My first random thought Friday post –

ok, so, every Friday (or…Saturday as it now) I get to write whatever I want to write about. This is where I will share observations about being a wanderer in Seoul. My friends and family have asked me to write about the sights, tastes, and smells. Basically, offer something that might go unnoticed.

-Birds 

There are none. At least not in this area of the city. Occasionally I’ll happen upon some wayward pigeon that has obviously lost its way to the nearest side depot. Whenever this happens, (its has happened four times since I came her two weeks ago) the bird stops, asks with a strong New York accent – “Hey, Buddy! Can you help a ‘boird’ out here? I am looking for the nearest <TWEET>.” I can never figure out what they are trying to say at the end…

-Elevator Music

There is none. No really. Elevators are crowded here at Yonsei University, and much smaller than in the US. I have decided that people in Seoul, South Korea, enjoy their silence. Often, as students, we will CRAM into the elevator from the first floor and on our way to our classes on the 5th floor, we stop at the 3rd or 4th floor to… cram MORE students into the elevator. Its coozy. You make friends, and if you want to keep them, put your hands in places where people can see them.

Segwaying to Materialism Cults… (my term, not theirs)

—Phones (Cult 1)

Consider the above picture for a moment. Do you see a problem with this picture? That’s right folks, cell phones are so common place here, that if you do not have one. You are socially impaired; and in the case of the above situation, you are just out of luck. So, even though I was not going to get a phone, I decided that I have to, in order to give a number to people when they ask for it. In the above situation, I suppose it is a good idea to have a way to call someone. However…reception in large metal cages – not the best. I am not sure they thought this one through. So, the first CULT I joined while in Korea is the CELL PHONE Cult! I have one. Oh…the number is 010- ****-6116. I am putting this up here so that friends at home can see the format is different than what we are used to with 7 and 10 digit dialing. Its a prepaid phone. When it comes time for me to leave, all I have to do is throw it away like in one of those spy-thriller action movies. I think first I have to kidnap someone and then be walking around as I am talking on the phone…I think that’s what they do in the movies, no?

–Umbrellas (Cult 2)

We have had some rain here in Seoul. The first two times it rain, there were typhoons blowing through. If you like wind and rain, these were the nights to be running around outside. Naturally…as a good Floridian – I was out running around! I came across this lonely discarded fellow…

and then the next day I found these poor souls…

My friends. These are NOT how you treat these little guys. Nay! I say! (Not to be confused with the Korean word for Yes which sounds IDENTICAL to NAY!) No, you are supposed to respect them. Treat them with kindness…NOT leave them out on the street, broken and left for dead.

While it was raining the other day, I noticed some students doing something I had seen in town. They were placing their umbrellas in these metal containers that would place a plastic bag around their closed umbrellas…like a large metal machine placing a condom on the umbrella. Isn’t that neighborly? See the next two photos below:

Often what businesses do on the inside is, place a box down for people to place their sheathed-wet umbrellas into while they shop. I said it…”sheathed.”

This is the second cult. I may have to break down to get an umbrella. In Florida, storms don’t stay around that long…and if you’re out in the rain, it is normally only for a moment until you run inside. Here though, I am not in a car. I have come home DRENCHED to the bone more times than I can count. …I just hate paying for something that I will not use very much. On the contrary though – I fear I may use it very much.

 

Will Kimchi and I ever get along?

We have all been there.

You meet someone, you’re in those beginning stages of a relationship and you’re…just completely euphoric. That’s the state of mind I am in right now. Euphoria. I have just started a relationship with Seoul, South Korea. We’re getting to know each other. I am seeing it calm, I have seen it working, and fortunately, I have not seen anything ugly or dangerous. When it drinks, it gets sloppy-happy. When it is being stared down by two typhoons, it gets serious about it’s work, but also still smiles. These are great attributes when you’re starting a relationship with someone. I’ll talk more about our interactions on Friday; however, I want to draw attention to a specific aspect of this relationship….food.

not the most flattering pic, but …its one of the rare ones you’ll see of me, so, enjoy…

Above – a picture of me eating a type of Bugolgi. It was delicious, shaved steak – really thin – with rice and some other side dishes…like KIMCHI!

