Korean Questions

There are certian questions Koreans always ask. They know that they aren't proper questions in other places but here they are. So as I was sitting at the accupuncturists on thursday afternoon. He was examining my ankle and heel and making small talk. He asked "I know you must get asked this all the time but, are you married?" My standard reply no, I'm not. A little while later after he'd put 6 needles in my ankle he started asking me about what exercise I do and did I know fleps? huh? Phelpsa? Ah... yes Micheal Phelps. Typical Korean pronunciation with an added vowel. It comes from how Hangul is written and spoken. It makes much more sense to me now that I've been studying Korean.
Then after twisting the needles and checking them. Every time he'd go out turn the lights off in the room, I'd hear him talking to the other doctor and nurse in Korean. He'd come back in with another set of questions. I started getting the feeling that even though his English is good he was going out and discussing my answers with the other doctor and looking up words to ask me another set of questions.
The last time he came in for my foot he took out the needles and asked if he could give me a treatment for my shape as service. For those of you who don't know service here is when you get something for free. So he wanted to stick me with another set of needles for free. I was like ok why not. Then he asks so what shape is your sister? I was like...um.. I don't have one. I have a brother. He's tall and thin like my father. He was then like what shape is your mother. Oh.. my mom... she's short and round. He palpitates my stomach and then pulls out the longest needle I've seen yet it was probably 5 inches long but as thin as fishing line. I got 4 of those in my stomach. Two on each side. I really find it funny. The doctor says I'm fat and gives me a free treatment to try and fix that. The school lunch ladies say I'm getting to skinny and need to eat more. Not sure which it is... but hey if the needles work I'm willing to go with it.
Anyway you put it my heel is feeling a bit better and the doctor is nice and it's not too expensive to go in and see him I'll go back on Monday for another round on my foot.

Bullying in schools

This post isn't about Korea. It's about the load of bull that is being talked about at home. I know the programs that Dekalb county says they are using. I know about teachers and administrators SAYING that they have a zero tolerance. Note I said saying. Their actions speak much louder. I taught at schools were a copy of the Anti bulling law was posted in the classrooms. I have seen teachers and principals give lip service to the idea that they will put a stop to the bulling. I've also seen those same teachers and principals say things about gays and boys who might be slightly effeminate. I've watched them turn their backs when those students get teased. The facts are that there is a lot of lip service in the US education system and not much really happening about it in the lower grades. Once it becomes uncool in rap music and pop culture to say things are Gay then it won't be the trend so much in schools. However what get's taught at home both good and bad will come into the schools. The raising of kids to day is the job of both the parents and the teachers. But sometimes its being done by neither.

When in Korea....

I hurt my heel probably a month ago. It didn't hurt except when I stood on it for long periods of time or walked a lot. I finally figured that it was time to do something about it. I talked to my Dad and he said western medicine the best I could hope for was a shot or cortisone or some pain medicine. I was like I've been popping Advil for weeks. That's not going to cut it. I'd heard a few teachers over here talk about going to get acupuncture. Why not I figured... how bad could it really be. A few needles in my foot or something. Eh, I could take it. So I walked into school and asked Miss Kim to help me find a Chinese Doctor to try it for my heel. We found a place after school today. The doctor actually spoke pretty good English. He did an ultrasound on my heel and there was nothing wrong with the bone. He checked a few things out. Then he said I needed to get a little acupuncture. I was like ok.
I was lead into another room where he stuck a bunch of needles in my heel. Then he played with them and it was like HOLY CRAP!!!! THat HURTS! About 15 minutes later he pulled them out and handed me something to drink. The first sip wasn't bad. Tasted sort of like molasses. Then as I continued to drink the liquid. It went from not bad to oh my lord that's nasty. Then he told me I had to take more of it after the next two meals.
We'll see how it goes I figure give it 24 hours and if I feel better. I'm supposed to go back on Thursday for another treatment.

Spring has Sprung!

