"Casanova", or "Can't Stand This Persona"?

 You can be a military officer, a musician (in particular a violinist), a gambler, poet and adventurer but in the past, if you were any of the above and a male to tip the scales of attention, you were going to most certainly be popular among "the ladies". Of all the exploits that the Venetian man, Casanova had been noted for, his home being the pleasure capital of the world through the 1700's certainly had an impacct on his upbringing in such a vast way that it literally became the epitome of his reputation. 

As it goes for many today, many back in the 18th century believed, "home is where the heart is at". Thinking back to the 18th century, the world was still a very big place and quite isolated. Your name was still very much still resembling your home in one way or another. 

Casanova was noted as having lost his virginity at the age of 11 and thereafter, as that first, each after being just that much more scandalous after one other. His many roles put him in entertainment venues, and he wasn't just a pretty face, he was noted as producing literature that made him associated with thinkers such as Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin and Mozart. 

Having later liveda life and then some, he documented his exploits through his autobiography, Historie de Ma Vie (Story of My Life). 

It seems, there is still this reminicisent Casanova seeking young man and maybe even women or otherwise that strikes their social circles as a thinker, a sophistocated mind, waiting for the opportunity to find a mate fitting of one's desire, to strike, but in need of that exit into another romantic muse soon after. However much we feel mainstream media tries to disband the idea of the permiscuous colleague or close friend, it still creeps into that spotlight ever so often. 

The real story, in my opinion was that Casanova, somehow, duped, "fixed" (a.k.a. cheated) and well, lived a life of general fraudulent behaviour, in which led to him dying without being able to return home and yet, off all his brilliant cheats/schemes/crimes/escapes, he is remembered as someone who slept with a lot of people, hahaha oh humans. Nevermind the V.D. he contracted throughout his exploits. Its troubling sometimes to imagine that of all the lives lived in the 1700's this guys' memoir one of the more remembered when discussing life and times of Europe in the 18th century. Yes, there are obviously others, but I guess, well, everyone loves good villian hahaha

 

Don't Ghost People Who Go to Visit You in the Hospital (2024)

 This is a personal post. One that could generally be summed up with the classic idea of "don't burn your bridges", except in this case, there isn't much in the way of a bridge to burn I guess. 

This story takes place in Guangzhou, China (September, 2023). I have been teaching here for roughly five years and have experienced quite a bit. I understand that the teaching profession is a tough one for many people and generally not the same across the board with regards to schools and their responsibilities, but to extent, as a human who is expected to take the same level of care of students as a parent (to a degree), there are simply some people who can fake it, up until they can't.

After resigning from their position as an educator within the school, the individual seemed to have deleted people from the school from their personal wechat (IM). Normally, ya, I would do the same if this were someone whom I didn't really think to highly of or care much to keep in touch with. In many cases I find that some acquaintances/short-term buddies over time had removed me over time and sure, ya, that's fine-but this individual really caught me by surprise. 

Back track to something like May/June, the teacher came to the school to check it out, meet students, see the campus and get a vibe to better understand what the school had in store for thier child who was going to be enrolled into the primary division of the school as well.

The individual liked what they saw, even went against the better advice and took up residence in the teacher dormitory. within a week, the individual gave up on themselves in this position. A side of this story that really flusters me is that yes, they were in a new course that was being introduced to the school division we were working in, but the individual had full creative expanse, I provided him and his colleague who was teaching the same course, with a framework (if you will, only more detailed), in the event that they didn't feel like exploring this frontier on their own. Given the situation neither of the colleagues in subject preparation sessions showed interest in designing anything new or for that matter confidence in the ability to deliver content recommended. It came to a point where I literally, as a Dept. Head was instructed by the principal to create the lesson plans and activities for the two teachers. I did. I also debriefed with both teachers and there was an "Aha" moment wherein they understood that if students were so slow as unable to be participating in class reguarly with stories provided, etc. that they could find different stories and/or chunk the story into parts and teach it over the course of a couple days. That seemed like we finally cracked the code on the personal shortcomings both teachers were expressing that they had, until the one literally hit the floor out of exhaustion one night (early morning), rushed to the hospital. the situation was so serious, the spouse was handed a "death notice". This was insane, everyone was grief stricken and just flabbergasted by the entire situation. 

