About
These are a few things I care about outside of work. They’ve also shaped how I learn, prepare, and follow through.
Mandarin
I work with a tutor in China, study from textbooks, and try to make time for it most days. I want to get comfortable enough to use it in real conversations and, eventually, at work.
The progress is uneven. Some weeks I can feel it; other weeks I can’t. I like that it makes me keep showing up anyway.
Chess
Chess started to click when I began doing the work before each game: studying openings, solving puzzles, and looking back at my mistakes. The lesson is obvious, but the habit matters: come prepared, then make the best decision you can when the position changes.
I also like that chess makes you keep reassessing. You make a plan, your opponent changes the position, and you have to decide whether to attack, defend, trade, or start over. That kind of thinking is useful far beyond the board.
TAL VS. HECHT · VARNA 1962. Starting position. Move 0 of 49.
Use Previous, Play, Next, or Replay. Arrow keys move one ply; Space pauses; R replays.
Mountains
I hike, backpack, and camp when I can. In winter, I ski.
I only started skiing a couple of years ago, and I was genuinely scared of it. I don’t like heights, and early on even a blue run could feel like too much. But I had already decided I wanted to learn, so I kept going back. Eventually, being nervous became part of what made it fun.
I like that skiing forces me to stay calm and focus on the next turn instead of the whole mountain. That carries over more than I expected.
