New hair cut!!!

What do you think????

Yah I thought so!!!! I hate it too. But I've got a confession to make. I ran out of the store so I didn't have to pay.

It only took about 10 minutes from start to finish. She cut it dry. I kept asking for her to use water. Then after she made the first cut and I saw over 2 inches fall to the floor I almost jumped from my chair. I wanted a trim. More off the bottom layers and less off the top layers so that there wasn't such a large contrast of length between the layers. I even drew a picture. She was just randomly cutting blunt pieces so quickly because 2 other older women walked in the store while I was there and she was the only one working. I asked her kindly to slow down. I asked her not to cut so much. She was yelling at me in Korean. I was crying. I asked to see the back of it and she held up the mirror and was randomly pulling up pieces of my hair. I couldn't see what it looked like from the back. I asked her to hold the mirror so that I could see and she kept moving all over. Finally I stood up and took the hand mirror from her and turned around so my back was at the big mirror so I could see for myself. It was a mess. A fuzzy mess. It was all crumpled up because I had it in a pony tail all day. And since she hadn't wet it the pony tail creases were still there.

I asked her to wash and style it. The $8 haircut only covered the cut, understandably. So I asked how much it was to wash. Three dollars to wash but it didn't include a styling, which was probably because there were 2 others waiting. What was I suposed to do get a wash and walk out with wet unstyled hair?

So when she was finished cutting my hair was all flipped out in different directions. Some lengths were different than others -- she wasn't so happy when I pointed that out. I'm not a picky person when it comes to hair so I wasn't trying to pick a fight, I just wanted a decent cut. I almost felt like asking her if she has cut hair before, or at least gone to hairdressing school. But I bit my tongue.

I asked her how to style it since it was flipped this way and that. She blow dried one strip under and told me that I would have to blow dry it every morning. I told her that I don't have time to style my hair everyday and that I just want it to flip up naturally (which is what I've been doing all my life). After she finished blow drying the one side, she was done. I asked her if she was only going to blow dry one side? So she did the strip on the other side so that at least the front would look the same. I asked her to stop after my hair started smoking. She put the product in my hair and then she started blow drying. There was steam coming off my hair and my scalp was hot.

AHHHHHH!!!!!

I got up and went to my bag to get ready to pay. Meanwhile as soon as I stood up she called the other customer to sit down and she started washing her hair. I waited with my jacket on for 5 minutes (I've been in the shop for about 15 now). I tried calling my friend Anne-Marie to ask what I should do. I was not happy and I didn't want to pay (even though it was only $8). I waited and waited and listened to the hairdresser bitch to her customer about me while I stood there waiting to pay while she was washing her hair.

So I left. I picked up my pumpkin (which I bought on the way there) and my bag and walked out.

I'm a coward for walking out, I know!!!! I should have confronted her and told her I wasn't happy. But she knew and how was I to explain to her in Korean. UGHHHH!!!

My bad!!!

This is how I left the store (or ran out shall I say). I took these pictures when I got home:

Can you see the random wisps of hair, or am I over reacting?

And how about the side puffs?

And what the hell happened here? Gotta love the back flip (a.k.a. pony tail crease).

So what do you think?!!! Would you be happy with this cut?

This guy..........

.......amazes me!!!

Recently several people have complimented Sung Hyun on his improvements with the English language. After working almost 10 hours a day Monday through Friday then again on Saturday, Sung Hyun eagerly makes his way to English academy a couple nights a week. He studies from 8pm - 10pm and usually doesn't make it home until well after 11, sometimes 12 if he decides to eat with his classmates.

* * *

He's been hard at this for the past 3 months and on the days that he didn't have English class he would study privately, for one hour once a week, with a foreigner (not me!!! let's not even go there, we've tried to study together....several times.....it doesn't work). I guess the hard work is paying off. Other people--my friends-- have noticed improvements and an increase in grammatically correct sentences. You see I could always understand Sung Hyun. I just had a way with being able to communicate with very basic English learners and know what they say or mean. A talent of mine, perhaps?!!! Often Sung Hyun would say something to me and then I would have to translate it to my friends so they could comprehend it. The first year of our relationship went like this. But even though when I first met him and he only understood a few basic English commands we found a way to make it work.

* * *

Now two years later and with only a few months of in class study under his belt he is getting the hang of this language. He perseveres, tries and tries again. He stumbles, falls and gets back up. He talks to my mom every Sunday on the phone and doesn't get embarrassed when he makes mistakes. He doesn't quit (like someone I know -- me). I'm damn proud of him.

* * *

And all I can think of is, look at what he's doing for me!!! He's doing all this for me*, so that we can make a life together. And then I sit back and smile and realize just how truly lucky I am.

