Making sanitizer and sanity go hand in hand

Cue movie trailer voice:

"Imagine a world where your only way to connect with someone outside of your family is through an electronic screen."
Camera pans through various rooms across the globe of people visiting with friends via Skype, Messenger, Zoom, etc.
[DRAMATIC PAUSE]

"Schools and workplaces are nearly desolate."
Camera pans over abandoned classrooms and cubicles.
[DRAMATIC PAUSE]

"Store shelves are emptied as soon as they're filled."
Camera pans through multiple store isles as people panic to grab random items off mostly bare shelves. Store staff are dressed in protective gear with helmets and padding.
[DRAMATIC PAUSE]

"A world where parents are forced to spend time with their children."
Camera zooms in on a distressed mother's face as you hear a symphony orchestra pipe the notes, "dun- dun- duh!"

Okay, so the world seems a little like a movie trailer right now, and well, that can make life seem surreal, scary, or maybe even a bit silly. Whether you think this pandemic is ridiculous or serious, one thing is for sure: at least part of everyone's life has been altered. For some, the inconveniences are minor in reality. The ease of doing a search on Amazon.com has been limited due to the increased demand, and you find yourself frustrated that your prime membership cannot get you that special gadget that you never needed before yet are suddenly desperate to possess. For others, the alterations are making you question your entire existence. Your daily routine has been shattered, and you are trying to figure out how to make life work when nothing is normal. Then there are those of us somewhere in between.

At the end of last year, Bradley and I were staying busy with our work here in Korea. It was a slow week when there were only eight people with whom to study - a great problem to have mind you. We had developed a decent routine to our daily life, and on the side we were preparing for Ryan and Tiffany to join us in the work in the new year. After our trip back home to the states we had some recovery time (jet lag + the flu = a drag), but then we were excited to get back in the saddle.

We busied ourselves with preparing our home for R+T living with us. Although the plan was for them to stay in our home temporarily, we had no idea what was in store, and we wanted to make our space as comfortable as possible for 4 Americans in less than 800 square feet. We converted most of Bradley's office into a guest room. The book shelves and their supports remain, but most everything else came out into the living space, my studio, or upstairs in the public storage space of our apartment building. Bradley built a bed frame extension to allow space for R+T to store their luggage underneath since space is already limited. Between readying the apartment and reconnecting with our friends in Korea, we were ready for R+T to arrive to both enjoy and take part in our work.

The cup shelf B built was originally in his office.
He moved it into the dining space and built a coffee
 bar. This set up will allow us to better serve guests.
It has been really nice to wake up to B preparing
his coffee in the shared space instead of being
sequestered in his office.

Bradley built this hidden cubby space for extra storage.

B making do without a garage or workshop...

Slats for our bed completed!

Guest bed ready to store luggage...

Finally February 13th came, and we excitedly boarded the bus that would take us to the airport to retrieve our young friends. They were exhausted and masked, as a threat of a virus from China had been a recent concern. Korea had kept the 28 people sick with the virus at this point, in quarantine in Seoul. We live on the coast, about 170 miles southeast from the country's capital. We had no plans to go to Seoul that week, and were therefore not too concerned about the virus.

With all of the Korean signs, we thought they would
appreciate a familiar language...

Exhaustedly waiting for the bus to take us home...

After several days of rest and recuperation, we were eager to give our friends a tour of their new home. On Wednesday, February 19th the four of us enjoyed a day out on the town. Wednesdays are often our day off, and so we took advantage of the time. After delighting in a few establishments and a walk along the coast, Bradley and I stopped in to ask my optometrist a question. We learned from her that the virus had been detected in Daegu, a town only about 43 miles away from us. We finished our day with a little more caution, and then headed home to check the news. The next day Bradley went to work in his hagwan (after school academy) masked and armed with sanitizer. By the end of that day, the number of infected had doubled, and cases had been found in Gyeongju, a town only 13 miles away from us in Pohang. This was the last day that held any kind of normality.

