four months in Korea...

It seems that I have forgotten I have a blog.  Woops! Here's a quick recap of the past 3 (or so) months-- I was sick for an entire month. It was miserable. I cried a little bit, I have to admit.

I've settled in to life here pretty well.  There are still times that I feel like I haven't quite found my place yet, but I have moved enough times in my life to know that it just takes time.  Regardless, I am really enjoying my time here. So much so that I have neglected to blog.

Truly, I kept having ideas to post, but I kept putting it off and then I felt overwhelmed by the things I should be writing here.

Instead of trying to fill you in on what life has been like in Korea for the past 4 months, I have decided to give myself a challenge of sorts.  I'm going to try to post a picture/post at least once a week.  I don't take pictures of everyday life very often, but I think some of these things are the most interesting. They have become normal to me, but I know they definitely aren't to those of you who have never been to Korea, or Asia in general.

Without further ado.....

There is a lovely market just a few blocks from my apartment. It is full of little shops selling anything from fingernail polish to matching lingerie (for another post).  The majority of stands sell fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish.  It does take a few times of going to the market to get used to the pungent smell of fish, both live and dead, but by now I don't even notice it.

What struck me the most about having a large fresh food market this close to my apartment was how normal it is for Koreans to shop in this way. In the States, there is a large movement towards buying local.  After working at the Farms, the reality of where we get our food from and how much better it can be when grown locally really came to the forefront of my thoughts.  Many times, however, it is not easy to get good quality local produce, meat, or dairy for an affordable price. 

I have to say, I love this aspect of Korea.  The produce is local, it's much cheaper than in the grocery store, and it has so far always been good quality.  It is only a short walk from my apartment, and I get good practice with my extremely limited Korean skills. Everyone wins! Especially the ajosshi that I always buy potatoes from.

who needs to shop?

This week has been a fun one at school. Anyone who has been in any form of education knows that "fun" usually means- fun for the kids, but sometimes a headache for the teachers.  Alas, it is part of the territory.

We had our Birthday Party Day on Tuesday.  The school chooses one day a month to celebrate the birthdays from that month.  We go to the play room, sing Happy Birthday, take pictures, and then go back to our rooms for lunch.  Usually it is soup and rice, but on Birthday Party Day the school buys pizza and chicken for the students followed by a dessert of chocolate cake.  I also got to order something special, so I had dumpling soup. Can you say delicious?

This all sounds fantastic, but it means the kiddos had alot to eat, and we are expected to make them finish what is on their plate.  For kids who are about 5 and 6 or younger (western age) this is a daunting task, and it takes a bit of coaxing and, well, teacher sometimes doesn't get a lot of time to eat. :)

Today was field trip day.  We take the kiddos on a field trip once a month.  Any teacher who has been on a field trip knows field trip days consist of a lot of counting/herding the students.  Really, it was a fairly stress free field trip day in comparison to some I have seen (especially from the other end-that of an interpreter).

It didn't seem like the kids loved it too much, and I truly felt sorry for our tour guide at the museum.  I know how hard it is to keep the attention of kids that age and bring things down to their level.  All she had was paintings! At least at the Farms you could resort to "Who wants to pet the horses?!?!"

Unfortunately for me, I left the house this morning without any form of caffeine in my system.  Ugh.  Also didn't have time to drink any coffee once I got to school.  I might have had a slight headache by about 2 PM when the kindies were gearing up to leave.  However, there is an extreme bright side to teaching kindies- and Korean kindies at that.

The loot.

I get stuff all the time! This was all from today! Not to mention our head teacher went and bought us ice creams very similar to crunch cones. It was a good day.

Kelly, one of my adorable kindies, brought me the grape juice in the morning.  After lunch time I went into the teacher's room and had the Starbucks Frappuccino on my desk. How did they know I needed that?! By the end of the day when I was ready to leave I had received a bottle of orange juice and a bottle of liquid Vitamin C.

Yes, liquid Vitamin C.  Sometimes it is random things that they bring you--but it is the thought nonetheless.  So far, in addition to today's loot, I have received two bottles of orange juice, gum, and chocolates.  I love when they bring me chocolates!

The first time a student set a bottle of orange juice on my desk I gave it back to him and said "Here, you left this on my desk!"

"No, for Teacher!"

The best part? I was coming down with a cold--it was perfect timing.  Amazing.

The time I got chocolates? I was starving and had been having a very long day.  These Korean kiddos are mind readers, I tell you. 

It sure does make a teacher feel appreciated.  Not to mention that since I have started using a straightener on my hair every day and they see my blonde hair, all I hear is "Teacher you so pretty!" "Cute Teacher!"

I could get used to this.

adventures in a Korean hospital

Part of living and working in Korea (and really, any foreign country), is obtaining an Alien Registration Card.  In order to do so, the government requires that you have a medical examination done in country after you arrive.  On Tuesday, the Assistant Director from my school took the other new teacher and I to have our medical exam completed.  What ensued can only be described as awkward, unintentionally hilarious, and... interesting.

We went at 11:00, only to find the hospital full of people.  The first floor was packed with people that had what appeared to be a range of issues.  Think emergency waiting room in the states-- it wasn't much different.  Thankfully, we were headed up to the 3rd floor.

Luckily (or at least I thought) the assistant director was accompanying us the whole time to serve as a translator when needed. He took a number to wait in line and speak to the woman at the counter.  There was a bit of a line as students who will be starting back to public school need to get physicals.  AD told us to take a seat and wait, so we did.

Since the airport incident with the call-taxi driver, I just don't ask questions when told to sit and wait. 

When our number was finally called, AD went to talk to the lady. He had copies of our passport and passport photos.  I have no idea what they had to take care of-- probably just normal hospital paperwork.  Eventually they called us over. Right there at the desk we took a color blindness test. Color blindness tests appear to be the same around the world.  Then, sit and wait.

