Costco Fresh Sushi Review Made Daily instore @ Paradise Valley Test Market Phoenix, AZ

Costco Fresh Sushi Review

Rating A-

Imagine my surprise when I saw on my facebook wall that Costco was now offering fresh made sushi right at the store.  Imagine my astonishment that Costco only has it at one location and it happens to be at MY Costco at Paradise Valley Mall!  Having shopped there just a few days earlier I headed over to grab just one thing, sushi!

Costco Paradise Valley Mall, Phoenix AZ

Arriving in the afternoon we were greeted with the display and already most of the salmon rolls were gone.  I found out that they just started this two days ago and PV was the test market.  Let’s hope it’s actually good.  We grab all three types and headed home.

Background

Keep in mind, I’m no sushi expert and I rarely go out to eat sushi because I feel it is mostly overpriced.  I never buy from the grocery store and consider the rolls they pass as sushi in the refrigerated section a bastardization of the concept.  I have however hosted my own sushi parties making them from scratch using sashimi grade fish flown in from the coast and have all the cooking supplies to go with it.  

I have also eaten at conveyor belt sushi restaurants at budget locations in Tokyo at Shinjuku station where the common people eat sushi, which is by far not a fine dining experience (which it shouldn’t be). 

Hey Mom!  I'm at Costco in Tokyo

Large Sashimi Platter Costco Tokyo

This is commonplace in Japan... Sashimi - Sushi - Zushi!  Prices in Yen

  

I have also bought Zushi and Sashimi from the Costco in Tokyo.  I am also in Culinary Arts education, having created an online culinary arts program used by businesses, schools and universities called KP Culinary Arts Online. 

The Review

We get home and inspect the rolls.  The first thing we notice is that they are missing a tray for soy sauce.  They use the traditional dry wasabi powder and it was of good consistency.  Included was a fair amount of white pickled ginger.  The rolls were done in the inside out roll style and you get 8 pieces per roll, 2 per package at $10.  The rolls are larger than the average roll, almost twice as large compared to grocery stores and upscale stores like AJ’s.  Inside they put a generous amount of the product and you never feel cheated unless you get the end pieces which is capped by the rice.  The rice was drier than what I would have liked but that may have been the timing of when we purchased the rolls.  From what we can tell, 90% of all ingredients are items they normally sell at the Costco warehouses in the USA.

The only complaint I have is that whomever the sushi chef was went a little overboard with the wasabi.  You can use wasabi to accent the roll inside but in some bites you find a large enough portion of wasabi that makes you gasp, and I ate mine without any additional wasabi or soy sauce.  If they are a little more careful with the green stuff, this would have been a glowing review.  My other complaint is that the rolls should not be placed side by side.  They were stuck to each other and took some effort to get them unstuck.  Either place them apart and have the soy sauce in between or place a small piece of wax paper or plastic to separate them.

Admittedly not the best sushi I’ve ever had but it’s damn good and you can’t beat the price vs value Costco offers.  If you are a sushi lover, definitely give their sushi a try.  I’m going back for more! (except when I went back a couple days later they were all out in the evening.)  I guess they can’t meet the demand.

Here’s my review of each type of roll.

Smoked Salmon Roll

Consists of Costco’s sockeye smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber and a line of wasabi inside with a light drizzle of wasabi mayonnaise.  Generous portions of the smoked salmon make this roll the highlight of the trio.  Definitely my favorite roll to buy there.

Dungeness Crab Roll

Consist of what I believe to be Phillips dungenous crab mix in generous amounts along with cucumber and a good helping of avocado with a light spread of wasabi inside, topped off with a fair amount of capelin roe.  This was a nice treat and really tasty.  I loved the portions of crab inside the roll and the roe was a nice touch.

