July-the first few days of August

After I got back from the wedding the time now seems a bit of a blur. We had only a few more weeks left.
This is what I remember:
-Being able to go to Wolgwang English Ministry the Sunday after we got back. We went out for lunch with a couple friends from church Karen and Sharon. We always tried to get as many people from our group at church to go with us, but sometimes people were busy. We couldn't always go ourselves. This particular time we decided to go to TGIF. We didn't think it would be anything out of the ordinary, but it was. We have to look back and laugh about it.
-I got sick AGAIN. In the middle of needing to pack, wanting to spend time with people and get things ready for the last week of school I got sick. I think it was a 2 week spread. I went to the doctor again. He listened to my cough and decided that I should have a Vitamin C and nutrient IV. I said you want me to do what?! He said it wouldn't be bad. I told him that he just finally got me used to getting blood tests and he wanted me to do an IV.
I finally agreed to try it. I had already felt like a huge baby anyways and didn't want to continue the trend. I also was sick of feeling sick. I laid down on the bed and the nurse came over right away with the "stuff." I told her I was nervous. I braced myself - and it wasn't that bad at all. It was no worse than a blood test, which isn't bad at all. All I have to say is that Korean nurses are gifted with needles or they just have better needles. Maybe it's the environment and the quickness of the process, too. I don't know. I just know that I would rather get blood work done in Korea than in the US. I made sure I went in to tell the doctor afterward that it wasn't bad at all. Actually, I recommend it. He said that I should start feeling better the next day. He also gave me antibiotics as well to clear up my cough. By the end of the following week I was really much better.
-During all of this being sick stuff we were also looking for a job. We found a recruiter that worked at finding jobs in Gwangju and stuck with working with him. He gave us options, but we were being particular and doing our homework. We wanted to make sure the contract we get has good vacation times, sick days, good hours and good pay. Really a basic contract. So our recruiter started looking for us. When he didn't have much luck in Gwangju we went ahead and told him to check around the other cities. We were most interested in Busan, Daegu, and Daejeon. Still there wasn't much. Finally he found that there were public schools near Seoul. That would be the best option. We had been hoping for public school so he started the process for us.
- During July we were also trying to get together with our friends since we didn't know if we would be back in the area. We can always travel from where ever we are, but it's not quite the same.
We were able to get together with our co-teachers. We went to have galbi - Korean BBQ - with Tara, Charles and his wife Ness and their son Matthew. It was nice. We went on a Friday night after work so we were all a bit tired, but we enjoyed great food and fellowship.
We also had an night out with Tara. We should be able to see her again as she is planning to do summer and winter camps and return to university at home in Australia. We were sad to leave her. She has become a great and special friend. Tara and I especially had fun times together shopping and watching girlie movies together. We enjoyed our girl times.
-I was also able to get together with Ness to teach her how to bake brownies. I brought back a boxed brownie mix and I also showed her how to make scratch brownies. We had a nice time together. She really enjoyed learning and they tasted great!
-During our last week we finally realized that we would be going to Seoul. We hadn't signed a contract yet, but we really felt like God was leading us there. So we told our church that we wouldn't be coming back - that this would be our last week. We are hoping to visit, but we are not sure how often. The church gave us a nice goodbye. They gave us a gift of tradition, handmade paper fans. They are beautiful. They also sent us off with their prayers. It was a special day.
-After church we wanted to have lunch with all of our friends, but since we didn't know until the last minute we were only able to get together for a goodbye lunch with a few of them. We went to Outback. It was a nice lunch! Only 2 of the girls got to come, which tended to happen a lot. Cameron was always the "ladies man." One of the guys was supposed to come, but something had come up and wasn't able to. We had a good time!
- The last weeks at school were bittersweet. We were excited to be going home for our vacation, but we were sad because there were many students that we had grown attached to. I had really gotten to enjoy my young phonics class - beginners with ABCs. They were so cute and fun. I also enjoyed my highest phonics class. They really seemed to like to learn and wanted to get good grades. They are at that age where they want you to like them. The boys in that class were a bit of a challenge.
Cameron also had his favorite classes. He really enjoyed working with the high school students and he loved his middle elementary students. He had a few girls that had crushes on him - it was so cute! They gave him goodbye notes before we left.
It was nice to feel so loved! We will miss many of our students!
-We had a nice lunch out with our boss' the last weekend. They took all of us teachers out for lunch at a very traditional galbi (Korean BBQ) restaurant. At this restaurant we sat in kind of a circle and cooked over hot coals. They also gave us a tray that sat over a cauldron - that served as sort of a table. We had duck. It was my first time. It was good, but I decided I preferred pork galbi better.
-Packing! Packing was quite a challenge. Cameron and I have kind of a system. I organize and he packs. He is just good at it so I let him handle it - not without asking him if he wants help. I tried to help him as much as I could. We had accumulated so much STUFF! How does this happen in only a year?! Thankfully we were able to leave a bunch of stuff there until we would return. When we get back we will have movers take it to Seoul for us.
-Cleaning! We cleaned that apartment so it was as spotless as we could! I wanted the next teachers to feel as at home when they got there without feeling gross! The teachers the left before us did a good job cleaning for us and I wanted to leave a good impression for the next teachers as well. I was almost getting a bit obsessive-compulsive, checking every nook and cranny.
-And finally it came time to catch the bus to Seoul. Our boss' brother came to pick us up Monday night at 10pm. We were catching the bus at 1am to Incheon Airport. We carried with us 4 large suitcases, 2 carry-ons, and 2 backpacks - basically we took full advantage of what was allowed. The bus trip took almost 4 hours. We arrived close to 5am. I was not feeling that best at all - my anxiety level is the worst early in the morning. My stomach was not feeling very good either. Cameron and I found a seat close to where we thought we were to check in and he went in search for some Cider (lemon-lime soda), crackers, and granola bars for me. I believe he also got a snack for himself.
I was really hoping that we would be able to sleep somewhere for a while. Cameron checked into the hotel they have in the airport that has hourly rates for travelers. I know that sounds bad, but that is what it is. We were bummed to find out that it was after immigration so we had to wait until after we checked in at 6:15am. We finally were able to check-in, Cameron ate breakfast, we went through security and immigration. We knew we only had a few hours if we wanted to sleep for a while so we investigated the hotel. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep on a bench in the middle of the busy airport. We found the hotel to be very nice - the rates were a bit expensive, but worth it. I was also able to get a bowl of white rice for breakfast which was good for my stomach. The room was small, but it was just like a normal hotel room with a bathroom, TV, bed, and fridge. It was crazy to think that just outside the hotel was the airport in all it's hustle and bustle. It was soooo nice to be able to lie down and have a bit of peace in the middle of all of the craziness.
And that was only the beginning! We then had a flight to Tokyo, then from Tokyo to LA, from LA to Chicago and finally from Chicago to Buffalo! We had a few delays, but thankfully we didn't miss any flights. Our flights went fairly well - not without those few small annoyances, but we made it. Our last flight was delayed and we started getting a bit antsy! We were getting really anxious to be home. We finally arrived in Buffalo after 38 hours of traveling!

