Oh, right...the incident.

I am aware that there's been some commotion around the Korean peninsula. I'm still planning on going over in a week or so (whenever my paperwork goes through), unless something absolutely bonkers happens. And yes, CNN would have you believe that what happened last Tuesday IS absolutely bonkers, but the shit hasn't hit the fan yet. What happened (loss of life) IS a big deal. But the South Korean people are resilient (comes with practice) and still hope for reunification some day. Korean people are Korean people. South Koreans tolerate a lot of crap, in part, because that's their family.

Also, read things written by people who know more than I do:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/asia_pacific/
http://www.koreaherald.com/
http://askakorean.blogspot.com/

Mostly, check out [ this ] BBC article and listen to the sound clip by Michael Breen, about 3/4 down the page, on the right. Good perspective, thinks I.

DO NOT bother with CNN and if you take Fox News seriously about anything....uhm, G-d help you.

I've been e-mailing expat and native Korean friends about the goings on and daily life, for the most part, remains the same. Frankly, most South Koreans aren't alarmed in the slightest. Just a bit sad. So the plan is, for meow, to return to the Land of the Morning Calm (shit ain't open 'til 10am).

Also, Thanksgiving was awesome!

24 lb. Turkey. Dang.

FANCY DELICIOUS.

Wanna know the best loves?  I went to see Harry Potter 7, Part 1 with my family. I kinda burst into tears a bit when Harry saw his parents' graves for the first time and Ally, my sister, just held my hand for a while. That moment is one of the many things I'm grateful for.

SCHMALTZ.

I could leave a week from tomorrow. That's weird to think about.

I just wanted to say (again), officially and for all records:

IF YOU COME TO VISIT ME IN KOREA, 
I WILL PAY HALF YOUR PLANE TICKET!

Kimchi: You know you want to try it.

JIM JAMS! NONSENSICALITY!

My visa documents have just arrived in Korea. According to my recruiter*, I could fly out of the county as soon as December 6th. Lesbian Mario Brothers, that's soon! I kind of panicked at poor Don (as I'm wont to do...I'm rather high-strung+), but then I called my parents to let them know the haps.

I talked to Stevey J and he was all calm about it. Being rather sensible (not always, just during this particular phone call, haha), he pointed out that having a quick second to be in Korea before teaching might be nice. And that my ass is lucky to be employed and that I should kinda do what my school asks. Felt a lot better after that. My dad raised good points, but the most comforting part is that he didn't throw any guilt my way for leaving. Telling my siblings isn't going to be very fun. It's lovely being loved, of course...but I my heart breaks when it's time to say I've got to be going. Luckily, I've explained to Noah a few times that I'm leaving again. .sigh. We'll deal with that when the time comes. And good G-d, I need to write my Oma. Talk about abandonment guilt... Sweet Moses.

By the time I got off the phone, Don had replied, letting me know that sooner was better than later, but that they could work it out with school if I felt I couldn't leave before a certain date. (SO MANY COMMAS IN THAT SENTENCE) I apologized for being a spaz, thanked him for his kindness, and assured him I could leave once my documents were finished (but no rush).

I'm a lucky woman.

I can't believe it. My second year in Korea already. There were definitely times I thought I would not finish my first contract. It's gonna be a good year, I think. Ah, Jeremy's back! Time to watch 30 Rock and play with the opaque projector!

* I worked with [ RBI Korea ]to get my BANGIN' job in Busan. If you're looking for work in the coolest city in South Korea (don't kill me, [ Lindsay ]...I know you luuuu Gwangju), hit them up. The funny thing is they were recommended to me at the beginning of my job search last August. And I e-mailed every recruiter on my list of leads, but they somehow got left out. Although I kinda ran out of money and didn't wanna go back for like a week and feared that I was suddenly an unemployable failure for just a second, things worked out for the best, haha. I learned a lot. A metric ton.

+ 2010 nominee for "Year's Most Obvious Statement"

Now I get a tour of Willy Wonka's Kimchi Factory!

MY FBI BACKGROUND CHECK GOT THE GOLDEN SEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

yeah! yeah! yeah! yeah!

...............


   ........................



.....
YEAH!

Next Job Mention!

Got the Job!

Starts December 20th in Namcheon-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan. OH YEAH.

(for those of you unfamiliar with Korean geography, that is BADASS).

Some Busan Cityscape

I'll be teaching middle and elementary students this year and living in the same city as Lacey. BANGIN'. AND there'll be another foreign teacher. His name is Adam. I hope we get along. He was nice on the phone, anyway. ^^

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeefinally!

I was a bit worried for a minute. ^^

But, with a few exceptions (money being the main one), the timing on this whole venture has been perfect. Got some things done. And G-d willing, I'll leave the country with a driver's license! (getting the permit...THAT was already an adventure, haha).

That's what's up.

L to R: Ally, Shark, Noah, Mom

Up to Down: Upside-Down Ajumma Visor, Jeremy, Ridiculousness (his ideas are stored in his belly)

OhG-dOhG-dOhG-dOhG-dOhG-dOhG-dOhG-dOhG-dOhG-dOhG-d, Please let my FBI check get an Apostille seal! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE AH FREAKING OUT. Maybe I don't get an Alien Registration Card...no one will notice for the first 3 months....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Hell, I'm drinking instant coffee today anyway...

And lo, I am mighty weary of recruiters. This process makes me struggle with my love for Korea at all. Getting the hagwon runaround on one end and then checking out each prospective school on the sometimes ceaseless stream of negativity that is Dave's ESL cafe forums.... blech.

I need to read me some [ KoreaLove Lovely ]. And right meow, I'maremind myself of why I love Korea....

1. My Korean family

Dong-in and Dong-gun at their country house. 

2. Highspeed Trains

3. [ Peppero Day ]
4. Banchan-- Korean sidedishes that are endlessly replenished
5. Mountains
6. Being in the middle of a lesson and realizing it's going supremely well.
7. A class freaking out with pride when I manage to spell something correctly in Korean.
8. 17 year old boys walking down the hall, singing in the HIGHEST of falsettos.
9. Perms
10. PC rooms
11. World Cup Fever-- and my students cheering on North Korea and Japan as well
12. Jimjilbangs-- Public bathhouses. Dude, you can even sleep there for 10,000won (about $9) if you're hard up on Love Motel cash ($38).
13. Old ladies on the bus stealing (they won't hear no) my heavy packages while I'm standing (if there's standing-room only), so that I don't have to carry them.
14. Pretty much anything Korean old ladies do anyway. They badass and hilarious.
15. "Service"-- Konglish for "free shit"
16. Statues everywhere.
17. Handsome hairless forearms ^^
18. Man bags
19. Getting anywhere in the country in 5 hours or less
20. Fusion coleslaw pizza

Ah, that's better. For today, no more e-mails and no more phonecalls. If I'm supposed to go back, I will.