Dec. 23: Gijang, Korea
I wake up at 7am. My boyfriend and I carry all my things on the bus, he sends me off at Busan Station, and my train arrives in Seoul at 1:30. The next bus takes an hour to arrive at the airport then my plane leaves Incheon International at 4:40.
Dec. 23: San Francisco, USA
I couldn’t sleep on the plane, but had some great food. Cheap airfare, thanks to US Airways, was complemented by stellar food and service, thanks to Asiana Airlines. Now, it’s 10:50 and I’m standing in the immigration line waiting to get my passport peeked at, though I’ve started to think I won’t be able to tour Alcatraz. See, I should have 5½ hours to escape the airport but as it turns out I don’t pass customs until almost an hour later and it takes me 20 minutes to basically hand my bag to a representative to re-check through.
Now, I’ve got around 4 hours. I get to the Castro for lunch at 1 o’clock and walk around this vibrant, hip neighborhood to find one of the places I had researched from home. I find the address of one, but the name’s changed. Nevertheless, it looks nice, and I’m hungry. I finally emerge an hour later full of fresh porchetta sandwich, lemon red pepper chutney, pork jus, mozzarella arugula salad, and Hefeweizen (hey, I’m on vacation!).
I just got back to the airport after wandering around the Castro some more; didn’t have time for the Alcatraz tour as I’d hoped. I get to the gate – eggnog latte and carrot cake in hand – find out my flight was delayed 35 minutes, and eventually board my plane.
Dec. 23: Phoenix, USA
Our plane lands 30 minutes late, I wait forever for my suitcase, and then meet my family at the car. We drive back to our hotel, which is really more of an apartment, and I finally crash around 9:30 pm.
Dec. 24-29: Phoenix, USA
Over Christmas my family opened presents around the fireplace, had dinner out at a 4-star restaurant, caught the NFL game, and held a pizza cook-off. Since then we have eaten Mexican food, sushi, Benihana, and BBQ shrimp shish kebabs; we have watched a lot of football, been treated to a spa day, and saw Avatar in 3D IMAX.
I took a bath in the hotel, grilled outdoors, ate Oaxacan chicken molĂ©, and turned up for more than a couple happy hours! Even the sushi bar had many drinks and food items ½ off during happy hour.
Today my dad, sis and I are off on a car trip to Castle Hot Springs to see if we can take a dip.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Young and Old
This photographer, Joseph Christopher Buchman, will have his work on display in Daegu this December. I particularly like this portrait of men on the subway.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Dearth is a funny word. It's too close to death for me.
I truly apologize for the lack of writing lately. I'm not about to be that person who starts to neglect their blog just because she gets a little busy - I'll be back in true form after the holidays. The reasons for my shortage of quality posts lately (yes, there are a few) are as follows:
Sick: I've been affected by 3 different physical conditions in the past 2 months, 2 of which I had to see the doctor for.
Happy: My bf has moved in with me! After a tough run of arguements, we managed to come to a good place in our relationship. He got a job with a local hotel and moved to my little apartment in Busan.
Famous: Word of my Korean sauna blog has been spreading, and recently I was asked to review the biggest spa in Asia, Hurshimchung in Busan for the foreigner magazine in Daegu, Daegu Pockets. I had been wanting to go there anyway, so I took the challenge; a more-famous photog Simon Bond (his photos on flickr) accompanied to capture the place. You'll see my article in the January issue.
This little bit of work instantly led to more. I was then asked to revise another article introducing the Korean spa experience which will be printed in February. Next, a project for an overnight trip to Busan featuring the Haeundae area restaurants and bars along with Battle of the Bands. That article will also go out in January. So, basically, I have been writing, you just can't see it yet! ^^
I lovingly fed and nurtered my article, which then was told it needed to lose some serious weight: 1600 words down to 1000 or less. So, that's what I'm doing now. I'll be back later!
Sick: I've been affected by 3 different physical conditions in the past 2 months, 2 of which I had to see the doctor for.
Happy: My bf has moved in with me! After a tough run of arguements, we managed to come to a good place in our relationship. He got a job with a local hotel and moved to my little apartment in Busan.
Famous: Word of my Korean sauna blog has been spreading, and recently I was asked to review the biggest spa in Asia, Hurshimchung in Busan for the foreigner magazine in Daegu, Daegu Pockets. I had been wanting to go there anyway, so I took the challenge; a more-famous photog Simon Bond (his photos on flickr) accompanied to capture the place. You'll see my article in the January issue.
