"Little Ones to Him behold..."

      There may be a misconception that I am not actually teaching! It seems that I have talked a lot about my life in regards to my leisure activities, when in all actuality, my leisure time is only about a third of the my time in Korea. I am, first and foremost a teacher. In March I was reminded that as teachers we have the opportunity to "learn all of the little personalities of the students." This comment struck a note with me, and I have been focusing on it daily every since.
      Monday through Friday I spend operating within a set schedule. I teach two to three classes before lunch, eat lunch, finish my kindy classes and transition into elementary. This routine is off-set at the end of the week by Friday Activity Day. The Activity Days vary in length and magnitude of events. Two of our activities in March were Easter (celebrated a month early) and a field trip to the Air Force Academy. Both of these events allowed me to play with my kids and have a little fun.
      To begin Easter was a day where we were able to introduce the concept of spring, egg dying, Easter Bunnies, and egg hunts. We spent the whole day doing Easter crafts and running around Wonderland. The highlight of the day was an Easter egg hunt, during which the students just ran around looking for "eggs" in the form of paper. They were elated (they had never experienced an "egg" hunt before).
      Secondly, the field trip to the Air Force Academy was a full blown field trip. I don't recall if I have previously mentioned that field trips often consist of shuttling the kids to a location, rushing through an exhibit, taking photos and leaving. This field trip however, was the exact opposite! We left early and arrived in a large field for snack time. The students sat in the grass, ate snack and ran around. We moved and ran around some more. We returned to the bus, went inside the military base and just kept running from plane, to helicopter seeing the sights. It was a glorious day where I was able to watch the kids over heat from the sun, struggle with unstructured free time, and enjoy being outside of Wonderland.
      Outside of teaching, I also have chosen to volunteer at an orphanage once a month with church. Volunteering has turned out to be some of the most life giving moments I have yet to encounter in Korea. During my first trip to the orphanage I was befriend by an eight year old child, Ho Yun. Him and I spent the first afternoon playing with clay, petting dogs, eating a snack, running, and sharing physical space. When I returned a month later I wasn't able to fully emerge from the van before I felt a little hand in mine. I looked down to discover Ho Yun ready to pull me inside.
      The second afternoon with Ho Yun I learned that we shared a special bond, one of friendship and support. We spent the second day similar to that before, working with clay, learning new, nonverbal games (verbal communication is a barrier), running, and playing with tadpole larve. Although it resembled the first afternoon in activity, our relationship had changed. I was now a mentor, a touch of love. Pleasantly tired following an afternoon of play, we sadly had to say good-bye. Our hands were cold from a snow ball fight and we were trying to make one another cringe by tricking the other into letting us touch their face or hands. I went for Ho Yun's face one last time, but  he forgot that my hands were cold. Rather, he nestled into my hands and took a deep breath before he remembered to pull away. It was a touching moment. One where I wished more than anything that I could give him more.
      These moments with Ho Yun reminded me of the difficult place I am in, temporary living in a country where my time is drawing to an end. I am excited for the future, however functioning within transitions puts an interesting dynamic into my relationships. I yearn to not be another person in Ho Yun's life that just leaves. In addition, I am working to stay present with my students and friends, strengthen our bonds. I hope that once I leave, seeing I will not be returning, that Korea will not be a memory, something I did that it is now over, but a moment in my life where I built a community that continues into the future. I have been blessed with these experiences in the past and have faith that this will be no different.

