Gosh darn my heating system. I just haven't figured the blasted thing out yet. Lots of trial. Lots of error.
Most buildings here are heated through an ondol, or an underfloor web of hot water pipes that warm the concrete, thereby causing the heat to rise through the floor. Its a genius system. Apparently it just also takes a genius to figure out how to use it.
No actually it just takes someone that understands Korean.
Had fun last weekend. I went to Insadong (a shopping district where you can find all sorts of traditional Korean items) with Rachel and Jess C. Its basically one narrow street with shops lining both sides. And for some reason that defies all logic, people drive down the street, even though at any given moment there are at least one bagillion people on the street. So they drive very slowly, honking their horn as if they're under the impression that we're the ones posing the problem. Sheesh.
So after some shopping, I met up with Hil, Ruda and Eddy to hang out at a coffeeshop. I'm glad I found friends that like coffee. Coffee friends are quintessential in life, because coffeeshops are such awesome places to get to know people. So, its just difficult to try and get to know someone outside of a coffeeshop. Dinner is too much of a commitment, going to their place or your place can be weird...the world needs coffeeshops.
So after some coffee we took a stroll around town, eating dinner at a hole-in-the-wall and stopping at a couple bookstores. Then off to another coffeeshop to talk more. It was basically the perfect day.
I led Sunday School for the first time on Sunday afternoon with Ruda. It went better than either one of us expected - we're teaching the book of Esther to young elementary kids, and after I read the adaptation of this week's section of the book, the kids were so excited about what happens next that they hurriedly got out their little Bibles and looked it up on their own! Amazing. We can learn a lot from kids, you know.
Sunday night was spent having Thanksgiving dinner at church with my Korean/English teacher family...between Bible Study, church hanging out, and other ministries, I'd say we've got about 20 or so regulars in our little "young people in Seoul" group. I'm so thankful for the friendships here because they were never promised to me - there was no guarantee that I'd find anybody to relate with here. But God put people in my path here that not only seek Him but are also just awesome in general. Its made my time here more valuable than I had previously thought possible.
On Sunday night, Hil, Eddy, Ruda and I went to go see "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" in Myeong-dong. It was a tremendous movie, though I wonder how much creative liberty the director took with some of the historical context...will have to do some research...
School's kicking my butt this week. It seems like teaching is the last thing I have time to concentrate on...there are so many administrative/planning/irrelevant things I have to deal with on a regular basis that teaching gets backburnered. Even though that's why I'm here. Huh. Not to mention the mixed messages - "Don't be stressed. Just relax. Be happy. And I need this document done in an hour. It should take you 3 hours to do." Its just part of Korean custom to do whatever your boss tells you to do, even if its certain you will fail. And then when you do, you beat yourself up for being an incompetent worthless piece of crap, even though there's no way you could've completed the task on time. So interesting.
I don't really function like that. I have no problem saying no. I think this is an admirable quality. However, when the Vice Principal asks my coteacher if I'll do something, and she says yes (because she can't say no) and I say no, that's when she breaks down crying at her desk. And that's when the guilt hits me like a mack truck. AND THAT'S when my rational self overwhelms my guilt-ridden self saying "IT'S ALL AN EMOTIONAL CONSPIRACY TO GET YOU TO DO SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO" and that's when my I get angry at the system and wonder why in the WORLD this has to be this difficult. And that's when I break down crying at my desk.
I'm so thankful for my ability to say no confidently. I just wish everyone else were the same way. Honesty is not this culture's strong point.
That's enough ranting for one day. Contrary to what you might think, I'm having a great time here!! Thanks for your prayers, messages and emails - God bless you guys!!
Jess
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Ajummacity
I want to begin by stating that I respect my elders. I love my grandparents. They take me cool places, cook me tasty food, they read me books when I was little, they gave me eggo waffles for breakfast, they played Trouble and Yatzee with me for hours on end, I could go on and on. They're good people. Nice people (when you don't make them mad). Friendly people.
But can I just ask - WHERE HAVE ALL THE FRIENDLY OLD PEOPLE GONE???
In Korea, there is no such thing as a "nice older lady", someone who bakes you cookies or pumpkin bread and makes you hot cocoa. Nope. They simply don't exist here. There are possibly a few exceptions, but not enough to keep me from making sweeping generalizations for the rest of this post.
