Hello again,
So just a quick update. So, I had an eventful last couple of days. I am so happy to be feeling better. I am not 100%, but I am almost there. I had to get outside of my apartment! Friday, my co-teachers and I went to Hyewa, which is a neighborhood near mine. It has more shopping, restaurants, bars, and noribongs(karaoke rooms). So we went to this restaurant/bar called "Cream beer." It was a nice atmosphere. It also had this "cream" you pour on your beer. It made the crappy Korean beer taste much better. Then we decided, since we didn't want to go out to the major foreigner bars that we would stay in Hyewa. We went to a noribong. It wasn't the nicest in the world, but it sufficed for what we wanted.
The next day I met up with a few friends at Spabee's restaurant(it means spaghetti and beer). Its an Italian restaurant, we have gone to many times. It is ran by a very nice Korean gentleman. We then were deciding if we were going to a movie. Well one of my new friends, Rachel was new to Korea, so we decided Noribong was much better way to get to know each other. It was quite the site. It was quite gorgeous for a noribong. It had glass floors when you walk in. And a nice private room with a view of the local shopping district. As you may have seen from the pictures we found a frog suit, and it was quite entertaining. For all of us, even the two who didn't put it on!
I dunno if many of you saw my facebook, but I just found out that my kitty Neko passed away. When I left for Korea I had to leave her behind. It wasn't something I wanted to do, but my friends were very amazing about me doing this experience. And although it pained me much to leave her behind, at the time we all felt (myself included) this was a great opportunity for me. Well, I am not one to talk about my emotions or talk about them well at any rate, so leaving her was harder than most people realize. And I write better than I speak, as most of you know. I had her from 3 weeks old. She was part of a litter that was without a mom. We kept 2 of the kittens. Santino was a great kitty too. Unfortunately, Santinp couldn't survive the fight. Neko, fought long and hard to get strong enough, and oh did she ever. I am not the greatest parent. But, Neko and I had our routine. And we snuggled consistently, and she always slept on my chest when we went to sleep. She was a bit crazy, but I loved that about her, even though at times it drove me nuts. And I think she knew I was leaving. Her mood started changing a little before I left, like she knew things would be different. She was a smart little thing.
My friends are really great people for taking care of Neko. I can't thank them enough for doing everything they could to make sure she was okay and happy. I mean that so much more than I can express properly. Apparently she got sick suddenly. She was living with my friend as an indoor out door cat. They took her to the doctor, and he said there was nothing they could do. I heard that she was happy and doing really well prior to that. So that is really great for me to know she was loved and happy. She will be missed. I will miss her. RIP- Neko 4/2008-8/2009
Update me please. I am halfway through my 6th month. So Update me. I miss you all very much.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Month 6 ;-)
HI HI HI HI~
So, I am in Month 6! It is so weird. I have to say it has flown by. As most of you know last month and this month I was really sick. So I am now getting better, so I can write and let you know what happened. Well at the beginning of August I felt like I had a stuffy nose. I thought it was just my normal allergies, but my allergy medicine wasn't working. Well I had one of my Korean co-teachers write me a note to go to the pharmacy for sore throat and sneezing. The medicine worked for a day, then I got worse. So after a week, I went to the doctor. The ladies(possibly nurses??) couldn't spell my name in Korean and didn't speak any English. It was awesome! The doctor seemed more worried about if I had swine flu, rather than what was actually wrong with me. So he perscribed me medicine for 3 days. As you probably guess, it didn't work, and I went back again. He then was wearing a mask when he heard I was back, and said my symptoms still weren't swine flu, so prescribed me 4 more days of medicine. Well I started to feel better for like 2 days, and I was so excited. It was a Friday. Sunday, my nose felt stuffy. I was trying to be positive.
