Well we are on to the last week of the intensive session. I wish I could say that the coming months were going to get better, but I have yet to see any evidence of that. Quite to the contrary, we just found out that another one of the foreign teachers is going to be leaving at the end of the month, which puts us at a teacher short for the normal schedule. Which means that I'm still teaching about 30 classes, but without any chance of getting overtime. Oh goodie....
All complaining aside, I have rediscovered the wonder that is the Daily Show. My three years at GW had already given me a somewhat healthy obsession with Jon Stewart, but when I remembered that Comedy Central is practically the only network that streams programs online that are not restricted by international copyright laws, I did a little dance of happiness. In the middle of the teacher's office. While my coworkers sat and wondered silently to themselves why the new teacher had already lost her mind. Whoops. I've been catching up on all the recent "news" over the past couple hours, since the Daily Show is easy to fit in around breaks of grading student journals and essays and the like. And since we are nearing the end of the month, I have plenty that I should be doing. Don't worry--while my workload will be about the same, my schedule will have shifted towards the evenings, so I should be able to get back online and back in touch with most of you (something which I have sorely missed this past month).
All of you start looking forward to Lunar New Year! I'm trying to pull together some kind of interesting cultural experience for me to embark on...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Odd tidbits
I'm sorry that I have been derelict in my duties as an observer of Korean culture. The past month has been a little crazy, and while right now is still in that hectic phase, I'm finally able to sit down and jot out a couple of the things that have been happening.
First and foremost, if you are ever in Korea, make sure that you check the label to any lotions or moisturizers before applying them to your face. What looks like a harmless bottle of Nivea or Johnson & Johnson may actually in fact turn out to be whitening cream. And when you already have a pretty pale complexion, the effects are both hilarious and a little alarming.
Also, when you first move into a Korean apartment, check to see if the "shower" in the bathroom is hooked up to its own faucet, or if it is hooked up to the sink. If it is hooked up to the sink, you might want to test it before walking in there one morning and just assuming that the sink will work. Because believe me, just hoping that the last person who lived there kept the thing turned to the "sink" setting is not going to fly. Particularly at 4am on your day off when you just got up to go to the bathroom.
Floor heaters are amazing, wonderful ways to heat apartments. You should be careful, though, to pick up your floor and take out any trash before going away for the weekend. Even if the floor heater is off, it still gives off heat for 1-2 days. And that length of time is more than enough to cook any candy bars or trash that may be sitting on the floor.
Finally, I know how difficult it is remembering to get the trash out on time. In Korea, most places post hours that the trash can be taken outside and left on the curb, some time between 9pm and 6am. And if you forget until you wake up to the sound of the garbage truck a couple doors down, don't even both making the mad dash to the curb to hand the trash collectors your refuse. It's not worth the $350 fine .
First and foremost, if you are ever in Korea, make sure that you check the label to any lotions or moisturizers before applying them to your face. What looks like a harmless bottle of Nivea or Johnson & Johnson may actually in fact turn out to be whitening cream. And when you already have a pretty pale complexion, the effects are both hilarious and a little alarming.
Also, when you first move into a Korean apartment, check to see if the "shower" in the bathroom is hooked up to its own faucet, or if it is hooked up to the sink. If it is hooked up to the sink, you might want to test it before walking in there one morning and just assuming that the sink will work. Because believe me, just hoping that the last person who lived there kept the thing turned to the "sink" setting is not going to fly. Particularly at 4am on your day off when you just got up to go to the bathroom.
Floor heaters are amazing, wonderful ways to heat apartments. You should be careful, though, to pick up your floor and take out any trash before going away for the weekend. Even if the floor heater is off, it still gives off heat for 1-2 days. And that length of time is more than enough to cook any candy bars or trash that may be sitting on the floor.
Finally, I know how difficult it is remembering to get the trash out on time. In Korea, most places post hours that the trash can be taken outside and left on the curb, some time between 9pm and 6am. And if you forget until you wake up to the sound of the garbage truck a couple doors down, don't even both making the mad dash to the curb to hand the trash collectors your refuse. It's not worth the $350 fine .
