Christmas Gifts

The great thing about frequent moves is that you can recycle gift ideas for co-workers without guilt or shame. 

Thanks Mom!

This made me smile all day long. 

Cousin Distribution

In effort to evenly distribute and disperse my family members on the map of the United States, I will be moving to Columbia, South Carolina next month.   I just accepted a job at the Ft. Jackson Army Base library right outside of the city.

Candy Juice

This is Korean plum juice and it was one of my favorite things in Korea.  I knew that I was going to miss it.  But this week, I found a Korean grocery store here.  This juice is very sweet, hence it's nickname in the ward of "candy juice."

Brothers

 This month I've been hanging out with my brothers.  I dropped one off at school, helping him move in.  It was a fun drive and good to see where he'll be going to school.  Notice the shirt.  This brother has a wardrobe with a sense of humor.

I spent an afternoon with my youngest brother at Lagoon before he too started school.  We had fun, the park was empty and there were no lines.

The funny thing about genetics is that we had to add quiet rides between the crazy roller coasters.  Without any lines, I needed time to settle my stomach before going on the next.  This also allowed time for photo shoots with the ham.  Something about being the youngest means that you love the camera in your face.

Family

Moving home has been challenging and rewarding.  We've had 4 generations here.  That means that there is lots going on at any given moment and zero closet space.  But spending time laughing with my siblings is worth it.

Saying Goodbye

 Images from my last month in South Korea... this is the chapel, which is down a small side street in Seoul.

 Packing my apartment.

 Empty apartment.

 Busan beach

Awesome instructions for surviving rip currents at the beach: "1. Learn how to swim."

What's next

I don't know.

Short term, I am consumed with the details of moving my household across the world.  I will move back home, (Thanks Mom and Dad) while I continue the job hunt.

Goodbye faithful steed

This has been my ride in Korea.

I bought it used and it was a wonderful car for the most part until this last month.  On Tuesday I was delivering groceries to Girls Camp when it's little engine gave up the ghost.  Unfortunately I was right in the middle of an intersection... on a hill.  I turned on my hazards and waved the other cars around me.  I also called my insurance agency, who in turn called a tow truck to come.   It was while I was waiting for a tow truck that two very nice Korean cops stopped to help me.  We eventually got the car started again and drove it to the side of the intersection.
         Since I was just 500 yards away from the retreat where the YW were staying they sent another car down to pick up the groceries.  And I continued to wait with the cops. We hung out in their car with the air conditioning set to max, since it was scorching hot.  The tow truck driver arrived and we had a nice conversation, where nobody understood each other and we all resorted to our smart phones and their maps to show each other where we wanted to tow the car.  The cops left and I went with the tow truck driver.
       Koreans are addicted to their smart phones, you'll notice in the previous post that the cop was playing on his phone while we waited.  The tow truck driver played on his phone while driving the entire distance.  I played on my phone so that I wouldn't freak out about all our close calls.  Scariest ride of my life!!
      At the garage I learned that it would cost about $600 dollars to fix my car.  Since I am leaving next month, it wasn't worth it.  I sold it for parts yesterday and will spend my last month walking and taking public transportation.
       So goodbye Korea, I have one less thing tying me here and one less regret about moving home.  And one more awesome, "Oh, Korea!" story.

One of those months...

It's been one of those months that starts with being laid off and asked to leave the country in no more than 45 days and ends in the back seat of a Korean police car.  I am so glad that June is almost over.  I can't take anymore of this kind of fun.

Picture's worth a thousand words

People always talk about the love of physical books, how nothing beats holding one in your hand.  I agree.  But I would also like to point out that the opposite can be equally enjoyable.  I loved rereading the legendary huge Wheel of Time on my Nook.  So much easier to carry than the 600+ page books.

