i am who i am....happier with myself....

it's not a matter of how korean i am, or how american i am, or even how european i am. it's a matter of who i am, how far i've come, or not, and what's important to me. it's about who i've become, who i've chosen to be. and it's about faith and hope and luck and bad luck, it's about life and the twists and turns that such has provided for me, and how i deal with it.

i don't feel american in the states. i feel out-of-place. sure, i know the fastest way to sebastian joe's in linden hills, despite all the construction, but still. knowing my way around does not make me american.

this is not to say that i feel korean either. although having almost had korean for lunch today in the skyway, i am not korean. random question though: what normal person eats korean food on vacation in the states (after only 3 days)? ha! maybe a korean. so there goes my korean argument.

this leaves me with: who am i? the answer is i am an ibjangin. that's it. it's that simple...or that complicated.

i am who i am. i am who i've chosen to become. i am who i've worked to become. i am the person working to be better, more honest, more healty, more hard working, more forgiving, more understanding, more caring - happier with a more fulfilling life. happier with a purpose. happier with myself.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

MISC.: I am in Minneapolis. It's warm and sunny. 35W is buzzing with traffic. Starbucks at 54 and Lyndale is busy. Minnehaha Creek has all new little bridges. Edina has a "highrise" in the former Barnes & Noble (Galleria) parkinglot. The new (and improved?) Target in Edina is open. I am still adjusting to all this...it's not bad, just new.

FOOD: I am eating cheese like nothing else. I did have a RedBull as well. But really I only want American food when I'm in Korea beacuse I can't have it. I'm eating a lot...don't really have too much else to do...

Here are some Youtube videos of Minneapolis...

American Soil once again...

Three days and I'll once again be on American soil. I am happy because will get to see some important people in my life. In fact, the people I will see are the most important people in my life. They are the people I love. I am apprehensive because I don't know what it'll be like to stick out again. But all in all, I am counting down my time here and I will pack tonight!

Oh, say can you see..... HERE I GO AGAIN.......사 랑

보령 July 2008

It's been a while now. I have been busy finishing up a lot of things - life and work. I did take a day+ and went to Boryeong to dip my feet in the ocean. Here are some pictures.

보

Kickin It...it's funny...

Mundaneity...is that a word?

My Korean life is chugging along. I can't claim to be doing too much. Monday through Friday I go to work. I try to go a bit early and either sit at a coffee shop or at a park, both of which are close to the hagwon, to get some sunlight (vitamin-D) every day. By 8.30pm when I get out of work it's dark outside and any chance of daylight has passes. At 8.30pm I trekk to the gym, which is somewehre in the Seocho-Kyodae-area, and I work out. Working out after work has become the highlight of my day. It's more than strange to even utter those words, however; it's the truth. It allows me to "run off" and "sweat off" exhaustion, tiredness and other less desirable feelings I aquire at times. During work I'm happy-try-to-appear-at-least-go-lucky Marie teacher. Then I go to the gym and I can just be. I'm liking it. But talk about switching gears! LOL!
After my gym time I trekk to my bus, I go home, I eat and chill and I sometimes watch one of my room mates movies, and then I go to bed. Each day being a repetition of the previous day. Some days include a small venture from the norm - for an example, intermittently I have to do a purchase of such items as shampoo and conditioner or shoes. Tomorrow my adventure will be going to the fan-store and buying a fan. Cuz it's hot hot hot and humid. Well, more like humid humid humid and hot.
During my far and few between weekends, I mostly see and hang out with friends. I have made friends with three of my coworkers. Then I also hang with random friends. Then there is also the GOAL-KOROOT group headed by Daewon. This group is rather large and it's members are constantly chanaging.
Like I told you...pretty mundane. But very happy!