Dear Diarrhea (Abridged),

I'm in Korea!

I made a huge mental list of things to do before I arrived. I've certainly put a dent in the list.

So far I've...
-had diarrhea in Korea (only on the list so I could say it)
-eaten several Imsil Cheese Pizzas (100% rice!)
-met a Celiac
-hiked several mountains
-learned to read Hangul
-visited Seoul/met Mr. Kim, saw him play the ajaeng
-bought a violin and started taking lessons
-been taking Taekwondo lessons
-visited palaces, museums and temples
-shopped at the worlds largest department store
-visited the beach (Gwananli & Haeundae)
-made a friend with a Super Nintendo
-taught yoga on a mountain
-met a cognitive behavioral therapist chick who drums in a band called London Scat Party (okay, so maybe my list wasn't that specific)
-hula hooped in the snow on a mountain with cats at twilight (add that to your list)
-purchased art supplies/painted
-seen cherry blossoms!
-learned the Korean word for poo; 똥 (*see "To Do List" below)
-made many Korean and way-gook (foreign) friends
-been to the cat cafe (although there were no cats!)
-eaten a kiwi shake and a sweet potato shake (add those to your list)
-found reishi mushrooms (Koreans call them yeongi)
-bought a bike and biked the Oncheon river trail
-tried 번데기 (Beondegi = silk worm pupae)
-been to the 노래방, 찜질방, Wii방, DVD방, PC방
-met a boy :-x


TO DO...
-temple stay
-go to a Korean metal show
-have an art show at CCC coffee shop
-eat dog soup
-eat moving squid
-hang glide
-swim with sharks ($80)
-kayak
-eat goat at the Black Goat Village
-ferry to Japan, eat seafood
-sell tiny paintings at the tiny crafts fair near PNU
-make 똥 T-shirts *
-organize wacky shows, kickball & soccer games in the park
-go to a baseball game ($10, I live right by the stadium)
-trip to COSTCO
-join the writing club on Sundays
-ice skate
-buy a bow and arrow from the folk village/practice archery somewhere safe
-visit the tea fields
-pick mugwort, like all the old ladies do here
-get acupuncture
-get a Thai massage
-ride bike to Gwananli beach and eat Imsil Cheese Pizza
-eat at all 3 Loving Hut locations

Things I miss....
-Leu Gardens
-Biologe conditioner
-gay people


My biggest complaints...
-so...there is this puddle at SpaLand, at the outdoor hot spring bath...
whenever I get out to lay on the lounge chair I step in this cold puddle. It's ruining my life!
GOD, I HATE KOREA!!!
-oh yea.. and Rhae Royal isn't here

Turn of the Wheel

I feel as though I am preparing to die.

Making amends, tying loose ends, saying goodbye to old (and new) friends. Packing my life into a box as though it will mean anything to me in a year... as though everything will be as it were when I left, knowing full well it won't. I feel as though I am preparing to die because this life I've known is coming to an end. It is about to be turned up-side-down in ways that I cannot begin to imagine.

This is both thrilling and unnerving. I am thrilled because I see the potential for unprecedented growth, unnerved because of the challenges that accompany such growth. I have spent the last few years developing myself into someone I am really proud to be. Developing relationships with people I am honored to know. Living in a town I am ever so proud to call home.. Good ol' Colonialtown, USA.

I can only think of this as the next step in my efforts to become the person I want to be.

I am about to embark on the biggest adventure of my life to date. I'm not sure how to prepare for the unexpected but I've been trying my best.

To paraphrase R.E.M., It's the end of my life as I know it... and I feel fine.