January summary

It was a busy month, a great start of 2025, a lot of things accomplished and feeling excited and inspired.

Books: 4

Margo’s got money troubles: this is a fun read. While the ending is a bit cinematographic (happy ending), I enjoyed the process of getting there. 3/5.

The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: I was surprised to learn that I’m a classic perfectionist: workaholic, productivity driven. It’s not wrong, it’s just who I am and I derive joy doing those things. Also through this book, I could label why I am loosening myself in my 40s. A super eye opening book. 5/5.

Good material. It’s funny sometimes, but not as good as I expected. 2/5.

At home in the world. This is a memoire of Tsh traveling with her husband and 3 kids for a year. I’ve been in half of the places she visited and can relate so much about traveling as a family. Long rides, uncomfortable beds, need of clean clothes, these are parts of the process and lesson for our kids. I also relate the feeling of not identifying any place as home, and many places feel home. Home is where the family and close friends are, home could be spread in many places at the same time. The feeling of familiarity in unfamiliar places.

My thought when I finished the book on the plane

Traveling, witnessing the wonders of the world despite cultural differences and traditions, it makes me love this life so much more because the world is so big and diverse. My way is not the way. I can always change the way of living. Changing my ideas of the world is the most exhilarating thing! 

Running: 101 miles. I didn’t follow any schedule. I ran when I could, when I felt like.

Strength: 8 sessions of the Iron series. I am pretty happy with that I was jet lag for 1/3 of the month, and packed work trip.

January happy things (as part of my 25 in 2025 list)

It was a challenging month, I spent exactly one day at home, on the road for the rest. Transfer countries 3 times, New Zealand to Indonesia, to U.S., to Brazil. Stayed in 7 hotels not counting the ones in New Zealand. Crossed 33 hours time zone. Away from the family for 3 weeks. Faced challenging decisions to make. Yet, a lot of happy moments happened, really big ones. I am focusing on these. 

• Finding our dream house in Brasilia. 
• Developed quick connection with fellow Argentinian colleagues who were in the Amazonas trip.
• Hearing husband that he wishes I was in Shanghai with them to witness the chinese new year vibe. This tells me he is having good time there and that he misses me. 
• The shower after the boat trip. 
• Seeing communities’ leader in the Amazonas full of energy and commitment to improve the life of his people. 
• Seeing innovation happening in natura to work with the nature. Take things from the nature while preserving it. 
• Joining unofficially a running race in Brasilia, 21km with pouring rain for refreshment. 
• Meet my colleague friend’s cat, deciding that I want one like that too.
• Being surprised by the peace and beauty of lake takepo. 
• Face timing with the girls everyday, mostly chatting with Sofia who is eager to share her day and thoughts. 
• Learning that capybara is ubiquitous in Brasilia. That’s Lizzy’s new favorite animal since she saw one in New Zealand 
• Falling in love with Brasilia, our new home, in matter of days. 
• Planning Machu Picchu trip with a friend. I mentioned it to her when I saw her in DC, not hoping to get a yes so quickly. It’s happening, we are aiming for Aug or Sept. 
• Getting support from the family about earlier move. 
• Feeling relieved that I won’t be away from the family for too long.
• Trying new fruits in Brasilia. I thought I have tried most exiting fruits, I was wrong. There are so many fruits in Brazil that I’ve never seen. How exciting. 
• Sleeping 7 hrs on my flight to Doha. I don’t think I’ve ever slept that long on flight. Obviously, laying flat was a key factor. I woke up not sure how long I’ve slept, trying to figure out with my watch and realized that crossing time zones meaning the watch is not accurate. Only when I checked time remaining to land I realized I slept overnight. 
• Getting help from a local relocation person. She’s super efficient, proactive, helpful and generous. It’s not always the case we get a good one so I am super grateful that I got a good one this time. 
• My brain lightening up as I hear my colleagues talking about their field of expertise that can be applied to help Amazon’s. 
• A colleague offering me his jacket as pillow on our ride the day after I slept 3 hrs. I was bumping my head to the window as I couldn’t help but fell asleep. 
• Being invited to 3 colleagues house on my first visit to Brasilia. I felt welcomed right away. 
• Feeling familiarity in an unfamiliar place. Maybe it’s still Latin culture that I feel familiar and comfortable with, maybe is the beauty of the city couple of friendliness of the people I met, or the welcoming I received from the office. I have never experienced this before. In our precious two moves, Manila and Jakarta, I felt alien to the place for months. With Brasilia, I walk around the mall as it has been the mall I grow up with.