Filipino street kids playing POGS?

As I jumped off the jeepney coming home from the office, I spotted a group of street kids sitting on the side of the road playing pogs.  Seriously, I’m not sure the last time I saw kids actually playing pogs, in a tournament style or anything... definitely not on the streets of Manila.  Actually, come to think of it, I don’t think I ever even saw kids playing POGs ever!  It never was popular where I grew up... that statement will be memorialized forever in my memory. My first time interviewed by the press, and forever scarred from then on for press interviews after being scolded for being a bit too honest as I shared that POGs were not popular where I lived... or something along those lines.

Anyways, when I was 11 or 12, I was selected with 11 others from across the US to be on the World POG Federation Kids Board of Directors.  They flew a parent with each of us into LA for board meetings and pure fun for a few days. They spoiled us rotten.  Sure we had meetings in board rooms, we reviewed books they were publishing, taste tested POG candy, discussed stuff I can no longer remember... but I do clearly remember how they spoiled us rotten. From the moment we checked into the fancy hotel with welcome baskets of pogs and things, to getting off a chartered bus and literally being physically showered/attacked by POGS as the WPF staff and leaders welcomed us to their offices, to a trip to Disneyland where we acted like entitled princes and princesses, thinking we were all so cool... all the while our parents who had to accompany us like well-paid babysitters watched us at night and observed everything else.  Perhaps one day I’ll rip out my personal POG – yes they made POGs of each of us.... ridiculous... I know. Actually there was a book published about us with our pogs in them, but I cannot find it anywhere!  I saw it randomly at a Bradlees or Caldor years ago, but a couple of our pogs were actually punched out so my parents thought we would be able to locate another copy elsewhere.  We either forgot, or just failed to find one... so bummed!

Anyways the memories stirred on by the sight of these kids... having fun playing pogs.  A foreign sight in a foreign place, a distant memory, but very intentional preparation. In all of high school and most of college, the thought of entering the business world one day was the last thing I would have done.  To think back to my childhood at the ways God has been preparing me for the work I do today and where He is leading... it’s like seeing the puzzle pieces come together.  Even before the POG thing, as a really young kid, I would gather my neighbors and we’d start clubs together – I had a police club and puppy club in my parents basement, a science lab, almost organized a soccer camp for neighborhood kids (what we would have taught them I don’t know since we were quite young still!) and at one point my friend and I who were a bit crazy about baseball even started our own baseball team “Metankee” – she loved the Yankees, I loved the Mets. We had our own fake “fantasy” team as we tracked stats on Prodigy, pre AOL days, and even made business cards for ourselves for our new baseball team.  Ridonkulous... but to see how God has wired me... albeit a super shy kid, but one that sought to create and build and organize, even as a child. Still learning as I go along... truly an adventure.  No coincidences, no random events or experiences... all move forward as if filling a toolbox full of widgets that can be used when and where and how God leads as He calls us into the work we do.

TSA in my business

Arrived safely in Manila.  Opened my suitcase to find TSA “notice of baggage inspection” slips inside – nothing new. My bag often gets searched – I guess I stuff it full of random crap that it looks suspicious... who knows.  As I unpack I find a very thorough search has happened.  Not only did they check my bag and throw the slip in, they went as far as opening my Ziploc baggie of chocolate spread, and wrapping the slip around the jar.  I opened the jar and it was unopened... but find it quite entertaining that they got all in my chocolate jar’s business.

On another note, I’m sharing a room with a volunteer who is serving here for the year.  On her wall she had this verse... one of my favorites.. always speaks to me whenever I read it.

Captain Bob

I suppose if you flew the Honolulu to Guam route, you really have no reason to not be joyful.  Well, meet Captain Bob (in the dark suit/cap), our gregarious pilot... we settle down into our seats.... he starts going around the cabin, saying hello, shaking our hands, introducing himself... and finally as he realizes he should probably get back into the cockpit says.. “oh, I should probably get back in that room (cockpit).  You know we don’t get to get out much. I mean, I’m stuck in that room with my copilot for the flight, then we get off the flight together, and check into the hotel together... it’s kind of weird.”  Thanks Captain Bob for helping us start this flight off in good spirits.

And to add to that... I got a free upgrade into business class... the highlight? They served ice cream sundaes!

   

Layover Adventures in Hawaii

breakfast feast

My hotel has free breakfast – well, I guess you can call it free but I had to pay a $23 resort fee upon check in which I think more than covers this continental breakfast.  Don’t get me wrong, it was good and unique, especially the donuts!  I had a nice time this morning feasting on God’s word and on food, overlooking the ocean from my room porch.

views from the volcano

Afterwards I hit the road... went for a long jog to the bottom of a volcano- Diamond Head, then hiked up to the crater’s summit.  I was worried I wouldn’t make it down in time but there was plenty of time!  I was so thankful for that time there.  It was raining pretty hard on my jog to the volcano. I almost turned around at one point.  In the volcano, it was actually sunny and beautiful.  It was a steep hike but well worth it. I needed the exercise for sure. I did look like a crazy woman I’m sure as I speedwalked/excused me my way around people hiking slowly up enjoying the journey...

After the hike, ran back to the hotel, and even had time to go take a quick dip in the ocean.  There were some small fish in there. Water was so clear. I confirmed that I really don’t love the ocean.  The idea of pretty fish is cool... so I chase after them like everyone else does, reach out my hand to touch them like others might... but then when they get to close, I start freaking out.  The idea of the ocean sounds nice but in reality.... not such a fan.

Anyways, a nice layover.  On to manila.

23 hour layover in honolulu

To be honest, it sounded cool but for some reason I kind of didn’t want to deal with it. It meant finding a place to stay, figuring out what to do, and leaving home earlier than I would like to... but, it was the best choice for multiple reasons, so I went with it.  As I thought why I was not as excited about it, it kind of perplexed me. It’s Hawaii for pete’s sake.  I would have to say a family vaca to Hawaii as a kid was definitely one of the best trips.  We had done plenty of beaches and vacation spots, but Hawaii was just the best.  But going solo... I dunno... it just didn’t sound that appealing.  I guess I prefer the mountains... if it was 24 hours in Utah or Colorado in the winter, I would have paid extra to make that happen!

Nevertheless, the flight was booked... used some points to book a hotel. Spoiled myself a bit and stayed pretty comfortably near Waikiki beach.  Once I arrived, I got right to work.  Grabbed a shuttle to the hotel, texted my friend who grew up in Honolulu for tips on things to do, she started texting me place after place – all food. I hit the streets finding the food joints she suggested. Yum.  Rainbow’s drive-in, then zippy’s, failed to find the shaved ice place, went back to rainbow’s for the slush float, wandered back towards the hotel and into the downtown’ish type of area to the apple store to pick something up, then back to the hotel. Thought I was going to pass out towards the end of my wandering. A lot of walking... not enough sleep... tired.

Hawaii reminds me of POGs.  If you don’t know what POGs are – well, they’re out of business now but it’s a game where you throw an object to flip a stack of milk caps over, originating in Hawaii actually – the Haleakala dairy farm.  POG also stands for Passion, Orange, and Guava mixed together to make POG juice, also a more Hawaiian flavor (I found some at the Honolulu airport and drank some!).  It also reminds me of Hawaii because my family went on a family vacation to Hawaii right before my first ever business trip.  Like this time, Hawaii was an added bonus to a comp’d trip.  I’ll explain more some other time.