"Kimchi!"

July 25, 2009...

8:18pm...

Today was quite a way to depart from this country. Originally my intention was to take the subway with my roommate around 2pm...giving myself 6 hours to sit at the airport...hanging out and reading magazines in Korean. (Only a few more hours until I will actually be able to read the books around me again!) Still, my plans for my final day changed tremendously. A few days ago I was approached by the International Corporation at Hanyang University, and they were looking for one male and female to model for a local design business. I assumed that I would be taking photos for the university...ones in which I would be wearing Hanyang gear and holding textbooks, looking like a typical foreign exchange student.

I was wrong! It turns out that the model agents are from a local design business near Seoul, who wanted models to advertise their design company. The owner of the company is friends with some of the instructors at Hanyang University, so I agreed to participate. Why not?!

So today, myself and Derek (a guy in the summer school program from Ohio) spent about five hours in a studio for our very first real photo shoot. Neither of us knew what we were getting ourselves into, and clearly we have never done anything like this before! We spent hours trying on their clothes...which were typically too tight or too short. Come on now...I'm 5'8", Derek is 6'2"...and we're in Korea. Each time he sat down, his pants came up close to his knees...and I had to suck in my belly and pull at the arms and legs to make things fit as well...but that was half the fun! We had a variety of roles to play, from teachers, to businessmen, to golfers and athletes. Derek even had to play Santa Claus, which I didn't quite understand...it was a bit ridiculous actually....but all to entertaining for me to watch!

I'll admit that while at first I felt a bit silly smiling and posing for the camera...eventually I started to enjoy it. I felt pretty special that they thought enough of us to want our faces as a part of their promotion. Back home I just blend in with the crowd, and I realize a bit more now that I do stand out here...and maybe it's not such a bad thing. No matter what happens with the photos, I will never forget the experience I had today. I never envisioned I would ever have a professional photo shoot and today gave me the opportunity to embrace multiple roles and explore a new part of myself. And to share this experience with Derek made it so much more memorable. There were times when I would feel really uncomfortable standing in front of the camera, and I would look at his smiling face and feel instanly relieved. I don't think too many people would have been as open minded as he was today. He's a person who can truly find the good in any situation and just make the best of each moment, and I appreciate that quality in people.

As for now...my plane is making its way out of Asia and onto Australia! I'm going to sit here and stare out the window for the next 10 1/2 hours...and I'm going to be happy doing it!

Oh, and "kimchi" is the word you say in Korea when you take a photo. Who needs "cheese"?

Satisfaction

July 23rd, 2009...

When I left for my trip this summer I made certain assumptions as to how I would feel coming back home. I presumed that while I would miss home, I wouldn't be eagerly awaiting my return. I knew that I would grow in many ways from my experience abroad. Every new day presents itself with the opportunity to grow and learn more about the world and yourself no matter where you're at in life. When we get into the habit of a routine we just have to make a greater effort sometimes to stretch our minds...as opposed to my travels this summer, which more clearly presents opportunities in which I may step out of my comfort zone whether I like it or not. So in this circumstance I have been forced to be uncomfortable; forced to challenge myself; forced to recognize another lifestyle besides what I have always known. There have been may occasions this summer in which I wished that I could be back in my normal routine. Sometimes I just wanted to go about my day without having to think about adapting to a new language or culture. Sometimes I just wanted to "be", but deep down I know that is not why I took this trip. I didn't spend nine months saving money and push back graduation a full year to just "be" and not challenge myself.

I know that it's important to step outside of our comfort zones and embrace something new. In this case I feel like I made the choice to step outside of my comfort zone when I stepped on the plane the first time. Once I got off that plane 2 1/2 months ago, I felt more like I was kicked out of that comfort zone. It was no longer a choice. Every direction I stepped in lead me to something entirely new and there was no turning back. Therefore, what's the point in even trying to step back? Have you ever tried walking up an escalator in the opposite direction it's going? It's like you are exerting yourself 100 times more to go against the flow, only to end up in the same place you started. I think that about that with life. There have been numerous times when I feel as though I have tried to go against what I know I am really mean to do and the direction I should follow; but when I stop and just accept my choices and decisions I am much more satisfied...and much less exhausted!

That is how I feel now...satisfied. Everything that has happened this summer and every opportunity I have taken to learn and grow has been worth the sacrifices I made to be here. This journey has far exceeded my expectations and I am so grateful to have had these opportunities. Tomorrow I will graduate from Hanyang University Summer School and say goodbye to a country that has welcomed me with open arms and a friendly smile. To my surprise, I feel that not only do I accept the fact that this journey is nearing its end, but I am excited to return back to my home and to the people I love. (After I visit Sydney of course!) :)

Samsung Anyone?

July 22nd, 2009...

Today was our last field trip in Seoul as part of the summer program. We made a visit to Insadong, a very charming, pedestrianized street in Seoul that is notorious for its traditional Korean arts, crafts, antiques and many various tea and coffee shops. While it has remained traditional, it has become infamous for its modernized spiral building, called the Ssamziegil Center. Winding around this building one can find a multitude of expensive shops and various types of foods to taste, including my favorite...the ice cream-filled waffle. That's right folks, ice cream encompassed entirely by a large, sugary-crusted waffle.

After buying souvenirs we visited the Samsung Gallery. To be honest I wasn't very excited to visit the gallery, because I have never had much interest in electronics. I feel like my parents sometimes when I try to navigate my way around the newest technology (no offense to them of course!) :) South Korea is very proud of Samsung though, so I was a good sport and walked through the gallery, trying to fake an interest in the billions of computers and televisions that filled three floors. I was envisioning my brothers, Pat and Brian walking through and staring at each individual tv, and trying to decipher the very best one (even though they all look exactly the same to me!).

We continued to walk through all the tv's and feeling somewhat bored...when our tour guide led us to something truly amazing....a complete kitchen set, chock full of Samsung-like gadgets! I have never seen anything like it! It even had a wine cooler built into the wall, that played a very elegant sound when it was opened. It even had a special kimchi cooler, so that the kimchi didn't have to be buried underground. So if anyone feels generous, has hundreds of thousands of dollars at their disposal, and wants to buy me a gift...then I would greatly appreciate this completely electronic kitchen. I would never be greedy though...you can omit the kimchi cooler. I'll just continue to store my stash underground in case anyone gets a craving for spicy, sour pickled cabbage.

Making Connections

July 21st, 2009...

