Taiwan!

Today at 5:30 I will be leaving Korea for the first time since I have been here to go to Taipei Taiwan for three full days, four nights. I am really excited about going and seeing a new place, visiting a friend. I understand it is pretty rainy there. . . but hopefully it will be fun. My friend told me to that the earthquake had no affect on Taipei either so everything is cool. Well, hopefully I'll take lots of cool pictures to send out an emails and post on the blog when I get back.

Happy small vacation time for me!

A Very Special Korean Christmas!

I have been blessed this year on this long Christmas weekend in Korea. Friday was a little rough, but I let it go and realized that Charlie knows I didn't throw a pencil case at the kid and that is why he laughed at it off. The kid is just being a little boy in a class that hates me and wanted attention or something.

Saturday my friend, Chang Woo came here to my neighborhood and we ate a Korean traditional type lunch with chicken that is very good. Then we came back here and he helped me with my Korean a little bit and I helped him with English. My Korean is at a very basic level though of course. Then he helped me find a place where I bought some light bulbs for my place so that was good. Then we met again later that night at the Korean church for like the middle schoolers concert and my other friend Chul was helping them out by playing the drum. It was actually pretty cute and enjoyable and some of the kids even sang carols in English.

Yesterday, Sunday (Christmas Eve) I met my friend Chul and we went to the English service church and then to lunch with another friend. Then we went to the Korean church service and afterwards we went to the big bus station close by and I helped out pass invitations (tickets) with some candy attached to them to people on the street inviting them to church for Christmas day. Then we went back to church and ate a traditional rice cake soup.

After that I went to Starbucks with Chol, Chang Woo, and three girls (Soun, Eun Soung, and another girl I can't think of.) I am getting better there and we ended up being there for like four hours. Two of the girls had just got back from England studying there, so they spoke good English. Soun finished a semester in Liverpool and it was hard for her and she didn't really like it so she came back to Korea. There was another girl who is just here for two weeks for the holiday and she studies in London. So, I talked to them about England and different things and we all talked about our futures, dreams and so on. We all are the same age, which means as of January 1st in Korea we are 25!!!

Then after that I met my other good friend, Yehun and a friend I met through him whose name is So Young. So Young is very young though only 20 in Korean age, and she looks like she is in high school it makes me feel old. We bought an ice cream Christmas cake at Baskin Robins and bought some food and beer and soju. So Young and Yehun ended up cooking all kinds of food, too much plus the cake. We did not finish all the food and I had a lot to clean today plus I need many more things. We had a good time talking and stuff then we watched Love Actually on my notebook. It was really late So Young slept on my bed and Yehun and I slept on the floor with the carols going from the internet radio. They both slept but I didn't at all, which really stunk. They woke up and both left here at about 7 AM and then I got to sleep for two hours before I had to get ready to go to the Korean Church for Christmas day. It was a really fun night, and a special Christmas Eve!

Today I went to church and was so tired though, but it was okay. Then Chul called and I had lunch with him and his mom at Outback Steakhouse, much better in Korea by the way. So much food and I felt stuffed with all of it. Then I came back here for a while and cleaned and tried to sleep for a couple of hours. Then I met my friend Yehun and his parents tonight and we went to a traditional Korean restaurant. There was so much food there and side dishes, but I liked it a lot! His parents are very nice despite the language barrier still there. We went back to their apartment which I thought was beautiful and had tea and fruit. I have never heard this before from anyone, but Yehun's parents said "I have pretty hands." haha! They think I am cute like most people at the Korean church, but what a blessing friends have been to me here. I had a very good time today too.

Tomorrow I have to go to work, so I will go to bed soon because I am very tired! Friday - I leave for Taiwan for about three days!!! So exciting!

My Job.

I worry so much about my job and the job that I am doing. I have skipped dinner time for the past two nights (Thursday and Friday) and probably will next Tuesday again to work on report cards on the computer that are due on Thursday before I go to Taiwan. I have only ate like snack food and not a lot because I am so worried about getting everything done and doing a good job.

You can imagine my horror today then when the main Korean teacher told me about half way through the day that some mom had called Charlie (my boss) today to say that I through a pencil case at her son yesterday in class. He is in the class from hell today, the ones that all hate me that I get very frustrated at all the time. Maybe I dropped the pencil case too hard on the table or something, but I would never throw something at a kid(I am sorry - I never ever would do that even if I wanted to deep down inside.) The Korean teacher told me not to worry and that I was not in trouble because Charlie trusts me and stuff, which is good. Then right before that class in my other class Charlie came in and told me this and was like just don't throw anything down hard anymore. It will be just my luck that more kids will drop out because of me. And during the ten minute break right before that class those kids saw me that already hate me and were showing their disgust to me in front of everyone in very obviousu ways. Fortunately, I survived that next class though and I am trying so hard in this job. I am trying so so so hard and feel like I am getting better and doing well, and then something l ike this happens. Everyone seems to pass this off like no big deal, but I stress so much about it!

Also, tonight at the very end I learned I have to work two hours tomorrow from about 12 -2 with the high school girl that I tutor one on one. Charlie asked me tonight if I could do next Saturday. I was like I'll be in Taiwan on vacation during the holiday and he was like when do you leave. I said on Friday, and he was like "so you no teach on Friday?" I was like "what?" I thought we had the day off, and he told me "don't worry, its okay." I asked the main Korean teacher about this and apparently their is a little party with the kids next Friday and Charlie probably expected me to be there. Everyone says, don't worry but just another thing that I thought was all settled and okay since the main Korean teacher helped me plan the trip and now I know that Friday was a day I was supposed to be at academy.

I am trying so hard, and I worry so much about this job. . . maybe I am not meant to be a teacher. I don't know. . .

Tonight I met a friend and another friend and did some drinking, but this job! I don't know what to do anymore.

Christmas is Almost Here. . .

I wish I had some amazing stories or insights into Korean culture for you to share right now, but I really don't. I have just been working pretty much as usual. Yesterday was Diary Day at EFL though and the topic was Christmas, which means all the kids write something about Christmas depending on their level. All the way from filling in blanks to make sentences to full fledged essays, that the other foreign teacher and I have to grade all of them in class or on the computer. Yesterday was kind of cute though because we got to teach the little kids Jingle Bells and we sang it to them and they sang too. That was very adorable and cute I though. . . kind of made me smile ^^!

The weather has warmed up again and is supposed to stay in the 40s mostly, which is pretty warm for this time of year I think. So, after work tomorrow I have a three day weekend for Christmas on Monday. Sunday and Monday I'll probably hang out with some friends and go to church both days. My first Christmas not with my family, try to make it enjoyable and somewhat special in its own way. I got a card from my grandma today from St. Louis and it made me sad, but happy at the same time. I just need to stay focused on the true reason for Christmas and not let myself get down. . . maybe a bit easier said then done. I guess maybe it is a bit of a good thing that even with Christmas music and everything it does not really feel the same or like Christmas. Maybe if it did I would be more sad. Life is just life, but I am okay with that and content.

I am still watching Lovers the Korean drama that I am addicted to. Just when I get so frustrated and think nothing is going to happen between the two people that love each other. Tonight's episode ended with them together on Christmas Eve and she walks in with the Christmas Couple's Cake and is like we can have a Merry Christmas party in the bedroom like place. ^^

I am still working on my Korean too, which I think I am getting better and better at, but still don't understand most things.

I go to Taiwan next Friday which is really exciting and something I am looking forward to a lot!

