Keeping Minutes,

I'm waiting for mr.kang to come on line. He is now officially 3minutes past due. I was of course ready 1/2 hour before just in case he came on early. He didn't. My mom wants to know why her hptouch is in my room, and really intently listening to someone speak in english as a 2nd language over mom dad and tv and humming fridge and buzzing lights just seemed too much, so that's why. Of course now i can hear the traffic clearly on the street and the various noises of my machine. Also my face is oddly red. I think there was wheat in my mashed potatos. I totally regret eating them. Must take benedryl after or IF i talk to mr, kang who is now 5minutes overdue. I even lamely typed hello, hello... on the off chance he was there but not there. He didn't respond. Meanwhile the two burning questions seem to be busan or seoul and december or february. I honestly can't see lasting 5 months, let alone 3... and then interviews and contract negotiations? dare i? dare i?

It's difficult with mrkang. He is damon's friend. So i don't know what the protocal is in terms of him being the only one to help me or trying to find stuff online. I know some sites recommended I submit my resume to places myself and consider engaging 1 or 2 recruiters but i've never been one to hedge my bets. Is that the term? Really it's alot to be skyping with a complete stranger and trying to be available at a specific time because of the 16 hour difference. Honestly 4 hours ago would've been better. I would be less impatient and foot tapping. I've got all my online time out of my system and this frankly seems to be torture. Tick.tock. But then the abyss of recruiting agencies, hagwan companies and korean characters i can't download bcs of my language pack seems like a lot too. It's like you might as well be throwing bottles into the sea or well into a vacuum tube which seems like it could land anywhere.

So i'll copy and paste my chat with him from yesterday. Which is amusing because i start being hyper aware of either typing in broken english, or being ridiculously formal. And then you know, mr,kang finally getting my busan hints with a... oh you prefer? ah, i see... what does that mean!? I have previously mentioned it like 5x. So much that i began to doubt whether or not busan was good or not because he kept suggesting jobs in seoul. Nevertheless. Anyway meanwhile my transcripts are in and now i'm waiting for my diploma... ticktock.

kang: Schu..I would like to talk to you asap.
kang: Schu...I am available anytime...
kang: Plz let me know.

schu: Hi! Yes. I am sorry I  missed you. When is best with the time difference? I am most available in the morning 8am my time? but could also do 3pm? 4pm? Is that too early for you?

kang: are you there ? [oh crap he's there! i can't blow him off!? i should talk to him]
schu: hello
schu: i can't skype right now. but i can chat  [parents are home. i am now self-conscious about my hair. for-getIT]
kang: OK...
schu: Later tonight i can though
kang: Job # SangDo : Female Only
#Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any major
-Location: SangDo(상도: 739) Subway Line 7
-Starting date: End of December, 2011
-Teaching days: Monday~Friday (No Saturday)
-Working Hours: 1:00PM~9:00PM
-Student Type:  Elementary + Middle
**benefit;
-Pay: 2.2 mil won/month
-Air ticket: Round-trip air ticket
-Medical Insurance: 50%
-Accommodation: Single furnished accommodation
-Paid vacation: 10 days/year
-Severance pay: one month Salary after the completion  of the contract

kang: Can you consider it ?
schu: Yes. It was just that I had wanted Busan first as an option.
kang: Ah you prefer Busan Job?
schu: Yes, i had heard it was less crowded and more like Los Angeles.
schu: I am from Los Angeles and so thought a more laid back relaxed life style.
kang: I see...
kang: When can we talk again ?
schu: Are jobs better in Seoul?
schu: We can talk in 2 1/2 hours or i can talk tomorrow morning my time?
kang: Tomorrow is better.
schu: That's good for me. It's good to chat you finally!
kang: Me..too...
kang: I would like to talk to you soon again.
schu: Tomorrow is good. Or the next day. Whichever.
schu: I am up around 8am my time. I can talk in the late evenings also--
kang: Can we talk 4 hours later ?
kang: I am not sure it is good for you?
schu: from now?
kang: yes..
schu: maybe too late. I am usually up till 1130 my time though.
kang: ok...then....
kang: your time 8 am means... my time is late night 12:00am ...hehe...
schu: oh yes...
kang: what shoudl we do ...
schu: ah!
kang: how about this ...
kang: the same time tomorrow...
kang: 12pm here..your time 8pm there.
kang: OK ?
schu: that sounds good.
schu: i will write it down.
kang: OK....then exactly 24 hours later...
kang: 12pm/8pm...
kang: nice talking with you.
kang: bye now.
schu: yes, sorry i can't now. but tomorrow is good.
schu: see you then.
kang: good night~~

[He is now 27minutes past due.]

Korea, right? Maybe?

I've already set myself to: Let's go. Am totally going to be bummed if that teacher recruiter doesn't call me or if he's like sorry, all the contracts i have for you sort of suck, so. Or what if they're all no, we don't want someone who's 35 with a masters degree, and we're not going to let you adventure in our country and pay off your debts and work in our country and warp young minds who desire a conversational ability in speaking english.

