Things I have learned while putting off making lesson plans

1. I found a new site that has subbed movies and TV shows. I will not be changing my alliance with mysoju anytime soon, but its nice to know there are more sites out there that are easy to use.

2. The aircon is controlled by the central office which means that they can turn it off at anytime. I can't tell you how hot we were today in the English Zone because they office deemed us not important enough. By the way, the zone is on the top floor of the school and I don't think I have to tell you that heat rises...

3. Johnny Depp gave a waiter a 4,000 usd tip when the bill was 4,400 usd. Why is that news? The man owns his own island. I think that he can afford to tip big.

4. I haven't uploaded pictures in a while. I was looking at my blog and its not at all fun to read anymore. Where are the pictures?!

5. This weekend Seoul will greet me for the millionth time. I usually buy my plane ticket the day before, but today all the flights I wanted were booked. I had to get an earlier one which will totally screw up the meet and greet airport routine that Steph and I have. I can either take a taxi into the city by myself or ride the MRT. Its a tough choice because while the taxi ride is usually around 1 hour and the MRT is close to 2 hours, the price difference is wide.

6. I am more spend conscious now. People have been telling me this repeatedly for the past three months. I guess because I never talk about money people always assumed I didn't care.

7. My bangs are getting too long. I can barely see more hair than screen.

And finally a picture.


Yes, you make remark repeatedly on how fabulous I look.

My Nail Fiasco

I feel like my broken nail and my two lost nails are a sign that I am either to rough on my hands and/or I shouldn't have fake nails. They do make my hands appear longer and more delicate, but I live a crazy life. I can't keep running to the nail salon to have to redo my nails every time something like this happens. I have been twice already and my embarrassment level has reached a critical point. Maybe I will go to another nail salon. Spread my embarrassment around.

Goodness and a broken nail

This weekend was packed with major goodness.

Friday I headed to the Taewha River Festival with Natalie. I love the opening night because they have music and fireworks. This time I got a surprise when Davichi (at least I think it was Davichi. I know it was a girl from the super group Woman's Generation) and SG Wannabe showed up. I rushed forward with Natalie in tow so we could get as close as possible. What a night.

The next day I head to Busan for some shopping with Hope and our Korean friend Sue. We met Sue's friend Jessica there. We ripped the shopping center a new one with our focused plan of attack. The building has a spa, restaurants galore, fashion, etc. I was able to pick up some new cardigans and Hope got some dresses. We then headed to the outlets near the beach and let Donna Karen know exactly what we thought of her. They were having an 80% sale and I was able to pick up a cute summer dress that I am wearing at this exact moment with my bright green cardy. Yes, I look fabulous!

All the shopping made us thirsty and hungry so went to the Van Gogh Restaurant/Cafe. Its on the water and had some really great views. We sat there so long that we got hungry again, lol, and went to this pretty little Italian restaurant down the way. It was quite yummy. On the way back to Ulsan we hit some major fog which Sue has never driven in so it was interesting to be in that situation. Fog is something that I miss from home.

Sunday I went over to Laura V's house with Hope to have chocolate pancakes and hang out. Laura V and I now share a knee issue, although her story is way more entertaining than mine, so she is out of commission for a bit. After being there for a while, Hope and I met Natalie at the River Festival/International Rock Festival to listen to music. One band looked so wild that when he looked at me I had to look away.

The need to walk over the water bridge became quite large so I dragged the other girls to do it with me. All it is is floating plastic things stuck together to form a walkway. The best part were the security guards at each end decked out in full suits. I wondered what they would do if I fell in and almost went in just for that reason, but I looked to pretty that day to ruin it with toxic river water.

I was starving after I laughed so hard at the security guards so Hope and I went for some good pork. Laura G. spotted us sitting there eating and joined us.


Yesterday after school I headed to get my nails done (if you saw their state you would have made me) and they looked really nice until today when I cracked one. I am just too rough on them so I am going to head there after school and see if I can get them to fix it. I hope they have time.

I know I always say that I will put up pictures soon, but lets face it. I won't. At least until summer vacation. Sorry, but I can barely get my TEFL and school work done.

