Learing experiences.

Well today was just one big learning experience. The first thing that I learned today was that if the milk isn't shut all the way then it is going to leak all over your frig. It really doesn't matter if you try to shut it with your eyes because you don't want to put down your bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios in fear that they might get soggy. Then if you put it back, and it starts to drip it is still going to drip even if you shut the door. I figured out today how to play an all Christmas music station. N'SYNC Merry Christmas is music to my ear's. Speaking of my ears they haven't got any better. I think this is Corinne's fault. I thought you took care of me not getting sick while I am here with all of those shot's that I got! Were they just for your own personal amusement so that you could watch me cry like a baby? Cruel joke SJVPMG! On my way to the bus I learned if you are in the middle of a cross walk and there is a motor biker flying down the street coming your way he wants you to move. He doesn't want you to put out your hand to say chill homie. He wants you to move because he will just get really close to you just to freak you out. Well I had lunch with Sister Residori today. It was nice. I also learned that when a Korean women who haven't seen you in a while have no problem telling you "you lost lot of weight in your face, and very beautiful" honest complement that I can appreciate. The hard part was that no matter how many people were around it doesn't get any less embarrassing. For lunch we went to Sister Residori's and had some bulgogi that I was rather impressed with. I had no desire to go to work today! I left the Residori's at 10 till 2 and I am supposed to be at work at 2. Which brings me to the next thing I learned. Even if you take a short cut it doesn't always mean that it is going to be a real short cut. I got off at the bus stop that I was supposed to, but I didn't realize how far it from work. I decided to take a short cut which ended up being like a hike. It was nice just not worth it. The lady that I was walking next to before I went into the short cut ended up catching up to me when I got out of the path. Work was fine. I didn't really have much to do except to look up things for class that night. This is when I learned something else. Jumping onto a high chair that spins is a recipe for disaster, and by disaster I mean flying across the room, and almost landing on your face. Class was great! I taught an essay class. I was so excited that I wasn't going to be the one writting an essay anytime soon. When class was over I didn't have another class so I got to go home early. I went to return my DVD, and get another one because I figured since I got off early that I could just watch a movie. Well I rented the Notebook which probably wasn't the best movie for me to rent considering I don't feel good, and that movie always makes me cry, and when I am sick I am just that much more vulnerable. I rode the bus on the way home. It was of course tons of fun. It was a little crowded tonight, and people just kept getting on. I was surrounded by three men who gave me no breathing room. When I went to get off a lady was getting off too. She walked right under my arm that was holding onto the bar above my head. Simultaneously the bus drier hit the brakes, and I lost my grip and I almost clothes lined her. It was just a joy. Another lesson I learned. Even though I didn't hit her not everyone thinks the almost accident is as funny as I do. Oh well it really was humorous. When I got home I made dinner for myself. Before making dinner I cleaned up my apartment because it defiantly needed it. This is when I learned the most valuable lesson of the day. If you leave orange peels in your garbage pale for a week they mold. So does bread. I didn't know that orange peels molded. I just thought that they got hard. Well when I opened the garbage pail it smelt citrusie to the max. Sadly it didn't look like anything desirable. Haha I will not make that mistake again. Spaghetti seemed like the best solution to dinner. The hard part was the all of the instructions were in a different language. It wasn't even Korean just a different language. I had no idea how to know how long to cook it for or how to know it was done. I remember Grandma Cola telling me once that if you throw it at the wall that is a way to test if it was done. Tough part is that I wasn't sure if it was supposed to stick or not. So after some council from Brynne who was my life saver last night I figured out that I is supposed to stick. I throw and it stuck! It was the most satisfying bowl of pasta I have had in a while. Well I watched the Notebook, and yes it made me cry. I am a wuss, and need to toughen up. Well I was going to post this last night, but I fell asleep. I have figured out that as of Saturday I will only have 3 weeks left in Korea. I am sad to be honest. Korea, and the people here have kind of grown on me. I still have a lot to do, and see. Hopefully I can live it up the next few weeks. We'll see. The following pictures are me documenting my pasta success. I forgot to take the noodle down so I was able to capture me with the magic.

I think it's done!
Still done!

