J'aimerais être un flan....un flan aux abricots...

Migration

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:15:00 +0000

First, I migrate back to the USofA and now this wee little blog migrates over to Wordpress.

Hello?

Anyone there?

*tap tap*

The counter tells me that this thing got 92 visits yesterday. From whom, I know not.

Update your bookmarks, I suppose.

Europe in 4 parts

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:43:00 +0000

Part one: Germany

First place: Frankfurt am Main

Frankfurt was a nice city. I flew into there, because, well, it was cheap. Everywhere else was a few hundred dollars more expensive. I also had to fly in and out of DC because it was again, a few hundred dollars more to fly from local airports.

However, my outgoing flight was from Dulles -> Charlotte -> Frankfurt. If I'd gone directly from Charlotte -> Frankfurt, it'd be $15 cheaper, but a 5 hour drive opposed to a 2 hour drive. So technically my flight from DC -> Charlotte only cost $15? I don't know. Fuzzy logic is involved.

Anyways (hello ADD) I flew into Frankfurt. It was different from the rest of the cities on the itinerary because it was more like a modern city: it had tall buildings. Buildings that were taller than the churches.

Train station

It was busy. Good lord, it was busy.

But, it was at least centrally located to the hostel I was staying at.

Saw the Goethe Museum, a few churches, and the Main river

Not to mention a MJ shrine

I took a short nap in this park. What can I say? I was jetlagged, and it was shady, green and had some seriously, irresistably soft grass :D

Then, I went to Munich

Munich was cute and charming. As with Frankfurt, it was a very compact city. When you look at the map, you think it's huge. Imagine walking from SOHO to Central Park. That's what you imagine. Then you walk from one main spot to another and it takes only a jiffy.

Visited the Residenz, former home of some German kings.

Found another park, but this time for a picnic, not a nap.

Traveled to Würzburg, where I was born almost 20 some years ago...

Another angle of the Neu-something castle in Füssen.

I ~~started stalking~~ met up with David in Munich. David was one of the first people I met in Korea, and he was in the middle of an epic, jealousy-inducing, round-the-world trip. We did a few trips in Korea, like Gangneung and Deokjeok-do, and had planned to go to Jeju-do in the fall. Europe isn't quite Jeju-do, but eh, I guess it'll do :P And if you look back here and scroll down to the crossword picture, yeah, cool kids!

I miss Cat.

Next up: Amsterdam

Addendum:

I googled "nomadicduck" and then it asked me if I meant "Nomadic Duck" which came up with this

I'm wondering if I like it enough for the $25..

Bonjour, encore

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:26:00 +0000

After a whirlwind trip to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, I am back.

It was awesome. The company couldn't be beat and I saw and did many things I'd been longing to do. It gave me a much better idea of what I want to do next time I go, and that I really need to work on my french.

Random picture:

Castle in Fussen, Germany. Neusomethingoranother

I'm bit jetlagged & under the weather (go figure). While it was a great trip, it rained a great deal of the time and was chilly. Thus, I have a respiratory infection and germs swirling about my body. It was well worth it though.

Hopefully my computer will be more friendly so I can upload more pictures.

I don't really know what's up next for me; I'm due to head north to New York next week or the week after. I've started considering returning to Korea.

.....

I know.

Yet I don't.

Crap.

I sort of feel ready for grad school, yet I don't. I want to get a job here, but the economy is in a rut. I'm sure I could find one, but I won't be able to afford to live the way I did in Korea. I still want to travel. I want to spend time with people there.
I just don't know if I can take another year so far away from my friends and family.

This is what happens when I'm bored...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:40:00 +0000

I buy silly things like this:

And then I do annoying things like photograph my family members against their liking.

I also find dust spots on the filter and give them names.

This big guy, his name is Burris.

Today is Papa Smurph's birthday. He turned 39 for the 16th time!

I'm glad he likes simple cakes that take very little artistic talent to decorate. I'm also glad he doesn't mind that the frosting melted and had to be readjusted. Woopskies.

Happy Birthday Papa! Thanks for puttin' up with me :D

So I'm off to Germany tomorrow. I have an oversized backpack, 2 cameras, enough memory cards to take around 10,000 pictures, and very little planned. Should be fun! Be back in 2.5 weeks =)

27 cousins. 8 girls.

