A day with a Friend (sort of)

I didn't teach today... well I was at school all day at least. I got here at my regular time and did the English broadcast. Then came up stairs figuring that since I wasn't teaching the 4th grade I could finish the lesson plans for the winter camps I was teaching in a week or so. I got to work on them and sent them off by about 10:30. Around the same time one of the 6th grade students showed up. She was bringing me mail from the teachers room. I got two things today first was a Christmas card from Tai and the second was a envelope from my friend Beth. I knew what was in the envelope. It was my copy of Diane Durrett's new book. The other two things on the customs form worried me a little so I took the safer route and opened Tai's card and explained to the student that it was from a friend in the US. She then had to head back to class. I looked at the package a couple of times did I open it, and surely get distracted or leave it closed and finish the work. I did a couple of quick things then grabbed the package and ripped it open. Out came Tales of Beedle Bard, "Driving Music City" from Diane, and a copy of Diane's new cd Blame it on my DNA. Beth had some how managed to sneak past me that the book release was also a cd release. I sent Beth a text saying that the package had gotten here and I was about to crank up the cd on my school computer. Then it was like I was trying to be good but couldn't. I would read a chapter, try to get some work done for next school year, read a chapter and go ok... no more. I ended up not teaching the 6th grade either today. So I read Diane's book this afternoon. It felt like I was hanging out with her someplace with a glass of Cabernet. I'd heard some of the stories from Diane before. Hanging out the last couple of years with Beth and Diane had made me privy to a few tales every now and then.

I'm really missing home now. Not so much Atlanta per say as the people there. I miss my friends. I miss those that have crossed the line from friends to family. I know tonight my upstairs neighbor isn't going to be very happy with me. I'm going to crank up Diane's cd and give it a real good listen.

I was right... and I was wrong.

Let's start with the easy one. I was right Christmas was easier to get through than Thanksgiving. I guess cause all of us expats were working overtime to find some Christmas cheer and my school made sure I never slowed down long enough to really miss home. Last week was super busy with school stuff and then multiple expat things for Christmas. Monday I had a meeting with one of the schools I'm working a winter camp with. It should be interesting. They seemed really friendly and ready to try anything so we'll see how that goes. Tuesday I was invited out to dinner with my school so I made sure to go. We had traditional Korean food, I got lucky and was seated at the end of the table with lots of the younger English teachers so we joked around a bit and they got to practice their English in a less stressful way. Wednesday I taught all day then threw a small party for my after school classes. Chocolate cake and soda.
Christmas Eve evening I went to the EPIK party thrown by the DMOE for all of us Native teachers in Daegu. It was a nice dinner and I know the folks I was with certainly had at it with the red wine that was provided at a very reasonable cost. After that we went to the Forest Cafe a group of us had picked names and done a secret santa. Some how my name got overlooked yet I'd gotten a name to give a gift too. ::shrug:: The person I gave a gift to was someone I would have gotten a Christmas present for anyway.
Christmas Day I spent online talking to my family and friends back in the states. Later I headed downtown to the Holy Grill where we had Christmas dinner. After dinner since we were the last seating we had Christmas trivia. My team came in second thanks to getting confused on which Bond movie had the Bond Girl named Dr. Christmas Jones in it.
Eventually we all headed out into the cold night to get some sleep. Those of us who work for the DMOE had to go back to work in the morning while some of the Uni professors are off for quite a while right now.
Friday was a regular work day except there was a shortened schedule and as soon as the kids were out of the building we all piled in a bus and headed off on retreat to Pohang. On the way we stopped at a temple and took a hike up a mountain.
Then we headed the rest of the way to pohang the principal meet up with us at dinner. She had left instructions with the teacher in charge to order me mandu and something Korean without fish to eat since she's found out I don't eat fish. The rest of the faculty dug into lots of raw fish and I got japche and mandu. I've realized that the principal really wants to make sure I'm happy. I guess I remind her of one of her daughters so she mothers me a lot. I have a feeling that my short 5 minute English lessons at lunch are helping out with the relationships in the school. At dinner, my willingness to be formal and follow the drinking traditions and culture, very quickly won me points with some of the male teachers. Afterwards it was off to the norebang. Everybody had to get up and sing. There was lots of dancing and clapping along that went with it. Eventually we made it to the training center where I'd done my orientation. We got assigned our rooms and had about 10 minutes to relax and I started to think I was done for the evening and the other teacher were also changing into more comfortable pants so I pulled on my flannel pj bottoms. The next thing I knew we were all back down the hall to one of the rooms for late night snacks of dried fish, rice cookies, peanuts, chestnuts, gul, and a rice wine. There was lots of joking around as we all ate and drank more. I was commended on my ability to hold my drink. There were lots of smiling happy faces all around as I took very well to some good natured joking. I also got put on the spot as to which of the make teachers was the most handsome. Thank god I got a few hints from my co teachers as to the right form for answering that question (always say the oldest man present.) I then had to rank the others and I managed to do that with only a little misstep but it was all good when I said that one of the advantages two of the male teachers had was that I interacted with them more so personality and interpersonal knowledge came into play. Eventually we all headed off to our rooms again. I ended up for a while longer talking to the Miss Kims. One of them had found Gone with the Wind on tv and so we talked about how it was set partially in my hometown.
The next morning came way to early. Breakfast was in the cafeteria. I don't think anyone knows that feeling of being on the spot till you have about 80 Koreans stare at you as you try to eat your breakfast with chopsticks, and you're the only foreigner in the place. As we walked out Miss Kim was wondering why everyone was staring at them. I said it wasn't y'all it was me. She has gotten so used to me that she didn't notice I was the only foreigner in the place. That felt really good that I've gotten so accepted.
After a few speeches we piled in the bus and headed north. My co teacher and I had set it up so I got to sit with the 6-3 Miss Kim on the way back to Daegu. So she got to practice her English on the bus with me. She was fine with the joke after I said I was doing it so she would look good to the principal. I'd heard her teased about not speaking enough English and that she should practice with me more. She realized I wasn't being mean I just wanted to help her out. So we chatted up the coast. There were some good laughs the first time she told me we were going to eat gae for lunch. I had kind of looked at her confused... gae? Then she realized she'd told me the Korean word and really we were going to eat crab for lunch. I then got a mini Korean lesson on types of crab. We took a few stops on the way up the coast one at the light house at yeoungdock.
Then at the wind power plant a little further up.
As you can see it was cold and windy up there. Then about 1/2 hour further up we stopped for lunch. I somehow got seated in the room without the English speaking teachers but as always I was well taken care of by all the Korean moms in the room. The principal was impressed when I managed to crack a few joints on the crabs and pull out all the meat from the legs in one piece. It was a good lunch and I was informed I didn't eat enough when I ate 3 1/2 crabs... I was supposed to eat 4 or 5.
After lunch we headed back to Daegu. Where I promptly crashed and slept for 12+ hours.

Merry Christmas from Korea

This week is lots of lessons on Christmas and quite a bit of singing. So here are my 4th graders showing off what they learned in class... they are little hams.. I'm sure next year they are going to be a fun group of 5th graders.


http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=B6CPAWM-rZY


http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=VEa0M0WMDgs

12/15/08 Vlog

for those trying to get around work web filters: http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=Boi1ZYdmKWI

Korean Medicine part 3

I've had several nasty colds over here. I know it's part of my body building up immunity to a whole new set of germs. But on this last one my friendly doctor down the street decided she wasn't messing with it. I'd gone in and then gone back to get a second set of drugs. She decided that she was pulling out the big guns on whatever it was. We did the usual yes runny nose, no only a little cough, yes it is a productive cough, no sinus pressure. She added antibiotics to the set of pills. Then she said I needed a shot. I was like ok after years of allergy shots and such I'm really not phased by a shot in the arm. New problem... they don't give shots in the arm here. I get ushered by my doctor into a different treatment room. One of the nice nurses waved me behind a curtain and proceeded to fill a syringe with something. Then she was like.. um. Sorry, Konglish not good. I was like arm? Getting ready to figure out how to bare my arm from several layers. She was like no...um.. a... butt, hip...no, no... a.. buttocks? I was like My BUTT?!? You need to give me a shot in the... a.. ok she's like pants, down. *Sigh* Ok.. I'll drop them. She then massages my butt a bit and then wipes it off with an alcohol wipe and I got a shot in my rear. Then she massages it a bit more and then tells me to rub a little bit and I'm done. I pull my pants up and walk out from behind the curtain I had an audience. I was then handed a tangerine and told I was ok to go. I paid my 2,900won at the counter, walked out the door and headed to the pharmacy with my prescription. Going this is just one of those cultural things. I walk in and the pharmacist smiled said hi and took my prescription. I chatted a little with him while they were filling it. He gave me the directions told me same as before, take after meals, and see you Saturday. I was thinking I hope not. I want to be done with this and no more shots in the butt please.

