Korean Adventure

This weekend was AMAZING!!!! On Saturday we went to the DMZ with Stephanie and her friend Brooke and it was so interesting. We learned about some of the history of the DMZ and the tension between N. and S. Korea. We got to see into N. Korea and see some crazy N. Koreans. We went into the tunnel that N. Korea built to infiltrate S. Korea during the Korean War. It was so cool to see. It is hard to explain the feeling of being somewhere that has so much history. You read about it in books, you learn about it in school, but to actually be here and seeing where these things happened is absolutely amazing!!!! Here are some pics from the trip. 

  

1st picture: Conference row. The other side is North Korea.

2nd picture: Stephanie and I with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Soldier 

After the DMZ trip Cody and I decided to go to the Korean Folk Village on Sunday. It was AMAZING!!! We got to see Traditional Korean houses, traditional masks, pottery and so much more. It was so interesting to see all the traditional culture. There was this awesome performance at the Folk Village by farmers. They had drums and gongs. They did dances and stuff. It was really cool. I had lots of "OMG, i'm in Korea" moments this weekend!!!! I think the most amazing part was the fact that Cody and I were able to find our way there and back without getting lost!!!! I was so proud of us for that. We haven't really ventured too far out of our area because we don't know the transportation system all that well. But we did it. And now that we've done it once we can do it over and over again!!!!

here are some of my favorites from the village: 

I'll say one thing, Korea is one of the best things that Cody and I decided to do. It has made us realize the things that we need to fix with us, as individuals, and as a couple. I think that we are going to become stronger together and apart. I'm realizing who I am again. The things that I always believed in so strongly but kind of slipped away from me. By the time the year is over I'll be ready for so many more adventures. <3 Pretty excited for all that is in store!!!!

I still can't believe i'm here...

I still can't believe I'm here. A little under a month ago I arrived in South Korea. August 27th, 2011. I said good-bye to families and my dogs (:-/ how I miss them) and jumped on a plane with Cody to travel across the world to move to a new place. I went through all the steps, got all of the proper documents needed, applied through a recruiting office for a job, got the background check, found someone who would hire me, and made all the necessary arraignments to come to this country. It wasn't until the first night that I was sitting in my apartment in these new strange surroundings (without my dogs) that I thought, "what the hell have I done?"

So what did I do? I cried for a while, called my best friend (luckily I went through this amazing company "the arrival store" who was able to set me up with a phone upon arrival) who told me to go to bed, get some sleep and wake up in the morning refreshed. So that is what I did. Woke up at 3 am in tears and made Cody put in a movie. We talked and he told me if within the first month I still didn't like it we could go home. Well needless to say that has YET to happen. 

That next day my BEST FRIEND came and visited me. Helped me get around my new city and I felt so much better. I have come to LOVE living here!!! The children at my school are amazing, the city I live in has the most wonderful park, and I just moved into a new apartment that is SOOOOO very nice <3 

                                                       The pavilion in my park <3

                                 Re-united and so happy <3

South Korea has so many amazing things and I have only yet to explore. I honestly can not wait to see what this place has in store for me. But, I can say I think it is going to change me inside and out. It took everything I had to actually follow through on my dreams and I'm so proud of myself for doing so. Now I get to spend an entire year with my amazing husband and my best friend <3