Just One Of Those Days

So I woke up today, and it was just a regular old day. I talked to Mommie and Kory, had breakfast and got dressed. I had plans to help Andrea get her cell phone so I had to leave early. I went to the jewelry store first to see if I could get my bracelet that Kory bought me fixed. So I went in and as soon as I showed him my bracelet he said no. I didn't even get to say a word...Whatever!! So I just turned around and left. I didn't have time for uncooperative people. So I went to the bus stop and waited for the bus. When I got on, I sat down and attempted to fix my bracelet and I thought I did a pretty good job. I tugged at it and it didn't budge. So I did the stupidest thing that I could think of... I put it on. Why I did that, I will never know, because about 30 minutes later when I met up with Andrea, it was gone. I had only went into 2 stores so went backed and looked for it but didn't see it (and while I'm looking, it started to rain and of coarse I have no umbrella). It must have fallen on the bus. I felt and still feel sick. That was the first thing Kory ever bought me, and I always got compliments on it. And now because I didn't want to wait to find someone who could fix it, it's gone. I have that same feeling I had when my stuff got stolen last year :(. I called Kory right away and told him what happened. He kept saying it was ok, but it really isn't.

Andrea and I got on the subway and went to the Seoul Global Center (where I got my phone). It was so easy and stress free and cheap (a brand new phone for 10,000 won. you can't beat that), she wanted to do the same. We went in, she picked the contract, paid for her phone, and was out in about 30 minutes. We went back to the subway and I went back to the stores I had been in earlier to check again for my bracelet. Still no sign of it and I still felt sick. So I got on he bus and she went back home because she only had her 7-10 class and I only had my 4-7 class. After about five minutes into the bus ride, the traffic is ridiculous and even though I left in enough time, I was gonna be late for work. UGH!! This awful day just went on. I got to work 10 minutes late which wasn't bad and I dumped everything out on my desk hoping that maybe my bracelet was in my bag. NOPE. I'm gonna have to accept that it's really gone. I week after my anniversary I decide to lose my bracelet...

MISSING

PINK & SILVER TENNIS BRACELET

(LARGE PINK STONES FOR THE "O's" & SIX SMALL STONES THAT MAKE UP EACH "X")

IN A SILVER SETTING

CLASP IS A PUSH AND CLIP

IF FOUND PLEASE CONTACT AviD

If you're in Seoul and you see anyone with this bracelet. STOP THEM! They know D*** well it isn't theirs!

I did get a computer in my classroom though :/
After class was over, I had plans to meet Christina for dinner. We went to an Indian restaurant which isn't far from either one of us. Kind of the central point. Her coworker John was there too and we had some good conversation. I took the bus home (yes the bus! I'll talk about that a little further down) and decided to do some laundry. I took my jeans off and threw them in the washer with the rest of my stuff started it up and called Mommie. Well, about 20 minutes into our conversation, I hear this clunk in the machine. I stop it and what do I find?? MY CELL PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!! You've got to be kidding me!!!!!!!!!!! Out of all the years I've had a phone I've never!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was just the continuance of my delightful day!! And the "I wanna throw up" feeling got even worse.
So besides this horrible day, things have been going well. I found out why the bus never stopped in front of my house a couple weeks ago. There was construction being done and the street that the bus comes down was closed (I found this out when I had some time on my hands and decided to try the bus again). I took it this evening and I made it home so the construction is over and I can take it from now on without any problems.
I think my school is trying to pull one over on me. They're telling me that if I decide to take insurance (which is obligatory per my contract) all will have to pay taxes up the wahzoo so I don't need to get insurance nor do I need to pay into the Korean pension. Now everyone that I have spoken to and the research that my mother has done says that it is mandatory for EVERYONE to pay into the Korean pension. So what they are talking about, who the H*** knows. But let the Korean IRS or Immigration try and come after me. My hagwon, as well as Seoul will get turned the H*** out. But hopefully, everything will get settled before things get ugly.
This past weekend was good. I went to dinner with Andrea Saturday night. We went to a Chinese Restaurant and after about 30 minutes of the waitress' lack of English speaking and understanding, we received all of the dishes we ordered. Geesh! Sunday, I went to brunch with Christina and Kara and then we hiked up a mountain. YES! I hiked up a friggin mountain with jeans and Pumas on. I definitely don't recommend it. By the time we got to the top, I felt like Fat Albert after running a block behind an ice cream truck. I was wheezing all over the place and guess where my inhaler is??... SOUTH JERSEY! An asthmatic without her inhaler... Great. But I was fine after a while. I think I'm growing out of the whole asthma thing...hopefully. The whole hiking thing brought back bad memories of camp. If you ask my former campers and students, they will all tell you I HATE THE WOODS! I resident camp counselor who hate trees...yea, that makes sense. But they all found it hilarious. I actually miss a lot of my campers.
I'm sorry if this entry wasn't as comical as the others. Just not in the "comedian" mood today. I'm going to go and read a book and then call it a night.

