Day 2, Woohoooo!

At 4am this morning I was wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide awake. Partially because I was kinda cold, my nose was freezing, and partially because I'd slept a lot by then. When we arrived in the apartment it had been closed up, heat off an everything, so th room temperature (when I finally figured out how to turn on my thermostat!) was at 14 degrees. I had the heat on all night. In Korea the heat comes through the floor, yummy warm floors, freezing concrete walls. I spent the night wrapped like a mummy in my heavy comforter and contemplated several times getting up to put more clothing on. I think I was in bed by about 8:30pm local, so really it should not have been a surprise to me that I woke up so early! The surprising part is more that my nose, sticking out from the covers, feels as it does when I go CAMPING!!!!!! Small other problem that requires fixing is that fact that my pillow is so hard that I woke up after sleeping on my side with a sharp pain in my ear as the cartilidge returned to it's normal position when I lifted my head. The bed was wonderful, the cover was warm (when you're not camping!) and I think even Mags had a good sleep when she finally settled in. On the subject of sleep, I have decided that if the apartment is not warmer by the time I'm ready for bed we will be sleeping on the warm heated floor with the mattress pad and blanket, cuz freezing and sleeping kinda mix like peanut butter and pea soup!

Waking up this morning in the dark I was acutely aware that we were "not in Kansas anymore," and it made me smile beneath the covers that were tucked up my nose as I remembered that we're off on an adventure. My apartment won't be ready for a few days so I won't be able to spend the next couple of days nesting, but I will take some time to walk around, get my bearings, figure out where the heck I live and what's around me. After laying in bed until about 5 I just couldn't do it anymore, so I got up and started getting ready for the day. Mags and I had jolly pong for breakfast (kinda like honey-coated puffed wheat) with a terrible cafe latte from the quickie mart. I looked out the window for awhile watching the traffic trickle through the toll gateway to Seoul (it realy didn't stop all night), and made a mental note to buy a plug adaptor for the computer so I could play music to cover the traffic. Of course once I made that mental note I had to go dig out my notebook (a lovely little magnatized book from the guys at work) and list the other few things I'd like to pick up while I'm out and about today. Last night I wished I'd brought a bar of soap and a hair care set so that I could shower, but I went out to the quickie mart and picked a couple of little things before heading to bed. After showering I remembered that I didn't pack a towel, so I dried off with my tshirt (we've all done that, right!??), and added 'towels' to my list. Once Saturday arrives and I know what I have and what I'm missing from my apartment I can do a nesting shopping trip, but until then a few things will do.

This morning when the sun finally came up I decided that Mags and I should go for a walk. Let me just say: IT'S FREAKIN' COLD OUTSIDE!!!! It's really not that bad temperature-wise, the snow on the freeway is mush where the cars are driving, It snowed about 5cm while we were sleeping, and you can just feel the moisture in the air when you're outside. Wearing a sweater, my hoodie and my down vest with my cute little toque I'm plenty warm enough (mental note: gloves), but I'm going to pick up some kind of jacket this morning when I go shopping. I put Mags in her little Team Canada t-shirt for the walk (yes, I bought my dog a tshirt) and out we went into the slush. Maintenance/parking guys were out with snow shovels clearing the business sidewalks on the main streets, and shopkeepers were out with plastic-bristled brooms clearing their storefront sidewalks of snow. I was going to take a picture but my fingers were already too cold, lol, I'm a terrible Canadian, unable to handle snow and cold!! We only walked around the block since it was so cold... just down and across the street I already found a Starbuck's (right out my door practically, I don't know if that's good or bad?!), and there's a Holly's Coffee on the 2nd level directly across from me. There are lots of other businesses as well, but it will take me some time to calm my brain and read through all of the signs. So far I have found 1 PC room down the block and up an alley, and 3 in my school building... 3!! Mags was alternating feet halfway through our walk since she was cold, so I picked her up and carried her the rest of the way home, silly pup - the snow will be gone soon or I'd be thinking about getting her new boots... what is this world coming to?? :)

For now, it's about 20 after 8 so I'm going to save this to my zip drive and try to find a PC room that's already open (assuming that they ever close?). Then I'm going to taxi over to my old neighbourhood to pick up a few necessities (and a couple extras!) so I can be a little more comfortable here at home. 'Kettle' and 'mug' just went on the list so I can make some tea... at least I'll be warm on the inside until the heat gets here!! Guess the good news is that I'll have lots of time to work on my paper since everyone I know is working! Hope you've had a wonderful day at home, and I kinda hope that you're warmer than I am!! Talk again soon... S.