Every now and again I like to show my patriotic side. Even though most of the world sees the US as a kind of sh*t show, I am still American πΊπΈ in my heart and soul.
Occasionally, someone will ask me if I would give up my US passport and try to get citizenship in Italy or, even in Korea as that is now possible. Without hesitation, I reply with a definitive “No”. I feel even considering it would be disrespectful to my family on many levels. I also feel as if it would negate all of the rationales for my being adopted in the first place.
So, even though I am not a great flag-waving or “hoo-rah”ing American, I still appreciate what the country represents and has given to me in terms of a more opportune life. Plus, when I wear things like this and go “dreadful American” π on M, it gives me a little bit of mischievous glee! π
It’s been less than a week since being back on American soil and visiting home.
It is so nice to be amongst those with whom I am most comfortable and those who know me best. Even though I have not been home to visit for five years, it has felt as if I haven’t been gone that long. At the same time, I feel as if I have always been gone. I know… confusing, eh? I’ll address more on that at a later date.
Consumerism is my measurement of happiness since being back. It is not that I necessarily need anything, but it is somehow joyful to have the ability to find varieties of spices, clothes, electronics, etc. etc. with little-to-no stress in wondering where such things could be obtained or understanding the details of such products.
One of the most amazing things I have found is the size and quantity of products for low prices. For example, in Italy (and most European countries) over-the-counter drugs are only available at a pharmacy, which sort of contradicts the whole OTC concept, and they are not necessarily very cheap. So, when I found a bottle of 500 capsules of ibuprofen for a mere $7.99, I was gleeful to know I won’t have to make a trip to a pharmacy, where it costs about $5 for 10 capsules, for a while.
Also, it is no wonder that many/most Americans are overweight with so much super-plus sized food items like potato chips bags, sweets, etc. at a fairly low price.
Still, the convenience of finding everything both within and beyond the imagination is a dream when coming from a place where products are limited, more challenging to find, and all in a foreign language space. So, the symbol of Americanism in the consumption of products is well-appreciated right now.
Before you shake your head at my encouragement of globalization, greed, and the like, I have not just been focusing on the things I can buy. I also have taken in the scenes of beautiful evergreen trees and farm fields with animals or agricultural plants. It is nice to see wide open spaces and a different kind of green than what I normally see.
While Italy does have luscious green hills, it is that of new grass fields. Trees surround our house, but they do not have the same height and stature. Although Italy is a much older country, there is still something aged and wise in the trees that fill the neighborhood where I have been doing my run-walks.
So, while there is craziness in politics or societyβs trajectory that does not make America so beautiful, there is much for this visiting citizen to find wonderful so far. π€ͺ
**This is the original part of the post that somehow didn’t get published…**
Since the finalization of the election results (before the January 6th formalities), I have had this countdown on my home tab of my browser. Each day there is a saying to consider philosophically along with a beautiful picture.
Most of the time, I take for granted the phrases and just pause to take in the image as I go about my online activities for the day.
However, today seemed rather fitting “Find your joy” on the day that He’s OUT! ππ½
It has been four long dark years in the world of politics. π Darker than usual since politics can be generally irritating and dark on the best of days. However, from the disbelief of his election win that followed the disbelief of Brexit, the world has continued to spiral into chaos. πͺπ₯ Although the world probably needed this shake up to bring to light many of the issues that we had been happily turning a blind eye to such as systemic racism, immigration problems, and international dependence on the US to lead in many aspects of the global concerns, it has come at a great price.
My hope is that now the blinders are off and we will use our new awakening to focus on the good and humane; that we will do what humans do best and unite to build an even better and stronger world than before the dark four years. π€π½
I suppose only history will tell us what has been gained or lost with a more certain objective view. However, in the moment of today, I am sighing in relief π₯ and smiling with hope π of a much brighter future. My patriotism still stands firm, πΊπΈ whether misguided or not, but it is not at all costs. There is a lot riding on what comes out of the burning ashes that have been aflame the last 1,827 days. But, I choose to believe that, like the mythical phoenix, π the nation will rise to be even stronger and better than before.
