Korean Family Dinner

I had the craziest dinner of my life two nights ago.

My friend Jihyun invited me to a dinner with her family and her visiting Japanese "uncle".  Not really her uncle but a family friend. I thought we'd be going to her home for dinner, where I missed the last dinner she invited me to consisting of roasted duck, but I was sorely mistaken. Instead we arrived outside of a restaurant that was lined with tanks of live fish, octopus, squid, you name it. Jihyun turns around and says "You like sashimi?". And of course, the answer in my head is "I HATE sashimi", but the answer I gave her was simply, "sure!". 

We sat down and her father started pouring us glasses of Cass beer. As we began drinking, he started pouring us shots of soju. I'm sitting there thinking, "please don't make me drink that!". But of course, minutes later we all did a celebratory shot together. And then another. And later, another. Then the first course of dinner came out. The best way to explain this course is through pictures. Of course, I didn't take pictures at dinner, but these pictures are the closest I could find on the internet:

(squid)

(squid ink)

The difference between my food and the food in those pictures? My squid was very fresh and the ink was still inside all of those round pieces of squid (as you'd find it naturally). So I didn't have the option of passing up the ink, I had no choice but to put a huge piece of squid in my mouth, ink and all! It takes about 5 minutes to chew that stuff down enough to swallow, no joke. It was like eating rubber with mushy liver puree (not that I've had it). It was slightly awful to be honest, but I was proud of myself for at least eating it with a smile! I stuck to eating the tentacles and the hard boiled quail eggs they set on the table for us. 

I must admit, I didn't realize there was more than one course at the time we had the squid. I was thinking to myself "Hallelujah! This is almost over!", but to my surprise, when they took the squid away, they popped open the bottle of wine I had brought them and said it was to accompany the second course. "Second course?! I will die!". But I just sat there looking excited for the next butcher of food. 

I will also admit that by the time the second course came out, I was already a little drunk. I had 2 glasses of beer, a glass of wine, and at least 3-4 shots of soju. My body is not built for heavy drinking, and especially not when I'm eating very little food, with no carbs. 

They bring out the second course, 2 gigantic trays of sashimi (raw fish). They look at me as though I should be impressed. There are five different types of fish. All just killed seconds ago. It is impressive. It would be even more so if I could down raw fish without having gag reflex. And if I could look at the tray without seeing double. 

But I forged ahead. It wasn't half bad. I think because it was completely fresh, and because I was completely drunk. During the raw fish course, the father of the family opens a bottle of scotch whiskey and starts pouring everyone shots. I feel my head spinning ... off. Off my shoulders completely. I can't believe I have to drink more. With the first shot I just sipped a little from the glass. It buuurrnnnneed! Burned worse than I've ever felt. I decided I probably shouldn't sip slowly, it would just make it worse. So I took the rest as a shot. 

Then the mother joins in, "Linsae!! Whiskey!!", and pours me another. And then the father, amused at my ability to take shots of whiskey, pours another. 

The waitress then brings out another huge plate of raw fish. "Really?!" I've so had enough at this point. I was barely seeing straight. I was so full. And to top it off, it wasn't even the last course!

The last course: all the left over squid, mixed with ramen, in a very spicy broth. I poured myself another glass of wine, as someone at the table filled my beer glass again. I was done eating. I really couldn't do another ounce. I tried it, and called it good. 

Needless to say, I went to bed that night, with my head spinning in circles. And I woke in the morning to a teerrrrrible headache. All in the name of my first Korean family dinner. 

A David Sedaris Christmas

I've had a very wonderful Christmas here in Seoul. I feel very blessed for the love that people have shown me. It's amazing to me how quickly you can meet great people that make you feel like you are nearly home for the big holiday. A group of co-workers and friends put on a dinner late last night for Christmas Eve after we got off work. We had such a good time. I was surrounded by great people, amazing home-cooked food, drinks, and constant laughs. I came home in the early morning and began skyping with family (my oldest brother on the east coast), and upon waking this morning I was right back on skype with the rest of my family in Oregon (who have been without water and electricity for over four days now!). They were down spending the afternoon with my Nana, enjoying Christmas dinner, opening presents, and taking showers! It's hard to see your family all together and see all of them joking with each other, and being their crazy-selves, and not being able to be crazy right along with them. But thank goodness for skype and being able to see all of their faces and hearing all of their laughs. I later got to talk with one of my best friends, Linda, who has been living outside of Philadelphia since I left for Korea. She's been doing a project where she works with kids in an impoverished neighborhood, while living in poverty herself. She luckily was able to return to Oregon for the holidays and see her family. It was so great to finally see her face and chat with her! It's crazy how much you can miss a person, and how seeing them for just a minute brings back all memories as if you'd never been apart. It warmed my heart, to say the least.

I spent the late afternoon at another friends house, where a small group of us shared in a Christmas feast and a viewing of Home Alone. It felt like Christmas with the family! We all just lounged around, cozy, stuffed to the brim, watching a cheesy holiday movie, while I fell in and out of sleep (that's when you know I feel like I'm home). 

And tonight, I finally made it back to my apartment, to the remaining portion of my sister's amazing Christmas present. This Christmas present was so awesome, it deserves an entire blog on it's own really. My amazing sister put together a very interactive plan for me to open my presents this year. She sent several individually wrapped gifts, each with a different color bow on them. She sent a stack of 13 hand-made cards, and inside each card was instructions of which present to open, and things I needed to do for the opening of each present. I realized a little late that I was supposed to open cards/presents 1-6 when I first received the package (over a week ago)! So in talking to her late last night she informed me I was already supposed to open them! As I opened each of the first presents I found white christmas lights, an abstract tree made of pailettes, wire, and beads (you can kinda see in the pictures below), 2 dozen candles, and best of all, she made me garland from brightly colored felt, cut into multi-sized circles, sewing them into a very long strand! This I will be sporting all year round in my apartment. It is so unbelievably awesome. 

