Friday, August 26, 2005

The end

Well, I think it's time to put this thing to a rest (maybe obviously, since I haven't written in a while). There really isn't much to write about. I'm pretty much just waiting for my job, this AmeriCorps position as a resident services coordinator at a low income housing development, to start in a couple weeks. I had my first driving lesson a couple days ago (yes, it was scary). I've been cooking some simple Korean food (or trying to).

Last night I admitted to a friend that my experience in Korea was something that I valued a lot, but it wasn't that much fun while it was happening. But I guess life is kind of like that. I certainly wasn't expecting my year in Korea to be an exotic vacation of some sort, and it wasn't. But I would do it again, if I could go back in time, and all that. There are definitely no regrets, except that if I knew then what I know now, I probably would have done it better.

I've saved these posts to my computer now, though I'll probably leave this site up indefinitely. No reason not to. Maybe some stranger will come across it and have a good read.

Anyeong.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

haves

I have a job, and a car, and I just went out for a big, tasty Korean dinner and then watched a movie with friends in my new apartment. Life is good.

Now I just need to register my car, get car insurance, get a driver's license, officially apply to live in this apartment, and officially finish applying to this job by getting all the paperwork that AmeriCorps needs in. And stop sleeping 10 hours a night (residual jet-lag?).

But still, I can't complain. I have a month until my job starts and everything seems to be falling together. I sort of feel like I'm waiting for something bad to happen though, some creeping melancholy. But I'm going to enjoy this month, while some of my friends are still available, before they move away or start classes again.

Friday, August 05, 2005

hmm

I feel like I should post but I don't quite know what to say. People here keep asking me if I'm feeling culture shock, and the obvious answer seems to be both no and yes. Yes, I was actually surprised to get off the plane and see signs in English, to be able to understand idle conversations that I overhear. It's shocking how diverse the bay area is, people of all different shapes and colors and styles. But also this is home, and it isn't too strange to me. Though I feel like in some ways the brunt of the culture shock should be over, I know that I'm still adjusting, and I'm sort of just going through the motions.

It's been really good to see my friends here, and my family. It's sort of amazing that I'll be moving into a new apartment I've never seen in a new neighborhood, tomorrow night. And more people I haven't seen in over a year to see again. I'm looking forward to it.

Sunday, July 31, 2005

on the flipside

Back in the States now. Worn out. Bye Korea. I don't know if my host family knows how much I appreciate them, but maybe they saw me crying as the bus to Seoul pulled away.

Friends: get in touch with me. I want to see you now.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Rachel


Rachel
Originally uploaded by TJF.

This is my friend Rachel. She's in L.A. now, and I have to admit this small country feels a little emptier. Okay, I'm going to get off the computer and do something more productive with my third-to-last day in Korea.

stem cell research


stem cell research
Originally uploaded by TJF.

Haeundae


Haeundae
Originally uploaded by TJF.

At the beach in Busan last weekend. Me, Seo Jin, Seo Young (my two youngest host sisters) and our friend Sae Gyung.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

only everywhere except North America

Yesterday we went to the Busan Aquarium so that I can at least say I've seen something in Busan (the second largest city in Korea, about 2 and a half hours east of Suncheon). The aquarium resembled a much smaller version of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with no cute sea otters. Another thing that struck me was that the animals seemed capable of seeing me through the glass. That shouldn't be that strange, but at all the acquarium's I've visited I've never thought that the fish could see me. Yesterday when I approached the penguin exhibit several penguins were diving close to the glass, and a couple, apparently thinking we would feed them, kept following our hands. I would drag my finger across the glass and the penguin would be working his beak like my appendage was a little fish he wanted to gobble up. It was cool for awhile, but then it felt too much like taunting and I stopped.

The other two memorable experiences were the glass-bottomed boat ride over one of the largest tanks (it actually scared me a little---but now I can say I've been in a boat mere meters from a man-eating shark) and then watching foreign female synchronized swimmers dressed up as mermaids swimming around in that same tank that contained the man-eating shark. Of course I don't speak Korean very well, but I could tell that they were acting out some of the storyline from "The Little Mermaid" movie. I may be wrong, but I filed that away under "Only in Korea," both for the introducing of people dressed as mermaids to aquarium tanks, and the blatant copyright infringement. Though I realized recently that when I say "Only in Korea" it really means, "Only Everywhere Except North America."

The Aquarium is right near Haeundae Beach, so we went out and wallowed in the waves a little before heading back home. Busan was definitely in full summer mode, there were people walking around in bikinis and everything (a little head-turning for us humble country-folk). It was definitely hot enough to go swimming, the rainy season has ended and now we're just being baked constantly, but I'd left my swimsuit at home because I wanted to avoid a 10-hour plane ride with a painful sunburn.

I enjoy spending time with my host family, but it's unfortunate that traveling seems to bring out the worst in me (i.e. I get quietly irritable) and my host mother (who has a tendency to seem anxious and bossy in most situations, anyway). We had fun together, and with Saegyung and Saegyung's mother, friends of the family who came along to Busan, but I was conscious of being maybe not fun enough or upbeat enough. These next couple days will be laid-back, as I just tie up a few loose ends.

Sunday, July 24, 2005

good-bye seoul

Just got back from my last weekend in Seoul, three full days split pretty evenly between time with my host mother and two younger host sisters at museums and sight-seeing, and hanging out with Fulbrighters for the last time ever. I'm pretty tired now, didn't sleep a whole lot this weekend. Rachel flew out today. Last night I had a lot of fun, a little drinking and a lot of good conversation with my favorite folks. Tomorrow I think I'm still on to go to Busan with my host mother and two host sisters again, to see a few sights. My last week in Korea is burning down.

I sealed the deal on a used car yesterday, a 1989 Subaru wagon that has a lot of miles but is in good condition considering (a friend of mine back in Portland who knows cars pretty well did me a huge favor and checked it out). Only paying $550 for it, so I'll be happy if I can learn on it (yep, still no license) and maybe get one or two good roadtrips out of it before it dies. I don't intend to drive a lot when I get back to Portland, since I'll be living in a good area for walking and biking. I'm only really buying it in case I get a job that needs a car, and realistically, if I don't own a car soon who knows when I'll get around to getting my license. When I get back to the States I'll pretty much have everything I need---a car, an apartment, even a cell-phone...everything except a job. I do have ANOTHER phone interview later this week, the morning before I leave Korea actually, and the woman seems very interested, so that's a good sign. I'm still checking Craigslist obsessively out of habit, but I am going to have to give the job search a rest until I'm back in the States I think.

Which reminds me, what's going to become of this blog when I get state-side again? I don't know, I guess it'll probably just disappear. As exotic and fun being back in Portland will seem to me at first, I would have a hard time convincing myself it's worth blogging about. If you have any thoughts on this matter, feel free to use the comments link to let me know.