Every Thorn Has Its Rose

Nearing the end of my second month here there's a little principle I'm currently internalizing that warrants sharing: 

Sanity Requires Flexibility. 

Sometimes that looks like buying the 30 pack of toilet paper, because bulk shopping toilet paper is apparently the only way to buy toilet paper and no waiting for a smaller pack to show up will actually make that happen. 

It looks like realizing my new debit card doesn't actually work as a bus card and having to decide if I'm going back to the bank to fix it, or see if my phone is compatible with their electronic payment system. Then realizing that because my phone is "pay as you go" and not on a phone contract they may not take the phone option anyways (EVERYTHING is attached to you phone number, EVERYTHING. 

Or there's when one of the boys pretends he's Legolas shooting me with an imaginary bow and arrow, and since Legolas primarily shoots orcs I have to decide if that's a point of discipline or should be ignored (I told him Aragorn was cooler, perhaps a petty response but you take what you get). 

It's realizing that becoming fast friends with anyone will be little difficult with new cases of corona shutting everything down, and deciding that's okay because it means less money spent at cafes. Like don't get me wrong, I love the strawberry smoothies, but they add up in more ways than one. 

There are so many opportunities to be put out in a situations where I'm 100% comfortable all the time. Those opportunities only magnify with the inconveniences that come with being an international in a foreign country. Somethings I've seen here have helped me understand why there are some people who come here and are miserable from the get go. 

But it doesn't have to be like that. It isn't always easy, I won't lie. But easy isn't a prerequisite for happiness. Neither is convenience or comfort. Do all of those things help? Yes. I'd argue though that there are situations where they can hurt as well. 

There is a lot of self-satisfaction that comes from regularly doing something that's difficult, and I've found setting my basic bar as "didn't die or get eaten" results in a nice feeling of accomplishment. It might be a titch low since, as to the best of my knowledge, I haven't been in serious danger of either (unless, do mosquitoes count?). 

There are a lot of little victories after all. I have my twin boys figured out, so most of the time I know who is who without needing my notes. My quiet kids are starting to relax around me and beginning to participate in discussion. I'm teaching my younger classes storytelling, and currently we've left off with a bird pooping on Slenderman (this is 100% a power play between two kids trying to figure out who's top dog in class. Slenderman lost when I told him eating people wasn't allowed in class, and then it was bird's turn next. I'd said nothing about pooping, and as it was 100% true to the nature of birds it was allowed). 

If I wasn't careful there would always be a reason to be unhappy. Always something to tempt me into feeling incredibly dissatisfied with something about my situation. But that's true of any life, any place, and on the flip side, it's really easy to be happy here. Not everything has to go perfectly to be a fun and exciting experience. And without interesting experiences I wouldn't have much to write about anyways. And where would be the fun in that? 

-Shayla

P.S Just for fun here are some photos from trips I've gone on, not professional, but hopefully that's not why you're here...

Hanging out with the Beautiful Bekah!!

A pier Somewhere in Masan... I'm sure a friend will correct me with it's actual name...

If you knew where exactly to look you'd know this is the place where T Teacher's ice cream melted all over his shirt. I may have laughed.