This week has been pretty chilly here in Seoul. It snowed this last weekend and it is still so cold that it all hasn't melted, but now most of it looks pretty disgusting due to the city. I haven't felt the best either, my body a bit sore and cold a lot. Not exactly physical conditions that make me want to go to work, but I have to even though I would rather stay at home a lot and sleep. I have been sleeping enough though I think, just have weird dreams. But this could all be an excuse or in my imagination because this week and next will be a bit hard. I think it is the first time that I will not be at home or with my family for Christmas ever! Tomorrow's topic for diary day where the students write sentences or essays is Christmas too. Oh well, I hope it ends up being a good day off and a three day weekend nonetheless. I only have to work three days next week anyway before I go to Taiwan for three days!


I have also made a goal for myself today. By June 1, 2007 a couple months away still I want to have made a decision on what I will do with my life next after this contract ends here. I am enjoying life and work and will continue to do so, but I don't want this to end and then have no clue again what I want to do. I am giving myself some time here and hopefully I will think through things pretty well by then. I will make a decision and know what I want with God's guidance!


I guess that is about all for now.

Today Was Pretty Much All About Me!

So, this last week of work was a bit stressful for all involved. Friday I went in and apologized to my coworker and that was like no big deal. I bought everyone a really good crescient from the bakery and took some juice. I am going to try not to worry so much about everything else except for my own job and doing my best. Perhaps I will be more busy after January still, but I am going to try my best to still enjoy it, get the most out of it, and keep loving the kids. I have to say I was happy Friday ended though and came back and turned the TV on and had a bag of chips and two beers!

This morning I met my friend and went to get my haircut at his salon place. My Lord I love the customer service everywhere here. They took my bag and one girl even helped me take off my coat and put it back on when I left. The style of cutting hair is definitely a little bit different here, but the lady did a really good job I think. And they shampooed my hair after it was all over so that their isn't hair all over me. The stylist also while she was cutting my hair there was also another lady that would take cotton balls and randomly wipe the hair off my face with them throughout. I feel like they did a good job and will go back there and it only cost me 12.000 won about $12 for all of it.

Then we met another friend and we went to eat at Bennigan's (the first time ever that I have been to one) we had a big lunch. I paid because I am nice like that! And then I went with the other friend to a starbucks connected to a department store (we didn't get anything, but that is okay) and chatted. He is going to be my basic Korean teacher and I will help him with English. No money involved, we are just friends and it is kind of fun.

Then I came back here to get some more money out of the ATM and then back on the subway to go to COEX Mall. I was meeting a friend of a friend from KU. . . I was a bit worried about this and how we would get along. Anyway, I ended up getting there early and bought a really nice red shirt that I like at Bean Pole International, a really trendy company here. I also bought another Paulo Coelho book to read, I'll let you know how it is.Then I met this girl and she seemed fairly normal considering who my friend is and that kind of thing. Well we ended up at a coffee shop after walking around a lot. She actually lives about an hour away from the main part of Seoul, but she comes in regulary on the weekends. She teaches like me at a hagwon, but one of the franchise academies in Korea. Anyway, so she has a lot of communication problems with coworkers and they don't sound like they are always the nicest to her. On the weekends she pretty much does her own thing since she doesn't really know anyone, I felt bad for her. I am like that sucks that you don't really have more friends and I wish I wasn't so busy maybe I'll try to do more with you kind of thing. She is going to be in Taiwan the same time as me too by herself, I think maybe I'll try to see her in Taipei or something. I feel a little bit sad for her. . .ㅠ ㅠ!

Then she went with me to another Korean clothing store that is pretty popular here called Giordano. I bought a pair of jeans since I need a pair. I feel like I am shrinking again, my waist size is down to 28 again. I also bought a black like high neck sweater. I am not always a big fan of turtle necks or high neck sweaters but they are pretty popular in Korea. So, I always considered myself a pretty trendy good looking/dressing guy, but in Korea I don't feel like anything special. I mean I have a job and some money, so I can afford it, but not all of the time of course. I have expensive tastes I am afraid and like to look good. I am afraid I like the big city, the constant rush, the people, everyone looking good, and so fourth. I mean a lot of people say that usually after a while anywhere, the place gets boring. I am still not finding Seoul boring by any means. . . Life is good right now even if I don't have a girlfriend ~ ㅋㅋ!

So, I have work this week and then I have a three day weekend because we get Christmas Day off. Then I go back to work for three days and then I leave for Taiwan on Friday!

In other words, I am tired but I needed to do some things for me today I think.

I can't sleep. . . because I feel bad now. Today was an okay day at work until the very end, I was in a descent mood and wasn't too tired. I even bought some more Christmas cards tonight to send out tomorrow. But tonight after work outside where we say good-bye to our other co-workers, not Charlie because he stays up and cleans for a while. Anyway, we were downstairs waiting and it comes out the one Korean girl teacher wasn't coming down right away because she is telling Charlie she is quitting at the end of this month. Pretty much she is working on her master's to be an English teacher and she is supposed to get paid more, but Charlie is a sexist pretty much and isn't giving it to her. On top of all the stress on the Korean teachers right now with the drop out rate and money issues I think. Anyway, so I was down there with the girl from Canada and the other young Korean guy, the main Korean teacher. He told the Canadian girl that he might quit to if things don't change. I heard this and said "I hate you!" He started laughing just kind of joking but then I don't know why I stormed off and left them and walked hom without the Canadian girl! The Canadian girl is also leaving you know at the end of this month to go home, so if everyone quits basically I'll be the only one that has been there for a while (all of 3 months), so I was a little bit in shock and kind of angry. The Canadian girl texted me and was like "what was your problem? We didn't expect that from her?" So I apologized to her tonight and will have to apologize to the guy tomorrow at work for being unprofessional and disrespectful to me. Even though the "I hate you!" thing wasn't really serious and he knew that I still feel bad and have to apologize. I understand everyone is under a lot of stress, but how does that make me feel. I will basically have to get to know all these new Korean teachers he hires if he has to and kind of train the new American girl that comes and hope I get along with all of them! I know this is normal, but on top of just the normal stress and business at work I don't really need that. I am sorry - I don't want to complain, but this is crazy!

Why can't I keep my apartment clean? It seems to attract dust and dust bunnies. I am always sweeping or cleaning the dust bunnies up, but I can't keep up. Even if I wet clean the floor they come. . . I need a full time cleaning person to clean my little one room apartment. I would love to have a little bit bigger apartment,b ut come on! I don't want to feel like I have to constantly be cleaning to not feel like I am living like a slob or embarrassed anytime anyone comes over to visit. GRR!!

Other news. . . it is still very early and I don't know how much I want to say, but oh well here I go. Remember that girl I met on the subway on Saturday morning on the way to the palace. Well last night (Sunday night) I decided to text message her and be like we should try to do coffee sometime this week and that sort of thing. Then I asked her what her age was, a common question, to make sure I wasn't asking some high school student out. Well this started like two hours of text messages and at the end of the night still not knowing her age. I know she is older than me, but I really don't know by how much. . . I would like to think she is in her 20s. She is a Christian too and is apparentlly like any normal Korean girl, usually kind of shy just happened to be brave when she saw the white guy. Also, it might have been a little embarrassed or surprsing to me at first to know that a lot of Koreans just want to practice English. It doesn't mean necessarily that they want you or find you attractive or that they are whatever you want to think. But at this point I think we are past this point with all the friendly flirting/get to know you type of stuff.

