Honestly, now.

My day has been uneventful.  Except I gave Badogi a bath, which is always amusing.  Unless you’re Badogi.   He is not a fan.  However, he is always delighted when it’s over.  It was too cold to go for a walk, but lots of energy was spent running about in celebration.

As much work as he is, I’m really glad I have the little guy.  It’s nice to have someone happy to see you home.

I look forward to the weather getting warmer.   (And  longer walks.)

Yesterday was Badogi’s first time in the snow.  He ran around biting bits  of snow and shaking his head.

Well, I’d better get to work. 

I think I’ll get a SkypeIn number.  It’ll be cheap for me and I think it makes sense.  I’ll get a Kansas number.  So, for example, if a person in Kansas wants to call me, they can.  And it won’t be anymore expensive than calling a long distance number in Kansas.  (Which is awesome for my mom because she has free long distance.)

 All I ask is for people to please, please remember the time difference. 

Countdown to new computer: 23 days.

Another wonderful Sunday. 

After a busy Saturday, filled with Korean lesson, wandering around Myeong-dong, and another night of Cranium, I had a lazy Sunday.  I woke up, walked the dog, went to the store, and went to Rachel’s for the new tradition of Sunday breakfast.  One day, I’ll get around to taking pictures of my Sunday mornings, but today isn’t that day.  Anyways, I took an afternoon nap with Badogi (which I’m still not sure if that’s the correct English spelling.  But I can spell it in Korean!) and then went to Homever (a big, bad, scary place to shop on the weekends.  Think black friday at Wal-Mart and that’s how every weekend is at this place.) with Rachel and bought the stuff to make no bake cookies.  Thank you, Mom for email the reciepe to me. 

Speaking of ingredients, I just paid about eleven dollars for a large box of oatmeal.  I’d been putting off the purchase for sometime, but I finally caved.  It should last me a while, which is good.

It all comes down to the fact that I really didn’t do much of anything today.  No fun misadventures of getting lost or confused.  No complete random person trying to communicate with me.  Nothing.  Just a nice, quiet Sunday.  So instead of a fun story, you  get a cute picture of my dog. 

Well, it finally happened.  I was hoping it wouldn’t, but it did.  I made it through the first week of having a dog before it occurred.  And who was I kidding?  I knew it would happen eventually.

One of my students threatened to eat my dog.

They were kidding.  (Or were they?)  No, really she was kidding.  And technially, she was talking about boiling the puppy.  It was pretty funny to hear the kids joke about their own stereotype.  (A side note: most of my students have never tried dog meat.  )  They seem to be pretty well aware of how to shock the American.

I got her back later in the class.  The student mentioned she had a hamster and the hamster died.  I said, “Oh, did you boil your hamster?”   She laughed and denied boiling the misfortunate hamster.  However, she did admit to wanting to boil her brother because “he is very naughty and annoying.”

Days like today, I love my job.  Really love my job.

So my day went well.  Rachel and I walked the puppy along the river, then we went at ate breakfast with Sean.  Hmmm……omlets.        Later, Rachel and I went into Seoul to go to a Korean lesson.  I was way, way in over my head, but I did pick up a few things.  I’m planning on going back next weekend.

The way home was……interesting.  On the way to the subway, a random guy started asking Rachel and I questions.  (Where are you from?  How long have you been in Korea?)   I immediately started my I’m-polite-but-not-interested tone, which usually serves quite well.  Yeah……not so much.  One of the main things that annoys me about other forigners is that they always seem to want to give advice.  Now granted, there are some people that have been here longer than I have that I’m more than willing to listen to advice and seek them out on occasion.  However, I do not appreicate being lectured about the way I’m feeling about being in the country.  I was also rather put off by the fact that random guy kept going on about hating Korean.  First, because his Korean friend/boss didn’t look terribly comfortable to have his country ragged on and second, because if you really, really hate Korea then LEAVE!

However, the random guy’s Korean friend (and I think boss) and the Korean friend’s wife were quite nice.  However, random guy was starting to unnerve Rachel and I so right before the subway took off, we ducked into another car.

And were followed.  At this point, random guy brought up the fact that he has car.  (Which for some reason really reminded me of high school.)  So when asked what Rachel and I are up to this weekend I said, “We’re meeting up with out boyfriends for breakfast tomorrow.”  At this point, if I remember correctly, Eric called (thank you, Eric) Rachel which gave her an excuse to start talking about how she really, really hopes that he’s not mad at her for being late.

Some people take hints.  Some people don’t.

After some covert texting to Rachel, I was suddenly struck with a terrible, horrible urge to go to the bathroom.  We got off and waited for the next train.  The next train was less crowded.

However, the most odd moment of the day was when the random guy’s Korean friend asked me the following question…..

