The Passageway

Troi and I went shopping today. It was nice, just hanging out and getting to buy some clothes before I leave this place for good.

For anyone who cares, the picture is of my side door, at my parents' house. I took it last summer when C. Love and I would go around taking pictures of shit all.

I've been procrastinating really sitting down and beginning to pack. I don't know how to describe how strange it is trying to fit your life into a couple of suitcases. What do we bring and what do we leave behind? What is "worthy" and what is not? It's slightly depressing that things I want to bring, I might not be able too. I'm hoping I can bring my extra large coffee mug my mother bought me. It's huge and I adore it.

My room is a mess, which I'm going to have to change before C. Love comes over tomorrow, (hopefully) to spend the night. Scanning my room, it's slightly sad that I have to leave it behind. Old photo frames, books, candles and papers. They have sentimental value to a certain extent. It's also dawning on me that when I get to Korea, I wont have my friends to fall back on anymore. I'll have my darling husband, Adam, but I think a girls best medicine is her friends. Who will I drive down to Penny Lane / Starbucks with and sit down, discussing religion, politics and life?

C. Love and I, however, decided to start something called a "Circle Journey Journal." We bought the Journal today, and she's writing in it first, and I'm reading her entry when I get on the plane, when I get on the plane and read it, I'll write back. We will send it via mail back and forth, and send little things from where we are each month. For example, I might send her a phone charm and some pictures, and so forth. It's actually a comforting idea. It's like a "scrapbook in action."

If anybody is interested, here is some tips to start your CJJ:

How To Start Your Circle Journal Exchange

Determine the purpose of your journal. Circle journals can be used to become re-acquainted with old friends, to celebrate existing close relationships, or serve as an ice breaker in cultivating new friendships. Here are my top tips for getting the most out of the experience

1. Choose your friends wisely. Decide whether you want to exchange the journal with one person or several people. Send out “feelers” to determine the level of interest. Scrapbookers, military families, college buddies, adoptive and birth families, and pen pals are examples of potential journaling groups.
2. Set a limit. Determine the maximum number of participants who will be involved. This type of “round robin” exchange may be more successful if there are fewer people involved.
3. Decide on a theme. Pages can reflect open-ended themes, such as “a day in the life,” or “what inspires me.” Favorite recipes, family folklore, inspiration from fashion or your favorite lyrics are also intriguing circle journal themes.
4. Pick a format. The pages can serve as a template to add journal entries of text or you can allow them to be a blank canvas to be filled with photographs, magazine clippings, found objects, ticket stubs, or drawings.
5. Be specific. It is important to effectively communicate the guidelines for the swap. Details like the number of journals in circulation, the length of the swap, the start date, and mailing instructions should be worked out beforehand.
6. Ready, set, mail. Complete your page and mail it to the first person on the list (if exchanging with a group). Anticipate its return with pages full of life.

read more at http://carrieanddanielle.com/keeping-in-touch-how-to-create-your-circle-journey/#ixzz0pYcoGDhU
a huge online directory just for you!

Freaks of America

Trombone-Lover has never seen Sex & the City, OR Friends!

Freak.

Tickets.

The tickets have come! :) I have my confirmation ready to go! I'm excited (and nervous)!

So, the plan is to leave here at 2:30PM (on Trombone-Lover's birthday! Sorry!)

I'll arrive at Chicago at 3:45 , then depart at 7:40

Then I arrive at LAX at 10PM, leave at 12:20 AM .

Arrive at Seoul at 5:30 (July 22nd for them, 13 hour flight), leave at 8:30.

Arrive at Taegu/Daegu at 9:25 AM :)

"So, Have A Good Life?"

That's pretty much how the graduating class was. "Have a good life!" "Thanks. You too." I'm happy though. I'm happy everyone made huge accomplishments we never even dreamed of. We've changed, we've grown, and it's great. Couldn't be happier. I worked hard to get where I am today! I've been setting long and short terms goals for myself. Long term: Lose weight, eat healthy, etc. Short term: Pack!

Speaking of packing, my MILB bought me some luggage (3 piece set)! It's a great purple, which is my favorite color, and she got me tags for the baggage that say "I come with baggage", and "This is MY bag". I'm hoping all my clothes fit inside it, and then I can use the middle bag for my shoes and jewelry, (because Buddha knows I have too much jewelry!) :)

My plans for the week or so is to shop for some things I'll need before I leave. A new purse, make up, clothes. :) Yay <3!

Hope You Have The Time Of Your Life

Isn't it funny? I waited years for this day. We all did. Four years. It's finally the day, and for some reason, I'm sad to see people walk away.

