Goals : FAILED

So, I had a lot of expectations for Korea.

I thought that I would lose tons of weight with all of the walking. I thought that Koreans didn't eat fattening foods and so my diet would also change into a non-fat one. WRONG. I haven't been walking that much, because public transportation is so convenient. I've been taking the buses, and if I get tired of waiting for the bus, I just get in a cab - pricier, but conveniet. I guess I'm American through and through. I can't trade comfort for anything.

Also, I'm always hungry here! I don't even eat healthy. I've been to McDonald's a few times and I eat ice cream ALL the livelong day! Weight loss: FAIL

I also thought that my skin would become smooth and clear because Korean girls have really great skin! I've been sweating so much all the time that my skin has no chance to breathe or be clean! I was sweating so much that someone bought me ice cream once. I guess the bug bites don't really fit in with clear skin either. Great skin: FAIL

Another wish was for my hair to grow fast. I was going to look for vitamins to promote hair growth. I was sure that health-crazed Koreans would definitely have them. Well... they probably do, but no one understands what I'm saying when I ask. I have no idea how to ask. Long Hair: FAIL

I thought my Korean was going to get so much better and that Koreans would be impressed by the Korean that I already know. WRONG. When I ask for things in Korean or I ask about things or basically ask anything, people give me this strange look, like they think I'm crazy or really stupid or something or they think I have something in my mouth and can't say something properly. Most say "moragoyo? mollayo!!!" (what? I don't know!) Some people just shake their hands or wave, signing that they don't know, even before I ask the question! Great Korean: Failed

Well... my expectations have failed as of now. Hopefully I'll be able to fulfill some of those goals. Lunch time calls - my favorite part of the day, at school at least.

Diarrhea...Oh my.

5 A.M. this morning, I have a dream about my stomach grumbling and me squatting immediately. Then, my brain registers that the grumbling is a reality. I wake up and run to the bathroom.... Since then, I've been pissing out of my ass.

I couldn't even go to school today. This is like the 4th or 5th time I've been sick since entering Korea. Jane says it's chonsul to be sick here. (chonsul = unstylish... I can't think of the exact translation.) Yesterday I saw Brown Eyed Girls. They are a famous singing girl group. They're pretty good!

So I have a lot of things to post once I get internet. Right now I'm using the PC room in front of my apt. It smells so bad. Everyone is cancering my lungs right now.

Trying to Like Korea...

The things I like about Korea....

I have friends.

Starting from the top left: Andrea is from Maryland and she has sort of a British accent because she learned English from British television. Denice is from LA and she loves her school, Ucla and she really likes korean grapes and patbingsoo. Hwang Sujin says that her nickname is yellow jean because hwang means yellow and jin sounds like jean. She is Carly's co-teacher. Bottom left: Jane Lee is from Sacramento. She goes to UC Davis. She loves boys and she was my roommate. Next is me, Jane S. Kim. I am from Valencia, CA and I miss In-N-Out and Mexican food. On my left and your right is Carly. She is from England. She is so cute that people ask to take photos of her everywhere she goes, yet she still insisted that I take a photo of her walking away. 

Mr. Simon is from London and he has very sexy shorts.

Some are weird.

Thomas has a hilarious last name, Smallwood. Andrew is transparently pale. Sungmin is easily surprised.

Dee is a Dancer

I have Arrison Unni too!

Allison is from Fullerton, CA, a place that is near and dear to me. I miss Thai Basil, Yogurtland, and the Brea mall.

More things that I like about Korea...

I have fun sometimes and I still have things to laugh at or about.

Kids do what I tell them to, in this case, they're waving at me because I told them to.

They put trees where they need them.
'

I can catch fish with my bare hands

I can sleep on the beach after clubbing.

There are slutty Russian Koreans.

The clouds are beautiful and the sky is so blue, but it rains a lot and it's really hot and humid.

The land is lush and green in rural areas which is most areas.

I can learn about my heritage while bearing through really rainy weather.

They have HamHung like in the states, but there's many more restaurants with good Korean food.

AND!!!!

Cindy comes here often. I love her so much!

Arrival in Uiryeong

The English director at the elementary school that I'm going to be teaching at picked me up yesterday. Picture this:

I'm sweating and my clothes are moist and I'm smelling like Korean food with the new B.O. that I've acquired, I get into the teacher's car. Up to this point I've pretended that I don't speak Korean and that I only speak English. In the car, I feel her frustration because she totally doesn't speak English so I tell her that I actually do speak Korea. She expresses her relief and then she says, "we haven't looked for a place for you to live yet, but we found a place for you to stay in the meantime. You can stay at this teacher's house tonight." Then she gets a phone call and tells me that she actually doesn't have a place for me to sleep. Tears are about to spring from my eye sockets and I feel a lump in my throat.

Last night I slept at the apartment of the two other girls in Uiryeong. I still have that lump in my throat. I just want to go home while they sort out my apartment business and eat some In-N-Out and carne asada fries with carnitas burrito.