This little bit of work instantly led to more. I was then asked to revise another article introducing the Korean spa experience which will be printed in February. Next, a project for an overnight trip to Busan featuring the Haeundae area restaurants and bars along with Battle of the Bands. That article will also go out in January. So, basically, I have been writing, you just can't see it yet! ^^
Photos of the 5 bands to play in the finals of Battle of the Bands
I lovingly fed and nurtered my article, which then was told it needed to lose some serious weight: 1600 words down to 1000 or less. So, that's what I'm doing now. I'll be back later!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Halloween In School
I worked so hard that week! Planning, preparing for, and throwing Halloween parties in school turns out to be much more work than teaching a regular lesson. I have 3 different classes that I plan lessons for (aside from all my regular set-curriculum classes). One group is ten 1st & 2nd grade monsters, another is a nice quiet set of eleven remedial 4th graders, and finally a great 5th & 6th grade high-level class of fifteen.
I made a Halloween coloring and vocabulary book for the little monsters, but I was really sick on Friday so I didn't even get to teach it to them. My 4th graders learned some new words and we also colored pictures for the classroom wall. My high-level class is my most enjoyable group of students at my school. I see them 3 days a week and they are really great kids. They all work really hard on English, so I went all out for them. There were 5 stations in the room with different activities:
1. Mask-making. I got all kinds of crafts and even snagged a hot glue gun so they could get creative.
2. Art table. I had colored construction paper, crayons, markers, scissors, glue and rulers so they could make something to take home or put up in their classrooms.
3. Mystery bags. I had 6 bags that the students could reach into and guess what was in them. They were all creepy-feeling of course! Pistachio shells felt like fingernails, a fuzzy stuffed animal that they thought was real, string with water and lotion rubbed into it like nasty oily hair, a different furry thing, flattened orange peel also with lotion to feel like skin, and finally peeled grapes felt like icky eyeballs!
4. Halloween quiz board game. Had to have a little English in there ^^
5. Candy and soda table. I had cute little bags of assorted candies, and one student's mom heard we'd have a party so she brought candy and some soda for us!
I had two students help me get the room decorated a little, and 4 girls stayed after to help me clean up. It went by so fast I even forgot to put on the Halloween music video playlist I had spend an afternoon making on YouTube! But nonetheless, it went very well. All the kids had something to take home with them and they actually had fun playing the board game. Luckily the director of English for our school had the foresight to bring her camera down for us!
I made a Halloween coloring and vocabulary book for the little monsters, but I was really sick on Friday so I didn't even get to teach it to them. My 4th graders learned some new words and we also colored pictures for the classroom wall. My high-level class is my most enjoyable group of students at my school. I see them 3 days a week and they are really great kids. They all work really hard on English, so I went all out for them. There were 5 stations in the room with different activities:
1. Mask-making. I got all kinds of crafts and even snagged a hot glue gun so they could get creative.
2. Art table. I had colored construction paper, crayons, markers, scissors, glue and rulers so they could make something to take home or put up in their classrooms.
3. Mystery bags. I had 6 bags that the students could reach into and guess what was in them. They were all creepy-feeling of course! Pistachio shells felt like fingernails, a fuzzy stuffed animal that they thought was real, string with water and lotion rubbed into it like nasty oily hair, a different furry thing, flattened orange peel also with lotion to feel like skin, and finally peeled grapes felt like icky eyeballs!
4. Halloween quiz board game. Had to have a little English in there ^^
5. Candy and soda table. I had cute little bags of assorted candies, and one student's mom heard we'd have a party so she brought candy and some soda for us!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
About photos
I go through times where I don't really feel like taking pictures for one reason or another. I can't find the time, I don't want to carry my camera around, I forget the camera, my computer's hard drive is full, or just plain don't feel like it. I'm in that time now. Typically when that happens I don't really notice it, but I have noticed it lately. As an effective remedy, usually I will challenge myself on some picture project or specific photo goal. Case in point, my Maroon & Gold photo challenge introduced to me by my cousin.
Yesterday, I was walking home from work and found that the glass wall of a phone booth had been broken out. I literally ran home to grab my camera in order to grab a couple pics of it.
