Keeping in Touch while in Korea

I had a couple of fun experiences in the last couple of days that show how easy it is if you want to to stay connected while overseas.

First yesterday on the bus I got the urge to write what was happening as I was riding. Then I was like crap I'm just going to have to retype this to get it from my itouch to my computer where I could post it or do something with it. Then I realized I could email from it to my home account. There is enough free wifi if you look for it to do that easily here. So here is a short bit of a typical bus ride for me.
Making friends on the bus.
It's good to let the little bent over old ladies on first. Then get smiles from the nuns as I stand so they can sit. This street is fun Buddhist shops on the right pet shops on the left. Everyone on the bus wondering what I'm doing typing on my itouch just observing the world. Its funny how normal this ride has become used to be in awe the whole way now it's normal to see everyone and the shops. I look out the window and try to practice what I just learned in Korean class and pick out characters from the signs. Still have a long way to go to get to the point where I can read a whole sign.

I also got to see my nephew the other morning as he was climbing and walking around. A web cam and skype makes keeping up with my family pretty easy. I talk to my parents weekly usually and I can call and see my friends back home, so long as I and they both remember that it's a 13 hour time difference.

Then this morning I got up and uploaded pictures and twitterd about my night. I replied to a friends tweet and got a reply to my gmail chat from a text message. I could text her back thanks to gchat being able to chat to cell phones in the US. If I really wanted to I could have then Skyped her and gotten to talk to her directly.

Between Twitter, Skype, Facebook, and my blogs I can keep everyone at home and they in return can keep me up to date with what is going on, with in reason... not everyone needs to know about that night in the norebang with the soju and the crowd of Expats.
Though they happen to all of us over here.

We also have nice nights like this one.

Happy Birthday Jamari!

Someone thought this was a good idea... why?

It's a new semester her at BM (yes those are the initials of my school) Elementary. With it I got a new schedule, new co teachers and new students. As much as I respect and like my principal her latest idea is a bit of a train wreck at the moment. I have sixteen (yeah, you read that right SIXTEEN) co teachers now. That's the main English teacher, plus three 3rd grade teachers, three 5th grade teachers, two 4th grade teachers, two 1st grade teachers, two 2nd grade teachers, and three 6th grade teachers. I respect that every teacher has a different style of teaching, a different level of comfortableness with English, and every class is different. But to juggle that many different styles of teaching is a bit insane. This is the first full week of trying this schedule out. I'm thinking it needs to get a little work done on it. Like can we get one contact person for each grade... so I can do some co teaching and get some sort of plans set up?
So far I've had teachers sit with the students and take the class, hide in another part of my classroom, walk out of the room, attempt to co teach, and actually co teach. The last two are my favorite groups of teachers... well that and the ones who sit with the class and try to learn too. I can handle a class if I know they will at least help out with a few translations and the management.
Old Miss Kim and I had a heart to heart this morning about how I'd really like a contact person on each team... someone who is willing to meet with me once a week to go over plans and talk about how the class is going to run. I'm willing to meet with people after school and practice English with them so they feel more comfortable. Who knows if any of this will happen. I have a feeling that if the principal figures out how unhappy I am things will change a little. I don't want to kill her idea... just let me tweak it a little to make it work. I'm going to give it another week then I have a bad feeling I'm going to have to sit down and talk with my main co teachers Sunny and Miss Kim and maybe the principal about how we can make this work for everyone.
So far my ideas are one contact person per grade.. trying to track down 6 or maybe 7 teachers is a lot easier than 16. After school small group (each grade level even) short English lessons for the teachers. Focus these on whatever dialog is coming up and plans for the next class so we are all on the same page and they feel more confident with what we are doing.
I'm not sure what else I can do but I figure if I give it a real try they can't get too mad at me when I make my decisions about next year in May.