Shrimp Crunch Roll

Contains chopped up precooked shrimp, a good helping of avocado and cucumber with a small line of wasabi inside, and topped up with a decorative drizzle of wasabi and spicy mayonnaise with a sprinkle of onion crunch topping.  This was a delightful roll but was very plain for my taste.  The crunchy onion topping was a nice touch but it didn’t fit, was soggy and the pieces were too large for the rolls and served to fall off when you pick it up.  It’s still an enjoyable snack but my least favorite of the three.  I would recommend replacing this roll with another roll style.

Thank you for reading and I let me know what you think of Costco’s new fresh sushi!

Nai Wang

Japan: 10 days of reflections on living vs vacationing in Tokyo

Having spent the past 10 days living in Japan and with five more days of my trip I sit back and think about how this experience has quite significantly differed from my last one a year ago.

Last year I had an opportunity for the first time in my life to spend 8 days in Japan. Like any happy go lucky otaku I went crazy. Japan has been in the heart of my travel goals. Being a well seasoned traveler for my work I knew that Japan would have been an experience like no other, and it did not disappoint. I was in awe of the sprawling metropolis, looking from Tokyo Tower out to see a vast sea of concrete. I went from one location to the next taking advantage of the short time I had to take in as much sites as I could. I tried to experience everything from places, people and particularly my love, food. I wanted to try everything once from authentic Japanese cuisines, to common every day foods. I went even as far as try American foods here such as McDonalds and KFC. I was amazed at their rendition of pizza and how they treat and appreciate food. Lastly I was amazed at how this sprawling metropolis worked so efficiently through their mass transit system. Needless to say, it was an overwhelming experience that I think everyone should have once in their life.

This year I had the opportunity to visit once again. This time it would be for a longer period, approximately twice that of the last time. It will be a very different experience in that my wife procured an apartment in the suburbs of Tokyo.

This time I came not as a starry eyed otaku but with a familiarity of the area. For the first eight days I spent it at the apartment living in Japan. We would go visit the grocery store every day and buy the food we need to make. We would shop for supplies at the 100 yen store instead of eating out. We only went out on occasion to visit places that were necessary instead of going for sites. We used the public transportation system to get to where we needed to go. We lived efficiently and economically not as tourists but as residents. It was an entirely different experience than the last.

Even though our time here is short, it gave me a taste of what city life is like here in Tokyo. It amazed me how so many can live in harmony in such tight quarters. Respect is the key element to keeping this metropolis thriving. It is like a well oiled machine. There is an order to everything and everyone follows the rules because if they didn’t, there would be no way for so many to live in such harmony in such a small space. As an island nation, they had to adapt to this style of life.

I sit back and ponder our own existence back in the United States. In contrast, we live in excess. We have land o plenty and an abundance of food. We have an abundance of luxuries we take for granted that would be so difficult for the average Japanese to attain. And despite all the things we have, we complain, bicker and sneer about what we don’t have, always wanting more, doing more and needing more. I’m not saying that everyone lives in excess but by the standards of the life we live, we are in excess.

Taking a page from the Japanese simple life we should treasure what we have, live in harmony and not focus on what we don’t have. Life continues on and we should be happy for living in such a developed country where we do have those luxuries that the majority of the world does not have.

Day 1 & 2: Oh the Human(d)ity - Eating in Tokyo

Landing in Tokyo I am greeted by heat and humidity, enough so that you don’t want to leave the confines of an air conditioned apartment. If you do happen to find yourself outside you will want to spend all your time in a department store or restaurant. Being a desert dweller, I am accustomed to the heat but not the humidity. The average temperature was 95 with 80% humidity and it was awful! These two days I did practically nothing other than recover from jet lag and enjoy amazing Japanese meals prepared by my loving wife.




The morning I arrive I was starving so Michi made me a quick curry and rice. It was delicious! For lunch we had sashimi with tuna, and octopus. It was a delicious meal and a perfect way to start my time in Tokyo.

