"I'm the baby gotta love me"

When you're blessed... and the youngest... and a girl... and live in another country... and have no kids... but are married... and have a great mom... who is a teacher... and loves you...

 

My mom sent us a care package with clothes, Valentine's that she received from her students, chocolates from a local place where I grew up, oils and lotions, and gospel cd's.  About the Valentine's first...  Growing up that was my favorite time of year at home.  When I got to high school I literally would not eat anything the day my mom had a Valentine's party at her school because I knew that she would bring home a whole bunch of junk food.  I liked to read the little cards that the kids gave her and stuff my face with candy, cookies, and sugary drinks.

I was pretty pumped about the chocolates because they are one of the things that when someone leaves home they miss about being there.  I ate 2 and let Daniel have 1 and judging by his reaction will let him have more but if he can't appreciate it I will eat them all LOL, but seriously.

He really liked his socks and jacket, in fact he is literally sitting in them right now as I type this post.  I already hung up my new all weather vest and let him know that we need to start hiking again.  My mom laughed when I told her the jacket she got me is small because she obviously knew it was "small."  I explained I meant small as in it doesn't fit me.  Usually she gets me a tall small which I can fit in tops but a legit small doesn't have long enough sleeves.  Knowing me I am still going to wear it but just pull up the sleeves.  I have plenty of "long sleeved" 3/4 shirts in my wardrobe.  It's a nice lightweight performance hoodie so I really don't want to give it away (shame on me).

So we were both pretty happy and appreciative for our gifts :-)

Thanks mama!

Love,
Camille

Psalm 92:1
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.

A Teacher I Am Not

My first thought when told that I would be covering middle school, "I HATED MIDDLE SCHOOL!"

 

So I have been helping out at this school here because they were desperate for help with so many teachers being out at one time.  I had middle school English for 3 different days and high school science for a 1/2 day.  I am super not used to dealing with so many young people at one time throughout a day.  Even though I only had like 4-5 classes on any given day it was sort of exhausting.  I usually just have a group for 1 hour or 2 hours for group therapy and that is the maximum.  Having class after class come in, even though I didn't even have to plan the class, was different and a bit overwhelming.

 

I did have some mental moments where I reminded myself that I am an adult and not intimidated by middle school girls before going in the first day.  One of the older girls was a bit much to deal with since she was a negative leader that had similar personality traits to a girl that bullied me in middle school.  I prepared myself for comebacks in case she said something smart mouthed to be mean to me (which never happened, (Mean Girls is a movie not real life!)).  I had to laugh at myself going into a childish middle school girl mode internally.  Don't judge me, you might do the same thing LOL...

 

 I have to use a Mac...  Not used to them and keep getting confused but figuring it out.  Anyway, you can see the Korean letters on the keyboard.
 

 These yellow vans are what they use as school buses here.  Not sure how many kids they fit but it's what they use none the less.
 

I got this my first day with a snicker doodle :-)  Made me feel like a real teacher, my mom had so many random apple things growing up... LOL

 

Love ya,

Camille

Venting About the Mail!

This post is just me expressing frustration with the mail situation here...

I just went to our mailbox and we had about 7 pieces of mail and they all had the wrong address and had to be forwarded by the post office to our current address.  IT IS SUPER ANNOYING! 

Apparently, even after changing my address with some places, they still want to mail things to the old address.  If the post office somehow misses it then that means our mail gets delivered to the old house like my W-2 did!!!  I seriously have documentation that in the middle of November I emailed the appropriate person the new address and she got it but yet here I am with my W-2 on the other side of the world, ARGH! 

And then it's annoying too because I did the change of addresses all back when we first moved here in November.  Why, 3 months later have the necessary changes not been made?  The post office will only forward mail for a year and some of this has been important mail!  ALSO, the utilities company is sending me bills as if I still live at that house even after informing them we don't live there anymore.

GET IT TOGETHER EVERYONE!!!!

All I can do is tell you I moved and give you my address.  If I could go in your janky system myself and change the address I would but I can't so how about you use the system that you created (however poorly) and get yourselves together!!!

Thank you for your time.

Psalm 86:15 (KJV) But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
 

Think Before You Act... lol

So Daniel and I haven't been on any adventures recently because of his work and class schedule.  Today he didn't work but he has a test this evening and he has worked at least a couple of hours each of the other days.  The chaos of his schedule really prevents us from being able to plan to do much of anything.

Well, today I told him I wanted to get out of the apartment (a.k.a. off of base).  I should have known that it was going to be rocky when we couldn't agree on where we each wanted to eat.  So we literally each ate inside restaurants across the walkway from one another.  He finished before me so came over and sat while I finished my lunch.  I ordered bulgogi and rice, which is a common Korean meal, and it came with kimchi (of course), 2 different kinds of noodles, sliced something (probably raddish), and a soup that tasted how I think toilet water would taste, bleh.  I also had a cider soft drink which is in Daniel's words "Sprite." 