At this point AD disappeared (remember- our only translation), and a Korean woman in a red cross vest came and shooed us into this room a little bigger than a closet, gave us a scrub top (or close to one), motioned for us to change and put our things in the locker, and left.

Um, excuse me. What? Why am I taking my top off?  Am I just taking my shirt off here....or? Oh good, more girls just keep walking in the door.  Modesty, out the window.


We get changed- undergarments intact- and walk out to find out what we are doing next.  Thankfully (or so I thought) AD is back and says, "You get X-ray."  Um....x-ray. So, that means....do we have to... "So, we need to take off our bras?"  Cue awkward head nod.  Cue a that-was-extremely-awkward laugh session back in the a little bit bigger than a closet changing room.

Language barrier for the win!

I went second into the x-ray room. I saw the footprints taped to the floor, so that made it easy enough to know where to stand. I stood up against the x-ray machine and the Korean nurse came, put my arms in the appropriate place (wrapped around the machine), and proceeded to push my entire upper body against the machine. A few times. Ok, I survived. Not terribly awkward.  Time to change in the a little bit bigger than a closet changing room.

Next it was into a small room next to the changing closet.  The woman behind the desk (yes, desk) was drawing blood from a young boy, so we were told to sit and wait. Again.

It's a theme.

When the nurse was finished drawing blood I went and sat down, expecting to get my blood drawn as well. Instead she retrieved a cup, put a label with my name on it, and started speaking to AD in Korean.  I knew that I was meant to pee in the cup, and I could tell she was trying to ask AD to tell us what to do (and where to fill the cup to).  He seemed beyond uncomfortable and eventually resorted to telling her (I gathered) to ask us on her own in her very best 2-word English vocabulary.  She pointed to a line on the cup, I nodded, and went across the hall to the bathroom.  AD followed me out of the room and said "You put here," pointing at a carton sitting on top of the trash can.

Lovely! Sanitary.

Disclaimer: the next part is about pee, so a little bit too much information. If you don't want to read it, totally understandable.

This part did not go all that smoothly.  Some of you who know me well, probably think I pee more than anyone you have ever met.  This is undeniably true.  Unfortunately, AD had told me not to eat breakfast on Tuesday and I had asked if it was OK to drink water.  He said "Um, no. Maybe- 1 cup."  Regrettably, I listened.  The nurse looked APPALLED at how little I had filled the cup.  She proceeded to take the cup, pour it into a vile, and walk out-- all with her bare hands. No gloves.

Lovely! Sanitary.

Meanwhile, I am scrubbing my hands in the sink with the bar soap (not pump soap) that is common in Korean bathrooms. Back to the room next to the changing closet and 3 viles of blood are drawn.  The nurse was quite accomplished- I didn't feel a thing when she inserted that needle. Impressive.

I am told (through AD) that I need to come back after we are finished upstairs.

Is there a water fountain somewhere? Thanks, I'll just chug a few (read: 7) cups of water while we wait on the 5th floor. Just so I don't disappoint you again, nurse.

Up to the 5th floor we went.  The next stop started out like an average physical.  Height and weight measurements. No big deal.  When I stepped off the scale, the nurse mimed for me to raise my arms.  The way you do when your someone is taking your measurements for clothing.

Um...ok.  Not sure why...oh, there she is! Taking my bust measurement. ? So to tally it up that is height, weight and bust. Now, on to an eyesight check, hearing check, and blood pressure check.

All the while I am thinking, why- in the name of all that is good and holy- does the Korean government need to know my BREAST SIZE? What are they doing with this information? Seriously? I'm still astounded.  And only slightly less (maybe more?) weirded out by it because all of the female foreign teachers at my school said they had their bust measured as well.

After we were finished, AD told us to sit and wait again.

I told you, it's a theme.

A Korean nurse came and told us (in broken English) we would go in and talk to the doctor next.  AD was not around, and she made it sound like we were to go in on our own.  This led me to believe the doctor spoke a relative amount of English.

After waiting, waiting, and more waiting, until almost every Korean in the room had went in to see the doctor before us, the waegukin ("foreigner" in Korean) were helped.

I walked into the room, the doctor looked up and immediately asked "You speak Korean?" I smile, because it is the best I can do, put my hands up in an X (because that is what Koreans do when they say no) and he gives a nervous laugh and says "I don't speak English."

Fantastic! Language barrier again.

He looks down at the sheet with all of my information, reads some things in Hangul, and gives another nervous laugh.  This poor, young doctor. He was trying so hard! He thought for a while, I gave him an encouraging smile (like I do to my students when they are struggling to remember the English word for something) and he manages to say, "Health problems?"

Very broad question doctor, but I'm going to go with...no.

The process is repeated until he asks, "Drugs?"

At this point, I'm not sure if he means prescription or illicit, but either way...no.

He wouldn't understand if I asked anyways.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  "Skin problems?"

I giggle a little....no. What does that even mean? Do I have eczema?  It's ok. He laughed, too. Laughter for the win!

He sits for a while, reading over the list again.  Thinks (I can tell he is trying), and again asks "Drugs?"

I thought we covered this, but, again...no.

He looks surprised. No?! No, doctor, no drugs.

"You drink?"  Oh boy, here we go.  I try to explain the amount I drink.  I think he gets it.  "Type?"  Ahh, this I know.  I can say "beer" in Korean. Perfect.  He smiles.  Ah, we understand each other. Finally.

He marks my sheet, gives it to me, I use my limited Korean- Anyeonghi gyeseyo (goodbye) and kamsahamnida (thank you)- and leave.

I sit down, wait for the other teacher to get done, and make small talk with AD while we wait.  The doctor follows the other teacher out, sees AD, and says something to him.  He is smiling again.  Turns out he said something like "Oh! You were here the whole time." Meaning, you could have made our lives all much easier.

