Well I've arrived in Jeju, South Korea! I have to make this short as I am at a break in work, but I have internet at my hotel (which I am staying at for another night while my apartment gets ready). The school is beautiful, brand new with great materials. All the teachers are super kind and the kids are well behaved and cute as can be.
Much to tell, but little time to do it. Korean food is great, dumplings, ddapooki, kimchee. YUM!
Pictures, as you all want will come soon. When I get my apartment I will hopefully have internet and can do stuff from my laptop.
My throat is kinda dry, lack of consistent sleep. All the local oranges and tangerines are helping. Send some Emergenc-E!! Forgot to bring lots of it.... Addresss to come soon.
Miss you all!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
15 Things I will miss most about Oregon
Seeing the end in sight as I jet out in 3 days , I am experiencing feelings that I best get my good fill of normalizations while I still can. Having grown up exclusively here in this state, I feel I know if fairly well. Also, having traveled around this country and others, I understand that this state offers a lot that can't be offered elsewhere.
1. Family: It goes without saying that leaving my family behind will be the toughest part of my journey. Continual support and love of this venture makes it easier, but this will certainly be the longest I am seperated from everyone. I will miss the daily interactions I have with my folks, routine visits to my brothers and holidays spent with relatives. Leaving these behind is neccesary, but I know it won't be easy, especially during such holidays where so much tradition has been instilled in me. This is the main purpose of this blog and I hope to keep it open and accessible to those who choose to take an interest in what life is like for me overseas. Surely is year is not too long, is it?
2. Friends: The hardest part of leaving is knowing that I will have to re invent myself for new people I hope to befriend. Its great having a backbone of support from my peers. I'm glad the internet exists in this day and age as I think it makes the ability to leave the country for such a long time a lot easier knowing there is video chatting and social community outputs I can keep in touch with. Its going to be fun to see how much everyone changes in this year....
3. My Grandpa's Weekly Letter: It has been happening for roughly 40 years. Each week my Grandpa calls up family members to get a jist of whats happening in the day to day lives of everyone. It makes family reunions not as exciting as all the news is already known, but I have always found it extremely unique and amazing that he continues this tradition each week. Going strong at 91!
4. My Home: The comforts of home are pretty wonderful. Not only do I have familiarity that I am able to navigate each inch in total darkness, but I am going to miss all that is associated with living my folks. They have made some wonderful improvements in the last couple of years that only make this place that much more of an appealing center for comfortable living.
5. My Car: Knowing that I might not come back to this one again, I have gained a sentimental attachment to this black beauty that is the gondolla. My 04 Forester is the perfect vehicle for me. I honesty don't know what I would prefer over this (okay maybe a Range Rover), but realistically I have driven many cars, new and used and I wouldn't even trade this one in for one of the new 09's. Test driving them didn't give me the same satisfaction that this one does. Hope you're still around when I come back...
6. My Bicycle: This two wheeled Jamis Aurora is the possession that I might miss more than anything. I have battled back and forth on taking it with me. I just can't get over the tariff costs though ($300! one way). I am on this for usually hour and a half or two most days on this steel frame love of mine. It is more than just a bicycle to me, it is my spiritual and meditative retreat.
7. My iMac: I just can't get enough of this 24" power house. It surpasses my expectations so much, I am honestly going to miss it. I am spoiled to have it I know. I use the computer for so much these days, it really was worth every penny. Take good care of it mom.
8. Netflix: Being an avid movie watcher, you simply can't beat the ease and convenience of this service. If you are still living in 2001, you don't know what you have been missing. I especially have liked it more so now that they have so many 'Play Now' movies on the list. I almost always will fall asleep to something I have a little interest in devoting time too.
9. Coffee: Sweeter than 1000 kisses, Beethoven once said. Grants Pass being one of the heaviest coffee stands per capita (home of Dutch Bros.), this delicious treat is an ambition to sleep at night, as its what I look forward to the most in the mornings. I'm just glad my dad has the same obsession and usually has a fresh pot awaiting my assent to the kitchen.
10. The Mountains: Not just the close proximity of the mountains that skiing/boarding is available to do each weekend, but the views from my bedroom window even trickle up the tree laced ridge as Grants Pass sits beautifully in a lush evergreen valley.
11. Beer: Oregon being the mecca for IPA and other such delights. I taken it for granted of the plethora of selection I can get at the corner store, but its a taste as delightful and complex with each new sip I forever will seek.
12. Lawns/Grass: Take this for what you will, but I like green. Everything to do with the color. It warms my soul and I am not sure how I will react to dirt/sand soccer fields accompanying most of the elementary schools in S.K.
