California (Cell Phone Camera) Photo Reel

After a year without a cell phone (a beautiful, unleashing experience, might I add), the first thing I did when I arrived home was head to my local Sprint store and activate the phone that's been in a closet this year.

It's been strange carrying it around, but one benefit (besides being able to tweet anywhere) is having a camera-on-demand again.

Here's a couple shots I've snagged over the last couple weeks (With Commentary!)

Photo #1: Chili Cheese FriesI'm fairly certain Ben, one of my life-long best friends, tried to kill me the first day we hung out. After an incredible welcome home meal at In'n'Out (which nearly did the deed in itself), Ben took me to a place called "The Hat" where we ordered something that could have been called "Death by Chili Cheese" and in fact, probably was.

This is only a taste of the American Food my American Friends are feeding me. What they don't realize... I don't think my stomach is American anymore...

Photo #2: Proof I exercise...some.

Living in the city was fun in its own right. But nothing beats a taste of nature. This is the less-than-natural trail behind our suburban track homes. I'm trying to keep up my walking, eventually graduating to running. My friend Yazz has been dragging me around the city lake every now and then. That helps.

Photo #4: Surf City, USA

What good is a trip home to California if you don't make it to the Beach? In theme with staying healthy, my dad, brother and I did a good 6 mile walk/run before enjoying the waves some. (Note to self: Going once does not equate to a healthy habit)

Photo #5: Front Seat Driver

Another activity I didn't do much of (at all) in Taiwan: Driving. But, I'm home now, and I've been doing the big-brotherly carpooling lately, picking up from school and dance and other activities. This time, I had company. (But she tends to bark out orders, so I made her sit in the back) (That's a lie)

Photo #6: California Sunset

And finally: I took this on a drive with Colin Biggers. Everything halted when we saw this sunset; conversation, car, time itself. Then I think we may have been honked at. Note the green light. Green means go, but that sunset meant stop and take in the moment.

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Other news:

I'm sure you know, but I've launched The Drift (1.5) over at www.chaseandre.com

come visit!

This week, I'll be featuring fellow bloggers in what I consider to be the Drifter Community. We're made up of a unique bunch, many of whom are doing some pretty cool stuff. If you're interested in displaying some art of yours (whatever the form may be) email me: thedrift(at)chaseandre(dot)com

Also, and of course, you can follow me on Twitter!

PS Drifter Community Member Kelvin over at Daretothinkdreamdo asked me to guest post! Check it out.

The Drift (1.5)

I know it's Earthquake Day in Taiwan, today. So, in reverence for the event, I'm trying to avoid cheesy and inappropriate cliches like "earth shattering news" or "groundbreaking new blog" or the like.

But, I don't want to undermine my excitement for this next evolution in my blogging.

Will I continue to post here at the Taiwan Drift? Occasionally, and for a short period of time during this transition. Since the beginning, I knew that "The Taiwan Drift" will stay about my journey to Taiwan. It will follow me home only to the extent of transitioning from foreign to familiar.

But, I continue drifting. So I continue writing. And I hope you'll drift with me.

Tonight, I'm leaving on my next drifting adventure, and the only place you'll hear about it is on the new site. Because the real chaseandre.com is not finished, I've released a wordpress blog as a holding place until The (true) Drift is complete, thus the "1.5" bit.
So bear with me during the construction and transition phase.

Life is a Journey, and it's not always neat and organized and running as smoothly as can be. :)

But, without further ado, I nonetheless invite you to join me on
The Drift (1.5): www.ChaseAndre.com


Subscribe to The Drift 1.5

"This Day in History..."

Though the effects remain, Typhoon Morakot passed through Taiwan over a month ago. The storm brought the worst flooding in over 50 years, and more than 500 lives were lost.

But ten years ago, today, Taiwan was rocked by an Earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter Scale. Thousands were killed, and an estimated 100,000 left homeless. Throughout my year in Taiwan, this was brought up dozens of times. The tragedy, and the National heartache carried from the 9/21 earthquake is on scale with our 9/11 or Katrina.

One of the valuable lessons I learned while being submerged in another culture is to uncover the experiences that create common ground. As members of the human race, one experience that unites us all is heartbreak and tragedy. Though my students were young when this national disaster took place, we were able to share our experiences in the classroom and doing so brought us closer together as a class.

Learning that we're all human, and we're all in this thing-called-life together was a big lesson for me this past year. People are People. Burn away the cultural quirks and the difference in language, appearance or religion, and what you will have in front of you is a person. Really. A person just like you. In fact, so much like you they could be a member of your family.

And to me, many of them did become part of my family. Aligning myself with the troubles and hardships of the people around me - really understanding what the hurt they've been through, and sharing in that burden with them - has taught me what it is to be a member of this race called human-kind.

As my journey moves me from foreign to familiarity, I hope, and even pray, I never grow deaf to those with needs that I can meet. I hope I never grow so comfortable that I forget what it is to be displaced.

Though I'm far from my friends, and my family, in Taiwan, I know the lessons they've taught me have not left my side.

Photo Credit: here

Future Driftings...

One year ago I drifted to Taiwan. Over the course of this year, I've intentionally sought ways to expand my view of the world. Some of it came by the default of living in another country and culture; and some of it because I continued to look outside myself and learn of life beyond my scope of vision.

This lead me to an organization called Faceless International. Though I've known about - and loved - their work for over a year now, I have never found a way to get involved. That is, until they announced their social justice campaign to India this winter. Faceless is teaming up with The Emancipation Network for an educational, hands-on trip to learn about the horrors of Modern Day Slavery. As I informed myself more of the reality of human trafficking and modern-day slavery, a weight settled over my heart to act. Signing up for the Faceless trip, I found a timely start.

What I love about Faceless and The Emancipation Network is that they enter the schools and communities where girls are at risk of being sold or bartered into the slave-trade, and teach the children how to support themselves so that slavery never becomes a viable option for the family to sustain itself. Both organizations are seeking change in a tangible matter. I look forward to joining Faceless in their self-declared mantra, by the words of Ghandi, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

The cost for the trip is $3000, and I will only reach that goal with the help of those who feel able to support me. I have paid the $500 deposit, and $1250 is due at the end of this month, with another $1250 due at the beginning of December. I will be blogging of this new leg of my journey here at The Drift, and am thrilled to have your support as a reader. If you feel you could also support me financially - in any amount - please click on the paypal "donate" button below.

For those of you inside the US, Faceless International is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible. If you are looking for a tax deduction, or wish to keep your donation anonymous from me, click here.

Though my time in India will be much shorter than my time in Taiwan, I expect this trip to be another milestone in my Life Journey. Taiwan, I feel, laid the ground work for how I live the rest of my life. I desire to always be sensitive to the plight of others - in and out of my immediate scope of vision, and I hope to always realize I can do something about the injustice of this world.

Above all, I hope that my journey continues to inspire those who hear it. My heart's desire is to see humanity, as a whole, restored to something better, but I realize that must start with me: I realize I must be the Change I wish to see in the World.

And that's what I'm hoping to do. Life is a Journey, friends.