SO my last post was from September and I had only been living in Korea for one month...well, now it's half way through February, as well as my teaching contract in Korea.
Let's think, what have I missed talking about in the last 5 months??
Little Halloween action, witch and a pig in a blanket
Just some of the cuties that I get to work with
Christmas shopping and eating tall ice cream
Christmas trees to set the holiday mood
Christmas tree moms to remind you what you're missing
Two of my reading classes. We now have pen pals with a deaf class from Austin, TX thanks to my friend Brittany :)
Skiing in Korea
Lookin' good, feeling happy
Handstand seminars
More christmas shopping
Some simile teaching action around Christmas
Santa with a rice cooker for a head
Love from home <3
Christmas Eve brunch at a fancy fancy place
Oh yeah! For our very short winter break, I spent a little time in Thailand.
Feeding elephants, riding elephants, petting elephants...just a lot of things to do with elephants
Some good looking lady boys after the Tiffany Cabaret show on New Years Eve
Lady boys everywhere
So long 2015, a grand farewell!12:00 am 2016
So yeah, it was a good time!
(Basic white girl picture jumping on a beach, not so basic in Thailand though)
Returning from Thailand was interesting. I found myself missing "home," and ready to return to my state of normalcy. Thinking about those two words, "home" and "normal," I realize how those words have gradually changed their meaning.
Home prior to August 2015 = Long Island, Crossfit Smithtown, suburbia, a place where avocados don't cost $3, my cat Nigel attacking my shins but then nuzzling me, a place where I don't need someone to read menus for me because everything is written in English, a place where medical masks are only worn in a medical setting
Normal prior to August 2015 = Purchasing cheese, using an oven, baking, driving everywhere, lounging on the couch and watching whatever is on TV, seeing my family on a daily basis, seeing my friends on a daily basis, working about 3 or 5 jobs (CF coaching, subbing in school, TA, tutor, baby sit, gym receptionist, etc.), living with my parents and brothers,
Home after August 2015 = Still not entirely sure how to answer this. My heart will always be in New York with my family, but I'm in a state of not knowing where home is at the moment. I live in Korea, but I know it's not "home." I'm from New York, but I feel like when I return to the states that I may not feel like I belong in New York either. My brain is having problems working right now regarding this topic. Let's move on...
Normal after August 2015 = Seeing movies with Korea subtitles, subways regularly, being a lead teacher for the most intelligent children I've ever met, kimchi everyday, cheese is so expensive it makes more sense to make it yourself, dog cafes, turkey does not exist, avocados are a grand luxury, tea all day er'y day, being "Queen of Crossfit" at my gym, video chatting during opposite times of the day with the people I love, taxis (and very cheap), traveling to different countries in Asia for a long weekend, care packages, living in one of the largest cities in the world, never driving a car, almost getting hit by cars, reaching expert level on chopstick use, living alone, a trip to Costco is an event that must be planned days in advance and it does not happen regularly (if ever), drunk Korean business men at all hours of the day, not understanding 98% of what people are saying, feeling like a toddler because you don't know how to read the language, deciding where you're going to dance and drink on the weekend, hiking amazing mountains, not being up-to-date on western pop culture, checking the exchange rate of won to USD, learning Korean, hearing Korean, meeting people from around the world, becoming friends with people but realizing that after one of your contracts are up you probably will never see them again
So, my state of normal has drastically changed to say the least. It's interesting to think how much I have changed in these last six months, and yet I am only half way done with my time here.
When I think about what I have been able to accomplish in the past six months it leaves me speechless. I feel so blessed that I have been given this opportunity to live my life this way and see the world in a way I only every dreamed about. I have also found a great church to attend. So many things to be thankful for and I know whom I have to thank, my god has been treating very well. I finally started listening to him a few months ago and he has not been steering me wrong.
Last night a returned from my trip to Beijing, China. I saw the "Aright" Wall of China, it was alright. I think I will write a separate post for my trip, because that is what it deserves...also I need to load all my pictures and what not.
New year, new resolutions. (Year of the monkey!)
Resolution 1: Keep up with my blog more.
Resolution 2: Less Netflix and more reading.
Resolution 3: Don't judge people too quickly (There's too many people that I judged too quickly that I have become great friends with later)
Resolution 4: Finding ways to live my life the way I want and do what makes me happy.
