Hey everyone!
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know. I've been awful about updating. But it's really because I got sick and then I've just been so busy every day. Even now I'm taking some time while I'm at my homestay family and I will have to rush to get everything all down. (But I write in my journal everyday so don't worry it will all eventually go up).
So the first day I woke up in the middle of the night and threw up (eck.) and the next day I was sent to the hospital to get checked out (I've been the only one so far in the hospital :) The one guy thought I might have hepatitis (AHHHH!!!) but the more experienced doctor said I should just go and rest for the day and come back if I did not feel any better. It took me about two days to feel totally recovered, but I feel great now.
So now yucky nasty scary bloodtests for me, thank you very much!
Oh! Guess what!
I'm even wearing my contacts more often and getting used to them and they're not bugging me as much anymore. But they're still kind of weird - my eyes are kinda "wu-zey". (sorry, had to make that Veggietales reference...). Just forget that just happened.
Anyways:
The first day I felt better we went to a palace but we got hit by the back end of a typhoon that day so we were getting soaked and they shortened the tour :) and we got to shop at Insadong, the traditional market. I'm crossing my fingers that my cousin will take me back there on Sunday when he takes me to dinner. I'm hoping he'll take me to a bunch of places but we'll see about how that goes. I got a cute ring and two fans and I want to go back to get more stuff for my awesome friends and fam whose birfdays I'm sadly missing (it's ok Michelle, the picnick is going to happen when we get back from both our trips!)
My homestay sister's name is Min Jeong (actually Kim Min Jeong, but, formalities, forshmalities). She's a year older than me in American age but she's 18 in Korean age (Korean's count you as one the moment you're born and count you're age every new year from them. So everyone's two years older here in Korea). And the teenagers here have to think for a little bit to figure out how old they are in American age.
They're all really, really studious here, and from what I've heard, they start school at 8:30 in the morning and pretty much study until 11 at night. A lot of it is self study, and some even stay up until 3 in the morning to study! But that's just in high school though. It's really hard to get into the few universities they have here, but once you get in, it's a lot easier and you can have a lot more fun. Most of the students here say that they don't really have that many memories in high school because they are studying so much.
But nonetheless they're still very similar to American teenagers - the girls love shopping (!! :)) and when they're done taking exams a lot of them go "eye shopping" or window shopping as we call it in the states. And they like icecream.... and shoes. And taking pictures (I'm going to have a ton of cute ones with my homestay sister when we're done here this weekend).
Ok, love you all, but I really have to go! I was going to make a list of differences here in Korea... but that plan died. So next time? gotta go play in the sun here in the Korean country side... and take some sweet pics with my sista here!
LOVES!
Patty <><
Friday, August 14, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Exits are found immediately to your right.
Hey everyone!
I am officially in Korea. Goodbye USA and apple pie and baseball! Hello foreign asian country of my ancestors :) (Woah - weird moment there).
It's almost too unreal that I'm here, meeting all the people I'm meeting from all over the U.S., and getting to experience a totally different culture. They've given us today as a rest day, which is really nice since I get to relax and get over my jet lag (staying up late watching House on the plane was not... the best.... choi....zzzz)
But anyways, I've met a ton of new people, and it's just so awesome how friendly and open everyone is.
Especially my roomies: Annie, Priyanka, and Meghan (Annie's the only one who's actually my room mate but the rest are with me here in the beautiful city of Seoul in our suite!). And man, it's hot here, but so beautiful. The area's so lush... yet still it's the city. I just love it. And am resolved to learn Korean.
Sometime.
Soon.
Other than that, my plane ride was fun (as said before, I stayed up late fascinated by the touch screen tv) and I sat next to Austin (who'se from Texas. And no, he's actually from Dallas. I know what you were thinking!) who pretty much is the self-appointed spokeperson for Texas. And he's 6'4''. We had a great 12 hour plane ride :)
Another important fact about Austin: he talks like he's on stage when he's trying to be quiet. It's like a mega-phone twenty four seven. Except, that he's blond. And doesn't have the cool siren thingimabobber.
