Korean Giveaway

    It's a busy week here in Korea.  Thursday is my last day of school, then it's vacation time!  I'm packing and trying to finalize a lot of last minute things before I go.  I also discovered this week, that my blog has reached over a 1,000 hits! : )  This is Super Exciting! So, to celebrate I'm doing another Korean Giveaway! 
    Just comment below and tell me what else you would like to know about Korea, to be entered in the contest.  Winner will be chosen at random.

*Don't worry Jennifer the prize pack won't contain dried squid! : )



Peace, Love & Chicken Grease,

Brandi

Sunday, July 24

    It's official!  I'm on the countdown!  That's right, in less than a month I will be back Stateside.  My first stop is in Denver to see one of my Besties/Sister/Former Roommate.  We haven't seen each other ages!  Okay, its only been like 6 months but it feels like ages.  After that, hopefully some quality time with another special person in my life and her family.  My Sister/Bestie/New Mom.  I can't wait to meet baby Olivia and see my sister who since, the last time I seen her has become a new mom!  Its just plum Crazy, to think of her as a mom!  Shouldn't she still be yelling at me and J, "not to touch her stuff" or to "put her stuff back where we found it!"  Lol!  I think, she would still do that if we lived closer!  I'm Super excited to see her and her family!  I haven't seen her in ages + infinity!  I think it'll be about 8 months since I last seen her.  Again, it's been way to long!  So, as I'm on the countdown I'm making a list of all the last minute things I need to do before I leave Korea.  It's a short list but, some take a little more nerve than others! 

Things to do Before I leave the ROK!

1.  Go to a Norabang again!
2.  Try Eel
3.  Try Dokbol (Chicken Feet)
4.  Explore more of Seoul
5.  Try Silk Worm Larva (Okay, only 1 to just say I tried it!)
7.  Fix my digital camera!
8.  Get a Korean Facial!
9.  Try Acupuncture!
10.  Go to a Jimjillbang (It took 5 months but, I think I finally got the nerve to give it a try!)

I'll keep you posted on my accomplishments!  Have a Great Sunday Everyone!

Peace & Love from the ROK,
Brandi

ThE WeEkenD

Tiffany and I at the Lotte Giants Game!

    This weekend I had the chance to go to a Lotte Giants baseball game in Busan.  It was a great time!  The Giants beat the Twins by 1.  This weekend I also tried to plan my upcoming vacation.  Not sure exactly where I'm going.  Hopefully, somewhere around Thailand, Malaysia or Malaysia-Borneo.  I'm ready for a nice relaxing vacation! : )  Then after that it's back Stateside!
    Hair Update:  After 1 week, I'm still Loving Magic Straight!  It makes hair care so much easier, especially with the high humidity here.
  

Korean Beauty Part III

Magic Straight 

    I took the plunge!  I got Magic Straight on my hair.  I have been talking about doing this for months, and finally did it!  I put it off for so long, due to the time commitment it takes to get it done (3-4 hours).  Not to mention you can't put your hair up in any way, shape or form for 1 week.  This means no pony tail holders, headbands or hair clips and I love my hair clips!  I have a bad habit of always putting my hair up in a clip!  Its a habit I need to break.  We'll see if getting Magic Straight does the trick!  

    I've been told no one does Magic Straight like the Koreans, not even the Brazilians!  I've never had a Brazilian Blowout so, I can't compare.  But, so far I am impressed with my new Korean hair style! I went to a salon called New York Hair near the University.  It was recommended by a fellow teacher and the cost seemed reasonable (55,000 won).  I went as a walk-in on Saturday.  Its hard for me to make a reservation since, I don't speak the language.  I had no problem getting in. They got me in a chair right away and offered me a drink and brought me a magazine.  They brought me Korean Instyle, I couldn't read the magazine but, I could look at the pictures.  FYI, according to Korean Instyle some of the Sexist things every girl should own is a sheer dress, a low back dress or shirt and a killer pair of heels.  Koreans love their heels!  I'm talking even with sweatpants kinda love.  Now, that's dedication!  Okay,now back to my hair.  My stylist name was Sora and she did speak a little English, which was a huge help!  We had no problem communicating even, when I told her I was considering bangs and she told me side bangs would be the best.  