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:08:00 +0000

That's why I'm never having children.

I will not only end up with little terrors (payback), but they will be boys.

out of those 8, 4 are Murphy girls

The youngest (and tallest) graduated from high school this weekend.

Congrats Lindsey!

*sniffle* our littlest Murphy girl is growing up..*sniff* I remember the day when she was a wee newborn and we put her in Cabbage Patch Doll clothes and then the doll's stroller and crib. I mean, what? Who would do such a thing???

Hmph, not those Murphy sorts.

Notice how out of all the Murphys, Jeanie's the only brunette, atta girl!
My kids are also likely to be gingers or blondes of some sort. You know how much I would pick on them??

Watch me eat my words.

Raise your hand...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:02:00 +0000

if you like cheerwine!

ah, delicious.

What I've been up to lately.

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:09:00 +0000

The jetlag is still killing me. I've been resisting the urge to fall asleep for about the past hour, and with any luck, I'll make it past 9:30 for once.

I'm kind of tired of explaining to people why I returned earlier than anticipated (So I could play the Sims 3 with my sister, duh.) and have resorted to copying & pasting emails.

So what have I been up to?

A whole lot of nothing.

Pretty sure I've caught up on all the Law & Order, Jon & Kate + 8, and Wife Swap that I missed.

I'm also pretty sure my brain is going to turn to mush faster watching TV than it would have staying in Korea.

Random visuals taken from my shiny new cellular device

Yes, that's THE Strawberry Shortcake. And yes, that is the most productive thing I've done. sigh.

coffee. mmmmmm.

Jeanie's stuffed Sno-2-go. nom.

She wants to be Korean, too.

Dang, he got tall.

So did she.

And that cheesecake was still frozen.

It's been a bit overwhelming being home. Not only readjusting to the U.S., just ridiculous family can be overwhelming. We had dinner on Sunday night, after I'd been up since Saturday morning Korea-time, local time Friday afternoon, and it was overload.

Well then.

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:41:00 +0000

So I'm back in the States, which I guess marks the demise of this wee blog.

Not sure, might blog about Europe, but my life in the States will mostly deal with trying to figure out what the bloody heck I'm going to do next, and the insanity that is running through my brain.

Don't ask me what happened. A load of bureaucratic bullshit and a need to mother people when you don't have a single clue about them, in my opinion.

So, last days in Korea:

Jesse + Chicken

YEEC Love

Last round at the hound

Artwork= gilded egg crates with pine cones. One of those pine cones violated my tooshie =(

Last round at RMT

dukbukki at Tongin Market

This dukbukki is different from typical dukbukki because it is made with a dry rub instead of loads of sauce. It was tasty, and I wish I'd had the chance to try it before.

The sushi in the background has a nice hunk o'American neon yellow cheese on it. nom........pukeface

It looks like a child's tea party...for adults

Um, damn Snow White!

Rocks

Puppy

Airplane

14 hours >.<

Pillow <3

Bridge to Staten Island.

✌

Yayz!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:19:00 +0000

Have I mentioned that I love snail mail?

Especially snail mail that comes from lovely family members who are surprisingly nice enough to feed my gum-fix and add other cute, fun randoms?

Yay! June care package!

Let me just say that getting care packages evokes an emotion/Michelle that is similar to 4 year old Michelle, who Aunt Kathy would buy GIANT Pixie Stix from the Piseco Lake Lodge, and then this person would eat all of. DUN DUN SUGAR RUSH!

UNO! HUZZAH!
I promptly got my butt kicked. I need to up my Uno game.

We tried playing Scrabble Apple, which isn't that hard, but you have to be good at anagrams...I'll brush up on those later

Yeah gum! Yeah cookies! Yeah Chickpeas!

Gracias fam!

This area is very well-known for 다하누촌 (Dahanoo) beef. I'm not sure what makes it so special or so expensive.

There are certain Korean agricultural products (like beef and rice), which are protected by the government, so farmers have the ability to charge up the butt for their products. In the end, the Korean product ends up being more expensive than their imported counterparts. For example, American beef is the cheapest beef in Korea. Weird.

