Weekend Update

I find myself on yet another Monday morning after a great, yet short weekend, not wanting to go to work. I like my job and once I'm there it's generally ok, but the weekends just seem so short. Whether I stay in or do things. This weekend, like most, was busy. On Saturday I met up with Megan in hopes of going to a French market, but we got lost, walked around a lot and then finally bit the bullet and took a cab to where we thought the market was. We never found the market, but instead we found a charming French district right in the middle of Gangnam. Megan found her prized Quaker Oats at a foreign goods mart and after wandering the streets we found a coffee shop called I Hate Coffee & Wine. I had a very nice cafe mocha. By the time we finished, we had to catch the subway to Korean class. I hadn't been in 4 weeks, skipped twice while my brother was here and then neglected to go two other times. I wasn't too far behind though and on Saturday we learned colors and articles of clothing. Next week we are having a party in class and then we will all go noraebang-ing. It should be fun. After class was dinner in Itaewon with Sarah, a girl we met in class. We went to Loco Loca a little Mexican/Italian wine bistro behind Itaewon station. I have been there many times before and they have good food and a great atmosphere. Saturday was also a day to support the arts. Megan, Loren, Ashley, Mike and I decided to check out The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. It wasn't as entertaining as I had hoped and quite honestly I was thankful for the wi-fi connection so I could browse the internet on my iPod.

Yesterday I decided I needed to make my apartment Christmas appropriate and decided to head to E-Mart to see what I could find. I found Christmas lights, ornaments and tinsel, plus a lot more, but settled on the lights and such. I also bought some veggies in hopes of making a chicken and rice soup. I went to a different E-Mart than the one near my house because mine used to be a Wal-Mart and for some reason or another doesn't offer the same kinds or varieties of items as the one about 20 minutes by bus from my home. Anyway, after I got home I decorate my apartment and I'm happy to say I feel more in the Christmas spirit than before. Christmas lights can do wonders to boosting morale. I chose to spend the rest of the afternoon curled up with a David Sedaris book and watching A Christmas Story. Later, I met up with Ashley and Loren and we went to Costco. I am so thankful that Loren has a membership and said I could tag along. I was able to buy chicken broth, turkey for sandwiches, black olives and sharp cheddar cheese. The cheese alone would be enough for me to get my own membership.

Only a 8 days of work left until Christmas vacation. Tuesday and Thursday are shorter teaching days now because the Kindergarteners are doing a musical for Christmas (not anything related to Christmas however) and they need extra practice. Its nice to have some down time. I can't wait to have 10 days off and then at the end of January I get a 4 day weekend because of the Lunar New Year. However, after that I won't have any relief until May where it is quite possible we will get another 4 day weekend. I'm excited to go to Japan (which I changed my plans for and am now only going to Tokyo from December 26-31) and I can't wait for Christmas. I'll be spending it with friends which will be really nice and an excellent alternative to family.