What A Year Can Do

365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes and 31,536,000 seconds.

 

 

San Luis Obispo, California, J-Term 2015

 

It's hard to believe that it has been a year since I arrived in China. A year ago today, I was eating REAL Chinese food with chopsticks, speaking (trying to, at least) Mandarin, riding public transportation, dancing in the streets with the locals, trying to things, adventuring new places and just being surrounded by a new and different culture. It's hard to be back in America, even after a year. When I returned from my three weeks of independent travel around Southern Asia, I went into slight depression. I missed everything. The smells. Food. Culture. Language. Everything. However, I realized that in order to 'get over' my re-entry shock to America, I needed to embrace my time 'in the present.' Even though I missed adventure and traveling with a burning passion, I needed to remember that my time at home was precious and I needed to take advantage of it.



Summer Palace - Beijing, China 2014

For those coming back to America after an extended time abroad, the best thing to do is keep yourself busy. If you enjoy working with kids, I highly suggest working with a school/daycare/family members the second you return to the States. I had the chance to work with Kindergartners for five weeks after I returned and they saved me from getting seriously sick with re-entry shock. The five year olds are so innocent and enjoy life to the max - it's a wonderful feeling to be around.

Little Cho from a village Southern China

Once they realized that I lived out of the United States, they wouldn't stop asking questions. "What is it like?" "Who did you eat with?" "Did you play with other Chinese kids?" They were so intrigued with the idea of living somewhere else. I loved every minute of it because I had the chance to tell my stories and see the reactions each child had. They were my life savers and I wouldn't trade working with them for the world.

Aerique and Me

My summer went on and I worked at the Wisconsin State Fair with some friends. It was hard work but it was also good for me to be so involved and busy with something new. I still missed Asia but I enjoyed working at a new place. However, it was finally time for the school year to roll around and I was ready to take on the next adventure of my life: being a Resident Assistant for the Global Living Community. With student from all across the world, we all came together to live and learn in a positive and welcoming community.

Without knowing it, my residents in my hall also helped me beyond measure. They introduced me to new cultures, I learned new things and I realized that I am so lucky to have had all these experiences in College. With most of our students from Brazil, I found a new love for a whole new culture. My Brazilian residents became my family and I am forever indebt to what they have done for me.

Along with my Brazilian's, UW-River Falls hosts the school that I studied at while in China - ZISU (Zhejiang International Studies University). So, even though I wasn't directly in China, I still had the opportunity to work and live with the same friends I made while in China. It was hard for me to believe that I was actually with my Chinese host buddies here in America. In all honesty, being around so many cultures again made me go back into a slight depression mode. I was upset that I couldn't go out in the world studying and exploring the best way possible: real life experiences. However, I got better and realized that I had culture all around me here at UW-River Falls. One of my peers once told me: "Tyler, you're one of the most cultured people I know." To me, this was the biggest compliment anyone as ever or will ever say to me.

Some of my Brazilian Residents and Me

And so now we are here. Wednesday, March 4, 2015. I have four hours of class, four hours of work and two hours of meetings all today. I should be studying but I had a need to write my thoughts out. My weeks and days are blending together and I am just keeping my head above the surface. Even though I am insanely busy, I am happy with everything that I have to do. I am pushing myself to learn more, educate myself through hands on experiences and preparing myself for the life I want.

Just recently, I applied and was accepted in the Guy Healy Program. It's a summer abroad experience that will take me back to Asia. On July 1, 2015, I will pack my bags once again and travel to Tokyo, Japan to teach English for two months. Being in one spot too long isn't my thing, apparently...shocking (: I'm excited to have this opportunity and even more excited to be surrounded in a culture where I don't speak the language.

Wait. One more thing. If you ever have the chance to buy a cheap plane ticket 'just because' ... do it!! Kristin, one of my best friends that I met and traveled with while in China, recently moved to San Luis Obispo, California. During J-Term, I had the chance to visit her and her roommate, Amy and it was such a great decision. The ticket to LA was super cheap so decided to fly in and spend two weeks in Sunny California. I loved it and it helped me with my adventure needs. Enjoy some of the pictures below!  Being with people you love and adventuring together heals the soul. Whenever you have the chance to do anything with your friends, family, loved ones, etc. - do it. Traveling only makes you stronger and you will be thankful for all the experiences you have.

Until next time,

Tyler



Kristin and I - California 2015

China Town, Los Angeles, CA 2015

Saida and I - Golden Gate Bridge, San Franscisco, CA 2015