Friendship...

What friendship means to me?

If we meet again and you ask for forgiveness.  I will say "There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24*) Then I'll grab your hand and smile. :)

Forgiveness....humbleness.... it'll take you far.

Thanks for blogging with Skubi! :)

Valubility

This morning I woke up thinking "valubility".  This word kept ringing in my head.  I jumped to the computer, well to the bathroom first, ;) then to the computer to figure out if this was an actual word.  It's not, but I had this strong sense that it should mean something to me.  What I get from this word is that I am valuable with abilities, hence "valubility"  I will be taking this word with me to help me endure every task I encounter today, this week, and possibly this year.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13) I am very valuable to Jesus Christ and he gives me the ability to conquer anything with him by my side.

Mentally Exhorting

My body has officially finished the winding down stage.  Today, is my liquid only day.  Starting off early this morning.  I'm off so this will be challenging, but also mentally exhorting, instead of mentally exhausting. A couple days ago a regular customer of mine told me he quit smoking. I was so happy for him.  I often tell smokers that it's mental. They think this girl has no idea what it's like to be in "my" shoes because she doesn't have this "bad" habit.  Many of those customers will go on to tell me they quit for a year and picked the habit back up.  However, they're forgetting that it's not the habit that is the struggle it is where they have positioned their mental state.  If you continue to think that a cigarette (insert your "bad" habit) is going to make you feel better, then in you're mind it does.
As I went on to congratulate the customer for his great achievement I decided to ask him "Do you think it's all mental?" His response "Yes!"

I'm here to tell you that it is the same in weight loss or in any "bad" habit you face.  It's all about choices and the decisions you make.  I never thought I'd see the day I'd go without food or abstain from ABPS (alcohol, breads, pasta, and sweets.) I mean my happy foods were breads, cakes, candy bars, debbie cakes, rice crispy treats, and need I make myself look more greedy!?  It was something I looked forward to and got excited about the very opening of a box of Oreos.  However, now God has positioned me to a new level of thinking. 

Most people will tell me "you don't have to do all of that."  Well, they're right, I don't, but I want to.  There comes a point and time in you're life where you decided to challenge yourself.  I've told many of my friends time and time again my weight loss journey is not just that, but it's spiritual too and it's also apart of my relationship with Christ.  How?  Well, God gives us the desires of our hearts, right?  Well, this is one of my desires.  Also, keep in mind I initially began this weight loss journey to enter the military.  This is still my main focus, but also I enjoy it.  I feel better inside and out.  I'm also more motivated and willing to help others with the same weight loss journey when I put God first. 

That takes me back to the mental exhorting.  By praying I'm able to encourage myself and depend on God that he will help me achieve this desire.  It is not God's will that we be defeated in anything.  He loves us. He will keep our mental state (thoughts) on the right path, if we just seek Him, be vulnerable, and ask for what we desire.  God will guide us.  For some of us it's guiding us straight to the gym or for other's it might be guiding us away from the 7-11 to pick up a pack of cigarette's.  Whatever your "bad" habit is God is here to mentally guide you.

Thanks for blogging with me.  I hope this helps.

Better than the Day Before

Each day is better than the day before even, if it doesn't feel like it. I am making progress and making a conscious effort to move forward with my life. I decided I will not be moving to San Antonio for the job with Frito Lay - Pepsi.  I felt that tug from God that wasn't the direction for my life. What is the direction for my life? Only God knows!

Today, at work a guy (customer, that was NOT trying to hit on me) says, "Are you from the Islands?" I replied "No, do I have an accent?" He says "No, you look like you're from Barbados or Aruba." I thought to myself those people are gorgeous, so I took that as a compliment.  :)

Also, after work I had a missed call and a voicemail from my Mommie.  She said that one of the ministers at my church asked about me and said that "I should learn a 2nd language. She believe that they haven't seen the last of me. That I will be international and do great things." So, this will be something that I keep in my back pocket as a confidence builder for rough days like today. Also, I'll be praying about it for God's guidance. Maybe he can explain this to me and lead me how to obtain such gifts & then direct me where to use these gifts.

