I'm a....

Seoul (wo)Man!
Here I am! I made it! I am so excited and proud that I was able to navigate three international flights by myself (and God, of course) and not have any big problems! There was a screaming baby on two flights (the same one) and the Shanghai Airport apparently doesn't believe in air conditioning, but all in all it wasn't so bad.
My principal, Steve Massiah, picked me up at the airport and drove me to my apartment. My apartment is quite big for what I was expecting! I have an extra room with a desk in it, but it doesn't have A/C, so I won't be spending that much time in there right now. It is HUMID! The only time I am not sweating is in my apartment and when my classroom cools down enough.

I took a video literally 10 minutes after I got into my apartment, but I'm having trouble uploading it. So, due to the time constraint of my laptop dying, I am going to have to get back to you on that.

This morning, I woke up at 6am and immediately made a list of things I need to get at the store (which is across the street, through the park, over the rainbow bridge, and through the other park.) It's about a 7 minute walk. I put a lot of my clothes away and decided to head on downstairs because I was being picked up to go take a quick tour of my school and be able to work in my classroom. I left my apartment early to walk a few blocks around my apartment to see what is around me. There is a Dunkin Doughnuts, Baskin Robbins, Paris Baguette, 4ish coffee places, 10ish Korean Restaurants, a bank, 2 hair salons, a cell phone store and 2 Seven-eleven type places. That is just in the bottom of MY building. Next door has a movie theater, stores, the bank I'll use, and other useful things! I couldn't work up the courage to go into Dunkin Doughnuts and order a coffee myself, so I went without this morning.
I met up with three other brand new -to-Korea teachers. Sarah Wood will be teaching 4th grade this year, lives in my building, teaches next door to me, and is awesome. She is from Asheville, NC so I told her about our Christmas there. She is really sweet.
We decided that the two of us would stick together and man am I glad!
Matt and Charlie are two other new teachers that live in the apartments by the store (that is the 7 min walk away). Another Matt picked us and my co-teacher, Jeff, up at 10 and we headed up to school. Matt showed us where the bus stop is so we will know for when school starts. We took a tour of our school (it's awesome!) and then went to our rooms to begin working, where I promptly skyped mom and dad. :) We were treated to a delicious Korean lunch with dumplings, kimbap, fried pork with korean sauce, and other delicious treats. It was great!
We then went back to school and I actually worked then! Sarah and I decided that we wanted to leave early so we braved the bus (where the driver didn't give us the appropriate change back (he acutally gave us NO change). But we made it. We then changed out of our sweaty clothes and into clothes we didn't mind being sweaty in and made our way to the subway station.
Yes, that's right! My first adventure in Korea! Sarah and I mastered (for the most part) the subway system and went to Insedong. There are many small neighborhoods that are made up of mostly traditional housing. We walked around for a while, got completely exhausted when our jet lag finally kicked in, and had to stand the majority of the way home on the subway because people were coming home from work and the subway was packed. We then walked to the store because we both HAD to get an alarm clock so we aren't late tomorrow morning. Sarah has a great app on her iPad that is a korean translator. So she typed in "alarm clock," in comes up in Korean, and will say it as well. When I get my phone, that is the first app I get! It was so helpful!
I won't be getting my own internet (I'm borrowing from someone or some place right now) my cell phone, or my transportation pass, until next week sometime.  Pictures are to come later!
So for now, I am signing off because my computer is about out of juice and my eyes won't stay open.
God is good all the time! All the time, God is good!
-Sara

Goodbyes...

suck.
The past week has gone by SO fast and yet so slow! It's hard to explain. I'm ready to get this show on the road, but I am not ready to say goodbye to family and friends. The anxiousness of the unknown about all that is this new experience will be elevated when I get there, but it's taking a long time to get to that point. Yet, the sadness of saying goodbye has happened way too fast.
Such is life.
I said a lot of cheerful goodbyes a few weeks ago at my going away party. It hadn't (and still hasn't) really hit that I am leaving so I hugged and said goodbye to some great college and work friends. It was a great party. If you don't believe me, read the post below.
Sunday night I spent the night in Denton with my friend Lacy who was working at a clinic up there on Monday the 16th. So we had a slumber party where I couldn't keep my eyes open and had no idea what Lacy or I were talking about. (I've never been good at slumber parties. I always just want to go to sleep.) So we woke up the next morning and had a good, long breakfast at Panera before Lacy had to go into work. It kind of got a little real at that point, but I talked to Lacy later that day as she drove home... so I still wasn't too sad. Yet.

