Texas again

I'm home. Most of me. I'm still trying to get acclimated to being in Texas and doing normal, work-related stuff. I keep forgetting things like.. keys. Nothing too important, I guess. I mean, I don't really NEED to get into my classroom. I guess. I have a lot on my mind, guys.

But I'm so glad to be back in the comforts of my apartment, and I'm so glad that I went on an ADVENTURE and I'm so glad to have... other things. I'm a lucky girl and I recognize all that that entails right now. So. Yay.

Eat, Work, Sleep

That's basically all my life consists of at this point. Oh that and missing my boyfriend. And sweating. And wishing I were sleeping more. In my bed. In my room. In my apartment. I miss my bed.

I like being here, though. Don't get me wrong. My students, however, are a precocious bunch and have made me decide that I never want to have children of my own. Ever. High schoolers couldn't do that to me, but 12 year old kids can.

Also, it's getting in the high 90's in Incheon lately. That's madness. Next week is supposed to drop to the 80's, which I'm looking forward to. The magic straight is holding up wonderfully and I know that if I hadn't gotten it that I would have just shaved my head by this time so for the sake of my vanity, I want to thank the creator of this straight perm. As it is, blisters are forming ON TOP of my blisters, the heel of my left foot has been aching for weeks and I'm pretty sure that mosquitoes find me a delectable and exotic treat. Except for last night when my coworker and I were walking through the streets and found ourselves unable to avoid the mosquito spraying truck that drove by. A slight reprieve.

In other news, kids are mean to each other. It's nuts..

I'm wearing a brightening mask to try to counteract all the tan I've gotten walking around the city.

I LOVE having a coffee shop in the basement.

Sunday is my final day off and I'm going to spend it doing as many things as possible because after that, it'll be a straight eight days of work.

On the bright side, this means that I have 11 days until I see my boyfriend again. And yes, I'm writing about him like an infatuated schoolgirl. Because... I am an infatuated schoolteacher. It's almost the same thing, right?

I found the most delicious Korean restaurant ever the other day and I want to eat there solely from now on.

I'm REALLY going to miss kimchi in about two weeks.

I appreciate everything that air conditioning and caffeine have done  for me in the past two weeks.

Typing on a netbook is hard, ya'll. My fingers are so confused. I have to proofread things? What the heck, man. I never have had to proofread things in my life.  Well, that's not true... I kind of proofread things a lot. It's the nature of the game.

I love Rachael Yamagata.



Also, Pablo Neruda.

Also, Korean facial masks.

Also, comfortable shoes. I sure wish I had brought some to me before I decided to walk for days.

Subways are pretty nice, too.

Overall, I'd probably give life a really high B+.

A Walk on the Sidewalk: Rediscovering Korea and Getting Blisters

View from my room at Yonsei Songdo Campus

Blisters! I have four of them on my feet! I knew it was going to happen but I didn't expect it to be so soon. On the bright side, though, I have installed myself into my room at the summer camp and am pretty well-pleased. The room is nice, my coworkers seem nice, my TA seems nice, everything seems nice. The food seems fishy, which is less than nice but oh well. You win some, you lose some. At least I don't have to share my room, that would make me really sad. I was going to do laundry today because thankfully there is a laundry room but once I finished with dinner and got upstairs, I was too tired to even think about venturing out again. I imagine that I'm going to be in a state of perpetual tiredness for the next three weeks. Then I'll still be tired because I'll have to start working. I should have thought about all this.

Today I traveled from Bundang to the far side (subway wise) of Incheon. It took two hours. TWO HOURS ON THE SUBWAY. And I got to sit the whole time. Unexpected and awesome because I was toting around two, (count 'em) two suitcases. Sure,  they're carry-on sized but still cumbersome and unwieldy. I was glad that I made it here and could drop them off and walk around without an accompanying rolling noise. It sounded like thunder. No, it didn't. I'm not sure why I wrote that.

