Halloween!? In Korea?

Even though it is not a holiday celebrated in Korea, all of us foreigners decided we could not live wthout our Halloween. Alex threw a fun and interested party...There is no real grabbing going on in these pictures. We were acting out the characters...Haa, haa!

The costumes were hilarious. We had a Sexy beast (Alex), Emo (Nara), Old Korean women (Chris-had to be here), IPOD (Josh), Rocky Horror Picture Show girl (Vanessa), loser guy (Caylea), old couple (Clay and Cat), Chinese dude (Tim) and me the trashy school girl.

There were a few other people there as well, but I have yet to define their costumes. It was a very interesting, strange and fun evening. I wish I had more pictures...




The Korean people who saw us will never be the same...
See Nara's post for the really great pictures. Mine are limited
http://scarynara.blogspot.com/

The Fun Never Ends...

Well, last weekend was another great weekend. I am still having a blast meeting new people and really putting myself out there for the first time in a while... A huge group of us started out a "Bed Bar". Yes, you heard me. A bar with a bed that you and all of your friends can get into and drink together. It was a blast. The bar also had a waiting pool and a huge shower in the bathroom? Don't ask we all aren't too sure. Here is a pic of Clay and I in bed...Haa, haa...

After lots of fun and drinks there we decided to go to the cheap "Ho Bar" and down a few more drinks. We then headed off to "Tin Pan 2" a place where the tequila is $2 a shot and you can request your own music and dance without paying a $20 cover. It is a weekend paradise to me. I love to dance. So that is what we did...

Vanessa and I also had a blast making friends with these silly Korea guys. They kept wanting to take our pictures, so we took theirs too. I think we also drank a little too much tequila. You decide...
Here is my new friend. Yikes! Is my mouth really THAT big. I guess I must be having fun!

Kindergarten Kraze

Yes, I actually went back to teach kindergarten briefly. It was only for a few weeks, but man I'm exhasted. They were cute, so damn cute, but so excitied! Nine 20 minute classes back to back for nearly 3 hours and that was before going to my regular job for another 6 hours. I never want to read the three stories I had to reread over and over again. I never want to play "Duck, Duck, Goose" or sing "Hokey Pokey" or "Mr. Sun" as long as I am on this earth. Yes they were all sooooo cute, but man, never again! To my friend Jenny who usually does this. You have offically become a superhero in my books!

Weekend Excitment

Well, this was a great long weekend for me...

Thursday my new friend Vanessa ventured up to Ilsan for a night in LaFesta with Nara and myself. We ate ribs and drank too many cocktails and vented about "breakups". It was a lot of fun! Check out the pics where we implale small puffy balls in frusteration...guess you had to be there!
On Friday, Nara, Vanessa, Rachel, Catherine and Clayton (new work buddies) went out for a night in Hongik (the funky University district full of bars and excitment). The evening started out pretty slow, but became more interesting as the night went on. We ended up making some friends that were University students from all over the World. They were funny and interesting. It was a blast and I got to shake my bootie all night!
Saturday night I went out with my Korean friends, Jenny, Jackie, Young and some of thier friends. I kept it pretty low key, as I was still recovering a bit from the night before. However, it was great catching up with them and meeting some more new people. Their baby is sooo cute...

It was a wonderful 4 days off and I am a little sad I gotta go back to work now. I am happy to say I am making new friends and trying to start a "new independence" in my life. I was able to meet people from Cambodia and Vietnam this weekend that wll help assist me in my travels there in a few months. Life is strange, but seems to be unfolding now in the right way for me, despite a little pain I had to go through...

Pillow Josh

Relationships never seem to be easy and break ups only get more challenging. Ironically enough, I think I just went through the most healthy, respectful and adult break up I have ever had in my short experiences with men. However, as healthy and normal as the actual break up was, I think my actual subconscious maybe still be suffering more than I would like to acknowledge.

Why do we feel the need to put on a show that we are ok, when inside it feels like we are coming unraveled? Why do we repress the emotions (sadness, angry, hurt, frustration, loneliness) only to have them spring up in our subconscious?

I guess that is where “Pillow Josh’s” existence came into the world. Here I am thinking I am fine, I am independent, I don’t need a man, I am not lonely….No, was I wrong….

One morning I awoke from the usual swollenness from the tear shed of the night before to a row of pillows accompanying my bedside. What was disturbing and somewhat pathetic was the fact that they were slightly resembling my once past boyfriend. Feeling somewhat groggy, I slowly realized that I actually sacrificed my own potential head injury (I can move a lot when I sleep) and had even taken the pillow from under my head to contribute the birth of “Pillow Josh”. To my own amazement, anger, and frustration I realized that I had some how managed to create him completely subconsciously while I was sleeping. Now, not only is it difficult to try to learn to sleep alone again, but it is even more frustrating to realize that I miss it so much that I have to sleep-create him and wake up with no memory of even doing so. Going back to the morning…As soon as I realized what I had created the moment of feeling “sorry and lonely” for myself quickly climaxed to anger and complete frustration. Not only was I really lonely, but now I was pathetic. God damn breakups. “Pillow Josh” was rudely discarded over the side my loft. As quickly as he was created, he must be destroyed!

Well now, I try to sleep with less pillows. The creation of “Pillow Josh” was frustrating, yet strangely comforting, but I realized it is definitely not the same thing. I have now opted for sleeping with less pillows so the re-birth of “Pillow Josh” is not possible now. Sometimes I still manage to position a torso but at least now he can’t be created in full. And yes, I am now sleeping through the night ALONE.

Making New Friends

Well, the new single life can be a lonely one, so I have been trying to put myself out there and make new friends. A few weeks ago a met a girl in a bathroom of a resturant. We instantly hit it off, she being a fellow Canadian and all and she revealed to me how she and her boyfriend had recently broke up. After hearing this we were bonded. Yesterday afternoon we decided to meet up for the first time in Insadong. She also brought a new friends with her as well. We walked around Insadong and then went for an amazing dinner. My new friend Vanessa took us to a wonderful, beautiful and amazing Italian restaurant. The interior was dim, romantic and warm. There were candles, bottles of nice wines and elegant wire furniture. We decided to sit on the roof top patio under the stars to feast on great food, drink wine and talk about our lives. It was wonderful. We have all had some similar experiences and are all going through something right now that we all could relate too. It was theraputic and refreshing to talk and listen to two wonderful women. We are going to try to make this a regular thing now. Ahhh, Korea, it is always full of new adventures and new friends.