I'm So Sorry

I know I've been delinquent in my entries (MERRY BELATED CHRISTMAS!). I've been preparing for Kory's arrival and he's here!!! This entry is gonna be short, I just wanted to let you know that I am still alive. Kory and I are about head to McDonald's. Tonight is the Alpha Phi Alpha New Year's party. I don't have to work tomorrow so I will be blogging tomorrow and look out for an entry from Kory. He'll be writing about his experience too.
Until Next Time!
and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Oopps!

Ok now, don't get upset with me, but...I actually forgot that I had a blog to maintain :( With the holidays literally around the corner and me trying to get ready for Kory's arrival (1 week 1 day 6 hrs and 30 minutes!), I kinda fell off. But if I may remind you...you did get two entries in one day. So technically, we're even.

I believe the last thing we talked about was the FRAUD going down at my school...yea. Can't get over that one...

Anywho, I didn't do much during the week (I don't remember so it must not have been that great if I did). Saturday was Jason (we met him a little over a month at the King's Tap in Sinchon)'s birthday. We went out to dinner in Hongdae (a really popular area next to a big university) and then went to his favorite tavern where we drank, ate some more, laughed and did the Cupid Shuffle (if you don't know, YouTube it). No one in there could Walk It Out like me if you know what I mean ;)

Today, I met with Christina and we went to Gangnam to try out the place where we are going for Christmas diner. The directions that we had were all wrong and since I hadn't eaten all day my patience were wearing thin. If you know me, you know that I am at my evilest when I'm hungry, and it seemed as though everyone in Gangnam were messing with me. I camera crew comes up to me and ask what do I think of the arcade games with the crane and you win a prize (now of coarse they didn't ask the question that well. it took about 2 minutes for us to understand what they were asking). After I gave them my answer in the most annoyed looking face I turned around a walked away. So if you're in Korea and see me on MBC, I'm a lot nicer than how I may appear. We finally found the place and it was 5:25 and they didn't open until 6. Talk about mad. However, they did let us come in and sit. The owner was very friendly and after what seemed like ages we were able to order.

After we ate (I had a delicious burger), we went to Dr Fish. Now, if you're not familiar with Korea, Dr Fish is a place where you go to have piranhas eat the dead skin off your feet. "Aren't piranhas meat eaters?" you ask. Only red-bellied piranhas are meat eaters. The rest are vegetarians (learned that in my Fall term Giga class!) First, you have to order some sort of food or drink (it was inside of a café...weird I know). I ordered a Sweet Potato Latte (if I have learned anything since being in Korea, its that Koreans love sweet potatoes and Kimchi. I'm waiting to see a kimchi latte...not that I'll drink it, I just wanna see). I was all ready and mentally prepared, but when I went to put my feet in the tank I couldn't do it. The man there gave us a couple minutes to get use to the fish and then he started our 15 minutes. I really never got use to it and only ended up putting my heels in. It tickled way too much. I'll try again another time.

*Don't my feel look fat...but those are the fish munching away*

*The view we had of Gangnam as the fish were munching*

**Silly me, I have to back track I remember 3 things that happened this week. First, I got a co-worker to call Merry Maids for me. Now, I'm not a slob, I clean my dungeon everyday, but one thing I hate to do is bathrooms. Mine isn't dirty, I just want it to get a good scrubbing. And I figured while they're at it, they can clean my windows and mop my floor. I had already look online at their prices and estimated that it would probably cost me about 20,00-30,000 won which I am more than willing to pay. So my co-worker called and they had their Korean conversation and she tells me that it is a flat rate to come and clean my entire room...150,00 won! They must be out of their D*** mind! ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND won to clean what's already clean? H*** NO! Their website is definitely false advertisement. I don't even have 150,000 worth of room to clean. That made me mad. So I just figured I would have to do the job myself.