Seeing as I did not impress the nurse on the 3rd floor earlier, we had to go back so I could relieve myself.  After those 7 cups of water I felt up to it.  Seriously, it is best to just not have any reservations at this point.  AD drops us both off at the 3rd floor.  The nurse is gone, so I just go get my cup.  As I'm headed into the restroom AD says "I get car.  You complete final mission, meet me floor 1. First, final mission."

He gets on the elevator and laughter ensues. AD was so uncomfortable.  My final mission?! Is this a video game? A reality TV show? What do I win if I complete it successfully?

Language barrier.  You win again.

The day ended with lunch at McDonalds.  More small talk with AD.  Learned that his father fled North Korea during the war, left a wife and son behind, remarried, and lived to the ripe age of 80 years old.  All over a Big Mac and fries.

We'll just look past the past 2 hours of awkward bra questions, pee handling, and bust measurements. 

Perfectly normal day in Korea.

so, it's been a while...

Whoops! I have been slacking on the blog.  I have plenty to blog about, but that is the problem. Every time I sit down to write a blog so much goes through my mind that I get overwhelmed.  I was going to continue blogging about my first week here and the Korean War Memorial.  I loved the museum, got a great impromptu tour from a volunteer, and even got in for free!  I feel like there is almost too much to say about the museum, though.  I'll save that one for a later date.

I finished my first week of teaching those adorable kindies.  It went well.  After I got settled in and used to the routine, I felt very comfortable.  There is definitely still room for improvement, but there always is in my book. 

Things I have discovered so far:

• the subway is easier to use than I thought it would be
• Korean banks don't open until 9 AM (quite inconvenient)- but Korean construction workers don't mind shattering glass at the apartment right next door they are renovating at 7AM
• every single side dish (called panchan) served at restaurants is pickled
• plastic surgery is ridiculously rampant in Korea- strange plastic surgery, like shrinking your face size
• consequently, if you are told you have a small face, it's a compliment
• the trash system is kind of complicated at first
• my Korean washing machine sings when it is done
• Uzbeki food is so. incredibly. delicious.
• I'm pretty sure a Korean man took a piece of stray hair off of my back and saved it in the street market the other day- the joys of being blonde in Korea
• it is not a compliment if you're asked if you're Russian- again, the joys of being a blonde in Korea
• butter and cheese are expensive here- and I love butter, and cheese

I'm sure there are many more, but for now that is all that came to mind. 

We've had a nice three day weekend for Korean Independence Day, and tomorrow it is back to work.  I am finally getting my health check tomorrow, which is needed to get my Alien Registration Card.  With my ARC I can open a bank account and get a cell phone! It has been strange to not have a phone. It definitely makes a person feel isolated.  The bank account is also needed, as I will need to transfer money back home when I get paid and can't do that easily without a bank account. So bonus for that! Hopefully it all goes smoothly. 

The next post should be sooner, as I recount all that is a health check at a Korean hospital.  I can't make any promises though!

Anyeong!

Namsangol Hanok Village (Monday)

On Saturday, one of the teachers who is leaving volunteered to let us tag along with her as she had some errands to run in Seoul.  My first time on the Seoul Subway system! Everything on the subway is in Hangul (written form of Korean) and English, so it is really quite easy to navigate--- given that you can read a map.

Sunday morning, I finally got into my apartment and settled in a bit (ha...ha). Actually I didn't do much unpacking at all, I mostly just vegged out.  It was a very Scarlet O'Hara day...and I decided I would worry about unpacking tomorrow.

Fiddle-dee-dee! Tomorrow came and instead I decided that I felt comfortable enough to venture out on the Subway on my own.  I invited another teacher whose email I had gotten, and she said she would like to come along.  We took a trip to Namsangol Hanok Village, as it was one of the only places on my list that was open on Mondays AND it was free admission! You can't beat free.

The village is a collection of five hanok houses (traditional Korean style houses) that have been moved from various locations throughout Seoul in order to preserve them and display Korea's architectural heritage.  In a way, the mission reminded me of Living History Farms (except there weren't any interpreters walking around in hanboks-- traditional Korean women's dress).

Before we entered that portion of the museum there was a man weaving various different items out of rice straw. Quite impressive.

Among my favorites of the items being woven (and reminiscent of my time at the Farms):

Korean chicken coop! A basket woven from rice straw for a chicken to lay in.

Korean egg collector! These were in all of the homes as well-- hanging in what I assumed were the kitchens (pictures of those later).

Korean whisk broom!  The best part is, my neighbors have a larger one of these sitting outside their apartment. I have also seen them being used in various restaurants. 







 Hanok style homes, from what I gathered typically had multiple different buildings.  All of the homes that were at this place were not complete. Many had just two rooms, when the information said they originally had five.  This hanok was built and lived in by a carpenter who helped to rebuild Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul from 1865-1868.

You can imagine, working for the government and rebuilding the palace, this man had a decent amount of won laying around.  The only surviving structures of this home are two buildings and a main gate.  It originally, however, had EIGHT.  Without having a great understanding of Korean homes, it seems that each building had a different purpose.  One for sleeping, one for dining, one for cooking, etc.  Not too much different than American homes of the same time period, only these are broken up into different quarters all together.

All five of the hanoks at the museum were meant to show different social status of the individuals who resided in them.  Without the entire home there, it was sometimes hard to tell.  However, one of the best ways to tell was that those who were extremely upper class were those who had things like shrine rooms, such as this home built by an Emperor for his daughter-in-law:

Throughout the visit there were various things that caught my eye because they were either very interesting/different, or because I have this strange interest in domestic lifestyles after working at the Farms. Some examples:

Korean kitchen, circa 1890. Notice where the fire is stoked!  Also the lovely garlic hanging at the front of the photo.

Crocks for pickling cabbage (or pickling anything, really)...aka making Kimchi.