Bargain Shopper

Wednesday's are my off day's and as of Tuesday night I had no plans. So this morning I decided to look inside my great little book of places to visit while in Seoul. I picked out this street Market called to go to, and get some shopping done, and out of the way. So I spent the first part of the morning getting ready, and getting dressed, and talking to Mom, and Grandma on skype. Well I was killing day light so I hung up and off I went. Well when I got there it was so exciting! There were people every where, and a ton of shops. I just saw a little strip so I thought that I would be able to hit everything. Well around the first corner was this little scarf shop that had the best scarfs I have seen the whole time in Korea no joke they were great. The lady at the shop kept trying to sell me stuff, but I still wanted to look around. I told her that it was going to be a gift, and she started showing me all of these different types of scarfs, and saying "good for mother good for grandma good for sister good for friend!" she was relentless. So I told her I would come back with not a lot of intention's on doing so. After I turned the corner saw it. The Mecca of Bargain shopping. It was crazy! Streets and streets full of stores. Knock stuff, souvenirs, shoes, clothes, and so much more! It was pretty amazing. Well in my book it said that this street was known for it's good natured haggling, and bargaining, and that it was. I don't think that I bought one thing for what it was on sale for. I am very pleased with my bargaining skills. There was also a mass of Christmas stores. It was hilarious! Korean, and English version's of Christmas songs played loudly. To say the least it was music to my ears, and made me laugh at all the craziness. Well the best purchase of the day for me would have to had been the purse that I got. It's all beaded, and crazy made in Korea, and hand made. Costs 20000 won, and I got it for 17000 or 18000. That lady was a tough cookie, but I got her in the end. Well the further into the market I got the more I realized everything looked the same! I had no idea where I was! I pretty much walked around in the different direction's until I finally found where I was. It was a relief because it was getting dark outside, and I don't like to be lost in the dark. To many scary movies start out that way. I should start leaving bread crumbs behind to help me find my way back. I past the stand with the lady who I told I would come back well I walked past and she ran out and pulled me back. Well I felt bad just walking away so I made a purchase. It was great though got that price lowered too. So I made a ton of random people take pictures of me some good some not so good, but I did it for you. Don't think for one second I didn't get pictures next the Christmas stores, and the Santa Claus playing the Saxophone. I think that people think that I am crazy for stopping them to take pictures of me, but what can ya do? One day someone is just going to take my camera, and run, and take all of my memories with them, but I hope not because then I would have to pull out my ninja skills and whoop some(Jeff Heminway & Kacey Kennington that one was for you guys). I left there feeling good about my purchases, and leaving a sucessful bargain shopper. Whil I did bargain I spent more money than I would have liked to. For this I blame Brynne for not giving me another option, stacy for not answering her phone, and Mom & Grandma for supporting me in my brilliant idea to go shopping. Well after my day of shopping/getting lost I went to dinner. It was about 6 and all I had to eat all day was a bowl of cheerios. I was a little hungry so I went to the one place I knew I could get food, and enjoy it. Since Grandma's house is in California I settled for TGI Fridays. They were great. All of the staff kept coming over just to say hi. It made me laugh. I also loved all of the crazy outfits, and hat's that they were wearing. Since TGI Fridays is in the COEX I went, and looked around in there. I picked up some crazy necklace that say something in Korean. I don't know what it means, but I think it's off the chain. Well it's late, and I still have to watch the Princess Diaries Dos, and I feel good about it because once again I am a successful bargain shopper. Tomorrow work, and lunch with Sister Residori. Peace&Love!
Just pure madness(just giving you an idea of what I was up against)

Well this would have been good if that guy wouldn't have been all up in my business

just the best place ever

Christmas store #1432

so many Christmad tree's

She was just so darn cute!

Tuesday's with Alexis

Purple rice from yesterday.

Tuesday! Well today was nothing speacial, but fun. I woke up with and ear ache. I absolutely hate ear ache's! I have no idea what to take for it so I just sat in my bathroom looking in my medicine cabinet thinking that if I stared at my medicine long enough the one that I am supposed to take would just magically get up, walk out of the bag, and say take me. No luck. I talked to Mom on skype. It was here Birthday! Oh my little old Mom. So darn cute! I hung up with her because they were all going out to dinner as a "family" for her birthday. I decided that I should probably make myself lunch, and stop being lazy. I had ramen noodles. I realized that I am a thug when I reached for chopsticks instead of my fork. Okay well my fork was dirty, and I had no desire to wash it, but before I would have refused to use my chopsticks, and just cleaned my fork, but I was okay with the chopsticks! Right before I left for work Grandpa, and Grandma called me on skype. It was sweet! Grandma, and I seemed to talk at the same time, which made it hard for us to communicate. The first part of our conversation was one of us saying "what!??!" because we had interuptted each other. It was great. Work was good today. I had to record the longest lesson ever today! I started making the odd voices again and then I would laugh at myself because I thought that I was hilarious. Heejung didn't thinkt that the voices were as funny as I did. The best part of my day would have to have been when I was in the restroom, and was singing Whitney Houston I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and someone came in. Talk about stage fright. For dinner tonight we went to a dulkgalbi restaurant. This dish has bumped bibimbap out of first place on the list of my favorite Korean foods. The restaurant was great. It had all of these liscense plates on the walls, and movie poster's, and other random piece's. I would like to think of it as the Jake's tex-mex of Korea(only bakersfieldian's are going to get that). They also gave us apron's to eat with. It was lovely. After we went to the video store, and I rented the Princess Diaries 2 because ever since watching The Other Side of Heaven I have been wanting to watch Anne Hathoway in P.D. weird I know. What can ya do though?
Never been so happy to wear an apron.

One of the pictures I showed my class. I like it just because I look sunkist.
I brought pictures of my family, Emma. I had to because they have all wanted to see what Emma looked like since I drew her as a stick figure. She didn't look so hot. I just decided to take pictures of the family too. Haha actual pictures were better than the stick figure I think. We flew through the lesson, and I got to leave early. No complaint on my part. Well I was tired on the bus, and wasn't paying much attention to what was going on, and so I missed my stop. I had a mini heart attack, and then I just laughed because only I could get lost on the same route I take everyday. Tomorrow is my day off, and I have no idea what I am doing. I am determined to have fun. Maybe dancing? Shopping? Who knows. Suggestion's welcome!
Nikky, Emma(Shaq), and Me

It was just great......

