Acupuncturist in Songtan (near Osan AFB)

Information is important, when you find information do not hoard it share it, read my story. 


Well, Corean beds are not the softest or most comfortable beds on earth.  Traditionally speaking, Coreans eat dinner on the floor, sit on the floor, and sleep on the floor.  Often, I wonder if this is the reason the beds are so hard here.  This did not just become a problem for me, but many other "Westerners" share this common experience of back pain.  I'd never really had issues with my back, unless I was not sitting properly in a chair for hours at a desk working on a computer, other than that I would say I didn't have any issues.  Being in another country some of the items I would use to get my back into shape were not readily available to me.  I typically lay on a home massage pad for an hour and I'm fine.  So, I had to find other means of getting my back into shape until I could bring my massage pad back to Corea.  Why not see an acupuncturist?  There was an office right in front of my bus stop. Was I scared is what most people asked?  I was only scared to go in there to as them if they spoke English. I was more scared of that than the needle.  So, one day I called and one lady told me to "hold just a minute" and to my surprise there was one assistant who spoke English, so I made an appointment & went in the next day.  The doctor spoke some English too.  I was so pleased.  I am not the most easiest going person in the world, but for situations like these I can be pretty cool.  Also, the pain went away. He said I needed to go to 3 sessions. I can't remember if I went to 2 or 3 sessions. I am pretty hard-headed, so I probably went to 1.5 sessions...hehe! The point is the pain ceased & its a good option if you are not afraid of this type of procedure & it lasted about 45 mins total, no waiting time. 


What we have here is a doctor who speaks English well enough to service Westerners, but its almost as if it is a secret, its not advertised. I wanted to share my experience. So, that if any of you have this same issue and you are in the area or nearby you can visit the office.  He is located across from the Woori Bank in Songtan next to a bread store. I cannot remember the name, but the name Dr. Kim Acupuncture is labeled in English on a white and black sign. Here is the phone number and their hours are really decent. They are only closed on Sundays. 


Dr Kim Acupuncturist
031) 662-1075
Songtan, South Korea

Weight Loss in Corea (Korea)

Losing weight has always been a journey for me.  I was a heavy kid, teenager and now an adult.  I've never tried to hide that or been completely insecure about my weight.  Hmm... you're probably wondering, what does she mean by "completely?"   Well, I've always felt pretty, never felt ugly, well I've had my moments just like any other person.  I always felt comfortable in my skin for the most part.  However, apart of me still felt like I needed to lose weight.  Don't worry! I'm not going to sale you on the typical saying "I did it to be healthier."  Even though I was overweight no doctor ever brought up my weight as a concern, ever!  In fact, at 200 lbs I was able to run nearly 2 miles.  Anything past that I'd get distracted, lol.  So, could I have done more?  Probably.


So, why I lost weight now?  For starters, I knew that I needed to do something career-wise after leaving Corea.  The military had been an option in my mind since they called me up my Junior or Senior year in high school, just like they do everyone else.  However, I could never lose the weight.  Actually, the weight requirements were stricter 10 years ago, but they have since changed in 2004 (don't quote me on the date.)  So, actually at that time, if the guidelines had been adjusted in 2000, I would have qualified.  Well, since I was coming to Corea I figured that it maybe easier here, for me to accomplish this lifelong task.  Most people think that I lost weight in Corea because of their food.  I mean we always hear that other countries have healthier food compared to the USA, so I was excited about this new challenge.  However, it quickly came to a halt once I discovered I didn't like Corean food. :( It just wasn't very tasty to me at all.  I heard I hadn't given it a chance, but I tried, school food, homemade food, restaurant food, and different kinds of food and I was running out of options.


