North Korea has a shiny new airport.
I have to admit...it looks pretty swanky. Posh, even.
And like everything in North Korea, it was presented to the world with all due pomp and circumstance.
But who is really going to use the airport?
Generally speaking, North Korea is the Fort Knox of countries...not many people go in or out. So in the basest of realities it's all for show.
Anyway, take a look here:
http://www.businessinsider.com/north-koreas-stunning-new-airport-puts-many-american-airports-to-shame-2015-7
Monday, July 6, 2015
Sunday, June 28, 2015
There's Always Time for Dental Hygiene...Part 2
So, on to the fillings.
These are the first cavities of my life, so I had a lot...A LOT...of anxiety about having them filled and even more about having them filled in a foreign country. But it had to be done, so I had to get a grip and do it.
So there were two on each side...I opted to do one side at a time. Because the fillings were expensive...and because I was worried about not being able to eat. A girl's got to have priorities! :)
Anyway...it actually ended up being a two visit procedure.
These are the first cavities of my life, so I had a lot...A LOT...of anxiety about having them filled and even more about having them filled in a foreign country. But it had to be done, so I had to get a grip and do it.
So there were two on each side...I opted to do one side at a time. Because the fillings were expensive...and because I was worried about not being able to eat. A girl's got to have priorities! :)
Anyway...it actually ended up being a two visit procedure.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Adventures in Laundry...
Well, not so much an adventure, but a new experience nonetheless...which is nice since I've been here almost two years. It's nice to know there are still new things for me to do. Anyway, on to the story.
When the weather was shifting from winter to summer...with spring days altering between hot and cold. The nights are still a bit cool, but I'd finally gotten to pack away all the heavy coats, hats, gloves, sweaters, and long underwear. The challenge came with putting away my winter blanket...I wanted to put it away clean and fresh (because otherwise, ewww!). I knew from experience that the blankets (which are more like American-style comforters) will not fit into my apartment's washing machine. What's a girl to do?
She pulls them off the bed and drags them to the nearest "Self-Laundry"!
When the weather was shifting from winter to summer...with spring days altering between hot and cold. The nights are still a bit cool, but I'd finally gotten to pack away all the heavy coats, hats, gloves, sweaters, and long underwear. The challenge came with putting away my winter blanket...I wanted to put it away clean and fresh (because otherwise, ewww!). I knew from experience that the blankets (which are more like American-style comforters) will not fit into my apartment's washing machine. What's a girl to do?
She pulls them off the bed and drags them to the nearest "Self-Laundry"!
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Sports Festival
Two posts in one day, aren't you lucky?!?
Today is the first official day of the school's "Sports Festival." Really, they've been having play-off all week, but today and tomorrow are the official "sports days." It's a great chance for students to relax and have fun...it's great timing, too...the weather is beautiful and not too hot, so they can enjoy their time. (Because last year it was postponed and it rained on sports day...so sad!)
Anyway, on to this year. There's soccer and dodgeball...tug-of-war...races...wrestling...and other things. The best part is, I get paid to hang out and watch sports for 2 days! ^^
Today is the first official day of the school's "Sports Festival." Really, they've been having play-off all week, but today and tomorrow are the official "sports days." It's a great chance for students to relax and have fun...it's great timing, too...the weather is beautiful and not too hot, so they can enjoy their time. (Because last year it was postponed and it rained on sports day...so sad!)
Anyway, on to this year. There's soccer and dodgeball...tug-of-war...races...wrestling...and other things. The best part is, I get paid to hang out and watch sports for 2 days! ^^
There's Always Time for Dental Hygiene....part 1
Bonus points to you if you know where that quote came from.
If you don't know, it's from Little Shop of Horrors....if you haven't heard of it, go look it up now...I'll wait.
Anyway, on to the story.
It has been some time since I've had a dental check-up. One, because I hate going, and two, because back home in the States I could never afford it. But I was having some pain so I thought I should go.
If you don't know, it's from Little Shop of Horrors....if you haven't heard of it, go look it up now...I'll wait.
Anyway, on to the story.
It has been some time since I've had a dental check-up. One, because I hate going, and two, because back home in the States I could never afford it. But I was having some pain so I thought I should go.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Yeah, so...
I've been gone for a while. I'm not going to talk about that just now.