In Korea, there are: The Ajummas. They are the antithesis of the old lady in the teddy bear sweater vest at the library who helps you find...whatever people look for in libraries...I don't read. Except for the Bible. And people's Facebook profiles.
Ajummas are always armed with two deadly weapons: their left and right elbows. God forbid you ever cross paths with an ajumma in a hurry to get on the subway. It doesn't matter if you're trying to get off first, prepare to be at least clotheslined if not severely disabled by your ajumma opponent. Old ladies here appear to only strengthen with age, as I have personally witnessed an ajumma beating the crap out of a man appearing several years her junior. His cries for mercy simply washed over her grisled and hardened face.
Sometimes ajummas here just shout on the subway for no reason. Their bowed legs cause them to hunch forward just slightly, they squint their eyes and start screaming and feverishly pointing at anyone and everyone, as though the whole of Korea has done this lady some injustice. All I can tell you is that its terrifying.
And the ajumma clothes...you'll want to make sure and wear 3 or 4 not only differing but competing patterns to attract as much attention as possible. Bright colors are a must, and the more, the merrier. Polyester is quintessential. And top it all off with a knock-off Burberry handbag to complete the ensemble. Add an ajumma visor, and you're well on your way.
I found this on some dude's blog...it explains Ajumosis fairly well:
"Ajumma is a state of mind. When women cut their hair and curl it and start pushing and shoving a lot like a wild beast on the subway ... they are an ajumma. When a woman starts wearing a visor of a color and size that would give Darth Vader helmet envy ... they are an ajumma. When a woman gets together with her friends and talks so loud that the decibel level of their conversation rivals that of an above-ground nuclear test ... they are an ajumma."
I hope to get a picture soon. You can google "ajumma" for now.
But when you think over Korea's difficult history, about how until about 30 years ago, this was a third world country, the ajumma begins to make more sense. She comes from an era where you had to be aggressive if you were going to survive. She will work hard to ensure that her children are fed. She will not easily back down in the face of adversity. In fact, she scares the crap out of adversity.
She's been through a lot. She's been through a horrific war. She's seen her country devastated physically, economically and politically. She's given everything to her family to make a future for her children. And she's survived.
But can I just ask - WHERE HAVE ALL THE FRIENDLY OLD PEOPLE GONE???
In Korea, there is no such thing as a "nice older lady", someone who bakes you cookies or pumpkin bread and makes you hot cocoa. Nope. They simply don't exist here. There are possibly a few exceptions, but not enough to keep me from making sweeping generalizations for the rest of this post.
In Korea, there are: The Ajummas. They are the antithesis of the old lady in the teddy bear sweater vest at the library who helps you find...whatever people look for in libraries...I don't read. Except for the Bible. And people's Facebook profiles.
Ajummas are always armed with two deadly weapons: their left and right elbows. God forbid you ever cross paths with an ajumma in a hurry to get on the subway. It doesn't matter if you're trying to get off first, prepare to be at least clotheslined if not severely disabled by your ajumma opponent. Old ladies here appear to only strengthen with age, as I have personally witnessed an ajumma beating the crap out of a man appearing several years her junior. His cries for mercy simply washed over her grisled and hardened face.
Sometimes ajummas here just shout on the subway for no reason. Their bowed legs cause them to hunch forward just slightly, they squint their eyes and start screaming and feverishly pointing at anyone and everyone, as though the whole of Korea has done this lady some injustice. All I can tell you is that its terrifying.
And the ajumma clothes...you'll want to make sure and wear 3 or 4 not only differing but competing patterns to attract as much attention as possible. Bright colors are a must, and the more, the merrier. Polyester is quintessential. And top it all off with a knock-off Burberry handbag to complete the ensemble. Add an ajumma visor, and you're well on your way.
I found this on some dude's blog...it explains Ajumosis fairly well:
"Ajumma is a state of mind. When women cut their hair and curl it and start pushing and shoving a lot like a wild beast on the subway ... they are an ajumma. When a woman starts wearing a visor of a color and size that would give Darth Vader helmet envy ... they are an ajumma. When a woman gets together with her friends and talks so loud that the decibel level of their conversation rivals that of an above-ground nuclear test ... they are an ajumma."
I hope to get a picture soon. You can google "ajumma" for now.
