from michi to minne.
i've now spent two nights in my new apartment in the middle of uptown minneapolis (specifically the lynlake neighborhood).
i spent a blissful two weeks at home: full of time spent up north on the lake and at home watching ncis and running errands and sorting everything and dropping off a lot of unnecessary stuff at the salvation army and making tshirt rugs and planning for the future and getting biggby caramel iced coffees every. day.
monday, we started driving at 8am and instead of going through chicago, we decided to drive to the UP. it was a caravan of the monster moving truck and the tiny mini cooper. we listened to podcasts and 7 habits of highly effective people and my chill music. we drove all around lake michigan, through forests and small towns, stopping at picnic tables for snacks.
we arrived to a rainy tuesday minneapolis morning. we parked the moving truck in the alley behind the apartment and carried loads through the exterior door in my bedroom (eek!). we dismantled the heavy sleeper sofa and dad and i carried it up the back steps and stuffed it through small, old doorways. and i got settled and nested quickly.
erin came at 10pm that night after my parents left and after we had a picnic lunch from the midtown global market on the floor of my table-less apartment with my new housemate, gabriela.
erin and i talked to the wee hours then crashed and slept in because we were both on vacation in a new city. we started the morning at urban bean coffee down the street and then walked around the neighborhood looking at cute yoga studios and cafes. then we drove downtown to target and ended up at target field. she helped me pick up things for the apartment before going to the midtown global market to see its cool-ness. then we relaxed at the apartment before eating at galactic pizza. we ended the night at the lynlake brewery listening to live music with g.
this morning, we tried the coffee shop across the street - dunn bros and then rode bikes 20 miles - to lake calhoun, to the new vikings stadium downtown, across the mississippi river to campus, and back along the midtown greenway - i can get almost everywhere via bike paths, it's really nice. we went grocery shopping for veggies at cub down the street and now that they're organized in the fridge, erin left and is on her way to chicago. lucky me that i had a friend to share my bed and explore with me in my new city! i'll post pictures soon. this place is already wonderful.
hello, minneapolis.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
goodbyes are hard
today was my last day of classes with my gregarious third graders. we danced and played games and at the end, i told them it was our last class and they got sad and asked if the next teacher would play games and be as fun as i was (i was flattered, of course). we took pictures together, and they got out their phones for selfies, and i gave them my email (still waiting for the first), and they asked if they could fit in my suitcase, and i made them promise to visit me in america.
they wished me well in korean, told me to keep my health and be happy. i told them to travel and to explore. it was one giant group hug. (and when i saw them at lunch, they asked me why i was still in korea). even though we had ups and downs, they were some of the most joyful learners and creative adventurers.
it's the beginning of missing them and their cute little faces.
Monday, July 20, 2015
this is the end
there are very few days between now and when i'll take the bus to the airport to fly home. there is only one more monday after today, playing with the kids and crossing language barriers. there are very few days left of kimchi, hot soups in the summer, humidity that makes my hair absolutely wild, being called a foreigner, and trips on the train to seoul. this is the end. the end of my time living in korea. the end of my time climbing these lush mountains and smelling the salty seas. the end of traipsing through rice paddies that are wonderfully green. the end of having misunderstandings and miscommunications every day. the end of being the only blondish brown in school. the end of this little apartment with my treadmill and pink bathroom and no counter space. the end of teaching english to my little nuggets. the end of quite an adventure.
there are many things i'll miss. many i won't. but this place has been so good to me. so good for me. this place has stretched and smoothed and roughed up and changed me. i've gotten stronger and bolder and wilder. i've grown into myself, i think. i've been forced to be alone, a lot. i've been forced to be uncomfortable, to feel unsteady, to stay connected, to turn to nature. i've climbed a lot of things, seen far and wide, tasted everything under the moon (and some i will never ever taste again). i've tried silkworm larva and tentacles and sea creatures. i've enjoyed radish and kimchi and seaweed soups.
but i'm ready for a change, and i've been ready for a few months now. but these months of readiness have been good, too. they've helped me detach and part ways with things. i'm not being ripped from this place, i'm slowly digging out each root carefully and painstakingly. i started saying goodbye a long time again. probably around the end of february, when the last semester was starting and everything was changing. when i started trying frisbee, and running races, and making more effort to go places. i'm mostly packed now, a lot of my things are in my suitcase. my walls that were once full of quotes and pictures and tapestries are now bare (as bare as korean wallpaper can be). there isn't much left to fit into the small spaces that remain.
