I am still waiting to hear back from Korea about my visa. I am hoping maybe sometime tonight to hear back from them that they got my reservation number. Then all that is left to do is send everything to the Korean Consulate here and get the visa on my passport and then work on booking a plane ticket. When I get the reservation number I should have a tentative date of departure I am hoping.

In the mean time I thought I would offer an update about what is going on here in Missouri and with a couple of notes on two books I have read or in the process of reading.

The first book, Snow by Maxenee Fermine is a very short book only 100 pages that is fairly easy to read. It is about a young man named Yuko in Japan whose passion is snow and writing haikus about snow and it's beauty. He ends up going to a great Master in all of Japan named Soseki, to perfect his art. Well, Soseki is a famous painter and Yuki goes to learn how to add color to his art. When he writes about snow it is just white, almost nothingness. Yuki learns though that snow is a common powerful thread between him and Soseki that is beautiful. I personally think this book is a beautiful story almost written like a long poem, but others of you might find this book to not be so great as I do.

So, I started volunteering at the Salvation Army here in Springfield on Monday or Tuesday for about an hour a day during the kids homework time. Yes, I am working with kids in the after school program mainly fourth and fifth graders do their homework. I like it alright, it is only an hour though and I don't get paid but I feel like it is important nonetheless and not just for experience. Yesterday I helped a girl do her math homework, a smart girl from what I can tell, but she acted like a cat the whole time. My parents don't seem to happy with me at this point for volunteering there for an hour a day Monday through Friday until I leave. It is a good twenty or twenty-five minutes away from my house, so I understand that a little bit. Plus, I think there is a stigma in my family about the Salvation Army and that side of town that they don't want to be associated with. I don't really care and if they think the bad side of Springfield is rough, well I got some news for them that I have been in way worse. They know this, but it is not like I can get a job for two maybe three weeks before I leave that I want to do. My mom thinks I must be rich if I can drive that far and volunteer without getting paid. She is weird sometimes, my parents are like you have money do whatever you want, its your business. But at the same time they want to know everything about what is going on. . . ay parents! At this point, I can't live without them, but really can't live with them much longer either! haha

I went to see my grandma yesterday too at my great aunts house because that is where she is staying now, which is by the Salvation Army. She is not doing to well these days. She looked very weak laying on the couch just skin and bones and a scarf covering her bald head. She seemed to try to be sleeping or sleeping a lot of the time while I ended up talking to my aunt. Her mind does not seem to be all there either anymore, she cannot remember much or doesn't talk to well. It was a bit hard to see her, I will go over there at least a couple of more times I am sure before I leave for Korea. I guess she is staying at my aunt's house now since she was in the hospital this last weekend. Her blood cells are way down and she can't take any more radiation unless those go up. She fell down into the mirror at her house not too long ago which did not help the situation. Please pray for my grandma. . . and my family. My dad tends to get distant almost in situations like this. He talks to my grandma (his mom) but he really won't go and see her because he is so scared of death it seems like and is afraid to appear weak or sad. Anyway. . . too much information.

The second book that I am reading right now and have been reading for a while is The Two Koreas. It is the history of the two Koreas from the Korean War till the present time or 2000 maybe when the book was written. It is a very detailed book, very interesting and informing. There is so much that I have never known, it is fascinating. I am very impressed with this book and how much I am learning!

That is about it for now, till next time.