So tonight I came home and opened card seven which told me to warm up some milk, plug in the christmas lights, light the candles, and have 1.5 hours of uninterrupted time to spare. And then I opened present seven which was hot chocolate mix, and present eight, which was moose mix (which is awesome if you don't already know it). I made my hot chocolate, and then opened up another present which was a cd with a few Christmas songs, and David Sedaris' Santa Land Diaries from an NPR show, a couple years back. It's about him being an elf at Macy's Herald Square one Christmas season, his hate of the job, and his dreaming of being part of the soap opera, One Life to Live. It is beyond hilarious. His sense of humor is so dry and so good. The cd then ended with another couple Christmas songs. 

Lastly, I opened my remaining four presents: Candy, jewelry, and lingerie. What more could a girl want? (I won't actually answer that.)

There's really only one way to sum up this Christmas present: Totally Awesome. Rawr. (TBTL style.) Even mentioning the present to my friends, they all exclaimed, "Man! I want to meet your sister!" This after she knit me rad wool mittens for my birthday last month. And I'm sure, after reading this blog, you want to meet her too. You probably want her to be your sister. She is the greatest there ever was. I'm so blessed. 

I'll leave you now with pictures I took during the 1.5 hours of bliss:

(Sister's present all set-up, David Sedaris playing on the computer.)

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I miss and love you all!

Reasons I Haven't Posted In So Long

1. Just to piss off the people that actually read this blog. (sister):

2. I've been preoccupied with Korean Boys (The exact opposite actually. They just happened to be swarming me that night.):

3. I've been starring at my Christmas presents for hours on end:

4. I've been wrapping your presents for hours on end! (No seriously, hours. See those little flowers on the presents? They don't just make themselves. They take 2 hands. And those hands would be mine. Can't type when I'm making flowers out of thin air.) Ps ... last crafty project of 2008. I'm spent.

5. My friend Collin came to visit. It was awesome to have a friend come and stay with me. I realized how much I miss people from back home! And having him here also got me out to see some sights I'd yet to explore. One of those being Namsan Tower (Seoul Tower). It's so close to where I live, yet I hadn't gone to see it yet. We went on a shitty night (hazy), but Collin got a great shot of the tower nonetheless (below). 

6. Because I get busy and forget. Plain and simple. But I'll start remembering. I'm glad there are people out there actually reading it. Makes my heart ... warm.

Oh You're So Silent, Jens

Last night I went to the Jens Lekman show and it was awesome! He is so adorable, so quirky, and oh so brilliant. He played a great, great show. Probably the best I'll see here in Korea. And I even got to meet him after the show! I basically acted like a crazy stalker complimenting him, while he was, true to form, silent and embarrassed. And then I asked for a picture with him, on my phone (which did not turn out- hatred of self) and he replied "So, I'm forever gonna be in your phone?". "To which I said, yeah, wanna give me your number?" Ok, that last part I didn't really say. But I should have. 

I recorded a video which would be awesome for you all to see, but I can't figure out how to upload it yet. Maybe soon..... until then, here's another photo.

Law and Learl

Yesterday marked the end of my first term at CDI. It was a little sad. I've really grown to love the kids I have and after 13 weeks you begin to form bonds with the kids, making the classroom a fun environment. But, they have to keep us on our toes, and the kids need a rounded experience. So, here I am tonight, prepping for all of my new students as tomorrow marks the first day in a brand new 13 week period. 

Below are some pics and some funny (and not so funny) stories from some of my kids this term. Most people reading my blog or talking to me regularly the last 13 weeks have grown to love Intae, one of my middle school boys. There are 10 times more quotes from him as he's pretty much the class clown and totally hilarious all around. I will say though, I'm kinda glad to be getting rid of him. He was a tough one.

~

The first great story comes from the title of this blog. I was teaching the "The Roots of Rock and Roll" and one of Lessons had a passage that focused on Elvis Presley being "Raw and Real". All the kids kept saying "Law and Learl". All 3 of my classes. Not a single kid didn't say it. And to make it worse, the text book made "raw and real" the answer for 3 different questions and had it in our memorization summary! The kids were just sitting there repeating, "law and learl, law and learl." It was torture and yet so hilarious!

~

Intae: "Teachu! Mosquitos biting my face!"

Me: "I know! I was bitten a bunch yesterday!"

Intae: "Even cold, they don't die! You want to save face Teachu? Don't wash feet for one week, and sleep like this (gesturing his feet hanging over the bed). They will eat feet! Not face!"

Me: (Laughing) "Ummm, thanks Intae."

Intae: "Yaaaah." (Looking all smart and proud of himself)

(The wrath of Intae. He kept screaming when I'd try and take his picture.)

~

On the last day of class, Intae raises his hand:

Intae: "Teachu, question."

Me: "Ok."

Intae: "You and Britney Spears. Who is more pretty Teachu?"

Me: "Intae I will not answer that because it's inappropriate. It has nothing to do with our reading." (Intae always wants to talk about my face and my looks. He makes a comment every single day without fail.)

Intae: (Basically cutting me off) "Answer!! Britney Spears."

Me: "Intae, that is not ok. We are not talking about that right now."

Intae: "Teachu you should say Britney Spears."

Me: "Intae you are being rude. You need to stop."

Intae: "Britney Spears?"

Me: "Intae! Do you want a check on the board?!"

Intae: (Screams) "Teachu! Joke Teachu! Joke! I'm sorry teachu. I'm sorry!!!!" (Starts flipping out and screaming as I approach the board and give him a check.)

~

After final exams, before the kids actually knew their scores, Intae was kind of freaking out that he wasn't going to pass. This was probably because he kept sleeping during the writing portion of the test. I woke him up three times, but he never actually did any of the writing. So a couple weeks ago, all the kids were asking me if I knew whether or not they passed and moved up to the next level. I really had no idea, so I told them no. 

Intae starts telling me he has to pass or he will die. 

Intae: "Teachuuuu! Mom will kill me!"

Me: (Laughing) "Your mom will not kill you Intae."

Intae: "Learlly Teachu! She kill me!"

Me: (Still laughing) "Well, Intae, if you don't want to die, you should have done the writing part of your test instead of sleeping."

