Back again, back again, jiggity jig.
To start, I'm back in the States! Huzzah! I'm currently in Albuquerque, helping my mom work through her issues with clutter (she's realized it's an emotional crutch that is doing the exact opposite of what she needs - pushing people away instead of letting them come close). When I got home I nearly broke down in tears because not only did mom not have a bed for me, she and dad had moved into my (brother's, as well) old bed room that I worked hard to clean out. And she'd added a new wall of junk. I didn't have a bed, and when I told mom the truth (that it felt like she didn't want me here, because she didn't have a place for me) she decided she wants family to feel welcome. From there on we've been making positive steps together.
I get ahead of myself.
_________
NEW YORK was awesome. Splendid. Big and small all at once. We took tours, split a sandwich that was as big as my dad's head (and he's a big dude), had more NY style cheesecake than you can shake a stick at, and I got to play with my new camera, which is the love-child of an expensive camera and a point and shoot. I lurve it.
Seeing my parents again wasn't as much of a shock this time as it was last time, because we've been using Google Video all year, usually at least once a week. And NYC with them was greatly entertaining. If you get a chance to see a Broadway show, consider The Lion King. It's got some very memorable moments. And one of my favorite songs at the moment.
_________
After NYC I came home and worked on clearing room for living in our clutter-pile, and mom and dad went to France to attend a conference that I talked them into going to. They followed that with a trip to Canada that they've talked about wanting to do for years now, which I again talked them into. Is it wrong that I now consider myself their favorite child?
_________
My feelings about leaving South Korea again were mixed. I actually wrote a journal entry about it that I haven't posted yet. The gist of it is this: Whereas last time I was happy to see the tail end of Korea, this time I'll miss some of my students who I hope will achieve their dreams (and have offered to help). Another part of this sadness leaving the Busan Writing Group.
Rarely one can find a group of people who 'gets' one.
I've managed to glom onto people and groups that make me feel this way: My family, the Collective (*sigh* ;_;), Marie, Jess, Amy, and now Chloe and to some extent Rebecca F.
The writing group, while populated with some people I felt I could have gotten close to given time and some individuals that I wouldn't necessarily put on par with my 'peeps', somehow managed to be in aggregate exactly such a group. When I started attending in earnest at the end, the writing group became a highlight of my week. We'd write something (or not), wander off-task into fascinating and often hilarious conversations while discussing said writings, then often head to dinner or a movie together. We went to the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival together.
When I had my 'going away bash' I had 6 people attending (via facebook) including myself. There ended up being 11 people shoved into my tiny apartment with snacks and balloons and a nice farewell message on my refrigerator. I was forced to drink shot after shot. Really, it's amazing I made my flight the next morning. And even as I cursed them for it, I loved them for caring enough to send me off. I miss them already.
_____________
ON ART:
I applied and was rejected by a small game company in San Jose. With Becca's help I'd polished my application letter until it will work for many jobs, and I spiffed up my portfolio website (here). I thought that the rejection would really get me down, but it didn't. I actually felt ready to move on to other companies. I'm currently finishing one last portfolio piece in preparation for my application to a whole slew of Seattle companies. I'm planning to have it finished by the time I leave for Seattle on Thursday, though I'm not sure that'll happen. I've got a couple of weeks of downtime in Seattle, though, so I'll be able to finish it right off the bat and start applying. My move, NYC trip and general May mayhem (we've got like, 4 birthdays plus mother's day), as well as factoring in cleaning time and rest time (I'm freaking tired have created obstacles for me, and I'm only just now recovering.
I've been attending life drawing classes for the last 3 weeks, and all of my hard work in South Korea, my posemaniac drawings and practice has totally paid off. My life drawing skills are better than they were in University (though I'm suffering from a lack of 1 hour poses - the longest pose we get is 20 minutes).
This has helped my confidence levels.
I now have a solid plan for achieving my goals. I work on them, at least in small steps, almost every day. Mom and I have become each other's cheerleaders and accountabilibudies.
I have to say, the thing that's kept my energy up is a goal finding/achievement strategies self-help book from the '70's. It's called WishCraft, by Barbara Sher (free download on her website of the book, no registration required), and it's helped my figure out my goals and chunk them down into workable, schedule-able components. I'm not someone who often admits to any one thing changing my life, but that book certainly did change it. It's the same book that enabled my mom to open the Toy store. That book, and its author (who also happens to be the woman hosting the retreat that my parents attended in France) has had a positive influence on my and my parents' lives in ways that it's hard to express.