Oww, that's got to hurt

I was reading allkpop today and struck gold. Tuesdays always make me a bit down so when I watched this video of 2pm's Chansung being poked in the eye by his bandmate I almost fell out of my chair. I watched it twice laughing the whole way through because Chansung may be dancing, but he can only see out of one eye. At one point he almost punches another guy because he can't see him, lol. Love it.

Things you learn while eating watermelon

I think a few entries back I wrote about my awkward relationship with my Co-teachers and how I didn't like the feeling at all. I can't remember the last time I had an awkward relationship with someone that I had to see everyday. It seems impossible, but leave it to me to make it possible. It was confirmed last night by an outside source (another teacher at another school) that the Cos feel the same way. They think I am cold and that I don't like them because I don't ask them to help me. I don't ask them to help me because I know they are busy and I don't want to bother them. Way to make middle school really middle school again. I am working on smiling more to them. I hope that helps.

I am close to the end here in Ulsan. I am ready for something new, yet I know I will miss the simple life I lead here. It makes me sad, but I need to see more places and live in more places. I am addicted to traveling (and strawberry banana coolattas).

I think I have made a breakthrough with one of my really troubled students (knock on wood). She started the year as the mean girl and now with a lot of patience and me practicing my Korean, we can really get things done and learned. I am thankful.

This weekend was spent with no phone since I turned it off. I just needed a break from everything and everyone. I went for a run that was a lot longer then I expected, but took me near a small mountain/large hill. I decided I needed to climb it, really climb it meaning not take the stairs to the top. It was probably the most challenging feat I accomplished in a while.

I just checked out Epik High's blog. I have been really behind on the fun Internet things I used to do. I realized that they have up all their updates and pictures from their tour, yet I have nothing about their concert in Seoul. I should feel really bad, but instead I just feel sorta bad. I promise to work on it because that concert was really hip (word of the day for my Grade 8 students).

The weather is a bit wacky now. Its the windy season so that means my perfectly styled bangs get an interesting new style on my walk to anywhere. Its nice when I am running though like constant air con.

Last week in Korean class we had a challenge, speak to Korean people. We met at McDonald's and decided on our challenges; mine was to order us food and drinks. The others had to ask strangers on the street for directions to different places. It was all caught on camera and I am waiting for Shiffaun to load them. Our Korean teacher took us to a restaurant after the other students were done so I could do my challenge. The pork restaurant was delicious and once the staff knew what was going on with our table, they were quick to join in. Our teacher got incredibly drunk incredibly fast. My favorite quote from the night can't be put in this blog, but I can definitely share with you my second favorite quote:

Korean Teacher (KT): "Jenika" (looking at me)
Jenika: "That's Julia."
KT: "Yes. Julia, I like your earrings and your style is very good, but your Hangul (Korean) is not good."
Everyone died right there from laughter.

Trying to master that language has been the hardest part. I can write, I can read, but my speaking is atrocious. I wonder if that's because my English is somewhat odd to begin with.

The funniest thing happened to me last week. I walked into the lunch room and all the teachers were there. I looked for a place to sit and glanced at the gym teachers' table. There appeared to be a new guy/substitute for the shorter, broad shouldered guy. It took me two days to figure out that it was the same guy, but just with glasses. When I finally figured it out, I busted out laughing. No wonder I have an awkward relationship here, they all must think I am crazy. (Ok the story was way funnier in my head.)

I promise to upload any pictures that I have. I have plenty, sorry.

Music I have been listening to:
K.Will
MC Mong
8eight
2NE1
Shinee (I change Juliette to Julia just because I like my name, lol)
DJ Shine
SG Wannabe
Super Junior

Just for fun here is W-inds with G-Dragon from Big Bang. Big Bang is trying to break into the Japanese market and W-inds agreed to let G-Dragon do some rapping. The video itself is my favorite. Its like an 80s flashback and it hurts my eyes to watch most of it.

My new addiction

Dunkin Donuts Strawberry Banana Coolatta.

Seriously addicted. To the point of the girls behind the counter know me. Scary, yet very effective.