Now, I’ll be honest, this was NOT the first time I met kimchi. But, I was being reintroduced to her. After two weeks, about all I can say about her is that she, and I do not use this term loosely, is a Witch! (…you and I both know I am really saying another word here.)

So, you’re in a relationship with someone, it gets somewhat serious and they introduce you to someone they hold dear. Someone they love, respect, and have a long relationship with….like a grandmother, a little cousin, etc. KIMCHI is like that to South Korea. I am in a relationship with Seoul, South Korea, and now I have been introduced to this grandmother who is…has…I don’t know, a rare dementia that is prone to angry, violent outburst.

And so it is with me and Kimchi. Whenever I go out to eat, I make the effort to get to know her. I say hello. I say, “Let’s enjoy a nice dinner together.” …and then about three seconds after I put Kimchi into my mouth, she reels back her right heel and swiftly kicks me square in the balls. I maintain composure for a few bites. Then content with the abuse I have encountered, I slowly back away from Kimchi and tell her as lovingly as I can between clinched teeth that I will see her again tomorrow night. 

..then I limp away in search of an ice pack, hoping that my date (Seoul) will see what I do to get along with her, and to embrace her culture.

I have also met other relatives, that are more welcoming. Kimchi has a brother named Makguli. He’s a lot of fun. It is a fermented drink that’s very much a part of the drinking culture here in South Korea.  …try not to drink too much of it though – it will sneak up on you! You’ll notice it is a little milky. This  was served AFTER going out to eat. Here, you go out to eat, THEN go out to drink, THEN go out to a club, THEN go out to something else… In this case, this is served in the middle of the table and everyone serves another person. As you do so, you finish off the bowl of alcohol together. Isn’t that nice? This is why I like Seoul’s crazy uncle – Makguli.

That’s all for now, I’ll share some thoughts about Seoul and the culture here on Friday.

How to get to the dorms @ Sk Global House (@ Yonsei University)

Now that I am completely settled I have decided that I will do the format I followed almost a year ago: 3 posts/week. Each with a theme. Of course I may vary this a bit as the semester soars; however, I feel for now there is enough to support this structure. Today I am eating ramen in my dorm room with something added into it… can you guess? ….That’s right, KIMCHI! (…insert sarcastic “yeah!” here). As I consume my collegekid lunch, I would like to share the best way to walk to the dorms from the Airport Shuttle (bus) stop. This will help those students that are arriving in later semesters.

Today’s Topic: How to get to the Dorms.

I arrived well into the evening at Incheon(ICN) International Airport. So, imagine all these pictures…darker. As I mentioned before, when you arrive off the plane HAVE A PLAN! I suggest bathroom (for personal “activity” but ALSO to discreetly manage some money. While in the stall, take out what money you want to exchange on the other side of customs. I only needed enough for my bus ticket and a few days worth of food. DO NOT EXCHANGE ALL YOUR MONEY HERE if you are going to be staying for more than 3 days – the airport currency exchange is inflated against your best interest, but you will need some local currency for the airport shuttle and until you can get to a bank or currency exchange in town. Of course, I suggest you managing your money in the privacy of a bathroom stall for security reasons, just don’t take too long, as your luggage is now doing laps.) Collect luggage, fill out customs paperwork, go through customs (they just took my customs slip and didn’t say one word to me, formality really), exchanged money at the Rip-You-Off Currency Exchange, then…with 100 lbs of luggage,avoid taxi drivers wanting to charge 80,000 KRW ($70 USD) found my way to the bus ticketing agent. Paid 10,000 KRW ( $9 US) to travel an hour to Yonsei University.

SPECIAL NOTE: You do not want to get off at the YONSEI stop but rather at the next stop Ewha Womans University which is actually closer to the International dorms than the Yonsei main gate area, that is unless you want the added exercise.

You’ll notice the bus stop is basically on a median in the middle of a busy street.