One of the most fascinating and appealing attributes of a person is to discover what they are passionate about. Whether or not I share in that same passion is irrelevant, because it is their sheer excitement that fascinates me and captures my attention. We can make connections with others simply by taking an interest in the parts of life in which they find meaningful. I think that the greatest connection you can make with another person is when you come to find that you share the same passion. I love that moment in a conversation when two people realize they have something in common, especially with those little qualities we all have that seem rare and unique only to us. To come to find that another person enjoys the same thing, has the same quirky trait, or has shared in the same experience is what makes interactions so appealing!

One of the best parts of this whole trip has been discovering those connections with people all over the world, whom have had such unique upbringings compared to my own. This is the part of my adventure I will not forget; this is the part that I believe will resonate within me. I think it's people who really make life meaningful. There are plenty of aesthetically beautiful places in our world and I am so thankful to have been able to explore more of them this summer, but those places will eventually lose their grandeur and appeal over time. We can walk the same streets over and over again or see the same sites day in and day out, and the history of it will always stay the same. That is in fact why it is called history. On the other hand, people will always be compelling, because they have a constant capacity for growth. No matter how long we have known a person or how much we have shared, there's always more beneath the surface. There's always more to explore. We are not stagnant; we are full of energy, emotions, and life and everyday we have the opportunity to learn and continue to grow into the best versions of ourselves.

A Day With Clay

July 18th, 2009...

Todays plans had to be altered a little bit due to the extremely rainy weather. We were going to be attending the Boryeoung Mud Festival (which literally involves playing in the mud all day). Unfortunately it has been incredibly rainy and there have apparently been some reported cases of contracting skin disease in the mud. With that being said...they didn't want to take the changes of us getting lost in the mud or developing any diseases (overly cautious if you ask me!), so we had a change of plans. After breakfast (which involved sitting on the floor again!) we left the wonderful town of Jeonju and headed to Incheon, which is famous for its traditional pottery. It amazed me to watch this man make a beautiful pot in about five minutes, which appeared to take absolutely no effort or technique at all. He made it look so easy...therefore, how hard can it be right? haha...wrong!

Due to our lack of pottery professionalism, (apparently a 1/2 semester of pottery class in high school wasn't enough of a qualification), they gave us a block of clay and let us make our own creations. The results may have been a little less than professional I suppose....but really, isn't art is all about interpretation and abstract thinking anyway? To make a perfectly symmetrical and pristinely designed piece of pottery would only be removing the very essence of that critical concept.

Here's my flawed creation.....I wanted to give it an Irish appeal, so I attempted to make a shamrock handle on the lid, and a cross with an imprint of my Claddagh ring on the inside. Maybe it isn't million-dollar pottery YET, but I bet it could make a buck or two on E-bay in a few years... who knows where that could take me in the future!

All Sorts of Tradition

July 17th, 2009...

Korean Traditional field trip #2 may not have been filled with cameras and headline stories like the last one, but it was still an amazing cultural experience. Jeonju is located about 2 1/2 hours south of Seoul and is famous for being a traditional city, having been named a "royal city" during the Joseon Dynasty. We spent the day touring the city, observing their original wine distillery and paper-making processes.

Watching the men and women in the paper factory changed the way I look at paper. I've never thought much about where paper comes from or the process involved in turning a perfectly good tree into something I write letters on. The process to get to that final product is so long and tedious, and involves doing the exact same thing over and over all day. It was so hot and humid in the factory but yet it didn't seem to affect the workers; they just continued to do the same thing over and over...continuing on with the seemingly never-ending paper-making process. Never again will I waste a perfectly good piece of paper for something frivolous like a paper airplane! Okay, so that's not true....but I definitely respect the effort that goes into the paper aircraft assembly.

Later that day we were treated to dinner at a traditional restaurant, complete with straw mats instead of chairs. I walked in and my face lit up when I saw that we were taking off our shoes and sitting on the floor for dinner (it's the little things that bring happiness!). Now I'll admit that some of that excitement eluded me when I sat down to find a plate of fish still smiling at me. Thankfully there were plenty of other traditional foods to sample, in which we used a giant piece of lettuce to cover up the faces of our fresh-water friends. I typically like to taste everything, but I prefer not to eat bones if I can help it...so I left the little fishies under the lettuce to rest.

After dinner we walked to our accommodations for the night, which consisted of a traditional Korean house setting. Descriptively, it resembled a courtyard with a square building around it, which housed roughly 3-4 people per room. The rooms were simply that...one hardwood room with a bathroom and shower. To sleep you place a heavy blanket on the floor an use a lighter blanket to cover up. This was a much better experience than a motel/hotel/resort, or any other typical overnight location, because we were able to live in the downtown area of a city established in the 1300's in the same manner as people did hundreds of years ago...of course with the exception of the electricity we have come to know and love.

In the News!

July 16th, 2009...

We made the headlines!!! Okay, so yesterday we were scheduled to visit the GyeongBok Palace in northern Seoul. This palace was first constructed in the late 1300's during the Joseon Dynasty, but was heavily destroyed by the Japanese government in the early 20th century. It was later reconstructed and restored to its original form and is now available for tours to observe the traditional life and times of South Korea. I love history and I was excited just to visit a palace for the first time. And had the day ended with simply a walk around the palace and a short tour, I would have been perfectly satisfied...because I was happy just to be there.

Little did I know what we would actually be getting ourselves into... we quickly discovered that we were not just going to be taking a casual walk around the palace; instead, we would be re-enacting the Walk of the Royal Family through the palace! Each of us played a role and we were dressed accordingly with our part. I played the role of a court maiden, which involved me getting my hair pulled tightly into a long braid, which was then covered by an even longer black braid pinned to the back of my head. I can't say that it was too attractive, but at least I know not to opt for a hair color change any time soon! Anywho, we all were dressed in the royal hanbok (traditional clothing), which consisted of three layers and pointed shoes. Once we were ready, we began the Royal Walk through the palace while the other tourists followed and took pictures.

As we walked through the palace I felt so honored to be there and participate in that experience. I still can't believe I made it here to Seoul, and am able to share in this opportunity to fully immerse myself in so many aspects of this richly diverse culture. To be engaged in such an honorable tradition made me feel so special and I know how lucky I am to be a part of this program!

So back to the headlines...today we came to find that our pictures had been posted all over the news and websites in Seoul...three pages worth on one site alone. I can't exactly read the articles that accompany the photos...but I trust they are positive!

ABC...1,2,3...

July 13th, 2009...

