07.08.13

Nicole went home last night to start the holiday recovery mode, so the trio turned into a duo.

Lucy and I had quite a lot of fun in Myeongdong looking through the shops, trying on silly hats, and making friends with very cute kimbap ahjussi's and ahjumma's.

It was time to get our stuff from the hostel and go to the apartment. Our mansion for a few days. When we arrived we just sat on the couch and looked at all the space. It's been a while since we've had a bit of room and a dining table, and bedrooms!

We wandered about the market down the road and picked out some veggies for dinner and some fruit for dessert.

Oh man the nectarines were heavenly! It was a taste of Summer at home.

06.08.13

Today was a fun day with the Garrols (the way Nicole says 'girls'), exploring some new areas of Seoul and just enjoying being together.

Two amazing things happened.

Firstly, I had an incredible coffee. It just tasted like the ones at home. Hooray for somewhere in Korea that can make good coffee! Of course it was in Itaewon, the notoriously 'foreign' area. Getting off the subway there seems like such a cop out. I can tell people are thinking, "Oh it's no wonder the foreigners are getting off at Itaewon".

Secondly, we witnessed the beginnings of the typhoon season. Halfway through brunch the skies turned a nasty shade of grey and it started raining really hard. We stayed inside for as long as possible, and then braved the outside world. We made up the stairs and ducked under the shelter next door. No way were we braving that weather without an umbrella!

Our little awning filled up with people trying to avoid the rain as it just got worse and worse, now with wind whipping it about. Nowhere was safe. Every gust of wind sprayed water onto us, even meters from the edge of the shelter.

It was kind of fun though, and pretty funny. I love when nature gets angry like that.

Eventually we made a mad dash for the closest place to find a beverage, only to discover it was closed, so the restaurant owner on the floor below took pity on us and invited us in. Lucy even got patted down with paper towels by a lovely waitress. She gets all the special treatment!

Nicole and her brunch as big as her.

The downpour.

Traditional tea

05.08.13

Oh man we went to a bear park today and it was so awesome. The bears smelled really bad, but they were amazing. There were so many of them! And they kept having little brawls over who was in the pool or on the platform and it was fun to watch such powerful creatures interact.

They were also ridiculously cute. They kept posing for our photos and smiling for us. It was adorable.

And Lucy taught me some more tricks for taking photos and I think I'm getting the hang of it! I'm definitely not great, but I'm learning. I'm going to try not to use the automatic settings this week in Seoul so I can really practice.

After that we recovered from the heat and caught the Seoul-train (see what I did?). We met up with Nicole which was absolutely lovely and had tacos. We had a hoot in the restaurant because all of this old school music came on and we were just loving it. Not to mention, the strawberry daquiri's were delicious!

04.08.13

We woke up and played some more games, of course and this time I won  Monopoly Deal! Oh the shame for her! But then she beat me at Gin, so all is even.

She was patient while I packed for Seoul, and vinegared my bed base (to fight off the mould), and then we headed off towards church.

Church was great, so it was really sad to have to leave halfway through Leon's preaching. I always feel so rude doing that. But it was adventure time!

When I got to Lucy's we were full of laughs and antics as per usual. She's a ball of fun, really. Bring on Seoul!

Christine busy winning

Christine busy losing

03.08.13

Due to our conversation on the subway home last night, Christine came over to watch some movies and hang out.

It was heaps of fun. She taught me how to play Monopoly Deal and a card game called Pairs and she beat me at both so badly. I wanted to keep playing until I won, but it was just no use. I was getting worse. Tomorrow is another day!

We watched a couple of movies and a whole lot of YouTube videos. We laughed over MirandaSings and Flight Of the Conchords. I feel like I've given her a valuable education before she goes back to the States.

It got too late for Christine to go home, so she stayed and we carried on until 4am! How crazy!

We also talked about stuff that we care about and how God is speaking to us. It's really nice to talk about that stuff in such a chilled environment with someone who gets it. I'm so glad that God has given me Christine, even if only for a few weeks more!

02.08.13

Holi-holi-holidays start today! It felt good to sleep in sooooo long. I was going to do a few things this morning but that never happened, and I met Dani for lunch. It was the last time before she goes off to the Philippines on her beach holiday. I'll miss her for sure. These lunchtime escapades have been a lot of fun.