Ok, I'm sorry guys, but I'm going to have to end here. It's WAY to hot up here in the room with the only available computer. The air is sticky and hot. I need to go relax in the beautiful airconditiong :)
Love you alls! Please keep praying, and thanks for those of you who already are!
Patty <><
I am officially in Korea. Goodbye USA and apple pie and baseball! Hello foreign asian country of my ancestors :) (Woah - weird moment there).
It's almost too unreal that I'm here, meeting all the people I'm meeting from all over the U.S., and getting to experience a totally different culture. They've given us today as a rest day, which is really nice since I get to relax and get over my jet lag (staying up late watching House on the plane was not... the best.... choi....zzzz)
But anyways, I've met a ton of new people, and it's just so awesome how friendly and open everyone is.
Especially my roomies: Annie, Priyanka, and Meghan (Annie's the only one who's actually my room mate but the rest are with me here in the beautiful city of Seoul in our suite!). And man, it's hot here, but so beautiful. The area's so lush... yet still it's the city. I just love it. And am resolved to learn Korean.
Sometime.
Soon.
Other than that, my plane ride was fun (as said before, I stayed up late fascinated by the touch screen tv) and I sat next to Austin (who'se from Texas. And no, he's actually from Dallas. I know what you were thinking!) who pretty much is the self-appointed spokeperson for Texas. And he's 6'4''. We had a great 12 hour plane ride :)
Another important fact about Austin: he talks like he's on stage when he's trying to be quiet. It's like a mega-phone twenty four seven. Except, that he's blond. And doesn't have the cool siren thingimabobber.
Ok, I'm sorry guys, but I'm going to have to end here. It's WAY to hot up here in the room with the only available computer. The air is sticky and hot. I need to go relax in the beautiful airconditiong :)
Love you alls! Please keep praying, and thanks for those of you who already are!
Patty <><
Monday, July 27, 2009
Kayaks, and Cockpits, and Skirts, oh my!
Hey all!
Big surprise, I got switched to training this week :) It was pretty incredible since I've never actually had any kind of training in the 2 years I've been here due to crazy circumstances, so when I asked to be moved to training, Luke was totally open :))) Such a good day! I'm really glad to be learning some new things, too.
Like Kayaking! I got to spend the beginning of this week learning to kayak, and then had a crazy freak-me-out-why-don't you experience when I got stuck underwater, unable to exit from my kayak in the middle of the Rock Garden (a small rapid... with lots of bumpy rocks!). Pretty scary, but also an amazing experience in just trusting God and going forward.
I also got to rock climb and go up on the high static and learn how to guide a raft! But kayaking was still my favorite and I really hope that I'll get to do more of that in the future... maybe next year?
The end of my time at Bighorn is drawing to a close so I'm feeling a little down; yet Korea is so close! Only a few days in the kitchen (I love the kitchen!) and then home for a few days and then: KOREA!
Love you all! Tell me how everything is for you!
Patty <><
Big surprise, I got switched to training this week :) It was pretty incredible since I've never actually had any kind of training in the 2 years I've been here due to crazy circumstances, so when I asked to be moved to training, Luke was totally open :))) Such a good day! I'm really glad to be learning some new things, too.
Like Kayaking! I got to spend the beginning of this week learning to kayak, and then had a crazy freak-me-out-why-don't you experience when I got stuck underwater, unable to exit from my kayak in the middle of the Rock Garden (a small rapid... with lots of bumpy rocks!). Pretty scary, but also an amazing experience in just trusting God and going forward.
I also got to rock climb and go up on the high static and learn how to guide a raft! But kayaking was still my favorite and I really hope that I'll get to do more of that in the future... maybe next year?
The end of my time at Bighorn is drawing to a close so I'm feeling a little down; yet Korea is so close! Only a few days in the kitchen (I love the kitchen!) and then home for a few days and then: KOREA!
Love you all! Tell me how everything is for you!