The next day I got food poisoning. It was awesome!!! I felt like my stomach was eating itself! And that night, during all of that. I came down with a fever. I decided it was due to my stomach ache. I was wrong! The fever got worse. So I went to the ER with my Manager of our school and Jimmy(Angie my supervisor's assistant). They don't speak English well, so again my symptoms and problems were not relayed properly. Not their fault, they were really nice about it. I also got tested for SWINE FLU! Awesome! Clearly, didn't have it since I was not exposed to anyone with SWINE FLU, since I had mainly been at school and my apartment. Still, I took the medicine, hoping to feel better and nothing! Then finally I went to go see another doctor and made Angie go with me, so I could describe to the doctor what was wrong with me exactly and how long I had been sick. So he finally said ANTIBIOTIC!!! YAY! And wouldn't you know, I started getting better the next day. Now it is 5 days later and I am almost back to my normal self.
SO yeah, that's why I wasn't writing for a while. There wasn't anything good to write about. All I wanted was to go to a CVS or Walgreen's or something. It sucked! I can't pretend it was good, it wasn't. I figured if I wrote while sick, I would sound like such a Debbie Downer, that I couldn't.
I had a good few people who were really great during that time, and that made it easier.
So this weekend, I am going OUTSIDE!! I have to! The cabin fever set in weeks ago. I remember getting snowed in for 1 day and going crazy! So just imagine basically a month!
Few things:
I didn't update, because there wasn't much to say. But, email me! I want updates. I can't believe it has been this long. I really miss y'all so much!
BIG HUGS and lots of Love from SK!
Rosie
So, I am in Month 6! It is so weird. I have to say it has flown by. As most of you know last month and this month I was really sick. So I am now getting better, so I can write and let you know what happened. Well at the beginning of August I felt like I had a stuffy nose. I thought it was just my normal allergies, but my allergy medicine wasn't working. Well I had one of my Korean co-teachers write me a note to go to the pharmacy for sore throat and sneezing. The medicine worked for a day, then I got worse. So after a week, I went to the doctor. The ladies(possibly nurses??) couldn't spell my name in Korean and didn't speak any English. It was awesome! The doctor seemed more worried about if I had swine flu, rather than what was actually wrong with me. So he perscribed me medicine for 3 days. As you probably guess, it didn't work, and I went back again. He then was wearing a mask when he heard I was back, and said my symptoms still weren't swine flu, so prescribed me 4 more days of medicine. Well I started to feel better for like 2 days, and I was so excited. It was a Friday. Sunday, my nose felt stuffy. I was trying to be positive.
The next day I got food poisoning. It was awesome!!! I felt like my stomach was eating itself! And that night, during all of that. I came down with a fever. I decided it was due to my stomach ache. I was wrong! The fever got worse. So I went to the ER with my Manager of our school and Jimmy(Angie my supervisor's assistant). They don't speak English well, so again my symptoms and problems were not relayed properly. Not their fault, they were really nice about it. I also got tested for SWINE FLU! Awesome! Clearly, didn't have it since I was not exposed to anyone with SWINE FLU, since I had mainly been at school and my apartment. Still, I took the medicine, hoping to feel better and nothing! Then finally I went to go see another doctor and made Angie go with me, so I could describe to the doctor what was wrong with me exactly and how long I had been sick. So he finally said ANTIBIOTIC!!! YAY! And wouldn't you know, I started getting better the next day. Now it is 5 days later and I am almost back to my normal self.
SO yeah, that's why I wasn't writing for a while. There wasn't anything good to write about. All I wanted was to go to a CVS or Walgreen's or something. It sucked! I can't pretend it was good, it wasn't. I figured if I wrote while sick, I would sound like such a Debbie Downer, that I couldn't.
I had a good few people who were really great during that time, and that made it easier.
So this weekend, I am going OUTSIDE!! I have to! The cabin fever set in weeks ago. I remember getting snowed in for 1 day and going crazy! So just imagine basically a month!
Few things:
I didn't update, because there wasn't much to say. But, email me! I want updates. I can't believe it has been this long. I really miss y'all so much!
BIG HUGS and lots of Love from SK!
