They're sharing a drink called lonliness, but its better than drinking alone...

So tonight is my last night in my beloved apartment. If the job was easier, I'd probably stay here forever. The apartment actually has none of my things in it, as my bags are dispersed among my friends until I return from China. Tomorrow night, ANdrew will be here, living my life, in my apartment, with my kids, doing what I do. Its weird to think about.
Although I'm so excited for the next few years, I have a solid lifestyle, iwth routines and friends here that its going to be really hard to leave in a few weeks. And I know, I know, I can always come back; and I know that although I'm going ot hold onto it, once I make the cut I'll be okay; but it'll never quite be the same. I guess thats life, but now I'm not sure if I'm willing to let it go.
This year has been amazing for me. I've met some of the greatest people, hiked up temples in angkor, surfed in Bali, crossed Shibuya, and immersed myself into the Korean culture. I'm a martial artist and a teacher. I know I'll do just as well in Thailand (at least I hope) and I know its part of he expat game to shuffle around. but I just don't want to leave stupid Beomgye, Anyang.
So heres to the memories, in this apartment, in this town, in this country. I will truly miss it.

안녕, Anyang. At least we'll always have the pole in slang.

Patience, Faith and new Beginnings,
ErinJ

This ain't goodbye

Korea has taught so much. So much about adapting, asia, cultures, teaching and myself. But last night, as we had to keep pulling tables together as people kept joining my going away party, I realized a lot about friendship.
This year I've been sad that my friends from CT haven't been around, doing that thing where you say "Well if blank and blank were here..." And everybody does it.
And this year has taught me how important it is to hang on to the people that are important to you, and that the effort is worth it. some people will have your back and love you forever, regardless of where you are, or what you choose to do, or if you can't remember the last time you saw them.

But last night, as I looked around the table of people I've met in the last year, people from school, from the bar, people from tops of mountains, my TaeKwonDo instructors, and Brad from the airport I realized that some of these people are my best friends, and some are my family. and when one of them said "if we break Erin's other leg she'll have to stay" I realized how truely blessed I am, that I have people from so many backgrounds, from all over the world that love me.

I watched as they talked with eachother with ease, like they have all known eachother forever, even though most had met that night and their only common link was me, and their love of adventure. It was weird, since in CT I was always so careful to keep my separate groups apart, but here it was nothing for all the people I know to interact as if they were all friends already. And I guess they kind of are. this is one of the 3242 reasons why I love being an expat.

I know I'll meet other people that are going to be amazing, and I know that its time to move on and do other things, but the only thing thats keeping me from canceling flights and staying here is the fact that at least I know that my friends are mobile. So although it took everything not to burst into tears at the bar last night, I know that this simply will not be the last time I see you.

Patience, Faith and a plane ticket....
ErinJ

Chuseok at the Folk Village

So On actual Chuseok (Thanksgivingish) day, we jumped on a subway to end up at the Namsongol Folk village, with seemingly the rest of KOrea. Seriously, it was busy, but fun. we walked around, and saw what old school Korean villages looked like (If old school Korea had thousands of tourists) There were some shows and stuff. Honestly, even if I took the time to read anything it was mostly in Korean, or long and there was a steady flow of tourists. It was cool to get out, and there were heaps of children in traditional clothing, which is oh-so-cute. There were some neat games going on, which was the most interesting.
Patience, Faith and a few hanbocks
ErinJ

Something to think about...

When youre foolishly being competetive.. You have no energy to be creative

-_-

So after a really solid night, after a really solid week;
what if I'm making an aweful mistake saying goodbye to a country and a group of friends that, for the first time in my life, I feel at home with?

서울타워~~Seoul Tower

The tower

Over the CHuseok holiday, Steve and I decided to check out N.Seoul tower, since neither of us had been up there and we had nothing better to do. We got off at seoul station, and me, thinking that everything else is within a few minute walk from the station, thought we would be there. Thats a lie. You have to climb a MOUNTAIN. well, its not that big, but still recovering from broken foot land, it was pretty intense. We climbed said mountian, with seemingly every Korean in the country. mountain climbing in Korea is always an event, and this was no exception.

We got to the top, and got our tickets and walk around waiting for our turn to go up. At the top there are heaps of locks of Seoul's couples who lock their love there and throw away the key. They're Seoulmates!
Locks with no keys

We went to the of the tower, where you can see all of Seoul. Like Tokyo tower from february, nothing makes you feel smaller than looking at the 3rd largest metropolitan area in the world. i know Seoul pretty intimatly, so it was kind of cool being able to pick out the neihborhoods that I spend my weekends wandering through, trying to pick out where friends live and wondering how a city so intense, can be so simple.
Its not pretty, but it is home

With STeve in a mirror.

We got our fill of it, and started back down the mountain, where we stopped to watch the Sunset over Seoul.


It made me realize that although I've had a rough last few months, and Seoul and I are currently in a love-hate realationship, after I leave, I'm going to miss it desparatly. It IS home, as much as CT would be. SOme of my best friends in the WORLD are here, and I'm going to be devastated when I leave. I know I should move on, and I know I'll be thankful at somepoint when I do, but it is going to be heart breaking to say goodbye.

Patience and Faith,
ErinJ