Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Post on Payday
Week at a glance.
Well after Japan things have been quiet. Had a nice simple week of teaching, feels great to have no more intensive! I can teach and not be tired! Only problem now is just trying to figure out what I want for dinner and when I should go to bed. I’m trying to get a schedule of swimming each morning…found a place that’s 4,000won per swim…guess where it is? The YMCA! Haha. And its like literally 2 buildings away. So keep me to it! At least randomly just to not become jelly. Certainly feels like I just work and sleep and on the weekends actually walk more than 10minutes.
Today is PAY DAY!!! Exciting, I get paid intensive bonus for the extra 24classes and then ah, it feels great to be a millionaire! At this rate I’ll soon become a billionaire! :-O
I know I won’t reach my financial goal (especially as the won continues to get weaker) but I’m certainly enjoying the time! Can you believe its already been almost 4 months??? I arrived October 24th… 10-24 it is now 2-10. 9-1 to 12-14 I was in Ireland. So I have now been in Korea for the longest time abroad. Feels great. Its taken the bucket list to a whole different level.
Still no idea what I want to do with my life, this economic situation is only getting worse! Here’s an article from the BBC on Charlotte. Know it’s big when it’s the front page of business in America from a foreign news. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7880283.stm
OH! This weekend I shaved my head then went shopping for some Korean style clothes. I did great! I got fitted pants, a fitted dress shirt, and my favorite---the Korean style p-coat with 6 buttons in front. Ah its glorious. I still might get another one (this one is blue) that covers the neck and up to your nose. Looks really cool… that def will be in black. And with the season getting warmer, I’ll get it on sale too! So after buying all that, Alex and I happen to see Big Bang! A music band that is MAJOR famous in korea. Check them out! So Hot is a good song. Wonder girls is another band--- Nobody – Wonder girls. Check those two bands out and be amused and cultured! Well, 2 great shopping malls/train stops. Coax and dong day moon!
Man, i hate tax.
Well after Japan things have been quiet. Had a nice simple week of teaching, feels great to have no more intensive! I can teach and not be tired! Only problem now is just trying to figure out what I want for dinner and when I should go to bed. I’m trying to get a schedule of swimming each morning…found a place that’s 4,000won per swim…guess where it is? The YMCA! Haha. And its like literally 2 buildings away. So keep me to it! At least randomly just to not become jelly. Certainly feels like I just work and sleep and on the weekends actually walk more than 10minutes.
Today is PAY DAY!!! Exciting, I get paid intensive bonus for the extra 24classes and then ah, it feels great to be a millionaire! At this rate I’ll soon become a billionaire! :-O
I know I won’t reach my financial goal (especially as the won continues to get weaker) but I’m certainly enjoying the time! Can you believe its already been almost 4 months??? I arrived October 24th… 10-24 it is now 2-10. 9-1 to 12-14 I was in Ireland. So I have now been in Korea for the longest time abroad. Feels great. Its taken the bucket list to a whole different level.
Still no idea what I want to do with my life, this economic situation is only getting worse! Here’s an article from the BBC on Charlotte. Know it’s big when it’s the front page of business in America from a foreign news. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7880283.stm
OH! This weekend I shaved my head then went shopping for some Korean style clothes. I did great! I got fitted pants, a fitted dress shirt, and my favorite---the Korean style p-coat with 6 buttons in front. Ah its glorious. I still might get another one (this one is blue) that covers the neck and up to your nose. Looks really cool… that def will be in black. And with the season getting warmer, I’ll get it on sale too! So after buying all that, Alex and I happen to see Big Bang! A music band that is MAJOR famous in korea. Check them out! So Hot is a good song. Wonder girls is another band--- Nobody – Wonder girls. Check those two bands out and be amused and cultured! Well, 2 great shopping malls/train stops. Coax and dong day moon!
Man, i hate tax.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Japan! for 5 days
Japan:
Friday
Osaka!
