So I study a bit...

First of all thanks everyone for the support. My last posts recently have been a little down but I'm so glad to have the advice and support of everyone, it makes me really happy. Second of all I did mean for the last post to be a bit humorous. I mean, I was standing in the teachers lounge literally begging my co-teacher to tell me who it was, while she was so afraid it'd get my feelings hurt... I thought it was funny at least.

Anyway, good news, we went out tonight to a local foreigner bar called All That Jazz, Jazz for short. There were a lot of people there, mostly newcomers due to the fact a Greenpeace ship had taken port in Masan for a little bit. We ended up speaking with a guy from Germany. I had started studying German earlier this month. And so when he asked if would speak a little bit I obliged. I said "excuse me" in German, it's one of my favorite words to say. And to my delight he said I sounded very good! I love when natives of a language or country say I do something well. Sometimes I'll be reading hangul and a Korean will say it sounds good(which makes me happy because they're so picky) and that I'm not butchering the language. It makes the studying and research all worth it. Sort of like no one can tell you're a Yankee when you're in the South or a tourist in New york City... I'd say both are good accomplishments.

Although, being from Maryland and having a bit of a Baltimorian flair to my speech makes things a bit easier when you're using a Southern drawl because your words melt together anyway.

As for the reason I started studying German. During the holidays we watched the TV movie Shrek the Halls. If you're familiar with the movies the Three Pigs are German and have accents and all. In Shrek the Halls there's a dialouge that goes a little something like this...

"We are pigs yah?
Yah.
And ve are in zee blanket yah?
Yah.
So this is funny zen yah?
Yah! Yah! Zis is funny! Yah! Good one!"

After hearing this I couldn't help but think that accent and random German words were absolutley amazing and I had to learn German. Also, I've been reading a lot of books set in Germany and felt to understand the country and culture more I had to learn the languge, more on that later.

And so 60 days till I'm in the sunshine of Thailand...

Auf Wiedersehen!

Feelings

Today I was told that one of the parents called and complained about me. According to her I was ignoring her child and not helping them. I was told this by the Korean teacher with whom I shared the class with. When I asked her who it was all she could say was that she didn't want to hurt my feelings. I explained that I wouldn't be able to eliminate the problem If I didn't know who it was.

After a few minutes of repeating this and trying to get an answer she finally told me. It turns out it's one of the brattiest, mamma's boys at the school who probably would go home after being rude to me, not doing any work and saying bad words to me in Korean, and cry to his mother how I would ignore him...

I just thought that this was such a strange cultural difference. Had I been in the South I would have been told exactly who said what, when and why. It was nice way to end the day someone caring about my feelings, but it did make me miss home a lot because I really miss people just being honest. But in 61 days I'm making a break for it :)

Time stoppage

It's good to have plans. I'm a planner and have been since college. I suppose that's why I was good at Marketing and PR, you plan everything, nothing is ever left up to chance and if it is a good PR practitioner is good at improvising. But lately I feel that I'm planning too much. Due to stress at work and my living situation I feel everyday I want to plan for my future because my present is so miserable. I mean seriously. Imagine you're supposed to be teaching one language and around another language all day. None of your coworkers actually utilize the language either. Planning is the only way to keep me sane these days.

I've been thinking about a lot of things, Ph.D, Master's degree, teaching, writing, traveling. Part of my problem is, that because I'm in a situation where I can't be spontaneous my planning side has taken over. I miss just doing things and having the freedom to. Maybe it's the culture I'm in. Koreans aren't spontaneous, they're predictable and thus I guess I sort of feel trapped, I have no out until April. In collegeI always had this calm side of me. Even when I was stressed out I never showed it. Sort of Scarlett O'Hara don't get mad get even type deal. However, these days I'm always wearing my heart on my sleeve and getting upset or annoyed or completely over emotional about things. I know I'm an emotional person and have to get over that issue. My parents told me and my coaches told me. Without some sort of outlet for me to balance things I'm going to have to suck it up and find my happy place I suppose.

