I'm currently loitering in Kylie and Donovan's apartment, where there is a TV (with cable!), and an internet connection. I'm watching NBC news right now! It's very exciting!
So our trip to building 63 yesterday was relatively fun. We saw an IMAX movie, Lions of the Kalahari (or something like that). We had to sit in a certain section of the theater and use an earphone to listen to the movie in English. It was the least IMAX-like movie I've seen in my life, which was actually very okay with me. I only got sick to my stomach a few times. It was very violent though, quite a few little Korean babies and children had to leave because they were (rightly so) afraid of the lions roaring, and traumatized by the scenes where the lionesses were attacking and eating the gazelles.
Anyway, there is also an aquarium in the building, and it was nice. It was definitely one of those "You know you're not in Florida when...." moments. There was a section of the aquarium where there were large fish and one decently large turtle and that turtle had the attention of almost everyone in the aquarium. At one point I saw a catfish, and I said to Kylie and Donovan that catfish was a kind of fish I actually liked, and they didn't even know that people ate catfish! It's so funny the kind of moments that serve as culture shock.
I had a very nice time yesterday. I'm enjoying my last day of the break too, still in my pajamas, sitting in Kylie and Donovan's apartment, and plan on being entirely lazy for the rest of the day. Very nice....I'm enjoying it thoroughly.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
My Plans
My dear sister was so kind to ask about my health. And because of her, now you all have to hear about it. I actually do feel much better now. My voice actually works on a fairly regular basis now, which is definitely an improvement. As far as internet connection, I do not have one now, and might not get it hooked up in my apartment until next month. I'm just not sure yet. I'll be sure to let you all know though.
Today Kylie, Donovan, and I are going to a place (I cannot remember the name) that is the tallest building in Korea, supposedly. It has an IMAX theater, an aquarium, and an observatory. Perhaps I'm simply a glutton for punishment because I'm going to another tall building to look out another big window where I will inevitably get a big headache or stomach ache. Nonetheless, I'd prefer this than just sitting around wishing I was doing something more interesting. So anyway, we're about to leave, so I'm going to end this. Have a good day (night) everyone!
Today Kylie, Donovan, and I are going to a place (I cannot remember the name) that is the tallest building in Korea, supposedly. It has an IMAX theater, an aquarium, and an observatory. Perhaps I'm simply a glutton for punishment because I'm going to another tall building to look out another big window where I will inevitably get a big headache or stomach ache. Nonetheless, I'd prefer this than just sitting around wishing I was doing something more interesting. So anyway, we're about to leave, so I'm going to end this. Have a good day (night) everyone!
Monday, February 7, 2005
Good news!
Guess what! I bought a laptop! I'm not entirely sure if it was a legal transaction...because the price was FAR more reasonable than anywhere in an actual store. Nonetheless, I have a laptop - I am typing on it right now, even, and am quite pleased with the entire situation.
My time off has been productive. Kylie, Donovan, and I went to the Seoul tower, and rode in a cable car up the mountain. It was nice, for the most part. There's no such thing as claustrophobia in this country. A small elevator has a capacity of 17 people...the cable car we rode in had a supposed capacity of 38 people. Luckily there weren't 38 people in it, but with as many people as were in it I was still a bit claustrophobic. Not to mention I'm also afraid of heights...this may seem like it wasn't such a good idea. I had a delightful time, though I got a bit dizzy when I was looking through the super-powered binnoculaurs, and because when we were up in Seoul tower we were really quite high. The revolving restaurant we went to (sat down, and then left when we saw the prices) also didn't help my dizziness. Nonetheless, I had a great time.
We watched part of the Super Bowl too, which was nice. Right now we're watching the Simpsons and another cartoon Donovan taped. It has been quite an exciting day. On that note, I'm going to go so I can finish watching this show.