Throughout the week I am reminded of this song by Vickie Yohe "I'm at peace even though my heart is breaking." I am also reminded of T.D Jakes sermon "The Silence of God" This is a time in my life where God is silent, so many different things are occurring in my life that I don't understand. I really need to depend on God for everything!!! I don't get it now, but I'm hoping one day he'll show me what all of this was meant for.....

Preparing for WTAL 2012... I'll be so ready to receive!!

There's a purpose through the pain

God loved me so much that he would allow me to go through this pain, so that he can give me the desires of my heart. :)

"It's not about the condition, but it's about the position. We focus so much on what we are going through and not our position. What is your position?" (paraphrase from T.D Jakes)

Moving on... moving forward!

How do I deal with a break-up and transitioning back into "the real world" (my world) after leaving Corea.

I am reminded daily "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13

"Nothing in your history, is stronger than your destiny." -T.D Jakes .  Whatever has happened, is just that, has happened!  Whatever is for me is for me & whatever isn't, just isn't for me.  It's funny the situation that happened to me 10 years ago basically happened to me again, 10 years later .  However, I didn't handle it as best as I would have liked, but I still handled it better, like a lady and with grace. I'm learning from it, forgiven and moving forward stronger than ever with God. My faith is so much deeper and rooted in Christ.  I don't know who the lucky man will be, but whomever he is God is preparing such a great lady for him.  If I had to go through all this to wait for that special man... It was all worth it!

Interview

I'm being more open with my life at 30.  I still want to remain a private person, however, the more vulnerable I am to Jesus the more empowered I feel about life.  I know that whatever is suppose to happen in my life... will... happen!

I have an interview with Frito Lay - Pepsi.  I passed the phone interview, so they invited me to a face-to-face interview in San Antonio.  I'm so excited.  I'll fill you in about the outcome as news arises.

Thanks for blogging with me!

Free

Better & Better each day! Break ups are hard. Sometimes, you get closure sometimes you don't. However, day by day God is giving me peace. He is sweeter & sweeter as the days go by. Singing... "Sweeter than anything I know... oh!" I love you Jesus! :)

Randomness: Criticism

Learning at 30:

Take whats good, leave what's bad and keep on walking. Eat the meat and leave the bone. This is how you accept criticism.

Graduations, Family & Fun

I'm home, I'm home... home sweet, home!! I am in Topeka, KS, folks. My nephew is graduating and I am home to see him walk across the stage! I am so happy for him. I was able to go abroad and yet make it to see all my nieces and nephews graduate from high school. I deserve the best Anchie (auntie) award... ok, jk. Anyways. I haven't seen my family since I left for my 2nd tour to Corea in July 2011. Its been close to a year, that's the longest I've stayed away from my family. I am ready for some good food and fun! Then back to SC and hopefully I'll pass both of these pre-employment exams and then I can blog about having a REAL job! :)

Take care, til next time!

P.S -  Btw, I have a sister that has to know everything before she should, but today we pulled one over on her. I mean she even knew when we threw her a surprise party. Well, today we got her good. Everyone knew I was coming to Topeka except her. She was so excited! It was a well deserving surprise for her. My Mommie was excited too! We all were glad to pull one over on my sister too lol! Good times!

Back to the US update

Hey!!!

As you all know I'm back in the States. While I am here I'm working on base until I can get something stable that I like. It's been eventful working on base. There are many guys that come in, but I can't say that there's a lot of eye candy at Fort Jackson. It's ok, but I can't say that I'm really looking to date at this point in my life either.

So, what else is new!? I started a new weight loss competition with my friends on facebook. There are about 20  of us. Some of us are losing weight and I am excited about that, since being home I've lost an additional 7 pounds, making it a total of 35 lbs, since 2/2010. The competition is officially over tonight at midnight. I'm glad for all the encouragement the ladies gave each other. I've learned that support during weight loss is vital.

