Merry Christmas!

If you told me this time last year that my next Christmas would be spent organizing 11 5 year olds, then at a local favorite Korean resaurant, then watching a charlie brown christmas bymyself and NOT at church, then my Uncles', I would have been been sceptical. But that seems to be the case.
Christmas here isn't a big deal. I mean, the cakes are. They're obsessed with cakes. But it doens't feel like christmas, and it shouldn't. Theres no snow, its not even that cold. THeres really no presents, not the way I used to buy them. I'm in my lonely flat and not with my friends and family. It easily the most depressing thing.
I guess it just makes me appreciate traditions and my family that much more.

Merry Christmas to all!!
Happy New Year.

See you in January! (January 4th to be exact :) )

I'm slightly excited for my first warm christmas! :)

<3 you all
Patience and Faith,
ErinJ

Seodaemun Prison

This is back logged about a week.

A few weekends ago Angela and I went on a merry adventure to the seodaemun prison museum in North Seoul. It was a bitterly cold day to be lurking a spooky, fairly deserted old prison. This prison was opened by the Japanese to throw the independence fighters in. you walk though a series of old torture rooms and all sorts of things, some with mannequins and some without. Each one was gorier and more creepy than the last. By the last room Angela nad I were clutching eachother with our eyes closed. The next building was the "jail experience" building. in one room you looked into little boxes to see gory scenes (we declined). you then could walk into a room which set of people who start screaming at oyu in Korean. you could even sit on a box that would start an execution scene, where the box dropped down next to a noose. Did I throw my bag on it to start it, and run away? You bet I did. this place was Creeeepy. Like, outlandishly. You could step behind a wall, and thats where exectuions took place. You weren't allowed to take pictures, but you were allowed to feel creeped out.
The Tunnel which the japanese dragged the dead out of.

Finally we saw the underground prison cells, where one of the most famous prisoners, a student, was held. It was depressing.
This isn't on a major tourist circut, but if you really want to get a feel for how terrible the Japanese were to the Koreans, and really understand what was going on here that everybody seems to forget about, this is the place to do it. I'm glad a saw it, and haven't been that disturbed in quite some time.

Something to look forward to: Great Subway Adventures, everyday life, and teaching 5 years olds how to sing and dance in time. Its nothin' but a good time.

Patience and faith,
ErinJ

Don't lock me up!

Some observations!

Yesterday was the perfect type of cold. My fellow New Englanders (Who I assume make up over 98% of the total reader population) can attest. It was one of those beautiful clear sky type of days where you bundle up in your cute hat, warmest mittens, and chunky scarf before you go out into the cold. SOmething about it is refreshing. Yeah, its cold, but its a reassurring, yes, Its winter type of cold. Its a type of cold before it gets gray, where you're happy to be alive, before you get jaded against it. Maybe its because I grew up in an area where we knew cold was coming that theres a familiarity in it, and I guess in such a far off land, you take any thing familiar you can get.

Also: Kids are growing on me. (This goes for prek, not necessarily for my elementary) Thats not to say, that I love kids. I've never really liked kids, although I've always worked with them. BUt my kids love me all the time. When I'm sick, and look desheveled, they love me. When I go out of my way to look adorable, they say "Pretty teacher" but still love me. When I holler at them for really messing up, they're upset for a hot second, then move on with their day and love me 10 minutes later. Its kind of nice, even though they're five, that theres always somebody excited to see me. Its humbling and endearing. I'm okay with it.

Those are just a few things that I've been thinking about.
Big shout out to Oma, for her package! Her gifts keep my mother's company underneath mini tree! Thanks for the package! Getting boxes really brighten my day, especially since I'm bumming hard about not being home for the holidays (Its pathetic, another post for another day!)

Look forward to a post about a prison museum I visted this weekend!
3 weeks till christmas, THankfully!

Patience and Faith,
ErinJ

Thanksgiving in Kimchiland

I'm not going to lie, this time of the year is my absoulte favorite. Sometime between when it starts getting chilly around October, and till right after the new year is clutch (after that is rubbish).
Something about knowing that everybodys going to be curled up on their couch, watching the Macy's day parade, eating stuffing and laughing with their families makes teaching grammar tomorrow kind of bum me out.
I don't usually get homesick, but I guess if you spend 21 years of your life doing something, and if a holiday is so important in your culture, spending the 22nd year eating Kraft and watching Korean cable is just not appealing.
I'm okay with it. I knew I'd miss out on things, and its not like we're not doing anything (But dinner is postponed until Saturday since we have to work till 8 tomorrow night.) I'll be with some of my friends here, and It'll work out, but still. Holidays are Holidays and if the country your in doesn't even recognize it, its downer.

BUT, I do have SO SO SO much to be Thankful for!!!
Not everybody gets the AMAZING opportunites I have been so BLESSED To have:

Since Thankgiving, I got close with the most amazing roomates; who helped me though senior year, so I am thankful for Digs, Kirface, Hollyyyy, and Johosophat!

Where would I be without '09? WHo knows?

I graduated a great univeristy with a respectable GPA thanks to my parents, so for that, I'm thankful!

I had a great summer with my family, so I'm always thankful for them! Including (but not limited to) Elena, my amazing uncles, and my grandmother; seeing as my summer was spent between Bozrah and New London!

I spent time in the most beautiful country on Earth, meeting amazing amazing people!

Not everybody gets the opportunity to leave their life and travel for a while, so for that, I'm uber thankful!

So Happy Thanksgiving States!

Patience and Faith
ErinJ

This tour needs more Mounds!!

Spidey's ready to tell you of the Gyeongju adventure!

So this weekend I went on my first Adventure Korea trip to Gyeongju (Kyeongju if your feeling frisky) Adventure Korea brings foreigners (mostly teachers) to different places around Korea which are hard to get to without a car. Although they weren't as informative as I would have liked, they got the job done, and I met some really cool people.
So the tour started early in the a.m. with a 4-5 hour bus drive to Gyeongju. We finally got to the site of old tombs where various kings from the Silla dynasty were buried. Silla was one of the three dynasties of Korea, if interested, wikipedia. It was a pretty park with lots of mounds, that was good for a walk, but boring.
The tombs!

