There's too much to catch up for me to go about in my typical long-winded ways on this blog so I thought I'd try something new: KISS. Keep it short and simple. So, without further ado:
Goodbyes are never easy. But, they are an inevitable part of the life I've chosen to live and I accept them for what they are. That doesn't make them any easier when they come...
Two nights ago I said the most difficult goodbye I've had to say yet during my year in Korea. Megan was my very first friend in Korea (well, along with our friend Chris, who himself will be leaving in a month). She lived closer to me than any other friend, a quick 10 minute walk away. We caught buses and taxis together, usually meeting on our designated corner to do so ("Meet me on the corner in 20?"). She was like my sister here, my partner in crime. We would see each other on our walk to school in the morning, heading in opposite directions and throwing up a wave of the hand from the other side of the street. Now, she's off gallivanting around Vietnam for a few weeks before heading home just in time for Christmas. Lucky girl. She will definitely be missed here.
Last week was Thanksgiving, and do not for a moment think that living in Korea and this lovely holiday of eating are mutually exclusive. Several friends and myself gathered together the Sunday after Thanksgiving for a potluck dinner at Megan's house (she's got the biggest place out of anybody here). We cooked together, played games together and ate together. We had a nice spread of foods, though few of them resembled anything one would find on your average Thanksgiving day table; we indulged in pizza, fried rice, tacos, chicken stew and chocolate cake. We DID, however, enjoy brownies made by the only person we know with on oven (she lives on the military base). AND, wait for it... the grand finale... By the end of the night, several slices of pumpkin pie had magically appeared (sans whipped cream, but beggars can't be choosers!). A local church held a Thanksgiving dinner and had about 150 guests, including many of my foreign friends here in Jinju. The lovely people who attended the church dinner brought the pie back for those of us who had opted out of the dinner. It wasn't homemade, but it was still quite tasty. We ended the night with homemade mulled wine--cinnamon sticks and all!
Walking to school last week, I realized something. There are no bumper stickers in Korea. Back home, I'm used to seeing them all over cars, especially the older ones. Here, they seem to just not exist at all.
Speaking of cars, Korea has to have some of THE worst drivers in the world. It's really quite possible. And, it's really quite frustrating. But more than the way it makes me angry when I'm trying to cross the street and a car will turn in front of me ,or plow through he intersection without warning, or the way cars run red lights constantly from every which direction... More than THAT, the thing that angers and simultaneously frightens me the most is watching child after child nearly get smacked down by a car in the middle of the road. And unfortunately, it's not just the car's fault. The children here don't know the first thing about looking around before crossing the streets. I've seen numerous children running along a sidewalk and directly out into the street without even so much as a glance. So far they've all been lucky; I am sorry to say that I don't have the highest of hopes to never witness such a tragedy while living here.
It's truly amazing how fast time flies here. I suppose anyone could say that about life anywhere at any point in time, depending on a number of factors. But really, life in Korea flies by without so much as the blink of an eye. Two weeks from today marks my one-year in Korea. I'm getting anxious for a break, and so are my students.
Lucky for me I GET a break soon, and will likely be heading to Thailand for two weeks in mid-January. Then, after another week and a half in freezing cold Korea, I'll head home in mid-February for a brief two-week family-, friend- and cat-loving, eating bonanza! I won't be teaching any classes again until the first week of March.
I really do love my students; as I've said before, they make me laugh and smile on a daily basis. I literally walk through the halls smiling to myself because of them. HOWEVER, the past few weeks, they've gotten a little on the crazy side (hard to believe it's even possible for them to get even crazier). My worst classes have gotten ten times worse than my average class. It's like for every increment that my average class gets worse, the two awful classes get ten times worse. It's terrible.
Yet somehow, I STILL adore them.
I am expecting to move into a new apartment soon. And by soon, I mean VERY soon. TWO WEEKS soon. The not-so-surprising thing is that my school has absolutely NO idea where this new apartment will be. I'm pretty much expecting to get dragged to some apartment building on the second to last day, told that would be my new place, and then have to move the following day. It's the Korean way... I'll keep you updated.
I suppose that's all for now; though, there's so much more to say about my life here...
