It has been a long time since I have written, and I have heard that some of you want to know where I am now. So, due to popular demand, I am writing yet another description of my life.

 

I am currently  in Defiance, Ohio living with my aunt. I have just gotten a job through a temp agency at a factory. This is supposed to last for around two months or so when I am supposed to go back to Korea(Jinju) semester long program. It a graduate level certificate in teaching English as a foreign language.

 

My trip back from China was a long one: I spent  way too long in airports. I started off in Chongqing where I needed to wait for two hours because I was told that the bus wouldn't run again before I had to be there. I discovered that this wasn't true, but this seems to be the way things seemed to always be there.

 

The plane took me to Beijing where I had to wait for another 2 hours. I went to go through immigration only to discover that my particular plane was going to fly into Shanghai before going on to San Francisco, so I had to wait. When we got to Shanghai, we had to spend another hour there. After that I was on the way to SAN FRANCISCO (I didn't have any flowers in my hair though).

 

When I got to San Francisco, I went on the search for getting a ticket home...I had originally booked a round trip ticket from MBS - SFO using my airline miles when I was on my way to China. I was supposed to fly back on the 6th of September, but as it was, I was not able to do so. I needed to switch the date, and I was told by the company that I could and that it was impossible to do. I was a little worried about which it was and was still wondering when I got to SF.

 

It turned out that for $50, the date could be switched. When I went to check in, the ticket person said that I needed the original ticket number so that they wouldn't take out more airline miles. Of course I didn't have that information, so it took me around 20 minutes to check in. Of course I was alright with this because I had to spend the next  10 HOURS at the airport! Not one of my most exciting moments, but I tried to make the most of it.

 

Finally the time arrived for me to fly to Detroit. I had to wait in that airport for 4 hours. To pass the time I would look at the arrival board, see when and where the next plane was to arrive, and then go there and watch the people disembark. It was one of the best people watching opportunities I have had in a long time.

 

I finally did make it out of that airport and into the one close to home. I was uncertain as to whether anyone would be there to pick me up, so I looked to see if I had any change I did not. So, I attempted to make a collect call to my sister, but, as it turned out, her phone won't accept collect calls. I had just enough time to wonder what I was going to do when my brother showed up to take me home.

 

I spent a few nights at my sister's and my brother's. The Saturday after Thanksgiving my aunt came to get me, and I started my travel down to Ohio to start my adventure of temp job hunting...

 

So, that is it for now. Hope all is well with you. How are things with you?

Yesterday was a free day for me. So, I decided to take a small stroll, roughly 45 minutes or so, around the block where my hotel is located. Well, 12 hours of straight walking and a 20 minute taxi ride later, I was back at my hotel ready for bed. I was uncertain as to whether I would be able to get up this morning, but I managed to wake up at 4am. I think I need to reset my inner alarm.

 

On my walk I ended up in the back allyways, called hutongs, where people live the  simple life of earlier days. One would see children runing around in minimal, if any clothing, the little stores selling all the necessities like ice-cream and water, people hard at work, and people sitting on couches outside their small homes. It was a pretty peaceful place, though it looked like it could be a hard life as well. I prefered it to the busseling parts of the city I almost wanted to stop and take up residence there.

 

Then I found myself back in the real city: the crouded markets, the cars, the innummeral bikes. I am getting used to it, but I really don't like it. Though later in the evening many people get together and dance in the parking lot of  a huge department store that had closed for the evening. The feeling of community seems to still remain in this city of 13 million.

 

As I tried to make my way back to the hotel, I found that I kept going in a huge circle. It was like the roads wouldn't let me get away from them. These roads were determined to keep me outside of the area I needed to be it was as if they were the only ones in existence, and no matter what I did, I always managed to end up on these roads. I felt the frustration Truman must have felt in the Truman Show, only he was trying to get out, and I was trying to get in. That is why I ended up having to take a cab, thereby spending more money than I wanted to.

Of course I also have to pay for this final nights hotel bill. The company booked it for me, thinking they were being helpful, but it would have saved me money if I would have slept in a hostel. Of course that would have meant I would have to find one and how to get there, and not have gotten lost in Beijing, so maybe it worked out for the best.

