snow dance

After work today I took Hopi for a walk up Namsan (Seoul Tower is on top). The park has pathways winding up and everywhere.  The entire time we were in the park we didn’t see anyone.  Maybe because it was already dark, it was a bit cold, and it was quite muddy.

A sort of a little stream coming down the mountain.  When I sat down, Hopi was quite interested in the snow on my shoe.
Hopi is funny around snow.  He’ll jump and then seems to think that the snow that is kicked up is alive and needs to be caught.  He’ll jump, see a little bit of snow bounce up, stare it down and then pounce at it.  At one point he was literally doing flips all around me, trying to catch the little bits of snow that were dancing around each time he jumped.  It’s possibly a  never ending cycle.
Too bad it was too dark to take a video.

laura

wishing….

This isn’t where I am, but rather where I wish I could be right now.

It’s cold and snowing in Seoul (AGAIN!).
When I got on the subway to come home it was raining.  When I came out it was snowing.  Now it is snowing a lot.  I will have to get up early tomorrow morning as walking Hopi won’t be as simple (I live on a rather big hill) and getting to work will take more time.
Rain + snow + cold = … not a nice combination.

Oh.  I took the picture when I was in Vietnam summer 2008.  I want to go back.  Or, well, anywhere that is nice and warm.

^.~

laura

Deoksugung

Yesterday I spent the day hanging out with a couple of friends downtown Seoul.  Lunch, Kyobo Bookstore and Deoksugung (덕수궁/Deoksu Palace), one of the smaller palaces in Seoul.  This is the Daehanmun (Daehan Gate), the main entrance to the palace area.  Unfortunately the Seoul Museum of Art was closed.  The main exhibit there right now is Andy Warhol.  Maybe later this week…

Then I ended up going all the way up to Dongducheon (very far to the north of seoul) to hang out, eat pizza and watch movies.  I’m a tad tired today since I had to get up at 5:30 to catch the subway home to make it to work on time, but it was definitely worth it.
^.~

laura

doggy dreams

A photo just wouldn’t have done this justice.
Hopi is quite a handful when he’s awake. Like anything/one (animal or child or even man, for that matter) it doesn’t matter what they do in the day, they’re always sweet when they sleep. Except of course when he wakes up in the middle of the night to bark at the neighbors that are always out late.

Jindo dogs are actually quite interesting.
I’ve been reading a bit about them. There are many variations on color from pure white to pure black. The white ones actually look like baby polar bears when they are pups.

laura

Angel lights

Back at Angel in us coffee shop again for lunch and a sparkling apple juice. The place was almost empty.
I really like the upstairs seating area.  It is comfortable and nice.  I suppose it would feel different if it was full.
The sandwich isn’t that great except for the bread they use.  I love it!!

The lights that you see in the reflection in the far left mirror actually have wings on the bulbs.

Angel lights?  Kinda cute.

laura

dogsitting

I’ve agreed to take care of Hopi for a month while my friend is between homes.
Hopi (means tiger skin) is a tiger Jindo.
The Jindo (진돗개)is a special Korean breed of dog.
He’s not yet a year old.
Here he’s sitting with a small pile of my shoes at my door.  So far he hasn’t eaten any here.  I’m told he only chews and shreds things when no one is home.  He’s in a little balcony when no one is here so maybe my things are safe.

laura

Oksu

This feels like such a long week.
It’s the last week of the school year in Korea so a lot has to be done.

This is Oksu Station on the Jungang line and line #3, where I transfer a couple times a week (same station I got the socks at, actually).  The Jungang line  is one of the above ground subway lines.  I don’t like it as it only runs every 20 minutes or so, on a schedule rather than every 5  minutes like most of other lines.  Stations on this line are only partially covered so in the winter they can get quite cold and in the summer, well, you melt.  Not so much fun.

tired.  off to bed.

laura

shoes in Korea

I’ve been so busy lately I keep forgetting to take pictures until it’s too late and I’m already home with my shoes off, today included.  But I had to try these on again anyway. Last time I mentioned the socks, but another great thing about Korea is the shoes.  You can get cute inexpensive shoes everywhere, usually 10,000 Won (~$10ish).  For some reason I decided I should enter the little shoe shop at Sindang subway station (신당역) where I had to transfer.  These were the result.  A 15,000Won pair of cute ankle boots that I didn’t need. 