We checked into the Raizen hostel. Fantastic! Own private rooms, twin size bed, fridge, tv, and public baths = 25 usd. We stayed there 3 nights, would gladly do it again! So that night…we met up with Risa and her friend. She took us to the BEST sushi and sake! I still can’t believe how she spoiled us! By far best sushi I’ve had (the strips of fish on top of rice..) and then had tasty foods ---and she paid for it all! Ahh, I love having great friends, I thank her so much for making this trip fantastic! We even had a lava cake! Haha, I almost laughed when it came out---her favorite Japanese dessert and its probably made in America. ;)
Saturday
Tanjori (sp?) temple in Osaka. Pictures on Angela’s camera… I met this guy from…no joke…Charlotte, NC. His name is Johnny and he has to go to a foreign country to graduate in International relations. Chose probably the most expensive at this time, but hey, he’s making it work! So we laughed that we even know the same people and hope to meet up once I return to charlotte. He lives in Waxhaw and might in fact teach in Korea after hearing how fun it is. At the temple there was this elderly lady…quite old and tiny, adorable. She was trying to come into the temple and I leaving…she was sooo polite and kept saying “gominosai” = I’m sorry/excuse me, and that I was so kind and it made me happy. I didn’t need to know all the words…just the look was so raw and real! That’s what I like best about language barriers---the human body can have a LOT of communication. Well, fun times and walking a lot more…we had a gorgeous lunch (these 2 older ladies were so intrigued by us, we talked to them for a bit, laughed, not every day they see 4 foreigners that don’t know any Japanese) After, we walked and shopped in these great shopping towers! Like 8 floors of clothes and stuff. Angela went total girl mode---bought shirts and jewelry. Us guys found a manga store and an arcade room. Ah, you’ve never seen so many games and spending coins like its nothing…it’s a whole different world.
After shopping, went out to eat with pretty much the entire foreign group from the hostel, the greatest curry! Then sleep.
Sunday
Kyoto! Risa was able to find time and was excited to treat us to an adventure! After getting a bit lost, and seeing the Kyoto temple…quickly, we saw monkies! Saw this amazing Japanese garb (guy’s kimono…) and wanted it but I couldn’t get the price down. I gave up, came back later---it was already sold! I was sad the whole train back… we ate and I got Katsu-ju (breaded pork stacked on top of an egg and rice)! Just like in Musashi’s at charlotte, and it tasted JUST like it! Like scary how I found a place that’s very true to its taste. After eating, we go our separate ways…and I got surprised by Risa---she bought me the kimono!! Ahhh, it made my day. Aya and I grabbed a Japanese special sake only in Japan (ryokai? No idea…) and I got to travel the Japanese train alone. First time taking a train alone. Ever. Haha, made it back safe, of course, watched an AWESOME sumo wrestling match on TV and then planned the next day.
Monday
Osaka castle. We first checked into our hotel – Sheradon (that’s how they spell it) and ate a cheap rice ball (so yummy and simple) and then made for our 2km walk. Took a while, but worth it! This castle had a moat that was HUGE! And inside was fun to see all the things… and then the view from the top! It was a great clear view, yet again Angela has the pictures. Johnny came with us again, we enjoyed---haha, we did a hand stand in front of the castle---we got quite a crowd of Japanese with that picture, oh my. Then we enjoyed a nice….Italian restaurant? We went looking for good food, and good price, we decide on that one---then realize its Italian. I got tempura shrimp and a niiice piece of steak and rice (instead of noodles). Haha, trying to say “substitute” was quite …difficult to explain. I’m so just glad they have like plates of fake food on display! Asia is so smart in having food on display so we can just point! Johnny had never taken the train…EVER so after dinner we pointed him in the right direction and away he went.
After returning, we called it an easy night of just waking up early to shop some more and then take the plane back.
