month 10

its incredibly hard to believe that its been 10 months since i arrived in korea.

so, whats next for ashley? well, i was shopping around for a new job. i like mine loads, but i live kinds far from downtown. while it has its perks (getting my water from a spring!) it is also sometimes tedious and expensive to get downtown. i was also pretty interested in moving to seoul at some point. however, i have been sick and lazy and didnt even want to think about moving and getting another visa and going through all of that awful paperwork again. hello!? ANOTHER apostille certified background check? i dont even know how i would go about that in a timely manner without going back to america. and even that process was the pits the first time.

my boss really wants me to stay. we talked it over and i am staying at my school. but i get a whole month of vacation in december/january, a raise (although small), and probably a new apartment! i really like my apartment. but its pretty small. i want more space. oh, and i may may may be getting an iphone. he is really pulling through so far and i think he is going to make it happen. with the apartment at least. and i am so stoked on getting to go home this year for christmas! i cannot wait to eat delicious american food! see friends and family! read and comprehend everything, everywhere! its a long ways away, but believe you me i am already planning on meals, shopping trips, and a crazy publix run to mail myself non-perishables.

my friend here, julie, will be living in france by that point. soooo, on the way home (to korea) i will make a stop and see her and france and maybe turkey too! its a good thing that its so far away, i really need to save for it all. clare and i will be going to vietnam next month. after that, no more excuses! i need to cut back on spending so that i can do everything i want to do for my christmas trip! yay!

speaking of spending, i am so completely thrilled to go to costco on saturday. they have the best selection of western products in daegu. oh, all of the cheese!!! i could just eat an entire brick of gorgonzola, its been so long! ive only been there once. lately, i have been missing western food real bad. ive taken up cooking as it is the only way to eat what i really want. my skills in the kitchen have definitely improved since college! i made eggs benedict recently and the hollandaise came out perfect! i found a ‘magic bullet’ in my apartment and have been putting that to good use as well.

my friend liz will be visiting from taipei soon, and i believe that she is going to bring me some basil and cilantro seeds. as soon as those puppies grow, ill be in culinary heaven. if she cant find them, i am sure that i can rustle some up on the vietnam trip where i fully intend to gain 15 pounds from overeating.

sounds disgusting, but its true.

i leave you with a few pictures… my street with all of the cherry blossoms and mountains, me and a vj from mtv korea, and the view at haeinsa temple. the spring was eventful.