On turning 29

Today I turned 29 years old!   How crazy!  I seriously feel about exactly the same as I did when I was 23 (and when I was 23, I felt about 18 - ha!)  Last year, I did a good job of taking selfies throughout the day.  So far this year I have not taken any pictures, so I am going to steal one or two from last year:)

The main reason I am blogging today is that I feel like this is the "last"s of so many types of birthdays.  It could be my last birthday in Colorado.  It is my last birthday as a not-mom (before you are married, you are single...before you are a mom/parent, you are a_____?).  It is my last birthday of my 20s.  It is my last birthday (let's hope) as a Seminary Wife.  

We started our day at Snooze (after my amazing husband de-snowed and de-iced our car in the -1 degree weather).  We like Snooze for breakfast, but we don't make it there very often.  We went to Snooze last year for my birthday breakfast and then we did the same this year.  I had Gingerbread Pancakes topped with something awesome (I don't know what it was, but it was great!  Something in between butter and whipped cream.)  Ian had a jalapeno, mushroom, and sausage omelet.

It pretty much looked the same this year, except for more ice and snow.

After Snooze, we headed to find birthday present #1 - firewood.  When Ian asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year, the first thing that came to mind was, "a break from school" (which I am getting - I am enjoying the challenges I took on this year, but I have burnt myself out a bit, so I was ready for a break - praisetheLord!)  The next thing that came to mind was "a fire all day".  We so enjoy having a wood burning fireplace in our little apartment, but we don't burn a fire that often.  So Ian bought me two bundles of firewood and we have had a fire going all afternoon.  It smells a bit like a campfire in the apartment, but I don't care.  It is so cozy to hear the wood pop and crack as the fire burns.

my view from the couch - I am too lazy to try to get a good picture of our fire

We headed to church to see the Children's Program - we can't believe that in a few years we will have a kiddo up there and I will be the Mom in the front row trying to video it all on my phone to send to grandparents {mindblowing}.  The kids did a good job and it was fun to see all their different personalities and watch them sing.   After church we stopped at home for a snack and then headed out for birthday fun round #2.

We went to Target and stopped at the Starbucks there for my free birthday drink {venti decaf holiday spice flat white}.  We wandered Target and I looked at all the cute white girl things and all the cute baby things that I have registered for but not seen in person yet.  We hit up the maternity section and I found a top that fits (and looks festive, but I can wear after the holidays soon).  Ian said my requests for new windshield wipers and certain pencils were not real requests so he let me wander Target and bought me whatever we came across.  We ended up with a maternity top and a pregnancy wedge - it is a type of pillow that is supposed to help me sleep better (doubtful, but it was on sale fore 10 bucks so I will give it a try).

After Target, we stopped by Panera to get my free birthday treat.  I choose a cinnamon roll (that I later enjoyed with a cup of coffee.  Don't worry Mommas - it was decaf.  I follow all the dumb pregnancy rules the best I can.)  Once we got home, I camped out on the couch to read, blog, and do absolutely nothing.  It always takes me a couple more days than I anticipate to "recover" from school.  This past semester definitely kicked my butt.

We had a lowkey evening.  I watched a ridiculously cheesy Christmas movie (my favorite).  I ended the day in bed reading (also my favorite).  What a great day!  I loved seeing emails pop up on my phone all day telling me of friends near and far who were wishing me a happy birthday.  Here's to all the adventure that the next 365 days will bring!

A new place, a new month, and a new look

Whew!  August 2012 is over.  It was a pretty big month for us.  We started it in Korea teaching and we ended here, in Colorado, on a new adventure.

Since we have so many changes going on, I thought it would be fun to update my blog a bit.  I did all the design myself.  So if something is funky, please tell me :-).  I will try to mess with more computer code and online tutorials to fix it.

I had two different color inspirations for the new look: a flower and a rooster.

From Design Seeds (Becuase I love you, I included the hex and RGB values for you.)

