Homecomings 1 & 2

So, I've been back in the States now for three weeks and change, and it is incredible to me now that I ever left. It's almost like I have been in an 8-month haze, just getting by. That sounds a bit harsh I think, as I review that sentence, but that is just my perspective 6000 miles away from that experience.

Not that I'm disconnected from SK! I have been making a concerted effort to integrate all that went on there into my present life. The hard thing about that is that my present life - with all its social excitement, its professional busy-ness, and its noisy English everywhere - can be very distracting. I walk around still feeling overstimulated, and I have no idea when I'll feel comfortable with my calendar or my general pace of life again. Believe me, I had no idea how much I was always moving. :)

There is also lingering work stuff. I am sorry to say that my Army boss can't seem to let me go, and is apparently defaming me and my professional work to people there whenever he gets the chance. That's something I will have to take care of. I also committed to regularly “see” (Skype is a wonderful thing, isn't it?!) people, and managing those connections makes me happy. And the connections I made to my friends in SK are still very strong. I quite frequently find myself saying something that only Cadena or Jessica would think is funny, and I miss commiserating over silly military or Korean stuff.

What I have had time to do in the last three weeks is see family and friends:) My first welcome home occurred in New York, and it was so wonderful to be with happy and healthy colleagues again! My second homecoming was a big family food fest (or “just a small party” as we call it:) ), where I was able to hug everyone I'd been missing for so long. And the week I spent with my parents was pure bliss; I cannot thank them enough for the relaxed everything they gave me during my vacation. My first week back in Chicago met me with much craziness: I started teaching right away (the first of my three classes was 9a on Monday, what?!?), and my Wellspring work began on September 1. In between, I was out a lot, and I think I found here all the wine I was searching for in Daegu:)

And my traveling days are not done, I have decided...I just can't see other countries as easily (my Passport needs a rest anyway...actually, a replacement:) ). But I did hit New York City over Labor Day, to see my cousin, to watch some tennis, and to fall in love with that city all over again. I'm learning I can still have adventures, relatively easily, even being home. That flight credit is also motivating me to see my own country!

I move into my new place at the end of this week, and my stuff arrives on/about the 17^th (I'm hoping for earlier...fingers crossed for me, please!), and maybe then I can fall into a regular routine and get back to “normal” life. Will it ever be truly “normal” again for me? I don't know. SK has changed me, but I guess that's true for all my experiences – not only of the past 2 years, but everything that comes along seems to fill me with awe and provide an opportunity for change in some way. It will be an interesting life from here on I think. I'm just so very glad I had SK and everything that came before it to open my eyes to all of that.

I have one more homecoming, this Saturday, thrown by my BFF, officially welcoming me back to Chicago. I cannot wait to see everyone – either for the first time since arriving back in the States or since last week:). I plan to post some pics here and maybe a funny story or two from it, but then I think this blog will come to a close. Obviously, I'm no longer “in Korea”, but I also feel that it's time for this chapter of my life to end. Several people have suggested I keep blogging, and I find that flattering and also intriguing:) If I decide to, I'll link this to that, so that people can understand better how I view the world and my place in it.

For now, thanks for reading. Thanks for being interested in this little part of my life. Thanks for your comments and your support and your laughs at my expense:)

Here's to adventure, no matter how you find it! (Please picture me toasting you with a huge glass of wine!)

Kristina

Today's (Tiny) Trauma

And I was just saying to people how EASY my move-back to Chicago was going...


Today, reality hit me in a seemingly-minor but emotionally-major way. Basically, I was scheduled to fly out August 14 on China Eastern and Continental airlines, with short layovers in a couple cities. While attempting to finalize my reservations and let them know I would be bringing my cute fuzzy with me, I discovered those companies do NOT allow animals in-cabin AT ALL. What the...? If you're an animal owner who travels, you've heard the horror stories of cargo travel for pets. I went into full-on fix-it mode. 


So, I was scrambling after hearing that news, as it was not my experience from my flight here. By "scrambling", however, I mean "sitting on the phone for 6 hours of my day waiting to talk to someone who eventually failed me." First, the process of registering her on each flight (Daegu to Shanghai, Shanghai to Newark, Newark to Albany) was getting really complicated - I found out, after registering on the cargo website, that I would have to hire someone outside of the airline AND the cargo company in order to get my paperwork together just for Continental. I couldn't even REACH China Eastern, as no one was answering the two numbers I had for them. And the price of all this just kept increasing with each call. I was looking at spending a) the money to get her a hardsides case with all their requirements and have my parents ship it here because they don't have them ANYWHERE in Daegu, b) the time I would have to spend either running around looking for a hardsides here AND/OR on the phone in order to arrange all this, and c) the expense to put her in CARGO, let alone d) the stress of two international flights without her, worrying that she was uncomfortable, hungry, tired, hating me, or worse: crushed! 


And then it happened: I was on the phone toward the end of my day with a lovely operator from Expedia (thank you, Fiona!), and I started crying. Not just the tearing up kind of crying, either, but the I-cant-talk-I'm-so-embarrassed-but-I-can't-respond-because-I'm-so-frustrated-AND-crying kind of crying. She was very sweet, and tried to empathize, saying things like, "Please don't cry" and "She's your baby, isn't she?" But it didn't help. We finally had to get off the line while she called Continental on my behalf. Wow, I was a mess. 

Ultimately, I simply canceled my first flight, decided to use the credit for travel around the States (Dana, I'm talking to YOU), and booked a different flight with Korean Air. THEN I booked Furgie on Korean Air, making sure via telephone that she could, indeed, ride by my side for a little extra cost. I only talk about the money, however, in order to emphasize the fact that she is TOTALLY WORTH all the effort!!!! 

Being the lovable cuddle ball she is, I think she knew I was stressed, as she has been by my side, nuzzling, or just sitting near me all evening. And she has gotten tons of love and TONS of treats for being so sweet. 


All's well that ends well, I guess! I am much happier, and I know Furgie will be on travel day. I arrive hours earlier at Wellspring New York, which will be wonderful (can I put in my request for bison sloppy joes now??)  I still get to say I've never flown into one of the big NYC airports - a strange distinction, I know:) And a BIG thank you to everyone who sent well-wishes in response to my FB distress call. I so appreciate the love!

This One Resonates

 You have to sit through 15 minutes of his schtick (not very hard!) to get to poignancy, but it's worth it! 

After my own 2010, I completely get it.