One benefit I've received from studying both Finnish and Korean language is that I've been able to feel what it is like to be a child learning the alphabet for the first time. This feeling is true especially while learning Korean, since the characters are completely new to me. When I first began looking intensively at the Korean language, all I could ensue was that all those funky looking symbols meant something to somebody...but that somebody was certainly not me. I imagine that as a child I once felt the same way. My family has told me stories of how I used to listen to a story over and over, and then recite that story from memory while flipping the pages pretending as though I were actually reading. I can imagine the excitement I must have felt thinking as though I could actually read what "big people" could read.

Here I am, 20-something years after I first started "reading", and I am right back to that same beginning. I feel the same excitement when I can read more than a line or two in a story. The only difference now is that I feel myself holding in my excitement so as not to appear overly giddy and childlike. However, I've never been too good at holding back my excitement...so I am starting to just embrace it and feel happy about the accomplishments my class and I are making.

While I know we are making accomplishments, we are still often very confused because this language is so hard to grasp. I sit in class and I see my teacher try to explain things to us, and oftentimes I can see the frustration on her face because we just aren't picking it up. I completely understand her frustration because in her mind she is explaining something that is very easy and basic, and yet we are looking at her like a deer in headlights. I've been on that end many times while tutoring or teaching in a classroom, so I understand and can easily empathize with her point of view.

I feel as though this experience has given me the opportunity to empathize a little better with children in my future classroom. I knew that this experience would give me a chance to learn what it was like to be in the minority, with the hope that I could empathize with children in schools that also feel like they are in the minority. To my surprise, this experience has taught me so much more than that. At some point in time, all the students I work with will feel left out, behind or confused in the classroom...and I hope that I will be able to draw from this experience and have a greater amount of patience and understanding.

A Happy Heart

July 12, 2009...

It was raining hard outside today, but my heart was shining on the inside! Okay, so I know that's cheesy...but y'all know me well enough by now to expect such corniness. I have had plans to attend mass at the Myeong-dong Cathedral for two weeks now, so I was bound and determined to keep that promise. This Cathedral was built in the late 1800's and was the first brick-laid Gothic style building in Korea. Inside the church are beautiful granite pillars, stained glass windows, and a gorgeous altar. And while the physical attributes of this cathedral were exquisite, the best part was sharing something in common among individuals with whom I couldn't actually share verbal communication.

There was an opportunity to attend an English mass, but neither I nor my friend, Julia, cared to attend that service. We have attended countless masses in English and will continue to do so when we return home; we wanted to experience the mass we know and love in Korean with the local community. While we weren't able to understand the words, we followed along by memory as best as possible. The part about today that made me the most excited was being able to actually sing in Korean by following along in the hymnals. Both Julia and I have been taking Beginner Korean Language and the songs were slow enough that we could follow along and sing with everyone. Granted I don't have any idea about the words I was singing, but that isn't the main purpose.

The main purpose is that when I arrived in Seoul nearly three weeks ago, I never would have expected to participate in the mass and actually be able to read Korean and sing along. When I first arrived here I was completely clueless...about everything. I could hardly find my way to my bedroom, let alone read or understand any of the language. Three weeks ago the Korean alphabet was just a bunch of symbols that seemed nicely put together; and now I am finding the meaning and purpose of those symbols...and I feel very delighted by that. It's the little things that bring me happiness and make me feel like a part of the community, and today was a perfect example.

B-Boy and Korean Pop Music

July 11th, 2009...

Last night we went to a B-Boy performance. As described in the brochure, B-boy is a "newborn special performance of modern - ballet, B-boying, Lockin', Pop-pin', Jazz-dance with costume using electricity and wire equipment". It's mainly a group of males who breakdance and do all kinds of crazy pop and lock moves to some intense music, ranging from hip hop to Celine Dion. Yes, Celine Dion....and LeAnn Rimes. The best part of the performance was watching the teenage girls around the stage screaming and giggling whenever any of the guys came close to them. It reminded me of the days when my school-girl friends and I would get all googly-eyed over the latest boy bands. Oh the days of All-4-One and N*Sync... I'll admit that I even came back to my dorm and listened to "It's Tearing Up My Heart" and "I Swear". I smiled as I listened and reminisced...and I am not ashamed of it! At least I didn't open up my old Spice Girls album... at least not today!

Papparazzi Alert!

July 10th, 2009...

One thing I have come to realize even more here is the importance of both our verbal and nonverbal actions. Clearly I can't speak much of the language and therefore I have to communicate friendliness with my facial expressions. I've always believed in the power of a smile, and in South Korea I feel an even greater obligation and desire to smile at everyone I meet. Back home I blend in with my surroundings and I only represent myself. It's not the same here. I don't blend in and therefore people notice me differently than they do with the other locals. And because they notice me, they pay greater attention to my actions. Not only do I represent myself through my actions, but I represent my country. My interactions with others often directly influence their perceptions of the country in which I come from.

People in South Korea (especially the young crowd), highly look up to people from the USA and base their perceptions on what they see in movies. I am especially courteous around children, because they are easily fascinated when they see any of us from the States. I walked past a school bus full of young girls a couple of days ago and they were all yelling "hi" in English. When I smiled, waved, and said "hi" in return, they all screamed and giggled as though I were a celebrity. Today, four little girls approached me in the supermarket, asked me what my favorite color was, and had the adult with them take a picture of all of us together. I'm just a typical girl from Kansas and it was incredibly flattering to be noticed like that! It also just made me realize even further that I have a responsibility to portray myself and the USA in a kind and loving manner.

The excitement to see an American is not limited to small children either. This morning I went for a run along a nice path in which many older individuals were planting flowers. Nearly everyone I passed stopped and pointed at me. Literally, everyone, and there were a lot of people. I wasn't offended by any means, but after about 10 minutes I turned around and headed back. It was just a little more than I felt comfortable with. My roommate explained to me that the elderly population has the least amount of experience being around foreigners and are therefore more startled at times than the younger generation.

Okay, last story I promise....two days ago I went for a run around the campus and I decided to do hill repeats up this really steep incline. There was a middle-aged woman who came walking up the stairs adjacent to the hill. Just as I was getting ready to begin my 3rd repeat, she stopped and pointed her camera in my direction. I waited because I assumed she was taking a picture of something around me and I didn't want to get in the way of her photo. But she just sort of stood there, so I started to run again and then she snapped a photo. I wondered in my head if she was taking a picture of me, but I naturally assumed that she didn't. Once I reached the top of the hill I turned back around and jogged down, when she took another photo! This pattern continued through my 8th repeat, before she reached the top of the stairs and walked away.

I think I'm beginning to realize that while I think I'm representing myself as a kind and friendly person by smiling at everyone as I walk/run past them....in all actuality, they probably just think I'm a nut! I suppose I'll never know... :)

Chopsticks and Pizza???