Monday... run of the mill odd

I had been asked a few weeks ago to do a "special project" for the DMOE here in Daegu. I'd agreed hell anything to get out of my crazy monday schedule. I didn't get directions as to how to get the the school I was headed to till I was getting in a cab to get to the subway. Thank god for some of the people I came in with we're all good at taking care of each other. It was a combination of texts and emails we all managed to get to the school in time to take care of the project. I enjoyed it more than I would have the rest of the day at my school I'm sure. I then got to hang on the subway with two of my favorite people here in Daegu. I'm sure the Koreans were wondering about the three crazy Americans. It's fun to play with that. Poor Mike was traumatized by his weekend experience with his co teachers. I think I heard more about the sauna and how naked and how they were missing the concept of personal space. The poor guy was really traumatized by it. I think that's one of the reasons I haven't managed to make it to one yet... but I'm really working on the courage for it. I've made a deal with myself that by New Years I'll do it. Or... shortly there after.
I got off the subway at a different stop than my normal one to go and pick up my students books at English house. It's nice to realize that I've gotten to the point where I can get around even without Korean. I got the taxi driver to get me to the landmark near where I was headed without him laughing at my Konglish. Then I managed to get the discussion books for my students that were in the back without too much confusion. I've had to remind myself occasionally to think about how far I've come.
I got home and was talking to one of my fellow atlantans over here and it's amusing to me that he can say what he says to me. He described something as odd. Not odd shocking just run of the mill K*** odd. Yep, that's me run of the mill odd.
I wonder sometimes about who actually reads what I write. I know a few people do regularly because they have unique IPs I know who is checking on me from Philly, and Washington, Maryland is one of a couple of people. But the ones around Atlanta make me wonder. They could be any number of people. When I think about it I start to think about what I'm saying. Should I censor what I say or change it? But then I figure if I worry about what I'm saying and who is reading it I won't be as honest about what I'm doing over here.
I actually have to write up a post about my experience at the doctors last week. I had a few people laughing as I explained it today. One had fun taking out the pronouns and messing with me. But that is another post at another time.

The Little Things

I learned a while ago not to sweat the little stuff. I learned not to stress over things that in the long run don't mean much.
But that's not what this is about. This is about the little things people do that end up meaning a lot more. I've always been pretty good about trying to make those little gestures for friends and loved ones. I short email to tell someone I miss them. A joke when I know someone just needs a smile. A phone call to someone just to listen to their voice, when they need someone to listen. I don't know if I really appreciated those things in return as much as I should have before. This week little things have been giving me huge smiles. I'm truly grateful for them. From a voice mail, to a doughnut, or even just a song dedicated on facebook. They have given me just a little moment of connectedness to those around me and far away.
In a few hours this afternoon I was given so much in ways that I don't know if the people who gave them to me even know what the gifts meant. This morning I got a great laugh from one of my co teachers as she was looking at my calendar and saw where I'd put TT down as Teachers training she thought it was the emoticon for crying about the training. We laughed at how the same thing could mean two completely different things. She's one of the teachers I really like I feel bad that she's so nervous but yet she's getting pushed hard by the administration to learn English and practice with me.
At lunch the Principal came by she wanted to practice her English but she wanted Miss Kim around to translate. She had a little trouble with the verbs in the question but I got the meaning and after lunch we went and sat in her office for a few minutes and practiced. That she's really interested in learning English so she can communicate with me really means a lot to me. I know it has to take a good deal for her to make the effort but I really admire her. She's leading by example. I know she got up and lectured the faculty the other week about how they should take advantage of having me there and just try to talk to me. Sometimes I worry I'm not doing a good job, but then things like that happen and I know that I must be doing something right.
After my first open class I was talking to Miss Kim about a couple of things and one of the students Shawn had left me a Krispy Kreme doughnut. They had been having some sort of celebration with pizza and soda while I'd had the open class the students had wanted me to stay. They understood I had to go teach. I had a short conversation about how Krispy Kreme's are like home. Miss Kim joked they were the devil's doughnuts cause they were so good yet so bad for you. I'm going to have to find Shawn in the morning and thank him.
After school I was walking out and the 6-3 teacher stopped me to talk for a second. She was wondering who Stitch was. Yes my big stuffed Stitch had a place in my open lesson. She thought he was cute and we laughed at the lesson and all. It was a start. I'll take any starts. I made it downstairs. Worried I was going to get caught being the crazy American again. I did get stopped by the shoe closet by the number 3 in the school. She really doesn't speak much English but she has a great personality and is a great teacher. We said hello and then she was headed up the stairs, then she stopped came back and handed me two tangerines. It's those sort of gestures, no English involved that say some thing good is there.
I got home took my cold meds and was about to nap and saw JP online so I stopped to talk to him. I really miss him. I know he's missing me too. We didn't say anything especially poignant. It was just the time. A few minutes out of the day to just be there for each other and let one another know we're there even from opposite sides of the world. Then he left me a song dedication. It's a song that makes me think of him. But it meant a lot, He knows what music means to me.
I am very grateful for the little things. They make my world a much nicer place daily.

I'm missing things but yet... I know I'm right where I belong.

I've missed several important things in the last week back home. One was a tradition of going to see Kristian Bush and Ellis Paul after Thanksgiving. I missed a couple of small things and on Sunday I missed Diane Durrett's book release at Eddie's. When I first found out I wasn't going to still be around for the release I was a little bummed. But as time went on I knew it would be ok and I'd still hear about it. I know my Christmas present/ birthday present from Beth is a copy of Diane's book shipped to me in Korea. At school today I got a message from Michelle that she'd video taped part of it and sent me the links so I'm going to watch those clips in a minute. Then I got home after hiking down to the doctors where I am famous. I walk in and Ah... K******. One minute. Then I get called back in. I don't have to show my medical card or anything.
I did the usual take all the layers off as I waited for my computer to warm up and then I had a voice mail. It was Beth calling from Eddie's. She just wanted to let me know everyone was asking about me and where in the world I was and how I was doing. Then Trina grabbed the phone and left the sweetest message for me. Hearing that from so far away really got me tonight. As I keep saying I miss my family there so much but I know I'm supposed to be here. I'm learning and growing in so many ways I'm not sure how I'm going to feel when I get back. I do know I'm right where I belong.

Laughing at myself daily

Every day around here brings yet another opportunity to not take myself seriously. The last week is no exception. Monday, I was walking to school and just about took a nice fall after stepping on some ice... the kicker.. it was in front of the school with some students watching so my arms flailing and my sudden stop and attempt to balance myself was the source of some giggles... till one of the girls giggling at me also hit the ice and really slid. She was fine but her ego was more bruised than mine.
Tuesday was uneventful.. but I'm sure something happened. I just don't remember it.
Wednesday I was walking up from the bus stop and as I was coming past one of the fresh fish places a squid started to come out of the tank. I jumped and started walking quicker... the ashoshis were grinning at me cause they saw me notice the squid and start to run.
For Thursdays fun see the post about face masks. Then Friday after my fears of seafood, soju and polite conversation. I was treated to a nice Italian dinner complete with red wine, and a grilling about why I didn't have a boyfriend only my mother could have administered better. Of course I was ducking and dodging the questions as to the real reason why. But there were offers of Korean sons, native teachers at other schools, anything so I wouldn't be the old maid that I am here. I politely declined, explained I was good. I'd broken things off with someone before I'd came and well after too because things weren't working out. Then for good measure threw in a broken engagement that got them all in a tizzy. I'm hopeful that will keep me from being set up anytime soon. While I appreciate that they think highly enough of me that they want me happy and were willing to set me up with their sons. I'm really not looking for that. My inner monologue was going well I didn't lie, just skipped some pronouns. I also shouldn't tell them I've got a lunch date. Wouldn't go well.

Oh and the lunch date stood me up. However she has called to grovel and apologize and she wants to reschedule. I'm not holding my breath but I have to give credit that she has been very good on the taking responsibility and apologizing front, which is a nice change.

