Thursday Snippet

Thursday, we meet again. This is a morning kind of picture. Glasses, a lazy chignon, and soft French music behind the camera.

There's some baguette, homemade currant jam (did I mention my host dad is a chef?), and coffee so good black that I drank two cups. I'm reading a cookbook just because it seemed like a delicious way to wake up. And because I'm procrastinating on brushing my teeth and taking my vitamins.  (Yes mom, I know I need to take my calcium.)

General orientation starts this afternoon, but before, my host mom is taking me to meet my host dad for lunch at their restaurant.

First thought: I'm dreaming; pinch me. Second thought: TITS MAN, my French is terrible. But if you can't stand the heat, keep out of the kitchen? Allez-y.

(let's go)

~lexi

Bonjour from Nantes

After spending 10 days in the south of France, I'm finally "home" and settled in with my host family at Nantes. Between driving 10 hours yesterday; tackling mobile phone policies in French this morning; and moving in with my host family tonight, I'm just about falling asleep typing this. This may be thoughtful, or it may just be half-asleep. Bear with me? Let's do it quick and dirty, (because we can).

I stumbled into the study abroad center building in Nantes around 4:30 this afternoon and started to feel a touch of nervousness bubbling up. It's not a feeling that comes around often. I'm generally sure-footed, trusting myself enough to know that I can figure it out.

But that's in English. French is a completely different ballgame. Words in French sweep into one another, like a blindingly fast sing-song. I can usually catch words and phrases for near certain, but there are some lost in translation. I know this worry is part of the experience - the growing pains in learning a language - but I wouldn't dare tell anyone that uncertainty is comfortable.

I've begun to realize that the ability to use language, and use it well, is one of my most unconscious advantages. In the States, I'm able to explain, to understand, to respond, to persuade, to charm. But here, much of that advantage is lost. I can convey fact and opinion in French, but persuasion and charm are still locked culture and colloquialisms. It's a beast to tackle, but I suppose that's the challenge.

Day 2 tomorrow. Formal orientation begins, and I meet the rest of the students in my study abroad program.

France en Photos

Living the Dream

You would 100% laugh at me, if you knew how many times I've tried to write this blog post.

And whereas many people might cite feeling at a loss for words, my dilemma is rather opposite. The number of things I want to share is approximately infinity...times 10. But I haven't made a peep since this post. Why?

The long answer: I haven't quite figured out how to say everything in a way that makes sense without you staring at me like I'm talking 'bout aliens. I procrastinate on things I want to do because I'm forever in search of perfect timing.

Clutch answers, all around. Let's break this bizness down.

a)  Summer at Google: {a.k.a.} The best way I could've possibly imagined spending the last 3 months. b) My upcoming 3-month stay in France: {a.k.a.} A dream that found its way into the reality pile.

Life Gone BOLD - Summer 2013: I still can't really believe it. That sounds all sorts of cliché, but for me, it's absolutely true. The past three months have felt like a dream, and even now, I have to pinch myself to make sure I didn't imagine everything.

This past month has been filled to the brim with adventures both at Google and beyond. From Laguna Beach to San Francisco. From San Jose to Mountain View. From Santa Cruz to North Beach. From Lower Haight to Union Square. From Lake Tahoe to Napa to Marin County. From the Bay to Golden Gate Park to the office and back. 

In its entirety, the summer was amazing, but the last 12 weeks ended in a bang that caught me wildly and wonderfully off guard. It clicked. With work and with friends, the pieces fell into place. What place?

A place for which Google Maps has no directions. A place of natural fit, of rhythmic stride, and of truly incandescent happiness. 

My internship ended roughly 1 week ago now. But summing up my entire summer as simply an "internship" leaves much unseen. There was work and plenty of it. Oh my lanta, in the last few weeks, I believe I ate, slept, and breathed my work. But unlike most other 'work,' I've done in life, every ounce of effort and thought-wrangling was of my own choosing. I wanted to be there. I learned about security. I learned that charm goes a long way. I learned that making a friend is far more valuable to me than "networking."

I learned that the phrase "Follow the leader" is a total double entendre. I learned that no plans are too big. I learned that solutions are only possible if you've wrestled in the mud with the problem. I learned that there is beauty in iteration and perfection in uncertainty. I learned that the only thing I know certainly is that I certainly don't know everything. I learned that it really is all about the people. 

That barely scratches the surface, but I'll spare you nitty gritty deets.  For those who have asked, "Well, what happens now?"

Life happens now. And I couldn't say for sure, but it's looking like life is the game plan for tomorrow too.