First I would just like to say that last night I was going to update, but I guess that I was tired. I woke up around one in the morning. I was on the floor and so was my laptop. The floor was cold, and I fell asleep with my finger on the L button, and thats all that was on my blog aside from my photos. It was just great. I fully intended to update though.
Weekend!!! Well I had a fun weekend.
Saturday I got suckered into Young Single Adults confrence, and it was everything that you would think it would be. The good the bad, and the ugly, but mostly good surprisingly. Well I woke up early got dressed, got on the subway to go to the Temple. On my way there I got hit on by a man in his not so prime from Pakistan. He asked me out for drinks. I gave him all wrong information. The Temple was just great. A lot bigger on the inside than expected. Then it was a full day of the confrence. The speakers were great. For dinner we split up into dinner groups, and mine was a ton of fun. We had dulkgalbi which was incredibly spicy! So good though. Made me tear up though because it really was that hot. After dinner we saw 5 guys dressed up in life size shrimp costumes, and of course had to get a picture. One of them and I were just the best of friends and he just kept giving me hugs. Where else does stuff like that happen? Then we caught a cab to the next location. Best cab ride of my life. Our driver was great. I told him he was a stud. He let me know that Korea won the soccer game qualifing them for the next Olympics(I am so glad to finally be in a country who loves soccer!). He then started cheering this Korean cheer. It was just the best thing I've ever seen. He was so excited, and everyone in the car was cheering including me once I caught on. It was just great. I can't remember what the cheer was, but don't fear. I will figure it out a-sap. So the last part of the Saturday night confrence was a dance. It was a lot of fun, and I was a dancing with basically torn down the house. I did leave though once I heard someone say "Oh this is great Jr High" I just thought to myself I don't think I was even born yet. That's when I took my cue, and left. The subway ride home was the longest but it just made it that much sweeter. Last time I came home the same way was the night of the slow motion fight. Well this time there was two drunk guys who were holding each other to stand up. When we came to their stop they got off and one guy just collapsed on the ground right outside the doors, and no one helped him. The other guy just looked at him thinking that if he bent down he was going to fall too. It was just great. I don't ever know what really happened to them.
Christmas in Korea

My Korean Pepsi ad(at the dulkgalbi restaurant)

It was just great.

Sunday I went to the English ward with the Burtons. It was the end of the English YSA confrence. We just stayed for sacrament, but having Brynne there, and watching her, and her eternal companion interact was just great. "The family that prays together stays together". Haha love it. Well after I went back to the Burton's for some bonding time. Brynne, and I watched some Other side of Heaven, and it was swell. Add that one to the list of movies that make me cry. I am pretty sure that movie number 1,233,468. This was also the day that I figured out that I can't read bass at the same time, or bass at the same time. I am determined to be great at it though. I have added that to my life goals. Well when I came home that night I realized that there is a new door man. He wasn't all that interesting, but he thought that it was awesome that I was American, and just stared. A little creepy, but I knew what he was thinking. When I got into my apartment I smelt something funny. I realized that I left my iron on all day. Haha what if I had burned down the complex. See now I think it great, but really it could have been bad, but it did really bother me I was tired. Well aparently I was way tired because I fell asleep on the cold hard wood floor. That okay though I hear it's good for your back.
Monday Was okay. I woke up like three times and it was still dark so I just kept thinking go back to sleep. Finally I looked at my clock, and realized that it was 10 & dark outside because it was all cloudy. Well I got up, and got dressed the Family called on Skype from Sunday Night dinner. I love Monday mornings just cause I can talk to everyone. Robert thinks that he knows Korean now because he dry cleaner is Korean, and he can say hello, and he just make that word everything. Comments, questions, come backs. It's just great. Roegan came over to say hi to me! Love that kid. He said "hi wexis!" and waved. Missing all the little cousin more, and more. Well Then I went to work. It was good today. Dinner was also great. We had pork bulgogi. The lady at the restaurant kept trying to convince Heejung to convince me that it would taste so much better with squid. My face might have made her finally give up on that thought. Well dinner was good though. My rice was purple. It was hilarious. It tasted the exact same, but purple. Class was fun. One of the girls in my class is quite the comedian, and I couldn't stop laughing at the things that she would come up with tonight. I think I might have snorted. It was just great. I took pictures of the purple rice but I am to lazy to load them tomorrow maybe. I also realized today that I only have 25 days left here in Korea. I still have so much I want to do, and see. Time is going by to fast, and I not sure how I feel about it.

Rain Rain Rain!

Today was great! I started of the day a little rocky, but that's okay. I some how wrapped my cell phone cord around my upper body, and then when I rolled I wrapped it around my neck, and it was choking me. Sshhish. It was a little crazy. Well then I got up and got ready. It was so cloudy outside today. I didn't like it, that's okay what can I do? I got my birthday card from Nikky this morning too! It was great! I loved it, and I posted it on the post below so that you could enjoy it too. It made me teary, but I am a sap. My family called me from thanksgiving dinner in the U.S. It was great! I talked to just about everyone! Grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncle's, cousins, Emma etc. All of the little girls wanted to know where I was, what time of day it was, if I was going to bring them something back, if I had a new boyfriend, and you know all of the other odd things that 6 & 7 year old girls will come up with. Victoria left for a second, and then came back with a chocolate dessert and started waving around in the camera saying "mmmm! Do you want some? It's so good! Do you want some? Chocolate it's so yummy! Hahaha!" she is more of my cousin than I thought which could be a problem. It was great to hear from everyone today. I loved it! It was the most family I have talked to at once, but it was great. It was just one big party on Skype. Then everyone had to go, and so did I, but I had to go to work, and everyone else had to go home, and get sleep for the normal Cola family day after Thanksgiving hard core shopping extravaganze. I swear they workout every morning in the month of November to prepare themselfs for this. Those women are crazy!
Them trying to get everyone in...

rather inquisitive little buggers, but I love them

Victoria being a chump!