And so lets look back to happier times in fun pictures

Two more months...

"All I can say is that there's a sweetness here, a Southern sweetness, that makes sweet music. . . . If I had to tell somebody who had never been to the South, who had never heard of soul music, what it was, I'd just have to tell him that it's music from the heart, from the pulse, from the innermost feeling. That's my soul; that's how I sing. And that's the South."

-- Al Green


I need a beach and some sunshine on a Carolina shore. I need some classic party songs with my friends and to not be wearing three layers of clothes and still be freezing inside. For all of you lucky enough to be in the Carolinas, I envy you, I really do.

This isn't your grandmother's history class

History is a kind of introduction to more interesting people than we can possibly meet in our restricted lives; let us not neglect the opportunity. ~Dexter Perkins


So I may have mentioned it, or probably haven't but have been thinking it over so several weeks about the idea of getting my Ph.D. This is just in it's elementary stages now but seeing the state of the world as it is and seeing I'm the person I am, I feel this profession would be the best possible thing for me. Ever since I was a child I remember loving history. My friends were running around Gettysburg complaining of how boring it was; I would be stopped in front of every sign and poster set up, reading and retaining the information. I was fascinated by history, and still am. I loved watching re-enactors and learning about the past.

During breaks in college I would drive up and just walk around the battlegrounds and speak to the actors. I'd go to museums in Baltimore and learn all I could about the history of the places I was visiting. For me history wasn't about things that happened, and that the past is the past, but events that have most certainly shaped our lives. History was about everyday people doing extraordinary things. I've always thought the most interesting question would be "What if you were born in a different era, a different time?" For me if I was born earlier would I still have been adopted, or even been from Korea? Would the friends I have been in America or in Ireland and Europe?

Basically history is a compilation of memories. We make history all the time everyday. And so with that in mind I see no better time to consider pursuing a Ph.D in history. For example, the North Korean crisis is directly correlated to how failed the American troops were in the Korean war when it came to the education and history of Korea. they performed so many faux pas that I'm sometimes surprised they managed to save the southern part of the peninsula.

History is so important to culture and that's what I'd like to study during my time in a graduate program. How culture and nationalism have effected our modern world. At the G-20 meeting this past year our then president George W. was snubbed by every world leader. One, maybe because they had to go to the bathroom and didn't have time for formalities. However, most likely it was because of America's policies towards the rest of the world. Overseas Americans have a reputation of being ignorant and shall I suggest, unrefined when it comes to interacting with other cultures (actually we're ignorant when it comes to interacting with members from different social stratification in the U.S. as well) and everyone mentions it. Reading guide books isn't enough when you're planning a visit, depending on what you want to get out of the trip. You need first hand accounts and really learn about a country to get a full experience.

Coming to Korea I thought I knew what I needed to know about the country. As it turns out I was in culture shock for a good six months. Most of it had to do with my American values and the other half with the idea of identity. Had I studied up on my history more I would have probably had a better insight on what Koreans value, why they act the way they do and what I could have done to help myself.

As it turns out I'm preparing for a Thailand trip and have already started reading up for it. It's a bit difficult seeing we don't have a lot of materials in English so proper online resources will have to do. I hope that when I'm in Thailand I can just appreciate, not understand. I'd like to know where they've been to see how they live at this point in time.

I'll keep everyone updated on the career choice as it's a huge step financally and mentally (lots of thinking) but I'm excited. Althought right now I'm really excited about a rice and cheese omelet.

Passion

The most beautiful make-up of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy. ~Yves Saint Laurent

I just found this YSL quote and I love it. The real thing is always more beautiful than something you can buy, but, the problem is most sturggle to find that passion which makes us beautiful, and so we must at some point in time take the easy route and wear cosmetics to cover the fact that our passions have not been put to use yet, and thus we can not be seen for our natural beauty.

The picture to the right is of Walt Disney in Orlando, Florida before any of Disney World had been created. The cation reads "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."

