The State of My Health?

Yesterday, I thought I was getting better and then today. . . I don't know if the weather was a factor since it was a lot colder today. My cough seemed to be worse today and my chest hurts more than ever from the cough. Not like a painful sort of way, but I can feel it ache, maybe not the best. I am tired a lot, and runny nose, a little sore, and sometimes a slight headache. Some of you might think I am dead sick, and should see a doctor immediately. I, however, think it is not that bad and feel like I exaggerate these kind of things a lot in my head, and how you feel mentally has impact on your physical health right? So in my head most of the time I think it is worse than it actually is, so I need to be strong and get through it! I don't want people to feel sorry for me or feel like I am trying to get attention like look at the poor American he is sick and needs our help especially from my boss or other people at work. They might notice that I have been less tired and have a cough, but hopefully they think maybe I have just a bad cold, I try to keep my poker face on a lot except for teaching than I am happy and fun teacher, Ty!

I have decided if I don't feel better after tomorrow then I will probably talk to the main Korean teacher about seeing a doctor.

I also have a busy day tomorrow with my haircut, lunch with my friend after that, and then work all day after that! I am going to bed pretty soon. . . maybe tomorrow I'll ask my friend about going to a pharmacy and getting something.

In the mean time today was diary day at the school and the topic was money, the kids had some pretty interesting sentences and essays from that. Tonight I just read some interesting essays by middle school girls. . . a lot of the kids that come to my academy must be rich, I have decided! Korean kids have it made, except when they aren't studying their childhoods away. . .just my opinion sometimes.

I also started making my vocabulary test tonight (small) for my middle school students on TOEFL iBt test.

Other than that I find amusement in stealing napkins from McDonalds so I can use them here in my apartment besides toilet paper or kleenix like tissues!

An Update. . .

So this weekend ended up being fantastic! Except for Sunday afternoon/night after church. I came back home and felt horrible. . . like sick. I was so mad because I was not going to miss work over some minor cold. I had to ask my friend to help me, he came later with his mom with some blankets and a lot of food! Thank you!

I went to work still not feeling the best, and today will go to even though I am still not at 100% yet. No one seemed to really notice that maybe I didn't feel good though or if they did, they didn't say anything. Which is good!

Maybe that is all I have to say.

As I am waiting for my hair to dry on this late Saturday night. . . early Sunday morning let me tell you about my Saturday.

Well, I had no private lesson today which was nice, so I got to sleep in today without stress about a lessson, which was kind of nice. I met my friend Chang Woo for lunch here to talk in English/Korean lesson. We ate at a Korean restaurant and I had tuna kimbap and then we went to McDonalds, he had a sundae I had coffee. It was cold today and there was occassional snow showers. I am beginning to think that winter could possibly be my favorite season. The cold weather makes me feel so alive, and I love to dress in layers anyway so it is perfect. Today at McDonalds during one particular heavy snowfall for about ten minutes it made me feel so much less stress. Watching it snow, the white pure flakes, in this huge city of buildings almost gives me some sense of peace and I feel like time is going slower. It is so peaceful and to even walk home in a light snow shower while the sun is peaking through at the same time almost makes me day! The snow doesn't really stick in this city, but that is okay because I am beginning to love winter and dread summer! I think sometime before the season is up I am going to go with a friend(s) outside of Seoul to a mountain area and the fresh air and walk and see a lot of snow! So exciting because I want to enjoy all four seasons here in Seoul!

I have decided also today to be excited and explore as much as I can while I am here and be content. . . easier said than done I know, but I am going to try. Tonight I went with my friend to 63 Building in Yeouido, the Manhattan area of Seoul. 63 building is currently the tallest in Seoul and I paid 21,000 won (22-24 USD) for the aquarium, IMAX theater Mystery of the Nile, and the sky deck of 63 Building. The aquarium was cool, but not the biggest, I enjoyed the penguins the most, I could watch them all day. The IMAX was cool and a good movie and I had an English translation device too so that was cool. The Sky Deck was cool too at night to see Seoul, it is a big city! There was a bar/coffee shop up there, didn't get anything. There was even a man playing saxophone up there, but it was like Korean drama theme love songs. A lot of people on dates up there. It was very sophisticated, neat area though.

