I sat at my desk and suddenly I could feel the atmosphere change within  the classroom and my students. They starts whispering excitedly to each other. It had started to snow outside again. Distracted by the snow they looked towards the wall of windows smiling as the snow flurried around outside. Dancing and twirling as it made its way to the ground.

It's one of those sweet moments to observe. How such a simple and natural thing could bring so much joy to them, to me, to all of us. We stopped class and we all made our way to the windows. Staring out at the snow. Opening the windows and trying to capture snowflakes in our palms. The children asking me over and over "Teacher, isn't it beautiful?" Me smiling, and admitting that even with my dislike of snow I can't help but bask in the beauty of it with them. So we spent the last few minutes of class staring at the snow together. As I glanced at the classroom doors I saw other teachers and students were also reveling in the snow. I smiled as I watched everyone laughing and grinning over the falling snowflakes. Feeling happy that I was here to enjoy it with them.

It truly was a sweet moment to behold.

Be blessed,
~Lola O.~

Hello everyone!!! I've finished teaching for the day, and have some free time to finally update my blog. It's only Tuesday, but the kids are a little crazy this week. Maybe it is the constantly changing weather, or just puberty that is making them so hyper. Either way, they are still very cute. Now, on to my topic of the day.

Last Saturday, two friends and I decided to experience the Jjimjilbang, or as I like to say the "Let's Get Naked" place:)! We went to this small one under my friend's apartment building in Sindorim, and it definitely is an "experience." Originally, the plan was to just go there and check it out, but stay in the area where you don't have to get naked. Well, there really isn't much to do in that area, aside from going back and forth between the hot rooms, the human oven, or as my friend calles it "The Tomb," or my favorite room, the cold room. You can also eat, and sleep at this place, but after an hour of going in and out of the diferent rooms we decided that since we paid the money to go here, we should have the full experience. Okay, they decided that. I wasn't really ready to get naked with strangers, but I'm the kind of person that is going to/willing to play along if everyone else is. So I jumped on the "Lets Get Naked" bandwagon, and there was no going back. The whole reason I am here, is to do things I've never done before, even if I feel scared, embarrased, or unsure of whether I can do it. We grow through those moments when we say screw the fear or worry and just let ourselves grow. I've found that all those thoughts end up being worse than the actual experience.

So back to my story, we were in the ladies changing area, and I tried to keep my eyes down, because I just didn't want to see other naked women...rofl. So, my friends and I are trying to get up the courage to just take our clothes off, after lots of awkward moments and laughter, we decide that we can keep our shirts on until we get into the sauna area, and then just take them off before we get in the water. Umm...no...we walk into the sauna area and this naked woman is like no, you have to take your shirt off in the changing room, then come back in, take a shower, and then go into the pools. All said in a mix of hand gestures and Korean. So we turn back around, and by now I'm like lets just do this, and so we go back to our lockers, take our shirts off, and with our towels barely covering anything in the front, and definitely nothing in the back, we walk through the changing room, into the sauna room, and get the "full" experience of a Jjimjilbang.

It wasn't that bad getting naked, after just doing it. Sure, I got plenty of stares from Korean women, but I just ignored them and enjoyed my time there with my friends. I think it will be a long while before I do that again, but at least I now have this experience to remember. For me, I think everytime I do something that scares me I will learn to be less fearful, and be able to live my life freely. I didn't come to Korea to keep living the same life I had in Arizona. I came here to experience new things and I did. Sure it was awkward and weird at first, but it was also liberating to stop thinking about doing something and just doing it. My favorite part was definitely the various temperature rooms. If I go again, I would like to go to a bigger one that has more things to do.

Be Blessed,
~Lola O.~

A few days ago I was reading a blog, and they were talking about Robert's Frost's "The Road Not Taken". It got me thinking about the whole "road less traveled" concept, and it just really resonated with me, especially how I feel at this point in my life. I turned down a great job opportunity because I want to go to Seoul. I don't want to take the easy way out when I know it will leave me unsatisfied and disappointed in myself.

So then today I was driving back from Costco with my mom and we were listening to this song;

I've heard this song before, and it took me a while to find it on the internet, but it describes exactly how I feel right now about myself and where my life is going. I've never wanted to do things the way everyone else does. I've always wanted to follow my own path, and figure things out my way. I want to be uncommon.

