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Published: December 25th 2007
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Nice and clean
Right after my bath experience. This is the towel you use to scrub yourself clean. Wow, I've got some stories to tell. Where to begin? Well since I last wrote, things have been crazy at work. My boss is making me do a lot of random stuff, just because. I think he thinks that I'm staying for two months because that is what is in my contract. But I legally do not have any obligation to him anymore. I don't think the he understands that I'm just staying out of the kindness of my heart. And honestly I'm getting a little irritated and have been seriously considering leaving earlier. My uncle asked me this weekend if I wanted to visit him in China over Lunar New Years. And I'm seriously considering the possibility of quitting sooner and going to China in February for a week or two.
Betty and I went out for drinks last week and her mom called. She said that her mom's been on her case about getting married. She 30 and by Korean standards, that's too late to be single. They don't know about her boyfriend because they don't like him. They don't like him because he didn't go to college and works at a factory. So she told her parents
Hansel and Henny
My cousin's sons that they broke up a few months ago. They keep trying to set her up. I feel bad for her. She really likes her boyfriend, but if she stays with him and marries him, she pretty much has to leave her family. Whereas my other co-worker Kate, has a boyfriend that her parents love and that she's not too fond of. But just because she's already introduced him to her parents, she's pretty much sealed into getting married. I'm not sure who has it worse, the whole dating situation in Korea is messed up if you ask me.
Last week in the midst of all the craziness, I had another first Korean experience that I think you all will enjoy. In Korea there are these public bath houses, my co-workers and I had a long week and they asked me if I wanted to go. I wasn't quite sure what I thought about it and didn't really want to go, but I thought hey it's the culture, I should at least try it out once. It was something else. Let me explain. A lot of Koreans don't have bath tubs, they mainly have shower heads that are attached to
Kimchi
Koreans always gots to have them some Kimchi their bathroom sink. Their shower is actually their bathroom. The public bathhouses are separated by sex. You go in, undress (totally butt naked) and basically bathe with everyone(same sex). There are huge tubs like hot tubs where you soak then after soaking for awhile you sit at individual stations with shower heads and scrub yourself. And when I say scrub, you literally scrub off all your dead skin with this little towel. If you want to pay a bit more you can have someone scrub your dead skin for you. This makes people become very close; Betty, Kate and I are now considered "best friends". It was little weird and uncomfortable at first, but you get used it and do your own thing. Everyone is too busy doing their own thing and you soon lose all your insecurities and just take care of business. And to be honest it was very relaxing. I actually enjoyed it. And am going back next week.
This past weekend I went to Seoul again to see my uncle and meet a family friend. I got into Seoul on Friday night and walked around to look for a place to crash, we finally found
Family
So many kids. a motel and I checked in. Motels in Korea, are once again little different, they can literally be "rented" by the hour for random hookups. The room was small and after close examination of my bed, I found pubic hair. Nasty, I know. I thought it would be safer and cleaner to to sleep on my coat, so I spread out and used my bag as a pillow and my fleece as my blanket. I was cold and uncomfortable and woke up about every hour. I thought we needed some drinks so we went out and talked about life in Korea and Seoul. I learned about Korea's organized crime, to never take a taxis alone at night in Seoul and a little more about nightclubs.
I woke up late the next morning and made my way to Seoul Art Centre to check out this exhibit called "Dialogue In the Dark". It was amazing. It took you through a day of a blind person. We were in a small group and entered the pitch black exhibit. The tour was in Korean and despite the language barrier, I was able to understand and a feel for what the artist wanted to portray. We walked through the park and listened to the sounds, went to a restaurant and smelt all the food, crossed a busy street and finally went to a cafe and ordered drinks. The servers were even able to give back the correct amount of change.
After the Art Centre, I had to find my way to Bundang to meet up with my uncle and aunt. It was hard, since I had to take a bus, but I finally found my way there and spent the rest of the weekend with them. I got back to Daegu on Sunday night and had to work on Monday afternoon. I was at the other campus that day and they had an English Festival, making it pointless for me to be there. The highlight of my day, was watching the kids chase the GnB mascot around hitting his head, poking his butt and trying to knock off his head. Poor guy that was underneath it all. It was funny, but awful to see the kids running around, these kids have no disciple. They are worse then the other school I asked those teachers last week why they don't disciple in them and they said they want to but the boss won't let them because the kids will get upset and quit. So basically the kids know this, and act up and have all the "power" in this relationship. IRRITATING!
After work on Monday, I left Daegu again and came to Cheonan to spend Christmas with my cousin and her family (more time with new relatives and kids galore). I got in Monday night and stayed up talking to my cousin about my dad's side of the family, which I learned a little about from an earlier conversation with my mom. She told me that when my dad was born, there was no North and South Korea, before the war. He was born in the northern part of Korea. When the war broke out, a lot of people migrated south. At this time my dad was about 5 years old and my cousin told me that my dad and her mom along with their 7 other bothers and sisters walked south pass what is now the DMZ. During their journey some of the brothers and sisters were separated. A few years later by some miracle they were all reunited. My dad's parents (my grandparents) didn't come with them since they were caring for their parents and their land. I found out that my dad grew up with out his parents and was raised by his older brothers and sisters. My dad is the youngest of 9 kids and there is about a 20 year age difference between him and his oldest sister. Communication has been lost with his relatives and my dad's family as we know begins with his generation. My dad's older brother (who speaks English) was one of the brothers that was separated from my dad. I have a desire to meet him and talk with him. I'm so interested in listening to his story since he was older and probably remembers so much more. I called him this morning and he said that the next time I'm in Seoul that we would meet.
This weekend was amazing! I love that I am learning so much. I hope you all have a great Christmas and an amazing new year! I'm thankful to have you all in my life.
Peace and love.
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<333
hahah i remember those public showers! oyyyyy. hahhaa i love hearing about your adventures and it sure sounds like you are having plenty! be safe and happy holidays, sis! =)))