So, this is when my weight loss journey really began.  I didn't lose weight by starving myself or disliking food because believe me there is plenty of junk food around here.  Since, weight is such a big deal here.  It is very inexpensive to go to a weight loss clinic.  I started going to a weight loss clinic and started seeing results rather quickly.  I also started making better choices.  Do I still eat "happy" foods?  Yes, but I eat them a lot less here than I did back home.  Another, huge benefit is public transportation is used frequently here.  There are more stairs to climb, more sidewalks to walk, compared to back home where I just walk 5-10 steps and I meet my car in the driveway and take off. Also, my highest amount of weight loss was during the summer. The summers here are like Texas, they're brutal.  So, I would sweat my clothes of getting around town.  And sometimes it can be so embarrassing because Coreans do not sweat. They have different sweat glands, so it's much harder and less likely for them to sweat. 


So, for the big question everyone wants to know, when I came to Corea October 2009 I don't know my exact weight, but when I started going to Dr. Sung's Clinic in Hannam-dong, Seoul, in February 2010, I weighed in at 91 kg, which is 200 lbs.  I am now 78-79 kg, 170 ish lbs... yes I am telling you my weight because that's what confidence is about.  I lost 30 pounds in about 8 months and have been holding it down.  I've definitely had my rough patches, but my cheerleaders have gotten me through it (S/o: To my Mommie, and friends Nancy Bassett, Keysha Baynes, and especially Elsie Dorzin for going to Dr. Sung's with me at a last minutes notice, early Saturday mornings. :D P.S - I miss you girls! If I forgot you I'm so sorry I'll make up for it later.)  However, I am trying to lose more, but I have been struggling for the past few months up and down between 5 lbs.  I know I can do better with my eating and exercising, so I am making no promises, but I am going to do my best.  I won't be telling you my goal weight, but if I make it to the goal weight you will be seeing a special blog about that, so you don't have to ask, but thanks in advance for your concerns & support. 


I hope this blog provides some encouragement & gives you some other incites to my Life in Corea! :)


Purpose of my weight loss:  I am losing the weight because I felt like for me, considering my shape, height, facial structure, and a lot of other things... it was a good idea physically for me to slim down.  I mean I gotta turtle's neck, so I have to make it slim down, just a lil ;) hehe! (Note: This is not a time to analyze my photos.) ;P 


God bless, good luck to everyone, remember you have 5 weeks left of 2011, so get it poppin' now!  I hope this blog helps. 


Dr. Sung OBGYN
Hyundai Liberty House 3rd Floor
Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02) 790-0802 
Hours: M-F 9A-5P, Sat 9A-1P


(Note: The entire staff speaks English, some Chinese & Japanese services are provide as well.) 

Comic of the Day (COD) II "Bus Drivers"

So, I'm standing at the light waiting for it to change, so I can't walk across the street.  I look up and this bus driver is creeping down the street with his bus door open, staring at me slowly. Really dude!? You really need to be focusing on your driving technique.

Bus Driver #2.... a completely different day.... I'm sitting at the bus stop waiting for my bus to come. It's a longer wait than normally, so I sat on the bench to relax myself. A bus driver with his door open again (which isn't completely abnormal.) winks at me... I wasn't sure how to take that... but laughed hard! I hope it wasn't a flirty wink, but it sure seemed and felt like it. Hahaha! I think I laughed a good 30 seconds. ;)

Stayed tuned for more COD's! :D

Comic of the Day (COD)

As you've probably figured out by now. I don't blog much, but when I do it's usually something that needs to be shared. 


I gave my students English names per my assistants request. It was perfect timing because it was the first class, and of course the first lesson was "What is your name?" We drilled it for a while, then I went around the room to see who understood it, the kids were paired into partners of 2.  Everyone was doing great.... I get to the last group... 


Me: What's your name? 
Jack: I'm Tiger.
Tiger: Noooo, your Jack.


Ok, let's do it again.


Me: What's your name?
Jack: I'm Tiger.
Tiger: Jack!!!


Ok, 3rd times a charm. My student looks so confused... but we're doing it again, because my students have got to be stellar, eh!? ;) I'll let Tiger start this time. 


Tiger: What's your name? 
Jack: I'm Ti..... Jack? 