If anyone knows me fairly well they soon find out I'm a super passionate person. It doesn't really matter what that passion is. It's been everything from sports to my sorority to my career and having a future pet. I still have passions for all of these things as well. I just have always been a really passionate person I suppose. I don't see how people can just go through the motions of life. Just doing things to do them.

Swimming is still the sport I'm always going to be passionate about. I know one day I'll go back to it on a Master's team or even (if I'm feeling up to the challenge a U.S.A. swimming team) it's just always going to be with me. I think that's why I don't keep up with all the meet results and stats. It makes me too sad to not be able to do something I love. It's never been hard for me to be passionate about anything I liked. I figured I liked something and I was pretty good at it, why not try and see where it can go. I don't think there has ever been anything that I've done and liked (key word liked) and half assed it.

I actually had a small argument with Evan about passions the other night. We were at dinner(technically it was about us not wanting to hang out with other people) and teh topc came up or us not having many friend outside of each other here. Being in the situation we are, we don't hang out with others as much as we should, I completley agree. I just don't find many of the people here the kind of friends I want to have around me. Ever since Mikey died I sort of made a promise to myself that I want to surround myself with people who inspire me and are all around good people. Yet, as fun as a lot of people are I sadly have found that those who are of true and genuine spirits are very, vew few and ridiculously far between. I made so many true friends at college (which I suppose gives me a bias look at the South and how great it is) and it's very hard to meet people when you know how loyal, kind and amazing people really can be.

I've always also been one to believe that if you want something, have a dream, want to obtain a goal whatever you call it, you're the only one who can make it happen. It has to come from inside you. Passion and initiative for anything must come from an innate sense that something "feels right" and only then will anyone really be happy. I suppose I could draw a parallel to this feeling and sorority recruitment. You meet all of the different organizations throughout a week, learn about them, what they're like and finally choose on the basis of not who is the prettiest, or the richest, or can offer you the most (because who really does know that after a week) but where you feel you belong. I've never regretted being a Chi Omega. I knew I belonged right away. I suppose it's also my sorority's fault for being so wonderful and offering me so many oppurtunities and once in a lifetime friends that I can't see why anyone would want to be around people who are less than extrodinary.

I've had sisters who had and are battling cancer, have gotten jobs not because of connections but because they're honestly that good at what they do. I've had sisters be successful in what they love to do most, I have fun with new sisters I have just met and am best friends and will be for a really long time. Most importantly my sisters have shown me that being a good person is the most important thing to be while we are on this earth. I love all of my sisters so much so (I'm sorry I'll probably forget some of y'all) Susanna, Brandi, Jenn, Pizzi, Stefanie, Big sis, both my Littles, Glil, and GGlil Diane, Autumn, Catrina, Danielle, Shelly, Julie, JWall, Funari, SB, Merri, Adge, Holly, Irish Princess, Mandy, Jas, Rohde, All the Emily's, Abby, Baliey, Brooksey, Boo boo, Briana, Kaylee, Amanda, Diggs, Susan, Wu swim Chi O's, Steph Carlson, Evie, Jordan, Twin, Allison, Rachael, Rachel A, JBower, Hannah, Kristina, Hally, Heather, Wendy, Misty, Stomber, Cyn, Jaimie, Ashely, Ashley Meredith, Tracy, Nicola and Teal and everyone else, Thank God I have y'all in my life. We're not all best friends but I've learned a little something from all of you and you can't really measure that.

Anyway, forgive the digressing, passion, it's innate and it's something that most people strive to have in their daily life. i can easily say that at the moment my current job lacks a bit of passion. The staff is under educated about the language they're teaching I'm completely being used for free time for the other teachers and I lack all materials necessary for students to learn better. With that said, I do love teaching which until now has been an undiscovered passion I suppose. I like explaining things and breaking down something I know a lot about. I love being around kids who want to learn (another reason I don't like teaching here a lot...no motivation at all, we're a sort of lower end school so the quality of teaching isn't good but the price is right for parents who just want their children to go to a school and don't relaly emphasize the learning part, or behavior) kids who want to be better at English.

