Week 3 Roundup

Flying picture

Goodbye Korea!

This is my last roundup from Korea. In four days I’ll be on a plane bound for Bangkok. Right now, my apartment looks like it has been ransacked by a drunken monkey; clothes strewn about, half-stuffed suitcases, piles of papers, and anti-malaria tablets arranged in a winking smiley face on the kitchen table.

We’re simultaneously closing down our responsible life here and getting ready to hit the Banana Pancake trail for a few months. Lots of little stuff to do, but nothing unmanageable. My compulsive list-making has justified its existence once again 🙂

Spent my last weekend in Seoul playing music and spending time with good friends. I couldn’t ask for a better send-off.

But you’re not here to read about me! Blah. Sorry for the self-indulgence. Here are some articles I enjoyed this week:

  • If you’ve been thinking about taking a long trip, check out Corbett Barr’s article The Pros and Cons of Long Term Travel. While I agree the positives outweigh the negatives, being away from home for a long time can be tough at times. Maybe the worst is the distance and gradual disconnection from friends and family.
  • In Unrealized Projects, Seth Godin talks about an artist you who spends most of his time working on failed projects. He writes “One key element of a successful artist: ship [your product]. Get it out the door. Make things happen.” If I’ve advocated nothing else here at Happenchance, it’s a combination of making things happen and not worrying about failure. By the way, that artist’s name is Tim Burton.
  • If you’re feeling stagnant or just want some new ideas, check out 100 Ways to Develop Your Mind. This ridiculously long list is full of good ideas. Among my favorites: stop talking, risk embarrassment, share your skills, take micro naps. I think he forgot something, or maybe I missed it: stop watching television.
  • I really liked this article: Stuck in a Rut? Run from Experts. According to the author, experts tend to have narrow view of things. Why? Because they know (and probably like) the rules and conventions. In lieu of experts, you should seek out different kinds people, especially idea-oriented people, and play the fool and assume everyone is a genius. This last one comes pretty easy for me.
  • My article 5 things I’ve learned in Korea was recently featured in the Travels of the Itineranti monthly travel roundup. I wrote that piece  after 6 months in Korea. Now that I’ve almost finished a year here, I still think all these points are valid, especially number five. Plenty of other good articles over there. Be sure to check them out.

Have a great week!.

Photo credit: albertopveiga