6 months later

Hey everyone.  Today's post marks my six month anniversary in Korea.  It is hard to believe I have been here for that long.  It really has gone by extremely fast.  I have learned so much about Korean culture, language, and the world in general.  I have been studying everyday and seen lots of improvement in my Korean language abilities.  I have been studying alone and practicing on unsuspecting cashiers and my Korean co-workers daily.  I have a ton of Korean in my head and I am still learning.  I am working on pulling it all together and building speed in comprehension, recall and fluidity.  It's still a huge work in progress.  Korea has not just helped me study a new language, it has taught me a lot about myself.  Korea has presented me with many challenges.  Some are not that difficult while others seem insurmountable at times.  However, with every obstacle faced I’ve learned what I’m made of.  I’ve also learned (whether I like it not) what I am lacking in.  I think that is why I love boxing.  It is the absolute hardest sport in the world.  It is not just the physical training, which is brutal and absolutely ridiculous at times, but the mental aspect as well.  The Sweat Science, as it is called, forces you to think on your own.  You are totally alone in the ring.  Yes, there are people around you in your corner cheering and supporting you.  The catch is you are the one hitting, getting hit, pushing yourself, reacting, and fighting for whatever reason you are in the ring.  It is ironic that such a brutally physical endeavor brought me to the most brutal mental endeavor I have undertaken.  Learning Korean and the culture is an absolute goal I feel driven to achieve.  I have grown up with some of the smartest people around.  They have learned languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Korean, and Japanese.  I hope some of their brain cells have worn off on me that last 20 years we grew up together.  I realized I am more of a loner than I thought previously, but without a doubt miss my family and friends.  However, I love the adventure of getting lost on my own in new places, meeting new people, having to think on your feet, and having to appropriately react to your given circumstances.  I have some great stories I will be sharing in the next few weeks.  I have tales from Christmas, New Year's, dealings with drunk Koreans and foreigners, old creepy men on the subway, transferring jobs while trying not to piss too many people off.  I also realized I have no idea what I am truely doing and just have to put faith in myself and the big guy upstairs.  Six months down and at least 13 more to go before I head back home for more than a week.  I will be seeing you all in the next year though.  Deano