31.09.13

Shannah and I found a beach today! It was amazing to lay there in the sand with the sun on us and the wind keeping us cool. 

We even got a bit pink! 

I put my headphones in and listened to some worship music. It's crazy how the beach can just make me feel more connected to God. It was almost instant. It feels like home, even on a beach in Pohang, miles away from any kind of familiarity. 

I was so peaceful watching the waves roll in and the sailboats gliding along the horizon.

28.08.13

Seeing as my classes were over by lunch time, Rebekah let me hang out with Christine for the afternoon, which was so nice of her.

We had lunch at the Japanese restaurant, went to the bank, and then we watched a movie at home. It was a lovely way to spend the remaining few hours of Korea-friendship.

After we said goodbye I got sad. It feels like God gave me such a good friend just to take her away after only a few moments. I'll miss the games, movies, and her terrible attempts at the NZ accent.

Till next time in America or NZ!

After staff dinner I went to church with a few teachers. Weird.

27.08.12

Even on a morning I really didn't want to get out of bed, I can't stay mad at the world for long because the leisurely stroll to school (I left early!) melted all my bitterness. Not because it was so hot and humid, but quite the opposite. I stepped outside and the air was crisp so walking through patches of warm sunlight through the trees was very pleasant indeed.

Nothing like some fresh air to make you feel blessed, even on a five classes day.

26.08.13

It's tough to sleep when there are so many other fun things you could be doing. I tossed and turned, unable to relax because talking was too much fun.

I even got out of bed around 12:30 and started demonstrating pilates to Christine. 

We have a lot of fun just chilling. I'll certainly miss it!

(I'm going to be so tired tomorrow!)

25.08.13

Today after church we went out for coffee and food because it was the last chance for people to hang with Christine. It was really cool to get to know people a bit better, especially to start having some guy friends. I didn't realise how much I'd missed it.

I also got to talk to a great South African. She's so much fun. I'm going to try get invited to more of these things! 

Christine came back to my apartment cos she's staying a few nights before she goes home. She unleashed more gifts on me! 

The best was her deck of Monopoly Deal! Whenever I play it I'll not only think of her but recall all the times I beat her with that very same deck. 

It'll be glorious!

Working out gave me sore knees and they look weird

24.08.13

Dani and I had an adventure this morning. We went and got our hair cut at this salon which came recommended by a few other foreign teachers.

As we mad our way across Daegu we chatted away about why we love going to the hairdressers. The shampoo, head massage, sound of the scissors, free coffee, and the blow wave. We tried not to get too excited in case it was a let down, but we weren't too successful. 

When we arrived they were a bit confused about there being two of us but they welcomed us anyway. Three ladies took our bags, signed us in, and wrapped us in coats before whisking Dani away to the shampoo sinks and me to the chair. 

Rats! No shampoo and head massage for me!

That's ok though because she took so much care with my hair. It was exactly what I asked for. Plus I got my coffee. They had a legit barrista and machine. 

It was such a fun morning and worked out to be a little over $20. Ridiculously good!

This little kid was so cool with his pants and his perm

I made almond milk!

23.08.13

Tonight I went to a leaving dinner for Afia and Christine and I made a new friend! I sat next to Michelle and we just talked for ages. It was really cool to get to know her.

I forget that I'm not so bad at talking to new people. A lot of the time I just stick to the people I already know, and I don't do more than introduce myself to others, if I even go that far. It's good to be reminded that I actually enjoy new conversations with different people.

At our table for a long time we talked about films. There was a guy who knows a lot about it, and it was just so interesting. I never knew I missed talking about all that sort of thing. I felt so proud to say I'd seen and loved Chungking Express, one of his favourite films. Thanks FTVMS 205 (Hong Kong Cinema)!

22.08.13

I went for a run in the rain tonight and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was definitely very short, and I obviously need to run more, but it wasn't too unpleasant.

The rain meant that there were very few people out to see me, and even as I ran past the restaurant I didn't care very much.

Running in the Bays was so lame because I had about a 100% chance of someone I knew driving past my sweaty, red faced self. Here there's a handful of students about, but hardly enough to worry.

People stare when I'm just walking anyway, so why not make it more interesting for them?

But yes, after scoffing at ever running again, I have decided that I will do it every time it rains, and even when it doesn't. I shall be a runner.

I looks so good afterwards, it'd be a crime not to anyway.

21.08.13

Today I got to wear my new jellies to school because it was raining! I was so excited.

There's nothing like a new pair of shoes to add that little spring to your step in the face of a long day.

Even if those shoes aren't the most comfortable. They're the best colour!