My personal favorite from the day.  This machine had a sign that said "Treadmill." What? Exercise? So I broke it down and thought like a Korean writing something in English.  It is a mill. The part on the end is like a mortar and pestle. Tread? Ahh, treadle power! You most definitely stand on the end of the machine and sort of bounce up and down to grind whatever (presumably rice) is in the pestle.  Treadmill.

This is here because I saw multiple ones and cannot decide what it is.  It looked like some sort of spinning wheel, but then it didn't.  None of them had signs with names that I could google, either. Input?

This game also did not have a sign giving a name, but this man was quite good.  You spin what looks like a large top and then use the pole with a whip to keep it spinning. 







All in all I really enjoyed the museum.  It was a nice first trip into Seoul to get a piece of Korean culture.  What I enjoyed most is seeing the comparison between Victorian era Iowa and Joseon Dynasty Korea.  All of the homes fell into the same range of times that LHF covers.  Quite a difference, yet at the same time I was able to see many similarities as well.

Next up: Tuesday's visit to the Korean War Memorial.

expatriated

Where to begin? Such a whirlwind it has been and it hasn't yet been a week since I got to Korea.  The flight went smoothly, aside from watching my 4th Amendment rights being violated at the Amarillo International Airport. Ugh. William, however, made it through security unscathed.

The flight from DFW- Seoul was about 14 1/2 hours. Quite long, but it was much better than navigating multiple stops along the way.  The flight crew on my Korean Air flight were amazing as well.  Not to mention they had an entire movie library to pick from and your own personal TV screen so you could just choose whatever you wanted to watch.  The first thing I watched was an episode of FRIENDS.  As usual, I laughed so hard I nearly cried...I'm sure I was thought to be mentally unstable.

On the flight I had my first opportunity to try bibimbap, a Korean dish that is basically rice, vegetables, and sometimes meat all mixed together.  It does not, however, come made like that.  Thankfully I had a wonderful girl sitting next to me that spoke perfect English and asked "Do you know how to eat it?"  I must have had a certain look in my eyes.  She was nice enough to show me how, but the best part is the flight attendant gave me a hand out with directions! Too funny.

The dish was delicious, and also my first contact with the red pepper paste that Koreans put in nearly everything.  Good thing I like spicy because it certainly was.

When I arrived in Incheon, everything went smoothly.  I knew there was someone who would be waiting to pick me up, and he was easily spotted.  He also spoke basically zero English. I also knew I would have to wait about an hour for the other new teacher to arrive. I arrived at gate A and we had to move down to gate E to pick her up.  We had an hour, but the driver insisted on taking my luggage cart, running, and running in to almost every single person along the way.

This was instance number one that I knew my having been to China prior to this would help with my culture shock.  Being pushy and not really caring that you run/bump into other people is just part of their culture.  I'll never forget my sister's advice about just pushing my way onto the Subway to get a seat.  It comes in handy here as well.

So I got to gate E and the driver points to the bench, mimes "1 hour," and says "sit."  I had been sitting for 14 1/2 hours and really just wanted to stand but there was no way to communicate that and he was insisting.  So, I sat.  And he....ran away.  I didn't see him again until 15 minutes before the other teacher arrived.  Where did he go? To move the car? To have dinner? I don't know.

Language barrier.

There was a foreigner sitting behind me and he asked where I was headed, so we chatted a little.  He was trying to be helpful, but he just seemed bitter about living in Korea so he was not all that pleasant to talk to.  He told me he had been to China and that the driving here was much worse.  I have to tell you, so far I have felt much more safe in cars here in Korea than I did in China.  I am not sure if it is because, again, I knew to expect crazy driving in Korea and did not in China, or if it is truly better.  I think he was just a nut job.

It took about an hour to get to the school.  All the while the other teacher and I had no idea where we were going or what the plan was.  Once we got there, however, I felt quite welcomed.  The director speaks almost no English, but was very nice.  The Assistant Director does speak English and he is very sweet.  They took our luggage and stored it in Director's office.  We loaded up our carry-on luggage to take to the hotel we would stay at until our apartments were ready and then were informed we were being taken out to eat by one of the morning teachers.


It was really nice to have someone to take us around a bit, and let us get our feet on the ground before starting training the next day.  She was very nice and understood how exhausted and overwhelmed we must have been.

In the next couple of days (Thursday and Friday) I shadowed the teacher that I was replacing and met my students.  They are adorable!  Koreans count age differently than we do in the western world, so while my students are mostly 6 and 7 Korean age, they are really about 4 or 5 Western age.  They all take Western names when they start Kindergarten (if they don't already have them), and I'm not quite sure why this is.  One of my girls has the same name as my mom and the another the same name as my sister (even spelled the same!).  Quite funny.

So that was the end of my first few days.  Now it is on to a week of vacation before we start back to school.  I have been exploring the city and learning quite a bit about Korea, but that is for future posts. For now, I am exhausted from a day full of walking, walking, walking!

P.S. William is just loving the inside of my new apartment.  He's such a bum-- can't even organize for me! Pictures will follow once my kitchen is clean.

brown corn...and pig companions

Last day at LHF was last Monday.  Since then I have been spending my time here:

The Texas Panhandle.  Sun. Heat. Oil. Drought. Brown corn.

It sure does make an Iowan like me appreciate the beautiful, lush, green corn growing in the fields in the Midwest. Oh how the brown corn in the fields makes me cringe.

One benefit to sun and heat is that I got to spend an entire day at my friend's pool and get rid of my 19th Century-white skin. I loved my job at LHF, but it did nothing for my tan. 

My travel companion, William, made the 10 hour drive down from Iowa just fine.  He doesn't like the brown corn, either. Once we got about half way through Kansas he started to get depressed.

He sure is excited for the plane ride, though! Just over one full day left before it is time to get on the plane.  It is hard to believe that in a little over 48 hours I will be in Korea, embarking on the next part of my journey.

