So Much For An Apple A Day

Have had a fairly unproductive week as I came down with a head cold on Tuesday which has pretty much owned my week. Started feeling achy and sniffly on Tuesday night at work but figured it wasn't anything that a few hands of poker couldn't cure. Got to poker and quickly started to go downhill but I couldn't bail on poker because it was the first night of new tournament play and I came in second which gives me a good start. (although that is how I started last time and I don't need to be reminded how that turned out) Anyhow as soon as that game was over I headed home despite the cash game that had just started up.

I got home and crawled into bed and despite having six blankets on my bed I didn't stop shivering all night. By the time morning finally rolled around I was feeling even worse than I looked. Stayed in bed until the last minute possible then I jumped in the shower and dragged myself to work. I managed to make it through 3 classes before giving into my cold and telling Lorne that if I felt the same as I was feeling that day, I wouldn't be in to work the next. He took one good look at me and decided I was better off at home and arranged for others to take over my classes. I got home, climbed into bed and didn't get out for the next 17 hours.

Decided to give work a go today and by the time I got to work my migraine had actually begun to subside. I still looked like hell and my kids made sure to point it out to me, but I survived the day and am even starting to feel a little better tonight, which is good because me and the boys are headed to Busan on Saturday to meet with some friends that we met on our ski trip a few months back so that should be good times.

Fraud

Saturday morning got an email from mom saying that TD Visa had sent a letter to the house saying there was a suspicion of fraudulent activity regarding my Visa card. I sent off an email to the company inquiring about it and got back the usual automated email replies that really are of no use to anybody.

I wasn't all that concerned because you always hear stories of how people are travelling and Visa gets suspicious because of the different purchases being made and puts a hold on transactions. Actually I thought to myself, "After two years of being in Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Thailand and back to Korea, they are only getting suspicious now??" Plus I rarely even use my card except occasionally for Ebay purchases or Skype. Anyhow, I didn't take the letter to mean much until yesterday when I went to complete an Ebay transaction because I was going to put together a few little Easter packages for my friends over here where Easter seems to be nonexistant, I went to pay for my transaction and got a lovely little message saying, 'Your card company has restricted the use of this card, please call them'. Fantastic.

So I called the number on the back of my card and learned that "Card Reprentatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week" actually means that there are automated phone messages set up that you can spend half an hour on, pressing buttons to take you to various areas of help, but in the end only lead you to, "Thank you for calling TD Visa, our offices are closed, please call during office hours for further assistance."

Due to my lack of concern I put it out of my mind and went to meet Kevin for Starbucks. Then this morning I got up and had an email reply with a different 24 hour number on it, so I called them and talked to 3 different real people before being connected to the right department. Turns out someone was trying to use my Visa in Hong Kong for some $2000 purchase. Visa noticed it and put a hold on it, and then after that it was tried another 3 of 4 times for different amounts but thankfully the card had been restricted. On that same day I had tried to use my Visa in Homeplus by accident because I gave the checkout person the wrong card and she gave it back to me saying, "No." I had assumed at the time it was because it was a foreign card and most places in Korea don't take Visa (other than the fake Visa symbol they put on all their debit cards), but turns out it was cause they thought I was fraudulently trying to buy my rice and kimchi.

Anyhow all is well, no harm no foul. I wish I knew how my number was obtained in Hong Kong but the card has been cancelled and a new one is being mailed home thanks to the good, watchful people at Visa. Phew!

So happy it's the weekend

Raining today : ( It always seems to rain on weekends which is a great excuse for not climbing the mountain...but sometimes I actually am serious about doing it...today might have been one of those days.

Weather has been strange around here lately, I think it is safe to say that winter is long gone and forgotten, but we are still on that cusp of nice spring weather. One day this week I was able to go up the mountain with 3/4 length pants, a tank top, and a hoodie and was plenty warm enough, and during the days I can get away with wearing a light jean jacket, but the nights are still pretty chilly.

I am all for warm weather but it does mean my contract end is drawing nearer and nearer which is scary, sad, and exciting; it really depends on the day you ask me. Most of the time I love it here, and the people, but our work has gotten so big and there are so many kids and not enough teachers that we are working a ton of classes each day and that is just draining.

One thing I have been thinking about are the "firsts" of when I get home, because that is one thing people talk about a lot around here. So here is my first list:

First meal: lasagna (get on it mom)
First restaurant visit: The Keg (close second is Kyoto House for sushi)
First shopping: Smart Set
First coffee: Either Second Cup or Tim Hortons...it's a toss up
First nice day: Roller blading!

Hmmmm...my "first" list isn't nearly as long as I thought when I started typing...maybe I don't have that pressing of reasons to come home afterall.....

A Modest Proposal

Well I only have two months of my contract to go, how crazy is that?? I'm still undecided about next year; which is the beauty of Korea, nobody expects you to make any decisions right off the bat, it is all about spontanaiety. I don't even have to have any job prospects lined up and yet I can be fully confident that the minute I make a decision I will have my choice of jobs. Which brings to my proposal....

For those of you who seem to be opposed to me taking a second tour of Korea, I think it is only fair that you should start looking for jobs for me in Canada. Whoever finds me the best realistic prospect is obviously the person who wants me to stay in Canada the most. And by realistic I mean a degree related job. No, I am not working at McDonalds. No, I am not serving or bartending. AND NO, I am not working for dad! Those who find me no prospects will only have themselves to blame when I depart Canada again.

