I moved back to Philadelphia

Last summer when we got home from Korea, the possibilities were endless as to where we wanted to end up in America. We had the whole country at our fingertips....DC? Chicago? Boston? New York? LA? But we kept coming back to the idea of moving to Philadelphia. Not only do I have a great group of friends in Philly, it is also close to home. Two things I needed very badly after living abroad for 14 months. I wanted to be able to see my friends whenever I wanted and be able to get home to see my mama in less than 2 hours if I wanted. Also, did I mention that Philly is a lot cheaper than above mentioned cities? When I graduated from college in 2008, I knew I needed a big break from Philadelphia. But I felt very ready to come back after a 3 year hiatus. Philadelphia is an amazing city. There is so much culture and so many things to do here...I wish the city would get more credit. (Check out www.visitphilly.com and www.uwishunu.com for AWESOME things to do - seriously, I cannot keep up with everything!) The city feels different to me now - better and more mature. It no longer only reminds me of college. I needed to live in Philly again, but as an adult this time, and I am LOVING it. Lucky for me I found an apartment and a job pretty quickly. Everything seemed to fall into place to move back to this city. I have taken advantage of Philly far more in the past year, than I did in the 4 years during college. 

So Thank you Philly for everything you have given me over the past year! I can't wait to see what this next year holds!

With Love,
Allyson
xoxo

I went to Seattle

After our fabulous vacation in Pensacola, we flew across the country to Seattle where Colin's brother Alaric is living. I had never been to Seattle so I was excited to spend time with Alaric and explore a new city. I know that Seattle is known for being rainy and cloudy, but I was still not exactly a happy camper when on our first day we got stuck in the rain multiple times. Especially after laying on a beach for a week, I didn't really like Seattle on my first day. But don't worry folks, I got over my bad mood and we actually had great weather the rest of the time we were there! The people of Seattle actually told us it was their secret....they want everyone to think Seattle is rainy and awful so that not everyone moves there :)

We took a long, leisurely walk around  Green Lake. Colin kept saying we needed to find a store so that he could buy a sweatshirt. It was July people, we had figured jackets and sweatshirts could be left at home.  As we were walking around the lake, New Balance had a tent set up. They were asking people to try out their new shoes, give feedback and be photographed. Afterward, there were an array of New Balance products you could take! So I took a pink duffel bag and Colin was able to grab the last New Balance jacket. Perfect! That night Alaric and his girlfriend Esther took us out to a Korean restaurant. It was our first time being in a Korean restaurant in America since coming home. We were very excited about sitting on the floor, telling Alaric & Esther what to eat, and the compliments from the waitress about our Korean speaking skills. Alaric & Esther both unfortunately had to work a lot, but Colin and I toured Seattle and had a great time.

The Space Needle

On top of the Space Needle

The Crab Pot. We saw this on an episode of Man vs. Food while we were in Florida and agreed we had to find it once we got to Seattle!

Soooo excited to dive in!

About to bang the crap outta that crab leg. Mmm look at all that food!

The First Car Wash

This was an awesome way to spend 2 hours during an afternoon. Bought a bottle of wine then went out to sea! Being on the water was lovely and the views of the city were beautiful.

The famous Pike Place Market! It was super crowded, but we let out some energy by playing in an arcade for a while.

A funny store I sadly cannot remember the name of now. Also the ONLY picture I somehow have of Alaric.

The famous Fremont Troll.

Mount Rainier

I went to Florida

Before leaving for Korea, Colin and I knew we would need a vacation break after our year of crazy endless teaching, guilty sick days, and forced vacation. I seriously felt like I had never worked so hard in my life and needed a vacation like no other. We were hoping for an elaborate vacation in Asia.....Thailand, Ankgor Wat, Great Wall of China....and while I do still plan on getting to these places someday, America was lookin' mighty fine. So, we opted to visit our brothers who, lucky for us, live in two very different, awesome cities.

First we went to Pensacola, Florida (I've always loved the word "Pensacola." I think it's fun to say and rolls off the tongue) to visit my brother Jason, his wife Tracy, and daughter Morgan. It had been three years since I had seen them...I know, ridiculous. They live in a fantastic house and are just a short drive away to the beach. Spending quality time with them was amazing and laying on the sunny beaches was just what the doctor had ordered.

Mojo & Miss Pugsley, our loving friends for the week

Obligatory Peg Leg Pete's Photo

Morgan & Colin

So many slushie choices!

They really loved him all week and went nuts barking when Colin was in the pool. Then they would jump in to try to "save" him.

Our beautiful home for the week. My brother actually lives here everyday.

ADORABLE

Despite Morgan going to the Naval Aviation Museum on field trips every year, I made us all go. I love this museum!

Me & The Brother

Strangely appropriate at the time to have stumbled upon this exhibit!

Our Daddio's ship

Lunch on the beach

Beach Slushie day!

