Reflections on 2007

Somewhere around the beginning of 2007 I started reading about how it was the year of the Boar in the Asian Zodiac. I was born in the year of the boar and was told that I'd have an abundance of good luck for the year. How exciting is that? I told my mom about this because nothing could happen to her in the year of the boar if I'm supposed to be so lucky. (I was scrapping the bottom of the barrel in terms of hope for the situation) She, of course, wasn't as believing and optimistic as me.

Despite the predictions of the year, 2007 ended up being the hardest year I've ever faced. A lot of awful things happened so close together bringing tons of disappointment, failed plans, and heartache. For a while everyday came with more bad news and it became a struggle for me to keep my head up. I'd never been knocked down that hard before.

However, regardless of all that has happened this year, and how crappy I felt for the last six months of it, I realized I am in fact very lucky. I have amazing friends who stood by me through everything. They were there when I needed them, most with open arms and words of wisdom. I have my family. I have a college education that may actually take me somewhere. I have the means to do something like up and move to Alaska and start over, along with motivation and an adventurous spirit. I have my health and I have options others may not have. I'm young and unattached to anything except my family who are understanding and supportive of my decisions, which gives me the freedom to follow my dreams. And most of all, I learned that I'm a lot stronger than I realized. My mom was everything in my world, she helped me in every situation big or small. I told her everything, she was my comfort in hard times, and she loved me unconditionally. There's a big hole in my life without her, but I need to use what I learned from her to get up and move on.

Hellen Keller once said "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through the experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

So I've decided to not look at 2007 as a lucky or unlucky year, but a year that tested my strength, character, and most of all patience. I may not see the ultimate results now, but I hope one day I will. 2007 was definitely more significant than any year of my life, there has to be a reason. People have been through worse and I'm not the only one who took a blow this year.

I don't know what 2008 holds, I'm just happy 2007 is over and I can embark on something new and exciting. I've had to start over a lot in my life, but not like this, and I'm excited because I know my future holds great things. The last two weeks have been amazing, partly because I know I'm leaving and partly because the holidays brought home friends from all over. At least it was a good end.

I know this is corny as hell but I'm giving special thank yous to some great people that helped me through this year. They never turned their back on me no matter how rough it got and I appreciate them for that:

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.
(Irish proverb)

-Ann Leahy for always being there even when you were busy, and for understanding me. I'll miss you the most. It'll be weird not having your around. We never got to cook up those broken glass muffins though. Shoes.
-Katie Jungkunz for being so damn awesome, you make me feel like I can do anything, and not matter how grumpy I am your laugh is too damn infectious to not laugh along. I love you more than words can say. Sorry about the feathers on your couch
-Jim and Marjane for lending an ear and offering advice on life and love. You guys are awesome mentors and like my second set of parents.
-Sara Feldkamp for making me laugh so much, you know a friendship is strong when you don’t see someone for four years and you can pick up like no time has passed. You get me. (and did you pick up on the "yous" in thank yous above? I thought of you when I typed it)
-Aunt Jodi and Uncle Pete for letting me stay with you at times and helping me make hard decisions. I hope you'll save money and drag the kids out to see me.
-Michelle Jelinski for being there during some choice bad moments and letting me vent. Your company when things were hard are more meaningful than you will know. You are so much fun to be around.
-Ben for being an awesome big brother and being there when things got rough.
-And especially Matt Kerr for pressing me to go to Alaska for four years, your persistence has finally paid off. Thanks for helping me with all the logistics behind the big move, your patience, advice, and just being there for me when things were particularly difficult. You are the most understanding male I've ever known. I owe you a mountain of gratitude.

I hope everyone else has a great New Year and I'll continue posting. Onwards to Alaska for a fresh start. Wish me luck.

The Revised Plan

It's that time of year again where everyone starts really getting into the holiday cheer. Christmas' for our family will never be the same and this year was especially a little harder. I didn't like it when strangers asked if I was excited for Christmas in their over enthusiastic ways. I felt awkward to be forced to lie in response with an equally yet sarcastically enthusiastic "yes" to avoid having to share personal information. My family did follow a few original traditions from previous Christmas': crab legs for dinner with butter and garlic sauce (delicious) and opening presents on Christmas Eve before going to the late service at church where we all would sing and play our instruments from the balcony. I always felt bad for mom in the past for having to sit down in the pews alone because my dad, brother and I were so busy being "musical" every year. She never complained though.

Korea was a big disappointment and I had my few days of sadness over it, but distracted myself with packing and going over to watch friends wrap presents and make goodies for their family events. I can't change how things panned out but I did learn a lot about teaching in Korea, China, and Japan in the process of getting ready for Korea. Remember I was going into the Peace Corps to teach ESL and I haven't lost that passion. You can make a lot of money in Korea teaching, most people I've talked to were taking some intense "vacations" that went everywhere in the world just from the money they saved working in Korea. It's definitely something I'll look into for the near future. I just will never work with those recruiters, or any recruiters again.