Also from Design Seeds

I am saying this as your friend.  Do not go check out Design Seeds for color inspiration unless you have a lot of spare time on your hands.  It can totally suck you in.

On an unrelated note, you might notice that Bible Reading is missing from the tabs to choose from. Why you may ask...(ask for my sake) BECAUSE, I FINISHED reading through the whole entire Bible.  Booya!  I am done.  I now everything about God and Christianity (just kidding).  My new favorite chapter of the Bible is Ezekiel 16.  It explains, grace, salvation, idolatry, and God's enduring patience all in one chapter, albeit a bit graphically.

I just realized that I have not posted a picture of what we wake up to each and every morning.  So I will end this post with our gorgeous view.  Running trail, golf course, and mountains. (sigh of perfection)

A Craggee 10 Days!

Whew, it has been a crazy (Koreans say crazy, "cra-gee" and now I say it like that) 10 days.

• 10 days ago we were in Korea.
• 7 days ago we were loading the U-haul.
• We have seen so many precious people in the last week!
• We are finally over jet-lag (for the most part).
• We have about 20 more wooden stirring spoons than we need.

Okay, so the last one is not that interesting, but it has been fun/interesting to unpack all of our stuff and see what we have.  We have a lot of stuff (to say the least).  My stuff from college + Ian's stuff from before we got married + Stuff we got from the wedding + Stuff from Korea = lots, and lots, and lots of stuff.

Before we left Korea, some of my fellow waygooks asked me to blog about reverse culture shock.  Here are the things I have noticed since coming back into Western culture:

• I feel an overwhelming sense to say, "You speak English so well!", especially if I am talking to someone who looks Korean.
• I feel guilty if I take something from someone with only one hand.  I still do two hands or the-hand-on-arm if I hand people stuff.
• America.is.huge
• the people are huge (vertically and horizontally), 
• the cars are huge, 
• the parking lots are ginormous, 
• our kitchen is huge, 
• and Target is about 3 times bigger than I remember it being.
• Along with hugeness, there are a lot of big open spaces where you can see forever.
• American shopping carts are annoying to push. The wheels only go forward or backwards.
• I almost cried when we stood in front of the cheese aisle.  I seriously was getting emotional in the cereal aisle.  Groceries are SO cheap :)
• I still feel like we are going to go back to Korea next week.  I feel like we are on vacation or something.
• Americans do not know what Gangnam Style is...so don't start doing the dance that goes along with music video.

 

•  I say Assah! (awesome) and Jinja? (for real?  or really?) more often than I thought I did.
•  Ian says that my voice is more gravely since we moved back (don't ask me).  I think it is the dry Colorado air.  I am thirsty all.the.time.
• The food is nooky-hada (greasy) and ma-chee-sigh-yo (delicious).
• I miss public transportation.
• Lots of Americans/Coloradans run. 
•  No one points, whispers, or stares when I run past them.  
• No one covers their children eyes' either.  
• I was super excited about running in a sports bra, but it is cold here.
• Speaking of which, I had to carry a sweatshirt everywhere we went for the first week, because it was freezing inside all of the restaurants/stores/homes.  It is August and I have jeans on -craggeee!
• Everything is huge! (Maybe I said that already).
• I stare at people. 
• Ian and I got used to people having no idea what we were saying in public.  It has been hard to remember that other people can understand what we are saying - hahahahaha.  
• Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow  - not necessarily culture shock but a good truth to remember when you are feeling culture shock.  God knows Korean culture and American culture.  Jesus was the ultimate waygook (foreigner) and we are foreigners too - no matter what country we are in.  Heaven in our real home. 

The countdown is on!

My friend, Jen, from high school usually does a countdown for when she is leaving Kenya and heading to the USofA.  I thought it would be fun to do the same thing.  (Thanks Jen for the great idea!)