Patty <><
Thursday, July 23, 2009
RAWR means I love you in Dino, and other things you never knew
Hey everyone!
I'm home (big suprise!) and am chilling today (probably) (and SLEEPING. MUCHOS SLEEPOS).
why?
Because yesterday I got to spend muchos time on a bus coming up from Northern Cali.
How much time? Well, do the math:
Departure time = 9:00 a.m.
Arrival time = 3:00 a.m. (THE NEXT DAY).
long bus ride? Oh yeah :) Something like 18 hours? Um, yeah. It was actually pretty impressive. I loved getting to talk with friends (so many crazy and random noises and songs... Jonathan and Michelle just kept on shaking their heads at me and Tessa).
Wait, wait, wait. Stop the train for a second. Did I tell y'alls I was going down to Cali this week?
Oh, hehe, nope. I didn't. (I wanted to keep it a huge secret to surprise everyone... and trust me, they were surprised).
So I went down with my church to this adventure camp/ranch called JH ranch and had some pretty magical adventures. Lots of growth, both for myself and for my friends happened there. I got to know so many new people and build relationships with those I already know and God really spoke to me and pointed out some huge areas that need growth.
And the twenty hour bus ride? I don't wanna lie, that was probably my favorite part.
We did tons of ropes courses and played out on the man made lake and in the pool. I got blobbed majorly (so much fun! the blob is like a giant pillow in the middle of the lake that you sit on and then have people jump on from really high up to make you go flying) and I TOTALLY sent Colby flying (that was sarcastic, btw. He's like uber buff and probly weighs like 100 pounds more than I do.)
Anyways, just to sum it up, the week was bombtastic. I will try and spend more time describing it at a later date, but I have to go pack now to return to Bighorn either today or tomorrow.
Love you all!
Patty <><
P.S. Most memorable quotes:
"rawr means I love you in dinosaur!"
"Patty, if you say that one more time I think I will shoot someone."
"Just keep in mind, yourself is always an option."
"Eagle to Sparrow, eagle to sparrow, come in." - Meesh
"Wait, are you eagle or Sparrow?" - Patty
"I'm pretty sure she's Eagle because there's a G in it." - Jonathan
"Will you judge me if I tell you something, Stacie?" - Patty
"Of course not!" - Stacie
"Ok. So I peed my pants last night." - Patty
"MMMhsphpmpf." - Stacie
"Guys, I just had the weirdest dream." - Anna
"Yeah?"
"I dreamed that Patty and Elliot were prancing through a field of flowers with Elliot in a skirt singing, Lalalalalalalala". - Anna
"Berries and cream, berries and cream, I'm a little lass who likes berries and cream!" - Patty (while prancing)
"I don't think anyone will ever offer you alcohol, Patty." - Michelle
"I really don't like whipped cream." - Kevin
"Are you saying that I'm phatt?" - Patty
"TANGENT ALERT."
"Guys, we just lost the train."
"Woah, that could fit my head!" - Bree
"Lets try it on!" - Anna
"You look like one of those Jewish guys with the hats." - Patty
"I wonder if these'll magical fill when I wake up the morning." - Cally
"STOP. STOP me from laughing!" - Patty
"MEEKABOAY" - Tessa
"Wait, what was that?" - Anna
"That was peekaboo." - Tessa.
"That was NOT peekabo. That was MEEKABOAY" - Jonathan.
"If we were a german techno group we would be Duckatahpeh." -Meesh
"Patty, when I think of you, the image that comes to mind is you dancing in Donny's backyard with the hose singing, "SWIMMING WATERFALL."" - Meesh
*I'm sure I missed a bunch so comment below so I can add to my quotebook*
I'm home (big suprise!) and am chilling today (probably) (and SLEEPING. MUCHOS SLEEPOS).
why?
Because yesterday I got to spend muchos time on a bus coming up from Northern Cali.
How much time? Well, do the math:
Departure time = 9:00 a.m.
