Tiger in Korea

Crossing the Pacific

2011-11-23T15:38:00.001+09:00

When was the last time I wrote? What did I even have to say?? I guess I wrote back in August about my plans to study Korean and work as a real person here in Busan instead of a teaching robot-monkey. Well, I have finally made it back to the ROK and I have to say two things: It is so nice to be back! But, it was much harder to leave the US this time around. I boarded a plane in Busan bound for

The Future Freaks Me Out

2011-08-16T21:41:00.002+09:00

Hello there everyone. I just wanted to drop in and let you know what's been developing in my life here in Korea. I have a mere 3 weeks left at my kindergarten and this will be the last contracted teaching position I ever have if I can help it. I've probably said it before, but I really can't imagine what situation would cause me to sign another contract teaching kids. I don't see myself teaching

The Arctic Light : Time-Lapse Video

2011-06-08T19:15:00.003+09:00

&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://www.msn.com/?videoId=3f0b7052-dbc7-454d-9dcd-89b0ce6ec246&amp;amp;amp;src=v5:embed::&amp;amp;amp;fg=sharenoembed" target="_new"title="The Arctic Light"&amp;gt;Video: The Arctic Light&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

Months Are Disappearing, Luckily Not Undocumented.

2011-05-29T17:57:00.003+09:00

So, here it is, the end of May. I've been busy working, living, a bit of traveling. So, I spent some time sorting out the photos from my trip to Thai & Cambodia, then posting them in small-ish batches so that you could enjoy the pieces of my memories. Now somehow June has snuck up on us! I basically spent March moving in, learning my new job, loving my new house, hating my new job but starting

Cambodia: Simply Astounding

2011-05-18T21:39:00.002+09:00

In so many ways, I was surprised by Cambodia. People told me about the poverty; I hadn't thought how striking the difference would be. I heard of course how beautiful the temples at Angkor would be; I couldn't have imagined how breathtaking it was to be standing on and touching the very stones placed in the 7th, 10th, and 12th centuries just to name a few. (Actually, I was shocked that I was

So you've probably seen the photos...

2011-04-22T23:03:00.001+09:00

Even if you haven't, I'm going to post a few of my favorites here. From my wonderful spring break vacation - 2 weeks in Thailand and Cambodia. My father is living in Udon Thani and I have been dying to see Angkor Wat so this was the perfect dual vacation. I met some fantastic people (since I was traveling alone), ate even more fantastic food (pepper crab from the Kampot region of Southern

New Job New House -- 100th post!

2011-03-07T17:58:00.003+09:00

Alright everyone. It's been a long, cold, snowy (and at times rainy) winter. Fortunately we're coming out of it here in Busan. The weather has been warming up and it's really sunny ~ most of all in my new apartment! Yes, that's right. The reason for my recent absence from your lives is that I had a job search going on as well as spring break vacation & winter camp planning. As soon as I got back

Metrodome Roof Collapses

2010-12-13T08:54:00.003+09:00

Due to snow. Really?? This is Minnesota! Shouldn't the structures here be built to deal with blizzards and tons of snow? Well, I guess the thing is getting a bit old...

The Good, The Bad, and The Really Really Ugly

2010-12-01T15:26:00.000+09:00

Almost 3 weeks ago, I was in a taxi headed home from the bar around 1:30 am on a Friday night. We had dropped off my friend at her house, and it seemed the driver was alright - not sleepy, drunk, otherwise distracted. Despite this, he somehow managed to drive off the side of the road into a light pole at a higher-than-posted-or-even-necessary speed. I didn't lose consciousness or anything, but I

October, the good part

2010-11-14T20:54:00.002+09:00

Ah, Halloween! My favorite major holiday. It's an excuse to dress like a freak, animal, slut, or some other guise and run around town doing whatever you want ~ what could be better?! In past years I've dressed in varied costumes; princess, gypsy, Barbie, black cat, rock star, belly dancer, Madonna, mermaid... you get the idea. Since I was little my costumes have run the gamut from those I (or my

