Invictus

I'll keep this short and sweet...hopefully.

I'm in China right now and I just finished the novel Invictus. I'll admit I choose it because I had watched the trailer for the movie. However I want to take the time to emphasize how remarkable a story this book tells.

Being born in America in the mid-eighties does not render me the proper perspective on humanity at large. Indeed my understanding of the world was limited to the quaint peaceful American life granted me in the Pacific Northwest. However, that being said, it is with the utmost importance and enthusiasm that I recommend this book.

Life in South Africa, prior to the mid-nineties was not quaint and peaceful by any means. Apartheid rule in South Africa dictated every aspect of racial segregation and discrimination throughout that country. The reality that racism was prevalent in modern society confounded me. What more, the man of Nelson Mandela, what he did, how he did it, and the manner in which it came to fruition, is beyond comprehension and simply remarkable.



And it is a true story. Mandela revolutionized revolution. His revolution did not destroy the enemy and start from ground zero, no, he united his country. He upheld black aspirations for freedom and equality while addressing white fears and indeed redeeming them in the eyes of the world. Mandela united a country on the brink of war. I realize this sentence may not hold a tremendous weight in the mind of a secluded and ill-educated person, much as I was before reading this book. However, this story, what is represents, holds the utter most fascination and respect for humanity that I can remember feeling.

Please take the time to read this book. If you were ever looking for a inspirational book that touches the very heart of our humanity. This is it.

Things on the mind - A scaled down depiction of life of late

Spent Saturday (the whole day) in Vancouver BC for the Olympics! What what! From start to finish, an absolutely ridiculously amazing day. Including, but not limited to -

- Getting my first speeding ticket, which was reduced because I pulled over before the cop could put the radar gun down (I am a nice guy)
- Being held at the border for 40min while car was searched. FYI have cash and a place to stay when crossing border. Or be prepared to lie and say so.
- Purchasing American flag and wearing it. The entire day.
- Meeting people from across the world! 16 different flags we saw and documented with a photo of us and them.
- Canadians! Okay, this is worthy of a side note.

NOTE: Canadians are the nicest people ever! Honestly so helpful and kind. While we were filling the role of being the stubborn and obnoxious Americans, they were nothing but friendly and excited to meet you. Okay not always, at times we did get some negative attention, but more often then not the person who was chanting F&*% America would turn around and high five you and say you were awesome. Honestly! Who does that!? Canadians do!

- Leaving that wonderful city at 1 am, catching the last Sky train out of the city. We were ducking the gate as they closed the station.
- Driving to and realizing aldergrove crossing was closed.
- Drived through Abbortsford to make Sumas crossing
- Reaching home in Seattle at 530 am and sleeping!



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I've got an audition today. I'm really excited for it, its the first one in a long time. Its for a part in this non-union tv show. I am playing a guy named Christopher. Here's his description;

"Christopher Marigold: (23: Caucasian) He is fit, handsome, well dressed and
always put together. Chris is the youngest Marigold son. He is a talented pastry chef who is on the fast track to success, with his good looks and innovative approach to cuisine. He's a bit metro-sexual, very confident and is die hard into the "green" movement."

Pretty awesome huh? Im way excited and can't wait, wish me luck!

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I've been going through a bit of a rough patch with my faith as of late. But Christ has been peeping through the darkness in different spots as of late. My time in China has really been messing with my social clock and solitude in Christ. I'm working with it, but appreciate any and all prayers. Christ is my lord and savior no matter what. I need to get through this and continue with the man he has/is making me into.

In my weakness he is strong, i just need to call on Him.

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:3-4

A Great Life

What is a great life? Aside from the subjective nature of how each individual can determine the merits of their own, that is to say enjoyable life - Where does that leave one who stares into the deep vastness of the future before them?

There is substance in enjoying the now, i fully agree. Carpe Deim - I've always been a fan. What makes a life deviate the normal path of ordinary, and set out the unfamiliar one of the extraordinary.

I will tell you. Risk

Will you fight for that life? For that opportunity? For the chance of being something extraordinary? You will have to fight, to give yourself to it. You've heard it before, but maybe not like this.

Fight, Risk, Challenge, sacrifice - This is what you will face.



I've never felt that I was much of a fighter. With work, school, love, family even my faith. But I want to fight for my life. Its the only one I have. I'm almost a quarter of a century into it. I am going to stop wasting time.

