Entry 33: Abroad

4 of my closest friends went out of the US this fall and embarked on their own "abroad" experience.

Sue went to Prague
Julie went to Spain
Tae went to Switzerland
Grace went to Korea

It is amazing that our time is coming to a close. I may not be able to speak for the others, but I know that during my time away from the US, there were times where I was excruciatingly homesick, times where I was pumped to be living a new life, times where I would just sit and think of what next semester holds now that I have a semester abroad under my belt.


During the start of my journey I made a list. Let's take a look.

Things that I am assuming will be missed once I am in Korea (not in any significant order):

• family- I got to see my dad a few times in Korea. Skyped with them more frequently in Korea than I did back in Texas. I miss them, but just as much as I do when I'm in college. The holidays do suck when you don't have any family around.
  
• friends- This one is a big yes. There were times when, I would just sit alone in my room and it would be completely silent. That was not last year. Last year I lived with 3 close friends, and I don't think that our house was ever really "quiet". Our class just had a crazy webcam reunion, where we all got on and saw each other. Although I wasn't able to join the festivities for long (they talked to each other for over 2 hours. They love each other very much). I can't wait to go back and see these crazy people. They are my favorite.
  
• steak (since I hear that red meat is rare and expensive)- I each just as much meat in Korea. I've had a steak, and in general, food is decently priced in Korea. You don't pay tip or tax on meals. So if the menu says something is 5,000 won, then you just pull out a 5,000 bill. Done, no change, no jingling metal, just that bill passed on. It's quick, clean, and cheap. I can get full off of 3 dollars in Korea, in a restaurant. That's unlikely to ever happen in the states, unless you go to Taco Bell.
  
• my guitars (I'm not sure if I will be able to bring it on the plane)- I miss my electric. I miss my acoustic since it left me a month ago. :( This was quite true. but I was able to write a song. So its not all a failure.
  
• being in a reasonable similar time zone- eh, the time zone issue wasn't THAT big of a deal. I am a morning person, so when I wake up, I am able to talk to all the people back home at a reasonable time.
  
• mexican food- :(, I do miss good mexican food.....
  
• my car- When I go home, I'm going to just drive. Anywhere. I miss driving SO MUCH. I'm scared I have forgotten how to drive.
  
• TEXAS FOOTBALL (it gets caps, just deal)- Thank God for Justin Tv.
  
• IM football- I miss playing football on Saturdays. I'll be calling people to play. People better come out.
  

While I'm at it, here is a list of things that I am looking forward too about Korea:

• Authentic Korean food- My favorite kind of food in the world.
  
• Cheap Korean food- The same dish in Korea is usually 50% cheaper than in the states, depending on what you get, because of tip, tax, and just the fact that Korean food is common.
  
• Buying a pair of glasses- done. Ray Bans. I love em.
  
• Buying a nice coat- Bought a jacket... my dad brought a coat from back home.
  
• Taking pictures- Pictures have slowed down since I started to teach, but I've taken a few... hundred.
  
• Making new friends- Done. I love em. (mostly girls... but its all good)
  
• Getting a clean slate- Done. It helped me realize who I am to a greater extent.
  
• Teaching little kids- Done. I came, I saw, I conquered! I'm sure these kids learned something.
  
• Improving my Korean- Done. It was bound to happen since I'm living here and interacting with mostly native Korean speakers (and having to meet family friends, who speak primarily korean)
• Running- FAIL. I went out running a half dozen times. It's WAYYYY too cold now. But I could have run much more
  
• Hiking- Done. Teachers took me out and we climbed a mountain.
  
• Learning more about myself, in the context of a new country- Done. I learned a lot about myself. Unlike the common belief, I was able to live alone and thrive. I weaned myself off of the need for other people and really refined my self identity. I'm still marred with issues and problems, but this trip was necessary for me to learn a whole new side of myself.

I pretty much completed my list. Now its time to enjoy the rest of the month and do all the things I would have never dreamed of doing. The beginning of my journey was intense, the end is going to be just as intense.