And so, having alack of passion for work and anything in my life at the moment is a bit depressing. I don't even like going to the gym all that much but in that idea I discovered a new passion for running. So I guess it's like anything in life; you have to go through the rough patches to find out what you really want and what you're supposed to be doing.

Estuvo nevando aqui

It snowed in Masan today. I believe it was for an entire day as well; I can't really say though since I only dared to go out of my apartment right before I had to be at school at 2pm. The snowflakes were really big and unlike the snow previous, which wasn't really sticking to the ground, this snow stuck like glue. Actually, on the road it was all slushy, gross. I was having a good time watching it fall down and hoped that it'd be a good time for snowboarding (potentially) this weekend. I even made a small snowman for Evan.

The photos are of several snowflakes taken at a magnified view by William Bentley a.k.a. Snowflake Bently. He was born in Vermont in the late 19th century and found a way to take individual pcitures of snowflakes. He never had them copyrighted so that everyone could see how beautiful snow really is.

I usually don't like snow at all after the first few hours. I have horrid childhood memories of having to shovel snow out of my drive way only to have it accumulate again an hour later, and so the cycle went. At school it was a life hazard considering the place shut down if there was even a news report of snow and the fact that usually the snow would melt because it was too warm during the day then freeze into a sidewalk of death that night making us take our life in our hands as we slid our way to class.

But snow has been a part of my life such as the Blizzard of 96 when there was about five feet of snow and I was out of school for a week...nice. But with my soon to be move to South Carolina I probably wont see snow all the often. So enjoy it I will.

Two more days

Two more days to the weekend, I promised myself I'd get running again. I gave it a good go last week logging in 21 miles. I've been wanting to do nothing less than three 10k's and start getting my mile times down. It's cold this week, I'm lazy and have been waking up a bit snuffly around the nasal area. But I didn't become an All-American by staying bed all the time, and I refuse to be lazy with running, especially with spring coming!

Oh the weather outside is frightful

It was beautiful last week here in Korea. I was able to run outside and even go out without a heavy coat...but it seems that was just a tease. We're in a cold front again and it's not too fun. I used to like the month of February to March so much. I had BGMC's for swimming, there was NCAA's and the hope of Spring Break. Unfortunate for us there is none of that here. I'm starting to get a bit of cabin fever. Admittedly, spring is really close and if the calender is correct I only have two and a half months left until I can leave. I'm so excited to be in a new place. Although am greatful for what I have gained here. I have learned I like teaching and enjoy being around my students...for the most part. I learned to just enjoy running and actually have a need to run. I have learned that you're not always going to find great people, but when you do it's worth going through all of the bad apples to get to the best.

From college and here, I've learned I can't focus on one thing. I don't like the way they treat foreigners here because I see it from an insiders point of view. Ev always likes to point out that the South can still be extrememly racist and that here they're just interested, which, I don't see as the case and until they can walk down a street and not shout "HELLOW" to a Western looking person progress can't move forward. And if they're just interested I suppose that if I walked down a Russian neighborhood in NYC and said hello to them in Russian they should definitely think I'm just interested and not mocking them slightly. It's a thin line.

"I am a celebrity now. A superstar! You may all bow down to me, because in Korea I am famous. Everywhere I go I attract attention. People turn their heads in wonder. People gasp in awe. John Lamb: Korean Superstar.

One of the hardest things to get used to in Korea is the staring. I am white, Korean are not. I am therefore an oddity. Kwangju has a population of about 2 million. Within this two million are about 200 foreigners. 200 hundred white people in a city of 2 million. Even in the year 2001 we are still looked at as a bit of an oddity.

For example, my wife will be walking down the street and a car will stop just to stare at her and then drive off suddenly. Kids will come up to us and say "Hello" in English. And when we say hello back they giggle and run away. This happens all the time. It actually becomes quite annoying. I just want my privacy! Now I sound like Alec Baldwin or something. The next step will be beating down the children of Korea in frustrated rage.

