a w a r e n e s s

In his latest novel, “Emergency,” Neil Strauss shares, in entertaining and informative detail, his sentiments and self-revealing quest to becoming his archetype of masculine, machismo, self-sufficient…essentially a survivalist man. A series of 69 lessons, which could be disastrously dangerous in the wrong hands (in my humble option), addresses a range of touchy topics and pointers from US politics, paranoia, and Darwinian evolution to slaughtering a goat named Bettie, creating caches “just in case,” and picking a padlock with a coke can.

He starts off on a mission to escape the system, so to speak; believing the US government is not to be trusted, seeking asylum in dual citizenship and offshore ventures; all inspired by dodgy cult groups, the infamous Y2K panic, and his rich friends hoping to purchase an island of refuge. His Wikipedia page, which I casually consulted shortly before cracking open Emergency, notes that Strauss’s nationality is American, Kittitian. The book truly goes into specifications on the trouble he went through to earn that second, well-researched but completely unrelated nationality; all in an effort to breakout from the catastrophe that is, from historical precedence and current signs, the US’s destiny to perish as the world’s hegemonic power. While I admittedly note that he’s inspired my investigation on attaining dual citizenship for myself, American & South African (minus Strauss’s hassle), I can’t agree more with his realization that, after he found himself in the threatening darkness of St. Kitts blackout post-Hurricane Katrina, he hasn’t escaped from anything; “The lesson of Katrina wasn’t that the United States can’t protect its own. It was that no country can protect its own. No place and no government can guarantee the well-being of its citizens. There’s only one place to find true safety: from within.”

So Strauss goes forth describing his lessons on becoming a man- and “as the world of survivalism opened up, I began to realized that I’d been rendered completely helpless by convenience….Life was more exciting now that I was learning to handle just about anything that came my way without having to depend on anyone else. Two decades after puberty, I was finally coning a man.” Little do we know that calling the 1-800-plumber when the toilet floods, purchasing mozzarella cheese at Trader Joe’s, or consuming vitamins to mentally compensate for the lack of fiber, protein, and calcium in our diets, is inadvertently, making us less of a “man.” I can agree with Strauss in some sense; because if the world was to end as we know and we were challenged in pulling a Robert Neville, how many hours, days, or weeks would we survive?

Strauss made frequent references to one of my favorite and most influential novels, Lord of the Flies as he himself, is a fliesian. If society were to tumble into unfamiliar shreds, humans would turn violent and animalistic; fending for themselves at the expense of anyone else; the Hobbes mentality; we are born naturally brutish and short. I paged through the novel questioning whether I myself, am a fliesian or a humanist, or somewhere in the vast grayness that lays between. While I believe strongly that human beings have the capacity to turn from kind and generous (when the resources are not scarce) to conniving and aggressive, I also believe that a situation like an apocalypse could evolve people in the opposite way. Is that survival instinct that some of us hold deeply within the very root to hostility we would inflict on another for a morsel of food or a sip of water to help us see the sun for at least one more day? Is it the denial of death (of ourselves) the stem to living beyond at our neighbor’s life sacrifice?

Strauss straddled a fine line between irrationality and inspiring awareness. While he seemed excessively paranoid, he indicated that “though paranoia is often used as a derogatory term, the truth is that it’s a survival instinct. In you your postman is stealing your checks or your nurse is poisoning your food, eve nits not true, the accusation is rooted in an innate desire for self-preservation. When a cat perks up its ears or hides under a bed when a completely harmless stranger approaches, it the exact same response developed through millennia spent living in the wild, where the unknown was a threat. And because the future is unknown, no matter how good or bad things may be today, it will always be a threat. So, ultimately, the sole arbiter of what’s paranoia and what’s common sense is what happens tomorrow. You’re only paranoid if you’re wrong. If you’re right, you’re a prophet.” And if that’s not convincing, I know that if/when sh*t hits the fan, I’d want to be stranded with Neil Strauss because he knows how to make, for example, drinkable water, from practically nothing; something we supposedly can’t survive 3 days without (unless you’re the Buddha Boy of Nepal).

http://outlawconsulting.com/sites/all/themes/outlaw/pdf/GenYFinal.pdf

It’s always interesting, and occasionally upsetting to become aware of how we are perceived by others. It can be even more distressing when our character is determined by the generation which we belong to…a mere but professing alphabet (Y) that declares the story of our very existence, attitudes, and ethos. FYI, Generation Y includes those who were born in and between 1979-1997.

