Things I can't live without...

I have been cruising along in South Korea for 5 months now, and have gotten by extremely well for someone who has never lived out of home before. But I know for a fact it is due to being able to live pretty much the same way I do at home, minus a few things. But there are things in my life that I cannot do without. I mean, yeah, I might survive, but my standard of living and quality of life would be so much more reduced. Here are some examples:

Things I now "need' in my life...

• My Mac Book. I am not joking. This is by far one of the most used items I brought with me from home. And I loved it at home too, but here I have fallen even more in love with it. I take it to school with me now, especially since the internet isn't working on my school comp and I have nothing to do. When people ask me Mac or PC, I always say it depends on what you want it for... For me, I love using my mac as I find it user friendly, I have windows compatible software, I am not an avid gamer, I like to make movies and watch movies, and its really pretty. Mine is an older one, the white kind which I have decorated with Hello Kitty stickers and my name. 
• My phone... This is at the top of the list actually. I could not get by without it... It is my phone, my email, my maps, my translator, my dictionary, my games hub, my camera, my address book, my diary, basically my life. I have a Samsung Galaxy II and it is the best phone I have ever owned. So in terms of phone, I am not choosing Apple. Call me Korean, but I say Samsung all the way. I have it synced to my gmail so everything is backed up there in terms of my contacts and all that. This is the only downside of having a mac and an android phone... I don't think I can sync them. However of anyone knows otherwise please tell me because I would love to have everything connected. 
• My Hair Straightener. Now, mine is NOT a GHD it is some other brand which I will check when I get home, and I got it about the same time I got my Mac. So they are both white. I love it so much, even my sister was bitterly disappointed when I told her it was coming to Korea with me. I think I have had it 2 years now and it's still going strong. There is no way I would ever travel without it, especially now I have a fringe/bangs. Sound vain? Yes, I am. And getting more and more vain with age but whatever. This is my list not yours. 
• Internet connection. And by this I mean relatively unrestricted internet connection. I feel really sad for all the people around the world who do not have access to the net. And as I type this I can actually hear people rolling their eyes at me but the internet have become such a massive and integral part of my life I think I would suffer without it. Maybe it comes from being away from my family and friends, but I would be super depressed if I couldn't easily speak with them. I mean, yes, I could do the old fashioned thing and call, or the even more old fashioned thing and send them a letter but its just not the same as speaking face to face. Skype is such an amazing program and it really does connect people. And so does facebook! I am not putting this one in my list, because I think I could survive without it, but it is also a fantastic communication tool. I have raved about FB in the past so don't worry I won't get started again. 
• Hot water. How anyone can survive without hot water is beyond me. And I know I sound terrible (this whole list is terrible, because there are people surviving in the world with WAY less than this) but I wouldn't live anywhere where there wasn't hot water available. 
• A kettle. Yes, I could boil water on a stove in a pot, but a kettle is a great thing. It was the first appliance I brought when I got here. 

And I think thats it for now. I am sure things will come to me but these are the main things that come to mind when I think of how I get by every day. I guess if I had never been introduced to these luxuries then I would't think I needed them, but the fact remains that I was born to a society where such things were available and I have grown accustomed to a certain standard of living. And these are the things I now think I need to get by. If push came to shove I wouldn't die without them, but luckily I don't need to make that choice. 

Makes me realise what type of world I live in, and what sort of person I am. Disappointing huh?

Meanwhile, in the 'real world'

I think pharmacy medication in Korea is better than at home. I had some sort of tummy bug Sunday night, it came on suddenly in the middle of the night and I was up for hours spewing and, yes, i'll say it, the other end too. By 4am all that was coming out was water and I was a little bit concerned. I decided that if I was still not able to keep anything in by the morning I would take myself to the hospital. Luckily I was a little better by then but I couldn't go to school. My beautiful friend Jess called by in the afternoon and brought with her a stash of medicine from the pharmacy... some tablets, a sachet of some gross granules and a vitamin drink. Anyway I took it all and then went back to bed. And today, I have woken up and feel so much better!!! I am currently at school and everything! Still not very hungry, but was there ever a better time to start a new diet?

I am convinced that my speedy recovery is due to great over the counter medications. I do understand that a pharmacist is NOT a doctor, but they go to school for a really long time and they understand drugs and medications really well. So I feel that they give good advice. Most people do not develop terrible diseases, generally people get colds or tummy bugs or common things like that. So why can't a pharmacy hand out stronger things over the counter? I am convinced its just doctors getting more money. Going to the doctor at home can be expensive and I think its stupid how expensive some medications are. Bah.

Camp

Yes, I made it to the end of Winter Camp at school. Thank fuck I never have to do that again... It was such a drainer, the kids had a shit time and just wanted to go home (who can blame them?) and the afternoons dragged. Last week was better thought, because I had the grade 5's and they have better English and they are pretty easy to get along with. The activities went ok but they just didn't want to work. And I know I should have been more strict and made them do things but I really didn't want to. They are kids, and they were on holidays. So if they would rather play minecraft then thats cool with me. 

The best activity was the paper mache globe idea. I am really glad I went with that, it was both fun and time consuming. But they weren't so excited to paint them. And they loved the cooking. I just wish I had access to an oven, because then we could have made some really good stuff! Another good activity was the dream catchers, they liked going outside and looking for things to add to their dream catchers, but actually only the girls finished theirs off. The boys all got distracted towards the end and just played minecraft. 

If I could do camp over? I would include more active games. The weather was really bad and we couldn't go outside, but if I end up having a summer camp I will def be going outside for activities. 

Girls painting their globes after cooking 

Globes

... while the boys play Minecraft on their phones

Globe painting

The cooking we did was peanut butter and jelly cookies in the microwave... it was ok. There recipe is here at this site. They went over better with the older kids than the younger ones. We ended up making 2 batches, but make sure you use a ceramic plate or something, I used a paper plate and they didn't cook as well as the previous week when I used a proper plate. 

In other news...

Billie and Georgia did really well at the Summer Royal in Melbourne, coming first in her led class. They didn't place in Champion but it was a really good result for her first comp. They are planning on other shows in the coming months so good luck and fighting!!!

I missed Steph and Billy' Australia Day party. It wasn't their official engagement party but I will miss that too. Depression city. I hate that I am missing big family and friend things at home. But these are the sacrifices we make for our own happiness and growth I suppose. 

Australia Day for me was a dull affair. I mean, I went out on the Sat night but no one even knew it was Australia Day, and when I told people they were like oh ok, what does it signify? And I was like, uh, I have no idea :| clearly I am the worst Australian ever. I just said, oh, its just a day where we eat lamb and drink beer... 

I have since googled, and for anyone who is interested it commemorates the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove. Happy belated Australia Day I guess. Mia and myself are the only Aussies I know who live here so the even went by quietly. I am predicting Lunar New Year will be different... Its the weekend Rob is leaving so we will be out drinking, but I think I would like to see if anything in happening in the city too. Seems like a fun time of year. And the weather is finally getting a little better, its supposed to hit 12 degrees on Thursday!!!

Till next time, friends

xoxo