Arrival time = 3:00 a.m. (THE NEXT DAY).
long bus ride? Oh yeah :) Something like 18 hours? Um, yeah. It was actually pretty impressive. I loved getting to talk with friends (so many crazy and random noises and songs... Jonathan and Michelle just kept on shaking their heads at me and Tessa).
Wait, wait, wait. Stop the train for a second. Did I tell y'alls I was going down to Cali this week?
Oh, hehe, nope. I didn't. (I wanted to keep it a huge secret to surprise everyone... and trust me, they were surprised).
So I went down with my church to this adventure camp/ranch called JH ranch and had some pretty magical adventures. Lots of growth, both for myself and for my friends happened there. I got to know so many new people and build relationships with those I already know and God really spoke to me and pointed out some huge areas that need growth.
And the twenty hour bus ride? I don't wanna lie, that was probably my favorite part.
We did tons of ropes courses and played out on the man made lake and in the pool. I got blobbed majorly (so much fun! the blob is like a giant pillow in the middle of the lake that you sit on and then have people jump on from really high up to make you go flying) and I TOTALLY sent Colby flying (that was sarcastic, btw. He's like uber buff and probly weighs like 100 pounds more than I do.)
Anyways, just to sum it up, the week was bombtastic. I will try and spend more time describing it at a later date, but I have to go pack now to return to Bighorn either today or tomorrow.
Love you all!
Patty <><
P.S. Most memorable quotes:
"rawr means I love you in dinosaur!"
"Patty, if you say that one more time I think I will shoot someone."
"Just keep in mind, yourself is always an option."
"Eagle to Sparrow, eagle to sparrow, come in." - Meesh
"Wait, are you eagle or Sparrow?" - Patty
"I'm pretty sure she's Eagle because there's a G in it." - Jonathan
"Will you judge me if I tell you something, Stacie?" - Patty
"Of course not!" - Stacie
"Ok. So I peed my pants last night." - Patty
"MMMhsphpmpf." - Stacie
"Guys, I just had the weirdest dream." - Anna
"Yeah?"
"I dreamed that Patty and Elliot were prancing through a field of flowers with Elliot in a skirt singing, Lalalalalalalala". - Anna
"Berries and cream, berries and cream, I'm a little lass who likes berries and cream!" - Patty (while prancing)
"I don't think anyone will ever offer you alcohol, Patty." - Michelle
"I really don't like whipped cream." - Kevin
"Are you saying that I'm phatt?" - Patty
"TANGENT ALERT."
"Guys, we just lost the train."
"Woah, that could fit my head!" - Bree
"Lets try it on!" - Anna
"You look like one of those Jewish guys with the hats." - Patty
"I wonder if these'll magical fill when I wake up the morning." - Cally
"STOP. STOP me from laughing!" - Patty
"MEEKABOAY" - Tessa
"Wait, what was that?" - Anna
"That was peekaboo." - Tessa.
"That was NOT peekabo. That was MEEKABOAY" - Jonathan.
"If we were a german techno group we would be Duckatahpeh." -Meesh
"Patty, when I think of you, the image that comes to mind is you dancing in Donny's backyard with the hose singing, "SWIMMING WATERFALL."" - Meesh
*I'm sure I missed a bunch so comment below so I can add to my quotebook*
Friday, July 10, 2009
News, News, News
Hi Everyone!
Sorry I haven't been on for a while... Camp has been crazy. Just to sum up my LAI trip, it was incredible. The people I met who lived on the street were so open about talking and really shook up my life. Serving in Seattle also helped me see how much need there is right around where I lived. On the last day I even got to talk to a lady named Bobby who had been homeless for 17 years - isn't that just crazy?
Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know that the CIEE South Korea Program has accepted me and I will most probably be going to South Korea for 2 weeks at the end of this summer! AHH! So exciting. I got the e-mail this morning and am just stoked to go!
