My Journey in Plymouth

one year ago today...

2009-07-23T09:03:00.030-04:00

A year ago I packed up my life and temporarily said good-bye to some of my favorite things in California.....my family (parents + 2 brothers), the cutest grandparents, my aunts + uncles + cousins, my Godparents, my friends and roommates, APU, Inn-n-out, Crestview, the shopping malls, Disneyland, Carne Asada burritos, Tijuana, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Bonfires at Corona Del Mar, Camp Ronald McDonald Camp sessions, laying in the shade by the pool with Kelly, going to Chapel with the gang, doing the wanda dance.....a chapter in my life had come to an end and a new one began....What in Massachusetts would become the things I love and cherish?

One year later and I can say that I have loved every challenge, opportunity and memory from being in Plymouth.

Here are some of the highlights of the year in chronological order:

1. Moving into my apartment and meeting my roommate, Jenny.

2. Dan, a friend from APU, came to visit me my first weekend in Plymouth! We went to the beach and had a relaxing time! I am so glad I met this guy in my last year at APU. He made Senior Seminar a class to remember.

Dave Gable (a fellow Kiwanian) and his wife, Millicent came to Boston for a visit and the 4 of us went to Park St. Church and then ate at the Cheers Restaurant. : )

3. Then Randall and Joyce (friends from APU) stopped to visit good ol' Plymouth. We had a great time catching up on our time spent overseas.

4. David, my boss, bought me an IPhone! woOhoo!

5. Taking a little break and going to NYC with Peggy Campbell, Jan Waggoner and Phil Brazell (Friends from APU). I am not sure any vacation can top this adventure we had.

6. My first Fall! Me, David, Peter, and Steve (co-workers) explored Cornish, NH (home of J.D. Salinger) and Woodstock, VT. It was such a great trip! I love fall foliage!

7. Philadelphia Love! I ventured to Philly to see Sara (my college roommate) and Mr. Barack Obama. It was soooo good to see Sara again!!

* My roommate, Christina, from Boston lives outside Philly with her husband. I am so glad I got to see her!

*On this same trip, I visited Grace and her baby, Olivia. Grace was my Bible Study teacher when I first became a Christian in 9th grade. Wow!

8. Nicole Chin, friend from APU, came and visited me! It was so nice to spend some quality time with this girl! She's my Asian sistah from APU!

9. November--(first time home since the move) My mom's birthday and my cousin, Lina, married the wonderful Denny. It was a beautiful wedding!

*Brittany Sheldon and Blake Heal got married on the same day and so Phil, Lisa and I went together! It was definitely an APU reunion!

10. On my way back to Boston, Megan came to visit me during Thanksgiving! We had such a blast doing the Pilgrim Walk on Thanksgiving and going to the Plimoth Plantation.

*On black Friday, Megan and I went to NYC for the day and did some shopping!

11. Christmas vacation came and I got to spend 2 weeks with loved ones. For Christmas, I went to Las Vegas with the family, then afterwards hung out with family, h.s. friends, and college friends. We made amazing memories at the beach and went to Disneyland to celebrate Kristine's birthday. I took a boat ride around Newport Beach with Phil and the Campbell clan. It was a jammed pack 2 weeks!

*New Year's with the Lizarraga family. The best New Year's of my life! I hope we can do it again!

*I even made a pit stop to Houston, TX to send some relatives love! : ) This was the greatest vacation ever!

12. When I arrived back to Boston, I was welcomed with love from Ben Helms (APU Brother) and Emily Tiller (roommate from Boston). It was just so refreshing coming back to Massachusetts and being with these two friends!

13. Valentine's Day and Sara Juell's Birthday (Roommate from college) came to visit me with her fiance, Noah (my college RA). It was such a fun weekend of exploring P-town and Boston. You can always expect some kind of inappropriate or randomness when you're with Sara. She makes me look so incredibly normal. I love it!

13. Wild nights at Hanabi dancing to Ken Monteiro's Band -- Too Loud. Good times!

14. Sara Strawhun (College Roommate) finally came to visit me. She came to see me right around my birthday. I enjoyed being a crazy weirdo with her. We decided to drink a Sam Adams beer across from his grave. I can't wait to go to Miami with this girl soon!

