December 31, 2009 by phampants

In 2009…

In 2009, I said to myself in the beginning of the year that I would do something different. 2009 was quite different and far from the norm than I expected. But looking back, I couldn’t help but think what 2009 has been to me.

The year started off with the girl whom I truly loved breaking up with me. What a truly shitty way to start the year. This was not how I imagined things being different. But sure enough, I asked for it. Cue quarterlife crisis.

The next few months dragged. There were very few highlights (Obama’s inauguration & John Green buying me a beer), but slowly I got my groove back. I started to attend concerts again. I began creating more videos for my personal YouTube channel and the collaborative running channel. And overall, I began to smile again.

It was the middle of April with my German friend and old neighbor visited me from Germany. He said me, “You should come visit some time.” One week later, I emailed him and said, “I’m coming to Germany.” And 5 other countries in a matter of fact. My friend MAshley who was studying abroad informed me of RyanAir’s 1 Euro/1 GBP sale on the Tuesday afternoon of the 21st of April. 4 hours later, 6 flights were booked. I was actually going to achieve the goal that I set for myself almost 5 years ago, backpack Europe before I turn 25.

The month leading up to Europe, I was busy not only preparing for the trip but also enjoying the company of many wonderful people. From celebrating a graduation of a dear friend to celebrating friendship with an old teacher/colleague. I filmed my most epic video and making more YouTube friends. But the lines of the Internet also blurred because I attended my first tweetup and met my first 20sb blogger in real life. However, the highlight of it all was celebrating life with a baptism of a new baby and the wedding of two dear friends.

June then arrived and I was hoisted off to Dublin on my own. Not knowing what to excepted, I fell in love in people and life once again. Next came Belgium and then Rome. As things went wrong, I became happier. Nothing could stop my joy as I continued onto Germany, England and then back to Ireland. The trip flew by, but I savored every moment of it. I made new friends and reconnected with ones of old. I saw the world and the world left its mark on me. I wasn’t sad when I came home for I was ready to start anew.

Upon my return to Chicago, with my new found love for life again, I encountered many wonderful bloggers during the fantastic 20SB Ultimate Chicago Meetup weekend. The following week, I found myself in Washington D.C. meeting up with even more bloggers and more alcohol. I’ve come to the conclusion that bloggers are hardcore when they party. But let’s not forget my original plans for D.C. which was to visit dear college friends of mine. It was my 5th time out there and I’ve come to call it home.

July was topped off with another wedding of a dear friend and my 25th birthday. I celebrated it with a house unwarming party as I moved out of Rogers Park. As much as I love the neighborhood, after 3 years, it was time to move on. Though I truly miss having a coffee shop down the block. My new home in Uptown has everything I want: character. Now you may argue that the non-working fireplace, slanted floor and “is the foundation cracked?” is anything but character, but I love it.

August started off with a bang as I ran my 5th half marathon. I have yet to PR again, but I did a first. I ran all the way and never stopped (thanks Mandy!). Another dear friend’s wedding followed and then the #nycmeetup. I can’t recall ever doing so much or having so much fun in 48 hours as I flew into NYC to hang out with bloggers. Tiger face, Baby Jesus and “You’re Dead to Me” filled the weekend. But to cap it all off was seeing 2 college buddies and I winded down from such a wild ride. August left a smile on my face.

The fall brought more memories, joys and triumphs. I traveled to Minnesota and North Dakota for the first time during my trip to visit my best friend from high school. I completed my first marathon, running most of the second half of the race in an injured foot. (What? I was already half way done. Might as well finished it off.) I flew to Seattle and San Francisco to visit more friends and lots of breweries. Only to come home ready for me. Indy and Florida was on the radar, but I exhausted my resources. Though traveling was done for the year, it didn’t stop me from having fun.

Friends, adventure and beer dominated this year. Though the year started off slowly and miserably, I can’t help but smile and say that this year was fantastic. 2009 was wonderful. I hate for it to go but tomorrow will be a new year. 2009, I’m going to miss you. Cheers!

