The 23rd hour of the 24th year:

This time last year, I turned twenty four while climbing the Great Wall of China. I was hopeful for my future and excited for what I was going to accomplish over the next year. Well here I am a year later and nothing has changed - except now I am 25. Two weeks ago, the day before I turned 25, I was still freaking out a bit, as my friends are getting married, having babies, buying houses, and I am no where near prepared for any of that! However, I know that my life is blessed as it is and I still have a lot to look forward to.

With each year, life gets better and we become more wise, right? I think with age that life gets a little more complicated, and we are faced with more twists and turns. Growing up we have no cares in the world. Our major responsibility is to go to school and perhaps do some daily chores that your mom has set for you. At the end of the day you probably do not know what "stress" is at the age of ten, and you're a ways away from experiencing it. Being a kid was fun, but now as adult we are faced to make choices that are going to affect the rest of our life. Even though life is more complicated now than it was fifteen years ago, I feel semi-ready to start making these decisions. I do not want to go back to being a kid, so I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had.

Between 24 and 25, I lost some weight (around 15 pounds), joined my first gym on my own, joined a book club and started reading again, experienced heart break, healed, fell in love, embraced change, travelled (more than I should have probably), made amazing new friends (but lost some on the way), moved to a better apartment, earned respect at work, became more comfortable in my own skin, and figured out what I want to do with the rest of my life (run an international study abroad program at any University). While the year had its ups and downs, I feel like it was a good year overall.

I don't know where my 25th year will take me, but I hope that when it's over and done with that I will still be "me". I'm constantly working at becoming a better "Ray" and with that takes time and patience. I am on a new path now, and I am excited to see where in the world I will be at this time next year.

Thanks to those who participated in the 25th birthday celebrations. It was a great night.

The Quarantined Life: Days 1-3

The Quarantined Life: Day I

I arrived back to Seoul on Monday, September 7th at 4:40 am via Asiana Airlines. Since I knew that I didn't have to go to work, I wasn't in such a rush to get through customs, get my luggage, and find my bus. The customs lines were much shorter than they have been in the past, and I was on my way to get my luggage less than fifteen minutes after departing the air craft.

My luggage was surprisingly one of the first off the plane. This is probably because we checked in only about an hour before the flight. I figured since my flight left at 1 am, we could totally get to the airport at 11:30 pm and be fine! I had no trouble! I got on the 5:24 am bus to Mokdong and was back inside my apartment by 6:30.

As I came in I left my bags by the door and booted up my computer. After calling my mom on skype, I thought to myself, "What the hell am I going to do for the next 7 days in my apartment!?" If I had extra money I would definitely go and explore since the weather has been nice this week, however, in an attempt to not bankrupt myself I decided to hang out here and do some things around my apartment.

Here's a glimpse at how day #1 turned out:

8:00 am --- I was in bed watching High School Musical

10:00 am --- Still in bed.....

12:00 pm --- I went to buy water, juice, and a breakfast sandwich which I ended up eating in bed.

2:00 pm --- I was definitely on facebook and watching TV.

4:00 pm --- still in bed....

6:00 pm ----- bed....

8:00 pm ---- bed....

10:00 pm ---- fast asleep in bed!

Day one, as you can see, was quite productive!

The Quarantined Life: Day II

Day two started out very similar to day 1, minus the fact that I didn't start at the airport. I woke up at 4:30 am and went on to my computer to check my email. After twenty minutes or so I decided to give sleep another chance and finally woke up at 7:30 ready to start my day. To my surprise, I turned on the TV and High School Musical 2 was on. I watched it until it finished and decided to eat Mc Donald's breakfast (I was starving since I didn't eat dinner the night before).

Day 2's events:

10:00 am --- breakfast of champions in bed.

12:00 pm --- Oprah and other shows in bed

2:00 pm ---- Skype with Eric (my friend from home)

4:00 pm --- Still on skype (and while on Skype my BOSS called)

6:00 pm --- Skypeee

7:00 pm --- I made fettuccine for dinner!

8:00 pm --- TV in BED

10:00 pm --- PASSED out in BED!

The Quarantined Life: Day III

I definitely took advantage of my time off the first two days. As you can see I did absolutely nothing. Part of me felt like "hey, I could possibly have gotten sick from being on the airplane... so why not do NOTHING!" By the morning of day three I was feeling much more energetic as I am now back on "Seoul time" and feeling acclimated to Korea. I guess that's what living in the "future" does to one!

