Seoulong San Antonio!

Falling in Love with Korean Food

2007-08-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

I didn't think it was gonna happen. It certainly wasn't love at first taste, such as in other countries I have lived in or visited. I've had instantaneous connections with Mexican salsas, Spanish hams and cheeses, Italian pesto, German pastries and sausages, Greek salads and fish...okay yadda yadda yadda. When I knocked on kimchi's door, I had to think for a minute or two to decide whether or not we were a compatible duo. We now are one with each other but at first I was unsure. I wondered when I came to Korea if I would have similar attractions to the foods here. Not at first, no I did not. However, at first my exposure to Korean food was so narrowed. Since my arrival here it has expanded tremendously. I have found a wealth of ingredients I never imagined possible.

Alison and Ms. Dawson

2007-08-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

Okay now. Some of my older students (10-12 year olds) are constantly trying to correct my pronunciation. Not on everything but more specifically on names. According to them I don't pronounce some of thier names correctly or the names of the characters in our text books. I find this hilarious. Whenever I call upon Alison in class the other students begin laughing and telling me that I say her name wrong. Poor girl gets embarrassed too. They say, "no teacher! not Aaaalison, it's Ehhhlison." And I tell them that we say Aaaalison in Texas and that both ways of saying it are okay. But they won't stand for that excuse. Then there is my other class that insists that I say say Ms. Dawson incorrectly. How do they get so pompous to challenge their English teachers pronunciation? It's amazing.

Anyhow, the enormous contradiction at hand is that they should be worried about their own pronunciation and not mine! Like when they finish their classwork they all shout out, "teachuh, pinushee!" Which actually means, "teacher, finished!" But they turn the f into a p and add ee at the end. I correct them constantly but they love to say "pinushee" instead of "finished." That's a just the tip of pronunciation issues. There's hundreds upon thousands of ways to say words incorrectly, and they find them all. That is the biggest part of our job. Not so much the grammar, but saying the things and speaking. The Korean teachers focus on grammar and we (the foreign teachers) are there to make them sound right. Ahh, well. There's a lot more to elaborate on this later. For now I had to vent. ^__^

Intensives!

2007-08-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

Gotta hate intensives when you're working at a Hogwon. Summer time should equal vacation time according to US standards, but here vacation is just more time to study English, or something else. So the little kiddos are on "vacation" but still going to classes. Just half as many classes, so it's still a break I suppose. Loco I say. What that means for the teachers is...we basically teach all day long, from somewhere around 9am until 9pm. Usually there are AM and PM teachers, but during intensives we are all AM/PM teachers. Lots of times things just don't make sense here, to me that is. I wonder if it is the language barrier, a mere difference of culture or me just not getting it! I cannot begin to describe the daily occurrences that perplex me. Why, why and why? I've never said or thought that word so many times in my life. But I'll elaborate more on that some other time. I find that going with the flow is the best way to deal with things. Everyone is usually smiling through everything anyway, no matter how long the hours or what frustrations are uprooted. Just smile, nod and do it! Ahh well, the motto is, "it could be worse." Like don't complain about 12 classes back to back because tomorrow or the next day it could be 15. Hahhaaa. However, when that paycheck comes rolling around with 3-5 hundred bucks of overtime, the compensation is somewhat worth it. And on top of that the kids are always cool. Well cool is not the appropriate term. They are just amazingly cute and smart and sometimes irritating at the same time.

Speaking of smart, a kiddo in my kindy class the other day was quite amazing. The concept of singular versus plural is for some reason difficult for the little guys to grasp. S or no s. They just weren't understanding. Why is it toys and not just toy? Why is there an s on toys? Then Sean had this moment of genius. He saw the light and in the midst of a completely quiet classroom he blurted out (at the top of his lungs), "teachuh! toys is more than one!" But as he said it he jumped out of his chair and stood tall with his eyes wide open as if it was some important event in his life. I still don't know if the other kids understand why there is an s. But Sean knows and hopefully the knowledge with spread like wildfire. Really cute stuff...

Okay, I should take a poll. Look at the the pic above and the pic below. One is an angel and the other makes me yell at him continuously. They are polar opposites! Which one is which? Hahhaaa. Well good luck, they both look cute regardless.

WOW! What a Month! 2 Months Actually, Going on 3! LOL

2007-07-16T02:25:00.000-07:00

It is finally time to wipe the cobwebs and dust from my blog and get back to business. The past two months have been the busiest, craziest times and of course limited internet access didn't help the situation. It was mostly but not completely due to a taxi/pedestrian accident. Because of that I spent 99.9% of my time outside of work at a hospital or commuting to a hospital. Fun stuff, let me tell you. To make a long story extremely short, at this point in time I am fine, my friend is now fine and everything is just fine and dandy. Way better than fine actually. Anyhow, that was a crummy period but thank goodness it is all in the past and I am oh so ready to move onward!

Off to work now. To be continued momentarily...

Here but BUSY!!!

