Smokers

Background:

I've never been fond of smokers. I've always detested the smell and it's been one of the things that bothers me A LOT about people.
I don't like the smoke in my face.
I don't want second hand smoke.
I don't like the smell.
I don't understand the why.
Why would you risk getting lung cancer?
Why?
I told myself I would never marry a smoker. Smoking was a definite deal breaker.

Korea:

Notice the past tense sentences used above... I was in Korea last spring and guess what?! A grand majority of people smoke!! Smokers everywhere! Cafes would even have smoking areas! At first I was completely annoyed and bothered by this. People would be walking in front of you, behind you, next to you, past you, all while smoking. I would have smoke coming at me left and right. I spent a lot of time being annoyed by this because people had no sense of "courtesy" in the sense of blowing smoke your way. I put quotations on that because I'm pretty sure it was a culture thing. (Like a lot of things were). However, things turned around when one of my classmates who I spent a lot of time with outside of class, turned out to be a smoker.  He didn't have the "smoker aroma" on him and he was pleasant to be around with. I would've never guessed he was a smoker if it wasn't for the fact that he carried a box of cigarettes with him whenever we hung out. Sometimes we would be walking together as he smoked. Sure I would ask him not to smoke around me but I also became tolerable of it.
It wasn't such a detestable thing anymore.
I didn't need to pretend I was dying when smoke was blown my way.
I realized it was possible to like smokers.
It was possible to spend good quality time with them too.
No, I wasn't convinced to smoke myself but I could be around people who smoke with a pleasant attitude.

Smoking in the Workplace:

All was dandy with my relationship with smokers until I started working... Smoking is allowed where I work which means that those who smoke.. smoke. And smoke they do! If you want to smoke by all means go ahead. It started going downhill when people constantly need to go on a "smoke break" and it becomes social hour for the smokers. Meanwhile those who don't smoke continue working without that break. It might be silly or whatever but it can also be annoying. I don't know maybe I'm just rambling but these are simply my thoughts.

Now:

Now I have no general category for smokers. I've experienced the good and the bad. I have nothing else to say except I won't judge you but I'll be quietly annoyed haha.. just kidding. Everyone has small battles to face daily and I guess this might be one of mine. Learning to work with all sorts of people and loving them anyways.

Have a good day!! :)

Psychology in the Workplace

Work can be very stressful, especially when we are understaffed. I was so happy the other day because we had extra staff during my shift. I thought to myself that because we had so many I would get a break and that the work would be divided among all of us so that it was quicker. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I've realized that the more staff we have, the less we get done. :( I was quite upset because I still ended up doing the same amount of work and it actually took longer. When we get more staff there is more talking amongst ourselves and we also tend to go off of each other's energy or in this case lack of. hehe... As I thought about this I remembered there is actually a psychological term for it. This is called social loafing. Google defines it as the phenomenon of people exerting less effort to achieve a goal when they work in a group than when they work alone.

The sad reality is that the more staff on shift, the less productive we will be. But on the bright side, the more the merrier right? Well I guess it depends on the staff member but it's still nice haha..

So there you have it... psychology in the workplace... social loafing. 

Staying Alive in Korea

I think it’s important to give some background info before beginning: I’M CLUMSY.

With that said, my goal in Korea is to remain alive, seriously! Since I’ve gotten here everyday is a struggle not to get run over by the many motorcyclists or moped drivers that cross the street with you and brush by you millimeters away. They zoom by without even looking back. It is your duty to make sure to move out of their way as they push their way through. If that wasn’t a danger enough, red lights, a suggestion to stop. The number of people who run red lights is astonishing. It’s not just one rebel driver but one after another after another. When they say look twice before crossing, you better! The green pedestrian sign may have turned out but it’s not safe to cross yet.. by any means! And if you think you’re gonna cross the street before it turns red, dont! It’s better to wait. I thought I could run across because it was still blinking but cars take that as the majority have crossed I can now run the red light. So yes I have stopped dead in my tracks infront of a couple cars!

