He's Gone...And It's Way Too Quiet In Here

Yes...go ahead. Yell, cuss, tell me how I ditched you for my boyfriend but I can't apologize. When your boyfriend whom you haven't seen in 4 months (not husband, fiancée, or person you've been shacking up with), who hates planes, gets on a 14 hour flight to travel to the other side of the world to spend a holiday with you, you do not put them on hold for a blog (I know how that may sound, but don't take it personally). If I wasn't it school, I was showing Kory around the city. but that all came to an end this morning when we boarded an airport bus so he could head back to the states. I wanted to pack my bags and get on the plane with him. Since I boarded the plane in Philly 4 months ago, I've been missing everyone that I left behind, and with Kory here, that longing for the ones I love grew even more. Will I make it another 8 months? I'm really not too sure. But anyway, Kory boarded his Korean Air flight with the destination of JFK. He's still in the air and should be landing in a little over an hour. While I sit and wait for the call telling me he landed, I will give you an overview of the past 11 days (pictures included).

December 30, 2008

I was so excited that Kory would be in Korea in a couple of hours. I got my hair done, picked some things up from the cleaners and headed to school. Kory was on the plane and the entire time I was in school I tracked his flight. After school, I ran to the store and grabbed a couple of things and came home. I couldn't sleep, so I stayed on the internet tracking his flight and talking on the phone.

4:15 in the morning, I left my room and headed for the airport to get Kory. While on the bus, I got the message that he landed and all I could think of was that my boyfriend and I were breathing the same air. Silly, I know. I got to the airport and after 30 minutes I was getting worried because Kory had landed over an hour ago but he hadn't emerged from customs. Just as my anxiety began to grow, I saw a pair of black Timbs come walking through the door. I had the biggest smile on my face and I had my "Welcome to Korea Kory" sign all ready, but completely forgot about it when I saw him. It turned out he forgot to fill out his customs declaration form and that’s what took him so long. We headed to Seoul and Kory finally got to see my room first hand. He said it was cute...F cute this ISH is tiny. But the whole time he was here, we made it work.

We sat, talked, and caught each other up on things that were going on in our lives. We also watched "I Love Lucy" because Kory would always watch it with me in Virginia. I don't remember who fell asleep first, but we were out. Neither one of us had slept in over 24 hours. After our nap, Kory walked me to school and met a couple of my co-workers. He came and got me when I got out of school and we came "home" and I made diner.

December 31, 2008

I didn't have anything planned for the morning because we were going to the Alpha Party later that night so we talked and watched "TV." Kory told me he wanted some McDonald's so we went there and then headed to go to school. It was my half day so Kory went to school with me. Afterwards, we went "home" and got ready for the party.

We met up with Christina and after 2 cab rides finally made it to the US Army Base in Youngsan-gu where the party was being held. We had a really good time, and I saw one of my readers. She happened to come across my blog because she was visiting a friend here and we have been talking for a little over a month. What a small world that she saw me there.

We had a really good time at the party, good music, never ending campaign, and a delicious breakfast. I HAD BLACK-EYED PEAS ON NEW YEARS!!

January 1, 2009

We had a really good time the night before, but since we stayed out all night, we were completely exhausted. I know I had a ski trip planned, but when I thought about it, this country was not going to have a ski suit for an American football player. So we went bowling instead and had a lot of fun. Thankfully, I didn't have to work, but that was the only day off I had while Kory was here. UGH! No pics of bowling...sorry. Kory recoded it on his camcorder.

January 2, 2009

Friday, we went to dinner with Sam, Christina, Kara, Andrea and her friend from home after school in Gangnam. After diner, we went to a norebang (Korean karaoke in private rooms). It was hilarious. We sang till our hearts content and Kory learned how to read the word "norebang" in Korean. He's so multicultural.

*Us at a Norebang in Gangnam*

January 3, 2009

I woke up a little early on Saturday because I had made some hearts to decorate my apartment because Kory and I were celebrating our anniversary. I woke up again and got ready for school and Kory never budged. I believe he was tired out from all the singing the night before. I kissed him to make sure he was still breathing and when he stretched, I knew he was good. I left him a couple notes to meet me at school and set his alarm.

When class was over, there he was and we headed out to celebrate. The night began with a trip to Seoul Tower. When we came out of the subway station, I showed Kory the Popeye's and he insisted on getting chicken, but since I already had diner plans, he just got a biscuit and some fries. We took a cab to the tower because the bus was ridiculous. Upon arriving, I warned kory about the hill we were going to climb. He thought I was playing, but once he started walking, he realized the hill was a beast. We finally made it to the top (both a little out of breath) and got our tickets and took pictures. Kory has video, but it's currently 35,000 feet in the air over Upstate New York. We made it to the top of the tower and Kory enjoyed the view. I pointed out all the things I new and we took some more pictures.