Tuesday we just went shopping for about an hour---the shopping was horrible around the sheradon, either really expensive or non-existent. We ate some fresh bakery bread and sorts, grabbed the “limousine” bus to the airport and enjoyed just relaxing…I literally spent all my money down to 1 cent! Was awesome trying to buy some socks…the lady paid a few pennies she knew I was trying so hard! Ah, the Japanese people we met were very friendly and very inviting. I would say go and enjoy, just make sure you’ve got deep pockets!
Friday
Osaka!
We checked into the Raizen hostel. Fantastic! Own private rooms, twin size bed, fridge, tv, and public baths = 25 usd. We stayed there 3 nights, would gladly do it again! So that night…we met up with Risa and her friend. She took us to the BEST sushi and sake! I still can’t believe how she spoiled us! By far best sushi I’ve had (the strips of fish on top of rice..) and then had tasty foods ---and she paid for it all! Ahh, I love having great friends, I thank her so much for making this trip fantastic! We even had a lava cake! Haha, I almost laughed when it came out---her favorite Japanese dessert and its probably made in America. ;)
Saturday
Tanjori (sp?) temple in Osaka. Pictures on Angela’s camera… I met this guy from…no joke…Charlotte, NC. His name is Johnny and he has to go to a foreign country to graduate in International relations. Chose probably the most expensive at this time, but hey, he’s making it work! So we laughed that we even know the same people and hope to meet up once I return to charlotte. He lives in Waxhaw and might in fact teach in Korea after hearing how fun it is. At the temple there was this elderly lady…quite old and tiny, adorable. She was trying to come into the temple and I leaving…she was sooo polite and kept saying “gominosai” = I’m sorry/excuse me, and that I was so kind and it made me happy. I didn’t need to know all the words…just the look was so raw and real! That’s what I like best about language barriers---the human body can have a LOT of communication. Well, fun times and walking a lot more…we had a gorgeous lunch (these 2 older ladies were so intrigued by us, we talked to them for a bit, laughed, not every day they see 4 foreigners that don’t know any Japanese) After, we walked and shopped in these great shopping towers! Like 8 floors of clothes and stuff. Angela went total girl mode---bought shirts and jewelry. Us guys found a manga store and an arcade room. Ah, you’ve never seen so many games and spending coins like its nothing…it’s a whole different world.
After shopping, went out to eat with pretty much the entire foreign group from the hostel, the greatest curry! Then sleep.
Sunday
Kyoto! Risa was able to find time and was excited to treat us to an adventure! After getting a bit lost, and seeing the Kyoto temple…quickly, we saw monkies! Saw this amazing Japanese garb (guy’s kimono…) and wanted it but I couldn’t get the price down. I gave up, came back later---it was already sold! I was sad the whole train back… we ate and I got Katsu-ju (breaded pork stacked on top of an egg and rice)! Just like in Musashi’s at charlotte, and it tasted JUST like it! Like scary how I found a place that’s very true to its taste. After eating, we go our separate ways…and I got surprised by Risa---she bought me the kimono!! Ahhh, it made my day. Aya and I grabbed a Japanese special sake only in Japan (ryokai? No idea…) and I got to travel the Japanese train alone. First time taking a train alone. Ever. Haha, made it back safe, of course, watched an AWESOME sumo wrestling match on TV and then planned the next day.
Monday
Osaka castle. We first checked into our hotel – Sheradon (that’s how they spell it) and ate a cheap rice ball (so yummy and simple) and then made for our 2km walk. Took a while, but worth it! This castle had a moat that was HUGE! And inside was fun to see all the things… and then the view from the top! It was a great clear view, yet again Angela has the pictures. Johnny came with us again, we enjoyed---haha, we did a hand stand in front of the castle---we got quite a crowd of Japanese with that picture, oh my. Then we enjoyed a nice….Italian restaurant? We went looking for good food, and good price, we decide on that one---then realize its Italian. I got tempura shrimp and a niiice piece of steak and rice (instead of noodles). Haha, trying to say “substitute” was quite …difficult to explain. I’m so just glad they have like plates of fake food on display! Asia is so smart in having food on display so we can just point! Johnny had never taken the train…EVER so after dinner we pointed him in the right direction and away he went.
