Kristen in Seoul

My Return

2010-10-27T07:20:00.002-05:00

I am back! I'll be moving back to Korea at the end of May 2011! This time I'll be returning with a new husband and family so it should be very interesting. As I will have school aged children there will be a lot more to consider and write about as far as the moving and settling in process. Definitely check back in the next few days for my first MASSIVE post about everything...

Job Posting

2010-08-19T10:14:00.002-05:00

August 19
Job Title:	English teacher
Located at:	Gwangju, Gyungkido (South Korea)->map
Vacancy:	1
Salary:	$Negotiable KRW
Requisites:	Tesol
Required fields of expertise: ESL/EFL, Elementary, Kindergarten Details: www.thekidsclub.co.kr We are looking for good teachers. - native speaker or Kyopo - BA degree necessary - Kindergarten and Elementary level - Full time or part time - salary: 2.3-2.5 krw( for full time) - housing single studio apartment - round air ticket - medical insurance - one month severance at the end of contract - Location: Gwangju, Gyungkido - Contact person: Alison, Kang

Job Posting

2010-08-16T10:23:00.005-05:00

August 16
Job Title:	Near seoul, Big city, Coastal city in Korea
Located at:	Everywhere (South Korea)->map
Vacancy:	5 or more
Salary:	$2100000 KRW
Requisites:	at least bachelor degree
Required fields of expertise: , ESL to Children Details: Hi, this is Sunny from “Teaching-in-korea“ We are a professional recruitment agency which directly recruits native english teachers for teaching positions throughout South Korea. We have many positions available in all provinces. I will send your resume to there and i will set up your interview with that schools. We have many native helpers(us,canada,uk,nz) to explain visa process to teaching in korea. if you want, they will help you for free. Please send your resume and a recent photo to us. Include the following information : 1. date of birth : 2. nationality : 3. desired starting date : 4. desired school location : (Candidates who are flexible on location will be given priority placement) 5. desired student age : 6. desired salary : 7. phone number : 8. best time to be reached by phone : 9. by what date can you prepare all necessary documents for visa : 10. university name and degree and major : 11. regular teaching experience years : = All documents for visa = 1.Copy of paasport 2.Resume 3.1 sealed transcript ( another 1 transcript need for your visa process in America with korea consulate) 4.1) Original diploma or 2) Notarized copy diploma from Korean consulate in your country or 3) Apostille on certificate of academic degree issued by your university 5.Apostillized criminal record 6.Self health check statement(attached) 7.Signed contracts 8.3 passport size photos Sincerely, Teaching-in-korea Sunny

Job search help...

2010-08-13T09:51:00.005-05:00

So a few months ago I signed up with a recruiting website that will email you new job opportunities for teaching all over Korea. I decided that each day I would post one of those listings here for anyone else that is also looking for teaching jobs in Korea. Make sure of course to take all of the necessary precautions when searching for a job. Make sure you research about the company and the particular branch. Also be sure to get in contact with a foreign teacher who is already there. If you are in Korea I would suggest meeting the leaving teacher for coffee away from school so that you can try to get a real idea about working conditions without worrying about issues from the manager.

Posted: August 13
Job Title:	ESL Teacher
Located at:	Ilsan (South Korea)->map
Vacancy:	1
Salary:	$2200000 KRW
Requisites:	University Degree
Required fields of expertise: , Elementary, ESL to Children, Kindergarten Details: ESL TEACHER

If anyone is interested in the jobs posted here send me a comment and I can send you the link to the application for it. Happy hunting!!!

Back in action....sort of...

2010-08-12T10:55:00.003-05:00

So I am back to posting on this here blog I started when I was living in Korea. No I am not back in Korea yet....sadness. I am still in graduate school in the US trying not to shoot myslf in the foot from boredom. I have roughly a year until I finish school but I have already started prepping myself for my return abroad in a few ways:

1) Saving $$$

Being that I am not someone with endless amounts of the good ol' green stuff at my disposal (not mary-jane I'm not 420 unfriendly but I don't smoke it myself), I decided to do what I should have done the first time around and start my saving up process early. Previously when I left for Korea I had roughly $500 to survive an entire month. Needless to say I was very poor and without the friends I had would never have left my apartment (or had a bed to sleep on) that first month.

2) Researching jobs

I enjoyed my hagwon teaching experience. I know many friends who had shit-tastic experiences with theirs but CDI always paid me on time, my managers were awesome, the kids were great and my apartment was pretty friggin sweet. I got paid more than average for what I did and though I had little vacation time, I had plenty of time to have a life. I got lucky. I barely did any research before leaving which could have been disastrous. I was naive and lucky enough to have friends teaching with the same company and just got an amazing placement. This time around though I will be checking up on the companies and branches to make sure (as much as possible anyway) that my next placement is bearable.

3) Making a decision...ugh

So the biggest problem I find myself with is choosing whether to go back to Korea right away or to go to Japan to work. I have studied Japanese and Japanese culture since I was in highschool. Japan was always my first love. However, I do love Korea and I have many friends there I want to go back and be with. So now I have to make a decision. Do I go back to where I know how things function (che, even with the K-logic that is illogical in many ways) or do I go to my first love. I told myself that wherever I go next, I will stay for minimum 2 years. I'll need the time to really get settled and start paying back graduate loans that will kick in around November 2011.

So those are just a few things I've started dealing with. I think giving myself a year to really research and make a sound decision is a great idea as I can't hope to luck into an amazing position again.

But for now I am posting again and I will be sure to keep posting about my upcoming job hunt overseas...

To Be Continued...

2009-10-01T14:19:00.002-05:00

So I don't know if I will ever really blog on here anymore. I hope to have many more trips to Korea to visit friends. Perhaps I will even return to teach again some day. But for now I am continuing on with living life, finding love...but in the U.S. So I have made a new blog where I will be posting, adding pictures and generally telling the story of my life. Hopefully you all will continue to follow...http://kurichaninlife.blogspot.com/

SHAZAAAM!!!

2009-09-25T18:24:00.001-05:00

I am officially a Graduate Student!!!

I start classes next Thursday night. Excited and terrified and anxious and EVERYTHING. Also moving into a new place with a new roommate soon hopefully. Though no one can ever be as good as my mi-chan and my firecrotch=^^=

Next stop is the financial aid office to see if I recieve any grants or if I will be putting myself farther into debt...

Study study study...

2009-09-22T14:26:00.002-05:00

So once again I find myself in student mode. For those that don't know one of my main reasons for returning home was to get accepted into graduate school for my masters in English education. Well I had finished my application before I got back in the country and had my interview a few days after my return. The interview went great and I should know by the end of the week whether or not I got in to my first choice university. The only thing standing in my way is the MAT....

This test is less about math and more about figuring out relationships between a set of items. It is actually a bit similar to when I taught test prep which helps. Unfortunately I'm still stuck at getting between 60-65% correct. I don't think I will realistically improve drastically by tomorrow but one can always hope...

Back home...

2009-09-16T11:03:00.002-05:00

So I am back home in Nashville, TN after a loooong 21hr flight. Unfortunately there are no straight flights to Tennessee. I went from Seoul--->Tokyo--->SLC Utah--->Nashville. All this was done with my 6mnth old puppy Bella. But surprisingly she was a gem and kept quite the whole time. I had a 4hr layover in Utah so I had time to go walk her outside. I got into BNA around 9pm and met my mom and Leon there. After that we collected all my bags and drove home. After going back out for a quick bite to eat at IHOP I came back home and went straight to bed.

I've been out and about visiting family members, mostly my grandmothers and getting things together for my next move. I had a meeting with the admissions director at Lipscomb Uni. for my graduate school application. I had my interview and turned everything in except for my last recommendation from my undergrad professor. Hopefully if all goes well I will begin my graduate work October 1.

Although I'm no longer in Korea I still have more pictures and posts to do once I can sit down longer than 5mins. I've decided to keep this blog up and who knows, I might write more on it. I'm not ruling out returning to Korea again in my lifetime. My mother and I are thinking of going back in Spring for a vacation...keep your eyes open for my return=^^=

Fun with photos...

2009-09-09T09:15:00.003-05:00

Just some fun pictures my friend Dawn and I took today in Gangnam at the Apple Store=^^=

And so it ends...

2009-09-07T21:24:00.002-05:00

I have been not so strangely absent again, mostly because I have begun my preparations to return home to the states. I leave this Saturday morning on a long ass flight with my dog back to my...homeland. I've been hanging out with many people, visiting what I can, taking so many pictures that my camera dies at least twice a day. And I promis there will still be more posts for me to put up once I have more time.

I'd have to say that overall I have enjoyed my time here in Kimchi-land. And depending on what happens when I return home maybe Korea will be in my future again. There are many things that I would change if it were up to me but it isn't....and that is probably for the best. I met so many great people here and had many many great experiences that I can share with family and friends back home. I am hoping to return for a week or so in the Spring for a dear friend's wedding so I will be seeing some of you when I return=^^=

Busan

2009-08-31T09:22:00.006-05:00

So I am officially done with my contract! YAAAAAAAAY....sort of. Yes I'm a bit sad. I'll miss my students a lot and my coworkers as well. But time to move on, move up and who knows, maybe move back....yeah...

So to celebrate my impending return I have decided to visit one new place everyday so I can take pictures. Last week I went to Busan with some friends. Unfortunately while we were on the beach I forgot my camera but my friends brought theirs so I can still show you some pics courtesy of facebook.

So I started out at 6am to catch the train at Seoul Station.

...yeah way too early in the morning for me to actually try to look good in a picture....anyhoo, I caught the KTX and it was about a 3hr train ride down to Busan. It was actually a very beautiful ride but alas I fell asleep instead of taking pictures....sue me...

As soon as I stepped off the train I could smell the ocean. It smelled amazing. It was the first time I had seen the beach in so long thanks to living in a landlocked state.

Went through several tunnels to get to Songjeong beach where I was meeting my friends. After I met up with them we headed to Haeundae Beach where we got a hotel room...

On the way got stalked by a Chungdahm bus....why won't work just LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!

Our hotel room was of course a bit sketch with the 'mood lights' and free condoms, but overall it was actually pretty nice...and no the thing in the middle of the bed is not a vibrator...it's the tv/light remote...promise...

After that we swam a little, took some fun photo booth pics and grabbed lunch at TGIFridays that overlooked Haeundae beach. It was such a nice day. The weather really made me feel much more relaxed and happy. It was easy to look back at my experience here in Korea and smile at all the great people I had met...

I have about two more posts backlogged. Actually on the way home from Busan I started feeling sick and have been pretty much stuck at home since with the flu and have just now been able to really get out and about. More next time=^^=

Heehee....

2009-08-19T02:06:00.003-05:00

So I am back again after another long break. Well in reality I didn't feel like blogging. But now I do.

My time here in Korea is quickly winding down. I purchased my plane ticket and am scheduled to leave good ol' kimchi-land September 12. I'm equal parts sad and excited. Sad because I have many good friends here whom I will miss dearly, but excited because I feel itchy and ready to return to school. I've found that I really do enjoy teaching. I don't know if I enjoy teaching just English or teaching in general. So that will be a chore of mine to figure out. I've begun applying to grad schools back home and will hopefully be back in school October 1 of this year...as in a few weeks AFTER I get back into the U.S. Things will be very busy for me in the next two months. I'm not ruling out coming back to Korea though, so we will see. If certain things(job, school, personal, etc.) all work out then I will be staying in the U.S. But I am planning to save enough money to visit Korea and Japan in the Spring od 2010.

So what has been going on with me lately? Well my title as Head Instructor has been winding down. It really does make me sad which no one really seems to get, but hey. It's first and foremost a business.

I'm planning a weekend beach trip with some friends to a coworker's hometown on the east coast which should be awesome. I haven't been to the beach in years and I am really excited to get out of Seoul/Gyeonggi finally. It only took me....13months, lol. I'm planning on doing more sightseeing in general expecially now that I finally got my camera battery. So I can begin taking pictures....and posting regularly.

I have a few backlogged posts to publish so those will be coming up soon. I promise!!!

Thank you...

2009-07-24T04:21:00.003-05:00

...to those of you who offered advice rather than judgements. I don't know what I will do. I don't believe I am ready for anything at this point...regardless how strong I try to be. This is the last time I will mention anything like this on here. Hopefully once I get my new camera battery I can resume posting about any sights I may see or fun activities I do.

Good luck everyone

Breakups feel like...

2009-07-23T12:51:00.002-05:00

...your heart is on fire.

I never really post my feelings on here. I usually keep them to myself or talk to close friends rather than put them out here so they can be analyzed, trampled on or judged. Despite what may be percieved as a flippant attitude my true feelings are anything but.

