Catching Up

So I haven't been very happy with any of my outfit posts as of late, which is one reason for my serious lack of updates. On the other hand, I am in a foreign country and should be taking pictures of tons of interesting things besides the clothes I wear, right? And I have! I'm just getting lazy... But I won't go on about my absence. Let's just do a little updating, shall we?

...deep breath...

I visited Seoul Tower with a few of my friends. Seoul Tower, or Nasam Tower, is a communication and observation tower on Nasam Mountain in Seoul. It's kind of surreal to have this huge, huge capitol city and then to have this mountain hanging out in the middle of it. The hike up was hot (ugh), but it was really beautiful, so, yeah, it was worth it. Took a bus down though...  I didn't need to see it again, haha.
















They had these metal trees and fences where you could attach a lock or chain or, um, cell phone cases. A lot of them had sweet, lovey-dovey sentiments. At least, from the ones I could read. Most the others, I assumed said the same. I mean, what else would be written on a heart? Ah, damn, I should have bought one and wrote something like, "I have to take a poop. FOREVER. Love, Anna".

 

our rendition of a korean drama

my rendition of a map

That same day, we visited a traditional village, also in the heart of Seoul. We found some pretty swell face-in-a-hole cut outs. I think I found the best one.

All right. Next.

 Boots was neutered and declawed. Boy, oh boy! Little guy was a champ though despite some mishaps (notice the makeshift sock-cast around his left paw) the and has made a full recovery!

Moving on.

one of our many sets of twins. luckily, one has since adopted bangs.

I had summer camp. Yes, and I actually had summer camp before my Busan trip from my last post (damn, I am behind...). I taught two small classes of 4th and 5th graders. It was meant to help the students who are the most behind/having the hardest time with even the basics.

Case in point, we spent a week going over and over the alphabet, telling time, and days of the week. We spent the other week reviewing past lessons and introducing the new material for next semester. Yeah, I know, super exciting. I mean, I heard that other kids have to endure Harry Potter or Under the Sea themed classes. God forbid, right?

 We actually made a lot of progress and from the kids who showed up consistently, they managed to get through the whole alphabet, BIG and small! I consider that a success.

Also, this..

Alyissa and I visited the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul. Technically, South Korea is still at war with North Korea ever since the Korean War in the 1950's. Some people just can't let things go....

No, but seriously, it's a shame the two countries can't come together and focus that hatred towards the Japanese...

No, but seriously, seriously. These two countries share such a tumultuous past, but a common past. Somewhere along the line, though, shit got divided and an entire country split. I mean, yeah, this kind of stuff has happened before; countries divide and create new independent countries. But which ones have become such polar opposites that they can't even live peacefully and independently? I mean, North Koreans are forbidden to leave their country to travel to South Korea and South Koreans are denied entry into North Korea. It just feels like things have been left unresolved for so long, I don't think the two countries can ever unite again without some kind of confrontation.

All right, I'm not going to pretend I know everything about Korean relations at all. In fact, I know very little. But I did see some interesting stuff at the memorial, and not all of it was based on the Korean War. Here! Let me tell you all about it in picture form:

 

Whew! That was a lot! I was going to have an accompanying outfit with this post but 1) like I said, I'm not overly pleased with my outfit photos latel, 2) but, hell, let's spread the wealth and make it it's own post anyway, and 3) there's so much shit in this one, there's no real way I could find a way to relate my clothes to anything here.

So yeah. Another time.


Sincerely,
Anna
yay!

Playing dress up.

So recently I went thrifting on my way home from work. I probably shouldn't have since I'm about to move out and, therefore, don't need any MORE clothes to pack. But 1) it was pay day, 2) I hadn't been in a looooong time, 3) it was on my way home from work. How could I resist? 

Anyway, I was really excited about my purchases and I really wanted to show Anna all the cool things I got. But we've tried to show each other clothes over Skype and it just doesn't work. We usually have a bad connection and even if we don't, you still can't get a good detailed look at the article of clothing. So I decided to do a post about it. Now, I might have had a little too much fun with this assignment. I LOVE playing dress up. So take a peek at the newest additions to my wardrobe and let me know which is your favorite outfit! :)

{I like this one cause it brings out the blonde in my hair!}

Newest addition: Shirt!