Road Trip to Seoul

Last Saturday, Jamari had to go to Seoul to meet his friend Drew who was coming in from ATL for a visit. We decided to make it into a mini roadtrip with a visit to Seoul Grand park. I admittedly was playing Julie cruise director. I had wanted to go to an Art Museum for awhile and I'd heard the Korean Museum of Contemporary Art was pretty good. The park also has a Korean version of Disney World (Seoul Land) and a Zoo there. Plus it was only a half hour by subway from Seoul Station.
Jamari decided that he'd had enough teasing from me about being late that he showed up for the train 45 minutes early. I got there about 35 minutes early and had grabbed breakfast at the station when we ran into each other. Then it was a 2 hour KTX ride north to a station I've gotten to know very well recently. I really need to find out if there is a frequent rider program for the KTX since I've been on it so much recently.
On the way Desi started calling about joining us. We said we weren't waiting for her she could come and meet us at the park. (yes, we have both learned about waiting around and wasting time here.) So we hopped the subway (thank god it was one of the nicer lines and we had no transfers) and landed at the park. We then walked up to the place where you can get tickets for the tram, chairlift and, zoo.
I don't think I've said much about lines in Korea. If you let there be any space(like 4 inches even) between you and the person in front of you, it's a big enough space someone will slide in front of you. I made it through the line and with my limited Konglish got a set of tickets. Jamari got cut off by an ajshossi. We cleared out a whole section on the tram over to the museum. As much as Seoul is bigger and people there are more used to seeing foreigners it still is a reason for them to stare when you have a big black guy running around with a white girl.

I really enjoyed the museum... I wish I'd been able to take some pictures. There were several levels and we started at the top and worked our way down. The first gallery we went into was of Korean works from the 1920's through the 1970's (I think). Thanks to my recent trip to the DMZ and some of my studying of Korean history to understand that I got some of the pieces that were in there. They did a good job showing how the fracturing of the country and the wars had changed the people during that period. There was a beautiful landscape done by No Soo Hyeon that could have been done in the last few years even in the countryside. I've seen that same scene still playing out as I've traveled around. Then there were pictures of refuge life by Lim Eungsik from the 1950's that were amazing in how they framed the life of the refuges from the North as things were still happening during the Korean War (I think).
As we worked down the levels I got sucked into an exhibit done by a Korean who had fled to South America. His works were an interesting mix of typical Asian styles mixed with Aztec looking symbols.

The last exhibit we went through was current works done by young Korean artists... some were very brutal and I was like, ok I can only take about 2 minutes of that, and moved on. Others were much more peaceful and I could have stood infront of them studying them for much longer. There was one that was titled "Buddha and Jesus Enter the city of Seoul" by Lee Heung Duk that I would have loved to talk to some Koreans about cause I'm sure there are things I missed because I don't have a huge background in Korean pop culture but there was enough that I did get that was an interesting representation of the mix of cultures that are happening in Korea currently.

After we left the museum I took a few shots in the sculpture garden and we headed to the Zoo to meet up with Desi. I'm not sure who was on display at the zoo the animals or us foreigners. It was like we were the exhibit with out cages. I'm sure it is a beautiful zoo in the warmer weather. But the plant life was still a bit dead and some of the exhibits were closed due to construction.
It was a fun afternoon though cause all three of us got to be a bit silly and have fun. We eventually took the chairlift back down the hillside. Jamari is a bit scared of heights of it was fun for Desi and I to tease him since we both had recently rode chairlifts for skiing.
Eventually we met up with Drew after he found his way from the airport and we all hopped the KTX back down to Daegu where I went home and crashed and from the sounds of things they went out and had a rowdy night on the town.

I do have pictures I just need to upload them. So I'll add them in soon... hopefully.

What would you do if you couldn't fail?

I was reading this blog and had one of those ah ha moments. You know the ones, where something hits you smack in the face and you can't go back from the moment something inside you has forever been changed.

I answered the question they asked "What would you do if you couldn't fail?" The answer took me completely off guard. Then I started crying realizing that one of the things I was searching for I'd found. I'm doing exactly what I would do if I couldn't fail. I've always loved teaching and travel. So teaching overseas is the perfect mix. I get to travel, and teach, and really live in another culture and explore it.

