Christmas Tree

There it is! Our first Christmas tree. We've been married two years and finally we get to have a Christmas on our own with our Christmas tree!

Beautiful Fall

Last night, after our meetings at Church, we went to the Washington D.C. Temple grounds to get pictures of the beautiful fall colored leaves. It was so beautiful.

Ode to Hawaii...

In the recent few days, I have learned of a few people going to Hawaii, to BYUH. And thinking about them there just made me want to jump on an airplane and go home!...I know it's not my "home" per say but I have so many memories there and I have made some of my bestest friends there.I miss those people so much, I miss their laughs, their food, hanging out with them and sharing stories. I miss the bestest job I ever had: Tour guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Truly the best job! It was hard but SO fun! I miss the smell of the rain, the humidity that made sure my hair would look horrible whenever possible, the beach, the dolphins, the turtles,wearing flip flops or just going barefoot, I miss the food we always get at any event, party,gathering. I miss my friends. Those people who have made so much differences to my life. I miss the tiny temple where I was privileged to receive my endowments, I miss the people who helped me go on a mission...Hawaii will always have a special place in my heart. Singing Aloha OE on our last day was the hardest thing and watching the island from our plane was heart-wrenching...I left a piece of me on that beautiful island. I hope one day soon I'll fly again towards my little paradise.Hawaii...until we meet again!

I'm a big girl!

Last Friday, I got the news from my internship supervisor that they had decided to hire me on as a Program Assistant!! I was so excited. I had one random interview a couple weeks before and was waiting on an answer. So happy that it was positive.
I will be doing a lot of the same things I was doing as an intern but adding more responsibilities and more hours!!
I will be working at Miriam's Kitchen and helping in the Development and Volunteer Management area.
It's my first real job, out of school,I get benefits and nice vacation time.
I'm truly excited because finally things are settling down for us and we are going to be able to do some of the things we wanted like: buying a bed ( we like the air mattress we've been sleeping on for four months but a bed would be nice...) and other things!
Now we are waiting to see if Chris' promotion at UPS goes through, if it does it will be great and we really won't have anything to complain about (but we already don't).
God works in mysterious ways. We don't always know how things will work themselves out but if we trust in Him, they always do. I think it was President Hinckley that always said:"things will work out" and indeed they do.
Miracles happen every day.

Miracles do happen!

A few weeks ago,we were frustrated and very sad because things didn't seem to be happening in our favor. We were running out of time and ways to see how we could raise money for a car and school. Chris had been riding everywhere (over 40 miles a day) from UPS at 2am to school,home and internship. With no time to get some good rest, a huge loss of weight and the cold, we just couldn't have him do this anymore. So we needed a car and also lots of money to pay for school.
With help of family, the car was finally bought,1st miracle. It's not brand new or anything fancy but it gets the job done.
And then after a dream I had and the very pressing inspiration of the Spirit ( I really believe it was), I wrote a letter to Chris' school explaining our situation. I didn't expect much but because I felt that's what I needed to do I did.
A few days later we were contacted by the financial aid lady, she said she would help us.
And indeed she did...she came up with everything and more that we needed to pay for the rest of the semester! We even get a check back because there was so much aid given to us! 2nd miracle.
Let's just say, if you don't believe in miracles, believe me that they do happen. Not on our time but Heavenly Father's. He provides in the hour of need and never will I doubt him again.
Thank God for miracles in your life!

Miriam's Kitchen

Despite not finding a job,after I vented the other day,I was contacted by Miriam's Kitchen (a non-profit organization geared towards feeding and helping the homeless here in DC).I will start an internship there as a development intern and also to volunteer. I'm super excited to finally have something to do that will give me some hands-on experience and give me a chance to serve those who are less fortunate. Here is a video that shows what they do!

Things do work out,right?

