BEYOND NOWHERE: Chapters 10-12

Day A32: 1^st Attempt to escape

As the days turned into weeks, he would try to repair his car, and build a radio to contact the outside world. He later found the natives had their own radio. The range of those radios only allowed him to contact locals on the other side of the island. The radio heads of the island decided they would try and help him contact the outside world so that he may get back.

As more weeks went by, he had nothing to do but wait to hear back from the radio heads once they received contact. They told him they were busy though, and that he should check back on a weekly basis. Every now and then they would come back with a small message from the outside world, but it was never clear communication. He received contact but in most instances the transmission would be lost in a matter of minutes. Worst of all, if the language from the outside world was a foreign language, he wasn’t able to communicate. It proved even more difficult to overcome other local communication.

 

For not every native on the island shared his plight. The natives had their own lives to attend to.

Day A125: Mingle

He tried to mingle with the natives, but found it increasingly difficult to reach any connection or amount of depth. He wasn’t used to their language or their way of life.

They did not know anything about the driving or understand why anyone would want to escape this island. Most of all they were curious as to how he landed there. To them a car couldn’t carry you to their island. He pondered this for not even he knew how the car landed on the island. Again, he doesn’t know their language therefore this is just what he assumes by observing their gestures.

Beyond Nowhere: Chapters 7-9

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Unknown Days Past: Land

He opens his eyes slowly and wakes up all bruised and broken on what appeared to be a patch of green grasslands by a beach. The air was nice and cool and the car was there with him, buried halfway in the sands. He found himself on an island surrounded by water, and for a while he was alone. Soon he’d discover natives on this island.

Day A14: The Natives

The natives looked like ordinary people he would’ve met before. A mixture of diverse colors and they all wore shirts, pants, and shoes like anyone else.

The natives spoke a different language though. He found it hard to understand them. He would often find that he had to communicate with pictures or gestures. He found out the natives were familiar with the outside world but it did not matter because all they cared to know was their way of life and the island that they lived on. They didn’t drive cars and they didn’t do much of anything, but drink wine and work the hard labor on their respective farms. It was an agricultural community that enjoyed harvesting grapes, wine and fresh foods. 

Day A31: Unexpected

Driver One found himself feeling lost because it seemed that everything he had learned in the past has proved all for nothing. The skills he had obtained in his life did not apply to this newfound land. His car was the means of his life and all that he had ever invested into it. Now it would appear that all his work was for nothing. The available jobs and duties on this new island would require no skills involved with driving or cars.

Driver One enjoyed the place for he could see the goodness that was in the land and its natives. He didn’t have to work. The problems that he had faced in the past were no longer around. He had always wanted to start a new life and settle down somewhere. Maybe this was the place. Maybe not, for it didn’t seem like the destination he had in mind.

Beyond Nowhere: Chapter 4,5,6

BEYOND NOWHERE

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Day 601: Investment

Over the years he invests so much of his time driving and learning about his car. Fixing it up, and making sure the proper care is given. His parents chose this particular car for him, but it was up to him to keep it running. Often he dreamed of driving a better car, one closer to his preferences, but outside influences wouldn’t allow him too. The car would have its breakdowns and damages every now and then. And he would repair them, and invest the time and effort into a car he didn’t want in the first place. But this car got him through the highway,  and started on the path to adulthood. 

Day 651: Crash

One day as he was driving on a highway bridge across an ocean.

The car’s engine started to make knocking sounds. The engine caught on fire and Driver One loses control of his vehicle. The car steers off the side of the bridge and drops down into the water. In an instant he sees through his windshield, crashing into the water. He hits his head abruptly on the side of the steering column, and although he slowly faints for the damage tires him out.

   

       

Unknown Days Past: Land

He opened his eyes slowly and wakes up all bruised and broken on what appeared to be a patch of green grasslands by a beach. The air was nice and cool and the car was there with him, buried halfway in the sands. He found himself on an island surrounded by water, and for a while he was alone. Soon he’d discover natives on this island.

Beyond Nowhere: Chapter 2 and 3

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Day 301:Destinations

And at some point when you're on the road you realize that the other drivers behind you in traffic are honking and eager to get on this highway. So you get on the highway or you get left behind. Driver One and his friends got on this highway. They all went at different times and had different destinations in mind.

Now remember the car is your means of getting you to your destination. What you invest in putting into it, learning about it, will determine how and when you get there. Some drivers choose to make stops along the way, and others have an exact destination in mind.

Driver one doesn't know where exactly he wants to go. He has an idea. Most drivers have chosen to go wherever their loved ones are, and some drivers have just chosen the best place for an opportunity to survive.