I hadn't remembered till I finally got my internet back this morning that everyone back home was off at Sugarland right now. But it did explain a few things when I was reminded of it. Does it change that I am happy being here? nope. I miss those things but overall it doesn't change that I'm happy right where I am. I'm where I belong in the world right now. I ran into one of my students last night walking home. He had the typical reaction OH! O--- teacher! Hello. We talked for a couple of minutes and he told me he was excited for Monday. He's ready for the new school year to start. I am too. Though my internal yearly clock is all screwed up with the sights of new school supplies and stacks of new books are all around. I keep thinking it should be fall, and what happened to summer? That's not how it is here it goes with the seasons and I can understand that. New things start in the Spring like the rebirth of the Earth, Fall and Winter are the closing and ending seasons.
Years of conditioning are getting reworked... and it's fun to watch and experience them. At the same time I wonder how it will feel in reverse.

The DMZ Trip

I could talk about what I saw, and did. But really it's a place that means different things for different people. It's a place that shows how one people can be divided for over 50 years. The ribbons hanging near the Freedom Bridge are obviously new so it's not something that is going away. Growing up during the cold war, and remembering when Germany unified... it's strange to me that there are still places in the world where this isn't history... it's current events. They discovered a 4th tunnel to the South as recently as the 1990's. There is a modern train station that gets service from Seoul just waiting for a chance to be used. We drove past mine fields, and barbed wire dividing two groups that at one point were one country.
It was a really long day for me leaving my apartment in Daegu at 5am and not getting back till after 10pm. I figure the pictures will have to speak for themselves at this point.

Wandering

This afternoon I had one thing I promised myself I would do. I would sit down someplace outside my apartment and write a stack of postcards to folks back home. Why? Because I've been here almost six months and I finally yesterday found some decent postcards at the Taegu National Museum. I also have a strange family who I knew would all feel loved to get something (slightly illegible) from me from halfway around the world.
I headed downtown and started wandering I wanted to find a coffee shop... instead I landed myself in a market I hadn't been in before and felt the energy I'd felt when I first landed here of exploring and discovering new things. After doing a big loop I found a nice coffee shop grabbed a mocha and sat down to write. Ten postcards later I let myself have a break to come home. Tomorrow I'm going to one of the two traditional markets with my camera to try and take some pictures. Before I get to go there I have to go and sit someplace again and write probably another 10 postcards.
I love wandering and discovering new places in Taegu. Does it take a bit of a leap to do so? yeah, but it's worth it. It's a bit of a leap to trust ones self that you can always find something you recognize so you're not completely lost. I kept seeing Taegu Station over the buildings so I knew that I could find a subway if I needed it. Would I have known that six months ago... nope. Now it's easy. I guess that's why the learning curve is getting easier. I have some basics and I've gotten better about trusting my instincts about which alleys to go down to find cool little shops. I know I would drive most people crazy with my rambling ways but it's fun... if I ever manage to find people who can put up with it I'll know I've found a travel partner.
Now back to my relaxing evening.

Good explination about Korean Education

I found this link through another blog but the video does a decent job of showing some of what goes on in English education here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwjt7zRiWOw

There are better and worse than what they showed... I kind of wish they would show a bit of what goes on from the Native teacher perspective... they all but ignored the idea that there are huge numbers of us over here working along side the Korean teachers to help with the English education in Korea.

Busan recap

I took the KTX down to Busan around the middle of the day cause I'd had to wait for my laundry to dry... yes one of the many issues with laundry here is it's air dry only. I got there figured out how to get to the subway and got a nice little charm for my cellphone that would also double as a fare card for the subway. I took the subway over to Haundae Beach and found my hotel, checked in and relaxed for a minute. Then grabbed my backpack and headed out to see what I could see around where I was staying and find a tourist information center. I've gotten pretty good at finding them and got an English map of Busan and while talking to the nice woman there found out about a city tour bus that would take me around the city stopping at many of the places I wanted to see for only 10,000 won a day. I then figured I'd wander through the aquarium. Honestly after the Georgia Aquarium which was done very well anything was probably going to be a let down... even more so for 16,000won. It was pretty good, just my personal bar for aquariums is very high. However there was a fun and cute exhibit of famous art work redone with fish as the main characters including Lady Liberty as a Penguine.