I get to wash my hair tomorrow! I love getting the Magic Straight treatment on my hair but being unable to wash your hair  or even tie it up in summer is pretty difficult to handle.

Also, I would totally go to school here. They  have a coffee shop in the basement! Man, Korea.

Into Magic Straight Hair

I'm getting my hair did as we speak, y'all. Technology at its finest. I'm in Bundang with my friend Tina, who is in the process of studying to get her teaching license. She was nice enough to take some time out of her day to go with me to this fancy salon where I am getting a magic straight perm. No, really, the name of the perm is Magic Straight. It probably is magic, too, for all I know because it's the one thing that reliably can make my mess of hair into something tolerable.... Dare I say nice-looking, even. And because Tina is getting her hair done too but hers is taking longer, they're giving me a free conditioning treatment while I wait.

I love Korea. I might never come back.

Oh wait, I have a job. And a car. And a boyfriend. I guess I'll go back.

The past few days have been crazy busy. I got to visit the Hello Kitty cafe! And revisit some old familiar places in the form of Jamsil and Coex and Hongdae. Not to mention exploring Bundang, which is a really nice city. Lots of things to do and easy to not get lost. That last part is important because I've had some bad luck with getting turned around in the past.

Visiting my uncle's house was nice, too. It's very calm there so I was able to finally start feeling like a human again with the copious amount of relaxing that I did. Plus, I love my aunt's kimchi. So seriously good. It makes me cry a little.

Not really.

Tomorrow I will report for duty at the summer camp and then work nonstop until its time to go home. I'm ready for that, too. Well, I'm ready for the paycheck I'll receive at the end of the camp, which is practically the same thing as being ready to work. Isn't it? I do wish the camp weren't in Incheon, because it's so far from everything I know and love but then again, it gives me the opportunity to explore a new part of the country... In the scant amount of free time that I'll be available to me.

Is it bad that I'm already dreading the flight home? And the subsequent working that will take place almost immediately after my arrival? Or that I've already been checking for days off once the school year starts? I'm going to need a vacation from my vacation.

On the Dangerous Korean Highway

Ahhh, it took so freaking long to get here that it's still difficult to believe that I've actually arrived. The flying wasn't really that terrible. Actually, yeah, it was that terrible. My wrists were aching from carrying my luggage with me, then my elbows, my feet, ankles, knees, basically every joint in my body. I did score an awesome seat on the flight from Honolulu to Incheon--the plane was probably 70% empty so I moved to the middle aisle and put up the armrests and laid down. Magic. But it still wasn't enough to make me want to fly again anytime soon.

I HAVE TO FLY AGAIN IN FOUR WEEKS. I'm going to cry now.

Okay, I couldn't cry. I'm probably still dehydrated.

I'm not sure if I'm making any sense. Anyway, let me try to think of things chronologically so that they make more sense.

I met my friend at the airport and she drove me to my other friend's house. Then she drove me to her house and we had dinner (samgyupsal!) and then I took the best, most amazing, wonderful shower of my life and fell asleep.

Today, after waking up and getting my backpack packed up, she and I went for breakfast and then I tried to figure out a way to get to Gapyeong from Bundang.... not possible. So I ended up going to the bus terminal I was most familiar with (it's in Gangbeon) and took the bus to Cheongpyeong where I took a taxi to Surijae and now I'm sitting at my uncle's house in my pajamas with a pair of poo socks on.
Because I know people won't believe that....

Now I want to relax and try to get over my tired-ness so I can be fully awake and ready for the weekend. 

Or at least... semi-functional.

Seven Years in Seoul

Just kidding, it's going to be a month. I begin my ridiculously long journey today! I have everything packed, for the most part, and am planning on relaxing for the longest amount of time possible so that I can feel less stressed for the rest of the trip. I realize that this is not going to work. I'm fine on the plane, don't get me wrong, but getting to the plane is a heart attack in a stroke in a brain aneurysm. That said, I'm still looking forward to my layover in Dallas for unspecified reasons. I'm not looking forward to my two hours in Vegas because I'm afraid my flight is going to be delayed and then I won't be able to make my connection and I'll have to spend a month in the airport like Tom Hanks in The Terminal. 

