I wish I could say that the title of this, as well as the following article, were words that my mind poured forth. Sadly, they are not. The reson why I am including this article on my blog is because it captures exactly how I feel when returning to America.
See the following to read what I am referencing:
http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/america-the-ex-boyfriend/
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Braving the Nerd Den & Practicing Korean
I've always razzed people who don't attempt to learn a language when living and working in another country. So, I must also hold myself to the same measure.
As of October 7th, I began a 12 week Korean class. The first class inspired within me the tingling electricity of excitement, mostly because I got to leave work early. ;) With the crisp fall air, it almost felt as if I was back at my alma matter NWU in Kirkland, as the class is located on the Korean Kangnam University. Young people bustled about with heavy looking books but wore lighthearted smiles from a friends joke. Just as at Northwest University, I had to trudge up to the most remote left corner of the campus.
After, of course, getting lost (by following the 3 male leaders of our newly formed foreigner click-- no they did not want to ask for directions... so...) I braved what appeared to be the nerd den; it came complete with early-twenty something Korean men in dark rimmed glasses, boasting bad bowl cuts and sporting sweater vests only a loving grandmother would buy. Within the nerd den, aka the hub for those whom appeared to be computer science & engineering majors, a kind young man offered up his assistance to our lost group. We had been one building off. So he escorted us to the right building just in time for our class.
The first class went well enough. We learned how to write some basic vowels and consonants. Then practiced saying "what is your name?" and "my name is ___." The subsequent classes will cover the alphabet, helpful classroom phrases, standard greetings and key sentences for traveling. In addition, one lesson will cover cultural aspects of Korea (this bit I am stoked for).
After 12 weeks... hopefully I'll have learned a few things!
Photo: my Korean practice booklet.
As of October 7th, I began a 12 week Korean class. The first class inspired within me the tingling electricity of excitement, mostly because I got to leave work early. ;) With the crisp fall air, it almost felt as if I was back at my alma matter NWU in Kirkland, as the class is located on the Korean Kangnam University. Young people bustled about with heavy looking books but wore lighthearted smiles from a friends joke. Just as at Northwest University, I had to trudge up to the most remote left corner of the campus.
After, of course, getting lost (by following the 3 male leaders of our newly formed foreigner click-- no they did not want to ask for directions... so...) I braved what appeared to be the nerd den; it came complete with early-twenty something Korean men in dark rimmed glasses, boasting bad bowl cuts and sporting sweater vests only a loving grandmother would buy. Within the nerd den, aka the hub for those whom appeared to be computer science & engineering majors, a kind young man offered up his assistance to our lost group. We had been one building off. So he escorted us to the right building just in time for our class.
The first class went well enough. We learned how to write some basic vowels and consonants. Then practiced saying "what is your name?" and "my name is ___." The subsequent classes will cover the alphabet, helpful classroom phrases, standard greetings and key sentences for traveling. In addition, one lesson will cover cultural aspects of Korea (this bit I am stoked for).
After 12 weeks... hopefully I'll have learned a few things!Photo: my Korean practice booklet.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Wanderlust
Some of you understand... and some of you may never...
Deep within my feet, there is a constant itch.
(No it's not athlete's foot.)
It is this itch that has spurred me foreword...
from one place to another.
This is the itch of wanderlust.
I think I caught it when I first went to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
Seeing the absolute poverty of those people horrified me,
yet when I saw their abundant joy, I envied the simple life.
Whenever I travel, I learn something astounding.
Generally they may be small revelations to others
but their gift to me is humility. That is why I lust.
I lust for the travels that change.
Gypsies have always gotten a bad reputation in the records.
What's that saying... "a few bad apples spoil the barrel?" Thats what I think happened when they noted these nomadic clans in history.
Gypsies were those who adventured. They wanted to see more,
they lived where they were welcomed
and were free to move on whenever they desired. They lived simply.
My soul is a gypsy, no matter how hard I try to contain it.
So, I write this to my family
and friends who may not understand why I leave so often.
I love you all so very much but...
wanderlust never ceases for the gypsy souls.
Photo by: Ansel Adams
Deep within my feet, there is a constant itch.
(No it's not athlete's foot.)
It is this itch that has spurred me foreword...
from one place to another.
This is the itch of wanderlust.
I think I caught it when I first went to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
Seeing the absolute poverty of those people horrified me,
yet when I saw their abundant joy, I envied the simple life.
Whenever I travel, I learn something astounding.
Generally they may be small revelations to others
but their gift to me is humility. That is why I lust.
I lust for the travels that change.
