Well it looks like my time in Fayettenam has come to an end. As much as I'd like to stay I think I'm ready to depart from this glorious, nurturing little bubble we call NWA. Nothing but blind reverence really. The things I'll miss: setting up shop in Wilson Park with my hammock shirtless like a dirty hippy and enjoying a book, Dickson St. and its plentiful bounty of brews and drunken pedestrians, all the local eateries and the beautiful scenery that comes with living in Fayetteville, the bike trail, but most of all the people and how accepting they are regardless of age or race.
Things I'm looking forward to: seeing the rest of my family, FOOD, the technological advancements that have taken place, being in the city again, the explosion of culture that has taken place in recent decades, getting my lazy ass in shape while in the military (aside from my desk job I'm going to be in the gym ALL the time), spending some time on my grandparents rooftop playing my guitar (the only 3 story house left in the district where they live, BOOYAH). The only thing that really bothers me is the time difference and the inability to contact my Craigs whenever I want :( Sorry, I had a bitch moment there.
Most of my packing is done, all that's left is the rest of my clothes and my keepsakes that I want to take with me. It's weird to think that I won't be coming back to Fayetteville when I leave Korea. Even weirder to think that all the things that I'm taking with me are clothes and my computers and my guitar. My whole life in a couple of luggage bags. I'm going to miss you Fayetteville, but I know you'll carry on without me. Thank you for being good to me all these years, we'll meet each other again in the future. You will forever be in my heart and don't forget I got you tattooed on my chest as a constant reminder of where I came from. Until then, au revoir, ciao, adios, an young! <3
The Craig, JK
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Back to blogging, yeeee!
My 5 year hiatus from the internet journal has come to an end as a new chapter in my life is about to begin. As most of you know (assuming you are the lucky few privy to read this awesome blog...j/k ^_^) I'll be leaving the states to go back to South Korea for a little over 2 years to carry out my mandatory military service among other things. My thoughts on this? I'm not happy about it having built a pretty nice life for myself here. I got my bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering, got accepted to graduate school in Pittsburgh known for its' Rehabilitation Engineering program, and almost saw the fruits of my labor come to fruition in the form of benefiting mankind with the knowledge and skills attained from my education. All of that on HOLD because life is like a worn down donkey pulling a broken ass rickshaw...it can't go in a straight line! I can't complain too much though and I feel selfish for crying about it. Once upon a time, someone told me this, "It doesn't matter what you do in life, but who you are." I haven't lived enough life to fully develop into the person I am meant to be nor do I need to feel like I have to save the world to leave a meaningful legacy behind. I constantly remind myself of this even though it's hard since I torture myself into thinking that whatever I do is never good enough and I need to strive for more. Stupid John.
I've been so blessed to have been raised in Fayetteville and to have nurtured such strong and true relationships with people that I consider pretty much family. I'm thankful for the close community of friends and families that I have been involved with and I would never trade this life for another, EVER. Regardless, there is nothing that I can do to change what has happened and so I "soldier on" on this dimly lit path that we call life. The biggest lesson I've learned from the past few years is that there is no point in having a rigid plan for your life because it is pointless when you live in a world that is so fluid and dynamic. There is no "correct" path but one that is best for you and what you're trying to accomplish in this short life. I've always heard that from people but never really understood until I had to experience life's bitch slap for myself. I move on now, with a steadfast heart and stone cold resolve, into the future with a bit more optimism than I had a few months ago.
Sorry if this is too much rambling, I've been out of this for too long, thanks Facebook :) Keep up with me, the only reason I'm doing this is to keep my friends up-to-date on my life halfway across the world. Things to come in the blog: food, scenic pictures, the shameless amount of pop music Korea has flooded into the mainstream media, any ill conceived adventures I may cook up, and this handsome young lad in military uniform ;) and much more! I'll try to write steadily as long as I don't get hit by mortars or nuclear strikes from the North...not really, but it's possible ;)
Love you guys,
JK
I've been so blessed to have been raised in Fayetteville and to have nurtured such strong and true relationships with people that I consider pretty much family. I'm thankful for the close community of friends and families that I have been involved with and I would never trade this life for another, EVER. Regardless, there is nothing that I can do to change what has happened and so I "soldier on" on this dimly lit path that we call life. The biggest lesson I've learned from the past few years is that there is no point in having a rigid plan for your life because it is pointless when you live in a world that is so fluid and dynamic. There is no "correct" path but one that is best for you and what you're trying to accomplish in this short life. I've always heard that from people but never really understood until I had to experience life's bitch slap for myself. I move on now, with a steadfast heart and stone cold resolve, into the future with a bit more optimism than I had a few months ago.
Sorry if this is too much rambling, I've been out of this for too long, thanks Facebook :) Keep up with me, the only reason I'm doing this is to keep my friends up-to-date on my life halfway across the world. Things to come in the blog: food, scenic pictures, the shameless amount of pop music Korea has flooded into the mainstream media, any ill conceived adventures I may cook up, and this handsome young lad in military uniform ;) and much more! I'll try to write steadily as long as I don't get hit by mortars or nuclear strikes from the North...not really, but it's possible ;)
Love you guys,
JK
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