Friday, February 26, 2010

Pictures!!


I bought a new camera but I can't upload any pics yet. I have buyers remorse :/
Here are some pics my friends took.


At Lotte world waiting in line for Atlantis with friends and classmates.

Bo peep girls.

With Ex coworker Christian and my replacement Eric.
This is my second house party in Korea...I drank too much.
Direct English crew and that's my old student Su Young in the front left.

Hymie and I celebrating the lunar New Year at Jin's.

She cooked for us!
Also take a look at that cake. Cakes in Korea are so pretty and yummy!


<3
Sylvia

The Interview

Two days ago I had an interview for a part-time tutoring job at the Blue House (similar to America's White House) and it was the most interesting interview I've ever been on. First off, the day before my manager calls me and asks me if I could wear blue or green contacts for the interview. That was the first red flag, but I just said "I'm going to have to say noooooo," and went on with my day.
The day of the interview my manager and I show up and is greeted by a nice gentlemen who grew up in the Philippines and speaks English very well. We speak to him for a while about my life and teaching in Korea. He was very personable and was easy to talk to. Then his boss shows up and the interview makes a complete 180.

The questions I was asked:
Do you have a boyfriend?
What do you think about short guys?
How old are you?
Where do you live?
Is your boyfriend Korean or American?

And I'm sure there's more.

Throughout the interview he kept saying I looked just like a Korean and that I was thin and pretty. From this I felt like he liked me and that I probably was going to get the job. Then I overhear him saying something in Korean to my manager about an accent. "Accent?" I asked. He tells me I have a Korean accent and at that moment my mind explodes. I let it go and continue smiling and I try to be as charming as possible because, obviously, he wasn't interested in credentials. Turns out I didn't get the job because I was Korean looking. He wanted to hire an "original" looking American.

Now from this rant you may think that I'm mad but I couldn't stop laughing to myself on the way home. "What on earth just happened?" I kept thinking to myself. This guy just outright asked any question he wanted to ask no matter how personal or inappropriate it was. It was interesting to say the least. It would have been cool to work at the Blue House though.


Sylvia

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Slush City

I find myself having to explain my Koreaness every day. I not only have to talk about where I'm from and why I look Korean, but I also have to deal with the social aspects of being Korean. Every time I tell people that I'm living with my boyfriend it is either followed by an awkward silence or a gasp. Korean girls here DO NOT live with their boyfriends before marriage. I've talked to several people who thought of the idea but wouldn't dream of going against their parent's wishes. Also, at my age, women are hustling to find themselves a husband so that they can settle down and quit their jobs. The fact that I don't have any plans to get married (after 8 years of dating my boyfriend) is baffling. I mean, it's not a race! It will happen when it happens.

On a lighter note, yesterday, Kalan and I were on the radio. We got to go the TBS building and sit in a recording booth and everything. We competed against each other on a quiz show and I won. I get a prize but I'm not sure what it is yet. Hopefully it's a million dollars.

It's been really rainy and snowy lately. Seoul looks like a giant dirty 7-up slushy. Yummy.

Imo just brought some sliced oranges and apples. She reminds me of my mommy :)

Sylvia

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Plans for this week

I have several things on my agenda this week besides work and school. Most importantly, I'm going to go to the 노래방 / karaoke practice room with Kalan. We haven't driven a car since August and we realized that the car is where we do 95% of our singing. I'm out of practice so we are going to go have some fun and sing our little hearts out. Maybe I'll sing a little Celine, Whitney and Mariah ... I hope Kalan is prepared, hehe.



Also, Kalan saw an interesting cafe in Myong Dong so we are gonna check that out, too. It's a cat cafe, which is weird because not many people here like cats. I, on the other hand, love cats.

I'm taking better care of myself by exercising, eating better and going to the dermatologist. My skin has improved tenfold and I feel like I'm in control of my acne. What the doctor did was give me a weeks worth of antibiotic pills and then had me go through a torturous extraction parade/facial. It was the worst drawn-out pain I've ever had to endure BUT my acne is gone.

I've been doing little exercises in my bedroom like lunges, sit ups and lifting light weights and I realized just how much of a Korean girl I've become. Not only is my tan almost completely gone but my muscles are gone, too.

I can't do a push up... :/

I will get stronger though so watch out.

xoxo
Sylvia