On trips like these, I realize how good we have it the Pacific NW. Our water is clean, both is purity and taste, as is our air. However, here in Rome, Norman and I seem to having gotten the "pollution" bug as I call it... it's the same coughing, throat-scratching, chest congestion that occurs when we're in Asia... I think it's all the motor exhaust. I've been on and off with a sore throat (better now, knock on wood), but N isn't feeling great. We're on a train to Bolzano now; I'm hopeful the fresh air in the Dolomites will help with the congestion.
Speaking of train travel, in Italy, traveling by train is way of life. It can be a part of a local commute, or a cheap and quick alternative to get to another location. The other benefit, like riding trains in any country, is the ability to see the beauty that is throughout the region. Once you leave the city limits, concrete and parking lots are replaced with soil and farming plots.
I've been very fortunate to have done this numerous times is a numerous countries. And to be honest, they're very similar. If you were to transport me to any train on any part of the globe, it would be difficult to figure out where I was. But this isn't a bad thing -- there's something I find comforting in it. There is always an appeal to it, and my guess is that there always will be.
As I type this, Down in the Valley came on my iPod... the lyrics seem a bit fitting for what I'm sharing now...
"Down in the valley, whiskey rivers, these are the places that you will find me hiding. These are the places I will always go." - The Head and the Heart
Thursday, September 6, 2012
INTERNET ADDICTION
(I wrote this while my parents, cousin, and I were still in Rome. I've since updated from Bolzano).
Never has it been so evident that the four of us are internet dependent. Whenever we had a live wifi signal, the four of us are on our iOS devices... having to go without internet access in our apartment in Rome has been an adjustment. Granted, we've needed it for some important reasons as well, but overall, I think after walking all day with each other, we enjoyed the respite and excuse to withdrawal to our own virtual corner of cyberspace.
*update*
Having booked a hotel in Bolzano, I assumed there would be wifi. Of course I was wrong. No big deal-- I'll find a cafe with wifi signal. Well, I found the cafe, but can't access the wifi. So now all I can depend on is the local internet cafe. It's really the last place I want to be. Hot, stuffy, in the basement level -- at least at a cafe, I can be street side, people watching, enjoying a cappacino and connecting back home all at the same time.
I know that it's probably good for me to unplug for a bit. And usually, I don't have a problem with it. But I suppose I had an expectation that Italy would be wirelessly proficient like the US. What I have come to realize is that if you have a cell phone here, you're fine. But if you don't, then your link/tether/leash/chain to your real life back home is severed significantly.
Never has it been so evident that the four of us are internet dependent. Whenever we had a live wifi signal, the four of us are on our iOS devices... having to go without internet access in our apartment in Rome has been an adjustment. Granted, we've needed it for some important reasons as well, but overall, I think after walking all day with each other, we enjoyed the respite and excuse to withdrawal to our own virtual corner of cyberspace.
*update*
Having booked a hotel in Bolzano, I assumed there would be wifi. Of course I was wrong. No big deal-- I'll find a cafe with wifi signal. Well, I found the cafe, but can't access the wifi. So now all I can depend on is the local internet cafe. It's really the last place I want to be. Hot, stuffy, in the basement level -- at least at a cafe, I can be street side, people watching, enjoying a cappacino and connecting back home all at the same time.
I know that it's probably good for me to unplug for a bit. And usually, I don't have a problem with it. But I suppose I had an expectation that Italy would be wirelessly proficient like the US. What I have come to realize is that if you have a cell phone here, you're fine. But if you don't, then your link/tether/leash/chain to your real life back home is severed significantly.
Disconnected
I've been without wifi access for a few days now, so I have a slight backlog of posts... But I'm going to update them now. Hopefully, I can get them posted before my wifi dies again... Ciao!
Friday, August 31, 2012
The Domes
The Hype is For Real
And his posture. For a man who would become king, who slayed a mighty giant of an enemy, he doesn't stand as a proud, confident warrior. Rather he seems passive, defensive.
But there's something more that draws your eye. Not sure what it is... Perhaps the amazing craftsmanship, the attention to detail and reality... I find what is most striking is his face. His expression. His EYES.