^.~

laura

shopaholic…

I really should be banned from Forever 21.
I can’t even walk into the place without spending ~$200.
(Though I can get quite a bit there for that much.)
It’s one of the only places in Korea that I can find pants that are long enough, shirts with long enough sleeves, etc.  And it’s 3 whole floors of goodness!!!!!  And not small ones, either!
I don’t think I’ve ever gone in there and spent less than 2 hours (sometimes considerably more) or much less than $200.
I walk through and one rack after another,
I see things that make me think,
“I NEED YOU!!!”

laura

Noksapyeong

Went to see Avatar in 3D tonight with a new friend.  Avatar is quite popular in Korea. Even after a month in theaters, it’s still sold out.  I really enjoyed it.  The 3D really adds to the quality, I think.
A very entertaining movie.

I took the subway home.
Noksapyeong Station, my stop, is one of the fancier stations in Seoul.

It kinda made me dizzy taking this picture though.
I don’t do well with heights.

laura

cozy

I spent the day in cozy socks tangled up in my blankets with a book.
Lazy days can be wonderful!!

(One of the great things in Korea is the abundance of cheap cool socks!)

laura

Angel wings

Lunch break at an Apgujeong branch of Angels in us,  a cute coffee shop.  The Italian sandwich isn’t bad.
A couple of  months ago the upper floor of this one was closed to the public and they had a cherry picker outside with huge flood lights shining into the 2nd floor windows.  Some drama or movie was being filmed.  I wasn’t able to find out which one.  It’s kinda neat being around Apgujeong as that certainly wasn’t my first encounter with dramas and movies being made.
The stand straight ahead is all mugs (with photo proof) that have been autographed by famous people that have been there.  Hanging on the window next to that is all membership point cards.  Dang.  That reminds me I forgot to get my card stamped the last 2 times I went.  Oh well.

In case you haven’t noticed, I ♥ coffee shops.
^.~

laura

Rodeo

It’s a rainy day in Seoul.
I walked through Seoul’s Rodeo Drive area in Apgujeong after work (basically right next to it).  The main Rodeo street was  just recently redone and the new drainage grates are now marked with the street’s name.

Not long after this I missed the 3.0 earthquake that hit Seoul.  I must have been either in a taxi or in an elevator at the time because I didn’t notice it at all.

O.o

laura

?

At my favorite haunt… My friend’s bar, Question in Itaewon.
(before the crowds arrived)
This week I was there 3 evenings in a row.
A second home?  Maybe.

laura

spelling mistakes

This is one of the many things that I love about teaching.  The random spelling mistakes that are made.  Today two girls made the exact same mistake.  They both skipped 3 letters, resulting in a very different sentence.  Do you know which letters are missing?

After the first one I had a good laugh and had to take a picture before making her correct it.  When I saw the second one I was nearly on the floor laughing.

I’ll make her correct it the next class.  Had to pass it around to the other teachers first.
^.~

laura

Hot Vanilla

Another day of work, another drink at the Coffee Bean (or two, or three  ^.~).

Mmmmmm. Hot Vanilla (vanilla steamed milk).

I ♥ Coffee Bean.

laura

work slippers

laura

Every day seems like a long day after teaching English phonics and writing to 5 and 6 year old Korean kids all day. But yet, I still love it.
These are the cheaper than cheap slippers that the school provides its teachers and visitors. When your slippers are held together with tape after only a few weeks wear…

Laura

Enjoying a Moroccan Mint Latte at an Apgujeong (that’s in Seoul) Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf after a long day at work.

Mmmm Moroccan Mint. ^^

laura