Extreme Dating

Having a boyfriend or girlfriend seems like a necessity for Koreans.  But dating here isn't quite like dating in the U.S.  The more serious you are, the more matchy-matchy your wardrobes become.  You know a couple is madly, deeply in love when they become identical twins.  Picture same colored shoes, same type of pant (generally jeans), and matching shirts or sweatshirts.  No, I'm not lying.  They actually match.  On purpose.

Being in a relationship doesn't just mean dressing the part (wow, big shocker here in Korea).  There are also a plethora of couples' holidays with their own rules and regulations.
11/11 - Pepero Day: The 1s look like a treat the Koreans eat called "Pepero."  It tastes and looks like a very skinny pretzel or breadstick that's covered in chocolate.  Both men and women exchange Pepero on this day.
12/25 - Christmas: Enough said.
1/1 - New Years:  Most couples don't kiss out in public, but on midnight all the lights Myong-dong (a popular shopping area and tourist attraction) are turned off so that all the couples who have gathered there can kiss without others seeing it.
2/14 - Valentine's Day: Only the women give men chocolate.
3/`4 - White Day: Only the men give women candy.
4/14 - Black Day: On this day, all single men and women go to Chinese restaurants and order "black noodles."  It's a yummy noodle dish with a black bean sauce poured over it.  Supposedly it's a way for the singles to mingle and hopefully find a significant other.
5/14 - Rose Day: All the men give their girlfriends roses.
6/14 - Ring Day: This is a big day for engagements, but both men and women will exchange rings.  Even those in middle and high school will exchange simple bands.
7/14 - Kiss Day: I think you get the pictures.
8/14 - Sex Day: Yep.  They have a day dedicated to sex.  I was totally shocked, too.

I believe September and October 14 both have special meanings attached to the date but Peter (my former Korean tutor) couldn't remember what they were.  I think all Americans would stop complaining about remembering and buying gifts for their significant other on their anniversaries and Valentine's Day if they knew what happened in Korea.  I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day!

Thailand

 I spent 5 amazing days in Thailand and I can't wait to go back.  Coming back to Korea was so hard.  I stayed in Krabi (a.k.a. James Bond Island) which is near Phuket.  It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.  I've never seen foliage and rock formations quite like this anywhere else in the world.  When we landed in Krabi we took a bus that was bursting at the seams with people and luggage to a pier where we had to take a boat to our hotel.  When we got out of the bus we were informed that we had to carry our luggage to the boat.  No big deal right?  Wrong!  We had to drag our suitcases down stairs, through sand, and then carry them over our heads onto the "boat."  If we had known this maybe we wouldn't have packed so much!  The boat was a long wooden boat that went no faster than 20 mph.  We bought a few beers and then crammed together all the while praying that the boat wouldn't sink from the weight of the bags and people.  The beers weren't twist-offs like we thought, so with the use of a sturdy belt buckle we were able to pry open the tops.  We quickly forgot about all our worries and went into pure vacation mode thanks to the beauty that surrounded us took.  It literally took our breaths away.

Once we got to our hotel we changed into our suits and laid out on the gorgeous beach.  The tide in Thailand is quite drastic.  At high tide there was about 20 ft. of beach to lay out on.  At low tide, though, the water receded out so far it looked like it would never come back.  The next 4 days were spent in pure bliss.  The weather was perfect, the people were kind, the food was delicious, and the Thai massages were so cheap we had a couple throughout our stay.  Everything in Thailand is ridiculously cheap: delicious curry for $2-4, fresh fruit smoothies for $1.25, and hour-long massages hovered right around $10.  We did some shopping for handmade goods and bartered with the locals.  We even got to see monkeys swinging around the trees at our hotel.

We explored the surrounding islands by kayak, boat, and snorkeling and scuba adventures.  Kayaks were so cheap to rent so we explored some caverns and a neighboring island.  One day we took a two hour boat ride to Ko Phi Phi (where the movie "The Beach" was filmed and also rated one of the best beaches from a movie) where we went scuba diving.  The water was so warm and we saw some eel, giant sea clams, bright coral, beautiful fish, and swam through caves.  I felt just like the Little Mermaid.  There were only about 6 other people with us so we got to know them really well.  It was a great day.  The next day we went on a 4-island snorkel tour.  There were so many people we had to split up into two boats.  There was a huge Italian family with 13 people and they were quite the party.  Unfortunately they weren't well versed in snorkeling etiquette and stepped all over a bunch of coral and then onto a sea urchin.  Needless to say our 20 year-old German guide was not to happy.  He was quite the character and was the epitome of a laid-back, carefree, "no problem man" islander attitude.  I thought he was hilarious but he definitely got on the nerves of some of our companions.  We had a beach bonfire after watching the sunset and ate delicious curry.  Then we did a night snorkel where we saw the "glowing" kelp.