Last night I watched a very entertaining movie I guess on BBC America, Shakespeare Retold of The Taming of The Shrew. It was funny and I got a good laugh from it, The Taming of the Shrew a interesting story. But anyway, I have been thinking about it some more and related issues. For example, I do not want to marry some woman who wants to just sit there and follow my orders or get married and starting popping out my eleven kids one by one, one every year. I really actually would like to marry someone who is confident, has a career, has a direction in her life. I want to know she could and can make it on her own without me if she needed to, not one of those dependent relationships (like I am the oxygen tank keeping her alive.) I mean, yes I want to be wanted and needed, but come on give me a break! I want my opinions and voice to be heard and decisions to be decided jointly and each of us being considerate of the other at all times, etc. Okay, I know this is the ideal situation, but I don't want it to wake up someday and be living in one of those old fashioned family stereotypes with the very rigid gender role thing going on. I am the guy who actualy doesn't care if my wife is bringing home most of the money because most likely she will be. I won't be jealous or whatever, I know most people think yes the guy always is, but I don't think so. So my question is am I being unbiblical? Becuase you know a lot of conservative Christians would try to tell me that I am not being a man, or I need to step up and be that masculine whatever. I don't think so, or really don't want to believe it. I am leaving this open for discussion and guys you can speak up to not jus the girls coming in and going "what a great man you are!"

Okay, so I went to KU on Tuesday and got my diploma and transcripts finally! It was an okay day though I got to see a lot of friends, so that was very nice. I am still going to try to make it up there once before I go in probably around three weeks. Yesterdasy I FedExed my documents to Korea which should be there by Monday, I am having fun tracking my package. First, it went from Springfield to Memphis then Memphis to Anchorage and then. . . . we'll see. But by the end of next week I should be ready to do my part from here and actually get the visa and then I'll be on my way to getting a plane ticket and leaving.

I received a package today in the mail that I ordered through amazon.com, it is small books with CDs for kids to go with them to learn Korean. Well, it is a book but it is all in Korean characters, except for the translations in the back and the CDs are pretty much all in Korean! This is a hard language! I am going to try my best and hopefully learn some over there. Today I also was sent via-email the 62 page orientation guide book that footprints sends out before you go. It is interesting, but I know a lot of the things. One useful information is that take your own condoms, I guess in Asia they are smaller and they break easier. (No pun intended and I am not sure what that is saying.) And by the way I am not really planning on even needing to use a condom in Korea, but I thought this was weird. It does say that nowdays you are likely able to find western brand condoms though. Okay enough, sorry!

I am getting a bit nervous though and a little excited. I have a lot of small fears and uncertainties that all add up to make me feel quit uneasy sometimes, like going "What the hell am I getting myself into?!"

One of my good friends at KU from Taiwain, a grad student in the sociology department, emailed me today and was like I hope you take advantage of being in Asia and come visit me and my family in Taiwain. He is like I'll be over there for winter break and maybe in the summer and if you come to Taipai we will put you up and take care of you for a couple of days. I am like awesome, I would love to do that and will certainly try!

I also sent an email and a copy of my resume over to the Salvation Army today to possibly do some volunteer work before I go to keep busy. A lady called me today and was like yes, please come in on Monday and fill out the paperwork and you can probably help out in the social services department, etc. So, hopefully I'll have other things to do besides sit at home all day and do nothing. But I need to start thinking about packing I think and how that is going to work and happen (a little scared and intimidated by that trying to pack for fifteen months you know!)

AAHHH!

I feel nervous, excited, panicked, frustrated, sad, and happy all at the same time at this point about my upcoming move to South Korea! I found out today that I have to drive up to KU tomorrow morning to pick up my diploma and do the same day transcript thing because they are toooooo slow! They told me today after I finally connected with the University Registrar Office that my diploma would probably not be sent out until sometime late next week and the transcripts that I sent for on Friday probably not until at least September 1! What?! The school in Korea and everyone at this point wants to get rolling on the visa process like I do too especially since I already have a contract squared away. So, that leaves me with the option of driving to Lawrence tomorrow to get this taken care of once and for all. . .I hope! I'll also get to see some friends tomorrow, which is good but it'll be a short trip. Leave tomorrow morning early around 6:30 and come back tomorrow night. But I am also faced with the fact that my departure date keeps coming closer and closer, sooner than later and am I ready for that. Like I could leave within two to three weeks not a month or two anymore. Am I ready to start my fifteen month job and life in Seoul South Korea? A lot can happen in a year in three months, and I am going to miss my friends and family a lot. I will probably have to come home for about five days at some point for a funeral, but that does not really count. But really I don't know Korean, I have never formally taught English before and to kids in a private ESL school in Korea. Will I like it there or end up hating Korea with a passion? Will I make friends outside of the people I already know, will I like the people I work with? Will my parents come and visit me at some point during those fifteen months? What if I fall madly and deeply in love with some beautiful Korean Christian young woman? Will I make enough money to be able to save as much as I plan on? What will my apartment be like, will it work out? God is going to provide for me and take care of everything, but there are still a lot of questions and concerns that I have of course. Will any of my friends come and visit me? Probably not. . . but hey I am tough I can survive in Seoul South Korea for fifteen months and make a life for myself there, right?


