So I went to the dr. this am after a “crazy” Halloween night. 

Crazy Halloween Night:

Enter Natasha with jackolatern and lamenated picture of us. 
Natasha wasn’t sure if the teachers could take home the jackolaterns that they made so I am possibly harboring a fugitive pumpkin.
The back of the picture read:  “Happy  Halloween.  Friendz 4 ever or at least until something goes wrong. HEART Tash the African”  Quite poetic.

Open up the Coke (Coca Cola is a no-no in Africa bc… something something…evil to…something i dunno), cookies, slightly burnt popcorn – we don’t have microwaves-, low-fat pringles she brought.

Try watching the world’s worst and  hardly audible movie before putting on Nightmare on Elm Street. 

I’ve never seen it.  So NOW I know who Freddie Couger is and the whole deal with the striped sweater that everyone else has known since the 1980’s.   I think the movie was good.  I kept nodding off. 

Apparently movie ends and I put on something else but I have no idea what.   After a few minutes I tell  Natasha I’m gonna take my famous 5 min. nap up in my loft (Amen Susan! – remember the Mega?).
Enter Saturday. 

Yeeeeeeep.  And that my friends was Halloween. 
If you picture George Costanza saying it in that strong voice of his, it’s quite funny. 

Hmmm…. or maybe Kramer. 

(But I imagine not all of you reference Seinfeld on a daily basis with the exception of Marc Cavella who believes he is a Seinfeld mastermind and rightly so, eh Marc?) I leave it up to YOU, THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT NATION, to vote!!   Costanza or Kramer??!!

This is going to be a close one.  Maybe the highest watched debate in all of history!   (This is the best segway I could come up with to the “I never got an absentee ballot” speech.)  And, Robin I know you’re really just wondering what Newman is up to. 

Yeah, ok.  So off to the dr. on my very own street.  There are so many signs I never even noticed the very unobnoxious sign that says hospital on the top of the building.  (remember hospital/doctor – same thing)  The slowest part of the whole process is the elevator.  I was in and out outta there like that.  (Again I’m picturing an episode where George is saying something to that effect and snapping his fingers left and right… some of you are very lost when I make these references and I hope you find yourselves.) 
The efficiency is AMAZING. 

I walked in without an appt., waited about 3-4 min, and  talked to the dr.  He suggested I get a chest x-ray if I still had symptoms on Tuesday.  I asked (since I figured that was what was going to happen) if we could do it today.  The dr. hands me a piece of paper.  I go downstairs and hand it to some lady.  I sit for another 2 min., pay approx. $10 though the dollar is down so low, go back upstairs and into the x-ray place.  The woman has me come right in and put on a gown.  She said, “Take off your underwear.”  Now she said this AFTER she told me to put on the gown so I’m thinking WHY do I need to take off my underwear?  Not wanting to, I made sure she just meant “up top” underwear otherwise I was in the wrong place!   
*side note – In high school German class my name was Angelika and Jeong thought it sounded like Underwear.  I can’t get into why he’s retarded but ever since Jeong and Handan have been calling me Undie, with related names for my brother and sister: Undoe, Little doe.  Idiots.  Sorry Frau – this is what we really did in German class! haha.  JK.*

The extra takes under a minute and I’m out of that office with the x-ray in hand after about another 3 min.  I then head back into the original room and 2 minutes later I’m back in with the doc.  He shows me the x-ray (let’s hear it for anatomy 101 at Scottsdale Community College) and explains to me that I have bronchitus in my left lung.   Again the man tells me to rest (I had confessed going to school yesterday) until Tuesday.  So I have to go back then.

I called Janet from school who does the scheduling to let her know about the appointment.  She told me she wanted to speak to the dr. so I went back upstairs.  As soon as I get there this couple is leaving his office and he lets me in and gets on the phone with Janet.  Talk about personal care and efficiency!  (And my uh inefficiency to tell the story… my mindless yet humorous details.  You only get it here… or on Seinfeld.  And I’m sure just by talking to some of my friends. haha.) 

The only blunder to all this, aside from having written this blog before walking back across the street to get more medicine which I swear I will do as soon as I finish this) is that there is a little conundrum with school.  You know – the big fish eats the medium fish and the medium fish eats the smaller fish and the smaller fish is me.  The dr. said REST until Tuesday.  School wants me to rest after I complete my classes. 

I never stayed home from school that much as a child.  I know that if I had a fever I stayed home or if I went to the dr. we followed his instructions. 

I don’t blame the school for wanting me there but at the same time if you want me to “please get better” you’re going to have to be patient.  The dr. told me I wouldn’t be all better for about two weeks but he’d see how I was on Tuesday.  Probably if the medicine is working he’ll have me back in the swing of it all.  I know as a kid I had strept (spell check?) throat a lot and maybe bronchitus once or twice but I don’t think I had pneumonia.  And I certainly don’t want to get it as it weakens the heart. 

The big fish, the parents, are sick of having different teachers teaching their kids so they need Aimee Teacher to be there.  The medium fish, the school, wants to make the big fish happy so the medium fish tells the small fish, Aimee, to get to school.  (oh my gosh get it – fish? school? oh i kill myself!) 

What to do?  I’m not worried about the school.  My throat feels so much better and I don’t cough too much but I can tell the cough is a bit deeper.  I’m sure I could go to school just fine and dandy on Monday. But I’m with the doc on this one.  He told me I need confidence him.  Seen many foreign teachers.  Specialize in symptoms. (Yes this line has been checked for grammar.)

Ok so what to do with all this sightseeing time…in my apt? I guess I do have one more outing to the drugstore so let’s go! (pronounced kah-jah!)

-the small fish with tonsalitis and bronchitus swimming in strange strange waters

Home from school… now my Halloween fun can begin.  I’m starting with some ramen noodles and vegetables followed by oranged juice and medicine.  Natasha and I have the ideal Halloween night planned out and it isn’t any extravagent party which I’m sure I could find more than enough of, with all the foreigners out here.

 We are putting on our comfy clothes and watching some scary movies – which all know can be funny when they are too fake!  I can’t wait.

Ok so school blah blah blah… I’ve taken a small memory card of picutres.  Basically I went to the store last night even though I was supposed to stay at home and bought a few things because my room needed it.  Then this am I decorated like crazy with the help of Eunice and Bella. 

I hopped into my Japanese kimono and walked around saying hi to parents and kids. 

