Studying, Mass, and Having a 'pla'

Having a plan is all well and good, but when the suggested reading for a test is a bunch of REALLY expensive textbooks (seriously, $400 for the KINDLE version?!) it can be a little overwhelming.  I've forgotten a LOT of US history and foreign policy and if I don't brush up on that, world history, statistics, and geography I'm sunk.  You can only take the FSOT once a year you know.  No, I'm not nervous (sweats onto the keyboard).  Can't sign up for the darn thing until Dec... then I take it in Feb... plenty of time to prepare, right (butterflies in tummy make me happy I haven't eaten yet)?

In other news, the weather has been beautiful.  Sun shining, cool breeze, cold at night.  I've broken out most of my sweaters and am enjoying wearing them without the need for thermals (tho I know that weather is just around the corner).  I'm making a list of what I can leave in Korea (lots of tank tops and my jeans) and what I have to bring home (lots of t-shirts, dresses, jackets, etc).  I'm looking forward to being able to shop back home and find some things that FIT!  I'm going to try not to get too bogged down with sizes, but I must say that I am enjoying being a medium on top (probably still L to XL on bottom, let's be honest).

Korea is beautiful in the fall.

Korean parking attitudes remind me of cat sitting attitudes - if I fits, I sits becomes if I fits, I parks.

J and I went to the Thai place the other day - here's our appetizers.  Not exactly spring rolls, but still good.

My dinner - no clue what it was called, but it was tasty and full of protien.

The wig A set me from home... it could be fun for Halloween.

My spider necklace that I loves, loves, loves.

The door to the seminar room at work.  The Chungdahm people did a great job decorating it!

So yeah, I was asked on Friday what my plans are once my contract is up and the first thing I said was "I gotta go home."  Nod of understanding and then a "are you thinking of coming back?"  I said no, I want to get a job with the state dept and I basically plan on figuring out a job when I get home with that goal in mind.  Another nod of understanding with a subtext of disappointment.  J and I talked about it, and if I were to continue in a school, I'd be a great administrator - but I'm not cut out for teaching.  I love some of my students, but I don't have the heart to deal with the ones I don't like.  I do feel like I have wisdom to impart on future generations, but I don't foresee a future in teaching.  I'd make a great librarian. :)

Sunday J and I went to Itaewon for Mass and confession.  Turns out that we didn't need to go to Itaewon, we could have gone to Gangnam and gotten a bus from there to where the church was, but we didn't know it then.  We found the place, and were REALLY late to Mass, but afterwards the priest went ahead and gave us confession.  I was relieved to hear him actually say 'depression is not a sin' tho I pointed out that some actions during the depths of a depression can qualify.

On the way there.

We found it!!  I had never been so happy as to see a statue of Our Lady.

J with the sign.  We met a nice Nigerian man outside of Mass, before we headed to Gangnam for J to find a b-day present for her boyfriend.

Ahhhh... gotta love those Franciscans. LOL

I love how Korea always has flowers... and random rocks.

It's a pretty country, even in the city.

We went to Artbox because why not and I wanted to see if my sharkie had Halloween stuff and he DID!  I love this shark.

As you can see... 

And then I found THIS!  Life-sized BOSS!!!  I loves the little shark... I loves him goooood.

I also found Iron Man.

And J found herself a sassy penguin.  Gotta say, it reminded me of some other sassy penguins in my life.

An example of the cars you see in Gangnam.  We wandered for a bit until we found a dim sum restaurant and got really excited.  I've been craving American Chinese food, so we thought we'd give it a try.  These are the prawn dumplings (top) and the pork dumplings (bottom, obs).

J's shrimp fried rice and egg drop soup served with pickled cabbage that I loved.

My spicy prawn (shrimp for those at home) dumplings with my won ton soup.  It wasn't American wonton soup because it was MUCH too fishy.  

Lunch was good, then we wandered a bit more and finally ended up at Cold Stone Creamery because I wanted ice cream and J had never been before.

They didn't have my coffee ice cream, so I went for salted caramel with oreos.

The cute selfie

The crazy selfie.

Some of my art box finds - a fun Halloween mask...

... or 2.

Lots of pins and such - VAMPIRE BOSS!!!

We also got earrings, which you'll see in due time.  We also did a photo booth thing on the way home because J said 'we are doing this' and I didn't argue.  All in all, it was a good day in Seoul with a good friend.  We were both exhausted by the time we got home, so I dropped J off at her place and I came home and finished this post.  For those who are wondering about E, we have been messaging but have not managed to get together again.  He's got a lot on his plate and I'm practicing self control and trying not to be too up in his business.  We shall see what we shall see in that arena.  

So all in all, it's been a good week and a good weekend.  I'm gonna take a shower, change in to pj's, and become one with my pillows and blankets.  Have a good week, my beautiful peoples and I will check back in with you in the middle of it.