tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80018093230529245502024-03-13T22:26:46.827-07:00Sister Sha in Seoulan esl teacher living and working in South Korea.Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.comBlogger298125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-81398215367973854632011-06-08T20:29:00.000-07:002011-06-08T20:29:31.260-07:00the end of this blog.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">i returned to korea in august of 2010 and am back teaching esl, which i love. aside from still loading <a href="http://sistershainseoul.blogspot.com/2001_01_01_archive.html">student drawings</a> and such, i'll no longer be updating this blog, but please check the bssk fb page or find me on fb at facebook.com/shacurington.</div>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-15370374647375096762010-05-13T06:17:00.000-07:002010-05-13T06:22:10.703-07:00the end<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S-v6T_yUxCI/AAAAAAAAB6U/gs9sn7MY2sQ/s1600/the+end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S-v6T_yUxCI/AAAAAAAAB6U/gs9sn7MY2sQ/s320/the+end.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">blogworld, i am leaving korea in june and going back home to cali. Today marks my 1,187th day living here! it has been much more good than bad and i think maybe i'll come back and teach here again one day. The plan for now is to go home, eventually grad school... we'll see how goes from there. be sure to check out the facebook group to connect with others abroad:</div><div class="profile_name_and_status" style="text-align: center;"><h1 id="profile_name"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Brothas&Sistas of South Korea</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></h1><h1 id="profile_name"><i><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25747883752&ref=ts</span></i></h1></div>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-90896673312508820622010-01-20T15:19:00.000-08:002010-01-20T15:22:19.557-08:00email<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S1ePAR-NMZI/AAAAAAAAB3s/yZnPCkOrJbY/s1600-h/band3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" mt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S1ePAR-NMZI/AAAAAAAAB3s/yZnPCkOrJbY/s200/band3.JPG" width="200" /></a>date:Thu, Jan 21, 2010<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">subject:snow snow snow<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">dear mom and dad,<br />
<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S1ePDDo-caI/AAAAAAAAB30/RvBJHTNGeXg/s1600-h/jamesTunde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S1ePDDo-caI/AAAAAAAAB30/RvBJHTNGeXg/s320/jamesTunde.jpg" /></a>i think the snow is about over, hallelujah. i will simply never understand this maddness of living in a place such as this. i also cannot understand why i am still here during wintertime. i will be back in san diego come next winter, even if i have to swim across the ocean to do so.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">this has been the worst winter ever, i ahve never ever seen so much snow in my entire life. My korean friends say the same, my older korean friends say it used to snow like this when they were small children, and now THEIR children are super excited for all the snow to play in. One korean friend said they saw on the news that this is korea's worst snow in the last 103 years... there is a tendency to exaggerate in this culture, but one thing is true: there was a shit-ton of snow this year. other than the occasional knitting meeting, you can put money on it that i have been mostly indoors. btw, i knit the blue hat im wearing int he photos :)<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">xmas was really great, a friend had a potluck, i brought plates and flatware of course b/c i didnt cook anything. it was so much fun, another friend brought a video game "rock band," as you can see in the attached pictures, im really good at it and have a natural talent on the guitar and drums.<br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">some friends of mine went snowboarding for x-mas break, which i of course thought was insane. one girlfriend of mine, Kayla, had this conversation with one of her students before the break:<br />
</div></div><br />
Korean Kid:"What are you doing for x-mas?"<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S1ePFPhIBwI/AAAAAAAAB38/MQU3cy6XDXk/s1600-h/shaguitar2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" mt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S1ePFPhIBwI/AAAAAAAAB38/MQU3cy6XDXk/s200/shaguitar2.JPG" width="200" /></a>kayla: "I'm going snowboarding"<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Korean Kid: "Your people skin is don't like cold, is it right?"<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">kayla: *side eye*<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>kayla said she couldnt really be mad at him b/c for one, he's just a little boy, and for two, it's not like he's 100% wrong about it.<br />
<br />
love you miss you<br />
~daughterSha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-77891026969715421622010-01-10T15:02:00.000-08:002010-01-20T15:10:23.415-08:00email<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S1eMjoZeB_I/AAAAAAAAB3M/DuQuFElI0f0/s1600-h/nows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/S1eMjoZeB_I/AAAAAAAAB3M/DuQuFElI0f0/s320/nows.jpg" width="320" /></a>.date:Sun, Jan 10, 2010 at 11:00 AM<br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">subject:snow<br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">dear mom and dad, <br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">this winter marks the worst i have ever experienced in life. it's like when i go outside, it snows sideways and the flakes attack my face. i dont know how to walk in all this, i stepped onto what i thought was the sidewalk but it turned out to just be a huge pile of snow and i was calf deep in it, i was in a panic couldnt think of anything to do but curse over and over again, "wh... the fuck?! the fuck is this?! wh-da-fuck is dis shit?!!!"<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">tho friends agree it's snowing more this winter than it had last year, they of course think i am overreating. But i am not. this weather is strange and not natural and if i dont get my act together to save up enough money to come back to san diego NEXT winter, i will eat my own foot.<br />
</div><br />
~daughter.Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-792970831064217872009-12-17T23:51:00.000-08:002009-12-18T00:12:03.433-08:00emaildate:Dec 17, 2009 at 10:52 PM<br />
subject: im really cold. <br />
Dear mom and dad,<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">today the delivery man came through with the box of pudding, cliff bars, etc, thank you so much!!! EVERYONE is in awe of my beautiful new nintendo dsi (even danica, b/c i took the blue one and she has the black one, hahahahaaa!), i told them about how i emailed you about it and that it came in the mail days later. "Yeah," i explained, "my pops always comes through for me.... uh, cant say as i took after him too well... i still owe like $3,500 on his credit card."<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sys4h1xv_yI/AAAAAAAAB18/_L57D3-FubA/s1600-h/asdfghjkl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sys4h1xv_yI/AAAAAAAAB18/_L57D3-FubA/s320/asdfghjkl.jpg" /></a>Tunde just finished his first scarf today, attached is a picture of him resting after all his hard knitting work. Notice the cat patting him on the back for congratulations. "you better not lie to your parents," he tells me, "I did everything myself." Which, of course, he really didnt. i cast on for him, i knit the first 15 rows, i bound off and i wove in his ends.... but other than that, yeah, he did everything. He's also asked me to mention he's working on another project already... anyways....<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Tunde also says he wishes you an early merry xmas and a blissful new year, and now he just reminded me to thank you for the dsi... he's looming over my shoulder like a jerko.<br />
<br />
</div>my friend marlene went back home after finishing her 1 year contract, so we had a game night at a local pub. I DOMINATED at dominos and beat everybody by like at least 20 points each game, it was awesome. people are always so surprised when i beat them at dominos, like i cant possibly be any good. *pish... they must not know the curingtons up in here.<br />
<br />
thank you again so much for the package, im about to flip through the magazes right now. please send lactaid and oatmeal... just a lil reminder!<br />
<br />
~loveyoumissyou,<br />
daughter.Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-9265724401347290052009-12-06T16:34:00.000-08:002009-12-06T16:44:12.595-08:00email<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SxxOgFGwt6I/AAAAAAAAB1Y/qXCrn_wts-Y/s1600-h/cold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SxxOgFGwt6I/AAAAAAAAB1Y/qXCrn_wts-Y/s200/cold.jpg" /></a>date:Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 11:22 AM<br />
