Moving On Up

"....to the East Side. To a deluxe apartment in the sky."

I never thought I'd say this, but this will be the last post for "Second Life: The Emancipation of Anthony Yeung." From now on, all posts can be found on my new website:

http://www.anthonyjyeung.com/

The website will be a much improved outlet for my thoughts, as well as describing - in more detail - exactly what I've done and will continue to do with my life.

I will miss this blog dearly - I established it with such lofty hopes.

I'm thrilled they came true.


With love,

Anthony J. Yeung

Crash And Burn

I'm not just referring to the song by Savage Garden; I'm also alluding to an important question people don't ask enough:

"Are you failing enough?"

I firmly believe most people don't.

What does it mean to fail? And what is enough? Failing is more than just getting an "F" on a test or in a course - that's a lack of effort - it's about striving toward a goal with tremendous passion... and not achieving it. It's about developing ideas that you are excited about and moving forth with determination... and having it snatched away or blowing up in your face.

Are you failing enough?

Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM, once said of the formula for success:

"It's quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You're thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn't at all... you can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because, remember that's where you'll find success. On the far side."

Samuel Beckettt said,

"All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

Well, I experienced quite a few failures - this is a story of one of my more-elaborate ones.

- The Idea -

The idea began long ago on some random afternoon in some random place in South Korea, but it was simple:

Create my own business.


"Doing what?," however, was the question I struggled to answer. I used a few techniques to filter my scattered thoughts into a few specific and niche ideas, but ultimately left them on the back burner as I contemplated my next move worldwide.

By October 2010, as my job search for financial companies fizzled, my entrepreneurship ideas crept up once again with renewed fervor, and I researched the infinite possibilities intensely. I stumbled upon a blogger who offered valuable advice, and it soon motivated me to write and sell an e-book.

- The Process -


I began in late-December 2009.

First, I acquired the webpage - I went with a company that offered free credits on Google Adwords as well as Yahoo's pay-per-click advertisements - and deliberated on the name; ultimately, inspired by Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow," (seriously) I set my website as www.pushthestart.com (Link), and purchased an easy-to-use and sales-type platform, Flexsqueeze.

The rest of the plan was not as difficult, but infinitely more tedious.

1. Create a landing page that discussed the product, what it did, what was included, and its advantages over other products.
2. Create a cover page for the e-book to be displayed throughout the landing page.
3. Add a Checkout Page with two different product options.
4. Add a Product Unavailable page because I didn't write the e-book yet

I sought to test the viability of my product and to decide whether-or-not I should even create it. Instead of wasting months and months on a website and product, I hoped to get positive or negatives signals from the onset.

[Note: I would not acquire any billing information from the potential customer. That would be illegal.]

- Learning To Fly -


Although I had no experience whatsoever in website design, I managed to parlay my only advantage - a ridiculous amount of zeal - to carry me through.

No one forced me to make a website. No one even told me try it - quite the contrary, to be honest. But once I started, it was easy to sacrifice the numerous hours everyday to write. I eagerly dug online to find solutions to my questions or hacks to enhance my website. It posed an new challenge; but something about it seemed strangely easy.... if only I shared a similar passion when writing my college entrance essays....

[Side Note: The more I see and read, the more I realize that one's tenacity represents an enormous determiner of success. How much time are we willing to spend? How much effort? Is what you're doing right now bringing you closer to your dream?

In the weightlifting community, we have a funny saying: "Somewhere out there, a little Chinese girl is warming up with your max."


It just puts things in perspective, I guess.]

- Pushing The Start Button -

I set my deadline at February 1 and completed the website one day early. I then installed Google Analytics to observe website details - time on page, visitors per page, clicks, etc - and arranged the keywords and strategies for Google Adwords.


The main goal of the trial was to reach a conversion rate of at least one-percent - that means one-percent of all visitors via Google Adwords proceeded through the Checkout Page and into the Product Unavailable Page (a "conversion"). I estimated a week-long test of the website would cost approximately fifty dollars - peanuts compared to the potential profits.