After we left the tower, we went to Itaewon where we were having diner and going to a bar/club. We went to diner at the French restaurant I told you about many moons ago and I think Kory really enjoyed it. We got about 6 courses. Afterwards, we went to an American bar/club and met Andrea, her friend and Angela. We stayed there a couple hours, got some drinks and I danced to "Get Me Bodied" and Kory and I headed home. Our anniversary wasn't over. I had one more thing planned. I bought a delicious cake from Paris Bagget and bought "I Love You" candles to go on top. It was a wonderful evening. Maybe one of the best.

*Celebrating One Year Strong In Itaewon and at Seoul Tower*

January 4, 2009

I had to go to school...UGH! 1-7pm, so there was nothing planned for the morning, but afterwards, Kory and I were going to a Korean restaurant. We went to Dongdaemun Stadium where the restaurant was but I couldn't find it and didn't know the name of it, so I remembered there was one in Christina's neighborhood (all of a 15 minute ride from me instead of a 45 minute subway ride to Dongdaemun). Why did I go all the way to Dongdaemun you ask? Because I wanted Kory to see other parts of Seoul. Although he was hungry (so was I), he enjoyed exploring another part of Seoul.

We finally made it to the restaurant and had a chicken, shrimp, salmon, and some other stuff. It wasn't very much so we walked to Coldstone and got some ice cream. Then we walked to my neighborhood and took the bus the rest of the way home.

*Subway to Dongdaemun and in Dongdaemun*

January 5, 2009

My Korean lessons started this day but neither one of us wanted to get up, so I'll save it for another day. We just hung out and went to Outback then went to go to school. Kory walked me as usual and came back to sit in on my 7pm class.

**UPDATE**

Kory is at 19,000 feet coming in for a landing at JFK flying over NJ...

**BACK TO THE ENTRY**

After class, we went to another Korean restaurant (down the street from my house and had Galbi and Smagytchsap (spelling is all wrong) **16,600 feet** Kory really liked it. I could tell cause he suggested going back, but it didn't fit into our schedule. After diner, we came home and had "movie night." I popped some popcorn old fashioned style and we watched "Kungfu Panda." **14,100 feet**

January 6, 2009

Kory and I dragged ourselves out of bed, went to Butterfinger Pancakes in Apgujeong, and went to the COEX in Gangnam. **9,900 feet** At Butterfingers, Kory had an omelets and pancakes and I had waffles. At the COEX, I showed Kory the electronics stores since that's what he's into. He's a true boy. **7,700 feet** He saw white and silver Playstation3 controllers and said he never saw them in the US before so he bought a white one (granted, he doesn't have a Playstation3. His brother does). After roaming around and walking off the enormous amounts of food we ate, we headed to school and "home."**3,500 feet** After school, Kory walked me "home" and I made chicken tacos and rice and we watched another movie.

January 7, 2009

Kory and I got up early again and went to Bucheon where we began our journey around the world. **3,500 feet**

*England*


*France*




*Italy* *Russia*



*Germany* *Greece*




*Atlantis* *Australia*

*Egypt* *Morocco*



*Home Where I Belong...

USA*

Around the world in 90 minutes brought to you by...


**2,000 feet** After our journey ended and we arrived back in Bucheon, we decided to go to the Popeye's we saw on the way to Aiins World. It took 2 taxis to finally get us where we wanted to go. We went back to the subway station where we had to catch Line 1. **LANDED** Here, Line 1 is like 8 different trains on different tracks and you can only hope that you get on the fast one. Well, it didn't turn out that way for us. **Just spoke to Kory! Its funny. I called him as soon as he turned his phone on** A train came from behind, we waited till the last minute to switch over so we stayed on our train, it went slow as Methuselah, kicked us off, and we had to take another train. a 30 minute ride turned into 55 minutes and I ended up 29 minutes late for work. Oh well. I asked them if they could move my 3 students to another class so I could spend the day with Kory but I was told that other kids had transferred in my class for the day...ONE! I was so mad so I couldn't give 2 ISHes about being late.

