Sunday Social

1. 1 year ago I…
Had been living in Korea for two years and was about to leave to travel all over Asia for five weeks and then return home… On May 12, 2012 I was camping on Muui Island with tons of friends!

late night campfire sing-a-long

2. 5 years ago I…
Was living in Texas and working at a private investigation company. I also took my mom to the Grand Canyon for her 50th birthday in May 2008!

3. 10 years ago I…
Was finishing up my junior year of college and living with my roommate Rheannon.

4. 1 year from now I…
Will have been at my awesome job for a year… And will probably be looking for a new one that pays better! And I’ll be taking my little bro on a trip for his high school graduation.

5. 5 years ago I…
Will have an awesome job I love and that pays well, have my own place, and be using my vacation days to travel to amazing places!

6. 10 years from now I…
Will be 40!!

Throwback Thursday

Last April I went to the Jindo Sea Parting Festival while living in Korea. It was so cool! Jindo is the third largest island in Korea. Every year, a narrow land pass opens for about an hour between the main Jindo island and the smaller Modo island as a result of tidal activity. This event attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and is known as the Mysterious Sea Road.

Throwback Thursday

Around this time two years ago, I was living and working in Korea and my kindergarten students were having their graduation ceremony (February 24, 2011).

We Want to Know Wednesday

1. What is your favorite flower?
Hot pink gerbera daisies.

2. Tell us about your favorite Valentine’s Day.
Two years ago I had an epic Valentine’s Day date while living in Seoul. My then boyfriend and I had a five course lunch, went sightseeing at an observation tower/awesome teddy bear museum (famous for “love locks”), went shopping at a market, and then out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant! And I got my favorite gift ever, 아기 곰 (my teddy bear).

3. Was Valentine’s Day a big deal when you were a kid?
Not really but I liked giving and receiving Valentines at school and my mom always gave me a card and a present.

4. If you could have any one thing for Valentine’s Day what would it be?
A job in a public library.

5. Do you have any special plans for Valentine’s Day?
Nope, I am single and babysitting tomorrow! At least I’m earning some money.

Sunday Stealing

1: Do you notice a person’s eye color?
Never.

2: White, milk, or dark chocolate mocha?
I don’t drink mochas. But milk chocolate is my preference.

3: If you could get a tattoo free, would you do it? What would it be?
If it was by a reputable artist then yes. The next two I want to get are a quote with a skeleton key and “let it be” with a dandelion and birds.

4: Did you grow up in a small or big town? Did you like it?
Small town and I pretended like I hated it then but it wasn’t that bad.

5: Your favorite adult as a child (and not your parents, if they were your favorite)?
My Aunt Laura.

6: What kind of smoothie sounds really good right now?
Mango. Yum!

mango smoothie in Bangkok

7: Most embarrassing moment from your elementary school years?
I fell down a flight of stairs in 5th grade.

8: Most embarrassing moment from your middle school years?
I fell out of my bedroom window and into our compost pile in 8th grade.

9: Most embarrassing moment from your high school years?
I can’t really think of one…

10: Have you ever fired anyone?
No.

11: Have you ever climbed a tree more than twenty feet off the ground?
That sounds really high so no.

12: Did you like swinging as a child? Do you still get excited when you see a swing set?
No, I hate swinging. As a kid it was OK.

13: If you could have any pet in the world, illegal or not, what would you get?
I love my kitties but I would also like a bunny.

14: What’s your favorite place to relax?
In a bubble bath.

15: What’s your most favorite part of your personality?
I think I am a thoughtful friend.

16: Madonna or Lady Gaga? Neither? Both? Who cares?
Lady Gaga.

Lady Gaga concert in Seoul, April 2012

17: Have you ever watched the Superbowl all the way through?
Yes of course!

18: Have you ever watched any major sporting event live?
Yes I’ve been to NASCAR, an NFL game, and an NBA game.

hating the NASCAR Samsung 500 race, April 2009

Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots, December 2009

Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic, May 2010

19: What’s the most delicious food you’ve ever eaten in your life?
Indian curry and garlic naan.

20: Margarine or butter? Which did you grow up with?
Either one. My mom is big on real butter though.

Tuesday Topics

6 Memories

1. 2000: The first time I was on a plane… I went skydiving. And I can’t believe I don’t have any photos of it!!

2. 2000: The next time I was on a plane I went to New York City for New Years Eve.

3. 2004: My first time out of the country. I went backpacking around Europe for a month!