Last year being my first time in Japan I wanted to see and experience as much as I can traveling from place to place, eating as much variety I could during my last experience. It was my first and I treated it as if it were my last. This time around, I’m here for an extended time with the goal to enjoy Japan in a different way, as a temporary resident. With an apartment with a “full” kitchen, our goal was to spend as little as possible eating out but instead, going to the local grocery and buying grocery every other day. This way, it is very economical and we get to really immerse ourselves in living rather than visiting.

So with that, we stay indoors, eat at home, make breakfast, lunch and dinner and enjoy really being in Japan rather than running from place to place in Japan.

On the second day I wanted to see if I could find one of the most amazing finds I made last year, a camera accessory. We ventured into the heat and humidity at noon and made a quick trip to Akihabara, Japan’s electronics hub. Here we walked down the street with a mission, to find the small hole in the wall store that I found this rare item (which I still can’t find online) only to not locate the store or the item.

We wandered over to the 8 story Don Quijote where we found out it was the headquarters of the new Japanese pop sensation AKB 48, a teenage pop girl group, but it’s different since it’s not really a singing group but a singing team comprised of members who’ve won audition contests. The group has grown over the years from a few to now 60. It was started by the owner of Don Qui because he wanted to create a pop group where people can easily meet the idol. With that, the 8th floor of his store in Akihabara is devoted to their theater, merchandise and a place you can meet your pop idols. Pretty crazy if you ask me.

Having been thoroughly defeated we went over the a mega department store featuring 8 floors of electronics, home electronics, books, games and restaurants right next to the station. It was fun walking in this giant electronics store and see their premium items and prices. Multistory department stores are a common thing in downtown Tokyo.

Heading back we cool off and I prepare myself for my own journey, to Shinjuku to retrieve a bicycle from Michi’s Father. It was hot, it was humid, and even after dark it’s still miserable. At 7 I head out on the subway to Shinjuku, making it there in 30 minutes. I meet her father, locate the bike and begin my ride back to Itabashi. It was estimated that it would take me 45 minutes. I mounted my camcorder on the bike and head on back home. It was a good ride and had two tough points where I was going up a fairly steep incline. It was made even more difficult with the bike being old and a single speed. It also had a friction powered light which took away some of my riding energy. Making it back, I was soaked and exhausted but happy to be back in air conditioned comfort.

Here is a link to my ride so you can see my path, elevation and heartrate.

My video blog of the day 1 & 2

Day 0.5 Traveling Solo in Tokyo

Some would say that traveling in a foreign country by ones self is a daunting task but add a metropolis, language barrier, mass transit, no communications, lack of internet, and two 50 pound pieces of luggage to the mix and we've got ourselves a situation just ready for something disastrous to happen. Fortunately for me I've had the experience of using the transit system in Tokyo the previous year, memorized the maps and stations I would use, plotted the best route to take based on memory and a determination to get to the apartment to see my wife. Yes, I make it and here is the tale of how I did it with some lessons learned and fun thoughts.

Sitting on the plane bound for Tokyo Haneda airport, the passengers are roused from their slumber three hours prior to landing for meal services. As we prepare ourselves for landing I memorize the maps of Tokyo and subway routes one last time. Using my iPad 2, I pre-cached google maps, downloaded Go Tokyo transit app and plotted the best route according to google and what I could see. Unfortunately google in all it's awesome plotting power doesn't take int account some subtle nuances that would have made my journey much easier.

Here is a picture of the Japanese transit system.



As you can see, I had to get from Narita to Motohasunuma. According to google, my best options were to take the JR line to Hamamasucho, transfer to the Yamamoto JR line to Yurakucho and walk over to Hibiya subway station and take the Mita line all the way to Motohasunuma. Sounds easy right?




I you want to see what true crazy is, here's a link to the full transit map of Tokyo.

We landed half an hour early in Narita. It was 4:30 and I was eager to get my bags and get on my way. One thing to note here is that the immigration process going into Japan is such an efficient process, it takes a matter of minutes to go through immigration. All you do is hand the attendant your form, smile at the camera and place your fingers on the fingerprint pads and you are on your merry way.