We then went to Cheomseongdae, which is the oldest observation tower in East Asia that survives, making it one of the oldest science labratory on the planet. WOAH. This was also kind of boring, but neat to see, and pretty cool that it still stands 14 centuries later. Good for the Koreans! This is one of the National Treasures (Koreas got heaps, and we saw a lot on this trip!).
Me with the Cheomseongdae!
We walked to to the manmade pond of Anapji, a site of a great palace of the Silla dynasty. Unfortunatly, that palace no longer exists, but over 33,000 artifacts and some foundations. There is another lovely park to saunter around, and a few reconstructions of what they think it looked like, as well as a few neat artifacts.
At least it was pretty

After that we strolled to the Gyeongju National Museum with heaps of artifacts, and a Silla dynasty crown (which I got one blurry stolen picture of), and the 'greatest bell ever made'. It was really cool to see the oldest things in Korea. These things were OLLLLD. There were some pagodas (Reconstructions) and all sorts of things. I wish there was a little more information on the 3 Kingdoms, but theres only so much English you can hope for.
Cave drawings!!

After that we were done site-seeing for the day, so we went back to the hotel where I crashed with some realllly awesome girls. After an adventure with the mediochre-at-best restuarant nad the hunting aujamas (Read:old woman with a power greater than unicorns), we ended up at the norebang (Norebangs are different story for a different day), and drinking in some people's hotel rooms. It was really nice to hang out and meet people.

The next day we woke up early to go to the Seokguram Grotto, with one of the prettiest Buddah's I've ever seen. No pictures were allowed, sorry! But the Buddah was dated to about 750 AD, and was one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

We went to Bulguska Temple, Scenic site number 1 in Korea. It was very large, and very interesting to explore. There were services going on, so not a lot of pictures of the Buddahs. There was also a random warthog, that I didn't understand. There were some neat pagodas (one under renevation, sadday) and may have been my second favorite thing of hte trip. There was a stairway called the blue and white bridge, with 33 steps to represent the 33 steps to enlightenment. This was much more interesting then Bungeusa next to Coex, and gave a better insight into the ancient Buddhist ways.
Me in front of the blue and white bridge and the main gate of the temple.

Finally was Mt. Namsan. This was claimed to be a leisurly stroll, but thats a lie. It was a hike, 500 meters up, but I was one of few that made it and was proud. This mountain had one of the best treasures in Korea, but unfotunatly was under construction, and therefore we couldn't see it, bummer! There were a few Buddah statues that were visible, and from the Silla dynsty, so really cool. Climbing a mountain always makes me feel accomplished.
Summit!

After that it was hometime, so my long weekend, and this book, is over!
Patience and Faith,
ErinJ

Me on top of a Mountain

Seoul Lanten Festival 2009

I love this picture

So yesterday I bundled up New England style to brave the cold and go see some lanterns! Throughout this post they'll be highlights, but check out eptheexpat.smugmug.com for complete footage.
The lanterns were along the stream, and it was croweded and cold, but worth it for the awesomeness that the festival was. In America, lanterns are something you hang from the ceiling that produce lights. IN AsiaLand, that is not the case. This was a unity and peace festival, so there were lanterns from all over the world. (Americas rep was a jackolantern, it was sad).
Close up of the JapOlantern

Along the stream there were all sorts of lanterns. Some were of various landmarks (Big Ben, the Pyramids of Giza, Ankor Wat etc)
Leaning tower of lantern


Some were more Asian, like zodiac signs, or tigers, dragons, cranes and other animals in Korean myths.
I'm Year of the Rabbit!

There was a whole section on technology, space and KOrean heroes.
There was also heaps of shows, including a lantern dance and a drum show.
All in all it was all sorts of cool, and I'm glad I made it out!

Next Time: Adventures of Spidey, Eating:Korea style; and look forward to an excursion this weekend 8)

Also, shout out to my mom! THanks for the care package! Everybody knows that coffee and Kraft make the world go around!!

Patience and Faith,
ErinJ


Me in front of a dragon lantern! A kind Korean man took this for me even though he had trouble with my camera!

On midnight Runners

So this week my school had 2 midnight runners (not separate events-they planned it together)

What is a midnight runner? SOmebody who pretty much packs up, and leaves with no notice. They don't tell anybody, and nobody knows they're gone until they don't show up at work the next day. This causes extreme chaos in the school, some excitement and a heap load of gossip.

Is it worth it? You burn bridges, get blacklisted from Korea (you will not find a job) and put a lot of stress on your coworkers.
However, in some schools, if you put in a notice, they won't pay you, and probably be incredibly shady.
So in all honesty, its probably easier to just complete your contract; but if your that miserable, I'd just midnight run too. I like to think I'd have more integrety than that, but sometimes you do what you got to.
I personally don't think my job is so bad where I would have to midnight run; especially if you read REAL hagwon horror stories, makes me thankful that I'm not in a sketchy situation. Our hours are long, but really, its a good gig.
But enough of that. Midnight running is really not cool for anybody involved except for the runners, making it a semi-selfish thing to do.
Until next time,
Patience and Faith,
EP

War Memorial and Museum

I think this is the actual War Memorial.
Hellllo!
So today Angela, Spidey and I went to the War Memorial and Museum.
It was very big and very cool. You start on this big outdoor park, with large statues. One was of the Korean War (Can this be classified as a civil war? I'm really not sure). The first picture was supposed to represent a strenght and unity. It was actually a very well done memorial. Surrounding the outside were tanks, planes and airplanes. It was really neat, being able to go inside some of the Korean war era planes and the like.

2 Brothers

We then went inside where there was a big drum that the government made for an anniversary of something, I really don't remember. We walked around for a while, looking at old old old battle scenes (Circa 600 and so on). There was a hall with a few replica 'turtle boats,' which were really neat! Its hard to believe that people sailed these!!
Me and turtle boats!

The museum was honestly a fairly run of the mill war museum until the Korean war stuff. I honestly didn't realize how little I knew of the Korean war until I was reading about it-its insane, and something I defintly want to do some reading up on. I was actually really sad reading about it, and didn't realize how bad it was, but they have almost 2 floors dedicated to all things Korean war, DMZ, North Korea relations and the like. We watched some videos on it, and it really shed some light on the situation. Walking through their mock (although not very well done) refugee camp made me realie how terrible this war was. It made me really sad.

Dogtags of fallen soldiers in the shape of a tear drop.

I wish this museum was a little more interactive, but all in all, this museum was awesome. It shed some light on North Korea/South Korea relations, Japan/Korea relations and the like. Defintly worth the look.