The day after I found out I wasn't doing things as planned I tried to make new ones immediately. I had no intentions of staying in Point a day longer than originally planned. However, with this new change I ran into various problems that require me to flexible to work around, as well as other people. I'm coming a month earlier than expected so some people in Alaska now have to be super accommodating for my change of plans. I won't be stuck on the streets so at least that's nice. Since I'm shipping my stuff I will only have whatever I can fit in a suitcase and a day pack for three weeks, and that includes interviewing clothes and that warmer stuff for the Alaskan winter... a lot thicker than what I would've taken to Korea so that's been hard to plan and pack.

The greatest thing of all that really makes moving to Alaska a great choice is I already have a small group of individuals willing to meet and show me around, go hiking, ice climbing, have coffee, the works. And they are all strangers. I met them from couchsurfing.com and some have been so nice to the extent of offering to pick me up from the airport. I also noticed a lot of people are traveling a lot right now in crazy destinations from Peru to Scotland. So I'm moving to a place where people are interested in seeing the rest of the world (like me) yet are passionate about the place they live in. It doesn't surprise me that the very person who coaxed me into moving there I met when I was traveling. Everyone's an outdoor enthusiast there. Matt of course will help me settle in but since his work takes him to Juneau I'll be on my own after the 6th of January until I can yank him on a coastal road trip throughout the west coast. It's nice to have crazy friends who suggest crazy ideas like that. But in the mean time I will have good company to explore the city and outskirts with. Ice climbing is the first big thing I'm going to tackle. There are frozen waterfalls just south of Anchorage that people go to climb. This picture will be me in possibly a month.

This one too.

So I will be heading to Chicago on Sunday the 30th and spending New Year's there with some of my most favorite people in the world before hopping a plane to Anchorage on New Year's day. How fitting for my new start in life to start on the first day of the new year? The other night I was watching the Simpsons' Movie with a friend and for some reason the Simpsons had to leave Springfield and whilst looking for their new destination Homer pulls from his pocket a big sign that said "Alaska A Fresh Start" with a mountainous scene in the background and a choir singing a heaven-like sound to add an miraculous feeling like this was a sign that Alaska will heal everything. It was a revelation for not only the Simpsons but for me as well. They did go to Alaska and Homer fell in love with it. If Homer will love it than I surely will. (And they received $1000 the moment they crossed the border) So let's clap for Alaska:

I will be spending my remainder days in Wisconsin hanging out with friends as most have flocked back home for the holidays, sledding in our freshly fallen 9 inches of snow, and savoring my last moments with the piano, car, and precious animals. There is a marathon of documentaries about Alaska on the travel channel all day today, most by my oh so favorite host Jeff Corwin: all signs point to Alaska. Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and Solstice celebrations.

Another disappointment

Well like a lot of plans this year another one of mine fell through. The recruiters for Korea didn't bother to tell me that the month contract was full and while they continued to keep in touch, they assumed I'd be going for the 6 month contract. All good, but there were things I wanted to do this summer in Alaska and other plans made there as well as commitments that makes me need to stay in the U.S. so I can't do a six month with them. So I will not be going to Korea after all. I'm incredibly bummed about it, I had a lot of contacts set up there, new years plans, places to stay when I toured the country... books bought.

So now I'm going straight to Alaska, not sure what's supposed to happen since I'm coming a month and a half early. There were just so many disappointments this year that I need this change.

My Next Big Adventure

I’m sure you’re all on pins and needles as to what I’m doing. Right? :D Well, first, congratulations to Mr. Jon Strommen for being the first to recognize those pictures as being Korea. They’re from the city of Seoul which is the second most populous metropolitan area in the world, after Greater Tokyo. I may take on a teaching job there, and I went through all the steps of trying to find out if this is a sketchy recruiter or not. However, the benefits outweigh the cons right now (and the cons are working 30 hours a week when you should be working at maximum 25) I am provided housing within walking distance of the school, insurance, free round trip flight, and a salary on top of that. What’s great is there are tons of English teachers there, just like me, and a US base chalk full of Americans so I won’t be a lone western there. Usually I don’t like that, but in this case I’m getting thrown in head first alone into a city that doesn’t use the western alphabet, so I’ll be glad to find someone who can explain things to me. I will be getting the contract next week. After Korea I'm moving Alaska for a fresh start in life.

More about Korea! I’ll be hiking in the nearby mountains outside of Seoul, eating crazy food and romping around old palaces nestled in the middle of the city. The temp in Seoul is around 27 degrees in January, so it's warmer than Wisconsin. I'll be lucky to see any snow. Koreans do a lot of hiking, though most of the really scenic stuff is actually in North Korea, there are still mountain ranges to explore and decent transportation around the country. There's also a website set up to gather climbers together on trips because it's really big there. I signed up so hopefully I'll get to do some climbing on a weekend. There's a lot of coast to see as well, being a peninsula and all. Too much to explore in only a month while I'm teaching most of the time! I'll make it work though.

Ginseng Tea is very popular in Korea and they have lots of ginseng tea houses where I'll probably be found after a long day of teaching. I loved coffee shops for studying in college, so I'm sure I'll love tea shops just as much for grading papers. Ginseng is thought to have medicinal values to it, and is considered an aphrodisiac. If anyone wants any ginseng tea, red or white, or any other Korean teas or herbs, let me know. I know you can get it in the states but it's just cooler to come straight from a Korean store. (Ann and Jeremy you're already marked for a few, no need to ask my tea loving friends, maybe I'll find you some more campfire smoke tea that you love so much).

bird's eye view of Seoul.









Hiking north of Seoul, granite peaks and verdant forests of Puk'Ansan Park






Kyongbok Palace in Seoul








Cheonggyecheon River running through the middle of Seoul

















Anchorage skyline












Because of the paid flight back I’ve chosen to fly straight to Anchorage where I’ll start working right after Korea. I have a place to stay to get on my feet, I have some job options for both when I arrive and for the summer. The most common reaction when I tell people this are “Why?!” “It isn’t cold enough here?” or “Burrrrr.” So why would I want to go to Alaska in February when it’s still winter and in darkness? First, their winter in Anchorage's winter is not that much worse than in the lovely state of Wisconsin. It’s still cold, but not as cold as people seem to think. The average low in February when I'll be going is around 11 degrees (high at 25). Wisconsin's highs and lows in February are 32/13. Second, I don’t like to complain about the weather in Wisconsin. I may curse a little for not adding time to getting ready for work to scrap snow off my car, but this is what I know. I try to go rollerblading 8-10 miles everyday I can until it starts to snow here. If it wasn’t raining or snowing it was fair game, even if it was windy and ridiculously cold. In Alaska, I think it’d be kind of fun to ski to work everyday, which Bill, the guy I’m staying with initially, apparently does in the winter. I will not have a car so what a great alternative. And of course the people are more outdoorsy and adventurous which I like. Did you know during their fur rendezvous they have snowshoe softball games? And who wouldn’t want these images in their backyard? (see above and below). Anchorage is nestled in the Chugach Mountain range, acres of national parks with great views and wildlife, glaciers and colors and the northern lights! Plus the boy to girl ratio is in my favor. ;)








Mt. McKinley (Denali)

A note from my Lonely Planet: Anchorage wasn't built by city people. Rather than suburban wastelands, you'll find vast tracts of green space, wild places connected by unparalleled system of hiking, cycling, and ski trails. Here (in Anchorage) you're almost as likely to see bear and moose as on your bus tour through Denali National Park; heck, you're likely to see Mt McKinley, emerging icy and unconcerned above Turnagain Arm on some sunny night as you stagger home from the bar. And there are about 50 glaciers to visit within an hour of leaving the city. Now does this not sound like a perfect place for a nature lover such as m'self?
Another view of Denali









Tern Lake









(Portage Glacier, a small trip outside of Anchorage)


How cool is it to have river rafting trips at my finger tips (Class III through VI, but anything above a IV I need to learn how to roll a kayak), glacier hikes, and hiking in general, and tons and tons of outdoor adventure tours are all reasons that satisfy my decision to move there. This stuff is only a stones throw from Anchorage on top of that! Just think what the rest of the state has for me to explore.

If all goes to plan I may be working for a flight seeing company outside of Denali National Park for the summer. This would be the perfect time for everyone to come visit! Those national parks are massive. I hope everyone is well! I'll keep posting.

where to go and what to do...

Hey everyone! This blogger is about to go back online! I'm not changing the name just yet, but I'm not going to Georgia either. I figured I worked so hard to get you all to sign up I might as well stick with it. What I want from you is responses that you're still receiving everything from me before I put all the effort into posting! And for funsies, can you identify this city?

Goodbye My Friends

Well, I'm all packed and ready to go. I managed to squeeze two years worth of "stuff" into these two bags, including winter stuff. Wow. This will be my last post before boarding the plane to DC and eventually to Georgia.






















For those who seem to be confused, here's a map of my new home with reference to surrounding countries. It really is a beautiful place.


















So, here's what I'm about to journey through before even landing in Georgia. This cartoon was labelled "new airline weapons" I thought it was hilarious.


























