See ya in Seattle!

Hey everyone - it's Rei! It is officially October and mid-term season! When you take a break from studying for upcoming tough tests, think of all the things you can look forward to when you're done. A small post-exam weekend trip to Seattle is one easy and accessible option for us as we are right in Parkland! Since I just went to Seattle last weekend, I would like to share what I did in Seattle and my own ways to explore Seattle for those of you who are planning to visit or may visit in the future. There are some previous blog posts about Seattle too, so please check them out! 

On the way to our first stop :)

Walking around the neighborhood

Unlike the area around PLU and Parkland, the streets in central Seattle are paved and many areas are very walkable. Especially on weekends, the streets are full of pedestrians, some walking with a cup of coffee in hand, others walking with their pets/children. Although some farmer's markets and event areas are pedestrian zones, most streets have cars passing quite close to the sidewalks. Also, there are many cars driving at crazy speeds in the city, so extra caution is required at crosswalks and other crossings. As long as you keep those things in mind, strolling in Seattle is relaxing, and easy on the wallet. The picture on the left is just a random area that we passed through on our way to the first destination, but the surrounding trees were so pleasant that I even felt like I could walk to anywhere. Some well-known nice neighborhoods, such as Ballard, Capitol Hill, Belltown, and so on, blend seamlessly together, while others have their own special vibe. It is definitely worth trying to get around one at a time! 

Exterior of the Starbucks Reserve

1st destination: Starbucks Reserve Roastery Seattle

After we walked around the neighborhood, we decided to have some fresh coffee and pastries at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery! Although the line was super long, it was worth it as we got a Hazelnut Bianco, Dark Mocha, and a Sandwich! As a side note, Starbucks Reserve is Starbuck's rarest and most exclusive selection of coffees. They develop a unique and special roast for each lot and artistically brew, age, extract, and blend their coffees to offer imaginative drinks. The roastery also had a bar area inside, where bartenders were making delicious-looking drinks, both coffee-like and cocktail-like. There are coffee shops with different vibes all over the United States, but this place is perfect for both: Starbucks lovers and those who just want to enjoy a cup of coffee. This store is also a place of art filled with features such as the interior, a huge coffee roasting machine, and limited-edition store goods. It is a multipurpose tourist destination to visit that can be transformed into both a cafe and a museum. 

I got a lipstick and a serum hehe

2nd destination: Glossier Seattle

After filling our bellies with coffee and a sandwich, we walked about 10 minutes to one of my favorite makeup and skincare stores! Glossier is a clean beauty brand that is popular among a wide range of generations. They used to sell their products as an online-only beauty brand, but in 2019 they opened a physical store in Seattle, Capitol Hill! As you can tell from the picture, the interior of the store features pale pink furniture which is a resemblance of the Glossier logo, which surrounds an object growing artificial mushrooms. Almost all of the store has a pale pink ambience, making it a fun place to just walk around and there are spots scattered throughout to take some cute pictures. The display of products was also very well arranged with all products easy to see, it made me buy a serum and lip color. The way you receive your products is also different from other makeup stores, as the staff hands them to you from a post box-like area in the corner of the store, along with a cute pink bag with your name written on it. It is a nice place to visit if you are looking for a cute space or clean, skin-friendly product!

After that, we went shopping at University Village (people also call this mall U-Village). This is another favorite place of mine where you can find a wide variety of apparel stores and delicious restaurants, but it would be quite long to explain, so I will come back to it next time! Instead, here are some photos below for your quick reference. I am only on my third-year in Washington and am not a Seattle trip professional, but Seattle is one of the cities I visit often. I hope this information has been of some help to you in your future trip to Seattle. Midterm week can be as hard as finals week, but it's time to grind and think about your post-exam plans! Go Lutes!!

Yum burger @Shake Shack

    

-Rei 

My trip to Hawaii!

 Hi guys, it's Silje - long time no write! 

In the spirit of school starting back up again, I figured it was the perfect time to talk about what I did this summer, just to hold on to summer for a little while longer. 

For most of the summer, I worked as a commercial Mortgage Loan Intern for a financial company in Bellevue - it was exciting to enter into the corporate world and build connections with business leaders to expand my network! If you can get an internship during your time here at PLU, I totally recommend you do so, no matter what you're studying. But, moving on to the fun part - my vacation. During the COVID pandemic, I wasn't really able to travel anywhere except for back and forth between Norway and the US for holidays like Christmas. So, I was really ecstatic to find out that my boyfriend and I were going to Hawaii! I had never been before, and our trip was booked to go to Kona, Big Island for 8 days! 