I wandered and had some street food for dinner and then took a long hot bath at my hotel. I also did my usual plan out the next day. After compareing the list of places I wanted to see from Lonely Planet and the route of the city tour bus I figured it would be a pretty good deal. I then set my alarm and crashed while watching some CNN (which is a perk for me since I don't have it at home.) The next morning I found a Dunkin Donuts grabbed some breakfast and went to the bus stop where the city tour bus would pick up and joined the crowd of young koreans standing around... it was kinda fun cause I've been here long enough I'm not always polite anymore about getting shoved from bus doors by ajumas and cut in lines. I fight back now. I grabbed my place in line and made sure I gave up my personal space like a good Korean and managed to cut off a pushy Ajuma who was obviously younger than me, as she tried to get on the bus infront of me. Sorry I'm not some just off the plane Meigook who can get run over. The bus driver smiled at it and was very kind to me as I gave him my money and got a card that allowed me to ride the bus all day. He also grabbed an English brochure and marked off the loops that were canceled and not running that day. I then watched the city fly by as I rode to the Olympic Sculpture garden. I got lost coming off the bus but eventually found it. I had a wonderful time freezing and taking pictures there. I will probably go back again with friends when it's warmer.

I then hopped the bus and rode downtown were I transfered to the other loop and stopped at the coast at some place called 75. I took a long time there hiking down to the ocean and taking pictures. It was a beautiful jagged coast with fishermen working lines and having fires on the coast. I also had a nice chat with a teacher from Seoul who was on vacation with her mother. She wanted to practice her English and since we were both waiting for the bus it wasn't a big deal. I took the last bus to my hotel eventually seeing a large chunck of the city. I also found mexican at a place called Fuzzy Navels.


That evening I was online at my hotel and got a message from the person I was supposed to crash with in Seoul that basicly sounded like she didn't really want me to stay there. I started replanning and decided to stay an extra day in Busan and just make it a day trip up to Seoul. (That also ment that I could stay up all night and watch Obama's innauguration.) So I called the front deask changed my plans and stayed up all night.
I then with my later start hopped the subway to the Jigalchi Fish market. I admittedly was a scaredly cat and didn't make it into the main market but saw somethings on the outside stalls that had me going what the heck is that. I also wandered through a traditional market north of there where I bought a spurlge and got a new leather coat. It was a rainy day so I didn't do a lot of outdoor things but had fun just wandering the city. Eventually I made it back to the hotel and crashed.
The next morning I got up checked out and grabbed the train back to Daegu.

Tour De Korea (Leg 1 Day 3)

My final full day in Jeju I rented a car. Originally I'd planned on renting a scooter but the freezing temps made that idea rather fool hardy. I managed to talk to the front desk and they did the translating for me with the Avis guy. Due to the nature of multiple translators and such... it meant a late start for the day. I finally got out of the hotel parking lot around 11:30 with a car that ran on LPG (liquid propane gas) and had a Korean only navigation system that also told speed and where the radar traps were. In Korea they don't have cops sitting around with radar guns. They have specific places where they patrol by video camera. So these are all well documented. The little navigation system would start to beep and put a little circle up with the speed I needed to be at in it and when I made that speed going through the zone it would do a fun little ringing sound like getting points on a video game. It would also talk to me in Korean. I really did have fun back behind the wheel of a car again. Thankfully the signs on Jeju are in Korean, English and Japanesse. I was trying to just stay on the road that had the right number so I could go around the eastern side of the Island. I wanted to go to the haenyseo museum and see the women divers that have become very famous for free diving for more than 2 minutes at a time. I eventually found where I was headed and had a nice wander through the exhibits. Most of the gear they use looked like antiques from when diving was starting. I also had one of two really fun conversations there. I was looking at an exhibit and an slightly older gentleman approached me. "Roussian?" I looked at him like really? You serious? and responded "Anio, Meigook" (No, American) He then babbled something that was like oh really where? Why are you here?" I managed "Georgia, Sosingnym, Taegu" There were a few laughs... a big smile "Younglro Sosingnym?" "Nay" (English teacher? Yes) I understood he then wanted to know how many days I was there and I said 3. He turned around and walked off to his friends where I could tell he was recounting what he'd found out. 1. I wasn't a Russian hooker. 2. I was an English teacher in Taegu. 3. I liked Korea. I over heard the conversation replay and realized I was getting pretty good at understanding some Korean even if I can't really speak it yet or read it.


