Driven

Like the awesome Alanis Morissette says in her song and that I can and have been able to always relate to, I am a "citizen of the planet."  I love learning about the world and in turn, learning about myself.

Last year I was driven to travel to some great places, and was blessed to scratch Italy off my list.  But lately no place in particular has got me itching for traveling.  I had been contemplating a few places, especially those where I know people that live there (which is why places like Italy and Hawaii have been awesome for me) but there was no drive to go to those places. I didn't feel like I was being pulled anywhere, then my usually minimalistic mind came to an epiphany.  That was that I should know my surroundings better.  I don't do as much local, or cross-country, traveling to get to know my country and the greatness that it offers.  One thing I feel I need to clarify when I'm in a foreign country is that being American can mean so many things.  First off, I have to explain that being from a different state alone is like being from a different country.  Each state has its own laws and prominently values. Meeting someone from Hawaii, someone from Alabama, and someone from California and presuming they live and believe the same things is quite a stretch. Secondly, scenery is important.  Going to LA to check out the scenery means something totally different when talking about an upstate city like Sonora.  This let to me having a conclusion.

I've decided to travel to another US state.  Plans are still in the works for going, but it is Colorado and I'm pretty excited.  Anyone who knows what's been going on knows that I need to get away, especially from the city. I am so looking forward to take ~one week and just escape to a sanctuary-like state of mind. To hike would be ideal and it's the perfect place to do so. I think I need a healthy dose of nature, appreciation for the Earth, and overall perspective.

So yeah, that's where I am.  Travel bug is here, but with a different purpose.

오스카 숙고하다, Osc Reflect

It has been two years since I've been back from Korea and it didn't really come to my attention until this past weekend.  I met Adelis, my friend's kid who had a birthday party.  I saw people at this party that I hadn't seen in a while and before I knew it, many people were asking me about SK, how it went, how it's been being back and if I would do it again.  Would I do it again? Who knows.

My parents have told me that they admire my sense of determination and my wonder of the world.  They didn't get to have opportunities like I did, so they know I don't they these experiences for granted.  I think that if I did it again, I would like to do it in another country, though I remember when I initially explored my options, Korea had the best to offer.  And based on what my friend Julie recently told me, it still does.

And like the things the universe always seems to want to send me, Simon and Martina from Eat Your Kimchi posted a video this week about their reflections:





I do miss doing explorations like this:

However, I love my job, I love being in LA, and traveling with still coming back home (Like a Hero, lol).  

Now here I am watching Arirang like I only had SK local channels, hahahaha.

안녕!

The Wilderness Downtown

Write a postcard of advice to the younger you that lived there then....
 How much time do you have?

 So I was evaluating a TED Talk to show my students, and it led into a life examination.  The TED Talk went over technology patterns in humanity and how artistic it can be.

I recommend everybody to participate: thewildernessdowntown.com 

You put in the address of where you grew up and it creates a movie.

The movie is a great audiovisual experience.   At the end however, it post a writing prompt for the participant: Write a postcard of advice to the younger you that live there yet.

Here is what I wrote

Oscar,
You were in a rush to grow up, now you want thing to slow down to stay put.

I wrote this because of something I've addressed earlier.  This is that I always enjoyed the company of adults more than those of children my own age.  The exception were classmates because of the magnet schools I went to and being able to have equals and betters in order to exchange ideas and be teenagers at the same time, a nice mix.  But outside of that school atmosphere, I really enjoyed being around adults.  I wanted to be an adult, or at least being acknowledged as one. This was not in the typical "I can't wait to be 18 and get out of here" in the hormonal teenage fashion. I wanted to be an intellectual equal.  Now that I am an adult, with some degrees and experiences, I want things to stop.  I'm comfortable and happy.  Although I always love a good challenge, don't you just want things to pause sometimes?  I do.  Probably because so many things will once again be changing soon.  But yeah child Oscar, funny, isn't it?

Keep Calm and Teach On

As Teacher Appreciation Day comes around in a few hours, I think it is a perfect time to reflect on what I do.

I teach, and as a student of life and citizen of the planet, it is something I love to do.  I know what I was made for and what I was physically born to do.  It feels right and I love it.

Recently, changes have been made to my career, confirmed and known to everyone at my school at this point.  I have gotten really great feedback.  I feel I'll get the best of both worlds.  I get to work where I am comfortable with the students I have grown to care for, and get the adrenaline and nerves that come with starting a new job.

How blessed I am that the opportunities that are coming have come my way.  I always think that things could easily go differently, so I know how lucky I am.

Appreciate your educators, and they work hard, live hard, and love hard.