Meet the Parents

Okay, tomorrow should be interesting. We are having an Open House at our school. Typically, this means that we give a 20 minute presentation to the parents of our students. They all come dressed to the 9s in suits and Prada this and Gucci that. So this means that all the teachers need to "dress for success", aka wear a suit. Do I own one? Nope... well, didn't until tonight. I rushed into Itaewon to find that my favourite lady's store wasn't open and I new that my favourite adjushi was having his store remodeled... argh! So I hopped over to my most-unfavourite lady to see what suits and insults she had going. But to my surprise, the new favourite lady was moving her shop over there!!! Woo hoo!!! She found me a dark grey suit with a pinstripe in it. The pants are very wide-legged and the jackets is more cropped and fitted. Makes me a little slimmer, I think. I still need to drop like 100lbs, but looking good... Of course, while in there, I couldn't help but see the nice linen tunics she had and the new workout pants... dag-nab-it. Oh well, I'm happier and spent less than I budgeted for just the suit. So, I can be proud in my cheap but decent fitting suit tomorrow evening when I meet the Prada Parents :), knowing that I have 2 shirts and a pair of pants to boot! hee hee

Happy Birhtday to me...

Hee hee... so it is my birthday. Or was last night but I plan on getting as much out of it as possible. Went out for dinner with Raymond (that's my best friend in Korea) and then went to a really nice, relaxing martini bar with some other friends. It was good. I love just being with my friends and hanging out. I'm not keen on making a huge deal out of my birthday usually. I just like for friends and family to call or write an email saying Happy Birthday and that's it. Gifts... don't really need them. Cake... hate it (unless it is an ice cream cake... yummy). Big bruh-ha-ha parties... don't need them either. Just time with friends and/or family, sharing laughs and memories. That's all I need and want for my birthday.

Thoughts on church

I don't know what has come over me, but I just don't want to go to church these days. It doesn't have anything to do with my faith at all... I still believe and love God so much, I just don't feel the need to go to church. I tried really hard this summer to get really involved in serving and helping out but I just couldn't seem to get connected the way I wanted to. I don't know. I loved being of use and serving the people in the church and giving back to God but I still felt like I didn't belong or something. I've really struggled to develop close relationships with people at church and that makes it hard for me to want to go there. I mean, I have always loved church for the worship and the fellowship with other believers, but lately I feel like there is no connection at all. I don't know. It has been 3 weeks since I last went and, you know what, I've really enjoyed the quiet, peaceful time at home. But I feel a little guilty not going, like I'm a bad Christian or something... I don't know. Maybe it is time to look for a different church, or maybe I should not beat myself up about this and take a little time for myself. Like a vacation from church (not God... just church). I don't know... random thoughts...

Worries

Thanks to those of you who expressed concern over my last post. Really, it isn't something that I feel like I want to talk about. But in order to alleviate your worries, I'll go so far as to say that there is drama, but nothing concerning health or whatnot. I am fine and things will be fine... I have faith and I know that God is in the situation somewhere. Thanks for your thoughts and your prayers... *mwah* much love my friends.

Ciao for now (it's 2:45 am and I need to sleep).

bottoms

Again, don't get any saucy ideas folks... just a question that popped into my brain today...

What do you do when the bottom drops out? I mean, when you feel the rug underneath your feet move, and not in a good way...

Today, I got some news that was shocking and I really feel like, for just a second, I could feel the rotation of the earth. It was odd. It actually wore me out. The emotional stress, which incidentally was not mine to have necessarily, made me sick to my stomach and so tired. I spent the day in coping mode and it was weird.

I know, I know... pray. Okay, did that, didn't feel better. Wait... talk to someone you say? Yup, got that covered, but it made me feel worse. I found that talking to those directly involved was gut wrenching at first but brought me the most peace in the end. But I am still exhausted. Just a good thing I had the day off today.