Tonight she called me after work and I called her back when I got home. We ended up talking for over thirty minutes! haha - and then more text messages. We are going to try to meet Friday or Saturday I think. I still don't know her age, but it shouldn't be that huge of an issue. My mom says I am being to rigid, it is too soon though to know really anything - we'll see.

This is all kind of crazy so far - isn't it?

Merry Christmas!
(My tree on top of my TV)


Now my whole blog sign in and everything is in Korean! Great. . . good thing I pretty much have everything memorized like the button to create a new post and which one means post "upload" to blog.





Well, I am pretty tired and it is only 5:40 on Sunday night. I woke up at 8:15 this morning after maybe six to six and a half hours of sleep. I went to the English service church and then we ate lunch and then to the Korean church. It was colder today and sometimes I think the weather and the combination of having to walk everywhere and use public transportation leaves me exhausted sometimes. Don't get me wrong I love it, and I don't miss driving at all! I actually love that I don't have to worry about my car; does it have gas, the upkeep, worried about where I parked, etc.





But none of this really has to do with the main reason while I am posting for the second day in a row. It is because after the English service church my friends asked me, "why I came to Korea?" This question kind of stumps me because before I got here I never thought in a million years I would be here and now that I am here I still don't know how that worked out. It was kind of combination of things not being able to stay in Lawrence, not finding a job, not wanting to live with the parents, and the excitement of maybe being able to teach English overseas and travel. And once I went forward with the whole Korea thing it was super fast and here I am. But while Korea specifically some of my friends are like because of the women? No. . . that was definitely not super high in consideration in the grand scheme of things on where to go, etc. Did I come to make lots of money? Well, I will definitely by the end of all this whenever that is will hopefully have some good money saved up! There is no real answer to that question I think "Why Korea?" But I know that God has me here for a reason and sometimes I am not sure what that exact reason is except to keep doing what I am doing. Working, doing my best, learning, meeting new people, everything. . . .





I can say and I told my friend today that I don't really see myself or want to go back to live in Kansas or Missouri. I have not even been here a full three months but right now Lawrence, Springfield, and Kansas City almost sound boring and very small. I like the big city, I like Korea even with all the things I don't know still and frustrations of work and trying to get to know people, etc. Have I changed that much already? I haven't really noticed but I think obviously I have from when I got here at the beginning of October to now. I don't know how long I will be here, but I feel like it is going to continue to get better. There are so many things that I could share. .. but I think I am growing through all of this!





It is a little freaky to think about but the person that I was last year at this same time (December) is a lot different from the person that I am today. I mean the essentials are still the same; my faith, personality, etc. but you get the idea.

Today I went to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Primary Palace of Joseon Dynasty is Korea's represetative cultural asset. If you don't get my emails, I am sorry but here are some pictures of the place.
Other then that today on the subway going to this place some girl a couple of seats down from me got my attention and wrote in her notebook, "Are you American?" I was like yes, but great here we go she is a Mormon or she is going to tell me about Jesus or something. Then it says something like I am studying English, I need help could you if I pay you. After I told her I was a teacher and later I gave her my phone number. She called me after she got off the subway because she stayed on three stations after hers to talk to me. She called me and I guess we'll schedule something. And then it got interesting later while I was looking around the Palace area she texts messages me. She says, "what is your hobby?" okay no big deal. Then she says "when I first saw you I thought you were Italian." okay thanks for the compliment. Then later "have a good day, talk to you later. I already miss your voice Ty!" Oh okay. . . do you need help in English or are you trying to get with me? We'll see. . . I'll keep you posted on the happenings, but I am going to be cautious too so no worries!
 

How Cheesy am I? The picture above is the Korean drama that I am addicted to every Wednesday to Thursday after work whenever I get home at about 10:10 till 11 when it is over. I think it ends soon. . . but it is called Lovers. Obviosly the two people above are the main characters, the lovers. But there is a lot more to this story of course than them just being in love else it wouldn't be a drama. I don't know the whole story of course since I don't speak Korean, but I can tell you what I think and what I have figured out. Okay so the man is some big tough guy head of some gang and he gets injured at some point and the lady is a doctor and she takes care of him. They fall in love! They also live in the same apartment building they are like neighbors how convenient for them. But he is married or is with someone and that kind of hassles that a bit and she is like seeing or dating his brother. . . and they aren't very close! They love each other though you can definitely tell the emotion is very deep. . . like any drama. Except the man's wife (or girlfriend) is pregnent and kind of a complication, but I think something might happen and she might lose the baby. She is very pretty though and that is sad, but the woman doctor will probably be involved in taking care of her in someway. Except she knows her man is in love with the doctor and she is very sad and knows she is going to lose him I think. The guy is quiting the gang I think maybe and is now studying architecture to maybe try to live a more quiet peaceful life maybe because he wants a family or something. . .I like the Korean love songs or music they play during the dramas too.

One interesting thing about dramas in Korea though is that there is rarely kissing and if there is it is reserved for serious relationships and are soft quiet kisses. Men usually don't show much emotion on their faces at all, but I am learning that their eyes show it very much even if the rest of the face isn't. There are many things I am observing. . . I like them. I will keep you updated on what happens in this story. . .which I know you will all want to hear about to make up for the lack of drama or love in my life right now, haha!

Last Night!

After work yesterday we all went out after work because my friend from Canada had her friend and boyfriend visiting her for a couple of days. They just ended teaching contracts in Tokyo and decided to come visit her, and then they go to Australia, and then back home. Anyway, right after work we went to a restaurant and ate lots of food, delicious Korean BBQ! Many side dishes and of course soju and beer but I was taking it easy because I did not want to be drunk before we left the restaurant because we would go to at least 2 more houses (places) after that, which is common. The friend's boyfriend got sloshed at the restraunt because he kept going and my boss kept pouring him Soju. At one point he tried to smoke a cigarette right by my boss, who hates them because his dad died of lung cancer. He finally put it out, but it was one of those things like yeah, come on. Then he tried to get up off the floor to move closer to the other guy to smoke and almost knocked over the table right next to us. We started to laugh and he was drunk, but his girlfriend who is pretty conservative and doesn't really drink was bright red. You could tell she was a little pissed at him.

Okay, so we go to the next place very close which is a bar. We had some fruit, Korean style popcorn and beer. We started playing drinking games, one stupid Korean one and then one called Waterfall I have never played before. I was okay, but that was kind of fun the one guy kept getting drunker and more drunk.

Finally last stop of the night ended up being a Nara Bar (Karokee bar). We paid for our own room for an hour maybe and had a little bit more beer. It was quit amusing. . . I sang "Jingle Bells" and got a 100 score! My friend's friend and her boyfriend left early because you could tell she was mad at him. I walked home with my friend because we were worried they couldn't find her place, but they did so no worries.

Kind of an eventful Monday night. . .

So thanks to one person my views of the female sex tend to go down hill very fast in relation to her!
My friend, Jihye, after cancelling lunch plans with me last weekend and saying for sure that we should meet this weekend and would. . . well so this story continues my friends! MHAHA!
Then I heard nothing from her and emailed her yesterday and was like "we are still meeting right? let me know the time and place?" This was her response:


i'll be available for lunch time.
but i don't know where to meet...

it's gonna be really cold during the weekend.
you might want to stay home kkk

JH

WOW! I was talking with one of my good guy friends and he was like I should go with you tomorrow, I want to meet her now. I have talked about her before and how crazy she is. I was like that would be fun and it would probably make it more interesting - to counter attack her super seriousness all the time.

