I am a public health nerd, yes.

The start of it all: Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. I remembered glancing over the cover several times, but only after my sister recommended I read it, did I finally pick it up and flip through it. Within the first few pages I became engrossed in this non-fiction/historical/anthropological/sociological/east v. west cultural/medical/beautifully written novel, and did not put it down until I read from cover to cover. Yes, I blind-faith entered into the world of public health based on one book.

The last time I read a book from cover to cover was probably the first in the series of The Boxcar Children. I wanted so badly to be one of those four kids, make a home inside a boxcar, scavenge for food.. I digress.

Here we have a how-to public health site c/o the American Public Health Association. One of the first things my BU professors said was that I'd probably have to explain to my family over Thanksgiving dinner what "public health" is and why I just plunked down an obscene amount of money for a degree in it. Well, here's a little nibble of what I've been occupying myself with.


This health care bill has been hogging media attention over the last several months. I'm not here to weigh in on the pros and cons. Just know that I've been called a tree-hugging liberal who loves the world--make your assumptions as you will about whether you think I'd be in favor of, or against universal health care coverage.

What I will say is that compared to other developed nations, we’re spending way too much money, 16% of GDP, to be so far behind our competitor countries. As of 2006, the US ranked 28th in life expectancy. That figure is now 38th, between Cuba and Portugal (UN 2005-2010).

Purely from an economic investment perspective, where's the bang for the buck? There are obvious reasons for why the health care system is the way it is (hi, pharma, lobbyists, private insurance!), but it's about time we join the adults at the big table, don't you think?

Finally, this too, is public health. I've always been interested in law (shhh, don't tell my mom) but I'm still not convinced that law school is in my future. However, I find these cases fascinating. Who knows, if I ever manage to get my hands on a few more hundred thousand dollars, I might add some alphabet soup behind my name.

Lucky No. 7

I was just looking through my calendar, and noted the beginning of my countdown back to the States. As of Feb 1, I have 7 weeks. That is, 7 weeks until I can stop fudging on my resume that I'm an "advanced" Korean speaker, 7 weeks of blissful worry-free living, and 7 weeks of all-you-can-eat kimchee. My aunt made some bomb kimchee.

On the flip side, here's what I'm looking forward to most going back to the US:
1. Apple cinnamon oatmeal: I've searched high and low for it, and nothing. Really, Korea? A Bennigan's but no instant oatmeal?? And in other related news, muesli is $15-$20/bag. WTF!
2. Chipotle burritos and/or Potbelly sandwiches: Dying for each.

     Barbacoa beef with black beans, red tomatillo salsa, pico de gallo,
     lettuce, corn, cheese in a burrito bol + chips and guac + a Diet Coke

     Turkey on wheat with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, extra hot peppers
     + that irresistible chocolate chip oatmeal cookie + a cup of water
     (hey, they give it to you in a legit cup, not serve yourself over there
     w/ a dixie cup and pitcher on top of the trash can)

     BTW: Chipotle is no longer a part of McDonald's as of 2006! Yay I
     can hold my head up high as I shove a burrito in my face.

3. Cooking again! Unfortunately this requires a major schleppage of my belongings from 7 places in 5 cities (I don't know what I was on when I thought this was a good idea, but it must have been good) to SF. But once I get my beloved kitchen gear back in one place, I'm gonna COOK.
4. Alone. Time. I am very much the product of my parents. I can generally talk to whomever and strike up a conversation (Mama). But when I don't want to be around people, I hibernate (Pops).
5. Seeing people I haven't seen in awhile: 9 months is a long time.
6. Life on the West Coast! Hopefully I can get a job and stick around for a little while. Otherwise, my cousins want me back in Korea tout suite.

Should any of the above interest you (sans #4, obvi) and you would like to spend time with yours truly, 7 weeks :)

Stolen Goods

Whomever Jeffrey dates in a few years is going to be very lucky--this kid knows how to show someone a good time. On Saturday, we spent the afternoon together wandering around Seoul. His assignment was to be a tour guide and show his Auntie Nora some of Seoul's highlights. But before he could even show me his map of where we'd be going that day, I dragged the poor kid off the bus for a quick fat-kid-detour to the Doughnut Plant, one of my favorites places in NY. This one in Myung-dong was tasty, but not as good as the original.

Chocolate Cassis + Americano

Unfortunately that was the last picture I was able to take before my camera died out. These next few links are all stolen.

