Seattle: Days 20-22: "Wrapping up"

It is the day before I leave Seattle. I am going to miss this place, but it is time to continue on. I need to see my family at home before I go back to school.

On Sunday I went to a singles ward meeting where converts spoke about how they came to find the church. I realized that this area is full of people who have found themselves here just like me. I fit in.

I scheduled an interview with the Editor in Chief of the Bellevue Reporter. If I get the internship, perhaps I will be in this area for longer.

For now, it's time to pack. I'll miss this place.

Seattle: Day 19 "Birthday"

Today is my birthday. To me, turning 25 was bittersweet. It was nice to be a year older and surrounded by friends, but it was bitter to think about where I am in life. I need a good job. I need to get my life in order.

I had dinner with a lot of friends and then we went to Alki beach. And it made me realize what is really important in life.

I feel confident about life and where I am going. And the cake was good, too.

Seattle: Day 18 "Hanging with the Asplunds"

A lot of nothing took place today. The most exciting thing that happened was the trip to the Asplunds. We watched "Arrested Development" and ate homemade pizza. Her family is a lot of fun. They remind me a lot of a family that I used to spend a lot of time with except friendlier.

It was relaxing.

Seattle: Day 17 "Took it easy"

Not a lot to write about today, so here is a simple list of what I did:

1.) Watched two Harry Potter movies.

2.) Did my laundry.

3.) Went to Idylwood park with Rachel and her friends.

4.) Went to Rachel's home to watch 30 Rock with some of her other friends.

That is all. I had a lot of fun.

Seattle: Day 16 "Bainbridge Vacation"

My adventure began at a bus station. It is amazing that $2.50 can get you into Seattle in 35 minutes. I arrived at the Westlake center, which was booming with people who have somewhere to be. I fit right in.

I passed through the flying fish of Pike's Place as I rushed down to the ferry station. I prefer traveling alone because it feels more adventurous.

The ferry ride was breezy. Children were scurrying around pretending to be pirates while their parents watched Seattle disappear. When we arrived on Bainbridge island, the ferry felt more like a bus at the station. Everyone migrated off the ferry to the taxis and minivans waiting for them. Julie picked me up there.

Bainbridge is beautiful. The beaches are rocky, but that makes them different. Families were playing on the tree trunks that rest on the coast line.

It was quiet.

Julie and the rest of the Rencher family were accommodating. Julie and her siblings joked over taco salads while their mother listened in tolerance. They were wonderful people. They live in a small town called Poulsbo, which is Dutch for something I'm sure.

We kayaked in Liberty Bay after dinner. I saw some amazing sights while on the water. We skimmed over a school of jellyfish as they puffed through the water. Some seals looked at us curiously as they passed by our boats. I never imagined I would kayak with jellyfish and seals.

Eventually, I said goodbye to my friend Julie and boarded a ferry back to Seattle with about 30 other people. I recalled all of my many blessings in life while watching Seattle grow on the horizon.

Quite an amazing trip.

Seattle: Day 15 "Non-alcoholic hangover"

I didn't think someone could be hung over from non-alcoholic sparkling cider. My head hurt when I woke up this morning. The family dog was sleeping on my back, which startled me awake.

Staying up until 4 am loses its edge after the "5 hour energy" wears off. I was a zombie throughout church, which I unfortunately can vaguely recall.

I went with Jessica and her family to University of Washington, which only made me sad about my school. Such a beautiful campus.

These are all the words you are getting out of me.

Seattle: Day 14 "The Groundbreaking"

Today marked the end of a chapter in my life. I spent it in the midst of caring friends and bottles of Martinelli's non-alcoholic sparkling cider. Despite my socially induced anesthesia, it was a rough day.

It is difficult to think that the person you spent two and a half years with got married by the end of your morning shower. It is even more difficult to save face in front of people who do not entirely understand.

We spent our day at the carnival in front of the Pacific Science Museum in Seattle. While riding teacups and merry-go-rounds, I would occasionally drift into thoughts of her standing in a receiving line giving hugs to people she rarely associates with.

I imagined what the punch was like at her reception while purchasing the night's first bottle of Martinelli's. I am sure everything was decadent considering how bourgeois her family is.

After the "5 hour energy" wore off, the second bottle of Martinelli's finally elicited an emotional response from me at 3 am. Tsige was their to receive the hateful rants and declarations of independence.

However, a hopeful future lies in friends, family, health and wealth.