Day three has gone a little differently. I woke up and checked my email and watched TV until about 11. I ate breakfast, showered, and played online a little more. At about 12:30 I decided that I was going to finally get some pictures on my walls. I went down to the Kodak shop and developed pictures from my trip home. I've had these black card-board frames in my apartment for a while now and I've been meaning to put pictures in them. As I waited for my pictures to be finished I walked to the department store and had a cheeseburger for lunch. The walk was nice as it's about a 15 minute walk and the weather is quite nice right now! After lunch I hit up Coffee Bean for a caramel ice blend and walked back to get my pictures.

Pictures and coffee in hand, I spread my materials on the floor. An hour later I was finished and pretty happy with the results:

It's nice to finally have a focal point on the wall and something neat to look at. After putting the pictures on the wall I decided to start to unpack and clean the remainder of my apartment. I didn't end up touching my suit case, but I did clean my apartment top to bottom. I even took pictures of my apartment to finally share with my friends and family at home. So many people asked about where I lived, so now they can see for themselves!

It's now 7:35 and my plan for the rest of the night is to cook some dinner, shower, and read! Who knows what will happen on day 4 of my "quarantine!"

Just in Case You Were Curious:

Last week I had to take a double look at the calendar. Was it really June already, and if so; how did that happen? After asking my co-worker if it were really June, I sighed and went back to planning for my day. Either way, after a nice weekend, I am out of my funk and ready to update.

Some Updates: 

I. Life:  Overall, life is good. The weather has been nice and I've been getting out and about more than normal. Nothing makes me happier than the smell of flowers in the air, sunshine, and being able to wear shorts and sandals outside. 

This past weekend I went to a small GLBT film festival here in Seoul. I saw the movie "Ciao" which was a really great film about loss, bonding, and love. I don't want to give away the movie, but more or less a man dies unexpectedly and leaves behind two men: One being his best friend Jeff and the other Andrea, an Italian man that he fell in love with over the Internet. It's worth watching if you can get your hands on it. 

Other than enjoying the scenes in and around Seoul, I have been catching up on some reading and downloading some new music. 

II. Work: Work is work. I still work over 50+ hours a week, and it never gets easier. Even though I go to work Monday with a positive attitude, it's usually down hill from there. I don't know what is more difficult- working with 15 other North Americans who butt heads on a constant basis, or teaching six years old! However, at the end of the day I love the kids I teach- I love teaching, I love being in the classroom, I love challenging myself through challenging the kids. I think most days I am good at what I do, and perhaps I've found my calling. However, other days I doubt myself and my abilities, but then again, who doesn't!? 

Last March I re-signed my contract for an extra semester. Right now I am contracted to stay through the end of the semester in August. Recently, my boss asked me to stay throughout the remainder of the school year (so until the end of August). At first I really didn't think I wanted to stay. Part of me knows that I can find a job making more money and working less hours a week, but part of me is already attached to my students and the school I am working at. After talking it over with my best friend here in Seoul, Ivania, and my mom, I think I've decided to stay. It was a tough decision to make, but maybe it's the best one for me right now. Hopefully, with some upcoming changes that are going to happen soon at work; I will feel better, relaxed, and ready for the rest of the year! 

III. Love: As some of you know, JH and I broke up in the beginning of April. I'm sure many of you saw it coming, as did I. I wasn't sure how long it would take me to get over him and us, but today I feel very good about it. Breaking up was the best thing for us, and I am sure we are both happier in our lives now. After spending a year and a half with someone, it's tough to just not talk to them any more. While we haven't seen each other since the breakup, we have talked on the phone a few times. At one point we had something truly special, and I will never forget that. 

Recently I started dating again. I wasn't sure if I was ready, but I am now convinced that I am. I met someone recently who I really enjoy spending time with. We've gone to a few movies together, out to eat a few times, and have spent a few romantic nights just at home watching TV or movies. I like that "feeling" you get on the inside when you meet someone new, and the silly grin left on your face after the first kiss. *sigh* I'm a hopeless romantic, I can't help it :) 

IV: Travel: In May, I spent a weekend in Taiwan. We only had enough time to check out the capital city, Taipei. Taipei is interesting in the fact that it housed many temples that were different from others I've seen in Asia. They were colorful and detailed- each temple told it's own story. We went to a Confucius temple, and it was by far my favorite. However, I wasn't too impressed with the smell at times and the lack of community. One thing I really like about Seoul is that each neighborhood has its own "vibe".  I definitely couldn't see myself living in Taipei, and it made me glad that I live in Seoul. 

