And Then She Decided to Live

I was a timid kid. For those of you who knew me, I obviously don't mean that in the social context. I didn't like to I things that scared me. I knew what it felt like when the pit of my stomach tightened, my palms got sweaty, and I got fidgety...and I didn't like that feeling, so I chose to keep myself out of situations that forced me out of my comfort zone. 

I follow rules, I'm nice to pretty much everyone, I really do believe in the best side of everyone, and I often make sure everyone is happy before I worry about myself. I don't get scared and I don't push boundaries. I apologize for things that aren't my fault and I try to fix people...and then one day (more likely over a long, grueling period of time...) I decided to live. No more existing....it's time for living. 

I packed up my life and moved here because I wanted to! I went first up the high ropes course because I wanted to. I bouldered up a rock that I knew I would be petrified to climb down because I had seen it, picked it out, and I wanted to! I am going somewhere new and random each week on the subway because...well, I'm sure you get it by now...

I'm living, taking risks, being bold, and adventuring because I want to fill every moment possible with memories of adventure, friendships, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I want to take in the richness of incredible destinations, dig deep into my heart, experience the fullness of other people and their lives, and chase whatever it is that God had places in my heart. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something is stirring. It's taken me 28 years, but I'm finally comfortable in my own skin, and I even like it here :) 

Yeah, this is what my heart has been after for a long time, and my friends know I love adventuring around, but this is new, it's real, and it's my life. The one for living, not existing. 

"Every human has an finite number of heartbeats. I don't intend to waste any of mine"

-Neil Armstrong 

First Day of School

I haven't been this anxious about my first day back at school in a long time. Somehow, even after teaching for five years, I feel like I'm running around like a crazy person. Trying to remember the altered schedule, trying to take roll with unfamiliar faces and names, trying to keep one step ahead, and feeling like I forgot how to do this whole 'first day' thing. And then they were great...!! 

Once I actually had students and I got to walk them through the introduction to what an amazing year of learning to love science will look like, I felt right at home :) Don't get me wrong, it's still stressful, I did forget to say and do a few things, but it felt right! The students were very respectful, and very kind when I got confused with names and when I didn't realize that the block class got a break. They are sill teenagers, and they are far from perfect, but I am excited to guide them through the year! I even had a student actually say 'this is so fun, can I take it for homework?!' ...what!?! (Disclaimer, it was critical thinking puzzles, but still...awesome!) 

Today I actually started to see their personalities come to life. It seemed just like a sea of unknown faces the last few days, but today, I closed the door to the hall and made a point to see their interactions, their expressions, and their faces. I am truly eager to get to know them and their stories. This will be a fun adventure! 

My feet were swollen and sore, my legs and my head were tired, but my heart was full at the end of Day 1, year 1. 

I feel honored and excited to be a teacher at my school. I feel like I love my job and I want to work harder to be a better teacher. I feel like I am exactly where I should be! 

Disclaimer... 

Bennett students, if you are reading this, please don't think that you are easily replaced....:) I do miss you guys! 

Hiking = Happy Heart

When it is 81 degrees and 88% humidity, hiking up the side of a mountain always seems like a good idea, right? It was the perfect way to relax this weekend!! As it turns out, all it takes is four subway stops to get to a national park...oh Seoul, just another treasure in this city :)

Matt and Charlie who taught here last year are training for a crazy awesome hiking trip over the fall break and invited my friend Becky and I to go with them on their day hike. It was sticky, hot, and steep...and worth every moment! It was actually a really great trail that leads up a mountain that usually offers amazing views of the city (even my apartment building!) but it was a bit too humid for that. Instead of great views from the top, we were met by a layer of low clouds which was SO beautiful. 

On the way up we took a break at an old temple and walked around it. I was just so amazed that all the wood and supplies to build it had to have been carried up at some point in time. It was quite a trek without any extra weight and some of those logs would be nearly impossible to carry up.

We got the most beautiful view of the rocky mountain top behind the temple...looks like a movie set rather than a real place!

 

Matt kept saying 'and this isn't even the steep part' each time the trail got a bit more difficult. When the very last scurry to the top involved pulling ourselves up by ropes and poles, I realized what he meant the whole way up. It was a fun hike and a beautiful setting! Sitting on top of the mountain, looking parallel to a layer of clouds made the whole world disappear and was so peaceful! 

After a rest at the top we drug ourselves back down the mountain, gross and dripping with sweat. (Yay humidity...).

The picture to the right is to make my brother proud/slightly jealous. Maybe jealous enough to come visit and go hiking to the top of a mountain?? :) hint hint Mateo!



