First Family Vacation

Growing up, I wish my parents had taken us on real family vacations. I'm talking at least a week-long, out-of-town vacation. It could have been a tour of Spain or a road trip to Niagara Falls. I'd even settle for a weekend in Chicago. The most we ever got was a day together in the Dells.

In high school, I started to accept the fact that a real family vacation was never going to happen. My family was just different. We prioritized work over play. My parents barely closed the restaurant on Christmas. There was no way they'd close the restaurant for a week to simply relax. Why relax when you can work?

Finally, it happened. We took our first family vacay ever in May. And, I now understand why we never went on family vacations before.

Coordinating logistics. With cousins, aunts, parents, and siblings, we had a lot of people on our trip, which made figuring out transportation and lodging loads of fun.

Adults are essentially children in larger form. The older I get, the more I realize the term 'adult' is fictional. Like children, adults get cranky when they're tired, hungry, and kept in cars for too long.

Family drama. With 9 people on the trip, there were bound to be some family members who didn't get along with others. Thankfully, we had two cars to separate people in.

But, I shouldn't complain. We made wonderful memories, enough to keep my parents from wanting to take another vacation for a while. After 12 days away, my dad couldn't wait to get back to work. Classic Baba.

First few days

During the first few days of vacation, we hung out in Portland, Oregon. We arrived on a Wednesday. My aunts would arrive the next day on Thursday. My sister's graduation from optometry school would take place on Friday and Saturday. We'd spend Sunday in Portland before going to Mount Rainier on Monday, Seattle on Tuesday, Vancouver on Wednesday and Thursday, drive back to Portland on Friday, and hang out one last day in Portland on Saturday before flying back to Chicago on Sunday. I planned the heck out of this trip.

We went shopping at the Woodburn Outlets, where my parents had Red Robin for the first time. I took my aunts and cousins to Pok Pok, which was delightful.

We waited in line for ice cream at Salt & Straw.

We took photos at Pittock Mansion.

We walked around my sister's neighborhood in Portland, where my aunt and my dad discovered a tree with blossoms they used to eat as kids growing up in South Korea. "We were so poor we'd stuff ourselves with these flowers," he said as my aunt laughed. I could see the memory and joy in their eyes.

Graduation

My sister's graduation was a happy time for my parents. All their hard work paid off with a doctor in the family. Livin’ the American dream.

Cannon Beach

We drove two hours for an hour at the beach. It was totally worth it to see my dad feel the sand between his toes. "I've been in the US 40 years and this is the first time I've seen the ocean [stateside]." I think there’s something about sound of the waves crashing on the shore that gives people a sense of serenity. It was the first time on the trip I saw my dad enjoy himself for a moment.

Mount Rainier

Here's what they don't tell you when you visit Mt. Rainier - driving up a mountain can take hours. Two hours in our case, and that's after driving three hours from Portland. But, we made it to the top. It was covered in snow, my mom was freezing - luckily she brought pajama bottoms (??) with her - and the views were amazing.

Seattle

The best part about Seattle was our sweet Airbnb. Walking around Pike Place Market was cool but we were all happy to rest after a long day.

Vancouver

In Vancouver, we stumbled across a free shuttle that would take us to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. A free shuttle? We were ecstatic. Then, we got to the park and realized admission tickets were $46.95 a person. Fortunately, we got a discount for being considered a group.

Because tickets were so expensive, my dad wanted to see everything the park had to offer. This was awesome. My dad went from acting like we kidnapped him from work to actively exploring bridges and trails. We ran around the park like kids at a resort, except better since we were surrounded by trees.

Portland Saturday Market

The market was our last outing before heading home to Chicago the next day. It's hilarious to me that my dad was the only person who got something. My aunt spent $2 on a little metal stand for his phone. The most frugal person in our group left with a purchase.

Little things that seem minute to some people were a huge deal for me on this trip. Seeing my parents hold hands for the first time. Having a conversation with my dad without being interrupted by the restaurant. My dad relaxing and watching a movie. Being on an airplane, or at the ocean, or on a mountain with my family. It was all very surreal because these experiences have literally never happened to me before.

Moments of the trip that weren’t caught on camera:

• My dad brushing my mom's hair back with his hand while we were sitting at a picnic table at Pittock Mansion.

• My dad and his younger sister telling stories about their childhood in Korea: eating tree blossoms that taste like honey, melting snow as soup bases, my dad pretending he was a king while playing make-believe with his siblings.

• My aunts making every Airbnb feel like a home, whipping up meals in a matter of minutes, ensuring everyone had a blanket, scrubbing the place spotless before we left for the next city.

• My dad and his sisters watching 20 hours of Korean dramas together. Thank you, Netflix and Roku.

• My dad eating Red Robin and Taco Bell for the first time.

• Piling into cars and going to 6 Asian supermarkets in 10 days.

As a family, we never spent time doing nothing together. My favorite parts of vacation weren’t necessarily the sites we visited, but being a little closer together and enjoying time simply as a family.