Anyway.

In my carry-on suitcase, I've managed to fit:

3 pairs of shoes
3 tank tops
2 pairs of jeans
2 skirts
2 dressy tops
2 simple tops
2 dresses
2 cardigans
2 clutch bags
1 pair of shorts
1 pair of tights
1 pair of dress pants
Toiletries and necessities
Battery charger
Non-liquid or gel makeup
 A towel


In my personal bag, I've managed to fit

Netbook and charger
Ipad and charger
Cell phone and charger
Camera
Book

Saline solution
Liquid and gel makeup and stuff that I'll have to take out during the security checkpoints


I think that's everything! It should be more than enough for the next four weeks in Korea.  I mean, I'm going to be working nonstop for three of those weeks so who cares what I wear then? I probably won't even comb my hair.


Just kidding, I'm totally going to comb my hair because it's going to get MAGICKED. I can't wait!

I could bend the universe.

Father,
You know where I have been and  you know what I have done.
They say that you see everything, so you know I never hurt no one.
What I have stolen won't be missed by those who had so much so long.
We'll soon be laughing about this.
They will never notice it was gone.
I could bend the universe if I can only get there first.
These are some foolish fresh laid plans.
My fate is firmly in your hands.

Take, if you must take me, but I can not go peacefully.
I left someone waiting for me; I left things so terribly undone.

They say man is just your seed spilled out on the thirsty earth.
A simple servant of your needs from the moment of our birth.
Tell me am I not your seed?
Tell me am I not your son?
Tell me have you just forgotten all those years of devotion?

Take, if you must take me, but I can not go peacefully.
I left someone waiting for me; I left things so terribly undone.

Fantastic song, listening to it makes me feel like I'm in some Robert Rodriguez film and Antonio Banderas is going to come through those doors any minute. Or Johnny Depp. I'll take Johnny Depp, too. 

Let us go then, you and I.

I had a really happy song to post with this but then I thought, 'Ah, screw it' and put this one up instead because I LIKE IT. Listen to it. Now. Please?

I'm almost on my way to Korea! The countdown has dropped to days (not weeks) and then I'll be flying for days (not weeks) and then staying for weeks (not days) and did I mention it's monsoon season? That's going to be fun. One of the first items on the agenda of mine will be to go and done get my hair done did 'cause it's going to need some permanent straightening and then I'll always wake up with fabulous, glamorous, not wavy hair. Excitement pervades my very being, ya'll.

On a separate note, I can't believe it's already July. School starts soon and then I'll be all stressed and not sleep a lot and drink tons of coffee and think about the Crucible and the Transcendentalists and the Lovesong of Alfred J. Prufrock and the Harlem Renaissance and whoa. What the heck, that sounds awesome, I'm going to stop complaining now. I probably shouldn't say this just in case a student reads the next few words, but I live life dangerously so here goes.

My class next year will be more rigorous and more exacting than this year. I required so much more out of my kids this year and they met and exceeded so many of those expectations that I couldn't in good conscience not expect more this coming school year. Yes, it's more work for me and yes, that idea is daunting because I worked a heckofa lot last year and this year will have more responsibilities in store for me in addition to my English classes but asfihodsigh, it makes it all worthwhile at the end of the year when you see how much the students have learned and improved. Okay, the sappy teaching moment is over.

Other than that, things are goooood.

Stuff No One Told Me: Everybody else

Stuff No One Told Me: Everybody else

Going to the dentist today. Yay for free cleanings, otherwise I'd be cancelling the appointment that I made back in January because I am going to Korea in a month, darlin', and I am broke until then. Plane tickets are expensive. Geez. And there's still a little concern as to whether the camp I'm going to be working at will cancel. I didn't even think that would be a concern until one of the camps that I had optioned going to (they were my second choice) emailed me and said that they were cancelling the camp. So my first choice became my only choice and I sent the documents off already and get to wait for my passport to come back with a c-4 visa in it and once it does, I will wait to see if the camp gets randomly cancelled and if it doesn't, I am a happy girl.

