It's Been A While....

So as you all know...I have come to terms with the fact that I live at school. It's not a bad thing...but seriously, I do. Here is my daily schedule...in case you were all interested, and if not, oh well...you can always stop reading now.

I usually wake up around 7:15 or so, hit the gym and usually get to school around 9 or so. My first class is at 9:40. I still don't have a normal schedule quite yet...most students are on break from elementary school until March and that happens to be when the new semester starts. See here is how my school works...we have little ones in the morning...that are not old enough to attend elementary school; Their classes cover every subject. We have 3 morning classes; there is a 3/4 year old class, a 4/5 year old class and a 5/6 year old class. In the morning now, I am usually just a helper to the other teachers and their already pre-established class. Starting at 3 I have classes with elementary school kids...classes include reading, vocabulary, listening, social studies and one on one tutoring. Come March, I will be working with my own pre-kindergarten class until 3. Here is an amazingly adorable picture of my 3'o clock reading and vocabulary class.


Its a long day...but it pays off. My kids are adorable...most days. So to wind down...I have been fascinated by what the Korean cable channels have to offer. Besides Nicholas Cage movies...as I have mentioned previously they get played a lot here...to much if you ask me. The Koreans seem to be very fascinated with all of the various CSI shows...which I love...have not seem to discover why though and one of my new favorites...Project Runway. They have even developed their own Korean version of the show...with various American guest judges that I have yet to discover...but you should definitely check out the website...total rip off of the American version, look for yourself... http://www.onmoviestyle.com/projectrunway/judge.asp. Seriously...they even compare the judges to their American counterparts. Simply amazing.

Other than that, I have been spending a lot of time and money at the doctor. Doctor visits are cheap here...but they want you to go many times. I had the pleasure, of messing up my knee pretty bad while trying to jump a fence...please don't ask me why I would do such a thing...because I can't give you a reasonable answer. Doctor visits include me...waiting a really long time, and then a trip to physical therapy...which includes me getting stabbed with needles aka acupuncture, having my knee bent in all kinds of uncomfortable positions and being electro-shocked. After physical therapy, I would be seen by the doctor. At this time the doctor then sticks me an injection (not sure of what but I probably should), bends my knee a bunch, and writes me a prescription before shipping me out the door. The good news is that prescriptions are cheap on the down side...you have no idea what you are consuming. Whatever it is, it worked...cause I am actually starting to feel better...it only took like 20 doctor visits...but seriously, he wanted to visit me once every 3 days...for 2 weeks...not the easiest on the wallet.

The weekends are usually the same, well the group of people is. Everyone in Changwon knows each other...or recognizes each other, none the less. If you don't know someone...you will eventually. There are the same foreigner bars that people hit up...and usually after the bars we hit up the good ol' Noraebong...Karaoke for Koreans. It's a pretty sweet room, that one would rent out and bring their own alcohol, and then use the handy song books and type in your chosen songs. The own weird part is that the songs do not match the video. Videos for songs are completely random and do not make sense...but usually no one really pays much attention. I would include pictures of my own Noraebong experience...but I forgot my camera...I promise in time my friends!

Everyone loves Nicolas Cage?!

Don't me wrong...I think that Nicolas Cage is a decent actor. However, he is one of those actors like Bruce Willis, that needs to accept going bald...seriously, anyone see Peggy Sue Got Married? He was practically bald in that film...and if you see him in his more recent films, his hair is longer and fuller...I mean, has he been getting hair implants or something...cause baldness does not magically go away. I don't hate him, but I am not gonna race to go see his movies opening day or anything or waste my money renting them, but if his movies come on T.V. and there is nothing better on...I might tune in.

However, I can't seem to escape him here in Korea. Seriously...I have seen probably every crappy Nicolas Cage movie since being here...not because of choice, but his movies seem to be the only thing the Korean tellie. Some of those I have been submitted to include: Knowing (a crappy alien movie), Bangkok Dangerous (some assassin movie set in Bangkok...obviously), Next (he plays a psychic who falls in love with Jessica Biel...ya right) and National Treasure 2 (thank you Nick for ruining Disney movies for me). The list continues, but these by far were the worst.

After having enough...I thought I would do a little research and try to figure out why Nicolas Cage was so popular here. Here are the two reasons that I came up with. First, Koreans love action movies and in the last few years Nicolas Cage has been in many action flicks. The second being that his latest wife is Korean....with those two put together, I am thinking that is why he is so huge here...make sense? I have also included a ridiculous picture of him and his wife in Korean costumes for your viewing pleasure...enjoy.

I think I found Heaven....

So...I am pretty sure I figured out and hope heaven is as amazing as it is at Jimjibang Public Bath. One thing I had to get over, which I did very quickly, was being naked and having to look at a lot of naked Korean woman. Coming through the doors, one follows the pathway to the secluded "Woman's Only" locker and spa area. After finding your locker, one quickly undresses, puts their things in the provided locker and carries their toiletries with them as they travel through the pearly gated pool area...well there aren't any pearly gates, but there should be some. Once in the pool area...one will see many different pools, with different set temperatures. Showers and waterfalls are in every pool given it a natural type feel...almost as one is in nature. You can hear the water pouring all around you. If the pool isn't your fancy...one can relax in one of the three saunas, which are also set at different temperatures. There are also, vanity stations where one can soak and scrub there feet or give themselves facials. If one is feeling lazy, there is also a station where one can have their body scrubbed, cleaned and given a facial...but be fore warned...this body scrub is intense and pretty freaking painful...it's like the equivalent to having your body scrubbed with a Brillo pad...your whole body...private parts and all! One the bright side...my skin is silky smooth!