Yes, its busy here, so be careful. I will say this a few times. There IS a bus stop here on this median, so it IS safe to step off the bus; however, when crossing the street, keep in mind that you’re crossing several lanes of traffic going both directions. In the photo above, you’ll see SEVERANCE HOSPITAL in the distance (tall building on the left). This is an important landmark in the area, and I think the safest place to be when the next zombie apocalypse occurs. Oh, and I think that small building is a funeral home…so at least the zombies don’t have to go far to eat the college students. …that was thoughtful.

Bus stop. BECAREFUL when crossing the street with your luggage!!!

In the back ground of this photo (above) you can see the direction you need to go. Cross the street (carefully), and make a right. Walk with the shops and restaurants on your left.

Keep walking….

You are going to be walking about three city blocks.

They REEEALLLLY like foreigners (and the money we bring with us).

You will find a few of these (above) on sidewalks near the international dorms. Its a good indicator that you’re in the right area. I think I counted 3 of them at two intersections. Don’t get caught up on how many you pass, just know you are in the right area.

Important navigational landmark – keep it on your left, and keep moving!

Make a LEFT to go UP this street to the dorms. (both the SK GLOBAL HOUSE and the INTERNATIONAL HOUSE)

This is the last segment of your walk. Go up this road (above)…pass a restaurant called “Lord Sandwich ” (large cement and glass building on your right) and you will get to this…

SK GLOBAL House is that sharp looking building on the right.

SK GLOBAL is hear. INTERNATIONAL HOUSE (ask the guard inside for directions to the I-House. Its right next to this building).

My front porch…

So, there we have it. Next Monday I will introduce you to the dorm room itself and talk a bit about dorm life: Landry, Food options, etc.

Its time for me to finish my lunch…. which by the way, I thought I was going to eat what looked like a little slice of squash in the noodles…(surprising because there are very few non-cabbage vegetables in Seoul)… SURPRISE — it was a little fish cake coin. Food…its going to be the topic of choice for the next post on Wednesday. 🙂 (Will Kimchi and I ever get along?)

The Journey…

Hello!

I am really excited to share my trip from Tampa, FL to Seoul, South Korea.

All the preparations over the last 10 months have led me to this moment. Me arriving at my terminal destination: Yonsei University.

 

Yup, my room is in one of those buildings on the east side of campus near the EAST GATE. Shortly after arriving and stepping off the bus from the airport with my 2- 30lb suitcases, and 2- 20 lb shoulder bags, I learned that hills are not fun…not even remotely. Any fun-cheer you have heard about hills is pure propaganda whenever luggage is involved. (I come from Florida – home of mosquitoes the size of birds and flat land covered with poisonous/venomous wildlife – not hills). I would have rather fought through a football field of diamond back rattlers than walk up and down the hills with my luggage. But, I am getting a head of myself here. My flight path was from Tampa, to Chicago, to Narita-Tokyo, arriving in Seoul, South Korea. I left at 8:30am (Tampa time) and arrived at 9:15p the next day (Seoul time). Total travel from one point to another was 23 hours inclusive of lay-overs in airports (around 2-3 hours each).

When I took off from Tampa, I actually was fortunate enough to see some friends there. They saw me off and gave me a few small liquid gifts that made traveling the 13 hours  flight from Chicago to Tokyo more bearable.

Is that an invisible wand in my hand or am I just happy to see you?

 

So, with hugs and refreshment in hand, I leave for Korea by way of a stop at Chicago-O’hare, and then to Narita-Tokyo. I am not used to 13 hour flights, but the ride there was the beginning of an eye opener for me from a racial perspective. I just had not seen so many Asian people in one place (on a plane to Japan) since working at Disney. Seeing such a difference made me really excited as it made all the hard work tangible.  What made it REALLY “tangible” that I was not in Florida anymore was the first stop I made after getting off the plane in Tokyo. For your viewing pleasure:

I don’t know what it was saying…but I decided it was an invitation. …and hope that I would not get lost.

and then, …there was no preparation for this..

Yes, my friends, THAT is a Japanese toilet. The urinal did not need a pic, I knew how to navigate those waters….(poor choice of words).

Back out in the hallway, I made my way to my gate, where I was nicely told to put away my camera by a security guard. Not wanting to offend the locals, I followed directions and made it to my gate. Two hours later I was on my flight where we taxi’d all the way from East Japan to West Japan (it was a seriously long runway), then took off before we crashed into the sea, and flew to Seoul, South Korea.

