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True Self Reflection

This is something I wrote in the notes on my phone while riding on the bus through Taiwan to our next adventure. I did not know if  I wanted to share it, but after today I knew I should. Here are my true thoughts:

This trip has been incredibly eye opening in a way better than I could have ever imagined. Dr. Jih started out the trip saying this was more of a relaxed trip with a stronger importance placed on self reflection and internal thought than anything else. I think that studying and traveling abroad is something that everyone should do in their life but especially while young when trying to find your way.  The classes and experiences in my recent past such as dale Carnegie and the MTSU leadership class have helped lead me to discover this notion as well. Through all of this I have developed this deepened sense for a connection with every single human on planet either. I have never been one to be racist of one to judge those different than me, but this trip has completely reinforced my mindset that we are all the same deep down inside. We crave the same things, run from the same fears, and strive for the same greatness. The purpose of life is to serve, as Dr. Jih put it, and I am started to see the truth in this statement. As I reflect on my own life, I begin to think about the times when I have experienced the most joy and pure happiness. This was when I was in a state of selflessness and when I was surrounded by those I loved and that loved me too. It was the times when I was helping others to achieve greatness in their life. When I found someone who was down, and I helped them find a state of mind to stand back up and reach back for the dreams they always had. The purpose of life is not us, but for those around us. I am starting and trying to develop a new mindset that pushes me towards these types of haplessness and joy. Today I began writing a post card back to my boys in the Boro. The guys that will share the same roof with me for the next year and those that will share a year of their life with me. I want to set the stage of expeditions and connection that push towards the best year I've ever had in my life. With this new mindset of helping and serving others, I feel as if It is my duty to share some of these thoughts with my friends around me. Not everyone is fortunate enough to experience and see the world, and because of this I feel obligated to share these memories and thoughts with those around me. It would be selfish not to, and people would not truly know who I am if I did not. I have never felt like I've lived life so much as I am now. I am living in the moment and building intimate connections with those here and now. We're are adventuring in a foreign land with no responsibilities or fears. I am having this crazy revelation where I am beginning to see myself in ever other person. Kind of like that class saying, "put yourself in their shoes," but it is more than that. As I peer into the eyes of others I see their need for belonging, their strive for excellence, and their  wanting to be apart of something bigger and more important than themselves. Deep down we are all the same and think the same. The only difference is where we were born and how we grew up and the past experiences we've had. If you were them you would be doing the same thing. We all see the world through our own eye glass, and a person in the present is their past all rolled up into one TODAY. Some people have not discovered this or do not thing this way and I must keep this in mind as well. I am absolutely loving life right now and I can't wait to see what else unfolds for me on this unprecedented trip.

Cayman 7/19/17

A study abroad and a study within

Upon our arrival to our experience abroad in Taiwan, Dr. Jih spoke briefly in our introduction class and mentioned that this trip would and should be one of much self reflections. I took this notion to heart and have been diving into my brain and thoughts like a swimmer into water. During these moments of reflection I have come to the realization that I have developed a deep desire to learn and expand my perception of the world. By traveling to Taiwan, I have not stepped foot on six continents and over 20 countries (It's hard to keep track at this point). In doing so I have seen my perception and view of the world drastically change with each trip. As humans we have many preconceived notions of what we think this world is all about, and I think that by traveling to foreign lands we get to see what is right and wrong about these thoughts. Many of my hypothesis's have been correct, but many have been completely and utterly wrong. Sometimes in America we find ourselves surrounded by success and fame which causes us to feel as if were missing out or that we are unfortunate and lacking in our opportunities. Through traveling, I have come to the realization that I am so unimaginably luck to have been born into the life of immense opportunity and support that I was. The majority of the people around the world still struggle on a daily basis to obtain the needs for themselves, their family, and their community. In addition, what I have in the US, a car, a nice house, opportunity and money for education, great mentors, and supportive friends, is the dream and end goal of some many people of this crowded, yet not crowded, planet. After having some thoughts along these ideas, I have come to foster a great sense of thankfulness for all that I have and have been given. Not only have I reached a state of pure thankfulness for all this opportunity, but I have also developed a monumental motivation to utilize these opportunities to do all that I can do to help and change this world. It would be a shame to not make the most of something many can only dream of. I feel so grateful and thankful for all that life has provided me and showed me. Lets all together go do something big to make a difference.

