Missed last week so...I split it into 2 entries. Yesterday and Saturday I was sick with a sinus infection? Not sure exactly…just loads of the green stuff and a cough to boot. They don’t have nitquil here …but they have these amazing 2 blue and white pills that cost $2 for a pack of 10 and I’ve never been so drowsy and giddy and slept so good!!! Still amazes me how cheap pills are here…and how effective they’ve been. Yet again Hyesung has been an angel in taking care of me! Even fixed me a delicious homemade beef dinner Friday night after work!
I got sick from a sunflowerseed going up my nose (ha…you knew I was three) or angela gave it to me. I gave her some Sudafed to help her…she ended up getting an ear infection! Sooo…its been rough this whole week in that sort. This semester ends the 27th so we’re also just winding down…its going to get very busy next week… And then its going to be a busier semester I fear---no holidays! -.- And its not cool cause parents come then and they won’t get to see me as much.
Owell, can't get upset about me having a job!!!
Major buzz about North Korea and its declare on wanting to launch a missile. No idea what the plan is... Maybe a satellite? Doubtful. But i also see a cry for help...they have little food, little hope, its a last stand for a dying nation. like a wounded dog cornered.
U can read more at http://english.chosun.com/
its a korean newspaper in english... find it very informative.
Well, remember, the economy is hitting worst time ever... the korean won just hit 1,500 W : 1 usd. That's worst for past 11years. cant get any worse, ya?
"when going through hell, keep going." - Churchill
Monday, February 23, 2009
Saint Valentine got confused in Korea.
Valentine’s Day. Alex’s birthday?
So mainly the weekends r the only time things happen. I worked the week…smooth, suppose to have the boss watch my class…didn’t have time. All good, so planning for the Vday was interesting. I decided to have some fun with it since I am told the GIRL is suppose to buy the GUY chocolate. How awesome is that? So I got some chocolate (still havn’t opened it..yah) and this awesome lotion stuff that I was needing. Get this, I even got spoiled with thai for dinner! How does the guy get spoiled so much? Why? Because on White Day (march 14th) the guy does it all… 3x bigger! Ooops. Haha, but we’ll have fun… I also did this SUPER cheesy poem like a little kid would write…what can I say, I’m a child :-D So here’s to a happy little valentine with Hyesung.
The afternoon was just watching this great show “How I met your mother” since she had to work and then we got this exciting idea to go to Hongdae to shop since we were undecided about going to Alex (angela’s boyfriend’s) bday there….do 2 things at once! Major success. I found this fantastic Japanese black long coat that really feels good. And some skinny jeans that she insisted look really great on me…most I’ve ever paid for jeans -.- but hey, I admit sometimes I dress like a snob. Ok, so that’s that. Party was a success. Simple cheers, and a night of dancing---I love how the Koreans dance but don’t. boys and girls hardly touch, so you have this side by side dancing and try to mimic each other and its def more flirtatious than…other “dancing” I’ve seen such as grinding and rap. So that made me happy. Just seeing different cultures can always make me smile to myself.
“That’s about all I have to say about that.” – F. Gump
I am CRAVING the beach!!! Soon…
So mainly the weekends r the only time things happen. I worked the week…smooth, suppose to have the boss watch my class…didn’t have time. All good, so planning for the Vday was interesting. I decided to have some fun with it since I am told the GIRL is suppose to buy the GUY chocolate. How awesome is that? So I got some chocolate (still havn’t opened it..yah) and this awesome lotion stuff that I was needing. Get this, I even got spoiled with thai for dinner! How does the guy get spoiled so much? Why? Because on White Day (march 14th) the guy does it all… 3x bigger! Ooops. Haha, but we’ll have fun… I also did this SUPER cheesy poem like a little kid would write…what can I say, I’m a child :-D So here’s to a happy little valentine with Hyesung.
The afternoon was just watching this great show “How I met your mother” since she had to work and then we got this exciting idea to go to Hongdae to shop since we were undecided about going to Alex (angela’s boyfriend’s) bday there….do 2 things at once! Major success. I found this fantastic Japanese black long coat that really feels good. And some skinny jeans that she insisted look really great on me…most I’ve ever paid for jeans -.- but hey, I admit sometimes I dress like a snob. Ok, so that’s that. Party was a success. Simple cheers, and a night of dancing---I love how the Koreans dance but don’t. boys and girls hardly touch, so you have this side by side dancing and try to mimic each other and its def more flirtatious than…other “dancing” I’ve seen such as grinding and rap. So that made me happy. Just seeing different cultures can always make me smile to myself.