After that I drove a little further up the coast to an area that had lava tubes. I found the entrance and paid my fee to go in. As I walked down I saw the signs that crushed my hopes... no pictures. Crap! Ok... lets see what this is like. All of those geology classes in college had developed a decent interest in this sort of thing any way topped off by teaching earth science for a few years. I noticed that there wasn't much light down in the tube and they had signs saying they keep it dark for the protection of the tube. (Not sure if that was a bad translation or what.) I got to the bottom and started walking and realized this is one of those times when having a traveling companion would have been nice. Not a minute later I hear someone slip a little right behind me. I quickly turned around to see if I could help. I asked a woman if she was ok, as I reached a hand out to steady her. She nodded yes. Then asked if I was alone too. This was done in rather broken English and Korean. I was like yeah. She then using hand gestures asked if it was ok if we walked through together. Of course sure. She looked to be maybe 45 not Korean but some sort of Asian decent. (remember low lighting) As we walked (it was a mile long trip) we chatted in a mix of Korean, English, and Japanese. I knew a little Korean, and English. She knew a little Korean, a even less English, and Japanese. So with lots of hand gestures we covered that I was American living in Taegu, and a teacher. She was on vacation from Japan. We talked about geology and how neither of us had seen anything like that before. Now lava tunnels have very uneven floors with cracks and bumps and this one was damp and slick in some places. I did a good deal of walking across choosing paths then reaching a hand back to help her along. When we came out of the tunnel we said good bye and waved and smiled. It's those sorts of encounters that make traveling alone fun. I learned a little more about myself and communication.

I made it to Jeju city and had a nice dinner of bibimbap before heading to Loveland and the mysterious road. I'm not going to describe Loveland. It was fun and went along with Jeju being a place for honeymoons.

As it was getting dark I pulled out the map and figured out the quickest way back to the hotel was across the island. I miscalculated where the road went in comparison to Mt. Halla. I ended up driving over it, with snow, wind and curvy roads.

I got back to the side of the island the hotel was on and realized I needed to add propane to the tank. In Korea it's all full service, it's just a matter of finding a propane not a gas station. I found one managed to explain that I needed a fill up and for 8,000 won or so I refilled the propane tank in the trunk. It was pretty cool. I'll drive in Korea again, but not in the cities where driving is a competitive sport that makes Atlanta look like a leisurely stroll with Sunday drivers who are polite. Here driving is allowed on sidewalks, turn signals are used, but so are Hazards as you cut in front of a car with inches to spare. I've learned to just relax and ignore the taxi drivers' driving. I just watch the tv in the cab or try to not think about how close we were to just becoming part of that bus.
That wraps up Jeju, the next day I caught a plane back to Taegu and did laundry in preparation for my trip to Busan.

