Confessions of a Shopaholicby: the real ginger on: January 8, 2008 5:07am
Having spent my last four years bent over the works of Faulkner, Ionesco, Shakespeare, and Austen, I decided that I really need to start reading more contemporary works. I love classic literature--really. It's my forte. But yeah...there is no crime in wanting to escape into the modern decade and read something perhaps more relative to my social personality. So I picked up Confessions of a Shopaholic from the GS Books that is close to my apartment. Even though chick lit is the bane of an English major's existence (minus Austen--I mean, she practically penned the foundations for modern chick lit), I'd read The Devil Wears Prada and found it enjoyable. I had heard much about Confessions and was looking forward to a funny, witty, and girlish novel. I wasn't well-rewarded. The protagonist, Rebecca Bloomwood, is so ridiculously immature and selfish that I found it impossible to relate to her. I couldn't yearn for her happy ending, because in my eyes, she did nothing to deserve it. After spending a couple hundred pages of reading her whining over money, boys, and friends, I wanted to chuck the damn thing across the room. But I stuck it out, since I always finish a book that I start, and was curious to see how the author would tie up all of the protagonist's financial woes. The book didn't even strike me as comical. Rather than laughing, I was rolling my eyes in exasperation. So I think I'll be staying away from the chick lit genre for a while.
Anyway, I *do* have a bit of a shopping problem. It's never to the point where I'm broke--I like to have at least a couple thousand in the bank. But I have a horrible habit of loving expensive things. My boyfriend is always stunned when we go shopping, he asks which one is my favorite, and I somehow point to the most expensive one without even seeing the price tag. My sister is the same way, but she has a fiance who is quite a bit older and can buy her nice things. Me...I *can* buy the nice things, but I feel guilty. Like earlier tonight, I was looking at some Fendi bags and I was like, "Hey, I can buy that!" But the *instant* that thought came to mind, I would go, "...but that bag is the same price as a luxurious vacation to Thailand, Malaysia, or China. So what's more important: a bag or a trip that will last me forever? Or I think, "I could buy TWO digital SLRs for this price." It just doesn't seem worth it, in the end. But that doesn't stop me from loading up on the cheap/moderate things. Shirts, bags, tights, shoes, dresses, makeup, food, taxis--I can't stop. Living in Seoul is a shopper's hell/paradise. Dean at Doota!
And Dean at Cheonggye Stream.
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Comments |
Ah, thank you! Korea is quite exciting if you have the right outlook. There are a lot of miserable teachers here that would be miserable anywhere, and they flood the major internet cafes with their whining. Sure, there are drawbacks to Korea, but there are also things that are so unique and fascinating. And up, I love Austen. Sometimes, it's a little fluffy for me and I'd rather pick up a Bronte (if I'm looking for something still feminine but darker), but overall, she's a good read.
Oh, and if you have to choose between the two, I'd opt for The Devil Wears Prada--the characters are much better evoked and the plot is more interesting.
by: the real ginger
Jan 10, 2008 6:35pm
I didn't really know anything about teaching in another country until I was halfway through my sophomore year in college, and I didn't *seriously* consider it until my junior year. But it's a really popular option now! Before I left, people would say, "So, Ms. Graduate, what are you going to do with your life now? Law school? Art school? Creative writing?" and I went, "Well, I'm taking 5 of my best friends--including my boyfriend--and we're moving to Korea to teach English for a year or two." People were really surprised, then would go, "Oh, but wait! My niece/nephew/friend's child/etc is teaching English in China/Mexico/Spain/Thailand/Japan/etc!" I was really impressed with how many recent college graduates are deciding to take time off before plunging into the "real world." Really...it felt kind of nice to be openly going against the tradition that dictates, "once you graduate from college, it's time to 1) get a REAL job or 2) go get your MA."
by: the real ginger
Jan 10, 2008 6:31pm
ive been reading your blog and it sounds so fun to teach in Korea. I havent thought about teaching english overseas as an option but it's a definite possibility now. However, from what you described it really makes me want to consider study abroad in Korea. =]
i love your blog! please keep updating and i hope you get back to the states safely (when you do xD)
by: marmarxd
Jan 09, 2008 4:08pm
you know. I like your Blogs.
And I like the way you write. It's descriptive. Full of meaning and big vocabulary. It's like your writing a nice SHORT NOVEL! hehe
But wow... Korea sounds fun! Seems like theres lots of shopping to do in Korea... hehe "Fashion is Exciting Passion..." That's so cool!
And Wow... you like Austen too? Her works so super long. But such good reads!
You know, since you mentioned it, I just might want to pick up Confessions or Devil Wears Prada...
by: o__0
Jan 09, 2008 7:28am