Seaweed Chips?!

Seaweed Chips are by far my favorite "junk" food here in Korea.  They are baked little pieces of seaweed that get coated in sesame oil.  They are just the right amount of salty and they are divine.  I seriously love them.  Today I found out that Trixie loves them too.  HA!  I accidentally dropped a piece on the floor and she (of course) swooped in and ate it. She would not leave me alone after that.  I think I might have created a monster.  :D

This is just a photo I found on the internet but this is what they look like.  So yummy!!!

My first package(s)...

This morning I got some wonderful packages in the mail.  Aunt Jane and Aunt Alice sent me care packages with wonderful things inside.  I opened them up this morning once I got them (at like 9am which was way early!)  I was so excited!!  They had some personal care products that I cannot find in Korea, ornaments (which is wonderful!), and CANDY!!!  I put the candy on the counter and went back to bed.  Once I got up up I went and opened one of the Reese's Pieces and started eating it while talking to my boyfriend.  He asked me what it was and I told him that I got packages and showed him all of the stuff.  His response: 

Segyu: WAH!  Why so much candy?! 

Me: because it is my favorite candy and I cannot get it in Korea. 

Segyu: but if you eat this you will get fat!  Only one piece a day!  Only one. 

(bits and pieces of this was actually in Korean, not English)  

At this point I am slowly eating my Reese's Pieces and just staring at him like he has lost his mind.  I proceeded to tell him that I do what I want (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwIExmtkrNM) and go and open the Sour Patch Kids.  It was hilarious and something I am using to my benefit!  (the last picture is a prank I pulled on him)  

***Side note: In Korea it is completely okay to discuss ones weight and such.  It is not taboo like it is in America.  People discuss it all the time here and it is actually a sign that they care about you.  So, his response is actually good because it is showing that he cares about me enough to say something about it.

Additionally, he has never called me fat or anything like that.  He tells me all the time that my body is wonderful and that I am skinny style.  HA!  He also hated it when I said I wanted to go on a diet because according to him "you are already skinny, why diet?  No diet.  You are fine!"

They came together!!!!

The best part of the packages...all of the candy!!!  It will probably take me a while to actually eat all of this but it is still great!

After going on a double date with his cousin, I went home and Segyu went to work (he is a local business owner in Yeoju).  I had been joking around all day about how I was going to go home and eat all of the candy at once and so on.  He would just be like NO, but then the subject would be changed.  HA.  Well I decided that it would be funny to act like I was actually going to be a little piggy.  I opened the Reese's Pieces package and took this selfie.  I sent it to him because it is freaking hilarious!  He sent me a simple one word text: NO!!!!!  Got to love messing with people.  

Such a troll!

Locked out...

This morning was horrible for me.  I was taking Trixie outside and I left my bag with my keys and phone in it inside my door, like I always do.  I forgot to get Trixie's doggy bad and went to grab it from my then unlocked apartment.  Well my dumb ass went up instead of down (which locks the door) and locked myself out of my apartment.  No phone.  No wallet.  No keys.  Only me and my dog.  I wanted to die. 

I waited by the building managers office in hopes that he would come down by 8am.  No luck.  So I decided that I would walk to my boyfriends house to have him help me.  It is closer than my school, so I thought it would be good.  I know the combo to his apartment building and his door was unlocked.  He was of no help.  So I had to make my way to school.  Once at school (with a very dirty Trixie), I asked my head co-teacher for help.  She calls a lock-smith and tells me that it will be about 220,000 won (about $220) to get into my apartment.  My face showed my emotions: "are you freaking kidding me!!!"  I asked if anyone had a spare key, since it is the schools apartment.  She proceeded to call the vice-principal and he told her to contact the building manager.  The building manager said he would look and call back.  Well I still had some luck on my side, he had a key. 

So I went home and got into my house and it was fine.  But this morning was hell.  I am really kind of pissed off at my boyfriend right now and myself.  I knew better but I wasn't thinking.  I also normally take my cell phone outside with me when I take Trixie out but I decided that I would put it in my bag instead.  It was just a strange morning and I really should have known that it was going to happen.  Oh well.  Lesson learned.  Bleh!!!

Homesick...

Coming into this adventure I knew I would be homesick and that Christmas (and subsequently my birthday) would be the worst season for me.  And I was correct.  Christmas is but a week away and I am missing home so much.  Not America per se but my family.  I have NEVER spent a Christmas or birthday without my family and the closer it gets to these days I feel sad.  I will not get to see my niece and nephew open their presents.  Heck I will not get to wrap their presents (which is half the fun of gift giving).  I will not see the Christmas Santa Clause or drink hot chocolate at Hall's.  It is all becoming clear to me that I am not home with my family like I have always been.

I think it would be semi-better if my birthday was not right there as well.  As a family we always go out for birthday dinners together and this year I will not be participating in this activity.  Two big days that I have always spent with family are no longer going to be spent with family and it is hard. 

I was talking to someone last night about it and he suggested Skyping, which yes helps but only so much.  There is something about being physically there and watching everything that makes it wonderful. 

I also think that not having any real plans for Christmas or my birthday are also causing some issues.  I will be alone on Christmas and that is not something anyone should experience.  As of right now there are no parties or anything that I know of.  The day before my birthday I am going to Daegu for a concert that one of my students bands is playing.  I will be coming home on my birthday and will probably end up doing absolutely nothing.  Again kind of depressing.

Hopefully it gets better but I know that Christmas and my birthday are going to be semi-sad days for me. 

Miscellaneous...

I am wearing braided pigtails and a hat today...everyone keeps telling me I look so cute.  HA! 

