sweet potato this...

I'm back on weight watchers but this time I'm doing it online. After all the holiday americationing, I needed to do something drastic to feel in control of my health and so I'm attempting to count the points in unidentifiable korean foods and cook at home a bit more. I'm losing weight like a mother so that's good. I guess I just needed to kick start it again. I also discovered something so taste tempting that I think it should be in a book somewhere (or maybe it is and I'm totally behind the curve.)

SWEET POTATO OMLETTE.

So the name is not very catchy, but neither was the mixed berry oatmeal cobbler that I invented last year. It just tells it like it is which I have apparently mastered in the realm of culinary delights but still aspire to in all other parts of my life.

that's eggs, a bit of milk with sweet potatoes (remember my stint as a migrant farmer in September?), red,yellow and green peppers, laughing cow cheese wedges, baby portabella mushrooms sauteed with a dash of olive oil, salt and pepper. Seriously. I dream about eating this everynight. Which is good because it's filling some very yummy craving shoes (no more ttaekbokki on the fly :( ). Who knew?

Whys Everybody Got To Run?

Today I counted approximately 8 women doing it and that was just on my way to work. If there is one thing that drives me over the edge of culture shock induced anger it is this: Korean women in impossibly high, pencil thin, overly ornate heels RUNNING with their hands up in the air. Running in the rain. Running in the snow. Running when it is obvious there is nowhere to go. (hey that rhymes!) Running to cross the street (when the light is still VERY green and will be for another 10 minutes). Running to get to Burger King. Clickety, Clickety, Clickety, Clack! Running, running, running and then...... oddly enough....... just stopping. That's right. There was somewhere really important she needed to be two seconds ago, but suddenly it's not that important. She can slow it down. Stroll a little. Wait, wait...she just remembered! RUN RUN RUN!

And the irony of it all? We get to the corner at the exact same time and cross the street at the exact same time and get onto the same bus at the exact same time. Are they running to stay warm? because after all, skinny = cold as al's mom always says. I don't know. I hope I never really figure it out.

Of International 7-11s and Goodwill for all

Well, you knew what would be first on my list, didn't you? A daily trip to the local 7-11 to create and then consume my very own fountain drink. But what did I discover upon my arrival???? Nothing short of a Christmas miracle. They have new machines (god bless america) that simultaneously infuse your beverage of choice with any number of delicious enhancing syrups. Think Jamba Juice power boost in pure sugar form. Lemon? check. cherry? check. vanilla? check. Do you wantALL THREE in your 44 ounces (that's right OUNCES!!! take that metric!) of brown caffeine free bubbly water? OK! Done with simplicity and privacy from the comfort of your own machine. No more bulky bottles of syrup with messy pumps. No more nosy neighbors watching with disdain as you overflavor your beverage. This is the gift that I have been dreaming of. But finally, no more dreaming. 7-11 made it all come true again and again and again for approximately 8 days of my 10 day vacation. This is Christmas.

Then of course I met up with my friends!!! Landy Lou and Alie were still up for some thrift store hijinks...so we left children& husbands (alie), boyfriends (Caitlyn) and televisions (sadly, that's me) behind for a jaunt through the treasures of nursing home castoffs. I found a dress...

Can you believe they didn't let me keep it???? (actually in retrospect, I'm starting to wonder why I DIDN't keep it. It could have been cool.)

I've still got pictures to post of my family, but I knew psychmom would start to wonder if I didn't get these up and running...WE ARE FRIENDS!

Back on the Bus

So I've been home from my americation for a little over a week now. I realized that it was really over when I loaded myself back on the bus and sat for 1 1/2 in commuter traffic with the overwhelming smell of garlic wafting around me and then struggled to get my 3+ bags of luggage into a cab only to have the driver tell me he didn't know where my apartment was. No more driving to the place you are going and wheeling a cart full of familiar things right up to your car. No more talking to strangers and being able to say more than just, "how much is this?" and "yes, no, I don't know."

I was a little bit dejected until I rode up in the elevator to my school and heard the voice of one of my students screaming, "Who wants to drink the water?" ahhhhhh home. Oddly enough, it's these little people that made me happy to be back. I struggled a lot over the break with sleepless nights dedicated to how to make coming home a year early feasible. Maybe it's like being on a mission...you don't go home because coming back is harder. Well I did it anyway, and now that I'm back, I'll stay in Korea for another year. But that's it. One more year. Korea is not for the faint of heart. But I am not faint of heart so there.