October

2010-11-04T16:41:00.000+09:00

September is a delightful month in Korea, what with the arrival of winter vegetables, the warm-ish weather hanging on, and the intense blue skies! I'm uploading some beautiful new photos from September so you can see what I mean. I spent some days indoors watching bands play, but I also went outside to the park in Gijang, re-visited my favorite temple, the seaside Yonggungsa (dubbed the "temple

The Upside of Public School

2010-11-03T11:51:00.001+09:00

So my last few days at work have been pretty great! A couple weeks ago, I heard that the teachers had planned a hiking trip with dinner on Friday, 10/29. I already had plans for dinner (and wanted to get ready for Halloween^^) so I couldn't make it; I was told in that case I could just leave school at 2 pm Friday with the other teachers. Then on Thursday before Halloween, I got the news that we

Films from PIFF

2010-10-27T18:15:00.002+09:00

I think last year I posted a bit about the Pusan International Film Festival, so I thought I'd take a moment to write to you today about this year's offerings. I attended 13 movies this year (couldn't top my number from 2009). Some of the highlights were seeing a Korean actress who used to be very famous, an old Spanish film by director Carlos Saura, one international short film competition, a

At work

2010-10-21T16:40:00.000+09:00

Oh, wow, where have the days gone?! I'm now at work, with about an hour to spare before I head home on a Thursday afternoon. I like Thursdays. I finish teaching at 12:10, eat lunch, then I'm free to prepare all the things I'll need for upcoming lessons. Today, I've been extra-specially productive. I made a worksheet for a song I'll teach next week, a PowerPoint for my game tomorrow, word cards

Fall??

2010-09-22T00:00:00.002+09:00

I just wanted to let you all know that today was the start of the Korean Thanksgiving holiday, Chuseok. This 3-day holiday sometimes falls over a weekend, thus allowing school children and people such as myself only 1 or 2 days off, but this year it has really worked in our favor. September 21st-23rd being the awkward Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday that it is has prompted universities to allow a

IKEA store releases 100 cats, just to see what would happen.

2010-09-12T21:13:00.002+09:00

This one speaks for itself.

The Summer Activities

2010-09-08T15:55:00.048+09:00

Now that I have a moment to write, I'll catch you up on the summer activities which kept me busy. Haeundae Beach - Peak season, from the sanity of an A/C coffee shop! In June, I was teaching my school's summer camp and spending most afternoons at the beaches in my area. 20 minutes south from my house by bus is Haeundae Beach, the most well-known and most visited beach in the country. I only

New Photos

2010-09-06T16:27:00.000+09:00

... are up! More posts to come. Flickr photostream

Change of Attitude

2010-09-01T16:54:00.001+09:00

What a busy summer. I've really only had time to do things, see people, and sometimes photograph them. But absolutely not enough time to organize, edit, and upload those pictures, or to write about it. Sorry. Well, now it's September and though I anticipated a slight reprieve, none has come yet. I'm bringing you this brief update to let you know I'm changing my tactics for this blog. I will no

Beavermidji

2010-07-08T16:25:00.004+09:00

If you're from northern Minnesota, live in Bemidji, ever lived in Bemidji, know anyone living there, etc you may have already heard about this. If not, well, here you are. Yes, that's right folks. Those are beavers. Beaver sculptures to be exact. And here's a close-up. This final beaver sculpture is part of the city's annual Bemidji Sculpture Walk and was the subject of a recent controversy

2010-07-05T15:54:00.000+09:00

Hello again old friends. Family. Folks. Fellows. I've been away for a long time and I truly apologize for my absence. If you've ever had a blog, you know there are just some times that nothing exciting happens for a bit, you figure you'll wait to write until your next _____, then maybe some bad stuff happens that you don't want to write about just yet or you're sick or busy or all of the above.

Unlikely friends (CBS Evening News)

2010-04-26T14:31:00.000+09:00

Get ready to be touched by the ending of this one ^^

10 Years Ago

2010-04-22T13:38:00.002+09:00

Ten years ago, I was in my senior year of high school. This has become painfully obvious to me as I receive email after email about my class reunion. Unfortunately, I'm half-way across the globe with no plans to return to MN this summer, so I won't be attending said reunion. I always thought I'd dread such a thing. You know, like in the movies when no one wants to go because they'll just see how

And now for some more pop songs! (AKA What spring sounds like)

2010-04-15T19:47:00.002+09:00

T-ara (read "Tiara") - I'm Really Hurt (내가 노무 아파) 2AM - I Did/Was Wrong (잘못했어) If you're interested here's the Drama Part 2 of 2AM's I Did Wrong video. Avril Lavigne - Alice (Underground) Just a link for now. The actual video is hard to find and this one has disabled the embed function.