It is time to rebuild, and today was the groundbreaking.

Seattle: Day 13 "Quirky Folks"

I did some chores around the LeFevre home today. They are giving me a place to stay, so it is the least I could do.

Later that night I decided to go on a single's ward camping trip.

After the second "Twilight" conversation ended I realized that I had made a mistake in coming. The single's ward here is one that Mormon filmmakers would like to exploit for their plots. It is loaded with quirky folks mixed with a handful of moderately sane people. It is a ward you cannot help but adore.

That night I learned a few names, some "Star Wars" facts and that a majority of the camp was on "Team Edward". I went to be early.

Seattle: Day 12 "Creation day"

Art museums are recharging stations for creativity.

We went to the Seattle Art Museum today. It inspired me to go beyond the thoughtless work that I have a habit of creating.

I was able to see work from Pollock, Warhol and many more. As I admired the work that many seem to simply overlook, I felt a strong impression that I was capable of creating just like the artists I was admiring.

I felt the worth of human creation.

There was a meteor shower later that night. My day filled with creations by masterful hands was ended by viewing the greatest work of all.

There is an art museum all around. Thanks be to God for that.

Seattle: Day 11 "Petty Theft"

I went to lunch with some missionaries this afternoon. Tsige called me 15 minutes before her appointment with them. Luckily, I was already strutting around my room in my new skinny jeans.

We ate Red Robin. Tsige kept requesting more fries for me so she could eat them. Technically, that is petty theft. I'm sure she was aware.

Later, we went to half-priced books and shopped for books no one has heard of. I think we secretly competed to see whose book was more obscure.

Later that night I went to dinner with Stephanie and Marni. I met them at a dance party. Nothing makes you look more legit than going to dinner with two beautiful women at the same time.

The End.

Seattle: Day 10 "Sushi and Shopping"

I bought skinny jeans. If you do not like that, then the punk side of me says, "I don't care." I bought them while at the mall with Tsige. On the way back, Tsige put us on the wrong freeway. Here was the dialogue:

Joey: "Tsige, is that Seattle?"

Tsige: "Errr....Ummmm..."

J: "Well, there is the space needle right there."

T: "Darn, I thought you wouldn't notice."

J: "What?!"

After we went through traffic hell, we went to a sushi bar.

All food should be presented conveyor style. Notice the period at the end of that sentence.

Seattle: Day 9 "An Ethiopian Tour Guide"

My tour guide for the day was the lovely Tsige. She was pretty inexpensive. All I had to do was pay her bus fare and she was set.

We went to the Seattle library, which was one of the coolest places to house books I had ever seen. Locals busied themselves with study and Facebook updates while the tourists took photos of them as though they were part of an exhibit. The sea of computers dominated the third floor with the sound of keyboard clicks crashing against the shore of the metallic walls.

We also saw the Seattle Art Museum sculpture garden. Big Brother scolded children over a loudspeaker when they touched the artwork. We were not excluded.

I ran into a person who tried to sign me up for a children's charity organization. She asked me to join after pitching for five minutes. I thanked her, but told her I already contribute through another organization and I would have to give her's more thought.

"What would you possibly be thinking about? I told you everything," she said.

At that point I realized that she was pushing a sale, rather than a cause. I was disappointed. Her insistance made her intentions clear.

We later had Thai food, which was rather spicy. My nose ran as I took my stomach lashings like a man. Tsige was fine.

It was a productive day.

Seattle: Day 7 "New friends"

Day seven was lazy. I just did my laundry and watched rain splash the pond behind the house. I played a lot of Mario with the kids here.

However, I went to a dance party in Seattle. It was a Mormon dance party, so it was clean. The only exception was the tall drunk man who stumbled into the party and started dancing. He made quite a display.

I met new friends there. Mia, Marni and Stephanie are from a place near Redmond.

Meeting new friends and running into old ones made for a good night.

Seattle: Day 6 "I found my soulmate today"

The title was just to get you to read. Sorry.

I had a vanilla bean (coffee-less) frappuccino at Starbucks while designing a postcard. It was an amazing Washington experience.

Today I went to the waterfront in Kirkland for photos. I parked the car and made my way over to the parking meter. The meter did not say how much time I could pay for. I asked a parking lady nearby how much I should put into the meter.

"Just pay for the maximum. You never know when you will meet your soulmate," she said hopefully.

I gave her a quizzical look and paid the minimum.

Soulmate or not, I took some lovely photos.

