I've gotta find my purpose

I realized two goals. And I set them. It feels good. They are attainable, in theory. They are measureable.
This was on the way to Rochester to see my father, riding a bus. I realized two goals, and I set them. I have a direction. It's been a long time. I honestly can't remember how it feels, and I don't feel any different yet. We'll see once I start working towards them.
Finally, I suppose this makes me less of a hypocrite.

White dunes, wind-blown
Cover farms, Carved forms
Cold irony, Crossing isolation
Like white washed winter beaches

How could we feel anything?
Sailing through an empty canvas.
Draw out all of me,
Still unable to paint.

Welcome Back, Luc

I'm currently back in the states. I've been back for a few days now. Already I have asked myself why. But the answers are obvious enough, so let's not assume that me asking means I don't want to be here.
Christmas here is quite a festival. I'm trying to be nice. It's quite an ordeal. Here in Minnesota we will be full of shopping, and big meals, and bulky clothes, and minor quarrels. But the snow is beautiful, cold weather is refreshing, family is lovely, games are hilarious, and gift-giving spirit is wonderful.
I'd honestly forgotten what it's like.

I got really confused (still kindof am) with plate-passing at the table. It's just not something that happens in Korea. Like, ever. And I'd completely forgotten how to do it. I almost handed my uncle my plate after dishing up my own vegetables, instead of giving him the vegetable bowl. -_- And I notice that I hardly ever look people in the eye anymore when they're talking. And I think they're a bit put off by it.
I'm also not yet used to the average height of Americans, or the average weight. Perhaps these are a bit more exaggerated here in the Norwegian Northwest.

But here's a little deeper look. Culture shock, first of all, is a real diagnosable psychological problem. Its effects are mostly pretty obvious, but the coping and the result of experiencing culture shock is what I'm focusing on here. There are generally 3 overall reactions to culture shock.

1. One is Adoption. An individual truly adapts to the new environment, takes on habits, language, attitudes, and values. They do this at the cost of their original identity. They normally remain in the new country forever.
2. Two is Cosmopolitanism. An individual adapts the points of the new culture they see as positive and retains aspects of their former selves or culture, creating a specific blend. They have no major problems relocating again.
3. Three is Rejection. These people find integration impossible, and that cultural differences are too great and unaccaeptable. They withdraw to a "ghetto" of their own culture and specific comfortable surroundings. They see return to their native culture as the only acceptable answer to the situation. Yet these people have the most problems upon return.

I've watched my students come and go from other countries, and seen various incarnations of all 3 outcomes. I've seen extremes of all. I know of a few cosmopolitans who've lived in 4+ countries.

What's the problem, you ask?............. I think I fit in between Cosmo and Adopter. And I don't want to be an adopter. I've watched myself very closely....... and thinking about it, I'm more Adopter than Cosmopolitan, and that's kindof a shame.

Philippines Pictures!

First of all, I'd like to say thank you to Cyworld, for their "Scrapbooking" system. Facebook's tagging feature is also cool, but scrapbooking is quite handy when you don't have a camera.
It sucks having no camera. I see pictures. I mean, really, I look around sometimes and I just see exactly the moment, or a frame or lighting that would make a perfect shot. And I have nothing to capture it with except my own eyes. The thing is, I could get a simple camera with a little effort to save some money, but honestly, I'd rather wait and get a DSLR or something close to it.

Anyways, here are some pics from that trip to the Philippines I keep talking about. I just scrapbooked them yesterday.

James Bond.
New nickname.

That would be a Stingray we saw in the Advanced Diver group.

2 of my Students, Mun-Oak and Haneul.
Cool.

Whether you know it or not, this picture illustrates exactly how advanced our diving skill is. Notice the lack of kicking or paddling or anything? And the horizontal position of our bodies? This is called mastery of balance. Bouancy balance that is. Just by controlling one's breathing and the air in your balast vest, you can regulate your bouancy, and maintain your vertical position in the water column. It is incredibly difficult to find the proper balance point, like standing on the ball of one foot. A distincive mark of an advanced diver.

More pictures to come.