After lunch I met up with Christine at Keimyung University and we took some photos. I'm trying to learn how to use my camera properly and it was a fun chance to do that. I feel like I'm understanding it a bit better but I'm still pretty baffled.

It was great fun though. She's a laugh. She doesn't like climbing trees. I do but I held back cos she might get embarrassed. She's pretty cool.

We decided to get coffee and then some dinner because it had started to rain. It was not letting up. The skies were monsooning and we only had one umbrella. It was actually a lot of fun to scamper about the streets from shelter to shelter, laughing at our misfortune.

After playing cards in a coffee shop, we emerged to happier weather and a delicious pizza feast.

On the subway ride home we talked nonstop about all of our favourite movies. Here is a venn diagram that shows our movie compatibility. Christine is blue and I am green.

 

The most delicious coffee (probably because of the Kahlua)

01.08.13

Today was the dreaded day of the interviews to decide who my next co-teacher will be. It actually turned out not to be so bad.

There were only two people (including my current CT) cos the others didn't show up. They came in and gave a mini lesson and then answered some questions while myself and five others marked their performance. It was relatively stress-free.

At one point I smiled at Rebekah when she was doing her lesson and she grinned back. I think it helped her be less nervous, and in any case, she picked on me with a question after that. The cheek! But it was a beautiful moment.

31.07.13

A few students came in to my office three times today! The first time one of them had a pile of  goodies for me including a whole lot of info about Korea, a map, and a whole lot of photos about TOP because I told her yesterday that I love him. It was such a cute gesture!

The second time they came in just for a chat between classes and I'm pretty sure they sneakily stayed way too long. At lunch when they came back we had some laughs and they definitely were far too late for class. After the bell rang they kept chatting and I asked if they should be going. The one girl, with a glint in her eye, said, "Teacher, it's ok! We can stay!" And then a few minutes later when I asked again, she said, "Teacher! 4 minutes. It's ok!"

Who am I to deprive them of my company!?

I played board games with church people tonight and afterwards I told Christine my idea for ORY over frozen yoghurt. It was exciting all over again, just to explain it to someone. And she had some great advice too that I hadn't thought of before. I really appreciated her input. And the relator in me loved sharing!

Soon the whole world will know about this and someone will just have to help me!

I had a blood test today. I hate being jabbed!

30.07.13

After an awesome Skype to Von, in which we vowed to get YouTube famous, I went off to Emart to purchase a tripod with determination and a bounce in my step.

I opened my door to see a radioactive orange sky that was painting everything gold. It was so amazing that people were on the street staring at it.

A rainbow was poking through some buildings so I stopped to take a photo. A second after it captured, lightning crawled through the sky and across my phone screen. It was so quick I hardly believed it, but it was so vivid I couldn't have imagined it.

Confirmation came a few seconds later with thunder so angry I thought maybe Kim Jong Un had made good on his promise and was ending us all.

I ran home to get my camera before the rain started pelting. I made it out in time to take some lame shots and then run back inside while I was mostly dry.

I wish a photograph could capture amazing moments like this, but I'm so glad I've got my memory and this blog to document it.

"The Miranda"

The Von

The rainbow - faint, I know

Also today I received an amazing package from Amy! It was full of so many things I love including a poetry book, chocolate, delicious licorice fudgey stuff (seriously, it was incredible), Eclipse gum, and crazy teas!

I had the lemon meringue pie one and it was so delicious! Wow.

29.07.13

Another awkward experience happened while waiting for the subway today.

I sat down on a bench and the girl next to me shifted over. Then she shot me a sideways glance. Unsatisfied, she bent forward and across to get a good low angle perspective. Still not sure, she stood up and faced me for a few seconds before addressing me in Korean. 

I pulled out my best phrase, "I don't speak Korean very well" but she ignored it and carried on. I picked up a few things including 미국 사람 and whipped out my second most-used sentence, "No I'm not from America, I'm from New Zealand". It wasn't my best, but I could tell she understood by the way she visibly deflated. 

Again, she asked questions, pointing to her head. I thought I heard "water," "what," and "where," but I couldn't be sure so I said my third best sentence, "I'm an English teacher". 

It registered and after a pause she earnestly asked me something that must have been important because when I assured her I didn't understand she got up and approached an older lady to come help. 

