Full Speed Ahead on the Struggle Bus

       I will not want to eat anything rice related when I come back to the states for the next three months. Though, I would find it really funny if the day I get back, my family takes me out to Korean BBQ. I was told that the money I paid to go to South Korea would take care of transportation and food.. Unfortunately that isn't so. I've had to buy food for breakfast and dinner.. I get lunch at my work place, and they feed me really well, so that's nice.. Only I'm an every 4 hours eater, so around 4pm, I'm starving. Transportation, I have also had to pay out of pocket. I do get $200 back a month, but that's supposed to go to travel and exploration so I can go experience part of the culture, unfortunately that isn't the case. This isn't my coordinator's fault, neither in the US, nor in Korea. Mr. Kim has been more than generous with obtaining food for us. He has bought us food from his own pocket, which is something he doesn't need to do. I don't think there's much I can do about it, except deal with the fact that I will probably have absolutely no money when I come back from Korea, and that few of my Korean Bucket List points will be completed. Which is unfortunate, and a major let down. Another reason why I'm kicking myself for going to Korea... We are only ever given Kimchi and rice from the hotel.. our food source.

           I've been getting a lot of messages saying " I'm so glad you're having such an amazing time! You look so happy!", as sweet as all of these are, I'm wouldn't say I'm amazing, or SO anything. I'm having a better time than I was having a couple of weeks ago, or even a day ago. I'm taking advantage of invitations given to me by newly found friends, mainly Pablo. I'm doing well, don't get me wrong. This has been the best March I have experienced since Dad's passing.. and with his birthday coming up so soon, I'm finding myself a little shorter tempered that usual, more exhausted, and wanting to be near those who know me well. I'm in a house with 5 girls, though sweet and kind, do not know me well enough for me to consider crying to them if I'm upset. And my closest friend here, lives a good 2 hour subway ride away. I have decided to branch out, and try to make friends.Unfortunately, the person I got along with the best, left last Saturday. I hope to remain in contact with Kristian, he showed me around Seoul, and made sure my first month was memorable. Marcy and Denise are two other volunteers that I hope to get closer with. Denise works with me, and Marcy went to a museum with me and some of the other volunteers on Sunday. Marcy is from Taiwan, Denise is from Germany. Last Sunday I ran into some Oregonians, and I was so thrilled. I asked where they were from, they were obviously from someplace friendly, because they made eye contact with me and smiled. They said the US. I asked where, they paused and said North of California. I know that response, I give it too. They were from Beaverton, and it was awesome to catch up with people from my own part of the world. 

 

 last Sunday, Marcy, Loren, Andy and I went to the Love Museum in Hongdae. I won't post any more pictures than this, but it was a lot of fun.

 English names: Hun and Ariel. Aren't they cute?

 My favorite, Happy Boy!!!

 Papa Kim bonding time

 This is Andy, a guy from Denmark that often spends a lot of time with the girls because there are no other guys volunteering.. Thomas doesn't count cause he;s never home.

 This is my hill down to the subway. Mom and Luke, know that cliff thingy we climbed down in Zambia? It's about that steep.

 My other favorite boy, don't know his name, but he's really cute. He's holding my hand.

 Trees in Gangnam.

 Another cute kid on one of the daily bus rides.

 Soyun, wearing Denise's hat.

       My very busy subway ride. This doesn't even come close to depicting how crowded my transit is every day.

      Work has gotten better, but I have asked Mr. Kim if I can switch projects. I help teach English with a woman from New Zealand, who has been here in Korea for 9 years. From 10-12, I am in English classes with her, teaching kids 5-7 or US ages 4-6. These kids are really cute, and I already have my favorite kid. I don't know his name, but he's 6 (US 5). I asked him his name the first day and he just smiled, laughed, jumped around and said " My names Happy!".. so I call him Happy Boy. My maternal instinct has kicked in full throttle with all these adorable children who all are so excited to see me. They are the highlight of my day. After language lessons I eat lunch with another group of 6 year olds ( US 4), one of my other favorites, Hun, is in that class. I'm not allowed to play with the kids after lunch like the other volunteers are, and that's a major bummer. Then I go upstairs and hang out in the office for about 2 hours, I think I will be given a bus route. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I help teach swimming lessons for 2 hours. I know.... me... teaching swimming lessons.... Unfortunately, I haven't really understood much of what I'm supposed to do after the first lesson, the teacher told me to shower and leave... so I left. Which upset me, because I'm supposed to be doing something for two hours rather than one. Then after lessons, I sit around for one more hour, and then I leave. I'm not allowed to leave early, which is unfortunate. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have asked for a schedule three times, now.. and my contact person at work AND Mr. Kim have apparently talked to them about a schedule. My project is bumming me out, and I'm really unhappy with it. I hope to leave this project soon, if it doesn't get better. My only highlight is how nice Denise is, how cute the kids are, my nice New Zealander coworker, and the food is pretty good at work.

