Starting and Ending the Year with Zumba
Posted on January 1, 2017 by Ching under Events, Life, Zumba.
Remember how I was so happy that I was able to teach Zumba on January 1, 2016? If not, here’s a short video to refresh your memory.
Guess what, New Year’s Eve 2016 fell on a Saturday so I got to teach a class on NYE also. I love how I had the rare opportunity to start and end the year with a Zumba class. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
These are just a few of the people who stuck around for a group photo following our NYE Zumba class at Andover YMCA.
Much like the previous year, 2016 has been a memorable one. Brian and I went on the first ever Zumba cruise. Here are some of the highlights of the trip:
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SIDENOTE: There’s actually a second Zumba cruise coming up which sails in April. If you would like to go, please use my affiliate code (461028) when you book to receive $25 onboard credit.
This truly was the year of Zumba for me, actually. Not only did we get to go on the Zumba cruise, I also got a tour of Zumba Home Office while on a work trip in Florida. And, not only that, I also got to go to ZINCON again!
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The significance of last year’s ZINCON is that it was the 10th anniversary of the Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN). However, I am very much looking forward to going to ZINCON again this year because it will be the 10th anniversary of the convention itself. (There was no convention during the first year of the Zumba Instructor Network. The first ZINCON didn’t happen until the year after.)
One of the highlights of this year’s ZINCON was meeting performer Max Pizzolante and his wife Maritza Bustamante. He is the singer behind a couple of songs in my current Zumba playlist: Quien Quiere Bailar, Vive Y Baila.
I actually plan to add another Max Pizzolante song to the playlist very, very soon. Stay tuned, Zumba pals!
Vive Y Baila is one of my favorite songs to do in Zumba class right now so I’m posting a video of it here for you:
Besides traveling for Zumba, Brian and I got to do some traveling for work as well.
- I got to visit Alliant Energy in Madison, WI and Spire Energy (formerly the Laclede Group) in St. Louis, MO.
- I had the opportunity to see the amazing and super hip PwC Experience Center in Florida when we were there for a Customer Experience workshop. (It was actually on this trip that I accidentally came across the Zumba Home Office. It was the best work-trip coincidence ever and I took full advantage of it.)
- I attended my first EMACS conference, which incidentally was held at the same hotel that we have ZINCON every year so I actually got to stay at the Hyatt Regency Orlando twice in the same year. It was a super fun trip because we managed to squeeze in a visit to Cocoa Beach before the conference started, except we barely got out of there before Hurricane Matthew hit. That was exciting.
- Brian attended an Edward Jones conference in St. Louis.
- I’ve also been traveling to Kansas City for work since September and it has been pretty enjoyable.
Other trips we’ve made this year include…
- A trip to visit the Orbases while they were in Fort Worth. This is significant because we hadn’t seen the family in years and this was our first ever road trip with the dogs.
- A trip to Kansas City which included tours of the Roasterie, Boulevard Brewing Company, and One Light Luxury Apartments.
Brian and I also had the privilege of attending or helping with several amazing events/benefits this past year:
- Heart Ball (American Heart Association)
- Haus of Brews (Andover Rotary Club)
- Bowl for Kids’ Sake (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
- Tenth Annual Brew Ha-Ha at Flint Hills National (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
- YMCA Champion Social (Greater Wichita YMCA)
- Polar Express Literacy Event (Child Start)
- Museum of the Undead (Exploration Place)
- Light Your Heart (Heartspring)
- Hope in Spring Gala (Kansas DUI Impact Center)
- KANSEL Team Trivia (KANSEL)
- Zumbathon for Jen Cole, LLS Woman of the Year Candidate (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
- Painting a giant US map at Prairie Creek Elementary (Old Town Rotary)
- Celebrity & Chef Cookoff (The Orpheum Theatre)
- The Pando Initiative 25th Anniversary Gala (The Pando Initiative, formerly known as Communities in Schools)
- Zoobilee (Sedgwick County Zoo)
- Dudegrass Six (Tallgrass Film Festival)
- SALSA 2016 (WASAC)
- Color Party X (Wichita Art Museum)
- Wichita Asian Festival (Wichita Asian Association)
- Rockin’ the Roundhouse (Wichita State University)
There are so many worthy causes out there and these organizations need our help. I put a link to the organization that hosts or benefits from the event. I recommend reaching out to someone this year if you would like to help.
Although 2016 was a very busy year, we still managed to squeeze in some fun times with friends: murder mystery party at the Larneng’s, private dinner prepared by Chef Jason (also at the Larnengs), CRC picnic, painting at Pinot’s Palette, Tom’s housewarming party, Holly and Meader’s wedding, Pokemon Party Bus, going to a bunch of Christmas parties, and NYE at Hideki’s which I have yet to even blog about. (I’ll be posting it next so check back.)
Nickira and I got to do a bunch of fun activities as well like watching Willy Wonka at the Orpheum, Fall Fest at City Arts, and Winter Mania at the Wichita Art Museum. We got to spend lots of time with grandma, which we will be able to do even more now that we’ve moved her to Victoria Falls.
This year was also a banner year for us in terms of attending music theatre performances. We only missed one MTW show and even got to see Wicked for the first time. I know it’s unrelated but we also got introduced to a new band that we just love: Jared & the Mill.
Last but not least, I finally made 40 Under 40 and have the commemorative plaques to prove it. LOL. Whew! What a year it has been!
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