We decided to take the train somewhere which we haven't done this new year yet.  Daniel decides that we should go to Suwon since it is only about 30 minutes away.  We are on the train comfortably seated when it stops exceptionally long at a station with the conductor saying something in Korean.  The last time this happened to us we ended up at the wrong stop somewhere so Daniel says that we should get off after a couple of minutes.  Other people had gotten off before us and got on another train headed in the same direction but I guess it was the "right" train?  Well, naturally I got irritated because that train left and so we were going to have to wait 15 minutes for the next one and I just really didn't want to wait.  I figured that since we had no real destination I would just walk around at the stop we were at currently rather than wait 15 minutes for a train when I could have been on it had we been paying attention. 

Well, Daniel said that he wasn't walking around in this area and wanted to walk around in Suwon.  I told him that he could do that but that I wasn't going to (I also may have (read: "definitely") had an attitude with him because he has the good phone with the aps and data with the intention that he is looking this stuff up beforehand).  I went my way and he went his.  His way was back to the apartment.  My way was some random area where there really wasn't much going on unless maybe you are someone that's in the know.

I realized too that I did not bring my phone so if I did get lost or need help or anything I would only be able to call numbers memorized back in the USA.  So I had to stick to main streets that connected so I would be able to find my way back to the train since you never know if you can find someone that speaks English.  Needless to say I only walked around for about an hour or maybe 2 then got on the train and headed back to the apartment.  Daniel was already here and I saw that he had attempted to call me like 45 minutes earlier than when I got back but my phone was setting on a dresser in the bedroom. 

Anyway, here are some pictures from my walk around Byeongjeom...

 This soup was nasty.

I forgot to tell y'all that the chopsticks in restaurants are medal and take a bit getting used to if you are only used to the wooden ones. 

 

 I found a place that had puppies while I was walking around aimlessly.

 





This puppy was my favorite :-)

 

My first time navigating the train by myself.

Do I go left or do I go right?  Left is right, hahaha!

Above the doors you can see the map.  That is what I had to use to navigate.  Glad there were no transfers.

 



Love,
Camille

Korean Crud

crud [kruhd]

noun

Slang.

1. a deposit or coating of refuse or of an impure or alien substance; muck.
2. a filthy, repulsive, or contemptible person.
3. something that is worthless, objectionable, or contemptible.
4. prevarication, exaggeration, or flattery.
5. a nonspecific, imaginary, or vaguely defined disease or disorder of the body:
   jungle crud.
6. any unpleasant external ailment, disorder, or the like, as a skin rash.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello My Fellow Americans,


Sounds bad and is bad.  I don't think that I got the worst of it because I have heard that it can have symptoms like body aches and vomiting.  I only got the sluggishness, bad congestion, and cough.

It apparently has something to do with my immunity to being here but someone today made it seem like since I've had it I should be good now.  That would be great if it is in fact accurate.  I remember when I first moved to Colorado my immune system had to adjust there as well.  It happened in the form of nose bleeds like every morning.  When I was able to get into the practitioner she assured me it was normal and my body would adjust in 4-6 weeks, which it did and I never had an issue afterward. 

I'm hoping that I will have the same such results here.  The thing is that Daniel doesn't get like anything!  I used to never get sick but maybe once a year.  Since we have been married it's like my immune system has decided to go crazy and has given me a hard time.  The things that I used to be able to do to help myself feel better quickly don't work like they did before I got married (garlic, honey, apple cider vinegar, lemon).  I hadn't taken real medication in years but since we've been married I've used medicine on a couple of occasions when what I have won't move the sickness along at my pace LOL, because illness listens to us right!?!

Anyway, it took like 4 weeks but I am finally feeling back to normal.  Not needing to wake up and blow my nose for 20 minutes or going throughout the day carrying the tissue box around the apartment with me.  I was gross to Skype with for the past month because I inevitably would need to blow my nose at some point in the conversation... yuck, I know.

Love,
Camille

Wash Your Produce!

Dear Everyone,

I recently made hot wings and celery dip for a dinner.  It actually turned out really good (even Daniel thought so!!!).  Well, I was going to have some celery the other day so that I could use more of the dip since there was quite a bit left.  Well I went to wash the celery and when I pulled one of the pieces off I discovered a little slug chillaxin on another stalk.  I was of course grossed out so I decided against eating the celery and threw it away.  I should have just washed it and not wasted it but couldn't get over seeing the bug.  I then thought of how many bugs we probably eat in our lifetime without realizing it...YUCK!

You're welcome for that thought :-)

The lesson here is wash your produce.  This has nothing to do with us being in Korea and everything to do with the fact that bugs are in the dirt that your food grows in.

Sincerely,
Camille

Exhibit A

 

Super Bowl in Korea

Soooo...  Congrats to the Broncos and Happy Lunar New Year to y'all!

Daniel and I were watching Super Bowl 50.  Of course it is Monday for us but Daniel is on standby at work so he was able to actually come home and watch the game which is nice.  I felt like a kid when I heard him come in the door because I thought that he was gone for the day and was so excited that he was back.  He had to be at work at 5:30am and I was still in the bed half asleep when he came back a little before 8:30am.

