A. Hart in Seoul

I'm Baaaaack

2009-08-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

The boys are back in town! Except not boys, girls. And not girls, just me. But that song is the official getting back to your hometown song and the theme music in my head, okay?!

I'm awake at 5:45 AM-- which is like the opposite of jet lag because normally I would be trying to fall asleep right now in Korea.

I think I might keep posting from here the next few days (and then I'll be over here, unless I give up blogging-- we'll see), only if I notice some strange happening in reverse culture shock. So far, the weirdest thing is being able to understand all the people taking around me. People talk about stupid stuff in public, I forgot. And money looks really cool. By far the strangest thing is that I really feel I was gone a weekend. 3 days max.

I don't know what to do first! If I do anything cool I'll let you know! (umm going to Henry's and getting yogurt pretzels is my idea of cool).

YAY America!

Why Yes, I Am

2009-08-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Incheon Intl. Airport

2009-08-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

Made it to the airport! And I already have a story for you ...

Okay, so we know I have luggage issues but they have never been this great. I go to the counter and one of my bags was overweight ($50 fee) and the other one was so overweight it's illegal, sorry! Hee. Well, my new best friend at the check in counter suggested I pay to add a 3rd piece of luggage, at the price of 135,000 won (about $110 or something). Alright, well I'm not throwing away 20kg of my stuff so I guess I'll do that. But I don't have a 3rd piece of luggage. Problem. He directs me to where I can buy another bag and I load up the bags again in search. I don't know if I found where he told me to go, but I did find an airport service desk that sold boxes. So I buy a box and start unpacking (why did I pack all my bras and undies on top?). Judging by how many people were repacking around me, I have a hunch they recently lowered the weight allowance-- although, I don't think I would have passed in any universe. I load everything up again and head back to the counter. He checks it all and I pass! Woot! Now, as if they give out prizes for abiding by luggage laws, he checks me in and da da daa-- there's a free spot in PRESTIGE CLASS. I'm happy.

Aaannndddd when I came here the first time around I had to pay $100 anyway (mom had to pay, thnkx mom) because of overweight luggage and I didn't even get a box! Or more leg room.

UPDATE: It. gets. better. I'm about to hard core brag, you're warned. So I left with tons of extra time and so even after the luggage extravaganza, I still had time to kill. I walked around a bit, tested perfumes, checked out duty free shops, and then went back to sit down by the gate. I still had about 2 hours until boarding, when my gate starts boarding a flight to Fiji! So ... I'm in Fiji! Ha, just kidding. But at that moment, something clicked that Prestige not only gets to board first, but they have a uber cool, members only, life styles of the rich and famous, lounge. I set off in search of this secret club and found it pretty easily. The attendant scans my boarding pass, beep beep, and I'm in! I have no idea what to expect, believe it or not I don't get to travel first class when jet-setting. I should also say I'm starving because I had the pre-travel jitters and couldn't eat today. I walk in and it's a full service restaurant and bar. Included for Prestige members, such as myself. I am the completely unclassy kid in a candy shop who cannot decide between wine, cappuccino, or cognac and am now eating forchetta and cheese with a glass of wine and looking at a stellar view of planes coming in against the sunset. Life is good, darlings.

You Know What?

2009-08-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

I am leaving RIGHT NOW. Walking out the door. Goodbye 1727, it's been swell.

See Ya Soon My San Diego Sweethearts

2009-08-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

the end.

2009-08-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

Let's start by saying I cannot believe it has been a year. And it wasn't. It was 354 days. I only counted to compare it to my blog posts- 286. Not too bad, right?

What a wonderful and strange year it has been. I almost feel like this, this what I'm writing now, is an assignment. The prompt? "Using the material you have acquired in the course of the year, please compare and contrast the benefits and shortcomings of living in a foreign country over an extended period of time." Alright, I can do this. I haven't been a student in over a year now but I've written enough essays and this one is from personal experience and therefore should come easy. But it's not.

I suppose I could start with what I'll take from this experience and the advice I'd give to anyone planning a similar journey. Of course it's cliché (in a personal statement such as this, they may be unavoidable) but I have learned a lot about myself. Goal one, check. I've learned that adapting to wildly different situations comes easy to me, and that I can eat just about anything. I can handle being alone, although I can get lonely. I know now that they were not lying in Comm 200 when they said 55% of communication is non-verbal, and I can one-up them by saying I survived in a country without speaking more than ten words of the native language. That point, actually, I'm ashamed of. It was only laziness and lack of trying that I did not learn more Korean. I can already see myself becoming annoyed with that question-- "Oh you lived in Korea? So you speak Korean?" Do not ask me. I will lie to you. I will rattle off all the Korean I know, which will be a pretty monolog that will roughly translate to, "Hi how are you thank you how much is it I love you." Oh, and I can write my name in Hangul for you. Now I've gone off track though, let's get back to what I have learned. Korean culture is fascinating and I hope to keep that sense of treating everyone as if they are a part of your family. For instance, that old lady on the subway is really your grandma and that kid running by the fountain is your little brother. I've noticed that a lot here-- that Koreans look after everyone's kids as if they were their own. They don't have this weird, "That's my kid! Don't touch him you kidnapping pedophile!" that we seem to have in America. Too much To Catch a Predator perhaps? I've also noticed Koreans do not hibernate Sunday night to Thursday night, waiting patiently for the weekend nights to go out and have a big dinner or evening out with the family. This might be the apartment effect-- where, as in Europe, people live in such small spaces that they have to get out or go stir crazy. I like that on a Tuesday I can here loud laughing and drinking and eating from my window until late at night.

Those are mostly good points so let's try to balance the scales a bit. A phenomena that plagues most who move away-- homesickness. You see, you start by being sick of home so you leave only to become sick for home. For the most part, I can proudly say that I avoided this but there are a few reasons for that. I kept in constant contact with the most important people in my life (TGFS- Thank God For Skype! Hey, I should trademark that quick...), I planned incredible vacations with my BFFFF and my Mom, and my sweetheart came to visit. Without all that, I don't think it would have been the same, or even that I would have made it the whole year.

Oh but the holidays! At first, it's not that big of a deal. One missed Halloween, no Grandma's marshmallow yams on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's, no 4th of July BBQ. It starts to add up and then all of a sudden I look back at a whole year without large cringe-worthy family gatherings and feel an emptiness. Like a year in space or something. And then the birthdays-- a year of missed birthdays!

Thomas and I joke that the thing we miss most is the food (umm, he might not be joking) and lemme tell you, food fantasies are the single most masochistic yet strangely satisfying thing you can do in a foreign country. Some of our recent conversations have been food-centric, thinking of the best of the worst junk foods America has to offer (inspiration for the previous food post). Of course, I will be living in The Land of Great Food soon and will then have to endure extreme tests of willpower. Want what you can't have and can't have what you want. At least not if I ever want to put on a bikini again. Oh and that brings me to the beach, ohh San Diego beaches how I've missed you. Windansea, I'm talking to you. This is again getting off track. I don't want to start listing all the things I've missed-- they are many and great and I've already done that.

