Another California style lockdown has been implemented, but is it necessary? In the last 24 hours, Governor Newsom has divided California into five regions. If ICU hospital capacity within each region falls below 15%, then that region will be under a strict stay-at-home order for three weeks. The region containing Los Angeles County has already …
Continue reading "Lockdown Cali Style"I’ve figured out why there has been a lapse in writing inspiration. The answer at times is simple yet elusive. There seems to be a figurative game of hop scotch being played between my past experiences, present responsibilities and external influences, and future unrealized goals, objectives, and plans. My shadow runs circles around me chasing …
Continue reading "Slaying Giants"With the pandemic carving a path through California coupled with local, national, and global news feeds simmering with ongoing violent and/or peaceful protests, political unrest, and indications that dramatic change is imminent or upon us; I have decided to look inward with intentionality. I started simple by looking at expanding my daily norms and examining …
Continue reading "Contributive Mindset"About a month ago, I was sitting at my desk in the Foreign Language Department at Suankularb Wittayalai Rangsit School preparing my lesson plan for the day. I recall it was a Monday and the AC had kicked on cooling down the office in preparation for the humid day. I usually arrived early to organize, …
Continue reading "Entering Eden (An adventure on Koh Samet Island)"For the last three months, I have experienced Thailand from the perspective of my external senses and internal ideology. This reality changed dramatically with the arrival of my son and daughter. Prior to their arrival, I made a detailed list as though I was Chevy Chase in European Vacation. The “To Do list” grew to …
Continue reading "Shared Experiences (The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar)"The pulsating sting of change has been pricking that area where I normally seek solace and shut everyone out. But that is NOT my story. In one day, I left colleagues and friends who I grew to respect and love, students who showed me what it means to build honest-authentic student-teacher relationships, a culture that …
Continue reading "Sting of Change"I never thought or had the inclination to visit a cat cafe. But when you’re in Bangkok and the world seems to open before you like a can of tuna (cat…tuna-not funny. I had to try!?) then you go for it. A colleague in the foreign language department told me I had to visit this …
Continue reading "Caturday Cafe — Meow"I confidently declare to the world that I have won the war that 2.5 months prior, I affectionately named: The Pathum Thani-Rangsit Night Open Air Weekend Market Seafood Stand Battle. Every Thursday to Sunday night there is a weekend open air market that springs up in the parking lot of a strip mall near my …
Continue reading "Battle Pathum Thani-Rangsit Open Air Weekend Market Seafood Stand is officially over – I win!"I went back to work on Thursday… Actually, I didn’t go “back to work” because teaching is not work to me. From now on, I’m going to reclassify the term “work” when referring to teaching in a new context. I am going to phrase teaching as a “passionate pursuit of the noble good”. Let’s try …
Continue reading "Cabbages & Condoms with a hint of Black Amber"Overcoming challenges big and small, trivial and overwhelming are reasons why I love traveling. Each time I step around, climb over or push through one of these obstacles; I gain a sense of accomplishment and celebrate a new found ability that I never knew existed. For me, Bangkok has provided numerous opportunities to test my …
Continue reading "Holiday (Day 4) — FREE Bangkok Canal Shuttle"