May 15, 2012
Happy Wing
No I don't have Internet at home yet, A Cell Phone or cable, but I do now own a little leaf that allows me to lift the toilet seat without touching it with my fingers...
Priorities People!
It was only 5,000 won or 4.50 so it wasn't that big of a deal.
May 14, 2012
a Catcher with nail polish
Adam and I love this commercial. It is the Kia Tiger's (Gwangju's baseball team).
The World's Fair, 2012
The official website is here.
The fair began this weekend.They are expecting more than 8 million people to visit in the next 93 days! Tickets are on average 33,000 won a person, or about $30.
The theme for the expo is "The Living Ocean and Coast." Since Yeosu is located on the coast, it does make perfect sense.
Adam and I will venture over there in early July to partake in the festivities. As more articles and news comes out about the events and the expo overall, I will repost.
May 11, 2012
Decals
May 10, 2012
Skin Food
Seeing as though we were starting from scratch here, I also picked up shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap. And, slowly as my makeup runs out, I will replace it with SkinFood. I am not sure if it is their marketing or all their free masks and samples they throw in my bag when I shop, but I am hooked.
Their motto:
Delicious Cosmetics Made of Delicious Foods
Food Cosmetics, SKINFOOD
Food Cosmetics, SKINFOOD
Under the motto of 'good food for health is also good for the skin', SKINFOOD is the first food cosmetic brand developed
with a differentiated unique concept of 'food'.
SKINFOOD delivers complete nutrition to the skin through the strict selection of foods that are good for the skin including avocado,
which is even listed in the Guinness World Records, rice that is reliable for taking care of health, fresh milk, and sturdy tomato.
Our products are scented and bottled according to their design and formulation concepts, to indulge you with the freshness and
nutrients of their main ingredients. SKINFOOD always looks for skin-affinitive food to bring you the best products.
with a differentiated unique concept of 'food'.
SKINFOOD delivers complete nutrition to the skin through the strict selection of foods that are good for the skin including avocado,
which is even listed in the Guinness World Records, rice that is reliable for taking care of health, fresh milk, and sturdy tomato.
Our products are scented and bottled according to their design and formulation concepts, to indulge you with the freshness and
nutrients of their main ingredients. SKINFOOD always looks for skin-affinitive food to bring you the best products.
Although no where does it say made from 100% natural ingredients, that I can find anyway, I still like to believe I am smearing avocado on my hair everyday when I am washing it.
May 9, 2012
linens
If you need linens in Busan, and don't know who to contact, here is a great interior designer. His prices are reasonable, he has a ton of material to choose from and will even install everything.
Even though he doesn't speak English, and I don't speak Korean, we were able to figure out an order after a few hours of changing my mind and drawing pictures.
New handmade curtains and pillows (3 large and 3 small) cost a little under $300. I know it may seem like a lot to all of you in the states, but for some reason any type of linen here is incredibly expensive. We don't even have sheets yet. A set can be over $100 for the cheap ones (I know Mom is sending some for my birthday) A nice comfortable duvet starts at $400 and curtains are usually over $100. Towels, forget about it. Most are only hand towel size and to get one that actually covers your body, can run easily $25 a piece.
Check out the apartment blog to see more pictures.
http://theseoulsurvivors.blogspot.com/2012/05/furnished-and-complete-apartment.html
heavy stuff and cool old dudes.....
Soooo...those who have followed the blogs within the past two months will know that the gym routine lately has been anything but..... and the art of lifting fire extinguishers and suitcases was a practice I was glad to leave behind in Japan.
Upon our arrival back to Gwangju, our first order of business was to renew my membership at MIR fitness just down the street. MIR is a cool gym for people that don't wear matching color gym clothes, squat while on their bluetooth, and grunt like they are expelling a live chicken from their.....well you get the idea. Its a bare bones gym for a bunch of regular Korean peeps that look average, but can more than likely bench half the Kia's in the city.
Signing back up I was somewhat surprised to recognize every single person in the gym and the recognition was reciprocated with friendly bows, excited handshakes and looks of bewilderment at my lack of hair. Remember last time I was the son of Elvis. Pretty awesome though to know that for the past 2 years in my absence, the same dedicated 60 something's have been workin hard and lovin it.
Its a good place to start your day. At 7 am I arrived this morning and was summoned to the old folks round table for a pre-pump coffee and rice cake tasting. I mean seriously, what LA Fitness is gonna do that....its enough if the front desk bimbo looks up from her cell phone to scan you in. Sorry, maybe she's not a bimbo but nobody needs that much foundation and eye shadow in a gym.
The other day the owners son brought me behind the desk to show me the photo of Nicole and I he had placed under the desk glass in our honor and proclaimed how happy he was to have me back if only for a little while.
Going to the gym has always been a part of my mental and physical balancing act. It keeps me loose, happy and free from the petty things in life that might drag me down otherwise. Its an added bonus to find a spot like MIR where i'm welcomed in even with my lack of language....because when i shoot a thumbs up to the 73 year old dude doing dips like an college kid....he reads me loud and clear.
can I get a spot?
-adam
Upon our arrival back to Gwangju, our first order of business was to renew my membership at MIR fitness just down the street. MIR is a cool gym for people that don't wear matching color gym clothes, squat while on their bluetooth, and grunt like they are expelling a live chicken from their.....well you get the idea. Its a bare bones gym for a bunch of regular Korean peeps that look average, but can more than likely bench half the Kia's in the city.
