My Bologna Has a First Name........And It's Oksu.

Korea produces three things: rice, potatoes, and tea. They have easy access to one thing: seafood. If you want anything other than rice, potatoes, tea, or seafood, you're going to pay a heavy price. In some cases, a shocking price. This past weekend, my coworkers and I took a little trip to an American grocery store down in the heart of Seoul. I am not one for the American junk food and snack craze, but a Thanksgiving feast is very distinct. And I was bored. So the four of us set out on Saturday and discovered the true underbelly of Korea.
I'm not sure if I should be dishing out labels to the selfish Americans or selfish Koreans, but somebody is getting rich off a $15 box of Rice Krispies. I have a rather difficult time believing it costs that much to import Snap, Crackle, and Pop. Or Aunt Jemima for that matter. I nearly did a cartwheel when I spotted the Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups(the first time I have ever seen them over here), and then cursed when I read the price tag of $8. You think a pint of Hagan Daaz is expensive at home? Try $11. Its not like they're trying to save your soul and sell penance; we're talking some milk and sugar. Kudos to those who realized the Asian strive for "Westernness" and tacked a $25 price tag on a box of Nature Valley Granola Bars. Yes, $25!!! Who has that kind of money? I'm not even paying rent, but to drop 10 bucks on a can of Country Time Lemonade would mean I'd have to cut out toothpaste and laundry detergent............
Someone is chewing their 50 cent Snickers bar or slurping their 99 cent can of Campell's chicken soup and smirking at all the shopping carts full of American made products, thanks to not only all the Koreans, but the thousands of English teachers over here.
But here's what I really don't understand - in relation to the United States, Thailand is on the other side of the world; but in relation to Korea, its a plane ride with Karate Kid I and maybe half of II, yet cashews are twice as much here as they are in the US. And another thing, you can't find deodarant or taco seasoning for your last wish, but they have Giorgio Armani? Oh, Korea........you're so silly.


Happy Thanksgiving to those at home. Eat an extra piece of pie for me.

A Bout With Balboa

I am a woman of routine. As much as I like to think that I am all for jumping in the water and going with the flow, I really like to just dangle my feet......or wade. I have worked out rather religiously since tearing my ACL as a freshman in high school (ten years ago now). Granted, I've played sports for as long as I can remember, but after injury I was immediately put on a strict rehab regimen. I have been running ever since. Simply running - me, my headphones, and the ground beneath my feet. Since I worked at the YMCA for 4 years and a FREE membership was included in my services, I have been plugged-in to the fitness center environment.
I was dead set on continuing my practice when I left the country, though it has been rather difficult considering I don't speak the language. After much frustration yet much glee, I finally got to join a gym this past weekend. It was necessary not only for my schedule, but it has quickly become frightfully cold outside.
For the low price of $40 a month I not only get my wonderful treadmill, but also a kickboxing room, a clean set of workout clothes each visit, my own lock and locker, and a personal trainer. His name is Andy, and he knows 5 words in English - weight, fat, muscle, break, and treadmill. He thought he knew 6 words, but I had to kindly tell him that "veck" was not considered part of my native tongue ("back" I eventually figured out..... my 7 year olds call it Konglish.) After a week I now almost feel adjusted. Well, there is the whole locker room dilemna.......the day I am comfortable conducting my morning preperations surrounded by completely naked women squaking in mumbo jumbo is, well, never. But, heck, I get to hear techno Miley Cyrus and Van Halen on a daily basis. That says home.

