Well I figure i should go on ahead and announce the fact that I’m moving to O-H-I-O. Yup, I am now a proud Buckeye. I’ll be attending The Ohio State University for graduate school. I’ll be moving to Columbus in 10 days. Normally, I’m a little secretive about my location, but I figure it won’t be rocket science to figure out where I am when I post pictures from football games and such. So if i have any stalkers out there, I have made your job that much easier!
I’m not nervous about the move, or the changes that come with it. I don’t really see moving to Ohio as that big of a change (this will actually be my shortest move distance wise by a few thousand miles). I AM nervous that graduate school is going to rape me, and that I will fail miserably. I have self confidence issues. Hopefully I’m wrong.
I do realize that a good chunk of my last 10 posts or so have been rather somber. I promise this is the last one for a while! But I can’t let this day pass without a post regarding one of the many places I call “home”. As everyone should know, in 5 years the state sof Louisiana and Mississippi endured one of the greatest natural disasters and the greatest environmental disaster in U.S history.
Most of my extended family is located in Louisiana and Mississippi and they have suffered so much. I have family members who died as a direct result of Katrina, and also those who died indirectly due to the stresses of Hurricane Katrina. I also have family members who fish in the Gulf and have lost a source of income due to the recent oil spill.
I’ve been watching Spike Lee’s documentary If God is Willing and da Creek Don’t Rise which has truly been an eye opener. Although the documentary is somewhat biased, there is a lot of truth. I know that a lot of things that happened following both disasters was, and still is, horrible and unjust but seeing and hearing from those directly impacted brings it under a whole new light. It is surprising to realize that even five years after Hurricane Katrina, the devastation is still there. Over the past 5 years Louisiana and Mississippi have had to deal with the issues like post traumatic stress, poor health care, underfunding, corrupt police, and an inadequate educational system. It’s astounding to see the amount of irresponsibility and neglect, but even more astounding to witness the amount of resiliency both places have exhibited during such trying times.
When asked where I am from, I hardly know the answer myself. I am a Third Culture Kid, and I’m coming to terms with difficulties associated with my globe trotting childhood.
Third Culture Kid or Trans-Culture Kid (abbreviated TCK or 3CK) is a term that “refers to someone who, as a child, has spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture.” Third Culture Kids are also referred to as Global Nomads.
-Wikipedia
I graduated from high school in Korea, I have spent most of my life in the UK, I have also spent a good chunk of time living in Japan as well. Although I would not change my upbringing, it has been hard transitioning from living abroad to living in America. It’s been three years since I moved “home” . While these three years have been productive, oftentimes I feel isolated. I missed out on so much American life. I missed out on the fashion, the trends, the TV shows, the pop culture, the movies, etc. I want to feel like a normal American citizen but I can’t.
I really have so much more to say about this subject but I it’s hard for me to find the right words. I want everyone to understand where I’m coming from, but I find it impossible to do so if you have never experienced the TCK or expatriate life. I guess the best way I can describe being a TCK is as a quasi-identity crisis. Who am I? Where do I belong?
The idea of sharing laundry facilities has never sat well with me. I shared laundry facilities all throughout college, and it sucked. I have ruined whole loads due to someone’s leftover bleach! Not to mention the fact that I’m washing my laundry where 100+ individuals wash theirs. The cost of using such facilities is horrendous as well; I spent approximately $7-10 each week washing laundry!
One of the things I loved about the prospect of getting a new apartment was having my very own washing machine. Unfortunately, the apartment complex I will be living in uses shared facilities *pout, pout, pout*.
But I have found a solution!!
Helllloooo Haier HLP21N!!
For <$200 I can have a portable laundry machine in my apartment, and it will pay for itself in approximately 4 months. The model I have chosen has great reviews, and it’s also not an entirely foreign concept to me. I lived in Asia for 6 years, so I’m use to this type of washing machine. Other pros about the Haeir include but are not limited to:
- Not having to drag my laundry across my apartment complex in the cold
- Not having to babysit my laundry for hours every week
- Not having to drag my laundry across my apartment complex in the dark
- It’s an incredibly green concept. The cost of operation is estimated to be about $25 worth of electricity per year and you use less water
- Not having to drag my laundry across my apartment complex in the period!
Okay mabe the main reason why I really like this idea is because I’m lazy, but hey, it’s economical and environmentally friendly. So, I’ve already ordered it, I can’t wait!! No I wasn’t paidi to advertise this product, I’m genuinely excited!!
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