08/31/2014 8:51PM Last day of August

I went and explored the historic region today. I have to say it was definitely impressive. I have used the words Impressive, amazing, incredible, spectacular, and perfect more times today than I have in my entire life... The views and the scenery here reminds me that there is more to life than just money, riches, makeup, etc and it really gives me a lot more faith in humanity than I used to have.

Everyone is incredibly nice and whole-hearted. I remember talking about altruism in Dr. Tuttle's Honors course "The Biology of Love and Sex". I use to wholeheartedly believe that altruism didn't exist, but something here is making that wall quickly go down... I guess every wall has to go down eventually... Even the Berlin Wall went down eventually.

From Left to Right. 

1^st row: Takahiro-Japan, Keeta- Pensylvania USA, Lacey- Tennessee USA, Clémence-France, Brianna-California USA, Gauthier-Belgium,

2^nd row: Kana-Japan, Myoshin-Japan, Ferdinand- Belgium,  Laetitia-Belgium, Rebecca-Belgium, Victoria- Belgium, and me, Max- Indiana USA

8/30/2014 9:49 AM

It's a beautiful morning. I'm still in shock and aww that I'm here. My dreams are coming true and my fun factor has never been higher. In the last 3 days I have pulled so far out of my comfort zone that I'm still shocked. I have talked to so many people from all around the world, I went to my first "Dance club", I've walked all around the downtown area, I've taken the subway, taxi, and the bus, and I've tried numerous different foods so far. All in all, I have to say that there is more to do here than there is to do in almost all of Illiana. The fact that so much of it is free surprises me even more. 

I was very happy to have found a rock n roll club not far from the school ... All they play is America Heavy metal, rock n roll, and a little bit of country here and there. Seeing all the Korean women try to dance to it is what's even more funny. They don't dance like American "Dance girls" do ... so much more classier and down to Earth. I have gotten tired of seeing twerking, ass-shaking, humping, and the rest of it in America clubs which is why I never got into it nor wanted to get into it. I was hesitant to do it here but I'm glad I went. 

Classes do not start till Monday, but I have a fairly great schedule it seems. They messed up my schedule so I can't get my jr composition foundational study taken care of, but IDC ... I'm still going to have tons of fun regardless ... Going to do as much travel as I can, and going to stay out of my room as much as I possibly can. :)

This is going to be about as short and sweet as I can possibly make it. Landed in Korea about let me tell you, they threw an ungodly amount of stuff at me to get done all at once... I always thought America was the land of the procrastinator, boy how much I could have been wrong. Korean's wait till the absolute last second to get anything done...

Aside from that, I have yet to have a problem here. ATM's here accept MOST (not all as I've quickly found out while trying to help a number of other women around campus) debit and ATM cards.

Met alot of different kind of people so far and I'm shocked to find out that I get along the best with people from Dutchland and Germanic areas. They actually understand Sarcasm and do it better than I do... and I thought I was the king of sarcasm.

Also, as a side note, I couldn't have been happier with eating bulgogi today. Finally had an authentic bulgogi meal. Can't find anything like that there in the states. Got tired of having that sweet bullshit that Americans call bulgogi. I couldn't be much happier right now.

I like to also mention that ALMOST EVERYTHING is so much cheaper here. High end hotels are like $60 a night, food ranges from like $1-8 a meal which is insane... I bought an $8 dollar meal thinking I could finish it and not only could I not finish it... I couldn't finish half of it. Any of you that know me well know's I always can be quoted saying "I didn't get to 250lbs by accident" lol... so trust me... if I can say that, so can all of you.

I guess everyone thinks I'm sick because of my lack of sleep... jet lag is kicking me ass pretty damn hard... I guess that's just a part of flying.

All in all, I feel like a country boy stuck in the city. ON one hand it is pretty damn awesome. So many girls keep calling me a southern boy and thinks I'm from Texas. WHAT?!?!?! One even had the nerve to say "A republican that loves guns I take it?" First of all, how do Koreans know about republicans and second why do they assume all people who own guns are from Texas and republican?

As a side note, I'd really like to say Thanks to Sean Green and Young Woo-Hur. I owe you guys alot for helping me out yesterday.

08/25/2014 3:27PM

I've been thinking a whole lot more than usual because this is potentially the biggest achievement in my life. I'd like to make a quick shout out to all the teachers not only that I had, but all the teachers around the US. Without the help of my many great teachers, I would not be here, and had it not been for their teachers, they would have not taught me what I have learnt. For that I thank all of you. While I do not speak for all, I hope I do speak for the majority.

In the eyes of the many budget cuts that have gone on school corporations, the politics behind the cuts, the meager pay you make, and let's be really honest, that one or many shitty student(s) that you have to teach day in and day out, Y'all continue to teach. That put's you very high on my list of VIP's...

Never forget that what you teach can inspire certain students, it can change certain students, and it those students are the future of the US and even the world. What you tell them has the potential to change the world. So continue to do what you do best. I thank all of you around the world. :)

08/23/2014 1:21AM EDT

I haven't even landed in Korea yet, but the tears have finally begun to flow. I went and saw my brother today to break the news to him. Haven't seen him in 13 years. I've cried more in the last 24 hours, than I have since I was born. It's a bittersweet moment. My brother kept telling me how proud he is of me. I just don't have words to explain my happiness.

Now the realization that I'm going to be closer to my maternal family than even my mom has been in more than 30 years is really hitting me hard. I hope to find my family and meet them more than anything else in the world, but my mom brought up the possibility of them being dead... but you know what, at least I can find closure then. Not only for me, but for my mother too.

This is a dated picture of me (right) and my brother (left) back in a much simpler time. I wish things didn't have to go down the way they did on my birthday in 2001... But as I always say, "You win some, you lose some, you just got to win more often!"

As many of you already know, I'm leaving for Korea August 26th. I'm going to start this blog where I'll post some pictures. This is my first time blogging so bare with me if things get out of hand or IDK what I'm doing which is likely to happen quite often. Heck, I'm hoping I can just post this correctly... lol. With that said, I guess you can like subscribe to blogs and what not, so do that with mine if you want to see how Korean life, food, commerce, and everything else goes. I will do my best post at least once a week.

My birthday is also right around the corner, September 5th and luckily it coincides with the Korean Thanksgiving holiday (Chuseok (Korean: 추석) ) which is September 6th through September 10th this year (it coincides with the moons unlike American Thanksgiving) So you are certain to get some good pictures shortly after I land.

All in all, I think this is a good opening to my blog... I hope all of you enjoy and I look forward to interacting with as many of you as I can. I assume you can comment below, so if you want to get to know me, post your facebook direct link and/or email and I'll be sure to get in contact with you all. :)

안녕히 계세요. Annyeonghi Gyeseyo

MLKIII