Without suffering, there'd be no compassion

Funny doggy (Taken with instagram)

This is day 4 since I’ve been in Melbourne Beach, Florida. I met Gay and JR in Nicaragua at the Puerto Sandino Surf Resort. They were there on vacation, and I was there working as an intern to pay my way through the trip, sorda. They offered me the opportunity to come out to FLA to work and help out at their new shop opening on the 26th, A Surfing Life. My work is pro bono, but they’re housing and feeding me, and the experience I’m having is something i’ll take with me forever.

I’ve always wanted to work at a surf shop since I was little. Inventory, boards, customers, everything surf couture fascinates me. Now I have input, responsibility, and get to surf everyday. I’ll even be running the shop on certain days, and who knows how long I might stay here because I don’t even have a return ticket yet.

The first picture is of Gay and JR, my surrogate Florida family. The second picture is of the board that I’ve been riding, their daughters board that she never road. This RC 5’8 rounded pin thruster has been super fun, and has some Little Mermaid graphics on it. Before I came out here, I dyed my hair a bit red, and people have been referring to me as “Ariel.” What the fuck, what are the odds of the board I chose to ride having her right smack dab in the middle?

I’m meeting amazing people in the industry, and trying to grab as much content as I can while I’m here for the Surf Channel. It boosts my confidence that JR has admitted that, “You’ll take any opportunity handed to you, talk to anyone, and you’re soaring…” I’ve never had super high confidence doing anything in life, and for someone to believe in me like that, feels really good…

see you guys soon, maybe. I have to go camping with the surf club boys on the 13th I think, so I guess I gotta come back eventually. Cheers. :) <3 LB always

Bandit, my Sebastian buddy. (Taken with Instagram at Sebastian Inlet)

Thanks, CSULB. Maybe I’ll be back for a Master’s? (Taken with instagram)

Classy socks (Taken with instagram)

Strawberry cheesecake cupcakes on my last day at American Cancer Society. (Taken with instagram)

realizations

I’m actually 23. some things that i’ve been reflecting on recently:

how dramatic the transition will be not only from leaving home to another foreign country (Hong Kong, China), but how crazy and hectic it will be to live in the biggest city in the world, and in the most densely populated area in the world. Living in Long Beach you have your space in a Los Angeles county, but to be shoulder to shoulder at my university is definitely gonna be a change. I also have to figure out how to surf since there’s a beach like an hour away by the MTR. I also gotta learn how to use the MTR, in addition to many other things.

Losing my minimum wage job taking student orders at the pub because I asked a fellow employee to give me a free drink while not clocked in, so she told my manager not only about me but about my other coworker that actually did give me the drink when I asked her. Sounds like the time I gave Eric a drink while working at Top Class Pizza (not manager at this point) and my boss told me he’d cut my hours in half next time. He wouldn’t let me forget about that incident, and I remember a few months later asking for a raise and initially he denied until not only giving me one later, offering me management. There’s no one to blame but myself on this one, of course I think of that bitch as fake and a rat, Josh said I needa be “more suave.” True in one sense, maybe my immaturity in another. Further demonstrated in the next reflection.

I’ve been pulled in so many directions this semester, and coming back from Nicaragua to a fast paced end of the semester was a rude awakening. Being caught up writing for The Surf Channel and studying, I missed a call back session with Rosa at the American Cancer Society that I told her I would show up to. I apologized sincerely and she seemed okay with it, even joking along with me. But Rosie, the director, informed me that this would reflect on my final evaluation, and that this is part of “growing up.” Wow, being told that I pretty much need to grow up and just turning 23 was a low point for me. Even after getting fired, going on a life changing trip, coming back to the bustle, and trying to balance it all, this was the suckiest I’ve felt. If she does write that I’m not dependable in my evaluation, what was the whole point of this internship? My 120 hours will give me 3 units towards my major, but a bad letter of recc? Everyone knows Rosie is hella moody and she can be unprofessional, slamming her mouse and cursing due to frustration of her computer in front of me, but I don’t hold that against anyone. Who am I to judge.

Not to mention bills and debts, I recently had my roommates move out of my apt. Two left, now it’s just me and Will. Our living room is completely bare, but now me and Will have our own rooms, no more sharing! Until April 30th, that is, when I move out and onto the floor of Vinny’s for May (I do have a mattress, so not literally). I’m trying to enjoy the luxury of privacy before I stay with 2 dudes; I’m over all the time anyways it’s about time I started paying for it.

I’m so excited for the next 3 weeks though: Get through all my school stuff, which won’t be an easy task. Papers and tests, fack my life. But camping trip with the surf club to trestles, the lowers pro hopefully with press pass! and some time along those weeks is the BILLABONG XXL AWARDS! this is the life I’ve always wanted, being dragged along with the surf industry. This summer is gonna be surreal, the open will fire. There’s no reason not to be thankful and happy with what I have right now, even if debt comes along the way. I’m always thankful for my blessing and for everyone who’s done anything. Especially after coming back from Nicaragua and seeing people who live by such limited means and love life for what it is. Then again I feel like they live in paradise and I would love it too, even if I was eating fish and pinto gallo todo dia:) peace.

Fantastic Cafe, great way to start the day! (Taken with Instagram at Long Beach, CA)

Cram sesh (Taken with instagram)

Why are her fins on backwards?

(Source: endlesssummer67, via chaseforsoulsurfing)