There are a lot of conditionals in this scenario. I don't really like it. I keep making backup plans but there aren't any to make. If the camp goes as planned, I go there, work, and come home with a wad of dough. If the camp does not go as plan, I go there, play, and come home pretty darn broke. Either way is going to be a good time!

I think I'm going to go through the elaborate steps required to procure a C-4 Visa for South Korea in the next few weeks or so. I'd say "days", but it's probably not going to be that soon. It's summer vacation, ya'll. I have sleeping to do.

Did 5k today!

Self high five!

I really should've known.

It's summer! Yay!
Except it's hot. Boo.
But no work! Yay!
But nothing to do. Boo.
But I might go to Korea for a summer camp job! Yay!
But it's going to be monsoon season. Boo.
I'll get to see friends and family and people that I miss! Yay!
Except I'm still waiting to receive the documents for my visa application. Boo.
Well in the meantime, I can watch more episodes of netflix! Yay!
Except I finished all the seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. Boo.
Oh well, my favorite drag queen is going to be in San Antonio in August! Yay!
Oh wait, she's going to be there on a Thursday night and I can't miss work. Boo.
Well in the meantime I'll draw and write and read books! Yay!
Ergh, I'm feeling uninspired. Boo.
So I'll go visit my parents! They like me. Yay!
Wait, they have cats and I'm allergic and that makes vising miserable. Boo.
Well, I'll relax and hang out and have fun in my hometown! Yay!
Oh heck, who am I kidding, I miss having excitement in my life. Boo.


I didn't realize that settling down would be so freaking boring, ya'll. I mean, I really should have thought about it. When I chose to come back to Texas to get my teaching certificate and start being an adult, I forgot about all that being an adult entails. Do you know what being an adult entails? Going to work so that you can pay your bills so that you have a place to sleep so that you're rested for work.
You know what I've been most excited about lately? Eyeliner. I just bought a bright pink eyeliner from Urban Decay the other day. And Pandora Boxx. Because she's just so darn cute. Not career, not money, not art, not hot boys, nope. Makeup and drag queens. Oh, and I live in Texas so I should be excited about summer rodeos and horses or whatever but nope. Makeup and drag queens. Oh, and my 90's music station on Pandora.

I mean, though, I'm not complaining because I've got it pretty good. I have a job, people. That's pretty difficult. I have a 97% passing rate on my state standardized tests with a 43% commended rate. I am in the process of adapting an Oscar Wilde book for the One Act competition. I am going to try to finish my novel this month, too. And sew. And do origami. And yoga. I want to run in a 5k in November. My interests are varied, people. But I was sitting with a group of people and listening to them talk the other day and I guess I was grumpy but I felt like the conversation was just... uninspiring. I need some inspiration. I need a muse. I will see if Daniel Henney will volunteer.

Drawing somethings.

I'm still doggedly playing draw something, even though I've given up on games with most of the people I'd been playing with before. I think it's better this way? Before, it was work. Now, it is art. Let me 'splain.

No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

I will draw a smiley face on anything.

I mean, anything.

Unless it needs a sad face. I shared a class with this guy in University.

Sometimes my English teacherness gets to be too much for me.

So much depends on a red wheelbarrow...

  

Tilting at windmills. 

I wanted to make a Gnomeo and Juliet reference, but I doubt the other person had seen the movie. I haven't seen the movie, either, to be quite honest.

Folded and unfolded and unfolding.

A poem to pass the time.

This is like
a song to tip the scales
But it's not.

Dispensing starlight.

We were discussing the Great Gatsby in class today.
My affair with Gatsby has been tumultuous, to say the least. In fact, when I first got this book, I hated it. I started reading it on a plane to Korea and halfway over the pacific ocean, I just stopped. I closed the book, I put it in my bag and didn't open it again for two years. This is not wholly uncommon. I did the same thing for Anna Karenina. Time passes, I remember that I started this book or that and out my mind towards finishing them. I usually dislike the books once I finish reading, but by golly, I finish reading them.