That is all for now I guess.

Sleep sounds very nice right now at midnight on this Sunday night. I just finished watching Lost in Translation for the third or fourth time to keep the Asian theme going in my life right now. Charlie, from Charleie's EFL College in Seoul, called me tonight at about fifteen til nine because it is already Monday morning there. I still could not understand him the best, btu he wanted to tell me that the questions I had about the contract are okay. Everything is good and things can be added no problem like I requested and they want to work with me. Very nice! He wants me to be able to get my visa too and everything ready to go within maybe two weeks. This is a bit frustrating because KU is so slow with my diploma and transcripts, they are killing me here! I am going to call up there tomorrow and probably get no where fast, my parents said if I have to drive up this week and get my stuff then so be it. I agree, but just a bit of inconvenience. It is starting to sink in a little bit more now that I am going to be in South Korea and maybe three weeks to a month tops! And once again how long is 15 months, oh yeah I'll be over there for a year and three months! Do not get me wrong I am very excited, but I am going to miss people a lot! I have been a little bit stressed lately about everything going on and have not been sleeping that well at all and when I do of course I have weird dreams. I'll keep you all updated on the exact date of my departure when I know it. . . stay tuned.

The waiting game just ended about 10 till 9 tonight, not long after I posted. I got a call from the school in Seoul South Korea and let me tell you that was an interesting, funny, and frustrating conversation. I am supposed to be an English teacher, but I could not understand half of what the guy asked me or said. At one point, I felt really stupid he tried to ask me if I was a vegetarian. I had no idea what he said, I was like yes I am a Christian. And then I was like sorry two more times and finally was like can you spell that. That was pretty difficult too and then it finally dawned on me after like a minute or more I am sure that he tried to say vegetarian! Oh my! And then at the end he told me he called me because he received two applications with the pictures. He showed the kids the pictures and he called me because the kids liked my picture better! HAHA!

Hombreguapo is definitely guapo! Good looks get you far in this world - - - maybe a good English teaching job in South Korea. It is a 15 month contract - - - so all of you will have plenty of time to save some money and come and visit me!

We'll see. . . I'll keep you posted to let you know how things go with the contract and all of that.

Playing The Waiting Game

Yes, I am playing the waiting game. Waiting to hear about where and when for sure I will be going to South Korea to teach English and do that whole gig for a year. I am getting pretty exciting doing research and all of that stuff. I went to the library one day and got four books,I read a very insightful book from the Culture Shock series. I reccomend if you are going to a foreign country or even Chicago I guess. . . check out this Culture Shock series. My Korean phrase book though not so much, right now I can't say I am feeling to confident with any Korean. I am also reading a very interesting book right now called, The Two Koreas by Don Obderdorfer a contemporary history of the two countries in their relationship. There is so much I didn't know, I am learning a lot at this point I think. But the agency that is helping me find a position called me last night about an opening at a school in Seoul, the same area that the 1988 Olympics were. Pretty much in the middle of everything and it is another good position. I am hoping to know by tomorrow night though maybe more about the when for sure, but if not next week. They are working on it and I have to say I am impressed by them. So, yeah I am ready to leave and start my adventure in Korea. I have already sent emails out to my contacts in Korea. One girl who I know who is from Seoul gets back from Europe on September 5 and is like I will be a good friend and assistant to you. Then another man that I know in another city said to let him know when I get there, and I know he will help me out. Then I have a friend who has a friend doing an internship in Seoul right now and set me up with his email address, he is looking forward to hearing from me I guess. So, all of you who know me and smile when I talk about all the people and contacts I have in all corners of the world, well it is paying off. I think it is to the point that I could almost go anywhere in the world and I would know someone enough to trust that they would help me in anyway and take care of something if I needed it. I have to say, its pretty cool especially about this process so far and I am not even in Korea and I am in contact with three people already!

