Goodbye Korea Series | Emilio & Gina

I think this post will be the beginning of all my goodbye posts to my dear friends in Korea. We have 23 days left and every day my heart breaks a little bit more. I cannot believe how fast the past few months have gone. It only felt like yesterday when we had six months and now it's less than that. In the coming days, we'll be meeting with our friends that we've made in Korea. Some we will see again and others, who knows when we will meet again. Recently, Markus and I were able to meet with Emilio & Gina. We don't have many couple friends in Korea, so the few that we do have, we really appreciate. They have similar tastes to Markus and I and it's always fun meeting up with them.

Emilio was in our EPIK orientation class all the way back in August of 2011. We haven't kept in touch with many people from orientation, but Emilio is one of the few that we make the effort to see. He and Markus have so much in common. This last time we met, they spent the whole time talking to each other about anime and kaiju movies. Markus doesn't have any geeky friends here besides Emilio, so when they get together he gets very excited. Gina came about a year ago and she's really incredible. Every time we meet, it's like seeing an old friend. Even though we haven't known each other long, Gina is the type of person that you instantly feel comfortable with. She's one of the kindest people I've ever met and she's a perfect match for Emilio.
 

Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict

Breakfast Burger

We hadn't seen Emilio or Gina for months. It's sad, but it happens. Life takes over and then you before you know it, months have passed. We were determined to see each other before we left. After going back and forth for a bit, we finally agreed on a date. Gina recommended Bruns Week, an amazing brunch place in Nampodong and we readily agreed. Markus and I will never say no to brunch. It's like a rule, who doesn't like brunch? The food was amazing. I can't even describe how good. It's been ages since I've had brunch and it felt like coming home. Everything was really exquisite and the restaurant was really classy. It felt a bit like some of the restaurants back home.

After we ate at Bruns Week, we weren't ready to say goodbye, so we headed to another cafe. We spent a couple hours chatting and people watching. It was really strange, but everyone in this cafe was a bit off in some way. The girls at the table next to us were taking a nap, a girl across the way was straightening her hair, and a guy at another table had a mini-projector and was watching a movie. After we finished at the cafe, we still weren't ready to part, so we went to the thrift store area of Nampodong. It was like heaven for me. There was store after store of amazing vintage clothes. I can't believe it took me two years to find this place, but in all honesty, it's for the best. I'm sure I would have spent all money and then where would I be? Broke, but with lots of cool clothes.

When we were finally ready to say goodbye, we had spent almost eight hours together. I think we all knew it was our last time and we just weren't ready. Even though, I don't know when we'll see Emilio and Gina again but we're very thankful for their friendship. I know that once we meet again, it'll be like no time passed and we'll just pick up right where we left off!

Seung Ah Unnie's Korean Wedding | Busan, South Korea

Markus and I have been lucky enough to attend three Korean weddings in our two years in Korea. Three of my dearest unnie's have gotten married while we've been here. Korean weddings are completely different from American weddings. It's almost shocking how different.  At the first wedding we attended, I was overwhelmed and really confused. By this third one, Markus and I were pros. We knew all the tricks and it made for an enjoyable wedding experience. Despite the differences, there are still some really amazing things about Korean weddings and I'm thankful that I had the chance to witness real Korean weddings.

One of the biggest differences in Korean weddings is the venue. The wedding and reception is in the same place. Basically throughout Korea they have these nondescript office buildings and inside them are wedding halls. I once asked my co-teacher if Koreans got married in churches and she said that some did, but they were poor. Many Koreans look down on the couple if they don't get married in a wedding hall. It's sort of sad in a way because all the weddings I've been to have looked exactly the same. There is nothing unique or different, the only difference is the bride and groom.

One thing that I don't like about Korean weddings is the lack of reverence for the bride and groom. Everyone sort of stands outside the seating area and just talks loudly while the ceremony is happening. Everyone comes and pays their respects and then they just do their own thing.  It's a bit strange, but it's completely normal. At this wedding, there were so many people, the most I've ever seen. They were all talking so loudly and blocking the view that I couldn't see much. I got a bit annoyed and gave up. Instead of trying to fight for a view, Markus and I headed to the buffet.

The best part about Korean weddings is the food.  Traditionally, everyone gives a monetary present ranging from 30,000 won to 50,000 won ($30-$50) depending on how close you are to the bride or groom. Once you arrive at the wedding and hand over your present, they give you a ticket for the lunch buffet. After you've seen the bride and said your greetings, you can stay and watch the ceremony or head to the buffet. Since this was our third wedding, we knew the score. Almost 50% of the guests will go straight to the buffet. After Markus and I watched a little bit of the ceremony we quickly headed to the buffet to try and avoid large crowds. When we arrived we were shocked to see the place was full and that everyone had the same idea. The food at this buffet was quite exceptional and really delicious.

