It's annoying.. I know..

So having issues with this blog and uploading photos.. so the natural thing to do is.. to make a new blog! I know some of you are probably going whaaaatttt.. why? Well.. I for one enjoy looking at photos on occasion.. Makes the reading a little bit more enjoyable.. I realize that I may lose some of my reader, though I really hope not. But it's worth it and...I apologize for the annoyance. I know resaving a bookmark may be somewhat of a hassle.. Just imagine having to create a new blog..

So go here: http://lifeontheringoffire2.blogspot.com/ (Looks familiar doesn't it?)

And again.. It's easy to become a follower/ sign up by email! Same dealio!

Thanks for everyone that's read this blog in my first year and a half here. I have six months left and some big things planned.. and I know you wouldn't want to miss that!

So here's to hoping you join me in my last 6 months!

Cheers! And as always,

Love you alllll! 

When Things Go Right: I’m Genuinely Happy

 

No, there hasnt been a glitch. That title does say that I am happy.

Who’da thunk?

It’s amazing that it’s taken thing long in my service for things to finally click, but click they did. The past few weeks have been full of laughing, smiles and bonding - and not with other PCV’s. No I’m talking about my little wonders, my amazing students.

After talking with one of my fellow volunteers, oh months ago now (ahhh time is flying!), I decided that I needed to do more. That’s something that all volunteers feel.. the NEED to do something to make their service worthwhile. I’ve already completed an LKS, taught some classes, gotten around my village.. yet something was missing. I wasn’t entirely happy with the way things went my first year and I was already feeling like I was in a slump that I would not be able to break this last year. Thus the idea of extra speaking practice with Miss Allyson, was born. While this is NOT a sustainable project (I’ll be leaving in 6ish months..) it has drastically changed how I view some of my students, and I’d like to think, how they view me.

We’ve talked about the future, movies, music, peace.. And the ideas keep coming because these kids are so willing to work with me. It’s also a nice change of pace only having to deal with 10 kids instead of a rowdy 36. These kids want to be here so they (most often) put in the effort and some of the stuff that comes out of their mouths.. It just amazes me how smart and generally amazing they are. I look forward to the end of the school day when I have these meetings, knowing that no matter how crappy my day may have started (or ended) these kids will have me smiling and laughing in no time.

Why oh why didn’t I do this last year?!? If I was in this place last year.. I probably would have signed up for a third year (don’t worry Mom..)

Getting to know these kids has been fun. I have these three students, who happen to be in my most frustrating grade 10 class, and they.. are always making me laugh. Eva Nanda is smart and full of life and big dreams and I can only hope that she manages to get far in life. Ghozi.. such a cute kid. He is always smiling and joking and honestly I can’t think of him without a smile on my face. The last kid, Karismawan, he’s quiet. I’m working on getting him to open up but when he smiles, just makes my day. Saturday’s I meet with just them and the last time we met it was pretty much laughing the entire hour. I really wish I could pack them up and bring them home with me, they are so cute! It’s going to be a lot harder leaving in June now.. Grrr

So here are some photos. First is a few (kinda badddd) from when we did tie-dying in English Club.

I LOVE HIM! he is always smiling :)

And here is from my Tuesday speaking group. We talked about peace (I stole this idea from Taylor, check out her blog  http://taylorprose.tumblr.com/post/31955336593/international-day-of-peace-september-21 ) While the English is a little funky, I think you can get the general gist of what they are trying to say.

Three cheers to being happy. Who woulda thought it feels so amazing?

love, love, LOVE you all :)

The Year I Almost Didn't Vote

Every November, on the first Tuesday, Americans are given the chance to exercise their rights. They get to choose their leaders, things their money gets spent on, etc. It’s really an amazing right.

