My Trip to the Hospital

So in my last post I wrote about the terrible pain in my eye... and yesterday it got worse and became almost unbearable. It felt like someone was pushing my left eye out of my head through the socket... needless to say it really hurt.
So that afternoon... crying for pain... and really not feeling well... I went to the school to tell Miss Bae (our director) that I would be unable to make it to night classes because I was heading to the hospital. Shelena had joined me for the afternoon and came along to the school for both moral support (and she was going to take me to the hospital right after).
Scared and embarrassed to be causing such a fuss... I took the elevator upto the 7th floor. When I got to the Hagwon, I asked Mr. Yoo (the assistant director) if Miss Bae was there so that I could speak with her.
"She just left" he said.
Now crying (both out of pain and embarrassement)... (to which I am still embarrassed about).. I told Mr. Yoo what was going on and that I had to go to the hospital.
Mr. Yoo is the sweetest guy and though his English is not terribly good... we were able to understand each other and he asked me if I knew where the hospital was. I told him that I did not, but was planning on just getting into the cab and saying "hospital".
Mr. Yoo then promptly left the room. A few seconds later he returned with a Korean Teacher and he said that the Korean teacher would be taking me to the hospital.
To make a long story short... I am very dehydrated... to the point that my tongue is now white and my lips have shrunken in size. The doctor said that I am to get a lot of rest... drink... and eat (all easier said than done... especially when I have to teach and am nausious from being so dehydrated). He then said that if by Saturday, my condition does not improve... I have to go back and have an IV to give me fluids. He then gave me some painkillers (which completely knocked me out btw) and sent me home for the night.
Since I have to pay for healthcare here I was really nervous about the cost. To see the Dr and have a weeks worth of painkillers given, cost me $4.50 USD... not too bad.
Shelena stayed with me for a little bit (which was amazing of her... since I was in no mood to talk... socialize... or basically do anything)... and then when she left (around 8pm) I went straight to bed. I probably should have drank more that night... but I was so nausious... I just needed to sleep.
I slept all the way to 5 this morning. My morning class (6:30am) did not come... so I got to rest my head at work for another hour or so.
I still feel really bad and extremely nautious. My eyes still feel like someone is pushing them out of my head... but aparently I look a little better (says the Korean teachers).
I still think I am going to head to the Dr's tomorrow just to be safe... but I will go to the International Clinic in Itaewon (since I wont have the Korean Teacher with me this time to translate)... also my mom says that it is a good idea (cause if I am as dehydrated as the Korean Dr said... I may not be able to rehydrate myself quickly enough to make a difference). Though I hope that this trip doesnt cost too much (though I know that you cant place a price on your health... it still sucks to have to payu for healthcare).
I think that from today on I am going to have to start taking better care of myself. I saw all the warning signs that I wasnt feeling so good... but passed them off as stress or being tired. I think that since I am the only person that knows my body... well next time (hoping though that there wont be one)... I wont place myself last and jeopardize my health.
So needless to say.. other than going to the Dr's this weekend (and perhaps to church)... I wont be doing much. I want to start the new term off fresh and healthy... (raising glass of evian water) So here's to rest and to my health!

3rd Month

So I have been told that right before and throughout your third month of teaching abroad... you enter the "I hate everything stage". I think I am now fully there. It is nothing to do with anything or anyone... but I think that the rose-colored glasses have now come off and I am seeing and feeling some things that I didnt before.
Currently I am pretty exhausted and have some problems at work... so that is only adding to my frustration and the "I hate everything" stage. Oh well!
I think that this weekend I don't want to do much. Perhaps if I catch up on some missed sleep and things resolve with our contract talks... I will enter the yay Korea stage again.
Until then... I am keeping my head low and trying not to attract too much attention to me and my tired, sunken and black eyes.
(Sidenote: I have this terrible pain in and under my left eye. It hurts to blink... hurts to move my eye.... it just hurts. I thought that it was perhaps due to the fact that I didnt sleep for more than 20 minutes last night... but after a 6 hour nap... the pain is still there. If it still hurts like this on Saturday... I may make my way to the International Dr's office in Itaewon... but hopefully it wont come to that!)

