2014: I Know It Happened Because There Are Pictures

I have absolutely no idea where 2014 went. Seriously.

I suppose if I was a better blogger, I’d be able to look back at my blog and go, “Oh, yeah! That’s where it went!” But let’s face it; I’m a sporadic blogger at best and generally non-existent the rest of the time but let’s not talk about that.

As I scroll back through pictures on my phone (thank god I have photographic proof that this year did, in fact, happen), I can tell you two things about 2014:

1. I did a lot of stuff. Like seriously, so much stuff. ALL THE STUFF. If you were hoping to do some stuff at any point you may as well give up because there is no more stuff left to do. I did all of it. BOOM.
2. It was a helluva’ year.

New Year’s Eve came and went this week, and I spent a lot of time thinking about my last two New Year’s Eves. (Wow, that looks super weird in plural. No? Just me? OK, then.) NYE 2012 was spent sitting in my room in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, making a list of all the ways I was going to get my life in order so I could move out of the country. And NYE 2013 was spent in my parents house in Eagle, Wisconsin, counting down the hours until my flight to Prague the next afternoon, because I was finally officially starting the journey that had been a literal year in the making.

New Year’s Eve 2014 was spent with a pub in Hongdae with basically every other foreigner in Seoul, celebrating a year that I’m gonna go ahead and put in the victory column. I only hope 2015 is up to the challenge of topping it.

So what have I been up to since the last time I posted… In July? (Really, Holly? July? Get your crap together!) Well, to answer that question I could write a super-ridiculously long post detailing the Who, What, When, and Where’s of the year, but that sounds like a lot of work. Plus, if my collegiate education taught me one thing, it’s the magic of a solid summary. Especially if there are pictures. And so I present to you…

July – December 2014: The Cliff Notes Version

*Please note: That should’ve been read in a booming James Earl Jones sort of voice.*

First, there was all kinds of amazing food:

Squid n’ stuff.

I have no idea what this was called and it pretty much happened on accident, but it was totally delicious so it’s all good.

Mmmmm, octopus…

Octopus! It’s been one of my favorites so far.

Korean BBQ at it’s finest.

Then, there was my first trip to Sokcho at the end of July. Sokcho is a gorgeous little city on the East coast, right between the ocean and Seorak Mountain. My friend Zoe and I went for two nights over one of our long weekends, and spent most of it on the beach.

To the beach, beach!

Seoraksan

The air is so clear you can see all the way to the beach.

Inappropriate footwear, of course.

Seoraksan

Seoraksan

Wandering around Sokcho

No filter, bruh.

Sokcho is basically the most beautiful place ever.

Sokcho!

Mountains in the background.

This is how Koreans go to the beach.

Hello, beautiful.

Sokcho summer night life

Are you drooling yet?

Lol fish?

#sorrynotsorry

I seriously love this city.

Allons-y!

Wizards on the beach. 🙂

After that, there was a day trip to Everland amusement park in early October (I think?), which is basically the Korea-version of Disney World.

Everland was decked out for Halloween.

Everland!

Or Germany?

Practice safe roller coastering, kids.

Chaos!

T-Express. My kids were all suuuuper impressed I went front-rowsies.

Then, there was my second trip to Sokcho on November 1st. I went back for one night with my friends Jess and Karen so we could hike Seoraksan, and I even brought appropriate footwear this time!

I love the ocean.

Sokcho!

Sokcho, taken from the end of the world’s longest pier.

At Seoraksan

Hi, Mom!

Gorgeous fall colors at Seoraksan

There were almost 900 steps to the top. Someone counted. Not me. I was too busy wheezing. Also, please note my brightly attired fellow-hikers. Even in the mountains, there is no escape from the crowds!

Nailed it!

Seoraksan ❤

Then, there was yet another Lantern Festival.

And, in between there were lots of random odds and ends that don’t really fit into any other categories.

Literally my favorite graffiti ever. I mean, come on. It’s a fire-breathing pheasant.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Random gold stuff for sale in my neighborhood. Because obviously.

Everybody say, hey-oh! HEY-OH!

Gyeongbokgung

Unicorn crossing.

DUCKS!

“Ok, guys. Let’s talk about stranger danger,” she said, totally with a straight face.

Rather feeble Christmas decor at the “European Christmas Market”. But they had gluhwein, so it’s all good.

Gyeongbokgung

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

No, Korea. Just no. Go home, you’re drunk.

Birthday art from my students.

The most beautiful place in Seoul… an English bookstore! What the Book, in Itaewon.

And umbrellas…

Because just.

And, of course, there have been amazing people tearing around with me.

Dyed in the wool of special, this one.

Stephy makes a friend (finally).

Jeff’s birthday

The cool kids.

Lol. She’s Irish.

She’s not Irish.

Seriously, every picture I have have Zoe is really weird.

Case and point.

At the Seoul International Fireworks Festival

At Gyeongbokgung

Pirating.

In Sokcho. 🙂

That time there were umbrellas.

Irish Festival

Super weird faces.

Banghwanians!

So there you have it. We’re basically all caught up. This is what I’ve been doing for the last six months. I’ve been busy, to say the least. The last year has been completely and utterly amazing for me, and I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings.

I wanted to put some sort of worldly wisdom at the end of this post, but really all I can say is that I feel incredibly lucky to be doing what I’m doing, and I absolutely love it. It’s the best feeling in the world, and I hope the same for each and every one of you reading this.

Happy New Year, everyone!