July 7th, 2009...

Today was my roommate's birthday! Last night I blew up a bunch of balloons and hid them in my closet, and when she fell asleep I scattered them on her bed and the floor beside it. In the morning she woke up with a shriek, and then I sang "Happy Birthday" to her (in English and Finnish of course) and gave her a basket of candy to start the day right. It wasn't much, but I know it made her feel special! What a fantastic beginning to the day!

That evening we were invited to attend a banquet for all exchange students that are preparing to leave Seoul to study abroad. The entire presentation was in Korean so we couldn't really understand what was going on, and the huge buffet right beside us was a bit distracting. After all, what college student doesn't get excited about free food? I'll tell you who....this girl right here. I haven't had the best of luck with the food here in Korea so I felt a bit indifferent about the enormous buffet, until my eyes caught a glimpse of something truly wonderful that I haven't seen in a long time....amidst all the fish, pork, and spicy whatnot that most other people were drooling over, was a tray of juicy watermelon! My eyes opened wider and I began to see more....oranges, pineapple...it seemed too good to be true! I know I probably got a bit too excited about this, but I really miss eating fruit! The travel rule when it comes to fruit is that if you can't peel it, don't eat it...so I have avoided it altogether. Not tonight! My tummy was happy!

As wonderful of a day as it had already been...it still wasn't over! A group of us went to Heongeong, another province of Seoul, to take my roommate out on the town to celebrate. We went to a restaurant and tried the traditional Korean pizza and egg soup, which is apparently quite popular to eat with beer. It certainly is a long way away from being the greasy, cheesy pizza we all know and love. It was pretty much a round plate covered in sprouts, onions, and some other green vegetables, which you eat with chopsticks and dip in soy sauce. Now I may not be making that on Chiefs football Sundays when I get back home, but all in all it wasn't too shabby. Afterwards we headed to Club Cocoon, a popular dance club that basically plays rap and hip-hop set to a techno beat. I've never been to a club, so I find it funny that the first one I go to is in South Korea and it played rap and hip-hop. I've never been a fan of either rap nor techno, but I believe in going with the flow and having a great time anyways...and that's just what our large group did. And since the Subway closes down at midnight and doesn't open up until 5:30am, we just stayed out all night and just observed the culture, which was still very much awake and alive to my surprise! We took the Subway back to Hanyang at 7:00am and finally ended our 24-hour day...

Travel Tip #1

July 7th...

Travel Tip #1:

When traveling to another country it is vital that one acquires a converter for all of his/her electronic equipment, due to the variations in voltage power.

You may be thinking to yourself that you were already aware of that fact. My response to those of you who were previously aware, is that I blame you for keeping that useful secret from me. What am I blaming you for exactly? Well, let me tell you.

So, about four days after I arrived in Jyvaskyla, Finland, the summer school organized a dinner for all of us. I knew that some of the girls were going to change into nicer clothes for the event, so in keeping with that I thought I would also doll up a bit. I put on some makeup, changed my clothes, and was going to attempt to maybe add a little curl to my hair. I plugged in my curling iron, waited a few minutes, and attempted to style my hair. Naturally, the first section of hair I intended to curl under would be the small section of bangs that I like to swoop over my forehead. So I gathered my bangs, wound them through my curling iron, and.....POOF!!....no more bangs. I removed my curling iron to find my hair fried off inside of it.

At this point I try to cover up the results of my lack of knowledge on various voltage power outlets, by pulling my hair back completely or doing my own variation of the "comb-over". Either way, it gives me a little chuckle each time I think about it. Lesson learned!

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...

July 5th...

Today was part two of our weekend trip and we spent it at a traditional Korean folk village in Yong-in City. This village consisted of more than 260 houses from the digfferent regions and the living culture of the later Joseon Dynasty. We walked through numerous gardens and crop fields, as well as various workshops and commoners' houses. In addition to that we watched a traditional music and dance performance, an acrobatics and tightrope show, and a traditional wedding. I absolutely loved being able to witness traditional South Korean history. This was what I had envisioned I would learn about in coming to Korea, even though the city is very modernized now. My roommate is from Seoul, and she talked with me about her experiences visiting her grandparents in their traditional home when she was a child. She remembered it being very uncomfortable compared to what she was used to, and today's experience reminded her of that time in her life. And while her memory of living in the traditional homes were unpleasant, she appreciated acknowledging the roots of her culture.

There was also a giant mound of stones tied together by thick ropes, which was considered to be a place for prayers and wishes to come true. Tradition stands that if you write your wish on a piece of clothlike paper and tie it to the stones that it will come true. I happen to like making wishes...(I've made the exact same wish on every star, every 11:11, every lucky penny since I was a little girl)...so we'll see if this one makes it come true...

The only part about the trip that I can't honestly say I was excited about...was breakfast. The menu was fish soup, rice, kimchi, squid, radish, and seaweed. While I do appreciate the level of health consciousness in this country, I certainly would have loved a big stack of pancakes and syrup! :) Heck...just an apple would have been okay...is that too much to ask!? :)

Not My Typical 4th of July!

July 4th...

Well first of all let me begin by wishing a belated "Happy 4th of July" to all of you back home in the lovely United States of America! This day marks the best day of the entire summer. Granted, so much of the meaning of our celebrations are far less rooted in our country's history than they probably should be. If I were back home, my day would have began with the Firecracker 5K, followed by judging a "Cutest Baby Contest" and "Dog Show", then eating funnel cake and walking around the arts and crafts booths at Lincoln Park near Kiddieland. This year I believe the fireworks show was cancelled for the first time due to the economic situation, but in years past I always watched the wonderful show put on by Pittsburg Parks and Recreation. For about two weeks prior to the 4th, my neighborhood typically sounds like a war zone with extraneous amounts of fireworks being shot off both day and night in the streets around my home. Regardless of how silly or frivolous some of the events have become, it is all encompassed within a celebration that is so highly-valued in our nation's history. This year, being out of the States for the first time on Independence Day, I recognize it's value even more.