     Denise and I have met two kids, Noah and Amy, that are brilliant. Amy is from Korea and speaks English as if it were her first language. She is 9 in the States, and 11 here in Korea. She's also an amazing drawer. We have made special times for us to hangout with her, Thursday after 3. She drew me a giraffe, an amazing giraffe, in less than a minute, without looking at anything. Noah, hes from Chicago and is 5 years old. He's just really cute. He's visiting his grandparents right now, and has been at the Gangnam YMCA for piano lessons during his stay. He told us that his grandfather was " big, but small.. He needs to grow more, I think", which was just the cutest things Denise and I had ever heard.

     I'm trying to figure out the address system.. Mom sent me a package over 2 weeks ago, and nothing has arrived. This worries me, so please... don't send me any mail until I know further what's going on. The current address system in Korea is changing, so it's really confusing for a foreigner to figure out.

   Korea doesn't have daylight savings time.. interesting, huh? Also, if a Korean calls you Russian, they are apparently calling you a prostitute, or really pretty... I haven't experienced this yet, but the other girls have. The Asian Pears taste like they were soaked in alcohol, so they don't taste that great. I'm going to a concert with some of the girls, and Pablo, on Friday, so that should be fun. I need to invest in some house slippers.. Like Nike Sports slippers. I got yelled at today for wearing my shoes in the classroom. I didn't know I had to change from your street shoes to your slippers. Oops. I have mastered chopsticks, though! That's a lot of fun. My coworkers also gave me a "cookie" that tasted like shredded wheat. It wasn't bad. Sunday is Dad's birthday, cake here is impossible to find, otherwise I would make a pineapple upside down cake in his honor.

     Like I said, this has been one of the best March's yet. Even though I'm unhappy with my project, I'm getting more and more comfortable with Korean life. The subway no longer scares me. I'm able to elbow my way in and out of places without feeling bad ( You kind of have to with over 10 million inhabitants in a city). I try to talk to locals in Korean as much as possible. I'm learning more words. The kids are really cute, and I'm enjoying being called "leesu teacher". I've made some amazing friends, already. Though, through this experience, I've decided I do not wish to go to Korea, again. I feel dependent and emotionally weak in Korea, two things that I have never been, nor wish to be. I also feel extremely isolated being the only American in the house. But, Mr. Kim is a great person, he's been so kind to all of us, Korea has some beautiful places, and I'm learning more and more about myself every single day. But, I cannot wait to be back in Oregon, digging my teeth into a Pilot Butte Drive In burger, and hanging out with the family. I also plan on thoroughly gushing on Megan and Brian's kids. Those three are going to get so much love from me, when I return! Maybe I can teach them to call me Leesu teacher!

   Again, don't worry about me, guys! I've got this covered, and I have already brought it all up with Mr. Kim. I will wait one more week before I get more obnoxious to get stuff done. I guess what I've really learned from all of this is: You can never expect what your experience will be like. That even in places that you don't love, you meet people, and make memories, that you do love. That flexibility and positivity are two of the most admirable qualities in an individual. Your strongest support system is your family. If you really want something done and you have to rely on someone else to get it done, you have to be a pain in the arse until it is completed. I am no longer what you would consider a " happy person", not that I'm not "happy", I just don't have that overly excited energy anymore. This is a new quality that I'm grateful for. But, I cannot wait until April 11th, the official start of cherry blossom season. Winter has never been my favorite season, unless there's a lot of snow, I find it useless and depressing.

  Well, that's my update. Sending all my love to family, and best wishes to all my friends and family currently experiencing dead week, you guys have this in the bag!