Crossing Borders, Breaking New Grounds: Conquering Korea and US

Pardon the late post. I just gathered the strength lately to write about these most compelling events in my life as a writer.

Korea Mania

It was June 4, Monday, and I thought that everything would be plain ordinary. I will report to the Capitol wearing my orange uniform which makes me look like a Ponkan because of my body shape. People will come to the office to ask for messages. I will see and be with my Capitol family until we all get tired and call it a day.

But I was wrong. June 4 was a different Monday, and it shall always be one of the most exciting Mondays of my entire life.

With great hope of constantly proving my worth and pushing my luck to the edge, I joined the 3^rd International Dokdo Essay Competition, one of the biggest writing contests in South Korea, participated in by more than 1,000 people from every corner of the planet. Out of these thousands of entries, they will churn out the 12 best essays which will win prizes.

With little hope for victory and great anticipation of disappointment, I opened the website of Korea Times the moment I woke up, and saw that the results were already out.

Three photos were posted in the site, and neither of those were mine.

I continued to scan the names of the winners… one from Netherlands, one from Malaysia… one from Singapore… another from US… seems there is no sign that I made it on my first international essay competition until….

“…and Jose Cheeseman, a speechwriter for the governor of Laguana, the Philippines”.

My heart skipped a beat. I made remembered my name “JOSE PAOLO CHEESEMAN CALCETAS”. I am a speechwriter for the Governor of Laguna. So that means…

YAY!

I screamed to my heart’s content. I was teary eyed, and I suddenly remembered May 13, the final day of submitting entries. The email address won’t accept my entry because the inbox is full. But then again, God had His own ways.

The US Surprise

Let me tell my story the way I did in the previous article.

It was July 4, Wednesday, exactly a month after I won a Special Citation Award at the Dokdo International Essay Contest, and I thought that everything would be plain ordinary. I will report to the Capitol wearing my red polo which makes me look like a Chinese Lantern. People will come to the office to ask for messages. I will see and be with my Capitol family until we all get tired and call it a day.

But I was wrong. July 4 was a different Wednesday, and it shall always be one of the most exciting Wednesdays of my entire life.

With great hope of constantly proving my worth and pushing my luck to the edge, I joined the 4^th Scott Hammond International Fathers’ Day Essay Competition, based in California, USA, participated in by more than 1,000 people from every corner of the planet. Out of these thousands of entries, they will churn out ONLY ONE WINNER which will win prizes.

With little hope for victory and great anticipation of disappointment, I opened my email address before I sleep, and saw that the results were already out.

An email address from Mr. Scott Hammond, multi-awarded author and American parenting expert, sent me an email.

“Good Sir… You are the Winner”

YAY!

I screamed to my heart’s content. I was teary eyed, and I suddenly remembered June 17, 13 days before the last day of submitting entries. I thought to myself, God is really good all the time.

Today, I pushed my luck in other international competitions. And I do hope that in the coming days, I will repeat the storylines in this post but with a new topic.