subject: im cold. <br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Dear mom and dad,<br />
<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Its really truly winter here now. I have attached a picture as you can see im fighting it as much as i can. I remember upon first arrival to Korea thinkin that the surgical masks were a little strange, but now my fourth winter here, i finally understand the beauty of them. Your face is freezing without them. My friend Omega from the knitting group says i should suck it up. She's from Detriot and reports they had a foot of snow fall yesterday. I told her to take that shit back to the D. <br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>As i mentioned in the last email, i am interviewing for a new job. i'll update when there's news, right now there isnt much. ive had a couple of offers, but the pay isnt comparable to what i make now, so, we'll what happens.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SxxOxf630XI/AAAAAAAAB1o/eS9ktKnxCmQ/s1600-h/sha.movieclub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SxxOxf630XI/AAAAAAAAB1o/eS9ktKnxCmQ/s320/sha.movieclub.jpg" /></a>Lately, i've been having lunch with these Korean friends. They don't speak much english but who cares because i get to eat without cooking. they're very impressed with my chop stick skills and the five korean phrases i know how to say.I do not like the soup but i always end up with a bowl of it because one of the koreans(a different one everytime) says i must eat soup because its winter. So they understand i don't care for kimchi but i guess soup is a requirement.<br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SxxOpewvHJI/AAAAAAAAB1g/HB2NVX0Tk04/s1600-h/sha.bookclub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SxxOpewvHJI/AAAAAAAAB1g/HB2NVX0Tk04/s200/sha.bookclub.jpg" /></a>The facebook group has really grown. there are over 800 members now. We still continue book club once a month and recently have started movie screenings once a month with the help of my wonderful friend Danica. We had the first movie a couple weeks ago and around 70 people showed up. It was really awesome to see that many black people in one space. This sentiment was echoed by many people there. It was another one of those moments where we all were strangers but that afternoon we were family. We forgot we were in Korea for a while and just enjoyed each others company.<br />
</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I've been knitting alot, i've gotten pretty good and pretty fast. I can knit forward and backward, i can even knit without looking. I've made a few really nice hats for winter but havent been able to keep any of them because my a-hole boyfriend takes everyone before i get to wear it. though he can knit a little bit(he ridiculously claims knitting expertise) so i asked him why he doesnt make his own damn hats. He says its obvious i make these hats for him out of love, i say its obvious eh really can't knit for shit. He comes to knitting meetings with me every sunday where he holds the knitting needles for 2hours and pretends.<br />
love you miss you,<br />
~daughterSha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-22388146356382813992009-05-19T08:53:00.000-07:002009-05-20T20:54:55.418-07:00email<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/ShQw63UlPQI/AAAAAAAABzs/ZuVXZBYZU0A/s1600-h/coex_aquarium03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337945246181702914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/ShQw63UlPQI/AAAAAAAABzs/ZuVXZBYZU0A/s400/coex_aquarium03.jpg" border="0" /></a>Subject: RE: Waiting Is My Middle Name<br />Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 08:43:51 +0000<br />dear mom and dad,<br /><br />cherry blossom time has come and gone, i think! i didnt go to any official festivities this time, but i did walk around the pond in my neighborhood to look at the trees, they were of course lovely and makes me hate winter all the more.<br /><br />i dont remember who my godmother is, i think you guys showed me pictures, she's white and has blond hair? if you ever find her contact info, let me know. wow, what happened before internet and social connect websites? people had to hope they kept the same phone number forever i guess? ah well. i had a great time in japan anyway. My friends from india are still there, staying with another friend of mine, aaron. I dont know if you remember aaron, he stayed at the house the night before his flight to go teach in japan: he's black, has an afro, kind of tall-ish (well, that describes all of my male friends i guess). that was maybe 4 or 5 years ago? he's still there, still teaching, and he really loves it. He's been taking care of my friends from india, but i told him to not do it too well, b/c i want my friends to come back to korea to teach english, and not be seduced by the alleged "cool-er-ness" of japan^^<br /><br />im still going to knitting group one or two times a week, ive actually finished something for the first time, it's a red scarf and it's awesome. i hate winter, but i will be happy to wear this when the time comes.<br /><br />Last week, my friend bryan had a day off, so we went to the <a href="http://south-korea-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/an_undersea_adventure_at_coex_aquarium_in_seoul">coex aquarium</a>. i dont know why it's a big deal, it's another one of those "things you ahve to see" when you come to seoul. i wonder what koreans think of it, maybe they're looking at the fish and thinking "Dinner."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/ShQwSDYlcsI/AAAAAAAABzk/jq7dXrAEAXU/s1600-h/3186239518_678c40a7cb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337944545045082818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/ShQwSDYlcsI/AAAAAAAABzk/jq7dXrAEAXU/s200/3186239518_678c40a7cb.jpg" border="0" /></a> Every restaurant has some sort of tank outside with tons of sea life in it, so being in the aquarium was like walking about in my neighborhood, a little. Except for the seals and penguins, which are not common food fare at seafood restauarants here. And we saw fruit bats. i know they're bats and all, but fruit bats are really <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Egyptian.fruitbat.arp.jpg">cute</a>, you would want to have them for a<a href="http://www.clanmcqueen.com/images/Jpgs/Australia/2003/010703/EggySpectacledFruitBat.JPG"> pet</a>. Even tho Bryan pointed out i screamed when one of the bats made a sudden movement and flew around behind the glass and scared me, they're still <a href="http://www.arkive.org/media/1A/1A6F4C95-E441-40E8-A31C-7DB3542CA7FB/Presentation.Large/photo.jpg">cute</a>.Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-70349288822875365372009-05-14T00:01:00.000-07:002009-05-13T01:09:25.998-07:00emailSubject: RE: Greetings Mare<br />Date: Thurs, 14 May 2009 07:58:44+0000<br />hi pare,<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sgp_FudNagI/AAAAAAAABzc/PxaeBEQR2U0/s1600-h/8547.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335216444920392194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sgp_FudNagI/AAAAAAAABzc/PxaeBEQR2U0/s400/8547.jpg" border="0" /></a>im doing great! im so happy now b/c winter is over and it's not snowing anymore, the sun is bright and wow it makesme super happy:) work is going wonderfully of course, i still really love this job and i love the kids.<br /><br />i miss ethiopian food sooooo much. two weeks ago, i went to japan for a couple of days and found an <a href="http://www.fukuoka-now.com/directory/show/1662">ethiopian restaurant</a>, i think it was called fasika. everyone there was japanese, including the waiter and bartender, but the cook was from ethiopia, i dont remember if she was amhara or not, but her food was delicious. i didnt want to leave japan, i thought i might leave korea and teach english in japan in that city so that i can be close to that restaurant always. i spent the last of my money there and had to walk an hour and a half back to my hotel, but it was worth it b/c the food was so good :) ~mare.Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-41863724291216096242009-05-13T00:26:00.000-07:002009-05-13T00:49:15.882-07:00emailSubject: thanks for waiting^^<br />Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 07:26:07 +0000<br />dear mom and dad,<br /><br />its so sunshiny and beautiful today, spring in seoul has got to be one of my favorite things in the world right now. of course, it's like this every day in san diego, which i didnt appreciate until having to suffer a real winter with snow here. thank goddess thats over... for a while anyway.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sgp7JdnxCQI/AAAAAAAABzU/3IJQLJL8QK0/s1600-h/375022541_13d03f67cb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335212111074232578" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sgp7JdnxCQI/AAAAAAAABzU/3IJQLJL8QK0/s400/375022541_13d03f67cb.