I say all of this as an untrained, unknowing, "gazer" of art. But I understand why this piece of work is so highly treasured. Because it is a treasure indeed.
The Venetian Labyrinth
Venice is a wonderful way to be introduced to Italy. Obviously, with its canals, it's one of the most unique cities in the world. But even more so, because there are no cars or vehicles in Venice, a traveler can be introduced to the intimate setting of Italian life. The buildings are huddled together, with often only narrow alleys two people wide separating them. People chatting over espresso and cigarettes. There's a coziness to the place.
People say to get lost in Venice; you'll see tourists puzzling over their maps. The truth of the matter is that you will, regardless or whether you want to or not. I think my interpretation of their advice is to enjoy getting lost in Venice. It allows you to bond with the city, learning to recognize some of the random turns or canals.
People say to get lost in Venice; you'll see tourists puzzling over their maps. The truth of the matter is that you will, regardless or whether you want to or not. I think my interpretation of their advice is to enjoy getting lost in Venice. It allows you to bond with the city, learning to recognize some of the random turns or canals.
Italian Snippets
I'm trying something new with my travel entries on this trip... Instead of writing epic narratives of each day, I'm going to do shorter snippets of my thoughts and observations. They may fall out of linear order of occurrence or be random musings, but mainly I just want to share some of the experiences of my time in Italia without the length of a novella.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Pushing Forward
I know it's March, nearly April in fact. The calendar just showed that we have changed from winter to spring. The cherry blossoms are blooming, and even the sunshine is making a showing. As usual, this is a marvelous thing here in Seattle.
The thing is, the season kinda feels like fall to me. The reason is that starting next week, I become a student again. After twelve years of being a working stiff, I'm sharpening my pencils, buying textbooks, and preparing for homework assignments. So "how did you get here?" you may be wondering.
Remember back in January when I told you about my resolution for the year? To "Push Forward"? Well, this is the direct result of that mantra. Around the same time I wrote that post, I was sniffing around graduate school programs. It's not the first time I had done so, but to be quite honest, I think this is the first time that my heart's really been prepared to go back to school. So after careful consideration, I applied to Seattle University's evening MBA program. I have a variety of reasons of why I selected SU over another local program (*cough* University of Washington *cough*), but here are the main ones.
1. I can start my program this spring quarter (like I said earlier, NEXT WEEK!) rather than waiting six months until the fall if I were to attend UW.
2. Seattle U is one of the top evening programs in the region, if not the country. (If I had done the UW program, I would have probably done the full time day program there.)
3. SU has terrific regional network and great contacts, which is fantastic for me since I want to stay in the Pacific NW area.
I've known for almost a month now that I was accepted into the program, but only in the past couple days has it really begun to sink in. Even after attending orientation, filling out financial aid forms, getting my school books (fortunately, there are textbook rental services nowadays because they cost twice as much as when I was an undergraduate), I didn't feel like I was going to school. But in the last 48 hours the excitement and nervousness has begun to seep in. Don't get me wrong-- I'm ready to get this party started. From speaking with other current and previous graduate students, I'm going to enjoy this time. But with it comes some nervous anticipation. This anticipation is very much like when I would begin a new consulting project. I know I have the abilities to succeed, but it's the ambiguity of the unknown that has me a bit twitchy. In a good way.
Some friends have asked me how I feel about going back to school. A couple personal observations so far:
1. I had actually applied to grad programs over five years ago. And I didn't get into any of the programs I had applied for. I was crushed. The entire episode left a bad taste in my mouth. It took me a long time to even consider going back to graduate school. In fact, it's still hard for me to think about that experience, let alone share it with others. But in hindsight, I'm really glad it didn't work out. I would have missed some of the best years and experiences of my life. I wouldn't have met Beth, volunteered on UPC's pastor nominating committee, gone to Antarctica and Africa, gotten Tucker, and spent the necessary time to discover what I want to do with my life. To put it in another way, I wouldn't be the person I am now. And I'm thankful to God for it.
