It's a record

I've done it! Never before have I gone two weeks at work or uni or school without a sick day well "mental health day" in 2 weeks. Lol I guess never before have I enjoyed something as much as I do now. I feel absolutely blessed that I scored my dream job and know that I am extremely lucky.

Two weeks have absolutely flown by and I'm so proud at what I have accomplished.People have always told me that I am a strong person and I never believed it, but right now I have realised that yes I am strong. I knew that I needed to make a change an did it. I have taken on a whole new country, a whole new language, a whole new culture and a whole new lifestyle. I have completely changed my life for the better and I hope that I can inspire others to do the same. 

I have so much to look forward to in the next couple of weeks.

Fri dinner with the girls from work

Sat during the day I am going to explore and find the big department stores. I need to buy a vaccum cleaner!

Sat night I am going to the Official Spring Dinner to meet other expats in my area. Check out the description.

When winter turns to spring, I just want to go out and meet new people!

Hey guys, don't miss out on this opportunity to meet and mingle with new people! Whether your priority is networking, visiting hot spots or great food / wine, this dinner party will be awesome!

So for our next gathering, let's go experience the great western buffet restaurant in Seoul: Ashley American Grill and Salad. The expansive dinner buffet serves all kinds of meat, pasta, salad bar and a variety of desserts! But that's not all!All-You-Can-Drink WINE!!

This is a perfect place to meet and mingle with fun, interesting people, whether you're new in town or looking to expand your social circle! Also, we reserved a private room!!

Plus, it's always fun to visit a different part of Seoul than the usual hangouts. Ashley is located in Gangnamgu. We will meet at Yeoksam Station (line 2) exit 7 at 7:00 p.m. and go to the restaurant together.

Event Cost: 30k won that covers All-You-Can-Eat Buffet + All-You-Can-Drink Wine (10% V.A.T.) as well as room reservation fee, Meetup organizer monthly dues, discounts for volunteers, wrist bands, special performance (belly dancers) and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to life saving mission to Red Cross.

http://www.facebook.com/seoulpeople/info

When we're finished with dinner party, those interested can go to HEAVEN (one of the largest clubs in Seoul). See you there!

Sounds pretty good huh!

Sunday I am meeting up for dinner with a girl from NZ we have never met in person so it will be great putting a face to the name.

Next sat is St. Pattys and I'm celebrating it in true Irish style by going on a booze cruise.

St. Patrick's Day Festival + 'HOOLEY' Party 2012 Update!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------

The "Biggest Annual Hooley Party" after the St. Patrick's Day Festival will take place at Han River Boat Cruise! This will definitely be the biggest and the best hooley ever! Get your tickets ASAP before it's SOLD OUT!!!

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL 2012!!
----------------------------------------------

Each year, the Irish Association of Korea 한국아일랜드협회 throws a party to honor Ireland's patron saint. So even if you're not Irish, you can get your green on for this special day!

Come experience Irish culture at the 12th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival! Cities around the globe celebrate St. Patrick's Day: New York, Tokyo, Montreal, Dublin, Buenos Aires, and, of course, the multicultural metropolis of Seoul!

The Irish Association of Korea’s flagship event will provide music, dancing and a chance for everyone to experience Irish culture.

One of Seoul’s most popular and widely participated cultural events will continue to be hosted in the city – it wouldn’t be March if Ireland’s national day, Saint Patrick’s Day, wasn’t being celebrated.

Thanks to the kind support of

Daesung Corporation,
Korean Air,
the Asia Ireland Chamber of Commerce in Korea,
the Dublin Institute of Technology,
the Hyatt Hotel
and a number of individual and private donations, the 12th Saint Patrick’s Festival in Seoul will take place on Saturday March 17 in the D-Cube Plaza, Sindorim from 12.30pm to 6pm.

Highlights of the St. Patrick's Day celebration include:

music and dance performances, show and participatory
performance by United States 8th Army Band, who will perform Irish songs
display of Gaelic Football
balloon art and face painting
Irish stew, other Irish foods available
and notably,

information about the memorial of the Irish birth and heritage who died in the service of the Korean people during the Korean war.


ST. PATTY HOOLEY PARTY 2012!!
---------------------------------------

WHEN: March 17th, 2012, from 6pm-9pm (3 hours)
WHERE: Han River Cruise (space is limited and it will be sold out early)

How to get to the dock?

Take Subway Line 5 (Purple) to Yeouinaru Station, Exit 3. Walk 3-5 minutes toward the river. We're on the right-hand dock.

TICKETS:

Ticket Price: 60,000 Won
Includes 3 hours of unlimited craft-brewed beer + one Craftworks food item. + ROASTED PIG for this special party!