I'm spending June in Korea. I am hoping to hit up the beach in Busan for some reading and relaxing, but I have no expectations for this month. 

In July I'm heading to Cambodia. I am getting quite excited for this trip. I leave on July 25th and have a direct flight from Seoul to Phnom Penh. I'll spend Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in Phnom Penh seeing the sites and hopefully doing some volunteer work. I'm staying at this really cute boutique hotel in the center of the city. Check out the link here: http://www.thepavilion.asia/homeeng.htm 

Anyways, on Tuesday the 28th I'm taking a quick flight from PP to Siem Reap where I'll be the rest of my trip. Aside from hanging out at my hotel, I plan to check out Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples. Also, I am going to take a cooking class or two. I have zero expectations for this trip, and I am going to just go with the flow. I'm going to write in my leather bound journal each day, take as many pictures as possible, and do some much needed reading and reflecting. I'm hoping the rain storms stay away and I'll get to see the sun rise over Angkor Wat at least once. 

In addition, I'll be making a VISIT to Chicago on August 26th. I can't wait to catch up with family and friends. More to come on this in a later post. 

V: The Future: Sometimes I still do not know what the future holds for me. However, I am starting to have a clearer vision of what I want to do with my life, where I want to live, and what I want to be when I finally "grow up". I know that I can't stay in Korea forever, but each day I remind myself that I am still young and I still have a long life ahead of me. I know that I want to settle down soon, I know that I want a family, and I know that I want to go back to school to be a teacher in the US. Each day I have to remind myself of my goals, and I am working toward making them a reality in the very near future. 

VI: Odds and Ends:   Yesterday, while I was having some coffee at Coffee Bean with Jin, a lady approached me and asked if she could interview me. Her name was Julia Kim and she works for TBS eFM, a radio station here in Seoul. At first I wanted to say no, however, after giggling to myself I decided to go ahead with it. Each week Julia has to interview four foreigners for a segment of a radio show that is aired on Thursday mornings at 10 am (Seoul time). Her interview took about 5 minutes and it was quite pain-less. I had to say hello, who I was, and I had to ask a question and put in a song request. My question was: "Where can I take a traditional Korean cooking class that is in English?" but today after thinking about it I wish I had asked about volunteer opportunities here in Seoul for foreigners. Ah well, I'll have to put my googling skills to good use. Oh yeah, my song quest was "Happiness" by The Fray. 

In other recent news: I was accepted to both programs I applied to in the states for a second Master's degree in Education. I was accepted into St. Xavier's Elementary Education program as well as the University of Illinois' Master's of Teaching History program. I decided early last week though that I will decline St. Xavier and defer U of I until Fall 2010, if possible. 

Lately, I've really wanted to do some volunteer work. I was hoping there would be a program like Big Brother's Big Sister's here in Seoul, but I've yet to find one. Maybe this is a sign that I should start one here?!?! I wonder if I could. I should get looking into logistics for this. 

And with ALL that said, until next time......

Where in the World is RK:

Sometimes I really feel like blogging, and I will make the effort to do it regularly. Other times, I get lost in the days and the days becomes nights, etc. Either way, I'm back and better than ever.

So you may be curious what I've been up to. Let me fill you in.


I. Moving Out and Moving On:


Two weeks ago my boss called me into his office. Immediately I just figured that I must have done something wrong. I sat down and to my surprise he told me that he had a "new" apartment for me. Let me start by saying that I've lived in Korea now for 20 months and I've had four apartments already. This has got to be some kind of record. Either way, he told me the details-- "much bigger than my current place, and best of all, RIGHT next to work". How my eyes lit up when I heard the words "next" to work. Currently I live about a 10 minute cab ride from work- which I'm not complaining about, however, it requires an earlier alarm and cash daily for a cab. It's going to be wonderful to sleep an extra 30 minutes and not have to worry about cabs.