Today's laughter involved trying to get digital pictures printed out at Emart... Then the nice lady wanted to know and practice her English as to who was in the pictures... Aunt, Uncle, counsins they get... I'm not sure how to explain cousin's kids and husband. I did get a discount and an upgrade on the picture sizes so it was worth it.

SNOW!!!!

My inner child is going nuts today. I walked to school in a gentle snowfall. After I got to my classroom the playground became blanketed in white fluffy stuff. I had to contain myself and not get too distracted from teaching all morning while laughing at second graders who were equally wishing to be outside the classroom playing in the snow.
Now I'm trying to get plans done so I can teach the teachers and I can hear the students outside playing and yelling. The snow is melting because it's not cold enough for it to stick around with all the kids out there.
Tonight I'm going to dinner with the sixth grade team, vice principal, principal and Miss Kim. I'm hopeful it's not a fish place. If it's over early enough I'm then going to head downtown and meet up with some other expats to play video games. Tomorrow I'm going to meet a GI for lunch downtown, and show them around. It's interesting how little interaction there is between the expats and the GI's here. I'm not completely sure why but I'm going to think about it a bit and maybe figure it out a little.
Ok enough procrastinating time to get back to my plans.

Now I get the face masks

So I've noticed since the weather got cold there has been a proliferation of face masks. What back in the states was only worn by Surgeons. Here they come in cute little animals and with comic book characters. I was walking home from school today. Like everyday it involves a certain amount of ritual as I run into people in the neighborhood. Anyone who could possibly be older than me or the mother of one of my students gets a bow. Not a problem any more. I'm sure by the time I move back to the states I'll be bowing all over there and it will be humorous. But today as my cold meds were wearing off my nose was running a bit. I bowed once to an older gentlman as I rounded the first corner past school. I came around the next one and three older women. Bow, Bow, booooooowwwwwwwww. My siniuses were screaming about all the movement. I was almost home less than 25 yrds to my door and I could blow my nose and take some medicine. Shoot. There is my landlord. So one more bow and as I do it my nose leaks. Yup right no the street. I had bowed far enought that my nose just ran out. Didn't hit me just the sidewalk. I don't think he noticed it but I was admitedly going EEEEWWWW. Ran in the door, blew my nose and then it came to me... if I was Korean enough to wear a mask... I wouldn't have leaked on the street.

Family... and ramblings.

Something I haven't really addressed here in Korea is the lack of Family. I'm not talking about Mom, Dad, Brother, Grandmom, type. I'm talking about Lesbians, Gay boys, Leather, Musicians, and all of the beautiful people who made up my family and daily life in Atlanta. While I have friends and people that I know. It's not Family. I have kind of given up on finding a family here and I'm fine with that.
I went on a date of a sort on Friday. It didn't go well which is I guess to be expected when it's someone who is confused and scared about what they are. Does it mean I'm giving up on them no. I remember the whole period when I was figuring things out. It wasn't easy. I had a guy who was just waiting for the right minute to pop the question and get me to marry him and settle down and have babies, but something was missing. He was far away and I went to a couple of concerts and saw all the lesbians around me and started going...that's really interesting. I started feeling confused about who I was attracted to. Then I planned a trip to follow a musician I hid my feelings about who I was attracted to from the people I was going to meet. This was a chance I was away from people who knew me and would judge me I feared. The first day of that trip I was standing in the rain and met someone. As she walked away to do something. I actually watched her. I watched her glance back at me and grin as we both got caught. In that moment my small confusion with lots of questions exploded. I was like oh shit! I just checked out a girl and I'm attracted to her. That woman and I after lots of starts and stops where she helped me overcome my fears, sometimes pushing too hard for things that were where she was at the time, was my first for lots of things. Not everyone can have that magical moment. I remember it vividly. Post Indigo Girls show, dinner at the Vortex, going back to her place and siting and talking. All it took was her asking permission to kiss me and my world went from fuzzy and confused to vividly clear. By the end of that weekend trip, I was out to myself at least as bi. I knew there was no going back to straight. I loved girls. I remember feeling bad as I vaguely skirted issues as I made trip after trip to Atlanta to date her. I hated not being honest with my parents. But I was scared out of my mind as to what would happen if they found out my secret. Would they disown me? Would they say I was going to hell? Would I get kicked out of the family? So I kept quiet. I built a small family in Augusta where I was living of people who if my parents found out were willing to take me in till I finished my teaching degree. I had a net there to catch me.
After I graduated I moved to Atlanta in August... by October I was out to my family. I was also laying the foundations for my current family. The people who stand by me to this day, five years later. Was it easy to come out to any of them, no. Was it worth it? Yes. Was it easy or helpful to my profession to be out? Nope. I'm sure it hurt my chances of promotion many times. I'm very proud of who I am but it wasn't easy to get here. I'm still working on growing in to myself. That's one of the things I've learned since I've been here in Korea. I can be me. I can be myself but not everyone needs to see all of me. I stood around last night hearing Expat, university teachers talk about how they feel bad for the gay boys in their classrooms because in less than a year many of them will have to go for the mandatory Army service. They worry that they will be eaten alive. Only one person in the conversation knew I was gay. I didn't feel a need to change that. It was probably the most honest conversation I've heard about how Koreans view homosexuals since I've been here.
I feel for anyone coming out anywhere. I know I was lucky to come out into a community. I can't imagine coming out where there isn't one and it's viewed so harshly by most people. That being said, I also can't see my life any other way.

I've tried to live my life by several simple guides.
1. If you aren't going to be able to look back on what you do with out regret. Change it.
2. Don't inflict hurt, intentionally.
3. Try to be right where you are. (this one is one I'm working on everyday.)
4. Give back the gifts you have been given.

They aren't easy, they don't give me a lot of options sometimes. The last one has guided my life for almost 15 years. Right now it's telling me to be patient, kind, don't push, walk as an example, not an easy task. But I've been given alot in my life and I have to pass it on, be it knowledge, experiance, kindness, acceptance.
Ok I've rambled enough and now I need to go take a shower in my freezing cold bathroom and then think about lesson plans for the week.

Credit where it is due.

So sometimes you just have to suck it up and give credit where it is due. I like to think sometimes that American teachers are as good as Korean ones and can do anything they can do. But today I know I would never have seen what I saw in an American school. The school was packed with parents and somehow between the time I left yesterday and when I got to school at 8am this moring the school had been transformed. It was decorated and the students art work was displayed through the hallways. Then the classrooms had been cleared of most of the desks so there was room for the talent preformances. I saw every student in every classroom was preforming. I spent the morning running up and down the halls taking pictures of my students and watching them show off. Unlike Talent shows and such in the US this was every single room at the same time so I had to keep moving to see alot of my students. (one drawback to teaching all students in grades 1-6).


By 11:20 things were winding down. There were songpeyon or rice cakes and yourgurt drinks and tangerines for everyone. The kids also were given boquets of suckers and flowers and pens with little clown heads on them. The kids then took those apart and were sharing them with their friends. As I was going around taking pictures with my students and of the teachers I work with, I was amazed.

I also kept getting suckers and such handed to me. One parent gave me a whole Dove chocolate bar with Almonds. By the time Miss Kim and I left the English center again to go downstairs for lunch the school had been transformed back to its usual state. Desks had been placed back in classrooms, decorations were taken down, students were getting organized for lunch and to then go home. So in less than an hour they had the whole school cleaned up.
As much as I respect and love the teachers and schools I've worked with before this was honestly amazing. I think it has something to do with the culture here. Students work hard and play hard. They also both love and fear their teachers. It's not unusual to see students hanging off teachers here and staying late working on things if they are not going to an academy (or Hagwon). I get the same treatment now. My students come in and hang out. They just want to talk and practice English. They also know when I give them a look in class they have to listen and they know how to behave.
I watched three boys get disicplined today... by a teacher for playing on the stairwell. Less than 10 minutes later they were telling how beautiful she is. It's typical here. I'm getting used to my students telling me they love me, and I'm very beautiful... I've had to let my cynicism go and not think they are just doing it to get candy or stickers from me. It's that's what they know as how to express how they feel about me in English. It's pretty cool.
I've got to wrap this up... my after school students will be here in a minute and I want to have things ready for them. I'll try to post pictures up on flickr in the next day or so (but I did take 200 pictures this morning.)

Dr. Fish Daegu... or I'd never thought I'd do that.

