Wednesday, February 21, 2007

In the States, wee here I go...

Well, the girl has arrived safe and sound, back in the little Southern State of Loosiana! It's been a great couple of days so far, oh, rather busy, you see ~ sleeping, eating, watching t.v., otherwise enjoying the ultimate oasis for relaxation!

My dad and step-momma, Debbie, both picked me up at the airport in New Orleans on Saturday, and we chatted over the near-4 hour ride back home to Alexandria. It was a pretty eventless ride over from Seoul, sleeping actually, and a little uncomfortable from riding airplanes ~ I definitely think I had my fill: 2 layovers to Pakistan, 3 layovers back, and then 4 days later, it was another 2 layovers to reach my final destination in the States. Darn, I can't imagine traveling like this for a living! Thank God I won't be using the same travel agent from Daegu again; I should have followed my instincts to buy online and eliminate the 2-3 layovers per destination that he gave me to save a few bucks! Now I just have to bite my tongue and enjoy the ride :)

Other than the crappy flying schedule, I've enjoyed my favorite foods that I haven't eaten in years: home-cooked steak, corn and mashed potatoes; batter-fried pork, green beans and salad; and of course my most favorite, good'ol boxed mac-n-cheese!

I had been craving mac-n-cheese since I boarded my flight from Incheon, thinking about how I wanted to devour a box or two as my first meal back in the States in well over a year! It had been almost 2 and a 1/2 years since I graduated LSU in Baton Rouge, and paid a visit to my folks~ so for sure, this was a long overdue visit indeed! Time sure does fly...

For now, I'll continue feeding these cravings~ the food I took for granted while I lived here. It's amazing how such little pleasures can bring so much happiness! I don't quite miss the guk, pop, and kimchee (soup and rice..) combo, the daily meal for the Korean and yes, myself. So I'll just pop another one of these donut holes and get back to my Direct TV movie!!

~ Chelsea

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Back from Pakistan, a short trip home first...

Wow, is it great to be back home in Daegu. For a short while..

It's hard to describe a world-wind 10 day trip in Pakistan that I've just come back from, with dirty roads still in my lungs, polluted motorbikes and cars racing in my mind, and Ahsan's 30+ family members' smiles still flashing in my point of view. It was an incredible but short lived trip that interestingly enough, I've never felt more excited to come home than any other trip that I've taken, anywhere...

Maybe it was the Berka and head scarf that I wore everyday, not being able to wander outside alone, or the stomache problems I endured for nearly a week, accompanied with the eggs and peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches I was tired of eating because my stomach couldn't handle anything else (like the delicious curry dishes or masala, or sweets that Ahsan was able to eat, a little..) My world has totally changed from this trip, and I feel totally blessed to have what I have, the freedom I had so easily taken for granted, the clean water and smooth, paved roads I used everyday...

It's so amazing how narrow-minded we think when we have tunnel vision. I stepped outside of my little box and immediately wanted to step right back in! God, it's good to be home.

Check back for more updates and pictures. The 600+ photos I took in Paki should be uploaded on Flikr before I head off to the States.

~ Chelsea