15. Ashley McCarthy and I went to see Britney Spears in concert at the Garden in the 5th row. It was absolutely amazing! It was soo good that I am going again in a couple of weeks with Jess Horton. Only this time, I'll be on the floor. : )

16. Kristine Arquero (My H.S. BFF) stopped by Boston for a few short days and we got to get together for delicious italian food in the North End. I can't wait to visit you in NYC.

17. Easter Weekend! My two brothers came to visit their big sister. I had a great time with my brothers. We ate a ton of food, went to the movies, shopped and just relaxed. I love you guys!!

18. Trish and Taylor-- seriously my other half. No one will ever understand my goofiness and my lack of movie knowledge like Threesh. I have been friends with this crazy girl since the 7th grade and I have some of my best memories growing up with her. Trish-- As we get older, some obsessions never change. Thanks for keeping me true to my roots and fetishes. haha

19. Vietnamese Alliance Church-- This church has shaped me in more ways than I can even count. The selflessness, the support, the generosity of those in this church is astounding. Every time I am with this group, I feel at home. God has blessed me so much in bringing me to this church. I am so thankful for the friends I have here. Here is some of the group at the beach on Cape Cod.

20. This same group did "Walk for Hunger" in Boston and walked 15 miles (I think). We did an awesome thing for a great cause.

21. Mother's Day Weekend-- I flew home and surprised my Mom for Mother's Day. She was really shocked! The long flights were so worth surprising my Mom and family. My Mom and Dad were so helpful in helping me to move to Massachusetts so without hesitation I booked a flight home to spend some time with my Mama.

22. A friend of mine, Melissa, whom I met on the first day I moved to Plymouth, got married. An Tran, a friend from church, came as my date to the wedding and was just so charming, I couldn't resist him. He later became my boyfriend. Isn't he just so stinkin' cute?!

24. Best Buddies Hyannis Port Challenge was by far the hardest physical activity I have ever done. Without the encouragement of my teammates and David, I would have never made it! This was one of the most rewarding events I have ever participated in! I hope to do it again next year!

*Thanks to friends and family, I raised over $2,500 for Best Buddies International and got my picture taken with Chair of the event, Tom Brady of the N.E. Patriots.

25. Producers Guild of America Conference in Los Angeles. Part of the team flew to LA for a little adventure. Here we were on the Red Carpet at Paramount Studios Kick-off Party for the conference.

*Since I was already at home, I stayed a little bit longer and hung out with friends and family. It was also my brother Alex's birthday. : )

26. From LA, I flew to Redding to be in Sara and Noah's wedding. What a wedding. It was so relaxing and fun being with Sara and the wedding party. It was such an honor being a part of her wedding. I can't believe I cried so much!

27. After being away for so long, my boyfriend, An missed me so much that we went and spent time in Newport, RI. I'd say it was his favorite trip ever. ; ) It wasn't the greatest trip, but it was very memorable.

28. The next wedding...Kelly Fladager and Chris Teitzel got married! This wedding was packed with excitement. We partied and celebrated this union from the moment we all landed in Seattle to the second we left. Seeing Kelly in her dress left me speechless. She was a beautiful bride. : )

29. 4th of July in DC with An and his family. When I think of the weekend trip to Washington DC, I think of laughter, music, and banh bot loc. : ) I had more fun than I thought possible. I really enjoy every moment with him and his family and can't wait for what the future holds.

*Me and An sat in front of the Washington Monument watching fireworks. I love fireworks!

This has been a snapshot of the past year of living on the East Coast and my adventures around the country. God is good and he continues to stretch me everyday. He is and has been so faithful.

My verse of the year was Isaiah 26:3-4 "You keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Stepping out in faith and trusting God and moving 3,000 miles away from my former home has led me to who I am today. : ) Trusting God has been the best thing I have ever done and I will continue to do so the rest of my days.

I hope to update again soon. : )

life...