One old lady came by my apartment while I opened the door to get and forced her way beside me to look inside. She said something in Korean which I will now translate you for you with my wonderful Korean translation skills: "Oh, this is how whitey lives." She then left my apartment. It was a strange experience.

In public, people stare without any shame. Sometimes, if you smile back, the person will point and laugh and say something in Korean which I can only assume means "Lookey at fatty white man" (Koreans tend to sound like they are speaking in pigeon English in their native tongue). The worst is when I smile and get nothing back. Just a blank, intense like I have boogers hanging out my nose. Not everyone does it, but a majority stares."

The author goes on to state he realizes why they stare when he does soemthing strange which is pretty funny but for the most part, I find that staring and "helloing" quite rude after getting several view points on the matter from western looking people.

So there are definitely things I don't like here and at home. I hate how far I have to drive to get to Target and go to a mall in the South sometimes and how ridiculously hot it gets. But the good outweigh the bad or at least the experiances here outweigh the negative ones.

With the winter cold you really start thinking about stuff a lot, but I'm really tired and it's 4:01am here...someone needs some sleep

Love, love, love, everywhere love

"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. " WB Yeats "He Wishes For the Cloths of Heaven"

"Love sought is good but love unsought is better." William Shakespeare, Twelth Night, Act III, scene i


About: Yeats is one of the most beautiful poets I have ever read. I love how much feeling he put into his words and the honesty he sought to show in his poems. This is one of his earlier works when he wasn't as political. Twelth Night is a Shakespearian comedy. The premise is that a girl is dressed up as a man and falls in love with the man who thinks she is a man...it all ends happily as all of his comedies do. But I do find that the truth in this statement is so honest. When you are looking for love it is good, but the love that just happens to you is the best. My boyfriend and myself can both vouch for this concept seeing that I wasn't looking for a relationship when we met and niether was he and it's been the best thing to ever happen to us.


One of my sorority sisters wrote that once to me. I thought it was the funniest thing ever, and one of the best things I had ever heard. I don't think people are as proud of being in love or having love as they should be. Or maybe the issue isn't that they aren't proud of it but they don't have love for all of humanity, only those they consider worthy. I believe those that are best at loving ( and yes, loving is a talent) are those that feel for others, they have the most empathy and are the most passionate about life.

Whatever the case or cause of your love, Valentine's day is tomorrow. For a really long time I absolutely hated the holiday. I matured slowly through high school and I guess am/was really intimidating (my dad can concur) to boys so I never had that "Valentine's sweetheart" .

Anyway, my point is that I've come to appreciate Valentine's day here. Through all of the commercialism and hordes of candy filling the grocery store it's really sweet. I had students give me candy and notes today which I thought was really touching and kind. I suppose I'm more of a fan of non romantic love on Valentine's day, rather than the usual girls demanding their boyfriends give them flowers and presents sort of thing. It's nice to see that different kinds of love can be expressed.

I remember at school it was nice because they had the Valentine's dinner and it was more about showing your friends you cared. Although I do have a boyfriend now we don't put a lot of emphasis on traditionally "romantic" days. We know our anniversary day as the day Matt Sera and George St. Pierre fought. Ev was sick on Christmas ans I was sick on New Year's...of course. I feel we're so comfortable with each other that things like that don't matter. We're what we've both been wanting or so long that getting things just seems overly extravagant. He knows me and I know him better than anyone else ever has or will.

P.S.
Tomorrow we plan on stuffing our faces full of food a buffet. No chocolates, no gifts...just Love.

Always wear your pearls

I had been given pearls as a gift for Christmas one year. Not knowing anything about what they represented I opted for an exchange at the jewelry counter and got a nice handbag instead. Looking back my future self should have slapped my past self through a time rift considering how much I wear them now.

I can't really remember the exact reason I started wearing them more but I know it had a lot to do with Chi Omega and our gems being diamonds and pearls. Also, I was beginning to see beauty in a more elegant sense, rather than the Hollywood glitz that most high school girls love. You know the trendy looks and latest hair and makeup. I still like some of the things that come out in Vogue (the ONLY woman's magazine I'll read, something about fashion as art) but for the most part I try to stay true to myself, what looks good on me.