One last thing I thought was important. This is the trouble with leaving the country-- you get home and all you do is compare the place you live to the place you visited. You also feel the need to show the entire world (or just your circle of friends) the difference. Now, maybe this is good, bringing cultural awareness and showing people a different view. Maybe sharing part of your experiences opens you up for others to get to know you better. But you know what it sounds like-- showing off. And it annoys the hell outta me. Therefore, I am making you a promise. I will only utter the words, "In Korea they ..." 6 times a year. That's once every other month. This includes variations such as, "When I was in Korea ...", "Compared to Korea, America ...", and "Koreans do it this way ... ". Talking about traveling is all well and good, but you have to be sensible. (Atonement anyone?) To me, being sensible is not dropping it into conversation at every opportunity.

So here it comes. The question I will undoubtedly get from every friend, family member and acquaintance I run into at Target-- "How was it?" The go-to reflex reply, "It was great! Such a great experience!" However my dear, dear friends, I would like to prepare a statement with more substance for you. How can I convey a year away that changes how you view the world, your life, your family? Where if anyone asked I would say I couldn't have made a better decision and would do it again in an instant? That, yes, if you are thinking of doing it you should, at least to test yourself. How can I explain all this? "It was really great."

9.4.08

Tyler took this, last night at home, still packing.

All My Bags Are Packed, I'm ready To Go

2009-08-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

Well my luggage issue worked out better than expected. Although, I will be paying $$$ to get them to actually take them. Not unexpected though since I'm pretty sure it will take a four man team to get one of my suitcases on the plane.

You Know What?

2009-08-23T23:04:00.001-07:00

I leave TOMORROW.

Just thought you should know.

PC: Rebecca Miller

Cinderelly Cinderelly

2009-08-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

Cleaning cleaning cleaning the apartment.

Dear Tyler,

2009-08-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Food Porn

2009-08-22T05:33:00.000-07:00

Rainbow Chip icing and Funfetti cake mix. Many have been fooled by Funfetti, don't be one of them. See here .

Ty and I asked Jung about margaritas. She asked what was a margarita.

Please note where this pizza is from. It's important.

Sarah knows what this is.

Mmmm mmmmmm

And I've wanted this forever and I'm getting it when I get back.

I haven't had these since I was 12. Or maybe 15. Not recently.

I don't even really like M&Ms! But I can't get them here and I always want what I can't have.

I know. Honestly, honestly, pinky swear promise I don't even eat half this crap at home! (Okay, I don't eat it all the time at home). But as I get ever so closer to touching down in 'Merica, I can't help but think of all the deliciousness waiting for me. Also, I couldn't find a picture of Del Taco's small red bean burrito, but you know I'm thinking of you.

Here's to hoping I don't gain 50 pounds in 5 days. Gym membership anyone?

Saturday

2009-08-22T04:29:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Hongdae for the last time (tear). They had a festival going on with hip young cool Korean college kids everywhere. Was a nice outing, plus I just had to go to that sushi restaurant once more.

Pictures? That would require my camera cord and that would require getting out of bed. Notgonnahappen.

xoxo

Gossip Girl

Just Thinking

2009-08-19T02:17:00.000-07:00

/I'll Be Happy To Go Home/

Living with people

My darling Niece & Nephew

(and rest of the family-- but the little ones are the cutest)

Reading food labels

Windansea

Landmark

Chanel (Poodle girlfrieeeend!)

Target

Coffee

Prado

Cleaner air

Marietta's

DIY yogurt

Whole foods

My best friends, duh

Running into old friends

A tan

Seeing stars at night

Home ♥

/I Think I'll Miss Korea/

Living alone

The subway

Street food

Non verbal communication

Shabu Shabu

Cheap restaurants

Korean kids

Feeling unique just for being a foreigner

Walking everywhere

Fresh fruit at the corner

My little fishy roomie (RIP)

Four seasons

A job I like

Having my apartment paid for

Although there are some things I think I'll miss about Korea, they are substantially less important to me that what I'm exciting to go home to. I hear a lot of people talk about how they just want to get out of town-- and believe me I get that-- but I think, more than anything, it's the people, your best friends, your family, that make a place worth living in. There are many great places, great cities, but "happiness must be shared" and I don't believe it can be shared with just anyone. It doesn't hurt that we're from San Diego (THE BEST CITY ON EARTH) but it's the people that make home, home.

Please expect a few more annoying, reflective, posts in the next week, along with my final wrap up on this year of years.

I Miss Her So

2009-08-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

My lil teddy bear. ♥

ONE WEEK

2009-08-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

In one week, I will be in America, in California, in San Diego.

Before I Go To Bed

2009-08-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

Hopefully you've had your morning coffee before watching this one.

(Via Professor Nericcio, who never ceases to be thought provoking)

Link to source.

Hay! I'm Workin' Here!

2009-08-17T01:42:00.000-07:00

Monday Monday! They turned the lights off on me twice today at work. I don't think I'll go in tomorrow.

Back to packing packing packing ....

...

2009-08-15T04:10:00.001-07:00

I just packed one suitcase and I am-- oh how can I put this nicely?-- screwed.

Bang Bang

2009-08-15T02:27:00.000-07:00

I love space documentaries.

Today I saw Public Enemies and I wish I could watch Johnny Depp for 2 hours and 20 minutes everyday.

I may, maybe, might, start packing right now. This could take 10 days.

I'm Going Back Home To The West Coast

2009-08-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

Weeeee! It's the "Yes, I made a playlist for going home and, no, not only because I was bored" playlist! It's not very long as of now and a little bit off. Suggestions?

California . Ryan Adams

Home . Michael Bublé

Hotel California . The Eagles

California Dreamin' . The Mamas & The Papas

Ragged Wood . Fleet Foxes

Hometown Glory . Adele

Never Far Away . Jack White

I'm Going Home . Scared Harp Singers

Drilling . Minus The Bear

California . Joni Mitchell

West Coast . Coconut Records

And before you say there are too many California songs just LOOK at all the ones to choose from--

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_California

Let's Talk About Yesterday

2009-08-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

After getting, "what why are you here? ... Isn't summer camp over? ... You still come?" from two of the English teachers who came to work yesterday, I left early. In a burst of productivity (oh it doesn't come too often, don't get excited) I decided to go to the bank to close my account (my 2nd bank, not the main one). The real reason I wanted to go there is someone in the office thought it'd be a good idea to deposit my camp money into that bank account, which I haven't used since last September. So I go and blah blah, no I don't want to open an account I want to close the one I have blah blah wait wait and it turns out I have to have my bank book with me to do this. Not their fault, okay.

Alright, so I didn't get that done but I can still go to the Korea National Pension office and turn in that application. (whole back story of finding the NPS website, finding office locations, finding the office on the subway nearest me ...) I get to the office (no small feat) and the girl is nice enough until she wants proof of my American bank account at which time she begins to look at me like an international heist specialist. No we don't have bank books in America, no I don't have checks, no I didn't bring an internet banking receipt (what is that??). We finally agree that I can bring a wire transfer receipt, next time I come in. Oh joy.