Pants: Plato's Closet (Hollister)

Necklace: Target

Shoes: Thrift 

Newest addition: Shirt!

Shorts: Thrift (Village Discount)

Shoes: Thrift

Belt: Came with a dress

 Newest addition: Skirt!

Shirt: I can't remember. Maybe F21?

Shoes: Thrift

Newest addition: Shirt!

Pants: Thrift

Belt: Thrift (Village Discount)

Shoes: Ross

Sunglasses: Anna's

{I didn't have any photos with my first car to show the kids one day. Do now! (: }

Newest additions: Jacket and belt

Jacket: Thrift. From the boys section. Exactly what I've been looking for!

Shorts: Online

Shoes: Forever 21

Shirt: Forever 21

Newest addition: Jacket. {IN LOVE}

Shirt: Forever 21

Pants: Plato's closet (Same from above)

Shoes: Plato's Closet

Necklace: Thrift

{That's my "biker" face...}

Whelp that's all I have for you! Hope you enjoyed as much as I did!

<3<3<3<3,

Marybeth

Busan Beaches!

 

I am finally on vacation! Ah, the taste of freedom is sweet and sorely missed. A friend of mine, Greg, invited me to come visit a friend of his in Busan this weekend. I had no other plans, so I happily obliged! Busan is a south western metropolitan city which has the 2nd largest population in the country. Also, it's right on the sea. Which sea, you ask? It's kind of complicated.... Anyway, we left Saturday and I met Greg's 'ole college buddy, Gun. Then we went out drinking and clubbing (ha!) and we all got a little drunk and had ourselves a grand time.

Gun taking in some Sun.

The next day, we planned a trip to the beach! The weather threatened rain, but it managed to stay at bay. And then WE went to the bay! har har har... The water was warm and the air was warmer so it was nice to swim and lounge around. We went to Gwangalli Beach, the smaller of the two largest beaches. The water was a little dirtier but it was less crowded. It had this really big bridge out over the water. It was cool and an eyesore at the same time.

I wanted to do a beach post, so I took the opportunity and flashed some pictures! I also wanted to show off my new headband/handkerchief. Teehee!

-Anna-

swimsuit: Urban Outfitters (billabong)(also, from last year)

shorts: ebay

bandana: Korean subway

There was this strange little statue out on the water. I asked Gun, but he didn't seem to know what it was for.

On Monday, Greg and I were on our own with looking around so we hit up the fish market. Busan is right on the beach so they rely a lot on their seafood for revenue. It was basically just a long street with tons of sea creatures, alive, dead, and dying. Yeah, maybe a little gruesome. Now, I'm not too big on seafood, so maybe some of the appeal was wasted on me, but I will admit it was worth the trip. 

wtf gross phallic things which are not actual penis'.

We got lunch at a seaside restaurant which served.. you guessed it, fish! So Greg and I ordered sashimi (raw fish) and fried fish. We also got A TON of sides (which is typical in Korea, but DAMN). And they just kept coming! There was shrimp and smoked salmon and kimchi and soup and raw veggies, chicken, pork... and more that I couldn't even identify. It was all real yummy, you know, for fish, and we were thoroughly stuffed when we finally managed to fit it all in our bellies.

surprisingly not the full spread.

I also got a local dish, dwaeji gukbap (돼지국밥), which is a rice/pork soup. It's quite delicious! Add a few tiny shrimp and some kimchi for flavor, and you've got a scrumptious hot dish.

Oh and one more story:
So Greg and I went to this bar our last night out, and a few beers into the evening, I manage to drop my glass three inches off the table. Typical, right? Hahaha, so the thing shatters in to a thousand little pieces! Not even big chunks, noooo, tiny little bastards that land all over arms and thighs and table and floor. I have nothing too bad to show for it, but I did manage a few little nicks.

So that was my first adventure of my vacation. My second will begin tomorrow when I visit Elly's hometown on the eastern coast. I don't remember the name of the city, but it's not overly big. I'll be staying with a friend of hers, one I met a few weeks ago when I went camping! Awesome, right? I'll be hanging out with a normal Korean family who I barely know for four days. What a new adventure! I finished the first Game of Thrones book, but I have to wait to borrow the next one. So I'll be taking John Green's Papertowns, and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, so I'll crack into those during my trip. See you in a week or so!

Sincerely yours,
Anna