Then… off the haunted house – where I made my first mistake.  Wait – that was actually my second error of the day.

The first error came with a man on second and third.  Seriously though folks.  I’ve told  you that when I look outside my window it’s really hard to tell what the weather is or what time of day it is.  I figured it would be cold so I wore a long sleeved t-shirt with a hoodie sweater over it and a scarf. Since I was being Japanese (even though we put on slippers anyway) I wore my little black Asian flats.  When I got downstairs I thought, “Jolly good.  It’s raining.  My body LOVES me.”  With no time to spare I dodged puddles all the way to the bus.

So on to my second error.  The haunted house.  Well really it was more like a short tunnel but we made some kids cry so that was cool.  haha.  It was however IDIOTIC of me to make monster noises.  Let’s hope that it doesn’t have a big effect.  We had ghost masks on, the ones that were made popular by the movie “Scream”. 

Then there was a lot of walking around while kids did crafts and parents made scarecrows.  Followed by the constart lining up of children for singing. 

The doctor had said rest and avoid cold.  I opted to act like Godzilla stomping in the rain after little people.  I deserve to be on my death bed right now.  Alas.  

After staff photos I went home.  I wasn’t supposed to be at school anyways so I literally ran all the way to the bus stop and made it just in time.  Ellie called when I was home to see where I went.  She reminded me to do comments which everyone is doing at home this week and  told me mine could be Halloween themed since I only taught two days this week (today no classes thank goodness!)  I also have to finish up my lesson plan since I was out.  I’ll have that done this weekend.

Korean culture is a very sharing culture… except when it comes to say maybe block time. haha.  When Korean people eat they order one thing that everyone puts their chopsticks into, etc., etc., etc.  I can’t say this about ever aspect because I only see eating and block time pretty much.  I’m not an expert out here just yet. 

While as teachers, we encourage sharing, there are times when NOT sharing is also a good idea.  Like when it comes to germs.  Say coughing or say drinking Aimee Teacher’s drink.  Brittskys – you’re gonna love this one. 

I had walked back into the teachers’ room really thirsty for my vitamin C.  I brought a giant thing of OJ with me today.  Someone had put my stuff back on my desk including the OJ and people ASSUMED that it was for everybody.  Plus they finished it off.  Now hopefully these people after drinking out of a bottle with tonsalitis inhabitants, will not in turn get a bad cold or tonsalitis themselves.    NEVER ASSUME.  It makes an A** out of you and me.  (mom, dad – i hope that wasn’t too much profanity for you. Thanks.)

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!  I’ve only had a tootsie roll pop!

-blonde haired girl in kimono

A long time coming: Phillies win the World Series

By BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer 33 minutes ago

Rains smears paint on a car wi…
AP – Oct 28, 4:42 pm EDT

Water covers seats in Citizens…
AP – Oct 28, 4:38 pm EDT

Wind blows standing water on t…
AP – Oct 28, 4:35 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—From losingest team to longest game, the Philadelphia Phillies are World Series champions.

Strange as that sounds.

Strange as it was.

Brad Lidge and the Phillies finished off the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in a three-inning sprint Wednesday night to win a suspended Game 5 nearly 50 hours after it started.

Left in limbo by a two-day rainstorm, the Phillies seesawed to their first championship since 1980. Pedro Feliz singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh and Lidge closed out his perfect season to deliver the title Philly craved for so long.

“It was a crazy way to win it with a suspended game but we did and it’s over and we’re very excited,” 45-year-old Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer said. “It has been a long wait, but it’s worth it.”

Bundled in parkas and blankets, fans returned in force to Citizens Bank Park and saw the city claim its first major sports championship in 25 years. No more references needed to those sad-sack Phillies teams in the past and their 10,000-plus losses.

Series at a Glance

vs.

Phillies win series 4-1

1. Game 1: at TAMPHI 3, TAM 2 – FinalRecap | Box Score
2. Game 2: at TAMPHI 2, TAM 4 – FinalRecap | Box Score
3. Game 3: at PHITAM 4, PHI 5 – FinalRecap | Box Score
4. Game 4: at PHITAM 2, PHI 10 – FinalRecap | Box Score
5. Game 5: at PHITAM 3, PHI 4 – FinalRecap | Box Score

“They could taste it just as much as we could,” Series MVP Cole Hamels said.

It was among the wackiest endings in baseball history, a best-of-seven series turned into a best-of-3 1/2 showdown when play resumed in the bottom of the sixth inning tied at 2.

How bizarre? Hamels was a star in Game 5—and the ace never stepped on the mound Wednesday night; Two Rays relievers warmed up to start, and there was a pinch-hitter before a single pitch; “God Bless America” was sung rather than the national anthem, and it was quickly followed by the seventh-inning stretch.

All because the game was suspended Monday night after rain made the field into a quagmire, washing out the foul lines, creating a puddle at home plate and turning every ball an adventure. Commissioner Bud Selig eventually called it— he got booed when he presented the MVP trophy to Hamels.

For Philly, it was more than a World Series win. It was a bit of redemption for all the losses, the jokes, the slights.

Finally, something to celebrate.

How much did Philly fans want a champion to call its own?

Well, the sports hero they point to with the most pride isn’t even a real person—Rocky Balboa.

Yo, Adrian … the Phillies did it!

“It’s over,” shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. “It’s over, man.”

Lidge went 48-for-48 on save chances this year, including two this week. He retired two batters with a runner on second, striking out pinch-hitter Eric Hinske to end it.

Lidge jumped in front of the mound, landing on his knees with arms outstretched. Catcher Carlos Ruiz ran out to grab him, and teammates sprinted to the mound to join them as towel-waving fans let loose.

“At first, I couldn’t believe it. And then the gravity of what happened hit me,” Lidge said.

A generation ago, it was Tug McGraw who went wild when the Phillies won their first title. A few days after country singer Tim McGraw scattered his dad’s ashes on the mound, it was Lidge’s turn to throw the final pitch.

Despite low TV ratings and minus the majors’ most glamorous teams, fans will always remember how this one wrapped up. And for the first time in a long while, kids saw a World Series champion crowned before bedtime.

“I believe this firmly, our guys are not going to be satisfied without playing in October from now on,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “And that’s a good thing. And that’s all because of this group of people this year.”

Reliever J.C. Romero got the win, his second of the Series.

