On the eve of the tenth month...

It's a balmy Wednesday evening in Korea, and I am feeling good =)

Currently listening to Brandon Flowers croon to me about how "although we had our problems, we were fine". It makes me think about farming for some reason. Now he's telling me how he "came here to get over you". Probable talking about me, that's the only thing that makes sense!

We have entered into a new phase of weather here in Korea. The locals call it spring. I call it hot. Its not even as hot as it's going to be yet, but already its messing with my sleep. I haven't closed my bedroom window in weeks. I moved my fan from the other side of the room, to the foot of my bed in an effort to get some air moving around me while I sleep. The problem is, up until last night I was not wanting to sleep with my door open. And so the air would not come in through the window. Heaps of noise would come in, but nary a breeze. So last night, despite my hate of open doors while sleeping, I propped my door open with an umbrella and went to sleep while soft breezes rustled around me. And I slept. It was delightful.

Today I started my new workout plan/schedule. I have been going to the gym fairly regularly since I have been here. I took a few months off during the harsh winter when it was too cold to go outside at all, but before that I went a lot and since then I go even more. So the working out is not so much the issue. The issue is I am tired in the evening, which is usually when I go to the gym. I am tired and then I am hungry, like a beast, afterwards. So I workout late, get all energized, eat a ton late at night then can't sleep. Terrible cycle. So today I decided to go to the gym during my break from 2:30pm- 5pm. Terrific idea. I went for about an hour and then came back, ate some food and took a shower and went back to school. And now that I have taught again for a couple hours, I still feel ok. I am not starving, and I don't have the dread of working out looming over my evening. Its quite nice. Plus, in the middle of the day there are less people at the gym. Not so many gawking men, who act like they have never seen a foreigner, let alone a female. It's very awkward usually. But not the case in the middle of the day. The only people there are there to focus on their workout, not sight see. Very refreshing.

There are only 77 more days left of my stay in this country. I can't believe its almost been an entire year. What a thing to do... live in Korea for a year. Craziness. I am very proud of myself for sticking it out. I was about to quit a couple times, but sheer stubbornness and the knowledge that I would have to live with myself as a quitter for the rest of my life, made me stick it out. Although I should be careful, its not really over yet! My religion students laugh at me when I tell them I have a countdown. They are such a great group. We have so much fun! I will miss them. Most of them have taken my religion class for the past few terms. One girl has taken it since I got here. That is dedication. But they are all very nice, very funny and smart. We have great discussions.

I have a bike now and ride it to school sometimes. At first I was a very nervous biker. I haven't really done a lot of biking since I broke my collar bone senior year. But, its just like riding a bike! Just get on and go! Easy. The thing that is more tricky/dangerous here, is that no one really owns the road. Its every man, woman and child for himself or herself. Ring your bell, then veer violently when they still step in front of you. Watch for cars and trucks of all shapes and sizes, trying to pass on both sides, from both directions, try not to run over the little old lady selling greens, and then, please don't kill any small children! This is my mission, every time I get on m bike. Don't get killed, and don't kill anyone. Of course I am not even going very fast... but all the hazards along the way make it feel much faster than it really is. (mom, please calm down) My bike has made life easier though. I can use it to haul groceries, which I have actually only done once, but it was great... So I am glad I have it. A girl who lived here before gave it to me when she left, so when I leave I will pass it on. Hopefully many teachers can use it. Its the giving bike =)

It's kind of hard to be here sometime when I see all the posts about people getting married and having babies, not because I wish I was doing that, but because I am missing out on it. I didn't get to go to their wedding, or see their brand new baby.. Makes me sad. I feel like I am missing out on a lot of friends lives being over here. And I knew that would happen. It happens anytime you move to a new place. Someone somewhere always gets left behind. Thank goodness for Facebook, keeping us all connected, whether you like it or not! But I am so glad I came here. I hardly remember the girl I was before I left. I know she wasn't as smart as this one. I feel like somehow I grew up being over here. I think I was stuck being a big baby/adult before, but I feel like I have finally crossed the line into actual adulthood. Who would have thought that would happen while teaching a bunch of babies! The memories might fade, and I might forget some things I saw, or did, but the lessons, that's what sticks with you forever. And I have learned a lot =) So that is good news I think.

And so, on the eve of the tenth month, I sit here in the gathering gloom, spilling my guts out to all you people who read this. Knowing you read this has kept me going sometimes.. Thanks =) I hope that if you ever get a chance to do something like this, that you won't hesitate. Any age, doesn't matter. If you want to do it, DO IT. Suck up all the fears you have and get way out of your comfort zone and learn about another culture. No one expects you to feel fine right away, life is a journey... right? You learn along the way, while meeting really interesting, fantastic, loving, smart, funny and different people. So yeah. DO IT!!!

That is all.

Michelle