One Day's Experiences, Observations and Deals

Yesterday morning, I went shopping by myself. I needed to buy a present for someone's birthday, (Jessica is turning 23 at the end of the month). I was so proud of myself that I was able to communicate with the salesladies of the sizes I needed, needless to say, I had a buyers remorse afterwards because I bought something I didn't need and Jesse said just keep it when all I wanted to do is return them. I did buy something for the birthday girl and I hope she likes it. I went for a treat at Dunkin' Donuts afterwards and had Iced coffee. It sure get me going all day and evening, poor Jesse he went to bed before me, that coffee got me going.

I've noticed that every piece of land or property is used for planting something. They have them in planters ( 2 to 5 planters) in front off their doors or houses, they have them on the rooftops. In fact there's a couple of tomato's in the corner of the building where the decorative bushes are. Inside the Base, they have gardens. They've planted on the side of the road, next to the railroad tracks. There's all kinds of vegetables. They don't uproot the lettuces, they just take the leaves one by one and stack it up and sell it. There's chili peppers, corn, garlic galore and green onion, not little onions big ones, just a little smaller than leeks that we have at home, there's a lot of other vegetables that I am not familiar with. Of course there's the flowering kinds and herbs too, I bought several houseplants and herbs yesterday and the lady gave me an extra pot of mint just for buying I guess. That's the thing they are so giving. On my way home buying the houseplants, I passed by these beautiful tomato's (they look like heirlooms) and I wanted to buy just one and the lady said no, from her gestures I have to buy a kilo and I said no, not kilo i wanted just one, she picked one from the basket and gave me one and I asked her how much and she gestured nothing, then her daughter came and she made a circle with her fingers telling me zero. Free! I felt really bad, I know its their way to make a living, and I didn't want mom to feel bad so I gave her daughter a quarter and it made her happy, she ran all the way inside and showed her friends. That made me happy and made my day.

After my happy moment, I went to meet Jesse at the Base afterwork and we took a taxi downtown just to look around and I saw a purse that is cute and Jesse was looking at wallets and I asked how much and the man told me how much and I told him I buy both if he gives me 5.00 of and he agreed. There was also a cute shoes but I talked myself out of it. How about that....I didn't know until yesterday I can "barter" in the market. I've been paying full price for all the kitchen stuff we got. Oh well, I learned something. Dinner was funny, we went to a sushi restaurant where there's a conveyer going around and you pick what you want Jesse tells me it will be expensive and I said, just once I want to try. We also ordered Udon (fat noodles) soup. lol, I couldn't use the chopstick to get the noodles out of the bowl, it went everywhere, the server (waitress) came to my rescue and gave me fork instead. The term came to mind and I told Jesse, "stupid filipino's (american) ha ha ha. It was really funny, and it wasn't expensive at all, less than $15.00 including tips, we give tips even though it is not necessary.

Driving......don't get me started. Lol, it is insane how people drive here. There are stop lights and lanes, only for suggestions to follow I think. You think L.A. drivers are crazy, come and experience it here and you feel that heaven is so close, you are at the gate. I mean they drive inches away from each other and they cut off each other all the time, I guess that's normal. I told Jesse we are not getting a car. Oh yeah, they have moped drivers...if the light is red, they go on the sidewalk and bypass the light, imagine that. They toot their horn at each other all the time.

Except when they're driving, they are very polite people.

This is only one day's experiences, I will post today's later on which is the opposite of yesterday, so stay tune...

1st week in Korea

Annyung, that's informal hello in Korean.

Lol, just learning a few here and there. I'm having a hard time remembering them (i'm claiming chemo brain still). I am good with hand language and gestures, we understand each other that way. The taxis are okay, I write the address where I want to go and they understand it that way.

You guys have a laugh at me or with me. Tuesday, my second day, I was locked in, Jesse didn't show me how to open the door, so I rigged it and of course the alarm came on. Lol. I didn't panicked, I told you it takes 2 card keys to get in, so I used one of them.

