It’s been a busy few weeks, but today marks the end of my first semester teaching. I am happy for the experience, relieved that we have a break from teaching for a while, and sad that I won’t have the same students next semester. Overall, it was a great semester. I might have a few gray hairs that I didn’t before, but it was rewarding.
Also, I took a trip to a hair salon with a friend and got my hair permanently straightened, along with a trim. So far, so good! It is so much easier to style now, which I am thankful for.
Tomorrow is the first day of December, but we have already been feeling the Christmas spirit! I am sorry that I will miss the first Christmas at home without Dad, but I am glad that I have people here who I get to spend the holiday with.
Thanksgiving passed, and my Korean teacher invited us over her house for a traditional meal. It was easily the best meal I have had here so far. We had a fruit salad with a bear (배) dressing, seafood japchae (잡채), beef bulgogi (불고기), tofu (두부), kimchi (김치), and soup (국), with a pear and persimmon (감) for dessert. It was extremely kind of her to invite us to her home for a family meal, which was exactly what I had missed with not celebrating Thanksgiving.
I was also able to eat a traditional American Thanksgiving meal at the international church in Jinju (진주). Each year, the church hosts a Thanksgiving meal for all of the foreigners in the area so we get to have a little slice of home, along with our slices of pecan and pumpkin pie.
The weeks are passing more and more quickly here, and I am getting comfortable with my life here and have been enjoying my time here. There are still so many things I haven’t experienced, but baby steps are the way to go. I have officially taken my first bus ride by myself, which I consider a feat, and I can go to the open traditional market and ask how much things are in Korean and actually understand what they tell me. Each day is easier.
Here are some pictures of food that I have eaten and made over the past few weeks. Also, I stumbled upon an entire bakery that uses rice instead of flour. I am super excited to try everything there!
Stay safe, and stay happy (행북해요)! Thanks for reading. Also, I tend to update my instagram more than this blog, so feel free to follow me! @sam_rosia
Sam's Scenes & Soliloquies 