Recent Blog Posts



All Recent Posts

I hate AT&T as much as Dell!

Submitted by on

Salsa boy knows what an internet addict I am. He set up the internet to be activated for December 14th so that when we came back from our epic road trip I would be able to happily connect. No such luck. They screwed up and said they didn't have the apartment number so they couldn't do it. It's such crap--we live in a gated community, they would have had to stop in the office anyways and the office would have given them the apartment number and key since we did a key release. Whatever, so we gave them the apartment number and they said they'd be there yesterday. I waited at home all day yesterday and of course, no freaking internet person came. Salsa boy spent about 4 hours on hold and being given the run around between last night and today. Now the soonest they can get it in is the 4th of January--nearly 3 weeks later.

Dear AT&T,
Your customer service sucks at life. They are terrible. The only reason we have you is because the only other option is Time Warner, which is apparently worse at customer service (is that possible?). I will never recommend you to anyone. Also, I hate you.
Love,
Alex

Spaz Update: Does not being able to master how to drive a manual count as a spaz update? Seriously though, I've been trying really hard lately not to trip since the last thing I need is to end up in the emergency room without health insurance. There are some stairs in my apartment building that just cry out 'cracked skull' to me. I approach them with extreme caution.
—

http://aaaalexsadventuresinasia.blogspot.com/

The Big Apple!

Submitted by on

Well we are back from our trip to NYC. We needed to go to the Korean consulate to go through a brief interview and then wait for our work visas.  We used the opportunity to visit our favorite city and do some touristing. We checked out the Statue of Liberty, rode the subway around, took an NYC taxi, ate at local coffee shops, and took in the shops on 5th avenue and Madison avenue.
Snowed Under


We had visited NYC last year and it snowed three feet over night while we were there. This year it snowed three feet before we got there and it seemed like our travel plans would be all messed up because of the weather. We were hearing all kinds of different stories about how the city was pretty much shut down because of the snow. We had already scheduled our interview at the consulate and really didn't want to put it off any longer. It didn't end up being that bad for traveling to and from the city, but walking around was made a bit difficult with mounds of snow everywhere and puddles of icy slush everywhere.
Battery Park

Authentic NYC police tape




Lady Liberty


Our interview and visa process went smoothly. Our interview was short and sweet. He basically just asked us why we wanted to teach and live in Korea and a few other small talk questions.  We found it interesting that when we came into the Korean official's office, he only shook my hand and didn't offer his hand to Nikki. Before we went in we were wondering if we should bow or shake hands or what, ultimately just figuring we'd do whatever our interviewer did. I think we will have to just get used to some different ideas and customs for our move.
Korean Consulate 460 Park Avenue
The Train


A View from Central Park

NYC diner
—
teaching english in korea. 
blogging here: www.teachingintherok.blogspot.com

This is what love is

Submitted by on

Talking about our next vacation:

“I want to go somewhere really cool. Like, where I can swim with the dolphins… or the gorillas,” I say.

His quick response being, “Those gorillas aren’t swimming, Baby. They’re drowning.”

—

About 

Hi, I'm Stacy. I'm from Portland, Oregon, USA, and am currently living in Busan, South Korea. Check me out on: Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, Lastfm, and Flickr.

 

Polar Bear or not?

Submitted by on

Updated:

 

 

This Saturday, Jan 15, will be ‘freezin’ for a reazin‘ at Haeundae – participants meet at the Wolfhound Pub, walk to Haeundae, swim and go back to the pub.  It looks like it’s for a good cause.  I can’t make it, however.

——————

Original:

I swam in the Chosun Westin Haeundae Beach polar bear swim a few years ago, and have swam in Sokcho in January at least a few times.

Wando has a polar bear swim this January.

Does Busan?

I found this at the Busan Ilbo Polar Bear Swim website

“2011 The 24th Polar Bear Swim with Busan Ilbo.”  Looks promising.

Following the English link, however, I found this:

“period of refund : Within 1 month from the date of competition (2010. 1. 31)”

The Korean page contains the same date.