My time off has been productive. Kylie, Donovan, and I went to the Seoul tower, and rode in a cable car up the mountain. It was nice, for the most part. There's no such thing as claustrophobia in this country. A small elevator has a capacity of 17 people...the cable car we rode in had a supposed capacity of 38 people. Luckily there weren't 38 people in it, but with as many people as were in it I was still a bit claustrophobic. Not to mention I'm also afraid of heights...this may seem like it wasn't such a good idea. I had a delightful time, though I got a bit dizzy when I was looking through the super-powered binnoculaurs, and because when we were up in Seoul tower we were really quite high. The revolving restaurant we went to (sat down, and then left when we saw the prices) also didn't help my dizziness. Nonetheless, I had a great time.
We watched part of the Super Bowl too, which was nice. Right now we're watching the Simpsons and another cartoon Donovan taped. It has been quite an exciting day. On that note, I'm going to go so I can finish watching this show.
Friday, February 4, 2005
Happy New Year!
The big holiday here, aside from Christmas, of course, is the Lunar New Year - it's actually starting tomorrow-ish and goes through to the 10th of February. So on that note, this will be the last time I can post anything until next Friday...unless I become so ambitious so as to attempt to navigate in a Korean PC room (I referred to them as "internet cafes" and was gently rebuked). We shall see.
Have I mentioned how extremely cold and dry it is here? If not, let me just tell you...it is extremely cold and dry here! Right now it's only 19 degrees F (I did not get the hang of the whole Celsius thing while in Israel, and it so far continues to be far beyond my mental grasp). And it's a dry cold, which is an entirely new experience for me. Living in Florida all my life, my only idea of "dry" is what you do when you get out of the beach, pool, or shower. I always thought it would be nice to experience what a dry heat or dry cold would be. I changed my mind. I have to sleep with a humidifier on every night, which isn't so bad, except that the floors are not carpeted - which is good in a really important way (no mold can grow down in there), but inevitably, I always forget to sop up all the condensation in the morning and nearly break some very important bone as I walk from my bed to the kitchen. On that note, my voice is nearly gone. It can't quite make up it's mind if it wants to stay or go, so it's kinda halfway there. It's actually annoying, because I have to do a lot of yelling in my kindergarten and first grade classes, and now it's become a sort of a yowl...I can say part of a word loudly and then my voice either cracks or disappears entirely. My students think it is hilarious though. Just now, one of the Korean teachers asked me if I had taken any medicine, which I haven't...so she offered me a bottle of this liquid not-quite-medicine, but a nutritious Korean traditional drink that seems to help mostly all that might ail you. She said it had to be warm first, so she kindly went downstairs to warm it up (I wouldn't have been able to communicate with the people in the kitchen to tell them what I needed to do). Both Jenny and Ally (two of the Korean teachers) sat there, watching me expectantly, obviously trying to hold back smiles, as I began to drink it. I paused for a moment, realizing that if they weren't as nice as I know they are, they could be giving me any variety of disgusting concocction to drink, and I'd be helpless, since the bottle was in Korean. Nonetheless, I know that they are entirely nice, so I drank it. It definitely wasn't good. At most barbecue restaurants I've been to, they have a kind of sweet barbecue sauce. The aftertaste of this stuff tasted like the aftertaste of sweet barbecue sauce, but the actual taste tasted nothing like it. I'm sure I'm making no sense at all. And I don't know if it is because of the power of suggestion, but I think part of my throat already feels better. We shall see, we shall see.
I must quickly make mention of the fact that, where I am, it is already my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Val! I called her this morning, which was very exciting for me, because I don't get to talk to either of my sisters often enough. I'm already in the thinking mode, to find THE perfect birthday gift for her. If anyone has suggestions, email me.
Before I go, I think I'll put in a shameless plug. I'm going to include both my address and phone number here today. I'm putting my address, because I always forget to give it when people ask for it. And I'm putting my phone number in because...well, in the hopes that some dear friend of mine will take pity on me and call me during the next week. (See? Shameless...just like I promised!)