The second thing that happened has been an ongoing problem for a couple weeks now. I'm not trying to be gross so I won't go into detail, but you know how much I love food. One day last week I noticed that a lot was going in but nothing was coming out. Now, I'm not the most regular person, but I couldn't recall when the last time I went and I was getting bad stomach and back pains and I knew that was the reason. I finally broke down and went to the pharmacy to see if I could get something to help me out because not even my Raisin Bran was working. I looked up the Korean translation for laxative on my cell phone and I show the woman at the pharmacy. She shook her head and went and got this little pink box and brought it over. Of coarse everything is written in Korean so I had no clue what it said. It felt like a bottle inside so I asked her how much should I drink. She said "oh no" and pointed to her butt...H*** NO! Nothing goes up there! NOTHING! My co-workers started to laugh and the lady go a little tickled as well. I told her tablets, pills, something other than what was currently in my hand. She took it back and gave me some pills. Geesh. What an experience. I didn't even know people still used those, but this here girl won't be.

The last thing that happened is that I went to Yongsan IPark Mall to look for a portable DVD player. I found one (more than what I wanted to pay for but since a lot of my Christmas gifts are DVDs and my friggin laptop is being uncooperative, I had to do what I had to do) and I'm back in the game again. Thank you Jesus!...and Mommie for paying for it!**
Back to where I left off
After we left Dr Fish, I went to E-mart to get my cleaning supplies since I will be doing the hard labor myself. 80,000 won for cleaning products. I can't complain because I got myself some Tide and Downy. I don't know who makes or what they put in their fabric softener here, but it leaves my clothes feeling like bricks, has made the leather label on my Express jeans bleed, and has put a hole in my favorite pair of jeans. So I am more than willing to shove out the extra money for a brand I know and trust.
I get my hair done next week! If you haven't notice, there are not many pictures of me. It's because my hair looks like who did it and ran..or who DIDN'T do it. I had my mom send me a perm (no I'm not doing it myself! I'm gonna have the lady who does my hair do it. She has perms, but since I've been using Olive Oil products, I figured I should try the Olive Oil perm. I'll let you know how it turns out.
And I already said it before but...KORY WILL BE HERE SOON!! He just finished up his Hampton collegiate career. Internship Spring Semester and Graduation in MAY! YAY! Hopefully, I will be ther to see it.
I can't really think of anything else, although I'm sure more has happened. If I remember, I'll be sure to let you know.
Until Next Time!
& Happy Holidays!

New Entry Already?

Wow, that "Next Time" came around pretty fast huh? I couldn't possibly leave you with a two paragraph entry.

So I went to Seoul Tower yesterday. It was really exciting. But the hike up the hill...man oh man. I thought I was gonna die...me and my asthmatic self. Now, its not that you have to walk from the street all the way up to the tower, there is a bus or cable car that takes you to the base and then you have to treck up a 89.9 degree slope to get to the ticket booth.

*View of the tower from the hill we had to hike up*

*View of the city from the hill*

Anywho, we payed for our tickets (7,00 won) and made our way to the elevator. We figured we would go in the evening and get a night view of the city. This is what we saw...

*This Is How Far Away I Am From Home :(*

*Decorated trees in the city below*

I took a lot more pics but I really don't feel like uploading them right now.

Before Christina and I went to the tower, we went to Itaewon for dinner and to pick up tickets for the Alpha Phi Alpha New Year's Eve Party...yes, Black Greeks in Korea. They even have step shows on base. I really hope this party is good. zits split level (R&B and Hip Hop on the first floor and Old School on the second floor), 2 buffets (you know I love food, free party favors and prizes, free campaign at midnight (you have to pay for the rest of your alcohol) and breakfast at 1. sounds good huh? Hopefully it will be. I'll let you know.

And I finally found the Popeye's in Korea!! Let me tell you how much I LOVE Popeye's...let me not. I would be writing for a while.

I went to school today and my supervisor asked me for my insurance number. She told me she needed it to take the taxes out of my check...LIAR!! She used my insurance number to take one of my non-insurance having co-workers to the doctor's...Can I say FRAUD!!!? Maybe I need to put in a call to headquarters. I'm not footing the bill because they paid for it, but they used my name (and I know they didn't even pronounce it right), and was anyone lying and ca-kniving their way to help me when my D*** thumb was hanging off!? NO! I couldn't even get the *ITCH to answer the F'n phone! But someone gets a cold and they wanna involve themselves in fraud. I've been sick and lost my voice...all I got was an "AWW." F U ::Insert name of school here::! I guess that was my "Happy 100 days gift..."

