Hi all,
So it's been about a year since I returned and I haven't been blogging, which means a lot has happened. I'll have to come back and post a few highlights from the year. Currently, however, I am in New Delhi India on a Fulbright-Hays Teacher Study tour learning all about the different religions in India. I don't know if I'll be uploading pics to picassa- I'm already trying to update on facebook. There are just too many ways in which to make one's life public.
Well, this is going to be a slow work in progress because we have very little down time on this whole adventure and I need to make sure I'm sleeping!
-me
Friday, July 3, 2009
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Back home!
Hi everyone!
I arrived safely back from Korea about two weeks ago! I'm a bit late in my posting, but that's due to jetlag, the time difference, frantic job searching, etc.
I had a rather uneventful plane ride from Korea to Tokyo and from Tokyo to L.A. I actaully ran into a few Fulbright friends coming back, so I got to chat and travel with them which was nice. I got delayed in L.A. due to mechanical problems, but finally made it back to Denver.
I am still hunting for a job and will let people know when I find something! Thanks for all your support and encouragement!!!
One last thing, here is a link to the 2008 Fulbright Review. It is a compilation of articles, personal anecdotes, photographs, and poems reflecting upon our year in Korea. It is not only Fulbright ETAs, but also researchers and senior fellows. I contributed two photographs.
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:ddd7ItEJgP0J:www.fulbright.or.kr/en/fulbright/down/Fulbright_Review_2008.pdf+jenna+novaral&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us
Again, thanks for sticking with me during this year!
-Jenna
I arrived safely back from Korea about two weeks ago! I'm a bit late in my posting, but that's due to jetlag, the time difference, frantic job searching, etc.
I had a rather uneventful plane ride from Korea to Tokyo and from Tokyo to L.A. I actaully ran into a few Fulbright friends coming back, so I got to chat and travel with them which was nice. I got delayed in L.A. due to mechanical problems, but finally made it back to Denver.
I am still hunting for a job and will let people know when I find something! Thanks for all your support and encouragement!!!
One last thing, here is a link to the 2008 Fulbright Review. It is a compilation of articles, personal anecdotes, photographs, and poems reflecting upon our year in Korea. It is not only Fulbright ETAs, but also researchers and senior fellows. I contributed two photographs.
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:ddd7ItEJgP0J:www.fulbright.or.kr/en/fulbright/down/Fulbright_Review_2008.pdf+jenna+novaral&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us
Again, thanks for sticking with me during this year!
-Jenna
Friday, July 11, 2008
Final Post from Korea
Hi,
Last week was good- pretty uneventful, just tying up loose ends. I had many "goodbye" lunches and took pictures with all my classes (many of my students were surprised that I'm leaving- although I've told them many times).
I've spent this weekend up in Chuncheon meeting the new ETAs and trying to impart some of my wisdom from this year. It's a nice way to end my time in Korea- seeing some friends for the last time and ending where I started. I head back to Daegu in about an hour.
AND
This is my penultimate blog post, for I will be retiring this space when I get back to the states. Once stateside, I will put up one entry, hopefully an uneventful post of my flight back to the states.
I know there will be many other exciting adventures in my life and I thank you all for reading and keeping up with me!
Right now, I do not know what I will be doing in the near future. This fact scares and disappoints me. Although, it does open up many possibilities.
However, once I am stateside I will keep in touch with everyone through e-mail, phone calls and personal visits (some of you won't be able to get rid of me ^^)!
Who knows, maybe I'll start blogging again sometime in the near future...who knows where I'll be?
-me
I WILL BE ON A PLANE NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME! AHHH!!
----
Seasons of Love
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?
How about love?
How about love?
How about love? Measure in love
Seasons of love. Seasons of love
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes!
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?
In truths that she learned,
Or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned,
Or the way that she died.
It's time now to sing out,
Tho' the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love!
Remember the love!
Seasons of love!
Oh you got to got to
Remember the love!
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love spread love
Measure measure your life in love.
Last week was good- pretty uneventful, just tying up loose ends. I had many "goodbye" lunches and took pictures with all my classes (many of my students were surprised that I'm leaving- although I've told them many times).
I've spent this weekend up in Chuncheon meeting the new ETAs and trying to impart some of my wisdom from this year. It's a nice way to end my time in Korea- seeing some friends for the last time and ending where I started. I head back to Daegu in about an hour.
AND
This is my penultimate blog post, for I will be retiring this space when I get back to the states. Once stateside, I will put up one entry, hopefully an uneventful post of my flight back to the states.
I know there will be many other exciting adventures in my life and I thank you all for reading and keeping up with me!