Needless to say that this year I didn't run any races, bake any apple pies, or watch any fireworks...but I kept the memory of this say in 1776 close to my heart. Hanyang University planned a trip for the summer school students to Everland Amusement Park, home of the T-Express (the steepest wooden roller coaster in the world). It reminded me of pictures I have seem of Disneyland! I felt just like a little kid with a great big smile on my face, and I loved every bit of it! We took a bus on a "safari" and saw all kinds of wild animals, and I was able to learn most of the names of those animals in Korean. That evening we stayed at YangJi Resort in the mountains and were treated to a barbeque. Don't confuse this barbeque with what we know of back home, which typically consists of burgers, hot dogs, and all kinds of fried things. Instead, there was pork and rice to make lettuce wraps, served with the traditional kimchi, which is served at every meal. To top it all off, we said cheers with Soju...a typical drink similar to Vodka. There are eight of us here whom represent the USA, and we toasted to the celebration of our independence as well as our ability to study freely here in South Korea. It's amazing at how far our nation has come and I feel so blessed and proud to be a part of it. I would have shot off some fireworks to truly commemorate the moment, but I imagine that I would have been deported. At least it would have made for a heck of a front page story in the friendly Morning Sun :)

Rap is My New Workout

July 3rd...

I thought the Finnish language was difficult to learn... but it compares nothing to Korean! At least the Finnish alphabet has Roman Numerals, which resembled some familiarity. Korean language is completely beyond anything that I have ever known. At the beginning of the week I was feeling pretty good about it. I had mastered all 14 consonants and 10 vowels. How hard could it be, right? Well, now there are dipthongs and consonant blends and structural rules that I like to say "don't play fair" because there is no rule to it. I find myself just writing, and rewriting, and rewriting again...just to feel as though I'm back at the beginning. Yesterday after class I decided to do my homework outside a little shop on campus. There was an elderly lady working the shop whom I typically smile and nod at. She came out to my table, said something to me in Korean, took all my homework, and then read through each part with me! First of all, I was just excited that she could actually pronounce the words I'd written (I can at least copy correctly!), but second of all...how nice it was for her to help this completely unaware foreigner. I decided to stop by again today, and she came out again just like yesterday. I think she likes me :) And I think I'll make our visits a habit...

Last night I met up with some of the other summer school participants and went to a local restaurant for chicken and beer (soju). I thought to myself...chicken! Yay! Food that isn't spicy that I can eat! ...Wrong! The ratio of chicken to water I consumed was about 1:10. Clearly, everything here is spicy. Except for my bananas, thank goodness there's no sort of red pepperish like seasoning anywhere near them! Oh, and they served the chicken with a big pair of scissors to cut it. Not a knife and fork. Scissors! The picture to the right is of one of the girls cutting the chicken.

Afterwards we went to a karaoke club with Mingu, a native of Seoul. It was amazing! It wasn't like the karaoke bars I'm used to going to. It consisted of multiple small rooms for groups to reserve and have all to themselves. There were probably ten of us there and we had a blast. It was definitely a multicultural experience, listening to songs in Chinese, Korean, and English. I will proudly admit that I sang my heart out to Queen, Aerosmith, N*Sync, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, and...Eminem. One of the guys came across "Lose Yourself" in the books, and jokingly dared me to perform it. Well, I'm always up for a challenge and I just so happen to listen to that song everytime I run (it's fast-paced!), so I accepted that challenge...and I'm not gonna lie, I did pretty darn well! I barely missed a word. I had the whole crowd going too...it was the highlight of my day for sure! I have definitely developed a newfound respect for rap...as it is completely exhausting! When do they breathe?! I was panting afterwards, but I got a standing ovation! I'm thinking of taking my new act to the streets here in South Korea...maybe make a little extra spending money. Who knows where I could go from there...this could be big. :)

Special Moments

June 30th...

Last night brought me something very unique and unexpected. Let me begin by telling you the main purpose of my coming to Korea. My aspirations for participating in this summer school program involve gaining an understanding of what it feels like to be in the minority; the feeling of walking down the street and not fitting in with my surroundings. I have had small accounts of that feeling when I lived in Louisiana and worked at a school that was predominantly African-American and Hispanic. I remember the kids questioning why I talked the way I did; they thought I sounded funny. That experience however, was merely looking different on the outside. I still spoke the language; I still felt comfortable and self-assured. At this point, I want to live in a society that is completely different than anything I have ever known, and discover how well I will adapt.

I am certainly acquiring that feeling. I have briefly described the accounts of the first couple of days that I was here, in which I had nobody to speak to and no way to find out how to live here. Since then I have met some of the students here, all of whom speak english at least at the beginner level. I'm slowly figuring out how things work and how to go about a routine. I have gone from a person who usually knows how to figure things out on her own, to one that sits back and observes others first before acting. I want to make sure that I follow cultural standards in the way they interact with one another both verbally and inverbally, so that I may be a polite guest while I am here. In Jyvaskyla I completely immersed myself within the group of the international students I went to class with, and didn't really take a lot of time to just "be" in Finland, and observe what it would be like to just live there. In South Korea, I am taking a different approach. I want to simply "be" and discover how others regard me as well as how well I am able to adjust to a culture that is so diverse.

Ola Joseph, an author and speaker from Nigeria, once said, "Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness". Last night after dinner I sat down at a bench in an area in which many people pass. I brought a book and just read for awhile. During that time I had a Korean guy, a couple years younger than I, approach me and talk with me about why I am here. He began to tell me that he is getting ready to graduate with a degree in Electrical Engineering because that is what his parents wanted for him, so that he could make a lot of money in his career. He confessed that what he has come to love is teaching, because he finds so much fulfillment in that, because He feels like he would be better able to serve God in doing something he loved. That lead to a great discussion about God and what it means for us to follow His will in our daily lives. It was just an amazing conversation, because I did not expect to have one such as that in Korea...not randomly. Then, maybe 30 minutes later, two middle-aged women approached me and gave me a complement, simply because they thought I seemed nice. I invited them to sit down next to me. Upon doing so, they saw the cross that I wear around my neck. (I recently purchased a small Celtic cross in Ireland) They asked if I was Christian and I proudly said, yes. After that their faces lit up with excitement, and we had somewhat of a similar conversation as I had with the other guy. They stayed maybe 15 minutes, as their english was somewhat limited, and told me how happy they were to meet me. I felt just the same.

I don't know how to explain these random encounters, except to know that God brought me so much comfort and hope because of them. Our world is very large, but through Him we are really brought together as one.

What About Recess?!

June 29th...

I started my first day of class today at Hanyang University! I signed up for Korean Language class in hopes that I could acquire a few skills to get around Seoul a little better during the month that I am here. There were about 15 people in the class, and then the teacher brought us all out individually for a test in Korean to determine the level we already attained. I was the first one to take my exam. It pretty much consisted of this: I walked into the room and smiled at her, she said something in Korean...I smiled at her again...she said something else in Korean...I smiled at her once more...then she wrote down "Beginner 1", and sent me on my way! I'm pretty much starting from the bottom up and am really excited to start learning a new language.