Address
Teresa Tucker
Skyville 402 Seokchon-dong 154-8
Songpa-gu, Seoul, Korea 138-843
Phone number: 82-2-425-4003
With that said, I shall go and do much work. Happy New Year! :)
Have I mentioned how extremely cold and dry it is here? If not, let me just tell you...it is extremely cold and dry here! Right now it's only 19 degrees F (I did not get the hang of the whole Celsius thing while in Israel, and it so far continues to be far beyond my mental grasp). And it's a dry cold, which is an entirely new experience for me. Living in Florida all my life, my only idea of "dry" is what you do when you get out of the beach, pool, or shower. I always thought it would be nice to experience what a dry heat or dry cold would be. I changed my mind. I have to sleep with a humidifier on every night, which isn't so bad, except that the floors are not carpeted - which is good in a really important way (no mold can grow down in there), but inevitably, I always forget to sop up all the condensation in the morning and nearly break some very important bone as I walk from my bed to the kitchen. On that note, my voice is nearly gone. It can't quite make up it's mind if it wants to stay or go, so it's kinda halfway there. It's actually annoying, because I have to do a lot of yelling in my kindergarten and first grade classes, and now it's become a sort of a yowl...I can say part of a word loudly and then my voice either cracks or disappears entirely. My students think it is hilarious though. Just now, one of the Korean teachers asked me if I had taken any medicine, which I haven't...so she offered me a bottle of this liquid not-quite-medicine, but a nutritious Korean traditional drink that seems to help mostly all that might ail you. She said it had to be warm first, so she kindly went downstairs to warm it up (I wouldn't have been able to communicate with the people in the kitchen to tell them what I needed to do). Both Jenny and Ally (two of the Korean teachers) sat there, watching me expectantly, obviously trying to hold back smiles, as I began to drink it. I paused for a moment, realizing that if they weren't as nice as I know they are, they could be giving me any variety of disgusting concocction to drink, and I'd be helpless, since the bottle was in Korean. Nonetheless, I know that they are entirely nice, so I drank it. It definitely wasn't good. At most barbecue restaurants I've been to, they have a kind of sweet barbecue sauce. The aftertaste of this stuff tasted like the aftertaste of sweet barbecue sauce, but the actual taste tasted nothing like it. I'm sure I'm making no sense at all. And I don't know if it is because of the power of suggestion, but I think part of my throat already feels better. We shall see, we shall see.
I must quickly make mention of the fact that, where I am, it is already my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Val! I called her this morning, which was very exciting for me, because I don't get to talk to either of my sisters often enough. I'm already in the thinking mode, to find THE perfect birthday gift for her. If anyone has suggestions, email me.
Before I go, I think I'll put in a shameless plug. I'm going to include both my address and phone number here today. I'm putting my address, because I always forget to give it when people ask for it. And I'm putting my phone number in because...well, in the hopes that some dear friend of mine will take pity on me and call me during the next week. (See? Shameless...just like I promised!)
Address
Teresa Tucker
Skyville 402 Seokchon-dong 154-8
Songpa-gu, Seoul, Korea 138-843
Phone number: 82-2-425-4003
With that said, I shall go and do much work. Happy New Year! :)
Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
Lawyers and Liars
One of the kind-of vocabulary words for my fourth grade classes is lawyer. It's a tired joke I know, but struck me as humorous that they really could only barely pronounce the difference between lawyer and liar.
I got my alien registration card this morning, which required almost two and a half hours on the subway and a walk that wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't -16 degrees (F) today! Oh my goodness! And of course I don't own a scarf or a decent hat. That's a priority to get, certainly. Meanwhile though, I am exhausted. I'm beat...I have hardly any energy and I'm ravenous. On that note, I'm heading home to attempt to defrost my chicken without cooking it like I did last time. (My new microwave is a potent little thing....quite powerful, no matter what setting it's on.)
I got my alien registration card this morning, which required almost two and a half hours on the subway and a walk that wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't -16 degrees (F) today! Oh my goodness! And of course I don't own a scarf or a decent hat. That's a priority to get, certainly. Meanwhile though, I am exhausted. I'm beat...I have hardly any energy and I'm ravenous. On that note, I'm heading home to attempt to defrost my chicken without cooking it like I did last time. (My new microwave is a potent little thing....quite powerful, no matter what setting it's on.)
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