Wow I can’t believe it’s only been 5 weeks since I’ve been out here. I feel like so much life has been lived. I have had the privilege of seeing the countryside up in the boonies twice so far and it’s definitely been an experience. First of all the weather is a lot nicer up north…a lot less heat and it’s DRY. It’s a lot like LA weather. T-shirt and shorts is good enough but sometimes you need a sweater or long sleeve. Yeah that sounds like LA. So at first I really liked it up there and after a few days I started getting antsy. I realized a lot about myself while visiting the countryside. One thing is that I definitely need internet. It’s sad how my life got so dependent on that. It kills me to not know what’s going on in the world, and specifically what’s going on with the lives of friends and family. Another realization is that I can’t just do nothing. I’m not good at just sitting around and relaxing….or just sitting around period. This is probably why I can never actually finish books and why studying for long periods of time is so hard. Yeah going back to school will be tough if I don’t fix that issue. The last thing I realized is that I’m such a city boy. Being up in the boonies got me to appreciate the city. Yeah it’s gross and humid and crowded and everywhere you go it smells like smog and toejam…but it ain’t that bad. I kind of like it (the city that is).

So it’s official. I weighed myself in the gym and I lost 7 lbs so far. I moved two notches in my belt so now my pants and shorts look all retarded with that fold/crease that you get when you’re too skinny for them. I don’t really wear my jeans anymore because they’re on the verge of ripping at the heel and I hate it when that happens. McDonald’s is 24 hours so maybe if I just eat a Big Mac at midnight every day I can gain some weight back…but that’s just gross. I don’t understand how I can lose weight like that. I think I’ve been eating the same amount as when I’m home too. It’s probably because I don’t eat much meat anymore and I sweat like all the time. Ah well.

I started braving it out and eating street food and it’s pretty damn good and cheap. I always order two dishes and it comes to about $1.50 at most. It seems like no one seems to eat a lot here because whenever I order two things they look really confused wondering if I want one or the other and when I have both dishes in front of me people walking by just stare. I mean I honestly don’t think one dish is enough to fill a hungry man…but then again I was raised to eat til I was full. My dad was seriously nervous and sad that I was so puny and small growing up. I remember the days when I had to down two raw eggs everyday and eat Flintstone vitamins to help me grow and gain weight or whatever. Yeah I did that after my dad saw Rocky. That went on for a while until I started yacking after a few weeks of raw eggs. I think that’s how I’m so good at yacking on call.

So sleep is another issue I got over here. My room happens to be like a few meters from the street. I guess when people want to sell things they freakin have these horns that have this annoying honk…and they start doing this at like 6am honking away to draw attention. There are also these pick-up trucks that try to sell you produce driving around with a megaphone telling you (I’m assuming) that they’re selling it and it’s a deal. My hearing’s all sensitive in the morning because of the one ear thing so I wake up every single time. It’s been a little over a week now where I’ve had 상꺼플(sp?) on my right eye. Yeah.

On the brighter side I know enough of the language to get around and order things at restaurants. Nice. I practice with the neighborhood people at night so it’s been getting better (I think?)…unless they just gave up on me and just nod when they really have no idea what the hell I’m saying. Also, pac-10 champions for the first time in 50 years is a pretty damn good feeling. Thank you Monty for being a normal coach, cuz honestly that’s something we shouldn’t take for granted, sadly.

day 9.

Apparently this is around the coolest time of the year and I’m dripping in sweat just sitting around. It’s not so much the heat as much as it is the humidity that makes it miserable. I can’t imagine it being more humid than this. ..it feels like a really weak sauna, like when the sauna in LA Fitness is broken but works a little bit. I’m the type that doesn’t sweat too much, but sweat easily. I never have that T-shirt drenched in sweat look but sweat comes so easily on me. I hear at around April it’ll get worse so maybe I’ll just buy myself a mini a/c unit and just blast it wherever I go.  Hopefully my body gets used to the weather. If not, then yeah I can’t hang…

It’s only been a little over a week and I’m pretty sure I already lost weight. Just from water loss alone I think I feel like I lost a good 5 pounds. I had to move over to the next notch in my belt. Not good. There’s this really nice gym in the mall near me. The monthly dues are a little more than LA Fitness but there’s no initiation fee. Since I’m not eating nearly well as I have been back at home, the only way to keep my weight is working out. I’m not sure if I can resume Shaun T because that much sweating can’t be good for me…especially in this weather.