Ok...I know I was at a 22, I'm bringing it back down to a 4. But that ISH really P*SSED me off when I found out. That's ok. I got mine. I'll let you know how when I leave the country.

Kory will be here in 2 weeks, 5 hours and 19 minutes! Still Counting.

Until Next Time!

DAY 100!!!

So...I have been in Korea for 100 days. 265 more to go lol. These past one hundred days have been the most up and down days of my life (I've never felt so bi-polar), but it has made me stronger so I'm very thankful. I've also gotten to know myself a lot better since venturing to a culture far from my own.
I've met a lot of cool people that I would have never been included in my social circle. (It's not that I'm stuck up or anything, but when you're in an environment that you are familiar with, you tend to surround yourself with people and things that you know and who have the same interest.) People that I am glad to have in my network of friends to share this experience with and will definitely keep in contact with when its all over.
What will the next 100 days bring? Stay tuned and see :)
Until Next Time!

A Day Off!!! Well Kinda

So I found out today that I will be working on Christmas (ugh...Merry Christmas to me) but from 1-7pm instead of 4-10pm (I guess that will be my present from school...you still gotta bring your A** to school, and earlier at that). Also I will have New Year's Day off!! Yay! Kory will be here so that will be perfect. I'm trying to plan a Ski Trip for us to do that day (please pray for me and him if we go. You know how clumsy I can be). (If you're in Korea and know of any good places to ski or wanna go let me know.) Although I have that Thursday off, there really are no days off (not when there's money to be made). Since school will be closed the first, we have to work on the 28th of December (ugh again). They are taking my Sunday from me. That was gonna be my last full day to prepare for Kory's visit. Now, I'm gonna have to do my food shopping in the morning and evening.
I have a full week planned for when Kory gets here. We're gonna do a bus tour, go to a New Year's party hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha (that's right...Black Greeks in Korea!), go skiing (hopefully), experience a norebang, take a tour of the DMZ, visit a palace, go to the COEX, and go to Seoul Tower. Sounds ambitious huh? We probably won't be able to do everything, but can't I dream? I'll let you know how much stuff we actually get done.
Our director bought us pizza the other day. I had sweet potato pizza which was actually pretty good.
I bought some cute leather gloves today. I'm gonna have to break them in, but the go fabulous with my new coat!
I still don't know what Kory is getting me. I guess I'll have to wait like normal people...geesh.
Until Next Time!

UGH!!!

Despite the title, this entry isn't all bad...
I don't think I've mentioned that the DVD player on my comp is dead and dell want to charge me to fix it...YEA RIGHT! You put the P*SS Poor software on my computer and now you want me to pay you for something that's your fault?? KEEP DREAMING!
So Mommie sent me my Dad's portable DVD player. It was all well and good, me watching I Love Lucy and all until it died. No biggie. I'll just plug it into my converter and charge it...NOT! As soon as I plugged that bad boy in POP!! CRACKLE CRACKLE SMOKE!!! Yup...its out of service. D***! SO now all of my Christmas DVDs are gonna go to waste. The Cosby Show, I Love Lucy, Sex and the City (The complete Series plus the movie), The Mummie, Gilmore Girls, you name it, its done. I'm glad Kory will be here with his comp in a couple of weeks. I'll have a temporary relief. Why don't I buy a Korean portable DVD player? Because they are region specific and I won't be able to play my US DVDs in the Korean DVD player. UGH! So if there is anyone out there in Korea that wants to hang out and watch some DVDs, let me know. We can make a party out of it!
Kory told me I'm getting a Christmas present but he won't tell me what it is. Now this may seem normal to you, but growing up in a house where my Mom couldn't keep secrets. So I knew about almost all of my Christmas presents (unless she just didn't say anything at all about it), surprise parties, you name it, I knew. My first party I didn't know about was my going away party. Somehow, she kept that a secret. But now they're both (Mommie and Kory) are keeping secrets from me and its driving me crazy! I have to wait 2 weeks! I know about the stuff my mom is sending, and if there is something I don't know about, she won't say "you have a surprise." She'll just wait for me to open it. But now I'm over here like a crackhead waiting for a hit off my pipe...Geez. Somebody help me. If you know what Kory got me, please tell me. It would be much appreciated!
Nothing much more to report on. Hello to all of you who read. I hope you find my blog amusing/entertaining. And if you're in Korea, Say hey. I'm not mean (contrary to what you may read) and I don't bite.
Until Next Time!