Adam and Marissa's Wedding

I was excited to be able to go to my brother's wedding. I left early Thursday morning to take the bus to the airport in Incheon. My flight was to leave Thursday around 11am. My flights went exceptionally well. I really felt like I had the peace of God. I had been really worried about flying by myself. I had no trouble at all.
I arrived Thursday evening as I was going back in time. I was a little bit of a zombie, but I still enjoyed dinner at Altons with my parents - chicken souvlaki - yummy! We stayed at Houghton College in West Seneca in the townhouses. Thursday we pretty much crashed. My parents were tired from driving from Dryden and I was exhausted and on a different time schedule. I was so thankful that I was able to sleep.
I only had Thursday evening, Friday, Saturday and then I was to fly back on Sunday. Talk about quick trip. Friday morning we headed to Walmart - the most important stop of the trip :o) back. Oh yeah besides the wedding. Hehe. I only brought a list home for our last month. It was a bit surreal to be home - I was still in shock. It was really weird to hear everything in English. I kind of felt a bit overwhelmed in Walmart, not knowing where to go first.
We went to Ted's for a quick lunch before getting ready. It didn't seem that anything was tasting the same. You notice after being gone for a year that some things taste better and some things just don't have that greatness anymore. Kind of weird.
We headed back to the townhouse to get ready for the rehearsal. I was excited to wear my "Korean" outfit. Tara helped me find a cute dress and shoes. I found a cute silk purse in the traditional markets in Seoul to go with it. I couldn't wait to wear it.
We went to Westwood Country Club for the rehearsal. I made sure I brought my scripture reading to practice if I needed to. It went smoothly. I had to laugh when Adam asked me if I was going to read my scripture off of the wrinkled and folded sheet of paper at the wedding. I told him no that I would bring a Bible or find something to put it on.
We headed to Frank's Sunny Italy for the rehearsal dinner. We were frustrated to find out that they hadn't booked us a private room like we thought. The night wasn't completely ruined though. We were able to enjoy the time together with Adam and Marissa. The food was good and the time with family and friends was even better. It was nice.
We got back and my grandma, aunt and cousin had arrived so we socialized with them for a while. Then we all headed to bed for the night. We had an early morning ahead.
Mom, Janine and I went to A Place in the Park salon and day spa for manicures and pedicures. I also got my hair done. It was so relaxing with my jetlag I wanted to take a nap after I was finished. I felt like I was in spacey land.
We all parted ways. Janine headed back to Adam's to get ready and we headed back to the townhouse. We decided to go get lunch at Moe's. Yummy! I felt funny because my hair was all done nice and I was wearing shorts and a tank top. We went back to the townhouse to get ready. I was excited to wear the dress and shoes I had ordered from Old Navy. That was a gamble, but it turned out nice. I tried it on the night I got there to make sure it fit - that would have been interesting if it hadn't, but it was perfect.
We headed over for the festivities! It was a beautiful wedding. I was able to not cough really bad through the ceremony and through my reading. We had a good laugh when Aaron brought out the peanut butter sandwich for Adam in the middle of it. The music was amazing! I was really missing Cameron. I felt like I was only half there without him.
Marissa was beautiful! Everyone looked great! The food was awesome! I had a nice time catching up with family and friends. I was bummed that I didn't get to socialize with everyone. I didn't really get to dance like I wanted to - I wanted to have Cameron there for that.
The night was enjoyable!
We headed back a bit early since I had to pack up to go. We even made a stop at Tops to pick up a couple last minute items. I stayed up to pack my suitcase. Mom supervised :o) I got everything in. I was able to bring back a load so I could pack one suitcase inside the other. That was nice. The next morning I said my goodbyes to my family and my parents took me to the airport.
Whew was that a quick trip! I told my friends that it was just enough that it didn't make me want to stay. I had just what I needed to finish the last month. It was a blessing!
I was so thankful that I was able to be there for Adam and Marissa. I would have been really disappointed if I had missed it. You only have so many brothers and sisters in life. Enjoy every moment God gives you with them. They are special!