What it's like to miss and be missed
I just received an email from a good friend back home, informing me of the "end of year" things that undergrad students are accustomed to do before they "walk" at my "old" university.
Lately, I've had a REALLY hard time being away from some of my friends. I've realized how much I NEED people in my life to constantly be a reminder to me that my life IS, in fact, decent. (I know, it could be far worse, so I should quit complaining about my job and suck it up, right???)
This friend reminded me that I was missed, that I did make it into some good "back in the day" stories. (Docta D, that was for you if you check my blog ever!) It wasn't a long email, and I'm sure it wasn't intended to "pull" me out of my week-to-week dread of living the life I have here, but it did just that... put just enough sparks of hope in my heart to realize, that this stint I have here is just temporary and soon, OH SO SOON, I'll be back home with the ones that mean the world to me... change that, with the ones who are my world! Life is really nothing without relationships, and I am thankful that I have many, deep, healthy, and meaningful one's back home... something I'm craving here.
As it is almost the end of the week here for me... it will be Friday April 28th in 2 hours, and I always say that Friday is the end of my week (even though I work Saturdays), it feels safe and freeing to say that I have successfully - well, leave the successful bit out - I HAVE just completed my 7th month here! HALLELUJIA! Only 5 more months to go! I'm all bubbly inside right now just thinking about it! CAN'T WAIT!
xoxoxo
Spontaneous Quotes
Well, well... another Sunday, another day off! What fun! I'm trying to get off my ass and maybe meet a friend in Nampo-dong (a great area for shopping and walking around) but it just seems that it's more convenient to stay grubby and in my jammy's all day! I'm sure you all have experienced this feeling AT LEAST once in your life! I also think that I spend too much time on the computer! Last nite... well I should say this morning, I stayed up until 2am downloading music! I never knew it could be so fun! (Gosh I'm a NERD!)
Anyway, I probably won't go out anywhere today, but my day started in the BEST way possible: a long conversation with a friend from home who I haven't talked to in a long time! I think it's so great to have friends that are so interesting! My friend Sandra (hope it's ok that I use your name Sandra;) ) is the most bubbly person I have met in my entire life! She is always positive, even when life is tough. She has just finished her practicum for her Education Degree and got a great job for May and June! What a great blessing and opportunity! I'm so proud of her!
We spent some time catching up on each others lives and then some time reminiscing about our days together at school... we met in my first year of university and became pretty much instant friends, playing clarinet in band together for three years! We then became summer school buddies and would find random and refreshing adventures between classes to help us remember that it was summer! I love memories... some days it's just what you need... escape from reality and remember fun times in the past with friends that make you feel valuable... something that is not often felt in a twisted "Hagwan" in Korea where you work 6 days a week and do not even have the respect of most of your students! ARGH! (That's all I'm going to say about work... it's too redundant to keep talking about work on this blog of mine!)
What I really wanted to do was leave some fun quotes.... maybe some of you hate "cheesy lines" to make you feel better, but my mom sent Andrea and I these little decks of cards which, instead of suits and Jacks and Queens and Kings, they have uplifting little comments. Andrea and I have set them up on our table so everytime we eat we're "forced" to look at them and feel happy... which is always needed as a pick-me up in the midst of hectic schedules. So here are some from today and days past:
"What is a friend? Someone who holds a special place in your heart, puts a special smile on your lips, whispers a special word in your dreams."
(For all my adored friends at home who I miss every day that I am away!)
"I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you."
(For Sean, who makes me remember to hope in where my life could go! You are great honey! Also for my family who always show me love, even when I make mistakes and mess up.)
"'Hope' is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul; and sings the tunes without the words, and never stops at all." - Emily Dickinson
(A reminder of what hope is... there's not enough hope in the world it seems.)
"Blue skies with white clouds on summer days. Tulips and roses and violets and dandelions and daisies. Bluebirds and laughter and sunshine and Easter. See how He loves us!" - Alice Chapin
(A reminder of creation and of how we are spoiled by God! I hope that the weather is getting better back home and you can all enjoy it! I'm waiting to be healthy again to enjoy the great weather that is coming our way!)