Alright, so after that I'm feeling I earned and deserve an ice cream, and not just the cone, but the sundae. I stop by McDo on the way home, wait in a lunch rush line, and, wait for it, they. are. out. of. ice. cream. Does that really happen? Are you Ashley Hart? Then yes, it does.

However yesterday cannot go down as all bad because I still had my dinner with Grace and Sam (which was not at KFC). We went to THE OMG BEST sushi place -- the grab a plate as it comes by kind (what do we call those again?)-- and EVERY plate was 1,000 won. 70 cents. A-Mazing and soo good. Why oh why did I not know about this place a year ago. I will make time for it again in the next week and a half. Then we got coffee, because it's against the law to go out to eat in Korean without getting coffee afterwards. Grace and Sam are one of the couples that you look at and just wish the whole world could be filled with people like them. So sweet, and kind, and funny and all sorts of nice things. They're baby is due in October (Suzy Park-- Grace told me they wanted a name foreigners could pronounce, ha, which is funny because most of the time they will give an English name and a Korean name) and they promised to bring her to San Diego.

For Any Non-Believers

2009-08-12T18:26:00.001-07:00

I know, shut it.

OhEmGe Stop Taking Pictures off the Balcony!

2009-08-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

Two things;

!) I was up before sunrise as part of my 2 week preemptive strike against jet lag. See, if I'm on Cali time now, it will be so much easier when I'm back. Not true, but how else can I justify falling asleep at 7pm? Yes, this is sunrise not sunset, or, an answer I got during a vocabulary quiz, "sky soul."

@) When I was taking these pictures I noticed, for the first time in the year since living here, that I can see Seoul Tower from my house. Seoul Tower. From my house. That's equivalent to, say, seeing the Eiffel Tower from your window in Paris or a view of Red Square from your Moscow hotel.

Tonight I have a dinner date with Grace and Sam and it might be to KFC. Korea Fried Chicken what?! Ta-ta for now.

My Model Friend

2009-08-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

For Nightcap at Singer 22.

Yay Sari!!!!!!!! EEEEEeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! Yay yay yay!!!!!!!! ♥

This Is Work

2009-08-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

Last week a couple students were showing me this website full of silly things. This is my favorite.

Two Weeks Notice

2009-08-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

Another rainy day in Seoulville. I kinda love these Summer thunderstorms in Seoul and I kinda miss those sunny skies in Santee. (Note: Yes, I just used the words "miss" and "Santee" without the words "do not." Only because San Diego messed with the poetry of that sentence though. So don't quote me. You're going to quote me aren't you? "Hey! Remember that time you said, "I MISS SANTEE SOOO MUCH!!"?).

Image

Want To See

2009-08-11T15:45:00.001-07:00

It rains in the Summer?

2009-08-09T03:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend was pretty sweet- saw Up (ohmygod so good) and did some epic shopping today.

We Don't Need No Education

2009-08-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

It's official-- my little stint as a teacher is now over and done. Today was the last day of summer session and also my last day of teaching. It was a job I'd never thought I'd do-- I remember thinking in high school it was one of the last careers I'd ever want-- but as it turns out, teaching fits me pretty well. I don't have immediate plans to continue teaching, but someday? Professor Hart? Who knows?

It's become cliché to say, "oh, teaching is so rewarding!" but it is. I loved working at a middle school, maybe because junior high is still so fresh in my mind and I have the best memories from those two short years. Who has forgotten Ms. Hollet, Mr. Beacome, Ms. Beyers (and even Mr. Chamberlin and Mrs. Whitehouse)? Even if you didn't attend Cajon Park Jr. High (a Blue Ribbon school) you remember those teachers ... the ones who guided us in the most carefree years we ever had. Before driving, before jobs, before college, before houses (before spouses, before babies); yes, junior high is a time often overlooked but those two awkward and braced years I wouldn't trade for anything.

This has gotten far to reflective and I don't want to go accidently heightening the brow of this blog.

My last day actually involved little teaching since it was partay movie day. We watched Monster House (not recommended) and then part of Madagascar. Normally we watch the movies in English with Korean subs, but Madagascar was actually dubbed in Korean thus taking out any excuse I might have had for the educational purpose of the film.

Oh, and the pictures are of Sarah ("real" Sarah is dying, I know) one of the best students and not because she brought me a leather Peter Rabbit notebook (*tear*).

2009-08-05T15:30:00.001-07:00

I Want

2009-08-05T05:22:00.001-07:00

Outback

2009-08-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

Grace met me at school today and we went to lunch. Where did we go? Oh, the place I swore I'd never go to again after the time when Jung and I ate enough for Sejong the Great's army.

Cool thing about Korean Outback? They give you bread to take home. I also think it's funny that Koreans (okay, not all Koreans-- that's a generalization) think Outback Steakhouse is really Australian. You thought so too, didn't you? Nope I have academic proof. Yes, wiki is academic.

I Want to Take A Picture Mocking This Picture

2009-08-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

The two guys not looking at the camera were never seen/heard of again.

The Clinton Rescue (my headline, not theirs) is the front page of all the Korean newspapers but what I can't find is the picture they are using. It's a snapshot, that seems to have been taken by a crappy cell phone camera at a distance, of Clinton and Kim Jong Il standing side-by-side. If I can't find it online I'll buy a copy. Yes. Actually pay for a newspaper. Weird.

PS. I have trouble taking anything seriously but I am relieved that our government finally took action on this issue. I am especially pleased that Bill Clinton was chosen for the envoy. I hope Laura Ling and Euna Lee are soon safe with their families and can begin a difficult transition home.

Billy To The Rescue!

2009-08-03T22:03:00.000-07:00

Bill Clinton in North Korea to Seek Release of U.S. Reporters
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/world/asia/05korea.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Wet Paint

2009-08-03T04:41:00.000-07:00

Today was the start of week three-- otherwise known as my last week of teaching. They've been doing construction on the school since break started and today I get there to find they've blocked all the entrances (except the secret teacher-only stairway). I didn't really think about it until class time when I went to walk to class and couldn't, because every square inch of flooring is covered in paint (barring my office). Hmmm ..., so a few poor translations later I got, "talk to Jung" and "the paint should be dry tomorrow." I held class in our conference room for an hour and then let the kids go home.

I suppose I could've gone home at 10 too but I stayed until the usual time (12:30) holding a really important Skype conversation. ♥ All in a day's work.

I Did Leave the House

2009-08-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

I walked to AK Plaza ... only to find that my eyeliner was about double the price with import costs. I'll be getting that one once I'm back home.

Guess where else I went today?

Coco Avant Chanel

2009-08-02T02:44:00.000-07:00

Nothing much to say. Me and a million other girls (and boys!) want to see this.

OLYMPUS

2009-08-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

I get a little happy when companies I like make commercials I like.

Musings on a Sunday

2009-08-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

These are sketches from Garance Doré, my new favorite French girl. Her boyfriend is Scott Schuman, but she's way cooler than him.

LOL

2009-08-01T00:52:00.000-07:00

This is how most my English lessons go. [Sarcasm]. Warning: Not suitable for children, sorry Ty and Kina.

