|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| Maybe it's a good thing we didn't go to the Philippines this time around. Friday night the both of us got really sick and we wondered (oink oink) if it was the Swine Flu. David had reoccurring high fevers, vomiting bile, and stomach pains and I just had some sort of the stomach flu, constant diarrhea for 4 days till it eventually turned green. Wasn't pretty. But what was funny was he'd be on the toilet, then I'd have an "emergency" and half-way through he'd have to stand up for me. Back and forth, back and forth. Yesterday David had to go to the hospital and get an IV and I kept asking the doctor whether or not husband had "Swine Flu", "SI", and "Dae-ji In-plu-en-ja" 3 different times just to make sure. Wouldn't want to be responsible for our school shutting down and getting jacked of our severance pay!
Anyways, I don't think white sandy beaches would have been much fun spent in the bathroom all weekend. Maybe we'll meet Sally and Co. in the Philippines at the end of the year. Congrats on the green card Sr.!
| | |
| All the teachers at our school were forced into our summer vacation two weeks early because of a swine flu outbreak over the weekend here where we live. Overnight those infected rose from 8 to 50 when a student went to Canada and came back with SI and the numbers are still on the rise.
Now let me tell you my frustrations. Husband and I were just two weeks shy from white sandy beaches in the Philippines. Some other teachers were going to Thailand and Vietnam. Now? We ain't goin anywhere! From what we've heard, even those flying into Incheon airport are being quarantined for 7 days AT the airport! Even if we were able to go to the Philippines, we would have had to be quarantined for 5 days here in Korea, but I was fine with that. One day on a beach would have been fine with me!
Let me tell you, the drama here in Korea never ceases. Floods? Outbreak? One thing I've learned here in Korea is that you never know what's going to happen, so DON'T PLAN AHEAD.
One day, white sandy beach, one day.
| | |
| This weekend was very special to me. Saturday morning the Lord took my grandmother Home. She was 96 years old and one of the strongest and most amazing women I've ever met! I can't help but be so thankful that the Lord brought us to Korea when He did and that we were able to spend time with grandma before she passed. Thank you, Lord.
My dad jumped on a plane and made it just in time for day 3 of the funeral. For this, I was also extremely thankful he was able to come and in good timing. Korean funerals are very different from the states. It's 3 days long and begins on the day the person passes. It's quite exhausting-lots of tears, lots of comforting, lots of hosting, lots of traveling, but I have to say one of the most memorable and precious experiences I've had in Korea, along with the last moments I got to spend with grandma.
Grandma, I love you and I miss you. If God wills it, I'll try and have lots of sons, I'll tie my hair back as often as I can, and I'll be a good wife to my husband.
| | |
| This afternoon while I was enjoying the blossoming cherry blossoms outside our building, the KBS news camera crew approached me and asks if I watched the baseball game yesterday. I say "nah han gook mall jal mot hay yo." ("I cannot speak Korean well") That phrase has actually become my crutch since day one. I should really wean myself off of that or else I won't ever learn the language. Anyways, they thanked me and walked away. A minute later it dawned on me that David watched it over the internet at work yesterday. So I called him and told him if he wanted to be on TV, run down here NOW!
I shamelessly ran after the crew and stopped them in their tracks.
"Nah nam pyun yagoo bah suh yo. Hold on! He's coming!" (Engrish transration: My husband watched the baseball. Hold on! He's coming!)
So David got his 15 seconds of fame today. A pathetic attempt at jump starting my husband's acting career. jk.
In other news, (yes pun) the cherry blossoms are blooming!
Since I'm stuck inside all day and sorely deprived of the light of day, I've been taking every free moment I have to amble among the cherry blossom trees since its time with us is short lived-sadly, they will be gone in less than a month. I never truly understood the beauty of all four seasons until I came to Korea. As frustrating as the winter was, what with dry skin, freezing cold temperatures, static, bronchial irritations, static, colds and flu, I really really love witnessing the budding of each season. Green leaves turning shades of red and orange in the fall, cherry blossoms blooming in the spring... Now I can't guarantee I'll still feel the same once the humidity of summer arrives, but I'll bask in this season and live in the present.
Speaking of changes, all my friends are having babies!! I've already missed out on my dear friend Sally and Christian's new little man. It makes me sad every time I think about it that I'm missing out on all these events and milestones, but more to look forward to when I visit!
Welcome to the world little friend! I've never met you but I love you already! On second thought, perhaps my absence is a good thing. I'd be sparing you all my grossly high-pitched baby talk and sloppy kisses, but just you wait.
| | |
| A few days ago we experienced monsoon-like weather. It rained cats and dogs and the wind turned many umbrellas inside out. It was a funny sight actually, seeing many ditched umbrellas laying on the sides of roads.
I went home during my break to grab something and on my way back to work I was walking out of my apt. and this white guy in front of me stops in his tracks and says oh crap. He had no umbrella and the downpour was quite incredible. Feeling for the guy, I decided to be a good Samaritan and offered to share my umbrella since he was going my direction (I'm really not that nice a person, it was one of those things where it would have been awkward not to offer it). After about a minute of chatting he says to me "you know, you speak the language fairly well." Now, this is the part where I shifted the umbrella about 2 inches to the left. Well, buddy, it just so happens I'm from the states! In retrospect I realized what I should have said was
Oh lilly? tenk you, tenk you berry much-uh! (insert bow)
Paradise
Yesterday I discovered heaven on earth. I entered the place, asked David to hold my bags momentarily while I tied my hair back and bobby-pinned my bangs. He busted up at how excited I was and told me to knock myself out. And I did. Like a kid in a candy store I spent about an hour marveling at the layout, running from station to station, picking and choosing from hundreds of different cakes, pastries, and quiches, and most importantly trying the infamous pudding I've heard so much about. More than eating it I was most excited about taking these cute little pudding bottles home.
I don't normally drink 7 dollar coffees (rather, 7,000 won) but there was nothing cheaper. Even their drip was 7 bucks. hello. I guess I could have gotten nothing but hey, this was my White Castle experience.
And just like that kid in the candy store, I didn't want to leave. So my husband let me take a little treat home. 2 more pudding bottles!
I love how they package things here. A little ice pack to keep my puddings nice and cold until I got home.
In conclusion, I guess I have nothing to say for my muffin top.
This weekend I did the unthinkable and forked over 17,000 won for the February issue of Martha Stewart Living. I could probably get a year's subscription for that price back home. I sauntered back and forth for a good hour in the bookstore, trying to find ways to justify this purchase. In the end, my husband urged me to buy it because "you need to stay inspired!" he says. So sweet of him. Cost of living (pun intended) sure ain't cheap here! The other day I purchased 1 grapefruit at 2,500 won and 4 apples at 6,000 won. Once at the Lotte Dept store I saw 9 golden asian pears for 189,000 won. Is that crazy or what? You'd think they were made of gold. I could easily forgo the fruit around here but I'm currently on a mission to get back to my pre-korea weight (halfway there!).
As bad as the summer gets around here, days like today make me long for it. It was literally a freezer outside. Actually, colder than a freezer. Below zero! Till next time...
peace out!
| | |
|
