That is how I greeted my class Friday evening and they burst out laughing. "Y'all, teacher?" This lead to a ten minute discussion about contractions, the American south, and Rebecca Black's "Friday" which plagues my brain every. single. Friday. So what we got a little off topic and watched a little too much YouTube? This particular class works hard, and most of the students trudge into the room exclaiming "TEACHER! Bad day." Why, I ask. They are either exhausted from studying all night, they had an exam and felt they didn't study enough, or they have an upcoming exam and will spend the entire weekend studying. If it were up to me, I'd hand them each a Flintstones creamsicle push-pop and have them watch Maury's paternity tests revealed! for over an hour (not that I did this as a child or anything...) But, because I get paid the big bucks to teach them English, the best I can do is throw on Jimmy Kimmel's "I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy" from time to time and give them a good LOL. There's nothing better than hearing my little, Korean study machines giggle over the empty tears of American children. Ahhh, bliss.
Speaking of the BIG bucks, I will receive my first paycheck soon and have spruced up my BIG apartment since the previous blog post. As soon as I became the sole inhabiter of my 150 square feet I quickly went to work. Sleeves up, hair back, dirty rag in hand, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and realized just how much I am my mother. Not only does my behavior mimic the matriarch (clean freak, no mouth-filter--sorry, Mom!), but my physical features do too. And for that I am extremely grateful!
Thumbs up for great genes! Thanks, Sue!
Anyway, I digress. It was just me, a mysterious bottle of Korean all-purpose cleaner, and the determination to sterilize my apartment from top to bottom. For close to three hours of scraped, scrubbed, and swept every inch, then sat down and organized the nest. After four years of procrastinating on English Lit. papers I grew to realize that if my surroundings were not completely in order, my brain was not in order, and the surroundings were always the first order to order. If I hoped to get any good work (or sleep) done at home, I knew I'd have to get through the cleaning right at the start. So, without further ado, let me introduce to you my new, improved, super-chic 150 square feet of comf.
Clean kitchen, complete with Abby's wonderful drawings!
Clean fridge, inside and out!
Clean *heated* floors!
(I can't let you forget the floors are heated. It's all I have to make you jealous.)
New chest of drawers filled with all my running gear!
More of Abby's pictures--notice my Hoosier state!
Heated floors!
My previously unusable desk, now in use!
My bulletin board with stuff that makes me smile everyday!
My full-length mirror, hauled back from Lotte Mart with the help of Tim's good graces!
My amazing bed! I'm no longer sleeping on a box spring!
My fantastic photo collage of my beautiful friends, family, and felines!
That white orb? That's my overpriced lamp!
(So worth it, as overhead lighting is terrible to read by.)
And floors that heat up!
Okay, folks. I've conquered the thermostat. I've conquered the washing machine. Now brace yourselves for my most recent and most influential discovery yet of this whole adventure...
My shower!
It's a bit hard to see in this picture, but that spray emanating from the light? That's my make-shift, hands-free shower! HALLELUJAH! Fire hazard? Hope not. But if I die, just know I died the most grateful girl in the whole world, using both hands to bathe myself.
(Note: My bathroom is completely waterproof, including the light. After gushing about my innovation to another apartment-dweller I was told that "everybody does this." Except Tim, because he's weird and actually enjoys taking one-handed showers...Okay, I understand how that sounds. Sorry, Tim. Bahahaha!)
Needless to say, I'm starting to get used to the little bungalow. It's quite cozy to snuggle up in bed with a cup of green rice tea and my cell phone, properly prepped to log a half hour playing Words With Friends or Cookie Run, a Korean game where you run around as a gingerbread cookie. (Obviously my favorite game, as running and cookies are two of my favorite things ever.) As a matter of fact, that sounds like a perfect way to end my Friday night.
OH, but before I leave the coffee shop where I write this post, I want to leave you with this. In honor of both the snow storm in America's midwest and my never-ending quest to instill jealousy in the hearts of loved ones at home...
This public bathroom's toilet? Pictured behind me?
Yeah, it's heated.
