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How I Got Here: A Traveler’s Unexpected Quest for Happiness

Musings5 Comments85 views

Last updated on July 12th, 2020

Adam’s Apple: The World Origins

The year was 2012, and I was studying at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) for my bachelor’s degree in accounting. Girlfriends came and went, I had my fair share of college parties, and I worked at my local Sam’s Club as an Accounting Associate.

One day, I came to a realization: I was depressed and did not know why. I had friends and was rooming with one of my best friends to this day, Dylan. I had great grades. I had a really nice apartment, outside of some horror stories about bed bugs Dylan & I still have PTSD from. I never had trouble finding a girlfriend, although some of them were questionable choices in hindsight. So what was missing in my life? Why was I so completely miserable?

I told no one about this for awhile, until eventually the one person I did tell was Dylan; he has always been there for me whenever and however I needed and is someone I can always count on. We had countless long discussions about life that went well into the middle of the night, bonded over some great movies he introduced me to (some deep like Good Will Hunting and some hilarious like Eurotrip), and he just tried to help me navigate these uncharted waters instead of allowing me to try to go through my struggles alone.

The topic of traveling came up one day, and he mentioned how freeing it is and told me about some of his adventures abroad; this certainly piqued my curiosity and interest until I finally made a declaration that I would be joining a study abroad trip somewhere the following year, 2013. Based on my Italian and Irish ancestry, my first choices were Italy and Ireland, both of which were quickly derailed due to insanely sky-high prices.

Feeling a little demoralized over seeing prices for many destinations, I decided to sort by price and see if there was anything reasonable I could afford to take part in. Of the lowest-priced study abroad trips, the one that caught my eye was Taiwan. Outside of seeing some items being made there, I had no idea whatsoever about where Taiwan is or what it has to offer; this would soon change, however. Some key advice Dylan gave me as I was getting more and more serious about the prospects of studying abroad was to simply have an open mind; leave your pre-conceived notions at home, embrace the differences, and immerse yourself in the local culture. Those are words I live by to this day.

I requested some information from the Global Studies office about the Taiwan 3-week study abroad and received a lovely booklet with tons of great information included. The first thing I remember Googling was what the heck night markets are; I spent the next week doing very little outside of work and researching all of the ins-and-outs of Taiwan. I felt so intrigued that I was ready to take the plunge and reserve my trip, but first I needed to have a sit-down discussion with an outstanding Taiwanese professor at MTSU, Dr. Kenny Jih.

The Meeting

Before my meeting with Dr. Jih, I discovered the reason for the Taiwan study abroad being so low-priced; he was helping to subsidize the cost in order to introduce as many people as possible to his country, which really shows just how wonderful of a person he is.

During the meeting, Dr. Jih showed so much authentic passion for Taiwan; I could see the pride in his eyes and could not help but smile. He discussed many of his favorite aspects, some of the cultural differences, and some of the activities study abroad students typically do while there. Lastly, he showed me several photos; there was one common denominator about the people in the photos: they all looked so incredibly happy, which is something I so desperately needed at this point in my life.

The meeting I had with Dr. Jih, along with the many discussions I had with Dylan, changed my life forever. Immediately after the meeting, I paid for the trip and reserved my spot for July 2013. I could not have been more excited..or happy.

My New Beginning

July 9, 2013. After furiously packing last-minute the night before (a tradition of mine like no other), I headed to the airport for my first venture overseas. After flights from Nashville to Minneapolis, Tokyo-Narita and finally Taipei, my 24+ hour flying adventure (including layovers) from America to Taiwan was complete.

We were all completely exhausted and jet-lagged as we arrived at some point on the evening of July 10th. Dr. Jih (he left America for Taiwan a bit earlier than us to meet up with his family) and Dr. Gary Chin were among several Taiwanese who came to Taoyuan International Airport to greet us and accompany us back to Hsin Shih dormitory nearby Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU). This university is located in the Zhong Yuan area of Zhongli.

It was a fairly windy night, and as we were set to board the shuttle bus, my Atlanta Braves baseball cap went soaring across the ground. I thought, well that’s just typical for me and resigned to the fact that it was gone; to my surprise, the bus driver went sprinting after it and actually was able to recover it. As I thanked him, I couldn’t believe he did that for a total stranger, a foreigner from the other side of the world; perhaps my fortunes were changing for the better.

As the bus drove away from the airport and closer to the streets of Zhong Yuan, cliche or not, I remember these next moments as if they happened yesterday. I remember looking out the window and seeing what appeared to be a whole new world compared to what I am used to seeing back home in America; all of the building looked far different, the signs were covered in traditional Chinese characters, and there were scooters absolutely everywhere. For the first time in a long time, I thought to myself, “I feel so happy here.”

However, our ride back to the dorm wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows as we passed what appeared to be a brutal scooter accident and the individual was still lying unconscious; we never found out if the person was okay, but I sure hope so.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I experienced the awesomeness that is Asian convenience stores, went through my first (of many) typhoons, enjoyed delicious Taiwanese cuisine (you need some ji pai (Taiwanese fried chicken) in your life!), went on exciting adventures (through tall buildings, old streets, glorious mountains, breathtaking lakes), and best of all, made countless lifelong friends from all over the world. Even the ones I have kind of lost touch with over the years were great, and I appreciate all they did for me. You can read more about my study abroad experience here!

Taiwan flag

My Return

After the trip that changed my life ended, I was 100% determined to do whatever it took to go back for an extended period of time; one thing about me is when I’m determined, no obstacle will stand in my way. For the next several months, I was a constant presence in the Global Studies office at MTSU. At first, they were looking to send me to Soochow University in Taipei for a semester as an exchange student, which I was open to at first. But the more I thought about it, the more I really wanted to return to Zhong Yuan and CYCU, which to this day feels like home to me.

In addition, I felt one semester was too short and was really persistent in requesting the full year. After a lot of back-and-forth that spanned several weeks, they ultimately gave me a scholarship for a full year to study at CYCU. When I received the news, words cannot describe how happy I was; not to get too sentimental, but there may have been a tear or two of joy. In order to make this full-year exchange happen, I needed to add Global Studies as a second degree to Accounting, which I was happy to do.

In Taiwan, I was fortunate to have so many wonderful professors, including but not limited to Dr. Jimmy Lee, Dr. Gary Chin, Dr. Chandler Chu, Dr. Francis Diaz, and Dr. Stan Lin. I learned so much from all of them, but what I would like to share with you is the powerful words from Dr. Lee; so much of what he taught about life has stuck with me through the years. “Are we really living our lives, or are we just accepting it.” Sometimes, I have to remind myself of this to prevent myself from going through the motions. Living life to the fullest does not only mean living as if today was your last day, although that’s certainly part of it. What it truly means is making the most of each day, fully appreciating your blessings, and actively thinking on what you can do to make the world a better place for all. Never forget to “seize the day.” Today could be your breakthrough and time to shine.

I had so many memorable moments during my full-year exchange student program, which I recounted in Part 1 & Part 2 of my blog; for more information about my stay, please click on the links above. 🙂

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Love at First Sight?

So, you may be wondering how Mora came into the picture. We became acquainted back in July 2014, just 2 months after my trip to the Philippines, and I was instantly interested; however, I quickly learned that was just a one-way street as she never gave me the time of day, regardless of what I invited her to (ouch lol). While I previously dated, I was single during the Summer months as I was not sure at the time if I really wanted a seriously relationship going into my 2nd and final semester in Taiwan.

However, in September, something suddenly changed in Mora’s demeanor towards me. Instead of short, lukewarm responses, there were both random and deep phone conversations that lasted for 3+ hours, and it seemed that she was growing really interested in me.

Suffice it to say I was really confused as to why she had the sudden change of heart, but I certainly wasn’t complaining. So, I asked her out once more for a simple movie & lunch date in Taipei, and she said yes. I remember my roommate (and one of my best friends), SN, being excited for me and saying, “finally after months of trying!” I guess persistence does pay off (lol).

