Thoughts on WoW from a non-WoWer

At the urging of friends and sheer curiosity, I spent a considerable amount of time the past seven nights killing vicious rats, collecting wolf pelts, and flying on mystical creatures through equally mystical lands. While these activities are normally not on a person's daily to-do list, they will be if said person signs up for a 10 day trial of the online gaming phenomenon that is World of Warcraft (WoW).

Writing as someone whose previous idea of an interactive computer game was Minesweeper, the introduction to WoW was, to say the least, intense.

Example:

"TEESA...DON'T JUST STAND THERE, SHOOT AT SH*T."

(Re-familiarized myself with designated shooting keys on the keyboard. Clicked on something/someone that could possibly be an enemy. Chose which shooting weapon to use- )

"LOOT THE DEAD MEN!!"

(Oh. okay. That's fine too. Abandon previous idea of shooting strange creature. Approach heap of dead men that supposedly have a commodity I would fancy plundering. OOO and yes they do! Sweet. Should I choose to get a cloak or leather pants- )

"TURN AROUND! TURN AROUND! THE ENEMY IS BEHIND YOU!"

(Damnit. Are you for reals? Okay. Screw the cloak and pants. Am now running for dear life.)

"NO, YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!"

(&%#&%%$%).

And with the aforementioned insanity, this game comes with plethora of opportunities to hone decision making skills. As with other MMORPGs (Something Something Online Role Playing Games), I was first tasked with creating a "virtual identity." Ultimately, I chose to be a middle-aged, 2 inch dwarf with a flaming red beard. I've designated that "BubbaGumpz'" purpose in life is to primarily hunt and shoot at things from a distance.

From then on, Bubba and I have been on an adventure in the WoW world. With the help and company of friends, we've killed an innumerable amount of creatures, collected pounds upon pounds of tough jerky, trained for an increase of weaponry and shooting skills, completed tasks known as "quests," and through it all, died about 289,383 times. While I'm still unclear as to how everything we do ties together, I've been told that it will all make sense when we reach Level 80.

The coveted, yet mysterious Level 80. The elite inner circle. The level known only by the true devotees to WoW-dom. All the deep and shallow questions we have in life will receive answers upon reaching this much desired, long awaited level. Why is there rampant inequality in many institutions across America? Why haven't we eradicated world hunger and poverty? Clearly, world leaders, policy makers and politicians have not been playing enough WoW.

Magic 8 Ball, will I EVER reach Level 80?

Let's see. Currently, I am at Level 20. And mostly, this is not by my own doing but by my WoW mentor. I suspect that most nights when we WoW together, he's shaking his head in utter disgust at my gross ignorance of the beautiful intricacies of the game. If WoW were a class, I would definitely not be setting the curve. Fo' sho'.

The consensus is that Level 80 is still pretty far away. Very, very far away. But, I'm a believer in celebrating milestone achievements along any long, arduous journey. So within these 7 days, here are some milestones I feel worth recognizing:

1. I now know that when the boys in my college dorm all disappear into a room together with their laptops, it wasn't to watch porn.

2. I now know that a LAN party does not involve the need to dress up to a theme and do your hair.

3. I now know where I can find a good amount of people between the hours of 8pm and 3am.

So even if I never make it to 80, I feel it has been a fruitful, and interesting journey thus far. Given my predisposed aversion to such channels of entertainment, it was definitely one I could not have foreseen taking. Nevertheless, as with any journey, it has been one that has brought some insight.

Go Bubba!

I'm going to Micronesia!

It hasn't entirely hit me yet that I will be spending the next year (July 2009- May 2010), on an island that is over 5,000 miles away from home. This island is less than 50 square miles, has a declining population of 7,000, and is connected to the outside world by only 3 flights per week. In other words, it is like no place I have ever been to before.