Tour De Korea (Leg 1)

Unlike most of the EPIK teachers I decided not to take off for Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines. I stayed right here in Korea. I figured if I was going to save up the cash for a big trip later... stick it out here avoid the potential coups that were going on in various places and see what I could see here.
My first leg which was billed by all my co teachers as the "Hawaii of Korea" and I was told it would be warm and sunny and perfect to relax. Someone missed that it's still winter...
I landed at Jeju Airport around noon, where I was greeted as I stepped off the plane by snow. Yeah, let's just say... it wasn't very warm. I then took the limo bus over the the Hyatt and promptly took a hot shower... for the first time in months it felt like I was really warm all the way to my bones. (my bathroom in Daegu is an whole post of it's own.) Then I headed out. I'd gotten an English map of Jeju from the information booth in the airport which was handy. I just figured I'd wander up the street see a couple of the museums and then find a waterfall. My first stop was the Teddy Bear Museum. Anyone who has known me most of my life would know that I love teddy bears. I had a collection of over 60 diffrent ones at one point in my childhood. So as overwellmingly cute as it was it was also perfect for me.
I walked through the exhibits inside and stumbled upon a whole display case of Santa Bears! I had quite a few of these from Hudsons as I was growing up. I still have a few in storage back in Atlanta. Then I made it outside where it was bears gone wild. There were life size bears doing alsorts of crazy things. I spent probably a good two hours wandering and taking pictures.
Finally I left there and headed in the direction I figured I could find one of the many waterfalls that Jeju is famous for. I found it... and at probably one of the nicer times of day to find it. There were several ways you could aproach the waterfalls and I saw it from several angles.
Then I hiked back to my hotel and crashed after uploading a few pictures to flickr.

Day two dawned with a little more sun and a lot less wind. I consulted my trusty rusty map and figured that I could taxi it out to the far waterfall then hike to the closer one. After that cab it to E-mart where I could then see a few museums and the World cup stadium. I know not many people think hiking around an island getting lost is fun but I had fun doing it. I got a nice driver who spoke some english and between my lonely planet and the english map we made it to the first waterfall, jeongbang.
I then took a wandering hike following the coastline. I took some time to shoot some pictures along the harbor of the fishing boats. Eventually I found the other waterfall I was looking for.
Then it was off to emart... cause the taxi drivers didn't get world cup stadium.. but eh-martah they get.
The 3rd day I had a car... driving in korea will get it's own post and everything.. maybe tomorrow.
But for now I need to take a break and relax after a hecktic first day back.

I've been remiss

or at least that's what my mom keeps telling me. She keeps hearing from my Aunt that I haven't updated my blog... what's wrong? How come I haven't written?

Um... I've been busy and the writting bug hasn't bitten.

Yeah.. that's what's been going on. I've been traveling and teaching winter camps and traveling more. Learning things, seeing cool things, and trying not to get too lost while wandering around Korea. I do have stories to tell from my travels to Jeju, Busan and Seoul. However I also have to teach classes, plan, try to edit some pictures (I only took around 1,000 while I was traveling) upload said pictures and then write captions and then blog about what all I did.
Have I mentioned I like to sleep. Yeah.. so I'm a little behind but fear not I will attempt to start catching up on my blogging and such in the next week or so. If I don't... I'm fine just busy.

Things I've learned recently

• You know you've grown up when you no longer are fearless.
• Snowboarding is not my cup of tea.
• I like to keep my legs independent... don't strap them to something so I can't move them. (makes me an unhappy camper.)
• Karma is orney sometimes. (I'm beginning to get the pay back for all the times I teased Beth and JP about being old.)
• The chain keeps going. Eventually new links get added on.
• I really like traveling by train.
• It's good to just laugh at yourself sometimes.
• It's even better to just lay there an laugh when you slide and flip and still land on your ass with your head facing down the mountain.
• Old skills will come back with a little practice.
• I really am glad to have made some of the friends I have here in Korea.
• Just because you miss people doesn't mean you have to go back and be with them.
• I still have a lot to learn here.
• Some things never fully heal.
• Passing on gifts you've received feels good and is important in building links in the chain.
• Your past will always come and surprise you when you least expect it.
• I've been very lucky in my life.
• The things that have shaped me I would never change. I'm very happy being me and where I am now.

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.