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Endless Kindness
For the past two or three months, I have sporadically been giving English lessons to my vice principal one or two afternoons a week when I have a free period. I really don't know what I'm doing, teaching English to an adult one-on-one with a fairly basic level of English. She is obviously an intelligent woman and has no problem reading or writing; it's the speaking that is the problem (just like most Koreans and just like most anybody learning a new language). I feel really bad about not having a clue of how to teach her, but she's a very kind woman and I think we have a decent time just having conversations.
Anyways, my point here was to write about yet ANOTHER example of the extent of kindness that happens so often in Korean culture.
This afternoon, after having had to cancel our afternoon class, she came up to me and said "Stephanie, when you go rock climbing this weekend, eat this." As she handed me a huge box of something--I can't tell what it is just yet. Some kind of "bisuit" is what she said.
I need to start bringing her some little presents...
My vice principal is obviously well-liked by teachers here at school (unlike the former vice principal and current principal). She's kind and open and is willing to joke around and laugh with teachers. It's evident that she respects teachers and teachers respect her. This certainly makes life easier on everyone... And, as usual, I feel very lucky!
Anyways, my point here was to write about yet ANOTHER example of the extent of kindness that happens so often in Korean culture.
This afternoon, after having had to cancel our afternoon class, she came up to me and said "Stephanie, when you go rock climbing this weekend, eat this." As she handed me a huge box of something--I can't tell what it is just yet. Some kind of "bisuit" is what she said.
I need to start bringing her some little presents...
My vice principal is obviously well-liked by teachers here at school (unlike the former vice principal and current principal). She's kind and open and is willing to joke around and laugh with teachers. It's evident that she respects teachers and teachers respect her. This certainly makes life easier on everyone... And, as usual, I feel very lucky!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Da Boyz
I don't often write about teaching, or my students. I don't have the brain power to write any of that now, but I thought I'd post some pictures while I'm sitting here at my desk at school, in my third hour of doing NOTHING because there are no classes. Yet, they won't let me leave. Ahh, Korea.
This is one of my favorite first grade classes, mainly becasue of a few humorous students. Their English is good enough they're able to pull out some quick-witted remarks:
The following pictures are from late spring on a first-grade field trip up into the mountains and to a traditional folk village. They were there for three days, but I just went up for the day with a few other teachers:
Yes, I am aware there are girls in these two photos. These were the kids I had in my summer camps. I was luck this past summer and only had a week of camp, and instead of doing a camp only for our students, I did a camp for middle school students from all over Jinju (my one and only chance to work with girls!):
The rest of the pictures are from Sports Day at school about a month ago. Tug-of-War, basketball, table tennis, soccer, the students got to spend an entire day playing and watching these and more. Knowing my background in soccer, some teachers tried to make me referee the championship soccer game; I kindly refused to be head referee, but gladly accepted the position of sideline ref:
These boys make me laugh on a daily basis. I wish I could pick out a few from each class and just bottle up their jokes and their smiles and funny little things that they do during class and outside in the hallways and streets. I certainly am NOT ready to leave them just yet...
This is one of my favorite first grade classes, mainly becasue of a few humorous students. Their English is good enough they're able to pull out some quick-witted remarks:
The following pictures are from late spring on a first-grade field trip up into the mountains and to a traditional folk village. They were there for three days, but I just went up for the day with a few other teachers:
Yes, I am aware there are girls in these two photos. These were the kids I had in my summer camps. I was luck this past summer and only had a week of camp, and instead of doing a camp only for our students, I did a camp for middle school students from all over Jinju (my one and only chance to work with girls!):
The rest of the pictures are from Sports Day at school about a month ago. Tug-of-War, basketball, table tennis, soccer, the students got to spend an entire day playing and watching these and more. Knowing my background in soccer, some teachers tried to make me referee the championship soccer game; I kindly refused to be head referee, but gladly accepted the position of sideline ref:
These boys make me laugh on a daily basis. I wish I could pick out a few from each class and just bottle up their jokes and their smiles and funny little things that they do during class and outside in the hallways and streets. I certainly am NOT ready to leave them just yet...
