What Can I Say Other Than "Thank you"?

Ever since I got to Korea I've been missing one thing more than almost anything else...MUSIC (sorry family and friends). 

I'm surrounded by so much music in the United States, be it through choir, band, or theatre, I guess I started to take music for granted, but trust me, I know how much it means to me now.

I have been missing music so much, I’ve been jumping at any opportunity to participate in anything music related, so when I saw a choir festival was taking place (even though I wasn't technically eligible) I emailed the director anyway, and he replied, giving me more than I thought I would get...a spot. So now I'm in an international choir festival with a group from an int'l foreign school in my city that will allow me to meet new people from all over Korea and take part in an amazing event. I’m singing in German, Latin, and English, and I can't believe that such a great thing has fallen into my lap.

As if it could get better, the first day I met with a representative of the school we talked about band, and what instruments I played. Of course I mentioned clarinet, and THEY GAVE ME ONE to borrow, and asked me if I would like to come and join them for their orchestra rehearsals. An un-refusable offer if I've ever heard one. 

So now I've bad these two amazing things fall into my lap in the past week, and all I can say is thank you to the gracious people that live in my amazing city, and around the world. It's people like this who really bring good into the world, and I am so lucky to have encountered some. I can't believe that an email I sent on a hope brought back all of these great opportunities and I can only hope there are more chances out there! 

2nd Host Family!

  I moved into my new host family as well! They're really nice, and although I can't see the ocean anymore, I really like my new host house. I'm much closer the mountains, and it's much quicker to get home in this new house.

     I spend more time above-ground as well. I know that sounds weird, but when you spend hours on the subway everyday, you kinda forget what a beautiful city you live in. Now I take mainly buses, and one of my most frequented bus stops is across the street from the biggest department store in the world which is another plus. Definitely a big change from the midwestern rural-ness I'd been accustomed to for so long! 

Moving also makes it so clear that time is passing so quickly! It seems like just yesterday when I was getting settled into my first host house!! It makes me realise all the more how much I need to make the most of what time I have left.

2013 and the Halfway(ish) Point!

This is a little late, but yes, it's 2013!! I can't believe that this exchange is going so fast.

My 5 month mark was passed about a day ago and it has just flown by, it doesn't seem quite possible that that much time has gone by. But then I look back and remember everything I've done and it makes a little bit of sense. I still think it's speeding up.

I can't really expect it to slow down either! I have so many plans for the remainder of my exchange, I know having all these things going on will make what little time I have go that much faster, so I'm trying to make the most of every moment! I can't wait to see what the next half of this exchange has in store, but I don't want to see it end. I recently got the email to decide the date I'm flying home, and even though I haven't decided what day exactly, knowing that it's time to plan for that flight home is terrifying.

Luckily, I still have trips to Seoul, China, and who knows where else still left to experience.

RYLA!

So the past weekend I had the privilege of going to a Rotary event called RYLA. It stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and although I didn't leave Busan, it felt like I did.  I went to the same event back in the US last year, with a very different (but equally amazing) experience.

Both programs I partook in consisted of physical challenges, lectures, and a dance/preformance time, and amazing people. I am so happy that I had the experience of working with my team, learning/performing a dance with them, and tackling the physical challenges together. Everyone I met over the course of the weekend was super enthusiastic and welcoming. It was such a great group of people.

The lectures were mainly in Korean, and to be completely honest I doodled through most of them, but there was one lecture on Anthropology in English and it made me remeber how much I missed learning in a classroom and having questions to ask. I really miss learning! I'm not going to deny it.

All in all, I met amazing people, learned a lot, and had tons of fun. I would definitely do that again!