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
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.
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)!
Great post 😁
Thank you!