never stop exploring

Current favorite dish: Bulgogi (a popular Korean dish)

My first experience with Korean food was somewhat of a comical tragedy. Although I already had a palette for international cuisines such as Japanese and Thai food, I really was not prepared for the Korean experience. I spent half of the meal time trying to figure out kimchi, or why Koreans prefer to eat soup while it's still boiling. (Ouch..goodbye taste buds). The other half of the meal time was spent giggling with Rachel over how intense one of our fellow diners was about doing everything the Korean way while we ate. He was too intense to even notice we were on the verge of hysterics.

I am happy to announce, however, that I've become quite fond of the Korean dishes I've recently had. There's a Japanese & Korean restaurant next to the bank that I've been to twice, and I'm already craving their lunches on a daily basis (although I'm not sure my intestines could handle that). Bulgogi is where it's at, so I highly recommend...with a side of hot sauce if you can. The owner gave me a side of fried anchovies to try, and I can't say I shared his enthusiasm over how good they'd be. And they weren't. It was possibly the fishiest aftertaste I've ever had.

Unlike my initial experience with Korean food, my first impressions of LaSalle's graduate classes were immediately favorable. The classes are relatively small (only about 20 people), the professors are warm yet sharply professional and my peers seem friendly. Last night I began the fall semester with Effective Presentations, originally called Advanced Oral Communication. This one's going to be a stretch for me. While I love talking to people, I usually prefer it to be one-on-one. In the past, I've only been comfortable talking in front of larger groups when the context is instructional (i.e. teaching a dance class). As an ice-breaker, we had to bring in a sentimental object and present it to the class. I enjoyed doing this, but for a second I thought I heard my lisp return and I freaked out. :P Anyway, I'm looking forward to improving as a speaker.

Tonight I had my second class, Leadership & Interpersonal Communication, and it was nice to see familiar faces from the Wednesday night class. This class appears to be heavier on the reading and writing, so it's right up my alley. What impresses me already about these classes is how I can see them practically applying to any job I'll have, including my current job as a teller.

I was approved to work a few more hours at the bank each week, so my new schedule is Monday, Tuesday, Friday, & Saturday. This means I won't have to work on the days I have classes, so I'll avoid those long days of going straight from work to class. Good stuff.

"owen doesn't have a friend!"

Quote of the weekend: "A beagle could turn him on" - my mother referring to Bret Michaels

My mother is by far one of the funniest people I've ever known. I grew up people-watching with her, finding humor in the every-day happenings just as they do in Seinfeld. Needless to say, we have several inside jokes about public faux pas we've observed or experienced, and still crack up over reenactments. Scenes from Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Throw Momma from the Train will never get old, and neither will personal phrases like "[he/she] could complicate a fart." There's a timeless comedy between us.

Jon and I weren't in NJ an hour before my mother was showing us an episode of Chappelle's Show, and we were cracking up like silly little kids. Her new place is in walking distance to a delicious Mexican restaurant called Senoritas, so earlier we had strolled over there for dinner on Friday. Being home and chowing down with mom was relaxing after a stop-and-go commute from Philly, but finally hanging out in the new apartment was luxurious (especially compared to my apartment!). I don't know much about feng shui but I think my mom and Fred have achieved it - the place is so peaceful and inviting.

The rest of the weekend was spent visiting more family and hanging out with some friends I hadn't seen in a long time. Jon finally had the opportunity to spend time with friends I grew up with, and it's amazing how video games/the internet can easily acclimate one guy with another. You never know how well worlds will collide, so it's a very fortunate thing when they get along.

Tomorrow night is my first class at LaSalle, and even though I'm not sure what to expect, I'm very excited. Since I didn't receive the assistantship, I have the availability to work more than my scheduled 20 hours at the bank so I'm hoping that's possible - it would help my finances greatly :c) I'll keep you posted!

rapping to Fresh Prince never gets old

Jersey pride moment of the day: ordering a panini called the Soprano from the Noshery cafe for lunch.

