Little America:
So I made a trip down to Osan military base today; 20 minutes South in the city of Songtan. It was weird seeing people like me...Americans, white, blonde. The city itself was normal Korean, but inside the gates of the base was like little America, very much the way we have little Italy and Chinatown in the states; a few square miles of the United States transplanted to Asia. Restaurants, stores, candy, colors, and smells of America; but a few thousand miles west. It saddened me. Why? I understand the nicety of comforts of home, but its taken five McDonalds and a Starbucks too far. These soldiers (God bless them) often rarely travel outside their transplanted bubble to see any evidence of this other culture. They are merely temporary year-long guests passing the time. They had Subways and KFCs (with actual english menus) and apparently all food has to be USDA approved...so it even tastes like home! It was refreshing but also disconserting. Apparently most of the military people stay in this Americanized bubble, most just passing the time in stinky cold weather till the sunny days of home come.

I on the other hand say Korea...bring it on baby. Show me what you got! I am past the inital "shell shock" phase, and now where I am more comfortable with my surroundings; starting to explore, stand on my own two feet! I don't intend to cross any oceans alone, but the confidence is growing! So in short, I am glad to know there is a little bit of home a few miles away if I need it, but till then I'll continue to widen my Korean walls...