Why I Need Climbing Right Now

The sport of rock climbing has been an integral part of my life since my Freshman year of college in 2001. I loved it from the beginning and became obsessed with it for some time, probably to the point of being annoying sometimes. I would talk about it passionately to strangers to try to get them into it as well. Climbing was also a pre-requisite for any potential future spouse while I was in college. I knew that if my wife didn't have the same passion for the thing I spent as much time as possible doing, there would be trouble. Rebs happens to love rock climbing.

But this entry isn't about my history of rock climbing. It's about how climbing has come back around in my life to provide a new sense of purpose for me. Being in Korea has become difficult at times in many ways. Being in a big, loud clty of 12 million, with no right of personal space can really start to bug anyone who wasn't raised in a big city. And the one thing in particular that has been getting to me is homesickness. I have found myself thinking about and spending excessive time planning what Rebs and I will be doing when we go home. For a while, I was daydreaming alot about what it would be like, who we'd talk to and what we'd talk about, what we'd eat -- basically all the things I have been missing. That only made me miss home even more and not really want to be in the situation I am in. In short, wishing for home was only making my present life suck.

This is where climbing comes in. Rebs and I have been privileged to find a climbing gym that is within a 15 minute walk from where we live. We usually train there twice a week, and then go out on real rock for the weekend. It has generally been our routine, but a few months ago, we started getting off track. Rebs started working ridiculous hours for summer camp, and I hurt my finger by jamming it into a kid in the dark in a haunted house. The owner of the gym, Mr. Cheung, who is a great motivator when I'm training in the gym, was also in Pakistan on an expedition during this time. So we started to slack off bit by bit. Then, about 2 weeks ago, I realized much of what I had gained over the winter and spring had gone away.

Two weeks ago, with the combination of homesickness and the realization of how unsatisfied I was with my climbing skills, I decided I needed to get back on track with climbing. I needed climbing to help take my mind off the things back home I've been missing. I need climbing to help lift my spirits, give me something to work towards, something that is pure and clean and good for me. I feel like climbing, in the right context, can be just that.

Last week, we went to Ganhyeon, the sport climbing crag of our choice thus far in Korea. It's relatively close and the climbing is all sport, from easy up to moderately difficult. I climbed poorly, which pushed me over the edge of mediocrity. I decided to go on a caffeine fast to help me in my training. If you didn't know, caffeine is toxic. If you had too much of it at once, it could kill you (though it would have to be alot). I didn't realize how many of my snacky foods had chocolate in them. So all last week, my diet changed drastically. And every time I craved coffee or chocolate or something similar, it reminded me why I was doing it, spurring me on to train hard. It kept me focused on my goal, which was to climb this 5.11d called "Honeymoon". I told myself that I wouldn't have any caffeine until I successfully redpointed (lead the climb without sitting or falling on the rope).

Well this weekend, Rebs and I went again to Ganhyeon. Today was our second day of climbing and I was determined to give "Honeymoon" my best. We warmed up early, before the sun hit the rock so it would still be cool. Rebs tried her problem first, but had to take a sit, so I took a turn on Honeymoon and I got it. It was a really ugly climb. Much of the way through, I was surprised that I was still holding on to the rock because my arms were so tired. I was constantly showing my "Elvis leg" as the Koreans call it, which is where your legs shake uncontrollably. But somehow I managed to get to the top. This is the hardest grade I have ever climbed. It's just so rewarding of a feeling when you accomplish a goal. And it's great at taking my mind off the difficult things in life. Here's a picture of me working on Honeymoon a few months ago.

Now... what are you working towards? What's your goal?

a random list of things

1. I haven't posted a blog in a really long time.
2. Dusty and I just watched the movie "Once". It was really good. We just downloaded the soundtrack too.
3. I'm starting to feel like myself again after several months of feeling like I was about to go crazy at any moment.
4. Work has slowed down a lot. Finally.
5. I'm getting lots of time to catch up on my sleep.
6. I'm currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It's pretty good.
7. I've decided to wait to get my counselor's license until we come home permanently. I feel at peace with this decision.
8. We camped Friday night and climbed all day Saturday. It was fun.
9. I woke up with sore arms this morning.
10. I slept in while Dusty made eggs, blueberry waffles, and bacon. Then he woke me up and we ate together in bed. Yum!
11. Nowadays, I spend lots of my time reading, climbing, running, and hanging out with my favorite person (Dusty).
12. Yesterday, I was gently reminded that technically, we live in a war zone.
13. We saw about 10 military helicopters fly overhead, twice. Weird. You never know when the North will decide to attack. Kind of keeps me on my guard more than when I'm in the States.
14. I will be home the evening of October 30th. I can't wait!