Rosie
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
STARTING MONTH 5 :)
Well again it has been a few weeks... I am so busy I couldn't remember my shoes on Tuesday. I walked into work in my flipflops! We are doing a month of intensives which means I have more classes. It blows, because we already had so many classes. But, it only lasts until the end of August. That means I will almost be halfway through. I really love the kids, and my co-teachers are amazing. SO that helps when you get really stressed out.
Good news- My brother-in-law is here in Korea finally! I know it is a little ways to travel to him, but it is so great to have family here! It is so strange that it worked out that we are both here at the same time. Also, my sister sent me the greatest gift. I only received one so far, but she sent me a box of food from home (she said she sent 2, which is so incredible of her)! It was the greatest thing ever, not just the food, but receiving mail was so great. It was the first piece of mail I have gotten since my roommate sent me my going away party cd a few weeks after I arrived in Korea.
I hung out with a few of my friends I met in Korea on Friday. It was a really good time. We went to dinner and we drank Japanese liquor. I will post a few pictures. I am so lazy when it comes to that.
I will write more soon.
Take care everyone! MISS YOU! ***BIG HUGS**
Good news- My brother-in-law is here in Korea finally! I know it is a little ways to travel to him, but it is so great to have family here! It is so strange that it worked out that we are both here at the same time. Also, my sister sent me the greatest gift. I only received one so far, but she sent me a box of food from home (she said she sent 2, which is so incredible of her)! It was the greatest thing ever, not just the food, but receiving mail was so great. It was the first piece of mail I have gotten since my roommate sent me my going away party cd a few weeks after I arrived in Korea.
I hung out with a few of my friends I met in Korea on Friday. It was a really good time. We went to dinner and we drank Japanese liquor. I will post a few pictures. I am so lazy when it comes to that.
I will write more soon.
Take care everyone! MISS YOU! ***BIG HUGS**
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
new quick video blog!--korean fashion!
So I was people watching in the Shopping area in Meyongdong in Seoul. I took a bunch of pictures.. It is quite entertaining if I do say so myself!
Let me know what you think~!
I miss you and love you all loads!
BIG HUGS!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
27 in Korea
HI :)
SO again it has taken me a minute to write another blog....
Okay so a re-cap... Well first as you may have been able to tell, I was getting a bit down from work and homesickness. I am actually doing better now. I have been here almost 4 months. Its kind of crazy right?!?!
Well last month I started venturing out of my bubble that I accidentally decided to hibernate in. Possibly due to the negativity and draining days that haegwons (private schools) bring. I met some really cool people from my new friend Sharon. They are all English teachers, but they have public school jobs... so much more positive! They live in Incheon, which is a city right near Seoul. They are all different and wonderful. I have just begun getting to know them, and I think they are great. It has definitely put me into the positive perspective again. We went to a really cool bar the first night which was called Flare, and it had some guy tossing fire. I will post a video of that. I am sort of backed up on pictures and videos.
Then Karrin and I went with them to Muuido, a small island outside of Incheon. Don't get excited, its not one of those fancy beaches... some of you Ohioans can relate with Put N Bay. Not even like the mini, mini island my family and I boat to off the coast of Tampa. Anyway, it was a really great time. It was a 3 hour ordeal to get there. We waited at a bus stop for way over an hour, and we ended up taking a cab with two people who were waiting for a bus too. We get there and our huts are actually on the beach. They were cramped space for 4 people, which 2 can sleep comfortably. I say comfortably with a hard floor and a pillow, but for $8 a night, it wasn't horrible. It was the 4th of JULY, so we had sparklers and firecrackers, and a fire. It was a good company, good conversation, good scenery kind of experience. So yes, very glad to have met them.. :)
Next, MY BIRTHDAY **BLECK** EW 27
So, I am the youngest Houston child, who is creeping quickly to the big THREE ZERO! Its really weird. So I spent the entire week and a half, remembering all of my 27 years young. I went through quite a few emotions with regard to it. I missed my friends and family like crazy, mostly like a 7 year old wants to go home at 9:00pm at their sleepover! haha... yeah strange... Not necessarily the breakdown my 30th will bring, but definitely brought some strange feelings. Anyway, the conclusion... I am happy in the place I am right now, and the person that I am now. So, be it 21 or 51, I am cool with right now. Whichever country I may be in...
