Preface

Written in HCMC, Vietnam, Nov 17, 2023. Re-published in KL, Malaysia, Mar 15, 2025.

I've set up a blog multiple times before. I would write frequently, sharing random events from my life or my travel stories, but I would eventually abandon it for prolonged periods of work. This makes me feel somewhat sad. I wish I had developed a habit of writing instead of making a chore out of it. I imagine that writing a book is a longer process that requires consistency and patience—to the extent that one may abandon a manuscript for half a year and still continue writing it one day. So, I am calling this post a preface, hoping that I have mastered just enough patience to make it work this time. I can't help but get philosophical when I'm in the mood for writing. Besides that, I want to revive writing as my hobby for the upcoming year. It is the one hobby I can practice no matter where I am, how much luggage I have with me, or whether I am with someone. A good friend of mine made me realize this today, so here I am.

In this blog, I want to share many stories that occurred during my years of traveling. I want to write about—and hopefully hear responses on—the topic of a third culture individual identity (aka TCK/TCI). And I want to share my professional experience of building websites since 2005 and running different online businesses. I often receive the compliment that I have a talent for explaining complex technical matters in simple human language. I don't want this talent to be fully reserved behind the paywall of my business.

And, in the end, I want to put something personal out there, for myself and others. So, let this new story begin.