It's Been A While...

Hello all. I know its been almost a week and you haven't heard from me (I've gotten 3 ims/calls about my lack of entries this past week. lol), but not much has been going on. Nothing but school and the occasional play time.
We go a new teacher at school. So I'm no longer the "newbie" or the youngest. He's 22 also, but he was born in July...that's right I have two months on him. He was born here in Korea but moved to Oregon, so he does have one up on me.
Anyway, my coworkers and I went out last night to welcome him and say "goodbye" to Zack who will be leaving next week.
This past weekend, Christina and I went to Myeong-dong to do some shopping. Well was I in love...Nine West, The Gap, Guess, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Reebok, Addidas and the list goes on which includes many Korean stores as well. And the icing on the cake...Forever 21. Now this wasn't the Forever 21 you're thinking of. This is one that has a doorman, four gigant-a-normous floors, and tons of dressing rooms (here in Korea, you usually can't try stuff on. You just have to guess-ta-mate and go). And there weren't the cheap looking clothes there that fall apart after two runs through the washer. No, There was some really good looking stuff there. I got 2 sweaters, two long sleeve shirts, and a tank top for 94,000 won. Not too bad I think. I will definitely be going back. After shopping, we went to Burger King (my first time since I've been here). While shopping, it began to snow and it was so pretty. It wasn't the first snowfall of the season, but it is the first one that I had seen (the last two were when I was in my dungeon, so I didn't get to see it).
After shopping, we went to Itaewon and I got my eyebrows done. If you know me, you know that my eyebrows have a love affair going on and love to meet in the middle. That's right, I was developing that horrible unibrow, so I had to get some help for that. For 10,000, I was escorted to a private room, laid on a bed thing, had my hair pulled back and had my eyebrows waxed, tweezed and clipped. Not bad looking either. But they don't look the way Shavanni (my hair stylest who also does my eyebrows) has them looking. I like mine a little long, arched, and thin. Right now, they're average, arched and a little wider than I prefer, but hey, there's two of them and not one so I'm happy.
After my waxing, we went to a French place to have dessert. I had some apple looking thing with ice cream which was very good. As it continued to snow, Christina and I debated if we should go somewhere and get some fries. Although I did have some earlier, I could always go for more fries. But remembering warnings from family members and friends not to come home fat, I decided to pass (I'm getting stronger!!). But we were both craving a blooming onion from Outback, so that's where we are going tomorrow since we both have half days (maybe I'm not as strong as I thought :( )
Speaking of half days, remember I was supposed to have half days on Tues & Thurs until this Thursday...well, I left school at 7pm today, stopped at the store to get some milk and ice pops (my alternative for chips), I made it home and took some Tylenol pm cause I was gonna eat and call it an early night. Well, as soon as I sat down at my computer, my cell phone rang. It was my supervisor asking where I was. I told her I was home and she continued with, "but you have class." Uhhh... no I don't. The old desk teacher told me I didn't have class until Thurs. She said I had 3 students who were waiting for me. UGH! So I had to trek it back to school, 35 mins after class started, but I made sure I had the note the desk teacher wrote telling me I didn't have class. She saw that it was not my fault and said ok.
And speaking of my supervisor, she told me when I first got here that all of my utilities were gonna be taken right out of my check so I didn't have to worry about paying them. So why the H*** did I get a shut off notice on my door saying that they were going to shut off my electric today if it didn't get paid (this all being in Korean of coarse)!!?? So I took it to school and showed her and she informs me that she misunderstood what my landlord told her. She thought he meant everything, but clearly, the money taken out does not include electric. But I didn't even have the bills anymore cause she told me to throw them out! UGH!! So she called the company and got my account number and told me they would extend it to tomorrow...big whoop! She told me I could go to the ATM machine and pay it, but I couldn't. SO I have to go to work tomorrow at 1pm so she can help me. The bill is only 39,000 won for Sept-Nov, which isn't bad, but I would have liked to pay it on time so that the people here wouldn't think I'm some lazy, non bill paying American... but I guess who cares what they think right?
Nothing much more to tell. Kory will be here in 2 weeks, 6 days, 6 hours and 3 minutes!! YAY!! Also, I've been talking to a girl who will be here in a little over a week. She's coming to visit a friend and hopefully we can meet up while she's here.
My 31 days of Christmas is continuing. I've gotten so much stuff so far and its only the 9th (thanks Mommie!!!)!!! At the end of the 31 days, I'll try to take a picture of everything.
That's all for now.
Until Next Time!