Yesterday, I was walking home from work and found that the glass wall of a phone booth had been broken out. I literally ran home to grab my camera in order to grab a couple pics of it.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Go Red! (Maroon and Gold, actually)
The challenge was put to me to "Go RED" or orange this autumn. I made the decision to go maroon & gold, in honor of the Blackduck Drakes (my elementary mascot) and the Golden Gophers (U of MN). Plus they're both great fall colours. Enjoy ^^
More maroon & gold: SonjaJean's Flickr Photostream
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Still green in Korea
All is good in the land. Previous home-sickness has left to make room for hopes of seeing my family, excitement for travel, and being busy with work. I'm still searching for a new home for my rabbit, who unfortunately is quite hard to give away. The new apartment I moved into will not allow pets. I've found many prospective caretakers, but usually their parents say he'll be too smelly. What do they know? He's cute! (And not smelly if you take good care of him...)
Also, I'm having a hard time realizing that it's half-way through October. Everything's still green around Busan and, though it's chilly at night, it is still nice and warm most days. Halloween ought to drive it home for me. Hopefully, I'll be able to pull together a nice costume in time and rock it out in Seoul with old friends who moved away from Daegu long ago.
Anyway, I'll be spending the weekend writing evaluations for my after-school class students, then I signed on to work on Sunday. I have to interview elementary- and middle-schoolers from the county to see who's fit to go to Canada for a month over winter break. Fun stuff.
Also, I'm having a hard time realizing that it's half-way through October. Everything's still green around Busan and, though it's chilly at night, it is still nice and warm most days. Halloween ought to drive it home for me. Hopefully, I'll be able to pull together a nice costume in time and rock it out in Seoul with old friends who moved away from Daegu long ago.
Anyway, I'll be spending the weekend writing evaluations for my after-school class students, then I signed on to work on Sunday. I have to interview elementary- and middle-schoolers from the county to see who's fit to go to Canada for a month over winter break. Fun stuff.
I've autumn-ized my blog, as you can see, complete with a new playlist of down-tempo fall music. I tried to stick to mostly "featured" tracks or full tracks so you can enjoy the whole song. Just scroll up to the top of this page, click the "play" button on Destiny by Zero 7, then they'll all play through for you. Enjoy ^^
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Holidays
A week and a half ago, I fell into another hole of sadness (a deep one, though short-lived). Over October 2nd-4th, Korea celebrated it's Thanksgiving holiday known as Chuseok. I's like to flash back here a bit.
Year 1: Chuseok marked 10 months in Korea. I spent the weekend ridiculously overdressed for my boyfriend's family get-together. It was the first time to meet all of them, and I had a great time. Played games, ate loads... basic Chuseok.
Year 2: A MN girlfriend of mine and I were invited to spend the weekend with our mutual Korean friend, Steven (Sung-Woo). And so we embarked on a three-day tour of central Korea by car. First his father's side of the family - small dinner, big lunch, ancestors' burial-site ceremonies. Then off to his mother's side of the family - HUGE dinner, games, drinking, drinking games, singing room, field-tending (traditional activity?). Decidedly more active and entertaining than the previous year.
Year 3: This year. Not having the opportunity to travel or visit friends, I was happy to relax in Daegu with DK's family again. Unfortunately, of his 4 sisters, one is living in the US now, one had just left on vacation to visit the other in the US, and the third is fighting with their mom. So we only expected one sister with her husband and 2 daughters. That would be alright, I thought. Have a good meal and see the girls... Well, the 4th sister decided not to come. And we were going to visit the fighting sister but her daughter was sick with a cold, so we couldn't even see them.
It really made me miss some good holidays I've had back home. Like the time my aunt, uncle, dad, sister, and cousins played Cranium for hours.
Or the other time, when my mom, dad, sister and I spent New Years Eve sticking ice in each others pajamas and throwing packing peanuts all over the house.
Or even all the Chrismas hams that were cooked in the rotisserie at my grandpa's apartment while Becky complained about this or that.
Aunt Nancy's jello eggs. Ice skating in Spicer on Thanksgiving.
Driving 4 hours to and from North Dakota in July heat, in a non-air-conditioned Jeep the age of my sister, for a box of fireworks that took half that time to shoot off.
Or watching spectacular fireworks from the roof of someone's uncle's friend's house, overlooking the Charles and downtown Boston with my summer friends.