II. Work: Staying or Going:


Since I decided that I had to take my boss up on the new apartment offer, it also means that I have extended my stay in Korea. You'll be happy to know that I did not sign up for another year, but I did agree to stay through the end of the semester which is the end of August. Come August, I'll have been in Korea for exactly two years. My gosh!


III. Out With the Old and in With the New:


A few weeks ago while browsing at the Apple Store, I decided to purchase a MacBook. Yes, it was an impulse buy, and NO, I do not want to hear that you hate Macs. Either way, it was a great purchase, and so far I love it. I really enjoy being able to edit my photos quickly and easily using iphoto. I definitely recommend at least giving it a chance.


Also, once I'm settled into my new apartment (which officially is tomorrow) I am buying new bed sheets. There is nothing that makes me happier than falling asleep in fresh sheets. So what if it sounds a bit gay, who doesn't like clean sheets?!


IV: Always on the Go, Because I Can:


Two weekends ago, a friend and I went to Tokyo, Japan. Some gave me a weird look when I said that I was going to Tokyo for the weekend. I will say, Tokyo, cannot be done in a weekend. Please, give it some respect, and stay three days or more. While I enjoyed a great brunch, an amazing view from both the dream bridge and Tokyo tower, and some laughs inside the park at Disney-- I left disappointed that I couldn't see some more.


Because my traveling bug never goes away, I'm planning a little getaway to Hong Kong at the end of the month. More details to follow, as I'm waiting to see how much my check is and if I can book tickets yet for my summer vacation. Destination: Unknown.


V: In my Spare Time, Because Really I Have Zero:


A few weeks ago a friend emailed me about a start-up website that she wanted to create. She put together a team, she purchased a domain, and she was quick to hand out assignments. Although I really have zero free time during the week, I decided that I wanted to be part of it. Humbleopinions.net is not up and running yet, but it should be soon. I wrote my first review last week, or at least attempted to. I realized quick that I had not written any sort of book review in 3 years, but tried not to let this bother me too much.


I tackled "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Marc Haddon. Since it was my first go at a book review, I'll spare you the details.

My next book, which I just picked up this past weekend is "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. I've heard wonderful things and I'm excited to get to it.


VI: Sleep is for the Weak, but I Really Do Need it:


I am getting even less sleep now then when I was working out nightly. Once I move tomorrow, I'm back on a routine. I now live right next to a track, and there is no excuse for why I can't work out on a regular basis. I am hoping to get back into shape, or at least to where I was before I went home for Christmas. Fifteen pounds lighter sounds wonderful.


2 am bedtimes just aren't for me anymore, and hopefully if I go to bed even an hour earlier each night, these bags under my eyes will find a new home.


VII: Social Butterfly, Believe it or Not:


For months I didn't go out at night. Part of this was because I hated my life and work, part of this was because my lack of friends, and probably a huge part of it was because of my negative attitude about everything.


In the past five-six weeks I've really tried to lighten up, and to get out more. I have made new friends, and I actually went out on a Saturday night.


I live for Monday night Chicken and Beer now, and having guy friends. Something else that has been missing from my life for two+ years now. It's been really weird not having any friendships with males since I came to Korea. I'm glad things are changing.


VIII: In the Not So Distant, Future:


A few months back I applied to go back to school for a second Master's in Education. After completely applying, I found out that I had to take a test before they could consider my application. What I hate about this was that I made many calls before applying, and everyone gave me the green light, go ahead.


While there is a way around it, and I could go back to school in the fall... I'm using this as a sign. Maybe I should do something with the degrees I already have. While I do love being a teacher, maybe it's not my calling?


IX: Goals, Whether Realistic or Not:


I made a list of goals in February, and I haven't even looked back to see if I did well with them. Either way, I do have some new goals that I plan to stick with.


a. STOP using my CREDIT CARD
b. Stay positive at work, even when others are not
c. Do something fun for myself only ONCE a month
d. Eat out less, eat healthy more
e. RUN three days a week, and sign up for a marathon!
f. Call home more, and write more letters to friends and family
g. Enjoy the time I have left here in Seoul


X: Because Enough is Enough:


Even though I really do not keep track of who follows my blogs, know that I probably miss you lots. I'm living my life day to day- Starbucks in one hand, a red marking pen in the other. I miss home daily, but should focus on the fact that I am lucky to have a job, and be living in such an amazing city. The world really is an amazing place.