Anyone that knows me might say I have a lot of clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry....the list goes on. I tend to think they exaggerate. I mean I really don't have that much stuff, it is just that my closet should be bigger (think Clueless). If I had a bigger closet then there would be no problems.

Ever since I decided to go to Korea I knew that packing would be the hardest and crappiest part of the whole process. Trying to fit my stuff i.e. my life into 2 suitcases, a carry-on, and a "purse" (more like another carry-on) for a whole year is hard. It is really, really, really (feel me yet..lol) hard to do.

I already knew I would not be able to do 50lbs...that is just asking too much of me but I am really trying to stick to 70lbs luggages and pay whatever excess baggage fees Asiana charges me. Some might say do you really need to bring all this stuff? Yeah, I do..it is all about comfort and my stuff makes me comfortable.

Believe me I have let go of quite a bit of stuff already...there are two storage containers in my closet full of things I am not bringing with me. SO it is not like I am not trying to bring less, but it is more like I don't think I can bring anything less that what I have decided are the essentials.

Plus, I am not shaped like a Korean woman so it would be hard to find clothes/shoes there. That is why I don't plan on buying any clothes there...only jewelry. I think I am starting to sound like that woman from Confessions A Shopaholic but I don't think I am that bad when it comes to shopping.

A year is a long time, and who knows when I am going to be coming back to the states. My goal is to not go over 70lbs so we will see how that goes. Hopefully the people at the airport have some sympathy for me and waive the fee. A girl can hope.

Yes, I just spend a whole blog entry to justify my decision. Wish me luck ^___^ !!!!

Here is one of my favorite songs by Clazziquai.


Best,
~Lola O.~

I am really learning that you just have to go with the flow and hope for the best. I was anxiously waiting to get my passport back from the Korean Consulate in LA and I had hoped it would come on Tuesday, so when it didn't show I was like okay they must not have mailed it yet. I paid $17.50 to overnight it so I was like it better get here on Wednesday at the latest.

Just as I decided to go about my day, the doorbell rings and my cousins are like the mailman is here for you. Previously, I had told them I was waiting for a super important package. So when it came they were as excited as me until they saw it was just my passport and said that was the super important package. If only they knew what getting my passport/visa meant...lol

Everyone was smiling and happy because I was so happy about it. I think the happier I am the harder it is for my mom. Just as it is becoming more real to me that I am going to Seoul, it is becoming more real to her that I am leaving. I am going to try and tone down my excitement because I know this is hard on her but she wants me to be happy.

Now everything feels real. That little visa stamp in my passport is my passage to Korea and I am very happy and excited for it. I just bought my plan tickets for $516 one-way which is not a bad deal since a few weeks ago they were around $700:)...I hope SMOE reimburses A.S.A.P once I get there.

With about 5 weeks left before I leave on August 21, 2009 time seems to be moving really fast now whereas last week I thought it was going so slow. I guess that is because I don't have to wait anymore. Everything is flowing nicely so now all I need to do is take care of things here, pack, and board that plane to Seoul.

Even with all the excitement there is still fear. I think it is fine to be scared, probably even smart because it keeps me from flying to high on Cloud 9 and makes me think about this clearly. This is a big step for me and I know it won't be easy, it won't always be fun, and I might end up regretting it. However, it will be exciting, it will lead to new discoveries of life, this world, and myself, and I will most likely end up loving it.

No matter what it is something I want to do and something I would regret not doing so I am going to move forward with an open-mind/heart and take things as they come.

So Korea get ready because I am coming soon...

Here is a mv from my favorite/the best member of BigBang. I love this song, the dancing, and the wonderful TaeYang. Enjoy!!!



Best,
~Lola O.~

Wow, now that things are coming together, it seems like time is against me. I just mailed my visa application to the Korean Consulate in Los Angeles so I am crossing my fingers that I get it back by Wednesday so I can book my ticket to Seoul and my ticket to visit my sister in Florida for a week in August. It looks like August 21st is K-Day:) so right now my top worries is getting my Residency Certificate in the mail and trying to pack my life up in two overweight suitcases, one carry on, and a backpack/purse.

If you know me I have a lot of clothes, shoes, purses, etc and I like them all so parting will be filled with sorrow. Alrighty, let me leave you with one of my all time favorite Korean songs by the wonderful Masta Wu! Every time I listen to this song it makes me feel like smiling.