That week teachers went down to the hospital to visit in three different visits, because realistically, as an expat, we know its not like there is a ton of family around. My wife and I watched their daughter a couple of times (at least once for sure), its just straight-up shocking to me. We go to wit's end to get this individual the best situation (at least advised them of what that is here), against better advice and beyond the work I took up for the individual personally, buddy just falls off the side of the earth, near literally.

Everntually, the individual was released from the hospital, spent the better part of the following week, hooked up to a heart monitor at home. Thereafter, they called a cloak and dagger like meeting between 4 people (including myself and themselves), in which amidst the dark of the living quarters' parking lot, they were asking us who had been there for about 2+ years (each) at least by that point, "What I should do?". I was confused as to what was happening as I figured that the guy was coming back to work, but little did I know this individual had paranoia that was surrounding the upper administration of the school. I recommended they move on, the semester was not going to get easier for them, especially if they were paranoid and thinking they needed to be looking over their shoulder all the time. I was so confused, now when I look back, I just have a chuckle.

Sometimes, its nice to welcome people in with open arms, support them with your own time, life and professional service, but at some point-cut the cord. Altruism should make you friends, here, it just made me annoyed.  

*To those heading to Huamei-Bond International College in Guangzhou, the school is one that certain accumulates a great deal of responsibility on the teacher the longer the teacher is there, the idea of a salary is that, the longer the teacher is there, the more they are expected to do. Even for myself now, being told that my employment is at value of 3 new teachers. That is not only a bit absurd, but quite inaccurate as well. Considering the new salary grids that these ones we use are currently modelled after, are not actually updated to meet the newest grids of that model. 

*To those who know me, I'll break my back for you, but don't go stepping on my toes the whole way down the road.

*To everyone else, sometimes its better to keep your head low and your hopes up.

Being at the Right Place at the Right Time.

 Minds on:

Check out this news article from CTV

https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/the-queen-meets-with-canadian-soldiers-performing-guard-duties-at-windsor-castle-1.5614015

The rugged looking man in uniform with a face bush is my brother.

This guy, like countless others is someone who was in the right the place at the right time. 

He like many others has other desires than to always be a person in the military service, but as he says it best, "there are some things I get to do with my job, that I literally wouldn't be able to do in any other way."

I respectfully replied, "Well, Cambodia firingrange.com is a pretty good place to start if you are looking for one of a kind experiences that one would only imagine they get in the military."

Jokes aside, the truth is, we got one life, there is really only one time "now" and it comes down to what are you doing with that time. 

Like people who are in the right place at the right time, there are people who know the right thing to say at the right time.

When someone asks you how your day is, sometimes, it goes a long way to actually start a conversation rather than an giving a more or less empty (but polite response). A guy who I used to work with, Daniel Fuller, once said, "I try to make a point of sitting down and getting to know people well enough that regardless of how much I might dislike or get annoyed with their antics, that there is one thing I can say we have in common on a personable level, and actually have a conversation about.", I try this more times than not, and I'll be honest, I have ended up in some pretty great places, sometimes a little more on the GrEaT side (too great maybe), and the next day brings with it a head splitting reminder of what "responsible consumption" means-cellphone in a cab on the otherside of town, Cards Against Humanity littered on the floor and my friends passed out around the room, who says you get too old for sleepovers? 

Like many other things, people think it is always based on luck that you are in the right place at the right time or able to say the right thing-it isn't, its positivity and natural attraction of mood. Happy people want to be around happier people and upset people (may not think it), they want to be around happy people. It comes down to the simple idea that, "yes", is a starting point-not the answer-god, you might end up in a very messed up situation or broke if you are always saying yes-#truestory ; but I digress, "Yes" is a starting point-from there, a smile (maybe).

Before one knows it, smiling, nodding, saying "yes, I'll help ya move that ridiculous piece of furniture," might very well turn into that "Why, yes, I do come here often, but would you like to check out another place I frequent?". It could also be that very thing that elevates your life from one state to an entirely new level-I'd like to think its a good one for ya.

Cheers though, and start with a genuine smile, nod-"yes, it is a good day isn't it?"