Feelings

So I've been sick for the past week or so.  It started with the throat, then moved to the sinuses.  Then it got better and I thought I was great.  Then it got REAL bad... so bad that K from work took me to the doc.  It was a great visit (and cheap) and he gave me 3 days of pills.  They helped, but now I'm out and I'm not sure if I need to go back yet or not.  I'm giving it 2 days and if I don't feel 100%, I'll go back to the doc.  I do have to show you some of the meds. 

 Here's the packets that they gave me for the 3 days.  One for AM, one for PM and one for night.  The handwriting you see is K's - he has some really nice handwriting!!  He's one of the sweetest people I've met and the ONLY one I've met who literally smiles with his whole face. 

 These are not what you think they are.  They are vitamin C tabs!  I laughed so hard when D gave these to me - not the kind of packaging that US people are used to.  ;)

So I've called this post feelings.  Not only because I've been feeling like crap lately but because it's when I feel like crap that things sometimes come out.  I'm not so good at looking at the bright side of life (Monty Python reference intended).  You see, it's when things go wrong that I really miss being in my own country.  J put it perfectly today - I am homesick for the convenience of being in my own country.  No matter where I am in the US, if something goes wrong with my laptop I know where to go to either get it fixed or get a new one.  If my phone isn't working, I know where to call to raise Hell.  If I don't feel good, I know where I can get the meds that I need to get to feeling better.  It's the convenience of doing things 100% on my own that I miss.  I mean, I've been here for almost 2 months now and I just made my own food in my apt.  It was penne with peppers and mushrooms in tomato sauce.  Here's the sauce and penne on my burners

 I had to move the sauce around with a spatula cuz I didn't have a spoon yet.

 And here's the finished product.  It tasted really good (the mozzarella here is great).  And yes, that's Merlot in the only glass I was provided with when I moved in.  Also that's one of 2 bowls, and the only fork.

Besides this, I've pretty much just heated up water or soup in my kitchen.  The soup that I've gotten in a pouch is actually really good.  It's been spicy and tasty!  I've also made PB&J sammiches, and I'm eating a LOT of Pringles.  They're generally on sale and it's a chip I know.  I know the sour cream and onion Pringles are going to taste great with a sammich!  So while I was never a huge Pringles person at home, I am one in Korea.  And it's true, once you pop, you can't stop.  I am pretty sure that the Pringles here are slightly smaller than the ones I remember in the states, but then again it's been so long since I had American Pringles that they could have shrunk and I'd have no idea. 

So I am homesick, but not in the way that I expected.  I knew that I'd miss my people: I do that when I'm in the same friggin' country... or STATE for that matter.  And eventually I knew I'd miss things like my favorite restaurants, grocery shopping in my own language, having a car, etc.  I didn't expect to miss just the convenience of being in my country.  I've taken so many things for granted - getting online banking automatically by opening a checking account, using my drivers license for all my ID needs, being able to get a new laptop and knowing it's operating system is in English, etc.  When I was just a tourist in Europe these things didn't matter because in a matter of months we'd be home.  We were using our Chase accounts for everything, our computer never messed up on us, we didn't have to rely so much on others.  Which, by the way, I'm BAD at.  I HATE relying on anyone besides myself.  I had to ask another Korean teacher to go with me to the bank Wednesday so that I can set up online banking and a way to transfer money to my Chase acct.  I had thought that it would be easy and something I could do on my own... WRONG!  At least I'll have all the documents I need.

The only time I got way annoyed with everything was (just) before I got my ARC and I tried to take money out of my account.  I wasn't able to because I didn't have my ARC and I'd given my passport to the school that day.  I was told it was for some kind of background thing... turned out, they were getting me my ARC.  It's been small things that I can't do for myself that make me CRAZY! 

So today I went and got myself a plastic spoon for my cooking.  I also got a wine glass and a candle in a skull-shaped holder.  So my apt is finally, really, mine.  I also wanted to feel like I looked good today, even as I didn't feel all that great, so here's my outfit for the day.  Floor length black skirt, grey cami and black shrug.  Coupled with the blue drop necklace from Suz and the matching earrings that I bought from Earthbound, I felt like I at least looked human!

So that's how I'm doing/how I'm feeling.  This coming weekend J and I are going to Seoul to go to the Harry Potter cafe, find a bookstore that sells books in English, and go to confession and Mass at the cathedral.  More on that in a week. 

Much love, hope you enjoyed.  :*