we are in seoul now

let the seoul-mate-searching begin. or not.
well we are on the unlucky 13th floor. we have an uh-mazing view. we look directly at the mountains. there is a little bit of city between us and the mountains, but not much. i have a feeling those mountains that are outside our window are the mountains that are separating us from north korea. we are close...but no worries people.

well. we got here on saturday, and i proceeded to hit the town. duh. i walked my confident self outside the doors of my safe little hotel room down to the front desk and asked how to get to the subway. right left- i could do that. so i did. met up with some people i had never met before, and had a slightly obscure connection with. it all worked out. they met me exactly where they said they would, and i was only 20 minutes late. not too shabby. we ate korean food. it was pretty good. basically you cook the meat at your table over this little gas grill and then you just enjoy the fresh meat wrapped up in lettuce with rice or whatever else you want to add to it. there are all types of ammeninties to add that they put out on the table. not your typical american burger and fries. but much more fun and communal. well i am going to go to church with these people next week. they went out to a bar after dinner, but like a good little girl i scurried on home so as not to worry my cousin's husband. i was home by 10:30 and i made it too and from in a completely foreign country where i speak not a word of the language all on my own. the subway is about as extensive as NYC, but much less complicated and very well marked- in English of course. I couldn't have survived any other way.

that was my first venture out into this big city by myself, and it went pretty well. hopefully i can continue to have successful excursions. gini and i did venture out with rachel in tow as well today. we went out in our little neighborhood to see what is around us. there are all kinds of exciting stores that i will have to linger in for hours and hours and hours sometime soon. i will let you know.

photos on their way

just a little something

I don't want to make anyone jealous. I just want to share my experiences. I wish you all could have taken in the ambience as I ran on the track last night at 930. Here on Camp Walker we are surrounded by mountains. Jake and Gini's house is at the top of one of the big hills, and down at the bottom is a flat valley with a golf course and nice track/stadium. I went down there reluctantly last night because it was so late, and I had lost my motivation. But once I got there and realized how cool it was, and that there was a nice breeze, and the fact that I was sandwiched between views of the big city and the fog hidden mountains- it was well worth it. I might just do it again tonight.

The first few days I was here it was pretty hot just like Texas except more humidity. Now the temperatures have dropped a bit and it is a bit overcast so the sun isn't so intense. But more importantly, the tan I was working on is fading way too fast.

June 19, 2011

Not that this blog is all about me or anything, but I just figured since we are all here together I would just give you a brief history of an important celebration that is upon us. I know yall are all hyped up about Juneteenth this year, being that it is on Father's day. I hope yall are joining in proper celebration by attending the gospel brunch at the Majestic theater. I am sure it will be a show stopper. Juneteenth is the day that commemorates the time when the Texas slaves got word of the Emancipation Proclamation that was declared on January 1st 1863. I have a hard time believing that it took all the way from Jan 1st to June 19th to cross the mississippi and into the piney woods. But I guess I am not here to ruffle any feathers on our US history. So back in 1983 on Juneteenth it was also Father's day just like this year. And wouldn't you know that is also the day we commemorate and celebrate the best Father's Day gift of all....your's truly.

I have celebrated birthdays all over the US and now the world. Having a summer birthday always allows for celebrations in various locations. I have been at camp numerous times, as well as Argentina, NYC, Dubai, and now Seoul. I have alot to live up to in the next 28 years. But the thing is I love my dad. And I really wish we could be together on our special celebration day. This has really happened I think one other time---hopefully it won't be our last. cough cough.