If I reached or even surpassed my target, the website would earn at least US$1500 a month - not bad for sitting on my ass and checking Paypal once a month. My mind raced with dreams of traveling throughout Southeast Asia, supported by this automated income and teaching English for extra pocket change.

On February 4th, after three days of testing, I received this email from Google:

Dear AdWords Advertiser,

It has come to our attention that your Google AdWords account does not comply with our Terms of Service and Advertising Policies. As a result, your account and any related accounts have been suspended, and your ads will no longer run on Google. Please be aware that you are prohibited from possessing or creating any other AdWords accounts, both now and in the future.

According to the Adwords Team, because I made an "egregious violation," they chose to enforce a permanent ban without warning.

And just like that, my adventure completely backfired and I scrambled to create new goals for the future.

- How I Stopped Worrying And Learned To Love The Ban -


Hard to imagine that happened only eight months ago.

I'm still confused why Google banned my account, but that failure forced me to intensely confront my life; immediately after, I realized wanted to stop teaching English. I planned to return to America and searched for finance jobs in Los Angeles - just for shits and giggles, I also applied in other English-speaking countries.

That's when - and why - I found an internship in Sydney. And that saga ultimately became my greatest failure, thus far.

Although my website bears no resemblance to its past content, hopefully it will be useful when I pursue my next goal. Until then, keep on failing.


Success awaits.

Love Abroad

Although this blog spanned over two years, I never explicitly discussed my love life whilst traveling, with exception to a few, yet sporadic, unapologetically cocky remarks - perhaps I avoided the topic at the risk of my blog turning into a male-version of Bridget Jones's Diary. Yet, in all faith, my interactions with the opposite sex actually reserved a fair bit of my life on the road and supplied numerous and exciting adventures.

In this post, I divided my love life abroad into three distinct sections: finding love, random love, and leaving love - it seemed like those three categories created the bulk of my stories (and headaches). Don't expect any hilarious or sensational tales; you'll have to buy me a beer for those.

- Finding Love -


Without a doubt, the most common question I fielded about this subject was, "Where do you meet women?"

While I hate to respond so vaguely, the honest answer is, "Anywhere."

Sure, you can find it on the dance floors of a crowded nightclub or by the bar in a noisy pub. But as one man explained so well, the best method to find a woman is to go into your life as far as you can and meet them there. Granted, sarging with a few, close mates always supplies great entertainment - but in reality, there exists limitless opportunities.

In my experience, love can be found in a bus or on the street; it can be found in a bookstore or in a gym; it exists in restaurants, cafes, stores, or even in queues. No script binds you:

It's everywhere.

- Random Love -


Surprisingly, I'm not alluding to one-night - or even two-night - stands, which often result from lust and artificially lowered inhibitions (not that that's necessarily a bad thing, haha).

I'm referring to love without attachments. Love without desire or need. Love that shines forth because it beams from within. Love that exists because you love, in the truest sense of the word.

For example, one Spring afternoon, I attended a spectacular wedding in the Shilin District of Taipei, boasting delicious food and a curious blend of tradition and modernity (customary dishes plus light sabers??). Afterward, they distributed an impressive Tiffany & Co. box set to all patrons - one quite large and another the size of a ring box - with assorted chocolates and sweets inside.


While returning home on the subway, I shared a brief conversation with a Columbian-Taiwanese girl who couldn't speak a lick of English or Spanish (¡ay mierda!). She seemed very sweet and shy, so I gave her my ring-box-sized wedding gift. Well, I could tell I hit something when I noticed her gently feeling the ribbon of the box - she was glowing. I alighted with a smile, and couldn't help but think that I just made her day that much better.

And that's all I wanted.

- Leaving Love -


No easy task, for certain.

