Hello all! It's about that time. We're starting to focus on packing, cleaning, and getting plans together to head home. Can you believe it?! I know I can't. I really don't feel like I've been here for almost a year. I don't know my exact last day at work yet but we do know that they are getting a 30 day extension on our visas so we don't have trouble getting out of the country (David's visa expires before mine so it would be difficult to leave together if they don't do that for us). We were trying to plan an awesome trip around Southeast Asia but the likelihood of that happening is slim now. We can't buy tickets until I know when I'm done with work and we recently discovered that the tickets we were going to purchase significantly went up. We're totally bummed but we feel it's best not to spend the extra money on the tickets. It's okay, though. Our trip to Japan is still on! See you soooon Erica!!!
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David and I decided to stay at home this weekend. It's been a long week and we've both been getting easily frustrated with our classes. I think we've hit a hump at work that we need to get over. We had two four day work weeks at the end of May/beginning of June and now the five day weeks seem so long. Of course, the weekend we choose to stay in, the weather is good. Last weekend we tried to go to a baseball game and it poured. Oh well! I got a lot of cleaning done today and it was needed. I've also been uploading my pictures so check them out! I finished the albums for the month of May. There are four of them. And now the comic of the day...
Man this week seems like it's lasting an eternity. My students have been driving me nuts! Well, half of them. The other half keep me sane. I can't tell you how many times I've lectured them or punished them this week. Sad thing is that they probably had no idea what I was saying. It's a good thing there aren't any barriers when it comes to body language and tone. I'm sure they got the point if not the words. Anyway, that was just my little vent session. All I really wanted to share with you all is that the Seoul Zoo and 63 Building pictures are up. Also, check out today's comics courtesy of roketship.com...
Time for a new blog...finally! As some of you already know, I did not have internet for a little over a month and a half. I turned on my computer one morning and it just wasn't working anymore. When someone finally came to my house it took him less than five minutes to fix the problem. I waited almost two months for something that took less than 30 minutes of his day (including coming to my house and such)! Awesome. Anyway, I'm back now so it doesn't matter :)
I'd like to sit here and catch you all up on everything that has transpired the last few months but it's just impossible. I can't remember it all and it would take way too long. Here's the recap of the things we've done. Hey everyone! David and I went shopping yesterday. We went up to Itaewon in Seoul. It's a very well known area of Seoul, but I don't really understand why. It's quite dull aesthetically so I don't have any pictures to share with you, but it's a very busy area. There are a lot of foreigners there so you feel a little more like you belong. Consequently, a lot of English is spoken by Koreans in stores and restaurants. My favorite part, though, is the large amount of foreign businesses that thrive off of the foreign population.
So it's been six months. Can you believe it? I still remember sitting at home day after day before I left just wondering if things were going to work out. I started this website during that "transitioning" phase (AKA I had already left my old job and had all the time in the world because I was sitting on my bum all day at home). I had this grand idea of how much I was going to see and do. I thought I'd have so much to share. Of course, I knew I'd be spending a lot of time working, but I never really knew I'd spend so much time at work. I also never considered the amount of time it takes to post updates. I have done a lot of things, but now that six months have passed, I can say that my life is just pretty normal. I go to work, I come home, and I relax/run errands/clean on the weekends. Nothing is truly spectular. Yet, I
know I am blessed to have this opportunity. Things were pretty lame in January. We didn't really do any tourist-like things. After a while you kind of settle in- the excitement wears off and it's just normal life. You work hard for five days and on the weekends, you just want to relax. Going to see things requires effort, travel, and getting up early- all things you don't feel like doing when you've been working like we have. The only place we visited in January was the National Museum of Korea.
I woke up a little after 5 AM. We all sat around for a bit wondering when they would open the counters for check-in. Normally, they are open over an hour before the flight is supposed to depart. Well, not in Beijing. They opened around 6:30 AM- only 35 minutes prior to departure. When the lady first helped me she gave me the dreaded "No time" line. I politely stepped aside but stood by the counter. There was NO way I was going to the back of the line. I wanted to be right there when it was finally "time". She helped a few more people then out of nowhere asked for my passport and reservations. I was shocked. She started clicking away and I felt like I was finally able to breathe when she reached for the tickets. WOOHOO! I took the tickets, thanked her, and we went on our way. We ran to security and then to our gate.
Disclaimer: This is quite a long entry. I'm sorry for this. I'd like to write the short version but it simply would not do the experience justice! Only the beginning... Ahh, the "last day". As we slept our last night away, snow was falling non-stop on Beijing. When we woke up we thought- of course it would snow when we're supposed to leave. Still, we got ready and tried to see one more thing. We made an attempt to go to Mao's Masoleum but it was closed. We trekked through the snow for nothing! Any northerner knows how awesome that is! 0.0 At least I found it amusing to watch people shovel snow with pieces of plywood attached to wooden sticks. Can we say, let's get some real shovels, anyone?? This day started off at the Summer Palace. We spent the majority of the morning there. It's huge! There are so many halls, temples, pavilions, gardens, etc. We felt lost a few times while walking around and I was soo cold! I'm sure it's absolutely beautiful during the summer. As for the winter, I found it amusing that people were walking across Kunming Lake-- even though there was a sign that clearly stated not to do so. Who wants to pay for a boat to cross the lake? Just go during the winter and walk across! It was completely frozen. Before we left we had a picnic lunch. I pretty much scarfed down my food just to get my hands back in my gloves. |
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