Sick sucks like a hoover

Last Monday was manic and mad and mental.

I've twice had a strange, painful illness/thing, and the doctors I visited on those previous occasions were mostly just puzzled and unhelpful. Monday a week ago, this nastiness reared its head a third time, and made for an unhappy couple of days. Wednesday and Thursday were spent consulting multiple Korean doctors, and Friday was spent running around preparing for a weekend surprise I was concocting for Adam (more on that later).

Thus, no post.

I'm lucky to have a vice-principal who really likes me, because normally Koreans just get sick and then go to work regardless. When my V-P found out I was ill, he insisted I stay home on Friday to recover (which is not usual behaviour) and it was extremely welcome:

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/23215962924/when-i-tell-my-school-i-cant-teach-because-im-sick

My co-worker said to me today, "I think you know more about Korean culture than most foreign teachers." When I asked her why she thinks that, she responded, "because you have spent so much time in doctor's offices!" I'm not sure exactly which parts of Korean culture have been revealed to me thru the various waiting rooms/examining rooms I've visited, but it's true that I have always left said areas feeling well-serviced and impressed. Not only is it cheap to visit doctors here (CHEAP AS DIRT CHEAP, thanks to insurance and nat'l healthcare, etc), it's also always an extremely efficient experience.

And I love efficiency:

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/23290832389/going-to-the-doctor

My latest visit to the hospital was fascinating (I got a full body CT scan, which is a WEIRD experience), and thankfully somewhat illuminating. This doc thinks he knows what the problem is (nothing serious, just a serious annoyance), and we'll soon be taking steps to fix me right up.

This encouraging news helped me fully enjoy the fabulous weekend I just spent with Adam and friends in Seoul. Wigs, sweet tea, babies, sunshine, martial arts silliness, good food, picnics, books -- it all added up to a weekend of pure F.U.N.

Bicycle built for two? Yes, please.

p.s. Thanks to Danielle for hosting us, feeding us SWEET TAY, being an awesome friend and helping surprise Adam!

Chasing the sun

I just typed this up into an FB message to a friend:

Neither Adam nor I wants to be teachers here in Korea for the long term, but it's a step towards our dreams. Adam wants to write full-time (fiction, articles, everything!), and I want to open a hostel. Or two, or three. People usually say, "oh that sounds really fun/cool!" But really, it's just terrifying. And exciting. We're saving up money here in South Korea, and plan to get my business started in the next 3-5 years. ( I get goose-bumps just writing that) And then, my hostels will become wildly successful, I'll be rich enough to support Adam as his sugar momma so he can write, and we'll continue living Happily Ever After! This "life" thing is a breeze.

Wanna know the crazy part?  I believe all  that. And maybe that's part of the necessary insanity that goes along with starting any new venture, but it's still scary. And exciting.

I've seen first-hand all the stress and trouble that goes into starting a business venture, and by much more experienced folk than I - my father, and my last 2 bosses in the USA come to mind.  The good news is, they have all achieved success, AND I KNOW THEM. Perfect future "brain-picking" victims.

That's all, for right now. I'm feeling waves of CARPE DIEM rush through me, and wanted to share the surge. A dream is worth pursuing.

"Don't try to figure out what the world needs. Find out what you're passionate about, and do that. Because what the world needs is more people who are passionate about what they do." - Some wise person

Pure, unadulterated glee. Be around people who make you feel like this. :)

Just another manic Monday

Just kidding about the "manic" part.

These photos make me feel happy. (disclaimer: pics may or may not actually be from today)

Adam's "wasted" impression - done while impressively sober :)

Today was lovely. A very welcome change from last Monday - everything has gone perfectly, no upsets or surprises, students being good, classes going well, stress levels at an all-time low. THIS is how every Monday should go!

Today's idiom for my classes was "to pull someone's leg", and to get the point across, I started each class by telling them they had a pop quiz. The kids' reactions were priceless. :D

Today's Quirky Korea GIF:

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/23215962924/when-i-tell-my-school-i-cant-teach-because-im-sick

is explained easily: Koreans don't take sick days. They are SUCH a communal society that they believe it's better to take all their germs into work and wipe them all over every doorknob in the building. Seriously though, while Koreans get sick fairly regularly, they don't usually take off work. I don't get it.

The above GIF doesn't completely apply in my case, however, because each time I've been sick my co-workers have kindly urged me to stay home/go to a doctor if I'm feeling too bad

Here, however, is a GIF that is completely and totally accurate:.

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/23290832389/going-to-the-doctor


...AND none of my (four) doctor's visits have cost over $5, if you don't count the one where they x-rayed my stomach. And that one was still under $50!

So the moral of the story is, it's definitely cheaper to be sick in Korea - and a good thing too, because of all the germs everyone is going to be sharing with you.

love,

A

p.s. currently feeling as healthy as a horse, mom! Not to worry. :)

Monday Madness

Hello world,

This weekend, I realized that I miss my blog, and I want to re-begin updating it regularly. "It's just a habit I have to re-learn, that's all," I thought.

"I'll start small," I thought. "Just a tiny little 'hello' post on Monday, to get me rolling. I'll call it 'Monday Madness!' Yeah, that'll do."

And then I proceeded to have one of the worst days of my life yesterday. In retrospect, I find myself a little amazed that I managed to make it to the ripe age of 26 before having a day like that. There was one piece of bad news after another, and by the end of the day.... well, it wasn't pretty. :) I had no idea how appropriate my made-up title was going to be! Anyway, yesterday was indeed madness personified, but it didn't kill me, I'm stronger now, yadda yadda, all that good stuff. And today is going much better, because I'm remembering that Life is Beautiful.

In fact, Sunday morning, I turned on my husband's computer and saw this post-it note on his desktop: "I am living my dream!"

It was a note to himself, and it warmed me right down to my cockles.

It's so true!:
 The money for my future hostel is piling up in my bank account already.
 Adam is writing articles AND short stories that are being published.
 I'm learning a new language.
 Adam has a part-time PAYING gig at the local foreigner's radio station, which is a very nice C.V. bullet.
 We're getting to travel (some), and have many future travels in the works.

Life is really, really good.

And on that note, let me introduce you to my Monday Madness theme: Korean Quirk GIFs.
There's a woman living in Korea who has taken it upon herself to find funny GIFs that illustrate some of the quirkiest quirks of living in Korea as a foreigner. I'm going to post my faves and expound upon them! **No reading ahead!**

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/30842091551/getting-off-of-work-during-summer

YES! This is LITERALLY what Adam and I have been doing all summer. Except, the clothes have to be peeeeeled off our gross, sweaty bodies, and then we stand in front of our wall AC unit until it dries us and our faces return to a normal color.

I thought New Orleans was humid and gross - but I have to do waaaay more walking around outside in nice clothes HERE. Blech. :)

Happy Tuesday everyone!

"Sunsetting" together

p.s. Happy late, August BDs to my Dad, Mom, Jess & Martha!