Expat Diaries, Black Culture in S.Korea

 

 

Expat Diaries: ‘Night Vibes’ Spreads Black Culture Throughout South Korea

Read full article by Regina Walton on Ebony's website below

Read more at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/life/expat-diaries-spreads-urban-culture-876#ixzz2nOjlqqXL
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Funky Fridays

Check out the new FUNKYFRIDAYS tab on my blog and get the latest favorites of new music. feel free to post your comments on your new Funky Friday Fav.

Fun Happenings-Atlanta

Join the Fun with Color Me Rad Atlanta.  

I've been wanting to do this and totally missed my chance when I was living in Taiwan. Such an AWESOME second chance.

http://www.colormerad.com/race.i?raceid=266&t=Atlanta

How ever I did get to participate in the Holi Celebrations

Morning Sound in Richmond.

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Outside of my bedroom window stands a tall red tree, red because it's leaves have turned as fall has arrived. Straight and tall, black trunk and branches are covered in red with specs of reddish orange. A long winding road of black tar, black because it's drizzling and the drops have turned the tar from grey to ebony. Mail boxes line the edges of the street and the air is fresh and calming. I hear nothing and allow my mind to drift, I LOVE DAYDREAMING.

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Emphatically YES!!!!!!

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https://www.facebook.com/NomadicTravelers?ref=hl   

   

     Make it happen! If anyone tells you that something can not be done, it's only because  A: they themselves don't know how to do it or B: they were too afraid to try it or themselves gave up. NEVER let anyone discourage you from achieving what you set out to and getting what ever it is that you want. Unless you try it for yourself you'll never know if you can do it. ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. 

Keep your ears open. Information is out there and it wants to be found. I've found the best way to get information about getting what you want is by listening to those around you who are doing what they want. Find out what it is you want and keep and eye out for those who have it. Surround yourself with those individuals and listen. The information I got on how to travel didn't come from reading any books, it came from people around me who were traveling. Bianca Tontodonati (volunteer in Kenya) and Leah Mcgaw (teaching ESL abroad). I then took that information and did further research to find out just how to make it happen.

Tenacity, it's absolutely true what you've heard your mother say "NOTHING is given to you" hard work, tenacity and a willingness to go hell or high water is your key to getting what you want and letting nothing or no one stop you. My HS counselor told me I wouldn't get into a university without passing Algebra 2, REALLY cause I did. I was told it would be too expensive to do an internship in NY for a summer, Made it happen. Then there was getting overseas to teach ESL, with prior driving infractions I was told there was NO WAY to do it with my record, GUESS WHAT???? GOT THERE.  God willing and the bridge don't fail if you want it you can have it. 

Difficulties abound, keeping your eyes on your goal is important. Don't give up at the first sign is diff it's an important part of getting there, and when you do your confidence will have grown because you'll know for the next time that you can champ though the challenge as you've done so before. Soon you'll begin to see Challenges as opportunities to prove yourself to yourself. Your challenges will become your motivations.  

Welcome the unfamiliar. The best times of my life have been when I've gone down unbeaten, uncertain, and unfamiliar paths. It's definitely scary to walk the road less traveled, but often that's where you'll find the most beautiful wild flowers you couldn't have imagined. ( if someone told me before I decided to teach ESL that I'd be living in and loving Taiwan with a Taiwanese neighbor as my best friend and that I'd be learning valuable life lessons from her and listening NOT just hearing her, I would say they were absolutely wrong and I would have been wrong. ) that path of unknown led me to one of the best experiences of my life. Living inTaiwan and all over Asia. Experiences of my life. And if you, when you, try anything out side of your box, you too will have life changing experiences Which will challenge you and offer perfect opportunities for growth and deep beauty.

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TAKE A SMILE, LEAVE A SMILE: Lets all get connected.

 LIVING THE HI LIFE.

Soooooo, this happened. 
     Today I finally got out of the suburbs and into the city. YAAAAAAY! I do love the  city life, book stores and cafes', neighborhood co-ops and such. There are tattoo shops and pubs, sidewalk walking and bustling life. These are the things my happy life is made of. But where are all the friendly smiles and polite nods? I REALLY love spreading my positive mood and have no problem smiling at strangers, holding open doors, and making funny faces at children that hide behind their mother skirts or in their dads arms. Hi, Hello, even a nice nod as a greeting, Nothing? REALLY? 

My Story: about 3:15 this afternoon I decided to drop a large load of clothes(I'd cleaned out of my closet) off at the charity drop box in the city. Did I mention that I love the city? I got out of the car and a young man was nearby who I asked to help me grab the drop box handle (I'm Waaaaay short).  Being on a very busy street with cars wizzing by, horns honking and the occasional... who am I kidding, the constant boom of music coming from the cars, I had to yell several times "CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE, I'M TOO SHORT". Finally he yelled back, "I'm too busy, I'm about to do something".  REALLY!? He wasn't.  His friend did however come to assist after giving him the similar look I did that said "REALLY?"  I did thank his friend and didn't have much trouble with the leaver after that, as a homeless guy was walking by and asked if he could have any jeans or other clothes I had.  I gave them all to him. 
     I want to know, When did we stop being polite? When did we become too busy to help each other with even the tiniest of tasks? Why don't we smile at each other? When did smiling become weird or make me a weirdo. Do you even hear me when I say hello? I enjoy being connected and really want to know "WHAT'S UP?". My smile is genuine and my wave sincere. I just wanted to say that. I don't know you but I wish you a good day too.

REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK, THE TROUBLE WITH RETURNING HOME

           

       Returning  home after several years living abroad can be be a wonderful thing. You get to see your family, catch up with friends, and enjoy all those holidays you've been missing that your host country didn't quite celebrate. BUT, there are other feelings that are conjured up, sometimes even before you get home. While packing to go home you may begin to think twice and realize that there are a lot of things you will miss like, the ease of getting around if your host country is Asia or parts of Europe where the transportation is super convenient. Taiwan was my home for three years because twice I reconsidered returning home because I knew I would miss the convenience of getting around, the connectivity of people as everyone in my neighborhood knew each other smiled and greeted each other. The bank was around the corner, the tea shop was down stairs, the open market was across the street and the four convenient stores all knew what I would buy and how I liked my coffee. My neighborhood was my best friend and family. I knew I would miss that AND I DO!

WELCOME BACK HOME, ALICE YOU ARE NO LONGER IN WONDERLAND. And don't I know it! My first few weeks back was awesome, I  was able to see my two year old nephew who I hadn't seen since he was a few months old (my first visit back). I spent quality time with my mom and other family members. And  then it began to hit me. I wanted to go places, get out and move. I had a smart phone but there was no wifi, I needed to grocery shop but the nearest store was miles away, NOT locally around the corner or across the street. Living in Atlanta or even visiting my mom in Charlotte N.C. proved miserable without a car. The nearest bus stop was two miles away and only came every thirty minutes or so. Trains are a filthy joke in both states making suburban dwelling a potential homi-suicidal nightmare. There is no walking out the door and seeing your neighborhood family, walking to the train, sitting in the neighborhood cafe', restaurant, pub or shopping all a stone throws of each other. There are no sounds of children playing, or sounds of life at all. everyone is shut inside their homes or their cars. I began missing the life I lived in Taiwan A LOT! I needed something to do, something to see, someone to engage and chat with. I craved the smiles and polite greetings I'd become accustomed to. I craved the sounds of people moving about, children playing out doors, and even the sound of the garbage truck that played a silly tune down on the street. I craved talking to my neighbors who were always ready to chat you up. I just wanted to hop on a train and conveniently be where I needed to be. So, each day I found myself planning my escape, plotting to break out, deciding to GO! I don't like TV, I hate the news and "reality TV", and the selfish self-absorbed pretentious attitude in this country is wholly depressing. 

GETTING OUT OF THE SLUMP
Reverse culture shock is ABSOLUTELY A THING, and you or I, We are NOT alone.  here are 5 ways to help deal with culture shock.

1. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! the suburbs are the worse when trying to overcome culture shock. I believe the U.S. is one of the only places that have neighborhoods so isolated and mind-numbingly stoic as the suburbs. If you have a car drive into the city, if you don't BEG a friend to get you the hell out of there. Being around people and engaging in city life will help you feel connected to your home again.

2. Stay in touch with other expats and Nomadic Travelers. Talking with friends who have also experienced RCS(reverse culture shock) reminds you that you aren't alone. You can gain perspective and insight as well as other tips on how to deal with acclimating back into the lifestyle of home. 

3. Keep busy. You may not have a job as soon as you return home, or much of anything to do BUT, just as it was important NOT to just sit around when you moved away to a new country it is important that you don't mope around now that you have returned home. Blog about your experiences, edit the hundreds of photos you took while away, even volunteering can take your mind of feeling loss, and home sick for the home you left.
 
4. Stay connected with your friends you made back in your home country. Leaving and never saying goodbye, or not keeping in contact can make it even harder to accept that you are not there anymore. You will miss those friends and the things you thought you would hate forever but came to love. Staying in touch and hearing from old friends every once in a while will help with the nostalgia.You can even have friends send you things that will bring comfort just as you did when you left home.

5.  GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! I know I've said this already but it is very important that you don't mope around or lay around watching TV all day wishing you were back in another country. If you really need to NOT be back home, start planning your next trip away, it will definitely make you feel better to see yourself on the move again. Some of us are just NOMADICS and that's O.k. we aren't meant to stay in one place. So, GO! be that world traveler, make your plans and put them into action, be the explorer you were meant to be.  GOOD LUCK!  

Check out the list of helpful website below on dealing with reverse culture shock.


http://www.expatica.com/nl/health_fitness/well_being/Reverse-culture-shock-101_16451.html

http://www.internations.org/magazine/reverse-culture-shock-15346


http://www.expatwomen.com/expat-women-confessions/reverse-culture-shock-book-version.php

Taipei nuclear plant protest

NO FEAR -Life

I jumped because I was afraid to