The internet in the house has been out for a few days. Hopefully it’ll get fixed in the next couple days. I realized how dependent I am on the internet. Honestly, it’s pretty tough to live here without internet. Down the street in front of this paint shop there’s wireless called default. I take a stool to sit on and just sit in the corner with my iphone jacking the internet. iphone is pretty good.  Dennis Chon, you are the definition of a man…don’t know how you can live for that long without connecting to the outside world. That’s why you’re a man, and I’m a little boy.

Since I’m out here, I will not be making a wager on the superbowl. Colts should win…but I’m down for the Saints.  How can you not want the Saints to win? Such a great story. A few years ago they were last place. The city was pretty hopeless with Katrina going on..and now they’re on the verge of becoming superbowl champions. If i were to bet, I’d probably bet on Colts winning straight up or Saints with the spread though. Maybe a smaller bet on Saints straight up. I basically have to get up really early and go to some hotel to watch the game. Prop bets should make it fun…1st score will be a TD. Colts score first. less than 3.5 FGs made. Gatorade on winning coach is yellow. Longest FG over 35 yards. Peyton will throw a pick. $50 on each. Let’s see how much I would’ve lost lol.

Oh yeah, and lastly. GO BEARS. Story of Cal’s life..inconsistency. How do you lose to whack USC, then beat UCLA by 14. It’s really frustrating how it’s so easy to win the Pac 10 this year yet we’re not taking it.  Couldn’t watch the game because the PC bang doesn’t open that early. Seriously, we need the internet fixed in the house soon. I guess I’ll resort to reading books. Good thing I never read, not really good at it.

day 3.

I figure I’ll start having one of these for those who are curious about how I’m doing out here. Obviously this will be a bit superficial since I can’t really share what I do.  I feel like this will just be a way for me to talk about sports but who knows what will go down. Anyway, life out here ain’t too bad.  Since I basically just had a week to prepare myself to come out here, it never really hit me that I’ll be out here in the States. What’s funny is it still really hasn’t hit me yet….like feeling it in my bones…nope that hasn’t happened yet.  Nothing yet has been close to that feeling/moment when I was in Korea for the first time in my adult life a few years ago sitting in the orange line of the subway (Line 3 I believe) and just people watching and thinking to myself, “Damn I’m in Korea now” with a stupid smile in my face…probably looked crazy creeper…yeah that hasn’t happened to me yet here.

I spent the last couple days exploring the city a little bit and it’s not too impressive for me. Maybe it’s the 90 degree weather with gold bond humidity…or maybe in the back in my mind I was thinking it’ll be like Korea/Japan but nope, I got more of a China feel here. Everything looks very similar to Beijing…except people are a bit darker I guess.

Got an oil massage for 2 hours and that was amazing…can explain further in private. Sounds so shady damn. Checked out the shady districts and yeah, it ain’t too crazy.  But while I was there I saw a couple little girls (maybe like 8/9 years old) selling roses in the streets. These girls were so cute yet it was so sad to see this is the life they’re basically stuck in. I guess it does help for whoever owns them/their parents? to use kids to sell so it tugs at the human heart, especially for foreigners. I dunno, seeing that pissed me off more than anything. Injustice sucks.

I thought I could receive texts while I’m here, so the AT&T chick said but nope. So I use my phone for basically 3 things: camera, music, and to check my e-mail when I wake up because I’m too lazy to use my computer. Wi-Fi is great. Oh yeah, I forgot gold bond and the cable to link my camera to my computer. Whack. Never used gold bond but I hear it’s amazing.

Lastly, GO BEARS. Seriously, if we don’t win the Pac 10 and make me my money this year that is pretty sad. Pac 10 is pretty weak and it’s ours to lose.  Jorge Gutierrez. LOL. So legit. He reminds me of Joakim Noah with the way his hustle and look. And the dodgers need to get serious with the pitching staff if we want to go beyond the 1^st round. I’m just down for 1 new starter that can guarantee us 15 wins. Just 15. It ain’t that hard. Chan Ho Park got it three times in his career, and that was when he was fresh off the boat living off of geem and kochujang. Let’s go Collett, make it happen.

Hello world!