Intae: "Teachuuuu! Learlly, learlly, learlly! She kill me! Thursday holiday. Home all day and mom beat me! Low kick, high kick. Low kick, high kick. Teachuuu!"

Me: (Really trying not to laugh) "Intae you will be ok. The scores might not come out till Friday."

Intae: "Teachuu! Pleeeaaase."

Me: "What Intae? I don't know anything. All I know is if you did your homework and all of your quiz scores were good, then you just have to hope your test score is ok without the writing part."

Intae: "yah, yah."

Me: "And do you remember your homework and quiz scores?"

Intae: "Yah, yah." (Completely avoiding eye contact with me because he knows he had terrible scores all term. Not to mention he is a repeat offender for this same level class.)

Me: "So this goes for all of you! If you did not pass, and you did not level up, next term you must do all of your homework and study for the quizzes. Right?"

Intae: "What? No. Yah, yah."

Me: "Did you hear me Intae?"

Intae: "Yah. Teachu, mom kill me." (Looking distraught.)

Me: "No she won't Intae. I'm sure your mom is a very nice lady."

Intae: "No. She look like you teachu. Big eyes, little nose. Surgery teachu."

Me: "Umm, ok Intae, enough."

In the end, Intae didn't level up. And he didn't tell his mom for an entire week. The school actually ended up having to call her. He's such a crazy child.

~

In one of my Tera Memory classes, my elementary student Clare failed her final exam and didn't level up to reading with her friends.  She came into class really bummed that day, but she kept making jokes about it. 

Clare: "Teachu, my brain not work so good." (Pointing to her head while shaking it.)

Me: (Laughing along with her friends) "Oh my god, Clare that's not true! You are a very smart girl."

Clare: "Oh My Tera Teachu, bad brain!"

(This day, Clare came in and said she was sick, and proceeded to show me by putting on her mask during class.)

 

(My elementary girls: Clare, Sunny, Grace, Jenny, Lesley, Sara.)

(They kept hiding from me but I finally caught them. Peter, John sticking out his tongue, Yun Woo, and Tom. )

(The boys hiding, and John, showing us his bad habit of flipping people off. And this shot is a real treat as he's rocking the double-bird in cross formation.)

(Steven doing his model pose.)

(Some Middle schoolers: Tina, Yoo Ji Won, Cremin, Brown, Steven, Jude, Seong Jae.)

(Jude teaching the girls something during snack party.)

Funny stories about Jude. Jude is kind of a pervert. I've thought this since the first day he walked into my class. But confirmed it when he drew a penis and testicles on the back of his test one day. 

This week we were talking about American Bandstand and Dick Clark's name was in our listening passage. The kids start asking for me to spell his name on the board. I spell it out. 

Jude starts laughing: "Dick teachu? Like Dick?"

I immediately stop him as I knew that might happen. 

Me: "Actually it is a shortened version for Richard." (As I'm trying to keep myself from laughing.) Then I see Jude leaning over and speaking something in Korean to the kids. The girls start squirming. 

Me: "Guys. It's the same word, yes, but many people in America have the name Dick. It's not weird."

Jude: "Big dick."

Me: "Jude! No, that is not ok." (everyone is laughing). 

Jude: "Sorry. Teachu? Brown is little, so little d....."

Me: "Jude!!! That's enough. Continue and you get a check on the board."

Jude: "No. Sorry Teachu. Sorry."

(Kevin, Intae, Danny, Chris. I had to give them candy to get this shot.)

(Part of "the bad class". Boris was absent, and others are hiding.)

~

And the last funny story is from one of my reading classes (which I have no pictures of). 

I have a student who named himself Obama recently. 

I had a teacher, Junho, come up to me last Friday after work. He was laughing and goes:

Junho: "Do you have a student named Obama, used to be Jack?". 

Me: (Laughing)"Yeah, I kind of gave him that name. Is he one of your kids too?

Junho: "Yeah, he asked me yesterday where you lived. I asked him why and he wouldn't answer. Then he asked how old you were. I said I didn't know. And then he says 'Are you 30? Are you going to marry Lindsey? You no marry Lindsey.' 

Me: "What?!"

Junho: "Yeah. So weird."

Then Obama comes to class the next Tuesday. We start class and Obama raises his hand:

Obama: "Teachu, where you live? (One of the kids then shouts out that I live in Hongdae.) Hongdae Teachu?"

Me: "Umm, why are you asking Obama."

Obama: "No Teachu."

Me: "Ok."

Obama: "Teachu, how old?" (Another student yells 25. Another yells 30.)

Me: "I'm 25 Obama."

Obama: "26 Korean Teachu."

Me: "Umm, yes, 26 Korean." (They count your age plus one for time since conceived.)

Obama: "Will you marry teachu?"

Me: (Laughing) "Umm, one day yes."

Obama: "Soon teachu?"

By this time the kids are all laughing. 

Me: "Maybe."

Obama: "Junho said he is boyfriend teachu. You marry Junho?"

Me: "Umm, maybe."

Obama: "Teachu!"

Me: " Ok, no more questions Obama."

15 minutes go by .... Obama raises his hand:

Obama: "Teachu, where you go this weekend?"

Me: "Sleeping Obama. All weekend, sleeping."

Obama: "Teachu!"

Me: "I know, it was crazy."

Obama: "What you eat Teachu?"

Me: "Umm, what did I eat? This weekend?"

(A girl next to Obama shouts "stalker!!" and all the kids start laughing. Obama starts laughing too.)

Obama: "Teachu, I ask what you eat?!"

Thursday, I'm on my computer before classes start, and I hear a faint "Teachuuuuu" coming from the doorway. I look over and Obama is standing there hiding, calling my name. I said hi, but he continued to just stand there. I would go back to the computer and he would start whispering again "Teachuuuu." Eventually after about five minutes, he runs into my class, gives me a half eaten can of pringles and says "present" and runs out. 

Last I've seen or heard from Obama. 

It's 25 degrees outside ...

... and my boiler isn't working. Which is what produces the heat in my apartment. Not just any heat either, it's heat that comes up through the floors. Eh.