On Open-Minded Korea

2010-04-09T17:08:00.000+09:00

Korea? Open-mindedness? Those of you who live here may think I'm making a joke here, but I'd like to invite you to open your mind to this perspective. Since moving to Korea, I've had multiple opportunities to be told I am crazy, irresponsible, or out of control; to be laughed at, ridiculed, re-educated (in the proper way!), or outright shunned. I won't go into the personal details of most of

What in the world is happening?

2010-04-01T16:22:00.000+09:00

In Korea, I have a limited set of resources for world events at my fingertips. Of course, I can always search the internet for the latest information on current goings-on, and I do. The difference from my life in the US is that I don't have newscasters boring a hole in my head with the same newsreel everytime I turn on the TV or radio. And to be sure, I'm pretty lazy. I'd rather not spend my

Pop singers turned advertisers

2010-03-06T17:25:00.000+09:00

And I bring you yet another pop song, this one by the boy band sensation 2PM. This song, like so many these days, was made for a product, for a television commercial. If you like this one, follow one of the links at the bottom to see more pop ads. Enjoy them^^ 2PM - Crazy4S (Spris Commercial) More like a music video (all cell phone commercials): Big Bang feat. 2NE1 - Lollipop / Director's Cut

Fan Death

2010-02-26T17:01:00.001+09:00

Ask a Korean!: FAN DEATH IS REAL Right, well, if you've lived in Korea you may be familiar with the concept of fan death. Most of us foreigners just dismiss it as hooey - so did the Korean, who later did his research and blogged about it. It's more than an interesting and informative read.

Uploading...

2010-02-17T16:42:00.001+09:00

So, I am now sitting at work uploading photos like crazy. There are a few excuses I could give for my absence recently, but I'd rather not be like that. Instead, I'll just offer you an update on my life. It's only just been sunny the past 2 days - that's after more than a week of cloudy, rainy, and bitterly cold days. Very unusual for Korea, even more so for Busan. I worked for a whole 3 days

Back and finally resting

2010-01-27T19:37:00.003+09:00

I've been back now for almost 3 weeks. I'm surprised by that fact actually, as it's gone by so quickly. I've been busy I guess. Upon returning from the US, I rested for a couple days and repacked for a week on a hillside with 100 winter English campers. I had no TV and very limited internet access during that time, but luckily was so busy I rarely thought about it. The facilities were

Wherever you go, there you are. (Where in the World 2)

2010-01-13T18:19:00.001+09:00

Sorry to have kept you all in suspense! I'm safe at home in Korea and generally very happy about life. My visit to Arizona was a great boost for me and it was amazing to be able to spend all that time with my father and sister. To pick up where we left off, the drive out to the Hot Springs turned into a rocky dirt path and dad didn't want his car to suffer the last 5 miles of the road. So we

Where in the World 1

2009-12-31T03:50:00.001+09:00

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

Young and Old

2009-12-15T14:07:00.001+09:00

Young and OldOriginally uploaded by KeugisaThis photographer, Joseph Christopher Buchman, will have his work on display in Daegu this December. I particularly like this portrait of men on the subway.

Dearth is a funny word. It's too close to death for me.

2009-12-12T18:38:00.001+09:00

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

Sad Song of the Year?

2009-12-03T16:16:00.000+09:00

Wedding Dress by Taeyang (from Big Bang)

Human Scoreboard (Korean Language)

2009-11-10T09:16:00.003+09:00

Human Jumbotron in Korea - Watch more Funny Videos I mean, really. How amazing is that?

Halloween In School

2009-11-08T17:16:00.000+09:00

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

About photos

2009-10-28T10:03:00.001+09:00

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

Go Red! (Maroon and Gold, actually)

2009-10-21T22:46:00.001+09:00

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

Still green in Korea

2009-10-17T13:20:00.002+09:00

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

Holidays

2009-10-14T19:02:00.000+09:00

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

Artist of the Month - September

2009-09-29T21:04:00.000+09:00

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.