Once arriving in Seoul, I examined their facilities to discover that all was familiar and, indeed, working properly (Thank you Korea).

Lesson 1:

HAVE A PLAN!

My Plan:

– Get luggage

– Fly through customs

– Exchange money (only do a little at the airport, enough to get you to your destination and a little on the next day)

– Find Bus Ticketing Agent (to go to Yonsei University) and appropriate platform.

– Avoid eager annoying taxi drivers that want to charge you outrageous prices because they see you are struggling with your luggage.

I retrieved my luggage, flew through customs, exchanged money, and then eventually found where to buy my bus ticket to Yonsei University. I was struggling with my luggage, and the taxi drivers swarmed on me like some bizarre cartoon. They tried to haggle me but I politely told them I had plans already. One, before I left Tampa, I learned that it costs around 70,000 W ($65 USD) for the taxi vs the 10,000 W (or $9) for the bus; and Second, I was not sure I could communicate where I needed to go as I do not speak their language. The last thing I wanted to do was end up on the wrong side of town at midnight). LESSON – HAVE A PLAN! I had a plan and was following it.

I arrived at Yonsei about an hour later, around midnight. I checked in and meet my roommate, Albin, from Sweden. He is incredibly nice, respectful, and very easy to get along with. Here is a photo of him accidentally photo-bombing one of my pics when went shopping the next day.

Albin, bottom right.

I am a little behind on posts but will be introducing what my dorm room looks like, some clubbing pictures here in Seoul, and a post or two about the culture here. Oh! To make me feel a little more at home (from Tampa, FL), Seoul invited a typhoon. It was fun to walk around in the other night. I thought this photo captured nicely:

I walked passed tons of these on the streets tonight. The typhoon was too much for it. Why would you take one of these out during strong winds is beyond me.

That is all for now. My plan is to post two-three blog posts a week. If you have any questions about Seoul, South Korea that you would like me to explore, please comment below.

 

Off to the Republic of Korea (South Korea)!!! – The day is here when I go there!

Hello everyone.

It is 3am here in Tampa, FL, and I am all packed and ready to go. Packing was an adventure today, but thankfully I have some really helpful friends and family that literally, helped me get dressed (Jenna took me out to make good fashion choices!) and then my Aunt Denise and Mom helped me make some last minute touches and helped me pack. (What I mean to say is, my mom took over with the packing and did such an amazing job!)

Mom is a PACKING GENIUS!

She had a little help from Azalea the Kitten:

“I fit purrrfectly.”

and here…

“Look into my eyes.I AM going with you to Korea.”

…and here….

“I’ll just hide in here!”

so we finally had to have a talk…

“Kitten, I’ll miss you very much.”

It is interesting how our four-legged-family just KNOW that something is happening. These last few days around the house, the cats have been near my side and very affectionate.

“Why Korea?”

I have been asked this almost as often as “when are you leaving?”

Two reasons come to mind immediately:

– First, Academic: My field of study is Psychology meets Communication. I want to know more about how I communicate with others, and also observe how they communicate with each other. Specifically, non-verbal! This is my focus: Nonverbal communication/behaviors. The truth is, I speak no more than four words in Hangul (Korean): Yes, No, Hello, and Excuse me. …Basically, I have the vocabulary of a one year old. So put all this together and what you have? A very lost me for the first few weeks, hahaa. Seriously though – I look forward to learning more about my communication style outside of the comforts of the cultural norms I am used to. This will show me this. Plus I will have learned a fourth language (English, Spanish, American Sign Language, and now… Hangul!).

– Second, Occupational Exploration: I am really curious to work for large companies, and/or governments (my own perhaps?!) in helping out with Negotiations, Mediation, and Non-violent Interrogation. I would like to work on teams that consult legal firms and/or PR firms. I would like to work for the Dept of Defense, and/ or the State Dept. in training officers about Korean culture, or helping Korean officials learn more about the US to help them feel more at home. However, I must be realistic about the environment concerning jobs int he US. If the market does not rebound enough by Summer of 2013, then I need to consider working outside of the US. Teaching English in Korea may be that option. This trip to Seoul can be that fact-finding mission to see how I like the culture, and if this is something that is for me.

