Back from the dead

Hello to all my faithful followers, I'm sure you've all been waiting with great anticipation for my next entry. Four months later and your prayers have been answered. In all seriousness I do want to say sorry to those who actually use this blog to make sure that I'm still alive and well. Life here is very different in some aspects but pretty synonymous in others, such as becoming comfortable with the norms and the luster of what once was new now seems trivial. But please don't misinterpret this as a sign of me not enjoying my life here, it has just made it difficult to find things worth writing from my perspective. With that said here is a quick recap since Christmas.

I think it goes unsaid that winter is cold but here the cold seems a little colder. It is often a topic of conversation among expats and for some reason or another they can never get used to the cold windy days. Personally living in the mountains for the past five years made it an easier transition for me more than most can say. Also worth noting is that I had started a relationship with a young woman here, 박리라, but we actually have decided to take some time off as of last night. She has been a great friend and has made my time here really enjoyable. I look forward to keeping her as a close friend no matter what the future holds. And of course now spring is upon us and that means a few things.

First, my birthday and even more important than that is the chance to see my mom and stepdad. I haven't seen anyone in eight months and it will be a much appreciated vacation with two very important people. Also I think this might be the best time of the year with the weather in Korea. The cherry blossoms should be in full bloom within the next week and of course I look forward to all the fun activities that warmer weather brings with it.

Again I want to apologize for taking so long to make another post but remember if you ever want to get in touch on a more consistent basis I am available through email and skype.

Until next time.

Elfing around

I know it's been pretty much a month to the day since my last post but since its the holiday season I gave my PR people a little time off. So, here is a quick recap of the past month in no specific order.

The continued headache of North Korea and South Korea continuously going back and forth has come to the point that I have just decided to not pay attention anymore. I have come to the conclusion that it isn't worth worrying about and until I see people running for the hills I am going to go about my business the same.

Secondly, I have actually been using the gym membership that I purchased last month. I haven't transformed into the macho gym rat that we all have grown to adore but I do try and go a few days a week just to make sure that I don't do too much harm to myself living in this box of an apartment. There is even this really cute girl that works there that I'm too afraid to talk to which keeps me always coming back for more. My Korean is coming along and I do know enough to spark up a simple yet important conversation with her but I think in the heat of the moment I might say something really stupid or better yet say something that means nothing I wanted to say. So, for now I will just let my sexy workout moves do all the talking.

Lastly the Christmas season has come, sort of...In Korea Christmas is celebrated but not quite like we do it back home. They refer to it as more of a lovers holiday, one for you to spend time with a significant other or at least trying to score one. With that being said my overall love for Christmas hasn't been down played but I can't deny the passion has dwindled some. Even here on Christmas Eve I find myself almost in disbelief that it is here. Where does the time go? I feel like I just got here and before you know it winter will be over and Christmas an after thought. I guess that might be a little good and bad. Feels good to get the sting of being lonely on the holidays out of the way but at the same time I don't want my time here to go too fast.

Until next time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Thanks

Thanksgiving is here. And even though Koreans don't celebrate our traditional Thanksgiving holiday and Thursday, November 25th, is just another day here I thought I'd take a minute to say thanks for everything in my life as if it doesn't already deserve a constant thanks.

I am thankful for such a loving family. You guys have always been there and supported me in any and everything I've done. Without each and everyone of you I don't know where I'd be, especially with giving me the courage to move halfway around the World. I'm thankful for my friends, over the years some friends have come and gone but the ones that stick around are pretty awesome. From busting my balls about something dumb I did the night before to the occasional inebriated conversations about something bigger than ourselves. I'm thankful for all the opportunities I've been given in life. From the ones that seem irrelevant and trivial to those game changers that everyone seems to have even though they might not recognize them at the moment. I'm thankful for this years UNC football team, this season hasn't been perfect but they've stuck together to make it an interesting season to say the least. I will be even more thankful if they can beat the shit out of dook. I'm thankful for Skype, keeping me in touch with everyone back home.

Lastly I'm thankful for such a blessed life, everything that comes with it, the good and bad. The things that seem to happen behind the scenes, the ones you tend to have no control over. Being healthy and safe, trying to make the most out of what has been given to me. Making mistakes, learning from them. Trekking the hard path of understanding what it is I want. I am thankful for all of this. God has been good to me.

