I need your help, but first…
Please, have something to drink and eat:
I want to reach out to you so that I may, hopefully, go forth fearlessly on several new projects. Really, I’d just like to ask you this question: Do you ever get tired of traveling and/or not really knowing what you’re going to do next while everyone else “seems” to be doing what they were born to do?
I know that looks can be deceiving and that probably everyone is trying to figure their lives out even though they may look cool as a cucumber and quite safe and secure in their careers, personal lives, etc.
As you know, I am a photographer and I also teach English as a means to put rather cushy sums of money in la banque de Felicia for future projects (books, better cameras, etc.) I do “seem happier when I’m abroad” as a friend just called and said to me, but I would also like to have a base somewhere stateside or at least in a country where I wouldn’t have to give my first born child as a downpayment on a nice little cottage by a lake. I could live in so many places, Italy (will go there this summer to learn beginner’s Italian as well as take cooking courses), Thailand, hell, even my native Virginia, although I wouldn’t know what to do in Virginia for a creative living.
If you’re a traveler, a free-spirit like myself, how do you make peace with the life you’ve chosen, when it seems so much easier, cozier to live close to friends and family you’ve known most of your life?
Very very soon, I will step out on faith and become a full time photographer. If I must teach English as a means to keep the money rolling in, I want to only do so part-time.
Your thoughts, opinions, advice will be very welcomed and respected.
Thank you for your time.
P.S. Here’s your menu:
Mugwort steamed rice cake (it’s delicious, really)
Omija tea (great for your liver and is perfection on the palate)
Pumpkin seeds, apricot
Pumpkin tea, mixed with crushed ice (Heaven)
Don’t worry, it’s on me.
Jae Young said,
April 27, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Those pictures are just a tease! I think it will work out. I don’t know that I would have it in me to have a creative life of that sort, but I think that’s also because I enjoy what I do now. I don’t think you’re crazy for choosing to be a photographer AND I think because it’s what you love, that makes it the right thing to do. So good on you! <3 <3 I’m still cranky about not being able to eat that food, even tho I am currently stuffed with brunch. I love cute Korean cafe food~
Kim Wildman said,
April 28, 2008 at 8:33 am
Hi Felicia,
I know how you feel. It really is difficult to find that balance between being a traveller and having a base and a home life. As a travel writer this is something I have struggled with for many years - I even tried to change careers and moved back home to Australia to “settle down”. The thing is, no matter how much I try to fight it, travelling is in my blood. So now I’ve simply decided to embrace who I am…. I just hope that one day I can meet someone who I can share my passion with. Good luck finding your balance!
Vineeta said,
April 28, 2008 at 10:49 am
God, its such an irony that you say you’ve got the answer to your seeking and searching for answers on my blogpost
I find myself at a stage where I am in a cushy job & I feel I’m not going out there and doing all the stuff I dream of know I can. So to help myself I decided to start doing what I love anyway, so I may find myself in that place where I’m comfortable and happy doing what I do. Does this make sense? But I’m glad you got something out of it in anycase. ILOVE the pictures & I realy must check your previous posts, everything on this page is looking absolutely gorgeous!! I’m adding u right away 
Xander said,
April 28, 2008 at 11:54 am
Bordeaux and I are sharing some of your feelings. We’ve resigned as teachers, and we’re hoping to focus on freelance writing and photography.
And I’ll have some of the pumpkin tea, please. -X
thistimenow said,
April 28, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Thank you all for commenting and giving me some support and ideas. I’ve tried in the past to come back to Virginia and “make it work” but that feeling of being on the road, meeting new people, new languages, and THE FOOD, are just some of the things that have me packing my bags once again to discover something new. It’s in my blood, it’s a large part of who I am and I’m trying to come to terms with it. I also think that perhaps if I had someone, a great guy to share this all with, it would be easier or at least be less lonely at times. Xander and Bordeaux of Primitive Culture make me long to come home to someone but at the same time, I do enjoy being on my own. Ahh, life!
Thanks to everyone and I hope the inspiration keeps coming!
Bisous!
Felicia
lananf said,
April 28, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I too have the travelling blood.. new places, people, food, environments, ideas, ways of living, types of communication… i get so much out of sharing my life with so many different people and i feel incredibly blessed to be able to do so. Yes, it gets lonely and there have been many times when i have second guessed my decisions to live the way i do, but ultimately it is THE way for me. Returning home for visits, and sometimes lengthier stays, always proves to be rewarding - however, when i must go, i must go. And although, i am sometimes envious of those friends and family members who are settled in to their comfy and seemingly more stable lives, I know that they see me as someone who is so brave and couragous and as someone who truely lives.
