i just finished my first real "teen drama" novel. i missed the whole teen genre boat when i skipped from the "anastasia krupnik" series and "the boxcar children" mysteries to "lord of the rings" and "jayne eyre." and since then, my ever-growing reading list (mostly made up of classics) has kept me from being on board with any current bestsellers. after finally reading the harry potter books over the last few months and hearing stories from lizzie about how intensely exciting it was to be reading them, along with the rest of the world, when they came out, i decided i wanted to know what that was like. so when the "twilight" series started popping up all over the internet and what not, they caught elizabeth's and my attention and i decided this was my big chance to be in on the current excitement. the package from amazon finally got here during lunch last week and i tore into it and started the first book as my kids were finishing eating.

i have to say i'm a bit disappointed. but i'm not sure what i was expecting...i knew they were popular with teens...i knew all the characters were in high school...i knew the main character was a vampire. it's not that it was bad -i'm just used to more. it's just that i didn't believe this book. i didn't really care what happened to bella and i didn't feel like my life would end if bella and edward weren't able to break through the human-vampire blockades and be together forever. i don't think it's just that this is more sci-fi/fantasy than i'm used to...i was completely swept into harry potter's world of witches and dragons, no matter how fantastical. i cared whether hermione and ron were on speaking terms, i cried for dumbledore, and i debated extensively in my head over whether snape was good or bad, feeling that it was terribly important. this is what i'm used to -i'm used to being invested in what i read -being unable to tear myself away from the character's situations, agonizing over their happiness, and feeling like i've lost a significant relationship when i finish the last page.

oh i do love books. just writing that makes me want to be reading "anna karenina" right now. i have the next two books in the "twilight" series sitting on my shelf...but i feel no need...this is nothing like finishing the 6th harry book and rushing off to itaewon to find the 7th. ironic. i kind of feel like i should finish what i started, though, eventually. maybe when my reading list runs out? uhm, i don't think i'll ever see that day. i would like to be on the bandwagon when the next harry potter comes around, though...so if you're on it, please tell me and maybe i'll join you for a detour. until then, i'm sticking to my list. there's a reason they're called classics.

it's been entirely too long since i wrote...what can i say? i've been busy? yes, but no, that's not it. i'm not sure what it is. but a letter from my gramma reminded that people actually read this, and where there are people involved, i aim to please. haha. actually, that's not why i write at all...probably the furthest from it...i definitely write because i like it. selfish, i know.

so much has happened!! i don't know where to start. i finished the harry potter books...we went to a lantern festival...we made pottery...lizzie and i made shepherds pie in the toaster oven...jayne and i went to busan...we got a new little girl named swan at school...rach and nate came to visit...i had my first cinnamon roll in 7 months (incredible)...lizzie's brother, matt, came to visit...we went to the korean folk village and left our mark...we went to a nareebong (kareoke room) and us girls wore the shortest skirts you'll ever see me in...the new coldplay album came out...we went to everland, the happiest place in korea (think disneyland)...we had a 70's party...we got a couch!!...rach and i found out that although store front windows make it seem like there is a massive excess of cute clothes here in seoul, there are actually only a few pieces worth buying...i got very used to having a roommate...lizzie and matt discovered japan...jon foreman finally brought summer 'round...after one more vanilla latte, i dropped rach off at the subway...matt is on his way to the airport as i write...and lizzie and i have empty houses once again. to be quite honest, this is the closest thing i've ever felt to abandonment. ironic, because i'm the one who left home in the first place. it still doesn't feel right that your mom, best friend, brother should leave you behind in korea.

only 4 more months though!! (as of july 1). and those 4 months are going to be filled with wonderfulness -a waterpark, a mud festival, a WEEK LONG TRIP HOME!!!, a dmz tour, going up down escalators, etc. etc.

since i'm so behind, i thought i would post a bit each day...rather than submerge you head first. so here are some pictures and stories from may.


just one of the many kinds of lanterns we saw at the buddhist lantern festival in downtown seoul.


lizzie and i got our very own lanterns! mine was compliments of a nice old man and lizzie's was compliments of the side of the street.


a stop at baskin robbins was a must afterward...we missed mom's alien. (our favorite kind of ice cream here in korea).


we went to the science museum and got to make pottery!


spending some time with trent.


the sun, coffee, falafel, and good friends make for a wonderful afternoon.


jayne and i get out of the city and spend the day in busan (a coastal city south of seoul) with cindy and big tiger (our bosses).


jayne and cindy attempt the "titanic pose" (we're still not really sure what exactly that is...)


ice cream on the boat ride!


jayne and i soon decided the top of the boat was much more exciting...these are the "5, maybe 6 islands" (yes, that's the real name).


we try the titanic pose again...


ahhhhhh...the sweet taste of freedom (or something like that).


cindy and i at a buddhist temple right on the coast.


cindy and big tiger. awww...how cute.


making chinese lanterns with piglet class. fun times.

well that catches me up through may. however, it's almost july so there is much much more to come! stay tuned. peace.