Right now, I do not know what I will be doing in the near future. This fact scares and disappoints me. Although, it does open up many possibilities.
However, once I am stateside I will keep in touch with everyone through e-mail, phone calls and personal visits (some of you won't be able to get rid of me ^^)!
Who knows, maybe I'll start blogging again sometime in the near future...who knows where I'll be?
-me
I WILL BE ON A PLANE NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME! AHHH!!
----
Seasons of Love
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?
How about love?
How about love?
How about love? Measure in love
Seasons of love. Seasons of love
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes!
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?
In truths that she learned,
Or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned,
Or the way that she died.
It's time now to sing out,
Tho' the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love!
Remember the love!
Seasons of love!
Oh you got to got to
Remember the love!
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love spread love
Measure measure your life in love.
Monday, July 7, 2008
"How do you measure a year?" (4)
Okay- this last list is not a top ten, because I cannot think of ten things. (This might say something in itself ^^) I tried, I even thought about it for awhile.
Without further ado- my final list:
Top six areas I've grown personally:
6. Patience
You need a lot of it when you can't communicate!
5. Adaptable
Good skill to have when living in a very different culture for a year.
4. Spending time with myself
Not being utterly bored, embracing the introvert ^^ in myself (it's true James).
3. More relaxed
Not having to be constantly busy all the time.
2. Having a better idea of what I want in life
More grounded/realistic perspective of where I come from and an understanding of
how it affects who I am.
1. Faith
Trusting that God has a plan, seeing what He has given me already and enjoying it.
Really, like everyone, I am a "work in progress" and although I feel I have grown in these areas, I'm sure there is a lot more to be done. However, I am most interested in seeing where you all think I have grown and changed (hopefully for the better).
---
Okay- I got back from Vietnam on Friday morning. I hung out in Seoul (saying goodbye to people) and then came back to Daegu on Sat. afternoon. I had a lunch and dinner appointments and then Sunday morning I had a meeting with students. All in all, it was a very packed weekend with many goodbyes!
This is my last full week in the classroom and I think it will be mostly relaxed! Just tying up a few loose ends and saying "good luck" to my students. Our summer vacation ceremony is next week, so hpoefully I'll be able to say good bye to all the students. We'll see.
Oh, I'm a little late- there are pictures of Vietnam (click the link on the left!) My power cord (the third one, I think) died on my yesterday. So my computer is out of commission until my new power5 cord arrives.
And, no news on a job YET.
-me
Without further ado- my final list:
Top six areas I've grown personally:
6. Patience
You need a lot of it when you can't communicate!
5. Adaptable
Good skill to have when living in a very different culture for a year.
4. Spending time with myself
Not being utterly bored, embracing the introvert ^^ in myself (it's true James).
3. More relaxed
Not having to be constantly busy all the time.
2. Having a better idea of what I want in life
More grounded/realistic perspective of where I come from and an understanding of
how it affects who I am.
1. Faith
Trusting that God has a plan, seeing what He has given me already and enjoying it.
Really, like everyone, I am a "work in progress" and although I feel I have grown in these areas, I'm sure there is a lot more to be done. However, I am most interested in seeing where you all think I have grown and changed (hopefully for the better).
---
Okay- I got back from Vietnam on Friday morning. I hung out in Seoul (saying goodbye to people) and then came back to Daegu on Sat. afternoon. I had a lunch and dinner appointments and then Sunday morning I had a meeting with students. All in all, it was a very packed weekend with many goodbyes!
This is my last full week in the classroom and I think it will be mostly relaxed! Just tying up a few loose ends and saying "good luck" to my students. Our summer vacation ceremony is next week, so hpoefully I'll be able to say good bye to all the students. We'll see.
Oh, I'm a little late- there are pictures of Vietnam (click the link on the left!) My power cord (the third one, I think) died on my yesterday. So my computer is out of commission until my new power5 cord arrives.
And, no news on a job YET.
-me
Saturday, June 28, 2008
"How do you measure a year?" (3)
Top ten things I'll miss:
10. Being able to "pass" for Korean
9. Korean food
8. My 14 hour teaching week
7. My students
6. Time/opportunity to travel
5. Being a cultural ambassador and dispelling myths about America
4. Host family
3. Friends I've made here
2. International adoptee community
1. Learning something new about Korea/Koreans everyday
----
Ha, I'm right on time and I'm out of the country- well, out out of the country. For those of you who don't know, I'm in Vietnam right now.
I landed yesterday about 1:30pm, found a hotel, spent the day walking around- mild sightseeing- and then checked into the hotel. It was an early night, as I was exhausted from the late night/early morning bus I had to take to catch my plane from Seoul.