 

I spent 1740RMB on medication the first travel day in Beijing, so my available funds had greatly diminished. We went to a Tibetan hospital, they checked me out, and decided that there is something wrong with my stomach. The doctor perscribed 3 months worth of 2 medications. Both of them look like Butterfinger BB's, though a little bigger one is  almost black while one is dark brown. I  have no idea what is in them, but the doctor feels they will help.

 

It is interesting that this happend to me at this time. Before coming to  Beijing, I  had  just finished reading a book, "Theo's Odysey"  . It is an interesting book about a boy who becomes really sick. His grandmother takes him on a tour around the world so he can learn about the world's various religions. There is a part where he consults a Tibetan doctor and takes his medicine. The book is almost as good as Sophie's World. Just a couple suggestions for those looking for a book to read.

 

Today I am off to Korea to visit friends and former students. I will be there for 10 days. During this time I am to attempt to get my visa. Any bets as to if this takes place or not? Either way it is alright I am always up for an adventure these days. I thik that is why things never really work out "right" for me I am too interested in the adventures that it takes to do it differently!

It seems that I may be getting a little bored with Beijing, but that isn't really the case it just seems a little tough trying to enjoy sights steeped in history with the only explanations being given are in Chinese! Half the time I am not even sure where I am or where I am going. The other tourists are interesting though.

 

Today I visited Tiannamen Square, The Forbidden City, a couple of other places I am not sure of what they were, though interesting nontheless. I guess this was my last day of actual touring with the company tomorrow I have to find my own things to do. I will attempt to go to a museum someone mentioned to me, but finding things in this area is not easy. I am going to give my travel agent friend a call. I tried tonight, but his first number is blocked and the other one won't connect. It is very disappointing.

 

I also saw the Chairman Mao memorial. It was one of the most fascinating display of capitalism I have ever seen. It seemed like a huge irony to me. At least the people selling the Mao memerabillia didn't bother me any. It was interesting, they took one look at me and just went on to the next person. Must have figured I wouldn't be interested in such souveniers.

 

All in all a very interesting day, though it will be nice to get to Korea to see some friends there and to see if they will be able to process my visa. I am guessing they won't be able to, just becase it is me and something always has to be complicated for me.

 

Well, I will talk to you later.

Yes....today I went to the Great Wall of China. Much to my surprise, it was made of stone!!! Can you believe it? I thought I was going to have to worry about slipping and breaking something and then having to pay for it. Of course I still had to worry about that. The climb is so steep, and some of the stairs are so narrow, that if you aren't careful, you could fall quite easily and break a leg or something. Then you would have to pay for hospital bills. Not a lot of fun if you ask me.

 

I am not sure how worth it it was coming to the Great Wall. Everywhere you turn there is someone trying to sell you something you not only don't need, but you don't want. It was quite sad. Still there is something to be said for the history behind it (and the exercise you get walking up it). 

 

Other than the wall, I have been the the Summer Palace, some famous jade place, a place that makes the best vases (and other enameled items) in China, and I have tasted Beijing duck from a bag. All you have to do is put it in a microwave, and it taste fresh, hot, juicy, and ohhhh so good.

 

When I first arrived in Beijing, it was not a happy time. First, I couldn't find the shuttle bus to the hotel, and everyone kept pointing me to the Airport Buses (which cost 16RMB). Since I could see no other buses anywhere, I took their advice and ended up somewhere a long way from where I was supposed to be. I called the person I was supposed to meet, and then tried to get a cab to where he was.

 

Either the cabs wouldn't stop or they didn't know where I was talking about, even when I showed the note I had to them. I was so frustrated that when a guy driving a pedicab (bicycle with a seat in back for passangers) stopped me and told me he could take me where I needed to go, I accepted without first agreeing on a price.

 

This was a big mistake! While the ride was fun, it took around 3 hours to get to where I needed to go. Of course I got to see a lot of Beijing in the dark and try to hold a conversation with someone who knew minimal English, but at least I only saw my life flash before my eyes 3 or 4 times. At the end of the line, I had to pay the fare.

 

So what would it be? He wanted 450RMB. I knew he had worked hard, but I wasn't going to pay that. He made a huge deal over it and wasn't going to let me leave. I finally paid 350RMB just to get him to leave me alone and allow me to leave. I wasn't sure how to handle the situation, so it cost me much more than it probably had to...and this after I taught him the words museum and church!