Anywho, point of this babble:

My class took me out to dinner on Monday to celebrate the end of the session. And we got BEEF.

Revolving cow. MoooooooooOOoooOOOOooooOooooooOOOoo...

Wait--- I don't eat beef.

Crap.

I had to go for the polite factor. I want good evaluations!

Greasin' up the stone plate

Oh hai, Kate!

Sam and Sophie..Sam looks a little red in the face...Hmm..

Betty gave us socks.

I've never heard anyone squeal so loudly over socks. Not even when cute Asian ones were spied.

Then we left.

Liz found snails!

Liz decided to name herself after Reese Witherspoon.

ahhh, Konglish listening comprehension!

Ooo! Cow intestine! DELISH!

Yeah. I ate leaves. and kimchi. it was tasty.

My head still hurts a bit. I'm going to Seoul this afternoon, maybe I'll go see an English-speaking doctor when I go there. I still haven't done my taxes...

Sunday things, pizza style!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

What I like about Korea in June:

There are roses everywhere!!!

I had planned to go to Samcheok, which isn't far from here, this weekend, but I wasn't able to because of slight health difficulties.

I've been getting some wicked stress headaches lately. The pain started in my shoulder, crept up my neck, and then blew up into massive and slightly crippling headaches. I could deal with it until it started to make my head hurt, but after that, I turned into a major space cadet.

So on Friday, we went to the clinic in Jucheon, where they charged me a whopping 1,000W (.80 cents) for physiotherapy involving heating pads and then muscle stimulation. The muscle thing was weird because they put suction cups on my neck and shoulder and they made weird tingly feeling for a while. The ones on my neck only exacerbated the pains in my neck and head and were quickly removed. After that, they gave me a strange massage-type thing with the Korean version of Icy-Hot.

I know there are funny pictures of part of this process because Jesse took them. Depending on how mortally humiliated I feel like getting, I may post them..

So this weekend I did squat. I felt better yesterday, but clearly not up to par, because because Nicholas caught me staring into space and unbconsciously making spit bubbles. Oh dear. Regression.

I don't think it helped that he (accidentally??) hit me in the head with a soft baseball. =(

Today I waddled around a bit, but being vertical is a bit painful. With any luck, tomorrow will be better.

So, the whole point of this really long background story is HOW IN THE WORLD DO I RELAX MYSELF??

Option 1:
Go Running.

I have 2 problems with this:
1. I'm lazy
2. I'm kind of afraid I'll go ridiculously overboard and return to Bobblehead looking Michelle that I was my last 2 years of college. HAHA! I think Papa would come over and drag me back to the states and maybe actually tie me down to bed and force me not to be such a maniac.

So I either need to find a healthy balance of exercise, or not do it at all.

Option 2:

Eat

Only then I gain weight and that makes me stressed and then, yeah. eyeroll.

Option 3:

COOK!

I still eat, but hey, I share!

Today, I went with option 3, and made PIZZA!

goodness, I miss my kitchenaid!

However, making the pizza dough, kneading it, and punching it was delightfully calming.

pre-cooking

hummmm

Ooo look at that glow!

I may have used a good swig (or three) of this wine to make some sauce

Tada!

It kind of looks like a face; you have olives for the eyes and nose, and a tomato for the tongue.

show off!

Korean pizza cheese or "eee-tal-eee-en chee-chuh"

I think Italian cheese actually has taste...

In the end, not too shabby for a meal!

Daddykins, have I thanked you for the toaster enough times, because if I haven't, thank you, thank you. And thanks for the olives!

I planned to go out of town next weekend, but I don't think I'll be able to, mainly because I did nothing this weekend. I still have to finish my income taxes (EEEK! Thank you Uncle Sam, for granting us a 2 month extension! :D ), do my grades for this session, prep for next session, write a few more proposals to beg for grad school funding (what?), and sleep. Yeah. I'd take my laptop with me to the beach, but I don't think it'd go well with sand. We'll see. I really need a vacation.

A few extras:

1. I jokingly considered whacking my head against a brick wall so I'd go unconscious. Then I remembered that time I sledded into the corner of a brick building using my head, and how it didn't knock me unconscious. and that was on accident!

