This year is flying by so fast! It’s difficult to keep up with it, but I’m enjoying everything life continues to give me. Benj has been very busy in law school this past semester with classes, law journal, his externship, various societies, and so on. He’s relieved to be done with law school for the summer and looks forward to working at a firm. I’ve been busy also with work, trying to run my small business, and everything else. Some days we literally would only see each other for an hour or so. Needless to say, we are both excited that the semester is done, and we can focus on other endeavors. Hopefully, we find some more time to have fun!
This spring, Benj accepted a post-graduate clerkship for an appellate judge in Utah, which means we are MOVING BACK TO UTAH! I am very, very stoked to be closer to the family (hello, free food) and our friends! It’s a bittersweet feeling, though, because we have met a lot of amazing people in Arizona. Many Arizonans we have met are so laid back, and some of the least judgmental people. The immense diversity here is awesome as well. I’ve been lucky to make friends from various places and different walks of life. Not to mention, the weather is incredible most of the year, minus the burning-hot summer. Utah’s weather on the other hand is unique, where some days you can experience all four seasons in 24 hours! I don’t really look forward to driving in the snow, and bi-polar Utah weather, but I’ll manage. I have grown very fond of Arizona sunshine. I also love seeing the palm trees because they remind me of my time growing up in Hawaii. But if you know me, then you know that I’ll especially miss the Mexican food in Arizona. The more south you head, the more authentic the Mexican food tastes.
Despite all the wonderful things Arizona has offered to us, I’m mostly grateful for the growth and independence it has taught us. When Benj chose to study in Arizona, I was initially kind of sad because I knew we would be away from our families. I had never moved away from my family, so I was kind of nervous about this experience. Today, I can truly say that although living away from family has been the worst part of living in Arizona, one of the blessings has been that we have learned to trust and rely on each other more. With the lack of our supportive network of family and friends, we have had to figure things out together. Some challenges were tougher than others, but it has been a rewarding experience all together. Our relationship has been strengthened, and we have a new-found courage to go anywhere in the world together. So, we’ll always look back on our time living in Arizona with fondness and gratefulness for the friends, memories, and experience we gained here. And we look forward to the new adventures that await us in Utah. However, until we move back, we’ll keep enjoying Arizona and soaking up all the sunshine and friendship it has to offer.