But when you think over Korea's difficult history, about how until about 30 years ago, this was a third world country, the ajumma begins to make more sense. She comes from an era where you had to be aggressive if you were going to survive. She will work hard to ensure that her children are fed. She will not easily back down in the face of adversity. In fact, she scares the crap out of adversity.
She's been through a lot. She's been through a horrific war. She's seen her country devastated physically, economically and politically. She's given everything to her family to make a future for her children. And she's survived.
Diversity and Ginkgo Berries
It's cold.
But that's okay, because my mommy sent me my winter coat. She also sent me my running shoes, two white t-shirts, a page of the comics, microwave popcorn, and some baggies of cherry granola from the co-op which I have been craving for exactly 3 years because it tastes how happiness feels. Thanks mumsy :)
AnBerlin is INCREDIBLE. You should check them out. "The Unwinding Cable Car" is the greatest song ever written. And that is a completely objective statement.
I went to the Yellow Sea on Saturday with my co-teacher, Hyun. She picked me up at 10 or so and we motored about 3 hours south to somewhere along the West coast of the Korean peninsula. We went to this island and walked on the beach for awhile. I got some AWESOME shells. Like nothing I've ever seen in the states. I saw tidal pools with tiny forms of life running around and oyster outcroppings on giant rocks. There were ajummas everywhere trying to harvest the oysters (ajummas = old Korean ladies...I guess I have to explain ajummas in my next post...stay tuned, it'll be worth it).
Here's a fun bit for you Purdue people: You know those ginkgo trees along the north side of Memorial Mall directly across from Stanley Coulter hall, the ones that drop those NASTY SMELLING berries that stick to the bottom of your shoe and leave you smelling like vomit for your power hour lecture? Well, apparently in Korea, there's a saying that says that you should eat 5 ginkgo berries everyday and you will be incredibly vibrant and healthy. Old people here shake the ginkgo trees and gather those puke berries like madmen, then remove the outer part of the berry and harvest the inner seed-like things. They look like jellybeans.
So this dude was roasting the seed-like things along the harbor on Saturday and Hyun bought me some. They tasted decent (they had salt on them), but every once in awhile you'd catch a slight whiff of barfberry and that was enough to make you want to toss your berries, so to speak.
Have I used enough vomit euphemisms yet? Probably. I love how diverse the English language is. Oh - speaking of diverse...
On the way home, Hyun and I were in the car and after an extended period of silence (I was reading...or just daydreaming with a book open, which happens about 50% of the time that I appear to be "reading") she said the following to me:
"Jessica (or, more accurately, 'Jeshka'), have I said you that I am...diverse?"
Furrowed brow. My thought process: "Diverse? Diverse? What the heck does she mean by diverse? Like, multi-faceted? Does she have multiple personalities? Am I stuck in the car in bumper to bumper traffic with a crazy person?? Is she only half-Korean? Gosh this is awkward...I have no idea what to say..."
Hyun: "You know, I am diverse. I was married, but now I am diversed."
Me: "OH, DIVORCED! Divorced, right. Got it. Divorced. Yep."
This is how most of our conversations go. No wonder I have migraines.
Before I jet to post about ajummas, funny story from today:
I was teaching class 6-3 after lunch today when I heard a knock at the door. I look over and see a tiny first grade boy open the door. He looks up, sees me, his eyes get huge and he says -
"Oh my God."
And then he runs away.
I AM NOT A FREAK. I LOOK LIKE A NORMAL PERSON. PLEASE EXCUSE ME FOR BEING OF CAUCASIAN HERITAGE. These are the things I must repeat to myself on a daily basis. I actually laughed out loud when that happened though. I thought it was hilarious.
Onto the ajumma post, stay warm!!
Jess
But that's okay, because my mommy sent me my winter coat. She also sent me my running shoes, two white t-shirts, a page of the comics, microwave popcorn, and some baggies of cherry granola from the co-op which I have been craving for exactly 3 years because it tastes how happiness feels. Thanks mumsy :)
AnBerlin is INCREDIBLE. You should check them out. "The Unwinding Cable Car" is the greatest song ever written. And that is a completely objective statement.
I went to the Yellow Sea on Saturday with my co-teacher, Hyun. She picked me up at 10 or so and we motored about 3 hours south to somewhere along the West coast of the Korean peninsula. We went to this island and walked on the beach for awhile. I got some AWESOME shells. Like nothing I've ever seen in the states. I saw tidal pools with tiny forms of life running around and oyster outcroppings on giant rocks. There were ajummas everywhere trying to harvest the oysters (ajummas = old Korean ladies...I guess I have to explain ajummas in my next post...stay tuned, it'll be worth it).