Therapy 101: Blogging

      Sitting down to write my blog this past weekend reminded me how much I truly enjoy keeping a blog. There is something special about documenting my time in order to share with others. As I sift through my thoughts to compile something pertinent to share I find myself desiring to share everything. I view the days following a post through the voice of my blogging. What would be captivating to share with those around me? Thus, waiting weeks between posts creates a sense of despair where I can't possibly give justice to all of the moments I experience.
      There is a yearning inside of me to capture the now familiar sights, sounds, smells, and faces to help people at home step into my experience. Early on in my stay I recall saying to Natalie, "I don't feel like I have had that, "I am abroad, lonely and discovering a lot about myself" moment I hear everyone speak of as they return from their travels." Although I have not had this exact experience, over the past few weeks I have noticed that my ability to engage in a larger society and function within a working world has, indeed, been transformed. Every week I face a new, steep learning curve. The lessons I learn range from a wide variety of areas including: teaching methodology, personal space, time management, spiritual fulfillment, and community involvement. These revelations are usually revealed to me in the early mornings as I greet the day with a "jaunt" in the country.
      After I crawl out of bed and into my running clothes I am ready to run off my grogginess with the rising sun. These first steps remind me that I am in a new land. I begin by passing school children, dressed in uniforms, making their way to school. As I leave the school zone I have one more street to cross before it is just me and the fields. The wait at the intersection, usually filled with more jumping jacks than I would prefer, is consumed with thoughts of the passing cars; Where are they going? What do they think of me? When a break in traffic occurs I sprint across the road and I am free. On the way out, I assess the spring planting. I note what new plots that have been tilled, wonder if the thaw has happened, and observe progress on the bridge. These thoughts are interspersed with a reflection of my previous days, friends, and teaching that lie ahead. Most mornings I loose track of time sometime between the hills and the dog farm, yes dog farm. Once I am brought back, I swiftly turn around, turn on my audio book or music and head for the apartment line. This part of my run is the most pivotal because it is as this time that I become truly thankful for my position. There have been many hard moments over the weeks, but the peace of the country, the energy of running, and the cityscape help me see outside of myself and the "bubble" I have created.
      Not only is the way back full of speed, thanksgiving, and quick thoughts of how I can get ready fast enough to meet Natalie at the corner in fifteen minutes, but it is often graced by my "friend" who is driving to town on her motorized scooter. The melting snow, and warming weather has brought a new friend into my life. Though, we aren't able to communicate, we share a bond. I believe I provide her with humor. Think about it, a blonde, foreign woman running in the country. And she provides me with an appreciation for my elders and a gratitude for my mobility. I can run faster than her scooter!
      Without these moments in the morning I fear I would not have the same outlook on life that I do. I might not be able to stay out late at night, or to see as much of the different neighborhoods as I desire, but I can grow in stature and appreciation for what I have in front of me each day. My wish for you is that you too have a space that provides reflection, in addition to physical and emotional growth. I know that I would not be able absorb my surroundings and keep dreaming if I did not. Please, don't stop dreaming regardless of your age, job, or situation. There is always hope.