On Friday, February 20th the Korean government began issuing caution to the public, and asked everyone who was willing and able to please stay indoors unless it was otherwise necessary. In previous posts I have discussed the cultural mentality here that is centered on the community. Every culture has its strengths and weaknesses. As with individuals, trials can reveal those strengths and/or weaknesses within a culture. With a desire to do what is best for the community, Koreans immediately donned their masks, made hand sanitizer available to customers, and limited their outings. Meanwhile, the government provided tests for all of the clinics to be able to test anyone who showed any symptoms. Hospitals and clinics began checking everyone's temperature as soon as they entered the building. Some cities even employed thermal imaging in the public transit stations to monitor and hopefully prevent the further spread of disease. Even though it has been difficult to stay indoors so much and limit our contact to screens only, it has been encouraging to see how this culture has handled such a grave situation with optimism and care.

Since Ryan has diabetes type 1, and Tiffany is expecting, we all had a greater concern for the safety of their health. So, Bradley volunteered as tribute... to go out each week to purchase and haul our groceries home. With no car, limited fridge space, and 4 adults to feed, this was a challenge. I believe that we have risen to the challenge though. Bradley, who very much dislikes grocery shopping, has maintained a positive spirit each week when he has headed to Lee Market, masked and bearing bags and baskets to help with his load.

B takes 2 carts (they are stacked together);
the bag is insulated for cold stuff, and the
other cart holds boxes. His back pack
holds the grocery bags. Phew!

Upon his return home, I do my best to assist with sanitizing everything with wipes and spray. Anything that cannot be properly wiped, like produce, gets set aside for a day before being employed. I then play a game of tetris as I make room for everything in our fridge.

Not too bad for double the groceries now. Oh, and in
case you are wondering, acidophilus is one thing
which I stock up on when we travel home.

Ryan and Tiffany stay in their room away for a higher sense of safety and to allow for the finále. After everything has been sanitized, Bradley leaves all of his attire in the entry space and sprints to the shower to wash away any possible trace of the virus. The clothing is left alone for at least a day as well. From the time B arrives home, the entire process takes us about half an hour or more. We have learned a few tricks that have made the process a little easier for us all. On shopping day, B purchases frozen pizzas. After sanitizing the boxes, I leave them out to thaw while I put away the other groceries. Then they go in the oven while Ryan prepares our salad using any left over lettuce from the previous week, along with some newly bought lettuce. This immediately frees up space in the fridge and freezer, while providing us with a decent meal. We usually plan for a game night on this day as well. It allows us to unwind and enjoy the blessing of once again having a fully-stocked pantry.

Even though we had people checking on us and asking how we were doing, for the first 4 weeks of our confinement, I hated being reminded that we were stuck inside. As an introvert, I am okay without people for several days, but this is a different situation. I do believe it was a blessing that Bradley and I were without American brethren for so long, as it has made us more grateful to have R+T here, stuck inside with us. Each of us has had a day where we just need space and an extra prayer for sanity, but overall we have maintained a positive spirit in our confined cohabitation.

Since others are now experiencing their own confinement, I have had several ask for tips. Of course, every situation is unique, but I am more than happy to share what has worked for us.

1) Practice Actual Social Distance. Although I have seen people talking about social distancing, I have noticed some only practicing it until they are bored. I will be honest: it stinks to be away from friends and loved ones, but it does not mean you have to never see them again. As I mentioned, Korea has done an excellent job of keeping the virus at bay with masks, physical distance, and staying home unless otherwise necessary. The only reason the virus got any kind of a strong hold here is due to a religious group who apparently keep their identity a secret. One person had managed to come into contact with the virus in Seoul, but since they were not feeling particularly bad, they chose to go about their normal life. Thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths have resulted from this one case. Everyone here was finally starting to relax since the virus had been contained in Seoul, and then it was dropped like a bomb because one person did not take it seriously. Since the virus seems to be most commonly transmitted through physical contact or breathing it in, the precaution of wearing masks of any kind, but especially the filtered type are a must.

Social distance at its best...

The masked barista strikes again! Although we have
not purchased food due to the handling, a hot
beverage means just sanitizing the cup.

Notice the hand sanitizer. There was also a sign
to wear your masks while in the establishment.

Man, this girl ain't messin' around! Apparently dad
made it clear to keep her distance. Too cute!

