Part I of IV: What I've been up to, South Korea
Went to South Korea, again. All January... a very hilarious trip this time around. It got incredibly bizarre towards the end. I guess guys are especially shy in Korea (however when alcohol is involved...), but during a huge fancy dinner party my boss told me and everyone else that someone on the table liked me (not as a sister). He then called this person out, who I wasn't expecting nor was the poor guy. He then proceeded to tell us what a great match we would be. I asked the guy if he told this to bossman or if bossman was pulling my leg. This guy looked at me sheepishly and said that he told our boss. I was so confused and flustered, why would you tell something like that to your boss but not to the person you actually like? Bossman interjected again and said that I needed a good korean boy in my life. Once again I was at a loss for words (Did I mention we were all sober?). I remember laughing nervously for awhile and then stuffing my face with food so I wouldn't need to speak. This was one of many weird, awkward moments on my second trip to Korea. Yet the more I learn about Korea, the more confused I get, and the more I love it.
1. During my stay I gained the filipino sister I never knew I wanted. Arlene and I got into a lot of trouble. This photo is typical - we would hit each other and then braid hair.
2. I was known for having a bizarre sense of style. I have no idea why, all of the girls were wearing much stranger things (stuffed animal hats?)... But apparently the boots I was wearing (pictured here) are only used in the fields by farmers or when cleaning the bathroom. Many people refused to walk with me when I was wearing these boots. Of course class matters greatly in Korea.
3. My second korean sister, Ji-soo. We were good at making boys cry.
4. RULES OF THE HOUSE!
5. This blood (not mine) was splattered outside of a hospital. Not a good sign...
6. Me and fellow smithies keeping it real on a bed of layered blankets. Later that night Pelmo told the best story I have EVER heard. It's from her childhood in India about a man who spies the face of a lovely actress from afar but when he ventures close he sees that it's the ass of a donkey, a brilliant story really.
7. We took some of the kids to see a field of eagles near the DMZ. The birds were viciously tearing apart a cow. Yummy. The teachers cried, the students were bored.
8. A good friend, Unseok, walking through the fields of snow. He has magical hands. I had the worst hangover after drinking with him and a few other people but after he massaged these pressure points on my hand I was cured. During his military stint he worked as a riot policeman which is hilarious if you know him. He's the nicest, skinniest, most non-confrontational person I have ever met.
7. We loved going to the spa.
8. Another spa day. Hahaha.
9. We did some work. This was taken the day I got a haircut. Notice my shiny smooth hair? Yeah, that didn't last long.
10. The dog I was going to adopt. They're called dong-ke (sounds like donkey but literally translates to shit-dog). Unseok from the other photo once owned a dog much like this one when he was very young. His town host this summer festival where all the members of the town gather in the lake and sacrifice a dog (I forget why) which they then eat. He didn't realized that his parents volunteered his pet dog one year...