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Ppeppero! Ppeppero! Ppeppero!
Korea never ceases to disappoint me with its cuteness factor. Today, November 11th, is 빼 빼 로 데 이 (Ppeppero Day). Ppeppero, akin to the Japanese Pocky, are long cookie sticks dipped in chocolate. I've been told that Lotte, the manufacturing company (and one which seemingly has a monopoly over food products here in Korea) just decided one day that 11/11 would be Ppeppero Day (take note of the four ones and their resemblence to these cookies). On this day, lovers are meant to give each other boxes of these deliciuos little snacks. In addition, students give to teachers and children to their friends.
I arrived to school this morning to find two one foot-long, one-inch thick Ppepperos on my desk, covered in chocolate and colorful flower shaped sprinkles. These could have easily come from a coworker (which wouldn't be out of the ordinary, despite this "holiday" being geared more toward children), but I'd like to think that I've got a student out there who likes me well enough to secretly place chocolate cookies on my desk before school... :)
I've since had two students come to my desk between classes and give me a box of the classic plain chocolate dipped cookies. I was really hoping for the chocolate almond flavor, but beggars can't be choosers, right? I'll take what I can get when it comes to chocolate covered snacks!
In my first class this morning, one student had a little bag of Ppepperos and said to my co-teacher in Korean "Teacher, please have some Ppeppero." She happily accepted the snack from the student, only to find it empty. In our next class, a student called me over to his desk, where he was offering me a box of the chocolate almond flavor. After our first class I had my suspicions, but my hopes remained high that I'd be snacking on chocolate almond covered cookies 45 minutes later--only to find yet ANOTHER empty package.
Needless to say, these little pranks gave the students a good laugh.
South Korea has a handful of other little informal holidays like Ppeppero Day. There is a special little holiday every month, it's really quite fantastic! Though, rarely have I actually observed any of them. Here is some information I picked up off the internet:
January 14th – Diary Day
Couples are meant to give each other a diary or year planner book and note down all the rest of these lovely gift-giving days make new year’s resolutions.
February 14th – Valentine’s Day
In contrast to Western society, today is traditionally when women give chocolates to their men and confess their love.
March 14th – White Day
Men give candy to the women they love (Flowers, chocolate and cuddly toys, etc.. anything!)
April 14th – Black Day
A purely Korean day, for those singletons out there, who didn’t received chocolate or candy, console and encourage themselves by eating jajangmyeon (짜장면) – noodles with black bean sauce.
May 14th – Rose Day / Yellow Day
Couples exchange roses, and those lonely hearts gather for curry and companionship. Apparently dressing in yellow is also recommended.
June 14th – Kiss Day
The day when couples kiss each other.
There is one site puts it as: ‘Lovers confess their feelings to one another and kiss passionately.’ Just another excuse to make out really!!
July 14th – Silver Day
Couples can freely ask their friends to give them money to pay for a date! Couples exchange gifts made of silver, and announce their relationship to their friends. I’m thinking this is a good idea as you get yourself a free date day!
August 14th – Green Day
Couples are supposed to dress in green, and walk outside in the woods. Singles would drink a (green) bottle of soju to console themselves.
September 14th – Photo & Music Day
Couples take photographs together, go out with friends in the evening to Noraebangs (Karaoke) or night clubs, places with music in order to make their relationship public.
October 14th – Wine Day
Couples have wine on this day, because wine drinking is the thing to do in autumn.
October 24th – Apple Day
The Korean word for apple is called ‘Sa-gwa’ (사과), also means to apologize. On this day, friends, family and couples give an apple to each other to apologize for past mistakes.
November 11th – Pepero Day (Also called the Choc Stick Day!)
A new day that has taken off in South Korea, it is named after a pencil-shaped cookie stick covered in chocolate, given mostly by young Koreans as an expression of their affection.
The 11th day of the 11th month is specifically chosen as the number looks like a Pepero stick. Students exchange the treats with one another with the thought of growing tall and thin.
November 14th – Movie & Orange Day
Couples would watch a movie together while having some orange juice.
December 14th – Hug Day
Couples are meant to hug one another lovingly to stay warm in the cold winter months.