2. I'm pretty sure that my drugs have some notice along the lines of "Do not operate heavy machinery or cars" but I consider a Hyundai neither, so what's the big deal?
Eh, kidding! I asked Steve to drive today.

Things that (still) confuseth...

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:57:00 +0000

Remember this epic fail with buying starbursts? (Read footnote on this entry*)

I had a similar one the other day, except with buying dried fruit. I guess, in retrospect, it might be about the same amount of money (30,000W or about $23) for the same amount, but the silly Korean woman gave me loads of dried fruit and I was all befuddled. But it is tasty cakes.

I should figure out how to throw those mango slices into a cookie...Oooo, I just got an idea..

Every time my mother told me not to play with my food, I ignored her.

Heck, every time my mother has told me something, I've probably ignored her or I've continued to give her the same deer-in-headlights look.

Nope, nothing's changed. I'm still a slob. :D

This is perplexion over the cost of fruit: (yes, I just changed an adjective into an..adverb? maybe a verb? my brain is fried from too many parts of speech, thanks!)

Or maybe it was that I didn't want my picture to be taken, or the sun was in my eyes or something.

Last session, my homeroom class drew this photo of me:

The trainees said it looks just like me..The sweater, the position of the hands, the curvy body shape. So I had to explain hips to them..
My explanation was something along the lines of:
"I'm half-Irish. I have hips because Irish people are genetically made to have babies, and thus the women have wide hips. When they have babies, they should just pop out like they're coming down a slip-n-slide."

Of course, they didn't quit understand the "popping out" of babies, or slip-n-slide. I think they still failed to see the humor. Eh, at least I think I'm slightly humorous.

I got my first speeding ticket! Woops =(

I didn't even get pulled over! They have these shiesty surveillance cameras. Wimps! Can't even give someone the dignity of pulling them over! Really, we're in the country, what's the big deal if we're doing 80kmph in a 60kmph zone? What are we going to hit? A rooster?? Moreover, it's less than 50mph. Could you imagine driving through all those backroads near Newport doing a mere 35mph the whole time? Only if there's 3 feet of snow on the ground.

Footynotey: Also in that entry on Starbursts is a picture of my friend, and former boss from Binghamton, Josh. He'll be back here in the end of the month, yay!

Friday Things

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:34:00 +0000

Okay, so technically it's Saturday here, but it was Friday when I took these and it's still Friday in the states.

We took a field trip, yay! fotos:

I played with the color accent option on my camera. I wonder if they have it on the DSLR too...

Where's Waldo??

We took a boat ride on a less-than-seaworthy boat. It was less than 5 minutes, but as soon as I stepped on, I planned out my escape and centered myself in the boat, lest it capsized....paranoia....

The woman on the left is Catharina, she's a year younger than Mama Murph, and is the oldest trainee here. Maybe it's because I haven't seen Mama Murph in almost 15 months, but compared to all the older women that we have this session, I think Mama Murph has aged very well..

What no Korean home is acceptable without: a row of kimchi pots!

Non field-trip:

The local grocery store! They've run out of coke zero and Hershey Nuggets with Almonds. Crap!

We found some trainees by the side of the road and picked them up.

Hyundais are much like clown cars..You can fit 6 Koreans, 2 white people, and 1 half-Korean into one. Or 6.5 Koreans and 2.5 white people, depending on how you look at it.

Wednesday was Jesse's birthday, so Nicholas and I escaped to Jecheon to pick up a cake to surprise her. We went to Baskin Robbins and found this cute little guy:

Not quite sure what flavor he was, but he was tasty. AND FILLED WITH POP ROCKS!

...interesting.

I wonder if you can find cute creations like that at the Baskin Robbinses in the States

FLASHBACK!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:43:00 +0000

The year is 1990. (Okay, a year between 1990-1992. I'm going with 1990, because I don't remember being in school at the time.)

Setting: Grandma Mickey's house, typical weekend with Dad and Jeanie away from Carthage. Newport is a quiet town. The firehouse with that cursed alarm that only would ring right after Dad's arrival. Carson's down the street, which housed delicious orange soda. Across the street are Jason, Mike, Uncle John and Aunt Kathy, probably still sleeping it off. Next door, the Foster house is full of kids. In the backyard, there's a barn, with cows....maybe even chickens.