____________________________________

* or he's got a really hot English teacher at his academy

Fun Sunday

With no real plans for today we drove to meet Annie and Hodge for some lunch. Upon realizing the restaurant we wanted to go to was under renovations we settled on Pizza Hut. Even though the food wasn't that good the company was. Fun times had by all. Could only post the pics Annie-Marie, the video will have to stay top secret ;)

And remeber everyone: 'THAT HAUGHTY BOY WILL BE PUNISHED BECAUSE HE KEEPS CAMPING ABOUT TO PEOPLE'

Shane's housewarming party

Couldn't help but take a picture of this guys teddy sweater as we were on our way to Shane's housewarming party. Was thinking about buying one for my brother for Christmas.....hehe

The three of us took the subway. Meanwhile Sung Hyun was already there.Shane told us the wrong subway exit so we walked for an extra 20 minutes to find the place. Good exercise I guess but we were pretty tired when we got there.

The office tel. style apartment is pretty cool. Especially these closet doors by the main entrance

Which also act as a hidden refrigerator

They have a loft style apartment. So this is their cool sleeping area. Koreans traditionally sleep on the floor and a small mat called a yo.

Here's the view from their loft

Here's the gang!!!

Sunday Supper

Sung Hyun was absolutely useless the next morning. He had a headache and a mess to clean up in the bathroom. Probably a bad idea on my part to suggest it's okay to drink only a little the night before. So we did nothing all day. I managed to drag him out grocery shopping for 30 minutes but I had to drive and he pushed the cart around in a daze. I decided I better cook him a nice supper to make up for his bad day. So we had nachos and tacos. And homemade cake
Sung Hyun thought it was pretty delicious!!!!

Saturday

Last Saturday Sung Hyun and I met at a restaurant with some of his high school buddies to celebrate someones one year 'dating' anniversary. Of course I was the only Western girl but I had an enjoyable time. And I kept pressuring Sung Hyun to drink b/c it's been a long time (maybe last summer in Canada) since I have seen him drunk.

The only problem is that you can't really only drink a little when you are in a big social group. In Korea you never drink alone so every time you want to sip your beer or do a shot of soju you must 'cheers' to everyone in the group. And if you friend drinks so must you. So basically every time some offers a cheers EVERYONE drinks. It's the Korean way and doesn't work in Sung Hyuns favour since his alcohol tolerance is very low.
Love this pink/ purple shirt btw.......so hot on him!!! Don't know these people

Because both of us were drinking and we drove Sung Hyun's car to the restaurant we had to find a way home. We hired a driver. They have this really cool service in Korea so when you need to get your car home and you can't drive you just call someone and they will come to you and drive your car home. It only cost $15 which would have been the same amount as a taxi if we had gone home in one. But this was so much better because we didn't have to go pick up the car the next morning. Sung Hyun called this driving service and less than 5 minutes someone was at our car.

_______________________________

It was a fun night but unfortunately Sung Hyun went over board with the soju and ended up sleeping over the toilet and all the next day in bed, oppppps my bad!!!

Mixed feelings

First of all I just want to say a big thanks to everyone who has wished me congrats or left comments about my engagement. I was excited to rush home after work to see what new treasures I would have. So to all of you, thanks!!!!

Secondly, I'm so excited to be going back to Canada with Sung Hyun for a month. Tickets are bought and paid for. And we will arrive in Regina Dec 24th (afternoon). Departing to Vancouver will happen Jan 22nd (where we will do a 2 day layover ) and then we'll be arriving in Seoul on the 24th. A nice good long holiday during the best time of the year with the people I love most. I'm nervous about this trip a little because I'm not too sure when Sung Hyun and I will be making the BIG move back to Canada. Either this trip will make me long for home and all the goodness it brings or make me homesick for my fast-paced life in Korea. Damn can't I just have my cake and eat it too!!!!

I have been reading a few blogs about adjusting back to life in America/ Canada after having lived in Korea and I'm sure the transition will not go smoothly for me. Damn I make everything as complicated as possible so this will be the same. But when one door closes another one opens, right?

Randomness in no particular order

I should have bought this shirt. Style = fart ...........hummm???
Annie-Marie posing with some clowns in the subway. Korea never gets boring
A Japanese punk band was playing in Hongdae last Saturday. We ran into them on the street and I asked if I could take a picture
Annie hanging out with her boyfriend Hodge in the Hongdae park. Yes parks in Korea are paved.
Yah too many people shopping at Costco = one big headache.........especially since they just push and bump your cart like it is some kind of nintendo game
This is what happens when there is a BIG SALE in Korea. I was getting pushed and elbowed so much that I had to leave before I was gonna knock somone out
A shop close to Insadong -- the cultural area of Korea
These buildings never get old
Hanging lanterns
Who needs lunch when you can eat apples for free?
Annie showing off her new haircut and blue scarf. Looking good my friend

The proposal story

After a few days of fighting bronchitis and loosing my voice, yet still making it to work, I have decided it's about darn time to tell you how this little story all begin!!!!

So here it is............

For those of you who have read my blog since the beginning (stalkers) then perhaps you remember these 5 posts about Nami Island. You don't remember? Okay neither did I, so take a peak at them by clicking on the above link.

