One Month Review

Hello! I intended to write a message once I returned home, but as expected, the past few weeks have been busy. Rather, the weekends have been extremely busy with a wedding shower, trip to New York City, visit to see college friends in middle Georgia area, and March will conclude this weekend with the wedding.

The novelty of being home is slowly wearing off - starting to find myself bored at home looking for excuses to drive around town. Suppose it's safe to say I'm over my fears of driving again. Last weekend was the big push when I had to drive to an area of Georgia I'd never been to before.

Last night I began a few grad school applications to get the ball rolling. I want to pursue a master's in Instructional Technology with a focus in school library media, and fortunately it seems the GRE may not be required for some of the schools I'm looking at. Quite excited by that piece of news, though looks like I might have to return the study guide I just bought. Oh darn, less studying.

People have asked what things I'm missing about Korea, if I've experience reverse culture shock, etc. so let me answer a few of the questions.

1. What do you miss most about Korea?
This could be answered in a couple of ways. My first answer would be the food. About a week after returning home I had an intense dream about ssamjang sauce - the most amazing sauce used for Korean BBQ, my favorite dish. Even now, my mouth is watering at just the thought of the cooked meat with rice wrapped in a piece of lettuce.
My second answer is that I miss the independence. I'm back living at home, which is wonderful to spend time with my family and save on some bills, but obviously living on one's own provides independence, even small things, you can't find living at home. That's probably been the biggest adjustment.

2. Have you experienced reverse culture shock?
I thought I'd experience it most through music on the radio, but so far I've only heard a few songs I don't recognize. Maybe radio stations just play the same things more than I ever noticed before. My biggest case of reverse culture shock was during my trip to New York City. Crowded streets weren't unusual in Seoul, yet in NYC I could understand everything people were saying to each other -- it was shocking what people would say to one another in such close range to strangers. Perhaps that's the conservative side taking over, as was expected in Korea. I am still battling feeling self-conscious about how much skin or whatnot I show while out in Atlanta. It's getting hot quickly, so things are getting shorter and less material. I'm also more aware of what my friends say to me around others, particularly if it's bad words or maybe a topic I wouldn't so loudly (though it's probably actually a normal volume) share.

3. What's it like to be back?
A general question, but one I've been asked frequently. My go-to answer is 'strange'. It's vague, but provides just enough detail to answer the question. Really, it's a loaded question that's difficult to fully answer. I want to tell people about my time in Korea, but feel like some of the things I've done or seen will go over their heads and they won't be as interested in it as perhaps I want to be. But it really is strange to be home. I've found myself watching people more than I did when I was simply a resident. At times I feel like an outsider trying to find the way back into the crowd. My worries and others' worries might no longer sync. I told my best friend that I was concerned about how well friendships would hold up once I returned, including hers. I still have things in common with my friends, but I'm trying to find my way back into their lives. Previously I was just that friend they miss who's off in another country teaching English. I want to be more than that since I really did have some great life lessons while there, as utterly corny as that may be. And the kids. I want to talk all the time about the lovely, ridiculous, hilarious things my kids did but then I'd be like that parent who shows you hundreds of photos crammed in their wallet.

All in all, happy to be home. Some days I really miss Korea and wish I had hopped back on the plane, but then I'd just feel like I'm running away to what's safe. So, time to take what I've learned there and apply it to my new life in Georgia.

Thanks to those who've followed along with my blog from the beginning steps - I appreciate the readership. Maybe I'll update here now and then.

Wishing you all the best.

Check -list

Man, being accomplished and responsible feels amazing. Too bad laying around amongst blankets and snacks also feels amazing.

Closed my bank account today and sent money home. I should be meeting my goal of money to leave with, so quite pleased with that. My boss told me that if I just leave the country, the bank will close my account after a month of inactivity... and I should just flee without paying my phone bill since they're not going to make the effort to look for a foreigner with a crappy phone and small charge. It amuses me to know end that the advice from my boss to settle things is just to flee the country.

After picking up my paycheck yesterday, I said goodbye to the desk teachers and my boss. The good news is that I'll be welcomed back should I be unable to find a job back home. haha Hopefully this isn't the case, but good to know I have a back-up plan...

Post-Work Update

Happy Sunday! Enjoying day 2 of no more work. Friday didn't feel like my last day, and I'll be back Monday partly to pick-up my last check and pay bills in advance, and partly to peek at the new teachers. Typically the Monday after the first day for new teachers is a branch dinner of amazing Korean BBQ, so naturally I'm going to invite myself to this shindig. My co-workers have also asked if I'm going to do any going-away dinner / celebration, so guess I should figure something out.

Saturday afternoon I went to the airport to pick up a friend who's moving here for a year to work at the same company. Very strange to go there a week early knowing I'll be doing the same thing but with luggage in a matter of days.

Some things I cannot wait to do once I get home:
Eat Chick-fil-a
Eat American Chinese food
Play N64 and Wii (I've been talking about this for monthssss)
See my newly decorated room
Drive
See friends / family

Final Days

Tonight is my final night in my apartment. I'm nearly finished packing... just a few things to vacuum the air out of the bags and stick in my suitcases. In the morning I'm moving my things into my co-worker's apartment where I'll crash at her place until I fly out.

Today was my final day with one of my great classes from this term. On Tuesday they enjoyed a pizza party because they won top prize for the highest score of all classes on an end-of-the-term quiz meant to boost their overall class scores and help them level up. Our average was 29.4 out of 30. So proud of them!!! All term they've worked hard and tried to improve their work. It also helps they'd always laugh at things I said... maybe at me, rather than what I said, but I'll take it... ^_^ Today, however, some of the girls came to my class early and while I was out, they decorated my board and walls with balloons and sweet messages. I'll have to post the photos later when I have more time.

My second class of the day was the one class I struggled with the most to care and/or not be rude to one another or myself. Sadly, the last day of ever seeing them was the same as any other day. Although, I will admit, their anti-smoking posters for their final project were rather creative.

My last day of work tomorrow will be very surreal. I only have one class, so I'll be off work at 7pm rather than 10pm. It'll be unusual saying bye to the desk teachers and my boss knowing I won't be back Monday to work, although I do hope to stop by Monday evening for the traditional 'welcome the new teachers' dinner.

February Update

Once again, apologies for the long absence. No excuses this time... just been lazy and working. Week 12 is about to start, which means only 2 weeks of work, or 10 days left. Whoa. This number looks odd when written out.

The past month has been filled with work, a few vacation days for the Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year. I've also been able to travel to Busan with some co-workers, and will actually do so again next weekend. One of my co-workers and good friends left this past week, so that was difficult. I've always known I get attached to people too easily, but after going to his going-away celebration it became more clear. It's going to make my goodbyes to other co-workers that much more difficult.

I'm both excited and terrified to return home. Excited to finally have the food, people, and technologies I missed. You have no idea how excited I will be when I can use a dryer for the first time in 18 months. Or the easiness of traveling from place to place in a car rather than taxi or subway. My mouth waters at the thought of the food I'll be able to enjoy soon... one word: Chick-fil-a!!!! However, I am nervous about what will happen and the plans I have set in my head for where I want to go next. Grad school is the plan, but I need to prepare for the GRE, applications, and so on once I'm back in Atlanta. I'm also unsure how long it'll take to re-adjust to everything, so please be patient with me if I'm amazed by the tiniest things, ask a million questions, get lost when driving, etc.

Now that I feel less guilty for the lack of updates... back to packing I go. I've come to the conclusion my room or area has to look super chaotic before everything comes together. Oops.

Happy New Year!

Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their break from school, work, etc.