Understanding the world outside your comfort zone

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The more I write in my blogs and experience life through the various facets of life, I realise that the hobbies I've developed now are vastly different from when I was younger.

I used to love computer games but have outgrown them. I still enjoy watching films but the typical Hollywood blockbuster now appeals less than independent films such as the Brazilian "Tropa de Elite" or "Elite Squad" and "The Guard Post" - a Korean film.

Hollywood films tend to be "me-too" ones and they have started remaking Japanese and Korean films as well such as "The Ring", "My Sassy Girl".

My interest in toastmastering and public speaking has grown in the 5 years I have been active in the movement and it has reaped rewards manifold in-terms of my confidence in speaking in front of strangers especially.

The growth came through daring to experiment with new technologies such as getting involved in the blogging phenomena and being in touch with technologies that are democratising content such as Youtube and Dailymotion.

My forays into Wordpress and setting up my own blog monetisation websites Five Cents Ten Cents as well as Singapore Fixed Deposits has allowed me to enjoy small success in seeing this blogs generate some small allowance for me that covers the costs of internet access as well as to the occasional coffee.

All these new discoveries of japanese popular music (jpop) artists such as Utada Hikaru, BoA and Hiro through online video websites has whetted my appetite to learn Japanese and even Korean before I leave this world.

How have you experienced the world outside of your comfort zone. Have you discovered any new hobby that helps you learn more about the world around you?