Hey guys.
I would apologize for not doing a blog post in about four months, but I don't really feel that bad. Over vacation I had nothing to write about and once school started I didn't really feel like it.
So a summary of January and February: Nothing. I did pretty much nothing. Except watch movies and cross-stitch. And sleep. I did a lot of sleeping.
Things started happening in March. The first three days of the month we went to Gangwon Province, which is the northeast. It was honestly not all that much fun. The first day was a bit interesting as we went to the border and saw the coast of North Korea. The ocean was really beautiful. But it was really cold and then later we went to a mountain. But I hadn't been told we would hiking down paths covered in snow, so I wore shoes that got soaked and made the rest of day very unpleasant as my feet stung with cold the whole time. I also didn't like our lunch of chilled kimchi flavored buckwheat noodles, called naengmyun. The next day we went to a apparently well known area and just walked around doing nothing while my shoes got soaked again. After that we went to the beach. Although it looked cool in the chill air and grey skies it was nothing new to me, as I go to the beach all the time in Florida and I was highly uncomfortable. But lunch that day was much better. So, even though the places we went weren't all that great the time we spent in the hotel getting to know each other better was really nice. I feel like I know almost all of the exchange students well now. The last day was a day for skiing and I hate skiing so I slept in and just watched. 
Because of the trip I missed the first day of the new school year. I had a lot of trepidation going into it, as the previous year had been very lonely and boring with none of our classmates talking to us. But I was pleasantly surprised, due to the fact that most of the people in my class weren't last year. Over the course of just a couple weeks we had a small group of girls who were new to us and were very friendly and made an effort to talk to us and make sure we were with them at lunch and so on. Though I was my usual introvert self and didn't ask many questions of them or seek them out they were very kind and I have had the privilege of becoming closer with them the past two months. 
Of course in the middle of March my beautiful mother and sister graced me with a visit. Be happy in knowing that I was two hours early to get Maria and I ran to her as she walked through the door and we hugged and spun around in front of everyone (they don't really do that in Korea XD). We spent the week trying out new foods, being amazed at their low prices, walking (lots of walking), buying random things, and enjoying each other company. My favorite part was when we went to Gyeongbokgoong, the palace from dynasties of the past that is still maintained. When I went with Rotary in the fall we only had an hour and I only got to explore the main courtyard and building. But this time we walked through all the gardens and places in the back. The architecture continued to amaze me with its beauty despite the number of temples I've seen so far. That and our dinner of Bulgogi that night in Insa-dong (the traditional district of Seoul) made the day simply wonderful. It was also really great for them to meet my first family and friends Juan and Jack. Maria was overjoyed to try out my toilet in my first house and all its buttons (sorry Maria I had to mention it). When they had to leave I wasn't sad. Yes, of course I knew I would miss them, but time we had was so sweet and I knew it wouldn't be long. I couldn't be upset. I guess because of always going back and forth between Iowa and Florida I don't often miss people to the point that it makes me sad. It is more often parts of American culture or my American routine that I miss.
Right after I missed a week of school seeing my family I went on another Rotary trip the following week for three days. This trip was so much more fun and pleasant. The weather was wonderful and we saw some amazing places. Another change to this trip was that we had about 15 more people with us: the Korean outbound students who will be exchange students next year. Most of them spoke decent English and it was fun to get to know them. The highlights of the trip were making things out of clay (which I totally failed at, it was ugly. And no that is not an artist trying to say their work isn't good, it was legitimately ugly. I have eye witnesses if you like), and seeing the green tea farm. It was rows of bushes covering a hillside with trees and flowers in bloom everywhere. It took my breath away. And just as quickly reminded of the one who gives me breath. It was one of those moments I had no words to describe how I was feeling. One other cool thing was making traditional Korean paper called Hanji. It's really thin and quick to make and it was cool to see the small museum filled with all sorts of things you can make from the stuff, from lanterns to clothes. We also visited a cool temple, a couple traditional villages, a nature park for cranes and ate lots of wonderful food. By this point in the year all of us exchange students were completely comfortable with each other and had a wonderful time together. At this point I'd say I'm closest with Elsa, from Sweden, and Anna, from America (Platteville, funnily enough). Many others follow closely behind, but these two really feel like my sisters (everyone else please don't feel offended I love you just as much).
The rest of March and April has gone very well. Although during class school is still very boring it's worth it. I really enjoy my time there now. I feel like a part of the class, instead of a burden and an outsider like I did last year. It's really nice knowing I have friends, even if they aren't close friends that I confide in. I am now taking Japanese which is really fun. I actually think its better that I'm learning it in Korean because the grammar is so similar and there are direct translations to Korean that don't exist in English. And it's all basic enough that I have no trouble understanding. And because I have so much extra time in my other classes it only took about three days to learn how to write Hiragana. I'm still working on Katakana and have no hope for Kanji, but I'll give it a try (sorry to those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about). Other than Japanese I don't have any classes I really pay attention to. I help out my English teacher occasionally but his English is so good he doesn't really need me. So mostly I just sit and read. Or sleep. I almost always sleep through the first period of class if not more and almost always one class in the afternoon. Half the time I sleep it's because I'm tired. The other half of the time I'm just so bored I can't help it. To help keep the boredom at bay I've done a little bit more work on the book I'm writing, but who knows how long that will last.
Lastly there is the issue of the Ferry sinking. It was a terrible tragedy and I can't really describe the effect of it here, especially because the students were from a school in my city. Everyone is doing their best to act normal and those few that didn't know anyone who died (or has most likely died, about 150 still haven't been found) find it easier, but it's plain to see that there are those who can't act normally. I personally knew one person who died, but I hadn't talked with him in a few months and didn't know him well due to the fact that I only saw him when he was with my exchange friend from his school. Thank you to everyone who has kept this country in your thoughts and prayers.
On a happier note, my return date has been decided. I will be arriving back in Dubuque on the 18th of June. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. I love Korea so much. Its one of those deep feelings you can't explain. Now that I've been here eight months there are a lot of things I miss about America and that I don't like about Korea. Despite that, I can't help but love it with an intensity and I don't know where it comes from. There is just an indescribable beauty about how simply and joyfully Koreans live their lives, reveling in the simplest things and welcoming everyone they meet with a warm heart. And the country itself with its cherry blossoms and flowers everywhere and mountains always dotting the landscape is gorgeous and I catch my breathe every time I look out the window of the subway or the bus. But of course, I have many of the same feeling for the US. The rolling hills and wide fields still captivate me and the carefree, almost reckless, way Americans live their lives is beautiful as well. I have fully accomplished what I think every exchange student does: I have torn my heart in half.
"Yet nothing can to nothing fall,
Nor any place be empty quite;
Therefore I think my breast hath all
Those pieces still, though they be not unite"
-John Donne-