The date honestly couldn’t have gone any better, and you could tell there was a lot of chemistry between us. Not long after, Mora mentioned that she and her friends would be going to Club Myst soon for a fun October Friday night, and she really wanted me to come along. So, of course I said yes, and we danced & partied the night away. I asked her to be my girlfriend that night, and we have been together ever since. That’s not to say we haven’t had our fair share of issues over the years, like every couple is bound to have, but I could not imagine sharing this adventure of life through the years with anyone else.

The Apple of My Eye, Pun Intended

Back to the US

January 2015. A couple of weeks after experiencing New Year’s fireworks outside of Taipei 101, the 4th largest building in the world at the time (it was the tallest when built in 2004 and has now fallen down to number 10), I made my return to Tennessee to complete one final semester for both of my undergraduate degrees. In order to squeeze everything into a semester, I needed to take 21 credit hours’ worth of classes.

As my final semester was coming to an end, I had made the decision to get a master’s degree, either in Accountancy at MTSU or an IMBA at CYCU in Taiwan. The deciding factors for me were being closer to Mora and how much I missed Taiwan in the months I had been away. So, after applying, I was accepted to the program with a scholarship & stipend.

Excited about moving back to Taiwan for the 2nd straight year, I started looking into how to make an extra income outside of the stipend. It is fairly easy for native English speakers with degrees to become English teachers in Taiwan, so this is the route I chose, despite the fact that public speaking was always a weakness of mine in the past.

I had a Skype interview with someone at Gloria English Schools, and I was immediately offered a position. This was perfect for me as they were also offering 1 year of free rent in their dormitory for English teachers, which happened to be located in the district of Pingzhen and not too far from CYCU. In addition, I would have a Taiwanese co-teacher for each class to help with Chinese translations and anything else needed. For people curious about how much you can make as an English teacher in Taiwan, it varies from place-to-place, but I was offered 660 NT$ per hour, which translates to roughly $22 USD. If you can get enough hours, you can certainly afford to live in Taiwan; outside of Taipei, this country is very affordable.

Home Sweet Taiwan

July 2015. Once again, I found myself back where I feel more at home than anywhere else in the world, including America. Not long after arriving, I got settled into my dorm room and started preparing for my Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and work permit application.

However, soon after, it was brought to my attention that CYCU’s long-standing tradition of providing free tuition to international students for their IMBA program was being terminated, effective immediately. Many emotions went through me upon finding out: panic, confusion, anger, frustration, sadness, just to name a few. I was still being offered a small stipend, but it was not nearly enough to cover tuition, and I was planning for the income from teaching English to cover living expenses.

After many discussions with the powers at be at CYCU, I was forced to make the painstaking decision of withdrawing my application from their program. This left me in a bit of a conundrum on how to proceed. I fully intended on spending the next 2+ years living in Taiwan, earning my IMBA, and spending a lot of quality time with Mora.

I decided, for the time being, that I would take a semester off from my studies, search for universities within Taiwan, and teach English. I made the decision to reevaluate my plans going forward on a semi-annual basis as I knew the Master’s of Accountancy program at MTSU was waiting on me back in Tennessee if I wanted.

Despite that chaos, I was determined to make the most out of a failed plan; I have come to learn things rarely ever go according to plan, so it’s better to roll with the punches when they come. And believe me, they will come.

Teaching English in Taiwan

After observing several classes from experienced teachers, it was time for me to start slowly accumulating hours. To say I was nervous is an understatement, but I overcame it and worked hard to teach each & every student as well as I possibly could. This required writing out detailed lesson plans in advance to form a good plan of attack. Outside of the older classes, it was always good to throw some games into the mix to get the kids excited to come to class each week and learn. I surprisingly was more of a natural at this than I ever expected. Some classes were more challenging than others, but overall, my experience in teaching was a good one. In addition, I was able to make so many awesome, new friends with all of my fellow teachers.

However, as it got near the end of 2015, I received word from MTSU that I was not only accepted into their Master’s of Accountancy program, but I could be a graduate assistant, have free tuition, be provided the Becker CPA Review program 50% off, and get paid weekly. It seemed like a no-brainer to me financially; although, I was really sad to not be able to live in Taiwan longer, but I knew I would be back.

Despite the difficult challenges that come with a long-distance relationship, Mora & I made the necessary sacrifices to make it work; the key was both of us making the required effort. For example, Mora came to visit me in March of 2016, and I popped the question; happily, she said yes!

I went back to Taiwan in July of that same year to marry her, and we celebrated it immediately with a trip to Japan and later that year for our honeymoon in Mexico at Excellence Playa Mujeres, arguably the best all-inclusive resort in the world.

What We Are Up to Now

The past few years have seen one or both of us make trips back to Taiwan and have exciting adventures in countries such as Mexico, Italy, Japan, and South Korea. Working on my skills as an “Instagram husband” has been a work-in-progress. Despite her claims to the contrary, I don’t think I’m too shabby of a photographer (lol). You’ll see a lot more pictures of her than myself on this page as she’s the far more beautiful one in this couple.

I personally have struggled mightily with something called reverse culture shock; it has been difficult to adjust back to living in America. It’s not that America doesn’t have a lot to offer; I just find it is easy to get back into the bad, old habits of putting too much emphasis on material items, television, and a lack of physical activity in everyday life that comes from living in convenient locations, such as Taiwan.

Since starting my accounting career full-time in November 2016, I have had to plan out trips ahead of time in a lot more detail. I won’t lie; I do miss having the freedom to travel whenever and wherever my heart desires. But we travel when able and make the most of it.

I do have dreams of traveling full-time in the future, which is one of the many reasons I started this travel website. I see so many people make the same mistakes time & time again when traveling; they make such detailed itineraries that allow no time for spontaneous exploring, and they don’t show the local culture the proper appreciation it truly deserves. I have made all of these mistakes before, so you don’t have to! When you make an effort to fully immerse yourself in the place you are visiting (or living), it will be a truly memorable experience, and you will have much less of the frustration, exhaustion, and bad mood that comes with an itinerary gone wrong.

When This Boy Meets World..

With your help & support, we can make this dream come true. All I ask is that you sit back, relax, maybe crack open a cold one & have yourself some delicious food, and just follow along. We love meeting new people, so if you ever see us out & about, please don’t hesitate to come talk to us once the Covid-19 pandemic has come to an end.

Until next time, stay safe & travel responsibly; just don’t eat the apple.

Adam & Mora

4 Ways How to Study Abroad: Why This Is Absolutely Important

Travel Tips7 Comments95 views

Last updated on July 12th, 2020

An Introduction to Studying Abroad

I have received many questions from you guys regarding how to study abroad. What is the process like? Is it too complicated? What are the benefits of studying abroad? Is it really worth it? I touched on some of the benefits in my Traveling Is Living and From Tennessee to Taiwan: My Study Abroad Experience posts, so please click on those links to read more on anything not covered in this article. In addition, I wrote extensively about my experiences during my full-year exchange student program in Part 1 & Part 2. I used to be really closed-minded and would get into every social media political debate, and I would argue my points without any real consideration for the other’s point-of-view; I regrettably lost many friends over the years because of this. Removing yourself from the world you know and surrounding yourself with people from all walks of life will change many of your paradigms on life and help you become far more open-minded than you could ever imagine. I believe this is absolutely critical in today’s society. Education abroad will change your life for the better, guaranteed.

Removing yourself from the world you know and surrounding yourself with people from all walks of life will change many of your paradigms on life and help you become far more open-minded than you could ever imagine.

While there are many ways to make your way overseas to your desired country of choice, today, I will primarily be focusing on study abroad programs and doing so via: 1.) a short-term study abroad program through your university’s global studies office, 2.) a long-term exchange student program through your university’s global studies office, 3.) a school trip overseas through your high school, and 4.) enrolling directly to a university abroad. Whether you’re a high school student, a prospective college student, a current college student, someone who has already graduated and looking for opportunities abroad for further studies, or a parent, I encourage you to read this article in full.

