It's such a shame that I haven't posted a single entry after the first one. Well, it has been a tough transition from the SAIS world to the real world. May was an absolutely crazy month, starting with a series of exam, then my big oral, immediately followed by my mother's visit, which lasted all the way until after my graduation. I left for Beach Week after that, and returned to work right after that.... it just seemed like a never-ending rollercoaster until...today.

Graduation was beautiful. Highlights included:

1. Hoa and I had a large crowd showing up to cheer for us. My mother, Toan & No, Phuong Anh, Will & Stan, Tom & Pete, Hang from NYC, Kathy & Katrinka from San Antonio - not to mention my host dad showing up a few days before that. It was fantastic to see the familiar faces, especially given how much support I had received from them over the years...

2. We had the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon as graduation speaker. As he marched into the auditorium, he stopped and talked to the Korean SAISers. Having a last name similar to the Koreans placed me in the middle of that crowd and I also shook hands with Mr. Ban. Just another day in the SAIS world!

3. And finally, as I was walking on the stage to shake hands with Dean Einhorn, I decided to pull a quick photo stun, which made it a lot more fun than the usual handshake. It totally completed the graduation, making it not just special but also fun and memorable.

Yes, a few weeks after and the ceremony is still fresh in my mind. But the beautiful memories have been overwhelmed by sad moments of goodbyes. Now, goodbye is nothing new to me. I've said that enough times -- but as I took one of my best friend Hoa to the airport, I couldn't help wondering if this pattern will just be repeated for the rest of my life...

Lame entry, I know... But at least I can get the ball rolling....The next one will be better, I promise.

xoxo.

A New Journey - really?

Well, it's more like a transitioning period for now... but in four weeks, it will really be a new journey for me.

You know, I have taken many trips in life - traveling is one of my biggest passions. I have been living away from home - and I really mean a long way, as in half way around the world long - for almost 7 years. I have traveled to 25 countries. I have reached the bottom of Singaporean sea in a kayak trip and trekked up the mountain in India; eaten koala and kangaroo meat in Sydney and dined in style with foie-gras and wine in Paris; delivered aid to the cyclone-infected delta in Burma and worked with junior delinquants in Scotland; as well as strutted on the grand avenues of New York, London, Milan, and Hongkong - the biggest fashion capitals.

Yet, I have to confess. This new journey is a bit daunting.

Because I am entering the real life. With a real job.

This is the last month of my graduate study. After that, with an M.A. in International Affairs from the top school in this field, I will enter the work force with my first real job ever at a multilateral development agency. It's not my first time "working" with big multilaterals, but for the first time, I will undertake real responsibility, having real worries, something much substantial than what to wear today, or how much time I would have at the gym.

So I decided to start this blog - not to rant about the difficulties at the new job - but to document my biggest adventure ever. It's not meant to be a professional blog, even though I am sure I will have a lot of interesting things to say about my job - because I absolutely love it! But this blog is meant to share the emotions and thoughts of someone who starts his career in an approximately 9-5 job but is unwilling to surrender to the salaryman conundrum and committed to pursue his passions of traveling, arts, dance, design, passion, men, and many more.

So until the next time.
Biz.

Photo source: mookieinhiding.files.wordpress.com