Then this morning we agreed to meet and picked the time, then I asked if it was okay that my friend comes. She texts me back and says something about no that is okay, spend the day with your friend. I'll take the next chance. Then I messaged her back like no that it wasn't what I meant I thought it would be fun, but you decide. So then my friend comes here and we were going to go and meet her together and I message and her and say I'll be a little late, where are we meeting? Then she said, "Oh, I am not coming."

So frustrated, it isn't like I am dating her, but I could really careless about seeing her again.

Top Reasons Why I don't Need Jihye in my Life:
1. She was the person that told me that I shouldn't bother learning Koran since I'll be here only a short time and it is too hard.
2. All the cancellations and then saying we'll meet.
3. Today not wanting to meet my friends - - I am not hanging out with some girl that doesn't want to meet or know my friends!
4. She is super serious all the time, and kind of spoils any mood for fun!
5. Forget it!

How about an update about my plan for exercising more this week. Well I woke up early and ran on Wednesday morning and was proud of myself. The next two nights, however, have not been the best for me at all and trying to sleep early. So I just don't feel like it would be a good idea to go running when I am already pretty tired before work and feel like I caught a cold. Oh well, next week maybe I'll try to run two days a week. . .

What else? TGIF. . . even though work is going well and I like it a lot, feeling better about teaching all that fun stuff. . . I am still ready for the weekend break. The schedule 2-10 everyday is going to be my downfall. . . next job no 2-10, I would work 10-8 anyday over 2-10 I think.

It is pretty cold here these days like 30s and 40s for highs. . . so winter is pretty much here! I am looking forward to going to Taiwan in about 29 days!

That is about it. . .

This picture is of the most beautiful trees I have seen here in the Fall and it is right across the street from my apartment. I took it this morning after my shower because my friend messaged me saying it was snowing. In the picture you cannot see anything though, but it was lightly snowing! It won't stay or stick it will turn to rain later, but it was kind of cool. (Forget the fact that it is probably really polluted snow.) But anyway, so I have felt a little sad that the Christmas spirit isn't really present here like it is in the states. So the snow and everything made me want to, so now I am listening to Star 102 a Kansas City radio station listening to Christmas music! How sappy am I? But anyway, Korea. . . I am really starting to love it and feel normal here. I am even starting to think that I am getting at 한곡말 !
Enjoy the picture! 

I am pretty proud of myself at the moment because last night I actually went to bed before 1:00 maybe 12:20-12:30. I woke up once at 5 for a couple of minutes but then went back to bed. Now I am up drinking my good morning coffee at about 9:40 and I am feeling good.

Pretty soon I am going to shave and dress and go to the Han River Park and walk around. I feel like I need to exercize more than the week, but I don't have the motivation or energy still during the week to want to run. I feel like with this job sometimes I feel like my energy level has dropped considerably by how sleepy I am and how much lack of motivation I have to exercize during the week. I think maybe it is healthier to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier versus go to bed later and wake up later, we'll see if I can do it.

Tonight and tomorrow night after work my favorite Korean Drama so far is on TV, so that makes me happy!

Okay let us get thing started off with some Konglish for the day. This is the little poem on a notebook that I bought, enjoy!

My cozy town

Things that bring little happiness to daily life. . .

listening to music in the bus,

tree of passing along a street everyday,

drinking coffee in the morning. . .

Did you like it? All things that bring little happiness to our daily lives, I think they are trying to say something else here. . . haha!

So the weekend was good I would say other than my friend Jihye cancelling a lunch plan again, maybe we'll meet next Saturday morning. So Saturday morning I spent a lot of time cleaning some more and doing laundry, my bathroom though I feel like it will never be clean CLEAN!

Then I had my one on one lesson with the high school for about an hour and forty-five minutes since we didn't meet last weekend. I started a very challenging lesson about how to write thesis statements and what her paragraphs should look like in her essay. I told her if she can do all that then she won't need my help, we'll see what her essays look like this week? It is a hard. . . I still have problems with thesis statements.

Then I met my one friend and we went to Apgojung (the richest area in Seoul) for dinner and to walk around. I was supposed to go there with Jihye. Anyway we ate at an Italian Restaurant that he used to work at with all kinds of wine. Except we didn't have wine, but I had a wineaid which had some red wine in it. The restaruant is called "Mad about Garlic" so if you don't like garlic this is not your place. We had garlic pizza, pasta with clams and shrimp in it, and some rice dish. Of course thie Italian Restaurant in Korea has to have the Korean flavor to it. Then because my friend had worked there before they gave us our drinks for free, we had a coupon for the free pizza, and they gave us free hogan dauss ice cream and an expresso. For the whole meal only cost us about $32. Then we walked around and saw all the expensive shops and restaurants, you know it is a nice area when all you see our Mercedes. Then we walked into the Galleria Department store which is famous and it was my kind of place. It has Gucci, Armani Exchange, Nike, Calvin Klein, Addidas, Beanpole, Polo, Kennith Cole, I mean this is where you go for fashion. But then again you can find these places in more than one place in Seoul, but this is the ritzy department store I guess.

My friend set up my computer where I can watch DVDs now and movies so that is good, I am happy. He sent me Buenavista Social Club and I watched that tonight, I liked it a lot! I can also type in Korean now so I can practice over messenger maybe with my friends, except I don't know the keyboard.

안녕하세요. Annyonghaseyo. Hello.

Today I went to the Korean Church they were celebrating the end of their 40 days of prayer and purpose maybe. They had 5 AM services everyday for the past 40 days that all of my friends have been going to. Anyway, I sat with the people that I am in the group in and there is one girl that I think is very nice and pretty. Anyway, she talked to me some today and she actually speaks very good English. I was thinking to myself next week I will ask her for coffee or something because I think she likes me. Anyway, after the service there was a special fun time today and my friend was there of course. Well anyway, I had to stand up and introduce myself which was fine, but I am treated very special at this church, it is very nice. Anyway, so my friend asked this girl if she had plans with me later, so I think now she might think that I do like her, which is okay. My friend said she would probably be happy to go to coffee with me or something.

But the thing was another guy that I know came with his friend that is a girl to church, since that was kind of the point today to bring friends. Anyway, this girl definitely thought I was hot for sure because I can just tell sometimes in Korea about the girls. For example, this girl acted like what we would call a ditz in the United States. She would be like "Ty, come, talk" "How are you?" and she sat there and I she would just look at me and smile. Sometimes I feel like Korean girls try to hard just because I am a foreigner and think I would just jump on this. She is a cute girl and I am sure she is smart, but I don't like how they act so immature sometimes from my viewpoint. This girl also made sure that I got the free gift keychain that the church was handing out to the people and a rose. So I carried a rose around with me on the subway and on the street until I got home. Whatever, I like it and it is nice to have a flower in my home! The girl that I think is pretty isn't like this though and seems very mature.

So, I'll probably have lunch with Jihye on Saturday. But I am sorry I am to the point of I could careless if nothing happens there because she has had enough time plus I don't think it would be the best match.

I know I was just saying a week ago about how I don't need a girlfriend, but it would be fun maybe to go out for coffee with someone.