Seattle: Day 5 "Starbucks and MacBooks"

I used Wi-Fi in a public park today. Washington is a magical place.

I took more photos in Marymoor Park, then immediately uploaded them in the park. It was convenient.

So far this is what seattle has done for me:

1.) Fueled my passionate desire for an iPhone.

2.) Magnified my frustrations toward Microsoft.

3.) Pushed me to become a better photographer.

4.) Enticed me to move here.

The radio doesn't even suck here. THE RADIO.

Washington is so magical that it even has my bank. I was able to deposit $500 that I received when I sold my camera. This, of course, was after I fanned myself with it a few times. There are only a handful of times I will have that amount of money in my hand, so I have to take advantage of it.

I went with Jessica to Bellevue Mall to buy a MacBook. That city seems to be owned by Microsoft, which made the purchase that much sweeter.

We have plans to sit in a Starbucks with our MacBooks talking about how original screenplays are dead while sipping our hot cocoa.

I'm living the dream.

Seattle: Day 4 "Wash me"

The back of a moving van said "Overtaxation is not the answer" written in the dirt that covered it. You know you are in Seattle when hooligans write political statements instead of "Wash me!"

I sold my old camera today. I was a little nervous about money, so I am glad that it is gone. A part of me will miss it, but that part of me is ok with starving to death.

The man who purchased the camera clearly had the money. He arrived in a nice Audi, his hair was slicked back and he spoke to me like a was kin. He was a very friendly man. He offered $400. I told him I would go no lower than $450. He examined the camera while I explained to him why I came to Seattle. I told him about internship opportunities, friends and adventures.

The real reason I was here was irrelevant.

Something must have struck his compassion. He left with my camera at full price. I mustered up all of the stuff and offered him a "call-me-if-something-goes-wrong" warranty.

He was a good man and a Godsend.

I went to Marymoor park today. I took photos of a garden where volunteers grow food for local shelters. Ah, Seattle.

Seattle Day 3: "Night and Day"

Today was a lazy day. I spent most of it playing Rockband and Super Mario with the family that I am staying with. Their 11-year-old daughter loves to cook. Her knowledge of recipes is limited, so I had rice crispy treats for breakfast.

Later that day, I wandered the historic part of Redmond with Jessica. There was a bookstore that sold at half price. Conversations about lowering the drinking age and nuclear war were heard over the cash register. It was good to see a local bookstore do well.



When evening approached, Jessica retired to talk with her boyfriend. Tsige and I ventured to Seattle for some night photography. While I shot, I got to hear her stories. Tsige Tafesse was born in America, but is Ethiopian by blood. She spoke of the incredible story of her parents, her feelings, her opinions and so on. It was a refreshing conversation.


We traversed the city until 2 AM. The city at night is calming in its quiet beauty.


A day of beauty: Stories, cities and people.

Seattle: Day 2 "Clam Chowder Sums It Up"

Let me begin with the following statement: Iver's in Seattle has the best clam chowder I have ever had.

The city of Seattle is calm. It was nice getting a tour from locals because they would be nonchalant about most of the sites, which kept me from being over-enthusiastic about people throwing fish.

The people of Idaho believe that a camera will steal your soul. In Seattle it is an everyday occurrence to see a photographer chasing you. It was like a shooting gallery where the targets don't get mad when you shoot them while they have food in their mouth or when they are not smiling.

There is one universal constant that remains unscathed even in Washington. The single's congregation here is odd.

They are fun, likable people but weird nonetheless.

There was an activity at the church tonight. We performed improv skits. Nothing beats an comedic routine where the only laughs produced were from Star Wars references.

I had fun.

Seattle: Day 1 "Kind of Like Japan"

I woke up to a rooster this morning. No, I am not staying on a farm. I am in Redmond, Wash. which is just outside of Seattle where I arise in the morning to the sound of "urban chickens."

I feel like I have gone to another world where everything is backwards. Kind of like Japan.

Seattle is beautiful and full of interesting people. I thought I would stand out here as the stranger looking to escape his problems by running away to Seattle. It turns out that it is made up of people like me.

My accommodations have been wonderful. Jessica's parents were delighted to meet me. All of my unspoken and unanswered questions about her personality quirks were solved by 10 minutes of conversation with her family. When I arrived at my temporary home, the lady of the house taught me how to give a proper hug, gave me a tour and left for Japan the next day.

In conclusion, Washington is full of Starbucks, hipsters and trees.

It is wonderful.