Backspace

I had a glitch today; a shortage in the circuit. Seemingly out of nowhere too. My emotions crept up on me, and I absolutely hate it when that happens. More often than not, I can feel myself becoming overwhelmed, but today it was sneaky. In a split second I felt completely and utterly alone. And the tears just started to flow. Fortunately, I was sly enough to hide it and not get caught in a moment of being undone. Nonetheless, I feel stupid because I am an adult and should be able to control myself and deal with adult-like things. Being homesick or getting lost or having a confrontation shouldn't rub me so strongly in the wrong direction. I am realizing how much it rattles me when I have nothing familiar to grab a hold of, how quickly I can feel pinned against the wall.
I had no one to just talk to and feel at ease with, feel like myself. I even hung out with people this weekend, and ate and laughed and socialized. I have people to do the same with tomorrow. But I don't have MY people.............I can't walk into work and tell Nina about a crazy dream I had or a weird encounter at the grocery store; I can't come home and complain to my parents about how frustrated I am with someone; I can't call Steph and meet for dinner or coffee so we can dissect our mutual problems or plan an adventurous weekend. The hope for those relationships is present, though hesitant. It takes me awhile to warm up to people, more of my own doing than theirs. I am wary to give pieces of myself away, and some understand that and others don't. Either they get it and let me come out of my shell on my own terms..... or they don't, and make assumptions and challenge me in alarming ways. I can't necessarily hold it against them, yet I want to. The pressure it puts on me seems unwarranted and intrusive.
Pardon me for the seriousness of this post.
I went to church yesterday.........the pastor stated quite boldly, "Don't worry about a thing." Ha!

"A" For Effort

I was invited on a fall expedition over the weekend. Me and a few fellow North Americans decided to have a girl's outing in search of the season. Well, they decided and graciously let me tag along. So we started with enjoying the wonderful weather and taking pictures of fabulous color. We strolled around the woods of a hotel before heading to Olympic Park, which was the highlight. Over 4 hours passed by and our stomachs let us know when it was about that time, and we went to grab some good Korean food. As much as I like most of the food over here, its not the same as the stuff you get back at home around this time of year. I think the others felt that way also, because the urge to make apple pie hit us all. We made our way to Sarah's apartment for dessert - except we had no butter, no measuring cup, no rolling pin, and no oven. None of those things stopped us. With oil to stick, a frying pan to mix, spoons to meaure, a glass to roll, and a toaster oven.......Its not Mom's or Grandma's but we're still brilliant.

Rock and Roll

I came down with a terrible sinus infection about a week and a half ago, which quickly turned into this terrible hacking up phlegm from the chest. Sleeping on my back and being contained in small stuffy areas seemed to make it worse. I was on the subway this past weekend, super excited that I actually got a seat since I had quite a ride ahead of me. Of course, at each stop we acquired more passengers and soon I was scrunched between two old Korean men with a wall of people in front of me; the disruptive spectacle quickly ensued. I was just a barkin' away and to be considerate and not shower others with my germs or DNA, I quickly moved away into the most open space available. As I was trying to smother my cough with one of Mom and Dad's American cough drops, I was naturally thinking, "Crap, I have another 25 minutes or so to go and just lost my seat," not to mention the fact that every Korean was intensivily staring at the sick foreigner. About ten minutes passed with me at the opposite end of the subway car nursing my illness and my pride, until I looked back in the direction of where I was sitting, and the old man next to me had saved my seat! Once he noticed I was alive and well and we made eye contact, he politely waved me back over to sit down. Then he handed me a piece of gum AND took my wrapper when I tried to put it my pocket.

I am quickly developing a scarf fettish. I think I had one scarf at home(lost it), for completely practical reasons. I bought two scarves in one week over here. One is forest green and the softest thing I have ever owned; the other is different shades of maroon and burgundy. I wanted to buy two others as well but refrained. I have 10 months left though. Better save some room in my suitcase.

My lightbulb in my bathroom burned out. I was taking the fixture down to check what bulb I needed, and it shattered all over my bathroom floor. I still haven't replaced it and have been showering in the dark for a week. I got rather bold the other day and decided to shave. Bad idea.

I really like adjectives and adverbs.

A coworker commented on the number of stairs at my subway stop, claiming there had to be about 30 steps I climbed twice a day. I thought her math seemed a bit off, and decided to count them myself. I average 250-300 stairs every day. That coupled with a diet of fish and rice has given me more room in my pants almost every week.

Korea has been following the presidential race in the US, covering the front page of their newspapers with the faces of both candidates. Today I asked my most advanced class(about 9 years old) who they would vote for if they could, and Monica wrote, "McCain is grandfather. Grandfathers is nice and I would vote for grandfathers and McCain." Ji wrote "I vote for Obama because he has chocolate face so I could eat chocolate every day." That's about how I feel.......

I am wondering why the plural of goose is geese, but the plural of moose isn't meese. These are the things you think about when you're on the subway for 2 hours with no one to talk to.