Hmm. . . another work week starts tomorrow. . . 2 - 10 everyday sometimes I wish it was from 10 - 5 or 9-6.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well I thought I would post this when it is Thanksgiving night in the states and actually Friday morning here in Korea. No big Thanksgiving celebration of any kind for me this year and I do miss the food, family and everyone. I did call my family in St. Louis a while ago at my aunt's house in St. Louis. So that was nice I got to talk to my grandma, aunt, uncle, brother, mom, and dad. It was nice, but of course it wasn't the same as being there. But I am glad everything sounded good and happy, even though my grandma started to cry on the phone a little bit I think. I didn't talk to anyone too long, maybe because you know it's hard.

Anyway, but I really do have a lot to be thankful for. . .I have a job, I am making my own money, I have a place to live, good people watching out of me, and God providing for my needs despite me sometimes. I am thankful for emails and blogs!!! I am thankful that I am finally adjusting to life in Korea and I am feeling more comfortable here and enjoying myself. Every day, week, month offers enough new challenges or questions in so many forms that I have to stay positive. I have to be content with what I have been given, the task I have been given here, and thankful that God is always giving me new things to grow and learn from!

So with that, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I miss you all and always thanks for all your prayers and know that I am praying for you guys too!

Korean Clubs. . .

Where to begin. . . well today Robert was at our school visiting Charlie he was a teacher here in Korea and is now married to a Korean woman and lives in San Francisco. He left Seoul in the winter of 2003, but today he was here to visit. So today was diary day, Wednesday, which is a pretty day. Today was no exception and it went pretty fast,which is good. I ate a Korean meal by myself because every Wednesday the girl from Canada goes to McDonalds, but I like Korean food better now so I ate that. Well I figured we would go out after work. . .

We met my boss and the old teacher at a Korean style restaurant after work. We started the festivities with his son and wife there of course with some soju (the Korean national liquor). Then we left there at about 11 and his wife and son left and we went to a Korean club, that was interesting. They played Western style music the whole time and of course we drunk Soju (maybe too much and had some fruit and some more food). Koreans like to eat. The really interesting/scary/funny part is that my boss tried to hook me up the whole night with some Korean girls. Do you know what that means? Well at one point the girl from Canada went to the bathroom and when she came back one of the hostess was bringing a Korean girl to take her spot next to me. Apparently if you talk to the girl and have a good conversation you can pretty much leave with her and do anything you want with them. My boss is like 42 years old, yikes, and the Canadian girl almost freaked out while the Korean teachers were laughing. I had no idea what was going on and was quit freaked out myself. They tried this several times and my boss was lassoing them like cattle on the dance floor to me. I was quit tipsy off of the soju though, but none of the girls spoke English and were quit immature. Apparently, in Korea it isn't like a prostitute it is normal culture, it is just to help you feel not so lonely. Fortunately for me, I didn't bring anyone home with me, but clubbing in Korea was definitely a new experience for me!

Since being in Korea I have read two Paulo Coelho books. I do not agree with a lot of his ideas expressed about religion or Christianity per say, but I do find the books enjoyable and easy to read. The first one I read was Veronika Decides to Die I really liked it and the ending. There was a sense of hope.

By the River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept had this same sense of hope at the end, a happy ending. But the journey was very real and intense at times. It is a story about two lovers and what happened within a week after being separated for many years. I think the main message is that love is not safe. People have to take risks with love, but it is better than not ever letting yourself feel love or love someone else ever. Love does hurt sometimes and does not always end up lasting, but it is better to remember the good times and how it felt because it is a gift. It has made me think about everything as books sometimes make a person think.

I guess I will probably read some more books by Paulo Coelho while I am here in Korea. I am surprised that I have never read one of his books before. I find them interesting and thought provoking, but at the same time I don't believe or agree with a lot of the points.

The next book, I will be reading however is another Jane Austen book, Emma. I am excited to start it!

Keep reading everyone!

The adventures keep on coming. . . .


So, last night I did go out to dinner with the girl from Canada, her boyfriend, another girl that used to teach at my school but is now at a different one, her boyfriend from the military, and then another girl and her Korean friend. The place we wanted to go to was a two hour wait so we decided to ditch that plan. We ended up at Tony Ramos and still waited for about 40 minutes. The conversation though entertaining at time, I really didn't feel like I fit in it was almost like I was the loner of the group. The food was good, I had BBQed Chicken (ended up being half a chicken) but I was hungry and ate pretty much all of it including the french fries and vegetables. I also had a glass of red wine which tasted nice since I haven't had any wine since I have been to Korea. I left early though, plus I was tired the group and conversation wasn't doing it for me that is when I did talk.

I got up this morning and went to the bus terminal and got on a bus to see my friend and his family in Taejon or Daejon, whichever way you spell it. I took the wrong bus and got off at the wrong place, who knew there were different ones? (Apparently I didn't). I ended up taking a taxi though once in Taejon to his apartment, no problem. Anyway, his city is about two hours away by bus and it is about half the size of Chicago (about 1.5 million people). A city I can feel comfortable grasping and getting along. I was so amazed once I was there at how much laid back it felt than Seoul, the air seemed cleaner, and there were trees and parks all over the place. I felt like I escaped the big city for a little while today and had a retreat in the country. So, I met him, his wife, father in law, and his four adorable kids (3 boys, and a 11 month old daughter). We saw a lot and I took a lot of pictures including going up in a balloon attached to the ground by a cord for about 10 minutes and saw a spetacular bird's eye of the city. I'll post some pictures later. We had a fabulous Korean style BBQ dinner, they really treated me nice. Then when I left the wife gave me an expensive Korean tea and five things of bar soap. I gave them a gift when I went there, but I wasn't expecting that I always thought the guests take a gift and that is it. I'll post more later about this time.

Then I took the bus back to Seoul and as soon as I got off the bus it was like here we are again where everything seems rushed and it just feels stressful sometimes. I feel so overwhelmed by the size of the city sometimes. . . I could go on. But then I rushed to the subway station to try to catch the last subway and I thought I did until I had to get off two stops away from my stop at like 12:00 AM tonight. But I am too cheap to get a taxi at this point and decide to walk by myself to my apartment which ended up being a good forty to forty-five minute walk at a brisk pace. I mean I didn't anything of it, because it is Seou, but if it was Guatemala City or even Kansas City Missouri there would be no way in hell that I would do that. But I just followed the signs to the next subway station and ended up walking by Olympic Stadium so now I know how to walk there in a very lovely area. (Except it was night and no one was really out.) It felt very surreal, a little bit nerve wacking, like what am I doing? Am I crazy walking in this huge city this late by myself, but at the same time I knew I was okay and figured sometimes people were looking like what is that crazy white guy doing? But add that to my list of adventures I have gone on, walking for forty-five minutes in the middle of Seoul on the sidewalks at 12:00 on a Sunday night!

Don't tell my family!
Haha~!!!

Maybe I am trying to be too busy. . . but then again how can I be? I am in Asia, I am in Seoul South Korea this is a once in the lifetime thing.

Last night I got about six hours of sleep because I had to wake up this morning at like 7:15 to meet my friend Jen for a movie at 9:20. But the movie theater that we went to is like forty-five minutes away from my house via subway. And yesterday my boiler decided to break so I had no heat or hot water. And by Friday I hadn't washed my hair since Wednesday. The landlady came down last night but she couldn't fix it (I guess someone came this morning and did the job.) But I was like I can't go to the movies like this (this is like a date). So last night I used my tea kettle to boil water, two different times and took that into the shower with a bowl and tried to do that to make it easier instead of washing entirely with ice cold water. Needless to say though I was still freezing last night after that and it was like 30 F outside too.