The time may eventually come where, in spite of whatever relationships you've fostered, you must to depart. It could be another opportunity elsewhere. It could be the allure of new travels, countries, and cultures. Maybe the duration of your stay didn't allow enough time. Or perhaps some unforeseen situation forced your decision.

Regardless, sometimes even the best of relationships must end.

I'm not going to pretend I know exactly how to face the resulting emotional struggles or pain - hell, I still beat my head over love abandoned. However, I always believed those difficulties presented a massive opportunity for inner growth.

And what about the possibility that - sometime, somewhere - you and your partner might meet again? The circumstances could be tremendously different, but who knows - there's always time for old friends.

The Butterfly Effect

"a property of chaotic systems (as the atmosphere) by which small changes in initial conditions can lead to large-scale and unpredictable variation in the future state of the system"
- Merriam-Webster's Dictionary

The Butterfly Effect, a phrase used in Chaos Theory, demonstrates how minute and insignificant occurrences could potentially inspire events of colossal proportions. Coined from an 1972 academic paper entitled, Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly’s Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?, this notion can offer an intriguing approach to explain how simple, yet seemingly unimportant events could also influence one's life:


And that's exactly what I hope to do.

In this post - and possibly a few more - I will share an apparently mundane story and how it attributed to new aspirations which altered my life path. Maybe it will motivate you to challenge and reanalyze the way you view past experiences - it sure did for me.

- The Graduation Present -

One random morning in October 2008, I offhandedly asked my mother if we could travel to Taiwan to visit my aunt in Kaohsiung who was diagnosed with breast cancer almost two years prior. Before then, my aunt regularly flew to Los Angeles to visit our family - after her illness, she could not.

My mother agreed and soon chose mid-December for our holiday because the weather would be comfortable, it coincided with my Winter Break, and, if I secured a job after graduation, I would not get many opportunities afterward. Before then, I last journeyed to Asia in 1996.

Ultimately, we planned to spend our first week of our vacation in Taipei and the second week in Kaohsiung. En route to Taiwan, I excitedly anticipated reuniting with my family, experiencing different attractions, and learning more about Chinese and Taiwanese cultures.

And if I knew, I guess I would have been pretty thrilled to meet my butterfly too.

- Taiwan Ho! -


I found Taipei amazing.

The city possessed such a vibrant atmosphere; my head spun just walking down a crowded street - shops, restaurants, apartments, and businesses fought for every inch of space creating a unique and diverse cityscape. Streets and sidewalks hummed with pedestrians and motorists. Nightmarkets, swelling with passersby, emanated an intense swirl of aromas. It overwhelmed my senses. And I loved every minute of it.


After that spectacular week, we boarded the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) and raced south to Taiwan's second-largest city: Kaohsiung. Although less dense and energetic than Taipei, I thoroughly enjoyed touring around and sharing time with my aunt.


Our final expedition led us to Taroko National Park, a magnificent display of natural beauty and human ingenuity. On the first evening of our trip, we journeyed to the nearby city, Taichung (臺中), for some much-needed food and rest. Our tour guide - an independent cab driver who memorized and recited every last detail of Taroko - led us to a famous dry-noodle restaurant in the heart of the city.

- Butterfly -

百世修来同船渡,千载修得共枕眠
-Chinese Proverb, translated as:
"It takes hundreds of rebirths to bring two persons to ride in the same boat; it takes a thousand eons to bring two persons to share the same pillow."

We found a large table near the entrance and, after chatting and ordering food, the rest of my party adjured to the restroom. Suddenly, a girl wandered over and gently asked, "Where are you guys from?" with flawless precision.

It turned out she overheard our chatter - completely in English - and felt inclined to introduce herself and discover more about our voyage. We conversed for a bit, and I learned she was twenty-seven and an American-born Chinese (ABC) originally from Kansas City.

I asked her why she traveled to Taiwan, and she replied,

"I teach English."

