Some things I forgot to mention...

Hi all!!!!

So I failed to mention a few things in my last blog and I figured I should add them on. Ya know, just some key stories about what has been going on. Here goes...

Yellow Dust - NOT MY FRIEND!!! I knew I was going to have allergy problems here in general, not to mention all of the new pollens I was going to encounter, but the yellow dust... I couldn't have even imagined. The dust blows, from what I have been told, from the mountains in China all the way over here to Korea. And it is BAD! The worst is when I am outside singing in the parade. Taking too deep of a breath can be brutal! It is this dryness that stretches all the way down to the depths of your toes. Thankfully my wonderful mother sent me a care package FULL of allergy medicine to help. This is the pic of me opening it.

SKYPE - For all who have never heard of this, it is a wonderful invention. The website is www.skype.com and it is something that you need to download onto your computer. It is a completely FREE and LEGAL way to talk to me, or anyone that has it. You call from computer to computer for free. Most people need to purchase some sort of headset with a microphone on it to use SKYPE, but the cheap ones cost around $10. That is what mine cost and it works great. The sound is impecible!!! If any of you do download it, my phone address is tamaralynnleonard. I would love for you all to join. That way I can talk to you all for free!!!!!!

Poker Night - For all of you who are poker fans out there, you will be proud to know that I played at the table for the first time last week and WON!!!! The boys were none to happy that not only did I take their money, but that a girl beat them. Tom, you should be proud. After all, you were the one who taught me last summer.

My other cool venture here thus far was last week. I went into Seoul to go shopping with my friend Natasha. The weather was beautiful, and Tash and I got in a full day of shopping. The coolest thing here is that it is culture to barter with the people that you buy from. Shopping here is so different than in the states. Where as in the states you go into stores, here it is little markets on the street. Think sidewalk sale for miles upon miles. They do have stores here to shop in, but where you mainly shop is on the streets. Anyway, point being, I didn't pay full price for ANYTHING!!!! I got shirts for around $3 and a REALLY nice backpack for $17. Jewelry for $1 each, it was UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I know Jordan, you can't believe that I am a good barterer. hehehe Anyway, Seoul was great!

Matthew's birthday - My friend here, Matthew, had his birthday a couple of days ago and we took him out for the night to celebrate. Here is a pic of me, Matthew and my good friend Andrea...

That's all for now! I miss and love you all tons!!! Till the next time.... Keep on smiling!!!!