Then we went to a Mexican restaurant, La Casa Loca, the highlight of my weekend. I don't know why but my friend made sure we were going to eat there because he made reseravations at 8 for us to eat there. It was very nice and sophisticated in this nice area. We ordered chicken enchillada, chicken fajitas, and chicken tacos. . . with of course chips and salsa some guacamole too, so good! It was like a gourmet Mexican restaurant though. . . and I even had a margarita which tasted very good! It was not exactly cheap the bill came out to maybe 75.000 won (about 77-80 USD) we had a discount so it only came to maybe 65.000 won about 20.000 each, but it was worth it. I was so happy! There was three of us by the way my friend Chang Woo met us later. Then we took the bus back again and it is about an hour by bus from where I live. It was so nice though because the roads were so wide, a richer more modern area from my home neighborhood and less crowded on the weekend since it is a business district so mainly crowded during the week. I really enjoyed it!

Then I came back here and as I was walking home not too far away from the bus stop, who do I see on the road? My boss, and he is like we are drinking now, "what do you do?" "You drink with us?" Since he is my boss and older I was like sure, okay I drink with you. It was his wife, him, a Korean teacher from Saturdays, and then later the other American teacher came. I maybe had three beers, and we ate fruit and stuff it was actually a good time. My boss was very relaxed and since I can understand a lot of his style and English more it is much better. I was very happy, he actually complimented me tonight a couple o times, very surprised. He was like sometimes after work I go out with Shawn, the main Korean teacher and he talks about how I am good now and have a good teaching style. He is like you were slower to adapt (Haha, and I laugh too), but now I don't worry about you. I was so happy to hear those things tonight!

For those of you who got my email updates, I have pictures that I will include an email of 63 Building, Mexican food, and pictures of my boss and his wife, and other teachers. Yeah! ^_^

Hello Everyone. . . so there is not much to post this week.

I am fighting a cold that appears to have got worse yet again today. Now I have a cold that seems to be in my chest, but I am still working everyday of course. This stupid thing isn't going to get me down or knock me out for the count!

Today I ate at a very good Italian buffet restaurant with a friend before work. It had like fifteen different salads that were all very delicious. I had pasta, bread, vegetables, dessert and ice cream. It was about maybe around 18-20 USD a person but for the food and everything not bad.

Work is work, and maybe I seem a bit less enthused this week or down or something, but I think a lot of it is the cold and lack of sleep. I really do enjoy the kids and teaching though and think do a pretty good job of appearing cheerful and energetic with them. I am starting to get to know the kids more and they are starting to get to know me better I think too.

Other than that I finally sent my mom and dad's box in the mail this morning. I bought a Korean drama (miniseries) for them on DVD, not cheap with English subtitles. Apparently it is a famous one called Winter Sonata and it is the reason I didn't end up sending it till today. I watched the first ten hours of it out of twenty and was pretty into it but my computer is stupid, and doesn't work right. I just sent it. . . but it was kind of nice being able lto watch something in Korean and actually able to understand the story. I'll have to finish it when I go back to the States at some point, it was pretty intense and sad like a lot of Korean dramas. This drama, in particular I guess is very famous in Japan and a lot of Japanese women came to Korea to get plastic surgery to look like one of the actresses in it. Korean dramas have a lot of influence in Asia, I guess and women from other Asian countries come to Korea to get plastic surgery to look like their favorite actresses. Kind of crazy ~ so anyway that took up some time this week.

I also wrote a paper for the heck of it last Saturday about the Japanese occupation years in Korea. I am very fascinated by that era and that is how that got started.

Okay, I need to sleep so I can get well now!

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Do not ask me why, but today was much better than yesterday even though I didn't sleep the best last night and had a terrible nightmare this morning.

Last night I decided I needed to send my first package home to my parents with stuff from Korea. So last night and today I gathered stuff together and I am not done yet. So far I have ready to go: two notebooks with lots of Konglish on them that are very cute, a full size Korean flag that I got as a present but cannot do anything with here, a lot of tourism stuff about Korea with big maps and Seoul's subway map, a church sheet from the Korean church that they give out every Sunday, a book, two bags of Korean chips (one is Shrimp like french fries and the other is squid flavored peanut balls). Tomorrow I am going to buy some of the coffee mix to send to that I drink. I am going to try tomorrow also to find a some Korean dramas on DVD with English subtitles (I don't know if that is possible, if not I'll just buy them a CD.) I want them to experience the Korean Drama though and Korean culture that is so popular here in Asia. They are going to get my package and think that I have turned Korean!