Woke up this morning and went to the movie we saw Some Good Year (?) with Russel Crowe. It was good, romantic, sexy (but it reminded me a lot of Under the Tuscan Sun with Diana Lane.) Is that her name? Then my friend during the movie was looking at her watch a lot which was kind of depressing and then the movie ended annd was like "okay lets go." She gets up and almost leaves me in the dust without saying a word and then we finally get out away from people and she is like "Ty, I'm sick. I think I have to go home." I must've looked kind of confused, but she left and I guess she is okay now. Well, that wasn't the way I wanted that to go.

Then I came back here and walked a while to by where I went grocery shopping last week with my friend. I walked around this big lake with all the pretty fall leaves around it by the Lotte World Fun Island Amusement park. I walked all the way around the lake, it was lovely and then walked back to the subway station here. I went to the mall two stops away and bought two books. I just finished reading Pride and Prejudice for the second or third time. It is one of my favorite books, it kept me entertained this week.

Tonight I am going out with the girl from Canada, her boyfriend, another friend and her boyfriend and the US Army and another girl to dinner at an all you can eat all you can drink place for $22. They say it is good, I have my suspicions about it or if I'll even eat my money's worth. Here goes trying to hang out with more foreigners.

Tomorrow I am going to visit my friend in another city two hours away called Taejon. It has a lot of government buildings there and was the site of Expo '93.

I'll probably send out an email out later this week for Thanksgiving and stuff and some more pictures.

My legs hurt, maybe walked too much today.

Taipei I Come in December that is. . .

Yes, I am excited my first real vacation will be in late December early January when I go to Taipei Taiwan to visit my friend for three days/four nights! I am looking to going to this supposedly beautiful city that is in a subtropical climate that will probably be in the 60s and 70s F when I am there. Right now in Seoul it is about 30 F. . . so it will be nice.

I am so excited! But I haven't even seen all of Seoul yet, but maybe it is because it will be vacation and I am paying for the airplane ticket with my hard earned money. I will have everything done by Sunday or as soon as I transfer the money from my account to pay for the trip. I will be flying Air Thailand. . . and you didn't hear it from me, but apparently the flight attendants uniforms are something to see!

Korean TV

Yes, I spend many nights after work vegging out with the TV on usually watching some Korean Drama. There are actaully two now probably two that I am into one is called Couple in Trouble that is on Saturday and Sunday nights. It is actually kind of funny and from what I know from the plot it is interesting. A rich young married woman is out on the yaht with her rich husband and falls off and hits her head. A poor local handy man or something picks her up and she has amnesia. He convinces her that they are married or something and she starts to take care of his three children. During this time though her memory is starting to come back and her rich husband is looking for her. He finds her but is speechless because she doesn't recognize him and he is spellbound. But she is also falling for the poorer guy, but it is typical of most Korean couples in this drama. Just when you think they are going to be close or happy they end up arguing and the whole things starts up again. It is entertaining!

But this is an exception I think because most of the dramas are love stories of course but they are very depressing. One is called Snow Queen that started on Monday night on one of the channels. Anyway, there is a guy who was a genius and he was in the university and had a best friend. They were very close and they were both competing for this prize maybe some test and the one guy won. Well, the friend was very depressed after this and committed suicide (or got hit by a truck) and I think maybe he was in love with this one girl. (I don't know a lot here, I am just going off of what I have found out or maybe I am making stuff up.) Well then the guy stops going to school and stuff and becomes a boxer and the girl has a lot of problems. The end of Tueday's episode was her about to walk off a cliff where the one guy is barried and just in nick of time the one guy catches her from behind. This was how the episode ended.

And as far as Korean comedies are concerned they just look wacky and I certainly have no idea what they are saying. (They probably wouldn't even be funny to me.)

Korean dramas and movies though I guess are very hot throughout Asia right now, so I am where the top entertainment is coming from in the East I suppose!

Korea Takeover!

I don't know about anyone else, but now when I look at my blog at the top it is in Korean. It says "Search Blog" and then the rest is in Korean. But then when I go to anyone else's blog it is in English. Does anyone else see this? Crazy!

Now that I have tackled being able to read Korean for the most part now I need to worry about understanding what I am reading and pronunciation and listening comprehension and talking. YEAH. . . that will take years!

Do I Really Need a Woman?

I feel like in Korea everyone is obsessed with not being alone and cannot be alone anywhere. People have to be with a friend, their family, in a group of other guys, a group of other women, or with their significant other. People constantly say to me "aren't you lonely?, you go shopping or sightseeing by yourself?" all in almost shocked ways. Then a usual question that is typical is "do you have a girlfriend?" followed by "Why not? You are so young and handsome." Okay, these are not inpolite and even a compliment here, but dear God! Then I am often told, "it is easy for you to find a girlfriend and have many girlfriends while you stay here in Korea." My usual response is "hm.. . good to know" or "if it happens it happnes." People usually just smile back, but hey I have news for you I mean I know body language and attractiveness is important, but I don't speak Korean so the whole conversation would be hard. I mean I suppose if I only wanted sex, that would be easy with all the girls that try to flirt with me on the street. I mean it is so the culture here, but ooh! Everything is about couples sometimes including Christmas Day is like a couple holiday here, GRR! I mean if I meet someone or while I am here go on some dates, I am not going to complain. If I fall in love in Korea, okay but that is one thing. I am just sick of people talking about how lonely I must be, I need a girlfriend, or I just need what shall we say some "physical" touch. A little freaky when I don't know a person that well and they are telling me what my needs are, okay . . .

I am just venting a bit on this subject because it seems to be everywhere and come up during everything.

I'll tell you when I go on a date. . . I do have two free movie tickets!

It has definitely been quit the weekend! Saturday morning I woke up late (10 AM), had some "good morning" coffee, prepared for my lesson later, showered and shaved and took a half hour subway ride and meet my friend by 11:30. I met him in the famous shopping area in the center of the city (the biggest in Korea) andn it is a cool place to be but like always lots of people. Well I got paid the day before and I was feeling okay and got enough cash to shop on I thought. Well, we ended up in the Lacoste store and if you don't get my emails, you can't see my purchase. Well, needless to say old habits are hard to break and I freaked out at the price of this sweater that I really liked and put it on the credit card my parents pay!!! I felt very guilty and text messaged my parents who are in Chicago this weekend having fun too. My dad said no problem, which was a huge relief! The only thing is that my friend didn't mention to tell me at the time of purchase that Lacoste is not the "in-brand" right now and Koreans don't like it so much. Whatever - I still love the sweater jacket I brough even if it isn't the "in" thing, it will still look good on me. Sometimes I feel like people are very into what the trends are and feel a sense of materialism here that I haven't quit been around before.

Then Saturday night I met one of my Korean friends at a American style bar. We had a good time and a very good conversation that makes me think a lot about things. Could be good and could be bad - but I had a good time.

Today I went to the Korean Church after I got to sleep in, but I didn't have a restful sleep exactly. My mind was still full of thinking from the conversation at the bar and some wacky dreams! Someday I will get a normal sleep schedule. Anyway, church was fine but no English translation today on songs and then I left right after the service. I had to meet my friend from Saturday night again in my neighborhood or district and he was going to come to my apartment.

