My Turn!

So, I thought that I should finally contribute since we're starting this up again.

Right now I'm working with a small, local Korean PR firm. It's definitely been challenging since Korean business is insanely different from American business. For starters, in small companies you are expected to be friends with all your co-workers. You go to lunch with your team everyday where they ask you a million personal questions. (This has gotten increasingly annoying since one co-worker decided to tell everyone that I now have a boyfriend, even after I told her not to tell anyone...needless to say, I don't tell her anything anymore...)

There is also the phenomenon of the "hywe-sik" or company dinner. Everyone is required to go. Saying "no thank you, I already have plans," is not an option, even if you find out about the dinner two hours before said event happens. (Found this out the hard way.) I've heard that some companies the boss goes as far as making everyone drink until they are ridiculously drunk. Luckily, my company isn't like this. They just require that you go and stay for at least the first two stages (these things normally last until about 4 am and have about 4 stages).

Anywho, I'm starting to get the hang of it. I'm still making lots of mistakes and occasionally accidently offending people, but doing better. I'm getting along with my co-workers and I think I'm finally starting to fit in a bit more. I'm no longer just the "foreign" girl or the "English teacher".

Um, let's see...what else...I'm dating a wonderful guy named Young Gyu, or as I call him "oppa" (Korean for "big brother" but commonly used for boyfriends). We've been together for about a month now. He's really sweet, though at times a little oblivious.

I have a kitten named Issie that Young often refers to as my daughter. I love her to death, but sometimes she annoys the hell of me. Like when she tries to claw me to death or gnaw on my leg right after I put on a new pair of tights. She a crazy cat, but I love her to death. She's coming back to the States with me when I eventually get back.

Um, so I can't think of anything else, really. Other than I really love living in Seoul. I love the city and the vibrancy of life here. I love learning the Korean culture and the language. It's wonderful, and you all should come visit sometime! ^_^