JOURNAL: Uggggghhhh.....

I have a very bad cold right now, and had a bit more than my limit to drink last night (long story there), so I am in pretty bad shape today. So, what do I do? I go grocery shopping out of sheer necessity (nothing but grapes in the house right now), and manage to set of my burglar alarm...I actually didn't know I had a burglar alarm, but apparently I do.

On Thursday night, I went out with a few teachers to a chicken restaurant I had discovered as having very scrumptious curry chicken. In one week's time, the curry chicken was off the list, so we got some wings and skin roasted chicken instead. No sooner had the four of us sat down outside(we had all had a trying day), four children, apparently belonging to the restaurant owner, began clamoring around us for attention. One of the guys in our party actually encouraged this behavior, and spoke to them in Korean, English, and, just for fun, Spanish. Thye would not leave. One of the little girls, after randomly clouting her brother on the head, brought over a cage with several of the biggest, ugliest insects inside it. They were cicadas, but about five times the size of the American/Mexican variety (and five times the volume). She handed it to her brother, and as he was walking away with the cage, he happened to look down at the ground. He let out a yelp, and we all looked - it was a tiny beetle (about a half-inch). As we were thoughtfully chewing our chicken bits and trying not to laugh, he stomped on it.

Friday night, the directors of the school took us all out to OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE after work and fed us - a very nice gesture, especially since we have all been working overtime without necessarily getting paid (we are all on salary). We did, however, have to forgo our dinner snack, so we were rather hungry when we got there. I know some of the teachers would prefer the cash, but I appreciated the gesture for what it was. As there are about 35 of us, I am guessing it cost quite a bit.

A few of the girls decided to walk off the carbs from the meal and the, ahem, beer pitcher in Olympic Park. It was very beautiful at night; Olympic Park is across the street from the school, but a bit of a walk from my apartment, so I have not been there. I think I will try to see it in daylight soon.

We then joined the boys and some other girls at a local hof (beer house), where they were already in various states of inebriation. As the two of us remaining were already late, the waiter had to bring out two more glasses. Actually, they were glorified shot glasses, I suppose in deference to our womanly propriety. All the men got mugs. I have never actually heard of anyone doing shots of beer, have you? I enjoyed sitting back and not talking; my sore throat had begun, and I was not inclined to be overly social. It is always fun being the (relatively) sober one. I began feeling suspiciosuly light-headed and overly happy, which puzzled me at first, as I had not had very much (I am a "nurser"), and have a ridiculously high tolerance. Then I realized that I was getting "topped off" while distracted elsewhere. The walk home, insofar as I remember, was a bit wobbly. The boys were singing folk ballads and country songs(apparently a Canadian thing) loudly in the streets at two in the morning as well. I thought that only happened in Irish movies....Although it does happen with Korean men as well. Well, I'm assuming they are singing folk ballads....

Now, I must go and make my dinner. I got some chicken breasts with the idea of making soup, but then realized that, 21st century woman that I am, I have no idea what to put in it, and I am too ill to think very clearly. I have a bit of a fever, so if I am rambling, that is why....