My 632-photo weekend

2009-09-17T14:28:00.004+09:00

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. Mnet & TCN Big Concert September 2009 This cutie (

H1N1 3DOW UP. D.

2009-09-01T19:07:00.004+09:00

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.Because I spent 2 days in Japan getting a new visa at the end of last week, my principalhas 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.

Beach Life

2009-08-26T19:22:00.013+09:00

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.

Job, I'm leaving you...

2009-08-19T21:33:00.005+09:00

"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

Home for the Holidays*

2009-07-16T11:48:00.014+09:00

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

KQCF Turns 10!

2009-06-24T19:32:00.006+09:00

That would be the Korea Queer Culture Festival. I was in attendance of the 10th annual celebration of sexual minorities in Korea, and it was refreshing. In a country where being openly gay could cause you to lose your job, be ostracized by your family, or be the victim of any of a hundred other worse treatments, this was big. Last summer and the summer before, I was unlucky enough not to have

Mnet featuring...

2009-06-23T19:16:00.004+09:00

As mentioned, I no longer get MTV Korea. Sad days. But there is Mnet, a Korean music network with shows and lots of "live" performances. I say "live" because many of the stars are there to put on a dance performance, so they lip-sync to the music. Anyway, this very very talented young fellow just sang his new song, and he was clearly not lip-syncing. Amazing! He's one of the fastest rappers

The Line

2009-06-17T21:22:00.003+09:00

The line has been drawn. The sticky, oppressive, Korean heat is here. It is summer. Finally.It's been teasing, a long time coming. This spring dragged on and on, got warmer, then cold again. Until most days I remarked at how the world must be coming to some sort of end ala The Day After Tomorrow. So I'm glad, overall, that the heat is here.Except that my house is currently 29*C. Yeah. In

Interesting Tidbit #4

2009-06-08T19:58:00.003+09:00

Yes! Only #4. Can't believe it myself. I need to start thinking more things are interesting, and then write about them!Anyway, I have recently been told that some cheap cosmetics produced and sold in Korea contain asbestos. I had the same reaction you are probably having now. Like, really? How is it possible when asbestos has been outlawed for so long, and in the US anyway, such aggressive

Green Acres

2009-06-04T17:58:00.006+09:00

I've just uploaded some of the greenest pictures I've ever taken. This past weekend, DK and I made a long bus trip to Boseong, via Suncheon. After more than 4 hours on the road (from Daegu - It would be nearly 6 hours from Daejeon!), we hopped off at the nationally famous Boseong Green Tea Fields. We spent the afternoon walking up and down through the greenness, snacking on green tea ice cream

Food: The reason I'm alive

2009-06-01T21:40:00.003+09:00

No, really. I mean, yeah, if I didn't eat, I'd be dead. I got that.But I enjoy food. When I travel, I choose the locations based on what kind of food I can try. I budget most of my money for eating. I constantly splurge on and reward myself with foods.I truly feel that food gives my life purpose and meaning. Especially interesting and rare ethnic foods, but also those comfort foods like

Latey McLaterson

2009-05-20T21:08:00.002+09:00

The pictures from my birthday weekend in Seoul are finally up. I'm just sooooo busy, I can't even find time to upload the pictures I take until weeks later.Right, we all know that's not true. I just forget, and waste my time doing other things on the internet instead of uploading. Actually last night, I attended my first EVER in-person Korean baseball game. As it turns out, I live two blocks

Improvement

2009-05-07T17:16:00.005+09:00

Well, I'm now at Starbucks writing for you all. Had a bit of a harrowing trip here though. After I narrowly escaped from a parking car, I was forced to ride through a sandy spot under a tree by some inconsiderate (deaf to bell ringing?) pedestrians. Coming out of the sand, I was almost knocked over - just have a road bike with skinny tires. Finally made it here and as I was locking up my bike

Fail!

2009-05-01T14:31:00.000+09:00

This might cheer you up, it did for me. ^^

Lately...

