Thorvin the Dwarf Cleric

I’ve started playing Dungeons and Dragons. I guess that it isn’t really surprising. The idea of playing was always there in the back of my mind and I think that it makes sense with all of the other dumb hobbies I’ve had over the years (Magic the Gathering and World of Warcraft in particular). It’s just funny to me that I started playing here in Korea, but my co-workers said they were going to start and it wasn’t something that I could turn down. Anyway, now you know how I’m spending my Thursday nights.

What I learned in Korean today:

Hangul/Pronunciation
저는 공부해야되요/jeo-nun gong-boo-hae-ya-dwae-yo

Translation
I should study.

I took a TOPIK practice exam last night and realized that I am nowhere near as good at Korean than I want be at this point. My real problem is that I just don’t know enough vocabulary. So, I’ve decided to start working a lot harder on it. I have a list of vocab that I need to study and I’m going to start hitting it hard. When the winter TOPIK comes around, I should hopefully be ready.

I’m not dead, by the way.

The past few weeks have been a little hectic for me. At work, I had to do the summer camps we had on top of my regular work schedule, so I have been an absolute mess for the past while. The extra classes ended on Friday though, so now I can finally get back on track with my life, which means going to bed at 4:00AM and sleeping in until 2:00PM the next day.

The Pucheon International Fantastic Film Festival has started.

It started yesterday and runs until the 24th of July. Luckily, I live in walking distance of all the theaters for all the events. I still have to see what movies I will be able to catch, but I took a look at the program and it all seems like good stuff. I want to see if I have the time to watch the live-action Gantz movie in particular. Anyway, you can take a look at the program yourself at the the official Pifan site if you’re interested.

The best part about Sundays…

is waking up at 1:00 PM and then realizing it’s too early, then going back to sleep and waking up at 4:30.

I have the worst luck with cell phones.

The phone I got right when I got back to Korea decided to malfunction last night. I haven’t dropped it or anything, it just stopped working. Luckily, it’s on a warranty and they can fix it. Otherwise, I would have to get my fifth phone in the sixteen months at I have lived in Korea.

Yesterday’s adventure went well.

Yesterday's adventure ended up being a trip to Apgujeong.  I made it there and back safely in time for work, which was awesome.  However, there were a few mishaps that occurred:

• I got a little lost.  I made it to the stop and with the buses fine.  I just wasn't sure which way it was out of the exit.  So I ended up just walking around, which was fine, except for the fact it was hot and I was carrying all the shit I needed for work.  I ended up just taking a cab, which was the smart choice, since I had walked for half an hour in the wrong direction.
• The bag I wanted was sold out.  I expected it a little, since it said it was sold out online.  I just figured that the actual location might have had a display one that I could have purchased.  They didn't, so I ended up just buying the same bag but in a different color.
• I knocked over three bottles of champagne in front of a Tour Les Jours.  This wasn't my fault though.  Some guy was squeezing by me and he forced me out of the way.  I turned to the side and my backpack ended up knocking the bottles over.  They all shattered on the ground and splattered on four girls who looked very angrily at me.  All I did was say I was sorry.  After standing around for a minute and realizing that no one was coming out from the store, I just walked off.  I feel pretty bad about it, but even if someone came out, I wouldn't have been able to explain the situation.

I might start trying to schedule a trip into the city like this one once a week.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to wake up early enough, but I might as well try.  It'd be nice to get up and do something productive every once in a while.

This calls for an adventure.

So, it’s really early in the morning and I don’t have to be at work until 3:30 so I feel like I should do something with my day. I’m going to head into the city and buy a new backpack since there’s so much time. I’ll probably snap a few photos as well. There are a few problems, since I have never taken the bus I’m planning to take. I’m also not sure if the store is still open, but I figure that I might as well.

It looks like my Galaxy Tab plans are on hold.

So about a week and half ago I decided that I would buy myself a Samsung Galaxy Tab.  I was seriously going to meet a friend today and go buy it.  However, it turns out that the Galaxy Tab is considered a phone here and I am unable to have two cell phones under my name.  The most obvious solution is to just cancel the plan I'm already on and just get the Galaxy Tab, but that's a waste of money and the cancellation fee is so high.  Besides, I sort of want to have my phone and the tablet at the same time and keeping them for separate purposes.  I have a few thoughts as to how I can swing this deal, but I have to see.  Maybe I'll just have to wait until next paycheck to figure it out.

The Korean summer is here.

I’m saying this because I woke up to three mosquito bites and I just spend the last five minutes trying to hunt the damn insects in my room. It isn’t that humid yet though, and I’m glad it isn’t raining like I know how it will be later on in the season, but I just don’t enjoy the Korean summer very much. It’s just a matter of time until I’m going to be scratching mosquito bites and sweating my ass off nonstop.