14 of 1001... Can It Be Done?

Currently Reading: Antic Hay by Aldous Huxley
Currently Listening To: The Album Leaf

Well, I have a new goal in life...
I printed of a list today at school entitled "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die"
Feeling drawn and somehow under the control of this electronic onus, I feel that I must try my best to complete this list...
Intimidating - yes...
Seemingly impossible - yes...
Will this stop me? No!

Anyways, Spring Break is on the horizon...
Thank G for that...
I really need a LONG break to fully recharge...
I may have mentioned it in a previous post, but the weekends just aren't enough sometimes...
Mom! I got the care package...
It was wonderful!

Also, I wish I would have taken a Synoptic Gospels class in college...
I mean, they offered one, and I always wanted to take it - I heard it was awesome...
However, it never fit into my schedule...
Bummer...
I was reading the different accounts of the Resurrection on Easter, and I just wish I had learned about the reasonings behind all of the different accounts by someone who knows about them...
I mean, I understand the whole thing about different authors/different styles/etc.
However, there are some questions/concerns I have about why Jesus says some of the things that he says...
I guess I will have to do some reading on my own...
Make that 14 out of 1002...
Life is all about learning...
Sheesh...

Oh yeah...
I am 23 now...
Welp...
That's all for now...

Trait #1: You Have a Hard Time Following Through

Well, as the title suggests, I haven't been doing such a great job about keeping all the people back home in the good ole' U.S. of A. posted on my happenings over here...
Anyways, the past is past, right?
Let's turn this mess into a message...

Basically, I have learned some things about myself since I have been here...
I mean, I guess I always sort of knew them, but taking a test about yourself sort of has a way of concretizing all those things that float around in your head while you are folding laundry (yes, Mom, I fold my clothes - my room is actually, dare I say, quite impeccable), taking a shower, or staring at the ceiling before you fall asleep...
So, during our Teacher In-Service Training, we all took personality tests about what "color" personalities we possess...

One can be 1.) orange 2.) gold 3.) blue 4.) green

Well, orange is normally adventurous, outdoor-loving, spontaneous...
Gold is very time-oriented, organized, appreciates the value of money and family (very structured)
Blue is very artistic, poetic, introspective, sensitive, etc.
Green is very calculative, drawn to logic, etc.

For anyone who truly knows me, I scored off the charts blue...
Since that, even though I joke about it, my life makes a lot more sense...
I guess I always assumed a was a very "big picture" kind of guy (this also ties in to my Strengths - Intellection, Restorative, Adaptability, Connectedness, Input)...
But, I am beginning to think that there is a fine line between looking at the big picture and looking at the consequences of things (here is where connectedness comes into play)...
I feel like throughout my life, I have done a pretty good job of staying out of trouble for the sake of understanding cause-and-effect scenarios...
However, I am not so sure I have a firm grasp on the big picture of things (i.e., life)...
I probably could have articulated myself way better last week or so when I was thinking about it, but it is coming back to my mind as I type...
Anyways, sorry this isn't truly a Korea post about my adventures in Seoul (though I did go there last weekend)...
But, I mean, the people who read this want to know me on a deeper level anyway...
So, if you have made it this far in my introspective rant, I indeed salute you...

At 22, I've Got Cement Shoes...

Well...
I am listening to my Bible class speak in a language that I really just don't know while they are working on their projects...
These kids are really funny sometimes, but I just don't feel like being at school right now...
It is snowing like CRAZY right now...
Literally, we are talking like 15 minutes and the ground was covered in snow...
It is blowing my mind as we speak...
Hmm...
Update...
We went to Seoul this weekend, and I watched the girls shop and wandered around the subway...
I love public transportation, but not watching girls shop...
I mean, I like watching girls, but, you know what I mean...
(haha - I just had such a Holden Caulfield moment... my hero!)
Um...
I graded papers at Starbucks on Sunday night in Cheongju...
I gave my first test last Friday...
The kids didn't do that well overall...
I was experiencing such a mix of emotions - anger, disappointment, it was really weird...
Anyways...
I might have to start teaching English to elementary schoolers at an academy affiliated with the school...
It is a surefire way to get a visa, but it is more work, lesson plans, grading, time, etc...
However, it is $300 extra a month, which will come in handy if/when I travel after school...
Things here are well...
I started running again...
It has been cool to go out at night and just run through town and look around...
I get some strange looks, because I am sure the people of this small town don't expect a big white dude to be jogging in Eumseong at like 9 p.m.
I just finished lesson plans for the week, and think I might start my history lesson notes for tomorrow...
Maybe I will be able to put up pictures in the next couple weeks...
Love you, Mom! (Let's be honest, you are the only person who reads this, that is if you haven't stopped, too)