“That’s about all I have to say about that.” – F. Gump
I am CRAVING the beach!!! Soon…
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Post on Payday
Week at a glance.
Well after Japan things have been quiet. Had a nice simple week of teaching, feels great to have no more intensive! I can teach and not be tired! Only problem now is just trying to figure out what I want for dinner and when I should go to bed. I’m trying to get a schedule of swimming each morning…found a place that’s 4,000won per swim…guess where it is? The YMCA! Haha. And its like literally 2 buildings away. So keep me to it! At least randomly just to not become jelly. Certainly feels like I just work and sleep and on the weekends actually walk more than 10minutes.
Today is PAY DAY!!! Exciting, I get paid intensive bonus for the extra 24classes and then ah, it feels great to be a millionaire! At this rate I’ll soon become a billionaire! :-O
I know I won’t reach my financial goal (especially as the won continues to get weaker) but I’m certainly enjoying the time! Can you believe its already been almost 4 months??? I arrived October 24th… 10-24 it is now 2-10. 9-1 to 12-14 I was in Ireland. So I have now been in Korea for the longest time abroad. Feels great. Its taken the bucket list to a whole different level.
Still no idea what I want to do with my life, this economic situation is only getting worse! Here’s an article from the BBC on Charlotte. Know it’s big when it’s the front page of business in America from a foreign news. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7880283.stm
OH! This weekend I shaved my head then went shopping for some Korean style clothes. I did great! I got fitted pants, a fitted dress shirt, and my favorite---the Korean style p-coat with 6 buttons in front. Ah its glorious. I still might get another one (this one is blue) that covers the neck and up to your nose. Looks really cool… that def will be in black. And with the season getting warmer, I’ll get it on sale too! So after buying all that, Alex and I happen to see Big Bang! A music band that is MAJOR famous in korea. Check them out! So Hot is a good song. Wonder girls is another band--- Nobody – Wonder girls. Check those two bands out and be amused and cultured! Well, 2 great shopping malls/train stops. Coax and dong day moon!
Man, i hate tax.
Well after Japan things have been quiet. Had a nice simple week of teaching, feels great to have no more intensive! I can teach and not be tired! Only problem now is just trying to figure out what I want for dinner and when I should go to bed. I’m trying to get a schedule of swimming each morning…found a place that’s 4,000won per swim…guess where it is? The YMCA! Haha. And its like literally 2 buildings away. So keep me to it! At least randomly just to not become jelly. Certainly feels like I just work and sleep and on the weekends actually walk more than 10minutes.
Today is PAY DAY!!! Exciting, I get paid intensive bonus for the extra 24classes and then ah, it feels great to be a millionaire! At this rate I’ll soon become a billionaire! :-O
I know I won’t reach my financial goal (especially as the won continues to get weaker) but I’m certainly enjoying the time! Can you believe its already been almost 4 months??? I arrived October 24th… 10-24 it is now 2-10. 9-1 to 12-14 I was in Ireland. So I have now been in Korea for the longest time abroad. Feels great. Its taken the bucket list to a whole different level.
Still no idea what I want to do with my life, this economic situation is only getting worse! Here’s an article from the BBC on Charlotte. Know it’s big when it’s the front page of business in America from a foreign news. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7880283.stm
OH! This weekend I shaved my head then went shopping for some Korean style clothes. I did great! I got fitted pants, a fitted dress shirt, and my favorite---the Korean style p-coat with 6 buttons in front. Ah its glorious. I still might get another one (this one is blue) that covers the neck and up to your nose. Looks really cool… that def will be in black. And with the season getting warmer, I’ll get it on sale too! So after buying all that, Alex and I happen to see Big Bang! A music band that is MAJOR famous in korea. Check them out! So Hot is a good song. Wonder girls is another band--- Nobody – Wonder girls. Check those two bands out and be amused and cultured! Well, 2 great shopping malls/train stops. Coax and dong day moon!
Man, i hate tax.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Japan! for 5 days
Japan:
Friday
Osaka!