Searching for Pandora

I want to write something captivating right now. A sentence that draws on the essence of adventure, of beauty. Something that illustrates the culminating series of events that leads me down a path of life that ultimately leaves me feeling that this is where I belong.

But I didn't major in english.

Do you feel like you were meant for more? Have you ever watched through the window of your life and wondered, could I do that too? Do I want to? What if my life was meant for greatness and I, being weak willed, let greatness fall through my fingers, without ever trying to hold onto it.

For myself, these shouts of ambition and greatness are usually quickly quieted by the calming voice of faith, reminding me that, to be content with what you have is to live a life devoted to God. Whether this notion is true or not, i just can't accept it.

I'm not content with my life, albeit i enjoy it immensely, I'm not content with working into obscurity, living in the mundane and repeatable. I want to be apart of something great, I want to inspire, to challenge myself. I want to look out and answer the question of "Could I do that?"

One single thing worth fighting for.

I want to sift my fingers through this world and grasp onto the beauty of it, to hold it close to my heart and cherish it.

There is a place out there, i believe it, where beauty is all around you. You find it, everyday. Every second of life, every breath you take. You come alive when you find what you were meant to do, your place in this world.

Some find it, some make it. Faith-reason-people, would tell you that making it is the test of character for any person. I disagree.

I can't find it here. Indeed I don't want to. I'm sitting at my desk, on a Monday morning, dreaming of flying. Of fighting. Of loving. Of being.

Of my Pandora

Email to the guys from China

Nihow, wo shi menguren, boukway sho jung when wo gi do wo shi mingz shi A li ck

That means "Hello I am American, I do not speak chinese, but I know my name is Alec" This is my sentence. Its a pretty cool icebreaker. Not that I really need one over here. I think Chinese people, or at least the girls have a pretty scewed perspective on what a movie star looks like. I say that cause every girl i've met has said I look like a really famous star. Maybe its the beard. Jimmy the Factory liason for Salix (the company we work with) He doesn't speak English, but he calls me Baby Face. At first i was confused because I have a beard which is as far from a baby's face you can get. But latley I think it means I am attractive. I think this because everytime I get a massage (which is often - last night i got a full body...No Rob not that full...I named the girl Helga, because i felt this was the house of pain, she basically massaged every nerve ending in my body instead of actual muscles. I think i was tighting my entire body whenever she'd throw the elbow into some type of tendon or spot you aren't suppose to jab things into. It was pretty weird too when she started massaging my butt. I kid you not, not like the middle flabby part - but like the sides and bottom. At one point I think she pretty well cupped my lower left cheek completely. That was awkward) annnnnyways Jimmy calls me Baby Face to all the girls that are there, which is alot, and they all look 16, then again two nights ago I asked one girl her age...she was 28 :0 well he calls me baby face and the girls laugh or rather giggle. I think giggle more appropiately describes the situation.

I am still sick :( at first I was trying to polietly hide my coughs. I know how germaphobic they are here. But not I just hack up a lung and spit it in the closest garbage. I am tired of being sick, i don't care if they stare at me with they mouths wide open in disgust. Haha i was on the way to the factory this morning when i coughed up a particularly large amount of phlegm (don't you just love writing that word) and rolled down the window to spit. Now you have to understand China roadways are crazy, nobody signals, nobody gives right of way, its basically "if i have a bigger vechile, MOVE" this includes people walking, on bikes, on scooters, on motorcycles, in cars, in trucks, in vans, in buses, in big trucks etc etc. Well i rolled down the window and this guy on a scooter up coming up on the right and I spit the....pphhllleegggmmmm......

out right in front of him. He totally swerved out of its path and just stared at me. Thats the interesting thing about chinese people and road rage. It doesn't exist. They use their horn way more then we do. Here I will count how many times I hear it from the factory office (4th floor) in 10 seconds......1 2 3 4 55555555 6 7 - the 5th horn was held down. But they don't get made, nobody rolls down and cusses - not that I would know what a chinese cuss word sounds like. But they totally honk with faces of calm emotion. Really weird.

Anyways - writing this email was a good break. I spent two hours today taking footage with different cameras of a brick wall. Honestly. That was my day. So this is a pleasant break. I miss you guys and can't wait to come home...really...i can't wait. I am bummed to have missed out on everything, especially the party, but thanks for putting me up on the computer (and keeping me there - Karl) Curt convinced me you left that freezed frame on the TV in the living room. Gosh. Anyways I'll be home this Saturday at the earliest and next wednesday at the latest, thus is the life of China, can't work on schedules.