December 30, 2009 by phampants

The 00′s Decade

Before 2000, I was a shy & quiet kid with a bad temper. I had few friends and was very sheltered. Growing up as a first generation immigrant Asian family, I was restricted, limited and controlled on what I could do. My life was dictated to me.

In 2000, I decided to no longer follow the rules but instead, I began to break them. I didn’t necessarily revolted but I realized that the rules of life were in my own hands. I began to live my life not in the vision of another but only of myself. I began to make friends and was not shy in hanging out with them. I started to get involved in high school in things that not only interested me, but in things that I felt was a part of me.

In 2001, I sang my heart out as the chorus of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Though still unknown to my friends, classmates and teachers, for the first time I felt like I was growing as a person. I traveled to Vietnam in a visit to my mother’s family and granting my grandmother’s wish of seeing her American grandchildren before she dies. Right after, I began my career in information technology and made a hobby into a career. By the time school started again, I became a senior and was among the top of my class. But I knew I could be better, I planned for greatness.

In 2002, I graduated in high school with honors that I never imagined. Besides graduating 3rd in my class, I went from a quite unknown freshman to a senior who owned the school. I controlled 2/3 of the school media (senior editor-in-chief of the school newspaper & managing editor of the school website), called the senior prank, hacked into the school network and pulled an epic prank on the vice-principal. I was the top person in my school. I was on cloud 9. The summer brought me to Europe for the first time. I traveled as a pilgrim to Lourdes where I volunteered and help the sick for a week where I learned how to server. Paris was a weekend of exploration, followed by World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada where I was mere feet from Pope John Paul II when he passed me. Fall came. I entered college at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a freshman. I also tried to kill myself. I was all alone.

In 2003, I went on a retreat called Newman Foundation Koinonia 76. For the first time in my life, I felt loved as a person. I shared that love to my new friends and we became the freshmen crew that grew up together. We’re still friends to this day. That summer, I returned again to Lourdes to serve and love. Paris & Barcelona followed; they sparked my love for Europe. One year later, I returned as a sophomore and began things off as team for NFK78 and phantom chapel cover for NFK79. A year of love and new beginnings was topped off with my first new year’s eve with friends.

In 2004, the 3 stooges was formed; thus began MAN LUNCH – where random but truly epic weekly quests of 3 friends trying to find lunch and the consequences that followed (::coughs::orangepants::coughs). MAN LUNCH was also known amongst my friends as 3 monkeys trying to find mates; usually we failed miserably, which lead to many late night trips to IHOP or Steak & Shake. That summer conjured up an east coast road trip between the 3 monkeys Stooges and our friend Brian (sorry that we drove you crazy). 11 days, 5 cities, 3000 miles, 4 guys, 1 car and a parking ticket. I saw D.C. in its glory, visited Philadelphia, New York City and Boston for the first time and almost died in Toronto. Though tension got high in the end, for me, I felt free. That fall, I managed to work the system and had a free ride. Grants & scholarships paid for my tuition and working 20 hours for my dorm covered room & board fees. I was set.

In 2005, I started to be more social as all my friends began to turn 21. The weekends were fun and the mornings after usually meant lots of coffee. I witnessed the passing of JPII and the coronation of B16. Traveled to Lourdes once again and then partook in World Youth Day in Cologne. That fall, I called Fever House my abode and joined a brotherhood of lame jokes, hilarity and class. We threw the largest Formal de Fever in history with over 140 guests. It was a party and a half.

In 2006, spring flew by as I cherished my last semester of college and culminated with a bachelor’s in sociology. I spent that summer in Champaign/Urbana where I spent my days soaking up the sun and my evenings drinking beer on the Fever House porch with a small fire next to me. Let’s not also forget the late night debauchery with my best college buddies since freshman year filled with night visits to Murphy’s, after hour trips to One World Pizza and crashing at the Forbes’ as we fall asleep watching Family Guy. Then came August, I landed my first job as the technology director of my old high school. It was a my dream job. That is, until September 19th when it was announced that the 102 year old school is closing the next June. I went from a first year teacher to a mentor for 200 students and a full time morale booster for my colleagues. I adopted a kitten found in a trash bin and named him Quigley.