Thank you Jason for a wonderful, relaxing week and I can't wait to get down there to see you guys again!

Emails from my Students in Korea

Over the past year, I have received many emails from my students. Every time I go into my inbox and see Korean writing, my heart skips a beat of excitement. The stories they want to tell me are adorable and the way the emails are written are too funny. Sometimes I cringe of an error, because I know for a fact we worked on that in class many times. Other times I am so happy at how far they have come. Mostly I'm so grateful that some of these students still want to talk to me, tell me about their lives, and have the ability to actually communicate effectively with me. It is also a reminder of why I wanted to live in a different country, teach kids, and how my experience there will stick with me for the rest of my life. Below are the emails I received:

Teacher~~

I think you has a good day in America!!

I want to go to America~

If I abroad to America, I will send a email to you~

Can I stay in your home? ha ha

Ah, today my boyfriend go to other school.

Because soccer.

Our school(gung-dong elementary school) doesn't has a soccer class.

But dong-san elementary school has a soccer class.

So he went to dong-san elementary school.

I'm very sad today.

I was cry a lot and he cried, too.

He doesn't want to go other school, but because his mother.

His mother is very strick.

Oh.....teacher.....I'm very sad.

But Bu-young apartment is across in our school.

And he doesn't move apartment.

So I was happy~

I can see he a little.

But I can't see him a lot, because we go to another school.....

And he said to me,

" I'm very sorry. And please don't cry. I'm very sad when I see you crying.. Sorry, Lina.....I can see you in weekend.

And I will visit gung-dong elementary school to see you after our school finish"

I was very sad...

2011. 06. 28. Tuesday

Lina

 ***********************

To. Allyson

hello~ this is Angella.

how are you?

I'm  fine,~ but, we have to school test, soon.

First, I say my class friends.

kara,.,

she always likes CN BLUE..

haha.. but i think CN BLUE is soso.

Lina.,.

she is good at piano.

so, she got a present~

and she has a new boyfriend

His name is gi-tae-park

but, he is good at game.

so, Lina's study is down..

Rocky..

he always loudly.

so Rocky's nickname is Rocly barbo.

barbo is translate into the korean..

it is same to crazy.haha.

and Lina and Rocky are always wranglingly ...

oh~ teacher~ it is secrecy~

Rocky likes Lina.~

but, lina hates rocky.

 

Christopher...

Everyone hates him.

because, he is proud himself.

so i don't like christopher.

Iris...

Iris always good at Taekwondo.

i thinks she is very cute~

Mitchell...

she always quite and very shygirl~

and yesterday. she went to field trip in the school.

she said "it was  hard"

hohoho~

and last~

is my sister kelly~

kelly is good at drawing picture.

and she likes one boy.

but he is my school teacher's son.

hahahahaha~

Allyson~~

we miss you~~~~~

can you come to korea now?

please

please

please~~~`

please read my mail and answer the my mail ~ please~~

******************************************

hello!allyson teacher^^

how was your summer to America?

I went to geeree mountain and I went to Beaunsan water park when the summer vacation!

It was very very cool and fun! 

I was swimming in the Beaunsan water park(swimming pool).

And I played in the geeree mountain.

My friend are fine!

They missed allyson teacher.

I wrote this letter so my English write is up!up!

ha!ha!

cherry

***********************************

Dear. Allyson,

it was great , you ate kimchi in America.~

i always happy. because i have best boy~ it's not boyfriends. hahaha~

he's name is sung- ho

and he is talent.  he is  good at studying, exercise and everything.

hahaha~~

we finish  face to face 14~  so we study new books now.

but it's not face to face 15.  the book name is junior reading expert and neat.

neat is university test.  i think those are very difficult.

but we can those~

how about America?

The Korea is rainy now.

The Seoul is flood now. so many people died.

that's very bad things.

soon, my  baby cousin is come home .

I'm very happy~!~

I miss you a lot~

When i grow up i wants go America, Australia and i meet you~

Why Australia? because my parents like Austrlia~ haha

good bye~

                                 Angella~

********************************************

Allyson!!

I'm Kara. Can you remember me??^^

We are missing you!

How's it going?

Are you still a teacher?

Did you see your mom?

I'm too sad.....

Beacause I can't see you any more, and I can't see Michael, too....

Micahel is the only foreign teacher, so he is very busy now.

I think...... his voice is too loud;;

He is a good teacher too, but I still more like studying with you.

I took a test in school, but I got a bad score.................ㅡ.,ㅡ

I knew that all, but I got some mistakes!!!!!

But I got the best score in English^O^

Oh! I took the TOEIC Bridge test and I got the best score in our class~!!

This is my score.

Administration Date	Date of Birth	Valid Until	Percentile(%)	Functions	Grammar	Listening Skills	Vocabulary
78	70	148	83.9	3	3	3	3

I want to see you someday...