Tits, man: What really happens now? Okay, okay you got me. Life really is happening now. And that inception is all sorts of batshiz cray. But tomorrow I leave at the ungodly hour of 4 a.m. to spend three months living in Nantes, France. I'll be studying abroad at the university there, taking classes all in French, and living with a host family. Currently, I'm what may only be defined as a "hot mess." Surrounded by a smattering of iced coffee, bathing suits, and boots that are made for walkin'. And pancakes...trust me, you don't wanna know.

We'll chat about France soon. If you're worried that's an empty promise, rest assured there's hope. I have a 28-hour series of planes, trains, and automobiles in front of me. And what will we do now?

Just keep on living the dream.

Learning So Much?

You wouldn't believe me if I tried to explain how many times I've tried to write this blog post in the past few weeks.

During the commute to work, over lunch, while in bed. Despite my best intentions to share my summer via blogging, I've been failing miserably. I love looking back and reading my old posts but have been struggling to write. Why?

I certainly have no shortage of things to share. From crazy adventures in San Francisco to intriguing tidbits from Google, I've been wholly immersing myself in new experiences this summer. Rather than blogging about my every move and meal, I have found myself much more apt to simply live life and see where it takes me.

Homegirl say WHAT? Yes, I promise the "normal me" hasn't been abducted by aliens.

I'm living in the moment and learning so much at the same time. I miss blogging as a form of a reflection, but I've been lucky enough this summer to find friends with whom I can discuss the nitty gritty at the end of the day. On that note, how about we catch up? You thought I'd never ask.

Especially these past few weeks, I've been a busy bee at work, as "crunch time" approaches for my project. Now that I've thought through most of the idea/planning/brainstorming/organizing phases, I'm working on building the platform I've set out to create. I can't say a bunch on this, but I can tell you that there's a host of other amazing things coming out of Google right now.

Like Project Loon!

Project Loon seeks to provide balloon-powered internet for everyone. Curious about the deets? Read more here!

Outside of work, I've spent my free time...

Checkin' out AT&T park and going to a Giants' game. Lesson learned: AT&T park has temperatures similar to that of Antarctica. I bet penguins would make great baseball players.

Seeing Ed Sheeran & Sara Bareilles LIVE in Golden Gate Park...fo free! Does it get any better? Yep, when there's chocolate chip cookie sandwiches involved....

Celebrating National Pride Day the only way San Francisco knows how....with over-the-top parading and festival love. Repping Google with shirts and balloons and singing loudly and unquestionably out-of-tune while dancing with the crowds. Drag queens optional but highly recommended.

Exploring the wonders of Santa Cruz. Eating delicious Mexican food, soakin' up the sun, and being reunited with my beloved Pacific Ocean.

Taking a trip to Lake Tahoe for the 4th of July. Takung pictures like the 21st centurites that we are. Hiking like the adventurers we always wanted to be. Trying jetskiing for the first time...then wishing I could jet ski every day for the rest of my life. Because I am a thrill seeker who just can't say no to moving a little bit faster. Getting bronzy tan....MAAAAAAD bonkers tan.

Hiking through Muir Woods and taking in the majesty of Northern California's famed Redwoods. Talk about dirt, trees, life, nature, life. Repeat.

Wandering through Sonoma County & Napa Valley. Spending copious amounts of time laughing, taking more pictures, learning all things culinary, and of course, making fun of one another. Eating croque monsieurs like we're California royalty and watching acrobatics in the park. 

Hearing Dr. Henry Kissinger speak for an exclusive Google talk on foreign policy. You know, NBD. #casual. Thinking about how every foreign service school student at Georgetown would want me to take a picture for their international-relations-loving souls.

Hanging out with Mother dearest in Marin County. Consuming cheese x100,000. Cruising through the farmers' markets like it was our very own nirvana. Hiking around Point Reyes, home of some really darn good bleu cheese.

Trying Google Glass {which was pretty darn awesome!}. It's borderline mindblowing that an entire computer can fit into that tiny tab!

Seeing Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z live in San Francisco for their Legends of Summer tour. For those wondering: we did indeed bring sexy back. Rest easy tonight.

And finally, hanging out with these lovely people. Doing breakfast food and doing it big in Lower Haight. Chillin' like villains, and being young and {just a litte} reckless because what is life without a few risks? Casually known as the Breakfast Club. Or intern buds. Or the coolest kids on the block. Or my best friends.

I wish I had the devotion to blog a bit more so as to share these experiences in a bit more detail. But perhaps most importantly, I'm happy and thriving. I can't even begin to describe how much I've learned this summer--not just in an academic or intellectual sense, but rather a far greater scope of growing up. Life lessons are in no shortage, and good or bad, I've found that I'm learning so much about myself as both a persona and professional.