To put this in perspective - at that time - I was oblivious such a thing existed: I knew there were teachers; I knew there were English teachers. But abroad? In Taichung? I expressed some perplexity, but quickly forgot the encounter and focused my attention on enjoying the remainder of my vacation.

On December 30th, I returned to Los Angeles and prepared to welcome what would evolve into a thrilling 2009.

- Effect -


Traveling through Taiwan greatly influenced me because I fell in love with the culture. I loved the bustle and energy - whether 11 AM or 11 PM, the cities always buzzed with life. For a week after my trip, I couldn't sleep because deep inside I knew:

I wanted to live in Taiwan.

With graduation only six months away, I intensified my job search, but my thoughts slowly drifted across the Pacific. I decided to gently expand my hunt for banking work to the Orient, but the situation soon looked bleak - the global financial industry collapsed and the job market vanished. Soon, I confronted an increasing possibility of immediate unemployment after graduation.

Needless to say, I was shitting bricks.


In broadening my search to almost anything financially-related, I suddenly recalled my brief encounter in Taichung - I knew I wanted to work in Taiwan; maybe teaching there could represent my fallback plan? I distributed applications to HESS and TeachAway, a global English-teaching placement organization.

Ultimately, HESS declined my application, but TeachAway offered a curious answer: they had a saturated applicant pool for Taiwan;

What about South Korea?

The rest, as they say, is history.


- Flap Of The Wings -

There exists little doubt, in my opinion, that chance conversation in Taichung implanted the idea of teaching English abroad in my mind. In retrospect, that woman displayed braveness and enormous kindness - a kindness that I, later, tried to reciprocate while traveling. Although I can't remember her name and didn't exchange contact information, I hope the last three years graced her as they did me.

Who knew such a little woman welded so much power?

In addition, the sheer force of the Butterfly Effect still astounds me: one of my favorite and most enduring memories in 2008 was standing atop the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, witnessing an lovely sunset as the city hummed around me. Gazing across the square and admiring the surrounding buildings, I absolutely knew I wanted to return to that site.

December 2008
In less than two years, I would call that very location my home.

September 2010
Who knows? If I never met that woman in Taichung, maybe I still would have ventured to South Korea. Maybe I still would have experienced all those new realities and situations. Maybe still, I would have returned to Taiwan - it would be foolish to completely dismiss those possibilities and underestimate my travel lust.

But one thing's certain: when I recall all those past decisions, exciting adventures, and wild odysseys, they all seem to originate from the same place:

That little restaurant on a random road in Taichung.

Two Years After

Two years ago today, I made one of the biggest decisions in my life:

I embarked on a one-year journey to South Korea.

It represented a defiant abandonment of established norms in my selected career choice and an unapologetic challenge to outside influences. I elected not to labor in the finance industry - which I majored in - rejecting the rigid structure of Corporate Finance and, instead, opting to explore new alternatives abroad.

And dammit, I grappled with that decision: I risked faltering behind other graduates who obtained positions or internships and/or studied for post-graduate education or certifications. Moreover, I wasn't certain exactly how joining the English Persons in Korea (EPIK) program to teach English in a South Korean public school would bolster my resume or business-sense. But that Tuesday morning - consequences be damned - I began the journey toward a new life in South Korea.


It is extremely important to understand, however, that working in Korea did NOT change my life - it was how I utilized this opportunity to unlock new possibilities and challenge my vaporous habits. I read. I wrote. I studied. And I read some more.

I shattered my illusions of stability. And it was incredible.

- New Dreams -

Fueled by the confidence I developed in Korea, I pursed a dream that I previously buried because it clashed with expectations and norms - I decided to live in Taipei.


I aspired to obtain a financial job in Taipei, so I planed to enroll at a school to a) secure a visa, b) buy time while I searched for work, and c) improve my Chinese abilities. Although I never achieved my goal of working in a financial institution (not surprisingly, my technique of door-to-door job interviewing failed), I acquired more than I expected....


....and a few friendships that will last a lifetime.