Horseback riding in Hilo, Big Island (The brown one in the
back was Kiwi, and she's the one who kicked me off. She
freaked out when a group of motorcycles rode by us.)

Our trip was full of adventure, and we were out and about almost every single day. We went to the farmers market and tried some fruit I never even knew existed (ice cream banana and strawberry papaya to mention a couple), went horseback riding on the other side of the island (and got kicked off the back of the horse), snorkeling (saw hundreds of Dory's), hiked up an active volcano (really hot over there), hiked to a waterfall (really hot over there too) and saw lots of beautiful sunsets by the pool. 

Hike (more like just walking up stairs actually) to the waterfall

  

One thing I noticed about Big Island was that there are a lot of lava rocks there - like, a lot. Big Island has 4  active volcanoes, and we visited Kīlauea which is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. On average, it erupts every two to three years, most recently a year ago (September 2021). What's even more interesting is that the different eruptions have caused the island to grow - just during the last eruption, it added one square mile of coastland - and this volcano alone has erupted more than 30 times in the last 60 years. That's a lot of extra coastlands. 

We definitely had a great time in Hawaii, and hope that sometime next year we'll be able to go explore another Hawaiian Island; Maui is on my bucket list. In the meantime, enjoy some photos of our trip! 

Until next time,

- Silje

Steam coming from the volcano 

The hiking trail up to the volcano 

Sunset view by the pool

No vacation without margaritas

Our view from the balcony (random lava rocks in the middle)

Beach day

My Okinawa Trip in Japan!

Hi everyone! It's Rei :) I hope you all had a great summer! During this summer 2022, I was back home in Japan! Since it's still hard to travel to some Asian countries, I would like to share some of my experience in Okinawa, which is southern-most prefecture in Japan. 

A little bit of Okinawa

Okinawa is a prefecture in Japan consisting of more than 150 islands in the East China Sea between Taiwan and mainland Japan. It is known for its tropical climate, wide beaches and coral reefs, and World War Ⅱ battlefields. The largest island (Okinawa Prefecture) is home to the Allied invasion of 1945, and the Churaumi Aquarium, home to whale sharks and manta rays! 

And here is where I went and what I did!

Scuba diving in Okinawa is one of my most memorable experiences! Many Japanese beaches are dark-colored and not very beautiful (in my opinion), but the ocean in Okinawa is clear and nice! 

Clownfish!!

It was bigger and cuter than I had imagined. We got close to the fishes while feeding them, so we were surrounded by them too. It was very exciting to see the fishes up close.

After exercising by scuba diving, we went to eat shaved ice recommended by locals. The tropical shaved ice with mango and pineapple was a perfect combination of sour fruit, condensed milk, and fluffy ice!

What I wanted to do but couldn't😭

Visiting Shurijo (Shuri Castle)! Shuri Castle was the political, diplomatic, and cultural center of Ryukyu Kingdom, which was established in 1429, It flourished for about 450 years until 1879, when the last king, Shoutai, handed it over to the Meiji government. The castle was built it in the middle to late 14th century. The main hall and other buildings were designed national treasures before the war, but were destroyed by fire during the Battle of Okinawa. The castle is often restored, and right now it is in the middle of a long-term restoration project that will continue until 2026, so I was unable to visit this summer :(

It would take a long time to tell you everything I did in Okinawa, so I will end it here. I hope I have been able to share some information Okinawa! If you would like to know more about this area, come into our Office and ask me about it! Good luck on the new school year!! 

-- Rei 

                                                   

Take a breath, to relieve your stress

Hey everyone, it's Rei!

We are nearing the end of school! I hope the semester has been going well so far with all of you! This is the time of the year where we are all feeling dead or are looking forward to finals. As a student who has experienced three final weeks here, I would like to share a bit of advice with you all that has worked for me in the past.

1. Don't Procrastinate

Without a doubt, my first advice should be about Procrastination. Procrastinating on studying is quite natural and common in college life. Some students (often upper-class students) brag about staying up all night, others go into "panic mode," etc. Some people get it right, others don't. But the harsh reality is that procrastination leads to not as satisfying scores. Rushing to work on a procrastinated assignment or study guide right before the due date is one of the most stressful activities in the world. Keep in mind that time is limited, so start everything as early as possible! Nothing is too early to start.

2. Write stuff down

An ideal aspect for a successful college student has a list of tasks to complete. By writing everything down, you transfer what has been weighing on your mind onto paper. Seeing what needs to be done physically helps you keep track of it; creating a to-do list allows you to actively cross off each item as you complete it. I personally feel so good when I finished my task and draw a check mark every time ✅.

