Holiday and...analysis of current situation

Christmas came and went in South Korea. It did not feel much like Christmas. Maybe because I am in a different place and its not what I am used to. Plus, there were not Christmas decorations smothering the town the day after Thanksgiving like home. Actually I dont even know where home is. I have lived in many places during my life, and I feel like I have many so called "homes." California will always be my base. I love that state. It has sun and ocean and mountains and lots of loving family and friends. New York didnt steam my kettle at first, but I have lived long enough with a good friend, Liana ji to call the city one of my homes. And Pennsylvania. Gettysburg is where much love and happiness lies. I went through a very big transformation while at school and enjoyed every moment of it. Gettysburg is a great town full of weird people carrying lanterns and wearing civil war costumes yes, but also a place where I met some great friends I will never forget, even if we do lose touch. And of course India plays a large role in the making of who I am now. I connected with the people on my program in a special way. I have never felt so close and comfortable around a group of people such as these 25 fellow enlightened spirits. I felt at home in India, like I lived there before in a past life...The filth, disease, swelling population, corruption and chaos was belittled by the loving kindness, spiritualality and warmth felt by the people I came to know. Anyway, the point is that now I am in Korea. This is my new home. I dont feel the same kind of devotion or connection to the land or people, but I shall give time to let things unfold. I mean, I like kimchi and soju...the rest should be easy.

I did go to an orphanage on Christmas day to hand out more than 60 presents we bought for the little kids. The young ones were very excited to see us and all of them were happy to have Santa visit their home. It was nice to play with them for the day and definitely lifted my spirits.

On New Years I planned on hiking to the top of a mountain to watch the sun rise and meditate/pray. It is tradition here. Of course I ended up going to a few bars and getting wasted not even present for the countdown! But I did a lot of thinking about what this new year meant. I thought that being out of college would spark a revelation and I would feel more of a transformation into "the real world." But like I always said, we have been in the real world this whole time guys! So far I feel like I have been drifting through life, enjoying what comes my way. But I want to know my purpose. I want to know that I am doing something that makes a difference. Right now I know that I can help by being a positive role model and teaching these children the best I can. My new year resolutions are many. I want to learn Korean. Pay off a chunk of my loans I am indebted to. Travel through Korea and Japan. And then I think about my goals and feel that I am not moving in a direction that correlates with my ambitious dream of working for National Geographic. I will have to decide sooner or later what my next plan of action is. Graduate school? I have been thinking about International Relations or Peace and Conflict Resolution. Does this make any more sense than my Philosophy, Religion, Anthropology Degree?? Maybe Peace Corps...

(delicious holiday basket filled with dried octopus, shrimp

with the legs still on, abilone and other fishy things)

But for now...I am satisfied with my first job out of college. I never thought I would be a teacher, but I am enjoying the position very much. I have almost a year left here before I begin a new adventure. But then again, the adventure is all one, and I might as well enjoy it! Dried fish, kimchi and all! Hope everything is well for my friends and family all over the world! Peace and Love.

(woman putting her fish out to dry)