Furthermore, while in Taiwan, I drastically revolutionized my understanding regarding love and happiness. I also endeavored to launch a business idea, spending hundreds of dollars and devouring hours and hours of time. Ultimately, it failed - that's another funny story - but it taught me a few things; most-importantly, that I possessed the confidence to chase an idea no matter how arduous or how far away it stood.


I would once-again employ that ability in Australia.

- South Korea: One Small Step Giant Leap -

In hindsight, if I did not travel to Korea, I may have never attained the courage to effortlessly jump to new locations and never discovered my abilities hidden within. I might have never pushed the limits of life and gained a wealth of experience. Ultimately, that one-year teaching contract in Incheon mutated into a twenty-three month odyssey around the Pacific Rim.

At the moment, I'm back in Los Angeles, biding my time and searching for work. Although I initially struggled with my return to the United States, I slowly accepted it as an unscheduled detour and an opportunity in disguise. What's next - Australia again? Costa Rica? Malaysia? Argentina? Italy? Antarctica? I have no idea. I'm certain, however, I will be ready when the time arrives.


- Before And After -

Although I experienced a dramatic physical transformation in the last two years, the most radical change occurred internally. In short, I no longer worry about money or the future. I plan, but without craving. I seek, but without desire. Sure, I have a variety of preferences, but I won't suffer if they don't come about.

It wasn't easy, though. You tend to feel lonely when no one shares similar beliefs. When no one sees what you see, and when no one thinks how you think. Sometimes it's frustrating, and sometimes it's magical - crazy to think it's only been two years.


Two amazing years.

Expect The Unexpected

It was quiet.

I stared across the peaceful water on a cool night towards a sleeping web of steel, glass, concrete, and electricity. I could barely sense its vital signs. I peered over my shoulder - no one. I sat at this enormously famous landmark - typically brimming with tourists from every corner of the world - seemingly discovering it for the very first time.

The Victoria Harbour, the natural divide between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, offers some of the most spectacular views in Asia, boasting a unique blend of timelessness as well as human development and ingenuity. The waterfront of Kowloon presents stunning and unabated views of the glittering Hong Kong skyline.

Yet when I woke up that Tuesday morning, I had no clue I would be there.

I had no clue I would go to Hong Kong.

And unbeknownst to me, I was already kicking off what would be an incredible two-day adventure.

What a way to finish 2010.

- It's A Beautiful Morning -


Tuesday, December 28th was a gorgeous, sunny day in Taipei - the kind where you wanted to ditch your responsibilities, lay in a grassy park, and watch the the clouds roll by. For a Winter's day, it was unbelievable.... so I brought my camera.

Smart move.

My schedule was simple: visit the Immigration Office to get my Alien Registration Card (ARC) - providing full, legal work status - then head to work. By three o'clock, I sat with an immigration official and happily awaited to receive my ARC.

Only I didn't.

It turns out they uncovered a significant error in my application process:

In late-September, I arrived in Taiwan with student visa, which expired that Tuesday. However, a few days prior, I received a certification from the Taiwanese government to grant me a fifteen-day visa extension because my employers had nominated me for an ARC. Walking into the Immigration Office that afternoon, I thought I acted in a prompt manner to obtain my ARC.

However, they failed to notify me that I needed to bring that certification to a police station to complete the extension. As a result, they deemed I could not receive my ARC, and I overstayed my visa.

I needed to leave the country.

- Murphy's Law -

Horrendously late, I raced to work and explained my situation with the school's staff. After contacting their head office, they recommended that I rush to Hong Kong, obtain another Taiwanese visa, and return to finally receive my ARC. However, because each additional day in Taiwan would accrue more fines and penalties, they suggested I leave immediately, conveying my sense of urgency to the government.

