and this is all that's left, scraping paper to document, it's time to move on

Welp. Here we are. The night before David and I depart for good ol' America. It's a bittersweet feeling, but I think I'm ready ready ready to go.

Goguma, the sweet little thing, is totally weirded out. She's looking around the vacant apartment, sniffing the suitcases and looking at me half inquisitively, half-disapproving. This is her home. But I'm sure that she'll love Naptown. There's lots of handsome felines roaming the streets on our block. Aw, our pretty block with cobblestone roads and shady trees. I can't wait to tend to our little garden. I know it's getting cold but perhaps I can grow at least one thing? We'll see.

I can't wait to arrange all the furniture, gather some firewood and start a fire in the fireplace (which David and I haven't done yet in our apartment!). And the wedding is so soon -- I'm viewing it as more of a welcome home party. I think I'll put together a slideshow and some other things to reflect our travels together. David, that good looking bugger, and I have had a wild year.

Anyway, as I said, it's a bittersweet feeling leaving Korea. I know that I'm ready to head home now, but I will miss everything that Hanam and Seoul have had to offer. From late night trips to grab kimchi mandu to children screaming our names to the friends we've made who are (quite literally) from all over the globe. It's especially sad to say goodbye to those people because the likelihood of us all getting together in one place again is quite small. Still, though, David and I have dates planned for Canada, the UK and South Africa. And of course those folks living in the States. Sigh Sigh Sigh.

What a year...

I figured that it'd be more appropriate to post photos that related more to going away. So, here they are. Photos from our going away party and a few other things.

A few phoos from the apartment...

Our refrigerator, full of love from the US.


Check out that rad pink blanket!!


I have grown to love this kimchi-smelling place, but I am looking forward to a more spacious domain! :P


Goguma loves looking outside. :)

Mmk - so for our goodbye party we went to Chicken/Hof and then went to noraebang (karaoke). Afterward we hit Lenny's for what everyone in Hanam calls "Lenny-bang."


David, Dante and Lenny make some noise to kill dead air!


Sing it!


Two South African's and a South Korean (A new sitcom?)


David fell in with this lovable Brit named Lenny Leneghan!


See?




Bertus found a new use for his pants. Kate asked, "How does he push the buttons?" The answer? "That's what friends are for." True statement.




Check out what is in David's hand!


Aw

Off to Lenny's we go.


That is beer. In a bowl. No questions were asked about this.


Hey, it totally works.


Oh god, I'm such a lucky lady.


I just got luckier.


I'm not sure where the hats came from...


But they inspired some American-like yee-haws.


David wanted to punch him all night.


Again...


Nice glasses!


BFFFFF

Okey dokey -- next set of photos. These two are from a lunch David and I had with my co-teacher and adviser on Saturday afternoon. It was a traditional Korean meal with all the side dishes/sit on the floor/etc. The food was outstanding! I will miss Korean food, and my Korean colleagues, for sure.


Yeon Hee, my co-teacher, is on the left. Joy (Mrs. Heo) is on the right.



Last, last last thing! On Saturday night, David, Kate, Gemma and I went to a Korea Hwe (raw fish) restaurant. We ate the traditional Korean meal called "Sannakji," which literally translates into Live (San) Octopus (Nakji). All they do to prepare it is grab the octopus out of the tank, cut its tentacles off and cut it into smaller pieces. Then they place it on a plate with oil/sesame and serve it to you. The catch is that the tentacles are still alive/moving around. They suction onto the plate/your mouth and so you chew it really, really well and then swallow it. There really isn't much taste. You dip it in a red chili pepper paste (the same we used for Chogae Goo-ee, grilled shell fish) which is actually really delicious.

I didn't take photos of it because I figured there'd be more of an impact if there was a video. There are two very short videos. Enjoy!

Take 1


and...

Take 2


So, Korea. I'm out. USA - prepare yourself.
Love, Wendy City

You were blowing kisses and I was waiting in the car

Anyeong, dear hearts. Wow. I'm kind of in state of shock these days. David and I have less than a week left in Korea and I'm beside myself, lost in a chaotic, half-confetti drenched web of glee, fear, confusion, poignancy and obliviousness. I swear to God I can't picture my life back in the United States. I just can't do it...it's so, so strange. What a weird feeling I'm having...oh dear. I say to myself, "Well, maybe I need one more month, a few more weeks, blah blah." But then I know that if that were the case I'd yearn for the day to be closer. And then once it was, I'd have a repeat of this strange feeling. There should be a name for this feeling. I will coin one.

I'm not going to lie, I've been quite emotional recently. It's ridiculous, really. I mean, commercial's are bringing me to tears. And today I went to the teacher's conference, held every Monday, and started getting all weepy in front of all my colleages as a hearty thank you speech spilled from my lungs. Though less than 1/4 probably understood what I was saying, I think the lone tear that filled up the space between my eyelids demonstrated my love for Chunhyun. My school has been so, so good to me. I cannot express how blessed I was to have such a wonderful co-teacher, my friend, and an advisor, my friend and teacher, such great students. Sure, there are a few varments out there, but I love them just as much.

I didn't think I would get so attached to this country, to my students, to this lifestyle. I didn't realize I would break anyone's heart because I was leaving. I came into it all quite bad at teaching, heartbreakingly homesick, nervous, shy and scared. I surprised myself in Korea - I did something I never imagined I would do. And after a few months I did it with gusto and, I dare say, a bit of talent. It was strange to watch my anxiety melt into joy.

So here I am. 6 days away from my long anticipated departure.

Anyway, as promised, here are photos from the one and only Great Wall of China. It was an incredible trip and completely worth the spontaneous vacay to Beijing. I can tell you, after hobbling around the Pyramids on camels, camping out in the Amazon, cuddling next to Tigers in Thailand, hiking Mt. Sinai, seeing the Harajuku girls do their thing in Tokyo...the Great Wall of China surpasses them all in impressiveness. There are few things with such history and beauty that you have the opportunity to climb and walk all over. I'll never forget the long sweaty hike up all those stairs and the cool breeze (and kisses shared with David) in the watch towers of the Mighty Great Wall; the expansive landscape rustling around us. Remarkable. I hope that you can experience even an ounce of the energy we felt while roaming around the ancient landmark. Enjoy:

hola, it's me!


David + beer





















































Finishee, Wendy City