Last week I got dragged downtown for dinner on Thursday night. My plans of a quiet night in with an early bedtime after a busy week at school were spoiled by a friend saying the magic words... Papa Johns.... pizza, real cheese... no pickles on the pizza. Yes... it takes very little somedays. So off I headed in the freezing cold with hat, scarf, polarfleece buff, winter coat, wool socks... the layered look is very in with the expats right now cause it's cold. Not like a chilly ATL morning where an extra sweater will make the trip to school ok cold. But a it's below freezing the wind is blowing I'm walking between bus stops and subways cold. I got downtown had my pizza warmed up and started to feel more human and decided to make Jamari go with me to find the Doctor Fish place I'd seen once before. After wandering all over we found it and in doing so I've found a place I'd love to hang out much much more. It reminded me in some ways of the feel of Java monkey, just with no wine and music, but tubs of fish who will eat the dead skin off your feet.
I've been back once already will probably bring my co teacher down sometime... pictures will be posted soon. But now I have to go see the Art/ Talent show going on in the school today.

Billy Joel in Seoul

Saturday evening after doing the sardine can thing of riding the subway in Seoul and trying to figure out where in the spaghetti pile of lines we were trying to head. Lesley and I arrived at Olympic Park. If you ever wonder what happens to all of those buildings post Olympics I got a little peak this weekend. They become venues for concerts, showcases and big halls that people have to fill to pay the upkeep. Lesley went and got the tickets I perused the merch cause how many times in your life are you going to go see someone play over seas where when you're back home someone can go hey nice t-shirt, and your answer can be yeah saw him in Seoul, was a good show.
After that was all taken care of and I grabbed some photos of the skylights and a few funny signs we walked into Gymnasium 1. Thank god for all the English being taught here we had a very nice teenager look at our tickets and point us in the right direction. I took some time studying it and figured out what was probably section, seat, etc. After one snafu we found our correct seats and settled in for some people watching, well I did Lesley decided to chatter away incessantly about how this was her first concert ever (um... WTF! 24 never been to a concert?) [side note: Any interest I had in her is now gone and I will be trying to avoid her in the future. Just don't feel like having to babysit someone all the time.]
I realized that the crowd was two main groups Korean business men trying to impress Western business men and GI's who had leave from the bases. It made people watching fun. Billy played for about 2 hours no opener. At one point people rushed the stage and a few songs later when the Korean security tried to get them to sit down Billy stopped playing in the middle of the song and got up asked "What the fuck is going on here, Let them stay, let them stay!" The crowd got to stay near the stage. He then just started up in right where he'd left off.
I also saw a probably between 40-50 yr old Korean woman in a leopard coat just having the time of her life in stilettos dancing against the railing at one point.
Overall the show was fun. My trip to Seoul was ok. I will go up there again, but by myself without others that I end up taking care of cause that was the downer part of the trip.

Interesting Saturday Evening

I knew that I had to have some sort of fun plans waiting for me on Saturday if I wanted to not go crazy with wishing I was other places. So I emailed a few of the "No Drama" club and asked if they were up for some 007 goodness at the CGV Imax in the Lotte Department store. I managed to gather Monique, Micheal and Jamari. I spent part of the day going to Emart and getting a few things I needed. I've now got a humidifier and I looked at video cameras. I also got some Americanish food, notably chicken and rice soup.

I headed downtown a little early which ment I missed calls from JP on skype (darn it!) but I got to look at more cameras at the pixdix in the basement and sniff at the wafting smells of Krispy Kreme. I took the escalator up to the floor the theater is on. I had about 15 more minutes till we were to meet so I walked over to the arcade and had some fun playing Pirates of the Caribbean pinball. Jamari thinks I play pinball a little too well. I pretty much had cleared the machine on Thursday when we'd met to play video games. I wasn't as good with my first 500won coin. By my second I was kicking butt and taking names.
After that I grabbed coffee at one of the many coffee shops on my way to the theater where I figured out I was on time and everyone else was running about 20 minutes late.
We managed to get tickets for the 4 of us to see 007 Quantum of Solace in the typical Korean way of assigned seating and then wait for your turn to file into the theater. It was a good Bond movie... I think Casino Royale's opening was better but that's just me. Afterward we were all craving pizza so we went to the Papa johns in town. Pizza, cheese sticks, chicken strips, and a pitcher of soda for the 4 of us was 32,000 won (so about $25).
Monique and Micheal and Jamari started a Krispy Kreme craving so we had to go there. While we were there Jamari blabbed that I hadn't been to a norebang yet so... have donuts will travel. 2 hours in the Norebang my cherry was fully popped and I scored two 100's and a 96. Yes the computer scores your singing.

After I went and found Jody and hung out at That for a little while. I was home by 3am or so.

Obama overseas.

Last night I was riding in a taxi back from Manchon where I got off the subway. I'd been planning on taking the bus home but due to the temprature and the hour of the evening I decided to just grab a taxi. I got in a waiting cab and managed to give the driver directions in Korean. As I was riding through the night and looking out at the fall leaves in the dark and High school students in their uniforms coming home from cram academies at 10pm I started to hear words I recoginized on the radio.
It was KBS talking about Obama's victory. They were playing some audio clips of his speech in Grant park. I got a little teary eyed. The face of the US abroad was changing... and it was changing for the better. I may not be entirely sure but I'd much rather have him as the face of where I'm from over the shrub. The story then went on to have clips of Michelle Obama talking. It was a moment. I was proud of being an American. I'm not sure what the reporters were saying in Korean... but I do know the tone sounded promising and hopeful. I think it will just boil down to lets see what happens from here. I'm sure things will be skewed by the Korean media... but that's nothing new here.
Then as I walked up the hill from where I got the taxi to drop me in the cold fall night... I realized I was a long way from home.

Halloween in Korea

I knew I shouldn't have

translated the mesage I got this afternoon on the school messenger program.

학교 평가 때 교무부에서 각선생님께 부탁드려 만들어 놓은 회의록철이 발이 달려서 없어졌습니다. 혹 가지고 계신 선생님께서는 교무부로 보내주세요.
꼭 확인부탁드립니다.-감사때 첨가해서 사용해야 합니다.

became:
I bother you for when evaluating school students created the minutes of meetings gakseon gyomubu season in the running feet are lost. Or if you have a teacher send you gyomubu.
OK, we'll ask you to add .- gamsattae must be used.

makes no sense.
Guess I'll stick to being confused in one language... and not make it more at this point.

Vlog 2 Korean Medicine

Open Class

I guess I should explain what an open class is. Basicaly instead of like in the US where you are evaluated by a member of the school administartion, here you hold a class that is open to all the faculty and they evaluate your class. I've co taught at least 4 of them since I've been here and the thing that gets me is I have no idea how they think I did. All the coments and such are given in Korean.
Today's open class is with the 3rd grade teacher. Thankfully it's only for the school so it's not a crazy as when we do open classes for the entire district. I've got another day of those in November... I'm not sure how many classes I'm doing that day, but I've checked plans for every grade.
Time to go wrangle the drama group.