When I go to bed at night I wear a long sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt, two pairs of sweats, socks, a wool beanie, a scarf tucked into my sweatshirt, new wool gloves (thanks sis), all wrapped up nicely under the covers. For years I've always thought if I slept under the covers I would eventually die of suffocation. Even with this fear, I've had no choice the last few nights, but to sleep under the covers and risk my life. So far, the carbon dioxide hasn't killed me. 

Must have a shitty comforter. 

Merry Christmas!!!

It's already Christmas in Seoul, in case you were wondering. Shops have officially begun the decorating. Vintage stores already have their ugly sweaters displayed (which I must say is awesome to still see in Korea). And most importantly .... Starbucks is SCREAMING Christmas. Which I think might be a louder scream than in America. Really. 

And all I can think .... what about our day of thanks Korea? What about the celebration of my birth KOREA? Are these things of no importance to you Korea?!?!

Well, I'm going to show you what's up ... Korea. I'm gonna party that last week of November like it's 19effin99. Thath righ. 

Obama Be Da Man

It's not everyday I talk like that. It's not any day that I talk like that actually. But for today, I'm granting free passes on every action and emotion because it's a day of celebration!!! That is, every action except for rude Korean's actions .... only allowing free passes for the American's actions today folks. (Ok sister, linda, emily, katie, you know I be lyin. I be speakin like that e'rey day!)

President Obama! It has a great ring to it doesn't it? Such a profound day. In obvious respects it's profound for all minority races in our country. The first African-American president. It's ground-breaking. But more so, it's profound to me because of what it has brought, and will continue to bring to our nation. Unity. Progress. Change. 

This is one man, who I've loved for over two years. I still remember when he was a pretty fresh face in the senate and my friend, who happened to be from his neck of the woods, informed me all about the man. All about his history. His views. What he was starting to do in the senate. And from there I became interested. I saw a man with a lot of potential. A very eloquent speaker. Who would have thought, just 2 years later, he would be voted in as the next president of the United States?! 

If one man can essentially walk in from off the street, into the Presidential seat in four short years, think of what he can do in four more. I truly believe his potential is endless. I'm so hopeful for what's to come. 

And now I'll leave you with some fun patriotic memories of the past two days:

Yesterday I was wearing a red dress, some shiny navy american apparel tights, and a navy sweater, and some cowboy boots. My kids brought up my outfit ... on numerous occasions ... some thought is was a "very attractive outfit". Some younger boys thought is was a little "weird". And then one kid noticed that the colors were patriotic. But in his mind, patriotic for Korea. 

Of course I lied and said that it was partly for Korea, but partly for America because it was a big day back in the States. 

Then a child by the name of Jack raises his hand, "Teachu, I don't like Jack."

Me: "Ummm, you don't like your name?"

Jack: " Yes Teachu." Makes a horrid face. "Don't like Jack."

Me: "Ok. Do you want a different name?" PS, he's had this name for an entire term.

Jack: "Obama, Teachu?"

Me: Laughing a bit, "You want your name to be Obama from now on?"

Jack: Shrugging his shoulders, kinda nods his head, unconvincingly. 

Me: "Alright. Everyone, put your things away it's time for your exam!" Boos and 'ahhshhh' echo throughout the room. 

Me: "Well, the test loves you too. Now put everything away."

After the test, we start going over essay one for the day ...

Me: "Alright, paragraph one, sentence one, Obama! Please read."

Laughing errupts throughout the classroom. Obama is pleasantly surprised I used his new name, while also being embarrassed at the amount of laughter. 

I continue to call Obama by his new name throughout the class. And then, in hour two, Obama has a request. 

Obama: "Teachu! Can I change Obama?"

Me: "Umm, well, why do you want to change it?"

Obama: "Teachu, McCain!"

Me: "Uggghh, I don't think you want that name." My kids all know how I feel about McCain and Obama, but Obama likes the fact that he is defying my likes at this point. "Alright. McCain it is."

15 minutes go by. McCain raises his hand. I know what's coming. And I'm not a pushover. Not normally, but I was in the patriotic spirit and was just glad the kids where talking about it at all!

Me: "McCain?"

Laughing throughout the class. 

McCain: "Teachu, I want name 'Osama'!"

Me: Laughing as I'm thinking "Hell no!". "Ummm, no. But you can go back to Obama if you want?"

McCain: "Ahhhsshhh. Teachu?!?!"

Me: "Nope. 2 names maximum. You are back to Obama, Annnnnd, we're moving on!"

Other good quotes of the day:

"We can go back to the States now!" - My friend Carrie as Obama was announced the winner on TV.

"We don't have to leave the country now!" - My 85 year-old Nana to my sister after the announcement

"I thought maybe you and Nicole had left the country already?" - My Great Aunt to My Nana after not being able to get ahold of her this morning.

"I'm naming my first born Barack Obama Hampton" - Brother Kyle a couple hours after the announcement. 

"My friend says you need to name him Barack Hussein Obama Hampton. It'll be torture, but you need the whole name." - Me

"Ok. That'll work. Call him B-Hoh though." -Kyle

"If you name your kid Barack Obama, I will promise to make him my favorite nephew and spoil him rotten." - Me

"Maybe he can be half black too?" - Kyle (Something Kyle needs to figure out. But chop chop if B-Hoh is going to be President one day.)

A Change is Gonna Come

There is something to be said for the weather in Korea. From the time I arrived, up until a week ago, the weather has been humid. It is usually pretty warm, and if you're running around or just walking briskly in your day, you're going to break a sweat ... in a matter of seconds. I don't like that sticky kind of weather. I'm used to crisp air. Humidity just makes you feel dirty. Like you need to shower a few times a day (which I just don't do). 

But then last week, as the humidity stuck, the air got a little cooler. Maybe around 65 degrees (Although people were saying it was 75. I'm not so sure.) But the weirdness of it, there was a gloomy fog clouding the air. One day, we woke, and there was this thick gray cloud, and it covered the entire city. You couldn't see any skyscrapers. The air felt heavy. The humidity felt worse. You weren't really sure if you were breathing in air/pollution, or just pollution. When I went on my amazing hike that overlooked all of Seoul, we could only see parts of Seoul. The thick cloud was covering everything off in the distance. 

