Westward, to the East

Since early 2012, our focus has turned to Asia. Over the year, we visited Viet Nam, Japan, Hong Kong, China (PRC), and Macau ... plus Guam, if it counts as part of Asia. Our circle of colleagues and friends has expanded to include a diverse  group of very smart, interesting, highly motivated people from around the globe.

Unexpectedly, I've become a great admirer of China!

©2013 by Carol Porter, taken inside A-Ma Temple, Macau

If I were beginning my career now, I would find work in China for at least a few years. Soon China will have more English speakers than the US, so English speakers can manage while they learn to speak Mandarin. Heck, I might even consider moving to China at this time, if we weren't already starting to live part of each year in Amsterdam!

But we will visit China every year, from now on. Perhaps multiple times each year. :-)

The Eusocial Caste

"Eusociality, where some individuals reduce their own reproductive potential to raise others' offspring, is what underpins the most advanced form of social organization and the dominance of social insects and humans." 
  --   E. O. Wilson

This statement is from an article that Rachel linked in her profile. I was fascinated by the sentence; it offered me a surprising perspective. It was not the point of the article, but since I read everything from Rachel with attention to detail, I saw relevance in this sentence. The article, separately from all this, was also relevant. It discussed the social evolution of altruism.

But it was the quote from E. O. Wilson that struck me. As a young woman, I reduced my reproductive potential by choice (to help save the planet). I found another's offspring in peril, and I raised her in challenging circumstances, with love, hands on care and healing, and lots of hard work. What I just read informs me that I'm highly evolved!

I guess I already knew that.

In a couple months, Peter and I will be very social in the EU! ;-)

What I'm working on this week

Thanks to Ron Brezsny, I am determined to cultivate a desire to recognize and respond to the raw truth of each new moment.

Forgotten blog

A former intern at our business, Cédric, contacted me a while back. He searched the internet trying to locate Carol Porter, and he reported that he found two sites, one a blog with an entry featuring Jean Luc Picard (a shared hero).

So, I searched for myself and found this blogspot site, created when Peter and I were house sitting for Rick in Hawi, while we awaited completion of our new home. I spent a fair amount of time when it rained experimenting with various blog services. The internet is so cool (and I've known that since 1977).

Leadership style?

Which Star Trek leader are you? Captain Jean Luc Picard You are highly diplomatic and well-respected. You are rational but can get down and dirty if you need to. You are a true hero!

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