Most people, who know me, know I take voting seriously. I can’t imagine an easier thing to do as a citizen. It can only take 5 minutes of your time. For me – it’s the thought that men and women died! They died so that people in the future (us) would be free and have a future not under tyranny. And though our military may be involved in places currently that don’t represent our freedom, they are still putting their lives out there for all of us. (I’m a BIG patriot.. if you couldn’t tell..) So really voting is no something that should be ignored – but it is. The amount of people who actually vote is incredibly low. In 2008, there was a record amount of voters for the presidential election. But that only number around 57% of the population (who were old enough to vote). Were you one of that 57%? It’s crazy. (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781453.html)

Lets look at a few countries – In Brazil, you have to vote, it’s called compulsory voting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting). There is really no excuse. You can be fined for not voting. While that’s a little extreme, it still gets the people out there to the polls. Iraq is another good case. Here was a country that had had major political issues (and yes, still does), but I can remember watching the TV and seeing people’s faces as they voted for the first time. They proudly showed the camera their inked fingers. Where is that pride in the States? 

So through all that – if you walk away with one thing – you should vote. And heck, I’ll tell you to vote even if I don’t like the person you want to vote for – I think it’s that important.  You don’t deserve the right to open your mouth and complain about your leader if you couldn’t even get off your butt to vote. They also make these nifty things called absentee ballots. You apply for one and then hey! You can vote in the comfort of your own home!

But! Real reason for this post. I HATE presidential elections. I HATE them. The way people attack each other is ridiculous. Why would anyone want to vote for people who attack each other so viciously? It’s just ugh.. It’s wrong and it’s gotten more and more intense as time has gone on. 

I applied for my overseas ballot and then two weeks later – boom! – it appears in my email. I got excited and printed it out right around the time of the first debate. Then it sat in my room. Collecting dust. Around the time of the second debate, I finally picked up my black pen to fill in the tiny circles. But I hesitated. Do I really care to pick one of those two men, who verbally attacked each other?  It was embarrassing and difficult to watch. Here is our president and a man who wants to be president, acting like 5 year-old's. And the media.. Really.. Binder full of women? Let it go. We all know what he was saying.. and if the other person had said it no one would have batted an eye. It’s dumb and childish to keep picking on that. But, I had had it. I am sick of picking between the lesser of two evils. I know some people feel strongly one way or the other but honestly? They both have major issues. When will there come a time when we get someone who is honest and normal? It’s incredibly hard for an average Joe, who actually knows what’s going on, to get a good start in politics. It’s all about the $$$. No one who is running for president really gets the average American. Is it truly so hard to find someone who knows and is living it right alongside us? That’s what I want. A person I can look up to. Who may have made mistakes, but is honest, who doesn’t promise more change than he knows we can handle, who comes from the heart not a teleprompter (may seem like I’m going after one person, but I’m not). 

Will it ever happen?  Who knows.. Hopefully in my lifetime we can leave behind the b.s. and get to what matters. But for now, I picked my lesser of two evils. I sealed my ballot with a heavy heart, knowing that my idea of change and progress won’t be coming yet, regardless of who wins.

Will I be upset if the guy I voted for doesn’t win? Yeah, a little. Will I accept whoever is president? Yes, because he is my president and because I am a patriot and I am proud to be an American. I love my country. Shit happens. The nice thing is 4 years down the road – we get to do it all over again!

SO!  Go out and vote if you haven’t yet! Be proud to be an American and stand up for your rights which were won through blood, sweat and tears for without their sacrifices, there’d be no us.

I voted. Have you?

Happy Halloween!

love my kids
:)

My Trip to the North AKA My AMAZING Adventure to South Korea

Wow, long title.. and warning! This WILL be a long post.

Seems like I was waiting for this vacation forever. It's what got me through Ramadan and all the slow days when I wanted to pull out my hair. The thought of escape! Hah no, more like the idea of an adventure. I never thought I would go to South Korea - maybe pass through the airport at one time or another - but actually seeing parts of South Korea.. never. Luckily one of my really good friends from college, Jordan, is teaching English there. Long story short, I bought tickets to visit, pretty much on a whim - best idea ever.

 Day of my flight, I had to go to school before heading into Surabaya and ALL the teachers knew I was leaving. I think only one teacher said be careful and the rest told me to bring back gifts. Kinda annoying but whatever. I get to the airport and my flight ends up being almost an hour late.I was sure it was going to be cancelled and my trip would be over before it started. My friend Erin told me to calm down and that I was on vacation. Haha. So yeah, finally we left. I got to Kuala Lumpur - got some more stamps in my passport, and then continued on to South Korea.