Como Town, Italy

1.) Short-Term Study Abroad Program

Starting off with by far the most common of ways to study abroad, short-term study abroad programs are absolutely amazing and a fantastic way to slowly introduce someone new to international travel. This is the route I personally took, and I have zero regrets whatsoever about making this leap. In fact, this was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life (no exaggeration).

Dr. Jih speaking during orientation – Zhong Yuan, Taiwan

So, your question to me: how do I actually go about making a study abroad program happen?

Well, it is a lot simpler than you might imagine. Outside of people being oblivious to how eye-opening international travel to foreign lands filled with unique cultures, breath-taking scenery, wondrous architecture, delicious food, and beautiful people (both on the inside and outside) can be, another big hesitation people have with studying abroad is thinking the process is too complicated and cumbersome.

But I am here to tell you the process is really easy to go through; a typical study abroad office is going to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible. They want to introduce international travel to as many people as possible.

Another hesitation that prevents students from seriously considering studying abroad is the stigma regarding study abroad programs not being affordable. While there are many programs I could not afford, chances are, each study abroad office is going to have more affordable programs as well. In addition, there are study abroad scholarships widely available, so be sure to look into those options!

You may have your heart set out on a particular destination, but I promise, if you just open your mind, you will see how many amazing places on this earth exist that you may never have even heard of. If I remained stubborn on destinations early on, I might have never discovered the beauty & serenity of Taiwan, where I feel more at-home than anywhere else on God’s green earth.

Some of the cheapest countries in the world are also some of the absolute best. Do not make the mistake of overlooking them.

So, I implore you; if your finances are somewhat tight, give the lower-cost programs a chance. Some of the cheapest countries in the world are also some of the absolute best. Do not make the mistake of overlooking them.

In order to study abroad, the first step is to find out where your local university keeps all of their information regarding programs they offer. Once you find where the information is housed online, browse through the list based on your budget constraints, and after reading a short description on any that catch your eye, add it to your own personal list to consider.

Once you have done this, it will be easy to compare & contrast the different programs and write down your pros/cons. Some factors include price, length of stay, dates of departure & arrival, quality of program, etc. What I recommend doing is requesting additional information for any programs you feel interested & excited about. Also, feel free to do additional research on your own; Google never takes a day off, after all.

After reviewing all of the information and weighing all of the factors, choose the place you feel is calling out to you the most. For me, that was Taiwan; for you, it could be Italy, Japan, Egypt, Bolivia, New Zealand, or perhaps somewhere else. Regardless of the destination you choose, remember this is not the end of your journey; it is only the beginning.

As it was once encouraged and emphasized to me to be have an open mind when you travel, I encourage and emphasize the same to you. You will see many aspects of life done differently in other parts of the world, some better than here in the States (in Taiwan’s case, a lot!) and some not as great, but it is important to respect and embrace the differences.

Now that you have made your choice, it is as simple as obtaining your passport (simple process), filling out any necessary paperwork in your university’s study abroad office, and paying the dues. Easy!

Now, all that stands between you and your trip is a study abroad orientation where you will have a chance to meet other students going on trips around the world, and you have a chance to get to know the people and professor going on the same trip as you. You will be spending a lot of time with them overseas, so why not make some new friends!

If you are struggling to come up with a decision on where to go or what program to choose, please contact me.

If you are struggling to come up with a decision on where to go or what program to choose, please contact me. I am more than happy to pay forward everything I have learned through the years. I promise I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can.

2.) Long-Term Exchange Student Program

What if you have already gone on a short-term study abroad program and are wanting to branch out and spend a semester or two overseas and be an actual student completely on your own at a university? Or, what if you are wanting to bypass the short-term study abroad program altogether and spend a semester or two abroad?

Me & a Bunch of My Closest Friends From Around the World – Zhong Yuan, Taiwan

Offerings differ between universities and who they partner with around the world. With that said, if you show how passionate you are, how much it would mean, and the reasons for wanting to have an extended stay, they are usually willing to work with you to make your wishes come true. They may not be able to fulfill every wish, but most try their best.

Whether you select an exchange student program already available or work with the study abroad office to start a new one, once you have finalized which one you will be participating in, you will need to spend a little bit of extra time in the office to make sure everything goes smoothly in your time abroad.

First, if you don’t have a passport already, make sure to go apply for one, which is relatively straightforward. If you already have a passport, make sure the expiration date is at least greater than 6 months past your return date to the US; the last thing you want is to be held up in Customs (it completely sucks; believe me!).

Next, you will have plenty of paperwork to fill out, so make sure to get that completed, and pay your dues.

The global studies office led by Dr. Doug Heffington at MTSU is amazing, and everyone I worked with was so awesome and helpful.

If you haven’t already, you will want to make sure to apply for any and all education abroad scholarships you are eligible for. At MTSU, the education abroad scholarship I received was a life-saver! The global studies office led by Dr. Doug Heffington at MTSU is amazing, and everyone I worked with was so awesome and helpful. That is my personal experience from the university I attended in the US, but from what I have heard from countless others, many have had the same type of welcoming experience from their respective offices as well. So, if you have any questions or concerns, they generally can point you in the right direction.

Lastly, the biggest headache for me was attempting to find classes in English at CYCU in Taiwan that would translate to my accounting degree; I was not fluent in traditional Chinese, so I was trying to find enough courses in English for 2 semester-loads. All of the IMBA courses were taught in English, but based on the small number of requirements I had left to obtain my accounting degree, I had a difficult time of making the schedule work. I had a choice to make: either attend Soochow University in Taipei, which was a more international city and more costly, or I could add global studies as a 2nd major. I chose the second option for a variety of reasons, and there’s a chance you might have to make a similar decision. Or maybe not. Everyone’s situation is different, and the office will tell you what is needed.

Once all of the above is finalized, you are ready for your next and quite possibly most exciting adventure in life! Following a study abroad orientation with others leaving around the same time as you, it is time to make final preparations before your flight. As I stated above under the 1st way how to study abroad, please contact me if you need any help whatsoever; I have firsthand experience and will do all I can to help guide you.

3.) High School Trip Overseas

Nowadays, it is becoming much more of a common practice for high school seniors to have some sort of opportunity to go on an educational class trip overseas. Back when I graduated high school way back in 2009, there was a trip to Europe that I unfortunately did not go on. This was 4 years before my first experience abroad.

Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake – Nantou, Taiwan

If you have the opportunity to travel overseas in high school, why wait until you’re studying at your future college or university? I know this is where parents will step in and say it’s too expensive, and I do understand where you’re coming from.

But think about this. I know you all want what’s best for your kids and try your best to set a great example on the home front. However, if your kids only stay in the same type of environment and never venture out into the world, it will be so much more difficult for them to relate to different cultures and people of different nationalities.

The paradigms and pre-conceived notions you have about certain destinations are often shattered, and you become much more open-minded.

Not only will this experience completely change their lives for the better, but they will have a step above the rest; studying abroad provides you insight into different ways of thinking. The paradigms and pre-conceived notions you have about certain destinations are often shattered, and you become much more open-minded. If you want to prepare your kids for success, I highly encourage you to allow your kids to go on these educational trips abroad, even if you make them find a way to pay for it themselves; it is 100% worth it. If I could go back in time, I would absolutely have joined my fellow classmates and teachers.

4.) Enroll Directly at a University Abroad

Lastly, I want to discuss how you can bypass attending a university in the United States altogether, whether it be for your bachelor’s degree, master’s, PhD, or all of the above. Most people do not even consider this to be a realistic option, but you might be surprised at just how doable this really is.

Your path and heart might lead you elsewhere, and I strongly encourage you to follow it.

If I woke up tomorrow and were back in my senior year of high school, I would be doing some heavy research into how I could directly enroll at a university abroad. One regret in life for me is not ever (up to this point, but I am hoping to at some point) living in Italy. If I could do things over, I would have spent my undergraduate years living in Rome before getting my master’s in Taiwan. But that’s just me; your path and heart might lead you elsewhere, and I strongly encourage you to follow it.