Temple Stay... the short version

Saturday after a few stops and starts I got on the road to Haiensa (yes we ended up someplace different than where I thought we were going... but hey this was a more important temple anyways). After taxi, subway, and then bus, we made it up to the start of the hike up to the temple. There were 7 of us 6 expats and 1 Korean English teacher at the Uni where Jody works. We stopped at one of the little resturants at the bottom for a quick lunch of Korean pizza, potato pancake, and I can't remember what the Korean name for it is but Acorn tofu.
Then we hiked up while trying not to take too long since we were a little late to the temple. We got there signed in, paid our 30,000won and were handed our outfits for the weekend. Then off we went to change and get ready for whatever it was to come. So we headed into one of the smaller temples and were instructed for about 3 hours on how to eat with the Baru and how to sit, bow, walk, etc. All of this was in Korean. We'd been told it was going to be in English... but no such luck. So most of whatever wisdom the Monk was passing on passed over my head. Dinner was pretty good and yet again I don't know what I ate, just that it was veggitarian. I'm thinking roots, mushrooms, and cabbage for the most part along with bean sprout soup. Then we had 15 minuntes to clean up and get back for evening prayers. I gave up most of that time to watch the evening drumming... which was facinating and I shot a little video of it before we had to go.
This was probably one of the highlights of the first night for me... because we did them in the main temple. So while it was more Stand, sit , Kneel. It was in a beautiful setting with incense wafteing around and the monks chanting. Afterward we did a walking mediation around a pagoda for awhile... admitedly my main thought was "Holy crap! There are stars in Korea!" Living in the city I can't see them most of the time so it was nice to have a couple minutes to look at them while walking. Then it was honestly 2 hours of boring hell. We got to have a "chat" with the monk... still no translator so... 2 hours of Korean plus we could tell there were some jokes pointed at us since we couldn't understand them.
Finally 9pm and lights out. But sleeping on mats on a really hot floor, with people snoring, and all was not the best nights sleep. Plus morning was coming way too early.
2:30am Lights ON! The gongs were ringing and it was time to get up and be ready for morning prayers at 3am. So up again and back up some scary stairs in the dark and time for the 108 bows. (sounds easier than it is) Then a 1/2 hour meditation in a little temple, where I got fussed at cause Jody and I put our prayer mats down too loud.
Afterwards we had a half hour to chill so since dawn was breaking I took a few pictures and a 10minute nap. Then off to breakfast, dried sweet seaweed, rice, potato noodle, and carrot soup, and I think some more cabbage. Then another 15 to brush teeth and such then back to the meeting spot. Where we got a great surprise!!! AN ENGLISH SPEAKING MONK!!!! Yeah! He made the whole weekend. He had gone to school in the US for High School and college. The tour he gave us of Haiensa was neat, he basicly had us argue and talk about buddist thought and told us a few things about why Haiensa is so famous.
After that we kind of decided to take off... we were tired and couldn't see 2 hours of the other monk again touring us though the museum, (which we had heard from people was all in Korean and not that good.) The plan was to sneak off, but we got caught. So yet another scolding by the monk. This one I managed to doge most of cause I was just going along with the group since otherwise I didn't know how to get back to Daegu. When we finally managed to get out of the temple, we took some nice pictures on the way downhill. Caught the bus and made it back to Daegu, where I faced a new challange... saying NO to my co-teacher... we'll see how that plays out today at work now.

Workin on the photo story idea... more will come I'm sure.

A typical Friday in Daegu in pictures.... well at least part of a Friday.

Students practicing for a English play contest.



I've been practicing with this kid for his speech contest for the last two months...he's a sweet kid and usually so serious, so him with a smile is great.



I love my red Korean Chucks.



Monique was a bit annoyed at the camera and we were having a conversation about some previous pictures that were not the most flattering.



Not the best picture, but we'd moved on to Ice bar where the beer is served in ice. This is Beth and her boy, it was her b-day we were out celebrating.



Once you drink the beer you throw the ice at this target... I hit it on the first one and won a free beer.



While we were walking from Ice bar to Communes for Trivia (which I left before cause I was tired and wanted to avoid the drama) Christy found some new friends with this group of Korean Bikers.
I'm now ready after some sleep to go off to the temple for the night and try to find a little peace and quiet.

Thursday Night ramble

I should be crashing soon. It's been a long couple of days and I've got a really long day tomorrow so there is no rest for the weary right now. I've spent this evening working over a few pictures from a couple of weeks ago. I know I need to have my flash cards empty when I head out this weekend. not that I can see filling them. I haven't come close yet and I've taken hundreds of pictures while I've been here. I'm trying to take more time to compose the shots and only keep the best of them. I'm then trying to remember all the little tweaks my Dad taught me with Photoshop to pull out things and train the focus a little more clearly.
I have for the most part here just done a little contrast work... maybe change the curve a little. Tonight I took some time to really try and pull out some of the details from the masks, and darken the background a little. It got me thinking about how just changing how you look at one little detail in a picture can change how the rest of the shot looks.
It's like if you go back and look at an old picture and see it with new eyes. I was cleaning up my hard drive a few nights ago trying to get things organized and then move some stuff to my back up drive so I had more space. I ran across a few old pictures of an old flame who taught me huge things.... some things also happened between us at the time I knew I'd never forgive. I still don't forgive them but I think I'm ready to let them go. I don't want to carry it around anymore. I don't want to bring it into a new relationship when I have one. I need to let go of it... like I've been letting go of many other old things. The luggage was getting to big to lug around. It's time to let it go.

I've been in this cycle in the last few months of letting go and trying to find and give forgiveness to these ghosts from my past that keep popping up and circling around. It's time... I know that much. It's more a question of how. I've talked to ex's and people I cut out of my life completely. I've seen how they have gone off to different lives and I'm happy for them. I guess I really don't have a long burn on my vengeance streak. It seems to fizzle out around the 7 to 10 year mark.

It's strange right now that I'm trying to bring all of this closure to things... but not really. It's time. I'm also more open right now than I have been in a long time. I've had more laughs and huge grins on my face in the last few months than I have in years. It's like layers of weights are falling off and I'm just openly living my joys. I'm trying to see the light side of things. I laugh at myself more easily. I don't take myself very serious when I have to go and ask what is going on, it's a new way of being more willing to ask and accept help. I can't even tell which of the bills that show up on the door are mine with out asking for help. I'm hoping I picked up the right ones. I'm not opening them till I check with my co teacher tomorrow. Then I have to ask for help as to how to pay them. It takes trust to a new level and being willing to ask for help. Neither of which I've ever been very good at. This is a crash course in how to deal with your weaknesses.

The strange thing is I'm really enjoying moments of this. I like the challanges.... not that I'm getting good at them. I'm just doing it.

I've rambled enough now... Time to go sleep and try to find a minute or two of peace before that.

Time for a little peace and quiet.

You are probably feeling more confident about yourself and the possible outcome of your recent actions. Even if you previously doubted yourself, now things finally begin to turn around. Yet it may be difficult to loosen up enough to accept life just the way it is and people just as they are. Still, once you do, you gain the gift of true vision empowering you to shine as an inspiring leader


That was my horoscope for today... which I know many who know me well are probably laughing at. I'm doing better mainly because I have no choice but to just accept things. I know somethings I could have handled better but overall I'm happier this week. I've learned to walk (an in some cases RUN) away from the nonsense going on around me so that I can enjoy things here. I'm working on nurturing friendships with those who also think that spending the whole weekend either at the bar or hungover is not what they want to do.
On Saturday I'm headed off to Jijiksa Temple for a overnight temple stay. I'm looking forward to this because I figure a little peace and quiet can go a long way. After all of the rapid fire changes that come with moving overseas to finally try and find some peace and quiet is just what the doctor ordered. I should be writing a quiz for the broadcast but I'm not sure how I want to do it this week... I'm going to try and bounce a couple of ideas off of my co teacher late today. I also have to secure her help with going to the bank tomorrow to send some money home... which I've heard can range from easy to insane. I'm hoping for easy.

Things that would never happen at home

I was invited at the last minute on Tuesday to go on a field trip... actually it was and I quote because this is just one example of how things sometimes get lost in translation, it's not to be mean or anything it's just lost. " Do you want to go to camp with the 4th grade?" I'm of course like sure... why not... I spent a couple summers as a working at camps as a lifeguard I can do that. Um.. it wasn't really camp. We went to Gyeongju which I guess from what I managed to read on signs was the ancient Silla capital. It was interesting becasue I got to see some of my after school students in a diffrent way and I got to talk to several diffrent teachers who I normally don't get to talk to at all.
It was fun in many ways cause I got to see yet again how kids are kids everywhere. I watched them play with thier cell phones on the bus, listen and sing along with music.
The trip took us to two famous temples. One I think was famous because it was in a grotto. The other I think mainly because it was originally built in 523 AD. I also got to wander though an acheology exhibit at a national museum.

Now before we got to the museum we had lunch at the second temple. The teachers had their lunch prepared for them by the class leaders. As in the students had prepared lunch for the teachers... Think about that for a second... I don't know if it would have ever been possible for any of my classes to prepare lunch for teachers. Much less the feast that was prepared for these teachers. Fresh fruit, gimbap, seaweed soup, tea, sushi, kimchi, fried shrimp, and a few things I couldn't identify but they were good. (yes, Mom I am becoming much less picky about what I eat here, EXCEPT for fish!). The students also policed themselves so the teachers could eat with out worry. No parent chaperones. Just 4 teachers and 3 busses of students. The students were fun to watch because they would come running up to me and go teacher, teacher you come, me. And grab my hand and drag me running after them to see something and then they would try to find the english words for whatever it was they were showing me. The best was when they wanted to show me a golden pig. They missed the word gold for a while so I was trying to figure out where a live pig was. Then we got it figured out there was a gold pig infront of one of the temples and one hidden in the rafters.
They would also use me as a beacon to find their teacher. You know a blonde white person really stands out better than a short black haired Korean woman in the middle of a crowd. :) They also kept saying I was a rock star because all the other students were asking them about me. It's fun but strange most days.
Ok time to find some dinner.