I have been quite lonely lately.Classes started for Chris two weeks ago and now he has two part time jobs also so we get a bit of time together but I'm mostly alone all day.
I want a job but seem to not be able to find one. I just want to work,earn money and be busy with my days!I want to help Chris and help us.I'm so frustrated. I have to vent. Sorry.I want an answer to my prayers.Can I?

Goodness from home:)

Mom sent us a package last week with lots of French goodness.Mostly food including duck,couscous,chocolate and carambars (caramel candies).She also put some books for me. We were super happy to get it and to say the least it was HUGE. Even the mailman had a hard time carrying it. He seemed happy to end it over to me!
Merci Maman!

Little Branch Activity

Our French branch is made of a few Americans,a few Haitians,many Africans and one French (me). Because most of the people in the branch are not accustomed to much of the American culture, we had a little a activity a couple of weeks ago at our branch president's house: we watched the Wizard of Oz. The original one!
Of course, we had the subtitles on. It was a great experience. Even me (Jen),I always knew of the story but never saw the movie. Great American classic. I'm glad I was able to learn a bit of American culture too. Everyone had fun and we laughed a lot! Great evening! Not everyone in this picture. We had a good bunch and it was awesome!

UMD

Chris had his first day of school yesterday Monday,August 31st 2009. He is taking three boring classes:math,chem and physics because he needs them out the way as prerequisites so he can get into the Mechanical Engineering program. His fourth class is German.It is an intensive beginners class.I plan on learning what I can along with him at home. If he likes it and is good,he plans on joining the double major program the University of Maryland has:Mechanical Engineering-German. If it happens, we would spend a year in Germany for him to attend one semester in a University in Mannheim and one semester doing an internship in a German Engineering company!!It would awesome!
He also might be involved in some cool other program but for that we have to wait some more and see what will happen...
I'm still looking for a job.And I hope it happens soon!

Some pics...

I just remembered we took a few pics since the hard drive went on leave so here they are... It's us and the White House.

A bit of news

I am quite unforgivable for not posting for so long...I just feel bad because I have no pictures to share...I don't like not having pictures. We had a little incident with our hard drive on which all our pictures are and we have been waiting for a while to hear if it's salvageable or not...We sure do hope it is!
In the meantime, we've been here in Maryland for about two months now,Chris started an engineering internship last week that is paid. It will be his job for the next few months along with his duty to go to school! He is starting here at the University of Maryland on Monday 31st! Check out the school:www.umd.edu
I am still desperately looking for a job and hope it comes soon as our finances are hitting the low side!(But it seems like that's not a rare condition for newly married couple,right?)
We love our branch. We are in a tiny French branch of the Church and it's awesome. Chris was called to be the Elders Quorum President and I am the Enrichment Counselor.The branch was created this past February and so there is a lot of work to do but everyone is wonderful and so excited about the Gospel that it seems more like fun than work.
I'm trying to get into coupon-ing and save a few bucks if I get good. Chris bikes almost 20 miles a day on his 1970's Peugeot we bought him to get around when we arrived here. Hopefully when I get a job we can get a car and get around easier.
That's about it! Hope everyone enjoys the last few days of summer!

It's been a long time...

I know, I know...I haven't blogged in what seems to be forever.....and it is forever!!
A lot has happened since my parents came to Hawaii for graduation and I will post about all those things soon. As soon as we get our hard drive fixed and I can get all our pictures back I will..promise.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow...my parents finally get here...I just can't wait to hug and kiss them!!

Excited or what????

What can I say???I am graduating in about three weeks and seeing my parents in about two!!!I am so excited. I am more excited to see my parents than graduating but graduating will be nice too.
I miss my family so much,Chris hears about it everyday but I know he understands(he misses his family too,and especially mashed potatoes,mushrooms and BBQ meat). I wish plane tickets were not so darn expensive and that France would just move closer!!Maybe I just need to move closer!! Chris...???
Three more weeks of school and I finally see the end of that...at least for a year or two. Then we MOVE. We are excited and scared at the same time. We are so grateful for family members willing to take us in while we figure out work and a place to live of our own. DC will be a big change from our quite exotic and sunny days here but school is needed for Chris!!
Can't wait to hang out with my parents for a couple of weeks and show them around. I miss them lots and I am so grateful that they get to come!!!
Life is good even though complicated with decisions and such,plus I have reached my weight goal!!So everything is good!!Life is good!