I met him and he was going to come and help me with the information I would need to know to use the dry cleaners here and what to say, etc. Great, got that accomplished but when he walked in I could tell he was not impressed. I mean my place isn't exactly upscale and as a foreigner here I am doing okay and could live better I guess. If I stay maybe I would like to move to a better place - sure! But he totally came in and started making a mental note of things that I needed or could use! Then we walked to Jamsil, which is a very nice area of Seoul where Lotte World Amusement Park, Lotte World Hotel, Lotte Department Store, and Lotte Mart are so we could get some things. We ended up eating Chinese or what reminded me of Panda Express but nicer and sit down. We ordered too much food and it was kind of expensive, but hey I am making money and it was delicious. Then we go to Lotte Mart, the biggest supermarket/Walmart type place I have ever seen with more people than I have ever seen in a grocery store before. It was crazy ~ and my friend helped me find everything I needed since it is all Korean which was a huge help. I spent about $65 which is expensive for me I think, but maybe I have been pretty thrifty when I didn't have as much money.

I feel like there is almost a sense of trying to keep up with the norm or standard of living here, which I am not as used to. I have always been kind of the "trendy" guy or whatever, but here its like everyone is. . . GRR! Anyway, then we walked back here with the bags of stuff which was quit heavy, it was a muscle work out ~ but he wanted to show me the streets. Then he stayed for probably another two hours and we talked and had a beer and chips, etc. really nice guy. And he lives in Jamsil so it is good, it is easy to hang out.

Then he left and I started cleaning the kitchen cabinets and kitchen area. That was a work out too all the scrubbing and everything, but it looks the best it has since I have been here. (The people before me didn't do much cleaning before they left I guess - - boo to that!) There is still definitely work that needs to be done to this place to meet it to maybe having guests over standards. But at the same time I could use more space - but then that would mean more cleaning.

Also, by the way an extra bonus tonight was buying nice smelling fabric softener. My friend even showed me how to do it with a load of laundry - I think I understand, but he had to call his mother too, haha! So now my clothes won't dry to be stiff as boards, but feel like actual clothes again - - - YEAH!

Oh, I need to go to bed soon. . . tomorrow starts another crazy work week!

Oh, I feel drained tonight. That week just came and went and left me this weekend to recover, but I'll be busy. Tonight I freaked out today because I wasn't sure if we got paid or not, and texted my co-worker and he said yes we were. It is all direct deposit so they don't give us any paper ~ tomorrow I'll have to get some money out of the ATM to find out exactly how much I got for October! Ah sigh of relief on that. . . my first pay day for my first real job, I feel like this is a major milestone, but at the same time it is a bit different being in Korea. Tonight though at work I got nervous because my boss wanted us to end ten minutes early to have words with us teachers. The girl from Canada didn't come again today because of her leg so it is me and the three Korean teachers. Apparently parents have been complaining about us and all I could picture was being in some room with the door closed and my boss yelling loudly in Korean at us and I have no clue what he is saying! Enough to give me some nightmares! I am not going to worry about it again til Monday though because my boss was too tired to discuss it tonight. He is probably going to tell us to be nicer to the kids and everything after he told me a couple of weeks ago to be more disciplined. I have actually been doing that and making the kids put their arms up and stuff, but I'm a bit nervous. I am too new for this and I am under contract so I really don't have anything to worry about. If anyone should be worried it should be the Korean teachers probably. Eish. . .!

Tomorrow I am going shopping in a huge shopping district in the heart of Seoul. I am meeting one of my Korean friends so that will be fun and happy to have the company, help me celebrate shopping with my first real job money. Then I have my lesson and then another of my Korean friends invited me for dinner or to go to a bar with him tomorrow night. So Saturday will be busy and then Sunday is church.

Next Sunday I am obliged and pretty much have to visit my friend in Taejon another city about two hours away. I have cancelled on him now on two weekends, so I have to go. He is older than me and has a family and I know him from KU, but if you know anything about Korean culture I have to go and take a good gift. He is older than me and I have to respect him more plus if I don't go this next time maybe he won't invite me again.

Next week I am excited because I am going to try to finalize my trip to Taipei Taiwan during the week we have off at the end of December early January. He is a friend that I met at KU last year. He is like 12 years older than me and married but a graduate student in sociology. We got to know each other and discuss many things. Plus it will be cool to go to yet another country and where it will be a lot warmer compared to the colder winter here in Seoul.

I am thinking if things work out I might be going to Malaysia to visit a good friend from KU for the Chinese New Year in February. That is if God really takes her back to her home after she graduates in December, we'll see, but it would be nice to see her.

My apartment building, not the best picture. It really isn't a true apartment building they call them "villas" here in Korea. My place is on the right side to the bottom, you can't see the window becuase the car is blocking it.
The second picture is of the street that the villa is on surrounded by a lot of other villas.
 

Does Anyone Find this Creepy?

Last night in my last class with sixth graders, "the crazy ones" apparently they were discussing my sex drive. These kids seem obsessed with everything about my body from arm hair, to my hair, to now who knows what. EEHH! The really funny is that my boss was there and he doesn't care. He was even looking up the words in the dictionary for them for "semen", "sperm", and "ovum". They were like "teacher, you know tadpole" and drew it on the paper. I figured it out, and my boss was just talking away with them in Korean. Then he looks at me and he is like they say "you eat lots of energy food, so you have good semen." Definitely a different style here of teaching and what is open for discussion. I mean maybe I should take this as a compliment, but I just can't they're sixth graders, creeps me out a bit. But I guess at that age, you'll pretty much a pervert. So yesterday the kids learned, "semen", "sperm", and "ovum" at about 9:45 PM.

Good work!

I almost lost it again tonight and it actually felt like I did for a while. Nothing to do with work, today actually was a great day at work and a good start to the week. I am actually starting to enjoy teaching and doing my job more and more! Great news!

It wasn't the weather either or that it is really starting to get cold. Apparently it was even lightly snowing here in Seoul tonight for a while and it feels like 22 degrees Fareinheight. But I am not turning on my heat yet!

No, those are not the reasons. We all know what I value a lot in my life right now is that I have a computer here in Seoul and I have the internet in my apartment. It keeps me busy, entertained, and it allows me to feel connected with everyone back in the States somewhat. Plus I talk to my parents online usually at least once a day, which is nice to have. Well tonight my computer froze like completely froze and I thought it was broke or a virus had got to it. I sat here in disbelief and started to really feel sad and cry. (Yeah, it takes a man to admit he cried because he thought his computer broke and that means no more internet.) And then I thought you know I am trying to get off it more and actually enjoy Seoul more than I already am and make myself get out more than I already am. I thought hm maybe God is really making me rely on Him because the internet could be kind of a crutch for me sometimes. So, I seriously was trying to see the positive about it and very mad that I was grieving so much about this problem. I thought people made it in other countries without the internet and being able to chat with people everyday back home, I need to too and trust God for everything! So I prayed for a while and read the Bible a bit and then went to bed. I unplugged the computer and decided well I'll let the battery die and then turn it back on to see what happens. So I did that and turned it back on and it is working again! I am not sure what the problem was but I am hoping it doesn't happen again, but I am a little worried about my computer now. Everyone say a prayer for my computer! I survived and will be okay.

Techno Mart, isn't this look cool! 

How do I want to start this post? Let's see. . .

Last night I ended up going to the mall Techno Mart and ended up going to a couple of stores. I bought a floor pillow type thing to sit on when I sit on the floor praying, reading, or watching TV for about 12 USD. Then I bought a book for Korean kids learning how to read to help me with vocabulary with stuff for 2 year olds. I still don't understand half of it, haha! Then I walked around the mall a little bit, there is a reason it is called Techno Mart. It is eight stories, and about six of those eight are entirely technology and electronic stuff. One floor for cell phones, another floor for TVs, another for computers, etc. I took a really cool picture of one of the areas, it was really colorful and fun to look at. I think I'll post it separately from this post, look for it above. I ate dinner there and the food cart and felt like I am surrounded by rich fashionable people everywhere.