Oh. And before I forget, I want to give a shout out to all of my internationa and US readers (the people that I don't know)!! I hope you all are enjoying my "Seoul Happenings!"
Until Next Time

My Weekend

So this weekend went pretty well. I went to school on Saturday and then met up with Christina later on that evening. We went to Itaewon to have dinner and look for cell phones. We ate at a Thai restaurant and I had red curry with beef. I Love Curry! I love spicy food so me and curry go hand and hand. Let me stop... I LOVE FOOD. PERIOD! Food and I have always been very close.
We decided to get a prepaid phone instead of a phone plan, so after dinner we went looking. I guess we went too late because there was only one store open. He had a lot of used phones, but he wanted 180,000 thousand won!! Not for a USED phone. So we are going to go to the techno mart Wednesday morning and hopefully we have better luck.
I went to E-mart this morning to do a little food shopping. It was a lot less chaotic and I was able to find what I wanted without people running over my heels and being pushed and shoved every which way. I found the right kind of pasta this time so hopefully, I want have a glob of yuck on my plate again and I also found 'Pasta Sauce." I also got some steak, rotisserie chicken, and snacks and things.
After I came, home and put my groceries away, I went and met up with Andrea. We went to lunch at On The Border (yea, I came to Korea to go to a Mexican restaurant...) and I must say I was actually full when we were done. The we went to Costco. There are some things there that I can't find at E-mart. I got hash browns, muffins, stuffed pasta, and chicken fingers.
After we finished our shopping (which was a lot more chaotic than my morning), I decided to take the bus home. Someone at the store told me that I could catch the bus and go right home and since I had a little bit of stuff, it sounded like a good idea. Andrea caught a cab and I headed for the bus stop. Well, every time my bus came and I told them the stop (in Korean mind you), they would shake their head and tell me no. That should have been a sign for me to walk my butt back to the train station and take the subway, but I was convinced that I was gonna learn how to navigate the bus system. While looking at the map, I noticed that another bus that serviced the stop went to my neighborhood so I decided to get on that. The bus came and I got on and about four stops later, things weren't looking right. I saw a huge mountain in front of me and I had crossed the Han River. Now, I know I live by a lot of mountains, but that one just didn't look familiar, and I live on the other side of the Han...Da Da DAAAA!!!! I'M GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!!!! I ended up back by Andrea's house (where we went for lunch)! I was quite upset, but I didn't let it get to me. The man at Costco took me to the bus stop and told me to get on the bus there...WRONG...I needed to be across the street. So I just got off the bus and took the subway. I KNOW how to get home from the subway. So as a result, I am through with the Seoul bus system. Two bad encounters is enough to tell me that I need to stick with what I know...the subway.
So I made it home, reorganized my refrigerator so everything would fit and started to wash my hair. I love the feeling of clean hair. So I washed it, combed it out and talked to Mommie. I decided to blow dry it and call her back. So I plug my blow dryer into my converter and set it on high (what I normally do because my hair is so thick), but high was sounding and feeling like low. I tried adjusting the settings and still it wasn't working right. I just figured it would take me a little longer to get the job done, but I would manage. NOT!! Next thing I know, my dryer blows out and my converter started smoking...The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire! We don't need no water let the M'nFer burn! Burn Burn! Burn baby burn...OK, I'm back (LOL). Yea, so that's two converters gone. And of coarse they are the ones that I paid 13,000 won a piece for. So now, I am sitting here letting my hair air dry and it is just poofing up. I look like a poodle...
So what did you think of the VP and Presidential debates?? I wish I was in school. Being a poli sci major, any election can be very exciting. I just want to be able to discuss politics and what not but I haven't found a buddy for that yet. Still looking. But that Palin... she can't seem to answer a question! 'Question: Gov Palin, what do you think of alternative ways of energy? Answer: Well, being the governor of a great energy producing state, I just love to drill for oil. DRILL BABY DRILL! And I love this country. And the Maverick, Senator McCain, is such a great man and I can't wait to be VP of this great nation. And I wanna give a shout out to all my Hill Billy friends. And if I don't like you, you will be fired! Thank you. Audience: WTF??!!!?' And this is who the Republicans put their faith in?? I'm sorry, but I think I would prefer Shamu... but that's just my opinion. Really though, IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE!!! GO OBIDEN!! And my kids feel the same way. Maybe I can finagle a way to get them some ballots...any suggestions?
I would love to keep writing but I need to figure out something to do with this Diana Ross doo I have going on... man I miss Shavanni!! Anyone wanna come do my hair? I give you a couple thousand won!
Until Next Time!