I'm already looking forward to someone asking me my blood type (B+), going to an abandoned amusement park on a small island, touring southeast asia, paying most of my CC bills off, and part of my car, and taking a trip into Japan, and eating lots of korean bbq and finding the sbux in busan and the gf pizza options i've heard about, and standing like a slightly larger pocahontas against the backdrop of the mighty, ...uh sea of japan?ocean crashing against the jagged rocks of the shore of my destiny.

Oddly most of my obstacles are money related. Go figure. And my finger prints don't come back until end of october... i hope sooner? But more on that when i feel like meticulously laying out my beurocratic journey in detail for you, because you care. I know you do.



Down Mexico Way

I spent a day in Baja. I got some small plates and a statue of St. Francis. I did not drink the water. And I walked along the beach. The ocean seems particularly consuming.

The House of Lo

Hello Good People,
I've been laid lo by a cold of some sorts. I blame not doing yoga for 2 months. . . allowing some sort of sinus thing to set up shop in my system. But I shall trace myself back to the night before I left- when I suddenly felt dizzy. Wait, that's boring... there was this part where I was sneaking a wooden duck on a plane. And I felt victorious for not having to spend $15 to check anything. Historic! Totally got away with it.

But onward, into the dark night to finally see my friend Penelope. There was much rejoicing. And a bowl of chili and Kaleigh yelling out in a happy voice, It's Keirran! That was pretty cute. She won me over quickly which allowed me to forgive her for waking me up with shrill cries around 7am in the morning. Something about wanting something... which is as much a familiar refrain for her as for me. So I could identify. I was still on LA time and didn't really get to bed until 2am. I persevered in my sleeping for a little bit longer... but shuffled my self out to the mayhem, which in fact contains some charm in the form of 2kids and a somewhat exasperated Penelope, equally charming and way more verbal.

We were going to visit a beef farm but alas it was closed... and so wandered around the small town of Hillsbourough which has historical signs and an organic grocer. Though we did note the delicious sandwich we were sharing contained corn syrup in the mayo. We are not sure why but we are supsicious.

Sometime after we headed to Chez Lo, where the true analysis of all things Penelope began. Should I regain my strength I will do my best to report my findings.

Food Stuff

Schu Goes East

Look at me go!

joblessness won't stop me. There was a glut recently in parking tickets and traffic infractions that might slow me down but only for a little bit. It's just a reminder that life can get fucked up fairly fast. By carelessness or a series of small missteps, and suddenly you're broke, or in jail, or homeless, or you lose your license, and it's a fucked up but short trip sometimes to the bottom. I think that's what all these traffic tickets remind me. And also the importance of grace for people, not just for myself. Preferably in a position to give it and be on the receiving end of it. Because in the face of things like rule violations that are so pointless but necessary sometimes you just wonder.



But I digress- i'm heading to North Carolina for a week. To see my long lost friend Penelope. So I'll be back on the blog in all its glory... and seeing what it's like even after all my travels. And so far the shaking of the memory seive is going well... the volcano climbing seems to be the most significant. We'll see what else comes through... along with upcoming ghost tours and time with toddlers... i'm sure there will be plenty of fodder here for my memories files also.

Things I got mYself

Hello, Self:
Here's what you got yourself. You went a little crazy but that's not so bad. On the way back from the mountain, as suggested by another, more foreward thinking person, you picked up a tiny chunk of volcanic rock. Years from now you will not remember much about this rock or why it's gathering dust on your shelf, or resting in the attic in a bowl of such rocks, but for now, along with a small vial of volcanic sand, it's a pretty fantastic reminder. Just in case you forget, though at the time you could barely marvel at it, you were pretty fricking close to lava! I got the seed beads in Nicaragua and I like them for just being basic and awesome. The multi-colored wood/bead combo I got for probably the outrageous but cheap sum of $8 cash. It was the most unique wood beading necklace I saw through all of my travels. And its purchase was unforeseen as I made my way back to my hotel one night in La Fortuna, and wandered into a wood sculpture studio. If I had had more cash I would've bought more. I actually had to tell myself no.

This I got from Nicaragua though there were others like it in Guatemala. It was a great last minute but perfect purchase! Though I was initially hesistant to the textiles of Central America, they came to win me over.

I was suspect about the ravings of Flor de Cana Rum but I got this bottle for $4 and it's a very smoothe rich tasting Rum- and I had the best Mojito I've ever had in Roatan, and I can only hope it was made with this stuff.

Hi butterfly. I got you for $10. Though I could've easily picked a more ubiquitous butterfly, a flashy blue one for instance I was drawn in by your subtle charm. Though cathy insists its like having a mounted head on the wall, all I can do is marvel at your natural beauty... and mostly hope you died of natural causes. I got you in Costa Rica.

Hello Conch shell earrings. I got these beauties in Granada, Nicaragua. They're shiny and I like them.
The hammock... not pictured.

One day hammock. I'll get you strung and you're going to be glorious. Don't doubt it.
And you my fair beauty I also got in Nica. Though I regret not getting more in Guatemala, I knew by the time I hit Granada what I liked and didn't, what was common and what was a find... I think this is a pretty good summation of my trip in all its tiny parts- the beauty of nature in all its forms: cotton, wood, rock, butterfly, volcanic, shell and sugarcane... who knew! I see a theme!!! Awesome.