Well, there's not much else to say, just living life and God is teaching me things daily. I hope all is well with everyone. :)

Take care,
Skubi

The Skubi Cleanse

I am no longer living in South Corea. I arrived back in the US Feb 29th at 11 PM. I am so happy to be home and in my new location, which I may reveal later. However, I want to stick to the topic. I have been wanting to do an extreme diet, even tho lots of people are against. I wanted to do this diet for more than just the weight loss. I wanted to do it for spiritual, mental and maybe even emotional reasons. We know that relocating can be one of the many life changing experiences in a persons life.  Although, I am doing very well I still have those moments of wondering, when I think "What am I doing next? What am I doing here? What is going to happen? etc" I think you get the point. So, I've really felt that I need this time to digest everything that is going on in my life, things that have happened in my life, and where I want to head in my life. I think this is the perfect time for me to give this  a shot. I mean I've got to try. I'm already going into this realistic knowing that I'll do well or I may fail. For me either is okay for now, because I just want to at least let myself know that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13.

Note: The only thing I am no going to do that is highly suggested is the ease in. One day of fasting is a trial for me so 10 will be a tribulation. So, 15 days (including the 5 day ease in) is NOT gonna happen this time. Besides I just decided to do this today. lol!

Anyways, Day 1 of the Master Cleanse Diet starts March 19th, 2012... my 30th birthday! :) I'm going out of my 20's with a BANG! And into my 30's with a BANG!

Anyways, I'll do my best to update this every night to let you know how it went! :) I'm excited are you? Join me? You can do it too!

Acupuncturist in Songtan (near Osan AFB)

Information is important, when you find information do not hoard it share it, read my story. 


Well, Corean beds are not the softest or most comfortable beds on earth.  Traditionally speaking, Coreans eat dinner on the floor, sit on the floor, and sleep on the floor.  Often, I wonder if this is the reason the beds are so hard here.  This did not just become a problem for me, but many other "Westerners" share this common experience of back pain.  I'd never really had issues with my back, unless I was not sitting properly in a chair for hours at a desk working on a computer, other than that I would say I didn't have any issues.  Being in another country some of the items I would use to get my back into shape were not readily available to me.  I typically lay on a home massage pad for an hour and I'm fine.  So, I had to find other means of getting my back into shape until I could bring my massage pad back to Corea.  Why not see an acupuncturist?  There was an office right in front of my bus stop. Was I scared is what most people asked?  I was only scared to go in there to as them if they spoke English. I was more scared of that than the needle.  So, one day I called and one lady told me to "hold just a minute" and to my surprise there was one assistant who spoke English, so I made an appointment & went in the next day.  The doctor spoke some English too.  I was so pleased.  I am not the most easiest going person in the world, but for situations like these I can be pretty cool.  Also, the pain went away. He said I needed to go to 3 sessions. I can't remember if I went to 2 or 3 sessions. I am pretty hard-headed, so I probably went to 1.5 sessions...hehe! The point is the pain ceased & its a good option if you are not afraid of this type of procedure & it lasted about 45 mins total, no waiting time. 


What we have here is a doctor who speaks English well enough to service Westerners, but its almost as if it is a secret, its not advertised. I wanted to share my experience. So, that if any of you have this same issue and you are in the area or nearby you can visit the office.  He is located across from the Woori Bank in Songtan next to a bread store. I cannot remember the name, but the name Dr. Kim Acupuncture is labeled in English on a white and black sign. Here is the phone number and their hours are really decent. They are only closed on Sundays. 


Dr Kim Acupuncturist
031) 662-1075
Songtan, South Korea

Weight Loss in Corea (Korea)

Losing weight has always been a journey for me.  I was a heavy kid, teenager and now an adult.  I've never tried to hide that or been completely insecure about my weight.  Hmm... you're probably wondering, what does she mean by "completely?"   Well, I've always felt pretty, never felt ugly, well I've had my moments just like any other person.  I always felt comfortable in my skin for the most part.  However, apart of me still felt like I needed to lose weight.  Don't worry! I'm not going to sale you on the typical saying "I did it to be healthier."  Even though I was overweight no doctor ever brought up my weight as a concern, ever!  In fact, at 200 lbs I was able to run nearly 2 miles.  Anything past that I'd get distracted, lol.  So, could I have done more?  Probably.


