Hating the Time Difference During Football Season...

I can't get any satellite coverage of my Ohio State Buckeyes in Korea, which sucks. I'm a big fan, having grown up in Columbus, with two degrees from OSU. I can watch the scores update online, but that's beyond boring. But the real problem is that if the game starts at 3:30pm, I can't even do that easily. That's 4:30am my time! I (too) frequently stay up very late, but if the game starts at that hour, my Sunday is pretty much lost to recovery. Boo. It will be nice to (eventually) be within only 5 or 6 time zones of home, if not in the same one...

A good day back.

Work was actually quite good today. My kids were all thrilled to have me back. Even the middle schooler who usually runs me through the ringer was excited for my return. A couple of classes actually cheered. It made me feel good. And I have to thank my replacement, Caitlin, who was apparently very strict with them. In comparison, I'm a joy. :) And the super-organized state of my materials and attendance sheets was so fantastic to see. It looked just like I do it! It made my transition back so easy. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Caitlin!!!

Luckily, it's only a 1-day work week...

I'm actually nervous to go back to work today. Haven't been there in 3 weeks. Not sure what state my paperwork is in, and my kids might eat me alive. :(

A Lovely Boring Day

Enjoying a day of nothing but TV, internet, good homemade food, and doggie cuddles. Would be better sans rain.

Hayes-y's back!

I love having my baby with me again! I missed him so much! He won't let me out of his sight, but thinks he's being inconspicuous... Like when I went into the bathroom, I saw him inch into the hallway, look at me, then quickly turn and stare in the opposite direction, like "maybe she won't notice"... My baby. ♥♥♥

Best. Conversation. Ever.

I decided that I needed to get some food tonight since tomorrow starts the Chuseok holiday and many things will be closed for the nest three days. Part of my quest was for pizza. (Leftovers are wonderful for the lazy, like me.)

I've never called my pizza guy before. I usually just show up and wait for it. But I decided I would call and hopefully save myself some time, since I wasn't feeling very good. Here's our phone convo:

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Me: Ah, yeo-beo-sey-yo. Mee-gook-in imnida.

Him: Ah, yeh, yeh, yeo-beo-sey-yo. Potato pee-juh?

Me: Ney, doo-gey, ju-sey-yo.

Him: Ney, Kom-sam-ni-da.

(Hung up.)

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English version:

Me: Hi, I'm the American.

Him: Oh, hello. Potato pizza?

Me: Two, please.

Him: Thank you.

(Hang up.)

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I don't even have to identify myself more than "I'm the American." This means that either I'm one of the only non-Koreans who goes there, or I eat too much pizza.

Or both.

___________________________________________________
Easiest. Call. Ever. ♥

Home again, home again, jiggity-jog...

It was lovely to sleep in MY BED last night! I forgot how wonderful my comforter and pillows are...and water pressure in the shower...and no cockroaches or other critters in my room... Now, if only my stomach would feel better...

Finally!

I had an amazingly productive, exhausting, problem-solving kind of day today. Walked to Sabang, jeepney to Puerto Galera (ATM was no go), ferry to Batangas, motor-trike to the bank (which worked! huzzah!), ferry to Sabang, thru a storm. My massage lady found me at the pier upon my return, now eating some delicious chicken. Finally, an exquisite day!

On a quest today~~

I'm hoping to solve some parts of this drama today. Leaving for Manila tomorrow, then home on Sunday, if I last that long...

I'm having a bad day.

ATM issues. Stomach issues. General Philippines issues. All the Filipinos keep saying "Next time will be better for you!" Next time? HAHAHAHAHA. If I think about coming here again, shoot me. It would be more pleasant.

So much for that...

I've given up on finishing my Advanced course. I feel too icky and weak to focus on all that. I just want to feel good enough to go home! My one-night-stay neighbor had 3 wakeup calls between 5 and 545, all of whom thought he was in my room, not his. They all apologized when they saw my face grumpily answer the door. They should just be glad I didn’t have a shotgun. At least I got pics of the sunrise…

Cockroaches are NOT my friends

I'd feel a lot better about being sick, feeling like crap, and missing out on so many fun things, if I could at least shower or use my bathroom sans cockroaches. It's pretty bad when you have to be on high alert just to run in and take 5 seconds to pee before running out again... (Well, there's no water pressure anyway...)

Maybe I'm getting better?

I successfully finished an entire meal without feeling like I was gonna die! Woohoo! Maybe this thing is finally moving on out!

Stomach bugs suck.

I am so sick, and have been for 3 days now. They say it's nothing to do with the diving, but I'm not so sure. They think it's something I ate or drank, but I haven't eaten anything but plain white rice, a banana, half a sandwich, and tons of Gatorade since I started feeling bad, yet I'm still sick. I wish my insides didn't feel like a scene in Alien... Such a shame too, since I can have many different kinds of Western and International cuisines that are hard to find at home, and I'm too sick to keep anything down. Boo. I can't even sit up for long periods. Been trying to do minimal diving, just to finish up the Open Water course, which is now done. Once I feel better, I'll work on the Advanced O/W...

First day of Open Water SCUBA course done.

My day is now complete. Two confined dives, with minimal panicking, and an in-room massage. Lynn knows she might be coming back every day for the next 10 days... Ah! Off to dinner before high tide comes and obscures my walk there...

Ahhh...

Sitting on my oceanfront balcony listening to boats and sea on Small Lalaguna Beach, Puerto Galera, Philippines. Off to my first confined water dive...

Almost ready...

Well, I'm finally packed to the point that I won't need to come back home after the kennel. I guess that's good. I hope the rest of my laundry dries in the next 5 hours... Now, if by some miracle, my camera shows up before I leave tomorrow, I'll be thrilled...

I Don't Like Open Classes! Yays and Boos

Alas, no cable before I leave. But yay, that I'm not paying for something that I won't see when I'm gone. Boo, Open Class in 90 minutes. Yay, break today to prep my floater for my classes. Boo, another Open Class tomorrow. Yay, 2 more days until vacation. Boo, so much to do!

My Crazy Day Today

My Day: Up until 6am reading HP6, slept until 1, got ready, cable/internet mtg, bank for new acct, food and errands, then to work. Got rained on, sweaty, and then a sick woman vomited all over everyone in the elevator. She got my shoe, and one of my students. I won't be eating spin dip anytime soon... And bye bye Ji Hoon! :( Will miss my best partner!

Unnamed Spanish Movie... Cuz' a Spanish Title Written in Korean is a Bit Hard to Decipher...

Watching a Spanish movie with Korean subtitles is an experience that's truly hard to explain. My Spanish needs to improve dramatically to make this work well...