Although face to face is best, video chats are a huge
tech-blessing during. Since we live overseas, we are
used to visiting with loved ones this way.

2) Establish a Routine. I am one who must have a purpose, and without routine, I can begin to feel like a leaf blowing about in the wind with no direction. It can be so easy to slip into a "who cares" frame of mind when you have no where that you have to go, and no one you get to see. This may be nice for a week or two at most, but it is definitely healthier to create some kind of routine. It is common for a normal week to "get away from you," none the less a wacky and unusual week. For this reason it is helpful to have a reset day. That day is Monday for me. Whatever I did not accomplish in the prior week, along with the tasks for the new week are settled on Monday. It helps alleviate stress to know there is a set day to regroup when something goes unfinished. Along with a reset day, I have also benefited from having a "normal" day; a day that would look pretty much the same with or without a nasty virus. For us, it is Sunday. Since the entire, tiny congregation currently lives in our home, worship has continued per the norm for us. The day flows pretty much the same every week. Services; American-home-style lunch; family meeting; free time; and then we end the day with a board game or movie. This helps me refocus, mentally re-establish my goals, and keep my sanity.

Since we do not have to travel to services, I have time
to prep homemade dinner rolls for lunch.

After services they are ready to bake.

Then they are devoured with the rest of the feast.

3) Refill Your Pitcher.  Along with creating a routine, be sure to take advantage of this time. You may not be engaged with as many people as you normally would be, but that does not mean that you are not giving of yourself. Whether you are an introvert craving some alone time, or an extravert longing for people or a new batch of people (even though you love your family dearly), you will not be able to keep it together if you do not refill your pitcher. Yoga, art, and hiking have been my energizers. The physical and mental benefits of yoga are amazing; it is so fascinating to me how God created our bodies to function so well whenever we tend to them! I enjoy finding creative ways to turn the mantras into God-focused ones (i.e.: "Everything is as it should be," becomes "God is in control.") Art has always been therapeutic for me, and still continues to ease my mind on those days when the world seems like too much with which to cope. For the first 3 weeks, Ryan, Tiffany, and I remained indoors. We opened the windows whenever the weather allowed, but there were days when the cabin fever was almost unbearable. After the first 3 weeks, we finally ventured out onto our rooftop for an evening of singing around a small fire. It was a wonderful taste of freedom, and by the end of the following week, I had to get out or go crazy. Even though we do not have the blessing of a yard here - count yourself blessed if you do have private land, as a lot of the quarantined world does not - we do thankfully have a small mountain nearby. The cherry blossoms and well-carved trails lift my spirits every time we set out for "our mountain." Inspired by the season, I have decorated for spring, started growing some seed babies, and have been working on my urban compost.

Our mountain is nestled behind that row of blossoms.

This cross street to our mountain is less than a
3-minute walk from our front door!

Such peace...

It is easy to forget that this mountain is in the middle
of our neighborhood with thousands of people.

See, a mask can be cute...haha!

I am still amazed by the bamboo here...

These are just a few tips that have helped me survive this odd and unexpected situation. My prayers continue with everyone as we all hunker down and try to ride out the storm. My least favorite thing about this confinement (besides the obviously horrible virus and loss of life): not getting to enjoy the cherry blossoms in our favorite town, Gyeongju with our new co-laborers; we were so excited to show them around Korea. My favorite thing about this whole thing: having an excuse to play an extra board game during the week.

What about you? Do you have any tips?
What has been your least favorite thing about confinement?
What has been your most favorite thing about confinement?

Here's to masks and sanitizer - cheers!

Behold My Stuff: The Finalé

Alright, so the last two posts have been about packing our stuff for our move to Korea, and then the crazy process of actually getting our stuff to Korea. At last, almost every thing has a place in our home. We had to get creative finding a spot for items intended for the dresser/buffet, but we managed. Similarly, it was a challenge to find a use for some of the unexpected items that came. So, with no further delay, welcome to our home!

