Another late night, updating my page...I always feel like I need to let out my inner creative streak around 3 am in the morning...hence, the update...

I'm starting to get bleary-eyed from staring at the computer so long...I've been tutoring at this Learning Institute-slash-Korean summer school for the past month and a half, and it's been pretty hectic. These Korean places are weird, because they just kinda throw you in a classroom, and tell you to do whatever. It can be lots of fun, because there's so much liberty to do whatever you like. (Note to self: NEVER send my own kids to a Korean hakwon, because if the teachers are like myself, they all know jack!) On the flip side, it's soo draining, trying to develop an entirely new lesson plan for each class. Not only that, but I have to switch gears constantly. For example, on a given day, I'll be teaching 8th grade English, then 6th grade English, then ESL, then 11th grade Writing. It gets confusing...Sometimes I do weird things like accidentally tell the wrong class to take the wrong quiz.

But I'm thankful I have this job, and I'm finding that I really love kids. They're just hilarious. When I asked 8 year old Kevin what a metaphor was, his face suddenly broke out into a huge grin. Pushing his tiny fist into the air, he threw his head back and shouted, "It's a Force from Star Wars that's made of metal!!" The rest of the students thought that was just so clever, the entire class broke out in pandemonium for an entire minute. Hehe.

But, man, I'm really starting to respect teachers a lot more, because the really good ones sure work a lot harder than we ever knew from the mere students' perspective. I sent my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Kuykendall, a note just to tell him how much I appreciated all he did for us. Maybe I should ask him for some pointers, too. Half the time in my own classes, I'm practically losing my voice trying to get my kids under control.

Anyhoo. I am so tempted to ask my boss for Thursday off, because of course, this week is Camp Meeting and it seems like all the cool people are off at Andrews, and I've been dying to go, too. We'll see how it turns out.

In other news, I bought this digital camera online the other day, and I was so excited to get it- it's a cute little Minolta XT that can practically sit in the palm of your hand. Well, I bought it at this obscure website, and was just waiting to receive it when I got an email telling me to call the company about my order #77402, asking to speak to James at ext. 221:

[ring, ring] Hello.

Hi, is this James?

[bring! buhruhring! bring! buhruhring! Frantic typing.] Yes. [in a distracted tone]

I'm calling because I received an email telling me to ask about my order for my digital camera.

[bring! buhruhring! bring! buhruhring! Frantic Typing.] What in the world is that sound?? I can't believe this...this guy is on Instant Messenger while he's on the phone with a customer!

Um, I see you are getting a lot of Instant Messages

[Still frantically typing]Yes...hold on a minute, please...just a minute...

To make a long story short, this stupid guy actually asks me to give my order number THREE times, and then tells me to calm down when I start sounding annoyed the last time. THEN, after making me wait while he chats to who knows who, he actually tells me that his internet is down, and can I call him back within an hour? Your Internet is down?? I know I sound young on the phone, but please don't think I'm an idiot. When I call him back 10 minutes later, his internet is miraculously back up, and then he tells me I need to buy a better battery for my camera. I say I don't want or need a better battery, I just want my camera. Then he says that I can get the government package for an extra $200, it comes with a 128 MB memory card. I say, I just want the freaking camera that I ordered, what is his problem?? He says quite huffily that they don't HAVE my order. I say, it was on your website! He says, the website is outdated. The website is outdated?? I say, with the last bit of patience I can barely muster, has he billed my credit card? No, he did not, good bye. Click. The moron actually hung up on me.

OK, that was not a short story, after all, but I was just getting so steamed up even recounting it. It was just so absurd this whole thing. And then, I call Customer Service to complain about the guy, and I think the same person picks up! He must be some one man scam. Anyway, if you guys ever see some website called DigiCost, don't ever buy anything from there. They're/It's/HE'S the most stupidest business I've ever, in my 21 short years, ever encountered.

*Sigh* So I still don't have a digital camera. I think I might just go to Costco and buy it the old fashioned way, at the cashier.

Until then, here are some pics taking by other people's digital cameras:

Just got back from bowling with Bonnie, Sang, Kimmy, John, Ki Il, Dong, and Tuan. And get this: I actually got over 105. Isn't that amazing? Someone actually bowled worse than I did today. Hehe. I just think that's funny.

Well, now it's late at night, but I'm not sleepy at all...but how wonderful it is to know that I can sleep in tomorrow, because it's SUMMERTIME! Yay! So I decided to maybe update this page again, and stick in some pics that Rena sent to me, from our little girls' night out.

Well, I don't really have much other news to tell you, except that I've been wondering where all these random and weird people are getting my URL, and why they're all signing my guestbook. I started to get annoyed, so I decided not to list them as "Special Persons of the Week." I'll maybe put in the rest of my pics later, when I have more time to waste than I do presently. =P

It's June, and it's still averaging 60 degrees outside. And raining every other day. What is this?? The official start of summer is fast approaching, but Mother Nature is still procrastinating. Tsk, tsk.