My packing is done, for the most part.  I do have laundry to do, and need to finish packing my carry-on.  That is more last-minute, however.   If I have forgotten anything, then it must mean I can live without it.  I hope.

Cheers to my last 48 hours in the U.S!

steps in the right direction

Another item for the list:

I will miss watching thunderstorms develop.

I got my flight info a couple of days ago.  Flying out of such a small airport, you never know how many layovers you will have to endure.  I was pleased to see that I fly into Dallas-Fort Worth, have about a 3 hour layover, and then a direct flight on Korean Air to Incheon International Airport.  Flight reservations means one step closer to taking the plunge!

Today, I received my actual visa back in the mail from the Korean Consulate in Chicago.  Also a huge relief! Everything seems to have been taking longer than I expected, so this is a great burden lifted.  Should be smooth sailing from here! (ha...ha)

I spent today with a few good friends from college at Adventureland.  It was a fun day, and my friend won a stuffed pig for me.  I named him William, and plan on taking him to Korea with me.  I have to stay connected to my Iowa roots, and (aside from sweet corn) what better connection is there than swine?  Who knows, you might see and hear a bit more about William on the blog in the future...I have plans.

In the midst of all of these goodbyes, all I can say is I am so thankful to be living in the age of technology.  Communication is instant! Can you imagine being a pioneer and moving across the country and sometimes going a year without so much as a letter from family members?  Many times it took months and months to learn a family member had passed away.  It is nice sometimes to step back and realize how far we have come and how much we take for granted!

Back to work tomorrow. It is the start of my last week at LHF.  It is definitely bittersweet.

a list

...of things I will miss:

family
sweet corn
fields full of corn and soy beans
fountain pop
weekly...sometimes bi-weekly phone dates with friends
understanding conversation around me
my job
crappy TV shows
good TV shows
drinks and good conversation with good friends
ease of finding peacefulness
bonfires

...of things I will not miss

car problems
understanding conversation around me (it truly is a double edged sword)
driving everywhere
crappy TV shows
being asked daily if I am hot at work

This list is sure to be added to, and maybe even subtracted from.  I know there have been things I have thought of in the moment that escape me now.  I wonder what other people's lists would look like?

it's july....?

First off, I cannot believe that it is July 4th weekend.

One of my favorite holidays, and even more so since working at Living History Farms.  It is such a fun holiday to work and share the history of the event and how it was celebrated in the 19th Century.  In the 1870s, it was one of the most popular holidays.  I can't wait to try my hand at the tri-colored National Day cake and support the Women's Suffrage movement in the parade. Who can say they've done that? I mean, really??

Over the weekend of the 17-20, I spent some time with family in Texas.  It was nice to see siblings and nieces and nephews.  When we got back to Iowa I was pleasantly surprised to find my Apostille from the U.S. State Department.  They said it would take 15 days and it took a month. The best (read:: most frustrating) part was that I had emailed the day before we left for Texas asking about it.  It was dated the exact day I emailed. Which means it sat on someone's desk until I emailed to complain about how long it was taking.

Leave it to the feds to not care about pleasing the American people.

But, regardless of how long it took, my documents are now in Korean Immigration.  I should have a visa issuance number in 8-10 days, and then my plane ticket should be purchased.  It should take about 4-5 days to get my actual visa from the Korean consulate, if I FedEx all of my documents to them.  It still makes me nervous, but no one else seems to be.  I take solace in that.

I told my job today.  It was not fun. At all.  However, they were all very supportive.  Regardless of how much of a bind my leaving early leaves them in.  I do love the people I work with, and I love my job.  I just have to take this opportunity at this time in my life. 

My two summers at the museum has really hooked me.  I feel like it's in my blood.  To the point that I'm not sure if I'll try and go back to the classroom after Korea.  Museum work and Educational Planning for museums is something that has really started to pull at me.  I think it would be a job that I could love forever. 

That is the future, however, and this is now.  The good Lord knows how fast things change. Especially, it seems, in my life.  That's why I love it.

I'll be leaving Iowa on the 19th to make a stop and spend a week with my parents in Texas.  Not to mention seeing a few friends that I have missed dearly since I left for college.  It will be a bittersweet (and busy) next few weeks. 

"You have to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was." ---Abraham Lincoln

update

I was excited to get home from work on Monday and discover that I had received my FBI Criminal Record Check in the mail.  The results were not surprising: No Arrest Record.  If it had come back differently, I would have been a bit surprised, seeing as how I've never seen the inside of a jail cell in my life (I'm in the minority on this one when it comes to my siblings, scarily enough). 

I emailed my recruiter a scanned image of the CRC, as he had requested.  He wanted to ensure that it had been authenticated correctly before I mailed it off to the U.S. Department of State to have it apostilled. Thankfully, all was well.  I mailed it off yesterday afternoon, and hopefully in about 2 weeks I should have it back.  The website says it takes about 15 days to complete. 

My recruiter then asked if I had an apostilled copy of my college diploma, which I completed a couple weeks ago.  Turns out my employer is hoping to have my documents in Korea on June 2nd to begin the visa process. I'm not so sure that timeline is going to work out. 

I'm a bit frustrated by it, seeing as how I have gotten this process started as fast as I could have and it is entirely out of my hands.  The government works at the pace the government wants to work at.  So, hopefully it won't be too much later than the 2nd of June, and hopefully the director of my school can take a chill pill already. 

That is where things stand in the Korea department. I feel like it is moving quite slowly, but I know it will speed up here in the near future and I will be boarding a plane in no time.