Hamels went 4-0 in five postseason starts, beating the Rays in Game 1 and pitching six sharp innings in the rain during Game 5. He was set to be the first batter when the game resumed, and was immediately pulled for a pinch-hitter.

While former NL MVPs Ryan Howard and Rollins drive the Phillies, it was their less-heralded teammates who helped win it on this chilly night.

Tied at 3, Pat Burrell led off the seventh with a drive off the center-field wall against J.P. Howell. Chad Bradford relieved and one out later Feliz singled home pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett.

Rocco Baldelli’s solo home run off Ryan Madson made it 3-all in the top of the seventh. The Rays almost got more, but All-Star second baseman Chase Utley alertly bluffed a throw to first on a grounder over the bag and instead threw out Jason Bartlett at the plate.

Pinch-hitter Geoff Jenkins, the first batter Wednesday night, doubled and later scored on Jayson Werth’s bloop single.

Mud covers an on deck batting …
AP – Oct 28, 5:35 pm EDT

In all, there were six new pitchers, three pinch-hitters and two pinch-runners when play restarted.

Manager Charlie Manuel, whose NL East champions clinched a playoff spot in the final week, guided the Phillies’ second overall championship in six World Series tries. The Phils helped themselves by going 7-0 at home this postseason, beating Milwaukee and the Dodgers in the NL playoffs and then defeating the Rays.

“I always thought we’d win the World Series. I knew we could beat anyone in the league,” Manuel said.

Once known as a city of champions, Philadelphia sports fell on hard times after Julius Erving and Moses Malone led the Sixers to that 1983 title.

Since then, the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers and Flyers made it to the championship game or round—seven times, in total—and lost all of them.

The city became so starved for a crown that it was ready to throw a parade down Broad Street for a horse. But local colt Smarty Jones lost, too, in his bid for the Triple Crown.

A tarp covers the infield in C…
AP – Oct 28, 4:46 pm EDT

“People enjoy being associated with winning and a world championship is the ultimate,” Mike Schmidt, MVP of the Phillies’ other championship, wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press this week. “It unites a town behind one team.”

Cheesesteaks, on the house.

Tampa Bay did itself proud, too, until this final week. Baseball’s best success story this season, the worst-to-first Rays played like the downtrodden Devil Rays from the past decade.

Even so, the gap between the Phils and Rays wasn’t enormous. Had Evan Longoria’s late, long drive off Jamie Moyer in Game 3 not been blown back by the wind, the teams might still be playing.

Notes

The World Series failed to make it to a Game 6 for the fifth straight year, the first time that’s happened. … Burrell went 1-for-14 in the five games. … Howell put down the first sacrifice bunt of his career.

TONSALITIS.

 Alas I am a victim of Murphy’s Law.  Everything and anything will go wrong at the worst possible time.

 I think the part that bothers me the most is that the school might be blaming me for getting sick.  They had told me to go to the hostpial a few times and I’m thinking the hospital for a stupid cold?  That’s ridiculous.  Apparently out here hostpial and doctor are one in the same.  They should educate themselves on the difference. 

Honestly they have been really nice and kept telling me how all the teachers were worried about me.  I love my job a lot so it’s just really bad timing for all of this. 

I’ve been having little sniffles and a teeny cough for the past few weeks but just your little common cold.  So does everyone at work.  Kids coughing all over the place and being absent. 

Andrea had advised me that as someone in a new school and espeically in a new country with a whole set of new germs I should really go to the pharmacy and get something.  On Monday I left school early with the intention of doing that but fell asleep.  Tuesday I battled through the day (had a slight fever ) and went home as soon as I finished classes.  I then went directly to the pharmacy and got something to take.  I wanted to see how much better I got with the medicine before I went to the dr.   Before this week it was just little sniffles, sniffles that everyone has!!

 My conscience was in a knot when I finally decided not to go to school yesterday (I had wanted to pull and high school record of no absenses but then I thought if you don’t rest you’re gonna keep being sick).  I figured I’d see what the medicine did for me before going into the dr. 

Last night Andrea advised me that if I were going to school to I should have someone take me to the dr. first and so I went to the dr. around 10 am.  It turns out it’s right down the street from my apt.  It was there I was told that I had tonsalitis and that I was to rest in bed for the next two days.  Oh this sooo doesn’t fit in with my schedule! 

They wanted to do a chest x-ray but they never did ask how deep my cough was.  It actually isn’t very deep at all so the dr. said I could wait and see what the medicine did by Saturday.  Last time I had x-rays and whatnot  I wracked up 3 grand.  (Of course I had quit my job at the very same hopspital ironcially and was out of insurance at the time.  Def. my bad!)  Here they pay half of my health insurance.   

Kudos to Korean doctors though.  I’m not sure if we even made an appt.  They were so efficient with like 4 lines of paperwork so in a sense no paperwork and the dr. actually explained things to me… like you have white stuff on your tonsils from a virus.  If only we could be like that in America!

They (school) still want me to come into work tomorrow to decorate my classroom despite the dr. telling me to stay home.  I’m sure I’ll be ok and I TOTALLY HAVE TO DECORATE IT!  This major Halloween shin-dig is tomorrow and my classroom is screwed if I don’t get it done!  How disappiointed with the kids and parents be. 

Luckily I’ve been bringing home crafts with me to work on, not that I have touched any of it but I think I will today.  I HAVE TO. 

I’m sorry to have to vent but I was just a bit offended about the thought that I brought this upon myself.  I wouldn’t even have considered a doctor if not two days before so it’s not like I put it off till I was hacking up a lung.  I’ve had many coughs in my time and no tonsalitis.  Ok i’m gonna “let sleeping dogs lie” – whichever teacher taught me that phrase back in the day… I just used it!

Mom and everyone who worries, I’m frickin fine.  Just pray I don’t trash Halloween.  Sucks to be sick for one of my favorite holidays on top of it all. 

I do feel a little less guilty bc when I stayed home I was actually sick. I don’t like staying home if I can tough it out.  Kind of like my dad. 

Ok so off to craft hell I go!  Some OJ, ramen noodle soup and plenty of water. 

Aimee

PS I must say it can be kind of annoying to be sick in another country and to communicate your symptoms and whatnot.  I could have sworn Ellie sounded a bit annoyed.  She’s like are you listening?  I’m thinking lady I’m frickin listening.  haha.  I just can’t exactly shout back at you with my crappy voice right now. 