This makes me very happy that I am doing this and that they are going to come and visit me in May! ^-^

Maybe a Little Homesick Today.

Yes, today I felt a little homesick, I am not exactly sure if I had a reason to be or really if I am homesick or not. Last night I sent an email update out and the more I stay here the more I feel like I am losing touch with people. Not many people respond anymore except maybe one or so. This makes me feel a little sad sometimes, but I get past it. I don't know if it would be worse to have my inbox full of replies with people telling me about what is going on their lives or to hear nothing. Everyone is busy though. . . I guess.

I have my own life here in Korea and don't have time to keep my mind in the US or would that be healthy. Not that I want that. . .

Forgive me on this post, I am not exaclty sure what I am trying to express or say just need an outlet to write something to anyone who has the internet and finds this, haha!

Nothing changes after one day. . . it is a PROCESS!

I am beginning to believe this phrase more and more as my life continues to take shape here in Korea.

(Before I go any farther, Ardilla, I posted a response to your comment attached to my last post. Sorry if it doesn't make sense I was trying to do the Spanish thing, but it ended up being not so much.)

Okay, now I will continue like I stated before that I cannot change as a person overnight, it is a process. I am beginning to find that it is difficult to change yourself and what you have known and have believed in for so long to adapt better to a culture. I am not talking about changing the core person or my core beliefs or anything like that those will always be the same. I am talking about small things like differences in work life between Korea and America and the different expecations and boundaries. Not that I have much to any experience of work life in the States, but let me be frank that it is still hard sometimes for me to adjust to this adult life of working. Not to mention doing it in a foreign country where there are many differences. I feel like I have changed a lot to adapt and grow and all of those things, but the more and more I go the more I find that I still need to change to do better. For example, I have to change somethings about me and maybe also have the courage to talk to my coworkers about how I feel. I would say within the last two weeks it has really started to bother me all the gossip that goes on at work about other teachers and me. It is like it never ends and they want to know everything about my life and for me I am screaming "isn't there a boundary between work and personal life here?!" maybe not. Anyway, especially since the new teacher came and they all think we would make a good couple. I don't know if she likes me or not, but she definitely isn't my type and someone I would really ever go for. This is just one example though of where I feel frustrated and don't know what to do. Fortunately, though I have gotten to the point where I can keep my emotions enough in check that no one at work really knows how I feel about all of these things. . . I try to keep pretty neutral, except in class when I am smiling and trying to make it fun for the kids.

I have to say God has really blessed me in Korea with friends and providing me with the wonderful Korean church. I went today and once again 95% of the songs were in English too just for me on top of the Korean words. Then in the small grouup I feel very comfortable and able to be honest and feel supported and can grow in my relationship with God with all of them. Anyway, today maybe I feel bad about complaining to much about the work issues and I need to try harder, etc. I also talked about how I need to probably take care of myself better since I feel very hungry 70-80% of the time. It is my fault, I just need to eat more, and motivate myself too even when I am stressed and my mind is pyscho! Anyway, but I feel like we all are sharing things that we really are dealing with and can pray for each other with, I find it very comforting. Even though most of it is in Korean they still do a very good job of making me feel included and part of the group.

After I got done with that tonight I went out to dinner with another guy at church that I didn't really know super well yet. He is five years older than me, but no big deal we went to a Korean hamburger place, but like American style. We shared two, so we each got a half of the most delicious like double cheese burgers I've ever had. But I was starving because all I managed to eat all day up to that point was a banana and a piece of bread. Anyway, then we went to McDonalds and had Sundaes at maybe the most fancy McDonalds I've ever been at, we sat in leather chairs. We talked about many things and shared many things about each other and then prayed at the end at McDonalds for each other before I left. I thought that was pretty cool and now have another good friend to add to my list.