Bye Bye!

********************************************************************

Hello!

Does Americans knows K-pop??

And I have something special from this month...

I moved my Academy school from OSS to other Academy..........

I really miss my classmates;Lina, Angella, Iris and Mitchell..

They were really good friends to me.

My new Academy is good too......^^

But I don't have any friends there because in my new class,

There are 16,15,14 years old students...

I'm the youngest!

Ah! Are you still going well with Colin?

What's your new job?

Still a teacher?

miss you,

Kara

**********************************************************************

teacher! I'm cherry.

I'm good.And my younger sister is fine.

How are you?

You said " I moved new city."

I was worried Because if you can't be adapted.

Laura and I miss you!

bye~

*********************************************************************

 August 1, 2012

To. Allyson..

Hello!^^ This is Kara.

Maybe you would forget me!

I was your korean student in OSS, Iksan!

I didn't write back to you for a long time..ㅠ.ㅠsorry~..

Are you still an English teacher there?

I went back to OSS Academy.

We have a new foreign teacher again.

She is a good teacher, too..

But Lina, Angella, Chris, Mitchell, and I always say you are the best teacher to us..

Are you keep loving with Colin~?

We guess that you would get married with him~ haha!

We remember your Yoga(?) and K-pop dancing~^__^
Also your mother came here and gave us some snacks!

America's snack was so delicious..!!!!

I wanna eat it again!!~~

If I visit America I will visit you, too

miss you, 

                  your student,, Kara

PS. Oh! Are you watching the London Olympic these days?

As I know, America is the second, and Korea is fourth!

We cheer our team but we always get angry..

Because judgment changed a lot..ㅠ.ㅠ

*******************************************************************

Allyson!!!~!!!!!!

I was really surprised!!!!

I really didn't think you would rewrite to me.

Congratulations!!!! America is the first now!!

Our new teacher is also a beautiful teacher but I think you're more beautiful~*^^*

My dream is going the America College 'Cornell University' Philosophy.

I will visit you if I go thereㅋㅋ

Our Academy changed a lotㅠㅠ

We have a lot of homework more than past!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

E-learning is more difficult....ㅠ

And we don't have "market day" anymore.

OH! I remember our Cinderella Playing!

It was really fun...

I really miss you,,

If you visit Korea, please come to OSS, too!

진짜(Jinjja) miss you,,

-Kara

Hello World!

Well it's been over a year since I have written on my blog. When I first started this back in 2009....wait, maybe even 2008, it was because I was going on a huge adventure overseas and wanted to document my experience. Not only for me, but also for my dear friends & family back home, as well as to any fellow travelers who perhaps stumbled across it and I could help them out, ease their nerves, and so on. When I returned to America from Korea, my blogging just stopped completely. I've been thinking about it a lot recently, especially because I enjoy reading so many blogs and I miss writing. I guess I thought I had to be writing about some crazy adventure in some random country or about something bizarre I had eaten for people to be to be interested in my blog. And while I hope some people DO enjoy reading it, or are grateful for finding it on the web somewhere, this blog is mainly for me....my outlet and how I want to  "scrapbook" my life per say. I named this blog "Live the Life you Love" because I believe in that very strongly. We only get one life and we should live it with no regrets - something that I actually have to remind myself of from time to time. But living life doesn't always mean hopping on a plane to a foreign country, which I was certain it meant back when I was 22, fresh outta college. It also means being with people you love, doing activities you enjoy, living through milestones. It means watching your friends get engaged, attending weddings, getting excited for babies being born, and fulfillment in your career. And while I will continue to strive living this life that I love so much, I realized that many exciting things have happened over the past year, just in America this time. I hope to write about them in the next couple of weeks because they are just as important to me as the time I went to my first Korean wedding, or stayed up all night at a festival in Seoul and took the 5 am train home, or had a crazy birthday in the Czech Republic.

I also find it fitting that I am writing this post on 9/11. After I studied abroad in college, I couldn't wait to graduate college so that I could move back to Europe. And while I would never give up my experience or time living overseas, it is amazing how fulfilled I felt last June when I came back to America. How when I walked off the plane in San Diego, I've never been so happy before in my life to see "Welcome to the United States of America" plastered right in front of me, and proud that that was MY country. America needs a lot of work, but what country doesn't? I am very proud and happy to have been born in this country. We truly are lucky. I will never forget how it was a half day at our school and we were having a study hall instead of chorus. Mr. Zortman turned on the tv and explained that one of the Towers had been hit. During the 5 minute walk up to Spanish class in between classes, the other Tower had been hit, so when we walked in, our Spanish Teacher had more news to tell us. I will never forget the fear, the sadness, the panic. And I will never forget that feeling of Unity we all had afterward that I wish we could all feel again without having to go through a National tragedy. I will also never forget those we lost and those who acted in heroic ways. We will never forget.