Understanding the Korean Trash System

It's a system I've yet to understand fully, but I'm doing my best. This system is a result of a huge population being crammed onto a tiny little land mass, so understandably, something's got to be done and it's important that it's done right.

So here's what I know about Korea's trash system. Please correct me if I'm wrong..

Three bags.

One is recyclables, including glass, plastics, cardboard, paper. This can be any clear bag and sometimes you can sort it out at the curb, depending on your trash pick up location. Last night, Ethan sorted out our recyclables and brought back the bag to reuse.

Another bag is for general trash. This is a specific bag that you can purchase many places, like the convenience store on the corner or at the grocery store. These bags are expensive. Why do I need to pay ~$2.50 for a large plastic bag? Because this is how you pay the city to pick up your trash.
Oooh.
The outrageous price makes sense now. This also encourages you to do it right and recycle what needs to be recycled, because you can buy cheap clear plastic bags for recycling and reuse the bags like we did. The less trash in the expensive bags, the less bags you have to use.

The last bag. Food waste. This one is a small orange bag that you must put your food waste in. I am told it's used as feed. For what? Still not sure. I don't know if that's a rumor or truth, but I'm told you shouldn't include shells or bones, so it could quite possibly be true. Things like vegetables, meats, etc. can be included. No hard pits. Side note: You don't want to leave this bag out in your kitchen because it will start to smell. Bad. So what do you do? Stick it in the freezer. Problem solved. The bacteria stops growing and there isn't a smell. Once it's full, take it out with the trash. But only when it's the right time of day.

Did I mention that you can only take trash out during certain times of the day? Between 8pm and 4am is when trash should be taken out. And not on Saturdays because there's no pick up on Sunday.

Once you get it down, it's not so confusing. Now I'm on the hunt for a trash can and a recycling bin. For now, the food waste will occupy a shelf in my almost empty freezer.

Am I doing this right? Please feel free to comment below. I'd like to avoid the 1,000,000 W penalty.

We're just a couple of humble Americans trying to make our way in a new country. No big deal.

Crossing Borders

May 18th, 2016 

That song came on today. Oceans by Hillsong United.

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders…
And I found myself singing that verse with my whole heart. I had goosebumps. It was in that moment that I opened my mind to Him and what He might have me do.And immediately my thoughts were of Korea. Our time there. What will I fill my time with in this upcoming opportunity? How will He use me? Will I let Him? I believe it's in these everyday moments that He speaks to us. The answer was so obvious. It's been on my heart for many years now. Get this.
One day last year I come across a documentary that told the story of The Drop Box and a man who has dedicated his entire life to children abandoned on the streets of Seoul, South Korea.
Let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me.
Time and again I am drawn to this cause, children with a home or family, and loving on them and the topic of adoption. And you guys. Here I am, with a husband who will be stationed less than an hour from that city thousands of miles away from our home, filled with children without parents, with disabilities, broken, and needing love. And I am traveling there. I know that God has placed me there, in Korea, for His purpose.
Take me deeper than my feet would ever wander…
Never would I have imagined I might go to Korea. It's never been on my bucket list of places to travel. But now it is in our future. That's no coincidence.
And my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior. Please please pray that whatever we experience in Korea, whatever opportunities arise, that we can find Him in it all and seek His guidance for our lives. It was no surprise when I read about orphanage visits every other Thursday by the spouses at Osan. I'll definitely be participating.Thank you for your prayers and support as we prepare for our journey across the world. In all things, I will praise Him. Donnaven

––––

Today

I wrote this months ago, thoughts of this distant country on my mind and in my heart.

Today, I’m sitting in an airport waiting for my flight across the world as this song is playing into my ears. There is something waiting for us in Korea. He hasn’t made it known to us just yet, but we are waiting with open eyes and listening ears. Maybe it is simply to touch one soul, maybe it is so that we can touch many.

I am so excited. I am so nervous. But I am ready. Whatever He places in my path, I know one thing is certain, my soul will rest in His embrace.

Please continue to pray for us in this journey. We are definitely feeling the love and we so appreciate it.

Listen to the full song, "Oceans" by Hillsong United on YouTube.

Why Solid Ground?

I'm terrified of flying. Did I ever tell you that?
Terrified as in, I get serious anxiety from the moment I have to select my seat on the plane when I book a ticket.

So yeah, it's only appropriate that my travel blog be named Solid Ground. Do you sense the irony?

In fact, it is general knowledge, in order to get anywhere (i.e. travel), flying is likely the easiest and fastest (and safest!) method of transportation. Did I mention this is a travel blog?

But I really like to keep my feet firmly planted. When my husband came home from work one day and said, "We need to talk, I'm heading to Korea." (Oh, by the way, he's military) I was devastated. Why? Being separated from him for an entire year was such a daunting and impossible task. When I found that I could move to Korea on my own dime, things were good again, until I Googled how to get to South Korea and, well...

Enter the 22+ hours of travel and the ahem, 14 hour flight over an ocean.

No. Freaking. Way.

(Side note: I promise, I really did know where South Korea was before using Google. I was born in the 90s, after all.)

But guys, I've done that trip three times now. I survived. Phew! Now fingers crossed that I can safely make it back to the land of milk and honey!

Not only do I enjoy not flying, I do enjoy being outside, adventuring, trying new foods and taking photos along the way. So that's really where the travel comes in. I hope that through the new experiences that I share here, I can encourage you to try new things, eat delicious new foods, and plan your next trip to a place unknown, and maybe even get on a plane!

I've learned that travel changes you. It forces you to broaden your outlook on life, stretch your personal space bubble, and allows you to learn about others who are different than you. And that's really not a bad thing.

So here's to travel and adventure. And as little flying as possible.

Welcome to Solid Ground.