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95864978@N00/375022541"><span style="font-size:78%;">not me </span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">nor anyone i know------></span><br />japan was wonderful, i stayed for 4 days and 3 nights. i stayed at <a href="http://www.khaosan-fukuoka.com/">khaosan hostel </a>in fukuoka. i went to japan to get a new e2 visa, this is the visa that allows me to work in south korea. this is common here, called a "visa run." If you ahve to get a new visa like i did, fukuoka is the closest place to go to get it. the trip was super easy. tho i didnt meet anyone who spoke english, signs on the subway were in english, and the hostel was easy to find, and all the employees there were fluent in english. I remember the hostels i stayed at when i went to europe 10+ years ago: i remember a lot of them being so dirty. this place in japan was the nicest cleanest spot i'd ever stayed in. if you ever meet anyone who is going to fukuoka, tell them to stay at khaosan hostel!<br /><br />i met the coolest people at the hostel. i met this guy from isreal who does computer something for employment, and had been vacationing for 7 months. yes, SEVEN MONTHS. he said he'd just buy one way tickets to where he felt liek going and just kept on holiday. he was at the tail end of his trip, tho, and would be giong back to work soon. good god, i should've majored in ITS or computer engineering or something...<br /><br />i met a girl from finland who, after saying hello to her, i told her she had to be the blondest blue-eyed person i'd ever seen in my life. she said she thinks she may have been the blondest blue eyed person in all of japan, bc she'd been getting lots of stares and whispers since her arrival. but she was really good humored about it. I met a frenchman who for the past year lived in scottland to study english, and had a japanese girlfriend that he was visiting in town. OMG, of all the english accents inthe world, he picks scottland?! i know a teacher here from scottland and i have to ask him to repeat every third word he says.<br /><br />One Greek/English girl i met while in fukuoka teaches english in tokyo and was on holiday. a week later, she came to seoul and stayed with me, it was cool:) Together in seoul, we met up with two other girlfriends of mine who just finished thier 9month study program in india. i was a little worried having the 4 of us stay in my humble abode, but after being in india so long, my friends said my place was like the Ritz. "it's so nice to use toilet paper again!" they joyfully cried. WOW. i thought that was back int he day, i didnt know it was still in practice (the wiping your bum with your left hand and not using toilet paper, but now i know it's still in practice in india at least). And i had the nerve to complain about <a href="http://sistershainseoul.blogspot.com/2007/04/i-need-cat.html">not being able to flush toilet paper </a>here. I ought to be glad that i at least have it... *blush*<br /><br />btw, the sheets you sent do fit the bed, but barely. i tore the corner a little bit trying to stretch it over the mattress, so if you can find one size up for me, i think it'd be better. but if youre unable, it's fine. AAAAND, i wear one or the other of my new shoes every day, i absolutely love them more than any pair of shoes ive ever had in my life. the black pair especially b/c the fit is perfect. i havent had a chance to use my projector yet (i need to find a plug adaptor) but im very excited to, and thank brother dave for me. er, i'll email him.<br /><br />loveyoumissyou,<br />~daughterSha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-10764203667813133512009-05-12T23:23:00.000-07:002009-05-12T23:24:53.549-07:00filler emailsSubject: for mom<br />Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 12:32:43 +0000<br /><br /><div class="RichText" id="RichTextEditor_surface" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana';" contenteditable="true"><div style="text-align: center;"><style> .ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding:0px;} .ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} </style> hi mom! it's saturday night here, and i wasnt sure if it's sunday wher eyou are yet. if it is or isnt, <span style="font-size:6;color:#548dd4;">happy mother's day :)</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:6;color:#548dd4;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >===========</span><br /></span>Subject: email coming<br />Date: Tues, 12 May 2009 02:20:01 +0000<br /><br /><div class="RichText" id="RichTextEditor_surface" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana';" contenteditable="true"><style> .ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding:0px;} .ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} </style> hi mom and dad. im working on an email for you today, and i had a feeling that i might get an email from you before i finish. so hold tight a couple of hours, and email is coming, ok? dont guilt trip me.~daughter.<br /></div></div>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-60486417108109604382009-05-04T23:15:00.000-07:002009-05-12T23:33:52.844-07:00email<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">from my dad:</span><br /><br />Subject: It's Been Awhile</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 14:03:38 -0700</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Hey SHA</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">It’s been a while since we have heard from you; I can only hope that you have gotten your projector, the sheet set, and the shoes that I sent. Maybe it is the rain that does not allow you to drop your old daddy a line.</span><br />==============<br /><br />Subject: RE: It's Been Awhile: NO IT HASNT!<br />Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 04:<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">dear mom and dad,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">today is monday and it's been 8 days since my last email! i JUST got back from japan (fukuoka) on friday night, and was thinking i could sleep the weekend away before i emailed you, but you guys got me with another guilt email before i could manage. dammit! japan was awesome, but more on that another time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">i left for japan on tuesday, and on friday i came home to a clean apartment (thanks to my cleaning lady) AND a box with the projector, thanks so much for it. today (monday) not more than 10 min ago,t he postman came with another box with shoes and sheets, thank you! i LOVE LOVE LOVE these shoes, i want to wear one black one and one white one so i can enjoy both new pairs at the same time! and thanks for the bug spray, yeah! youre right, i could find something here easily and i was being greedy with asking you to send it to me b/c i was loving all the free stuff. but thanks for sending it anyway^^</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">do you k</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">now ^^? ^^ is the korean way of making a happy face, it's two happy eyes, did you know?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sgpo1FvMnzI/AAAAAAAABzE/GCYkLDXUoiQ/s1600-h/3036_1153422117406_1283258718_30415766_4544114_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 146px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sgpo1FvMnzI/AAAAAAAABzE/GCYkLDXUoiQ/s400/3036_1153422117406_1283258718_30415766_4544114_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335191969856266034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">work has been great of course. outside work has been a bit busy too. last week the brothas & sistas had a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?sid=b1fc48c7394cc29be0e2284373bc3fcd&eid=60807864071&ref=search" target="_blank">book club </a>meeting, about a dozen people showed up wonderful company and conversation, i included a photo:) The sister who organized it is danica, she has her masters degree in.. i think, psychology? or social work? or something, id ont know. she works at a university in seoul, like my friend jinny. These university jobs are said to be the best and most prestigious of esl jobs to be had here, but i cant imagine not teaching children anymore. well, plus, one needs a masters degree which i aint got! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">some friends of mine were in this years performance of the <a href="http://sistershainseoul.blogspot.com/2008/06/email.html" target="_blank">vagina monologues </a>again, i didnt go to the show this time, but i sat around and watched friends rehearse. they baked cupcakes to sell at the door to raise additional funds, which i didnt want to help with either, but i did eat about 4 cupcakes. picture of this included as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">well im off, i have a knitting meeting tonight, im almost finished with my first scarf, it's a wonderful day!