I think...but I don't want to jinx it.

3.22.2011

Shhhhhhhhhh...I don't want Mr. Korean Weather to hear me...but I think the time has come....I think, I hope, I pray... Spring is here.

And I think it's lifting my spirits more than I ever thought possible. Because when it's Spring, I get to do this:

IMG_0240


Instead of this:

[This was taken in February, at the peak of my delirium from being indoors all day]
Photo 7

I have about three weeks until I visit home for two weeks. I've picked up two people with tutoring, so most of my week is taken up with one- or two-hour sessions. I've also started a new show for TBS. The host I worked with on the Evening Show moved to a morning weekend show, so he invited me to do the in-depth news for both days. Last weekend was the first and although there were a few bumps in the road, I was fairly pleased with the outcome. Hopefully, I get around to posting another sound clip for you guys. Everyone was so encouraging last time, so maybe I'll do it when I need a boost in morale ;)

I'm extremely excited about my visit home! But I have so many things to do before then, I doubt I'll have much time to think about it until I'm actually on the plane. Until April 12, I have two articles to turn in, the weekend shows, tutoring in between, family time in Busan and showing Mark's visiting friends a good time at the beginning of the month. Phew! It makes me tired just thinking about it...

Regardless, life is good and I'm really beginning to feel like Korea is home. My six-month mark is this Saturday and I can't believe how much growth I've experienced already. Living on my own, making career decisions, having financial responsibilities are all part of growing up, but I'm really enjoying every part of it. It's not easy and I'll be the first to tell you that I have my days (a lot of bad ones too), but I'm learning to embrace the bad with the good because in the end, what I cherish most is the journey, the growth and the struggles it took to get from point A to point B.

The language barrier is still an issue but oddly, after my mom's visit, my confidence grew and I've found myself taking more risks with it. If I'm with friends who are better than me, I still depend on them completely. But when I'm with Mark or by myself, I'll venture into the unknown--asking questions, trying new phrases, etc. It's rewarding too because when they see you opening up, they're sure to open up as well.

As I said (quietly), Spring is here and I've got a really good feeling about it. It's the season of change, warm weather, new flowers and smiling people...what's not to love?!

I hope you're all having a beautiful week so far and that it's filled with many blessings. Until next time...

2 comments :

Susan said...

The distorted picture made me laugh. I had to stop myself from laughing too loud because the kids are in bed and they would have wanted to scramble over here to see what I was laughing about. Then it would be another 15 minutes before they're in bed again. I'll show them tomorrow.

Your day is sounding a bit like here but still it sounds like you're having fun.

Susan said...

ha ha ha ha. Every time I look at it, it makes me laugh so hard. I showed the kids. They thought it was funny.