Le Cinque Terre, Italy

Because of how much prices vary between countries and even universities within countries for different programs, I highly recommend doing some good old-fashioned research; never forget: Google is your friend.

Say, for example, you would like to get your master’s degree in Vietnam or Germany; your individual budget matters, but my first step would be to search for low-cost options. For many destinations, you can often find discounted programs geared to entice foreign students to enroll. Sometimes, you can even find places that offer FREE tuition!

Once you find a program you like and are committed to, the next steps are to get your passport and uncover what steps are necessary for you to go through before moving abroad. This information is readily available online with a simple search based on your personal circumstances; this will help you determine if a student visa is needed, and how complicated the process is.

Well, guys, I think that about covers it. I would love to hear your own personal stories from previous study abroad experiences. If you already have one planned or have one ounce of interest in participating in one, I would love to hear from you as well!

As always, please feel free to leave comments/questions as I will be reading each & every one of them and responding. If you want to know something, ask away! Do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all or would like to chat with us! Please hit those follow, share, & like buttons; just don’t eat the apple. Until next time, stay traveling (safely)!

Prince Street Pizza Goldbelly Review: Is It Really Worth it?

Restaurants, Reviews1 Comment1,712 views

Last updated on July 29th, 2020

Pizza Review

Pizza Makes the World Go ‘Round

So, you might be wondering what prompted me to do this Prince Street Pizza Goldbelly review. Anyone who knows me at all knows pizza is my all-time favorite food. Some would call me a pizza fanatic or even a pizza connoisseur; they’re not wrong. I have looked far and wide across the world in search of the best pizza, and so far, while I love all pizza, no place in America has been able to touch what Italy has to offer (cue the hate mail in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..).

The debates are always endless between people passionate about the food from their hometown. Whether it’s Neapolitan (the inventors of my beloved pizza and my personal favorite), Roman, Sicilian, Chicago style (deep dish or tavern), New Haven apizza, Detroit, or a classic New York slice, you will never run out of places to try.

Introducing: Prince Street Pizza

With that said, there is one particular pizzeria I have had on my bucket list for quite some time: Prince Street Pizza. Some have even called this the holy grail of pizza and swear by it being the best in the entire world, including Naples! I had plans to visit this Lower Manhattan eatery this year, but then 2020 decided to go up-in-smoke.

So, if I can’t go to Prince Street, then I’m bringing Prince Street to me. I was watching one of Mike Chen’s (my favorite YouTuber) videos on YouTube a few weeks ago, and my mouth dropped in awe as he received a delivery from Prince Street Pizza; for those few who don’t know who Mike is, he used to live in New York but now lives in Seattle. Before the video was even over, I started Googling how to get Prince Street delivered to me down here in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

When there’s a will, there’s a way, and nobody’s pizza will is stronger than mine, except for maybe El Presidente, Dave Portnoy.

How to Enjoy Prince Street Pizza From Anywhere in America

I came across a site called Goldbelly, and they apparently partner with restaurants across the country, and you can have food shipped anywhere in the US; awesome! From Texas BBQ to New York pizza to Maine lobster rolls, you can find quite a lot of goodies. The downside is the price point as it is far too high under normal circumstances.

The price is high, but does the quality match it? I am on the case for important matters such as this!

I was informed by 2020 that the current situation is far from normal; so, what choice did I have but to indulge my pizza cravings and order 2 spicy spring pepperoni pizza pies?

For those unfortunate few who are unaware of this mouth-watering creation, do yourself a favor and search for it on YouTube. The spicy spring is a semi-thick rectangular pie topped with fra diavolo (spicy tomato) sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, and a mountain of high-quality, crispy cup & char pepperoni. You can have it baked normal or extra crispy; I say extra crispy because why not?

Feeling hungry yet? Me too. Be right back as I go grab another slice.

Delicious Pizza
This slice is a beaut!

Okay, that’s better. Now, back to the review.

How Is the Goldbelly Prince Street Pizza Prepared?

Prince Street Pizza pre-bakes the pizza, cuts it in half, seals it in plastic, and then Goldbelly places it in a box with dry ice to protect it as it gets shipped overnight.

No instructions come in the package; however, you can find the instructions on Goldbelly’s site. Prince Street recommends to pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees and bake the pizza for 22-25 minutes.

Prince Strret Pizza Goldbelly Review
Pizza out of the package, prepared to go into the oven

I recommend just using those instructions as a guideline as I probably baked mine for about 30 minutes total; I tried their recommendation first, but it was not quite as hot or crispy as I like. But after 30, it looked and smelled phenomenal. A test to know it’s done is if you hear that ever-pronounced crunch as you are cutting the pizza.

Prince Strret Pizza Goldbelly Review
Fresh out of the oven; I may have drooled a little..

The first thing I tried was a pepperoni; this was amazing! When it comes to this classic American topping, you will be hard-pressed to find a place who does pepperoni as well as them. It was juicy, crispy, and had the most amazing grease bubbles inside. After having this, I was excited to see what the rest of this pizza had to offer!

You Know the Pizza Review Rulebook

First and foremost, one bite, everyone knows the rules! Or better yet, one nibble, everyone knows the law (shout-out to Julian Edelman aka Jules). Okay, let’s get this back on track before it starts to sound like another Barstool review of Prince Street Pizza.

As I took my first bite, the first thing I noticed was a tremendous crunch, which was a great early sign. I immediately tasted the aforementioned juicy, crispy pepperoni.

Prince Strret Pizza Goldbelly Review
Time to dig in!

As I took another bite, I could tell there was just a hint of spice in the sauce, but it wasn’t quite as spicy as I imagined it being due to the name of fra diavolo. This is where the pizza lover in me stepped away, and the critic came out. As I took more bites, something tasted a bit off with both the sauce and the dough (outside of the outer crust), but I couldn’t put my finger on what the issue was. My conclusion is that the freezing had the unfortunate negative effect you might expect it to have.

If you are comparing this to other frozen pizzas, this is the gold standard without question. But at this price point, it has to be judged against the best of the best. I look forward to the day I eat a fresh spicy spring pizza from Prince Street, but based on my experience, I cannot recommend buying this and having it shipped across the country. I wanted to love this so badly, but alas.

Final Scores (0-10 Scale)

  • Pepperoni – 9.8
  • Outer Crust – 8.5
  • Remaining Dough – 6.1
  • Sauce – 5.4
  • Cheese – 5.2
  • Overall – 7.4
  • Value – 4.3

Pizza Review Bonus Round

Since the package came with two pizzas, I decided to give them another chance. This time, I made some much-needed enhancements.

For this round, I added spicy extra virgin olive oil, crushed red peppers, and oregano. In addition, I ignored the cooking instructions altogether and baked the pizza pie an extra 20-30 minutes.

I could not have been happier with the results! This was far-and-away better than the first pizza I cooked. It was crispy, juicy, flavorful, and spongy.

Had this been the initial result, the scores I gave would have been a lot higher. But because I had to make these modifications, the score stands.

With that said, I don’t mind making these improvements if I get a quarantine pizza of this magnitude. While I won’t be changing the score, I find myself wavering on the decision to recommend or not. (Thinking) Screw it; if you have the ingredients necessary for the above upgrades and can afford pizza at this price point, I now say go for it.

What Are Your Thoughts on Goldbelly or Prince Street Pizza?

Please let me know your thoughts on this Goldbelly pizza review. Whether you’ve ordered from Goldbelly or eaten at Prince Street Pizza in Manhattan, New York, we want to hear from you. Also, I can assure you no slice will be left behind. If you disagree with any of my rankings, feel free to let me know!

Do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all or would like to chat with us! Please hit those follow, share, & like buttons; just don’t eat the apple. Until next time, ciao!

