Royal Tourist Hotel Sokcho

... those people who were too unlucky to get anything last month come together to eat "black noodles" which is actually a delicious Chinese/Korean noodle dish with black bean sauce. Not exactly sure who dreamed this one up since it doesn't seem like much of a celebration - but there you have it... the basic guide to dates of love in Korea. (actually there's a lot more special days for couples, but these seem to be some of the most widely celebrated)

... felt like I might get in trouble if I didn't do my 10 minutes first, so I pedaled away and just kind of waved at them.

This was only the beginning of the well meaning meddling. After saying hi to my friends, I went to my first weight machine, only to be guided away by another gym employee who not only insisted that I stretch first, but actually stretched with me, and in fact, kept pushing me into more correct form, or into deeper stretches (oh my god, my head doesn't go down any ...

... I was excited because the weather forecast was for clear blue sky!

The one concern that I had was regarding the thousands (literally) of ajummas and ajoshis who would no doubt be doing the same route as me on Sunday. These people, at least according to the stereotype, are generally middle-aged and in my experience, very loud. The women (ajummas) all seem to wear the exact same clothes as well for some unknown reason, namely bright pink jackets with multi-coloured sun visas! So I ...

... Before too long, the main course - about 4 chopped up ducks on a bed of sweet potato - arrived. Around this time, the soju also arrived. Soju is basically jet propellant - an affordable hangover just waiting for you in a green bottle. For whatever reason, Koreans drink it like water, despite the fact that they are in no way immune to its effects. (side note - in the first month of being here, I have seen men in business suits vomiting into gutters, had teachers come to work with ...

... sort of dismiss me with a "well-you-don't-know-what-we're-talking -about-your-face-is-already-perfect" thing. I know people all over the world suffer from insecurities about their appearance, but at least for me, Korea has been a pretty shocking example of people dissatisfied with their natural appearance.

"Glamorous"
This has nothing to do with fashion. It just means you have big boobs. Thanks?

... absolutely knew that if I put a single tentacle of squid in my mouth I would kill a Korean. Really. So, I made this decision - "ok, no more squid for a while. Everyone will understand, and there is always so much food at meals out and in the school cafeteria, that I will be fine."

THAT was when I realized the truth about the "Squid Theory." Squid is not just PREVALENT it is also INSIDIOUS. In Korea, squid can be disguised as noodles or kimchi. And I SWEAR that squid is ...

... boyf: Do...you....have....boyfriend.....?

Me:(oh good god - EXCELLENT time to LIE! LIE MARY! JUST LIE AND SAY YES!!!) oh.no. (WHY? WHY DID YOU SAY THAT? YOU FOOL!!!!)

Boyf: We can . . .

Mary: (somewhat desperately trying to gear this conversation back to where I wanted it to go) How are you?

Boyf: (confused by this new tactic, but undaunted) We . . .can . . . (leaning so far forward he's almost in my seat) we . . . can . . . meet?

Mary: (again ...

... because the bus drivers all seem to think that they are in the Indy 500, and take no mercy on the crippled or the elderly who are pitching about in the aisle.

Today my bus boyfriend and I exchanged names, ( I swear his name is "minion." Pretty threatening), and most of the conversation went like this.

Boyf: what . . . (eyes cast about, grip tightens on crutch) your name?

Me: Mary
Sokcho, Korea Rep. maryberry

... ordering was a challenge. Luckily in some places, other patrons spoke English and could help us translate/order. It was a funny drive though, most signs were in Korean, but the major highways had Korean and English and with the GPS we didn't have too much trouble.

The first day we drove about 3 hours east (and a little bit north) to the coastal city of Sokcho. (Korea is so small, you can ...

So right off the bat - after meeting my co-teacher, she says "I'm getting a face massage tomorrow. You can come if you want." Desperately eager to please, and also frantic for friends, my OK! followed on the heels of her offer probably a little too quickly. "Really?" she said, probably taken by surprise at my eagerness bordering on desperation. She studied me for a moment, "It includes uhh boob massage - is that ok?" Again, too eagerly, "FINE!"

So anyway, the next day I had ...