3. Get some fresh air

As a college student, there are so many things you have to do that it is easy to get jaded quickly. Time seems to flow like sand. At such times, just getting up and taking a walk or feeling the warmth of the sun can help you clear your mind of what is in front of you. A breath of fresh air can help you resolve to take another breath and return to what you are working on or studying with a clear mind and fresh eyes. I like to go for a walk on campus with my friends! 

4. Study outside!

Staying indoors increases the stress and frustration of final exams. Especially during these busy final exam times, it's time to change up where you study! I like to study at a cafe, therefore here are some recommendations of some of my favorite places to study where it's not too loud and has some good food and beverages!

• ONIT cafe @Federal way
• Coffee Kitchen @Lakewood
• Garfield 208 @Parkland 

These are just a few considerations to keep in mind during the last week of school! Finish strong!

Until next time,

--Rei

5 Things to do in the Summer in Tacoma!

Hi everyone! 

With summer only being a few weeks away, I figured it was time for some tips on what to do in our area during your summer break! Washington is really a versatile state with lots to offer, and here are just some of them: 

Mt. Rainier National Park - 50 miles away from Campus 

We can see Mt. Rainier all the way from Campus, even though she's 50 miles away! Summer is a great time to take an hour's drive over to the national park and see her close-up. The Nisqually entrance is the closest entrance to campus! There are numerous trails to pick from - if you're wanting a shorter hike, there's the Nisqually Vista trail of 1.2 miles, or if you want the most scenic hike, the Skyline Trail to Panorama Point is rated one of the best hikes in Mt. Rainier National Park. It is 6.2 miles, and if you want some more detailed information on this route, take a look here. There are also different waterfalls you can go to, including Myrtle Falls and Narada Falls. Lastly, if you want some scenic views while eating, visit Summit House Restaurant - Washington's highest elevation restaurant where you eat with a view of Mt. Rainier's peak. Remember: never go on a hike unprepared! Pack plenty of water and snacks, and dress according to the weather. It's better to bring layers that you can take off rather than being cold. 

Visit Seattle - 42 miles away from Campus 

We are really fortunate to live so close to the city of Seattle, where the options are endless! After less than an hour, you'll be in the heart of Seattle where you can explore the Pikes Place Market, visit the first Starbucks cafe, visit the Space Needle observation deck to get a good view of the city, go to a concert, or watch a game! One of my personal favorites is renting electrical scooters that you can find all over the city and ride around - those things can take you pretty far! I once rode on those from the space needle all the way over to pikes place market, parked it, and went exploring in the market! They are faster than walking, more fun than driving (traffic in Seattle is pretty bad), and cheaper than Uber! 

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium -  16 miles away from Campus 

You're never too old to go to a zoo! This is the only place in the Pacific North West that has a zoo and aquarium combined, where you will be able to see sharks, penguins, lions, and peacocks all in the same place. Tickets are only $20 if you buy them online, and spend your day walking around the park, getting up close and personal with wild-life animals. Plus, there is a great view of Mt. Rainier and the puget sound. The park is really close to Ruston Way, where you can walk around and enjoy the ocean breeze after a long day at the zoo. 

Ruston Way Park -  13 miles away from Campus 

Ruston Way Park is one of my personal favorites. It's a quick 20-minute drive from campus, with small business shops located right at the waterfront. In the summer, they have a farmers market where you can buy locally produced items like fruits and veggies, or handmade art. I enjoy walking by the waterfront and sitting down where they have a big art piece on the concrete of Washington State. You'll see street artists play music, painters getting inspiration from the scenery, and people riding around on bikes (that you can also rent and ride along the waterfront, btw). Spending time in Ruston is such a simple pleasure. 

Visit a Museum! 

There is a range of museums available in our area, all for different interests! Listed below are just some of them: 

• Washington State History Museum (9.3 miles away from Campus)
• LeMay - America's Car Museum  (9.6 miles away from Campus)
• Tacoma Art Museum  (9.5 miles away from Campus)
• Museum of Glass  (9.7 miles away from Campus)
• Chihuly Garden and Glass  (41 miles away from Campus)
• Seattle Art Museum (39 miles away from Campus)
• Museum of Pop Culture (42 miles away from Campus)
• National Nordic Museum (45 miles away from Campus)
• Museum of History and Industry (40 miles away from Campus) 
• The museum of Flight (32 miles away from Campus)

A lot of museums offer student discounts, and some even let you in for free - including the Tacoma Museum of Glass. All of these museums have great reviews, so take a look and see what may interest you! 

I hope this inspired you to make some trips this summer and explore what our area has to offer! But, until then - Good luck on your finals everyone! 

~ Silje