School/Life/Future & Silicon Valley

I don't like to rant/rave w/o reason,
therefore when I rant I shall back it with logical reasoning,
and boy do I have reasons. Where shall I start?

Got back from Asia the 14th and I swear, everytime I come back
its harder to fit into the drone lifestyle here. Yes a lotta ppl
work hard perhaps, but I'd argue that just having a steady job
does not qualify one's life as a.provocative/vibrant/adventurous.

I realize realistically people need to work for $ to survive, of course.

I'm talking more about priorities in life. Everyone, ultimately, chooses where
they live. Most ppl in Silicon Valley are content, I suppose, to exist in a work dominated lifestyle in a place that has little to offer culturally (compared to Asia or Europe). Hey whatever floats your boat. I'm a dreamer, not content , and def. more
inclined to listen to my passions regarding living abroad in a place with vibrant
expression of culture, i.e. higher density areas where you can interact with more ppl.

For me I'm not settling for living somewhere in an environment that doesn't
suit me. What do I prefer? INTL open-minded well-traveled people. Why
am in San Jose or much less the uber-apathetic SJSU? It just happened, and nobody
(though I would have thanked them kindly)

Hindsight is 20/20.

Alas I've b*******d and complained enough. Let me say some positive things.

I'm thankful there IS a program called CSUIP, allowing students to see other
cultures affordably while in school. There are HUGE budget cuts recently but
luckily it seems that INTL programs will not be affected...thank God, that would
be a serious mistake.

Going abroad has taught me the most about life, legions more than going
to school, in the overall scheme of things.
Once you go abroad, your perspective is forever altered, in most likely a positive
way. Exposure to culture teaches you in a hands-on way you can never learn by
any amount of TV, classes, or even just learning the language. To get into the mind
of another culture you have to be there, even then it takes years to understand
what makes it tick.

Goin Back 4 Real

T-12 hours and I'm outta here.
Leaving Asia behind for the time being, but hell yea I'll be back.
Always am. So many thoughts going through my head.

I'm kinda anticipating Reverse culture shock, nah thats not really
my worry. I'm thinking more about the cumulative affect of this study
abroad experience on my life overall. I'm definitely glad I had the
opportunity to go abroad.

More Americans need to get their minds stretched, everyone should have the
opportunity to go abroad, or make it a major priority. Life BEGINS when
you step into another culture and your perspective WILL get broader, because
you see, "O, people in other countries live, think, and act TOTALLY differently!"

Yea its that big of a difference.

Some expecations I had were unrealistic for this trip, and other things
I had no idea what was possible. I met people went places, lost money, gained
friends, burned bridges, and perhaps started to see more clearly myself and
what I can do about self-improvement.

Just going abroad in and of itself isn't an escape, though I and many others
who go abroad wishfully view it as that. Sure environment change is great,
but all the baggage, mental patterns and constructs that that were built in your
brain since day one come right along.

I realize the need for bigger goals in life. Definitive goals, that no matter
how slow you progress towards them, are meaningful, timely, and valuable.
Everyone needs something that gives meaning to their lives and I feel the same
especially as I get older. I need more meat in my life, something that I can
really dig into in a positive way, not a relationship, not job necessarily but
something bigger perhaps.

What will I do when back?: Be ACTIVE in
- Couchsurfing: Events, try to host
- Friends
- Tennis, exercise
- SCHOOL
- $$$ To survive
- Work towards JPLT & going abroad to TW, need refinement here.

Next post from the otherside!