First important tip when traveling the public transit system. YOU MUST GET A SUICA CARD. A suica card is a god send when it comes to riding the trains and subway system in Japan. It is a charge card where you can load $$$ on it and it automatically calculates your fare based on where you go. Normally you would have to read the map, determine where you are going, put in the correct amount into the machine and buy a ticket. If you guess wrong you lose your extra money, if you guess less, the gates will close and you will have to make an adjustment before the gates will let you out. You will also disrupt the efficient flow of people making a many busy Japanese commuters disgruntled at the Gaijin who has stopped the flow of traffic (thought they would never let you know they were upset (and more than likely one would come up and help you be more efficient.)) If you want to save a few $$$ you will need to calculate transfers but sometimes you mess up and even though you added the transfer fare, the machine will take your ticket away thinking you were just stupid and put extra money in.

The SUICA card is a godsend because it does all those calculations for you. First you go to the machine with a SUICA symbol, select that you want to purchase a card. A new feature they added this year is an ability to personalize the card with your name adding the ability to retrieve lost cards (for a fee) and any remaining funds. 2,000 yen is necessary to activate the card which 500 of is used as a deposit and is refunded with the return of the card. Once you have the card, you can place it in your wallet since it used RFID and can sense your card through the wallet. Just walk up to the gate, place it on the lighted spot and off you go to your train.

Once I got my Suica card I decided to take the Monorail instead based on a recommendation by some Japanese Americans. 5 AM, waiting for the 5:12 monorail to Hamamasucho, a direct run to that destination. Immediately I was hit by the humidity and even though it was such an early time, I could start to feel the change in the weather. Getting to the station was a breeze and changing from the monorail was easy with escalators a definitive path. I just needed to decide to take the Yamamoto line at platform 2 heading towards Tokyo and Ueno. Two stops later I was at Hibiya and this is where the fun begins.

According to the map the Hibiya station was a short walk away and connected to the station. Boy was I wrong. I exited the station to find myself on the streets of Hamamasucho. With no signs to guide me I whip out my iPad and set it to find the correction direction to walk. Identifying the proper street I head in the direction of the station After navigating three streets I finally find a sign pointing to the station around the corner. As I turn the corner I find that it was just stairs leading into the depths of the earth. Having the need to move two roller bags, I had to find an alternative solution and fortunately there was a elevator 100 feet away. The elevator took me part of the way down into the station and I had to walk quite a distance to get to the subway gates only to find more stairs. By the time I finally make it to the platform I've navigated three stairs taking my bags one at at time up and down and had an old lady pass me during the process. This lengthy excursion could have been avoided now that I know how to read the map. I would have taken an alternative route, one that takes me farther than this direct route but provides me with escalators.

Now on the Mita line I am on a direct route to Motohasunuma, 30 minutes away. It was a smooth ride and at this hour 6 AM, the morning commuters started their day and the subway car started to fill. Sitting there I analyzed the map and decided on a better route for the way back since we will have more luggage with us. At my destination I was greeted with an elevator to the street level and proceeded to make my way to Sakura House.

At Sakura House I was greeted with my arch nemesis, stairs, three flights of them. After moving my bags for the last time up the flight of stairs, it is not 7:15, the sun is up, the air is humid and I'm ready to see my wife and take a shower.


Here's my first Video-Blog post of my adventure, taking video memos as I travel.



Please comment on this post.  I appreciate all feedback.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Itabashi,Japan

Nai's crazy 3 week trip to Japan day 0: traveling violations err reflections

My second trip to Japan in my life. Last year, this time I traveled to Tokyo, experienced the people, the places and the culture. For most, it would be quite an eye opening experience, to be immersed in such a different world compared to what they are use to in the united states, but for me, since I am Asian and being so well traveled, it was not such a shock, however I was still impressed as to truly experience the culture here. The kindness of the culture is something the rest of the world should take as a lesson to how one group of people can not only survive on such a small land but thrive and become one of the worlds super power. The ability to work in unison in such a tight space, where other countries couldn't do a tenth of what Japan has done with lands and resources that go far beyond their tiny island is something to be marveled at. That is what impressed me the most, how this bustling metropolis can function so efficiently.