   She started the Magic Straight process by applying the first cream and then wrapping my hair and plastic and setting me under a dryer.  In true Korean fashion, I had two stylist working on me at once to get me in and out of the salon as fast as possible (Koreans are all about being speedy and efficient).  Sora, was my main stylist.  I'm not going to lie, I felt kinda important having two stylist work on me at once!  After the first process was done, I went through a number of other creams being applied to my hair.  I think it was a total of three but, I got caught up in my magazine and kinda lost count.  At one point during the Magic Straight process they washed and dried my hair and then began to straighten it.  I was in shock and concerned when the two stylist began straightening my hair and my hair was Smoking!  But, they acted as if it was completely normal, so I just gritted my teeth and  went with it.  After absoultly making sure they got my hair completely straight, they applied another cream (I think it was a neutralizer) and I set for 3 minutes.  After the three minutes she washed and dried my hair for the umpteenth time and I was finished.  I was extremely impressed with Sora's mad hair drying skills!  She totally handled two full size blow dryers in one hand!  Before I left she made sure I knew "not to put my hair up for a week" and oh yeah, the kicker "not to wash my hair for three days!"  Three days!?!?  I'm gonna look like a Grease Monkey!

    So, I toughed it out and went with out washing my hair since Saturday!  I told myself, that I paid money for my hair to be straight so I was not going to waste it and ruin my hair by washing it.  My hair looked like something Nappy today at school.  The teachers tried to play it of, telling me my hair didn't look that bad.  Then my first class of the day (a group of first graders) asked me about me hair looking different and straight, then I hear a kid ask if I had been to the swimming pool.  Yeah, it was because the top of my hair looked a little greasy (like wet hair after, you have been swimming).  I couldn't find any dry shampoo or even baby powder here, or I would have totally been using it!  So, I tried to play it cool and just went ahead with my lesson for the day.  None of my other students said anything about my hair but, I think that's just because they didn't want to be rude and hurt my feelings.  A Korean teacher told me later in the day that it would've probably been fine to wash my hair after 24 hours.  "What?  Why did the stylist tell me three days," I said.  The Korean teacher then said, it was probably because I was foreign and the stylist wasn't completely sure about my hair type. 

    Overall though, I would recommend Sora at New York Hair.  She was sweet and did a great job!  It also helped that she spoke a little English.  I had her take a picture with me afterward and told her I was going to put it on my blog.  She felt honored.  In the end I paid a total of 60,00 won (around $60 U.S.) for Magic Straight and a trim.  I paid a little more for my hair type and a trim.  Overall, though I feel like it was a good deal!  I will keep you updated on how I like my hair after the next week.

Sora & I at New York Hair.

 Happy Monday,

 B

Korean Beauty Part II

Skin Food

    Korea is loaded with little beauty shops.  One of the most popular is a place called Skin Food.  It's Konglish, I know!   So, out of curiosity I had to check this place out!  Its actually a pretty neat place, everything is made from natural ingredients or food that you would eat.  I have bought the occasional Korean face pack (or face mask as we call it) and other little beauty products here. 
    My latest find is a Black Sugar Mask.  Its basically a sugar scrub that you use once or twice a week.  So far, I really seem to like it and it has a nice smell!  I'm trying to improve my beauty routine but, I'm just not as diligent as a Korean woman when it comes to my skin care regimen!  This is part of the reason why they have such young and beautiful looking skin.
    I'll admit it, I'm lazy when it comes to skin care.  So, in an effort to step up my game I also bought Skin Food's Blackberry Eye Cream (they said it was featured in Korea's Allure magazine).  It's okay.  I have been using it for almost a month but, I haven't really seen much difference.  Not sure if I would buy it again.  I'm defiantly on the hunt for an awesome eye cream, that and any other miracle cream that can do wonders for my skin and skin tone!  I'll keep you posted as I explore Korean skin care products.  Korean's take skin care very serious and spend lots of money on their skin care products.  They also, try to avoid the sun!  Well, most of them avoid the sun.  My friend Bonnie is the exception she's the only Korean I know who actually wants to be tan! Lol!
    More to come on Korean Beauty this week!  I'm attempting to have Magic Straight done to my hair this weekend!  It's a long process (3-4 hours!) and you can not put your hair up or bend it in any way for a week afterward.  That means no ponytail holders, headbands, or hair clips!  I Love my hair clips so, this could get interesting especially in this humidity!


Happy Friday,

B

I'm A Pepper...

    As a baby my parents dressed me in a Dr. Pepper T-Shirt that said "I'm a Pepper."  I have been hooked ever since!  Nothing else comes close, not even Pepsi or Coke.  So, during my time here in Korea I was beginning to have Dr. Pepper withdraws!  I was even tempted to buy it on-line and have it shipped to me.

    During the first few months is when you miss the regular things from home the most.   Or, at least that's what was true for me!  So, on a trip to Seoul when I discovered Dr. Pepper at a convenience store I bought 4 cans.  That was sadly all my already overstuffed backpack could hold!  So, I was shocked about a month ago when I discovered a small grocery store not even a block away from my school randomly carries Dr. Pepper (and Welch's Grape Soda)!  How did I go all these months with out knowing this?!?  I've been told they only stock Dr. Pepper on occasion but, every time I have been back since they have had it in stock.  You have to buy them by the can (about .83 a can)  but for me its an investment worthwhile!  So, here's to you GS Supermarket!  The Hidden Gym of Grocery Stores in Gooyoung Lee!

I know I said this week was going to be about Korean Beauty and it is, I just had to post about my great find! : )  Happy Hump Day Everyone!  Enjoy a Dr. Pepper today!

Brandi

Happy 4th of July!

    Happy 4th of July Y'all!  Today, I'm thinking of everyone back home celebrating.  They sadly do not
celebrate the 4th of July here in Korea.  So, instead of having the day off and enjoying a cookout or popping fireworks I spent the day at work.  It was the start of the new dreaded summer schedule and the start of me being at one school full time. (I'll let you know how that goes at the end of the week.)  The new summer schedule means crazy chaos, new classes, old classes, some old classes in new time slots, new time slots, confused children, confused teachers and oh yeah, crazy chaos!  Overall though, I think it went pretty well or as well as the first day of a new schedule can go.  I'll let you know more after tomorrow, when I start my new Tuesday, Thursday rotation!

    Today in honor of the 4th I explained to one of my classes the meaning of the 4th of July.  After explaining that it was an American holiday that celebrates our countries independence, I then told them that to celebrate we pop fireworks.  With the help of my poor artistic skills (they are about the level of a 1st grader's) and a student to help translate to Korean, I explained the word fireworks.  I then, tried to explain that we also call them firecrackers.  This left them totally confused!  "Fire Crackers?" they asked.  "Like a cracker?!?"  I then had to carefully explain that NO we do not Eat Firecrackers!  Lol!  This was a little difficult to explain since, they had just learned the work Cracker a few weeks ago!  So, it became our class joke to not eat a firecracker.  They thought it was pretty funny!   

Last year, she pretended to be a Genie in a Bottle by dancing in smoke from the Smoke Bombs!  For her protection her identity has been hidden.  But, I will tell you that she is one of my Aunts and her name does start with a B! : )

     I hope you all have a Happy & Safe 4th of July wherever you may be celebrating!  A Big thank you to all of our members in the Military who made this day possible! A special shout out to the nice service woman from Florida who kindly gave me directions yesterday while, lost during my adventure in Gyungju!  Stay tuned this week for blog post dedicated to Korean Beauty and possible another Giveaway!

Happy 4th of July,

Brandi


* Kristy the winner of the previous Giveaway, will you please e-mail me your address.  So, I can mail you your prize pack! : )  Thanks!

StUdent StOrIes!

Rangee & The Sh*t!

 
  It's Friday here in Ulsan, and I'm ready for the weekend!  Today was kind of a mellow day at school as the classes where all starting to wind down.  The new dreaded school summer schedule starts Monday!  So, as some classes end today many of us decided to have "parties."  I myself had a pizza party with one of my classes that is ending and had just completed a book.

    One of my younger classes in the early afternoon that I share with a Korean teacher (30 minutes with a Korean teacher/30 minutes with a Native language speaker.) completed a hidden picture search (Like the one's you loved as a kid in the Highlights magazine!) after they finished their test.  All of the students were struggling to find the hidden crown.  They were getting frustrated.  Then suddenly, Jace found the crown!  He was so Excited!  He blurted out suddenly, "I'm the Shit!"   What?!?  Did this little Korean kid really just say what I think he said?!?  Yeah, he did!  It was confirmed, when he proceeded to repeat that he was in fact the shit!  I tried not to laugh and could only imagine where this Korean 9-10 year old (Korean age) boy learned this phrase!

    There was one lone student in my last class of the day.  The others where home preparing for or recovering from their 3 days of public school test.  This was the second time this week there had only been one student in the class.  Kelly, was a trooper (and her middle school test are a week away.)  So,  we just hung out and talked.  We mainly talked about hamsters!  On Wednesday, she had brought a friends hamster to class.  I'm not quite sure why she had a friends hamster but, we managed to have a conversation about the little guy for an hour.  During this conversation, she informed me that she had a hamster of her own at home who was much more adorable.  So today, Kelly decided to bring her hamster Rangee to class.  Rangee was in fact adorable!

I asked Kelly how she got the name Rangee?  She said, "its because he looks kind of orangee."   "Rangee?"  I asked.  "Yeah, its Orangee minus the O" she said.  "I see," I replied.
So, Rangee was are entertainment for the class period.  Well, mainly my entertainment.  I miss my pets back home so, I am excited when I get to see people's pets here.  Strange, I know!

Side note: There's a strange thing here called Konglish!  It's a mix of English and Korean where they add the extra E or A sound at the end of the word!  That's why Orange became Orangee! 

Have a Happy Friday Y'all & A Safe 4th of July!

Brandi