JAPAN!

Tomorrow I begin my journey to Japan. I'm flying into Tokyo and catching a train to the Mt. Fuji fest. Assah! To give you a little taste of what I'll be experiencing, here's a short documentary from last year's festival. Enjoy:

Spectacular.

Randoms

The application, in the words of my students, is "finish-eeeeee!" Now all I can do is wait. I'm not feeling uuber confident that I'll get the position, but at least it's inspired me to do something more with my time in Korea.

Two shows have made it to Korean television: The Office and Sunset Tan. You win some, you lose some.

We have a new foreign teacher at our school, Lisa, from England. She's positive, energetic and I really like her. We also have a new Korean teacher, Sunny, who seems really cool. I hope she sticks it out.

Today after my last kindergarten class, my 4 year olds handed me their balloons so I could take the tape off the ends (they were hanging on the wall during class). When I got to Nicky's balloon, I tugged a little too hard on the tape and the balloon exploded in a million pieces. I watched as her face went from shock to disappointment and I knew the tears were just a few blinks away. Sure enough, even though I promised her another balloon, she cried and cried, while I was left feeling like the biggest jerk. Even after I gave her another balloon, a bigger and better one, she still looked at me with hurt filled eyes that seemed to say, I don't trust you anymore, because I know now that you can make mistakes too. My babies always look at me like I'm a super hero who can fix any of their problems. Nicky's distrustful eyes broke my heart and reminded me of that point in your life when you realize that your parents aren't perfect...wow, I don't think I can have kids.

Japan is a week away. I'm currently trying to sort out the last minute details of our trip. The more I plan, the more excited I get. I know I'm going to fall in love with the country and add another destination on my list of places to live. I'm in desperate need of a vacation, and maybe even some time away from Korea. I haven't left the country since Hong Kong/Beijing over Christmas break.



I'm going to a film festival outside of Seoul this weekend.

I'm late for my dinner plans. Peace.

Weekend of Solitude

I think I'm the only foreigner in Korea who didn't attend the Mud Festival this weekend. While wallowing (pronounced "wallerin" where I come from) around in the mud and getting sloshed with a bunch of other Westerners sounded appealing to everyone this weekend, I desperately needed solitude. My friend, Joel, came to visit for a week and we cram packed as much as we could during his time in Korea (Seoul, the DMZ, hiking, eating delicious Korean food, temple stay...), and except for a day off, I had my full teaching schedule. Also, Amy and Carina left a week ago today, proving that nothing is permanent, especially in Korea. As if to bring this point home, right after the girls left, the thrift store on my street that I've passed every day for 8 months has shut down. A seafood restaurant is in it's place. No amount of fish is going to replace where I got the one armed slinger (ridiculous crappy backpack that gets poked fun at constantly). Deep sigh. I miss Amy so much. Already. She was a little piece of home (we went to the same high school), and an awesome person that I grew incredibly close to since my time in Korea. No more Sunday nights at Pizza 2001. However, she is coming back in the fall to attend Korean classes at Seoul University AND, drum roll...CARLY AND DAVID SAX ARE COMING TO KOREA! I haven't allowed myself to fully experience excitement and joy of their arrival. I just can't do it until they are here. My brain can't fathom it.

The main reason I stayed home this weekend was to complete an application that is due on Monday (EST) for a "project" that I really want to get. Vague, I know, but I don't want to announce what it is, partly because I may be a little superstitious, and partly while filling out the application, I've begun to doubt myself and think that my chances are slim. It doesn't hurt to apply, right?

Lately I've been feeling really antsy. One of the main things that I loved about coming to Korea was separating myself from Western ideas and pressures, mainly that my career path defined my worth in life. However, lately I've almost felt a loss of identity. The J-School, advertising, my internships...they were a big part of my life, and without them I'm struggling a bit with what my purpose is supposed to be. I enjoy teaching, but it's not my passion. I need something to pour my ideas into, a creative outlet. I need a project.

It's Sunday night and I haven't accomplished as much as I would have liked. I've been fighting with my Mac and incompatible external hard drive all weekend, trying to create more space on my computer...and let's face it, I'm a procrastinator. I'll write a sentence for my letter of intent, and then watch two episodes of 30 Rock, clean my apartment, or write a blog. I've been compulsively eating ramen, raisins, and Nutri-Grain Bars (I made a trip to Cost Co). I guess it could be worse. Wish me luck and cross your fingers.

Funnest game of foosball with a jank table. I miss the Boppster.