One month.

One month ago we began our journey to Korea. Some days it feels like it's been much longer than a month. Ok, if I'm being honest, most days it feels like that right now. Trying to connect with family and friends back in the states is proving to be difficult since when we are winding down from our day, everyone is just waking up and getting ready for their day and vice versa. Weekends tend to be the best time to chat with people and thus far, we've stayed pretty busy on our weekends. Next weekend is a 4 day weekend and we're looking for something to do in the local area to get ourselves out and away from base for a bit. My guess is hiking will win out as long as the pollen or yellow dust doesn't carry us away. Picking paint colors is up there on my list of things I'd like to do as well. Eggshell flat paint is not my idea of "homey".

Monday we get the rest of our household goods so at least we will have all our belongings and can get situated with painting. I'm ready for my own pillows, microwave and the other stuff we kept behind for the day to day life. I didn't figure it would take over a month to get to us, but oh well. On Monday we also get a second visit from our ajima. In English, that means housekeeper. I have NEVER been one to even remotely think of having anyone clean my house minus the whole "move out" cleaning from base housing or something. This though, I'm just trying to help the local economy and help an incredible lady earn some money. I can't even begin to explain how lazy I felt when she stopped by the first time and I sat on the couch while she washed our sheets, did other laundry, swept the floor, then got down and wiped the entire house with wash rags and a bucket of pinesol water. I LOVE her! She is not usually a fan of big dogs (as most Koreans aren't) but she kept saying "he nice doggie". That he is :) We have her stop by every other week and I am so looking forward to just being able to hang out the rest of the weekend knowing Monday, I'll have a spotless house!

Up next on our books behind painting and all the little daily/weekly/monthly stuff we're trying to take care of is figuring out where we'll take our first big trip. We've got friends who just moved to Hawaii, so that's definitely on our radar. I'm bummed about missing out on FL and our annual summer New Hampshire trip, so I need something to look forward to. Our summer is going to include some swim team for Nichole, swimming at some pool (whichever one is open), Everland season passes (think Korean Disneyland), sports camps through youth center and whatever other trouble we can get into. Luckily, Eric should be around for the whole summer so at least we'll have him to hang with on the weekends and to explore with us. Thailand is definitely on our list of travel destinations and I've heard China and Japan should be on there as well. I'm hearing winter should be good for us with being fans of skiing. Just gotta push through the summer.

What I'm most looking forward to right at this moment is finding a routine. And more specifically a gym routine thrown in there, b/c how else does one maintain sanity? Routine probably isn't the thing to be looking for with the kids only having a few weeks left of school, but we'll figure out one for the summer. And then fall will settle in and hopefully we'll find more of the routine that I usually operate best on. I've put in my substitute teaching application and if it's not finished by the end of this school year, it will be ready for next year.

We're excited for friends arriving here for the same assignment and excited for all the new friends we've made and still have yet to meet yet. We're learning that overseas is a great place to be even though you're far from your immediate family. Everyone here is like one huge family. A few of the guys surprised the wives while we were on our trip to Seoul and they helped out with all the kids even though their own were there as well. Everyone helps out. That's just how it goes here. Everyone is in the same boat and all separated from their families. It's one thing to be a few hundred or maybe even a thousand miles from family. It's a whole new aspect to be an ocean apart. I'm working on balancing the overcoming the distance from those who know me best and trying to start new friendships knowing how fresh I still feel off the goodbyes I just had to make. See a few posts back to see how I feel about goodbyes. Yea, not fun. It helps that you pretty much can't go a day without seeing someone you know around base unless you get sick for a few days and hole up in your house.

Ok, well my attempt at updating has come to a close and I feel I'm just rambling at this point. Plus, it's 1045 on a Saturday night and I'm already feeling how sore my body is going to be tomorrow from the CrossFit bit I attempted today. Pretty sure Eric was giving me a weird look when I told him I did not just one, but two CrossFit workouts today. This from someone who hasn't worked out steadily (and more than just teaching spin) in a LONG time. Thank you laziness and hernia surgery :)


Stay tuned for updates and maybe some upcoming news in the next few weeks....Until then... Harrumph to being back in a fighter squadron and getting to enjoy a night of crud.