In 2007, I opened my big mouth and promised a friend that I would run her first race with her. 12 weeks later, I ran my first half marathon. I vlogged the whole race and it was the beginning of something new. Later that year, I said goodbye to the Great Q, a place that I loved and called home for 5 years. During my two weeks of unemployment, I fell in love with spending my afternoons outdoors sitting at coffee shops blogging and reading all 7 Harry Potter books. That life was short lived when I started work at another school teaching computer science and perform tasks as the director of technology as they started 1-to-1 computing. Come winter, I became one of the few people that could say, “I dated a ginger.”

In 2008, I accepted the highest teaching award for my school district after 6 months on the job (it normally takes 20+ years to win in my category). I jet setted my spring break as I learn to pack light and found my long lost love to travel. Come summer, I quit teaching and was recruited back by an old employer where I received most of my IT training. Before summer was over, I backpacked Australia, attended my 3rd World Youth Day and some how survived scuba diving. Speaking of surviving, by the end of the year, I lived through 2 corporate moves.

In 2009, the girl of my dreams left me. I started to attend concerts again, alone, and I enjoyed it. Befriended awesome YouTubers while attending a nerdfighter event. Went to my first tweet up. I attended a wedding that not only had an after party, but an after after party & morning hangover bar-b-que happened. I backpacked Europe alone on a whim with only a small duffel bag, visiting 7 countries, as I go through my quarterlife crisis. Attending 2 major blogger meetups, one of which sent me to New York City. Flew 19 times, visited 15 airports, 7 countries, 5 states and the District of Columbia in 5 months. I ran my 5th half marathon and then conquered my first marathon. But most importantly, I fell in love again. I fell in love with life.

For 2010 & beyond, I am entering a new decade as a man who is constantly loving, serving, learning and living. I am entering a new world of unknown, potential and hope. My life now in my own hands, I’m entering the future as myself, ready for a whole new adventure. And it’s going to be magnificent. I can’t wait!

December 30, 2009 by phampants

ET09: Eden

This is a blog series about my European Tour 2009. Each blog post will have at least one song accompanied with it. Please read day 1, 2, 3, 4-5, 5.5, 6-7 & 8 before proceeding. If you haven’t downloaded the soundtrack for this blog series, please do so here. Song to be played while reading this blog post: Iron & Wine – Resurrection Fern.

Day 9.

Laying down along the grassy river bank on the Main, I looked upon the contrasting Frankfurt skyline of old and modern architecture that protruded on the opposite side. The sun danced through the soft, puffy clouds and a slight breeze floated along the river on this mild summer day. Taking a long breath, I closed my eyes and smiled. Today, I am halfway through my magnificent trip.

I arrived at Frankfurt HBF via bus from the Frankfurt Hahn airport early in the morning. Like always, I had no map and started to wander in this intriguing city. People often say that there is not much in Frankfurt, but for me, I’ve always been curious. It’s the most modern city in Germany, and yet there’ s still an old world presence in this German city.

Wandering through the red light district surrounding the train station, I found a main street to which I began to wander into the city on the Main. Everything I saw and passed was so modern and new. The architecture was sometime I expected back home in the States, but it still had a distinct German feel to it. From the outdoor mall to the neighborhood businesses, Frankfurt lived up to its claim of German’s most modern city.

And then, I emerged from a narrow street and was beheld this most spectacular sight:

The Römer left me speechless. I always wanted to see a traditional German town and now it’s right in front of me. This small bubble of Frankfurt was truly a gem. Hidden in a such a modern city, was such a rich and historical part of Germany. I couldn’t help myself but sit outside with a beer, raising my stein in a toast to Germany.

