Wait, how much is that?!

Before I came to Korea, I was under the impression that EVERYTHING in Asia is cheap!   Quite the contrary actually... Take this add, for instance.  I received this in my mailbox today, and couldn't believe the prices!  Holy shamolies!  

These cotton shirts are $262.00 and $124.00, and they're ON SALE!!  

These cotton dresses, while they are BCBG, are still outrageously expensive; even on SALE!  

Red plaid dress: $191.00

Black and white dress: $148.00

Now you have to be a serious coffee or rice lover to spend this type of cash on these two items! 

Coffee maker: $2,449

Rice maker: $265

I never thought, in a million years, that I would be shopping on e-bay all the way over here in Korea, but it's true.  I just received my first purchase in the mail yesterday!  Can you blame me?  This place is a money pit!  

Like the 1st day of school all over again!

I had no idea my new hair cut and color would be such the talk of the school today... I'm used to changing my color and cut often, so it really didn't phase me, but almost all of the kids at my school were going crazy! They would knock on my office door to see it, and most of them did double takes when I walked by. It was as if they thought I was a stranger that looked awfully familiar. When they would finally realized it was me, and that I wasn't wearing a wig, they would run after me and stop me so they could just stand and stare. It was the funniest experience! It was a little bit like the 1st day of school all over again, when they were intrigued by everything about me, but this time we all knew each other. Since my hair is darker, I said "I'm Korean now" and some of the kids are now calling me by my Korean name, which is Song Ee. I kind of feel like a brand new person... Funny how a new hair style and color can do that!

Can I please go?

So, in August, I'm going to Thailand for summer vacation. Apparently, in Korea, all goverenment employees, including me, have to ask the government for permission to leave the country. So, today, Stella helped me fill out a page of detailed questions about when I would be leaving the country, where exactly I would be traveling to, and how many days I would be at each location. On top of that, I had to write what my expectations are for the trip and what I think I will learn while I'm there. Can you imagine the uproar it would cause if this was the rule in America!?

Is this a performance or a florist shop?

2 weekends ago, I went to a recorder concert, and yes, you heard it right, I went to a recorder concert.  I was invited by one of my co-workers who was a performer in the concert.  She was so excited about the night and wanted all of her friends to be there, including me!  I was honored, and couldn't refuse.  She is the one to the right of the man in the middle.

Now, if you don't remember what a recorder is, think back to your elementary school days when you played the plastic instrument that produced music similar to that of the original Super Mario Brothers soundtrack for nintendo.  More than the shocking reality that people actually enjoy the sound of the recorder and came to listen to an hour of it, was the fact that nearly everyone in attendance came equipped with an elaborate bouquet to give to their friend or family member performing!  I'm not gonna lie... It made me double think my opinion of the recorder and had me wondering how I too, could join the recorder ensemble!

It's the little things in life...

... that make me happy, like this popsicle maker that I found for 1,000 won.  No longer will I dread walking up the big hill in the suffocating humidity to get home, because I will have orange juice popsicles waiting for me in the freezer!