Things I Miss

I guess it's about time I've made a list of things I miss. I love Korea, but after being here for about 8 (or 9) months there are certain things that I have been deprived of and I would like to take the time to mention these special things.

• My mom's cooking (pancit, chicken adobo, everything)
• My dad's cooking (kebab, he makes the best in the world)
• Beer that is not Korean. (shout-out to Summit IPA or Pabst Blue Ribbon or Nordeast)
• Thrift stores (shout-out to Rewind and M.S.) 
• Real cheese (that I don't have to go an hour away to get)
• Sitting at a bar. (No, not in a bar. At a bar, chatting it up with the bartender. Western style bars don't really exist in Inje.)
• Fireplaces
• Twins games. Oh my gawd I miss going to Twins games so much.
• Jucy Lucys
• Yelping (shout-out to Annie D.)
• Shopping at Target and going in for chapstick and milk, then spending $80 and forgetting my chapstick and milk
• Bar Bingo at Grumpy's after work (shout-out to any OG people reading this)
• A big bed (I'm not used to sleeping in a twin bed, and sometimes I roll into the wall, ouch)
• Golfing. Not screen golf, real golfing with real grass and real tees and on a real course.
• Pizza Luce - Bloody Mary Bar days (Yes, days. Not mornings. Shout-out to CP and BL)
• Block parties/street festivals

These are things that I didn't really love at home, but now have strange cravings for because I have no access to them:

• Ranch
• Mozzarella sticks

Turns, out I miss a lot of things from home. This isn't meant to be a sad, depressing post, like "waa waa I miss home, cuddle with me and pity me." No. This is merely a list of things that I appreciate so much more now that I can't have them. 

A bit of Korea and Minnesota in one image. Perfect.

I still love you Korea, and my list of things I miss from Korea will be much longer than this.

Flooding in Duluth

For whoever reads my blog, I just want to bring attention to the recent floods in Duluth, Minnesota. I went to school at the University of Minnesota - Duluth and spent five glorious years in an equally glorious city, and it hurts my heart to see the beautiful city on the lake completely destroyed.

7th Ave East, just blocks away from one of my old houses

An intersection right next to campus

Downtown Duluth

Miller Hill Mall, I worked just down the main street

Only in Minnesota

Zoo Escapee

Luckily, no one died and no one has been seriously injured. However, the damage is devastating. Water can't be used to drinking or cooking for quite some time, people have been evacuated, homes have been destroyed, and 14 highways have been closed.

The only deaths that have occurred are from the Duluth Zoo. A seal and polar bear escaped, but have been rescued, almost all the farm animals have died, and the turkey vulture and raven exhibit still hasn't been checked out because of the flood water.

I love you Duluth, I hope you dry up soon!

Thanks to Minnesota Public Radio, 95 KQDS Radio, and Facebook users for letting me steal your pictures.

Yesterday Was A Good Day

Yesterday was a brilliant day. In fact, one of the best days I've had in months.

Here's why:

1. We usually have 5-6 class everyday, but the Tuesday schedule had us only scheduled for four.
2. Less students showed up that day, so technically I only had to teach 3.5 classes.
3. My last class was amazing! And it was a small class (about 6 students, and small classes are my favorite).
4. I taught them when to use "a" and "an" and how to say "these are..." versus "this is..." and they understood it!
5. I had yoga, and the crankiest looking ajumma gave me a towel to wipe my sweat off! Friends!
6. Biking home, I ran into fellow teachers at a coffee shop, and we ate ice cream. Even better? When I went to go buy ice cream, I got 2 free ice cream bars. Woo!
7. Everyone went home early, but my friend Connor and I stayed behind to chat while he finished his beer, and we met a Korean, who was born in Kazakhstan. He was awesome; his English was good, he was funny, he talked about soju and pooping, aaand I thought he was easy on the eyes.

How do I summarize this day in one word? WINNING!

Thanks Charlie, me too.

Music Monday

I cannot get enough of this song, and this band. Shout-out to Caitlin P. for this song, and one of the greatest radio stations on the earth, 89.3 The Current for this performance.

