Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!!

So, I know I haven't been the best at blogging but I realize why, it's because I used blogging before as a way to get through the hard times here in Korea and lately I feel as though I need no escape through blogging because I thoroughly LOVE my life here.  I have officially gone over the halfway mark and it is incredible to think about how at home I feel here.  Lately the thought of going home frightens me more than the thought of staying here another year.  I have developed a new way of life here, one with freedom and a set schedule that I know I will not have once I move home (at the beginning).  HOWEVER I realize too that I am thinking of life continuing as it did when I was a student living at home but who knows how much things have and will continue to change.

 

All Nations Bible Talk

Oh man, I haven't updated since December 2nd, so let me start with my FIRST Christmas without my family!  In Korea, Christmas isn't a big thing like the Western world and to make a comparison it is treated more like Valentines day.  That being said, in the working world here in Korea I only had the 25th off, putting a damper on the whole "OMGOSH CHRISTMAS BREAK" experience that I have had in the past.  My friends and I knowing this information ahead of time, were able to make the best out of it.  On Christmas Eve I was supposed to get off at 7:15pm but one of my coworkers so graciously switched shifts with me, allowing me to leave at 4pm and head into Seoul to meet up with some of my friends.  We ordered fried chicken and potatoes and headed to another one of my friends house who had decorated her place with a small Christmas tree, candy canes, stockings, presents, loads of cakes/pastries,  "A Bing Crosby Christmas Album" playing in the background and the festive spirit began.  The three of us ate like champions and ended the night watching the Grinch where everyone fell asleep but me.  That allowed me time to meditate on my year and look out the window to find it snowing!! It was a WHITE Christmas after all. 

My presents Christmas Morning

We woke up and opened our presents and stockings, enjoying one another's company before heading to Church and a talent show that would be held afterwards.  It was a DIFFERENT Christmas, not at all bad...actually it was thoroughly enjoyable.  I am so thankful for my friends who made it super special and memorable.  On Christmas day, I was also able to skype with my family which was really awesome.  I got to open stocking and presents with my mother and then skype with my dad's side! It was a lot of fun and I didn't miss a whole lot until I saw everyone!  Regardless, it was a good time where I have and will continue to learn to enjoy the unknown.

A week or so after Christmas we were given a week off and a friend of mine and I decided to go to Japan.  We were able to stay with one of my best friends from high school who is teaching English there and we had a great time.  We spent the New Years at the biggest temple in Japan, most of it standing in a line we didn't know what it was for.  A few times we would ask people what was going on (and they of course didn't know what we were talking about), a few time others foreigners asked us the same question.  Two hours later we found out that the line we were in for the past 2 hours and 30 minutes was to pray at the temple and throw money at it. Now, I am SURE this holds significance to some people but my thinking was "I don't need to wait till midnight to pray to God and through money into the air".  So, we left and walked around the area for a while discovering a super intense outdoor food court with loads of hot teas, desserts, noodles, meats, soups and other unknown things.  This is where many of the foreigners were, as well as many freezing Japanese people.  It was a good time! It amazed me how very different the culture and atmosphere was from  Korea.  There was so much variety in how the people looked, many more fashions represented and I felt it wasn't as clean as Korea but, the ONE awesome thing was that I didn't get stared at every move I made!  As much as I enjoyed experiencing Japan, I was looking forward to coming home to Korea. 

Some of the girls learning to Bow Korean Style

Some of the 6 year olds learning how to bow

This has been the first work week back from vacation and life here has been going well. I am loving the kids more and more with every day that passes.  One of the hard things about working at a privately owned school is that kids can come and go as their parents please! In the past few weeks some of my favourite students have left (I know as a teacher I am not supposed to have favourites...but hey it happens).  It is part of life, I know...it still stinks though!  On top of all that, things have been a little hectic lately with Kinder graduation (which believe it or not is a huge thing here).  I had to write a musical for all the 7 year olds based off of the Mamma Mia soundtrack which was an interesting experience.  On top of that, they have to memorize all their lines AND do presentations for all the parents (also memorized). I didn't know you could fail kindergarten but hey, power to these super talented English Speaking Korean babies :)

Life apart from school is also going well! Two of my friends are getting married this month (one week apart from each other) which is SUPER exciting and I cannot WAIT for! :) I have never experienced a Korean wedding, so I am excited to see not one but TWO (the brides are not Korean) so it might not be "LEGIT KOREAN" but still!  This year I have decided to focus on ME and bettering myself in so many different areas and have picked the theme "Transformation" (I am aware that may sound selfish but I don't mean it in that way).  I have less than 6 months left in Korea and it's GO TIME! Oh man, even thinking about leaving Korea makes me emotional so we won't even go there.  Basically, I am enjoying life very much, learning lots about myself and enjoying the things that are being exposed to me.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to live here, experience life here and continue to grow here!  KOREA 2013, here I COME! :)

Happy New Year to you all (by you all I mean the  people who read this...AHHAHAA) Sending Love your way :)