And Another Thing...

Law abiding

2009-02-16T21:47:00.001-08:00

Procrastination is so easy these days

2009-02-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

So I'm supposed to be listening to an opera that I need to record (speaking not singing) for an opera group who want to practice their British English pronunciation and organizing the next semester's curriculum and filling out application forms for jobs in Hong Kong and Japan but instead I have been fiddling around on Facebook. I'm off to read a book about the history of the English language now and watch Midsomer Murders.

My Korean Apartment

2009-02-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

So I just thought I should post some pics of my little postage stamp sized apartment (room) in Korea. It's small but it's cozy and the floor heating is perfect in this horrible freeeeezing weather! The cat lounges around on the floor until she decides she wants to go outside, then she parades around whining for me to open the window: she has managed to figure out how to open it from the outside but not from the inside yet. So I open the damn window and let the bitter cold in and she just sits on the widow sill shouting at me as if to say "well take the snow away for me then!" apparently it's cold on her little tootsies. Damn cat. and she just sits there looking out letting the freezing cold in. witch.

Jeonju

2009-02-16T04:14:00.001-08:00

Buddhist temple...

Little piles of stones...

The many armed Buddha...

Dragon lovers

Very tall Buddhas

And a very old Catholic church

V-Day

2009-02-16T03:30:00.000-08:00

Happy V-Day to Me! Happy V-day to MEEEEE, Happy V-DAY TOOOOO MEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Happy V-Day to ME!

And the most random clothing prize goes to...

2009-02-15T02:34:00.000-08:00

Koreans often dress themselves in clothes featuring the British Flag or "England" or the St George cross (even though they don't understand the meaning of this). England is fashionable, in fact even the "British English" accent has become fashionable lately. This however caused me great confusion. I mean, is it real? did he work as a postman in England? Did he simply go to England and get given this coat? Did he mug an unsuspecting postman? We will never know.

Sunday Laziness

2009-02-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

One word answers to multi-word questions.

Where is your cell phone..................unknown

Your hair.......................................toweled
Your father.....................................Biological?
Your favorite thing............................multiple
Your dream last night.........................elevator
Your favorite drink............................martini
Your dream/goal...............................health
The room you are in...........................home
Your fear........................................pain
Where do you want to be in 6 years........Asia
Muffins...........................................banana
One of your wish list items....................Mac
Where you grew up...........................Eastbourne
The last thing you did.........................shower
What are you wearing........................towels
Your TV.........................................none
Your pets........................................cat
Your computer..................................Wind
Your life.........................................moving
Your mood......................................belligerent
Missing someone...............................Mum
Your car.........................................licenceless
Favorite store..................................Zara
Your summer...................................moving
Your favorite color............................green
When is the last time you laughed..........today
Last time you cried............................January
Three people who email me..................Si, George, students
Three of my favorite foods..................Vietnamese, Thai, British
Three places I would rather be right now....New York, Eastbourne, Thailand

Horoscope

2009-02-03T20:20:00.000-08:00

Today's Horoscope

December 22 ~ January 20

Capricorn: All you can do today is be prepared as best you can. Beyond that, it's out of your hands. .

Sarah Calderwood's

This must mean I should pack for the trip Si is organizing tomorrow... I have no idea where we are going except that I have to meet him at a bus terminal in Seoul at midday...

Museum Day

2009-02-03T03:38:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday we went to Samcheongdong in Seoul. There are a load of different museums nested away in between the higgledy-piggledy buildings which house coffee shops, art galleries, boutiques selling trendy vintage (read "overpriced second-hand) clothes, handmade jewelery and arty handbags. Each museum has one or two floors of artifacts and they all cost 5000won to enter. Although you can buy a ticket for 15,000 which gives entry to 5 of them.

The Toy Museum was filled with dolls and models, they had a really impressive Star Wars collection and my favorite: Darth Vader Mr. Potato Head!

African Art Museum was really small but the art was interesting, a mixture of paintings and statues.

