Six Months Down... Here's What I've Learned:

I hate to generalize, but Koreans are unaware and a little bit stupid.   I am currently fuming with rage about the fact that there is a bicycle bell for a reason and they seem to forget what that reason is.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, traffic laws are more like guidelines in this country, so if one is not careful, it's probable that you could die at any moment from a taxi driver running a red light, or neglecting to look in mirrors for oncoming traffic, texting about soju, etc.  Bicycles are prevalent here, so of course, I have a bright neon orange one, complete with basket and working bell.  The bell is cool, but it is also a safety feature, for those pedestrians that are walking on the bike paths which are clearly marked on all sidewalks and major streets.  So every day, as I'm cruising on my pretty orange bike, abiding by all traffic rules, I have to continuously stop the bike, mid-cruise, to allow the incredibly slow reflexes of walking Koreans to realize that if they don't get out of my way, I will run them over.  This has happened almost ten times today, in the short 8 minutes that it takes me to ride from school to my apartment. I ding the bell. They don't move. I am riding downhill at a fast pace enjoying the only wind circulation that exists, and they walk out of the coffee shops directly in front of me, not bothering to look if there's an oncoming orange beast headed towards them. They begin texting while walking, neglecting to "hear" the bell. Or, the best, they walk STRAIGHT towards me. Not wavering in the slightest, expecting me to move and dodge in and out of concrete blocks, sewers, and children because they couldn't be bothered with changing their path of direction for the American girl! I just don't understand how you can come out of a building and not look where you are going.  How do you not see me riding straight toward you? I have no resolution for this problem, except to add this to my kindergarten curriculum. The next generation will hopefully be a little more "aware of their surroundings.  ABC's, English vocabulary, and sidewalk etiquette.  

More importantly, now that I've calmed down a bit, I need to express my sadness and grief for the loss of two coworkers. Not literally, like, they're just going back to America. But they have been really great friends and colleagues that I am going to miss very much.  Adam and Cassie have taught me so much about being a teacher, living abroad, and just life in general.  But really, she's really crafty and he fixes computers. I have many fond memories with both of them and am sad to see them go :( 

This week's highlights.
Me: OK, who can tell me a sentence in English?
Seo Yeon: Teacher, house, mommy daddy, horse, Cinderella.
Me: Mommy and Daddy got you a horse at your house, and it's name is Cinderella???!!!
Seo Yeon: YES!!!!
Me: That's it. You're coming back to America to live with me, because you are meant to be my child.
Seo Yeon: Teacher, NOW??!

ha. Also, we took another trip to the beloved bear farm where we swam in the swimming pool *two feet of water where it was necessary to have full flippers, goggles, inner tubes, floaties and swimcaps.* They also went "horseback riding" which consisted of them being led in a circle while wearing bicycle helmets and, wait for it, LIFE JACKETS. In case they fell off of course. Walking in a circle. With six burly korean men standing around. And yes, I saw some burly Korean men. We watched Beauty and the Beast, in which I convinced them that it was me on TV, and that I am actually a princess in America.  They now call me Princess Teacher. Still preparing for open class and enjoying the many changes that have happened at school this week! More soon :)
  

The Time I ALMOST Went to Japan...

So, summer vacation was last week. It was lovely, and unexpected.  I did something that was very new for me, something I never thought in a million years I could do... I was spontaneous. And I loved it.  Since May, I knew I was going to spend my time off work going to Japan with my friends Anna and Michelle.  We researched the trip, bought plane tickets and booked hostels, picked out all the things we were going to do, and when vacation week rolled around, we were excited and ready to go!  Since the army is unpredictable, I am not usually able to plan things too far in advance with Adam.  His schedule changes almost daily, so making a vacation plan with him was just not practical. On the day of our flight to Japan, we went to the airport, fully expecting a four-hour trip to an Asian destination, a week of sushi and animae.  Adam called.  He jokingly said I should change my flight, come to Italy instead... at least I thought he was joking.  We kept talking about it all the way to the airport.  I thought, why not? I tried NOT to think too much, make a pro/con list, be my crazy scheduled self, and I just said "YES" instead.  I told my friends to forgive me, but my mission of love was unfolding.  I watched them walk through customs, missed my flight, and waited another hour to book a last-minute flight to Italy.  It was expensive, but SO worth it.  I flew first to Istanbul, had a layover and then flew the rest of the way into Venice. I slept mostly on the plane, trying to avoid the jetlag.  When I got to Venice, I raced through customs and into his arms! (But seriously, our life is a movie.) It was by far one of the best weeks we've ever spent together.  We walked through Italian towns, drank wine, ate gelato, and simply loved each other.  We had a lasagne picnic, took tons of pictures, danced in the middle of the road, got incredibly lost on a dusty forgotten path, argued with taxi drivers as we tried to overcome the language barrier... I read books, laid by the pool, drank good coffee and ate good spaghetti.  We held hands, talked about the future, slept in late, got fish pedicures (yes, put our feet in water while fish nibbled the dead skin off), watched the sunset, and thanked God for our time together. 

I didn't miss Japan one bit. I didn't regret my choice or feel guilty about changing my plan. I just decided to be happy, and to live in the moment, and it was bliss.  Adam makes me want to change who I am. He makes me want to trust that things will be OK without a plan. He makes my faith in God stronger every day.  He knows that God will take care of us, and with his constant reminders, I'm starting to realize that too.  I hope to be more trusting, to be more spontaneous, and to be more calm like I was on this vacation, like I am when I am with him.  I love every minute of who I am when we're together.

I was sad to leave, but happy knowing it is only the first of many weeks we will spend together abroad.  I had a flight back from Venice to Paris, where I had a 15 hour layover. I slept, ate croissants, and pretended I was french.  From Paris I made it back to Seoul, took the bus to Ansan, and made it just in time for class on that Monday morning. (Literally walked in with ten minutes to spare).  This week was long, getting adjusted to the time again, but I think I am back to normal.  We had a busy week, still practicing for our upcoming presentation and having a water gun battle that could not be topped! So happy with the way my life is going right now, so thankful for all the people in it that make my world go 'round.  Only 6 weeks until my mama comes to visit and only 6 months until I'm back in Tennessee where I belong :) Until then, I will continue to live spontaneously (with God's help and Adam's), and to enjoy each day as it comes.