Here's a fun bit for you Purdue people: You know those ginkgo trees along the north side of Memorial Mall directly across from Stanley Coulter hall, the ones that drop those NASTY SMELLING berries that stick to the bottom of your shoe and leave you smelling like vomit for your power hour lecture? Well, apparently in Korea, there's a saying that says that you should eat 5 ginkgo berries everyday and you will be incredibly vibrant and healthy. Old people here shake the ginkgo trees and gather those puke berries like madmen, then remove the outer part of the berry and harvest the inner seed-like things. They look like jellybeans.
So this dude was roasting the seed-like things along the harbor on Saturday and Hyun bought me some. They tasted decent (they had salt on them), but every once in awhile you'd catch a slight whiff of barfberry and that was enough to make you want to toss your berries, so to speak.
Have I used enough vomit euphemisms yet? Probably. I love how diverse the English language is. Oh - speaking of diverse...
On the way home, Hyun and I were in the car and after an extended period of silence (I was reading...or just daydreaming with a book open, which happens about 50% of the time that I appear to be "reading") she said the following to me:
"Jessica (or, more accurately, 'Jeshka'), have I said you that I am...diverse?"
Furrowed brow. My thought process: "Diverse? Diverse? What the heck does she mean by diverse? Like, multi-faceted? Does she have multiple personalities? Am I stuck in the car in bumper to bumper traffic with a crazy person?? Is she only half-Korean? Gosh this is awkward...I have no idea what to say..."
Hyun: "You know, I am diverse. I was married, but now I am diversed."
Me: "OH, DIVORCED! Divorced, right. Got it. Divorced. Yep."
This is how most of our conversations go. No wonder I have migraines.
Before I jet to post about ajummas, funny story from today:
I was teaching class 6-3 after lunch today when I heard a knock at the door. I look over and see a tiny first grade boy open the door. He looks up, sees me, his eyes get huge and he says -
"Oh my God."
And then he runs away.
I AM NOT A FREAK. I LOOK LIKE A NORMAL PERSON. PLEASE EXCUSE ME FOR BEING OF CAUCASIAN HERITAGE. These are the things I must repeat to myself on a daily basis. I actually laughed out loud when that happened though. I thought it was hilarious.
Onto the ajumma post, stay warm!!
Jess
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Check it out
MSNBC slideshow about Korean conflict through the years:
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.aspx?type=ss&launch=15818319,3032507&pg=1
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.aspx?type=ss&launch=15818319,3032507&pg=1
Monday, November 12, 2007
There goes my hero...
On Sunday at church, I got to meet a man that has had a significant impact in my life in a multitude of ways. He now joins Stephen among the ranks of my personal heroes. Who is this mystery man, you may ask, and what astounding contribution to society is he responsible for?
He was the primary developing force behind Kashi GoLean Crunch cereal.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Cereal? Really? You're personal hero is a cereal developer? People, hear me. Where would you be without cereal? Since the days of fighting with your siblings over who got to fish around for that worthless toy at the bottom of the box, through the Fruit Loop years, the sweet Lucky Charms mornings, the Cap'n Crunch revolution of your youth - cereal is who you've become. Its more than food. Its a sustaining life force, a symbol of our ever-evolving yet nostalgic generation. Its more than just a part of who we are - it represents who we've always desired to become.
Funny sidenote/cereal story: One time my mom bought 10 boxes of a cereal called "Golden Goals" because I think each box cost about $0.35. I still to this day remember how awful that cereal was and how it was the worst month of my life trying to work through 10 boxes of it. And we always had that rule, the one that stated "No one may open a new box of cereal until the previous box has been emptied". I still remember that. Vividly. Cereal is important.
And so as I was carrying around my gigantic box of cereal on Sunday (that Hilary bought for me at CostCo), I was stopped by a middle-aged Indian man, who exclaimed upon meeting me that he had been one of the key developers of Kashi in the late 1990s and that he personally helped the marketing team come up with the name "GoLean". He is now the CEO of Kellogg's in Asia, which means that he is CEREAL ROYALTY.