Two Steps Forward and One Step Back

Hello Everyone!! If you didn't know I'll be more than happy to inform you...I HAVE INTERNET!!! That's right. I finally got an ethernet cord on Thursday and have been on the internet ever since. I know I shoukd have posted an entry sooner but I've been trying to get back on track with everything that I've missed.
Anyway, do you remember the last entry I posted when I was going home to toast up some chicken? Well it didn't really go as I had planned. I put the toaster oven's cord in the convertor and plugged the convertor into the wall. All the sudden I was hearing popping and cracking noises... the darn convertor was smoking!!! All I thought was "The roof! The roof! The roof is on FIRE! We don't need no water let that M*****F***** Burn! Burn! Burn Muther Burn!" ::OK. Back to reality:: So I hurried up and unplugged it and let the smoke die down. I thought everytime I'm up, here comes something to smack me down. But I don't want to be negative. I tried to look at the bright side. At least it wasn't worse. At least I was able to fix the situation. I had planned on running to the curb to take the trash out (yup...I have to take my trash out. No one to do it for me :( ) but I decided to wait. Good thing I did or I could have came back to something a lot worse than some smoke.
Soo... After I unplugged the convertor and took the chicken out I was still hungry. I couldn't eat cold chicken. So I put it in a pot and turned on my "stove top." The chicken cracked and popped but it made some grease and actually got crispy! I also had some bread, an orange, and some chocolate cake for dinner. While I was enjoying my feast, I watched "Why Did I Get Married?" until my computer died. Since I was reduced to one charger and am using a second monitor as my screen, I couldn't finish the entire movie. I needed another convertor. BAD!

*DINNER*

I went to school the next day feeling a little down because I only had one convertor, no internet, and no information as to when I was supposed to be getting my Alien Registration Card or opening up my bank account. I spoke to Janice and she told me I probably had the wrong cord and had someone talk to me about what I needed for my internet. Someone who had lived in my building before knoew exactly what I needed and told me he would bring me a cord the next day. Janice also gave me a list of things I needed to get my ARCard. On it said 3 passport sized pictures. I didn't have anymore so I would have to find somewhere to get some done.I only had a half a day of classes on Wednesday (4-7pm and will be the case every Wednesday for this term), so I decided to go to the mall that was by the Dragon Hill Spa... you remember...Saddam and Gomorrah. Well in the mall there is a HUGE electronics store. I mean levels and levels of anything and everything you can think of. I had to go there because I figured I could another convertor for a reasonable price. I had to catch three trains to get there and when I transferred to the second train, I got on in the wrong direction. So I had to get off and turn around. By the time I got there, it had already closed. I wasn't too upset. I had killed some time, and I atleast knew how to get there. I found out that they opened at 10:30am and decided to go back in the morning.

I went home and started to make dinner (the same exact thing I had the night before), make a video of my "apartment," and finish watching "Why Did I Get Married?" Anyway... What you all have been waiting for... MY APARTMENT!! Here it is. ENJOY! (Click on the link)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bglnhjfyQ4A

So what did you think? Was it everything you expected and more?? Yea... I didn't think so either. Anywho... after I finished my movie, I went to bed.

