Match.Korea.com? ekoreanharmony.com?

Love.
Love?
Love!
It is so interesting how one punctuation mark can change the meaning of a word that is meant to be so simple. Love is everywhere here in Korea. Couples everywhere....hell it is even fashionable to wear matching clothes if you are a couple. All of the teachers that I work with are in relationships. Most english teachers here are in a relationship or just got out of one. I think people find a comfort in having a relationship with someone that they can see and talk to everyday. I have been here for a little over 2 months and have done a good job at not jumping into a relationship. I have even had to turn down a date or two because the guy showed interest in becoming too serious too quickly.
Now I am adjusting a little more and wondering if I am comfortable enough to start "looking for love".
And then I have to ask the question of what kind of man do I want? I have turned down multiple dates....so am I too picky or just really not interested in dating while I am on such an adventure over here. I want the typical qualities that any woman wants in a man....loyal, intelligent, humor, good morals etc. But do I want the man who wants me when I am walking around and exploring a new country in shorts and a shirt, with my hair pulled back and minimal makeup? Or the man that wants me when I am dressed to impress. Hair curled, model makeup on, high heels?
These were my thoughts as I was walking home from a lovely BBQ today....full of couples =) Full of people saying they could set me up with someone etc.
SO do you go looking for it because everyone says you should?
Nah, if love wants me...love can come find me.

This however, doesn't change the fact that I love. I love love. I love romance. I love living in Korea. I love my family. I love my friends. I love a good cup of coffee in the morning. I love dressing up. I love holidays.
get it? I love =)
Love is all around


<>

Korean women wearing their traditional Chu-suk clothing at the Gyeongbokgung palace that I visited with Aidan and his parents.



 



Palace performers

 

Pickle! The pup at the BBQ



Got my nails done with my friend Nicola. They are painted purple, but the purple is fading from light to dark on the tip

Sticker art. It is everywhere in Korea. This one stuck out the most to me, so I put it above my bed.



A new thing I have found that I love.....nail polish =)

I came here with none and look how many I have already added to my collection!



Me right before bed!

 

One of my students made me a card during class. He even made his own envelope and sealed it shut with one of his own Pokemon stickers..... Here is what was in Barry's envelope

LOVE
It is everywhere....

Happy Chu-Suk

It is Chu-suk. This is the Korean version of Thanksgiving. It is fun to hear about all the tradtitions they have. They make special food, wear certain traditional Korean outfits, and gather at their grandparents house for 3 days. The kids play certain games, and wish upon the full moon. Since everyone goes home, this has left my city very quiet. I kind of like it. Iwent for a walk today, and I was very cold. I am thinking that this is a bad sign, because it is only September and if I am already cold....this means I am in for a very long and cold winter. Arizona winter has not prepared me for what is to come. 





<>

Polly's Kettle with TK





Soju Kettles



Aidan and TK

Life is still good over here. With the changing of the weather, I am noticing the lonely side of living abroad.

Conquered!

I went on my first hike here in Korea. Who knew that Korea held such beautiful  scenery just outside the city. I met a group of people that I had never met before. One of the girls went to my high school, a mutual friend hooked us up through email and she happened to be teaching in Korea for a year also. We met on the hikem and together pushed forward for an 8 hour strenuous and sweat breaking hike. By far, the hardest hike I have ever been on. There was a group of people from all over the world: US, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland, South Africa etc. It was fun to meet new people and to hear about why they're here and what their experiences have been like. Most people are teachers, but they have traveled the world, and their stories were incredible to hear.

The mountain is Bukhansan, which is located on the north side Seoul, Korea. It is about 836 meters above sea level. There were a lot of people hiking on the mountain. Some of the koreans that were hiking in our group were hiking the mountain barefoot! I couldn't believe it. They were hiking faster than any of us. At some of our breaks where we all sat to catch our breaths and wipe the weat from our brow, one man would play a wooden flute type instrument. It was such a lovely addition to an already incredible experience. I oushed myself physically on the mountain. There were a few moments where I thought I couldn't go on, or that my body was going to collapse. I have a feeling that if I were with friends from home, I may have given up or let my mind convince my body that I couldn't go on.