Now, this summer I saw important people everyday. I said "Hi" to Senators on a fairly regular basis. I had my picture taken with Newt Gingrich. I went to The President's Dinner. But all of that pales in comparison to meeting Cap'n Crunch himself. I can imagine his birthday parties...he probably fills the swimming pool with Frosted Flakes...Tony the Tiger gives the toast ("What can I say about these people? They're grrrrrreat!")...Snap, Crackle and Pop are making balloon animals for the kids...what a life.
Thank you, Mr. Kellogg's Man, for making my mornings so wholesome, for providing me with the most important meal of the day, and most importantly - for making my childhood just a little brighter. Thank you, Mr. Kellogg's Man, for being a hero to children everywhere. Thank you, Mr. Kellogg's man, for being my hero.
Feel free to leave any personal messages of gratitude, and I will pass them along.
He was the primary developing force behind Kashi GoLean Crunch cereal.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Cereal? Really? You're personal hero is a cereal developer? People, hear me. Where would you be without cereal? Since the days of fighting with your siblings over who got to fish around for that worthless toy at the bottom of the box, through the Fruit Loop years, the sweet Lucky Charms mornings, the Cap'n Crunch revolution of your youth - cereal is who you've become. Its more than food. Its a sustaining life force, a symbol of our ever-evolving yet nostalgic generation. Its more than just a part of who we are - it represents who we've always desired to become.
Funny sidenote/cereal story: One time my mom bought 10 boxes of a cereal called "Golden Goals" because I think each box cost about $0.35. I still to this day remember how awful that cereal was and how it was the worst month of my life trying to work through 10 boxes of it. And we always had that rule, the one that stated "No one may open a new box of cereal until the previous box has been emptied". I still remember that. Vividly. Cereal is important.
And so as I was carrying around my gigantic box of cereal on Sunday (that Hilary bought for me at CostCo), I was stopped by a middle-aged Indian man, who exclaimed upon meeting me that he had been one of the key developers of Kashi in the late 1990s and that he personally helped the marketing team come up with the name "GoLean". He is now the CEO of Kellogg's in Asia, which means that he is CEREAL ROYALTY.
Now, this summer I saw important people everyday. I said "Hi" to Senators on a fairly regular basis. I had my picture taken with Newt Gingrich. I went to The President's Dinner. But all of that pales in comparison to meeting Cap'n Crunch himself. I can imagine his birthday parties...he probably fills the swimming pool with Frosted Flakes...Tony the Tiger gives the toast ("What can I say about these people? They're grrrrrreat!")...Snap, Crackle and Pop are making balloon animals for the kids...what a life.
Thank you, Mr. Kellogg's Man, for making my mornings so wholesome, for providing me with the most important meal of the day, and most importantly - for making my childhood just a little brighter. Thank you, Mr. Kellogg's Man, for being a hero to children everywhere. Thank you, Mr. Kellogg's man, for being my hero.
Feel free to leave any personal messages of gratitude, and I will pass them along.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
3 things
3 things made my day extraordinary today:
1) One of my 5th grade students dropped by my classroom after lunch and gave me a small packet full of a powdery substance. She told me it was for my voice (I sort of lost my voice yesterday, you know, screaming at all the children) and so I thought it was one of those vitamin C powder packets that my students have given me before (they're all about the gifts in Korea). I opened it, dumped it in my mouth, and suddenly I felt a strange sensation on my tongue and loud popping noises erupted from my mouth.
Yes - it was Vitamin C Pop Rocks.
For the record, I find this to be the best invention since the wheel. If it were up to me, I would personally award the Nobel Peace Prize to the inventor of such a monumental asset to society. They should make all vitamins in Pop Rocks form; I mean, how healthy would our kids be?!? Moving on...
2) I purchased a drink out of a vending machine at the subway station as I was heading home from Bible Study, as is customary for me. I studied the vending machine, trying to make out just what exactly it contained. There were the regulars - cans of coffee, Chilsung Cider (think Sprite, but better), Coke, assorted juices, aloe vera juice (GROSS), something called "Nostalgia Juice" (which I can only imagine tastes like warm, fuzzy memories of chestnuts roasting on an open fire) - and then I spotted a bottle with a peach picture on it. Now, peach juice sounded really good at the time, so I put my coins in and retrieved the beverage. I took a sip and suddenly realized -
There were chunks in it. Now, when you crack open a bottle of juice, I don't care what kind of juice, you may expect pulp, you may expect a thick, fresh fruity consistency, but my friend, you do not expect chunks. These chunks were righteously-sized too, and I was thankful I hadn't choked on them before I knew what hit me. They were just chunks of peaches, and actually the drink turned out to be quite refreshing, after the initial shock wore off, of course. And finally...
