Just one more week and I’ll be in another city. Another few cities, actually. I will have my assignments written and downloaded onto my tablet. I’m also making it a rule I’ll make for myself the most obvious—no working on holiday. Well…of course, threaded discussion. Okay. Okay. An hour a day for my final course project but – other than that – NO REAL WORK!! Now, what will I be doing in Zealand?
traveling
So, right now, I have to edit all my short stories from my 2020 Short Story Project for my 2025 short story collection. I have to say…it has been a humbling experience to know that my stories were decent but needed much improvement. I have to thank experience and higher education for that. I’ve always been told that 20% of creative writing is taught while the other 80% is improved through experience. So? Why am I saying the obvious? Well…I’m back in school.
I have a month and a half left of school and then my students will be able to enjoy the fine relaxation of the summer holiday. Sure, I’m contractually obligated to do the summer camps, but I’m looking at the prize at the end of it all: New Zealand. That’s right. I’m planning my trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud. Or would “Middle Earth” sound better. Either way, I am beyond excited to go as it has been on my list of places to travel to.
Sorry for the month-long absence, but I wanted Philadelphia to have my undivided attention – out of my studies, of course. While I finished most of my work beforehand, the only thing I had to do was my threaded discussion which took me no time at all. I had missed my city for such a long time and I wanted to see what changed and what remained the same. Short answer, a lot.
In three more days, the students will be home having a long well-deserved rest as they bring in the Chinese New Year. They are extremely excited and they should be. They have been working extremely hard for these last five months and – let me tell you – World Literature and Economics have been a real doozy for them. I can attest to the World Literature part; teaching it has been quite a welcoming challenge. But, now, it is time to enjoy the next marvel…Philadelphia.
For thirteen days, I was in the “Comital City” and fell in love with everything about it. The people. The food. The history. Everything about Barcelona was what I was missing in China and what I wished America could be. I still do, actually. However, I will not focus on that. Instead, I will gush over what I did in the lively city. But where do I start? Oh! I know! I’ll start with my living arrangement.
Last year, China lifted the travel ban for obvious reasons, i.e., tourists make up most of their revenue. It doesn’t matter because I finally get to travel to different countries during holidays. At first, we were all hesitant about it because we didn’t really trust them (the government) so our boss volunteered as tribute. as he wanted to visit his family. He left and came back safe and sound so now we are all traveling to different places. For me, it’s Barcelona.
This has been the best Spring Festival for me. I got to see my friends again and it was in the most beautiful city I’ve seen to date. Sanya is something of a marvel. It was my first beach resort and the heat was welcoming. Everything about this holiday has formed into a memory that I can kiss up to God in thanks. So, where do I begin?
For two years, I was not allowed to travel because of COVID-19. The first year was, of course, for the best and I wasn’t in a position to be traveling around the world. Moreover, I wasn’t too comfortable with the idea of traveling in the “new world” where simply breathing could change the trajectory of my health. The following year was no better as it was followed by so much fear, prejudice, and paranoia that it was clearly not the best idea to go anywhere. Now…this is the year I get to travel.
So, for Pride Month, I decided to spend every Friday creating a Top 10 List of anything LGBTQ+ that I can think of at that moment. Just something to change the pace and make everyone smile. (For the previous list, click here, here, and here). This week, I would like to tell you guys where I plan on going for Pride in the following years. I won’t be going alone and plan on going to them all, eventually. Just so you know…I don’t have it in a particular order because that’s too hard. ha ha!
- XLSIOR Festival
- Shanghai Gay Pride
- Buenos Aires Pride
- Tel Aviv Gay Pride
- Sao Paulo Gay Pride
- EuroPride
- Barcelona Gay Pride
- London Gay Pride
- Madrid Gay Pride
- Belfast Gay Pride
- Gay Pride Berlin
- Stockholm Pride
- Amsterdam Gay Pride
- WorldPride (where ever it is for that year)
- GayGames
- LGBTQ+ Film Festival outside of America
- A Gay Cruise of Any Kind
Now, please, don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads) which are on the right side of my web page. Also, I do love hearing suggestions of what books to read outside of my norm (Science fiction and fantasy) as I am a part of the Goodreads’ reading challenge for 2020. My goal is to read 100 books this year and I’m already at 77. Probably end up reading 120 before the year is out.