I'm glad I didn't.



Add caption



I'm glad I kept with it....and made it to the top!

I am an English teacher

I am an English teacher. There are different ways that we identify ourselves, and over the years the statements we make about our "identity" will change. From girl, to woman, to girlfriend, wife and mother. There is no order in which we should find our identities, and I don't think that there is ever a "true identity". I hope to always be evolving through my life. Finding myself over and over again. Finding myself with a man I call my husband. Finding myself through children, a job, or a passion. These things should always progress and as long as we are comfortable in our skin, in our current "identity" I think we will always be happy. So I am an English teacher. That is my main identity here in Korea. I have identified myself as many other things throughout my life, but here.....it is an English teacher. Here is a look into my school...C.P.I

My kids (leopard cubs...monday thr friday) had to make a map or the world and identify the 7 continents...if you look closely you can tell the smart from the...well not so smart. Some only ended up with 5 continents =)

We are learning about Chu-suk. Korean version of Thanksgiving. We get 3 days off in the middle of the week, september 20-23. Leopard cubs made signs of who they are thankful for.



It is a Korean tradition to take your shoes off whenever you walk into someones house, or certain restaurants or stores. So each each kid that comes to school has to take off their shoes, then put on "slippers" until they go home.



hallway



My kids like to hear about where I am from. I printed these off for them to color.



And that's where Koban teacher lives =)

Front Office



Each room has a camera in it, so lucky us the parents can sit and watch us teaching if they want.



My friend Zack and I at Piranha 3-D
The tickets were a little pricey, but for the same price you can get a bag of popcorn and 2 beers!! Beers that...yes....they serve from tap in a plastic cup that you drink from a straw!



9/11: Have You Forgotten

No Pictures...Just Words

I don't have any pictures to share, but I do have a new experience and a new feeling. I have been under the weather. It is Thursday evening (9/2/2010) and I have felt like I have had a fever since Monday, along with a heavy and weezy chest. I am on day 2 of no coffee. I was hoping that would help in some weird way.
During break I went to the Dr's office and told her my symptoms. She checked my temperature, not too high. Checked my breathing, apparently fine. And checked my throat. She said my esophagus was swollen and red. Hmmm I thought. I don't remember ever really having problems. She listed off about 5 different pills I would be taking 3 times a day for the next 4 days. Along wth a syrup, and another pill to take if the medicine makes me sick, She said that almost every foreigner has stomach problems when they first come to Korea. But I'm not having stomach problems!!! She insisted that i take the medicine. SO....next I go and breathe into an inhaler machine through my mouth and then with one through my nose. Afterwards I stand on a scale. This is where it gets interesting. Now I admit that I have gained a few pounds because I haven't been exercising, and in the Phillipines I let myself eat as much western food and ice cream I wanted. But I have never thought I was at an unhealthy weight. WELL here in Korea they are bred a lot smaller than us! They are skinnier, shorter, and just plain smaller. The DR proceeded to tell me that I was overweight. I thought to myself, "oh ok, yes I know I am trying to shed about 8 or 9 pounds", and I asked her how much she thought I should lose. 7 kg.....
This comes to almost 18 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't beleive it. When I left and was alone, I of course put on my sun glasses and burst into tears. Just not something you tell a woman who is alone in a new country! Anyway I am over it, but it's weird because it totally shifted my mood. I can't believe that I let a stranger who speaks very little English effect me in such a serious manner.
SO for dinner I made some grilled chicken (thanks for the marinade mom) and sauteed cucumbers and an egg plant. I loved it! =)
I have never used egg plant or cucumbers in any of my cooking. Granted I ate a lot of the egg plant and cucumbers....but hey it's a start to getting fit right!