We checked into the Raizen hostel. Fantastic! Own private rooms, twin size bed, fridge, tv, and public baths = 25 usd. We stayed there 3 nights, would gladly do it again! So that night…we met up with Risa and her friend. She took us to the BEST sushi and sake! I still can’t believe how she spoiled us! By far best sushi I’ve had (the strips of fish on top of rice..) and then had tasty foods ---and she paid for it all! Ahh, I love having great friends, I thank her so much for making this trip fantastic! We even had a lava cake! Haha, I almost laughed when it came out---her favorite Japanese dessert and its probably made in America. ;)
Saturday
Tanjori (sp?) temple in Osaka. Pictures on Angela’s camera… I met this guy from…no joke…Charlotte, NC. His name is Johnny and he has to go to a foreign country to graduate in International relations. Chose probably the most expensive at this time, but hey, he’s making it work! So we laughed that we even know the same people and hope to meet up once I return to charlotte. He lives in Waxhaw and might in fact teach in Korea after hearing how fun it is. At the temple there was this elderly lady…quite old and tiny, adorable. She was trying to come into the temple and I leaving…she was sooo polite and kept saying “gominosai” = I’m sorry/excuse me, and that I was so kind and it made me happy. I didn’t need to know all the words…just the look was so raw and real! That’s what I like best about language barriers---the human body can have a LOT of communication. Well, fun times and walking a lot more…we had a gorgeous lunch (these 2 older ladies were so intrigued by us, we talked to them for a bit, laughed, not every day they see 4 foreigners that don’t know any Japanese) After, we walked and shopped in these great shopping towers! Like 8 floors of clothes and stuff. Angela went total girl mode---bought shirts and jewelry. Us guys found a manga store and an arcade room. Ah, you’ve never seen so many games and spending coins like its nothing…it’s a whole different world.
After shopping, went out to eat with pretty much the entire foreign group from the hostel, the greatest curry! Then sleep.
Sunday
Kyoto! Risa was able to find time and was excited to treat us to an adventure! After getting a bit lost, and seeing the Kyoto temple…quickly, we saw monkies! Saw this amazing Japanese garb (guy’s kimono…) and wanted it but I couldn’t get the price down. I gave up, came back later---it was already sold! I was sad the whole train back… we ate and I got Katsu-ju (breaded pork stacked on top of an egg and rice)! Just like in Musashi’s at charlotte, and it tasted JUST like it! Like scary how I found a place that’s very true to its taste. After eating, we go our separate ways…and I got surprised by Risa---she bought me the kimono!! Ahhh, it made my day. Aya and I grabbed a Japanese special sake only in Japan (ryokai? No idea…) and I got to travel the Japanese train alone. First time taking a train alone. Ever. Haha, made it back safe, of course, watched an AWESOME sumo wrestling match on TV and then planned the next day.
Monday
Osaka castle. We first checked into our hotel – Sheradon (that’s how they spell it) and ate a cheap rice ball (so yummy and simple) and then made for our 2km walk. Took a while, but worth it! This castle had a moat that was HUGE! And inside was fun to see all the things… and then the view from the top! It was a great clear view, yet again Angela has the pictures. Johnny came with us again, we enjoyed---haha, we did a hand stand in front of the castle---we got quite a crowd of Japanese with that picture, oh my. Then we enjoyed a nice….Italian restaurant? We went looking for good food, and good price, we decide on that one---then realize its Italian. I got tempura shrimp and a niiice piece of steak and rice (instead of noodles). Haha, trying to say “substitute” was quite …difficult to explain. I’m so just glad they have like plates of fake food on display! Asia is so smart in having food on display so we can just point! Johnny had never taken the train…EVER so after dinner we pointed him in the right direction and away he went.
After returning, we called it an easy night of just waking up early to shop some more and then take the plane back.
Tuesday we just went shopping for about an hour---the shopping was horrible around the sheradon, either really expensive or non-existent. We ate some fresh bakery bread and sorts, grabbed the “limousine” bus to the airport and enjoyed just relaxing…I literally spent all my money down to 1 cent! Was awesome trying to buy some socks…the lady paid a few pennies she knew I was trying so hard! Ah, the Japanese people we met were very friendly and very inviting. I would say go and enjoy, just make sure you’ve got deep pockets!
Friday
Osaka!