That is all. Bye.

Happy Anniversary

Well, today is Rebs' and my 2nd year Anniversary. Happy Day! Last year we went climbing and camping at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch for 2 days and a night, then had a really nice stay in a hotel in Eureka Springs that's well over 100 years old, a view overlooking the city, and a jacuuzi to sit in while we watch.
This year, we'll be having a Korean Anniversary. I don't really know what that means, but it doesn't matter. We're still a team, no matter where we are. I think we'll be going to eat in Itaewon to whatever our appetites desire. I feel like getting some uninterrupted time alone is more precious here than anything else right now. It's pretty amazing how hard that can be to get sometimes.
I thought you all might enjoy celebrating a little bit with us. So here are a few pictures of us in our favorite moments since being married. Enjoy:

Boreong Mud Festival

Every year, there is a mud festival in southern South Korea. People come for all different reasons. There is the cultural experience, the nice beach, the party scene. But what seems to make the difference is the mud. It's just fun. People cover themselves in it, sling, paint with it, throw it, crawl through it, and wrestle in it. But at the end of the day, one way or another, you find it on yourself everywhere (even in your ears). Here are some pictures to show you what I'm talking about.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to go down there with a couple of friends and hopeful expectations. There was supposed to be a typhoon coming in later in the day with wind and lots of rain, but we opted to take our chances. It turned out to be very memorable experience. And even though my pictures ended up being few, that was just because I feared for the safety of the camera. We did mud wrestling, Sumo style, where you try to get the other person out of the ring. We got hooked up to harnesses that were bungeed to each other, then tried to run in opposite directions to get to a target. We went swimming to wash off the mud. We did front flips and swan dives off of this giant, blow-up mud slide. We painted our bodies with colored mud. And when we got tired of it, we went into the Yellow Sea to wash off. It only rained hard on us for about 10 minutes, then passed over.

It was kinda funny to watch the news and see something on "World News Tonight" (with Charles Gibson) that I had been to. I think it was Monday night's program that ran a story on International vacations, and the mud festival was one of them. I looked for my friends and I, but didn't see anybody I recognized. Maybe you'll eventually see Rebs and I at some exotic location on the TV. Just keep watching.

Rebs decided to stay home and get some good studying in. I missed her a lot, and I know she was sad that she didn't get to go, but she's been putting studying off for the past several months, and intends to take the National Counselor's Exam when we get back to the states in November. So she trying to kick it into gear until then. And I'm proud of her for it.

Did you know that we are celebrities?

At least that's how I feel living here. I have gotten quite used to people starting at us everywhere we go, especially staring at me. Many Koreans are mesmerized by light hair and blue eyes. A few weeks ago, a bunch of my foreign co-workers and I were walking through a department store with a couple of our Korean co-workers. Jane, one of my Korean co-workers said to me, "Rebecca, what is going on? Why is everybody staring at us?" I thought it was funny because none of us foreigners even noticed anybody was staring. We're just so used to it by now. I told her, "This is what it's always like for us everywhere we go." She said, "Really. I can't believe it. It's so rude." I know it's rude to stare but people just can't help it. They try to be discreet but it's hard when you're so curious about someone. I know I stare at people sometimes too. Then when they catch me staring, I always look away. Koreans are the same way. As soon as I make eye contact with them, they look away. But as soon as I turn my head, I can feel their eyes on me again. Maybe some people enjoy this kind of attention, but I am not one of those people. I like to remain anonymous and blend in with the crowd.

Well last Sunday afternoon, Dusty and I were just wanting to get away for a few hours and spend some time alone with each other without having to be around a bunch of other people. Since we basically live in a commune and our living environment isn't conducive to peace and quiet, we decided to take a hike and try to find some good bouldering. We took the crash pad with us. For those of you who don't know, a crash pad is like a big mat that you lay at the bottom of the rock so that when you fall, you don't get hurt. They make them so that they fold up and can be worn like a backpack. This makes it fairly easy to hike with a crash pad.

