Here Without A Worry

since being home..

2010-07-21T14:41:00.000+09:00

I've realized:

*I will never tire of this view!

*I'm really nervous driving on the freeway, being surrounded by so many cars!
*I'm really annoyed with people who feel they must drive with all windows down, blaring their rap music for all to hear
*I've noticed how sweet everything is! Gum, coffee creamer, cookies..etc
*I've worked 7 days so far
*I haven't listened to my ipod once, which makes me sad. I miss my music!
*I've been to Trader Joe's twice :)
*I've been having fun cooking and baking!
*I love walking downtown

SURPRISE!!!

2010-07-11T07:01:00.011+09:00

I thought it would be really fun to surprise my mom of my early return to the States this summer, and boy was it fun!! My dad was the only person that knew I was flying home, and we surprised my sister as soon as we got home. My mom got home from work later on that evening, and I was so excited to see the look on her face when she realized I was home! I'm stoked that we got this video of the whole thing. Angie and I are on the back porch when mom got home from work, and dad asked her to help him bring some flowers to put on the back porch, and that's when she saw me. The first minute and 50 seconds are just me and Angie waiting for her to come out..so I wouldn't blame you if you fast forward up to that point. After she saw me, we were just explaining how we had planned everything. Very fun!!! I'm glad it worked out so well. :)

Trader Joe's!

2010-07-10T10:09:00.000+09:00

The makings of a wonderfully delicious and healthy pantry!

Did you know that I'm a Gourmet Chef?

2010-06-28T10:06:00.000+09:00

For some reason lately I haven't been planning dinner like I normally do, and last night it was 7pm and I still had no idea what to make for dinner. So, I began my nightly roam of the kitchen and pantry for some idea to pop out at me. We have a huge bottle of balsamic that needs to get used, so that's where this idea bloomed from.

I thawed out 2 chicken breasts (they're tiny!) and sauteed them in a skillet until they were almost cooked through. Then I added some balsamic vinegar and let it get nice and bubbly and thick while the chicken continued to cook. Top it with a few pieces of feta cheese and your mouth will be so happy! I served it with a little pasta tossed with olive oil from the feta cheese jar, some parmesan and parsley, and oh my..soooo good! A side of green beans with some seasoning on it, and voila! Awesome dinner!

W O R LD C U P 2010

2010-06-25T10:36:00.000+09:00

Highlights

* Watching the game on the beach

* Bringing along our CouchSurfer & Cyclist friend Christian from Switzerland

to the beach with us to watch the game

* Fish n Chips at Portobello's

* Terrible Ref's and calls being made..especially at both USA games!

* Trying to be quiet, while watching the 11pm games because our walls are so thin

* Not breathing for 90 minutes of the USA vs Algeria game

*Vuvuzelas (are REALLY loud!)

The Green Monster!

2010-06-18T12:10:00.000+09:00

No..I'm not talking about left field at Fenway Park..

And I'm not talking about the monster under your bed..

I'm talking about the new craze in Smoothies!! The Green Monster.

I've been hearing about these "green monster" smoothies for a while now, but haven't tried one until today. There are thousands of variations, but the most important part is the green! Spinach! And I understand if the mention of the word spinach completely turns you off, but hear me out. Don't be scared. Spinach is sooooo good for you! It's loaded with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, it protects against eye diseases, it's good for your heart, there's fiber in it, as well as tons of vitamins!

But I know what you're wondering. Can you taste it in the smoothie?! Not at ALL! I drank the one I made this morning so quickly, I forgot to take a picture for you to see. But mine was a pretty blue-ish purple color, and had no hint of green at all.

Here is how I made mine:
I blended up 1 cup of milk with a banana, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1 cup of frozen fruit mix (pineapple, strawberries, mangoes), 1 cup of spinach, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil (because it's good for you!) And it was amazing! And I got in all of my daily fruit/veggie servings in one smoothie! Holy moly that's amazing! I think the only thing I want to add next time is protein powder, so I stay fuller longer. Too bad we don't have any in Korea!
Anyway..I hope I've inspired you to try a Green Monster and to not be afraid of spinach. Enjoy!!

Tortillas!

2010-06-10T17:32:00.000+09:00

Check out all the things you can do with tortillas!

*Burritos
*Soft tacos
*Quesadillas
*Enchiladas
*Breakfast burritos
*Chicken, Veggie, or Tuna wraps
*Plain tortilla with butter, sugar and cinnamon!
*What do you make using tortillas?

Are you hungry yet?!

That's why I wanted to share with you a delicious homemade tortilla recipe, that couldn't be any simpler. Thanks to my friend, Jen, my eyes have been opened to the deliciousness that is: the homemade tortilla!

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1tsp baking soda
2 tsp canola oil
3/4 cup nonfat milk or water

1.Put dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir together. In a separate bowl, heat up the water or milk in the microwave for about 40 seconds.
2. Slowly incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry, while stirring. Mix with a spoon until you can't any longer..then get your hands in there and make it all come together, kneading a few times until it's nice and pretty.
3. Cover with a tea towel or saran wrap, and let sit for 20 minutes.
4. Divide the dough up into however many tortillas you will want and roll into balls. This dough makes 8 good sized tortillas..but sometimes I make 6 for even bigger ones.
5. Cover again and rest for 10 minutes.
6. Heat up a large nonstick skillet to medium-high while rolling out the first tortilla. Roll out one at a time on a well floured surface, and keep the rest covered.

7. For tortillas, cover with foil or the lid, and flip when nice and bubbly. While one cooks, I roll out the next one and have it ready on the counter.

This recipe is very versatile, because you could make Naan with it too! If that's the case, just don't cover them while cooking.

8. To keep them warm and pliable, put the cooked tortillas in a plastic ziploc bag or a tupperware container.

I was thinking about adding garlic to the dough next time..wouldn't that be good? Or maybe some spices (like cumin, chili powder, maybe some hot red pepper flakes) to the flour before it's dough. That sounds good, right?

Look how soft they are! They just roll right up! MMM!

Awww....look how cute they are! They're all cozy and warm in their little bunkbeds! :)

Happy Eating!

Substitute Teaching + Middle Schoolers=

2010-05-31T22:49:00.003+09:00

Not what I want to do for a living!

I got the chance to sub at the middle school here on campus for 2 days, and although the teacher had everything laid out for me and went over all the assignments with the students beforehand, I realized that subbing isn't as easy as it may sound! I found myself wanting the kids to like me and not think that I was mean for making them quiet down and keep their heads off their desks. It makes me thankful for all of my teachers growing up, especially in middle school! That age is not easy to deal with, and I'm sure it's very frustrating as a teacher at times.

I may not be certain which career path to choose in life..but I have one more knocked off the list of potential options.

Rainy Weekend

2010-05-23T20:13:00.004+09:00

I love rainy weekends because:

~I sleep like a baby

~I don't feel bad if I sleep til noon

~Zack and I can cuddle all weekend and watch movies

~Spending time with friends watching movies, playing cards and eating pizza!