Time: Early morning, either breakfast has just been eaten or we haven't eaten it yet.

Characters: Jeanie, aged 7-9; Michelle, aged 4-6; Daddykins; Mickey; and Fred.
Exposition: A sleepy Michelle wanders downstairs and pokes her head hello to family. Gramma and Grampa are probably reading the newspapers, and eating cereal with banana slices or raisins. Perhaps even a slice of toast and OJ. No apples or rootbeer. Apples and rootbeer are meant for lunch. However, cookies are always a possibility.

Rising Action: Michelle has the itchies. Why?!

Climax: Daddykins pulls up 4-6 year old Michelle's pajama shirt and notices the tell-tale red bumps of, THE CHICKEN POX!!!!. Then, Daddykins promptly asks, "What did you do, sleep with the chickens last night??"

Falling Action: Michelle ponders this question, and wonders, 'Did the chickens fly in through the window and sleep under the bed last night?!?! IS THIS HOW I GOT THE CHICKEN POX?!?!

Denouement: For the next few years, a naive Michelle is pretty convinced that the chickens from next door sneaked into the back bedroom of Gramma Mickey's house and slept under her bed that fateful evening.

Epilogue 1: Michelle gives Jeanie the chickenpox, even though Jeanie had already had it before. To this day, Jeanie has not forgiven Michelle.

Epilogue 2: At age 22, Michelle is pretty convinced she will not get the swine flu, lest any pigs do like the chickens, and sneak into her room at night and sleep under her bed... O_o

How to amuse yourself out in the sticks

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:39:00 +0000

1. Tease your co-workers and be equally teased. The amount of shit Nicholas gives me would put him nicely in with the Murphy family.

2. Make magnetic poetry-like magnets for my classroom.

(insert photo after it's been completed)

3. Grade papers (HA!)

4. Make banana bread-
there would be photo evidence of it, had we not eaten it all :D

5. Take pictures of yourself and ponder life's questions.

Exhibit A:

Betty, are there really 300 chips in each bag? I may have to count them.
Better question: How the heck do you expect me to make 3 dozen cookies out of the bag?! What, are they the size of pennies?! Come on now!

Do I look Asian yet? It's my goal to become a chamaleon...if I make enough peace signs, I'm sure I'll blend it!!

Chipmunk cheeks! If only I had some helium so I could do the proper Alvin, Simon and Theodore voices!

Now in regards to this foto, I have the following extra to say:

A. I know what you're thinking, what would MICKEY say??

I think Mickey would forgive me. Since you people soooo meanly took her away from her kitchenaid and now she can't whip up some of her classic cookies and then send them, she'd forgive. P.S. I'm totally on her side; if she can get into my car, I'll take her home next time I see her!

B. Where the heck did I get those in the ROK?

Actually, not difficult to find. There are sites such as ezshopkorea.com, but they charge out out the butt! Luckily, I have a Daddykins and a Jeanieface who are kind enough to lovingly compile care packages once in a while. I blew threw that Easter one, mainly because of weekends, and somedays, the food sucks. Like today, they had entirely too much red pepper in everything. The only thing without obscene amounts of red pepper was the white rice. So now I'm eating a can of tuna. PURE PROTEIN!
Anyway, we know I have a high tolerance for spicy foods, but even this stuff. Ouchies!
So it's kind of like a regression to college...Except I never got care packages in college...but at least there was Wegman's...mmmmm

6. Read books. Since Saturday, I finished Middlesex, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, and All Quiet on the Western Front
Huh. I better slow down, or I'll be out by the week's end.

7. Have video chats with the famille:

We're not touching yoooouuuu

Beguilement.

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:18:00 +0000

The Confusion that is Korean drinking culture.

Argument: It is okay to drink in a classroom/place of work, but not in an opposite-gendered co-workers room.

1. After Euri's going away, Amy got a note saying that I ought to be more careful about taking beer to Nicholas' room. For shame!

2. Upon cleaning out a certain former co-worker's desk in Classroom E, Amy found empty beer cans. Some of which may have been consumed while with students in the room.