 At the bottom we rewarded ourselves with lunch at a local restaurant that makes their own tofu. We shared some amazing sundubu and a spread of tofu and side dish wraps. The only great surprise here was the side dish of pig ears and intestines...I'll try anything once...but only once! 

As one last treat before getting back on the subway, Matt bought us all a box of freshly roasted chestnuts. By freshly roasted I mean we got to see the man roast them and scoop them into the box. As the first time I had ever tried them, I must say I am a fan! (Anything after the intestines seems even more amazing!) 

A day later I'm feeling the muscular effects but also the happiness that comes from accomplishing something, new adventures, and a little time in the forest on the top of a mountain! 

Looking forward to meeting my students this week and a shout out to the Bennett teachers and students who are finishing their first day as I finish this post! 

As usual, thanks for reading! 

101 Things

I keep saying over and over that 'this makes the list of 101 things that would never happen at home' or   'this makes the list of 101 things that would never happen at any job I've ever had before'. I realize that this is week two and eventually the newness of everything will wear off, but I a focusing on savoring every fun and adventurous moment while they still make my heart sing! 

We are currently heading back from our faculty retreat at Minrae camp. It is basically a summer camp resort type place that is just a bit north and way way east of Seoul. Apparently we are only between 30 minutes and an hour away from the east coast. I can't even put into words how beautiful it is here! I'll be posting pictures when I get them from my iPod. It's a bit cooler, lush, green, quiet, and nothing like Colorado. 

We left on Wednesday morning and somehow missed the memo about taking the expressway the whole way...so we tacked on about 40 minutes to our travel time. In return we got some beautiful mountain road views. I also got a slightly longer nap! Thanks to mum and dad for somehow giving me the gift of sleeping on almost any kind of trip :) 

Once we arrived, we got some lunch and then it was on to a slew of activities and moments that start off my 101 lists. Staff high ropes course!! For being with people that I had, for the most part, only known a few days, it was lots of trust and lots of sharing all in one day, but I assume that is the point anyway :) the team I was on started off on a Jacobs ladder. I did one of these in Ireland with three climbers but this one only allowed for two. I looked eager and therefore got volunteered! It was awesome! The activities director got volunteered from his team and I have to say I'm pretty proud if our scurry up the ladder! It cost me some pretty sweet bruises (Matteo would be proud) but it felt great! Next we were on to the elevated log walk where people who didn't do the Jacobs ladder got to go first. I really had talked myself out of doing this one, but my 'first' friend, Kiersten, said 'I'll go if Meg goes'...so on up the ladder we go! I actually knocked down the initial ladder which was a bit embarrassing but got up there, shuffled across, and repelled down. I'm so glad that I got the nudge from a really great friend! We all finished up with a zip line and called it a day. (Other than workshops of course) 

The next day we switched up the schedule and started with a session and did our 'play hard' time in the afternoon with some whitewater rafting! We were promised to essentially have a 'lazy river' float but it did have some really exciting points. First, I somehow managed to get in the line that turned into Team Fun with a guide that referred o himself by his English nickname 'cutie boy'...haha, that should set the stage for you. We had water fights, paddling chants, swimming time, turning in circles, going down backwards, a water slide made out of our rafts at one stop, and the most amazing views of the valley we were in. I soaked in the incredible handiwork of God and tried to be as aware as possible that this is really my life now. My principle (also on Team Fun) said something so simple and yet so profound that my mind raced about it long into the night. He stopped swimming and asked me 'a year ago did you think you would ever be swimming in a river in Korea' and it hit me. I couldn't have even dreamt this up a year ago. I am so blessed with this crazy, beautiful, wonderful life! 

On a more interesting note, we did get stuck in a pretty shady place, and our guide, my principle, and the school Chaplin had to get out to pull us out. If it hadn't worked out so well, I also would have ended up in the guide position for the remainder of the large rapids...that could have been special (again, Mateo would have been proud!). I keep telling myself that it is one of those stories that is funny now because we aren't dead...to know you lived a full life, you have to have those once in a while! 

Also placing highly on my lists comes staff karaoke! (Its really popular here!) My boss singing to old love songs and mouthing all the words to Baby when his daughter was singing to our girl group sad rendition of party in the USA are memories etched into my mind, I hope, forever. My principle (apparently a pretty wise man) said 'this is what it's like...we work really hard during the year, but when we are done with the work, we play equally has hard'. That alone is a new concept to me. It is so supportive here, but we also each do our part to support each other as well. High standards and great reward. 