After returning, we called it an easy night of just waking up early to shop some more and then take the plane back.
Tuesday we just went shopping for about an hour---the shopping was horrible around the sheradon, either really expensive or non-existent. We ate some fresh bakery bread and sorts, grabbed the “limousine” bus to the airport and enjoyed just relaxing…I literally spent all my money down to 1 cent! Was awesome trying to buy some socks…the lady paid a few pennies she knew I was trying so hard! Ah, the Japanese people we met were very friendly and very inviting. I would say go and enjoy, just make sure you’ve got deep pockets!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
To Osaka, Japan!
I have been quite busy this past week.
Had some meetings at work and planning vacation... Had one with boss, i'm a bad boy ...lol, i threated to "throw my shoe" at a student like the middle eastern reporter did at Bush. apparently students tell only half the story to their parents: "my teacher takes his shoes off in class" blahh. lol, maybe i shoulda just hit the kid then they'd gotten the REAL picture. ;)
Friday and Saturday was spent relaxing watching movies and being cheap...
Saturday night i had an amazing Thai dinner! We got pad thai, red curry, and kaprawl! Certainly in an odd way felt like home food (charlotte's thai house, sigh)... that was a good time.
Sunday we had a boiling bowl of soup u cook your meat in. its great.
all this was to talk about Angela, Alex, and I going to Japan for lunar new year!
Friday we leave at 9am... play around Osaka with a friend i met at my semester in Dublin City University and enjoy sights and then new years!
we'll be staying at:
Raizan Hotel...
http://www.raizan.com/raizan-english/location.html
and then the sheridan, this place has a hot tub and the works! Its all about going cheap, then go big! so we'll b having a good time. more to come! just remember. its not the money you will remember...but hte memories you made!
Had some meetings at work and planning vacation... Had one with boss, i'm a bad boy ...lol, i threated to "throw my shoe" at a student like the middle eastern reporter did at Bush. apparently students tell only half the story to their parents: "my teacher takes his shoes off in class" blahh. lol, maybe i shoulda just hit the kid then they'd gotten the REAL picture. ;)
Friday and Saturday was spent relaxing watching movies and being cheap...
Saturday night i had an amazing Thai dinner! We got pad thai, red curry, and kaprawl! Certainly in an odd way felt like home food (charlotte's thai house, sigh)... that was a good time.
Sunday we had a boiling bowl of soup u cook your meat in. its great.
all this was to talk about Angela, Alex, and I going to Japan for lunar new year!
Friday we leave at 9am... play around Osaka with a friend i met at my semester in Dublin City University and enjoy sights and then new years!
we'll be staying at:
Raizan Hotel...
http://www.raizan.com/raizan-
and then the sheridan, this place has a hot tub and the works! Its all about going cheap, then go big! so we'll b having a good time. more to come! just remember. its not the money you will remember...but hte memories you made!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Duck!!!
So nothing much happened this past week while i recovered from... FOOD POISON! I got my computer at yongsan, came back and ate "take out" at my place. yum, i could never order in korean on the phone...hyesung certainly helps me there! haha. so monday we went to emart to buy something and grabbed dinner at that "cafeteria" kinda like walmart grade mall asian food. i thought it was safe and tasty...i ordered beef and rice and seaweed. oh how i regret. After we finished i went to sleep quite soon and woke and went to work. At work, lunch time, i was soo pale and felt like i got shot in the stomach. i managed to puke, then it went all downhill...it had already entered my system. i had to leave early (and if someone subs for u...u have to pay them! not cool!) so i went home and hyesung (oh angel, haha) bought me meds and i was on teh road to recovery ....after a night of around 104 fever and massive leakage. i kept hydrated, my other friend got dehydrated same week and had to get an I/V for water. ah, so i went to work Wednesday with major weakness ( ihadnt eaten for about 24 hours) and then got off work and ate a little..finally. Thursday i ate more...and then Friday i devoured kalbi!!! never tasted so good! i got to meet some good people and we laughed about oh the couples and singles differences... co-worker carrie and her bf mainly was the new fun friends. it was an early night after all the tireing and no sleeping. Saturday ...went to Mark's bday and had fun... hyesung works 6 days so way exhausted and i just called it early too.