Well I didn't know, but it was cloudy because it was a rainy day. I don't know why but I love the rain, and rainy days more than anything I think. I always think of being in elementary and having to stay in the class room because it was raining, and all the great games we would play in place of recess. My favorite was always silent ball because I was always one of the last girls left, and I would throw the ball as hard as I could at the other girl so she wouldn't want to catch it. Always loved that game. I took this as a great oppurtunity to put on my rain boots. So I went to work all rain weathered out. I even wore the huge lime green jacket that makes me look bigger than neccessary just because it was raining. I looked hot to say the least. The best to me was that everyone had to walk around the puddles, and I just flopped right through them making sure to splash as much as possible. I felt like I was 7 again trying to get Micheal S. wet in the lunch line, and not get caught by Ms. Strasser. Work was fun. I got to call home, and talk to my family on the phone which was great. I also had sometime to write some more post cards. Stef and Walter I really tried to be serious in yours, but it just wasn't happening, and I hope you enjoy! Finally it was time for dinner, and I ran upstairs to make sure it was still raining so I could put back on my rain boots. It was. Sweet. Well in the middle of my splashing I realized I was getting Heejung wet. I thought it was funny, but I knew I had to stop. After dinner I told her she had to take pictures of my playing in the rain, and she did. I only posted one because the others are just to humiliating. I was showing off the shoes for everyone to see in the middle of the road. Not safe in Korea at all, but I like to live on the edge.
Showing of the shoes!(I was falling that why face looks the way it does I think)

When we got back to the office eveyone started showing up early which isn't normal. Finally I was called into start class, and when I walked in they had a cake, and candles for me. It was great! They also sang happy birthday to me in English which I thought was great. I loved that the english speakers sang in Korean, and the Korean's sang in English. We then had cakes, and enjoyed, and then eventually actually did a lesson. It was fun overall. Looking forward to the weekend. Enjoy all the shopping madness, and you weekend too! Don't forget Nikky's card below!
Special!

Birthday cake & Cheese Cake shot........that was just pure heaven!

Present from Nichole

So Nichole made this for my birthday! I loved it, and I thought that I would share it with you all. Nikky makes movie's for a lot of things, but has never made one for me, and I never thought she would. It's pretty great. I am the short one with the short hair, and Nichole is the taller one with the massive hair. Yes we have defineltly changed styles since then.

Thanks Nikky I love ya home skillet!

Thanksgiving & My 18th Birthday

Well everyone today was my Thanksgiving /18th Birthday. I have to say that last night I was excited about today, but was sad that I wasn't going to be home for Thanksgiving or my birthday. I have never spent either one away from home, or without my family. So this morning I got up two hours later than I had planned on. It really is ridiculous how lazy I can be. I got up and did all of the norm. Then I got on skype. Just the boys were home, but only Aaron would talk to me. That kids cracks me up. I love him like a fat kid loves cake. He was not impressed that Korea doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving I think he thinks they are all a bunch of communist. Yes he really was that disappointed. So I got off because I had to finish getting ready, and Aaron said that told me that when I called back that he was going to answer, and him and Adam were going to talk to me. He also said he had to go because he was going to call David Bunting on skype even though he lives down the street. Hello Aaron I am in Korea David is not more important. Sure he can throw you around, and throw things at you, but is that really what you want? Really lets thinks about this. Well a hour later I got a call from Mom & Ash. No, no Aaron. Him, and Adam lied to me and went to the Buntings to have pizza and play the Wii. Here you go Stef this is me blaming Dave for something taking away my brothers! Well Mom, and Ash were great, and tons of fun to talk to. I do miss Ash, and all of her ridiculous comments they sure are swell. Well after I got done talking to them I was on my way. I looked into my mailbox first and noticed I got a package. It was from the fam. I was so excited. I wasn't going to, but I just ran back upstairs and opened it. There was two letters, and a card from Grandma. I had just done my make-up right before leaving....that was just a waste of time after I read those babies. Letters from home, and loved one's are the best! Mom also sent me Shrek 3, and the sound track, and my I-pod cord(my life savor). Well the Burtons absolutely refused to allow me to bring anything to dinner. They even rejected my Peanut Butter Ritz crackers. I don't think I said Peanut Butter maybe that was it. I was determined to bring something though so I walked to the market, and was on the search for Martinelli's sparkling Cider. I was sure I found it. After carefully examining the bottle for 20-30 minutes no joke I finally discovered the little word WHISKY I put it down. I didn't really think that would have been crowd appropriate. So I ended up not bringing anything. Ugh. I knew I should have just brought the crackers. Well after the almost whisky fiasco I went to the Burton's. First thing I noticed when I walked in was the HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner; so great. I got there in time to watch the end of October Sky. Never saw the full movie, but the end was good. I cried a little and I wasn't sure it was cry worthy, but the music made it sound like it so I did. Well after that it was the normal Thanksgiving prep. I really do like to do that, and I have no idea why. Right before people started arriving I got a b-day gift from the Burton's. It was great. Everything had important value. Just to name a couple Peppero, and a face mask. Not just a normal patient face mask, but a pink one with a little animal face on it. Everything that Korea is. So when everyone started showing up it was time for some Thanksgiving grubbin. First we sang the Hymn Because I Have Been Given Much, and had a blessing on the food though. Everyone also sang happy birthday to me in Korean. I have to be honest every time I have that song sung to me for some reason i get really embarrassed. I don't know why I just do. I get totally red, and refuse to make any eye contact. After that we ate. Sister Burton let everyone know that my seat was the only one reserved I think I saw it earlier, but didn't get it, but at my seat there was a birthday hat, and a wand type thing. It was lovely. I wore the hat the whole night. Well we were asked towards the end of dinner to all say something that we were grateful for this year. I hate this just because I always get emotional. I cried though, and I wasn't expecting that. I am such a baby, and that really needs to stop now that I am officially an adult. Brynne refused to cry at all so I just looked dumb all on my own. That's always lovely. Well after my public break down we had dessert. Always my favorite part of the holidays. Sister Residori got me Cheese Cake because she knows how big of a fan that I am. They all sang happy birthday again and I blew out candles on my cheese cake. Sweet! After that all the Elders started to leave, but not without doing a "Korean Mask Dance". I think it was for my birthday, and it was great. Elder Choi was the Korean, and Elder Moesel was the mask. It was awesome. I will try to post the video but I don't think it does it justice. Then was the normal clean up, and such. There was also a mini photo shoot courtesy of Brynne. Sure I don't think everyone was into it, but I loved the pictures that came from it. I came home shortly after that. I was holding my b-day because I couldn't sit up in the car with it on, and when I got inside my building my thumbs up doorman was totally excited that it was my birthday. He kept yelling happy birthday! Happy Birthday! until the elevator door shut. Such a sweet heart. Well I am now home. For some reason it took me forever to get all settled in. I started watching Shrek at 11 p.m. It was great. Classic I love the characters I hope when I am all grown up I can be like the Ginger Bread man. Truly inspiring, and Justin Timberlake as a animated character. No words my friends no words. All around I loved today. I love that I was able to spend my birthday, and thanksgiving here.
Seriously though. Today is/was Thanksgiving. There are really so many things that I am grateful for. I can't name them all because this post is already freakishly long, but I will name a few.
I am so thankful for my job and the chance that I have to be here in Korea. I don't think I know how lucky I am to experience this. I have learned so much about myself, and the others around me, and the people that I surround myself with everyday here, and at home. My testimony has been strengthened. The people who I have met, and have come to know I don't think I could have done so well to this point without, and am blessed to know. Truly.
I am thankful for my friends. New and old. No matter what I can always count on them to help me out even if it's something completely stupid. Also very grateful for all of you. I really do have some great friends.
Last I am going to say my Family. I am so blessed to have the family that I do. They are all so supportive, and amazing. Crazy, but amazing, and I love it. They are all so great that words can't describe how I feel. I have to end this before I cry.
So I tried to sum things up and keep it short, but we all know how that works out for me. Here are some pictures from the day. Hopefully I will have more soon. Hint hint you know who you are. Enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving all!