The Stars Don't Fall on Seoul

Hello all! Not much has happened since the last time we chatted (our one way chat that is). I went to school on Friday, came home. Went to school on Saturday, went to Costco, and came home (that day of relaxing was wonderful). I went to the Coex on Sunday. We decided not to go to the aquarium. Who really wants to look at a bunch of fish?? While at the Coex, I bought some Christmas cards and I also picked up KJ and Kasey's (little brother and sister) Christmas presents. I think they're gonna like what they got (or should I say they better. lol).
After our shopping trip, we went to Butterfinger Pancakes. Butterfinger Pancakes is a small American like diner where they give you large portions and the majority of the menu is filled with breakfast entrees. The food was delicious and I stuffed my face. I had waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, white sausage, breakfast sausage seasoned potatoes and a hot apple latte. Afterwards, all I could do is crawl home and lay out on the bed.
Monday, I went to school and came home. Tuesday, I went to school, and afterwards, I decided to go to the airport bus stop to see what time the first bus leaves for the airport. No, I'm not packing up and heading for the states (not yet anyway), but Kory will be here and his plane gets in at 5:15am!!!! I'm so excited!!! Kory is coming to town in 3 weeks and 6 days!! That's right! The countdown begins!!
So while I was traveling to the stop, I got on the wrong bus that takes me to the airport bus. So I decided to walk to where I needed to go. While walking, I observed my neighborhood and all the things that are in it. Also, I looked up at the sky and didn't see not a single star. "Well AviEllé, maybe it was cloudy out" you say? NOPE. The sky was just as clear as it wanted to be. I could see the bright moon. "Well AviEllé, you do live in a bright city" you say? Well yes I do. But I also live in a bright city in the states and I am always able to point out Orion's Belt, The Big and Little Dippers, and the North Star. "Well AviEllé, you are in Korea" you say? SO THE F*** WHAT! What the H*** does that have to do with me seeing the stars? Do they not have stars in Asia?? Come on. We are all intelligent. That is just a horrible excuse. You know what I think the reason is that I can't see the stars? Cause this is an extremely polluted city. More so than cities I know and have been to at home. I thought it was worse at home, but in NYC, when I'm at Kory's house, I can look up and see the stars as bright as day. D*** Korea! Clean it up!
My 31 days of Christmas has started!! My first three gifts, the first season of 'The Cosby Show,' 'I Love Lucy,' and a book that I've been wanting to read. I've also finished my Christmas shopping. Everything has been ordered (after a long 2 hours of figuring out how to use my Korean debit card on American sites). It feels good to have my own money to buy gift. And I can give things that I know people really want.
Anywho, I have found out that two of my students in my Wed/Sat class have ADD. No, I am not classifying them as this because they are bad. They truly have ADD. One gets up and runs out of the class and hides. Or when I turn my back, he hides under my desk. He also shouts things out like "Teacher! Give me cigarettes, Marijuana, Cocaine!" I try to keep him as quiet as possible. The other, gets up, walks around my small classroom, takes peoples things, puts them in the trash. And then sits back down as if nothing has happened. Then, the two of them proceed to wrestle in the middle of the floor while I'm teaching. Geez Louise! But if that is all I have to deal with this term, I won't complain. After school, I went to the store to get some trash bags and water.
On a more depressing note, I've started paying on my school loans...yes, I will be in debt for the next 100 years of my life :( ...unless I write a book. So that's what I've decided to do. I'm going to write a book. And if it goes well, hopefully I will be able to pay off my loans! Wouldn't that be great!! What do you think? I would love your feedback. But unfortunately, since I will be working on my manuscript, my entries will not be as frequent as they usually are. I truly apologize for this sudden abruptness, but a sista gots to do what a sista gots to do.
So that's all for now. Not much else to talk about.
Until Next Time!