Nakyoung had me help with more homework today. I'm a little bit bothered that all we do is her homework, and she's been asking for help later at night these days. She has apologized a few times for not hanging out with me, but I don't want her guilt. Maybe I'd be doing the best thing for our friendship if I stopped helping so it didn't appear that way, but she keeps asking, and I don't want to not help. Every time I say I'm going to go help her with homework, my roommate is like "Zac, she's using you. You're wasting your time." I can't help but think there's some merit to what he's saying, but also I'd like to refuse to believe that Nakyoung has that in her. Yeah, friendship should go both ways, but she *has* been really busy. I guess, worst case, I have to help her for two or three more weeks and then leave and see if she ever contacts me. She consistently says "thanks", so I think she's genuine.

My roommate has been listening to Rock Orchestras lately. hahahaha. It's kindof awesome and kindof like "ok, I'm gonna put on my headphones now and turn the volume up all the way". he just heated my knife and used it to burn a cold-sore off his lip. He says he's always gotten them, and it just happens when he gets stressed or loses sleep or doesn't eat right. I told him he had to wash my knife thoroughly when he's done.

It's interesting seeing the clear division between ideas about the war in South Korea. There are definitely two sides. One side hates the war and wants to find a peaceful solution and stop all the fighting (Gana), and the other side wants the war and seems even a bit eager to get to the fighting, especially because America is here (the vets in Seoul). The people who are for fighting say that they are realists, and that the reality is that war is the only way they will stop the insanity that is North Korea. The people who are against fighting say that they are the realists, and that if China gets involved, the survival rate for Koreans will be close to zero, and if China doesn't get involved, Seoul will still be obliterated and South Korea will still have to rebuild all the economic growth that they have so recently accomplished, so that they should continue waiting for a peaceful solution.

I think that North Korea will be able to go for a few hundred years or more before a peaceful solution is found, and it is possible that America will cease to exist in less than 500 years, but Korea has already lasted more than 3000 years, so if they wait then the conflict could outlive South Korea's allies. On top of that, this interchange of North Korean command could be either the best time or the worst time for South Korea to win the war. It's possible that Kim Jong-un, who hasn't had the same military experience and training as his father, will initially weaken the nation's defense. On the other hand, it's also possible that Kim Jong-il will realize that since he's dieing he's essentially got nothing to lose, and start firing nukes in every direction. I mean, if you're leaving the world, and all you've done for the past several years is hurt people, then why not take as much of the world with you as you can? Shoot, for that matter, he could nuke China and never see the repercussions.

South Korea has made it clear that one of their first targets will be North Korea's missile base, and rightfully so.

....

But enough of that. Tomorrow I've got nothing on my plate but R&R and maybe a little bit of Physics studying. The day after that, I'll be helping JiHye with an English assignment. It's the first time I've helped with her homework, because when I offered before she said that she wouldn't get my help because she's embarrassed by her English skill. I think it'll be a good time to pull out those tickets to the "Concerto Di Gala". She already knows I was gonna buy them, though, lol, so it's too bad it won't be a surprise.

My roommate just helped me buy a new peacoat. It was the cheapest one we could find that he thought was from a good enough brand....... $133!! DX DX DX DX
It'll be the most expensive piece of clothing I own, and you'd best believe I'll be taking care of it... and probably wearing it a lot.

I have 120$ left to blow on the next 2.5 weeks. I still need to crack two more gifts into existence (which might end up just being boxes of Yulmucha), go to a jimjaebang. (I can't believe I haven't done that yet!!!!), go to a night-club, and eat dog meat.

These things might seem rather essential, but they're actually pretty hard to accomplish here. Gift-shops are generally way too expensive. Jimjaebangs are a group thing, and most Koreans are taking 20+ credits so it's hard to get a group together for it (especially since most of my friends don't know each other, and I'm generally not with the intl. students). The only good night clubs are in Seoul, and it's hard to get even one person to go there with me for the sole purpose of clubbing. They are all up-for it, but Seoul is a two day trip *at least* -- and I don't want to go alone, because I'm not sure how well I could resist the girls if I have a few drinks, and people here say it's pretty easy to hook-up at the clubs. and~~~ the only dog-meat place in town closed down earlier in the year, so nobody knows where else to buy it.

Ahhh whatever. Such is life lol. I will just have to return here someday for those things.

This post is too long.

"Eat the baby? Never heard of it."