A Year in Review

Exactly one year ago today, I began writing this blog.  It began as a way to document my journey to Korea and the teaching experiences I would have, but became so much more.  It become my way to take my friends and family around the world along with me while I travel .  My outlet for emotions.  My communication to those I cared for most.  Looking back on that initial post, it is hard to believe I am the same person.  I was lying on the floor of my mediocre apartment, trying to make this life changing decision.  Somehow I knew it was right for me.  It was meant for me.

Since that initial post, I have accomplished more than I ever thought possible.  I have formed friendships with some of the most amazing people from every corner of the globe.  I have been all around Korea and witnessed the Korean lifestyle and culture at its best.  I have traveled to Japan and found the beauty and destruction that has faced that country.  I have seen Thailand and seen the beauty of the country and its people.  Coming to Korea was the best choice I have ever made.  While it was one of the hardest decisions of my life, it has afforded me the ability to experience so much more than I ever could have imagined.

An entire year has passed and I only have the future lying ahead of me.  Before I came here I felt trapped.  Paralyzed.  Unfocused.  Confused.  Now I finally know what I want to do with the rest of my life and how I want to live it.  Coming to Korea changed me for the better.

Before coming here to Pohang, Korea I had no idea what was in store for me.  I didn't know the culture.  I certainly didn't know the language.  I didn't know a single soul.  I didn't know enough about Korea to fill an index card, let alone an entire year's worth of blogs.  Somehow I have fallen in love with the spontaneity, richness and culture that is the embodiment of Korea.

Here are my favorite pictures from 2010.  I can only imagine the shenanigans that will take place in the upcoming year.  The places in Korea yet to be visited.  Friends yet to be met.  Experiences yet to be had.  If 2011 is anything like 2010, this blog will continue with a newfound fervor.  May 2011 bring as many rewarding experiences and friendships as 2010 did.

Our Pohang Beerball League

My 24th Birthday.  Korean style. 

Going away party for Jared, one of the best guys I know.

My very first Pohang Steelers soccer game.

My first Daegu Ropes course excursion

World cup fever

Going away party for Nick Kelly

Mudfest 2010

One of many Guyompo beach trips

At a harbor in Japan with my ladies

The beginning of our Chuseok vacation to Geoju Island

After our hike up a mountain near Busan during Chuseok

Some of my best girls at Bogyeongsa

Angry Sunny during arts and crafts

Devilish little Hansu

The famous Homigot Hand

My part time kinder 6 class

Anna putting on her dancing shoes at With Wine

Pictures in Andong

Ladies afternoon in Daegu at the Holy Grill

Halloween 2010

Ugly Christmas sweater party

Caroling with the babies to each home.  Cutest Santas ever.

Standing on the Bridge Over the River Kwai

Two sleepy tigers allowed me to hold their tails.  Terrifying.

My newest tattoo.

My Weekend in Pictures

My weekend in Pohang was loaded up on Christmas spirit.  With less than a week until Santa comes to visit, life is hectic to say the least.  Between the holiday parties, Christmas'fying the school and readying it for the arrival of our two new teachers, end of semester parties with the kiddos, figuring out plans for my Thailand beach vacation...there is lots to do.  I spent my much needed weekend away from the Kids College at various Christmas and birthday parties around Pohang.  Included were an ugly Christmas sweater party and a quadruple "Funny Hat" birthday bash for Justin, Will, Ryan and Tanya.  Fun times were had by all and I am pretty sure the pictures prove that for me.

Enjoy. 

A big group picture with our sweaters and rudolph noses

The rudolph nosed ladies

I love Christmas

My fabulous co-worker Heather

Cheesing it up with Teddy and Raechal

Rudolph noses make hugging awkward

My girl Virginia

With Will, my BSU buddy and birthday boy extrodinaire

When the waygooks go out, a guitar is always nearby

Tim and Molly

Teagan, Jitae and Leigh

With Miss Molly

With Miss Molly

White Trash and Summer Camp

[Still no decision made on whether or not to remain in Korea for an additional length of time.  I am attempting to listen to my heart and trust whatever it tells me to do.  We'll see how that goes.]

#126.  In Korea never assume that the American films at the local movie theater are in English.  Don't be duped by the English name or the listing for the movie that is English.  Always double check by asking the movie-cashier-lady of sorts if it is truly in English.  I have been very lucky in here until this afternoon when a group of us went to see Toy Story 3.  Imagine our surprise when Woody begins to speak in Korean.  Now we know.  Always double-triple check.

#127. Koreans cannot have dual citizenship.  Here they can only be Korean.  They are allowed to have a permanent residence in another country but not another citizenship.  Just one of the many differences between Korea and the United States.

This weekend was definitely one for the Korean scrapbook.  Included was a goodbye themed party for one of Pohang's favorite ladies, Miss  Megan Bruce.  Imagine an entire town of foreigners dressed to the nines in the finest white trash apparel available.  Complete with intense eye shadow, trucker hats, hideous tattoos, rollers in the hair and every other white trash faux pas imaginable.

