Learning to Dive in El Nido

The boys and I decided to get our PADI Open Water Diver Certificates while in the Philippines. It was a way to treat ourselves for completing a year abroad in South Korea, and considerably cheaper than getting certified back home. After researching different dive centers in El Nido, we went with Submariner Diving Center, which was an excellent choice.

Everyone at the center was friendly and helpful. We spent the most time with our instructor André, so naturally he was our favorite, but all of the other instructors that we met were great as well. André gave very clear instructions but also put us at ease so we weren't afraid to do any of the tasks. He joked back and forth with us, and just really made the whole experience amazing.

El Nido

Hey everyone! I've been preoccupied moving these last few months, but I finally have internet at my new place so I can continue playing catch up with the blog. Yay!

The second place we went to on Palawan was El Nido. I really wanted to do this place justice because it was so beautiful and relaxing. First, a couple important points should you decide to go there:

• There were no ATM machines, so bring enough cash for your entire stay.
• There are really only two ways of getting there. You can take a bus from Puerto Princesa, or a boat from Coron.

El Nido is not a convenient place to travel to, but oh so worth it. We took a charter bus from Puerto Princesa, and that took several hours (I think about 8?) but it was worth it for the air conditioning and leg room. El Nido isn't a large town but it sports some lovely ocean views.

The balcony at our first hotel.

After our first night we found a new hotel with more room since we were meeting up with +Aubrey and +Philip! We picked the Rainforest Hotel because we fell in love with their back porch and view.

They also had cats! Sold!

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

So waaaaaay back in March I took a little adventure to South East Asia. My teaching contract was up at the end of February so I had planned a month of fun in the sun island hopping before coming back home to California. It was a nice little reward I had saved up for after completing my year abroad.

I kicked off my journey with Diane and we went to the Philippines, to the island of Palawan. We stayed in Puerto Princesa in the Subli Guest Cabins. The people at Subli were super helpful and awesome. The breakfasts were cooked up fresh in the morning, you could lay beneath their giant mango tree, and somebody was always there to call you a motorbike for a fair price. The cabins themselves were surrounded by lush vegetation and little fearless geckos.

July Mini Vacation to Monterey Bay

Last month John and I took a trip up to Monterey for John's birthday. We met up with his family and did the aquarium, Carmel, and drove back home down Highway 1. It was a great reminder of how beautiful California's coast  is and how happy I am to be back :)

The Ladybug Battalion and Other Life Updates

My little window box garden on the balcony has recently become infested with aphids. After using some safer soap I discovered it burned my poor calibrachoa blossoms to a crisp. For a few days I used a squirt bottle to dislodge the aphids with water, but I was only winning small battles. I needed an army to win this war!

I decided to get some ladybugs. I didn't think they would stay very long in my tiny garden, but I was hoping they would at least clear out what pests I had before flying off into the sunset. Three days later and I apparently have enough aphids to keep a few dozen happy ladybugs around.

Patrol on the calibrachoa!

The ladybugs really like my silver leaf thyme. I think there are bug eggs on the leaves for them to devour.

I didn't know my rose scented geranium had aphids until the morning after I released my red and black army. My geranium is hardy enough to withstand an aphid attack so I don't mind it housing food for my soldiers. Now I enjoy sipping tea on the balcony watching the beetles 'do their thang'.

In other news I'm going to Florida for a week . It will be my first time on the East coast outside of an airport. When I return I'll get back to job applications... Somebody needs to hire me soon!

Hanoi and Ha Long Bay

 Finally, Hanoi! The third and final stop of my Vietnam adventure back in January. During our stay in Hanoi preparations were being made all over the country for the lunar new year. Signs and flowers were abundant along walkways and parks.

Home Sweet Home!

Hello everyone! I'm officially announcing my return to California. I've been home for over a week now but I've been pretty busy. I'm still in the process of slowly moving my belongings from one area to the next and running errands like getting my car back and paying for auto insurance again. I've also reunited with my cat and he's settling into the new apartment. He wasn't excited to see me, but he tolerated me which is better than running away from strangers. To be fair, he was pretty grumpy from matted hair and fleas. I took him to the vet where he got a really uneven hair cut, but I'm sure he feels a lot better not being itchy or tangled. He's adapting pretty well to the indoor only life thus far.

Today I went for a walk on one of my favorite local trails. The hills are all green right now and some wild flowers are popping up. It smelled like home. I missed being able to enjoy the outdoors in comfortable weather and fresh air. I look forward to many more walks in the area.