I received an article from my concerned old roomie Jacob this am – though he just probably wants to prove me wrong – that indeed I am going to get blown up out here.  And if I do get blown up I will blame my other roomie Dave because he told me to go for it!  hehe.  Haha just kidding guys! 

Jacob, I am glad that you’re all healed up from your summer accident and playing sports again.  I was happy to help out and now appreciate your “help” – aka concern. I’m not actually worried since these two countries ended the 1950-53 conflict on the peninsula in an armistice and have been hating ever since.  The hating will probably continue but I don’t think I have to worry about decapitation.  I probably face more dangers as a Yankee fan.  haha.

Here is the article:

NKorea threatens to turn SKorea into ‘debris’

Tue Oct 28, 8:28 am ET

AFP – South Korean activists release balloons loaded with propaganda leaflets to float across the border into …

• Slideshow: North Korea

SEOUL (AFP) – North Korea, angry at a leaflet campaign by Seoul groups urging the overthrow of its leader, accused South Korea on Tuesday of planning a pre-emptive strike and threatened to reduce it to “debris” in retaliation.

The North’s military said it would use a “more powerful and advanced” strike of its own if South Korea launched a pre-emptive strike.

“The puppet authorities (Seoul) had better bear in mind that the advanced pre-emptive strike of our own style will reduce everything… to debris, not just setting them on fire,” it said in a statement carried by the state news agency, KCNA.

“It will turn out to be a just war… to build an independent reunified state on it.”

The North’s military described its pre-emptive capability as “beyond imagination, relying on striking means more powerful than a nuclear weapon”.

The 1.1 million-strong military has for years deployed hundreds of conventional missiles targeting the South.

Relations between the two nations have been frosty for months.

But the latest warning, in unusually strong language, was in response to the actions of South Korean activists and defectors , who have launched balloons carrying tens of thousands of leaflets across the heavily fortified border.

On Monday, activists launched more than 40,000 leaflets from a boat near the eastern sea border.

These urged North Koreans to rise up against leader Kim Jong-Il, whom they described as a “murderous” dictator, and repeated claims that he suffers from paralysis following a stroke in mid-August.

Kim’s health is an especially sensitive subject in the hardline communist state, which gives its citizens only official information.

Pyongyang has complained before about South Korean reports that Kim suffered a stroke for which he needed brain surgery.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday in Tokyo Kim is likely in hospital but is still capable of making decisions.

The military warned it would take “resolute practical action” if the South pursues a “confrontational racket” by spreading leaflets and conducting a smear campaign “with sheer fabrications”.

It did not elaborate on the action. At military talks Monday the North repeated threats to evict South Koreans from the Kaesong joint industrial complex unless Seoul stops the cross-border leaflets.

Tuesday’s statement rejected Seoul’s arguments that it cannot stop such actions in a democracy. It said the leaflet launches were masterminded by the South’s spy agency.

The statement warned of a “total severance” of relations unless the conservative South Korean government respects summit accords reached with previous liberal Seoul governments in 2000 and 2007.

“The warning is not empty words because the North’s military will never tolerate slandering its leader,” Koh Yu-Hwan, a Dongkuk University professor, told AFP.

“North Korea may take strong military action or a limited military clash is always possible,” he said.

The North’s government newspaper Minju Josun said last week the launch of leaflets could trigger accidental border clashes which could develop into a full-scale military confrontation.

North Korea has already cut almost all official contacts with Seoul since President Lee Myung-Bak took office in February and adopted a tougher stance on cross-border ties.

After their first summit in 2000, the two nations agreed to halt government-level propaganda, a feature of the Cold War era.

But Seoul-based private groups have continued their leaflet drops, despite pleas from the South Korean government and from factory operators in Kaesong to stop the practice.

Unification ministry spokesman Kim Ho-Nyoun renewed the plea on Tuesday but but private groups said they would again float about 100,000 leaflets in a week.

The two Koreas have remained technically at war since the 1950-53 conflict on the peninsula ended only in an armistice.

I know SERIOUS blog slacking…I had a rainy Saturday and it was the best. 

Natasha (South Africa)  and I watched movies like all day when I came back from visiting my pseudo family that morning.  (Yes I’ve made friends with a Korea family.)  We watched a South African film but I totally loved the British movie, “Death at a Funeral” which came out last year!  Hilarious dark humor!!  Go for it – check it out!  (It has the one kid from Love Actually and Peter the Pirate from Dodgeball in it.) 

Later we met up for dinner and desert and whatnot with Dyanne (from Texas whom I had befriended on the subway- you know me). 

We had Mexican food and of course the picture I pointed to was not what I got, though good nonetheless.  The cheese on top of this pasta however totally killed my stomach with the grease and I laid claim to the bathroom.  Ooofff.  I grabbed a fist full of napkins because the last public toilet I was in didn’t have any!  BYOTP!   

Then it was back to Natasha’s for a couple more movies including an American movie called “Meet Bill”. 

On Sunday after finally unpacking my suitcases of clothes and actually putting them in my closets (bought something to line the drawers because I was a bit shady about the cleanliness)  I met up with Natasha again and we went to Samsung Plaza a few subway stops away.- same place we were the night before. 

It’s this big mall with stores outside of it as well  Our mission – get to the bookstore with the English section.  We took a little while to find it.  Along the way I saw some girl wearing a sweatshirt that said, “New Jersey Garden State”.  I actually stopped the girl and her friend and tried to explain that I was from NJ.  I proceeded to make the girl have her picture taken.  She seemed quite confused and kind of like ok psycho… can you get away from me now- but like I care. 

Natasha and I made a “major investment” that day.  We both bought a work book with cd called “korean made easy for beginners.” 

 Yes we are determined to learn this frickin language since it’s so easy to get by without knowing much.  As you know at school we are forced to make the kids only speak English and I usually only see the Korean teachers at work.  Their main focus isn’t on teaching Aimee believe it or not… they actually dedicate themselves to the kids. The nerve! haha. 

Now I’m not going to get into how Koreans wear English writing on their shirts without a clue what it means.  I thought I was creative in taking pictures of bad grammar or phrases that make no sense (for a future blog) but it turns out that there is a t-shirt store in Seoul for foreigners along the lines of “Do you know what your English T-shirt says?”  I can’t wait to go! It’s so true!

