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.