I began this journey because, like many, I felt unfulfilled by my job.  I was doing work that was satisfying and I was in a position to contribute to society.  Yet, it was not enough.  The way I look at it, someone would have stepped into that same role and filled the duties of that position.  So, I didn’t feel like I was leaving a mark that was truly my own.  I wanted to create something… to build something… but to build it on my own terms, as opposed to refining a project according to someone else’s expectations.  Even though I was tired of working for others, I had not given up my vision of helping people and society.  At the same time, I wanted to be connected to another culture.  I have always felt a strong attraction to foreign cultures.  Each year I would save up my pennies and nickels to go abroad for two weeks so that I could experience life in a different culture.  Somehow, Red Gingko was formed from all of these intangible desires.