This week my job was on the opperations team, meaning that we pretty much take care of the camp. I worked on trails, cleaned up the gun range, deweeded a huge mulberry tree, and had other similar projects. It was hard work, but I enjoyed it and am looking forward to whatever my new job is next week. We will see though - I believe it will be announced this afternoon when all the campers leave.
It's breakfast time and I hear we're having french toast so I'm going to run to the lodge! Write me and let me know how you're doing!
Hugs and Kisses,
Patty <><
Sorry I haven't been on for a while... Camp has been crazy. Just to sum up my LAI trip, it was incredible. The people I met who lived on the street were so open about talking and really shook up my life. Serving in Seattle also helped me see how much need there is right around where I lived. On the last day I even got to talk to a lady named Bobby who had been homeless for 17 years - isn't that just crazy?
Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know that the CIEE South Korea Program has accepted me and I will most probably be going to South Korea for 2 weeks at the end of this summer! AHH! So exciting. I got the e-mail this morning and am just stoked to go!
This week my job was on the opperations team, meaning that we pretty much take care of the camp. I worked on trails, cleaned up the gun range, deweeded a huge mulberry tree, and had other similar projects. It was hard work, but I enjoyed it and am looking forward to whatever my new job is next week. We will see though - I believe it will be announced this afternoon when all the campers leave.
It's breakfast time and I hear we're having french toast so I'm going to run to the lodge! Write me and let me know how you're doing!
Hugs and Kisses,
Patty <><
Saturday, July 4, 2009
so much to say, so little time
hey everyone!
so today I'm just gonna give an LAI update even though I just got here at Bighorn :) we'll go into getting here at a later date :)
So the 1st day (last monday) was team bonding - so fun. We built rafts out of pieces of wood/palettes, buckets, bottles, and lots and lots of twine. Racing was the best: my team totally dominated... we would have won were it not for the seniors (but they shouldn't really count anyways). We had like two boyscouts on my team, so everything was all good. No worries at all.
After team building we went on an incredible hike up the mountainmajigger by rattle snake lake (it wasn't technically a mountain... but it was pretty steep). Looking down upon the lake and the surrounding area just blew me away.
On the second day we handed out hygiene packs to the homeless in the morning and did yard work for the people in our church. Handing out the hygiene packs was incredible because my group got to work with the street kids. I met this girl named Gummybear who was just sharing her story with me. She was actually a believer who used to go to the Mars Hill churches.
OO - lunch. I will talk with you guys more later! So much to share! Love you so much!
Patty <><
so today I'm just gonna give an LAI update even though I just got here at Bighorn :) we'll go into getting here at a later date :)
So the 1st day (last monday) was team bonding - so fun. We built rafts out of pieces of wood/palettes, buckets, bottles, and lots and lots of twine. Racing was the best: my team totally dominated... we would have won were it not for the seniors (but they shouldn't really count anyways). We had like two boyscouts on my team, so everything was all good. No worries at all.
After team building we went on an incredible hike up the mountainmajigger by rattle snake lake (it wasn't technically a mountain... but it was pretty steep). Looking down upon the lake and the surrounding area just blew me away.
On the second day we handed out hygiene packs to the homeless in the morning and did yard work for the people in our church. Handing out the hygiene packs was incredible because my group got to work with the street kids. I met this girl named Gummybear who was just sharing her story with me. She was actually a believer who used to go to the Mars Hill churches.
OO - lunch. I will talk with you guys more later! So much to share! Love you so much!
Patty <><
Monday, June 29, 2009
Ok, Summer has OFFICIALLY started
Hello and Goodbye everyone!
I'm leaving for LAI in oh, like 15 minutes (so this will be super speedy – my mom says that we have to get going). I think I've had a good morning so far: including lovely honey nut cheerios, my dad reading over my shoulder, and finishing up the last bits of packing. (Don't worry, he's gone now)
Sounds like I'm ready to go. I will miss you all so so much! But don't worry, I'll be back. And I'll be sure to report about all I did on this trip/missions trip.
Ahh, so much to say, so little time!
Peace out! Soli Deo Gloria,
Patty <><
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