 

So my lesson here is always agree on a price beforehand, and get it written down if possible!!

Hello again all. I just talked with the one who recruited me to work at this organization here in China. It seems that the students I have been teaching were really happy with my work. Penergy has asked me to stay on until the end of January.

 

I have agreed to do this. I will have a little bit of time until I have to start work up again, and I will have to change my plans a little, but I will have a job here from September until the end of January. I will not be paid a lot, but I should be able to send money home (I will have the proper paperwork to do this now) to pay bills. I won't have to pay for housing and I will be living right on campus, so I won't have to pay quite so much in travelling expences.

 

I will be teaching middle and high school students. I will not be in Chongqing anymore I will be about 2 -3 hours by train to the north. I will be in Xi chang (shi-chan (chang)). I hear it is a small town with not much there, but that is fine by me. It will be another experience for me, and maybe I will even be able to learn  a little Chinese.

 

That is all for now. I'll talk to you later.

I finally have the oportunity to sit down and send a message about what is going on here. I had to work yesterday, Sunday, as they decided that this Teacher Training Session would start on Sunday, the one day off everyone gets. It is a little strange, but I guess that is how things go.

 

We ended the last session on Friday. It was an emotional farewell, and I couldn't help but think about how I was going to be required to be the lead teacher for the following session. I am not sure how it is going to go as my part is a 2 hour conversational section. I am not sure how I am going to get them to talk for 2 hours, but I guess I will think of something. Yesterday I had them tell me about their families. One guy told us that he had two sons. I was unable to understand this, so, after everyone was done, I asked him about it.

 

There is a policy of only one child in effect, how did he manage to have two and not get fined. I wish I hadn't asked. It turns out that one of his sons had a heart problem that would need surgery to correct. He asked his employers for a loan, but they told him that he should just have another son because if he proceeded with the operation, he could loose both his son and the money. I am not sure if the one son is still alive he was not clear on this, but I felt pretty bad about asking after that.

 

The last day of the previous section I had to teach by myself, unexpectedly. The teachers all said I did a good job and that they liked my teaching style. I was greatful for that. When I went back to the office for the afternoon, I was expected to do the whole months lesson plans for this next session. I couldn't do it. I just got up and left. While I was sitting outside in the not so fresh air, this little boy came up to me and started begging for money it was heartbreaking. I was not quite sure what to do, but the way I was feeling, I just sat there.  He did finally go away. I can't help but wonder if they are really that bad off, or if there is something else going on.

 

I went into the office on Saturday, which we were told was going to be our day off in exchange for SUnday, and worked on the lesson plans. I didn't quite get them all finished, but I did most of them. Saying that I should end as I still have to finish them. The people are going to get really mad at me if I don't.

 

Jason 'Star' Rice

 

PS: I should be back in the States the 15th of September, though I am not sure where I am going to be ending up. I have to wait and see where the plane decides to take me.

I sit here typing this adventure as I sit at a computer in Hancock, Michigan. This is the only adventure to be written outside of Korea, and is the last one that will be written at all. That is not to say that more adventures of a similar variety are not to come it just means that this one has reached its end.

 

It was hard for me to leave. My Friday 3pm class threw me a party and had a couple pictures taken, which I may never get to see. The Korean teachers all gave me gifts and said good-bye. I said my final good-byes to all my students and fought back the urge to cry. My director appologized for not having a small party  like she does for all the others who come and go (I didn't get one when I came either), but she was busy. I am not sure that was the reason, but I wasn't expecting one anyway.

 

I went back to my room after work and tried to finish packing. I managed to do this in two hours. After that I went out to meet with friends. We went to two or three places, and then everyone, except me and one other, went home. This friend and I stayed out until around 5am. We had to be up at 8am to get to the airport on time this did not turn out to be a problem for me.

 

Even after not having slept, I was not able to sleep on the plane. The flight from Busan to Tokyo was uneventful. When we arrived in Tokeyo, however, I was astounded! The airport seemed to work with all the speed and efficiency of the United States government! We got off the plane and were herded into the general direction of a security checkpoint. All this time they were calling out flight numbers in 3 different languages, trying to make sure that the people who were on those flights didn't miss them.