However, traffic hasn’t been the only thing taunting to take my life. I’m just accident prone and very distracted. I’ll be wandering gazing up at the sky, lost in thought as my friends pull me aside from an oncoming motorcyclist. Well, I guess that counts as traffic too  but if I’m not bumping into things I’m tripping by own shoes. Literally.!

I went hiking over the long weekend, which is the only holiday we get during the semester, and well let me tell you I thought I wouldn’t see home again. I was literally hiking with my hands and feet. I thought that going hiking meant bringing a lot of water and so I had three water bottles on me as well as my iPad for picture taking all adding up to a heavy backpack. At one point I was standing on the edge, lost my balance, and fell over. I kept sliding downwards and ended up stopping at a very dangerous edge. I scratched up my hands which resulted in me not being able to hold on to rocks and trees with my right hand because it stung. The higher we got up, the more frightened I became because if I fell this time I really wouldn’t be leaving the mountain. I’m glad to say I made it safely to and from and the view was gorgeous.

On a different occasion my friend asked me to go bike riding. (My past history with bike riding involves almost getting run over and a scar on my palm.) So my response was I know how to ride a bicycle but I wouldn’t say I’m the best bike rider. She looks at me confused and says, what do you mean? Well, I don’t have the best experience or much experience bike riding. I learned how to do it but that’s about it. But I’m still up for it. That’s the problem, I’m always “up for it” but it never results pleasantly. So we went bike riding and of course me being short I couldn’t reach the floor while the bike seat was at its lowest. So I was up to a rough and zig zag start and my friend just looks at me with the most worried expression on her face. We rode past signs that warned not to fall in to the river with your bicycle. Well lucky for me we didn’t take the route closest to the river (or else that would’ve been me) but upon returning on what seemed like a successful bike ride I was having trouble stopping and I couldn’t really reach the floor to stop it with my feet and well the bike suddenly became heavier and next thing you know we’re both sideways. 

I think this gives a good explanation as to why my goal has become to stay alive in Korea. I absolutely love it here and there is so much to do and explore but somehow I always end up in the danger zone. I think I have gotten used to it so it’s become my normal. I’m always up for the adventure and well it leads to fun stories to tell. I just hope I live to tell them.

My Kind of Man

" The sign of a real man is not that he can lift heavy weights, fix things around the house, or command respect. The sign of a real man is one who models the greatest man this world has ever seen- Jesus Christ, both the Son of Man and Son of God. "

I saw this and I couldn't agree more. I want one of these :D

<33

A wish upon a fallen star

I thought i saw youu but it was only my mind playing games with me..

06/2007
</3

What's the point of holding on to something that's never gonna happen?
What's the point of thinking of you and the memories we shared when i know you dont think about them too?
What's the point of rewinding the events hoping something had been different?
What's the point...?

You've moved on
Life goes on
Why can't I just let it slide.. and forget about youu
Why do I keep  looking for you knowing you are not there

Whyyyy? </3

iLoveyouu

It wasn't supposed to be love
It was never supposed to be
I fooled myself many times before, but my heart keeps on calling you
Before i tried to run away
I tried to push a step away
But even then you were growing bigger inside me

I must love you this much
I must wait for you this much
No matter how much it hurts, my heart can't leave you
There must be one love
My heart won't change
The love I protected for you, now I can tell you everything

Your warm eye expression
Your warm love
You are growing bigger inside me

You must have loved me
You must have waited for me
No matter how much I made you hurt, your heart can't leave me

There must be one love
My heart won't change
The love I protected for you, now I can tell you everything
I love you

Sometimes love, or tears will cause problems for us
I love you, I love you I just need you next to me

I must still love you
I must be waiting for you
I could fool my mind, but not my heart

There must be one love
My heart won't change
The love I protected for you, now I can tell you everything
I love you