Fast forward through a week of packing up my apartment to dinner at my Aunt Susie's. It was so great. She made the enchiladas that I dream about. They are a childhood staple for me and I was so glad to have them once more before I left! My Aunt Judy, Uncle Steve, Tracy (cousin), Vanessa (cousin), Aunt Susie, Uncle Van, Granny, PawPaw, Mom, Dad, and the rest of my family (little ones included) were all there, so it was a fun family gathering! The little ones played outside on the swing and in the water table while the adults chatted and got caught up. My granny made me a travel quilt that I am so excited to take to Korea with me, and my PawPaw supplied me with more hand and feet warmers for the bitter cold that I will endure. Both will keep this Texas girl warm and happy. Toward the end of the evening we went through old pictures of my parents, my brothers, and myself. Pierson got to see what Grandpa looked like when he was his Daddy's age. The resemblance confused Pierson for a little bit when we pointed at my dad and asked "Who is that!?" He hesitated and pointed to Nathan and said, "YOU!?" As much as I've always thought Nathan looks more like the Gillis side of the family, there is no doubt he is a Hall.

Nathan and Pierson at the beach in Vancouver June 2011

Dad and I near Galveston in summer of 1986?

Hopefully you see some resemblance.

My first hard goodbye was to my sister-in-law Melissa while leaving Aunt Susie's house. She is at a retreat this weekend and that was the last time I got to see her in person before Christmas. She has been a part of this family (in my eyes) since I was a freshman in high school-- 1999? I cried most of the way home.

I went home and continued to pack up my apartment and get ready for the move. Jared came over on Tuesday and we moved most of my apartment into a tiny storage facility! I stressed out the majority of the time we were moving because I was convinced it was  not going to fit. Early on Jared said that we might have to take the legs off my table to make everything fit and sure enough, the packing Yoda was right. I am always amazed at how he is able to tetris things to get everything to fit just right. It's a gift. Even though the weather was hot and moving was hard, I had a really fun time with my brother. He is one of my best friends, and he made moving fun!

I cleaned the rest of the day and went over to my mom and dad's to go to sleep. Wednesday was probably my most productive non-teaching day I have ever had. I ran errands from 8am to 6pm and got everything done! Well, except one thing. My AC adaptor for my computer blew out on Monday and I went to Best Buy to get another one. I quickly called the computer savvy brother and Nate didn't recognize the brand of the only adaptor that would supposedly work for my computer. So, he ordered two off Amazon and had them here by Friday. And as you can tell, my computer is alive! Thank you, Nathan! (I have the best big brothers. In case anyone was wondering.)

Wednesday was also the day I said goodbye to Molly. She is one of my best friends and worked with me at Otis Brown for 3 1/2 years! We were blessed to get hired at the same school! God is pretty cool! We had lunch at Chipotle and said goodbye-- and it sucked. I love Molly, but I am really going to miss her.

My mom took off work on Thursday and we got to spend the day together (minus some time at the dentist, but with my screwed up mouth what else is new?). We ate at Twisted Root (great burgers) and got our nails done. Then I bought a new backpack (since Jared found out that I have had his for 6 years-- stupid moving). We met Nancy and Bill Yates at La Hacienda Ranch for dinner and had a great time. The Yates are basically family and I am going to miss them so much!

Bill and Nancy outside of La Hacienda Ranch

We missed you, Lindsey, Tim, and Kyle!

After dinner I drove up to Lewisville to say goodbye to Jim and Patricia Welch. We had snowcones at Bahama Bucks and chatted for a while, then said our goodbyes. I held it together until I got in the car, and again, I lost it. I love those two. They are such great friends and we always have a fun time together. I will miss our "Real Food Mondays" with Bachelor, Bachelorette, and Dancing with the Stars.