After attending three Korean weddings, I can say that I truly do miss weddings back home. I miss the sweetness and elegance of the wedding ceremony. I miss being able to dance and have a great time at the reception. Weddings in Korea are so rushed and for some people it's only an hour or two out of your day. I can't wait for some of my friends to get married so I can experience an American wedding again, it's been way too long.

Unnie Time

Love triangle?

Markus and I have been very lucky to have amazing co-workers. Markus used to work on the Magic English Bus. I know it sounds so awesome right? Basically, he would ride the Magic English Bus from school to school spreading the joy of English. It was a dream job for anyone in Korea and Markus was able to spend our first six months in Korea working there. On the bus, Markus had the most amazing Korean co-teachers, Gloria unnie and Seulhee unnie.

Cutie Unnies

Gloria unnie and Seulhee unnie are so awesome. Within five minutes of meeting them, I was instantly comfortable and knew that we would be friends forever. Not only are they beautiful but they're hilarious. They always have me laughing and the time always goes so fast when we're together. They speak English better than most Koreans I meet. They know more than just textbook English, but they know about pop culture so it's never awkward. I'm so thankful for their friendship and having them in our lives here, makes this experience even better.

Life of an Ex-Pat | Discovery

Living and working in another country is not only a time of adventure, but also a time of discovery. You'll discover new foods and cultures. You'll experience things you've only read about in books or seen on TV. Every single day of your life becomes an adventure. There are things that you'll learn about yourself that you never knew existed. It's more than just seeing the wonders of the world, even though that's exciting as well. You'll learn how much you can take. You'll be challenged to see how far you can step out of your comfort zone. You'll experience things that are beyond imagination.

Life in Korea has been both a blessing and a curse.  Things that would be simple back home become difficult and challenging. Sometimes leaving the house, you have to mentally prepare yourself for what the day will be like. I find myself having pretend conversations in Korean in my head so that when I do speak to a Korean I don't sound ridiculous. It's the little things that begin to take its toll after a while, but with the bad, there is always good. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be living in such a beautiful country. Many people end up leaving Korea bitter and resentful, but I know that I won't feel that way.  My dreams of living in a far off land would not have come true. I would have lived a life of regret and now that I know what it's like, I can move on.

I discovered so much about myself in the past 18 months. I've learned that here is so much more going on in the world than what happens in my tiny little existence. The work ethic in Korea is unreal. The kids are always studying. Their days start at 7am and they don't end until close to 11pm. The adults are always working, trying to strive for more, trying to reach the next level. Koreans work themselves to exhaustion, but it's ingrained in them to have the best life possible. They are a resilient people and that is something that I can truly admire.

I've also learned that there is so much to see and experience. We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful world. America is a diverse and amazing country, but it only scratches the surface of what is out there. Being an ex-pat has given me the opportunity to explore countries that I never would have been able to afford or thought of. Last year, I was able to finally travel to the Philippines. I finally saw the land of my people and the home of my parents. It was a moving experience and one I might have missed out on.

The most important thing I learned about myself is that I can conquer my fears. When I was younger, I was always known to be a spoiled brat. I never finished anything and I'm pretty sure that all my family and friends thought I would never amount to anything. I took all of their doubts and negativity and used that to fuel my determination to make something of myself. I've been blessed with a wonderful husband and a job that I love. After moving abroad, I used that same determination to succeed in Korea as well. 

Before coming here, I was worried that it wasn't going to work out. I went through all the scenarios in my head. They ranged from naughty children, horrible co-workers and nasty living conditions. Despite all these possibilities, I was determined to make it work. Thankfully, none of my scenarios came to fruition. I wake every day with the hope that this day will be better than the last and to make the most of my situation. Having this sort of attitude has taught me one important lesson. As long as I strive to do my best and always be optimistic, I can truly do anything and conquer any fears. 

My time in Korea is coming to a close soon, but the lessons I've learned and the challenges I've faced have made me a better person. I've become a better version of myself. I've grown into a stronger woman. I've discovered how much I can handle and how far I can go. I've discovered that anything is really and truly possible. 

Farewell Hwesik

One of the most important things about having a successful and happy life in Korea is having great co-workers. I've been very blessed thus far and I have worked with some amazing people. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and three of my closest co-workers, Kelly, Jenny and Mickey, left last month with the start of the new school year.

The Waygooks and Mickey Unnie

Boys

Kelly has been one of the best people to work with. She's been my office mate, my teacher and most of all, my friend. I couldn't have asked for a better person to work with. She's always ready to listen to me sing or complain. Any time I would go to her with a problem, she would always be ready to help. She's quite possibly one of the most selfless people I've ever met and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to work with her.

