I absolutely had to blog about my recent snowboarding fiasco. It was all around a disaster. It was through an organization called Korea Safari, they plan trips (mainly for foreigners). The group was about 40 and took 2 buses.
E and I head over to Bundang Friday night to meet up with Dan, since we have to be in Seoul (which is about an hour away) for an 8am bus to the ski resort. E and I have a few drinks then run over to Pub 210 to find Mr. Dan. Mr. Dan is...well...drunk by the time we get to him. It takes about 2 hours for us to coax him home into bed. By this time it's probably around 3am or so...keeping in mind that we have to wake up at around 630 to make it to the bus on time.
We go to sleep.
I hear the alarm go off, but don't even think about the significance of it.
I wake up at 715am.
Not as frantically as I should have, I roll over and wake E up.
"E..it's 715...it's 715." I whisper in a drunken/sleeepy haze. He sits upright and looks at the clock before letting out an obscenity or two. We both get up and attempt to wake Dan.
Fail.
Dan is unconscious. Nothing will rouse him.
I decide to call the company to see what our options are. I thought E was awake with me in this decision. But after I get off the phone with a guy who tells me we can take a train, I look over and E is asleep again.
Anger begins to boil up inside of me..but knowing we can take the train, sleep takes control and I fall back onto my pillow.
I awake again at 9am. Both guys are still unconscious. I sit around debating what to do. The decision was to go to the store and buy water, as I was a little dehydrated from the drinking. I get up, leave the apartment and go to the store, come back a few minutes later only to realize I'm locked out. I don't know the code to Dan's apartment.
So I sit, fuming, in the freezing cold hallway, guzzling my water...again, debating on what to do. I get too cold after about 30minutes and knock on the door. No answer. I wait a few more minutes. Knock again. No answer. I call while knocking, Dan answers his phone, grumbles and hangs up. I call again. Finally an answer. I ask for the code he gives it to me and I go back into the warmth of the apartment. Still, they are asleep. I give up and lay back down.
We wake up at 1215. I'm angry. Dan's angry. E's angry. I tell them that we can catch the train, the ski resort is only an hour away (ish...) from Seoul. E and I agree it would still be worth it to go. We start to get ready. All the while Dan is asking us what we're doing..what's the plan? Where are you going?
I needed food in my system as well, so the plan (that we repeatedly said) was to get McDonalds and then head to the train station. It took about 30 minutes to get the boys dressed and out of the apartment and walking in the right direction.
By this point I'm furious.
We get McDonalds, jump on the bus into Seoul. The bus is too crowded, so we jump off the bus and onto another, slightly less crowded bus. We get to Seoul Station, get on the subway and head to ChangDong Station, where the train to the ski resort should be. When we get to Changdong Station, some kids tell us we're at the wrong station that we should go to Chongyangni Station. So we get BACK on the subway and go back down to Chongyangni Station. At Chongyangni Station, we run to get a ticket to the train (there's a difference between the train and subway, by the way..train is faster). The ticket lady tells us there's no train. It's canceled since they built a new subway line.
So we get BACK on the subway. Ride for two stops. Transfer to a different subway line. Then ride for an hour to the station. Catch a cab to the resort. And wait for the guy to bring our gear.
All in all, what should have taken 2 hours took 6 hours.
Once we got on the slopes though, I felt much better. Dan however, forgot to bring gloves. So he buys a new pair and loses them 10 minutes later.
The next morning they serve breakfast..a make it yourself breakfast with Eggs and bread and onions and lemons (random...weird Koreans). Again..big surprise, we slept in. So by the time we get downstairs there's only 1 egg left. We make an egg sandwich and split it between the three of us. So..needless to say, we're still hungry and in desperate need of coffee.
So we walk down to the convenient store. Get coffee and a small thing of eggs to cook. Get back to the hotel, cook the eggs make new sandwiches. And as we're eating those sandwiches, they bring a whole new tray of 24 eggs.
It was an adventure...a very memorable adventure. I can't wait to go again!...maybe no drinking next time around!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Home Sweet...Officetell?