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">loveyoumissyou,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">~daughter</span>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-29996934892207460212009-04-27T23:04:00.000-07:002009-05-20T20:58:56.736-07:00emailSubject: spkez, kclass<br />Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:29:55 +0000<br />dear mom and dad,<br /><br />it's raining on and off here, i hate it. we get like one day of bright sunshine, then 3 days of clouds and rain. spring is teasing me.<br /><br />omg i LOVE this tea you sent me, i drink it everyday and it makes me so happy. Ed says thanks very much for the oreos, my coworkers want to know if there'll be more chips ahoy. the delicious peanut butter is gone (dont send more, i can get it here, i was just being greedy asking you to send it to me).<br /><br />im doing well of course. my friends hosted another <a href="http://sistershainseoul.blogspot.com/2008/11/email.html">speakeasy</a> a couple weeks ag</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">o, i ve included a couple of photos. i love these events, i completely forget that im in korea and instead can get lost in the family vibe these things create. One of the friends in my circle had a friend coming to visit her here, and when we found out this friend is a dj, an event was put together tan rapido. it was sooo wonderful to hear music from back home! well, you hear american music in all the clubs here, but it's that crappy mainstream rap music, and it sucks. anyway, the event and the music was wonderful.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>left: <em>everyone in my korean class</em>. right: <em>me.<br /></em></strong></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sgpk8fZLAVI/AAAAAAAABy0/sf8RK0z2jNo/s1600-h/lf31.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335187698955780434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 139px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sgpk8fZLAVI/AAAAAAAABy0/sf8RK0z2jNo/s200/lf31.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">i</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SgplDrIYbSI/AAAAAAAABy8/hXPl_OcUaj0/s1600-h/I_fuckin___love_coloring_by_WhiteSt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335187822365666594" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 140px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SgplDrIYbSI/AAAAAAAABy8/hXPl_OcUaj0/s200/I_fuckin___love_coloring_by_WhiteSt.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;"> HATE korean class so much. no, thats not exactly true, i like my teacher, i like the class and getting the time to speak and practice in an atmosphere where i can be guided, but lawd help me, my progress is little to none. its really frustrating, an hour after class, i forget everything we learned. i still read slow, like a toddler. its really humbling... even just nouns and verbs i cant retain yet. i walk around, and i can name everything i see in spanish, but i couldnt do 1% of that in korean. last night i was watching some movie on tv and it had a scene in spanish, i understood every word, didnt even need the subtitles! (well, good thing i guess since the subtitles are in korean anyway), i want so badly to be able to do that with korean. *sigh* more time, i know. but it's making me nuts in the interim.<br /><br />i finished knitting a scarf! it's the first thing ive ever finished, im very excited! one of the women int he knitting circle is going to help me on my next project. im thinking socks, i dont know yet. i want to make a sweater, but it may be too ambitious just yet.<br /><br />~daughter<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></span>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-66327576002155128312009-04-18T19:16:00.000-07:002009-04-18T19:32:23.698-07:00emailSubject: send more A shirts. and a pair of shoes.<br />Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:15:21 +0000<br /><div class="RichText" id="RichTextEditor_surface" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana';" contenteditable="true"><style> .ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding:0px;} .ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Verda</style><span style="font-family:Arial;">dear mom and dad,<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">thank you again sooooo much for that last box with the pudding, the pb, the tea, everything, i loved. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">i devoured about 10 of the chips ahoy cookies in one sitting and then brought the rest to work before i made myself sick. You've made me incredibly popular amongst my new coworkers, thankyou:) I havent seen Ed yet, but i'll for sure pass those oreo cookies to him (no danger of me eating all of them, b/c i like regular, not double stuff). I absolutely love the tea you sent, im not sharing those with anybody.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">im glad teddy</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> came by. did he bring the baby with him? i think he still get nervous everyttime he goes to the </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">house. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">blogworld, i think this is b/c my husband, tho<span style="font-style: italic;"> incredibly</span> handsome, stands only about 5'2". My brother and father however are 6ft tall and BIG sized men. </span>I told him he could just mail that check, that he didnt have to go by in person, but he's got old school manners and insisted he should go in person. Please dont use the money for sallie mae, b/c my next payment isnt due until october, so please dotn pay anything. I actually didnt work at all for a couple of weeks b/c of the visa issues, so i put a hold on the loans for a little while. Additionally, we've got canceled classes for the next week and a half (as we do every term, b/c the kids take leave to study for their midterm exams in public school) so that's been a lot of me not working, so no pay coming. I had enough money put aside to sustain myself just fine, but i want to replenish that savings before i resume student loan payments. B/c the loans are consolidated, the interest rate is fixed at 3% or so, so i think they can afford to wait.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SeqMXSqlMrI/AAAAAAAAByk/PQLb_W0ji3o/s1600-h/DSC06046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SeqMXSqlMrI/AAAAAAAAByk/PQLb_W0ji3o/s200/DSC06046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326223841094349490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SeqMlmkKDQI/AAAAAAAABys/0eGkPvUdJ64/s1600-h/Nike+Shox+-+Shox-22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 136px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SeqMlmkKDQI/AAAAAAAABys/0eGkPvUdJ64/s200/Nike+Shox+-+Shox-22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326224086954282242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">im not sure where me and teddy are with the divorce. he emailed me the divorce papers and i printed, signed and mailed them to him. teddy was a good husband overall, tho i never got my wifely conjugal rights nor a diamond ring, and wont even be getting alimony! But he gave away my cats, therefore this divorce is necessary. i loved those cats!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">im so</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> sorry, but can i ask you for bug spray? many mosquitos in the summer here. and send me a pair of shoes? i dotn care what they look like, i just want anything with a heel like the others you sent. i walk a lot more here, the subway stop is a mile away and i havent figured out which bus to take to get there. not like my comfy lazy spot in pyeongchon. a new pair of shoes would really do me right. anything you get is fine, really truly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">loveyoumissyou.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">~daughter</span><br /></div>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-82441176766322596162009-04-12T22:25:00.000-07:002009-04-17T22:32:46.083-07:00emailSubject: weather, visa, knitting, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">kclass</span><br />Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:19:22 +0000<br /><div class="RichText" id="RichTextEditor_surface" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana';" contenteditable="true"><style> .ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding:0px;} .ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Verda</style><span style="font-family:Arial;">dear mom and dad,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">oh my gosh, the weather has been absolutely beautiful lately. no need for hats, scarves, gloves, long johns, ear muffs, it's gorgeous. it's already cherry blossom time, the trees are blooming and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">im</span> on the lookout for a festival that's around the corner.