Amsterdam

If Amsterdam were a person, I think she'd be effortlessly chic, invited to all the parties, and friends with everyone. She'd also own a bike and be able to eat carbs without ever gaining weight. Amsterdam was an eclectic city, full of personality, history, and pancakes. I can't wait to go back...when it's August, not March. It was freezing when we went in March.

Our Airbnb was a houseboat, which was a cool experience. Though, I'm not sure I'd do it again. I discovered that I very much like stable ground when I wash my hands. Steve loved it. When another boat would float by, it would give our houseboat a good rock and remind us that we were sleeping on the canal.

We essentially did our own food tour of Amsterdam:

• I had the best broadwurst at a stand in front of Foodhallen.
• We ordered the rijsttafel at Kantjil.
• Steve ate a couple raw herring sandwiches.
• I loved the warm, freshly made stroopwafel from the Albert Cuyp Markt.
• The poffertjes were our favorites - little bites of heaven, especially the ones at De Vier Pilaren.
• We couldn't say no to frites with cheese.
• The beef and labneh manoushe at The Lebanese Sajeria was perfect for a picnic along the canal.
• I ordered munthee at every cafe.
• On our last night, we ended our trip at Fondue & Fondue.

Coming from dreary Chicago, I was excited to see all the colorful blossoms at Bloemenmarkt. They inspire me to grow tulips in my own garden someday.

Steve and I usually don't visit museums when we travel, but we made an exception for the ones in Amsterdam. The city is so walkable that we were able to hit up three museums in one day: Rijksmuseum, the Tulip Museum, and the Anne Frank House.

One thing to note about Amsterdam is that bicyclists seem to have the right-of-way (or perhaps they seem to be the most fearless). Whenever we crossed a street, we had to look both ways for bicycles, scooters, and cars.

We ended up not renting bikes but walked everywhere instead. Everything seemed to be only a 20 minute walk away.

Compared to other European cities we've visited, the locals in Amsterdam not only spoke perfect English but were more willing to speak it. The people we met were so nice and welcoming, which makes sense since the city gives off a very open, diverse vibe.

Last thing

Saw the Northern Lights on the flight to Iceland, where we had a layover. Never thought I'd see them in my lifetime. They make you believe that there is magic in this world. My iPhone photo doesn't do them any justice. The way they shift and dance - one of the most extraordinary things I've ever seen.

'Til next time, Amsterdam!

Homesickness

On my flight to San Francisco, thoughts of doubt and fear popped up in my head.

"This is crazy," I thought to myself. "I'm uprooting my life and leaving behind my family and everything I've known. What am I doing?!"

I'm starting to distinguish the difference between feeling at home and feeling like I'm where I'm supposed to be. Home is a place I'm familiar with and comfortable. Where I'm supposed to be can feel uncomfortable and vulnerable at first, but it feels right. When I started to see the Bay Area from the plane, I felt at ease. I'm meant to be here.

Homesickness didn't hit me until a week later. My first week in SF, I was on an adrenaline rush. I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed - everything was so new and exciting. Steve arrived my first Friday to help us look for an apartment. Having him around made me realize how fun our west coast adventure will be. Then, seeing Steve leave when the weekend was over made me super homesick. I was sitting in front of my computer at the office when a wave of homesickness hit me like a ton of bricks. I missed my friends and family, my home, my neighborhood, the comfort of it all. My heart ached and I suddenly felt like sobbing.

I've felt these emotions before - when I visited Taiwan as a kid, when I studied abroad in Europe in high school, when I moved to Boston for college. Homesickness isn't a new emotion; it's just one that I think I've grown out of until it hits me by surprise. I know that this is the hardest part of any move and that eventually the homesickness will subside. After a while, San Francisco will feel like home. Taiwan, Europe, and Boston did.

“‘When you feel homesick,’ he said, ‘just look up. Because the moon is the same wherever you go.’”

— The Goldfinch

My Heart Swings

Leaving Chicago has been something I've wanted for a while. Now that it's finally time to leave, I'm feeling incredibly sad. Chicago is my home and comfort zone. I'll miss my daily routine in Wicker Park, the familiarness of Chinatown, the streets and highways I've been driving down since I was a kid. But most of all, I'll miss my friends and family. My grandpa turns 97 this year, and my parents aren't getting any younger.

I feel grateful to call Chicago home. It's the city that taught me to be kind and practical, to be humble yet proud. It's where I learned a strong work ethic and where I learned to enjoy the simple things in life. You can take the girl out of the Midwest, but you can never take the Midwest out of the girl.

All my life, I've been torn between wanting to see the world and wanting to stay home. My heart swings hopelessly between a need for routine and the urge to run wild. I love traveling but deep down, I'm a homebody. 

It's as if I have two modes in life:

1. Adventure-seeking
2. Couch-potato

Now feels like the right time to be adventure-seeking. Steve and I don't have kids yet, and we're in a place professionally where we can make a change. Though we know adventure is out there and a new chapter of our lives awaits us, it's still hard to leave and we'll miss Chicago dearly.