Other than that for the most part I feel trapped in this big house that my family lives in. I feel trapped in this affluent fortress of boredom, but there is nothing really to do or anyone to really do it with. I have been watching a lot of TV and reading. Right now I like the suedo-telenovela La Fea mas Belle, it is cute and funny, it makes me smile even laugh sometimes. And besides that I listen to a lot of 40 Principales, a radio station out of Madrid through the internet.

If anyone wants to come visit me in Missouri before I leave, you are MORE THAN WELCOME!

I had a great weekend! One of my good friends came down to Springfield on Friday night to visit and left today after lunch. He got in Friday night at around 10 and we c came back here and my friend had a little taste of the famous Springfield Cashew Chicken. We have like over 70 Chinese restaurants in Springfield, all with this famous Cashew Chicken. . . which isn't really Chinese, its an American creation. Saturday ended up being a busy day and we left here at about 10 in the morning and I showed my friend all the schools I went to including the high school I graduated from. Then we went to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and had a good time there, which I have not been to in a long time! Next, we went to Springfield Lake and the park area, where in high school we did the extreme hill work outs for cross country there. Next, we made it to Bass Pro to show my friend how big it really is and ate at the restaurant there, which was okay. Then I showed him out in West Springfield the school I went to in Kindergarten and first grade and the rental house we lived in. Wow, that has changed nothing much used to be out that way and now it is all built up and growing!

Then, we made it to Wilson's Creek Battlefield, which was one of the biggest Civil War Battles west of the Mississippi. It was the 145th Anniversiry of the battle this weekend. We went through the museum and drove through the area and walked around a bit. I learned a little bit always. . . of course growing up I always considered myself pro-Union you know and that Missouri was on the good side since we were part of the Union, even though they allowed us to still have slaves. Okay, just a sidenote here. . . I am totally against slavery and think that is one of the worst pieces of our history in the United States. I just wanted to get that out before I talk to much into detail about stuff. Well, anyway we were going through the museum which was a bit biased towards the South, which reflects a lot of peoples' views in this area still today. Anyway, I didn't realize thast Southwest Missouri was a pivotal area and Southwest Missouri wanted to split from the rest of the state and join the Confederacy. Springfield was a major strategic city for both sides. Anyway, even though Wilson's Creek was won by the South, they still lost a lot of men and the North achieved what it wanted. But I have to say it was very surreal to walk on the battlefied, at "Bloody Hill" where most of the casualties happened and to see the cannons there. It was like you could feel it that something happened there, it was a deep feeling. I cannot really describe it. But then of course in the museum and stuff it talked about how by the end of the war Missouri was pretty much in chaos and the Union armies and stuff pretty much went through and ravaged people and destroyed everything. I am sure in this very pro-Southern area the Union didn't forget to put shame on this area also like they did in much of the South. Once again I am not saying the South should've won or anything, but it is apparent still to me the feelings of resentment towards the North for what they did to the South. Almost like the saying, "those damn yankees!" Just my little speal about that. . .

After that we met my parents for dinner at a local pizza place and then we went to the Springfield Cardinals game, the St. Louis Cardinals Double A team. Those are a lot of fun and I am going again tonight with my dad since we have season tickets. Then after that my friend and I went out for frozen custard and I showed him Drury University. Then we went home and played pool and a game of chess with a drink.