Being able to see multiple fireworks displays from the dock at my aunt and uncle's lake house near the city.
I even thought of the time I made a stellar lemon blueberry upside-down pound-cake with whipped cream all from scratch for Easter at aunt and uncle's cabin on the lake.
All of these memories came flooding back to me while I was sitting watching TV on Chuseok in Daegu with one other person whose family wasn't even around. Made me quite sad to think of how long it would be before I could do any those things again.
To feel better, I went into downtown to meet my other lonely, homesick foreign friends for a beer and a chat. We hit the club and slapped a band-aid on our sadness. It worked for long enough. As it turned out, in practically the same moment my dad and sister were sitting in a cafe together writing me a message inviting me to spend Christmas in AZ with them this year! So, that was the reprieve my soul needed. Now, I'm buoyed by not only the thought of family and holidays, but also tacos, warm weather in mid-winter, shopping, and live NFL I don't have to stream on my computer.
So if you are looking forward to getting away this holiday season, keep in mind that someone in your family may just be looking forward to creating some great memories with you. It's those memories that kept me from going crazy here last week. Thanks, fam!
Year 1: Chuseok marked 10 months in Korea. I spent the weekend ridiculously overdressed for my boyfriend's family get-together. It was the first time to meet all of them, and I had a great time. Played games, ate loads... basic Chuseok.
Year 2: A MN girlfriend of mine and I were invited to spend the weekend with our mutual Korean friend, Steven (Sung-Woo). And so we embarked on a three-day tour of central Korea by car. First his father's side of the family - small dinner, big lunch, ancestors' burial-site ceremonies. Then off to his mother's side of the family - HUGE dinner, games, drinking, drinking games, singing room, field-tending (traditional activity?). Decidedly more active and entertaining than the previous year.
Year 3: This year. Not having the opportunity to travel or visit friends, I was happy to relax in Daegu with DK's family again. Unfortunately, of his 4 sisters, one is living in the US now, one had just left on vacation to visit the other in the US, and the third is fighting with their mom. So we only expected one sister with her husband and 2 daughters. That would be alright, I thought. Have a good meal and see the girls... Well, the 4th sister decided not to come. And we were going to visit the fighting sister but her daughter was sick with a cold, so we couldn't even see them.
It really made me miss some good holidays I've had back home. Like the time my aunt, uncle, dad, sister, and cousins played Cranium for hours.
Or the other time, when my mom, dad, sister and I spent New Years Eve sticking ice in each others pajamas and throwing packing peanuts all over the house.
Or even all the Chrismas hams that were cooked in the rotisserie at my grandpa's apartment while Becky complained about this or that.
Aunt Nancy's jello eggs. Ice skating in Spicer on Thanksgiving.
Driving 4 hours to and from North Dakota in July heat, in a non-air-conditioned Jeep the age of my sister, for a box of fireworks that took half that time to shoot off.
Or watching spectacular fireworks from the roof of someone's uncle's friend's house, overlooking the Charles and downtown Boston with my summer friends.
Being able to see multiple fireworks displays from the dock at my aunt and uncle's lake house near the city.
I even thought of the time I made a stellar lemon blueberry upside-down pound-cake with whipped cream all from scratch for Easter at aunt and uncle's cabin on the lake.
All of these memories came flooding back to me while I was sitting watching TV on Chuseok in Daegu with one other person whose family wasn't even around. Made me quite sad to think of how long it would be before I could do any those things again.
To feel better, I went into downtown to meet my other lonely, homesick foreign friends for a beer and a chat. We hit the club and slapped a band-aid on our sadness. It worked for long enough. As it turned out, in practically the same moment my dad and sister were sitting in a cafe together writing me a message inviting me to spend Christmas in AZ with them this year! So, that was the reprieve my soul needed. Now, I'm buoyed by not only the thought of family and holidays, but also tacos, warm weather in mid-winter, shopping, and live NFL I don't have to stream on my computer.
So if you are looking forward to getting away this holiday season, keep in mind that someone in your family may just be looking forward to creating some great memories with you. It's those memories that kept me from going crazy here last week. Thanks, fam!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Artist of the Month - September
Brown Eyed Girls (브라운아이드걸스) - Abracadabra
Right. It doesn't really get much hotter than this ^^
Turn on the closed captioning (little arrow on right lower corner -> CC) if you want to see English subtitles.
