Early morning again

I managed to stretch my bedtime to a little after midnight last night, but I still woke up at 6:30 am. That's ok - maybe a nap is in store later. The thing about sleeping in my bed is that it's only comfortable when I'm absolutely exhausted...the mattress is firmer than I'm used to.

Last night was a successful trip to E-Mart (Korea's version of Wal Mart.) Three levels of expansive everything-you-could-ever-need shopping. And there are escalators to ride with your shopping cart. I was stared at quite a bit, but the employees were extremely helpful, especially finding specific food items. I spent entirely too much money, but I'm rationalizing it by saying that every move needs one large shopping trip for necessities and then every trip after that will be cheaper. I just hope my money lasts until I get paid.

Danielle, Chana and I took a cheap taxi down a main road with so many shops and a lot of foreign (American) style establishments. We found out where we are in a map of Gwangju and were excited that a nearby hotel serves as a well-known landmark. This will make getting back to my apartment by taxi much easier.

Today, Danielle and I will try a church! I'm excited to go and see God work in a country not my own. It's always exciting to realize that God is bigger than the States. Supposedly, there will be a substantial foreigner community at said church...I'll update later with my thoughts on it.

Tomorrow, Chana and I begin our first day of training! I'm not sure what to expect, besides a long, grueling day, but I think I'm ready to be busy. I'm glad for the weekend, but busyness is my favorite.

I can't wait to begin to feel at home here. I've transitioned many places in my young life, but none as alien as this. If you're a praying friend, please pray that I adjust smoothly and find reasons to be happy that I'm here. One reason I'm sure of: God is always with me. He's not interested in my comfort, but he does care for me - and so I'm praying for comfort :-)

Lunching

I think there will be fewer posts on the days that I actually have something to do. I've been hanging around the apartment most of the day - and I'm really ok with that. We (the apartment and I) became very well acquainted this morning when I cleaned. I have yet to sweep my floor because I don't own a broom and dustpan. But it will happen.

I'm pretty proud of myself. I got hungry around 11:30 am and decided to venture out in search of familiar food. I remembered seeing a Domino's pizza nearby (I know, Domino's, what the heck - but I wanted something that my stomach could agree with!) so I went there and had a fun little bout of made-up sign language with the girl taking my order. At least I could say hello and thank you in Hangul.

I realized what a child might feel like before they learn to read. To look at a sign and not be able to comprehend its meaning, is infuriating! I'm not sure how much of the language I will be able to soak in, or if I need to make a decided, conscious effort to communicate. I was surprised at how little English Koreans speak. But then, why else did I come to this country but to try and help teach?

I'll leave you with a photo of the view from my window. Notice the little mountain in the back. I love mountains.

Morning time

After nine hours of sleep, I woke up at 5 am. My eyes just popped open. A little frustrating, since I've got the whole day to do whatever, and I would really rather sleep. But it's alright. I was able to skype with my sister for two hours and my mom for a little while as well. I'm getting used to this apartment. I had to cry a little and realize this is reality. I'm trying not to think too far ahead; just take things a day at a time. Sometimes I tend to look to closely at the big picture and I get overwhelmed (see previous post.)

I'm sleepy again. I think I'll nap, watch some Office, and clean. Danielle comes back at 2:30 and we'll go to E-Mart (Korea's Wal Mart) to get some apartment necessities. I'm so tired!! Jet lag is the worst. I've never experienced it quite like this.

Life is good. I've been burning incense so my room smells better.

p.s. I want to apologize for the random train of thought throughout this post and perhaps the previous one as well. I'm still muddled and it feels better to just write, without having to concentrate on whether or not it makes sense.

I think I'll get some paper while I'm out. I have this intense desire to watercolor.

Can we say Overwhelmed...?

An 8 am morning on Wednesday, a flight out to Chicago that evening, a layover lasting until 2 am (Eastern time), a 14 hour flight with barely any sleep, a skipped Thursday (time change drama), a four hour bus ride to Gwangju, a quick tour of my apartment, the new school and lunch with the boss - left one emotion-filled girl in apartment 301. Wow. I am so thankful that my friend, Danielle, was here the whole time. She put me at ease and calmed me down when I wanted to run away, back to the US.

I rearranged my apartment, burned some incense to mask the doggy-greasy-man smell, and now I'm settling in with my favorite comfort movie, Sense and Sensibility. Life is ok. God is good. He's right here with me, and that's all I need. My whole life was stuffed into three bags and now I'm in a strange country that doesn't speak my language...many of my friends were right to label me courageous - but I think the word is crazy. I'm absolutely stark raving mad. And I'm ok. God has provided everything I need and He's got it all under control.

Good night, Gwangju.

(I miss you, Mom)

Touchdown in Chicago

Waiting in the terminal for my 1 am flight. I think I finally have jitters. I think I'm just tired. Right now, it's almost 11pm Eastern time, but with the last flight, I was time traveling and it's now 9:45pm. I don't even know what to do with myself. It's kind of hitting me right now, as I type this, that I'm starting over, with a clean slate. Everything is new, and it's just God and me. Whew. He's going to give me strength to do this.

I don't think I'm even writing anything cohesive, I'm so overwhelmed. But I'm playing it cool. Chillin' near the electric outlets so my computer won't die.