Another noteworthy list topper was the food. I am slowly learning that breakfast food here is different. When you can have beef at any meal it's different. This mornings selection just made me giggle...kimchi, brownies, pickles, hot dogs, and salad were my favorites. I did have toast, fruit, and eggs but the other options were new to me :) 

We had optional praise and prayer for about 30 minutes last night which, of course, makes my 101 list! It was really nice and a good time to spend with some of the staff. It was also nice to have some fellowship time and personal prayer time. I snuck in a few early morning runs while we were here since there was a trail along the river. It was a great balance of fun time, work time, and personal time. 

I know I keep saying this, but I still keep trying to digest that this is real! I keep asking myself if this is real life and it is...it is my crazy, wonderful, blessed life. 

Thanks for reading! 

This is Real Life

This is real life...I live in Seoul, Korea...it's not vacation, it's not a summer trip, it isn't even just one month, one semester, one year...this is real life. I wake up in my apartment every morning and get ready for school. If I'm tired, I swing by dunkin donuts (maybe the 2nd floor coffee shop if I can figure out their hours) grab a coffee and some wifi time. I get on the bus and ride it to school. I work with other people, I prep science lessons, talk about curriculum and collaboration. I love my department and my boss. I look forward to meeting my new students. I'm nervous for a new school year to begin and I am excited to learn alongside my kiddos. I eat lunch in the cafeteria or run to get takeout. I finish for the day and come home. I have to wonder around and find dinner (or make some I suppose). I go for a run by the river or read a book, maybe explore a bit or go to the store. I hang out with my friends. And every night, I go to bed...in my apartment...in Seoul, Korea. This is real life...it's no dream...it's just a big adventure...this is my life! 

On the flip side...

This is my life...I live in Seoul, Korea! I live in a bustling city of somewhere around 12 million people. I wake up to unfamiliar sounds like traffic and cicadas. It's 80% humidity and kind of hazy, but a new adventure awaits out my doorstep every day! I eat frosted flakes (thanks Tony the Tiger logo) that say nothing but Korean. I point at coffee off a list and do my best to say hi, please, thank you, and goodbye. Lots of smiles and nodding usually gets me the right order. I walk through a park that has dinosaurs, exercise machines, small children playing, teenagers hanging out, and older men playing chess. When I get on the bus, I swipe my travel card and find a seat not designated for the elderly or pregnant women (I think of you every time Breezy!) I drive by businesses that have signs that I can't read and watch in amazement as the bus cuts into traffic flawlessly! I walk into a beautiful school building and hang out with a staff from all over the world. I prep lessons for students that I have never even seen! When I eat lunch, I into sometimes know what I am eating but it is delicious and a new adventure! We talk about going to other countries on our fall break, maybe even for long weekends.  I ride the lime green bus home. When I run by the river, I feel like a get a secret view of this amazing city. I get warm smiles, waves, and a few funny looks from the Koreans who have the best workout attire known to man!  I work a washing machine that only has buttons in korean. We have Mandu, pho, shabu-shabu, etc. for dinner. And I thank God every night for such a blessed life. My heart is happy! This is real life...this is my life! 

Everyday!

Here is a picture reel of daily life in my neighborhood!

The rainbow bridge! Between apartments :)

 Mandu dumplings from the shop downstairs!

From an underpass on the river trail...rain!

The 'Korean gazebo' by the rainbow bridge

The running trail by the river 12 million people and this is still the most beautiful running trail! It's all weather track!!

View outside my apartment at night! 

Same view during the day! 

There's a bit if daily life for you :) thanks for looking!

Seoul is Dynamic

Sadly I have not overcome my tech difficulties to upload the video, but I'm certain it will happen soon!...on to the real post! 

I was sitting in one of my "Welcome to APIS" meetings when our director said that Seoul is such an exciting place to live. He was describing  New York and Hong Kong and how there is no other place that mixes old and new, east and west the way Seoul does. Something about that stirred my seoul. 

I feel like my life has never been this dynamic before. The people are changing (no I haven't forgotten any of you, but our distance has changed). My job is dynamic...3 new classes. My location is dynamic...two year contracts mean so many options! Every day is dynamic...I don't read or speak Korean (with the exception of a few easy phrases) which makes finding my way around, asking for help, ordering food, grocery shopping...pretty much everything I do flexible and just a bit harder. 

Everyday I wake up and wonder 'is this real life?' And it is...it's real, and amazing, and a blessing! 

Tomorrow I will try to post some pictures and show you a bit of what daily life is like!