This Space, This Time...

    Working under the supervision of anyone offers the opportunity to experience growth in many ways.  The challenges and advantages of this type of work dynamic present themselves for the entirety of the relationship... at least this has been my experience. I took time to find myself, affirm my talents, and expand my norms through working and traveling in a series of countries during my 20s. So, when I started my first US-based "office job", I saw the work environment through the eyes of an anthropologist. It was wild. I felt affirmed in my young adult instincts to avoid this lifestyle for as long as possible. Nevertheless, as hoped for, I begin working back at my alma mater and it is this chapter of growth that I find myself reflecting on now- from my first  real  leadership position in the US.  My ability to observe my "boss" imagine and put effort into embodying a leadership persona was an opportune position for me as I prepared myself to uphold the sam...

      Image related to article By Kellee Edwards   My best friend shared this article in Travel + Leisure Magazine entitled Black Travel: The Movement and I loved reading every single word of it.  All kinds of thoughts came to mind and here are some of them... I am not a vacationer, but an adventurer, not a tourist, but a welcome guest. Not to be mistaken for a misguided wanderer, but a peaceful pioneer on an endless quest.  (My mantra) From the first time I left the United States of America (2000, Oaxaca, Mexico), studied abroad (Alicante, Spain, 2003), felt the privilege of long-term leisure travel (Vietnam, 2006), taught abroad (Tokushima, Japan, 2007), moved abroad with the intention of staying for-e-ver (Ghana, 2011), traveled with college students abroad (South Africa, 2014), and traveled abroad "for work" (Limerick, Ireland 2017), I understood- clearly- the limitless joy associated with Being Black Abroad. Let me be specific though, being a Black A...

  October 25th Personal Reflection Notes: There are two books that have been brought to my awareness this past week, by the two people who are totally unrelated, both whom I admire greatly. The books are actually by a husband and wife, respectively. Malidoma Patrice Some’s book The Healing Wisdom of Africa and The Spirit of Intimacy by Sobonfu Some are inspiring and informing me in a much needed way right now. In The Spirit of Intimacy the overarching concept relates to purpose and its intertwined connection to romantic relationships and intimacy. I just love how so much thought-provoking and spirit moving information is hitting me in each page of this book. I ordered the book but enjoy listening to the text read aloud by a woman (Jyn Sen) on Youtube .  In the first chapter, the awareness of how people live in Burkina Faso is taking me back to my experience riding on a bus for 24 hours from Lome, Togo to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in February of 2011. I remember driving through...

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 ...