1 year down

Wow - I can officially say that I've been in Korea over a year now. Just a few Fridays ago was my 1 year anniversary of being in Korea. It's so crazy to think that a year has already flown by, but then when I think of my first day in Korea - it seems as if it was soooooo long ago.

Being that the year mark has hit, I'm losing many friends that I've gained over the last 12 months. It's a bitter bitter. There is no sweet in that equation. They will be missed and are irreplaceable. Meeting the new Epik group is not high on my priority list, but spending time with the friends I've already acquired has become a lot more important.

I can recall a warmer March last year. Today/last night it snowed and for the first time in....whoever knows how long, Busan saw a good amount of white stuff. A quote from a friend's facebook status "Snow removal tools I saw today: brooms, hammer, wrench, desk, plastic storage container, umbrella, wait for it ... the lid from a sandwich tuperware container!!" -Kylene
Haha! I'm anticipating a warm Spring...one like last year - beach volleyball in May, but now that snow has hit Busan, I'm not quite sure what Spring will look like.

I've already had many new experiences since I've been back in Korea. Hard to believe I know, but as most of you know - every day is a new DYNAMIC experience for me. Not only have I had some new exciting things happen, so have my friends.

My friend Jana purchased a van - hilarious, small, and fits her to a T. A few of my friends have changed their apartments so they can be closer to the beach - and FAR away from their schools. That can either be a blessing or a pain in the neck. On one hand you are never going to run into your students at the store (as I do) and you have easy access to the beach during the summer, AND on the other hand, most of them have an hour commute to school now. I've decided to stay in the same place and PAY, ya my free apartment is now costing me, 50,000 won a month. Prices went up and the budget didn't go up with it.

I had my first experience at a Korean dentist. He graduated from UCLA dentist school and speaks very good English - but just because of all that, doesn't necessarily mean his ways are completely Westernized. For example, I went in for my teeth to be cleaned and because I had a sensitive spot where a cavity was. You can't just go into the dentist in Korea, unless something is wrong. If I would have gone in there just for a teeth cleaning....they might have laughed at me. I did indeed get my teeth cleaned, after he inspected my cavity, but its not common for just a cleaning appointment. When I got there I was sent to a room decorated with UCLA paraphernalia and pictures of this dentist all over on different vacations. He sits down and puts on gloves and takes this thing that looked like an over size pen, with a light on the end, and stuck it in my mouth. In front of me was a computer monitor, and after is inspected my mouth with this pen, the images of my teeth were plastered on the monitor. It was a little camera - phhhew, no x-rays - the kind that used to make me gag as a child. Yes, cavity and yes, I needed some cleaning....it's been a few years. He also said that my tooth needed to be ground down because my bite was off...which might have been causing me pain. He assured me that I'd need to come back in for a filling and then said that his assistant would clean my teeth. Oh great. So she sits down (uncloved) and gets to work with her cleaning instrument. Not flavored. Just a pointy thing with some ridges on it...like a small sander. She was basically sanding the grime right off. Not completely pleasant, but it actually wasn't too bad - until she hit the gums.

A few days later, I went in for my filling. I was NERVOUS. I had the dentist, as most of you know - it's a quite dramatic affair for me. They sit me down and he sits down and he says - let's speak Korean, ok? And I say - uhhh I don't know Korean, and he says - I'm going to teach you. Hahaha like I'm really going to learn anything while I'm focusing on nothing but what your hands are doing, and what my mouth feels like. So he says in Korean, now we're going to drill. Wait a second....did we miss a part. Like......NOVOCAINE? Ya, another example of Korean style. I had heard in the past that they don't numb you for these - but..thinking to myself that that wouldn't be the case with this American taught dentist....I was corrected. Oh ya, he hit a few nerves. Didn't seem to bother him that I was no longer laying flat on my back, but moving my hips like I was about to make a run for it. After the drilling agony, he filled it, rinsed me, and then I was free to go. Wow - I will be flossing 6 times a day now and never eating sugar again.

All in all, my experience did not damage me as did my childhood memories of the dentist. I must be getting older. Out a $150 bucks but realizing it would have cost me WAY more in the states. And saving money makes me happy!

Well - gotta get some work done here at school!

Love you and miss you!

Happy 설날! (Lunar New Year)

Hey guys!

It's been months! Yes, I realize this. Soooorrryyy!

Well, the holidays came and went, and let me tell you....nothing like being at home.

I believe I wrote to you all about Thanksgiving...which ended up being a great time with friends, but Christmas (I will admit) was a bit depressing. The hype of the holidays in Korea are no where NEAR what it is like being in the states. At home, we're constantly reminded by the media, the decorations at stores, and our own home decorations....but in Korea - meh, nothing to get excited about. In Korea, Christmas is a lover's holiday - not much for family time. I ended up watching Avatar in the theater Christmas Eve night, spend the rest of the evening til the morning out and about, and sleeping in til 4pm on Christmas Day. Nothing to brag about. It definitely felt like any other day. I didn't do absolutely nothing....I went out to dinner with some other foreigners and had dinner at a foreign bar. It was good - but nothing like a home cooked Christmas meal.

I did receive some very nice cards, pictures, and some gifts!! Too bad I couldn't wait til Christmas - opened everything before or after, so that really didn't add to the spirit.

January - as most of you know by now, was an exciting month for me! My visit home!! It was incredible. I was able to catch up with my family, great friends, and some an enormous amount of money on American goods and services. It was all worth it!

I was able to spend about 3.5 weeks eating and talking. And that's about all I did, well add a little shopping in as well. It was perfect. I had the chance to go to Seattle and have a big girls' dinner, see the grandparents, go skiing with mom and dad, and took a trip to Victoria BC...to mention just a few things that I fit in.

It was a great vacation - filled with relaxation as well, but I will say, a big part of me is glad to be back in Korea. I'm a little anxious and excited what this next year has in store for me. I'm looking forward to making more money and traveling.

Miss you all and stay in touch! I love hearing how you are all doing and what's new in your worlds!

Updates and pics more often...promise!

Jin