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">work is good of course. with so many students, its hard to remember their names after they're not in my class anymore. kids in the hallway wave, "hello sister <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sha</span>!" and most of the time, i respond with, "hello sweetheart, how <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">are you</span>?" and of course i use "sweetheart" b/c i cant think of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">their</span> names. one girl, i was SURE her name was sally, so i said, "hi sally!" and her face got sad, and she said, "oh.... teacher..." b/c i got her name wrong. i made some guesses and finally had her just tell me (Jenny) and she said, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">im</span> so sad!" ah well, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">im</span> only human. i remembered her face at least.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">im</span> still awaiting a new visa. i found out that i only need to do the criminal background check one time, so i wont have to go through all this again next year, thank goodness.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">korean</span> class is kicking my butt, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">im</span> much more comfortable doing little things like ordering food at a restaurant, asking for help at the post office or grocery store or whatever.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">i went to two knitting meetings last week. just being int he room, i knit better and faster! majority are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">americans</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">canadians</span>. one place we meet is a knitting shop, i took <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">jinny</span> with me, she became absolutely engulfed. when i was ready to leave, she kept saying, "just one more row." and, "it's like i cant stop!" good fun:)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">loveyoumissyou</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">~<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">daugher</span>.</span><br /></div>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-5042948388330198282009-04-05T10:02:00.000-07:002009-04-05T10:27:15.168-07:00email<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SdjpvfOVNsI/AAAAAAAAByc/gnz_IVzmcrQ/s1600-h/knitting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321259961782974146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SdjpvfOVNsI/AAAAAAAAByc/gnz_IVzmcrQ/s400/knitting.jpg" border="0" /></a>Subject: RE: Sheets and Projectors<br />Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009<br />dear mom and dad,<br /><br />thanks again for the student loan payments. i sent another batch of postcards per your advice, i'll start doing them monthly again. i thanked grandma for the b-day gift.<br /><br />I got the box w/the goodies: the grits <span style="color:#4f81bd;">(oh my gosh i devoured them)</span> the pb crunch slimfast bars <span style="color:#4f81bd;">(which are my FAVORITE!!!) </span>the combs <span style="color:#4f81bd;">(i gave some to the sistas, they say thank you)</span>, the flashlight <span style="color:#4f81bd;">(i'm sure it'll come in handy since i didnt have one)</span>, the plastic bags <span style="color:#4f81bd;">(no more bags for a while, i have plenty)</span> and the shout <span style="color:#4f81bd;">(thank you! my clothes really needed it! tho i DID find something here, but i love what you sent more b/c it's familiar, and it's free)</span>. i shared the cookies and oatmeal w/my new coworkers, along with the sanitizer <span style="color:#4f81bd;">(which they LOVED, since kids = germs = sickness)</span>. One friend asked if my parents though i had bad breath b/c you'd sent the listerine strips unsolicited.<br /><br />so i finally got my cbc (criminal background check) from the state of cali, i'll use it to apply for a new visa. <span style="color:#4f81bd;">{there were two ways to get it, dad, i did one way and i was having you do the other way, with the goal to use which ever came first}. </span>dad, sorry you went to the sherrif's station for nothing. i anticipated some sort of issue, but i didnt think they'd tell you to have me re-apply all over again, i thought the application i'd emailed to you WAS the form i needed. i used the email you sentme and asked for a new form, but it's a near a week later and i still havent received it. AND i got the form and all the info from a fellow san diegan here in south korea! i did everything HE did, relatively at the same time, and he got his cbc a week later. i wonder why the sherriff's dpt didnt come through for me and you??? ah well, no matter now, good thing the other cbc came through.<br /><br />im back in korean class, it's a little easier this time around, but only a little. everyone reads faster than me, but my pronunciation is better so im ok with it. im much more motivated this time, too, b/c now i live 15 min from the class, as opposed to 40 min when i lived in pyeongchon.<br /><br />i met up with some other expats last week, a knitting group called <a href="http://seoulsnb.blogspot.com/">stitchnbitch</a>, it was uber cool, we just sat and talked and knitted. im a novice for sure, these women make socks, vests, gloves, anything, and their knitting is perfect. im working on a what looks like a tarded scarf in comparison. but the knitters motivate me to get better^^<br /><br />loveyoumissyou<br />~daughterSha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-20715093955943627512009-03-30T02:15:00.000-07:002009-03-30T02:27:13.318-07:00emailSubject: no need for kneaded erasers<br />Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:11:05 +0000<br /><div class="RichText" id="RichTextEditor_surface" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana';" contenteditable="true"><style> .ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding:0px;} .ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} </style> <span style="font-family:Arial;">dear mom and dad,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">thanks for mailing my student loan payment. eventually i'll set it up so that the payments are automatically deducted from my bank account, but that will have to wait until my next visit home so that i can go to the bank to arrange it. today i sent more money (500,000 won, so its around $340 USD), please can you send another student loan payment for me?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">the money is being deposited, right? im worried, b/c i remember one time i sent money and my bank here sent it to the wrong account. let me know the money is coming through ok.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">so just yesterday i was roaming around in my neighborhood and went to lotte dept store, and found an art supply store that... wait for it... sold kneaded erasers!!! so, dont send it if you didnt buy it yet. sorry about that ^^</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SdCQSIhAYrI/AAAAAAAABx4/WwOV2Ig2poE/s1600-h/Lover%2Bs%2BPost%2BOffice%2BCloses%2B2nBAHOKN_Qhl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SdCQSIhAYrI/AAAAAAAABx4/WwOV2Ig2poE/s400/Lover%2Bs%2BPost%2BOffice%2BCloses%2B2nBAHOKN_Qhl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318909801122521778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">things always happen like that: you find it when youre not looking for it. I was complaining to jinny about how i couldnt find the post office and she tells me, "there are post offices everywhere." i told her i know, but i hadnt found it in my neighborhood yet, and i was annoyed. she tells me, "dont get snippy, im just saying, there's a post office in jamsil." I told her again, but yelling, I KNOW, but i cant find it! arent you listening?!" she calmly says, "just walk around until you find it." i tell her thanks for the help and called her dumb. a day later, i was walking around my neighborhood and gotdamn, there was the post office, a block from my house. well, i know where to go to mail my next batch of postcards.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">ive another favor to ask (as i am eternally your daughter and i'll have favors to ask forever and ever and ever): please can you order <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/artograph-tracer-projector/">this</a> and send it to me? it's an opaque projector. You can have brother dave order it online, it doesnt have to be this exact one if he finds a better deal. I liked this one b/c it takes 5x5 paper and can enlarge it 14 times. If dave finds one that does bigger for around the same price, i'd like that. He can also just get it direct from DickBlick art supply in downtown san diego, instead of ordering online.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/artograph-tracer-projector/"><span style="font-family:Arial;">http://www.dickblick.com/products/artograph-tracer-projector/</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">ah, one more thing: can you send me bedsheets? there was a bed in the new place when i moved in, so i gave away the old one. this bed is much bigger. it's 60 inches wide, 80 inches long, and 8 inches thick.