april 24th, 2011 marked one year of jens and i being back in texas!
we've had our ups and downs....our busy moments, our boring moments....our fun and exciting moments and our frustrating or sad moments....but overall it's been a awesome year!
i didn't really know what to expect after leaving korea. i had gotten pretty used to life there after 3 years and had forgotten what certain things were like in america! even though my reverse culture shock is gone for the most part, korea has left a permanent mark on me. there are things about it i will carry with me forever. i still prefer densely packed cities with a walking culture and public transportation, i still don't have much of an "american bubble" around me- meaning i don't mind that much when people touch me, bump into me or talk close to me, i'm still shocked by the american culture of excess- too much food, too much fat and sugar in food, cars that are too big, always wanting the next new thing and throwing out the old, etc., and i still don't mind eating a wide variety of foods, some of which i may not actually like lol (not to mention my urge to eat kimchi every now and then). there are more of course but that's all i can think of right now.
i wanted to write a really in depth post but i've been super busy with work and social stuff so i just haven't had the time! i guess that can be a good thing :o) i'm still liking my job and i finally have a great social life :oD
it took about 10-12 months but i actually feel "settled" here now. i have a routine and lots of friends to hang out with, etc. the only bad thing is i don't actually want to live in arlington or dfw forever! lol i want to just pick up my life and move it to a better city like austin or san marcos or portland and take all my friends with me! ;o) alas i cannot...so we'll just have to start all over again if we move. but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!
on that note, here are some pictures from the past year!
our last night in korea was spent having a blast with our friends! i really miss all these people (along with all of our other korea friends!)
we returned to texas and started setting up our little house and seeing family and friends!
last may we had our 4 year anniversary and jens had a mohawk!
in june we went to the ranch and shot guns as texans do!
july was quite eventful! first we went to jens's mom's family reunion in iowa. these are most of the grandkids and great-grandkids (with spouses):
then we visited our friends abby, jason, jen, shannon and rich in vancouver! (all of whom we met in korea) and it was a blast!
next we visited our friends ali, patrick, kat....and this troll in seattle! it was awesome!
to end our epic n.w. trip we spent 5 days in portland, or. and discovered they have the same motto as austin, tx. lol (side note: we fell in love with the city and want to move there!)
to end july we celebrated my 27th birthday with our friends at a korean restaurant and noraebang! we came full circle in 3 months! ;o)
in august we had a spur of the moment wacky clothes party for jens's 28th birthday! don't take jens's expression to mean he wasn't having fun- this is just his serious look ;o)
jens also started fire academy at the very end of august!
in september our garden started taking off! we grew oregano, basil, carrots, cabbage and buttercup squash! (later we grew spinach and onions and now we're growing the same oregano, more basil and summer squash!)
in october we co-hosted a super fun halloween party with ben and vivienne!
in november we had our first thanksgiving at home in 3 years!
and of course, in december, we had a lovely christmas with our family and friends :o) there are so many good pictures with said family and friends that i can't choose one so here's is a photo of our little tree and presents!
i also received my event and wedding planner certification in december and our teacher brought this cake to class!
on new year's eve jens's band, the small gods, performed in fort worth!
in january we went to colorado with ben, chris and lorri and we had a great time sledding, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing!
jens also graduated from fire academy as valedictorian of his class in january!
in february we had an anti-superbowl party!
AND I FINALLY GOT A JOB!!!! at half price books :oD
in march i went to the lady gaga concert with sandra, jamie and mengmeng!!! (i also went to the devotchka concert with jens and joel!)
in april i had a ton of fun with my newest bff, selene!
and we went to the gogol bordello concert with jens and joel!
then, on the anniversary of being back in the states for ONE YEAR i was in richmond, va for my awesome cousin catherine's wedding which was beautiful and so much fun!
and that wasn't even the half of everything jens and i did in the past year! WHEW! i guess i never should have worried about having a boring life after leaving korea lol
here's to the next year! :oD
