"On behalf of GG Airlines, we'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!"
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His Perspective
S: Sofia
D: Dad
S: What are some places you've traveled to outside of the U.S.?
D: Let's see. I've been to Seoul, Korea; Bangkok, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Istanbul, Turkey; Rome & Venice, Italy; Zurich & Lausanne, Switzerland; Vancouver & Ontario, Canada; in China, I've been to Guangzhou, Hainan, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Beijing, Xi'an, Shenyang; too many to say.
S: Which place is your favorite so far?
D: I think... Well, I haven't seen anything that I've really really liked yet.
S: What kind of food do you like the best?
D: Indian food.
S: What are some places you want to visit?
D: Oh, I want to visit Paris & Loire Valley in France. Then, St. Petersburg & Moscow in Russia. And in Spain, Barcelona & Seville. And later, India & Egypt. Those are the top places I want to visit right now.
S: What's your favorite thing about traveling?
D: Seeing the world with my own eyes. Travel is knowledge. You see, every time you see, you learn more. You learn the history, the food, the lifestyles.
My Future Graduation Gift
Oftentimes, I mention to my dad that I would enjoy traveling to France someday. He got the message the first time I told him. My dad, also an admirer of travel, announced that our family would be taking a trip to France and Spain in the summer of 2017. He plans on going after I graduate high school. It would be a graduation gift from him to me. Two days after his unexpected announcement, I imagined this dream sequence:
Soft conversations in different foreign languages surrounded the petite café. The checkered walls were painted pale yellow and white. Classic French music playing in the background created a soothing atmosphere. The wide open café doors welcomed tourists and recurring customers. The bright sun confidently shone through the glass windows. The summertime heat hugged us with such power that we began to perspire. A flaky, buttery croissant melted in my mouth with each bite. My dad sipped on his cup of warm coffee, while my stepmom flipped through a French fashion magazine. My younger sister wandered around the café, trying to decide which pastry to eat. We silently sat at our round table, indulging in our flavorful coffee and sweet treats. Off in the distance, I caught a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower behind some early morning mist, awaiting my visit. Our day had just started, but I was already prepared to venture out in the beautiful city of Paris to discover its people, food, and attractions. As an upcoming college freshman, I was glad to have crossed France off my bucket list before diving into a whole new world of rigorous studies and all-nighters.
What've You Been Up to Lately?
Dear Diary,
I’m sorry I haven’t been writing in you and updating you about what’s been going on lately. I’ve been busy. You’ll understand why when I tell you this.
When I was on dialysis in February of this year, a dietitian visited me at my doctor appointments to make sure I was eating healthy, dialysis-friendly meals. What I mean by dialysis-friendly is I had several restrictions on the food that I could eat and how often I could them. For example, I had to limit my daily salt intake or else my blood pressure would skyrocket and my ankles would swell up. I had to limit the amount of potassium, because too much would develop abnormal heartbeats.
Before I met my dietician, my family and I were eating out almost every single day. Unlike other families who consider eating out a special occasion, it was a part of our daily routine. These regular check-ups with my dietitian made me realize that it was my responsibility to control the food that I eat and the drinks that I drink.
I began making lunches at home to bring to school rather than buying packaged pre-made meals at school. Instead of buying a greasy pizza, I made a fresh egg salad sandwich. I made my own varieties of salad. And sometimes I would bring leftovers from dinner the night before. My family started to cook more often at home. The aroma of food came from the downstairs kitchen instead of from a drive-thru or restaurant kitchen.
Before I knew it, I had a kidney transplant in July. A new nutritionist met up with me to discuss healthy eating habits. This time, my only restriction was salt. But I was already in the habit of limiting my salt, so I had no problem adjusting.
As I got in the habit of eating more meals at home, I got more interested in the actual creation of food. I watched cooking videos on YouTube, watched cooking shows on Netflix, and I flipped through cookbooks I found in the library. Food Network became one of my favorite shows to watch. I even tried cooking myself. No, I didn’t set the kitchen fire. I started off with easy recipes like scrambled eggs. Then, I moved onto omelettes. Spaghetti. Fried rice.
I found a new passion I never thought would come about. I like dancing, traveling, and socializing. But I like food, too. I love food. Who doesn’t? I like cooking and baking, too. I guess having that medical experience with nutritionists opened my eyes about the importance of eating well and that led me to be more curious about food in general. Well, that’s what I’ve been up to lately. What have you been up to lately, Diary?