~It reminds me of home

~I love the sound and smell of it

You've Got You

2010-05-19T13:49:00.000+09:00

I've got a bone to pick with you and this opportunity
i couldn't live this down enough to make up for you and me
i feel a swelling in my soul i've been choking up inside
i'd bite my tongue just for your sake but i'd swallow too much pride

and who will be sorry first who will be sorry first
and if you won't be the one to budge i can tell what i am worth
and you've got you to blame for what you do to you
there's nothing shocking so it must be true
and let me set this record straight on the drama you create
before you go and turn your back on me

i've got a lot to pay you back i've been saving up for years
i'm gonna break you into two who now is gonna hear your tears
i've been the friend you never had now you'll never have me back
i bear a witness to your faults and that line's severely cracked

you're gonna live your life and stay on your side
you're not ashamed to try you're more afraid of why
this bridge is burning now it's caving in
we're never gonna win we'll run in circles till we fall in line

~Eric Hutchinson says it all so well!

2010-05-01T22:31:00.004+09:00

We had a really fun day today with our good friends, Adam and Shamra!

We were lucky enough to have a gorgeous Saturday..so we went up to Postech's campus and played doubles tennis for a bit. When I say play..I just mean hitting the ball back and forth, maybe three times..then chasing the ball after we launch it across the court like a baseball. :) We're all improving though! It's just nice to be outside, enjoying the fresh air and the sun.

After tennis we headed to Angel in Us for some caffeine, and then on to the Jimjilbang! Otherwise known as a public spa. I posted about this last summer..so if you're unfamiliar with this..click here to see my previous post. We had a very relaxing, rejuvinating time at the spa..then we played cards and tried to take naps. Next time we go we might try out the karaoke room and the ping-pong tables. :)

It was a wonderful day, spent with amazing friends!

Happy 2010!

2010-04-02T10:34:00.000+09:00

I know we're 4 months in..but I've been a little preoccupied to update!

Zack and I had an awesome 2 months back in the States over Christmas break..splitting up our time with one month in Montana with Zack's family, then one month in Washington with mine.

Here are some highlights from Montana:
1. Zack went skiing
2. Kristine went snowshoeing (UP the ski mountain!)
3. Playing Rockband with the whole family
4. Having quality conversations with family and friends

5. Cooking and baking in Cary's wonderful kitchen :)
6. Catching 4 runaway horses on Christmas morning

Highlights from Washington:
1. Family is all nearby, so it was nice seeing people often
2. I was able to work at the bank for the month to earn some extra money
3. The beer! (Eastside Club...we miss you dearly)
4. Meeting up with our friends the Fogner's in Seattle for a fun weekend

5. My Great Aunt's 80th Birthday party. It was a Girls Only party and Aunt Avis gave all us girls 2 pieces of her precious jewelry that she's collected during all of her world travels. Thanks Aunt Avis!

Thanks to our families for making it a memorable, fun, and relaxed break home. It was much needed and we appreciate everything you did for us! We love you!

How do I love thee (coffee creamer) ? Let me count the ways..

2009-12-27T13:58:00.001+09:00

What a beautiful sight! Being a coffee addict and living in Korea has it's downsides. One of them is the lack of coffee creamers..so it sure was fun to go to the grocery store in the States and stand in awe and take 15 minutes to decide on a flavor.

Gotta love the holiday flavors! :)

Praise be to the Lord..

2009-12-16T21:44:00.000+09:00

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19 NSV

This verse really spoke to me this morning and I wanted to share and perhaps in turn bless someone else with it. This just struck me and really touched me because we as humans are so sinful, and the last thing we deserve is a gracious, forgiving and loving God. I don't think I can ever fully grasp the love that He has for me, or understand why He does it..but I sure am thankful for it! I'm so thankful that I can go to the foot of the cross daily, and give my burdens to Him. We're not in this life alone..He walks right by us, holds our hands, and carries us through. When life seems to get in the way, we can always go to Him and find peace and strength and above all, love.

Double Parked??!

2009-11-12T11:11:00.000+09:00

Has this happened to you?

Someone has double parked behind you and you don't know what to do?!

Simply.....

Push it out of the way!!

As long as you put your car in neutral, you can double park anyone and people like us can just push your car around until it's out of the way! It makes so much sense..I love it.

Beer Me!

2009-10-29T19:23:00.005+09:00

Beer selection in Korea is almost nonexistent. Especially anything with flavor. So..we have decided to take matters into our own hands, and make our own! Zack has found a group of people online, who live in Korea, that have made a website dedicated to this very task. So with a little help from our new beer drinking friends, they have ordered everything for us that we needed to get started.

The whole process really isn't too complicated, you just have to be very patient and thorough.

Here is the yeast getting to know each other and looking forward to becoming beer!

Here is Zack with everything we need on the table, preparing to make beer! (water, hops, a scale, malt)

Here are the hops floating in bags, flavoring the water and malt.

Here is Zack swishing around the beer in the bucket, getting

it ready for fermentation.

After a few weeks in the bucket, it's time for bottling!

Putting on the bottle caps!

The finished product! Hey! It actually looks and TASTES like real beer!

Who'da thunk?!

We haven't come up with a "brewery" name yet. We're still working on it, and trying to think of a theme that our beer is based on. So far we've brewed 3 batches and each one is getting better and better!

2009-09-23T12:59:00.013+09:00

I haven't posted for a while, so I figured I should!

We're about a month into the fall semester here already. I can't believe it's almost October! We've been staying busy and having fun! Zack is still enjoying his position as Legal Writing Fellow and helping the students with their English (oral and written).

We're hoping to stay on here for one more year, since the economy back home is still so terrible, we figure why not stay here since he already has a job! We're still waiting to hear back, but we're almost positive we'll stay.

This semester I'm able to lead an English discussion group to about 7 undergrad students here on campus. I just meet with them twice a week for one hour each session and I bring a topic and try to get them to speak, so they will feel more comfortable speaking English. It's fun and a nice break for me. Zack and I have started meeting with a Korean tutor this semester, and he teaches us for 2 hours each week. So far we've become more comfortable with ordering food in a traditional Korean restaurant, so last night we went out and put our practice to the test. Turns out our server spoke English! So, we didn't need to speak Korean, but we practiced it anyway! It's such a small thing, but by being able to go out to a restaurant on our own is so freeing. We've always gone out with other people who know what to order, or how to speak Korean, so we never went by ourselves. But now it feels more like home in a way, because we can do normal, everyday activities without having to rely on someone else to get things done for us.

Hangul is the alphabet of the Korean language, and this is what the word "hangul" looks like in Korean.

Last weekend the law school had an activities day for all the students, law faculty and family, so here are a few pictures from that day. We basically just competed in silly games against each other for a few hours outside on a nice Saturday morning.

Where Did the Summer Go?!

2009-08-15T15:08:00.007+09:00

Wow! It's been over a month since I've last posted, so I figured I should give y'all something to read!

This summer has been very laid back, with not much on the agenda. Zack co-taught a summer class here for the month of July, so that kept him pretty busy, as well as working on a paper he's hoping to get published this fall. I have been doing my usual exercising, cooking, baking, cleaning, and having craft time......in other words, a great summer! =)

Summertime here at Handong means a lot of foreigners and a lot of Korean kids running around, which can only mean one thing....English Camp! Kids from all over Korea move here for about 3 weeks, and are immersed in the English language. We met most of the teachers, and the majority of them were from South Africa. They were all so welcoming and fun and they invited us to go with them to Busan that weekend and since we had no plans we accepted their invitation. Zack and I drove down and met them for dinner and then headed to the crowded popular Hayundae Beach in Busan. Only then did we realize that we were visiting the most popular beach in all of Korea on the busiest weekend of the year. August in Korea means vacation for most families, so you can only imagine how packed the beach was that night. We enjoyed a few drinks on the

beach while we were being entertained by gorgeous fireworks overhead.

