2009 Reflection and 2010 Outlook

Yes this is about 21 days late, but I'd like to reflect on things that went well and not so well in 2009 and also look forward to what 2010 may bring.

So...2009...
I spent the first 8 months of it in Korea
Teaching, traveling, making friends, eating DELICIOUS food and growing.
I rang in the New Year in downtown Seoul with presumably millions of Koreans.
China in May, climbed the Great Wall, ate sticky strawberries and haggled.
Marked a year in Korea in July and celebrated a month later in Thailand,
The most beautiful place I've ever visited.
Flew home to my family and fought jet lag for about a month.
Started my master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language,
Quickly started teaching again, adjusted to America and made new friends.
Lost my grandfather...I'm lucky to have had 24 of his 85 years.
Met a wonderful man and am planning on spending the rest of my life with him.
Had Thanksgiving dinner with my family...ahhhh, turkey, cranberries, lefse!
Finished the semester with a decent GPA and a research paper I'm proud of.
Celebrated Christmas with my family and enjoyed every moment.
Racked up eight 5Ks and a few PRs...best decision I've ever made...running is FUN!

And...2010...
Rang in the New Year with an amazing man.
Started a second semester of graduate work and
Decided for now that I will forgo my teaching license.
For the first time in a long time, I am incredibly happy.
May be headed overseas to teach...UAE, Saudi Arabia, Korea again...
May stay state side and pursue a Ph.D.
Hopefully and probably getting hitched to that amazing man.
Training for a half-marathon (a full will have to wait, I think, until 2011)
And keeping up with the 5Ks and eventually, 10Ks (soon!!!).
And whatever else may find me in 2010, I am ready for it...good or bad.

I'm Still Here

I have not forgotten about this blog. I promise to update soon.

It's been a very busy new year and a very exciting few months.

Updates will happen :)

Missing Monday

Today I miss shopping in Seoul's Myeongdong (명동) shopping district. Some of my favorite Saturdays were spent with Ashley and Dani shopping for bargains at the plethora of street vendors and stores within this bustling district. Of course we also were able to eat some delicious food and partake in our favorite pastime, photo booth pictures.

I'm Still Here

So, I've been forgetting to post lately and I have no excuse really. I'm busy, sure, but not busy enough to neglect my blog. Originally I had planned on making a New Year's resolution to write in the blog as often as possible, but there is no time like the present. So, in order to stay motivated I've decided to start a daily blog topic. For example, I already have Thankful Thursday. Now, I'm going to have Missing Monday, Thoughtful Tuesday, Weird Wednesday, Reflective Friday (thanks to my friend Amanda) and a kind of Wrap-up Weekend. This should get me writing daily (or 6 days a week) and while they won't be full blown blogs, it'll be a start.

Thankful Thursday

Setting a 5K PR...cut 3 minutes off my time!

Finally getting meds for my sinus infection

Egg Nog season (now I just need snow!)

My sister coming on Sunday

Fitness classes

Thankful Thursday

In all the craziness of the past few weeks, I've forgotten to update Thankful Thursday. So, again, for the past two weeks, I am rather grateful for:

My students (especially the Korean ones who are doing Cultural Cafe tomorrow on ROK and they will be serving KIMCHI!!!!)

5Ks! I have 4 more lined up for this month and I'm super excited!

An unlimited supply of black olives at the many grocery stores (after living without them for a year, I am soooo thankful I can purchase a can or two whenever I want!)

Public libraries

Doing well on my Phonetics & Phonology test

Thankful Thursday

I missed last Thursday because I was in a car on the way to Mississippi to see my lovely sister. This week (and last week) I am thankful for:

Being able to run another 5K on Halloween

Getting two presentations out of the way

Learning to make Puppy Chow from my sister

Extending the love to our newest family member, Mike (Laura's engaged!!!)

Having the weekend be here so quickly...this week FLEW