And the answer is!

Hey everyone! Can you believe it's already February 7th? Holy Smokes time flies! And speaking of time flying, if you watched my last entry you would know that I have reached my 1 year anniversary of living and teaching here in Korea. This past year has been wonderful and I really am thankful for all the experiences and opportunities I have been given. Not only have I had a good time experiencing a new culture, way of life, and traveling all over Korea and central Asia; but I also have made some great friends and have had an overall satisfactory job all while making memories to last a lifetime.

However, with the end of my first year living in Korea coming also comes the issue of what to do: Do I stay or go? If I stay do I keep working at Baum Kid's Schule? Should I transfer schools? Added to this I really wanted to see my family back in America...which was proving to be difficult if I stayed in korea whether with my current school or another one.

It took me almost  a month to come to a conclusion, but alas, my mind is set.

Peace out! and Happy Lunar New Year to everyone!!!

next blog entry- what I did with my 4 day Lunar New Year weekend! (Feb 8-12)

어떻게? What do I do?

Hey everyone! Like the same as any one elses' life, we are all faced with important choices and decisions in which will help shape our future. This goes no different for someone living and working abroad. I have really fallen in love with my life here in korea. Not only with the life that I have made with friends, experiences, my apartment and personal belongings that I have acquired, and my future plans for my life here in Korea; but I have also fallen in love with teaching. Now, as the ned of my first year in Korean is coming nearer, I am now being faced with the option of renewing my contract with my current employer or to begin a new contract with a new school this coming March (school terms begin and end in March here in Korea).

A fewMany aspects are playing into my decision. . Relocating to a country in which I knew no one and at first did not know the language or any cultural norms was tough. However I prospered here and have since developed good friendships and a secure sense of placement. However living on my own has really made me realize just how much I love and appreciate my family. While deciding on whether or not to renew my contract, the first and most important factor that I am making necessary is a trip home to visit my family. I love them dearly and I know they would love to see me just as much as I would them. Now I'm not looking for a long term stay at home, but long enough to visit and not be rushed (3 weeks precisely!)

I have a few options for visiting family in which I explain in the video. 1 includes staying with my school, and the others would be me seeking employment elsewhere.

Secondly, I am very comfortable with my job and really enjoy my kids and coworkers. however, as explained in the video- job security may be an issue since I am working at a small private school which is slowly loosing it's fight against the public school systems offering English programs.

And thirdly, as I toy with the idea of possibly needing to find a new job whether it is based on my visit home options or job security...I can't help but wonder 'is the grass greener on the other side?" I would hate to leave my current kids and workplace only to be unhappy in a job that has slightly better benefits or a allowed me a few extra days at home. I would rather be wealthy in happiness than a bigger paycheck.

So....as the next week unfolds I shall come to a conclusion and will let ya'll know ASAP.

As always...take care and much love!!!

-Patrick

Taiwanese Get-Away!

Ahhh nothing like a little winter 'warm up' holiday vacation! During my school's only week long winter break I took the time to embark on a solo exhibition to the beautiful country of Taiwan. I had heard a lot about Taiwan from a friend of mine and has peaked my interest to visit this enchanting and welcoming place.

I arrived in the biggest city of Taiwan, Taipei, just in time to celebrate the New Year on January 31st, but spent the majority of my trip in a small costal city called Hualien City.

While in Hualien I enjoyed the lush pebble beaches, hiked the famous Taroko Gorge Mountain, explored the natural landscapes both in and out of the city, and sampled the local culture by speaking to the townspeople, trying new foods, and observing some of their history.

All of the positive things my friend had ever mentioned about Taiwan was verified on this vacation. Not only is the climate and nature just standstill-beautiful, but the people of Taiwan were so welcoming, friendly, helpful, and genuine. While spending my one day in Taipei and then again in the smaller town areas I was treated most kindly and appreciated by all the Taiwanese people. It truly was a 'feel good' country.

I only was able to stay in Taiwain for 5 days...but it sure did make a good impression on me. This mini-vacation to Taiwain was just the energy and love booster that I needed in the depths of winter. I most certainly plan on visiting Taiwan again someday...probably more than once...and definitely for longer than 5 days!!!

메리 크리스마스 (Merry Christmas)!

Hey there and Merry Christmas everyone! So Christmas was this past week and I had a few very first Christmas experiences this year- celebrating it in a foreign country, experiencing a cultures norms and expectations on the Christmas season, and of course I was away from my family.

Christmas for me is all about the music, christmas lights, classic TV shows, making batches and batches of homemade cookies, and of course a nice quite dinner at home with my immediate family. It is a time of year that I am usually most happiest and content in life due all of the positive vibes generating from such wonderful things! I love Christmas and recall on years past spent in America with my family as some of the best times we ever had together.

However, celebrating Christmas alone- and in a country that only recognizes it for a couple of days- it had potential to be lonely and depressing. In Korea, where only 1/3 of the country celebrates Christmas, there are little to no homes with Christmas lights, no street decorations, no 'Mall Santas'', and with schools only going on break  for 1 WEEK AFTER CHRISTMAS, it seemed as if it was just another minimal holiday. However, for my fellow foreign friends, the young Korean crowd, and myself, Christmas is a special day meant to be spent with those we care about and having good times and making memories. My friends and I made an effort to acknowledge Christmas for the weeks leading up to the 25th and also had our own "Friend's Christmas" gathering in which we became one another's family. It is so important to reach out to those closest to us when we seek comfort and consistency...and this Christmas, my first away from my family, I could not have asked for better friends or a more memorable first Christmas in Korea!!!