That night we stayed at a Korean public bath house, otherwise known as a Jimjilbang. I've read about these bath houses before and have been a little apprehensive about going to one. But they are a great place to sleep if you don't want to spend the money on a hotel (or if it's crazy busy and you can't FIND a hotel with vacancy)..so we ventured to a Jimjilbang, the girls and guys go to separate floors and after you put your clothes and belongings in your locker you head to the bathing area. After a quick scrub down you can enter the pool of your choice. They run from extremely cold, to cool, warm, hot, extremely hot, and salt water. There are also saunas and massage rooms. Once you've had your fill of soaking you can get scrubbed/exfoliated by someone that works there, or you can do it yourself which is what all of us girls did. Someone scrubs your back for you..and if you go by yourself, you'll find someone that will gladly help you out! After you shower and dress in your required Jimjilbang attire that they give you, you can head to the main floor where everyone hangs out together and there you can enjoy snacks, movie watching, computer games, massage chairs, etc. You can get a pillow and a blanket and crash on the floor for a nap, or even stay the night! It was a great, relaxing experience and I'm looking forward to going again.

We made it up to Seoul twice, the last time visiting an old high school friend of Zack's whom he hasn't seen in over 10 years. We always have a great time in the city-getting in some shopping, and scouting out some great restaurants and pubs that we can't get here in Pohang.

A Day In The Life of Kristine

2009-06-29T09:12:00.047+09:00

Many of you may be asking yourselves "What does Kristine do to keep herself busy while living it up in South Korea?!" Well, I am about to take you on a wild journey and show you what it's like to be me for a day!

*****WARNING! VERY LONG POST!*****

Ready to relax? Ok..here we go!

My day starts usually around 8:30-9 after a wonderful night's sleep on our too small of a bed, in our minimalist Asian inspired bedroom. After a delicious cup of french press coffee (thanks to the in-laws!) I wake up and start my workout. 3 days a week Zack and I go to a gym that is in one of the guys' dorms here and lift weights, and on the other days I do at home DVD workouts like The Biggest Loser Cardio Max and No More Trouble Zones by Jillian Michaels. I can honestly say I enjoy working out now and I look forward to it (most days!). I can definitely tell mood wise when I haven't worked out..my endorphins just aren't flowing like they normally are and I feel lazy and gross!

After my workout I make a delicious breakfast of either oatmeal with blueberries or a breakfast scramble with tons of veggies. Cereal keeps me full for..oh probably...30 minutes..so big breakfasts are the way to go!

I usually clean in the mornings after breakfast...do the dishes, sweep, tidy up. Our apartment is small, and Zack and I can't stand it for long when things are messy and the kitchen isn't clean. I figure that since I'm not working anymore it's my job to do the housework and I don't mind at all. I am enjoying being a housewife for the first time in 6 years! Bu I have to give credit where credit is due...Zack is wonderful and always helps me..it's not like I'm always slaving away cleaning and

cooking by myself!

The first semester here I would take the bus into town most days around noon and go to the grocery store to pick up a few things or just go to a coffee shop and read, but now that it's summer it gets so hot and muggy around noon, and taking the bus feels more like a chore, so since I don't have to go into town..I don't! It's no fun walking 20 minutes to the store, carrying bags, and walking another 20 back to the bus stop in the crazy humidity! So, lately I go outside to the back of our apartment and sit at the table with my water and my Kindle and read for a while and get some sun.

I do a lot of reading, now that we have a Kindle. Thanks again to Dave and Cary! (my in-laws) I've always read a lot, but it's so much nicer having the Kindle because you can read multiple books at one time..if you like doing it that way! Right now I'm almost done reading The Hobbit, and I think I'm going to download The Lord of The Rings and try my hand at that novel. I love the movies, so I'm sure the book will be amazing. A few other books I'm reading are: Les Miserables,The Sisterchicks Down Under, So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore, The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, and Pride and Prejudice. If you have any recommendations, please let me know!

On rainy days, such as today I've been catching up on my movie watching. Since I worked nights for so many years I just never watched a lot of good, classic movies..we would usually go to the theater or rent new releases. So..my dear husband has been opening up a whole new world to me! I have finally seen: The original Star Wars, Karate Kid I and II, Godfather and Godfather II, 300(amazing!!), Contact, and Braveheart. On my list to watch are Meet me in St. Louis, Roman Holiday,Changeling, and The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

As many of you know, I absolutely love cooking and baking. And I have the best husband because he honestly loves about 99% of everything I make. Our kitchen is tiny-consisting of one large and one small burner that barely fits two pans on it simultaneously, one small toaster oven, and a microwave. Luckily I stay motivated to try new recipes and don't let this deter me in any way. The fresh open markets here are amazing and inexpensive..so I have fun shopping and loading up on tons of fresh veggies and fruits for almost no money! I make a lot of stir-fries using carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, hot peppers, onion, garlic, chicken or tofu, sesame oil and soy sauce..and Zack and I could probably eat that every day, but I try to be more creative most days. Meat here is pretty pricey, so we stock up on chicken from Costco, and I buy tofu now because it's ridiculously cheap. We recently bought a small crockpot from Costco and we both LOVE it. Whatever you put in it will be so juicy and tender in 6-8 hours! Our favorite is just frozen chicken,a jar of salsa, and if you have it..some sour cream at the very end..and voila! A delicious chicken salsa mixture to put in a tortilla or on rice.

Baking is a bit more challenging because I only have a tiny toaster oven...but I still make cookies, even if it takes 5 hours because I can only bake 4 at a time! It's well worth it. I definitely miss my Kitchen Aid stand mixer..but my cookies turn out just fine using a wooden spoon and some arm strength. I'd like to start baking bread, and I think I will try regardless of my oven size. Tiny loaves of bread will be cute, right? Big loaves of bread get stale and moldy faster too..so small is better! If you need some baking (and cooking) motivation, check out these blogs. These women are incredible, and it makes me wish I could just bake all day. Which I would definitely do if I had a regular oven! www.joythebaker.com, www.smittenkitchen.com, and www.bakingbites.com.

I love listening to music (Martin Sexton, Lisa Hannigan, Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon, Feist, and anything jazz), but lately I've been listening to a lot of podcasts, especially on the bus and when I go for walks around campus. My favorites are: How Stuff Works, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Radio Lab and This American Life. I really like Stuff You Missed in History Class because it's easy to follow, most of them are around 20 minutes long and you learn something! :) Radio Lab comes in at #2 favorite. They cover things like Laughter, Choice, Deception, Race, Love..it's really fun to listen to and it's very eye opening and it makes you think. Their website describes Radio Lab as one big investigation around one "big idea," those being what I listed above. So..it can be interesting and informative at the same time.

Another fun thing to do is collect "EngRish."  It's basically poorly translated English..and you can find it anywhere..on T-shirts, store signs, food packaging, appliances, almost anywhere. It's fun and hilarious to me and Zack. Here is an example.

The viewer is to find

say trying

no create

we try to humanise them

just whell

So..after exercising, reading, knitting, baking, cooking, cleaning and an occasional lunch date with a friend, Zack and I have a nice dinner together and curl up on the couch and watch movies...and on the nice weekend nights we hang out with other professors and their families on their patio and enjoy the nice summer nights with good food and drinks.

