Interlude | Stephanie's June 2025

We’re at the halfway mark of the year wow, July especially is such an interlude and transition as it’s both the peak of summer but also at the end of this month is when we’re past the half year mark and counting down to the end of summer. Ok going to stop myself from getting too into deep in thought of the concept of time and get into the recap of how June was spent - Stephanie 

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Lifestyle, Lessons, Lows

Professionally, actual work wise seemed to have fly by. I think back to any big rocks or projects, but my memory at the moment is time spent on aligning people to be honest. I think I’ll speak up about this month - keep me accountable! Work-relationships wise has been on a high this month though, I got to catch up with a dear ex-colleague and it was so engaging and energizing, reminds me of the camaraderie feeling I’ve enjoyed since joining this team, and that work friendships can last beyond the work itself. I’ve also been spending more time with my colleagues outside of work this month, from happy hours to cycling to a baby shower, to an impromptu giants game - I am excited for more mems to be made. I feel like because I’ve been on this team for a while, it’s easy to feel like you’ve gotten to know enough people breath and depth wise, but because of that comfort, that led to friendships drifting too - this month reminded me it’s never too late to re-enforce your work friendships, and how it is important to do so because as cliche as it sounds, you must water your plants. Something else I’ve also been doing more this month is going into the office 2x ish a week, as there’s the summer intern I’ve been trying to spend more time in office with her, but that in return is also what led to more time with the colleagues, attending office events, troubleshooting my laptop lol, and most importantly as I go back to back days for the two days in office, I try to use that as an excuse to go visit my parents that first day. I’ve been mentioning in my previous posts how I’ve been trying to spend more time with family but it’s tough squeezing everything in life in, and this has been helping me create more time with them. This month was tough (ongoing) as my mom hasnt been feeling well health wise and while we are still trying to understand why - I am happy to make this extra time to spend with my parents to cheer them up, I should’ve done this sooner. 

Segway to Family, as mentioned just now - this month has been an active effort in trying to spend more time with family - I can truly say this month I didn’t just let time slip by and made time for family to my best. As I look at my notes and photo album, I see so many new mems at places we’ve been to as kids - how nostalgic. I haven’t driven to Oakland in ages, while growing up we’d go every other week to visit my late paternal grandmother, and visit viet town after. This month I decided to take my parents to the places we’d go to from that time, it was bittersweet for sure. We also got to celebrate my grandfather and father for Father’s day! Unfortunately all the dimsum places were way too packed and don’t take resys, so we opted for a random chinese restaurant next door to our original dimsum plan, but rather what we eat - what matters is the gift of time together, and I am thankful to get to spend this precious time with my aging grandparents and parents. Later down the month I was also able to repeat some SJ faves with my parents and surprise my aunt with her favorite pandan durian cake for her birthday, I think it especially means a lot for us to be able to do this for her since she doesn’t have kids. The love my mother has for her sisters and vice versa is truly endearing. What’s more since she had the day off next week - that same aunt ended up cooking up a feast and surprise visiting Emily and I with homecooked meals. To experience the love of my family is my greatest privilege in this lifetime.

From family to Friends, I am lucky to be a part of different communities and friendships that support and care for me that spans across locations and time even if we don’t always see each other. Keeping up with friendships, family, the house, romantic relationships, has been a lot - but this month has showed me again how lucky I am to have come across the people in my life. From extremely thoughtful gifts and surprises from Tammie and Jin during their trips to Japan - they really didn’t have to, but it was such a nice surprise after a long day of work. Then to attending a University of Manchester mixer event in SF (so random, but so glad I went, also surprised to meet so many UoM alumni in SF - meet current students traveling for this - in a room full of british accents that made me feel like for a sec I was back in time during my semester in the UK, but the duality of being in SF) but most importantly catching up with Diana which I havent seen in almost a year, but have such a good yap catch up session with her prior, during, and after the event. Same goes for catching up with Sadie this month, it’s been a hot minute since we truly sat down and caught up - and in both friendships we once saw each other a lot, and truthfully I also haven’t reached out as much due to prioritizing other things with my time - but I am so thankful that when we do catch up - we pick up where we left off on. Ending the month with the therapeutic monthly catch ups with Christina W and Ashley. To experience these long-term friendships across different life stages, continued support even during our busy seasons, and the willingness to put in effort two-ways -  is another privilege of mine.

From friends to Romantic relationships, I am still seeing the person from my previous entries - wild how time flies fr , but looking back this month as been a myriad of experiences and a lot of impromptu learnings. Started off this month with a fun weekend getaway to Monterary/Carmel/Capitola/Santa Cruz - that extended time together made us go steps forward forsure. Though things aren’t always sunshine as later down the month I spoke up and we had our first somewhat tough convo, but looking back - that in itself is also growth and progress in the relationship. And then also unexpectedly meeting his family this month too - which was so wholesome and warm, it was nice to see the environment he grew up in and be welcomed in too. Though now I am always shy running into them down my block haha while this meeting happened much sooner than I’d like, it’s still positive in its own in the grand scheme of things. In many ways this month felt like steps forward and back and forward and back because of the different experiences we’ve had - but its also a good (and realistic) month in progressing our relationship beyond just dinner dates. Regardless of the outcome, seeing this person has been rewarding in a sense that it taught (and continues to teach) me to open up and be open minded, get to know someone else on a romantic level, feeling deserving of love, and more. Moving into this house has led to a lot of unexpected occurrences, while I am not ready or truly understand my father’s hesitancy to move in - it has been tough being happy about this house because of it, and managing the house has been tough in its own way - but I often say first and foremost my biggest blessings moving here have been Tammie living so near, and Emily being in this journey with me - secondly, meeting the neighbor I’ve been seeing has been making living here all the more enjoyable. 

I won’t get too in the Lows because I’m not all about that - but this month was immensely difficult because of trying to balance it all and feeling the pressure to make my parents feel better health but not knowing how to - and accepting that I will continue to do my best and knowing my best is enough, regardless if other family members help out or not. In return (that along no more pilates this month) I think has led to a build up health wise because my digestive system (tmi lol) was not having it this month and I really had to be real with myself in taking care of my health so I can take care of others. Alls to say I am at a better place now - and pilates is coming back into my life!(classpass has already been reactivated heh).

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My pick of the month: Sushi making night 

Honestly it was hard to have a pick this month because each experience whether it was with family, friends, romance, work - was one of its own and I treasure the time I had for each. However I decided to choose sushi making night, as it was actually the day after I had a tough convo with the guy I’ve been seeing - and that day showed me how we are able to be respectful during tough convos and still be willing to make time to spend together the next day even when things don’t go as planned. I also stepped back from being the lead chef for this to see how he preps beforehand lol especially after a not so happy night the day prior - and it was nice seeing him put in the effort. What’s more I learned I was actually p good at rolling sushi rolls haha. His aunt ended up unexpectedly joining us towards the end of the night, and that was also a good impromptu moment having a lighthearted conversation together as a 3 after her long day of work. While I appreciate the dinners out and weekend getaway this month - I think this sushi making night at home, the active effort of both sides to show up after a not so positive convo the night before, and the fun lighthearted convo with family - showed me a lot about what daily life could look like together.

This section requires me to only choose one pick of the month but if I could - my greatest pick would be the gift of time with everything and everyone in life - from romantic relationships to friends and family :) 

I hope everyone had a good month and a wonderful July ahead, it’s summer!! — Stephanie