So what is it exactly you're accusing me of?

Holding out on you? Because THAT is just NOT true! I just don't know anymore what I have and have not written about. That's the thing. Luckily, I have a little brother who's keeping tabs and acts surprised when I tell him something that happened a while ago, so I must have posted about it. Right? Right.

But apparently I didn't? And understand that if I'm repeating myself, I'm not going to go and read through everything. So some old info could be posted, but I will finish with a new-to-you story of my ruinous Saturday.

So Hetty found a replacement for me! This I am pretty sure I've told you. Hmm. But maybe not. Well, anyway, she found a Canadian to replace me. I can't remember her name-- Marcella? Something like that. I don't know. You'd think I would remember the woman I will adore for helping me out of that place. And I'm working hard to cover pretty much everything for her first two weeks and months so that even after training her, she'll have time to focus on adjusting and teaching, instead of Hetty's incessant paperwork. I found this out about 2-3 weeks ago, hence my certainty that I've mentioned it. When precisely she was coming I couldn't say, because Hetty couldn't say, because paperwork & nonsense.

Now we're into June. On June 1st, Hetty told me she'd gotten and sent over her visa number. So, it could take 2-3 weeks to get that through the embassy, booking, the ticket, etc. So we're thinking/hoping she could be coming... well, Hetty was thinking the 10th, but I'm going to go ahead & put it around the 17th (my notified last day) or so. Since I'll stay until she comes & to train her, again... WAIT, yes I DID tell you all this. Well, oh well. In any event, we're still waiting to hear when she gets here, but hopefully soon.

In other news, I've been going on interviews. So far I've had 2, and they're both after work on my early days, which means I get home at 10 -11 on those days, which sucks. The first one I didn't love the guy when I talked to him, and felt just the same at the interview, so that was easily out. The second owner I liked more, and he was very nice during our interview. It's a very nice looking school (because it was renovated recently), and the owner seems very nice. There are only 2 English teachers (we're called native teachers, which throws me off because native to me means native to where we are, hence it makes me think Korean teachers, but no). Both are men, which hagwons do not want. They want as many women as possible, because of the usual reasons I guess. So they're super eager I work there because of that. Likewise, they basically want to hire you right away. And normally, that is kind of awesome. I loved the ease of getting a job that way in Chile, but in Chile, I was at-will & could work elsewhere or go elsewhere without a thought. Obviously here with contracts that's much trickier. Now that I've been here and been at a place that doesn't work for me, I wish that the schools were a bit more selective. A balance between the US (which is WAYYY too long & irritating a process to get a job) and here, where it's almost too easy. The guy I'd be replacing is a Kiwi, and the remaining guy is a surprisingly cute South African. What worries me about asking the outgoing teacher any questions is the fact that he's a guy, because men just aren't that picky. I know it's a bit different, and the Kiwi is older (or at least looks older than I am), but I always remember in college my roomie's boyfriend Mike was living with a bunch of guys. Mike was a clean-cut guy that I could imagine being clean and neat, but there was a rat in their place that his roomies had named & found amusing. Mike didn't like it, but didn't hate it enough to move out. I feel like men just kind of shrug off shit that I wouldn't be able to.

Still, my other 2 interviews this week are in Seoul, which means the earliest I can get home is 11. Which just really sucks. But, I have to do it to explore my options. I like the one school, but want to see a few more before I decide.

In other news, Saturday I went up to Seoul for a doctor's appointment, and decided to make it a shopping day too because I desperately (I'd say) need sandals, and the largest size the stores in Yongin have is 7.5 or 8. I'm 8.5, which shouldn't make a huge difference, but here it does. Itaewon, the part of Seoul that is full of expats, supposedly has many "plus size" shops, which anyone not Asian is considered. Well great, but I didn't exactly know where those stores were. And even after using a 3-year old blog post with suggestions, I'm not much wiser. Of the 2 places for women, 1 didn't sell shoes or bras (oh, did I mention I need 2? I do, and they only sell A cups here. Which, you don't really NEED a bra for that size, though I guess for "modesty's sake" on a cold day, maybe), and the other only had shoes in Korean sizes. Because why wouldn't it? Which brought me to a Korean store, the ABC Mart, which had bigger sizes only in Berkenstocks. I wanted a beige/tan color because I'd like to wear them with both black & white, but women's Birkenstocks only come in black, white, & silver. I should mention I do not like Birkenstocks at all, but I really need sandals that badly. I settled on a white pair, which have all these stupid ridges whose purpose I don't know, though it feels like I'm walking on stones.

From there, I went & got my apple cider vinegar with the Mother, which is a health thing & you can only get said stuff in Seoul. I had all of that & a big overnight bag because I was going to Aaron's because there's no one else here for me to see, as I've said before. So on to the train I got.

As I was transferring I tripped on the stairs. My bags prevented me from really falling and hurting myself, but not hurting the bags, because when I got up the stairs I notice my big overnight bag was leaking liquid. WTF, I wondered? Taking everything out, it turned out I'd broken the bottle of apple cider vinegar, so my clothes, which were on top, were now soaking in it. And glass. I threw a complete hissy fit in the station, screaming the f-word in various forms rather continually. After dumping (most of) the glass & remaining vinegar, I put my stuff back in & got on my way.

Only to discover once it was too late that the train I'd chosen goes 1 stop off the main line to end, pointlessly I'd say, one station away, while the main line continues another 20 or so stops. This means the painfully slow trip there, getting off the train, waiting 15-20 minutes before it starts back up to go back one station & get back to the main line. I cannot tell you how deeply irritating this was. But given me, I'm sure you can imagine how gracefully I handled it, lol.

Fortunately Aaron bought me a replacement bottle at the Commissary, and then took care of my laundry too. The only thing he didn't take care of was buying wine on his own. I thought of telling him before he went in, but he was already buying me the vinegar, so I didn't, which I regretted as I craved a glass all night.

So, not a nightmare, but a truly trying day nonetheless.

It's Sunday night here, and tomorrow's a holiday, and after Nathalie & I found fresh mint, basil, & cilantro (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) at Emart on Thursday, I made mint & am trying cilantro syrup for a little cocktail party tomorrow. I'll let you know how the cilantro turns out, though I'm not really optimistic, as cilantro needs to be fresh & added after cooking. But we shall see.