Sorry this was so long..but I hope this helps you to get a better idea of how I spend my time here in lovely Korea. I still don't miss working (sorry Oz!! ) and I am having the time of my life!

What the what?!

2009-05-23T21:14:00.016+09:00

I just wanted to post something to paint a better picture of what some of the little quirks of Korea are (for me personally). And if nothing more..than to just write these down for myself since they make me chuckle and so I don't forget the funny little things looking back on this time years from now.

1. There are a ridiculous amount of tiny shops in the downtown shopping area. And by "tiny" I mean..8'x8'. There's one in particular that strikes me as just silly. It's a kid's shoe store..and I was in the coffee shop directly across from it one day, and noticed there were 6 employees working there. There was hardly any room for one customer to enter the shop. What's the point of having that many people work there when they only sold like 20 pairs of shoes?!

2. Being a passenger here is pretty scary. I can't imagine driving here. I find myself tensing up a lot, and pushing my foot down on the floor as if there were a brake pedal there. Bus drivers are the worst. I think they have to be clinically insane to pass the bus driving test. The one thing I don't get though, is how red lights seem to be optional. I've been in friends' cars and just as the light turns yellow, they slow down a bit..then the light turns red and they just glide through the intersection as if the red light just meant to be cautious. It's pretty scary. Oh, and motorcycles and mopeds apparently don't have to abide by any driving rules whatsoever. So that's pretty safe for everyone involved.....

3. I always knew fashion was always huge in Asia..and so far ahead of everything back West..but I just don't understand how some of these women can pull off what they wear. I could literally blindfold myself and pick out a skirt and a t-shirt, a cardigan and some of the highest heels and be set. It would not matter if it looked good or not..apparently anything can look good in Korea. Even a weird sweatpants jumpsuit and super high heels.

The other thing is the heels. Probably 9 out of 10 Korean women you see are wearing heels..and very high heels at that. You can tell they're in pain, and they walk very slowly, but they will never give up the heels. I'm a girl, I like high heels, but I like my feet too...and my ankles. I'd like to be able to walk when I'm old. When I was in massage school the teachers told us horror stories of older women and their feet now, and how they used to wear heels when they were younger and how they wished they never did! I also have an irrational fear that if I wear too high of heels my ankle will just snap. And I also like to be able to walk comfortably and not have to grimace and wonder when I can sit down and give my feet a rest!

4. Zack always tells me that I should just ignore them, and that it's just their job, but I hate when I enter a store and an employee immediately follows me around. I feel uneasy and it's hard for me to relax and just browse. I know they are there to help you with sizes and whatnot, and even in grocery stores they are there to put your produce in the bag for you. I just don't like it.

5. As the summer is quickly approaching, the air is getting more and more humid. Zack and I can't stand humidity, and I'm pretty sure I'll be in our apartment a lot this summer with the AC on full blast. One thing I don't understand about Koreans is how they can wear sweaters and suits and not sweat!! I start sweating just seeing them, thinking about how hot they must be. I was on the bus the other day, packed in like a sardine...standing up at the back of the bus all

crowded in, and sweating. I was miserable, but thankful that the bus ride was only 15 minutes back to school. I kept wiping my face and neck..and I was noticing how none of the students were sweating like I was! The air wasn't on, and almost all of the windows were closed. My theory is that everyone is dehydrated, and that's the reason they don't sweat so much. Korean don't drink water! They're always drinking sports drinks, sugary-yogurt type pick-me-up drinks if you're tired, soda, and juice. Hopefully it will be a short summer!

*I know I am making many generalizations here. And I know not everyone will agree with me, but please don't think I am being degrading or looking down upon Korean people when I make these observations. It's purely all in the name of fun.

joie de vivre

2009-04-22T13:13:00.014+09:00

I love being here. I feel like I am part of something bigger than myself, even if it's just in a small way.

I just finished reading Donald Miller's "Blue Like Jazz" for the second (or was it the third?) time..and one of my favorite parts of the book is when he's talking about self-addiction. And how so many people are just looking out for themselves and don't care or take the time to meet the needs of anyone else. I don't want to walk through this life caring only about me and making sure my needs are met first.

Here is an excerpt from "Blue Like Jazz." A poem by C.S. Lewis.

All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.

I never had a selfless thought since I was born.

I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through;

I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.

Peace, reassurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek,

I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin;

I talk of love--a scholar's parrot may talk Greek--

But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.

I hope that each and every day, I can become a bit more like Jesus was. Caring, selfless, and more than anything, loving to everyone.

My (almost) bad hair day

2009-04-19T14:50:00.016+09:00

Yesterday my new Korean friend Sijin took me to a local hair salon to get my hair cut. I have been told by many people that I should take a photo with me of what I want done. I have a picture of my hair when it was cut before we moved, so I brought that along, with a few others just to give the stylist a better idea of what I wanted done.

I really didn't know what to expect, other than I wouldn't be able to communicate with the lady doing my hair. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

So let me start at the beginning. We walk into the salon..show a lady my photos and my friend explains what I want done and the stylist seems to understand. They wash my hair, I sit down, and she starts blowdrying it! Here I am thinking.."Kinda weird that she's drying it, but whatever.." Then she starts cutting it all over the place..no real system of back, sides, front, bangs...nothing. She's just cutting. Then all of a sudden she puts gloves on and whips out this bag and starts mixing together some white concoction, which to me looks like hairdye (or bleach!). I catch a glimpse of the packaging and it says PERM on it. The last thing I need is a perm! I immediately panic and look to my friend Sijin asking her what in the world this woman is planning on putting in my hair. Sijin says that they're going to straighten my hair. With chemicals. So, as long as she's not perming it..that's fine with me. So she starts applying this gunk, which smells awful, and then she puts rollers all over my head. After 2 people help put rollers in, I sit there for about 20 minutes, noticing that my hair is looking a lot lighter! I begin to wonder if she's actually bleaching it without my knowledge! One of the photos I had happened to be of 2 blonde women..so I'm thinking "Does she think I want to be blonde?!" My friend asks, and the lady says not to worry. Great answer.

A few minutes later, someone else comes over and ushers me over to wash it all out. Then they blow dry it, and I thank God it's still brown! And this is where I really start panicking..she starts straightening it with the flat iron, and then at the very ends of my hair, she starts curling it under, making these huge curls all over my head! The whole time I'm thinking over and over "WHY? WHY?" Why was she straightening it and then curling it under to make me look like I'm 80 years old!? I kept imagining myself ripping the flat iron out of her hands and just starting to straighten it out myself. I was so confused. Then all of a sudden, she grabs more rollers, and starts rolling up my hair again. Then they spray my hair with water, and squirt what smelled like peppermint oil all over my hair. I'm sitting there with this weird thing around my neck to collect all the water that's dripping down my neck and head. I was so confused!

After another 15 minutes they wash my hair yet again, this time with a nice head and neck massage. The experience was getting betterat this point. The stylist blowdried my hair and it was stick straight! My hair is naturally curly, so it's really weird seeing it straight when it's wet. So, she dried it and didn't even have to use a flat iron on it to get it straight. She cut some more off and cleaned up the back and it looked great! All of this to say, I shouldn't have been scared or nervous. I communicated what I wanted..the process just took longer than what I'm accustomed to. They did a great job, in a different, roundabout way.

Oh, and apparently the "Straightening Perm" will last 3-4 months! So long to my curls for now.

Lesson Learned...

