#AdventureswithKaren: Episode 3

I've been on a long hiatus from posting about my adventures, but don't think for a second that it is because I have had nothing to post about. In fact, I've visited quite a few amazing destinations since the last episode of #AdventureswithKaren:

St. Paul, MN:
While there wasn't too much fun to be had in St. Paul, I did end up finding a beautiful jogging path along the Mississippi River on Harriet Island.

A little reading in Rice Park

View of the Mississippi River from the Wabash Bridge

View of Harriet Island 

Jogging path on Harriet Island

St. Paul Central Library 

View of the Mississippi River 

I also took a very interesting viniyoga class at River Garden Yoga Center. I've always known that viniyoga is a very gentle style of yoga, but I was NOT expecting to take class with 10 other 50 year old women. I think I broke a heavier sweat walking to the studio than I did taking the class. It was a "restorative" practice to say the least.

Winnipeg, MB:
Next stop on the travel list was Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. I had high hopes for The Forks, Winnipeg, which is deemed as "one of the loveliest public spaces in Winnipeg". And perhaps this statement is true. But relative to the other public spaces I've been to it was a huge let down. The retail vendors sold generic goods like personalized mugs and Canadian flags. The saving grace to this blase tourist attraction was the Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company stand, from which I bought a whole wheat cinnamon roll. I sat outside with that, a tasty cup of coffee, and my kindle for about two hours of rest and relaxation in the sun:

Also quite delicious is the vegan restaurant, Boon Burger Cafe. They offer an assortment of vegan burgers with a variety of different flavor profiles from Asian to all-American. I got the Bombay Talkie Burger and a side salad:

Boon Burger

9PM and the sun is still setting

Close by is the Red River, along which there is a nice jogging path. I wouldn't recommend it during the winter or spring season because the path gets a bit too muddy.

Calgary, AB: 
Our next Canadian stop was Calgary:

Definitely worth a visit is Prince's Island Park, which is about 15 minutes north of the downtown area. It's a lush green public park with plenty of walking trails and open green space for a picnic or a game of ultimate frisbee. Surrounding the park is the Elbow River which, like the Red River in Winnipeg, is lined with a nice jogging path. 

Celebrating Kevin's birthday, Calgary style

Giant Karen in a mini cart

A little reminder from the Hot Shop Yoga studio

Additionally, even though I haven't been as adamant about finding local yoga spots in each city, there was a yoga studio so close to our hotel in Winnipeg that I decided to give it a try. I'm not a big fan of hot yoga, mainly because I get so fatigued by the heat that I can't perform at my full physical capacity. But the Hot Shop was a stone's throw away and had a $20 unlimited classes promotion. I went to 3 different classes, all of which affirmed my belief that extreme heated yoga just isn't for me.

Seattle, WA:
One of my best friends is moving to Seattle, WA in August so I was excited to get a chance to explore the city and see what all the hype is about. The first evening there my friend Tamina and I visited Plum Vegan Bistro in Capital Hill. The food was very tasty and appropriately priced:

Broccoli from Plum Vegan Bistro

The next day I met up with fellow Bruin alumnus and Theta member, Kit Curtius. We met up at Victrola Coffee and chatted about what we've each been up to since graduation. Two years my senior, Kit has been living in Seattle for the past few years. She elaborated on how young, artistic, yet laid back Seattle is:

Future mathematics PhD Kit Curtius and me

After that much needed morning pick-me-up, I headed to the infamous Pike Place Market. I visited the grotesquely fascinating gum wall and snagged a refreshing ginger beer from Rachel's Ginger Beers. I even picked up a fresh poppy and peony flower for our bus:

The infamous sticky gum wall

View from the hotel

I really enjoyed being in Seattle and wished I had more time to explore the city. Good thing gal pal Kally will be moving here soon; I'll definitely be visiting quite often!

Los Angeles, CA:
We thankfully had a short pitstop in LA where I met up with the real-life versions of my travel friends. I was also in town long enough to attend my friend Sarah's going away party. It was rejuvenating and grounding to spend time with my buddies after traveling for so long:

Sydney, Kally, Brian, and Elizabeth in real life

Good by Sarah!

My next leg of travels has already begun so check back soon for new posts on my explorations! 

In Retrospect : Taking the Leap

Uncertain. 

It was what I felt after four years of learning about business and economics at UCLA. While the Business/Economics department has a culture of grooming its students to become the next army of corporate America's finest, I wasn't persuaded to dedicate my life to accounting, investment banking, or consulting. Rather, my experiences and studies affirmed that my passions existed elsewhere. But exactly where, I wasn't so sure.

Hesitant.

It was what I felt after four years of working in the commercial dance industry. I was unconvinced that I was ready to be a professional dancer. Sure, I had a wonderful time throughout college working on a slew of jobs ranging from mini-tours with rising artists to television shows. But I saw my experiences more as fun and less as career building. I was uncertain I could adopt the unconventional lifestyle or adapt to the inconsistent job market. I was afraid to fail. 

"Vocal Adrenaline" members on set for "Glee" March 2012

Thus was my dilemma when I graduated from college. Whereas a majority of my colleagues took an aggressive march toward their career goals by working for one of the "big four" firms (PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young) and started collecting their high five figure starting salaries, I tip-toed toward an unknown future.

In limbo. 

It was what my heart felt when I continued leading the double life of dancer slash _(fill in the blank)_. My position as PR Assistant at Versace allowed me to work during the day and to take dance classes at night. Between March and September 2012 I danced only when it was convenient, worked on dance jobs when I could take work off, and passed on opportunities if they conflicted with my job. It was fulfilling but unfulfilling at the same time.

Terrified.

It was what I felt when I discussed my resignation with my boss at Versace in September of 2012. I had just been offered the opportunity to dance in Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday Reloaded Tour, and rehearsals were starting immediately. It was impossible to be a PR Assistant on the road and unpractical for my boss to find a temporary replacement. So I had to make a choice: professional dance or PR.

I thought I could balance professionally dancing with a non-dance job; after all, I had succeeded for 15 years to balance dance with school. But the real world wasn't as malleable as I thought it would be, and without fully dedicating my time to dance I was like a sparrow trying to fly in a cage.

And I suppose it was comforting, having consistency in the form of a stable job on the agenda. But what's comforting is also sometimes what's most limiting. I needed to take a leap away from familiarity and control in order to begin fully realizing my potential as a dancer.

So to all the hesitant college graduates out there: don't let fear bind you. The sooner you take the leap, the sooner you'll open yourself up to the kinds of opportunities you've been dreaming of your whole life.

One of my first shows on Pink Friday Reloaded in October 2012

On the Yeezus Tour in October 2013