Saturday, December 11, 2010

A few of my favorite things!

So I am going on 4 months in Korea and I am beginning to really love it here! Last night we went out for Korean BBQ for supper. It is one of my favorite meals. So much delicious meat that you get to cook right on your own personal bbq!

Another one of my favorite things about Korea is the giant bottles of beer you can buy at the cornerstore! 

And then I discovered what I consider one of the best inventions ever! The Soju tetrapak! Delicious soju in a juice box form for when you need to drink on the run!!


It's finally starting to feel like home here! Can't wait to see what other goodies Korea has to offer!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Working up the courage

This weekend I am having a rather relaxing weekend. Mainly because next week is pay day so I am low on funds, but also because I need some rest. This morning I woke up and skyped with a friend of mine from home. Afterwards I went to the gym before meeting some new friends for coffee.

Now I have been going to the gym frequently for almost two months now and I have yet to shower there. I generally work out and then come home and shower. If you have ever been in a Korean gym, you will know that it is a little different than most North American gyms. Koreans are very open and have no problem walking around naked. Now, let me state that I am not one of those people who gets changed in the bathroom stall. I am totally okay with getting changed in front of other people, I just am not okay with sitting around and having heart to heart chats with my friends, and then doing my hair and makeup, while being completely naked. Needless to say, I find the gym locker room slightly intimidating. I think I need to add that the towels that are used in Korea are the size of hand towels, so there is no walking around with your towel covering you, it's bare it all, or go home. Today, however, I decided that I was going to suck it up and just do it. I spent the entire hour and a half that I was working out, pumping myself up and telling myself that it was no problem. I could easily take a shower in front of other women. So there I was, after my workout, in the locker room, contemplating my decision. It was now or never....and I chickened out. I just couldn't do it. So there gym shower remains a mystery to me! I will do it, soon...-ish....atleast once before I leave Korea!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Aww life is tough sometimes!

My friend Tracy and I always joke about how little black rain clouds seem to follow us around wherever we go. It's like if anything could go, wrong it does. My mother always tells me that my life could be worse, and it's true, it could be much worse, but then again, it could also be much better! I'm beginning to think my little black rain cloud has followed me to Korea. This has been a rough week. I am battling what seems to be a never ending cold. To go along with my cold I have some mysterious tooth pain that is causing me not to eat, yet my dentist says there is nothing wrong. That in itself is cause for a pretty shitty week. Add in a few enraged Korean parents, a leaky apartment, some troublesome kindergarteners, and the threat of World War III and you have a recipe for a bit of a stressful week! Sometimes I think that life just says to itself, "Hey, let's see how far we can push Caley before she will crack."

Now when it comes to stress I have figured out some rock solids ways to relieve it. First off, I thoroughly enjoy punching things, so boxing became my favorite hobby. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a boxing club here in Korea so I have had to resort to bottling my rage up inside. Secondly, a regular workout routine really seems to keep my leveled and less likely to break out into a stress induced tantrum. However, with my on going sickness, I haven't been able to do much of that either. So at the moment, I am a big ball of stress and sickness, ready and willing to explode on anyone and anything that might trigger me. Look out North Korea!!!

On a somewhat more positive note, the weather has been extremely nice here and I am pleasantly pleased with the 13 degree temperatures we have been having everyday! Look Ma! No jacket! As today is December 1st, I have begun counting down the days until vacation! Only 24 days until I am on my way to a sunny week in Vietnam!!!