So, before you are think I am starving myself or something crazy like that I came back to my neighborhood on the subway and went on a food frenzy. I bought 11 tangerines/oranges in the street market, then I ate one. I went to the small convenience store and bought two bigs of potato chips and some more coffee mix. Then I came back here maybe ate two more oranges, finished the soup I made last night and ate a bag of potato chips. I am really going to try harder this week to not feel so hungry all the time because that is not good.

Tomorrow starts another crazy week.

So far my new book The Devil Wears Prada is going well and I am entertained by my flying through the pages.

In other news about the girl who I was supposed to meet on Saturday??? Who knows, your guess is as good as mine. Maybe she'll call or email again, but I am not going to really spend time fussing over it. Part of it could be her and part of it could be Korean culture, a little too confusing for me to try to figure out.

I will try to start taking more pictures again, maybe. . .

Zahir by Paulo Coelho is the latest book I have read and number three for this author since being in Korea. I have to say this book was a little bit too weird for me and really didn't like the story or could relate to any of the characters. It has a lot of the classic ideas that are in all of Coelho's books like that we all should challenge the rules of life and society that we just 'accept'. Also, this book was about a rich author who lived in Paris whose wife left him. It is about her becoming his "Zahir" his obsession and his looking for her despite taking another lover and livng with her. (The other lover knew everything too and was okay with that.) It is about him having to find himself, and realize that he can only find her when the time is right and she isn't his obsession anymore. The problem is I guess that maybe this book is all about the potentiall magic abilities that we all possess and that love is the ultimate energy from the Woman Diety. Personally, I don't believe any of that and the point of the book is not to change your beliefs but at the same time it was almost too much at times. The ending was interesting too because after this man's long journey spiritually, emotionally, and physically he finds his wife after two years half a continent away and pregnent. The ending is like they are both happy about this and like a blessing for them and the journey they have both been on. What a bunch of crap. .. . definitely be very open minded if you are going to read this book.

Call me a little bit crazy, but I have a date tomorrow with that girl I met on the subway maybe a month ago on the subway. Well, we definitely have been in contact and maybe for a couple of weeks now have been talking on the phone maybe for an hour every day or every other day. I feel so strange and the age thing is not an issue for me. She finally agreed to meet me tomorrow and at the least I can say I think we are both nervous and excited about it. We are meeting at a nearby place from me and she wants to walk around the pretty lake that I have been to and ran across before. It will be like 30 F outside, but okay hopefully after that we can eat or get some hot chocolate at least. I feel a little bit crazy about the whole thing and maybe hoping this turns out well and we meet for a second time. I'll let you all know how it turns out regardless, I think at the least we'll be good friends.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Saturday - this appointment has been postponed.

This post will be in green font, like the green soju bottles that we drink here in Korea. I have definitely gotten used to it and can stand it, but it is now 3:25 AM here in Seoul on Thursday morning. I got in at 2:45 for the second time this week and did not even drink that much tonight. I have to admit I had fun on Monday night with the new girl from Lousiana but tonight not so much. We had a dinner/celebration for the girl from Canada who is leaving on Friday. Which I agree is something we should do, but I need more time to recover. Soju and even beer I just didn't feel like drinking much and it didn't taste that good. Plus, I find out tonight that since I talked to the new girl a lot on Monday night and find her to be a general nice person. Also I had to watch her especially since my boss said so since it was like her second night here and I did I think a good job, it has caused gossip. The main Korean teacher was like "so what happened after that? You can tell me." So, now they think I slept with her, I am not that sleezy I am sorry I would not sleep with someone after knowing them after one and a half days. They are like she is the same age as you, she has a pretty face, you look cute together I must want her and need that connection because I am lonely and in Korea. But also I don't even find that to be professional or a good idea to have that type of relationship with another teacher at the same academy as me. Also, I am interested in someone else right now, and I hint at that and no one seems to believe this. But tonight like I said I didn't drink that much or tried very hard because I didn't want to and couldn't (I never want to drink that much with them) but it is like I am looked down at if I don't drink a lot. It is Korean culture, so I try to make up for it in other ways by pouring the drinks for my boss and peoiple in true Korean culture, but it is still like I should be a real man and a strong drinker. I hate this and feel like it isn't healthy. I am not super loud either and very talkative around my coworkers still, it isn't my style, so they think that I have to drink to be more outgoing and loud. But the truth is that even after I've had a lot to drink, I am still almost forcing myself to be more outgoing. But I don't know why this still is a problem because I have improved greatly at academy and in my teaching ability. No one worries about me anymore, and I just do my classes but I am not like these great girl teachers that they have had who are very loud and outgoing, like the new girl from Louisiana. I have my own style, I try to be tough but find that balance of having fun too because if I don't they will all hate me and still get nothing done. I feel like most of the kids respect and like me, so that is good even if it is different from maybe the girl teachers before. I also don't cuss at the kids, try to be overly rude with them, or let my feelings come out about who I like and don't like. I try not to not like any of the students and be more optimistic and have a positive attitude about things. So, work is work and still causing me some stress sometimes and grief, but that is part of it.