On the next episode of EP in korea: Midnight runners, spidermen and life in Asia.

Patience and Faith,
ErinJ

Pepero Day

Happy Pepero day!!!
Happy verterns day!!

So today is Pepero day in merry Koreaworld.
What is Pepero day you may ask?
Its pocky day.
Thats right, those little cookies with the chocolate on the top? Koreas got a version called Pepero. and since it looks like a 1, they decided that 11/11 is Pepero day. Pepero day is awesome until about noon, wehn you never ever ever want to see a cookie ever again because all of your kids had given you heaps of them. I gave my kids a cookie, they gave me boxes of them (except for a few kids that gave me other candy).
Its a giant marketing ploy, but its turned into a valentines day like thing. Its not anything else, just Pepero. And there are heaps of types of them (including Nude which cracks me up, only the Koreans). Its probably one of Lotte's biggest days, and I guess is a nice way to say hey to people.
Its a couple thing I guess, and kids bring them for their friends.
They even have stuffed pocky sticks, but I think I'mg going to wait until tomorrow when those bad boys are on sale (or not).

I think its sort of silly, but the Korean Kids work so hard, I think they deserve a few cookies.

North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe

Well, mo Marilyn Monroe on yesterday's trip into the DMZ, but there was North Korea and South Korea
Mike, Me and Kimberly at the DMZ


Heres a few fast facts: The DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is the most heavily militarized border in the world. What does that mean? That for every 100 meters, theres a very heavily armed guard. Almost every precaution is taken. North koreans could not march, swim. climb, or drive into ROK without a fight. It runs along the 38th parallel and splits the 2 Koreas. NOw, since nobody could live there, its one of most natural wildlife preserves in the world.

OKAY. So we had to get up at 530, to get to USO Camp Kim by 7am. This meant leaving our friends who didn't wake up :( but we got there The tour starts immediatly, as when you leave you notice that theres barbed wire surrounding the highway,from when the North Koreans snuck in and tried to kill the president.
Our first stop was the JSA (Joint Security Area) where we picked up a jaded, but beautiful army boy to protect us. There, we saw a 1-hole golf course dubbed the most dangerous golfing in the world, as it is surrounded on 3 sides by life land mines. Oh dear! We saw some bunkers, but all in all the place was sad. We drove around the area, which was abandoned and sad. No civilians, just army. The army life here seemed weird. They are so well trained in case something happens, but it seems like a lot of puttering if you ask me.
We then went to go chill on the line. At the friendship park (which is not friendly despite the name) there are 2 empty buildings looking at eachother, with a few smaller buildings that lie exactly on the line. Its pretty intense. NOrth Koreas staring at us (we're not allowed to make any jestures to them. There were 5-6 korean soldiers hanging out to make sure we did not get into trouble. This area was very tense, and they have had incidents here (few and far between mind you
Rosenbergs, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom The Panmunjom, and the border (the concrete line)

We then made our way into the tunnels, which were close to the DMZ. The North Koreans dug tunnels (4 have been found) to try to get into Seoul. They covered it in black, so they could say that they were 'coal mining' even though the area is obviously granite. After a very steel slope 350 meters down, we walked through this small tunnel for half a km or so until we got to one of 3 blockades. It was neat, being able to see the dynomite marks. If the NK had been successful, they would have been able to get thousands of soldiers into Seoul within an hour. It was crazy.

Foolin' around at the tunnel site!

After lunch we went the Dora observatory where we could see the DMZ, the largest flag pole in the World (in a propeganda villiage in NK) and the area, even though it was foggy. It was pretty cool, but pictures were not permitted (if they saw you take them, which they do, they see everything, they have you delete them). But theres nothing in NK. Just land, mountains and more nothing.

After that, we went to the last train station in South korea, or the first station in NK, depending on how you look at it, to stamp our passports, and hang around.

After a long morning in the DMZ, I feel like I have more of a grasp of the severity of the situation, what is going on, and how terrible it actually is. The south beg for reunification, or at least civility, where as nobody actually knows what NK's problem is. Its scary knowing that they have missiles that could hit me right now, and to know how close we are. Its one of those things.
Barbed wire and grey skies.....
Until next time,
Patience and faith,
ErinJ

Who Turned off the Heat?

Mary is Precious

Hey Ho!
I'd like to say that I've been too lazy doing awesome things to post, but I don't want to lie to you. I've just been lazy!

So heres life in Korea:
October 30th-the weather is AWESOME
October 31st-Rain
Novmeber 1st-30 degrees. (this is not an underestimate)


When korea wants to do winter, THEY DO WINTER. I'm personally a fan, as the cold reminds me of the crisp autumn nights in NE. But it was weird. IN CT, you see the temps start to drop. Here it was sudden! Thanks Korea! Leaves went from green to yellow (no cool oranges or anything :(. I guess you have to go to the mountains for that?)

Me and my kids on Halloween at school

We also had Halloweenday in Korea. DOn't ask me WHY They call it Halloweenday, but everybody does. EVVVERYBODY. Signs say halloween day. ITs hilarious. But my kids dressed up in an ultra adorable fashion, and I gave them heaps of candy and lovin'.
Speaking of which, I got 3 new kids and almost have a full class. I love love love those kids. They're a lot of work, and very trying, but heaps of fun.

So I promise I'm totally going to start doing interesting things and not sleeping all day. Its only been a few weeks. But I need to get out more.
We adventure, but since we live here its more of doing things and less of exploring. Like we went to Dongdemun looking for halloween costumes. It was an adventure, but nothing that interesting.

So thats life in EPers land. I'll start blogging, cause I have a lot to say about living in Korea.

I did put up heaps of pictures from halloween, so enjoy them!!

Patience and Faith,
ErinJ

Samantha Teacher and I in Itewon

On Teaching

My grandmother (Hi Oma!) asked a lot of questions about teaching in Korea, and I realized that I haven't addressed a subject that takes up 58 hours a week (you read that right, I teach that much. Its not healthy). So heres teaching in Korea: Preschool Edition!

Minho's excited about the blogpost!

