where.. and who am I going to sing karaoke with at 3 a.m. ... it's a lost cause after I leave this place :(
Welcome to the world Jackson River Almond. I am such a proud aunt. My other big sister, Colleen had a beautiful baby boy on Father's Day (June 19th). Speaking of, Happy Father's day to all the wonderful dads out there, especially mine. So, two new baby boys will be waiting for me when I get home. I can't wait to meet my sweet, adorable nephews.
The first thing I plan to do when I get home… other than sleep and eat some cheese is, start working on Jackson's nursery. I am painting a huge mural on the largest wall of his room. The nursery has a nature theme goin on so I plan to paint a large, artsy tree… an owl, some bright bugs and big, crazy blades of grass. I am really looking forward to painting, it's been too long.
The weeks are dwindling down and I just don't know what to do with myself. I'm really looking forward to coming home but my mind is in two places right now. I don't know where to focus my heart and my thoughts. My heart is stuck here… you know what I'm talking about. I've made so many wonderful relationships here, ones that have changed me in so many ways. The friends and the boyfriend I have come to love have taught me so much about myself and about life. Part of me has wanted to go ahead and shut it all off. I don't want to get any deeper in these relationships because it will be that much harder to leave. I decided that that was ridiculous… why not just enjoy it to the fullest and take back all those incredible memories right at the very end, when it's really over. When I say over, I mean my South Korea journey, not my relationships. I have every intention of keeping in contact with all my people here. I know I will see them again one day.
Skip is here for his second year and we were discussing how difficult it is to make friends and leave them. It's hard enough to do it once, like he has already done but to do it twice is just hell. He has been so hesitant to make lots of new friends this second year because he knows how hard it is to say good bye. I don't blame him at all.. it sucks!!! Even my roommate, Alicia… she has been here for almost four years. She doesn't even like to go out because it's the same old story with everyone and she is tired of hearing it.. "hello, where are you from, how long have you lived in Korea, when do you go home, what did you study"… ah yes, a new friend and then months later they are gone. After four years, I don't really blame her either. It's hard! Even though it will be tough to say good bye. I am glad that I have actually made great enough friends that are worth the tears. I'll never forget them! You will probably hear this spiel again, or something similar to it when I'm on the bus heading to the airport. SHIT! I have a lump in my throat just thinking about it now. Be strong Emilie teacher!!! Oh no… and saying good bye to my kids.. that's another mess of tears. SHIT!
A weekend of drunkenness with the people I enjoy most… nothing to write home about.. how about you just enjoy the pictures! I've got one more, full weekend left in Korea. It should be a good one. Maybe I'll go into more detail next week.
Korean Facts/ Randomness:
-The difference in Korean movies… I watched a scary Korean movie in last month. It is interesting to see the things they do in these movies they relate only to their culture. For example… there was a scene in which a man threw tons of fish hooks all over the floor of his house. He was trying to slow down his enemy because he knew his enemy would surely take off his shoes when he came in the house. Only in Korea would this be a problem: fish hooks on a hard wood floor, no shoes.
- My students were just flabbergasted this week when I told them that it was rare for an American to have a rice cooker in their kitchen. Every single Korean has a rice cooker, it's an essential…like having a toaster or a toaster oven. Koreans eat rice and kimchi for every single meal.
-I found out this week that one of my kindergarden students still breast feeds. In fact, he not only breast feeds off his mother but also off his grandmother… good god! You're walking, talking and attending school and you still latch on to your mother's breast. This is my oldest, most energetic, most talkative student… I don't like thinking he still breast feeds.. hmmm..?? To each their own, I guess.
-So, in the states we call liking Asians, "Yellow Fever." In Korea, if you like whites it is called, "Riding the White Horse."… no kidding!
About the slang "riding the white horse", it's a Korean slang meaning to have sex with a white girl...
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