Same old Same old

This weekend has been pretty boring. On Friday I went to WA BAR... and didnt stay very long. Most teachers have it a lot easier than I... since they teach children, their classes start later and finish earlier... and well they aren't as tired as I... or so I'd like to think. I think that the hours are starting to get to me... and have caused me to question a few things about my decisions.
Saturday day was a bit strange. We (Shelena and I) decided that we would check out Moran Market at Moran Stn. I was under the impression that this location sold cheap clothing and veggies... but to tell you the truth I didnt make it far enough into the Market to know what they sold. I was barely 2 steps into the market when I heard a large yelp... intrigued I turned my head... and well for those of the faint of heart, stop reading now and skip to the next paragraph... so I heard a yelp... turned my head and saw a large cage (about the size of a dinner table) full of dogs. Now I have been thinking over the last little while that I would try dog meat... thinking that the dog they ate wasnt really a dog... it was more like a chicken-dog or something... but the cage was full of dogs... and they looked like ones that we would raise as pets in Canada. And well... there were about 50 dogs smushed into a large carge (but tiny for the amount of animals in it)... panting (cause they had no water... and it was the hottest day yet)... and well... it just broke my heart. The smell was nausiating as well... I mean the dogs were covered in feecese (where are the FDA people when you need them) and well... it was horrid.
The next thing I knew.. I saw the man selling the dogs pick up one of the puppies (obviously chosen by the customer) and throw it (yes throw it) into a bag. Sidenote: Koreans eat dog because they believe that it gives them stamina (sexually) because of the way they are killed. Unlike chickens... where you just cut off their heads... Koreans beat the dogs to death in a bag... believing that the bruising causes the eater of the animal to gain stamina and resilliance.
So I looked away.. because as soon as I saw the bag... well I knew what was going to happen. Shelena and I decided that it was time to leave and go somewhere else... and well... as we were leaving.. all I could hear was the yelping of a dog being beaten in the bag. Even today the sound still haunts me! I know that it is their culture to eat the animal... and to kill it the way they do... but my heart sinks thinking about it... and I honestly think I will never look at a puppy the same way again... and I think the yelping will haunt for a while.
Saturday night I went on a date with a guy that I had met a while back. It was a nice evening... we caught a film... ate Kalbi and had coffee. All in all it was a pretty plesant evening.. but there just werent any butterflies on my part... and well... I am holding out for the butterflies. Oh well... it was nice to go out and basically start dating again.
OOOO... so major coincidence. While I was waiting for the guy to buy the tickets to the film (he insisted on paying... despite my objections).. I ran into some foreigners. The man, woman and their young son (about 18) introduced themselves and said that they were in Korea running an English Language non-denominational church. Since I am looking for a new congregation (see earlier post as to why) I asked for the location and said that I might check out the congregation. So today Shelena and I made the trek out to Suji to attend the church. The worship service was pretty good (the worship leader was cutie cute cute and they sang mostly Delerious, Jars of Clay and some other band (I can't off hand think of who) songs. The bands I mentionned are Christian rock groups for those that are unaware of the Christian music industry.
The sermon was really good too. The pastor (a Texan... but we won't hold that against him :P) spoke on prayer and that G-d doesn't expect ellequant sililoques... he just wants us to communicate with him. It was just an uplifting sermon... one that I feel that I needed! It was nice to just leave and feel good about about oneself... and I did after his sermon. I will most likely be going back there... even if it is a little bit out of the way.
Now I am sitting at a PC Bang updating my blog... answering emails... and reading about other people's lives and experiences in Canada.
This week has been a tiring one for sure... and it has def had its moments of saddness and confusion... but I think that all in all I am enjoying my time here and for now... wouldn't trade it for the world.
Cheers
UPDATE: So I just checked my Canadian Bank account online and my money that I wire transfered home on Wednesday is now there! WOOOHOOOO! Yay for competant banks. The guy at the KB Bank was really nice and helpful... add him with the fact that before I left I got all the bank info from Scotia... and well... it was such a smooth process. No complaints. So now I am able to pay off my visa, mastercard and what is left of my student loan. I think that if I continue sending the same amount home each month.... or a tad more... I will completely debt free come October... or November at the latest. So yay!

