Dear Zeke, the other week we decided that you needed a 'friend' to play with. So we headed to the store and brought you home a pet fish. We put it in the sink and figured it would be a quick snack for you (and some good entertainment) but instead you spent the next few hours carefully watching it and gently tapping it with your paw. When your fishy friend finally passed on (probably out of pure exhaustion of swimming away from a cat) you meowed incessantly and kept racing back to the sink to see if he had reappeared.
Dear PETA, please don't lock us up. Dear Culture, I never realize how strange and bizarre something is about my own culture until I try to describe it to people who are not Americans. Like the garter tradition at weddings? Try to explain to a room full of men how the groom goes up the brides dress to fetch a piece of fabric and then tosses it to a group of awaiting guys. Cue bright red face. Dear Granny Booty, after starting the squat challenge this month with a friend, you're actually beginning to take the shape of something acceptable for a 20-something girl. Thank you squat challenge. Has anyone else tried it? Dear Buddah's Birthday, even though our work schedule here isn't too strenuous, it's nice to have a day off to go roam around the city with my man. And eat brunch...like actual brunch, with french toast, bacon and sausage. Ok, I was more excited about the food than anything else that day.
I like to shop. I'm a girl and a fashion major. So unpredictable huh? But even more so, I like to shop when traveling abroad. When you bring items from overseas back home, I find that the item is even more unique, it has a story along with it and plus, no one else around will have anything quite like it.
And since I have such awesome readers, I thought I would spread the joy. I've decided that each time I travel out of the country (or even maybe somewhere else in Korea) I will be bringing something back for one lucky reader to take home. And what do you know, I already have the first gift...
I found this wallet/clutch at one of the many night markets in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It's the perfect size to take on a night out and can fit all your necessities like cards, money, and phone.
Some of my lovely sponsors are also joining in on the action by offering FREE sponsorship on their blogs! Enter below for your chance to win it all! Bonnie Rose: Bonnie Rose is a Third Culture Kid (TCK) living the Expat life in England with her family. She works as a photographer and owns a blog, A Compass Rose. She writes about growing up nomadic lifestyle as a TCK, about being an Expat, about life in England, and her travels across the world.
Belinda: Greetings lovelies! My name is Belinda, and I blog over at Found Love. Now What? I am an expat making sense of my new life in the UK, moving 5,000 miles all in the name of love. {In fact, we got engaged over Skype? Don't believe me? Read our story here!} I love sharing all about our travels in Wales and the greater UK plus Europe. We try to be adventurous from exploring castles to seeing new cities, it's all up for grabs. Hop on over say hi and introduce yourself! Can't wait to meet you! Twitter // Bloglovin'
Rachel:
Hi, everyone! I'm Rachel and I blog over at Postcards from Rachel. I started my blog to keep my friends and family up-to-date after a big move abroad to Scotland. Now that I'm back in the States and relocating every six months, I write about moving woes, travels, recipes, and ugly sobbing at gas stations because I can't remember my own zip code. In my spare time I enjoy chugging mimosas, walking my two grumpy dogs and zip lining with the hubby. Stop by and say hello!
Living as an expat, far from all things once familiar, is sometimes a surreal experience. Since leaving the states just over two years ago, there has been tragedy upon tragedy that we don't find out about until we wake up and check our Twitter or Facebook the next day. All of these experiences have been heartbreaking but they don't feel 'real' in a sense since we're so far away. All we have are second hand accounts from social media and news sites to find out the latest news from back home.
But with the recent tragedies in Oklahoma, it hit close to home. Just two hours from where both of our families and all of our friends live, I can't help but think about how this time is different. This time it was too close for comfort. But on top of all of these feelings, I have an overwhelming sense of pride of my country and my state with how we bond together to help each other out in the midst of chaos and heartache.
So today I focus on the good, the positive, and strive to think that above it all, there is still good in this messed up world of ours. Today I am thankful for:
Families being safe and sound
Romantic gestures
My sister and her ability to make me laugh at anything
Friends both old and new
For parents being able to come and visit
For this guy, plain and simple
This fur ball
Lazy weekends spent in hammocks
And this beautiful country that we get to call home
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by the tornadoes this week. I am proud to be an Okie. 'I've never been to heaven, but I've been to Oklahoma.' Linking up with Lisette, Rolled Up Pretty and Shanna
As foreigners, living in a country where we don't speak the language, making friends can be slightly more difficult. Since living here, we have found friends in...well, less than conventional ways compared to back home.