An Officetell: A studio like apartment that some people use as offices and some people (such as myself) use to live in. Usually comes furnished with the necessary things (kitchen, washer/dryer, bathroom..window?).
My posts seem to be getting more and more spaced out! Less and less is happening, that's why.
This is going to sound more awful then I intend for it to, but I miss my bed. I haven't slept in my own bed for over a week now. It's been an interesting month..I will say that.
I'm still on "break" and so far have no hopes of getting work to help me out next month. It's BS..and I'm a little frustrated by it. I luckily got paid this month, but next month is going to be a bit disastrous...especially being Christmas!!
I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week! Korea (obviously) doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, since it's clearly an American holiday. But hopefully there will be some people (and by people I do actually mean bars..."foreigner bars" as they're so fondly termed) throwing some good old fashioned Thanksgiving dinners for us expats. If I had access to a kitchen, I would do it myself (since I don't' have to work!) buuuut all I have is a two top gas stove. Though I am sure a kitchen savvy person could make do with that.
I've been making a ton of new friends though, so that's been awesome. It's been a trip. And I'm hoping to get some travel plans happening for New Years!
<3 the Holidays...though I miss my family and friends back home and wish I could be there with you to celebrate (or that you could be here!)
My posts seem to be getting more and more spaced out! Less and less is happening, that's why.
This is going to sound more awful then I intend for it to, but I miss my bed. I haven't slept in my own bed for over a week now. It's been an interesting month..I will say that.
I'm still on "break" and so far have no hopes of getting work to help me out next month. It's BS..and I'm a little frustrated by it. I luckily got paid this month, but next month is going to be a bit disastrous...especially being Christmas!!
I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week! Korea (obviously) doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, since it's clearly an American holiday. But hopefully there will be some people (and by people I do actually mean bars..."foreigner bars" as they're so fondly termed) throwing some good old fashioned Thanksgiving dinners for us expats. If I had access to a kitchen, I would do it myself (since I don't' have to work!) buuuut all I have is a two top gas stove. Though I am sure a kitchen savvy person could make do with that.
I've been making a ton of new friends though, so that's been awesome. It's been a trip. And I'm hoping to get some travel plans happening for New Years!
<3 the Holidays...though I miss my family and friends back home and wish I could be there with you to celebrate (or that you could be here!)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Have You Noticed a Theme?
The adventures of the past 5 days definitely need to be noted.
Thursday: After my one class of the week, a private tutoring session, I went to Itaewon in Seoul (which is rightfully dubbed the foreigner town...because of all the foreigners) to see a Stand Up Seoul show. Stand Up Seoul is a comedy show for stand up comedians (go figure). My friend Dan was performing, so I met up with him and Matt and watched as 10 other comedians went first. I found the first 12 or so to be quite humorous, but apparently I was one of the only girls in the audience that was capable of laughing. The audience consisted mainly of other comedians and lesbians with no sense of humor. And that is not a judgmental statement, I have nothing against lesbians. But why come to a comedy show and take up space if you can't find the humor in things? So they stood around (actually blocking my view) and chatted in pure disgust about how things were just not funny. It made me a little angry...and I'm sure it made the performers even angrier.
Friday: Lazy days. I woke up blissfully at 11am to my phone ringing. It was Mr. Eddie to tell me something very interesting that happened in life. I was utterly perplexed by this news, but chuckled on the inside knowing what I know and being who I am. I am quite the chuckler. I then showered, went to Starbucks for breakfast. Stopped by Kinkos to print some things (doesn't it sound like I'm in America??) Then I spent about 7 hours watching season 4 of Dexter!!!!! Matt (lucky for me since I've been dying to see season 4 since I got off the plane 3 months ago) has seasons 1-4 on his computer. It made me intensely happy. I only got through the first 7 episodes and need to find time to watch the rest. At the end of the day, I had dinner with Matt.