COWARD!

So I just checked my email... and some jerk-off left me vulger messages on my blog related to... well they really aren't to be repeated. All I can say is that this ass (for lack of better words) didn't have the balls to even identify him or herself. I mean really... if you don't enjoy what I write... keep it to yourself... or at least have the balls to identify yourself so that I can dispute your comments. To hide behind the title Anonymous is cowardly and shows your character.
To whomever you were... and you know who you are... you aren't even worth the time that I am putting into this post... and I wish you well.

Post 100! Thanks Kim!

So I just received a package from home! This was from my sister... a souvenier from her trip to the east coast this month. It was a welcomed surprise.. to come to work and see a huge Canadian stamped package waiting for me on my desk at work :). I swear I have some trinkets for you.. I just have to mail them!

Han River Boat Tour

Here are some pictures from our boat trip down the Han River last weekend. Notice the corn on the cob.. everything here comes on a stick :).
The rice cake Shelina is holding was a present from a cute little girl on the boat.
It was such a muggy day... you could see and feel the humidity... but on the water it was really nice...
Anyways... enjoy the pics.

Something in the works

So I won't go into too much detail... because I don't want to jinx anything... but I have some exciting plans for the weekend... and well... I am actually giddy!
In other news... today I have experienced yet another example of being a second class citizen. I teach a Tues/Thurs business class.. and well students began to complain that I was female... so next month the male foreign teacher will be teaching the business class and I will start teaching a conversation class. Oh well! The school thinks that this topic is better taught by a male... since it is more a male position. I really haven't taken this too much to heart... I mean I knew coming in that I would be treated differently than my male counterpart... so... meh!
I think it is because I am giddy that nothing seems to be bothering me today!

1 Thessolonians

So this weekend was pretty nice.
On Friday night I went out some of my fellow teachers and bosses for a drink. It was alright... no complaints there.
Then I headed off to Suji to meet up with Shelina and Liz... neither of us stayed long or drank anything... we were all too tired!
The next day we went to see Madacascar. Being a Dreamworks picture the film was pretty brilliant... I actually reccomend it. Then we went shopping for runners. I managed to get a nice pair of Reboks for a half decent price. Oh and I got the new Harry Potter book as well (BRILLIANT!... I am already done it.... and so sad....)
Sunday, I got up early and went to church. What can I say?!? Well, the short version is that I don't think I will be going back there again.... The long version: The preacher chose to talk about 1 Thessolonians.... and spoke about sexual immorality.... everything from unwed pregnancy, to homosexuality, and premarital sex....
In my early Christian days.. I probably would have agreed with him and sat in judgement with him over these things... but now... too much has happened... I have met too many people to sit on my pedestal and judge. I am a strong believer that when you point the finger at someone else... there are 4 others pointing back at you... and well.... I was needless to say, less than impressed of his version of Christianity. Last week it was.... don't worry cause the non-believers will get what's coming to them during the rapture... and yesterday was... avoid people who are sexually immoral... and pray for their condemned souls!
I am actually pretty angry with his sermon! It is people and sermons like his.. that give Christians bad names! I am in no way condoning certain behaviours... but neither can I condemn them either. I am not the judge, nor am I the jury... and well I refuse to try and intrepret how G-d could judge or condemn someone.
I know that some people may completely disagree with me... but I think that... well that form of Christianity is too Conservative and narrow-minded for my liking!
Needless to say I am searching for another parish (and am even considering taking the 40 minute train ride to the Anglican Church in Seoul).... URGH! It just urks me.. you know! There is way too much hatred in this world... and well... I am a strong believer that since we are mortal we are unable to separate the sin from the sinner.... and well.. we need to accept people for who they are... instead of what we disagree with them about! Let he without sin cast the first stone!
But I digress... I then went with Shelina and Liz on a boat tour around the Han River in Seoul (pictures to come). It was really relaxing... and nice to just... well for lack of better words "relax".
We then chose to go to the Outback Steak House for dinner. I chose to get the 8oz Steak.. since it wasn't too expensive... and with the prices of beef being so high here (due to the boarder closures in Canada and the US) I knew that I wouldn't be seeing red meat anytime soon. It was really good... but I was sure that the meat seemed a tad larger than Shelina's (who had also ordered teh same thing as I). Though I was determined to finish all my food.. I mean 8oz isn't that big right?!? So I forced the meat down (to which of course I ended up with a huge tummy ache).. but felt proud that at least I was able to finish it. The next thing we knew the bill had came... and well... instead of giving me an 8oz steak (which I had ordered)... the waitress had given me a 12oz one... Needless to day I immidiately felt nautious! I just 12ozs of red meat! Oh well... since it was her mistake she charged me only for an 8oz... but I will never eat one that size again... and well think I will be avoiding red meat for a long while.
Anyways... that was my weekend in a nut shell...
A tad relaxing.. a tad fun... and a tad urksome...
Cheers

