Living in Korea has been amazing so far. I am learning new things and meeting new people all the time. About the only thing that sucks at the moment is dear CNN making everyone back home worried about an imminent attack on my lovely South Korea. And, while nuclear war really is no joking matter and I will steer clear of the short/fat jokes that befall the young leader up North, what I will say is this. So far, life here is lovely. Everyone is going about their business as usual. No one really speaks about what is happening up North as everyone is very much used to threats of nuclear warfare happening when there are any political changes, or when the North decides that we are trading too much with their nemeses, America. For now however, Nunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins and Starbucks still seem to be thriving. The shops are still stocked fill of Ramen and Soju (I believe that should the Koreans believe they are in danger, these would be the first two items to be stock piled). So yes, life here is happy...
I FINALLY reached my first payday and my dear sister's voice kept ringing in my head "be careful what you wish for". As a child, I always swore I would be successful and become a millionaire. Of course, I never specified a currency. And, folks, within my first pay cheque of my first job outside of varsity, I am a millionaire!! :D Too bad prices here always have those sneaky three 0's at the end. But still, it is pretty awesome being independent! So, to celebrate the arrival of said pay cheque, I went to Daegu to meet up with Krissi for a day of shopping on Saturday.
Of course, before I made it there on Saturday, I went for dinner with some awesome peeps on Friday. Of course, dinner turned into drinks and before I knew it, I was off to experience my first ever Norae Bang! (this being the first "bang" of the weekend). Here, bang, pronounced like the Afrikaans "bang"... So, norae bang is VERY popular here. I have heard of people developing quite an addiction for it and feeling the need to squeeze in a quick norae bang before a movie...(uuuum, Briony Bristow for example). Basically, it is karaoke, but way cooler. You get your own room with mikes and tambourines and then, we norae bang!! Sooo much fun! Although, terrible idea at the moment as sometime on Wednesday, my voice decided to abandon me :( Slight issue with the whole teaching thing using a voice and all... After norae bang, we stayed at Megan's house and (highlight) SHE HAS A PET HEDGEHOG!!! I had never seen a hedgehog, let along touched it. And, well, in my sliiiiightly soju'd state, I may have forced Hedgey to snuggle with me. He was less than keen, but super cute. Side note, hedgehogs are not the best snuggle buddies...
So, Saturday I got myself to Daegu, a little rougher for ware (sorry about that Krissi). But, what a fun day of adventures!! First we went to Seomun Market. This amazing, HUGE market in Daegu that has been there forever. They have everything there! From clothes and shoes, to fabrics and rugs, even fresh produce and, of course, pig intestines. It was amazing! Slightly overwhelming, so I will need to go there again. After the market, we headed back to downtown. On our way though, we stumbled across a Daiso at the one station. Daiso is one of my favourite shops here- you can get everything you need for your apartment at Daiso (kind of like a Mr Price home, but better and cheaper). So, I got a few things for my apartment (ok, as much as I could carry). I need to find the Daiso in Gumi, I know there is one hiding from me somewhere!!
After some more shopping in downtown, we headed back to Krissi's for some pizza for dinner before the second bang of the weekend. Jjimjilbang. Jjimjilbang (JJB) is basically a Korean bath house. So, most Korean houses are built with showers and not baths. So, for many years it has been a family outing to go to the JJB and have a nice bath and scrub. You can even sleep over there if you want. The only catch: no clothes allowed. So, for us westerners, it is a bit daunting. Basically you arrive, get given two hand towels, an orange jumpsuit should you decide to sleep over and locker keys. Then you go to your locker, strip down and then, the daunting part, walk across the whole area to get to the baths. It was quite fun actually. Pretty much what I imagine a nudist colony to look like (except they do separate guys and girls), but really relaxing to finally get a bath. They have huge hot pools, cold pools, pools with water jets for massage, sauna's. And everyone just brings face masks, body scrubs, so kind of like a communal spa.
Overall, it was an awesome weekend! It's hard- there is so much to see and do in each place I go to, and yet still so many places I haven't even been to yet. After catching the train home to Gumi, I had to catch a cab back to my side of town. So, I will leave you with this. I managed to combine two things I am terrible at: Korean and directions and successfully directed my cab home in Korean!! :D
I FINALLY reached my first payday and my dear sister's voice kept ringing in my head "be careful what you wish for". As a child, I always swore I would be successful and become a millionaire. Of course, I never specified a currency. And, folks, within my first pay cheque of my first job outside of varsity, I am a millionaire!! :D Too bad prices here always have those sneaky three 0's at the end. But still, it is pretty awesome being independent! So, to celebrate the arrival of said pay cheque, I went to Daegu to meet up with Krissi for a day of shopping on Saturday.
Of course, before I made it there on Saturday, I went for dinner with some awesome peeps on Friday. Of course, dinner turned into drinks and before I knew it, I was off to experience my first ever Norae Bang! (this being the first "bang" of the weekend). Here, bang, pronounced like the Afrikaans "bang"... So, norae bang is VERY popular here. I have heard of people developing quite an addiction for it and feeling the need to squeeze in a quick norae bang before a movie...(uuuum, Briony Bristow for example). Basically, it is karaoke, but way cooler. You get your own room with mikes and tambourines and then, we norae bang!! Sooo much fun! Although, terrible idea at the moment as sometime on Wednesday, my voice decided to abandon me :( Slight issue with the whole teaching thing using a voice and all... After norae bang, we stayed at Megan's house and (highlight) SHE HAS A PET HEDGEHOG!!! I had never seen a hedgehog, let along touched it. And, well, in my sliiiiightly soju'd state, I may have forced Hedgey to snuggle with me. He was less than keen, but super cute. Side note, hedgehogs are not the best snuggle buddies...
So, Saturday I got myself to Daegu, a little rougher for ware (sorry about that Krissi). But, what a fun day of adventures!! First we went to Seomun Market. This amazing, HUGE market in Daegu that has been there forever. They have everything there! From clothes and shoes, to fabrics and rugs, even fresh produce and, of course, pig intestines. It was amazing! Slightly overwhelming, so I will need to go there again. After the market, we headed back to downtown. On our way though, we stumbled across a Daiso at the one station. Daiso is one of my favourite shops here- you can get everything you need for your apartment at Daiso (kind of like a Mr Price home, but better and cheaper). So, I got a few things for my apartment (ok, as much as I could carry). I need to find the Daiso in Gumi, I know there is one hiding from me somewhere!!
After some more shopping in downtown, we headed back to Krissi's for some pizza for dinner before the second bang of the weekend. Jjimjilbang. Jjimjilbang (JJB) is basically a Korean bath house. So, most Korean houses are built with showers and not baths. So, for many years it has been a family outing to go to the JJB and have a nice bath and scrub. You can even sleep over there if you want. The only catch: no clothes allowed. So, for us westerners, it is a bit daunting. Basically you arrive, get given two hand towels, an orange jumpsuit should you decide to sleep over and locker keys. Then you go to your locker, strip down and then, the daunting part, walk across the whole area to get to the baths. It was quite fun actually. Pretty much what I imagine a nudist colony to look like (except they do separate guys and girls), but really relaxing to finally get a bath. They have huge hot pools, cold pools, pools with water jets for massage, sauna's. And everyone just brings face masks, body scrubs, so kind of like a communal spa.
Overall, it was an awesome weekend! It's hard- there is so much to see and do in each place I go to, and yet still so many places I haven't even been to yet. After catching the train home to Gumi, I had to catch a cab back to my side of town. So, I will leave you with this. I managed to combine two things I am terrible at: Korean and directions and successfully directed my cab home in Korean!! :D
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