Yesterday, I stepped outside of work to get some coffee from this little place behind my building. The couple that owns it is young, they speak pretty good english, they're incredibly kind, and, well, they like Obama. So every time I go there, I end up talking to them for a bit. As I was saying goodbye to them and heading back to work, the woman stops me and says "tomorrow (some word I don't know in Korean)." I didn't understand. "What?" "Tomorrow, freeze." "Oh really?!" Secretly I'm thinking, "This is awesome. I've been dying for some cold weather. I hate the effin humidity." But then she starts trying to explain that tomorrow, winter will start. I'm confused because to me winter is gradual, so I figured she just meant it's like the official mark of winter. 

Then as I left work last night, I realized that my long-sleeved dress wasn't cutting it like it normally does. Walking home there were extreme winds blowing. And there are never any winds blowing in Korea. My hair was flying everywhere. My dress was acting like I was back in San Francisco. Even the street vendors where packing up early and calling it a night. Something weird was happening. Throughout the night it got colder and colder. I could here the winds blowing outside against my building. And unfortunately, I hadn't tried to figure out my heating system because I thought I had a few months left of mediocre weather. 

When this morning came around, I realized the lady at the coffee shop was right. It has begun to freeze. Literally, in one night, the weather has completely transformed. The winds that generally blow from the west, have now shifted to the winds from the north. And I thought I knew wind living in the Bay Area. Those winds aint' got nothing on Siberian winds. And to think, the coldest point of a Korean winter is in January!

It's going to be a long and brutal winter. 

A Week of Awesomeness

I've had a very packed week and a half, to say the least, but it's been packed with great things that I've been needing to do, and wanting to do. 

The first awesome thing on the list: Seeing LCD Soundsystem! I went with my friends Carrie, Leah and Tessa. There's no easy way to explain what the show was like. It was really good, but because we were in Korea where clubs are strangely different, it was almost bizarre-good. The club was packed. Arm, overlapping arm. There were lots of foreigners, as well as plenty of Koreans. All of which seemed to be obnoxiously drunk. So much so, I actually threatened one guy that I was going to punch him in the face if he didn't stop hitting me intentionally. To which he replied that he wanted to make it up to me and kept grabbing me. To which I responded by shoving him in the stomach to get away. 

We danced our little hearts out on the stage. It was a lot of fun. There was an odd intermission show between sets, in which drag queens and male dancers in their underwear came out and did a little song and dance for us. LCD Soundsystem ... male dancers. The two don't mix. But, this is Korea. That's all I can say.

On the way out of the show we met some cool guys that were also from the states. We got to talking and it ends up they are actually friends of my friend Sean's. They were also very cute boys, which made all of us girls leave the show feeling a sense of hope of finding hot, and totally normal boyfriends. (Let me tell you, we all have had our share of weird guys here thus far in Korea, so normal boys that happen to be cute, and cool, are a huge deal!) It essentially made our night 20 percent better. 

(Carrie and I at the show.)

(Standing around before the show.)

Throughout the week I accomplished so much more than I have in months being here (or so it felt). I successfully had internet installed as well as got a gym membership! Two things that seem so easy, but were so hard to do with the language barrier. 

Another amazing thing I started this week ... Korean classes! I'm taking 4 hours a week of intensive classes. Already, in two sessions, I have learned the entire alphabet! It's so crazy! To think I've gone two months being illiterate, and now I can read! Well, I can kinda read. It takes me a long time to sound out words still. But now, on my subway rides home, I try and read all the signs. I try and read all the posters on the walls of the train. Everywhere I go, I'm trying to decipher what things are saying in Korean. It's a good feeling, but at the same time, as I was telling my sister today, it sucks to only be this far. Usually when you learn a language, you at least have the alphabet down. You just go straight into learning vocab and sentence structure. But with a lot of Asian languages, you first have to learn new alphabets, which are a bunch of foreign characters. It's daunting. But, at least making this first step feels pretty awesome. 

I was also able to get out and go for a hike this weekend. It was the craziest hike of my life. I went with my friends Sasha and Heather. Heather had figured out the mountain and path for us, Sasha and I just had to show up. The hike started at a Korean Temple. It then proceeded to go straight up for an hour! It was no joke, and Sasha and I were completely unprepared. It wasn't so much hiking, as it was scaling giant rocks which make up the mountain! It was insane. We managed to make it to the top which looks over the entire city of Seoul. It was so amazing! I wish I had some pictures to share. My friend Sasha has some which I'll have to share later. She also caught one of me sliding down the side of a rock, holding on for dear life. And this was just before I took a fall down another rock! There was really no helping it. I think we all took at least one fall during the hike. Our shoes were just not made for that kind of hiking. We ended the hike with a nice little muscle building routine on the built-in exercise equipment that they have at the base of the mountain. One of the coolest things, and craziest things, about hiking in Korea, people actually do it on a regular basis for exercise. So to make sure they're getting in a full workout, most of the mountains have built in work out and weight machines for people to use. It is so awesome. We had so much fun on them, and we got so many looks as we were working out and laughing loudly. 

Another awesome experience this past week .... Dr. Fish. The pictures do it more justice. Essentially it's a pedicure place where miniature piranhas eat all the dead skin off your feet. I was so against the idea of going, but decided I should at least experience it once. And once is all it will be. You can tell by my face in the first picture that I was freaking out before putting my feet into the aquarium of fish. The feeling, once again, cannot even be explained. It tickles so badly. There are dozens of little fish gnawing at your feet. Some of them gnaw a little harder than others I might add. I was definitely the biggest wuss out of everyone and couldn't put my feet in for the full 20 minutes. More like I put my heels in for most of the time, and dipped the rest of my feet in for 10 second increments! It was just too weird feeling. 

(We went and devoured street food after Dr. Fish. My first helping of street food in Korea! And it was delicious.)