2009-04-03T09:08:00.003+09:00

Always bring a camera! No matter what!

The other night Zack and I went out to dinner with another professor, his wife, and their son. They took us to a Korean BBQ place that they love. It's the original-take off your shoes, sit on the floor on a cushion type restaurant. We hadn't been to a place like that so far, and it was really fun, and nice to go with some locals who speak the language! So you sit down, and someone brings over some hot coals to put in the center of the table in this small pit, you order and they bring out raw marinated meat for you to cook on your own with tons of fresh lettuce leaves of all kinds, with all the side dishes you can think of! So you basically are making your own lettuce wrap, and it is delicious! Zack and i thought that was the meal in and of itself, but that's just the starter! A rice or noodle dish is also included..since any Korean meal is not a meal without rice (or noodles).

I'm pretty bummed that I forgot to bring the camera though. I'm trying to get better about taking more pictures, so from now on I will always have it with me..even if it weighs down my purse! But for now..I'm going to borrow some photos from the internet to show you what our meal looked like.

Random Tidbits

2009-03-24T09:17:00.007+09:00

Here are some random things Zack and I have seen or heard in our first week here.

* We went to a huge department store called Lotte and we got there minutes before they opened. Inside the first set of doors was a woman (who worked there) serving coffee and tea while we waited for the doors to open. Inside this particular door was the cosmetic section, and there were probably around 30 young ladies all dressed up in their skirt suits and hats, lined up massaging the person's shoulders in front of them. All of a sudden they dispersed and went to their separate makeup counters, two ladies walked up to the two front doors..bowed to the security guard, bowed to each other, bowed to us waiting at the doors, and then proceeded to open the doors. What an amazing experience! Every time we walk into any store..we are bowed at, since we're the customers. I feel like bowing back..but I'm not supposed to!

*When Korean babies are born, they are already 1 year old. At the beginning of a new year in January, you can say that you are the age at which you will turn that year. So for instance, I can already say that I am 26. So, if a child is born in December, in January it would already be 2!

* The birds outside our apartment squeak..they sound like a dog's toy.

* The internet here is ridiculously fast! It's insane..really.

* As some of you may know, I am challenged in being able to open packages properly..especially when it comes to cereal boxes and the bags inside. I just can't do it without ripping it and

ruining it! It's going to be even worse here..because I feel like everything I've had to open since living here has been really difficult! The tape here has some superpower force behind it..it's

almost impossible to just rip it..you have to cut it..as well as just plain plastic..like what papertowels come wrapped in. Normally you can just rip it..but oh no...not here!!! You have to whip out the scissors!

* Our entry way into the apartment lights up when you step on the floor.

That's where you take your shoes off and put on your house slippers. So, Zack and I have become that old married Korean couple and we wear our funky house slippers with socks.

We're Here!

2009-03-21T19:58:00.004+09:00

Hello! Well, we arrived in South Korea safely and with no troubles on March 18. We spent the night near Seoul and took a bus down to Pohang arriving in the afternoon, and were greeted by someone from the school who brought us to our aparment here on campus. We started to unpack, then quickly realized how much we needed to buy for our apartment..like hangers, garbage cans, towels, etc...so we took the bus (Handong has a free bus to downtown..it's VERY nice and very convenient) so we ventured out and attempted to find a shop, and we thought we knew where we were going, but 4 hours later we ended up back on campus emptyhanded. We were successful the next day and loaded up on things we needed to make our place feel like more of a home. One of the professor's wives here offered to drive us to a local market today, so we finally got some grocery shopping done..and it was so nice to not have to carry all our bags on the bus!

The campus is really nice, and full of vibrant students with so much energy..it's kind of fun being on a campus like this. Our first impressions are that we really don't have any first impressions! Weird as it sounds...South Korea isn't as different as I expected it to be..the people are kind and helpful..and although we get pointed at and some people can't believe their eyes, we find it to be a warm and welcoming place. There are plenty of things still to learn and become accustomed to..but I think we'll fit right in here. Zack and I went to the local raw fish market this morning and had quite an eye-opening experience..as we literally stopped dead in our tracks and just stared. Here is a slideshow!

You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello..

2009-02-27T14:44:00.004+09:00

Hello, hello!

Well it is official..Zack and I will be moving to South Korea next month to start a new chapter in our lives. He will be an official Professor at Handong Global University!

We were talking the other day, realizing that both of us haven't had that moment of shock, thinking "holy crap..we're about to move across the world" ..and I came to the realization that it's not all that scary or different for us..it just feels like a natural or normal direction for us to take next. I think it would be different if we had never left our hometown, let alone traveled outside the U.S. before..but since we've been a lot of places and love to travel..we're both really at peace with it and are excited to see what the future holds.

I'm sad to leave my favorite part of the U.S. again..but I sure am excited to see the "Ireland of the Orient" and experience a whole new part of the world.

Moving Abroad?

2009-01-05T03:09:00.004+09:00

Much has happened since I last wrote. As most of you know, Zack has taken and passed the bar and has just been temping at a local law firm, with no real job prospects in the future. Week after week it's been the same...mailing out resumes and making phone calls, but no interviews.

Until a few weeks ago a friend from Virginia sent Zack a message about a job opportunity teaching at Handong University in the Law School in Pohang, South Korea. Zack and I are both extremely excited about the opportunity! We love to travel and wouldn't miss the chance at living in another country and experiencing another culture and everything that comes along with that. We've made the decision together to move forward with this and see where it takes us. We're young and not tied down with a house or kids..so why not?!

In the past week Zack has had a phone interview, a video conference call with three professors in Korea, and just yesterday got a call that they're flying him out to North Carolina to meet the Dean for lunch! So..things are looking more and more promising. The position would be for Zack to teach Research & Writing in a small classroom setting...helping students on a one-on-one basis. He's perfect for the job as he's had A's in research and writing, and had a paper published last year in the Regent Law School Journal. He's always wanted to teach at some point, and this would be great for him in his career.

Looking back at the past few months, we both wonder why he hadn't gotten any return phone calls or interviews..and maybe it's all because of this opportunity in Korea. It's hard to know right now what's going to happen, or even the reasoning behind things that have and haven't happened..but God really knows the desires of our hearts and that he will lead the way.

I'm very excited about this..and hope that those of you who read this are excited as well! Please pray with us that this will work out if it's God's will! Thanks for your support and encouragment.

Will keep you updated! :)

Christmas is almost here!

2008-12-12T08:47:00.003+09:00

This year has flown by..I can't believe it's almost over! Normally I look forward to the Christmas season every year..but for whatever reason I'm just not feeling the "Christmas Spirit" this year. Maybe it's the economic status of the country, or the uncertainty of our future job-wise ...but for whatever reason it just doesn't feel like Christmas.

Since I last wrote, we have moved into my parent's rental house, which has been great. It's the mobile home that I grew up in..so it's kinda weird sometimes thinking of all the memories and events that have taken place here. But we've made it our own..with our new furniture and decorations and all. Petey has been growing and growing..our neighbor had a huge fish tank..way over 30 gallons, that he was throwing away, so he gave it to us for free..so now Petey has tons of room to stretch out.

Zack has recently purchased liability insurance so he can start taking on clients through the Public Defender's Office as a contractor. So hopefully some work will start coming his way. He'll be doing mostly small things like misdemeanors and DUI's ..things like that..to start off with. My job is going well...despite the fact that Bank of America will be laying off up to 36,000 jobs starting next year. Apparently the branch I work at is the 7th busiest branch in all of the United States...and we're short-staffed...so I have nothing to worry about!!