Well, that excitement started to fizzle a little bit after 4 hours of trying to memorize the vowels...their sounds and variations, how to write them and understand them...wow, it was mentally exhausting! I felt like a little kid again, trying to learn the alphabet. I tried to keep myself in the mindset that I did this when I was young, learning my letters for the first time...and I was only 4 or 5 years old. Clearly, as a 24-year old, I must have an extended capacity to understand this! Well...it's just not that simple! Part of me does enjoy being in that position again, like a little kindergartener...except that we don't get milk breaks or recess. I'm going to learn how to ask for that in Korean.

Random Memories

June 27th...

It's about 8:45pm in South Korea (6:45am-Saturday-back home)...and I just went for a little walk around Hanyang University. School hasn't yet begun, so I'm still just sort of hanging out by myself until everyone arrives and I meet people that I can talk to. It's been pretty quiet so far, clearly due to the language barrier, but I am enjoying it. It gives me a lot of time to just reflect. In doing so, I remembered a couple things that I thought I could throw in my blog...

I've been wearing the same Claddagh ring since I was 17-years old. It was slightly too big for my finger (as in, it would fly off if I waved my hand too hard), and it had a blue stone in the heart of the ring. It cost about $11, but it was the only jewelry I wore on my hands. For those who may not know, the claddagh ring has been a part of Irish tradition since the 17th century. The ring itself is made up of a heart clasped in two hands with a crown on top. The meaning of the three parts of the ring are that the heart means love, the hands mean friendship, and the crown means loyalty; it symbolizes overall faith, trust, fidelity, and commitment. To sum it up, I loved my ring and I am rarely ever without it. Then, two days prior to leaving Jyvaskyla, I leave my ring on the sink in the library. I returned to the library maybe five minutes later, but it was closed. The next day, it was gone. I felt so distraught. Silly as it may be I know, but I was very attached. Then it hit me...I was to be going to Ireland two days from then...I can get an authentic ring there! I still missed my ring, but it was a good time to lose it. So I dragged Tracey into every jewelry shop in Dublin (literally), looking at the same rings over and over. They had some absolutely beautiful rings, but I'm a simple gal...and when I found my plain, silver ring, I was completely satisfied. It was a happy day to have my ring back on my finger where it belongs!

Secondly, I left out something very important about Finland: strawberries. Truly, these are the most delicious strawberries I have ever eaten. They just melt in your mouth. For the first time, I could say that I wouldn't even want chocolate on my strawberries...and for a girl who loves chocolate on anything, that's really saying something about their natural flavor. I mean, wow, they were really fabulous!

Testing the Waters...

June 26th...(for real this time) Another funny story? Well, I learned how to say "thank you" in Korean. To me, that is one of the most important words to learn in a new language because it shows you are polite. I was so excited to use it today too! There's a man who works at the front desk of my dorm building, who always opens the door for me as I go in and out. So this time, as he smiled and opened the door, I politely nodded my head and said "thank you" in Korean. His response was: "I don't speak English". I felt like such a fool! Apparently I need to work on my pronunciation!

I finally got cash today! Apparently there is only one ATM machine on campus that will accept global credit cards, and it took me 2 hours to find it....but I finally have KRW! I really enjoy saying that I have 30,000 in my wallet...although it only converts to about $30. Still...it sounds a bit nicer right?!

I walked all over today and explored my territory, get this....without getting lost! As in...not at all, not once! Man, yall would be so proud of me! Anyone who knows me at all would believe this to be incredible! One thing I just assumed is that this experience would be like Finland, with people meeeting me and taking me where I need to go for the first time so I could get my bearings straight. I assumed wrong again! So what I decided to do as I'm getting around, is taking pictures of the street signs or popular buildings I pass...just in case I need to use them for reference when I return back home, or in case I need some help from others. I know where my limitations are, and I just have to do my best with what I know and embrace the fact that it's all up to me.

What Day Is It??

June 25... (I think, maybe it's the 26th) My days are all mixed up!

You know how I was talking about how I have to adjust more than I ever imagined? The thing is...I like that. I'm excited by it; intrigued even, because I'm going to have to really exert myself in order to really be immersed in this new culture. That is what I came here to do. I know that I could stay here a month and only go to class, then retreat to my dorm and stay in my comfort zone. But that is not me. I'm going to put my best efforts into getting out there and feeling what it's like to be in the minority. In Finland I felt that somewhat, but I had a close group of International students to be with. Right now, I am here along with only my own resources to get me by. I am just walking along and becoming familiar with the campus, and just experiencing the moment. I am truly in a new place and part of a new culture. Even just walking along campus feels so much different.

Another thing, apparently there's a new influenza floating around...Influenza A? It's something that foreigners are bringing to the country. Maybe my brother, Pat knows something about this. Well, because of that, I have to check my temperature twice daily and report to the doctor every morning for seven days. Since they won't know for sure if I don't have Influenza A, I have to wear a face mask while I'm in class with other Korean students. So next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday...I'll have to wear a mask for seven hours each day. It kind of makes me feel like the little sick kid who nobody is allowed to play with! It's just all part of the new experience, so I will obey my instruction and wear the mask as I am told.

Cheap Bananas!

June 24th...

Well, my first day started off a bit rocky to say the least. I was about two hours away from arrival in Seoul when I started feeling sick to my stomach. So, I'm in a plane 37,000 feet in the air, I haven't slept in 2 nights, and I think I'm going to vomit. A few moments later I was doing just that in the nasty airplane toilets. Believe me folks, it was one of my finest moments. So badly I just wished I could curl up in a bed and go to sleep! But...Seoul was coming, like it or not, and they are just beginning their day. Perk up, Allison!

I arrived at my dorm, and I live on the 7th floor again, with an amazing view of the mountains! The tutor who picked me up from the airport walked with me to a nearby grocery store and I was very pleased to buy 5 bananas for only 1500KRW! That's just over $1, and about 3 times less than Finland! Woohoo! I love bananas! Maybe this really will work out...

I thought I was in culture shock while I was in Finland, trying to read labels and street signs, etc. HA! Culture shock?! THAT was culture shock?! That is absolutely nothing compared to being here! If there isn't a picture of something underneath a sign or label, then I am clueless. Reading street signs, building names, or....anything, is completely beyond my abilities at this point...as a girl with no experience in the Korean language. Finland, while different than what I am used to, is still European and therefore something I could find somewhat familiar. The people pretty much all looked the same as I did, and I had a pretty good chance that most of them could speak even a little english. Well, I certainly don't have that anymore, not on the surface anyways. I guess I just assumed that many people here would at least know some english, or just enough so that I could get around. I assumed wrong! I wandered around for an hour and a half yesterday just trying to get to the library. I walked around with a small black and white map, asking others for help by pointing to the picture. They were so very friendly, although we couldn't understand each other well. Two of them even asked to take a picture with me. I don't know if that's a good thing or not...but I smile, laugh, and nod and go on my way! The whole saying..."just smile and nod" really does go a long way here!