I'm thankful to Google for showing me how to innovate and iterate; I'm eternally grateful to the friends I've met here for challenging my views and piquing thoughts where they may have otherwise remained absent.

Oh my dear, summer 2013. You have a knack for reminding me that sometimes learning goes far beyond education.

Golden State of Mind

Andddd we're back!

Where did we leave off? Ahh yes, the reminder that this is a summer of new things and experiences, of growing into myself and making new space for uncharted territory. That means discoveries not only in personal and professional growth but also other areas as well.

Particularly food.

[skip this, if you're not interested in my personal ramblings of becoming un-vegetarian]

This summer and my time at Google has been a completely different experience in a few ways. The beginning of summer 2013 marks the first time I've (intentionally) eaten meat in 4+ years. I became a pescatarian/vegetarian/sometimes vegan somewhere down the road in high school and wasn't unhappy in the least about my choice to do so. But upon deciding to study abroad in France this Fall, I began to think more about the situation. Renowned for its cuisine, France is historically known to consider meat a cultural and culinary staple. With this, I had a brief and fleeting thought: what if I started eating meat again?

In some ways, it would be practical, as it would be less of a hassle for both my host family and me personally in France. It would defray worries that I'd be missing out on a huge part of French life, and it would be an interesting way to try something new.  Based on insights from past students, I decided it would be far easier to eat a balanced diet (i.e. more than bread + cheese). Above all, I remembered that my decision to stop eating meat was just that--my decision. It was a personal choice that was right for me for a variety of different reasons.  And I promised myself that if I ever started wanting/craving meat again, I would eat it.

So gradually and somewhat cautiously, I started reintroducing meat into my diet upon arriving at Google, while keeping in mind my own commitment to health, ethics, and sustainability. To be honest, it's been beyond easy at Google, where I'm able to just take a tiny piece of meat alongside other food at meals. On top of being extremely well-prepared in a culinary sense, the meat is typically locally raised and oftentimes organic. My thoughts? The experiment has been interesting, but I still don't crave meat. I have to remind myself to eat it, and I still have a hard time stomaching really fatty/greasy meets (lamb, corned beef, bacon, prosciutto, pepperoni, etc.). Poultry has been a bit easier, but still--I don't crave it. Nonetheless, the food I've tried has been wonderful.

Like this sunny side egg and spicy carnitas with marinated cabbage as a savory breakfast entree. But honestly, my favorite meals have still looked more like this:

Giant bowls of fruit + granola + etc.

I've only just begun exploring San Francisco, but I'm already smitten with what I have encountered. There's so much to learn and so much to see, and despite having lived in California most of my life, San Francisco is still unmapped. Unlike many of my other trips to big cities on the East Coast, my travels and San Francisco have been all spontaneity.  Now more than ever, I'm learning just how much I can enjoy myself when I let life run its course. This doesn't mean being stupid or completely forsaking plans--it simply means knowing that things will work out the way they should.

I'm still figuring out San Francisco's different neighborhoods, but I've explored a modest amount with the other interns. A few weekends ago, we decided to go to the North Beach Festival (arguably the best festival in SF), which is a part of series of neighborhood street festivals held throughout the summer. The festival contained tons and tons of booths selling everything from chili covered garlic fries to antique hair combs, in addition to live music and overall merriment.

We ended up eating at Giordano Bros. From the street, we noticed a sign that claimed an "all in one" sandwich. Intrigued, we walked in and spontaneously opted to eat lunch there. I was skeptical. REAL skeptical. In my head, I whined, wondering how cheese, meat, a fried egg, french fries, and coleslaw ALL stacked between two slices of bread could possibly be appetizing much less edible.

But to my shock, it blew. my. mind.

Excuse me?  Fo realz.

Later on, we ended up finding our way to Washington Square Park and enjoying the rare glimpses of San Francisco sun. Believe me when I say that I was clinging to that pictured cappuccino for dear life (and warmth) while we were parked in the park. Weather or not (hehe), it was a lovely day--filled with silly conversations and midday naps. The little things.

After finishing our coffee (...and naps) at the park, the group of us Googlers decided to head down to Fisherman's Wharf for dinner. If my body thought the park was cold, it certainly did not appreciate that I chose to wear only a light cotton dress. 60 degrees minus 15 degree wind chill = bad news bears. 

As for this weekend, I'd love to share what I'm doing! Except I have no idea what I'm doing. And that, my friends, is the beauty of letting life take you on its very own wild ride.

Stories a'plenty. Shenanigans in abundance. Smiles all around.

Oh, and Summer, you have an open invitation to stay.