Pacific Seoul

... t know where it was. When I got there, Jeonga and the others were already there. Ming and Xian said that when they got there they thought that she was Jeonga but felt weird to approach a complete stranger in case it wasn't her, hehehe, I would've done the same. <br><br>She took us around Insadong and we had lunch in this really cool place hidden in an alleyway. We got to sit in a Korean style room and Jeonga did all the ordering for us. It was definitely the best ...

... but she is well up on my in the country count and is headed to China and Mongolia for a month each after she is done here. Jonathan is a potential ex-pat (he has only been in China for a year) and is a pretty smart guy and knows a lot about history and some philosophy, but is also very subjective in a lot of his beliefs. Both seem like good people and I wish them safe travels and the best in their future endeavors. We all exchanged facebook info and are going to keep in touch ...

... and almost broke my back. wtf. Got my cell phone today from the old english teacher. He didn't leave a charger so I have to go buy one. Soo just told me that she believes my phone is a monthly agreement and I'm not happy to hear that at all. I don't want any more monthly expenses. UGH. I went grocery shopping yesterday and spent $33 USD. Normally I wouldn't be complaining about that amount when I'm back in the states, but here I expected things to be cheaper and it isn't that much cheaper. </li></ul>

... are no other shoppers and you will find yourself the baton in a relay of shop assistants as you make your way down the aisles and they readjust any item that you happen to have touched...it does not make for a relaxing shopping experience!<br><br>I decide to have a little coffee and a sit down and watch the young and trendy things of Seoul in their leisure pastime - it would seem that shopping is like breathing over here! I have never been in a culture where consuming ...

... on and listen to a bunch of music!<br>I am most excited for the homestay right now!  I really want to do that.  I have had some interesting food so far.  There was this green tea porridge on the plane that was made out of rice-- it tasted really salty though.  And then there was sea weed soup.  Oh!  And these round slices of white stuff that was kind of slimy with sesame seeds on top, it was actually really good ...

... they hide their face, giggle and cover their mouth. Yet, I find it to be just an act, a formality. Underneath, they are fiercely competitive. When I told my Korean friends that I am a horrible singer and they said that they can't sing either, I took their word for it, thinking we'd all be in the same boat. <br><br>So, we arrived at the Noraebang and reserved a room. One guy immediately knows what he wants to sing and enters in the numbers. That was ...

... worked for outside the airport calls. None of our group had any signal on our cell phones.<br><br>Finally after midnight the group was declared negative and those that were hanging around the quarentine office were told, but not the bulk of people in the quarentine room. We had to spread the word ourselves.<br><br>We were told to head to the Korean Airline transfer desk where we would find out about the next leg of our trip. However once there we were given hotel ...

... they have a cable car that goes up a mountain where the Seoul N. Tower is. There was a line-up for the cable car and it was going to cost money so Maranda and I decided to take the stairs!! It was demanding and it was hot out (even without the excercise) so we broke out in quite a sweat! Then we went into the observatory and up to the top. It was nice and I think I will try to go back and get a day time view ...

... yummy! Some of the best chicken ever! It was really difficult to eat though because a) Koreans use those thin metal chopsticks, b) it was a whole chicken, so the meat was on the bone and you cant use your hands!, c) and I was a bit tipsy! Ha! The next place was chopped chicken with ...chili sauce!!! but mild......sauteed in a lot of oil with cabbage and noodles and cheese! I need to join a gym pronto!!!! Then we all went to ...

... biggest issue was getting them to speak loud enough for me to hear, but with each day that passed I sensed them opening up a little more. Hew and me went out for a few beers on Christmas Eve, and sampled a few of the local bars. When I first found out that I was going to be on the outskirts of Seoul, I was worried that there might not be much nightlife nearby, but the sheer number of bright lights right outside my apartment put paid to ...