We're gearing up for mid-terms in a week, and the Korean teachers have been hard at work. As for us conversation teachers, we are looking forward to the next few weeks. When exam time comes around, our classes are usually taken over by the co-teachers whose classes are less prepared for the exams. This is usually about half of them, and I get a lot more free time to do lesson planning and fool around online.
I've also taken on an extra 2 classes a week after school to earn some extra cash, but the student attendance has slowly been dwindling and I've actually had to cancel the next 2 weeks of classes because the kids told me they were not coming because the need to study. Thank you diligent students!
In other news...
I threw out my back about 3 weeks ago after a rather intense game of badminton. I have thrown my back out before, but I have usually just rested and the pain has dissipated into oblivion. Also, ever since my second year of college, I have had lower back pain which I mainly attributed to my being overweight. I've dropped about 30 pounds this year, and the pain is still there.
I also visited my girlfriend's blind acupuncture doctor (click here for my January post if you need a refresher) and he told me that my spine is twisting and should be fixed as soon as possible so I don't look like this guy when I'm older:
I thought about visiting her doctor for treatment, but his office is over an hour away on the subway, and I would have to visit 2-3 times a week. He also closes his office at 6pm, and I get out of work around 4:30-5:00. This would NOT be ideal...
Instead, we found a local chiropractor about a 1 minute walk from my apartment. (Top Chiropractor) The chiropractor is also blind, but handles only a small portion of the treatment. The main treatment is done by a physical therapist who has the hands of a God. I laid on a heated bed as this small Korean man worked miracles. I could feel the pain in my back being pushed out my shoulders, then my arms and out through my fingers. The treatment is not exactly cheap. Either $50 per visit, or $700 for 20 visits. (I have to do the 20 visits of course). I also have to do some small exercises every day to strenghten some muscles. Also, I am supposed to sleep straight like a corpse. This will not happen easily, as I tend to move a lot in my sleep and usually sleep on my side or stomach. The day after my first treatment I felt super sore from the massage, but hopefully it will go away as the treatments progress.
heated beds
This is my blind chiropractor (and obviously not me)
On Saturday night...
Good friends, good times.
and good food!
The food was amazing as usual, although it is overpriced and they are pretty strict on some of their policies. (like everyone at the table must order a main dish in order to be able to use the salad bar. Sorry, not everyone wants to pay $20 for a main dish!) All in all, it was still a good time, and I got to see our Korean friends, and meet some other friends of hers as well.
On Sunday...
We visited Yeoido, a spot known for it's park on the Han River which neighbors the National Assembly Building (Seoul's Capital building). This spot is also particularly known for it's cherry blossoms. And they were beautiful! Check out the photos!
Cherry blossoms
and more...
and more...
and more!
Just the two of us..
National Assembly Building
A Bridge Over River Han
A night view of Seoul and the National Assembly Building (far right)
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