I had left for Asia, thus the commencement of my nomadic life in early 2009. In mid to late 2010 I returned to my native country of Canada to clear up some loose ends and finalize the selling of my condo in Toronto. As memory serves me, the transition was easy. I flew in, I hung out for approximately one month and I left elated. However, in August 2012, roughly ten weeks after I landed on North American soil, I'm writing you, feeling like a freak (in my parents' basement...which doesn't help matters). In a previous piece, Re-Entry Shock: Feeling Like A Foreigner In Your Native Country, I detailed my experience. What I didn't realize at the time was how long this … [Read more...]
Photo Series: Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Stearns Wharf was one of the many tourist destinations I visited while spending time in southern California. I took the trip from Ventura with my brother who now resides there. The day trip to Santa Barbara was one I had taken before, and one that I looked forward to. On this particular venture, I was still acclimating from living, predominately in Thailand, for 3.5 years straight. I flew directly from Bangkok to Los Angeles and despite it being early summertime, I was freezing. This photo series, among others I had taken during my time in California, was shot while my brain was still adjusting to North American life. I was hit hard with culture shock and revisiting some of the … [Read more...]
Photo Series: The Beaches Of Santa Barbara, California, USA
Santa Barbara was one of the destinations I investigated while visiting southern California. I had made the trip from Bangkok to Los Angeles after spending a consistent 3.5 years living in South East Asia, most of that time spent in Thailand. I was experiencing a stunning amount of culture shock during my time in California. Thankfully, I was visiting my brother who was an incredible host despite the fact I was a complete freak. The photos in this series, among others shot while in California, reflect my state at the time. I photographed what to me was incredibly different and what I felt was mellow and balanced. I completed the photos in this particular series in Photoshop, … [Read more...]
Photo Series: The Ventura Coast, Ventura, California, USA
Ventura, California was the place where I first stayed after spending close to four consecutive years living in Thailand. I travelled from Bangkok to LA, then to the comfort of my brother's home (my brother may be found in the last photo of this series). Ventura was a weird place for me during this visit. I was experiencing an almost debilitating level of culture shock that I wasn't expecting. I spent much of my time in Ventura watching Western television, bundled in blankets and wearing sunglasses indoors; the bright light and glare I found in Ventura was close to being unbearable. Perhaps I wasn't used to being around that much glass and/or shiny objects. I have no … [Read more...]
Photo Series: Panoramic Ventura. Photos From The Ventura Pier
The photos in this series were taken from The Ventura Pier in Ventura, California, USA. The associated commentary on this piece, essentially, what I'm writing you now, has been done in retrospect, meaning, quite awhile after these photos were posted. Why you may ask? Because I was quite the freak while taking these photos; I was suffering from quite a bit of re-entry shock after spending 3.5 years in Thailand. Ventura was my first destination after leaving Asia as I flew from Bangkok to Los Angeles then rode to nearby Ventura to stay with my brother. These photos, amongst others in the series, are representative of that time. I was having a lot of difficulty writing, … [Read more...]