Homemade Christmas snack box

 As I was recovering from my post-trauma, Korea escape, I decided to get creative to ease my mind. I made this Christmas snack box out of a wooden wine box. With a little paint, some special paper, and some super glue I created this masterpiece... muahahahaha!

Here's the inside of the box. It's lined with gold and translucent paper and has a cinnamon stick divider between the wine and the snacks. I also included a photo of our Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

And here's our new kitty, Professor Muffin Meow-Meow. Well, that's his name for now at least.... 

Korea: best and worst experience of my life

So, I'm sitting at the Incheon International Airport where I just ate my last dumplings while watching K-pop videos. I can't believe this day is actually here, I have dreamt about it since seeing my work conditions the first day. I wonder how much I could hate a place and love it so much at the same time. My job was basically an English sweatshop (with a literal sweatshop in the basement). I was overworked, until the point of actual panic attacks. My housing was substandard. Yet in the midst of all that there were moments that made it worthwhile.

I will never forget my kindergarten students. Their smiles and hugs were the only thing that got me through some days. They were so sneaky sometimes ... I will miss how they pronounce peach like "peach-ee".

I will never forget how much fun Seoul was. I will remember dancing to my favorite Salsa and Bachata songs with Koreans. I will never forget all my Latino friends in Korea. I will miss shuffling while being surrounded by hundreds of k-pop koreans. I will never forget all the people that supported me. It was the adventure of a lifetime! So many random moments that could only happen here.

In order for it to be a true adventure, there must be adversity; an enemy - problems. I am no longer naive about the world. I had to escape my job in the middle of the night (they call it a midnight run) sneak out of my house, and get out with no one seeing me. I literally felt like a fugitive ^^.... I have always said I have a passion for helping people in unethical situations, like sweatshops, human trafficking etc. I guess now I really know what its like. I can say I saw a bad side of this country, and I still love it.
Goodbye for now Korea. Maybe I will come back, but of course with a different situation.


Here's some pictures of last week. My camera broke after that so I was unable to capture some novel-worthy moments.

BUKCHON TRADITIONAL VILLIAGE

Dongdaemun Market and Cat Cafe

I had an exceptionally amazing weekend in Korea, as usual. I met up with some new friends and went to  one of the largest markets in Seoul. At Dongdaemun market you can literally find everything from dried larva to coach purses. Its wonderfull.

I am finally starting to like street food. Fried crab lets with chopsticks enclosed.

This was also really delicious! Vegetable dumplings with spicy sauce and cabbage. Usually Korean people don't make eye contact with me, and rarely smile at strangers. However, for some reason when they saw us eating this everyone stopped to watch and smiled at us! I guess I have to eat more Korean food to fit in.

I will probably make an entire post dedicated to Korean fashion, as it is quite unique.  These fake glasses are a must-have, and the larger and more senior citizen they look the better. I often see people wearing glasses that don't have any lenses in them....

I went with a Korean friend to Yeoido church. Its the largest church in the world and it occupies a whole city block. Love that these choir boys wanted to jump in the picture. Probably one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken.

Then we went to a place called "Cat Cafe". Thats literally what it is. Its a cafe filled with designer expensive cats. You can drink your tea while you sit with a persian feline. Notice the rule card under the drink: "Don't shake the cat", "Don't poke the cat's butt" etc....

Loved this one!

After playing with a few cats for about an hour... out popped this guy. I actually couldn't stop laughing. I absolutely love his Korean Taekwondo outfit. Much to my surprise he then took a nap on my lap! I love how random things can be in Korea.

Giant colored leaves

Heres a few pictures of fall in Seoul and Namsang tower!

Gyongbok Palace, Seoul

Today was a great day in Seoul with my friend Val! I think these pictures pretty much explain themselves, and plus it was hard to understand the tour guide so I don't have much to say. However I really loved the contrast of the modern skyscrapers in juxtaposition with this palace from the 1600s.

This photo pretty much sums up Seoul. Can you see Namsang tower?

Everyone is buying me Reese's and I feel loved

I have been so busy at work entertaining over 100 korean kindergarteners a day that I havn't been able to write much or take many photos. Here's a brief update of the last few weeks! 

I just want to say...There is something about Reese's Peanut Butter Cups that give me a sense of comfort and nostalgia to my childhood at Peter Pan park. As I have explained this to many of my friends, many have gifted me with a bag of Reese's, and this makes me feel loved. Now my only issue; not gettin fat.

Here's a photo of a me and a bunch of latino friends! So funny when we just walk around yelling in spanglish.. 

I liked the sky. Walking to Yonsei University. This picture kinda looks like a third world country, and in many ways, Korea still is. 

This day was amazing! I arrived at the soccer complex, being the only girl of course. They told me I was going to play on the South American team. Then I realized that the "Korean" team we were playing against were all cussing at each other in fluent argentinian spanish because they were born and raised there! This is what I love about Seoul.. sometimes I don't even remember that I'm in Korea. 

My friends had never tried Reese's .. had to give it a go.

After 4 AM Burger King in Seoul is converted into a hotel for weary late-nighters waiting for the subway to open. Seriously there were more people sleeping than actually eating.

Hongdae and making friends

Yesterday was a great day! I spent some time in the city and eating dinner with my new friends who all speak spanish (and not so much english, which forces me to practice). :)

So sometimes here the taxi drivers like to take you on long routes and get you lost because they know you are foreign, that way they make more money. At least I saw some awesome views of the city.

Ok Korea is really random, There was like a Christmas photo op area in the mall, and since I was wearing a red scarf I had to do it. Maybe I will make a card ...... .. .

My friend Candy from Mexico.

A Peruvian, A Spanish guy, a Mexican and a gringa :)