I of course did miss my family, and the necessary skype call to each member gave my heart and soul some much need TLC. But, I have had many wonderful years spent with them on Christmas and provided all is well in our lives we will have many more in future years.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, Hanukah, or other Holiday fitting for your life!!! Happy Holidays and Happy New Years!!!

-Patrick

For more info on how a Korean Christmas is played out check out these blogs. They are both fun and informative blogs I watch regularly that teach a lot about the korean culture, language, and life here in the great land of Korea!

Sweet and Tasty- A quirky girl living in the US that has many personas she uses to explain how different types of Korean people speak and live in Korea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP3FyIaDYVo&list=UU9aWBNR-mDNzgRsO3XLJ7uw&index=1

Eat your Kimchi- A canadian couple who has lived in Korea for 3 years and kept a video blog of their time here. They since have moved on from teaching English to now running their own business in Korea.
http://www.eatyourkimchi.com/whats-christmas-in-korea-like/

Wedding Bells and Welcoming Winter

Hello all you beautiful people! I'm sure you may be wondering as to the title of my blog entry....Well I hate to disappoint you but no, Patrick is not married and still single and ready to mingle. Actually, two weekends ago a good friend of mine, Monica, got married! I met Monica here in Korea and became close with her as we worked together at the same academy. She is a Korean native, as is her husband, and this was my first time experiencing a Korean wedding.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I did think that it would be more 'streo-typical' and very custom oriented. However (and you think I would know by now that not much in Korea is still 'stero-typical' ) Monica's wedding was very different from what I pictured it to be, and not very much like Western weddings either. It was for sure noticeably a wedding, but none like I had been to before. There was new aspects combined with old traditions, and obviously some of the western world practices had been borrowed and combined with Korean lifestyle.

The wedding itself was very brief and to my opinion not very appealing as to what someone would want on their wedding day. Altho Monica, her husband, and the venue was all beautiful and well put together, it just wasn't what I think is a 'dream wedding day'. Despite some of my comments made in the video, I really did have a great time at the wedding and appreciated it for what it was- it just wasn't very appealing to me. However, seeing Monica so happy on her big day made it a very memorable experience and something I will forever remember!

Anyways, can you believe that it is already min-December!?!? Crazy how quickly time can pass us by. I have gone from exploring beaches, temples, and taking weekend getaways filled with kayaking, cycling, and lazy days at the pool to now spend more time watching movies with friends and eating nice hot home cooked meals while staying snug indoors! Altho both sides of life definitely have their pluses, I would still rather be laying at the beach! However, I wont let winter get me down. I have many plans for this coming winter. All summer long my friends and I kept speaking about how we needed to check out 'this museum' or 'that historical sight' or 'take a tour of this gallery'. Well...the next few months of -C degrees will definitely be the time to check out these indoor attractions. However, I also do plan on hitting up the outdoor and indoor ice skating rinks, Holiday light festivals, and also am planning on trying my hand at skiing for the first time in the northern mountains of South Korea!! Wish me luck!

Oh ya....did I forget to mention I'm taking a 6 day solo get-a-way to Tawian at the end of December? No?? Well I'M PRETTY STOKED ABOUT THAT TOO!!!

Not to mention Christmas is coming up!!! My classroom is decked-out with Gingerbread men, Red and Green, and more crafts are on their way from my lil Tigers!

Anyways, I hope ya'll are taking care and enjoying YOUR holiday season. Stay tuned for blog entries around Christmas time and also my trip to Taiwan!

Peace and Love to you!

미국의 추수 감사절 (American Thanksgiving)

One week ago was the American Holiday of Thanksgiving. I have spent the past 23 years of my life getting together with close friends and family to take part in festivities, a Thanksgiving meal, and of course to enjoy each other's company and be thankful for the time we have spent together. This year however was my first Thanksgiving living as an expat overseas. Not only was I not partaking in my usual family get-together but I am also living in a country which does not recognize this day due Korea having their own day known as Chuseok (the korean Thanksgiving day).

I took part in getting together with other foreign friends, recognizing the American holiday in my classroom and speaking to my students about it, skyping with my family, and making my own heart warming Thanksgiving meal. I actually really enjoyed my first Thanksgiving living overseas and utilized this time to reflect on my own life and what truly matters to me. I cam to find that it is my family and friends, those who I have come to love so dearly, that really mean the most to me. Life should not be measured in how much money we make or how many Pokemon cards we can collect....but who is by our side as we make that money and collect those cards!! heehee!

Without my family, friends, and loving pets; my life would incomplete. So this year I am giving thanks to all those near and dear to me heart.

xoxox
-Patrick

Namsan Tower and my first Korean Halloween!!

A few weeks ago I took advantage of one of the last nice weather weekends here in South Korea to hike up Mt. Namsan and go to the top of Namsan Tower. It had been something I wanted to accomplish all summer but never found the time. But alas I did it and it was an amazing view from the top of all of Seoul and the surrounding area!

The following weekend was HALLOWEEN, my most favorite holiday!!! Not only did I get to celebrate in school with all my students but also hit up the nightlife of Seoul with my friends for a Halloween I will surely never forget!