so what's been going on? well, let me break it down for you. life continues in its normal patterns. i go to work and come home and do it all over again, 5 days a week. the other two days, i just try to catch up on much needed sleep and save up some time to have random adventures. this semester has been insane, and we are not even a full month into it. they added two more classes to my schedule, which means even less time for me to get anything actually done at work. when i teach 7 classes i actually have to do prep for on a daily basis and 3 others on top of that, i would really like to know how i am supposed to get any sleep. seriously. sleep is a priority for me. and i get about 5 hours a night, if i am lucky at this point. by the time i get home, i am going to look like hell.
speaking of home, i can't wait to get back. i am going to be in some serious need of sunlight. i go in to work every morning around 8:15 and i get home around 6:30. i never get to see the light of day! it makes me kinda sad.
but, i do have some joyous news! after 6 months in korea, turk and i discovered something beautiful. i like to call this discovery 'home plus.' it is like an oasis that is the desert of korea. they had something there that was so wonderful, i cried out in joy when i laid my eyes upon it. 'what is this wondrous sight?' you may ask. the answer is ranch dressing, my friends. i think a tear or two of joy escaped my eyes as i quickly grabbed the bottle, disregarding the eight dollar price tag, and held it close to my bosom like a mother grasping her long lost child.
in other news, it is that time of year, once again...lent is upon me, and i have completely given up all forms of fast food. it isn't as hard here as it would be if i were at home and if i had mike, cory, and jordon all shoving fries in my face like last year. also, there isn't a jack in the box within several thousands of miles, so that helps.
also, spring time is upon us here in korea!!! i broke out the flip flops the other day. my toes wiggled with joy at their once again found freedom. springtime means i start coming out of hibernation and i am willing to go out again. i have been venturing out more lately, especially with jun. whenever he gets time away from work and he is in the country, we try to spend at least one day during the weekend together.
this week it was really warm. i actually went walking around ilsan and lake park all day last sunday with turk and our friend peter. this weekend, turk and i spent all day sunday wandering around seoul. we walked from gwanghwamun to myeongdong and down to insadong. it was really nice to be outside all day, even if it was a bit breezy and cloudy. we finally discovered the famous tea room in insadong with the birds flying around in it and we got directions to a zoo that we are going to try to go to next weekend if it is nice. we also went to a buddhist temple today. it was a pretty amazing experience. we even got to tie prayers to the prayer line. i find the buddhist culture fascinating, and although i can confidently say that i am and always will be a christian, i want to learn as much as i can about other faiths. i am interested in understanding what others believe and why.
anyway, i can't wait for the weather to get warmer so i can start going out and doing stuff again. you guys know how much i hate the cold...and in korea, i have to walk around in it - hence why i have been avoiding going out. but i have cabin fever and i am ready to break out!
and, just for the record, yes, my old laptop is dead...may it rest in peace...which means that i had to buy a new one. i wasn't happy about spending the money, but my new lappy at least meshes with my camera so i can upload videos...so be on the lookout for some stuff soon!
anyway, until next time - from korea with love,
-g
