Top 40 K-POP 2009

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New Glasses and New Clothes

Check it out I got new glasses

I also have the best dressed dogs in Korea.

So, today I tried to call expedia to get my parents flights over to Korea. I never knew how tough it would be to call and explain the situation that my wedding was cancelled and I wanted to use the flight credit for something else. I spent the whole time crying. The poor operator was trying to help me but she had difficulty understanding me. I was an emotional wreck. Gosh I am a mess. Sometimes my life feels like it is in shambles. But, I can't really have a pity party because I look around at my very nice and very modern apartment that the government pays for and I have a roof over my head and 2 adorable sometimes awful dogs. I know I should be happy with what all God has blessed me with but, it is so hard sometimes. When bad things happen in our lives especially so many right in a row all we can think about is the bad things. It's so hard to focus on blessings when you have a tough time thinking of any. It is difficult living in Korea at times with family so far away. It is difficult when most people in my unit would rather get drunk then experience the culture. I have different morals and values than many people I work with so it is hard to see similarities. I was friends and went out with many of them before however, I am way too tempted to drink and act crazy. Neither of those things will help me at this juncture in my life.

Anyways, expedia is being horrible. They are telling me these tickets are non-transferable. That means I may not get to bring my parents to Korea. I really wanted them to see where I live and where I work. I guess that won't be possible. I am really disappointed by the whole thing. I am supposed to take this honeymoon by myself. AHHH! I don't want vacation by myself. Who does that? Well, I don't know maybe I will go to Europe.

Operation Enduring Freedom Casualties

2NE1 - FIRE (Space)

Canon in D with Korean Traditional music and B-Boy Dance: Is it the Best...

[HD] MV - Cabi song (Caribbean Bay) 2PM & SNSD

This day in song history

2009	Boom Boom Pow	The Black Eyed Peas	Rhapsody	iTunes
2008	Take a Bow	Rihanna	Rhapsody	iTunes
2007	Makes Me Wonder	Maroon 5	Rhapsody	iTunes
2006	SOS	Rihanna		iTunes
2005	Hollaback Girl	Gwen Stefani	Rhapsody	iTunes
2004	Burn	Usher	Rhapsody	iTunes
2003	Get Busy	Sean Paul	Rhapsody	iTunes
2002	Foolish	Ashanti	Rhapsody	iTunes
2001	All for You	Janet		iTunes
2000	Maria Maria	Santana featuring The Product G&B	Rhapsody	iTunes

Another day another dollar or if you are in Korea another won

The Won rate has gone down. AGAIN! Will it ever come back up?
The won rate is 1,163.78 won to $1.00


Today. A typical day. A not that exciting day. A headache day. A go to church day. A walk the dogs day. A ride in the cab day. A buy a new piggy bank day. A go to work day. A file music day. A spend time on the computer day. A watch CSI day. A wear civies instead of your uniform day. A talk to your Dad on the phone day. A take a nap day. A eat ramen noodles day. A spend time with your husband day.


Now, it is a go to bed day. It wasn't a bad day. It wasn't a great day. It was an average day.

Fantasy Korea - Korean Tourism Organization

A Glance of Korea - Tradition Martial Arts Foods

ROK Comic Strip

ROK Comic strip

Funny Things in Korea

So, Korea is very different from the USA. For those of you who don't know. I live in Korea but I am an American. There are so many differences between Korea and the US it isn't even funny. Today though I had a few pretty funny experiences. Well, I am not sure if funny is the right word, maybe I should say unique experiences. My Korean friend, Minum, and I had an appt for a facial this morning at 10:00am. We walked over there from our apartment building and went on upstairs. The first thing you must know is that when entering a Korean home, most restaurants, and most beauty shops, you take off your shoes. I think the reason for this is because old Korean people spit all over the ground and don't want to track it into their houses. On with the story. We took off our shoes and slipped on Korean shower shoes and walked into a side room with pink massage beds. We went into a little closet where we received a locker and took off our tops and bras. We then put on something similar to a bed sheet that velcro-ed around our chest. Mine had crazy flower print and barely velcro-ed around me. I am pretty huge compared to the average Korean bra size of A. Anyways we laid down on these hot pink beds with a plastic sheet over them. Then they covered us in hot pink blankets. We got facials. It was nice, a little rough but nice. The funny part about facials are that the price doesn't just cover touching your face. Not only do they massage (or massageeeeeeee as Koreans say it) your face but also your neck, shoulders, back, arms, arm pits, and breasts. Yes, they massage your breasts. They pull your little sheet down and get to work. I am not sure what the poor gal massaging me thought except WOW I should get extra money for these. It is so strange in Korea that a facial includes a breast massage. Also, get this, they use Mary Kay products. How funny is that? So for the going rate of 20,000 won , approximately $15, I got a hour long facial and breast massage. I guess that is not a bad way to start off your Saturday. It was unexpected. But, I try to take things in stride here. Koreans are different from Americans.

