I've been here to long! (but still enjoying it!)

Here's a list of things you know you've been in Korea too long!

1. Craving rice, I need to eat rice every day.
   
2. When I go to make meat into smaller pieces, I look for a pair of long handled scissors.
3. All of my rock climbing clothing is a shade of pink.
   
4. When most of the people you knew 9 months ago, are now in a different country.
   
5. You know what time the subways open after being out all night long.
   
6. You now carry an umbrella if its cloudy, in the rain and snow.
7. You buy a huge DSLR camera to fit in.
8. Your acutely aware of your grammar, and now read every sentence to make sure it's correct. (Even then, my grammar isn't 100% correct!)
9. You try to study for the GRE and find yourself thinking, "I've heard my parents use that word recently. But can't think of what it means."
   
10. When your parents still have a larger vocabulary.
11. You study for the TESOL.
12. You laugh now while running and get stared at by the old Koreans.
    
13. You can pick out the teachers who've been here longer.
    

I've been in Korea, now, 14 months. 9 months till I'm off and traveling. Ahh have to save up some more money!

Ice Climbing

Yesterday I had one of the best experiences of my life, certainly the most challenging. I found myself hanging off a 24m cliff, with two ice picks and metal clamps on my feet. With my friend Sven yelling at me, "1 more meter, get up there now". I looked down, at all of the ropes and people. My arms shaking with fatigue, knees already beginning to swell from being knocked into ice during my first climb up, 6 hours before. I stood up from my crouch position, swung the right ice pick then the left one into the ice. My arms vibrate from the impact of metal and ice. My feet lift up and into the next foot position. And finally I'm there! The challenging last climb is finished, now all I have to do is belay down with ice picks in my hands and a two older men right below me. Ah fun!

I've always wanted to be a sport's person. But growing up my hand ice coordination wasn't strong, nor my team spirit. Team sports were a true success for me. My dad was an avid skier/hiker/fisher so I was half dragged/carried since the time I was two to the Colorado mountains. Its in my blood! I would go to REI and see all of the adults buying their gear, talking of their hike/climb of the day, laughing with tanned faces. I wanted to be apart of that group, but alas, I was only in elementary school.

Finally, I woke up to the realization that I'm becoming one of those adults talking of their climb of the day. Yesterday was only the first time I had gone ice climbing. I'm finally in a place where I can take advantage of beautiful mountains, enough money/time, and access to a instructor who can teach me great/safe climbing methods. The guide of the trip has a 6week clinic starting in three weeks to learn how to properly climb and be prepared to go climbing with small groups of people.

Soo: 2010 is the year of I am: I am a good teacher, runner, climber, and over all person.

woow its been to long!

Wow, so its been about six months since I've written in my blog. A lot has happened in six months. The highlights:

• Going to Thailand, riding on an elephant, being on a Muslim beach
• Becoming an aunt again with Zana and Ryan's to lovely sons :)
  
• Dating a Korean guy, seeing a traditional Chuseok at his grandpa's house.
  
• Going home for Christmas and seeing Karen in San Fransisco
• Studying for the GRE, thankful my coworker, Jason, is going to be my study buddy for the next 4 months till the big test.
  

• Becoming an active Couchsurfer (couchsurfing.com) :)
  
• My career choice is now: getting an Au.d in Audiology :) Hello grad school for 4 years.
  
• Signing on for year 2 at SLP hagwon. But teaching older kids :) Much better for mental health. Hopefully I'll stop dreaming about stickers and bloody noses.
  
• I'm starting Couch 2 5k for the third time in as many years. But this time I'm fully prepared with two knee braces. :) I wont let two bad joints stop me from the endorphin rush.
  

Next weekend, Feb 13-15 will be Lunar New Year (Solnal). I'm going to be going to a Buddist temple to experience a traditional New Year celebration with couch surfers and monks. What I have to look forward to: a bus ride that is normally 3 hours will turn into 8 hours due to Korean horrific traffic.