2007-05-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

I just want it to be known to the internet world that I love life right now. Seoul life that is. I have not written in a while cause I have been so darn busy...working and having fun, back to back to back. My school is keeping me on my toes, both the teachers and the students. It's so chaotic at times, in and out of the classroom. But really it's a nice environment. The kids are still awesome, sometimes bad and sometimes good. It's cool to see how they change and get better at English. Also they open up to me more, which is good and bad. Tomorrow I have MORE classes with parents observing. I wouldn't care so much but my director and assistants are freaking out about it. I have to have my lesson plan planned out to the minute and tell them exactly how I will be conducting the class. Then they tell me not to worry about the majority of the kids, but to focus on the kids whose mothers are in the classroom, lol. So that is the latest with school. Then I've been hangin' out with co-workers a lot it's been tons of fun. Goodbye parties and birthday parties that last until the wee hours of the night. Ahh well, that's all to tell. I'm gonna hit the hay! NIGHT! ^^

Seoul National Palace

2007-05-07T05:13:00.001-07:00

Science Class

2007-04-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

I teach pre-school, elementary, middle and high school students. I work for an English Academy so the students go to their regular schools and come to the Academy for additional intensive English. I've only taken pics of the smallest of smalls because they are just too freakin' cute not too. Anyway, here is Kiwi class again...back in action. Everyday is complete entertainment on my part, for the kids and from the kids. Kiwi class loves science class! The other day was fun with 3-D glasses, there were lots and lots of wows. When science has ended and it's time to go home the "wows" are replaced with an equally enthusiastic, "home go, home go!!!" Never ever a dull moment. And when there is a camera around, every student turns into a super hero or movie star.

James is a wee bit shy, but always cheerful.

Alice concentrates like usual.

Bruno lives in lala Land, which he occasionally bursts out of...usually in the form of SPIDERMAN!!!!

The girls whispering, probably in Korean...very bad, minus a star.

Bruno, what are you dooooing?

Amazing things could be seen through those 3-D glasses...

This class should be renamed the Sillys.

Jinny is posing pretty with her multi-colored specs.

And this maybe the only time I have ever seen Louis actually look serious, amazing.

Sunday Seoul Photos

2007-04-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

My leisurely Sunday stroll is always a nice relaxing time. Of course there are always photos to be had along the way.

A pretty little walkway next to the Yeouido Ecological Park.

The super tall 63 Building...used to be the tallest building in Asia and South Korea but now it's a has been (sorry 63 Building but it's true). It's currently the 3rd tallest in South Korea. Still, with 63 floors it's quite mammoth like.

I'm about to walk across the Han River towards the center of Seoul. There's a little playground bustling with kids along the river, plus a few boats and everyone is just relaxing.

Swan boats along the Han River.

Here is the 63 Building standing proud and tall, a shot across from the Han River.

And here I happened to be walking past an enormous dragon...so I took his picture...what his purpose serves, I have no idea. But he is pretty cool lookin'.

And here he is again...

Seoul Racecourse Park

2007-04-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

Another BIG surprise - everything is BIG in Seoul. We went to check out the horse races on Saturday and put our betting skills to the test. Unfortunately I didn't win big but at the end I was only out a couple hundred won and had a fun time. We sat in the foreigner's box which was surprisingly luxurious for being at a horse race. Everything was in English and Korean so there were no language barriers. All we had to do was figure out how to bet. The strategy must have gone over my head because my horseys were not very fast. I find it kinda strange that they don't serve alcohol (we quickly solved that dilemma with few bottles of soju tucked in our purses). They do serve beer actually but it is nonalcoholic. Anyway, the racecourse is located in the outskirts of Seoul so there are mountains directly behind the course. It was very interesting and beautiful scenery, despite the smog but that comes with Seoul no matter where you go.

This is a random waterfall outside of the metro near the racecourse. Quite lovely it was.

Food Glorious Food

2007-04-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

After living in Spain, I returned to the states and experienced new cravings for the foods I had gotten used to during my stay. A year of eating Spanish cuisine had left my mouth craving for more and since then little has changed. Today, 4 years later, I still get the same cravings for the same Spanish foods. And here in Korea, it is pretty easy to come by some typical American foods. But nooo, I don't care about American food (okay I do miss huevos rancheros and refried beans, but really that is Mexican and a whole different ballgame). I miss Spanish food!!! With all of my research, in all of Seoul, I have found two Spanish restaurants and I have not been to either one because they are expensive!!! Will I last the year? Yes, because the Korean cuisine is growing on me. I'm also discovering new and different Korean foods everyday. It doesn't make me miss Spain any less but I am satisfied with what I consume. I bet I have eaten more rice in this month than I have in my entire existence. Okay maybe not, but close!!! And I am trying to like rice cakes...really I am but so far they just don't do it for me. I am growing fond of sesame leaves though. My first bite of them was like "yuck, i am eating tree" but now they have a tastier flavor. Anyhow, I will get back to Korean food in a few moments. Let me first reflect upon my olive oil love affair.

The other night, for the first time since being in Korea, I cooked with olive oil. Well I didn't exactly cook per say. I just fried a couple eggs but that's all it took to make my taste buds savor every bite. The olive oil scent filled my apartment and brought back many, many memories. Thoughts of jamon serrano, queso manchego, gambas al ajillo, tortilla espanola, calamares and champignones filled my nostrils. I have been told that there is a great Spanish restaurant here in Seoul, called El Pato. I have plans to go there as soon as my first paycheck arrives. I fear, however, that if I go there once, I may end up going everyday for every meal...and be bankrupt...dun-dun-dun...FOREVER!!! Okay, anyway...enough about me and Spain obsessiveness, I wonder...when I leave Korea will I get Korean food cravings? Only time will tell, eh? Let's bring on the photographs...

Low and behold, here I am...with my bib on...about to scarf down a fabulous korean meal.