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Santacon
Yesterday was my friend Becky's birthday, and she decided that for her birthday she wanted to participate in something called Santacon. If you have never heard of Santacon, it is a wonderful gathering of many people around the world who dress up in Santa or Santa-related costumes and go out on a bar crawl of whatever city they choose to participate in. These cons are held around the world by local organizers, and they are a great way to meet some really awesome people and have a good time, especially in a country where Christmas isn't necessarily the traditional holiday that it is in the US. Our Santacon spanned three bars and a nightclub and included over 200 Santas, most of whom I do not know the names of. Banana Santa was pretty awesome, as were Bad Santa and Black Santa, Backwards Santa, Birthday Santa, Chocolate Santa, Waldo Santa, and Leprechaun Santa.
Imagine, if you will, a group of about 200 white people all wearing the same outfit marching around a city like Seoul, singing Christmas carols and handing out candy to the amused and sometimes frightened Korean people around them. We sang, we danced, and (I'm sorry to have to admit) we drank quite a bit. Many of the Koreans even stopped us to take pictures. I got to meet a lot of great people, mostly fellow teachers, who are here for a myriad of reasons and have a million different stories to share about life in Korea. I wish I had more photos, but here is the link to the ones I do have. I will definitely be participating in Santacon for the rest of the years that I am in Korea.
If you would like to participate in or organize one, here is the website for the information.
Imagine, if you will, a group of about 200 white people all wearing the same outfit marching around a city like Seoul, singing Christmas carols and handing out candy to the amused and sometimes frightened Korean people around them. We sang, we danced, and (I'm sorry to have to admit) we drank quite a bit. Many of the Koreans even stopped us to take pictures. I got to meet a lot of great people, mostly fellow teachers, who are here for a myriad of reasons and have a million different stories to share about life in Korea. I wish I had more photos, but here is the link to the ones I do have. I will definitely be participating in Santacon for the rest of the years that I am in Korea.
If you would like to participate in or organize one, here is the website for the information.
Monday, November 30, 2009
My first month.
So I finally finally finally had time to finish uploading all the pictures from the past couple of weeks. I've done some really fun things, including going to a sauna, making kimchi, going to my second Korean wedding, and having a wonderful Thanksgiving with some of the other American teachers over here. I've been busy too, between teaching at my main school during the week and tutoring on the weekend for a private school. I haven't had a day off in weeks.
I'm still missing some pictures too, including the Korean engagement party that preceded and was responsible for my attendance at the second wedding. I'm still waiting for someone to email those pictures to me, but when they do I will definitely be making a post about that night. It was quite a night.
As of tomorrow, I will have been in Korea for one month. It has been a very interesting, very wonderful month, and I am very much looking forward to the next twelve-plus months that I hope will follow. I do miss some things from life in the states, chief among them real coffee, but I think I am adjusting well. I've made some good friends at the school where I am working, and they are all more than helpful when it comes to both class and getting along in Korean. One of them even came over and helped me put sticky notes on my washing machine so I can read what the buttons are. I enjoy both my elementary and middle school kids and the high school kids I teach on the weekends. I'm also really really looking forward to my school's Christmas Special that we are putting on this week for all the parents. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures, maybe even a video if I can. I just wish I didn't have to sing in front of all my students and their parents....
Hopefully it will not be so long between this and my next post. I may be moving again towards the end of December, so if I fall off the face of the Earth again, you'll know why. If you are interested in sending Christmas/birthday gifts, just let me know. I already have a wish list going.... ^_^
I'm still missing some pictures too, including the Korean engagement party that preceded and was responsible for my attendance at the second wedding. I'm still waiting for someone to email those pictures to me, but when they do I will definitely be making a post about that night. It was quite a night.
As of tomorrow, I will have been in Korea for one month. It has been a very interesting, very wonderful month, and I am very much looking forward to the next twelve-plus months that I hope will follow. I do miss some things from life in the states, chief among them real coffee, but I think I am adjusting well. I've made some good friends at the school where I am working, and they are all more than helpful when it comes to both class and getting along in Korean. One of them even came over and helped me put sticky notes on my washing machine so I can read what the buttons are. I enjoy both my elementary and middle school kids and the high school kids I teach on the weekends. I'm also really really looking forward to my school's Christmas Special that we are putting on this week for all the parents. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures, maybe even a video if I can. I just wish I didn't have to sing in front of all my students and their parents....
