My Experience with COVID-19

Recently lots of things have been going on in the world and in my life. I recently lost my job. I was lucky enough to find another job pretty quickly after I lost the other one. The only downside is it's in a school system. For now, I get to go in and clean lots of toys and help the headteacher clean and organize the classroom.

With the COVID-19 going around It has been a weird walking outside. With not working, I joined my mom on some errands. Going to Costco used to be a joy, with samples and people watching which I love to do. One week it was hectic with loads of people getting all they can, from people hoarding on bottled water and toilet paper too long lines checking out.
The next week we went back to Costco, we had to wait in a line to go in due to social distancing. It was such a different environment. The same goes for grocery stores and restaurants. I would rather stay home and know that I am safe from COVID-19. Well, I think I am.

On top of all of that, when I got ready for a normal Wednesday, March 18, 2020, I'm the last to leave for work. I was eating breakfast at my normal time around 7:00 am while watching YouTube and suddenly everything began to shake. I thought a big truck drove by, then I realized it was an earthquake and I suddenly hurried and got under the table; good thing I remembered what they taught me in elementary school. I called my parents to see if they were okay. I really didn't know what to do next. I  was in shock from everything that happened due to my anxiety. My sister's work closed due to the earthquake and she was sent home. So I felt better knowing that someone was home with me. I get a call from work saying not to go in. For the rest of the day, any noise scared me and I was trying to wrap my head around what happened that day. I still can't believe what happened.

I also heard stories from my family. With one of my sisters working close to the epicenter. Here is her story, in her words:

     "I was on the production floor helping one of the assemblers, as we have been trying to get as much product out as we can. The earth started to shake and I immediately reacted by getting under the workbench. The lady I was with froze, so I pulled her under the bench with me. She was very scared and I tried my best to calm her down. Once the shaking had subsided one of the leads yelled to get out of the building. I pushed the assembler to get going and ran out myself. Once we were all out we made sure we were all okay. The building was checked for damage before we were allowed to enter. There was minor damage, as a vase had fallen and broke. There was also a ceiling tile that had fallen as well as a few papers and other assorted objects. I was relieved that everyone was okay, as there were a few people still arriving. Trying to get back to work was difficult as we felt a few aftershocks. Finally, the plant manager told us to go home and be safe." 

I am grateful that I'm safe and that I am home with my family.

Girls Weekend

I took advantage of a couple of days off work and went to Florida with 2 friends from New York.

I left a Friday night on a red-eye flight to Atlanta then Atlanta to Miami. I arrived in Miami on Saturday and waited for my friend's plane to arrive. 

Saturday we went to a hotel in Miami Beach. We got on our swimsuits and went straight to the beach. We took in the beauty of the beach. I got some seashells and went swimming. Words cant say what I saw I took pictures and it will explain everything. 

Miami Beach 

Miami Beach

Sunday morning we woke up, went to the beach and watched the sunrise while we swam. We decided to take a Greyhound Bus to Key West. 

Sunrise 

We arrive in Key West and went to the NYAH (Not Your Average Hotel), and check-in. We walk around and got some souvenirs and went to the most southern point in the continental of the USA.

Key West 

Southern point in the USA

That night in Key West they had a Zombie bike ride, and we decided to watch it. Back at our hotel, we went swimming again. 

Zombie Bike ride

Monday morning we woke up early, ate breakfast, went to the pier and got on a boat with other people and went snorkeling. 

Cruise ship 

Snorkeling pass

The tour guides told us about our gear and explained about snorkeling. I have never snorkeled before so I was nervous. 

I got in the water and the seawater kept getting in my goggles, so that made it difficult to snorkel. I ended up not using the straw part of the snorkel and just held my breath. Overall it was amazing and I would do it again. The fishes were nearby my toes and it was really cool. 

Back on the boat, we saw dolphins so the Captain followed them. 

Dolphins

Dolphins

Dolphins

Back on shore we went back to the hotel and took a nap. Then we walked to Smathers Beach. Along our walk, we saw some interesting things that are unusually for us to see where we are from. 

Bananas 

Wild iguana 

Wild chickens were everywhere

Back at the hotel, we got dinner and chilled by the pool again.

Tuesday morning, we packed up and rented a car to drive back to the Miami airport and went back home. 

Alaska Adventure

It was Spring Break for the family I nanny. I decided to take an adventure and booked a flight to Alaska. I have extended family, 2 of my cousins and their families, there.
I arrived late or early on April 20. Since my flight was at 4 when I arrived in Alaska my body felt like 4 am but it was 11 PM  With the time change, it can be hard. I was 4 hours time difference.
April 20: Easter egg hunt for the kids and my two cousins and I went ax throwing in high heels. I didn't bring high heels but still threw an ax. We also went out to dinner that night at this place called The Rustic Goat. I got mac and cheese with bacon.

