Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
September 6, 2007
Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.
- Anais Nin
Leaving Nashville this past summer was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Poor Camilla had to deal with my tears all the way down i-65! This new adventure however has made me realize I am quite happy to be done with college and moved on. I loved every inch of college, but it's such a sense of satisfaction to know that it was perfect and wonderful for what it was. Vanderbilt was nothing less than amazing, but I accept my time limit there. I don't know if I'm making myself clear, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm happy with how life is progressing. It's a comforting thought for this rocky transition to know I'm at least moving in the right direction. Korea has been quite good to me so far!
Something that is very different, yet very American, is that I am really surrounded by the military here. My social life, all the tv and most of my friends are in some way related to the military. The ex-pat community is very tight here, and a huge part of our community is the military. The AFN (Armed Forces Network) is one of two channels in English, so I watch it a lot. All the commercials on it are actually reminders for the military. My favorite is a referee walking around in a park blowing whistles at American people who are dressed inappropriately. Then he sends them back to the barracks to change and says, "Dressing like you would at home is NOT respectful of your host country!" Hah. There are history lessons about past battles, messages to service women to be weary of anyone buying a lot of liquor for you, lessons of when army technology has helped the general public, reminders like "You are an ambassador to our country. The laws here are different, and not knowing them is not an excuse!" .. There are also some really touching ones like videos showing groups at home putting together care packages while holding up messages saying things like "We love you.", "We support you.", "We miss you." ... The military has really come to be a huge part of my life. When I watch the news now it's absolutely heart breaking to hear "14 servicemen died in Iraq today." ... I have always been very supportive of the military, but now that these men and women have more of a face to me, and have become my closest community, it's gut wrenching to hear.
Have you all seen the video for "Your Three Words"? (http://ugv.abcnews.go.com/player.aspx?id=694149) Erin and I were watching it and she started crying because the family with the kids saying "We miss Dad" was about her ex's flight instructor. He died in Iraq recently. I'm so emotionally intertwined in the military now, that I can't imagine what it must be like to have to hear the news if you're a mother or a wife. I guess being here has just made me all the more appreciative of everything that they give up for us.
It's been a beautiful early autumn week. Warm, sunny, no clouds -- the kind of days you hope for in the dead of winter. I took my kids on a walk to a stream near our school on Monday and we collected falling ginkgo leaves. I wanted to burn the image in my memory forever -- my sweet laughing children prancing around in the sunshine and falling leaves. There was a little pagoda, and we sat under it for a while and counted leaves. We walked back to school singing "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles. If I had to relive a day over and over Groundhog day style, this would surely be it.
Chusok is next week, and we still don't have plans!! I am tempted to just book tickets ANYWHERE and go off by myself. :)
xx
- Anais Nin
Leaving Nashville this past summer was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Poor Camilla had to deal with my tears all the way down i-65! This new adventure however has made me realize I am quite happy to be done with college and moved on. I loved every inch of college, but it's such a sense of satisfaction to know that it was perfect and wonderful for what it was. Vanderbilt was nothing less than amazing, but I accept my time limit there. I don't know if I'm making myself clear, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm happy with how life is progressing. It's a comforting thought for this rocky transition to know I'm at least moving in the right direction. Korea has been quite good to me so far!
Something that is very different, yet very American, is that I am really surrounded by the military here. My social life, all the tv and most of my friends are in some way related to the military. The ex-pat community is very tight here, and a huge part of our community is the military. The AFN (Armed Forces Network) is one of two channels in English, so I watch it a lot. All the commercials on it are actually reminders for the military. My favorite is a referee walking around in a park blowing whistles at American people who are dressed inappropriately. Then he sends them back to the barracks to change and says, "Dressing like you would at home is NOT respectful of your host country!" Hah. There are history lessons about past battles, messages to service women to be weary of anyone buying a lot of liquor for you, lessons of when army technology has helped the general public, reminders like "You are an ambassador to our country. The laws here are different, and not knowing them is not an excuse!" .. There are also some really touching ones like videos showing groups at home putting together care packages while holding up messages saying things like "We love you.", "We support you.", "We miss you." ... The military has really come to be a huge part of my life. When I watch the news now it's absolutely heart breaking to hear "14 servicemen died in Iraq today." ... I have always been very supportive of the military, but now that these men and women have more of a face to me, and have become my closest community, it's gut wrenching to hear.
Have you all seen the video for "Your Three Words"? (http://ugv.abcnews.go.com/player.aspx?id=694149) Erin and I were watching it and she started crying because the family with the kids saying "We miss Dad" was about her ex's flight instructor. He died in Iraq recently. I'm so emotionally intertwined in the military now, that I can't imagine what it must be like to have to hear the news if you're a mother or a wife. I guess being here has just made me all the more appreciative of everything that they give up for us.
It's been a beautiful early autumn week. Warm, sunny, no clouds -- the kind of days you hope for in the dead of winter. I took my kids on a walk to a stream near our school on Monday and we collected falling ginkgo leaves. I wanted to burn the image in my memory forever -- my sweet laughing children prancing around in the sunshine and falling leaves. There was a little pagoda, and we sat under it for a while and counted leaves. We walked back to school singing "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles. If I had to relive a day over and over Groundhog day style, this would surely be it.
Chusok is next week, and we still don't have plans!! I am tempted to just book tickets ANYWHERE and go off by myself. :)
xx
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