Making a House My Home

After leaving Korea in July 2012, I moved a lot. I backpacked Europe, visited Michigan, then Sacramento, Oregon, back to Michigan, New Jersey, Sacramento, Michigan. Then I took lots of vacations - the Upper Pennisula, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Washington State, and British Columbia. I moved to Alaska for 5 months, then jetted back to a whirlwind trip in Michigan before flying to Taiwan. 

It was great to see so many awesome places, don't get me wrong. But now I am home. I live here. I have my own space and I love that. The beautiful two-bedroom apartment was a big draw to this school, and I wanted to make this house my home. So I painted, and it took forever. This is the view from my bed in the morning light. Somehow it looks a little Willy Wonka'd with all the stripes and lines. I assure you my whole apartment is not mildly crooked, ha. And sure, the rest of the apartment has abrasive white walls, and I still need to make and hang art everywhere... but I am taking this one step at a time. So this week, my bedroom walls are for sure the good I am focusing on. 

Welcome to Hsinchu

The view from my bedroom window, 6 am with a typhoon possibly on its way. To be fair, this could be anywhere. Really, it isn't even that aesthetically different from Daegu. Even on my third day in the country, however, I know my life here will be much different than it was in Korea. 

I feel humbled and embarrassed to realize that I've forgotten so much of the history and language lessons I spent so much time memorizing in university. I need to study up on the culture and language, to meet new people and make friends, to learn my way around this new city.. all of the little details that are taken for granted in a grounded life. But these challenges and struggles are what I love about life abroad. I am more aware of my surroundings and am much more in tune and present in the moment. It is my "this is water" moment, only it lasts for months. And really, that is why I am here. 

Nesting

It is official - I have been in Korea for 6 months. I am happy to say I still love it. My house is very much my home, and I still adore my students. Its been difficult at times, most of all when my family had a crisis and I was not able to go and be there for them. It is hard to be away when you're missing people, but its harder to be away when something like that happens. Nevertheless, I am trying to focus on the positives, the places I love, the great people I have met, the new cultural experiences.

Packages from home really, really make me happy. I'm blessed to receive them from a lot of wonderful people in my life. David sent me a Michigan T-shirt; Tom sent me a ring and an ornament. I've gotten candy and letters, cards and postcards. Its been amazing. I love writing letters and sending little packages, so its nice to have so many great pen pals in my life. Of course, no one can send a better package than my mother. She recently sent me one with a scrapbook to work on, a Cannon Rebel I bought myself for Christmas, lots of cotton socks, strawberry carmex, and lots of other things I've been missing.

Every morning the sun from my kitchen warms my living room ,and Trenton sits quietly on the rug. She rotates slowly throughout the hour or so I get ready for work. Its nice to see our two routines continue.

This is hanging in my bedroom. Stephanie made it for me and mailed it months ago. I love it.

My mom sent these to me, my cousins Kelly and Jade painted them for me. They are abstract, and have awesome colors.

I bought a T-shirt in Thailand that was awkwardly cut. So, I cut out the print - a map of Thailand with labels written in Thai - and then cut out a pillow case. I had to hand sew it, since I don't have a sewing machine, but I love the way it turned out. I even added a hidden velcro opening so I can fold it up small and bring it back when I leave Korea.

Another thing that reminds me of my trip, some amazing postcards I bought there. They feature Thai monks and buddhist sites. They are partly in black and white and have mostly yellows and oranges. I was going to mail them out to friends, but loved them too much (sorry guys!)

Twenty-two little paper cranes strung up above my door frame. I thought my apartment could use a little more color.

I love having so much free time here, its nice to be able to create things, to read, and so on, just for the sheer pleasure of it. Now I am planning on working on a scrap book of my time in Korea. Since its quite cold now I am spending less weeknights meeting friends downtown for dinner, etc, and more time at home. Its nice to have something productive to work on.

Tricia arrives tomorrow. Two weeks together. I can't wait.

Apartment pictures!

** I am getting the internet at my house tomorrow! So, we can schedule skype times now! Please message/email/comment me if you want to skype and what times you would be available for that. Post in your time zone or mine - just tell me which one you are using!

In response to Alec's repeated asking, I hastily took pictures of my apartment and uploaded them. This entry will walk you through some interesting parts of their apartments, and show you were I actually stay. This is the entry way to my apartment - the first thing you see when you open the door. Directly infront of the door is a closet, which has shelves, and I dressed up with little baskets for socks and undies. I actually like my closet a lot, but decided not to post that online.

I have the couch and chairs covered with blankets because the furniture is really falling apart, and is pretty gross. I don't mind though, because the blankets are prettier and will be easier to clean. I have a TV; it doesn't work. Maybe when my internet is installed they will turn on the cable, though.

I really like my desk. I use it to get ready at, since my bathroom doesn't have plugs in it (which you will find out about later). The little bottles are vitamins, and yes I got the pretty earring tree in Korea. They really have the cutest things here.

My wallpaper is very... pink. But I don't mind too much, because it has some tan and grey in it, which seem to balance it out a bit. Also, my bedding is blues and purples, so it isn't overwhleming. I am really lucky to have matching sheets, as I had no idea what color the bedding was when my mom bought me the sheets :] I have a "hanging closet" also - but really it is just a rack that connects to the ceiling and floor by pressure. I have a mobile hanging from my light fixture, it spins constantly as my bed is right in line with the air conditioning and a fan. Also, I have really typical Asian style sliding doors for my bedroom, that I completely love.

My kitchen is small. I do not have an oven, just two stovetop burners, and a rice cooker. Honestly, I just eat grilled cheese or out every day, so it hasn't made me too sad yet. My kitchen also has a map of Michigan and pretty flowers.

Ahh, the bathroom, this is really interesting. In Korea most apartments do not have full showers, instead they have a shower head mounted from the sink. There is a bottom or lever you switch and bam! Your shower is on. When it is not in use, I face the shower head towards the wall, just in case I forget to flip the switch. This is also where the air conditioning drains into, so the bathroom can be damp all of the time if you leave the AC running. This is why there are not electric plugs in the bathroom. Also, hot water must be turned on. So, you click a bottom or two on this box and water turns on, one is for the shower/sink, the other is for the laundry, and the last one is for the floor - in Korea apartments are heated from hot water being piped through the floors. You can see the box in the picture shown earlier with the TV.