Ernie HuangYani Tseng and her family enjoy some time at the beach during tournament week in Hawaii in 2008. From left, cousin Tiffany Tseng, mom Yu-Yun Yang, Yani, and sister Kiki Yang.Aloha! Here we come, Hawaii! It's quite a while since we last played an LPGA tournament here. I missed this place very much. The first two tournaments I played during my rookie year in 2008 were here in Hawaii. Many of my family came to be with me during the two weeks. At that time, I was really a rookie -- very excited but also very nervous. I saw many players that I had only previously seen on TV; many were my idols. There were so many rules and regulations that I was not quite familiar with at my first few tournaments as an LPGA member. So I tried to follow every step other seasoned players made. Looking back, that's really funny!
I still remember I did very well, with a top-10 finish for my first tournament at Turtle Bay. All my family was very happy, so I was very happy too. Time really flies! That was five years ago. This is my fifth year on tour. In the past five years, I have learned so many things, have met so many new friends and wonderful people around the world. I feel I am very fortunate to have a job that I really like.
Well, this week's LOTTE Championship will be my only tournament within a span of six weeks. After Hawaii, I will be in New York for the Time 100 Gala. I am so honored to be named as one of Time's 100 most influential people. Then I will go back to Taiwan to see my family. It's much closer from Hawaii to Taiwan and it would take about 10 hours. But from New York to Taipei, it will take more than 18 hours.
I am so happy that I will finally see my niece. I became an aunt when my sister-in-law delivered a beautiful baby girl three weeks ago. I look forward so much to seeing her. She is the first baby of my siblings. I went to see her via Skype several days ago, but she could not speak. She is so little and so cute! I cannot wait to hold her in my arms.
Well, this week is a new week. New challenges! Go Yani and have fun :).