March Madness

      It is Sunday today and for the second time in the past two months there is a quiet lull over the city as rain spatters down. This rainy Sunday has come as a gentle reprieve after a hectic week of work and a beautiful Saturday at a baseball game. (Being American I took for granted that baseball is a  great "American" past time. Therefore Jason, from S. Africa, had never experienced the game. It was a joy to introduce him to the sport. He learned a lot... it is not a baseball square, but a baseball diamond!!)  As I look back over the past two months I feel blessed to have had many wonderful experiences.
      As February came to an end so did my school year. The academic year in a Hagwon (private school in Korea) runs from the first of March to the first of March. The end of the school year came fast, with excited seven year olds ready to leave Wonderland for the "big" elementary school. It was hard to see my first class of students leave. We had grown accustomed to one another and comfortable in teaching, mood, and games. As I transitioned into a new school year (one day later) I remembered, very quickly that this comfort occurs only after a few weeks/months of hard work. Currently, I am settling into a new schedule.  In the mornings I teach six and seven year olds, finishing with elementary school children in the afternoon. It nice to end the day with students who have more cognitive abilities. I still find peace in teaching, but miss working with older student. The gentle hugs, bubbling excitement, and eager minds help to remedy this whenever I feel I need a little something more.
      Beyond school I have started to practice yoga again. Over the past few months a studio has opened in my neighborhood. Natalie, Gayeon and I went to inquire. The studio is wonderful. It is conveniently located between my house and school and focuses on therapy yoga. Unlike dance classes that I tried in December, yoga is something I look forward to at the end of every day. There is a serenity in the space, accompanied by a grace exuded by my instructor. The women helps rejuvenate my spirit, all the while challenging me to do head stands, shoulder stands, and warrior poses. In addition, it is a nice activity to share with Gayeon and Natalie. It helps us to continue to foster a relationship outside of work.
      Not only have Natalie, Gayeon and I began practicing yoga together, we have also started to go on many excursions. This past weekend we traveled to Insadong, an eclectic, artsy neighborhood in Seoul. We embarked in the late afternoon, allowing time to clean, sleep, and run. Once we arrived we meandered through the various vendors, dreamed of tea sets we would like to have in our houses one day, and enjoyed delicious cuisine. Spending time on the weekends leaving the city reminds me that there is much of Korea I have not seen. I was blessed to spend my first few months in the outdoors, going to Seoul, etc. However, these past few months I have been swept up in school, friends, and living that I have forgotten to be a tourist. I have planned many trips in the upcoming weeks. The next big one is a weekend in Jeju-do with Natalie, Gayeon, Patrick, and Jason. Jeju-do a beautiful island in the south. It will be my first time to the ocean! Amazing...
      The last tidbit of my daily life I would like to share today is a brief ode to taxi drivers. When the weather is poor, when it is late, or when I am a little lazy, I often find myself in taxis. They are a convenient and cheap mode of transportation. It took me a few months to be brave enough to interact with the drivers, as I was afraid to speak, and could only get in the general vicinity of my destination. This is no longer the case!! I now hail and navigate taxis with ease. The best part of taxis is not their convenience, but rather the men who drive them. Though there may be a language barrier, they are always eager to share a bit! They ask where I am from, make jokes about race cars, talk about their children, or poke fun at where I am going. I have found that these daily interactions are life-giving. I leave my friends, ready to unwind, only to find myself leaving the taxi with a smirk and story to share.

~ Constantly Changing ~

      As I previously mentioned, January was a challenging month of change. I was faced with some decisions about my future, as well as, encountering a lot of fluctuation in the work place. Actually, I believe the instability at Wonderland is something that will remain as we are replacing curriculums, welcoming new teachers, students, and the overall mission of the school. My decisions of the immediate future however, have been made.
      Prior to sharing my news of the future, I must briefly digress to last summer. Last summer I had the privilege of leading an incredible canoeing expedition into northern Saskatchewan. It was my sixth consecutive summer in the back-country and one of my most memorable experiences yet.  At the end of the summer it was hard to pack up and say good-bye to my girls and camp, but I held my ground to begin my year contract in Korea. Now let me tell you, the call of the Canadian wilderness is not something I can just "pack up." Rather it is something that I must actively work to repress and ignore. As December came to a close I was offered a position to lead an Expeditionary Level Canoeing Trip (Expo)  at Camp Manito wish YMCA. After wrestling with the decision and weighing the pros and cons of both, I ultimately decided to accept the position and return to the States at the end of May to begin preparations.
      Although this is a very exciting decision, that I am happy to share, it did not come without a struggle. This struggle is much of what occupied my January. Accepting the position meant that I was breaking my contract with Wonderland. The way my contract works is that for the first six months I am essentially on a "trial" basis. If I do anything to warrant dismissal I am asked to leave without my arrival or departure ticketed paid for, pension, or security deposit. This is not to mention that I am also hindering the students education by leaving them mid-session. For a week or so I didn't know if I was going to share the news with Wonderland. I feared being "let go" and I have only been here for four and half months. I also feared the disappointment of Wonderland. After a week of not sleeping,  I knew I had to share the news. This news was being shared at the same time many of the teachers were not re-signing their contracts for the upcoming school year (beginning in March). My heart led me to the right decision. My manager, Mr. Lee, was very understanding. He told me I must follow my heart and even offered me a position starting in September! I am currently sitting on this one for a while. It seems like decisions about the future are never far away.
      I am excited to be returning to the back-country but am holding on tight to my time here. I am not ready to say good-bye and am not looking forward to it, but Korea will always be here and I worry that the back-country is disappearing all to fast. This decision, accompanied with all of the unrest at Wonderland occupied most of my spirit during January. However, at the end of the month I finally broke away from the every day stresses to see the DMZ.
      The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea was a very educational trip. My friend booked a tour which began in Seoul. We took a forty minute bus ride to the border, saw the Freedom Bridge, Joint Security Area, and much more. The experience brought on the somber reality of our neighbors to the north. It caused us to reflect  the gravity of  countries that are striving for power, a world that is volatile (as we all know from the news lately) and the long standing consequences of these actions.
      There was also one more notable, amazing aspect of January. I began baking again! The stress of the month, a bad weekend fever, and yearning for home baked goodies made me take on this endeavor and man has it been rewarding. The reason it has taken so long is that I don't have a proper western oven. I merely have a little toaster oven!!  Did you know that a toaster oven works exactly the same? It just takes smaller portions. Baking itself has been a task. The ingredients are a little different and sometimes hard to come by, my working space is limited, and past experience with a toaster oven is non-exsistent. I think that all my experience of baking in the back country has helped! Over the course of the month I have mastered (or so I will venture to say) fresh bread, banana bread, and apple cinnamon bars. I have also made cookies and delicious brownies. My favorite, and most commonly baked item is fresh bread. It is a great way to start to the day and fun to share.
      Baking has not only warmed my insides, but has touched many. I have been able to use it as a "treat" at many functions, and reach out to friends that have never made anything from scratch before. I didn't know that baking, a therapy (like running) for me could also be used as a therapy for others. This month I am trying to break out of my baking mold and start cooking again. We shall see...
 