Day 501: Relationships
Driver one finds himself confused. Torn by the many exit roads for he sees the best in every exit, and simply cannot choose. He figures as long as he keeps driving the highways and stops frequently at every exit he can get a taste for all of them. Not once has he felt settled in a single location for he lives a life of a no mad. He is a constant seeker living in each place with a temporary mindset. At times this has left him feeling alone. For he has learned that having many friends does not equal developed life long relationships.

Beyond Nowhere: Intro and chapter 1

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HIGHWAY: AN ANALOGICAL ANECDOTE

Introduction: CAR ENTHUSIASTS
I like cars and I like driving. I consider myself always wanting to be an automotive enthusiast. Even in high school, I always dreamed of working on cars and building them. Not many would ever know this because I never had much of an opportunity to do so. To be an enthusiast, you need the "car": one that you can truly love and invest to work on. My parents never allowed me to buy an old car and fix it up by forbidding that I ever park this "car" on their property. I always planned on doing this whenever I would graduate, settle down, or become an adult. 

Day 1: PATH TO ADULTHOOD
Meet Driver One. He's just gotten his first car. He's excited, because the world he's finally entered into is so new. He has an ideal destination in mind, but not sure exactly where his destination is.

Along his road trips he has met many friends and enthusiasts alike; other drivers on the road. Some of these other drivers become his best friends. At some point in their lives they decide they need to leave the neighborhood freeways for the highway. This highway represents the path to adult hood.

(To be continued)

Counting the Days

"Sometimes I feel like God, Fate, the Universe, or whatever people like to call him these days gives you a symbol or a sign. Whether we choose to listen or pay attention to these signs is entirely up to us."


It's May 5th, (EL cinco De Fricken De MAYOnnaise), 2013 and still no job.

1.) I can't log into my blog anymore because for some reason it has locked me out.

2.) I can't text anymore because my phone's power button can't do the reboot for the phone.

3.) I can receive texts, but I can't send them as a result of my phone not being able to reboot.

4..) My 1st car is breaking down beyond reasonable repair

5.) My best friend has asked me "Why I wouldn't move back to Austin?"

6.) Did I mention I'm losing my mind, or rather wonder how Tom Hanks survived in Castaway.


1.) I've had a feeling that my blogs are not doing any good for anybody. I have a feeling that employers may find it, and question it. I have a feeling I'm sharing too much information. So I took a break from it and thought about it. I'm on the verge of losing my mind therefore I need to mark the walls of this experience to stay mentally alive.

2.) Losing power, means losing control. And it's a sign saying this is not in my control.
3.) Talk about a sign to tell me to listen instead of talk. Or a sign saying your true will text you no matter what happens. It's one way. Which is funny, because sometimes I feel like that when some of us communicate with God.

4) A 2002 Honda Civic Black LX coupe. I've had this car since I was 16. It's breaking down. And as any one would know, it has a lot of memories with it. I think back to all the road trips and the situations we've been through. I've had it for 7 years now. What is the sign here? I can't drive it as much as I want to without knowing it needs repairs. Yet I can't afford it. So I'm stuck most of my days, not driving very far. I'm Stuck! If the car breaks down entirely I will stuck. If my computer dies, I'll really be stuck. d.

5.) This has really got me thinking about Love vs. Career choices. If you ever decide to move away really consider the people you're leaving behind. I think most people choose love and relationships, and now I know why. But either way it's a gamble. You choose the people, and they might leave. You choose the career and it might fail. But it's tough not knowing what's ahead. I've been meeting a lot of people out here. Professionals, who have jobs, and people who are no longer college students. It feels different. Even high school friends vs. college friendships feel different. It's the experiences you share together. Think about all the "Firsts" you shared with someone. They really are important. The first time you have a cigar, a beer, go to house church, or Los Angeles. All the firsts really matter.


Most of all, I'm considered a weird person by most people I meet. It's difficult to find people to understand my abstract ideas. I don't expect just anybody to either. Sometimes it just goes too deep.  I tried talking about it the other day with someone. A religious convo I usually have with the friends I had back in Austin.  It went terrible. At least from her perspective, she just wasn't getting it. It was 1 am her time and 11pm my time, and maybe I shouldn't have talked to her.  I apologized and said "sorry, I usually have these conversations back home." It's like I have a fix for conversations which cannot be had with anybody. There are certain conversations that You just can't share with anyone else, because of the way they handle a topic that is too abstract.

6.) If Tom Hanks can do it in a fictional movie which i'm sure is non-fiction to some degree, then maybe I can do it. There are a lot of things going on here, more than I can mention. Things that one just can't share with anybody. The enemies of my existence and my dreams will probably use some of this against me. After all it's the internet. I dunno if I should even share this stuff.

But seriously, friends of mine, know that I feel like a "warm beer". Have you ever tasted a warm beer? It's strange because it has all the flavor and ingredients of a cold beer. They used to drink warm beer in the old wild west. A warm beer can be a beer that is just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If this beer ever found it's way into the fridge it could never go back. If you take it out and try to make it warm again, it just goes...well...flat.