As my cousin (Hi Elena!) said to me; getting a degree in teaching is almost pointless, cause nobody can prepare you for actually doing it. And shes right. But Teaching is kind of like skiing; you have to try a lot of different ways to stay up, but once you figure it out, you got it. This is my 3rd week with my kids, so the last few weeks have been more of a how can I get through to these kids kinda game. And it works. They know when I think its okay for them to you know, act their age, and when its time to actually get work done (Phonics class succccks. Everybody hates it, them and me). There hasn't been any complaints so intense that my bosses have had to talk to me about it (I don't actually hear complaints, somebody else deals with them and they only get to me if they are valid, or often enough). I don't really like to punish kids but we have a happy/sad star system. So If you do something that makes me happy, you get a happy star. When you speak Korean or do something thats really frusturating me, you get a sad star. I don't like to give sad stars. If somebody sees that their friend is getting heaps of happy stars, they generally behave better. So I make sure to encourage really good behavior, and I don't want to say ignore, since they know what makes me grumpy, but I don't pay as much attention to it. They're also really well behaved, so theres little in the ways of punishment

They're too much fun. I like doing art and music and gym and stuff like that with them. I feel bad having them do workbook pages and phonics and stuff, since I feel like they're too young. But I have no say in it, so I try to make it tolerable for them.

You do the best that you can, but I greatly enjoy my kids!
Who doesn't love their friendly local neighborhood expat teacher and her adorable students. I mean, look at Mary in the middle. TOO CUTE. And I also have my KT, whos my go-to gal, and too good at her job.

On Being Discriminated Against

So I promise I'm going to start posting more, but for now, heres something I've been thinking about.

In America, I'm just like everybody else. Well, obviously not; but I can speak the language, go into stores, and know whats going on.
Here, that is not the case, and although there are heaps of expats around, in a metropolitan area of 21 million people, we are still the extreme minority. And it shows. A lot of the time, Koreans are really nice, and chill, and will help you out.
Sometimes that is not the case. Yesterday, we were thrown out of a hat store. Not to long ago, we were overcharged for a taxi, and had an arguement with the guy. We get followed around in museums. There are somethings that happen, that you know they wouldn't dare pull with Koreans.

Its weird, and eye-opening. I've never been straight out discriminated against just for being white. I think its healthy, but its not right. People shouldn't be mean, or try to rip people off just for being white, just cause they can't understand you.

It puts a new perspective on things.

New Soul

I'm a new soul I came to this strange world hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take.
But since I came here felt the joy and the fear finding myself making every possible mistake



I'm a young soul in this very strange world hoping I could learn a bit about what is true and fake.
But why all this hate? Try to communicate finding just that love is not always easy to make.

On Hiking up Mountains in Korea

New friends on a glorious fall afternoon

So Today I went out to Soyosan (READ: The furthest you can get from me on the subway pretty much) to climb a mountain. I found a group on the internet that climbs mountains, and I had nothing going on this Sunday so I decided to get in on that. It ended up being me and couple of older guys, but they were rediculously interesting to talk to. So I went along the ride, and it was hard. For a while I didn't think I was going to make it, but was extremly pleased when I did. It was worth it, the views, as well as being out in nature (as much as you can in these parts) was refreshing. It was a nice change of pace. We were also rewarded with a neat Buddhist temple at the bottom. It was hard, but I'm proud and happy I went out.

From the Peak

Temples

BUT Thats not what I want to talk about. Hiking in Korea is rediculous. While hiking in America world, in some places, you don't see anybody for a while. This was not the case. With the amount of crowds going into this mountain you would think that this was disney world, or some other theme park. Hundreds of people all over the place. Not only were there heaps of people, but they were on a mission. They all had these big camel back packs, walking sticks (notice the s) NOt only did they have enough gear to lead the untrained eye into believing that they were moving ontop the mountain, but they packed lunch. Now Erin, you may be saying, thats normal. But no. They didn't pack a lunch. They packed 4-5-6-7+ course korean meals, that they had hiked up a mountain. WHAT? Korea, calm the hell down. Not only was there a meal included, there was beer, and the soj involved. It was all sorts of rediculous. They had full families on this mountain. Pack your boots grandma, your gettin' to the top. It was an expereince.

Notice the gear




On top of the mountain!!


Oh, and for all of my lovely followers that don't have Facebook, I am pleased to report that I did, in fact, get internet, and some of my pictures (its a process) are available for viewing! check it out
http://eptheexpat.smugmug.com

Suwon Fortress CRAZINESS

SO today Kimberly and I went to Suwon for an adventure and OH WHAT AN ADVENTURE IT WAS. We took the subway, and then spent what seemed to be ages trying to figure out the bus situation. We finally got on a bus, which was grand, but due to the festival we couldn't go all of the way and had to walk. How were we to know when we were there? Maybe the Koreans dancing in the street to MJ's Thriller. But you never know. We saw this huge gate (Here the term "gate" is much different then CT), so assumed we were at least close. We lurked around a bit until the we realized what was going to have to happen. Climbing a mountain. Now, (especially if my Father reads this) everybodys saying, don't be overdramatic. But this was legit, a 60 degree incline followed by stairs as means of climbing said mountain. It was hardcore. We finally got up to this hill of glory and saw what they call the secret fortress, but as Kimberly put it, I don't see whats so secret about it, Its huge and right there. Which was true, the thing was sizeable, on top of a mountain and not secret at all. But Ooooh Korea. We did some more wandering, then went through said secret fortress along the wall to some random temple on top of the hill. There were no Koreans, or anybody for that matter, which I didn't realize I missed, but it was so nice just relaxing. THe view was stellar, and we hung out, got into a little bit of mischief which included me getting a slammin' souvier (my first of my trip to Korea)
After some lurking we got to the ACTUAL fortress (Read: around 3:30, so a solid few hours after getting to Suwon) where we paid 1,000 won to ring a bell a few times, which with the size of the bell, was actually pretty neat.
We walked around, saw where the archers ripped shit up, and wandered back down the mountain to the cultural festival, which was not overly cultural at all, although they did have fruits with carvings on them.
As we were trying to get back to the Subway station (Suwon Yuk?) we ended up in a market. This was my first WHAT ARE THEY EATING WHAT THE HELL IS THAT WHERE ARE WE type of market. It ended with me sucking the milk out of a coconut through a straw and a lot of "looking up" as to not see whatever was around me, which more often then not included food with heads still on it. This was one of the markets James Bond chases the bad guys in. It was all sorts of special.

We eventually made it back home, and I had a whole long thing about something, but it got deleated. So the moral of this story is life is crazy sometimes, but it always turns into an adventure.