The table

My Birthday sign

I am just so dang proud of that pie!

My Cheese cake with Candles....mmmm

Me & Sister Residori

Let the photo shoot begin

He's just a stud!

Always a party

My family in Korea

Pie day

I am really going try to make this short cause I am tired. Today was my off day. It was simply, but I enjoyed it. I wanted to go to Dongdaemun, but Sister Residori said that it was going to get warmer this weekend so I decided to wait, but I don't see it getting warmer any time soon so I think I might have to just bite the bullet, and go. Well I went to the mission office to have lunch with Sister Residori, and we just stayed again for the institute lunch which was fine. I love it. People make here make me laugh, and I love how gracious they are. Well after lunch I went to the Burtons. I helped make pies for dinner tomorrow. I have to tell you that every time I think of making new desserts I think of the horrible fudge disaster of '04. Some know what I am talking about and others may not so lets just say I was the worst fudge maker on the planet! Stef stills teases me about it to this day. Pie? This was going to be new for me. I have never done anything having to do with pies aside from eating them. I remeber always watching my Grandma make pie's and just thinking that she was too cool for school which she is. I got to roll out some dough and Grandma would have been proud because I had an excellent rolling pin method I think. That would be something that has taken me years to get right. I liked it since Sister Burton will have no part in me bringing anything tomorrow I feel like in some small way I contributed. Well after that we watched The Cronicles of Naria. I love that movie. I notice something different every time I watch it. This time would have to be how the youngest girl is a horrible crier, and how easily I jump whenever a wolf would come out of no where. Most of you know how into movies I get. That is one movie that will always keep me on my toes. After that we all went to the English class which was great, and then I journeyed home. It's getting colder outside. I would really just like it to snow hard so that I can at least say that it is cold enough to snow, and know that I am not just being a baby. Well thats all for today. I am looking forward to tomorrow. I love my birthday, and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday so having them both on the same day is great! Oh how I do love turkey. I didn't take any pictures today sorry I know I should have. I promise to take some mananna, and I will get a picture of the pies. Mom said that my blog just isn't complete without pictures so here you go. It's Me, Ash, Emma, and Nikky. Brittney got cut out but she is there in spirit. After all this time this picture still doesn't get old.

I like how no matter how hard I try I always get long posts!

Now I know that the cold is out to get me!

Well. Hmmm. Okay here goes. So today was interesting day. Well first I talked to Kristen on skype. She just got it, and it was good to talk to her. The best part was that the cam got delayed so she would laugh, and then like 10 seconds later the cam would catch up. It just made me laugh more. I thought it was great. Well then I was off to work. It was so cold outside this morning, and there was remains of the snow last night every where! I couldn't feel my fingers! My appendages suck, and reject the cold! I got on the same bus number 5 but it was a new bus I think. Well I got on and it was like I got the wind knocked out of me when I realized it was Tokyo drift. Ugh he really does make me sick with his insanity. Work was legit. I got everything done on time. I was so proud. For dinner we went to this little restaurant. Heejung told me that Sister Chea made me vegetable pancakes so we were going to eat lite and I was okay with that. Well apparently eating lite to Koreans means getting a 5 course meal. We got mondoo, mangoo, or mandoo I am never sure what it is called. Anyways she ordered like the mother of them all! Those suckers were bigger than my fist. I just laughed at the lightness of our lunch. On the walk back the office I started freezing. Maybe it's just me but I like to feel my feet. Then my teeth started chattering, and that was enough for me. The cold was killing me, and then I told Heejung that we had to hurry which meant run, and we did. I am very impressed with my stride. Just a couple minutes after we got back Sister Chea, and her sister showed up. I was soo excited! The vegetable pancakes were amazing! They looked slightly odd, but they were great. They also had shark fish in them which I thought was going to kill it for me, but I loved them. Well after class I left. Once again it was freakishly cold. I think that if it is going to be this cold outside that it needs to just snow! I can't handle this. Well since Emma, Ash, Cam, Garrett, and Britt have all gone out to ice cream with each other, and have no problem telling me about it I have been craving ice cream so despite the cold I went and got some from Baskin Robins. I don't usually go there, but Rhonda's a big fan so I thought I would give it a try. I should know better with Rhonda I guess. Well when I got home I decided that I would just put it up because I was to cold to eat it at this point. Well after putting it away I noticed two little sacks in the bottom so I reached down, and grabbed them. What I didn't see was the steam that was coming up from them. That would have been my clue to not pick them up. Well I did. It burnt. Did anyone know that dry ice burns your skin? I think that's any oxymoron. Dry ice, but it burns? Well I just dropped it as soon as I found that one out the hard way. It only burnt one finger but it still hurt. This is when I knew that Korea, or the cold is out to get me. Oh well. Speacial thanks to Brynne for helping me figure out what to do with the little buggers. I thought that if I left them out the fumes were going to do somthing to my immune system. Everything was better after watching the Hills. Lame I know, but it's the little things in life that make me happy you know. 2 mas dias para(till) mi cumpleano!
told you they were the size of my fist!