the next month: soon, i'll move home, just to move away again. this time to minnesota to start school again. for a while, i was worried about repatriation and reading every article i could get my hands on. i was worried about coming back changed and finding things hadn't (or had) changed as well. i was worried about not being able to relate, and people not trying to relate to me (or not being able to). i was worried that i'd be overwhelmed by it all. and i was, when i went home in june. i was eavesdropping on everyone, and i couldn't choose a tomato soup from the many, many options in meijer. i was overwhelmed by people understanding me, but not understanding my experiences. not knowing what i'd seen, or what i'd eaten. so i'm throwing myself into a new thing: public health school. in a new city, in a new state. i think it'll be good for me to not stop moving, because if i stop or slow down too much, i think i'll worry, and stress, and overthink things. the transition wouldn't be smooth.
moving to: the bike paths of mpls, the lakes around my apartment, the brewery down the street, the outdoor concerts, the fresh air, the hours of studying, finding nooks and crannies that feel comfortable, exploring something unknown again, to ride public transportation and commute on green paths, see old friends and make new. and welcome people into my new place.
there are many things i'll miss. many i won't. but this place has been so good to me. so good for me. this place has stretched and smoothed and roughed up and changed me. i've gotten stronger and bolder and wilder. i've grown into myself, i think. i've been forced to be alone, a lot. i've been forced to be uncomfortable, to feel unsteady, to stay connected, to turn to nature. i've climbed a lot of things, seen far and wide, tasted everything under the moon (and some i will never ever taste again). i've tried silkworm larva and tentacles and sea creatures. i've enjoyed radish and kimchi and seaweed soups.
but i'm ready for a change, and i've been ready for a few months now. but these months of readiness have been good, too. they've helped me detach and part ways with things. i'm not being ripped from this place, i'm slowly digging out each root carefully and painstakingly. i started saying goodbye a long time again. probably around the end of february, when the last semester was starting and everything was changing. when i started trying frisbee, and running races, and making more effort to go places. i'm mostly packed now, a lot of my things are in my suitcase. my walls that were once full of quotes and pictures and tapestries are now bare (as bare as korean wallpaper can be). there isn't much left to fit into the small spaces that remain.
the next month: soon, i'll move home, just to move away again. this time to minnesota to start school again. for a while, i was worried about repatriation and reading every article i could get my hands on. i was worried about coming back changed and finding things hadn't (or had) changed as well. i was worried about not being able to relate, and people not trying to relate to me (or not being able to). i was worried that i'd be overwhelmed by it all. and i was, when i went home in june. i was eavesdropping on everyone, and i couldn't choose a tomato soup from the many, many options in meijer. i was overwhelmed by people understanding me, but not understanding my experiences. not knowing what i'd seen, or what i'd eaten. so i'm throwing myself into a new thing: public health school. in a new city, in a new state. i think it'll be good for me to not stop moving, because if i stop or slow down too much, i think i'll worry, and stress, and overthink things. the transition wouldn't be smooth.
moving to: the bike paths of mpls, the lakes around my apartment, the brewery down the street, the outdoor concerts, the fresh air, the hours of studying, finding nooks and crannies that feel comfortable, exploring something unknown again, to ride public transportation and commute on green paths, see old friends and make new. and welcome people into my new place.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
michigan
from june 12 to 23 i was fortunate to make a return stateside for the first time in a year and a half. the occasion for this brief jaunt to the homeland was for the union of my beloved erika and bob. i was actually a little nervous during the days preceding the trip home: there was a mers outbreak in korea, i thought i might miss my early flight, i was going to be in an english speaking country, i was going to be surrounded by people i loved and hadn't seen in far too long.
i slept at jodi's the night before my flight and we went to see jurassic world. i woke up early and caught the bullet train to the airport and without issue, made it to my flight on time. the flight was 12 hours too long, squished between the window and a muscular army guy. i didn't sleep much and between the brief sleepy stints i watched john oliver, and unbroken, and downton abbey, and tried to rest as much as possible. i had a short layover in detroit before catching my connection to chicago. the short flight was made even sweeter by the lovely merna who sat next to me.
i landed in chicago midway to two great friends: diana and morgan driving in circles waiting for me with a bright sign and a too-big picture of my face. i was so excited i couldn't cry. they drove me to downtown and took me to a fantastic pizza place with pitchers of oberon, to coffee shops we stumbled into for energy, to their favorite green parks. i saw their apartments and snippets of their lives there. we drank craft beers and danced to music and ate popcorn. we were joined by a few others and MON and went to a bar for some social time and ridiculous dancing to acoustic versions of shut up and dance.