Darned Seagulls

June 23rd...
1:45pm...

I am currently in my plane and on my way to Frankfurt, Germany. I have about a 2 1/2 hour ride there, before an 11 hour flight to Seoul. Leaving Helsinki today was hard. It's not necessarily hard to leave Finland, but rather the people and the memories I am leaving with it. I spent the last 3 days in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland, and I greatly enjoyed it. This was probably due to the fact that there were lots of tourists and therefore lots of joyful, friendly faces! I am so glad I was able to experience Finland, because it allowed me to adjust to a culture with which I was not previously familiar. The way of life is just much different than I am accustomed to, and it wouldn't be something that necessarily I would enjoy adapting to for a great length of time. I found that the Finnish people I interacted with were very hospitable and polite, and I'm very appreciative of all the help I received during my stay!

Picture 1: Dad - I promised you I'd try a real German beer while I was there...so here you go! I confess that I gave it away after about 3 sips, but I did try it!

Picture 2: Here's Germany for you!

Want a funny story? Well, I thought it was funny anyway...Tracey doesn't agree. You can decide. So, Helsinki is right on the Bay of Finland and has a beautiful harbour. Our first morning there, we went to a local kioski and grabbed a pulla (an amazing Finnish pastry) and a kahvi (coffee). It was such a beautiful day so we decided to sit on the steps right near the bay and enjoy our breakfast. Just then, a seagull came right beside us and began to squawk. Tracey was really uncomfortable with that, but I just laughed it off. After all, I don't live by the water back home and I always love to see seagulls when I'm near the coast! Then out of nowhere, a whole flock of seagulls came flying up in our faces and literally stole the pulla out of Tracey's hand! I had never seen anything like it! Darn birds....they a nasty, vicious little creatures. Poor Tracey, apparently she had some logic in being afraid of those birds. But, it does make for a good story :)

Really, our whole week and a half together made for a good story. I never would have imagined it would be so much fun. I'm pretty sure that living with our Couchsurfer host in Ireland morphed us into even quirkier individuals than we already were, so I offer a forewarning when I come back to Kansas if I'm slightly more random and ridiculous than usual!

Now I'm about halfway to Seoul, South Korea; a land that is far different than what I've experienced. Everything I thought about regarding wanting a true minority experience is about to dawn on me. Even just waiting at my gate today in the airport - I felt like I stood out. I can't wait to see what happens in about seven hours when I get off the plane. Y'all will be proud of me - I actually made arrangements to have a tutor at the university pick me up and take me to Hanyang University, as opposed to me wandering around a city of 10 million people with no idea where to go. (I know my family is nodding their heads in approval right now). Your logic wears off on me once in awhile I suppose. There's no turning back now. Here I come, South Korea!

Cheers 'ol Buddy!

June 22nd...

11:50am...

I am currently on a ferry in Helsinki and on my way to Suomanlinna - a sea fortress on an island that was build after WWII. It's about 18 C and perfectly sunny and peaceful. Today is my last day with Tracey, and the finale to our week and a half long traveling adventure. It's really kind of funny how things worked out. Tracey and I are two very different people, but yet, we work. We like to describe ourselves by our two destinations, in the fact that I am Ireland and she is Finland. I love to talk to everyone (sometimes too much) and make friends with random strangers, while she prefers to have her bubble and be content. In the beginning, I don't think either of us knew how exactly our trip together would go; however, the moment that we entered Derek's funhouse house in Ireland, I knew that this was going to be an exciting adventure! We spent 10 days just doing whatever we wanted to do, exploring completely unknown territory just as we desired. Just like it's always been my dream to see Ireland, it's been one of her dreams to see Finland. Bless her heart, I dragged her to every single monument, church, sculpture, and landmark of any sort ALL over Dublin...and she just smiled and followed along. Actually, she would find it on the map and guide me...because we all know how poorly I am with directions. Then during Helsinki, I was able to do the same for her, and it was a blast! So to my Canadian friend (who seriously needs to learn to pronounce her words correctly! :), I can't wait to see you again one day! (If our luck runs right...we have until June 18, 2010). Cheers! (And stay out of the tabloids!) :)

A Good Crack!

June 19th...

Today is our last day in Ireland. I cannot believe how fast it has gone and how much we have been able to do and see. Today we took the DART rail along the northern part of the coast and visited the Malahide Castle and the Howth Peninsula. Yesterday we mostly enjoyed all the beautiful green scenery of the country, which I was completely amazed with. But of course Ireland has so much beauty still left to offer! We took a hike right along the cliffs of the peninsula. The cliffs were still many beautiful shades of green, except this time it was in contrast with the blue color of the water. I could not ask for more...except to have my family with me. There have been so many times I have really wished that you all could experience just what I am experiencing. I know how much you would love it. If I could transport you all here beside me then I would do it in a heartbeat! Maybe the leprechauns can.... :) This is a trip that we have all talked about as far back as I can remember, and it just blows my mind that this dream has come true. There are so many moments when I thought about how much my dad would especially love to be here, because of the history. Walking through Killmanhaim Gaol, standing at the GPO or The Gresham, and doing research in the National Library are things I know he would love. I think about how much everyone would love the gorgeous countryside, the beautiful wild flowers, or even simply the cobblestone streets, the Georgian homes, or some traditional Irish music in a local pub. Everyone here is just s proud of their heritage and they all have a different story to tell. Each one of them, when they realized that I had Irish ancestry, said to me, "Welcome home". That's exactly what I have felt this entire trip. Home. God bless it. It's been a good "crack"! (Translation...good time)

Ireland Is So GREEN!!

June 18th...