Real World EPIK

I swear someone could make a fortune following us Native teachers around. We have a full fledged soap going on here. We have the party girls, the party boys, a few sensitive folks, a few minorities, and throw in a couple of queers for good measure.
We've hit the point where we're no longer just being polite to each other, we're honest about crazy stuff. Add in the whole we can't read the signs and not many folks speak English we're a pretty funny group.
Between the hook ups, drunk nights happening around me, and the Junior High gossip that goes on, it's interesting to watch what happens and how people react to it. I really could say more but I wouldn't here cause it's public.

I think my playlist says it all right now... my mood sucks, and I'm going to have to fix it.

Currently playing... on heavy rotation.

• So What--- Pink
• Dirty Little Secret-- All American Rejects
• Littlest Birds-- Be Good Tanyas
• Be Okay --- Ingrid Michealson
• Brave-- Idina Menzel
• Come on get higher--- Matt Nathanson
• Mission Street --- Vienna Teng

I know I need to take the emotion out of the situation... just not sure how right now, till it burns out. I need to find some sort of clarity on things. Something that shows me how to handle it. I've always been good at reading things at work and knowing how to communicate with people. Right now I feel like I'm missing some big puzzle piece that if I could find it things would snap into focus.

I know it's not another person... it's an understanding of how to communicate with the people I need to talk to. I know this is part of what I signed up for. I don't want to change that I want to figure out how to change me so I can come to some understanding and wrap my mind around what is going on.
Some of it I know is just that I've still got issues from being the last kid picked in school, the fat kid who kids had fun making cry on the playground. So not being able to really know what is going on I feel that same feeling of I must be doing something wrong to have this happening. Who knows tonight I just feel alone and far from home. I don't feel like I should be there. I just miss the safety that is there. I know I came on this to try new things and really do something different. It just is hard right now. I know I can get through this. I'm just going to have to figure out a way to do it.
I'm not even sure I want to post this right now... it's pretty much me laid out. I usually don't even let this much so to those I know and trust much less out where anyone can find it. I feel like I should in case someone is thinking of doing this. They should see it's not all partying and having fun. There is another side to this.

Andong Mask Dance Festival

Friday was a national holiday here so I took my day off and headed for the inter-city bus depot with a few other teachers. We had heard that the place to go if you were going to see just one festival while you were here was to the Andong Mask festival. So we paid our 6500 won and hopped on a crowded bus. After we got there we found some street vendors for lunch and then grabbed taxis over to the historical village. Took in a few dances and saw some masks and the mask museum.
Here are a few pictures from it.

Grabbed and copied from myspace

So where is home now?
Current mood: pensive

I don't usually blog here. I keep myself to my old faithfuls of Blogger and LJ. Most of my Korea experience so far is well documented on various places on the web. My pictures are safely ensconced on flickr, weekly or sometimes more often ramblings of what I'm doing, how things are going, what sort of funny things have happened to me, are classified as either clean or dirty and placed on the correct blog.

I was just reading Doria Roberts blog that she had done for the AJC and started laughing... 5 weeks till your own bed. Ha try a year or more. But then I thought... well that kinda is my bed now sitting in the corner. It's mine till I move on from Daegu. I may wander over Korea and the world from here but it's home for the moment. No matter how much my heart aches when I think of Atlanta and friends and family waiting for me to get the wander out of me so I can think more clearly about settling.

I'm very lucky the roots I grew there are pretty long. I can feel pieces of home even when I'm on the other side of the world.

It's not just the Atlanta people I miss and wish I could call up at a moments notice to share some strange insight of the day with. It's people I've known at different points in my life. Then I remember it's around 2 am there and I can't just call on my cellphone. That's when I smile, remember how lucky I am to have those people, hope I remember when I make it back to my little apartment and send them off an email.

The other side of that is when you don't hear back... the out of sight out of mind thing has taken over. I haven't been there for 2 months so I've been forgotten. I know it's not everyone. But there are some who I know don't think of me very often. I guess that's how it is for those who leave and those who are left. One person different for some, isn't much. Where as no familiar faces for another leaves strange holes where people and things once were.

I've gotten some of my biggest smiles over here when I've gotten just a short note out of the blue from someone, saying they were thinking of me. It's not always the person I thought I'd hear from either. I was telling a friend here yesterday that I'd gotten an email from a friend and it just made my day.. he was like, yeah I wish I'd get a few of those. I was sitting on a bus the day before talking to another teacher and she was telling me how lucky I am that I know who I am and I have friends who support that. She's working through losing friends because they don't share the same world view anymore. All I could say is, Yeah, I am lucky. I lived through losing people who didn't understand me. Not everyone can handle a different view.

People and things change. I know when I go back to Atlanta, it won't be the same. The people there will have changed. I will have changed. I know I've started to see the changes in myself already. I however do know that under the changes at the core, there will be somethings that are the same. That's what I look forward to, a year or more from now, going home to those things and people I've missed.

Oh and the craziest thing is when you crave just one thing... and it's something you can't find here. So when you have a chicken biscuit or sandwich from Chick-fil-a think of those of us who can't have one but would have wanted one badly last week when they were hunting for a hangover cure.

It's strange when someone else tells you how to feel

This has been a roller coaster week and it's not even really done yet. After my fun this past weekend, I've had to bring out the old fashioned clean up crew to make sure there was no damage and try to see what had changed in light of the events. I made sure I contacted the people who were involved and that they were all ok and we were good with what happened. For me that's typical... probably the same reason I get fussed at about mothering people and taking care of them instead of me. Then I really thought about who had a right to know about what happened. One such person was on the other side of the globe, we'd said we were free but some part of me said you prommised to be honest, let's see if you can really stick with that.

I sat down and wrote an email after an akward phone call where they had been probing into things that due to their previous choices they no longer had rights to probe. I knew it wasn't going to be a happy exchange, but I was following what had been said I was living, laughing and loving here in Korea. The responce I got should have been expected. Her issues of anger and distrust reared their heads. I got told I was just like everyone else. Hmmm... one thing I've learned is if everyone is reacting to me the same way, maybe it's not them it's me. Something I am doing, something I have done, or the way I am looking at the situation.

Of course the worst part what where she basicly said I should feel shame and guilt for saying something that of course couldn't be true now. I don't. I stand by my actions. Both of which she says should give me feelings of shame and guilt. New problem. I was honest at the time I said the words she wants to throw back in my face and never belived anyways. Since that time she broke that feeling, and made it something much less by how she has acted. So do I still feel bound by the words I said. Not really. Were they true when I said them, yes very much so. Am I embarrassed by my actions here? No. Not at all. they were between two people who had consented and enjoyed it. It was also so minor on the scales of what could have happened that night that it really shouldn't be an issue. Except for me I hold myself to high standards. Maybe not the same ones as everyone else but they are there for me. Mine involve making sure that I don't hurt those near me. That I can look myself in the eyes and be proud of who I am.

I can still do those things. So I am good.

The good thing for me that came out of all of this is that I've taken a step back from somethings and gone, ok is this what I really need right now. Am I doing this because I'm lonely or scared, or is it a diffrent sort of feeling. I haven't really had much time to myself this week so I think I'm going to take some of this long weekend and do that. Just go hiking or exploring on my own. Get away from the nonsense that has crept in and try to clear my head. It also will keep me from doing anything that could lead to more needs for the clean up crew for a while.

A couple of things in list form

• School lunch today was great. The usual kimchi, rice, and soup (fish broth, tofu, scallions, egg and something), then spicy green leafy something, and sweet and sour chicken. The lunch ladies I think have taken a liking to me, since I try everything. They came out and cut up the chicken so I didn't make a mess with my chopsticks and the big pieces. I feel like a little kid at meals learning to eat again, but it's fun.
  
• Still waiting on my travel reimbursment... need that to pay bills at home.
  
• Got my regular pay haven't seen my extra classes pay yet... going to ask about that soon.
  
