Happy Tales

Check out the Happy Tale I wrote about Meeko's (yes I changed Sonny's name to Meeko after the mischievous raccoon on Pocahontas) on the site that I adopted him from. The organization certainly has saved a lot of dog and cat lives in Korea. Surf their site and learn more.

To the tune of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song:
"Now, this is a story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute
Just sit right there
I'll tell you how I became a cat with a name of Meeko

In south of Seoul, Korea born and raised
Out on the streets was where I spent most of my days
Huntin' out playin' relaxin' all cool
And all survivin' the streets with very little food :(
When a couple of guys
Who were up to some good
Picked me up and took me to a shelter-hood
I looked deep into the eyes of one volunteer
She said 'You're comin' home with me; I will give you care'

My temp name was Karra and I met a new cat
And started going potty in some sand in a box
She posted my story and pics on ARK's site
And one week later moved to my new mom's, Sarah!

I pulled up to the house about 11 or 10
And I checked the new crib 'Yo home: you smell good!'
I looked at my mommy
I was finally there
To sit on my throne as Meeko the Cool Cat!"

So that's all fun and I hope you followed the storyline. Here's a story from the foster mom Katey:
"I found Karra aka Little Guy, at an animal shelter that my boyfriend and I had been volunteering at. We told the shelter that I am allergic to some dogs so we could only volunteer with the cats because they had told us they don’t really take care of the cats there. The cats and kittens were all in run down cages outdoors (I wonder what will happen in the winter) and I felt terribly bad for them. One day while washing some of the older cats that were covered in their own feces and urine, some new kittens came in and I just couldn’t bear to leave there another day without rescuing some of them. We ended up taking two babies home with us, as there is no adoption fee and they really don’t monitor the cats as well as the dogs. After numerous vet trips the kittens were able to be adopted out. The first one to leave went to a friend of ours. After a few weeks I heard of ARK and posted the picture of our ‘Little Guy’ and within a week had found a wonderful match for him! I hope to go back there and get more to find homes for!"

After I, Sarah, adopted him and visited the vet for the first round of vaccinations, he started taking pills for a mold on his skin. He took them for two weeks then stopped for a week but now is on them for one more week just to make sure it's cleared. His ear mites are gone and he's getting neutered mid-December. He is my lovey - like a kid. I've spoiled him with gifts and we play all the time. He sleeps and cuddles by my warm body. We are already very close. I think Meeko found his way to me. I named him after the mischievous raccoon companion in Pocahontas and the fact that his markings are similar to a raccoon. Plus it's a cute name.

I want to say thank you to Katey and the ARK organization for your efforts. You've given us both a family. :)


Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for my cat, my opportunity to be in Korea, my friends at home, my friends here, my family, Phil, my students, food, G-Market.co.kr, my senses, knowledge, and so many more things. I love you, life!

Home

I'm currently sitting at a coffee shop at the station by my house (Yoger Presso) drinking a hot mint mocha latte and eating a hot blueberry waffle with powdered sugar. On my way out I said goodbye to my kitty who was not happy with my leaving. While walking along the river to the station, listening to the Bird and the Bee (my current "always listen to" band,) I soaked up the sun and cool fresh air. I couldn't help but smile over the remaining nature, warm sun rays, happy people walking with loved ones, and accepting this place at my home.

I think back on the places I've called home: Lenexa, St. Teresa's Academy, Creighton, Omaha, and now Uijeongbu. They say home is where your heart is. Is it possible to split your heart into many? My heart seems to be stretched thin these days. :) In each home, it never quite became that for me until I found my "family." Only recently did I start finding my group here and frankly, they're my newest family. Of course having a child (aka kitten) helps with the whole family concept. I no longer am expecting the week to end with a flight to the USA because I'm "only on vacation." I have accepted that this is my life for the next year and I'm enjoying it. My how time flies when you're having fun - 1/4 finished with my year.

I'll be heading to the Seoul horseraces with Alison and the girls in a few minutes and maybe be making some money! ha actually I don't even know if I'll be betting but it should be a fun time and a chance to meet more foreigners!

Oh yeah - and welcome to South Korea Zach!! (friend from KC teaching south of Seoul...)

Hoping your week starts as bright as mine... ^^

This is what I'm going through right now

I'm trying to feed Sonny his pills but he won't take them. I had to "wikihow" techniques. You know when you're typing "how to give a cat a pill" into google, you're having troubles.

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On another note...it's been forever since my last update. I figure it's because every time I write a blog it takes 4 hours since I'm so detailed and want to write about every little thing. This time I'm testing a new technique: bullet-point summaries. I predict it will be non-chronological and slightly confusing. Let's see how this goes.

1. Please see my newest pics on my Facebook album with comments and easy scrolling. Any feedback on whether you prefer the in-blog pics, shutterfly, or facebook would be greatly appreciated. No guarantees on honoring your request! haha

2. If you're one of my students (B6-1/B6-P!) reading this, then ignore my grammar! Blog writing is not correct! For +2 points, ask me this joke next time you're in class: "What falls down but never gets hurt?"

3. Had Membership Training (MT) with my school - I found out later that MT also means somethings like "drink until you puke" in Korean. SOOO....many drinking games, whisky, soju, beer, milk, food for hour = puking. I didn't but some did. Not a good next. Fun bonding with co-workers and there was some team building activities.

4. Day after MT visited a well-known lake for some sightseeing. Lots of random statues. Took a swan paddle boat on the lake for a splash fest against a much more controllable rowboat. We lost. Obviously.