Friday morning I woke up and met Ashlee at our coffee shop, Java Me Up. We, as usual, sat outside on the patio and drank our coffee and got caught up. Ashlee was my roommate for two years, then we lived across the street from each other for another two years. She has become one of my best friends and has been such a blessing. I couldn't hold it together for that goodbye and had a nice cry before I got in the car and continued to cry all the way to lunch with my parents. My mom and I ran errands after lunch then went home to get ready for dinner at Babe's. I drove myself to dinner because I am one who likes to cry by myself. I need no consoling nor do I want it, and I knew I was going to cry.

Uncle Hadley, Aunt Gaynell, Brady, Courtney, baby Callan, and the whole Hall gang (minus Melissa- we missed you) were there to enjoy the good food. I ate WAY too much (as usual there) and had a good time seeing everyone. I said goodbye to my extended family, then had to say the dreaded goodbye to Nathan, Erin, and my nieces and nephews. Not fun. I tried not to cry because I didn't want to freak Macy or Pierson out, but it couldn't be helped. Jared is going to see me off at the airport, so I wasn't too worried about saying goodbye to him yet. I hugged the kids, hugged Erin, and hugged Nathan for so long his shirt was wet (sorry, Bubs). I hugged Jared mostly because he was holding Reid. Reid apparently thinks my ugly cry face is HILARIOUS as he was laughing the whole time. I love that kid. I left first because it could have dragged on longer than needed, and headed home.

The night was spent watching the opening ceremony for the Olympics and teaching my parents how to use Skype.

I woke up this morning and started unpacking and repacking my bags for Korea as all three are over the weight limit. After repacking,  now only two are over the weight limit. Today will be spent reassing all of my luggage until most of it is under the weight limit (I'll let one go over).

I'm pretty overwhelmed and distracted which is good right now. Once I get everything in order and run out of things to do, I will probably start to get more nervous.

I can still feel God in control, and I know who to run to when I start to freak out. As much as my friends and family love me, they can't calm my anxiety. I continually go back to February when this all began and remind myself of how perfectly this all aligned. It is God. I am doing what He wants me to do, even though I'm scared. It's exciting to be called, though. I have no idea what exactly I'm in for, but I know it will bring God glory.

Hallelujah!

-Sara

My Cup...

Overflows....
Words cannot describe how amazing my friends and family are. I don't deserve them, but they are always there for me. My closest friends threw me a going away party last weekend and it was awesome! I am not a huge fan of being the reason for a party, but it was amazing to see a lot friends before I go. Plus, it wasn't the night before I leave so I wasn't weepy and such! While I did bring my camera, it was charging upstairs for half of the party. I promise to get better about picture taking!!!
Jim and Patricia Welch hosted the party at their AMAZING new house! Those two used to live right across the street from me and it has been awesome to have such good friends so close! Patricia's dad and Jim smoked the BEST BBQ I've ever had! They started it the night before and it was cooked to perfection! Lacy came up from Marble Falls, Megan and Ross came from Midland, Molly and Zach, and Ashlee all helped host the party.
I could write up a play by play, but really. No need. It was simply amazing.
Here are a few photos of me and my nephews. (The nieces were not interested in pictures.)


Sweet Nephew!!

                                      

 

Pierson Everette! (Reagan smiled in the back, but refused to smile with me!)

I love this kid!!

Lacy and Molly stole the camera!

 After all the guests left, we decided we would spend the rest of the evening playing games! There was about a 3 hour game of Nertz (I may be exaggerating, but when your team loses by over 150 pts it seems that long.) We went outside to Jim and P's great backyard and played Redneck Golf and Washers!

Molly, Megan, Zach, and Ross play "Redneck Golf."

 So here is some information you need to know: Molly and Megan are no longer allowed to be on the same team ever again. It's simply unfair. The End. :)

More Redneck Golf

Washers! Sorry Mr. Doug! I guess that game was a warm up.

Mr. Gary is pretty pro at washers! He and Ashlee did great!

Jim and Patricia Welch!
(Their mom had the camera... I know have several "couple" pictures of them! Haha!)