ALSO, for those waiting for pictures (especially my grandmother, Hi Oma!) once I stop stealing internetz and get it fo' real, there will be more picture then you can shake a stick at!

Patience and Faith,
ErinJ

Teaching Englishee In a Hagwon

DISCLAIMER: This is only the ramblings of one worn out, starting to get homesick, tired non-teacher.

A hagwon is a private academy in Korea, and theres heaps of them. In my area, I actually work on a street called Hagwonga, because of the amount of academies on them. And allllll of these kids go to at least one. Regardless of their behavior, I always feel bad for how hard they work.

But the first day I showed up, they straight out told me that I was not an educator, that I worked for a business. I work for a corporation, like Starbucks, but am supposed to teach english at the same time. Its rough. We have a schedule of stuff that HAS to get done that day, and I try my best, I do. But WHY do they need me to do it. I feel like I am a native speaker, have a bs, and am an all around bright kid, and yet ANYBODY in the world can tell a kid to open their book, explain the main idea of the lesson in less then 5 minutes, and have them start doing pages.

I knew going in that the lesson plans where going to be pretty much done out for me. But I guess I didn't realize how much it would bother me. These kids are SO Unworldly, and they just don't get it. But I have to review the difference between weather and climate constantly? This week we had a review so I taught them about hte Middle East and had them do a project since its part of Asia, and they told me that theres no war anywhere in the world. Its a little dark for second graders, but I wanted them to know about whats going on. I think we're going to do that with other continents, but when I pointed out saudia arabia on a map and asked who knew what it was, some kid yelled Texas. To I expect a lot of them? Probably. But I know they are smart enough to at least get it.
Plus, I really think the ME is cool.

but I feel like any activity I do to make the kids interested and engaged takes time, and then we don't get through the book so I either have to cover it in the next class, assign it for hw or hope for the best. Nobdoy cares about understanding English or the world, they care about high test scores and leveling up. I'm sure I was like that when I was their age, but I dont know. I guess I was disillusioned into thinking it was possible for me to help them, but the ROK is a lost cause.

BongEunsa and CoEx

First things First, A BIG Congrats to RyanRunsEurope, who I've been following since my return from NZ. Amazing job, Well done, mate.

Oh Goodness I'm totally behind, but I am going to get internet soon so hopefully I'll be firing off these badboys to keep all of my friends stateside up to date on the happenings of KoreaWorld.

So on Sunday I jumped on the subway armed only with my good camera and my Lonely Planet Seoul and out of nowhere BAM! It was my friend Jess, traveling with a girl who teaches in China. It scared the crap out of me, but they were going to spend the day in CoEx and Bongeunsa, a mall and a temple, respectivly. We ate in Coex, and Kerry (Girl teaching in China) was craving western food, since she can't get it in her neck of Asia, but I got some Manduguk, since Korean food is in fact growing on me. Manduguk, with mandu being a dumpling and guk being the word for soup (I'm getting there).
We met with her friend Clare. ANd scurried to the "magical hidden temple", which we finally got to. It is one of the largest Buddhist and most traditional temples. It was really large, and allowed for a lot of wandering and exploring. I'm not sure, but I feel like temples and palaces all kind of look alike. But this one had a Buddah. NOt like, a statue of buddah, but a HUGE Massive we're talking 23 meters high, largest statue of Buddah in Korea size Buddah. The biggest I've ever seen. It was rediculously cool.
It was a beautiful place, and it was a Holiday Sunday so there were heaps of people there praying and worshipping and doing normal sunday at service activites, and there was us taking pictures and lurking. I'm not sure how I'd feel about that, but I guess they're used to it. You could only imagine. There was one room with thousands of Buddahs. Lining the wall, everywhere. It was rediculous. The place was very Zen, as it should be, and very neat to explore. I am definitly going to go back to get there more than an hour before closing time to check out the grounds and find my Buddhist ways.
After we lurked, we went into Coex to look around. I wasn't overly impressed. A lot of expensive shit. The mall wasn't as cool as everybody was making it out to be, but maybe we missed something. There was, however a bookstore that had a foreign collection. Good to keep in mind. And heaps of lonely planets for all of my adventures 8)
Update soon about life in general!
Patience and Faith,
ErinJ

Chuseok Weekend

Taylor, Kimberly and Me at everland


So this was an extended 3-day weekend of Glory thanks to the Korean holiday of Chuseok. I think its a cross between a thanksgiving, and a day where one pays homage to ancestors of sorts. But don't quote me on that, thats just what I can gather.
So Friday, which was the day we had off I went to the contempory museum of Art with Kimberly and one of her friends. It was pretty cool. I've seen a lot of art in my day, but there were some pieces that were worth seeing. There was a room that sprialed up 3 stories and had 3X3 pieces of art up the entire thing. It was intense. Very cool. The museum itself was definitly worth checking out if you have spare time, but not necessarily some place I would go back to.

A pretty instense TV sculpture in the museum.


Saturday was heaps of fun. I went to Everland with a few teachers from school, since it was a holiday and therefore supposed to be dead. Everlands the biggest amusement park in Korea. It was an adventure. Everland is not in Seoul. EVerland is not in Anyang. Everland is a 1.5 hour busride from here. In which we stopped at bus depots and possibly took backroads through hell. I don't know, I wasn't feeling it. But we got there, kind of late, and hustled through the park. We went on a bunch of rides, had our personal bubbles invades, and were all sorts of confuzzled when the biggest ride there closed at 8. The park closed at 10. This closed at 8. So we didn't get to go on the steepest wooden rollar coaster, which was a bummer. BUt all in all it was a good day, and better than napping, which is what I was doing up until that point. It was a pretty good amusement park, only had 2 rollar coasters that we could see, and closed kind of early. It was fun though, I mean, who doesn't love some good rides.
Throwing up the Peace sign!

Some Weird Ass Jackolanterns!

BUSAN

YO!
So last weekend I went out to Busan. I unfortunatly only took a couple of pictures, so google image if you so desire.
We took the KTX down, which was pretty cool. I was into it, although it was a long ride, theres nothing like it in the states so rock and roll. We got there, and found our hostel, which was shadyish but would do, and would prove to be unncessary I guess. My friend Angela went to meet her family that lived down there, so me and the other girl I was with (Jessica) went to the beach to get some sun, hang out, and mock Korean beach life; which included full sets of clothes and failed windsurfing. Most excellent.
We met up at the hostel with a friend and chatted for a while before finding dinner. We ate this aweful Korean dish, which me and Jessica were not digging, but they were. Gah. We then hung out in Busan, being young and foreign and fabulous, but due to the spread of people that read this we'll leave some details out. By some I mean all. But the area was set up very cool, and a place I could totally have hung out for a while. My uncles would have loved it there, it was super cool. So shoutout to them.

