선생님!!

What a day . . . I’d had quite a difficult time registering for the beginning Korean language class at the UW. While I registered for all of my public affairs courses back in June, I couldn’t register for Korean, because the professor requires individual meetings with the students. I tried to set up an individual appointment this week, but they told me to come today, when she would be meeting with everyone who required such interviews. So I showed up at 10:30 a.m., the starting time, only to be dismayed at seeing about 30 other people in front of me! So I stood in line until 12 p.m. (an hour and a half!!!), only to find that by the time I spoke with her, I would be on a wait-list behind four other people. All the sections were closed!!! But she told me to attend a class anyway, and maybe the instructor would allow me in.

Needless to say, I felt really bummed this afternoon. I’d been talking to everyone about how I was going to finally start really studying Korean, and I’d been looking forward to writing letters to my family and wowing everyone next summer with my awesome conversational skills.

I had a really nice dinner (순두부 finally! My first Korean meal since being back.) with T., however. NYC is going to be really fun.

And then . . . I came home to an e-mail from Dr. Kim saying that she looked back at her records and remembered that she had saved a spot for me! And she gave me the add code to register for the class!!!! So this story has a happy ending. I get to take Korean definitely. I’m so relieved, and I know my sisters and 할머니 will be, too. 🙂

Getting By

Wing Luke Museum
Originally uploaded by sarahhyunah.

Imagine my surprise when my mom and I stopped by the Wing Luke Asian Museum in the I.D., and I saw this little quote in one of the cases of the Asian & Pacific Islsander Adoptees exhibit! It’s an excerpt from an interview I did over a year ago, right before I left for Korea. I think I was talking about growing up in good ol’ Belton, Missouri . . . here’s the text that was printed (what are blogs for if not self-promotion):

“I developed this crazy notion that having more money meant that I would be happy, that having more money meant that you were not ignorant or that you were more educated and more enlightened. I think my parents saw it as me becoming ultra materialistic, but what I was wanting was to be in an environment where people were educated and had open minds and had a multitude of experiences. Unfortunately, in our society that meant you had to have some money in order to experience that because when I was really young, the people I had around me were just struggling to make ends meet. They didn’t have that luxury of educating themselves beyond what they gained in school or to travel or see different parts of the world. So I went through high school sort of just through a daze and I really started cracking down on myself grade-wise, and I also kind of went into a shell where I didn’t want to offend anyone, so I’m going to be the sweetest, nicest person you’ll ever meet.”

I guess I speak in run-on sentences. But anyway, that pretty much summarizes my obsession with being perfect back in the day. I feel lucky that I woke up from that, because it’s made me much happier.

International District

Wing Luke Museum
Originally uploaded by sarahhyunah.

Hanging out in Seattle again . . .

Success!

That was quick! I have an apartment–yay!! Or rather, I’m renting a fabulous room in a fabulous condo on Eastlake owned by the fabulous B., my new roommate. I had a good feeling about him all along, ever since I saw his ad on CraigsList for a “hot ‘n’ sexy roommate.” Naturally, I answered his ad. We got along really well when we met yesterday, and his mom was also there (a very warm and nurturing lady). The place is beautiful, it’s in a good location, and most of all, I think we’ll have good chemistry together. After living with 16 different people in the last three years, I’ve gotten pretty good at sizing roommates up, if I do say so myself. It’s too bad my mom had to go back to KC yesterday, because I’m sure she would’ve been relieved to see the new place and meet B.

And . . . I have a cell phone! (*sigh of relief* as I relax in my chair)

So . . . apartment–check. Phone–check. Today, I will meet up with an old friend, A., and then it’s down to IKEA to get the cheapest, albeit comfortable, mattress I can find as well as a desk.

Welcome Home

I finally arrived in Seattle tonight (33+ hours of driving later)! It doesn’t feel like I’m really here, though, because I’m staying in a hotel down by the Sea-Tac Airport with my mom. We managed to find a decent Thai restaurant, however, which was a nice relief from the Perkins and Denny’s we were subjected to throughout Montana.

Upon arriving in Washington, I had my first “incident” since being back in the States, and I’m surprised it took this long. While paying at a gas station in Spokane, the cashier asked me, “Do you speak Japanese?” Since the only other words we’d exchanged prior to this question were “Do you have any magazines?” and “No,” I didn’t take his query too well. I responded, “I’m NOT Japanese!” rather shrilly and hurried out of there. If it’s not things like this, it’s taxi drivers in Seoul demanding to know why I don’t speak Korean.

Sorry, just needed to vent. I am glad to be back in Seattle, regardless!

On the road again . . .

I’m currently in Rapids City, South Dakota at the Holiday Inn Express with my mom. Nothing really all that exciting to report, other than that I’m surprised that they have free high-speed internet! I’d forgotten how big the sky looks on the Great Plains . . . quite different than Seoul, where the horizon is always obscured by high-rise buildings. I find it both beautiful and isolating–there’s nothing around except cows. Growing up, I always thought the ultimate punishment would be to live in one of the tiny towns along the interstate. I still believe that. 🙂 But South Dakota is a beautiful state–more so than I can say for my semi-home state of Kansas.

Since I finally invested in a new PowerBook, I’ve been having all sorts of fun! Particularly with my iPod and MSN messenger. I’ve finally joined the 21st century.

Yeah, I’m definitely adopted.

Back in Kansas City
Originally uploaded by sarahhyunah.

Glad to see that my parents are still happy and healthy.

Brief stop in the MidWest

Welcome Back Open House
Originally uploaded by sarahhyunah.

Here I’m with my good friend, L. (who hates pictures but I couldn’t resist putting this up, because we look so cute). We go way back–waaaay back–to elementary school. The summer before first grade, we both took swimming lessons at the Belton pool. Now she’s all grown-up with a nice apartment and a fun job editing books at a publishing company.

Things have been mostly good, although inwardly I’m really missing Korea and freaking out about finding an affordable apartment in Seattle. I wanted to find a sandwich at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday night and was dismayed to see that practically everything was closed. I finally pulled into Whole Foods, where I had to have them scrape something together in the back. I miss Seoul with its 24-hour restaurants, shopping, everything! Seattle will be slightly more lively, thankfully.

I’m so jet-lagged . . . I keep having to take naps in the afternoon, which is probably why I haven’t packed anything at all yet.

Hm, I need to stop whining! I miss my friends and family in Korea, but it’s good to see my parents and old friends in KC, and I’m looking forward to seeing the Seattle crowd . . . and starting school, yikes.

Happy Birthday . . . when???

When I was visiting with my 4th aunt at my halmoni’s birthday party this spring, the subject of my exact birthday came up. My aunt and my grandmother both remember that the day I was born was very, very cold, and it was definitely winter. That’s why they believe that October 21, 1978–the date that is on my Holt paperwork–is probably the date on the lunar calendar. I’ve been meaning to look up what the solar date was that year, and I didn’t do it until just now. So the Gregorian calendar for 10/21/78 is actually November 21, 1978. This makes sense with what my aunt and grandmother said. So perhaps I’m a month younger than my official age?? Weird.

Farewell Party

Farewell Party
Originally uploaded by sarahhyunah.

I have a feeling that I won’t be clubbing nearly as much this year . . .