Winding Down

There is something about the holiday season that is a reflection period for many and although I have only been here for a couple of months and am a quarter into my stay in Korea I have started my reflection period and well....here goes:

• Self Improvement: There are always things about ourselves on the surface that we want to change but very rarely we get to the point were we are so isolated with ourselves that the things below the surface start to show. These are the things I am reevaluating and learning to change
• People Inventory: I think Madea put it perfectly when classifying people like parts on a tree: Leaves, Branches, and Roots. The older I get I am learning how to distinguish between a Branch and a Root and that it takes time for true "Roots" to develop. Not everyone is meant to be your best friend and when away some people really do show you who they really are and its best to let them do exactly what they are, "Leaves".
• Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptation: Korea has already proven to be the Anti-America in my mind, but I also went through a serious reality check with myself as to what I am doing to make it work here. It's not like when I was a student in France and I spoke the language and was familiar with the culture; here in Korea I am totally out of my element. I am learning that my need for specifics keeps me from being able to just go with the flow and can come off a bit aggressive to Koreans. I am learning the things that I cannot change and how to deal with them more progressively. There are still some set backs but maybe that just means it's time to refocus my energy.

So those are my year end ramblings. I am not a fan of New Years Resolutions, but there are somethings I plan to do differently in 2008, some changes and a completion of inventory.

I really want to say thank you for everyone who has been reading my blog and keeping in contact with me, all the comments and emails that you send. It means a lot to me and I really appreciate them. I need them to stay sane LOL. I hope every one's holiday season is going well and as you go through your own set of reflections I pray it never takes the same level of cultural isolation as it did with me.

And in the words of Beyonce: WHAT UP JAY!!