Clarification

The past two posts were for a class that I (Jen) am taking. We had to report on two lectures that were given by other professors. Thanks all for your understanding!

IT240 Kevin Schlag's lecture

Bro.Schlag was able to explain about the BYUH website,its history and its improvements over the years. It actually started as a student-run website and when those students graduated,they decided that maybe it was time to make it official and more intricate!Bro. Schlag is the director of Enterprise Information Systems and runs the BYUH website.
BYUH has its own server that still sits today in Bro.Shlag's office. The BYUH website mostly uses adobe dream weaver but is in the process of changing it to Drupal. Today, it is possible for students to seek out a webmaster certification from the information systems department and be able to work to update and beautify the school's website. To guarantee a consistent look for all pages of the website and between the different departments,templates are provided and departments can work from those.
Bro.Shlag talked about the future of web design and explained that in teh near future everything will be done in one place but be able to be presented properly in different places such as cell phones and other electronic devices. As of today, not every devices can support everything you can see on a web designed page.
As of updating and changing the design of the school website regularly he explained that the process was long and difficult. In fact, preparations and ideas need to be put together to make a plan then it must be prototyped and then approved. The approval part is the hardest as he said,there is always someone that doesn't like something! (like a color...) Project management does not stop at the publishing of the new design but continues on with evaluations to determine if the public appreciates what has been done and give feedback for future improvements.
Bro.Shlag's lecture was very interesting as he was able to explain different processes with the example of a website we use everyday for school.

IT240 Cary Countryman's lecture!

Bro.Countryman's lecture was on effective web design. He mentioned that web design was a marketer's dream come true simply because it has so much components in one place that any business person would want its product to profit from: interactivity,multimedia,openness,marketing data collection through cookies,efficiency(cost savings) and global exposure!
The three most important attributes of effective web design according to him are: message(must be clear),magic(use as many tools you can such as video,sound,etc...) and the method. Those 3 M's are the essentials.
Any web page that would lack any of those would be inefficient or simply just not as powerful. In business,which is Mr.Countryman's field,efficiency is more than necessary!
One of the things he talked about that was interesting to me is the cultural context of any web design page. To different cultures,colors,signs,words will mean completely different things and in web design just like in any other thing,one must be careful to use things appropriately. To explain this, he pointed out the 5 dimensions of Holfstede: power distance, individualism vs.collectivism,masculinity vs.femininity,uncertainty avoidance and I cannot remember the last one...he went to fast,I couldn't write it down.
Cultural context is very important and depending on your cultural background and experience one will be influence differently in its choices and preferences of how information is processed and carried out. It is the same with web design, one will like or choose one web page over the other because it appeals more to him (depending on its cultural context).
As for the future, he said that integration( each mobile devices will be converged into one:phone,computer,etc...) will play an important role in the development of future computer design and internet design. Also the development of wireless applications and application service providers will transform the way web design is carried out in the years to come.
Thank you to Bro.Countryman for his lecture and look into a more business and broad outlook of web design.

All of us: Jordan,Megan,Jen and Chris.

A view of Diamond Head

Barbequed abalones!

The market's entrance!