I find myself short on patience...for everyone. Even people that I love who I never had a problem with now irk me. I've been short tempered with my students. Had a particularly awesome blow-up on Tuesday with my elementary students. I find myself looking upon other couples with disgust and envy and longing for what I once had. My phone rings and I wish like mad that it was Anh calling, telling me that he wants to rethink and...maybe just start talking to work things out. To be there when I step foot back in the country. Just knowing that when I get off the plane his smiling face won't be there kills me. I've cried myself to sleep nearly every night. I can't sleep until the sun comes up. Either I don't eat or I eat too much.

Yes, I feel guilty for even thinking of going on this blind date. I almost call it off everytime I think about it, regardless of what my friends say....

...it scares me to actually write all of this where people can see. But it is my blog and this is where I can put things out there. All I can say I guess is that breakups are tough for a variety of reasons. Good luck to everyone out there who is dealing with it as well...

My New Haircut...

2009-07-22T05:26:00.002-05:00

Usually when something big happens in my life I get the urge to re-invent myself in some way. This time is no exception. So I decided to cut my hair and bangs. Hope you guys like!!!

Life...

2009-07-21T12:29:00.004-05:00

...goes on.

So I have been dealing with life after the breakup. I have my moments where all I think about is...Anh. But I have to try to move on.

So speaking of moving on...I have a blind date on Saturday. It was set up by a coworker of mine. I talked to the guy and he seems really nice so we will see how things go. Apparently the blind dating thing is pretty common here in Korea. It is common to be set up by parents or friends with the intention of marriage. Now don't get any ideas. That's not why I am going. Marriage is no longer close in my mind, but I suppose I will have to get out there and figure out this whole dating outside of college/high school thing. Might as well do it now...so we shall see how things go...

As They Say...

2009-07-14T23:11:00.003-05:00

I suppose I just have to pick up and keep truckin' along. It sucks, it hurts...but I know it will for some time. I honestly didn't see it coming. Especially with me only having 2months left in my contract...

Now I just have to focus on working as much as possible, working out, getting everything ready for grad school. And decide whether or not I will take a 3 month break, defer grad school for a year and come back to Korea to teach another year, or go home for good and straight into grad school. My family is pushing of course for me to come home for good but it is my choice. I have to decide what's best for me...

...I wish he was here to help me decide...

...

2009-07-14T10:32:00.000-05:00

He left me...I don't know what to do. It happened too fast...I just feel dead inside

Gyeongbok Palace/Din Tai Fung

2009-06-10T21:26:00.009-05:00

So now that my friend Jenny is staying with me for a month I have finally been venturing out to see more of the country. So yesterday she, I and a friend of mine Selina who is one of the Chinese teachers at my hagwon decided to go see the palace and we hoped to take pictures of us wearing hanboks. Alas we arrived too late for hanboks but we took lots of pictures around the grounds and at the Korean Folk Museum. The weather was amazing... We watched the changing of the guards for the opening ceremony before heading further into the palace compound.

We took a peak inside a representation of what the inner area would look like. It was interesting to see what an emperor would experience day in and day out.

After that we decided...well got lost is more like it...and found ourselves at the back of the complex where the folk museum is located. So we decided to go in and explore a bit. At this point though, my camera died so I didn't get any pictures of what was inside. Jenny got some pictures on her camera so I will share those soon...The scenery was beautiful. I love seeing the mountains over the older traditional homes and complexes.We also found a small area that had the 12 zodiac animals along with the birth years associated with them so we decided to take pictures beside our animals. First you have me the brown cow...ox...Selina the adorable mouse...ratAnd Jenny the mischievous cat...tiger After that we found a small pace to take pictures "in costume', lol...

After a long day of walking we decided to head to Myeongdong to do some light shopping and grab some good food. We went to the Din Tai Fung restaurant located down the street from Shinsegae. We ordered a 4person course with Sweet and Sour soup, cold sweet chili shrimp, beef fried rice, noodle soup w/ dumplings, spinach jiaozi and dessert sweet buns. Needless to say we were stuffed after. Selina even said that the dumpings were the best she has ever had...even compared with China! Be sure to visit it sometime...

After such a long fun day we decided to get back on the subway and head home where I think all of us promptly went to bed. All in all it was a great day!

I'll be sure to post of my other adventures here in Kimchi-land soon=^^=

Swine Flu: A conversation of aggravation...

2009-05-27T21:32:00.005-05:00

So with this Swine Flu outbreak reaching nearly every corner of the globe it was inevitable that it would become part of everyday conversation. Unfortunately the way it became part of conversations was annoying. I find myself at times, few as they may be, lecturing about the idea that being Korean does not exempt you from this pandemic, nor does your ethnicity play that much of a part in determining whether or not you will contract the virus.

It was a rather disappointing conversation I had last night with a Korean girlfriend of mine. Now, she is a very intelligent woman who has studied other cultures and seeks to learn about them through language and friendships. So I would hazard that she isn't the normal kimchi-thumping Korean who has no idea that being brown doesn't always mean you are straight from Africa. Unfortunately though it seems that aspects of the fact that her mind is still very much Korean occasionally pops up.

So when discussing the pandemic with her(it was my first time really speaking about it at all) she actually stated that Koreans don't really have to worry about contracting the flu because they are more immune. Granted she didn't say anything about kimchi thankfully, otherwise I would have walked away from the convo. But she did make a comment about Americans being more susceptible to the disease as well as stating that Koreans have recieved treatment and been fine while people of other racial backgrounds have died. She said(I am quoting straight from her mouth) "Well I'm Korean so I don't have to worry about it." Now honestly I'm not normally one to take great offense to anything really but these comments really touched on a sore spot for me. Maybe because my job is on the line, maybe because I've grown tired of hearing it...or maybe because I was just in a really shitty mood. Whatever the reason I didn't even take a breath before firing back a comment....or two.

This whole situation makes me feel like I am in the Salem Witch trials. I actually feel paranoid enough to look up and down the street before I go get food. Or I start to think that everytime a Korean person looks at me they are thinking "Swine Flu." And really there is no reason for that. So let's everyone think about this logically, why is it that many Americans came down with this virus? And why have some people died while others have not?

1) Proximity
If you really stop to think about it....well you don't have to think that hard, where did the virus first pop up? MEXICO. Ok, what country shares a border with Mexico?....um, teach-aaa Korea? -BEEEEEEEEP- Wrong, the U.S. So logically the virus, if it were to spread, would spread across the borders first before making that big leap across the Pacific/Atlantic oceans.

2) Surroundings
Now, most expats, especially those who work in a hagwon, when they first arrive what group of people do you normally find yourself surrounded by? Other expats. If you are around a large group of expats, some who may have come in contact with other people with the virus, then it is logical that it will spread. I for one had no choice about where I would stay when I first arrived. I was put in a room with 2 other girls from different parts of the U.S.(one of whom was a Korean who studied in the States). If either of the girl had sneezed chances are I would have gotten sick. Was it because as an American I lack the kimchi immune system? No, because of the fact that I was so close to those girls that before they farted I would be able to feel it. Sort of like the foreshocks of an earthquake.

3)Deaths
So the most death reports have been from Mexico, the epicenter of the infection. Why do you think that is? Well first off this is a new disease, people were unaware that it was anything different than the standard flu. It took something as saddening as people dying for them to really stop and pay attention. Also let's think about the healthcare. How many of those people do you think had enough money to get thoroughly checked out? I doubt it had to do with the fact that they were a different ethnicity and more to do with the fact that they had less medical support. The U.S. has reported 2 deaths from the virus, one being a 22-month old infant and the other being a 33yr old school teacher who, now pay attention please, already had a respiratory condition. That kind of makes a difference regardless of what type of flu you get. The common flu strains can be deadly if you are already sick enough beforehand.

I will do my best to enjoy the time off I have because who knows when I'll be able to get another. But I won't let myself be ruled by fear for an unseen enemy. An enemy that strikes out regardless of your age, race or economic status.

I have an idea of how we may be able to keep so many from getting sick...hold a hygiene class and teach children(and their parents) that washing your hands after taking a shit is necessary, sneezing on your test paper and then giving it to others is disgusting and when you cough, cover your damn mouth.

Swine Flu....house arrest?

2009-05-27T21:23:00.003-05:00

So it has been a while since I posted. Sorry guys. I know I had said I would have more Japan pics coming soon. But at least I left you with an interesting last entry right?

Well I am back, though I definitely can't promise to write as often as I should. Frankly my life is very uneventful. My days are filled with the pitter-pattering(more like pounding) of little feet going in and out of my classroom. Well normally that is. However the reason for my title is something that is beginning to affect many people....Swine Flu.

My company has shut down all of its hagwons until next Wednesday because of this Swine Flu outbreak. As a result I find myself with a paid vacation and being stuck in the house. Now, me staying in the house is not a voluntary move on my part. We are being monitored to ensure that we follow the rules set forth in the past few days where we cannot take public transportation and if we leave we must wear masks over our face.

Now I do understand the move. You want the parents to trust that you are looking out for the well-being of their children. As long as I getting paid for my involuntary confinement I am ok with it. As long as it doesn't last too long. I am not normally a really sedentary person so this staying in the house is starting to chafe. But I actually like/need my job so I won't do anything to jeopardize it....

Best picture of the Day...

2009-04-26T10:18:00.002-05:00

"CONDOMANIA: Give safe sex a chance..."

...pretty self-explanatory...

Reflections...

2009-04-25T05:30:00.003-05:00

Being confined in my hotel room has done wonders for my thinking capacity. It also gives me time to catch up blogs that I haven't read in a long while and even inspires a post of my own. Today's subject is one I gathered from Ask A Korean!'s website. It's about race...particularly Afr-Americans and Koreans. Now to make this clear I am only one person(duh Kristen). One Afr-American woman to be exact. So I can't speak for anyone other than me, myself and the other personalities that I seem to have. All I can do is comment on my own experiences and maybe answer some questions that I still get from Afr-Americans who are considering coming to Korea for one reason or another.

So I have been asked a few questions(some by my own family and friends) so i will answer a few and selfishly think back to my own experiences to better understand them...

1) Why can't you go to a country where they speak English?
Well...because that would be too easy and there would be no use for me. For the most part I will say that the Koreans I meet outside of work and Itaewon don't have a stellar command of the English language. Combine that with my own limited command of Korean and you have a situation. Though honestly things haven't been that difficult for me here. I learned a few key phrases right off the bat(namely how to get home in a taxi or say no I don't want to go to a love hotel). Actually I kind of enjoy not being hassled by street vendors or salesmen(though there are still Jehovah's Witness that I must hide from). On the whole I actually get annoyed by the fact that I don't speak as much Korean as I think i should.

2) Do they have fried chicken in Korea?
That is a resounding HELL YES! Seriously, Koreans and Afr-Americans have the fried chicken in common. If you want to try something even better put kimchi on your velveeta and cheese. Gauranteed goodness.

3) Do you get stared at a lot?
Yes...yes and um...YES. Does it bother me? Hmmm, at times. But mostly I just stare back and people stop. I do actually enjoy the little kids though. One boy at Baskin Robbins even gave me one of those little ice cream ball things and said goodbye. Too cute for words. Being stared at is something that you either get over or don't. I will say that the longer you stay in one neighborhood the more it goes away. I think people just get over the initial shock value and get on with their lives.

4) Do Korean guys want to date you?
Well first of all it doesn't matter because I am happily taken. I have made friends with one Korean guy in particular who never even hit on me once. We did language exchange and hung out a bit. I even gave him some advice about black women. He is now happily living it up in Australia. Because I am taken I've never really thought about what Korean men want. I think Ask A Korean put it best. Korean men are MEN. What do all men want? A woman that can cook, doesn't nag and strokes his...ego. Now when it moves beyond mere dating and eases into a relationship I have no idea. With any interracial dating it is about how much the person wants to be with you. My boyfriend being Vietnamese, AND the oldest son means I will have to deal with the Asian family in time(especially since we are way past the 1year mark now). If he thinks you are attractive, likes your personality I'll say yes he will. But on a sour note I have gotten more bids for a hotel room than for dinner and a movie...though usually only after the soju has been flowing.

5) Are Koreans racist?
Yes. But so is every other ethnicity at some point in time. I will say though that I have heard more ignorant things from other expats than from the Koreans I have met. In fact my problem is that some Koreans I have met are so in awe of me that they don't tell me when I am doing something wrong...it makes it hard to build relationships. You will meet a few Koreans who probably aren't thrilled at your prescence in their country. I even had an experience in the subway of my friend getting hit repeatedly and then punched in the face when she confronted the guy. But in the same experience another Korean man and a few women stepped in and confronted the guy, physically when necessary. Honestly being from the south where some people still see blacks as belonging in the fields and not in the White House, I haven't dealt with anything in Korea that I couldn't handle.

