Catching Up.

Do you ever have that moment where you realize how behind you are? I feel like I've let this blog fall to the wayside perhaps because so much is happening in life right now and I have a million things I could post about: another Kinder student, top Korea sites, an epic photo scavenger hunt, a goodbye to Dawna Diamon, God answering prayers, and a million more things that are part of this thing I call life. I spent the last few days trying to figure out what people would want to hear about most, how do I pick one thing out of the thirty that are happening? Then I had to remind myself this blog isn't ultimately for anyone but for me...if were for you, I'd have quit when I realized I'm lucky to get one comment :). And so I'm gonna post about what I want to post about: life. And if I get no comments I'll be okay because in 20 years when I'm trying to tell my daughter a bit about Korea I'll have this blog to point her to and she can comment then ;).

So to summarize it all up:

Dawna Diamon Leaves Seoul
So I'm not sure how to adequately explain how much I'm going to miss having this girl in my Korea life. She was the first friend I made in this new country, the first person I habitually teased, the first person to invite me to an activity, the first person to invite me to a weekend away, the first person to force me to try new food, and the first person to let me just be me. I so enjoyed getting to know her the last few months and am going to miss all of the late night chats, diners out, crazy group gatherings, and even the noreabang sessions. This girl is a legit person and I know that God is going to do some crazy good things with her and through her and I'm pretty excited to hear all about them in our Skype life :). I honestly believe that if I hadn't met Dawna Diamon I might not have stayed in Korea or even worse I'd have stayed and hated it. Plus, the girls got gorgeous eyes!



Photo Scavenger Hunt
Well Heidi Stromberg had a birthday and then Dawna Diamon left Seoul so we had to have two different epic photo scavenger hunts in honor of both those events. For Heidi's birthday; Dawna, Heidi, and I went to Sadang and Sukdea to check tasks of our lists. We found ourselves some epic Korean girl earrings, kimbapchunguks galore, a bench to fall off, and an awkward Korean man to hug.

For Dawna's Goodbye Hunt we had three different teams and roamed all over Seoul for hours completing a list of 53 items. I'm honored to have been on a team with Lauren, Holly, and Jennifer. Together we jumped on an off a subway car 13 times before the car left, stripped a Korean man, got fed oysters, ate live octopus, drank soju with ajuchis, bought team sweatshirts, touched a Korean man's bum, and a million more insane things. We managed to finish all but 8 on the lists and by unanimous vote were declared the winners.



Eating New Foods
For as long as I can remember I have been picky. My mom used to say all the time that when I was an adult my eating habits would finally change...she was wrong. I'm still just as picky, in fact, because I don't have a mom forcing me to take five bites I'm probably even more picky. I just don't like the way things taste sometimes or more importantly the way the feel when I eat them. And I've given up on trying foods because really what's the point when I could just be eating chicken tenders and ranch? In fact, last night I told someone I hated pudding to which they asked have you tried it? I of course had to answer no. Alas, coming to Korea has forced me to be a little different and having new friends who find my eating habits sad has also forced me to be a little different. I've started to trying things....and to my surprise even like some! I now can say I eat strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, oranges, tangerines, seaweed, lettuce, pineapple, cereal WITH milk, and maybe a few other things I'm forgetting. I've also tried and HATED live octopus (pictured), mussels (both for the scavenger hunt), cabbage, kimchi, fish, raddish, and again maybe a few more things I'm forgetting. There's also a few things I haven't fully decided on for example I'm eating a banana solely because a student gave it to me right now but I don't actually like it at all...maybe by the time I'm finished? Seems maybe I didn't need to just be an adult but an adult living overseas!



Cherry Blossoms
And here I thought they were only in D.C. but it turns out seeing them from at least the continent they came from is so much better. There's actually cherry blossoms growing all over Korea, including one four steps from my house BUT seeing them by the river is just what you do. I braved and shoved my way through the overcrowded subway station with Heidi and Ben to get a look at these beauties. We even took lots of pretty pictures...okay maybe mine weren't so pretty. Heidi and I competed in a Rock, Paper, Scissors contest which we lost in the first round. AND best of all a group of girls asked Heidi and I for a picture AND then two ajuchis asked for one as well. I'm not sure that I'll ever get used to being "famous" just for being white but gosh it does great things for self-esteem.




Hairbands are Still Great
Seriously, I realized at the beginning of this month how much money I had spent last month and was beyond surprised. These little things are pricey but they are worth every dime. I swear I get complimented by someone every time I wear one. And they just look awesome. And jewelry here is also great. But now I'm going to have to learn how to budget a bit better...it was so much easier when I made an intern salary and had to pinch every penny...having money is way too much fun to want to pinch it!



Kinder Class Rocks
Okay I know it's a photo of only Minseo--but seriously isn't she cute. I'll take time hopefully soon to introduce you to the other three, but let me just tell you they're great. Lately, I've noticed how hard they all work to talk with me or in Minseo's case to play charades with me. They've also gotten super protective and get pretty upset when other classes are "scaring" me (granted I'm pretending to be scared but all of the kids believe it to be true.) Eric even got bitten recently when he was defending me from the Libe class kids--yes, the other boy got in lots of trouble. All four--especially Eric--have also gotten very possessive of my time and hate when I interact with other classes too much. They'll usually work together to find a way to bring me back to the Kinder room. Finally, they all always want to talk with me and show me what they are doing or making. Whenever we play K-nex after lunch, I'm guaranteed to have to tell them all several times how great they're items are! But most of all, I love all the kisses. These four have completely captured my heart. And to be honest I don't even have a favorite...they're all that great.




Making the Better Story
I've been introduced to Donald Miller lately and he talks about how it's your decision to make your life a better story or to make it a boring one. I think I'm definitely learning to chose the better story. I've seen God answer so many prayers since I've been in Korea and I'm definitely learning to trust in Him so much more. I know with out a doubt that my time here has changed me and there's no doubt that the longer I'm here, the more I'll grow. I'm so glad that I came to Korea and that God always works in our lives. I never thought I'd work with little kids, I never thought I'd read the Bible everyday, I never thought I'd eat live octopus, I never thought I'd be patient, I never thought I'd go somewhere where I know no one, and I never thought I'd be who I am right now...but I am and that's all God. And I'm sure to become even more different as I let him be the maker and myself the clay.