5. Visited a Korean Folk Village about 3.5 hours from where I live - comparable to a one-room schoolhouse (or Amish village) visit in the states. Interesting and peaceful.

6. I met another teacher, Kelli, from South Dakota who works and lives so close to me. We occasionally meet for lunch and hang out on the weekends. Really awesome and nice girl. Will make a good weekend trip buddy.

7. I've explored the downtown area of Uijeongbu much more and found some interesting markets with interesting things i.e. pig heads, freshly butchered fish, purple and white spiraled beans, bamboo trees, any dried sea creature, charred octopus legs, noodle-stuffed pig intestines...the list goes on. Also have visited a few western bars and restaurants - good to have a taste of home - of course it comes with a little Korean style on top.

8. Climbed Mt. Seoraksan (mentioned in last post) with the Kim Family (GaYeong's family.) It was their little family trip. Took a bus there in the early morning and took a breathtakingly beautiful 5 hour hike across this famous mountain. The fall colors were gorgeous. My Facebook album is mostly of this trip. The pic of the leaves at the top of my blog are leaves I collected from the hike - such amazing colors.

9. My body hurt for one week after that hike.

10. I got the kitten!

11. I named the kitten "Sonny" because I couldn't stop thinking of "I've got you babe" by Sonny and Cher the days after I got him....thinking of changing it. haha.

12. Planned and had a successful Halloween event at PLUS Academy (Korea doesn't celebrate Halloween so this was many kids first time.) Not the expected amount of students came because it was raining but the students still had a blast. The decor was awesome! The kids loved the costumes, games (mummy wrapping, pumpkin relays, trick (dare) or treat, orange toss) face painting, monster popcorn hands, ghost stories, mystery boxes, and of course - candy! I was proud to be a part of it!

13. Was looking for something fun to do for the night of Halloween and surfed the internet. I stumbled upon a Facebook group for Uijeongbu and then their Halloween event. I made a post to their group page and got a few messages saying I should come to the party. I even found a new friend to go with! Alison from Canada! GaYeong joined us as well. I was a nerd-witch turned "Sally Potter" throughout the night. I had a blast meeting a load of new people and just hanging around Uijeongbu. This new group has already proved to be friendly and fun.

14. Was privileged to go to a Korean wedding - one of the male Korean teachers at PLUS invited me. Unfortunately, my camera was out of battery but the images are in my head. The bride and groom wear western-style dress for the ceremony then change into their hanbok traditional clothes for a private tea ceremony with the parents and the reception. The parents wear hanbok as well while everyone else wears the same as what you would wear in America. There are no bridesmaids or groomsmen. The 6 floor wedding hall is built to be used for only weddings and has pre-decor and music. The reception hall is shared with other wedding parties (multiple couples getting married each day - probably 10 at this hall.) The ceremony was 20 minutes. The buffet was however long you wanted. The end. It's over. No dance. Just quick and easy! I must admit it was beautiful and really interesting. I know the bride and groom were still stressed like the states.

15. I took Sonny to a great vet - ears cleaned, claws clipped, 1 of 3 rounds of vaccines, and he has mold on his skin! He has to have a pill twice a day and a shower every three days - essentially the definition of cat owner hell. BUT it's totally worth it - this little guy has a spunky personality, a hunter spirit, kisses me hello, sleeps on my warmth, purrs for a good stroke, and looks in my eyes with love :) He's amazing. FYI: I will be bringing him back to the States with me.

16. Met Alison and the Uijeongbu Crew: Meg, Feb, Stella, Breda, Alex, and many more for drinks on Friday and dinner in Seoul on Saturday. Post-dinner Saturday continued to a western "ice" bar (hole of ice with beer from all over the world in the middle of the table) and then a booking club. You may ask: what is a booking club? No we don't read books on a Saturday at 12am. It's like a night club but there's an extra step: you get dragged to tables of the opposite sex by employees. It's like night club speed dating. Pretty fun - music and dancing was good. I got dragged once. hehe! Friends only mister!

17. 11.11=Veteran's Day in America=Pepero Day in Korea. Pepero is a chocolately delicious snack stick that is considered to look like 1 1 1 1. It's celebrated much like the American Valentine's Day. My students flooded me with boxes. I did not object.

18. Sonny got a collar and tags are on the way! His 2nd visit to the vet let me know that his recent diarrhea might be related to my easy method of mix-the-capsule-powder-into-wet-food. Thus, I'm struggling to feed him the whole pill. First successful feed: 11-12-09 at 11:03:39 PM.

19. Major back problem: I think a small gnome snuck into my apt and stabbed an invisible knife in the left side of my back. I can't use the muscle that requires you to hold your head forward (sit up, ride in a car, lead head back.) At first I thought it was muscle, now I think it's bone. Either way - I dunno wtf to do here - no chiropractors! I went to an oriental doctor today and will go three more days to manage the pain. Of course if something's out of alignment, then I'll probably be in pain soon after these session. I like the acupuncture though - it's relaxing and it helped a little the first time. If next week is still bad, I'll visit some bone-ish doctor and see what they can do. I think I just need to find that gnome and torture him until he takes out the knife. Any advice on how to track gnomes is appreciated. Seriously.

20. Cleaned apartment and did laundry. Ate almost rotten food. Started to set up Quicken. Transferred money to US bank (YAY small cheers inside.) Set up school loan repayment (BOO small growls inside.) Notes to self: learn to buy food smarter. Buy winter clothes. Look into learning Korean. Be a more frequent blogger.