Sunday was great. Danny was free and came to see justin and i! We went to see transporter! ah, always good action! so he also....was just like a dad and i was just like a kid! haha, he bought my ticket...and popcorn...and then this little action figure of naruto i wanted! i wasn't going to buy it because eh, its money...but then he goes and buys before i can say no! :) silly fun it really is great how a simple little 5 buck item makes me happy and how it also just...he's changed my perspective on a lot of how friends should be! so we watched, then went to find a place to eat duck. he has this amazing red sport car so after watching the movie...we're a little racing mood haha, but we get there and eat some great meat! duck, ribs!!!! (i did it southern way, got down and dirty while they used plastic gloves and were nice and neat about it) and some sausage and pouridge, it was quite good.
after that just simple night...just went home to prepare for work! OH! hyesung got a guitar saturday! and i havnt seen it yet but its yellow---i think it should b called little miss sunshine! but eh...
now its testing so i've been writing while they test! time to finish.
things to remember---don't buy cheap beef! eat at your own risk!
meds cost only 5$ here...and they work!
let people take care of u...they're ur real friends! :)
Sunday was great. Danny was free and came to see justin and i! We went to see transporter! ah, always good action! so he also....was just like a dad and i was just like a kid! haha, he bought my ticket...and popcorn...and then this little action figure of naruto i wanted! i wasn't going to buy it because eh, its money...but then he goes and buys before i can say no! :) silly fun it really is great how a simple little 5 buck item makes me happy and how it also just...he's changed my perspective on a lot of how friends should be! so we watched, then went to find a place to eat duck. he has this amazing red sport car so after watching the movie...we're a little racing mood haha, but we get there and eat some great meat! duck, ribs!!!! (i did it southern way, got down and dirty while they used plastic gloves and were nice and neat about it) and some sausage and pouridge, it was quite good.
after that just simple night...just went home to prepare for work! OH! hyesung got a guitar saturday! and i havnt seen it yet but its yellow---i think it should b called little miss sunshine! but eh...
now its testing so i've been writing while they test! time to finish.
things to remember---don't buy cheap beef! eat at your own risk!
meds cost only 5$ here...and they work!
let people take care of u...they're ur real friends! :)
New Year!
Welcome 2009!
So, 2 days of work then new years! we worked hard, then went direct to R&B for a concert by the rocktigers. The lead singer wore a dress that looked like Dorthy from wizard of Oz...and the guitarist looked like elvis. oh it was fun. then we brought in the new year! it was a great way and just relaxed the next day...for we had to work on friday :(
friday finished work at 7:30 and then Avalon paid for us to go to the greatest seafood restaurant for sure! Maris! just imagine... Tin Tin in Charlotte (chinese buffet).... times 5!!! The japanese sushi bar was 3 bars... the udon and soup bar was also its own room. then the korean, american, american pizza and pasta...just whoah. huge. and as such... i spent the next 2 hours gorging on ...REAL ramen, sushi sushi sushi (blowfish!!! can kill 30 men if cut wrong..), tandori chicken, salmon, herb chicken, steak, crab legs, shrimp (with heads on too!), cous cous, pinnaple, these mangos (sooo cool...like a smoke bomb shell, etc. frozen), they had pizza and other foods but i went after the goods. they shut down at 10 and kicked us out...we then went to a noribang to sing songs for a co-worker's bday! that was good fun. sure laugh at how quick they get tired and go to sleep...but thats ok, some had to work in the morning! yuck! i went and played some darts with a friend that lost his job (long story...miscommunication...he'll get another one but still frustrating) and then went to sleep for a happy celebration.