I was not excited about leaving this tropical paradise and return to the frigid arctic of Korea.  Ok, frigid arctic might be a slight exaggeration but that's what it feels like to me.  Let's just say I'm ready for spring to be here.  I was not made for winter so hopefully spring will bloom soon.  I'm hoping to get to Japan at the beginning of June to climb Mt. Fuji!  After being to Thailand I'm dying to see other parts of Southeast Asia.  Whenever I leave Korea I would love to spend a couple months going around Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Bali, back to Thailand, and maybe Laos.

You can CALL me!!

Just discovered how you all in the States can call me if you ever want to.  It only took me four months but I figured it out.  Here's my cell number:

82-010-3957-5263

Make sure you dial the 82 because that's the country code.  I don't think you dial a 1 before it though, because that's the U.S. calling code.  Hope this works.

Doctor Fish

On New Year's Day, Karin, her mom, and I decided to go to Gangnam and have a pedicure of sorts, minus the nail polish.  I'm sure you're confused so let me explain.  There are some cafes here that are called "Dr. Fish" cafes.  Basically, you pay for a coffee drink (our cafe also gave you unlimited bread), and then you get to stick your feet in these little pools with a bunch of little fish in them that eat the dead skin off your feet.  I was grossed out and skeptical, but when in Korea, do what the Koreans do.  So we went, sipped our coffee, and prepared ourselves for what would take place.  After we'd been eyeing the pools for about 45 minutes, we finally took off our shoes and made the plunge.  It was the weirdest feeling!  All these little fish swam right up to your feet and just started...eating.  The best way I can describe it would be electric vibrations.  It didn't hurt but it definitely tickled.  We sat there for 15 minutes, cleaned off our feet, and examined the work.  I couldn't tell a difference but it was a fun experience.

The Preparation

The Plunge

While walking around Gangnam, we ran into some other funny Konglish.  Enjoy!

Korea: "2011 - Happy Walking"  

 Me: "Thanks?"

Korea: "I'm having fun alone.  Please be with me."

Me: "I don't get it."

A Housewife

I have the most adorable boss.  I can't say enough good things about her.  Before we had our "winter break," which was only two days long, Mrs. Kim had mentioned that she wanted to take me to dinner for my birthday.  Over my four-day weekend I didn't hear from her.  I was busy spending time with my friend Karin and her mom who was visiting so I didn't think anything of it.  Last night, Sunday, Mrs. Kim called me.  She wished me a happy new year and then apologized for not calling me over the weekend to take me to dinner.  She explained that she was too busy because she worked on Thursday, our first day off, rested on Friday, and then was in church for basically the next 48 hours.  This woman goes to church more than anyone else I know.  She loves God so much and really wants to do whatever she is called to do.  She told me that she was praying about this upcoming year and was trying to open her heart to do God's will.  Anyways, she said that she wanted to take me out to dinner tonight (Monday), and then she told me she loved me before she hung up the phone.  I was a little taken back.  Koreans seem to be pretty stoic and I was shocked that she said that to me.  I've felt a little disconnected from her lately because one of the women who worked at the front desk quit so she's hand her hands busy filling in for her.  Plus, her son is about to start high school and is deciding where he wants to go and if she wants to move with him to be closer to him.

Tonight at dinner (soup with seafood which included prawns, mussels, clams, squid and other things I couldn't identify) she told me that her boyfriend, Mr. Yu, wants his daughter to meet me.  Mr. Yu is so nice, but hardly speaks English.  Mrs. Kim told me, though, that his daughter speaks English really well so I'm hoping to meet her soon.  Last week I made some banana bread and gave some of it to Mrs. Kim.  At dinner she told me she loved it and wants the recipe.  After we talked about the recipe she told me she thought I would make a great housewife because I could cook and clean (she mentioned how clean my apartment was when she brought me chicken soup).  Hahahaha, isn't that hilarious!?!?  I didn't really know how to take that.  Obviously she meant it as a compliment since she's Korean and the Korean society is completely patriarchal and revolves around men, but I feel like the term "housewife" has a negative connotation in the U.S.  Anyways, I thought it was funny and cute that she would say that.