13. My Free Time: There has been quite a lot of it in my months leading up to Korea. Some days are more productive than others, but I like waking up with my only mission being a tall cup of coffee and 4 chapters in my latest novel.
14. The Oregon Coast: Unique enough to have its own magazine, its unlike any ecosystem on earth. Though unique doesn't necessarily mean warm, per say.
15. Being Anonymous: I have a bit of a feeling I will be sticking out somewhat in the land of the morning calm. Not knowing what it will be liked to be stared at constantly is an uneasy feeling, though I think I can ignore most instances.
1. Family: It goes without saying that leaving my family behind will be the toughest part of my journey. Continual support and love of this venture makes it easier, but this will certainly be the longest I am seperated from everyone. I will miss the daily interactions I have with my folks, routine visits to my brothers and holidays spent with relatives. Leaving these behind is neccesary, but I know it won't be easy, especially during such holidays where so much tradition has been instilled in me. This is the main purpose of this blog and I hope to keep it open and accessible to those who choose to take an interest in what life is like for me overseas. Surely is year is not too long, is it?
2. Friends: The hardest part of leaving is knowing that I will have to re invent myself for new people I hope to befriend. Its great having a backbone of support from my peers. I'm glad the internet exists in this day and age as I think it makes the ability to leave the country for such a long time a lot easier knowing there is video chatting and social community outputs I can keep in touch with. Its going to be fun to see how much everyone changes in this year....
3. My Grandpa's Weekly Letter: It has been happening for roughly 40 years. Each week my Grandpa calls up family members to get a jist of whats happening in the day to day lives of everyone. It makes family reunions not as exciting as all the news is already known, but I have always found it extremely unique and amazing that he continues this tradition each week. Going strong at 91!
4. My Home: The comforts of home are pretty wonderful. Not only do I have familiarity that I am able to navigate each inch in total darkness, but I am going to miss all that is associated with living my folks. They have made some wonderful improvements in the last couple of years that only make this place that much more of an appealing center for comfortable living.
5. My Car: Knowing that I might not come back to this one again, I have gained a sentimental attachment to this black beauty that is the gondolla. My 04 Forester is the perfect vehicle for me. I honesty don't know what I would prefer over this (okay maybe a Range Rover), but realistically I have driven many cars, new and used and I wouldn't even trade this one in for one of the new 09's. Test driving them didn't give me the same satisfaction that this one does. Hope you're still around when I come back...
6. My Bicycle: This two wheeled Jamis Aurora is the possession that I might miss more than anything. I have battled back and forth on taking it with me. I just can't get over the tariff costs though ($300! one way). I am on this for usually hour and a half or two most days on this steel frame love of mine. It is more than just a bicycle to me, it is my spiritual and meditative retreat.
7. My iMac: I just can't get enough of this 24" power house. It surpasses my expectations so much, I am honestly going to miss it. I am spoiled to have it I know. I use the computer for so much these days, it really was worth every penny. Take good care of it mom.
8. Netflix: Being an avid movie watcher, you simply can't beat the ease and convenience of this service. If you are still living in 2001, you don't know what you have been missing. I especially have liked it more so now that they have so many 'Play Now' movies on the list. I almost always will fall asleep to something I have a little interest in devoting time too.
9. Coffee: Sweeter than 1000 kisses, Beethoven once said. Grants Pass being one of the heaviest coffee stands per capita (home of Dutch Bros.), this delicious treat is an ambition to sleep at night, as its what I look forward to the most in the mornings. I'm just glad my dad has the same obsession and usually has a fresh pot awaiting my assent to the kitchen.
10. The Mountains: Not just the close proximity of the mountains that skiing/boarding is available to do each weekend, but the views from my bedroom window even trickle up the tree laced ridge as Grants Pass sits beautifully in a lush evergreen valley.
11. Beer: Oregon being the mecca for IPA and other such delights. I taken it for granted of the plethora of selection I can get at the corner store, but its a taste as delightful and complex with each new sip I forever will seek.
12. Lawns/Grass: Take this for what you will, but I like green. Everything to do with the color. It warms my soul and I am not sure how I will react to dirt/sand soccer fields accompanying most of the elementary schools in S.K.
13. My Free Time: There has been quite a lot of it in my months leading up to Korea. Some days are more productive than others, but I like waking up with my only mission being a tall cup of coffee and 4 chapters in my latest novel.
14. The Oregon Coast: Unique enough to have its own magazine, its unlike any ecosystem on earth. Though unique doesn't necessarily mean warm, per say.
15. Being Anonymous: I have a bit of a feeling I will be sticking out somewhat in the land of the morning calm. Not knowing what it will be liked to be stared at constantly is an uneasy feeling, though I think I can ignore most instances.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