The next day may have been the worst day ever for a variety of reasons.
One, is an obvious reason.
The other is we were going to do this culutural Korean thing, which is some spa. ANd its just a memory I'm trying to block out. I've never been so uncomfortable or unamused to be anywhere in my life.
So thats that.

Week 3

YO ALl,
SO I just finished my third week school, and will be here for three FULL weeks on Sunday.
Can you believe it!
Part of me feels like I just got here.
Part of me feels like I'm just on a vacation and I should be checking out of my hotel room.
But most of me feels like I've been here forever.
I mean, on my morning walk to school where I get coffee from the cute girl who I think can only say "americano" in english. or passing the same people every morning, and knowing those people stopped staring at me.
Or going for my nightly jog around the park every day.
Or even my students, who see me in the hallway and immediatly yell to me. Even kids I've only subbed in for a day or two run up to me with their art project and tell me what they've learned that day. I really feel like I've been here for ages. The routine of it all, while never boring is comfortable in its own right, and heaps of fun. I like exploring in my free time, but I like the comfort of my domain too. I guess its nice to feel like you have a home, even if your so far away from everything you know.
It was hard at first, as I came in during the semster when everybody was already friends, and I didn't know anywhere, and I still don't know the language, but it looks like things are going to work out for me. I'm really glad, and thankful to be in Korea, and I don't think I'd give this up for anything.
Patience and faith,
EP

Gyeongbokgung

Excuse the spelling for those that may know it better.
So I went to gyeongbokgung this weekend. Its a HUGE palace in center Seoul, well, I guess towards the north west end.
BUT It was my first subway ride where I had to change lines, and I feel confident enough in my abilities in the subway system to call them "my bitch" That right. Whoever said that the system was too complicated to manuever was sadly mistaken. Whatever, I paid my dues being lost in London, Boston and NYC that I should be able to work a subwaysystem by now.
Does the subway here have an affectionate nickname?
But I digress.
What were we talking about?
Gyeoungbokgung.
Excellent.
So yeah, huge palace, that is actually a reconstruction of a palace from when the Japanese burned it down. So rebuilt, and very neat. I don't know how true it is to he origional, but lets pretend like THIS i the origional, cause it makes me happy.
There was a tour in english which is ALWAYS appreciated, thanks Korea!
IT was all in all very interesting. The history of the place was really cool. And the gardens were incredible. There were pagodas and temples and shrines and the like. (Don't worry my non facebook friends-I'll get images on smugmug ASAP, or as soon as I get internetz I'm not leaning out of my window to steal.) And since the images are so large since I took them on my nice camera, its so hard to put them on here.
There were however, big, jaws size fish with weird sucking mouths. We all know how I feel about that. But the palace was actually where king, queen, heir (but no other kids), cocubines and ladies in waiting actually lived, so imagine 700+ people hanging out here. Koreans do enjoy being crowded, although I'm not sure why. Even back then, it seems.
Apparently a queen was murdered here, and although I don't like murder I do love political scandle. I mean, bummer for the king, and shame on you, japanese!
I liked the fact that the first son's chambers were in the east, because he rises like the sun. Very clever, early KOreans!

Anways, the palace ground are huge, and include two museums I'm going to have to go back and see. and at 3,000 won ( 2 bucks) for admission (you can't get better then ROK prices) why not check it out.

Start expecting some observations on life in Korea, life as an Expat and life out of the rat race.

Yo Theres me being adorable in front of a palace!

Stuff thats Rockin' My world.

Not in a, how did I live without it rock my world type of sense, but in a Are you kidding type of sense.

The first is something I just learned about, so lets talk about it. Fandeath. Is that a band, you may ask. No. Its a CRAZY phobia that the Koreans have. Like a legit crazy, unhealthy phobia. Let me explain.
As you walk through any apartment building you'd be quick to notice that a lot of people's doors are open. For the last few weeks I've been living in the dark, and assuming that people are just social, but because of the language barrier I havn't been chatting. Which is good. Because there doors are open so they don't die. LEgit. They believe that if they leave the fan on with no windows or door open that they will either a)suffocate and die or b) die of either hyper or hypo thermia. And they're obseesed. There are timers on the fans so don't die. If thats not bad enough, some fans come with warnings. Its hilarious. Think I'm making this up?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_death

Another thing is Kimchi. Whats kimchi? Its pickled shit. Quite literally, whatever they can pickle they do and call it kimchi. And eat it with everything. EVERYTHING. Breakfast? Kimchi. Dinner? Kimchi. Midnight snack? Kimchi. Its like "dick in a box" but with some godaweful food. ANd the entire country smells like it. All of the time. Its actually disguesting. But thats not the best part. The best part is that koreans swear by it. They legit believe that they don't catch diseases because of kimchi. Have aids? You're not eating Kimchi. Cancer? Kimchi! They cure diseases with their gross staple food. I mean, Koreas a special place, but this is just bonkers!
KOreans need a reality check.
Theres more, but I'm tired of writing.
Just thought you'd like to know!
Peace and love!
Happy Trails,
EP

A Quick Observation

Any country can get the nickname "the land of the morning calm" if coffee shops don't open until noon.

National Museums, Traffic Accidents and 24hour Shopping malls all in one city?

