Changes...

This weekend was summer camp for the SDA Language Institute across South Korea. The place was supposed to be a resort, but I have to say, it was more like camping in really old cabins. Except that the cabins were stacked up one on top of the other into a really tall, really old building. I have to say, I've never camped in a building before.

I saw all my friends from my orientation group, whom around here grow to be your family, and I met some great new people. This retreat was exactly what I needed in my life. Did I need the horrible food or the oppressing humidity or the late nights and early mornings? No, not really, but I needed to talk to someone outside of my daily circle. On TV shows and movies, there's always a character who's life is their work and work their life. I always wondered how it got to the point where your work is it, it is your life. Now I understand. You socialize with the same people, you bring your work home with you (literally) and your whole life revolves around the same people day in and day out. I didn't understand the toll this was taking on my mental sanity until I got to camp this weekend and was able to talk to other foreigners. It was literally like someone had reached down into my soul and lifted this huge weight that had gradually been pressing me down. I realize why people say variety is the spice of life. It is also something I'll have to consider for the future when I'm thinking of what I want to do with my life.

Koreans eat rice, kimchee and soup for breakfast EVERYDAY. This is also what they served for breakfast at camp EVERYDAY. The food less than substandard, but the company was great. In talking to other people, I was able to see just how much I've changed from living in a foreign country and relying only on God for everything. I been practicing holding my tongue even when I feel there's something I really want to say. I've learned that unless people ask you, they really don't care. I've learned to be more assertive in what I need, want or believe in, regardless of the toes I step on. This by far has been the most challenging. I've learned that I used to be scandalous. Seriously so. I've since learned I don't like scandalous people and frankly, it's somewhat riddiculous. Outgoing, fun, lively and loud are things I don't mind to be, but I can never be scandalous ever again. It really just makes you look stupid and attention despreate. I learned that true beauty and intelligence is better highlighted in holding back than showing off. I've learned the secret to being the most popular boy's favorite girl. Not by being the sexiest or funniest or skinniest, but simply by showing that you care. I am a complicated person with emotions, opinions and philisophical ideas, but not everyone cares. I'm just looking to find those who care enough to pay attention. If they don't, maybe that's their loss.

Whew!! And I thought I was already mature...

Chopsticks. And not the Piano kind.

I am astonished and amazed at all the various uses for chopsticks and the things you can eat with them. To prove my point, I will now proceed to list the various foods or uses I have had or seen for chopsticks in Korea.
1. Eat rice with seaweed. I actually learned this with my American friends before I met any Koreans and had just arrived in Korea. You have to pick up the rice with the seaweed using the chopsticks in a very calculated way.

2. Feeding a baby. Who knew?

3. Eating spaghetti. When pasta was invented in Italy, I’m not sure what they used to eat it but I’m assuming it wasn’t chopsticks.

4. Eating cake. You really can’t just ask for a sliver.

5. Eating watermelon. In retrospect, this actually seems like a great idea. Just stab it and you’re good to go. However, it gives you second thoughts when the red juices run down your arms, making you feel like you’ve killed someone.

6. Making spaghetti. This was actually surprising and actually kinda difficult. In order to test the doneness of the pasta you actually have to fish it out with said utensils. Eating made spaghetti is also difficult and Kristina's least favorite chopstick food. I have found, however, there is a method to the madness.

7. Fried chicken. Yeah, I would have never imagined.

8. Separating pizza slices. Sort of what you’d use a table knife for.

9. Scrambled eggs. Yeah.

10. Pancakes. For this one I almost caved and used a spoon.

11. French fries. Why don’t you use your hands? I don’t know.

12. Holding your hair back as you wash dishes. Ok so this one is just me.

13. Splitting foods. Of course, in lieu of knives, which don’t exist in Korea.

14. Mixing food in a bowl. How do you accomplish this you may ask? Ahhh. Very carefully young grasshopper. Very carefully.

15. Picking the onions out of your food. Now this isn’t exclusive to chopsticks but it does offer an advantage over a fork because frankly, chopsticks are more precise. This has been most beneficial for me.

16. Steak. This one is difficult, but most of the time, steak and other big hunks of food come to Korean tables already chopstick friendly.

17. Pastries. Oddly, most of these in Korea are made of rice or barley.

18. Pizza!!! Believe it. It works

19. Ice Cream! Ok I’m kidding about this one. But I would not be surprised to find it to be true.

20. Doughnuts. This one is tried and true. My students brought me doughnuts and picked them out with chopsticks.
21. Brie and crackers. I didn’t have a knife so I did what any other Korean would have done. Improvised with chopsticks.