American Thanksgiving in Korea

With 50 years of American influence in Korea and bases full of Americans all over the country, you would think that most Koreans, especially those living in the cities that have bases would know a little about Thanksgiving. It's true, they are selling more and more turkeys, cranberry sauce etc in all the groceries now (although at incredible price hikes) but still... they don't really get it. Perhaps they just want to fushion the cultures together a little more, or make it more Korean, I don't know. But there is kimchi at the Thanksgiving feasts, talk about exchanging gifts and and general blank stares. I did have two awesome Thanksgiving dinners over the course of the weekend, so I am NOT complaining... just noting an observation. Here is my favorite observation: one of the parents at the school buckled under cultural pressure (Korean) and gave all the teachers and staff a Thanksgiving present... nice, isn't it? Wanna know what it was? How does an 11 pound box of Korean sweet potatoes strike you? That's right... 11 pounds per apartment. Um... what am I, a single person, going to do with that much sweet potato??? Oh well.... I've been getting pretty creative (so has the rest of the staff... you should have seen our Turkey Bowl football tailgate party potluck dishes). Anyway, just thought I'd share.
Ciao

Almost missed it...

I've been so incredibly busy and insane with all the stuff that I have going on that I almost missed it. I almost missed fall in Korea. Korea gets notorioulsy short fall and spring seasons, so if you blink too long or stay inside too much, you might miss it. And I almost missed fall this year. But today, as I rode the bus home from nabbing a few little gifties for my friend Sharon, I saw it. I saw the gorgeous yellows of the ginko trees, the bright oranges of the persimmons and the misxed reds, oranges and browns of the rest of the trees. It was so pretty but almost done... imagine if I'd taken my head out of the books or away from stressing over every little thing just a few weeks earlier... I could have enjoyed it all. But, at least I got to see some of it... Must sound silly to most of you, but if you are visual like I am, then you know that seeing the change of a season is wonderful and leaves an impression in your mind... something I don't want to miss!!

Ah... the single life!

You know, I am 31 years old and almost all of my friends that are my age are married or in relationships right now. Part of me thinks that sucks, and then the other part of me (the sensible, less emotional part) thinks "good for them, better for me!" I think the reason why it sucks sometimes is because I get tired of being the single third wheel sometimes. I mean, I really and truly enjoy my friends' spouses or relationship partners. They are all good people and we have fun when we hang out, but I can't help but feel a little left out. And then when I have an opportunity for a relationship, I either muck it up or run the other way... or my personal favorite, I run head-long into it and he runs the other way!! Ha ha ha! Oh well, what can you do. Isn't there that saying that all good things come to those who wait? Question is: How long do I gotta wait to get the good stuff?!
Actually, for the most part I enjoy being single, I'd mostly want a relationship just for the companionship, you know... someone to travel with, cook dinner with and just hang out with. Again, all good things to those who wait... and I am still waiting so I KNOW it is gonna be REALLY GOOD when it gets here!!! hee hee.