Last month, my youngest brother had his last ever academic decathlon meet. It’s hosted annually in the Walter Pyramid, located at the California State University – Long Beach, and is a full-day event where middle school students test their knowledge. I’ve enjoyed supporting and attending these events, but I’m glad it’s finally come to an end. Waking up at 6am to get this thing rolling can get pretty tiring.
My family checked into the Marriott by the Queen Mary so we would have a shorter drive in the morning. Driving to Long Beach was a pain this time around because of the rain and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, California drivers go crazy with some rain.
Hokkaido Seafood Buffet
The night before the decathlon, we had a family dinner at Hokkaido Seafood Buffet. This was a monumental buffet for me because I tried crawfish for the first time – like actually peeling it and it was so good. I’ve had crawfish on my sushi before but this was different – an instant love affair.
Zero Express
On the day of, my younger brother and I decided to head over to 7-11 for some drinks. We ended up stumbling upon Zero Express, a boba shop, right on the same lot. I got the ube milkshake while my brother got the Thai iced tea; we also bought an cookies n’ cream shake for the youngest one who chose to stay at the pyramid. I had asked for my ube milkshake to have no toppings but the barista forgot and I got this massive drink instead. Don’t get me wrong – it made for a good photo but it was too sweet.
Roasting Water
Remember how I got obsessed with Roasting Water ever since Nancy mentioned it in her blog? Since they had a store in Long Beach and since I was in the area, I decided to stop by before heading home. I sort of regretted it because I waited in line for 20 minutes (note to self: they are busy on weekends) but the drink was worth it. Their #SWAG drink is something everyone needs to try at least once in their life!
I had planned on writing more about the decathlon but the food took over. Sorry not sorry – but let’s be real, I have no consent to post about school-related matters online, especially when it’s not my school. Hope this post didn’t make you too hungry!