I Accidentally Bought the Spiciest Noodles Imaginable...

(That is a picture of Daejeon, by the way)
Well, I got home from school today and was starving...
So, I headed to the store in our apartment complex to grab something to eat...
I picked up a random 5-pack of noodles (the #5 was the only thing on the packaging that I could even read), some Pringles, and a bottle of water...
After I got home, I made the noodles, only to discover that they are spicy as all get out...
Oh well...
A guy's gotta' eat...
Anyways, I am currently sitting in my bedroom with my iPod on shuffle typing out a chapter summary for my World History class...
They have a test on Friday...
After this, I am going to try and figure out a good way to teach my Bible class this week...
It is really hard to teach high-schoolers a Bible class, especially early in the morning...
And, these kids don't get nearly enough sleep...
They are on a pretty strict schedule that the school puts out in their dorms...
However, it's tough, because I want to make it cool for them, but I have certain things that I need to try and lecture about...
However, who wants to listen to a lecture? Especially in high school...
I just can't talk about a lot of stuff that would be cool a.) because of the curriculum, b.) because of the language barrier...
Theology uses crazy jargon, so it is hard to go deep with these kids in this setting, because they don't know what all those terms mean...
I just don't want them to hate the Bible, but I feel like it's tough, because no teenager wants to sit in a classroom...
Sheesh...
Anyways, we went to Cheungju this weekend and hung out...
It was really fun to "go out on the town" and explore Korea some...
Wonder what I will do this weekend...
Who knows, hopefully something fun...

I'm in the Wrong Body...

Well, I am sitting in my 4th period class, watching my kids do a worksheet...
Being a history teacher (or a high school teacher in general) is super-tough, because a.) most people think history is boring and b.) I don't know much about it...
I love the kids, and I feel bad for fourth period, because it is the last class of the day for them and me, so we are both so stinking tired...
God help me...
I really want to bond with them...
That is my prayer...
What a discouraging post this is...
Anyways...
I have had some really good times since I have been here...
I have been to Seoul, Cheongju, and Chungju, but I forgot the USB cable for my camera, so I can't post any pictures...
I think I love this job, it is just super-stressful starting out...
I really need God's help...
I always feel sort of like I am not cut out for this job at the end of the day, but I can't wait to see the kids...
Sheesh...
Korea is a really cool place, though, and I really want to learn the language...
Also, I need a paycheck...
That will be a great day...
Well, I need to figure out a way to kill ten minutes of class really quick...
I love everyone...
Please pray for me if you ever read this...
XOXO
Brandon

It Smells Like Kimchi Outside of Pizza Hut...

Well, I am here now...
I am slowly but surely getting settled in and unpacked...
Finally got some coat hangers...
PTL...
Um...
We went to Cheongbuk tonight, and are going to Seoul tomorrow...
The guys here are taller than I thought...
I still feel quasi-awkward/boxy/robotic when I am walking around, because I have no idea what anything is/says...
Oh well...
Life is great, though...
Maybe one day, I will get everything out of these suitcases and get paid...
Both of these will be momentous occasions in time...
Until then, I love you all!

The Question Is, When Will I Pack?

Welp...
I leave on Tuesday morning, bright and early...
Yep, I will be pulling out of Cleveland at around 6 am...
My visa got denied, so now I will have to get in on a tourist visa...
It's my last weekend, and I am going to Atlanta tomorrow to see my good friend Brad...
I wish I had great stuff to say, but I guess nothing exciting really happens when you sit aroud a boring town day after day...
Hopefully soon, I will have great pictures of a crazy country that speaks a language that makes my head hurt...
Peace