Daiso!

What?  Two posts in one day??  I'm spoiling ya'll!

So after the gym today, I went to my favorite Korean store- Daiso.  It reminds me very much of my favorite American store- Dollar Tree!  For those of you who remember my Dollar Tree obsession, this is just as bad. 

Now everything in Daiso is not $1, but many things are 1,000 or 2,000 won.  1,000 won is actually a little less than a $1, but since I'm being paid in won, I need to start thinking in won.  I've bought many small things that I needed for my house at this store.  In the past I've gotten candles, cleaning supplies, hangers, chopsticks, a dish-drying rack, magnets, and much more.  They have everything you can imagine from stationary, to beauty supplies, to dishes and home decor.

Here's what I bought today:

1. a swiffer-like cleaning tool with ten replacement cloths- $3
2. 3 cute spoons- $2
3. cheese soup mix (pack of four)- $2
4. 1L water bottle to keep at the gym- $1
5. absorbent "sports towel"  to keep at the gym- $2

Another reason I like Daiso, many of the labels are at least partially in English!  Until I did a quick Google search, I had no idea that Daiso is actually a Japanese store.  They have over 300 branches in Korea, and branches in countries across the world.

When I was there today, two girls ran up to me and were asking me random questions.  It was soo cute!  At first they asked where I'm from and what my name is.  We talked for a moment and they walked off.  I continued shopping.  Then they pop up again and ask what my favorite color and animal are.  We talk and they walk off.  This happened SEVERAL times.  I think they were just excited to practice their English.  Some of their other questions were:

1. How long have you been in Korea?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. Are you married?
4. Do you like______?  (the name of the band playing overhead)

Amongst these questions, the girls would point at random things and say the English words haha.

I've been to Daiso so many times that the jingle gets stuck in my head:  Take a shop in Daiiiiiso :)

The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her. ~Marcelene Cox

Working On My Fitness :)

I signed up for the gym today!!!  I had originally tried to go to a fancy, expensive gym.  It was brand new and even had classes.  I had difficulties trying to pay with my card either because it was American or debit.  I'm not really sure which.  I had heard about another gym from some coworkers, so I went to check it out today.

My new gym is conveniently located between the school and my apartment.  Location is very important to me, because if a gym is too far away I'll find excuses to skip.  It is located below ground and is very "warm" in the summer.  By warm I mean freaking hot.  Sauna-like= bonus! HaHa.  The gym does not have classes, but it does have all of my usual machines.  The ellipticals are not as nice as back home, but I found that to be true even in the fancy gym.

So when I went in to sign up the owner was SUPER nice!  He told me that three months is 60,000 won.  That's like $17 per month!  I was unable to pay with my card and I only had 55,000 won on me so he said "service-uh."  Service = FREE!  I got to pay just 55,000 and I'm signed up until the beginning of November :)  Plus the guy threw in two free days.  I love Korea!

I started this first workout off easy with a tiny bit of cardio; ten minutes each on the treadmill and elliptical.  Not even halfway through the elliptical and I was sweating buckets.  So need to remember to take a towel next time.  I was standing in front of a big fan to cool off, when the owner comes over and turns on the A/C.  I tell him "kamsamnida" and stand there for a good five minutes.  Next, it was off to do some machines.

I did some chest presses and flys first.  Then, I went to do a rowing machine.  I finished one set and was resting.  The owner comes up to me again and hands me a piping hot cup (dixie cup sized) of coffee.  He even brought the packet over so I would know what the mysterious brown liquid was :).  Now, I wasn't really in the mood for anything HOT, but when in Rome...

I finished off with some tricep pulldowns and free weights (squat pushes- thanks Amy!)  The owner made sure I had some water before I left even though I had already helped myself to two bottles full.  I get my very own permanent locker at the gym, so next I went to my favorite store for some gym supplies!

A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise. ~A.A. Milne

My Korean apartment!

OK, so I know I've taken FOREVER to post this.  The wait is finally over.  Here are some pictures of my Korean apartment:

This is my front door.  The cabinet to the right is for shoes.  In Korean houses (and some restaurants) you take your shoes off as you enter.  Mostly I change into a pair of flip flops that I leave by the door.  Sometimes I cheat and run back in with shoes on or put my shoes on while I'm getting ready. 