Good weekend! I am hoping to hear some vital stuff this week about Korea, I am getting excited! I'll keep you all posted.

Annyong haseyo! This is a the general greeting in Korea between people. Well, last week I had a great phone interview about teaching English in Korea for a year and was pretty much accepted! I might be going. . . . very very soon! I am still trying to process everything but maybe as soon as the end of the month to start a position with the Global Leadership Academy in a modern suburb just south of Seoul! I am very excited and pretty much telling all my family and getting everyone prepared for this next crazy step in my life. My dad, on the other hand, tonight is trying to give me another guilt trip like he did sometime ago about or surrounding the events of a grandparent's death. This time my grandma is pretty much in her last bouts with cancer, she is down to like 85 pounds and I guess my dad told her on the phone last week about my plans and she cried and pretty much said she would never see me again. My brother and I are going to see her tomorrow I think, but it is kind of a sticky situation. I have not really been close to her since we were little kids and she took care of us a lot, and my dad is not really close to her at all. It is one of those things where it is like I love her and everything, but I can't put my life on hold because of her and her upcoming passing. Wow - I really went off there for a second, but I am really excited about this opportunity and chance to go to Korea! One year in Korea and then more opportunities open up in other countries like South America where I can really pursue one of my dreams in a Spanish speaking country! I'll keep you all posted on when the departure date will be officially and what I will be doing and all of that fun stuff.

In other news, I just got back today from my trip to St. Louis and to Chicago for one day. I left here on Friday and pretty much went to my grandparents house. We had lunch that day and talked and then went to my tio's house in Lake St. Louis because they were going to help me find my friend's mom's house that I was going to the next morning. Well, it turns out it is really a small world because mis tios know my friend's family because they lived right next to them before they moved into a bigger house on more land. I stayed at my tio's house that night because it was closer and my step-aunt had a pretty good talk with me about my grandparents. Everyone is starting to really worry about them and asked me to talk to my grandma since I can and I have the appropriate background and we are pretty close. The next step for them probably needs to be a retirement community kind of situation.

Anyway, I went to my friend's house Saturday morning and we drove to Chicago. Two of the guys went to a soccer game because Chelsea was in Chicago. I hung out with the two girls because I didn't want to pay $55 for a ticket and we walked around a lot and just enjoyed the beautiful day in Chicago. That night we rode a boat at Navy Pier, a skyline tour and saw the city from the water with all the lights and everything, really loved it. We all also rode the ferris wheel that night too and watched the fireworks and later live music til about midnight. We spent the night in a Howard Johnson in the suburbs. Then Sunday we pretty much hung out at my friend's house in the swimming pool, riding on the "gator" like a four wheel type thing but bigger all across the land. These people had a lot of money and had whatever they wanted, including a hummer. We played tennis on Monday morning which I am horrible at and then spent a lot of time in the swimming pool, good times! I had a lot of fun with my friends and that was the most important part that we got along and bonded.

Monday night I went back to my grandparents' house and spent the night with them, all day Tuesday doing all kinds of things and driving the whole time. It was actually quit tiring. Then I went to the doctor with them this morning as requested by my uncle and aunt and that was good because my grandma who is supposedly taking care of my grandpa isn't doing too well. My grandpa who has dimensia pretty much was supposedly keeping track of all his medicine and taking it when he is supposed to. . . yeah right! Well, my grandma who everyone thought was keeping an eye on him and monitoring this situation hasn't been this whole time, so who knows what is going on with that. I told her before I left she has to do that for him and she needs to get my uncle or aunt over there to make sure she does it right too! I was in shock when she said she had no idea what medicine he takes when or anything. . . sometimes it seems like she is slipping pretty fast too! Old age, well I would say at least past 75 does not look appealing to me right now at all, I hope to God that I'll be accepting when my time comes for all that comes with it. I am sorry if I sound like I am talking about this a lot, but it is definitely a topic that is in my mind a lot with my grandparents and also from my social work education.