 Later that night we went to Bahama Bucks and had the best snow cones ever! Sadly the place was crazy crowded and the tether ball court was being used.

The next day Jim, Patricia, Ashlee, and I got out on the lake early and went wakeboarding. It was greatness!

Jim got a new wakeboard that he was breaking in.

Captain Patricia!!

 Ash and I on the boat!

 Lacy was getting brave on the wakeboard!

 So was Ashlee! If you look closely, you can see her getting a little air!

Patricia is such a pro!!

That's me getting air!!
Just kidding... I freak out when I even start to get out of the wake!

 It was also my brother, Jared's, 30th birthday!! So I left for the afternoon to spend lunch with the family and my brother!

 Dinner with the bubs!

 My brothers and Macy!

Throwback!

This was Lacy's tiny bathroom in her house from college that was always an adventure to use! You could use the restroom, brush your teeth, and stick your feet in the shower all at the same time!

As Lacy would say,"You kind of have to sit on the toilet sideways... otherwise it's a little awkward."

Jared replied, "Oh really!? Let's just see."

(I actually made that conversation up. I wasn't there when this photo was taken.)

As for now, I am basically just panicing... I mean packing. I have my bags for Korea packed, but after weighing them I have realized that I will have to downsize. If I take 3 bags (one extra bag than allowed for overseas) I refuse to have them over the weight limit!
I will have my clothes and most of my kitchen packed by the end of the day. (Yay!) And will be on to my living room and all the other odds and ends later on.
God has blessed me and it is increasingly evident every day. Praise Him!
Sara

Oklahoma...

is actually pretty cool!
Last week, my family and I went on vacation to Beaver's Bend State Park! I'd never been there, and it was beautiful! My parents rented a large cabin that we all stayed in together. We had a BLAST!
We all got there on Wednesday and hung out for the 4th of July. I, unfortunately, don't have any pictures from our trip. I hope to get some from Melissa, but that will have to wait.
Thursday morning, Mom and Dad went canoeing early while Nathan, Melissa, Jared, and I went later on in the morning. We were really excited because we knew there would be rapids and rope swings. As it turns out, we are not as great at canoeing as we thought. Jared and I kind of bent our canoe after being dumped out of it twice. It still floated and we did not have to pay for it, but we still broke a canoe. It turns out that we come by it honest because our parents, hours earlier, were dumped out on the rapids and did some damage to their canoe, too. I'm a little worried that we are on a "black list" for canoe rentals. No lie, it was pretty fun.
Friday, Nathan and Melissa were generous enough to rent a wake boarding boat for a few hours in the morning, so we were able to play on the lake with the kids all morning! Unfortunately, the wake board was missing a few key pieces that made wake boarding pretty hard. But Nathan, Jared, and Melissa got some pretty great skiing in! We also had a blast on the tube. I will post pictures of some of us standing up on the tube while it was moving. (Mom and Dad had already gone home by this point or I'm sure we would have been scolded. All is well!) Pierson and Reagan had a great time going VERY slowly on the tube for the first time, too! We all went home and took naps. It was glorious!
Saturday we went into Beaver's Bend Park with the purpose of riding the train and doing fun things with the kiddos. The only problem (and blessing for those who live in that area) was that a thunderstorm came through and dumped water on us for a couple of hours. We found a place to eat in the park and went home. Nathan and Melissa took Pierson to the train after the rain to see if it was running then as Pierson was disappointed and would only take the conductor's word that it wasn't running. Alas, it wasn't, but he got ice cream and had a great afternoon! We spend the rest of the day relaxing.
Sunday we all got up early, packed, and headed home. It was a great, relaxing family vacation. I promise to get pictures up as soon as possible.
I leave for Korea in less than three weeks! I am currently packing up and cleaning my apartment. It's a little slow going. Unfortunately, I have ADD. I start something, think of something else and get distracted. Needless to say, there are a lot of piles on the floor and I'm a little overwhelmed.
It will get done, I know it. I may just need to stay up late since friends are coming in town this weekend to hang out. Tomorrow starts my "Molly and Sara Day," so I need to have my house clean... maybe not packed away, but clean and somewhat organized. I'm sure I'll find my zone.
As far as the shock of moving to the other side of the world. It hasn't set in and I've been told that it won't until I get to the airport, or board the plane, or get to another airport, or get to Seoul.... something like that. Meanwhile, I am just continually praying for peace and courage.
Sara