When You Were Young

Today I took a walk down, as C. Love calls it, Nostalgia Lane.

C. Love & I became friends three years a go, by chance. At first we weren't too hott about each other, but as time waned on, and we got talking, we ended up having a lot more in common than we originally thought. We became best friends. She's possibly the closest friend I have ever had, even if she's really ticked me off. A bunch of shit happened, and we stopped talking for quite awhile, and up until recently, we have started speaking again.

It's odd how you don't talk to someone for six months, and end up picking up right where you left off. We sat at Starbucks for an hour or so, drinking Lattes and discussing everything that had happened recently. Friends, family, life, and feelings. (Four F's) -- and it felt good. It's nice to have a best friend.

Wolf Whistling & Young Love

Today I had something important to go too, so I wore a nice shirt with some "dress pants/trousers." My hair was frizzy due to the extreme heat in the building, (and I had highlighted my hair the day before, but I don't think people noticed due to the frizzy/wavy/wild hair.) and I wore minimal make up. I didn't think I looked particularly good, apparently, some creepers though otherwise. (I had fun taking pictures with CiCi though. Nothing like good ol' fashioned friends-taking-pics-like-losers)

<-- I call that Love Monstah

I was walking into the courthouse place (?) to get a copy of my marriage certificate and I got... wolf whistled at by a man in a wife beater. I kind of gave him this, "you wish" look, and kept walking. Then after that, I stopped by somewhere where I was asked if I was a single woman. Uh, well no. I have a wedding ring on dumbass. I got winked, waved at, and kissy faced by two men in a van, and all together, I feel violated.

In separate news, I'm adding people from my old primary school in England. :) Nice to see how they've changed.

2 am midnight woe.

It's 2am, and I can't sleep for shit. Happened last night, too, when I was up for hours doing shit all. So what am I doing? I'm online, "window shopping" for stiletto's and animal print purses. Not usually a traditional night, I usually do this during the day... But hey, I compromise.

27 days now. I hope Korea isn't this fucking hot. It's like a sauna made its way to America. 25 C / 75ish F. I can barely stand hot weather.

Migraine.

I have the worst migraine. 28 days. :/

Pack List.

More for myself than anything.

1. Camera cords/CD drivers
2. Webcam cords / CD drivers
3. Any computer games
4. A couple of books
5. Throw out old / gross make up
6. Pack clothes I don't wear / need for donation
7. Pack Jewelry
8. Choose pictures to bring
9. Clean up my current laptop for my mom to have
10. Buy a few new clothing items / make up possibly ?
11. Electronics I might use (Hair straightener?)

Hopefully I can add / reduce things from my list as I go.

The Consonant Comes Before The Vowels!

A letter from me to a friend: "So we move on, right? Start over with our lives & keep going along? I moved to America, and waited for years to go back to the UK, & now I'm going to Korea. 29 days. Granted, I do actually WANT to go to Korea, then maybe back to the UK. Maybe Adam & I could go to India! I don't know. But I do know I'll end back up in the UK. No doubt about it. Not even a little" - Letter to a friend, from myself.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about after Korea. I know, I know -- I haven't even landed there, and I'm thinking about when I leave already? I do that a lot though, I like to plan ahead. I've been seriously considering that move back to England I've been hoping for, for a while. We'll have to see though.

I was watching house earlier, when I thought, "Hmmm, my room is a mess..." Which led to, "Hmmm.... I need to pack..." Which led to... "Hmmm.... I need a fucking suitcase!" So I think I'll start putting things in boxes. The stuff that I want to bring, I'll put in a box. The other stuff will remain in my room, I guess. I'll just clean it up for when I come back to visit. I think I'll miss my room though, in some aspects. This house has a lot of bad memories along with it, but I do like my room. Plus, the A/C works great in here.

I'm kind of bummed I can't bring my "Los Cigarrillos Paris" poster:
But I'm sure I can buy another, or somehow get my mom to send it too me. I think I'll miss this huge coach in my room, too. I mean, this coach has virtually no use, I don't actually do anything with it. I don't sit on it, or anything. It's just... There. But it's pretty cool to have in my room. I won't miss this desk, as it's falling apart, and I won't miss my bed because it's so uncomfortable, but simple other things will definitely be missed. I was thinking about the little figurine, or whatever, that Adam apparently bought of a Dragon. I'm really hoping he will get rid of that, because if not, It's going somewhere where no one can see it. [I sound so mean!]

I better stop procrastinating, and start cleaning.

Ocean Apart.

31 days until I leave. It's pretty much a waiting game at the moment.