We checked into the Raizen hostel. Fantastic! Own private rooms, twin size bed, fridge, tv, and public baths = 25 usd. We stayed there 3 nights, would gladly do it again! So that night…we met up with Risa and her friend. She took us to the BEST sushi and sake! I still can’t believe how she spoiled us! By far best sushi I’ve had (the strips of fish on top of rice..) and then had tasty foods ---and she paid for it all! Ahh, I love having great friends, I thank her so much for making this trip fantastic! We even had a lava cake! Haha, I almost laughed when it came out---her favorite Japanese dessert and its probably made in America. ;)
Saturday
Tanjori (sp?) temple in Osaka. Pictures on Angela’s camera… I met this guy from…no joke…Charlotte, NC. His name is Johnny and he has to go to a foreign country to graduate in International relations. Chose probably the most expensive at this time, but hey, he’s making it work! So we laughed that we even know the same people and hope to meet up once I return to charlotte. He lives in Waxhaw and might in fact teach in Korea after hearing how fun it is. At the temple there was this elderly lady…quite old and tiny, adorable. She was trying to come into the temple and I leaving…she was sooo polite and kept saying “gominosai” = I’m sorry/excuse me, and that I was so kind and it made me happy. I didn’t need to know all the words…just the look was so raw and real! That’s what I like best about language barriers---the human body can have a LOT of communication. Well, fun times and walking a lot more…we had a gorgeous lunch (these 2 older ladies were so intrigued by us, we talked to them for a bit, laughed, not every day they see 4 foreigners that don’t know any Japanese) After, we walked and shopped in these great shopping towers! Like 8 floors of clothes and stuff. Angela went total girl mode---bought shirts and jewelry. Us guys found a manga store and an arcade room. Ah, you’ve never seen so many games and spending coins like its nothing…it’s a whole different world.
After shopping, went out to eat with pretty much the entire foreign group from the hostel, the greatest curry! Then sleep.
Sunday
Kyoto! Risa was able to find time and was excited to treat us to an adventure! After getting a bit lost, and seeing the Kyoto temple…quickly, we saw monkies! Saw this amazing Japanese garb (guy’s kimono…) and wanted it but I couldn’t get the price down. I gave up, came back later---it was already sold! I was sad the whole train back… we ate and I got Katsu-ju (breaded pork stacked on top of an egg and rice)! Just like in Musashi’s at charlotte, and it tasted JUST like it! Like scary how I found a place that’s very true to its taste. After eating, we go our separate ways…and I got surprised by Risa---she bought me the kimono!! Ahhh, it made my day. Aya and I grabbed a Japanese special sake only in Japan (ryokai? No idea…) and I got to travel the Japanese train alone. First time taking a train alone. Ever. Haha, made it back safe, of course, watched an AWESOME sumo wrestling match on TV and then planned the next day.
Monday
Osaka castle. We first checked into our hotel – Sheradon (that’s how they spell it) and ate a cheap rice ball (so yummy and simple) and then made for our 2km walk. Took a while, but worth it! This castle had a moat that was HUGE! And inside was fun to see all the things… and then the view from the top! It was a great clear view, yet again Angela has the pictures. Johnny came with us again, we enjoyed---haha, we did a hand stand in front of the castle---we got quite a crowd of Japanese with that picture, oh my. Then we enjoyed a nice….Italian restaurant? We went looking for good food, and good price, we decide on that one---then realize its Italian. I got tempura shrimp and a niiice piece of steak and rice (instead of noodles). Haha, trying to say “substitute” was quite …difficult to explain. I’m so just glad they have like plates of fake food on display! Asia is so smart in having food on display so we can just point! Johnny had never taken the train…EVER so after dinner we pointed him in the right direction and away he went.
After returning, we called it an easy night of just waking up early to shop some more and then take the plane back.
Tuesday we just went shopping for about an hour---the shopping was horrible around the sheradon, either really expensive or non-existent. We ate some fresh bakery bread and sorts, grabbed the “limousine” bus to the airport and enjoyed just relaxing…I literally spent all my money down to 1 cent! Was awesome trying to buy some socks…the lady paid a few pennies she knew I was trying so hard! Ah, the Japanese people we met were very friendly and very inviting. I would say go and enjoy, just make sure you’ve got deep pockets!
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