The Silk Road Museum was the largest of the museums we visited. It housed a large collection of items from all over the silk road, There was even some English signage.

The Tibet Museum was very small, but the amazing costumes on the second floor were worth a peek. Plus, there was a little shop where I bought a great candle holder.
So to get there you need to take the subway to either Anguk or Gyeongbokgung. If you go to Anguk go out of exit 1 and turn right. Then take the second right, it's a paved road with street vendors selling various foods and drinks. It's opposite the entrance to Insadong Steet. Walk down this road and you will come to a street of restaurants and coffee shops. Look out for the Family Mart on your right and Bene Panini on your left. Keep walking to the end. Cross over the road and wak up the small street opposite. when you get to the large coffee shop veer left, you will see the Tibet Museum on the left. You can pick up a map here.

Sicky

2009-02-03T03:22:00.000-08:00

This little piece of paper is the list from the doctor of all the things I'm NOT allowed to do. I'll translate. I am not allowed to eat apples, oranges, tomatoes, chocolate, I'm not allowed to drink coffee, English tea, alcohol, orange juice, soda, cola, I'm not allowed to wear tight clothes (???) eat before bed or smoke.

I have a sore throat and a runny nose.

I really really want these shoes

2009-01-29T19:01:00.000-08:00

First came toe socks, of which I have a number of pairs to keep my tootsies warm in the freezing Korean winter, then came toe shoes!!! I need, I need!

Apparently they are great for posture, balance, healthier feet, back pain and more. And at about 90 bucks (US) I need!!! Granted, I have about 30 pairs of shoes already and the collection is growing. On top of that, I am not sure how I'm gonna convince Si that I NEED to take all of them to Hong Kong/Japan when we move in September, but I'm convinced I really do need these.

photos

2009-01-29T06:11:00.000-08:00

I'm fiddling around with websites but on this link you can view my flickr photos. I can't figure out how to create a flickr gadget yet

Ilsan Lake Park

2009-01-29T01:33:00.000-08:00

A sculpture in the park.

Si testing the ice at Lake Park in Ilsan where we went for a little stroll yesterday. It was so pretty all frozen over.
Ducks sleeping in the icy water... maybe waiting for their din dins.
Me on the pagoda, fatty hamster cheeks. I nearly wouldn't let Si take the photo cos I hate how the steroids have made me so chubby. Hmmm, wasn't it Carly Simon... You're So Vain!

The Adjummas wear their visors all year round! Walking the pooches on the ice. They saw us looking at them and got the giggles. The dogs were sliding all over the place.
An attempt at a self photo...

c'mon, I'm on holiday

2009-01-27T20:07:00.000-08:00

So wrong

2009-01-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

This is supposedly an English training video for Japanese ladies of the night...

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/3366/

Oh so speechless.

Not dead, just been away inside my head

2008-07-08T04:08:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, life seems to have taken a turn, after the drama that was the first 6 months of 2008 it seems like a strange dream, after emotions, hospitals, nappies, blood, depression, and more health problems with my Lupus I feel like I have been handed happiness on a plate. I am in a constant state of confusion, awe, and feeling like the luckiest person on the face of the planet. I pinch myself on a regular basis just to check. But this is happening. It really, really is. I just felt like shouting it out from my blog, because I don't have a mountain, well I do but too many Koreans doing their early morning exercises would be incredibly confused by the crazy foreigner. So apparently it exists, and this is it. I am completely, totally and utterly, head over heels in love with the most wonderful man in the entire world (or so he tells me).

Although I'm saying no more as my horoscope told me to... ;)

Capricorn
Tuesday, July 8

Try not to share too many secrets with your friends and coworkers today. Not everyone has your best interests in mind. There are very few people you can put your trust in.

I have no words.

2008-06-03T02:38:00.000-07:00

Tribune news services

May 29, 2008

Dunkin' Donuts has canceled an online advertisement featuring celebrity chef Rachael Ray after complaints that a scarf she wore in the ad offers symbolic support for terrorism.