The link above is to a 31-slide PowerPoint presentation (which I suggest clicking through) from a marketing company called Outlaw Consulting, Inc. based in San Francisco. They are a qualitative research firm specializing in Gen Y and trendsetters. I’ll give it to them; their work and philosophy are incredibly intriguing. They claim that they are “in the club with hipsters one day and in the boardroom with marketers the next” (as cheesy as that is, it says so on their website) all in an effort to delve into needs of consumers everywhere.

Either way, this slide-show is post-worthy because it identifies many revealing facets of society and its citizen majority, Gen Y…dun dun dunnnn. Obviously, what I take to be true from this presentation is only what I can relate to directly or indirectly through the traits of those whom I know. How true is it to you? 

rotflmao :].
C

Everyone says that coming back from studying abroad offers a more intense culture shock than living in another country. It’s partly true. I definitely felt it when I returned to Cal Poly from Costa Rica last spring. But somehow, this time around, I’m really happy to be home. It might have something to do with the fact that I’m graduating in less than four months, or that I’m 21 now and the activities in San Luis Obispo has suddenly expanded dramatically, or that having family from South Africa visit in December gave us more to look forward to and significantly helped the transition into normalcy. Either way, all factors are working in my favor and it doesn’t hurt that I love California, where the sun decided to stay strong this year despite the season.

I’ve been getting into yoga, especially recently. It’s the perfect indoor activity to stimulate the heart, loosen the muscles, and detox the soul even when it’s cold and rainy outside (weather that typically makes me feel lazy and dull). It’s not only a workout, but it’s self-paced, peaceful, and meditative all at the same time. An unknown author once said ”Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” And that is fact attained through something as marvelous as yoga; it’s amazing how my mood is elevated even after 30 minutes of practicing it. The image to the right is of me getting in some yoga time before the sunset on a beach in Malaysia (Tioman Island) and the crazy one to the left was taken by “barrel-maker” on www.deviantart.com. There are so many challenging poses and positions that I’m striving to achieve. In the process, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the art of bboying/bgirling (commercially known as breakdancing). So many of their moves take some serious yoga skills…all while spinning, jumping, flipping, and rolling around in a dense circle of gaping spectators. Here’s a video of one of my friends, Bedrock, and his crew, the Infamous Zebra Mob of New Jersey, who continuously take it to a new level.

Peace

Ohh, I have returned to the imaginative world of the blog. Apologies extended for the lengthy procrastination of posting as I have been more consumed than expected with life back at home. Luckily, there’s so much to share! Yes, I know it’s February and by now, people have already devoured their Valentine’s Day chocolates in blameless disregard of their “lose weight” or “eat healthy” New Year’s resolutions and fat Tuesday has already accumulated a chunky ring of beads around the necks of many, I’m sure. However, so much happened over the holidays that it would be a shame to not include it in this outdated post.

After undergoing severe jetlag (I don’t naturally or preferably wake up before 8am otherwise) upon my homecoming from Thailand, the Christmas sleighed around soon enough and my parents, brother, and I flew to Miami to meet up with my uncle, aunts, and cousins who had freshly arrived to the States from South Africa! It was incredibly exciting because we hadn’t seen each other in what seemed like years (realistically it was three).

We spent the first three days of the trip exploring the city of Miami; strolled along south beach and discovered bluebottle jellyfish strewn across the shore, wandered around the numerous shopping centers in the area, and splattered in the bathwater ocean. We jumped aboard the “Millionaire’s Row Sightseeing Cruise” which took us down the beautiful and scenic Biscayne Bay to see houses belonging to an assortment of celebrities from Elizabeth Taylor to Will Smith.