Through out my collegiate journey, I have been hitting the books hard, and the campus even harder. I have never just been content with ENG 101 or PSY 101. I need extra meat and a second helping of challenge. I count myself fortunate that I have had patient friends, and patient professors as I squeeze more experiences out of my time in college. To this end, I am going to Korea. I am making the most of this time in my life. I am learning more than I could ever have dreamed. …and sometimes it takes going across the world to a new campus to make the most out of an opportunity!

Here’s a little treat from someone I am going to Yonsei with this Fall. He’s got an amazing talent and I hope to hear him sing more. Go to his site and subscribe. You’ll thank me for it.

Epilogue 1 Post-EMP Human Popcorn

Previously: Elizabeth the Lonely

Epilogue 1 Post-EMP Human Popcorn

The bolt of energy sent to Earth was an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) so powerful that it not only wiped out digital information that was not protected, it also deleted the most secure information. Everything was wiped clean: legal, academic, arrest records, music, art, all gone. Digitized family trees no longer existed, nor did any record anywhere.

The energy bolt did other things as well. Changed was the very way the magnetic poles communicated with each other. Those few documents that were not digitized, and they were very few, had been sprayed with a magnetic ink so that computers could easily read them. The ink on these documents had moved or blotted together in indecipherable ways. The Holy Constitution of the United States of America that few could read due to it being written in ancient sanskitian-english cursive was now a jumble of ink spots.

The EMP also had an effect on the humans. Similar to the cyberservants that investigated the planet after the EMP event, within hours of the EMP event; human bodies were found without their heads attached. Something in the brain chemistry resulted in heads exploding. It turns out the world did end, with both a bang AND a whimper….followed by a squish and a splat! Animals and plants seemed minimally affected. The planet also, seemed unchanged. Though the magnetic poles were now communicating differently, there were no sudden shifts in plate-tectonic activity. The effects of this EMP seem specifically engineered to affect humans, higher-level communications (such as digitized documents, typed manuscripts), and the cyberservants, who’s AI programming is modeled after human brainwave patterns. Basically, all things human were no longer going to function for many years on the planet Earth until the energy from the EMP dissipated. In the 1500 years that followed, cyberservants were able to stay longer within the magnetic field of the Earth without damage; however, no human could step foot on soil, in water, or within the magnetic field of the Earth without beginning to show signs of EMP-sickness before their heads exploded into fine red mist.

Popcorn 1

Popcorn 2

Popcorn 3

…and that is where the story should have stopped, but sometimes I lack discipline…

Epilogue 2 – Becoming the OW

The survivors, all off world in space stations or in transit with other colonies were despondent. The human population, somewhere around 17.5 Billion pre-EMP event had been reduced to nearly 20,000 post EMP event. All data on planet had been wiped clean, and global genocide had been swiftly carried out with one return fire. The Earth scientists of the refugee “off-worlders,” or OWs as they came to be called, made a plan to return to ancestor’s homes through radical genetic modification. They spliced the genetic code with the animals on ship until their brain wave configurations were different enough to return yet human enough to behave humanely. These OWs eventually did return home, but no genetically pure human was able to step foot back on Earth soil for many, many years until the effects of the EMP event had dissipated.

Elizabeth the Lonely

Continuing on…..

Previously: HCC Field Trip to the Moon

Chapter 2 Elizabeth the Lonely

Elizabeth remembers being on the moon the day humanity lost their heads and their past. Some 40 years ago, she was there with a study group of explorers. She remembers before leaving her home how she almost made other plans that day. She could have gone shopping or holo-surfing with her girlfriend and boyfriend tri-pairing. All three would have perished. However, she went with her consortium to study the moon firsthand. She remembers the touch down on the moon’s surface, the bad jokes her friends were telling, and the nearly hour hike to the crater they were to explore. She remembers how beautiful the Earth shone overhead. The she remembers the little hair standing up on the back of her neck as a ball of energy bolted out of the crater a few feet to her left and shot straight up to the home she would never touch again.

