Good morn from Korea! 'Tis my first full day. All of the SMOE (Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education) teachers are gathered at the Hyundai Learning Center for a week of orientation. They're going light on the scheduled events for the next couple of days to let us adjust to the time difference (we're 17 hours ahead of San Diego) and meet each other. I lost no time in recruiting a group to throw around the frisbee after breakfast; ultimate is my wingman.
It didn't really hit me that I was actually moving to another country until I was getting in line for security at the airport. I checked 115.5 lbs of luggage with no penalty, which I owe to the clerk finding my mom cute, and my cute mom hugged me goodbye, and the realization hit. All of the packing and goodbye parties (yes, there were definitely more than one... how I love a good party) had failed to make real what a goodbye hug from Oma did. I'm living in Korea now! Weeeee
My last night in San Diego was particularly great, though. It was the night of my flash mob and the after-party at Tiny's bar. Thank you to everyone for making me feel so very loved; it was difficult to say goodbye to all of you (and I was doing an excellent job of not crying until Lauren broke the seal :0P). Here was the email that was sent out, and yes, the result was exactly as amazing as the email promises:
Picture this:
You're browsing the antipasto at the end stall of the Ocean Beach farmer's market. You're feeling good because you're wearing your lucky Wednesday underwear. You hear a few sung verses of a familiar Journey rock ballad, and you think hey, it's just some street musician, a little off-key, but you forgive her because hells yes what a great song. The first guitar solo hits, and your foot starts a-tappin, and "it goes on and on and ooon..." and then, suddenly and all together, as if possessed by drunk 1980s karaoke singers, the crowd joins in and belts out "STRANGERS, WAiting... Up and down the boulevard..." and you're like wtf how is everyone being this awesome at the same time?! The crowd is amped and rocking out, and at the end of the chorus, they start sweeping down through the farmer's market: grooving up the middle of the street and both sidewalks, and surprised onlookers like yourself gawk and smile and look at each other to try and figure out what's going on. The energy's contagious, and you start believin' and put down your antipasto and join in the happy parade. We're walking down toward the bars at the end of Newport when a new song comes on over our rolling speaker: "...hands, touching hands, reaching out, touching me, touching yoooou... so good SO good SO GOOD!" The caroling party continues with "Cecelia" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" as we walk and belt out our passionate renditions of the classics. It's a beautiful thing really. In this fashion we make our merry way to Tiny's, where we have the patio reserved to embrace with beer our collective awesomeness. We play our freshly-created video footage of our jolly shenanigan on the patio TVs, and we toast to Gina because, finally, to end the streak of goodbye parties, this is her last night in town.
JOIN US Wednesday at the intersection of Newport Ave and Cable St by 6:20pm!! Browse the stalls/read a newspaper/blend in with the scene and wait to join in the chorus of "Don't Stop Believin'" after you hear me sing "it goes on and on and on" around 6:30pm. Walk and sing with us to Tiny's! The lineup is as follows; see the attached document for lyrics. Forward this to your friends! We want as many people as possible, for EPIC tastes sweeter when shared.
On a different note, here's the link to the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball photo booth pics from Friday night! Y'all looked ravishing.
Many thanks and much love,
Gina
1. Don't Stop Believin- Journey
2. Sweet Caroline- Neil Diamond
3. Cecelia- Simon & Garfunkel
4. Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
5. You've Lost that Lovin Feeling- Righteous Brothers
6. Baby Got Back- Sir Mix-a-lot
7. Build Me Up Buttercup- The Foundations
8. Leaving on a Jet Plane- John Denver