Discover The Tranquil Marco Island: A Hidden Paradise

Americas, Florida, United States2 Comments428 views

Last updated on July 23rd, 2020

An Introduction to Marco Island

As most of the world is attempting to restore some semblance of normal after Covid-19 turned it upside down for months-on-end, Mora & I decided to join my brother, Jeremy, & his wife, Allison, on a mini vacation down to Marco Island, FL. Parts of Florida have seen a rise in case numbers, but Marco Island has not had nearly as many so far. As our trip went on, the overall state totals continued to climb, which has us currently back in quarantine for the foreseeable future back in Saint Petersburg.

Mora leading the way..
to a hidden paradise!

Going into this trip, I had no idea what to expect as I had never been to Marco Island or read many articles about this particular locale; the only thing I knew to expect was it should not be crowded compared to public beaches like Clearwater or St. Pete. Marco Island is virtually parallel with Miami but on the opposite Gulf of Mexico side.

Heading into our journey, the forecast for the week looked a bit shaky as frequent storms were expected; thankfully, we lucked out and avoided it for the most part, outside of a few popup storms. One thing I noticed as we drove through the island was how beautiful all of the homes are; it’s safe to say the vast majority of people that live here have money coming out the wazoo, as they say.

We stayed in a nice 1st floor condo at the Club Regency looking out to the pool and hot tub area. After stocking up the condo with food and booze, we went to the virtually empty pool and spent a couple of hours swimming, relaxing, and enjoying how nice it felt; there were some dark clouds, but no storm hit. Afterwards, while the ladies went to check out the sunset, the guys grilled some burgers and hot dogs and enjoyed the rest of the night lying out on the easy-to-snooze-in patio loungers.

The next morning, Mora & I woke up in time to see the beautiful Marco Island sky as the sun rose on the other side of the buildings. For me, there are few things more peaceful than a morning walk along the beach.

A beautiful sunrise over Marco Island
It’s tough to beat this view..

After a lovely breakfast, the crew made our way out to the beach. After making my way through a few rum-and-cokes in the bright & sunshiny weather, I noticed my arms and shoulders were scorching. It appears 50 SPF sunscreen is no match for my Irish blood as it has always been very easy for me to get sunburned. Not to get political, but I was definitely feeling the Bern (LOL kidding).

All jokes aside, it took 5-6 days, a lot of Tylenol, and over half a bottle of aloe vera later for the pain to subside. However, not to worry, I still made my way to the pool and beach several more times over the next few days.

One beautiful day
in Marco Island
after another

We had some great meals at places like Snook’s Inn and Ristorante Davinci, but I won’t focus on them too much in this post as I will be doing future reviews on each restaurant. I visited a bar called CJ’s On the Bay twice on this trip, and while very pricey, it is an absolute must-visit when you come here. The view, ambience, food, and drinks make this an all-around great stop. My suggestion: get the CJ’s burger on a kaiser roll, and add cheddar, fresh jalapeños, and crispy onion strings for a burger that is sure to surprise you with how good it is; I recommend pairing it with a Miami-brewed Freedom Tower beer. 👍

A row of yachts
Mora in front of the bar
A nice area to walk around the bar & shops
A lovely sunset

While Jeremy & I were at CJ’s the first time, Mora & Allison went to some colorful shops to grab some souvenirs and take some pictures, so I had a couple of hours off as Instagram husband. For all of you that are interested in great Instagram photos, while Marco Island is small, you will have no trouble finding some great shots.

Do it.
For the.
Gram.

There are various water sport activities you can pay for, such as wave runners, jet skis, kayaks, paddle-boards, para-sails, etc. We held off on those this time around and went with a private 3-hour boat tour with Eco Endeavors. Again, there was a threat of storms, but we lucked out once again for our 9 am tour, outside of a little light rain towards the end. Our tour captain was very nice & informative; he is a retired businessman who has been guiding tours for the past 8 years and seems to really enjoy it.

We visited some cool-looking ruins and an island not frequented by tourists very often, so there is an abundance of shells to choose from if that’s something you enjoy. All 4 of us came away from the tour impressed as it exceeded all of our expectations going in; I highly recommend choosing them if you do a boat tour, especially a private one.

Cape Romano Dome House Ruins

Overall, we thought Marco Island was a fantastic place to visit if you are looking for a more relaxing type of vacation. If you are looking for more of a party atmosphere with many bars & clubs open late, I would recommend going elsewhere (for example: Miami or Key West, to name a couple). However, in the current Covid-19 climate, I can think of very few places that top this in terms of relaxation and being able to still socially distance from other groups of people.

I would love to know your thoughts about Marco Island, whether you have been before & have some insight or if you simply find it interesting and would like some additional information. I would be more than happy to answer any questions!

Mora made this couple’s day by offering them this postcard-esque picture after taking it by chance

As always, please feel free to leave comments/questions as I will be reading each & every one of them and responding. If you want to know something, ask away! Do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all or would like to chat with us! Please hit those follow, share, & like buttons; just don’t eat the apple. Until next time, stay traveling (safely)!

Free Insider World Travel Tip: Learn Language Before You Go

Travel TipsWrite a comment41 views

Last updated on July 4th, 2020

Language Is More Than Just Words

When thinking of travel, people often daydream of delicious food, breathtakingly beautiful architecture & scenery, insightful tours, and exciting activities, to name a few. However, one aspect that is sometimes forgotten about until after the trip has already begun is language. I believe it is vitally important to at least learn some key words & phrases before you depart; let me tell you why.

While us English-speakers are extremely fortunate in that our language is typically a second language for many other countries, this will not be the case everywhere, especially as you get away from the more touristy areas. In order to be able to travel to the hidden gems and often most wondrous locations, you will need to arm your brain with some basic language of the country you are visiting. If you learn enough, you can even order food in the local language, impressing the locals.

Making an effort to immerse yourself in their culture really goes a long way in making lifelong friends that you otherwise would have never met.

On that same note, learning at least some of the language shows the locals you are at least making an effort to immerse yourself in their culture, which really goes a long way in making lifelong friends that you otherwise would have never met. People often know English as a second language, so learning some of theirs will separate you from most of the other tourists who go without really making any effort to fit in or understand the local culture.

They teach you in a way that is easy to ingrain in the brain and start from the most basic level, and you can work your way up as you get more advanced, if you so desire.

Now, you might be wondering how it is best to learn a local language in a short amount of time. In my experience, Duolingo and Memrise have been great tools for me personally. I am not currently sponsored by either one of these apps, but I have used them both extensively in preparation for trips to places such as Italy and South Korea. They teach you in a way that is easy to ingrain in the brain and start from the most basic level, and you can work your way up as you get more advanced, if you so desire.

There are plenty of other apps, books, and options for learning various languages, so please choose what works best for you; I myself like using a combination.

This is the first step towards immersing yourself in the local culture, which you will come to find immeasurably rewarding.

I hope you have found this helpful and understand why it is so important to make an effort to learn some of the local language before you visit, whether it’s short-term or an extended stay. This is the first step towards immersing yourself in the local culture, which you will come to find immeasurably rewarding.

As always, please feel free to leave comments/questions as I will be reading each & every one of them and responding. If you want to know something, ask away! Do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all or would like to chat with us! Please hit those follow, share, & like buttons; just don’t eat the apple. Until next time, stay traveling (safely)!

Controversial? When Will It Actually Be Safe to Travel?

Musings7 Comments51 views

Last updated on July 4th, 2020

A New Normal?

Covid-19 has taken the world by storm, and we have basically had to pause many aspects of our lives in order to combat the virus, especially as we had very little information to go off of at the beginning. We have had some mixed data come in regarding second waves upon states around America reopening, so be sure to keep up-to-date on information. The biggest question people want to know is when life can go back to normal, and for my fellow travelers out there, when it is okay & safe to travel once again.

Less hospitalizations & deaths could be attributed to adequate preparation and fully-stocked necessities.

As of this moment, while we are seeing a bit of a spike here in Florida, hospitalizations & deaths have yet to increase by that same measure, which is a great early sign. I believe we are seeing less of these due to hospitals & testing facilities being adequately prepared and fully-stocked for potential secondary spikes whereas three months ago, there was total chaos, very few test kits, and no plan for capacity issues.

