6

Only 6 days to go! :)

Six Things I Expect I Will Miss About the USA:

6. Things being written in English.  Being close to a military post will lessen this factor, but road signs, grocery shopping, and asking for directions are all going to be a bit more...eventful.

5. Familiar traffic laws and signs.  To drive in Korea, Drew and I have to get additional USFK licenses through the Army to operate a POV (personally owned vehicle) on the streets of South Korea.  Sounds like it won't be too hard to get that additional license, but the street signs will be different and I hear traffic flow there is CRAZY.

4. The 2nd Amendment.  I know this sounds weird, but for a household that's used to having guns/bowie knives/big kitchen knives and knowing how to use them properly, moving to a country where--other than Drew's military-issue firearms which would be kept on post, I believe, we can't even legally have a firearm in our home (Koreans who hunt have to jump through a bunch of hoops to even acquire a firearm for hunting, and when they successfully do, the have to store their firearms at the local law enforcement offices except during the hunting season itself).  Drew was even questioned at customs regarding whether or not our shipment of household goods contained weapons, including kitchen knives.  Good thing we didn't pack the replica claymore!  I guess, as an American who appreciates the 2nd amendment, I find it a bit unsettling to be moving to within 20 miles or so of hostile North Korean forces, who'd kill me without a second thought given the chance, and not be legally allowed to keep anything more (or equally, apparently) dangerous than a santoku knife in my home for self-defense!

3. Shopping for clothes may prove a bit tricky.  As an average-height American woman (5'6") with a non-twig figure who favors thrift stores for her clothing purchases, finding clothing that fits in Asia outside of the Army PX (post exchange) may prove a bit challenging...but I found out Target ships to APO addresses, so it's all good, right? ;)

2. I may actually miss my dishwasher.  We thought our apartment was going to have a dishwasher...and then we later found out that the thing we thought was a dishwasher was actually a kimchi drawer.  Apparently you can't keep kimchi in the same refrigerator as the rest of your food or else EVERYTHING in there would smell like kimchi.  My guess is we'll probably use it as a beer/wine refrigerator instead...

1. Family and Friends.  All of you are precious to me and I will miss you all dearly while we're gone.  But we have a guest bedroom now and we'd love visitors! :D

And now I should get back to packing...after all, I only have 6 days before I see my love again!

Cheers,
Emily