Here is my meal, mostly scarffed down...I took this picture at the end...twas a yummy yum yum spicy chicken dish with lots of side dishes...mmm...

Ddok mandu guk or 떡만두 국 (yes food is improving my Korean), is like a Korean dumpling soup, with egg, seaweed, a veggie or two and of course lots and lots of rice cakes, plus a few big dumplings. It's tasty and quite filling. Served piping hot, I'm surprised that you can't actually see the steam in this picture.

(Ddok mandu guk or 떡만두 국)

They other day I stopped by Family Mart (which is basically a 7-11) and bought a beer. I gave my money to the guy at the counter and he handed me my change and a dried squid. Now usually the beer comes with a bag of peanuts or chips but this time I got a dried squid. I guess it was my lucky day. I got home and took a picture of the squid and then I ate it and drank my beer. It was a salty and chewy snack.

Did I mention that if I didn't eat rice that I would starve to death?

And of course I always have the option of eating at Ben E. Gans. Haven't been there yet but have passed by numerous locations, ahh memories. This particular Bennigan's is at Seoul Station.

World Cup Stadium

2007-04-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hello! I don't have too much to say in this post but I have some pics and I wanted to post them! I went to the World Cup Stadium this weekend to watch a soccer game - how I love soccer anytime, anywhere, any language. Especially LIVE soccer!!! I don't care if I don't know the names of the players or who is playing or if I know anything about either team. As long as it's a soccer game I am quite content on watching. So, the World Cup Stadium is absolutely HUGE! I didn't realize that until I reached the bottom and looked up. Like a lot of other places in Seoul, there is a shopping mall, grocery store and parking lot underneath the stadium. I don't know exactly how many stories at this particular facility but we went down to the mall and grocery store part after the game and of course it was packed. Every time I go shopping in Seoul I get the feeling that it is the day before Christmas with amount of people all trying to shop at the same time. I don't know if I'll ever good used to the crowds. Good thing I'm not claustrophobic.

Halftime games...

I like this group huddle pic...

My cheerful pose in front of the playing field. I know I shoulda edited this photo.

Seoul Tower

2007-04-14T18:59:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I went in search of bountiful cherry blossoms and after a long exhausting up-hill walk, ended up at Seoul Tower. It was actually the most strenuous hike I have had in a really long time. I am used to hiking the Texas Hill Country, not real mountains. I took on this little mountain in Seoul and by the end my legs were weak and wobbly. I still can't believe how out of shape I am right now. I was with my friend Neil, thank goodness for him or I would have been totally lost, and he said that I really ought to join a gym. Yes, good advice, I know I know. I told him that I used to run 6 miles a day and I think he thought I was kidding. Anyhow, along the way we passed by some traditional Korean Archery in Namsan Park.

Of course we saw many Cherry Blossoms and even though it is the very end of the season, some are still in full bloom.

The walk (hike) up to Seoul Tower. We are about to go up, up and up!

Here is a glimpse of Seoul Tower. We are almost there and I can't believe my legs are still moving. The tower is located right smack in the middle of Seoul and is viewable (on a clear day) from nearly everyplace in Seoul. There is a clear view of it from our school, even though it is so far away. It's the tallest communication tower in Korea and the 3rd tallest in the world.

More random Seoul Tower shots...because one just isn't enough.

Here is Neil on top of the tower...I didn't take any pics of me with my camera but he has a few on his. I'll post them later.

Well, it certainly wasn't the clearest day for viewing the city but still a good viewing and an excuse to go back!

After Seoul Tower we went back down the mountain and visited the Korean Traditional Village.

These are called kim-chi pots, and as the name suggests they were used to store kim-chi underground during the winter.

Here I be. A happy villager.

There is a lovely park within the Village.

Pigeons, pigeons, everywhere? Is there anywhere in the world that does't have pigeons?

And lastly, a photo of the Seoul Tower at night. Sadly this pic doesn't just doesn't do it justice.

And this video is random and not too entertaining. I just happened to be passing by someplace that was blaring music and I felt like using my video camera.

My Family Tree

2007-04-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

I taught a lesson in class today about family relationships. I had to explain to the kiddos in English about aunts and uncles, cousins, parents, grandparents and so on and so forth. Well, my best attempt at this was to draw a family tree on the white board. Of course I first drew a picture of myself, Nellie-Teacher, which the kids found hysterical...I did my best to draw a very comical depiction of myself. Then came my brothers, Joe and Scott, and the students squealed their names. Next was mom and dad (mother and father) and of course I had to put their names, Jerry and Eleanor. Then the kids shouted out, "dad name cherry!" It triggered something and I realized how hard it is for me to still deal with my dad's death. I said, "No, not cherry...J-jerry" but my voice still cracked and tears came to my eyes. I had to suck it up. I wanted to cry...but I did not in front of the students...of course not. But wow, after 3 years I still become emotional. Not really a big surprise...but to tear up in front of little kids was quite bizarre and that is what caught me by surprise. I will enter the classroom emotionally prepared the next time family tree time comes around. :-]

My Cute Korean Mug Shot

2007-04-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

My school requested that I get my photo taken for my Korean ID card. So I went downstairs to the photoshop and gave the nice man a piece of paper with what I needed printed in Korean. He rushed me over in front of a white screen, took my glasses and instructed me to put my hair behind my ears. I smiled for the picture and he said, "No teeth, no smile!". So I did my best to keep a straight face and look at the camera. I paid my 9,000 won and went back to work. Later, my picture was ready and the director of our school picked them up for me. She gave me my copies and politely told me how beautiful they were. Here is my photo, lol:

It's a bit fuzzy since I took this photo with my camera and then transfered it to my laptop, but you get the idea. The heart, the rose, the bubbles...it made me chuckle. The original is digitally edited and looks super fake. Ahh, the amusement.

