TOP TEN

KOREAN TOP TEN
Ten things that are super Korean


1. KIMCHI
2. K-pop
3. Uber girly hair accessories
4. Wearing a mask when you are sick
5. Public transportation
6. Hagwons
7. Plastic surgery
8. Drinking (Soju and Mekju)
9. Going to school 14 hours a day
10. Thinking the best things only come form Korea


And just for fun here are a few extras...

Fake sideburns
Mullets
Getting blown off by cab drivers
Coffee Shops
Short skirts
Cheap doctor visits
Converse


This is a really superficial list, but it is quite humorous to those who have lived in Korea and it is fairly accurate.

FIASCO AVOIDED

doctor's visit: 10 dollars,
Perscription: 9 dollars,
Escaping the fiasco known as the American healthcare system: Priceless...

(I LOVE KOREA)

So apparently we have discovered I am allergic to the yellow dust in Korea. Yellow dust is a phenomenon related to the yellow dust that travels from the deserts of China across the sea and straight to my lungs. It happens in the Spring time in Korea. On some days the sky almost looks red from it. It really isn't all that bad, but with the added air pollution from our big city plus my super sensitivity to allergens in general it wasn't long before I had a sinus infection from it all. I finally gave in today after a long night marked by coughing and not being able to breathe. I hate the doctor. Maybe it is because of the stigma attached to going (Losing money and not really feeling like they are paying attention to you to begin with)

Today I broke though that mindset when I went to the doc down the hall from our campus. I got one of our bosses Sean to go with me for translating purposes. I went in and waited about ten minutes. The nurse out front took my temp and blood pressure. Five minutes later I was in with the doctor. He scoped my throat and nose and even let me see a picture of my inner ear. It was awesome. He actually listened to me when I told him how I felt (or rather listened to Sean as he said it in Korean) After our brief but in depth visit, I was sent out front to pay. I almost had a heart attack as they said 13,000 won (That roughly is estimated to be about ten bucks) In shock I walked down the hall the other direction to the pharmacy in our building to put in my prescription. I wasn't sure if we were supposed to wait or not so we waited. Within two minutes I was paying and fully finished with my visit. The grand total of all three prescriptions for a week I was given: 10,000 won ($8.50).

All I can say is SCREW AMERICAN HEALTH CARE. I am loving Korea. WIthin thirty minutes I was seen by a doctor got my prescription and was only out around 20 bucks.


In order to be fully Korean I have included a picture of my final addition to my treatment plan...

New Location!

The Hans we were employed by has sadly closed...


but don't worry they opened back up two blocks away. The new location is beautiful, complete with a new computer lab and other awesome amenities. The school is also now located in the same building as its sister school that houses all the middle school students. The middle school is on the same floor in our building. Our director bought out the entire floor of the building. On of the perks is that they no longer have rent. They actually own the location. The classes are bigger and the students seem happier (ok well maybe not entirely true about the about the students...)


I want to include some pictures.







FOR MORE PICTURES VISIT OUR GALLERY (via Picasa):
Here is the link for the New Hans Location folder

Jack and his Howard complex.

I do not claim to know much about sports. I can hold my own in a conversation about football and I am decently versed around basketball, but I hod no affinity for the athletic world. I am tall, lanky, and generally lacking in all athletic ability. That is why I am musical, artistic, and into reading. (okay, also I just like those things)

My husband has taken our families intake of sporting events and banter to a whole new level. WIth March Madness ensuing we constantly have a streaming ESPN radio network on one or both of our laptops. Also, the NFL draft is coming up soon and after Tebow's new throwing style the gator nation is all a buzz.

(see, I told you I am pretty aware of most sporting issues.)

Jack has now taken it to a whole other level. Last week our children's service was lacking something as we were doing the planning. We had done musical chairs, toilet paper mummies, and random mind teasers. We needed something different. We made our way to Lotte World. Lotte World is the closest thing to Wal-mart we have. Except it goes up instead of out. Each floor is a different variety of items ranging from car repair on top that connects the the parking garage to the bottom floor that is solely a grocery store. We ventured to the toy store in hopes to find something. There it was on sale. 16,000 won. A kids basketball hoop and two small bouncy basketballs. Since our service free throw game, the hoop has made its way to our loft balcony.

Yes. that's right, Jack has installed a basketball hoop in my living room. haha I only really hate it when he forgets how late he stays up and puts on his metaphorical superman cape* for his own version of the dunk contest. It isn't like I am asleep, I just worry about our poor neighbors.