April 21: Easter. I went to church. After church, we had a nice Easter dinner and played with family. With the weather, which can be weird this time of year, I was lucky it was sunny today so we played outside.

April 22: I went to the gym with my cousin and afterward just hung out and talked all day. It was nice catching up with them. I haven't seen my cousins in 5 years due to our life situations. That night we went on this short hike and the view was amazing.

April 23: Drove up to Talkeetna, Alaska and I saw Mt Denali. The clouds were covering it up, so that made it difficult to see. We did some sightseeing and went souvenir shopping. I got a T-Shirt and a keychain. I started colecting key chain from everywhere I've been. That night I went to this amazing restaurant called the Moose's Tooth. I had this pizza with reindeer sausage on it. It was delicious.

Mt Denali in the background

Mooses Tooth Pizza 

April 24: I went on this amazing hike to Thunderbird Falls. It was so beautiful. That night, with my cousins, we went to the Temple in Anchorage. It was a small temple but still beautiful. After the temple, we drove to the top of Anchorage where we had a beautiful sunset with Mt Denali in the background. It was amazing. Driving home I saw my first wild moose.

Thunderbird Falls

April 25: We went to Girdwood. While driving to Girdwood we passed this spot where Beluga whales can be seen at certain times of the year. After Girdwood, we drove up to see glaciers at Glaciers National Park. We saw one floating in the water, which was cool. According to Wikipedia, "A glacier is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight; it forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries." Then we went to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. "The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a sanctuary dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care" (https://www.alaskawildlife.org/). We saw bears, elk, porcupine, wolves, reindeer, moose, bison, caribou, deer, fox, bald eagle, and coyote.

Can see Whales from here during some time of the year

Glacier 

April 26: Went out to brunch and I got eggs with reindeer sausage. It tastes like regular sausage to me. That day they drove me to the airport. I made it from Anchorage to Seattle. I could see the top of the Glacier from the plane, which was amazing. They overbooked the plane and if you volunteered to say behind you could get a voucher, so I did. They could have put me in a hotel but I decided to sleep at the airport since my flight was early and they gave me another voucher, for the hotel. Sleeping at the airport was hard. I did find a quiet place to sleep but still, it was hard. 

Glacier from my plane 

April 27: Took an early morning flight back to JFK and I had to go find my luggage since it came earlier with another flight. 

Catching up on some ZZZZ

Its Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

It started off on December 20: The family I nanny for left for their holiday vacation. I left around 4:00 p.m. to the airport. I flew out of Newark, New Jersey airport. I couldn't believe it, it took forever to get to the airport due to traffic. I made it to Newark at 6:45 p.m. and made it through security and baggage. My plane took off at 7:15 p.m. I felt like I was in Home Alone 2 when they were running down to the gate. I was thirsty and hungry but I did make it on the plane. I landed in Utah at 11:15 p.m.

December 21: I hung out around the house and did errands with my sister. That night my family and I went to Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City.  It's a family tradition to go every year, and I love it. I even got to see the Light the World Giving Machines.

December 22: We got family pictures in Provo. After we went to lunch at a pizza place called the Brick Oven.

December 24: Christmas Eve. That afternoon my brother, his wife, and my nephew came over and we played and talked. I loved seeing my family. We had fun playing and enjoying time together. That night we had a Christmas Eve dinner, which consisted of salmon, rice, gravy, vegetables, rolls and pumpkin pie. After dinner we did our annual Christmas program. We read Luke 2, played Christmas songs, usually one of us play our instruments,  and give our presents to our siblings. We switch names and buy gifts for each other.

December 25: CHRISTMAS! We opened presents and spent time as a family. I got wax warmer, bracelet, gift card, and money.

December 26: Went to lunch at Chick-fil-A for lunch and for dinner went to Cafe Rio. I try to go to a couple of my favorite restaurants when I'm home. For Christmas my mom wanted new carpet down the basement stairs, so my parents decided that the family room needed carpeting too.  So with that, my family has begun the renovation process by tearing down the walls and ceiling of the family room. I got to put a hammer to the wall it was fun.

old movie Nutcracker 2004 

December 27: Hung out with a couple of my college friends. We met in Provo and carpooled to Spanish Fork. We went to a painting class together. I felt like Bob Ross.

What is should look like 

What mine looks like

December 28: I hung out with my friends since we had a sleepover. We went shopping.

December 29: My Mom and I went to the temple in the morning. That night we went bowling and went out to dinner.

December 30: I took a red eye flight home that night.