The events of the day

Today I bought a new comforter. Unfortunately due to my lackadaisical shopping habits (mixed with only a mediocre knowledge of Korean, I purchased a fitted sheet (good), one pillow case (when I need two), and a duvet cover in lieu of an actual comforter. Luckily, the weather is getting warmer and my apartment is usually really really really hot due to my 10' by 7' westward-facing window. As such I will put off purchasing a new comforter (the old one is old and gross and also has a print that will show through the white parts of my duvet cover.

In my defense, how the hell was I supposed to know the 이불커버 meant comforter cover. 이불 just sounds like evil. granted, 커버 sounds just like cover, but still. What the hell is an evil cover?

After a quick Google Search, I discovered that this, in fact, is what an Evil Cover looks like. Or at least what A Touch of Evil cover looks like.

Anyways, my new comforter is really cute (not that my old one wasn't, it just had holes in it), and it's bright so hopefully after a terrible day of school, it will cheer me up. That's the goal. It does spunk up the place nicely.

Plus, the new comforter has *almost* inspired me to actually pick up a bit around the place. Currently on my bed there is only my purse, a sweatshirt, my cell phone and me. This lowers my average amount of crap on my bed by at least 80% Of course, now everything is just sitting in piles on my coffee table. I swear once I get rid of my stupid dell laptop, I'll fix everything. Luckily that day is quickly approaching. All I have to do is find the IP address or whatever it is so I can connect my computer to the ethernet that I am paying for (instead of stealing someone else in my apartment's wireless), and transfer the remaining word documents to my macbook, and all ties to my dell will officially be cut. Then my mac will take it's rightful place upon throne: a shitty, bowed, poorly constructed, duct-taped to hell gray desk.

Wacky Week and Shanghai

After having an incredibly wacky week last week, I'm very much looking forward to the very very relaxed upcoming week I have ahead.

Last week, my schedule was thrown curveball upon curveball at my school. Monday morning, my co-teacher tells me, hey Wally, "tomorrow's classes are all going to be 70 minutes long instead of the standard 45 minutes. There are listening tests, so there had to be a schedule change."

my typical class schedule

Oh, okay, cool, 70 minute long classes. Not that I'm prepared to teach for a 70 minute time block, but sure, no problem. Luckily, I discovered that my activity in class took much longer to do than I had slated, and the students didn't get to finish the backs of their worksheets. Problem solved.

Well, later that day I'm informed that due to the 70 minute classes, 5th and 6th periods were cancelled on Tuesday and students were released slightly early. Oh, great, cool, I get a whole extra afternoon free as a result.

Well, still later, my co-teacher hands me a copy of the weeks schedule which is as follows:
Monday: regular classes.
Tuesday: periods 1-4, 70 minutes, period 5-6 cancelled
Wednesday: periods 1-4, normal times, periods 5-6 cancelled.
Thursday: all classes cancelled, Monday classes periods 1-3, Tuesday periods 5-6 during periods 4&5, Wednesday periods 5&6 during Thursday periods 6&7 (on Thursdays only this semester, classes start 40 minutes early and we have an extra period)
Friday: normal classes

An exact copy of the schedule change my co-teacher gave me on Monday around noon.

wtf? So now, as a result, two of my four monday classes are a week ahead, and my two thursday classes are a week behind. My school claims that this is to enable the classes to make up for missed days, but I was able to condense or expand my lessons to keep everything on track, and now my school does THIS. bla&*!sdlk%#roa#@itg;kfja! Anyways, my Monday classes will be corrected next week because there is a holiday. However, my Thursday class (as well as my Wednesday classes due to Election day, a holiday here in Korea) will be a full week behind. Thanks a whole effing lot.

Anyways, on the brighter side, I have no school on Wednesday because of Election Day. My co-teachers were shocked and appalled to discover that in the States people have to work on election day. they also admitted that even with a full day off work, none of them ever vote. wtf? I voted even when I didn't have a day off. How can that even be?

Plus, my Korean class got cancelled because we were supposed to have a week of vacation during the six months, but our teacher never did it, so here we are, two weeks left in the semester, and the second to last one she has to use for vacay. Unfortunately she gave us a crapton of homework that I can't do because it's too difficult.

PLUS, Friday afternoon, I'm flying to Shanghai, China, to compete with KUPA at a frisbee tournament. I'm really looking forward to it, and I think our team has a shot at doing pretty well. Keep your fingers crossed for us this weekened! We play Saturday and Sunday and then I leave Monday afternoon. I'm hoping to at least have time to see SOMETHING in Shanghai at least early in the morning before I have to run off to the airport.