A '70's self-help book. Who knew?
____________
NEXT UP - Seattle.
Also I've started doing Zumba. My hips are sore.
I get ahead of myself.
_________
NEW YORK was awesome. Splendid. Big and small all at once. We took tours, split a sandwich that was as big as my dad's head (and he's a big dude), had more NY style cheesecake than you can shake a stick at, and I got to play with my new camera, which is the love-child of an expensive camera and a point and shoot. I lurve it.
Seeing my parents again wasn't as much of a shock this time as it was last time, because we've been using Google Video all year, usually at least once a week. And NYC with them was greatly entertaining. If you get a chance to see a Broadway show, consider The Lion King. It's got some very memorable moments. And one of my favorite songs at the moment.
_________
After NYC I came home and worked on clearing room for living in our clutter-pile, and mom and dad went to France to attend a conference that I talked them into going to. They followed that with a trip to Canada that they've talked about wanting to do for years now, which I again talked them into. Is it wrong that I now consider myself their favorite child?
_________
My feelings about leaving South Korea again were mixed. I actually wrote a journal entry about it that I haven't posted yet. The gist of it is this: Whereas last time I was happy to see the tail end of Korea, this time I'll miss some of my students who I hope will achieve their dreams (and have offered to help). Another part of this sadness leaving the Busan Writing Group.
Rarely one can find a group of people who 'gets' one.
I've managed to glom onto people and groups that make me feel this way: My family, the Collective (*sigh* ;_;), Marie, Jess, Amy, and now Chloe and to some extent Rebecca F.
The writing group, while populated with some people I felt I could have gotten close to given time and some individuals that I wouldn't necessarily put on par with my 'peeps', somehow managed to be in aggregate exactly such a group. When I started attending in earnest at the end, the writing group became a highlight of my week. We'd write something (or not), wander off-task into fascinating and often hilarious conversations while discussing said writings, then often head to dinner or a movie together. We went to the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival together.
When I had my 'going away bash' I had 6 people attending (via facebook) including myself. There ended up being 11 people shoved into my tiny apartment with snacks and balloons and a nice farewell message on my refrigerator. I was forced to drink shot after shot. Really, it's amazing I made my flight the next morning. And even as I cursed them for it, I loved them for caring enough to send me off. I miss them already.
_____________
ON ART:
I applied and was rejected by a small game company in San Jose. With Becca's help I'd polished my application letter until it will work for many jobs, and I spiffed up my portfolio website (here). I thought that the rejection would really get me down, but it didn't. I actually felt ready to move on to other companies. I'm currently finishing one last portfolio piece in preparation for my application to a whole slew of Seattle companies. I'm planning to have it finished by the time I leave for Seattle on Thursday, though I'm not sure that'll happen. I've got a couple of weeks of downtime in Seattle, though, so I'll be able to finish it right off the bat and start applying. My move, NYC trip and general May mayhem (we've got like, 4 birthdays plus mother's day), as well as factoring in cleaning time and rest time (I'm freaking tired have created obstacles for me, and I'm only just now recovering.
I've been attending life drawing classes for the last 3 weeks, and all of my hard work in South Korea, my posemaniac drawings and practice has totally paid off. My life drawing skills are better than they were in University (though I'm suffering from a lack of 1 hour poses - the longest pose we get is 20 minutes).
This has helped my confidence levels.
I now have a solid plan for achieving my goals. I work on them, at least in small steps, almost every day. Mom and I have become each other's cheerleaders and accountabilibudies.
I have to say, the thing that's kept my energy up is a goal finding/achievement strategies self-help book from the '70's. It's called WishCraft, by Barbara Sher (free download on her website of the book, no registration required), and it's helped my figure out my goals and chunk them down into workable, schedule-able components. I'm not someone who often admits to any one thing changing my life, but that book certainly did change it. It's the same book that enabled my mom to open the Toy store. That book, and its author (who also happens to be the woman hosting the retreat that my parents attended in France) has had a positive influence on my and my parents' lives in ways that it's hard to express.
A '70's self-help book. Who knew?
____________
NEXT UP - Seattle.
Also I've started doing Zumba. My hips are sore.