My last and most successful thing of the week .... I cooked my first Korean dish! I had been wanting to cook Korean food so badly. It's really hard when you don't have any kitchen space. And I mean absolutely none ... no counter tops! Every time I walked into a grocery store there were so many new and interesting foods that I wanted to try, but didn't know how to prepare. Finally, I decided to just look up a recipe online. And what came out was a dish called Ddeokbokki with Gochujang sauce. It's essentially just rice cakes with cabbage and onions and whatever else you want in it. I made it all from scratch, even the sauce!  It was/is so delicious. I'm still eating the leftovers. Mom, you would be so proud. :)

(My first home-made Korean meal!)

Oh and another reason this week has been so great, my Mom has decided to vote for Barack Obama!! For all of you that know my parents, you know this is an incredible thing. My parent's are ... Republicans, I guess that's the best way to put it. My Dad is a hardcore Republican, let's just say that. They vote along party lines ... always. 2 days ago, I spent a bit of time trying to convince my Mom via skype, to vote for him. I guilted her by saying that America needs to be spreading it's wealth so that 3 of her 4 children that are poor can actually try and survive! Yes, I'm dramatic, and she knows it, but with the way John McCain was laughing at Obama for suggestions of "spreading the wealth" in the last debate, I was determined to let her know she can't vote for a man like that. And she hates Sarah Palin anyway. 

 Now we just have to keep working on my Dad! My sister has informed me that she will give him a milkshake for coming over to the other side. And for all of you that know my dad, he loves milkshakes. I know, we're talking a president for a milkshake. But he really likes the things. He even makes bets/deals with my friends for them, for example "Date my son and I'll give you a milkshake." "If the Ducks lose, you owe me a milkshake." "Break-up my son and his girlfriend over Christmas, and I'll give you a milkshake." You think I'm kidding! My Dad is a funny man.

This one goes out to you, Obama

I officially got my vote off in the mail today! It felt almost ... liberating.

The past couple weeks my kids have been mentioning the election a lot. They see it on the news, on the cover of every newspaper. I'll be riding the subway and look over to the man on my left who's reading a paper, and welp, what do you know?! There's a big picture of Obama. Sometimes it's Bush. Never is it McCain. I take this as a good sign that Korea knows what's good for them. 

My kids like to remind me each week that Obama is a black man. That John McCain is white. They also like to mention that Obama is "gangsta", to which I reply, "He is pretty gangsta isn't he?" My comment usually illicits responses such as "And he robs banks teachu." Annnnd then I take my comment back.

I informed my class today that a vote for Obama is a vote for Korea. This confused them immensely. I then said "The US makes money, Korea makes money. Good for you and for me!" Then students started saying good things about Obama. They love money. 

So I'll end it with this. Make your vote this year, a selfless vote. Our country is at a breaking point where it shouldn't be about each of our bottom-lines. This vote should be about an entire nation's bottom-line. It's about the world's bottom-line. We have the greatest affect on the rest of the world. So when you vote for the next president, I hope you're thinking of what will help out our country and the rest of the world, not just your pocketbook. 

And that is all. :)

Tales of a Stalker

That's right, a Stalker. Got myself one of these last weekend and it aint lookin' too pretty. 

So I went on a date with a random Korean guy that I met. He just approached me out of nowhere and we started talking. I thought he was really cute, good style, was interesting, well traveled, spoke good enough english that I could semi-understand him, and well, I just kinda figured "why the hell not try it out?". 

The date encompassed going to a house-music club. (Ummm, let me just say this- it is not the best choice to go to a club for date numero uno, that is, if you have the right intentions. And every girl knows it. So do yourself a favor if you actually want to date the girl, and don't take her to a place where she can't even talk to you. Anyhow, TANGENT.) So we are at the club, I figure I might as well just dance because that is all I can do.  What does my date do? He just watches me and smiles, and keeps trying to hold my hand, yes, I repeat, hold my hand while I'm dancing to house music! Needless to say I kept rejecting the hand every chance I got. I lived through a couple hours and said I was going home. Call me what you will boys, I aint lying to myself or the boy that I just am not having a good time. I tell him to stay, but he insists on leaving with me. Alright, great. 

I forgot to mention that I live in the club district. So the date was in my hood. So as we are leaving, I intend to just walk it out all the way home. Well, my boyfriend decides he would like to walk it out with me. He goes for the hand. I try and reject it, but he wins. Then he grabs my purse, which is slung across my body. I'm like, "What are you doing?" "I hold." I am then reminded, when Koreans date, the guy always holds the girl's purse when they are together. So boyfriend here felt the need to hold mine. I resist his gesture by tugging downward on my bag. He puts his finger to my nose, smiles, and says, "You are beautiful. My angel.". How do you fight with that? I let him take the purse, and he puts his hand right back into form. 

We continue to walk up the crowded street and boyfriend asks if we can see a movie on Friday. Okay, first a club, second a movie? "Nooo", I say. "Why?" "Because we can't talk in a movie. I don't know you. I need to get to know you." "We talk after movie. Drinks after movie." Egh. "Maybe." He smiles, "Movie Friday!". Double Egh. I then point out he should catch a cab here, and I'm going to continue to walk home. He insists however that he walk me all the way home. I insist that he doesn't, but again, I lose. I let him walk me to the main street that runs in front of my road, and I tell him he can't go any further. He looks up the road "Veeeerry Dangerous! Bodyguard!" And grabs my hand and tries to walk up the road. I don't budge. "No, no, no." I make him stay. He agrees to stay. Then he starts counting down the days until Friday "ieeeshhh! So far!" "Umm, it's five days." I tell him goodnight. He gives me a hug and proceeds by heading for the lips. There is no chance in hell tonight. Really, honestly, not even 10%. Maybe 5, but still, that's 95% working against him. I start backing away. Another couple starts to walk up my street, I get embarrassed and I start to really take off. As I walk away I hear "goodbye!". I turn around and wave. "Goodnight!". I wave again. "Goodbyyyeee!" I start to walk faster and just don't turn around. I can hear the couple behind me smirking. 

For those of you that know me well, I'm in pure hell. PURE HELL. It's torture. I don't like when guys are too nice. I don't like when they hold my hand right off the bat. I don't like being complimented that much, it shows insincerity! Hell.