Now I am traveling to Japan for the second time in my life, this time a longer period to experience the world of Japan, the learn, to take cues and to enjoy my time here. Last time I spent 8 full days here, traveling for 10 days. This time I am here for 16 days , traveling for 18 days. It was a rush, and experience, but best of all, with family here, we were able to travel freely, not as tourists but as a immersive experience. We traveled from place to place soaking in the most in the limited time we had there. Besides seeing sites, I wanted to experience the food Japan had to offer from their native cuisine to their takes on American classics like hamburger and pizza.

This year my wife traveled here ahead of me as she did last year and acquired an apartment rented to foreign visitors. This 29 sq meter place ran 70,000 yen a month, which translates to roughly $800, which is not bad for a place in Tokyo. Typically servicing travelers, this is an excellent opportunity to live and study under your visas.

With the extra time, I am anticipating a more relaxing visit to this wonderful country, visiting not only sights but to really have a better chance to immerse myself and really see what Tokyo has to offer. Compared to last year's speed blast, this will be a much more relaxing trip.

Above that, I would like to see how the people here have received from the recent devastation that happened on March 11. It's not something one can ignore and we have seen the country react, come together and start the rebuilding process. It is a testament to the resolution of this country as just today it is reported that they their spiraling decrease in GDP has shown better than analyst predicted and lint to Japan as a stabilizing force in the world economy. It could have been far worse that predicted.

Rocked by constant aftershocks, a looming nuclear disaster, loss of their export prowess technologically and radiation, and loss of tourism, it will be interesting to see how my trip will be like one year later. Already I've seen first hand how the disaster has affected friends I know as their planned trip back this year was canceled by their tour company. I can only anticipate that from what I see, it will be business as usual. The transportation system still runs, the shops still sell goods and the ramen is still consumed.

This year, I'm flying on ANA airlines instead of delta. Already I see the difference in service. Asian carriers definitely outshine international carriers by a longshot. Taking the redeye, flying out of LAX was much better since it gives you a chance to acclimate to the change in time. Seeping for the first six hours helps in combating jet lag. Wine, beer and Chu-Hi (a popular citrus alcoholic drink) helps too. Many wonder how one can sit on a plane for 12 hours, especially for someone with ADHD. The red eye flight helps but most importantly one can not do it so well without an iPad.

Last year, my challenge after I land was to buy a bus ticket to Shinjuku. This year, being familiar with their daunting subway and rail lines (it's not as bad as it looks) I will be taking public transportation, saving nearly $100 on the trip. All it takes it to get on the right train with my suitcase, transfer at the right station to the JR line, get off at the right station, make my way to the proper subway, get on board and ride it to Motohasunumo, get off an walk to Michi's apartment. Transit time 1:05 at a cost of 690 yen. No problem? That will be a fun challenge.

It is with that, My first blog post about day 0 of my trip back to Japan. Many more to come with pictures, cultural anecdotes, and even video! Please leave your comments as the will be very much appreciated.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Itabashi,Japan

Adventures in airport sitting for 18 hours: or hell on earth.

This is a tale of how one traveler went against all odds and pursued his final destination through some very unusual circumstances. This is a very long story so the first paragraph will be a summary of the events for those who don't want to read every little detail, twist, and turn that happened during my last 24 hours. So sit back, relax and enjoy this whirlwind ride.

