Fordpride

Sometimes at school I don't change my shoes to my 'inside' shoes. I just keep on my regular shoes. I try to keep my American traditions alive. I love America!

Welcome to the second installment of "What else don't we know about?" Next up on our agenda: William Taft! I feel like Bill gets a bad rap. I mean, sure. Maybe the only thing I really remember about him from history class is that he got stuck in a bathtub. But is that all there is to know about him? (also, fyi, when you google image search william taft, the sixth picture to come up is a bathtub. see what i mean?) He was president of the U.S.A. from 1909 to 1913, making him lucky number 27. But what else don't we know about Bill Taft? Did you know? Bill didn't have a vice president from 1912-1913? Did you know? He was the only president to be a judge on the Supreme Court? Did you know? He was the first president to own a car at the White House? Did you know? Bill LOVED milk so much that he brought his own cow to the White House? That cow was named Mooly Wolly (so clever). His next cow was named Paulin. And Paulin, bless her heart, was the last cow to ever...

When I say 'all the time', I really mean 'only every once in awhile'. This weekend happened to be one of those times. And it was some solid times. Also, my hair is now blonde. I was unsure of the color choice for the first few days, until the orange tones faded. Now it has my full acceptance. And that is all.

It's hard regaining blogging composure after my last post. It's also hard regaining composure over my appetite. I seriously didn't feel like eating the two days after the challenge. And I'm telling you right now I never feel like eating ramen again. Ever. Anyways, I watch four TV shows on a decently regular basis while I'm here. No thanks to you, Hulu. First off, we know and love Celebrity Apprentice . Well, bad news friends. My love Bill Goldberg was fired. I know right?! Why would this happen?! I wish the girls would've lost so that one of them would've been fired, but no. The men had to lose and I was torn. I didn't know who I wanted to leave. We had Curtis Stone, Bret Michaels, and Goldberg. They are all so entertaining. I'll miss you Goldberg. And your really weird sunglasses that make you look like a bug. Also, I love a man with a neck the same size as his entire head. Also this past week, we finally had the finale of Project Runway...

It started out as any other Earth Day. I woke up happy to be living on this just strikingly beautiful planet, jumped out of bed, and threw on some clothes before walking to work. Yeah. Did you hear that? I'm soooo environmentally friendly. I don't shower and I walk to work. I'm straight up green. Work was solid, as it was Thursday and Thursdays I only have to teach 3 classes. So hello Facebook and Gchat! Can't complain. I got home from work and quickly finished my Earth Day outfit. Its a new tradition I just started. Every year on Earth Day I'm going to make an outfit out of recycled materials. Yesterdays genius was found in the form of various plastic bags cut up and taped together in a classy yet unique vintage inspired dress. Essentially, I was wearing a trash bag. But that was a good decision. The bad decision would soon follow. There is a place in our little city that has a Ramen Challenge. Now, if you know me, you know I love a good challenge, especi...

500 posts. This is HUGE. Things I might do to celebrate 500 posts: -Only pay using 500 won coins -Eat 500 M&Ms -Tell 500 students I love them -Talk to people back home for 500 seconds, or minutes. But probably not hours. -Take 500 pictures of the number 500 using different elements -Sleep for 500 minutes -Learn 500 Korean words -Listen to 500 rap songs There are just so many options.

"Those of us who are people of faith in this community turned to God, found he was there, and found he wasn't silent" 11 years later and I still see this. Say "I love you" a few extra times today.

I have a sad, sad addiction. In Korea (and come to find out, every Asian country), they have an infatuation with the crane game. Sometimes called the claw game. You know, the game that you pay to play and most of the time lose? And all there is to win is a cheap stuffed animal that probably only costs $1 in real life, but getting it with a crane makes you want to spend won after won or dollar after dollar, eventually resulting in you spending over ten dollars only to walk away empty handed? This is my life. But I can't stop playing the crane game. I walk past 5 just on the way to school. They are in front of most Family Marts, there are rooms dedicated to multiple crane games next to every movie theatre. These are the places I go the most, and these are the crane games that take away my money. I have not once won something from the crane game. Ever. But I will not give up. I will one day defeat the game.

Days since I've been on American soil: 208 Days I have left in Korea: 157 Other countries soil I've been on: 3 Teenage Korean boys I teach: 800 Out of 800, how many names I know: 19 Average length of strangers staring at me: 15 seconds Times I've watched Arrested Development all the way through: 3 Concerts attended: 2 Times I've had to decline alcohol (to the dismay of my friends): 73 Sour straws consumed: 64 Trips to Seoul: 33 Times COT's phone goes off everyday: at least 8 Seasons of Seinfeld purchased from our supplier on the street: 9 Qdoba burritos eaten: 0 (sad) Vacation days used: 6 Vacation days left: 14 Countries left to visit: 3? Visits to the noraebang (karaoke): 5 Manicures: 3 Taco Bell meals: 3 Memories made: 405,830,284,058 and counting

COT reapplies her makeup maybe...12 times a day? A slight exaggeration, but only slight. I'll go with 8 times. Yesterday as she's putting on her face, she just starts to stare at me. Mid reapplication. I see her staring but I decide not to acknowledge it. Less interaction is a key to success. But then she breaks the silence. "Do you shave your eyebrows?" Ehhhh, what? Excuse me? Me: "Do I shave my eyebrows? No...I mean, I pluck. I gotta pluck. But I don't shave them" (Let me just insert here that I used to be SUPER self conscious about my eyebrows. I know. I had weird insecurities (eyebrows, feet, forehead). I mean, who really cares about eyebrows? I did.) I had no idea what she was referring to when she asked if I shave my eyebrows. I mean, by no means are my eyebrows even close to being small enough to be considered 'shaved'. She continues, "Oh! You do not shave? It looks like your left one is missing hair" Ok ok, here...

