Spring Break

I know, I know. I'm terrible at keeping this thing up. But I've been consumed with other things, you know, like graduate school. The semester is going well, but I may freak out soon seeing has how the semester ends in a month and I haven't started writing my final papers. It's okay, one only has to be 20 pages... On the bright side, I did get a spring break. I went to Utah to see some amazing friends. I got to hike, go to a musical, go shopping, see a movie, go to a birthday party, and eat Korean food. It was a successful spring break. 

Zion National Park

Enjoying some Red Vines after a hike.

Because we apparently can't take pretty pictures. It's much easier to be goofy.

More of Zion's

And we ran into Cindy. Best day!

Because it's my birthday

If anyone actually reads my blog, you may have noticed that I haven't posted in a really, really long time. There is an explanation, I promise. First, when I got home from Korea my like was less than exciting so I felt I didn't have much to say. Then I moved to Idaho to start a master's in English Literature at Idaho State University, and I got so busy I just never thought about. All I have been doing is going to class, reading, and writing papers. I do occasionally hang out with friends, but seriously I might go blind by the time I graduate.

But I thought today would be a good day to post, seeing as how it's my birthday. And not just any birthday - the big 30. It is slightly depressing to be 30, but I'm crossing my fingers that it turns out to be a good year. Thirty, flirty, and thriving!

And as my birthday present to you, please watch this. I promise you'll laugh.

Thanks to the Servicemen

This is a day late, but better late then never right? I wanted to thank all the Servicemen out there, no matter where you are from or what uniform you where. You protect your people and that is admirable.

On Sunday I had the opportunity to go to the local cemetery and place flags in front of veterans graves. There wasn't really any order to it, so we had to wander around looking for ones that mentioned them serving in wars or had their rank abbreviations on it. It was a lovely way to spend a lovely afternoon. It made me appreciate all that much more what they did for our county.

And then it made me remember my Grandpa Barrett who served in WWII as a fighter pilot. His plane was shot down and he was sent to a concentration camp. He never really talked about it and I can understand why. But I hope he knows that I wanted to place a flag for him too. 

My Grandpa Barrett in uniform with my Grandma. Isn't he handsome?

Grandpa in front of his plane.

Reunion time

What's better than a family reunion? A family reunion at a rodeo of course, namely the Red Bluff Round-Up. We ate a lot, went to the rodeo, played games, and enjoyed each others company.

At the Shasta Dam on the Dam Tour

Mom and I showing the size of the holes the water comes through on the dam.

The whole gang after the parade.

Cousins at the rodeo!

My mom with her siblings. Now do you see where I get my weirdness from?

Barrel racer

Bull rider

Cowboys :)

Greece!

I went to Greece with some amazing friends and it was pretty much awesome. Especially the food and motorcycle cops - the scenery wasn't too shabby either. Here, enjoy some pictures.

Me and Celeste at the Acropolis

Me in front of the Temple of Zeus

Beautiful Santorini

Sunset on Santorini

Me and Katelyn on the island of Hydra

The Temple of Poseidon

Chilling by the Agean Sea

Striking a pose at Delphi

At the monasteries of Meteora

Amazing monasteries built on top of cliffs.

Travel and Friends

I went to Boise about a month ago to see Chalise. We played. We ate a lot. And I found my bridesmaid dress for her wedding! Good times.

Taking a walk along the Boise River.

We are cute.

And then Amber came to California! We hung out in San Francisco for a couple of days before driving up the coast and heading back to Red Bluff. It was a blast!

View of SF

What can I say - we're rocking Alcatraz.

And no trip to SF would be complete without the Golden Gate Bridge.

Hick Town

I am from a hick town and pretty darn proud of it. One of the things Red Bluff, CA is famous for is the Bull and Gelding Sale. It just happened this past week and I ventured over to the fairgrounds (which happen to be right next to my house). I saw some really well trained, smart cattle dogs herd cattle. It was pretty darn impressive. I wondered around the western art show and other westerny booths. My mom ended up buying a photograph I wanted - that's what happens when moms have more money than you do. I went in to watch the bull auction and wondered how in the world auctioneers learn to talk that fast. I felt out of place in my cords and t-shirt; I was sadly lacking the Wranglers, boots, and cowboy hat. But I still had a good time.

This is the photograph my mom bought. The photographer is Grief Hoskin. He has some pretty cool stuff, so you should check out his website: www.riovaqueros.com

God Bless Country Music

I made it home safe and sound from Korea (after a 9 hour delay, but that's a story I don't want to relive). There was a fun and crazy Christmas with the whole family and I'm loving the 65 degree weather and sunshine that is California. I've been helping out the mom, trying to finish grad school applications, and being a little lazy too.