As the staff dialed travel agencies for last-minute tickets, I combed the internet for information about exactly what I need to accomplish. A few helpful English-teaching forums explained my objectives:

1. Proceed to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Hong Kong, located near Central Station in a building called the Lippo Centre.
[Many countries do not host Taiwanese embassies; instead, they carry diplomatic missions, which provide similar services. The office opens at 8:30 AM.]

2. Apply for a resident visa and request a "same day" service (not free).

3. Obtain the visa and return to Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the school's staff secured my tickets, which departed at ten o'clock that night and returned the same time on Wednesday. The tickets cost 8,000 TWD, and the school's director paid me about 4,000 TWD in advance so I had enough funds for my quest.

I left for the airport around six. I didn't even have time to go home.

- Leaving On A Jet Plane -


After a journey via the High-Speed Rail (HSR) and bus connector, I arrived at the Taoyuan International Airport irate and frustrated. The worst moment occurred when I had a spat with some officials over their miscommunication between front and back offices: one official claimed there was no fine, but another disagreed. Ultimately, they penalized me 2,000 TWD for overstaying one day and probably gave me kidney failure for good measure. I silently proceeded to the security checkpoint.

Would you believe I knew the woman who inspected my bags?


Interestingly enough, I arranged no accommodations in Hong Kong. In my haste to leave, I merely planned to sleep at the airport and venture to the city in the morning. However, when I arrived at Hong Kong International Airport, I found no place to unwind; aside from uncomfortable chairs, the only other rest area had expensive prices. Fortunately, I visited Hong Kong a year before and recalled several hostels in the Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) area of Kowloon - I decided to try my luck there.

- The Adventure Begins -

Sitting in the Airport Express train, I chatted with an American businessman who, with his iPhone, searched for some hostels in Kowloon. He found a few located at a building called "Chungking Mansions", just south of TST Station on Nathan Road. "Great," I thought, "I'm familiar with that area."

I alighted at the cavernous Austin Station around one o'clock and wandered towards the exit. I could barely grasp how the city looked as I strolled through the vacant streets - somehow, in one of the densest areas in the world, I could only hear the breeze and echos as they bounced around the buildings above.


Journeying along Jordan Street, I scouted different "accommodations" for a warm bed and some much-needed rest. The first place allowed me to stay for thirty minutes if I paid for a handjob. If I sought to stay the entire night, I had to pay for sex. [The last thing I wanted at that moment was sex in a shithole. If I actually paid 8000 HKD to stay the night, I probably had more issues than Jet Magazine.] At the second location, several young, scantly-clad women lined the hallways and the hostess acted very pushy. As I inspected the room, I wasn't exactly sure if it was a whorehouse - but it certainly exhibited all the symptoms.

On my way out, I shared a very awkward elevator ride with an older gentleman and his mistress.


Several minutes later, my hunger brought me to a McDonald's on Nathan Road for a Big Mac and fries. There, I met a suspiciously-friendly Pakistani who explained he could provide whatever I wanted - weed, hash, heroin, ice, cocaine, etc - I felt like I was at Whitney Houston's house. After receiving an angry call on his mobile, he left the McDonald's and I sat dazed, wondering what would happen next.

Eventually, I located the Chungking Mansions. The lobby overflowed with loiterers and starkly contrasted the quiet streets outside - groups and groups of Africans, Middle Easterns, and Indians waited around for nothing. Surprisingly, I was the only Asian-looking person there. I trekked upstairs in search of lodging and found only decrepit hallways, broken doors, and garbage.

I left with much uncertainty and mulled over my next move.


- All Night Long -

Something about late-night decision-making always appears so brilliant at first, yet truly awful in hindsight. Around three-thirty, I devised my new plan of action:

Refueled on caffeinated beverages, I would walk to the Kowloon waterfront - encompassing the Star Ferry pier and the Avenue of Stars - to rest and watch the Sun rise over Hong Kong Island. "It's only four hours," I thought, "I can do that."