the next morning, i woke up (too) early to catch my bus to grand rapids. diana dropped me off and shortly afterwards i figured out i had gotten the ticket for the wrong day and i was stuck in downtown without a phone and without any idea of where diana lived. i managed to turn on my korean phone and diana returned to rescue me. (so early, bless her soul). because the next train and bus didn't leave until the evening and i was in a rush to get to gr for the bachelorette party, my awesome friends arranged to meet in the middle. darling diana drove me to sawyer, mi where darling morgan picked me up off the curb. God bless gooooood good friends. seriously. i could cry right now thinking about how great they are.
we made it to brunch only a few minutes late and were greeted at marie catrib's by the whole bach crew. it was so good to see everyone, to hug the bride, to eat a blt, and to laugh together. then i got biggby, which was another glorious reunion. and finally, we drove up north to the lake house to get ready for the evening's festivities. we wore black and had flower crowns and the bride looked dazzling in her white daisies. dad acted as chauffeur and drove us to the new brewery in suttons bay and on into dinner in traverse city. after dinner, we wandered from bar to bar, collecting friends and strangers. we saw katy and ate hot dogs in the rain before heading back home.
sunday was slow and peaceful and sweet. we had breakfast at the 45th parallel and spent some time lakeside in the shallows. we saw big fish and tried out the paddle board and spent a sunny afternoon doing lake things i loved. dad drove me home that evening to see mom (and even let me stop at a rest area).
monday, i got shots at the doctor, and saw aunt carolyn, and ate mediterranean, and made a trip to eddie bauer, met aunt char, and dined on fresh veggies. tuesday was beauty day and ethiopian. and i got my eyebrows done, my hair cut and colored, and rode my bike over to biggby to meet erin (because we both didn't have cars). wednesday, we ran errands, and went to world market, and met the walko's for dinner at sansu. thursday, we celebrated grandpa's birthday and i drove to holland to see dr. barney and mrs. barney and anne before venturing to grand rapids and erika to help with wedding things. friday, i drove into the city and met briggitta before getting nails done with the girls and going to the rehearsal dinner. emily and i drove the astro van around construction and through holland and bonded over being late and long trains. saturday was WEDDING day and we woke early to drive to camp geneva to get our hair done leisurely and to soak in the day. the bride looked radiant and was shining and i couldn't help but cry over how beautiful she was and how happy bob looked. it was truly a day of celebration. sunday, we brunched with cousins and i met little lucia in detroit and i began packing again. and monday, the last day in michi, mom drove me to detroit where i lunched with aunt char before slowly getting to the airport for my long flight.
beautiful moments:
thank God for special days with my home team and tribe, for days spent on sunny lakes and in cool water, for days exploring this beautiful green earth, for time invested, for time well spent, for catching up, for long hugs and big smiles, for airport greetings and airport send offs, for road trips and covering ground, for seeing all of michigan, for great lakes, for biggby coffee, for biking, for cozy beds and parents houses, for yards and grass, for green things growing, for rainy days too, for trips home, for years passing, for tears of joy, for standing by someone in their marriage, for celebrating life, for big cities and woods and mountains and lakes, for new adventures and feeling comfortable, for experiences.
but most importantly, for reunions that bring tears and shouts and laughter, feelings that can't be put into words, and hugs that last forever.
i slept at jodi's the night before my flight and we went to see jurassic world. i woke up early and caught the bullet train to the airport and without issue, made it to my flight on time. the flight was 12 hours too long, squished between the window and a muscular army guy. i didn't sleep much and between the brief sleepy stints i watched john oliver, and unbroken, and downton abbey, and tried to rest as much as possible. i had a short layover in detroit before catching my connection to chicago. the short flight was made even sweeter by the lovely merna who sat next to me.
i landed in chicago midway to two great friends: diana and morgan driving in circles waiting for me with a bright sign and a too-big picture of my face. i was so excited i couldn't cry. they drove me to downtown and took me to a fantastic pizza place with pitchers of oberon, to coffee shops we stumbled into for energy, to their favorite green parks. i saw their apartments and snippets of their lives there. we drank craft beers and danced to music and ate popcorn. we were joined by a few others and MON and went to a bar for some social time and ridiculous dancing to acoustic versions of shut up and dance.