This is the riverside promenade. This is my Shanghai goal. Even if I have to wake up at freaking 6 a.m. I'm going to see something in Shanghai.

xoxo,
A

Dream Concert 2010

So I'm clearly a lot late on this, but you know, better late than never, right?

In a change of pace from my last blog post, which was a relatively serious blog post about the recent development in the North Korea/South Korea dispute, I'll give you a review of last Saturday's (May 22nd) Dream Concert. I have mostly positive things to say, so be prepared for lots of doting on cute k-pop stars.

Me and my k-pop buddy!

The show was hosted by Kim Heechul (of Super Junior stardom), actress Shin SeKyung, and Ok Taecyeon (winner of the reallywally sexy body contest held last weekend at Dream Concert). Frankly, Shin SeKyung sucked ass. She was awful as a host, managing only to laugh uncomfortably at regular intervals and barely keeping up with Taecyeon, let alone the veteran Dream Concert MC (third year running) Heechul. Heechul was funny. This I could tell in spite of my not being able to understand 85% of what he said. Taecyeon did his best and mostly was just a walking, talking, singing image of sexiness embodied.

Hello Taecyeon. What's that? You want me to meet you backstage in an hour? Well, I don't kn... Oh, wow, lookie here, my clothes are already off.

There were a number of virtually unknown kpop acts that "opened" the show. I don't really remember them as being particularly interesting or talented, but who am I to judge (especially since I thought Ring Ding Dong by SHINee was the greatest music work to play on radio speakers since Michael Jackson sang Thriller).

Actually, come to think of it, they have a lot more in common than initially anticipated: red leather, intense hair, great dancing.

Then came the first of the 21 acts headlining the show. Those that are curious the total artists list is: U-Kiss, F.cuz, 4Minute, MBLAQ, SS501, ZE:a, Rainbow, SHINee, Kara, T-ara, After School, Davichi, Beast, F(x), Super Junior, SNSD, Rain, Lee Hyori, Wonder Girls, 2PM.

My friend and I were sitting in the SNSD section.

My favorite acts at the concert were the following:
1. 2PM~ clearly I am biased because I am a little bit in love with Taec, but yeah. They were really great, although I was really disappointed by other fan groups chanting "Park Jaebeom" throughout their performance. If I wasn't so in love with 2PM I'd totally become a hottest (their fan club member name)


2. F(x)~ shit they are good. And I've mentioned before my girl crush on Amber.


3. Rain~ Uh. Hello. You are the sexiest Korean man EVER. EVER. EVER. Oh, and he was really funny. It rained virtually the entire concert with the only break being when Rain performed. After his performance, he said, you know, I'm really sorry that it's raining (in korean it translates directly to the rain comes), but when RAIN (him) comes, the rain goes. kkkkk puns.

4. SNSD~ They were really good, and you know, as much as young girls (read: my students) hate them, they are freakin' gorgeous. Also sitting in their section was super fun and cuuuuute.

5. Super Junior~ A classic. Really, Super Junior is always epic. I love Shindong. Seriously. Love.

It's really unfortunate that he just proposed to his girlfriend and wants to get married asap. I'm hoping that sometime between now and his wedding, he will see me and fall in love with me. I love 통통한(chubby) Shindong. 너무 귀여워요!!

As I mentioned in my list, it rained. A lot. A whole effing lot. It sucked. I bought a poncho at the stadium and still my bag got completely soaked and one of the buttons on my poncho broke and I had to hold it shut for about an hour and a half of the concert. fml.

But, I did get to take about a billion selcas (self-portraits) in the rain and while waiting for the show to begin. It's a traditional Korean artform mastered by 14 year old girls. See below for my pathetic attempts:

(left) new outfit, special for dream concert (yes, I am that lame). (Right) the most popular selca pose these days. I'm not good at it.

My new kicks: Nike Legends in pink!!! *^_^*

boo rain.

still the cutest belles of the concert, even with the rain!

xoxo

A

North Korea vs. South Korea

Some of my friends back home have recently been asking me, "hey, what's the deal with North Korea? Are you safe there? What will happen if North Korea attacks South Korea?"

Here's what I know:

According to the recent New York Times article published here, North Korea has "cut[sic] all ties with South [Korea]" Also included in the article is a mention of "reports in Seoul that Mr. Kim ordered his military and reserve forces to be ready for war" Terrifying, right?