Once there, I took an Express train to the train station in Seoul and then took a 3 hour train to Busan, where Jordan lives. Seoul is in the north, fairly close to the 38th parallel, while Busan is in the south by the Sea. I tried to sleep on the train, but I was too excited.

On the express train to the train station

views of the station in Seoul, it was huge!

After meeting up with Jo, we took the subway to her apartment and then we went to get some food. We went to a fast food Korean place and I got to try Kimchi for the first time. I love Korean food. Jo went to work and I napped. later that night I met up with her and 2 other teachers, Sabrina and Afua, and we went to have some food and drinks. We ended up at their friend's resturant, had some wine and I got to know some of Jo's friends. After finishing the night at another bar, we headed back to the apartment.

view from the apartment

inside the apartment

view at night

The next day we walked around and I got to see places around where she lives. Later, when Jordan went to work, I walked around by myself in the area around her school. I was a little afraid I would get lost and have no way to contact anyone/ I can't speak Korean... but it ended up being nice to walk around and see some things.

yum! breakfast of yogurt, granola and fruit

awesome coffee place called Droptop

city around where jordan lives

part of my walk around the city

We went to a burrito place for dinner, which resembled Chipotle (I know! Not Korean, but anything besides Indonesian... it was good) Saturday, Jordan and I celebrated our homecoming. This would have been the second homecoming we could have gone to as Alum, but seeing as we were both far away, we decided to make due. We started around 12 and I got to meet a bunch more of her friends. It was a good time and good drinks were consumed (don't judge.. I don't drink all that much). It was a fun night.

before going out

at the beach

having fun with billboards

this is haeundae

some korean beer..

jordan switched over to green tea..

me with one of jordan's korean friends

sorry it's blurry but this dinner was AWESOME

devoured

Sunday we went to see Beomosa Temple. There are a lot of cool buildings and ares for people to pray. The scenery was amazing. The leaves were starting to change and it made me a little homesick since autumn is my favorite season.

We decided last minute to take a cable car up the other side of the mountain that this temple was on. The view was amazing. I thought being up high would make me freak out but it wasn't that bad. At the top there is a bunch of nature (hah) so we walked around for a little but. On the way down they packed as many people as they could into the little cable car.. Always a fun experience :)

That night we had Korean BBQ (not quite sure why its call that.. maybe because of the grill?) It was the best food I had had so far. It was SO good! For those who don't know what it is, you cook the meat (and/or veggies) at your table and there are a ton of things you can dip the meat in. And of course there was Kimchi (AHHHHHH!) Love that stuff!

Afterwards we went to this really cute coffee shop called J Square. Jordan got a drink and then her friend decided he wanted to come and say hello. So he came and then we walked around for a little bit and then ended the night with some awesome deserts.

The next day, we went to the world's biggest department store. We walked around, and had lunch. It was interesting (sorry no photos.. kinda just looked like a mall but it was a department store 6 or 7 floors..) The next day, a Tuesday, my last full day in Korea, we went to the market by Jordan's apartment. It was very different from the markets here in Indonesia. It didn't smell quite as bad which was surprising because there was a ton of fish everywhere.

Later that day, I was trying to decide what I wanted to do while Jordan was at work. I found a temple that was by the water and it looked pretty neat online so I thought why not. I got a little turned around once I got off the bus, but heck! for not knowing the language, I think I did pretty well! It was a really nice temple.

Finally Wednesday, we went shopping for gifts. Before parting ways on the subway though, we decided to visit Busan tower. It was pretty cool.

Then I went to the train station and ventured back to Indonesia. It's hard to believe that the week is already over. I had a great time and will totally go back to Korea if I am ever given the chance. Now I have one more vacation to look forward to with this guy:

My friend Adam

and then! I will have 5 months left (starting in January). It's crazy how time flies!

I plan on posting again next week so check back! I promise it'll be interesting!

LOVE YOU ALL! :)