Ted Talks

Throughout our business camp at CYCU, many of our lectures consisted of Ted Talks. I am a firm believer in Ted Talks, and I actually listen to them frequently in my spare time. My buddies and I actually volunteered at the TedX event in Nashville this past spring and were able to attend for free. Some of the Ted Talks we have listened to in class have been quite profound and eye opening. Today's Ted talk was especially intriguing, for it spoke about the personalities of human beings and why we have them. My favorite points from the talk were that we are all the same in that we are human and have normal human instinct. Then it proceeded to explain that we are all divided into two group of people ranging on a scale: extroverts and introverts. Lastly the speaker enlightened us with the fact that each and everyone of us is completely unique as a human being as well. We all have completely different backgrounds and experiences that shape who we are, relationships with the people around us, and issues that we deal with and solve. I loved when the speaker went into more details about the exact differences between introverts and extroverts. Extroverts like to get straight to the point and just say what they're thinking even if it might be controversial. Introverts like to get a point across in more articulate fashion that might be less intrusive with their words. Extroverts are also more outgoing and like to communicate and connect with humans at all times in an intimate manner. They enjoy social scenes where the energy and excitement is high. Introverts like to have some alone time to let their brain think more clearly. They enjoy more relaxed scenes and communication with less people. I think that all humans lie upon a spectrum between extroversion and introversion, and I believe that I am somewhere near the middle and lean maybe more towards an extrovert.

Week two of class

This week we had a sufficient amount of class each morning and afternoon and got into some pretty deep stuff. I have enjoyed this class because it has been a lot about life and the world we live in today. In addition to who technology is changing this world. What I have liked most is all the discussion about your life mindset and how to live happily each and every day.

Day 6

Day 6 was very unique. We got to visit a big science center that was basically an individual community within itself. PhD's and Master degree holders from all over the world are recruited to come to this center to work on some of the most innovative and futuristic projects known to man. This same complex played a major role in the creation and development of the Iphone as well. During this excursion we got to tour the museum that displayed some of the projects they were working on that year. It was fascinating.

After this trip we had really fun night out on the town. We had no scheduled events with the class so a group of us went to the board game house and decided to give the escape room a try. Although these are quite popular in America, I have never done one. This was a little more difficult though because I can barely speak any Chinese. The whole game and all the instructions were in Chinese... but with the help of a few of the CYCU students we completed two rooms and did a fantastic job. We learned a lot about team work and the difficulties that language barriers can present.

Day 4 and 5: Our first weekend

7/15 - 7/16

We woke up early Saturday morning for our first cultural trip. On this day our first stop was Yehliu Geopark, and it was beyond gorgeous. After stumbling onto the bus in the morning, I quickly fell back asleep but woke up just as we were arriving at the first site. As we winded down the mountains towards the ocean and what looked like a mountainous peninsula, my heart was beginning to race. I could the the beauty of what we were about to explore get closer and closer. The bus reached its parking space and came to an abrupt stop as half the students were already on their feet ready to check out the surroundings. Yehliu was a beautiful national park that was famous for the "Queen's Head" and the exotic terrain. We all had an hour and a half to explore this place, but it turned out not to be enough. As the time to embark to our next location was getting close, Sandy and I were hiking out to the end of the Peninsula with a mission to reach the end. I expected to make it to a pretty amazing view, but something quite extraordinary greeted us at the end. We found a platform about ten feet off the ground with a sketchy ladder for climbing up on to it. On top of that was a concrete pole about 5 feet in diameter that held your classic revolving old school light house on the top. I looked around to see if anyone was watching and then said, "Hey! lets climb to the top." We were so glad we did because the view was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. We were the only ones brave enough to hike to the end and were rewarded with a fantastic hidden treasure. Upon climbing down we had to run back to the bus to make it in time before it left.

