What do I do after School?

One teacher asked what I do everyday after school. I just absent mindedly answered her by saying, "I go to the gym." That's really I lie b/c I haven't even joined a gym yet. But if I think about it, what I do is different each night. Let's see.....last Monday (after I spent an hour visiting the acupuncturist's office which I do every Mon, Wed, & Fri) I went over to my friend's Mick's (from New Zealand) apartment for Monday Night Football. It was actually the Jets pathetic showing of their Sunday game against the Eagles. Didn't you just "love" those "cool-looking" throwback uniforms? NOT!!!! Anyway, it was fun, b/c Terry, Pawn, his wife from Thailand, Warren from Canada, Patrick from USA and his wife from Peru, all went to Mick's for Pizza, Chicken, Beer and NFL football, what could be better than that? A Jets win, perhaps!!! I plugged my laptop into Mick's HUGE 42 inch flatscreen TV & we watched the entire game with picture perfect sharpness & picture quality. That was Monday. On Tuesday, I was tired and achy, so I went to the Bath House and enjoyed almost 2 hours of steam rooms, hot tubs, showers, cold pools, etc. I enjoyed switching from the steaming hot tub to the freezing COLD pool. It was so good for me b/c I need to get "out of my head" and the freezing cold water was just the trick I needed!!! I got to sit, lie down on the reclining chair and sleep, meditate, and I was able to release, to let go and FINALLY surrender all my thoughts, fears, worries, anxieties, doubts, etc. to God. This was such a HUGE miracle for me b/c ever since I've arrived in Korea, I have never really been able to be present, aware, comfortable, or conscious of actually being in Korea!!!! I was always "someplace else". I was here physically but my mind, my being, my soul, was elsewhere. Usually thinking of being back home in NJ with all my friends, my family, and esp. my girlfriend and my Men's Team. This was actually preventing me from truly enjoying Korea and really being here, fully present in the moment. But hanging out that night in the Sauna really was a miracle that created a tremendous SHIFT in my entire being. I was able to "let go" of all the fear, worry, doubt, loneliness, anxiety (all the "mind chatter") and just give it up to God and ALLOW myself to finally FULLY BE here!!!! Now I can truly say that I am just now, finally able to fully experience the joy, the passion, and the adventure of being in Korea. Before this awakening took place, I was literally counting down the days, weeks, months, minutes, etc. until my contract ends and I can go back home. This was such a DISEMPOWERING , unproductive way to live life. After I had this shift in perception, I went from "counting down" the days, to: "Oh my, I ONLY have 10 1/2 months to go out here in Korea, so I better best utilize my time & take full advantage of EVERY minute I have out here. Because before you know it, 3 months, 6 months, 1year will fly by and I would have missed an entire year my life. Being in this funky daze; this illusory world of the absent, far off, and the lost.

So needless to say, last Tuesday a big day for me!!!

On Wednesday evening, after playing badminton at school, and after acupuncture, I attended my first meeting of the Miryang Culture Club, where Terry, Mick, Lisa, and myself gathered with a bunch of native Koreans (and 1 Philipina lady) to discuss cultural issues, like movies, TV, books, jobs, hobbies, etc. It was a very nice gathering and I'm looking forward to my second meeting on Wednesday which will include a nice pork dinner, followed by a few hours spent lying in the Jin Jil Bang. "Sauna/Heat Room" I tell you, these Koreans love EVERYTHING HOT!!!! From their Hot & Spicy food to the hot saunas and Bath Houses!!! It should be a great time & I'm looking forward to it.

On Thursday I was taken out to dinner by my co-teacher along with the four 6th grade teachers. The reason we were invited to was to "celebrate." We were celebrating the luck & fortune my co-teacher had of accidently driving her car in reverse, over the curb, down the hill & nearly crashing into the school!!!! Luckily there was a metal pole in the way that she backed into, saving her from hitting the school. She is a new driver who accidently hit the gas when she meant to hit the brake and wound up giving herself a big scare. Thankfully she didn't hit anyone else & nobody got hurt. I felt so bad for her, but she was able laugh about it the next day. We also got to enjoy the most delicious "ma shi ta" in Korean, fresh whipped cream cake topped with fresh kiwis, orange, and cling peaches. UM UM Yum. This was also a treat from my co-teacher b/c of the accident she got in. I told her that the cake and the dinner is very nice and all, but she better not make it a habit f accidently putting her car in reverse and nearly smashing into the school. Definitely not a good idea. She now asked if I could drive her car down to a meeting we both have to attend about an hour away from here. I might do it if I can apply for an Intl. Driver's license in time.
After, dinner, we stopped by the batting cages by my apartment to try our luck hitting baseballs. You get 15 pitches for 50 cents, what a bargain!!!

On Friday, the fifth night, I rested. I was at home on my computer, blogging, emailing and trying to stay warm b/c the temperature was down around 34 degrees and was very windy. My apartment was shaking b/c the town was shooting off fireworks by City Hall which is right near my apartment. So, I guess I didn't do myself justice when I answered: "I go to the gym" when asked what I do after school, huh?

What do you do after work?