After school, Kory and I went to the Chinese restaurant and stuffed our faces. Kory loved the food and I always enjoy myself when I go there. The first highlight of our evening was when we were done our meal and the waiter brought out 2 slices of watermelon...Well, Kory's jaw hit the table. It's nothing new to me. We always get watermelon, but Kory was offended. First, because the watermelon was pink and not red; second, he thought they were being racist. I tried to explain to him that everyone got watermelon and even showed him tables that received the dessert but he was hell bent on them being racist. LOL.

After dinner, I grabbed a scoop of ice cream from Baskin Robbins and Kory and I decided to explore a little. We planned to walk along the Han River, but it was a little too cold for that, so we went and got smoothies, and had some steamed Korean stuffed bread and we caught a taxi home. I had to refill my subway/bus card so we went into the station and decided to pick a train and ride. And that is exactly what we did. We went from the 7 to the 1 and Kory realized we had did nothing but go into a circle (I tried to explain that to him before we went on the journey). When we got on the 1, I thought we were going in the wrong direction, so we jumped off the train (we actually had a fast one) only to realize we were going in the right direction...I'm still learning here. We rode about 14 stops before we decided to get off and turn around. It was 11:40pm and the subway stops at 12:00am, so we figured we would make it in time. We past the station that was down the street from my house because we wanted to transfer back to the 7...but what happened...12am hit and the train stopped one station before we were supposed to get off. I'll be...

So we got off and started walking. I pulled out my map and had a pretty good idea of the direction we had to go in. Since the taxis know the subways stop at 12, they were all waiting and wanting to take us somewhere. Someone ignorantly yelled out Itaewon!? Just because I'm colored doesn't mean that's the only place I know!

We walked down the street some and finally decided to catch a cab, but 5 of them drove right by us. Granted, they slowed down, but I think they saw Kory and got a little afraid. He can be quite intimidating. Finally, a brave soul stopped and took us to our destination and we decided to bring our exploring to an end...and oh what a night it was.

January 7, 2009

I had planned for Kory and I to go see a palace on this day, but I remembered who my boyfriend was and knew he would enjoy the I'Park Mall a lot more. It's a huge store with floors 3-8 dedicated to electronics. All of the techno marts are like that in Seoul, but he enjoyed it. His brother found out he gout a white Playstation3 controller and wanted one too, so Kory got him a silver one and then, Kory saw what his heart desired...A WHITE Playstation3. Apparently, they only come in black in the states. Here you can get it in black, white or silver. I told him I would get him the white one for his graduation present. They also have PSP in every color you could imagine. **Kory's plane landed at 10:28am and less than an hour later he's laying in his bed**

After I'Park Mall, Kory wanted to try the shrimp burger at McDonald's, so we went to Itaewon. He said it tasted like the fish fillet and I agree. After lunch, we did a little souvenir shopping and Kory found a NY Giants throwback jersey, which is hard to find back at home. I'm glad he found some things that he would really enjoy. Before heading to school, we stopped at EMart to get a light bulb for the light over my "stove" which I never turned off until Kory got here and it didn't turn back on. He didn't want me to be scared in the dark so he wanted to make sure that it got replaced before he left.

While on the train, there was a guy sleeping and he had to have been sleep for a while because he had some body fluids as long as a French fry (we just had McDonald's) hanging out of his nose...DISGUSTING!!!!

After school, we went to Sinchon to get some Dakgalbi. Kory really liked it and we got free glasses of wine and a lot of extra stuff. Now I've been here before and never got a darn thing for free.

...Doesn't he look cute

After dinner, we stopped at Burger King (not because we were hungry, but because Kory wanted to try the Honey Potato Burger. We shared it and it tasted like a regular ole burger with honey on it.

After waiting for the bus for 30 min that never showed, we took a cab and went home. We watched the episode of the Cosby Show with Stevie Wonder because Kory never saw it. Afterwards, we went to bed and I was dreading the morning because I would have to say, "I'll see you later."

January 9, 2009

We got to the airport at 9:45 and Kory wanted to try to get his seat moved to an exit row seat since the flight over was uncomfortable. Well, they did him one better...they upgraded him to prestige class! He was quite pleased. We spoke to his mom before he went through security and I watched him walk away. All I could do was cry. I couldn't help it. I just wanted to be on that plane with him going home.

My room is so quiet now that Kory is gone and I'm afraid to go to sleep. I've been used to having someone there to hold or hold me and now its back to me, Stitch and Chole. I miss everyone and everything about home and am counting down until I will be there again.

Seeing as though it took me over 5 hours to do this entry because of my freezing computer, a lot of pictures were missed (maybe Kory will go on and add some more), I didn't proof read, and I will not be writing again for about a week. This frustrated me way too much.

I guess I'll go to sleep now...

Until Next Time