In an English book I'm currently teaching there's a question:
Which do you prefer?
A. A beautiful picture
B. A rainbow
All of my students answered B and I answered A. Although, for me, a life without art is meaningless, I want to thank my students for reminding me how wonderful the world really is...
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Days Away from Half Way...
I begin this post with some misery...I'm only days away from finally being in Seoul for six months. However, time rolls by like a wheel on flat land. Maybe slowing down a bit wouldn't be so bad except that I'm ready to leave Korea.
I'm sure I haven't gained everything I potentially could by staying six more months but I realized I can't have a life in Korea which allows me to be happy. Don't get me wrong, I'm doing things here that make me happy; taking a class, playing sports, socializing a lot etc. But my overall general health and happiness will never be 100% here.
So, I'm faced with a dilemma:
- leave Korea, miss out on a nice sum of money, return to a healthful state, do more meaningful things and find an art teaching gig
OR
- stay six more months, make good money, continue to be unhealthy, possibly miss out on an art teaching gig all while being somewhat unhappy
I'm sure I haven't gained everything I potentially could by staying six more months but I realized I can't have a life in Korea which allows me to be happy. Don't get me wrong, I'm doing things here that make me happy; taking a class, playing sports, socializing a lot etc. But my overall general health and happiness will never be 100% here.
So, I'm faced with a dilemma:
- leave Korea, miss out on a nice sum of money, return to a healthful state, do more meaningful things and find an art teaching gig
OR
- stay six more months, make good money, continue to be unhealthy, possibly miss out on an art teaching gig all while being somewhat unhappy
And because I know you readers are dying to know...
My winter vacation in Thailand was...amazing?
No, it truly was fun, exciting, and adventurous but it was also frustrating and bizarre.
The word 'thai' in Thai means free. So literally Thailand translates as 'land of the free.'
Unfortunately I could only spend one week in Thailand, and one week in Thailand does not give the culture justice at all but my initial observations showed me that the Thai people aren't so free at all...
Most of my interactions however, were with a lower class of Thai people...they were selling cheap goods on the street or trying to scam every tourist in sight. But I think in Thailand, just like any other country the proper slogan should be 'If you have money, then call this 'the land of the free.'' Money truly gives a person opportunities they would never have if they were poor.
But, for now, enough reflection...enjoy these images. :)
Enormous Reclining Buddha entirely made of gold.
Riding a tuk-tuk around Bangkok, best mode of transportation ever!
And my favorite part of the trip...Krabi province!!!
No, it truly was fun, exciting, and adventurous but it was also frustrating and bizarre.
The word 'thai' in Thai means free. So literally Thailand translates as 'land of the free.'
Unfortunately I could only spend one week in Thailand, and one week in Thailand does not give the culture justice at all but my initial observations showed me that the Thai people aren't so free at all...
Most of my interactions however, were with a lower class of Thai people...they were selling cheap goods on the street or trying to scam every tourist in sight. But I think in Thailand, just like any other country the proper slogan should be 'If you have money, then call this 'the land of the free.'' Money truly gives a person opportunities they would never have if they were poor.
But, for now, enough reflection...enjoy these images. :)
Not sure what to say...
It's getting close to my fifth month living in Seoul...as the time goes by and I get more comfortable living here, I run out of things to say. I think it's so interesting re-reading my initial posts full of culture shock and confusion. However, I've started to simply live my normal life now and I'm not so sure my normal life warrants blogging..? I know my life may seem more exciting and interesting than some people's but really to me, I'm just living life.
It's January and below freezing all the time. I work longer days now because of a schedule change and I greatly enjoy my weekends. I've finally found some great friends who value similar things as me yet never fail to teach me with their unique experiences and knowledge. I'm playing basketball on the weekends and trying to register for an online class (stupid adviser screwed up though).
I have a lot of down time here; commuting everywhere (even to school each day), breaks at work which DO NOT need to be spent planning, many nights after work spent by myself, mornings always spent by myself...etc. I'm not trying to say I'm lonely...that's actually the last thing I feel...being surrounded by people and small children makes me appreciate any time I have to myself; but what I'm saying is that I think a lot more. I have so much time just to myself that I'm constantly keeping my mind busy. I'm thinking about problems, reflecting on past situations, remembering people I love, realizing what I love and miss most about home, thinking about my future, and so much more. I think being here is making me smarter because I have time to challenge my mind. When I don't want to think about myself anymore, I busy my mind with puzzles, trivia, and Stumbleupon.com.
Anyways, I'm not sure what my point is other than; 'I think a lot.' Maybe that will be the basis of my blogs from now on rather than cultural craziness. haha
My most recent and profound realization: I can deal with heartache and sadness; those things are inevitable in relationships but what I will not live without is mutual respect.
It's January and below freezing all the time. I work longer days now because of a schedule change and I greatly enjoy my weekends. I've finally found some great friends who value similar things as me yet never fail to teach me with their unique experiences and knowledge. I'm playing basketball on the weekends and trying to register for an online class (stupid adviser screwed up though).
I have a lot of down time here; commuting everywhere (even to school each day), breaks at work which DO NOT need to be spent planning, many nights after work spent by myself, mornings always spent by myself...etc. I'm not trying to say I'm lonely...that's actually the last thing I feel...being surrounded by people and small children makes me appreciate any time I have to myself; but what I'm saying is that I think a lot more. I have so much time just to myself that I'm constantly keeping my mind busy. I'm thinking about problems, reflecting on past situations, remembering people I love, realizing what I love and miss most about home, thinking about my future, and so much more. I think being here is making me smarter because I have time to challenge my mind. When I don't want to think about myself anymore, I busy my mind with puzzles, trivia, and Stumbleupon.com.
Anyways, I'm not sure what my point is other than; 'I think a lot.' Maybe that will be the basis of my blogs from now on rather than cultural craziness. haha
My most recent and profound realization: I can deal with heartache and sadness; those things are inevitable in relationships but what I will not live without is mutual respect.
It's Christmas time!!
Christmas is very different for me this year...although I don't get to participate in many of the traditions my family has, I still have good people to spend time with this year.
Some of the other foreigners and I had a nice Christmas party complete with games, movies and a white elephant gift exchange.
Yesterday I got a heavy package full of presents from my family!!! Now that I'm on my own with no one to tell me not to open the presents...I want to open all of them now! :) Here's my lovely little tree with all my presents! The lights on the tree only worked for three uses and then died...I don't think they had the ability to convert to the type of power over here.
Some of the other foreigners and I had a nice Christmas party complete with games, movies and a white elephant gift exchange.
Yesterday I got a heavy package full of presents from my family!!! Now that I'm on my own with no one to tell me not to open the presents...I want to open all of them now! :) Here's my lovely little tree with all my presents! The lights on the tree only worked for three uses and then died...I don't think they had the ability to convert to the type of power over here.
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