6) Where do you get your hair done?
In Itaewon. Take the brown line up to Itaewon. Get off at Exit 1 and walk straight down the street. You will pass a Burger King on your right and go up the hill. You will see Family Hairshop on your right. Go on in. The women there all speak English for the most part and are super friendly. If you are lucky you might even see me there.
=^^=

Epiphany of sorts...

2009-04-24T23:46:00.003-05:00

So I am definitely enjoying my time in Japan. I've been eating loads of food and walking more than my feet can bear. It's funny. I have felt more comfortable these past 2 days in Japan than I felt in Korea after living there for almost a year. I almost feel normal here. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy Korea. But it is as if I lose myself there. Like I'm not quite sure who I am in certain ways. Though living there has helped me appreciate certain things loads more.

I am ready in a way to start my life. Korea hasn't felt like an extension of life. It has kind of felt like my life was put on pause for a year and will resume in a few months. I do enjoy my job. I enjoy the people I have met. I have made some amazing friends that I wish I could bring home in my suitcase. I know there are those friends who I will continue to keep in touch with even after I return to the states. But I also feel as if I am on a vacation from life and I don't like it. I've said it before, but it almost feels like I am playing a teacher instead of being one. I do work hard, and it has paid off. But I can only do this here. I can't go home and teach. I also feel lacking as I search for jobs back home because I have so little experience. It is daunting to look at job postings because I keep asking myself "Am I qualified?" And I'm afraid the answer is a resounding "No."

I have enjoyed my experience abroad so far but I can definitely say I will not do this again. Not under the circumstances I am in. Being in a committed relationship is hard enough. Add being 7000+mi apart and things at times become unbearable. Especially when you are used to being with that person almost every day. Lately I have become so emotional that the smallest things can set me off into a crying mess. Seeing couples walk hand-in-hand down the street makes my eyes water. Wacthing what has been some of my favorite shows "Bridezillas" and "Platinum Weddings" causes the tears to flow.

All in all there are just so many reasons I am ready to return home. Friends, family, school, jobs...sometimes it all seems overwhelming to think about. So my goal is to enjoy what time I have left here, save as much money as possible and keep the waterworks to a minimum...I hope...

MIA but soon...

2009-04-20T20:17:00.002-05:00

Sorry guys I have been so MIA. I once again made head instructor at work so I have been busy busy busy. But actually I will have lots of new posts coming up because I am currently in the airport waiting for my plane to go to....

TOKYO!!!

So expect some pictures really soon since i am taking my computer with me.

Interesting Felines...

2009-04-04T19:51:00.002-05:00

Not much going on in the land of Kristen. Mostly work, sleep and working out. So I decided to post some pictrues of my crazy cats.

First we have little Nyuk. She recently lost her femininity and so she is wearing a cone to make sure she doesn't pull out her stitches. She walks around like a raptor bobbing her head. It's really funny to watch. Then we have 6kg, fat boy Kamikaze who recently came out of his closet...my cat is gay and I love him for it.

Isn't this just the cutest damn thing you have ever seen???

So I had a dog named Cady but after lots of struggles I decided to give her up. She was too aggressive towards other people and tried to attack the cats more than once. So she has found home with others who can hopefully give her more discipline than I. She will be missed...and yes I am thinking of getting another dog...muahahahaaa!

Kids' works...

2009-03-22T21:41:00.003-05:00

So in my elementary classes we have fun little projects that we do. The kids seem to really enjoy it and it is nice to be able to take a minor break and get myself ready for the next class and scoring the projects. One part of the project has to do with them making a poster. At first the kids didn't quite get it so I asked them if they knew about protesting. After giving them that example, the mad poster making got underway and the end results were pretty awesome...

So the topic was "Zoos: Haven or Prison?" I split the kids into two groups, girls and boys. It was good ol'fashioned battle of the sexes.

First we have the ladies for why zoos are good...
Next we have the boys and a mixed boy-girl group for why zoos are bad...
Which team would you vote for?

Smokey Saloon

2009-03-05T20:53:00.005-06:00

So lately I have been enjoying myself by eating my way around Seoul. So the next few posts will probably be about food and other food related events, lol. So today's post is about the amazing Smokey Saloon. The one I normally go to is located on Posco-sagori down the street from COEX/Hyundai Dept. Store. They also have stores located in Itaewon behind Hamilton Hotel and in Apkujeong.I have been to this place a few times and always enjoyed. As you can see from this lovely candid photo taken by Heather.

The burgers are UH-MAZING!!! Joy I really will have to take you here if you haven't been. I have yet to manage to get a picture before I have eaten some of the burger because i am always too hungry. In addition to the great burgers they have these sloppy fries(chili, cheese, onions....yumminess). Truly a great eatery and the prices aren't too bad for the food that you get. Waaaaay better than McDonald's quality. Be sure to try it!

Butterfinger Pancakes

2009-02-26T23:21:00.004-06:00

So Heather, Dawn and I took advantage of some half days and decided to get a western-style breakfast. After a few false starts we finally decided to head to Butterfinger Pancakes in Gangnam-gu. At first we thought the food would be tiny for the price. MAN we were very pleasantly surprised. The vibe of the place is awesome. Like a good ol' American diner I remember going to with my mom when I was younger. Seating didn't take very long but we did have to wait a bit for our food to come out.

After we got the food we were happy with the portions as evident by our before...

...and after photos. We were happily full and Heather and I ended up going back to my place and going back to sleep for an hour before work. I think we have found a happy new hang out/get fat eating everything place.

Now that I have a new camera I plan on taking loads more photos and now that I have more time I plan on getting out more to see things. I promise to have more pics soon!!!

THEY'RE HERE!!!

2009-02-22T19:58:00.003-06:00

So I picked up two new additions to my family yesterday afternoon. Two lovely cats who are currently hiding under my couch. They are a bit traumatized from the big move and moving into a place that has a loud mouthed dog no less. Hopefully in the next few weeks they will come out of their shells and be ok with things.

Quick Update!

2009-02-19T22:27:00.002-06:00

Hello all. So things have been going pretty well here in Kristen-land. It's week 13 so we are getting ready to start a new term next week. That means having a brand new schedule. So now I am waiting for mine. I do know that unfortunately I have to work at 3-6pm on Sundays...sadness indeed. But I'm not sure about the rest of my schedule. Hopefully it will be a good one and I won't want to strangle my kids.

Leon is doing great. He's in Florida on a business trip now but we talk pretty much everyday when possible. I'm working on applying to grad schools back in the states for when I leave Korea in September. Who knows I might come back again. But only to teach in public school where I can actually get a vacation.

I might actually have a surprise to show the blogging world after this Sunday. As my coworker likes to say....I'M EXPECTING!!! Yup, I am going to have two new additions to my household. Now before people start to wonder, I'm not giving birth....I'm going to be picking up two fuzzy friends who will come to live with me=^^=

Uh oh, Cady better watch out, lol...

I have more pictures to upload but those will have to wait until after i get off work. Hope everyone is enjoying the not so warm weather!

Heh, 'bout time for this I know...

2009-02-11T19:42:00.004-06:00

So it's about time I posted. Sorry sorry, I know it has been a damn long time. And I have no excuse. I have been out and about quite a bit so I have lots of pictures and posts to catch up on. So here is my post on Insadong. Now I didn't spend a hug amount of time there unfortunately but I will be taking another trip back there. So I saw some interesting things. There were tons of people. Of course lots of non-Korean people too. I actually spoke to a group of Japanese girls about the Starbucks sign being in Korean. It was nice to finally use my second language. I need to start studying soon to prepare for my return to the states in September.

So Sorry...

2009-02-03T09:56:00.002-06:00

I'm sorry. I'm such a bad little blogger these past few weeks. But intensives are now over so I'm not spending my whole time sleeping. Going to do a bit of walking around tomorrow hopefully so I can take some lovely pictures around Seoul and post some. Lots to write but for now I'm gonna hit the bed. Longer post tomorrow!

Been a long time...

2009-01-10T19:37:00.004-06:00

So I once again took a small break between posts since Leon was here. But I am back and I have loads of pictures to upload for everyone. I need to do it soon before my family kills me too, lol. So I don't have much to say today but I do have lots of pictures so enjoy the pics of my last 3weeks...and I think there is a video too...

So this was from my friend Medina's b-day celebration out in Itaewon. We hit up the Bungalow first and then danced the night away at Helios and Hard Rock Cafe...
Having a little fun in COEX...

The day it snowed....I did not go outside until it was gone...

And then we have my Christmas celebration. I cooked a big feast and everyone else supplied more food, dessert and wine for the event. It was a blast. I even took a small video...

Hope you enjoyed! There'll be more to come...=^^=

MIA

2008-12-31T22:51:00.001-06:00

Been gone for a while. Finally better. Things are crazy here so I'll try a longer post tonight.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!!!

~=^^=

Flu...

2008-12-18T17:27:00.001-06:00

What started as a tickle at the back of my throat yesterday has developed into the full blown flu. Aches and pains,. headache, fever, chills, sore throat, congestion the works. I can't be sick now! Leon gets here in two days. This illness better be gone by then...

Tea time, book time...sleep time???

2008-12-14T08:07:00.007-06:00

So my coworker/friend Minhwa is leaving tomorrow to go visit her fiance in Europe. I'm going to miss her the weeks that she is gone. And not even because I have to teach her classes, lol. I've started growing closer to her. So to honor her last(but not really last) day here we went to a tea/coffee/cake place in Anyang. So first of all, Anyang is way bigger than I ever remember it being. I strolled around the bookstore while I waited for her. I wanted to take a picture but I didn't want to offend the book people around me so I'll just show you what I bought..."Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus"-this book interested me the first time I read it. I actually read it to understand more about my womanliness rather than about men. "Bridget Jones..."-I love the movies so I'm hoping I'll really enjoy the books. Stephen King...I love just about everything from this man so I picked a book at random that I haven't read yet. After that we walked around Anyang for a little bit and headed to the tea place. So I suck at picture taking so I didn't think to take a picture of the outside. But next week I am going back with Leon so I'll do better. We ordered a chocolate cake, vanilla latte and cafe irish...Then we just chatted for a few hours and enjoyed the night before I walked her home and then cabbed it back to Pyeongchon. I had a semi-coherent conversation in Korean with the cab driver. That little bit made me want to strive to learn Korean even more. Now I'm sitting here doing laundry...
...and trying to convince myself to prep for the rest of the week......when all I really want to do is cuddle up to Kogepan-pillow and enjoy my night in front of the boob tube......hmph...

Wootwoot!

2008-12-12T10:32:00.003-06:00

So I am back with another fun update. Well things are going well here. I am feeling back to 100% and a bit on top of the world. We just got back our ratings from the company. Honestly I was terrified to get mine. I am always way tougher on myself than other people are on me. But I actually did amazingly well. Even that I have a hard time believing. Despite one coworker's disbelief I have no idea how to take compliments. Sure guys tell me I'm attractive. I just figure they want something a but more physical so I don't really take them seriously. But getting an actual heartfelt compliment or a 'great job' at work leaves me flabbergasted on how to respond. So usually if I do something right I tend to keep it to myself. I'm way too sensitive to other people's compliments and depending on the person their insults as well...

Well anyhoo, I'm going to try to keep my good mood going for as long as possible. I got a great rating last term so I just need to keep it up. I should have more confidence in my teaching. Especially since it seems like I am actually not bad at it...

Oh! And the exchange rate went down!
$1USD=1357KRW

I hope it holds until I can exchange money on Monday...

Food poisoning...

2008-12-06T07:07:00.002-06:00

Thought I was fine but it finally happened. Headache, fever, nausea...not keeping food in my body at all. Got some meds from the pharmacy. Now in bed dying slowly but surely...fun...

16days

2008-12-04T08:55:00.002-06:00

It's finally getting down to the wire. I have been waiting for December 21 to come for soooooo long. Practically before I even left for Korea. I can't believe It is a matter of a few weeks...

Gwanaksan...

2008-11-30T07:51:00.003-06:00

So today my friend Heather and I woke up and decided that we would climb a mountain. So this time I made sure to have my camera so we could document this momentous occasion.

So we started at the base where we looked at the map that we couldn't read anyway. So thankfully I had my phone in case we got lost on the mountain. Heather was excited about campng out...I said she could camp alone.

We passed by some crazy looking wooden dudes. They looked alot better than some of the guys I saw in Hongdae last weekend....
We were all smiles before we really started climbing...hell Heather was all smiles while we were climbing...I think i need to switch to her medication....

Smiling and showing my ass to the camera. I can fake it with the best of them. I was already terrified of what was waiting for me up the hill...

Yeah...self explanatory...