Hi

2009-07-31T17:34:00.000-07:00

It's the 1st day of August here. (One more day for you stateside lovelies). That means I come home this month.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

In Other Words

2009-07-30T05:36:00.001-07:00

One of my all time fave movies that no one has heard of.

If I were him I would ________

2009-07-29T05:28:00.000-07:00

Our lesson today was, "If I were _____ I would _________."

One of the figures (along with Santa Claus and Superman) was President Obama so I asked the class, "If you were him, what would you do?"

Their answer?

"If I were President Obama I would punish North Korea."

Summer School

2009-07-25T03:44:00.000-07:00

Summer school week one is finished and here's photographic evidence.I guess you can't tell by this photo that week one is over, but you can take my word for it. Week one was for beginners and they were brilliant so I can't wait for my intermediate and advanced classes. Yep, that's it. Only two more weeks and I'll hang up my teacher's cap. For now.

A slightly amusing video of the class. Note: This is obviously break time as I would never allow such run amuck during class time. I sound a little annoyed, I'm not, I love them. Rilly, some of my all time fave students.

This

2009-07-25T01:26:00.000-07:00

This came in the cereal box. Or not in, but rather on. With packing tape. I don't know.

And I'm not wearing it wrong-- it's like a child face shield. Again, I don't know.

August 25th

2009-07-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

ONE MONTH

Act One. Psycho Dabble.

2009-07-21T01:23:00.000-07:00

Tyler gave me a link to This American Life with Ira Glass. It has been filling hours since classes end at 12:30 now and the one I listened to tonight was lotsa fun. Okay, you might not think lotsa fun once you hear Ira Glass' voice which some may think dull (but who, I happen to think, has an incredible voice).

Act one of "Pro Se"

"From London, TAL contributor Jon Ronson tells the story of a man who hasspent more than a decade trying to convince doctors that he’s not mentally ill. But the more he argues his case, the less they believe him."

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1306

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Archive.aspx#7

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/225499/april-22-2009/ira-glass

Still Squiggling Sea Creatures: A Farewell Lunch

2009-07-18T21:59:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we met at school for our end of the semester lunch. Actually, I met them there, since Korean teachers work on Saturdays, and Korean school kids go to class every other Saturday. We took buses to Incheon, near the airport, about an hour from Seoul. Or two hours if you get lost, like our driver did. Not without comedic relief in the form of one math teacher who started yelling at the driver and then sat down at the dashboard for the remainder of the trip. He's actually in the picture below, khaki jacket, funny little man.

Jung was feeling sick and almost didn't go, until we started taking pictures and then she was magically all better. Nothing cures that girl more than a self-portrait photo shoot.

So about two hours later we arrived!! Here. Umm, don't judge a book by its cover?

Mmmm

Not the best quality video but you try eating semi-alive octopus with metal chopsticks while filming and let me know how it goes. I hadn't eaten it since way back when I first got here and although I'd say it's more a once in a lifetime thing, I had to try it once more before I leave.

This is a very short clip of the chaos that is Korean dinning.

Ahhh windy. The plan was for everyone to hang by the water but the storm had other plans. Taking pictures here very much reminded me of that one time in China with my Mom.

I look a bit Korean, no? Ahnnyunghaseyo!

Not Interesting Enough For A Title

2009-07-18T03:21:00.001-07:00

I should blog about our end of semester teacher's lunch we had today but I just found out that iTunes has 99 cents rentals for featured movies of the week. Weeee Saturday night. San Diego in 5 weeks 2 days (I'm not counting).

From The Korea Times:

2009-07-18T02:13:00.000-07:00

2 Noodle Makers Use Industrial Ethanol

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Two noodle makers were found making noodles with industrial ethanol and distributing them to restaurants in Seoul and the metropolitan area.

A 58-year-old head of a noodle-making company, identified as Jeong, was arrested on suspicions of making 390 tons of noodles with the chemical, which is banned from use in food, and supplying them to restaurants since April, according to the Korea Food and Drug Administration Friday.

The head of another food-production company, identified as Kim, 45, is also under investigation on similar charges.

The industrial ethanol, made by distilling petroleum, is usually used for paint and ink, and can be harmful if consumed, as noxious substances such as benzene and methyl alcohol are included.

The products were sold at Japanese and shabu-shabu restaurants, and restaurants selling kalguksu and ``naengmyeon'' (cold buckwheat noodle).

Jung actually told me about this today. She said don't eat noodles because her Dad read today that people were making noodles for shabu shabu with "machine powder" because it was 1/10 the price. Well, we had shabu shabu a week ago and my stomach has felt almost normal or as normal as it gets eating Korean food everyday.

New York Times: "Peeling Back Pavement to Expose Watery Havens"

2009-07-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

Wow NYtimes is just full of goodies today. Here is an article on Cheonggyecheon stream. Of course Tyler first reported on the stream here, but I scooped him here and here. Anyway, Cheonggyecheon is the place to be, apparently.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/world/asia/17daylight.html?_r=1&ref=science

I want to read this!

2009-07-16T23:26:00.000-07:00

I need to say I want to read this so my little sister can't *try* and say she wanted to read it first, like she did with Pride and Prejudce and Zombies. This time I'll be back in the land of English bookstores when it comes out so I'll be able to pick it up. Ha.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/the-latest-jane-austen-mashup-sense-and-sensibility-and-sea-monsters/?ref=books

Warm Delights

2009-07-16T04:39:00.000-07:00

OK. A little back story: Tyler's adorable Mom gave him a little care package to bring to me with Betty Crocker's Warm Delights. We went through the Molten Chocolate Cake, the Hot Fudge Brownie, the Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie, and the Molten Caramel Cake while he was here (and since we were splitting them, my half had zero caloric value).

So I still have one left and was Skyping with Thomas tonight and he tells me about his candy binge. Then we're talking about our "back to the States" mandatory diets and I'm thinking "ohh that's gonna be hard with that last warm delight ...." Then I say, "if I show you something do you promise to still be my friend?" (We have to be careful what we show Thomas during his period of deprivation in his self-exile in the bush). So he says, "Show me!! Show meeee!" and I hold up Fudge Chocolate Chip Cookie and he says, "Oh just you wait." AND HE BRINGS UP HOT FUDGE BROWNIE. It was one of the best moments this year.

Yes the screen cap is pixely but that's African internet for ya.

Ps. Thanks again Cindy! :)

School's Not Out For Summer

2009-07-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

My three week summer session starts Monday and I've recently found out that is awesome for a few reasons; SMOE sent me 14 days of lessons with worksheets [and at first, with my slow gear brain, I thought that was only 2 weeks of lessons, not thinking I only teach 5 days a week), Jung and my head teacher worked on the principal and she agreed that I can go home after class (noon), and I get paid extra. Now if I could only find a car for the price of my bonus. Or a motorcycle.

Psst ...

2009-07-14T01:27:00.000-07:00

In exactly 6 weeks I will be back in sunny San Diego. Emphasis on the sunny because it's pouring here today; apparently Korea didn't get the memo that Summer is supposed to be sunny.

A Port for Planes

2009-07-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

The very very last day consisted of us running through the pouring rain to get to the bus, to take the "airport limosine" [Read: another bus], to get to the airport. With my perfect planning skills we got there just as the check-in counter opened up and had time for one more coffee.

