KaDeWo - The Joy Advocate

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Lol It's necessary to greet you this way, because more than a year has passed since I last wrote. I must apologize to myself for that. Some of you dear readers know that I returned to the United States at the end of September 2018; so it is has almost been a year since I returned from life abroad... and GIRRRRLLL the transition has been full of UPS and DOWNS ...Break ups... moving twice ....three new positions.... incorporating exercise at least 3 days a week ... adjusting to a change in my eating habits to lose 40lbs in order to help an injury that happened a year prior... ending a first-time car lease to buy a new car ...returning to therapy to address childhood trauma... re-examining my struggle with codependency in order to encourage healthier relationships with my pare nts, siblings and close friends ...continuing my daily and weekly self-care routine...  and living single (cue sitcom theme song ) in the States alone for the first time. All I can say is that ...

Happy Thanksgiving! I was fortunate enough to attend a local KOTESOL chapter fall event in Daejeon and hear a message from Eunkoo Lee and Casey Lartigue, co-founders of the  Teach North Korean Refugees  (TNKR) organization.  TNKR  is a life-changing program that raises money and helps North Koreans, who are able to escape the country, adjust to life in a democracy and tell their stories as a form of healing.    Listening to these two passionate speakers caused me to reflect on my summer introduction to North Korean person who had only been out of the country for less than two years. During this summer tour we visited the DMZ to see the double-fenced, wildlife barrier that exists at the point where South and North Korea meet.  *This person explained the difficult adjustment that occurs when one has NOT had access to 24-hour electricity, processed food in numerous commercial stores, ridiculous  amounts of outlets for entertainment - includ...

Teaching in South Korea has blessed my soul on so many levels. It will certainly be hard to return to the states (date definitely unknown). Since the start of the semester (see First Day of School post) my high school - 3rd grade  students  (juniors/11th graders) have been reading a chapter on assertiveness. Reading with them has reinforced some key issues that were established in my cognitive therapy sessions between the ages of 29 and 32, regarding speaking up for oneself and creating boundaries.  Since relocating here I have naturally become more assertive - not to be confused with aggressive. This assertiveness is a result of the language barrier, coupled with the ability to reinvent one's self when living in a new environment. However, in regards to my family, friends and future partners I have a new perspective that I am practicing to keep myself genuinely happy, which keeps my mind and body healthy. I failed to be more assertive at my previou...

The dragon's cave on the island Arriving on the island signage One of the things I like about teaching in South Korea is the regular, scheduled outings with coworkers. Every semester there is at least one group trip; it is not mandatory, but is a good idea to join - if you have not already made plans. My co-teachers have always done a good job in telling me about the "business trips" weeks in advance, so I have never had any schedule conflicts. These work trips can be half a day, one full day, overnight and/or two days. We travel together on a one or two large tour buses, equipped for (the inevitable) karaoke session with microphones and a large TV flat screen. This trip was my first overnight trip with my coworkers, which was fun and interesting. We traveled to YeoSu and walked across a bridge to get to Odongdo Island.  I learned more about Korean culture and food.  About 50 of us left after work on a Friday evening. The drive was about three hours one...

So I don't usually do reviews, but this experience warrants a praise...so le'go!  I booked a trip to Taipei, Taiwan in December 2016 for February 2017. Around the same time I started looking into airport transportation options for late arrivals, conducting random Google searches. Some great person (whose webpage I can no longer find or maybe it was a travel site) suggested AirPopo . The website was helpful in providing an ETA map and comparison price chart for other transportation sources. I downloaded the app, but was not convinced that I was going to use AirPopo. Before deciding to actually use the service, I checked the company's reviews on TripAdvisor . I was impressed with the number of reviews that were excellent. Every reviewer highly recommended the service. 2 days before my trip I attempted to use the app to set up a pick-up. My flight to the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was scheduled to land at 12:35am UTC on a Friday morning. Based on the scheduled...

So this happened... After 5 weeks of a scheduled 3 week vacation to the US, I am finally back in South Korea!! *I decided to travel to America to surprise my family in January, following the end of English Winter Camp. My EPIK contract states employees will earn 10 days of paid vacation for winter break. The school year ended December 30th and will commence on March 2nd; therefore, I have a lot of dates to choose from to take the 10 days. 1st Note: English was taught in Winter Camp January 2 - 13, 2016. Also, the students returned for a week (February 9 - 16) to prepare for graduation on February 17. Due to the cost of traveling to the States I requested a third week of vacation, without pay. My administrators approved my request and I booked my trip. I had a chance to surprise much of my family. We had some wonderful moments together; we were all glad to visit with one another again. Towards the middle of my third week I started to...

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 inv...

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...

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. ...

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 weak...

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 continu...

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 ...

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. devasta...