2009-02-20T13:57:00.002-05:00

So life continues and my journey continues here in Plymouth. I had a great past weekend and Valentine's Day. Sara and Noah came out to visit me and we got to experience some of the best parts of Massachusetts. I loved exploring Provincetown, Boston and Plymouth with them. We had a great weekend with a lot of food, laughter, scratchers, and movies! We watched 4 movies (The Visitor, Milk, Vicky Christina Barcelona, and 7 Pounds.) Seven LB's was my least favorite of them all.

As for work, it continues to be ever so changing. I love the group dynamic and the challenges of a start-up company. The best part of my job are the random calls from different investors that are so simply divine appointments from God. Today I received a call from an individual with a particular question and by the end of it she was sharing a verse she had read and encouraged me with which is Proverbs 16:9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

I read Ephesians 4 this morning, "lead a life worthy of the calling, for you have been called by God." I do feel like I am living a life that I've been called to and that's a big deal considering I've always been afraid to take risks and to be on my own.

....more to come later. The Oscars are this weekend!

Winter in the East!

2009-01-05T18:18:00.008-05:00

Working at Plymouth Rock Studios and living on the East coast has simply been eye-opening! Nothing anyone told me could have prepared me for my first winter in Plymouth.

Snow is here all the time and I have come to embrace it! Snow makes life a bit more exciting and challenging, but if it is here, I simply must enjoy it!

So with my new wardrobe and my new adventures, I am ready for the winter (as best as I know how)...here are a few of my snow pictures!

Right before Christmas break, some people at work worked hard in the snow storm to put up the Hollywood East sign on our property at Plymouth Rock Studios.

The picture could have been seen in Times Square during the Christmas season!

This is me standing next to the sign! It was awesome! Before I moved to Plymouth, my friend Sara and Kyle hiked up to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. I never would have imagined the opportunity to be standing next to the Hollywood East sign in Plymouth!

This is the fun shot! This is a picture of Steve, Me, and David jumping by the sign! The snow made this picture so much cooler than if it were in the desert. Snow is a good thing and I look forward to the adventures ahead on the East!

For more pictures and videos, check out my page at www.HollywoodEastTV.com or click

http://www.hollywoodeasttv.com/video/video/listForContributor?screenName=11eqw35yf6lpn

Lifeeee...

2008-11-16T16:11:00.002-05:00

It is so hard to find the words to describe the past few weeks. It's getting colder and I am beginning to miss home a lot more. I miss my familia, the variety of food, home cooked meals, friends, church, school, APU, driving on freeways, nice weather, homework, studying, learning, chapel, familiar grocery stores, sharing a room with two other girls and the list goes on...

As times get challenging, I am reminded of God's steadfast love he has for his children. In every life situation, God seems to rise above it all. Every challenged I faced in life has been a reminder for me to continue to persevere in present challenges.

The fires in Orange County hit really close to home. My Dad and my brothers had to put out fires in our backyard and in our neighborhood. We might not have had our home if it were not for their heroic efforts! It is times like these that I wish I were closer to home so that I could be with my family. Thankfully, I have a trip planned home for this coming weekend. I am so excited and stoked to be coming home.

Weekend in Philadelphia!

2008-10-13T23:23:00.005-04:00

After a crazy work week, I hopped in a car with a friend and drove to Philadelphia for the three day Columbus weekend. I got in to Philadelphia on Friday night and then on Saturday morning, me, Sara and a few of her TFA friends went to the Obama Rally in North Philly. It was an awesome experience to be in the presence of a Presidential candidate.

The next day I got some lunch with Christina (my roommate from Boston when I went to Gordon College) and Sara at Race Street Cafe.

Finally, before I left the city, I visited Grace and Olivia. Grace Lee was my bible study teacher when I was freshman/sophomore year of high school. It was awesome to be with her and her baby girl!

The past month!

2008-10-05T23:52:00.007-04:00

I can't believe I have not posted in nearly a month. So much has happened this past month that I cannot begin to even explain it all. I still love what I do and look forward to work every single day. I didn't think I could love the work that I do and the people I work with more than I do at this very moment, but I really do!

