The Day After

So Christmas has passed and I made it through the holiday alright. It was strange being away from my family on Christmas but it didn't realy feel like Christmas to me at all so I didn't cry. I have posted a picture of one of my favorite classes. These kids are hilarious and keep me laughing.

The picture of the snow is from today. I went to see Avatar with Jenny and Mike (Jenny is the girl in the picture with me on my profile) and when we came out the snow had really settled! There was definitely enough to make a snowman.

Since we have last spoken I have seen some pretty interesting things, and I got some birthday cake from strangers! We all know how much I love cake. I was with my friend Matt at this Japanese place and some people were celebrating their birthday.He was like, tonight we are going to get some free cake. So he interrupts their meal and celebration to tell them happy birthday. It was really funny. So of course when they cut the cake, they brought cake over to our table. I didn't want to be rude and not eat it...so of course we dug in....almost asked for seconds. haha. But seriously, it is their custom here to share with surrounding people..especially if you wish them a happy birthday. I wish somebody would try that in America. We would be like, Thanks, but you are not getting any of my cake, so keep it movin!

I also saw a random person dressed up as a pink bunny again. I really don't know what it is with these people and dressing up in random costumes. Sometimes I find myself being like, why am I surrounded by so many Asians!? Oh yeah...I'm in Korea.

In a couple of weeks I am going back to Daegu to see one of my friends off as it is the end of her contract. And then the week after I am going skiing! So I am sure I will have some more entertaining stories for you all. Hopefully I won't wipe out as bad as I did last year on the slopes, where my skiis were brought to me by a complete stranger and I had to walk down the slope. that was fun. Anyway...I hope all is well and I will talk to you soon!

Christmas in Korea

It's so hard for me to believe that it's practically already the middle of December!

So since we've spoken last, I have started taking Korean lessons which I find to be a wonderful challenge. I go three times a week and then practice with friends throughout. It's so hard! Now I know how the Koreans feel trying to learn English. So I have only had like 5 lessons total and still don't know much of anything, but on my walk home one day a Korean man asked me for directions...in Korean. Now you tell me, do I really look THAT confident walking in a foreign country? As a matter of fact, the only reason I knew he was asking for directions is because he was pointing and the change in his pitch at the end of his sentence. I figured that must be what he was wondering because I knew where I was going. Anyhow, there are some pretty interesting things that I see here in Korea. One of their traditions here is to bow to one another as a sign of respect. The other day I was walking home and there were like 15 Koreans leaving a coffee shop, and they were saying their goodbyes and I swear it took like 10 minutes because everyone was bowing. Then randomly, I see people dressed in what I assume are halloween costumes except halloween has been over for the past month. So why do I randomly see a pink bunny walking around, or people dressed like a horse with the head intact? I'm not really sure...I just shake my head and smile to myself and think, 'only in Korea'.

So an update on my outtings...I haven't been any place new since he last time, but last weekend for Jenny's birthday we went to a Bulgarian restaraunt. Then we went to this bar that I swear was a retirement community. I was like...ummmm, I think it's time to go. So we go upstairs (to another retirement community, except these guys are quite in Depends yet) and this man sits next to me at the bar and chats. I spoke to him briefly because its the nice thing to do...but the man was clearly 50+. He worked for Homeland Security and was in SK for business. His friends come over and they are acting like they are 18 year old frat boys. They were like we are gonna go, but if you want to stay man you should! I was pretending not to hear because all I could think was are they serious? Long story short, he invites me to his hotel room if I want to have 'fun' later. Seriously? Sir, not in THIS lifetime. What a pig...not only was he like 2 decades older than me, but he definitely had a wedding ring on. But, he was staying at the Westin, and I would have love to use that bathroom...aaaaah, a bathtub!

Anyhow, I am hoping to have some more pics to post soon of more traditional things! I am going to take my nice camera to work tomorrow so I can show you my students! Talk to you guys soon!

Interesting Happenings

Hello All! This is a picture of my first traditional Korean structure since I have been here! Let me tell you how this all started out.