An Esquire's Wife

2008-10-31T00:18:00.004+09:00

It's official! Zack has passed the bar! He found out on Saturday, October 11. He ripped open the letter and saw "Congratulations" and then just grabbed me and wouldn't let go! He's so happy and I couldn't be a more proud wife. He's had a few interviews so far, but no offers yet.

We've been staying at my parent's house since the end of May, and we're finally going to move out here in a few days. For the time being, we'll be living at my parent's rental saving money up to hopefully buy a house within the next year or so. It still depends on where Zack gets hired though.

My job is going well at the bank. I've been there for about 4 months. I'm more and more confident as time passes, and I'm getting better at everything...definitely not perfect..but I'm feeling more like a teller, and less like a teller in training. I'd still love to work part-time at a coffeeshop as well as the bank, just to mix things up a bit and do something for fun. I feel like all I do is work, and I 'd like to actually work somewhere where I feel comfortable and really enjoy it.

Zack's 30th birthday is coming up...he's a little sad about it...but I keep reminding him of everything he's done up til this point..travelled to Europe atleast 8 times, got married, graduated college, moved across the country to go to law school, graduated law school, and passed the bar!!! If he's done all that and he's just now 30, I can't wait to see what he's going to go accomplish in the next 10 years!

Petey is doing well. He's a year and a month old now!He's getting bigger and bigger..although he's still pretty skinny.
This is a photo of him about a month ago. He's acting more like a snake now, because he's striking at his food now and almost constricting it. He used to just eat a mouse if it was lying there in the dish, but now we have to move the mouse around to pretend it's alive for him. A year and a half ago, I never would have thought I'd love to have a snake for a pet, but I really like it...it's not your normal cat or dog..it's definitely a converstaion piece, and it helps people to get over their fears of snakes! :)

Zack and I went to see one of our favorite musicians last week in Seattle...Martin Sexton! He was absolutely amazing...the guy doesn't even need a microphone. He played at the Town Hall, which is an old church building. The acoustics were unbelievable. He played solo, with only his guitar and his amazing voice. The venue holds about 800, and we were in the 3rd row, so it was amazing to be part of such an intimate musical performance. I can't wait to see him again!

Well, that's all for now. I'll post again when something else exciting happens!

...

2008-07-13T12:39:00.003+09:00

I just finished my first week of training to be a teller at Bank of America today! It's about a 5 week training program, but I feel I'm getting the hang of things already. It's mostly online training, but today I got to be on the teller line and actually help with doing the transactions. I'm catching on rather quickly, and I think I'm going to really like it once all the pieces start fitting together. :) It's such a change from waiting tables..I love it! And I do love getting paid on holidays when I don't have to work! =)

Well, Zack is down to the final week and a half before the big daunting bar exam! It seems like forever ago that we were dating and talking about him going to law school some day, and now here he is studying to take the bar. He's almost done!! It'll be nice to finally have two solid incomes again, and of course for Zack to be doing something that he loves. Hopefully some places call soon before all hope is lost on the job front.

We've been kicking around the idea of just staying in Olympia/Lacey for the next year, since my job is here, and I have to commit to a full year at the location I'm at now. So it makes sense to stay here for the time being, rather than moving up to Tacoma.

Well, that's it for now..I'll write again when something exciting happens!

New Beginnings

2008-06-29T14:49:00.006+09:00

This will be the last week before I start my new job working as a teller at Bank of America. I'm so thankful to Nick for recommending me and really pushing for me to get this job! At times it feels strange to be sitting at home on a Friday night, or a random weeknight at 8 o'clock feeling like I should be at work. For the first time in 3 years I won't be waiting tables! And I'll actually be able to spend evenings at home..this will be weird!

I'm excited for a fresh start..a new job, a different city, different people. Zack and I will be looking around the old Tacoma area for a place to live toward the end of the summer and we are both really looking forward to living somewhere more urban...where we can walk most places and feel in the center of a city that's growing.

Back in the Northwest

2008-06-27T08:20:00.004+09:00

I'm so lucky to be able to look at this view every day! It feels wonderful to be back home..yet weird at the same time. It's different, and I'm different too. Zack and I haven't lived in Washington since 2004, when we moved to Montana so it's been a while!

I definitely miss my friends back in Virginia, and I'm looking forward to making new ones here.

I still feel like we're in transition mode. We've been here about a month yet I don't quite feel settled. We are living with my parents and they have been awesome..but I'm ready to move on and find our own place and completely unpack all of our belongings. I think that having not started work also has added to the feeling of not being settled. I'm just in a waiting period right now.

Long Time No Write

2008-02-06T23:09:00.000+09:00

Hello!! It's been such a long time since I've written anything, so I think it's about time. A lot has happened since I last wrote an entry, so I'll try to remember everything. After we moved into the Regent Commons last August I got a job serving at Cheeseburger in Paradise. It's fun for the most part..just really slow right now.

At the beginning of October Zack and I drove up to Canada with our good friends Tim and Cindi for Canadian Thanksgiving. We stayed with Cindi's family for a few days and got to explore Ottawa a little bit. We also drove up to Quebec and stayed a night in a beautiful old B&B.

For Thanksgiving we flew down to St. Croix and met Dave,Cary,Hilary and Paul for the week. The weather was perfect..the condo was beautiful and the views and the ocean were amazing! We went snorkeling every day, went out to eat at some nice restaurants and read a lot of books! It was a great week to spend some time with family and just relax by the ocean. Can't wait to go back!

This may sound weird and definitely unlike me, but we got our first pet snake! Zack has wanted one for a long time and I kept refusing, but decided it would be ok for a birthday present for him and only if the snake was a baby. We went down to Animal Jungle and bought a one month old Corn Snake and named him Peterson after Julian Peterson of the Seattle Seahawks. He's a curious little snake and loves to explore. He weighed 9 grams when we got him..so he's TINY!
I think having a pet that isn't a dog or a cat completely opens up your mind frame about animals! It's so fun just sitting and watching him explore in his cage..he really is a cute little guy. Zack's very happy with his little pet!

After finals, Zack and I drove down to Charlotte, NC for the Panther v. Seahawk came on Dec. 16. We went out that night and we found an entire army of Seahawk fans at some of the local bars and restaurants! We met a few die-hard fans that get completely dressed up, and a few families just out for a good time to support the team. We had a great time, even though the game the next day was possibly the worst game in a really long time!

We drove home after the game on Sunday and flew out to Seattle the following morning. We got into Seattle around 8pm on Monday and spent the week with my family until Saturday. It was a great, long week just relaxing and spending quality time with everyone. We went up to Seattle a few times and got to walk around and take in the city that we miss so much. We even drove around in Tacoma, noticing how nice it's become over the past few years..they've really put a lot of money into that city, and we're even considering looking for an apartment or a house there when we move back. We'll see!

The whole family came over on Friday night for a big dinner and Christmas gifts for the kids. It was so nice to see everyone!

