Christmastime in the Philippines

Even though it's hot and humid outside and doesn't feel like Christmastime at all, it still is, and it's nice to be reminded of it by decorations and Christmas lights.

In the Philippines if someone has a Christmas tree at their home, it's always a faux-tree and it's usually placed out on a front porch or balcony. It seems like people spend most of their time outside and from there they and others can enjoy it the most.

Near where we are staying in Tagbilaran, on the island Bohol, there is a public square with a big church on one side and the capitol building on the other. The park is decorated with all kinds of different Christmas lights.

A stroll through the park at night was a sparkly and wonderful way to be reminded that yes indeed, it is Christmastime, even though you are wearing as little clothes as possible and are still sweating at night! :)

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and lots of joy to all of those who don't celebrate either of those!! Happiness and love to all!!!

Serenity on Sugar Beach

After the hustle and bustle of Boracay, Sugar Beach was a welcome sight. We pulled up on the bright yellow Driftwood Village boat, named Surfy, to an nearly empty beach surrounded by hills crowded with jungle. It was perfection. Most unlike Boracay, there wasn't a single person trying to sell us stuff and we were so happy.

It's so peaceful on Sugar Beach that we were instantly relaxed, which was nice because it was a trek to get there. Sugar Beach is near the town of Sipalay on the west coast of the island of Negros. From Boracay, we took a bus to Iloilo (about 6 hours), a fast ferry (1.5 hours) to Bacolod (where we spent one night to break up the trip), then a bus from Bacolod to Sipalay (about 5 hours) and a boat from Sipalay to Sugar Beach (20 minutes), Phew! But it was worth it.

We were met with a smile and a handshake from the owner, Peter, who showed us to the reception area. There, we met the first of many extremely kind Filipino women who work at the resort. We asked for the cheapest room and she showed us over to a little thatch hut near the back of the property.

It wasn't much, but it would do. We had a bed, a shelf, a chair, a lock-box, a mosquito net, and a front porch with a hammock and loveseat. The bed was too short for Spencer's six foot three inches and I barely fit at five foot seven. I think if the bed was longer, we would have stayed longer because everything else was great.

The food was simple, filling and good. There was a large selection of dishes on the menu to choose from: western food, Thai, and Filipino. We ordered some drip coffee and it was incredibly bitter so I'd steer clear of that. Everything else we had was great.

There are tons of games to play and, with a view of the ocean, Spencer and I played chess all morning one day. They also had lots of beach games and other board games. Couple that with all the water activities you can do and you won't be bored at this place! There's diving, snorkeling, boat tours, etc.

The staff was incredibly nice and they invited us to play volleyball with them around sunset. It seemed like a nightly ritual and was a lot of fun! Afterwards, we jumped into the sea to cool off and wash the sand off ourselves from diving for the ball. The water was so refreshing after the match and the sunset that night was one of the best I've ever seen.

Beginning in Boracay

Here we are on this gorgeous tropical island of Boracay. It's breathtakingly beautiful here and full of tourists from all over the world.

The walkway along the beach is lined with shops and walking vendors selling everything you could possibly need while vacationing here; snorkels, sunglasses, dresses, flip flops, hats, souvenirs, and the most expensive sunscreen on the planet. We haven't bought much along this walkway because everything is more expensive here than if you just walk inland a little bit. The best thing we've done along this walkway was buy a coffee and a mango shake and just sit and take it all in: the people walking by, the brilliant sea, and the storm clouds rolling in from Typhoon Pablo.

Yes, there is a typhoon headed our way today! It's a big one, but it should be less strong by the time it reaches us, hopefully anyway.

The past couple of days have been super relaxing. We eat, we walk, we swim, we eat, we walk, we swim. The water is clear, cool, and wonderfully refreshing. We only go swimming around 3 or 4 in the afternoon to avoid the sun's harsh rays on our super white skin. We're wearing tons of sunscreen as well, of course.

Yesterday, we took some great photos underwater with our waterproof camera case and it worked flawlessly. It was super fun and we got some cool shots. I was so looking forward to uploading them but, unfortunately, our camera cord got lost in Seoul somehow. We have to find a new one now. :/

We've both agreed that this is a great first stop for our trip. It's relaxing and beautiful and also, since it's so touristy, it's kind of easing us into the travel lifestyle. We still have some of the conveniences of home, everyone speaks English, and the food isn't scary. Plus, even with the typhoon coming, it feels safe. The people are kind and the vendors and sales people aren't too pushy.

Our hostel/guesthouse is nicer than I anticipated. We have a good sized corner room which allows a nice cross breeze to roll through. We have a bed—that's really just a thick piece of foam on a frame, some shelves, a vanity, and a fan. We share the bathrooms and even though the shower is just dumping a bucket of cool water over my head, I don't mind it at all. I feel like a real traveler now, even though we've just begun!

I'm off to lay in the hammock on the balcony and read. The wind is picking up but we'll be okay.

Things I'll Miss About Korea

Things have been a bit hectic lately. We packed up all our stuff, trained our replacements at Wonderland, said goodbye to all our friends and students, and packed our backpacks for the next 4.5 months. It's been intense, exciting, and sad.

Now, we are staying in Seoul with a week with my husband's sister, Katie. It's been so nice to just relax before our big trip. We can enjoy all the great parts about Korea while never having to wake up early or say, "Where's your homework??"

