105 days of Summer

A qiuck shot while walking to Santa Cruz beach. Love those flowers, and the radiant sunshine!

Berkely wall art

A yellow building in Gloria, Rio

Summer is coming to a close, and it's always bittersweet looking back on it. I've counted the days off of required reading, studying for tests and waking up and getting dressed on time for a full day, or rather, rushing to get out of the door. But those days have been behind me for a while, though they are on the horizo to be here soon once again, very soon. 105 days. One hundred and five days of Summer. It feels like a long time, and granted it was. I feel that I soaked up every day, as best as I could. Although Fall is my favorite season, I think Summer is my favorite time of year. I wanted to reflect on this Summer of 2016, of all that happened and that I wanted to accomplsih and do. Overall, I feel pretty proud of myself and glad I could squeeze some things in last minute.

Remenbering the sacred days of June feels like a long time ago, the beginning and onset of Summer, and looking back on all that happened. It started out with my trip to Rio de Janerio, Brazil. My first trip to South America, and better yet, my first trip out of the country! What a great expereince for two long but short weeks, with classmates and peers. I would say the theme of the trip was self discovery and interpersonal reflections, sometimes happening in my hotel room, sometimes while riding the metro, or even while eating a delicious Brazilian meal and people watching on the streets. I felt I learned so much about myself in a crash course style. My 24th birthday was celebrated during the trip, embracing a new age and new people around me. It was a personal birthday, another one with out close family members, or even well known and kinder spirited friends, but it was still special, in its own way I guess. Sometimes birthdays are a nice and perfect time for reflection, and I feel I got a good amount of that.

Some summers, such as this one had simple moments that had great value and that were precious to me. Day trips, eating out, good and quality time spent with sisters and my mom, but also a balance of business and schedules but also close to more than enough of free time and leisure, making lists of ideas, thoughts, reflections, goals, and reading like the book worm I am. I guess all of the things introverts like to do:). Anyone out there agree with me?

Not just being able to go abroad to Rio, but also to be able to go to my sister's wedding, in San Salvador, El Salvador in mid August felt like a dream. A place I had heard about a good amount and now I finally could experince it myself, and be that loving support for my sister and brother-in-law. To see the different yet beautiful world of El Salvador, to take in the humidity, the loud thunder and huge raindrops and more than delicious food that even still makes my mouth water. Paposas, can't get enough of them! And to celebrate the happiness of my close friend and sister, and to see her marry the love of her life. I don't speak Spanish but I could still take everything in just as well, enjoying the moment.

How much I love them, and love this pic!

I think some great goals that I had for myself this summer included become a literacy volunteer at the library, which I have already done training for and will soon help an adult with reading and writing! Another goal of mine was to finish 12 books! This kind of seemed like a lofty goal at first but then a feasible challenge that was more enjoyable than daunting. I did finish 12 books, and am excited to share them with you soon! A place I wanted go to was also crossed off the list, going to a cafe in Berkeley. Of course, I would be happy with any cafe in Berkeley, but I decided to go to not just any cafe, but one that had special memories to it, like going back in time and remembering them all again. Cafe Roma is the name, and I had fond times with other liked minded girls, and being able to spend some time in Berkeley made me miss those days, going on 4 years ago. Being able to experince the creative urbaness and chaotic artistry of this city was a nice change. I like cafes since they bring that creative energy back to life and also can slow down time although time seems to go by pretty quickly also. 

Some other pictures that I think highlights this summer, going to Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, bookstores, the library, cafes (not sure how many times Starbucks was used this summer), long runs and walks and taking in all my surrondings and the nice cool summer air with the glowing orange sunset and bright, dancing moon smiling back at me, reading on the front porch with the majestic dusk sky stealing my attention from the pages of my book to its beauty. Sleeping in and late night reads, calming me and putting me into a deep sleep. Studying Chinese. Studying Arabic, but also wondering about other languages too, and perhaps being interested in too many things at once?!! Finding books at the library too easily and clothes at conseinment stores too quickly. Walks and bike rides at Sycamore Grove. Having good discussions with good people and thankful for them. Having a powerful and real yearning to meet good friends and to make the most of Autumn and this time of year. Getting more and more into cooking and trying out new and exotic dishes. Finding new songs that inspire me and bring me back to good moments every time and re- listening to already known ones. Taking a dance exercise class, and wanting to try to fit into my schedule again, though it seems unlikely. Re- learning how to sew with my mom, and enjoying the process. Tutoring my students and enjoying every minute, and also grateful that I have this opportunity to teach them and help them not just with Enlgish but a lot more. Trying a fig and a moon cake for the first time. The moon cake is in honor of the Chinese celebration of Mid- Autumn Festival. And also starting this blog, Plum Tree. So glad I did!