So, outside of deleting my facebook (yes, again), nothing new is really happening.  I finally bought Savannah and Preston their Christmas presents.  Hopefully they arrive in time for Christmas and that I got things they will enjoy.  Why is it so hard to buy presents! 

Another random bit, I decided to get rid of most of my furniture that I have in storage.  There is really no point in paying for a storage unit when I can buy the stuff again once and if I come back to the United States.  Looks like Mom and Dad got a new couch.  HA! 

Everything is good here, boring but good.  I do not do a lot of stuff because it is way to cold outside and I just want to be a lazy head.  I guess I cannot say it is too cold outside (I am use to the cold), the real problem is the heating inside places.  Heating in Korea is so random and sometimes a place will be comfortable and warm and other times you feel like you are outside.  Although I love Korea, the heating is crazy and something they need to work on. 

I might go to Seoul this coming weekend and look at the Christmas lights and do some retail therapy.  I kind of want some jeans.  Well I kind of need some jeans.  I only have two pair of pants that fit me.  HA.  The benefits of losing weight?! 

This was a really random post but it was kind of needed.  :D

Christmas Lights

I miss Christmas Lights.  They are my favorite part of Christmas.  Walking around and looking at the beautiful lights.  I know Seoul has some areas with Christmas lights, so I might have to venture out next weekend to see them.  Oh Christmas lights!

Teacher Badminton Competition

As most of you know I joined the teachers badminton club at my school.  We have a practice/game every Thursday after school.  It is so much fun.  I really enjoy badminton and having dinner with the teachers in the cafe after.

Because this week is finals week, the gym teacher and some others decided to have a teachers badminton competition.  A bunch of teachers got together to play badminton and have fun.  I was supposed to be paired up with the gym teacher (who is crazy good at badminton) but one of his daughters was sick so he had to leave early.  It worked out in the end, Daehyung was without a partner as well so we ended up being partners.  We lost our first game but won our second, meaning we didn't come in last place.  :D  Which is always good.  It was a bunch of fun.

After the competition was over we all went out for gamjatang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamjatang), and drinks.  I was over the moon because gamjatang is one of my favorite foods to eat.  LOVE!!!

I could not have asked for a better night!  I really love the school I am at and feel right at home with everyone.  It is wonderful!

Facebook...

Just needed some time away from Facebook.  Been spending way too much time on there so I deactivated my account.  I will be back, just give it a few days. 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

So I put up my Christmas tree...

 

 

Isn't she pretty!!!

A Beautiful Sunday

This weekend was busy.  After the day at Everland on Saturday, I went on a date on Sunday to a Buddhist Tree Museum and a beautiful Park.

The Buddhist Tree Museum was so cool.  They had all sorts of different Buddha's from different places, and times.  It was great.  My favorite part was the statues outside the Museum though.  They were great.

Because I am a rabbit...

There were two dragons.  So cool!

I loved this light fixture.  So amazing.

All sorts of masks.

Buddha.

The Gardens.  So Beautiful!

After the Buddhist Tree Museum, we went for a walk in an awesome park.  There were miniature replicas of palaces, and awesome statues.  It was awesome in the winter, I can only imagine what it would look like during the summer.

All in all, it was a wonderful Sunday!

Everland

On Saturday I went to Everland with a teacher from my school and her family.  Everland is an amusement park just outside of Seoul (http://www.everland.com/web/multi/english/everland/main.html), kind of like Disney World and Six Flags.  It is amazing.  They have a mini zoo type area and rides that are kind of like a safari and of course roller coasters and the like.  That weekend they were doing their Christmas Parade, and I was totally there for it.  The entire day was great and I am so thankful for Hye Min and her wonderful family for allowing me to tag along.

Here are some pictures from the day (Credit to Hye Min who did a great job).

Hye Min and I in front of some festive awesomeness!

I make such a cute turtle...even if I am a rabbit.

I got to feed birds...

...which is kind of freaky.

Hye Min is the paparazzi.  :D

MEERKAT KING!

Such a happy day.

Baby Lion!

Seriously! BABY LIONS!!!!

Giraffe tongue anyone?

I loved the animal safari ride.  I swear I am a big little kid.

So we got wet on this ride, Hye Min was soaked though.

Santa!!!

They had fake snow.  It was cool.

Seriously, again, I am a big little kid.  I am in amazement at the awesomeness that is the parade and Christmas!

Contemplative?  No idea why.

No idea how she got this one.  We were spinning around and super crazy but Hye Min has mad skills with the camera.  :D  Such a fun picture.

Yesterday and my English Conversation class

So, yesterday I wore a skirt and sweater combination.  Nothing really new because I have worn things like this before.  However, the skirt was new and I did not realize what would happen.  Because of the material, the skirt ended up showing more leg than I should have been showing but by the time I realized this I was already at school and couldn't go home to change into a more appropriate skirt.  Anyways.  I teach 4 classes in a row on Mondays and the room gets pretty warm after the first few classes, so I decided to take my coat off.  Bad idea.  I took my coat off and the following is what happened.

Student A (female):  Teacher, mini-skirt.  Oh you look good.  (I was blushing and pulling the skirt down at the same time when...)

Student B (male, known for being loud and fun):  *stands up screaming* OH WHERE???!!!!


It was quite an experience and I know not to wear that skirt again but I thought I would share the hilarity that is my students.

***Also, there should be some pictures posted later from the buddist temple/museum I went to on Sunday, and some animal pictures from Everland but IE doesn't like to let me load pictures so I have to wait until I get home to do so.***