So you can see the city in the background. Heather had an America's Next Top Model moment trying to get me to pose on some damn rocks...I wanted to shove that camera so far up her...yeah...

Contemplating how long it would take Heather to reach the bottom if I pushed...nah, just kidding. Just contemplating the view...

Contemplating my existence and the fact that I really climbed my big ass up these damn mountains...man I was wishing for a shower, a bed and a margarita...

But all in all it was a great day. The views were amazing, the company was good and the exercise made me feel better about going to Paris Baguette on the way home...

Another post so soon=^^=

2008-11-28T10:58:00.002-06:00

So I seem to be getting better at regularly posting...or trying to post anyway. Especially now that I have more days off from work and the middle-schoolers are once again getting ready for exams. I've also been working out alot more now that I have more time and even spotted some eye candy at the gym. Aerobics teacher with very nice arms...I'm a sucker for arms. One of the reasons why I love looking at Leon...heehee...only one. I'm also getting more and more excited. Leon will be here in about 3weeks and 2 days. I'm so excited. I've missed him so much it is insane. Never would I have thought that I could live somewhere else for an extended period of time while still in a relationship. It's very tough but that makes it so much sweeter when we talk or webcam.

I'm also getting happier because I have been feeling really down lately. Part of it is feeling a bit neglected by friends/coworkers in some ways. Maybe not neglected so much as overlooked. Everyone sees me as this slightly boyish girl. A tomboy if you will. And it is a BIT true. I'm not the girliest girl ever. However, it is also a sore spot for me. I have always been the tallest of my girlfriends. The one who has lots of male friends but never really looked at as someone dateable. It gave me an insecurity about that. Being in Korea with all of the itty bitty, princess girls doesn't exactly make me feel the best. Though I definitely have no desire to be one of the high voiced, need a man type women that my coworkers/guy friends rag on...though interesting fact that they still date them. Regardless it gets a bit annoying hearing your guy friends talk about how this girl or that girl is hot. It leaves me feeling frumpy and unattractive. Though obviously I have to be some kind of cute to have attracted a hot boyfriend=^^=

But other than that I think I have hit a point where I am so unbelievably homesick. I had a breakdown moment a few nights ago. After sitting outside at a park until 4am I talked to Leon. Well cried for a good length of time while discussing missing my friends and family, not having a large support system, missing waking up beside him and resurfacing insecurities. The talk just reaffirmed even more why I love him so much. After a while I couldn't tell if I was crying or laughing and finally had the best sleep I have had in a while. I have to be strong for at least 3weeks...

New Term...

2008-11-24T23:25:00.003-06:00

So the new term has officially started. I'm so happy because I have 2 1/2 days off this term. HALLELUJAH!!! I was starting to wonder if I could squeeze my butt out of my window. This past weekend was veeeeery interesting. I had to practically carry two of my friends to another friend's house. Picture, me carrying two people from Hongdae to Itaewon at 6am...needless to say the next day we were all dead on our feet at work. Saturday was a pretty chill night. Just relaxing at home, watching tv. Sunday I had a semi-big dinner and invited some coworkers and friends over. I was so happy that Joy could make it to dinner. It was great to finally meet up with her. After that I prepped and watched tv into the wee hours of the morning before heading to work. I'm still in the process of getting used to my work schedule and having to alter my sleeping schedule, but that should be under control by the weekend. Unfortunately the exchange rate isn't looking as promising....$1USD=1515.50KRW

...but I have to exchange money anyway...

Black Hair Care Response...

2008-11-15T00:23:00.002-06:00

So I have gotten a few emails before about how I keep my hair here in Korea. For black women it is a big concern because not everyone knows how to correctly relax/do our hair. I brought one straightening perm with me. After that I got some info from another black expat about getting my hair done in the foreignor area of Seoul called Itaewon. I usually go there for perms or a trim. It is run by a few Korean women who know how to do black hair and there is one black lady. All of them speak pretty great English and they have pictures of people that they have as customers. They have the same products there that I used back home (motions, optimum care, etc.). All in all I haven't had any real problems getting my hair done. I normally use just regular shampoo to wash my hair myself and there are straightners and oil products everywhere.

If any other black future Korea workers need more info just let me know. I'll try to post pictures of different items that I have found to be really good at moisturizing and keeping my hair from breaking and such. Alot is just trial and error for me so see me as your guinea pig. Feel free to ask more questions. I'll try my best to answer them.

Word!!!

2008-11-09T21:25:00.004-06:00

So I finally got around to uploading the rest of my photos from the past few weeks. Including some video of are trip to Everland and one from visiting the Anyang market. Hopefully my computer will let me finally upload videos but if not I also have pics.

I'm not sure why these tasty morsels were out but they looked so delicious I was tempted to buy a few of them.

A huge meat market area. I saw a few pig heads that had apparently been hollowed out like a jack-o-lantern....not exactly tasty looking.

Hopefully this video will load up. It is just a short clip of me and K walking through the market and acting goofy as usual...

...and it seems I will have to try to load it at work because my laptop hates me...-sigh-...

Been a bit...

2008-11-03T09:51:00.005-06:00

So after I ran into Jennifer(http://jennipal.blogspot.com/) at Dongdaemon and was persuaded with physical means I am finally updating my blog again, lol. Well there was no arm twisting this time but who knows about next time. It was great to see her again and see the gorgeous ring on her finger, lol. You look great hun AND wearing my favorite color=^^=

So I have been having a crazy helluva time. I went to Everland last week for my last birthday HURRAH before going back to the humdrum of life. Rode everything until my stomach threatened to drop out of my ass, ate such bad food and laughed more than I have in a while. Though honestly a good bit of my time was spent screaming my head off. I rode all the rollercoasters, bumber cars, carousel...it was so nice to act like a kid again. After that settled back down and have just been working/going to the gym, relaxing, etc. This past sunday my company had a branchwide bowling tournament. We got 3rd but regardless it was so much fun. I had a blast and have realized how much I love bowling in my free-time. Hopefully I'll find people to keep it up on the weekends.

GO P-TOWN TEAM!!!

Changes...

2008-10-21T00:06:00.002-05:00

One thing that amazes me...though not necessarily in a good way is how often people come and go here. I work at a hogwan so of course the main purpose of the company is to make money. It's a business afterall. But some of the things the business does makes no sense what so ever. And because of that and other reasons teachers have been leaving quite a bit. Or finishing their contracts and not looking back.

I'm someone who can get quite attached to the right people and so the thought of them leaving anytime soon saddens me. A friend gave me advice that I have been really hesitant to take. She told me not to get too attached to anyone here. That things change on a daily basis and one day I'll wake up and they'll be gone. As much as I dislike the thought of closing myself off to people it is something that I keep in mind. To not be so sad when people I have come to call friends decide to move on from this place. One day I will do the same and move on from this place. When that happens I will take my memories and experiences with me and hopefully I will have made some kind of impact on the people I leave...

Mmmm...

2008-10-19T05:17:00.003-05:00

Me and Heather after getting our hair done in Itaewon. We happened to run into these characters. Why they were there I have no idea. But I couldn't resist getting a picture.
My coworker Jeff and I. We trained together and ended being at the same branch. He drives me crazy sometimes but he's an all around good guy. So my birthday celebration has come and gone. It was an ok one. I'm grateful to all my friends for coming and paying for the place to party. And I had not one but 2 birthday cakes!!! I think more cake got on my face and clothing than in my mouth. But they were both tasty and very much appreciated. I wish my boyfriend could have been there but I got his present the day before and that made me smile all day on Friday. Now that my b-day is here that means I have exactly 2months before he gets here. I'm so damn excited I can't stand it, lol.

So today when I woke up I felt the need to go for a walk. So I did. I walked...and then wasn't tired so walked some more...and then still wasn't tired so I decided to climb a mountain that I came to. I wish I had taken my camera but I hadn't planned to climb a mountain so I forgot it. Next time I'll actually plan to climb the mountain and remember to bring my camera.

I finally sent money home. $600USD cost me about 864,000KRW. I lost more money than I want to think about right now. I don't plan on sending money again until the exchange rate goes to at least 1200KRW=$1USD. That is a little less sickening to think about. In happier news this upcoming Sunday I'm going to Everland with some friends as long as the weather is good. I'm excited. It has been so long since I have gone to a theme park. I LOVE rollercoasters. Hopefully that day will be great. Until then though I have some studying and prepping to finish tonight...yay...oop, well not yet. Gonna go to dinner with my coworker and then come back and prep...or go to Emart then come back and prep...or maybe...nah, I'll prep, lol.

Mou...

2008-10-15T00:24:00.002-05:00

With everything going on it is sometimes nice to just go to the roof and gaze out at the world around me. It always helps with centering my thoughts and giving me a bit of that good feeling...now if only the exchange rate would stop flipping its shit I would feel even better. I don't fancy losing $200 just to send money home for bills...at the moment I think it's $1USD=1234.34KRW

2008-10-08T23:50:00.002-05:00

Been a little while. Things have been busy, crazy, WTF and such. Some of my classes are now cancelled bringing my working hours down but I'm kind of really happy about that. It gives me more time to work on curing my insomnia problem. It also gives me more time to be a tourist finally. The weather is turning colder and there are some places I want to go visit before the weather puts me in hibernation mode. Planning to get some people together to go to Everland for my b-day which is in the next two weeks. My first spent without my significant other...sad but it's ok. It will still be a good one.

Nothing else has really been going on. Went to Oido last week which was so much fun. I ate clams for the first time ever and I got to see the ocean. I really want to go back during the day so I can take pictures and videos of the exploding clam shells we grilled.

In depressing news the value of the Korean won is killing me. Because of bills back in the states I have to transfer money but I am losing so much with every transfer. I'm pretty much only sending enough for bills and the few online purchases I want to make. I'm going to hold everything else here in Korea until there seems to be a better time to transfer it over. Hopefully that will be sometime before I leave next year...

Insomnia...meh

2008-09-30T22:07:00.004-05:00

So insomnia has been kicking me in the ass lately. I remember a time where I could actually sleep before 4-5am and wake up around 9am to get things done...that time is apparently over. I actually tried to go to sleep around 1am last night...next thing I knew it was 3:30am so I decided to just text my boyfriend, Leon, who then called me. Something about his voice always relaxes me and then I can fall asleep, which is what ended up happening. Tried to wake up this morning around 10am which didn't happen. But I did manage to get up by 11:30am so that is a start. Small battles to win the war.

Other than lack of sleeping things are good. Planning on cooking a lovely feast of curry on Thursday since I actually have the day off. Also planning on going shopping for some fall/winter clothes. I think I might venture out to COEX for the second time ever. I usually go to Dongdaemon for some shopping but it is so far and I'm so lazy, lol.

It is a beautiful day but have I been outside? NO. Why? Too busy prepping for the rest of the week and trying to wake up. But I think today I will actually walk to work. Walking takes about 35-40mins but it is so nice a day and since I have a full schedule I won't get to see it when I get off work. In other work news my kids have started drawing me pictures on the board. They are so cute and funny so I told them I would take pictures of them everytime. Here are a few:

My students sometimes drive me crazy but I love those rugrats. They make teaching for 6hours straight not so bad.

=^^=

Back in the action of life...

2008-09-28T03:16:00.003-05:00

So I have been gone for a bit straightening things out on my side. No I didn't discover the meaning of life or anything. But I did find a small measure of peace. As weird as it is for me to say at least my love life is back on track. Work is no where near as crazy as it could be. In that regard I send best wishes to you Joy. I hope things will go at least a small bit more smoothly than they have been. The middle-schoolers have exams so I have a bit of a breather this week and only half of the classes as before. It'll be a bit of a pay cut but at least I get a small vacation and time to destress. I got hit with a migraine last week when I still had an hour of class left. And I had my two loudest classes to deal with. Needless to say my head was pounding and I was going to strangle someone's child. But I didn't and went home to pass out.

I've been making some friends while I was gone to help me pass the time. I was talking to one of my friends about Korean guys. Being a Korean man himself he gave me some interesting information about what's going on in their minds. I haven't made many Korean girl friends except for one or two at my school. I have made friends with some cab drivers, lol. They like to tell me how different I am.

The weather has changed. It is no longer unbearably hot and humid. We had a good rain and just like that the weather turned cool...boredering on cold really. It is an interesting change. In TN we have a really gradual shift into fall. Here it seems like winter will be here in the next week. It will be interesting to see a real winter and snow. I look forward to it. But for now I should stop rambling and find some dinner. Hope everyone has had a good weekend!
=^^=

Abscence

2008-09-16T21:22:00.002-05:00

Sorry I've been taking a bit of a leave of abscence from everything. I've got some sucky tough decisions to make about life and I need to take a step back to really think about everything. In my family there's a saying that bad things come in 3's and it has held true even up until now. Life, Work, Love. All areas I'm having to really look at and decide what it is I'm going for and if I'm truly putting my all into any of them. It hurts to have to look back at your life and determine if you are really living or if everything you have done up to now is just a half-assed attempt at getting by. But that is what I'm having to figure out in these next few days. I'll return in the next week or so, hopefully with more energy, a quiet mind and my heart intact...