group shot!

best pancakes I've ever had!

Weekend & Monday

This is going to be short, but Monday is exciting so read!

Saturday:
So Saturday was fun. First I went to Jamsil with Sister Residori. It was tons of fun. I finally bought things that I have been like "aww I'll just get that later" so it's good that I am no longer procrastinating. Well after that I went to the English ward for the adult session which was pretty good. After that I went to a "gathering" at Grace's apartment. I like to call it her penthouse. She works for the Canadian Embassy. For her tiny little self she has 3 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, Kitchen(including a stove), dining room, and a living room. Look at me being all apartment add sounding. I am really not trying to sell her apartment. Anyways my point was that it was pretty legit. The "gathering" was loads of fun. After that I went home on the subway because that's just how I do it. So now that I have officially used the word legit I think that we should talk about it. Okay so a few years ago legit was the "in" word. Well then I didn't use it, but now I am becoming a fan of it. Some of the boys used it over the summer, and now I am a fan. I would like you to use legit at least once in your day. Use it, it will impress people. I will give you examples in ways to use the word.
1. A: Dude did you see that wave?
B: Yeah dude it was totally legit!
2. A: Homie I got an F on my test.
B: Man that's so not legit.
You don't have to use dude or home boy, but it just makes legit sound so much cooler. Legit is a good word, and we can't just let it die out with phrases like wazz up, and yeah boy. Finally at like 10 someting I left Grace's because I was freakishly tired. On my way over I noticed a Starbucks, and was so excited to get one on my home. I had convinced another girl that it was so worth it on our way home(by the way the drink I had in mind was mormon friendly chocolate cream chip frap). Well turns out that when Diane, and I finally got there they had just closed! It was a cruel joke for them to have the door still unlocked, and people sitting in there rubbing their drinks in our faces. I just wanted a piece of home. Was that to much to ask? Apparently. Well the subway ride bothered me. Some dumb guy was sitting next to me, and he was not very smart. It's okay though he was sitting in the pregnant lady/elderly people/disabled peoples seat, and he looked dumb. The walk home was cold. That all I have to say about that.

Sunday:
Sunday started off with me realizing that it was freakishly cold outside. I was going to take the bus to the mission home to meet the Burtons and Residori's so we could leave from there in a car to go to the English ward. Well I got dressed, and did all that I needed to. Well then I decided that it was just to cold for me. So I layered. I put on my under armor, white socks, moccasins, jacket, sunglasses, and gloves. I looked like a spaz, but a warm spaz at that. Well once I got outside I realized that I needed to loose some of the layers because it was getting colder. I did, but just the gloves, and the sunglasses. Well as I was walking I noticed that my bus was roaring down the street, and it was to cold for me to wait for the next one so I started running. I have quite the stride if I do say so myself, and in my moccasins. I was impressive. Well the bus realized what I was doing, and stopped for me before the stop so I could stop looking crazy. Well I got to the mission home, and don't worry Mom I changed so I didn't let everyone see me looking crazy. Well I finally saw the Han River very exciting. I should probably go there on morning, and take pictures, but I think that I scare Korean's when I randomly ask them to take pictures of me. Anyways the meeting was good. I loved it. After the meeting it was colder! I hate Korea(okay I might say that, but really it has grown one me)! I could see my breath, and that is just one thing I don't need to see. Well I spent the rest of the day at the Burton's and I rather enjoyed myself. At the end of the day when I was getting ready to go home Sister Burton just took me home in the car. I must say that I was rather grateful. I wasn't looking forward to suiting back up in all of my gear again, but I would have. It was way nice of her to take me. Well when I got home I talked to my best friend the door man. I am getting used to our half way conversations. They are a good pick me up, and he makes me laugh. I am going to start teaching him slang, and before I leave he is going to be worthy of rolling with Snoop Dogg. He's pretty much a gangster. When I got into my apartment I realized that it was freezing! I tried turning on my heater, but no luck so I waited in the hall for someone to come so that I could make then turn on my heater because I couldn't get it to work. Finally someone, a man helped me and he said that it turned on at ten, and I was counting down the seconds. I started watching School of Rock because I had to return it today, and hadn't watched it yet. That movie is sooo funny. Jack Black is inspiring! It reminds me of so many great band rehearsals in Cam's garage. I fell asleep before it ended though, and was woken up when Mom called on Skype. I was half asleep through that too, and then just rolled back over, and went to bed, and didn't update my blog. Sorry.