As you can see, there is a lot of emphasis placed on being in a relationship... You have no idea how many times I've been told "You need a boyfriend" or asked by somebody whom I've just met "Do you have a boyfriend?" It's a harsh world for young women here in Korea...
I arrived to school this morning to find two one foot-long, one-inch thick Ppepperos on my desk, covered in chocolate and colorful flower shaped sprinkles. These could have easily come from a coworker (which wouldn't be out of the ordinary, despite this "holiday" being geared more toward children), but I'd like to think that I've got a student out there who likes me well enough to secretly place chocolate cookies on my desk before school... :)
I've since had two students come to my desk between classes and give me a box of the classic plain chocolate dipped cookies. I was really hoping for the chocolate almond flavor, but beggars can't be choosers, right? I'll take what I can get when it comes to chocolate covered snacks!
In my first class this morning, one student had a little bag of Ppepperos and said to my co-teacher in Korean "Teacher, please have some Ppeppero." She happily accepted the snack from the student, only to find it empty. In our next class, a student called me over to his desk, where he was offering me a box of the chocolate almond flavor. After our first class I had my suspicions, but my hopes remained high that I'd be snacking on chocolate almond covered cookies 45 minutes later--only to find yet ANOTHER empty package.
Needless to say, these little pranks gave the students a good laugh.
South Korea has a handful of other little informal holidays like Ppeppero Day. There is a special little holiday every month, it's really quite fantastic! Though, rarely have I actually observed any of them. Here is some information I picked up off the internet:
January 14th – Diary Day
Couples are meant to give each other a diary or year planner book and note down all the rest of these lovely gift-giving days make new year’s resolutions.
February 14th – Valentine’s Day
In contrast to Western society, today is traditionally when women give chocolates to their men and confess their love.
March 14th – White Day
Men give candy to the women they love (Flowers, chocolate and cuddly toys, etc.. anything!)
April 14th – Black Day
A purely Korean day, for those singletons out there, who didn’t received chocolate or candy, console and encourage themselves by eating jajangmyeon (짜장면) – noodles with black bean sauce.
May 14th – Rose Day / Yellow Day
Couples exchange roses, and those lonely hearts gather for curry and companionship. Apparently dressing in yellow is also recommended.
June 14th – Kiss Day
The day when couples kiss each other.
There is one site puts it as: ‘Lovers confess their feelings to one another and kiss passionately.’ Just another excuse to make out really!!
July 14th – Silver Day
Couples can freely ask their friends to give them money to pay for a date! Couples exchange gifts made of silver, and announce their relationship to their friends. I’m thinking this is a good idea as you get yourself a free date day!
August 14th – Green Day
Couples are supposed to dress in green, and walk outside in the woods. Singles would drink a (green) bottle of soju to console themselves.
September 14th – Photo & Music Day
Couples take photographs together, go out with friends in the evening to Noraebangs (Karaoke) or night clubs, places with music in order to make their relationship public.
October 14th – Wine Day
Couples have wine on this day, because wine drinking is the thing to do in autumn.
October 24th – Apple Day
The Korean word for apple is called ‘Sa-gwa’ (사과), also means to apologize. On this day, friends, family and couples give an apple to each other to apologize for past mistakes.
November 11th – Pepero Day (Also called the Choc Stick Day!)
A new day that has taken off in South Korea, it is named after a pencil-shaped cookie stick covered in chocolate, given mostly by young Koreans as an expression of their affection.
The 11th day of the 11th month is specifically chosen as the number looks like a Pepero stick. Students exchange the treats with one another with the thought of growing tall and thin.
November 14th – Movie & Orange Day
Couples would watch a movie together while having some orange juice.
December 14th – Hug Day
Couples are meant to hug one another lovingly to stay warm in the cold winter months.
As you can see, there is a lot of emphasis placed on being in a relationship... You have no idea how many times I've been told "You need a boyfriend" or asked by somebody whom I've just met "Do you have a boyfriend?" It's a harsh world for young women here in Korea...