10 story pagoda in the museum
So I'm seriously falling behind. Don't blame me, blame my shotty internet!!!
BUT This weekend has been UBER Eventful!!!
So Friday night after work I went to Dongdaemun with a few girls with work. Its this MASSIVE MASSIVE MASSIVE market (we're talking 30x Camden) thats open until 5am. I was really bebopping for the experience and less the shopping, and it was an experience. It was huge and people pushing and haggling, and everything looked the same. Unfortunatly, not enough konglish, which is seriously lacking in my life. BUt enough ugly to keep me entertained. We're talking gaudy, tacky, ugly. It was like shopping in the ugly section at the SalVo.
THEN THE ADVENTURE TOOK PLACE. We were waiting to get a cab for about an hour. Ready for the Scene. Rain. Wet foreigners. Taxi on Ambulance action. Sketchy men. yelling in Korean. Hilarity.
We eventually got back so allswellthatendswell. But good god. If I had a nickle for everytime I said ooooohkorea, I could retire by now and I've been here for a WEEK.
Today was super chill. It was my first day here where I had NOTHING planned. So I got on the subway until I felt like getting off.I ended up in Ichon, and went to the National Museum of Korea. This museum was VERY Foreigner friendly, which is apprectiated but us Foreigners. Thanks Korea! Not everththing was in English, but enough was where you could get the general history and what things were supposed to be. It was free which was cool, and had heaps of neat things. They had this really cool 'pensive buddah' which was beautiful. If you have time this museum is definitly worth a looksy. THe highlight was definitly the gardens, with the bell tower and the pagoda garden being beautiful once the ran passed.
This museum was super easy to get to, which is convienent and probably gave false confidence as my first by myself subway experience was successful. I did not have to change lines, so I'm waiting for that day. Heres a couple pictures taken on my shitty camera since I didn't feel like lugging around the heavy one since I didn't know where the day was going to take me. Now I'm combating a cold, which I think is from working hard without a break and not swine, but since I did the whole hospital deal yesterday, we'll probably find out soon. The hospital was an adventure. Anybody wanting to legally become an immigrant needs to do it, and it was so round robin and switching around and doing weird tests that it was all in all very hilarious. Ohhh Korea.

When I get older, I will be stronger

SOOO I’ve had my first few days at school. I’m really going to like it there. It made me MUCH less scared then the crisis of the first day. Most of the teachers I work with are hella awesome, and I enjoy their existences, and their stories (I feel like for one of the first times I’M not the one with the good stories and tales of adventure). I ate my first meal NOT at school today, called neang, which is a buckwheat noodle in a cold broth. The broth was like a cold cucumber soup, and it was all in all very delightful. It was a pretty neat experience, as we just sat down and my super-chill ridiculously-nice boss just ordered (She’s American but bilingual). And they waitresses just brought out food. No menu. No nothing. It was really different. .
I also decided I think I’m REALLY going to like teaching. After observing for the first few days, and teaching my first class Its really a lot of fun. Not like, an easy job kind of fun, but kind of like science camp fun, where sometimes you want to hit the little fucks, but most of the time they redeem yourself (I was laughing so hard I was crying twice today-it was just out of control). I think with them the key is having heaps of fun, and they’ll have heaps of fun and learn. A lot of the kids go to school ALLL day, then go to a hagawon (a private institution similar to the one I work at) for the majority of the evening. Kudos to them for working so hard at such a young age. So this is my second FULL day here, but I think its going to be a solid yearish. I'm so thankful to be here I am optimistic.

holla

Korea is a big, scary place.
Lets recap, shallll we.
JFK was boring, and I was so tired. So tired in fact, I slept through takeoff. When I woke up, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the seat next to me was open. with a flight that long, as anybody can attest, is a real treat. So I ate dinner, which was grand, slept straight through till breakfast, then watched a movie and read some and BAM. SEOUL TIME. Its the more Asian version of hammer time. But it was 3 am. The first thing I noticed though is the fact that you know you are in a city. Its just harder to breathe. But that’s okay. My flight was supposed to get in around 430, but eventually got in over an hour early, so I waited around for 2 hours until some kid picked me up. I was so relieved to see him!! We drove about an hour to my place, which is remarkably decent for being free. The only thing I really dislike is the kitchen, as it is not a kitchen at all but a sink and a stove. That’s right. No Oven. No Microwave. No Coffee Pot. Just a 2 burner range. I also have a fairly sizable loft, but there’s nothing in it, and I think that’s a little strange. But my wii works, although it doesn’t play dvds so I should have brought the ps2 instead. Alas. After unpacking heaps, although not all of it, I went for a little walk to see what was going on. Holy moley, its intense. Its like Chinatown. Except Korean. And Not in America. And nobody speaks English. They’re nice enough, although staring a lot. I went to the local convenience store to get paper towels and toilet paper and the like, and apparently paper towels were buy one get one, which they call ‘one plus one’ here. I just didn’t get it until some old lady, who talked to me in Korean, like I understood, just got me an extra set. Then I came back to change into shorts and go back out, and fell asleep. For a while, until this weird phone thing started ringing. When I picked up and angry sounding man was hollering in Korean. I tried saying I don’t speak Korean and hung up. And it rang again, so doing what Lindsay does best, just ignored it. Then somebody was knocking. When I opened the door it was some guy, possibly the man from the other end, yelling something in Korean. I was speaking English, he was speaking Korean and nobody had any idea what was going on. Since then I’ve been laying low, forcing myself to get out of bed, although its 6pm, and I’m going to try to stay up another 2 hours.
I have to work tomorrow, and don’t have an alarm clock, so lets see how THAT goes. I think with jetlag I’ll bounce up early. And I opened the shade to assure sun comes in. WHO DOESN”T PACK AN ALARM CLOCK!!!! I assume korea has them, I just have no idea where to get one. Or how to get one? Its going to be an adventure…..

leavin' on the midnight plane to Korea

THe next time I post, I'll be in the LAND OF THE MORNING CALM.

Cruzzzzin'

Yo
So apparently I'm leaving tomorrow?
WOAH.
The kid I've been in contact with said I'd leave Friday, but I'm still waiting to hear from somebody that books tickets for them. I don't want to get TOOO overly excited since this process is SO Stop and go, but it looks like a lot of GO right now!

CONSULATTTTE

YO.
Consulate trip today.
It was successful and quick! The interview was really chill and laid back, and I can get my visa on WED AFTERNOON.
SHITSON.

THANK YOU IMMIGRATION

I got my visa Number,
and an interview with the consulate on Monday!
Hopefully I'll be leaving by next week!
AHHHH!