YBM Orientation

2007-04-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

Recent YBM Orientation Graduates!

Random night shot of Jongno area in Seoul.

My Favorite Korean Food...so far...

2007-04-08T06:36:00.000-07:00

I've had some awesome food so far and anyone who knows me knows that I'm crazy for new, delicious and different kinds of food. Thus far I have been living primarily off of kimbap because it is very tasty, filling and I know how and where to order it!!! Very important things. Kimbap is assorted meat and vegetables rolled in rice and seaweed and then sliced. And hell, it is cheap! So lot's of kimbap for me. I have ventured into various other Korean foods as well. But here is a photo of the yummy kimbap:

Hmm, we also get food at our school for lunch. I don't know who decides what will be the food or snack of the day but something always shows up. From peanut butter sandwiches to pizza to chocolate cake and juices. On Friday it was pizza for the second time this week. Which is cool because the pizza really is good here. Trust me! Ahh, I've had pizza in Spain that was like cardboard with ketchup sauce and fake cheese and crappy ingredients. The pizza here, well that I have had from two different places, has been very tasty. The odd thing about the pizza is that a common topping is corn. Odder than that, to me, is that the pizza is accompanied by corn on the cob. But whatever, it is good, especially the crust which you can get stuffed with cheese. Mmmmm, I am getting hungry. Yes I took a photo of our corn and pepperoni pizza at school before I woofed it down, and here it is!!! So exiting, yes I know. Hahhaaaa, it looks a little funny here, maybe I did take a few bites before this pic. See the corn, yum yum.

For a snack last night I bought something that has a picture of a shrimp on the front and is in a bag like chips. So I assume they are shrimp chips...ah-hem...help me out here Sean :) ??? I don't know, they were in the shape of french fries and crunchy and tasted like shrimp. I got them cause apparently they are baked? It says "Nonfrying" on the front so assume they are healthier, hell I don't know.

And the star of the bog was my dinner tonight and the tastiest meal so far in Korea. Hmm, I am biased since one of my favorite foods is eel and we went out for Korean barbecued eel. You sit at a round table with a charcoal pit in the middle and put the eel (in this case) or whatever meat is ordered on the grill over the pit. It cooks and comes with various side dishes; such as lettuce for wrappying, sauces for dipping, kimchi, radishes and coleslaw/salad type things. Here is a pic of the eel before we put it on the grill:

And here is the eel cooking on the pit and you can see most of the side dishes around it. mmm.

Speaking the English too FAST!!!

2007-04-05T05:38:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, I was told by the Korean teachers today that parents have called complaining that the new Nellie Teacher speaks too fast (and therefore their children do not understand). Interesting because

1. Nellie Teacher is from Texas. Texans talk slow. There are other teachers from NY, they talk fast. Okay well it depends on the person but I try to speak so that the kids understand.

2. At orientation we were instructed to speak at a normal pace and not slow down for students. We were told that if we slowed down then we sounded like robots and they did not want the kids sounding like robots. They wanted them to speak and understand spoken english.

Soooo, should Nellie Teacher slow down or speak normally? Mind you I actually speak more acutely and slower than normal just because I know it is hard for them to understand.

Answer is that it depends on the class. I teach 12 year olds and I can talk to them normally. When it is time to go home they all yell, "it's time to go home!". With the 4 year olds, they all yell, "home go!!!", so maybe I have to be more robotic with them. Even though we were instructed to speak at a normal pace.

Teaching at YBM ECC

2007-04-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

Where I go to work everyday and teach a bunch of ADORABLE little Korean kiddos.

A close up of my school, on the 6th floor.

Not to pick favorites but James and Alice are boyfriend girlfriend. He will kiss her on the cheek in the middle of class and she says, "YUCK" (i guess in Korean) and wipes it off. Louis is running behind Alice, and Jinny (NOT Jenny) is on the right. This class rocks.

Bruno, once again...wowing the class with his stunning moves!

Bruno moves at lightening speed! Making him a bit fuzzy, you see.

Somebody made a paper airplane, oh what fun it is to play with airplanes instead of learning English!

The boys are not camera shy, at all!!!

Nellie Teacher's Desk:

No Noodles in a Drain. It Clogs the Drain. Put left-over noodles in a toilet and throw away the disposable bowl in garbage bag in the storage.

Hmm, what this means, I don't know. It is in our bathroom at the school.

NEW! Nellie Teacher!

2007-04-03T03:08:00.000-07:00

I began my first day of teaching yesterday under the official title, Nellie Teacher. Last week was all observation and orientation at the head office. But yesterday I began the real deal and what I will be doing for a living for the next year of my life here in Seoul. It was CRAZY, exciting, frustrating, fun, new and challenging. I taught 8 classes of 40 minutes each. That's quite a bit for my first day. I had no clue what book went with what class or how many kids I would have in each class or what lesson to go over or what their ages were going to be. It was nuts. So the Korean teachers helped me a little and the rest was just a bunch of photo-copying and walking into classrooms, introducing myself as the new Nellie Teacher and taking it from there. I have to say that the classes went really well. The preparation for the classes was total frustration but once I got there the kids knew what to do so all was good. Not that I really enjoy being the stupid teacher and having the kids tell me stuff but whatever it was my first day. I was utterly exhausted by the last class. My feet hurt and so did my throat from talking so much. Still I felt good about making it through the day somewhat successfully. Two days a week I teach 8 40 minute classes and the other 3 days I teach 6 40 minute classes. I really like my schedule.

