And so it begins...

Tomorrow isn't my official first day of work, but I will be going in for a 'meet and greet,' so to speak. I'll be meeting my new boss, and coworkers, and also attempt to make some lesson plans. I just visited the school after walking my man to the bus stop since I have to be there at 9am tomorrow morning and found it essential to, well, know where I was going. The campus looks quite nice, actually, and they have a killer playground. Sue me but I love slides, swings, and jungle gyms. This passed week has been pretty great. Reuniting with my Dong Wook has been magical, to say the least, and the world which I have re-entered I find almost more inviting than the one I left. This weekend I made my first journey back into Seoul to meet friends and party the night away after months of absence. We met up in Sinchon to visit a bar some foreigners had opened. The drink specials will get us to go anywhere, who are we kidding. It had been quite a while since I'd tied one on, and man was my body not used to it. We drank like thirsty horses, but by the end of the night were panting like hot dogs. We started at a bar called the King's Cross (I think) where I met some new friends: a Canadian girl named Denise, and a Korean-American girl named Carrie. I helped the girls to learn to flirt, since it seems as though they'd been deficient in this skill all of their lives, despite their attractive appearances. Either way, I do hope my teachings further them in their sexual and romantic ventures. From here we moved onto Hongdae: the place to be if you're young and in Korea. By this point I was already pretty tipsy and we ended up at a club where it was 9,000won ($9) cover, and all you can drink Tequila. I'm not a fan of Tequila, but all you can drink? For a man on a budget, I was definitely sold. This place was a sweat box and I danced with several Korean fellows. I find their interest in hip-hop culture somewhat comical but equally sexy. I also find it fascianting how Korean men always want to dance with me as a way to meet my female companions. It's my pleasure to help them, and my friends, get laid since I am only there for the fun these days. We ate and drank, ate and drank, and danced, and danced, and danced--until it was finally 6am and thus time to go home. Before we went our seperate ways, a few of us stayed behind for some spicy as hell Budejige at tent city, and some last minute Soju. Breakfast of champions. On my first journey back home I found myself drunkenly lost for two hours. It was both embarrassing and annoying. Note to self: if I'm going to get that drunk, stay at a friends. I was on and off trains and buses in a mad pursuit to find the correct route home, to little or no avail. It was like playing Zelda blind-folded. I stopped into McD's and had some more breaky, as an excuse to "sober up," when I really just wanted a greasily delicious sandwich in my tum-tum. Either way, I made it back home in need of some lenghthy respite. I did manage, for some odd reason, to stumble onto the Wall-E OST on my iPod as I arrived home and found myself crying quite emotionally for thirty minutes before finally dozing off. Believe it or not, I was crying specifically because of the movie. In my drunken state, that which I found fascinating and endearing about the film was escalated to the brink of my tears moistening my pillow in a deluge of melodrama. Thomas Newman is one hell of a composer. The last couple of days I've spent mostly with my boyfriend, briefly stopping into Seoul for some bootlegs movies. I was in desperate need to continue my illegal ventures here in Korea. Feeling a bit under the weather yesterday, we returned home and had some more take away Chinese (delicious and cheap), and watched M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Happening,' which I won't even bother to review because it was utter crap. It pains me when a talented writer/director has an inspired idea and then proceeds to use it as toilet tissue. I did manage to get my boyfriend to watch 'Showgirls,' however, which is the perfect example of something that is so bad it is very, very good. And so I go, off to tap dance for yet another school. Will I slip, or will I dance my way into their hearts?

The Night is Dark: A 'The Dark Knight' Movie Review

To call this a superhero or comic book film would totally discredit the masterpiece of a crime drama that it transcends to be. Though dealing with the typical model of 'good guy' against 'bad guy,' Christopher Nolan and the new "Bat-Crew" know how to give us exactly the Batman that we need for this day and age, and not one in tights. The days of camp are over and in are the grimy times of reality. Violence, greed, unspeakable cruelty...these themes resound in the film, but we are forced to ask a question that challenges us in our own current political climate: where do we draw the line between hero and villain? When does collateral damage become a necessity and not a choice or accident? The film does not try to glorify its hero, nor does it chastise its villains. It is up to us to decide, as an audience, as an individual, and as a citizen, what we believe justice is. Though my love for the Tim Burton Batman franchise will never dissipate, I cannot deny that Nolan's take on this dark story is more current and far more relevant. Heath Ledger's performance was nothing short of legendary; balancing insanity, and misanthropy, all the while making us laugh along with him even in the face of his merciless violence (much like Hannibal Lector). His untimely death will no doubt be the talk of next year's Oscar's, as he is sure to be nominated. Christian Bale is a sturdy Bruce Wayne/Batman, and Morgan Freeman, Michael Cain, and Gary Oldman are all on top of their game (not that they ever aren't, in all fairness). The addition of Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes(replacement to Katie Holmes), and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two Face were wise choices. Both are strong actors, holding their own if not making themselves known in a film already bursting with fresh, and fascinating newness. This is a dark film for dark times for a world that barely has a Knight in sight.

"Hey, it's the new Malibu Stacy...and she's better than ever!!!"

