A new place to call home

I am amazed at how quickly my new apartment felt like home. I really lucked out with finding a place that allows me to diplay my things and that complements my personality well. Everything from all the windows and the door leading to the roof, to the large bedroom with its open closet space that displays my clothes so well to the cute built-in and the large black radiator all suit me so well.

Moving day went smoothly. My dad and I loaded the truck in Oconomowoc and got to Waukesha about 10:15 a.m. I had three friends help to haul the furniture and boxes up the steep stairs to my apartment, which is located above an antique store in a building from 1929. It's a very cute building located pretty much right on the Carroll College campus, which is where I went to school.

It only took us about 30 minutes to get everything unloaded. I thought I had more stuff! I wish that I would have brought my big sofa instead of the loveseat. I do like the extra space to move around in.

Within three days, I had my boxes unpacked and had started to hang pictures. My friend, Kaitlin, and I hung all my clothes and organized small details.

I hope to do some hosting next month. I have had a few friends and family members over, but it would be fun to do something a little bigger. I certainly have enough space for people to hang out here.

I have found myself anxious to leave work at the end of the day and to return to my apartment. It has been a good adjustment so far.

It's all starting to sink in

It really started to sink in today that I am leaving Korea in a really short time. I had the help of a former student of mine today at immigration. James was a great friend to help me. Most people try to avoid government offices at all costs. I was so happy that James helped me out. I didn't have to say a word to the Korean officer, so it was really easy to extend my visa for three days. It was really nice getting to talk with James and his friend, Jason, who just came back to Korea after a year in London.

When I arrived back to my apartment as the sun set, I realized that I am going to be handing over the keys real soon and that I will be taking down all of my cards off the walls. This special space that has been my home for a year soon won't belong to me at all. I am quite sad about it. This is my first place. I have made it my own.

Korean Salvation Army Volunteers

It took me a long time to realize that I was actually going to Korea last year. I had packed my suitcases, said my goodbyes and yet the seriousness of my decision only really started to hit me when I got on the plane at Seattle to Tokyo. I was one of the few people on the plane not speaking an Asian language. I think that I am realizing what I am doing a little earlier this time. And I think that this realization might make it more difficult to say goodbye. When I left the USA, I knew that I would see those people again, but I may and probably won't see most of the people here again. I have a feeling that I will see some of them again and that I will keep in touch with many of them.

I hope to absorb as much of Korea in the next 11 days as possible.

Quote:

Experience is not what happens to you; but it's what you do with what happens to you.

--Elbert Hubbard