Certainly, Kim Jong-il is a tremendously feared (and justifiably so) leader, but does North Korea truly pose a threat to the South? While some, such as the author of the article, argue that this threat is unique from previous threats (and, indeed, threats are abundant and nearly constant, including skirmishes in 2000, 2003, 2006 and right after Obama was inaugurated in 2010). Differences include Kim Jong-il's preparations for his son to succeed his leadership (and his attempts to build up his son's military credentials and accomplishments) and the 8 weapons of mass destruction-worth of fuel that N. Korea is storing.

The future leader of North Korea: Kim Jung Un, described by former family chef as being "exactly like his father," and is expected to succeed his father instead of his older brother who was caught in 2001 attempting to sneak into Japan with a fake passport in order to go to Disneyland Tokyo.

As many know, this situation is related to the N. Korean attack of the South Korean ship, the Cheonnam. The Cheonnam marks the single greatest military loss in South Korea since the Korean War armistice was signed. Research indicated that the boat was sunk by a N. Korean missle. The United States supports this conclusion. Researchers and other military experts consider this attack the first military attack that N. Korea has made since the Korean War (all previous attacks were considered terrorist not military).

So, then, how are people feeling about N. Korea here? Well, some people are protesting avidly against N. Korea, arguing that something MUST be done, NOW, to right the Cheonnam incident. South Korea has reinstated propaganda radio broadcasts near the border. The inaugural broadcast was rung in on Monday with none other than South Korean music idols, 4Minute, and their new song HuH (Hit you Hard). With lyrics like, "When I say I want to appear on TV, when I say I want to become prettier, everybody says I can’t do it. Baby, you’re kidding me? I do as I please," 4Minute is clearly the best way to enlighten N. Koreans to the mistreatment and censorship they undergo daily.

 In South Korea, we are allowed to dress as fugly as we want. And I can become pretty or be on t.v. too. That'll "Hit You Hard" huh North Koera?

Oh, and Lee Myung-Bak has officially stated that N. Korea is their main enemy (for the first time since that clause had been dropped from SK's Defense White Paper list in 2006). I don't know who their main enemy was between 2006 and now, but apparently, it wasn't N. Korea.

 Lee Myung-Bak: "Maybe if we spin this arrow, we can figure out who to hate the most, now that North Korea is out."

Meanwhile N. Korea has decided to remove all South Korean officials from a NK/SKcooperative industrial park (but permit South Korean workers to stay...) and forbid South Korea from using North Korean seas and airspace. Korean Air and other major airlines have had to reroute some common routes that fly over N. Korea in order to comply with the development.

But, I'm evading the question. What is the feeling here? Well, I talked to my co-teacher and she said, "oh, no I'm not worried. It's election season after all" Wait, what? Election season? She told me that every time there is an election (even mid-term elections such as this year's) N. Korea ramps up the threat. It sort of makes sense (notice that the previous skirmishes were all 3 years apart... until now), but really, just for elections here?

Regardless, I'm feeling very safe in my big (albeit horrifyingly messy) apartment, working at my comfy public school job, and living very much alienated from the fact that that apartment and job is maybe 50 kilometers (just over 30 miles) from the demilitarized zone.

The general feeling is that South Korea is safe. But, every Incheon-ite I've talked to seems to say, "oh, I'm not worried at all about it" and then at the very end, trailing off, adds, "but, if something does happen, we'll definitely have to leave Incheon." So while they aren't worried, I think people have contingency plans.

That being said, what's my contingency plan? Well, probably to find a handsome, tall, perfectly sculpted Korean man with flawless hair to protect me of course. I've heard from Hollywood that that usually works perfectly. Right?

Oh, Taecyeon, I knew you'd come rescue me!

xoxo
A

My School Trip

I think people are literally drag racing outside my apartment.

Anyways, I made a new movie on iMovie to compile all the video clips I took during my school's student trip. Unfortunately I couldn't include any pictures of teachers playing go-stop and drinking soju for two reasons: a) my students will probably see this video and b) I didn't actually take any pictures of those things.

Here is the video, and below that some pictures that didn't make the cut. Enjoy the music, it's from my latest music hot list. *^__^*

This is an idea of what me and the teachers did all weekend. Eat food. Drink alcohol.

A lake in Jaecheon right across from the retreat place where we stayed.