Volunteering

So I joined a gym today. I know that people are probably scoffing because they know of the horrid experience I had in Canada.. where I paid for my membership and literally never went.... but this time I am going to try my best to get out and go to the gym. By summer 2006 I want to be in a bikini! (fingers crossed). The price wasn't bad either.. for 3 months it was $165 (USD)... not too shabby since I shopped around and this was the cheapest and most reasonable for what it was offering.
I have also decided that once a week I am going to do some volunteer work. (I asked BCM if it was alright... as long as I am not getting paid, they are fine with it). So once a week (maybe on Saturdays) I am going to go to Seoul and volunteer my time at a children's orphanage. I mean that is the least that I can do. It is sooo sad about the number of unwanted children in this country.. that well I had to do something. My heart and conscience wouldn't not let me. I found this organization on the web and it places volunteers in nearby orphanages.... I will be volunteering here:
Hwasung Baby Home: 'Seoul'
The Hwasung Baby Orphanage is welcoming volunteers to come in between the the hours of 11:00am and 5:00pm 7 days a week. So, if you are bored, come on down and have fun with the children it's a great pass time for everyone involved. The kids will be waiting for your visit!
Orientation: Every Saturday at 10:45am Place: Sangwangshimni Station #207, GREEN SUBWAY LINE Line 2, Exit 4
So if there are any ex-pats that want to go with me... well drop me a shout.
Other than that... things are pretty good here. This week went by so quickly!
It is funny to think about how we ever did without technology. All the KB Banks in Korea today suddenly went down at 12pm and it was like all hell broke loose... especially since it was pay day! The banks fixed the problem (a company wide virus) by 4pm.... but for those hours that people (including I) were separated from our hard earn cash.... well let's just say some people got a little nasty.
Korean classes are going really well. I know abotu 2 pages of vocabulary and have learnt several phrases that help me get around on my own. I can also read the language with pretty much ease.... though I am still very slow at it. Oh well, practice makes perfect!
Off to WA BAR and to our staff social tonight... so it should be fun! Then I am going to test out the gym membership tomorrow (after I buy a pair of decent runners).
That's about it though.... I like relaxing now.... maybe I'll volunteer on Sunday after church... that way if Shelina wants, she can come with me. (The invite is open to all though).
Anyways that is all in hot and humid Korea.
OH! And for a country that does air raid drills once a month, where mothers hussel their children off the streets to teach and practice with them the proper proceedures in case North Korea ever invades.... well you would think that they would put that kind of information in their "Welcome to Seoul, Ex-pat Info Pamphlet!". I was walking on the roads today and the sirens went off.... my heart started to race... I mean I had no clue what was going on.. and well culminated with the fact that parents were husseling their children off the street... well needless to say that I was a tad concerned to say the least. Miss Bae laughed at me, when I was explaining the fear and confusion that I had felt. Oh well... Chelsea moment #2!
Annyongy Kaseyo (Byes)!