Mucho lovo, am praying for you all, and am appreciating all of the praying you guys are doing for me.

Love piece and chicken greese (suiting cause all I eat here is chicken)

Later,
Alec


PS. Also worth mentioning I have an official girlfriend here. He name is Ju-dong-lee. She is a hostess at the massage place, she is 18. I just found this out as she apparently texted Jimmy requesting to hang out with me tonight since she isn't working....Don't worry. I will decline. Tempting...actually NOT AT ALL HA! see you guys

Time Traveler's Wife

So I am sitting in the Narita Airport in Tokoyo Japan. I'm getting on a plane to Shanghai in less than an hour and I am super tired. Its something like 1am back home. I am not too sure right now.

Anyways - I watch the movie The Time Travelers Wife just before we landed here. Alot of that movie is sticking with me and I am processing it pretty thoroughly. Just wanted to write down my thoughts;

1. Having a love of your life. How often this is the theme to any good story or movie. A sole individual whom you've known for the bulk of your life and fall deeply in love with and pursue happiness with them despite insurmountable odds. I wish life was like this. It becomes really easy to become captivated by this idea and examine my own life. At 24 years into it and I know with all the most certainly that I have not met the love of my life, let alone met anyone that could come close to her. The task at hand, is to take it all with perspective and look forward to the time I do get to spend with her, whenever that is.

2. The movie really has reinforced my belief and desire for a family. I don't believe I'll be anywhere near a having a family when I meet my wife, however the desire for it..at some point in life...is there. The picture of a family, of a home, of love, of unity, or intimacy. Its one I want. More then any job, career, money, fame, or experience I could ask for.

3. The severity of the desire for the second item brings me to the third. Death. What is it like to loose the one you've loved, in one way or another for your entire life? Where is one left when they are gone. Alot of my head tells me my faith in God and Christ. However in this moment, i am scared. Scared of one day loving a girl, a family enough to have to risk the chance of one day living in a world without them. Its a pain, a loss I hope to never feel. I have never been around death, never lost someone close to me, perhaps this is why I am fearing it so much. I don't know what it will be like. The fear of the unknown.

I'm scared to love someone with all of my being, beyond all reason and logic, beyond doubt, insecurity, indeed any deterrent this world has to offer. Someone who by all means will never fully belong to me, and may be taken away at any moment. But I firmly believe that this cannot deter me from loving them. A life without love is terrible.

Lightning in the Face!

Last night was a most amazing evening.

It was roughly 11:30pm, the housemates had all tucked themselves away into bed and I, being a facebook addict, was up a bit later than anyone else. Well the hour rolled around and I left for the long treck to bed.

First stop, the always important teeth brushing exercise in the 2nd floor bathroom. This is where the night gets interesting...

So there I am brushing away, to the left of the mirror is a window pointing towards the SouthWest. Out of my peripheral vision I see the fattiest lightning bolt blast through the sky! Being a physics major I quickly open the window and count the seconds until I hear the thunder. HMMM roughly 6 miles away, not bad I say. I shoot a quick text message out to a friend and return to the window. This time my head fully extruding into the bitter outdoor weather.

Suddenly
white flash
bang
shaking
fire

I literally witnessed, that is to say I freaking SAW a lightning bolt blast a tree across our alley. No more than 25 feet away from my current location. Needless to say this scared the beejeszess out of me! I started hyperventalating and started screaming into the house! All my housemates flew out of their rooms, half naked, thinking I had been shot!

What followed was a two minute period in which we decided whether or not the tree was on fire. As there was a fiery glow protruding from the middle of the tree. Not to mention embers floating into the air!

We decided it was and I called 911 and reported this awesome event! While on the phone - this is the bizzarre part which I assume many in Seattle can confirm - it started hailing and raining extremely hard! The windows blew up and us, being half naked, caught quite off guard.

All-in-all the firetruck came, I showed them the tree, which at this point was no longer glowing. But better safe then sorry. Spectacular night, mother nature flexing her muscles, or (mother with muscles - not sure I like that metaphor) you get the idea.

Glad my head wasn't the tree. That is for sure. AMAZING, love life.