Me (middle, in case you mistook me for a korean) , Kim Bomi (p.e. teacher, Left) and Kim Hyo Jin (English teacher, Right)

My students also go to do paintballing. I'm jealous. I could have played but I didn't bring shoes.

xoxo,

A

Calling techies everywhere

So basically, I need someone to school me in how to get my blog more traffic. If I want to become an internet queen, I'm gonna need some new bling for my page, or SOMETHING. Seriously. All my readers, pretty much, are friends and family from back home. Unfortunately I don't really have the time to learn how to do everything myself (I can't hardly change my blog layout, let alone figure out how digg or del.icio.us works, or even what an RSS feed is). Maybe I should just quit blogging now. Perhaps I'm just too technologically behind to learn all these things (do I need to share with all of you about that time when I learned you have to empty your recycling bin-- just over a year ago?)

the only thing I'm digging is my blog's own grave.

Any takers? Ideally someone in Korea. Incheon to be specific.

I'm free next week. Korean class got cancelled, so I figure it's just the perfect time.

If you get me famous on the internet (and I don't mean in that inappropriate Paris Hilton sex-tape way), I will probably let you make me more famous on the internet (and I do mean in that Paris Hilton sex-tape way, but classier). No, but seriously, if you help me, I will buy you dinner. Or something. I don't know.

Love you, bitch.

xoxo
A

So I lied

I said my next post would be about my school trip. Well, frankly these music videos were TOO crucial for me not to share. While I was gone on my school trip, I missed a whole slew of music world releases. Plus there is this one song I knew before I left but basically fell in love with while on the trip. So, for your listening/viewing pleasure:

1. f(x)- Nu-예삐오 (NU-ABO). f(x) is a group that hasn't really made it into my top k-pop list until now. They released a couple okay songs not too long ago, including the popular lachata. However, this song absolutely blows me away as it is the catchiest damn thing I've seen in about 5 years. Also, I think if I were a lesbian I'd totally want Amber, the kind of guyish one. Seriously, everyone in Korea is up in arms about whether she's a guy or a girl (obvi she's a girl) and then if she's a girl whether she is gay or not (who effin' cares? she's hott regardless). Anyways, I'm gonna see this group at Dream Concert on Saturday and I think I'm most excited about this one.



2. Jay Park- Best I Ever Had/Whatcha Say. Okay, so Jay Park is my newest love after f(x). I mean, sure, maybe he's not the greatest rapper to ever spit 16 bars, and no, maybe he isn't the best dancer since Michael Jackson hit the stage with his siblings. But, he is the finest piece of Korean ass I've ever seen. And he is legitimately a great dancer and a very talented singer. He is going to star in a movie about b-boys called Hype Nation and he's coming back to Korea in a few weeks and I'm pants-peeing excited about possibly seeing him. Granted, so is every Korean girl between the ages of 11 and 20, essentially. This video isn't his best, but good god is he fine as ever!



3. Dumbfoundead- Mr. Nice Guy. My favorite rapper absolutely kills this track. Just fucking smashes it. I love him. He's coming the same time Jay Park is here and I can't effing wait. If I don't get to meet dumb, I'll pretty much be devastated. I'm not crazy about the beat on this song, but dumb's definitely been gettin his bars up, as he likes to say. *^___^*



4. Big Bang- Tell Me Goodbye. My beloved boys are finally back with a new song, which is the title track for a Japanese Drama. The song is only in Japanese (with the exception of a few snippets of English). Seriously though, they sound effing amazing (god, they have gotten so much better) and all of my boys, especially Daesung, really ramped-up the handsome-ness for this video. So classy, so sexy, so serious. G-Dragon is especially handsome and I continue to fall more and more in love with Taeyang and Daesung as the days go by. The only downside is T.O.P.'s weird-ass gray/red hair. If you watch this video, you'll see what I mean. Seriously. Why?

Namsan Tower daytime

So I've posted pictures of Namsan Tower from a previous visit at night. This time I went around sunset and it was quite different. There were a LOT more people, but that might also have to do with the fact that it was like a full 15 degrees warmer this time around. I guess I'll just stick to pictures.

 

(Left) My new boyfriend. He's handsome and he doesn't talk back. perfect. (Right) Locks at Namsan Tower

We managed to choose a shockingly clear day by Seoul standards.

More locks!

To those who are interested, my next post will deal with my school trip and ideally will include an awesome video filled with awesome pictures and videos of my wonderfully amazing students.

