I get a little personal...

I played charades today with seven old ladies at a little local pharmacy. I walked in with the name of an over the counter birth control pill offered in Korea, thinking accepting this switch would be much easier than trying to fill my handwritten prescription from Atlanta. Birth control is very unpopular here- couples opt instead to use the 'gambling' method. Oddly, though, what they do offer does not require a prescription and is rather cheap- only about 5-8 American dollars per month! But this particular shop was unfamiliar with the brand I was informed by the interwebs was widely used by foreigners in Korea.... When I showed them the name of the drug, one woman behind the counter nodded and emptied two pills from a big jar into a little bag for me. I hesitated.. tried to communicate that it should be a month's supply... and the game was on. Imagine pantomiming "I need pill to take every day to NOT get pregnant" to middle aged and, shamefully, grandma aged Korean ladies... use hand gesture to indicate giant, round belly... then make a big X with your arms.... and they nod in understanding... offer Gas-X... I try again. One lady finally pulled out a little English, and translated that I needed something to take EVERY DAY.. and they looked puzzled: WHY everyday? NO PREGGO! They didn't understand pregnant, they didn't understand hormone pills, they didn't understand birth control... I was ready to give up when my English-dabbler suggests a fuzzy version of "Contraceptive?" And I beamed! Yes! Contraceptive! WTF? That was the word they got! Every lady cheered like we'd all just been awarded the SECOND showcase! And they ceremoniously handed the little box from one to the other until I received it, paid my 7000 won, and left victorious.

(don't worry, all my lady friends- i did do all that research i should and found this drug should be a seamless transition)

Meanwhile, my job is super. I was very proud of my students today: Now that I've got a firmer understanding of exactly what level each class is at (their age does not necessarily indicate their experience with the language), I am better able to offer appropriate challenges in their lessons, and recognize which classes need to step away from their steady progress in the assigned workbooks and focus on grasping a few fundamentals better before forging on. I made up an activity on the fly that involved unscrambling sentences, and, well, I'm probably completely boring you by now... so suffice it to say, I am able to have fun with these kids while being really creative in my approach and they're absorbing new information like dried out sponges and it feels good, good, good.

I think the challenge of suddenly living together along with suddenly living halfway across the world from all our other loved ones has proven more taxing on Kevin and I than either of us expected, but he's a really amazing person, and I try to keep up... so in the end, we're making it all work. It gets frustrating for us both in different ways and on various levels each new day. I know he's a more private person in ways, and will be relieved to have a room of his own very soon. We will both be glad when we get our first paycheck and can let out our belts a little. We're not suffering, mind you, but being extra careful, and going without some luxuries that would feel really comforting in this time of adjustment... but all in good time. Paint brushes, instruments, and a full pantry are just around the corner.

If I had my packing to do over, I would have brought a book full of pictures to put up of all of you I miss and a book of dvds.

I suspect I will be buying too many shoes after a while, too. Just mentioning. They're so freaking adorable here!!!!!!!!

For dinner tonight we ate BURGERS- and they were delicious. Gourmet burgers, handmade wheat buns, fresh meat mixed with egg, topped with bbq sauce a-la-perfection, bacon, cheese, fresh tomato, lettuce (FRESH LETTUCE!!!) and onion, and hot delicious FRIES and a side of pickled veggies and peppers. It totally satisfied a little craving and more, and cost about $8.... came with a bread and honey appetizer and a big fancy hazelnut coffee after. Oh, Korea, how you treat my tummy good.

In the mean time, Kevin has found a Korean Mama- She throws food at him everywhere they go- even peels his little baby oranges for him and sends him home with pastries. He's getting totally pampered at his new school- You can probably find more on this in his blog... but it's a pretty sweet deal for both of us, really.

We really lucked out with this city and this school... couldn't ask for a better fit.

Ah, ok- g'night, or g'morning- whatever the case may be.

P.S.- if you were interested in writing, it is best to send to to us care of our school; here is the address: Jisan Hangil English School, 154-2 Dongmyeong-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, South Korea, 501-813