zeldalee13

Waking up. Padding to the kitchen in stocking feet. Putting the kettle on. Performing my morning ablutions. Turning off the burner. Rinsing the press. Placing 1 scoop House Blend 2 scoops Espresso blend into the Bodum. Pouring the hot water over the grounds. Stirring it with a chopstick. Placing the lid gently over the steaming liquid. Waiting 3-5 minutes. Sitting down with the press and a fresh coffe mug.

I love my morning coffee routine. It is definitely a simple indulgence that I would have a hard time giving up.

My picks are bolded.

WORST PICTURE OF 2009
"All About Steve"
"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra"
"Land of the Lost"
"Old Dogs""
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"
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I never really enjoyed my birthday as a child because it was a bit too close to Christmas for comfort and, due to the scheduling of school holidays, it usually ended up being the day or day-after the end of winter break.

This year I realized that not much has changed. Last year I actually skipped my birthday due to the cosmic pull of international travel (left the U.S. on January 2nd/ arrived in Korea on January 4th); and this year my birthday ended up being the weekend after my first week teaching.

Nevertheless, with age comes wisdom and this year I realized that it is nice to get a fresh start with a new year just as I am turning another year older.

All Koreans age with the new year. It is simply the way that Korean age is calculated. A baby is born 1-year-old and as soon as the new year turns over turns 2. By their calculation a baby born on December 1st would be 1 year old, and after one month in the world on January 1st would be 2.

It was interesting to see that as all the Westerners were excited about celebrating New Years Eve (which isn't a major holiday here--most Koreans save their celebrations for Lunar New Year, which usually comes in late January/early February), most of the Korean professors viewed it with dread. I heard "but it means we're getting older" many times.

This consistent refrain made me wonder about the cultural concept of the new year. The common western image is of the Old Man yielding to the Bouncing Baby each January 1st. Though I am now not sure that this concept is universal, I am happy to be starting fresh yet again!

Things I love about Korea:

Male friends holding hands while walking down the street. I love the fact that men feel comfortable showing affection. Though we like to think that Americans are more free, our social codes are just as restrictive as those in Asia, just in different ways. It is also common to see female friends walking arm in arm, which is a great way to show your appreciation for their companionship.

Drinking in public. Korean society has always included social drinking as a normal part of life. It is not abnormal to see a group of hikers at the top of a mountain seated in a circle sharing a bottle of soju (rice wine). You can buy alcohol at the 7-11 and there is a plastic table and chairs on the sidewalk outside to provide for a very inexpensive and impromptu bitch session.

Jimjilbang/Public saunas. I've said it once, and I'll say it again: Americans are prudes (and I am a recovering Westerner). I love the sun, I love the water, I love pools, I love hottubs, I love the ocean (notice a theme here?). I am continuously surprised that I am not a Pisces. Korean traditional culture has evolved around the public bath, just like ancient Greece. You enjoy the relaxing waters, sweltering sauna, and stifling steam room then retreat to an ondol (floor) heated room to take a nap in the nude. Women from all walks of life are there chatting with their friends, scrubbing down their children, and refreshing themselves with no self-consciousness.

Public transportation. I was in a car today--it was the first time in 6 months that someone I knew drove me somewhere. I am amazed by the efficiency across the country (and especially in the city) that has been achieved through a reliable public transportation system.

Being away from politics. Though I am a passionate political watcher, I am relieved to be able to control my exposure. I read the news, of course, but being away from the day-to-day drama has allowed me a certain detachment from the ups and downs of the new Obama administration. However, another added advantage I have is to see America through my students eyes. I was fortunate to teach 2 courses of advanced level students in which we discussed a variety of cultural and political issues. I love it!

Being in an uber-diverse city. Despite the fact that I am an uber-minority, there is a lot of diversity within the minority (non-Korean) people here. A few weekends ago I had lunch with people from Nepal, Ecuador, Canada, Belgium, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, and Korea. It was amazing, if not incendiary. I met these people through, shockingly, my Korean class. I am in talks with my Nepali friend to visit and do some volunteer teaching in his home-country (I have been considering volunteering in an orphanage in a less developed country, such as Thailand or Vietnam for some time, but it makes much more sense to go somewhere where I know someone).

I miss my friends and the comforts and familiarity of home, but I am having a great year. I am definitely renewing (due to the economy and other factors) for another.

I am backdating my photographs from Cambodia (placing the original date on the entry), so as you come to check my progress you will have to scroll backwards a little bit.

I caused a lot of confusion on Facebook when, after returning from Cambodia, I stated "I'm glad to be home" (or something to the equivalent). Well, I am back in my home, my apartment in Seoul. And I am very happy to be here. My trip to Cambodia was a wild adventure full of thrills (Angkor Wat), spills (I fell and sprained my ankle while wearing my 20+ lb. backpack), chills (The Killing Fields), bills (the dominant currency is not the local riel, but actually the greenback American dollar), deals (my Christmas 2009 shopping is done), fills (Cambodian food is, like Thai food, delicious), gills (I went reef snorkeling for the first time), hills (hiking in the temples of Siem Reap in 100 degree heat takes its toll), pills (for travelers diarrhea), quills (I filled an entire journal with my musings and attempts to make sense of it all), seals (bottled water of the reputable variety is a must), tills (when drinks are $1 and meals are $3, ring me up!), and wills (mostly battles of the wills, either internally or with aggressive... everyone else).

I will be working on posting my pictures and reactions as the week goes on. It's good to be back!

My Bungalow at Queen Hill Resort ZERO thumbs up. They are using the term Resort very loosely. This is where a rat ate my backpack. while I slept. in the same room.

Otres Beach Considering the fact that I had to stay off my feet for two days, I journeyed to the beach, sat in a hammock, and stayed there all day long. Doctor's orders!

Sunset at Otres Beach

Queen Hill

Day 8 consisted of cross-country travel. I took a 4 hour boat ride from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh on the Tonle Sap River. Then a 4 hour bus ride from Phnom Penh to the seaside town of Sihanoukville. During my 'layover' in Phnom Penh disaster struck. While wearing my 11kg (24 lb) backpack, I fell down some stairs inside the boat dock's darkened waiting room, badly spraining my ankle. Nevertheless, I was unprepared to stay in the city for the night, so I went to the restroom, cried and collected myself, then proceeded to the bus stop. I tried to elevate my ankle while on the bus ride and as soon as I disembarked at Sihanoukville headed to a clinic recommended by LP. Definitely sprained, the doctor recommended I implement RICE + stay off it for 2 days.
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