Saturday: Got home at 9:20am just in time for my 10am class. Jumped in the shower, flew out the door with wet hair and no makeup. Ran to the corner store for breakfast, ran to class, ran to the computer to print the days lesson plan, ran to class. Taught class...listened to my class complain about the article because they don't like politics. Freakn' adults complain about everything. Ran home, fixed my hair, ran to the train station to meet up with the Suwon crew to head to the Seven Luck Casino in Seoul! Spent 12000w, lost 12000w (equaling about $12). We then headed downstairs to the buffet/wine buffet. Unlimited food...unlimited wine. It was a good night. We then proceeded to become obnoxiously loud (what do you expect when you give people unlimited amounts of wine??). Then headed to Itaewon. Ended up on Hooker Hill...yes, that's a real place..and yes..there are actual hookers there. We watched as young soldiers ventured in and out of the brothels. Made fun of a few guys. Watched as the young soldiers proceeded to get into a fight...and had to be escorted out by the military police who came a runnin in to the rescue at the last minute. Went to another bar where things got kind of feisty within the Suwon crew. Headed home.
Sunday: Sleep. Sleeeeeep. Facebook. Dinner with Chana. Sleep.
Monday: Woken up by my student calling me FROM class with Eddie...after a quick greeting with me, handed the phone to Eddie who was just as perplexed by the conversation as I was. Went to work, filled up my 2 liter water bottle, went to Starbucks for breakfast. And now I'm here. Pretty eventful day.
Thursday: After my one class of the week, a private tutoring session, I went to Itaewon in Seoul (which is rightfully dubbed the foreigner town...because of all the foreigners) to see a Stand Up Seoul show. Stand Up Seoul is a comedy show for stand up comedians (go figure). My friend Dan was performing, so I met up with him and Matt and watched as 10 other comedians went first. I found the first 12 or so to be quite humorous, but apparently I was one of the only girls in the audience that was capable of laughing. The audience consisted mainly of other comedians and lesbians with no sense of humor. And that is not a judgmental statement, I have nothing against lesbians. But why come to a comedy show and take up space if you can't find the humor in things? So they stood around (actually blocking my view) and chatted in pure disgust about how things were just not funny. It made me a little angry...and I'm sure it made the performers even angrier.
Friday: Lazy days. I woke up blissfully at 11am to my phone ringing. It was Mr. Eddie to tell me something very interesting that happened in life. I was utterly perplexed by this news, but chuckled on the inside knowing what I know and being who I am. I am quite the chuckler. I then showered, went to Starbucks for breakfast. Stopped by Kinkos to print some things (doesn't it sound like I'm in America??) Then I spent about 7 hours watching season 4 of Dexter!!!!! Matt (lucky for me since I've been dying to see season 4 since I got off the plane 3 months ago) has seasons 1-4 on his computer. It made me intensely happy. I only got through the first 7 episodes and need to find time to watch the rest. At the end of the day, I had dinner with Matt.
Saturday: Got home at 9:20am just in time for my 10am class. Jumped in the shower, flew out the door with wet hair and no makeup. Ran to the corner store for breakfast, ran to class, ran to the computer to print the days lesson plan, ran to class. Taught class...listened to my class complain about the article because they don't like politics. Freakn' adults complain about everything. Ran home, fixed my hair, ran to the train station to meet up with the Suwon crew to head to the Seven Luck Casino in Seoul! Spent 12000w, lost 12000w (equaling about $12). We then headed downstairs to the buffet/wine buffet. Unlimited food...unlimited wine. It was a good night. We then proceeded to become obnoxiously loud (what do you expect when you give people unlimited amounts of wine??). Then headed to Itaewon. Ended up on Hooker Hill...yes, that's a real place..and yes..there are actual hookers there. We watched as young soldiers ventured in and out of the brothels. Made fun of a few guys. Watched as the young soldiers proceeded to get into a fight...and had to be escorted out by the military police who came a runnin in to the rescue at the last minute. Went to another bar where things got kind of feisty within the Suwon crew. Headed home.
Sunday: Sleep. Sleeeeeep. Facebook. Dinner with Chana. Sleep.
Monday: Woken up by my student calling me FROM class with Eddie...after a quick greeting with me, handed the phone to Eddie who was just as perplexed by the conversation as I was. Went to work, filled up my 2 liter water bottle, went to Starbucks for breakfast. And now I'm here. Pretty eventful day.