First we passed the tolling of the Bosingak Bell in Jongno-gu. Normally they only do it for New Years, so I don't really know why they were ringing it. I think my tour guide knows, but he was only supposed to speak to me in English, so about 87% of the information was lost in translation. Oh well. After that we walked to Insa-dong, where we climbed the stairs of Ssamji-gil: multiple levels of trinket-dom, antiques, and art. You know I'm a sucker for such things. Then as we were walking around, a group of street performers in a drum circle were dancing and playing the janggu (drum). When we were little, my sisters and I did buchaechoom (fan dance), and the scary-looking drag-queen man who taught us played one, so this was a mildly disturbing flashback.

 

Then we passed pojangmachas (street food carts) selling goon bam (roasted chestnuts) and making Kkuhl Tarae (honey skein):

 

For lunch we went to a restaurant, Koong, famous for their Choraengi Ddukgook with Gaesong (North Korean)-style dumplings. It. Was. So. Good. So good, in fact, that Jeffrey stuffed himself so much at lunch that he got sick before dinner, had to puke, and apparently is still sick the morning after. I admire him for his valiant eating.

After a few art galleries (a sucker for these things as well), we hopped in a cab to the National Folk Museum of Korea, where we strolled through an exhibit of beautiful, flowing hanbok (traditional gowns), and then saw some pansori (traditional folk singing) performances.

 

The pansori was such a flashback moment for me. My grandmother raised me since I was born, and all throughout my life I remember when she was sad, happy, bored--whenever--she would start singing and dancing pansori. I especially remember times where she would cry about longing to go back to Korea and sing a truly mournful song through tears. But she stayed to take care of me and my sisters, even when we mistreated and took her for granted. When I heard the performance I started to tear because I had completely forgotten about that part of her. I always remember my grandmother's cooking and have always regretted not being able to learn from her. But this was buried somewhere and I hadn't thought about it since she passed away twelve years ago. When she passed away, she was in Korea and I didn't have a chance to say goodbye. Not long after she died though, I had a dream about her and we talked about what is going to happen to me now that she's gone. She very calmly said that she and my grandfather are watching over me, and that I'll be fine. Then we said goodbye and she said it's going to be a long time before I see her again.

I'm enjoying being in Korea more than I thought I would. There are parts of my identity that I'm rediscovering and discovering for the first time. I'm so glad I made this decision to come here and take it all in.

Not your granny's panties

It makes me very uncomfortable when the maid hands me my folded underwear. At least the laundry people in Manila hid my thongs and whatnots in between layers of shirts and bed sheets. It was our little "I know your panties are in there, but I'm going to spare you some dignity" secret.

Yes, the maid does my laundry. The nanny (not mine, would be nice though) prepares my lunch. For the next three months, I'll live with my cousin and her family in their posh condo in the center of Seoul. She's an investment banker, he works in securities (I still don't even know what that means), and together they pity me for my career path in the non-profit world.

This is quite a nice change from the past five months in Manila. Don't get me wrong, we lived fairly comfortably in Manila, too. But I went from makes-you-feel-dirty humidity and 87 degrees to the largest snowstorm in Seoul since 1937! And last week we went on holiday (yes, trying to sound pompous) to Yong Pyong, a ski resort 2 hours north of the city. From a beach resort to a ski resort within two weeks... This isn't me bragging, it's me trying to savor every last ounce of easy living. I am very aware that I'll be living off of saltines and gum when I move to SF.

Anyway, allow me to introduce Diana, Julie, and Meena's understudies.

Jeffrey, 12:

Erin, 8

Casey, 7

and little Harin, 15 months.


These little munchkins keep me busy, especially the littlest one, who, every chance she gets, runs towards my laptop to push buttons and cause mayhem.

My goals for the next three months:
1. Stop getting sick hanging out with these munchkins
2. Learn Korean
3. Find some good Ghanel and Praba bags
4. Learn how to cook Korean food
5. Not freeze to death from my lack of winter clothes

If you've just clicked the link on my email to this blog, thanks for actually reading my email!

Unfortunately I've been told that I don't update this blog as frequently as some people would like, so I'll do my best to keep things interesting.

I'm sure my next few months in Korea will inspire some good entries. Until then, here's my "Life So Far" list:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld/Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you were not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been laid off from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Leave of absence

I've started another blog for the time being, to record the next 6 months in Manila. The only reason why I've had to switch is b/c this new blog will be a little more pg13. So, my two readers, won't you join me at Tagalong with Nora?

See you at the Max

Who remembers this? "I'm so excited! I'm so excited!! I'm so.. I'm so scarreeeddd!!!" Oh, Jessie. (Who, btw, is uh... busy)

Children of the '90s, feast your eyes on this gem: