Day 1 vs. Day 1100

Day 1 vs. Day 1100 

** Caution mushy love stuff ahead **

So Kyu and I just celebrated 3 years together or 1,100 days together. 

3 years! Can you believe that?

We've changed a lot in the past 3 years and we've also done some stupid shit. 

Being in love can be difficult no matter where you are in life.

I never came to Korea with the intention of falling in love with someone and being with them for the rest of my life, but hey it worked out for the best!

Being in a relationship takes a lot of work and listening.

ESPECIALLY

when you and your partner don't share the same first language.

In the past 3 years we've had enough arguments to fuel a small hybrid car 

We've gone through 1 break up that lasted all of 5 hours

We've loved each other unconditionally 

We've lived together before we got married

We've experienced more life changing things in 3 years than most couples do in their lifetime

and most of all

We've survived 2 years of mandatory military service

As Kyu gets out from his mandatory military service on August 16, 2017 I cant help but feel overwhelmed with excitement!

Our first year together we went as well as riding a wooden roller coaster.

B U M P Y

It took a lot of time and patience on both of us. 

I had to learn to not be such a bitch. hahah

We fought a lot and misunderstood each other almost everyday, but some how we managed to get our shit together and make it work.

Once I moved to a new school in 2015 things got so much better for us.

That's when the light bulb went off for both of us.

We knew we wanted this to be a forever thing. 

As Kyu enlisted and went away for basic training in August of 2015 I was in shambles. 

I ate a whole cheese cake for dinner over the course of 2 weeks

(not ashamed)

I cried every day

and I wrote him letters literally everyday.

I've seen Kyu every 4 weeks for his military vacation and just about every week end since he's been enlisted. 

This has taken a lot of hard work and dedication. 

As he wraps up his glorious 2 year service we're overwhelmed with complete joy.

We FINALLY get to plan our wedding!

Take engagement pictures!

and

Live together again!

From Day 1 we started sharing beautiful moments together and even through the rough times we've managed to make it to our 1100 day anniversary.

I never knew I could love someone as much as I love this human being. 💓

I always thought  people who said that were cheesy,

but

I find myself falling in love with him again and again every time I look into his eyes. 

The amount of love, joy, happiness, utter bliss I feel when I'm with him 

makes my heart fart and my liver quiver. 

*totally stole that from my mom*

so!

Happy 1100 Mr. Ko and here's to a life time of days together!

Love you to the moon and back 🌙

xoxo

💓 Mrs. Ko 💓

week 18

monsoon season, the bachelorette, depression, & learning to meditate

This week has been hectic to say the least.

Between the rain pouring down like it's the end of the world to the humidity blasting at 3000% it's made things difficult to say the least. 

After work I stayed inside and played with Soguem and watched this weeks episode of the Bachelorette. 

I have to admit it's my little slice of Americana haha This season's batch of dude are grade A douche's. We all know who will win but we all hope for someone else haha and yes I am talking about Jordan being the front runner in this. unfortunately. 

but who wouldn't want to spend the holidays with Aaron Rodgers and family. 

duh

I've been pretty down lately hence the lack of videos this week and this one being a tad late. I'm feeling pretty alone and I'm just not used to spending so much time in my head. 

thats why

I reached out to my dear friend mary mecca at Self Love Medicine for some advice.

Self Love Medicine on Facebook

She has some great articles about learning how to meditate and some great ways to get back to that loving feeling. 

I've really enjoyed reading her posts and took her advice and started doing some guided meditations to clear my head space. 

The first time I did a meditation

I felt tears stream down my face 

and 

it felt good.

Needless to say I am going to be making more of an effort to keep this up so it will help with my mood and my outlook on life.

So without further adieu here is this week's video

art work by my awesome 2nd grade student! 

xoxo

Julie

too familiar to be foreign...

Over the week end a couple of my friends and

 I were on the beach in Sokcho and got to talking about life in Korea. 

We talked about traveling about how 

Korea wasn't exactly what we had expected to be. 

When I hear my friends telling me

"Omg, that is so wonderful you live in such a foreign place!"

but is it?

Sure, when I first got here it was new and exciting and also very frustrating. 

Seeing buildings and businesses stacked up higher than my eyes could reach was definitely something I marveled over. 

but at some point in my life here Korea just became Korea. 

As the years have gone by and the more Korean language I have picked up I don't feel like

#thestruggleisreal

anymore. 

This week end I went to Sokcho but ended up feeling sick so I decided to part ways and head back home on the bus.

 It's a 3 hour bus ride back to Seoul then an additional 45 minute bus ride back to where I live. 

As I hopped in a cab and got to the bus terminal got my ticket and settled in for the long ride home it all dawned on me. 

I did this by myself

Using my Korean skills (which aren't anything to brag about) but it wast like 

I didn't have to struggle or feel frustrated. 

I feel myself feeling overly comfortable here and I see how people have ended up living here for decades. 

Let me back track and explain a little more.

One of the girls is going to Vietnam this week end and another girl mentioned her experience there.

"Eat at one of the shops near the street! The feeling of scooters zooming past you and eating in the street like a local is unreal. 

It's nothing like Korea."

When you think of Asia, I'm sure you think of China and Vietnam or maybe even Thailand. The hustle in bustle is enchanting and it's so easy to get swept up in it's glory. 

Korea is the most westernize country I have ever lived in. 

Being here is like being in America but only the signs are all in Korean.

If I wouldn't have known better it was like I signed up for a job in Dallas and still lived in Dallas but secluded from my friends and family and just worked. 

... if that made any sense ...

What I'm trying to say is

There's a point where you travel around and you get a taste of what other Asian countries are like. Some more 3rd world than others but still it's an experience. You hop on a plane back to Korea and feel a sense of relief because you are "home." 

Home here feels very western. Very few instances leave me thinking like

Oh man I'm definitely living in Asia. 

Any who I thought this was interesting and thought I'd write it down to share. 

If you live in an Asian country, have you experienced this? 

Have you ever felt like Korea wasn't what you were expecting?

Or do you think I'm completely wrong? 

I'd love to hear what you think!

Cheers!

xoxo

Julie

Episode 8 & 9

sorry y'all 

I've been massively lacking these past 2 weeks! I apologizzze

but here is the awkwardness that happened last week

and then here is the follow up for week 9

Thanks for sticking with me you guys!!!

xoxo

Julie

Episode 7

Episode 7 y'all

Goal met! Video under 5 minutes!!!

woo hoo!

I feel like I'm getting better at this!

Thanks to everyone who continues to support me while I'm doing this silly thing! :D

xoxo

Julie