Monday, October 31, 2011
It's been a while, eh?
It's been a few days since I posted last. With my life changing and Halloween weekend, I've been a smidge preoccupied.
Where to begin??
Halloweeeeeen!!!!
By the way...
HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEN!!!!!
It's been a fun one, for sure. On friday night, my friend, Veanessa came to Suwon and we rocked it out. I <3 that girl. She's awesome and I always have fun with her. And I feel like she's one of those people that just gets me. She's half black/half Korean as well...so we share a background and personality wise she's just wonderful. We went to the BC bar, which is the "foreigner" bar here in Suwon, not knowing it was Halloween/costume party! It was awesome, but I wish I had dressed up! However, we only stayed for like an hour or so...and after we left, I would have been super embarrassed if I were in costume.
Korean's don't really celebrate Halloween. It's a tradition brought over from the western foreigners.
Saturday, I taught then went to Hongdae, which is in Seoul. I went with my Suwon friends and it was awesome to get to hang out with them for a little while. But then I had to go meet M and the Bundang crew. That was an eventful/hilarious time. Well, it was funny in the beginning while I was still sufficiently intoxicated..but when the buz started to wear off, I got a smidge annoyed. You see..what had happened was...! I went to this club with Clancy and Alyssa (Suwon people, Alyssa's one of my new favorites as well, she's great!), to meet M. From there we tried to head back (apparently there was some kind of drama or something that happened) so we tried to go back to meet up with the Suwon people again...Alyssa and Clancy went ahead of me because I was with M and trying to wait for the Bundang people. We then tried to go to this park party. There were both Bundang and Suwon people there, so it was the perfect meeting point for all of us. The problem was that some of the Bundang boys were hammered and kept following little Korean women down dark alleyways (that's an exaggeration! They just followed them down the street). So we kept losing track of people. We would walk about 10 feet, then have to turn around and coral everyone. This went on for about 2 hours. Eventually we gave up and ate some TACO BELL!!!! Best decision of the evening...until I laid down to go to bed and my stomach wanted to release the alcohol/taco bell combo through the entrance. Luckily I kept it down and was able to somewhat fall asleep.
Bedtime was hilarious fun. M, Aaron and I ended up all at M's house. Aaron was planning on sleeping on the floor, so I tried to offer him the bed, thinking I could take the couch, since I'm considerably short. Then the man on man action put me in the middle of the bed (although, I think that both M and Aaron would be cool enough to share a bed without a girl in between them...not gay, just relaxed). It felt like a middle school slumber party (except that in middle school I never slumbered with boys!) I kid you not, however, at one point the three of us were spooning. It was really funny. And I couldn't decide if I had dreamed it or not. Then in the morning we discussed the spooning and decided that there are a variety of spooning options...probably the most interesting/fun morning after conversation I've ever had.
I then spent Sunday with M being lazy, watching a movie..well..kind of. He was in the midst of domestic chores and I was attempting to watch a movie but ended up sleeping through most of it. Then we went to dinner with some of his friends, to TakGalbi...or chicken Korean BBQ (?). It was DELICIOUS. <3 it.
Today was kind of difficult. I have the next month off work, and just knowing that I don't have to work tomorrow, I was essentially checked out. Some of my students annoyed me beyond all reason. Especially the middle school/high school class. I walked in, being happy having prepared some fun Halloween activities..but intended to first go over their quizzes (which they all failed miserably!..hence the going over). And they were all super moody. Didn't talk, just all stared at the table quietly. I had the sincerest desire to tell them to either shape up or ship out....Cheer up, or get the F out of my classroom...freakn Debbie Downers!!! But of course, I'm not "allowed" to do that. They then told me that on the last day of the month, the school provides some money to get some food, so I asked my cousin about it...and the answer was no... Sorry Kiddos. We played some games, ate some candy and then called it a night. Then the next class...I was annoyed...for 50 whole minutes, just wanted to scream and yell at this guy. He has no idea what being rude means...and he's kind of a know-it-all.
Finally, my favorite last class took me out to Samgyupsal (BBQ pork) and Soju. That honestly made my day. They are most definitely my favorites and the coolest students I had the pleasure of working with (in my very brief time here!). I <3 hanging out with them. It's not work, it's fun. And it always ends up being more of a language exchange, they teach me Korean, but we speak in English. :) They make me heppy...and I'll miss them a lot.
That's my story and I'm stickn to it!
Where to begin??
Halloweeeeeen!!!!
By the way...
HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEN!!!!!
It's been a fun one, for sure. On friday night, my friend, Veanessa came to Suwon and we rocked it out. I <3 that girl. She's awesome and I always have fun with her. And I feel like she's one of those people that just gets me. She's half black/half Korean as well...so we share a background and personality wise she's just wonderful. We went to the BC bar, which is the "foreigner" bar here in Suwon, not knowing it was Halloween/costume party! It was awesome, but I wish I had dressed up! However, we only stayed for like an hour or so...and after we left, I would have been super embarrassed if I were in costume.
Korean's don't really celebrate Halloween. It's a tradition brought over from the western foreigners.
Saturday, I taught then went to Hongdae, which is in Seoul. I went with my Suwon friends and it was awesome to get to hang out with them for a little while. But then I had to go meet M and the Bundang crew. That was an eventful/hilarious time. Well, it was funny in the beginning while I was still sufficiently intoxicated..but when the buz started to wear off, I got a smidge annoyed. You see..what had happened was...! I went to this club with Clancy and Alyssa (Suwon people, Alyssa's one of my new favorites as well, she's great!), to meet M. From there we tried to head back (apparently there was some kind of drama or something that happened) so we tried to go back to meet up with the Suwon people again...Alyssa and Clancy went ahead of me because I was with M and trying to wait for the Bundang people. We then tried to go to this park party. There were both Bundang and Suwon people there, so it was the perfect meeting point for all of us. The problem was that some of the Bundang boys were hammered and kept following little Korean women down dark alleyways (that's an exaggeration! They just followed them down the street). So we kept losing track of people. We would walk about 10 feet, then have to turn around and coral everyone. This went on for about 2 hours. Eventually we gave up and ate some TACO BELL!!!! Best decision of the evening...until I laid down to go to bed and my stomach wanted to release the alcohol/taco bell combo through the entrance. Luckily I kept it down and was able to somewhat fall asleep.
Bedtime was hilarious fun. M, Aaron and I ended up all at M's house. Aaron was planning on sleeping on the floor, so I tried to offer him the bed, thinking I could take the couch, since I'm considerably short. Then the man on man action put me in the middle of the bed (although, I think that both M and Aaron would be cool enough to share a bed without a girl in between them...not gay, just relaxed). It felt like a middle school slumber party (except that in middle school I never slumbered with boys!) I kid you not, however, at one point the three of us were spooning. It was really funny. And I couldn't decide if I had dreamed it or not. Then in the morning we discussed the spooning and decided that there are a variety of spooning options...probably the most interesting/fun morning after conversation I've ever had.
I then spent Sunday with M being lazy, watching a movie..well..kind of. He was in the midst of domestic chores and I was attempting to watch a movie but ended up sleeping through most of it. Then we went to dinner with some of his friends, to TakGalbi...or chicken Korean BBQ (?). It was DELICIOUS. <3 it.
Today was kind of difficult. I have the next month off work, and just knowing that I don't have to work tomorrow, I was essentially checked out. Some of my students annoyed me beyond all reason. Especially the middle school/high school class. I walked in, being happy having prepared some fun Halloween activities..but intended to first go over their quizzes (which they all failed miserably!..hence the going over). And they were all super moody. Didn't talk, just all stared at the table quietly. I had the sincerest desire to tell them to either shape up or ship out....Cheer up, or get the F out of my classroom...freakn Debbie Downers!!! But of course, I'm not "allowed" to do that. They then told me that on the last day of the month, the school provides some money to get some food, so I asked my cousin about it...and the answer was no... Sorry Kiddos. We played some games, ate some candy and then called it a night. Then the next class...I was annoyed...for 50 whole minutes, just wanted to scream and yell at this guy. He has no idea what being rude means...and he's kind of a know-it-all.
