The Portfolio of Jessop Petroski

 Why do I travel? I think Samuel Johnson sums it up best when he said;

“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.”

For the past decade, I have been living, working, and experiencing the world. At the age of 20, I left Ohio for the first time to live on my own on Cape Cod Massachusetts for five months working as a swimming pool technician. The previous summer, I went back and worked another three months. This experience left a lasting impression on me and I grew up immensely during that time.

The following summer, my journey would take me more than the 12 hour drive to the Cape, instead it was a 14 hour flight around the world to Tokyo, Japan. The opportunity came by chance when I was still a university student, when my dad took a consulting job that landed him in The Land of The Rising Sun. I spent that summer transformed in a world as foreign to me as the moon. With no Japanese language skills, no cultural information about Japan, and not the slightest clue how to read the subway map, I transformed myself and the rest of my life from that point on.

After graduating college in 2003, I went back to Japan once again to pursue employment and to build continue building relations and cultural awareness in Asia. I later joined the Wall Street Institute English School in Bangkok, Thailand were I worked for a number of years as a Teacher, Corporate Language Instructor, and a Corporate Account Manager.

One of my most memorable trips was a 19 day world tour that took me from Sado island, to Tokyo, to Bangkok, to Koh Tao then back to Bangkok, to Tokyo's Narita airport, to Honolulu, to Portland, to Seattle, to Vancouver, to Minneapolis for a night, and finally ending in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Countries I've Lived in and Visited:

• Japan - I lived and tutored children English for a number of years off and on in Tokyo. I also dove into traditional Japanese culture by taking lessons in both Koto and Shamisen. (Watch and listen to Koto and Shamisen). I really got emerged in the tradition during a festival that happens once every four years in Tokyo called 'Tomioka Hachimangu'. A local family welcomed me to join the festivities and I was dressed in the traditional attire and placed in the front of a parade carrying a large, VERY heavy 2 ton shrine-like object called a 'Mikoshi'. This festival also include the dousing of water on all the participants, so we were all soaked to the bone, but loved every minute of it. My travels throughout the country took me from Tokyo to Osaka on a bus, then to Kyoto by train. A night of sleeping on the streets because no one would accepts us at any of the hotels was a real test of will power. One of my best trips was  to Kyushu island where I had a four-day homestay with a family and went spear fishing for octopus with the father. I have also made many trips to beautiful Sado island in Niigata precture. In the summer of 2008,  I opened up a small shop called Kluen Gallery and Massage.

  

• Thailand - Otherwise known as 'The Land of Smiles', I fell in love with this country the first time I ever visited. While living in Japan, I made the trip to Thailand a number of times. I vacationed, volunteered in Phuket months after the devastating tsunami, and did my TEFL training in Ban Phe. The majority of my time in Thailand was spent living and working in Bangkok. I mostly worked with our company's corporate clients which included Siam Commerical Bank (largest commercial bank in Thailand), TOT Public Telecom company, Thailand's Government Savings Bank as well as foreign companies such as KPMG and Pricewaterhouse Coopers. During my time here, I survived a military coup, which was a pretty heralding experience. I was also here during the auspicious 60th anniversary of the King's accesion to the throne. This was a three day celebration with all of the royal families in the world gathered to honor His majesty. I have been to virtually every corner of the country experiencing every facet of the landscape and culture. My most memorable trip was one to the northern most province of Chang Ria. We flew to Chiang Rai and stay a few nights, then rented two motorbikes and headed deep into the mountains to a small village of former Chinese refugees called Mai Salong. The journey was a 2 1/2 hour expedition through the most prestine and windy landscape, taking us virtually back in time as we passed through tribal villages on our way there. The town is truly something out of a fairy tale and there were virutally no tourists around anywhere. We enjoyed the Chinese influence all around us and the unbelievable view from our private bungalow at the Flower Hill Resort. Truly a priceless experience!

• Malaysia - A visit to the island of Panang was a very nice four day getaway to a lucious island with a distinct muslim influence. The food was phehominal and the scenery was wonderful.
• Singapore - I have visited this city-nation twice and was very impressed with it each time I went there. The city is very well planned and spread out and you'll never go to a cleaner urban spread as you'll find here. The culture is a melting pot of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and everthing in between. One of the best parts of the trip there is the airport, often regarded as the nicest airport in the world, it bosts a free Movie Theatre and an outdoor swiming pool. Yes, I said a swimming pool!
• Cambodia - A solo mission, four-day trip to Phenom Penh and Siem Reap. In the capital city of Phenom Penh, I visited the infamous killing fields and shot an AK-47 machine gun. Surprisingly, the city has very nice architecure and a slight European feal to it. Later I took a five hour bus ride up to Siem Reap to visit one of the Seven Wonders of The World; Angkor Wat. My two day tour was a fascinating journey back in time. Able to avoid the hordes of tour groups by virtue of a motorcycle taxi and the next day a bicycle, I was able to embrace the full magnitude of this iconic place.
• Hong Kong - I boarded a flight on Ethiopian Air in Bangkok, bound for Hong Kong. When we touched down, I've never been so happy to get off a plane, not to mention the people getting out of their seats as soon as the plan hit the ground and was screaching to a hault, throwing people all over the place. An evening enjoying the famous city skyline light show by the water and a meal by a local vendor on the streets helped me feel the trip was worth it. The next day I was up the longest escalators in the world and up to Victoria Peak.
• South Korea - A short trip to the capital of Seouls was a pleasant visit. Witnessing the US beef protests was one of the highlights of the trip, along with a trip up the Seoul Tower to take in the incredible views of the city made for a nice visit. The 'Yaki nicku' and kimochii was really good too, although, the kimochii flavored chocolate I brought back to Japan and gave as a sourvenir wasn't as big of a hit.
• Guam - Part of the US, but technically it's own country, this small island is located in southwest of the Phillipines in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. A beautiful island and a great place to escape from everything.
• Spain - A wonderful trip with my dad, uncle, and cousin to the south of Spain to a city called Malaga. We also visited Sevilla and a beautiful little mountain village called Ronda which wast just incredible. Great food, wonderful people, and the Sangria was amazing!
• England - Two airports and the countryside in between for 12 and 6 hours in transit respectfully. Lots of green rolling hills.
• Canada (Niagara, Toronto, Vancouver), Mexico, Aruba, and the Bahamas round out my international destinations thus far.