I'm not talking about the figurative tattoos that Jordin Sparks sings in her song "Tattoo". I am talking about flesh scaring, permanent ink sporting tattoos.
Despite the stigma attached to this act, both by Christianity and popular culture, I am still committed to getting several tattoos. Not as an act of defiance or personal expression, but as a tool to help me remember. I have been so many places (as can be seen in the post from couple of days ago) and have lived in others. I am not naive enough to believe that I get a tattoo, to remember every thing I have done and every place I have visited, but I am committed to getting ink to represent the places I have lived.
First, 선생님 "Seon saeng nim". This will actually be in Korean, not written in the latin letters. This is the word for teacher in Korea, because let's face it. I was a teacher in Korea. I love the simplicity of it. I love that I don't need a book to define it. I love that I can read it (as opposed to people that get Chinese or Japanese without knowing what it says). This will be the first one I will get.
Second, Dominicano Soy "Dominican, I Am". It's such a simple phrase that captures the love I have for the country. I am so excited to be going back. Even though I am not from the DR, it is the place that has felt most like home. Hopefully after a few more years of living down there, I can be accepted as a national.
Third, ????. Now we get to the real crux of this blog. I have NO idea what to get to represent Romania. While I would like it to be something unique (not a flag), it also has to be something medium to small in size (the Romanian coat of arms would be cool, but the amount of detail there is would require the piece to be the size of my back to do it justice). The only other truly Romanian thing I have been able to come up with would be the Romanian Orthodox saint of my birthday. So, anyone that has traveled to Romania that has an idea, I would appreciate the input.
For the time being, I am sketching out what I want the tattoos to look like and where exactly on my body I should get them. Both of which are a surprising amount of fun.
2 comments:
Take some pictures of the archetecture. (Especially the cultural center back by the children's park.) That's where I got the inspiration for my Romanian tattoo. I took some of my favorite pictures to my tattoo guys and told them where I wanted it, and they sketched several options for me. Or look at the folk costumes; they are incredibly intricate, and you might be able to find some inspiration there. Good luck!
Bro. You should totally get one over your entire back. And then let me be there when you show Mom and Dad for the first time? :):):)
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