Oh, and today I went to Hooters. See, all the great American establishments exist here, although I would say that Hooters here is significantly less "hooter-y" than your typical American version, if you know what I mean. The waitress did compliment my Korean there. So did my Korean friend, 준석오빠, when I talked to him on the phone at dinner. We had been texting all in Korean and he was impressed at my use of the future tense, negative questions, and modal use. *^__^*

xoxo
A

School Trips and Winning

Today I'm off to Jaecheon with my grade 1 &3 middle school students. I'm really excited, especially since my co-teachers have indicated that we teachers just stay in a hotel room playing card games for money and drinking.

Also, I won a contest. It's not a really big deal. My favorite rapper, Dumbfoundead sometimes does contests and he did this photo contest where you had to submit a where you're from/where you're at picture. There were lots of really really great pictures, and Dumbfoundead chose one of mine. In fact, he chose my picture of me with a group of my students taken on my laptop in PhotoBooth. It's a really fun, real picture. I'm pretty excited. I am gonna get a free cd from him. I already have all the songs from the album on my itunes, but the album artwork is tight, and it's free. Plus, I love love love love Dumb. *^___^*

xoxo
A

홍익대 프리 마켓과 청계천

So the title of this post is Hongik University Free Market and Chonggyecheon. These are two of the places Melina and I went with Hyemoon, a former ELI student, last Saturday. Basically, I'll just post pictures, and very short comments

1. Hongik University's free market as got to be one of the coolest things I've been to in Seoul. It's basically a gathering of various artists, most of whom are 홍익대 students, who are selling their creations in the children's park directly across from the university's main entrance gate. It was really busy last weekend because the weather was so nice. I bought earrings, a t-shirt, and a giraffe postcard. Things here are a bit pricey, but you are usually getting one of a kind or limited edition things, and you're supporting local artists. Pictures:

 

2. Chonggyecheon is a place I've been to several times, but almost strictly at night, and almost strictly when it was bitterly cold. As such, the stream that runs straight through downtown Seoul has a totally different appearance and brightness that I had not before seen. There were lanterns up for Buddha's birthday, there were dozens upon dozens of families and couples and friends strolling beside the stream, and the plants were green and blooming and beautiful. It was deliciously breezy. Pictures:

 

 

In the background of the right pic is the Samsung Building. It's pretty cool looking.

xoxo
A

Melina's Visit Pt. 1

Melina came and while she was only actually in Incheon/Seoul for a mere 4.5 days, it enabled me to get to see some of the touristy sites in the beauty of spring, which certainly was nice. The weather has been positively glorious and sunny and warm and breezy. Perfect, imho.

Anyways, I'll start with some funny pictures from our trip into Bupyeong for kalbi dinner with Stephen. Stephen, being the douche-y friend he is tried to (awkwardly) talk to the waiter on my behalf (he was cute, but only 19 years old). It was horrifying. After dinner, we went to the weirdest makgeoli place (막걸리집) ever. Typically these places are rather traditional looking-- dimly lit with lots of wood and quiet traditional music and seating on the floor and stuff. This place, on the other hand, had disco balls, a dj and blaring Korean music. Plus, you could write on the walls. Which, of course we did.

Melina had this problem where she got drunk and dropped like 15 chopsticks. Also, we bought 떡 at Sinpo Marker (신포시장) and it was filled with black bean paste. Too much black bean paste.

 

Melina, Allison + Stephen 4E. Also I really do <3 Young-Bae a lot. And a funny pic of Melina and Stephen.

I actually effing hate Stephen. I can't stand him.

Our websites, plus dumbfoundead. I rep hard for DFD these days. Also, tryin' to promote my site, you know, get my readership up.

Anyways. The next day, Saturday, we did a lot of things, but I'll save that for my next post, tomorrow morning. Now, I'm effing exhausted. Funny how Mon-Thursday of 12+ hour work days (if you count korean class as work) plus a 9 hour day Friday will wear you out thoroughly.

Word.

Jeju Savage 9s Tournament

So instead of posting only the two terrible pictures I took at Jeju, I decided to steal some other people pictures and practice my iMovie techniques. So, below is he short video I made using pictures from Jihoon Choi (a great photographer who also plays for KUPA, the Seoul Mixed Team), Youn Park (official tourney photographer, check his site out: http://www.younpark.com/), and Gina Phillips, the girl in the picture getting the nasty lay-out d on some other girl in the tournament semi-finals.

Additionally, the music for the video at the beginning and end is Super Junior (슈퍼주니어)- Bonanama (미인아), and then for the wedding pictures, Taeyang (태양)- Wedding Dress (웨딩드레스).