On a much more domestic note, the season at LHF is well under way and I could not be more excited! We have had some not-so-great weather (read: very cool) to start off with, but I think spring is finally here.  Yesterday, it actually felt like summer. We had record highs all over Iowa.  Des Moines reported a high of 96 degrees.  For those of you familiar with the Midwest, this inevitably means storms are right around the corner, which we had today and are in the forecast for tomorrow.  Seeing as how I planted much of the vegetable garden on Monday, this is welcome rain.  If it sticks around much longer, though, I will be reneging  that statement.

I am really enjoying being back.  I love historical interpretation, and I love being able to get my hands dirty with gardening, cooking, taking care of the chickens, etc.  Speaking of chickens, we have a broody chicken.  We're not sure if she has a fertilized egg or not (I know that sounds silly, but she was around roosters for a while, so it's possible even though we don't have one at our house).  If, in the course of about 20 days, she hatches a chick I will be sure to post pictures.  Right now all we've got is a robin's nest on the back of the chicken coop and one hatched baby robin. 

Such and exciting life I lead!  I'm glad it is mostly family that reads this, as anyone else would think I was a loony bin for being so excited about this sort of thing.  You all might think so, but you are forced to love my anyways! At least there are no pictures to prove my nerdiness to the general public.  My period appropriate clothing would make it all the worse...!

breakfast taco capital of the world

So technically, Austin is the "Live Music Capital of the World."  However, the extent of the live music I experienced while there was limited to the one night we were on 6th St and walked by a bar that had a band playing.

But the breakfast tacos...those I devoured.   Three times while I was there, and at least three tacos each time.  There is nothing to them- eggs, bacon, refried beans, salsa, tortilla, an avocado if you wish (and I do wish).  But let me tell you, combine those tacos with about three cups of coffee and you will not be hungry again until close to 3:00 in the afternoon.

I miss them.

I am going to try and make some of my own.  The key is, I believe, to cook the eggs and bacon separate until almost done and then combine into one skillet. This adds a delicious flavor to the eggs. As with any taco/burrito/enchilada, however, the tortilla is key.  This is where my taco will always be sub-par to the tacos at Arrandas in Austin--- I simply cannot make delicious tortillas (or I at least have never tried and seriously doubt my abilities).  As with any good, authentic Tex-Mex place, you can substitute any meat; really- sausage, tongue, etc.

At this point you might be thinking: did this woman eat her way through Austin?

Frankly, the answer is no. And at the same time, yes.

But isn't the food the best part about going anywhere?

Certain readers of this blog will be quite proud of one dining experience in particular.  I ate sushi. Real, raw, in your face fish.  The most surprising part?   It was yummy. Delicious.


We at at a ritzy sushi place on South Lamar in Austin.  By ritzy, I mean our bill came out to around $160 per person (there were 4 of us).  Let me tell you, I never-  in my wildest dreams- thought I would pay that much for a meal.  Thank the good Lord I didn't have to.  The friend that I went to visit works for a start up company that creates software for the restaurant industry (they do something with scheduling, labor management, yada yada).  Needless to say, she's made quite the impact and won the CEO Employee of the Month award and they gave her $120 (or near there) in gift cards to this place, a client of theirs.  SCORE!

She is a wimp about trying new things- especially when they "look weird." You can imagine, sushi "looks weird." So I told her we should go because I really wanted to try sushi. The last time I was offered it I was 18 years old and visiting my sister in China.  I turned it down.  I shouldn't have.  I have broadened my horizons, and good Lord I am so grateful I did.

We had two experienced sushi eaters with us, which was a bonus.  Otherwise we would have both stared at the menu and just told the waiter to bring us some "stuff" that didn't feel "slimy" when you ate it. 

My favorite was a ceviche-inspired dish with salmon, striped bass, tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, garlic, and cilantro.  It tasted like a fresh garden in your mouth. Yum. Also the tuna with apple slices and goat cheese.  Mmmm.

The not-so-favorite was a scallop, avocado, and rice wrapped in seaweed.  The flavor? I didn't mind it.  However, I made the mistake of waiting for my friend to eat hers.  Needless to say, she buried her face in her hands and fought the gag reflex.  Barely.  As I put the sushi into my mouth she says, "It's just so slimy I couldn't take it!"  Ummm.....not the best time for the word "slimy" to be thrown around.

I'm a total texture person when it comes to food. I'm not crazy about cucumbers because I don't like the way they crunch in my mouth.  This scallop---wow, slimy heaven it was.  In the end, I got it down. Although I can't say I would order anything similar to it in the future. 

Just to prove this trip was not all about food , we also:

Went to see the Round Rock Express play a game of baseball (AAA team equal to the I-Cubs). They played the Omaha Storm Chasers (former Royals).  Great game, the Express came back to win it in the bottom of the 8th after a close game.  Don't worry, I was cheering for my former home.

Shopped the outlet malls in San Marcos. Great deals, came away with quite a bit of stuff, but not too much :).

Went to the UT- Texas Tech baseball game. (Are you sensing a theme in this department, too?) Texas has no offense, so it was a slow game.  One benefit, however, is that it was at 2:00 in the afternoon and I got some amazing sun and a sunburn to show for it.  This was much appreciated after coming back to Iowa and rain and forty-five flipping degrees!!!

Went on a walking historical tour of some beautiful Victorian-era homes in Downtown Austin.  It wasn't the tour I originally wanted to go on, but the Visitor's Center didn't have any pamphlets for the other one. FAIL, Austin Visitor's Center.  It was a nice walk, however, and the homes were gorgeous.  The history nerd in me loved seeing the comparison between 19th Century homes in Texas vs. Iowa.

Went Downtown Austin one night and made a bad decision.  No, I didn't drink too much. We took a pedicab ride from hell. Word to the wise: DON'T TAKE A FREE PEDICAB RIDE WHEN OFFERED!!!

RoadKill Pedicab

We were walking to a completely different end of the street and one of these contraptions asked us if we wanted a ride. We declined---we're fully capable of walking (even in heels).  Then, the ride became free.  I don't know what we were thinking, but we said yes. People ride these things all the time, right? Must be OK.