I know Jackie Kennedy wasn't a Southern Belle but she might as well have been. She was grace, class and had a timeless character. She was friends with the creator of the Southern belle wardrobe Lilly Pulitzer and was one of the first to wear the classic Lilly shift.

Wearing my pearls always reminds me to be a lady and in these trying times of working with an incompetent director and a staff of petty women who talk behind my back constantly, you need to remember you're a lady.

Being so far from home, wearing my pearls is more than just so I can remember I'm a lady but it reminds me of my Sorority sisters, my family and home, which I miss very much. But I'm very glad that I'm here and being a big girl on my own, and that's what being a Southern woman is all about.

Someone is out there

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand. ~Irish Blessing

This weekend we went to a Jimjilbang or better known as a bath house. In this place there are hot tubs, saunas a workout room and people even spend the night. But this post isn't about that, although I will talk of the bath house later. No, I'm actually going to delve into the topic of faith.

The quote above is what I imagine the people that I love that are watching over me must be thinking. Just to recap, I haven't lost too many people in comparison to some but I feel that for being 23 losing three people you're very close to is more than enough.

I lost one of my good friends four and a half years ago to a freak lacrosse accident and a negligent medical staff. We were Sophomores in college just beginning the semester. I was in my own world of joininig a sorority and getting into swimming again. We all had our own agendas. That summer after our Freshman year I hardly spoke to my friends from high school. Call it snobbery but I was a big college girl now, going to school the North Carolina, 500 miles away. I had seen and done things that my friends at home couldn't relate to, or so I thought. It was a friday when I got the news from one of my best friends Casey, and at 8:45pm he was gone.

His death brought my life crashing down and has affected my actions in very significant ways. I still think about him everyday and try to be the best person I can be especially because I know he's in heaven watching over us. I'm not too overtly faithful; however since Mike I have turned to God for a clearer state of mind. I got confirmed by the Catholic church last year and like to go to church when I can make it.

I've always believed that God does show signs and you just have to know where to look and let them find you, not the other way around. I've had a few before, one being my club lacrosse number being the same number as Mike's lacrosse number, without me asking for it.

This time it was very interesting. At the bath house you are given a key attached to an armband with a number on it. I had gotten the number 13 which was Mike's high school football number. Very weird, I thought it was an interesting coincidence. It was only when we got to our lockers that I realized my friend had the number 17 which was Mike's college lacrosse number. Now I'm sure the girl just picked random numbers to give us but I really can't help but believe that it was Mike saying he's okay. I had written a facebook note earlier in the day stating that his death has affected my life in ways too numerous to count and that I think about him everyday.

And so call me looking for a sign or superstitious but when things like this happen I can't help but to have a deeper faith in the life after and that good people really do go to a better place. I miss Mike everyday but I know he's watching over me and for that reason I continue living my life to the fullest.

On your mark...

So we've had great weather this week and I've been going running a bit more in the mornings before school, which is lucky b/c I totally ate my body weight in food this weekend at the bath house and at Indian food and Friday night munchies. This week is going to be nice weather again so I'm planning to run a 10k everyday to not feel so gross anymore. The weather is great although if we were in South Carolina it would be even nicer. Wishful thinking...

cheer me on I need the motivation

When life hands you lemons...

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

I was watching the UFC 94 welter weight championship between George St. Pierre and BJ Penn yesterday at the gym. The actual fight was Saturday, but we get sports a few days later here. For example, they just played the Super Bowl game yesterday as well. Anyway, GSP is a beast. One of the best, if not the best...considering he defended his championship I guess he is the best welter weight. That's besides the point I'm trying to make. BJ Penn was a much smaller than the GSP and had a huge disadvantage. Right from the get go GSP was dominating. It was a great fight. A lot of strategy was put into play, not just flying fists.