Saturday afternoon we drove up to Seattle with mom and dad and went out to lunch across the street from Qwest field since the train station is right there. We took the overnight train to Kalispell and arrived in Montana around 9am the next morning. We love taking the train overnight, but only with the sleeper car! It's so cozy and everyone on the sleeper car is so nice and much more relaxed than in the regular coach car. We watched a movie, had dinner and drank some wine all while traveling across the mountains to Montana! We had a great week in Kalispell meeting with friends and just relaxing spending time with family. I am a horrible picture taker, especially of people.....I'm trying to get better!
We took the train back overnight to Seattle from Kalispell because we had to fly out of Seattle with our free tickets. So, Zack's grandparent's Glen and Marge were kind enough to let us crash at their place in Everett for a night. We went to a movie and had a nice dinner and played Skip-Bo. We flew out the next day back to Virginia, realizing it's probably the last time we'll be flying to Virginia! May can't come any sooner!

New Place!

2007-08-23T01:02:00.000+09:00

Sunrise, Virginia Beach

Hey, we're all settled into our new apartment and it's not too bad! Here are a few pictures..

Living Room
Bathroom/Lounge :)

Messy Bedroom

Zack starts classes today and I'm currently on the job-hunt looking for something during the day. We'll be going home for Christmas, so we can't wait to see everybody!! Keep in touch! :)

God Bless the man who invented air conditioning

2007-08-16T05:31:00.000+09:00

We're back!!! We arrived on Sunday and have had horrible jet lag ever since. We started moving into our new furnished apartment on Regent campus Monday morning. We have it all fixed up and it looks great. :) I got my hair chopped off, so I'll post pictures soon of the apt. and my new hair!

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

2007-08-06T20:41:00.000+09:00

You know that song by Jack Johnson? Sitting, Waiting, Wishing? The title describes how both Zack and I feel right now. He's still working, keeping busy during the day, and I feel like I'm just sitting and waiting for Saturday to finally make our way back to the States.

Our time here has been great and relaxing and a lot of fun, but it's at the end of long trips like this where you look forward to things back home and seeing friends (and family--I wish) again! We have so much to look forward to when we get back. We're moving into a brand new apartment complex on Monday, Tuesday I start the new job search (sick of working nights..) and the following Monday Zack starts Orientation for the Journal and then classes start that Wednesday! We also have to go visit three new babies..Tiff and Jordan's, Nicole and Daniel's, and Jessica and Karl's new additions to their families!

We've also been thinking a lot about Seattle and moving back to that area when Zack graduates. It's so exciting to think about, yet sad at the same time because it seems so far away and we've made such good friends here, I can't imagine how hard it's going to be to leave.

In more exciting news..Zack and I are ditching Cork on Wednesday and driving up north to stay at a hostel by the Cliffs of Moher..supposed to be AMAZING..so I'll post pictures of that for sure. Then on Thursday, our FOURTH wedding Anniversary, we're driving up to Dungannon to stay with Bre that night. (Bryan's in Africa) Friday we're going to take a day trip to Belfast and then we leave early Saturday morning for the airport back in Dublin. So this week should be pretty fun and full of adventures. :)

If I don't post again til we get back please pray for a safe and relaxing trip back..y'all know how I got here and I don't want that to happen again!!

xoxox,
kristine

Birthday Weekend

2007-08-01T19:43:00.000+09:00

It's been a while since I've written and those so much to catch up on!

First of all last Friday (27th) our dear friends Bryan and Bre came down from N. Ireland to visit us. We stayed with them last year when we were up north. It was great to see them and it's always so much fun hanging out with them! We stayed here in Cork Friday night and headed up to Kenmare, in County Kerry, Saturday afternoon. The town is adorable, quite small, and very touristy. We found a great place for lunch and went back to the hostel for a two hour nap! We went out on the town that night and I was very surprised at how many people our age live in such a small town. We had a great time that night and had a million laughs.

Sunday was my 24th birthday! It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we all packed in the car and drove the Ring of Kerry drive, which was gorgeous. Most of the drive was on the coast and we got some great pictures.

After the drive, we headed back to Cork and got a delicious, nutritious birthday dinner at McDonald's, as we were in a hurry to get to the jazz club. This jazz venue was great..low lights, great music, great drinks. It was the best birthday! :)

Just a Quick Note

2007-07-26T19:20:00.000+09:00

Just wanted to let some of you know that the internet connection at the place we're staying at here doesn't allow me to log onto MySpace, so if you've written and I haven't responded...that's why! :)

Ireland

2007-07-23T02:51:00.001+09:00

Well, I've finally got a chance to write about Ireland! We arrived in Dublin on Wednesday and got our rental car and drove the 3 hours south to Cork. I love it here because it's so beautiful and peaceful and the people that you meet are incredible.

We found the apartment we had lined up, stayed there a night and decided to look for another place to live because there were 3 older Eastern European men living there, and the shared living area was TINY and they were always in there. Apparently they were looking for work..but it seemed as if they never left. So, Zack and I both got the creeps from them so we went searching for a new place, and luckily found a great spot a little closer to the city center. It's like a small dormitory..with 4 rooms. We both have our own room, (the only rooms they had) and we're living with two girls about my age that are never here. So it's great!

Last Friday we drove up to Dingle, a cute peninsula town on the west coast. We stayed at a B&B two nights and had the traditional Irish breakfast both mornings. The town is tiny..it has a marina, B&B's all over town and exactly 52 pubs! We got to know the daughter of the lady who owns the B&B and we met up with her at her favorite pub last night. It was fun..great music, great drinks, and an unforgettable atmosphere!

Here's something funny about Dingle...a handful of the pubs are shops during the day and pubs at night. There's the most famous one, Dick Macks, which is (used to be) a shoe/leather shop by day and pub at night..there are still shoe boxes and shoes all over the shelves of the place. There's another one that's a hardware store by day but drinking pub at night. No music at that one. This picture is hard to read, but it says Bar, Hardware, Bicycles. Kinda funny, huh?
Saturday we drove the coast of the Peninsula, stopping at most turnouts to look at the amazing views and neat things like Beehive Huts and a church made out of only stone and things like that. The views were breathtaking. Too bad the sun wasn't shining..but at least it wasn't raining!

The Netherlands!

2007-07-17T04:39:00.000+09:00

This past weekend Zack and I took the train up to Amsterdam. What a beautiful city! The canals, the architecture, and the history are all amazing. After our 3-hour train ride we grabbed a bite to eat and ended up walking around the city for about 2 hours. It started to look the same after a while, crossing over canal after canal, trying to not die from a car or someone on a bike. We were lucky and had fantastic weather too.

My dear friend, Katie, lives in Hilversum...just a short train ride from Amsterdam and she and her roommate were nice enough to let us stay the night at their apartment. (Thanks again, Katie!) Katie and I were neighbors in the dorms back at Northwest..and we haven't seen each other in over 3 years..so it was such a treat to be able to visit her while she's working with the church she helped to plant, in Holland. After church on Sunday we went to a cute little tourist trap, with all the things you'd expect of Holland. Wooden shoes, cheese, tulips (sadly they're all gone this time of year, but they had plenty of fake ones) and of course the windmills. It was adorable.

Tour de France

2007-07-11T00:00:00.000+09:00

I took a train up to Gent (pronounced Ghent) yesterday to watch all the riders (is that what they're called? cyclists maybe?) finish that day's ride. Upon arriving, I noticed millions of policemen everywhere and tons of people. A nice lady told me where I'd find the blocked off road to see them. Unfortunately, Zack accidentally took the digital camera with him to Strasbourg, so I only have pictures from my SLR in black and white photos. Anyway, there were way more beer and frite stands than you can count and all down the road there were people hanging out of apartment windows with a camera in one hand and a beer in the other. Luckily it was a beautiful day, only a few dark clouds in the distance that never actually came into town. The riders came in just at the predicted time and I could barely see them through the crowds. I took pictures, but I think they're only of some lady's head...no bikes! Bummer.