We were scheduled to embark on the Caribbean Cruises: Majesty of the Seas New Year’s cruise to the Bahamas! We were all thrilled, especially when we caught sight of the massive ship we’d be staying on! When we were finally on board, my brother, Prashay, cousins, Karishma and Zakhna, and I explored the nooks, crannies, and eateries (of course!) of our new found territory. We had already eaten, settled in the cabins, and formulated the basic floor plan of the ship before my parents, uncle, and aunts arrived on the ship. We obtained the itinerary for each day and realized that there was absolutely no justification to get bored, hungry, or stressed! There was something to do for everyone; spas (mind you, which were much, much more expensive than those in Thailand-something I’ve had to get used to), rock-climbing, basketball, table tennis, the poolside, lounges, bars, the casino (where many of the “elderly” folk were found), a theatre, and a variety of restaurants. The first day, we visited the island of Nassau which is home to the infamous Hotel Atlantis. This hotel/resort has been featured in many movies, including 007 Casino Royale. The “Michael Jackson Suite,” which is the most expensive “room” of the hotel, was named because he was the first to stay here at “$25,000/night, 4-night minimum, no change.” The New Year’s Eve party was held elaborately on the deck; beautiful ice and fruit sculptures decorated the tables and balloons floated atop the pool’s waters. There was a dance floor and a live band and DJ, free champagne, and a countdown that came too soon! The photo to the left is of us all dolled up for the New Year’s Eve dinner with the Captain.

We were scheduled to part ways after the cruise with my uncle and his gang. They were going to Orlando to do the theme park (Disney World and Universal) vacay while we were to fly out of West Palm Beach. We drove them to Orlando because my uncle’s national driver’s license didn’t suffice when renting a car here. When we got to West Palm Beach, we visited the Lion Country Safari for the second time (we visited it the last time we went to Florida) and it was just as amazing. At one point, two zebras blocked the road and appeared to be hugging and/or conversating. I also got to touch a giraffe !

Everyone seemed to have a fabulous time in Orlando and soon after they came to our house in San Jose to stay a few weeks. That time went by so fast as well, especially since I was at school in San Luis Obispo for half of that time. They went to Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, and other places while my brother and I attended the first weeks of the quarter/semester at school.  We got to spend one last weekend together before they left and we took them to the typical tourist spots in our area: Fisherman’s Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Mystery Spot, and the 17 Mile Drive. Twas was good fun and now that they’re all back in South Africa, we miss them loads ! 

Until soon…

First things first, O to B to A-M-A!!! I celebrated Obama’s sweeping victory at the Hyatt Hotel in Bangkok along side members of the U.S. embassy, students from various schools in the Bangkok area, and other tourists from all over the world interested in the change that was about to proceed. The students of the International College were cordially invited to join the Election Watch 2008. We walked into a large conference room filled with people in school uniforms, suits, and patriotic colors, as well as tables decorated with floating balloons and cocktail bites. When CNN finally announced their projection of “Barack Obama: The 44th President of the United States,” with the final count being 365 Electoral College votes vs. 173, my friends, not only from America but also from Bhutan, China, Nepal, and Thailand, all jumped in excitement, anticipation and pride (in being American). I’m sure it was an exciting time for many people all over the planet who could find one relation or another to Obama. After we got back to Rangsit, taxi cab drivers, teachers, and other students struck up conversations about “Oh-bah-maaah” (in wonderful Thai accents), and market venders sold artsy t-shirts exhibiting his face (of course I purchased one!).

Due to the fact that so much has happened since my last post to steer me off track from updating my blog, this one will be brief, with the pictures doing most of the explaining…

For Halloween, my friends and I spent one night in Bangkok at a karaoke bar caroling beside Thais who were 10 times more talented at it than we were. It was amusing nevertheless and I discovered that Asians are serious about their Karaoke! The International College also threw the students a Halloween party the following night at a nearby club called Sit Nee. This event marked the first time when I really got to know my classmates outside school regalia and classroom manner. It occurred to me that despite the fact that we are all from adverse parts of the planet, we enjoy very similar things like dancing, listening to music, laughing, and ultimately having a great time with fabulous company. I dressed up as the national tree of Thailand, the “Golden Shower Tree” or in Thai, Dok Khuen (I figured I’d be patriotic in some nerdy form). Most people were dressed up in costumes and many of the teachers attended as well. The image to the left is of me sitting beside the director and coordinator of the International College.

