추워

As Taylor Swift says, "this is me swallowing my pride..."

For those that know me back home, you probably know that I hate the Texas heat. I complain. My face turns red easily. I sweat. My hair frizzes even more than usual. I always fight with my Dad about the A/C. Hannah can't ever sit in the front seat when I'm in the car, because she gets too cold.

I always said, "I can't wait for winter!"

However, I've come to realize that there are different definitions of winter.

Texan winter- a mildly cold season ranging anywhere from one week to two months; average highs in the 50s, possibility of snow one day a year resulting in a holiday

I know Texas has had some freaky weather this year. Be glad its freaky and not normal.

Korean winter- the closest one can get to death without actually putting one's self out of misery, ranging anywhere from 3 months to eternity; average highs in the -200s, possibility of sun one day a year resulting in absolutely no snow or ice melting

Even though winter is coming to an end, I still feel as cold as ever. The happiest moment of the day comes when I walk into my apartment, immediately throw on my sweats, and jump under the covers for an hour to thaw out.

Oh how I miss thee
let me count the days

I miss the days flip flops didn't give my feet enough breathing room.

I miss the days of walking around my apartment without socks and a hoodie on.

I miss the days of needing to put ice in my water.

I miss the days my A/C blew 100 degree air for the first 5 minutes.

I miss the days when more than 2% of my body could be exposed to the sun.

I miss the days of wearing flip flops on Christmas.

I miss the days when I could feel my toes.

I miss the days I couldn't sit in my car without putting a towel down to keep my legs from getting 3rd degree burns.

I miss the days when I had to watch out for mosquitos at night.

I miss the days when it was too hot to even go swimming.

I miss the days when I had to change my shirt during the day because I was sweaty.

I miss the days when my nose didn't run...all the time.

I miss the days I would burn the bottoms of my feet when walking to the pool.

I miss the days when ice cream wasn't cold enough.

I miss the days when Uggs were ridiculous.

I miss the days pants simply were not an option.

I miss the days when my shoulders didn't have to be tensed up in order to walk.

I miss the days when the only bumps I had were from dull razors, not geese.

I miss the days when my breath was invisible.

I miss the days of sunburn, rather than windburn.

I miss the days of showering to cool off.

I miss the days when scarves were an accessory, not a necessity.

*Shout out to my 친구, Laurie, for her input with some of these!

Bodily Fluids, Blurred Vision, & B.O.

Warning #1: I have been under the effect of cold/sinus medicine and an abnormal amount of hot showers for the past few days. My writing may have been effected. Yes, effected.

Warning #2: If the title didn't give it away already, this is me holding nothing back. If you're a smart cute single guy who isn't crazy, please stop reading this.

As some of you may know, I've been sick this past week. In the states, when you catch a cold, it was no big deal. You take some nyquil, drink lots of fluids, sleep all weekend, and you're back on your feet in no time.

That's not Korea's style.

This cold/sinus infection/Korean death plague* was horrendous.
If I were to blow my nose using Orlando Bloom instead of a tissue, this is what you would see:

Sorry Orlando!

So much for a fun-filled Christmas day. After opening my presents and skyping with the family, I spent the rest of the day sleeping, taking steamy hot showers, watching movies, and cursing at the pharmacy downstairs for being closed.

20 minutes after arriving at school on Monday morning, it was decided that I was going to the doctor after lunch, and it was suggested (ordered) that I sleep in the heated bed in the teacher's lounge until that time came.

Normally in Korea, when you are sick, you don't go to a doctor's office. You just go to the hospital. The hospital isn't just for emergencies and surgery. However, the spirits of the universe were on my side that day, and we got to visit the nose and throat clinic that just happened to be in Yatap. Not that it really mattered.

You'll read why.

After a 2 minute wait (no appointment was made), I walked into the room. There were all kinds of medical utensils on the little table next to my chair, and a TV screen in front of me. The doctor quickly shoved this little tube up my nostrils to take a picture. It didn't hurt at all, but then I realized the pictures were on the screen. I don't like seeing anything related to the inside of my body, or anybody else's body for that matter. It wigs me out. Then he made me open my mouth, and shot this blast of weird tasting air into my throat. Now, I'm not sure if he discusses the medical problems will all of his patients or if he just wanted to practice his English, but he began to tell me I had a sinus infection, and pointing to the insides of my nostrils on the screen.

As if I really needed to hear about the details of the grossness happening inside my body. Really, why can't doctors examine you, give you medicine, and not speak a word about why? If I ever get cancer or get a kidney stone or break a bone, I don't want to know about it. Just fix it, and tell me when its over.

Anyways, as we were walking back toward the waiting area, I got that familiar feeling. The same feeling I got the first time I went to a chiropractor. The feeling I get before, during, and after getting blood taken. The feeling I get after getting any kind of shot. But I'm in Korea, with a co worker, and I have to be a big girl about this. So what do I do?

"Sungsook, where's the bathroom?"

Unfortunately, it was all the way down a long hall. I quickly walked out, but the closer I got to the end of the hall way, the more these black spots got in my way. I kept ignoring them thinking they would give up and bother somebody else, but they weren't having it. They may as well have been Ryan Reynolds with his shirt off. I just couldn't help but notice them. I never did find the bathroom, but there was a couch at the end. How I got there, I'll never know.

After a few minutes of laying down to let my dignity run for the door, I started to feel better, so I walked over to the pharmacy where Sungsook, aka my Korean savior, had just gotten my medicine. We walked back to her car, when I realized I didn't pay for anything.

"Sungsook! How much do I owe you for the medicine?"
"Oh, its 4,400 won."
"Oh yeah, and the doctor's visit. How much was that?"
"3,000."

Yes, folks, a doctor's visit, antibiotics, and cold medicine for a whopping $7.40.
I tell ya, that damn national health insurance...its...well, mmm...its great!

The large silver packets in the corner are the antibiotics. Take one pill twice a day...pretty standard.
Those other goody bags? Indulge in one of those after every meal. That comes out to 14 pills a day!


Yes, this is a Hello Kitty humidifier. It was the cheapest one they had, and its supposed to help in this dry winter air. I know, I know. I'm officially a dweeb.

On a completely different note, I've been using Secret Clinical Strength deodorant for a long time now. It has always worked like a charm. For some reason, though, lately it has most certainly NOT been working like a charm. I've been giving that area extra attention in the shower, switching between the two types I have...nothing was working. So today, I decided to just go without and see what happened. After all, Koreans never wear deodorant, and they never stink.

Wouldn't ya know, I came home, did the sniff test and...nada!

So that just goes to show, kimchi has more benefits than vitamins and fiber.


*Source: Keara, Facebook comment, profile of Rachel Howell, December 24th at 7:16pm

Christmas Eve

Even though I had to work today, a few little things made it feel like Christmas Eve. My coordinator gave me a Christmas present, because she knows how big of a deal Christmas is in America. I'm fairly certain she is the sweetest person since Mother Teresa.

I also had a Christmas card in my mail box from the parents...and I got my Christmas package from my Grandparents! As hard as it is, I'm going to wait until tomorrow morning to open it.


As for my Christmas eve night, Just Friends is on TV, pizza is in the fridge, and I've still got some "gold" left! I just hope my friends will still recognize me when they see me tomorrow.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!