Monday, November 8, 2010
Fruit of the Gods
"The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon
A hungry tiger was roaming the hills of a small village in search of food one very cold winter night. He came to the window of a village house, lit by lamp light. The tiger heard a mother trying to calm her crying baby, but even the threat of a fox and a bear outside the window would not quiet the baby. Then the mother told the baby there was a tiger outside the window, but even that would not quiet the child. "What a strange creature, this baby, that it's not even afraid of me" thought the tiger. This worried him, as he saw himself as the most ferocious animal in Korea. Then, the mother offered a dried persimmon to the baby. At once, the baby stopped crying. This worried the tiger, as he worried what kind of earthly creature a persimmon could be that it would make a baby stop crying. "It must be more powerful and ferocious than even me!" Just then, a thief, mistaking the tiger for a cow in the dark, jumped on the tiger's back. Both were very startled and the tiger began to run away with the thief still on his back, thinking the thief was the evil creature "persimmon." The tiger ran and ran, trying to throw the 'persimmon' off his back, but the thief held on tightly knowing that the moment he fell, the tiger would tear him to pieces. Finally, the thief was able to escape from the tiger's back by grabbing onto a low branch of a tree and climbing up to safety. Both were relieved and the tiger continued to run into the safety of the dark forest. Ever since, the tiger has feared persimmon."
Tigers disappeared from South Korea long ago, but the persimmon did not. We are in the thick of persimmon season here in Korea--the large, shiny and smooth red-ish, orange-ish fruits hanging off tree branches around every corner. According to the ancient Greeks, persimmons were the "fruit of the gods." In Buddhism, the persimmon is used as a symbol of transformation. I find persimmon trees to be especially pretty on Buddhist temple grounds, personally.
The first time I tried a dried persimmon, my tastebuds were not very pleased. In fact, I didn't take more than a few little nibbles before tossing it into the ocean off the docks in Busan. The texture is odd and mushy, the taste not very appetizing, and they are covered in a layer of something similar to powdered sugar. That was last winter, after I'd only been in Korea for about a month. I think I'll have to give them another try this winter, after spending a year here and having found a new and improved appreciation for the fruit.
Though, I'll start with raw persimmons. My vice principal just gave me a box full of HUGE and beautifully colored persimmons that she hand-picked over the weekend from her country home up in the mountains. I was also given three delicious persimmons by the husband-wife owners of a new local convenience store. All I bought was a small carton of milk and a bottle of water.
The kindness and generosity of Korean people is truly amazing and inspiring.
Here is a photo I took recently while walking through a temple on the outskirts of Jinju:
And, just for fun:
A hungry tiger was roaming the hills of a small village in search of food one very cold winter night. He came to the window of a village house, lit by lamp light. The tiger heard a mother trying to calm her crying baby, but even the threat of a fox and a bear outside the window would not quiet the baby. Then the mother told the baby there was a tiger outside the window, but even that would not quiet the child. "What a strange creature, this baby, that it's not even afraid of me" thought the tiger. This worried him, as he saw himself as the most ferocious animal in Korea. Then, the mother offered a dried persimmon to the baby. At once, the baby stopped crying. This worried the tiger, as he worried what kind of earthly creature a persimmon could be that it would make a baby stop crying. "It must be more powerful and ferocious than even me!" Just then, a thief, mistaking the tiger for a cow in the dark, jumped on the tiger's back. Both were very startled and the tiger began to run away with the thief still on his back, thinking the thief was the evil creature "persimmon." The tiger ran and ran, trying to throw the 'persimmon' off his back, but the thief held on tightly knowing that the moment he fell, the tiger would tear him to pieces. Finally, the thief was able to escape from the tiger's back by grabbing onto a low branch of a tree and climbing up to safety. Both were relieved and the tiger continued to run into the safety of the dark forest. Ever since, the tiger has feared persimmon."
Tigers disappeared from South Korea long ago, but the persimmon did not. We are in the thick of persimmon season here in Korea--the large, shiny and smooth red-ish, orange-ish fruits hanging off tree branches around every corner. According to the ancient Greeks, persimmons were the "fruit of the gods." In Buddhism, the persimmon is used as a symbol of transformation. I find persimmon trees to be especially pretty on Buddhist temple grounds, personally.