I got up Thursday morning because I had a lot I wanted to do. I had to go the electronics mall, go to the immigration office, and open a bank account. I headed out and made it back to Youngsan Station (where the mall is). I walked in and was amazed. The third floor (where I walked in) was nothing but cameras. Any and every brand, type, color, and style you could think of. I asked around for a convertor and was told to go to the fifth floor. I went up two levels and was surrounded by nothing but computers. Tons and tons and tons of them. Just like the cameras, every brand, color, model, anything you could think of it was there. and for a really great price. Cheaper than what you would pay back in the states. That is definately where I will be purchasing my new Apple MacBook from :)

I asked around and finally someone understood what I was talking about. He pulled out this little compact convertor that was perfect but he only had one. I asked how much and he told me 2,000 won!! What!? I paid 15,00 a piece for the other two I had. I jumped on it and ran before he realized what he had just did. Amazed at the great price I had just bought my convertor for, I decided to look around to see if anyone had anymore. I wnet to another man and showed him what I just bought. he pulled out a whole pack of them and told me they were 500 wom each. I was floored. I thought I had gotten over on the other man, but clearly he got over on me! I could have bought four for what I paid for one. But it was ok. I was glad I found them and at a good price. So I bought 2 from him and left the mall happy with my purchases. Although I could have saved money, I saved a bundle compared to what I bought the first two convertors for. I will definately be back there.

After I left the mall, I got back on the train and headed for the Seoul immigration office. I finally got there. Filled out my application and took a number. about 20 minutes later my number was called and it turned out that I didn't have the correct paperwork. So I left and went to school highly upset. I didn't even go open my bank account. I went to my head instructor and she told me blah blah blah but she gave me the paper that they told me I needed.

After that I got ready for my class. One of the teachers brought me the ethernet cord i needed to connect to the internet. I was so excited I couldn't wait for school to be over. My first class went well, but that second one... I wanted to use some choice words on those little... (fill in your own words here)...

So after class I just about ran home hooked up the eternet cord. plugged in my laptop and monitor and WAH-LAH!!! INTERNET!!

I was so happy I was on it all night. I finally went to bed around 4am. I wanted to watch "The Family That Preys."

I woke up Friday morning back on the internet. I had lots to do. Catch up on the presidential campaigns...let's not even get into it..., catch up on my facebook, emails, aim, the whole nine. Then, I left to go open my bank account and to go back to the immigration office. I opened my account (I have a debit card and everything), got my bankbook, and put a couple dollars in it. Then, I left for the immigration office. When I got there, I filled out another application and pulled a number...188. I looked up and I saw 142! WTF! I did not have time to be waiting there all day. An hour later, they were only on 154...155...156 came and no one got up so you know I did. I saw an opportunity and I took it. It's not like they were checking numbers anyway. And I got out about two hours before I would have.

So after I left I stopped at Dunkin Donuts to get a large Coolatta... Their large here is a small at home. But anyway, it was delicious on such a hot day.

I headed for school because it made no sense to go home for a couple minutes then leave again. So I got to school, surfed the internet a little then it was time for class. Both classes went well and I went home to eat the last of my chicken. Then I went to bed because I had class Saturday at 2.

I woke up Saturday and went to school (only had one class) then I went to dinner with Christina. Since neither of us could read Korean, we settled for another meal at Outback. After Outback, we parted ways but plannned to meet up the next day for the Korean International Art Fair.

So Sunday came around and I got up and left to meet Christina. We went with one of her co workers. We had lunch at the Coex, met up with some other people and went to the Art Fair, did a little shopping (them not me) had dinner and went home. I must say, taing those Humanities classes definately opened my eyes to art and helped me interpret the meaning of different pieces in ways that I would have never done before. So thank you Hampton. Not just for the Caberets, Holland Jams, The Legion and house parties (you know...shake ya booty 101 to 404. Yup, I mastered every level), but for Ogden Hall, Humanities 201 and 202, the University Museum, Harvey Library and so much more. I guess my "bourgeois" (what some people like to refer to it as) education got me more than what some people think. ;-) Below were some paintings that I really liked...

After we left for the evening, we headed for the subway and all took the same train. Their station was first on the subway then I got off to take the bus that stops right in front of my apt. Well...I 15 minute bus ride turned into an hour plus bus ride and I was back where I started. I know what you're thinking...I missed my stop. NO! He never turned down my street. I know exactly what my building and street look like and he never went past it. I try to explain to him but he's speaking to me in Korean like I'm fluent. I just said never mind and got back on the train, and took the long way home. However, this time the darn bus was the long way home. I had to run to make the train and the connection because the train stops running at midnight and it was close to 11:30. I finally made it home and I don't think I will ever take the bus again. I'm more of a subway girl anyway.
I went out last night with my co workers. We went to two bars and I got home around 3am.I was inebriated, but my face was a little numb.

So nothing spectacular has happened these past couple of days, except for me catching a bad cold, but now that I have you caught up on my "Happenings," my next entries should be a little more detailed.
Hope this fed your fancy! Until Next Time!