- O
To my friends and colleagues:
Just the facts…staying focused, trying to stay positive and am highly motivated to start sharing my images internationally again. Whatever it takes.
Finally, I’m planting the flag in D.C. after about half a year exploring a few major news cities with the initial funds raised after being unceremoniously encouraged to leave China, UPI abruptly closing their bureau and my identity being stolen…and Covid hitting hard. Perfect storm, one which I didn’t ask for or could’ve anticipated. Or solve.
Here’s a list of cities I stayed in for a few weeks at a time with the GoFund Me help I received in order to survive, explore opportunities and potential for a new home base:
So…Beijing to Boston to Binghamton to NYC to Ft Lauderdale and finally to D.C., where I’m presently looking at employment opportunities. Dialing it in. But stressing hard. A first. Hard not to feel something akin to ignominy...despite knowing there was nothing I could've done to prevent this....
It’s been the hardest year of my life. Sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe here, and maybe living back in the States is not for me. You have to live and thrive outside your birth place to fully understand this feeling.
So it has been just over 6 months since I reluctantly asked for a hand in getting me back on my feet in this strange land, the United States. Twenty-six years in Asia came down to this…leaving China and Asia with only two suitcases, my hard drives and heavily-used equipment. And zero savings. Everything I collected and owned in my adventures and bureaus around Asia was either donated to charities (books, furniture, appliances, clothes, bikes..but not my Afghan carpets, tuxedos, chef knives or Mongolian hats) or was packed on a container ship headed to New Jersey for a storage unit.
So, that’s the basics of what happened to me. This remains difficult for me to discuss, and ultimately knowing I still need a bit of help to find where I best fit, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world. I tried, on the Gofundme shoe-string, to feel-out the best cities for me and news on the East Coast. A place I could regroup and work.
I’ve managed to keep the ship afloat due to the fund and with a bit of sales from images from my archives, as well as self-driven assignments in every city. You can see a bit on Facebook and Instagram. I’m shooting. Again, whatever it takes.
Yes, I’m still going through a bit of reverse culture shock, a bit of depression at times…but am strong and looking at the world and big picture, figuring out how I fit in. I know my worth..but in this climate of downsizing and citizen journalists when there’s more emphasis on low-budget, crowd sourcing journalism…well, not a pretty picture for someone of my ability, experience, expense..and yes…age. A few things: I’m either overqualified, too expensive, something to do with age, budget cuts, downsizing and you know the rest.
I can occasionally buy a snickers and pay my mobile bill, bus fares (not cheap!), essential software subscriptions and webpage hosting costs for another few weeks.
I’m now in D.C. and have decided to make a go of it here…it just fits for some reason. No need for a car. Campaign season is upon the U.S.. And, both my parents are buried in Arlington Cemetery very nearby…and I was born in Quantico, just 30 minutes away as well. Bizarre, right?!
So…I deeply need a hand, not a handout, to survive until I plug into a livable revenue stream now that I’ve decided to rebase in D.C. and restart my professional and personal life.
Still internationally networking. Thinking outside the box. Open for advice, suggestions and some wise words.
To my friends, thank you! Love is all there is…and extra sharp cheddar.
"Sometimes things go so badly, you just have to laugh." Star Trek
Stephen
Please revisit my initial Gofund Me for links that fully explain a bit of my situation.