Finally getting settled

I am still alive...lol...So....it's been a while since my last blog. I've been running around crazy lately. Since my last blog post, I have moved into my new apartment, started some productive projects at work, gone shopping at the Korean equivalent of Target and eaten at some interesting places.

Everything is going EXTREMELY well. In fact, it kind of freaks me out that things are going so well. At work, I have been given a huge amount of freedom to begin fitness projects/programs and order things that seem necessary. Honestly, there is so much that can be done, i am not even sure where to start. A feeling of excitement and a feeling of being overwhelmed comes over me every time I sit at my desk. My brain wonders off on 20 million tangents because everything is starting from scratch. The soldiers (believe it or not) do have lots of fitness questions. Most know very little outside of their usual push-ups, sit-ups, etc. I honestly get stopped at least 3 times by soldiers when I workout coming up to ask me questions about fitness. OK...when I'm working out, I'm obviously not working, but of course I always hop off of whatever equipment I am on to answer their questions about various topics. My office is in one of the gyms on base. I share a huge office space with two wonderful Korean staff members at my gym. They sometimes ask me to help them with their English e-mails when they send them. Hmm... really? I barely know all the rules of my own native language...lol They are both incredibly kind and share absolutely everything. I mean everything. They've offered me their breakfast, lunches, books, desks, arms.. (ok, maybe not their arms, but you get my drift). They are incredibly hard workers.



One of my co-workers, Ms. Sin, whom is Korean took me to E-mart, the equivalent to Target in the states. This store had everything. I mean everything. She took me to E-mart and we spent 3 hours in the store. When was the last time you were in Target for 3 hours? Don't worry, E-Mart had a food court so we did not starve ;) The food court only served Korean food..and once again, i was forced to use chop sticks. I saw 3 year olds in my peripheral vision using chopsticks better than me. UGH! I just can't win. I bought my own practice set of chopsticks at E-Mart. Yes ladies and gentleman, I will be eating everything at home with chopsticks from now on....cereal, eggs, pizza, stir fry, pancakes....lol. ok, no. I think I bought one of everything that store had. Hi..American on aisle 5 (yes, I made a scene..mostly because I looked like I was totally out of place and that automatically attracted all kinds of unwanted attention). All went well. To thank Ms. Sin for escorting me to E-Mart and translating absolutely everything, I bought her a chocolate cake from the Korean Dunkin Doughnuts and took it to her at work. Yes, Dunkin Doughnuts here sell beautiful cakes. Ms. Sin was very appreciative and so was I. She even helped me carry it all into my apartment and she read to me the buttons on my Korean washing machine so that I can now wash clothes. YEA!!

More pictures soon :)

The End of My First Week....Spoiled...Sick..and Ready for More!

Above is a picture of a toilet I came across in the subway station. Hmm....I can't even squat that low. Needless to say, I decided to hold it.

My first week in Korea has come to a close. I've been spoiled rotten by all of the wonderful amenities we still have here on the American base I work on, but I have had a cold for the last three days. A lot has taken place over the course of the week, and for for the sake of those of us who hate reading long passages (or typing them..lol), I decided to break it all up (mostly to keep my sanity).

The Korean Subway...Chopsticks at a Sanchon Temple Style Restaurant...and Dancing

My cousin Al and I decided to meet up for dinner in Seoul. I live in Uijongbu (waaaay north) and he lives near Migeum (waaaaay South). We could not possibly be any farther apart on the Korean map. No, I'm serious. As a result, we met in the middle of Korea for dinner. I took the subway train my first night here. My boss was actually impressed that I was being bold and venturing out on the train having only been in Korea for a total of 4 hours prior. He walked me to the subway station and showed me how get a ticket using the Korean ticket machine (which, by the way...was not in English). The Korean Subway system is quite extensive...but is super easy to navigate..even for Americans. Although the seats were not conducive to a person with shoulders or hips as broad as mine, the ride was interesting. The seats on the subway all face each other which I felt kind of requires people to look at each other. HELLO...is this awkward to anyone else? NO! Just me. The Koreans did not look at each other. Instead, they kept their eyes closed, held conversations or watched TV on their cell phones. Speaking of TV on cell phones...I'm going to out on a limb and say I'm sooo 2005 by still using an ipod on the subway apparently. Its not the thing to do like it is in DC.

I met my cousin Al at the top of the metro. We jumped into a cab. Al speaks Korean and told the driver where we need to go. He led me to a restaurant that he has eaten at before. I was surprised when we walked into the Sanchon Temple restaurant. It was in the back of an alley. But absolutely beautiful inside. As soon as I walked in, Al informed me that I needed to take off mt shoes. For the sake of those around me...good thing I had just had a pedicure ;) We proceeded into the restaurant and the first thing I noticed was that there were no chairs. Yes, we sat on the floor. Pillow were provided and the floor was heated. A heated floor...REMARKABLE! Note to self, must get that in the States. We had a full course dinner. There was no menu. Everyone was served the same thing. I could make nothing out. Al had to tell me what everything was. There was no meat served, just fresh vegetables found in Korea's woods and mountains. The dishes were inspired by temple cooking the proprietor came to know during his years as a Buddhist Monk. It was quite interesting. There were no forks. I had never used chop sticks. It was interesting. I think I landed more food on the table than I did in my mouth. While trying to balance, my cousin Al enjoyed laughing at my attempts. I ate slowly and hoped that no one noticed. Al and I were the only people not Korean in the entire place.

During Dinner there was a dance performance. Two Korean men and Two Korean women wore elaborate and beautiful Korean attire and did some impressive dance to instrumental music. All was great...until they wanted people form the audience to come on stage and dance. Surely, I thought they wouldn't pick me..I'm not even Korean. Well...scratch that, they picked me and two other Koreans. I had no idea what to do. I just went on stage and did exactly whatever the woman in front of me did no matter how silly. I think it worked out well. Do you think they noticed that I wasn't Korean...lol

WHAT? There's Pizza Hut, Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts in Korea?? Oh, there is a God :)

My boss was telling my there are several Pizza Huts in Korea and that their pizza is different. I'm not sure what this meant...so I decided to do a little experiment. Well. I went to the Pizza Hut and the Starbucks. Best experience I have had at both. The pizza was super friesh. Not oily, not fatty. Just the right amount of everything. The put random things like shrimp and potatos on pizza here. While at Starbucks, I was glad that I had my staple of the Tall Vanilla Latte, but I was not sure how to ask for it skim and/or sugar free...so I was bad...and had a regular Vanilla Latte. It was amazing. The Baristas were nice enought to allow me to take photos. I hear Koreans love thier coffee ;)

The menus are in Korean too...

The Cutest Dog I have ever seen...and I don't even like dogs....
I saw the cutest dog today at a local pet store. Apparently this is a Korean dog. I am not sure what that means or what kind it is....but I am seriously debating if i should adopt one. What do you think?

Left: My cousin Al's friend Susanna hanging out in Seoul.

Right: Al's friend Ki Moon from Alabama. They go way back and he loves my sister. Ki is definitely being added to my list of coolest people I have ever met!!