So I make it home, and I realize I probably shouldn't go on a second date, but I'm going to get some advice from my friends that have dated Korean guys tomorrow, and see if this kind of thing is normal. They ensure me the next day, Sunday, that it's kinda normal. Korean people move fast and loooove to be affectionate. Korean girls eat that kind of stuff up. They love to be treated like children as well, so guys cater to this. It's such a weird dynamic for me to accept. So with advice from my friends, I decide I should go on a date with him again this Friday and give him another chance.

But then Sunday evening comes. I went to dinner and a movie with another friend, and while there, I receive 5 missed/avoided calls from boyfriend. I turn my phone off for the movie. I turn it back on, and by the 11th avoided call, I decide boyfriend needs a text. "Friends first. Too fast. You must stop calling, slow down." Boyfriend calls again. I pick up the phone in frustration. "Hiiii." "Hi! You are angry?" "Umm, not angry, too fast for me." He continues to tell me he is worried all evening that I am upset with him. I assure him, I'm not upset, just tired, but that he needs to slow down. He continues by telling me I'm the one. That he has fallen for me. I tell him I think that is crazy, and that he knows absolutely nothing about me. He doesn't care. He feels it. He knows, we are meant to be together. And I'm already thinking restraining order. 

He then goes on by asking about Friday's date. I tell him I forgot I work until 10pm, so I won't be able to make it. "Saturday then." "Ummm, I might have to work Saturday actually." "Coffee in morning, before work, movie after work." "Nooo, maybe just coffee." He persists with evening plans, so I just say fine, whatever, because I have no intention of going at this point.He then tells me that he would like to see me more. I say no. He asks if I will come to Japan with him on holiday in 2 weeks. I say no. Then he goes back to asking if we can do something Friday when I get off work. I say no, I hang out with my friends after work, we always go to dinner and drinks. He asks if he can come, I say no. He says he will wait for me then at my subway stop when I am coming home. Ummm, no. If that is the case, I won't be coming home. I reiterate he must slow down. He can't see me until Saturday. He starts complaining. He says if I won't see him, he will come to Hongdae (my area) and wait for me some nights. "Nooo, no, no, no. You cannot come to Hongdae. You cannot look for me. NO!" He starts to assure me "Not stalker. Not stalker? Word? Stalker?" I assure him, that is the correct word. He says he just needs to meet with me before Saturday. I tell him it just cannot happen. I then tell him he is scaring me by saying he will wait for me at my stop after work. He doesn't seem to understand what the word scary means. I try instead to say he must go slow. He must just be my friend. I don't even know him, so it must go slowly. He says, "Ok. Slowly." "Yes, slowly." "ieeesshhh. Ok." "So you won't come to Hongdae?" "Maybe." "Nooo! Not maybe! you will not come to Hongdae." "Why???" as he starts to complain. This lovely conversation goes on for another 20 minutes before I finally tell him I have to go.

Monday, he doesn't call once. Wow, he must have really decided to back off and go slow about things! That's great. 

Tuesday comes around. 5 calls in 30 minutes and eventually I decide to just turn the phone off for the rest of the night. 

Wednesday comes around. 4 calls and I again just turn my phone off.

Tonight is Wednesday night. I've already re-routed my walks home. I've tried to delay coming home each night for as along as possible. A number of my guy friends have offered to help, but I don't want them walking me home every night! Last resort .... new number, new apartment, no dating Korean men? ieeesshhh.

Misery: a state or feeling of great distress or discomfort of mind or body

There are few things more annoying than waking up to a faint buzzing noise around your face. The faint, zipping noise, that triggers an automatic response of "get the hell up!".  And no, I am not talking about an alarm clock. I'm talking about a mosquito. 

Had this morning been any other morning, I may not have freaked out so badly to have a mosquito flying around my head. But this morning was different. This morning marked the day after I was bit 11 times by effin mosquitoes. Yes, yesterday, somehow, while teaching my classes, I managed to get bit 11 times. And not just anywhere, but only on the upper half of my body. No, I wasn't wearing pants with no shirt either. And where are the majority of the bites? On my face! And what's more annoying and a little weird, they are only on one side on my face! I have 7 bites on one side on my face. It feels ... swollen. And these bites are so awful. I'm not sure if it's because I'm new to the area and they just feel like biting extra hard to give me a warm welcome, but the bites are like big swollen lumps! And they exude heat and itch like crazy! 

So this morning, as I woke, I happened to see a mosquito sitting on my wall. I was really tired, and any other day I would have left it, but today, I was determined to kill it. 

Smack! 

Got the sucker. But then I realize, he must of just bit me because that is some really bright red blood smashed on my wall. I clean it up, and try to go back to sleep. As I'm lying there, I look up and see another bastard. I know he is just waiting for me to shut my eyes so he can make a move. Luckily, the side of my face they've been devouring is facing down. I figure, hey what the hell, I'll just fall asleep and hope he doesn't eat me. But then I get uncomfortable and manage to turn over in my sleepiness. And of course, with the delicious side of my face up, I realize I am dreaming of a faint buzzing noise. My mind is so upset by the thought of mosquitoes I shoot up, half awake, and jump out of my bed! I see the sucker fly off and I chase him. 

Smack!

Got the other jerk! But then I realize, he too got a good bit in before I got him. 

Such a small thing to agonize over, yet such an annoying thing to live through. 

Today I made sure I wore no perfume, tried to drink less water, had covered arms, wore my hair down, wore white (yes I looked up what attracts mosquitoes last night) ... everything to ensure I would not get bit. However in class I see some of the little buggers flying around. I'm teaching, and I had asked a student to read one of the paragraphs out loud to the class. As I'm asking him to do so, I see a mosquito fly by my face. I become distracted. Steven begins reading.

And Smack! 

"Damn it!! Shit, I mean ... Dang it! Sorry!" Steven becomes silent and I hear some smirking as the class looks up from their desks. "Sorry guys! I keep getting bit and I'm trying to kill these dang mosquitoes!" Some of the students look confused, a couple new students look appalled. I show them my face and my arms ... everyone gives me a look of understanding .... Steven continues on.

I was only bit four more times today. Thank god for dehydration.

