can't even think of a title..

There are often times when I go into my kimbap shop and there are "secret" messages for me.  I don't always know who is writing the messages, but I sure enjoy being the recipient of them.   Here are 2 pictures so you can see what I am talking about.

 

 

 

The other day I was at a bus stop and this car pulls up next to me and they began speaking quickly and in Korean to me.  I was somewhat alarmed, when they grabbed onto my arm and were trying to pull me into their car!  I am pointing to the bus that is just now pulling up and they were not about to let me get on it.  I finally recognized a few words they were saying, specifically "503" and "apartment".  It then occurred to me that they were saying "Elm House" (the name of my apartment), which in Korea is "Elm House", but they pronounce it very differently.  Phonetically, they say, "Eleeeemah Housah" with a rolling r/l sound on the Elm portion.  Once I established I was not about to be the victim of a Korean kidnapping, and these were actually people who live in my building, I started to relax and was most grateful for the ride home!  The commute home went from 45 minutes, to about 20.  I actually don't mind the bus system, but getting a ride once in awhile is most appreciated. 

 

I purchased my ticket home and have an exact time when I will be back in the US.  I have never looked more forward to home in my life.  Of course, I have never been away from home for over a year either. My last day of school is February 17th and I fly to Malaysia on February 25th.  Prior to getting back to the US, I am going on a month long trek across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.  The bulk of the time will be spent in Thailand though.  The first few weeks will be incredibly busy between catching planes, trains, buses & Tuk Tuk's :).  The latter part of March will be spent on a Thai island in a beach hut/bungalow.  I foresee much beer drinking and great Thai food while lazing about on the beach watching the world go by.  I have been stressed to some degree or another almost since my arrival here (hello new grey hairs, forehead creases and weight gain! Oh my!), so having a month to decompress prior to beginning the next chapter (which is full of uncertainties), will be just what I need.  Don't get me wrong, Korea has been good to me.  Incredibly good to me.  But, I want home.  I can't think about it too much, because I get butterflies of excitement in my stomach.  These butterflies hit me at an intensity level of Christmas Eve at age 8.

 

Speaking of Christmas:  I'll be spending this Christmas volunteering at an orphanage.  I am really looking forward to spending Xmas this way.  Think it will be good for the soul.  We will be doing a variety of activities & games, along with a nice dinner for 4 hours that afternoon.  Sadly, a lot of the orphans here come from perfectly fine families, but after a divorce many kids are sent to orphanages. Unfortunately, there is a lot of stigma attached to unwed mothers.  So much so, that it is not uncommon for them to have a difficult time finding a landlord who will even rent to them.  Obviously much of society looks down on unwed mothers, so it is almost better for them to leave their children there, rather than suffer the societal repercussions they can be faced with.  I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for many of them to make that choice.  I have a soft spot for one (of many) kids at my school.  I don't know what it is about her, but she just tugged at my heart strings from the very beginning.  Just a little angel.  A few months ago I was telling a story about how this little girl (E Min-ju) walked me home from school.  My coteacher says, "Oh, she has only a mother.  Her parents are divorced", in a tone that had a sense of finality to it. 

 

To end on a happy note.  Have I ever shown you a picture of Honey Butter Bread?  This is basically Korean magic (voodoo might be more like it--it is out of this world delish).  I had another one recently.  Each time one is placed before me, I am compelled to take a picture.  I can't help it.