I left school early today with a fever 38.8 degrees Celcius…

But I was a champion and stayed for all my classes.  Luckily I didn’t have any afternoon classes but it totally sucks because I missed out on a few hours of Halloween prep time!  Bad timing.  Grrr.  I want my classroom to look good… so I really NEED to feel better by tomorrow!! 

Halloween is a big to-do on Friday with the parents coming for a BBQ and to see the school and watch the kids sing.  I believe I’m going to be one of the ghosts in the haunted house.  Watch out Bristol – I’m gonna scare the crap out of you! MWAH HA HA HA. 

Today I think the kids actually behaved better because Aimee teacher was sick.  I couldn’t even talk that well and layed down in the playroom during my free period. 

As for blog slacking I have taken so many pictures.  This weekend especially.  And on our on field trip to the transportation museum. I will get on that.  Sucks that this site wont load them from my home computer.  I will catch up on it if not this week then this weekend for sure!  Halloween is on Friday and I’m a bit nervous for how crappy my classroom is gonna be.  At least I started putting black paper on the windows. 

It really was a frickin effort to get through the day.  Oh my gosh!  I’m trying not to take any sick time unless I’m like dying.  It’s just a cold but with  a fever it kinda sucked. 

I don’t think it was too bad but I got home around 3 pm and went to the pharmacy with a note form school with my symptoms and handed it to them and they just gave me some medicine.  Actually today I def. was the most sick. 

When I woke up at 5 pm I think that my fever must have gone up because the back of my tshirt was wet as was my hair.  It’s 9:30 pm and I’m a bit better now!  Natasha called to see if I was ok and to invite me to dinner tomorrow if I’m up to it.  Normally I’d be chatting it up because she is awesome and finally I’ve found a friend who reminds me of you good people at home.  Plus she thinks Seinfeld is hilarious.  However it took me a lot of effort just for that call.  But I digress. 

I brought home work to do today and yesterday (aka Halloween decorations) but haven’t done anything.  Yesterday I also left right after my last afternoon class – well tried to but I must have missed the bus by a minute and so went home on the next one, when the foreigners leave.  I’ve been staying till as close to 6 pm as I can lately so I can get things done. I was supposed to go to the pharmacy yesterday but went I got home to get money I decided a 5 min. nap would be ok.  Yeah right Aimee.  I woke up at 1:25 am.  Stayed awake for about 40 minutes and then slept till 7 am.  Lovely. 

Apparently all the teachers were concerned about me at work today and wanted me to go to the hospital.  Oh ha ha ha – no!  It’s just a cold!  Andrea says that it happens when you work at a school with all the kids and that I’m especially not used to all the “new” germs out here in Asia.  I hope my immune system will pick up.  Part of my lesson yesterday and today dealt with COVERING YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU COUGH.  This was a win-lose situation.  Some kids covered their mouths while other kids just tried coughing with wide open mouths for no other reason than the fact that I mentioned it. 

Thank you Hondo for telling me I was a slacker and making me write back to your email which I was able to use for this blog! 

Hope all is well with all of you and MOM – DO NOT WORRY! 

Peace in the middle east.

Aimee

PS really didn’t proof read this.  Ah well.

Ok really really briefly because it is Sunday night and I need to get home.

1. THE PARENTS – Bristol was watched on the TV last Thursday and Cambridge on Friday.  The parents were ok with me… meaning I didn’t actually get any extremely negative comments so I was happy.  They did say that I only used one tone (usually loud bc they are always talking!) and that  I was teaching a little above their level.

2. THE FIX – Ellie had me watch my own classes (yuck! I’m like I had to teach this and that was exhausting… now watch it?!) We decided that my greeting time and certain things were redundant and too boring.  (I’m like I AGREE!)  I am implementing more games and arts and crafts.  Oh man… they takes a lot of time… making all that stuff.

3. BURNT OUT – Last Friday I was so exhausted from Bristol the day before that I don’t think I did as well as I could have with Cambridge.  By the end of the day I was thinking GET ME OUT OF HERE.  I was a little sick and quite annoyed so I left a half hour early.  I went home and went to bed. 

4. NICE PEOPLE – Andrea and Justine came by later and gave me the following presents since they know how I usually just like rice at school:  nachos, nacho cheese sauce which is hard to find (from Daniel actually), salsa (“People like to say Salsa” – Seinfeld), a bottle of rice wine and a bottle of soju that I almost mistakened for regular water!  Oh no!  Stil haven’t had soju but I need to prep myself for that. 

5. MY BAD – The girls planned to take me out to dinner and then a bar later that night but I was so out of it I called and canceled.  The next morning I felt terrible about it.  I felt like crap most of my birthday… but then it got better!

6. MY BIRTHDAY!  – skipping this for a second…

7.  THIS PAST WEEK – My teaching really improved and Bristol was good as well as Cambridge of course I still have a few awful classes with Cambridge, one of which I screamed so loud that I had to turn around to keep from laughing at the kids’ reactions.  They shut up. And not just for a couple seconds.  They SHUT UP.  JJ’s mom (our biggest critic) came to randomly observe class on Friday but I believe Ellie showed her an old tape because they were behaving badly again. 

8.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Halloween but it’s a little bit of pressure this year!  We have to decorate our classrooms and THE PARENTS are coming to look so now it’s like a stupid contest to keep the parents happy.  We actually are having a friendly contest between classrooms but that’s for fun.  I have been so busy trying to stay as late as I can at school.  I have hardly any Halloween stuff done!!  AAAAHHHHHHH!  There’s going to be a big BBQ with the parents and the kids on Halloween.  Each grade has to sing a song and I made up the words to ours (for the “5” year olds).  It’s to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”. 

9.  MY BIRTHDAY! – I am now 28 years old.  I went to visit a family I’ve befriended and they surprised me with a cake.  That afternoon I went to sleep because I felt like junk. haha Who says that?  Around 6 pm I went over to Andrea’s and we chatted and talked about plans for the evening since I hadn’t made it out the night before. 

We ended up in Seoul in a place pronounced EE-tay-won which has a lot of “foreigners” as we are called.  I met a bunch of people from different places and got their facebook addresses so maybe some time we can meet up.  I feel like I haven’t made too much of an effort to meet people yet.  I know there is plenty of time. 