The Sickness...

2008-09-10T21:47:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the lack of pics and posting. I've been really sick with the flu and spend most of my time passed out in bed with my dog beside me. I'll have a big post this weekend for Chuseok with all my friends though so be ready=^^=

Quick update...

2008-09-03T00:05:00.002-05:00

So I have been feeling a bit under the weather lately as well as a bit anti-social. I'm actually a very anti-social person by nature and enjoy being alone. But on the other hand I am also a human being who enjoys being with certain other human beings. But the last few days I have reverted back somewhat to my loner nature. This I must rectify to an extent.

Other than being a bit anti-social life has been ok. I went to Itaewon last weekend with a friend and some coworkers and met some really awesome people. The night is mostly a blur of dancing and laughing but somehow by the end of the night I think I found myself on hooker hill...I'm not really sure where I was so I grabbed the first taxi I saw and jetted back to good ol' Pyeongchon. Such a crazy night. I'm going to start taking pictures of these nights. My branch is having it's Hweshik tomorrow night which should be a doozy of a time. i am definitely bringing my camera with me then. Coworkers BEWARE!!!

Other than that not much is going on. I got my bed finally and have been enjoying it very much. Though I need to buy bedsheets next week when I get paid. I can't believe I have been in Korea for almost 2months now. It is crazy to go back and read the beginnings of this blog. I can't believe that this not-so-shy, anti-social, loud-mouth girl actually got her butt on a plane and jetsetted halfway across the world.

Amazing...

Pics from the past week...

2008-08-27T12:23:00.002-05:00

So I uploaded some pictures from the last week though they are in no particular order. Of course I have to have pics of my new baby. Cady likes to sleep with me on my bedmat. I haven't decided whether or not I will let her sleep in bed with me once I get a new bed. Perhaps I will leave the bedmat on the floor for her since she likes it...
Random pics outside my apartment...

My apartment building. I believe there are 19floors...
We have an E-Mart right across the street which is helping to kill my wallet.
I got lost somewhere in Anyang so I decided to take pictures...
Enjoying a nice afternoon in Gangnam-gu...

That's all the pics I have for now but hopefully tomorrow I will have some of the park down the street and others. Maybe one day I'll even take pics of my students...if they are lucky=^^=

A new beginning...

2008-08-24T21:23:00.002-05:00

So today is the beginning of the new term. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. I'm nervous as all hell. But I have been prepping for everything like I should so I think I will be ok. I felt the same way when I cam in during the last bit of last term and I was fine so I need to concentrate on that fact. I usually prep my material 3-4days in advance and just make sure to look over it again before class to refresh. I'm a bit OCD with getting things done and organized but it works to my advantage here.

I have been indulging in my guilty pleasure of youtubing korean music videos I like. To be honest my tastes have been running in the mainstream. Somehow I find I actually like Wonder Girls "So Hot"...a bit embarressing really. I really find myself liking MC Mong's 미치 겠 어(Crazy). I think I might actually go out and buy the cd since it is obviously not on iTunes. It's about love but in a funny way which I think is perfect. And I can dance around to it.

I've been trying to figure out how I am going to schedule my day with Cady. Today I have to go in to work early so she'll be alone for about 7hrs. I'm going to walk her right before I leave for work and then as soon as I get home so I think she will be fine. If not then we will deal with that as it comes. I actually woke up and found her sleeping beside me on my bedmat. And me moving around and my alarm going off doesn't bother her at all. She does bark when people knock on my door or ring the bell though so we'll have to work on that.

Everything else is going well. Hoping to get out tomorrow and take a stroll around the park with Cady and NaiNai before work. And hoping to buy my bed tomorrow finally!

미 치 겠 어...Crazy???

2008-08-24T08:56:00.004-05:00

Perhaps I am but I do have a new member of my household. She arrived this afternoon and has already made herself at home. Welcome CADY!!!
=^^=

Enf of one term...

2008-08-23T07:26:00.002-05:00

So I finally reached the ned of the term and intensives and I couldn't be happier. On the whole I didn't feel near as stressed as I could have. However we got schedules finally for the new term. Actually the schedule has been changed and butchered almost beyond recognition. But I think I finally have my final schedule which is great because classes start friggin Monday. I'll have 1 day off and a full schedule the rest of the time for a grand total of 36hrs/wk. That is going to be a bit rough perhaps but I know I'll be ecstatic when I get my paycheck. I won't have that schedule forever though. 3 of my classes disappear in 2months so I'll be down to 27hrs/wk. My manager told me to let him know if I start feeling homicidal but for now I'm excited to start the new term.

I've gotten a few emails about my process of getting here, recruiters and companies. I did do lots of research before I came so I have some info to give. Just give me a bit of time. I've been working so much I barely get time to check my email but I promise to get back to everyone ASAP with as much help as I can give. I'm glad people enjoy reading my blog and I'll make sure to post and add more info and pics!

Yay for days off...

2008-08-18T18:44:00.002-05:00

So I am in the process of mad cleaning. It is another battle between me and the dustbunnies from hell as well as the fruit flies. I have no food in my apartment but I have random fruit flies...ugh. So I am taking out any and all trash I have today, doing laundry, cleaning my bathroom...-sigh- I'm used to cleaning buuuuuut....I'm gonna hire a maid. I know, I know how lazy of me. But honestly I don't care. I can afford to and I'm tired of coming home to fight a war with distbunnies when I've barely finished fighting the war with my kids. So by next week I will be hiring a maid to clean my apartment once a week.

I will also have a new love in my life starting this Sunday. I am adopting a dog. The circumstances in which I'm getting her are quite sad and I honestly wish they would have been different but...yeah. I have never adopted a pet that was older than a pup, or kitten so I am nervous about whether or not this dog will take to me. I hope so.

Well for now it is back to the struggle that is me cleaning. I'm meeting a new friend later today for lunch and maybe later tonight for noraebang so it should be a fun day.

=^^=

A small rant...and then pictures

2008-08-16T22:25:00.004-05:00

I am not usually one who is prone to ranting and raving about anything. I prefer to be chill and let things I dislike just fall to the side. However, I have one big issue with people in general. People meet me, and even before we have one conversation, they assume that they know every aspect of my personality. Painting me into a box is a quick way to get on my bad side. Especially if you ignorantly reveal said box to me. I haven't really had any Korean people try to stereotype me at all. There was the one guy who called me Miss HipHop, and one guy for some reason thought I was from Columbia...no idea why. But truthfully most of the stereotyping and ignorance has come from some in the expat community.

Yes...I'm black...African-American...-all scream in fear and hide their watermelon-. But does that really tell you who I am? Well let's look at some of the stereotypes:

1) I'm on welfare.
-No. Quite the opposite. When my parents divorced my mom had pretty much no money, however to the best of my knowledge not once did she accept a welfare check. She worked hard and is now happily living on the level of the upper-middle class. Now I'm not saying that everyone in the system is lazy. Some are very hard-working people who are just trying to make a life for their children.

2) I have too many kids and don't know the 'Baby-Daddy'.
-This is a phenomenon I simply have no concept of. For one, it's called use birth control or other items to keep yourself from getting pregnant and for two...honestly I just don't like enough people at one time for that to happen.

3) I love fried chicken.
- Sorry KFC, sorry Popeye's, I actually really dislike fried chicken...oops.

4) I'm lazy.
-Contrary to belief black people have been working hard for centuries. Who the hell was it working in the fields?! How this laziness came about I do not know. But I do know that I for one refuse to live off of anyone's charity. I am my mother's child. I dislike asking for help, and I am just fine working for what I want. I am no one's lap dog.

5) Only black people fit into the above mentioned categories.
-I know so many lazy white people, lazy Chinese people, lazy Indian people, etc. who fit into one or all of these categories. It's ridiculous. My Japanese friend could be standing beside me, eating fried chicken, a baby strapped to her back and hugging her leg with her welfare check in her hand and a person would never lump her in those categories. She'd be seen as a traditional stay at home mom who happens to enjoy fried chicken...

...asses. So none of these stereotypes tell you who I am as a person. I sincerely believe stereotyping gets in the way of actually learning how to interact with other people. I'm not saying that black people don't do this too. I've been stereotyped the worst at times by my own people. 'I use a perm' 'My favorite food is Japanese food' 'I didn't go to an HBCU' 'I'm not black enough'...I hate when I am told that last one. There are so many aspects to African-American culture to be proud of. We are such a diverse people. Putting ourselves in a box is not only detrimental to our community, it is also impossible and thankfully so.

So if you ever see me walking down the street, stop for a chat. But do not assume that I know about 50Cents newest album, or that I have read any books especially written for African-Americans. Have I? Yes. Feel free to ask about those things. But do not assume right away. To assume is to make an ASS out of U and ME. And I don't hesitate to put people in their place these days.

So now after that rant, on to some pictures I took last night of my festivities. This mama is great. Her food on hogwan-ga is sooooooo good right after teaching for 6hrs straight. And she speaks great English. Her sister lives in the USA I believe.

So NaiNai and I are like an old married couple sometimes...yeah but totally straight, lol. No we were not drunk. Just imitating our well loved manager who sometimes looks like he hates his life...oh LukeLai we love you!!!

So I realized that somehow my other pics got deleted...but I do have this one. I am standing in Bomgye. I will take Korea by storm. When I leave they won't know what hit them!!!

2008-08-15T20:37:00.004-05:00

So life has been going on and on as usual. I've begun to fight the war of dust that springs up in my apartment when I'm gone. It makes me really miss having carpet. Work is the same. A bit less nerve wracking and now that I know what I am prepping for it takes less time. I haven't yet had time to be a tourist like I want and my computer still refuses to upload my videos so I might have to try from my friend's computer.

In new news I have decided to adopt a furry friend. I posted a while ago about how I would when I got a bit more settled. I don't want to speak prematurely since the last two times I tried it never panned out. But hopefully in the next week or two I'll post a pic of the new love in my life. Next week I will also hopefully be posting my apartment with added furniture(ie. a bed) and other fun electronics in it. Hopefully things will start to come together very soon.

I also wish that I hadn't gotten soaked in yesterdays random rainshower. I had to go back home just to change clothes before I went back to work. It probably didn't help that I didn't have an umbrella with me the first time...

Oh well. At least I had time to talk to my mom before I went back to teaching. As for now I should probably prep for today's lesson. Thankfully I have Sundays off so I get to relax tomorrow and go into Seoul for some tourist fun. I have no set plans except for walking around and trying not get hit by a speeding scooter...-sigh- sounds so nice...

=^^=

My apartment...

2008-08-12T09:42:00.004-05:00

So I finally have internet in my apartment!!! I also have cable but that is less important since I currently have no tv. I made a little video for you all to enjoy. I plan on making another tomorrow when I go walking down my street and maybe on the subway as well as where I work. Now that I am connected I am in the posting spirit. With work I haven't had much time to be a tourist but I plan on remedying that.

Scratch that, my computer won't let me upload it...sad. I'll try again later.

Semi-regular posting...

2008-08-11T22:11:00.002-05:00

So I am finally in a good mood. Yesterday I had gone to LG Telecom to get my prepaid phone changed to a monthly plan. So everything is going great. I got NaiNai who is half-korean and knows waaaaaaaaay more Korean than I probably ever will to come with me to help...and flash her visa if need be. So after 1 1/2hrs during which I signed a form turning off my then current phone service I was told that my bank account was not registered to my ARC card and therefore I couldn't get a phone until then...huwat?! So I had to leave and go back to work...phoneless. Completely disconnected from life...-sigh-...so needless to say I was in a shit mood. But my kids were so full of energy during class and got just about every example that I felt much better by the time the end of the day rolled around.

So this morning I got out of bed, showered and headed to the bank to remedy the situation. I'm someone who goes through a wide range of emotions fairly quickly. After the phone fiasco I felt angry for about 45minutes, then sad for maybe another 20mins. After that waste of time I felt determined. If I want something I will do what has to be done to get it. Not knowing a lick of Korean and being without NaiNai I went to the bank, played gestures, got my bank account changed and then went back to LG. 30minutes later I had my phone with a new cell number and a monthly plan. I am a happy Kristen.

So now I am just waiting until I get internet and looking to buy a tv. I'll be getting a cable/internet plan so I need to get a tv to have cable for, lol. Perhaps it is time for another walk outside to go find me a tv. That way I can watch the Olympics. Though truthfully I can just sit outside in front of FamilyMart like the ajossi, eat some kimbap and enjoy the night...