2009-05-01T08:46:00.003+09:00

So, lately I've been having a bit of a hard time. I've moved to a new, smaller city with fewer foreigners. I knew that about Daejeon before I took this job. I also knew that I would be working with mostly Korean teachers. I like my co-workers and have become good friends with many of them, even meeting socially outside of work. I also have a high school friend living at the edge of the city,

Artist of the Month - I imagine...

2009-04-09T21:40:00.005+09:00

So here's the story on the lack of Artist of the Month reports. When I moved to Daejeon, I had cable already connected but no MTV. Here it is over a month later and I have yet to see a bill. I'm anticipating it so I can then call the company and request a better channel package. Until then, I have to scour the Korean MTV website (in Korean, mind you!) for the top 10, most requested, etc. So

How I Spent my Seollal

2009-04-04T11:56:00.006+09:00

Milepost: 368 PhotosAfter settling into our little shanty over the water, we had dinner, had beers on the porch and got ready for bed. Just as I was washing my face, I heard a little scratching and scurrying - then we both heard a louder scratching and scurrying - then we saw the scratcher and scurryer. A RAT!! He ran across the open rafters above our small room and we packed our bags!We

I need more Gold in my life

2009-03-18T23:20:00.005+09:00

Ooh, the new object of my desires...2009's Hot Digital Cameras on Parade 2009's Hot Digital Cameras on Parade© PC WorldPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 (links to Panasonic pressroom model details)"Sharing the bulk of the PMA spotlight with the Samsung NX was Panasonic's second foray into the Micro Four-Thirds System, the Lumix DMC-GH1. Like the Lumix DMC-G1 announced last year, it also drops the mirror

How I Spent my Seollal

2009-03-10T20:51:00.009+09:00

Milepost: 244 PhotosSo, the morning after the zoo we decide it's finally time to leave Singapore for the beach. The word was that we needed to head down to the Golden Mile Complex to see a travel agent about a bus ticket. I had my heart set on Pulau Tioman, an island on the east coast of Malaysia, so we started to ask around about bus tickets to Mersing, the coastal town closest to the island.

White

2009-03-03T08:39:00.002+09:00

All the cars in Daejeon are white. Actually, the trees are white as well. Yes, that's right - it is snowing. In Daejeon. In March. I can't quite believe it myself. The temperature has been around 8-9 lately, so it was meant to rain today. Oh, well. It still feels a bit warmer than it should for a snow day, and at least it's pretty.

Artist of the Month - February

2009-02-26T01:50:00.001+09:00

Girls' Generation (소녀시대) - Gee

How I Spent my Seollal

2009-02-21T15:31:00.007+09:00

Milepost: 173 PhotosWell, it was the morning of Day 3. I couldn't believe how fast the time had gone by. For lunch we wanted to return to the nice stretch of seafood restaurants and their staff vying for our business in Boat Quay. This is the same area which we discovered the night before.We woke up late, took a walk down to Boat Quay, and enjoyed a nice riverside meal. Fat and happy, we then

How I Spent my Seollal

2009-02-09T01:08:00.003+09:00

Milepost: 111 PhotosAfter enjoying room service breakfast in our fabulous hotel room, we took the bus into the city. On the way we stopped at a street-side shopping area to have a snack and transfer buses. Finally (it was really only ~2 hours after leaving the airport hotel, but my bag was really heavy!) we got to our next hotel located in the center of Little India. We dropped our bags off,

How I Spent my Seollal

2009-02-04T13:25:00.003+09:00

Milepost: 26 Photos(Little background: Deuk Kyun used mileage points for his flight and I booked a cheap one with my travel agent. As a result, we were on different flights. I was set to arrive in Singapore at 7PM, 3 hours before him.)After leaving ICN at 9AM, I first arrived in Hong Kong around lunchtime. I only had an hour before my connecting flight so I grabbed a quick bowl of

How I Spent my Seollal

2009-02-02T23:53:00.004+09:00

Milepost: 0 PhotosAfter a wildly busy Friday at work (preparing materials for the next two weeks when I would be absent) and an equally busy Saturday (packing up the last-, oh, face it, most of my things), I got on the express bus to Incheon International Airport at 2:20 AM.This would commence my longest vacation to date.----------------Now playing: The Postal Service - Such Great Heightsvia

Artist of the Month - January

2009-01-29T22:53:00.001+09:00

SS501 - I'm UR Man

The end...