So, today, I find joy in the fact that we are about to see the first person of color and female Vice-President ππ½ and plans are already in motion to rebuild with a sense of humanity and goodness. ππ½ Welcome to President Biden and Vice-President Harris! π
**New part of the post… TODAY November 1, 2022**
I’m beginning the process of “cleaning house” as I prepare to take stock for the year and get affairs in order. Sometimes when I consider what to share on this blog, I start pieces to help guide me later. There are also times when I start a post on another device and then forget to publish them or something or other. This one seems to be an example of one that got lost in the files – and quite a long time ago.
Yet, I felt that it was reasonably good timing to bring it back out and finally hit “publish” on it since I am mentally preparing to return to the US for three weeks. Also, the little that I do keep up with politics and news has revealed that in the coming weeks while I am visiting my family, the good ol’ former P will be back on the TV screen with his potential subpoena to Congress regarding his involvement with the Jan 6 incident. π¬
Despite many in and out of the US who keep up with the domestic drama saying how much of a sh*t show it is π΅βπ«, I have done my best to stay away from knowing too much or engaging in what I deem to be pointless conversation around it. However, it has also been very easy for me to sort of bury my head in the sand because I live away from just about everything. So, it is with a little bit of anxiety that I prepare to return to the US again post-pandemic, post-beginning of hate crimes, post-expression of anti-Asian sentiments, etc. While I want to hope for the best, I somewhat expect the worst even though Portland, Oregon is fairly liberal in the city, the more rural areas are not so much.
I consider myself pretty open-minded and though I would say I am liberal thinking, I have some pretty conservative opinions on certain topics. Still, I am Asian. I am anti-establishment. I am anti-authority/power at my personal expense. I am anti-coercion/bullying. I am pro-choice. I am pro-freedom of expression, thought, orientation, and individuality. How will this all play in and out when I am in mixed crowds? π€ I do not know. π€·π½ββοΈ
So, I am focusing on the excitement and love for seeing family and friends. ππ½ Hopefully, there’ll be nothing else to report back here to the contrary. π
This is a strange question, no? Taste…? Have you ever considered a taste to be grateful for before? Hm… π Well, technically choosing taste would be salty, sweet, bitter and the like, right? If this is the case, then I am grateful for the taste of sourness – or whatever taste is most related to kimchi! π I do love my kimchi. I almost always have some in the fridge and if I do not eat it regularly I definitely get cravings for it. While others might crave sweets, I crave the joyful taste of kimchi! Yep, I know it is an acquired taste, but once you acquire it – oh how delightfully delicious it is!
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Yesterday, America celebrated its 240th anniversary of independence from Britain. It seems also rather ironic that in this same year, Britain will have claimed independence from the European Union. Unlike the independence of the United States promising freedom and prosperity, the BrExit bodes poorly for the English nation.
However, setting aside the negative nasties of politics and any obvious possibility of discussion on the decline of the U.S., let us focus on the gratitudes we can have towards my adopted country!
When I talk about freedom as one of my values, there is no other country that allows me such. When I think about integrity and honesty, I think of the pride of American people to hold dear the land of the free and the brave. While we can say this is brainwashing or nationalistic, I say what is wrong with that really? Shouldn’t we be proud of our home countries?
As an expat, who has lived very little of my adult life in my home country, I still feel privileged to be able to say I am American. In fact, I think I appreciate the USA a lot more because I have lived away from it for so long. My national pride is probably stronger because I see it from the outside and through my travels realize how lucky we have been in the States. Opportunities are limitless, freedom is a right not a privilege and so much more.
Of course, every nation has dark sides to consider and areas left to grow in, but overall, I am proud to say Happy 240th Birthday to my country of citizenship! What a different world it would be if the USA did not exist.
My parents have hit the full retirement life and spent the last four months in their ‘winter’ home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. So, I decided to go for a visit during my spring break this year to see what the fuss is all about.
