Hmmm. 5 months down. 7 more to go...

There's some nights I have nothing better to do than browse the internet aimlessly. I found these life lessons to live by, and despite the few cheesy ones, it beat all the other lists I found (aside from the cool random facts lists and best places to visit... but I feel more people should check this one out). The ones I like best are in bold.

1. Have a firm handshake.
2. Look people in the eye.
3. Sing in the shower.
4. Own a great stereo system.
5. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.
6. Keep secrets.
7. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.
8. Always accept an outstretched hand.
9. Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
10. Whistle.
11. Avoid sarcastic remarks.
12. Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 per cent of all your happiness or misery.
13. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.
14. Lend only those books you never care to see again.
15. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have.
16. When playing games with children, let them win.
17. Give people a second chance, but not a third.
18. Be romantic.
19. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
20. Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.
21. Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for our convenience, not the caller's.
22. Be a good loser.
23. Be a good winner.
24. Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.
25. When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.
26. Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
27. Keep it simple.
28. Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
29. Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.
30. Live your life so that your epitaph could read, No Regrets
31. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did.
32. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
33. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.
34. Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.
35. Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes.
36. Begin each day with some of your favorite music.
37. Once in a while, take the scenic route.
38. Send a lot of Valentine cards. Sign them, 'Someone who thinks you're terrific.'
39. Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice.
40. Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.
41. Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
42. Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later.
43. Make someone's day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you.
44. Become someone's hero.
45. Marry only for love.
46. Count your blessings.
47. Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home.
48. Wave at the children on a school bus.
49. Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.
50. Don't expect life to be fair.


I know I need to start writing more. I also know I say something similiar in each post. Highlights from the past few weeks? St. Patrick's Day was a blast... Aquarium trip with the guys and then my first movie in a Korean theater (assigned seating was odd, but it was in English so I can't complain too much)... Shipwrecked "booze cruise" with 500 other foreigners (highlight here was Julie saying "imagine how many schools would be screwed out of teachers if this boat sank")... and then just teaching. Hearing that my baby class really likes me and having the girl who disliked foreigers actually grab my arm today and play with me was a highlight also.

Oh, and I went grocery shopping. I think my refrigerator has more food in it than it has in the past 5 months. I'm stepping outside of my hot dog, quesadilla and pasta boundary. Not by much... but it's happening nonetheless.

Well, my back really hurts... so I think it's time to pop a Tylenol and try to get some sleep. I swear one of these days I'll write more. Seriously...

"Sometimes, you have to be apart from people you love.. But it doesn’t mean you love them any less.. Sometimes, it even makes you love them more."

Oops...Time Flies When You're Having Fun.

I've been a gigantic blog avoider lately. There's just so much to catch up on... my Taiwan trip, fun weekends filled with drinking and other such nonsense, Valentine's Day weekend, the chaotic month before school graduation and the start of the new semester, and my weekend at Camp Casey... along with other things I've most certainly forgotten for the time being. Did an entire month and a half go by without blogging? It's true then, time does fly by when you're having fun... keeping busy.

I'm going into my fifth month here already. Too bad it's not six, because that's the halfway point... but the idea that I haven't seen my family and friends in at least six months is so ridiculous to me! I feel like it wasn't too long ago I was packing like crazy, making last minute trips across states and towns, and wishing so badly I could figure out a way to stay home. Now, I'm certainly glad I'm here, but I definitely know that it's going and doing things that makes the time fly by.

So what have I learned in Korea up until now? There's good, awesome, amazing days... and then there's bad days. But there's really nothing you can do about it.

Things I love about being here (or have started liking the longer I've been here):

- My student’s smiling faces. I really do love them. It’s incredible how special children are. A year ago, I didn’t want kids… didn’t even particularly like kids, but now I realize how innocent and carefree they are, and I can’t imagine how anyone could not love them. The worst days I’ve had here have been completely forgotten by the love my students give. They are just too damn cute sometimes, and I’ll probably try and smuggle a few home when my contract is up.