So, why I lost weight now?  For starters, I knew that I needed to do something career-wise after leaving Corea.  The military had been an option in my mind since they called me up my Junior or Senior year in high school, just like they do everyone else.  However, I could never lose the weight.  Actually, the weight requirements were stricter 10 years ago, but they have since changed in 2004 (don't quote me on the date.)  So, actually at that time, if the guidelines had been adjusted in 2000, I would have qualified.  Well, since I was coming to Corea I figured that it maybe easier here, for me to accomplish this lifelong task.  Most people think that I lost weight in Corea because of their food.  I mean we always hear that other countries have healthier food compared to the USA, so I was excited about this new challenge.  However, it quickly came to a halt once I discovered I didn't like Corean food. :( It just wasn't very tasty to me at all.  I heard I hadn't given it a chance, but I tried, school food, homemade food, restaurant food, and different kinds of food and I was running out of options.


So, this is when my weight loss journey really began.  I didn't lose weight by starving myself or disliking food because believe me there is plenty of junk food around here.  Since, weight is such a big deal here.  It is very inexpensive to go to a weight loss clinic.  I started going to a weight loss clinic and started seeing results rather quickly.  I also started making better choices.  Do I still eat "happy" foods?  Yes, but I eat them a lot less here than I did back home.  Another, huge benefit is public transportation is used frequently here.  There are more stairs to climb, more sidewalks to walk, compared to back home where I just walk 5-10 steps and I meet my car in the driveway and take off. Also, my highest amount of weight loss was during the summer. The summers here are like Texas, they're brutal.  So, I would sweat my clothes of getting around town.  And sometimes it can be so embarrassing because Coreans do not sweat. They have different sweat glands, so it's much harder and less likely for them to sweat. 


So, for the big question everyone wants to know, when I came to Corea October 2009 I don't know my exact weight, but when I started going to Dr. Sung's Clinic in Hannam-dong, Seoul, in February 2010, I weighed in at 91 kg, which is 200 lbs.  I am now 78-79 kg, 170 ish lbs... yes I am telling you my weight because that's what confidence is about.  I lost 30 pounds in about 8 months and have been holding it down.  I've definitely had my rough patches, but my cheerleaders have gotten me through it (S/o: To my Mommie, and friends Nancy Bassett, Keysha Baynes, and especially Elsie Dorzin for going to Dr. Sung's with me at a last minutes notice, early Saturday mornings. :D P.S - I miss you girls! If I forgot you I'm so sorry I'll make up for it later.)  However, I am trying to lose more, but I have been struggling for the past few months up and down between 5 lbs.  I know I can do better with my eating and exercising, so I am making no promises, but I am going to do my best.  I won't be telling you my goal weight, but if I make it to the goal weight you will be seeing a special blog about that, so you don't have to ask, but thanks in advance for your concerns & support. 


I hope this blog provides some encouragement & gives you some other incites to my Life in Corea! :)


Purpose of my weight loss:  I am losing the weight because I felt like for me, considering my shape, height, facial structure, and a lot of other things... it was a good idea physically for me to slim down.  I mean I gotta turtle's neck, so I have to make it slim down, just a lil ;) hehe! (Note: This is not a time to analyze my photos.) ;P 


God bless, good luck to everyone, remember you have 5 weeks left of 2011, so get it poppin' now!  I hope this blog helps. 


Dr. Sung OBGYN
Hyundai Liberty House 3rd Floor
Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02) 790-0802 
Hours: M-F 9A-5P, Sat 9A-1P


(Note: The entire staff speaks English, some Chinese & Japanese services are provide as well.) 

Comic of the Day (COD) II "Bus Drivers"

So, I'm standing at the light waiting for it to change, so I can't walk across the street.  I look up and this bus driver is creeping down the street with his bus door open, staring at me slowly. Really dude!? You really need to be focusing on your driving technique.

Bus Driver #2.... a completely different day.... I'm sitting at the bus stop waiting for my bus to come. It's a longer wait than normally, so I sat on the bench to relax myself. A bus driver with his door open again (which isn't completely abnormal.) winks at me... I wasn't sure how to take that... but laughed hard! I hope it wasn't a flirty wink, but it sure seemed and felt like it. Hahaha! I think I laughed a good 30 seconds. ;)

Stayed tuned for more COD's! :D

Comic of the Day (COD)

As you've probably figured out by now. I don't blog much, but when I do it's usually something that needs to be shared. 