Monday!
Today was fun! First my day started out with me getting a cramp in my leg, and collapsing in my hallway. I thought it was good considering how dramatic the fall was. Well after that someone rang my doorbell. I still always think it's the fire alarm, and I have a momentary freak out, and then I snap out of it. Well I was indisposed so the guy had to wait a second. I said coming, and he thought I said come in so he tried to shake the door open. It was kinda of funny. Well when I finally got to the door it was the post man. I still don't get why people who deliver stuff to me feel the need to come inside the doorway. Well he had a package! I was so excited! Well first he was taken back that I was American I think, and just stared. It made me laugh and then he made me sign, and he tired to pronounce my name, but he so couldn't once again great. Well the package was from Kristen. I have to say it was so good. She sent me hot chocolate, "family pictures", card, and a scarf she made herself. I love that girl. Well the family pictures turned out to be a DVD! She is so smart to have said it was a picture CD, and knows me so well. After getting my package I called home on skype. It was Sunday night there, and everyone was at family dinner. I love talking to the family! Without fail the little ones came into talk but more to look at themselves in the computer. Reese screamed she was so excited, and it made my ear drum pop, but it was so cute. Well I talked to Nichole, and Emma. They are nerds, and make me laugh. Emma dumped me though because Man vs. Wild was on. I guess I know where I rank, and apparently it's after Bear Grills. Anyways eventually I had to hang up. I didn't want to cause Nichole was killing me, but I did. Work was fun today. Well kind of work. I finished all of my stuff early so I had a chance to catch up on post cards. I love that I start out writing big, and then end up really small. Class was great. I ran out of words to describe a few things so I just started drawing stick figures. At one point I drew me & Emma. Emma was having a BBQ at my house. I was hosting it, and there was a hot spring in my back yard. Let me tell you the picture was great! I told them not to erase it because tomorrow I was taking a picture. So here's the exciting part. Well the forecast for today was cloudy, and chance of rain. Well when I left work I noticed that the ground was wet. Then I was like hey it's hailing, and then I was like hey that not hail its snow! Well then I did what any true California girl would do. I screamed out loud. I didn't think I did, but the look from the boys passing by confirmed my fear. Well they I was so excited, and that was soon replaced by bone chilling cold. Then I started running. I couldn't get warm for the life of me! I kept saying your in Cali your warm, your in Cali your warm. It didn't work as well as I would have liked it to, but I was still so excited. I stopped people as they were walking so they could take picture of me! I just couldn't contain my excitment. Well I saw my bus flying by and I had to run to catch it because although I was excited about the snow I had no desire to wait in it. Well while on the bus I took a picture and the flash went off, and I don't think that pleased the bus driver, but I had to document. I took a video, but at the end it's me screaming about how the wind came in, and I had to go because I had to run, and get inside before I got frost bitted. Well I also had a little girl take pictures. She was quite the photographer if I do say so myself. I know it wasn't snowing hard at all, but to me it was a big deal! So that was my day. I am determined to wear my galoshes tomorrow. I am excited!
Nikky being a G!

Under my umbrella-ella-ella-a-a-a (it was just raining at this point)

Snow through the bus window.

The white things on my hood would be snow flakes

The picture the little girl took!(thats my building behind me)

P.S I was just so excited I could hardly stand it! It was pretty ridiculous, but what can you do? It may not look like it was snowing in some but it was!

Tired

Well it's midnight here, and I am kinda of tired. I had a fun day, and got home rather late, and have an early morning tomorrow. So I will post about my entire weekend tomorrow. Until then here is one picture from today!
Grace, Dai, Me, and Diane

Viernes

Today was not the most exciting day. I got up, and went to work. Heejung, and I went to go, and do an errand, and on the way back she wanted to get a snack. She called it a "Korean Snack". What that translated to was a duck cake link thing dipped in red pepper sauce, and given to us to eat. It was so hot. I couldn't eat very many. Heejung thought it was funny. She said that it was good for me, and would keep me from getting sick, and that a lot of Koreans eat it. Well the only reason that it keeps you from getting sick is that it makes you nose run so much that there is nothing in your sinuses. Well we finshed our lesson for tonight, and then recorded it. After that we went to dinner, and I was informed that having to much rice is not good for your bowels. I don't know. So class went good. I taught them the differences in the words by, bye, and buy, and boy was that confusing to them. It was even better when I said them all in one phrase. The look on their face was priceless. So after I came home. I froze at the bus stop, but that's okay the tree men next to me kept me warm by lighting one cigarette after another. Apparently breathing isn't something that they felt was necessary. Oh well. So I went came home, and I am still freezing because I refuse to turn on my heat that cost me an arm, and a leg. Tomorrow will be fun. I am going to go shopping, and to some potluck thing at Grace's house. It should be fun. I will try to take pictures, and post them then. Until then here is an old grubby picture of Ashlynn, and I that I quite like. It was the night of the Plain White T's & Boys Like Girls Concert.

Jueves(no way no way no way!)

