Selecting a Title

Sometimes it's easy to think of my title aka "My Earth Hour" as I was writing during Earth Hour, but there are a few different options for this entry based on what I was thinking about at the time (I was thinking this morning that I needed to write today/tonight.): Signs, A New Routine or So Here's the Problem... , Fooled Again and Gone.

I will explain each of them now and then recap the past couple of days. Signs: I think I have written about my workout rut a few times. A few weeks ago I had the realization that it might be good to train for something, giving me a purpose and a focus for my workouts. Well, my latest issue of Fitness has a training schedule for a half marathon, and then yesterday I somehow got a flier in the mail about a half-marathon coming to Chicago in August (Rock N' Roll). There's live music at every mile, which I think is awesome, and would probably make the run a lot easier. I had actually talked to Dominique about training for something since everyone knows it's usually more fun to train with someone. I literally just called her, and she is pretty pumped about the idea. :)

"A New Routine" So I realized that working out is much more beneficial for me if I am taking classes. However, "Here's the Problem"... I was at the gym by 5:55 for a 6AM sculpting class (Don't forget that I don't have to be to work until 10.), and the class was packed full. This means I need to wake up and get to the gym even earlier. I don't know how I feel about that. What I've done the past couple of mornings is wake up early, workout and then do my 103 meditation bows before I start the day. I know the meditation is supposed to help me clear my mind, but it's not working so well. I also spend a lot of the time thinking about how many I have left to do.
haha

"Gone" My routine was definitely different this morning as I attempted to turn on my computer. Nothing happened. This translates into no Pandora, no weather check, no first glance at my inbox, no cta bus tracker, etc- not cool! Things could be worse though, and this means that it's time for a new computer. Mac, here I come!

"Fooled Again" My friend Tim is so great with April Fool's Day. Last year he e-mailed everyone that he had decided to remain in Spain (the country in which he was studying abroad). Today he sent the following e-mail:

"

Hello Family and Friends…

So I don’t really know how to put this out there without really worrying you all, but in 48 hours, I will be on a plane back to the US…

Everything is a little chaotic right now and I still don’t know all the details but this is what I do know… I don’t know how many of you are following the news with North Korea, but things are getting worse! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep this on the down low for a little, but I guess Fulbright has received some sort of inside information that the US will be mobilizing a significant amount of troops into North Korea?!?! North Korea will not back down on launching this “satellite”/missile and I guess there is other suspicious activity that isn’t being reported in the news?!?! I’m guessing the US actions are going to be drastic considering they are calling for an “immediate evacuation of all individuals affiliated with Fulbright”. South Korea is quickly evacuating all Americans, though we are told Fulbrighters with our diplomatic visas are being given priority.

AHHH!!! Everything is happening so fast. The Fulbright office has been calling us all as quickly as possible. They basically told us we have 48 hours to be packed and at the Seoul airport. We don’t even have a chance to return to our schools to say goodbye… we were instructed to pack our luggage and say goodbye to our host families tomorrow, as we all fly out at 6 am the next day!

While, of course I am worried about my safety, I am currently just in shock and am really sad this experience is over so abruptly! This semester, I was feeling so much more comfortable in my many roles here, as a teacher, in the homestay, with my Fulbright friends, etc. Of course I will be happy to be home with all of you and safe, but I will forever feel like I was robbed of my full experience here in Korea. My friends and I have been calling each other tonight, fighting back the tears thinking about leaving each other and our host families so soon!!! Why now? Why Korea??? My host family is kinda freaking out too, trying to help me pack, but really just worried and sad… :( I haven’t even had a chance to call my immediate family yet to tell them the news, but I will do that shortly after sending this email!

Anyway, I just wanted to keep all of you informed and I guess I will be seeing most of you sooner than I thought. I also wanted to inform you that this is another one of my evil April first emails!!! Yup, you just read that correctly… Gotcha!!! Whoa… I can’t even imagine the responses that I am going to get from this email!!! :) I didn’t figure I could fool many of you again with an email saying I am staying in Korea, like I did from Spain, so I went with this idea instead! I just hope none of you have called CNN or the White House or Obama himself! I have to end this email in a panic style in case any of you tried to cheat and look for me to give it away too easily at the bottom. I really did not think anything would escalate from this conflict, but I guess it has?!?!

If I get time, I will try to write you all again before I get on the plane. I guess I will see most of you sooner than I thought. Here is to hoping I get out of Korea safely!"

He's good, right?

Other than those big updates, I am so grateful to have yoga in my life. We have not been able to find a consistent new teacher at work but keep getting new kids. I had a pretty bad headache today, but then yoga was amazing. I'm really looking forward to seeing how my body changes once I can go even more consistently (when school starts). The other night my Master told me that I have a lot of energy in my body but also a lot of tension.