Anyway, among other things, I'm finding it too difficult to post a full-length blog every day. So, I will make you guys (like, both of my readers...lol...) a new promise. I will post at least 1 full length blog every week. In between times, I will try to post a mini-blog or two to hold you over. Deal?
Therefore...you should sign up for the email alerts. :)
Anyway, among other things, I'm finding it too difficult to post a full-length blog every day. So, I will make you guys (like, both of my readers...lol...) a new promise. I will post at least 1 full length blog every week. In between times, I will try to post a mini-blog or two to hold you over. Deal?
Therefore...you should sign up for the email alerts. :)
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
One-Year Later...
Ok, so I've been gone a while. I'm not going to talk about that just yet. But I wanted to post this article.
One year ago today (April 16, 2014), the Sewol ferry capsized, sank, and killed most of its passengers, who were mostly high school students. Unbelievable tragedy. Since then Korea has a a "spit and duct tape" approach to caring for the victim's families and re-evaluating and implementing safety measures. And yes, on the human side, it is a horrible tragedy.
However, its also indicative of larger-scale problems.
So, I, personally, feel extremely safe here...even with North Korea and its "nuclear" weapons just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Why? Because South Korea feels very safe and modern. But, all that "safety" and modernity came to SK so quickly with a healthy dose of Western input means South Korea has not had to develop and "learn from its mistakes" in an natural, let's say "organic" manner. For example, industrialization in the US came with huge conflicts, including cost of human lives, and these events lead to some of the health and safety laws in practice today. Korea maybe hasn't had to learn first-hand from those type of events. I tend to think of it that Korea has become modern with Western cultures being a "do as I say, not as I do" type example. Essentially, Korea was told what works, so that is how things needed to be without allowing for it's own "growing pains."
Not to mention that Korea also became a "modern" country in the era of globalization and capitalism. There is a alot of talk recently about corruption in the Korean government, and arguably, it is understandable that there is. In globalized capitalism, money doesn't just talk...it screams...and trying to modernize so rapidly when money is the primary goal, well, compromises (ethical, political, health and safety, etc., etc.) are going to be made. And unfortunately, Korea has a steep learning curve.
My apologizes if this post seems a bit "all over the place" and none to clear at that. I feel like that too, and I wrote it. But, there are just too many things to cover in this particular issue that I can fully discuss in a blog post, so I tried to hit the highlights.
The article is here:
http://www.voanews.com/content/one-year-later-korean-ferry-victims-families-want-ship-raised/2718518.html?utm_content=bufferd06e5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
One year ago today (April 16, 2014), the Sewol ferry capsized, sank, and killed most of its passengers, who were mostly high school students. Unbelievable tragedy. Since then Korea has a a "spit and duct tape" approach to caring for the victim's families and re-evaluating and implementing safety measures. And yes, on the human side, it is a horrible tragedy.
However, its also indicative of larger-scale problems.
So, I, personally, feel extremely safe here...even with North Korea and its "nuclear" weapons just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Why? Because South Korea feels very safe and modern. But, all that "safety" and modernity came to SK so quickly with a healthy dose of Western input means South Korea has not had to develop and "learn from its mistakes" in an natural, let's say "organic" manner. For example, industrialization in the US came with huge conflicts, including cost of human lives, and these events lead to some of the health and safety laws in practice today. Korea maybe hasn't had to learn first-hand from those type of events. I tend to think of it that Korea has become modern with Western cultures being a "do as I say, not as I do" type example. Essentially, Korea was told what works, so that is how things needed to be without allowing for it's own "growing pains."
Not to mention that Korea also became a "modern" country in the era of globalization and capitalism. There is a alot of talk recently about corruption in the Korean government, and arguably, it is understandable that there is. In globalized capitalism, money doesn't just talk...it screams...and trying to modernize so rapidly when money is the primary goal, well, compromises (ethical, political, health and safety, etc., etc.) are going to be made. And unfortunately, Korea has a steep learning curve.
My apologizes if this post seems a bit "all over the place" and none to clear at that. I feel like that too, and I wrote it. But, there are just too many things to cover in this particular issue that I can fully discuss in a blog post, so I tried to hit the highlights.
The article is here:
http://www.voanews.com/content/one-year-later-korean-ferry-victims-families-want-ship-raised/2718518.html?utm_content=bufferd06e5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)