I spent my lock in time cleaning the kitchen, I think the people before us liked to fry everything and didn't clean. The kitchen was full of grime and I am not exaggerating. The cleaning crew didn't get everything out. Oh yeah, I've killed 7 roaches since I got here. I saw one came from the drain. Ewww, no wonder there's roach traps in the kitchen and the bathrooms. Wednesday, I went across the street to shop, it is full of mom and pop stores, from home and kitchen stuff, vegetables (must be garlic season, there's garlic everywhere), fish market, ready made food, restaurants, clothes, shoes, appliances and there's even a small medical and children's dental clinic literally across our building. I came back with what we call take out food, mostly prepared vegetables and not all kim chee. I haven't really been cooking and it is fine by me. Thursday, Jesse and I went to Yongsan Base in Seoul to have me sign in and get my ID. Rode the subway, very interesting, on our way there the subway was decorated with artificial flowers and bushes, very pretty. We walk around "I Park Mall" before going to the Base, it is a very big shopping center i mean big, and several stories high, had lunch there. Didn't buy anything, I have to be in the mood to shop and I was not. We went to downtown Seoul after the Base and walked around a little because I was very tired by then. It was a very exhausting day. Friday was the first time I went to the Base here "Camp Red Cloud" It is a walking distance but I took a taxi to meet Jesse afterwork, I told the taxi driver to take me to CRC main gate, lol, he took me to the back gate. There's a Korean police post next to the American Gate. and the American Gate is manned mostly by Korean. Went to the Commissary and wow it is like a grocery store at home and I was so happy they have cilantro and guess how much 1 avocado cost? Over $3.00. I can't stop laughing. I was buying stuff that I usually buy at home, cleaning stuff mostly. I don't know why I was buying them since there's a cleaning service comes twice a month. Saturday poured heavy rain but it didn't stop us from going out, we went to check out Home Plus, didn't shop much, we just wanted to see it. We lasted only 2 hours. Again, it is all too exhausting for me. Poor Jesse, he has been so patient with me, he likes to go out and walk.

Sunday, was my first to go to Uijeongbu Baptist Church, I guess you could call it a contemporary church unlike our home church in Mesa which I miss especially the people. The people are friendly with mix of Korean and Militaries.

I went to the oncologist this morning by myself and it went okay. I went to St. Mary's Catholic Hospital and it is also a teaching (university) hospital. It is one of the top oncology hospital here, there's also a couple in Seoul, but this is closer. I called them last Friday and they hook me up with an english speaking nurse and they were able to get me today. I went to the International Clinic. The nurse was very apologetic because I waited an hour, i guess just like everywhere else, they are busy, I mean busy. The nurse said it is always like that on Monday and Tuesday. While I was waiting I was talking to a young soldier (barely 21) from Mississippi, he is stationed about 40 minutes away (Camp Casey) and this was the closest big hospital from there and he had an accident last week and had a cut on his right hand. He can't feel his thumb and index finger, we talked pretty much about everything, from food (he doesn't like korean food) and his family. He's been here since December and coming home this coming December and he will be stationed in Ft. Sill, OK. Another young man MP (he is 22) came later and he is getting a lot of migraines. His mother lives in Florida and his father in Sacramento, he lived in Prescott, so he is familiar a little with AZ. He is coming home this August, get married, he will be stationed in GA for 6 months, then to Afghanistan. He particularly didn't care being here, however I told him at least he was able to come and experience and at least know how life here. Both young men were very polite and it was so good to be able to talk to someone and understand them without hand gestures. I met with the oncologist and he is very nice, he recommended me to have a scan. MRI and bone density and I can have my Power Port flush at least every 2 months. He said my aches and pains are from the chemo, it should go away in 3-6 months or could even be a year. ouch!!!!!!!!!!!, all my joints hurts and inside the bone..... He spoke some english and we were able to understand each other, what I couldn't the nurse interpret for me. He told me to continue my cancer prevention meds(hormone) and told me to walk 45 minutes everyday. I laughed at that because I can't hardly move at times, however, I told him and the nurse that I will try. The overall treatment was good, I have no qualms about it.

Here's another laugh at me or with me. I was busy doing this blog before going to the doctor and next thing you know I was late, so I grabbed my purse and went. If I didn't see the surprised look at the lady downstairs, I would have gone out without my hair (wig). Lol...... I am so comfortable without my wig and most times I forget I don't have it on, especially that it is so humid here.

Oh yeah it took me a few days to set up my blog because when I wanted to set it up, my computer change to Korean and Jesse was busy working, so I had to wait for him to help me set it up.

So here it is.........I hope you will enjoy Korea through me. God Bless and thank you all for your prayers.

Phil 4:13

Pictures: 1 mil Korean (money) Won, Shoe store and that's only 1 of them, Jesse with the decorated subway, me and flowers in downtown Uijeoungbu, Jesse at the fishmarket

Vessel

Here is the vessel that took me to South Korea. It is Boeing 747. I observed that most of the ladies flight attendants are young (probably less than 30 yrs. old) and beautiful. Overall the flight was great. It has been 5 days since I arrived and it has been interesting. It is great that I am here with Jesse but still not have an opinion of the place.