This blog will retire. Thanks for reading!
It’s May in less than 12 hours and I am so glad. Things are looking up, as I predicted back in the heart of the cold winter limping around with a leg brace. The brace has been off for a long time now (actually I rarely wore it because it was more of a hindurance), and I’m finally getting back into a consistent workout routine. The last 7 days has resulted in 5 days of working out, so I’ve been sleeping better than ever despite the fact that Tae Yang headed back to DK. I miss him everyday, but already bought my ticket to CPH and am officially leaving MN on the 10th of July.
I sit here sipping on an energy drink on this spring afternoon feeling slightly overwhelmed by what’s ahead in life. I find myself reluctant to be more hard working at this exact moment. It seems like my work environment has gotten rather hectic this week and I want to hide under my desk until the chaos goes away. Staff changes, budget issues, major event planning, fundraising, etc are making it all very confusing. I have to say, I’m glad I’m soon going. I’m trying hard to not develop a piss-poor attitude that will only make the next two months go slower, but it’s difficult.
I decided my last work day will be the 8th of July, just two days before I fly out. I figure with 2 paid holidays the week before due to my birthday (July 2) and Independence day (July 4) I will have plenty of time to pack and prepare. In the meantime, I should at least once a week be going through my stuff and either selling, donating or recycling. Seriously. Who needs so much stuff? Maybe I should just accept that I will probably always live in various places throughout my life and settling is not likely. Therefore, I should only own whatever can fit into one small vehicle. :)
Sometimes as I walk around Minneapolis, a city that is statistically very white, I think about how by the end of the year it will be somewhat rare to see a white person. Not ultra rare since I plan to live in Seoul, but still rare amidst large crowds of Korean blooded people. Having lived in China, I remember the feeling of just walking down the street and for the most part, fitting in, but of course being a more closed-off city than say, Beijing or Shanghai, I still stuck out somewhat being that I was larger than most Chinese women, walked fast, held a different posture, etc. There is something comforting though to be around people of the same race, even if the cultural identity is quite different. I imagine to a certain extent, my feelings will be the same in Korea.
I’m considering retiring this blog as I soon become another adoptee returning to the motherland and living there, so I will keep you posted on that development.
I saw this was Tae Yang tonight and we were both excited to realize we had seen the world champs from Korea perform at the IKAA Gala dinner last summer.
Tae Yang and I had a great trip to Chicago this past weekend. It was nice to be in a large city, even if the weather was no better than the Twin Cities. We got to meet up with a few Chicago KADs and walk around and explore many of the neighborhoods and hot spots of the city. Below are just a few of the 300+ photos taken!
From the top of the Sears Tower.
View from the window of the condo that we stayed at.
Faceshop at H Mart! Tae Yang finally found the men’s facial lotion that he ran out of that he bought in Korea last summer.
Mmmmm…an assortment of instant noodles to chose from.
Kimchi in a bag!
Foodcourt time!
Strolling along the lakeshore on a beautiful morning.
Fun Maze at the Navy Pier had some crazy mirrors!
Along the Magnificent Mile.
If you EVER get injured beyond a papercut and you require medical attention as I did this winter with my skiing muck-up, PLEASE keep track of every single penny you spend on your injury. My medical insurance requires that I pay $1500 out of pocket, which reconstructing my left knee easily cost me when all is said and done. Here’s the AWESOME aspect of being a resident of the USA: Our system is being run by incompetent people who don’t know how to properly register claims to your insurance company! So you will more than likely get overcharged, as I just discovered I have been. It’s now my responsibility to go back in time and add up just exactly how much I have been overcharged and by which clinics, medical equipment places, hospitals, etc. Yeeeesh! Good thing I have so much FREE time to do what others are being paid a six-figure salary to do.
!%@#!
I hate the USA’s healthcare “system.”
Okay, now onto one positive thing: I CAN RUN AGAIN! My knee surgeon doctor gave the thumbs up to running again. I can’t go chasing bunnies or play soccer, basketball, etc…but I can run straight, with no incline on a treadmill!
WOOOO!
An official public blog service announcement seems to be in order:
I will spend 3 months later this year in Copenhagen…(late July-October?)
Then I will spend at least a year in Seoul…(October - ?)
…And in the meantime, I am anxiously waiting for spring’s arrival while I continue to live in Minneapolis.
Yes, I’ll soon have to be in a long-distance relationship with this cutie/hottie:
But I am certain I can stay strong and that with all I need to do and want to do before exiting Minnesota, time will go by relatively fast.
So as you can see, it is my plan to head to Denmark later this summer to join my favorite Korean Danish guy and experience Danish life and culture for 3 months. I’m eager to learn more about my boyfriend’s cultural background and actually be able to do so for an extensive period of time.
In the meantime I will be organizing, prepping and gearing up for an exciting 2nd half of 2008. Fortunately I can do so when it is spring/summer in Minnesota which means I can be outdoors more often, see people out and about more, and stay physically active much of the time. The left knee is getting stronger by the week, and I am certain I’ll be running within a few weeks time. I feel ambitious right now knowing what’s ahead. I’ll turn 30 in July which is just fabulous. It’s a great age to live it up and experience new adventures.