 

After going through security almost all of my 2 hour layover had vanished. IT wasn't long before I was on the plane on my way to Detroit. Unfortunately, I was sitting right across the aisle from this Chinese couple with what seemed to be their grandchild. They spoke no English and caused a few problems with not putting on their seatbelts and things like that. That wouldn't have been so bad, except the child was not a happy one he screamed for around 2 hours of the flight, at which time he was sufficiently tired enough to pass out.

 

On the other side of me there was this woman from Thailand. She had brought some fruit with her to give to her inlaws, but when she heard that fruit would not be allowed into the US, she gave me some. I had never seen this fruit before. Some of it had little, pink, spiny-like appendages one was like a pear, only a little more bitter. The fruit was good. Most of it had to be pealed, but that was done with one's hands.

 

The airline food seemed to be a shock to my system. I did not feel good for much of that flight, or for much of the night either. The in-flight movies were not too bad, but they took forever to begin. I tried to sleep, but I was not able to do so.

 

When I arrived in Detroit, I was tired, I was cranky, and I was not looking forward to the 5 hour layover I had. I didn't want to go through customs, but this is the things they do when you come into the country, and they wouldn't make any special exceptions for me. They took everything out of my 3 bags. After going through it all and asking a lot of questions, the customs official looks at me and says, "Your not much of a packer." I already knew this, but he really didn't have to comment on it.

 

After this was done, I only had another 3 or 4 hours to wait. So, I sat down and read. It was at this time that I learned of Former Presidant Reagan's death. It seems that bad things are always associated with my leaving places maybe if I just stayed in one place people wouldn't die. This is not realistic, but I can see where someone could easily form this thought.

 

As the time to catch the flight to Nashville came closer, a group of middle school students on their way home from New York arrived. They sat next to me and started chatting. It was good to be listening to people chatting in English, and hearing a southerner who already speaks with a southern accent try to immitate a southern accent

is just a blast.

 

The flight to Nashville seemed longer than the leg from Tokyo, but I finally arrived. I called the mother of the bride to be to get a cell phone number. I obtained this number, hung up, and tried to call. The cell phone was off. Not a problem, I would just call the mother again no answer. To make a long story short, I was at the airport in Nashville for 3 hours, not sure of what was going to happen. What a way to end a long, long day!

 

With all of this said, I am glad that I attended the wedding. I was forced to cut my contract short, miss out on some money, and leave my students, but it showed me that I really do hold certain things above money. I always liked to think that I did, but one really doesn't know for sure unless they are faced with a circumstance that proves it. I know that had I missed this weding, I would have regretted it for a long time. Even now, after 2 or 3 years, I still wish I could have been at the wedding of two other friends. At that time I was unable to come up with the money to get to New Orleans, though  I tried everything I knew. Yet, I still feel bad about it.

 

The wedding was a blast, I met a person from Chile and shared some of my Korean stories with her while she talked about her home in Santiogo. It was just the international flavor that was needed to end an adventure I would love to repeat.

Today was an interesting day. Kindergarten did not go too well, but it wasn't as stressful as it could have been. The children were so into their own little world that doing anything with them seemed impossible. They had ballet today, so that was a benefit.

 

I talked with my director about the boxes, and she had the post office come to get them. What she failed to realize is that they only come to get them if you ship by air ($250). It wasn't totally wasted though, as the man gave me and my boxes a ride to the post office where they were set to be shiped by ground (boat) for only $84. It is a ton slower, but I was looking for cheap!

 

In my afternoon class (only one today) my students through me a party. They made me stay in the teachers' lounge while they prepared the room with balloons and wrote good bye to me a million times on the white board. They also included little sad faces to make it look good. When I was finally allowed to go in, they jumped out at me and sprayed me with soapy foam stuff. It was your traditional surprise party, though it wasn't really a surprise to me as one of the students told me that I was to stay in the teachers' lounge because of a party. Another student told her to not tell me, so she quickly said "no party."

 

After the "soaping", they all produced little snacks from their bags: crackers, chips, and similar items. One student gave me a pen with a little note that told me how I was a good teacher. Two other students gave me little fake velvet roses (one red and one white) that were made with candy at the middle. We played games for the rest of the time.

