SoKo Survival Tip #117- Kiddie Pool as a Bathtub

I admit it: I'm a bath-er.  Hardcore, as in, first thing in the morning.   I find that it eases the transition from sleep to the world awake and it's one of the things I miss the most being over here.  I was bemoaning my tub-lessness to Ghengis last summer.

  

"Sheesh, I don't think I'd be able to do it." she said.  "I mean, I'll send you a kiddie pool or something... "

*lightbulb goes on*

"We have kiddie pools over here!"

So I bought one last August (AUGUST!) and am just getting around to blowing it up and using it now.  And I can't believe it took me this long.  Greatest idea ever.  It doesn't fit completely in my bathroom, but I turn it on it's side, crease in the middle, and sit in the bottom part.  

Fill with water and enjoy.  

Passing the Torch

I bought a new backpack today.  This is news-worthy, I promise.  

I'd needed a new one for ages now, ever since the lining ripped in Old Faithful.  The pockets in the front aren't pockets anymore, so all my stuff just kind of puddles into the middle making it near impossible to locate key items (like bus passes, which is not a good way to make friends with the people behind you in line, let me say.)  The fabric is so thin that things like pens and pencils poke out and incapacitate me at key moments (like when I'm already 5 minutes late for work) but despite all this, I was still reluctant to let it go.    

It was purchased from the GAP in 2002 for 9 bucks.  It's been on 3 continents and through two major life changes and I feel like it carries a little part of me with it.  It was one of those items that snuck up on me in its usefulness; I hadn't planned for it to become such a bit part of my life.  I feel like it kind of became like a trusted friend that I could turn to for extra support and room and letting it go has been so much harder than I expected.  

Today, I finally took the plunge and bought a North Face Sure Shot (32 L/2100 cu. in.)  I had done endless research on the different styles available, etc. and had agonized over the purchase for months.  Even in the store, I waffled endlessly between two options when this one finally won out.  (Thanks Tabs, Janice, and Xtina for being part of my "panel of advisors" ;))  I'm confident in this new decision, but I feel the need to mark the passage of Old Faithful.  It's not just a bag, it's a friend.            

My motto for 2009 is "Fewer, Better" and I hope that I'll be able to carry this out in all aspects of my life.  Learn the lessons, release the past, embrace the future.   

Old Faithful, you will be missed.  Sure Shot, welcome home.  

Christmas: Set Down

Christmas Eve at my place.  I made salmon, mashed potatoes, spinach salad, carrots, and broccoli with cheese.  My sister remarked "that's not Christmas"  No, but I had to stick with narrow foods that would fit in my toaster oven. 

Prep:

Felt the need to decorate for the occasion and spent a few evenings making (poor man paper) ornaments.  

   

Baby Christmas Tree

Got the bright idea for a fireplace at the last minute (as inspired by Tabbie)  

    

Good shot of the decorations (and people too, I guess ;) ) 

 

(from left: Tabatha, Chrissey, Jenny B, Julia, Jenny Y, Adina) 

There were ten people total: 9 were other English instructors from our International church and 1 was a cool friend of one of one of the church girls.  9 girls, one amazing guy, and a visit from one Mr. Santa Clause brought us all full on full-sized presents.  Santa brought me a copy of O. Henry short stories and a Corningware casserole dish (bearing a large "MADE IN AMERICA" logo) 

(clockwise from left: Heather, Chrissey, Andrew, Adina, Jenny B, Me, Julia, Jenny Y, Joanna) 

We also did a stocking stuffer activity where everyone brought ten small gifts and put them in everyone else's stocking so that at the end of the evening, everyone had ten different small gifts in their stocking.   

Dessert was cake (Duncan Heins with frosting!) and cookies.

 

After opening stockings/presents, everyone left 5:30am on the 25th, at which time I snatched a few hours of sleep before getting up and cooking again for our annual Moonkkang Christmas dinner at the lovely Hof n Joy.  It was actually a super affair, with delicious turkey roasted by Michelle, and a "Bad Santa" gift exchange emceed by Jammie and Lynn.  Everyone brought a gift and had their name put in a hat.  One at a time, a name was pulled and the person would go up to the stage to choose and unwrap a gift.  The next person had the choice of either choosing another wrapped gift, or stealing a gift from the person that came before them, and so on.  It worked in your favor to be called toward the end, as you had a better selection of gifts to choose from, although a gift could only be stolen three times before it found its permanent home.

Brick, christmas tree, great friends, and a cozy atmosphere.  Not bad for being away from home.  Actually, I would consider it almost better than home because it was an unexpected departure from the same old holiday routine.  Being far away from family and people I've known and loved for years has made me that much more thankful for the new friends and traditions this year.  

I made my Christmas cards because I couldn't find any that said what I wanted to say.  

"May peace prevail on earth" in seven languages...  and as many more as we can learn and tell. 

May the peace of Christmas stay with you all year long.  

Resolved...

*To be better about distilling my thoughts into posts.

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for a smashing 2009!

Complaints about Korea.

In order of importance:

1. Vicious little mosquitos.

2. Foreigners with bad attitudes.

And right now, the mosquitos are top on my list.  In mid-November.  Yes, really. 

I was hoping that the cold would kill 'em off, but the heat in my building went on early and pervasively, so I suppose it hasn't been cold enough to encourage them to move the heck on, which motivated me to turn on the air-conditioner last night at 4 in the morning.  In mid-November.  Yes, really.   

This morning I woke up w. three new bites:  one on my nose, one on the knuckle of the first finger of my left hand, and one in my *ahem* bust region.

Cheeky devils. 

But really, that's the sum of my complaints after nine months of living in the country.   

Not too bad.  

Focus...?

Was in Ulsan last week for work, and while it can be a bit of a hassle, it's also quite interesting and a lot of fun to see different parts of the country.  Also had a chance to meet up w. Guitar Guy, who I met through the Leader of the Banned.  We jammed a bit and I went home with homework and a listening list.        

Had coffee w. a friend last Sunday and she mentioned that she was taking Masters courses.  I said that I wanted to get my masters in something, but that I had so many interests that it was difficult for me to choose an area.  What I really meant to say was that I'm so scattered that I can't bring myself to commit to one specific program.  

In what one subject do I see myself investing a significant amount of time and energy?  This is the question...       

Right now, my main areas of focus are (in no specific order):

Learning French

Learning Korean

Re-Learning (and continuing to learn) the violin

Hacking out words.

        

The Limey suggested picking up a new hobby in Korea that would be specifically "Korea" with which I would always associate my time here.  So far, it feels like I'm reclaiming parts of myself that I thought I'd lost or wouldn't have a chance to use again.  I'm also trying to develop areas that I'd always meant to work on, but never had the time.  So thank you, Korea, for giving me this gift of time.  Now the challenge is to use it wisely...

           

Good Gracious!

It's been a long time.

October has been a whirl-wind and I'm still working on breaking it all down.  Have traveled three weekends this month and it's been wonderful, but exhausting. 

More updates to come.  Promises, promises...