End of a year!

It is December 26th, 2011 and I am writing from Conklin, Michigan, USA... which ultimately means that I have finished my year in Korea and had made it home to the apple farm.

My last month in Korea was busy and not all that blog worthy. I finished my 120-hour online TESOL course, packed and cleared out my apartment, bought lots of Korean gifts, celebrated my 1 year anniversary with my boyfriend, said goodbye to me beloved friends and hopped on a flight to take me half way around the world back to the place I call home.

I've been home for 3 days now. It's still a bit surprising to hear so much English and to have baked food at every meal. It's so nice to be home and to finally hang out with the newest additions to the Dietrich family. I've missed home.



As for my next step, I'm looking into a public school position back in South Korea started in Feb/March. If all goes well perhaps I'll keep updating this blog.

As for now, I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy 1 year, Korea

Well, after a year of blogging it shall be concluded that I'm a terrible blogger. I don't think habitual updates of all that happens is my forte. Sigh... oh well. At least I've had fun with the few updates that I've managed to post!

1 year. I can't believe it. It's been a good run. A very good run. Oh wait, I'm still running...
3 weeks till I touch down on that soil I call home. Can't wait to see my sisters, my brothers, my parents and that amazing little niece and nephew I have yet to meet.

As for what I'll do next... because isn't that the second question I will be asked, after "How was Korea"?
I will be returning to Korea for another year of teaching. I'm looking into a Public school or University position, so we will have to see what happens.
But, why Korea? Again?
In all honesty, Korea has provided me with the best financial strategy for an American college grad during an economic recession. I've been able to pay more toward my loans than I would living back in the States (and that includes the living-with-my-mom-and-dad option that is very common for grads these days). Of course, I think Korea is pretty bomb and one more year means more kimchi, noribongs and soju :)
I guess if I wasn't swimming in college debt then I would move onto Thailand or Japan to teach. But then again, if I wasn't swimming in college debt I wouldn't be living as a teacher in Asia. I'd probably be promoting peace as a humanitarian in Africa or India... but that dream is for a different time, and perhaps blog.

Going back on my limited blogging update abilities, I'll be sharing some photos from the last month (just to catch y'all up):

A few weeks ago, Diego and I spent one last weekend in Seoul. We love visiting this city, it's busy, always changing and ginormous!

Insadong, home of the traditional Korean market

Starbucks (in Hangul)

"oh just talking a walk through Seoul with my pink dog"

soooo pink!

I thought this was an interesting Korea fact.

Adorable wine bar. I felt like I was in Tuscany or somewhere European.

delicious.

This restaurant sells dog soup... hopefully the pink dog was spared.

touch screen subway maps

Catholic Cathedral in Seoul

much more beautiful in person (see mom and dad, I go to church!)

More Korean food for you viewing pleasure:

Chicken feet- hot and spicy, but does not come with toenails.. shame.

Odeng-tang-  a fish cake soup

Enjoying some delicious pig stew

Gamjatong- pig leg stew

Wow. I sure make Korean food look good. But really folks, Korean food is absolutely delicious and super healthy. I even learned how to make a Korean dish so when I come home I can cook it up for you!

Until next time (who knows when that will be)....

Goodnight!

How do you say "syrup" in Korean?

As my mother suggested, I will now show you around my grocery story in Jinju, South Korea.
I am lucky enough to live only a few bus stops from an E-Mart... think of it as an upscale Wal-Mart.

My E-Mart has 3 floors. The top floor provides me with electronics, pet hamsters and household cleaning and cooking products. The ground floor offers me clothing, children games and makeup. The basement floor is the best. Here we have the food.

Bag of apples for about $6.00

bags of dried seaweed

Korean pancake batter

spices

Cereal.

Cookies.

Milk. It always smells sour.

Cheese. Korean cheese isn't very tasty and very expensive. I can buy a block of American cheddar cheese for $30.00

Beer. Western and Korean brands. See the Bud?

I can get a Heineken keg for $50.00

Some of the wine available- it's all imported. Korea doesn't make Western style wine.

This is Korea's wine. It's called Makali, a rice wine.

Some fish options. I don't buy fish- mainly because I don't know how to cook fish without a grill. My meat intake is chicken, beef and pork.

 Like any grocery story, you have your Organic Section:

4-pack organic apples for over $10.00

You can choose your live crabs, put them in a plastic bag, and take them home:

Bags of rice.

The check out. If you're not aggressive Koreans will have no problem cutting in front of you. They have no patience for waiting in lines.

What E-Mart isn't complete without a McDonald's?

The menu in Korea is the same as home except for the Bulgogi Burger- a meat sandwich with sweet sauce.

Most grocery stores have elevators and escalators for multi-floors.

The shopping carts have special wheels that will embed into the track so the carts can't move.

Fun Fact:

Many Koreans buy their groceries online. It's a very popular process, especially since it's offered with free delivery!

And in response to the titled question syrup in Korean is 시럽 pronounced see-lup

Until next time, 

Annayguh-sae-yo

This is October.

The 11th month mark has arrived.
It's incredible how fast time has gone.
This past month has been very fun. I've been spending more time with my Korean coworkers and been enjoying it immensely. My co teacher, Esther and old-co teacher Mini and I spend Tuesday nights doing "Korean" things, like playing Gostop- tricky Korean card game and dressing me up.....

Mini made us hae mol pa jun- a Korean egg pancake dish. She made it with seafood and kimchi.

The girls taught me how to play Gostop. I want to be a professional before I leave.

I've always wanted to wear a Honbok, so Mini let me try on hers.

It was complicated....

Mini bought this Hanbok for her wedding.

Koreans will wear white wedding gowns for the ceremony and a Hanbok during the traditional passage.

Red is symbol for healthy fertility in Korea.

While Skyping with Grandma and Grandpa Dietrich this week, Grandpa asked me what season I'm in and if it's different from home. Korea's seasons are the same as Michigan. It's currently Autumn and the leaves are falling and that crisp smell is in the air.

Halloween is next week! Koreans don't dress up and go trick-or-treating. But we are having a Halloween party at work... I'll be sure to post pictures of my kids. I think I'm going to be a witch. It will be the easiest (and cheapest) to create. There is a party at one of the bars where all the Foreigners will be. It should be fun to walk through the streets being the only ones dressed up for Halloween.

My best Korean friend, Rachel and I have been taking Sunday trips to a Cat Cafe. It's a coffee shop where you can play with cats. It's a very cute place even though I'm not fond of cats. But in Korea, the cats are usually larger than the dogs...

For some reason, the cats loved Rachel's bag.

Rachel leaves this month... I'm really going to miss her. She was my first and best Korean friend. Bahhh.. don't leave, Rachel!

So, work has been good this month. I try to make the best out of each day. Thankfully, I have great co workers who have made this job bearable. I am so thankful for the friendships I've made here.
 My bosses must really care about me though, because they reserved me a 36-hour flight home. It took me 21 to get here the first time. It will now take me 36 to get home. Ughhhhhh... that should be fun.

I took up one of Mom's suggestions for this blog and took pictures of the items on the grocery store shelves. I'll be posting that next.

I wanted to send a very special congratulations to Erin & Ben and Becki & Jeff on their weddings this month. I wished I could have celebrated your special days with you, but know that I was sending prayers your way. I love you all!

That's all for today, folks. Enjoy the season!