Gypsies have always gotten a bad reputation in the records.
What's that saying... "a few bad apples spoil the barrel?" Thats what I think happened when they noted these nomadic clans in history.
Gypsies were those who adventured. They wanted to see more,
they lived where they were welcomed
and were free to move on whenever they desired. They lived simply.
My soul is a gypsy, no matter how hard I try to contain it.
So, I write this to my family
and friends who may not understand why I leave so often.
I love you all so very much but...
wanderlust never ceases for the gypsy souls.
Photo by: Ansel Adams
Monday, October 4, 2010
Rice Cake: Naturally green and I don't mean moldy.
I just found rice cake in my purse, not the stale kind of Quaker rice-cake that is ligtly salted and can be stored for decades on a dusty Safeway shelf. I am talking about a cake made from rice flour. It is green, naturally so or possibly dyed, with tan kidney beans planted inside of its light and fluffy texture like a miniature minefield of unsavory taste explosions. This rice cake was made freshly... yesterday. In fact, it was even warmed... yesterday; and nearly forcefed to me by my co-teachers (who still fear I am loosing weight). So, instead of being culturally rude, I handled this situation of "face" took the cake and wrapped it up to enjoy later; ehm...meaning my compost pile would enjoy this deliscous treat. Again, need I remind you this was yesterday. 
Now it is today and I have green cake sitting in my purse, in my desk drawer that is deteriorating. Only I can't take it to the trash cause they will know I didn't eat it. So, for the next five hours, I can do nothing about it. I must continue on lesson planning with this thought of decomposing cake "on the back burner" of my mind. I can only shudder to think what will happen if I forget again to take it out tonight.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Where in the world has Nikki gone? Traveling update #1
Hmm... last post was about mid-August and its what now, the end of September? Yes, I do believe that it is time to update you all. Three trips, eleven plane rides, an engagement, one birthday and one more month in Korea down. It's all been a whirlwind...
First, let me publicly say, "CONGRATS" to my baby sister Courtney and her new fiance Mike Vint. The two were engaged late in the summer and plan on tying the knot Summer of 2011. I am so happy for the both of you :)
Second, Uncle Wayne the beautiful wooden pen that you so expertly crafted for me has allowed me to document my latest expeditions throughout Thailand, Korea and Vietnam. I have fondly nicknamed it Woody and hope that he will ink out far more tales of travels, tally more Canadian Rummy scores and allow me to record new contacts. So I must offer my thanks again for such a beautiful gift.
Now for travel #1 Thailand, yes people T-H-A-I-L-A-N-D. If you haven't guessed by now it's my favorite place to be when I am not in the comforts of Washington family and friends. So, as soon as my last summer school class was over, I caught a bus to the Seoul, Incheon Airport and headed to BKK. By dawn I had landed in the beautiful northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. Too bad I only had three days to stay there, not quite long enough to cause trouble. ;)
My friend Teak, who runs a travel company called Northern Sky Tours (http://www.northernskytours.com/) , picked me up from the airport and we headed to Bo Sang the umbrella village about 6 miles outside of town. This delightful town is full of umbrella manufacturers and when I say manufacturers I mean that delightfully wrinkly women with skilled hands patch together these works of art. Literally they make these umbrellas from the ground up. Each piece of wood is hand cut, chopped, split and constructed one by one as the ladies banter on in Thai. The paper for the shade of the umbrella is made from tree pulp . By mashing the pulp with water over and over it becomes a gooey like paste that is then laid on a screen to dry a bit. I think that was my favorite part since it reminds me of how the rice fields smell after the heavens water their green sprouts.
Once the paper is dry enough to move from the screen it is laid out over the newly constructed
frame of the umbrella and laid out to dry in the sun. After it is fully dry from the scorching rays of the sun, painters decorate the parisols with elaborate patterns. Most of the ones I saw were Asian inspired lotus blossoms or tigers, but the color scheme running throughout was bright & bold! My favories however were the ones with little quirks, where one flower didn't match the rest or one tigers eye was a bit larger then the other.
It is always fascinating to me to see the creative minds behind things, to see the humanity that touched it. Too often in the Western world we take out the "people" factor of things as more and more machines make the things we use rather then human hands. I think we all should remember to embrace the quirks of humanity rather then strive so hard for the inattainable "perfection" of the new age.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The next Chiang Mai adventure was rock climbing with the crazy gang from CMRCA (Chiang Mai
Rock Climbing Adventures). I tagged along on a training climb at Crazy Horse, a series of routes only 45 minutes away by songthaew (or red truck). The group being trained was sent by the government of the Philippines and were all quite skilled climbers. In addition, they were hilarious and made cute Catholic Sunday school jokes the whole way out to the rock.
