Heaven for my feet :D

Back in America there are no heated floor systems and my feet tend to get really cold. I knew before I left America to come teach in South Korea that there are heated flooring systems here so I thought I could use the suitcase space for something else. Unfortunately, I miss my slippers. And, thanks to my dad, I know that there are some slippers that are more comfortable and will keep my feet warmer than others.

I remember growing up that I would put his slippers on (and my dad doesn't have small feet so in some ways I think he found this annoying and amusing) and walk around the house. He always knew that if his slippers were not in their regular spot to call out my name and I would reluctantly bring them back.

I thought about asking my friends to ship my slippers to me here but then quickly realized that to ship my slippers from Atlanta to Chuncheon would be rather expensive (it's about 11,000km from Atlanta to South Korea). So, I looked online and to my wonderful surprise the slippers I love at home are available to purchase online! Of course I knew they would not be exactly the same, I couldn't remember the brand name, if there even is one, on the slippers I have at home. It didn't matter though, the pictures looked great to me and after reading through some of the testimonials I was satisfied with what I could potentially receive.

So, thank you to:

http://www.kiwi-sheepskins.com/

I ordered:

slippers like the ones I have at home

some slippers to wear at school


The slippers are wonderful! They are comfortable, soft, warm, and everything else slippers should be. The cost on the website includes international shipping from New Zealand.

The first pair in the pictures above I intended to use at home and have the second pair as my shoes for teaching in. The schools here like to have their hallways and classrooms walked on only by inside shoes and before now I didn't have any.

What has actually happened though is that Jason is using the first pair of slippers at home and I am using the second pair of slippers at school and at home. lol

I love having the slippers to work in at school. My feet and toes are nice and warm and they are very comfortable to walk and stand in for several hours of the day.

As far as Jason wearing the first pair . . . I don't mind, I'm glad they fit him actually. I ordered the first pair of slippers in a few sizes too big for me. The ones I have at home are too big on my feet and that's how I actually like them. I think Jason wears a size 10 so having the size 11 is great. Because of all the wool that is inside the slippers you really need to order one size larger than you would normally.

The website has more than just slippers. Anything you could want warm and fuzzy you can get. Car seat covers, a bed for your dog, a steering wheel cover, mittens, you name it! If it is something they don't make you could probably e-mail them to find out if it is a possibility.

So, if you are anywhere in the world and your toes are cold during autumn and winter then I would suggest getting some slippers from http://www.kiwi-sheepskins.com/ if you don't have something similar already. :)

I have happy feet.

Christmas Tree Time!

I'm very excited! Jason and I went to Emart on Friday and got a Christmas tree and some ornaments. I know it is a little bit early at this point to put up a Christmas tree but it's the middle of November so why not? :D

Tree in box . . .

Tree out of the box . . . (please note, there are Korean instructions to help me)

Christmas in a bag! How awesome is that?!

Putting together the tree. I am such a happy camper right now.

Making the tree look like a tree . . .

Foreigner advertising Christmas Twinkle Lights
(note foot outstretched behind the tree (I'm keeping it in the splint, I'm so good)).

Lights are on! Woooo!

Jason having fun with the camera . . .

The glass ball ornaments came with gold and silver strings instead of the hook things I am used to. Some of the strings were tricky to get through the top part but I managed.

Decorated Christmas tree!

When more ornaments (if we get any) and presents are under the tree more pictures will be taken. :)

I am very happy it is the holiday season. I wish I was back home with the fam to celebrate and eat delicious food with them but I know I will get to talk to them thanks to Skype and see them if my sister gets a webcam (go Sis!).

Trip #2 to the Foot Doctor

Foot update:

Let's begin with the fact that Jason and I live on the 5th floor of this lovely building. You might think, that's not so bad... just take the elevator. Well, there is no elevator. I had to walk down all five floors to walk out to the front of the apartment complex to get a taxi.

The fun begins . . .

Half-way down . . .

Jason was having fun with the camera as I thought he would. :)

We took a taxi about 5-6 blocks and then got out here. I have walked past this place dozens of times but never noticed that an orthopedic surgeon keeps shop here.

Across the street . . .

I made it to the door! Wooo!

Inside it looks somewhat similar to a doctor's office back home but things run a little differently here. Luckily the nurses are really nice and when I look at them dumbfounded when they speak to me in fast Korean they do what they can to help me understand what's going on.

Waiting area. . .

I find this first poster especially amusing. For those of you 'foreigners' living in Korea, I think you'll know why.

During my first visit to the doctor I had x-rays taken of my foot. Luckily there were no broken bones (yay!). I like this picture.

Because it has been fairly difficult for me to move around even just in the apartment I asked the doctor for some crutches this time. When your options are putting all of your weight on one hip or using crutches for a few days . . . I'll take crutches, thanks. :)

Jason and I were both really hungry after the doctor visit so we walked the two blocks to Olive Garden. The picture below is of one of the intersections we got to cross rather quickly (especially while on crutches) to get to Olive Garden.

On crutches distances take on new dimensions . . . ugh.

Unfortunately, they were closed when we got there (we found out today that they close for a couple hours between lunch and dinner time).