On Saturday night, we'll head to the airport for our early flight the next day and I can already imagine how hard it will be to say goodbye to Korea. Over the past year and a half I have loved and hated the differences and difficulties of living here, but now, looking back, it's been wonderful. I know I will miss this beautiful place filled with kind and honest people. I hope one day we'll come back.

Until then, here are the things I'll be missing:

• Our friends, of course number one
• Cheap, convenient heath care - I'm having some stomach pains and I went to the doctor and pharmacy this afternoon. I was in and out of both places within 20 minutes for under $9. Also, both the doctor and the pharmacist could speak English. That is amazing.  
• Call buttons on tables at restaurants - These are genius. Need the waiter? Just push the button and they come right away! I love it. 
• Cute stuff is everywhere and using it doesn't make you feel stupid and childish. It makes you happy. Well, it makes me happy, anyway. :) 
• Cheap taxis, 'nough said. 
• Working with kids has been so great and rewarding. At times, it can be super difficult but with time, it gets better and easier. I've really enjoyed teaching and I'm so grateful for the patience I've gained since working at Wonderland. I'm better for it. 
• Being a mini-celebrity - Almost everyone who lives in Korea is Korean, so the few of us who aren't Korean really stand out! Little kids stare at us and we smile back and say hello. People learning English want to practice with us and my students loved playing with my "yellow hair". 
• Tax included in the price shown - This might not be a big deal to you in your country but in the US, there is the price they show you and then there's the price you actually pay at the register. Tax is only included at the register. It does seem kind of sneaky now that I've experienced what it could be like to not have to always add in a little bit for tax when looking at things to buy in a store. 
• Great public transportation is so convenient and helpful for everyone. I love that we never had to have a car in Korea. We could get anywhere via train, bus, taxi, or bike. I love not having a car and worrying about upkeep, parking, car insurance, and all that. 
• Lightening fast internet is soooo cool and I will miss it immensely.  

last night in Suncheon

Dilemmas and Delights

It's our last week as teachers and our last week in Suncheon. This Saturday we are going to Seoul to stay with Spencer's sister Katie for a week before leaving for the Philippines on the first couple days of December. For all the chaos of packing and saying goodbye, I feel relatively calm. This is exactly where I'm supposed to be and I feel good.

Dilemmas

• Our passports are still out of our hands and with the Indian embassy but I'm not so worried. I'm sure they'll come. 
• Flying with liquids - I've been packing my backpack which I'll be using as a carry on and I'm really angry at the terrorists who made it so damn difficult to fly with liquids. We had to cut things and then cut some more and then I finally got everything crammed into two quart sized bags only to realize I forgot two more essential things. UGH! Back to the chopping block. 
• I don't like goodbyes and I'm not looking forward to them all at the end of this week. :(    
• Missing Thanksgiving - Once again, we're missing the holiday season at home with our families. This is the hardest time of the year to be an expat. 

 Delights

• We spent our last Saturday afternoon in Suncheon getting me a haircut and lounging at a great coffee shop near our apartment. The coffee shop had this very cool wooden chess set and we had a good game. Spencer won, but I like to think that I challenged his skills. 
• Downton Abbey - I've become obsessed with this show and have almost watched all three seasons already! It's fabulous. 
• Researching destinations - I've been researching places to go and things to do in SE Asia and it's so exciting! There are so many cool things to do and see. Now just to find the right balance between fun and budget while on the road. 
• One week of teaching left!   

Dilemmas and Delights

I'm starting to get really sentimental about leaving Korea. We've had such a good life here and made some great friends. Our job wasn't bad and I've taught some of the same kids since I started over a year ago. I'll miss some of them and some of them I will leave with joy, but all of them have helped me learn and grow as a teacher and as a person. Korea is a great place to live and I can see ourselves possibly coming back one day. I already know I'll miss it. This is going to be a very bittersweet goodbye.

Dilemmas

• Packing is a task! We have so much stuff to organize and decide what to send home, get rid of, or leave for our replacements. It's crazy to think how little things I own but still, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. 
• Indian visa - I've been working on getting our visas for India and I screwed up, twice. First of all, I sent all our documents in but forgot to send our passports. I felt so dumb when I realized that....and then, I didn't transfer them enough money so I had to go back to the bank. Ugh, I hate the bank here. Anyway, it should all be fine now and be processing. I can't wait to get our passports back in our hands!
• My mom had surgery a few days ago and we're hoping she's doing well and sending good healthy vibes her way. It's hard not to be home in times like these. I love you, Mom! 

Delights

• My birthday! My birthday was on the 12th and we celebrated all weekend long. We went out to dinner and bowling on Saturday and then we went out for dinner and cake again on Monday. Spencer got me a super fun birthday present, an instant camera! I love it so much and am having so much fun taking photos with it. The pictures seem so special since there is just one. 
• The trees are beautiful and I love them. I appreciate them every day. On Sunday, we went for a walk to take some pictures of them and go our for coffee. It was the perfect picture taking weather and I think they turned out well. 
• Making travel plans - We've been researching and planning our upcoming trip for a long time but recently, we've been booking a few places to stay during busy times (Christmas/New Years). It's so exciting to know that we are so close to departing for this trip! I feel like I've been waiting for it for so long! EEEEeeeee!! :)
• Two weeks left in Suncheon and one lazy week in Seoul before we leave for our first stop, the Philippines!!!! :)

It's Fall in Korea

I have to post some more fall pictures because it is just too beautiful outside right now not to share! It was cloudy out today and I knew that would be perfect for capturing the bright leaves of the season. So we ate breakfast and went for a walk. Everything was so lovely, even the little rain couldn't spoil it.