La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, Paris

4. 2004: My first cruise.

Cozumel, Mexico

5. 2010: My first solo trip (Los Angeles).

6. 2010: My first visit to Asia. I moved to Korea!

milkshakes in a carton… one of my favorite Korean things

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What is ONE thing or area in your home or life you hope to report is completely organized when 2013 draws to a close? Do you have a plan to make it happen?
My career! I hope to finish my master’s degree and have a job close to home as a (preferably children’s) librarian.

2. What’s the worst uniform you’ve ever had to wear for a job?
I guess that would be when I worked at Olive Garden… I hated wearing a tie!

3. What was your last kitchen ‘mishap’?
I can’t remember anything going horribly wrong recently. But about six years ago I got a wok and the first time I used it I started a fire and burnt the cabinets above my stove! Never used that wok again…

4. How do you protect yourself from other people’s negativity?
I usually just lecture them about being positive. (This mostly refers to my mom.)

5. Who in your family do you most resemble (physically)?
People say I look like both my mom and my dad. What do you think?

6. January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day… Did you celebrate?
No, unfortunately I don’t have a working bathtub.

7. Some of the ‘world’s best winter festivals’ are: Mardi Gras (New Orleans), Quebec Winter Festival (Canada), Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah), Rio Carnivale (Brazil), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), Venice Carnival (Italy), and the Harbin Ice Festival (Northern China). Of those listed (and if cost were not a factor), which would you most like to attend and why?
All of them?? They all sound awesome! I guess Mardi Gras is probably #1 on my list out of all of those. I did attend two awesome winter festivals when I lived in Korea.

Pyeongchang Mountain Trout & Ice Fishing Festival

Taebaeksan Snow Festival

8. Insert your own random thought here.
My mom and I are going to one of those “paint and wine” classes tonight… Super excited! We are painting this seasons tree.

2012 Review Extravaganza: Second Quarter Recap

April:

I went to the Hello Kitty Cafe.

I went to the Jindo Sea Parting Festival.

I went to the Lady Gaga concert in Seoul.

May:

I visited Gyeongju.

I went to Changdeokgung Palace.

I had an awesome time with friends camping on Muui Island.

I watched the Lotus Lantern Parade in Seoul.

I said goodbye to all the amazing friends I had made during my two years living in Korea.

I headed out on my five week epic Asian backpacking trip… In May, I visited Hong Kong and Vientiane, Laos.

June:

Continued/finished the five week epic Asian backpacking trip which included the Trans-Mongolian Railway! I visited…

Luang Prabang, Laos

Hanoi, Vietnam

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Beijing, China

The Great Wall of China

Mongolia

Siberia

Moscow, Russia

St. Petersburg, Russia

2012 Review Extravaganza: First Quarter Recap

January:

I went on vacation to Palawan Island in the Philippines (so beautiful!!).

that’s a real starfish!

fresh coconut milk

monkeys and monitor lizards!

Puerto Princesa Underground River

it was Chinese New Year

I also blogged about my December 2011 trip to Singapore and Bali.

this was actually terrifying

I quit my job as a kindergarten teacher to be a full-time student. My last day there was filled with cards, presents, and hugs!

February:

I went on an awesome Bugok Hawaii Ice Festival and wine tasting trip.

red wine foot bath!

party bus

I visited the Korean Folk Village.

chestnuts roasting on an open fire

March:

I visited Busan.

I visited Siem Riep, Cambodia and Bangkok and Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

In case you’re wondering, I lived in Korea from May 2010-May 2012.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. In what ways do you indulge yourself?
I live a pretty indulgent life… Food, vacations, lots of “me” time watching TV and movies, pedicures, shopping. I’m spoiled!

2. Have you ever taken a cooking class? Any interest? What type of class would you most like to try?
Yes, I took cooking classes in Korea and Thailand. Right now I am taking a cake decorating class. I would love to take many more in the future! #1 would be an Indian cooking class.

3. What does it mean to be a good citizen?
Vote!

4 ‘Tis the season of the political advert… Do these ads influence your vote?
Heck no. I think most people are already decided. They’re just annoying!

5. What’s something you see today that makes you wish you were a kid again?
My bank account balance.

6. What’s your least favorite cliche?
I don’t have one.

7. What percentage of your Christmas shopping has been completed? How does that make you feel?
5%. I’m fine with that; it’s still early.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Can’t decide which movie to take my nephew to this afternoon… Hotel Transylvania or Frankenweenie?