The Lumineers are a folk/rock band (more folky than rocky) from Denver. I cannot get enough of this song in particular. The lyrics are a little cheesy compared to my usual taste, but their voices, the melody, the fact that there's  mandolin in this song is perfection.

Their debut album came out in early April and is lovely. Their songs have a folky, old, timeless sound. I recommend checking out more of there music. "Stubborn Love" is another one I like, with romantic lyrics, but still a beautiful song.

My Life as a Waygook, Episode 2

I loves gifs, that's no secret, and this blog perfectly describes life in Korea as gifs.
Check it out here: Kikinitinkorea
It might not be as funny to you, as it is to expats in Korea, but I hope you enjoy it.

And to make you all jealous, here is a picture I took while walking home earlier this week, jealous? Yes, this is my life, yes those are my mountains, and yes it's much more beautiful in person.

Taken with instragram

Getting a Haircut in Inje

I did it. After almost two months of debate I finally got my first haircut in Korea. I hate it.
To start off, I don't know why, but I do not like getting my hair cut. I'm afraid of how it will look, I'm afraid I won't get what I want, and I think my hair is my security blanket that I don't like strangers touching and cutting. I was nervous going in (as always) but since I see Korean girls with super pretty haircuts, and Korea is generally a pretty stylish country, I was fairly confident they would do a good job wherever I went. I wanted a trim (about three inches off) and new bangs since mine had completely grown out.

This is what I was afraid of (stolen from roketship)

I initially wanted to the to a salon in Inje where a man worked, because I though he looked really cool and would give me an equally cool looking hair cut, but I went in and he gave me the big arm X meaning "NO".

I continued wandering around town and ran into my friend Connor who recommended a place to go where all the boys get their haircuts. Their hair always looks nice, and he said the lady was "smart" so I went in. There was a K-pop concert on the TV, so I though "Man, this is going to be good. This woman must know stylish hair if she is has k-pop on TV." 

It was my turn. This woman knew no English, and I knew very little Korean. This was expected, but I was super excited for the adventure of the language barrier, yet being to able to get an awesome haircut. I motioned I wanted about three inches off, and showed her pictures of various bang styles that I liked. She nodded and started. Next thing I know, seven of inches of hair are gone! Tears almost emerged. She even knew that she did it when she went "oh" and put her hand where I told her I wanted my hair, and where my hair was. Oh really?

This is Grimes. I love her.

I said "okay" because I was in shock and I knew tears of sorrow wouldn't make my hair magically grow back. Then she cut my bangs. They don't look anything like any of the pictures I showed her. My bangs look like Grimes's bangs. That's her above. She encompasses everything I wish I could be, but I unfortunately am not cool enough to have bangs like her. I smiled, mumbled a goodbye and thank you in Korean, left, put my hair in a ponytail, bought ice cream and a bottle of 복분자주 (Korean black raspberry wine), which I am currently enjoying to drown my hair woes.

I'll probably be used to my haircut in about three days and get over this. And to be honest, I hate 80% of the haircuts I get anyway. And I'm probably just being a typically whiny girl, hating on their own haircut. Well, I hope your haircut is better than mine. I recommend bringing pictures of what you want when get a haircut with a non-English speaker. I'm off, I hope you enjoyed my 복분자주-filled rant.

Arazue's Solo Adventure in South East Asia: A Summary

Here is a recap of my trip: I flew into Thailand, with initial travel plans to go to Laos. I went alone with no guide, no travel books, no idea of what the heck I was getting myself into, made my first real decision as I arrived at the airport, met the most amazing people ever, had some of the craziest encounters, saw the most beautiful sites, and made so many unforgettable memories. I felt invincible after this trip.

I recommend everyone to travel alone, it was truly a life changing experience. You learn so much about yourself, and what you are capable of. It was so liberating to have no idea what I was going to do the next day, where I was going to go, and what I was going to see.

To everyone that I met on my trip (if you're even reading this silly blog), thank you. Thank you for talking to me, laughing with me, pitying me as a girl travelling alone, being my friend, and being a part of the best two weeks of my life.