January: Defining the Present

      The month of January has been one of many changes, decisions, and comforts in Korea. As I strolled through the month, I took a break from blogging because I realized that there were many things that were impeding me from truly "Defining the Present." I will share more about the month in the future but have updated my photos for a little visual tour.
      Just click above to see photos from... the Fortress, DMZ (a education trip to the border of N. and S. Korea), a PJ party, and most recently a Lunar New Years Celebration.

"Walk On"

      Everyday I have the privilege of loving little children. I am able to share my love through a smile, a helpful new lesson, a hug, a sticker, a "good job" or a Korean greeting. (Did you know Ms. Ann can speak Korean!?!?!) There is however, something I fear as I end my day and return home..... not everyone feels loved or that love can all to often be overshadowed by "big kids" burdens.

Life goes in cycles...
      If you ask a young child what they want to be when they grow up it is likely that many of them will want to have a profession similar to their parents. If you ask a teenager who they want to be they will likely tell you anyone who is the complete opposite of their parents. If you take someone who is gaining wisdom perhaps twenty, thirty, or maybe it takes until they have their own children who they are most like, they will be able to attribute certain aspects of their personality and mannerisms to their parents. When was the last time you said or did something only to immediately think... wait was that me or my mom/dad? 
      I am at the stage in my life where I am "gaining wisdom," the ripe age of twenty-something and find certain qualities of my parents come out often. Seeing I am a teacher, like my mom, I find that I rely on her motherly and teacherly (yes, that is a word) guidance often in my daily life. I am thankful for this. My mother is someone I greatly respect and admire. There is one thing my mother taught me when I was young and has always reiterated with age. "Everything is going to be okay." Stop, take a deep breath, sigh and read it again...

"Everything is going to be okay."

