So I hate blogging…I have been terrible at updating and I’m
not even sure I really even want to try again. However I figure having spent an
entire year in Korea and only documenting the first few months, I might as well
get a fresh start.
A quick glimpse into the past few months.
October and the best holiday ever Halloween.
Halloween is one of my most favorite holidays ever. I love
dressing up in costumes, I love eating candy and I love being on a crazy sugar
high. Celebrating Halloween at work was really funny and cute. The school I
work for is called Wonderland. So naturally I dressed up as Alice. My
cleverness didn’t go far in Korea but I still had to do it. The kids were
excited to eat candy and dress up! We even had a haunted house in our gym.
Truth be told we a few criers…but they made it through. I felt super terrible
though with one student because the second we turned off the lights he death
gripped my body and was about to cry. So I took pity on the poor child and took
him outside where the lights were on so we could wait it out together. Well I
took him back in once I thought they were about finished so we could start
playing our games. Unfortunately once we went back inside my Korean coworkers
saw that he didn’t go through the haunted house and took him from me so they
could take him. My protests to them fell on deaf ears…five seconds later guess
who’s crying. Ahhh! I just felt like I
lied to the poor kid. I wouldn’t have made him go, he’s four years old…I’m 25
years old and I don’t like being scared…I will gladly skip that.
During Halloween weekend my friend and I dressed up as
crayons. It was super fun but freezing outside. I was just glad I had a partner
because Halloween isn’t really a holiday they celebrate here. We got a lot of
looks and the bus driver asked us if it was someone’s birthday. (Note for next
birthday…everyone is dressing up as crayons)
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Korea has only been as great as it has been because I have
made some amazing friends here. Ride or Die! In November we had a little Thanksgiving
Day feast at my house. It was fun cooking with friends and we had some fantastic
laughs. We filled up my tiny table and ate as much as we could : )
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| please notice the hello kitty peeler : ) |
December was super fun! Once again amazing bestie friends
came through and we totally enjoyed the Christmas spirit! We got each other
cute little gifts and celebrated by eating delicious Shabu Shabu. During
Christmas vacation my friend Sarah, her friend from the states Dez (now my
friend too) and I all traveled to the Philippines. The best way to describe the
Philippines is if Hawaii and Mexico had a baby. It is beautiful and tropical
the people are very outgoing and friendly. However it is still a very poor and
developing country and you don’t want to be out and about at night. We spent
one day/night in the capital Manila. I have never been so aware that I was
white before. People pointing at you from across the street, yelling hello to
you, even driving inside a taxi cab people would point in at us. We took a
horse drawn carriage around the old town area. Our driver was super nice and
took a million pictures for us : ) After Manila we went to tourist safety
bubble Philippines called Boracay. It was amazing and beautiful. I think after
that I only want to have white sand Christmas.
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| family photo! |
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| Tasted terrible but made for a good picture. |
New Years we were back in Seoul and brought in the new year
with a Far East Movement concert (like a g 6)
February and March went by well. My friends and I had a nice
Valentine’s day dinner with cute little presents and once again delicious
dinner : ) My birthday was great! My friends are so awesome and got me
wonderful gifts, an ice cream cake, and endured some Rod Stewart noraebong :) I
got to wear a cute dress and dance the night away! Perfect night!
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| The Quad! Ride or Die |
During the months March, April, and May my friend Sarah and
I took a Korean class. Let’s just say I’m glad I took the class but I’m not
sure how much I really learned/retained. But I guess everyone has to start
somewhere. I am proud to say that I can read/sound out Korean words. By that
same system I could sound out write something. I have noticed that I can
understand more but still a struggle. Be nice to Asians learning English, it is
not an easy transition.
Highlight of May was going on a short trip to Busan with my
friend Sarah. She is one of the best if not THE best travel buddies. Busan is a
beach town in the South Coast of Korea. The water was still a little icy to
really enjoy swimming but it was fun to get in and lay on the beach none the
less. We had lots of fun adventures, visiting temples, aquariums, fish markets,
carnivals and making friends with the locals. We took the fast train there and
back and stayed for the long weekend (Buddha’s birthday!) I love traveling by
train. It is the best, easiest way to travel. I wish America didn’t suck and
had a better train system.
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| washing Buddha the birthday boy |
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| fyi: not a nazi sign in the background |
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| yes that IS an amazing couples t-shirt! |
Summer has started and it’s been hot, humid, and some pretty
crazy storms. My sister is coming to visit me this month and I can’t wait! It
has been a million years since we last were able to be together and I can’t
wait to show her my new country :)
I’m not going to make any promises about keeping this blog
updated. Just enjoy the moment : )Don’t ruin it by thinking about the future ;
)