Dunkin' Donuts said Wednesday it pulled the ad over the weekend because of what it calls a "misperception" about the scarf that detracted from its original intent to promote its iced coffee.

Critics, including conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, complained that the scarf appeared to be traditional garb worn by Arab men. The ad's critics say such scarves have come to symbolize Muslim extremism and terrorism.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-rachael-ray-dunkin-donuts,0,6304563.story

Detox Day #1 part 2

2008-05-20T01:59:00.000-07:00

OK, so I may have eaten the last chocolate biscuit this afternoon. But tomorrow I will do better.

Detox Day #1

2008-05-19T17:04:00.001-07:00

I decided to start a Detox today. There are a number or reasons behind this. Firstly Summer started one and I was inspired. Secondly, I did a "how much do you need a detox?" test and scored 81%, there were flashing lights, alarms and sirens too. Thirdly, I eat crap and shouldn't and fourthly I did one before and lost loads of weight and I need to fit into my bikini in July.

I thought it best that I wrote about it on my blog because I feel I need to be accountable to someone: I am very good at talking myself in and out of things so recording the days' progress will make sure I don't talk myself out of it, because let's face it, no chocolate, no coffee, no wine, no chips, no red meat, well, that's just impossible, right? what am I doing? I need all these things. (see)

So far today I have eaten a pear, a few rice crackers (well more than a few but the detox doesn't give a limit, so I'm not cheating, right?) and a lettuce and tuna salad. I plan on eating a bowl of rice with broccoli for dinner. I have drunk 3 cups of lemon water, a glass of rice milk and a vegetable juice. I expect I will spend the night on the loo.

There's a box of chocolate digestives and a box of Walkers shortbread in my cupboard. I haven't had the strength to give them away yet, It's like throwing out those pants that have the hole in, you know you should but it's just too painful to part with them.

Only 2 months to go...

So, it's been a while.

2008-05-12T02:41:00.000-07:00

My absence has been due to one main factor. My studies. A little bit has happened since I wrote last I will try and condense the last week so I can get back to writing my essay, no offence it's just that I'm paying 370 pounds a month for this damn MA so I'd better bloody well get a worthwhile grade at the end!

So I have mostly been a hermit staying in to write papers, read articles, and search online for new articles to pad out the references section of my 5000 word essay. And by the way: That's a lot of words. I'm halfway through but I think I'll probably rewrite it before the 19th, when it's due. My horoscope might make sense if I had actually done anything today that involved me meeting anyone...

Capricorn: An exciting new person will enter your life today. Good things will happen because you let them into your life.

Oh! No! Wait a minute, I ordered a pizza and I let the delivery man in! He wasn't very exciting, or new, I have seen him many a time before, but the pizza was certainly a good thing! And anyway, the day's not over yet.

I have applied for a job and been offered a new contract at my current job so that's quite exciting. The job I applied for is a consultant position at Oxford University Press which would take me away from teaching students and plop me in front of teachers. scary. Actually I was planning on applying for jobs in publishing as soon as I finish my MA: Oxford, Cambridge, you know: the major ELT publishers. I was looking at Editor positions and would be perfectly qualified for a junior of assistant position. This job is just another way in. The thing is: I'm not sure if I'm completely ready to leave teaching yet. Doing my MA has made me more excited about teaching ad trying out new things in the classroom. Its a moot point at the moment though because I haven't even had an interview yet.

I have bought my ticket home for the summer and also sneakily managed to wangle a few days in Spain! Yay!! Something to look forward to.

The cat ran off for a day but came back at 2.30 am. Little witch. She chose to knock on the door and sit waiting for me to get up and open it instead on using the open window. Little witch.