      Now, maybe my mother has to say that, (it always seems to help me stop crying) but I don't think so. I believe this statement stems from my mother's faith and her belief that if we slow down, look at the situation and see what our role is vs. what we are capable of there is a solution. 
     This may come as a surprise, but I am as much a lister as I am a talker. My mother is the same. She listens to everyone, and I mean EVERYONE. Never once does she complain. Rather, she starts praying. Not all of us are inclined to praying but most people I encounter seem to have a belief in the spiritual. A guiding force that directs their path.
      As I have entered into this New Year I have been fortunate to hear from many of my friends, listen to their stories, and share mine. (Mostly through my blog. Thanks for reading!) In all of these interactions I have heard a resounding sentiment. A sense of unease, a longing for something more, a desire to meet someone, forgive, slow down, loose a few pounds, find a calling/a job that is fulfilling, become financially stable, or find a passion. These are all things I struggle with as well. But hopefully if you need a little jump start to the New Year my mother's advice, as well as, the following may help.
      1. Walk On - Life is not easy. Fortunately I have been blessed. However, where I am today has not come without struggle. The struggles you feel daily are valid even if they feel trivial. Remember in the moments that are tough that there is something greater. At least you have a friend (me), no matter how far away that will always be there in spirit and prayer. 
      2. Promise Yourself - In this fast pace life it is easy to be removed from the simple things that we need to be re-energized. Take a moment for you. Who are you today? Did you do something for you? It is not until we are present in ourselves that we can help others. 

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk healthy, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best work only for the best and expect only the best.

To be enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press onto great achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be to large for worry, to noble for anger, and too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. 

~Christian D. Larson   

A Chinese Christmas

      "Ever Ancient, Ever New." This is a motto that was engrained in me during my days at St. Norbert and rang through my head as I explored a small fraction of China. The streets of China from the metropolitan of Shanghai to bustling, "rural" Maanshan encompass the simplicity of the past in conjunction with fast past, modern 21 century.
      My holiday started bright and early on Christmas Day when I traveled with my friend, Sarah, to the airport. It was great to begin the day with a friend and then depart for our individual adventures. After six hours of traveling I arrived in Shanghai to meet my friend Greg. He was a bit out of sorts due to his travels to the airport, but after we settled into a ride on the subway Christmas was underway.
      The first few days were spent in Shanghai. We ate at swanky restaurants, experienced some much longed for Mexican food, viewed the Bundt, the highest observation deck in the world, meandered through an old canal market district, and were engulfed by the throngs of the people in Old Town. These activities were all a world wind. It seems like I had only landed and ran around the city with the help of Greg.
      Immediately in Shanghai I new I loved China. There was a feeling in the air. China is teeming with people who are all moving with a purpose but it is a different pace. It is a hustle and bustle that does not feel rushed, pushy, or too important. The feeling of humanity that I received as I explored the city and moved into the country was refreshing. It was not something I was expecting and also did not realize how different China would feel from Korea.
      We left the comforts of Shanghai on Monday to spend the rest of the week in Maanshan. Maanshan is a city about 3 hours away from Shanghai or an hour from Nanjing. It is a "small city" of 700,000 people and is where Greg is currently teaching at a University. My time spent in Maanshan was my favorite part of China. Although Shanghai was nice, it felt like any other international city I had been to. It did not challenge me the same way the rawness of Maanshan and subsequently Nanjing did. While in Maanshan I spent the majority of my time relaxing. I promised myself that I would not over extend myself this vacation. Thus, I knitted a scarf, wrote some letters, responded to e~mails, went for long walks and enjoyed Greg and his friends company in the evening when they were off work.
      Living with Greg for a week enabled me to experience the root of Chinese people in this particular city. I was able to see the hustle on the streets, the vendors selling drinks, the elderly men and women selling street food, the bikes and the motorbikes. It was during this time that I also had the privilege of going to an orphanage with two of Greg's friends. The offer was extended at KTV (Chinese Karaoke) the previous evening and as the time approached I realized how hesitant I was. I had only heard stories about Chinese orphanages and was not sure I was ready to face the reality. I may not have been ready but I am so glad I went. I spent the afternoon extending my love and gentle physical contact to infants who spend their days in cribs. Seeing these children, and loving them made me sad. But it was not a sadness for "Chinese" children. It was a sadness for the thousands of children around the world who just need to be loved. For those who have no home, or if they do not have love and security in that home. I ended that day thankful for the love I have been shown during my life and ready to love all those I encounter while aiming to continue a life path to help children everywhere.
      My last day in Maanshan I finally mustered up enough courage to journey to Nanjing by myself. Being in China taught me that I am brave, but not quite comfortable traveling by myself. I enjoy seeing new places, experience new cultures but enjoy a companion. With a companion I feel invincible (well almost) but solo I feel a lot more vulnerable. The worlds of Korea and China are completely different. Nanjing was a good challenge. I took the bus into the city, grabbed a taxi for the "mountain" and spent the afternoon at mausoleums, shrines, and pagodas. At the end of the day I found the bus stations and grabbed a taxi home. I arrived at seven on the dot... Greg was beginning to get a bit worried.
      My last evening in Maanshan we celebrated New Years Eve. The night began with a dinner and ended at a local bar. Dinner was good (I like Korean better) and the "club" was a riot. This is my second club in Asia and find them to be a ball. Very different than a club I would think of back home, but a good place to experience New Years Eve. Prior to traveling to China I did not think I had any "aha" moments while abroad. China was my first big "aha" moment. It left me at a great place to be entering 2011. I woke up on New Years Day ready to start fresh, that is 12am Central Standard Time. This is the first year I have made resolutions. Here I come 2011!
      As I traveled back to Nanjing (taxi), Shanghai (bullet train, subway, feet), Seoul (airplane), and finally Cheongju (bus). I kept replaying all of the sights I had seen. It will be a while until I can speak eloquently about my experience in China but I do know that it brought the reality of modernization, the environmental effects, the lifestyle of the West, the mass consumption, and distribution of resources into question. Never before had I traveled through a country where I had experienced continual growth, major factories, railways, and smog. These are not environmental degradations that are the fault of the Chinese, rather in many ways, if not all ways directly linked to American culture. I am currently thinking a lot prior to any purchases...