But then there's Gatsby. I've probably read this book five times in the past three years, each time not of my own volition. I read it it for class, usually, to get a reminder of what I'm going to be teaching the kids. And every time I read it, I'm struck by how much more I like the story this time compared to the last. It's growing on me. It's taking over my life. Well, maybe not that extreme, but close.

Today I had to defend the merits of the novel. A student, wholly unsolicited, blurted out that they really hate the book and it wasn't any good. Now, I let my students have their own opinion of the novel once they've finished it. But we had just finished chapter five. And to have a student finish the book and tell their classmates that it was horrible wasn't exactly going to encourage them to continue reading. So I explained that a more mature approach was needed to appreciate a book like Gatsby versus one like The Hunger Games.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunger Games. But if you're a student that likes story lines with lots of adventure, which this student admitted that they did, Gatsby may not be for you. For one thing, it takes place in such a short amount of time and everyone is so civil. Granted, they do act like animals, too, but in a genteel sort of way. And the language. This is not simple, easily accessible and quick to skim through. You can't read Gatsby cursorily. The poetic language, the foreshadowing, the imagery, the dialogue, all this contributes to a story that constantly surprises you so each successive reading. I continually find new things that Fitzgerald put in to make the story more than it appears. In fact, a different student points out a connection that I hadn't even thought of and it was fantastic. This story... Well, it's like an onion. It's got layers.

Plus, this is a love story, pure and simple. So many people dislike the novel on that account because, ugh, it's so unrealistic, Gatsby should have just moved on, Daisy wasn't that great anyway, she and Tom deserved each other, blah blah. Blah.

But this story resonates with anyone who's ever loved foolishly, without reason and past the boundaries of common sense. Someone who's loved someone who may have been undeserving, careless or selfish. But someone who cares so much that even when something terrible happens, their only thought is for that other person. Because who hasn't loved and come to some sort of grief because of it? 

This story is for anyone who's ever wanted to be loved as much as Daisy was, by a man who will "dispense starlight to casual moths--so that he [can] "come over" some afternoon to a stranger's garden" in order to meet again the woman he loves. Or by a man who will look at her "in a way that every young girl wants to be looked at sometime".

This is a story for us romantics, and yes, I count myself among them.

The Saga of the Mouse, Part 3: Revenge

That's not necessarily true. I haven't seen a sign of a mouse since the tragic demise of the last one. Tragic on my part, I was pretty much scarred for life.

I really like how my life has become one giant blog entry about a mouse. I mean, it's not, it just looks that way.

The Philosopher

And what are you that, wanting you,
I should be kept awake
as many nights as there are days
with weeping for your sake?

And what are you that, missing you,
as many days as crawl
I should be listening to the wind
and looking at the wall?

I know a man that's a braver man
and twenty men as kind,
and what are you, that you should be
the one man in my mind?

Yet women's ways are witless ways,
as any sage will tell,—
and what am I, that I should love
so wisely and so well?

Edna St. Vincent Millay 

This song is for the painter  who lost both of her hands,
and this song is for the wanderer who never came home again.

For all those with broken hearts, I know what you're going through.
I had a true love once  but now they've gone and left me blue.

So now I'd like to swim to the bottom of the ocean,
Then I'll  s c r e a m  as loud as I can where there's no one I can frighten.

So I'd do anything to cry. I'd do anything to cry.
Let this pain fall from my eyes and let time heal my insides.

I shout out to my grandparents, "Hope you find each other in heaven".

And to all of my friends, Sorry I left you behind.
And if I ever come back home, will you pour me a glass of wine?

And I'd do anything to cry. I'd do anything to cry.

Let this pain fall from my eyes and let time heal my insides.

This song is for the painter who lost both of her hands,
and if I ever find my heart, darling, I promise to come home again.

Like a broken record plays.