Spring Is Here

I love Korea! Spring comes soooooo early here. It's February 23rd and the temperature is 56F! It's practically summer compared to Wisconsin, where it is currently 23F! This is where I throw out my evil laugh at all those people living in torture in the state of Wisconsin! Mwuhahahahaha!

You can tell that it's spring time by the smell, the birds, and the way everyone acts. It's like mating season! You notice that all people think about or want seems to be love or a partner. The girls sit on one side of the classroom and giggle about the boys while the boys watch on and gossip about the girls. The middle schoolers just talk about the new school term that starts March 2nd and how they're going to get a boyfriend or girlfriend soon. That's all they want. Then, you see the young adults rutting around. The dance floor is packed at the bars and people are dancing unusually close. Koreans don't usually dance like us foreigners rubbing their bodies all over each other. But, in the spring it's a whole other story! Everyone is getting "frisky"!

I can tell by me because I'm more cheerful and I just want to play outside. I want to get a grill, lawnchair, and have a cold beer while chillin outside making a burger or steak. AWWWWW!!! I love spring!!

The Worst of Korea

So, in my 1 year and 2.5 month stint in Korea I've had some of the best times and made some of my best friends. Growing up they always say that you'll make your friends for life in college because you have a bigger group to choose from and you tend to have the most in commen with them. However, they must never have gone to Korea.

I have made the best friends in Korea. We have so much in common, do everything together, and have shared our happiness and sorrows. Even though we only know each other for a short period of time, we are the best of friends. I've been blessed with two best friends here in Korea. These are two girls that I couldn't imagine my life without. They're the two people who I put perfect trust in. I would never have to worry about talking behind backs or any real problems. For the most part, we haven't even had one disagreement in a year! Now, that's a miracle for girls who are so close.

However, with this happiness comes the sadness. I've known Kristina for about a year and we've become so close but now, in two weeks, she will be leaving Korea forever. This is the worst about Korea for those of us who choose to stay. We create tight-knit groups of friends who share everything but one day they will leave. I'm lucky, that this is my first real friend leaving Korea. But, it's a heartbreaking experience. The farewells are killers.

Kristina will be traveling to Taiwan, the Phillipines, and then back to NY. Later, she will most likely be joining her friend in Taiwan to teach there for another year. I think, once you get a taste for this lifestyle it's hard to give up. I am happy that she's staying near so that I can take a trip over there when I save some money. I mean, what's a little trip to Taiwan?! We will reunite, party, gossip, and then I will have to be on my merry way back to Korea, home. In a few years, I'm sure we will see each other again and be friends as if we never parted ways. Now, those are true friends.

I'm a very lucky girl so that I can truely say this is the worst of Korea. Losing a friend to another country. However, I shouldn't look at it as losing a friend because I know that we will always be friends. These people are my true soul-mates. With the love for adventure, travel, and the unknown. These people, I will always remember.

So, to those I've had to say good-bye to already and to those who I will soon see off, I've had a great time getting to know you, I'm happy to have met you, and I hope to reunite one day!

Vanlentine's Day in Korea

I'm celebrating my second Valentine's Day since I've been in Korea. I, of course, am celebrating it alone again. However, it's not as lonely as it would be in the states. The children here just call it chocolate day.

The major difference in Valentine's Day in Korea is that the girls give the boys chocolate. Their either make them chocolate or they buy special chocolates and give it to the boy they like. It's like a small confession of love. However, since I teach at an academy I don't get to see the kids give out chocolates to the boys they like. :-(

However, I was slightly suprised when I met two of my students right outside my apartment and they gave me chocolate and wished my a happy Valentine's Day. When I got to school was was given a larg amount of chocolates by all my students. Of course, they were all girls. And the boys ran up to me screaming for chocolate. I felt terrible that I had forgotten this useless holiday and didn't have any chocolates to give out. I guess I won't be getting any chocolates from the boys on White Day, March 14th.

I feel a little sad that I don't really know the traditions of older people on Valentine's Day. I just know what the younger kids do. Maybe next year I will learn when I have a boyfriend to spend it with. But for now, I'm happy with receiving chocolates from my kids.