“I think I feel like I’m definitely learning a lesson. I’m growing and learning from mishandling a lot of funds over the past ten years. Definitely that’s bitin’ me in the ass, so I’m like, you know kinda just like…I’m adjusting. Like to quote Eminem in 8 mile, ‘You know when you gotta stop tryin’ to live up here and start livin’ down here?’” Nick laughs. “You know things like that. I think, umm, desperation creates innovation and here I am with the Flick Nelix, and realizing this is something within my means that I can fully wrap my mind around from the beginning to end and make it happen. So that’s where I’m at. I’m starting to realize that I gotta get my shit together soon ‘cause or else it’s tough livin’ out here. West of the 405 is not for the weak.”

“I’ve had to tell my husband that if I.C.E. [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] comes to our door that he doesn’t have to let them in unless they have a signed warrant from a judge. But whatever he does, not to resist arrest. I never thought I’d have to tell my husband this.”

“So now bomb squad comes, between ourselves and the Emergency Service people, we explain to them that it doesn’t necessarily look like it could be anything, no telltale signs or wires hanging out or anything, but we don’t want to take any chances. He [Bomb Squad Technician] says ‘Okay. In light of the whole situation,’ and in terms of being expedient now at this time, ‘we’ll destroy it right here.’ Now he tells the Captain we need to shut all service on the A, C, and E lines and now it’s around 4:30p.m., this is the middle of rush hour on New Year’s Eve, so we shut all train service. He [Bomb Squad Technician] goes out to his truck and he comes down in his bomb squad suit, carrying a little rectangular, what looked like a Tupperware, and there’s water in it, and inside there’s a little brick of C-4 explosive.”

“Having spent the last two years researching Medicare reimbursement policies, the Affordable Care Act and other health care issues as part of my work at a communications firm, I’m convinced that care cannot only be about insurance or payment or access. I set out to find some answers but came up with five questions instead.”

“I was excited but scared a lot for my new life. I had a language barrier, no experience to live alone and no Japanese friends around me at very first.”

“I didn’t go to college, it’s quite expensive and also I didn’t know what to learn from college. Dad think if he pay for college it’s better that I go around the world because the cost is almost like, same.”

“I’ve always thought I had a plan in mind, but the more I’ve sort of lived and know myself, the more I find you can’t plan anything, you just have to wait and see what the day brings and go ahead and get out there and see what there is for the world to offer you, and just explore and experience everything really.“

“Live. Live well, not worry about nonsense, and enjoy the small things. I want to live.”

“Change your degree.”