Beginning of a new adventure

Hello everyone!

So I will be starting a new segment on my blog about my new adventure.... hahah As of 12-13-14 my boyfriend moved in with me! 

I have never lived with a boyfriend and he's never lived with anyone other than his parents... so this should definitely make for some interesting times. Check out our introduction video! ^^

This video is just an introduction and he wanted to say hi to everyone ~ ^^

We are going to try out best to blog together and separately to let everyone know how this is going. 

Stay tuned for more fun and awkwardness!

Hooray!

xoxo

Julie & Kyu

100 day photo challenge summary

My 100 day photo challenge summary:

100 days ago I challenged myself to post 1 photo each day on instagram about what made me happy.
I will be completely honest some days I had to dig deep.

As I review my photos I noticed I posted a lot about friends, family, food, work, tattoos and medicine. This all seems pretty shallow at first glance but for real these are things I can appreciate.

Friends & Familia

My friends and family mean so much to me that its unreal. I can even put it into words. I love my coworkers that have become family and my friends that are pretty much my backbones. I miss my friends in America beyond belief. During my 100 days I went home and had an absolute blast. I want you too to know how much i love and value your friendships. I feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such strong and amazing individuals. 

My kiddos ! 

As I am quickly approaching my 1 year mark I can safely say I have made it this far because of the kids. When I first got here I thought, what did I get myself into? Times have been a complete struggle. The hours are long and giving 100% of yourself on a daily basis is unbelievably draining, but I can say I wouldn't trade it in for anything in the world. When my first class of kinder babies graduated this past February I cried my eyes out and I know when my pre kinders graduate in February and I head back to America for some R&R it will be bitter sweet. These kids absolutely mean the sun and moon to me. 

Food !

This is all very self explanatory hahaha I LOVE FOOD. I miss my steak and potato meals back in the good ole US of A, but I have found food that has soothed my soul. My partner in food crime Karla and I seem to demolish everything in sight. Korea is a melting pot of deliciousness. From sweet treats at Hello Kitty Cafe to my all time favorite Coco Curry. Since I've been here I'd like to think I have expanded my horizons as cultural eater. And lets just talk about the chocolate pancakes with cookies and cream ice cream on the bottom picture. If your ever in Gangnam and want to drown your sorrows in delicious chocolate go to Butterfingers and they will hook it up! 

Traveling 

It's a blessing to be living my life overseas immersed in a completely different culture. In my 100 day journey I have gone to Nami Island (top left) which is north of Seoul, Ulsan (top right), Gapyeong country side, The Palace in Gwahamun, Ulsan (bottom right), and my neighborhood (bottom left). Traveling within Korea has been so much fun. I actually never realized about beautiful Korea was until I #GetOutandLive (thanks for the tag Jackie). No matter where you are in the world travel and explore! It's important to take little week end trips to escape life sometimes! 

But first... Let me take a selfie

So in Korea... rather world it's the "selfie generation." I am totally guilty of taking seflies anywhere and everywhere. I also like to get my friends and family to participate or photo bomb haha We are all guilty of it. Mirror pics, duck faces, selfie with the front cam, we have all become masters of working the angles and filters. During my 100 days I took some cute selfies and there's one that I didn't actually put in the collage of a selfie when I was just down right tired. Life is happy and I try to show that through funny selfies or selfies with my friends or animals. You gotta love the way you look! :)

My boyfriend 

(mushy alert)

I actually try not to spam instagram with our lovey dovey gayness. haha but it can be hard to hold back. I'm lucky that I found someone who is just as crazy as I am. I'm so happy to have found a boyfriend who feels like my best friend. On day 25 we had our first day and on October 18th we will be celebrating our first 100 days together! So in short I'm over the moon and just super blessed to have met someone I click with!

So to wrap up my 100 day summary a lot has and can happen in such a short time. I honestly didn't think I was going to keep up with this challenge but I made it!! 

I want to say thank you to my friends, family, students, boyfriend and everyone who do things out of the kindness of their own hearts. Sometimes it's the littlest things that can make someone's day. I believe that making others smile with your kindness is a huge gift that not just anyone can do. 

Have you made someone smile today? :)

xoxo

100 days happier 

Korean Dating Rituals

Hello all, 

I haven't posted in a while and a lot has happened! I went to America for 10 days for my summer vacation and I have a new boyfriend! I know before I posted a pretty grim and unpleasing post about dating in Korea, but I am here to tell you that there is indeed hope for foreigners! 

Korean dating is like a bad episode of legends of the hidden temple, you just cant all the get all the pieces together at the right time. They are either really hot with 0 personality or mildly good looking with perverted intentions.

I actually met my boyfriend at Ultra Music Festival Korea in the front row. I honestly didn't think anything of it as he asked to see my princess wand. After taking pictures and dancing around we traded kakao id's and I figured that was it. Weeks later we met up to do some local shopping in Hongdae and a lunch date turned into an all day affair. Now we've been together for a bit and things have been going really well. hehe

There are some things to get used to when dating a Korean man. 

1.  Anniversaries by the 100's. Every 100 days Korean couples celebrate! 100, 200, 300... and so on. It's a bit different but honestly I think it's kind of cute. Also friends will give you cheonwon or a 100 won coin as a way to say congrats.

