I took a train today, all by myself. I went to Osan last night to hang out with some friends. Osan is an air force town, so everything was Americanized, and there were a lot of Americans. It was nice to see other foreigners like myself, but to be honest I like where I live. I like that my area is more traditional, and there are hardly any foreigners aside from my teacher friends.
This is Seoul Station. It is a main train station that also connects to multiple subway lines. I would consider this are the "heart or downtown" of Seoul. People were so nice to me. I had to keep asking people if I was on the right train, or if this was my stop.

This is a view of Seoul when you first come out of the station. It is gorgeous!!

This is a picture from inside the train. It was about an hour train ride to get to Osan. I found it quite relaxing.

The trains have cushioned seats, and AC. And for an hour train ride, it was between 5 and 6 dollars.

I told my friend that I was sad there was no sign of country music anywhere in Korea, let alone cowboys. So they found probably the only country bar in the whole country and we went there. It was quite country haha. Very "Po-dunk". Notice the christmas lights...but also the huge Arizona flag!

I had this whole speech about risk ready to type. I actually typed more than half of it out, and just deleted it. Not sure why. Maybe for fear that it was too personal, or that it was just too dumb to put on the internet. So for now, these pictures will do all the talking, as I am off to bed!

Love you Grandpa and Grandma!!

Miss you mom =)

A funny feeling

I couldn't sleep last night because I had a funny feeling......in the pit of my stomach but also in my heart. I couldn't quite figure out what it was. My mind was going in all different directions. I was thinking about Korea, teaching, my family, Grandpa, friends, past relationships etc, but none of my thoughts were complete. I couldn't slow my mind down enough to have a single thought. So I sat up, and thought for a second of whether to try and skype someone, or just watch T.V. I decided against both, but decided that I should check my email just in case there was any word on Grandpa. There was, there was an email from grandpa and grandma to all the grandkids. Of course, I had to read it 3 or 4 times and immediately spent the next few minutes crying. (I am a closet cryer)
But it was weird, once I collected myself and shut down my computer, I laid down, shed 2 more tears and fell right asleep. Almost as if my heart was telling me to wake up at that moment to read that email.

So not a funny feeling, but a funny thing. I was getting in the elevator at my apartment tonight and there was a man inside and I paused to let him out, but he stayed in the elevator and made a hand motion asking me if I was going up. I nodded yes, and he scoot over to let me in and then he pushed the 4th floor button (my floor) My first thought was what the heck?!?! This is either an extremely creepy coincidence or this man has stalked me. Then he turned to me and put his hand to his face and made the shape of a phone. THEN IT HIT ME! My manager had called my apartment people to tell them that my apartment had some things that needed fixing. Haha so I was immediately at ease, Korean people are generally nice anyway. WELL while we tried to communicate what we would do and what was wrong I was trying to make pre packaged spaghetti....but couldn't read the directions. Yes, I know....it seems self explanatory...but some of the pictures showed them pouring water in the pot...and others didn't. (Koreans are not very good with artwork). So I asked the man fixing my wall if I was supposed to add water....so i motioned him over, pointed to water in the bowl and then nodded my head yes or made an X with my arms (how they tell tourists no) At first he was confused but then he made hand motions to say to add water and bring it to a boil, and then he turned on the vent. HAHA he must have thought that I was a complete American Idiot. I was very thankful for him though, he was so kind, fixed my wall, and helped me with dinner. Who said men are incapable cavemen =)

Well if you are reading this then you are probably close to my heart...so
I love you!
I miss you!
xoxo

Grandpa

Grandpa,
I hope you and grandma are enjoying some of the pictures I have posted. I was really overwhelmed when I first came here, but have allowed myself to slow down and take each day in. I think I finally realized that I will be here for a year and there is no rush. There is no rush for me to become a master at the city or language. (although I braved the subway system all by myself on Sunday and felt like I conquered the world!!)
I spend a fair amount of my time alone here. I have always thought I was better than most of my friends when it came to being on my own, and handling situations alone. I am proving myself correct. With so much alone time comes a lot of remembering and reflecting..... My life has not quite played out how I thought it would. When I was in high school, I was sure that I would be married at 25, and start having children by 27. Sometimes I am very grateful that I am where I am because opportunities like Korea are possible......but on other occasions (more rare) I find myself being sad that I have come this far, but seem to only be a few feet further than when I was in highschool. I know I am young, and have a whole lifetime ahead of me....but like I said, on the rare occasion I find myself wondering how it would be different. I think about how you and grandma have been married for over 65 years I think, and it brings a smile to my face. I think that is just so romantic.
Another big part of being over here in Korea, is the teaching. I never really stopped to consider that I would be a teacher, maybe a mentor, maybe an influence on others. These kids are supposed to learn key parts of their education from me, and I am afraid that I will fail them. I am not creative or as smart as other teachers. Also, like i said before....my patience. If I could ask for advice on anything in my life I would ask how to have better patience. I think that being a master of patience would get me far. You need patience for all aspects of life....family, relationships, friendships, jobs, learning, teaching, helping or even being helped. Grandpa....you raised 4 very different children....I can imagine your patience was tested on more than one occasion over their lifetimes....is there any advice you could give me? I want to have a wonderful and fun and exciting time over here, but now that I have met the kids and started teaching......I realize how important it is to me to do an exceptionally great job over here.