Half Moon Bay

A full moon! Happy Mid- Autumn Festival

The nice view from one of my student's window

An outfit I seemed to wear a few days in a row this summer! Ha

A nice lunch with my Mom, quality time can never seem to add up to enough!

Overall, I feel very grateful for this summer of 2016! So much has happened, been learned, accomplished and enjoyed, Memories, memories, good good memories. As my Uncle would say, "This is good, this is very good." And so it is.

The Summer When It All Began

I was recently thinking about when I initially started getting into cooking. Not that long ago, I wasn't comfortable in the kitchen, and didn't consider myself a good cook, especially since I rarely did it. And when I did cook something, it always felt more like a chore than something enjoyable.

 During the Summer of 2014, I think I read my first cooking memoir called Yes, chef by Marcus Sameulsson. I tried reading it once before and didn't really get into it, but once I started reading it again that Summer, I knew that this was a good book and this time it instantly kept me engaged and interested the whole way through. That same Summer, my Mom and my sisters saw a cooking movie called The 100 Foot Journey. I became so interested in the story line, cooking, the characters, I felt that I was becoming more and more connected with cooking. If you are unfamilar with this movie, it's about two cultures colliding, French and Indian, as well as the cuisine. You get to see two restaurants compete against one another and see how the characters gain more respect and understanding for the other's culture.

After these experiences, I felt that I was becoming closer to cooking. It wasn't so far removed from me anymore, I felt more inspired and engaged that cooking is a process, a creative process. I was slowly learning that cooking is a creative activity, using your hands, mixing things to create something. I had a hunch that I would enjoy cooking, after reading about someone's experience with becoming a chef, opening up their own restaurant and telling a true story of how food was close to their heart and culture. And also from watching a movie that brought cooking more to life and tapped something inside that I didn't know that I had, an interest and passion for cooking.

I started cooking more that Fall. I had my other siblings at home also have a cooking night, where they cook dinner for the rest of the family. Having to cook for 5 other people, not including myself taught me many things, and it challenged me to learn more and get more and more comfortable in the kitchen.

Ever since then, I have become more inspired with cooking dinner, and wanting to try out new recipes. Also, I've been reading and on the look out for more cooking memoirs. I think they are one of my favorite genres. It's so interesting to me because it combines the love of food with someone's personal story, and I feel that there is always something to be learned, and taken from these kinds of books. I only hope I can continue to challenge myself, and become more inspired with the great art of cooking!

First attempt, Armenian dish

Armenian food was something I decided to cook this week. Before looking at the cookbook, I didn't know any ethnic foods that pertain to Armenians, but I was interested in finding out. I wanted to not just create a meal but also a drink to go along with it, a typical Armenian drink. Where is Armenia?

Overall, my consensus for these recipes: easy, not too many ingredients, and a nice aroma. Although being in the kitchen was hard to smell the nice exotic perfumes, I heard that it streamed outside and my Mom got a nice preview of the meal before coming in. :) I prepared this dish earlier than most dinners, around 4pm and allowed about an hour in a half to finish and have everything ready. Sometimes its nice to prepare dinner early, knowing that you have somewhere to be and then coming back home and you get to experience the pleasure of eating it too. I always like to listen to music while I cook, it can help if you're a little stressed or just to help distract you from the stinging sensation of onions.