The blog post I am looking forward to posting the most, is the one that says "I'm here! I'm finally in Korea!” I have so much to look forward too! The only thing I've been worried quite a bit about it actually flying over. What do I mean by that? My passport and U.S. Residency card still has my maiden name on it, whereas my Itinerary and Military ID and Drivers license does not. I can't exactly get it all changed so close to the date I leave, so I'm planning on bringing my birth certificate and marriage certificate. If any problems arise, I'm hoping I can just open up my folder and show them “My name is Laura XXXX, I swear! My name just USED to be Laura XXXXXXXX! Don't arrest me D:!” It shouldn't be that much of an issue, hopefully.

I'm putting bunches of recipes together for me to learn also. I'll need step-by-step instructions, as I really don't know how to cook unless it has very specific instructions. I can make Mac&Cheese, but besides that, not a lot else. Also, finals are coming up at the end of this week and next. It's really sneaked up on me, but I'm not exactly worried. I just dislike all the work.

Aimee's present came today :)! I'm hoping that Adam doesn't mind if I get a new purse before I leave, with new make up, etc. Why? Because the purse I have now is virtually falling apart, and the make up I have is months old and running out.

I need to start packing, I need a suitcase in general! I need to make a pile of what I want to bring and what I don't want too. Books will be hard, I love reading. The only things I'm really planning on bringing is clothes, books and a few things like a mini toothbrush and toothpaste.

Anyway, I'm out for the night folks. :) <3>

Dear Aimee,

Are you happy that you're labeled/tagged the most in my blog so far?

I bet I've given her an ego tripp. (She even asked me to dedicate a whole blog post too her! :O)

Thanks, But No Thanks.

My husband said today, "You're so cute, you think you'll love Korea so much." Or something along the lines of such. It's quite funny, really, because I've always had a strong sense of what I will love and hate. For example, if I see a book, I know instantly whether or not I'll like it. Maybe it's strange? I don't know if other people do that. But I do. I also think it's how you look on the situation as well. Going to Korea sounds wonderful to me. My husband was never too excited about going over, but he's Okay there -- I think he prefers America though.

In other news, I'm planning on seeing Aimee soon. Hopefully everything goes as planned! Her family sounds absolutely adorable, and they seriously make me laugh, so I'm excited not only to see Aimee, but to meet her family.

I looked for an old blog I used to read called "Walking the Black Dog." I think the blogger ended his site, but I found an old paragraph from the blog about depression. (The blogger had depression) I think it's quite interesting, looking at it from somebody who has dealt (and deals with) depression, as well as looking at it from a psychological perspective. Just a food for thought I suppose. :)

Welcome to the land of the blues or more accurately – something more than the blues. Depression isn’t just a case of the blues or feeling a little off; everyone has those days. Depression is feeling overwhelmingly sad and devoid of any positive emotions – to the point where normally enjoyable activities seem empty or like a chore that requires just too much energy.

Winston Churchill described his own depression as a ‘black dog’ hence the name of this website. I’m sure you’ve seen people walking their dog and the dog is in complete control, peeing on every scent it comes upon, rolling on garbage, pulling its owner wherever it wants to go, jumping on people passing by and on and on.

Depression is a lot like an unruly dog, a big menacing black dog with a ferocious countenance. It may simply sit and watch you throughout the day staring holes through you or it may climb onto your lap and smother you with its weight. When depression enters your life it sucks the joy right out of you and affect everything & everyone in your life. Those commercials about ‘who does depression affect?’ are right on the money. It affects everyone right down to your dog.

Turtle Trouble.

I got my camera today, it takes beautiful photos and videos. :) I'm quite happy!

In other news, I went outside today, and nearly stepped on a baby turtle. My mothers dogs have a tendency to kill small animals, so I know it's them that did this. It had some of its "guts" or whatever is under its shell sticking out. I felt really bad for it, so I'm caring for it at the moment. :( Poor turtle.
I took a picture of him before I made him a little habitat for him to recover in. I got him some vegetables, since I'm pretty sure he's a box turtle, and they like things like tomatoes, I think. So far he's in my garage though, in a box. He should be alright. I hope he makes a recovery too! I think I should take him into the vet :(! I posted on Facebook about him and got this as a response.

Made me kinda sad.

I also ended up taking pictures of my cats, and one of my moms dogs, Honey.

"Like.... How Their Cooking Sucks?"