Our favorite story is when we met some of our closest friends in the grocery store. Compared to other towns in Korea, there's actually a ton of foreigners where we live. But even though we're not as far and few between as other places, there's still that camaraderie between foreigners here that leads us to give a knowing smile or friendly hello whenever we pass each other on the street.
Have you seen this Seinfeld episode? It's kind of like that but with 'Hey! You speak English?! I speak English! Let's be friends!'
But even though there are plenty of other foreigners, other foreign married couples our age are still uncommon, especially when we first moved here. I remember every time we would pass one on the street, I would nudge hubs and say 'look, a foreigner!' It was as if we had just spotted a rare animal species.
So when we were grocery shopping one day, and we kept bumping into this other foreign couple, it caught our attention. We'd nod to each other, exchanged a friendly 'hello' but then just went on our way. Well after about the dozenth time, and after hubs hearing me say 'they look nice' one too many times for his liking, he did what he does best. Embarrassed me (don't worry, most of the time when this happens, it turns out well in the end). As we were driving out of the parking garage we passed them...again. But this time hubs stopped the car, rolled down his window and yelled 'Hey! How are you guys? Are you new in town?' Thank goodness they were and we started chatting, exchanged phone numbers and the rest is history. Don't worry, they know the whole story and still for some reason hang out with us. My point is, sometimes it can be hard to meet new people in a new town, sometimes you have to risk getting out of your comfort zone. But more times than not, it's worth it.
So how do you make friends in a new country when you don't speak the language?
Join a Facebook group- many times, especially for expats, there are Facebook groups for foreigners in a certain area. I know that where we live there are several just for teachers, moms, other working expats in our city in addition to groups for just about every activity imaginable.
Find local city expat groups- along with Facebook groups, there are expat groups that meet up during the week for different activities such as cooking, hiking, or touring around the city.
Pick up a new hobby- I know that in our case, once we moved abroad we had a whole lot more free time than we did in the states. Since moving here we've started several extra hobbies and activities that we wanted to in the states but never had the time to. Pick something you're interested in, find a group and get going. You never know who you'll meet along the way. Volunteer- this is a great way to not only meet new people in your area with the same passion as you but to get to know the people in your country and help out.
Join a church- our first year abroad we simply watched the podcast from our church back home. While it was great, we were missing out on the incredible community and support that we have now found in our current foreigner's church.
Start up a conversation- remember that couple that we stalked met in the grocery store? Yea, it can be awkward just starting up a random conversations but sometimes it pays off to be that overly friendly person.
Sign up for language classes- this is not only a great way to make living in another country easier, but you can also meet a ton of other people wanting to learn the language and make friends with the locals that teach the classes.
What's the weirdest way that you've met someone? PS. Don't forget to enter for your chance to win $750 in cash! Enter HERE Also, enter HERE for a chance to win a free pair of sunglasses from Firmoo!
Happy Saturday lovelies! Life is good. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and I'm helping to give away $750 in cash! Everyone could use a little extra cash in summer time right? There are trips to take, swimsuits to buy and barbecues to host.
I only wish that I could enter! So what would I use it on? As an expat and travel enthusiast my mind now thinks in airline ticket prices. So instead of thinking about how I could buy a summer wardrobe or day at the spa like I would when I lived back in the States, I now can't help but think how with $750 I could buy a plane ticket to pretty much anywhere in Southeast Asia! Enter below for your chance to win and let me know what you would do with the extra cash!
Dear Teacher's Day, when we taught kids, we got socks as a thank you. As appreciative as I was for new cartoon covered foot wear, I think I enjoy our gifts from our adults students a tad bit better.
Dear Summer Vacation, planning for you has officially started. I can't wait to finally road trip across Cambodia and see these things in person! I'm so incredibly thankful and beyond grateful for these trips we get to take together and the memories that we create along the way.
Dear China, even though I hate the fact that you charge $200 for a tourist visa for Americans, it's pretty cool that you have free layover visas. If you have a flight leaving within 72 hours of landing, you can enter the country for free. At least that's what we've been told. We'll be trying it out when we have a 10 hour layover in Shanghai on our way to Cambodia. Dear Hubs, I came home from work and found this in our living room. I love our version of 'glamping' complete with chick flicks and chocolate chip cookies. You sure do know how to make a girl feel special.
Dear Buddah, thank you for being born and thank you Korea for recognizing it as a national holiday and therefore canceling all work. I love Korean holidays. Which leads me to... Dear Monks, as peaceful as your chants are and as much as I typically like to listen to them, this is not the case when you do it over a mega phone every night at eleven o'clock.
Don't forget to enter for your chance to win a FREE pair of Firmoo sunglasses. Just in time for summer! Enter here.