So today was an experience. I had planned last night to wake up early, and go and work out, but then when I woke up this morning, and checked the weather I re-thought my plan. The second day in a row my bus was being dumb, and I ended up getting to work right at 2. I ran from my bus stop! Let me tell you my blue flats...not running shoes people not running shoes. The first half of work went really good. I did the whole rocking da mic thing again. It was great. I had to record this conversation between four people. Yeah it was pretty sweet. I had no idea I could do so many voices, and then I had to record it all over again because it didn't sound right, and I was laughing, and making weird noises. It was great though. Well we went to dinner at the restaurant where I had the black noodles before. You know the place that they thought I was a freak for needing a fork. I was determined to use my chopsticks the whole time tonight. This time I said that I wanted something different. Well I ended up getting jom boong which is the spicy noodle that I had before. I thought it was weird that I said different, and I got the same thing. It wasn't the same. The fiery hotness, and the ability to almost make me cry was there, but with a little twist. Well the soup looked the same, and I liked it last time so I was okay with getting it again. Well I started moving things around, and dun dun duuunn there it was. The twist. There was squid legs in my jom boong! I normally would have just kept stirring my theory is don't look at it, but I just couldn't help it. It had feelers, and everything! It was just to much for me. I have a strict policy about not eating things that might come back to life as I chew. I kept trying to eat it people I really did, but I just couldn't. Heejung laughed and took it from me. She knew what I was going through she said. The restaurant guy came over to see how I was doing and where I was from, and I don't even think I looked at him because I couldn't take my eyes of the squid legs. Well I did fine for a while until I saw another piece. This one was bigger! I felt like it was staring at me. Lets make a long story short. I found 2 more pieces. I think one was the brain. I didn't eat any of them I kept trying I just couldn't get over it. I just kept thinking finding Nemo for some reason. I have made a valiant effort to try everything that people make me, buy me, or give me, but I just couldn't. The soup just wasn't the same after the 3 pieces of squid though. Sad I know. I did use my chopstick the whole time though! On the way back to the office I saw a live squid in one of the tanks outside of a restaurant, and it made me think about it all over again. I told it through my ESP to live it up while he can because I just saw his future, and it doesn't look so brught. Class was good tonight. We had the conversation class tonight, and it went really well! At one point we talked about using emotion in your voice. I semi made fun of the mono tone voices that they use, and they thought it was hilarious. Who knew? Well I caught the bus on time, and I was so thrilled considering that I was freezing. The sucky part was that when I got up the bus driver hadn't stopped yet, and when he slammed on the breaks I had my hands in my pockets, and couldn't grab onto anything so I did a backwards run to the front of the bus. Everyone saw. I looked stupid. Yet another reason for me to love public transportation. Oh well what can ya do? I now have to go and scrub the maybe squid out of my mouth. Till next time! = )


.....Before things got ugly

Oh Nemo's friend!

.......I still don't know why I looked

oh brother.....

Miercoles(Olympic Park, Surprise Concert)

I must say today was pretty fun. I am starting to get used to this sleeping thing which could be a bad thing before going to school who knows. Anyways I finally got up and got ready. It was really foggy again today, but the fog lasted all day. I had planned to go to the Dongdaemun, and do some bargin shopping, and go look at some of the crazy things that happen there, but instead I went to Olympic Park with Heejung, and some of the Kim family. I had never met them before. Surprisingly I have developed this skill of being on time to places so I was there on time, and no was else was so I walked around for a while, and took some pictures. People kept trying to sell me all of this stuff, and I had no idea what they were saying so I just shrugged, and didn't get anything. I was so excited to find out that the Kim girls spoke English because the oldest daughter has studied English in Canada, and Singapore. Do you know that Singapore is not only a city, but a country too? I didn't. Anyways it was fun to talk to them because they really did speak it well. There were two girls one my age, and the other who was 7. It was tight. There names(English names) were Stacy, and Annie. They were both good at English, and tons of fun. Let me tell you I took so many pictures! It was like my own personal photo shoot. You can call Giselle if you would like. Wait never mind don't. Olympic Park was crazy! There was a ton of things to see, and visit. There were all of these sculptures that were made just for the Olympics. They were all crazy, and kind of funny. Walking around the park was taking a massive hike! There were hills every where, and there was no getting around it. It was fun though because after every hill there was something new to look at. Like a little black bunny. There was also this really big hill that was all grassy, and I was going to go to the top and pull a Julie Andrews from the sound of music, and sing the Hills are Alive, but I didn't want to give Ashlynn a hard attack so I didn't. At the top of one hill was this Korean temple thing, and all around it were all of these animal statues. Well come to find out what they represented was the year that you were born and what you are. I would be a snake. Haha. No comment about that. I made sure to take my picture with that statue. The only thing that I really wanted to see was the flags of all of the countries. I promise I have never been so excited to see flags! Kind of lame I know but it was really cool. I also saw the Olympic torch or flame, or both. It was way cool. Never been so excited to see fire! So Stacy noticed that there was a sign advertising this free concert at one of the Olympic Gyms. Well the concert happened to be that night, and free. I love that word. Free. It really is a marvelous word. So we decided to go. Totally spontaneous, and semi not like me. It was fun. I thought that it was going to be some lame concert, but it ended up being this big thing with all of these really popular bands/singers from here. There were a ton of people there. They were celebrating the fact the Korea might be the place to host the next International Expo. This could mean big things for Korea, and they are really excited, and I was excited to because this meant free concert. We got there and there was a ton of people. The way that they did the seating, and all we got these really good seats. It was awesome! I had no idea what they were singing about or who they were, but it was good, and definitely something to remember. There was one band though that everyone went crazy for. Let me tell you it was like watching the Korean Menudo. It was hilarious how similar they are, and there was on performer who was this nice mix of Justin Timberlake, and Micheal Jackson. The show had all these crazy pyro technics, and fire works, and laser shows, and such. It was a blast. The last band was a rock band, and they were so funny and full of energy. In the end my day so tons of fun. Stacy, and i rode the bus together for a while, and then she got off. I was so tired that I got off at the wrong stop, and ended up chasing down my bus. It was funny. Well I thought it was at least. So here are some pictures from today. It is kinda dark in some, but it was not the best weather today. Oh well.

The entrance to the park

the people who tried to haggle me...kind of

Some yellow tree

the big red sculpture

Me & Annie being g's on a sculpture

Watch out!

The Bunny along the way

Ring of Flags

The U.S flag above

I was trying to make the rings with my hands

the olympic rings.....

Olympic Torch

Best preformer of the night!

Menudo

Me & Stacy(I look shiny & she forgot to smile)

Rocking it