Fam and Friends,
You guys have asked me to write a blog, so I will. Though I've attempt to catalog my Korean journey on Facebook and the like (and I'll probably continue on those sites as well & as often), I figured why not go ahead and start my blog.
Welcome to Mandu-mania!
Mandu is a tasty little dumpling, filled with pork (I think) and other herbs and veg. You can have'm steamed or fried. And they sit number one on my list of Korean food I'm enjoying thus far.
So how the hell did I end up in Korea, might you ask? Well, let's review my life over the past five months:
Let's see... I turned freeking 30!
Now that was a challenge, I thought I had prepared myself for my transition from the 20's into my 30's but boy was I wrong! All the misguided notions of what I thought my life was suppose to be by the time I reached thirty and what my life was at that milestone wasnt completely jelling. So needless to say, I pulled out the tissue box, I put on some Jill Scott, and drank some jack and moved on!
I came to a place, were life is not what you say it is, it's truly is what you make it! And dammit I'm gonna make every second count!
Dating Confusion!
You know the saying - fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me! Man, was I ever fooled. But, eh it was a necessary learning experience for me. I now realize that no matter how hard you try, you cannot turn salt into sugar and more importantly that love cannot reside in dysfunction.
Belize!
I ventured off to Belize. Why Belize well ever since I met my friend DA and done my research on Belize, I've been trying to get there. I came back off this mountain retreat, just received my pay raise and thought Hell why not? (Live my life right) so I bought my ticket, packed my bags and was off to Belize.
And while there I found my new mistress -- her name Caye Caulker. Caye Caulker is a little slice of paradise. I fell in love with Caye Caulker, she anything and everything a man could ever ask for, she serene, she awashed with sandy beaches and blues skies and oceans. She small enough for God to stick her in his back pocket yet she full of life and wonder! I met this guy there, who only re-enforced the notion of following your bliss. He was 50 years old or so, he came to Caye Caulker on a yatching exhibition and never left, this guy is now selling the best grilled shrimp on a skewers in all the world -- and he's not selling to be rich, nawl just to keep a roof over his head, and food in his belly and He was happy, you could see it in his eyes. Man do I that place! And I can't wait to return.
Princess Deborah!
I lost one of my great friends. She died suddenly in April. Deborah and I were estranged, and to this day I don't completely know why and not until I reach the pearly gates will I know, So I stress this with all sincerity NEVER go to sleep angry with anyone,because their tomorrow nor your tomorrow is promised.
I love and miss my Deborah!
And so yeah this was suppose to be about Korea right....
Korea!
So, like plenty of Americans, I was laid off from my gig @ NPR. Life is funny eh? I came back from a wonderful trip in Belize and a Friday later, I'm laid off, with no prospects -- if I had know that, I would have stayed in Belize much longer -- hell they could have forwarded me the termination letter.
Well with no prospects and no desire to get out on the hustle to find a job in Corporate America, what was I gonna do -- but realize a life dream - pack up my possession, store'm away, and travel around the world.
But I was I going to afford the expense of traveling around the world? Well, I was having a conversation with an Internet buddy and he explained to me the benefits of teaching English aboard. And so after hearing his spill, and being totally interested I was on board.
It had to be God because as soon as I lost my gig at NPR, weeks later after placing my resume online I was offered a position in South Korea as an Elementary ESL teacher!
I'm only a month in, and I'm really enjoying myself. I never though in a million years that my life would be filled with such wonders. God is amazing and He bestows blessings.
I have had my fair share of culture shock, and just being an African American ( black) man amongst a sea of Asian people on a day-to-day basics is shock alone. But hey, the kids are awesome, everyone I've come in contact with is giving and inviting. And I'm super glad I'm here.
안녕히가세요 ( pronounced: annyeong.hi gaseyo)