- Teaching. One of my youngest students, in the 5 year old class… which really I swear some of those students are 3 years old American age, wrote his name on his own for the first time the other day and was so excited. Those are the kinds of moments I feel like what I’m doing really matters. His English name is Ted, and he kept writing the T and looking at me for help with the E. I guided his hand about three different times to show him how to do it… then he would write the D. I looked over after explaining the next coloring activity and he was so happy and had a huge smile on his face and kept pointing at his paper. He did the E on his own. Man, I like that class. Especially since the one little girl who is terrified of foreigners finally likes me… and even joked with me by calling a dog a cat and giggling her little head off.


- Having people say things to me, and slightly knowing what they mean. I pass by this little market on the way to the subway station every day, and every day the man who works there is outside and says hello to me. It’s always a very excited hello with a big smile, a nice way to start my day. I’ve had other people say hello in Korean as they pass by, it’s nice being able to say it back and not feel silly. I also know when my students who can’t speak English need to use the bathroom now, that’s a plus.


- Having enough money in my account to accidentally withdraw $400 by hitting the wrong button. I was freaking out, but in the end, it was nice realizing I have money for once.



- Taco Bell. It’s coming to Korea. I honestly think it’s because I’m here now… it’s like they know I’m their number 1 fan so they decided to follow me.


- Being in my own little world most of the time. I know if people are talking, it’s most likely not to me. I don’t have to worry about being stopped and asked for directions, I don’t have to worry about having salespeople try to help me, or peddlers trying to sell things. I can put on my iPod and go wherever I’m headed just playing whatever I feel like hearing that day. I may get stared at quite often, but even that doesn’t really bother me anymore.


- Being courageous, independent, carefree, and just plain lucky. I didn’t really feel those things before I came here, now I definitely do.

Things I still haven’t gotten used to as long as I’ve been here:


- Pushing and shoving. People don’t understand that I can usually only go as fast as the person in front of me. They think if they just keep walking into my back I can go faster. Not so much. They also don’t believe in lines.

- They have no sense of a personal bubble here. I think it scares them to be alone, I could be standing in a completely open area and if someone walks up they will still probably bump into me.

- Everyone’s in a rush, and there are always a billion people wherever you go.

- Those nasty little rice cake things. They are the grossest “snack” I’ve ever tasted.

- High heels, skirts, dresses, suits, man bags, mirrors… mirrors… mirrors. This country all about appearance. There is a giant mirror in my subway station just so people can make sure they look alright. A lady on her cell phone came and stood behind me waiting for the train one day. She was standing a little to the side of me so she could look at her reflection in the door. I moved in front of her and she moved to the other side of me so she could continue looking at herself while she chatted obnoxiously away. I moved in front of her again… and she moved to the other side. Ha. It was amusing.



Things I really miss from home:

- Laid back living. No rushing. Not a billion people trying to do the same thing at once, not really caring if you’re late.

- Knowing what the heck I’m buying—and knowing I’m using laundry detergent instead of fabric softener, which is actually what I was using as detergent for my first four months here. Ha. I miss being able to read labels.

- Yummy American food. Man, I miss the food.

- Dinner and movie nights with Tyler. I think I miss these more than anything else from back home. I miss that boy so much it’s a bit ridiculous.

- Driving. Taking the subway is a pain in the butt after a while.

- My friends… my family… being able to call someone at any given time and go see them, or take a short drive or flight to visit. No major time difference.



I know I have a bunch more to write, but that’s all for now. Maybe next time I’ll catch you up on everything else. I need to try and write more… it’s getting warmer out, maybe I’ll perk up a bit more once summer finally gets here.

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

The Random Mandatory Health Check

I should have failed my health check, point blank. Basically, it was me and my new coworker and we were pointed in the direction of each random check point by the director of our school.

First, was the chest x-ray. We were told to change into robes which of course couldn't be normal, easy robes. They looked harmless, but in actuality they had criss-cross ties that took all I had at 9 in the morning to figure out. Then, I was basically told to hug this wall looking thing and stand still. Easy enough.