I went to Nami Island with Sung Hyun and a couple of his Korean friends two years ago. This was our first vacation out of Seoul together. It was at the end of this vacation that something inside of me was screaming, 'you can't go back to Canada just yet, you're not quite finished with Korea'. Because remember that I was only supposed to come to Korea for a year and then return back home. This vacation was a deciding factor for me -- I WOULD COME BACK TO KOREA.

Okay so that's a bit of history, now fast forward 2 years. On Sunday October 12th Sung Hyun and I, plus another couple (mutual friends of ours), decided to go back to Nami Island. It started out normal with some yummy food and 'couple pics'

My mind flooded with memories as we walked along the island. Sung Hyun told me that Nami was a happy spot. I was happy too!!!

We sat down at this picnic table to take some pictures. The way the light was shining through the trees was beautiful. Sung Hyun got up and went to the bathroom while I started taking pictures of the other couple we were with. I heard my cell phone ring and noticed that it was Sung Hyun. That's when I blurted out 'oh something must be wrong with Sung Hyun!!!!' because why would he be calling me from the bathroom.

I answered the phone and this is the conversation that took place (as I remember):

Sung Hyun: 'hey Jen, I love you so much'

Me: [I knew from the quivering in his voice that something was up] 'ummmm okay, Sung Hyun. Where are you?'

Sung Hyun: 'I'm in the toilet'

Me: 'why are you saying this to me on the phone from the bathroom, why don't you just come here!!!'

Sung Hyun: 'hey Jen, do you love me?'

Me: 'ummmmm yes, why?

Sung Hyun: 'because I want to live my life together forever with you'

Me: 'what the hell are you talking about, okay I'm hang up the phone now Sung Hyun'

Sung Hyun: 'hey Jen, look at me'

I turned around and about 20 feet behind me in the big path lined with trees was Sung Hyun stopped dead in his tracks. I could see he was holding something in his hands. I watched him, in tears, as he went down on one knee and held out his hand with the ring box.

I turned to looked at my friends and said 'did you know about this' as tears were streaming down my face. I got up and ran to him completely unaware of anyone else around me. I knelt down to give him a huge hug and remember just crying and saying 'are you kidding me? Is this real or just a joke?'

For those of you who know Sung Hyun, he's quite the joker. Loves to get everyone to laugh. I was waiting for the JUST JOKING!!!!!

I stood up and then he put the ring on my finger and said 'Can you marry me?'. And at this point I was still in shock and couldn't say anything. I remember him saying 'Do you say YES?????' And I replied with 'YES, how much do you love me?' (because this is our big joke.....when he tells me he loves me I ask him 'how much' and he always responds in money). He replied with 'shipwon' which means 10cents. We burst out laughing (see he's a joker). I said 'you want to marry me and you only love me shipwon?'

Here is the real deal. This picture was taken when I finally stood up and accepted the ring. Two things to note here. 1) The expression of both couples to either side of us (I love it). 2) I am holding my right hand just under my elbow. This is a Korean custom that when giving or receiving things from someone of higher status or age you must do so with two hands. I didn't do this purposely, rather it's just become quite natural.

l think we were both crying in this pic. Spent the next hour in a daze. I asked Sung Hyun if he talked to my father. I told him awhile back that if he wanted to marry me he must ask my father first. This kinda became a joke between me and my mom. Poor Sung Hyun was so nervous to talk to my father. So when I asked if he asked my dad he said 'no it's too scary' but then assured me he would say something when my mom called later that night for our weekly Sunday night chat.

Thanks to Shane and Yu Jeong for taking pictures of us for the next few hours ;)

Here's the re-enactment

Double trouble!!!!_________________________________________

On the drive back to Seoul we decided to stop at a restaurant that was also very significant to us. Just a week before we went to Nami Island for the first time 2 years ago, we went to this cool restaurant in the woods. That day at work I had gotten my boss to write a letter to him in Korea to explain that I was unable to extend my contract and that I would be going home in 3 weeks for good. I gave him the letter before we drove out to the restaurant and all he could say to me was 'his heart ached'. He was devastated that I would be leaving Korea FOREVER..........Little did we know 2 years later we would be engaged ;) Here's the story about the restaurant here and here

Picture of us on October 12th, 2008

Picture of us July 21st, 2006 (same place)

My mom called while were were eating and Sung Hyun asked to speak to my father but was sad to hear that he was still sleeping. So he told my mom about the good news and then called my dad 2 hours later once we had arrived home Sunday night. Sung Hyun was so nervous and his voice was quivering. When Sung Hyun asked my dad if he could marry me my dad's first question was 'well did you ask her already?'.....hehe. Of course my dad said yes and told Sung Hyun to 'look after me'.

We were both happy and went to bed exhausted from one busy day.

So there you have it!!!!

p.s thanks again to Shane and Yu Jeong for taking pics of us all day long ;)