Grandpa, and Grandma.....I would like you to meet my one true love. STARBUCKS =)
It is the only one written in Korean!

These are real life bugs....that they boil......people buy them here!!! Disgusting. I will not be THIS adventurous. This girl is actually buying them!

Aidan and Zack at the "singing room bar" I think they are singing me Jason Mraz.

PaTiEnCe

Hi Grandpa and Grandma!! I hope you guys see my blog and enjoy it! I wish I could have come out to NY and seen you before I came over here! Just wanted to say I miss you and Love you both!!!(now people will be jealous because they don't get a shout out in my blog)

Meet Harry. He is one of my preschoolers, I <3 him! He does not test my patience =)
My bathroom. Yep that is my shower above the toilet. It is not bad, it is nice to have such a big bathroom. I just have to make sure i remember to turn the shower off when I go to wash my hands!

I built a fort....that's how bored I am......=)
No this is how I dry my sheets!

My street! View of Seoul from my balcony

Patience is a virtue

The definition of patience is to tolerate delay. This has never been something that came easy to me. Now I am a teacher =) Teachers require a lot of discipline, and even more patience. Without knowing really what I was in store for over here in Korea, I have found my patience being tested daily. I struggle with this, and I feel like I struggle even more with it because I am a lone here. It is funny how you can be in a room full of people, or a city of 20 million people and feel completely alone. SO what to do? Wait it out? Find joy in small things? Run and hide? I vote for all the above. I am a firm believer in what doesn't kill you will make you stronger, as long as you let it. My kids can be very difficult, as are any kids between the ages of 4 and 10.

When my patience isn't getting the best of me, Korea really is a lovely place. I can't believe how new everything is. I have to make new friends, learn how to do my new job well, find my way around a new city, adjust to a new apartment, and try to learn and understand a new language!!

First real Saturday night out in Korea

This is the first night I really felt like a girl =)
It has been quite liberating not worrying about makeup or my hair here, but sometimes it is nice to feel pretty.

Ta-Da!! You just take a piece of lettuce, put some rice in there (rice comes with an over medium egg), some meat that Aidan cooked, and some delicious red sauce!!! It is so delicious! The best part about Korean food (besides the taste) is that is always comes out within 5 minutes of ordering it. I couldn't believe it. Below my friend Aidan that I work with was working with the meat they give you. You cut it yourself into the sizes you want, and then you flip it to have it cooked just the way you like. All the sides just come with the meal. We got all this food, and then 2 beers each and it was only 23 dollars. (also you never tip in Korea)

I learned that this was a drum circle. The music they made on these bongo drums was glorious! This was in the park in Hondae.

This was a live concert they were having in the park. I couldn't understand anything, but the energy was incredible!! I was having such a good time dancing along and enjoying the show.

Aidan, TK, and I at a small bar in Hongdae. You can get the drinks to go, and walk down the streets with them.

U.S.A!!! Had to take a picture!

This is my friend TK, those are my sunglasses, and I have his glasses on. He is Korean, but he lived in Australia for the last 7 years so he kind of speaks with a Korean accent.

Night Club in Hongdae with some teachers we met that night.

My friend Aidan and I went out for dinner and then took a cab to the town of Hongdae. A new favorite city of mine. It is where a lot of foreigner (teachers/military) people go.

A wonderful Saturday full of Shopping, bike riding, and 4D rides

This is at Wabar with fellow teachers......you push that button when you need the waiter. Don't worry mom, the smokes aren't mine!

I had to buy all three of them of course

The river that we rode our bikes along

The city we rode around was so open, and so relaxing. It felt like we took a holiday away from Seoul.

Rented bikes with my teacher friend Aidan who is from Ireland. It was gorgeous riding around for an hour.

First movie in Korean Theater...We saw Inception. It was AMAZING!!!! The theater was very classy and beautiful. Notice, the snack menu above at the theater....

OF COURSE I found a pizza joint in Korea =)

Korean Supermarket! Notice below...on my arm....octopus tentacle!

And yes I ate it! Right off my arm!

First Korean dinner! Not sure what it was, but it was spicy!

Apron was provided!
First Korean dinner with some teachers from my school! Love how they make it at the table

The Icheon airport!

My plane ride!! 12 1/2 hours!!!