♥

The Last Weekend

2009-07-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

Epic post with 25 photos + video but it was Ty's last day in Korea (another 6 weeks for me) so we had to go out with a bangbang. We started the day out slow at my favorite Belgian waffle cafe.

Coffee + berry waffle + plain waffle with whipping cream = ♥

Peace siiiign

After breakfast, we went to Starbucks. Yes, we went from one cafe to another-- like a pub crawl, but better. In fact, Tyler made an accurate observation in that most of our outings revolve around sitting and drinking various beverages. Now, look at this poster below and please tell me if they are marketing "Coffee in the Jelly / Jelly in your Coffee" in America. They put these signs up a week ago and I thought it was literally jam smeared at the bottom of your coffee cup. Tyler thought it was more like boba tea. We decided to be adventurous (Korean food adventure) and try one. Ty was right and it was like a mass of tapioca at the bottom. Not bad but not going to order it again, although slurping up the jelly and then watching it slowly excrete from the bottom of the straw was memorable. Not all food can provide pooh humor and that was worth the price of the frap.

After coffee and jelly coffee we went to Insa-dong. We walked around for a bit just so Ty could get his last day of Korean style crowds. He wont tell you this but his favorite thing is being crammed together with a thousand other people all walking in different directions with the main goal of obstructing his path.

Heheh, my greek sculpture.

♥

Streeeet fooood. I asked Ty if he wanted to go to a restaurant or get street food and he made the wise choice. We basically ate our way up and down the main street in Insa-dong. After lunch-on-a-stick I had to take Ty to Moon Bird Does Think Only of the Moon traditional tea house.

This is the subway ride home with my own personal paparazzi. Once we established a few rules (no hip shots!) he was free to take all pictures he wanted documenting his last Seoul subway ride.

We ended the day the way all days should end-- by drinking outside of the GS25 in front of my building. GS25 is a 7-11 type convenience store and before you call up hobos lemme tell about one of the greatest facets of Korean culture. Koreans love getting together outside in the Summer to eat and drink. Red and blue plastic tables and chairs are put outside most restaurants and convenience stores. More popular than most bars, the GS25 is the place to meet friends and have a beer and soju. It's one of the things I'll miss about Korea, but not as much as I miss the person I got to share it with.

Hongik University & A Taste of Home

2009-07-12T04:11:00.000-07:00

I have a few backlogged blogs to post even though Ty left Korea today :(. The other day we went to Hongdae because the Hongik university area is one of my favorite parts of Seoul. Even though I took Tyler there before, it was during his where-am-I-jet-lag first day and I'm fairly certain he didn't remember being there before. Also, one of the best (and only) Mexican food restaurants is over there. We both were craving a taste of home and Dos Tacos does an alright job of satisfying the burrito monster when you haven't had Mexican in three weeks (or eleven months).

This is Ty on the Subway ride home. He might not like the pic, but I love it and his "you did not just push me again" expression.

Hee

Me, looking all Stepfordish in heels and a dress a E*Mart.

A lifetime supply of red pepper paste (or about a week supply if you happen to be Korean ^^).

Worth Every Penny

2009-07-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hmm so I think on Monday we went to Cheonggye Stream in downtown Seoul to put our feeties in the water and read (Wuthering Heights for him, A Woman of No Importance for me) and watch one of the free Summer shows at Seoul Plaza.

More fun than watching the entertainingly unprofessional acts at Seoul Plaza is watch the ADORABLE little Korean kids run around. Not kidding, Korean kids are at least 200% cuter than all the other kids in the world.

This was before dinner and we were hungry. We don't smile when were hungry.

Watch this video: it will change your life.

Bukhansan Hike

2009-07-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

We're alive! We just fell off the radar for the past few days that's all. This is from 4th of July when we hiked Bukhansan.

After 3 subway transfers, a short bus ride, and a 10, 15, 20? minute walk, we made it to a trail at Bukhansan. About two minutes before we entered the reserve it started raining or sprinkling, really. That was okay though because I could just say, "I'm not even sweating, it's just rain!" Once we got to the park entrance it was about a 30 minute walk/hike before we got through all the restaurants and snack stands. They set up shop right in the rocks in the mountain and along the river and I wish I had more pictures of it because it seems like something from another time. On some of the bigger boulders they even lay out mats and outfit them with portable burners where the little old ladies will come out and cook your platter of raw meat and bring you drinks. We didn't eat there because we had packed a smörgåsbord of a lunch (okay, it was just fruit, crackers, and trail mix). So it rained for the first hour or so but that was part of the fun of it, especially when I thought this reminds me of ... and Ty (eerily reading my mind, as always) started singing "drip drip drop ..."

KUMA! It's Misterkumaman's Korean Brother! (Mr. Kumaman = my nickname for Chelsea's dog)

Pretty wittle wata fall

Buddha! This is, and let me see if I remember correctly, the largest sitting Buddha with palms together in East Asia. Also, surrounding the Buddha there are 10,000 Buddha figures. Or 9,999 now. Kidding! I did't steal a Buddha! They were in glass cases.

I'm dying, but sure, take my picture.

Much happier sitting.

His last words? "Hay look at me! Take my picture!"

Happy 4th! (A little late)

2009-07-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a fun 4th of July weekend! (This is just an excuse to post this adorable picture of my niece)

It's been weird this year, celebrating American holidays in Korea-- the 4th of July here is really the 3rd in America and when all you are at BBQs and pool parties it's already the 5th over here. I'll be looking forward to making up double next year for all the merriment I've missed. We celebrated the all American way ... with pizza and wine. Oh, and a hike. Yes, two hikes in a week. Shut up.

L'Année Dernière à Marienbad (Us, appreciating art and film and foreign things and being totally unpretentious)

2009-07-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

You might remember the day I died after I went to the Prada Transformer. Well guess what! It transformed! Into a Decepticon, or wait, Autobot, or, oh I don't know, where's Megan Fox when you need her? Anyway, now the Prada Transformer is a cinema, showing a different film selected by Alejandro Gonzalez each day for two weeks (more about that here). We saw Alain Resnais' Last Year At Marienbad (1961). While Tyler had insightful commentary to give after the film ("the characters are the statues," "the mansion is the film," "there is no personal identity without the influence of others"); I said I liked her dresses (of which, I have just discovered, were all designed by Chanel, natch).

Tower of Seoul

2009-07-02T06:55:00.000-07:00

I won't attempt to write with as much wit, intelligence or even coherence as Tyler, so don't go thinking the quality of this blog has seen some sudden, drastic, improvement. No, but I will try to describe our DEATH HIKE TO THE TOP OF NAMSAN with as much detail as possible for me at 5:45 am this morning before my first day back to work after 10 days of vacation (Read: This will be short). First, the "death hike" we were warned about by some other English teacher's blog (probably one of those Americans) was really just a series of stairs the wound up the mountain. I've only taken the bus or cable car to get 262 meter peak before but after our 5 hour you-must-be-joking-we-aren't-going-to-that-peak hike, it was rather nice.