Obstacles started to be hurled at me even before I left. A phone call delayed my departure and a storm shut down an airport, resulting in my connecting flight being canceled. As I waited to figure out what I could do, a family in my same situation suggested that we could fly to Philadelphia and then drive the rest of the way since there were no flights to Atlantic City until 3 pm, which would have made this entire trip pointless. Landing at 9 am gave me a chance to get to my destination because it was only an hour drive. I offered to rent the vehicle since I receive discounts and preferred programs and the father of the family I tagged along with was a truck driver and knew the best routes. We got to Philadelphia in no time but I had bad information and went to the wrong location. Finally finding the correct location, I made two loops because of how confusing the New Jersey Turnpike is, and actually made it to Atlantic City at 11:30 am, wasting my advantage. Fortunately, Job Corps gave me a slot in the afternoon where I had exclusive time to present KP Compass in front of all the teachers for 15 minutes. I knocked it out of the park blowing them away with what KP can do and made it home at midnight.

The Job Corps trip was planned to be (what we call in the business) a quick turn and burn. We fly in, do a presentation, and then leave for home within 24 hours. This is very different compared to most trips where we stay for 2-5 days exhibiting at a conference. My plan was to get there the night before, exhibit for three hours the next morning and then leave for home that afternoon/evening. Given that it was in Atlantic City, the small airport didn't offer many options, so I took the flight from Phoenix at 1:30 pm through Atlanta to land at 11:30 pm in Atlantic City with a return flight the next day at 6:30pm to land in Phoenix at 12:05 am.

That was the plan...

Leaving Phoenix was fairly routine, but I had already started with a delay. I got a phone call moments before I was to leave from someone important who I had been waiting to hear from. Over 15 minutes later I was off to the airport. I parked my car, waited for the shuttle, went through the secure gate in minutes. Smooth sailing. The flight was very good since I somehow got to sit in the exit row without paying the usual $20 upgrade fee and I was super productive because of the wifi on the plane. I even got a beer for free!

With half an hour until we were supposed to land, the woman next to me said she received an email from her husband that the storm will delay some flights. Sure enough on approach we were put into a holding pattern. The captain had hoped to get us in before they called in the storm so we had to sit on hold for 40 minutes...

Landing was rough but we deplaned with plenty of time to connect, except the flight which was scheduled was already delayed to depart at 11pm, then 11:30pm, then 12am, 1am, 2:30am. It turns out that the plane coming in was en route and eventually turned away. The storm that rolled through that night was a pretty bad one with heavy hail and shut down the airport shortly after we landed. We had that small window to land or else we would have been diverted.

The terminal was buzzing with stranded travelers. It was 9pm so I decided to call in, claim this delay, and have dinner. At 10:30pm, while sipping on a Bloody Mary in the Delta Sky Lounge, I got the notice on my flight tracker that my flight was canceled. Immediately, I hurried out to the Air Tran customer service counter to find out what options I had. By the time I reached the area there was a line 45 minutes long and it got even longer.

While on the way to the counter I met a few people who were on the Atlantic City flight. They were desperate to get home too so we joked about renting a car and driving overnight to New Jersey. I was serious; I wanted to get to my destination but was resigned with the very high possibility of having to return home. Once I got to the counter I found out that the next available flight to Atlantic City was at 3pm. That would have totally ruined my trip to the point where I should have just taken the first flight back home and call it quits, but fortune smiles on me. After talking it over with a family in my same predicament, I soon found out that there were flights available to Philadelphia at 7am to land at 9am. That opened up the possibility for me to make it there, late but better than never. After teaming up with the family, I offered to rent the car and split the cost because I was a Hertz Gold Member and didn't have to pay for insurance since I was covered by American Express. They said yes and I set my flight for Philadelphia.

By now it was 11:30pm. The family of five opted to stay at the terminal overnight but I decided to brave the outside world and try to get a hotel. It is times like this that I appreciate American Express platinum concierge and travel services. I called American Express and an agent spent an hour calling hotels in the area to no avail. He called every hotel trying to find me a space but all were booked solid due to the storm. On a whim I decided to use the distressed travelers’ site offered by Air Tran and they had one place open at a Comfort Inn. I left for the where hotel shuttles where located but not before I was approached by a driver from Super 8.

