Monday, March 9, 2009

Planning a wee trip this weekend

So, skiing was fun yesterday. Except I'm really sore today. We went to Konjiam Resort, instead of Jisan, where I went the past couple of times. It's pretty nice, and I believe I already mentioned it was free yesterday... hence the change in scenery. But the slopes are much longer and more difficult. I fell a few times, but nothing terrible. It was pretty steep and powdery, especially towards the top. Down near the bottom it got awful slushy -- it was flatter there, not to mention it was probably pushing 55 degrees. Or as they call it here, the teens. Stupid Celsius. But anyway, I was taking it pretty slow, so the falls were fairly gentle. But the longer slopes really give the ole legs a workout... and we skied for like 6 hours... so I, uh... forgot where this is going. I'm sore. Bottom line.

Funny (not funny-haha, but like, facepalm-funny) story: I got a different kind of boots this time: 4 buckles, 2 along the top leg-part, and 2 on the bottom foot-part. Great descriptions, right? Whatever. Anyway, I (apparently incorrectly) assumed that I needed to fasten all those buckles, you know, to keep them on my feet. Dumbass. So, about 30 seconds into my first run, I realize that I'm having an inordinately difficult time turning. I couldn't seem to get my feet to work properly, and my skis kept getting crossed and tangled up. I'm not describing this very well, but if you've skied you'll know what I'm talking about -- it happens to most every beginning skier, I'd imagine. So... I stopped and plopped my ass down in the snow and tried loosening the boot buckles a couple notches... this seemed to help and things got a little easier for me... until after a couple minutes of skiing I notice that I can't feel anything at all from about mid-calf on down. Now, keep in mind that skiing requires a good bit of feel in your lower body; you kinda need to make adjustments based on what you feel in your feet. Type of snow, slush, ruts from previous skiers, little bumps that can throw you off balance and send you cartwheeling head-over-heels sideways down a hill. But I couldn't feel a damn thing... well, I made it safely down the hill, but it took a long time. I get down there and tell (my co-teacher at the Global Center) Bo-Il that I can't feel my feet, and he says (all nonchalant-like, I might add) "Oh, you don't need to buckle them!" I was like, eh? Why do they have all these fancy-lookin doodads on them if I don't need to use them? Anyway, my feet were gone to the point that I was afraid I might lose them if I didn't do something, so (right before I got on the ski lift, mind you) I unbuckled everything and let those puppies breathe. Ahhhhhh... sweet relief. It was amazing how quickly feeling returned. Of course, the more astute among you may have already seen the problem with this. Anyone? Ha...

Yeah. I got into the real good part of that whole burning agonizing pins-and-needles-stabbing-the-holy-bejeezus-out-of-every-available-nerve-ending-with-tiny-knives-made-of-white-hot-fire sensation right about the time I needed to dismount the ski lift and ya know, rest all my weight on my feet. That was pleasant, lemme tell ya. But, after spending a couple minutes standing in a funny position waiting for full use of my legs to return, the skiing went much better. So I guess it's true -- you really don't need those buckles. Of course, the greatest unsolved mystery of our time then becomes, what the hell are they there for? Perhaps no one knows. Perhaps we'll never know...

Other than that, good day. Good skiing, beautiful weather, and then Jill made me some deonjeong jjigay for dinner. As far as I can tell, this is a soup made of bean paste, tofu, potatoes, onions, zucchini, some Koreany spices and a chile pepper. Served with rice. Deliciosity in a bowl, it turns out. So all's well that ends well. And no, my feet did not fall off. Chalk one up for my circulatory system. It takes a lickin and keeps on tickin.

Today I taught classes for the first time in several weeks. It was... meh. I'm working with a different co-teacher, and she wasn't nearly as well prepared as Mi Jin used to be. Maybe it was just 1st-day jitters, and she'll pick it up next week. I guess, seein as how I'm off all this week, I should probably offer to help with some lesson planning and stuff. I repeat, meh. It was nice hanging out with the kids again though. I kinda missed the little ankle-biters. Also, I think one of my 3rd graders has taken a shine to me... she told my co-teacher that she gets nervous speaking English with me, but wouldn't stop looking at me. Or smiling. And then she came up and gave me a hug after class... All together now: "AAAAWWWWWW! OMFG!!!!! That's so CUUUUUUTE!!!!111!!!1!" Yeah, I suppose teaching has its perks. =)

Also, Emily, maybe you can help me here. I'm going to Busan this weekend, but it's just a quick trip. Jill and I are going to visit her old roommate... so, if you had approximately 37 hours to spend in Busan, what would you do? I'll probably go back this summer sometime, so I don't need to pack everything in at once. Just hit me with the uh... not so summer dependent things. Yeah, that'll work! Thanks honey!

2 comments:

emily said...

one of the bath houses. there's one a stop from PNU Daejon I don't remember what it's called, but that one is the best.

or Vespa (I think) spa in Haeundae.

and dragon's cave.

over the summer you can hike over the mountain.
hugs

Sean said...

thanks dude -- i knew you wouldn't let me down! :)