Tomorrow I will take pictures of my favorite class. I could tell from observation day that they were an awesome group. Oddly enough, I ended up with a schedule that teaches them daily, at least one class. Now they are not the best well behaved, but their personalities are absolutely adorable. I have to talk about them, they are amazing little people. I think they are 4 or 5, even though they tell me they are 5 or 6 (korean age). Okay, going are around the room there is Bruno (I swear he has ADD, you say his name 5 time and he looks up 30 seconds later but he is sweet), Sean (totally smart out-going and incredibly advanced for his little age), Maddy and Jenny (best buds that like to talk a lot and make funny faces, they enjoy being goofy together and being off-task), James and Alice (my favorites, yes they are boyfriend girlfriend and do everything together, help each other, whisper the answer to each other and they both participate and are animated...not always on the best behavior but if you need their attention they give it immediately, awesome little people) and then there is Louis (a space-cadet...a smart one but he needs a bit of coaxing, he also enjoys being the class clown on occasion and if you let him he will zoom around the classroom like an airplane, amusing but not really appropriate). And that is my Kiwi Class. Don't call them Banana, Pear or Grape class or they get super offended!!! Well if anyone reads all that then you can t tell that I am really into these little guys, which is weird! Why? Because I have never ever wanted to teach little kids. I did the substitute teacher thing for a while and it was okay. I then decided I didn't want to teach little kids and that maybe I would teach on a university level. Well, teaching english to Korean kiddos is totally different. They have adorable little accents, cannot pronounce their r's or z's or g'z or a lot of letter or words and then repeat everything you say exactly the way the you say it. And if they are not in a talkative mode, bring up kim-chi and you light up their world!!!

Kimchi is an amazing thing to me. I don't understand how every little kid LOVES pickled spicy cabbage. As a matter of fact, I picked up some kimchi on the way home today to go with dinner and it set my mouth on fire. Now this is the first time this has happened. Normally I enjoy kimchi but this particular batch was too hot to handle. How can little kids eat the stuff? Geez I thought I had built up a toleration for spicy food.

Anyway, today I had day 2 of teaching. It went great!!! I only had 6 classes and I had a lot of breaks and time to prepare for them. I got off early and don't have my first class until 2pm tomorrow. I am so happy that I took this job in Korea. Hahhaaa, that is me talking on day 2...stay tuned for negative updates, lol.

One of the girls I work with can't wait until she gets back to Canada, 6 more months. Another girl I work with is from the UK and plans on staying here for at least 2 year and she's only been here 4 months. Me, I don't know yet. So far so good. I am happy as happy could be.

No Friends in Seoul :o|

2007-04-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

I had such a great day in Seoul today, why??? Because I was all by myself wandering around, thinking my own thoughts and being totally in my own element. Some days this could be classified as lonely but today was utter freedom. I made my own way across Seoul, zig-zagging in and out of streets not having a clue where I was going. It was great, never a dull moment. I saw some mollusks outside some restaurants, observed some Korean soccer, walked around in yellow dust a lot and of course I ate some yummay food. After looking back at my pictures I realized that I am not in a single foto because I have no friends here. It is okay, I am not sad. It's just sorta weird. Annnyway, lemme post a few pics now.

I did not eat this particular octopus but someone soon shall or perhaps someone already has...gulp.

Yes it was dead quiet around my place on Sunday...here is proof!!!

Let's dance with the barbecue, now shall we?

In My Apartment, Finally!!!

2007-03-31T04:42:00.001-07:00

It's Saturday night in Seoul Korea and I am sitting here in my just moved into apartment typing on my laptop while eating kimchi, sushi and washing down with some soju. I had plans to go out tonight. I had several plans actually. Cancelled 'em all. I packed up today and moved into my new apartment and I absolutely love it. It's the perfect size with ample space. I like the location and the fridge and the internet and the bathroom and the layout and many other little things. I love this little place. However, I acquired it filthier than filth. Absolutely totalmente disgustingly filthy. The guy before me hadn't swept or cleaned a single dust bunny since he moved in over a year ago. Since we have to take off our shoes at the entrance, my socks became immediately black upon walking across the room. The floors, counters and furniture were caked in black hairs and who knows what kind of dust. Gross, gross, gross!!! So I spent the rest of today hunting for cleaning supplies and an adapter for my computer. I did fairly well gathering my list. Came back and cleaned the place out as best I could for the amount of energy I had left. There is still a lot more to do tomorrow, cleaning and laundry and unpacking and getting settled in. But I don't feel like my place is a total dump like before. I have some fotos...you'll see what I mean. Well actually I haven't had a chance to post much since I haven't had internet connection, so let me my pictures below tell a few stories...

CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE

My newfound favorite snacks: almond and anchovies with some sorta drink...i dunno but it's deelish, trust me!

Welcome to my beloved, FILTHY apartment!!!

My lue or should I say bathroom...

Another view of my place-cito...just moved in!!!

I'll post after picks when I tidy things up.

The sink is also gross, what do you know. Hell the guy before me hadn't used a cleaning product in over a year - what do you expect??? yuck.