Thanks.

While you were sleeping...

Hey fans,

I just wanted to give everyone a quick hello and let you know that I'm doing good. School is good, we're about to start a new semester and I look forward to seeing how my new classes turn out. I finally joined that gym I had been talking about and since its across the street from school I will actually use it. The Korean class is coming along too, slowly, but its really coming together. Turkey Day is only a few days so thats really exciting...for ya'll. It will just be another day here hopefully.

Also I just wanted to give everyone some assurance that I am in no immediate danger following the N. Korean attacks that took place while you were sleeping safely in your beds. This is probably the first time I've even thought about 김종일 since I've been here. It's been more than six months since "N. Korea didn't sink" that S. Korean Naval ship and I think it was just time to stir the pot. We will know more in the up coming days but for now the President is working to try and relieve some of the tension after the two exchanged artillery for over an hour today.

Hope everyone has a good, safe Thanksgiving and I'll be thinking of you guys.

Pepero Day

Happy Pepero Day! For everyone who isn't out there celebrating Pepero Day get with the program please. In all seriousness Pepero Day is celebrated every year by giving your friends but more importantly your girl/boyfriend Pepero. What is Pepero?...Pepero is a long thin bread stick similar to a pretzel dipped in chocolate and can be topped with an assortment of other goodies. Being the curious cat that I am I started asking around to find out more behind this day of chocolate sticks. I heard a few different reasons including one that explained Pepero day as a day to wish for young girls to grow up tall and thin. I guess its just wishful thinking on the Koreans part but I knew that this was shit and I went searching for a more logical explanation. It didn't take long as one of the women that I tutor explained that it always occurs on 11.11 since the date resembles the 과자 (that's snack for all you idiots who don't know Korean.) This then led into foreseen explanation of how the Pepero companies formed this holiday as a ploy to push thousands of chocolate sticks down the throats of all Korean men, women, and children. You gotta love that good ole' American Capitalistic spirit!

Side note: I can't imagine what next year will be like...11.11.11 spells PEPERO HEAVEN!!!

Scatter brain

I was going to try and write a Halloween inspired article but I decided that was too much work so instead I am just going to shoot from the hip and mention a few note worthy things from the past week or so.

First of all I am still enjoying every minute of every day here even though I have become increasingly busy with teaching, tutoring, and taking Korean classes. This is good and bad, I like the fact that I am structured and staying busy but at the same time it'd be nice to able to have some more free time every once in awhile. Also I am starting to learn how to save some serious money here which is awesome.

Lastly I just want to say that with another month gone and the US holidays approaching quickly it has crossed my mind as to how different this holiday season will really be. Even here in Korea I am reminded sometimes of how lonely life can be around the holidays. Korean culture is a very group oriented culture which calls for close relationships and lots of emotions being displayed. It is such an inviting culture and it just makes you just want to go and hug everyone, I love it, but at times it is bittersweet, especially during the holidays.

Another day in the Gu

It's Sunday night here and I've been doing some extra work that I was suckered into but thought I'd take a quick break and write a short post.

October has come and is almost gone, I don't know what it is about living here but everything seems like its in fast forward. I guess partly because I am a day ahead of everyone at home so it gives me the illusion of it being faster or maybe its just the fact that since I'm in a new place it has that same feeling you get when you travel...that wow it's going by so fast that "I feel like I'm not going to get to do or see everything I want" kind of feeling. Regardless I guess this feeling is good compared to it being a slow dragging process that I felt like I had to claw my way through.

With October comes the amazing weather. The weather here is great in the fall and it also offers some of the clearest skies and most beautiful days of the year. Hopefully this weather will continue into mid to late November before a cold winter sets in. I am afraid that winter will eventually give me a lot less desire to want to be out and about so I need to soak it all in over this next month before I go into hibernation.

I have also started taking Korean classes on Saturdays. I have been learning through friends and co-workers for the first couple of months but for me to really conquer the language I sought out some real professional help. The classes are offered for free and are small in size to guaranty the one on one time that you need. Also the classes are held at Korea University which surprisingly enough looks like a typical American University with all of its beautiful Gothic architecture done in stone. Just being on the campus makes me happy and gives me that itch just wishing I was back in school.

In closing I'd have to say it's been another good week and I look forward to the next but all in all it's just another day in the Gu.