So whether you are celebrating Juneteenth or Father's Day or both or just my birthday this Sunday I do hope that this Sunday is truly a joyous occasion whereever you are.

not much to update

Well. In case you were wondering about my abrupt departure, I will just say that I found out not a minute too soon that I was leaving one day earlier than I expected. I was over at some friends' apartment on Saturday morning, and I was calling to check on my seat reservation. They said there wasn't a flight on Sunday at noon, but there was one leaving in about two hours from that moment. Needless to say I hung up on her, said my last goodbyes to my friend Stacy moving back to california, and ran out the door. The next hour of my life was more frantic than the day to day saturday or any other international departure that any of you have ever experienced i do believe. all that matters now is I am in korea and i have everything i need.

there isn't much else to update you on. i have been working on my jet lag. and thats about it. i haven't really been off base much yet. there are three primary characters that will play a large role in my time here. there is Gini- my dear cousin who is with child. Rachel- her pretty cute two year old daughter. and Jake- gini's husband who is a major in the USarmy. Jake picked me up from the airport in seoul and we took the fast train down to daegu. my travels started on saturday at noon, and i arrived in daegu at 10pm on sunday (8am CST). you know i don't do well with math, but i think its safe to say thats about 18 hours of travel- not so bad considering i had a direct flight from dallas to seoul.

rachel has taken to me quite easily. which has been a relief and joy. we have been to the pool and the park and been working on our letters. we have also been working on getting gini organized in preparation for two little ones. i am excited about a summer of cooking delicious healthy meals, and of course i have been getting in to my work out routine.

i know this is a completely jumbled mess of meaningless details, but its all i have thus far in this venture. oh the good news is that the most important accomplishment that has taken place in the last four days is the reunion of ease that comes with this sweet cousin of mine. we have been trying to accomplish way more than has been achieved because all we really want to do is sit around and solve the worlds problems. we have been talking for hours on in over three meals a day, and of course more than that. i don't see us slowing down any time soon.

i made it

but not with out a bit of chaos. the important thing to know is i made it here. update more later. jet lag is kicking in.

cross it off

my list is dwindling. i am thankful for the way things have been going since i last posted. the Lord has been sweet to let things fall into place. trusting and moving forward to the unknown. my favorite thing.

the big news is that i really and truly ran an entire 5K. i am shocked at this myself, so if you find your jaw dropping at this information just pick it back up and believe it. it was a good feeling knowing that i really accomplished a major goal that i never ever ever intended to set. but ya know at least i can tell my unborn children someday that i did it.

other than that i am just excited there are only 3 days of school left! and i leave for seoul in approximately 6 days and 13 hours....

may flowers

i heard recently on facebook or twitter or something that may is like december without presents. i couldn't agree more. people are graduating, moving, traveling, packing, celebrating. may just can't be a calm sunny day. there is too much going on.

here are somethings happening in my world this may. a few things have already passed and the rest is what i have to do in the next 19 days before i go to South Korea.
Well there are 11.3 days of school left PTL
I celebrated my sister in laws birthday which was the same day as our church wide service day
i joined a biggest loser competition. hello new wardrobe.
my cousin is pregnant and i will be going over to Seoul to help her out this summer
so. i am packing.
i have to pack up the classroom i don't call mine because they are having summer school here.
i have to pass back tons of artwork to kids that i really have no idea whose it is or how it is organized.
i have to take down bulletin boards
i have to do field day
i have two nearest and dearest friends visiting from dubai that we must have long deep wonderful conversations over delicious food and beverages
i have to go to izmir and cafe madrid with kat to use two coupons before i leave in 19 days
i have to run a 5k--aka snails pace
i also have a dear dear friend from california who i have to enjoy laughter and memories with
i haveto figure out what i am going to do on a 14 hour flight with no laptop or decent ipod
i have to prepare myself for the possibility of meeting an ex-pat SeoulMate-duh
i have to work out about 15 times before i leave in 19 days
i have to bask in the sun since i won't be able to be in the pool for 61 days of this summer.
i have to see all my wonderful people friends before i go across the biggest ocean in the world
i have to hold my little scarlett and tippit and play and swim and snuggle and read

all in all there is so much to do in so little time. the thing is i am just going to do what i can and do the best i can while the days move along. there are days and weeks that really do feel like a whirlwind, but it is nice to know that there isn't much anxiety necessary. it is all in the control of our great Creator so the other thing i have to do over the next 19 days is keep The Main Thing the Main Thing.