Finally, I exceeded my record number of cups of tea in one day.
So that's all for now. Back to work. No rest for the wicked. I wanna finish so I can watch Desperate Housewives tonight.
Love

Korean Style Protest

2008-04-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

I don't mean to sound culturally insensitive but I read the New York Times today about the Olympic torch being carried though Seoul and the protests and scuffle that ensued between the Chinese supporters and Koreans: Two men, North Korean defectors, tried to set light to themselves in protest at the inhumane treatment of North Korean refugees in China. This is one form of protest that I cannot understand. In Korea it is common for a protest to get out of hand, there are so many. People have been known to set themselves on fire, cut off their fingers and throw themselves to their demise in the Han River. I mean I understand the gravity of the situation and how strongly people feel about it, as they should; it is horrendous what goes on in North Korea and the International governments choose to ignore the gross inhumanity. But, why kill yourself? Especially after you managed to escape from the regime... Surely you could do more good alive? Maybe I'm missing the point.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/world/asia/28korea.html?ex=1367121600&en=91dd28c0f94c93bd&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Grump Slump

2008-04-26T01:28:00.000-07:00

December 22 ~ January 20

Capricorn: Laughter is the best medicine! Seeing your funniest friend will cheer you up tremendously. .

Sarah Calderwood's

I have been an extremely grumpy person for the past couple of days. Mostly I'm sure due to the amount of work I have to do and hormones and having felt sick as a dog from eating a mouldy muffin. As usual I thought the horoscope could have the answer. The trouble is I'm also feeling very antisocial and am sure that if I do go and find my funniest friend all that will end up happening is that I will drag them down into my bog of eternal grump and there's no sense in the both of us hanging out there. Instead I am staying firmly rooted at my desk and writing for my MA. It's been 6 hours so far and I can do another 6. OR I could just pour myself a big glass of wine and snap out of it... hmmm

Wisdom

2008-04-24T03:02:00.000-07:00

Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen. - John le Carre

I just read this quote and found it rather relevant. In fact my quotes for the day on my igoogle homepage are all rather wonderful today.

The only really good place to buy lumber is at a store where the lumber has already been cut and attached together in the form of furniture, finished, and put inside boxes. - Dave Barry

Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it. - Cullen Hightower

On living my life and not just waiting for it.

2008-04-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

I watched a movie the other night called PS I Love You. I cried literally from the beginning to the end. It was a romance and had some funny moments and wasn't a particularly good example of good cinematography but the plot kept on picking me up and then throwing me straight back down in the gutter. It was about a woman whose husband had died of a brain tumor. Before he died he wrote her a number of letters which he, through her mother, planned to deliver to her after his death to help her to move on with her life. First of all How incredibly romantic and sad and loving is that? Second of all this woman had been living her life without direction as if she is waiting for her real life to begin, kind of reminds me of a song by Colin Hay called Waiting for my Real Life to Begin...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HNFsI5y270&feature=related

Which also makes me cry.

His letters help her to pull herself together and live her life. I suppose I relate to that. I suppose that's why I cried. I forget sometimes with all of my student loans and plans for the future and wondering if I'm really doing what I want and taking the right paths that life is actually happening now.

Thirdly it made me think of lost loves. I just wrote a paragraph and deleted it again... I'm not ready to share that just yet.

It wasn't that it was such an amazing movie but the message was quite pertinent to my life. I have felt recently that I'm in limbo. I need to stay in Korea until I finish my MA but really really want to move on. I used to be like this when I was a teenager and in my early 20s, wishing to be older and at a further stage in my career/life without stopping to enjoy where I was. I think lots of people do this. I notice myself doing it and wish I could just slow down a bit and notice what's going on around me. Stop making plans for a moment and settle into what I am doing right now. I think we all know that wouldn't make me happy though. I do need to try harder to enjoy the moment however and I am going to endeavor to do so instead of constantly searching for my real life to begin I want to be more involved in this one. This starts with writing my damn essay. And liking it.

I was right

2008-04-22T23:10:00.000-07:00

To,

Sarah professor

Thank you so much , Professor :D I am so sorry. I didn't know that. I won't anymore. If it was rude , I hope that you understand me. Sorry about that. Please forgive me with your generous mind.

Sincerely,

Kun

She also came to class with soda and chocolate for me.