Right. It doesn't really get much hotter than this ^^
Turn on the closed captioning (little arrow on right lower corner -> CC) if you want to see English subtitles.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
My 632-photo weekend
Last Friday, it was chicken and beer with DK and his buddies, Saturday brought a pop concert in a baseball field at Duryu Park featuring many famous K-POP stars, then Sunday was back to the park for the International Body Painting Festival. Since I've got a lot of sorting and uploading to Flickr, I'll just let a few pictures tell the story.
I came to this concert expressly for this man. His name is Outsider and, I have to say, he didn't disappoint. If you haven't clicked or Googled him yet, you should know he is one of the world's fastest rappers. It was truly a treat to see him live!
Talented group pictured at the right, Clazziquai, has been making music together for almost 10 years.
<-----Pop sensations "One Two"
This group is called Cherry Filter and they actually... kind of... rock.
He was a member of the former group Shinhwa Lee Min Woo, "M"
Mnet & TCN Big Concert September 2009
This cutie (above) is Chae Yeon, recently re-famous
I came to this concert expressly for this man. His name is Outsider and, I have to say, he didn't disappoint. If you haven't clicked or Googled him yet, you should know he is one of the world's fastest rappers. It was truly a treat to see him live!
Talented group pictured at the right, Clazziquai, has been making music together for almost 10 years.
<-----Pop sensations "One Two"
This group is called Cherry Filter and they actually... kind of... rock.
He was a member of the former group Shinhwa Lee Min Woo, "M"International Body Painting Festival 2009
This year's theme was "Human Nature" as in human meets nature/beast
This year's theme was "Human Nature" as in human meets nature/beast
More on Flickr: SonjaJean's Photostream
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
H1N1 3DOW UP. D.
You know what H1N1 is.
Virus that causes Influenza A.
Swine flu.
I understand it's a big deal.
3 Days Off Work.
Un-Payed. Damn.
Virus that causes Influenza A.
Swine flu.
I understand it's a big deal.
3 Days Off Work.
Un-Payed. Damn.
Because I spent 2 days in Japan getting a new visa at the end of last week, my principal
has disallowed me from coming to the school until this Friday. 7 day "quarantine" period. Yay.
I know you can't tell from text, but that's sarcastic, because I want the money.
has disallowed me from coming to the school until this Friday. 7 day "quarantine" period. Yay.
I know you can't tell from text, but that's sarcastic, because I want the money.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Beach Life
Well, folks, I have arrived. At the beach, that is. All my possessions are now safely stowed in a small one-room apartment just up the coast from one of the best places on earth: Busan's Haeundae and Songjeong Beaches! My town is called Gijang, and is actually in the province north of Busan city. Known as the Sunshine City or the City of Beautiful Mornings, it's quiet and cheap to live there. Gijang is truly a small town: the old man and wife at the mart near my house already know me. Not to mention that there are endless Korean BBQ and chicken restaurants to be had. It's scenic and hilly, clean, quiet (oh, I said that). But the best is that it's just a bus ride from the best beaches in the country. Read on...
This is the busiest you'd ever see Haeundae. It is well-known throughout Korea as the busiest beach in the country. There are loads of foreign restaurants and shopping to be had here as well. My new house is connected by bus to this area: Twenty minutes and a dollar - that's all it takes!
<-- Haeundae Beach
The picture at the right is Songjeong Beach. This is even closer to my house, only 15 minutes on the same bus route. This beach is much quieter and calmer, with far fewer commercial offerings. What it lacks in Starbucks and chain restaurants, it gains in cleanliness and convenience. From your parasol on the beach, it's only a minute up to the street where many mom-and-pop marts are ready to sell you cold beer.
There's a surf shop at Songjeong Beach and even a newly opened foreigner bar called Blowfish, serving Mexican and hamburgers.
Songjeong Beach mid-week during vacation period / DK in the water at Songjeong Beach
Sunset on Songjeong Beach
(This photo and the first two on this page were not taken by me)
This is the busiest you'd ever see Haeundae. It is well-known throughout Korea as the busiest beach in the country. There are loads of foreign restaurants and shopping to be had here as well. My new house is connected by bus to this area: Twenty minutes and a dollar - that's all it takes!