This recipe goes along nicely with a side of baked onions and carrots with a splash of olive oil, as you can see from the pictures above. The yogurt drink, known as Tan added a nice touch to the overall meal. I think I would make this recipe again, or of course try another Armenian recipe. All the food looks delicious, and I would definately encourage anyone to try it!:) Till next time...

Ginger Pork with Peanut Sauce

I want to delve more into Chinese cooking, since I know so little about it. Sure, every one knows about egg rolls, orange chicken with rice and fortune cookies. I too enjoy the American version of Chinese food. I remember one of my teachers saying that the Chinese restaurants with the red lanterns with dragons and Happy Chinese New Year on them, and other cultural embellsionments are not the real Chinese restaurants. The more I realized it the more I noticed how many restaurants resembled this. Of course, I do enjoy the all American Chinese food, but I'm always up to a good challenge, so I've decided to become better with my Chinese cooking!

Looks like an interesting book about Chinese fortune cookies!

This time I made a good and simple recipe that in all only took about an hour to make. I like those kind of recipes, they're pretty fast and easy but it also still feels like you're cooking and not just throwing something into the microwave. I always feel better when I find a good, solid recipe rather than vouching on a quick pasta that goes into the boiling water with little to no effort.

But hopefully I will keep being inspired, and the quick pasta can wait. So without further ado, here is the latest Chinese recipe!

The main ingredients in this dish are ramon noodles, pork, spinach, green onions and some spices. Altogether, making it a dish with a good variety of flavor! The main lesson I learned from cooking this meal, is how to cut green onions. I know that sounds kind of elementary but I hadn't used them before. Use the white parts because they have the flavor! You can point out the green onions from the picture above, they do add a nice touch!

Moroccan Dish

I wanted to cook something new this time, instead of repeating the same dishes, already knowing that I can cook them. I checked out a few cookbooks at the library recently and decided to make the recipes come to life! I chose the Moroccan cookbook first, inspired by all of the exotic dishes and ingredients I had never heard of yet still eager to cook something up regardless of how familar I was with Moroccan cooking.

I decided to make a dish called Kefta. It's similar to the Syrian meatballs I have made before, and will probably make again sometime soon! But Kefta is different, it has more spices and flavoring and doesn't call for white rice or yogurt to go along on the side. I made Tomato Charmoula sauce along with Couscous for the sides, as the recipe called for. Never have I eaten so much flavor in one spoonful! I know that this recipe is a keeper, and others wanted it too! So for all the others who are new to this keeper Morocacan dish, here ya go.:)

Clementine's, an inspiration through time

Having lunch out is always a treat. And going to a place that has good food and nice memories associated with it is like adding an extra douse of sugar. The fact that I like this place so much doesn't seem to surprise me. I would pass by it every time I was on my way to work, cringing that I was actually working where I was, and wanting to turn right and go to that nice New Olreans restaurant on th corner and just sit in a booth and not have to worry about all my fears flooding into my mind. I came across this place, thinking about it for a while and never seeming to make the trip there.

So finally, after a year in half my Mom and I had lunch at Clementine's. It's known for it's New Orleans ambianence, style and influenced food. My stomach was growling and was becoming sloshy and loud and annoyingbeforehand but the food seemed to cure that almost immediately.

What drew me to this place this time wasn't the uncrowed tables, the quick service or even the nice decorations, instead it was more about remebering what was happening in my life the last time I was here. I had just changed my major from English Literature to International Studies, unsure of where it would take me and all that I would learn, overall I was excited and filled with encouraging thoughts and inspiration. It was the time close to Spring, and the onset of Easter Break, with much to look forward and a week off never seemed better. Going to that nice and enticing book store nearby, I stocked up on ideas, adventures and books and couldn't seem to get enough of books and inspiration from the World History section, nonfiction and memoirs disperesed from different parts of the world, I was captivated.

This free and enjoyable time with my Mom never seems to add up to enough, as well as these Summer days. One after another goes by, and I will look back knowing what a good time I had.