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">loveyoumissyou!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">~daughter</span><br /></div>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-7434773677835599922009-03-24T05:21:00.000-07:002009-03-24T05:51:08.602-07:00email<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/ScjWwO80XFI/AAAAAAAABxw/r1M6nCKEtjU/s1600-h/t2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/ScjWwO80XFI/AAAAAAAABxw/r1M6nCKEtjU/s400/t2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316735484246121554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">S</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">ubject: care pkg</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:40:06</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">dear mom and dad,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,Sans-serif;">hi! i have absolutely nothing to talk about, but i know it's been 5 days or so since my last email and if i didnt write soon, i feared a guilt email would be in my inbox.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">oh, dad, i got the card you sent from grandma, thank you, ive sent her a postcard. You know, every month (maybe 7 months in a row) i sent a postcard to mary lovelady, ninong cooper, grandma, and aunt lyn. i havent in the last 2 months tho, b/c no one ever let me know they got them, i wondered if the korean post office was tricking me and throwing my cards out the window:)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">ive taken up <a href="http://shaalemumekebeb.blogspot.com/">drawing</a> again. oil paint is my preferred medium you know, but i dont have the proper ventilation nor the room to do it here, plus, dad, youre not here to build my frames for me! But paper and pencil i can do myself...i found an art supply store for all the things i needed, except for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kneaded_eraser">kneaded eraser</a>. so, uhm, please can you send me a kneaded eraser in the next pkg you send me? You can have brother dave get it at any art supply store: there's dick blick towards downtown san diego, or Michaels or Aaron Brothers in mission/fashion valley.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,Sans-serif;">speaking of things i cant find: i can no longer find my beloved calorie free instant tea mix by lipton, they dont carry it at emart (like walmart here) anymore. if it is there in the states, please send me some. im going through withdrawls. it looks like<a href="http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/shamekebeb/jc%20blog/?action=view&current=t2.jpg"> this</a>.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> (if its not there, maybe can you peek around to see if crystal light makes something like a lemon tea?) </span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> i would also like non fat/low fat creamy peanut butter (i think the brand i used to like is Jiff or jiffy), and fat free chocolate pudding mix, if it exists, im shooting for the stars with that one. also please send me a pack of monostat 7 one day yeast infection cure, b/c i would die having to go to the pharmacy to ask for that should i need it (usually i draw pictures of what i need since i cant speak korean... can you imagine the conversation i'd be having with the pharmacist <em>that</em> day!!).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">sorry that this was an email of me asking for things, i know that's pretty lame. but life is rather steady, ordinary, ive got nothing to talk about. i'll try to have a more interesting upcoming week for a better email next time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">thank you and love you lots.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">~daughter</span>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-5509520966936309212009-03-18T21:14:00.000-07:002009-03-22T07:09:40.304-07:00emailSubject: i got the cds<br />Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:13<br />Dear mom and dad,<br /><br />yesterday i got the box with my cds and the Ashirts, thank you so much!!! mom, i love the card, i read it over and over again, i love when you write to me. i get the sense that it was difficult foryou to part with the cds :) You shouldve told me you wanted to keep them, i wouldve asked for something else instead! Well, thank you for sending them,and in exchange, is tehre anything i can send you from korea? maybe candies to give to the neighborhood kids? chopsticks? anything? let me know.<br /><br />oh, mom will love this: i just finished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angelas-Ashes-Memoir-Frank-McCourt/dp/B000IFS0HM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237102367&sr=1-1">Angela's Ashes</a>, and all those descriptions of flowerly white potatoes triggered a craving. so yesteday i came home w/a bag of potatoes really excited to cook, and then realized i didnt know how to work my stovetop. it's a gas stove top, unlike the electric at my old place. i odnt konw if something isnt connected or what, i just know taht i turned the knob and nothing happened. ah well. maybe the cleaning lady can help me.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/ScHHttWV-6I/AAAAAAAABxg/CEvTyMfB0g4/s1600-h/j-rockgroupies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314748623355247522" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 289px; height: 400px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/ScHHttWV-6I/AAAAAAAABxg/CEvTyMfB0g4/s400/j-rockgroupies.jpg" border="0" /></a>i went to japan last weekend, but only for a day, actually. b/c my <a href="http://www.goeastrecruiting.com/criminal-background-checks/16-criminal-background-checks/32-usa-criminal-background-check">visa</a> expired, i had to leave the country and then come back and now i have 3 months to get my paperwork together. many teachers have to do this, it's called a "visa run." most stay for a day or so, walk around the town, etc, b/c their job pays for it. my job DIDNT so i stayed for a day and didnt leave the airport. jinny helped me find the ticket to japan for only $188. i had the money to stay longer and properly see the sights, but im cheap. it's cool, b/c it rained the whole time. i read 2 books and watched 3 movies on my mp3 player (loaded on my mp3 by my good friend/tech genius Ed, btw.) i spent my day wandering around, getting the layout of the north and south terminal, finding which chairs were most comfortable to sleep in, browsing the airport mall. there were 10 other foreigners with me who stayed the whole night in the airport, none of them were teachers, tho, just people who missed a flight, or awaiting a morning flight.<br /><br />at the airport/check in/etc, none of my bags were searched tho during my day there, i was stopped for a random passport check around 5 times. each time, i'd smile all stupid and point out to the police/security guard taht i was born in japan. most of them gave me a slight smile, one pretended to get excited to humor me. The reminds me of one time when i brought Brother Dave with me to some shop, and when i found the sales clerk was from eritria, i happily blurted, "Oh, ive been to ghana!" She did a slight smile. Brother Dave says, "uhm, yeah, how is that connected, b/c she's east africa, you went to west africa, on the other side of the continent, Dummy." Well, yeah, i guess... i just really wanted to feel worldly and important:)<br /><br />it wasnt much of a trip, but i for sure want to go back when i take a proper vacation. the plane ride was a short 2 hours which was awesome. loveyoumissyou. ~daughter.Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-86101848495528146392009-03-14T21:15:00.000-07:002009-03-18T21:26:13.361-07:00email<div class="RichText" id="RichTextEditor_surface" contenteditable="true" style="WIDTH: 652px; HEIGHT: 994pxfont-family:'times';font-size:10pt;" ><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="570" border="0"><tbody><tr style="font-family:times;"><td class="web" height="30"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(40,143,0)"><b>Daehang</b></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(40,143,0)"><b>no Philippine Market</b></span> </span></span></td></tr><tr style="font-family:times;"><td class="web"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;">* Time & Day: 12:00-17:00 every Sunday<br />* Place: In front of Dongseong Middle & High School in Daehangno</span> </span></td></tr><tr><td><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"></span></td></tr><tr style="font-family:times;"><td class="web"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(40,143,0);font-size:130%;" ><b>How to Get There</b></span> </span></td></tr><tr style="FONT-FAMILY: times"><td class="web"><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SbyFBVMluMI/AAAAAAAABxY/6bdHBCfPZSc/s1600-h/maket.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313267918306654402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 67px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SbyFBVMluMI/AAAAAAAABxY/6bdHBCfPZSc/s200/maket.