And after that recent foil of the terrorist plot I will be pretty wary of all the people on board the plane with me.





















I will miss you all and hope to be missed. For some of you Europeans (Alf, Sturla, Volker) I am moving closer and hope we will eventually get to meet up. Love you all! Wish me luck.

Glad to be home

I’ve just moved back to Wisconsin this past Monday. I’ve been asked on my last day of work and my last day in Minneapolis what it was like. Like every other day I suppose, I don’t feel much of the change. It’s the same when I’ve left for long trips before. My last days of living in the Twin Cities I was able to go Swing Dancing, Salsa Dancing, visit the Gay 90s for the first time, and see a lot of good people for the last time. I have lots of plans while in Wisconsin for such a short time. In one month to the day I will be turning 24, and I will be in Georgia. I am so sad I will be in a foreign country with strangers rather than my family and Ann Leahy who shares my birthday with me. But then again, what’s so special about 24? I can rent a car now in some states, whoopee. Well for your procrastination pleasure I wrote a compilation of things I will miss and things I won’t so you have a better idea of what I’m about to face. Enjoy:

Things I will miss (Aside from the obvious family, friends, Daisy and Fox)

*Speaking the same language as the majority of people around me. After Haiti I didn’t think I’d be able to do that again, but at least this time instead of only one person around who speaks English, I’ll have at least 50 for the first three months. This is what I have to learn:





*Showers, I will be most likely taking bucket baths for the next two years.
*Washing machines, I will be hand washing everything.
*Treating animals like part of the family. Georgians seem to dislike dogs and its common practice to throw rocks at them; the dogs themselves because of this treatment are not nice. Mind you I’ll still probably get me a pet and be considered weird.
*Recycling. This will be hard for me.



*Easy access to Internet
*Laws against smoking. I celebrated when Minneapolis became smoke free. But Point isn’t so I have to deal with from here on out.
*Having a piano at hand. I doubt there will be an abundance of pianos in Georgia, so it looks like I’ll have to find a new outlet for music. I plan to buy a guitar or some instrument and learn it while I’m there. But I can kiss my muscle memory for the piano and all those tough pieces I’ve spent my life learning goodbye.
*Decent clothes. I only get to bring two suitcases of stuff that will be my clothes for the next two years, Georgian clothes I’ve heard are terrible and don’t last… given they don’t have washing machines and hand washing is pretty harsh on clothes. But if fellow PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) are saying this, it must be true.
*In regards to TV, I didn’t have cable for a while, but I will miss Heroes, Friends and Seinfeld reruns… but those can be sent to me. ;)













Georgians are apparently addicted to Latin soap operas…but apparently their MTV plays music.
*Exercising outdoors without people staring at me. Running and biking especially, Georgians think both are weird. And no more rollerblading which makes me very sad but there will be plenty of walking and hiking. This is what I'll feel like running in Georgia:



*Good old American medicines. I get sick frequently and I rely on my NyQuils and Sudafeds… I don’t know if I’ll get the same thing there.
*Freedom, I will be living with a host family so they will be over protective most likely and act like a second set of parents. I’ll have to let them know where I’m going and give times and dates and locations of where I’m going.
*NPR
*Privacy, PC is gossip city between volunteers and of course the native Georgians will always want to be entertaining or hang out.
*I'll miss this for sure:


Things I won’t miss:















*Wine, because I’ll have tons of the best made stuff with me in Georgia. They are a huge competitor to the famous French wines.




*All those negative emotions that come from filling up my car with gas. No more watching gas prices, watching my mileage, or rush hour (at least with me behind the wheel).

*Processed food! It’ll be all natural there, and the fruits just at your fingertips for cheap, like strawberries. Yum.



















*Spending a lot of money and feeling ripped off all the time. Things will be cheap and most likely the products won’t be of great quality, it evens out.
*Spending a ridiculous amount on medications, PC covers all that.
*Bratty spoiled kids. Just a hunch I like the kids there a lot.



















*My old erratic work schedule. I will finally be getting up at the same time everyday, perhaps I’ll recover from colds better.
*Biased news that only revolves around the U.S. Now I’ll only hear biased news about Georgia and surrounding regions like Turkey and Armenia. :)

*Republican ranting… I doubt I’ll meet many conservatives on this mission. (Sorry if I’ve offended anyone)










So please keep in touch and I'll do the same! My love to everyone and thanks for signing up to the blog. I'll try to be as entertaining as possible.
Love from your friend with too much time on her hands, Manda

Welcome

You made it!


Hello to those of you who subscribed to my blog! I'd like an email from those of you who read this so I know it's working. :) I'm currently in my last month of working in Minneapolis and will be moving to Stevens Point, WI on May 14th (so far that's the ideal date). I hope you're all doing well. Thanks for visiting.