October 2019 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Love the picture!

What a great pickup, that will make a great storage solution for your razors.

 

Monday morning and my back to work shave. Since I shave late on Sundays there is less than 24 hours between shaves which means Mondays are usual a safety razor shave. Today it was my Joris loaded with a Iridium Super.

 

Thanks, Joe. The razor was my first foray on the Dark Side, and...the first blade I started honing. So it has some meaning to me.

 

Nice shaves!

 

Thank you, Perry.

 

Thanks, Clint.

 

News update: This is not meant to be political and is specific to my situation.

I have lived in Seoul for 18 years now, I own a home here and do not have one in the US. As a US citizen living overseas life has become very complicated with more and more annoying challenges. The tax reporting required for US citizens living overseas is brutal, complicated and expensive. Added in the cost of making an error on a 120 page filing just increases the stress.

In the US it has become increasing difficult for me to open a banking account, brokerage account or even get a credit card. If you do not have a 'provable' US address or drivers license they will not open an account. I can't even get a drivers license now, they demand proof of an address such a utility bills etc. So basically as US citizen without a US residence I am treated worse than a foreigner living in the US.

Outside the US most financial institutions do not accept US customers, the do not want to all the reporting that is required to the US government. The just politely tell you to leave and then deleter all traces of your visit.

This summer I decided the best solution is to give up my US citizenship and get Korean citizenship. Getting Korean citizenship is usually a long and difficult process. There is one route called 'special talent' that is faster but the standards are high. Only 236 citizenships have been granted under this program. I made it through the first step, getting approved by a committee and then it was on to the second step, an interview that is an oral test.

The interview covers, Korean language, history, social, cultural and the legal system. The first interview I failed, it was much harder than I expected. In Korea the department of justice is responsible for granting citizenship and the woman assisting me through the process called me and apologized for the interview and was shocked because we have spoken many times in Korean. They scheduled a second interview just 10 later.

For ten days I studied like crazy and was a bit nervous. The first interview was conducted by nongovernment employees but the second interview was held with two high level employees fo the justice department. The test was difficult but this time I was better prepared. The next day I got a text message telling me I passed. What a relief.

Now all that is left is for the criminal background check and paperwork to be processed. Once I have the passport in hand I will go to the US embassy and give up my US citizenship. A sad thought but I can't go on living like this. I am over the biggest obstacles now and it should be down hill from here. This why I have not been as active on the 30DC.

 

Great shave Joseph! Mojo on the stropping.

 

Beautiful Gary!

 

It is quite sad that your only recourse is to give up your US citizenship.

 

Purdy!

 

Nice shave and that brush looks a good little brush. Take care friend!

 

Thanks Jim, I think the top area is deep enough for a tray. This will give me three levels of storage.

 

Thanks Joe, I am looking foward to getting started on it.

 

Solid and nice shave!

 

Great shave Jason and safe travels!

 

I am well aware how brutal the tax filing requirements are for US Citizens living abroad. I never fully appreciated the trouble of opening a checking or brokerage account in the US when living abroad. I am sorry it came to that Keith but in the end you made the decision that worked best for your situation. I am happy you passed and everything will be going forward.

 

Awesome shave Keith and love the gear!

 

Wishing you the best Keith.