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;">Take subway line 4 to Hyehwa station, and go out exit 1. Walk ahead until you reach Dongseong Middle & High School on the right.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">other blog/market info:</span><br />http://english.seoul.go.kr/today/news/newsclip/1243555_3675.html<br /><a href="http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=309567">http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=309567</a> </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />===================================== </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Subject: pics, phil market, rae<br />Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:14:07<br />dear mom and dad,<br /><br />i dont remember which pictures ive sent you already, so i sent them all again. these are the pictures from the "Fun Photo Contest" we had at our school. the contest was pretty lame, i think my job just wanted an excuse to take pictures, so they threw this contest together. i say that b/c they only took pictures of 3 of my 8 classes, the same for many of my colleagues. ah well, still i got some cute pictures and i like them.<br /><br />i got a new student last week with no english name. I asked if he'd like me to give him one, he said yes. i said, "how about ray?" but when i typed it out, i wrote RAE out of habit. i backspaced to correct it, but he said, "No, Teacher, Rae, i like better." i said OK! :)<br /><br />things are going good at my job, the kids are cute, my coworkers are friendly, etc etc. not much to say. ive just been waiting to renew my visa, i got an extension until june 15, hopefully that darned criminal background check will get here by then! i think it took 6 weeks to get it the first time (the one that korean immigration rejected), so hopefully the request i sent for another will go faster. PLUS, i know you have taken care of that letter i asked for, dad, so which ever comes first, i can use to renew my visa.<br /><br />the move from pyeongchon to jamsil has helped keep me close to my good friend jinny, who i talk to almost everyday. a couple weekends ago, she took me to a part of town by Hyehwa subway station where we walked around in the philipino market!<br /><br />as we were walking around, jinny asked me if i understood what people were saying. i said to her, "uhm... that guy said 'Pare' which means 'dude,' i think... and... uhm, that woman said 'anako' so she's talking to her daughter... uhm... i think she wasnt impressed. i was pretty embarrassed *blush* i may not speak tagalog, but i know the food!<br /><br />while there, we ate menudo and dinaguan, not nearly as delicious as you make it mom, of course, but it was pretty tasty. most of the vendors were for hot food, but some canned/bottled and other goods were for sale. i pointed out Bagaoong to jinny, which i told her was so delicious on mangoes. we saw bags of pandesal and i told her how its so good when it's fresh, and i love it best with cheese whiz.<br /><br />well, now im hungry, so i'll say good bye. loveyoumissyou, etc. ~daughter.</span> </p></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-395940634088690822009-03-07T00:03:00.000-08:002009-03-06T21:11:55.646-08:00email<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SbIAr51pNqI/AAAAAAAABwg/SllrJVfGbN4/s1600-h/sha.serious.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 231px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SbIAr51pNqI/AAAAAAAABwg/SllrJVfGbN4/s400/sha.serious.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310307664883431074" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><---- me at 33!</span><br />Subject: RE: Right On Girl<br />Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 04:57:15 +0000<br /><br /> <style> .ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding:0px;} .ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} </style> <span style="font-family:Arial;">dear mom and dad,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">thanks for the birthday email, thank you for giving me life 33 years ago :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">mom, dad mention that you wanted to give me a present? ah...actually, i miss my music. do you have all my cds? will you send me my cd case? with a letter from you, i would really love that. and some A shirts, size large. yes, that's what i want: my cds, Ashirts, and a letter. ok?^^</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">so i worked on my birthday, i teach this new class which i LOVE, the kids are younger and soooo cute; the building we're in is new and the kids are wonderful, things are really good. i liked pyeyongchon very much, but it's nice to be in a new place, things were so routine and monotonous where i was. i like my new apartment, tho i dont care for the korean style bathroom of the shower head being mounted over the toilet... but hey, when in korea... *shrug*</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">when i got to work that afternoon, my boss had a cake waiting for me. i walked into the teachers lounge and everyone turned around and saw me and looked confused. then my boss comes up behind me frantically yelling "surprise!" i guess they'd all been waiting for me for a while, my boss left the room to check if i'd arrived yet, and when i came into the room 1 min later, it threw everyone off. ha! well, i love teaching, but i dont come to work an hour and a half early like everyone else does... they didnt realize, and i guess were waiting for a while. hee hee!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">after work, i went out with my coworkers, celebrating the opening of the new school, and a sucessful first week, etc. The food was good, it was nice. i was the first to leave, of course, b/c it was late and i was tired! my coworkers protested, "but it's your birthday, you cant leave!!!" i told them that im 33, not 23, and i dont do the "stay out all night" thing anymore:)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">i got new glasses, i included a photo. my friends said it looks like a jail pic, but i told them they're just jealous b/c im very mature and sophisticated now that im 33 years old. ive also included some pics from the photo contest i told you about. two of my classes won, so they got pizza and choco pies. they only gave me one pizza for 14 students!!! we drew names out of a box to see who got pizza and who didnt. :( but actually, everybody got a little bit, b/c the kids are so sweet: they gloat and brag about getting to eat pizza when others dont, but then they share it with everyone. Like mom did with the hershey bars when she was a little girl in the philipines:)<br /><br />~daughter<br /></span>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-67032591023735600082009-03-04T00:00:00.000-08:002009-03-03T18:40:39.604-08:00email from my brother<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sa3pESV8rHI/AAAAAAAABwY/4UYRJpEhL9g/s1600-h/index.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309155795592326258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 46px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 74px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/Sa3pESV8rHI/AAAAAAAABwY/4UYRJpEhL9g/s200/index.jpg" border="0" /></a>i sent another package of candy/snacks to my <a href="http://sistershainseoul.blogspot.com/2009/01/email-to-my-brother.html">brother</a>.<br />i think i did it jsut to get his emails^^<br /><div align="left">-----------------------------------------------------------<br />Date:Mar 4, 2009 8:44 AM<br />Subject: Happy Birthday<br />Hey Sis,</div><br /><div align="left">First off Happy Birthday. I hope your students brought you lots of birthday presents. If they didn't, tell them that your brother is very disappointed in them. They should respect their teacher and shower her with presents on her special day. <span style="color:#cc0000;">i told my brother about how the kids go nuts when i tell them he works for sony and test games for a living. they think he's God.</span></div><br /><div align="left">I got your package with the candy. I tried to take it to work the first day you sent it but K insisted that she gets through it first to pick out the candy she liked <span style="color:#cc0000;">(his girlfriend)</span>. Everyone at work either loves it or hates it:</div><ul><li><div align="left">Everyone tripped out about Krunky and started doing the Dave Chappelle impression of Lil Jon going, "WHAT?! OK!!"</div></li><li><div align="left">Whoa, the Green tea candy tastes just like Green tea!</div></li><li><div align="left">One of the guys I work with who is attempting to quit smoking likes the weird flavored cigarettes. He says the shock to his system helps him curb the urge to puff.</div></li><li><div align="left">Another one of my co-workers is all about the Chicken Chips. He's Hungarian and he said it reminds him of the pre-capitalism snacks they used to ration out back when the country was under communist rule.