This past weekend-- David, Steve, Peter and I took a road trip to Cornish, New Hampshire and to various parts of Vermont. We stayed in a very nice bed and breakfast and enjoyed every museum in the area. I continually learn more about them and their heart and passion for the company. It is truly awesome.

This is a photo of me and David at a Cracker Barrel in New Hampshire. He wanted me to take a picture of all the old people on the rockers outside of Cracker Barrel, but instead I took one of us.

The Fall Foliage in the Fall is absolutely amazing and breath taking. I had never seen fall foliage before! I had always been in California in the fall and for the first time I got to experience fall foliage. What an experience!!!

J.D. Salinger, author of The Catch in the Rye, lives in Cornish, NH so the four of us drove to his house and dropped off a note. This is us on his driveway. I felt like a stalker!

We drove through some covered bridges in New Hampshire and Vermont. It was so cool! It reminded me of the bridge I went through in Penn Valley, CA. : )

That is Peter, he is the Executive Director of Operations. We live in the same condo complex. He is my carpooling buddy. This picture is taken in front of the bed and breakfast.

Here is a picture of the three boys I went with to Cornish, NH. I definitely had a great time with the three of them.

This is David in front of J.D. Salinger's mailbox.

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The weekends before, I watched these two crazy kids. We spent some time hanging out in the city and also watching movies and eating junk food. I love them! They moved out here from Orange County the same time I moved out here. I work with their dad! They are my family in Plymouth.

Then last weekend, we had the studio board meeting. I helped host the weekend festivities. There were 13 of us that dined in Boston and then saw the musical "A Chorus Line." It's been a very full, fun, full-filling month here in Plymouth.

I look forward to the coming days and can't wait for everything that lies ahead. Life is good. No one told me that being an adult would be so challenging, but nonetheless, prayer, family, friends, and church has gotten me thus far. God is good.

My Weekend : )

2008-09-07T21:10:00.004-04:00

On Friday, a few of us from work took a trip to the Brimfield Fair. It is one of the country's largest antique places to shop. It comes around three times a year and covers about 50 acres of land.

This is Doug and Mel! I had a lot of fun shopping with them.

This is very New England.

This is a picture of me and my boss, David. We have fun!

This is me at the end of the day. I was tired! Brimfield Fair 2008 was a success!

On Saturday, I went to a work dinner party. It was so nice to be with my co-workers in a fun and relaxing environment.

On Sunday, David, Thom and his wife went to church with me. : ) I had a great weekend with lots of good people.

It is hard to believe it is already September and I am not in school.

My Weekend in NYC with my APU Family!

2008-08-30T12:22:00.006-04:00

Here are some random photos of my trip to NYC last weekend with Phil, Peggy and Jan. We had very packed days of lots of fun and food! I want to go back!

I'm on my way to NYC!!!

2008-08-21T17:38:00.006-04:00

Work is great. I am keeping busy! : ) The past three days the studio has been attending and speaking at various planning board workshops and public hearings. I have learned a lot about the people I work with and the project as a result of the time spent at all of the meetings. I am truly proud to say I am a part of this team. I really don't know what the future holds for the studio, but even if it were not to happen, I believe the interactions we have with each other at work are the exact interactions God would want us to have. It's not about what it will be in 5 or 10 years, today matters to God and today I believe we are doing what God wants us to do.

On Tuesday, I got to pray with the team before one of our big presentations, and as nervous as I was, God proved to me again that he was in control of the situation. I have been at work for almost three weeks now and life is slowly getting into a routine. I am becoming more aware of the community and the New England style of living. As I become adjusted, I think about how much God has taught me in these three weeks alone. Several months ago, I didn't know where I was going to live, how I was going to return my school debt, where I was going to work and God KNEW the entire time. God designed this path of life and faith and obedience has led me to this very path.

Right now, I am sitting on the MegaBus traveling from Boston to NYC to visit with Phil, Peggy and Jan. I am so excited! I can't believe there is wireless on the bus! Well the three of them just landed and I am almost into the city. : ) I'll have more updates soon!