Hurry up and Wait

Let me tell you, when I was done with band I thought that hurrying only to chill would stop, but I was (something I hardly ever admit to) MISTAKEN.
So after paying a lovely sum to overnight a package (Does it count as overnighting if its already tomorrow there?) to Korea, I'm still sittin' pretty (literally-I bought a new dress) and hangin tight waiting for my visa number to get spit out of Immigration. Then its frolickin' to the local consulate-I do love Boston, a complete 180 from the japanese consulate mishap of 2008 (I think). After that we're thinking 3-6 business days till I'm on a flight and on my merry adventure.
Friday is my last day of work, so hopefully immigration rocks and rolls SOONER rather then later. I don't like to idle.
Speaking of 180s, remember how nutso I was last post? I feel, for some reason, completly chill and zen about the entire thing now. Maybe cause it hasn't hit me yet how radically things are going to change, or maybe cause I know things are going to work out. Thats not saying I'm not scared, cause its scary. But I'm just so chill about it, and I'm not sure why. I am excited, and for some reason, I just know like will be grand.
I'm trying to teach myself basic korean and let me tell you. NOT. EASY. So kudos to those that can do it!
Peace and Love, my friends.
EP

EP's first post of substance

SO Since Dan isn't around for me to rant to, Blog gets it. Lucky You!

I think if I hear the phrase "If you don't do it know, you never will" one more time I just may scream. Or how after getting everybodys blessings, everybodys "So excited for me" Even Strangers are so excited. How Neat! How original! What a great Experience!
I'm so tired of everybody suddenly respecting me, or admiring my bravery. I just don't feel like I deserve it. Cause in all honestly, I'm scared. REALLY scared. Like I wake up in the middle of the night with the "WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING" fear, after I quit a job I was successful enough in, ended a relationship I was happy enough in, leaving my life, my friends and my plans for the fall. I've been anxious before, nervous if you will. When I moved to London I was scared, but I also had a plane ticket home, I knew when I was returning. It could be a year, 18mos 10 years? Maybe its the open-endingness that scares me. when WILL I be back stateside, enjoying summer days in Fenway, spending weekends in the pool, saving the neighborhood dog; When will my next dinner and real world night with house be, my next salad party? I mean, Thats a life I know, a life I'm HAPPY enough in? But I guess thats the point, the word that keeps reaccuring. I'm happy enough, successful enough, and thats not what I want. I don't want to have to remind myself of why I'm happy to keep me from being miserable. But that doesn't keep me from being scared. I don't know Korean. I don't know anybody IN Korea. I don't know anything ABOUT korea. I've never been there. Am I excited for the adventure, since I knwo its something I live for? Absolutly. Am I scared? Shitless

Ahh More life

SO things are starting to get real.
I quit my job at United Health Care. It was sad, as they did treat me fairly well, and I enjoyed the team I worked with. So Thanks UHC, but its time for this kid to tackle the world.
I'm also selling my car, So its possible that by the end of the week, Its just me, myself and I, gettin' ready for a grand adventure.
Oh dear.
Scared much?

Keep on Movin'

So First and Foremost, Shout out to Dan in Japan!
He left today for his GRAND overseas teaching adventure!
Sooo Everythings moving REALLY Quickly.
I mean, I got a job! I don't want to put anything online, but its with a solid company. I'll Be starting ASAP, as soon as I can get a visa! I went to assuming October, to starting pretty much next week!
I'm starting to get nervous, and tweak out a little bit, but I know it'll be an adventure and I'm ready.
Robin's working on the same deal-so good luck to her on her jobhunt visa endevours.

Bah

SO I Turn 22 in a little less than an hour. throw the confetti.
I recently got all of the necessary paperwork for my visa, but can't find a job. Its starting to get frusturating. I thought getting into a recruiter was going to solve my problems, but apparently its a lot more work, especially if your recruiter disappears. Or if schools decide not to interview you at the last minute. or if you've applied so many jobs you can't rmember where you started or if its worth it anymore.
Any Advice?
Cheers, dears.
EP

EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENT

Welcome Robin!
In a new recent turn of events, ROBIN IS GOING TO KOREA TOO!!!
BE pumped, for now I have a friend!

From a 9-5 pace, I wonder how bad that tastes

YO.
So I'm moving nicely on my visa documents, although Avalon never interviewed me so I'm starting to spazz slightly. I think somebody from Reach to Teach is going to investigate, which I am forever greatful for.

So Remember Neal, Longtime boyfriend? yeah, Broke up with me. And I was a wreck, I guess I still am, for a few days. And the more I reflect on the fact that I was dumped, the more I realize that I'm not a wreck 100% because I was broken up with. I'm always chill with Relationships, and really, am too young to get settled down (although Neal and I did have something special). I really think I was so upset because for every weekend for over a year, I've spent it with him. And now that thats over, I think it just dawned on me that everything, EVERYTHING, is going to change so drastically. That Neal and I breaking up was just the first in a long line of intense changes in my life, and I guess its harder than I thought to deal with. I'm not having second thoughts, but I guess I was going to be able to just pack up and go. And its harder then I thought it would be.....

On a more comedic note (I guess when life keeps dealing you crap, you really just have to laugh at it)....my car window was smashed in and somebody broke in and stole ONE DOLLAR. The only dollar that was in the car, and nothing else. you know why? I DRIVE A BEAT UP CAR THATS 15 YEARS OLD. Theres nothing to steal! When did this occur? When I was volunteering at a soup kitchen. Lifes about dancing in the rain...

Peace and Love,
ErinJ

Keep the bling, I want the brass ring like FRODO.

Yo all non readers!
So I really want to document my adventures for the next 16+months from start to finish, so heres another boring post.
I'm assembling documents trying to get a visa.
I have an interview with Avalon. When you google them, you dont get the best things but somebody I e-mailed there says its not bad. I'm not trying to shake up the system, and as dan puts it, I'm just there to "prostitute english" so it really looks like my kind of school. Hopefully things go well!
Keep it real,
EP

As Mark Twain said....

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

IM MOVING TO KOREA!
Not sure when yet, but I got into Reach to Teach!!
EEE!

Interview

Hey All!
So I had my interview for reach to teach last night, and it went well even though I was slightly nervous. The kid I talked to was really helpful and very interesting, and hopefully I'll be hearing from them soon!
I'm not very good at 'hypothetical' quesions, so when he asked me how I would teach a lesson around Careers, I was slightly stuck, but I think I came out of it okay.
I really love talking to other people from around the world that travel etc. I think the backpacking culture have the best stories, and of course, I love sharing my own experiences and tales of my glory days.
So fingers crossed!

In other news, this weekend I saw In the Heights on broadway, and think its something everybody should check out!
In other other news, went to the Boston/Yankees game the other day. Simply Amazing!

Intro

Hey Guys,
EP Here,
So I decided to set a blog to chronicle the next few years of my life, cause I got a feeling that they're going to be a doozy.