Christmas and Beyond

*Although this is posted a bit late, the sentiments are still the same... Happy New Year!*

      Once birthday celebrations concluded it was time to jump back into Christmas. Ever year I begin celebrating Christmas, take a week off, and than realize there is much left to do. This year was no different. My Christmas spirit was rekindled when I attended "Handel's Messiah".  It is a choral piece that portrays Jesus's life and death and is commonly performed during the holidays. It was one of the most beautiful musical pieces I have ever heard. Initially, I anticipated attending the concert alone, my friend Alyssa was singing, but was fortunate to run into some friends from Cheongju in the subway (the concert was in Seoul). I was glad to have friends for the evening. It made it a little more special. Also, the world became a bit smaller as I met someone from St. Cloud! Who would have thought.
      After the concert I returned to Cheongju ready to finish my Christmas preparations. I have prepared my cards for co-workers and students, bought my Secret Santa gift, and found some very special presents for friends. One of the things I love the most about the holiday( aside from spending time with loved ones) is finding a gift that I am probably more excited to give than the person is to receive. I have found or made many of those this year. My favorite gift is a sno-globe that I constructed.
      Looking ahead at the rest of the week, I know it will be quite different from the past twenty-two Christmases I have celebrated. This year there will be no Christmas Eve mass, movie, or dinner.  Christmas day will not begin with a family video, presents, carmel rolls, proceed to Aunt Sheila's where there will be family, food (meatballs, leftsa, snack ledge, sugar cookies, rolls, a few salads, etc.) and end with a nap in the car on the way home, perhaps a ski and a peaceful nights rest. But I am not looking at the holidays in light of what I will be missing. I know that my family will be with me in spirit and I am excited to have a community here where I can share the love with this Christmas.
       Thus, this Christmas Eve I will go to work and celebrate with my Wonderland community. After work, Natalie and I will have our own Christmas Eve. We don't have set plans (both of us are preparing for our week of vacation) but anticipate a Korean dinner, movie, packing, cleaning, and reminiscing. After a restless night of sleep, the sleep before traveling can easily be equated to that of a child excited for Santa,  I will depart for the airport with my friend Sarah. We have planned to celebrate Christmas the whole morning, with music, food and probably a lot of singing. Then, I shall board a plane to China arriving in the early afternoon. Once in China, I will be picked up my friend Greg and head to a Christmas party.
      Although my Christmas this year will be vastly different from those in the past, it will still be filled with friends, a new extended family, and gratitude for all the blessings I have had this year.
      Merry Christmas! I hope your Christmas is filled with peace and joy. That despite the hustle and bustle of the holiday, Christmas plans, shopping, family, traveling and weather.....take a deep breath and observe everything you have been blessed with this holiday season. For some of us there is a lot, for others we may have to look harder. But we all are here to celebrate another year. Be thankful for that!