My return to Korea wasn't exactly the smoothest of operations. After spending a month with my family in San Diego post-African journey, I had become accustomed to life on hold. Doing little to nothing all day everyday was both wearing on me and growing on me simultaneously. I knew it was a matter of time before I headed back to Korea, but waiting renders actuality useless when time moves like a drunken snail. Pro's: being with the family, seeing my nieces, playing with my dog Sammy, eating all the food I love/hate, visiting with friends, and stocking up on DVD's and going to the cinema. Con's: no job, no money, boyfriend eagerly awaiting me as I eagerly awaited returning to him, an influx in fatty cells collecting in areas I'd rather they not be. In the end, however, I did garner a great teaching position at a public school in Gimpo, closer to Seoul than I'd been before. Public school positions mean two things: less work, more vacation. Sign me up. I departed my old home in Chula Vista along with my parents to the San Diego International Airport at Lindbergh field on the morning of August 18th. Little did I know that United Airlines was going to live up to their standard of crapiness and cause me to lose my connection at SFO with Singapore Airlines. Due to weather conditions beyond anyone's control, San Fran was not allowing flights to enter it's airfield. Unfortunately for me, that meant that I'd probably miss my connecting flight into Seoul. I pleaded with the United crew to change my flight so that I could divert spending a costly night in SF, but they assured me that I would make my connection. Well, that gum-smacking Armo-biotch didn't know her ass from her elbow. I was indeed stranded in San Fran for a night, having to pay for a room out of pocket. I spent the entirety of my stay in my hotel room, eating, watching Will & Grace, and catching up on some much needed recovery sleep. Packing had proven a daunting task the evening prior. In any event, I was on the next flight with Singapore Airlines the following day. Singapore Airlines has to be the best airline EVER!!! They are the kindest, most attentive people I've ever encountered on an airplane. The food was delicious, the LCD screens unbelievably large, and the entertainment choices too vast to fathom. I couldn't do or see everything I wanted in the 11-hour flight. My seat even had a power connection, and usb port. Pretty crazy stuff. I could only imagine flying First Class. They must blow you up there. I arrived in Korea glad to be back, and nervous to face my boyfriend--though I was dying to see him. I wasn't sure what to expect, or what sort of welcome I'd receive after my four-month departure. Phone calls and e-mails are one thing...but eyes cannot lie. After collecting my luggage, and exchanging my money, I exited the baggage claim area and entered the openness of the welcome area. A sea of people stood there; signs bearing various names, some faces disappointed that I was not the love one they'd been expecting for who knows how long. I looked about but didn't see him. I figured he was grabbing a drink or something considering my flight was an hour early. Then I saw a hand flailing about in my direction. A buzzed head with thick-framed glasses approached me. This was not the way I'd left him, but this is to whom I'd returned to...and let me tell you, I was unaware he could look better. We crashed into each other embracing for a moment. It seemed unreal. To touch each other once more after such an extended amount of time seemed alien though welcome and necessary. I could breath again. We walked out and grabbed a bus to the other nearby airport in Gimpo, where we'd be staying for the night. We stayed at the Hotel Airport where we caught up, watched tv, and ate a late dinner. Ah, bibimbap at midnight...how I missed it. We woke late the following morning. I had an appointment at 2pm to meet my co-worker to collect my apartment key in a nearby area of Gimpo. Dong Wook and I had some McD's and then headed to the Gimpo Office of Education. We arrived a bit early but found Ji Young, the woman I was scheduled to meet. She was very kind and giggly. We walked a short distance and made it to my new apartment building. It looked new, and was smaller than what I was used to. We entered and she informed me that most of the tenant were foreign teachers, so that I'd have a lot of fun and help there. That was a nice and comforting thought. We sat for a while and talked about a few things. She seems like a very kind and helpful woman...I just hope she isn't too nosey. Dong Wook is convinced she likes me. Eeeesh. I also met my neighbor, a rather handsome Korean-American guy from Colorado. He had an odd and shy demeanor about him. Ponder... We spent that evening grocery shopping, eating Chinese take-away, and watching Clueless. I walked Dong Wook to the nearby bus stop, which will soon be my main means of transport--and man is it efficient. Big time yay. I spent the rest of the evening getting comfortable in my new apartment. I slept in my sleeping bag because the sheet on my bed was a little dingy. My sheets are still in "storage" until this weekend, so I can't wait to get them. Something tells me the girl who occupied my apartment before me was a fat white girl. There were too many stuffed animals, origami rosettes, and tie-dyed astrological stickers everywhere. Am I right or am I right? Today I woke up early but stayed in bed and napped until I was ready to get up and moving. I watched a little Will & Grace and unpacked all of my luggage. A bit later, Dong Wook arrived and we cleaned the hell out of my apartment. That place is pretty clean now. I just need a design concept, though that will come with time and money. It was raining all day, but we made the decision to go grab a bite and walk around the neighborhood. I live in a pretty cool area. It's considered downtown Gimpo. I live near a supermarket, tons of PC rooms, restaurants (including trusty American fast food, and pizza), a CINEMA!!!, but best of all...a VIPS!!! VIPS is a steak and salad restaurant that has an amazing salad bar. I love salad bars because they are all you can eat, and this once happens to have a nacho bar, and smoked salmon. Yes, I'm a fatty. We had Budejigue for dinner, which is basically meat (ground beef, franks, and spam), and noodles (ramen, glass, and rice noodle) soup. It's hot, spicy, and smackulicious. It came with free ice cream after, and it was a dirt-cheap meal. After that, we went to see The Dark Knight and now we're here, at the PC room--"catching up on my correspondence." But for now, we gotta head home. It's getting late and the hubby has a headache. Until next time.