So I decided to be brave on Saturday and venture out on a day of shopping in this city that is supposedly great to shop in. Needless to say I have never been there and still don't know my way around Korea at all, but new the city name. I walked up to the cab stand and got in the cab and said the name of the city. The cab driver had no idea what I was talking about...so I got on the phone with one of my Korean friends and they spoke to the cab driver. It's very complicated here with the cabs. There are cabs that can only go to certain places and I got in a cab that only goes to Seoul. So the cab driver still didn't know where Insadong was but he gave it a valiant effort! The cabs here are SO cheap. For a fourty minute cab ride it cost about 18 american dolloars which is 25,000 Korean won.

So he took me to Insadong, dropping me off in this alley that he thought was the Insadong Market. I didn't know the difference considering I have never been anyhow, so I got out. Yeaaaaah...It definitely was not the shopping street I was told about. It WAS a market, but not the Insadong market. It was an alley with all Korean people, that were cooking some animal that I was not completely aware of, and homeless people and they were all looking at me like I was crazy. I felt like I was crazy. hahaha. So anyhow, I happened across the main street in my walking to get out of the alley and on my way to the REAL shopping I saw this amazing building! It was this square that had some statues and this building. I didn't stop to read about the statue because I was anxious to find the shopping street, which I did find. That was a load off! For a minute I thought I might be lost forever and forced to work on the street with the homeless people selling different animals as food.

Since the last time we talked, I have seen some very interesting things here! In the schools here the Korean teachers (not us foreigners) can physically discipline the children. I wasn't quite sure what what going on, but the boys had to get in push up position and are hit on their knuckles with rulers while the girls have to stand with their hands over their head an angle. then they are all slapped on the palms of their hands with rulers. Crazy for me to see something like that, but all I could think was, hmmm, this must be the reason they don't have as many problems in their school. But could you imagine if a teacher in the states tried that on someones kid? It would be a hell storm of parents calling the school and that teacher would be put in jail immediately. I know we sometimes want to choke other peoples kids, but no one would actually act on that feeling. It was just crazy to see people other than parents discipline children.

I have also had some very interesting conversations with my students. I had one student tell me that they weren't allowed to go to Disney World in America because their skin was different (what kind of thinking is that!?). I also had one of my female students tell me she thought she was too dark and she didn't like that because all her friends had really white skin. The idea of beauty here is the whiter you are, the more beautiful you are. I told them that in America people go to tanning beds to get darker. Its so strange that their idea of beauty is the European white girl, when they are surrounded by people who look just like them! And they are beautiful.

So there have definitely some interesting things to be learned here and different adventures to still be taken! I will keep you posted! xoxo

I just wanted to share with you guys a little bit of my town and show you that I am still alive!

Out on the Town

So, it's Sunday night at 6:12 pm, and I just got home from getting my hair permed. My appointment was t 3 and I am already back in my house at 6:12. Not to mention, I had to go to Itaewon which is 20 minutes away in another city. So I had to catch two buses home, I grabbed a sandwich and then got on the subway, and walked 20 minutes to my house.

For those of you who know...when I get my hair done at home, It is a full day experience. I was done in like an hour! It's crazy...AND Koreans can do black hair! I am so excited! They hooked it up and I wasn't there all day. On an even prouder note...I made it home without getting lost. That is a big deal for me cuz you know I can get lost anywhere.

Since I last wrote, I have been to Itaewon (the NYC of Seoul) a few times and have gone to bars dinner and a club. I felt like I was back in College at the club because people were grinding on me and getting in my way and I had one guy slap my butt. I was thinking to myself...where am I!?

On the big night out it was quite an experience. Here in Korea they do not have a good samaritan law, so people just mind their own business. If someone got hit by a car you call the ambulance but you don't try to save their life because if they die, they could sue you! Crazy right!? Well that night out on the street we saw a man on top of his wife strangling her. They weren't Korean, they were middle eastern, but they were like don't get involved. I'm thinking to myself, oh hell no! My friend Anna runs over and yells for the man to stop then some Korean men came to the rescue and man handled the guy. Very interesting...all of this in one night! A slap on the butt, a man strangling his wife, and some random guy using the pick line calling me dark chocolate. Does that really work for anyone? It's very lively here if you can't tell...trust me when I say you will never be bored.

hmm...what else. OOOOH! My boss at my school took us all out for dinner and then we went to this karaoke bar...they call them Nori bars (I'm fairly sure I didn't spell that right). It was the strangest experience. In this place you get your own private rooms! So you and your friends just sit around in a room and pick out songs and sing them. It was very entertaining to say the least. There were only 8 of us in there and one of my co-workers (who prides himself on dancing...seriously) sang backstreet boys, and I was joking and was like now you have to do the dance. There are no words for it. I just need you to be there to understand how funny that thing was. He was spinning on his knees and everything. Funniest thing I have ever seen in my life! Next time I will be sure to take video.

