Circle Time!!

I took this video to show you all exactly what I do everyday. I'm not really a morning person, so having to teach hyper 7 year olds first thing every day is rough sometimes.. but I deal by trying ot make it as fun as possible. Actually, that's how I deal with teaching pre-school in general. Otherwise, I don't think I could handle it... haha! I sort of put on an uber hyper cartoon persona, and the kids have fun, and I get a chance to sort of check out of being me and become - well basically, a Blues Clues character. I have considered adding SLP to my resume when I get back to the states - Production: Preschool, Role: Coked out Disney Princess. No kidding. Here's your proof:

The Flying Pan

A few weeks ago, Mullen and I ventured to Itaewon to visit Xanadu. She had a few things to do for her trip to China, and I tagged along so we could get some information about our summer vacation, and our trip at the end of our contracts. After talking to the agent, we decided we'd get some lunch to kill some time before we met kirsten and Liz; who were on their way to meet us. It was a cool, rainy day - just the perfect kind to sit in a cafe and listen to the raindrops. Itaewon is the place to go to get good foreign food, so we were in luck! We decided to check out a place we've often passed but never eaten called The Flying Pan. Its name is a play on the difficulty that Asians have pronouncing their R's. It's tucked away beneath a few other restaurants near the Hamilton Hotel and is, secretly, one of the most popular restaurants in Itaewon. If you plan on going for brunch on a Sunday, you better call ahead, or be prepared to wait for an hour or more. It's a small place, so the manager will take your name and your cell number, and give you a call when your table is ready. Luckily, for Andrea and me, it wasn't too crowded and we were able to sit immediately.

I would say it has a very New York Bitsro feel to it. All of the tables and chairs are mismatched, and there are linen drapes lining the walls in some sections. there is very soft and natural lighting, and the whole place feels casually fancy. When we were there, they had bouquets of azaleas (my favorite flower) placed on the larger tables. The menu is a bit pricey depending on what you order, but all of the food is absolutely to die for! I had a lunch set which cost me around 9,000 won and included a cup of soup, a garden salad and the most delicious ham panini (with hummus, ACTUAL HUMMUS in Korea!). I didn't even finish everything because it was so much food. Andrea got the banana french toast (a signature dish) which was also very good, but more expensive. The staff was friendly and the presentation was perfectly thoughtful. The atmosphere was full of charm and quite welcoming - perfect for our rainy day excursion! I enjoyed my meal so much that I met Kirsten there for brunch the next day! This time I ordered their famous eggs benedict (the only one I have heard of in Korea) and basically went to brunch-heaven. It may have cost me 15,000 won but it was worth it! They have skilled baristas and offer a wide menu of coffees and teas. Kirsten's latte and my mocha both came individually designed. Kirsten's said 'love' and mine had a flower made out of the foam on top of our drinks. Kirsten got a good picture, which I will post when I get a copy. I spoke to the manager, as he remembered me from the day before. He was a very nice man, with great English! (I suppose you have t to own a place in Itaewon.) He gave me his card and said to call the next time I came so that he could get me a table, which I definitely will! I hope to go back there soon!

The entrance to the restaurant... just go down those narrow stairs.

From just inside the door.

Yumm!!!

My picture doesn't do the place justice.. but I felt like I was bothering people with my camera, so I didn't want to take any more pictures. The place is really very cozy!

Gamsam-nida, Anyong Hasseyo!

These guys are my heroes. hahaha. I don't even know if their still in Korea... but their video has made its way through the English Teacher circuit (probably more than once), but I haven't shared it with anyone from home yet. Mostly, b/c I don't know if it will make sense! But anyway, if you're in Korea, I am sure you've already watched this, but if not... It's hysterical. It's a music video about life in Geumchon, Korea à la the Andy Samberg SNL Digital Shorts.

WISHES!!

Whenever I needed cheering up at home I would go to Disneyland with my sister. And why not? It IS the Happiest Place on Earth. Well, Disneyland isn't exactly accessible from Seoul, but this still does the trick (almost).


Enjoy!

First reactions.

So I've been in my new apartment for about an hour. I have kind of run the gambit of emotions.


I had an entire rant ready to post... but there's nothing positive in that. Please, PLEASE pray that I can get through this and act my age. I know I'm throwing somewhat of a hissy fit... but I don't do change well. Especially not stupid pointless change for no real reason.



I miss AFN. Damn cable companies! ARGH.

That's it! This move makes me feel like Charlie Brown. Good grief.

Moving Day! ... et cetera.

Tonight is my last night in this apartment, as I am moving
at 9:00 am tomorrow. I've had enough time that I have gotten used to the idea, and even though I will miss my view(tear!) I am okay with it. I am sorry for the lack of updates lately but with the arrival of Spring, life as a Seoulite has become very busy! First, I thought I would post a few pictures of the apartment I will be leaving.. since I never did. Woops! It's a pretty normal aparment... but it has become a home to me. That may be because I covered the walls with pictures of everyone from home!

To bid my apartment farewell, I had a bit of a get together last Friday night. It was very casual, just a few friends and coworkers came over. We each had a bottle of wine (or two) that we'd been given by our bosses, and no one want to drink that on their own. So we swapped hagwon stories over Cabernet Sauvignon. I have to say, I really meshing my SLP life with my *other* Seoul life - and finally being able to introduce everyone to everyone. The hostess in me LOVED every second of it.. even though 'hosting' in Korea consists of buying tortilla chips (what a splurge!). Kirsten brought a strawberry cake from Paris Baguette - which was a huge hit, and there was lots of new friends being made all around. Lots of people started showing up (because I am kind of a big deal) so we relocated to the roof of my building so as not to bother my neighbors. Hanging out on rooftops in Korea, enjoying a spectacular view of Dongdaemun, so normal. What a great party it was! We definitely have to do it again.

A few weekends ago we all went out to celebrate Dean's birthday. Dean-o wanted a chill night with lots of friends... and what better way to do that than BBQ and a night out in Hongdae! We found a nice restaurant that had a lot of atmosphere for a BBQ place, and everyone ordered up plenty of Samgyeopsal, Cass, and Soju. After dinner we headed to Gab Bar, which is sort of becoming a regular haunt of ours, and had cheap drinks and no crowds. The fifteen people there for Dean's birthday were easily 2/3 of the people in the bar. Of course we shared in another Paris Baguette Strawberry Cake - another new obsession of mine! I want to find one back in America. After that we went to Bar Boom because you get free drinks for not being Korean. No kidding.. if you go there on a Saturday night, and you happen to be a foreigner, free drinks for you! We ended the night at FF (Funky Funky) dancing the night away to good old fashioned American Bar music.

Me and Dean-o on his birthday '08

Eating Paris Baguette cake with chopsticks. So Korean.

The CUA crowd headed to FF.

There's lots of news and many more fun things to look forward to for the rest of April, but I will leave those for a later post. This weekend I will post my pictures of the Cherry Blossoms, since I am hoping to go to a park or two this weekend and get my SUN. I can't wait to have my Rainbow tan back - I am ashamed I've lost it!


Till then, enjoy the weather (and Baseball!) wherever you are.