Anyway... I will right more this weekend I presume. I love you all and miss you very much. You are in my thoughts everyday!
***BIG HUGS**** from SK
PS I still need addresses people! Seriously! Mine is listed below, and I know I have a crap load of things I need to send out, so some addresses I have others I need.... so even if you are just expecting a postcard, GET ON giving me your addresses!
SO again it has taken me a minute to write another blog....
Okay so a re-cap... Well first as you may have been able to tell, I was getting a bit down from work and homesickness. I am actually doing better now. I have been here almost 4 months. Its kind of crazy right?!?!
Well last month I started venturing out of my bubble that I accidentally decided to hibernate in. Possibly due to the negativity and draining days that haegwons (private schools) bring. I met some really cool people from my new friend Sharon. They are all English teachers, but they have public school jobs... so much more positive! They live in Incheon, which is a city right near Seoul. They are all different and wonderful. I have just begun getting to know them, and I think they are great. It has definitely put me into the positive perspective again. We went to a really cool bar the first night which was called Flare, and it had some guy tossing fire. I will post a video of that. I am sort of backed up on pictures and videos.
Then Karrin and I went with them to Muuido, a small island outside of Incheon. Don't get excited, its not one of those fancy beaches... some of you Ohioans can relate with Put N Bay. Not even like the mini, mini island my family and I boat to off the coast of Tampa. Anyway, it was a really great time. It was a 3 hour ordeal to get there. We waited at a bus stop for way over an hour, and we ended up taking a cab with two people who were waiting for a bus too. We get there and our huts are actually on the beach. They were cramped space for 4 people, which 2 can sleep comfortably. I say comfortably with a hard floor and a pillow, but for $8 a night, it wasn't horrible. It was the 4th of JULY, so we had sparklers and firecrackers, and a fire. It was a good company, good conversation, good scenery kind of experience. So yes, very glad to have met them.. :)
Next, MY BIRTHDAY **BLECK** EW 27
So, I am the youngest Houston child, who is creeping quickly to the big THREE ZERO! Its really weird. So I spent the entire week and a half, remembering all of my 27 years young. I went through quite a few emotions with regard to it. I missed my friends and family like crazy, mostly like a 7 year old wants to go home at 9:00pm at their sleepover! haha... yeah strange... Not necessarily the breakdown my 30th will bring, but definitely brought some strange feelings. Anyway, the conclusion... I am happy in the place I am right now, and the person that I am now. So, be it 21 or 51, I am cool with right now. Whichever country I may be in...
Anyway... I will right more this weekend I presume. I love you all and miss you very much. You are in my thoughts everyday!
***BIG HUGS**** from SK
PS I still need addresses people! Seriously! Mine is listed below, and I know I have a crap load of things I need to send out, so some addresses I have others I need.... so even if you are just expecting a postcard, GET ON giving me your addresses!
Monday, July 6, 2009
July 7th 2009
Hey guys!
It has been a minute, but it has been really hectic here. Let's see where did I leave off. Well I have made a couple new friends since the last time I wrote. It definitely makes the experience a little easier here. I went to this island with them last weekend. Its a beach, not super nice, but decent. We slept in huts on the beach,caught some actual crabs, and had some sort of fire war... which I got hit in the skirt with :( Luckily not the leg. What can I say, the 4th of July excites people! We had an adventure the next day returning to the mainland. It was a 3 our debacle to get there, but Karrin and I found a shortcut on the way back. (airport limousine-bus from the airport to Seoul)
The hours still suck at my job, but I have managed to work out a flow for things. It doesn't make much less time but I don't go in at 8am anymore. Its like 9-9:30 now. The co-workers are all in the same boat, and stressed at our hours too. They are all great people and I wish it wasn't so stressful so we could hang out more.
Two of the the foreign teachers like me quit from our office last month. They finish up at the end of July. It can be that tough some days. But, they are good guys and we are going to miss them. After they leave, we have summer "intensives" basically they work us to the max hours we can work (just classes, still have all the other crap). So I will have 42-3 classes or so a week... fun fun fun!
