It seems unreal that I have already been here three weeks! Depending on the moment it can feel like I just got here a few days ago or that I have been here for months. I still feel like there is so much I don't know (about the city, the country, the people, my JOB!) but I also feel like I am settled in pretty well to my new home and am not feeling a sensory overload every time I leave the house! I am getting the hang of buses (schedules) and getting what I need. Also of cooking. Never really considered myself a cook. I can boil water without burning it. I can follow a recipe. But I am not a creative cooker. One thing Korea has taught me in three short weeks is how to put two and two together to make an edible meal! Since my Korean is coming along very slowly, I can't eat out unless I am with someone who can order for me (or shall I say that I DONT eat out unless someone can order for me) so that means that I have had many a chance to figure out how to cook something to sustain myself--almost every night! And while sustenance is fine and all, I'd also like it to taste somewhat appetizing. There are some things that I am still trying to acquire a taste for--like kimchi to name one--but I am coming along quite nicely and have not gone hungry yet. Nor have a made a meal solely on pastries, although at times it is tempting! I try not to rely on the foreign shops and their "from home" familiar foods, but rather am attempting to learn to fix Korean foods. An interesting feet when all directions are in Korean and very few include pictures with the directions.
While I spent this past Sunday with a whole pack of new people and potential new friends I have to say that going on a friend scavenger hunt in South Korea has not been my rush to it. I am actually really enjoying my quiet solitude of my new, singular space. Although I miss you all dearly, don't get me wrong. But that's just it. I have some truly amazing people in my life. I am in no rush or need to go filling vacancies. As the spots aren't really empty--they are just very far removed. However, with being on the other side of the world, 14 hours ahead, in the future (as some like to remind me) I am still so connected with you all back home. And also, I have made it a point to find or make time for phone calls back home. All I can say is skype is going to make it on the top 5 of my "100 Things That Make Me Happy" list! I love being able to share all the awesome things I am encountering here with you all back home! But even more so, I love hearing about "business as usual" back on the ranch. Life for you all will go on without me, but I love still being able to be a part of it by hearing about it. Thank you all for taking time to keep me "in the loop." I love you all for that.
Since my arrival I have bought many new things to help make my new apartment a home to include dishes, a plunger, an iron, hangers, and storage units to name a few. I have met nearly 1000 children and 50 adults as my students. I have seen the temperatures at night go from hovering around freezing to a light jacket needed to sit out by the beach and listen to the waves temperature. The cherry blossoms come out in full force and on a windy day the petals blow across the sky like giant pale pink snow flakes dancing toward the ground. Many changes at my school, and this doesn't seem to be a theme that will be stopping any time soon, but am hopeful that the changes are positive and that as paths separate that journeys continue on safely, with much health and happiness in their new directions. My first Korean with a tattoo (small, script writing of something on the pinky side of a guy's forearm--couldn't read it and didn't want to stop and stare but it WAS there! And he was Korean, or at least I am pretty sure he was). I have ran to town three times. Ran to nowhere once. Climbed a mountain to see azaleas on one side and the bay of Deokpo Beach where I live on the other. Eaten a whole brick of tofu. Eaten something nearly every day that I could either not pronounce, not remember how to pronounce 10 seconds later, or not figure out where or from whence it came in it's original state. Gotten many perplexed looks about my nose ring and many 'freak outs' about my barefoot (toe) running shoes. Nearly been hit by at least three cars, a truck, and two motorcycles (and a scooter). Gotten a cold. Rode on the back of a scooter with no helmet (twice) despite the strictly enforced laws about that here. Ordered more things online here than I ever did at home! Wandered up three driveways thinking they were streets only to have to look around like a total goon and turn back in the direction I had just come, laughing at myself the whole way back (usually down hill). Made a student and a random small child at the bank cry (both were unintentional). Said at least 100 times "I'm sorry, I no understand". Begun to leave out articles and to speak more slowly and with more emphasis...and with my hands. Began to hear a constant rattle of the Spanish I do know running thru my brain as if for some reason not being able to speak to them in their language is forcing my brain to access any other language it might know to be able to communicate (cool :) though not useful as no one here knows Spanish). Had many firsts; many won't be my lasts; and many that's on the list of things to do now making it even more improbable that I will ever die as my bucket list is so long I don't think I'll ever actually be able to kick it!
I have also been brought to my knees by the overwhelming knowledge that though luck has nothing to do with it, I am so very lucky to have this life, my life, and that I can't think of a person I'd like to trade it with. I have so much... thankfulness, in my heart that there is scarcely room for much else. Other than love.
I love my job, even after the classes that don't listen or are loud, or unruly, or hitting and fighting a lot, because at the end of the day, I like my coworkers, I like my boss (for as long as she is here and here's hoping I like the next one just as well), and I think what I'm doing adds value to the lives of the people I interact with. I love my apartment, although it may be small. But it is big enough for me and my needs. I love that I am learning, learning. always learning new things! Korea is an amazing country full of some really wonderful people and I am very glad to be able to be here. Geoje Island is a beautiful mix of the hills and narrow streets of San Francisco with the mountains of Denver all around. I have yet to look out at my view and keep a smile from my lips. How truly fortunate I am indeed.
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