Flickr Photo Mosaic

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 1948

The questions:

1. What is your first name? Sonja
2. What is your favorite food? Right now, Jjigae – spicy tofu stew
3. What high school did you go to? Bemidji
4. What is your favorite color? Pink
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Leonardo DiCaprio
6. Favorite drink? Dirty Martini
7. Dream vacation? Bali Resort
8. Favorite dessert? Fruit sorbet
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Physical therapist
10. What do you love most in life? Happiness
11. One word to describe you. Optimist
12. Your flickr name. Sonja Jean

So, you want to make one of your own? Here's what you do:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions above into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Flickr’s (Big Huge Labs) Mosaic Maker.
d. Save a copy. Don't forget to share it on your blog, facebook, myspace or by email!

Interesting Tidbit #2

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 plate ends in the number 0 or 5 you cannot drive on that day. Your car may be parked legally, or you may drive outside city limits. From what I've seen many people disobey this law and drive in the city anyway, but it is a law nonetheless.

Interesting.

Wednesday Weather Report

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 in the snow. People here area wishing for some cold, winter weather - not me.

Interesting Tidbit #1

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, gochujang (red pepper paste), and doenjang (soybean paste). Of course, the alcohol evaporates or otherwise disappears, but that delicious -ha!- flavor (some of you know what I'm talking about) is bound to left in a small measure. I quite enjoy doenjang jjigae (tofu stew with a soybean paste broth) and was a bit alarmed to learn how much soju goes into the process.

As a bonus tidbit, soju can also be, and absolutely is, used to clean tables at restaurants between patrons. Yum.

Vacation

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. She still works for our company but moved from Chilgok (where I lived last year) to our new branch in Busan, near Haewoondae Beach. After I have lunch with her, I'm hoping to lay around, read, drink beer, and eat popsicles (Corona + Lemon Ice Bar) on the beach. Then I'm going to sleep in the jjimjilbang again to save money.

There are lots of exciting events scheduled for this summer, too. I can't wait to write about them, but here's an impromptu list:

Amazing Race Daegu II* (I did last year's also!)
Prom Night* - A chance to re-live it, but better this time! CANCELED due to "scheduling conflicts" with the venue... or some excuse. :(
Art Daegu 2008 - Exhibition at the EXCO Daegu Convention Center
TreX-Games Busan 2008
13th Busan International Art Festival
Boryeong Mud Festival (Also my second go-around)

* Organized by the small community of foreigners in Daegu for ourselves.
All the other items are legitimate, sponsored, backed-by-councils-and-ministries-type events.