After changing back into my clothes, I followed Julie to the next room where we were directed to stand on a platform and wait for a metal plate to bop us on the head. Then, it was the sound test...which after the non-English speaking lady sets a pair of headphones on my head, I nod when I hear the noise. It was only later that I was informed that I was supposed to raise the arm that corresponded to the ear the noise was coming from. Whatever. That's not common knowledge, despite what you say.

This room also consisted of the same lady measuring my chest (I didn't even ask why...) and her taking my blood pressure. Then, the eye exam. It was at this point that I realized I should probably have just gone home and came back another day. It's no surprise I'm pretty blind, but first, I held the little metal thing up to the wrong eye. Next, instead of numbers.... I started naming letters. Back home, the eye chart consists of letters. Not in Korea. The whole thing was numbers. Z and 2 look the same, right?

Now that I was utterly convinced I was going to fail, I was sent to take a pee test and give blood. Luckily, I grabbed the stall in the bahroom that actually had a toilet. I also got to walk into a room full of people holding a dixie cup of pee and my director reaches out to grab it from me to give to the lady. No, thank you.. I'll take it to her myself. Oh, and I almost passed out giving blood. Imagine how thankful I was to find out the last room consisted of talking to the doctor.

I wasn't very good at understanding the doctor. I'm not even entirely sure what I told him, since I just guessed what some of his questions were. No wonder I was called back 2 days later...

My liver enzymes were high. Whatever that means. I met my supervisor who walked me to the place I needed to go... arm in arm. I'll never get used to that Korean ritual. Girls locking arms to walk somewhere together. Awkward.

Basically, this time was even worse. My supervisor and the doctor talk the whole time in Korean except for one sentence from her to ask me if it hurts when I pee. No, but even if it did I would probably lie to you. Awkward moment number 2. Even more awkward is when the doctor asks me if my back hurts and when I answer no, he proceeds to get up out of his chair, come over to me, bend me over, and practically karate chop my back. Thank goodness it wasn't hurting. Sheesh.

Then, I was told I needed an ultrasound (which my supervisor kept calling something crazy... and scared me at first until I realized what she was actually talking about). I got dirty looks for having a belly button ring. Then, this is how the interaction went between me and the doctor:

Doctor: You take any (something I couldn't understand).

Me: Do I take any what?

Doctor: (mumble jumble)... h... e.. l... b.

Me: Do I take any h...e...l...b? Helb? Help?

Doctor: Yes. Do you take any help?

Me: Help? Do I take any help? Um. No...?

2 minutes pass by.

Me: Herb! Did you mean herb? H...e...r...b? No, I don't take anyof those either.

Doctor: H...e...r...b. Yes. Your liver looks abnormal.

Then she snarled a bit and sent me on my way. Like it's my fault Koreans like to mix up the letters "r" and "l." Then I was told to yet again give blood. Oh joy. Oh, and I was also told that my mom would be back in a minute if I just sat and waited. Because, obviously, that's who the Korean lady with me must be.

In the end... my health check came back fine. I guess I was just fighting off something the first day. Thank goodness. I like it here... but I don't even like doctors back home, let alone ones who can't understand me. Knock on wood I can last a year without catching any major illnesses... or breaking a bone... or anything that would require me to go through the torturous process of seeking medical help.

"Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time, to figure out whether you like it or not." —Virgil Garnett Thomson

It waited 70 years until I got here.

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 Almost two weeks ago, it  started snowing here. Not only did it end up snowing a lot, but it was the "heaviest snow recorded in Seoul's modern history." It was awful. Not only do I dislike snow, but having to walk to the subway, then wait for the bus in it, was torture. I happened to be 45 minutes late to work (luckily I ran into two of my coworkers and the director of the school while waiting for the extremely late bus) due to how slow the traffic was and how crowded the subway became. Regardless of how much I hated that Monday, I was extremely amused by the people sweeping off the sidewalks with brooms and the mass usage of umbrellas that day. I decided to do as the Korean's do and use my umbrella as well. I also fell in the middle of the road while running to catch a green light, which was probably karma seeing as I once said I would never run for a green light. I guess that's what I get. I guess that's also what I get for running on ice.

Today it snowed a little, but luckily it stopped before I left for lunch this afternoon.

"Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, 'I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I am going to snow anyway.'” --Maya Angelou

Things change. People change. Shit happens. Make Lemonade.... or something like that.

Even people with an amazing path in front of them fall flat on their faces sometimes.  Put yourself out there and get nothing in return. The heart can be my least favorite organ.

How to get over it? Book a trip to Taiwan for later this month and apply for a visa to go to China in May.

It may not help completely, but it sounds like a pretty damn good start. I can't wait.
 
 
 

"You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by. It's actions, not words, that matter."

Fukuoka, Japan

I had to make a visa run to Japan, and despite having a couple obstacles along the way, I ended up having a really good time. My coworker, Julie, and I left on December 28th at 5:45 a.m. to head to the Incheon airport for an 8 a.m. flight. We caught the bus and made it exactly 2 hours before our flight was supposed to take off. Luckily, the Incheon airport is really fast, so we got checked in and through security with enough time to grab a McDonald's breakfast.

At this point, I still didn't have my visa number required to apply for my visa since my superviser forgot to give it to me the prior week. I kept checking my e-mail on my iPod Touch to see if I had gotten any word from my her, but nothing. We boarded the plane, and I kept my fingers crossed that I would have an e-mail by the time we landed. I knew my phone wasn't going to work in Japan.

The Korean Consulate

Well... basically, here's the things that ended up going wrong for us:
1. I still didn't get my visa number by the time we arrived at the Korean Consulate.
2. My iPod Touch didn't work in the consulate to check and see if she had gotten it to me.
3. I didn't know how to make a phone call from the stupid pay phone.
4. We found out that the consulate was going to be closed the following day (the 29th) through January 4th. Which means the trip was a big waste of time because we wouldn't be able to pick up our visas the following day as planned.
5. I still didn't have my visa number by the time we convinced the lady to do them in one day for us.

Eventually, the super nice lady agreed to have them done before the consulate closed that day and looked up my visa number for me. In the end, everything worked out and we had all day Tuesday to explore Japan until our flight left at 8:50 p.m.

My favorite things about Japan:
1. The vending machines on every corner, which included things like Coke, cigarettes, and beer.
2. How polite and calm everyone is compared to here. Not once did I see anyone run to catch the subway or crosswalk.
3. The ladies behind the counter at Family Mart who laughed and handed me a fork with my cup of Ramen noodles.
4. The toilets in the airport that made a waterfall noise when you started peeing. Awesome idea.
5. Ease of getting around and seeing everything possble in one day (shrine, temples, mall, dome, etc. etc.) And the fact that we got to the airport, checked in, then decided we wanted to go to McDonalds which was like 8 subway stops away... and still made it back to the airport with 45 minutes left to spare. It's so easy getting from place to place.

6. The awesome shrimp tempura lunch we ate, delicious!

7. 100 Yen stores.

8. Clothing with completely random English phrases written on it.

9. Japanese sticker booths, and trying to figure out how to work them with no English in sight.
10. The mountains, ocean, cool houses, trees and beauty of the city.

Yes, I want to go back. There's actually a 311 concert in April which I think would be tons of fun, so if I can pull off the weekend trip I may do that. Why not?

"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."

Korean War National Museum

It was cold outside, and I wasn't feeling particularly well, but it was a nice little trip to the War Memorial and Museum. Off the Samgajki station only a few minute walk leads to this large museum that costs only 3,000 won. Not only is there a lot to see inside, but outside there are statues, tanks, and airplanes to play around in and look at. Too bad I was freezing, otherwise I would have loved to go explore the airplanes. We didn't make it that far.

Supposedly, you can rent headphones and listen to information about every display in the museum, but we decided to just look around and read whatever signs were translated into English (which luckily, most were). It wasn't overly exciting, but it was cool nonetheless.

We went about about an hour before the museum closed, so we didn’t get to spend too much time there. Considering I didn’t feel too good, one hour was enough for me.

My New Favorite Food: Thai

My Thai in Itaewon was delicious. The chicken phat tai... a glass of white wine, so good. I will definitely be going back.