<-- Haeundae Beach
The picture at the right is Songjeong Beach. This is even closer to my house, only 15 minutes on the same bus route. This beach is much quieter and calmer, with far fewer commercial offerings. What it lacks in Starbucks and chain restaurants, it gains in cleanliness and convenience. From your parasol on the beach, it's only a minute up to the street where many mom-and-pop marts are ready to sell you cold beer.Songjeong Beach -->
There's a surf shop at Songjeong Beach and even a newly opened foreigner bar called Blowfish, serving Mexican and hamburgers.
<-- Blowfish bar at Songjeong and, I now notice, a brand-new Angel-In-Us coffee! Maybe they have wireless...?
Songjeong Beach mid-week during vacation period / DK in the water at Songjeong Beach
Sunset on Songjeong Beach(This photo and the first two on this page were not taken by me)
There's even a third beach in the city (Gwangali) and a fourth that's 10 minutes north of my house (Ilgwang). I've been to both and will post pictures soon. Ilgwang is another favorite of mine after only one visit. It's much more of a family, country atmosphere and seems like the Korean, ocean version of a MN day-at-the-lake.
My house is still a mess from moving in and unpacking, but I promise pictures are soon to come. Tomorrow morning, I'll be off to Japan for a 1-night-2-day (as the Koreans say) to get a new visa. I've just spent the day at Haeundae Beach but now I'm freezing cold in the Starbucks air-conditioning (using their wireless as I don't have internet at my house yet). I'm going home now!
Sending summer sun to you all!
My house is still a mess from moving in and unpacking, but I promise pictures are soon to come. Tomorrow morning, I'll be off to Japan for a 1-night-2-day (as the Koreans say) to get a new visa. I've just spent the day at Haeundae Beach but now I'm freezing cold in the Starbucks air-conditioning (using their wireless as I don't have internet at my house yet). I'm going home now!
Sending summer sun to you all!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Job, I'm leaving you...
"It's not you, it's me."
That's the line I told them -- sort of.
For the past 3 months I hadn't felt totally great there, but when I got back from vacation the ssst totally hit the fan, so to speak. Something pretty unpleasant happened in my personal life that was completely unrelated to work or the school, or even the apartment I live in. I did everything I could to keep the two separate and not let it affect my work (not calling in sick/didn't come in late/had fun in the classroom like I always do...). Unfortunately for me, some people I work with were all too curious, and reportedly just worried about me, so they started talking about what had happened to me. At work.
I resigned later that week with no regrets.
In fact, my good friend at work got in trouble for an unrelated thing and another co-worker has been fired this month, too.
The manager and principal also lied right to my face about various parts of the procedure to cancel my contract. I only found out about these lies after the damage had been done. Just one example: I was told by them both that my visa would not be canceled until July 30, giving me until that time to find a new workplace and transfer the visa. On Tuesday, July 18, I discovered the truth: The school had canceled my visa on July 14. So now, I am required to leave Korea to obtain a new visa, which means a 2-day trip to Japan and at least a $400 cash outlay. On top of getting only a half-month's pay for Aug.
Nice.
Did I mention that no other foreigner has stayed more than 6 months there? And the Koreans are all pretty new as well. I'm sure they're now quite adept at canceling visas. It's just a nasty environment to work in and I'm glad I'm out.
New workplace: Daecheong Elementary School in GijangAfter 2 weeks of job searching, I've just accepted a job down south near Busan (amazingly beautiful coastal city, 2nd largest in the country after Seoul). I'm SUPER excited about moving there since I'll be just a 20-min bus ride away from my favorite beach in Korea and can ride my bike to another quiet beach. My new house is much smaller but in a brand-new (5 mos. old) building so is sparkling clean and totally functional! I'm trading in the oven for an air conditioner and I'm fine with that. Toaster oven will have to suffice again. The move will happen on Aug. 22nd. Coming too soon already - I only have 1.5 rooms packed up!
----------------
Now playing: Utada Hikaru - Keep Tryin'
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Home for the Holidays*
Well, it's been busy. As I'm writing this short story, I've got phone calls to make, photos and videos to upload, messages to reply to, bags to pack up, and a car to clean. And sleeping to do! Anyway, I just wanted to post a quick message to let you all know how it's going.