Her way of helping was to phrase the Korean sentences differently and smile at me. 

I used my first best sentence again and she just carried on. 

After hand waving, "I don't know"s and various perplexed facial expressions, she asked me if I felt frustrated because I couldn't communicate. I recognised the 땁땁해요 thanks to Chaejin. 

At that moment the subway came to my rescue. I was sweating and red-faced by this stage. 

It was a hilarious and endearing interaction. How it started is my favourite part.

Brad was just chillin on my door when I got back from lunch.

28.07.13

Dani and I had such an adventure this afternoon. First, we met at Beomeo station for the art festival. It was cute and there were kids everywhere, but the art was underwhelming. We did get coffee from a cute guy, and witnessed a toddler climb over a barrier and play with a little duck that was part of an installation. He was such a badass. He was so determined. His father's verbal and even physical attempts to stop him did not deter him from touching that duck!

After the art, I suggested we go to this restaurant outside of Daegu, only I wasn't exactly sure where or what it was called. A student had just told me about it. 

While on the subway to a stop we weren't completely sure was right, I found the website I had been looking for. Phew!

We found our way to the CW- Cinema World. It was flash! And good. Expensive, even by NZ standards. But it felt great to feel a bit fancy and drink nice wine. 

Afterwards we went up to the gallery. It was full of movie figurines. From Star Wars to Disney princesses, it was all there. Mostly Iron Man and superheroes, but it was still cool to look around. 

We then went down to the stream and walked along the big rocks to the other side. It was so still that the light made a beautiful reflection as they danced on the water. I wished I had brought my camera. There will have to be a next time. 

On the way back we were talking about books we love and Dani mentioned The Picture Of Dorian Gray. Mentally I added it to my list, so when I got to the bookshop downtown and they were about to close, it was the first book I said to the woman. I knew trying to find anything among those shelves in the few minutes she had graciously given me was a near impossible task. Surprisingly, she knew exactly where it was and I bought it as she was turning out the lights. 

It was a very fortunate ending to the day and I'm so excited to start reading!

27.07.13

I fiiiiinally finished Monarch Of The Glen. It felt a bit like finishing a marathon and I do feel a sense of accomplishment in a weird way. It's been a long haul, but so, so worth it. I'm definitely happy to put the woes of the family MacDonald of Glenbogle to rest though.

Today I also convinced myself to roll out my yoga mat and do some exercise again. I've been so slack, but it felt so good! Why do I always procrastinate it when I do enjoy it!? Human beings are weird.

In a bid of health I decided to make veges galore for dinner

These facemasks are the most flattering thing.

26.07.13

All day I was looking forward to delicious curry at Maya and catching up with people I hadn't seen for months. I was starving by the time came for dinner which made it all the more delicious. Ahhh it's the one place that does good Indian in Daegu it seems.

It was great to see a lot of people I hadn't seen in ages. They're a good bunch and always fun.

After dinner we parted ways and Dani and I went to the little bar we had found last time in the area and had a wine cooler. Delicious! And the waitress was so cute. We wanted to hang out with her but thought it'd be a bit weird.

Probably.

25.07.13

Tonight I had dinner with the lovely Nicole! It was so nice to see her friendly face, and what a cute one she has!

We went to Poom, a niceish restaurant downtown with some attractive waiters and were given far too much food.

Here's the order of events:

Waiter: Servicee (he places down bread and dips on the table)

Us: Oh, thank you! (gladly tuck in)

Waiter: Your food (gives us our meals, side dishes of salad and of course, pickles)

Us: Yum! (hardly take a bite before the waiter is back)

Waiter: Servicee (shyly places french fries on our table)

Us: Oh, thank you! (grinning at each other cos he was cute)

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Then we eat our meals and become very, very full.
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Waiter: What would you like for dessert?

Us: Nothing, thanks. We are fine.

Waiter: It's free. What do you want? (obviously, not going to take no as an answer)

Us: Oh, ok.  I guess ice cream is ok. Just one. We will share.

Waiter: Here are your desserts (gives us each a big cup full of ice cream, cornflakes, and crackers)

Us: Oh man I'm full. I can't do this.

Waiter: Servicee (puts cake on the table and runs away before we can refuse)

Us: I DON'T UNDERSTAND KOREA

I ninetiesed it up