I think that is all I am going to say tonight.

This could be a long one. . .

I just finished watching the movie V for Vendetta downstairs with my brother downstairs, which I bought yesterday when it came out. Ever since I saw it in Miami for Spring Break, it is one of those movies that really stirs me. It is all about questioning authority, rebelling against what is the norm, going against the government for a greater cause, a better society, and a better country. This movie obviously has a lot of parellels and messages about current politics, but it just makes me get excited. I hope that I am always questioning the government, policies, those in power, etc. and really participate in my government wherever I settle down and more than just voting. I want to be involved in protests, letters to the government in whatever country I find myself, I want my voice to be heard. Especially if someday I am a practicing social worker somewhere. . . maybe someday.

*Some very big news - - please note. I have a phone interview tomorrow about teaching English in South Korea for a year. This is very exciting because there are a lot of opportunities and I could make some money doing it to save up for one day going to a Spanish speaking country. But this is exciting news because I think I will probably be offered a position with my experience and everything, plus the phone interview is the last step in the process. There are some questions I have and will have to make sure everything is good if I decide to do it. If everything works out who knows maybe I'll be going as early as late September to early October??? It looks like I am not going to be setteling down in any one place for a while, which is a bit exciting, but at the same time a bit unnerving to really think about. I just want to see the world and do everything I can while I have time and I am young before its too late or something. It is so crazy, but at the same time really exciting to think that I could be somewhere in South Korea in maybe two months or something!

But for the time being I did move back to Missouri on Sunday and everything has gone for the most part smoothly. It is nice in someways to be here for a while, but in other ways it is just weird. I have found myself these last couple days like walking around my house just trying to get used to it and explore everything. I have seen it, but home is so different from the home I knew before I left for college four years on many levels besides the fact that my parents remodeled everything pretty much and everything looks so different. But even here I don't really have many friends left in the area and I feel so out of place here in Springfield like it isn't my city, but at the same time it is. But Friday I am going up to St. Louis to visit my grandparents and then I am meeting some friends there. We are driving up to Chicago on Saturday for the day and then will explore St. Louis a little bit on Sunday which I have already seen and then I'll stay up an extra day on Monday and spend it with my grandparents again. Who knows. . . I might see my aunt and uncle too why I am there? The truth of the matter is that right now I am more excited about just being in St. Louis again after a good while and seeing my grandparents. Yes, my friends are my family but it is almost too soon to really miss them so that part does not excite me a ton. Plus while we are in Chicago and St. Louis they are going to want to see things and keep busy you know. I have already seen pretty much everything in St. Louis, but hey I shouldn't take my time for granted with people. And then one of my good friends from Kansas is coming down here the next weekend, so that is exciting. Actually, it is my friend from Michigan, but now he lives in Kansas.

What else? I finished Love in the Time of Cholera one of my all time favorite books now. I never really know for sure how I feel about Floretino Ariza though even at the end when it is almost natural that him and Fermina end up together. It is such a weird story, almost feels like it is in another world, but at the same time it almost feels familiar and natural to read it like you are there and can feel the same things and see the same things the characters see. And there are many ideas or thoughts in it that are so right on in many ways I think, that you could almost see them as pearls of wisdom about life, relationships, marraige, etc.
Now, I am on to another book that I have also read before but in Spanish. Yes, I am reading Of Love and Shadows in English by Isabel Allende that I read earlier this year in Spanish. I am finding that I understand the story a little bit better this time because I don't have to try so hard to get everything and just can breeze through it. But at the same time, I am finding in parts where I read it and I can like picture myself or I remember reading that part in Spanish before and how I felt at that time. It is a very beautiful story in my opinion.

Well, that is about it for now for this portion in history of my life.