10 days until the last day of school
11 days until the first day of summer english camp
17 days until my on-line class is done! (and God-willing, I will not teach an on-line class in English to 8 year olds for a very long time.)
27 days until the last day of camp
30 days until the last day of work
31 days until we fly out (that is one month from today!)
32 days until we land in St. Louis.  Hug Mommabomma.  Say hi to Daddio.  Run in a sports bra.  Go to
     an American grocery store.  Have some major jet-lag.
33 days until we start loading the Uhaul
35 days until we hug my parents and brother and sister-in-law
37 days until we see my Grandpa and his wife and other relatives
38 days until we get to Colorado (and get to see Ian's twin and his sweet wifey!)
39 days until we move into our new apartment and go for a run in Colorado!
41 days until Ian starts orientation
44 days until Ian starts classes

oh p.s.  Do ya'll read the nester?  You should.  She talks about the killers.  If you are a killer, please do not try to stalk us and kill us in the next 45 days.  K? thanksbye!

Annyeonghi-gyeseyo Dae Han Minguk

Anneyeonghigyeseyo is good-bye (somewhat formally) in Korean when you are the person leaving and the other person is staying.

Dae Han Minguk is Korean for Republic of Korea. 

So it has come time to say good-bye to Korea. 

We mailed 29.64 kg (that is, 65 pounds) of stuff (winter clothes mostly) to America today.  It is happening.  We are moving.  To America.  I am not quite sure how I feel (nervous - yes, sad - yes, excited - yes, all three mixed together - yes), nevertheless it is happening.

There will be a lot of things that I will miss about life in Korea.  One of them is:

Delivery food with real plates

When we moved here, I noticed a lot of dishes outside of people's apartment doors with food still on them.  I thought weird.  Now I know.  When you order food here (with the exception of pizza or fried chicken), it is delivered on real (not disposable) plates, bowl, and silverware.  It is so nice.  And then when you are done, you set everything outside the door it was delivered to.  The delivery boys/men/women/whomever come by later and pick up the dishes.  It is a great system.  I am going to miss it in America.  Not to mention the amazingly inexpensive delivery service. 

This was back in Aug. 2010, when we were learning how to say, "annyeonghamshinka". 

New Year's Resolution

I have set some goals for 2012.  I know, I know, you are just dying to know what they are.

May I rant for one moment about resolutions?  If you don't want to listen to my rant, just scroll down.  If you make a resolution that is great.  But if you make an objective, specific, measurable resolution - that is much better (in my opinion, but then again everything on this blog is my opinion).

• Physical: Run a marathon.  
• Preferably in 3 hours and 59 minutes or less.
• Emotional:  Set healthy boundaries, mainly in the time management area of my life.  
• This means one free "night" a week.  One night that has nothing on the schedule.
• Mental: Read books and blog
• I will read my fair share of novels this year for fun, but I want to read 2 "deep" books.  Right now I am thinking one of them will be Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.
• I want to post on my blog twice a week.  I also want to devote January to updating my blog and finishing up the posts that were scheduled for 2011, but I did not get completely done.
• Spiritual: I want to delve deeper into the Spiritual Disciplines.
• Ian and I have purposed to read the entire Bible in 52 weeks (as of right now, I am not sure if this is going to happen or not, but we will at least give it a try!)
• My verses for 2012 are from Ezekiel 36:25-27, "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command."  I added the bold part.  I love these verses.  God has been convicting me of how hard my heart can be in some areas of my life.  I want a soft heart.
• Marriage: I want to pray for Ian more.
• I am going to try to use my 30 minute walk to and from school to pray for my amazing husband.  

Ian and I have hammered out some other goals we have for our marriage, friendships, and community but we can save those for a later date.

"Say-hey-bok ma-knee pa-duh-say-yo"  That is what I say in my brain to say "Happy New Year"  (it does not translate anything close to happy new year, but it what Koreans say this time of year.  It really means many blessings, or have a lot of luck or something along those lines).

Did you make any resolutions?  What are they?

Oh yeah, the kids hit each other too

Sometimes I have funny thoughts that come to mind and they make me laugh out loud.  I just can not hold the laughter in.