So, think about it. How would you handle it when the bottom drops out? Because it does all the time... when someone close dies, when you argue with a loved one over something serious, when someone you love goes away for a long time, when there is divorce in your family or close friendships, when a job is lost, or you fail at something you thought you could do. Today I learned that I am not as strong as I thought, which was a lot weaker than some of you thought I was... so be careful... but also know that there is always a way up and out of the bottomless pit!! *^^*

Ciao

BICTORY!!!

Okay, for those of who don't know any Koreans or haven't been here. Most Koreans can't make the 'V' sound so when they say victory, it sounds like bictory. And since I live here in Korea, I thought it made sense to title this blog that way. I fianlly got my links to work!!! muahahahaha... Kris, thanks for prodding me to take a fresh look at them to make them work. Ha ha ha. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Okay, time to actually get some real work done.

Ciao

Links and http or whatever

Okay... I cannot figure out how to get links on here. I know this is my second post of the day, but I have been working on getting my friends' blogs linked to my page and even though I entered them all in identically, the only one that shows up is Kris's. Argh! HTML is really hard if you aren't all that computer literate.... I need help, friends!

First Days and Technology

Much less interesting title isn't it? But that is how interesting my day has been. Today was the last day to prep before the little darlings come into class for the first time. I just found out that I have identical twins in my class (April, did you read that, this time I have them both!!) and also the most energetic child from the kindergarten. It's going to be interesting to say the least. I joked with colleagues today that I may need to tattoo the forehead of one of the twins just to tell them apart because their parents like to dress them identically as well. *sigh* I know, I know, once I get to know them, their personalities will set them apart. But until then? Maybe not a permanent tattoo, just a jiffy marker one.

The other part of my title has to do with school as well, but the lovely technology of it all. Last year before we left we were told to make sure to save our files on the fileserve bank and I did (at least I am sure that I did, I had so much work on there... work I was COUNTING on being able to use again). When I got back, I checked and all my documents were there... yippee!! right? No. The next day, I boot up the computer again and go hunting for my gorgeous newsletter that my friend April developed and I pirated and have used now for over 2 years. Lo and behold!!! All my documents have been erased. Yup, every single one of them. Overnight, blink, just like that. *sigh* Technology is my friend, technology is my friend, technology is my friend. If I make that my new mantra, will it be true? How many times must I chant it in order for it to be true?
Well, in times like these all I can think of to do is make a joke, smile or laugh. No point in having a mental breakdown... no, no... we save those for when our laptop dies in the middle of our multi-media masters course (like mine did in June). Okay, enough ragging on tech... if I keep it up, my smart new computer will figure out what I am saying and go on strike. Then I'll really be up you-know-what creek without a paddle.

Ciao.

What's red, hot and soaking wet?

I hope that you didn't let your mind go somewhere dirty with that title... Slap on the wrist if you did! But, if you guess that the red, hot and soaking wet thing was me after an afternoon workout, then you are CORRECT!!!
Some of the new staff are keen to get their workout schedules in motion and it is providing just the right amount of motivation for me to drag my sorry butt to the gym! I was going by myself before but I wasn't pushing myself very hard and finding excuses not to go was all too easy. But, these girls, Lizzy in particular, are right into keeping me accountable. Even once coaching has started, one of the other girls, Christa, is willing to go after practice with me. So things are looking good from that angle.
They still aren't looking good from my angle of staring into the mirror... but soon *rubbing hands together*, soon my pretties... mwhahahaha.

Updates to come...

Hot, Hot, Hot

It is so hot these days. Actually, it isn't the heat but the 95% humidity that is getting to me. So when I think of moving somewhere tropical next year, I am also thinking that I need a place with little to no humidity... hm... sounds like Dubai is the place for me. I don't know though. I never know where I will end up. Not really in my control entirely, is it? I guess for those who don't believe in God, they think that all things are their choice. I, on the other hand, do believe in God and so I believe that he orchestrates the choices that are offered before me... .and hopefully I choose things that please him (at least some of the time!)!! hee hee.

Okay... I am going to lay very still in front of the fan.

Ciao

Just like a bad boyfriend...