I gave my students English names per my assistants request. It was perfect timing because it was the first class, and of course the first lesson was "What is your name?" We drilled it for a while, then I went around the room to see who understood it, the kids were paired into partners of 2.  Everyone was doing great.... I get to the last group... 


Me: What's your name? 
Jack: I'm Tiger.
Tiger: Noooo, your Jack.


Ok, let's do it again.


Me: What's your name?
Jack: I'm Tiger.
Tiger: Jack!!!


Ok, 3rd times a charm. My student looks so confused... but we're doing it again, because my students have got to be stellar, eh!? ;) I'll let Tiger start this time. 


Tiger: What's your name? 
Jack: I'm Ti..... Jack? 


Hehe!! Kids are too funny! So, we didn't get it on the first try, but we did finally on the 4th and final try. :) YAY! I'll practice his English name with him more. : ) 

Run Skubi Run...

Its Sunday night and I just went out to get some bread from Paris Baguette, they have them on every corner.  As I was coming back, I could feel the presence of someone staring at me.  He's a middle age Corean man staring at me.  I'm thinking that I am going to just ignore him today and not turn around or anything.  (Keep in mind this happens to us daily here.)  Ha! But me being me (Skubi.)  I turned around anyways and looked at him to let him know I see you staring and I am human.  Before I can even turn my neck all the way around I see this dude stop dead in his tracks, still in shock.  You'd think because I've finally made some kind of eye contact with him he'd finally snap out of it, but he doesn't.  Then I see he starts reaching in his pocket digging for his phone.  Oh no! I know what is going to happen next... Yep you guessed it he is going to try to take a picture of me.  In my mind, this isn't a freak museum.  So, I thought of the "Manikin Stunt Double Routine" (I'm sure I won't tell the story just as good, but here goes... A foreigner in one of our Facebook groups named "Brothas & Sistas of South Korea" posted a comment during a discussion about "Coreans staring" He stated, once he was in a store, these guys were driving by, saw him and stopped their car to look at him, so since he was near a couple of manikins he decided to be one too! Lol!  Of course, the guys in the truck were, so confused.  I think after they started driving off he ran and started laughing at them.)  While he was digging for his phone I looked for a place to hide, but I couldn't find one, instead I decided I had one choice left.... RUN!!!  I ran hahahahhahaa and turned the corner, that man is probably still digging for his phone! 


I love my life!! *Follow My Life in South Corea*

On the verge of hate... (Diary of a Mad Black Woman Off The Bus)

I'm fed up! I just can't do it anymore! This is the second bus driver to refuse to let me on the bus.  Is he just a punk or is it me!?  I wish I knew why he wouldn't let me on the bus.  I mean he was still sitting there and I ran for it... gosh!  This is one of those moments you consider it as racism.  I'm a tough lady, but I gotta say that hurt my feelings and I started to tear up after the second time, that was really the third.  I mean to get punked like that in front of all those people.  Argh!  However, I held it in pretty good.  Just as I was on the verge of hate and possibly late for work... I was ready to say forget this foolishness.  As I was waiting on the next bus that was 15 minutes away he grabbed my arm from behind, smiled, and gave me that "hello" look.  He looked as if he was so glad to see me.  I never even saw him coming.  He was an older Corean man, a little slouched in his posture, taking a Saturday stroll.  Right there at that moment, the hate disappeared from my heart, soul and mind.  I was able to move forward with my day and at least forget about the bus driver for the rest of the day.  I was too important to worry myself over something I'd never completely understand, and so was the old man who touched not just my arm, but my heart that Saturday afternoon. 


*This is My Life in Corea* 

GEPIK Budget Cuts... will this be a new trend in Corea? Is this an excuse or true? Thoughts...

I use to work for this school district. Please see this article for more information about the budget cuts within GEPIK. (Gyeonggi-do English Program In Korea) I think its sad that it has come to this. I also think that the students will suffer now, because they will go without a foreign language teacher for who knows how long! Also, I think that based on my experience with my co-teachers in Korea most Koreans do not have a strong fluency in English to teach to any grade level. Some teacher are doing well, but still need more practice. What are your thoughts? See the below article. GEPIK Budget CUTS!!!

Kim YuRi's Phone Tutoring Service

If you are in need of a English Phone Teacher please click the link :) Kim YuRi's Phone Tutoring Service I