Half-Way Point

I’m sitting here in the heart of Seoul, Korea.  I’ve reached my half-way there point.  Half-way to my end date of living in this country, that is.  In 3 months, my initial year commitment is up.  As I’ve noted here before, I’ve decided to extend for another 5 months for various reasons.  It’ll be good to reach that year goal though, reap a bit of financial gain from fulfilling my contract and head back to Minnesota for another whirlwind one-week visit.

In the meantime, life in Seoul hums along, with predictability like the next train on the orange line.  Summer is basically here with 80+ degrees and mild to moderate humidity already.  I’m gritting my teeth when imagining going through a full summer here.  All I can say is I may forgive myself for the overusage of water during these months ahead since I’ll probably take more than one shower a day.  

I’m shocked by the recent suicide and death of the former South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun.  It seems like suicides here are not unusual – since I began living here, I’ve heard about the suicides of people throwing themselves in front of subway trains on Valentine’s Day, famous actresses, and now the former President.  I wonder if people here read the news the same as people in the USA read about school shootings – it’s horrible and difficult, but also unfortunately common.  

Teaching brings a lot of ups and downs, but mostly it’s just stable and good.  I have students who tell me they like being in my class and others that tell the principal they’re scared of me (just one student, have no idea what that’s about yet) and the ongoing “please the Korean mother” aspect of this job.  I roll with it.

My latest exercise adventure is taking my running elsewhere.  I’m braving the outdoors instead of just the treadmill.  I’m not running on any cool trails or around lakes, but at a track.  It’s nice for my knee because it’s still very steady like a treadmill, but at least I’m off the machine for now and can feel the wind blow through my hair…

That’s all for now!  Life is basically pretty good these days.

May it be.

In no particular order, here are 25 of my wishes, thoughts, prayers, meditations and hopes on this fine May evening.

1. May the warmer months ahead be filled with happiness, few mosquito bites, and new connections.
2. May the children I teach learn something from me, even if it’s not a grammar rule.
3. May the friendships I hold dear remain close in our hearts, whether we have a stairwell or an ocean between us.
4. May those who harmfully gossip about me learn to mind their own business and stop thinking the worst of people.
5. May I have more peace within myself and my choice to live so far from my parents and best friends.
6. May I have patience with those who have cheated me.
7. May I gain a better sense of when to fight the Korean culture and when to let it be.
8. May I continue to run and take care of my body.
9. May my left knee fully heal as we approach the 18 month mark.
10. May my relationship continue to be filled with love, honesty and happiness.
11. May my bank account grow and my waistline shrink.
12. May my mother receive her Mother’s Day flowers on time and know I love her, even if I’m not there right now.
13. May the world economy get stronger so less people are living in stressful, jobless situations.
14. May justice for Fong Lee be brought forward and made right in Minnesota.
15. May my father have another healthy year as he turns 71 on the 13th.
16. May my Korean father and I meet again, and may he finally get the courage to admit my existence to his family.
17. May ESWS do all they can to find my Korean mother with the information they now have.
18. May Korean adoptees listen and repsect one another’s truth more and judge one another less.
19. May the above item extend to all of humanity.
20. May more people take global warming seriously or else our children really are not going to have it as good as we did.
21. May there be less murder of animals and humans and more peace in this world.
22. May I continue to find more vegetarian friendly restaurants in Seoul.
23. May I remind myself that there is nowhere else I am meant to be, but right here experiencing life in Korea.
24. May I feel less anxiety about my future which includes eventually finding a job in the USA again.
25. May I live more in the moment and remember to feel gratitude for what I DO have, right here, right now.