I used to really like watching the Super Bowl starting about my junior year of high school when my god-sister had a party at her house.  I got into it and for several years afterward I never missed a game.  Recently I have not been enthused about watching the game but figure since Daniel is here I might as well.  The fact that the commercials are still our typical military commercials about mailing in ballots, stopping sexual abuse, being a good sponsor, identity theft, etc. kind of sucks.  The only difference is probably that here each time they go to commercial they show players and coaches thanking the military and I'm pretty sure that isn't happening back in the States.

Not really rooting for either team but since Daniel doesn't want Denver to win by default wanted the Panthers to win.  I really don't care either way but can only imagine how the kids back at my last job must be responding to the game.  I remember them being really into their Broncos so I'm sure that they're all excited. 

As far as Korea... This is the Lunar New Year for them so it is a holiday.  I am not clear on what this means for them but we were warned against attempting to drive anywhere as the roads will apparently be impassable.  It's my understanding that it is a 3 day period and not just one day and I read that it is family focused so many people return home, which is probably why it's so crowded on the roads.

 10 FINAL 24 


Love,
Camille

Love Seems To Keep Coming Up

Hello there,

It really and honestly is not intentional that it happens to be February and I am talking about love.  It has been something that I have been reading about and that our pastor recently preached about and that someone in my Bible study did a speech about.  Seriously in the last 2 weeks it has come up a lot in my personal and spiritual life.  This being said I figured I'd share what it's been about for me.

I mentioned the book Crazy Love in a post 3 years back as it was the first time I had read the book.  I actually took 4hr 30min one day this week to read it again.  I think that is the 3rd or 4th time I've read the book (never in one sitting like that).  That book has such a perfect message that really challenges my faith and walk with Christ.  It challenges the type of church member I want to be and the type of Christian I want to be. 

I watched a couple of videos this week that are from the author, Francis Chan, and got so excited as I listened to his words.  I then took the time to go and look up various scriptures that a lady in the Bible study listed off and although they were all familiar passages I took time to meditate on them as I focused on love.  I also listened to music and just took time to praise God because he is the one that gives this love and showed us this love.  My time of prayer was upbeat and not emotional because it was so nice to just talk about His love.

I got to experience an inner peace for a couple of days that was so enjoyable.  Of course I have to deal with people still and I am still very flawed so as soon as something happened that I did not like I got upset and too easily showed opposite traits of love.  Then I was upset because I had JUST been in such a great place and instead of just showing love and staying in that great place I allowed myself to succumb to something miniscule.  So of course I had to allow myself to be checked and put back into that place.  I look forward to the day when I will stay focused on things above and the unseen and not dwell or be bothered by what is in front of me.

Here are some of the passages that I meditated on that were so great for me...
Jeremiah 31:3; John 15:9,10; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:35-39; 1 John 4:7-12; Matthew 5:44-48; John 13:34,35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Chapter 8 of Francis Chan's, Crazy Love, is my favorite chapter as it is talking about being "obsessed" with Jesus.  These are the highlights...

-People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure.  Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.
-People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else.  Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.
-People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another.  Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him.
-Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo.  A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. 
-A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle.  Obsessed people know that you can never be "humble enough," and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known.
-People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden.  Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His people.
-People who are obsessed with God are known as givers, not takers.  Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do...
-A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently.  Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.
- A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being.
-People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures.  Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.
-People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationships with Him.  They are nourished by God's Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week...
-A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort.  Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God.
-A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying "Thank You!" to God.  An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy. 

I know that his was long but God is good!!!  I just really wanted to share the blessing I received by studying and praying.

God's Love,
Camille

We Are Church- Church Together- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4ZBkQl3XRs
Marriage In Light of Eternity- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYFGIz8v4bM
What Are You Living For- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86dsfBbZfWs

 

Sled Riding

We went "sled riding" by minimal standards.  Daniel and I both grew up sled riding as children and this was not what we're used to back home.  He has even gone in the mountains when he lived in Colorado which is more serious than any of my experiences. 

This trip was not as fun as we were hoping but we had a good time for like 30 minutes.  The snow was fake and the plastic sleds were very small.  The hill was pretty small too so it was super easy to walk up and slide down several times in a short period of time.  A part of sled riding is supposed to be the struggle of getting back up the hill and needing to catch your breath before heading down again.  The only difficult part of this sled riding was when I got stuck at the top and was slow starting on my way down.

At this particular location we chose to sled at, they told us when we could go down the hill, probably to prevent people from wiping one another out since the hill was so short.  To me that is a part of sled riding though... the danger of maybe having your legs taken from under you by someone who doesn't know how to steer their sled.  There were lots of children there and little ones rode down sharing a sled with their parents.  We got bored fairly quickly and left, a couple of the employees seemed surprised to see us leaving so soon.  I think that this would be a great place to take children but not for adults or people who have grown up sled riding.

This was the sitting area to get out of the wind.

You can see the rails at the top which we used to hold onto until it was time to start down the hill.

This was the "big" hill.  It was closed for an hour for some reason.

Daniel is standing close to the little warm up area.

I want to go ice skating next, I wonder what kind of music they'll play in the rink?

Much love,
Camille