So I was walking down the street this morning laughing to myself.  I wrote yesterday about how the kiddos bring razor blades to school with them.  I have forgotten that it is weird (to Americans) that my kiddos beat each other up.  I have completely normalized the fact that my student hit, slap, kick, punch, whatever each other.

Here is some background information for you (in case you live in America and grew up with the keep all hands, feet, and other objects to yourself rule):

1.) Koreans are really touchy-feely.  Or Americans are very not touchy-feely.  It depends on your perspective.  Little girls hold other little girls hands, little boys hold other little boys hands, little girls hold their mom's hand, little boys hold their mom's hand, 14 year old boys hold their mom's hand, teenage boys hold other teenage boys' hand, old women hold their hubby's hand, so on and so forth...people hold hands here.  People brush shoulders with you on the street and do not say "excuse me" or "sorry".  It is not a big deal.  

2.) Korean do not have a personal bubble of space.  Or Americans do have a personal bubble of space.  It depends on your perspective.  Americans can feel uncomfortable when other people are in their bubble.

3.) A lot of Koreans take taekwondo.  Or a lot of Americans do not take taekwondo.  It depends on your perspective.  I have third graders who are black belts.  If they were to get hit a.) they can defend themselves and b.) they can hit/kick/taekwondo you back.  Just a good thing to keep in mind.  If a Korean child gets hit, he or she does not victimize him or herself.  I think American children have learned to victimize themselves if they get hit.

4.) Korea is not America.  America is not Korea.  Just a good thing to keep in mind.

I was shocked the first time one of my students hit another student and no one did anything.  * I am an American.  People do not hit each other in America and get away with it.  So I did the only American thing I could do.  I put the kid in time-out (okay not time-out, but pretty much the same thing).  This scenario repeated itself over and over.  All the kids were hitting each other.  Girls hit boys.  Boys hit girls back.  Boys hit boys.  Then 5 minutes later the boys are holding hands.  

After about 6 weeks of kids hitting other kids and no one doing anything, I realized that it part of the culture.  This did not sit well with me.  I held onto this American part of myself for a long time.  The first time a kid hit another kid and I did nothing, I felt like a horrible person.  I think it took about 6 months of living in Korea before I was okay with it.  I no longer have a mental freakout when I see kids hitting each other or pushing each other to see who will be the first in line.  I am actually a little concerned that I am going to go back to America and some little child will say, "He hit me blah blah blah" and I will do nothing and then some parent will be upset with me.  

Now the following sentence will be hard for Americans to understand, but there is a difference between kids hitting each other and kids hitting each other.  There has only been once in the last 9 months that I have put a kid in "time out" for hitting.  You can tell the intention of the kids when they are hitting each other.  Not all hitting is mean-hitting.  For real.

So my students bring knives to school and they hit each other and we all get along.  There is rarely ever any blood and no one ever goes to the hospital.  

--------

* I said that I was an American.  I take that back.  I am a waygook.  Waygook is the Korean word for foreigner.  There are days that I feel American. And there are days that I think I am more Korean than I am America.  I am a waygook.  

This is the stuff...

Have you heard this new song (titled This is the Stuff) by Francesca Battistelli? I love it. Check it out: So break me of impatience, Conquer my frustrations, I've got a new appreciation It's not the end of the world!

Ya'll, I had a great moment last night.  I got to go out to eat with my Amazing Husband, the new Native English Teacher from Amazing Husband's school (he is from Ireland and has a delightful accent!), and one of my Amazing Husband's co-teachers.  Guess where we went.  Did you guess a sushi restaurant?  I was not overly excited as I was remembering my last sushi experience.   BUT, it was a wonderful meal.  I did not have to eat the sushi straight up.  We dipped the sushi in a red sauce and then wrapped it in sesame leaves.  We also had some clams.  They were delicious.

So let me set the record straight: there are good sushi restaurants in Korea.  Sushi does not have to be straight up.  You can overcome the squishy taste.  You can do it!  It's not the end of the world.

Turning Point

As of today: my  amazing husband and I have spent more of our married life in South Korea than we have in America.