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.