2. Couple rings. My boyfriend and I are approaching our 100 day anniversary so he asked me about couple rings. I know this is an ultra Korean thing, but I like it. They are small reminders and tokens of cuteness. So friends and family I am not engaged we are just celebrating our relationship with rings! ^^

3. Getting stared at. People practically breaking their necks to get a good stare at the foreigner and her Korean man. I would be lying if I told you it doesn't bother me. I know I am not anywhere near Korean sized but the stares my boyfriend and I get are a little out of control. I'm not sure if other foreigner/korean couples have experienced this but IT'S RUDE! 

4. THE PARENTS (dun dun dunnnnnn)
part 1.
Sunday's at mom's house and you aint invited. 
My boyfriend's family live in Incheon and he's currently going to Hongik University. So he will leave my place early Sunday morning go and hang out with his family then go back go his dorms at night. But I have found that Korean parents keep a strong hold of their children. Like today, we were supposed to go to an exhibit today but his mother called and demanded he come home for lunch. He said okay sure so he left reluctantly. Just be prepared for the demands of a Korean family.

part 2.
You will not be meeting parents anytime soon.
I am not all about meeting parents but most of my exes have met and had a functioning relationship with my parents. My boyfriend has met my father via skype and my whole  family knows of him. His sister knows me as his friend from America and that's the extent. He lies to his parents about where he goes and who's he's with. I told him as long as he doesn't lie to me we're good. haha Korean's will not tell their parents about their significant other until it's time for marriage.

5. With the quickness. Korean's tend to jump in whole heartedly when it comes to relationships. No matter who your dating it takes off fast. I'll be honest I was scared and had to consult with my Korean love guru Karla. I'm glad I let my guard down and just let it happen. I'm the happiest I've been in a REALLY long time. 

All in all your girl never gives up and I'm glad I didn't. I've met a guy that I'm completely comfortable around. We watch adventure time, eat rice and kimchi, and occasionally burp in the name of love.

The moral of the story is never give up on love. It may find you in the strangest places....

xoxo

Bitten by the love bug

Dating in Korea

I have honestly did a lot of research before I left the states about dating and some of the positives and negatives that come with it. 

Well now that I have 5~6 months here under my belt and some "experiences" I believe I semi qualified to write about it. 

Through hours of tedious observations and personal experience with friends and their experiences, it seems that Korea handles foreign men much better than women. But let me explain my reasoning behind this.

Now this is just MY opinion and what I have observed so please take this as you may. 

A few friends know but I recently started dating a korean guy. Nice guy, english was pretty poor but he was nice on the eyes. We were going strong 1 month in then he started getting distant. Now I knew what was coming I just figured lets see what the reason is.... After I let him blame it on the Korean worth ethic of men I simply rolled my eyes and we kept talking. Then the talking stopped. I used my handy dandy Esther Unnie at school to help me see what his deal was and this is what I got back...

"Things will never work out for us because you are from America"

"We are culturally too different to understand one another"

This one really stung...

"I cannot marry you because you are a foreigner...."

Needless to say my feelings were hurt and but unfortunately there is truth to his reasoning. Sure it hurt and best believe I was pissed but now I kind of understand why. I am American sure thats obvious but the fact that there are so many foreigners especially women coming in and out of this country it's hard to maintain long lasting relationships. 

Now I'm not saying this means you wont find a good Korean man to take home to your parents, but I'm just saying it's a little more difficult considering our jobs, at a hogwon or a public school only last so long. Home sickness, life, and other opportunities pull you in different directions so you never know where you may end up. 

I have also observed that it seems culturally acceptable to have a "white guy" or foreigner boyfriend here. As I walked through Hongdae today (near Hongik University) They were out in numbers. White guys with Korean girls and I barely saw any Korean men with white girls. Actually I only saw 1 couple. Which to me, the odds seem a bit off. I have also heard from my other foreign friends that they do not like Korean men so that could also be the reason too but who knows. 

In closing, this has just been personal experience and observations and merely just my opinion. If you have any insight I'd love to hear it! I have not given up hope on my dream of one day having Mexican/Korean babies lulz. The dream is alive but I'm just more aware of what my come in the future. 

Much love to everyone 

xoxo

Greene.

Seoul Cycle

Well folks its that time of year here in Korea... The school year is quickly ending and that means one thing.

PEOPLE ARE LEAVING

I have only been here for 4 months but have grown quite fond of the people I work with. Coming into the school year towards the end was rough for me, but with the support of my co-workers I was able to power through some difficult times in and out of work.

People who come to Korea to work never really know how long or short their stay will be or exactly when they will leave.

This will be my first "Seoul Cycle." SEVEN foreign teachers and 4 Korean teachers are parting ways.

I found out today that my gay partner in crime/ co-worker is leaving next Friday and I could feel the tears welling up. He has was the first one to take me out and get me drunk, he introduced me to the gay community of Seoul, and he has taken care of me through my stent with the Seoul crud. Needless to say this man has done so much for me and my heart will be broken when he flies back to Seattle.

He told me,"your a big girl, you'll be fine without me."

I know it will take time to get adjusted with new co-workers and new kids and I know I will be fine...

The sting of fast change will burn but it will soon vanish.

I am blessed that I have met such passionate and inspiring people.  I am forever grateful for everything they have done for me.

Now it is my time to help usher in the fresh batch of American and/or Canadian newbies and lend a helping hand just like the people who have done the same for me.

The cycle never stops nor will it ever change.

We just have to put on our big girl panties and deal with it.

xoxo
sad @ work