20.08.13

On the way home from dinner downtown it started raining. I was headed home so I decided against buying a fifth umbrella and embraced the rain.

It felt amazing. I splashed and skipped my way through the empty streets, catching droplets on my arms and my tongue.

I almost started singing, "standing outside with my mouth open wide, singing ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah."

It feels good to be child-like sometimes.

19.08.13

Goodness me today was a long day. It seems I'm a little rusty at this teaching thing after so many weeks of holidays. By the end of the day I was ready to crash.

There were a few delights, like the way my students came into class looking happy, waving and smiling as they said hello. Some of them even said that they didn't have a good vacation because they didn't get to see me.

I'm going to pretend that one was completely genuine and not an attempt to grab some points.

18.08.13

It was really nice to see Shannah today. She's went home during the holidays so I haven't seen her for ages. We talked the whole way on the bus after she almost missed it. Boy that was a nail-biter!

It's also so good to feel that God is teaching me stuff through our friendship. How to best represent him, and how to be honest about what I believe.

I learned about love today from our conversation.

17.08.13

I really feel like I'm settling in. My friendships are cementing, and it feels nice to wander about "my" streets like I really know them.

Dinner with Nicole is always a lovely experience. Tonight we managed to talk for four hours! All about this, that, and the other. Some chatty fun talk about boys, and other stuff that matters. She's doing well to convince me to live in Scotland at some stage, apart from all the talk about getting beaten up for wearing football colours in the wrong area. That's a bit scary.

We were wandering around trying to find a place downtown, and found ourselves actually navigating our way through the web of streets! I remember the first time venturing out when we arrived and thinking I'd never know my way around. It's actually happening! It feels very nice.

This kid was an absolute nightmare for his mum, but he just wanted to lay down. The man did a good job of ignoring the kid who nestled his head into his bum.

16.08.13

Dani came over tonight and we made a veggie and quinoa lasagne for dinner. It was the first time I've seen her since she left for the Philippines and it was so nice! I missed her smiling face.

We watched a spy movie and she told me that she could see me being a spy! it was the biggest compliment anyone has ever paid me! Ever since I watched ALIAS at the age of 12 I've wanted to be one so bad! I couldn't focus in the movie because I just kept thinking about what it would be like.

After the movie I felt like playing guitar and to my pleasant surprise, I found out Dani can play too! It was lots of fun as we went through our repertoires (not much because I only know worship songs). After a while we found ourselves doing a pretty terrible but entirely amazing rendition of Miley Cyrus' "We Won't Stop". It really was truly inspirational. 

I'll keep you posted about the impending cover video, complete with twerking and egg lip gloss of course!

15.08.13

Christine and I awoke to the beautiful sound of Zachary Levi's voice and she hopped onto my bed and we talked for a while. It reminded me of when Amy used to do that and it made me feel happy.

After we ate some cereal I thrashed her at a couple of games of Monopoly Deal and then she repaid me by winning at Pairs. She's a machine. 

Then she complained that she couldn't do a handstand so we tried some against my wall and collapsed from laughter when we both almost stuck our feet through the wall. My poor neighbours. 

Then for way too long we played this app game from Ellen where one person puts the phone on their forehead and the other person acts it out or explains it. Oh man it was fun. I really appreciate how much she loves games. I didn't realise that I did until we started hanging out. 

The funniest thing happened when she was acting out a kind of dance. One moment she was skipping around and the next she was flat on her back. It was incredibly hilarious. 

Who knew two people could be so entertained for a day in one box-sized room!

14.08.13

I met Christine for dinner tonight and then she came to my place to watch a movie and play games.

This girl really knows how to hang out. We have so much fun and it's just so easy. 

At dinner the most incredible thing happened. The new Miley Cyrus song came on and I mentioned how Dani and I wanted the egg lip gloss from the video so bad! Christine puts her hand into the bag of goodies from her stuff she had brought me because she was leaving and pulls out the exact stuff I was talking about! She had bought it on a visit to the states and hadn't used it so when she was dividing her stuff to give to people she just happened to pick me!

I was stoked! Also, she gave me so many awesome things that I thought it was Christmas without the wrapping paper.

My neighbour bought me grapes!

You too can be white like Beyonce!

I went to the dentist.

!!!

13.08.13

I had lofty dreams of lying on a beach somewhere, basking in the sun and bathing in the water today, but I decided I had a lot of things to do instead.

I put my time to good use and found a coffee shop suitable for writing my EPIK application to Seoul for next year. I banged it out in a couple of hours and made a 'to-do' list of all the documents I need. 

