Korea Update #2

Alright, I'm still alive and kicking. I've been super busy my whole trip. I have so much stuff to blog about.. I don't know where to start. I'm loving it here. I don't think i'd ever be able to live here permanantly but I think teaching english here for 6 months is looking very appealing. I'd like to know what it's like to live here for a few months. I've gone to see 2 palaces an area set up like things were in Korea ages ago. I have pictures. I'll scan them when I get home. More than doing the whole 'tourist' thing I'm enjoying just being here and soaking up the atmosphere of the place. Los Angeles lacks the 'big metropolitan' city feel, so that is new to me. The subway system can be ridiculously crowded and the taxi's are picky about where they're willing to take you. The food is fabulous. I've been pigging out my whole trip but, because i've been walking so damn much I've actually lost weight. The people here are so blatent about staring at you. It weirded me out at first but, now it's just liberating LOL. I LOVE the fact that you don't tip or pay sales tax. Not to mention haggling with sales people has been an interesting experience. Korea is the land of the fake label stuff. I didn't realize what label whores we were. heh Everytime I go to look at something I thought was cute I'm proudly informed that it is a really good ____ knockoff (Prada, Tiffany, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc.. i think i spelled that wrong, but i don't care) Also, it seems that calling any establishment that sells alcholol a 'Hof' is all the rage. There are 'Hof' signs everywhere, which cracks me up because they are NOTHING like a hof at all!

Let's see, I got my hair dyed black today. I was gettin tired of brown... I was supposed to get royal blue streaks woven in but, they only had white colored glue... So, looks like the punk blue streaks are going to have to wait until I get back home. I think that my favorate things about Seoul so far are the lovely coffee shops (which all sell alcohol btw) and the vibe in the streets in the evening. Especially i Kangnam where I'm staying. I know I'm going to really miss that when I get back to LA. Of all the things I expected to miss most about home... what I actually DO miss was the last thing I expected. I thought that I was going to miss seeing ethnic diversity in public or american food... what it ended up being was ice. LOL I knew that having ice in your drinks is an american thing but, I didn't realize different it would be without it. It isn't that there isn't ice here... it's just they don't use it very often. I have to ask for it. Then the ppl there just look at me in odd ways. It's pretty damn amusing how much attention Gina and I draw when we speak english anywhere. I attract stares even when I'm not talking. I think I just give out a 'i'm a forgiener' vibe. Oh... btw... it's really hilarous how I thought all the girls here were going to be all stick thin and gorgeous. Man.. I was SO wrong. Not to mention I think i've seen maybe 3 good looking guys my WHOLE time here.... and I did a lot of walking and looking around. The girls aren't very attractive either. Ok.. I'm going to run home, rest, and clean up... I have a dinner date with my uncle tonight. He promised to buy me something yummy to eat! w00t! Take care everyone.. I miss you guys.. and I'll be home on Friday evening :)