Another funny thing happened today when I was at the bank.  There is only one man/teller that I talk to when I go to transfer money home because he's the only one that can speak English.  He's so nice and just got married about a month ago.  Last month when I went he had just gotten back from his honeymoon and I just happened to bring in some pumpkin muffins to thank him for being so nice and helping me whenever I went in.  Today was the first time I'd seen him since then.  When I got there he told me that he and his wife loved the muffins and that his wife really wanted to meet me.  We exchanged phone numbers so that we could be in touch.  When I left he said that they wanted to meet me at the movie theater near the subway station.  Isn't that so nice?

I've definitely learned that small acts of kindness can mean a lot more to someone than you originally intended.  I feel like I have to reach out to Koreans to be friends with them.  I think they're really shy about speaking English to a native-speaker so it's been good for me to go out of my comfort zone and really make an effort to be outgoing.  I hope they find me approachable . . . but one of my co-teachers who's usually as quiet as a mouse has been talking to me a lot more which is really exciting for me.

More to come about Christmas day and New Year's . . . sorry, I know I've been slacking.  Happy New Year to you all.  I hope 2011 is your best year yet, that you are filled with joy, and blessed with happiness, health, and prosperity.

Christmas Eve

After the birthday celebration, we were all tired to say the least.  We slept in and eventually made our way down for breakfast.  Just as I was about to take a bite of yogurt, I looked up and who did I see?!?  None other than the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders walking into the buffet.  What the heck were they doing in Korea?  Apparently they were here on official Santa business - bringing Christmas cheer to all the troops who are stationed here.

After breakfast we had a little bit of downtime to just hang before we made our way back into Seoul.  We had lunch with the Stewart Family at the most amazing Nepalese restaurant called Everest.  The sweet potato curry is my new obsession . . . to die for!!  These are the remnants of our meal.

This restaurant is reason enough to come visit Korea (hint hint).

Even cute little Lia (Kim and Todd's adopted daughter from China) enjoyed her naan - she was thinking quite hard about where her next bite would be.

It was also Kim's birthday so it was great to be able to celebrate with her.

The subway ride home from lunch was interesting . . . I love it when Korean grandmas fall asleep on my shoulder.  People fall asleep all the time on the subways and buses.  It's amazing to me that they don't miss their stops.  Or maybe they do.  Who knows?  But as you can tell, "personal space" is a foreign concept here.

Mrs. Hogan gave us all light up Christmas necklaces to wear on our way to Christmas Eve dinner.  I bet you can guess which one is the America . . . 

Christmas Eve was spent amongst great friends.  It was such a comfort to me to be around
1. friends from Korea AND Colorado (Charissa on the right, Shannon in the middle),

2. about 20 people, which made me feel a little more at home since I'm used to spending Christmas Eve with about 40-50 people!  This picture doesn't do it justice, but we had quite the crowd gathered at the Husted's.

I was feeling a little homesick, but the food was delicious and the company even better.

It was hard saying goodbye to the Hogan's and I was extremely envious that they were going to escape the bitter cold of Korea for the warm sandy beaches and sunshine of Boracay.  But atleast I have Thailand to look forward to - just about a month away!

Birthday Celebrations Korean Style

The Hogan's came to Korea for a couple days to visit Kelly before they escaped the frigid country to spend the rest of the holiday season on the tropical island of Boracay in the Philippines.  I was able to get my birthday off of work so I spent the day showing them around Seoul.  It was great to have some friends in town from Colorado.  It made it seem a little more like home.  Here are some highlights from December 23.









Sean made me a birthday flower with a hidden birthday card inside.

Then I was showered with gifts from my mom and the Hogans - natural peanut butter, magazines, spices, gingerbread mix, Kashi cereal, and granola just to name a few.  Thank you thank you!!














The hotel gave me a birthday chocolate muffin, candle and all.











The Marriott hotel was beautifully decorated with lights, Christmas trees, and giant gingerbread houses.  It satisfied my Christmas spirit, but leaving the festive atmosphere, the giant marble bathroom, and the spacious room for my little apartment was depressing to say the least.  But atleast I got a little mini vacation for a couple days!







On the subway ride back from dinner with Kelly's Korean co-teachers, I was a little nervous that this is what my birthday celebration would look like.

       

But after the bartender brought us 4 free tequila shots taken without salt and chased with a lemon instead of a lime, our spirits and energy had improved and only shenanigans could follow...

...including a unique version of "White Christmas" sung by the one and only Kelly Hogan, which was hilariously interrupted by a brief Irish jig she felt inspired to do.

Needless to say, my birthday was one I'll never forget.  Thank you to the Hogan's for spending the day with me.  Also a big thank you to my friends and family who sent me cards and birthday packages.  I was deeply touched by your thoughtfulness and generosity.  It meant so much to me to know that I haven't been forgotten about!