Well, these are my random ramblings for the day. With no specific purpose for others' interests, but to just write... and continue my laziness of sitting around all day :)
Cherry Blossoms
Well Easter Sunday... a day that both Andrea and I were looking forward to; it's sunny, warm (the first day in a while) and we had the hopes of going out, enjoying the sun, having a picnic and going to the market to do some gift shopping for people at home. However, there seems to be things that have been hindering us from really enjoying our 1 day off for the past month-ish. This past week I was sick...yes, again, and today, Andrea woke up sick which has changed our "Easter plans." But, it has so far turned out to be a relaxing day :) Always much needed. I got to sleep in (until almost 11am!!!! Not normal, but most delightful!), and then did some reading and journaling. My boyfriend and I keep a journal for eachother... we write down random questions about life, things we read, things we experience, etc. etc. and I hadn't written anything in like 2 months! (So sorry, honey :( ) So, today I got to write down a lot of cool things I've been reading in this great book by Donald Miller, "Searching for God Knows What." (He also writes, "Blue Like Jazz" and both books are a must read if you're into "emergent spirituality"- for lack of a better description.)I just talked to my parents on the phone and that's always great...sometimes frustrating as their speaker phone isn't the greatest quality and it's often hard to hear what they are saying. (Or it could be the fact that my mom talks like a million miles an hour and it's hard to get a word in!!! Hahaha! Sorry mom :)) They're doing a lot of work to their yard/house which sounds great and I can't wait to get back home and see it! I love our house!Anyway, so last weekend we did have the opportunity to do a day trip to Gyeongju, Korea's ancient capital city. There are "ruins," which are basically the foundations of palace buildings, covered by grass, but it's still cool to see how big the palace grounds were! It was a great spring day... a little cold and windy, but the cherry blossoms, which are famous in Korea, were absolutely gorgeous! (Pics to follow!)We were walking down one of the main roads and walked passed this Korean traditional music store and went in to look. 
We ended up having our own private concert of Korean music...the owners children quit high-school and now study traditional music...which is a "lost" art in Korea. It's very beautiful and interesting. It was a great experience to hear this music, and to make new friends who invited us into their home.It was a good day...unfortunately not totally enjoyable due to the cold wind and the feeling of sickness.We walked around the old palace fortress, tried our "hands" at archery (no pun intended!), and then went to more palace grounds, where a kind built this amazing pond...called Anapchi pond. Later we drove high up into the mountains and visited an old buddhist rock carving...very beautiful art work. If the day had been clear, we could have seen for miles! We were so high, and the landscape is just gorgeous!Okay, I just paused to read this, and it seems I'm rambling on... so I'll post some pics and let you see the day for yourself!
Easter...already?
It seems like it was only last weekend when I sat down and decided that I was going to read a passage of scripture each day of lent and really make this "holiday" worth something for myself... for my soul. How human I am. How I fail at remembering the things that matter, focusing and worrying too much about things that only last for a mere moment in the larger scope of things.
Andrea is a really good writer and has really made some interesting observations about Christianity and Spirituality within the context of our dualistic culture...where people don't want to hear about truth...where they only want to make their own truth so that they won't remember how uncomfortable they are in a life so insecure without something GREATER to believe in... check out her blog and read it!
http://blog.myspace.com/drea_m13
Smoothies and Jack Johnson
There's nothing like a warm, sunny, spring day, with the cherry trees in full blossom, mixed with the breezy tunes of Jack Johnson, combined with a fresh strawberry/mango smoothie that makes a person long for summer and beaches! I'm now officially one week into the beginning of my 7th month here in Korea and let me just take a moment to say, "HALLELUJAH!" I'm EAGERLY anticipating my return home... after the possibility of going to Thailand for a short time...hey, I think I'll deserve it after this year of working approximately 310 days out of 365! The weather is getting a lot warmer here, and I'm afraid of the hot muggy summer, but I'll just have to deal with it! The warmer weather also means more "sightseeing" which I'm happy about. It's been wierd being in another country and not seeing anything of much interest. 
A couple weekends ago, Andrea and I enjoyed an afternoon at Gwangan-Li, a very nice beach area, where we sat on the perfectly sandy shores and watched the many passers-by and then were invited to drink some Dong-Dong-Ju with some old men. Quite Random, but funny! This weekend we're hoping to go to our friend Mr. Lee's house in Geumsan, which is about 2-ish hours by train/car away from Busan. Anyway, more on that later (and hopefully some good photos!) The time is ticking on and I've gotta get ready and get to work.