Well, let me tell you – it was excellent and I definitely see why they chose to live there. There’s tons to do and the weather is fantastic. Besides that, it’s absolutely beautiful with the colors of the mountains, canyons and water all mixed in with desert blends and blue skies. It was a really nice 10-days, even if the 28-hour trip from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to Atlanta to Las Vegas to Lake Havasu was a bit exhausting. π
Since I was a little bit red from all the sun the day before, I was less inclined to spend the day at the beach again. Though, I have been enjoying being back in warmer temps!
Instead, I went down for my cup o’ jo at Starbucks and did some writing. After that, I went back to the hotel to catch up on Internet stuff, such as posting! π
For lunch, we went to Fuddruckers. Although we have one in Abu Dhabi that R and I frequent, this one was different, but still oh so tasty!
In the afternoon, Dad and I walked over to the Broadway at the Beach, initially to see if “Hunger Games” was playing on the IMAX screen. However, the IMAX theatre was closed up for some reason. Although it wasn’t yet high season there, it was crowded enough!
We rested up back at the hotel again until my mom finished with the seminars and then we ate at a lovely Italian restaurant nearby. It was a nice way to end our time at Myrtle Beach.
My parents are in Myrtle Beach for a two-day seminar/conference on retirement planning. It’s more for my mom’s company retirement than anything else, but that means that they have sessions during the day.
So, I went out exploring in the morning, but there’s not much to see. Then, I headed to the beach for the day, thus there weren’t many pictures to take…. I did meet M&D for lunch and then they came down to the beach in the afternoon. We had happy hour drinks and then walked down the boardwalk. By the time we got home, I was already wiped out from the day in the sun…
Surprisingly, or perhaps not really, I got pretty sunburned – forgot what it’s like to be in the sun all day since we tend to hide out in our apartment back home….
Apparently, when my parents were young, there were Piggly Wiggly grocery stores in our part of the world, but they hadn’t seen them for years. Down here, they are everywhere!
Mom and Dad in front of Piggly Wiggly03-Apr-2012 00:08, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
In the evening, we settled in to our room and watched the NCAA Men’s finals ending March Madness basketball, which I often miss over the years. Nothing like pizza and a tasty beverage!!
Best meal for watching the March Madness final game02-Apr-2012 21:38, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 250
I’m a little behind in updating about my spring break after meeting with my parents, mostly because the free wifi is in the lobby and I’m less apt to spend much time here. However, since I’m free this morning, I’m gonna catch up a little bit.
So, on the 1st, I spent the day in Charleston, SC with my parents. They had both been there before, but were up for seeing the highlights again. Mostly, we did the carriage ride, which took us around the historic part of town to see the cool old houses and get some history in. What was most amazing about this part of town was the prices for some of the houses – between 3 and 8.5 million dollars!
The conference was truly a crazy few days as I started to get over jet lag and was getting up early every day to attend sessions.
My main intent for being there was to do the Leadership Certificate Program, which I had started through some online courses in the fall. At the time that I started I wasn’t yet sure that I would complete it, but when I found out that the conference was over our spring break I figured, why not?
Not only did I get to learn a bit more about the association and leadership, but I also got to meet some really awesome people.
One of the things that became clear to me was a gap in having like-minded colleagues who are in similar stages of our professional career as well as within the same age group. While age shouldn’t really matter when it comes to learning and sharing as professionals, it does matter in the level of bonding. With older people, the relationship tends to turn into one where they are like a mentor. With younger people, the relationship tends to turn into one where I am like a mentor to them. Both are great relationships to foster, but sometimes you just want someone to commiserate with and to push each other along. So, the greatest thing I gained was meeting a few new people and connecting! π
Me and Katie, whom I met in the program and is working in San Francisco at Skyline Community College.
Katie and Alsu, whom I met in one of the online workshops and we decided to room together.
Plus, I got to catch up a Β bit with old friends:
So, after our last workshop on Saturday, I headed to the airport to meet my parents in Charleston, SC. π