2008-12-31T01:37:00.006+09:00

...of a GREAT year.Well, a little time for reflection. This past year has been pretty phenomenal.Starting from the beginning, I spent last Christmas with my Dad, Sister and boyfriend in sunny San Diego. We hung out in the pool, barbequed, drove up to LA, and enjoyed some much-needed sunshine. After that, I flew back to Bemidji for New Year's with my friends. I spent time with those people (and

Christmas? Mmmm, I guess it is...

2008-12-23T01:22:00.004+09:00

Wednesday is Christmas Eve Day. I have to work until 9PM, then only have Thursday off. At least I have Thursday off. (I don't have the following Thursday off. Yep - working on New Year's Day.) On Wednesday night, I will be making a large batch of homemade eggnog and some corn souffle base, both of which will be fleshed out with additional cream and eggs. Then on Thursday, the food, Deuk

The new house

2008-12-16T00:26:00.011+09:00

So here it is! The long-awaited, mold-free, teensy-bit-upgraded house.1. Looking in the front door.2. On the right, my laundry/storage room + rabbit!3. On the far-right of the entry, my little-bit-bigger-bathroom!4. The kitchen-wall5. Looking into the second room (bedroom).6. In the bedroom.7. Looking back to the entryway from the bedroom.8. My new teeny table to fit the teeny house.9.

That's cool!

2008-12-15T23:47:00.002+09:00

I just added music! And you can play it right here. Except - sorry! Some of the songs are only 30 second clips. I wouldn't have put them on if I knew that before... But it's still pretty cool!

No job as of yet...

2008-12-15T12:32:00.002+09:00

Went for the interview in Busan - didn't get the job. And I haven't heard anything yet from the ones I applied to last week. I sent emails to Duksung Women's University and an adult academy (both in Seoul), and I sent packages to Dongguk University (Seoul) and Kyungpook National University in Daegu. I suppose if I don't get any university job I'll start to look at public schools. I could work

Artist of the Month - December

2008-12-10T00:40:00.005+09:00

Each month, MTV Korea crowns an Artist of the Month. I'll be bringing you the artist's newest music video. Here's December. (The woman in this video is Lee Hyori, a very famous Korean singer.) Wheesung - Fading Star

The Update

2008-12-08T12:46:00.003+09:00

Well, I didn't get the interview for Hongik University. But I did get one for Busan National University! On Friday, December 12 I'll take the train over to Busan to meet with the Director of the program. I'm not sure what to expect, so I'll have to research a little bit and prepare before I go.I'm also going to apply for a couple other jobs, one in Daegu and others in Seoul.On another note, my

New

2008-12-03T00:06:00.002+09:00

Well, it's 12:10 AM on Wednesday December 3rd. I'm going to check the website for Hongik University to see if I got called back for an interview... ... Wish me luck!! ............Boo! No news yet. It still says "If you applied for the position, please check this website on December 3 to see if you are invited for an interview."They must mean business hours on December 3. _________________

Never Eat Shredded Wheat ... Clockwise.

2008-11-19T23:50:00.006+09:00

That's how I always remembered the directions. Well, I have a new one.I just mailed out 2 big packages of documents in order to change my direction in life here. I have applied for 2 university positions. First choice is Hongik University in Seoul (English website), and the other is Busan National University of Education (English website).I've always wanted to work with adults since, as many

My Bad Luck

2008-11-18T01:23:00.002+09:00

Last week, I noticed my rabbit, Tokki, wasn't drinking any water. After 2 days, I started to really worry. The next day I took him to the vet, who said Tokki needed an ultrasound and an x-ray. It was Friday, so I had to go to work. My vet text messaged me that the rabbit needed surgery immediately as he had found some kidney stones - one quite large. Well, this vet is just the guy at Home

My Good Luck

2008-11-06T18:23:00.002+09:00

Last Saturday, Nov.1, we headed down to Kyungbook University to see a non-verbal performance in the auditorium. It was the opening to a week of the Korea in Motion Festival. We arrived early for the requisite speeches, fireworks, and shivering outside the auditorium. After seeing the mayor of Daegu and the chancellor of the university speak, there came an unexpected musical performance... NO

Foreshadowing

2008-11-02T17:51:00.006+09:00

No Brain - "넌 내게 반했어" (You're Crazy For Me); English title "Stand By Me" <2005> I have known about this band, No Brain, for over a year and have loved them from the start. They are well-known Korean punk rockers who first began performing in 1996 and put out an album every few years. Click here for the original Stand By Me music video and here for the No Brain wikipedia page.