3) As some of you know, ever since I took listening tests in Spanish I in middle school, it has been my lifelong dream to be the voice of narration on foreign language audio tapes. Now, this may seem like a strange dream to have, but you wouldn't believe how many times I was told that I'd be perfect for this job. And today, I got my chance.
Hyun asked me if I would help her make a listening test for the 3rd graders ("I like apples. Do you like apples? No, I like grapes."). So we made an entire unit review test for them, and just as I had imagined for so many years, I rocked. I mean, the tone, the inflection, the rhythm - it was all there, flowing in an intricate pattern of nouns and verbs so poetic that Lord Byron himself wept from beyond the grave.
Okay, that's it. Quite a notable day, wouldn't you say? :)
Jess
1) One of my 5th grade students dropped by my classroom after lunch and gave me a small packet full of a powdery substance. She told me it was for my voice (I sort of lost my voice yesterday, you know, screaming at all the children) and so I thought it was one of those vitamin C powder packets that my students have given me before (they're all about the gifts in Korea). I opened it, dumped it in my mouth, and suddenly I felt a strange sensation on my tongue and loud popping noises erupted from my mouth.
Yes - it was Vitamin C Pop Rocks.
For the record, I find this to be the best invention since the wheel. If it were up to me, I would personally award the Nobel Peace Prize to the inventor of such a monumental asset to society. They should make all vitamins in Pop Rocks form; I mean, how healthy would our kids be?!? Moving on...
2) I purchased a drink out of a vending machine at the subway station as I was heading home from Bible Study, as is customary for me. I studied the vending machine, trying to make out just what exactly it contained. There were the regulars - cans of coffee, Chilsung Cider (think Sprite, but better), Coke, assorted juices, aloe vera juice (GROSS), something called "Nostalgia Juice" (which I can only imagine tastes like warm, fuzzy memories of chestnuts roasting on an open fire) - and then I spotted a bottle with a peach picture on it. Now, peach juice sounded really good at the time, so I put my coins in and retrieved the beverage. I took a sip and suddenly realized -
There were chunks in it. Now, when you crack open a bottle of juice, I don't care what kind of juice, you may expect pulp, you may expect a thick, fresh fruity consistency, but my friend, you do not expect chunks. These chunks were righteously-sized too, and I was thankful I hadn't choked on them before I knew what hit me. They were just chunks of peaches, and actually the drink turned out to be quite refreshing, after the initial shock wore off, of course. And finally...
3) As some of you know, ever since I took listening tests in Spanish I in middle school, it has been my lifelong dream to be the voice of narration on foreign language audio tapes. Now, this may seem like a strange dream to have, but you wouldn't believe how many times I was told that I'd be perfect for this job. And today, I got my chance.
Hyun asked me if I would help her make a listening test for the 3rd graders ("I like apples. Do you like apples? No, I like grapes."). So we made an entire unit review test for them, and just as I had imagined for so many years, I rocked. I mean, the tone, the inflection, the rhythm - it was all there, flowing in an intricate pattern of nouns and verbs so poetic that Lord Byron himself wept from beyond the grave.
Okay, that's it. Quite a notable day, wouldn't you say? :)
Jess
Monday, November 5, 2007
My apartment
In other news, I cleaned my apartment this week. So now you can see pictures of where I live! Prepare to be impressed:
Well, this is it. And I actually had to step out into the hallway to take this picture.
This is the laundry area/kitchen. As you can see, my countertop space is extensive.
This is...the bedroom...actually its just the right half of my apartment.
This is my desk. Notice the pom-pom covered jar in the back - my cousin Kenzie ran around her house collecting "Indiana air" for me to take with me to Korea.
Here's the bathroom. Wait - where's the shower, you ask?
It's right there, silly - can't you see the hose attached to the wall? Its nice though, you clean the bathroom every time you shower.
The utility closet; I prefer to call it the "Bonus Room" or "Extra Bedroom without heat" or even "Room full of useless things".
The pantry: chips, ramen, crackers, peanut butter, tea, cookies, bread, vitamins - that's well-balanced, right?
I'm killing the plant.
