Decision Points and Changes of Scenery

Decision Points

Former Pres. Bush is coming out with a new book, entitled "Decision Points". Supposedly, it's something a memoir, something of a series of case studies in his life. I don't think you can call me a big fan of GWB - two dangerously mismanaged wars, trillions of debt added, blind eye to structural economic inequities perpetuated by education/healthcare outcomes, lack of intellectual curiosity, collapse of a world economy among others, etc. - but I think the premise of the book is an interesting one to consider: in our lives, we all come to certain decisions in our life that greatly define who we are, not just influencing or impacting. I'm trying to think of such decisions in my life, and I'm coming up with blanks. The biggest decisions in my life thus far have been...well there really haven't been any. The question of whether or not I should go to college and pursue a degree wasn't really a question; for if I answered "incorrectly", I'd face a barrage of torment and annoyance from my dear mother. The question of whether or not to have children has been decided thus far by a number of factors, chief among them a.) income b.) age and c.) not wanting to deal with the little twerps. The big question of "what to do with my life" is a work in progress, and probably will be for some time, so there haven't been any real "decision points" in that regard, except almost completing an M.Ed in Education. I do anticipate finishing that up within the next year or two. But that doesn't necessarily mean my overarching calling in life is to be an educator (actually, dealing with all the bad beer here, perhaps my call in life is to liberate the Koreans from the oppression regimes of the Hite, Cass, and OB Brewing companies).

Majoring in Political Science wasn't much of a question, as I knew I'd like the subject matter. I can't say I regret getting that degree, even though I'd be the first to acknowledge it's lack of inherent value in this globalized economy of doom that we find ourselves in (to my young college-bound and college-entrant friends - if you're of the mind, get a degree in engineering, mathematics, or something science-related. It will most likely pay great dividends in the future). That being said, studying Poly Sci and the related subject matter has probably changed me. I guess you could say I am a much more realistic person than I was five years ago graduating high school, where I was an outspoken idealist. Then again, so have the events of the last five or so years (Are we really dealing with a $1.3 trillion dollar deficit while also facing a declining middle class, lackluster pension schemes, and a healthcare system that is due for only marginal improvement due to that big political push we all witnessed?).

Perhaps the biggest decision point in my life came one month ago, when I found myself singing in dramatic and loud fashion to the tune of Barbara Streisand's "Woman in Love" after one-too-many cocktails. Not. exactly. my. finest. hour (The decision, btw, was to never combine Babs with a rum and diet. Bad things abound after such a mix). Who knows, perhaps tomorrow I will wake up and decide on something grand, something that will be a real "decision point". Until then, my next biggest decision involves whether or not to play Madden or go to bed early, as I'm tired.

I'm betting on the 49ers.

With More Change Comes More of the Same

One change I've noticed in myself these last few months has been the wearing away of the novelty of being abroad. For me, it's not adventurous, unique, or even foreign. Don't get me wrong - I am enjoying my experience in the Land of the Morning Hangover - but the experience has been almost domestic. I've seen things here I'd never see in the United States - men walking around with purses while being completely heterosexual, managers of grocery stores peeing on the side of a nearby competitor's store while being consistently intoxicated, and teenagers running up to me saying "Nice to meet you! You are handsome!" (more creepy than it sounds) - but the experience hasn't been earth shattering, and none of my pre-conceived notions have really been challenged or altered. And I could use something that would shatter my earth.

I take that back - Korean curriculums are not what they're cracked up to be back home. Evidence here (this is seriously the crap that we have to work with, and the reason why my BAC is 15% higher on average than it was back home).