A Beautiful Week for a Stroll

Nov 1-7, 2010

This week was a beautiful fall week. the weather was cool but not so clod that you couldn't be outside uncomfortably. On Monday I skipped the gym in the morning, opting to get a bit of extra sleep and then make some food before work. After work it was off to the gym to make sure I got my workout in, and while I was there I met the two night shift trainers who were super happy to meet me, and very eager to talk with me about my workout. One's English was better than the others but it was one of the many endearing moments I've gotten to have during my time here. They even got me to hop on the health check machine, which determines body percentages like fat, muscle, etc. Turns out I was about 17% fat. After the gym I came home and put on a football game before I called it a night.
Having worked out hard the night before, I slept in on Tuesday. Luckily I woke up with enough time before work to pack up my lunch and get off. While at work everything was pretty status quo, and after work I came home and threw on another football game while I put together my weekly email to Lauren. Before the game was even over I was dozing off, but I made it to the end and then called it a night.
Wednesday morning I was back in the gym before heading of to work, and after work being the middle of the week I came home to catch another game and clean up a bit before calling it a night. Thursday morning I got up and went to the gym again, then after the gym I decided to ride my bike to work while the weather was still nice. Then, while I was at work I got a call from Blake about going to Sincheon after work to finish up the bottles he had stared on his birthday. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to, but immediately after talking to Blake about possibly doing it Friday I had two classes that pushed me into angry teacher mode for not doing their work, and when the classes were over I confirmed with Blake that I would be there. I took my bike home after work before hopping on the subway for Sincheon. I got to Gold Bar by 11, where I met Blake, Frank, and Garrett, and made quick work of the last of the bottle we had stored there. I was sure we had stored some whiskey and vodka, but the staff was only able to locate the vodka, which was probably for the best. We played some darts and pool, and had a few more drinks before calling it a night around 2am. After a stop at McDonald's, Blake and I split a cab on our way home, and I was home by 230.
After having a later night than I would have if I had just come home, I slept in and skipped my trip to the gym Friday morning. Luckily with all the water I have been drinking lately I felt great when I got up and could get ready for work with ease. While at work I had an amazing moment when one of my kids who is way out of place in his placement level, and who can barely understand what is going, finally open up and participate as a member of the class. It was great to finally see him interacting with a few of the other boys, and take joy in the memory game we were playing. I'm sure his mom will be thrilled when the Korean teacher relays the information. After work it was off to the gym to get in my workout. I had decided not to go out Friday night since I had gone out Thursday, and going to the gym was a good way to use up my time, as well as make a healthy move instead of an unhealthy one on a Friday night. The trainers were happy to see me again, and I was happy to see that my weight training was starting to pay of with a jump from 71 to 72kg. After the gym I grabbed some water at the store and came home to watch another football game and get some rest before Saturday.
I had great plans for Saturday, and even though I did get them accomplished, it was done in a much slower fashion than originally planned. I had planned to get up before 930, but slept in until 1030, and go for a hike among some of the numerous mountains around the city. I got up and watched some internet videos between making some sandwiches and eating breakfast before I got ready and left for some nature walking. I chose Bukansan, located behind the large Gyungbuk palace, but didn't get there until shortly after 1pm. Time wasn't an issue since it isn't a huge hike but it would have been nicer to be out there a bit earlier. The hike was nice and the weather was perfect, I was able to take off my sweater until I got to the top and took a break to eat my sandwiches, where it was a bit cooler since I wasn't on the move. The trees have started changing colours so the view from the mountain was very nice, and after a short break I walked back down getting only a little lost when I decided to take what turned out to be a non-trail. It all worked out in the end and by 3 I was back at the bottom, wandering the streets looking for the subway station. I eventually found one and made my way home to take a shower and relax before finding something to do for the night. Around 530 Blake called me and said him and SaeJin were going to the wine buffet and said if I wanted to come I was welcome. I quickly got ready and left for Samsung station to get to COEX Mall and the Intercontinental Hotel for the buffet by 630. At the buffet we ran into Thomas and Jeanne, and their coworkers who were all out for Jeanne's birthday, and who invited us out for some noraebang when we were all finished. We thought that was a great idea and swung over to Sincheon after the wine buffet to find a noraebang and get our sing on. We had a couple more drinks at the noraebang and had a great time singing for a couple hours before our time ran out around 130am. Blake and SaeJin had left around 1245, but I stayed since I was having a good time. After we were all finished I suggested hitting Gold Bar for one more drink and to say hi to the usual, which everyone seemed down for. We hit up the bar, but everyone but me only stayed one drink before it was time to take Thomas home. I saw them off and grabbed another drink and chatted with some of the staff and other regulars. Then out of nowhere I found myself getting involved in bar safety. It started with a Korean and foreigner getting a little pushy and the bartenders breaking it up and taking the Korean outside. While they were getting him calmed down the foreigner came over close to me and continued to provoke the fight from afar. I quickly told him not to be an asshole, to which he agreed and when things had settled down apologized to the bartenders for causing any trouble. When he decided to leave a few minutes later was when I got involved. Apparently the Korean group had not yet cleared the street and when he went up, tempers flared. One bartender went up right away to make sure things stayed cool, and when the other went to go up, about five guys cornered him and wouldn't let him up the stairs. Since they are all friends of mine at the bar, I got pretty upset, put my coat and drink down, then went over and pushed the entire entourage over, grabbing two of them by the front of the shirt and dragging them up the stairs. They were apologetic as I dragged them up the stairs, and their English was pretty good as they explained to me that they didn't want any trouble. I told them not to touch the bar staff then went back downstairs to make sure the rest of them got the hell out, which they all did with haste. I am not the fighting type, or at least not the type that goes out to start fights, but I will stick up for what is right if I have to. After that everything was cool and in appreciation hooked me up with a couple of shots that I really didn't need, but accepted on account of our friendship. While the ruckus was going on JungHun showed up, so we had a couple drinks before heading out together to split a cab. I was home by 5, and went quickly to bed to get some much needed rest.
I woke up a few hours after putting my head to my pillow to drink some water and take some Advil, then went back to sleep until 1pm when Blake called me. I still didn't feel 100% but had told him that I wanted to go to the last of the FC Seoul soccer games since I had Lauren's season pass. Blake met me at the field and we grabbed a couple of tickets and went in only to find that we were both hungry by half time, but the food stands were low on reserves so there wasn't enough food by the time we got to the front of the line. Starving we watched the rest of the game with FC Seoul winning. After the game we hit up Sillim for some kalmaegisal, and out of no where met up with Mike from work and his friend George who joined us for dinner. After dinner Blake and I headed to our respective homes, but not before I could borrow a few bucks off Blake to get some groceries for the week, since my pay problems from the start of the month left me down to about a dollar in my account and payday wasn't until Wednesday. Once home I made my weekly call home to mom and found out that the problems my Nan had been having lately were from a cancerous tumour they removed during the week and that some other results regarding lymph node cancer were still pending, but that she has already agreed to go forward with chemo therapy if needed.

Well there it is another week. I hope the best for my Nan and am looking forward to getting all the news and choices in the future go or bad so that I know the situation.