Jenny, Kelly, Mickey unnie, Me and Doug

Ever since I arrived in Busan, Kelly and Jenny have been there. They've been the two people that I've relied on the most. Jenny took care of not only me, but Markus too. She was the best co-teacher and always there whenever I had a stupid question. She always anticipated my needs and was always there to pick me up. She's amazing and when I think of Korea, I will always think of her. I'm sad that Jenny, Kelly and Mickey unnie no longer work with me, but I'm very thankful for the short time we had together. They made this crazy adventure worth it and for that I will always be grateful. 

How We Met | His Version

This is the story of how Markus and I met, told from his perspective. One day, I will make my own version. I never knew his side of the story. I'm the one that always tells the story, so it was nice to finally hear his side of the story.

I love this boy. He's so amazing. Check out his other vlogs and website! He's so talented and so funny and I'm honestly his biggest fan.

Snow Day

As a native Floridian, I've missed out on an essential part of life, seeing snow. I've never had the chance to make a snowman, ski at a resort, or have a White Christmas. It's been one of the things I've longed for since I saw Home Alone.

When we decided to move to Korea, we chose the only city that it never snows. Busan is like the Florida of Korea. So, I was resigned to never seeing snow unless I searched it out. This year it finally snowed for three hours. It didn't last and melted about two hours later, but it was a dream come true. Well, the heavens were looking down on me because the day we left for Cambodia there was a Winter Wonderland.

From inside my house, I was ecstatic and overjoyed. I couldn't believe that everything was covered in snow. I couldn't wait to go outside. What happened next traumatized me a little bit. Busan is not a city that is prepared for snow. The minute the white fluffy stuff covered the streets, the city shut down. The buses stopped running and there were very few taxis on the street. Apparently, the streets and sidewalks should be shoveled and covered with salt to make it easier to travel. Busan did not do any of this.

Markus and I live high up on a hill and there aren't any subways nearby. We would have to walk down the hill about a mile or so to get to a subway station. Since the buses, weren't running there was a mad panic and hordes of people started trekking down towards the subway. Markus and I had no other choice and followed. The sidewalks were really icy and slippery and we saw many people slip and fall.

Now, you have to understand, this was my first time being in this kind of situation. The last time I saw snow it stuck for two hours and disappeared. This time there was a substantial amount, at least two inches. Markus grew up in Chicago so he stomped through the streets like a pro. I, on the other hand, gingerly tiptoed around. I was freaked out. I didn't know how to walk on snow and was afraid I was going to fall and crack my head open. The sidewalks were dangerous and weren't safe to walk on. The snow had transformed to sleet and ice. I saw so many ahjummas, old ladies, clearing the sidewalks with dustpans.  It was a nightmare. Something that should have taken only 20 minutes, took an hour. 

I'll admit, I wasn't pleased when I finally made it to work. I was a bit horrified and didn't want to go back outside. Still, I was very happy to finally experience living in snow. Hopefully, my future experiences with snow are much better.

Life of an Ex-pat | Sacrifices

Now that I've been away from home for over a year, I can say that I'm a true ex-pat. My feet haven't touched American soil in over 17 months. At first, I was really excited to finally be living in another country. My whole life, I dreamed of the day where I could say that I lived in some far off distant land. Recently, I've started to get a little homesick. 

Before we left for Korea, I was ready to go. I lived my whole life in Florida and always wanted to travel to some far off land. I spent so much of my life daydreaming about the day that I would be on a plane headed for those lands. However I think when we let our dreams and aspirations take over, we only focus on the big picture and forget the little things.

When I first arrived in Korea, it felt like coming home. It felt right. It never felt weird or awkward. It was perfect. Sure, there are days that I get annoyed because of the language barrier or because I can't eat at Chipotle, but it isn't anything I can't handle or overcome. I love living in Korea and thinking about the day that I have to leave makes me ridiculously sad.

Despite all of this, I've started to really miss parts of my old life. I still have no desire to return to Florida. That part of my life is over and has run its course. I spent 27 years there, I don't want to spend any more, but I still miss a lot of my previous life. All my dear friends and family have moved on. In the beginning, everyone was really interested in my new adventure. Now that it's been over a year, the interest has definitely lessened. Not just on their end, but on mine as well. Life definitely goes on, and just because I'm off having adventures doesn't mean that everyone's life stops and waits for my return.

As an expat, I've had to make huge sacrifices. I gave up the security of living in my own country. I gave up my home and my job. I gave up the ability to communicate in my own language. Most of all, I gave up time with my beloved family and friends. I can't even describe how many birthdays, graduations, births, and weddings I've missed in the past 17 months. At first, I understood that I would miss those milestones. Now, I'm starting to feel the loss of those memories I could've had, and I mourn the moments that I missed. Sometimes, I skip photo albums on Facebook because I feel a pinch in my heart. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true.