“Are you part Asian?”

Granted, he could have meant Russian, but I don’t think he did.  Most people know the word “Russian.”  He could have possibly overhead Rachel and I practicing (and murdering) Korean, but I don’t know.   Either way, it was only my surprise that kept me from saying something like, “Yeah, my grandpa was Korean.  That’s where I get my eyes.”

The day ended with Cranium, a creative/trivia game.  Chris and I won, which suprised the heck out of me (and probably anyone reading this who has been saddled with me as a partner for a trivia game).  Fortunately, I’m really good at drawing with my eyes closed, so I had something to contribute after all.  Warm fuzzies. 

One last thing.  There’s a board game that I can’t think of the name of it.  It makes fun of games such as “Magic: The Gathering” and D&D.  Here are a few of the cards I remember:

Hungry Backpack: a curse card that causes you to lose whatever cards you’re not using

Rat on a Stick: a weapon card

The best part of the game is that you can form alliances to defeat monsters or you can form alliances to screw people over.   If anyone knows the name of this board game, please post it for me.  Thank you!

Yeah, just in case you were wondering, my puppy is still cute.  The pictures are brought to you by Rachel, who is kind enough to offer to look after the little guy from time to time.  (And who is willing to be suckered into going for an extremely cold walk by the river with puppy and me.)

Still haven’t picked out a name.  I’m really tempted to go for the Korean version of Spot.  I can’t remember what it is at the moment, but I remember that I kinda liked it.  We shall see, we shall see.

Anyways, I’d better head off to get my super and then to bed.  Another big day tomorrow.   Well, not really, it just seems like it.  Actually, it’ll really be a day just like any other.  Which is fine by me.

Yeah.  I’m a little excited.  I just picked up my puppy a few hours ago.  Right now, his name is Stevie.  I think I’m going to change it, but I’m not sure what I’ll name him yet.  We’ll see.  But he’s adorable, friendly, and the cuddling type.  He as born on November 1, 2006.  He’s a mutt, but he’s got some daschuand (sp?) and some Jack Russel in him.

I thought it wasn’t going to be a good day today.  I’m running on about six hours of sleep.  But it tured out to be a fantastic day!  Here’s why:

1.  I talked with my Mom and my sister last night.    Always good.

2. I went to TKD today.  Which is always, always good.  However, we were doing series of kicks, which are my absolute favorite.  Then, to top it off, Master J. went ahead and tested me for my orange belt!  Yeah!  One more up for me!

3.  I’ve decided to get a puppy.  I was a little concerned about being a good dog mom, but I think I can provide him at least as good a home as the one he has now.  (And it will give me motivation to clean!)

 Well, that’s about it.  I’ll post puppy pictures as soon as I get them.  Until then, I’d best be going.  I have Korean to study and my hands are cold.  Cheers!

It’s cold.  And I think it’s getting colder.  However, I thought I’d take the time to write a word of praise to my heated floors!

Ode to my floor……

Oh, my floor!

I do adore

the gentle way you warm my toes

Your silent heat,

which does defeat

winter in her coldest throes,

makes me smile

all the while

I enjoy the coz

iness.

Yeah, yeah.  It’s a crap poem.  I know.  But I’ve had way, way too much coffee and I’m in a good mood.

Cheers!

First and foremost, thank you Lisa and Kristin for the fantastic Christmas packages!  It’s always fun to walk into work and discover something fun on your desk. 

Right now, it’s cold.  Really cold (I know some Canadian friends will snicker while saying, “You call this cold?”  Yes, yes, I do.)  My main complaint with cold is that is chases me back indoors and I don’t really appreciate it.  On the other hand, I get more computer work done.

I got my haircut this week. My stylist asked me where I got my highlights done.  That was an interesting conversation.  Yes, I go outside and my hair changes color.  No, really!  I mean it!  I like my haircut.  I really do.  However, I like it more until one of the people at the hair salon thought I looked like Barbie.  To make the whole thing more amusing, one of the assitants at school complimented me and told me that I looked much younger.  I asked how old I looked.  “Hmmmm…….sixteen,” he replied.    Great. 

But aside from the weather being way too cold for me, I’m doing okay.  I’m looking forward to my birthday.  I’m already plotting.  It gives me something to do when I’m procrastinating getting any real work done (like clean).

I’m always amazed at how the little things seem like big things here.  Example, getting make-up.  I’m almost out of some basics and thought I would meander out to find them.  Right.  After checking several places, I finally sucked it up and headed to mall.  After gritting my teeth, I decided that it really would be okay to spend more on foundation that I usually do on jeans.  Ouch.  However, I was saved the trouble.  They were out of my color.  Go figure.  Anyways, I’ll be headed into Seoul tomorrow.  I should be able to find something there.

I think I’ll go get food.