My relaxing weekend...

2008-08-17T22:26:00.009-04:00

I can't believe two weeks of work have already gone by. It seriously is amazing. I love the town, my roommate and her bf, my new friends, and of course every single person I work with! I really get excited to go to work every day and can't believe I get paid to work with the people I do. As hard as I work, I have somehow managed to have friends and to have lots of fun on the weekends. Here are some pictures of my fun and relaxing weekend:

My friend Crystal and my roommate, Jenny had a really nice dinner at the Cabby Shack. It's a seafood restaurant on the waterfront with live music on the weekends. After dinner, Crystal and I went to Kiskadee, a little coffee shop that plays Christian music. I met a lot of nice people there!

The next day, I went shopping at the nearby mall. It is only 5-10mins away and it happened to be
"no tax weekend" in Massachusetts. The sales tax here is only 5% though and there is no sales tax on clothing! I look at it as an 8.25% sale on clothing! : )

After shopping, I went to the Marshfield Fair with my roommate and her boyfriend. We had such a fun time visiting all the farm animals, looking at all the abnormally large vegetables, cheering at the pig races and eating your typical greasy fair food. It was amazing.

On Sunday, I went to church at Plymouth Memorial Hall. The church I attend here is called New Hope Chapel. I am involved in the young adult bible study at this church. I feel so fortunate to be plugged into a community of believers already.

After church, I went to watch a few of my new friends get baptized! I had so much fun hanging by the pool and watching people give their life over to God. : ) Afterwards, a group of us went to Dairy Queen. It made me miss all the old Pinkberry and 21 Choices runs! Although in 4 days I will be able to get Pinkberry with Phil, Peggy and Jan in NYC! : )

My Weekend

2008-08-10T23:02:00.005-04:00

Downtown Plymouth, which is about 1 mile from my place.

There can be quite a few tourists over the weekend.

The Mayflower II can be found downtown.

I had such a fun weekend. Dan, a friend from APU, is from Maine and he came to visit me for the weekend. We ate some pretty good food, went to the beach (which looked like we were in Barbados), we enjoyed the farmer's market, and of course, we watched endless hours of the Olympics.

On Sunday, we met up with some of my favorite Kiwanians from Anaheim Hills/Yorba Linda, Dave and Milli, and the four of us went to Park Street Church and had lunch at the Cheers restaurant. Afterwards, Dan and I hung out in Boston, until the thunder storm almost swept us away. Overall, it was a really fun weekend!

My Roommate

2008-08-10T22:53:00.005-04:00

This is the complex I live in. This is the view from my balcony. It has rained quite a few times since I have been here, but when it does, there is always bound to be a rainbow.

This is my very cool roommate, Jenny, whom I just love. We have similar tastes in decor and food. : ) I met her on Craigslist in April and together we found a place and moved in together in August. It was love. : )

My Condo!

2008-08-08T10:07:00.006-04:00

I live in a 2 bedroom condo that I share with my roommate, Jenny. She and I are perfect for each other! It is absolutely wonderful. I am two miles from my work and one mile from downtown. The living situation is absolutely wonderful.

My First Visitors!!

2008-08-08T10:02:00.004-04:00

On Wednesday, Randall and Joyce, friends from APU, came to visit me! It was so nice to see some familiar faces! Randall drove from CA to Queens, NY where Joyce is from. Then together, with another friend of theirs, they drove to Plymouth. I gave them the grand tour of downtown Plymouth in 10 mins! Here we are standing in front of the enclosed rock.

First day of work...

2008-08-04T22:24:00.002-04:00

Today was my first day at work! I started at 9am and got settled into my new office. I have an L-shaped desk in a room about 12' x 8' in length. My office is located across from my boss, David, and adjacent to Steve, who is the Internal Art Director. It is a really great set-up. So on my first day, I read a bunch of materials, set-up my work email, and helped Steve in making a presentation.

