Time for an update

So life in Korea is officially over the excitement of a foreign place and although I have a lot to learn and explore, it has now become my life.  I finally feel like I am slowly belonging more and more and finding my place in both the school and the environment.  I don't feel like a foreigner anymore, however due to my non-Asian features, I know I still appear as one. 

The weather is finally getting cooler which encourages my entire being (I am now able to walk outside without sweating like I have just run a 500km race).

Last week there were 2 typhoons (which I have just found out is the same thing as a hurricane), one was built up and all the schools in Seoul were closed.  Since all the schools were closed, my director decided to cancel school in our hagwon which meant NO WORK!!  I would like to say I was able to sleep in, however that was not the case.  The two foreign teachers and myself were afraid that we may die and didn't want to be alone, not to mention I live on the bottom floor of an apartment and if there was a flood it would most certainly be happening in my place.   We woke up at 8am and all met up at one of the other girls house, each bringing loads of snacks and wine in order to enjoy what may have been our last meal on this earth.  The typhoon was a complete fail, it didn't even rain let alone have strong winds...basically it was an unfortunate first typhoon experience (which is a good thing).  On a positive note, I AM ALIVE and well :).

Then two days after the first typhoon there was another, this one was much stronger and flooding occurred in the town I live in.  Of COURSE that day was one when we had to go to work and mission it home in the flooded streets (we took a taxi home and it only came out to 2 dollars, yay for Korean taxi's who don't cheat you!).  This week was most certainly memorable for a variety of reasons but the whole weather change is causing a change in the calmness of mother nature.  One thing is for sure, I am enjoying the change and CANNOT WAIT to walk around with a sweater and jeans in the cold winter weather. 

One of the downfalls in being a foreign teacher in Korea is that most people have contracts for a year and then they are headed back home.  Unfortunately for me, both of the other foreign teachers at my school have finished their contracts and will be heading home soon...we just started becoming friends too :( I just know that this means new people and new experiences so I am trying to put a positive spin on it.  I wonder if I will be able to train the other teachers, I don't think I know enough to do that but we shall see how the rest unfolds.

On another note completely, today I discovered another fascinating thing about Korea: they have specific underground floors for WOMEN parking only.  At first I thought it was for pregnant women but then my Korean friend told me it was a WOMAN'S only parking area because women are bad drivers and some men don't feel comfortable parking their cars in the same place. :O WOW feed into the stereotype why don't you!!! I laughed so hard and had to take these pictures as proof!!!  (Although I am no longer a visitor, things continue to amaze me!) HA!

I am enjoying working with my kids more and more each day, seeing more of their personalities and how much they love me makes me happy as well.  The other day my students kept telling the other teachers that "Erika Teacher is a very very very nice teacher", "Erika Teacher is a very good teacher and looks pretty today" they key word TODAY!  haha

I am REALLY REALLY looking forward to next week, not because it is the first week of September, which means it's closer to Korean thanksgiving (more holidays) but because my friend is coming to visit me from home for a week! I am SOOO pumped to have a taste of home and I feel like it is the perfect timing, God knows exactly when it is needed. I work next week so she will have to be a lone for most of the day HOWEVER I plan on making her weekend full of exciting Korean adventures (not sure yet but...something cool!)

The longer I am here (2 months and bit) I have realized that Korea may be one of the hardest things I have ever done both emotionally and spiritually but it is such a blessing in disguise.  I can see myself learning so much about myself and my personal journey to adulthood.  I am learning so much and cannot wait to continue to see what is in store for my future.  BRING IT ON (nice things would be appreciated :)!).