Saturday, we had the opportunity to hang out with Megan (Sister Foster) and her husband.
They were visiting Hawaii and we were able to catch them on their last day. Megan and I served in the same mission (Fabulous Temple Square) and even got to live in the same appartment then for a transfer!!! We went to a Farmer's market by Diamond Head where we bought some produce and some BREAD!!! There was this FRENCH bakery stand with lots of bread and we did not resist!Then we all headed to the swapmeet and looked around. Chris and I headed home after that because I wasn't feeling well but it was so good to see her and meet her husband! They are going to Iowa for the summer for an internship and we decided that we will stop by to see them there when we drive accross country!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Just a little update on how we are doing. Jen is busy into her classes and really enjoying them. She is taking an exercise class at 6am!! Wow, how dreadful is that, right? However despite the early hours she is enjoying it. She is also taking a family finances class and we are both learning a lot as she shares her days' findings with me often. And for her own personal enjoyment she found a web and html class that she is taking...the advertisement for it was "Do you like to blog?" so she was quickly roped in. As for me (Chris), I am keeping busy with work. In the mornings while Jen is at class or working out I am working at BYU-Hawaii updating the sports pages, and after she gets out we have a quick bite to eat together and I head off to University of Hawaii where I am an electrochemical engineering intern. Yeah, not exactly along my Mechanical Engineering major, but it has to do with getting energy out of a monosaccharide in a chemical reaction, so it is almost alternative energy! In any case it helps pay the bills, despite the hour-long commute each way. Jen is so wonderful though, as she does the cooking and cleaning while I work from home after work to grab some extra hours at the sports job. She is on top of all her homework and the house and food is always prepared. I am really grateful for my wife! She's a keeper, eh? Amidst all this we are both avidly searching for jobs in Maryland...not much luck yet, but the Lord will take care of us. We are grateful for all the prayers on our behalf, and for all your love and support. We love you!

Good grades

So the Winter semester is really really over now...grades are in. Chris and I both did really well and were able to bump our GPAs. We are happy because we did work hard and are glad to see the fruit thereof.

One more semester for Jen and maybe who knows,she'll get straight A's.....who knows?

Grateful

I just want to thank my husband for being so hard-working to make life easier for us. It's Spring Break here for us,I have no job until the end of next week and no classes until Monday. However, my sweet husband started his full time job at the University of Hawaii on Monday and also works as a part time,Sports Information Assistant or something like that at BYUH.
I have been sick the past couple of days and he has taken care of me in the time he gets to be home. I do have the best husband ever. I am grateful he is hard working,loving and that I got him forever.

T2 mini reunion!

Last Sunday, after General Conference,Jen had a mini mission reunion with some of the Temple Square sisters who are here at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. It was fun to spend sometime sharing memories and enjoying everyone's company. 3 husbands were there so it was not too lonely for Chris.He had fun,really! Serving a mission has been a wonderful blessing for both of us and it really has taught us principles that are vital to our lives today!
Thank you to all the sisters who made it there: Sisters Semba (Japan),Wong (Hong Kong),Nakamura (Japan),Kwok(Hong Kong),Yamashita (Japan) and Orikasa (Brazil).Those are the ones Jen served with...we can't remember the other sisters names...ooops!
Chris, for the occasion, made four loaves of bread..and despite the small number of people there, it was all gone when we left!!!They loved it!! Sure glad Hubby Chris came along!!LOL!
Missions are great and so if you haven't been on one yet, think about it and do it!!

Easter thoughts...

Funny how on this wonderful Easter weekend,the Lord has seen fit for me (Jen) to share with a friend who I haven't talked to in years to share why I believe and why I chose this particular church.It made me think about my testimony and how grateful I am to have it.

I don't think there are enough words or ways for me to express how much I love my Heavenly Father. It's been a long journey for me to where I am now. People think that when I investigated the church and finally joined was the beginning for me,but that's not it. It was started few years before when as Elder Holland put it in the last General Conference I have "felt alone",so alone.Everyone needs to know that they are never alone, that God cares.

Knowing my Savior and my Heavenly Father are here for me doesn't just bring joy to my heart but peace. How wonderful for all of us to know that such divine beings care for us more than anything else! That for this reason alone,Heavenly Father sent his Son Jesus Christ to make a way for us to never feel alone and sad. We all have ups and downs but how can we not rejoice to know that He has ressurected and that we will live again as He lives!