I woke up early this morning- had breakfast and then I was out exploring some more. I'm in Hanoi and walked all around the Old Quarter today. I even saw the National Theatre's water puppet show and had dinner on a floating restuarant on the West Lake.
It's really hot and humid, but I am enjoying all the new sights. I have a slight cold, which is frustrating, and is aggravated by all the pollution and smoking!!!
Tomorrow I leave for Halong Bay- I'll be able to see Ho Chi Minh on Wednesday or Thursday.
Hopefully next week I'll have pictures uploaded!
-me
10. Being able to "pass" for Korean
9. Korean food
8. My 14 hour teaching week
7. My students
6. Time/opportunity to travel
5. Being a cultural ambassador and dispelling myths about America
4. Host family
3. Friends I've made here
2. International adoptee community
1. Learning something new about Korea/Koreans everyday
----
Ha, I'm right on time and I'm out of the country- well, out out of the country. For those of you who don't know, I'm in Vietnam right now.
I landed yesterday about 1:30pm, found a hotel, spent the day walking around- mild sightseeing- and then checked into the hotel. It was an early night, as I was exhausted from the late night/early morning bus I had to take to catch my plane from Seoul.
I woke up early this morning- had breakfast and then I was out exploring some more. I'm in Hanoi and walked all around the Old Quarter today. I even saw the National Theatre's water puppet show and had dinner on a floating restuarant on the West Lake.
It's really hot and humid, but I am enjoying all the new sights. I have a slight cold, which is frustrating, and is aggravated by all the pollution and smoking!!!
Tomorrow I leave for Halong Bay- I'll be able to see Ho Chi Minh on Wednesday or Thursday.
Hopefully next week I'll have pictures uploaded!
-me
Sunday, June 22, 2008
"How do you measure a year?" (2)
As promised...
Top ten things I won't miss:
10. Really spicy food for breakfast
9. Rude foreigners
8. Practicing English with my host bro
7. Being knocked/bumped into every time I go out
6. Sleeping on a cot
5. Having to shower at the gym
4. Blunt comments about my appearance
3. Constant personal questions
2. Having to explain my life story to every (slight exaggeration) random person I meet
1. Not being able to communicate 100% 24/7
----
This weekend I was in Seoul, well I still am. I'm headed back to Daegu this afternoon. It was my program's final dinner celebration (seems a little early, but it was nice). It was held on the American army base and it was catered by the hotel there- so pretty good (mostly American style) food. I got to say goodbye to most of the people in the program and hang out with them Saturday night and Sunday. In many ways it's easy to imagine I've been here for a year, but it's also difficult to believe also. It seems strange that I'll probably never see most of these people again and it's odd to say goodbye- "good luck, have a good life!"
I saw Kungfu Panda this weekend- it was suprisingly good, just 'cause I hadn't seen a previe for it. I really recommend it- the animation was great too.
Okay, nothing else really new- still trying to get a job.
OOOOOHHHHH! I alost forgot. Idina Menzel is coming to Denver as part of her summer tour and I'm SOOOO excited!!! I've never seen her perform live and I can't wait!!!
Okay, next time I post will be from Vietnam. Have a great week!
-me
Top ten things I won't miss:
10. Really spicy food for breakfast
9. Rude foreigners
8. Practicing English with my host bro
7. Being knocked/bumped into every time I go out
6. Sleeping on a cot
5. Having to shower at the gym
4. Blunt comments about my appearance
3. Constant personal questions
2. Having to explain my life story to every (slight exaggeration) random person I meet
1. Not being able to communicate 100% 24/7
----
This weekend I was in Seoul, well I still am. I'm headed back to Daegu this afternoon. It was my program's final dinner celebration (seems a little early, but it was nice). It was held on the American army base and it was catered by the hotel there- so pretty good (mostly American style) food. I got to say goodbye to most of the people in the program and hang out with them Saturday night and Sunday. In many ways it's easy to imagine I've been here for a year, but it's also difficult to believe also. It seems strange that I'll probably never see most of these people again and it's odd to say goodbye- "good luck, have a good life!"
I saw Kungfu Panda this weekend- it was suprisingly good, just 'cause I hadn't seen a previe for it. I really recommend it- the animation was great too.
Okay, nothing else really new- still trying to get a job.
OOOOOHHHHH! I alost forgot. Idina Menzel is coming to Denver as part of her summer tour and I'm SOOOO excited!!! I've never seen her perform live and I can't wait!!!
Okay, next time I post will be from Vietnam. Have a great week!
-me
Monday, June 16, 2008
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