Okay... so it seems that my MSN Spaces is back up and running. I need to print the blogs off of there. I had some good ones and it was like journalling, you know? So, the space that was dumped like a bad bf is trying to come back into my life, like a bad bf.... will power! I will not go back, I will learn html if it kills me and I will survive *music playing in my head* as long as I know how to love... blah, blah, blah. So if you want to check my old blog out, you are more than welcome:

http://amramec10.spaces.live.com

Ciao again

Flower Market Fights

So my friend Chris and I decided that our apartments were in need of something green. I have a car, so I volunteered to drive... because, knowing Chris, we were getting BIG plants. Well, the flower market at Yangjae is basically a series of green houses and with the heat wave, it was like a sauna in there. Maybe the most beautiful sauna with all the rows of orchids and other plants. We wandered around for over an hour, pricing the plants we liked and seeing what we wanted. The one shop we went to said that they use VISA but then her machine broke and neither of us had any cash (payday is still more than a week away). So we wandered and sweated a little more and then found almost the same plants at another stall. Her machine worked like a charm! So, plants purchased and loaded onto a trolley, we were happy, hot and sweaty. Now, it is important to note that up to this point we had only seen one other customer in the market. The adjushi asked where the car was parked so he could help us take the plants there and I (without thinking or looking, and with BIG plastic plant bases in my hands) motioned in the general direction of the car. And that is when I heard it... CRACK... I thought I'd hit a tree or a poll or something, but it never entered my mind that it was the side of some Korean girl's face!! Yes, that is right, I clocked a stranger in the flower market for no reason. Poor thing. I am sure it hurt like crazy. I apologised of course, but she wasn't having it. She just stood there and said nothing to anyone. Even her friend tried to tell me it was okay and not my fault (um... yes, it was my fault... but it was an accident). Poor woman. So the lesson here is that the next time you go to the flower market (wherever you live) don't go swinging plant bases around! Although, to be really truthful... part of me wanted to laugh after I hit her. It was like payback for all the whining I've endured from Korean women over the past 7 years... but I know that isn't right and I'll have to seek forgiveness for my evil thoughts later... hee hee

Ciao

Heat Wave

It is August 2nd and Korea is experiencing a major heat wave. I know, I know, all of you in North America and Europe are saying, "big deal, we've had one going on for ages." I understand that, but here, the rains have just stopped and they were considered the worst in over 76 years. It was horrible. I've never seen flooding like there was in all my 7 years here in Korea. Kind of scary to be honest. But the rains have stopped and the air is hot and full of the mosture that has failed to seep into the ground. Standing water means more mosquitos and the heat combined with the high humidity makes it unbearable. I sweat just standing outside.... blech! But on the up side, it is gorgeous outside. The skies are incredibly blue and the sun is bright... and the heat makes my cat more passive, which is a good thing because she has taken to trying to escape on a regular basis.
I first discovered her desire to be outdoors when I came home from school one day in the late spring to find her sunning herself out on the rocks that are outside the balcony of my first floor apartment. I panicked because there are tons of dirty and diseased alley cats out there sometimes... and she is an indoor whimp, she'd get pulverized!! Not to mention the cars that seem to aim for cats in this country! So... what did I do? I found string and tied the screens to the posts and made it too small for her to get out. This worked great until the first horrible downpour of the monsoon. The string was cheap and basically fell off... so, I came home to find her gone yet again. This time she was laying in the shade under a tree at the front of my building. So... out came some thin rope and I tied the doors shut again. But, I have a clever cat and she knocked the screens off their tracks and pushed her way out! Darn thing. So I finally figured out how to wedge the screens so she couldn't do either. VICTORY!!!! *muah-ha-ha*
Unfortunately, Pixie(that's my cat) is much more clever that I give her credit for. Basically, she figured out how to push open the other side of the sliding doors where there is no screen... *sigh* I am defeated by the little monster. So... in the interests of keeping her satisfied with her need to go outdoors, I am buying a harness and leash today... yes, you read right, I am going to start walking my cat! Should make for excellent blogs in the future... the stories I will be able to tell about the shocked faces of the Koreans in my neighbourhood... hee hee.

Well, I am off... Ciao