Italy

From Munich, we hopped on a quick flight to Venice. Along the way, we were able to see the beautiful mountains of northern Italy. In seemingly a blink of an eye, we went from cold, rainy Munich to sunny, sweltering Venice.

Venice

How is it that a one-hour flight can transport us to a different world? Venice could not have been more different than Munich in terms of weather, culture, and scenery. Our cab from the Venice airport dropped us off at the edge of the city, right near the train station. Vehicles were no longer allowed beyond that point, which I discovered had its pros and cons.

Pros:

• It's lovely to be able to walk around a city and not worry about congestion or being hit by cars.
• It keeps the city nice and quiet.

Cons:

• It's easy to get lost and stay lost. We quickly discovered that navigating Venice's streets was like finding our way through a labyrinth.
• It's less convenient. We watched a group of men try to move furniture on a boat instead of a moving truck.

Parts of Venice made me feel like I was at Disney World, as if I was in a make-believe version of Italy. Especially with no cars, we were able to wander around as if Venice were a giant historic resort. Once we got away from the crowds, near the Rialto and Piazza San Marco, Venice felt much calmer and neighborly. Every few blocks, we found a little square where locals gathered.

I read in a brochure that one of the best places to view the Grand Canal was from the rooftop terrace of the Frondaco dei Tedeschi department store. We booked our reservations online for a free 15 minute viewing on the rooftop. When we got to the store, we waited in a short line for an absolutely stunning view of the canal.

On our last night in Venice, we had dinner at Osteria Zucca. The best vegetarian lasagna.

“This was Venice, the flattering and suspect beauty this city, half fairy tale and half tourist trap, in whose insalubrious air the arts once rankly and voluptuously blossomed, where composers have been inspired to lulling tones of somniferous eroticism.””

— Thomas Mann

Florence

Florence is one of my favorite cities in the world. I first visited in high school and have such magical memories of my time there. I couldn't wait to show Steve how beautiful it was.

Beautiful though it was, we arrived in Florence just as a heat wave called 'Lucifer' was taking hold of Europe. We had to strategically plan out our days: waking up early to sightsee, recovering back at the hotel between 2 to 5 pm, and coming back out just as the sun was setting. We'd roll back to our hotel around 10 pm, stuffed with pizza, pasta, and prosciutto.

I loved those early mornings. The streets were quiet and free of crowds. It was cool enough to function. And, we still had the whole day ahead of us.

One morning, we took a bike ride to Signa in search of sunflower fields. An hour into our ride, we discovered that we had just missed the season. We found a few fields with dried up sunflowers, a couple weeks past their prime. While sunflowers weren't in the cards for us, we did enjoy biking through the golden Tuscan fields and watching farmers tend to their sheep. It was nice to simply get away from the main tourist spots and get a glimpse of local life.

“Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life.”

— Anna Akhmatova

Rome

Our time in Rome felt like one big scavenger hunt. We had less than 24 hours in the city, which meant we tried to check off as many things from the map as possible. Trevi Fountain? Check. Pantheon? Check. St. Peter's Basilica and the Colosseum? Check, check.

Thinking back, it's nice to have photos of these amazing buildings and be able to say I saw them. But, running (well, ambling in our case) from site to site isn't something I'd recommend. I wish I had time to give each building the attention it deserves. Each one has a story and a lesson to be learned. I much prefer spending quality time at each site and we didn't get a chance to do that in Rome.

“Rome is not like any other city. It’s a majestic museum, a living room to tiptoe through.”

— Alberto Sordi

Amalfi

Our last stop in Italy was the Amalfi coast. From Rome, we took the high speed Italo train to Salerno. On the way, we passed Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano with smoke coming out of the top. 

We decided to stay at a B&B in Salerno and take day trips to Amalfi and Positano via the ferry.

On our first full day, Steve surprised me by chartering a boat to take us along the coast. This was one of the best days of our honeymoon trip. Our guide, Antonio, was a 22 year old from Minori who patiently showed us all the sites and took 4932043 photos of us when I asked. He was awesome.

The Amalfi coast is made up of five main towns: Amalfi, Praiano, Positano, Maiori, and Minori. Antonio pointed out each town as we passed by. He stopped and showed us the kissing elephant rock formation, Pandora's Cave, and he let us swim near the Li Galli islands. Bluest waters I've ever seen.

On our second day, we explored Amalfi on our own and ended up hiking to Ravello. A steep climb, mostly in the sun, weaving through the forms on the edge of the mountain. What was really a 1.5 hour hike felt like 4 hours of back-breaking work. That Lucifer heat wave was no joke.

“You may have the universe if I may have Italy.”

— Giuseppe Verdi

In 9 whirlwind days, we visited the whimsical waterways of Venice, the bustling streets of Florence, the crowded piazzas of Rome, and the hidden beaches of the Amalfi coast. Italy is a place I'll never forget.