Last night mom and I went to a little concert with three awesome country singers: Aaron Tippin, Sammy Kershaw, and Joe Diffy. They're older guys, but they can still sing and it brought back some memories from junior high and high school. Enjoy a sampling of their work.

Crowded streets

I've been taking the opportunity to visit my favorite places before I ship out of Korea. One of my favorite places is Myeong-dong; a highly overcrowded shopping area. But the shops and outdoor tables are fun, even if you get pushed and shoved along the way. And now there are Christmas decorations up.

Christmas decorations - and of course the ever present "missionaries." They just have a loud speaker and yell at people and sing.

Crowded streets and bright lights.

And crowded stores.

Hanging out with friends - Brandon and Jessica #2.

And no Korean shopping area would be complete without cutouts of famous Korean Boys.

Yum...dog!

As part of one of my last cultural experiences, I told my Korean co-worker Tae-Hoon that I wanted to eat dog. It's not super common here, but they do serve it so he said he'd find a place. The other foreign coworkers came along for the experience. My verdict on dog - it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. So I got to cross it off my cultural list, but I'm not planning on eating it again any time soon.

Tae-Hoon and Sonja, enjoying some dog soup.

Robert, Christine, and me - holding some dog.

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I have to work - darn you Korea! - but I still have lots to be grateful for. Like today Hyeok Soo took me to meet his brother Seung Ha who works at the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS). Unfortunately there was no filming going on, but I did get to see some sets, which was pretty cool and then we went out for a yummy lunch that I didn't have to pay for and had some great conversation.

And I have another story too. On Saturday morning I got a call from a temple worker. He said that some Russian sisters were coming to the temple on Tuesday and they needed a translator. He asked if I would do it - I agreed but was really worried because my Russian is rusty. I woke up early on Tuesday morning and went to the temple to help. It was ... interesting. At one point the translation went from Korean to English to Russian. There was some lost words and a bit of misunderstanding, and it made my brain muddled. In the end I think it all worked out. But even though it was confusing and I felt frustrated with my lack of ability to explain perfectly in Russian, I walked out of there awed. Because there we were - women from three different cultures who speak three different languages but we were all inside the temple because we shared the same faith. That was pretty awesome and something to be thankful for.

So I hope you can all find something to be grateful for this year. Enjoy it, soak it in, bask in it, and then share it :)

Pure Talent

I had a lovely time at our singles break the fast today, and one of the guys showed me this video on his smart phone. I was really impressed by this girl - she does something I'll call sand drawing. In the video she depicts when Germany conquered Ukraine during WWII. Truly interesting and in my opinion, amazing. Enjoy!

Birthday Bash

My birthday consisted of meeting up with Hae Jin for lunch and a perfect autumn stroll around his old college campus, Korea University, meeting up with Chris for dinner and a stroll around a crammed packed shopping area, then meeting up with a group of my American and Korean friends for awesome bowling (I got a 157 and then a 126, but Roby schooled us all with a 207), all followed by noraebang of course. And cake eating too. It was pretty much the best :)

Pretty fall colors on Korea University's campus - with Hae Jin.

Lovely ladies at the bowling alley - me, Robyn, Katelyn, Jessica

With Hyeok Soo

With Alice - she is so short it's cute.

With Sang Hoon - he's kind of crazy.

Rain is coming down

Ever wonder what a Korean pop concert looks like? Here's some Rain for you :)

Painting #3

Painting #3: Hope you like it.

The painting

The picture

A little lame poetry

Sometimes I get the urge to write a poem, and then I realize why I'm not a famous poet. But I'd thought I'd share my sad attempt.

The Coming of Fall

Fall is coming.
I feel it in the way
the trees bend ever so slightly
in the breeze and how the
leaves yearn to be tinged
with another color other than
green.

I see it in the faces of the
students as they walk home
knowing they have to study for
midterms, and wishing beyond
wish they could be doing anything
else.

I smell it in the crisp air
that blows past my face
and drifts up the mountains
cooling the evening sky
and calming the nerves of small
creatures.

And on a day like today I
want to be out there, soaking
up the late summer rays,
reveling in the perfect weather,
enjoying anywhere but where I
am.

Just some reasons...

... why I love Korea.

Because I get to go to K-pop concerts with really awesome people like this:

And I get to go to baseball games with really fun people like this - and also the fact that Korean baseball fans are insane and I love them for it. Think super loud. And having a cheer for everything imaginable.

I get to go to the wedding of amazing people like this:

After church I get to walk along the river and hang out with people like this:

And like this - don't ask me what they are doing but it sure is entertaining.

And as we walk along the river we just happen to see Koreans learning to swing dance, and then we run into an international marching band competition. Sweet. And after the competition we get to see views like this:

And this - sigh, so pretty: