Honestly, now.

I’ve been home for two weeks and three, no, four days.

I was warned, warned, and warned again that coming home was difficult.  So, heeding advice from those who had come before me, I braced myself.  With the dim awareness that an ant on a tire possesses (it knows that something…..big……is going on), I stepped off the plane in Dallas.

Besides the sensory overload, which I had fully expected, I was okay.  I could read all the signs.  I could understand every snippet of conversation that I overheard (whether I wanted to or not).  I even expected to be about the average height (for a guy.  not for a woman.  I’ve always been a little on the tall side).  But there was one thing I had not prepared myself for.

Obesity.

According to research done at John Hopkins University, by 2015 three-quarters of the population will be “battling the flab.”  Also by that time, 24 % of children (children!) will be obese.  After a year of being in Korea and then walking through the Dallas airport, I realized how serious the situation is.  It’s startling to deal with the contrast.  And it’s not just that.   A few weeks ago, if I mentioned that I needed to work out and get back into shape,  I would be met with nods of approval.  Heck, one of my Korean friends even mentioned to me that I could stand to lose some weight (her reason was that I should diet so I could “get a husband,” but she was honestly well-intentioned).  However, I remember saying something similar and someone tell me to shut because I was “just fine.”  The whole attitude about health is startlingly different.  I could go on (and on and on and on), but I that’s not the direction I want to go with this.  Basically, I was a little surprised at physical differences.

Moving on.  Jet lag.  The worst I’ve ever dealt with in my  life.  (My sister agrees.)  For the first week, I couldn’t sleep at night.  Being active helped, but only to a degree.  I would get so tired while driving, I would pull over and take naps.  After that, I wasn’t too terribly surprised when I came down with strep (or something close enough to it that the doctor treated me for strep).  But this isn’t really what I want to focus on either.

Since about 2003, I’ve been struggling for a sense of direction.  There were paths that I was interested in taking, but not so certain that I would actually pursue them.  I was hesitant and unsure.  And for a while, I was okay with that.  But then I graduated (because I was out of money) and ran away to Korea (because I didn’t have anything better planned).  Korea gave me the opportunity to have some time to think, save a little, travel a little, and just settle down.  I discovered that I’m a pretty darn good teacher, but I don’t want to teach for a living.  And that I deal well with strange situations.   The list of things I learned could fill a book or two.  But about the time I became comfortable was about the time I came home.

I came home to a new nephew, my loving and increasingly quirky parents (I say with with love and affection. My dad’s latest project is to fix up his antique plane and he’s as happy as a kitten with cream about his brand new 4-wheeler.  Both parents are having fun fussing over their grandkids.), a sister busy traveling, a sister busy mothering, and a sister busy with work and school and life, my lovely, nutty old friends, and a few new friends.

I ached to discover (or re-discover) that a few friendships had crumbled from the lack of communication, or maybe mis communications.   Time heals all, but apparently a year wasn’t enough.

But the majority (at times overwhelming) of my friendships weathered the year and my abysmal  correspondence rather nicely.  It was also nice to realize that I had friends that I didn’t know about. 

I discovered that I know a published author.  The book is “Twenty Grand and other stories of Love and Money,” by Rebecca Curtis.  Rebecca Curtis taught at KU for a year or so and I took a few classes from her.  She was deceptive.  I don’t mean that she was a liar or anything the like.  She came across rather quiet and meek.  However, her writing is strong with a wicked edge of humor.  I highly recommend it.

I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a good reason for me not to win the lottery.  I would have way too much free time.  Granted, I would probably just go back to school and study until my eyeballs fell out.  However, in these weeks in between jobs I find myself in a strange lull.  It’s just odd.  I enjoy it somewhat, but it is still strange.

Back to my lack of direction.  My sister told me about a really great academic counselor.  I figured that I could use a compass, so I made an appointment.

The following hour and half was intense, and that’s a gross understatement.   I was brought to tears at the amount of passion this man put into his job.  After looking over my transcript and resume, he talked with me.  The amount of faith he had in me was incredible.  We both came to the conclusion that I belonged in a “helping” profession.  Which really didn’t come as a surprise.  One sibling is a nurse, one was a teacher, and one is studying to be a pharmacist.  He said it was probably the way we were raised.  I had to agree (thanks Mom!).  By then end of the appointment, I had a stack of paper and a few clues.  I’m still not sure what I want to be.  Right now it’s kinda a toss up between occupational therapist and physician’s assistant.  But at least I know what classes I’ll need to take when I come back.

I didn’t realize how much I missed having a plan until I found one again.  I called my friend Summer and together we marveled about how different the world looks when you have a plan.

So it comes down to this: While I’m really, really looking forward to my next year abroad, I’m also really, really looking forward to the years after that.

Peace.

I’m back in Kansas for a month or so.  (I’m planning on going back to Korea sometime in October.)  I’m finally (finally!) starting to get over jet lag.  Granted, I’m going to bed around 7pm and waking up at 2am, but at least I’m sleeping.

So, one year down.  I think I’ll have another go of it. 

The last week of my contract my sister came to visit me.  She got to see me teach (and teach a little herself) and we had a blast traveling around Seoul and Jeju.  Here are some of the highlights:

Jeju-An amazing place to visit.  We got to hike and see waterfalls and mostly importantly……go to a jimjilbang (a Korean-style sauna)!!  Lisa and I treated ourselves to a body scrub and complete massage.  Korean massages are wonderful, if a little painful.  (Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch…….ahhhhh……)  People are kind in Korea, but people were exceedingly  kind in Jeju.  Strangers gave us rain slickers when it was raining and the hotel owner would drive us to our chosen destination each morning because it was “too hot to walk.”  And there was always, always someone to help out if we lost our way. 

Teaching-Lisa and I got to play with kindergarteners for a day.  Exhausting, but fun.

Insadong-A great little shopping district in Seoul (think Mass Street meets Korea for all the Kansans).

Changdoekgung Palace-Where you can wander around, enjoy some quiet away from busy Seoul.

Anyways, the pictures will do more than anything I write here.  Please enjoy!