Laura, World. World, Laura. Now Shake Hands.

I really wanted to blog about two things, but thought I could just incorporate them both together instead of seperately. Travel & Moving.

Obviously, I'm moving to the 3rd largest city in S. Korea, which is more than appeasing for me. I'm much more city orientated (I really hate the term 'country/city girl') than some other people, so Korea is exciting. I live in a place where, if this place was seriously considered a major city, it would be extremely pathetic. It's boring, it's bland and lacking color, and I hate it here. I'm a person who adores change, adores the sound of cars, people, etc.. So leaving here is a dream come true!

As of late, however, on top of Adam and I's possible plan to move to my home country, the United Kingdom, I've also weighed some other possibilities. New Zealand is one I'm particularly fond of. Wellington sounds like a fun city, and France has come up a couple of times in Adam and I's conversations, but he really enjoys the idea of New Zealand, over France. Another country that I have recently become interested in? Sweden. Why Sweden? The fact is, I didn't even think about Sweden until I was perusing Facebook and happened to stumble on somebodies profile with a Swedish name that really caught my attention. I stalked their wall to see if they spoke English, and they didn't, so using Google's Handy Dandy Translator I was able to figure the language out. (Yay, Facebook stalking) So, I've had a fun hour looking around the internet, figuring out the cost of living in Sweden, as well as the culture. The only issue I wonder about is if Adam would take the time out to learn a language.

Adam and I are planning to stay in Korea for a year and a half, and if we really like it, maybe more if possible; but after Korea, (unless we decide we really love it and stay forever, which I doubt because I don't know if Adam would like that) what then? Adam doesn't want to stay in the US, and neither do I... And I love the UK, and I defnately want to be there, but I also want to travel and live in many other countries. Maybe in Africa for awhile to help people there? It's a lot to think about, and a big decision, so I'm keeping all my options open until the time comes to leave Korea.

"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!

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.

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.