Rental Car

Last weekend I went with four of my friends to Pohang for an International Fireworks Festival. Since it was at night, we would have had to stay overnight to catch a bus back to Daegu. It turned out being cheaper to rent a car. So we called our local Avis. As you can see from the key box, they had a lot of Hyundai cars.


It turns out we didn't even need a key because the car had an Intelligent Key. I don't really know what the benefit is, but it is cool! I was the only one with an International Drivers License, so I had to drive. If I looked a little younger, this could be my "just got my license" picture.


The rental lady had to come out and help us with the navigation. We made it safely to Pohang. It was nice that we were mostly on the highway. Korean drivers are very crazy, so I'm glad I did not have to drive too much in the city.

Rich Kids

I always knew that I taught in a wealthy neighborhood, but today it became very apparent.

For a presentation my middle school students had to pick a well known painting and discuss it. The first group chose the Mona Lisa. One girl commented she did not like it because it was so small. Another kid said, "yeah I didn't like that either." Five of my students (in a class of 10) have been to the Louvre. The next group picked The Last Supper. Three of the students have been to Milan and seen it!

I thought I had traveled a lot, but I have nothing on my students.

Waking Up

Don't you wish you could wake up to this every morning? It is what I get to hear many mornings. Make sure you listen to the end when it gets really good.

Blogging

I have not been doing a good job lately. Sorry to the four of you that read it (Big Dalene, Charissa, my mom and Marty). I only feel the need to write when I have pictures or something exciting has happened. And I only take pictures when something exciting happens. I guess that means not a lot has happened lately. So here are some random tidbits of my life for your enjoyment...

•I taught 10 year-old kids today the definition of "gangster." Yes, it was actually in our lesson.
•I went to Bible Study for the last time on Wednesday. Sad.
•Next Wednesday I am going to the DMZ. So exciting!
•In two weeks I will be helping with the Vacation Bible School on base.
•I started teaching morning classes for Tuesday/Thursday today. We got to watch an old episode of The Cosby Show and talk about it!
•My friends Jamie and Stefanie are awesome, and have been buying me Lean Cuisines at the commissary. (I told you these facts were random--and this one is pretty important to me.)
•Rachael and I had a taxi driver ask us with his broken English if all teachers "drink everyday?" Foreigners are really making a great impression here in Korea.
•Today a student told me Alexander the Great was all about alcohol, killing his friend and "hot love." How come they always catch the random stuff in the listening lectures, but never the important things?
•Apparently, there was a dead body by my house, but I didn't see it. (Email me if you want the full story.)
•I started my graduate school admission essays FINALLY.
•I leave Korea in exactly 40 days.

That is all for now. Hope you enjoyed it.

Acupuncture

Rachael decided that we needed to get some acupuncture before we leave Korea. I knew it was cheap and I'm always up for new experiences so I agreed. We found a place called "Oriental Medicine" near our apartments.


My friend Genie translated for us. The nurses thought it was a little strange that we didn't have pain, but wanted to get treatments anyway. Then they offered us tea.


We had to speak with the doctor next. He held our wrists, checking our pulses for a very long time. It seems like he was trying to be a fortuneteller. He said I had lots of stress and digestive problems. He told Rachael she had lots of stress and "waist" problems. So he treated my neck and Rachael's hip. The nurses gave us these lovely gowns and we had to lay down on marble slabs.


It was really uncomfortable. The doctor came in and put needles in my neck, back, ankle, forearm and head. The needles didn't bother me, but laying on the marble in an awkward position made my hands go numb. After the "treatment" was over I think I was actually starting to experience some pain. The doctor told me to come back, but I think once is enough acupuncture for me.

Tomorrow

I will post something. I promise. I had a small electrical fire, and was without a computer for about a week. I'm up and running now, so you'll see something soon.

By the way, thanks to all who posted ideas about my admission essays. Marty, yours was the best! You seem to have a lot of experience writing personal essays? And the last line is SO true! Haha. I'm either being too lazy or have extreme writer's block. Hopefully, I can get the essays finished soon.

Admission Essays

I have to write three essays for my graduate school application. I don't have any ideas about either of the topics. I am concerned about the "tell us about yourself" essay. I am supposed to focus on non-school experiences such as work, volunteer efforts, travel and professional endeavors. Thinking about this essay makes me realize how boring my life is. Yes, I was in the Peace Corps and I'm teaching in English in Korea, but neither of those things are as exciting as they sound. Any ideas on how to make me sound more appealing to a graduate school?