Dajemma

Travel Saved My Life

dajemma — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:42:40 +0000

This photo was taken in Monteverde, Costa Rica, on the porch of the Pension Santa Elena hostel. The words carved in the concrete really spoke to me. During my life, I have travelled to many different countries, where I have experienced different cultures, listened to foreign languages, tasted exotic foods, and met strange and interesting people. Due to my travels, I see the world as a vast and mysterious place, where right and wrong are relative terms, and lives can follow many different paths. I think I could spend my whole life trying to see it all, but by the time I came full circle, the place I started would have become something new, and I would have to experience it all again.

Travel, then, is a journey without end.

Reconstruction

dajemma — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:15:53 +0000

I had a dream a few days ago. I dreamt that my room was empty, devoid of furniture, except for my computer desk and chair. The walls were clean but marred with holes and bits of tape from my posters. I could see the indentations in the carpet where my furniture had been. I think the dream is about the changes that I am getting ready to make in my life. I must leave everything that I have known for the past 12 years, and start anew in a different place. I will rebuild my life, one piece at a time. I will also be rebuliding myself; the same way that I will redecorate my room in Shanghai, I will also change to adapt to my new surroundings. Eventually, I will end up with a room I want to live in, and a person I want to be.

Boy to Man

dajemma — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:10:09 +0000

Walking in Adams Morgan the other night, I saw a guy with the character for “Man” on the back of one arm and the character for “Boy” on the other. It made me think of the journey that we take from childhood to adulthood. In order to become a man, young boys in many cultures must undergo a rite of passage. This ritual prepares them for manhood and tests their strength. In doing so, the youth realizes the power that is within him and gets a glimpse of what he is capable of. This moment will define the rest of his life. For me, this trip to China will be my journey. That’s why I chose to name this blog ‘Dajemma,’ a word of no known origin. The word refers to the journey to manhood that each young man makes. This is the journey for which I now prepare!

Welcome

dajemma — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:53:38 +0000

This is the first post in what will be my travel blog for my one-year stay in Shanghai, China. I will post my thoughts, my reactions, my rants, my missives, my pictures, and my papers. I will share my life with you! Click in and enjoy!