Page 20 January 2011 Overseas move requires a new social community By Kaley Kalil Moving overseas can be a challenging experience. Along with all that excitement of stepping into a foreign world and immersing yourself in a new culture and society comes the uprooting of your social network and all that is familiar. You leave behind your family, your friends and an entire environment you’ve molded around yourself, one in which you’ve probably grown quite comfortable. Even traveling abroad for something as short-term as vacation can be a daunting thought for many, particularly solo travelers. Here are fi ve quick tips that helped me through the transition process and several long-term, international relocations: Establish a routine It may not seem like much at fi rst, but by establishing some sort of daily or weekly routine, you’ll slowly start to feel more comfortable with your new surroundings. Try to make yourself a regular at the neighborhood café. It’s all the better if the baristas greet you with, “Good morning, Mr. Collins. The usual?” or if restaurant servers argue over whose regular you are. You’ll get to know some neighbors in no time and start to form your new community. Get yourself a posse and go out The sooner you generate your local crew of friends, the less likely you’ll wind up lonely and depressed like that video-game guy who lived down the hall from you back in college. The last thing you need to do is waste time regretting your admirable decision to move out into the world and experience something new. So, surround yourself with good people who are interested in similar things as you. Having a solid group of local friends will help you to fully engage in the new lifestyle you’ve electively chosen in a faraway place. Keep in touch While concentrating on planting new roots in your current destination is of the utmost importance, and will have the greatest impact on your social scene and happiness, don’t forget those you love and left behind. Rather, schedule regular Skype dates or phone calls to keep those who matter most looped into your new life, and vice versa. Though it needn’t be overly frequent, Continued on page 22 THEARCADIA411.COM THEROBERTJOFFEGROUP.COM Robert JOFFE Robert JOFFE For every home Robert sells in Arcadia, a For every home Robert sells in Arcadia, a $250 donation will be made to teacher $250 donation will be made to teacher development at Arcadia High School, development at Arcadia High School, helping our phenomenal teachers get the helping our phenomenal teachers get the continuing education they deserve! continuing education they deserve! EXECUTRANS TRANS S e d a n & L i m o u s i n e S e r v i c e S e d a n & L i m o u s i n e S e r v i c e D i s c r e t e • P u n c t u a l • P r o f e s s i o n a l 480-945-7775 1717 N. 77th St., Ste #7 Scottsdale, AZ 85257 www.Executrans1.com OFFER EXPIRES 1/31/11 NEW YEAR’S SPECIAL! NEW YEAR’S SPECIAL! LUXURY AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION ONLY $25 $25 FROM ARCADIA 2 Family Practice Specialists 4350 E. Camelback Rd., Suite F-100 Marvin Schneider, M.D., Medical Director Member of International Society of Travel Medicine 602-955-8700 Eileen Klecka, R.N. Certifi cate in Travel Health Medicine Recognized as one of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine’s Top US Travel Health Specialists www.travelshots.net • travelshots@cox.net Arcadia Physicians T R A V E L C L I N I C Travel Plans Travel Plans In the New Year? In the New Year? Visit us first so the only thing you bring home from vacation are souvenirs!

Page 21 January 2011 Love of Asia leads former Arcadian to relationship By Kaley Kalil Joey Balsamo, a former Arcadia resident who recently returned to the Valley after numerous stints in Asia, is excitedly preparing to move back to Japan in just a few short months. Joey fi rst developed his love for Asia, particularly Japan, in August of 2008. He spent an academic year in Kawagoe, in Saitama Prefecture of Japan, through the University of Arizona, where he was studying English literature and rhetoric. But after Joey moved overseas, he found himself falling in love with much more than just the local cuisine and picturesque scenery. “My girlfriend, Soeun, moved to Japan with her older sister, who was a student at the university I was studying at,” Joey said. “While her older sister was at an orientation for the school, Soeun was just hanging around in the lounge. Luckily, I was there too. “I approached her, we talked a little, and then I invited her to a hanami (traditional cherry blossom viewing) with my friends. “After a couple months, we became very close and have been in a relationship for a year and a half now.” Joey is returning to Japan in March, to teach English to children. He will teach at Amity School located in Tsuruma, the Kanagawa Prefecture (about 15 minutes from Yokohama). His students will range from 2 to 18 years old. “I am not very nervous about teaching English to children,” Joey said. Since interning at Arizona State University’s TESOL program (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), Joey has had experience teaching ESL to children (English as a Second Language). Furthermore, he is currently a substitute teacher for elementary schools around the Valley. With a brother and his Hong Kongian wife in Hong Kong, a Korean girlfriend in Japan, and a growing passion for all things Asian, to what can Joey’s fascination with Asia be attributed? “My neighbors in the city (Houston) I grew up in were from Hong Kong,” Joey said. “They are the ones who introduced me to Asian culture. “I’d have to say it’s the food that in fl uenced my infatuation. I love Chinese Dim Sum, and Asian cuisine is just so interesting in general.” Joey’s favorite Japanese food is sashimi. “You ONLY get the awesomeness of freshly sliced Japanese fi sh in Japan,” he said. His favorite Japanese word, “sumimasen,” means “excuse me” or “sorry.” He claims he says it at least a hundred times a day while there, and that it fi xes or positively affects any situation he encounters as long as he throws in a little bow when he says it. Joey, who speaks Spanish, Japanese and basic Korean, plans on improving his Japanese while abroad to a business and professional level to be on par with native speakers. He said he also wants to complete a master’s degree in linguistics while working there in hopes of eventually landing a job with a local university. Lastly, he’ll be saving money to pay off school loans stateside. Other destinations Joey has visited include Hong Kong, Macau, Canada and Mexico. Continued on page 22 Joey Balsamo invited his current girlfriend to the cherry blossom festival in Japan for their fi rst date.