Since I first went to Namsan and saw the lovers' locks at the tower, I knew I had to add to them. I would have used just anybody of the street, but lucky for me, Tyler happened to be here this time so after picking the perfect spot ("our locks need to have a pretty view!") we locked 'em up and threw away the key (ignoring the "Please do not throw away your keys" sign). After, we had coffee and Tyler drew a picture of himself on the subway getting pushed by a Korean. I'll let him describe his love of the Korean people's illogical walking patterns and tendency to get uncomfortably close another time.

TYLER'S GUEST BLOG #2- A(nother) day in the city!

2009-06-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

Another ambitiously planned day. We wanted to do things that involved art/culture/music, because we are pedantic college-educated people and thrive on abstract ideas and foreign concepts which may be analyzed and dissected intellectually.

Just kidding. This museum was next to a food stand with really good meat dumplings. We thought that it smelled like waffles and cream inside, so we grudgingly bought tickets, and were dismayed to find out that "Renoir" isn't a brand of waffle nor a flavor of ice cream. It turns out he is some grumpy old man who painted happy French people with nothing better to do than bathe and have their portrait painted.

So, thoroughly disappointed, we still endeavored to stand in front of the European paintings and furrow our brows in deep concentration while cradling our chins in a thinking pose. So that people would look at us and think that we were considering the painting's color composition, subtle cues such as flagrant uses of red/yellow/green, or reading into the subtext of the subjects' body posture. All the effort keeping up this facade so that people wouldn't suspect that we were really trying to ascertain the location of a nearby soft-serve ice cream parlor.

Anyway, our artistic minds were well sated as we hit the streets again. This part of Seoul was paved ten years ago, back when horses and carriages still were the dominant transportation choice. Hence the sidewalks composed of cobblestones, which provided endless fascination and amusement to me, as I watched Ashley walk across them in heels without falling or snapping an ankle. It felt like I was watching Jesus walk on water (ten hail marys for blasphemy).

We ended up back at the heart of the city, where after being pressured by me to pick a restaurant, Ashley pulled me into a Kraze Burger... which I had been subtly hinting via telepathic mind messages, proving my hypothesis. It turns out that not only is the Korean version of the hamburger MUCH, MUCH SMALLER than what I was expecting, but they also have interesting flourishes like sprouts and teriyaki sauce. So it was a good tasting adventure, although one that did not fill me up like a claim jumper artery clogger.

From there, we wandered into a bookstore, at which point a few hours disappeared mysteriously after I found the engineering section.

On our way out, we decided to go see one of the free shows that they put on in Seoul Plaza, a sort of big lawn with a stage in front of it right smack in the center of downtown, in the middle of one of the biggest intersections in the city (and therefore the country). The lawn is big enough for maybe a few thousand people, but there were only a few hundred this night, and we found out why-- the bands were a mix of interesting (stomp-like percussion trio) good (10-piece drumming ensemble) and very, very bad (band consisting of a person playing glass bottles, a person playing the kazoo, and someone playing the seal horns while the singer did a rendition of somewhere over the rainbow).

There was also a man having a very very good time on LSD a few feet away, and a screaming kid whose vocal range could rival Mariah Carey. On the way back we stopped off at a very nice and exclusive restaurant (the food stand across the street) to satisfy our refined palettes (meatballs and corn on the cob). Of course Costco cookies were the requisite way to end the day before passing out.

Yeouido Park

2009-06-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

TYLER'S GUEST BLOG - A day in the city!

2009-06-28T04:13:00.000-07:00

Because Ashley is in the kitchen making dinner, and frankly couldn't be bothered to upload pictures to her blog in the quantity and volume that I specified, I've taken the reigns of this confusing macbook and will try and do her reader(s) justice.

Another preface: You'll notice that the prevailing theme of these pictures is "fun and carefree times in the city." However, please keep in mind that the temperature this day was 88 degrees Farenheit, with humidity approaching complete liquid immersion. So, while we might look happy/carefree, we were actually stumbling around half-drunk from heat exhaustion, ready to kill and eat the small city animals and use their hides for protection from the elements. Yes, the heat had us reduced to such a state. However, ice cream cures all ailments, and ice cream practically jumps out of the aisles into Ashley's hands, without being beckoned, when we are assailed by such weather and she has resolved to get ice cream in earnest.

Back to the day itself:

We woke up at the crack of noon, took the subway to what passes for "downtown" here in Seoul (there is no down, nor can this be considered a town in any argot). Here, a handy manmade river was built a while ago, and it is a popular place to walk and hang out. So, we walked. And out we did hang. I stopped to dip my feet in the water, as many of the locals were doing in the shade of the bridge as a retreat from the heat.

Next we decided to go to a temple, whose convenient location in the center of the city had us wondering how many of these temples' locations are historically accurate. Also, the fresh paint on one temple in particular, as well as the hard hat-adorned construction crew adjacent, had us skeptical. But it made for some nice scenery, and we paused at the informative signs like good tourists and pretended to care about the particulars of each building's construction and the historical peculiarities associated with it.

Curiously, the historically compromising temple compound also contained a 20th century building with an ionic column facade, alameda-lined european fountain, and modern art museum. Our heads were well-scratched as we left and rode the subway home to see Transformers 2: Revenge of the action figures.

That's all for my unpaid guest spot.

-Tyler

Dobongsan Hike

2009-06-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

Warning: Picture and video overload. We set out to hike Dobongsan today and before any of you laugh at me lemme just say, I did it! Yep, 5 hour hike (we did it in 4 ;) ), 10 km (over 6 miles), sometimes nearly vertical climbs, I did it, I win. We decided to document the hike so watch out Samantha Brown and Anthony Bourdain. It was intense, it was serious, I am sore, and it was worth it. Alright here it is--

Barf, I know, we're sick.

Video Edit: This was when I thought our hike was over. Oh no. Did you see that mountain way off in the distance? Yiah, we went to the right side of that.

Can you tell how inconceivably steep those rocks are? If you only saw the little old Korean men and women climbing this mountain. I am convinced they only hiked part of the trail and then got up the rest of the way with magic.

We did it! Weee!

Oh, and don't think the adventure ended at the top of the mountain. It just began. At the bottom of the trail there are little Korean restaurants and we walked into one that looked popular. Before we sat down I told Ty, "this might be a Korean food adventure" because I knew I didn't recognize and of the dishes and the menu was in Korean. We picked the most promising plate, got the "oh it's hot!" warning, and ignored it. Hmm, bad idea. It was the hottest thing I've eaten in Korea and Ty thought his mouth was on fire. We felt more accomplished after eating that meal than getting to the peak.

♥

2009-06-25T04:32:00.001-07:00

Why hello there. My sweetheart made it safely to Seoul. Here are pictures of us.

I'm really good at taking pictures of the two of us.

I Take That Back (At least 5% of it)

2009-06-22T04:35:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, I may have blown out the bathroom light bulb with my electrical skills demonstrated in the previous post. Well, I got to clean and scrub the bathroom by candlelight (how romantic!)

I'm a Big Kid Now!