Sure, until we realize our driver looks like he has been hit by a car! About 1/4 of the way through the ride my friend is grabbing my leg, then my arm, then freaking out. I am laughing hysterically- both at her reaction and in general about the situation.  I am convinced by this time that the driver has been at the Bob Marley fest that was happening in Austin that day.  However, he did not partake in your typical illicit drug of choice at such festivals (AKA mary jane). No, no. Our scary/creepy/deathpedicabdriver must have been on something similar to speed.  He was swerving- for no reason- super energetic, and since I failed to turn around and see if we were about to be hit (I just assumed play ignorant than know the truth) I cannot be sure but I am about 99% certain that we almost got hit by a few moving vehicles. 

I repeat- do not take free pedicab rides.

I am the type of person to just laugh in situations like this.  It does very little to be scared out of my mind.  I was already in the pedicab and he was going so fast I think it would have been unsafe to stop. My friend was freaking out beside me, not sure what to do except for reach over and grab me every time he swerved again.  I was dying of laughter and he kept turning around to talk to me while almost running into parked cars.

Definitely a memory to take with me to Korea.  I only wish there was video evidence that this event really took place.

All in all, a fantastic weekend.  My two best friends from high school drove up on Sunday for lunch, which was awesome. I'm not sure if I'll see them again before I leave.  I got to soak up the sunshine, get some color, and enjoy great company.  I have come back to life as a librarian for the week and disgusting Iowa spring weather.

Such is life.

P.S. Sorry about the pedicab story, Mom.

where was the voice of reason?

I started packing for Austin this afternoon (my happy self has to get up and be at the Des Moines airport at 5:00 AM in the morning for a 6:00 AM flight) and couldn't find any shorts.  I knew they had to be in a Tupperware container, so I started rummaging.  I am here tonight to announce to the world:

I have a major hooded sweatshirt, zip up sweatshirt, and sweatpants problem.

I have an entire Tupperware container FULL of hooded sweatshirts, zip up sweatshirts, and sweatpants.  At this point I would like to do the responsible thing......and blame my mom.  Where was your voice of reason when you and dad helped me move out of the "lovely" apartment on Walnut St?? We even made a trip to Goodwill to donate clothes! You should have said "Daughter, for goodness sake give away some of these sweatshirts! You live in IOWA not ANTARCTICA!" 

I really could not believe it. Since I will be moving to Korea for a year and only taking 2 bags (max), clearly I need to cut down my wardrobe tremendously.  The first thing to go will be this insane amount of sweatshirts.  Prepare yourself, Goodwill! I have decided to keep my sweatshirt from high school softball. We weathered 4 seasons together, and I just can't part with it.  I also have 2 crew neck sweatshirts I love. A UNI one (my Alma Mater) and an Iowa one (Hawkeye fan at heart).  I want to take both, but it will come down to if I have room. I know I don't need both of them, so I know I will have to leave one behind eventually.

SEE! I HAVE A PROBLEM! It's just a sweatshirt!!

There are a lot of other clothes that I found that need to be donated, as well. Still in great shape, but I either don't like them anymore or they don't fit the way I want them to (read: shorts that are way too short and I just can't see myself wearing them anymore)<------- More like, I can't believe I ever wore them. Yet again, where was the voice of reason?

Looks like I will be doing a bit of spring cleaning when I get back from Austin!  No need to leave things sitting in my brother's basement or my parent's shed for a year when I know I won't want/need them when I get back.

Speaking of which, I have a microwave for sale.  And, eventually, a twin sized mattress and box spring.  Probably a car, too, if I can get any money out of the old girl. 

Out with the old, in with the NEW!

**I don't really blame my mom. In her defense, I had all of my clothes packed by the time they came to help me pack up. 

***I also know I'm a big girl. And I probably wouldn't have  listened to my mom if she had said that to me.

****For the record, I love my mom.

spring is in the air

Government shutdown averted, at least until Thursday.  I'm not putting much stock in the government that they will actually agree on the budget deal they said they agreed upon.  Just the pessimist in me, I suppose.

It is finally starting to feel like spring here in the beautiful Midwest.  What does spring feel like, you might ask? 

• It has been in the mid seventies the past two days.
• I got to see my niece score 2 goals in her soccer game yesterday (she is getting better with every game!).
• 8&Under Tournament team softball practice today.
• 10&Under League softball practice on Wednesday night.

.......but the most telling sign that it is spring in the Midwest:

• Tornado outbreak forecast for this afternoon.

I love this time of year.  My ankles were covered in dirt from demonstrating how to shuffle your feet to field a grounder, some of the 8 year olds were whining about how tired they were, and the weather is gorgeous enough to produce severe weather.  Can't ask for much more then that!

Not to mention, college softball is on TV right now.  It definitely makes me miss the competition and the thrill of having the bases loaded with two outs and pitching my way out of the inning, scoreless.  Just part of growing up and being washed up, I guess.  On the bright side, I've been working with my niece on pitching when we have time and her fundamentals are really coming along.  So much fun to see!

I will definitely miss the opportunity to see my nieces and nephews all of the time, especially the 3 little girls I am currently living with.  There are always benefits and drawbacks to every decision, and that is definitely the biggest downside to the decision to move abroad.

Sometimes, though, you have to be selfish, and that is what I am doing with this decision.  I am looking out for me, myself, and I.  This is what is best for me, right now.  If I don't take this chance, I will regret it. 

I start at LHF on April 26, and the season opens on the 30th.  I can't wait to go back and get the season under way.  It will definitely help the summer to pass quickly.  I am anxious to see family this summer, and some friends whom  I will miss dearly.  At the same time, I am anxious to leave.  Although I have learned that wishing time away is never advisable. 

