This Space, This Time...

Originally Written Nov. 18, 2009  Original Title: Welcome, Bienvenidos, Namaste, Yokoso, Eoseooseyo! Thank you for the time you are spending to read about my life. I'm flattered. Let me introduce you to my life at this time and in the this space... Currently, I am living on the island of Yeongdo gu in Busan, South Korea. I am teaching English to more than 300 students at Haedong Juhakyo, an incredible Buddhist middle school.  

Written March 10, 2010, South Korea Original Title: "Losing Motivation & Maintaining Progress...Damn, It's Tough!" In the past few entries, I’ve been SUPER motivated and speaking to the world out of the mouth of my ambitious and lovely Gemini persona. Life is about balance and because I want this relationship to be genuine, it wouldn’t be fair to you if I didn’t introduce the other side of myself…  What up? I’m the Raina that despite all of the knowledge and goodwill in myself and the world, am inflicted by my human nature. In other less dramatic words, I’m the side that is less motivated, lazy, frustrated, unsatisfied, always hungry and just plain tired of going to the gym twin!! I joke, but this is real talk, Man. I have been feeling this way for the last several day and to anyone who knows about working out and dieting, you also knows that a couple weeks off of a consistent workout & eating routine is all that it takes to send ur ass back to square one!  The m...

Written on Nov. 2, 2011 Around Accra, Ghana   Greetings and well wishes to you and thanks in advance for your time while reading this message.  A bit of background: I moved to Ghana in February of 2011 with my boyfriend on what became an extended feasibility study . Our joint aim was to travel to West Africa, look for work, a place to stay and a community to thrive within- all within 5-months time. By the end of the five months, we found all of those things and so much more.  Nothing here is acquired without its price and serious emotional, physical and psychological pressure that takes a toll on us as individuals and as a couple. However, we are doing it and in our own ways creating ways to make the environment work to our advantage. But, its not easy-O!  This post is coming after a long absence from writing in this form, the last time being while I was physically and mentally transitioning in The States after a year of living in Busan, S. Korea. By the way, it fe...

Written Nov. 6, 2011 Around Accra, Ghana   Sharing... I never knew that one can be a genuinely lovely and a loving person, both empathetic and considerate, yet still have an issue with sharing. Well, my boyfriend, a middle child I will add, brought my last girl born issue to the light.  I believe that money is mine when I earn it and ours when he does... isn't that the way it works in a relationships? Sigh, I guess not... Ive never grown as much as I have in the last few months in West Africa.  It seems like I have been forced to dig deep within to make life livable throughout. In the relationship, with this new melting pot of culture and customs, and when on the job, or looking for assistance managing the jobs I am creating for others, I am learning to strengthen the focused, direct, humble and steadfast muscles inside myself that I never knew was so important for adulthood. Life... it is not easy o'.  

Written Nov. 29,  2011 Around Accra, Ghana Never Alone. In Ghana. It just occurred to me that I am alone. Completely alone. I cant remember the last time I could say that I was totally by my self . Its certainly been more than 8-months- since before I arrived in Ghana. I have not been alone for a solid period of 24 hours. I mean seriously alone- with the removal of everyone- coworkers, employees, bus passenger, talkative taxi drivers, random school children, neighbors, significant other, house guests, family and friends...  Remember the last time that I was so isolated from everyone, you know? Its a bizarre feeling for me right now, just because of how long its been since I have felt this way. A bit cautious, yet, cool, nervous and...    

Written in July 2011, Nakatsu, Japan Have you ever felt the need to just clear out all areas of your life? Not necessarily, clean out all that's old, just simply do a bit of renovation to create more space for the new.  I am undergoing that process at the present, on several levels. Yes, those who know me understand by now that this feeling isn't a new one, per se, yet it is certainly acted upon in different ways each time it hits. We all remember the last, leap off to West Africa for the year to "clear out emotional clutter." Or before that, diving into a new life in South Korea to "clear myself out" of ....my disappointment, feelings of needing to act.    The feeling has hit me (yet again) and I have decided that the best way for me to really remove all the built-up scum, grim and muck in my mind, body and soul will be to fast- it out. For those who are not sure how one "fasts out" anything... let me explain. Confession: I am not a skilled ...

  Written on August 18th, 2020 in Washington DC                                                                The pictures above reflect the energy and enthusiasm of one person with 10 years of life in between. A version of myself that was carefree and fun & another more responsible and professional. At this time in my career as a bold, collectivist-minded International Educator, I am in need of a regular outlet for self-expression. Whoa! It's just hit me how so much has changed in my life, value structure and worldview. I am now introducing myself as a professional within a career as an educator.  But, it should be noted in this new intro that when I say that I have experienced so much and sacrificed a lot to re-introduce myself...