Homework Assignment

Yes, it's true. I haven't updated this blog for at least 75 thousand years. Why, you ask. Well it's because it feels too much like homework. Yes, that's right, HOMEWORK! I'm a teacher, I know all about homework but it appears that I can dish it out, but I CAN'T TAKE IT! (Don't tell my students!)

And, I'm a whiner. I don't have anything to say because I can't think of anything nice to say. It's true. Call me, go ahead. I have nothing to say unless you want to hear me whining. That's why I don't talk on the phone. Or email. I apologize. I am boring. The most exciting thing in my life these days is that I got the laundry done and actually cooked something. Yes, it's true I miraculously accomplished both of these things! And I DON'T EVEN HAVE CHILDREN to slow me down!

This leads me to my next question, how does anybody do it? Are people not sleeping? Do people have those magical elves that helped the shoemaker, and they're not telling me how to get them? The elves would scoff at me and run off to help those more deserving, with bigger shopping lists and piles of laundry.

So, to all of you out there in the world with lives and hobbies, friends and children, my hat is off to you! You are my heroes, idols and my superiors! I am humbled by your great deeds and envious of your superhero-like strength. You are amazing.

In other news, I did get a chance to visit Melissa, Hayden and Dong Jin last weekend. It was fantastic. And ridiculous. I am no longer allowed to travel by myself however because when I attempted to return to Ulsan, I mistakenly 1)missed my train because I was shopping, and then 2) got on the wrong train when I got my new ticket. Not wrong train as in, wrong direction, thank goodness but wrong as in slow and not the super-fast KTX. I am train-impaired. Bus I can handle, but not the train. I give up.

In other, other news, I am an aunt again! It's wonderful. Being an aunt is totally my speed. I am the favorite because I always have small toys in my bag when I visit. Sadly, my fame does have it's limits, as illustrated by this conversation a few weeks ago when I visited Dong Jun:

Jae Cheol: "Dong Jun, who do you like more, mom or Melanie?"

Dong Jun: "Melanie"

Jae Cheol: "who do you like more, dad or Melanie?"

Dong Jun: "Melanie"

Jae Cheol: "why do you like Melanie?"

Dong Jun: shrug, "cars" (I bought him some cars at the dollar store)

Jae Cheol: "who do you like more, Melanie or Power Rangers?"

Dong Jun: looking from side to side with a sheepish look "Power Rangers"

CURSES! THOSE POWER RANGERS HAVE FOILED ME YET AGAIN!

Here is my NEW NEPHEW whom I intend to spoil as much as possible. He doesn't have a name yet but Dong Jun likes me more than him, too.

Oh, one more thing. Funny story:

On Saturday I walk into a washroom in a public building, that I have used before and definitely know which one is the ladies and therefore the one I should use. As I walk in, a lady starts shouting something. I think she is shouting, "Is this the women's washroom?" She shouts twice. I walk into the only stall and discover that it doesn't lock, so I walk out of the bathroom to go to the other one upstairs. As I leave, I point out to the shouter, the sign on the door that says "women" thinking that I'm being helpful. As I look at her, she says, "oh, you're a girl."

It turns out that she had been shouting, "That is the women's washroom!" to me, who she thought was a man.

Thanks, lady. I'm going to begin growing my hair tomorrow.

My question is, should I be insulted or should Korean men? After all, I'm not terribly masculine and if I can be mistaken for a man, what does that say about the masculinity and fashion choices of young Korean men? HA, take that!