They Say It's Your Birthday....

Well, it's actually one more week but I decided to buy myself a present early. I have been wanting an digital SLR camera for probably 2 years - ever since I had a little photography stint with a magazine. They're rather expensive though, so I kept putting it off and putting it off. The camera I've been using my Dad bought me 4 years or so ago, and has given me a lot of bang for his buck. But after a couple of events here where I didn't get the pictures I desired, (i.e. the DMZ, the Lotus Latern Festival) I decided it was time to take Nike's advice and "JUST DO IT". I found one camera I liked which was on sale at a place nearby, only they didn't have any in stock. So I waited a couple weeks, went back, and they still didn't have any in stock. I waited another week, went back and then the camera wasn't on sale any more; they bumped it up another 250,000 won! Well, that pushed me to take Saturday afternoon and hop on the subway for an hour and 15 minutes to the electronics mart. I walked in to one huge mall of camera's and cellphones and had no idea where to start.............I expected all the salesmen to come after me and they did. But I needed someone who could communicate so I walked a little ways and started asking questions to the first guy who spoke descent English. I pointed out a couple of the cameras I had in mind, and knew this guy wanted to sell me one. Of course, I immediatly wished my business savy, size looming (especially over this little Asian guy)father were there but I have learned a thing or two from him over the years. I told this guy I wasn't looking to spend a fortune; granted, these are professional cameras, but I'm not a professional. However, I didn't want to buy the camera, and then have to go buy all the extras seperatly - so I needed it all at one price! I got him to come down on the camera 3 times, plus throw in a nicer lens, a memory card, a camera case, and an adaptor to plug it right into my computer to download. In the end, I spent about what I had expected to while browsing cameras online, but I think I may have been able to get him to come down one more time..............oh well. I was happy to just finally get the thing.