I went in search of an american style plug to charge my laptop. Thankfully mister guy before me had set up internet. I took this foto after I finally found one at the electronics mall.

The Electronics Mall at Yongsan Station where I got my adapter. Look at the pretty light up stairs, they are multi-colored.

The seafood restaurants proudly display their menu outside the store in live aquariums. Then a little old lady with big rubber gloves comes from the back and swoops a victim up with a net. She then takes it back to the kitchen and cooks up dinner. Here are some squids and other fishies outside a random place I was passing by.

My apartment is on the street behind this theater.

Hahaaa, the director of my school gave me this bed set as a present when I got here. Korean females LOVE PINK.

Inside my fridge. He left me coca cola (diet anything is rare here) some beer (korean and a corona) and one hell of a lot of peanut butter. Thanks.

Look at all the different brands of peanut butter I have! Don't remember the last time I at that sticky stuff. He could've been cool and left nutella instead, oh well. PB it is!

A bag of peanuts came with the beer.

The peanuts are strange and some are super sweet, yucko.

Ahh, some beer and soju after a long long day.

Dinner is served. I have had some very interesting things to eat since my arrival in Korea. I have not had an opportunity to take many photos but plan on capturing more in the future.

For some reason I felt compelled to buy this egg, I hope it is cooked.

I won't buy another egg like this, whatever the hell it is.

What to Pack?

2007-03-23T01:15:00.000-07:00

Hmm...this isn't my first time I've packed for an extended stay abroad. I stayed a year in Madrid and have been to Mexico and Europe numerous times. For some reason this time it feels as though I'm packing for a more permanent stay. Maybe because Korea is so foreign to me and I'll actually have a job instead of being a student. At least when I went to Spain I knew the language for the most part. If I didn't know something I could whip out my dictionary and figure it out. Though I've been studying the Korean alphabet and language, I still don't have down enough to get by. Well, I hear that there are a lot of things written in English and that the Korean people are eager to help out foreigners, as well as practice their English. And on that note, I feel better.

UPDATE: THINGS I FORGOT TO PACK:

1. my brush
2. my two favorite pairs of pjs
3. extra gum
4. my slippers

not bad, eh? oh well.

Leaving in 2 Days

2007-03-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

What I Anticipate Missing in San Antonio:

Spending Time with my Mom - Cooking, Hiking, Morning Breakfasts, Her Stories and Enthusiasm
My Family
My Friends
Mexican Food
Spanish
My Green Room
Tootsie Woo
El Callejon, Cascabel, Crabby Jacks, Charlie Browns
Hot Weather
Cheese
Being a Texan in Texas
Walking in the Neighborhood
Everything in and About my Casa
People Speaking the English

Can you tell I'm excited???

2007-03-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

Alright, it's official. It's been official actually. I'm going to Korea in a few days. And I finally, after much anguish and turmoil, got my visa :)

This is where I will be for the next year.

Korea

2007-03-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

So, I am going to Korea. Not Japan or China but Korea. They pay better. So I did some research and talked to a bunch of recruiters. I found a school that I trust and have read good things about. Now I'm just waiting and learning Korean! Woo-hoo. All those wacky little symbols aren't really too difficult to learn. In fact learning the Korean alphabet is a lot easier than I would have thought. I can read and pronounce the lettering fairly easily but the problem is I have no idea what I'm reading or saying. So now Spanish and German seem incredibly easy. I can say chicken and no in hangul (the Korean alphabet. hahahaa, I actually have learned a bunch of random words but I don't know how to put them together. ahhh well.

Me vuelvo Loca, Loca.

2007-02-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

Here I am at work in San Antonio, TX. I thought I'd try out the boring office job because it pays well, has benefits and opportunity for advancement in a new field. Well, it's an experience I am already ready to put behind me (already). I can't believe how many people in this country have accents. Thick, heavy, annoying and impossible to understand accents. There's all kinds and it seems as though I get more callers with accents than normal English speaking persons. South Carolina, New York, California, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama have got to be the worst. Why bother speaking the English if the English person can't understand you? Just ask for an ebonics translator or whatever your mother tongue happens to be. On the other hand I do feel somewhat sorry for these people because they think they're getting the run around and they probably are because no one can understand them. Especially when they are upset and yelling some form of butchered English into your ear, giving you a headache from the both the noise and frustration of trying to understand them. Then I wonder if so many people are just so plain stupid to think that yelling into the phone and speaking more slurred is going to benefit them in any way. Ahh yes, tis always good to vent...on that note I can relate with irate callers. But little do they know that while they're yelling their life story into my ear all I am going to do is transfer them somewhere else. Or I could always hit the release button, oops. Is it now completely obvious how much I love my job? Yeah well, it could be worse, I know I know. My brain will soon turn to mush and then I'll be a happy little cubicle vegetable going about my life in the normal do what you have to way. So I'm tossing and turning and weighing my options. Stay here, going up the insurance chain and retire by 50? No, it's been established that my brain would be mushified and I don't want that happening anytime soon or ever for that matter. I could get another job but I know how much fun that process is. But I can't keep on sitting here day after, "it's just not gonna happen!"

Cubicles

2007-01-19T22:33:00.000-08:00

I always knew I could never work in an office building. Always. Whatever job I was to end up with would be outdoors or obscure. I took a call center job just to put it to the test. Hahahaaa, never ever again!!!