Anyway that is a little about what is up with me... so my plea to people back home... write me an email update I miss you!!! It sucks I can't spend my birthday with you guys again this year.
Love everyone so much!!! Miss you so much!
*******BIG HUGS******
It has been a minute, but it has been really hectic here. Let's see where did I leave off. Well I have made a couple new friends since the last time I wrote. It definitely makes the experience a little easier here. I went to this island with them last weekend. Its a beach, not super nice, but decent. We slept in huts on the beach,caught some actual crabs, and had some sort of fire war... which I got hit in the skirt with :( Luckily not the leg. What can I say, the 4th of July excites people! We had an adventure the next day returning to the mainland. It was a 3 our debacle to get there, but Karrin and I found a shortcut on the way back. (airport limousine-bus from the airport to Seoul)
The hours still suck at my job, but I have managed to work out a flow for things. It doesn't make much less time but I don't go in at 8am anymore. Its like 9-9:30 now. The co-workers are all in the same boat, and stressed at our hours too. They are all great people and I wish it wasn't so stressful so we could hang out more.
Two of the the foreign teachers like me quit from our office last month. They finish up at the end of July. It can be that tough some days. But, they are good guys and we are going to miss them. After they leave, we have summer "intensives" basically they work us to the max hours we can work (just classes, still have all the other crap). So I will have 42-3 classes or so a week... fun fun fun!
Anyway that is a little about what is up with me... so my plea to people back home... write me an email update I miss you!!! It sucks I can't spend my birthday with you guys again this year.
Love everyone so much!!! Miss you so much!
*******BIG HUGS******
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Friends
Hoon- my first friend in Seoul.HI :)
What's new with me:
So I was getting really homesick for the past couple of weeks. I really miss my friends. I miss coming home to my zoo and friends. It is not the easiest thing ever. I am not used to this sort of thing anymore. I used to be when I was younger and moved frequently. Many of you understand what its like going to a new city where you don't know anyone, i.e. Michelle, Katie, Paul, Eddie, Maya, Suzanne, Laura. Its good and bad, as with anywhere you are. Good connections are difficult to make. They are much easier when you are home, because you have commonalities, even just proximity helps in building relationships. Also, genuine laughter makes everything better.
So I was getting really homesick for the past couple of weeks. I really miss my friends. I miss coming home to my zoo and friends. It is not the easiest thing ever. I am not used to this sort of thing anymore. I used to be when I was younger and moved frequently. Many of you understand what its like going to a new city where you don't know anyone, i.e. Michelle, Katie, Paul, Eddie, Maya, Suzanne, Laura. Its good and bad, as with anywhere you are. Good connections are difficult to make. They are much easier when you are home, because you have commonalities, even just proximity helps in building relationships. Also, genuine laughter makes everything better.
It was exciting, overwhelming and new when I got here. I was very fascinated by Seoul. There is a lot to figure out, when not being able to read or speak, it becomes a bit frustrating. Then work got tough, not difficult, just so many hours (part time my ass). I was exhausted. It was taking a huge toll on me. I was really exhausted and consistently sick. So, I joined a gym. Yeah not the best idea when you are to sick to go. I have gone since, but at first it was difficult. My job was long, and as many of you know, running after kids is very difficult. They get sick, you get sick.
Well I happened to meet 2 good new friends. I ventured out again. It was good. Laughing is definitely the best medicine. They are helping me explore more, food, places and people. I feel the rest of the year will be different. I am hopeful, plus my brother-in-law will be here soon, and I can show him what I have seen and learned so far :)
Well big hugs, if anyone wants to send anything postcards letters, please send to my school:
Attn: Ms. Rosemary Houston
YBM ECC Sungbuk ECC
143-5 Udam Building 2nd floor
Somun-dong 6 ga, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-036
YBM ECC Sungbuk ECC
143-5 Udam Building 2nd floor
Somun-dong 6 ga, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-036
LOVE YOU BUNCHES!
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