I really enjoy reading your blog and i appreciate you sharing your feelings on this with the vast internet world… it is this type of expression which provides so much support to all of us who are out here living our way.. we must find and provide comfort and connection for eachother.
Thank you!
sincerely, Lana
soonuk said,
April 29, 2008 at 6:16 am
Lovely, lovely photos!!!!
Prêt à Voyager said,
April 29, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I’m a firm believer of “I’ll know when I get there.” My blog has already opened a few doors (including starting a new travel/design column on design*sponge). While my day job drives me nuts at times, I enjoy the stability of a steady income (and benefits) that helps finance my travels. (Although 10 vacation days a year KILLS ME!). It also gives me a nice home base, close to family and my amazing friends. I’d love to find an excuse to live in Paris again, or anywhere else for that matter- but securing visas and the proper paper work is the real challenge. At this stage however, I’m not willing to uproot everything and take a risk unless I have something firm lined up (but that could change any day!). I’m lucky I have design I can freelance out, but while my lifestyle is anything but extravagant, travel is where I splurge (and even on the cheap, it costs money).
Felicia, it’s so exciting seeing your photographs and finding out where they’re published. It definitely sounds like you have a great base to go full time. Weddings are always quite lucrative too (I did that as an assistant for awhile)- but easy to hit burnout fast.
I’m sure I have much more to say on this topic, but that’s all for now.
Anne
annamatic said,
April 30, 2008 at 7:44 am
felicia ~ Thanks for your honesty in expressing so openly what I think a lot of us perpetual travelers feel.
To be honest myself, I personally don’t have travel in my blood. I hate airports and hotels, that feeling of being a tourist, living out of a suitcase, not knowing where my toothbrush is. I’m quite the homebody, and very close with my family, so if it were not for that occasional push from external sources, I probably would be living out my life quite happily in the same city, same apartment, for the rest of my life.
But I love travel, and I love how it invigorates my way of seeing the world, increases my ability to empathize with fellow humans, and how it finds its way into my creative profession. The thing is, no matter where I travel, I am only happy the moment I have found my “home” there. Over the past few years I’ve discovered less and less of a paradox between “travel” and “home.” Home is a special place that we all need, but we can find it in multiple places around the world, each home different and special and with it’s own odd collection of friends and “family.” So, despite missing my family, my life is growing richer for having discovered that.
BTW, it may seem that “everyone else” “seems” to know what their doing, but none of us ever do. It’s an illusion. Not knowing what’s next and being open to new and unexpected experiences is one of the best things for growing a creative soul. (Yeah, remember that next time you get bumped on the street in overcrowded Seoul ^_^ )
And lastly, here’s my 2 cents on creative professions: Do what you need to do to continue photographing. There are people in the creative professions who support themselves 100% through their creative work, but they are not necessarily more artistic or better than the millions of creative people who need to wait tables or teach English to furnish their passion. I personally believe that it’s not enough to be technically proficient. A lot of times our creative styles and vision suffers because we feel too tied to doing whatever the client wants, because the clients pay the bills. It feels nice to tell people that you make money doing what you love, but at the very least do what you love and make money some other way.
See you in a coupla weeks! ^_^
Heather Cowper said,
April 30, 2008 at 1:30 pm
What a world of possibilities and uncertainties are out there.
Maybe you’ll find what you seek in Italy. If I was choosing somewhere to base myself in the world this is what my head would tell me -
- Somewhere in Europe to have plenty of variety & easy to travel around (and more than 10 vacation days)
- A warm climate and relaxed lifestyle (I’m already thinking meditteranean here)
- Close to a large provincial city for work possibilities but not a capital - too expensive & frenetic
- Close to a good airport with cheap flights
- Somewhere with a creative community - I’m thinking provincial city again.
Of course your heart will probably lead you to somewhere that feels right and does not fit any of the above - hope you have fun on the journey
Catherine said,
May 1, 2008 at 8:23 am
Darling sorry I haven’t commented on your past blogs but you know I have been reading your posts.
A little late but I feel for you and heres my comment semi-deep
You are a sociable creature living in a somewhat antisocial environment which I think is making you reflect and think about who and what you are as a person. Travelling is all about personal development difficult and brutal at times but boy what a person you become!
SOOOOO what are doing here when the world is waiting for you? You have a decent portfolio now go out there and show people it!
Catherine