Kosrae island is part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). It's right in between Hawaii and New Zealand. The FSM is a collection of islands divided into four regions: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. It's fairly close to the equator, and the island does radiate many qualities that are typical snapshots of tropical island life. It's beautiful, "ringed by sandy beaches and pristine coral reefs," maintains a slow pace of life, and breadfruit, coconuts, and yams abound. However, that idyllic image is quickly altered by this place having one of the highest suicide rates in the world, and on the rise are other social problems like depression, alcoholism, and joblessness. There are issues like changing family structures, a dwindling population, and excessive foreign dependency that their leaders are currently tackling. While these islands are in a state of limbo about their future, one thing is clear: this place is on the brink of change.

Although during college I did develop an affinity for warm weather and attractive places while studying abroad in Southeast Asia, those factors cannot be further from why I chose to return, again, to the tropics. And on that note, I'm not as many may suspect and some mentioned, "taking a year off to mess around before getting serious." I find those comments rather insulting and a little ridiculous, considering the support I've always lent to their particular endeavors. While Southeast Asia WAS fun, a sizable amount of it was the polar opposite. Some images have a difficult time leaving my thoughts, like the legless boy begging in a street gutter, girls half my age pole-dancing in seedy bars, unwashed physician instruments strewn about on a decaying wooden table, children using a polluted street flood as a swimming pool, and an entire tribal community transformed into a human zoo for tourist dollars. Exotic cuisines may start to pale and stunning landscapes may eventually blur, but heartbreaking memories like the aforementioned remain vivid for a long time after. And for some, myself included, are forever changed.

I've long been fixated on the idea of deceiving perfection. Perhaps that is why several of my favorite books, movies, and television shows (Great Gatsby, American Beauty, Better Luck Tomorrow, Desperate Housewives [I know you're judging]) all contain themes of perceived success and perfection, with reality being otherwise. And perhaps, unfortunately, this theme has begun to ring true with some aspects of my own life as well. What is the point of things looking good, if an empty abyss lies behind it? Does inspiration come solely from pretty surfaces and gleaming facades? I choose not to think so, and ultimately not to act accordingly. Specifically, how can we move forward in humanity if we do not take the time to see, hear, feel, and taste what is really underneath the surface?

Undoubtedly, real beauty and the answers we seek can be found all around us, but I'm ready to venture out. I expect that life on a developing island will be pretty much the opposite of the Target-going, Starbucks addicted, suburban jungle I currently call home and like quite a bit. Kosrae is, in my humble opinion, an incredible opportunity to live, breath, and see what my college roommate so beautifully wrote, "faith, hope, and love." Especially in a region like Micronesia; so forgotten, but so critical. Really, what is not to gain but the world?

The Kitchen God's Wife

Finished 1/21/09.

I don't know if this book would make it in my top 5, but it was a great insight into the life and times of pre-communist China. It makes me think about the decisions of my ancestors. What if they did not have the foresight to go flee to HK/Macau before the communists took over? Or what if they lacked the courage to abandon their assets and leave their home. Even desert a town library they built for the community? How different would my life had been, if I were to even be born.

Why, hello 2009.

In my last New Year post, I had predicted that 2008 was going to be a difficult year. Correcto.

In 2008, I started off the year feeling awful for walking away from a lucrative job I absolutely could not envision doing at the time, then proceeded to be turned down by one I really wanted. Then, I ended up graduating with no set plans after summer. I did make it back to Asia, but only to find out it wasn't what I had envisioned it to be. Then, I moved back home. Then, by chance I found work at my school district. This is the same district I had elected to transfer OUT of 7 years ago. Not to mention my net income some months doesn't even make it past 3 digits.

You're thinking, "and you graduated from where?"

Not going to lie, it's a hard place to be in when most of my friends have elected to choose paths that can actually pay back some loans (plus more), and they can afford to not eat government funded snacks intended for elementary school students.

In 2008, I tried so hard to do the right thing. Mainly, I tried to find a way to work with my own wants and practical obligations. Work around the world for travel and see other communities, or live an Office Space life but at least be able to be around to help my mother? What ended up happening could be named a hybrid. I am Starbuck-ed out in La Mirada while living at home, and I travel (for an entire 30 minutes) to work in a (somewhat) different community.

In a few months, I'm going to Micronesia; which could potentially be an amazing experience, or a disaster. But either way, I'm very interested in seeing where this would lead.

Franny and Zooey