I just got back home around 3 AM last night, from Ohio/Michigan. We decided to go to Cedar Point in Ohio, because we heard the amusement park there was awesome. And sure enough, it delivered. It really was a blast. Usually, roller coasters don't really thrill me anymore, but the Millenium, Magnum, and Top Thrill Dragster were the best things I've ever ridden. I must say, I recommend everyone pay a visit there sometime.

The funny thing is that the amusement park is right next to the lake, so right when you're at the top of some really scary roller coaster, your emotions are torn between freaking out before the harrowing 75 degree drop, or stopping for the split second to notice and admire the sparkling blue lake on the left. But it's a cruel trick they play on you, because right when you're about to poke your friend next to you to point out the beautiful and serene view, your stomach suddenly drops 420 feet and you're screaming at the top of your lungs as if there is no tomorrow. And then the photos come out at the end and you look like you've just seen your dead great, great grandmother pop up, and everyone's laughing at the expression on your face. Not fair!

Afterwards, a few of us went back up to Ann Arbor, Michigan to see some old friends. We also went to DKAY on Sabbath morning; I have to say, I was really impressed by how open and friendly the DKAY people were...thanks, guys! We really felt so welcomed and appreciated by all the members, which is usually hard to find in a typical Korean church. Also, a huge thank-you to Sandra and Kelly, who let us stay at their condo for the weekend. You guys are just great.

I also went to see Detroit for the first time in my life. You know, most cities have Chinatown, or Little Italy, or even Koreatown...but this place has only one ethnic row- and that's Greek Town. Hehe. "Opa!" The first time I heard we were going to Greek Town, I thought we were going to some frat row. But actually, it turns out that it's pretty neat. The ironic thing is that we ate pizza in Greek Town. The only thing Greek about that was the name- Pizza Papalis. (Get it?) I've never eaten such a huge slice of pizza, nor have I ever eaten pizza that was as cheesy as the one I ate there. I was finished in 2 slices. We could barely finish 2 larges among the 11 of us. And afterwards, we felt sooo sick...but not too sick to pop into the next door dessert cafe. That place was great.

I could just keep going on and on about every detail of the whole weekend, but I'll spare you...all in all, the trip turned out even better than expected, because I got to know some friends a lot better...we had some long and interesting conversations in the car, Peter, Julia, Lise, and I! As well as some hilarious moments...ask me about them later. And I'm also glad that I go to know the Detroit people a little bit better, as well. Thanks, guys!

Well, the sun is shining (even though it is still cold), so I'm going to go and take a breather. Talk to you guys later!

Last Update:

May 19, 2003

Mmm, home sweet home. =) Nothing like it. I've been eating and sleeping, and basically relishing life. Has it aleady been over two weeks?

So what's new in your life? Well, for me, it's been nice to meet up with friends and spend time with them. The funny thing is, I've only met with two of my local friends so far- the rest have been people from school and all over the place. It's been awesome having people pass through Maryland, though.

In addition to hanging out with friends and being an overall bum, I've been looking for summer jobs...I think I'm planning to just stay around here, and help out the parents...I'll also be volunteering at a clinic part time and tutoring part time, on the side. It'll be good to just relax a little, though.

Here are some of the things I did when I got back home that I'd been really craving to do at Andrews:

1. Go biking in DC. In fact, I went two days straight, and I can't wait to go again, if anyone wants to go with me. =)
2. Eat jja jang myun and kkam poong ki at my favorite jja jang myun place. Actually, I've just been eating all kinds of Korean food, now, and loving it. Actually, I've just been eating a lot, period.
3. Praise music at Spencerville.
4. Go to a really big mall (actually, I've been to three already) and shop for hours.
5. Sleep in my own little twin-sized bed/cot. I've been sleeping so well on my nice, firm mattress. In fact, the first two nights, I slept like 12-14 hours each.
6. Join Blockbuster Rewards...I only have to rent one more movie to get my free one. Hehe. Talk about couch potato. So far, I've watched...Two Weeks Notice, Drumline, Gigi, The Emperor's Club, Hilary and Jackie, The Divine Secrets of the Ya- ya Sisterhood, Demolition Man, Zoolander, and Oceans 11...all in like one week. I know. My brain started turning to mush, which is why I went biking.
7. Drink a frappuccino
8. Go to the public library and borrow lots of books. The library got all high tech on me...now they have Do-It-Yourself Check-Out lines and everything's on the internet.
9. Eat out like every day for a week, literally. (See number 2.)
10. Make strawberry smoothies in my mom's cool new industrial blender.

Things that I miss from Andrews already:
1. Not having to sit through 2 hour long traffic jams. (Where did all these people come from?? Good grief, new developments are sprouting up everywhere like mushrooms.)
2. Pastor Andy's sermons. Well, Pastor Andy, too. =)
3. Silver Beach
4. Baguette
5. Ethernet
6. All my awesome Andrews buddies. And living only like 3 minutes away from each other.
7. Really inexpensive gasoline.
8. Meijer

Pictures, I need pictures. I need a scanner. Or a digital camera.

OK, guys, I'm out for now...take care, and God bless!

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