On the way back to the street to catch a taxi Jason wanted to have his picture taken in front of this truck. It's amazing how tiny they are here! Imagine trying to put the two of us into one of those things . . . that would be a funny picture!!!

Since Olive Garden was closed Jason and I decided to go to VIPS. VIPS is amazing and always has good food. Nom!

We got to VIPS and they were still open. Wooo! Nom Nom!

In the lobby downstairs this little scene greeted us as we walked in the door. To me it looked like a baby shower for a boy was going to be held. There was no one nearby (let alone someone who spoke English) to ask so we went on our merry way.

After we stuffed ourselves with delicious food we headed over to Emart (a major department store in Korea--essentially Korea's version of Walmart) to look at some video games and whatever else struck our fancy. We ended up not getting any video games but after walking around a little bit we came around the corner and saw: Christmas!

We got to choose from a lot of different ornaments to go with our new Christmas tree. :)

So of course we purchased a Christmas tree and some ornaments. I love Christmas and it will be really fun to have a Christmas tree here in the apartment. I also got a little wreath to put at my desk at work. I think the other teachers in the office will find it amusing for a bit to see a mini-Halloween pumpkin candy holder and a Christmas wreath in the same space. lol

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, anyone who has ever had a broken foot or something similar where their circumstances required you to have a cast or splint on your leg will understand the 'interesting' and 'entertaining' venture of taking a shower without getting your cast or splint wet.

Step 1: Place your foot inside a large enough bag to cover the cast.

Step 2: Have boyfriend take slightly embarrassing photos so you can laugh at yourself later.

Step 3: Tie the bag above the cast to help keep water from entering the bag and ruining your cast or splint.

Step 4: Take nice, long, hot shower. :D

(Sorry--pics of that are "restricted.") :)

So instead Jason suggested I post this,

Please note: bag used to take a shower with is a garbage bag. Gotta love that!

At the end of the 3 minute visit with the doctor we set up a third appointment for next Wednesday. He told me I should wear the splint for another few days, and to use ice on it (didn't really specify length of time or anything--hmmm).

So . . . watch for an upcoming post about Trip #3 to the Foot Doctor next week.

One other thing: it's going to be 'real fun' to teach on crutches and/or sitting in a chair . . . more to follow on that topic next week too.

It's not broken but . . .

The things that happen to me are nuts. I have managed to obtain something called "Tenosynovitis," which is inflammation of the lining of the sheath that surrounds a tendon (the cord that joins muscle to bone) according to Healthline.com.

I have been instructed to stay off of my feet (should be interesting since I am a teacher, no?) and to go back to see the doctor on Friday or Saturday so he can look at my foot again. I was very happy to hear that I had not broken any bones. The last thing I want is to break something while living in a country where I don't speak the language.

I do have to say that the doctor I saw today was very nice and his English was fairly good. He was at least able to explain to me in medical terms what was going on. I am very thankful right now that growing up I had a mother who was a nurse and I have a step-mother who is a nurse. I think nurses rock and should get way more credit than they do.

Anyway, here are a couple pictures... I'm sure Jason will have a blast once he gets home and will take several pictures. When that happens I'll either link to his blog if he so chooses to blog about my poor foot or I'll post more pics on here. :)

I get a bootie to wear so I can walk when absolutely necessary (aka to get food or move from room to room).

The towel next to my foot contains ice to help with the inflammation.

Go me! LOL

I Found Mexican Food in Korea!!!!!!

www.amigoskorea.com

I'm a happy camper even though it's minimum ninety minutes away from Chuncheon.

Also, I went shopping this past weekend and found some really cute clothes. See Jason's post about our day trip to Itaewon.

:)

$11 Cheese

Happy Halloween to everyone back home!

I did not attend any Halloween parties this year here in Korea. Instead, Jason and I went to E-mart and decided to look around the rather large department store and get a few things.



When we got to E-mart and smelled the food in the food court we were hungry. The process for getting food in a food court here is a little different than at home...

Pick which one you want...

Tell the cashier which number you would like. She doesn't give you the food though... She gives you this...

Then you go sit down and wait. Every now and then you will hear some strange little bell go off. What that means is that someone's food is ready to eat. When you hear the bell you have to look for your number at the different places that make the food in the food court.

128 was our number. Woohoo!

Jason and I chose this because it had some veggies on it.
What we ended up getting was not quite what we expected...

It tasted okay despite the lack of red and green vegetables.

One big thing westerners will notice in a Korean food court is that there is no soda of any kind available to drink. You get hot or cold water. That's it. I personally like this because soda is not very good for you.

You get to use little metal cups too. It was strange at first but a cup is a cup. :)

After eating we walked around E-mart for a little while. We looked upstairs at electronics and toys (great place to get materials for teaching) and then went downstairs to the grocery part.

If you know me then you know my love of crab legs. I wish we could have had this for dinner instead...

To finally get to why the title of this blog is $11 cheese..........

I got to buy some cheese. :)

I'm sure my parents are thrilled that they did not raise me in South Korea. Growing up I would eat cheese and chicken all of the time. As you know now, cheese is not cheap. Can you imagine having a child who loves to eat cheese here? lol Chicken is somewhat expensive too but I don't think the price even compares to cheese. I love cheese.