Also included in my weekend was my first summer camp with my school.  We went to our sleepover camp place that is about 40 minutes from our school and had a great time.  Games took up the first few hours, dinner in the middle and more games and a speech contest rounded out our night.  It was interesting to see the kids away from the educational confines of Kids College.  They were so excited to spend the evening with myself and my coteacher Heather that it was hilarious.  Every time one of my kids got someone out in dodgeball they would yell "Jenn Teacher!" just so I would look.  After getting a big thumbs up from me the inevitable smile would fill their face and my heart would melt all over again.

Even though we were hot and sweaty and had to give up our coveted Friday evening, sometimes it takes a night like that to remind me why I do what I do.

Oh and as always, comments are welcome, encouraged and appreciated.

White trashing it up with my best friend in Pohang

Getting the velcro rollers out of Megan's hair.  We learned
that night to never EVER put rollers in naturally curly hair.

The woman of the hour with a few of her TILT favorites, John and Andy

Jesus Drives a Ford

Some of my kiddos cheesing it up for the camera
in between dodgeball games

To of my favorite girls:  Elly and Sophia

The entire group

My group for the night.
We named ourselves The Tigers.

I taught my kids the "Down by the Banks" game.
Anyone who was in the girl scouts knows exactly the game I am referring to. 

80's, Daegu, Ropes Course

[All of these pictures are from friends in Pohang.  Big big thank you to Pearl, Darin, Jared and Kyle for taking amazing pictures!  Hopefully my camera will be fixed in a few weeks!]

So this past weekend was by far the best since arriving to the land of the tiny people.  My friends from Pohang made it a birthday weekend to remember that's for sure.  Let me give you a quick rundown.

Friday was the 80's party.  It was complete with spandex, huge hair and anything florescent we could find.  The pictures pretty much say enough.

Pohang, 80's style

The ladies in the 'Hang know how to make the 80's look good

Kyle with the Pohang Steelers mascot.  Notice the peace
sign?  In Korea when a camera comes out so does that.

Saturday was my very first professional soccer game (Pohang Steelers) and our trip to Daegu.  Unfortunately the Steelers lost 0-1.  Maybe we are bad luck? 

Saturday afternoon through Sunday night was my first overnight trip outside of Pohang.  It was phenomenal but ridiculously expensive.  Good thing I get paid in a week!  We walked around to all the different shops around town and then had dinner at the Holy Grill.  It is a western bar and grill and has amazing food.  I never thought I would miss bruschetta and a good philly cheesesteak as much as I do.  Probably in the top 3 of the best i've ever had.  Yum!  (Unfortunately pictures of the bar and our travels that night are not up on good old facebook yet so all you picture lovers will have to be patient *cough cough mom*)

Sunday was the ropes course.  Now imagine a "theme park" filled with cutesy little pop up pictures, an animal petting zoo (complete with the incredible escaping monkey), couples in identical clothing and a huge ropes course complete with zip lines...and you have my afternoon. 

This Korean girl does not like her duck shirt, or maybe having
her picture taken by 30+ foreigners.

The Promise Garden

For all of you who are not "ropes course savy" here is basically a rundown of what it is.

A ropes course is basically a huge obstacle course that you complete while suspended on cables about 100 ft in the air.  Ok it sounds dangerous but it's really not.  You get a super awesome helmet, little grey gloves and a harness to wear.  If you fall the combination of all of those will save you from death.  That was my thought process at least. In all seriousness...it was super safe and super awesome. 

You climb ropes (which I fell off of), climb ladders, scale a tightrope (which I ALMOST fell off of) and so much more.  The best part of the entire thing is when you strap yourself into a 200ft cable and zipline yourself in the air to the other side of the park.  2 words for the experience of a zip line.  FREAKING AWESOME.  Nothing but air and the trees around you.  The only bad part is that all good things must come to an end...and the end of a zipline is a huge green cushion that you basically just slam yourself into in order to come to a stop.  My bruises have bruises.

A view to show you exactly how far we had to go
via zip line.  Pretty awesome. 

Green cushion.  Hard hat.  Cable.  Completely safe.

After an amazing weekend school was the last thing I wanted to do.  Trading 80's clothing, western food and adventure for snotty kids, crying kids and trying to explain to a child why the "n" on "vacumn" is silent?  No thanks.  Thankfully the munchkins behaved themselves and my day was full of arts and crafts and random assignments that took the entire class period so the day went by ridiculously fast.  Thank you sweet baby Jesus.

Wow ok.  Long post.  Sorry for the "On Friday I did...On Saturday I did...On Sunday I did."  I hate reading posts that give the lifestory of someone.  I don't give a crap that you woke up and brushes your teeth and then played world of warcraft for 14 hours.  At least I did something with my weekend.  Hopefully you weren't too bored and it inspired you to try something adventurous this week.  Maybe find a ropes course of your own?  No?  Ok well just live vicariously through me.

The next adventure?  Paintball.  It's gonna be epic.  Be on the lookout.