Despite my sadness for moments missed, I'm very thankful for the last 17 months. I feel that this has been an experience that has been vital to my growth, and I've learned so much about myself. If I was given this opportunity again, I would and will always say, "Yes." It's true that there are times where I miss aspects of where my life could've gone, but I will never ever regret the decisions that I've made.

Credits: 
Frame and Paper Texture/ Mellowmint 
Typography/ Handwritten by me

The Future

Currently, I'm in this strange limbo period of my life. Recently, I started to think about what was next. Where would Markus and I be this time time next year? We decided not to renew for a third year in Korea. It's been an amazing experience living and working here, but it was never meant to be permanent. It was a hard decision to make, but it just didn't feel right staying here for another year. So with that decision made, Markus and I are embarking on another adventure in 2013.

It would be easy to continue teaching in Korea, but where's the fun in that? For me, two years is perfect. One year would've been too short. I would've felt like it was just a small taste of living in another country. With the extra year, I've felt like a real ex-pat. Not just someone pretending to be one, if that makes sense. Life in Korea is really easy. Being an ESL teacher has been a big challenge, but it's not hard to assimilate. There are difficult days, but they are few and far between.

In fact, thinking about life after Korea is much more scary than thinking about moving to Korea. When we were preparing to move here, most things were taken care of. We had a job, a home, and health insurance. I definitely felt safe and secure. Thinking about going home freaks me out. Markus and I have no jobs, no home and definitely no health insurance. Luckily, we are free to go anywhere. We aren't obligated to return to Florida. We can literally move to any of the 50 states. It's liberating and terrifying at the same time. All of these random scenarios have started running through my mind: Like what happens if we move somewhere and I hate it? What if we can't find jobs? What if we don't make any friends? Anything could happen!

I hate making bad decisions, and I really hate when things don't go according to plan. I'm the type of person that likes everything figured out. When Markus and I go on trips, I create these ridiculously detailed itineraries with almost every minute planned. It's just the way I am. I like to have a plan. The thought of starting this new phase of my life and not having a plan started freaking me out. It wasn't just the lack of a plan, but also the thought of really settling down that freaks me out. Things like buying a home, having a mortgage and having a baby are such foreign concepts to me now. Thoughts like these started to weigh down on me, but then I realized something. Just because we're not living in a foreign country or traveling to an exotic place doesn't mean that life isn't an adventure anymore. Adventure is all about the unknown, and that's what awaits Markus and I at the end of our contract. 

We have a completely clean slate, just like when we moved here. Our future is open to what we make it out to be. We can literally do anything. We can live out all and any dream that we have. We can go anywhere. There is nothing holding us back and I'm looking forward to this next phase of our life.

Happy Christmas 2012 from Busan, South Korea

This year we decided to make a Christmas video instead of sending out Christmas cards again. We took silly photos in the hopes of sending out cards, but I ran out of time. I don't know how time got away from me. Although, I think the video is much better than the cards because it shows what our life is like as teachers in Korea.

It's a bit hard being so faraway from home during the holidays, but thankfully Markus and I have each other. It's been a bit easier because we can have a Cruz Family Christmas. Even though we haven't been home for about 15 months, Markus and I have been able to create some amazing memories. So with that dear readers, I wish you and yours a Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year.

Minsu's Birthday Celebration

Earlier this month, we celebrated Minsu's birthday. Minsu is one of the librarians at the library and a good friend. Sometimes when I'm at work and having a rough day, I walk over to Minsu's desk and we chat for a bit. Afterwards, I always feel better. Even though he doesn't speak much English and I don't speak much Korean, we're still able to have a great friendship.

Not too long ago, I sprained my ankle and needed to see a doctor. Minsu left work and took me to the hospital. If it weren't for him, it would've been really difficult. He helped me hobble around town and translated every conversation. I'm very thankful to have him as my friend.

We met Minsu, Junnie, Jun-young and Kelly for dinner at a pizza restaurant owned by Minsu's friend. In Korea, there are an abundant amount of "pizza" restaurants. I say "pizza" because most of the time, they call anything with lots of cheese pizza. At this place, I wouldn't call it a pizza, but more of an open faced quesadilla. Although, it was quite tasty and I enjoyed it.

When we finished eating and Minsu opened his present, a lovely scarf that I almost kept for Markus, we headed to 21, a nearby bar. We hung out there for a bit. We drank a few cocktails, played darts and said goodbye to Kelly. Unfortunately, she had to work the next day. It was nice having Kelly there. Usually, I'm the only girl and even though she couldn't stay the whole night, at least I wasn't alone the entire night.

Somehow, we ended up at a noreabang or karaoke room. I shouldn't be surprised, nights out always end up at a noreabang. They served us way too much food and we sang too many songs off key. It was a long night, but it was a amazing. We celebrated the birth of a dear friend, ate great food, sang too many songs and made wonderful new memories.