This image was taken by yours truly when the roads were iced over in San Antonio. Only about 6 of us showed up that day, none of my supervisors. Even though the # I had called that morning had instructed us to come to work anyway. See how happy I look?

God Damn It

2007-01-18T22:02:00.000-08:00

My best friend was just arrested for a DWI and wasn't even freakin' tipsy!!! Yes he'd had a few beers, then half a margarita and that was it!!! Over the course of 3-4 hours!!! That's nothin' unless you're a super light weight. So he didn't put on his turn signal while making a right onto some street and the cops pulled him over and arrested him for intoxication, wtf. Then they proceeded to ask me why I'd be in the car with such an intoxicated person when I knew damn well he's had like less than half what I've had to drink. "Um mam, you're obviously fine to drive so why did you let this drunk person drive?....Please tell me how much alhochol he has consumed this evening." He didn't drink shit!!! I tried to tell them that but they thought I was covering his ass and I was WAYYY more buzzed then he'd ever been close too. So this sux, my buddy is in jail and I feel so bad for him because he really didn't do shit, just forgot to put on the damn blinker. What the hell are blogs good for other than venting...someday when I've vented enough I will know the answer.

At Least I Didn’t Hit a Moose

2007-01-16T12:58:00.000-08:00

Somewhere in Alaska, there was an unfortunate moose who decided to cross the road. Seconds later the moose was struck by an oncoming SUV, sending the moose to Moose Heaven (assuming he had been a good church-going moose), and the vehicle to total loss. Poor Moose, may he rest in peace. At least I wasn’t the moose or the driver of the SUV. He was fine though, just a bit inconvenienced. And on that note my drive to work this morning really wasn’t so bad. I didn’t hit a moose or a patch of ice and I made it safely and on time. There are many lucky stars to be thanked.

See I’m trying to psych myself into believing the idea that my 40 minute commute was actually quite pleasant, despite my perpetual negative thoughts and grimaces at mindless drivers obstructing my preferred path on the road. Turn signals, lights, and the gas pedal are essential, however extremely underused elements around here. I don’t care if they don’t want to reach the speed limit as long as they stay out of my way, which of course they don’t do. I believe I’d rather be on the road with crazy darting drivers than lame, hokey pokey SA drivers. Vehicles just seem to float lazily from one lane into another, no blinkers employed (why bother with those?). I don’t imagine they’re even aware of the fact that they’ve switched lanes since their cell phone conversation is occupying their total brain capacity.

So again, I didn’t hit a moose. This isn’t about a moose though, nor is about the other drivers or their turn signals that I could really care less about. It’s about 40 minutes of my day just being blah, when it shouldn’t be blah at all. Sure my drive is comfortable and I enjoy my music but the whole routine becomes mundane, really quickly. My car is a bubble separating me from life. Just like my job. That sounds downbeat and depressing but it’s the way I see things.

How do you smell the roses when you’re in a bubble? What is comes down to is how much I miss Madrid, Spain and the whole European lifestyle, I suppose.

I miss smelling life. All the different scents I’d pick up on during the 2 mile walk from my residence to the university in Madrid are but fond memories. I knew every bakery on the way and anticipated bypassing them daily, inhaling the sweet scents of freshly baked confectionaries. The coffees, hams, cheeses, chorizo and chocolate shops all tempted you with a whiff from inside. I miss the scent of the metro, of the fresh air upon exiting the metro and breezes from trees while passing by a park. I loved walking and observing the hustle and bustle of different people going about their lives, eavesdropping and people watching. That 2 mile walk was a daily pleasure that I dearly miss. These days I drive 5 times that far and get nothing out of it. It’s just something that has to get done. That’s why I get sad sometimes while driving to work. Nothing to see, smell, observe or take pleasure in. My commute consists of the highway, crappy drivers, construction and shiny square buildings. I need to move back to Spain, I already knew that.

Don't You Get It???

2006-12-15T21:59:00.000-08:00

It's the Hap Happiest Time of the Year!!! Okay so it's Christmas time. Yay, who besides Scrooge doesn't enjoy a little bit of Christmas Spirit? I realized today (for like the 60th time) that I'm a shopping Scrooge. Somehow someway in my American upper-middle class upbringing I developed some sense of anti-shopping. I despise the whole hustling bustling browsing procedure. Here in SA shopping to me is a chore. For the most part it's a lot of driving and traffic and the SOL (SAME OLD SHIT). Now allow me to continue; when I leave the US I become an uncontrolable shop-aholic. Why? Every little store has different merchandise, I can walk from store to store for miles and miles and never come cross the same path twice. Here it's just too redundant. And I'll leave it be for now. hasta luego, department stores suck.

Gender Barriers

2006-12-14T19:23:00.000-08:00

This post provides me the opportunity to vent over the fact that I relate with neither males or females. People baffle me.

I don't feel like continuing like I had planned on. Never mind. Maybe later. Pointless.

Monday-Friday, 8-5

2006-12-05T17:49:00.000-08:00

Plus over an hour driving to and from WORK, which is actually my favorite part of the whole waste of time. I welcome red stop lights and stand-still traffic, the longer in the car the better. It keeps my thoughts off the fact that my whole day is spent under way too bright artificial lighting, sitting on my butt and looking out a window easily distracted while I should be productive. What the hell am I doing here? All dressed up all day long working like a captive, some 12 floors up in a huge office building making small talk with co-workers and pretending to be into my job. I just need a freakin' paycheck. Good news is that the job is becoming more interesting as the days go by and I feel like I'm learning something worth the while. So that makes it much more tolerable. Still, leaving the house at 7 and getting home at like 6 is for the birds. Woo-hooo, I have 2 days off just like every other robot, Sat and Sun. Yuck, everyplace is crowded just like rush hour. I can't live the 8-5 thing for long. Or I'll really take off for China. Yesterday was one of the longest most boring days of my entire life. Today was better.

