Bombs Over... Northern South Korea?

So, I'm home in the States and pretty much the leading story on all the news channels is North Korea shooting artillery at an island in South Korean territory. People were injured, fire was exchanged. Watching from a distance, I'm scared. But at the same time, I'm wondering if the conclusions the American news channels are jumping to are right or over-exaggerations. Or if I've lived in Korea for so long that I've become complacent.

Most of my friends in Seoul have been on Facebook saying things are fine and not to worry. A couple are freaking out thinking that war is about to start. I'm of the mind that the US and ROK are not going to do anything military-wise since neither really wants to go to war at the moment and risk losing everything South Korea has built up. But from this incident and the Cheonan incident, I think we can safely bet that you cannot predict what North Korea will do. And I can't even begin to guess why on earth they've suddenly decided to be so aggressive.

So, I'm hoping that I can get back to Seoul safely, and that my parents don't freak out too bad. But a part of me is silently sad that I'm missing all the excitement... Silly, I know. But it's the journalist side of me...

Home Sweet Home

I'm home in Oklahoma.

I love it.

But it's still odd to be surrounded by a bunch of people who speak English and be able to read everything in the grocery.

I still love it.

Leaving On A Jet Plane!

But I do actually know when I'll be back again. December 1st, to be exact.

I'm so ready for this trip home. It finally hit me today that I will be seeing my family for the first time in two years in just two (really want them to be short, but will probably be long) days. And I'm feeling quite accomplished, since my list of things to do before I leave is quickly disappearing. The cable company is coming tomorrow morning. I got my presents purchased yesterday. With the help of my fan, my clothes should be dried and ready to pack by tonight, and I bucked up and called YG today. However, can't cross that off yet, since I'm now waiting on a response, but hopefully I'll get one before I leave for the US. Crap. Probably should have mentioned that on the phone today... I'll call again tomorrow if I don't hear anything...

All that is left to do is to buy some makgeolli, soju and maewasu to take home so that my family can try some traditional Korean alcohol. (Can do after work.) Pack. (Again, after work.) And pay rent. (Can do anytime before Friday.)

I did tell a friend that I would go out with her Thursday night, stay at her place and leave for the airport from there, but after some thinking I've decided not to. First of all, I would have to take my stuff to work with me and then go up to her place. I live in Gunja on the northeast side of the city. I work in Seocho on the south-central side. She lives in Eedae on the northwest side. I have a really large suitcase that I do not want to drag around the city because I'm too cheap to use taxis.

Secondly, I'm running out of money alloted for spending in Korea.

Thirdly, while my flight isn't until 11 am, I really don't want to stay up late or drink the night before I'm supposed to leave. I don't want to miss my flight (since I'll have to leave for the airport by 7:30ish) and I really don't want to uber tired and hungover while traveling for nearly 24 hours. I have an insane amount of transfers to make, which will require me to be alert. Don't believe me?

11 am- Leave Seoul

1:20 pm- Arrive in Tokyo

3:30 pm- Leave Tokyo

7:30 am- Arrive in Portland

1:15 pm- Leave Portland

4 pm- Arrive in Salt Lake City

7:54 pm- Leave Salt Lake City

11:17 pm- Arrive in Tulsa

I feel tired just looking at that...

It's... Over...

The G20 is officially over. *Cue confetti and ticker tape parade*

Well, it's not quite over for us here at work. There are still three more newscasts to go before the end of my shift, which at the moment consists of:

- Two packages (2-3 minutes long)

- 4-6 B-rolls (30-50 seconds)

Today is definitely way more low key than yesterday and the day before. No more reporters running around like chickens with their heads cut off or Boss Lady yelling. Even though we're still reporting, things are calm. Probably because there won't really be any fresh news from now on with all the meetings and such over with. We'll just be re-reporting all the news we put out throughout the day. Thus why I have the time to write this blog.

I'm so ready for this to be over. I really would love to just go home and sleep after work, but I've already promised a couple co-workers that we would go get a couple beers after work to celebrate the end of the G20... bleh...

Hwighting!

I think I can physically see the stress permeating the office today. I even had a freak-out moment myself when I got in at 2:06 pm and realized that there is a broadcast at 3pm (once again, no one told me the on-the-hour newscasts started at 3). Luckily, most of the b-rolls for the bulletins are rolling over to the next broadcast, but I've been getting so many random calls to look at packages for today and tomorrow that I'm afraid to leave my desk since there is no telling when the next call might come. Especially since they aren't putting up the cue sheets until an hour before broadcast and I'm not sure what to expect.

Which means I don't know when or if I'm getting dinner tonight. I'll probably have one of the reporters call down to the cafe and order me a sandwich to bring up, if they have a free minute (which most don't). Oi, the stress! I'm so ready for the G20 to be over.

And for the delivery guy to drop off my package from G-Market with my new sweaters... that is if I can find a kind soul to call and speak to him in Korean... I hate having a low Korean speaking and listening ability...

G20... I love you, but I hate you...

Is it bad that the G20 hasn't even started yet and I'm already feeling the drain? I'm about to start a baek won collection for every time a reporter uses the word 'cooperation'. It's already messing with my super editor skills (*hint* sarcasm).

All I know is, I'm so looking forward to my trip home to the States for Thanksgiving... seriously...

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween this weekend. Mine was fun, though not what I expected. I went to a party hosted by someone at the US embassy, which turned out to be more fun than I thought it would be and then headed up to Hongdae to meet up with some friends. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a hold of the people I wanted to meet and ended up hanging out with a friend I hadn't seen in awhile. Somehow in the mix we both lost the people we had originally came to Hongdae with and just hung out alone. I kind of wish we had stuck with the group or stayed at the first party, but oh well. ^_^

The highlight of my night was winning best costume for my 1940s pin-up girl at the first party. I think I had one of the few costumes made by hand and since it was a pain in the neck for a few weeks, I really appreciated the award. It also sparked a new fascination with the 40s retro style and makes me wish I could go shopping for a new wardrobe, but we'll see. ^_^

And here's a picture of my fun costume along with my friend, the Lumberjack.

And now that Halloween is over, I have a crazy couple weeks ahead. Between the G20 and getting ready for my Thanksgiving trip, there is so much to get done. But knowing me, somehow it will all get taken care of one way or another. It just sucks that I have to work so much. But more work = more money, so I should just hush up. Especially since my co-worker was kind enough to agree to work 12 days straight so I can go visit my family...