Be respectful to others and keep social distancing until medical professionals deem it no longer necessary.

When it comes to being out & about, whether that’s traveling, going to restaurants, grocery shopping, working in the office, etc., it is still important to be smart until this is fully behind us. Be respectful to others and keep social distancing until medical professionals deem it no longer necessary. Now, to travel or not to travel; that is the question.

If you are traveling, which I will be from Sunday-Friday to Marco Island, FL, do so at less populous destinations to be better able to avoid large crowds. Fewer people means it will be easier to socially distance away from others. This way, you can keep you and your family safe while having a great time outside of the house.

Meeting great people is one of my favorite aspects of travel, so not being able to do that is an unfortunate side effect of the necessary precautions. However, just know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we will make it through together. Here’s to future travels across the globe with all of you.

Whether you agree or disagree with my thoughts, I would love to hear from you down in the comments section below; all opinions are respected here. Most importantly, whatever you decide, stay safe guys!

As always, please feel free to leave comments/questions as I will be As always, please feel free to leave comments/questions as I will be reading each & every one of them and responding. If you want to know something, ask away! Do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all or would like to chat with us! Please hit those follow, share, & like buttons; just don’t eat the apple. Until next time, stay traveling (safely)!

Becoming an Exchange Student: Why It Was One of My Best Decisions in Life (Part 2)

Asia, Taiwan, Travel Tips6 Comments184 views

Last updated on July 4th, 2020

Today, I’m excited to continue my 2014 story of being an exchange student in Taiwan, easily one of the best experiences I have ever had in life (read Traveling Is Living). There are many different aspects of this year that stick out to me, and I would like to go through each of them; these include the student experience (which is where we’ll spend most of our time today), the laid-back lifestyle & freedom to explore, the public transportation, the healthcare system, the food, and last but certainly not least, the people (read 4 Ways How to Study Abroad: Why This Is Absolutely Important).

My roommates here, SN (Kyrgyzstan) & Dolgion (Mongolia), were people I already knew from the previous year, but they, along with several others in the surrounding dorms, instantly became some of my best friends in the whole world.

The Student Experience

Chung (correct pinyin is technically Zhong, but this is how they spell it) Yuan Christian University (CYCU) is where I spent my exchange student program. I could not be happier with my decision to return to the same university I spent 3 weeks at the year prior. I spent a couple of months rooming with 2 Taiwanese students at Hsin Shih dormitory, and they were really kind & hospitable; I was shown around many of the local spots I did not already know about in Zhong Yuan, which is the local area where CYCU is located inside the city of Zhongli. After a couple of months, space opened up in the dorm room I was waiting on, so I moved on over to what would be my home until returning back to America the following January; my roommates here, SN (Kyrgyzstan) & Dolgion (Mongolia), were people I already knew from the previous year, but they, along with several others in the surrounding dorms, instantly became some of my best friends in the whole world.

Me & a bunch of friends having a nice BBQ & drinks at a friend’s local restaurant we “rented” out for the night, or as Dom Toretto would call us, “family.”

I found the classes I took at CYCU to be much more leaning towards discussion and presentations, which I surprisingly really enjoyed

As a student, I didn’t know what to really expect in any of my classes, so I just wanted to approach it with an open mind as I knew the styles would contrast with some of what I had been used to in America. While there are discussion-based classes and presentations in the US, exams are typically the focal point as they want to hammer home concepts, know you understand the process, and prepare you for more formal exams, such as the CPA, CMA, etc. I found the classes I took at CYCU to be much more leaning towards discussion and presentations (focusing on the soft skills necessary for life), which I surprisingly really enjoyed as it got me out of my shell more so than at any other time in the classroom.

I discussed the great Dr. Jimmy Lee in Part 1 of this article, and he remains one of my favorite professors of all-time; the life lessons he taught will always hold great meaning to me. However, most of my professors at CYCU were outstanding, including but not limited to Dr. Gary Chin (I knew him from the previous year), Dr. Chandler Chu (one of the absolute nicest people I have ever met), Dr. Francis Diaz (also happy to be able to call him my friend), and Dr. Stan Lin (also a really nice guy; I actually met my friend Michael, the only other American who went to CYCU during my tenure, in this class).

I remember my first day in Dr. Chin’s class; we had the usual introductions, but once we started our daily discussion for the class regarding world topics (including the very sensitive Taiwan-China relations), a microphone was handed to me. This caught me off-guard, but I surprisingly handled being put on the spot very well, and we had some great banter back-and-forth between a lot of individuals in class.

I had a lot of great professors in the US, but outside of the great Dr. Kenny Jih, I did not really have a personal relationship with any of them outside of the classroom as they generally liked to keep boundaries; it’s just kind of the way it is at American universities, with some exceptions. One thing I loved about classes in Taiwan was how you could really form strong bonds with your professors and have lifelong contacts. For example, Dr. Jih invited my wife & I over for dinner one night back before I moved away from Tennessee.

While living in Taiwan, Dr. Chin invited me and a classmate over to make green onion pancakes & have a nice, quiet dinner. Dr. Diaz (or as I call him outside of the classroom, Francis) would often join our ever-growing circle for BBQs, drinks, and just to hang out with the rest of the guys. Dr. Chu not only offered to have his father help me with my Chinese as he knew I was trying to learn (which I regret not making the time to do that; my schedule was pretty full, but it would have been another good experience), but he also had a nice, long Skype interview with me back when I was doing a research paper on Taiwan-China Relations. The point is not only are all of the people listed above great professors, but they are simply great human beings who see the individuals in their classrooms as more than students, and I appreciate that.

Lifestyle

Now that I’ve given you an idea of what student life was like for me in Taiwan, I’d like to briefly discuss how laid-back the lifestyle felt. Taiwan is not only one of the safest countries in the world, but there is so much to do, and you can go at your own pace. Whether it’s hiking through mountains with impeccable scenery, strolling through the drool-inducing night markets, or taking day trips to one of the major cities (i.e. Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Tainan), Taiwan affords you the ability to be spontaneous.

No matter what you decide to do, I guarantee you will not feel bored; the moments you experience will be cherished forevermore. Some of my best days in Taiwan were completely unplanned; I remember taking countless day trips on a whim to Taipei via bus or train, which were both super convenient, and just having the best time finding new places and meeting new people.

Taiwan has one of the absolute best and most affordable public transportation systems in the entire world.

Public Transportation

Speaking of convenience, Taiwan has one of the absolute best and most affordable public transportation systems in the entire world. In Taipei, they have a super convenient subway system called the MRT; think of New York City’s system and what the complete opposite of that would be. The MRT stations are kept spotless; the dirty & smelly subway stations you can find in the few places in the US that have them are nowhere to be found in Taiwan.

Throughout Taiwan, there are cheap bus & train options, which are widely available. The most luxurious way of traveling in Taiwan is via the High-Speed Rail (HSR), which drastically cuts down the time between destinations. The US seriously needs to catch up to Asia when it comes to public transportation.

Healthcare

Moving on to healthcare, I feel like a broken record, but the US needs to send some advisors to Taiwan to take some lessons. When it comes to affordability, it is much cheaper for me to be seen with 0 health insurance in Taiwan than it is for me in America, whether I get sick or not. Outside of the high monthly premiums, I still have to pay an arm-and-a-leg for a simple visit.

With Taiwan’s health insurance, the cost for visits is so minuscule, you will be shocked. In terms of availability, I have always been able to get seen easily and usually fairly quickly; sometimes, there is a bit of a wait on busier days, however. For quality, the doctors are very intelligent and do a great job, from my experience.

The one knock I have is their demeanor towards antibiotics as it is really difficult to get something strong enough to kill hard-to-vanquish bacteria. They are right, however, in that too many antibiotics are bad for your immune system, but there still needs to be more of a balance there I feel.

Despite that one issue, their healthcare system reigns supreme over the vast majority of others in the world today.