1b. Along those lines, I also don't think I would have embraced graduate school back then the same way as I will now. Before, I was applying for schools because it was the "logical" next step in my career. Now, I want to go because I want to go. My heart's in it for the right reasons.
2. I know that I'm going to be a bit older than most my fellow classmates. I'm curious what affect, if any, that will have on the dynamic.
3. I was at the SU bookstore the other day, flipping through the clothing racks looking for a tshirt. Let me tell you, after buying purple and gold gear (Issaquah High and the UW) exclusively for over two decades, it was really weird to be shopping for red and black apparel. REALLY WEIRD.
I'm not really sure how to end this post. For me, this is just the beginning. It'll be interesting to see how I'm doing in a few weeks. And how I like school if I start working again. But regardless of my stress level, I know that I am where I am supposed to be. Who knows, you might see something like this showing up on my bumper soon.
The thing is, the season kinda feels like fall to me. The reason is that starting next week, I become a student again. After twelve years of being a working stiff, I'm sharpening my pencils, buying textbooks, and preparing for homework assignments. So "how did you get here?" you may be wondering.
Remember back in January when I told you about my resolution for the year? To "Push Forward"? Well, this is the direct result of that mantra. Around the same time I wrote that post, I was sniffing around graduate school programs. It's not the first time I had done so, but to be quite honest, I think this is the first time that my heart's really been prepared to go back to school. So after careful consideration, I applied to Seattle University's evening MBA program. I have a variety of reasons of why I selected SU over another local program (*cough* University of Washington *cough*), but here are the main ones.
1. I can start my program this spring quarter (like I said earlier, NEXT WEEK!) rather than waiting six months until the fall if I were to attend UW.
2. Seattle U is one of the top evening programs in the region, if not the country. (If I had done the UW program, I would have probably done the full time day program there.)
3. SU has terrific regional network and great contacts, which is fantastic for me since I want to stay in the Pacific NW area.
I've known for almost a month now that I was accepted into the program, but only in the past couple days has it really begun to sink in. Even after attending orientation, filling out financial aid forms, getting my school books (fortunately, there are textbook rental services nowadays because they cost twice as much as when I was an undergraduate), I didn't feel like I was going to school. But in the last 48 hours the excitement and nervousness has begun to seep in. Don't get me wrong-- I'm ready to get this party started. From speaking with other current and previous graduate students, I'm going to enjoy this time. But with it comes some nervous anticipation. This anticipation is very much like when I would begin a new consulting project. I know I have the abilities to succeed, but it's the ambiguity of the unknown that has me a bit twitchy. In a good way.
Some friends have asked me how I feel about going back to school. A couple personal observations so far:
1. I had actually applied to grad programs over five years ago. And I didn't get into any of the programs I had applied for. I was crushed. The entire episode left a bad taste in my mouth. It took me a long time to even consider going back to graduate school. In fact, it's still hard for me to think about that experience, let alone share it with others. But in hindsight, I'm really glad it didn't work out. I would have missed some of the best years and experiences of my life. I wouldn't have met Beth, volunteered on UPC's pastor nominating committee, gone to Antarctica and Africa, gotten Tucker, and spent the necessary time to discover what I want to do with my life. To put it in another way, I wouldn't be the person I am now. And I'm thankful to God for it.
1b. Along those lines, I also don't think I would have embraced graduate school back then the same way as I will now. Before, I was applying for schools because it was the "logical" next step in my career. Now, I want to go because I want to go. My heart's in it for the right reasons.
2. I know that I'm going to be a bit older than most my fellow classmates. I'm curious what affect, if any, that will have on the dynamic.
3. I was at the SU bookstore the other day, flipping through the clothing racks looking for a tshirt. Let me tell you, after buying purple and gold gear (Issaquah High and the UW) exclusively for over two decades, it was really weird to be shopping for red and black apparel. REALLY WEIRD.
I'm not really sure how to end this post. For me, this is just the beginning. It'll be interesting to see how I'm doing in a few weeks. And how I like school if I start working again. But regardless of my stress level, I know that I am where I am supposed to be. Who knows, you might see something like this showing up on my bumper soon.
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