EARLY BIRD TICKETS: 50,000 Won good through February 29th! However, this event will be sold out EARLY! So please purchase your tickets ASAP if you don't want to miss on the BIGGEST ST. PATTY 2012 HOOLEY PARTY!!!

* Sorry, no door tickets. Tickets won't be available at the door because it will be sold out early..

BEER LINEUP:

1. Jirisan 'Moon Bear' IPA
2. Namsan Pure Pilsner
3. Baekdusan Hefeweizen
4. Halla Mountain Golden Ale
5. Geumgang Mountain Dark Ale
6. Bukhansan Pale Ale (NEW!)
7. Alley Kat's Full Moon Pale Ale (imported from Canada)
8. GREEN BEER! (flavored with maeshil plums)

You can also will also enjoy:
Rum, Vodka, Tequila + mixers (W2,000 each)

INCLUDES DELICIOUS CRAFTWORKS FOOD:

1. Chipotle hummus veggie wraps
2. Honey mustard chicken wraps
3. BBQ shredded beef wraps

* With Amazing Sauces!

Plus... ROASTED PIG!!

Note: Additional food tickets can be purchased for 5,000 Won

For your entertainment, you can enjoy laughs from our hosts Albert and Rudy (from Stand-up Seoul), performances by No Respect for Beauty, RYU and more below!

MC: Michael and David

Ramble Tamble

Magna Fall

DJ Dante Threats

SEE YOU ON THE BOAT!!!

So its gonna be a busy few weeks and if I get through those partys then I've got 

Lagy Gaga to look forward to in April. Yeah Buddy!

Thanks guys

Wow 304 views of my blog! Glad you are enjoying it.

Dear room 3

Thank you so much for your questions room 3, I will do my best to answer them.

Hulu, Kiana and Tia congratulations on finding my mistakes I will be sending you out something soon.

Sinead: Is it hard to understand what people are talking about?

Yes! For 98% of the time all I hear is Korean and they talk really fast so I can't understand a thing. The only time I hear English is when a shop is playing an American song, or I meet a westerner!

Hulu: Are you getting lost?

Yes! Seoul is huge and there are hardly any road names, all the streets look the same and there is only a small amount of directions written in English. I have been using google maps and I have a translator on my phone.

Jonzena: Are the children there kind?

Mostly! The children here are really interested in me because I look so different to them. Most have never seen a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. They are very tactile and love to hug and hang off me but also hit and kick. I have to turn into angry Miss Walker when that happens! But overall they are very nice and respectful.

Togia: Is all the foods big?

Most of the food that you buy in restaurants is made to share, so we order one dish for 2 or 3 people. You can buy normal sized servings to and Mc Donalds is exactly the same as home.

Fatu: Is it noisy there?

Yes! Seoul is one of the most populated cities in the world so I hear a lot of people, cars, motorbikes and trains near my house. Luckily my apartment in sound proof so I can play my music as loud as I want. I still listen to 94.2 the edge!

Kiana: If you can't read Korean, how do you get around?

With a a lot of difficulty and guesswork. The main places have english signs but mainly I have to search google maps before I leave and take the map with me.

Jimmy: Do they have Sumo wrestlers there?

Haha Jimmy I have no idea! I think sumo is more from Japan but it wouldn't surprise me if they did I will keep an eye out for you.

Amiria: Do you have people to help you?

Yes I am very lucky and have another teacher at my school who speaks english and has shown me around and helped my buy a phone and translates things for me.

Mara: What don't you like over there?

At the moment I like everything, but I think I will start to wish I had a bigger apartment especially in the summer. I don't have a garden or a deck so I will feel a little confined. The pollution is pretty bad and I often walk around with my scarf up over my mouth. Of course I miss NZ and the sun and the beaches and all my wonderful family and friends and my dog.

Miss Clinch: How is your mouth? Do you think it could be the food? Sometimes heaps of ulcers is what they call foot and mouth so make sure you get it checked out you poor thing.

My mouth is a lot better now. I got the ulcers because two weeks ago I got a wisdom tooth out and it took 3 hours. The dentist caused a lot of traumer in my mouth and I think thats how I got the ulcers.

Feel free to ask more questions.

Miss Walker

Sunday Funday with some fellow kiwis

Sunday was amazing and really opened my eyes to the city of Seoul. I met up with two kiwi's one that I met on the Tesol course and the other I met online. We met up at midday and grabbed lunch so we could have a chat and decide what to do for the day.

Yummy Japanese and so cheap!

Robert

                           

Rochelle and I

After lunch and a general catch up we decided to grab the tube and mission it to techno mart which is an 8 story building completely devoted to electronics. It was absolutely amazing. The bottom store had alot of shops this one being my favourite.