Crossing the Main, I found a green river bank sparsely populated by runners, tourists and locals as it laid below the skyline of Frankfurt. I found myself a clear grassy patch near a boat deli and laid down. The warm sun and light breeze breathed on my body as I pulled my eyes from the skyline to partly cloudy sky. I smiled. This was the best decision of my life. Though so much has gone wrong, this so far has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

Honestly, I’m still in disbelief that I’m doing this. I do not have a single regret. I have grown so much. Even though my heart is still broken, I once again realized that I can love again. Most importantly, I’m loving life and people. Honestly, I cannot complain. Wow, [the] John Pham of the past is still here, but he is by far more adventurous.

Smiling, I closed my eyes, chuckled to myself and, “I want to do this again next year.”

I opened my eyes and found myself still lying on the river bank. Apparently, I fell asleep along the river walk for the past 45 minutes. All this traveling has taken its toll on me and nothing is better or more delightful than taking a nap long such a beautiful river walk.

I left the embankment and crossed the river again, headed back to the hauptbahnhof. It turned out just a few weeks before I started the journey of a lifetime, I found out one of my good friends from high school just moved outside of Frankfurt. As much as I love traveling alone and meeting new people, it was nice to see a familiar face for a change.

Mark & I had a traditional German dinner in the Römer. After haven’t seeing him in over 3 years, it was great to catch up with him. There’s something to be said about talking to an old friend than all the amazing new people I have recently met. It’s nice to start off where you left off than starting from the beginning. I think Mark would agree too because it’s been too long since each of us has see someone familiar.

As the sun fell below the old German buildings in the Römer, dinner completed and both Mark & I were nursing our steins, I couldn’t think of a better way to end this relaxing day. Even though half of my journey is over, there’s still so much more to come.

.:: On to Day 10 & 11

September 24, 2009 by phampants

ET09: Love Today

This is a blog series about my European Tour 2009. Each blog post will have at least one song accompanied with it. Please read day 1, 2, 3, 4-5, 5.5 & 6-7 before proceeding. If you haven’t downloaded the soundtrack for this blog series, please do so here. Song to be played while reading this blog post: Mika – Love Today.

Day 8.

Standing in line for the Copula for the second time in two days, I could not help but display my frustration. Not only did I lose 2.5 days worth of pictures, my 4 GB card was completely corrupted. Thankfully, I brought backup cards but I was still distraught by the lost of the amazing pictures of the pope, the Coliseum, the Roman forum, pictures atop the Copula and the group picture of my hosts in Belgium. I wanted to SCREAM! And yet, I couldn’t.

Standing in that line, I broke out into a smile and fell in love again. I’ve already been through so much on this trip, how could this be any worse? Besides, where’s the fun in the adventure when nothing goes wrong? I left the line, ran out of the Vatican and began to love today.

I walked along the Tiber River and continued onto my adventure. There was so much more to see in Rome and I wanted to soak as much in before I left. I’m on the trip of a lifetime and the best part is that I’m only half way done. Here’s to fun, mishaps and the best time ever! Oh, and I’m still smiling.

I found my way to the Pantheon. It’s one of the oldest structures in the world; from a pagan temple to now a Catholic church. As I walked into this ancient wonder, I couldn’t help but recall my Roman history. Today was two days from the summer solstice and the light emanating from the dome was a mere foot from the entrance of the Pantheon. Doctor would have been proud. After the Pantheon, I ventured onto the Circus Maximus and found a secluded shady spot to escape the afternoon heat and further pondered the greatness of the Romans.

(this was where I sat & took a composite panoramic photo of the Circus Maximus)

Later that night, I was treated with the most amazing surprise of my life. Let’s just say that it’s not every day that the Pope would literally drive down the street that you live, on the way to church. Turns out that tonight was the feast of Corpus Christi and Papa was heading to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, just down the street from my hostel. I guess he knew that I lost my awesome pictures yesterday, so he was kind enough to swing by for another photo shot. Though I was not as close as I was last time, I couldn’t help but smile because in the end, everything would be alright as feel in love with each day.