Finally, my favorite last class took me out to Samgyupsal (BBQ pork) and Soju. That honestly made my day. They are most definitely my favorites and the coolest students I had the pleasure of working with (in my very brief time here!). I <3 hanging out with them. It's not work, it's fun. And it always ends up being more of a language exchange, they teach me Korean, but we speak in English. :) They make me heppy...and I'll miss them a lot.
That's my story and I'm stickn to it!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Halloween Shenanigans
Halloween stupidity has already begun. I was putting together my costume...and put it together while wearing it, so now I'm stuck in my costume and unless I want to repeat the entire process, I have to just wear the thing for the rest of the night. It's almost 3pm. Which means more than 24 hours in this getup...without wrecking it!
But I have a new dream for you to analyze!!
There were four of us in this weird limbo space...everything was white and there were white pillars in the empty space around us. My "boyfriend" broke up with me and my friend broke up with his girlfriend at the same time. I don't remember the reaction from the other couple because I was distraught beyond all reason. I was sobbing and screaming after him, begging him to stay. My friend and I then looked at each other and kind of shrugged, saying "what do we do now?" So we walked together out of limbo and into the real world. But the minute we made plans to do something, I slipped away at the first chance that I got to sit on the other side of my bed and cry.
I awoke from this dream in tears.
Any ideas? This one legit perplexes me. What is happening in my brain right now?
But I have a new dream for you to analyze!!
There were four of us in this weird limbo space...everything was white and there were white pillars in the empty space around us. My "boyfriend" broke up with me and my friend broke up with his girlfriend at the same time. I don't remember the reaction from the other couple because I was distraught beyond all reason. I was sobbing and screaming after him, begging him to stay. My friend and I then looked at each other and kind of shrugged, saying "what do we do now?" So we walked together out of limbo and into the real world. But the minute we made plans to do something, I slipped away at the first chance that I got to sit on the other side of my bed and cry.
I awoke from this dream in tears.
Any ideas? This one legit perplexes me. What is happening in my brain right now?
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Dead as a Doornail
What is a doornail? Did I totally screw up that idiom?! Doorknob?? Either way, how is a doornail/knob/other dead?
Anyway.
I think I finally killed the last mosquito that's been suckin' up all my juices. I killed him with great happiness too. I'm so itchy because of him and his little brother/sister/cousin/frand. There are two bites on my right pointer finger knuckle alone..totaling 15 mosquito bites between what I assume to be 2 mosquitoes. Serious dislike.
And because I scratch at them my skin, especially my legs, are pockmarked. No bueno, mosquito, no bueno.
Anyway.
I think I finally killed the last mosquito that's been suckin' up all my juices. I killed him with great happiness too. I'm so itchy because of him and his little brother/sister/cousin/frand. There are two bites on my right pointer finger knuckle alone..totaling 15 mosquito bites between what I assume to be 2 mosquitoes. Serious dislike.
And because I scratch at them my skin, especially my legs, are pockmarked. No bueno, mosquito, no bueno.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Oh the Memories I'm Making
This weekend was probably the first weekend I didn't go to Seoul since I've been here! It was actually kind of nice.
I went out on Friday night (first with my class then with my friends). And had a lot of fun. Got to know some new people. There are actually some pretty cool people here in Suwon.
Then Saturday, my friend Matt came up to Suwon and we had a lazy weekend. We laid around watching movies/sleeping/eating for two days straight. It was pretty wonderful. And a nice break from drinking! (He can't drink at the moment..antibiotics). Not that I dislike drinking, but the drinking culture here is a little rough on my digestive system, blood stream and liver (which I suppose is a part of my digestive system!) I felt bad though because he stayed longer than he should have and didn't get any of his work done this weekend :/
But now on to my big story of the day!! (or weekend)...
My washing machine broke!!!!