Oh, and yeah, Tori and Dre really did get married on the fields. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Clay Thomas, one of KUPA's fearless captains, who got his certificate of "reverend-ship" (the official name escapes me) (ordination, but I like reverend-ship better) specifically in order to marry these two wonderful peope.

Enjoy!

Super Junior Music Video

This music video was just released after a long series of teasers, including album jacket photos, a m/v teaser, and the release of the song on the 10th. If I didn't already love Big Bang with basically every inch of my body, I would probably fall in love with all 10 of the members of Super Junior, especially the heavy set one who is super adorable but doesn't like fat girls (hypocrite).

Here's the video for Bonamana, the best song of 2010 so far, in my humble opinion. ENJOY!

Picture Post 2.0

So I'll be doing a few picture posts in the next few days. I don't want to overload anyone with pictures from like a whole hodge-podge of things, so I'll do it in sections. Up first: my birthday.

Me, Kim Gil Sook (L) and Kim Hyo-Jin (R), two of my English teachers

Hamming it up

 

So they really take their cakes seriously here. That's from Baskin Robbings, and the flowers are chocolate, and the pink around the outside is a cookie cake. Also, that cola can is actually at 35mm film camera. Oh, and to the right I'm just rockin' my b-day present to myself-- DUMBFOUNDEAD t-shirt.

Up next will be some pictures from Jeju (and by some, I naturally mean like 2). Then, Melina's visit, which includes drunken fun with Makkeoli, Namsan Tower, Hongdae Free Market and Chonggyecheon Stream.

So yeah.

Exhaustion.

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MYSELF HERE?

I'm so effing tired. Here is my weekly schedule:
Monday: 8:00 leave for school. 4:00 school ends. 4:30 after school class with teachers begins. 5:45 go home. 7:00 tutor. 9:00 go home.
Tuesday: 8:00 leave for school. 4:45 go home. 5:15 leave for Korean Class. 6:30 Korean class starts (I usually get a coffee en route). 7:45 Korean Class ends. 8:00 Kimbap Cheonguk for dinner. 9:30 at home.
Wednesday: 8:00 leave for school. 4:45 go home. 5-6:30 break time. 7:00 tutor. 9:00 go home.
Thursday: 8:00 leave for school. 4:45 go home. 5:15 leave for Korean Class. 6:30 Korean class starts (I usually get a coffee en route). 7:45 Korean Class ends. 8:00 Kimbap Cheonguk for dinner. 9:30 at home.
Friday: 8:00 leave for school. 4:00 school ends. 4:20 after school class with grade 2. 5:45 go home. Usually I go to dinner with friends this day since it's the only day I can do anything.
Saturday: 8:00 wake up (I can't sleep in past that). 11:15 leave for Ichon Station, Seoul. 1:00 frisbee practice. 3:30 frisbee practice ends. 4:00 eat. 8:00 go out.
Sunday: 9:30 wake up. 10:45 go to Ichon fields. 11:00 practice. 2:00 League games. 5:30 go to subway. 7:00 kimbap cheonguk or McDonalds for dinner. 8:30 home, shower, pass out of exhaustion.

Today has a slight change in that I went with Melina to do touristy stuff in Seoul. Finally went to the top of Namsan tower. Chonggyecheon was beautiful. Shopped too much in Hongdae and Myeongdong.

Pictures to come shortly to review my last few weeks. Sorry I haven't been posting as much, but god good I've been busy.

One More Thing

You know, when I was living back in the United States, there were singers or t.v. programs or actors or things I really really liked, but I wouldn't say I had many obsessions (excluding my 3.5 year love affair with Rooney which now rests at a healthy level of enjoyment and has been tempered with time and distance). Now, however, my whole life is essentially composed of series of obsessions: Hello Kitty, Big Bang, Taeyang, Jay Park, John Steinbeck (finally breaking away from this one by reading the latest Pulitzer Prize winner Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout), Dumbfoundead, Strawberry Milk (yes, I still drink this almost everyday), etc.

I don't know what it is about Korean culture or life that accepts weird obsessions. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one though. The co-teacher I share an office with is OBSESSED with Gang Dong-Won (and understandably so, with the body and face that he has), my friend Miranda is obsessed with BigBang/TOP, and all my students are obsessed with some Korean celebrity or another. It's just okay here. acceptable.

 who wouldn't be in love with this slice?

oh, and Hello to you too, future husband