Hehe!! Kids are too funny! So, we didn't get it on the first try, but we did finally on the 4th and final try. :) YAY! I'll practice his English name with him more. : ) 

Run Skubi Run...

Its Sunday night and I just went out to get some bread from Paris Baguette, they have them on every corner.  As I was coming back, I could feel the presence of someone staring at me.  He's a middle age Corean man staring at me.  I'm thinking that I am going to just ignore him today and not turn around or anything.  (Keep in mind this happens to us daily here.)  Ha! But me being me (Skubi.)  I turned around anyways and looked at him to let him know I see you staring and I am human.  Before I can even turn my neck all the way around I see this dude stop dead in his tracks, still in shock.  You'd think because I've finally made some kind of eye contact with him he'd finally snap out of it, but he doesn't.  Then I see he starts reaching in his pocket digging for his phone.  Oh no! I know what is going to happen next... Yep you guessed it he is going to try to take a picture of me.  In my mind, this isn't a freak museum.  So, I thought of the "Manikin Stunt Double Routine" (I'm sure I won't tell the story just as good, but here goes... A foreigner in one of our Facebook groups named "Brothas & Sistas of South Korea" posted a comment during a discussion about "Coreans staring" He stated, once he was in a store, these guys were driving by, saw him and stopped their car to look at him, so since he was near a couple of manikins he decided to be one too! Lol!  Of course, the guys in the truck were, so confused.  I think after they started driving off he ran and started laughing at them.)  While he was digging for his phone I looked for a place to hide, but I couldn't find one, instead I decided I had one choice left.... RUN!!!  I ran hahahahhahaa and turned the corner, that man is probably still digging for his phone! 


I love my life!! *Follow My Life in South Corea*

On the verge of hate... (Diary of a Mad Black Woman Off The Bus)

I'm fed up! I just can't do it anymore! This is the second bus driver to refuse to let me on the bus.  Is he just a punk or is it me!?  I wish I knew why he wouldn't let me on the bus.  I mean he was still sitting there and I ran for it... gosh!  This is one of those moments you consider it as racism.  I'm a tough lady, but I gotta say that hurt my feelings and I started to tear up after the second time, that was really the third.  I mean to get punked like that in front of all those people.  Argh!  However, I held it in pretty good.  Just as I was on the verge of hate and possibly late for work... I was ready to say forget this foolishness.  As I was waiting on the next bus that was 15 minutes away he grabbed my arm from behind, smiled, and gave me that "hello" look.  He looked as if he was so glad to see me.  I never even saw him coming.  He was an older Corean man, a little slouched in his posture, taking a Saturday stroll.  Right there at that moment, the hate disappeared from my heart, soul and mind.  I was able to move forward with my day and at least forget about the bus driver for the rest of the day.  I was too important to worry myself over something I'd never completely understand, and so was the old man who touched not just my arm, but my heart that Saturday afternoon. 


*This is My Life in Corea* 

GEPIK Budget Cuts... will this be a new trend in Corea? Is this an excuse or true? Thoughts...

I use to work for this school district. Please see this article for more information about the budget cuts within GEPIK. (Gyeonggi-do English Program In Korea) I think its sad that it has come to this. I also think that the students will suffer now, because they will go without a foreign language teacher for who knows how long! Also, I think that based on my experience with my co-teachers in Korea most Koreans do not have a strong fluency in English to teach to any grade level. Some teacher are doing well, but still need more practice. What are your thoughts? See the below article. GEPIK Budget CUTS!!!

Kim YuRi's Phone Tutoring Service

If you are in need of a English Phone Teacher please click the link :) Kim YuRi's Phone Tutoring Service I

The 63rd Building - Tallest building in Corea - Korea

My friends & I visited the tallest building in Corea - Korea. Currently, one of the main features of The 63rd Building is it's Wax Museum which contains a Haunted House. Look at my friends being scared as I videotape them. In the beginning you will mostly hear voice, but keep watching you will hear and see some funny things. Enjoy and as always thanks for reading and blogging along with me! :)

Click here to see The Haunted House video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1rJHYSq4KE