Spring time, in Korea, is a time for festivals, festivities, and celebrations. My friend, Justine, mimed in a performing arts festival:
There was a lantern festival to celebrate Buddha’s birthday. After seeing 10,000 lanterns I was ‘lantern’d out’…
The breathing, hissing dragon was the best part
but had to take this one for my mom, since it’s her favorite animal:
HOWEVER, 🙂 =) ;-p the awesome celebration is under the radar. It’s an anniversary. May 7, 2009 was my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY. I’ve been in Korea for one year now. Honestly, most of the year I planned my ‘escape’ on a daily basis. I was sure–and let everyone who beckoned the idea for me to stay in Korea a second year– that the second my 1 year anniversary arrives, I was running out of this country like a chicken with my head cut off.
The reasons were many. Nevertheless, once I got past some painful experiences, I’ve been able to (slowly) feel positive results:
…and I aint just talking about Acupuncture. Despite being a mostly mountainous country
…I’ve still been sick way more than any other place or time in my life…honestly around 90% of the time. Yet, when the opportunity arrives to experience the country and people’s beauty…
the resulting calming affect keeps me going just long enough.
No, I’m not certain of what career path I’ll be in for the rest of life.
No, I’m not a perfect Christian; my relationship does waver with my God.
No, I don’t have the Baywatch beach body after eating lots of Korean food.
No, I’m not a lot of things I wish I were, but I will say after having deeply considered and faced head-on many trails and tribulations this past year in Korea, I’m probably a “better me” than before, and that’s something to celebrate about.
By the way: I extended my contract another 4 months in Korea. There will be no chicken-with-the-head-cut-off running out of the country, but on the contrary I’m sure some tears will probably be shed when it’s time to say goodbye. Maybe ‘bittersweet’ is the result of perseverance.
A Line in the Life of Phoebe* 
Yes, I’m proud of you for sticking it out…and see what comes to listening to your mom (and others!)??? If you’d been stubborn and not listened to others advice, you would have missed out on seeing how it all came together, and how you changed and grew. I’m glad you made the right decision. Please remember for future reference!!!! 🙂
Still, a year is a long time, and I miss you!!!
Love, Mom
good job phoebe! like mom said i’m proud of you for not escaping and for staying to experience some amzing times. i am sorry you were sick so often and that you had some big health scares but it seems like you are really maturing and are on the path to better health!
i’m hoping i can meet up with you in the fall! i got amanicure yesterday(only the second in my life!) and the lady was vietnamese and she got very excited when i told her i was thinking about going. unfortunately she didnt speak much english so i couldn’t understand most of what she was saying-but she got a starry eyed lok in her eye and mentioned motoring around ho chi minh city on her sister’s motorscooter. 🙂
Thanks fam 🙂 A year is a long time to be away from loved ones, but you know we can’t handle being in each other’s presence for that long anyways…I know one thing hasn’t really changed in any of us..we are all strong-headed haha. And T-motorscooter is just what I wanna do in Vietnam…really hope you make it and we can all experience Vietnam togetherness…Thanks for all the luv and support. Be Hoa.