Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Just For Today

Just for Today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for Today I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Just for Today I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires, I will take my "luck" as it comes, and fit myself to it.

Just for Today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for Today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do --just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt but today I will not show it.

Just for Today I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests : hurry and indecision.

Just for Today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.

Just for Today I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Where I've Been & Where I'm Going


As I plan out the next adventure in my life, I've decided to re-count all the places I've been and all the places I hope to go. It is absurd how big the world is, and everyday is one day closer to my next big goal : Asia.

*Where I've Been:
  • Cuidad Juarez - Mexico
  • Sintra, Lisbon, & Setubal - Portugal
  • Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz, Ronda, Nerja, Jerez - Spain
  • Paris - France
  • Florence - Italy
  • Koln, Marburg, Frankfurt, Ingoldstadt, Munich - Germany
  • Zurich - Switzerland
  • Luxembourg City - Luxembourg
  • Bangkok - Thailand
  • The Bahamas
*Where I'm going (in Asia):

  • Seoul - South Korea
  • Hong Kong, Beijing - China
  • Tokyo - Japan
  • Philippines
  • Indonesia
  • India
I have been to most of the southern parts of Europe, but am hoping to get to so so so much more. I am absolutely in love with Europe. And I can't wait to go everywhere up North, and then over to the UK. (I'm dying to go to Scotland!). But as I plan all this traveling, I have to keep a little perspective going, and bring myself back down to reality too sometimes. I'm hoping to accomplish Asia in the next year. And from Asia it seems only plausible (and EXTREMELY exciting) to hit up Australia and New Zealand too.

So....South Korea is next and I'm working hard to get there. I can't even begin to think about Africa or South America, I want to go everywhere! In the next year I believe I can accomplish Asia and that's just what I'm planning on doing.

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson


Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Nachos Anyone?


So. Since the last time I posted (still trying to get used to keeping up with the actual writing of the blog), I have been brain-storming like crazy. A world tour?! By myself?! It's going to take a lot of preparation and planning on my part. BUT, I do have a solution and a first destination.

Korea.

Yep. If you know me you're probably wondering..."Kate, YOU are going to ASIA?" Yeah yeah yeah, we all know I lived on Oahu for quite some time and was a little..."confused" you could say with the Asian culture at times.

But Korea seems like the perfect place to start to see the world, not to mention a great place to earn a living as a foreigner to save up for the rest of my journey. I owe a lot of this spark of excitement to my good friend Nacho. Don't ask about the name, just accept it. Love it. Roll with it.

I will have to elaborate on this Mission Korea plan a lot in the next few postings. But for now I am so overwhelmed with the amount of paper work and documents I need to collect in order to obtain a Visa to even be allowed in Korea. I apparently need my college diploma (am I sure I graduated?!)...well I can't be too sure because I can't seem to find my actual diploma. You know, the real one. Not the fake piece of paper they give you while you walk across the stage. SO, if I can't find my real one I have to order a replacement. Which could take up to 10-14 weeks the girl told me at UH. And if I know Hawaiian Time....it just ain't gonna be anywhere near 10-14 weeks. So I'm a little worried about that.

My time frame is February and/or March of next year to actually be in Korea working. So yes, that does give me about 3-4 months. However, with the ordering of the diploma and the criminal background check that takes weeks as well, I just hope I can get it all done. And done right. If it's anything like the Visa I had to obtain to study in Spain...whew....I'm in for the long hall of frustrating phone calls, angry emails, and dis functional faxes.

Nacho and I went to high school together back in Eureka. He's been living in Korea now for over a year, and loves it. It's kind of cheating because he's half Korean, but hey, gotta take advantage of those roots. But he has successfully sold a great allusion to life in Korea. Count me in!

I have a plan. I have a first destination. I have a time frame. And I have Nacho. That's all I need to get this kick ass World Adventure started.

Thoughts?