This was very creepy and my creep senses were tingling. He told me that they had five rooms available, to which I told him that was impossible since all rooms were booked. During the hour I spent at the shuttle staging grounds, I noticed the Super 8 shuttle always there. I said no thank you and he went to ask another traveler. I feared what I would have found if I took that offer. My last experience, errr Jonathan's last experience, with them was a very unpleasant one. So with that I ran away to get a cab.

Getting to the motel should have been easy. It was 5 miles down the road, a direct route from the airport to the destination. Well, the cab driver had a different route in mind. After traveling an extra 10 minutes and after I showed him on the G.P.S. how he was taking me in the wrong direction, I finally made it there alive. 2 am, I get to my room, set my alarm for 4:15am and pass out.

4:45am I wake up with an “oh shit” start. I grab my stuff and run out only to miss the shuttle by a few minutes. Fortune smiled on me once again as there was a lone cab driver outside. It turned out that he wasn't supposed to be there but was waiting for someone else. He mistakenly took me since I strolled out there with purpose. I made it to the airport at 5:15am, got through security, and ran into the family that stayed overnight.

Dazed and confused, the terminal was full of suffering passengers. With nothing open they laid about benches and floors. My two hours spent at the motel was hardly worth it but at least I got some shut eye. The worst part of being at the airport was not knowing if the flight was still going to happen since all flights were diverted, the plane could have not been there or the crew had to be reassigned. So many factors were weighing against the flight taking off on time.

As 6:30am rolled around, they called for general boarding and we’re off! I sat down, closed my eyes and found myself in Philadelphia. I can't believe I was there, on time and ready to go.


It was times like this that I am glad I have American Express platinum concierge services and Hertz Gold. I boarded the shuttle, got taken to the car rental area, and walked to the board where it told me my car was 234. I walk up to a gold minivan, get in, start the car and drive out to pick up the family of five.


The family was traveling back from Puerto Rico after spending 10 days there attending a funeral for a relative. They were tired and wanted to be home just as badly as I wanted to be in Atlantic City. Fortune smiles on me again as it turns out that the father, Ed, is a truck driver with 20 years of experience. During the entire trip he directed me on the best and fastest route to Atlantic City. The drive was swift and we made it there in less time than the G.P.S. predicted with better routes. I dropped them off at the airport so they can retrieve their car and then I said farewell.

Now, the original plan with the Job Corps meeting was to exhibit at the Clarion Hotel from 9am to 11am. By now it was 10:30am and I was going to catch the tail end of the time. I drove to the hotel only to find out that it wasn't where they were meeting and they were at the community college in the opposite direction! OMFG! All that rushing to get there with some time to spare and I was at the wrong location. I get in my car and set my G.P.S. to go there, 20 minutes with an eta of 11:05am.

Heading out, I drove down the turnpike spotting four patrol cars. I had to make sure I wasn't speeding. That was the last thing I needed. Heading down the turnpike I got to a point where it wanted me to do a u-turn. Unsure of where to do it, I missed it and had to travel an extra two miles to get my next opportunity. Heading back, the G.P.S. said to turn at a different u-turn location. Confused I turned down the u-turn only lane and checked the G.P.S. but it was too late and I was committed. First, you have to understand u-turns o the New Jersey turnpike. It's unlike anything you've ever encountered. See the below illustration, it’s confusing as hell.

So I make the u-turn and back-tracked two miles to the next u-turn spot and headed back again. It turns out that a quarter mile down the road was the community college hidden by trees. I wasn't the only one lost as others reported missing it and hitting the u-turn. Even Michael Ty, president of ACF, missed it on the first pass but he caught it just in time to not have to do the loop like I did.

Here is an illustration of my drive.

It is 11:30am; I locate the culinary arts building and head in. Relief washed over me as I met Dr. Francis Cole, tired, haggard, smelly, and wearing the same clothes I left Phoenix in made all of my struggles worth it. They were in the middle of starting lunch and decided to squeeze me in this afternoon during their instructor sessions after the judging.