DFW vs. Austin (Nostalgia of the places I used to live in)

I grew up in the DFW area for about 20 years. I must say that all the places I've been since then have given me a much better experience. This is a review of the pros and cons of the places I've lived.

Most people grow up in a city, call it home, and can say that there is no other place they would rather be. Yet I find myself having quite the opposite point of view. I grew up in the DFW area and have felt like it was crap compared to Austin and San Francisco.

I remember having great times with my friends from high school there, because we were adventurers, but believe it or not, most of them never stuck around. One of them is in Maine, The other one left to Oklahoma then College Station. The other one is just staying there because of his family, which I probably would've done too. Another thing, none of them were Texas natives: one from Boston, one from Kansas, and one from Argentina. If you were a friend of mine, you were an exception to this review of Dallas.

Oh...before I go on I should tell you my background a perspective, because I think it could have a lot to do with this. I am a 23 year old, 6" 2' Asian male who grew up in Arlington, then Southlake, then West Plano. The culture I grew up around has been mostly Caucasian-American and suburban as anyone who went to school there.

Summary?

Dallas, TX - "Affluent people rule"; the land of the 30,000 dollar-millionaires, and people who lease BMW's. I would lease a BMW there, you can get one for $300 a month and in the land of low cost of living, and good economy, you can afford one. I believe part of adapting to Dallas means having a well-paid job. People there are generally fit and on the attractive side. It seems superficial at times. I like the conservative atmosphere, but it can be much at times. When it came to talking to people, I felt like most of them have never met an Asian person before, or at least had an understanding of one. Drinking at bars is huge here, not alot of mom-pop shops for coffee. In fact the franchise food here beats anything in California. For example I think the KenTacoHuts in Dallas are better than the one in California. When it came to talking to girls there, it seemed like it mattered a lot where I was going with my career or what kind of car I drove. Great place for cars though. I owe my material-passion for Fast cars to Dallas. The Car meets here are amazing. But of course, you need money to buy nice cars.

Bottom Line: Great if you like livin large, having a job that pays well, good urban planning, good business

Austin, TX- "Don't Judge a Book by its Cover". When I first moved here from Dallas, I was slightly annoyed at the poor urban planning of the roads. Dallas has the George Bush Turnpike at 70mph which charges extra tolls, and limits traffic. In Dallas if you miss an exit, you can take the next exit 1/4 mile down. In Austin, if you miss an exit you might be screwed for an extra 2 miles, In California, even more so.

Before I actually lived in Austin, I visited Austin, and didn't find much to do here. But let me tell ya, going school here and living here I found the cream of the crop when it came to people and friendship. The friends I made here were musical, intellectual, filled with wonder and adventurers as well. One was an Austin Native, Another from Houston, and believe it or not a couple of Dallas people as well.

I imagined it as the elite collection of almost every group you can find. This place was like Dallas's cooler cousin. By that I mean, you had a diverse range of people, from internationals, from California, from Colorado, from Houston, and farm type people. The mom-pop shops were great. I remember spending many of great nights at Hipster Spider-House Coffee, or the Retro-Kirby Lane Breakfast place. There's also a neat 80's club called "Barbarella". This city introduced me to retro music and made retro cool again. Might I add that Spider-House serves a variety of food, Alcoholic beverage, and coffee. It's a one stop shop for every thing. I have yet to find a place like this in Dallas, I know they have it in California though. The food here is a amazing. Mexican, BBQ, Korean, and then all three put together at a food truck called Corianos.

The word "Weird" is now synonymous with "greatness" in the city of Austin. It was also the first city to expose me to the Libertarian ideas, which I must say seems like a great political party. When it came to talking to girls there, I definitely had an easier time. This time it wasn't about the money or the career, it was about something more. Sure there are some that still do, probably from Dallas or the rest of Texas. There are some people that seemed like they hadn't experienced very much in their life, probably from small towns in Texas. But then there were the intellectuals, and those that were open minded. I have had my most philosophical conversations in this city. What I like about Austin, is that it was a huge melting pot in all the favorable ways for me. Most of the people here seemed really cool. Although the Texas heat can be a pain in the summers, Austin will make it enjoyable with the Lake and Barton Springs to cool you down. I miss this place. Now I'm hungry just thinking about the food there.

Bottom Line: I wouldn't judge Austin based on a visit, I would live there to experience it. Great if you like diversity, perspective, live music, originality, and want to stay in Texas, but want the free-spirit of California.

Let's face it though, Austin is the only city of its kind in Texas. Really, Austin is the only city of its kind anywhere. You take a conservative southern state, and you open a free-spirited, diverse, musical city. It's really something.