I've been busy the last few weeks with traveling to Suwon and keeping up with things down here in Daegu. My school is full of fun moments the current amusement is the students and teachers all practicing for Sports day on May first. From what I've seen of the rehearsals on the field at school I will be dying with laughter before it is over. The whole school does a group exercise that looks like a mix of Tai chi, stretches and tae kwon do.
On Friday I got a Flat Stanley from Kristy who I used to teach with at Benteen. She does the project yearly so I was excited to get to participate finally and be able to share with a few students in the US my experiences over here. I took Stan with me to meet up with Jamari for dinner. He got to see a bit of Downtown Daegu and enjoy a Kraze Burger. I'm going to be taking him around with me for a couple of weeks then I will send him back to Kristi's class with a few things from Korea.
Saturday was Korean class. I'm plodding along in it. I can do somethings pretty well but others I'm having troubles with. I don't really mind that. I've never been great with languages so I'm trying to be forgiving to myself, rather than the usual beating myself but with frustration. After class I took a wander around Daegu to take pictures of some of the spring flowers, and lanterns that are out for the festivals that are coming up.

I should probably mention that I did my renewal application last week. It was fairly easy. I really hope I get to stay here at Boykmyung Elementary. I've really grown to love the students and I enjoy the faculty. They are all trying hard to learn English and I know my struggles with Korean make them feel like I'm really making an effort to understand them better.

Friday Morning Smiles

Not that I wouldn't normally be happy about it being Friday morning. Today my smile was made even bigger by my walk to school. I had just turned the corner where I can see the school and many students walk this same street to school. The new safety guy was standing at the crosswalk, he's an ex VP and watches out for the students as they walk to school since there are no sidewalks most of the way there.
I heard from behind me "O-----y TEEEEEEAAACHHAAAAR!" and the sounds of little feet running. One of the little 3rd graders who loves me had spotted me and wanted to walk to school with me holding my hand. She's pretty fluent in English so she told me that she was sorry she didn't get to have class with me this week. I bowed as we walked past the safety guy who I could tell thought it was funny that this huge American was so loved by the students, and that I was holding this little girls hand. We got to the gate of the school she was joking that my hand was big. I said yes... Teacher's hand is huge. Then she hugged me and ran over to the steps where the students come in and change to their slippers. I also go a chorus from the students standing there of Hello! Hi! OOhh! Teachar!
I do really love my students... they make teaching fun again.

Korean Bullfights

Last weekend I got together with a mixed group of Expats and Koreans. The group had arranged for 2 buses to go to Cheongdo, where there is a bullfighting festival. I got downtown and found the group and hopped a seat on the bus not sure what I was going to see but knowing that it was important for me to try something new. It's been one of the pieces of advice I got before I left home that I've found to be incredibly valuable. It was just to be open to everything. So even though I had heard lots of people going off about how cruel it would be and that it was wrong. I went with open eyes and an open mind.
There were many things that were typical to Korean festivals as I've learned. There are crowds that shove, food stalls, exhibits, bad singers and dancers. I wasn't there for those I wanted to see the action. We walked around before we went into the stadium and I saw where they were keeping the bulls before hand. It looked like a typical barn. Stalls with roofs, animals tied up so they didn't wander too far and lots of handlers making sure the bulls were ready for the fights. I watched for a minute and saw bulls being lead by ropes, and generally it looked like they were well cared for.
Then we walked into the stadium which was packed. We found some seats near the top with good sight lines to the ring.

Then the bulls were lead out and lined up with each other. Usually they weren't too happy about being near another bull so there was some pawing of the ground and snorting. Then the test of wills would start. It wasn't like they were charging each other they just butted heads and pushed against each other till one gave up and walked away. The one who stood their ground won.


It was interesting to see and hear the crowds cheering for bulls and the trainers were in the ring yelling at them like a corner coach would in a human fight. The ref was there to make sure the animals didn't get hurt and declare the winner.
After that the bulls were checked as they left the ring and another pair was lead in. It seemed fairly harmless... like too big jocks trying to get a cheerleader by showing who was stronger.
After we left the festival we went to a wine tunnel that had previously been a Japanese rail tunnel. It was pretty cool. I liked the persimmon wine and then we got to go back in the storage area where people normally aren't allowed. It's a nice sweet but dry white wine.

I picked up a couple of bottles for my apartment... I figure if I ever get visitors over here it'd be nice to have something other than soju to offer them.