Boy, did we draw attention to ourselves! First of all, we're weagooks (foreigners). Second of all, Dusty is carrying this huge square Sponge-Bob-ish crash pad on his back. Third of all, we went on a Sunday afternoon which is the busiest time of the week for Korean hikers. The crowds were horrible! I felt more like I was at Disneyland than hiking up the side of a mountain. I swear, every Korean who passed us on their way down the trail stopped and turned and pointed at us. Several of them spoke in Korean to their friends trying to figure out what the heck we were doing. A few of them even tried asking us what the crash pad was for. NOBODY walked past us without staring.

Well, then we found our boulder. A great big one with several problems on it to try. The only problem was that this boulder was right next to the trail and was part of a large gathering area where people could stop and rest. So, we had an audience. Probably anywhere from 10-30 Koreans at a time would stop to watch and cheer for us. Some of them would come try the problems. Some wanted to tell us how to do it, even though they had never bouldered before. One guy even came up to feel Dusty's muscles as he was getting ready to climb. What the heck! Mind your own business, people! Go away! I just want to climb in solitude and be left alone. Instead, I felt pressure to perform and make it to the top of the problems we were trying. And they were really hard problems. I could feel all the eyes staring at me. I just couldn't enjoy the bouldering experience knowing that everyone was watching. It was frustrating.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm suffocating in this place. There is literally, nowhere I can go in this city to be alone. There is no silence, ever. The city never sleeps. Even the mountains are crowded. I realize I'm being somewhat insensitive of the Koean people. I don't mean them any disrespect. They mean well and are very polite and hospitable. But with so many people crowded into such a small amount of square miles, there is no respect for personal space. Personal space just doesn't exist. I feel like I live in an animal exhibit at the zoo. I'm an animal trapped in this small cage and everyone comes to see me. And I just want to break free.

Three more months and we'll be home for awhile. I can't wait to be out of this environment. It's been a huge challenge for me this year. Living in a huge city, in communal-style living with other foreigners, in a tiny apartment with my husband, it's taken a toll on me, an introvert who likes her own time and space. I look forward to the day when we leave. Until then, I've just got to keep fighting for survival one day at a time.

New Camera!

Hey everyone, we finally got our camera. I know these pictures aren't too exciting. But truthfully, sometimes life isn't so exciting either. The above are of our apartment from sitting on the couch and Rebs doing what she does best. If only sleeping were considered an occupation.

Well life is very contrasting right now for Rebs and me. Or at least through this week it has been. Both SEV (where I work) and NEV are gearing up for summer camp, which officially starts this coming Monday. From what Rebs tells me, everyone who works in the offices at Nowon is dreading and not enjoying life for the next 2 weeks. They've already been working extra to prepare for the camp sessions, sometimes pulling 10 hour work days. All the grading for current classes continues, while they pile on extra work and preparations for next week. Sometimes it's just too overwhelming. Sitting at a desk grading homework becomes very monotonous very quickly. Then one feels lethargic and sleepy. Blah.

SEV's summer camp is very similar to Nowon, but for one detail. We have programmers who help to prepare for the summer camp. That means all the work that Rebs does, preparing for extra classes I am exempt from because there are other people whose jobs are just that. They've been having pre-summer camp for the past 2 weeks, which includes swimming in a very large swimming pool with about 75 kids at a time. There's no slide, and definitely no diving board because the water at it's deepest point goes up to my hips. Many kids in Korea cannot swim. There are plenty of large rubber ball good for volleyball, floating on, and pegging kids in the head when they annoy you. Hence, our form of entertainment. It's also very fun to throw the kids, especially the little ones. The fly quite well.

So yes, two very different worlds. While Rebs gets hand cramps in an office space from grading, I get to play at the swimming pool and get a tan. Something doesn't seem right. Do I feel guilty? Yes. But there's not a lot I can do to help Rebs' situation but pray for her and help out around the house more, which I've been doing. Hopefully, things won't be as bad for them as they're expecting.