At 12:30pm the chefs assembled in the classroom and began tasting the final round of dishes from the final six teams. After the judging concluded, the students and instructors separated. I was the fourth presentation for the teachers.

My presentation couldn't have been better set up. As I waited the window narrowed so I had to say everything in only 15 minutes. The presentation just before me mentioned how they are now required to incorporate technology in all curriculum and by 2012, all books will be replaced by digital versions. When I got up there and presented KP Compass for Culinary Arts, jaws dropped as I showed them the solution we devised to address online, out of classroom, learning.

The presentation was a stellar success as it was made at the perfect time in the perfect manner. The past 24 hours was hell but it was totally worth it. I never gave up despite all the obstacles placed in front of me. I made it home with no incident, even when I traveled through Atlanta again, which felt weird since I was just there 10 hours earlier. My head hit the pillow at 12:30am and I passed out, tired, smelly and excited for what this presentation will bring for USDOJ and Job Corps Centers.

Thoughts on volunteerism and nonprofits from an outgoing president

As my final days draw to a close for my three-year term as president of the Phoenix Conservatory of Music, I’ve been thinking a lot about volunteerism and the people who are involved with nonprofits. What motivates people who are working professionals to give up their time and energy to a nonprofit organization?

Over the course of 5 years serving on the board of directors of PCM, I’ve encountered many people from all different walks of life: from stay-at-home moms to lawyers, from artists to engineers, from employees to entrepreneurs. The people involved come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and that diversity is necessary for a nonprofit to thrive because it might not have the resources to hire individuals to perform the duties necessary for a normally operating business.

I look at the people I know outside of PCM and many of them have never sat on a board of directors, nor have they volunteered their time to a cause. What makes me different than my social peers?

Thinking back to my life, I reflect on how I was not one who had the greatest opportunity. I got firsthand experience in seeing the results of giving because I grew up on food stamps and free and reduced lunches. I took opportunities in clubs and organizations to do community service and that carried into adulthood. I became involved with my local blockwatch group, eventually becoming president. I served on committees for my local school district and I was later recruited to be on the board of directors for arts and music organizations. Although I had very little to give in experience and knowledge of music, I was motivated to try.

Everyone has individual motivations for giving. Some give as part of a higher calling, others may give according to a club they participate in. Some give according to hobbies or interests and others are active to follow a cause. People give according to what they are passionate about. My motivations are simpler than all of that.

Personally, I give because I can. Even though I sometimes feel like I don’t have the time, I really do when I look for it. Even though I sometimes do not believe that I have the talents an organization needs, I find out that I do when I volunteer. I see a great need and I do what I can do to help. It just means taking a deeper look at myself.

Looking back, my time spent on the receiving end of nonprofit groups highly influenced me to be active in the art of giving. As board president, I feel that it is important to understand the motivations of each board member to help further the mission of the organization. Giving is never a one way street and it requires some personal satisfaction as a return on the time the volunteers give.

Why do I give? What I love in life is to see things grow. When I see a challenge of growing an organization to its potential, that is what motivates me to give. When that potential is met, I feel my job is done so I look for new challenges. Every organization I’ve been an active part of I’ve always taken the angle of “How can we make this bigger?” For example, the block watch started with 23 homes and I expanded it to 108 homes in the neighborhood over the course of three years. I love seeing the potential and growing it and that is why I give: to grow that potential.

The final daunting question remains, “Why don’t more people volunteer?” Sure, many do not have time. I’m the last person who can say that I have time for any pursuits other than my business, but I find the time. Nonprofit organizations help fill a need, and those who have the opportunity should volunteer whether or not they’ve been the recipient of such programs. Everyone should experience being a volunteer of their time and talents.

Soon I will reflect on my past 5 years with PCM; what an amazing 5 years it was!

Sincerely,
Nai Wang
Board President of The Phoenix Conservatory of Music