Happy 38th Birthday, brother. Can't wait to share a cold one together someday. 

of government and criminals

It used to be really easy to get a visa and just hop on a plane to move to Korea and teach English.  They have, very recently, made it a bit more difficult to obtain an E-2 visa.  Impossible? Absolutely not.  A bit more time consuming? You bet.

Part of the process is to obtain a current FBI Criminal Record Check.  This record check must be apostilled (basically a stamp that is recognized internationally, ensuring the document is original).  Now, while I also have to have a copy of my diploma apostilled, this is easy. I simply have a notary (found at a local bank- and an old family friend, which helped) copy and stamp the diploma. Then, I take it to the Secretary of State office in the state capital and have them apostille it for a measly $5 USD. Simple enough.

Most states, mine included, will not apostille a Federal document.  That means that when I mailed my CRC to the FBI, I had to include a request that they authenticate it (essentially a notary stamp).  Once I have received it back in the mail I must then send it to the U.S. Department of State in order to obtain a federal apostille stamp.  Many steps? You bet. But, at the same time, fairly painless.  And, really, relatively inexpensive.

• Fingerprinting- free at the local Police department
• FBI Criminal Record Check- $18 USD
• Federal apostille- $10 USD

Now, under most circumstances the time frame to get this all done would not concern me.  It takes from 4-6 weeks to get the FBI CRC completed, and another 1-1 1/2 weeks for the U.S. State Dept to apostille it.  However, I am having a slight freak out moment.

If you've been living under a rock, let me enlighten you.  The U.S. Congress is refusing to pull their heads out of their collective hind parts and prevent a government shut down.  Government shut down=FBI agents in the field, but no FBI agents performing background checks for people applying for E-2 visas.

Not to mention many of my family members not receiving pay (much more important than my visa, but my political thoughts and feelings are not the basis of this blog). 

I am hoping that since I started this process well in advance that even if the government shuts down it will (hopefully) not last for too terribly long (I study history and am putting faith in Congress--which begs the question, what the hell is wrong with me?), and I will still be able to get the previous steps completed in time.

After that process, I must send all of my documents to my school in Korea and they will obtain a visa number for me and mail it back.  I must then apply for the visa with the nearest Korean consulate (in Chicago).  They often require an in person interview, but once I reach that point I am going to attempt to get out of it by stating my distance from the consulate and inability to be there for an in person interview. It has worked for some.


Here's to hoping and praying that all goes smoothly.

In the meantime, I will continue my countdown to my visit to Austin to visit good friends and enjoy the beautiful 90degree weather.  Spring in Iowa has been rude and completely at odds with my hopes for a full week of at least 65degrees and no rain.

back in the saddle

It has obviously been quite some time since I posted last.  Not to mention a lot has happened (and at the same time...nothing at all).

I considered starting a new blog to go right along with a new chapter to my life, but I liked the title and the idea of this blog so much that so far I haven't come up with something I like better.  So, what has happened since my last post.

• finished student teaching (that 3 on the TWS felt oh so good)
• officially graduated from college (and paid $50 to get my diploma...seriously, you didn't get enough $$ from my tuition, UNI?)
• moved in with my brother, sister-in-law, and my three nieces (so thankful that they were willing to let me crash while I get my feet on the ground)
• started substitute teaching (my first foray into the elementary teaching world)
• got a part time job--although, it's hard to even call it that because they literally never schedule me
• got hired on at Living History Farms for the upcoming season (those of you who know me, know this job is perfect for me) 
• volunteered to coach my niece's 10&under softball team (those of you who know me, know this did not take any arm twisting)
• got a job teaching English in South Korea.....

Yep. South Korea. English. and....Elementary aged kids.

So you might understand why I felt the title of the blog still fitting.  This is a new chapter to my life. A beginning. Yet, I still see it as a continuation of my life as an educator.  

I will, after all, still be teaching when I am in Korea.  Is it history? world cultures? government? geography? Well, no.  Will I miss those things? Of course I will.  Will I stop studying those things? Absolutely not. My love for history, cultures, etc. came long before I dedicated my life to education.  This is just another stop along the path to my future.

I have no idea where I will end up in 5 years, 10 years from now.  That is what I love about my life.  Someone once told me I have a "free spirit."  At the time I shrugged them off, equating the term "free spirit" with hippies, and not entirely thrilled with the comparison.  The more I grow and the more I understand myself, the more I see that I really am.  Not a hippie, but a free spirit.  I tend to go where life takes me.  There is a plan for me, and I am simply along for the ride.

I make deliberate choices, yes.  I have complete control over where I go, what I do, and who I do it with.  But I truly believe that whatever those decisions are, they are made for a reason.  Mistakes are purposeful.  So are successes.

This is what I am meant to be doing right now.  This is the time I am meant to be doing it.  I have, for the longest time, had an insatiable yearning to travel.  To explore.  To live in an environment entirely foreign and see if I am up for the challenge.  I think this can be attributed to my sister, who moved abroad right after college to embark on her professional career as an educator.  Her path was different than mine will be.  My path is my own, and that is what I love about it.

Although I do "go where life takes me," that does not mean I refuse to plan.  I have quite a few potential "plans" in mind for my post-Korea life.  None of them can be decided on or come to fruition until I spend my (at least) one year there.  What will I experience? What will I think of teaching ESL? What will I think of life as an expat? Will it change my career path? Will it solidify my previous path? Will it lead to me furthering my own education?  They are all possibilities.  Each one is exciting.

So here it is, a new beginning.  One of many throughout my life, I am sure. The next few months I will be attempting to keep busy, through subbing, LHF, and softball.

Along the way I plan to give updates about finalizing everything that is necessary for my upcoming move.  Maybe a few tidbits here and there about life (although I can't see it being very interesting).  If you're really bored and didn't read my blog before, you can read previous posts from my student teaching journey (until I got paranoid that is...)

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ---Mark Twain