• Attempting to go to Costco again tonight.
• I've now learned that Koreans don't belive in switchbacks when the make hiking trails. The go straight up the mountian. I'm not sure I'm in good enough shape to do 3km at about a 60 degree grade uphill. I did however get some interesting pictures.
• It's suddenly cold here. It went from frying hot to cold enough to want a jacket in one day. But I feel better now that it's cold.
  

Admin Note

I unlocked commenting so you can comment with out an open id.

I just have to read and moderate them before they post.

In other words... if you have something to say about a post go ahead and say it. I'd love to hear from everyone.

Teaching the Teachers, and Misc. Stuff

I have to admit the thing that scares me the most is teaching my colleagues. Usually because I respect them so much that it's like I have to do an even better job than normally. If there is anyone who can see through a BS lesson it's another teacher. So today I taught my first lesson to the staff here. I was nervous and I think over prepared a little. It went well though. I gave them some game ideas and went over some more advanced vocabulary for the clinic lessons. There really is nothing funnier than watching a group of adults all do the hokey pokey. Seriously... I was laughing, they were laughing, but everyone knew right, left, hand, arm, elbow, foot, hip, by the time we were done. I guess that's part of my teaching here. I just had to get over myself and have fun.
It was fun to watch them get over the whole propriety thing and just have fun and learn. It makes me feel like I might just make it.

After the lesson we were sitting and I was talking to my 5th grade co teacher. He translated for the VP a few questions then he translated a huge compliment for me about how everyone really likes me as a teacher that I'm an asset to the school since I really prepare for lessons and I am a huge improvement over the previous teacher. They also said I must be great because my after school classes are growing. Students are telling other students to sign up and teachers are telling parents the same thing. It's good to hear that. I also had him translate that the number 3 at the school is a great teacher. I can tell because her class is fun to work with and you can see that her students love her. There are several teachers like that here. I just know that when you can tell even without understanding half of what is said in a class that they are having fun and they love to be there. It's a good teacher.
I'm hopeful that I got paid today... I didn't get a pay stub or anything. I figure I'll ask Miss. K about that tomorrow. She had a meeting this afternoon so I was on my own. Now it's almost time to go home and I'm hiding in my office listening to my ipod writing. Most of my work for next week is done, just a few things left to prep.

Things are looking up even after my butt kicking from Atlanta I received via Skype earlier this week. It was well deserved. It's all good now. I still miss home, but I really am starting to look forward to things here. Pusan in a couple of weeks, and Seoul in November, I'm thinking either Thailand or Vietnam for the February break.

Look into my ipod

Since I mentioned last post that I'd been keeping myself sane on a steady diet of music from home. I figured now was as good a time as any to mention who had been weighing heavily on the play list.

• Lindsey Hinkle: mainly a mix of really old and some new. Things like Right Here, Right Now and Already Gone, with occasionaly Blackberry Winter and Thinker than Water have been staples of my rides to town and waking up.
• Jennifer Daniels: Day to Live and Welcome to Your Life, Both have been heavily played. Welcome to your life sometimes in my head as I hike up the stairs to my office in the morning doing the bowing and smiling game with other teachers and students.
  
• Adrianne: seems to be getting an awfully lot of play on my ipod... no songs in particular... just her name keeps popping up.
  
• Diane Durrett: Soul Sing has been getting a bit of play plus an odd assortment of others. Doesn't help that Beth called me from D-town on Sunday morning and I got to hear part of her set there. Talk about adding to the home sickness. It's bitter sweet.
  
• Edie Carey also has been getting some play just as music I can listen to and think back to different memories of interesting moments in Atlanta.
• Marc Brousard also gets some play... Home most notably.
• Zac Brown Band: Toes and Chicken Fried.... mainly as I'm dreaming of some exotic beach at my winter holiday.
• Sugarland gets some play but...not as much as when I was home.
• Emily Kate Boyd: completely depends on my mood if I play her or skip. Mainly cause I've had too many emotions swirling around to take it right now. When things are stable I love her stuff.

So that's a quick glance at what has been sustaining my music fixes here. and no I have to run to school.

Things that make me cringe

Last night I wandered down to a chicken place in my neighborhood to find some dinner before grabbing a taxi to go bowling... while I was sitting there what would come on the radio blaring through the store but... Public Affair by Jessica Simpson. Really? Of all the pop music in America? That? Eww. That's not the only recent moment of ewww...
The night before we headed over to Old Skool to dance only to have Christmas music blaring... I know it's after Thanksgiving here but it's a little early, right? Oh and the choice of Christmas tunes... Mirah Carey... all I want for Christmas. Let me let you ponder that for a minute... September 19th and Christmas tunes.


yeah.


So I've gotten used to hearing poppy music every where (except my apartment where I have a steady diet of Atlanta Singer Songwritters playing). When it's in Korean I can appreciate the whole it's got a beat and sounds like fun. But the choices of Americans that get picked up are just wrong some days.

I admit that a couple of weeks ago on the bus I did get a big grin about Kelly Clarkston's "Because of you" only cause it brought back a nice memory of a couple of guys I know having fun with it.
A few people asked me how I was going to survive with out live music... um.. still not sure. But my bus rides are accopanied by my ipod on shuffle, and I've found out there is an open mic night at a local bar on Wednesdays so I may have to go down and check it out soon. I did manage to see one decent Korean band my first weekend here at Club That... so I know every once in awhile I will get to see some live music but it's not going to be the same.

Oh and as a side note... I didn't make it to bowling, something got the better of me and I ended up at home a sleep by 9pm praying what ever got me would be over soon. Somedays being adventurous foodwise isn't the best choice.

Gratitude

Yesterday I had a birthday. I haven't exactly figured out how old I am... I just know that I'm older than I was. But the interesting side effect of this was I got Happy Birthday messages from all over the world. I had them from family, friends, colleagues, folks from the EPIK program. Most people who know me say I'm pretty laid back, not much phases me. Some how last night after getting home from a nice dinner with an old friend who happens to also be here... it hit me. I am damn lucky to have the life I do. I really never thought about how I impact the people around me much, I've always just tried to live my life and not hurt others.
So now that I'm so far away from my home. I'm really realizing how lucky I am to have the friends I do. I know that some of them will still be there for me when I get back after this adventure. I am incredibly grateful for the out pouring of love and friendship that accompanied my departure from Atlanta. I miss those people everyday. When I hear that someone is going to see a musician play, or that they ran into others at a restaurant. I have a little twinge that I wish I'd been there. Then I look around at where I am and what I'm doing and go... yeah that would be good too, but look where I am.
I know that if people had really started to question me I might not have been able to do this. But they knew somehow on some level that this is what I needed to do. I needed to pick up and go. I needed and still do need to stretch myself and see what I can really do. I know you don't get the strength to do these things alone. It comes from others and from inside.

I'm really thankful for those people in my life who tell me they are proud of me, or that I've inspired them, or who just show up to support me in little ways. Those are the people that make me realize that I am really lucky to have the life I do.
Someone asked me once would I rather write my suicide note or an obituary. I said instantaneously I'm writing my obituary every day... and it's going to be a good one. I may not have lots of fancy degrees, or big prizes with titles, but I do have something much more valuable to me. I have friends and family who I hope can say they are proud of how I've lived my life and I took every chance I was given to really live this life.

I'm taking those chances and opportunities every day. Do they cost me? Yeah... they do. I've got friendships that I'm missing. Chances for love that I've had to pass up. Possible advancement in my career which has been put on hold. But then I sit here and think about where I was standing on Monday and think that if I'd let those costs and worries keep me at home... the cost would have been greater. Not many people get the chance to live overseas for a year, hike up mountains on a late summer day, and stand in a courtyard and just be in awe of the world around them. I likened my response when I got to the top of the stairs and turned and saw the courtyard with it's huge stone Buddha and carvings to my response when I saw the Grand Canyon in person for the first time. It was just awe and wonder... and knowing here is where I am supposed to be right now. Take it all in and savor it. Those moments don't come often, but when they do... you just have to hold on tight.

I'm lucky and thankful these days... and I know it. It's a great place to be.

Photo Synth

I'm not sure if anyone is willing to download the program but this web site lets you make 3D panoramas of your pictures.
I've been using it a little here and think it's pretty cool.
but here is the link to my pictures on it http://photosynth.net/userprofilepage.aspx?user=sunlfrog

Oh what happens to ones vocabulary

I've been getting used to using the most simple words to communicate with my co workers and people in my neighborhood. They are all trying to understand English and I really don't speak much Korean. So... it's simple phrases said slowly most of the time for me.
But the side affect is when I'm out with some other expats and I was trying to explain I'm not on the subway line, but I'm right near one of the bus depots... it came out as something along the lines of you know... where the buses sleep at nights. Yeah... it was bad... but it was also funny. Every one I was with teaches ESL and has had at least one of those sorts of brain farts.

