KaDeWo - The Joy Advocate

Farewell Sweet '16!! Dear you, I hope you have enjoyed a SWEET 2016. The year was amazing for me. I have experienced so many firsts. At the age of 33 I am living what I call my "Jesus year". In the past 366 days #leapyear I was blessed to grow in numerous ways. I graduated with masters in Special Education from a private Jesuit institution. I quit a job that was encouraging depression due to the lack of emotional intelligence amongst a senior staff that was completely fine with thriving in the midst of drama. I visited 7 different mountains on two continents and appreciated the blessing of sight like never before. I flew internationally for the first time, to fulfill my dream of teaching and living abroad. This move forced me to conquer some of my phobias...germs and escalators.  Before August 25, 2016 it had been 18 years since I have ridden a down escalator. I could always go up without an issue. However, an incident involving a baby being handed to me once I stepp

In 1996, I was struggling to get past and heal from sexual assault by a family member. I was confused, ashamed and felt disrespected. I felt as though I had disrespected myself and allowed myself to be disrespected in the worse way. I have since learned that I was not the one who should have felt shame, at the tender and innocent age of 11 - rather I should have shamed the perpetrator of one of my most valuable possessions. Time past and I kept this a secret, which only made me withdraw from my family and friends. I was depressed and anger grew inside me with every sunset. I did not know where to turn or who to confide in. I felt alone and damaged. Around the same time I entered my final year of middle school I heard a few hits from the introductory Junior Mafia album. I was intrigued with the bold, confident, direct and demanding female figure and started a part of my healing process. This young woman changed how I thought about myself and body. Her strong lyrics empowered me to b

After 3 months in Korea, I am still a (USA)  T-mobile customer. I am in a rush to obtain a Korean phone number at this time. I have been a T-mobile customer, WITH THE SAME PHONE NUMBER, since 2001 - when they were still VoiceStream Wireless  and Jamie Lee Curtis was their spokeswoman. #millennial For the most part I have been happy with my smartphone coverage. I had to temporarily have a T-mobile representative disconnect my voicemail, to avoid being charged .20 cents per minute for voicemails. The process is quick and can be restored quickly, as well. Dis- and reconnecting the service takes 60 seconds or less; costs nothing but time.(I did this before when I cruised to the Bahamas.) Whenever I can connect to a wireless connection (@ work, home, numerous cafe's and some resaturants) I can make FREE calls via WIFI. I do not answer the phone or make (standard) calls if I am not connected to wifi, because I will be charged .20 cents per minute. I use (standard) texting, Kakao Tal

Yesterday, one of my coteachers and I attended an open-class at an elementary school in 20 minute walking distance of our school. I enjoyed the experience, for many reasons. I chose to attend, because this is a public school with 999 elementary students*. The open-class was a general 40 minute English class for 28 students in E-4 (4th grade);  there were 15 girls and 13 boys. On average the elementary students in this school experience instruction, 80% English and 20% Korean. Approximately 90% of the class was taught in English. Open-class, as I understand it, is a scheduled class where parents, faculty, administrators and academic guests are welcome to sit in the back of a classroom and observe the teaching, students, materials, lesson/s, etc. The invitation was provided about two weeks in advance. Usually a survey is completed afterward. For about 45 minutes post class the observers sat with the teacher and administration to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the lesson. There w

Entrance to school cafeteria Today my (school) Principal surprised and honored me with a carefully selected Korean name:  원 가 린  pronounced Won Galin The translation is Won = First, Ga = Beautiful, Lin = Clear or Pure    The names chosen appeal to me because they are close to the translation of my English name ( Joyous Cascade Goddess ). HAPPY 2ND MONTH ANNIVERSARY TO ME!! The naming "ceremony" took place in his office along with the Vice Principal and my primary Coteacher over tea and sweet bread, after a tour of the cafeteria kitchen. Just after 1st period commenced, Principal came to my desk and requested my company for an "interesting" experience. His choice of words intrigued me. I saved the file I was working on and followed him. I thought we were going to his office, for a lesson, based on the fact that he helped me practice Hangul last week. We stopped at the administration office to summon the Head of Administration and continued walking towards

Disclaimer: This was my experience based on the two banks I use. I bank with USAA; find out the receiving fees for your American bank. I do not know the process for expats wiring money to other countries. So...I mistakenly thought once I had a Korean bank account that I would be able to transfer money immediately from my Korean to US bank account, to pay bills back home. Disappointedly, I found out 2 things: 1. Koomin Bank or KB requires 6 months proof of residency to transfer funds to an US account, for account holders and 2. that I had to wire money home to pay American companies that do not allow you to use foreign bank accounts to pay your monthly bills.  Once I found out no. 1 I figured let me just call the companies and pay them directly, instead of using my US bank's online/app bill pay system. I went to my local post office, Korea Post , to send a little over $1500 USD. The post office's fee fluctuates depending on the amount of money you want to wire. [I am not enti

On August 25, 2016 I excitedly arrived in the Land of Morning Calm at the Incheon International Airport on a Korean Air plane around 2025 KST. It has been a little over a month and my honeymoon phase (referred to by other expats and natives as the period when a new arrival likes/loves all things new) continues. My first night was spent in a quiet and modern Best Western. The next day, I boarded a "limousine" to my new province, Daejeon . (I feel it is important to note that a limo in the States is not remotely similar in Korea. I boarded a bus with fewer seats than Mega Bus. However, they reclined with a foot rest and included a cup holder. Not luxurious in the least, but comfortable for a 2 hour and 20 minute ride to the Government Complex stop.) Daejeon is nicknamed the Middle City; a great location to get to most major cities in South Korea and does not experience the worst of bad weather. (i.e. devastating dust, snow and rain storms, such as the looming Hurricane M