2009-06-22T01:19:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and my electricity went out as I was getting ready (convenient, I know) but I didn't have time to do anything about it besides hope it went on before my fridge turned into a hot box. I got to work and told Jung and she said there was probably some notice in the building about the power out that I couldn't read. Well I just got home to no power and I was think of my options (draw pictures for the guard at the security desk, email Jung, rub my two-dollar Buddha figure from Thailand) when I remembered my Dad resetting the circuit box a few times. Now, this might not seem like a big deal but I had to find the box (not easy, hiding behind my heels in the shoe closet) and figure out what switch was for what (ok, not true-- I just flipped them all up and down til it worked). I DID IT! [Balloon Drop] WOO!

Alright that's all.

Lusting

2009-06-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

Molly got me thinking about shoes today and not only shoes I shouldn't buy but shoes I couldn't buy and even if I could buy I wouldn't buy. At least I wouldn't buy them as shoes, but as priceless pieces of art to be hung on my wall under the perfect lighting. I figure I can't have them but I can post them on my blog, and that's just like having them. Almost.

Oh, Gabrielle C., you've been dead for 38 years why are you still haunting me?

Monday Monday

2009-06-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

Last day of work and then v a c a t i o n for 12 days. Two funny moments in class this morning-- I'm doing a lesson on the environment where I show pictures of the ocean (What is this?) and coral reefs and the like. I showed a picture of a volcano and one kid said, "fire mountain!" and then one of a waterfall and the same kid said, "water slide!" That's it. Those were the funny moments. Are you laughing or was it just me? After that we watch an episode of The Magic School Bus so this isn't even my Monday face today it's like this C:

Happy Dad's Day

2009-06-21T00:01:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day, dear old Dad. Wish I could be there so you could take us out to lunch. Hehe, Love you, Muah.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

1 dash 10

2009-06-18T22:20:00.000-07:00

Friday is, and always will be, the best day of the week. Saturday and Sunday tie for second. There is something so special about Saturday and knowing you still have a full day off ahead. And Sunday mornings are magical with a good book, a cappuccino and nytimes.com. But Friday, the last day of the work-week, looking straight on to a full weekend, the buzz of excitement as the work clock clicks down, ahh it's Friday I'm in love (with this day).

Korean Klass Komedy of the week? One of my co-teachers comes to me to ask if she can take off before our last class. Mrs. Kim says, "Would it be possible, you know 1-10, they are a little bit naughty, can you take care of the class?" A little bit naughty. A little bit naughty. 1-10 is notorious at our school. They are only first graders (remember 1st=7th grade in Korea) but teachers who don't even have them know them by reputation. They are (and if they weren't 12-years-olds I'd be sure of this) are on drugs. I almost feel bad saying that about my students, but the difference is so severe between 1-10 and my other 21 classes, I could almost be certain they each take a tab of acid before school. "Sure! Of course I can take them, it's Friday!! Don't worry about it, we'll have fun!" It's not only that they are my last class of the week, and that they are completely unruly, but they are like a rag-tag band of misfits too. Two of the girls have broken arms, one boy had bumps on his arm and when I asked "what's that?" he said, "itches" [backing away now], one girl carved 3 of her friends names' into her hand, and one boy is "special." I have a group of four boys (with two "leader type" way too cool for school guys) who whisper "sexy" and laugh everytime I walk by and another table of girls who laugh hysterically when they bet one to stand right behind me and then say, "she love you!!" Out of 35 students, approximately 2 were doing their work but I got that number up to at least 5 once I wrote all the answers on the board.

This is 1-10 (and I admit, they look kinda cute, even harmless, on video ... where you can safely watch them on your computer screen)

This is my solution to 1-10

Have a great weekend!

Now & Then

2009-06-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to write this post since I got back from winter break ... hmm, only 5 months now. You see, over winter break, my school put $50,000 into our two English rooms. They are both a little different so we trade rooms every month (but still much nicer than running to twenty different homerooms like I had to first semester). I really like these Now & Then pictures and can hardly believe that it has almost been a year.

Now

Then

Now

Then

Hey,

2009-06-18T02:07:00.001-07:00

please.

Thanks Sarah.

2009-06-18T00:28:00.000-07:00

In my head all day. Not a bad thing.

I am ...

2009-06-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

... writing a children's book. It's about Zombies. You see, this Zombie (characteristically flesh-eating undead) falls in love with this non-Zombie even though he really wants to eat her flesh. Oh and he's hot. Rilly hot. And romantic. And rich. Oh, and since he ate so many brains when he first became a Zombie he is really smart too. He's hot and doesn't talk too much so she falls in love with him and then wants to become a Zombie too, because being a Zombie is soo much cooler than high school. Did I mention they're in high school or that was obvious wasn't it?

Okay that's all I got so far.

Ha. ha. ha. See what I did there? Fur realz though I'm writing a children's book and I started two nights ago and I'm writing one page a night. A journal page, like 8 sentences. It's brilliant, though I can't tell you what it is about because it's MINE. So is that Zombie story so don't try to steal it.

Day At The Museum

2009-06-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

Truth: These pictures are from a few weeks ago. [Eww! Stale post!] I took them at SeMA (Seoul Museum of Art).

Schoolio

2009-06-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

I just got to work, it's Friday, and Jung just told me 4th, 5th, and 6th periods are cancelled for some Korean reading test. Not a bad day.

Also, summer school sign ups have started. I'll teach three, one week classes and the other NEST will do the same. Well, the sign ups slips have started coming in and everyone (minus 2 confused students) wants my class. Not that it's a competition. I'm just winning and more popular.

Things I Like Right Now

2009-06-11T03:23:00.000-07:00

sunbeams

strawberries & splenda

smart students

socrates

it's like "S" day on sesame street

One More Time With Feeling

2009-06-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

In true Korean fashion, I had to re-reserve my flight home after I made it yesterday. I was told to make it for the 27th (of August) and then Jung tells me today that the school isn't sure when the new English teacher will come, but it's possible they could get here as early as the 25th, and we could, get ready, share my house! Ooo fun, I love sleeping in a 2 sq foot apartment with a complete stranger! So I changed my flight and that means all you little lambs in San Diego get to see me two whole day earlier. August 25th, mark your calendar.

Can You Believe It?

2009-06-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

The year is winding down at light speed. I reserved my return ticket back to the states, y'all! More wrap-up stuff when I feel like acknowledging that it has already been a year.

Ha

2009-06-09T06:30:00.001-07:00

Obama Drastically Scales Back Goals For America After Visiting Denny's

Oh, They're So Silly

2009-06-09T05:40:00.000-07:00

Some of my faves ...

Yu Jong

Yu Jong's friend (not my student!)

Ran

They made me pinky-swear promise (a bigger ordeal here, you pinky-swear and then seal it by touching thumbs together) that I'd introduce them to my boyfriend when he visits and also tell him that they are my best friends.

P.S.