Get out there.

2008-10-28T16:17:00.000+09:00

PIFF: Not just a response to something negative.

2008-10-07T23:47:00.003+09:00

Wait- sorry. That's pfff. Anyway, it's actually the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival and last weekend was the 13th annual. Advance tickets sold out in their typically rapid manner, so we decided to travel Sonja-style: wing it! We just hopped the cheap train to Busan, walked up to the main theater box-office, and bought tickets for 2 shows straight off the bat. At 4:30, we saw a

Chuseok Belated

2008-10-03T14:06:00.004+09:00

I really must apologize. I've been in a writing slump. It's not just that I'm busy - which I am. If I really wanted to, I would write in the few spare minutes before I sleep or go to work. But, no - I've not been feeling particularly motivated to write lately.As you may have noticed from flickr, I have been to Japan. I was really hoping to have been able to go for a week but I couldn't have

Interesting Tidbit #3

2008-09-30T01:19:00.002+09:00

You can find some wild things in the markets here. Pig heads, pig skin, pig feet... OK, so it's mostly wild pig parts. But frighteningly enough, you can purchase all manner of dogs. For soup. It's called bo-shin-tang. Yes. Live dogs, un-live, skinned, parts... ugh. Well, true - and a little interesting anyway.

The weekend... in short.

2008-09-29T12:44:00.003+09:00

On Wednesday, Eternal Reflections II opened at Club That. The Korean/foreign art gallery and competition was held on the 3rd and 4th floors of this cool wine and jazz club downtown Daegu. I entered 4 photographs as a set simply named "China."After voting closed on Saturday night, I won 2nd place in my category! This took the tangible form of a 10,000 KRW (~$10) certificate for an American

My Last August '08 Weekend Ever

2008-09-02T00:55:00.004+09:00

Friday: After work, found a new place near my house to eat meat with my co-worker and boyfriend. Ate grilled chicken (duk-galbi) and pork (samguyb-sal), drank soju, and went home late.Saturday: Got up early to take the train, drink some beers in the sun, and lay on the beach in Busan... One... More... Time for the summer. Had pretty nice weather. Took the train back to Daegu early to go out

Vacation Recap

2008-08-23T03:13:00.007+09:00

As you can see on Flickr, I've finally gotten all the photos uploaded from Annie and Gina's visit. Featured trip highlights are as follows:A couple days in Daegu for the market, nightlife, and rest.I met them in Seoul to make their (sarcastic voice) hhhoooorrible (/sarcastic voice) trip around the world a bit easier. Slept at my place and hit the market (not-so-early) the next morning. We had

Already sick of not vacationing

2008-08-14T11:53:00.002+09:00

Currently uploading photos, catching up on work, and cleaning up my house; All while battling the horrendous cold I caught at the end of my vacation. I even left work early yesterday, only to sit in the kitchen like a (DayQuil induced) zombie while I should have been starting report cards. Despite my condition, I'll soon have all the pictures on Flickr and updated information from the trip

Friends!

2008-08-05T00:42:00.002+09:00

So, I'm going to sleep now. My college friend, Annie, and her sister are coming to visit me tomorrow! I'll be meeting them in Seoul and bringing them back to Daegu for a day and a half of fun. Then we're off to lay on the beach, sleep overnight in a temple, and do a weekend in Seoul. I'm PUMPED!!