Today was perfect! We went on the Wild Wicklow Tour, which took us from Dublin through Wicklow County where we visited so many beautiful places! We made our first stop at Dun Laoghire harbour and walked along the sandy beaches. I collected a few seashells to bring home to my mom, but it's highly likely that they will be confiscated when I arrive to Australia. Apparently they are very particular about bio hazardous material entering their country...but that's definitely not going to stop me from trying!
(Photo from Dun Laoghire Harbour)

Then we drove out to the countryside, which was even better than I expected! Wow - it was so green! It was absolutely breathtaking!! I have never seen anything like it! The pictures I show you won't even do it justice, but it can give a glimpse into the extraordinary nature I was a part of for a few moments. The bus stopped high up on the hills and the air was so crisp...and windy! I chose probably THE worst outfit to wear today, which was a very flowy skirt. I had a heck of a time keeping it from flying over my head, and surprisingly enough, with Tracey's help I was successful at doing so the entire day! Then as we stepped back onto the bus, the driver gave us all a shot of Jameson's Irish Whiskey - the best whiskey in all of Ireland. Personally I detest the taste of any and all whiskey, but as disgusting as it was, I can understand its charm...although I never intend on drinking it again. Sorry again Ireland...we're 0-2 on the alcohol.

After we were "liquored up", we moved on to Killiney and explored more beautiful countryside. The grass was just so short and so soft. I just laid down and thanked God for the beautiful nature and the fact that I am able to experience it. Lastly, we made our final stop to Glendalough, which was what I was really excited to see. It is famous for its 6th century monastery and old Celtic cross tombstones. Standing on that ground was so peaceful. I felt like I was just in a dream...you know that feeling when you see something for the first time...something that you though you would only see in pictures? And how amazing and invigorating it is to actually see it with your very own eyes? That's how I have felt every moment of this trip. I feel as though at any moment I am going to wake up and this will all have been a dream. But it isn't. Believe me, I've pinched my arm a few times and the result is the same...I really am here, and I'm so grateful.

A City of Unique Charm

June 16th...

7:30pm... Well I am sitting in the Temple Bar area outside of Haagan-Daaz, treating myself to two scoops of ice cream after what I just ate. One thing we were told to try here is the Traditional Irish Breakfast, complete with sausage, bacon, beans, tomato, fried egg, and black and white pudding. We came to find that the bacon is nearly raw and the black and white pudding is....animal blood. Yes. Animal blood. It was one of the most disgusting things I have ever tasted. I ate blood. End of story.

Today was a lovely day though! We walked along the River Liffey, which is actually the most polluted river in all of Ireland. We took the boardwalk down to Dublin 8, nearly all the way outside of the city. We stopped at the National Museum at Collins Barracks and then took a stroll through Phoenix Park. As we went looking for our next destination, we found ourselves in what would be considered Dublin's slums. Eventually we found the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Nearly an hour later we went to Killmainham Gaol, which was established in the 1700's. It was also the place where many of the men involved in the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. We took a tour, which led us through all the wings of the gaol. It was breathtaking in its own way and maybe one of my favorite places we've visited thus far. It was nearly epic, standing in the courtyard of the gaol, knowing how many men once lived exactly where I stood just 100 years ago. When people arrived there, they received a blanket and a candle for warmth, and they lived 15 per cell. There was a Catholic chapel built by a 17-year old boy who was arrested for stealing a food cart, and eventually died there. It was such a solemn experience. The history is what makes this city so unique. There isn't anything about this city that modern architects or designers would consider beautiful. Walking along the city streets, the buildings are all cracked, the railings all have chipped and discolored paint, but to me it is absolutely charming. I admire and appreciate it because it shows that people have lived there. They have fought there. Standing on the steps of the General Post Office, the same steps Pearse read the Irish Proclamation - the first building to be seized in the Easter Rising. It still has bullet holes in the building. It hasn't been covered up. It's antiquated, and it shows. It gives the city a story and a sense of pride and character, which is what makes it truly beautiful.

A True Irish Experience

June 15th...

We went on a tour today! It was wonderful to actually learn the history of all the main buildings, sculptures, and events that led to the Ireland that is today. I now feel less like a typical tourist and more like part of the city. We walked into a bar in the Temple Bar district and sat with a bunch of middle-aged men and women from New Castle, England. They just invited us to pull up a chair, try some Guinness, and watch the local Irish band. It was just the type of experience I wanted. I couldn't believe I was in downtown Dublin at a local bar, listening to a band play "Oh Danny Boy" live. The one complaint I do have...is one that will probably get me banned from Ireland forever...which is the Guinness. I have one word for this beer, and that is: icky. It was absolutely disgusting! Moving on... Tracey and I developed a new mission for our lives...which is to be Ice Cream Connoisseurs. We've sampled many delicious flavors and brands over the past month, and thought we should make a hobby of it. I imagine that we'll probably use the money we save by living in Derek's playhouse, and spend it on ice cream. That's how I like to spend my money personally. So today, we tried "gelato" at a local ice cream parlor. I got two scoops of course, which were chocolate and nutella, and I was very excited to review this delicassy. We decided that it was definitely too pricey and the scoops were far too small... and thus we are continuing on our mission to find the best the world can offer!

Lots of Laughs!!

June 13th...

Words cannot explain. Okay, so I'm in Dublin. That's the first bit of excitement. Well, in making plans for this trip I registered on couchsurfing.org so that we could find a place to stay for free. I figured that it would be too good to be true, but it would be the only way I could afford to come to Ireland. I ended up getting just a few positive responses, and I chose for us to stay with a man named Derek, who lived in a small cottage near the City Centre. He'd emailed me directions to his house, so Tracey and I took an AirCoach there after we got off our plane. Walking up to his door, we were both a bit nervous, now knowing what we were getting ourselves into. We knocked on the door....and no answer. We both just looked at each other, having no idea what to do. We didn't have a phone and we didn't want to walk with our heavy luggage to find one. So Tracey sat with our luggage at a nearby bus stop and I went searching for a phone to use. I was feeling really discouraged. Reality started to set in and I thought I'd been so foolish for thinking that this would actually work. Then I heard, "Are you from Kansas?". I looked up and there he was on his bike. I felt so relieved!!

Derek, Tracey, and I walked up to his nice little home, and words cannot describe what we saw. I'm going to do my best to provide an accurate description, but I guarantee you still won't be able to grasp it all. It was like a completely disheveled playhouse, with masks, crazy hats, and other random things on the shelves and walls. He had pictures of himself and other random images hanging randomly, the couch took up the entire living room, and everything was just completely random. His bathroom had "Ken" Barbie dolls, walnut oil, and a suit of armor. Yes, you read that correctly! I could keep going for hours writing about what we first saw and that would barely scratch the surface! Most people would probably think to themselves..."What have I gotten myself into? I cannot stay here for a whole week!" On the contrary, Tracey and I instantly felt completely comfortable. While his house may be a bit eccentric, Derek has such a genuine kindness that is very comforting. That night we had a dance party, complete with dress up, dolls, and a disco ball. I haven't laughed so hard and so long for a long time!