YOUNGDUK

3:30am Central time, Dallas, TX
I check my page on the TaLK website.
I am placed in Youngduk, South Korea!!!! Finally, I know the city I will be living in!!!!

On July 17, I told a fellow TaLK scholar Gina on facebook:
I wish TaLK would tell us what city we'll be in/when we're leaving the country! I know Youngduk county has the best snow crabs, Gyeongju is the capital of Silla Kingdom, there's one city with really good peaches? All I know is touristy stuff my friend told me. Lots of shopping to do, I still don't have professional clothes for orientation!

..and 20 minutes ago:
I'm in Youngduk! I had a feeling they would tell us on July 19 (since they're a day ahead of us over there) FINALLY I know which city I'll be teaching in. EXCITED!!!! side note: google maps tells me I will be 5 hours from Seoul....a combo of walking, subway, bus. plus note: I'm right next to the ocean!!!!!

..1 minute after that:
another plus note: YOUNGDUK has the best SNOW CRABS, hoooray even though I'm not the biggest snow crab fan. my friend will be jealous!!!

Of course, I was sure to comment on said friend's wall right away:
YOOHA GUESS WHAT I will be eating TONS OF SNOW CRABS......guess where I will be teaching :) 알아 마쳐보세 :) I was happy to be by the ocean, then it hit me. snow crabs. LOL SOOOOO EXCITED

I'm so excited. I was up because of a failed attempt to buy a flip cam minoHD earlier today at BestBuy (out of stock). GLAD they were out of stock, because I decided on this gem

I will definitely be taking lots of videos in Korea!!! ...youtube? ;) I know lots of youtubers use this camera. :) My dad loves the ocean there..I am gonna breathe tons of fresh sea breezes. in about 2 weeks! SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!

Good Friends, I'll miss yall ;)

Yesterday, I went cycling at the gym and got ready for Catherine's welcome home dinner in Dallas. Harry picked me up at 7:30pm dressed in a T-shirt...I asked him why he made me to dress up when he is dressed casually. Harry forgot his wallet at home, so he asked if it was ok to drop by his house to look for it. I was fine with that since he lives a minute away. He told me to come inside because he needed to look for it for a while. I said, "oh that's fine, I'll stay out here." (photo op!) I took 12 pictures of myself outside the house before I got bored and decided to walk in the front door.

SURPRISE!
what? I was so confused because Karyne, Sarah, and Michael were standing inside with Harry..holding a camera pointed at me. At first, I thought it was an anniversary of last year's late birthday present in the summer. I bet Karyne was glad she got my reaction on camera. It's been 2 months since graduation, it couldn't be a graduation party. It was a GOING AWAY party for ME, awww. They were inside watching me taking pictures of myself, lol. No fancy restaurant, but I was surprised and excited to eat arepas!!!!!!
Michael brought a watermelon in a fancy Chinese bag and also made a decadent PEACH CRUMBLE + whipped cream. yum!


Surprise gift
Michael asked me if it gets cold in Korea, and I said "No, it's hot over there right now." Then Sarah asked if I will need to bring any fleece to Korea for the winter, and I said, "No, I will buy all my winter things over there!" Michael and Sarah asked, "don't you need some fleece over there when it snows?" I said, "NO, definitely not, I will buy everything over there!" This is when Harry told me to STOP TALKING..and I noticed he was holding a rolled up fleece wrapped with a nice fleece carrier. I said, "aww, it's a boy" because the blanket was baby blue. I unrolled it, and gasp! it was a collage(?) of photos.


It was a very creative and thoughtful gift (thanks Harry and snapfish). I don't know how I feel about wrapping myself in pictures...of myself. It would look nice on a wall, I think. When it gets cold in Korea, I will probably huddle in a corner wrapped in that blanket..crying. :P

After dinner, everyone was happy and sleepy. We had good times sitting in the living room and looking at the pictures of my life. :) I feel very thankful and blessed to have these great friends. 8 years and counting~:) Get ready for me, South Korea!!!!!!!