About Time..

2008-08-11T10:39:00.001-05:00

So I am finally getting internet tomorrow and damn is it about time. I'm so physically and mentally exhausted right now it isn't even funny. I am so glad I have a day off tomorrow. I feel like I could strangle someone...but alas I will keep my hands to myself. I should hopefully return tomorrow with a longer post and new pics...if I'm lucky!

I apologize...

2008-08-03T07:52:00.002-05:00

So I very much apologize for being away from my blog for so long. Life without internet is kicking me in the ass. Combine that with not having a tv, bed, food to cook, friends...no wait I do have friends...I think...but yeah I still come home to a half empty apartment everyday. Quite sad really but I get my first paycheck soon so I hope to add a bit more furniture to my apartment.

Work has been going great. The kids are hilariously funny at times and keep me entertained. Combine that with the fact that I love my coworkers and you have a very happy Kristen. I finally got my ARC(alien registration card) from immigration earlier. When you get to Korea be sure to get that ASAP. You can't really get a bank account or anything without it. Luckily I had a friend go with me and I got a phone my second day here. However I had a helluva time trying to get my prepaid phone recharged last week. After getting the runaround from about 8 stores in and around Seoul I finally went to Technomart where there was a LG Telecom center. Truthfully I cried a little and the lady helped me out. She was so nice and I wish her a promotion in the future. So now I finally can make outgoing calls again.

But alas everything can not go right in my life at the same time. My washing machine crapped out. I had to go downstairs to my coworker/awesomest friend ever's apartment and I currently have all of my undies drying in her room. Heehee.

All in all I have been having a great time in Pyeongchon. It's a nice combo of chillaxin place but close enough for me to go to Seoul at like 2am...like I did last week with NaiNai. I have gotten a few stares, been called Ms. Hip-hop(granted he did call me gorgeous), been waved at by cute little kids and had a lady in the nail salon rub my arm and say my skin was soft. I have been passed by/ignored by a few taxis but otherwise I haven't had any other negative experiences. I do hope to branch out beyond Pyeongchon and make friends but I'm still thoroughly enjoying myself. I'll do my best to get internet this week so I can get up some pics for you guys.

=^^=

No Internet

2008-07-28T12:06:00.001-05:00

Sorry everyone. Because I lack internet I haven't been able to post anything and I really still can't. But bear with me I shall return...

Some pics...

2008-07-22T03:49:00.005-05:00

So finally I have gotten around to taking pictures and posting them here. Sorry it took me so long. I also started my first day of teaching yesterday. It went pretty good I think. I loved the middle schoolers. They were so much fun to get thinking. Hopefully the school thinks I did ok. I varied a slight bit from things both times but not in a huge way. Everyone was also very helpful with everything at branch. Next I have a prep class to teach tomorrow. I met some other very cool people on that side and actually the apartment that I move into tomorrow houses a few of them.

The place I am moving into isn't big but it is big enough for lil ol' me. It is a bit of a mess so I will be massively cleaning all day tomorrow to make my place liveable. I'll post pics of my before and after. Unfortunately it didn't come with furniture so I will be getting all of that in time. Maybe with a bit of my first paycheck. I met C today who lives in the building across from mine and he is going to help me go to E-mart tomorrow to find some supplies. I don't have a picture of the emart but it is right across the street from me.

Enjoy the pics of my new area Pyeongchon. There will be more coming soon=^^=

Yay!!!

2008-07-18T03:41:00.002-05:00

So after a long stressful week I have finally finished training and start on Monday. I was a bit worried about the mock teaching and passing my quizzes but I actually did a pretty good job. Especially because I took the time to prepare and re-prepare my lesson plans. So now that training is over I can rest for a bit/party a bit. I actually went noraebang for the first time last night and experienced getting home after the subway shut off. The cab ride was very cheap. I have been working on riding the subway on my own. Haven't gotten too lost yet, lol. Unfortunately I also got a bit sick last night. Stomach ache, light fever, didn't keep my food down. But I feel much much better now.

I'll have pics and such to put up tomorrow. I'm still fighting off jetlag and getting sleepy now. But I promise I will put things up here to show how much fun I have been having. Bear with me for just a bit and you will have fun things to come.

Awake at 5am

2008-07-15T15:19:00.003-05:00

Ok hopefully sometime soon I can get my sleeping schedule to fix itself. Jetlag is no joke. Back home I pretty much followed a schedule Where I went to sleep right after I finished talking to Leon because many times he was out of town on business. I'd be in bed by 11pm or so and be up around 9am depending. Yeah, that isn't working here. I was going to take a nap and wait for D to get off work at 10pm and then head out for the night on the town BUT when I got her phone call at 10:30pm I was already firmly in the grips of sleep so I was the party pooper of the night. Then I woke up at 1am...again. Thankfully I managed to fall back to sleep pretty quickly but then I woke up again at 5am. Really going to work on this whole sleep thing in earnest today. If I nap then only during the day right after training and then up until 1am.

At least this morning I have things to do this early. I have to prepare 4 lesson plans for our mock teaching this afternoon. I usually don't enjoy standing in front of people my age and older but I suppose I should get used to that now...damnit. I have about 2 1/2 lessons done so time to get crackin on the other 2.

Yesterday was a pretty good day though. My parents and Leon finally figured out how to call my Korean cellphone and I enjoyed my first taste of soju in Korea. Though since it was on an empty stomach it only took me and a coworker 1 1/2 bottles to get a bit tipsy so we decided to head out for food. We ended up going to a restaurant that was a Korean version of italian pizza and pasta. Honestly it wasn't very good for the price but the service was great. After that I just crashed and party pooped. I'm starting to get a bit worried about finding a place to live. I'm being encouraged to move out to Pyeongchon but I don't know if I want to yet. I like the area I'm in now but it is way too expensive and the living price in Pyeongchon is cheaper. I don't mind commuting like 30mins since that is what I had to do at home but I don't want to be too far. We shall see.

I have pictures that I've taken that I need to post but I still can't find my camera cord. I'll post them soon. Especially the ones of where I am staying. The place is awesomeness=^^=

Awake at 6am

2008-07-14T16:07:00.004-05:00

So I've been here for just a little over a day and I'm already having fun. I'm the only girl at the hotel where some of us from CDI are being housed but the other guys are awesome. My hotel room which I actually think is an officetel is pretty sweet. I did a little video to show you guys since I can't find my camera's cord to attach it to my computer. I'll upload that later today.

I met up with my friend TY yesterday to get a phone and a T-card. I also had my orientation yesterday which went ok. I have training all week though I do have tomorrow morning off so hopefully I can get my bank account set up to transfer the rest of my american money over. It is god awafully humid here. My hair as gone crazy and I'm too tired to fix it as of yet. I have explored a bit. Went to technomart yesterday where I got my phone and then had 'bulgogitang' not sure how to spell it but it was really good. After that I just came back and crashed though I now wish I would have met up with D again to make myself conform to normal hours. Also went to Lotte mart yesterday. Lord it was a mad house but I did enjoy trying all the samples. Now I kind of know what I want to buy for food when I go back. I've slightly figured out how to navigate the Gangnam station and green line which I did with TY yesterday but the bus system is another story. Met two girls on the plane and in the airport that I exchanged email with and one girl J is near me and she called last night so hopefully we will meet up soon. I haven't yet noticed being stared at though I did have a taxi driver ignore me when I wanted a ride. Didn't really bother me though since that has happened to me more than once in New York and I quickly found another taxi driver who was so nice and helped me out although he didn't speak english and I don't speak korean so we used hand signals. Other than being tired from jetlag everything here is pretty friggin sweet.

Now I have to get ready for training though so shouts out to everyone and hopefully meet up with you all sometime in the near future.

SEOUL HO!!!

2008-07-13T16:42:00.002-05:00

That's right I called you a ho....just kidding. But I did finally arrive in Seoul last night after a long ass flight where I almost missed my flight to Korea because the flight to Japan was a bit behind schedule. But thankfully I arrived. When I got here I definitely passed out in the cab but was wide awake when I got to the hotel. Whish is a good thing because somehow they put me down as being a guy and had paired me with another guy in the program....yeah totally a chick. So last night I got my own room but they are going to switch me I think to share with another girl in the program. Damn I wish I could've stayed alone. But oh well. Met up with my friend D as soon as I got in and figured out how to use the phone and my international calling card(took me 45mins...seriously). We headed out to the Gangnam area and grabbed a bite to eat and then some ice cream before coming back to my place and watching some tv until 3am. Forced myself to sleep for a few hours but now I am right back up again. I'm probably going to crash tonight from lack of sleep...but I'm also meeting up with my friend TY to go get a cellphone and bank account.

I still can't believe I am here! Granted it has only been a few hours. But still! UH-mazing, Well time to get ready for training, the medical exam and then finding my way back from that. I got a card from the hotel so I could catch a cab if I needed which is great. I honestly don't mind shelling out $$$ on a cab to get back...at least not until I can get a cellphone and maybe let people know that I am wandering around lost.

This little country girl just got to the big city! SEOUL!!!

D-Day

2008-07-12T11:03:00.002-05:00

So I have finally left my home on my way to a new adventure in Seoul. I'm currently sitting in St. Paul, Minnesota airport with a 4hr layover before I board the plane to Tokyo before getting in to Seoul tomorrow night. It'll be nice to finally get on the plane so I can sleep. I woke up at 5am very anxious and was sick for about 20mins before I made myself do last minute packing to get to the airport to see Leon since he was flying to Arizona as well. I didn't cry...too much anyway, when he left to go to his gate. Everytime we looked at eachother we would both have to look away. But counting down 5months before he comes to visit me and I see him again. Well now that I have some time I'm going to find a place to recharge my laptop before I get on the plane. I also got a new laptop yesterday! It is so shiny and new with built in webcam. It is also muuuuuch lighter than my old laptop that I sold to my cousin so it makes me happy. OH! Found somewhere to plug in my laptop! Sweet!

=^^=

2days...

2008-07-10T16:39:00.003-05:00

So I just got back from Atlanta last night with my shiny new visa!!! Well, it isn't shiny but it is new. After walking in circles in downtown Atlanta for 20mins I discovered that the hotel I was staying in was connected to the tower where the Korean consulate was located...yeah had a dumb moment...for 20minutes. But anyhoo, I had my interview Tuesday morning which was pretty chill and the guy was very nice. My mom was busy reading all of the magazines about Korea that she could and even stole a few I think. The next day I came back to the consulate and they had my passport all ready and waiting for me. It was grand.

So now I am repacking because I'm a bit over the 50lb weight limit and steeling myself for a 14hr plane ride. Geezus. I hate planes. But I've got a 600page book and my ipod. I'm ready for it. Also thankfully there is someone picking me up at the airport to take me to my hotel. And that night I think I'll be meeting up with a friend of mine if I am not too exhausted for hopefully late night snackage and to see how far I'll be from them.

I'm getting more and more excited though I did have a bit of a crying breakdown Tuesday night while on the phone with Leon. I'm not a crier. Actually, I've been told that I don't show much emotion at all except for maybe hyperness. So I don't think Leon much knew what to do when I started crying on the phone. In the hotel lobby no less! A bellhop guy came over and asked if I needed help and such when he saw me. Very embarrassing. But I got my act together and the last 1 1/2hrs of Leon and my conversation was all laughs and butchered Vietnamese on my part. I think getting an email from my friend who recently flew and is staying in Hong Kong, who also has a boyfriend in the states definitely helped my mood. Hell, 2days left before I fly I better be excited.

=^^=

2008-07-06T22:56:00.003-05:00

I leave tomorrow night to head to Atlanta and I'm starting to get a tiny bit frazzled as far as packing goes. I haven't even unpacked from my weekend in Kentucky and now I have to pack for Atlanta, do laundry and pack for Korea. But I did get to see my friend get married this weekend and meet up with my other friend who came from Seoul just to be a bridesmaid for the wedding. We made plans to meet up as soon as I get into Seoul and I am starting to get excited. I had a great time in downtown Louisville with Leon. We bar hopped on 4th Street where there is a blocked off area with clubs, restaurants and bars and you can walk around with your cup of alcohol rather than staying put in one club. Needless to say I got a bit tipsies and didn't get to sleep until 5am. But it was a fun time. Went to see the fireworks on the 4th with some college friends that are still in town. Also much fun. Took a massive amount of photos so I can have them when I feel homesick and remember my good times while making new ones.

Kind of an awesome weekend. This week will be busy but I am looking forward to getting everything done and starting my journey to Seoul.

One step closer...