3. A class was chastised last night by the building manager because they were drinking in their classroom.

In conclusion:

1. They are on vacation, hence why they are exempt from drinking rules and being hungover.

2. It is okay to drink in public, but not in private.

3. I'd still rather drink in private with members of the opposite gender than in my place of work.

4. They are not on vacation and should stop whining about having to do work; they're being paid to be here and frankly, a little part of me gets smug when I torture them with more work because they're whining. I hate to break it to you, but if you want to keep your job, and if you want to ameliorate your English, you have to practice and use it.

I think I'm going to Thailand. I'm irresponsibly going to start booking trips so I don't irresponsibly quit my job, pack up and go home. It makes sense in my world.

My aforementioned former co-worker was relieved of his job because, well, he relieved himself of it in the end. Early last week, I recieved a Facebook message from what looked like some girl offering employment. I would've blown it off had I not seen the same e-mail address on his computer. Other trainers found more stuff, and in the end, he was placed on suspension and ended up quitting.
Suffice to say, if you are "checking your friend's e-mail while they're in Cambodia because the internet is too slow" yet they keep it contact with you via MSN messenger, you might want to plug all the holes in your ship before you sink.
It also helps if you don't leave a lot of windows open on various public work computers.
The biggest issue that was made and presented to the head office was that he was mis-using technology.
My biggest issue with it that this was that this "employment" being offered had to do with videotapes and being tied up. Let's just leave it at that.

Ho hum.

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:22:00 +0000

Darnit, I guess I'm staying gainfully employed, haha

Monday things.

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:24:00 +0000

Last week was a bit on the ridiculous side.

A bit of work drama, a bit of finger drama, and a side of sleep deprivation.

We started a new session

Had a few classes

Nick had a mishap cutting the cheese, tee hee

Celebrated Teacher's Day

Got the list of important numbers from Jessy: CHICKEN!

Said farewell to Euri (until she returned yesterday..and left again today)

And then went to Seoul for meetings and pizza.

This is supposed to be an appetizer, main course and dessert all in one. I don't know what's what but the crust is stuffed with sweet potato, and there's a shrimp wrapped in mashed potatoes and fried on the crust of each slice. Strange.

There's been a bit of workplace drama that is putting my current employment in peril. Self-decidedly in peril. Suffice to say that if things do not go as I would like, I'll be on a plane headed home.
I like the job, however, a boundary of professionalism was crossed, and I refuse to work in such an environment. The issue is up in the air, we'll see in 2 weeks time where it goes.
Suffice to say, I would not be much disappointed if I were to go home.

Hum de dum

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:36:00 +0000

Nice people bring you flowers when you're having a poopy week:

The grounds are surrounded by these, and they're quite pretty. However, they're all on their way out, so we won't be able to enjoy their cheery color much longer. Booums.

I know I've mentioned this before, but it's a bit more prominent now than before.

My friends in Seoul were about my age; I was younger than most, but they were mostly close to my age. There were a few, like Chris, who were in their late 20's/early 30's. It was weird to be so young, but it was okay, because most of my friends in their mid-20's are pretty mentally immature (in a nice way, haha).
Out here, the age difference is a stark difference. Nicholas is the closest in age, and he's 28. Amy is next, Allison is in there somewhere, Sean is 33 and Steve's 36.
It doesn't bother me per se, as much as the imbalance of certain gender ratios, but it's a bit, um, weird.
Weird.

What NOT to Say

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:18:00 +0000

Screw Clinton and Stacey.

I'll wear what I want!

I teach this afternoon seminar called "Ice Breakers" that deals with, tada!, Ice Breakers, and Small Talk.

For Small Talk, there's a list of 'do's' and 'don'ts'.
I need to add the following:

1. I hired you because you're young and cute (In the context it was kinda like, uhm, okay. Then upon further explanation at a later date, it was okay.)
2. If you get bad evaluations next month, it's probably because they're jealous of how beautiful you are. And I'm not kidding, really. Very, very pretty. O_o
3. Are you on a diet? (Are you on a stupid kick or are you always this annoying and whiny?)