December: A month of Community

      The month of December past without a post on my blog. I apologize for my absence. It reflects the blessing of being delightfully busy with holiday activities and a new community. One of my New Year's resolutions is to stay in the loop a bit more. Since 2010 is "So last year," I will briefly tell of my activities.
      My friends and I made a pact on Thanksgiving to make sure that the Christmas spirit was in full swing this year. We were fearful that Christmas would not be the same far from home. Although Christmas was a lot different this year, our holiday activities were plentiful. Among my favorites were making a gingerbread house with Jason (he had never made one before), watching Elf, a church pot-luck, and attending Handel's Messiah.
      As the days streamed by I did my best to revel in the moments before I would be off to China! My days slowed down the most on Christmas Eve when I was able to remove myself from my traditional teacher role and help the students celebrate Christmas. It was a magical day where Santa visited and Christmas carols were sung.  By the end of the day, the students were so excited and exhausted!!  The day ended and my plans to celebrate Christmas Eve with my co-workers quickly faded as I head home to pack and wind down 2010.

Goodbye 22, Hello 23!

      There is something exciting about celebrating your birthday at the end of the year. It may be the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the pending New Year, or perhaps my personal love of winter. This year my birthday was very special.
      The day itself however, was preceded by a little freak out..."What... I am already 23?!" I am aware that 23  is not old by any means, but being 23 in Korea makes me 24 in January. That puts me well into my "twenty somethings." It was reassuring to remember that I am an adult, I do have a full time job, my own apartment, and am able to support myself. Wow, I guess I am ready to be 23. Not only was I overwhelmed with becoming older but time has been passing too fast. December 15th, was upon me before I had a chance to finish celebrating Thanksgiving. Therefore, on December 14th, as I was rushing to the post office during my lunch break in order to mail a few Christmas cards, I was overwhelmed with planning my birthday party, become a year older, and not feeling a bit prepared for the upcoming week of Christmas carols at school, travel plans to China, Christmas present exchange/shopping and saying goodbye for the week to friends that have become so dear to me in Korea. When you work and live so closely with people a week good-bye to life lines, such as Natalie, is a little scary. After the support of my co-workers and a goodnights rest I woke up on December 15th excited to be 23.
      I began celebrating by talking with my parents and opening all of the lovely cards I received from family and friends back home. I felt so loved. I am very grateful for the great big "hug" that came my way. This feeling of gratitude continued as I was able to go for a beautiful run before work. At work, my co-workers all wished me a "Happy Birthday," every class sang to me, and my  students (with the help of my co-teacher) made me wonderful birthday cards. The day went by quickly! After work, I went out to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant with my friends/co-workers. We indulged in vegetables, meat (for the carnivores), rice, and noodles. At dinner I blew out candles from my first Paris Baguette birthday cake, opened wonderful presents and shared splendid company. I am so lucky to have such great friends. Not only did they help me feel at home, but they also bought me a blender (smoothies here I come) among other homemade crafts (a new felt, lady bug glass case, they thought my water proof, shatter proof, wilderness case was a bit much).
      You may be thinking the fun must be over right? Wrong, after dinner I went over to a friend from church's house where I was greeted with more friends, a room full, and I mean full of balloons, and another birthday cake! It was one wonderful moment after the next. I don't know if I have ever celebrated my birth so much. Thank you to everyone here and abroad that thought of me on my special day. It is your love and support that helps nourish me daily.
      Lastly, For those of you wondering, "Yes, I am now both taller and wiser."