Symbolism

Spring arrives in Seoul and the cherry trees share beauty and grace with the world.  But if you ask an elder Korean the cherry blossoms mean more than just spring.  The Japanese occupiers are the ones who planted Cherry trees all over Korea.  It's the national tree of Japan and was a symbol of their military and cultural might.  There were national debates after the Japanese were driven out, if the Koreans should cut down all the cherry trees.  Could the Koreans see the beauty of the trees or would they always remain a symbol of repressions and foreign occupation?

North Korea wants and struggles to fight against all foreign interference.  They are sworn enemies of the Japanese and the Americans.  They argue if that everyone would just leave them alone they could have a peaceful unified country.  (Of course, they want that unified country to be communist.)  They rightfully argue that most of the two Korea's problems were created by outside countries and influences.
   History and symbolism are messy.  And this picture shows it perfectly. What is beauty?  Is it the American military's barbwire and presence which enables the democratic South Korea to thrive in the shadow of North Korea?  Is it the cherry blossoms planted by the exploitative Japanese at the beginning of the 20th century?  Is it the Korean spirit that enables them to build a vibrant city despite their history and current border disputes?

Stickers

If you came to my house you would see that I have a large sticker chart on my fridge.  No there aren't any children in my household.  But I still find stickers extremely motivating.  

Besides the motivation of the sticker, I also promise myself rewards for completing a certain number.  It's like playing bingo by yourself.   I haven't made it this month... perhaps next month I can conquer enough of the "natural man" to earn the carrot in front of me.

Lunch made easy

I am spending more and more time on Pinterest and I found this idea there.  Make ahead salads in a jar.  Dressing in the bottom, followed by topping and then the spinach.  When you are ready to eat, you just shake it all up and serve.

Easy, delicious and healthy... pick me!

 My main concern was that since I was the only one eating, would the salad make it to the end of the week without getting gross.  To my surprise and pleasure, the spinach leaves made it to the end of the week no problem.  The peas, tasted fine but looked icky because of the vinegar in the dressing.  I will put them higher in the jar next time.

I am excited about keeping this healthy habit... it fits so well into my hit the snooze button one more time and then rush around in the morning lifestyle.  

Win, win.  

Chocolate Exhibit

I organized a trip to the traveling Chocolate museum exhibit for FHE.  It was supposed to be epic.  It was three rooms, where the biggest room was the photo zone. 

South Korean museums frequently have a room for you to take pictures of yourself with themed elements from the exhibit.

This is just goes to show that not all adventures in living abroad end in success.  But that's not a reason to cancel the photo op!

Banana Milk

Directions to make Banana milk in the states: Melt a banana creamicle.  Add a little milk... just a little.  Mix and enjoy!   I was told that this is amazing on chocolate cereal... I don't know because I have been drinking it straight.

Cold Weather

I was introduced to this TV show when I went back to the states for Christmas.  Love it!  I've spent the past two months with all of my scrapbook supplies set up in front of the TV.

DMZ

 DMZ tour, early December.  I know, I really should download my camera more often...

 Looking from South Korea into the North.  Freezing cold and very windy, these soldiers only stand guard when the tour groups come.  They were very strict about where, when and how we could take pictures.

 "You can take pictures if you don't stand too close or touch the guards."  We were told over and over again not to make any hand gestures, including pointing, waving, birds or any other that we came up with where the North Koreans could see us.

But I did get this picture at an over look into North Korea.  The yellow line was the photo line, as in we couldn't walk up to the edge and take pictures. 

Image walking up to tall wall and just getting a glimpse over.  That was what this tour was like... just a glimpse into what North Korea was like and a brief snapshot of the history of the DMZ.  All the incidents that get glossed over in the sentence of your history class, "And there's been a cease fire ever since."

Holidays

I came back to Korea and found this at the grocery store the first week of January.  Valentines candy.  Koreans are amazing at planning ahead.  Of course that meant, that they took down the Halloween decorations the weekend before Halloween to put up the Christmas ones... I am not exaggerating. I have learned that the holiday decorations and candy goes to the quick and the prepared.