I have no idea what happened, I was just washing some towels, just like 3 so the machine wasn't full at all, not even close. I turned it on, and sometimes it overheats and turns off. But this time, when I tried to restart it, it stopped, made a continuous humming sound and flashed EF. I tried to turn it completely off, but none of the buttons worked! So Matt and I went down to try to find the maintenance man..but it was after hours so he wasn't working. We tried to ask the convenience store man..but he had no idea and told us to ask the guard. We tried to ask the guard, but the guard (being the grumpy old...I mean OOOLLLDDDD man that he is) just kind of brushed us aside. Even my neighbor, who's so nice got in on the action. She spoke a little English so she tried to help us. But to no avail.
The result: Saturday-Monday morning I had to listen to the weird humming of the machine and be constantly distracted by the blinking lights. I was also enveloped in a constant fear that the machine would just go up in flames or explode. I have such irrational fears.
Finally, today I went down to the maintenance office and found the man working. I tried to ask him in my very limited Korean to come look at my washing machine...he didn't know what I was saying, go figure. At first he thought I wanted to rent an apartment so he walked me to the leasing office. Then he started pulling out paperwork and everything concerning my apartment. And I tried making hand motions and sounds...just looking crazy! Eventually he understood "AH! Washing Machine trouble?!?" "YESSSS!!!!!!"
He then came up to my apartment, took a look, played with the buttons (yes the ones that don't work). Opened one of my closet doors, flipped the electrical circuit breaker, turned it off, turned it on and it was done. Two seconds to fix what consumed my entire weekend with annoyance.
Communication is essential to life.
*EDIT*
ANNNDDD more to add.
I didn't know mosquitos could survive in such cold conditions. But I slept with my window open the last two nights and I'm covered in mosquito bites!! AGAIN! And I see them flying around..I've already killed 2...who knows how many are currently in my apartment, breeding.
I went out on Friday night (first with my class then with my friends). And had a lot of fun. Got to know some new people. There are actually some pretty cool people here in Suwon.
Then Saturday, my friend Matt came up to Suwon and we had a lazy weekend. We laid around watching movies/sleeping/eating for two days straight. It was pretty wonderful. And a nice break from drinking! (He can't drink at the moment..antibiotics). Not that I dislike drinking, but the drinking culture here is a little rough on my digestive system, blood stream and liver (which I suppose is a part of my digestive system!) I felt bad though because he stayed longer than he should have and didn't get any of his work done this weekend :/
But now on to my big story of the day!! (or weekend)...
My washing machine broke!!!!
I have no idea what happened, I was just washing some towels, just like 3 so the machine wasn't full at all, not even close. I turned it on, and sometimes it overheats and turns off. But this time, when I tried to restart it, it stopped, made a continuous humming sound and flashed EF. I tried to turn it completely off, but none of the buttons worked! So Matt and I went down to try to find the maintenance man..but it was after hours so he wasn't working. We tried to ask the convenience store man..but he had no idea and told us to ask the guard. We tried to ask the guard, but the guard (being the grumpy old...I mean OOOLLLDDDD man that he is) just kind of brushed us aside. Even my neighbor, who's so nice got in on the action. She spoke a little English so she tried to help us. But to no avail.
The result: Saturday-Monday morning I had to listen to the weird humming of the machine and be constantly distracted by the blinking lights. I was also enveloped in a constant fear that the machine would just go up in flames or explode. I have such irrational fears.
Finally, today I went down to the maintenance office and found the man working. I tried to ask him in my very limited Korean to come look at my washing machine...he didn't know what I was saying, go figure. At first he thought I wanted to rent an apartment so he walked me to the leasing office. Then he started pulling out paperwork and everything concerning my apartment. And I tried making hand motions and sounds...just looking crazy! Eventually he understood "AH! Washing Machine trouble?!?" "YESSSS!!!!!!"
He then came up to my apartment, took a look, played with the buttons (yes the ones that don't work). Opened one of my closet doors, flipped the electrical circuit breaker, turned it off, turned it on and it was done. Two seconds to fix what consumed my entire weekend with annoyance.
Communication is essential to life.
*EDIT*
ANNNDDD more to add.
I didn't know mosquitos could survive in such cold conditions. But I slept with my window open the last two nights and I'm covered in mosquito bites!! AGAIN! And I see them flying around..I've already killed 2...who knows how many are currently in my apartment, breeding.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)