The point is, Penn never gave up. GSP won by technical knockout because the doctors declared him unfit to fight. He could have tapped out and he could have just been knocked out. But he wasn't he fought through until the end. I feel that it's a really great parallel to the state of the country right now. The economy is bad, people are down on their luck and no matter how hard they fight, people who are wealthy and financially stronger are winning. But that doesn't mean we give up. And that most definitely doesn't mean that we should keep fighting the same way. We need a new strategy. A new way of doing things. I feel that Obama will lead us in that direction. He's already shown how he is differing with the last administration by taking blame for his actions. I think we all need to take a step back, maybe work harder and smarter to turn not only ourselves but this country around.

She works hard for the money

I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. ~Thomas Jefferson

I was thinking today about the effort put into working hard for something you want. You can see it a lot in my classes I teach. The kids who put at least 90% and hopefully 100% into their work are very easy to pick out. They answer the questions first and understand things better. They are better at (in Korean schools it's mostly memorization) thinking for themselves as well. I love when people think for themselves, what they want and get it by working hard.

In college there are those classes you can skip a few times, half-ass the homework, maybe study an hour for a test and get a B. Although I will say I'm really good at retaining information so I never really had to study too much if I went to class.

It's just interesting that now in the real world, work ethic really carries over. Southern women (my grandmother who is from Charleston is a great example) are notorious for their work ethic. She was always asking how my grades were if I had a job or was doing what I had to do to make if for myself. And for that I'm ever so grateful. she, herself raised seven children and now is lucky enough to have 19 grandchildren.

Of course, there is that whole Southern Belle ideal why do something when you can get someone else to do it? But didn't Scarlett in the end roll up her sleeves to get the plantation running again? exactly. Southern women have a spirit in them that I really haven't ever seen in others. I'm so glad to have strong proud women around me who have taught me to work my butt off for what I want. Without that inspiration I would never have gotten a job out of college in the field I wanted, I never would have become an All-American athlete or went out on a limb to come here to Korea.

I love that yes, even though there are trust fund babies and people who always get what they want there are also always going to be people like Warren Buffet and Thomas Paine who have always valued effort over gifts. That alone makes me feel I'll be able to achieve anything.

Keep on, keeping on

"Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others."
Danny Thomas


We went hiking today. It was great because the gym is closed on Sundays and I needed some exercise. The guy we were hiking with was Canadian and said things like "paesta" and "givr" which really made me miss one of my favorite Canadian friends Goldie. I thought about her (btw Goldie is her nickname, a play on her last name, Gold) today as we were hiking. We met in college on the swim team. Because she was from Ontorio, Canada she had all of this Canada stuff in her room, just like I had Maryland stuff. Gotta love hometown pride.

In the picture, Goldie is towering over me on my righthand side.

As I got to know her better, Goldie was always inspiring me to stay fit or become a better athlete and student. When we were being lazy she was out running or lifting. She had a 4.0 G.P.A. in probably one of the hardest major at my school. She loved rock music and we went to a lot of concerts in Charlotte together at Tremont Hall; this opened me up to one of my favorite bands, Story of the Year.


She was also a really real person. She'd be honest with you and never sugar coat things, yet never make you feel bad about yourself. She was really nice too and helped you with anything you needed. She was super smart. She went to a French speaking school in Canada for awhile. As an athlete she always led by example never trying to showboat. I'm so lucky to have someone like Goldie in my life. It's great to know that there are still people out there that work hard for what they want and it's not always who you know or how much money you have. Did I also mention she's not only smart and a great person but absolutely gorgeous too?

Another thing I really appreciated was she was able to grow as a person. As a Freshmen she hated girly things, which was funny because her roommate was the most girly person I knew. But over the next few years she grew up and changed as hopefully all people should at some point in college. This didn't have to do with just the way she dressed (she did start wearing pink) but especially the way she viewed life formed opinions. As we came towards graduation she had a focus and drive to do something worthwhile. At the moment she's studying Chiropractic Medicine at National University of Health Medicine in Canada.

I love that I have friends that inspire people and want to help others rather than work for their own benefit. I only hope to be able to help others in a constructive way as well.