Well, this is it. And I actually had to step out into the hallway to take this picture.
This is the laundry area/kitchen. As you can see, my countertop space is extensive.
This is...the bedroom...actually its just the right half of my apartment.
This is my desk. Notice the pom-pom covered jar in the back - my cousin Kenzie ran around her house collecting "Indiana air" for me to take with me to Korea.
Here's the bathroom. Wait - where's the shower, you ask?
It's right there, silly - can't you see the hose attached to the wall? Its nice though, you clean the bathroom every time you shower.
The utility closet; I prefer to call it the "Bonus Room" or "Extra Bedroom without heat" or even "Room full of useless things".
The pantry: chips, ramen, crackers, peanut butter, tea, cookies, bread, vitamins - that's well-balanced, right?
I'm killing the plant.
Howdy!
Hey -
I apologize for the extended absence, for some reason, Blogger locked me out of my own account ("How rude!" as Stephanie Tanner would say). Not only was I unable to view, update or edit my own blog, but I was unable to read anyone else's...so I've got some reading to do. But first, let me tell you about my latest adventures here on the peninsula known as Korea.
Bible Study has been going really well. We're studying Romans and its INTENSE! We're each doing it chapter-by-chapter and preparing in our own unique ways. I think I've been Nav-brainwashed because I can't seem to do anything other than inductive studies - I just LOVE THEM! We're actually using NavPress studies for the next round which starts in January (we'll be going through Hebrews). God has been revealing things to me lately about His Word and has allowed me to view things in a new and exciting way...sometimes its so intense that I for an instant get a glimpse of understanding, and then have to try to get back to it and can actually feel my brain doubling back on itself trying to understand, and I have to stop whatever I'm doing to concentrate really hard. Its really awesome, and I don't know how to really explain this phenomenon accurately, but yeah...anyway... :)
I got a Korean cell phone (with my friend Ruda's help) on Saturday...now I just have to figure out how to use it...
Yesterday I did something I never in a million years would've thought I could do. And why I ever wanted to do it is beyond my comprehension, but I did it. And I'm very proud of myself. So what earth-shattering, mind-boggling event did I participate in yesterday?
I went to the "Doctor Fish".
If you're not Korean or familiar with Korea, you probably have no idea what Doctor Fish are. Well, buckle up, because here we go:
The Doctor Fish cafe looks like any other posh Korean cafe - expensive coffees and teas, coffee table books about Leonardo da Vinci, fake fireplaces, comfy chairs, elaborate architecture and so on. But at the Doctor Fish cafe, for a small fee (think about $3), you can go out onto the rooftop terrace overlooking the neon-lit neighborhood, rinse off your feet, wrap yourself in a (fake) Burberry fleece blanket and soak your feet in a nice, big pool of warm water, decorated nicely with ferns and flowers, and let thousands of small fish eat the dead skin off of your feet.
NO. JOKE.
Now, as many of you know, I have had a fish phobia ever since I can remember. I don't like aquariums, I don't like eating fish, I don't like the smell of anything fishy, I don't like fishing, shows about fishing, or talking about shows about fishing. I don't - like - fish. So I really can't explain why exactly I decided to put my feet in a tank full of them. Perhaps peer pressure. I kept thinking of the irony that I spent almost every summer of my life at some lake trying to avoid this very situation, and now I was paying people to let me do it. I think I've officially lost it.
I almost had a panic attack when I got to the tank. Now keep in mind, these fish are very small. Like minnow size. And so slowly, I put my feet in, hoping against hope that having the dead skin eaten off my feet was a pleasant if not a nonexistent feeling. But it wasn't. I don't know exactly how to describe it...it kind of feels like a bunch of cats licking your feet. At first it tickled like you wouldn't believe, and the tickling sensation soon overwhelmed my mental powers of denial that were keeping me calm and cool...my thought process went like this:
"It's okay, just put your feet in slowly, don't squish the fish DON'T SQUISH THE FISH, oh my gosh, how awful would that be to smash one on accident, with its little fishy guts, what would happen to his family - OKAY KEEP IT TOGETHER JESS - right, slowly lowering feet, oh htis isn't so bad, okay they're swarming, it tickles a little...okay it tickles a LOT, calm, collected, I'm fine, everythings fine I - OH MY GOSH MY FOOT IS COVERED IN FIIIIISH!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!". Repeat that cycle 4 or 5 times, and that's roughly what happened.
