What am I doing now?

This page shares what I'm up to right now. Based on nownownow.com.

DC Tech Parties 🎉

Some friends and I were chatting about how we'd establish a tech scene in DC. The first step would be to have tech parties in DC. On a whim, I bought the domain dctechparties.com. A few weeks after our chat, we held a party with over 100 people near Dupont Circle. In December 2024, we hosted another party in collaboration with DC Tech Week.

ASL ✌️

I started learning sign language. It's on pause currently, though I expect to resume in February

"Quarterly Shareholder Meetings" 🍸

Every quarter or so, I hold a mixer where I invite people of different friend groups and have them mingle. I recently concluded my 2024 holiday party (in January 2025). Due to its nature and frequency, they've gotten the nickname of "quarterly shareholder meetings."

Moving 🏠

I returned to Google in July 2024. I'm working in their Washington DC office. I recently moved to Crystal City around the same time. Jiu-Jitsu was on hiatus around that time, and I've found a new gym and resumed doing BJJ.

Travels 🇬🇧 🇨🇳 🇹🇭

I recently came back from China and Thailand (in late 2024). Depending on the city you're in, they all have different vibes.

• Beijing is quite traditional.
• In Wuxi, they're genuinely good people having a good time.
• Shanghai has a western-adjacent work-hard-play-hard mentality.
• Chiang Mai is one big elephant pants/do it for the 'Gram/namaste vibe.
• Bangkok is a hodgepodge of everything related to Southeast Asia.

Mid 2024's travels have mostly been around work. I just returned from Defcon in Las Vegas. A few months ago, I was at BSides in San Francisco, which was like a smaller and better-run version of Defcon.

Improv 🎭

I started doing improv. A few years ago, I would have been terrified of that very concept. But it's loads of fun and the highlight of my week. My goal? Trick everyone into thinking I'm an extrovert. I ended up doing a bunch of improv (and later standup); it was such an enjoyable experience.

In June 2024, I resumed improv. My plan is to resume standup comedy too.