Farmer Chords

"You can sing this when alone, or whistle it through your teeth and it will feel like home, no matter how far you'll be..."



Finally after seven months, I'm homesick. It started with missing my friends' graduations and remembering my own, and it engulfed me after watching Prince Caspian in the theaters which not only took me back to the perfect day when Carly, Lizzy and I watched the first one, but it also brought on an onslaught of emotions from my childhood. Now this weekend I'm feeling even more nostalgic as my friends are rocking out to Death Cab in the streets of Columbia (and I just got a mullet of a hair cut which could add to my emo state).

I miss everything about my roomies, and wonder if there will ever be a time in my life where we'll all be together like in the last, amazing month. I miss Mama Helen, Lebron, and spastic Riley. I miss car rides with Gagers and hearing him say words like "shisshy" and "boob" for the first time. I miss crashing on Tia's couch and playing the roll of an old domestic couple. I miss the sound of the acoustic guitar and sing-longs with pots and pans. I miss long drives with the windows rolled down, aimlessly driving along without a purpose or destination. I miss gut wrenching conversations on the rooftop beside my window...

...but all of this, all that I mentioned, happened in a period of my life that is no longer. I can't go back, nor do I want to go back, but that doesn't mean that from time to time I won't miss it. Regardless if I would have come to Korea or not, I would have moved on with my life leaving behind a lot of people that are dear to me.

Although sometimes I miss stability and the allusive idea of home (oh, Zach Braff you said it perfectly in Garden State), I'm not sure when I'll permanently come back and get a "real job." I've extended my contract for an extra month, and in December Tara and I are backpacking across Southeast Asia for a few months. The plan is to come back home for a bit after my travels, reboot, and then do it all over again. I'm not sure if I'll want to come back to Korea, but I do know that one year of traveling and living abroad isn't enough. I've had that one little taste of adventure, and it's opened the door to endless possibilities. Traveling is such an addiction, and I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to stop...and why should I? I have absolutely nothing holding me back. In these 7 months I've decided that I want to spend the majority of my 20's exploring, vagabonding, and living the life of a gypsy...

but...

...that doesn't mean I won't get homesick from time to time. I realize that now. To everyone back home, I miss and love you so much. You have no idea.

A $3 bus ride in Korea...

...will take you to beautiful Daedunsan. This has definitely been my favorite mountain in Korea, thus far.

My traveling buddy.

Foliage frame
Frying up some ginseng.


THE suspension bridge.



Scary stairs

Korea's got Seoul

Last night I went to see a break dancing performance in Seoul called "The Ballerina Who Loves a B-boy." The show was incredible and made me fall in love with Hongdae even more (the artistic/indie area around Hongik University).


I have the biggest crush on the guy in the Mickey Mouse shirt...seriously.




This guy was killing it!

I've been frequenting Seoul quite a bit lately. I just love the energy, opportunities, culture, and randomness that a big city provides. At the same time, Daejeon's home (at least for now), and it always feels good to come home.

Photo of a photoshoot. Hongdae rocks my world.
The glorious day of the random old rock band/swing dancing concert in the park.
Being filmed by a group of marketing research students who were doing a project on the brand image of Seoul in foreigners' minds. They were so rad.

One of the many local bands/musicians on the side of the street in Hongdae.

Family Tree aka My Kids Are Hilarious

Today the "family tree" was the target in one of my upper elementary classes. I decided to break the class into two groups and have a competition on who could make the best family tree out of the magazines provided. This was definitely my favorite:



George Bush married a corn lady and together they created Kevin Spacey who eventually married a blond who birthed both an Asian baby and a Black girl. Brilliant.

Ice cream chu-se-yo (please)

My favorite cutesy/cheesy TV ad (for Cyon-LG mobile phone) that gets stuck in my head on a daily basis. Enjoy!

Helen

A couple months ago Helen started working at Swaton as the kindergarten helper. She wrote me a letter asking for my e-mail address because she was interested in improving her English. The day after I gave her a slip of paper with my gmail account, I had donuts waiting at my desk with a note that said, "Thank you for being my friend"...and so the gift giving began. I know it's normal in Korean culture to give gifts, and I try to always exchange the courtesy, but at times it makes me feel like a jerk when she's consistent (my favorite gift so far has been a Soju pen), and I start slacking by snagging an ice cream bar or coffee on my way to work.

Helen e-mails me frequently, and a few weeks ago I had dinner with her and her sister at their apartment. It was my first time actually being in a Korean home. They were so cute and gracious, and between Helen, her sister, the English translator, hand motions, and lots of giggles we were able to communicate.

Helen's Sister: "Do you like bear?"
Me: "A bear? The animal?"
Helen: "Yes, B-E-A-R"
Helen's Sister: "Hite-uh, Cass-uh..."
Me: "Oh beer! Yes, I like beer.
Helen & Sister: "Yes, yes! Beer Beer!"

They started stuffing me with food the second I walked in the door. First we had rice cakes and strawberries, then pizza, then Chinese food (I bravely ate noodles with squid, clams and whole crabs), and then we topped off the dinner with walnuts. I love that we ate dessert first, but the highlight of the night was when the mom brought Helen's 5 year old son into the living room to pee in a cylinder container. I tried to act nonchalant like everyone else during this occurrence, maintaining a "whatever, I see 5 year old boys peeing into cylinders on a daily basis, psssh" attitude. Oh, Korea, you continually amuse me.

I hung out with Helen again on Tuesday, and this time we hiked "my mountain." She took me to an area that I had never been to before. This time conversation was a bit lacking and a tad awkward since her sister wasn't there, but it was still a good time. However, I can't shake the feeling that Helen is unhappy and searching to fill a void in her life. I wish I could talk to her about it, but our communication is very basic. I guess all I can do, is just continue to be her friend...and throw in the occasional ice cream bar along the way.


Down down down into the pines.
Picnic area. Helen says every second Saturday a concert is held here. Rad.
Coolest thing. This is a library...on the side of a mountain. Awesome.


Dorky
Old swimming hole


I invested in a new and improved camera: a Canon G9. Let's hope Korea doesn't eat this one and I'll be careful not to drop it in something vile and disgusting. Three's a charm.