안녕하세요! Hello! As the practice in Korea is to take off your shoes when entering someone's home, all of our outdoor foot gear lives in the entry way. Outdoor accessories also live here. I was not crazy about the doors on the shoe shelf, and therefore removed them to allow for more space and storage. In the spot where the metal shelf sits we have plans to create a shelf bench and high shelf with hooks underneath. But, for now the IKEA shelf works quite well.

As you enter our space, you may notice that it is quite long. Since it gets so crowded in the small entrance I have taken advantage of this length to create a faux entry space. All of our coats hang here, and it gives us a place to sit to put on our socks. I plan to hang something above the orange chair for purses, but for now they hang on the coat rack too.

This next space is right outside of the kitchen, and therefore seems to be the best spot for dining. Although this IKEA table is not the most comfortable, it works very well in our smaller space. Bradley has talked about building us a table, but if not, we will fare well with this one. We have extra folding chairs in the laundry room whenever company comes. Originally, Bradley had a coffee bar space in his office. However, we have come to realize that it makes more sense for it to be in the shared space since we use it a lot whenever we have company. This is a new and unfinished project, but it is serving us fairly well so far.

Please sit down and make yourself comfortable. Our couch seats up to 6 comfortably, but can handle more if you do not mind snuggling. Bradley made our coffee table, among other things, and our round chairs were slipcovered by my dear MIL. The entertainment center was a happy accident. We have a great old chemistry lab cabinet that we used as a china cabinet in America, and we purposely asked that it remain in the states due to the low ceilings here - I can touch them on my tip-toes. Somehow though, the shelves from that cabinet made it to Korea. So, I found a use for them. Bradley cleaned and sprayed some free cement bricks, and I used them to stack the shelves for our purposes. I would much rather have a fireplace, but I am pleased with the final product.

Don't you just love this cozy space!?!

Just outside of the living space is the utility room. Most of the apartments here either have this type of long room off of the living space with large windows, or a smaller room off of the kitchen. For the sake of natural light, I honestly wish I had the outside windows as part of the living space. However, with the cold winters here, it is nice to have the extra distance from the cold. Doing laundry in the winter can be a little chilly, but not too bad. Dryers in Korean homes does not seem to be common. Thankfully, I was able to find a washer/dryer combo at Costco. I usually only use the dryer for a short period, and then hang everything to dry fully...except for towels. You just cannot beat the feel a warm, fluffy towel!!!

Coming out of the laundry room takes us back through the living space, past the kitchen, and into Bradley's office. Before our stuff arrived he had built a desk the length of the room with bookshelves lining both walls. After unpacking all of his office boxes though, he has decided the space is too cramped. So, he is in the process of reinventing his workspace. I am excited for him as he reconfigures everything to create a happy and energizing space where he can work, study, and create his music.

You can see why he felt cramped...

B made these lamps from a minnow trap - love it!

The canvas handles drop so he can do pull ups!

Just outside B's office is the kitchen. Although for the modern Korean apartment kitchens it is on the smaller side, compared to the kitchens in villas similar to ours it is quite large. Out of the dozen or so apartments we saw, only 2 of them had kitchens bigger than this one. Still, for an American kitchen it is tiny, and it has been a challenge to make it work. For starters, Koreans, well, Southeast Asians for that matter do not bake. So, ovens are nonexistent. I have yet to see an oven in a friend's home. Everything is done on the stove top or in a microwave. After Cambodia, this was nothing new, and I planned to purchase a toaster oven and create some kind of cart for it. By chance I found a small oven at Costco (I love having that place here!!!), and my sweet FIL asked if he could gift it to us. Then I found a cart with wheels and had our friend's husband mold a top for it. I am quite happy with how it came out, and I love having the extra counter space!

A large fridge space doubles as pantry storage.

Tea anyone?

I have enjoyed this freezer full of drawers.

I wish there was more, but I love the natural light.

I use this random black cupboard front for meal
plans and the conversions for metric and celsius.

In case you are curious what's inside my cabinet...

The window "snake" holds my phone while I cook. 

I LOVE MY SPICE RACK!!! DH made it for me.

I love my cutting board basket.

A glimpse at the cuteness of my oven at work.

My beautiful and beloved KitchenAid mixer.