For the first hour, I felt alive and privileged - on a serene night, I enjoyed an amazing viewpoint in solitude with a brilliant backdrop of careful angles and towers that spiraled into space. It was breathtaking. I pondered briefly about life and all the steps that brought me here, and I couldn't help but crack a smile.

Soon, however, fatigue settled in. The area lacked a spot to lay and rest, and I eventually tried in vain to nap against a wall that sheltered me from the increasingly-chillier winds. In total, I attempted to sleep on a gentle staircase, under another staircase, and behind a few buildings. Finally, I discovered the secluded area where the homeless slept. As they snored on the their cardboard boxes and pillows and snuggled under their blankets, I realized this fact:

They were more comfortable than me.


A while later, twilight began scratching the sky above. I leaned along the water's edge, savoring the changing of hues and patterns of the skyline. It appeared as if the city opened its eyes and slowly turned its gears to power the day.

With that, I headed to TST Station and started my voyage to the TECO office.

- It's A Beautiful Morning, Again -


Crawling into Hong Kong Island, I entered the Lippo Centre before eight o'clock and napped outside the TECO office. After successfully submitting my application, they advised me to return at four-thirty that afternoon to obtain my visa.

Now the real fun began.

In the Bank of China Tower, I stumbled upon free-internet access in a coffee shop and, via Facebook, found contact information of several, local friends. I borrowed a phone, called them, and we arranged to meet at the lobby of the famous, HSBC Main Building at twelve o'clock for lunch.

Awesome.


In the meantime, I strolled around the area, playing tourist and admiring a rare, crystal-clear day in Hong Kong.

Enjoying dim sum with friends I hadn't seen since January easily compensated for the difficulties that plagued my adventure. Eating, laughing, sharing experiences from the past year, and reminiscing over memories helped us forget our problems and anxieties. Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of the importance of great friendships; I'm thankful for those moments when we truly recapture that.


- Good Afternoon -

After we said goodbye, I stumbled across a hidden treasure, adjacent to the Central Business District, called the Hong Kong Park. It juxtaposed the intensity of the steel jungle with a tranquil enclave of flowers, trees, birds, water, and gardens. I made sure to melt away a few hours in this urban haven.


Two words accurately conveyed the emotions I felt at that park:

Pure bliss.

Crazy, but true. I hadn't a care in the world - no worries, no stress, no responsibilities, no attachments, and no concerns about work - I was isolated from them all. No concerns for the future. No concerns about money. I slept alongside the homeless and overstayed a visa - and I still brimmed with happiness.

When nothing drains your energy, you can fully enjoy the present moment.

"The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive."
-Thich Nhat Hanh

By four o'clock, I revisited the TECO office, grabbed my visa, and rendezvoused with a high-school friend at the International Financial Centre. We shared a lot of great memories - it was incredible experiencing them again. A few hours later, I hugged my friend goodbye and boarded the Airport Express to begin the journey back to Taipei. I realized a few things as I conversed with a Taiwanese woman on the train: One, I probably stank. Two, I looked like an insomnia patient. And three, I had a blast.

Opening the door to my homestay condominium, my homestay mother asked where I went.

"Oh, I just stayed a friend's house," I answered.

- What Are You Doing Today? -

It's often said, "he who fails to plan, plans to fail."

While I certainly agree with the spirit of this proverb, a plan can only guide you so far. Establishing definite goals enormously contributes to success, yet identifying and embracing the uncertainties of life represents the other, more-deciding aspect. There exists a vast amount of randomness, infinite possibilities, and chance happenings that shape our lives - the Butterfly Effect illustrates their magnitudes.

In hindsight, I could have corrected a few simple mistakes to entirely avoid my debacle - but it wasn't to be. The fact is, when I awoke that Tuesday, I didn't imagine I would fly over 1,000 miles, sleep at a tourist attraction, watch the sunrise, reunite with friends, and get fined by the Taiwanese government. In Forrest Gump, Forrest's mother frequently said,

"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

I wouldn't have it any other way.