Now that I'm settling in I can finish up my last Vietnam post and then share all of my adventures in the Philippines and Thailand that took place last month. It's good to be back :)

Things I've learned so far: Differing expectations during doctor visits.

I have shipped my laptop home so there will be no more photo updates. In the mean time, please enjoy my adventure in the Korean medical system!

A few weeks ago I was suffering from a sinus infection. It was to the point where my face was stinging from the congestion and it hurt to just breath. I was waking up in the middle of the night in discomfort, and unable to fall back asleep. As a result I took my first and only sick day on a day I knew I didn't have any classes, hoping some rest would do me good. My symptoms were only getting worse so I decided to go see a Korean doctor. I may as well use the cheap health care while I had insurance...

The next day my co teacher was kind enough to take me to a local doctor. We were able to walk right in and have the doctors undivided attention. The family physician was very kind, but not the most fluent in English. He listened to my description of symptoms and then started looking at my throat. This is where things start to change from previous experiences in America. He looked at my throat and then used a little suction tube to clean it off. It was like the tube that the dentist uses to suck up all your drool during an exam. Okay, I thought. Maybe it is easier to see my tonsil after a little cleaning? Sure. why not?

Next he wants to look up my nose. okaaaaaay? He then tells me that he will clean out my nose. He tells me to lean my head back, relax, and breath through my mouth. He propped my nostril open with a little clamp and gave me a quick mist of what I assume was anesthetic. He also told me repeatedly not to be scared. Why would I be scared? At this point I should have noted that the nurse was still holding onto my head after she had positioned it into the correct angle.  The dental-sucking-tube poked around my nose removing snot. It was a little tender in my sinuses, but I have a decent pain tolerance and just let him do his work. That wasn't so bad I thought. The pressure had really reduced and I could breath without pain for the first time in days. So when the doctor asked me if I had any remaining fluid in my nose I noted that there was a little bit left and figured I could manage another go at the nose sucking.

I was wrong. Round two was when I realized why the nurse was holding on to my head and why the doctor had told me not to be scared. What happened next was not a happy light cleaning as much as an attempted lobotomy. It felt like he was piercing through my inflamed sinuses with a needle. At one point I felt a breeze on the back of my throat from the suction. I started to flinch and utter out noises involuntarily from pain while the doctor tried to comfort me by repeatedly saying ¨Believe in me! Relax! Believe in me!¨  When he was finished my sinuses felt battered and bruised although admittedly quite clear. My right eye was watering from the trauma my face had just endured. When the doctor asked my how I felt, I answered oh much better! I would have answered anything to not have that tube back in my nose.

Next up was a shot in the butt. This I was totally prepared for. It's very common to go to the doctor's in Korea, get a quick injection in the butt and be on your way. You just drop your pants, get a few slaps on the butt and it's over. I was later told that this is how horses are given  injections. So now I get to say I was treated like an animal, but I think its much more amusing to say I was spanked by a nurse. Oh my!

I then sat down and breathed in a machine that produced some sort of Vick's vapors. It felt kind of nice to breath in but honestly did little to ease the discomfort on my recently raked nose cavity. I then paid for my treatment and walked next door to pick up my 3 days worth of mystery pills. Total time into the doctors office and out the pharmacy was about 30 minutes and cost me about $10.

In America I'm pretty sure this would have gone down as follows: Wait for 20 minutes to see anyone, quick exam, prescriptions, pay about $30 for copay plus whatever medication you will need to pick up after another wait. You have to admire the efficiency and price of the Korean system by comparison.

I'm fairly certain the nose sucking procedure was just a quick fix, but it did temporarily relieve my congestion and pressure instantly before the meds could kick in. I wouldn't recommend it for anything less than severe discomfort though, because it's not pretty and I'm still finding traces of blood when I blow my nose.

I think I may have been the only foreigner the doctor in my neighborhood has treated because he was eager to offer any other services I might need. Gynecology, surgery, he does it all! He looked rather disappointed when I told him I'd be leaving Korea soon. It's okay doctor man, I will never forget the time we shared together up my nose, and I will always believe in you!

Mid Move Update!

So much packing! Although it is thankfully less packing than what it took to get to Korea, I don't know how I've accumulated so much stuff in one year. I mean, yes, I bought a few too many stickers than a grown woman should admit to, but what is the rest of this stuff?