Saturdaywas nothing...just relax i believe. Sunday hyesung and i went to buy my computer! that brings us to the previous update. as u see it was jam packed of party and happy memories.
to bring in the new year!
huzzah!
So, 2 days of work then new years! we worked hard, then went direct to R&B for a concert by the rocktigers. The lead singer wore a dress that looked like Dorthy from wizard of Oz...and the guitarist looked like elvis. oh it was fun. then we brought in the new year! it was a great way and just relaxed the next day...for we had to work on friday :(
friday finished work at 7:30 and then Avalon paid for us to go to the greatest seafood restaurant for sure! Maris! just imagine... Tin Tin in Charlotte (chinese buffet).... times 5!!! The japanese sushi bar was 3 bars... the udon and soup bar was also its own room. then the korean, american, american pizza and pasta...just whoah. huge. and as such... i spent the next 2 hours gorging on ...REAL ramen, sushi sushi sushi (blowfish!!! can kill 30 men if cut wrong..), tandori chicken, salmon, herb chicken, steak, crab legs, shrimp (with heads on too!), cous cous, pinnaple, these mangos (sooo cool...like a smoke bomb shell, etc. frozen), they had pizza and other foods but i went after the goods. they shut down at 10 and kicked us out...we then went to a noribang to sing songs for a co-worker's bday! that was good fun. sure laugh at how quick they get tired and go to sleep...but thats ok, some had to work in the morning! yuck! i went and played some darts with a friend that lost his job (long story...miscommunication...he'll get another one but still frustrating) and then went to sleep for a happy celebration.
Saturdaywas nothing...just relax i believe. Sunday hyesung and i went to buy my computer! that brings us to the previous update. as u see it was jam packed of party and happy memories.
to bring in the new year!
huzzah!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
While at work...
Happy new year! ah the feast! Buffet at Maris! Then Noribang and R&B and ah what a great concert and toast!...
in fact i'll write a whole blog about that later each labeled...
Just was going to say i'm alive. I didn't update this past sunday because well, its been fun and such.
I bought a netbook! LG x110 fancy little toy.
160gig
1gig ram
1.6 atom proc
10"
2lbs
basically for work and travel. only 2.5 hours of battery use, bleh. but plug weighs so little too...
hm,so that was sunday... Then you have monday i ate some...beef from the cafeteria in E-mart (kinda like a...mall/walmart) and well, got food poison. bad. it wiped me out for the next day and had a huge fever that night, then barely jumped back on it and now i'm better. phew. glad to know i have some good people to take care of me :) and its true and rare that my recruiter is still willing to take care of me...not any extra pay or anything. came last night to see me and this other recruit...
Lots has been going on, i know i've been busy here trying to get "life" in order... on teh 2nd we started "intesives" means my schedule goes from 10am until 7pm sooo...that has ruined a few of my plans but opened up night life here! Now i need to take care of work.
Bottom line?
I had turkey for christmas.
glory.
in fact i'll write a whole blog about that later each labeled...
Just was going to say i'm alive. I didn't update this past sunday because well, its been fun and such.
I bought a netbook! LG x110 fancy little toy.
160gig
1gig ram
1.6 atom proc
10"
2lbs
basically for work and travel. only 2.5 hours of battery use, bleh. but plug weighs so little too...
hm,so that was sunday... Then you have monday i ate some...beef from the cafeteria in E-mart (kinda like a...mall/walmart) and well, got food poison. bad. it wiped me out for the next day and had a huge fever that night, then barely jumped back on it and now i'm better. phew. glad to know i have some good people to take care of me :) and its true and rare that my recruiter is still willing to take care of me...not any extra pay or anything. came last night to see me and this other recruit...
Lots has been going on, i know i've been busy here trying to get "life" in order... on teh 2nd we started "intesives" means my schedule goes from 10am until 7pm sooo...that has ruined a few of my plans but opened up night life here! Now i need to take care of work.
Bottom line?
I had turkey for christmas.
glory.
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