I think it's a shame that so far, this blog has been created so that I can vent. Well I just started it so I guess I have plenty of time to add some happy stuff :) I look forward to the day that it's more than that. Where I'm enthusiastic about what's happening in my life. Write about positive things. Well, I could turn things around and start writing about food. Dinner was awesome and so was lunch yesterday but not today. I went to a really good Mexican Restaurant and tonight made my mom her favorite fish, Tilapia and we had a nice dinner together. But food isn't on my mind so much these days like it normally is. I'm just caught up in the crossroad that I'm trying to figure out.

I'm moving to Japan...

2006-12-04T18:58:00.000-08:00

Or someplace. Why can't I just be normal and be free of the damn travel bug? It's really getting to me. I just started my 8-5 job plus the hours of traffic and I need something else in my life. I just need a change and at this point I don't care how drastic it may be. So yeah, I might go teach some English over in Asia. That would be way more useful to me than sitting in an office all day, even if the pay is good. I'm not content to be in my own little world when I know what else is out there. Damn my education. I could be so happy and simple. Or I could just be so normal and happy. Well whatever, if I have interent access I'll write you all. Peace out, folks. Maybe I'll keep in touch. hahhaaaa...BYE!!!

Thanksgiving 2006

2006-11-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

I headed up to Austin today with my Uncle, Aunt and brother, Scottman, for the family Thanksgiving this year. My uncle drove 80 mph or more the entire way up north I-H 35 (mostly in the right lane since the left was slowly moving), just like I would have done. Weaving in and out of the little to moderate traffic just because people were being snails. The thought, "slow thinkers keep right!" kept going through my head as we passed more and more sloths hanging out in the left lane. My aunt, however, is on the side of the mollusks. She argues that she is doing her part in controlling traffic by going the speed limit in the left lane. She thinks that she keeps other people from getting speeding ticket and saves them gas money when she blocks up the lead footers. Sometimes smart people are so stupid. We've argued about this countless times but it always comes back up. So the construction around New Braunfels is finally almost done, Cabela's is up and hoppin' in Buda, Smokey Bones and Steak n' Shake have claimed spots in South Austin. All is in a constant state of change and soon the San Antonio - New Braunfels - San Marcos - Austin cooridoor will be joined into one. Joy.

We arrive, oh happy happy day. My cousin greets us all with Sangria slushes, yum. Little by little everyone arrives and the reunion proceeds as we all catch up with one another. The holidays for me become more unreal with each passing year. We have a strange generation gap that I find hard to make of. There is my generation of cousins and brothers and their significant others and then there's the generation above us; my mom, aunts and uncles. There's only one little boy around, my second cousin James, a really cool little 5 year old. It's just odd to me that he's the only little tike around. When I was his age family get togethers were a blast. At least 10 of us little people of varying ages engaged in fun little people activities. But today it was just the adults and 5 year old James. All of us played games with James and he was far from ever being bored...but it's just weird how my cousins, brothers and I are now all in our mid twenties to thirties and our parents are like grandparent aged and there are no other kiddos around. We're obviously not a Mexican family.

Well then I begin observing my family and all the different personalities. The crazy sweet aunt, the know it all uncle, the political cousin and the list goes on. What a mix! I just feel like turning into a wall so I can step back and be invisible and just observe the whole parade. But what the heck, I'm sure there are zillions of other families just like mine and how weird families actually are when you enter or observe any particular one.

So the food totally rocked as usual. That's one thing I can always count on when it comes to holidays. I can't even begin to describe it all. Add some wine, beer, sangria and of course jello shots and the Thanksgiving partay is on.

So anyway, I'm tired of writing so the moral of the story is I don't want kids anytime soon and Thanksgiving is the best when it comes to food. bye.

Working a lot and a lot more than a lot

2006-11-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

It's a lot of work maintaining three jobs. Even when I had one job and I worked almost as many hours, it wasn't nearly as chaotic as managing three. It's a very hypocritical position for me to be in since I criticize people who are workaholics and do little else with their lives. Well like it or not that's me right now. However, if all goes as planned things will begin to slow down in a few weeks. Then I won't be working 7 days a week, just 5 and maybe a bit on the weekends.

Okay so it could be worse

2006-11-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

SA really isn't all that bad. It's a nice town for many reasons but the majority of the people here don't live their lives to the fullest, or anywhere close for that matter. Work consumes most of their time, early to rise and early to sleep, fast food, short lunch breaks, traffic, driving and in general completely unaware that the world outside of San Antonio does indeed exist. Even if they do know they could really care less. Stop and smell the roses, open your eyes and take a look around and enjoy your lives. That's my advice to my fellow San Antonions, but really why bother. No wonder I used to come across so many grumpy old people while in the service industry. I bet they just let their lives go by working too damn much and now they can't go back and live it. Well, that's just my perspective. And also why I miss Spain and can barely tolerate San Antonio. Sorry Taco Town, that's just the way it is. You do have good tacos though, but that's about all I'll give you.