Taiwanese fried chicken

Food

Next, I can’t talk about Taiwan without mentioning the food, and there sure is a lot of it in this foodies’ destination. I will have plenty of future blog posts dedicated to Taiwanese food in the future, but the quality, selection, and value of food in Taiwan is incredibly great. Whether you’re in the mood for dumplings, soup dumplings, pork buns, beef noodle soup, hot pot, BBQ (not southern BBQ), Taiwanese fried chicken, or a host of other delicious treats, I can promise you this: you will not be disappointed or go hungry!

The wife, Mora, & I

We have reached our last topic for the day, the people, and I can’t begin this section without mentioning the greatest person I met during my 2014 exchange program, a young woman by the name of Mora. We would eventually marry a couple of years later in Taiwan; she has been living with me in America for almost three years now. We have had so many adventures throughout the years, and I wouldn’t have wanted to spend those with anybody else. Cheers, b!

My circle grew larger as the weeks and months flew by, and we were as diverse of a group of people as you could possibly have; I loved every moment of my time with all of them, and I consider them brothers to this very day.

My circle grew larger as the weeks and months flew by, and we were as diverse of a group of people as you could possibly have; I loved every moment of my time with all of them, and I consider them brothers to this very day.

Besides SN & Dolgion, our group includes people such as Askar (Kyrgyzstan), Chuyen (Vietnam), LJ (Kazakhstan), Stelo (or as I like to call him, Stelio Kontos – the Philippines), Guccie (the Philippines), Francis (the Philippines), Penn (Vietnam), Naveen (India), Chad (Taiwan), Antoine (France), Seany (Taiwan), Siva (India), Heythem (Tunisia), Andre (Indonesia), Maickel (Indonesia), and so many more both in and out (Wayne, Bryant, David, Wilson, Dwight (Taiwan)) of this particular group (apologies if I didn’t mention you; feel free to comment or message me on social media & tell me I’m a disgrace lol).

I could have never imagined meeting so many genuine people from a variety of different backgrounds and actually become inseparable. Regardless of where life takes us, I know I can always count on them for anything.

Me: Hey, guys, smile for the camera; I’m going to post this online.
Them:

As always, please feel free to leave comments/questions as I will be reading each & every one of them and responding. If you want to know something, ask away! Do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all or would like to chat with us! Please hit those follow, share, & like buttons; just don’t eat the apple. Until next time, stay traveling (safely)!

Worried? This is How We Actually Rise from the Abyss

Musings2 Comments70 views

Last updated on July 4th, 2020

Adam’s Apple: The World is back. For those who don’t know, shortly after my trip to Taiwan early last summer, I hit the pause button on this blog to relocate to Saint Petersburg, Florida and focus on my promotion for my day job as an Accountant. I planned on resuming Adam’s Apple towards the end of Q1 2020. However, with the pandemic, I decided I would hold off for the time being.

ADAM’S APPLE: THE WORLD IS BACK

Cool, life-size statue of Thanos I saw in Taipei, Taiwan last May

Needless to say, life has certainly changed drastically for all of us in 2020. Before getting into the troubling events facing our country, from a personal standpoint, I have found myself in a bit of a rut. Accounting-wise, the job could not be going better as I feel I have made a difference and put forth my best effort each day. Despite the job success, happiness continues to escape me.

My eye-opening travel experiences have been somewhat equivalent to The Matrix’s red pill-blue pill conundrum.

I know in the past, I used the metaphor that my eye-opening travel experiences have been somewhat equivalent (albeit instead of an unpleasant reality, a magnificent one) to The Matrix‘s red pill-blue pill conundrum (read Traveling is Living). I continue to struggle finding contentment in everyday life in America. Don’t get me wrong; my wife is here (although she’s Taiwanese and I know would love to move back under the right circumstances), my family is here (albeit in Tennessee, not Florida), and there are plenty of great places to visit & delicious food to eat. However, for me, it doesn’t replicate the feeling I have when exploring a different country or even one I know so well, like Taiwan (forever my home away from home).

These are feelings I have been struggling with for quite awhile now, further complicated by debt (everyone’s least favorite companion) and being away from both friends & family, but we are making do the best way we can. And then, of course, Covid-19 struck worldwide, causing lockdowns in many countries around the world. I have been working from home for close to 3 months straight now.

And we all know about the rogue officer who murdered a man on camera while the other three officers stood by silently. Officers who either abuse their power or enable the ones who do should be forced to hand in their badge & gun, period. I happen to know many great men & women who are also great police officers (shout-out to people like Daniel, Brianna, Mr. Thomas, John); the bad apples give the good ones a bad reputation by association, which they do not deserve. As a bystander, I unfortunately have personally witnessed unjust & unnecessary measures in the past taken by a couple of the power-abusing type of officers against non-violent people of color and not, so I know there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Whether it be more stringent personality exams, better education on the type of force necessary for each type of offense and action taken by the suspect, etc., that’s a debate for another day.

And we all know about the rogue officer who murdered a man on camera while the other three officers stood by silently. Officers who either abuse their power or enable the ones who do should be forced to hand in their badge & gun, period. I happen to know many great men & women who are also great police officers (shout-out to people like Daniel, Brianna, Mr. Thomas, John); the bad apples give the good ones a bad reputation by association, which they do not deserve. As a bystander, I unfortunately have personally witnessed unjust & unnecessary measures in the past taken by a couple of the power-abusing type of officers against non-violent people of color and not, so I know there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Whether it be more stringent personality exams, better education on the type of force necessary for each type of offense and action taken by the suspect, etc., that’s a debate for another day.

In the meantime, how we will heal as one nation under God starts & ends with one thing: love.

In the meantime, how we will heal as one nation under God starts & ends with one thing: love. You never know what someone could be going through or has gone through in the past; instead of making judgments & assumptions, show compassion. At the end of the day, whether you’re Asian, African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic, Native American, etc., we are all humans. Do we have different cultures, beliefs, views, experiences? Perhaps. But why should that be construed as a negative? In my experience, regardless of race, ethnicity, or nationality, I have found that if you are friendly & respectful, you are more alike than you think, and you often broaden your knowledge, perspective, and mindset compared to if you simply close yourself off from anyone who is different.

My brothers from around the world

Okay, I know that was pretty deep, but I believe talking through it in an honest but respectful way is how we will heal & improve as a society. Moving on, I am finally back to doing something I love, which is this blog. The intimate connection with travel is what is missing in my life (along with all of my favorite people around the world); Adam’s Apple will help keep my mind away from the negative and on what I love.

If you recall, last year, I started discussing the reasons why becoming an exchange student was one of my best decisions in life, and I certainly look forward to telling the rest of that in the near future. In addition, I’ll update you all on how my trip to Taiwan & South Korea went last May. Up next for me, I will take a mini trip down to Marco Island, Florida with the wife (Mora), one of my brothers (Jeremy), and my sister-in-law (Allison) for some much-needed R&R. 2020 is not in the books just yet; how about we turn this thing around!

As always, please feel free to leave comments/questions as I will be reading each & every one of them and responding. If you want to know something, ask away! Do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all or would like to chat with us! Please hit those follow, share, & like buttons; just don’t eat the apple. Until next time, stay traveling (safely)!

Becoming an Exchange Student: Why It Was One of My Best Decisions in Life (Part 1)

Asia, Taiwan, Travel Tips7 Comments239 views

Last updated on July 4th, 2020

As time inched closer to February 2014, I reminisced on the process of how I arrived on the doorstep of an exchange program for one year in Taiwan (read Traveling Is Living). Based on history at my university (Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)), it was uncommon for exchange students to be gone for longer than one semester, and the Global Studies office tried convincing me to follow the normal standard. Me being the stubborn guy I am remained firm with my desire to be overseas for a year. After discussing with Dr. Jih (Taiwanese professor at MTSU) and Dr. Chin (Taiwanese professor at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU)), the Global Studies office not only agreed to let me become an exchange student for the entire year, but they also provided me with a study abroad scholarship, which was a true blessing (read 4 Ways How to Study Abroad: Why This Is Absolutely Important).