It was a nice little day trip..kinda lonely, but nice nonetheless. I can officially say I have traveled somewhere in Europe by myself!

Books

2007-07-10T23:47:00.000+09:00

Since arriving June 12 I've read 4 1/4 books! I was in the process of one of Donald Miller's books before I arrived here, but I finished it quickly. Other than books by Donald Miller, (who I obviously love!) I am unfortunately always drawn to books that deal with loved one's dying and grief. I don't mean to choose them, they're like magnets or something. I guess I always choose the one with the prettiest cover or the nicest looking picture on it. I judge books by covers!! I guess my punishment for judging books is that I end up crying through the whole book because the subject is always so morbid. I did however read a lovely book about a couple from England who bought a house in Provence and it was all about their year there and it talked about the people and the food and the town and it all sounded so wonderful.

Quickest read ever: Bought a book by Marian Keyes on Sunday called "Anybody Out There" (593 pages)..finished Tuesday night! I don't know if that's something to be proud of or embarrassed by...

Also, Zack and I are reading through the New Testament, and our goal is to finish it before the year is over. That shouldn't be a problem. I really like the New Testament..I love reading about what Jesus was really like and how he related to people and how it shows who he was as a person.

Anyway, I hope you all are doing well and having an amazing summer! I miss you!

Brugge

2007-07-03T21:42:00.001+09:00

We took a train up to Brugge last Saturday with another couple that Zack works with at the Parliament. It's such a cute town! It's very touristy, but adorable nonetheless. There's a beautiful canal going all the way around the city, and there are boat rides you can take. It was a great day to get out of Brussels and to also see the countryside on the train.

The Tiffany's of Chocolate

2007-06-24T00:40:00.001+09:00

Zack and I discovered the Tiffany's of Chocolate today, in a very cute square next to the Old Town, here in Brussels. Pierre Marcolini is the name of the Chocolatier; it's said to be the best chocolate in the world, and if you know me at all, you know I can't resist chocolate!

There's two stories, and as you can see from the picture..it's a gorgeous building with a blanket of flowers hanging from upstairs.
We bought a small box of chocolate, after drooling over almost all of it. Upstairs they had a few displays of chocolate art, beautifully colored pieces of marshmallow, fondant, and an entire wall devoted to the small boxes of a chocolate square. They even have individual boxes for each chocolate! It's just like Tiffany's!!!

Apartment

2007-06-18T19:50:00.000+09:00

Here are some pictures of our apartment here in Brussels. It's quite "motherly" but very comfy!
The espresso machine is the best part by far!!

For My Shoe

2007-06-18T06:24:00.001+09:00

I thought you'd enjoy this, Shoe! I miss you!!

Flowers in the back alley

2007-06-15T01:25:00.000+09:00

We have got to have the prettiest driveway in Brussels! Adorned with roses and beautiful flowers..just had to share it with you.

Departures & Arrivals

2007-06-13T18:40:00.000+09:00

Hello everyone! I have finally made it to Brussels!! As exciting as this journey started out, it quickly turned into the worst travel experience of my life! So, I'll start at the beginning and try to keep it short!
This is what my trip should have looked like: Newport News (VA) to Alexandria (VA) to Reagan Airport (DC) to JFK Airport (NY) to Brussels.
This is what my trip ended up like: Newport News (VA) to Alexandria (VA) to Reagan (DC) to La Guardia (NY) to JFK (NY) to Heathrow (London) to Brussels (Belgium).

I left Newport News, VA on the Amtrak, at 9:10 in the morning on Sunday headed for Alexandria, VA which should have been a 3 hour train ride. If any of you know me well enough, you know I never wear a watch...first mistake of the day! I was sleeping on and off, and never kept up on the time (not like I could do anything even if I did know what time it was..) It was a lovely train ride, lulling me to sleep and very quiet in the car I was in. Unfortunately, Amtrak is the reason for the domino effect of my entire trip. I arrived at the correct stop, where I was to transfer to a Metro to take me to Reagan Airport, almost 2 1/2 hours late! The train stopped numerous times, for long periods of time to give way to freight trains that were late.

I took the Metro two stops down to the airport, lugged my 75 pounds of luggage around until I found the correct ticket line, and stood in line to check in while my flight to JFK (New York) was taking off. There was one lady checking people in at the ticket counter. With about 10 or 12 people in front of me, I knew I missed my flight and I had no idea what to do. I got up to the ticket counter around 4:00, and my flight had boarded at 3:45. I start crying, not knowing what to do..just telling the man I need to leave for Brussels today! He calls the reservation line and I get on the phone (for 45 minutes) to book another flight.

My flight out of D.C. should have left at 6:55, but of course it didn't leave until 9:45. We arrived at La Guardia at 10:20, and my flight from JFK airport was boarding at 10:35. I had to get my luggage from baggage claim, catch a taxi, and book it who knows how many miles to JFK airport. By this time my stomach was in knots like you would not believe. I was just praying that there would be some maintenance issues with the plane to London so that I would have plenty of time to get there. The cab driver was driving like absolute chaos on the freeway, with me sliding around everywhere on the plastic seats. I go up to the completely deserted ticket counter to check in, and the lady says to me "Honey, that flight's been long gone!" She called up the gate, and the plane was still there! I threw my bags up there to be checked and I was running through Security and down the terminal in no time! I arrive to the gate and there are tons of people just hanging out, not even boarding. We didn't leave JFK for another hour. Praise the Lord, right? There were maintenance problems with the plane. OH, and of course I have the kid( 12 year old!!!) behind me who thinks it's fun to play with tray in my seat. You better believe I told his father to tell him to stop it..I was in no mood to deal with that!!

So, I arrived at Heathrow right when my connecting flight was supposed to take off for Brussels. Luckily, it being their fault, I just booked another flight to Brussels later that evening. Got into Brussels at about 7:30, ended up having no luggage. Might as well happen, right? Everything else was screwed up..so why not have no luggage too?!

The whole time there was no way to get a hold of Zack, and so I ended up calling my mom and having her email or call Zack to let him know I would be late. He ended up checking my email account, which American Airlines had sent my new itinerary to, so he knew the whole time that I would arrive late.

Well, after all of that stress, I have finally arrived, and so did my baggage the next morning! Luckily, Zack and I will be traveling together when we leave here for Ireland.

One more week!

2007-06-03T12:43:00.000+09:00

I have one more week of work left until I can join my husband in Europe for the next two months. I can't wait for this new little adventure in our lives. It's such an amazing opportunity for Zack to work abroad and gain so much knowledge about the European Parliament.

Well, I started this blog so that I can post pictures that I take while I'm gone, and to keep you updated on what we're doing.

The title that I chose for this blog is from a song by Carrie Underwood called Young and Beautiful. I was listening to the song and thinking of mine and Zack's life and comparing it to the words of the song and it fit almost perfectly. We're here without a worry, and while we're young and beautiful lets do these things..travel, study, and work abroad, live on the other coast, and just enjoy life while we're young. It's inspiring to me to not just sit back and let life pass us by. I want to live life to the fullest and Zack is the perfect person to do it with! I love you, sweetie.