First we went to a bar called Scrooges which is where I went my first weekend here.  We met up Justine and Kath and Natasha who were already there and a few other people we knew.  They had been at some South African Braai all day so they were not in the best shape. haha.   Andrea and I thought we’d have to leave real early to take Justine home but she ended up staying out with me until 9 am when we got home!  Yes 9 am!  We made friends with a guy from the Bronx and a guy from Scottland and some other people and wound up at a Korea (well what else could it be?) McD’s where we scarfed down some fat. 

When I got home I went to sleep… then later met a couple friends for dinner and Haagen Daas icecream!  YUM! 

10.  THE MOVIES – I met up with Natasha (South African) one night this week in Ori, one subway stop over from me, and we had dinner and then went to the movies.  I ADORE THE MOVIES and it “only” cost $7 which is technically good since American is trying to make you pay $9 or $10.  Such BS. 

We saw The Duchess with Kiera Knightly and it was awesome. Apparently a true story about the Dutchess of…. oh of course I forgot!  It was sad, a little funny, a little “gross” (right Natasha??!!) and I’d say overall well done.  (Brooke – you’d like it!!  Brooke and I got really into the Queen Elizabeth era right before I left…)

I went to (dinner) the movies again on Friday night and saw Eagle Eye which seemed really good.  Seemed = I kept drifting off until a loud explosion or something happened. haha. 

Yesterday was pretty lazy and today I visited my pseudo family and then headed home for a nap.   After the nap I got on the subway to visit Ashely and got to her building about an hour ago but since she didn’t answer I’m here at the internet cafe (PC place).  I’m gonna try one more time to see if she’s there and then head home… stopping at Natasha’s on the way back. 

Oh so exciting.  haha – I hope to have more to tell you.  Lately I’ve just been exhausted with school and a slight cold. 

WAIT WAIT – I do have some exciting news… 99% sure I’m going to Thailand for Christmas!!

Out like a fat girl in dodgeball.

Aimee

Right now I have to skip it all… the results of teaching Cambridge and Bristol when the parents were here, my birthday weekend, the beginning of my 6th week. I must skip it ALL and tell you about what JUST happened.

And that my friends was a miracle.  With a little hard work from me.

Bristol was VERY GOOD TODAY!  “SO GOOD SO GOOD SO GOOD!” (name that song…)

This is quite an important victory because I was getting very discouraged.  

Here’s the exact email I wrote to Handan on Monday:
“dude I am so f*ckin fed up with teaching.”  
Yup – that was the email in its entirety.  Handan can attest to that.

There will be more details but I’d have to backtrack so for right now (almost time to see with my Bristol kids for lunch) I’ll make it brief.  Let’s just say I tried a different teaching style and it worked on Cambridge yesterday and just now Bristol.

Once upon a time there was a misbehaved class of animes called Bristol.  Their teacher Aimee was very discouraged.  LUCKILY one day the kids told her how very proud they were of the fact that Eunice Teacher had said they were good all morning.  She used this opening to see who could be good with her. Then an idea struck.  The naughty list.  

Belle Teacher is notorious with the kids as the strict one and Aimee Teacher told them if they misbehaved their names would go on the board and be showed to Belle Teacher and Eunice Teacher and Ellie Teacher.  Oh yeah – you do not want to mess with the list! 

She didn’t decide to refer to it as the naughty list until she was pretty much done with class but that is what it will be called.  (I’m laughing to myself thinking of the movie Elf and his reaction to  his dad being on the naughty list! HAHAH. )

NO ONE was put on the naughty list.  NO ONE.  And when class was over the kids were proudly telling Eunice Teacher that Aimee Teacher said they were good.  It was beautiful.  Aimee Teacher wanted to write that before anything ruined the moment.  Like someone throwing a big fat pink crayon at her eye (which had happened yesterday). 

Aimee teacher thought THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!!  He must have heard her screaming and noticed her revolver tucked away. haha JK. 

I promise to back track about everything and put A LOT of pictures up!! 

Till later,

Aimee Teacher

*Picture: Lucy*

“Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you’re here not there
And you’d give anything to get what’s fair
But fair ain’t what you really need
Oh, can you see what I see”
-One Republic Lyrics 

I just got home from school.  It’s 6:30 pm and I’ve never stayed this late.  Bella, one of the Korean teachers, was a total sweetheart and volunteered to drive me home since I had to stay.  I guess the office usually closes at six but I stuck around until 6:15 pm.  Tomorrow the mothers of the kids in Bristol, my class of flying monkeys, are coming to observe me.   They will sit in a room with their eyes fixed on me and their OWN child ready to critique; claws out and teeth snarling. 

*Picture: Justin*

 I brought Bristol into Cambridge’s class today so we could watch how they do show and tell.  It was helpful to see how another teacher does it.  After Bristol finished their turn, my partner-teacher, Eunice, said, “This is not good to watch.”  And she was right.  They are so less disciplined than Cambridge. 

And that’s the story of how show and tell has been eliminated from tomorrow’s curriculum. 

*Picture: Jaslyn*

Honestly, when I went back into the teacher’s room by myself my eyes were tearing.  I haven’t cried in a long time.  Not from falling on my elbow like an idiot when jogging at home this summer – TWICE!  Not from having the airport mess up my flight back to AZ.  Not for being alone in a new country.  Not for mixing up my bus.  Not for missing the people I love most in the world.  (Ok I once teared when I heard “Silver Bells” because I knew for the first time in my life I would not be home for Christmas.  But that wasn’t crying.  Glassy eyes.) 

Here’s the deal.  The mothers kind of “run things.”  And apparently each class has their leader mom (or moms) who basically threatens the school that she will remove her child and that everyone else will follow her example.  Nice, huh?  Many things get done this way.  A  new playground is being put up (that’s positive) but they changed American movie time (which is only up to 25 min. right after lunch) because ONE parent complained. 

*Picture: JJ*

Ironically in Bristol I was told that JJ and Philip’s mothers are the really critical ones.  JJ and Philip happen to be two of my biggest ADHD cases and have been sent out to into the hallway several times.  So this should certainly be interesting. 

When I was told the parents would be coming a week or so ago, John (who hired me) and Ellie(vice director) told me it was this huge deal.  If the parents didn’t like what I was doing they would keep coming back to complain until they were satisfied.  The school is a business and of course they have to do best to keep their customers happy.  However today Ellie saw me rushing around, preparing my lesson, and told me not to stress.   The Korean teachers were very caring.  It was quite sweet. 

