Shutter Shades and Saying Good-Bye

Howdy.

So there's not a ton to report, but it is Wednesday, so I feel like I should provide an update as long as I'm rocking this huge weekly break. We attended a Shutter Shade Party last weekend. I looked awesome, obviously, but Jen wasn't looking to bad herself. Note how both of us made sure to match our shades with our clothes.
Alright, not match, but there's purple in my shirt. I promise. The part was good times. And because you've been really good little blog readers, I'll even add some more pics. I know, I know... you're welcome.

This is Norman and Jess, rocking the shades.

This is Jen and some of the other party folk, proving she had the best shades. Except for mine.

This is Brendan and Tienne. Brendan is taking Dave's roll for me while I'm in Korea. He's adorable. Tienne may actually enjoy shopping more than Jen, but how can we actually ever determine something like that? I mean, we're only here for a year.

This is me posing with 2 pretty Korean girls, mostly to make Matt jealous. Jose, find him, show him this, and tell him I said hello.

This is a cute little boy outside the restaurant rockin the shades. Good Lord, the girls we were with loved this kid. Dad and dad's friend better have taken him out for ice cream, that's all I've got to say.

Also, and I'm very excited about this, it looks like I'll be a part of a traditional Korean wedding this weekend!! A friend of mine was asked by a Korean friend of his to help him find folks to help out, and he chose me. No, not as a DJ. Turns out in some traditional circles it is custom for the bride to be carried in on a type of Korean litter called a gama. You can read more about them here. But be careful, I used Wikipedia, so it's obviously wrong.

Basically, it's a chair with really big handles that people carry you in. It's right up my alley- all I gotta do is show up and carry heavy stuff for a little bit. Jen's snagged an invite to. I tried to explain that since I was the reason she got to go, she should have to carry me around in one. She pointed out that it takes 4 people to carry one, or in my case 16, and she couldn't do it by herself. I countered with a piggy back ride to the kitchen. She refused. Selfish, I say... lazy and selfish...

I'll make sure she takes a lot of pictures, at least. It's a really cool opportunity to see a side of the culture that it doesn't mention in the guidebooks, and to be honest I'm actually quite honored. There was talk of getting to wear a hangbuk, a traditional Korean outfit now only worn for special occasions, but no dice. All the same, it should be really cool.

Alright, so the part that's not so cool...

The Shutter Shades Party almost didn't happen. Sarah, who arrived with her friend Rob around a month ago, was helping to host this as a going away party for Laura, another friend. Unfortunately, Sarah had a death in the family and was on a plane less than 12 hours after the phone call. She's made it home safe, but obviously the tough part is just beginning. It got me thinking, and we all know how that goes...

See, folks average a year out here. Some stay longer, marry into the culture, etc. but some end up leaving early. Some due to tragedy, some because they always planned to, and some just don't have the stones to survive in a culture so drastically different. But the thing is I can't help but meet some of the coolest people out here. Like Laura.

Ok, so this is Laura. Laura and I only got to hang out 3 or 4 times, but from the moment we met we clicked. I have rarely laughed as hard or as long as I did when we were hanging out. Her boyfriend Brendan and I got along great, and I know that if we'd had more time the 4 of us would have been great friends. But Laura left for other destinations on Sunday. I've heard some of the other teachers who've been here a bit longer talk about how they just don't have much desire to get to know any of the number of new teachers showing up, seeing as they'll only be around long enough to miss them. Everything here is so transient, and while I can't say I agree with them on that point at all, I can tell you that they've got a point. Jen and Sarah were really close, and her leaving was rough on Jen. Saying goodbye to Laura just really really clear that I was saying goodbye to someone I could have been friends with for 40 years.

But hey, that's the way it goes. The good news is that we knew them at all. Besides, Lord knows I've already had crazier things happen than to have my path cross again with some of these folks. It's just the nature of the beast.

But I don't want to end on a down note. Jen and I are doing really well. Jen's got a big girls night as we bid a fond farewell to a few more folks- along with their good bye parties this weekend. So tons of pics for you next week!!

ALSO!!!!!!! A HUGE thank you to Laura Scully, Jen White-Castle, and my mom. The letters showed up yesterday, and it took about a week. For anyone else who might drop a line, add the zip code 136-813 to the very end of the address, just like you would on local mail. It looks like it takes about 2 weeks for stuff to arrive, but it makes it, so we're thrilled.

Anyone else willing to drop a line, please do!! Even short notes scribbled on cocktail napkins are wonderful. Heck, that was how I proposed to Jen, and it worked! Gotta love antibiotic side effects.

Final note- Jen and I have officially registered to vote for the presidential election. The one in the US, I mean. Point is, if we can do it from the opposite side of the planet, you can do it from home. NO EXCUSES. Vote or die!!

-Al (& Jen!)