wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Anyeong! Dear diary, things are super duper crazy these days. Not only are the season's changing (love love love), but my life is a changing, too! Twenty four (count 'em) days until I see my loved ones in the USA! This calls for a moment of reminiscing.

Okay this is way ridiculous and cheesy, but a few years ago someone was handing out superlatives about friends and I received the, "Most likely to live abroad," title. I laughed and my eyes did that whole eyebrow furrow that speaks a very loud, "uh, I don't think so, but whatever you say." A few years later and I'm sitting here at 11 months into residing in a foreign country. And I'm really all the better for it.

They say that you learn about yourself when you travel abroad... And while I think that's definitely true in some respects, I think you learn more about other people. At least in my situation that's how it's panned out. Or perhaps I'm just oblivious to any personal changes and I'm like this super shiny new woman now (dubious). But really, looking at my "old lifestyle" and "old friends" and "old problems" from the outside really puts things in perspective. You learn about the people who want to stay in contact and perhaps get a little sad about those who, just maybe, forget about you once your physical proximity has doubled in distance. You learn about just how different you and your country and your peers and elders are in relation to all these other people digging their feet into the soil around our pretty planet.

I can honestly say that I wouldn't trade this year for anything. Nothing. Okay well maybe a pair of Manolo's in every style and a--no. Nope. Nothing. I jumped into the decision to move to Korea way too fast, but it truly worked out for the best. With that said, I am quite eager to see my family and friends. I am looking forward to going to the bank without fretting about someone being able to speak English. I'm looking forward to a little more room in my living quarters. I'm looking forward to hanging out with my friends and family who I haven't seen in a year. I'm looking forward to hopping in my car and driving somewhere, anywhere. I'm looking forward to cheap fruit (and will never pay $5 for a peach). I'm looking forward to more diversity and acceptance of diversity. I'm looking forward to shopping for bra's that fit me. I'm looking forward to house parties with good friends. I'm looking forward to really starting my career. There are so many more!

Naturally, I need to list things I will miss about Korea:

I will miss walking down the street and seeing my students wave and shout "Wendy teacher" and "Wendy boy (aka David)." I will miss cheap sushi around the corner at all hours of the day. I will miss the ease of public transportation. I will miss seeing lots of people wandering the streets. I will miss feeling safe 24/7, even at 3:30am in a dark alley after I've had a little too much Soju (though I will not miss Soju). I will miss fresh, homemade tofu sold for pennies. I will miss not being able to understand people talking. I will miss my really big spacious office. I will miss my co-teacher and advisor who have become dear friends. I will miss free fruit, coffee and sweets from students and colleagues who make a habbit out of giving you things (I've received everything from a giant cake - no reason - to a cup of hot coffee to chocolate from another country to flowers to an apple). I will miss the ease of traveling to another country for super cheap.

Enough soggy nonsense. I'm going to switch gears here pretty drastically. Wedding talk. It's okay to click that "x" at the top.

Anyway, I did another draft of the wedding programs. They are quite different from the ones in the previous post. I decided to do something that matched with the programs more. This is phase 2 of the project so I still have a few more adjustments to make. Perhaps minor, not sure yet. I like the basic design of it though. And printed on a soft linen stock paper these'll be all classy and crap. Photo:

Thoughts?

Other weddings things:

• RSVP's are rolling in now. I've asked that everyone RSVP by the 31st of August, but I did so because I figured there'd be lots of stragglers. I'm still waiting to hear back from quite a few people, but enthralled with those who are coming (even some I didn't expect would be able to make it!)
• I'm still working out ideas for tent decor. If anyone has any ideas, please send me your thoughts. My grandmother (who was a florist and did many weddings) is putting together the centerpieces which are going to be so autumnal and lovely! As for the actual tent decor, I'm thinking of hanging paper lanterns and then making these pom-poms from the woman I worship (Props to Martha)!
• I've got so many appointments scheduled for the week after we return. That first week I have a dress fitting, florist meeting, cake meeting, harpist meeting, hair appointment/makeup run through and wedding shower. David's coming with me to some (aka not the dress fitting or hair) and picking up a bajillion bottles of wine from Oliver Winery.
  
• You don't care.

Mmk, last thing for this bohemoth update. Photos, as promised, from our recent vacation. These are from Beijing and just might be my favorite set. This particular set are shots from around the city, random captures of Beijing life and times.

Our hostel


Eating Chinese food! Mm!




Around the city

We stopped to get some coffee. Cute and delicious.




Then we happened upon this fellow near our hostel. He sold some pretty outrageous things...


Like scorpions on a stick


And larvae on a stick


And, well, you can see for yourself


Mm?



Chinglish?


Pretty building


My ugly Korean samseon slippers broke and David fixed it for me...it was an unfortunate situation.






One of my favorites.








Mao Tse Tung Memorial Hall


His body is still inside...




Guards pushing people back so they could lower the flag.

These next photos are from Wangfungjin Market where they sell the weirdest foods. The surrounding area is considered the heart of Beijing.




Yes, those are testicles. On a stick.


weird!






He screamed, "I love you," just as I took this picture.










Okay, that's all for now. This blog entry keeps growing and growing. I have a bunch more to post from around the city and then I want to do an update from both The Forbidden City, the Lama Temple and then another from THE Great Wall! Soon, soon.

Love, Wendy City