So my next big adventure will be my birthday next weekend. We are going for drinks and then dinner and probably out somewhere. It won't be the same without you though :(. You all know that I view my birthday as a national holiday. So I will be sure to keep you posted!

2 Weeks Later

Well...Lots has happened in the past week that I haven't had time to write about! Currently I am at work on one of my breaks and decided to clue you all in! I absolutely adore my students...most of them anyway. I dont' have internet or cable yet so everyday in order to talk to my friends and family via skype or email, I walk about 2 miles to get to a Paris Baguette and have some hot lemonade.

I don't mind the walk right now, but when it gets really cold it might get old. On the walk to anywhere, I have some pretty interesting things happen. One lady tried to give me a hi-5, and kept saying thank you thank you...I was like...Ummmm, your welcome? Not really sure what that was about but it was comical nonetheless...and we all know how much I enjoy a good hi-5!

The other day I had a guy get off his bike to talk to me. I was like...uhhh hi? HAHA...so Korean people are fairly friendly! I did have one student ask me if I was ever nervous because the color of my skin is black. I wanted to be like um, are you nervous? Because I was born this way. HAHA...no seriously, they are just really curious. There is not much diversity among them besides us foreigners who come in to teach them.

Last night was my first night out where I met some of the other teachers from other Branches in Bundang. Really cool people. Most of them are Canadian or European. I rode the subway here in Bundang which by the way is the cleanest thing I have ever seen. I also had this joyful explosion in my mouth called "Goduk". It's like an inside out pancake that has a doughy, cinnamon gooey inside. People make them right there on the street with a grill and they are super cheap, and served hot. So, on a cold day it is just what the doctor ordered! I have some amazing pictures that I will begin to post to my blog as soon as I have internet up and running!

I will be sure to keep you all posted on all of the new experiences...ohhh this weekend I should have some good stories, I am going to venture to the big city of Seoul! Wish me luck!

The Arrival

So it felt like I had been on a plane for 7 days. It was such a long journey, but thank God it was a long journey because that means I made it! The flight was ok...unfortunately I had aisle seats the whole way which did not allow me to relax and sleep very well. After arriving in Japan I sat and thought...I am half way there! Of course then the flight attendant said something to offend me when my baggage wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment. He thought he was being funny, but after 17 hours a plane...there is not much anyone would find funny. He told me that I needed to take some of my weave out of my carryon so it would fit. I guess he thought that because he was gay it was ok...but giiiiirl, I wanted to cut him!

Anyway, I tried to keep it together in all my goodbyes, but when my sister left my parents house on Saturday night I lost it. My parents took me to the airport and were going to try to sit with me until it was time for me to board my flight, but they wouldn't allow it. I think it was probably for the best even though at the time I was highly upset ab0ut it. But had they come to the terminal with me I think I would have been even more of a mess.

Today is the first day I ventured out of my little apartment to find a place to log onto the internet. I was concerned I wouldn't find my way home...still kind of have that concern. Those who know me know how good I am with directions and no GPS! But I was on a mission!

I leave for Bundang on Friday and will finally be in the place I will call home for the next 12 months. SK is really beautiful. They have lots of mountains. I will post more upon my arrival in my new apartment. Love you all!

The Beginning

Well, here I am about to embark on a new journey of my life. I am one week away from leaving the country I was born in. Though it is exciting, I would be foolish not to be nervous. In about an hour and a half friends and family will arrive to wish me well on my way. I appreciate you all, and have created this so you can be with me in my journey! Follow my blog to know about my adventures and feel as though you are there. You will all be in my heart. See you soon!