The good news is that Randi took a video of some of the experience and posted it on YouTube. So, for your enjoyment, I give you this glimpse of Dr. Fish experience - only in Korea!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sBxamr1HX-8
Apparently there's a place where you can do "whole-body" Dr. Fish. I'll be going there never.
That's about it for now, I'll post some pictures soon. Hope you had a Happy Halloween!!
Jess
I apologize for the extended absence, for some reason, Blogger locked me out of my own account ("How rude!" as Stephanie Tanner would say). Not only was I unable to view, update or edit my own blog, but I was unable to read anyone else's...so I've got some reading to do. But first, let me tell you about my latest adventures here on the peninsula known as Korea.
Bible Study has been going really well. We're studying Romans and its INTENSE! We're each doing it chapter-by-chapter and preparing in our own unique ways. I think I've been Nav-brainwashed because I can't seem to do anything other than inductive studies - I just LOVE THEM! We're actually using NavPress studies for the next round which starts in January (we'll be going through Hebrews). God has been revealing things to me lately about His Word and has allowed me to view things in a new and exciting way...sometimes its so intense that I for an instant get a glimpse of understanding, and then have to try to get back to it and can actually feel my brain doubling back on itself trying to understand, and I have to stop whatever I'm doing to concentrate really hard. Its really awesome, and I don't know how to really explain this phenomenon accurately, but yeah...anyway... :)
I got a Korean cell phone (with my friend Ruda's help) on Saturday...now I just have to figure out how to use it...
Yesterday I did something I never in a million years would've thought I could do. And why I ever wanted to do it is beyond my comprehension, but I did it. And I'm very proud of myself. So what earth-shattering, mind-boggling event did I participate in yesterday?
I went to the "Doctor Fish".
If you're not Korean or familiar with Korea, you probably have no idea what Doctor Fish are. Well, buckle up, because here we go:
The Doctor Fish cafe looks like any other posh Korean cafe - expensive coffees and teas, coffee table books about Leonardo da Vinci, fake fireplaces, comfy chairs, elaborate architecture and so on. But at the Doctor Fish cafe, for a small fee (think about $3), you can go out onto the rooftop terrace overlooking the neon-lit neighborhood, rinse off your feet, wrap yourself in a (fake) Burberry fleece blanket and soak your feet in a nice, big pool of warm water, decorated nicely with ferns and flowers, and let thousands of small fish eat the dead skin off of your feet.
NO. JOKE.
Now, as many of you know, I have had a fish phobia ever since I can remember. I don't like aquariums, I don't like eating fish, I don't like the smell of anything fishy, I don't like fishing, shows about fishing, or talking about shows about fishing. I don't - like - fish. So I really can't explain why exactly I decided to put my feet in a tank full of them. Perhaps peer pressure. I kept thinking of the irony that I spent almost every summer of my life at some lake trying to avoid this very situation, and now I was paying people to let me do it. I think I've officially lost it.
I almost had a panic attack when I got to the tank. Now keep in mind, these fish are very small. Like minnow size. And so slowly, I put my feet in, hoping against hope that having the dead skin eaten off my feet was a pleasant if not a nonexistent feeling. But it wasn't. I don't know exactly how to describe it...it kind of feels like a bunch of cats licking your feet. At first it tickled like you wouldn't believe, and the tickling sensation soon overwhelmed my mental powers of denial that were keeping me calm and cool...my thought process went like this:
"It's okay, just put your feet in slowly, don't squish the fish DON'T SQUISH THE FISH, oh my gosh, how awful would that be to smash one on accident, with its little fishy guts, what would happen to his family - OKAY KEEP IT TOGETHER JESS - right, slowly lowering feet, oh htis isn't so bad, okay they're swarming, it tickles a little...okay it tickles a LOT, calm, collected, I'm fine, everythings fine I - OH MY GOSH MY FOOT IS COVERED IN FIIIIISH!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!". Repeat that cycle 4 or 5 times, and that's roughly what happened.
The good news is that Randi took a video of some of the experience and posted it on YouTube. So, for your enjoyment, I give you this glimpse of Dr. Fish experience - only in Korea!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sBxamr1HX-8
Apparently there's a place where you can do "whole-body" Dr. Fish. I'll be going there never.
That's about it for now, I'll post some pictures soon. Hope you had a Happy Halloween!!
Jess
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