Flickr Photo Mosaic

2008-07-28T12:37:00.003+09:00

1. Sonja, 2. *Before* - Spicy Tofu Stew 순두부 찌개 (Soon Doo Boo Jigae), 3. fireworks #1, 4. Sunny Side Up, 5. Obese "E"'s famous Leonardo DiCaprio Collection, 6. Martinis at the Tonga Room, 7. the red makes it, 8. Untitled, 9. Bears, Mosquitos and Ticks! Oh, My! 113, 10. IMG_8118, 11. Spider on Sundew, 12. EGC Junior boarders 1948The questions:1. What is your first name? Sonja2. What is your

Interesting Tidbit #2

2008-07-16T14:19:00.000+09:00

There are so many cars in Daegu that the city has restricted driving. On any given day, there are 2 numbers posted outside government offices, on the news, and presumably somewhere online. Each weekday, the numbers are on a set schedule (1, 6 = Monday; 2, 7 = Tuesday...) but on the weekend days it seems random.These numbers could, for example, be "0, 5." This means that if your car license

Wednesday Weather Report

2008-07-09T13:58:00.005+09:00

At 2PM today it's 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius). Reportedly, it feels like 108 F (42 C). Yesterday it was 96, Monday was 96, and Sunday was 94. Tomorrow will be 90, and Friday will finally be 84. That's the relief.It's the rainy season, but all we get is stifling, humid, sweaty heat.Now, I love hot weather, as many of you know. I do. In fact, I'm happier in this weather than I would be

Interesting Tidbit #1

2008-06-23T00:20:00.004+09:00

Yay! The first (of many, I hope) interesting tidbit of information I've learned. I'm hoping to be surprised by all the amazing things I learn, and soon forget. My goal is to better remember the small stuff by passing it along to any curious, innocent bystanders. (Byreaders??)Soju, a popular and potent Korean alcohol, is necessary in the making of traditional, fermented foods such as kimchi,

Vacation

2008-06-18T01:07:00.007+09:00

Yay!! My first vacation days are quickly approaching. Long ago, back in April, I requested June 19th and 20th off in hopes of spending an early summer 4-day weekend at the beach. Now it seems it may rain on Saturday and Sunday. Well, here's hoping it's at least nice on Friday. *Fingers crossed*I'm taking the train early Friday morning to Busan in order to make a lunch date with my old manager

School

2008-06-04T00:44:00.000+09:00

I've recently come across some disturbing information. Since becoming a teacher, I've also become curious about the differences in education in other countries. My friend, who graduated from a Korean high school here in Daegu in 2000, has shared his experience. I will in turn share it with you (plus bits I know about elementary/middle schools now) to compare with your own.Presently,

I love...

2008-05-28T00:04:00.001+09:00

That's all.

Seoul; Presently Tense

2008-05-06T14:09:00.002+09:00

It's Tuesday. Monday May 5th is my birthday. Monday. What can I do on a Monday…? Recover from a good – no, great – weekend, that’s what. So Deuk Kyun and I start planning a trip to Seoul for the 2nd Annual Seoul World DJ Festival. We agree not to spend much money as we’re saving up for a big winter getaway. Therefore, I buy tickets to the show in advance, saving us ~$10. We also decide

I Love "Love" Motels

2008-05-03T01:06:00.000+09:00

A love motel usually runs between $35-60 per night, depending on the city, area of that city, and quality/cleanliness. They are called “love motels” because they have a floor or two of hourly-rented rooms, covered parking, and the amenities in the bathroom include a condom. Whether or not people actually use these services for the purpose intended, these motels differ from the more expensive

Report Cards

2008-04-28T00:53:00.003+09:00

Ha! I'm finally done with this horrible bi-monthly task. Six times a year is far too often for this, in my opinion.We mark all our students (12 classes x ~10 students per class) on 4 categories for Reading class and 5 categories in Presentation (science) class. We have a couple of weeks to grade, then the kids just log on to the (super cute) website and look at it. I doubt many of the parents

News

2008-04-23T00:34:00.003+09:00

I just got some GREAT news! My college friend, Annie, has booked a ticket to come visit me for a week in August! So I've requested the time off work and will hear back soon if I get all the days I want. I'm already planning what we can do - we have many options.Hiking, temples, jjimjilbang (see prev. post), beaches, mountains, eating, rock climbing, renting motorbikes at the man-made lake (^^)