I wasn’t stressing.  Well just for a little while and then it passed.  But when I was stressed I’m sure it showed in my eyes.   Luckily I have a little runny nose so I was able to tissue that up just fine.  Most of it was rushing around because I had so much to do!!  Allow me to explain. 

*Picture: Philip*

To impress the parents I assumed the role of Queen of Crafts.  I am literally making 20 lamenated paper dolls.  The students will dress the dolls so that means 20 pairs of pants (lamenated of course) with velcro attached to them.  (I had to make one of myself to demonstrate.)  I also made shoes and shirts, as well as an actual lamenated picture of each student’s head.  

Why am I writing in the present tense about these dolls I have made?  Oh well maybe because THEY AREN’T FINISHED! Tonight’s party will not feature soju (a strong rice alcohol which Korea is known for) but a glue gun and lots of paper dolls.  It’s gonna be a doozy!  BYOS – Bring your own scissors.  *Boom boom chish*

*Picture: Danny*

Why this activity?  Well, we are starting a new story about getting dressed.   Normally I would just print out colorful pictures and draw on the board but not this time! 
The story goes something like:

“Getting dressed is what I like the best”
“because I can do it all by myself”
“Look I am putting on my trousers” (not that anyone actually says trousers… well maybe in England?)
“Blah blah blah…”
“Look I’m putting on my socks” (only I made shoes – sorry kids.)
“yada yada yada…”
“Look I’m putting on my shirt”
And probably to my horror
“Look I’m putting a crayon in my nose and a chair on my head. Look at me!!”

*Picture: Johann*

Because of the way we pick up the children in the morning with the buses and because we usually have to leave the school by 5:15 pm, we can’t really go early or stay late to catch up on any work that can’t be done at home or during breaks.  Unfortunately today I had two after school classes so that took up a lot break time.  (I have one afternoon class on Monday and now one on Friday has been added.  But that’s not really important right now.)

*Picture: Kelly*

Before I left, Ellie had me look at the TV the parents will be watching.  Cambridge is not too bad about sitting in their seats.  They actually listen to me for the most part.  Roy is usually the only one who likes to wander around.  (Roy for the record, is so goofy and sweet that he doesn’t actually make you mad.) 

Today one of my Cambridge kids said, “Teacher I’m hot.” I replied, “Well take off your jacket.”  And of course EVERY kid who had a jacket on took theirs off and walked to their locker.  Monkey see monkey do.  That can’t happen tomorrow because it doesn’t look good. 

*Picture: Ian*

As we fast-forwarded through the class I laughed because if you watched the children’s hands they were fiddling like crazy.   We also learned a song about an owl and acted it out, dancing around the room.  It was pretty funny really. Here are the words (in some funny British accent):
   
    “Here’s a wise old owl
     with two fluffy ears
     a pointed beak
     and claws so clear
     She sits in a tree
     and looks at you
     Then she flaps her wings 
      and says whoo whoo
chrorus: whoo whooooooooo, whoo whoooooooooo” (Repeat)

I know you’re thinking, “Well I don’t believe this sh*t.”  That goes out to my Scary Movie 3 fans… you know who you are.  And you’d better be laughing!  Seriously though, who ever thought I would be doing something like this??!!  Funny the places life takes you.

*Picture: Jun*

And now to spread even more cheese…

I called this post “stop and stare” because that’s what you have to do sometimes.  (That and I’m really liking this new song.)

Amidst all the hustle and bustle in life you have to stop and think.  Look around you.  And appreciate whatever it is that has been thrown at you.  Life isn’t always fair but you need to deal with it nonetheless. 

Lately I have been having these little moments of happiness out of nowhere.  Just because.  You know those times when you feel like right now, at this very moment, I am truly happy. 

*Picture: Aimee Teacher*

Monday was especially rewarding and I wish I had blogged about it then.
On Monday, Cambridge was good.  Not much of a shock.
On Monday, Bristol was good.  I was giddy. 
And talked about it with all the teachers and Ellie. 

I feel like I am bonding with the students and I think things like this just take time.  Learning takes time.  Learning to teach takes time.  And I’m ok with that now.    I had forgotren that today when I was disappointed in Bristol and in myself.  Patience. From them and from me. 

So all of you, please take a moment each day to stop and stare. 

“one side of what and the other side of what?” asked Alice.  “of the mushroom,” said the catepillar as he blew smoke in Alice’s face.

 Ok where am I going with this?  Flashback to Thursday night (key “dreamy going to the past” music)

After work I got my haircut, slightly styled, shampooed and dryed for $13!! 
I then hurried home to finish my weekly comments on my students but instead wrote my last post. Oh wait – you thought I did my comments?  I did.  THREE FRICKIN TIMES.  But they finally showed me what the actually wanted and so I got that done and met my friends a little after 8 pm.  By my friends I mean Andrea and Justine AND Angus whom I hardly ever see except briefly in school.  He actually lives two doors down from me but has a second teaching job and is always gone wakeboarding on the weekends.  Here that Jacob – you can WAKEBOARD out here and there’s no plate glass!  (For those who don’t know, Jacob was my most recent roomate along with Dave.  In a nutshell he thinks that North Korea is going to kill me.  But if North Korea attacks the US then I’m safe!  So there.)  

Back to Angus.  He was also the one that gave me the ride on his motorcycle that one time I got mixed up about my bus to school.  (enough recapping)  Angus is from Canada and is in his 4th year here.  He’s 30, turning 31 right after I turn the big 28 on Saturday!  Snap!  We were supposed to go for dinner but somehow we skipped that and went to a bar called WOODSTOCK.  This made more sense than what Andrea had told me earlier.  No way we were gonna make it back to the 1970’s with our time machine broken and all.  Ah again miscommunication.  (Daddy, aren’t you glad you paid for that communcations degree?)

Woodstock is a “dive” bar that lets you request all kinds of music, mainly classic rock but also has a slightly larger selection.  (ENTER LAUREN KIDD!)  I had a lot of fun putting in requests.  I put in many randoms!

Angus showed up at our table with tequilla shots for everyone and I thought oh Jose.   That’s REAL healthy.  And what do I want my masters in?  Oh right the study of how to make sure you live an unhealthy life.  Needless to say I licked it, slammed it and sucked it aka eat the salt off your arm, drink the shot and put that glass back on the table.  Slam is a good word bc you really do feel like slamming it when you’re done.  Yeah that was all the shots for me.  Trying to steer clear of that stuff!  After the bar (maybe 1 am – I don’t know) we headed outside and followed Angus to a Hookah bar called Rainbow.   Hookah, NOT hooker. 