>.<

Woopskies

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Sat, 09 May 2009 08:45:00 +0000

So I just made a small flub and deleted my last 25 entries. Hum. Oh well. Do forgive?

The first session concluded on Wednesday, so we were off the past few days. It was nice, because we got to go into Seoul and we'd just gotten paid.

Seoul + paycheck = ridiculous.

Ate lots of good food, yum! Did some shopping, yay!

Ze fotos:

Group shot of the session

A lamp at Yeti, a very tasty Indian restaurant in Hongdae that we discovered.

See that green stuff? ASPARAGUS!!!!!!!!!!
Oh. my. gosh. It was tasty. I didn't know it could be found here, and haven't had any in well over a year. Suffice to say, it was heavenly.

(At Buddha's Belly in Itaewon)

Steve, a bit pensive

Alison
She's quiet. Very, very quiet.

Nicholas at this cute wine place that I've wanted to try in Itaewon, just never really had anyone with the interest or willingness to spend loads of King Sejong's on.

The bar is made out of a car..I think it was an original Mini

Patbingsu! It. is. deliciousness.
Shaved ice + fruit + sweet red beans + sweetened condensed milk + dab of fro yo = pretty friggin good summer treat.
The cupcake on the other hand. Barf. Hockey puck is an understatement.

It's one of those things that you think about, and think it's kind of weird, until you try it.

Shwarma. Yum.

Trying to pick up Nicholas' backpack. Epic fail.

Books!

A French grammar book, a Korean language book, Middlesex (per Jasmine's review), A Spot of Bother, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

I started the latter, and I like it so far. I'm about 2/3 of the way through already. I have a few other books here to read, but they're all kind of depressing and I needed something a little lighter.

I'm losing my French, so I could use a little review; the Korean one I should've bought a year ago.

The food was awesome. Hence why there are about a million pictures of food.

I bought a few things for the family, so be on the lookout for a package, dear family.

Oh, and I got my Korean Driver's License

A few forms to fill out.
I had to trade in my Virginia driver's license and take a vision test. It was pretty painless. The drivers licensing office in Kangnam lacks much English, however, and I just followed the sign for "Foreigners" that was written in Korea.
When I go home, I just give them notice, and they'll give me back my VA license.

toot toot

I need a nap

Visual Overload

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:57:00 +0000

Cuteness:

The 5 year old girls of Princeton class, who'll be moving on up to Pennsylvania Class in March
Sally has a Koala sweater (with ears) and Julie has a teddy bear one. Clearly, I need to schedule a "wear your fuzzy sweater to school day" and wear my sheep one too. Photo Op!!

Sally and YooJin

Julie

Sean and Ethan, Yale class, 5 year olds, moving on up to Princeton class in March.

YoonJi and Eunice, also in Yale class

Eunice doing her science experiment.

Science is usually a hit or miss class. I think the company that does the experiments has about the same 20 items they just reuse and make into different things.

This one was good because you took a turtle cut-out and taped it to a plastic syringe (no needle) and attached a plastic tube to the end where the needle would go, and then another syringe at the other end of the tube. The air pressure allows you to move the turtle's head in and out, and the kids loved it.

Probably a majority of the science experiments are either too difficult for them to put together (and sometimes too difficult for me to put together), or just plain failures because of faulty manufacturing. The concept is good, but the materials are too shiesty.

John, a co-worker of mine, turns 23 on Tuesday, so we had dinner on Thursday.

Shabu Shabu, seafood version:

Matt

Chris

Whole octopi, why not?

This one's for Jeanie:

Sidestory: Being strange, half-Korean children, Jeanie and I have a love and adoration for tofu that many of our friends are befuddled by. They don't like the texture, taste, etc. But we love it. Plain, in soup, pan-fried with a side dish of soy sauce, in salads, I've definitely sneaked toffutti into things I've made at home (shhh! don't tell dad!), stir-fried, baked, etc.

Here, they have this "Morning Tofu" which is silken tofu. It comes in these tiny containers and has a little spoon and dipping sauce. I'm addicted. If it grosses you out, tough. :P hahahahaha

How to eat Morning Tofu:

Procure package. Conveniently found at many convenience stores (heyo!)
Usually about 1,300W or $.86 (thank you exchange rate!!)

