Much Needed Update

I am staying with my family until the summer. I guess they not only talked their way out of living with my host father's parents; they talked their way into moving later. This is spectacular news!! I get to continue to live with them for the remainder of my contract year and my host sibs get to stay until the end of their first semester.

I've decided to stay in Korea for another year. I believe I am going to renew my contract with Fulbright but am not entirely sure yet. If I renew with Fulbright, I have a decision about where to live next year. I am currently trying to decide between staying in the same city (Wonju) at the same school or moving to Seoul for a completely new experience. It's a difficult decision for me. In moving to Seoul, I will be closer to my host family (because that is where they are moving), I will be closer to the Sharing House where I am now volunteering, I will have a variety of other opportunities available because of the big city atmosphere. However, I am familiar in Wonju, I really enjoy being at the school I am at, I have friends in the city, I have found ways to get involved, and I really like the relaxed nature of the city. Seoul is so incredibly busy; I feel like I may go crazy.

Classes are going well. I have a few classes that drive me crazy, but for the most part, my students are still just as adorable as ever!

I am still taking yoga and jazz dance classes. For a while, I was also in another dance class but found that I was really tired going to guitar lessons after both yoga and night dance classes. I really love the guitar academy I'm at! I just started about two weeks ago. I went out with a group of people from there last Thursday.^^ There was a married couple with a baby (Min Ju!), two other guys that just started a bit ago, and my guitar teacher. I had a good time. One of the older men that was with us, asked me to call a lodge where his daughter is supposed to be staying in Australia. She just moved there on Monday, but he can't get a hold of her. The man on the phone was incredibly rude. I was so shocked. I couldn't believe he was so impatient. Apparently he was also that rude with the father the night before. I hope he can contact her soon.

Yesterday, I went to Jecheon with some of the English club members and two other foreigners who have started attending the group. It was sooo much fun! We went to Cheong Pung lake and ate by the lake where there is a traditional-looking old drama set. We had kimbap, strawberries, tomatoes, and grapes!^^ After lunch, we went to a folk village and looked at some more traditional houses and climbed up a hill/small mountain and looked out from a building on top of the hill. The flowers and the view were amazing! The weather was incredible as well! I ended up getting sunburned. One of the girls who was with us (Allan's girlfriend...both also from the club) and I became quick friends. She wore high heels, so she kept clinging on for dear life. Haha! Also in the village, we participated in traditional tea ceremonies; I got to try lotus flower tea. It was good. After the village, we went to a smaller lake (a lake that a friend of mine in Jecheon apparently thought we were at rather than the other huge one in Jecheon...we didn't get to meet up because he had to head into Seoul). The lake was beautiful...surrounded by cherry blossom trees, a wooden bridge over it and a surrounding wooden walkway, a beautiful waterfall to walk under, etc. When we left, we came back to Wonju and had dinner together. Miracle (Hyung Hee's nickname) joined us!!^^ We had Hae Jung Guk (Fish soup with rice). The day was amazing! I love spending time with this group of people! I've been incredibly fortunate to have them in my life. I suggested that we have a monthly outing like yesterday; I wish I had suggested it months ago! Even if I move to Seoul, I will continue to visit this group as often as possible!

Today, I was supposed to go to the Sharing House, but I have found that I need to figure out a more effective way than waking up at 6:00AM to catch a bus to Seoul for the day. It is exhausting. I was also sick this morning, so I informed them that I wouldn't be able to make it. I will be going next weekend for training. I was able to talk to a good friend of mine who is now in Asia. We don't have time to meet up unfortunately, but it was really nice to hear from him!

My sister sent me a message on facebook today that my great aunt Martha passed away on Friday... I don't know how I feel.