2008-07-04T09:21:00.003-05:00

So I scheduled an interview for next Tuesday morning at the Korean Consulate. I'll be able to pick up my passport with my visa inside that Wednesday afternoon. After I have that I'll just have to finish packing and get the last bit of info on how in the hell I'm getting to wherever the hell I'm going and I'll be set. Actually I never realized how much you can fit into a suitcase. I've already put in about 3/4 of the stuff I am taking in one suitcase and it is only 35lbs! Kind of UH-mazing. I need to have most of my stuff already packed or at least organized to be packed by this Sunday because I'll be in Atlanta from Monday until Thursday morning. So much to do and I'm not even sure what I'm doing....meh.

I'm finally actually getting myself mentally ready to be away from everything that makes me comfortable for a year. It helps to already have friends in Seoul, especially one friend, B, who is from Seoul and will help me by translating until she goes back to the US. Then D and T who work at the same company I do though not the same branch. I've already had one crying night earlier this week but I think when I see Leon go down to his side of the airport and truly realize that I won't see him until next January, I'll probably be a sad little Kristen listening to sad Vietnamese ballads until I finally pass out on the 14hour plane ride.

Pyeongchon here i come...

2008-07-01T21:50:00.002-05:00

So I found out I will be working in Pyeongchon. I got really confused about whether or not i will be going to Gangnam for training first or not so I need to email that question. I'm a little more excited now that I have some idea of where I'll be working and I have my plane ticket and have started packing and storing items. I'll be working in Pyeongchon but not sure where I will live yet. But I was told the area was cheaper than central Seoul and since i am broke, then that is a good thing...for now.

VISA!!!

2008-06-30T09:13:00.004-05:00

So I have finally thankfully gotten my visa code. Now I need to call and schedule an interview for this week and finalize some plans to get down to Atlanta. I do have questions for them about how soon I will have my visa stamp so I can let the school coordinator know. I also received a welcome packet which gave me a slight shock when I read I may be paying rent BEFORE I get a paycheck. I don't believe I will really be able to do that so I need to let my coordinator know and see what can be done about it. As far as everything else goes it is mostly in order. I bought my plane ticket (thank you hunni), bought luggage and a few bathroom items I'm picky about and have really and truly started the process of getting rid of things. I had a slight scare when I got an aim message about a friend of mine being in the hospital after getting hit by a car but I went to see her last night and she is doing okay thank gahd.

It still doesn't quite seem real that in less than 2 weeks I'll be on a flight that will take me across the globe and into a place where English isn't even close to the major language. I'm excited and nervous to all hell but it will be an adventure. I've been in my comfort zone for most of my life. Dating Leon has actually done something that could possibly help though. Getting used to the stares. Leon and I get stared at quite a bit, especially when we go into places that are Vietnamese. Or like this past weekend when we went out and I got two schools of black guys who either a) think Leon is the man or b) ask why can't I find a black man to satusfy my needs and such.

Perhaps there will be stares and gawks and leers but oh well. Nothing worse than I get over here already...

Visa run

2008-06-25T11:11:00.002-05:00

So I got an email back from CDI's coordinator about my visa code being sent to me within the next few days. Now that I can see it is going to be cutting it a bit close with getting my visa and flying out I'm wondering how long it will take. The consulate in Atlanta is the closest to me though it is still a good 4-5hr drive one way. I had considered flying out from Atlanta and just staying in a hotel somewhere down there but after more thought I really want to leave from my own city so I can say goodbye to family and friends. Not too mention the fact that Leon's job flies him out of town before then so if I am gone before he gets back then the last time I will see him for 6-7months is the July4th weekend. No good for me. The ticket isn't any cheaper from Atlanta it's just the fact that I would be driving back and forth so much.

So I have a question from you all out there. Did you go to get your visa from the consulate or did you have yours mailed to you? If you had it mailed to you how long did it take? As it stands I might not have my visa code until July1st and I need it to be in my passport by July11th so I can fly out July12th. Now I definitely have no time to plan for a new job. I'm going to be too busy trying to pack and possibly driving a total of 16hrs to get a visa stamp in which case I'm getting there, putting in the paperwork and driving right back home. The consulate opens up at 9am so if I get on the road by 5am my time I can be in there by 10am, do the damn thing and hopefully be back on the road home by 1pm before I hit Atlanta's god awful rush HOURS traffic. I do have a friend living about 45mins from Atlanta that I could possibly stay with if need be. I need to give her a call and figure out what the hell I'm going to do.

Gettin' ready

2008-06-24T12:34:00.006-05:00

So with only about 2.5weeks left before I leave i have pretty much given up on finding a temp assignment for extra income and have instead started focusing on visiting family, cleaning my mom's house and buying/packing all my needed items. I've gone onto many forums and other blogs trying to figure out exactly what other people packed when they moved, especially comfort foods. I'm not too picky when it comes to food actually. However I do have a few foods I love to always have on hand for the quick "oops I forgot to eat today" moments I have on occasion when I'm busy. But I have decided on a few food items I'll be packing:

taco seasoning
packaged oatmeal
peanut butter/jelly
hot cocoa
soyjoy bars

Other things I'm wondering about are clothes and shoes of course. I'm a big time jeans/t-shirt girl and so going business casual is a bit of a change for me. I've also lost a bit of weight so getting new clothes is a must. I'm also not sure if I'll easily find shoes my size (8.5-9) so I want to make sure I don't have to have my mom send me a million items I didn't think I needed. I also am making sure to stock up on bathroom items such as deodorant and toothpaste. I'm not too particular about shampoo/conditioner, and I rarely wear make-up so perhaps I'll worry about those when the time comes. For now though I need to actually buy luggage and figure out how to fit all this into suitcases and separate what to donate to Goodwill.That doesn't even include my shoes or bathroom items...what a long way to go...

Meh...and such

2008-06-20T17:07:00.002-05:00

'Meh' is something I find myself saying many times a day. Especially on days where time has seemed to creep by. I can no longer sleep past 8am so I usually get most of my chores and errands done by noon. Today was no exception. I was awoken by the garbage truck a little after 8am and figured I'd get an early start on my errands. Went by work...well my ex-work since I no longer receive any hours to work and then met my mom at her job for an early lunch of chicken, tomato and green pepper pizza...so yummy. After taking a couple boxes from her work I went to the post office to mail some books i sold online. Stopped by my great grandmother's house and then came home hoping to find my visa confirmation in my email. No dice. So still waiting for that.

In not so happy news my mother is trying to get me to consider pushing my departure date until August for financial reasons. I'm not too sure if that is even possible. I doubt my finances would be any better a month later, especially not with having to pay for gas. And since I am currently out of work I want to get up and out as soon as possible. I may have everything ready (ie. flight, luggage, other needed items) by the end of the weekend, though I'm a bit iffy on accepting that source of financial input. Though since it is just for my pride's sake I should make it shut up and accept the kind gesture. If not I may find myself still sitting here in a month's time...

2008-06-18T08:56:00.000-05:00

RIP Jazz Walker November 1994-June2008

Sigh...

2008-06-18T00:01:00.003-05:00

So tomorrow is pretty much my last day at work. After almost a year of working my manager(who I have been feeling likes me less and less) gave me absolutely NO hours for work next week. Despite the fact that my official last day was supposed to be July1. Awesome. Then again I have been growing tired of the never ending workplace drama. And I want more time to spend with Leon and my family BUUUUUUUT nothing can be accomplished without money...which I no longer have...for anything. Maybe I should do a few amateur nights in our small red light district.

Another worry for me is my dog's declining health. Tonight out of no where he can barely walk, crazy discharge, listless...it is very distressing to me. My dog is 14yrs old. The reason I haven't thought about taking him(other than him weighing 70lbs) is because I don't want him to get stressed because of his age. I've had my dog, Jazz, since he was a fat little puppy. I know that pets don't live as long as people but i never ever really gave thought to my dog not being around. Even though he is sick now I still can't imagine Jazz not being there. It's amazing how animals become such an important part of your life.

Waiting Game

2008-06-14T11:30:00.003-05:00

So I am now entering into the last stages of booking flights, getting my visa, truly realizing I have waaaay too much stuff and agonizing over buying luggage. I'm currently waiting for my visa confirmation so I can go to the Korean Consulate in Atlanta for my mini-interview and visa stamp. The process got off to a bit of a rough start. I had sent all of my paperwork back in late May I believe but the pictures I had sent were too big. I thought by passport sized photos they meant photos the size of my passport. However I found out that they meant the normal passport photos. But thankfully I could just scan and email the coordinator my photos. Then came the news from immigration that my transcript did not have a stamp on the back flap. I guess it is to prove that I haven't opened and tampered with my transcripts. Still it was annoying to have to resend. So now I have all my documents in and I am just waiting for my visa code...

...waiting...

...I hate waiting...

Late night musings...

2008-06-13T01:22:00.004-05:00

So after another 2+ hour conversation with my boyfriend I have once again learned the great concept of compromise. Sometimes being in a relationship where you and the other are from completely different cultures can make things very difficult and a tad confusing. Especially if there is a slight language barrier. There are times when what my boyfriend says just throws me for a loop and I sit staring at him or the phone wondering "what in the hell???" And there are other times, like a few days ago, when instead of just telling me something straight out he will talk in circles leaving me at 'Z' when the true meaning of it was somewhere just shy of 'F'.

There are other times when he knows that he has totally confused me and without me saying anything he scrambles with a "wait, don't think, let me say it another way" or when he is unsure altogether and I tell him in his own language to just spit it out.

And then there are times when I can look at him and see when he is mad, upset or flat out bored or when he looks at me he can tell my thoughts are running in circles through my brain. We don't completely understand each other, he is a fairly traditional Vietnamese man and I am a pretty untraditional African-American woman, but that's what makes it fun. Crazy, with a bit of a headache thrown in, but still fun. And even before the end of the day it is definitely worth it.

Now I remember...

2008-06-08T21:10:00.003-05:00

So today I went to church for the first time in a loooooong ass time. Now let me just say I have no problem with people going to and enjoying their church experience. Having faith in something is very important and comforting for millions of people, especially in times of stress or sorrow. However, some of the things preached and said in the churches I have visited have caused me to avoid going to church and wishing I hadn't wasted my time as a child.

Looking through diaries from my much younger days(I'm talking about back in like 1996 when I was only 11yrs old) shook up old memories from when i was a child. I can now say for sure that I hated boys for the most part and thought they were only useful on the soccer field. I can also say I was a closet militant southern baptist. Some of the things I wrote, "homosexuals will burn in hell" "those that don't believe in GOD are heathens" etc. just make me tear up. I can barely remember those times so I don't know if those things are what I truly believed in or if they were part of what I had been taught and went with blindly. This militant time was followed by a time of sexual orientation confusion. Suddenly I was wondering if i was the very thing I had preached against. But how could that be if God made me? He made me to go to hell and suffer?

After that time I began to actually read the bible for myself and really listen to what the preachers were saying and thinking about what those sayings meant to me and others. Some of the things that had been preached truly sounded like borderline hate speech. Now I'm not saying that all preachers are bad or having your own opinion is bad. However when things are being stated against peoples who have had so much pain and suffering...case in point today.

Today we had a small celebration for 2008 graduates at church(which is why I went). A deacon stood to say some words to us that completely threw me for a loop. Almost word for word he stated that the tragedies that have occurred in Myanmar(which he stated was in India???), India and China were the consequences of believing in Buddhism and Confucianism rather than the "only" true and living God. He then went on to state that because the USA is a "true" Christian state (aka not Catholic, Mormon, etc.) we young people have not been faced with tragedies such as the earthquake that struck Chengdu and the countless typhoons of Asia that kill hundreds of thousands and misplace millions. It is also why we young americans have the chance to go to college and get a degree. So basically if Asian countries want to stop being devastated then they should believe only in God.

I honestly almost walked out right then. I could not believe that someone would use those tragedies as a platform to prove that Christianity is the true religion of the world. I honestly likened it to saying that because our African ancestors believed in multiple and perhaps no god then they brought slavery and death onto themselves. I wanted to ask him if he believed this once church was over. If he believed that our people deserved to be taken from their homes, killed, sold, beaten, separated from their families, raped, shot and hung because they had previously believed in so-called heathen gods.

I believe everyone is entitled to believe what they like as long as it does not violate someone else's rights. However, views like these are one reason why I have continued to stay away from any church that states that THEIR religion is THE religion.

Faith is too important to too many people to play this my God is better than your God game.

Blah blah blah...