            Elizabeth can remember neither the hike back to the ship, nor the docking to the nearest space station. Once at the space station, minutes felt like an eternity as time marched slower and slower in space. It is true; no one can hear you scream in space, but tears fall loudly on sterile space floor. Everyone was hysterical. Weeks passed on and the cyberservants sent to Earth’s surface only lasted an hour or so before they would malfunction and cease to work at all. Fortunately, after a few days of parsed together information as well as using information gleaned from satellites a series of events started to be understood on that frightful day for the human inhabitants of Earth.

Continuing with the Conclusion…Human Popcorn

HCC Field Trip to the Moon

Continuing my short story…and a parody on reality, I was a part of my community college’s Science Club – where a big event happens at the end of each semester. The two professors take the club on a trip. Last year we went to Moab in Utah and saw some amazing sights. Below is the continuation of the unrelated story progressing from

Previously:

A short story: Think “Jules Verne” or 1950′s sci-fi

continuing on…

Chapter 1 HCC Science Field Trip to the Moon

Father E. and Dr. D. are a team of science advisors for the Human Constellation Consortium. This group of advisors and students take up various expeditions through the safety of virtual exploration. The adventures of HCC: Science is legend as they take their students on various exotic virtual tours of planets and stars in the cosmos. Other consortiums pale in comparison. However, an oversight is discovered during one of their meetings in late April of 2100 when the subject of their own moon comes up. In reflecting on the consortiums brief 15 year history, this team had never explored their own moon. Seeing it at night had always been enough, especially when so many other fantastic luminary curiosities wait for discovery. Now that space travel is more popular and feasible, the group elected to take an unprecedented non-virtual space trip to their moon.

To spice up the adventure, the advisors suggest a visit to a few of the mysterious craters near one of the Earth moon’s poles where cyberservants had discovered evidence of ice.

Father E., whose religion is Science, blessed the trip with a benediction and cavalier sarcasm…which is his way. Dr. D, always the pragmatist, had recently acquired twelve laser drills the students will use for excavation. Training took only a few moments as the students brains were uploaded with the relevant data. Conveniences of modern technology and pedagogy make it possible for humans to upload information directly into their brains. This is the same brain-computer interface that makes the HCC: Science virtual field trips possible and the cyberservants such loyal and useful helpers. This trip to the moon would not be met with much excitement had it not been for a few students wanting to experience that same first-hand perspective of exploration that so many of their ancestors had experienced with the discoveries of America, Florida, and the ancient magic lands of Disney…where disappointedly, there was no evidence of any magic at all.

Take off from one of the nation’s launchzones was extremely smooth. Antigravity polarizers help the ship effortlessly depart the atmosphere and into space. Landing was rougher than expected as the ship had not experience touchdown on the moon’s terra before. Dr. D. was on hand to calibrate the space suits for exploration, to give a brief hands-on tutorial on how to use the laser to make sure everyone was on the same page and to cement the virtual learning experienced during the Earth-Moon transit. The ship landed about an hour’s moonwalk from one of the southern craters chosen for its level and smooth landscape and its lack of magnetic interference. Their target crater had been obscured by the moon’s relative partial darkness. Over the past few years, scientists in the community discovered an odd fluctuation of magnetism in the moon’s magnetic field especially near and within the crater. Generally, these places lack water, however, this particular crater has a rich magnetic field and may have water, which is important for the team’s trip if they plan to stay more than just a few hours. If no water is discovered, the team will have to move to another location and then back to one of the international space stations before returning home.

The team approached the crater’s edge and looked at the beautiful moonscape. With the Earth is almost directly overhead half of the crater was still in the shade considered to be part of “the dark side of the moon,” The virtual trips the HCC: Science team made had in no way prepared these students, or the advisors, for the beautiful contrast of grey moon skin against the black depths of the crater in the shade of the moon or against the backdrop of the eternal starry night. The only color present was the HCC logos on their spacesuits and the blue marble at “high noon” above. The view was more than breath-taken, it was captivating.

