Some Bad News From Home

Jan 3-9, 2011

Well this week we were in full swing winter intensives, 930-9, most days of the week. I got up early Monday and headed to work with high hopes of getting some things done after work since we would be getting off an hour earlier than usual. Off work by 9pm and with my gym member ship expired, I immediately went home and started making another batch of chicken soup, then left ti to simmer overnight while I watched a football game, then passed out. I woke up around 430 in the morning to sounds of my soup boiling over, and quickly got up to turn it off so that I didn't burn my apartment down.
I only slept for a few more hours before it was time to get up and head back to work. But instead of taking my soup, I took some pasta that I had made over the weekend, because I wanted to make a second pot so that I would have enough to share with all the teachers. Work went by quickly, and by 730 classes were over and we were allowed to leave. I took advantage and headed home to make my second pot of soup, watch another game, and clean my apartment. It was nice to have a clean place that smelled of delicious soup, instead of the usual dusty place that smelled dank. Off to bed early, I set my alarm to wake up at 3am to turn off the slow cooker so that I wouldn't have the same fright as the night before.
With all the soup made, I added it to the large container I had, then took it to work with me to share with my coworkers. It was a big hit with everyone who had a chance to try some, and seemed to make everyone feel better about being at work for such a long time, generally without having a chance to eat a proper meal. While in class during the afternoon, I had a truly hilarious scenario unfold before my own eyes. As I walked into my Grade 4-5 class of students in our second highest studying level, one boy named Eric told me he needed to call the police. I wasn't sure what to say, so I asked him why, to which he replied "because Sarah won't stop hitting me". I told Sarah that she should not hit him, and then explained to the class how, at their age, girls and boys often hit each other when they like each other. They all recoiled in fear at this, and then another girl named Candy tried to whisper to Sarah, "Sarah next time just kick him", an motioned to the crotch area. Having heard and seen what Candy said, Eric loudly exclaimed, "What! You want to break my horn?" I had no idea what to do, so I simply put down my books and walked out so that they didn't see me laugh at what was going on. While in the hall I looked next door into the teachers office and asked their Korean teacher just what she had been teaching them, and told her the story. Then the whole office was laughing and i went back to try and get a lesson done. Though I couldn't look those students in the face the rest of the class. After work I headed home and once again whipped up some food while I watched a football game. I used some taco mix that Lauren had left for me, and made a type of chili with peppers and steak strips. It smelled and tasted pretty delicious, and I was looking forward to having it for lunch the next day.
Still looking forward to the chili/taco mix creation I had made the night before, on my way to work I picked up a few french loafs so that we, John and I, could make sandwiched out of them. Or at least cut them up to dip in the sauce. i had made an extra large amount because John is still having some money issues and I want to make sure he is still eating regularly. Very big brother of me :) Once at work however, the day took an unexpected drop in morale. Immediately after logging onto my computer I checked Facebook to see what the news of the day was, and too my surprise there was a message from my aunt to call home immediately. Right away I got pretty worried, especially with Nan's health being so poor as of late. I quickly downloaded Skype and called home to talk to my mom. As it turned out, Nan had not responded well to her latest chemotherapy treatment, and had been hospitalized that afternoon, so my morning, and they weren't sure what the future held. The news of Nan's hospitalization put me in a rather down mood for the rest of the day, and since I wasn't very hungry I decided to share my lunch with all the teachers instead of just John. Though when looking back, I don't know if I shared it as much as they attacked it like a bunch of vultures who hadn't eaten since their soup lunch the day before. It made me feel better to know that they were enjoying it, but the rest of the day still dragged on pretty slow and shitty. After work, trying to kill some time so that I wouldn't have to go home and sit in my apartment alone, i headed for the COEX Mall to make some reservations for the following Saturday's wine buffet. We had talked about it over Christmas and New years, and had decided to do it on the following Saturday since it was James', Dino's, and Hayley's birthdays all at the same time. I made reservations for 20 with the probability of raising it to 30 after we got the final attending count. I was back home by 9pm, and then back on the computer, calling dad to let him know what was going on, as well as to some other friends and family. I ended up being up on the computer until 530 in the morning, before I was all talked out, and too tired to think anymore.
Waking up again at 830 Friday, I called home to get the latest news about Nan, and the news was good. They said she was looking better and that her blood cell counts had come under control, and that her colour was coming back. She was still not very responsive, but there was hope that she would pull through. While at work, even with the good news, I let the administration, as well my students know about the situation in case I had to make the tragic trip home, and started getting paperwork in order just in case. After work I headed over to Sincheon to meet Alex and Louise for dinner at Aladdin's Lamb, and then slid over to Gold Bar for some drinks. It was good to be out with friends, and we stayed out until 530 before heading over to McDonald's to get some breakfast, and then I caught the subway home at 7, and was in bed by 8am.
Sleeping in until the early afternoon, I got up and spoke with Ash over MSN to see what the latest news was. Nan was doing better than the day before, was more coherent, and had been started on several drugs to help her get better. On top of that, a doctor specialising in thrush was on hand to help with her condition so that she could breathe more comfortably. It made me feel better to know that she was showing signs of improvement, and I spent the rest of the day lazing about watching movies, and talking to friends like the Davies clan and Lauren online. Eventually I was all movied out and called it a night some time around 230.
Sunday I slept in again until 130 and then talked to Ash some more before getting motivated enough to leave my apartment. i started with a walk over the hill behind my house to Sillim, where it was a fair bit colder and windier than it was on the Bongcheon side of the hill. After reaching Sillim, I walked back towards home on the main street, and then stopped at the grocery store to get my supplies for the next week. Then I picked up a pizza for dinner and walked home. By the time I got home it was just after 7, and John swung by for a few minutes on his way to get some groceries as well. He didn't stay long, and after he left i finished my pizza and watched some more movies while I cleaned up and did laundry before calling home to talk with mom.

Well I have fallen behind with my blogs, but will be getting caught up in the days to come.