Asian phones ^_^

Speaking of texting (see last post) - yesterday I got a new phone and its adorable. It's a Filipino number so I'll be able to text my parents - when I'm in Korea it'll be roaming so it'll be slightly more expensive for me to contact them but they will still be able to contact me for super cheap (1 peso for 1 text. Current exchange rate: $1USD to 44.4 pesos). Its tiny:

Its a touch screen, it even has a little stylus if I feel like my fingers are too fat haha. This is especially nice because the US phone I've had for only a year has been pretty broken for the past 3 months.

When I start working in January, I also plan on getting a Korean phone. I imagine they will have equally cute (if not more cute) phones there. That will be good because as cute as this phone is, it won't be getting much use. Good thing phones and communication are so cheap in Asia. Really, its rather frustrating - I'd been using this totally janky phone for 3 months because it was too early on in my phone plan to upgrade without it being a total rip off. Here, we just go to the electronics market get a really nice phone, buy a SIM card, and its done.

Church, State, Christmas

This article in today's local paper, the Philippine Star, caught my eye. One, because its such a classic example of how unseparate church and state are here. Not that the film industry can at all claim to be part of the government but my hunch is that the type of censorship described in that article would not be permitted in the States given that thing we call a First Amendment. (Although I have to admit I'm not government/history/politics expert by any stretch so I'm probably toeing the line of informed discussion here who knows). Two, I'm really amused that something reported via text message is considered legitimate enough to be publishable.

Back in 2009, I wrote a little about the Catholic church's role in the Philippines. I mentioned the Reproductive Health bill. As it was mentioned in that article today ("RH Bill" - in the cartoon) I'm guessing it hasn't been passed. There are a lot of things I could comment on about this, but it's pretty standard liberal politics and I feel like it's enough to say "hey check this out."

And just now, I was google searching for the picture I have at the top of this post, and discovered another interesting article. Upon seeing the headline I thought it was going to be an article about something really absurd, but you know I think what the dude is saying is legitimate. I'm pretty ok with someone pointing out that Christmas has been taken over by consumerism. Except I don't think Santa is to blame for that.

Thinking about thoughts

When I originally created this blog, the idea was to create a space to share my adventuring with people I was leaving behind. Then I went dormant for a while (I guess that's not unexpected given that I was doing graduate level coursework). Now I'm back. I currently have two other blog posts waiting to be completed, and neither of them are about travel. I'm finding myself wanting to use this space for more diverse expression.

I've been reading a lot of other peoples' blogs lately, I want people to read mine. I have ideas and things I want to share.

So I'm all for expression - I think it's an important part of learning and growing - which in turn seems to be an important part of being a post-college 20-something - but expressing in the format of a public blog is something with which I struggle a bit more. How much do I feel comfortable putting out in this public space? Who is reading this? What can I say, without sharing too much? Does it even matter if I'm sharing thoughts with strangers if I don't know that I'm sharing thoughts with strangers? I don't think the information I'm sharing is putting me at risk for say, identity theft. But hopes, dreams, beliefs, ponderings - where does those fit in between the public and private spheres? I don't know.

Onward and forward

So I've been battling with another blog entry for most of this week, and as I continue to sort out what it is exactly that I'm trying to express (in that particular entry, I am delving into less familiar territory - deviating from my normal subject matter of travel) I thought I might give you all an update.

I'm currently digging through the corners of my apartment and sorting out all of my belongings (useful vs not useful; wanted vs not wanted; sentimental vs meaningless) because I'm off again in a week. I'll be at the airport, passport in hand, visas at the ready, dragging two huge duffel bags out of the country for an as of yet unknown period of time. Probably about a year.

My first stop in this next leg of my travels will be a return to the Philippines (it is the Christmas season after all - for my loyal followers you will should see a seasonal pattern here). However, I won't be there that long - this year, my immediate family has decided to escape the chaos of festivities in the PI for a remote beach vacation in Bali. Obviously I wasn't going to miss out on that. I pretty much have no idea what exactly I'm in for - all I know is that we've rented a vacation house in a less touristy area, so I'm sure I'll have more about that later.

But the main thing here (besides "blah blah I'm a jetsetter and like to flaunt my ability to spend holidays in tropical paradise) is that I am employed again! In South Korea. As an English teacher. Its all very silly. And it has been a ridiculously absurd process. But I'm excited. I really enjoyed Korea when I was there in September (despite the challenges of the extremely spicy food) and someone there is eagerly awaiting my arrival which makes it even better. Hooray for travel, and adventures, and a classroom full of little kiddies, and making money for even more future adventures!

There is a lot more to say about what I'll be doing, where I'm going, how I got to this point, etc etc etc, but I think this is enough for now. I'll leave you all to eagerly await my next entry...