The HCC: Science team, who moments before were chattering with excitement as they approached the edge of the crater, much to the chagrin of the easily annoyed Father E., all fell quiet in awe as they were able to take in the incredible view. Then the sound of a sneeze is heard by all through the team’s radio connection ruining this sacred silence. As the team stared about the cliff and then up to the home, Dr. D. had the unfortunate experience of sneezing in his space suit spraying the protective helmet with a fine mist of sinus fluid. Dr. D.’s had an unfortunate allergy to his space suit causing him to sneeze at that precise moment (the students called it an allergy to “space pollen”). With a push of a few buttons from Dr. D on his suit’s sensor pad the suit’s internal cleaning system cleared the inside of the helmet so he could enjoy the view. Dr. D. composed himself while adjusting his suits settings when he happened to be looking at the magnetism sensor on his display showing a massive magnetic shift deep in the crater. At that precise moment, the team witnessed the worst disaster in recorded human history.

With the Earth directly overhead something deep within the crater fires a blast of energy to the marble up above. Silent awe shifts to silent dread. Father E. and Dr. D. exchange looks as students start to ask questions no one has answers to. Father E. patches into the ships communication device that then should route his query to HCC at home, but instead routes to a space station. Father E. learns by way of a recorded message that the only communication is off-world between the 413 international space stations in orbit around the planet.

To be continued: Elizabeth the Lonely

A short story: Think “Jules Verne” or 1950’s sci-fi

So, this is Final’s week.

This time last year I was in a class titled something like Science for Science Fiction.

The class was instructed to visit science fiction through the lens of Jules Verne and some of our classic sci fi authors from the late 1800’s to the mid 1950’s.

Here is my short story….I warn you, it is nothing serious, but I hope you enjoy the read enough to make fun of it….

Prologue 1 – Sir Viver

On Thursday, August 14^th, 2003, at approximately 4:11pm EDT, an event happened that few people were able to understand. The cause of which remains a mystery to the public at large. The agency responsible for answering to the public had a story cooked up before the first light bulb went out. Some blame a fallen tree in Ohio, another blames a circuit breaker that did not function correctly. These “explanations” aside, one effect resulted in a massive international widespread blackout in the northeastern corner of North America. Citizens of both Canada and the United States of America were a-buzz, not from an electrical hum, but with needing power generators. Water supply to pumps no longer had power; transportation shut down (rail and air travel); communication disrupted; and factories were closed resulting in factories not in the powered-down areas to slow with congestion. To put it simply, this was an inconvenience.

 The blackout did happen, but it was not because of a tree, or a circuit breaker. When a gun is fired without a silencer, the person holding the gun would be correct to assume there would be the sound of a shot fired. The blackout of 2003 was that sound. The bullet, however, was a massive EMP aimed at a starship just beyond the moon’s orbit. The OW’s, or “Off Worlders” as men of power and influence come to call them meant no threat, but the fear of these men aimed that powerful gun to these people and fired nonetheless. The ship was in the process of communicating with their homeworld when their ship suffered a direct hit. Almost all the OW’s perished as it crashed on the darkside of the Earth’s moon with no power. What was an inconvenience for one people was catastrophe for another. Worse, it was catastrophe with intent. The people of Earth would learn that such intent improperly mixed with action would result in revenge. The simple lesson here: When making a killshot, make certain that it kills completely. The survivor of the crashed ship of the OW’s, Sir Viver as his people know him, was one of their most gifted engineers. With the camouflage of the darkside of the moon as his cover, the incredible lifespan of his genetics, and the revenge in his heart Sir Viver would take the role of teacher seriously.

Prologue 2 – The DIE Act

The United States led the global initiative with the Digitize Information Everywhere Act of 2012. Public schools in the US had stopped teaching handwriting and shifted to keyboarding by 2016 due in part to an ambition unilaterally supported by their political leaders. By the early 40’s of the 21^st century, children looked with awe and disgust as their parents and grandparents tried to explain the beauty and no-longer practical application and execution of the written letter. By 2050 all documents had been scanned. What had taken a little over 200 years to become wildly popular and a sign of dignified communication had shifted into antiquity. Nothing was written on paper by the time those born in the early 21^st century became grandparents.