The Beauty in Life

(The fam with Great-Grandmother, before Colin and Kitman)

This past week has been a grueling one. And well, when life is grueling, who really wants to hear about it? So I haven't really been blogging, or should I say, writing. But I'm feeling back to writing, so I've decided to blog about my past week.

So, about a week and a half ago I was having all of those drowning thoughts about home, and San Francisco, and "why am I here?", "why am I not there?", and about friends, and past relationships, and "what am I running from?", and everything along that line and back again. I knew that point would hit me. It's inevitable no matter where you go. And as everyone has been reminding me, those same thoughts went through my mind when I first landed in SF, but they eventually faded and now look at home much I loved my life in SF! There's always a positive side to look at, but there are always those moments where it's hard to look at the positive. Where every little thing that is Korean irks you the wrong way! When you just get tired of smelling kimchi and garbage everywhere you walk! Not to mention, the slow-moving crowds can be a lot for any American to take. 

But then I received news last weekend that my grandmother had passed, and I received it via email. I came home from a much needed day away from the city, out hiking with friends, getting fresh air, to find an email from my sister with the sad news. It's such a weird thing to sit down at the computer, feeling good for the first day in several, and all of it fades away in a moment's time. Of course, it all felt so much worse, because I am so far away. I also had no way to contact my family. It was 6am their time, and truth be told, I never wrote down phone numbers before I left the US. I just kept them in my old phone! I know, I know, I've learned from that mistake. It was just a very helpless feeling. Her passing was very unexpected. She had been living with Alzheimer's for some time, but the last time I talked with my granddad or mom about it, she seemed to be doing better, at least not getting any worse. 

What was hardest of all was not getting to be there with my mom. I feel a great closeness to her. She means everything to me, and her losing her mom, brought up a whole slew of emotions. I see so much of my mom in me, and so much of my grandmother in my mom. It's just a very sad thing to lose someone so significant that has shaped the life of your mother. 

My grandmother was a beautiful woman with a good heart. She raised three beautiful girls who are amazing mothers, who in turn have raised amazing children with big hearts. And I think her influence will continue for generations. She somehow let three girls grow up to be individuals with very different lives, who all still have beautiful minds and open hearts. It's an amazing task if you think about it, and for her grandchildren to all turn out semi-ok, is also pretty amazing.

So I worked my way through the week. I have a lot of distractions here in Korea, so I was able to get in a good amount of "distraction" time, as well as "alone" time. It can be hard when something like this happens and you don't really have those close bonds/relationships with people yet, so you can't really talk about it with those around you. But it can also force you to be stronger and to really rely on yourself. And that can be a really good thing. 

So I made it through the week. But not without getting sick. I just drained myself in every way possible, and now I'm stuck with a cold. Yeah. 

But I will say, during the week I really did a lot of thinking about life. As cheesy as that might seem, I think sometimes it's the best thing to just sit back and think about life and what's important. Family is important to me. And living out my desires is also important to me. There is a big part of me that would like to travel on for a couple more years, and see where life takes me. And there is another part that wants to be where my family is. To be there in some of their last days, and some of their first. I'm looking at where to find my balance. There's nothing more rewarding than the love you get and give within your family. I've been lucky enough to have a really amazing family that has given me so much love. I just don't want to take that for granted. But I also want to have an open heart and share that kind of love with the rest of the world.

(Me and the grandparents)

(Grandmother, Mom, Me - looking crabby, and my Aunts)

(Me and the beautiful lady)

Things Making My Seoul Happy

A stairwell of roses.

Recyclables hanging as art.

Bibimbap. Delicious. 

Seeing greenery ... anywhere.

Random installations. 

Blocks of rice for breakfast.

Korean babes and their dogs named "bean paste". Really. 

Buddhist monks chanting.

Plastic monks at all ages of life.

Buddha's Relic. 

My Heart, It Aches

I've found myself revisiting the last three years of my life this week. Thinking of a place that I love so much. A place that holds so many fond memories. So many stepping stones in life. So many amazing friendships. 

San Francisco is a place like no other. I moved away because I felt trapped. Trapped in an unhappy routine called life. I wasn't doing what my heart was telling me I should. Instead I went to Macy's everyday and crunched numbers from inside a cubicle. I wasn't doing good. I wasn't helping a soul. The only person I was benefiting was me, and it just didn't feel right. 

Now I find myself in Korea, looking back on three years that held so much greatness. Training for my first marathon in one of the hilliest places I can think of. Meeting one of my closest friends and completing a marathon seeing her face at the end. Meeting Nicole on Fillmore, outside Peet's for a coffee and some sun on weekend mornings. Going to countless concerts so I could continue to be a music snob. Attending movies alone, because in SF, you just can. Running the Lyon street stairs with Renata. Coming home at the end of a night wondering where the $100 went that I pulled out just earlier that day. Walking Haight street and scoping Amoeba Records. Laying out in Golden Gate Park. Playing tennis with my friends who also aren't good at the sport. Getting hit-on by the workers of my favorite coffee cart each day during (and sometimes after) work. Roaming the dirty streets of the Mission after long nights out drinking, just looking for a good taqueria. Catching my skirt just before the wind blew it up over my face each day. Walking down to the pier to watch the sealions play. Taking up Samba dancing with the best roommates a girl can find, only to realize weeks later that our hips don't naturally move like that. Eating amazing vendor-sponsored dinners that showed me what a five thousand dollar meal looks like. Walking out my front door to find a beautiful environment awaiting me each day. Attending countless happy hours, sitting around talking about how much we all loved working for The Man. Waiting 30 minutes for my bus to pick me up from work. Embracing amazing scenic runs, or walks, with just me and my music on days when I just wanted to be alone. Being so close to the ocean I could almost smell it. Always leaving the house with a winter jacket, no matter what time of year it was. Meeting so many amazing people, in such a short amount of time, that taught me so many things, and changed my life in so many ways. I really miss the place. I feel like a piece of my heart was left there, and I have a little less of it right at this moment. 

One day I'll return, if only for a visit. As amazing as it may be, it will never compare to the life I had there these past three years.