Day 3: First Day of Class

Day 3

7/14/17

When coming to Taiwan for this study abroad trip, I did not know what to expect from the class, what we would learn, and how strenuous the work load would be. On this day class began at 9:00, so we rolled out of bed around 7:30 to give us enough time to prepare for class and grab breakfast. After doing so, we strolled into class about ten minutes early and had plenty of time to chat and converse with the other student. Class then began as Dr. Jih arose and quieted the group. "I know that in every other class you have taken there has been many lectures, powerpoints, and other typical American classroom work, so we will be doing this class a little bit differently," he exclaimed. He then proceeded to tell us that this class will be very relaxed with much casual conversation. The overarching purpose of this trip was to explore the culture and a different country, and to have much time for self reflection and internal thought. I really like this idea, and it almost made me more motivated to listen in class in the first place. On the first day we spoke a lot on the topic of life perspective and the controllability of ourselves, things, and those around us. "As humans, we need to adapt to what we cannot control," Dr. Jih said in a soothing tone. He further explained that, "we should not worry about the things we cannot control." One of the main ideas he was getting at was that our outlook on life is much of what will determine how happy we truly are. After this eyeopening conversation, we moved more into the topic of systems. I was amazed with systems because Dr. Jih helped us foster the idea that practically everything is a system or is a part of one: each cell in our body, the system of cells that make up body parts, the body parts and organs that make us human, the group of humans that can make a group, all the students that create a school, all of the parts of a city that make the city whole and functional, all of the cities and industries that create a country, and all of the countries that make the system of the world we know today. Systems do no stop there though, for a whole other realm of systems revolves in technology and the digital age we live in. All companies are systems that combine humans, robots, computers, software/hardware, and AI into one. Dr. Jih did a phenomenal job of catching my attention and really getting me thinking about these ideas.

Class then ended shortly around 12, and we were set free for the day. We got some sort of authentic Asian food for lunch (I can barely tell the difference between ethnicities of food at this point because they are so similar, but I am working on it), and then set off to explore the local town. Sandy and Sunny were nice enough to group up with us and help show us how the system of their city worked. We first went to the store and got some easy cards with some cash on them. These were the cards that were used for almost everything in town. These uses included bikes, buses, trains, and even convenience stores. We rode all over town the rest of the night and explored all facets of the local area. We climbed trees, saw Sandy's home, went to the local park and skate park, saw the gym and pool, saw some karate, played games at the market
 and even tested out a few of the local beers. I was a fantastic day to say the least. At the end of the night we barely made it back to the dorm in time for curfew, but when we did, Trent and I showered and passed out as soon as our heads hit the pillow.

Day 2: The Never Ending Day

Today was the first day for some scheduled adventures with the group. We woke up, rolled out of bed, and met up with the group outside at the lobby. After a quick box breakfast, we headed to the bus and made way to Taipei. The drive to Taipei was absolutely gorgeous, and the city was massive. At the same time as the ride I was also on the phone dealing with a big real estate deal. I helped my friends Will and Christine get under contract on an awesome condo, and we were now set to close. We finally made it to town and began our VIP tour of the public transportation system. I know a good bit about Nashville, but I had no idea how intricate the transportation system of Taipei was. I thought they might ride lots of bikes and trains, but the system totally amazed me. Taiwan has developed an unbelievable transportation system that serves as the foundation for its immense economical growth. The trains, bike system, and smart signs were just some of the many features the city of Taipei presented. Following this tour, we had a delicious lunch in the food court. I had my first beef noodle! After crying from the spicy hot heat, I slugged down some milk tea, and then we were on our way to the next item on the agenda: The National Development Center. At this place we got an intricate presentation on the economical diversity and growth of Taiwan in addition to its high tech and modern use of the cloud for government services. I was astounded by how modern Taiwan actually was.

Following these two fantastic events, we were set free for the day. They day before I did not know anyone too well, but Trent, Sammy, Sunny, and I formed a good bond and friendship. We all grouped up and decided to adventure down to Taipei 101. A method of transportation need to be picked, so we choose to ride the You Bikes down the busy road. After making a quick stop in a real estate office, we finally made it to the enormous building just in time for sunset. Previously we heard that the ticket to reach the top might be expensive, but it turned out not too bad. We stepped on to the elevator to find out that it was the fastest in the world. Upon reaching the top, I was breath taken by the absolutely gorgeous view of the entire city. Suddenly I checked my watch though, and realized we had to get back soon. After the adventure home, I passed out immediately.

