Meghan's Adventures in Korea: happy new year!

haaaappy 2008!

i hope everyones was fanstastic :)

soo, xmas break is ova. and im sad. it was lotssss of fun! no hong kong but it was definitely the right decision to stay here. as i said in my last post, christmas was spent at the canadian bar. boxing day was pretty relaxed trying to find some nutcracker tickets. turns out, it was playing right in very own city! (we were planning to take an hour subway ride to this other place). so we went to get tickets in the afternoon for the night show. we were lucky cause it was the very last show. so we got some great tickets (awesome seats, $30) and then went home to get ready etc..then we get to the show for 730 and the guy who helped us get tickets was there so he led us in and then they took us to the seats. apparently they was a slight computer error when we bought the tickets cause there were people already in our seats ! and they had the right tickets. so then we went back out and they switched our seats. turns out they wanted to give us seats so that we would sitting by ourselves. obviously not happening since we have clearly become the same person. so then they gave us some other seats that were REALLY bad . like the $20 ones we didnt want to get when we first bought them. so them we complained and said this is not what we paid for. sooo, they ended up giving us reserved seats for people who hadnt arrived yet. FRONT ROW CENTER. anddd at the intermission they refunded us our money! so they were freeee! amazing amazing. obviously some pictures we sneakily taken. it was actually a really great show and i think a pretty famous since not all the dancers were korean (maybe a good indication??). so that was boxing day. then thursday we went to the 6 3 building which is the tallest building in northeast asia (or something). it is 60 stories high, 3 are below ground. so we went there to explore a lil bit. and theres a seaworld on the lower levels. lotsa fun! friday was ilsan day. we went mostly to look around (ie. shop). but ended up getting the hair done again. its reeally cheap to cut your hair here (and do pretty much anything to it) and they do a great job. so we saw this super nice place last time we were there so we decided to check it out this time. you pretty much get treated like royalty there. so im going to give you all a play by play because its ridiculous the kind of service you get. so i sat down and was handed a menu of drinks to choose from, i chose an ice cappucino (a real one, not tims style). then they take your coat and purse put it in a locker and give you the key. so during the process i was enjoying my ice capp and chatting with the h/d (they usually have one that speaks pretty good english at any salon). then a lady comes around with a plate. with CAKE! so delicious korean style cake was eaten and then it was time for the rinse out. for this part they take you to the washing room. what you sit/lay on is pretty much a massage table. so i layed down on the bed and then they raise it up so its not uncomfortable on the neck. then they put a blanket over you (and tuck it in) and put a cloth over your face so you can rest/sleep. then they give you this crazy scalp massage while washing your hair. after that they take you back and start the blowdrying/straigtening process. at this point i was already happy enough. but no, then this other lady comes up and says 'arm massage service' (service = free in korean translation). so you get this crazy arm and hand massage with aromatherapy oils and then they paint your nails! soo impressed. there are also mac laptops along the walls so you can use them if your waiting for hair or people (justine finished before me so she was on it). so this is my new favourite place and next time i feel the need to cut my hair (likely in a week) i will no doubt be going there! friday was justines birthday!! so we decided massages were in order. back to ilsan since its close and theres a ton of spas and hair places there. so this place was also quite the experience. they give you hideous outfits to put on in the changeroom then you get to soak your feet in oils in this other room before they take you into massage room. gorgeous place, amazing massage! in conclusion, no complaints on korean services so far! so the plan was to head to busan the 28th for a few days but some friends ended up coming up from there so we stayed here. we may head there for the lunar new year in february. so last weekend included some bday celebrations, some kareoke (norebong in korea), and some shopping for new years outfits! new years was a lot of fun! we got tickets to this really nice place called the Lotte World Hotel and celebrated with friends with all you can eat and _____ (i'll leave the blank for you to fill in). there was games and contests and draws (none of which any of us won) but strangely, no countdown. everyone was gathered at the stage waiting for the countdown. but it never came :(. we finally realized it was 12:03 after looking at our phones (hahha) and then we cheers'd! a good night minus that part though :) school started again yesterday (the 2nd) and it was very chaotic. the schedule changed since kids come and go every month so its gonna be another adjustment month. oh, and we changed books so now i read stories with the elementary classes and then they do a play at the end of the month. i have some good ones though! black beauty, the secret garden (!), cinderella and snow white! and a lot of the kinder kids are graduating in february so with them we are putting on a 'drama play'. so starting monday its all about learning plays and making costumes, should be fun (and slightly stressful). ohhh and today the schedule was changed too (mon/wed/fri and tues/thurs have diff elementary kids). and there were some newbies in one of my classes with no names! so guess what??? i got to name them!! their names are ANDY and RACHEL :) . that was the excitement of today, in feb we get to name all the new kinder kids that are starting so start pitching speals on why i should choose your name :) (kiddddding)

anyway, thats all for now. time for some entourage!
lots of loooove
meg
xoxo