Due to the voltage difference, my baby requires
a transformer that is heavy and ugly. It took me
a while to figure out how to hide it, but voila!

Going past the dining space from the kitchen you come to my studio. Originally we had planned for it to be the nursery, but unfortunately we have found out that adopting in Korea as foreigners is nigh unto impossible due to some new laws passed in 2016. So, after a little pity party I decided to take advantage of the space and create a studio for myself. I would rather have a bundle of joy, but if I cannot, then let me create! This was the storage room as we went through boxes. So, it is the last room for me to organize. It is coming along quite well, but I have a few more things to do before I can say it is complete. I love this space! For the first time I really feel like an artist. I love having my tools at the tips of my fingers, and I have tried to create a space that inspires me.

From my office you take the hallway (haha!) to the bathroom or wet room. This is another reason I chose this apartment. Most wet rooms in the villas are the size of an average to large elevator, and everything gets wet every time you shower. I can live with it, but I do not enjoy it at all. The first apartment we had here was like this. It was so frustrating to absent-mindedly walk in to use the restroom only to feel your socks get wet. Yuck! Thankfully that is not an issue here. Not only did they provide a long room with a shower divider, but I have made some tweaks to lessen the splash effect. I added a curtain (same target one from Cambodia - that thing has traveled the world!), and then I added a clear door sweeper/guard to the bottom of the shower glass. We still have a squeegee on hand for the occasional spillage, but overall the water stays in the shower. Storage is hard to find here, but thankfully I had a few things that have allowed us to keep every thing we need at hand.

Bradley made this towel rack too.

Finally, the place we come to at the end of every day: our bedroom. Say hello to the "sky bed," as we jokingly call it. Bradley built it high so we can store our luggage underneath. Plus, we have an extra mattress underneath ours at the moment. We originally kept it to use for our guests last year. Now we have kept it for the couple that will be joining us in Korea early next year. It will be strange to not have to jump into bed... With no closets, Bradley was kind enough to build a free-standing closet for our hanging clothes, and I use baskets on the bottom for things like socks and work-out clothing. The only furniture we purchased were the side "tables" which have been awesome since they have so many drawers. I keep my essential oils, pillow cases, and more on my side. Then the metal IKEA shelf holds the fan, some accessories, and more clothing.

Since we had planned to adopt here, I made sure we had the crib we bought several years ago. Once we learned that would not be an option for us, I had to get creative again. I had no desire to stare at an empty crib in our space. So, the crib mattress frame is being used an idea board in my studio, and although you cannot see them very well due to the height of the bed, I used the crib ends as a headboard. I look forward to seeing them after that extra mattress is gone. The crib sides are currently holding some scarves and belts, but I am not too crazy about the crowded look. Plus they are not giving me happy vibes. So, I will figure out something else eventually. Since the dresser did not come, we have put its top piece to use as a make-shift dresser. I set it up on two heavy, metal baskets, and we use baskets as drawers. It's worked quite well. I had fun using my different silver plates and containers to organize my jewelry, make up, and hair necessities.

So, after having done an international move without shipping and now with shipping, I can honestly say Solomon knew what he was talking about: it is all vanity. Haha! Both ways have their pros and cons. Not having our stuff shipped meant a lot of time, effort, and money went into finding and buying new stuff. Then the stress and hassle of selling it all was another pain I would like to forget. However, the strain of our specific shipping process may have taken a few years off my lifespan. So, my recommendation? Well, every situation and every person is different. As much of a pain as it was to have our stuff shipped, I feel so much more at home here than I did in Cambodia. Part of that comfort is due to our stuff. We could have survived without our stuff, but I do believe it is helping us to thrive instead of just survive. Mental and emotional health definitely effect your work, and for that reason I think it is important to provide a peaceful and energizing space in your home. I believe it makes us better workers for the Lord, and for us, at this point in our lives in Korea, our stuff is helping to provide some peace and energy. However, I am ready to be done organizing my stuff for a while, and with that, I thank you for taking some time to behold my stuff!

What is your favorite "happy spot" in your home?
If you were moving abroad, do you think you would want to ship your stuff or buy new?
Do you tend to hold onto something for sentimental or practical purposes?

Cheers!