2008-06-04T23:07:00.003-05:00

Oh life, how much you frustrate the hell out of me. My sore throat finally went away after almost 3weeks. Waking up with a dry throat and no voice is definitely no fun. Then again, I haven't gotten much sleep in the past few days as it is. Work hours have definitely been seeing a steady increase thank gahd. Still looking to have a temp assignment sometime but I think I have begun to give up slightly. Now I'm just being domestic and doing laundry, dishes and using my insomnia to become Betty f-n Crocker. I made four cakes last night, 2 chocolate and two coconut. My future kids will love when mommy can't sleep. Free goodies.

Yeah I had in my mind what I would write about and now it's just GONE. Though it is fun to sit here and talk politics with my korean friend. He told me he recently bought an Obama magnet for his fridge. I didn't even know you could get them...there goes my brain again. Perhaps the lack of sleep is catching up to me. I remember when I used to be able to survive off of 2hrs of sleep a day for weeks...I think I am getting old...

A few picnic pictures...

2008-05-29T12:30:00.004-05:00

It was such a beautiful day at the lake and my friend Seth entertained us by his Vietnam's Next Top Model posing....although he is from Laos...

Going into a food coma after too many burgers and hotdogs...

The feeding of the strawberries...sort of...

Leon feeding the bloodthirsty geese that kept biting everyone. I really dislike birds...

Yay for the birthday boy=^^=

Eventually they got me to feed the damn birds, ugh.

After having had to resend my photos that I had made too big now I find out my school doesn't automatically put the seal on the transcripts...damnit. So now I have to head to school before work and try to get seals on the extra transcript I had ordered. Hopefully it doesn't take very long because I have to work at 5pm and I need to go ahead and ship it to Korea so my visa can finally be processed and I can plan when I can visit the Korean Embassy. Thankfully next week my work hours have increased. It also helped that one coworker asked if I could work one of her shifts(hell yes!) so I get another 5hrs added onto the mix. Thank gahd...

...-silence-...

2008-05-28T10:27:00.003-05:00

So unfortunately I have been sick for the past...week or so I guess. I still had a great weekend though. It was the bf's birthday Saturday so my friend and I incorporated his birthday celebration into our picnic. The look on his face when we picked out cute candles that spelled HAPPY BIRTHDAY was hilarious. He wanted to go home and sleep for his birthday...ha! No can do buddy. So we picnic-ed all day with friend, got attacked by blood thirsty geese after my buns and scared small children. So awesome. I'll hopefully have pics up soon. My digital camera has crapped out after 3 years of loyal service so now I may have to get a new one...sometime.

My paperwork made it to the office in Korea, only problem is that my pictures I sent were too big so now I have to go and get new passport sized ones done. Going to go get that done today. Also deep in the process of throwing away things I have collected that I know I don't need to keep. It has been a long going process.

One thing that is also continuing to bother me is my lack of income. Nothing has panned out from my temp job search and my hours at work have yet to pick up. Another shitty 4.5hr week. The only good(bad?) thing is that the days seem to be passing relatively quickly. Then again I have been doped up on tussin, advil and other such pain reliever things so I thought today was Monday....not so much. Hopefully today I can get out and about and get things done without killing my gas too much. Lord knows I don't make enough to fill it back up...

Waiting Game

2008-05-23T11:10:00.003-05:00

Work this week thankfully went by rather quickly. I was only supposed to be getting 4.5hrs of work (damnit) but a coworker got really sick and was out so I filled in. I needed the money big time so it was all good. But I really just feel like I'm in this waiting process. I like the job I do...scratch that, I like my coworkers, the products and a few of the loyal customers we have. Everyone else can jump off a bridge. But I just want to finish and start my new job. The feelings won't make me perform any worse at my job but it is just a general feeling of "What the hell am i still doing here?" But I did just mail my paperwork which should be at CDI by next Monday and then sometime in the next 3 weeks i will be heading to the Korean Consulate in Atlanta to get my visa.

I've barely gotten a start on the whole getting rid of stuff thing. I need to do better about that fairly soon. I'm just kind of sentimental about random junk I have collected over the years. Something about being afraid to fully let go of the past and such. Meh, gotta let that stuffs go byebye for the most part. Right now it is all just sitting in various closets and under beds.

Other than working a little and trying to clean not much has been going on. Thinking too much about everything as usual. Thought I was starting to get sick but I think I just wasn't drinking enough water. Cooked dinner for my boyfriend, Leon, last night then went bowling for a little. Planning a picnic tomorrow so trying to figure out what food I need to and can afford to buy as well as who all is coming. I'm working on not thinking/worrying as much as I have been. It's good to have some sort of plan about things but many times I just do pointless worrying about anything and everything. I have made an effort to cease with worrying that does nothing but give me a headache.

It's a beautiful day so I should go take advantage of that for a while...

Amongst pain there can also be great joy...

2008-05-20T23:33:00.003-05:00

" My dear baby, if you can survive, please remember mom loves you."

(click the link above)

Sometimes there are things that make you stop and realize that people are so beautiful. Amidst all the hate and suffering in the world there is still selflessness and love.

2008-05-18T10:28:00.008-05:00

So I am finally back from the fun filled week of gambling with my mom. Amazingly it turned into a free weekend with the amount of money we actually won back. It wasn't extremely impressive but it was enough to pay back the trip. Now I am back home and on the job hunt again for a full-time day job.

I also finally got my transcripts in from Vandy. I had a slight freak out attack when my mom said she almost opened them (geezus) but then I saw she barely even picked at it. I am so damn gullible sometimes. My mom and boyfriend get me every damn time...but anyhoo, now I can finally send my paperwork to Korea. I'm slightly iffy about sending my original diploma just because it took so long and so much money to get it but after asking around I'm a little placated. Gotta have some kind of faith.

With slightly less than 2months before I leave I am really trying to crack down and get rid of items I don't need. I need to even more because I barely have anywhere to store them at my mom's house now. I suppose that is what I will do all today since yesterday I did nothing but relax with Leon. It was such a beautiful day so we spent most of it walking around the lake, enjoying the breeze and trying to skip stones. Leon always says that I am so loved...which meant I got bit by a dozen mosquito...iiiiiitchy! But at least it was a great day...And I also have pictures from graduation and my graduation dinner with friends and family. I am glad to be done but now boredom is setting in=^^=Not sure who got a pic of me as I walked back to my seat. It was like an ambush of cameras and parents...

Me and my two moms, Mama Lily on the left and my bio Mom on the right. I love them both and am glad they get along...sometimes TOO well...My dad and mama and I.Two of the most important men in my life, and they seem to get along, even better!Dinner at Shogun Hibachi grill...sooooo good. And he "flirted" with my cousin, lol. Two of my best friends who i will miss dearly also came to the dinner. I was so glad that they could meet my family again and enjoy the day=^^=

Good-bye to yesterday...

2008-05-11T21:01:00.002-05:00

Good-bye Vanderbilt! Good-bye elevators that got stuck with me in them 4 times. Good-bye quizno in the basement making it impossible for me to not get fat. Good-bye for now exams and homework. And unfortunately good-bye for now friends I hold near and dear. But hello again to the future and all of the changes that come with it. I am now gathering all of the paperwork I need to ship to Korea, including the $140,000 paper that is my diploma.

Thankfully I am heading on a trip Tuesday to go gambling with my mom and spa it up for a few days before going back to the grind and saving up money for Korea. Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there!

That much closer to a sad good-bye...

2008-05-08T19:48:00.003-05:00

Hmmm...just now realizing how much I truly will miss this place...good-bye to the place that has been my home for these past 4 years. Hello to a future I have yet to meet. I'm apprehensive as hell but I'm excited too. Hopefully more good than bad is headed my way.
REST WHEN YOU DIE!!!

Wazzat?!

2008-05-06T23:07:00.003-05:00

I have no idea what that title means but the non-word has been floating around in my head for hours. After 4 hours of driving around downtown with its damn retarded one-way streets I finally managed to complete all three steps towards obtaining my apostille and could collapse onto my couch with exhaustion. It was damn hot outside and all I wanted was the coolness of my AC. I have been working inside for waaaay too long. I've gotten too spoiled by my work environment...

4 Days to go

2008-05-05T10:40:00.002-05:00

Things have been crazy for the past few days. I thankfully passed all my exams including Japanese which usually screws me over. Now I'm in the annoying process of packing everything to move back with my mom for the next few months to save money for Korea. I still haven't gotten my background check apostilled. I'm searching for wherever they moved the building. I need to get off the couch and get moving though. I also need to figure out what days I am working this week. My hours still haven't recovered at work. No idea how I am going to save any money when my paycheck will only cover filling my gas tank. Second job here I come.

In other news I have been trying to get rid of things that I a) don't need and b) can't take with me eventually. I don't think I will have my mom send me anything too big so I hope to sell a tv, microwave and mini fridge to get a few more dollars saved up. Thankfully my boyfriend found cheaper airline tickets than I had previously been finding. I need to stop playing bad little packrat and seriously get rid of or store alot of things I know I don't need...

...so hard.

Yay for my new shiny passport...

2008-04-28T21:37:00.003-05:00

So after only about 2 weeks I have received my shiny, crisp new passport. Thank goodness for nice postal workers who told me not to bother paying to have it expedited. I also went to the police station today(after fighting with a few random one way streets) and got my background check. I had been told by some that it would take 1-5days to have it completed. I don't know if this was because of possible records people may have had because it only took me about 15minutes to get mine. 15 minutes and $13.00 just to have a NO RECORD stamp on a piece of paper. Craziness. So now I need to go to my State Clerk and get it apostilled. The only problem is that there are massive renovations going on downtown so the office has been moved...somewhere. -sigh- But I will find it.

I finally received my contract and date of departure. I fly out from the U.S. July 14 and training starts July 16. Now that I finally have a date I have a set goal and schedule for myself. I am still considering getting a second part time job if the hours at my current one don't increase.

I have realized that I haven't included too much about the technical procedures and whatnot that I have been having to do so I figured I would include some of those now for anyone who happens across here and is considering teaching in Korea or anywhere else abroad.

My search for teaching English abroad actually began in Japan. I've studied Japanese for 5years so I figured that logically that would be where I would head first. I had planned to study Korean in university but I was tricked and found out when I got here that it wasn't offered. So after two of my friends went to Korea to teach English for CDI I decided I would turn my attentions there after not getting into the JET Program.

Through them I got in touch with a recruiter for CDI and sent my resume and photo. After that I had an initial phone interview and then one with a coordinator for CDI. I suppose they heard something in me that they liked because I was offered employment and got an initial contract stating my hourly pay that I opted for, everything I would be reimbursed for including my flight and apartment deposit and my guaranteed minimum weekly hours. After signing that and emailing it back I received my complete contract complete with stipulations about tardies, dress code and consequences for any violations. I also received a list of what I need to send to them to get the code for my visa:

1) Original University Diploma
2) 2 Sealed transcripts
3) 4 Passport sized photos
4) Copy of my passport
5) Background check with the seal of Apostille

I also have two more forms to print off, sign, scan and email back to the coordinator so I can receive my visa pin. Unfortunately(or maybe fortunately???) the closest Korean Embassy to me is in Atlanta, GA. So whenever I receive that then I will be taking a minor roadtrip to get a cute little stamp in my passport. After that I will begin the massive task of packing my entire life into 2-3 suitcases to be shipped to Korea.

11 days and counting...

2008-04-27T22:35:00.006-05:00

I had a great weekend full of relaxing and hilarious quotes by friends. There are so many people I will miss when we graduate and everyone goes their separate ways. Thankfully two of my girl friends are planning to come visit me in Korea. But I will miss our margarita nights. Not to mention the guy friend I met through my boyfriend. I'd have to say senior year of college has been my best year as far as my ENTIRE school career is concerned. I've met so many wonderful new people who have made it a blast.

Only 11 days to go before I am officially a college alum. I have been feeling a bit anxious about it lately. Becoming a "real" adult. So strange. There are so many things I still need to do. The background check continues to elude me but I believe tomorrow will be the day. All I have to do is study for a bit, separate clothing, clean out my desk and get the background check. For the next few days my motto is "REST WHEN YOU DIE!!!"

2008-04-25T10:57:00.002-05:00

I am 1/4 finished with the last exams of my undergrad career. THANK GAHD!!! I have my Chinese exam at 3pm today and then my Theater exam tomorrow afternoon. After that my last one for Japanese is next Thursday. I'm so happy to almost be done with everything. Now I just need to begin the packing process in earnest. I'll be moving back in with my mom before I leave for Korea so I can save money. Especially with the hour cuts that just happened at my job. In the next two weeks I'm only getting about 10hrs work time. There is no way that I can manage to pay for everything with so little working hours so I am considering getting a second part time job. I would really rather spend most of my time with my young nieces and nephews and my parents and friends but I might just have to forfeit that to finance everything.

I finally figured out where the nearest precinct to me is so I can finally get my background check done. Is it bad that I had no idea where the police station was?