I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings peace and happiness. I know that I am loved.

I am grateful for my Savior and for my Father in Heaven more than words can express. I know that He did rose again and that He lives!

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday!

End of the semester,etc...

We finally made it to the end of the semester! We thought it would never get there!
Chris is done with schooling at BYUH while I (Jen) still have one more term to go through then I'm done forever with college!!!YEAH for me!!!
Chris starts a paid internship on monday as a chemistry intern for research in biofuels. I'll be on Spring break but I'm looking forward to starting a "new" job ext week. Actually, I am simply hired back as a tour guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I LOVE that job and I'm glad there was room for me. It's my last semester so it will be fun for me to do it one more time!!

For those who do not know, we will be moving to Florida in the summer as Chris was accepted into the Aerospace Engineering program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. We have no idea how anything will work out since we have no money,no car,and no place to live but everything is in the Lord's hands and that my friends,is where all our comfort and peace comes from!!

So,for now, we have to work, save some dinero and do all we can to be prepared!!!

Fun end of the semester!We had lots of fun and love Hawaii despite the huge insects we have lately encountered! :)

Winter Ball

We are just so good looking!!

Chris and Simon

Under the balloons!

Winter Ball was at the Polynesian Cultural Center this semester and it was cheap enough that we were able to go. We didn't dress too fancy or anything. The decorations were really nice and the food yummy!It was fun to be with friends and enjoy a date together! They had a couple of movies showing and a dance! We just walked around and enjoy the time together mostly. We had seen the movies before!It was a fun evening!

Simon and Akane!

Sylvia and Adney!

Culture Night!

BYUH puts on a Culture Night every Winter semester. Each club can participate and present some cultural dances and other. It was really great this time around because we actually participated!!!
We were in the Tahitian club all semester and had to go practice shaking our booties twice a week.It was sucha good experience for us to learn about a different culture and be with our friends. As you can see in the pictures,we really did have fun.
All the performances were great, all the clubs did amazing!
This campus is such a blessing if you love being around people of completely different cultures that your own. We are different and yet so close sharing the same loving Heavenly Father.
It was a blast! Enjoy the pics!

We even had a Tahitian dinner afterwards..and got to eat with our hands cuz they forgot the forks!!!

Chris, Maeva (our teacher) and Raimanutea!!

My second outfit!!

With some of our Tahitian friends!

All the boys!!

Aren't we gorgeous?

Chris is on the right,facing back!

You should be able to recognize Chris!!

One of my outfits!I had two! I made the shell belt myself!

A sunset in Haleiwa!

We went to dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant the day before my birthday with some of our friends...and when we arrived in Haleiwa (surfer town of the North Shore), the sun was setting and it was beautiful. Here are some of the pics Chris took. Enjoy!

25 B-Day!

On March 11th, 25 years ago, my parents were blessed to welcome into the world a wonderful and amazing blessing from above: Me! Lol...
Yes, I turned 25... A quarter of a century indeed!! And what a quarter of a century!!?! It has been filled with love, passion, adventure and trials from which I have grown and learned to appreciate life. I am really grateful to be where I am at in my life right now.
I had a beautiful day with Chris. He made me breakfast early in the morning (my first class starts at 7:30 am), after our classes and work, we headed to Waikiki where we watched the sunset and ate strawberry cheesecake!
We had to go back to Laie early because we are in the Tahitian club and had a rehearsal that night we couldn't miss...At the end, everyone sang Happy Birthday in French and English..and they made me dance!!By myself with the boys...Ok fun I shall say but, I am not good at Tahitian dances so I just busted a couple moves and ran in hiding behind my tahitian friends!!! Chris even busted a couple of moves..I was quite impressed!!!
I had a wonderful day!

25

Sunset on Waikiki Beach


With the sunset


My amazing strawberry cheesecake with lots of whip cream!! Delicious!!


On the way home...