the next morning, i woke up (too) early to catch my bus to grand rapids. diana dropped me off and shortly afterwards i figured out i had gotten the ticket for the wrong day and i was stuck in downtown without a phone and without any idea of where diana lived. i managed to turn on my korean phone and diana returned to rescue me. (so early, bless her soul). because the next train and bus didn't leave until the evening and i was in a rush to get to gr for the bachelorette party, my awesome friends arranged to meet in the middle. darling diana drove me to sawyer, mi where darling morgan picked me up off the curb. God bless gooooood good friends. seriously. i could cry right now thinking about how great they are.
we made it to brunch only a few minutes late and were greeted at marie catrib's by the whole bach crew. it was so good to see everyone, to hug the bride, to eat a blt, and to laugh together. then i got biggby, which was another glorious reunion. and finally, we drove up north to the lake house to get ready for the evening's festivities. we wore black and had flower crowns and the bride looked dazzling in her white daisies. dad acted as chauffeur and drove us to the new brewery in suttons bay and on into dinner in traverse city. after dinner, we wandered from bar to bar, collecting friends and strangers. we saw katy and ate hot dogs in the rain before heading back home.
sunday was slow and peaceful and sweet. we had breakfast at the 45th parallel and spent some time lakeside in the shallows. we saw big fish and tried out the paddle board and spent a sunny afternoon doing lake things i loved. dad drove me home that evening to see mom (and even let me stop at a rest area).
monday, i got shots at the doctor, and saw aunt carolyn, and ate mediterranean, and made a trip to eddie bauer, met aunt char, and dined on fresh veggies. tuesday was beauty day and ethiopian. and i got my eyebrows done, my hair cut and colored, and rode my bike over to biggby to meet erin (because we both didn't have cars). wednesday, we ran errands, and went to world market, and met the walko's for dinner at sansu. thursday, we celebrated grandpa's birthday and i drove to holland to see dr. barney and mrs. barney and anne before venturing to grand rapids and erika to help with wedding things. friday, i drove into the city and met briggitta before getting nails done with the girls and going to the rehearsal dinner. emily and i drove the astro van around construction and through holland and bonded over being late and long trains. saturday was WEDDING day and we woke early to drive to camp geneva to get our hair done leisurely and to soak in the day. the bride looked radiant and was shining and i couldn't help but cry over how beautiful she was and how happy bob looked. it was truly a day of celebration. sunday, we brunched with cousins and i met little lucia in detroit and i began packing again. and monday, the last day in michi, mom drove me to detroit where i lunched with aunt char before slowly getting to the airport for my long flight.
beautiful moments:
thank God for special days with my home team and tribe, for days spent on sunny lakes and in cool water, for days exploring this beautiful green earth, for time invested, for time well spent, for catching up, for long hugs and big smiles, for airport greetings and airport send offs, for road trips and covering ground, for seeing all of michigan, for great lakes, for biggby coffee, for biking, for cozy beds and parents houses, for yards and grass, for green things growing, for rainy days too, for trips home, for years passing, for tears of joy, for standing by someone in their marriage, for celebrating life, for big cities and woods and mountains and lakes, for new adventures and feeling comfortable, for experiences.
but most importantly, for reunions that bring tears and shouts and laughter, feelings that can't be put into words, and hugs that last forever.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
triangles
living as a triangle. triangles are my favorite shape. and recently, i read an article in the wall street journal about the struggle with the "dark side of coming home" and "repatriation blues." right now: my thoughts of home are golden and fuzzy. everything is full of sun beams and frolics through my old haunts. but in the back of my mind, i'm worried about coming home. expecting everything to be the same, and having everything be different: especially myself.
in this article, i was first introduced to naomi hattaway who wrote a blog called "i am a triangle" and has since made a facebook group of which i am a small, small part (really, a fly on the wall: reading stories of other expats (read: immigrants) roving the world in search of their home again).
but i found her thoughts so fascinating: she compares us to evolving shapes. we begin as circles in our circle country with other circle beings, constantly doing circle things. something inspires us to move and change and we fly to a square country with other square beings, constantly doing square things. and we being to adjust. our rounded edges become sharper. we adjust. we start speaking the language, and doing what they do. we adjust. we assimilate (maybe not in appearance), but in actions and way of doing things. to the point where we become sharper and eventually a triangle. a mix of the two. we'll never be a square, because we were once a circle. but never again will we be a circle, with rounded edges and rounded ways. forever, we will be this triangle that doesn't quite fit in either space or country.