2009-06-08T01:25:00.000-07:00

What I wore today.
What they'd like me to wear.Oh and this is an Ajumma, another Korean phenomenon you can read about here

This is Too Scary

2009-06-07T23:27:00.000-07:00

N. Korea Sentences 2 U.S. Journalists to 12 Years of Hard Labor

A Lesson in Culture: Work Wear

2009-06-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

By all accounts, I would describe the dress I'm wearing today as borderline frumpy. However, my principal seems to think other wise and decided to lecture me (in Korean, natch, don't worry- I had two translators relaying this embaressing coversation to me) on being "too sexy." So I'm back in High School with the principal telling me my shirt is too low (it's not, my boobs are too big) or my skirt is too short (guilty, but not today! swear!). All this reminds me of Tina Fey in a Vanity Fair article from last year when she said, “ 'Because of the Greek-girl thing, I have, like, boobs and butt,' so 'I only have two speeds—either matronly or a little too slutty. I have to be steered away from cheetah print.' ” See it's not me, it's my genes.

I realize that growing up in California has ingrained a casual and somewhat revealing code of dress in my mind. Korea being über conservative, with the exception of some of their pop stars (even then, I'd say their 'racy pop star wear' is our norm, everyday wear) they gasp at spaghetti straps (unless you are wearing the required crew neck underneath it). Don't worry, this is the second time I've been reprimanded (I'm just toooo sexy for my shirt) and this time I've even been warned that the boys could be taking cell phone pics of me! Gasp! Idon'tcare. It's Monday, go away.

Korean Sex Symbol, Kim Hyesoo (In an ad that caused some drama)

American Sex Symbol Megan Fox (In one of her more tame photoshoots)

New Shoes, Life is Good

2009-06-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Went to Myeong-dong again today. Is it strange that in a city of over 10 million people there is mutual recognition between myself and the shoe salesman at the little shop in MD?

I didn't think so.

Don't Knock It, You've Been Here Before

2009-06-05T22:33:00.000-07:00

Hia! Nothing to exciting going on, here are a few pics from last week when Jung and I ditched the second half of our district meeting/conference (because really, we are bad students at heart- the ones who don't listen and doodle in the back of class) and went, where else?, Starbucks. The first picture is of these little stickers they have here that you put on your cell phone to "protect your brain from evil cell phone waves." Not too sure if a 24k gold sticker will do that or not, but it's cute! "Fighting" is one of my favorite Korean sayings-- it means good luck and you always make a fist and hold it up to your face when you say it. The second is Jung holding another only-in-Korea invention, a cell phone number plate for your car window. Works like this. You park your car but, since there is so little space in Seoul, you inevitably block someone's car. No problem! You just put the number plate in your window and the owner of the blocked car can call you and you can run back and move it right away! Somehow I don't think it would work in America . . .

Fighting!

Smile?

Courtesy of Perez

2009-06-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

A HUGE K-Pop Announcement!!!

Don't forget where you heard about Wonder Girls first, right HERE

T.G.I.F.

2009-06-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

My vacation got approved and I'm am now in full countdown mode. 11 work days and 2 hours until I'm freeeeeee (for 12 days).

School Time

2009-06-03T04:40:00.000-07:00

Get ready for an epic blog post! Epic = Pictures, video, and adorable Korean students. Actually epic should also include an attempt at funny and/or witty commentary but, alas, I'm on Year Seven and Potter is calling me. After all, pictures are worth a thousand words, videos must be worth a million, so I'm done here.

The day starts! With coffee, of course, and me doing work-y things

We had an English Speech Contest today. Oh how I remember the days of my middle school speech contests when I annihilated the competition! (Of course, the boy competing against me went on to become our high school valedictorian, a UCLA undergrad and now NYU law school ... but we know who the real winner is ...). Much love Vyasa!

Jung, friend and co-teacher!

Yes, that might be my Twilight key chain ... shhhh

Don't get me started on these two . . .

This picture was made for the Reach To Teach recruitment site

OOOooooo

2009-05-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

New Moon trailer With shot-by-shot analysis! Hahhaha

Sunday Sunday

2009-05-31T02:03:00.000-07:00

The whole city was happy today. I'm pretty sure of it. When you are not spoiled with 352 days of perfect weather (thank you, San Diego, for ruining me) a perfect day puts pep in everyone's step. I went to Myeong-Dong for a itty bitty shopping spree, but couldn't do that much damage because I kept it confined to, your favorite and mine, Forever 21. Yay for summer dresses! I know I shouldn't really buy clothes I could buy in America but it is so much easier when you know the sizes and a lot of stores (and I'm talking about inexpensive shops here) don't let you try on clothes which is a deal breaker for me.

Not a bad day, not at all

Wanna see what I got? Okay! Jeeze, you must be really bored.

This but in black linen, which I realize is not this at all but it's the closest I could find

Not usually a hot pink kinda girl, but this made me so happy today! Much brighter in person

Not usually a sheer silk kinda girl either but this will be perfect on the hottest day of summer

For when I'm feeling Stepford-ish

That's all folks! Maybe I'll have something deeper to share than my summer wardrobe later this week, but today is just a coffee and sundress day. Shallow thoughts from a (wannabe) deep mind.

Don't Go To Grad School and the Get Same Job I Had Without a B.A.

2009-05-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

I'm up too late (actually it's only 2 am. . . insomnia is just kicking in!) and I've been blog searching for the past few hours. I wasn't panning for anything in particular but came across the blog of a lady who goes by the pen name Penelope Trunks and who gives career advice (you know, a career, that thing I'm supposed to have in 3 months when I fly outta Korea). Well I read her career advice and came away a little hurt, a little bitter, a little mad, and strangely satisfied. At first I thought all this negativity cannot be good, but then maybe my brain was mislabeling "reality" as "negativity." Anyway, anything I read that substantiates being lost in my 20s is totally okay and normal makes me feel just fine. Here are some of my favorite parts of her post, followed by links which are best read with a spoon full of sugar. Oh and I'm planning to go to Grad school to avoid real life, not the recession.

"The American Dream is no longer about money and things. It’s about self-knowledge. The ultimate achievement is not a huge house and an expensive car. It’s a solid family life and self-knowledge to steer clear of a quarterlife crisis or financial meltdown.

The best way to give yourself that knowledge is to give yourself time in your 20s. It’s difficult to explore who you are after you have kids. And it’s difficult to focus on yourself once your career is in full swing. So you need to establish a foundation for personal exploration by practicing in your 20s. Practicing a lot."

The new post-college prestige job is retail

Don't try to dodge the recession with grad school

RIP Roh Moo Hyun

2009-05-28T23:28:00.000-07:00

Would've liked to go to this.
Emotional funeral for SKorea's Roh Moo-hyun

^_^ !

2009-05-28T19:18:00.001-07:00

June 23rd - July 12th.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! :)

> <

2009-05-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Busy working busily at work. So busy they just accidentally turned the lights off on me. This is like the purgatory of work. Not quite vacation but not work either. 1.5 more days 'til the weekend, at least.

OH and S. Korean troops are on high alert. Fun times!

North Korea “fully ready for battle” against the United States (Rodong Sinmun)

2009-05-26T22:04:00.000-07:00

. . .for some reason I don't believe them.

Like the little kid who thrives on negative attention. . .North Korea Is Said to Test-Fire 3 More Missiles

North Korea warns of attack if ships checked

Hey NK! Knock it off! (This is why I am not one of Obama's speech writers).