Day 1

7/12/2017

Day 1 is always and interesting one. We began with a delicious lunch as a local restaurant, and then all of us in our matching blue shirts marched back to campus for orientation. Professors gave their classic introductions, but Dr. Jih's speech stood out because of how genuine and real it was. He said that happiness if derived from living in the moment and that we should seek to gain the most out of this trip as we could. Following the professor introduction, we students as stood up and introduced ourselves as well. I was surprised because our group consisted of majority guys with a total of around 15 and the CYCU students were majority girls with about the same students. After orientation we had a quick lunch and then were free for the day. After a few interactions with the group, I became pretty good buddies with my roommate, and we decided to make our way to the super market to gather some general supplies such as towels and toilet paper. I went to to a boarding school and was around many asian students, so I expected them to be quite shy. It was quite the opposite though, for the Taiwanese student, especially these two girls Sandy and Sunny, were quite friendly and playful. The people of Taiwan were so open and friendly. They would do anything to make us feel at home. After some simple shopping we began walking back to campus. I saw the rec center on the way to the dorm and had to see it. After a quick game of ball, we strolled outside to be welcome by some ominous rain clouds that proceeded to downpour and completely soak us head to toe. At first we all huddled under one umbrella, but then decided to just let the rain do its thing and we scurried on home. We had a group agreement to meet that night at the Starbucks to go out to the night market, but my jet lag was setting in hard. I saw my bed and was pulled in.

Following a quick snooze we headed outside to be greeted by some nice, warm sunshine. The enormous clouds had parted like the red sea allowing us to have a great adventure to the night market. At this point my buddy Trent and I had made pretty good friends with two Sandy and Sunny and they showed us all the good tents and food station. Some people might think I am crazy, but that night I ate quail eggs, sushi, and some other sort of rice dish right off the street. I was delicious! We then parted ways with the big group and headed to the game the board game place. I don't even know where to begin with explaining this oddity, for I absolutely loved it! As a child I was engrossed with these sort of games, so I was in love. We proceeded to play a few but my heavy eye lids were taking over. On the way home the two girls made us stop at the game shop were the arcade games were. Trent tried to get one of the items with the metal grabber and was unsuccessful. On my first attempt I procured a cute yellow elephant and gave it to Sandy. She smiled at me and absolutely loved it. We then stumbled home, and I passed out immediately

A Day of Travel

After racing to the airport with my father, I barely made it in time. I slung my bags out of the back of the car, gave my father a hug goodbye, and briskly walked through the sliding glass door as the cool air conditioning overcame me. Following waiting in line and receiving my boarding pass, I pushed through security and finally found my group as they were boarding the plane. We had about 18 hours of flying ahead of us, and I knew it would be a long day. First we took a quick flight to Toronto Canada where our first connection was. Our next flight began our trip half way across the world to the unprecedented city of Taiwan. With 12 hours of flight time, I had more than enough spare moments to build predictions of what this adventure I was embarking on might be like. I am a person to love adventures and not knowing what might happen. You could throw me out anywhere, and I would make friends and find my way. I had never been to Asia though, so I had no idea what to expect. Would the college be extremely new with robots running around doing everything? Or would it be super old fashion with views out the windows of rice farms and men with straw hats? I didn't know what to think. Following many movies, naps here and there, and much reading, we finally heard the fasten seat belt sign as the plane began to descend towards Tokyo. After a quick lay over, we jumped back on the plane and soon made it to Taiwan. Funny enough it was actually my birthday on this laborious day of travel, so I made the most of it. Upon arriving at the airport, we gathered our bags and belongings and were graciously greeted by our new professor, students, and friends. At this point my eyes were heavy as lead, and I barely stayed awake as we boarded a bus and made out way to CYCU. Surprisingly I was greeted with a birthday cake by the caring students, but my bed and sleep would be the best present they could offer. I took my key, unlocked the door, and darted to sleep as if I never wanted to awake.

Expect the unexpected

It was a casual Sunday of relaxation and hibernation until the surprising yet exciting news exploded into my head. Around 10:30 I slowing began to start thinking about packing for my trip, but I was not too worried because I had all day Monday to prepare for the flight Tuesday. Being a pretty well traveled adventurer, I had no worries about the journey to Taiwan that I was about to embark on. Well until I picked up the phone and called up Travis, one of my fellow travel mates on the trip. I began asking general questions about the trip and whether there was anything important that I might be missing. Travis in a calm tone told me a few items and then explained to me excitedly that he had just finished packing. "Wow I bet that feels relieving!" I exclaimed. Then the conversation came to an end after we conversed for a few more minutes, and Travis concluded the phone call saying that he would send me the itinerary just in case. I agreed and hung up the phone. I got back to what I was doing, but seconds later a startling image popped up on my phone... I read the message as sweat began to drip down my face. Then I reread it again to make sure I was not mistaken. Our flight was that next morning only about 9 hours away and not on Wednesday. I jumped out of my seat in dismay, for I had absolutely nothing packed and only nine hours to go shopping, pack, prepare, sleep, and get to the airport. Nothing would stop me from missing that flight...