NEWSFLASH: YOU DON’T NEED YOUR ENTIRE WARDROBE!

During the last few days leading up to my departure, I packed two large pieces of luggage as well as a carry-on; included in these were two large vacuum-sealed bags stuffed with what seemed like my whole closet. Please learn from my mistakes; YOU DON’T NEED YOUR ENTIRE WARDROBE! I barely used half of the stuff I brought, if that; I was simply following the typical behaviors employed when traveling (i.e. it’s better to have & not need than not have & need). If you move to another country, and it turns out you need something, just buy it there; for example, you can find great clothes for extremely low prices in Taiwan. I obviously did not need any because I had probably 50 outfits too many (honestly not sure if that’s an exaggeration at this point).

Upon arrival to the Nashville International Airport, I bid my farewells to family with full embraces. As I walked away & toward the entrance, feelings of both contentment and excitement rose within me; my journey was about to begin.

New Taiwan Dollars (NT$); the amount pictured above roughly equals $62.20 USD

After repeating my excruciatingly long flights from my previous trip to Taiwan (Nashville to Minneapolis, Minneapolis to Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Narita to Taipei), I finally landed in Taiwan and proceeded to exchange my currency into New Taiwan Dollars (NT$). My soon-to-be friend from Kazakhstan, Ledjer (LJ), was one of the people who picked me up; side note: he does not like Borat jokes. The ride back to CYCU caused all of the study abroad memories from the year prior to come flooding back; being able to relive those first moments and see all of the wonderful aspects of Taiwanese culture again was a dream come true. After settling into my dorm room, I crashed as I had little success sleeping on any of the flights.

back when I was single & before my wife trained me how to be a great photographer aka Instagram bf/fiance’/husband
It’s not Red Stripe; hooray beer!

The next day, I went for a walk around CYCU to get some fresh air and decided to head to the Zhong Yuan night market area; most of the vendors don’t set up until night, but I wanted to stop by my favorite local bakery and ji rou fan (chicken & rice) eatery. Later that evening, my Taiwanese roommate, Noah, took me to a restaurant with delicious local cuisine, accompanied with Taiwan Gold Medal Lager; I was too busy stuffing my face to take better photos (sorry, not sorry).

Dr. Lee is a rare, dare-I-say, Mr. Feeny-esque type of teacher that truly cares about his students.

My very first class in Taiwan was Philosophy of Life with Dr. Jimmy Lee, a really funny professor full of energy & charisma. He was one of my absolute favorite professors in Taiwan (also Dr. Gary Chin, Dr. Francis, & Dr. Chandler Chu). One of his favorite phrases to talk about was “carpe diem,” which means to seize the day. More than anything else, Dr Lee’s imploring of us to live life to the fullest each and every day has really stuck with me. “Are we really living our lives, or are we just accepting it.” Sometimes, when I catch myself going through the motions and doing the normal types of things simply out of habit, I think back to that discussion. Dr. Lee is a rare, dare-I-say, Mr. Feeny-esque type of teacher that truly cares about his students.

“Are we really living our lives, or are we just accepting it.”

After class, I made some friends with a few Taiwanese students over at the basketball courts and played for a couple of hours; they love their hoops over in Taiwan. Every Time Taiwan native Jeremy Lin goes back to visit, thousands of Taiwanese flock the Taoyuan International Airport to greet him; it’s pretty unreal and shows the passion the locals have for their country to give that type of support.

Those are the simple moments in life which turn out to be perfect and stick with you forever; life is as complicated as you make it.

Ji Pai (Taiwanese fried chicken) in all of its majestic glory with a Taiwanese chile spicy seasoning on top; zhen de hao chi (really delicious)
Xiang Chang (Taiwanese sausage)

Following a shower, I left the dorm room to go enjoy the Zhong Yuan night market; ji pai (Taiwanese fried chicken) was calling my name. Between that, xiang chang (Taiwanese sausage), and a host of other goodies, I had more than enough to fill me up. Afterwards, I met up with some friends I met during the study abroad, and we had ourselves a small get-together (or so we thought). A small group of 4 or 5 at 7-Eleven turned into dozens, and the 2-liter of Jim Beam we bought at Daren Fa (RT Mart) was quickly vanquished. I will neither confirm nor deny the amount of Johnnie Walker subsequently bought at the convenience store. Those are the simple moments in life which turn out to be perfect and stick with you forever; life is as complicated as you make it. From that night onward, we formed what we like to call “the international drinking group.” Of course, our friendships go much deeper than alcohol, but whiskey does make most situations more entertaining. All kidding aside, I will never forget all of the amazing people I have come across in Taiwan; the people are one factor of many which keeps me coming back time and time again.

Taiwan flag

And with that, I feel we have reached a good stopping point for Part 1; please join me next time for the continuation of this story, which you can read here! As always, please feel free to leave comments/questions as I will be reading each & every one of them and responding. If you want to know something, ask away! Do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all or would like to chat with us! Please hit those follow, share, & like buttons; just don’t eat the apple. Until next time, stay traveling (safely)!

Reverse Culture Shock

Travel Tips32 Comments207 views

Last updated on July 4th, 2020

Many people have come to me lately about the topics of culture shock & reverse culture shock, and I wanted to address those. When people think about these concepts, they tend to focus more on the former, rather than the latter. Culture shock is when the destination you are traveling to is vastly different from your home country in many different aspects, which brings a “shock” (so-to-speak) to your system.

The “shock,” in reality, is a wake-up call.

I am here to say this is completely true, except not in the negative sense people tend to view it. The “shock,” in reality, is a wake-up call. Within seconds of stepping foot overseas, you can feel your previous paradigms crumbling to pieces; at least, this is how it felt for me the first time I landed in Taiwan.

Culture shock is realizing, as a wise person once told me, “you don’t know what you don’t know.”

Culture shock is realizing, as a wise person once told me, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” And boy, was I ever clueless about how the world really is. According to the news media (more like propaganda at this point), the rest of the world is unsafe, less advanced, and more or less a 3rd world country in comparison. While this may be true in certain cases, most of the places I have been blessed & fortunate to see are far from this stereotype.

  • In Taiwan with a few of my friends

I have always been an introvert, but when overseas, the extrovert part of me jumps out. I truly feel I’m where I belong when traveling, whether it be Taiwan, Italy, Japan, Mexico, etc. Outside of your normal comfort zone, something in the air brings out the true you. But don’t take my word for it; find out for yourself!

Reverse culture shock is a very real thing. Since moving back from Taiwan the last time in 2015, aside from my visits overseas, I have felt a bit lost here at “home.” I use quotations around home because I really believe home is where your heart lies. A part of my heart will always lie in the US due to family & friends, but a large portion of it remains in Taiwan, Italy, and every other amazing place I have been blessed to see and experience.

Like in the movie, the Matrix, my travel experiences were the equivalent of taking the red pill; however, instead of waking up to a complete disaster (like in the movie), it made me feel truly alive.

Since returning, at times, it has felt as if I’ve been coasting through life, Like in the movie, the Matrix, my travel experiences were the equivalent of taking the red pill; however, instead of waking up to a complete disaster (like in the movie), it made me feel truly alive. Consequentially, corporate life in America & the prospect of being a future CFO does not draw my excitement as it once did.

My advice for adjusting to life back “home” is taking a long, hard look in the mirror and reevaluating your priorities, desires, & interests going forward. If you have a certain passion and dream, do not waste countless years pretending it isn’t real; on the contrary, do whatever it takes to make your dream become a reality. Furthermore, because we are creatures of habit, we tend to gravitate towards behaviors we are used to performing in our daily lives; it is up to you to be mindful of this and nip it in the bud before it leads you further down a path of coasting through life.

As always, please feel free to leave comments/questions as I will be reading each & every one of them and responding. If you want to know something, ask away! Do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all or would like to chat with us! Please hit those follow, share, & like buttons; just don’t eat the apple. Until next time, stay traveling (safely)!