Shh, don't tell!

 Close up of the front door.  See how safe I am?  There is a hotel-style bar lock thingy, a dead bolt, and a regular lock.  Plus there is a locking mechanism on the screen door.  I use that because anyone can open that hole in the bottom right corner.  (Please note: this door is not super tall, that is one petite peep hole)

 Propaganda speaker OK, not really.  I have no clue what they're saying because it's in Korean.  The only time I've heard it so far was at 9:15 pm.  I was in bed.  It was very loud and angry sounding.  I was nervous that I had done something wrong and they were coming to get me...true story.  Below that is the phone where I can speak with the doorman downstairs.  The one time I needed to use it, (was trapped inside my apartment) he was not there.

This is pretty filthy looking.  I took the picture before the I scrubbed it.  This little light is so darn useful!  I push the top button and it stays on long enough for me to change my shoes and get outside, or get to the other light when I'm coming in.  Ugh so now I really want to go time it.  I'll be right back.  It stays on for 1.5 minutes.  Cool, right?

These are pictures of my "bedroom."  My bed is not currently in there.  I was told that it is better to leave the bed near the air conditioner in the summer.  So for now it is the closet room :)  It is fairly small so I think it would be a tight squeeze with the bed and wardrobe.

This is a picture of my bathroom before the massive scrub down and new caulk.  I am just so insanely excited to have a tub and not a "wet bathroom" where the shower head is on the wall and there is a drain in the middle of the floor.

 I love these "magic sponges."  The one on the left is a brand new sponge.  On the right is just ONE of the sponges after cleaning the bathroom.

Standing to the right of the fridge while looking down the hall.  The first door on the right is the bathroom. The second is the closet room.

 Standing to the left of the fridge while looking into the living room/bedroom.  The kitchen table is on the right.  There are doors on my balcony that go in the door opening here, but I like the open feel.

They left a bunch of yummy snacks on my table the first day.  I love my little, modern table!

My kitchen.  Pretty good cabinet space, but no stove.  If it can't be cooked in a pot or a pan, it's not getting cooked!

 

This is my lovely, little fridge.  Brand spanking new from LG :)

Close up of my gas burners.  I used them last night!  There was one pot and pan when I moved in.

I'm not sure who got to pick out my dishes, but they did a great job!  In this pattern, I have three bowls of different sizes, a salad plate, a dinner plate, and two mugs.  I also have another bowl that says "I love vegetables!"  I wonder if the subliminal message works...

This is my awesome bed.  The mattress is super duper firm;  like nothing you've ever experienced.  I think it's actually pretty good for my back though.  Again, whoever picked out my bedding, did a fantastic job!  That little remote is for my air conditioner :)

These are pictures of my balcony thing. I'm not sure that's what you call it, because it is flush with the outside of the building.  I don't have a dryer, but when I close both sets of doors, it gets hot enough to dry my clothes!  I didn't really take a picture of it, but there is a drying rack suspended from the ceiling.

Last, but not least:  my amazing little LG washer.  Everything is in Korean.  I don't have all the settings figured out yet, but I'm working on it.  Good thing there is a "play" button!

Alrighty, so now you've seen almost everything in my apartment.  For sake of accuracy, I took the measurements with my tape ruler.  Not including the balcony thing, my apartment is a perfect rectangle: 14 x 35 feet.  I was still jet lagged so there is a +/- 1 foot error rate. :)  From what I've heard, this is pretty big for a Korean real estate! 


Where thou art - that - is Home. ~Emily Dickinson

Quick Note

Everything is super wonderful here in Korea....adventures every day!

I get my Alien Registration Card today, so several exciting things will happen in the next few days:

• I get a bank account.
• I can sign up for a gym.
• I will get internet and tv at home.  Yay!
• I MIGHT be able to get a regular Korean cell phone with a plan.

Sorry this isn't much, but I just wanted to give everyone a quick update.  I will be able to update much more frequently once I get internet at home.  Love and miss you!!!

I don't believe that there are aliens. I believe there are really different people. -Orson Scott Card