The first few days of work always brings me back to my former first few days of work. My first day at the dry cleaners when I was 14 to my last internship at the Walt Disney Company. I was the happiest working for Dr. Phil a few years ago. I loved the environment, the pace, the work load, the stress, the free dinners, the golf cart rides around Paramount, the events, the traveling, the guests, my co-workers.....I loved every aspect.

I sit thinking about those moments I enjoyed so much and now I get to be a small part in creating a bigger and better studio on the East Coast. How I landed in this position is completely a God thing. When I became a Christian, I said I would do anything God asked me. He asks and I respond. : )

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Over the weekend, a college friend from UMASS Boston came and visited. He helped me set-up/furnish my room. We had so much fun arranging my stuff. It's hard to believe I was able to practically bring everything I own to Plymouth.

Then on Sunday, I went to church with some friends I met at a conference a week before at South Shore Community Church. It was so fun! I felt like I had known these people for a long time! The message was great too. The message was about trusting and having faith. This a common theme I hear preached about all the time, but the message came at such an important time. : ) The pastor said, "Sometimes it takes more strength to wait then to move." This is so true! I look back on the final semester of college and the time I had to wait for these moments were sometimes unbearable. The pastor ended the message by saying, "There is a direct correlation between the amount of faith we have and God showing up to do the supernatural, the impossible. Great faith moves God to act." Amen. A southern California native is now living in America's hometown. Crazy. : ) After church, a group of us went and made brunch and ate outside under the trees. It was a perfect Sunday afternoon. A few days before that, I had no idea what church or what friends I would have, but God knew. I trusted. He delivered. The life I always want to live.

I will post pictures of my work, my condo, my roommate, and the town very soon. : ) Life is good. Thanks for checking in.

Meeting ROCK Studios in Plymouth

2008-07-30T23:13:00.017-04:00

A few months before I graduated, I met David Kirkpatrick, CEO of ROCK Studios, through a contact I met at APU. Over lunch, he shared with me his vision to build a leading movie studio in Plymouth, MA. Upon hearing of his dream, I immediately knew this was a project I wanted to align myself both professionally and spiritually. Yesterday I got my first taste of the studio!

This is Steve, Director of Guest Relations. He picked me up in the new Hybrid Tahoe and drove me to my hotel and then to the offices of ROCK Studios.

I took a tour of the future lot of ROCK Studios. It is currently being used as a golf course (+260 acres).

I concluded the evening by attending a town hearing about the studio taking over Waverly Oaks Golf Course at the local high school. It was interesting listening to the community's concerns about traffic, noise, and jobs with the new studio coming into town.

Overall, it was an awesome experience. I enjoyed meeting the team and I can't wait to see what is in store in these coming months. I am so fortunate to be in the position that I am. Thom, a co-worker, called my opportunity with the studio a date with destiny.

God knows exactly who we are.....God has plans to prosper us, not to harm us and plans to give us hope and a future....(Jeremiah 29:11), so find joy in everyday life and before you realize it, you find out your dream is actually a reality. : )

Life so far...

2008-07-27T21:35:00.000-04:00

I have been here for four days now and time just seems to be flying by. Over the weekend, I went to the Women of Faith conference with the Salvation Army. (I use to live at the Salvation Army house in Boston so I am still very connected to the family/people there.) I had a great time meeting new people, singing, and being inspired by the speakers. Aside from the conference, I've been able to hang out with my old friends from UMASS Boston. We've gone out to eat several times and today we played some tennis and basketball. I am loving my time in Boston. I feel refreshed and almost ready to work.

Moving across the country seemed like a daunting task, but God has been so faithful and has provided every single step of the way. : )

Arrival into Boston

2008-07-25T01:21:00.001-04:00

After a few plane rides and hours later, I finally arrived to Boston. It's hard to believe I am back in the city where I went to school for a semester two years ago. I am staying with some old friends I kept in touch with in the city until I move into my Plymouth apartment on Friday, Aug. 1. Until then, I am scoping the area out, looking for furniture and getting adjusted to the time and weather. It happened to pour rain and thunder for most of the day and night here!! It's JULY! Hopefully, I will be able to write regularly and have some interesting stories to share! Please leave comments as I would love to hear from you! : )