and i'm not the only one, of course. there are many of us: these triangles. we flit about from country to space to place. gleaning good things and bad from everywhere we land. enter, one of my favorite words: variegated. i love this word. it means "exhibiting different colors, especially as irregular patches or streaks" or "marked by variety." i like how it sounds, and how it's spelled, and especially what it means. it means something beautiful, composed of many different (very different) parts. making one unique, magnificent, remarkable whole. now, i am variegated. now, i am triangular. i am shapes and words i never thought i would use to describe myself. but i'm excited to start. and to explore this adventure of "coming home" and defining home for myself. because what is home? is it the certain plot of land? or the people you call your tribe? or the place where you blend in? or the place you feel uncomfortable?
home: the place where hugs are sweeter and longer and coffee flows freely and smoothly and it's always autumn on the lake with bonfires burning brightly. here: laughter and joy reign.
in this article, i was first introduced to naomi hattaway who wrote a blog called "i am a triangle" and has since made a facebook group of which i am a small, small part (really, a fly on the wall: reading stories of other expats (read: immigrants) roving the world in search of their home again).
but i found her thoughts so fascinating: she compares us to evolving shapes. we begin as circles in our circle country with other circle beings, constantly doing circle things. something inspires us to move and change and we fly to a square country with other square beings, constantly doing square things. and we being to adjust. our rounded edges become sharper. we adjust. we start speaking the language, and doing what they do. we adjust. we assimilate (maybe not in appearance), but in actions and way of doing things. to the point where we become sharper and eventually a triangle. a mix of the two. we'll never be a square, because we were once a circle. but never again will we be a circle, with rounded edges and rounded ways. forever, we will be this triangle that doesn't quite fit in either space or country.
and i'm not the only one, of course. there are many of us: these triangles. we flit about from country to space to place. gleaning good things and bad from everywhere we land. enter, one of my favorite words: variegated. i love this word. it means "exhibiting different colors, especially as irregular patches or streaks" or "marked by variety." i like how it sounds, and how it's spelled, and especially what it means. it means something beautiful, composed of many different (very different) parts. making one unique, magnificent, remarkable whole. now, i am variegated. now, i am triangular. i am shapes and words i never thought i would use to describe myself. but i'm excited to start. and to explore this adventure of "coming home" and defining home for myself. because what is home? is it the certain plot of land? or the people you call your tribe? or the place where you blend in? or the place you feel uncomfortable?
home: the place where hugs are sweeter and longer and coffee flows freely and smoothly and it's always autumn on the lake with bonfires burning brightly. here: laughter and joy reign.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
seven days without milk
a week ago, i skyped my mother and she had two very interesting insights (out of many): brew coffee at night and put it in the fridge and it magically becomes iced coffee in the morning, and to refrain from drinking milk every day (lattes, i tell ya). there were many reasons i needed to experiment with this. lately, i haven't felt 100%. merely 65% or even, dare i say, lower. i haven't felt great, i've been moody, temperamental, not as joyful. and right now, i'm sick.
i also decided to give up bagels each morning, because they weren't as healthy as i was imagining they were.
and sunday, i watched the documentary "fed up" and decided to steer away from soda and sugar (as much as i can).
and so begins an experiment: without milk, bagels, soda, and sugar. guiding in the direction of whole fruits and veggies, and things i can blend or mix (because i'm still not touching my stove top).
today: i felt more energetic, joyful, happy even. i sang, i danced around, the angry adjummas couldn't bring me down. it was an impossibly perfect and beautiful and sunshiney tuesday. i don't completely chalk it up to this lack of milk in my life (man oh man do i miss it and the lattes that go along with it). but i think it affects my body negatively in overconsumption and i must learn, again, to consume it in moderation.
while i trek through this experiment, i'm continuing to build mileage for the 15k coming up in may and for ultimate frisbee each weekend. i'm toying with the idea of running the twin cities marathon in october (anyone with me?) and mentally checking routes between potential apartments and school.
in this battle with and against my mind and body, i fight for consistency, muscles, confidence, and assuredness.
i also decided to give up bagels each morning, because they weren't as healthy as i was imagining they were.
and sunday, i watched the documentary "fed up" and decided to steer away from soda and sugar (as much as i can).
and so begins an experiment: without milk, bagels, soda, and sugar. guiding in the direction of whole fruits and veggies, and things i can blend or mix (because i'm still not touching my stove top).
