Slightly bipolar, mostly fun.

Recap:

-4 countries in under 20 hours

-Standing atop those beautiful mounds called Chocolate Hills

-Tarsiers… you think they would sound more like Dobby from Harry Potter or Stewie from Family Guy?

-Driving mopeds at 4 in the morning

-Dancing until the buttcrack of dawn

-Yina’s chipped tooth

-Rows and rows of fresh seafood stands

-Buddha’s belt: the biggest, baddest firecracker

-Lechon, lechon and more lechon

-Tricycles

-Renting out our own private Jeepney… ballin’

-Scubadiving and snorkeling… what an amazing world under the sea

-Private boat to Bohol… and then the flying fish who flew right into our boat

-Personal driver to and from a bombass Korean restaurant in Maktan

-Getting kicked out of our room in Alona Beach

-U.S.A.

-Halo halo and pancit palabok hunt

This trip to the Philippines may have just placed my top 3 favorite vacations. Thank you Tina, Leona and Yina.

Next Stop:

The Philippines.

I often stay up until the wee hours of the morning shopping online. I know, it’s ridiculous — and all I can think about right now is this fucking jacket.

Someone get me this fucking jacket.

Snow in Korea.

25.

What is 25% of a dollar? A lot if you’re broke.

What is 25% of a home? Nothing considering what you still owe.

What is 25% battery life? Depends on whether or not you have a smartphone.

How about 25% on the treadmill? Completed or remaining?

Today marks the 3-month anniversary of my time in Korea. That’s 25% completion of my contract.

A part of me is completely overwhelmed thinking about how many more days I will be making writing centers and preparing crafts. How many more times can I teach past, present and future tenses? How much longer can I go on spelling PHO-NET-I-CAL-LY. How many more times will I ask Eddy to stop fighting with his friends?

But then I think that one year is just not enough. How is that enough time to learn the language, immerse yourself in the culture and see everything you want to see? I spend most of my days in a building with other foreigners and most of my nights preparing for the next day. Suddenly, I feel like the clock is ticking faster.

Then sometimes, I remember that 25% completion of my contract is only 93 days I’ve had to spend with some of the best friends I’ve made. It’s 272 more days I have to eat kimchi jjigae and make friends with complete strangers. Suddenly, that 25% becomes just 0.96463% (in respect to my life-to-date)… which isn’t so bad.

Thanksgiving

• 1 baked turkey from Yongsan military base, gate 17
• 1 box of stuffing
• Fusilli and colby jack cheese, by yours truly
• 2 kinds of potatoes
• 1 pumpkin pie
• Bread
• 1 bottle of Malbec
• Jell-o shots

It’s nothing fancy, but it’s the good company and good laughs that will make the holiday.

Cali…

Never thought I would say this having only been gone for a month… but I miss you California. I miss your mild weather, your non-conservative approach to summer apparel, free wi-fi, Hulu and Pandora.

<3

Healing.