Now I’ve never been to a hookah bar and I’m pretty sure neither have my parents (or have you? hee hee.)   I felt like I was Alice walking into wonderland watching numerous catepillars blowing vowels out of smoke into the air.  “A, E, I, O and U”  (It’s been a LONG time since I’ve seen that movie.) 

For the “uneducated”, a hookah is a big contraption with a hose-like extention that basically you suck in and blow smoke out of.  I guess it was tobacco but it tasted like strawberries (or “strwburries” as a South African would say).  I just liked sitting on a rug in a dimly lit room of candlelight around such an interesting object with a funny name.  Hookah.  Say it. Hookah.  Very good children. 

After Rainbow, which I first I thought would be a gay bar, we were famished (remember I hadn’t had any dinner – just some pretzels).  We went to a roadside stand that sold deep-fried Korean food.  We sprang upon it like vultures.  I was so hungry I didn’t care what I was actually eating. 

The cab ride home was a delight.  Andrea had too much “sody pop” and fell asleep; Angus had a tremendous headache; and I had to pee TERRIBLY!  That taxi really could have used better shock absorbers.  As soon as we arrived home I fled from the cab across the street to my apt. but had to run in a corner and leave a little trickle if you know what I mean.  Relief at last.  Not my proudest moment. 

On Friday I woke up around 8:30 am-ish and finish reading my book. (“A Murder Is Announced” by Agatha Christie – so good!)  I actually guessed the murderer but not the reasoning.  The explanation at then end was so clever.  

I spent a lot of the day on the internet catching up with people, etc.   Then I decided to go for a run to the park and after I showered Andrea and I went shopping.  We had hardly started walking when I saw it.  A bright yellow couch.  And it was to be mine.  And it was beautiful.   The golden rays of heaven.  Ok I’m a dumpster-diver.

Andrea offered to help me get it into my apt. (since I have only a bed and two foldup chairs) when we heard someone ask, “Do ya’ll need some help with that?”  I smiled and said “no” but Andrea said some help would be great.  Turns out that Ashley, originally from NC and a graduate of the University of Tenesse, was silently praying to help us with that couch.  Afterall she had only been here a week and knew, well, NOBODY.   

Everything happens for a reason.  Ashley lives in my building on the 4th floor.  I don’t think I ever told you I’m number 220.  Andrea lives directly across the street and I wouldn’t even call it that far.  She invited Ashely to come with us.  I bought a couple things I needed for the house and then we went to dinner.  We ate in the room that had tables with chairs.  I believe we had some kind of beef (golgi) and the sides of vegetables and soups and whatnot.  All for 8000 Won.  I thought it was funny because they give you free ice cream but you just go up to the freezer and scoop it out yourself. 

We took a walk to show Ashley where the movie rental place was.  I wanted to try watching a movie on my computer but when asked for my phone number, I realized oh wait – I don’t have my phone.  The next day I went back to that store with my Korean phrase book and managed to actually get my phone back.  It was an amazing challenge.  I was so excited I took pictures of the ladies who helped me!!  I know – I should really be with ‘my peeps in Japan’ and their cameras. 

After retrieving my phone Ashley and I went shopping.  I bought my parents and Colleen their birthday presents – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!  I also ended up getting this rug-like thing for my apt for 9000 Won (aka $9).  I felt so guilty spending any money but I know I have been pretty good about it and these special people deserve a lil something.

Speaking of money, I got paid on Thursday!!!  The first pay check you get is actually a giant wad of money in an envelope.  Better open up a bank account fast.  The most amazing part is that I don’t have to give away half of it for rent.  LOVELY! 

I didn’t stay up too late last night but luckily I had to go to the bathroom a little before 3 am because I was able to hear the skype ring on my computer.  My parents called me but unfortunately their microphone wasn’t working.  So I talked and they answered by typing back.  They told me to keep on talking while they tried to figure things out. (wait – what?!)  Usually that’s not a problem but I was so tired and had a slight cold.  It was great to talk to you Mommy and Daddy! 

I woke up and showered in the morning to meet some friends for lunch.  I learned a lot of Korean words today and the food (again meat on the floor) was delicious.  Well I didn’t learn the words… I tried to learn the words.  

Oh how could I forget?  On Saturday I had my first successful skype phone call meaning both of us could hear each other!!  It was so exciting!!  So get it people!!  It’s free!! FREE!!!!  You just get a dinky headset with a mic and if you don’t like wearing headphones, do what I do.  Listen to the sound on your computer and just hold the mic part by your mouth.  If you want to look me up I’m under aimeezfisher@hotmail.com and I’m in Seoul, South Korea.  I believe my user name is aimeezfisher.  I think we have to be online at the same time to accept each other’s details.  And of course talk.  Der. 

There were of course complications at first.  Like any logical person, I had plugged the green wire into the green hole and the pink wire into the pink hole but when Jason called (my friend from my chemistry class this past semester) he couldn’t really hear me.  It was hilarious actually.  I was completely yelling at him.  SCREAMING.  Remember you can type at the same time and also send those little emoticons: smiley faces, etc.  When I sent Jason a tiny brown bear I tried to tell him that it looked like poop.  Then I pictured myself sitting ALONE in an EMPTY apartment with a mic practically shoved down my throat screaming out in frustration, “POOOOOOOOOOOOOOP! POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!  I SAID IT LOOKS LIKE POOOOOOOOOOP! DAMNIT!!!!!!!!”  That’s when I lost it.   What ward did I escape from? 

After fiddling around with the computer I noticed that it indicated a blue hole for the mic and so I tried the pink wire in the blue hole and Voila – it worked!  (So… the circle in the square.  Now why didn’t I think of that in the first place?)  To allow Jason to understand just how I had been “speaking” I screamed into the mic and I think he pretty much told Ime ‘d better not ever do that again.

It was great to talk to someone I knew from the US.  We chatted about a whole bunch of nothing and then got to talking about the bailout.  That’s craziness.  I know that when I had $700 billion dollars it was considered a lot of money.  But then I got into unethical trading and lost it all.   Actually I really have no idea what I’m talking about because I’m not really up on all the happenings in America.  Sorry.  Busy picking rice off of kids’ clothes after lunch. 

I’m out like a fat girl in dodgeball. 

-Aimee