New year, New York

Another work trip for the books, but many NYC firsts.

Everything was a "first" for me, though, because I'd never been to the Big Apple. You can bet I had my fingers crossed that the Rockettes were still kicking and the ice cream at Serendipity we'd be licking, but sadly, neither of those dreams were realized.

After flipping through the photos I took, I realized although many were for work purposes, the others just kind of sucked. I think I should take a class or something. Or if anyone wants to volunteer to help a sister out. Please.

 Of course we checked out all the hottest NYC workouts.

Court and I braved the -2 degree temp and ran in Central Park. For the love of all my favorite movies set in NYC, I had to see this place!

 Who wouldn't want a bench that looks like a giant ice cream sando?

 September 11 memorial. Completely moving.

Here we are again at the arch. Overly bundled was not a thing.

Europe + Asia at lightning speed

Traveling for work and traveling for pleasure are not one in the same. The idea of jet-setting on the company’s dollar might sound glamorous or appealing, but doing it a breakneck speed, trying to problem-solve, learn, and absorb as much of the experience as possible in a short amount of time is exhausting. But exhilarating! I can't believe I saw five countries in a span of three weeks last fall and early winter. Trips I'll never forget, though seeing these places without my other half made me a bit verklempt. 

The. Absolute. Best. Part. Hands. Down...seeing college teammate Emma in her home of Stockholm...squeezing in visits in-between work things, and picking up right where we left off more than 10 years ago. Some friendships are just meant to be. 

London-Paris-Stockholm (I'm sure out-of-order, of course).

 Quick run to the palace.

 Obsessed with this grande marketplace in Paris...next to the Bon Marche.

 THE NOTRE DAME!

 And this gem!

 It really looks like the movies, folks. Confirmed.

 I need to write a five-paragraph essay on how and why I fell truly and madly in love with Sweden, highlighting its people, LAGOM, and of course FIKA. More on this some other time.

 And we did the touristy thing...an ice bar. Cold and cliche. Wouldn't do it again.

Some would argue we have this..."it's called a coffee break." But it's not. It's so much more.

A few snaps from Asia...Busan, South Korea and Vietnam. 

 My good friend, HyangSook from South Korea. We joined the same team at the same time. Forever bonded.

 Shoe factory-land.

 Somehow, and believe you me, I'm still not sure HOW, I did not take any photos of the Korean barbecue feast night. All the beef and kimchi you could want. And that roasted garlic...mmm. And that soju! Woo-wee!

On to 'nam!

 Couldn't get over the size of the Asian pears at the open-air market.

 And I'll never forget the breakfast buffets in either spot (shocking, I know). Dim-sum, Pho stations, Euro breakfasts, etc. Guess that's why they call it the Intercontinental!

 Most special part of my trip, in my opinion, was going to an Advent mass at the Notre Dame replica in Ho Chi Minh City.

 Finally got to FaceTime with my guys.

 Such a fun group to travel with. This photo is from Korea--whoops.

 On a boat tour on the Saigon River in Vietnam. Really spectacular temples and mosaics.