reflections...

Time...it is a funny thing.

It creeps by slowly when you want it fast,

 and speeds on by when you ask for more.

Time...it caters to no one.

More understanding, I wish it were,

for in this moment, I need more.

Talk about time flying! This week will be 4 months that I have been living in South Korea. When I think back to the hard work & time it took to organize all the paperwork & mentally prepare myself for the move...I am glad I had the determination to see it through! During college, I had this false image in my mind that I would graduate, get a teaching job in a fun town near my family & friends, eventually buy my own place (maybe even meet a guy & get married...haha!), and life would be how I wanted it to be. Actually in high school my image would have put me married with atleast one kid already. Oh, how far away from that I am!! No offense to anyone who is on that path, I've just sort of took a detour for a bit. :)

Now if you ask me what my plans in life are...I can honestly say I have no concrete plan. Deciding to teach abroad has opened up so many windows of my life that I can hardly begin to describe how thankful I am that I chose to do this. I can remember the day that I sat at my parents house discussing how frustrated I was getting trying to find a teaching job in Austin. I had my laptop in my lap...browsing the words "teaching abroad" and scouring the loads of information I was finding. I looked into all possible countries & could find no other country more beneficial (money & lifestyle wise) than S.Korea. Mentioning to my family the idea of teaching there brought many small chuckles & "Oh, that sounds great, but I'm sure you will eventually find a job here." I don't think either of us thought I'd really do it...it just seemed a bit out of my nature. I've always been a "home-body" and family is what my world is revolved around. But the "independent" side of me also played a role in my decision to branch out...across the world...literally.

It's your road, and yours alone.

Others may walk it with you,

but no one can walk it for you.

-anonymous

The changes I've experienced since being here have been tremendous! I decided on the title of my blog before I actually got to Korea, and I cannot think of any better way to describe my new life. I truly am "altering the color of my mind." I see things so differently than I did before. Experiencing a new culture, lifestyle, & meeting so many people has opened my mind to new questions & dreams. I have met people from England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and of course many from the states. I believe all the friends I have gained here have had a major influence on my life so far. I have a couple good girl friends who I can talk about anything with, I have a group of guys that make me feel like I'm back at home with my brothers, and yes, I've even gone on a couple dates. Overall, I'm enjoying learning about everyone's life, their views on both teaching and traveling, and of course their friendship & company. I've linked up with many different groups on random adventures & trips across Korea. And yes, to my friends back home...I do miss you dearly! If I had my way I'd have you here as well so you can experience everything that I am right now! 

As I walked into my apartment this evening I thought to myself..."What should I do today?" Every week day I work from roughly 8am to 4:15pm then I come home to my apartment. It was today that I realized I have so many options of what to do with my time from 5:30 until whenever I decide to go to sleep. I can ride my bike, work out, take a walk, hike a mountain, read (inside or outside), work on my Korean, work on my poetry, surf the internet/Facebook/Skype, cook dinner, go to the sauna, get a massage, watch T.V. shows online (nothing is ever on Korean T.V. lol), work on lesson plans, clean my apartment, go out with friends for dinner, or just be plain lazy & sleep! You get the idea! My point to this is back home I never had time for half of this stuff!! And some I didn't even have the option or money to do! 

Here in Korea, I find I enjoy my alone time whether I'm inside my apartment or out. I hang out with students & staff all day long so it's nice to just come home to my own place & relax. On the weekends I usually choose to get out & about with everyone else. The balance of this has reduced the stress in my life greatly! Some days I think about what my next step in life is...but that is when I stop & remind myself to not think so much & just enjoy what I have been given in this moment. This moment now is enjoying being healthy and alive & soaking in my new lifestyle in Korea. What come next will happen just as naturally as my choice to take on this challenge was. 

I do have to thank my family for the enormous amount of encouragement they have given me in this process. Thanks to Facebook & Skype, I am able to keep connected with them on almost a daily basis! I know that they love me & want whats best for me...and if Korea is what I want right now...then that's what they want as well.


I know most of my blogs have been about my experiences & adventures, so I felt it was time to actually post some of my thoughts & reflections of my time here so far. So to all my readers, thank you for following me & I hope I keep you somewhat entertained. Until next time...

XOXO,
Amanda