I don't recommend reading expat blogs about your own country, it can get a little offensive. I've witnessed this with a Korean friend of mine who read through a couple of expat blogs I regularly read. She wasn't impressed by them at all. I decided to read expat blogs on England, and while a few of them are quite hilarious, some of them are literally so insulting. Again, back to the whole "generalization" business. I don't take it too heart, but when you first read it, it's kind of like... "uh... ok.... screw you too then."

Anyway, I ranted a little about it to Aimee. "Blah blah blah, insulting, they're always talking about how shit Brits are." etc. Aimee, being the caring and knowledgeable friend she is came out with...

"Like how their cooking sucks?"

She knows how to make me laugh. She hasn't even had British food, and ever since we got into the argument over whether or not Marmite was good (she's never even had it.) I don't take her opinions on British food seriously.

Whatever you're doing, British food, I miss you! ~*~~*~*~

The Foreigner Hater?

This bugs me to no end. The xenophobic asshole who always asks me "Why would you go to Korea?! They all eat cats and dogs, and (enter other stupid, inaccurate reason)." When I point out "hey, that's kind of a generalization, y know?" They rant on about how they didn't mean anything by it, when they did. Come on. Own up. I'm not stupid, and don't take me for a fool. I know exactly what you were saying.

It's like the people who are always "so surprised" when they find out I have generally good teeth, and I prefer coffee over tea. I mean, really? People seriously take these generalizations and stereotypes to a whole new level. It doesn't become "funny", it becomes offensive. Do I even need to mention the "Asians have small dicks / Asian women marry white men for money" argument? Are you seriously so stupid that you think this is true for a whole country/race? Sure, some people do have bad teeth, I'm sure a few Australians enjoy eating Kangaroo's, and that perhaps an Asian man out there may have a small penis. But does this go for everyone? Uh, no.

Why am I going to Korea? I don't have too. If I wasn't going, Adam would be home by the end of the year, and then maybe stationed somewhere else in America. Why did I come? Because:

A. I love my husband, I want to be with him, and he means the world too me,

B. I've always been in love with Asian culture/art/etc, since I've been young &

C. Why not? I have the opportunity to get to know a whole new world outside my own. Some people are perfectly fine in their own bubble, but not me. I love the fact that I will be learning Korean, meeting people not like me, and a culture so different than my own. No one is putting a gun to my head and telling me I must go. (And even if they did, I wouldn't need persuading.)

So enough with the whole "But Koreans are like this..." bullshit. No, you just think they are. I've known enough Koreans, and read enough expat blogs by now, to know that these stupid little "facts" about Korea are completely false. :)

On a brighter note, I ordered a new camera! A Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 :) It SHOULD be arriving by tomorrow, but we'll see about that. I also ordered one of my best online friends, (Aimee, you'll hear a lot more about her soon.) I got her and I a "best friends" necklace. Extremely corny? Yes! But it was so adorable, I couldn't resist. I also need to get my bestie here, Meredith, something. I happen to leave on her birthday. :(
Anyway, it's Friday, and I have more than enough to do this weekend. I think my mom and I are going out this weekend. I know it's hard for her, as it's getting so close to the leaving date.

Bye Jellybeans.

My Upcoming Daegu Days,

Once you get married, it seems to everybody like the next logical step would be to have babies. People start asking "when are you planning on having children?" Like, yeah, Adam and I don't have lives or anything, y know. Adam and I aren't ready for that stage. At least for for a good eight to ten years. Until we start "popping 'em out" we're going to be living in Daegu, South Korea. So I guess, this is a brutal telling of my time here. I want to share with my family, friends, expats alike and curious people (like myself) what our life is like here, and also because I'm too lazy to message/call each of you individually and recount a story I may have told fifteen times that current day. (Nothing personal, love.)

The date is set for June 20th for me to finally join my husband in South Korea, I say finally, because I haven't seen my husband since November, when he was on leave, and he's been in the army for over a year now, and it's an absolute shit hole here without him some days. This blog was going to be private, for my family and friends and all that;; but I figure that people may (or may not) want to be informed on Korea more so than they are (or are not.) <-- (P.S. Never ask me to say "aren't". I hate that word.) So a bit about me for people who don't know me? My name is Laura, I'm younger than most people who get married, I'm smart, I'm funny, I have strong opinions, I like coffee... a lot.... I was born in England but I spent quite a few years in America, I'm married to a U.S. soldier, and leaving to be with him in June; we have two babies, our cats, which will be joining us in Korea a couple of months after I arrive, I wanted to be an ESLT eventually, because I really don't feel like I'll be getting a genuine experience of Korea until I live outside a U.S. base. That's me in a nutshell. Adam and I will be in Korea for roughly two years, and maybe even longer if we like it/if we can.