September, Sapphire and my Schwester

The first day of September marks the transition of Summer into Fall, and the attractive three day weekend, thanks to Labor Day makes us think back to Memorial Day and make us miss the sultry Summer months that have mostly gone before us. The 1st of September also happens to be my sister's birthday. Who could forget the first day of the month? Easy, simple and special to say the least and to ring in the month of September, the month that is in between hot, sunny days and brisk nights with orange leaves falling into view. Septemeber, you are one of my favorites! And to my sister, whom I usually nick name sizzle, schwester and Sue, you are a treasured sapphire.

 She loves her camera.

Who would have known that as little girls we looked like twins and as young women, we look almost nothing alike. Although we are quite different, our simarilities can be seen by all. Our quirky sense of humor (thanks Dad!) comes out in various forms and ways, our need and should I say talent for communication in written or verbal form are expressed to others so carefully and thoughtfully, our hint of interest in the German language (Ja!), and our enjoyment of walks, runs and bike rides in nature. Many things about us are opposite to one another though, which can actually make things pretty interesting, complex and maybe even a little dramatic. But these are all good things, it displays our character and our deep need to understand ourselves as well as one another. Her sense of compassion, wisdom, humor and spontinateity challenges me to see things in a new and different perspective.

And I really like my rings.

Having sisters is a gift from God. I'm reminding myself of how lucky and truly blessed I am to have sisters who can teach you so very many things about life, faith, yourself. The list is endless, and I think you begin to discover what is on that reoccuring list every single year. Happy Birthday dear Schwester!! May we keep continuing to be that endless list for eachother!

An Ongoing Dilemna...Arabic

Is your mind ever filled with dilemnas? Thoughts, ponderings, doubts, interests, uninterests..thoughts, Thoughts, THOUGHTS!! I think everyone has a dilemna once in a while, but somehow things in your mind seem to become a bigger deal than they actually are. Or, they continue to consume some of your every day thoughts and stay for a while. Maybe too long. In my case, it's the dilemna of continuing to study Arabic or not. Yes, the Arabic language that seems to look more like made up doodles and dots than an actual language. And to answer one of your first questions, yes, it's hard. Hard isn't the right word actually, maybe daunting, intriguing, exhausting and exotic are better adjectives to describe such a language.

Sometimes I feel that I have enough, or should I say plenty of room to embrace and invest time and energy into another language. Once you get down the rhythm of studying a language you feel like you can do so much more, like conquer Arabic! Hmm, not so sure since that can be a fleeting feeling, But at the same time, my mind and my heart pull towards the culture and language of the Middle East region. From taking a class emphasizing this region and culture, and soon another one, I find my eyes and fingers drift towards books and recipes in the aisles of the library that will inspire me even more. I'm a sucker when it comes to inspiration. I also like a good challenge in my court, and I know that I'm free to swing the ball right back into the next if I need a break from that particular challenge. Kinda of like Arabic.

My Arabic notebook. Isn't it just so inspiring looking at it?:)

Arabic restaurant in Rio that I loved!! Went there a couple of times:)

Even if I do or do not stick with learning Arabic, I know I will still find inspiration somewhere, I love the Syrian meatballs recipe, that I want to recreate again sometime soon! And dipping my toes in the water when it feels like the right time, and then coming back a while later is how I feel with Arabic. Of course, the reasons for becoming interested in Arabic go beyond the fact that it's intriuguing and exotic for me, Teaching and helping others wth the English language is a passion of mine, and Arabic happens to be one of the top ten languages in the world, so knowing even a little bit is helpful!

Daunting, but beautiful!

Developing your hobbies and interests and progressing your knowledge in certain areas is always beneficial to yourself, as well as meeing and connectng with different types of people. The way I see it is the more interests you have, the more interesting peron you will become! Language also goes hand in hand with culture, it's like a stepping stone into the culture once you've gotten to learn some of the language.

A book that I want to read!

And lastly, I'm interested in learning how to cook recipes from Arab countires, it's one of my goals! Food and cooking is very important in Middle Eastern culture, in many cultures actually, and I know that there are many flavors and spices that are specific to this region in the world.


I think that summarizes my interests and reasons for the Arabic language. I would love to know your thoughts, and suggestions. What language or culture are you interested in learning about?

A note from a friend.