My expert climbing trainer was Add or Nstar. He taught me all about the climbing lingo, how to tie the correct knots, what to do, what not to do, and how to climb & repel properly. Truly he was a great teacher, he gave perfect instructions for this first time outdoor climber. I was really quite nervous to start the first route but Add was a great encourager; and always seemed to know just when I was about to give up & would then shout tips on how to keep going. So if you ever want to climb in Chiang Mai, ask for Add at CMRCA! (http://www.thailandclimbing.com/)
This I am sad to say pretty much covers my few days in CM, although I did not fully divulge how wonderful it was to see all of my old friends again. I have missed them all and cannot wait until we meet again. "I'll see you when you see me," as the Thai say (and I add), "but until then my heart will see you in all our memories."
Now... on to the next post and next country Vietnam.
First, let me publicly say, "CONGRATS" to my baby sister Courtney and her new fiance Mike Vint. The two were engaged late in the summer and plan on tying the knot Summer of 2011. I am so happy for the both of you :)
Second, Uncle Wayne the beautiful wooden pen that you so expertly crafted for me has allowed me to document my latest expeditions throughout Thailand, Korea and Vietnam. I have fondly nicknamed it Woody and hope that he will ink out far more tales of travels, tally more Canadian Rummy scores and allow me to record new contacts. So I must offer my thanks again for such a beautiful gift.
Now for travel #1 Thailand, yes people T-H-A-I-L-A-N-D. If you haven't guessed by now it's my favorite place to be when I am not in the comforts of Washington family and friends. So, as soon as my last summer school class was over, I caught a bus to the Seoul, Incheon Airport and headed to BKK. By dawn I had landed in the beautiful northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. Too bad I only had three days to stay there, not quite long enough to cause trouble. ;)
My friend Teak, who runs a travel company called Northern Sky Tours (http://www.northernskytours.com/) , picked me up from the airport and we headed to Bo Sang the umbrella village about 6 miles outside of town. This delightful town is full of umbrella manufacturers and when I say manufacturers I mean that delightfully wrinkly women with skilled hands patch together these works of art. Literally they make these umbrellas from the ground up. Each piece of wood is hand cut, chopped, split and constructed one by one as the ladies banter on in Thai. The paper for the shade of the umbrella is made from tree pulp . By mashing the pulp with water over and over it becomes a gooey like paste that is then laid on a screen to dry a bit. I think that was my favorite part since it reminds me of how the rice fields smell after the heavens water their green sprouts.Once the paper is dry enough to move from the screen it is laid out over the newly constructed
frame of the umbrella and laid out to dry in the sun. After it is fully dry from the scorching rays of the sun, painters decorate the parisols with elaborate patterns. Most of the ones I saw were Asian inspired lotus blossoms or tigers, but the color scheme running throughout was bright & bold! My favories however were the ones with little quirks, where one flower didn't match the rest or one tigers eye was a bit larger then the other.
It is always fascinating to me to see the creative minds behind things, to see the humanity that touched it. Too often in the Western world we take out the "people" factor of things as more and more machines make the things we use rather then human hands. I think we all should remember to embrace the quirks of humanity rather then strive so hard for the inattainable "perfection" of the new age.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The next Chiang Mai adventure was rock climbing with the crazy gang from CMRCA (Chiang Mai
Rock Climbing Adventures). I tagged along on a training climb at Crazy Horse, a series of routes only 45 minutes away by songthaew (or red truck). The group being trained was sent by the government of the Philippines and were all quite skilled climbers. In addition, they were hilarious and made cute Catholic Sunday school jokes the whole way out to the rock.
My expert climbing trainer was Add or Nstar. He taught me all about the climbing lingo, how to tie the correct knots, what to do, what not to do, and how to climb & repel properly. Truly he was a great teacher, he gave perfect instructions for this first time outdoor climber. I was really quite nervous to start the first route but Add was a great encourager; and always seemed to know just when I was about to give up & would then shout tips on how to keep going. So if you ever want to climb in Chiang Mai, ask for Add at CMRCA! (http://www.thailandclimbing.com/)
This I am sad to say pretty much covers my few days in CM, although I did not fully divulge how wonderful it was to see all of my old friends again. I have missed them all and cannot wait until we meet again. "I'll see you when you see me," as the Thai say (and I add), "but until then my heart will see you in all our memories."