today: i felt more energetic, joyful, happy even. i sang, i danced around, the angry adjummas couldn't bring me down. it was an impossibly perfect and beautiful and sunshiney tuesday. i don't completely chalk it up to this lack of milk in my life (man oh man do i miss it and the lattes that go along with it). but i think it affects my body negatively in overconsumption and i must learn, again, to consume it in moderation.
while i trek through this experiment, i'm continuing to build mileage for the 15k coming up in may and for ultimate frisbee each weekend. i'm toying with the idea of running the twin cities marathon in october (anyone with me?) and mentally checking routes between potential apartments and school.
in this battle with and against my mind and body, i fight for consistency, muscles, confidence, and assuredness.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
tired
this weekend was more exhausting than most. i played three out of four frisbee games in cheonan, then trekked up to seoul for the hillsong united concert. it was nonstop movement, to the point of falling asleep on the bus, but i will cherish it.
saturday, we had our first games of the weekend, we lost both (that's four now). that night we had a hug party with all the other teams at our team sponsor, cantina. lots of hugs and team loving. sunday, we had a rainy game at 12 and we beat the gwangju uprising! i had to leave before the last game against seoul train, but from the messages i got: we won in universe point ! this is the equivalent of sudden death. go cheonan cheonwons!
we got the 2:10 bus to the express bus terminal, hung out in a coffee shop, and took the subway to olympic park for the concert. the night of worship began and as a community from many nations, we recited the apostles creed in korean and english and sang as one. it was an incredible experience. people were dancing, people were singing, people were rejoicing together.
this is my favorite hillsong united song:
so this weekend was full, but fulfilling. filled with all good things. things with teammates, things with strangers, always surrounded. something i needed. to be surrounded by people hugging and dancing, joyful and exuberant. as i start shipping things home, looking for a one-way ticket to america, planning suitcase travels, preparing. it's important to be present with those around me, too. to be involved, to be steady in this time of upheaval. to not rush through these last months in this special country with these dear friends. as much as i'm looking forward to being back home, or at least close to home, and close to my tribe and home team, i'm beginning to realize i will have to say goodbye to things here. goodbye to the mountains, the busy-ness, the hoards of kimchi, the subway system, slowly i will have to start cutting ties and weaning myself from korea. transition is a weird thing. a thing that is both bitter and sweet. so for now: i will cherish the experiences i have each weekend, with my team and my friends here. i will look for the good in everything, the bits that make it special. i will slowly start developing a future in grad school in minnesota. i will eventually book tickets. i will eventually ship and pack everything. eventually i will be gone again. to somewhere new. your grace abounds in deepest waters, lord.
spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.
saturday, we had our first games of the weekend, we lost both (that's four now). that night we had a hug party with all the other teams at our team sponsor, cantina. lots of hugs and team loving. sunday, we had a rainy game at 12 and we beat the gwangju uprising! i had to leave before the last game against seoul train, but from the messages i got: we won in universe point ! this is the equivalent of sudden death. go cheonan cheonwons!
we got the 2:10 bus to the express bus terminal, hung out in a coffee shop, and took the subway to olympic park for the concert. the night of worship began and as a community from many nations, we recited the apostles creed in korean and english and sang as one. it was an incredible experience. people were dancing, people were singing, people were rejoicing together.
this is my favorite hillsong united song:
so this weekend was full, but fulfilling. filled with all good things. things with teammates, things with strangers, always surrounded. something i needed. to be surrounded by people hugging and dancing, joyful and exuberant. as i start shipping things home, looking for a one-way ticket to america, planning suitcase travels, preparing. it's important to be present with those around me, too. to be involved, to be steady in this time of upheaval. to not rush through these last months in this special country with these dear friends. as much as i'm looking forward to being back home, or at least close to home, and close to my tribe and home team, i'm beginning to realize i will have to say goodbye to things here. goodbye to the mountains, the busy-ness, the hoards of kimchi, the subway system, slowly i will have to start cutting ties and weaning myself from korea. transition is a weird thing. a thing that is both bitter and sweet. so for now: i will cherish the experiences i have each weekend, with my team and my friends here. i will look for the good in everything, the bits that make it special. i will slowly start developing a future in grad school in minnesota. i will eventually book tickets. i will eventually ship and pack everything. eventually i will be gone again. to somewhere new. your grace abounds in deepest waters, lord.
spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.
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