The first time I tried a dried persimmon, my tastebuds were not very pleased. In fact, I didn't take more than a few little nibbles before tossing it into the ocean off the docks in Busan. The texture is odd and mushy, the taste not very appetizing, and they are covered in a layer of something similar to powdered sugar. That was last winter, after I'd only been in Korea for about a month. I think I'll have to give them another try this winter, after spending a year here and having found a new and improved appreciation for the fruit.
Though, I'll start with raw persimmons. My vice principal just gave me a box full of HUGE and beautifully colored persimmons that she hand-picked over the weekend from her country home up in the mountains. I was also given three delicious persimmons by the husband-wife owners of a new local convenience store. All I bought was a small carton of milk and a bottle of water.
The kindness and generosity of Korean people is truly amazing and inspiring.
Here is a photo I took recently while walking through a temple on the outskirts of Jinju:
And, just for fun:
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A Few Random Notes
1. How fortunate am I to get crab for school lunch? I'm not talking fake crab, or even little chunks of real crab. I'm talking halves of legit crabs--and I am free to take as much as I'd like. Try serving crab for school lunch back home and see what kind of reaction that gets.
2. The following data has all been collected at random: Over the months, when I think about it, I take a moment during class to count how many of my 34 (first grade) or 37 (second grade) students wear glasses. Without fail thus far, there have been no fewer than 20 students in each class who wear glasses. Today 24 out of 34 students in one of my classes were wearing glasses. Are Koreans' eye sight that terrible?
*(On a mostly unrelated note, but interesting--at least to me--nonetheless, when I asked my kids what they knew about Mongolia, they all had the same answer, hands down: "good eye sight!"; or, rather, something closer to "good see!" or "good eye!" Hmm, I had no idea.)
3. This morning, in my extra conversation class that I teach before school actually starts (yes, I DESPISE having to teach earlier in the morning and BEFORE my actual teaching begins for the day), I had the students play Beer Pong. Okay, we didn't actually use beer, or any other liquid for that matter. BUT, I used the same concept and had a number written on the bottom of the cups with a corresponding action for the students to do should the ping-pong ball land in that cup. My favorite, thanks to my high-school soccer coach, is always "star jumps." Naturally, I make the kids actually say "I'm a star!" with each star jump they do :)
4. It's a pretty amazing feeling to be able to feel so happy with my life on a daily basis. Even on the bad days, there is always something in my life here that makes me smile and explicitly think to myself "Life is good" and "I'm where I'm supposed to be right now." It's only 12:45pm Wednesday afternoon, and I've already had this happen twice to me today.
God, life is good.
Make that three ;-)
2. The following data has all been collected at random: Over the months, when I think about it, I take a moment during class to count how many of my 34 (first grade) or 37 (second grade) students wear glasses. Without fail thus far, there have been no fewer than 20 students in each class who wear glasses. Today 24 out of 34 students in one of my classes were wearing glasses. Are Koreans' eye sight that terrible?
*(On a mostly unrelated note, but interesting--at least to me--nonetheless, when I asked my kids what they knew about Mongolia, they all had the same answer, hands down: "good eye sight!"; or, rather, something closer to "good see!" or "good eye!" Hmm, I had no idea.)
3. This morning, in my extra conversation class that I teach before school actually starts (yes, I DESPISE having to teach earlier in the morning and BEFORE my actual teaching begins for the day), I had the students play Beer Pong. Okay, we didn't actually use beer, or any other liquid for that matter. BUT, I used the same concept and had a number written on the bottom of the cups with a corresponding action for the students to do should the ping-pong ball land in that cup. My favorite, thanks to my high-school soccer coach, is always "star jumps." Naturally, I make the kids actually say "I'm a star!" with each star jump they do :)
4. It's a pretty amazing feeling to be able to feel so happy with my life on a daily basis. Even on the bad days, there is always something in my life here that makes me smile and explicitly think to myself "Life is good" and "I'm where I'm supposed to be right now." It's only 12:45pm Wednesday afternoon, and I've already had this happen twice to me today.
God, life is good.
Make that three ;-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