NEXT: HCC goes on an Adventure in HCC Science Field Trip to the Moon

…Is it time to wander?

So, I did not write a post the day the internet went dark, resolved that I would return a few days later to pick up where I left off.

I blink and as I were Rip Van Winkle, time has flown by. I swear it was just last week when January was coming to a close and as I look up from my studies I see that it is approaching mid-April!

Of course a lot has happened since I last wrote.

Mostly I have spent my time trying to keep up with my academics as well as finishing applying for scholarships to help out with my study abroad experience coming up in the fall in Korea. Here’s a general idea of what I have been up to:

January – was voted onto the executive board for the P.R.I.D.E. Alliance @ USF as its Vice President of External Affairs. What is PRIDE?  P.R.I.D.E. @ USF stands for People Respecting Individual Diversity and Equality. We are a LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Allied) based organization here at USF. Started in 1974, we are the oldest continuously funded gay student organization in the state of Florida. We are here to help build up the LGBTQA community at the University of South Florida and surrounding Tampa area. P.R.I.D.E Alliance is also an official member of the University of South Florida’s Multicultural Community through the Office of Multicultural Affairs and is my honor that I am able to serve on their board.

Initially this role was (and I suppose still it) intended as a point of contact between the club and outside (thus “external”) activities. My role is partnered with the VP of Internal Affairs as that person focuses on internal matters such as follow through and club logistics. Some examples of the duties of VP of External Affairs would be to make contact with other organizations in the Tampa area and coordinate with other student organizations on the USF -Tampa campus. However, the previous year, the club decided to host the annual Florida Collegiate Pride Conference; a.k.a., FCPC.  The FCPC is an annual leadership conference that travels between the many colleges and universities in Florida. Each spring, GLBTQ and ally college students across the state gather to network, share their experiences, and learn about issues and topics pertinent to the GLBTQ community.

We welcomed around 300 members (in this pic as about half of who attended- some people like to sleep in) from around the state from different student organizations to join us for the weekend of March 30th – April 1st (Friday – Sunday). Each conference has a theme. Our theme this year is “Crossing Spectrums,” which was about breaking down the barriers of the acronym and it’s different communities, blurring the lines of the flag we’re so proud of that divides us and uniting as one “Q”-munity. We had a great time and I can confidently say that after having lived in Tampa for 7 years…I now know what it is like to go clubbing in the Ybor District, but I lack the particulars. (Some of you do the math on this one)

So, yeah…logistics have been taking up a large part of my cognitive functions as my and about 10 others hammered out the needs and processes of this event to make it happen.

Spring Break: In the middle of March, I had the joy of traveling to Kansas City, MO/KS (yes, both!) spending good chill time with my friends. While there I was introduced to poetry as I had never heard it before. I am always impressed by my friend’s (Tony Plocido) work.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8d_dWjt8-Q (for some reason I can’t get the link to just insert the video, but you should check him out.)

I was also able to visit my church’s “Vatican.” I belong to a church called Unity, and our school of Christianity is located just southeast of Kansas City. While there it rained, which in some ways reflects how I feel about this church from an organizational perspective. In many ways I have lost my religion, but somewhere, deep with in, I enjoy going back and seeing the grounds. I have a lot of special memories of visiting there, and this visit was no different.

After KC, I journey to Nashville, TN!

I was able to visit with my cousin and his family, and see people I had not seen in a while. My cousin always knows how to put a smile on my heart. He took me to a shooting range, which was SO weird to me. I really enjoyed our opportunity to bond as he showed me how to shoot a glock. Having never shot one before, it was a bit scary. I am glad one of us are comfortable around weapons…because, guns just aren’t for me.

Here is a picture of my friend E., Ben and Laurel. I wish Kelly and Jesse were able to join us that last night.

Well, I apologize for the long-sleep I took on this. As you can tell, school, volunteering and traveling have all kept me away. This semester will be finished in a month. I hope I will be able to take some time to revisit as I wander about.

One of my goals is to post on here about what else to know when asking for a letter of recommendation from your Professors/Mentors on your campus. I hope that will be out later this week!