fitness

i saw an older korean guy in a tracksuit
jogging
pumping both arms
with a cigarette gripped in his mouth.

on that note, i joined a gym (again)
since it's too cold to do anything outside.
this gym, unlike the cheap crap one with ear-splitting dance club beats that i belonged to before,
is REALLY fancy.
actually, after i joined, i found out that when they opened, they only accepted high professionals like lawyers and pretty women like 60s era flight attendants. oh, and i got a foreigner discount(!?) myeong-kwan said the desk woman i got the membership from kept saying how pretty i was in a "wow i can't believe YOU are with HER" kind of way (ew) and that they want foreign women so korean men will want to come :( i said that being racially fetsihized feels icky and he was like "well, a fetish implies that it's a minority..." i'm not sure if the gym has an outright policy on this rich and attractive thing now, but everyone there was beautiful and wearing really nice and expensive gym clothes. i felt like the fattest and the poorest but HEY! i'm white, so i must be better than everyone anyway! and in a "U BE STAR 2: HOLLYWOOD!" class i peeked in on at 11 (no jobs, ladies?), this large group of thin, young korean women were all doing complicated and quick hiphop dance moves totally in sync. it's just a really whacky place, but despite some weirdnesses, actually being there is very pleasant and their hours and class schedule and facilities are amazing! i had a great workout yesterday and i fell asleep by 12!

not really charming anymore

"WHALE: BIGGESY MAMMAL"

(on a cookie)

ahahah

there was just a big censor oval over a dude's slit throat on law and order.

it's 11 pm.

but i can prolly see some boobies on the super action channel, so it's all good.
oh but i can't see any butt cracks.
wahhhh.

arbitrary government censorship - the definition of what's inappropriate is shaped by culture or shapes culture? both?

very very

it's snowing outside,
my tuna noodle casserole is in the oven
(i told m-k i'd introduce him to typical american homey foods as opposed to the fast food hamburger version of american food),
and the patriot is on tv and i'm getting all "awww, wburg"y!

it's been such a cozy day and i'm pretty haphaphappy!

actually, myeong-kwan told me he's giving me a ride today

p.s. we're together again :O

more on that later!

tomorrow will be 10 degrees

this is what i'm in store for:

"In winter Seoul is topographically influenced by expanding Siberian high-pressure zones and prevailing west winds, temperatures dropping as low as 7°F (-13.7°C). The bitterly cold days tend to come in three-day cycles regulated by rising and falling pressure systems, however, bringing some relief."

Siberia

prevailing west winds

bitterly cold

THREE DAYS OF HELL-BIKING!!! 

xmas

i bought a mini xmas tree
and a little fancy wreathed xmas candle
and garlanded the crocheted snowflakes my mom made across my big windows
and i'm gonna make banana muffins tonight
and more spiced cider
and decorate my tree
and listen to ONLY xmas music!

i wasn't sure if i should ignore xmas here in korea or go big
but i think it's better to embrace it!
it makes me feel less homesick!

strangely enough, xmas isn't really a family holiday here.
my korean friend said, "it's the time to be with your lover or friends."
reeeeeally!?!

p.s. my weekend was AMAZING! i had a great thanksgiving party on thursday, got to see m-k back from france on friday, and ate greek food and then danced all night to jens lekman and four other amazing acts on saturday ! i was so purely and absolutely happy - it was fantastic!