Open package.
Notice tiny spoon and packet of delicious soy sauce and sesame oil mixture.

Dig out small well and pour sauce packet. The well is important because the top of the tofu is generally level with the sides of the plastic container. If you add the sauce without the well, it spills over the side.

Enjoy!

More reading about soy

This is the Cheongdam Wedding Hall, I live about 2 blocks behind it.

This is Tom'n'Tom's, where I get my coffee. Depending on the light at the crosswalk, it takes between 2 and 7 minutes to get there.

This is the new Tom'n'Tom's that is opening up just down the road. (that big white light above the cab's left tail light). I took this photo from the same place I was standing when I took the one of the current T&T's
For the last month I will be in Korea, this is where I will be getting my coffee as it cuts out the tempestuous crosswalk light.

This is an Audi dealership and a Bentley dealership next to T&T's

This is a pile of trash in Dongdaemun.

In Korea, trash pick-up isn't funded through taxes; instead one must purchase government-issued trash bags and use those. Those trashbags aren't very cheap, but they pay for trash collection. Good idea? Bad idea?
Well, it's part of the reason there are so few public trashcans here.
When they changed it to that buy-the-bag policy, people started throwing their trash into street receptacles because it was cheaper.
And the way to fix that? Get rid of public trashcans of course!

In Japan, the lack of trashcans works. There is little litter and the streets are clean.
In Korea, epic fail. So every morning, city works scramble to sweep up all the trash in the streets that has accumulated because no one carries their trash to the nearest trashcan located a kilometer down the road....

Way to go!

Doota! department store in Dongdaemun

Need shoes?

Serrr-biisss--uhh!

or Service,

or,

Free Stuff you get when you buy stuff in Korea!

When you go to restaurants they'll give you food for "service", or free, usually an extra dish of something.
And occasionally, when promoting new products, you get them.
I got this little 120ml bottle of Vita Lime 30 for a 700W rice triangle.

"30 limes' worth of Vitamin C in every bottle"

30 limes? really? 30?
Couldn't they find a more efficient way to extract Vitamin C from a fruit than 30 limes for 120ml?

Visual Overload, stop.

Mid-life crisis, or something of the sort

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:13:00 +0000

As my time here dwindles down, I keep throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks.

Most of what I hear from the US is that the job market sucks...Yay!

The exchange rate also sucks. *sad face*

ideas:

1. Go to grad school for publishing. Take out about $80K in loans (negatory!)
2. Go to a summer publishing institute held either at NYU or Denver. (I'm in the process of applying. ) Then hope like hell that I get a job at the end of it.
3. Just apply for editing jobs.
4. Go to grad school for my Master's of Teaching or Education
5. Teach in the US
6. Teach for DODEA
7. Spend more time in Korea
8. Mooch of the parentals until they are no longer humored.

I haven't a clue.
Numbers 6 and 7 offer more travel opportunities. Hum.

Enfin!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Bill finally shared his Guam photos

100th Post!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:12:00 +0000

For about 325 days in the country, that's not that bad, is it?

Meh.

Aujourd'hui:

It's better than moldy underwear!

Unless by fresh they mean, "Don't get fresh with me!"
Cuz then, um, *cough*

Moving on...

It's kind of hard to read (apologies for crappy picture), but it says:
Face Remodeling

Heyooo, remodeling? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

Excuse me, I need to go in for a little remodeling.
-Oh, would you like the Cherry Oak, Cedar or Maple? Marble or tile?

Cutiiieee:

Youjin!
So much love, curiosity and sweetness in such a tiny body!

And what a view!

noreply@blogger.com (Chelle) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:21:00 +0000

It's been relatively mild here, and so I like to take the opportunity to open my windows and air out my poorly-ventilated apartment.

And what a view!

I love the hues of brick in the morning, don't you?

Okay, not really. But the upper right-hand corner caught my eye:

Ah, teddy bear, I feel your pain.

By the way, have I mentioned lately that I live in what my school likes to call, the "Beverly Hills" of Seoul?

Well, hm. Okay, maybe in a little world called every Korean's fantasy.

Maybe I take a few shots of the more Beverly Hills-like part...