Soon enough, another festival rolls around in Thailand. Loy Krathong, one of the most beautiful festivals, occurred a few weeks ago. Loy Krathong means something like “floating banana leaf”and this occasion is celebrated on the 12th full moon of the lunar calendar. Thai people artistically construct banana boats out of biodegradable items like banana leaves, flowers of all sorts, food, toothpicks, etc. and float it down the river or lake to pay tribute to the gods of the water. Krathongs can be made incredibly elaborate; in shapes of towering crowns, graceful swans, or rich lotus flowers. People make wishes as they waft away their Krathongs filled with hopes of wealth and good health, typically represented by coins, incense sticks, and candles. Sneakily, Little children rake in the krathongs of others to the shore to collect the money! At Rangsit University, we burst fireworks on the track and field, browsed through a huge market set up right on campus., and even released rice-paper lanterns into the sky. The freed lanterns looked like a collection of fireflies gliding away toward the moon. We even made our own krathongs in my Thai Civilization class and floated them in the fountain pond in from of the building. It was such a pleasant celebration, I’m really glad I was here to experience it and I only wish that we had something like it in the States. There was also a Mr. and Miss Loy Krathong that was similar to Homecoming King and Queen at our high schools in the States. Teachers nominate students to fill those positions and they are eventually crowned before their classmates in a large auditorium with music, decorations, and a buoyant amibance.

The weekend after, a few of my friends and I traveled to the second largest island in Thailand, Koh Chang to spend a few relaxing days on the beach once again. It means “Elephant Island” in Thai for the elephant shape of its headland, but I didn’t see any while there because elephants are not indigenous to the island. The recent success of Koh Chang as a serious tourist destination has been phenomenal yet it remains a lot more peaceful and less developed than Phuket.  We were there for a few days and since the main road perimeters the while island, we figured we’d have to provide ourselves with an independent form of transportation. I rode my first motorcycle here and I was able to see waterfalls, the mountains, the countryside, and a beach called “White Sand” beach.  It’s amazing how many precuations the U.S. takes when driving an automobile, especially a motorcycle in comparison to Thailand. Motorscooters or motorcycles are incredibly common here and in Koh Chang, all we had to do was present the lender with an ID of any kind and 150 Baht (about $5) for renting the bike for 24 hours! The most important thing is to not get in an accident or else they make us pay for the whole part of the motorcycle that was knicked and that could cost at least $20 (relatively expensive). Although the roller coaster-roads proved to be a bit of a challenge for an amateur like myself, I had a good time and smehow managed to avoid any sort of calamity. In the evenings, our hostel and those nearby provided us with firedance shows. We sat outselves on straw mats laid out before the shore and awed at agile locals who harmoniously danced with the flames. It was the perfect way to end each day.

Thanksgiving was this week. Rangsit University has an international day celebration every year and since this time it was during November, Thanksgiving naturally became the theme of the ball. I didn’t think it would be anything too spectacular; just the international students and a few teachers and some turkey, which I don’t eat anyway. But Rangsit and Thailand never lets us down when it comes to partying. Walking past the new international building during the day, we see a large sign that says “RSU Thanksgiving Party.” We realize that this event is going to be really exciting! Without disappointment, we arrive in the evening to a road on campus filled with stands of typical Thanksgiving food (turkey, stuffing, salad, mashed patatoes, breadrolls), Thai food, desserts and fruits, and drinks; all before a colorfully lit up stage hosting a live band. Students from all sectors of the University were there, the President, Dr. Arthit Ourairat, was there as well! I haven’t even met the president of Cal Poly being that I’ve studied there for three years already, yet in three months, I was able to meet the president of an international and local school of the same size, 20,000 students. Now that’s real. The image to the left illustrated a few of my friends from Bhutan, China, and Thailand dancing the night away; the girls were less shy than the boys at first but as more and more people joined in, it became a dance party on the street. After the party at school, a diverse bunch of us went to a nearby bar. The prince of Bhutan attends Rangsit University, International College and he was there as well. I hung out with a few Burmese and Bhutanese students and they enlightened me on the politics of the countries and I tried very hard to follow through the various accents and explanations.

Until soon…