Smorgasbord post :)

Hard to believe October is almost halfway over already! Time is flying on this side of the world. This is a bit of a random post, but they're all things I want to remember - and that's the whole point of this blog - a.) I'm a faster typer than a writer and b.) I know after being here for a year, all these things that have happened will be a blur.  c.) It's also nice to be able to share my laughs and adventures with friends and family. So a few firsts
I've had this month -

Shoe Shopping: I went shoe shopping and was informed that my feet are too big. I need a 250 and the maximum size in women's shoes are 240. :) I'm patiently awaiting a care package from home that should have 2 pairs of winter boots and a winter coat. On the bright side,  I guess it would have been worse had they said they didn't make jeans or shirts in my size. 

My Love life according to lady in Booth #4 (f.y.i.- #4 is supposed to be good luck):  I went to a Tarot Card Reader -  which I'd never done! It was fun - the Tarot card reader spoke in Korean, so my friend Rim had to translate for me - I chose the topic of Love. Long story short:  She said I'm quick-tempered in romantic relationships, decide quickly if I'm interested in someone romantically or not and right now my mind isn't open to a relationship (hah imagine that), but she did say that I should keep an open mind in 2-3 months to someone a close friend will introduce me to.  My ideal marrying age  is 29-30; he will likely be older than me. She said that I'm very independent and not the type of person to change my life around for a man.  All in all, it was a fun experience, if for nothing other than a little reassurance :) A good $4 investment, if you ask me. 

Shootin' Hoops: Yesterday, I went to university class that my friend Rim teaches.  It was actually more like show and tell, and I was the item. The first hour was questions and answers and free talking.  I had the students introduce themselves (name, age, major, hometown, and hobby) and then I opened it up for them to ask me questions.  The second hour, we went outside and a couple of us played a game of 3 on 3 basketball - me in my dress clothes + 5 Korean college guys,while the rest of the class took pictures and watched. I was a little nervous since it'd been YEARS since I'd been on a basketball court, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.  The kids were great and I surprised myself by scoring 5 of our team's 8 points. Pictures to come :)  

 Abstract art: I painted for the first time since I've been in Korea - without a teacher! I can't take all the credit - I did look at paintings online for some inspiration - but to be honest, it didn't turn out anything like that - so I guess it can still be classified as an Emily original!! :) 

Love from Kimchi land - Em

Well, I've shared with you the good - here's a bit of the Ugly

It's unlike me to share information about my bathroom trips, but I had a mishap tonight that I think warrants sharing for those who enjoy a good giggle.

Disclaimer: I do not take pictures in Korean bathrooms or ANY bathrooms for that matter,- I googled this topic only to find there were already images in Google's database. I must not be the first that has documented this type of experience. 

Back to my story - In Korea they have interesting toilets - a) they have the holes in the ground that look like urinals that have been laid on the ground  (yes, they're for females) and toilet b) is the one that likes like a handicapped toilet with lots of buttons on it.   Toilet A:

A girl offered me some advice by saying, "Have you ever been camping? It's just like that - you just squat." Which I can understand if you're in a field and have shorts on, but in jeans and a cute top I haven't quite figured out how to master  yet. :(

 Toilet B:

Beware of the blue button - 2nd to the left

Long story short - before I knew it - I was getting an enema - yep a stream of warmish water shooting up my "ash-hole" as my Korean co-worker later explained to me this button was for. Problem #1 - I'd not performed a #2 so my "ash-hole" wasn't in need of cleansing and #2) I WAS NOT expecting a hard stream of water up my "ash".  So, I jumped up only to have it squirt all over my shirt and pants that - you know hadn't made it to my waist yet - I move out of the way of the STILL streaming water - I mean, how dirty do they think one gets? only to have the water drench the door, sink, AND floor.  I push the button again hoping that it will stop - and it does. Whew!  I catch my breath, hoist my drawers up ONLY to have it start squirting all over me again.  My pants are now wet,  along with my shirt - I'm giggling (thanks to a few beers) and slam the toilet lid down - it continues spraying for another few rounds - pouring water all over the floor (thank god for self draining bathrooms in Korea).  I thought it'd never stop. I compose myself, obviously it'd look weird to walk out of the bathroom giggling, I dry off what I can of the door, myself, and the toilet seat, in hopes of saving the next "victim"- and leave the restroom after an unnecessarily l-o-n-g visit.  I politely gesture to the waitress that the floor is going to be a little slippery/wet. 


That's what I get for calling my fingertips magic in the last post! :)

xoxo - Em

Magic in my fingertips

Before I left for Korea, I really enjoyed going to this artsy place near Nashville called Sips N Strokes! :) I bring this up today because I was downtown and found an EVERYTHING store thanks to my friend Virginia -which literally has EVERYthing you could want for very reasonable prices! :) So, I'm hoping I'll remember some of what I learned in those classes, and be able to add some of this new inspiration I'm feeling (thanks to Korea) and come up with my own masterpieces! :) Until I have some new ones - here are a few paintings I did before I left! :)

Wish me luck,

xoxo Em ;)

Eat, Pray, Love in Korea! :)

I FINALLY saw Eat, Pray, Love tonight with my coteacher Serena (Rim)! :) It opened in the States about a week after I left, so I've been patiently awaiting its debut in Korea.  There's so much I could write about the book and about the movie, but I'll keep it short. There was a quote towards the end of the movie that really resonated with me....you'll see why.

"If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting(which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared - most of all -to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself....then truth will not be withheld from you."   Elizabeth Gilbert

I'm excited to find my next clue! :)

Always, Em