Passport Photo - Modeling pic!

In order to obtain my medical check certificate, which is imperative for re-applying as a teacher in Korea, I had to present a passport size photo of myself to the hospital.  Hmmm, I thought?!  Where can I get one of those?  So, I went to where anyone else in my area would go, NAMPODONG!  I stopped in at the first photo shop I saw and was met by a young Korean girl who immediately snapped my picture, downloaded it onto her computer, and began PHOTOSHOPPING the crap out of it!  

This is all new to me, as I'm sure it is to you if you currently live in America and have had your passport photo taken at your local Walgreens, where you're given 6 "as is" pictures of your mug shot.  Not here, in Korea though, the land where beauty is everything!!  The girl  smoothed my skin, thickened my hair, brightened my eye color, erased my wrinkles, made my forehead smaller, and even changed my smile! ... oh and I should mention, I had to buy 50 wallet size pics?!  It was the smallest package available!  What am I supposed to do with 50 wallet size pictures of myself?!  

There was a man next to me who was asking the girl to make his eyes bigger, nose thinner, and even asked for his hair line to be brought forward!  Apparently that's not a lot to ask for!  Check out this picture where a man was photographed in a red polo shirt and later put in a suit - all in photoshop!  AMAZING... and really weird!

So next time you need a passport photo, come on over to Korea and let them fix you up!  You wanna look your best for your passport, don't you?!  ***

Holiday drinks!

This is my first year where I've cared about "holiday coffee drinks," because before this year, I never drank anything that even remotely resembled the taste of coffee!  But this year, I'm hooked, and experiencing, for the first time, the joys of a hot cup of yumminess!

Last Wednesday, Truchen, Gill and I met up for our weekly Wednesday "tea for three" date, and my eyes immediately stopped on "Cookies and Cream Mocha" when reading the menu board, and the rest is well... history!

Goodbye Gamjung...

I told Ella (my co-teacher), this morning, that I am going to be asking the Busan Office of Education to switch my school next year.  It came as a complete shock to her, and even a bit of a shock to me as the words rolled off my tongue.  I never thought I would leave Gamjung... I love my school, my students, my co-workers, my cozy little office, my even cozier apartment, and all the classes that are constantly cancelled...  but my teaching schedule is harder than anyone's I know and I'm ready to remedy that!  

So, tonight, after work, I met up with my friend Jenna and her co-teacher (and my hopefully soon to be co-teacher) Monica!  They work at a school close to Aaron's on the island, which would be a really fun change of scenery, not to mention, REALLY nice being so close to my hunny!  Monica is in her 50's, absolutely darling; very social, and extremely positive!  We shared Dolsut Bi Bim Bap, as we got to know each other for the 1st time (thanks to Jenna's coordination!).  As it turns out, I think it's a match!  

As we said goodbye, she shook my hand and said "My school's Principal will like you.  He will want you to come teach for us."  YAY!  Let's hope so!  So, at this point, my fate lies in the hands of the Busan Office of Education, but if all goes as planned, I'll be saying my VERY bittersweet goodbyes to Gamjung, and a big hello to Dae Gyo in March!  

CROSS YOUR FINGERS PLEASE!

*** Jenna darling, thank you from the bottom of my heart for going WAY out of your way to help with this whole process!  You're the greatest!

Handmade Ugly Christmas Sweater!

I'll be spending Christmas this year, with Aaron's big family in North Carolina!  I can hardly wait!  

On Christmas day (the day I'll be meeting most of his family) we'll all be wearing ugly Christmas sweaters!  Aaron and I were so excited about the themed party, and went straight to Gukje Market to search for ugly Christmas sweaters to wear!  We quickly realized that unfortunately, Koreans don't wear Christmas sweaters, so finding one was nearly impossible, much less finding an ugly one!  Which is why I made my own!  

Are you surprised?  

I found this long red sweater, with happy faces on it, in Nampodong and picked up 2 scarves from thrift stores, bows and beads from the dollar store, and green and red ornaments from a Christmas decor store in Gukje!

2 1/2 hours later, my sweater is finished and ready to sport!

Sorry, I'm not posting any pictures because his family reads my blog!  You guys will all just have to be patient!  It'll be worth the wait though! :)

Toast and Nutella!

Toast is good...

Toast with Nutella is better...

Toast with Nutella, and a heart written in it is very sweet...

Toast with Nutella and a heart written in it, handed to me by Aaron, is... 

perfect - in so many ways!

Thank you for the sweet little things you do to make me feel special everyday!
They never go unnoticed!