Anyone have news on the Polar Bear Swim?

—-

Update: The Busan Ilbo link is still being updated, it seems.  I have now found two dates, January 31, 2010 and January 23, 2011.  Those other dates seem to be placeholders until they complete the pages.


—

Adventures of 2010

Submitted by on

January 2010

{ My nephew, Mr. Gage was born! And seeing my sister take on the role of being a mother was quite terrifying but also a beautiful moment in life. }

February 2010

{ First I said goodbye to those that shaped me and also supported me in everything I attempted, I headed to Japan to see my goofy brother, Blake, and then after a difficult goodbye, Korea was my next stop marking the 16th as my the first day of my life here. }

March 2010

{ At first I was quite hesitant, the night life felt like 2nd year of college. But then the real adventures started, surprise birthdays unlike anything before, GIANT white teddy bear kidnappings, toast sandwiches every night, and my first Korean Buddhist Temple was seen! }

April 2010

{ Adventure continues, Cherry Blossoms are so gorgeous in the spring, and CAMPING! The bicycle gang took a camping trip. It felt oh so right to be in a van with 7 other people, jamming down the highway. }

May 2010

{ Buddha’s birthday! Which is a national holiday, and so Eric and I took what we thought would be a bicycle/road trip to the West, it really ended up being mega rainy days and lots of Hoedeopbap. Also this month I met the enduring Kay 2 and Soung Hyo, which became my first Korean friends and helped me get studio space and make some art connections. }

June 2010

{ Hulk Anderson was turning a new age, so we threw him a wrestling themed party on my rooftop, it was insanely fun and previous to the party I had a mix up with a curb and my arm was in a sling. Gotta love the attempted curb jump! }

July 2010

{ 4th of July was an extravagant feast, goodness! We had our party at Agit and shared our madness of mojitos, potato salad, burgers, deviled eggs, watermelon, and such with our Korean friends. We finished the night at a noraebong, which is a Korean style Karaoke bar. }

August 2010

{ My 25th birthday was spent in a magical place in the forest. I wrote my life list, and I felt truly loved from some many different places in the world. But what beats bicycling to the Great Wall in China? Absolutely nothing, and so that is the highlight of August! }

September 2010

{ Vacation was spent on Geoje Island with friends. We swam to another island, which I honestly thought would be the death of me. But turns out the fish that live in an underwater cave are quite funny looking, and worth all the scratches to see. I had worked hard since May in the studio and my first solo exhibition took place at the end of the month! I had lots of support from work and my friends. }

October 2010

{ Time to rest, lots of art exhibitions to see, decisions to make, and someone wonderful to spend my time with. }

November 2010

{ I know, I know, but I don’t often share this aspect of my life on the world wide web, and you should all know that it is truly amazing to meet someone that creatively motivates you, is insanely talented, and only says no to adventures that seem far far too dangerous. }

December 2010

{ After giving a lecture to some future educators about how fun English learning can be, I felt really great about my decision to stay. I have been able to travel to China, Japan, and soon enough Thailand in the course of one year! I have created an Art curriculum that I use to teach English through Art. Life is good, quite wonderful indeed! }

Happy 2011!

It isn’t always necessary to make resolutions, but goals are nice. Also make a list of things you like that you already do, and don’t want to change.

Annoying Things About Korea #2: Those Blinking Ads on the Internet

Submitted by on

Blinking Lights on Christmas Trees is Fine.  On the Internet?  No.

When you see Seoul at night, you see nothing but lights, lights, and more lights.  Stunning really.



However, why Korean shopping websites believe that the blinking will encourage shoppers is another matter altogether.  I completed a search on a very well-known Korean shopping site and this is what you get.
I could not hit the "back" button on my browser fast enough.  A piece of advice: don't allow pop-ups when you visit a Korean website.  It gets worse.  Much worse.


—
www.seoulgyopoguide.com www.twitter.com/thelostseoul

Pages

more
Subscribe to Koreabridge MegaBlog Feed