I feel very accomplished and kind of excited/apprehensive to be applying again. Turns out I have to get a recommendation from my co-teacher before I can even apply. That's not going to be a fun conversation. But if I get in it'll totally be worth it. 

12.08.13

I woke with an absolute start when I reached over and saw the time on my phone was 8:55! I should have been at school 40 minutes ago and a teachers meeting was in 5 minutes. I chucked on the nearest clothes, barely brushed my teeth, and ran out the door.

When I arrived at school, I breathlessly asked another teacher where the meeting was. She told me I shouldn't go so I went to my office, slightly gutted that I rushed so much. 

I thought I'd be in a bit of trouble for my tardiness, but Rebekah shrugged it off and said it was fine, then she said she would treat me to lunch and asked if I wanted to come back after. Without a beat I answered, "not particularly" because I am the queen of sass and she said I didn't have to. 

She also didn't want to come the following two days, and due to another TB outbreak (20 whole students this time!), I could skive off too. 

What a beautiful situation!

This is the crazy busy restaurant we ate lunch in. Chicken ginseng soup for the third hottest day of the year.

Summer toes.

11.08.13

3am giggles can be caused by the smallest of jokes. In this case it was thigh drumming and Celine singing. They are the best kind of giggles because you are lying down and the sound they make only adds to the hilarity.

I blame my late night tiramisu for the lack of sleep in my case, but I don't regret it!

This guy just kept looking at me through the crack!

10.08.13

Today we saw Yujeong! Yay! I was so looking forward to seeing her and she was just as beautiful as ever, and as lovely. We ate at a yummy buffet that had REAL everything. Yoghurt, fruit, ice cream, pasta, and cheesecake. Oh boy the cheesecake was unreal. I didn't realise how much I'd missed it.

After meeting Yujeong we went to Itaewon and had dinner at this Hungarian restaurant. Oh man it was yum and so meaty. I don't know how they get the potatoes so good either. Perfection. They brought out Lucy's meal super late so he told us dessert was on him except Lucy couldn't eat any of the stuff on the menu so we exited before it got awkward. He seemed genuinely disappointed that we didn't stay and even offered to provide it next time. Lucy explained and he was so nice about it.

We went in search of gluten and dairy free desserts and came to The Flying Pan Blue (our brunch place) again. Lucy got to eat cake! I'm so happy for her. And I had real tiramisu. It was so incredibly rich though and had a very strong shot of espresso poured all over it. No sleep tonight!

There definitely was not much sleeping! But we had fun chatting.

09.08.13

Today we met Lucy's roommate from orientation, Bri, and hung out with her in Gangnam and Hongdae.

She was an absolute character, and we certainly had a laugh. At one point the subway doors closed between her and Lucy when we made a run for it, and poor Lucy was forced to take the next one. It was crappy, but also kind of funny because Lucy is terrified of getting caught in the doors so of course it would happen to her!

We also took sticker photos and had a riot decorating them as best and tackiest as we could manage. It was just fun because we got on well together. Sometimes it just clicks, and it's really nice when it does.

When we got back, Lucy and I had too much fun with peanut butter. Ahhh man I love the way we can just be stupid and laugh so much about it. I failed to get photos the first time so I made her do it again. 

The most delicious chocolate patbingsu

Easyway in Korea!

We walked past the Coffee Prince cafe!!!

1. Preparation

2. Placement

3. "This is fun!"

4. "This is so fun!"

5. "This is not fun anymore."

08.08.13

The heat today was insane! We decided to escape it for the air-conditioned comfort of the cinema. We arrived there, dripping and bought tickets for The Terror Live, a Korean film. Lucy Googled it and the review was all in English, so she expected the film to be as well. I didn't but it didn't hit me until we were sitting in the theatre that there wouldn't be any subtitles.

It was pretty funny after it opened and we discovered that the whole film was practically set in one room so that the plot was uncovered through dialogue. Dialogue we couldn't understand.

But we got the gist of it well enough and laughed with everyone else just for the fun of it. I reckon it wasn't too bad.

Then we met Michelle and Seoyeon for dinner. I really like hanging out with Michelle because I always learn a lot. She's a great tour guide. It was also fun to look around the place where they grew up and she pointed out doctors clinics and restaurants that were the Bae family favourites.

We then met her cousin in Gangnam and went to the dog cafe to play with Louis, her beautiful puppy. He was adorable.

When we caught the subway home, Lucy and I were too busy talking about the cute FB posts from Seoyeon that we almost forgot to get off the subway. We both realized at the same time and made a mad dash for the doors before they closed, all the while laughing. The train didn't even leave for a while after, so we must have looked so silly. But it was great fun.