Signing back up I was somewhat surprised to recognize every single person in the gym and the recognition was reciprocated with friendly bows, excited handshakes and looks of bewilderment at my lack of hair. Remember last time I was the son of Elvis. Pretty awesome though to know that for the past 2 years in my absence, the same dedicated 60 something's have been workin hard and lovin it.
Its a good place to start your day. At 7 am I arrived this morning and was summoned to the old folks round table for a pre-pump coffee and rice cake tasting. I mean seriously, what LA Fitness is gonna do that....its enough if the front desk bimbo looks up from her cell phone to scan you in. Sorry, maybe she's not a bimbo but nobody needs that much foundation and eye shadow in a gym.
The other day the owners son brought me behind the desk to show me the photo of Nicole and I he had placed under the desk glass in our honor and proclaimed how happy he was to have me back if only for a little while.
Going to the gym has always been a part of my mental and physical balancing act. It keeps me loose, happy and free from the petty things in life that might drag me down otherwise. Its an added bonus to find a spot like MIR where i'm welcomed in even with my lack of language....because when i shoot a thumbs up to the 73 year old dude doing dips like an college kid....he reads me loud and clear.
can I get a spot?
-adam
May 8, 2012
learning Korean
I have tried to once again throw myself into the deep realms of learning Korean. Now that I have many hours to myself, I have begun studying. Here are some helpful phrases for you. I honestly believe though, that the best way for me to learn is to write up scripts that use common survival language and have someone translate them for me...then practice them.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal
| English | 한국어 (Korean) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | 환영합니다 (hwangyong-hamnida) |
| Hello | 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) - frm, 안녕 (annyeong) - inf 여보세요 (yeoboseyo) - on phone |
| How are you? I'm fine, thanks. | 어떻게 지내세요? (eotteohke jinaeseyo?) 안녕하셨습니까? (an nyeong ha siut seum ni ka?) |
| 잘지내요 (jaljinaeyo) | |
| Long time no see | 오랜만이다 (orenmanida) |
| What's your name? My name is ... | 당신의 이름은 무엇입니까? (dangsinui ireumeun mueosip nikka?) inf 성함이 어떻게 되십니까? (sungham ee uttoke daesipnika?) frm |
| 제 이름은 ... 입니다 (je ireum-eun ... imnida) | |
| Where are you from? I'm from ... | 어디서 오셨어요? (Eodiseo osyeosseoyo) |
| 저는 ... 에서 왔어요 (Jeoneun ... eseo wasseuyo) | |
| Pleased to meet you | 만나서 반갑습니다 (Mannaseo bangapseumnida) [frm polite] 만나서 반가워요 (Mannaseo bangawoyo) [inf polite] |
| Good morning/ afternoon/evening | 안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka) |
| Good night | 안녕히 주무십시요 (annyonghi jumushipsiyo) - frm 잘자 (jal jja) - inf |
| Goodbye | 안녕 (annyeong) 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) - you are leaving 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) - you are staying |
| Good luck | 행운을 빌어요 (haeng un eul bil eo yo) frm 행운을 빈다 (haeng un eul bin da) inf |
| Cheers/Good health! | 건배 [乾杯] (geonbae) lit. "dry glass", 위하여 (wihayeo) |
| Bon appetit | 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokkesseumnida) - before a meal 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida) - after a meal 맛있게 드세요 (masitkke deuseyo) |
| Bon voyage | 잘다녀오십시오! (jalda nyeoo sip sio!) |
| I don't understand | 모르겠습니다 (moreugesseumnida) |
| Please speak more slowly | 천천히 말씀해 주세요 (Cheoncheonhi malssuemhae jeseyo) |
| Please write it down | 적어 주세요! (Cheogeo jeseyo!) |
| Do you speak Korean? Yes, a little | 한국말 하실 줄 아세요? (hangukmal hasil jul aseyo?) - frm 한국말 할 줄 아니? (hangukmal hal jul ani?) - inf |
| 예, 조금요 (yae, jogeumyo) - frm 응, 조금 (eung, jogeum) - inf | |
| How do you say ... in Korean? | ... 를 한국말로 어떻게 말해요? (... reul hangukmal-lo eotteoh-ge maraeyo?) |
| Excuse me | 실례하겠습니다! (shillehagessumnida) |
| How much is this? | 이게 얼마예요? (ige eolmayeyo?) |
| Sorry | 미안합니다! (mianhamnida) |
| Thank you Response | 감사합니다 (kamsahamnida) - frm 고맙습니다 (komapsumnida) - inf |
| 아니에요 (anieyo) | |
| Where's the toilet? | 화장실이 어디예요? (hwajangsiri eodiyeyo) |
| I love you | 사랑해 (sarang hae) |
| Leave me alone! | 혼자 내버려 두십시오! (honja naebeoryeo dushipshio) |
| Merry Christmas and Happy New Year | 즐거운 성탄절 보내시고 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (jeulgeoun seongtanjeol bonaesigo saehae bok manhi bateusaeyo) |
| Happy Easter | 행복한 부활절이 되시길 (haengpoghan puhwarcheori toesikir) |
| Happy Birthday | 생일축하합니다 (saengil chukha hamnida) |
| One language is never enough | 한 가지 언어는 충분하지 못 해 (han gaji un u nun chung boon ha ji mot hae) |
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