But yeah my apartment is near Beomul-dong where the buses sleep at night.

Feeling Like Home

I've been in Korea for almost three weeks now. I realized yesterday as I was walking around my neighborhood that it's beginning to feel like home. I did my errands and tried (unsuccessfully) to reload my bus card at the bank... I really need to learn Korean.. then I might be able to figure out how to do it that way. I also managed to go to the bigger grocery at the DongA department store. I got in some provisions for the long weekend since stores are supposedly going to be closed today and maybe some tomorrow for the holiday. I then walked home noticing that the Lotte near my usual bus stop was open so I made a note to run back down there after I got my groceries home so I could recharge my card there.
When I walked back down I said hi and had a couple of conversations with students who were enjoying their holiday break. Got to the bus stop handed the nice old guy in the wheelchair who works there my card and a 10000won bill (about $10) so I'd have enough on my card to get around for the next few weeks. Each ride on the bus is about 950won. Subways are a little more but I don't live on a line so I don't ride them much. He smiled and thanked me as he handed me back my card with a new little protective sleeve on it. I thanked him and bowed in Korean and headed down the street to the corner with my fruit guy, bakery, and the little convenience store, to run the rest of my errands. I looked at the fruit and decided I didn't need any right now, but still said hello and gave a little bow since he had greeted me as I walked up. Then I stopped by the cellphone store and wished Judy and Ken a Happy Cheusock. Next was the bakery to buy some fresh bread. As I was doing this I realized I really could make this home for the next year or so. Things were feeling more and more comfortable. I can get around and take care of business. I manage to start to be able to figure out what is what and what Korean food I like. I got my water and oj and then carried all of my stuff up the hill to my place.
I also found some stuff at the DongA to try and MacGuiver my shower head so I wasn't always having to hold the shower head if I wanted to get wet. $3 in parts later I had made a suction cup hook and zip tie rig that took care of my shower woes. I can now stand under the water without having to hold the shower head.
I was supposed to go out to Jody's birthday party last night but after getting lost in the rain I decided that a taxi home was a better idea with the cold I was beginning to feel coming on. So it was a quiet night in after my adventures in the rain. I was right though... I've got one of my classic beginning of the school year colds. I'm taking care to drink lots and take my 12hour sudafed. Hopefully I'll be feeling better by tomorrow when I've planned to go hiking.
Oh and there are no pictures of the adventures in the Herbal Medicine Market thanks to my cf reader dying on me. I figure I'll find another soon and then there will be lots of pictures up. I'm also going to try to do a separate post about my two wild nights this weekend... those I do have pictures from since I only carry my little camera out on those trips.

End of Week 2 of Teaching

So teaching ESL in Korea has it's perks... 90% of the time I'm co-teaching and my job is to be a push button dispenser of English. *push* head, shoulders, knees, and toes. *push* I have a headache, I have a stomach ache. Then I teach 4 extra sections a week 2 with 3-6 graders and 2 with 1-2nd graders. I have to plan, teach and everything the extra classes which are interesting with varied levels of English and just over all willingness to speak.
My 4th graders who dominate my Monday mornings are cool, except for one class where I almost killed some boys who were picking on a little fat boy who can barely speak in Korean or read Korean but yet is willing to try in English class to repeat after me. Yeah I didn't know when I asked him to speak in front of the class that he had such issues but I helped him and he did a pretty good job following after me.
I eat lunch every day in the school cafeteria and it's not bad. I'm doing better with chopsticks and there are somethings I really like and others that I'm like.. yeah can I politely skip that?
The 6th grade girls on my hall, come and visit me and talk most days between classes. Or they yell in through the window and I go talk to them. They are really good at saying most things in English but they have a habit of getting giggly at times. One was trying to talk me out of some candy one of the teachers gave me the other day. She didn't quite do it but she tried hard.. I've got pictures of the kids and all to post to flickr, just been busy with teaching, exploring and getting lost. :)
I'm getting really good at getting lost and not letting it bother me. I've been lost in my area, lost downtown, lost in the school, and yesterday lost in Manchon while trying to meet up with Jody. But I tried and like bimbap, mandu and a couple of other things now... so cheap Korean food here I come. I also have discovered I like the sheets of dried seaweed which you wrap around rice and things.
I'm headed out tonight I think with a group of EPIK teachers which means drinks and trouble causing will be had by all. Thank god I have my little pieces of paper which can get me downtown by taxi and back home. I'll probably take the bus down and taxi it back. It's amazing what one can do when it's either that or no fun or who knows what.
Ok time to finish up some work before I'm done for the week.

Walk to School

Just so I can find it

This is just for my reference... Anyone who knows me well knows the focus isn't on the naked Americans for me... it's on the background... LUSH!!!! I knew they had a store here in Korea. Now I have a couple of landmarks to look for when I go up there. It's in Hongede which is a big expat area of Seoul. Ok back to my normal thoughts about Korea.

Wallpaper snafus

So I've been dealing with things getting fixed all over my place the last few days from the 10pm or later visits from my landlord to the they are coming on Saturday at some time to fix my wallpaper where there is mold. They just showed up and it's almost 4pm. I've stayed around all day since I didn't know when they were coming. Now I'd just made plans to meet Jody at 5pm and I probably wouldn't be able to thanks to having to stay here with the wallpaper stuff going on.
oh I am not thrilled.

week 1 adventures in teaching

After the first week of teaching and being “settled” into where I’m going to spend the next year. I’m pretty well drained. Emotionally this week has been a roller coaster. I have to go way out of my comfort zone and ask people for help, and am dependant on them for just basic things that I would have never thought to ask for help with in the US. I’ve had to ask for help with everything from getting directions for a taxi driver to setting up my cell phone, keeping the internet turned on in my apartment, getting the results from my HIV and drug screen and a multitude of other things.
The cell phone for an example was a trial of errors. I first went to a little store a couple of blocks away where I’d heard from the previous native teacher that they spoke good English. He was right about that. Actually the husband and wife had lived in Atlanta previously. So we bonded pretty quick. They sold me one phone and gave me a piece of paper explaining in Korean to the people by the big department store in the area to set up a prepaid account for me. I was then met with the big x made with their arms no prepaid, no phone for foreigners. Ouch! By this point I’d walked a good 4 miles between the stores and my home and I had to pee really bad and there aren’t any really easy places to find a bathroom in Korea so far. That was the moment I ran smack into my principal. Who is really nice and is trying very hard to speak to me in English. I felt bad that I kind of talked fast and then ran off but… the idea of asking her where a bathroom was… not appealing at all to my independent streak that I’d been trying to have here. So I walked very briskly in the 88 degree and 94% humidity back home. I finally got home and crashed figuring I’d deal with the cell phone on Friday.
I asked Miss K. about it and she called the guy who had figured out a solution and I was to go by afterschool and he’d take care of everything. He did. I walked down there from school hoping it would only take a little while since I also needed to go home change and get my bag together to go meet Allison (my recruiter) for dinner. Things were taking a while with the paperwork so I left for about 10 minutes to run home change, get things together, go to the bathroom, and then ran back down the hill. I got back and things were set up and they had a Chinese plum waiting for me. That’s a major sign of respect and friendship here so I’m going to have to buy them some fruit this week and stop by. The guy Ken programmed my phone with Judy’s phone number so if anything happened I had someone who spoke English in the area who would help me. I think I must have some good Karma or something for all the help they gave me. I’m glad they are only a few block away and I’ll probably see them regularly. Oh and they way they set up my phone is that it’s prepaid but in his name. Yeah, he’s guaranteeing my phone, just because he knows how it is to be in a different country and not able to get things done.
They then wrote out for me the directions for the cabbie in hagul so I could get to the main station where I was to meet Allison. No one else showed so I was glad I at least did and we had a nice dinner downtown. Then she had to catch the KTX back to Seoul where she was meeting some people who were coming in to start teaching next week.
I managed to take a hair raising cab ride home. I’ll write about the cabbies another time, but lets just say I was a little nervous that this one was watching tv and not the roads on the way home.