You know, I've never been one of those people to broadcast my NJ pride. When many of my college friends first met me they thought I was from a small town in PA until they heard my "accent." In fact, someone actually thought I was from France freshman year. When I asked him why, he said, "Because you were quiet and wore dress pants a lot."

So I don't exactly embody the typical Jersey girl. (I do however love the Sopranos, Bon Jovi, going down the shore, tattoos and cutting over several highway lanes at a time...that counts for something, right?). Regardless, I miss the bajesus out of New Jersey and all the dearly loved faces and places that wait for me there. Just thinking about going home this weekend gave me an extremely comforting feeling today.

This weekend I'll be seeing my mom and stepdad's new place for the first time, which sounds beautiful. It's in a "New York luxury" styled apartment building, and my mom is crazy about having central air and elevators. She deserves every bit of it and I can't wait to enjoy enjoy it with her.

Hopefully I get out of work early tomorrow so I can get on my way to the good ole Garden State Parkway. Tomorrow I actually get to start processing basic teller transactions (with guidance) so wish me luck!

pedestrians, cyclists and other goobers

Message-tee of the day: "Rock my world" on a woman who could have been my grandmother

If there's one thing I don't like about cities, it's driving in them. Not because I don't like to drive - in fact, I love to drive - but because people are generally selfish behind the wheel in a survival-of-the-fittest sort of way. At times, yours truly is no exception either.

The first time I found my way to the Delaware Expressway from my apartment I was honestly scared to be seen in my car at every stop light. I was alone, young, female and in a nicer car than the area regularly sees. I seriously thought to myself, "Man I wish I had tinted windows...then for all these people know, I could be a huge dude and no one would mess with Huge Dude." Then I laughed at myself and realized no one standing by cared.

By now, my morning drive to the expressway has become comfortable and natural. I'm no Jenny from the block, but I feel familiar. All that aside, the commute to and from work is by no means stress-free. Philadelphia is rich with street habits that could give you gray hairs, such as:

• Pedestrians, pedestrians and more pedestrians who slowly cross when cars have the green light, and sometimes then linger in the street
  
• Double-parked vehicles, from minivans to industrial trucks
• Septa buses that stop just as the light turns green
• Septa buses that make wide turns, forcing the line of cars to reverse
• Service vehicles that block driveways
• Occasionally sharing the road with trolley cars
  
• Bicyclists who weave as they ride alongside the street
  
• People who leave their park car door wide open into the lane

Because I encounter at least three of these every day, my driving is adapting and I'm less and less bothered. So if you're ever in Philly and you encounter any of these, then no, you're not taking crazy pills.

rainy days

(overheard) quote of the day: "She must have had a lot of Christ in her" - in reference to a mother who forgave her daughter's murderer

It's been raining in Philadelphia for the past three days, and I love it. I haven't had to use my air conditioner and yesterday I even bust out a light sweater for work. Take that, humidity. Can you tell I'm not a fan of summer?

So as many of you know, I've recently begun my part-time job as a bank teller. I've been training since Thursday, and I've already observed some crazy happenings. Two different people tried to cash fraudulent checks, a homeless man came into the bank for food and when an associate offered him Cheez-its he said "I don't eat cheese crackers" (with an attitude I might add), and a very unstable man became uncontrollable when he couldn't find his card. Already I can tell that this job will be a very eye-opening experience, and I have to say I'm looking forward to being challenged and embracing it.

Other than starting my new job and waiting for classes to begin, I've become quite the trash magnet for reality TV. Yes, I watch Rock of Love. And America's Next Top Model. (And LA Ink). But I do watch some quality shows like Clean House and until recently, So You Think You Can Dance. Before moving to Philadelphia, I was never into TV this much. I definitely attribute my new affinity for these shows to being unemployed for all of July.

I promised myself I would try to keep this blog going, especially since I feel like every day I spend in this city I observe something worth noting. So consider this my casual report of what's going on with all of my newness (and occasionally, what's going on with Philadelphia weather). I miss you friends!