The crowning moment of the sports world however happened tonight through this lanky red-head. I have been sick all week. I think I may have a sinus infection coupled with several flu symptoms (the regular kind, not the pig kind). Tonight was particularly rough. I had been dying all day and came home to actually throw up (sorry, gross over share- get over it). The point is I was pretty screwed up. I was laying down on the couch with a cool wet cloth over my eyes, completely sick. Jack was playing basketball and jokingly said I bet you cant make it.

You may call me Kryptonite. Blindfolded and sick I got nothing but net. It was amazing. I may not be good at real sports and I may never get a medal but as for tonight, the bragging rights are mine.




*For those who are not aware of sports pop culture, Dwight Howard wears a Superman Cape each year for the annual Dunk Contest. :)

The Lemon Table

We finally went to the Lemon Table tonight after work. We had been urged multiple times by some of our co-teachers to check it out. We enjoyed it immensely. The burgers were heavily seasoned, but decent (also they include a fired egg on most of the burgers). I am really looking forward to trying out some of the pasta next time. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. We had a great time chatting. The best part is before your food is brought out they bring these incredibly crumbly croissants and a small dipping bowl with honey. It was scrumptious. The Lemon table is just down from our apartment. It is about a ten minute walk from Landpia just before the Sejong Outlets near the subway stop. We will definitely add it to our list of restaurants we frequent.









We hope to check out some other menu items and will will add to our review. The experience was nice, but we weren't completely sold on the burgers. They were just very Korean. I am pretty sure they cooked them in bulgogi sauce. We are going to try the steak and pasta next time. It cant hurt. The bill came out to be only 19,000.00 won. Which is about 17.50 for a sit down meal for two. Not bad.

New location- like I need to move again

Our school is moving. Well down the street anyways. We are moving to combine with the middle school campus. It actually works out in our favor. We will have a shorter walk to work and it is closer to restaurants if we want to step out for one of our breaks and run to grab some food. We will be just around the corner from MacDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and Holly's Coffee. The only thing that stinks is that we have to come in on Sunday afternoon and move our things to the new campus. It is really going to throw off our napping streak. Sometimes I swear Jack and I are like children. We actually have a napping schedule. haha. Sundays are the only day of the week that we dont sleep in. We have to be up SO early. (and by early I mean nine. haha) Normally we get out of bed at the crack of noon.

This week the move is on. I think the thing that is craziest is that Jack and I will no longer have a office. Instead we will share a classroom. The only thing that is kind of weird about that is that there are cameras in all the classrooms. We don't currently have one in our office so during our breaks we watch tv online. :) I guess I will just have to angle my mac away from the camera because I don't think I can part with watching Lost and the Office when they come online. The new school is awesome though. They bought out the rest of the second floor in our building so we will have a lot of space and new equipment. It is of little cost when you consider that our boss currently owns twenty different hagwons (private schools). We only found that out this week. Let's just say we discovered he is doing well. haha For now we will pack our desk and make sure the trash has been emptied while we head out to better things.

3.14 White Day/Pie Day

To all my mathematically inclined friends (I actually think I really only know one haha), Happy Pie Day π (3.1415926535897...). For all those who are located in Japan, Taiwan, or Korea, Happy White Day. White Day is the Asian version of a Hallmark Holiday. Valentine's Day is celebrated differently here.

Here's a snippet from wikipedia:

In Japan, Taiwan, and Korea, Valentine's Day is observed by females who present chocolate gifts (either store-bought or handmade), usually to a male, as an expression of love, courtesy or social obligation. The handmade chocolate is usually preferred by the receiver, because it is a sign that the receiving male is the girl's "only one". On White Day, the converse happens: males who received a honmei-choco (本命チョコ?, "chocolate of love") or giri-choco (義理チョコ?, "courtesy chocolate") on Valentine's Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts, usually more expensive. Traditionally, popular White Day gifts are cookies, jewelery, white chocolate, white lingerie and marshmallows.[1] Sometimes the term sanbai gaeshi (三倍返し?, literally, "thrice the return") is used to describe the generally recited rule that the return gift should be two to three times the cost of the Valentine's gift.[2]

I think it is interesting that the women are the ones doing the giving, instead of the men. The good news is at least in White Day they are supposed to return the favor with a more expensive gift. :) This actually was all started by a confectionery who started marketing marshmallows as gifts to those who presented Valentines Day traditional chocolate. Eventually marshmallows increased to white chocolate, then dark, then jewelry, and before long it was a full blown lovers holiday. Occasionally gifts can be exchanged for social obligations, but mostly it is a sign of affection.

I think the best part is that the love based holidays do not stop at two in Korea. There is also a singles day later in the year. On this day single people are all supposed to go out and eat jajangmyeon (noodles with black bean sauce). They say it is to celebrate their singleness. My instinct says it is so they can easily spot each other and possibly hook up. :) haha