Last week was my one year anniversary of moving to Korea. Today is the last day of my contract. Even though I'm stressed and busy, I have a sense of joy about finishing up my year. Teaching abroad is another item crossed off my unwritten bucket list. It feels really good to accomplish that goal. Although this experience was trying at times, and I'm not the best lesson planner, I feel like I really had a good rapport with my kids in spite of the language barrier. All said and done I'm going to miss those little munchkins the most. They made my job awesome. Walking to and from school to a bunch of little voices shouting "Hello Theresa teacher!" made it possible to think to myself "I love my job" at least once a day. This is the best job I've ever had, but I'm still ready to come back to California.

I miss my brown grassy hills and oak trees. I miss walking on the beach or playing in the cold waves. I miss weather that lets me comfortably be outside for extended periods of time. I miss fresh air that doesn't try to kill me with anything more than pollen and dust. I hate to go all Dorothy on you all, but there is no place like home. (Especially when your home is California) I also miss my friends and loved ones obviously, but I've discovered my living environment plays a big part in my overall quality of life.

For the next month my life will be scattered  in boxes and planes over a few different countries. I'm going to the Philippines and Thailand with friends to celebrate the completion of my contract before returning to the states. I'm shipping the bulk of my belongings home ahead of me so when I return I'll only have my backpack and can waltz past the baggage claim, through customs, and into the arms of my ride home. I may be delirious enough to actually waltz. I'm looking forward to my little vacation, but I'm even more excited to have my life come back together state-side.

I'll be shipping my laptop home before leaving Korea, so there will be little to no blog updates until April. I'm really going to try get the last part of my Vietnam trip posted before then, but I'm not going to make any promises. Once I get home I'll be sure to post about my vacation and my glorious reunion with my cat. Will he remember me? Will he ignore me? Will he smugly pretend like nothing happened and he didn't notice I was gone? The suspense is killing me! Okay, back to packing. Until next time, stay classy planet Earth!

Hellooooo Hoi An!

Hey everyone, sorry for the long delay, but here is the second part from my Vietnam trip last month! From Ho Chi Minh we hopped on a plane to Da Nang and then took a car ride over to our next destination Hoi An. Our first day we decided to rent some bicycles and ride 3 kilometers to the beach. The weather was overcast and windy, but not too cold overall. We got to ride along side rice patties, cranes, and the occasional farmer.

Once we got to the beach we were immediately confronted by 3 women along the path, each trying to flag us down to their separate bike parking areas. The closest woman to us told us the others were asking for the same price and she INSISTED we park in her lot while the other women were in the background yelling "Welcome, please come here!" and waving us towards their area. We ended up going with the first lady and as soon as we moved our bikes to her side she was all smiles and started cackling, like she had just outsmarted the other women. Her laughter was infectious. We were laughing in confusion and amusement at this lady, who took such joy in stealing some customers.

Welcome to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam: Saigon

During my winter vacation away from school, I went to Vietnam for about 10 days in January. I was lucky enough to be invited to tag along with my friends Diane and Amanda after they had done the bulk of trip planning. I was concerned about spending the money, but it was either go to Vietnam, or sit at home, cold and alone in Korea. Vietnam won by simple virtue of having copious amounts of cheap pho. Vietnam pho the win! (Yeah, I went there!)

We first landed in Ho Chi Minh city, aka Saigon. The weather was a welcome change from Korea. It was warm and humid, but nowhere near as miserable as Daegu in the summer. Aside from feeling a little sticky, it was amazing. Our room for rent was located on "backpacker's street". I think it was only $8 a night per person for our private room and bathroom. Very cheap, and a very busy area. Even with the windows closed there was a constant roar of people talking and motor bikes driving down the road. I liked it a lot. It was crowded and noisy but also vibrant and energetic.

Backpacker's Street

At night all the little shops put out rows of plastic chairs facing the street and sell beer for you to drink while you people watch. As more people come, the chairs get placed further and further out into the street. It almost resembles stadium seating. The two sides of the street get to watch each other as well as anybody who passes in between.

Buddhist Temple Stay

Way back in early November I did an overnight temple stay at Jikjisa in Gimcheon. Since coming to Korea I thought it would be an interesting experience to become more familiar with Buddhism, so when I was offered a chance to do a free temple stay I signed up. Usually when these 'free' opportunities come up in Korea, it is only free for foreigners, and it is actually a publicity stunt where the sponsoring entity will take you picture to publish in some unknown location. That being said, I knew what to expect and was totally okay to go be an unpaid model  for whatever they were promoting as long as I was given free food.

Hello 2014!