Today I bought The Devil Wears Prada to read to really help me understand that my job isn't that bad.

Sorry for the random rant on things, I really do like Korea though.

I don't know why, but the one milk brand that I actually like and drink here in Korea is called Denmark Milk. It is the only milk that I can find that tastes like the milk I know and I cannot find it anywhere, I have to go to Lotte Mart the huge supermarket that is always packed and full of crazy Koreans. I have only had it once, but today I went despite the freezing weather and snow and bought some milk. And now I just want to drink it all down in one day, and I was never a huge milk fan! I also bought some packaged beef to cook in the spaghetti tonight because that is the only place that I can really find meat like that. So, I invited three of my best friends here in Korea and only one came and I am not sure if he liked how I cook pasta. I even had a bottle of white wine and it was okay.

Part of this post was deleted by this blog's administrator.

'There is more things going on, but I feel like those are not for this post are it is too soon still to bring them up. Stay tuned!

Hmm. .. so I feel an urge to post something, but really have no other direction other than that.

For those of you who get my email updates, you know that I was nicely surprised Wednesday with an extra day off to rest and relax before I had to go back to work today. I ran, wrote a long letter to my grandma, bought some home items, cooked, and watched TV, and also talked on the phone. It was very good and I have to say felt happy to be back at home!

Today at work I was expecting to have a new Korean woman teacher, but instead there was no one. Only me, the main Korean teacher, my boss, and the guy that comes in after 7:00, it felt quiet today and a little bit empty. The new American girl teacher is coming to Korea on Saturday though, so she'll be at work on Monday. I have to say though it felt good to be back and teaching and seeing the kids, and today was a good day. Sometimes I find that the crazier I get within reason with the kids the more fun classes go as long as we get some work done. I got to have fun sometimes, especially with the kids else I might go crazy.

Remember the girl that I met on the subway a while ago, well she called me again this week. Still kind of a mystery to each other I think, but we seem to have fun talking on the phone and stuff. I hope to meet her for coffee sometime very soon. . . I think she is having fun with it all. ^-^ hehe!

Taiwan!!!

I had a fantastic 4 nights/3 days jam packed trip in Taiwan over New Year's! The weather was a bit chilly at times, but Spring in relative terms compared to Seoul, my last full day it felt like Summer. It didn't even rain that much while I was there, which was a good surprise.

The first picture is me in Taipei with Taipei 101 (currently the world's tallest building) in the background. Taipei 101 is quit the sight and it sticks out in Taipei like no other since the next tallest building is only 50 something stories. It is even taller than the clouds at times, it does not even look real just like something floating in the clouds.

The second picture is of my friend Kung-Feng (Kevin), his wife Hui-wen, and me at Taipei 101.

Third picture is of me feeling the "Love" right by Taipei 101.

Like I said before I had a wonderful experience overall, except for one small incident. I saw a lot of new food, tried a lot of new food, including stinky tofu (not a big fan.) I went to one of the hot springs area, which was very relaxing. I got a glimpse of Taiwanese/Chinese culture. Taiwan and Korea are similar, but at the same time I definitely saw some differences between the two countries.

On New Year's Eve we went up into the mountains in a traditional tea drinking area for a good evening among friends. We could see the whole city including Taipei 101 and the three minute firework show coming from the building. Directly after the firework show I suffered some sickness of having too much fun, but I recovered nicely by the next day.

Happy New Year! I am happy to be at home here in Seoul, and have to go to work today to see the kiddos.