THIS MONTH!
I leave this month for Seoul!
I've been really worried about my Visa because it hasn't been sent back to me in three weeks. I've called and called and had to learn how to be assertive and more stern with people on the phone to get answers. (I am a HUGE pushover when it comes to that.) I wish I could say it was their mistake, but it wasn't. I forgot to send in one tiny thing that makes a HUGE difference. I should have my visa by the end of the week. I will be able to sleep MUCH better now!
Not too much has happened the past few weeks. I've been having lazy days and reading books for my new school.
I did get to go see my friend Lacy and spend a long weekend at her parent's lake house again! I went down to Marble Falls on Thursday afternoon. Lacy's group of friends in the Falls haven't been out to Camp of the Hills to see the Crucifixion Reenactment before, so I went with them to dinner at camp then watched to reenactment. If you don't know what I'm talking about, here's a little background.
I worked out at Camp of the Hills (COTH) in 2005, 2007, and one week in 2008 and 2009. It's a Christian camp for inner city youth from Texas and Oklahoma. Just like there is a Kenya shaped room in my heart, there is a COTH shaped room in my heart as well. I love it there. Every Thursday, the staff reenacts the crucifixion of Christ. Now, it is not bloody nor is is gruesome, but it is there to show the kids how much Jesus loves them. After the reenactment, the kids are split back up into their cabins and have a devotional where they are allowed to ask questions and speak their minds about what they have seen. On Friday mornings the staff reenacts the Resurrection, communion is explained to the kids, and another devotional takes place. God is all over that camp and it was nice to see new people experience camp.
Friday morning, Lacy and I left for her parents house and made a small (and by small I mean large and deliberate) detour to the San Marcos Outlets. I may have bought some stuff. Don't worry, I'm going through my clothes again to make room for my new clothes in my wardrobe! We made it in time for some fun on her parent's new wave runners!!! I am definitely a lake person and riding a wave runner is probably my favorite thing. The only problem was that Lacy and I spent WAY too much time on those toys and our rear ends felt as if we had just gotten on a bike for 3 hours after a 10 year hiatus. OUCH (but fun)!
The next day more friends came over- Jim and Patricia,  Asa and Bethany, Ashley and Matt, Laquita and Curtis, and Lacy's brother Robby. We had a GREAT weekend on the lake and catching up. Mr. and Mrs. Haney are truly great for letting a bunch of 20-somethings invade their home for a weekend.
This, unfortunately, is the only picture I have from the weekend:

It's a small photo, but there's most of us floating and catching up!

It was a great weekend! Since then, I have slowly been getting ready for the move. Today I decided to put my mom's mind at ease. She is nervous that I am going to freeze to death in Seoul. So, I made a Walmart run and bought the Space Saver Bags. Here's a little photo story about how great they actually are!

The extra large bag with 2 down coats, 2 northface jackets, 2 peacoats, snow pants, rain jacket, 3 sweaters, and 2 pairs of gloves

                       

The Before Pictures

                  

 After some repacking- here are the after pictures!

The Before of towels and some kitchen things



 The after pictures with another bag full of sweaters and scarves.

I will not be freezing!!

In addition to packing for cold weather, I am also cooking to get rid of a bunch of food so that it doesn't go to waste! I have been trying new recipes and been mostly pleased. I've expecially been pleased with my complete from scratch chocolate cupcakes! I took them to my parents house and they were delicious!

I didn't feel like getting my cute serving trays out.

Now, just for fun, here are some cute pictures of my sweet neice Reagan Leigh

 Cheese!!

 Hanging out in Mommy's shoes!

 Hanging out in Aunt Sara's boots!

I'm getting more excited about moving!!  Thank you, GOD! He has been good and patient with me as I slightly freak out about all of this!

Tomorrow I will be leaving for Oklahoma for our family vacation and I cannot wait!! I pray that God blesses us with some great family time!!

-Sara