You let me crash your Taiwan jaunt And your love you two did flaunt, We ate a lot; breakfast is the best, It really does beat all the rest! The tallest building in the world, There was a coral display unfurled. Giant spoons and giant love, Both are better than a turtledove. end Seriously. Taiwan rocked. And I have these two to thank for it.

As a life-time supporter of 7-11 and its sales, you know how I feel about the lack of certain products in its Korean stores. I.E. Slurpees I love slurpees. I always have and I probably always will. They are the perfect way to cool you down on a hot day and sometimes its the only thing that sounds good. Slurpees change lives. They bring peace. They bind people together. They inspire. Growing up, going to 7-11 was a big deal. You see, the closest 7-11 was at the bottom of a giant hill. Getting to this heaven on Earth was easy-we would coast down in about five minutes on our bikes. We'd walk into the store and stare at the endless amounts of candy, but ultimately we'd always end up buying nachos (with that fake but oh-so delicious chili and cheese) and a slurpee. No matter how many times we went, it was always a good decision. But each time it was like we'd forget about the hill. The hill that was so fun to ride down on, but such a beast to ride back up. Especially w...

Oh snap! Taiwan was awesome. There are plenty of stories to be told, and they will be told, as soon as I get home and have the many photos at my fingertips. As for now, I'm back at school and back to life. lame. but not that lame, because I still live in Korea. And I still like Korea. Also, this is why I should never hook up with an Asian. (thanks (or no thanks) to mr. w for these photo creations. beware: they are frightening) So Baby Asian Cindy isn't so bad. Sure, her hair is a little wack and her eyes are confused. But older Asian Child Cindy is just curious. I don't understand it. And I don't want to.

Happy Birthday to my brother BRIAN! A Haiku: We like to eat clams, Music videos we make, CFP's are good. Give Brian a birthday hug for me! But be gentle, he's getting old.

One of the first things I do when I get home is take off my pants. (Best part of having my own place. Hands down.) So I understand how one would want to do it. I walked into my office this morning and I had almost forgotten about yesterdays episode. Almost. About five minutes after I sit down, the four culprits from yesterdays after-school class marched into my office. COT had mentioned that they would be punished today, but I didn't realize it would happen in my office. In front of me. I don't want to see children be hit. The thing is, I didn't know I would be expecting them. I didn't know if I was just supposed to lecture them and get mad. COT was not in the office. So the four boys walk in and one mumbles an apology. Then they just stand there. I looked at them and tried to be tough ("you guys are in big trouble"). COT took forever to come back. The kids stood there. They glanced at me every once in awhile. They whispered. I could only ima...

Yeah. I did forget to put on deodorant today. I realized this as I walked out of my building this morning. I could have easily just walked back up and fixed this situation, but I kept going. Sometimes I reason that if no one else in the country has to wear it, why should I? But now I kind of got a whiff of the pit. And I realize: that is why I should wear deodorant. As far as the second half of my title goes (you know, about how a kid took off his pants), the story goes as follows... Imagine you're about to start teaching. You're standing in front of about 20 kids in your after-school class. This class is trouble. But you tried to make today fun by having everyone join together for some card games! You're such a thoughtful (or lazy) teacher! While you are handing out candy for the previous days candy winners, you take attendance of the kids sitting around the classroom. Pretty proud of yourself for knowing most of the kids names, you smile to yourself as you hand ...

COT is a dinosaur. Seriously. Today has been a day of dinosaur frustrations. She is just so annoying! And never tells me anything. And then gets upset when I don't know. This is what I'm feeling today. Also, I miss America. But its going to be ok. Did you know I'm going to Taiwan on Thursday? And, I beat Darren in the Tournament Challenge. Thats really all that matters, right? (ugh. cot just walked in. i want to punch her in the face. she just started brushing her teeth in the office, and then decided to call someone on the phone. with the toothbrush in her mouth. sick.)

"Michael Jackson!!!" "Cindy-teacher! That is you!" "Cindy teacher! That is NOT you" So you're saying I look more like The Mad Hatter than a white girl...gotcha

I'm going to start dressing like I'm straight out of Seinfeld . Imma look GOOD.

Sometimes when I have an NSYNC song stuck in my head, I feel like I'm betraying BSB. UPDATE: This is unacceptable

That part about me staying another year? APRIL FOOLS. Did I get you? Did I? (saying I was pregnant with a Korean mans child would have just been too believable)

Reasons why I love today: -Sometimes waking up to a city full of fog makes you feel like you're living in a cloud -I remembered to eat breakfast -COT asked me if I'm planning on staying another year. -I said yes -I feel good about it -Taco Bell opens in Seoul soon -I have really good friends -Easter is Sunday! -In one week I will be in Taiwan! Even better, I will be with Jenn! (and steve!) -I got to play hide-and-go-seek with my students after lunch. Pictures to come. It was awesome. -A student's parent knew who I was even without me saying a peep. I know I stand out a little bit here, but knowing my students use my name enough in conversation with their parents for the parents to remember my name in passing makes me feel decent. -I only have to teach two classes tomorrow. I love Friday. -Tonight=girls night -Last night I bought a sketchbook. I decided I want to be an artist. -Successful fb and blog stalking occurred -I make good extra money teaching my annoying af...