So, enough sitting around reading my blog (as entertaining as it may be)...get to work, there are job sites out there that YOU should be looking at!

Oh and I'm all for nepotism, so work your connections!

It's Friday!

No matter how much I complain about Mondays, I have to admit the weeks do go by pretty fast. Had a fairly busy week, nothing too exciting but there wasn't a lot of sitting around either.

Monday we introduced Dave to samgyupsal, which is bbq pork that you wrap up in lettuce along with onions, sprouts, rice, and hot pepper paste. I think it reassured him that some Korean food is quite good.

Tuesday was the usual poker night out. Last week I was down 2 dollars, and this week I came away up 11. So I'm not doing too bad, but I'm not doing too well either; I definetly can't quit my day job and take up poker full time. Too bad...

Wednesday we went for dukgalbi, which is my favourite Korean meal: chicken, cabbage, hot pepper paste, rice cakes, sweet potatoe, and leafy greens cooked right in front of you and then you wrap it up in lettuce leaves. After that we headed to Beer Hunter for the weekly gathering.

Thursday was probably my most productive morning; I got up (very productive ;), went to the gym, and then came back and decided that if I do come back next year I don't want to be that foreigner that can't read Korean and can only speak a few words of it, so I got out my Lonely Planet Phrasebook and taught myself to read Korean. There are a few signs I still have trouble with, but yesterday I was able to take attendance using my student's Korean names. Plus walking down the street I could read so much! And sure I don't know what any of it means, but I don't care! Then last night Trey and I caught up on the TV show, Lost, which I think is a rather ridiculous show, yet I keep watching, and he thinks it is the best thing ever invented.

Tonight is going to be an extremely quiet night because a few people from our group are going skiing tomorrow at 6am so won't be out. Richard and I passed on the skiing because he doesn't really enjoy it much, and I was indifferent to it this time, feeling that the weather might make the slopes pretty bad, so tonight him and I are going to have a movie/pizza night and then take a day trip somewhere tomorrow, and then meet up with everyone Saturday night for the drunken debauchery that is sure to be St Patrick's Day.

Enjoy your weekend!

Is It Friday Yet?

Monday Monday Monday. Boo. Of all the holidays that Koreans don't celebrate, I think I am most bitter about the lack of a March Break.

Spent most of the weekend playing tour guide and showing Dave around the downtown area, the common bus routes, and introducing him to different Korean foods. Actually I've probably eaten out more in these past few days than I have in my entire time here so I am getting a little more educated about Korean food as well.

Saturday night was Marta's birthday so we started festivities with wine at her place and then moved on to a Soju bar. We were quite a crowd that night and and kept the workers hopping with making our fruit soju, but as always it was well worth it. After that the party continued on to J-Bar which had been the site of drunken debauchery from our bachlorette a month ago, but the vibe just wasn't there this time and I headed home early.

Didn't do much yesterday, a bit more touring around during the day and then I met up with Richard and Tom for a movie afternoon/evening which was nice and relaxing.

Not much happening this week, just the usual stuff, maybe skiing for the last time this weekend, haven't made up my mind yet but at the very least I could stand to escape Daejeon for at least a few hours at some point.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend.

Bizarre

Daejeon, a city of over 1.5 million people, approximately 500 foreigners, and at least 20 different neighbourhoods. Songchondong, a neighbourhood of probably 2000 people, hundreds of apartment rooms, and yet somehow, Dave ends up in the room directly below mine.

Welcome Wagon

Dave arrives today! He should get here just before I finish work, so with any luck we will be able to meet up with each other and he can come out to Beer Hunter and meet the gang! Not much else happening around here right now, or at least not anything I want to write about it.
Probably have some more interesting stuff as we show the newbie around and it's also Marta's birthday this weekend so that is always fun.

On a side note, played poker for 6 hours last night, and came out of it down two dollars. Plus two would have been better but at least I am managing to break even most times.

Have a good week.

Happy Independence Day!

Well technically it was yesterday but I didn't feel like posting when I got home, so I'll pretend I'm on Canadian time and then it still is.

Due to the holiday we all had a day off yesterday which was a great way to break up the week and I think they should have it every week. Holidays in Korea are great because nothing closes so it is just like a weekend day.

Started the day off by having a lazy morning, thanks to a late night before which included the normal Wednesday meet up for a neighbourhood gathering followed by a screening of "Beerfest" which is possibly the dumbest movie I've seen but kind of funny too. If you liked Super Troopers or enjoy drinking vast quantities of beer you will probably enjoy this movie.

Thanks to the beautiful weather we've been having we spent the day riding around on Trey's motorcycle, which was fun once I lost my fear of the bike (or fear of dying, not sure which). We went to The Outback for some lunch and then to an English book store where I grabbed a Jodi Picoult book and a Dean Koontz one.

Afterwards we met up with Richard and Tom to go and see the movie The Persuit of Happiness, which was amazing and I think everybody should go out and see it if you haven't already.

That was pretty much it for the day, fairly low key, but nice and relaxing and I enjoyed every minute of it. Unfortunately back to work today before the weekend starts. Nothing major planned for this weekend, maybe one last ski day on Sunday if we get organizing it, if not my goal is to climb the mountain one day, and get out of the habit of having late, lazy mornings (err...afternoons)....