Now... on to the next post and next country Vietnam.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Vietnam Part I
A communist run country, a land ravaged by the Vietnam War, images of conical "paddy hats" these were really the only hints of what would await me on my trip to Vietnam. Sure, I probably should have known more about this small country; or at least about Uncle Ho's connection to the VietMien and how the "dragon shaped" land houses the world's 13th largest population. But I must have been asleep in those history classes. However, the normal internal upset of uncertain things was no where to be found as my AirAsia flight bustled onward toward the old capital of southern Vietnam. The only feeling inside was sheer joy and anticipation as thousands of streetlights illuminated the vast cityscape of Ho Chi Mien City that lay outside my plane window...
What did I find you may ask? Well, let's start with the first item on the agenda
(after sneaking through security to snag cash and slide back into the "transit zone" to pay my visa toll), which was to make it to the meeting point. One cab ride, a few hundred moto zooming by and a screaching alley cat later I met up with the daring and adventurous Toddy. Quickly we made our way to Phu Quoc, 
a small island off the coasts of Vietnam and Cambodia.
(after sneaking through security to snag cash and slide back into the "transit zone" to pay my visa toll), which was to make it to the meeting point. One cab ride, a few hundred moto zooming by and a screaching alley cat later I met up with the daring and adventurous Toddy. Quickly we made our way to Phu Quoc, 
a small island off the coasts of Vietnam and Cambodia. In Phu Quoc there were scooter adventures, beach burns, scrumptious food, tropical rains and the sweetest condensed milk coffee. Daily walks lead to abandoned hotels, statues of mermaids in the sea 
and dozens of mosquito bites; and beach watching saw only clear blue seas dotted with fishing boats. Touring around on dirt roads, over rickety boarded bridges and past the sandy garbage strewn shores made me fall in love with Southeast Asia all over again. The people...skin darkened from toil 
under the blazing sun; the food... made to fill for the day to come; the coffee... to sweeten your outlook on life; the dirt... that reminds me I am but a simple human who came from the dust.
and dozens of mosquito bites; and beach watching saw only clear blue seas dotted with fishing boats. Touring around on dirt roads, over rickety boarded bridges and past the sandy garbage strewn shores made me fall in love with Southeast Asia all over again. The people...skin darkened from toil 
under the blazing sun; the food... made to fill for the day to come; the coffee... to sweeten your outlook on life; the dirt... that reminds me I am but a simple human who came from the dust. End Part I.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
August before vacation
August of this year was unlike any other I've had. At this time last year, I was getting excited for my journey to Thailand, saying goodbye to my family, my friends and the simple Harbor life. Now this August, I am already thousands of miles away from home, another year older, and a college graduate. Life will never be the same... and though its not always easy, it is a wonderful adventure.
August marked the beginning of my 3rd month in Korea. After three months you would think something would have changed yet I still feel quite disconnected here. (I say this knowing that many people have had entirely different experences then I have had here.) The Korean people are quite welcoming but you're on your own after that. For Korean Americans, it is a different sort of experience. Having the look and the language are sure advantages, but for a blonde, curly haired, blue-eyed gal ...well lets just say, its not so easy to blend in. Therefore I have began calling Korea my "halfway house." Here I am halfway between childhood and filling this unwanted and unwarranted role of adulthood. Here I am halfway between the Western world of "home" and the grit and grime of the Southeast Asian countries that have stolen my heart. Halfway fitting in with the expats here and halfway making the shell of a "real life" (meaning I have an apartment, job, and friends here). My halfway point...
Possibly its the culture shock that is still set in that has made this place feel so strange, that I'm "half in, half out." Or maybe its simply not knowing how to say the correct phrases or how to act in a given circumstance. One thing is certain, the daily oddity of a this land has given my heart a frost of isolation. (It could also be the rapid pace, the pursuit of beauty, and the surface level conversations that have left me with a glimpse of winter weather this summer.)
The deepest connections here are phone calls from family, letters from handsome people, skype calls from soul friends across the Pacific, packages (that make it feel like Christmas) and yes I hate to say this, but facebook updates. These things have kept me sane here. I write this not to inspire pity, for I chose this Korean journey for myself, but I write it to remind you all that home is a simple comfort we often overlook. Sometimes it may seem dull or get boring in its "daily grind" (Seattle coffee drinkers yes, there is a slight hint at that morning roast) nevertheless it is home sweet home. Its comforts will always help you to relax after you have been away for awhile. So thank you all who pursue contact with me from miles away. Your love is what helps me endure. :) 
A simple and pleasant memory of home. Photo by Julie Siemens Pace, edit by Tj Drew.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)