On the top story was an arcade and a movie theater which was ammmmaaaazzzing and showed 4d movies! Oh yeah.

The view from the top of technomart

The amazing and colourful lift.

I insisted that we ride it twice.

Arcade paradise

So high

Great photo

Manual labour whats that? Check out the auto floor cleaner.

Enjoying a well deserved burger after a long and cold day.

Rochelle lost in the sea of Koreans.

Pawz Cafe

After the success of finding my way home that morning I decided to go for a wander and get dinner for somewhere a little further away then I was used to going. I walked down a street that was new to me and came across a cafe that seemed to be dog friendly.

 

I walked in an was immediately greeted by the cutest of puppies and this wide eyed Korean boy who kept on saying hello and wanted to touch my hair.

I ordered a kiwifruit and strawberry juice and took it to a table.

This cutie sat on my lap the whole time I was there. It was really nice to have doggy cuddles. 

I went home that night feeling good because I knew that when I missed my Louie dog to much I could always go and have a cuddle.

10 days in.

Wow, I've officially been here for 10 days and I can tell you I have settled in well. I have had a super busy week and seen so much and met so many new people. The last 10 days have just flown blown and I can tell that 1 year is going to be over so fast. Everyday I find out about a new things to go and see, or meet a new person, or try a new food that I don't know if I could live without.

Let me recap on the last week.

Friday I had to go to the dentist to get my stitches taken out and because the girls felt sorry for me they ordered Mc Donald's in for lunch. Yep that's right you can get any type of food delivered here! It was exactly the same as home, except you can order spicy burgers and shrimp burgers!

Friday night I went out with Betty and Lisa right into the center of Gangnam. Seoul really does come alive at night and I was overwhelmed with the bright lights, the sheer amount of people and the fast pace that everything moved. We walked for a good 10 minutes from the subway stop and the whole time we were in a sea of people. I'm not sure that I will ever get used to the volume of people and traffic that swarm the streets and sidewalks around here. By the time we found the restaurant I was glad to go inside and escape the havoc of outside. As soon as we sat down we were served water and our side dishes. The girls ordered a seafood and meat dish to share and it was delivered within minutes. Can't believe I  used to wait between 15 and 30 minutes for a meal back home!

Side dishes and the induction element that we cook the food on.

Lisa and I at the restaurant.

Two types of broth, a mild beef stock and a spicy one, we dropped the meats and veges into the boiling broths until they were cooked.

Crab! YUM

Prawns! 

After all the meat and veges have been eaten the waitress adds rice and it soaks up the broth. Absolutely delicious and means you don't waste a drop.

After tea, we went to a coffee shop (Twosome) to meet up with Lisa's boyfriend.

I was told you couldn't get this stuff here!

Check out those cakes

Lisa, Betty and I. I'm loving the chilled Americano's  they are heaven on my sore mouth.

Perfect end to a Friday night.

Saturday

Lisa invited me to her sisters friends wedding and she picked me up at 11am so I got a nice lie in. We caught a cab to a nearby suburb which is actually famous for plastic surgery. I have noticed that Korean woman are very obsessed by the way they look and will pay a lot of money so that they can have more western features. It is crazy! They are also very fashion forward and are always dressed to the nines with perfect makeup and hair. 

I got to see a lot of the advertisements for the various clinics as we got lost in the city center, here is one.

We finally found the church and had to sign in and was given an envelope. Lisa explained that as a wedding gift you give cash to the bride or groom. After she had handed this in we made our way upstairs to the chapel. This wedding was not a traditional Korean wedding but rather a Catholic wedding. The bride was wearing a modern dress and walked down the aisle to the wedding march. The church reminded me of the chapel at school, very similar with all the Catholic relics. The ceremony was very long, half way through Lisa got bored so we made our way downstairs to the dinning hall. I was surprised to see that it was almost full with guests and realised that over half of the guests were not even watching the ceremony!!!!

Lunch was amazing! I'll let the photos do the talking.

It was wonderful meeting Lisa's family and being invited to such a personal event.

Lisa offered to assist me home, but I decided I would brave the subways alone, I had to try it sooner or later. So we parted ways and I had a subway map and her mobile number in case I got lost. I successfully got to my station after changing lines twice and it was very straight forward with the help of the map.

Busy, busy.

Lol

Would you fancy a beer or a kgb. For sale in the dairy!

I totally forgot I was underground until I came across this with gas masks in it!

Just one of the many shoe shops!

It was finding my way out of the station that was the difficult part! Gangnam has 12 exits and is a full on shopping mall 3 stories under the ground. I got lost for a good hour just wondering from shop to shop, checking out prices and trying new foods and drinks. When I finally found my way to my exit this was waiting for me at the top of the stairs. Perfect saying, why worry! I'm not on any time limit.