"Extra Special Friendly Joiner"

So this week I have doing Personality Tests with my students. A lot of them say that the findings are almost correct to what they are.... so I did one on myself... and here are the results. It is pretty close if I must say so myself.... everything, even odwn to the criticisms.

Well what's there to say about you? You're a helpful person who places high value on harmony. You pay close attention to people's needs and wants and work well with others to complete tasks in a timely way. You follow through on your commitments.. you like structure and closure and like situations where warmth and compassion are shown. You're at your best by organizing people in getting the job done.
You radiate warmth and fellowship and generally fit in in well with your classmates... concerned about the feelings of others and like to help out when possible. You know it's important to give as well as to receive and donate your services as a volunteer. You like to be compatible with people. You have an easier time making friends and accepting their roles in life... you like doing things traditionally.... you're oldfashionned.
You take whatever role you do seriously.... you learn best in a situation where you know what you can expect... you don't like continued interuptions... you really have to get along with people. You don't take criticisms well. You place a high value on the big picture and sometimes have problems living in the now.
You come across as friendly, warm, concerned... leisure is to be done once all work is finished. You like including others in your relaxing... you like regularly planned social gatherings.
Love means warmth and commitment to you and you show this to your partner in tangible ways ( cards, flowers, gifts, etc)... once you're committed, you stay in it even if it's an inconvenience to you... or no longer healthy. Because you give so easily in relationships, you're disappointed if others don't give as freely as you do. You're more loyal to the institution of marriage or a relationship than the person themselves. When burned in a relationship, you get hurt bad and may need time to heal and get over it before moving on. You can really hurt someone if you wanted to.
Try to avoid sweeping problems under the rug.. learn how to manage conflict and appreciate that conflict can help people in relationships to understand each other better. Value your own priorities and don't always put other's needs ahead of your own. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Take and give corrective feedback equally. You might need to develop more assertiveness. Don't assume that you always know what is best for others and state those opinions... that may make you look bossy and rigid. Don't get so caught up in the details that you forget the bigger picture.... IN A NUT SHELL: RELAX!

All I can say is that this assement is pretty close to who I am. Though I would love to think that I am perfect... I know that I am not and it is sometimes interesting to have an objective opinion about who you are. Though not all of the things are 100% true to me... a lot are pretty darn close. And well... they definetly give me something to consider.

My trip to the Temple

So I know that these photos are long overdue... I was having trouble with Hello. These are the photos that I took while I was visiting the Buddhist Temple next to the Coex mall in Seoul. Though the grounds are in the middle of a big city... once you enter the Temple walls... it feels like you have been transported back in time and into the countryside. Anyways... here are the pictures... I wasn't allowed to photograph inside the buildings... but the following are the pictures I took of the buildings and grounds. I tried to be as respectful as possible.
PS>>> If anyone knows how to just upload a whole bunch of photos through Hello without having the date and time break... please let me know (that way I can poste one big blog instead of 6 or 7). Thanks in advance.

So I tried as hard as I could to take pictures while being respectful to those praying, as well as to the culture. This is a picture of the giant Buddha statue in the courtyard. It is over 30 feet tall... and well... placed next to that gorgeous scenery... is just gorgeous!

I'm not 100% certain.. but I think that each of the lanterns has an ancestor's name on it. I could be wrong but I think that this is a way of honoring or remembering those that have passed.

So we never made it to the mountain that day to go hiking. But as you can see I surely got my excersize. The Temple grounds were all located on the side of a mountain. Not only did my spirit thank me for bringing it to such a sareen place... but I'm sure my butt was thrilled as well.

This is a picture of one of the murals painted on the sidfe of the Temple. This sanctuary is over 100 years old... but the artwork looks as if it were done yesterday! The intricate detail work done... well it is astonishing.

Isn't this just beautiful? No wonder it is so peaceful there... the scenary just takes your breath away.

The picture isn't very good... but this is the dragon and the drum in the center of the Temple grounds

Buddha

Hello is up again!

