Monday, November 30, 2009

What do you mean tomorrow is December?

Jesus Christ and all his little apple cheeked angles it is cold. Did you know South Korea gets cold in the winter? I did, but still, I think I will complain about it. It isn't so much the outside cold that gets to me, but the inside cold. My principal, the greatest cock in all of Cockdonia rations our heater oil by giving us coupons. We have 8 coupons for the winter. I am told 8 coupons lasts about 30 days. Now, I am no Donald in Mathmagic Land, but that seems wrong. Also wrong is that I work in finger gloves, woolly socks, a scarf and sometimes a hat. I have a heated seat cushion now. I have the warmest ass in school. Oh well, summer will come again and I will bitch about being too hot. I am never happy.

Other than freezing to death every day, I think I am finding my Korean groove. This is starting to feel more like life than a vacation. I love the kids and most of my co-workers. Everything I do impresses them. Today I brought in some left over cranberry sauce and turkey from Thanksgiving and nearly made their brains explode with new taste sensations. For the record, Koreans love turkey and cranberries and there should be more of both in this country. There was almost a fist fight for the last taste. I wish I had brought more in, but I am hoarding it for me. I only have a tiny bit of cranberry sauce left and it was such a pain in the ass to make, I don't want to do it again in the near future.

Speaking of the sauce, here is what happened. So I found craisins at Home Plus. I love Home Plus. I am going to marry Home Plus and have Home Plus babies. We will be so happy together. Anyway, I buy half their stock of craisins. I get them home and search recipes online. I find a recipe and decide I will try it out the next day. The next day arrives, I set to work re hydrating the craisins. That is when things went horribly wrong. I was supposed to wash the oils off the craisins and then drain the water. Ok, easy pea.... CRAP!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! CRAISINS IN THE SINK! CRAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSS IN THE SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why god, why???? All the craisins were lost in my disgusting drain catcher thingy, floating on dirty plates, in half empty cups of tea, it was total craisin carnage. I just about cried. I had to get back in a taxi, return with my head hung in shame to Home Plus, and buy the other half of the Home Plus craisin supply. Take two of the craisin sauce experiment went smoothly, and a happy Thanksgiving was had by all.

This was my first Thanksgiving away from home. I'll admit I got a little homesick thinking about all the family stuff, and then a little bummed with my friends in my city wanted nothing to do with the holiday. Luckily it was the British to the rescue and my friend John hosted an excellent Thanksgiving for the expats. You name it, we had it, including pumpkin pie. The next day I skyped with my parents, brothers, cousins, aunts and uncle. I still missed the parade and Olie's Waffle House (Aaron you jackass bastard, I can't believe you bailed on that.) but new traditions were made, like eating spicy brava potatoes.

Ok, I am going to do some yoga now. I do yoga because my floor is heated (an amazing invention, don't tell Home Plus, but I want to have an affair with the heated floor).

PS. Polly, I totally update this thing, so there.

Friday, November 27, 2009

A Thanksgiving Miracle

Polly sent me my Chanukah present early. I of course opened them immediately, the teachers and I got to playing, and and here is what followed.






Monday, November 2, 2009

Halloween in Ulsan (Pictures)


Bryan and I at the post movie/ pre-party refueling.



Actual pants deemed acceptable as outside of the house attire.



Bryan and Justin are totally goth.




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Liz gets a ride



I LOVE glow bracelets.





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This girl had been dancing with a fan.



Breakfast at McDonald's after spending the whole night out. Justin got a happy meal. It came with Noribang toys.



Bryan is bad ass.



The next morning we found a couch.

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We sat on said couch


The beach in Ulsan near Dave's place.




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Dave took us for a trek up to the cliffs. Surprisingly not to kill us.


Beautiful Ulsan sunset.




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Lonely man


Selling fish and what not


Bumper cars!


Sunday dinner!
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