visa issues & the impossible prize

At the lab, there have been some problems hiring me. Apparently my visa is wrong and I need to get it changed. I need new pictures to apply for a new one.

For my original visa, I walked into CVS, told them I needed a visa picture, waited for them to grab their digital camera, snap a photo, and print it.

Of course it was much different here in Korea. Uncle Brad and I enter the photo store (please note that it is a separate store just for photos) to see a man at his desktop computer watching the television. In combination of Uncle Brad's broken Korean and the photo man's broken English, we effectively communicate the need for visa photos. The man tells Uncle Brad to sit down and, after suffering the whole "language barrier" thing again, he realizes I need the picture, not Uncle Brad. He proceeds to freak out. And I mean completely freak out. We thought perhaps something happened on TV. Did his team score? No. He freaked out, hardcore freaked out, because I was wearing a white shirt. Fine, I'll change.

We went to buy a new shirt seeing as we wouldn't have had time to go home before the shop closed. Again, I sat down and prepare for another mug shot visa picture. The photographer demanded that I tuck my hair behind my ears and I did as I was told. The man asked me to remove my tunnels, thinking they were earrings. He didn't seem to understand me when I told him they were holes (Man, I wish I knew Korean.) so I got up and showed him. Again, he freaked out.

I know it's kind of a "you had to be there" thing, but that trip to get my visa picture was absolutely hilarious.

After all of the photo stress, we realized how hungry we were. We decided on pizza. When we place our pizza order, we usually go explore as our food is being prepared. Last time, we strolled around the block passing coffee shops, make up shops, clothing shops, etc. This time we decided to win a prize.

Nearly every street corner has a prize vending machine. You know, one of those machines where you push a button to move horizontally and then vertically. When you release the button, the stick moves forward and pushes the prize. If you pick your position wisely, the stick knocks the prize off of the ledge and it's yours to keep.

We passed by a machine and saw a drill with many different attachments. Uncle Brad pointed out that it must be impossible to get. Someone had already tried to win it and pushed it up against the wall of the machine. I argued that it was definitely obtainable. Uncle Brad hands me 1,000 won and I accepted the challenge.

Please keep in mind that I flat out suck at these kinds of things. I don't think I've ever won a prize out of a machine. My father and brother, Zach, are actually very good at these games. They always seem to win things out of them.. but, not me. I guess I didn't get that gene.

My first attempt failed miserably. Hey, cut me some slack! I hadn't ever played before! The second time, however, I hit the drill. Uncle Brad and I both watched anxiously. It was very anticlimactic seeing as the drill did not end up falling. I was handed another 1,000 won and after a grand total of 3,000 won,  the drill was ours! HOLLA, I HAD JUST WON THE IMPOSSIBLE PRIZE!

Here I am, proud new owner of a drill with a Korean plug that I will never use! Uncle Brad probably won't ever use it either. :) It is currently on display on the kitchen table in the apartment. As art. Also, feel free to compliment me on how long my hair is getting.