what he did. People are generally willing to answer questions. The most anyone will ever say to you is no (or some equivalent to it), so ask away!
I think that's about it for our preparation. Other apps came up, but I'll get to that since it's a large part of our storytelling. It might be boring, but is totally necessary to having tons of fun!
While writing my Someone I Met blog, I realized I didn't really have a place to explain what my vacation was like... And my what future vacations are going to be like.
I've decided to make a page detailing the process as much as possible because it'll be awesome!
It won't be updated as much, but I do like sharing what I do on vacation!
Someone I met today is a work acquaintance.
We work together occasionally and we met for lunch. I sometimes worry about hanging out with people outside our normal setting because it can sometimes be date-ish. That was not the case.
We ended up speaking about the Growth Mindset and what training tools and strategy he can use with students. The conversation also glazed over the differences between non-profit and for-profit schools, and the ideological differences between the two.
Overall it was a good conversation. To me it was weird, because I've never had a professional contact before that I've cultivated on my own! Yay me!
Someone I met today works for the military police.
He was bald and clean cut, wearing a black polo and khaki pants. We were walking around and talking when he shared he had just finished work. It explained the slippers I saw him wearing... Which revealed a his deep, glittery, purple toenails.
"Do you paint your toenails yourself?"
"No way! I have someone else do it."
"Huh, I guess my dad likes pedicures too. Although, he doesn't like when they massage it because it tickles."
"Yeah... I don't like the scrubber."
My dad always says to look at people's toenails. It's the last thing most people think about cleaning, and they often forget. I can tell you though, this guy definitely didn't forget.
Someone I met today... Is someone I didn't.
I guess I've never talked about my missed opportunities in meeting people, but it happens. Today, Beth Fukumoto rolled into the store. I watched her interact with someone and leave, feeling that I missed my opportunity.
I'm really in awe of this woman because she reads to me like a true moderate, which is something I feel as well. I think it's unfortunate that her desire for change is being punished, and that there are people who are less likely to compromise and work together for a better outcome.
I admire her bravery considering how heavily criticized she has been and knew she would be. Changing your mind or admitting your mistakes in a public space is a scary thing to do and she did it.
I just kind of wish I had said something like wow, you're great, and I admire that.
Someone I met today enjoys the heat.
He was a young military guy with a slow southern drawl.
"Are you in the military?"
"Where are you from?"
"Louisiana."
"How do you like it here?"
"I love it here. I like that it's warm. I went to training in Connecticut once and it was so cold and I HATED it."
Fair enough. I hate the cold too.
Someone I met today works at a bank.
I was volunteering at the Salt Lake Elementary School and started talking to another volunteer. She was there for her bank, and shared she does commercial loans there.
Turns out she has 3 sons and one of them moved home recently. We discussed family and how it isn't the same when everyone isn't around. I told her I felt the same way about my family, and she wondered if it was just a Hawaii thing.
I told her it wasn't, and shared stories of people I've met who do the same thing as us here.
I think it's relieving to know what you're doing really isn't weird.
Someone I met today asked me about product rumors.
I don't mind these conversations because I usually don't know. Though, it is nice to see people with enthusiasm for things I have to sell.
I mean honestly, I haven't been meeting that many interesting people recently. Though, I still try.
Someone I met today is a relative of my friend.
In short, it's can be surprising to see someone look a lot different from what you expect.
The fear of losing something you love is paralyzing, isn't it?
It's any wonder people live knowing that anything could happen... And while I know that isn't much of a life, there are people out there living it.
I hope that doesn't become me.
Someone I met today works at my favorite sushi place every, Izakaya Gaku.
She's the main waitress there and she's always super friendly. We don't go often, but every time we go, I put a list of what we want on a iPhone note so she can copy it. Every time we do it, she thinks it's the best idea ever.
It's mostly because I don't want to forget something I've ordered. I was kind of really hungry, so posting my food on IG was a low priority. Here's a pic of their sashimi platter from two years ago.
Someone I met today is passionate about his job.
We met on a conference call I had for work, going over his structure for a training program he implemented. Like I said the other week, I'm always impressed by people who are so passionate about what they do.
I'm also impressed by people who are so brave and just go for things. I find that I don't always have that in me in my professional life, so it's a trait I admire.
Someone I met today... Was into shoes.
His friend was buying a computer for his mom, and he said nice shoes. I was wearing my Adidas NMD_XR1s.
Turns out, we were all wearing Adidas branded shoes. If you haven't gotten a chance, I definitely recommend this Buzzfeed writeup on the creative director. It was good at communicating the growth mindset that the company has.
Someone I met today was buying a new computer.
It was her birthday recently, and her husband was buying her a new computer. It was a completely family affair, because she texted her daughter once the transaction was done. Her daughter immediately responded:
We were gonna get that for you!!!
Turns out the dad was one step ahead of the daughter because she's away. Anyhow, I was helping them set up the computer. The husband was making his password hint: soup.
The password? Papaya. Because he likes chicken papaya soup, which is totally what my dad makes when I'm sick.
Someone I met today runs a juice stand.
Khara and I went to the KCC Farmer's Market for breakfast. She makes this really great mango lemonade that tastes amazing... She also has this other juice that has lychee and rose. I don't know if that would be any good.
What's interesting about her stand is that it's very bohemian and has lots of beautiful and bright prints and colors. What's also interesting is that she is probably around 70 years old. It's cool she does something on the weekends, and is so pleasant about it every time.
Someone I met today was a flight attendant.
Well, last time I said Hawaiian Airlines has great flight attendants. This time, not so great. They just seem agitated throughout the flight and I wasn't super thrilled about that... Although to be fair, I accidentally kicked one of them as she woke me up to eat.
When we were landing, we asked for different forms, and a different guy was like, "If you can share headphones, you can share a form."
RUDE. We don't have the same household, but they didn't say per party. How the hell am I supposed to know the difference?
Anyway, was not impressed that day.
Someone I met today works in construction management.
We were visiting the Oculus at the World Trade Center Memorial. We were standing over the lobby and observing the architecture. A man in construction clothing sneaks up next to us with his camera watching the shadows on the floor.
"You know, if you wait long enough, you'll be able to see the shadows on the ground. With 9/11, It's one of only two times in the year that it does that."
"Oh, because of the equinoxes and change in daylight."
"Yeah, let's hope the clouds clear up, it should happen at 10:28am."
We watched the movement of people across the floor and looked up at the ceiling to check the clouds every few seconds.
"What do you think of the kiosks?"
"The ones on the bottom? I think that they're ok, but I think that one of them. Specifically that one, throws off the symmetry of the whole building."
"Did you study architecture?"
"No, just art history."
"Oh, sounds like you did."
We continued chatting, and it turns out this guy immigrated from Guyana and grew up in NYC. He eventually got his degree in construction management, and has been on the construction committee for the memorial site since 2002. That's why he knew that about the shadows.
He left us eventually. As we watched people from across the Oculus, it was insane to think how few of them would know what the light on the ground represents.
Someone I met today is a photographer.
He mostly shoots dance competitions for the young to teen range. We talked about how dancers are so fun to watch, but he shared this gem.
"Sometimes you see stuff, and you're like yeah, I've seen this before."