On the way back from our massageeeeee we stopped at an outdoor vegetable and fruit market. We saw an older lady with a dog, I think it was a Welsch Corgi mix. It looked like it was wearing a baby's onezie. However, the dogs back 2 legs were not in the legs of the onezie. So, the dog was wearing half an outfit with the other half hanging off its back. And the old lady rather than have a leash on her dog had tied a plastic thick string usually used to tie bundles around its neck and used the extra to create the leash. So, the ajuma (Korean old lady) and her dog with the plastic leash and onezie were also shopping at the vegetable market. It was strange to see a lady who cared enough to spend money to buy her dog clothes not put a proper collar and leash on it. Plus, it was the first dog I ever saw in a onezie. People must have been laughing at this poor dog. I felt sorry for the little guy. But, ajuma seemed happy to be shopping with her pet.

ROK Comic Strip

Funny comic strip about Americans in Korea

Korea Recycling

Korea Recycling

It took me forever to figure out how to do this. I can't believe there was a website that had it all.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

So, I found out today that I really am leaving. Not on a jet plane. Well, at least I don't think on a jet plane. I am just leaving the army. I have a ton of papers to sign and then they get sent up to whoever. The thing is I never thought I would be upset to leave the army. But, I cried and cried. Sometimes I don't even know why I cry. I didn't even feel like doing anything the rest of the day. So, I kinda chilled with the dogs. They took naps and I read a book. It was alright. The weather outside is lovely. It is easy to not feel sad when you go sit in the beautiful sunshine. It felt so great today when I was sitting on the bench reading. I have been reading this really interesting book, Making Rounds with Oscar by Dr. David Dosa. As unique as the cat may be I still prefer my dogs.

"Animals are such agreeable friends- they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms."
-George Elliot

North Korea vs South Korea from 'PLANET B-BOY'

Random Korean Holidays, Mario Brothers, Little Black Dresses

So today, May 5 is not just Cinco De Mayo, although for adults that seems like a more interesting holiday, it is also Children's Day. Yes, Mother's Day and Father's Day is not enough. In Korea Children's Day is very important.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Day

Kid's get out of school and parents hang out with them and give them presents. It is a pretty good deal for kids. They go to the zoo or a museum or some other interesting field trip or festival. It sounds fun to me.

It just seems like a bit of a random holiday. At least that is what I thought til I did my research. Tons of countries have Children's Day. Columbia, Brazil, China, Bangledesh. After I started looking it seemed like the US was one of the few countries without it. Strange huh? My first experience with children's day was in Korea. I played a musical concert for the kids at English Village. That was last year. This year I didn't have the opportunity to play for the kids but I still saw the holiday in action. Obviously Korean's celebrate Children's Day on May 5. However, it used to be celebrated on May 1. I don't even know why the date was changed. I tried to research it but came up with nothing. I did find that April is some type of international children's month and some countries celebrate children's day on June 20. It seems like a holiday that is good for the kids but no one really understand why it exists.

But this year on Children's Day I went shopping. How is this different from usual? You might ask. Well, it's not and it was just the PX but I got the new Mario Brothers game for Wii. Now, I am under the impression it has been out for a while in the states. I guess we are just slow getting it in Korea just like we are slow with alot of other things. I also great a great little black dress on clearance. It was less than $20 and had cute little zippers on the right shoulder. It was short sleeved and hit right above the knee. It is cotton and maybe a little spandex in it.

The weather is finally starting to get warm. So, I am glad to have another dress that can go either casual or dressy. It is also very cool and breezy to wear in this warm weather. Although it wasn't really sunny today it was a little hot and muggy. Unfortunately, I am not sure if we are going to get our air conditioner that was promised to us. I am afraid that since we are getting out of our lease sooner than originally anticipated that we won't get the air conditioning unit we were promised. I am really not sure how these things will work.

So, anyways it is only 21:40 and I don't have to go to work tomorrow. In fact I think Dennis and I are going to Jeosuldum (sp?). It is a place where numerous Christians were killed in Korea. But that is not the point. The point is it is only 21:40 and I am dog tired. I mean my dogs aren't even that tired but I am. I can barely hold my eyes open. I guess this is what getting older feels like. Oh by the way at this very moment my dogs are barking at the dog sounds on TV and the train sounds. Usually they only bark at door knocking sounds but now they are barking more. They are walking better on the leash though. Dennis gave me some really helpful walking dog tips. It has made a world of difference.
So, I am going to probably fall asleep on the couch. The dogs and I are watching Blindside for the millionth time. If you haven't seen it watch it. And always remember to go to bed early even if you get to sleep in.

Lastly, don't oversleep. Don't sleep through your alarm and three phone calls. It usually doesn't go over well with your boss or other superiors.

Relationships, Love, Marriage, the Works

Relationships are like rollercoasters you start of thinking you will die if you don't try this and it starts off fun a little scary but than you realize you have no control of how fast or when it will end 

Having someone wonder where you are when you don't come home at night is a very old human need.  

There's one sad truth in life I've found
While journeying east and west -
The only folks we really wound
Are those we love the best.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best.

You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.

When something is missing in your life, it usually turns out to be someone.  

No road is long with good company