</div></li></ul><p align="left">Have fun, stay out of trouble, and eat some Vegan cake.-Bro</p>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-11293930207087034542009-02-24T01:57:00.000-08:002009-02-24T02:08:45.268-08:00emailSubject: RE: I Will Find A Way<br />Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:56:30<br />dear mom and dad, <div></div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SaPGjjB26AI/AAAAAAAABu4/bzgIcpznw20/s1600-h/noob.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306303099973330946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 376px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SaPGjjB26AI/AAAAAAAABu4/bzgIcpznw20/s400/noob.jpg" border="0" /></a>so i've moved from the city of anyang (suburb Pyeongchon) to seoul (suburb Jamsil). i felt really uncomfortable for the first several hours at my new place: it felt like day one in korea all over again: i didnt know where anything was, i didnt know where to eat, etc. But im ok now, im glad for the move b/c pyeongchon was feeling monotonous. AND b/c i can now read a little bit of korean, i was able to walk into a place and order off the menu with no problem!!! i had to pause korean class for a while, but i will definitely resume, especially since i live so much closer to it now.</div><div><br />i havent found teh post office yet, so im not yet able to verify my adrs, but im working on it. i had my first day at my new job today, it ws great and the kids are of course super cute.</div><div><br />well, now youre all updated as to whats going on in my world.<br />love you miss you and all that of course.<br />~daughter. </div>Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-47439929498425293252009-02-18T18:45:00.000-08:002009-02-18T18:49:53.707-08:00email<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SZzIOe1qVoI/AAAAAAAABuw/CvppgS-yIrY/s1600-h/Jamshista01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304334612257461890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 343px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SZzIOe1qVoI/AAAAAAAABuw/CvppgS-yIrY/s400/Jamshista01.jpg" border="0" /></a>Subject: RE: School Folders, and Other Things<br />Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:44:21<br />dear mom and dad,<br /><br />the blue folders sound good, please send them. i got the package with the soaps, oatmeal, cookies, thank you so much! My coworkers devoured the cookies and give you trememdous praise. I donated the vanilla scented soap to our bathroom at school... b/c there hasnt been soap there lately, and i only like the smell of vanilla when cooking. the kids loved the cow cartoon on the soap, btw:)<br /><br />so valentine's day was last week, but in korea it's called "Chocolate Day." This is the day that girls give chocolate to their male friends/family. one month later will be March 14th, where korea will celebrate "White Day," which is the day that boys give candy to their girlfriends only, no other female friends, and are expected to pay 3times the amount that the girl spent on him the month before. One month from then will be April 14th, which is "Black Day." On black day, those that dont have a boy/girlfriend eat black noodles. some of the kids gave me chocolates, which was so sweet... every class ASKED ME for candy, to which i explained that i was giving them the gift of learning, which is infinitely more valuable.<br /><br />im definitely moving, i found a place yesterday, i'll give the details in the next email. everything is working out cool. im a little sad to leave my neighborhood, ive grown so comfortable here, but change is good. today is thrusday, im moving this saturday actually, so im off b/c i need to start packing. loveyou and miss you.~daughterSha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-64295943719098702342009-02-13T07:43:00.000-08:002009-02-13T07:57:56.855-08:00emailSubject: RE: Eyes Wide Shut<br />Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:42:41<br />dear mom and dad,<br /><br />my 2 year anniversary of being in korea has come and gone! it doesnt feel like 2 years at all, i still really really love this job.<br /><br />please, can you send me folders? i want paper, not plastic, that <a href="http://www.blanchandson.com/images/folder/folder/Custom-School-Folders.jpg">look like this </a>on the inside. i seem to only find plastic ones here and i hate them. im sure you will be able to find them at rite aid. please send around 10 of them so that i can have one folder per class<br /><br />i am soooo over having these fake eyelashes, i wish they would hurry up and fall out already, they're driving me crazy. unrelated: the snow is gone i think, but today we had a lot of rain. it was lame.<br /><br />earlier this week, headquarters contacted me about moving to a new branch of the school they're opening in a part of town called "jamsil." i think it was b/c i'd asked for a transfer and didnt get what i wanted, so they had me in mind when room elsewhere opened up. it's not as close as i'd wanted, but it's still clsoer to jinny than living here. everything is still processing, so i dont know where exactly i'll be working/living: pyeongchon or jamsil.<br /><br />ive cut my hair again, WAYYY too short. but oh well, it's hair, it'll grow. my friends said it makes me look way younger, almost like a high school student. among the kids: the first set of classes this week said i looked like a beautiful man, and like a flower. the reaction the rest of the week was pretty much the same: Oh teacher, so short! Like man, but pretty!" well,the girls said that, the boys just said i looked strange. ~daughter.Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001809323052924550.post-2357438696073312442009-02-07T19:33:00.000-08:002009-02-07T20:06:27.118-08:00emailSubject: RE: Next Time<br />Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 03:50:09 +0000<br />dear mom and dad,<br /><br />i got the box with the magazines, etc. Thank you so much, i always love getting mail. i LOVE the stickers you sent, thank you!!! everything here is peace, i think the snow has stopped for the season, thank goddess.<br /><br />btw, i am not the one with the university job, my friend Jinny is. she used to work at the same company as me, but she now has a new job, north of seoul. But actually im NOT moving, as i'd hoped. there is no room for me at the branch i want to transfer too, i will try again next term (in 3 months). so im staying in the same place in pyeongchon for now.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SY5ZLVwVAwI/AAAAAAAABuA/Rvni_UAVmu8/s1600-h/10029309.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300271862814933762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-Cd8xQL0os/SY5ZLVwVAwI/AAAAAAAABuA/Rvni_UAVmu8/s400/10029309.jpg" border="0" /></a>last night some coworkers got together to celebrate birthdays, we went to some <a href="http://www.youloveit.com/2/posts/3_Marketplace/13_Bars_Restaurants/767_Best_Foreigner_Club_in_Anyang_Club_Psycho.html">dingy club </a>in <a href="http://www.anyangsouthkorea.com/">anyang</a> and everybody drank and i socialized until i got bored and left. it was nice to hang out, all of my coworkers are really nice and none have ever been anything other than great to me, but im just on a whole other plane, i guess. partly age difference, partly culture, who knows... but above all, they're nice people. i had a good time.<br /><br />we're in week 12 at my school, which means in 2 weeks we start anew: new classes, new students, new books, new everything. i will miss jason soooo much!!! i want to take pictures, but for some reason i dont feel like it's appropriate, like unless i can ask their parents first, which is way too complicated, so i'll skip it altogether. You know, i am the most uptight teacher at my school: i dont let the kids tease each other, or make jokes about soju (the local liquor of choice), or bash japan (the korean/japanese tension is THICK), or anything else that i explain to them as "not proper class room behavior/discussion topic. Im very G rated, and some colleagues think it's too much, but i think they dont understand.... i clearly remember when i was in elementary school, and the things my teachers have said that just... well, weren't cool... anyway...<br /><br />but lucky me, i WILL get some pictures, b/c there is a contest at my school for funniest class/teacher photo. it ate up 30 min of class time but it was fun taking the photos. the elementary students crawl all over themselves to get in front of the camera, and the middle schoolers all hide their faces behind their books. i hope i can get copies of the pics soon.<br /><br />so i'll leave you with my favorite moment of last week: adorable 3rd grade student john whispered to me, "teacher, i memorized one paragraph of obama (inauguration) speech." i smiled and told him i would be very excited for him to recite it for me during break, which he did, and it was just as wonderful and adorable as you can imagine!!!Sha-Dizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721974593822364114noreply@blogger.com0