It's going well. I've seen a few of my friends and have plans to see others. I'm staying with with some family friends who have their family here visiting. It's nice to see them all grown up - I'm finally like a big cousin! For the first time in my life. It's been colder than I expected though, so my long sleeves are getting worn more often than not! Despite the weather, we've grilled 2 nights. I've been out for dinner 1 night, and I spend my days driving around gettin' things done.
Ooh! And I'm the proud new owner of a nice, modest little video camera. So, there are videos of Bemidji and Minneapolis yet to come! Stay tuned.
*No actual holidays were observed during the making of this vacation.
I now sit in the living room of a home where I spent a lot of time in my youth: my aunt and uncle's place on Lake Minnewashta. I love this house. It's old but yet new, fun, exciting and busy, quiet when it needs to be, comforting and warm. I've had a great visit with friends, family, and even got some business done. Unfortunately, things haven't entirely gone the way I had hoped.
Yesterday, for example, I was driving along highway 494 planning to exit onto 394 into Minneapolis. (I was in fact, headed to my car dealership to have everything checked out before I park my car for another few months.) Suddenly, I hear my car drop out of gear, like into neutral. Well, I immediately think it's the transmission failing for the third time. After having the car towed to the shop, being told they wouldn't even look at it until this morning, and pestering them with calls all afternoon, I finally got the word. The problem is NOT the transmission, but a totally unrelated problem. Expensive, but unrelated. It should be fixed juuuust in time for me to drive home. In the interim, I've been driving my aunt's car and mainly just relaxing at the house. It's ok -- I'm on vay-CAY-shun!
Ooh, and I bought lots of pretty (and yummy) things at the MOA today! :)
List of places to go in the loaner car tomorrow:
The last couple days of my trip couldn't have been better, really. My car came out of the shop in time and got me all the way to Bemidji without incident. I ate at all the rest of the places I'd been wanting to, and got all packed up under airline weight restrictions! It was a good time. Thank you to L & V, and Auntie S & Uncle D for everything. It was nice to be back home, but I also felt glad to return to Korea.
It's going well. I've seen a few of my friends and have plans to see others. I'm staying with with some family friends who have their family here visiting. It's nice to see them all grown up - I'm finally like a big cousin! For the first time in my life. It's been colder than I expected though, so my long sleeves are getting worn more often than not! Despite the weather, we've grilled 2 nights. I've been out for dinner 1 night, and I spend my days driving around gettin' things done.
Ooh! And I'm the proud new owner of a nice, modest little video camera. So, there are videos of Bemidji and Minneapolis yet to come! Stay tuned.
*No actual holidays were observed during the making of this vacation.
I now sit in the living room of a home where I spent a lot of time in my youth: my aunt and uncle's place on Lake Minnewashta. I love this house. It's old but yet new, fun, exciting and busy, quiet when it needs to be, comforting and warm. I've had a great visit with friends, family, and even got some business done. Unfortunately, things haven't entirely gone the way I had hoped.
Yesterday, for example, I was driving along highway 494 planning to exit onto 394 into Minneapolis. (I was in fact, headed to my car dealership to have everything checked out before I park my car for another few months.) Suddenly, I hear my car drop out of gear, like into neutral. Well, I immediately think it's the transmission failing for the third time. After having the car towed to the shop, being told they wouldn't even look at it until this morning, and pestering them with calls all afternoon, I finally got the word. The problem is NOT the transmission, but a totally unrelated problem. Expensive, but unrelated. It should be fixed juuuust in time for me to drive home. In the interim, I've been driving my aunt's car and mainly just relaxing at the house. It's ok -- I'm on vay-CAY-shun!
Ooh, and I bought lots of pretty (and yummy) things at the MOA today! :)
List of places to go in the loaner car tomorrow:
- Lunch with K.M.M.? (Hopefully at Annie's Parlour near the U. Burger 'n' malt, here I come!)
- Smitten Kitten (Not a pet shop! ^^ I'm hoping to meet Laura Rad)
- Lunds for cheese I can stow in my luggage. (Questionable I know)
- We'll see if I have any time left over. I won't if I don't go to bed now!
The last couple days of my trip couldn't have been better, really. My car came out of the shop in time and got me all the way to Bemidji without incident. I ate at all the rest of the places I'd been wanting to, and got all packed up under airline weight restrictions! It was a good time. Thank you to L & V, and Auntie S & Uncle D for everything. It was nice to be back home, but I also felt glad to return to Korea.
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