After one has had their fill of the pool area, one returns back to the locker area...puts on their cult orange outfit...like seen in the picture...dries themselves off and proceeds downstairs to the common area. This is where the ladies meet up with the gentleman. Here, you will find absolutely everything you may need. Down there, one will find restaurants, a nail salon, a massage parlor, an open bar, heated beds and chairs, massage chairs, more saunas, an ice room (like the opposite of a sauna), private resting areas, heated floors...which everyone seems to pass out on...seriously...just look at the picture, a gym, a computer room, a playroom for kids, a library, a massive movie collection with private viewing rooms, tons of televisions, private karaoke rooms, video games, tons of board games and smoking rooms...which almost seem sinful to have their...but I told you this place has everything.

The interesting thing is that your locker key, also doubles as a tab keeper...let me explain. If you need to purchase anything...such as food, beverages, a massage, even a manicure...your key has a bar-code and gets swiped at purchase, so when you go to leave and turn in your key...you pay your bill. Genius, I know.

So whatever your ailment might be...head on over to the Jimjibang...you may never want to leave. A cult that I might actually want to join.

Good Morning Changwon!

I never thought this day would happen...I created a blog. Yes I used to blog on Myspace, but this is different. I felt inspired...read some amazing blogs, of new found friends in my neck of the woods, and thought maybe I should start one...this is an adventure, after all, and I should document it. Officially, I have yet to start teaching...I start January 5th...but it has given me a chance to observe the other teachers and their craft, get to know the kids at my school...they are so freaking smart and adorable, explore the city...which is currently Changwon, South Korea, take in some sites in my area, enjoy some of the cuisine, learn to cook...well kind of, and attempt to learn the language...I still suck at it though.

Korea reminds me a lot of Vegas...ugh, I miss that place, probably one of my favorite cities...not gonna lie. The streets light up and usually you can hear music on every corner....grocery shopping is a different story. E mart is the local store of choice...one can get groceries, clothes, a plunger...pretty much anything one may need. The grocery portion of the store reminds me so much of Costco...too many people, everything's in bulk, loads of free samples...and I did enjoy that, and people running into you and ramming their cart into you...not so much fun. Taxi rides are usually cheap and the drivers are usually very helpful...even with my very little understanding of the Korean language. Everyone honks their horn...for no reason and drivers are reckless...I don't really like feeling I am going to get hit by a car...especially more than once a day. The beds suck...yes, I like a good firm, bed, but not feeling like I am sleeping on a padded bench.... On that note, their version of a mattress pad, is a blanket...trust me, I made the mistake and bought one...money not well spent. Parks here are much different...there is literally workout equipment in the park; one can work on their glutes and do some sit-ups while taking in the fresh air...a nice change. The gyms are great...I actually joined one today...who doesn't wanna work out to loud Korean Techno? You do have to buy all drugs...i.e. Tylenol or cough syrup at the local pharmacy...that kind of blows, because they kind of have post office hours...so if you have a head ache at 9 pm, your pretty much s.o.l.. The public bathrooms I will need to get used to...oh the squating toilet...Thanks, but I don't wanna have to sweat or exercise while I use the restroom...thanks...this thing is literally a toilet in the ground/floor...one hovers over...it flushes at least, but still. I do love the Soju though...it's like the Korean vodka...cheap and amazing.
The one thing I don't like...is blunt everyone is...yeah I get it, I am a little bit pudgy, but I am not fat...please don't pinch my muffin top or pat my belly while I am shopping for clothes...thanks.

I didn't think I would be so homesick though...being here, you really do miss the small things; ranch dressing, oh boy...I could put that on about everything, my boyfriend, popcorn, mac 'n cheese, my bed, the latest issue of a good ol' Cosmo and gossip magazines, the Noc Noc, cable, Capitol Hill, texting, lunch meat...and normal sandwiches...for that matter, mashed potatoes, hangover food, Hulu, Netflix being delivered to my door, fitting in, Jack in the Box, Pandora (my favorite internet music station), people understanding what you're saying, my friends and my family...gotta love them. This list could go on forever...you don't really appreciate these things until you can't have them anymore...it sucks. So if you're back home and reading this...take notes. Just kidding...kind of.

I am starting to kind of know my way around...I still carry a map, just in case...but this town is growing on me. I met a few nice foreigners and hopefully more in time. I am looking at this opportunity as a chance to discover myself, grow up and out of a few bad traits I have developed over the years. Only time will tell...but I am hoping for the best. I know many are waiting for me to fail...but my goal is to prove them wrong. The teaching day will be long...I know why Koreans are so smart...school for me is from 9:30am to 7:30pm...I get three forty minute breaks...so it's not too bad...but in the am...we teach the little kids and at night, we are more of an after school program...long day, but it will keep me busy. Well...let the adventure begin, I start teaching the 5th!