 

At the end of class they all said good-bye again. One student took the picture of me off the door and kept it. That was something I didn't expect. It was a day of sad good-byes and feeling good that the students felt I was a positive influence in their lives.

 

I should be packing right now, but I don't think my clothes are dry yet, and, besides, I like to wait until the last minute to do things. I really do not want to leave, but it will be nice to visit friends and family again.

 

I am trying to wrap things up here with friends and getting packed and other such nonesense. Sunday night I went out with friends. We had an awesome time, but it was sad as well.

 

Tuesday night I went out after Korean class. A new Korean teacher attended, and he spent most of the evening afterward staring at me. I hadn't eaten so I had a shepard's pie and some french fries. This is a ton of carbohydrates, but I didn't care it tasted good.

 

Today I went to the post office. I have to send some boxes home, but it is difficult. It seems that one of the boxes I had was 1 kilogram over weight, so I brought two of the three boxes home to try and rearrange the contents in a way that will keep them both underweight. I had no idea it would take so long at the post office I ended up being 20 minutes late for work. This is not a good thing this close to the end, and I felt absolutely horrible. I am just glad I had someone with me who spoke Korean, or it would have taken even longer. I have to go back tomorrow, but I have a long lunch, so maybe it won't be so bad.

 

I am not sure how I am going to get the boxes to the post office, but I will figure something out. I also need to borrow a scale so I can make sure they are both below the weight limit. This is going to cost me a fortune. I sent the lightest one, and that cost around $30! That isn't too bad, but it may take 6 weeks to get there.

 

I haven't been to kumdo at all this week. I have been too busy. I have to go get my sword and uniform either tonight or tomorrow though. It feels strange having to leave something after a little less than a month.

 

Korea is wrapping up there won't be many more of these adventures coming up. Who knows though, maybe there will be something similar in the future.

Today was a long day. I woke up early and finished my online Jr. TESOL course. They are offering college credits for it for $180, but I don't have the money right now, so I will not be able to get them. Not a terrible thing, but, in my mind anyway, it would have been nice to be able to get them. I guess I am actually happy that I don't have the money. If I did, I would get the credits and then regret it later!

 

After that I went to MS Echo. We spent most of the time talking about changing the format. It went well, but I didn't add much. After the meeting we went out to dinner.

 

It was also a little bit of a sad day as is going to be the rest of the week. As I think I may have said, my director wants me to cancel my trip to the states. I feel I need to be at the wedding, so I am unwilling to do this. Because of this little disagreement, we have decided that we would cut the contract short. I guess in this way I am not quitting, and she is not firing me. I am not sure what one would call it, though I do need to find out so as to be able to tell potential future employers. I guess my reason for leaving would be the end of my contract, though this may lead to questions about why I had a 10 month contract. If you can help with this, please do.

 

Yesterday for dinner I had rice. This doesn't seem too interesting does it? Well, this rice was mixed with vegatables and fish eggs. I didn't know that I ordered this (I guess it was actually ordered by someone else), but I ate it anyway. It didn't taste bad at all I hardly noticed the fish eggs, though there was the occasional grainy feeling.

 

I am not sure how I am going to get my stuff home. I need to send some packages through the mail. This means I need to find some boxes, get them packed, and find out how much it will cost to send them. And then I need to hope I have enough money to do it.

The biggest problem I am going to face, however, is the one of telling my students I am leaving. I don't know how they will react, but I know I am going to miss them a lot! I have started dealing really well with my kindergarten students because of the class I was taking, and I have become really attached to them. It seems that a couple of them have become attached to me too. I know they will get over it quite easily, if it bothers them at all, but I am not too sure about me. I know from experience how difficult it is to leave students you have been working with, even for just a short time. I went through this everytime Upward Bound ended and when I came to Korea.

 

I will probably have to go through this type of thing many more times during my life, and as sad as it can be, I am more than willing to put myself into this position again. I will always try to make a difference in other people's lives, even when I must feel some separation anxiety at the end. I guess this is to be expected when you put as much of yourself into the work as I do. Perhaps it is not good that I do, but at the moment at least, that is the way it is.