So Hello is working again.. so once I have a second I will put the pictures up of my trip to the Buddhist Temple near Coex mall a few weeks ago.
This weekend was pretty relaxing... I basically just sat about the house, ate popsicles and watched tv. It was nice to not have any commitments.. as I was pretty drained from the week and just needed to chillax.
Sunday I went with Shelina (see I can spell your name right) and Matt to the GEM Church (Global English Ministries) near Migeum Station. Overall the church service was really nice... it had a really good praise and worship service and the people were really nice. The preacher was a guest and well... though he spoke elequently (on Psalms 73)... found that I was uncomfortable with his interpretaion. The main crux of hios argument was that we should not fret in this life over our wrongdoers because they will be punished. It was the age old argument that we are going to heaven and everyone else is going to hell so we will get our justice later on in life. I was needless to say a little duressed about this argument. I mean I am not religious for vengence reasons. Oh well... he was only the guest speaker... so I am going to go back next Sunday to listen to the normal pastor.
This morning was kinda rough... my neighbor let his car alarm go off for almost 2 hours (startinf at 1am) and then the garbage man came at 3:30am to pick up the garbage right outside my window... so needless to say this morning was a little rough.
My first period class was cancelled once I got to school... so I had a couple of minuites to regroup.
Anyways.. off to second class.
Cheers

Exhaustion!

So the negative part about having a long weekend is that you fall out of the routine... you sleep in late and eat whenever you are hungry... you basically just laze around. The problem arises though when reality sets back in the following week and you realize that you have to go back to only 41/2 to 5 hours a sleep a night (yay for 6:30am classes). Oh well... it took me a couple of days, but now I'm alright.
I am going to see the 2:30pm showing of War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning today... I'll write my review of it tomorrow. I have actually heard and read mixed reviews on the film. I have heard that you either love it or hate it. I think that was the case with Batman Begins. Though I enjoyed the film and still have a staulkerish crush on Liam Nielson (grrrr)... the batman voice done by the actor caused me to really dislike the film. All I can say is that when he talked it sounded as if he worked for one of those seedy phone sex companies. It really creeped me out. Oh weel.. you can't love all the blockbusters right?!?
I think that this weekend will be a relaxing one. Other than perhaps going to a Buddhist Temple outside of Seoul... I don't plan on doing much (well sleeping.. but that goes without saying).
Though emotionally this week has been a dificult one for me.. with stuff at work... personal... and homesicknesses all kicking in at the same time... this week has allowed me to ask myself some pretty tough questions... and well... I am not 100% sure... but I think I have found some direction.
I hav3e been taking Korean classes (so much fun!) and thought that I would end this blog with my name in Korea in Korean: 처 ㅓㅣ ㅅ ㅣ... I hope you are as impressed as I am.
Cheers!

Ummm HELLO???!!!!

So Hello is still not working to post pictures so needless to say I am still unable to post pictures of my visits and adventures. If anyone else knows of a picture hosting site that actually works, please let me know.
This past weekend was our long holiday. Though I'm not too sure where all my money for the weekend went... I don't think I did very much. It was a pretty relaxing weekend.. but also a sad one.
Oh well... when it comes to problems I guess that isnt too bad right?!? I mean I am in Korea! and really, there is always the weekend to look forward too right?!?

Lost in Korea

I think it has finally hit me that I have no clue what I am doing with my life!
All the ex-pats I have met have some semblance of direction: I am going to law school, going for my PHD, my masters, going to work for such and such, etc. Everyone seems to have a plan. Everyone except me. I have no clue what the hell will happen tomorrow, let alone next year!
I am so lonely here... I hate the food... hate being stared at... hate not knowing what is being said to or about me... I hate feeling so confused!
I know that this is just a phase... the homesickness and insecure phase was bound to kick in sometime.... but I find that when I am alone... at night... all by myself.... I find that I am contemplating where I am going and what I am doing. I know that Rome was not built in a day and that decisions and life choices take time to formulate and come into play... but I feel stuck. URGH!
I really don't hate Korea... the people are really kind and really go out of their way to help me the best they can... and my students are amazing.... and well it has given me a chance to become more independent and pay off my debts... I just.... but like any decision, there is always the downside... and for me the downside comes with feeling lost. And today I feel lost... Lost in Korea