Today I didn't go to the English service church because my friend was studying for his last midterm tomorrow and I was tired. Too much caffeine yesterday! But I was still going to meet everyone at the Korean church and I had to get there on my own from the subway station. The subway station is the Seoul Express Bus Terminal one of the biggest stations with a huge shopping area there. I could not figure out how to get out of it, and of course got frustrated. I need to keep the frustration to a minimun even with a cell phone it is still hard to communicate sometimes. I finally found an exit and was trying to tell them where I was and they didn't really have a clue. They told me to wait and I did, the one guy found me and it turns to come out I was very close to the church at the right exit. I just needed to walk further. .. .so we were a little late.

The Korean church I feel more connected with than the English service church. The English service church is very big and I really don't know many people there but I know a lot from the Korean church because they are my friend's friends. Anyway, so I got there today and they put some of the English translations to the worship songs on the screen above the Korean. I cannot express how much that meant to me because we all know I am the only American at this church and to be able to follow along and sing some of the songs in English is awesome, even if it isn't all of them. I was like they are realy going out of their way here to make me feel good there. Then I joined my friend's small group today and most of them spoke English or okay English to me and tried to do the group half English half Korean. It was one girl's birthday so we had a delicious chocolate cake that we ate with chopsticks. Next week I guess I am going to be officially welcomed into the church. I can't exactly do the new member's class because it is in Korean and also I am already pretty grounded in my faith, so to speak. But anyway, my friend said this isn't a problem and it is the best to just join his group and next week I'll have to stand in front and be welcomed and they will give me flowers. I really like this church and the people there. Over the Chinese New Year they are going on a mission trip to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt and it is actually very cheap. I am undecided but they are like "you sign up" I don't know need to pray about it. I don't even know if these are the same days I have off for work. If I don't have work off during this week I really can't go. Also, I have talked to my parents some and we might try to see each other that week maybe not in Seoul but we would meet in Sydney. We'll see. . .

Then after church I went with three other guys and we ended up going to Baskin Robins for ice-cream. We had a big bowl with green tea, red bean (very good sweet, here in Korea), cotton candy, and another flavor. . . it was an interesting mix. Jaja! Then I came back here and ate at the kimbap house place and had the soup with kimchi cooked in it, it is quit spicy but very good with rice and the side dishes.

Here in Korea it is finally getting cooler. Today was the coldest day yet I think, but it wasn't too bad. But everyone kept saying to me aren't you cold? Do you have a coat? You need to prepare because this week colder, put more clothes on. In Korea this is normal I guess, maybe you are smart enough to know its cold and put clothes on but in Korea it's just something to tell and give this advice to someone.

Today they also asked me how much money I make. Another normal question here in Korea and I said well tell me what is normal for teachers like me and then maybe I'll tell you. They told me about 1.3 million won a month, I am making a bit more than that and told them and they were like you must be a star teacher! Hm. . good! I get my first paycheck next Friday. . . yippee!!!

Tonight I am going to study some more Korean and at about 9:45 - 10:45 there is a drama on TV that I like. I really don't know what it is about, but it is about this young woman who has memory problems maybe. She loves this guy, but the relationship is full of stupid fights that make it funny. In Korea young couples seem to like to provoke each other and have these big dramatic fights and then a couple hours later make up. Koreans are very expressive I would say in their own way, but at the same time its different because they still have the whole idea of "saving face" in all of that. I cannot really describe it, but they are not like the Japenese I don't think who are very expressionless, they have a spunk to them.

Also, Korean people seem to be very good readers of emotion by someone's tone of voice, body language, eye movement. People already say my face gives away everything, so in Korea I must be a really open book! For example, today when I was trying to figure out how to get out of the subway station my friend didn't say anything til later. Then he says "sometimes you get too frustrated, don't worry so much like this morning."

What else? I am in Korea for a little bit over a month and I have already been thinking about what I am going to do next with my life. Hello! Enjoy the moment, and don't worry so much yet you have time. A part of me is like well what if you come to really like it here and want to stay for a while, or go to another country (maybe a Spanish speaking country - one of my life goals), go back to the States and go back to school, or go back to the States and get a job. I don't know, as hard as it is here at times I don't know if I am supposed to be in the States permanently. Right now I am supposed to be here in Korea because that is where God has put me and wants me to carry out His purpose here. Right now I just need to relax and just try to enjoy it here everyday in teaching, exploring, or spending time with new friends.

The first picture is inside the tunnel you go through to get to the Han River Park. It is huge and runs along the river in Seoul. I really like going there to walk and relax, it is about a 15 minute walk from my apartment. Today was cloudy and cool, but it is still very nice. You can see a little bit of the city skyline on the other side of the river in this picture.

The second picture is of a garden area, kind of a community garden I think. But it has beautiful flowers; marigolds, petunias, impatients, and others. Today I spent some time walking through it and going up in the little gazeebo like thing and relaxing. I really liked being there and being able to smell the flowers too.

The last picture is of a giant cabbage in a cabbage patch area of this garden. You can see some of the apartment construction going up behind the gazeebo in the sceond building. There is a ton of construction of these huge high rise apartment parks. Crazy!

Then I cam back home after doing some food shopping and made some delicious pasta with cherry tomatoes, green peppers, pepper, and some Craft Parmageon Cheese that cost over $6!

I have my private lesson in a couple of hours and then I am going to one of the malls to try to find something to make my aparment look better. Actually I want to find a floor pillow to sit on because I find myself sitting on the floor a lot!
 

I am learning a lot about myself I think here in Korea. Today was 200% better than yesterday and 1000% better than the day before! I felt better mentally, supported more at work, enjoyed most of my classes, and felt more confident and adequate. This felt very nice.

I have learned this week that culture shock isn't just apparent mentally but physically too. For the past week or so it seems like I have always had a constant headache that is worse at some times than others, but can almost be described as numbing at times. Also, my body seems very stiff a lot of the time and tense, I consider this to be part of the experience, I have never felt more alive and like an old man at the same time, haha! But enough complaining.

Today after work I went to visit the girl from Canada upstairs with the leg issue who can't work this week and probably next week too. I feel bad for her during the day she pretty much just stays in her apartment and sleeps because she cannot really walk around. I miss her at work, the other foreign teacher to talk to because all the Korean teachers are super stressed out!

Then my Korean friend called me the one that came for dinner with some guys last night, which was very nice. I sent him an email last night expressing my feelings and a lot of how I felt. Another email with a little bit of bitterness attached to it probably because he called me to see how I was doing, etc. I apologized for everything including last night. Then one of the other guys called me too and we talked for a while. I think they were all afraid of what I was going to do last night after I stormed off back to work after a quick good-bye on the street. Even after everything I still feel like it is hard for me to express myself fully to them about everything, is that make sense?

Tonight I was reading some in Psalms and just spending some time with God. Psalm 46 is one of those Psalms that has been relevant to my life several times in the past four to five years. Verses 10 and 11 especially:

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our Fortress.

It kind of told me that I need to slow things down and try to get control of my feelings and emotions somewhat because they can change like the wind. I need to focus on Him, who is never changing for my strength and comfort. I know that there will be times when I will feel like I am insane, and that is normal and I will accept it. I can, however, chose how I react to those times and will be working on that with everything I am learning in mind.