To Korea, With Love

May42012

Things I want to do if I get A boyfriend in Korea.

찜질방 Matching sneakers and backpacks

7PM

Good night in Itaewon.

Spent the night in a 찜질방in Itaewon. it was actually really nice and comfortable. Started this adventure by taking a 4hour bus ride from Pang to Seoul. Then i managed to figur.ed out the subway system and got to Itaewon . Hen I searched for a motel for 2hours and I couldn’t find one. So I just went to the big Sauna. I took a bath got an excellent refreshing stub. Had a good chat with some older Korean women. Then I crawled into one of 80 degree rooms. Slept there for 2hours. I woke up drenched in sweat. I bought some rice drink called sikhye. Then I crawled into One Of the cubicle oxygen rooms and slept comfortably for 6hrs. woke up occasionally to drink Sikhye. Way better than motel and probably cheaper.

April132012

Hwing

So its Saturday morning and I have traceked all the way to Daegu to get my hair done. The travel extremely easy and cheap. I am proud of how well I have been getting around Korea with my total lack of directional sense. SINCE I came this far I plan to look around the city a bit after I get my hair done.

March292012

yANG mORIㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ At the SPA

12AM

Korean Sauna

So yesterday before I went to the Korean spa I had a general idea of what it was and how it worked but I came away with lots more insight and extreme tiredness. Let me tell you how this whole thing started. Last week my co teacher (M) had asked me to go to the 찜질방(Korean spa) and I thought sure no problem. On the inside I was a little weary. I would completely stick out like a sore thumb as the only black girl in a public bath full of Korean women: young and old. 헐…but I thought hey lets do this thing 바쌰~!So yesterday which was Sunday she picked me up at 12pm. Then we picked up her daughter and her two friends(these girls are 12). I was like Oh no I am going to be showing my belly fat to these young girls. The idea was not appealing. So we arrive at the Sauna around 12:30. We all change into comfortable clothes and head upstairs to the hot and cold rooms, public area and sleeping area. I first go into the mild tempatured hot room and of course I love it immediately. Its so nice and warm for a cold-blooded persopn like me. Next I try out the ice room and I also like that. Next I play a a few different board games with the girls. By then I am so tires\d. Considering I was up til 3am the previous day. Hanging out at the club. THen I finally get brave enough to head down to the bathing area. As I am taking off my clothes I breathe slowly and gather all my inner confidence. I walk into the bath completely naked and I can guarantee you that at least 50 pairs of eyes were on me. OMG!!! I wanted to run and hide…but no. After a few moments following my co teacher and her showing how the bathing area process works. i THINK SCREW this awkwardness, its my body and I have nothing to be ashamed of. From that point on I am goooood!!! All fear gone. Next I sign up to get a facial scrub and body scrub by a one of the ladies that work in the Korean spa. Now this is an experience: I lay on a massage table completely naked while she massages and scrub EVERY part of my body…gahhhhhhh!! Okay I thought it would be nice and relaxing but it was one of the most painful things I’ve ever done. She scrubbed my body with what felt like sandpaper….for an Hour!! I laid there and saw all kinds of dirt come off my body. Man and I thought I was clean until I went through that. After she finished. I showered and dressed. I felt so tired. I felt as if I had spent the last 5 hours playing sports when I was actually, at the spa all day. By the way I didn’t get home til 6pm……..Long dayyy

March242012