Home from Japan

Upon arriving back in Korea after a vacation in Japan on Sunday, the Immigrations counselor said, "What do you do in Korea? Did you have nice Vacation? ...Welcome Home."


Before I came to Korea I'd only listened to my friends talk about what living abroad is like. Every story is different, every country is a world of its own and even individuals going to the same country experience different things.

My good friend Dusan who is Serbian came to live in the USA without knowing a soul. He didn't just come for a year, he always knew his future was to go to school in USA and he now has his eyes set on a career. (god only knows why USA...) I got a glimpse of what it would be like to live abroad talking with Dusan the past 4 years.

He described culture shock for me freshman year with wide eyes, scattered thoughts, and an open heart. I saw the joy he received when he would meet someone who was from his region of the world. And this helped me to see what it would be like to miss family friends, and everything one knows in the world.

Dusan had a passion for bettering his country. He wanted to learn from USA and ultimately to take good things back home.

Dusan never forgot what was at home but he always lived in the present. I know his future will be fulfilling in whatever he puts his mind too.

I cannot rightfully compare my experience abroad with what Dusan has done in USA. But I can't help but think of all the things I've learned from him. I feel so lucky to be loved here. I get hugs from my students everyday. I get so much respect, attention, and unfair advantages from strangers everyday when they see I am an American. I'm sure that there is some benefits for some foreigners who come into the United States. Like girls falling for their sweet accent. That may in fact be the only advantage. I don't know.

But I can't even speak Korean at all and I am blessed with all these gifts, hugs, smiles, simply because they are curious, hungry for American Culture. I am grateful for this. I am still waiting for culture shock to hit me. I think that it may not. Since I don't speak Korean I can't really immerse myself in the culture, saving me from such a shock. I think could live here the rest of my life with out ever speaking Korean. It seems sad to me.

After work I come home and check my facebook. I see what is happening in the lives of all my friends and family. I skype with my family and friends too. I can see their faces and hear their voice everyday. I feel so blessed that I can do these things. This also protects me from really feeling what its like to miss home. The internet really makes the world a smaller place.

Dusan has a vision for what could be improved in Serbia; for what he wants to take home. I only hope I can take more than souvenirs home with me. I have a passion for helping people, I know this is true. But I'm not really sure who it is I am trying to help. Since I was fairly young I always wanted to flee from USA. But, I have fled to the wrong country for wanting to be away from American culture. Korea is like a toddler America. Maybe while I'm here, with the encounters I have, I will be able to teach Korea some good things USA has to offer.

There is good and bad on both sides of this earth. If we could learn the good things from each other the world would definitely be better place.

Life in Korea

Its been a little while since I've blogged and its been requested that I do some updating soo here we go....

I had a birthday celebration. I turned 23! Twenty three years old doesn't really mean much to me this time around but it was really nice to have a birthday celebration across the world. I was actually kind of dreading it when I was back in the states. I saw a picture of a korean tootsie roll shaped pastel green cake and it looked just awful. I figured I'd be getting one of those and I'd really miss being home. But instead I started the korean celebration with Chinese food bought by my boss Suzie Teacher after work on Friday. The other teachers and I shared a nice meal in one of the classrooms, followed by cake and a card by Suzie saying that she'd take care of us the best she could all year. It was really sweet and she also gave me two postcards of watercolor paintings that her sister had made and I really appreciated them! Oh and to my suprise i didnt get an awful green cake, we had a nice cheesecake from the local bakery that was really good! They sang a korean birthday song and I even blew out candles. :)

Amy and I went out over the weekend and met some new friends, who we obviously told it was my birthday celebration on Saturday. They bought us drinks and we celebrated korean style with staying out much too late.

Then on Sunday it was my actual birthday and my sweet roommate made me dinner bought me a slice of pecan pie cake. :) Then on Monday I got all the birthday wishes back from back home on facebook (which is because you are all a day behind time wise, not because you forgot my birthday). It really made me feel good to have you all thinking about me from so far away. Then I got a package in the mail from my Mom on Wednesday at work, and that also made me feel very special.

With the combination of celebrating with new friends and the comforting thoughts of love sent from home I had an awesome birthday.


Then it was back to work for a week.....



Then it was the weekend again!!! :D

We met new english speaking friends who we went on a beach trip with. They had rented a condo at pebble beach and we had tons of fun. The best part was swimming in the ocean at night. I took a quick break from the card game we were playing because I had been sweating from the humidity and the water felt so so refreshing. The moon was just rising over the jagged rocks that were sticking out of the dark water. And even though my feet hurt from the rocky shore my heart was so happy.

On Sunday we laid on the beach and got the sun that we'd been missing. With the humidity and cloudiness it had been pretty scarce since we've been here. Then my new friend Ryan took me on a ride on his motorbike. As my girlfriends should know, this was a huge accomplishment for me. It's been a strange goal of mine to ride on a motorcycle alll summer. And considering I'm in Korea, it was still August, and it was a exhilarating, beautiful ride, I'd say I not only accomplished but exceeded my goal! We went up and up the mountain on dirt roads and finally saw a Buddhist temple and a old smoke signal tower that over-looked the ocean. It was awesome.

And, Monday was back to work.

And now its Friday again! wohoo!!

haha I'm partially kidding. I don't just live for the weekends. But time flies by and I don't have time to blog about every minute. So I'll try to summarize what its been like at work....

Well, this last week I had a cold so that was pretty rough. I was exhausted all the time and had little voice left for half of the week so getting the attention of my kids was that much harder. But regardless, the week went well. I am getting a handle on the kids names and my schedule and most of my kids are still angels. Its hard to give attention and love to all my kids in class at the same time. But I'm learning little tricks.

With my 4 year olds this week I sat down at their table, and one by one, (by moving around the room and hoping the other kids weren't going to stab each other's eyes out while I wasn't looking...) called them by name, tapped them on the shoulder, tilted their heads toward mine, made eye-contact, smiled and said "umbrella." and repeated it as many times as needed until they said it back, and then gave them the umbrella sticker to put in their book. I think it was the eye contact and the sticker that made it a success. But I wont forget that trick as it worked so much better than standing in front of the class blowing a stupid party noise maker screaming umbrella at the back of the heads of 12 Korean speaking children.


I messed up today and forgot my "Friday Hugs" with a couple of classes. this breaks my heart, I guess I'll have to make it up Monday :)

alright that's all for now. :) talk to you soon...