Hopefully it will not be so long between this and my next post. I may be moving again towards the end of December, so if I fall off the face of the Earth again, you'll know why. If you are interested in sending Christmas/birthday gifts, just let me know. I already have a wish list going.... ^_^
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Little ramblings
Just another shining example of my propensity to get distracted with other things and forget to throw up all the stories and pictures I've amassed over the past two weeks. Part of this is really not my fault. For the rest, you have my most sincere apologies. Unfortunately, this does not mean that I will be sitting up tonight to rectify this situation. I just wanted to make sure that no one was under the illusion that I had forgotten about you, or that I was just not bothering to record some of the awesome/strange/amusing things that are happening in my life. Perhaps tomorrow, after I finish preparing for the speaking tests I have to administer this week, I will have some time to put up pictures and a nice little post to go with it.
The headline on my google desktop is informing me that recent graduates are finding it difficult to repay their loans. No kidding? Really?! Personally I think they should just forgive all student loans from the past five years, but I'm not foolish enough to think that it would actually happen. In my dreams though....
The headline on my google desktop is informing me that recent graduates are finding it difficult to repay their loans. No kidding? Really?! Personally I think they should just forgive all student loans from the past five years, but I'm not foolish enough to think that it would actually happen. In my dreams though....
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Oh Mickey....
Today I had a group of Korean children spontaneously break into the song "Oh Mickey." I then spent the remaining 20 minutes of class teaching them to clap appropriately. Lesson well spent.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Korean wedding (with photos!)
On Saturday I attended my first Korean wedding. I would like to state first and foremost that I don't know if what follows is an account of a traditional Korean wedding. In fact, I am inclined to believe that what I experienced was quite different from the traditional wedding, but given that it was still my first Korean ceremony, I figured I would share it anyway.
11:58am--Niki, Darren and I arrive at the Wedding Hall. I am surprised to see a love hotel across the street and an abortion clinic ad in the entrance way of the hall. Niki assures me that this is all normal for the type of wedding we are going to. I also find out that wedding halls like this one typically marry between 1-3 couples an hour.
12:01pm--Ceremony starts. I am amazed to find out that the bride is actually 5 months pregnant. She looks pretty good.
12:10pm--Ceremony ends. Guests file out of wedding hall to begin taking wedding photos.
12:35pm--Photographer finally calls for the friend picture. I am dragged forward despite the fact that I have never met the bride or groom. I am one of two white people in the picture. I feel awkward.
12:39pm--All the guests are directed two floors up for the after-wedding buffet. The bride and groom and immediate family disappear. I am told that this is because there is a special ceremony that is performed with the family. After the bride and groom change into traditional Korean dress, the groom's parents throw chestnuts and pine nuts at the bride and she tries to catch them with her skirt. The number of nuts she is able to catch is supposed to represent the number of children that she will have. I find this amusing, since she had better at least catch one. I also wonder to myself if the groom traditionally stands in front of the bride trying to keep the nuts out.
12:41pm--I find out that Korean buffet has a hundred different dishes that you are supposed to eat from. One of these is a table of long noddles with broth and little fixings. It is traditionally eaten at weddings to wish the bride and groom a long and happy marriage.
1:15pm--Bride and groom enter the wedding hall and begin greeting all the guests. They are surprised to see me, but since I can't speak Korean they smile and offer to take a picture with me.
1:16pm--After greeting the bride and groom, most of the people begin to leave. Apparently this is the end of the wedding.
1;17pm--The bride and groom finish their rounds of the hall, then disappear. I am told that we have about ten minutes to finish eating and then leave, otherwise the next couple that reserved the hall won't be able to get in on time.
1:21pm--We leave the wedding hall. I think to myself that this is the most anti-climactic wedding I have ever been to.
As always, here is the link to the full version of the photos, along with everything from my first week in the city of Seoul. There is still some stuff missing but as I have yet to move into my permanent apartment, I think I can be forgiven for being so terrible.
11:58am--Niki, Darren and I arrive at the Wedding Hall. I am surprised to see a love hotel across the street and an abortion clinic ad in the entrance way of the hall. Niki assures me that this is all normal for the type of wedding we are going to. I also find out that wedding halls like this one typically marry between 1-3 couples an hour.
12:01pm--Ceremony starts. I am amazed to find out that the bride is actually 5 months pregnant. She looks pretty good.
12:10pm--Ceremony ends. Guests file out of wedding hall to begin taking wedding photos.
12:35pm--Photographer finally calls for the friend picture. I am dragged forward despite the fact that I have never met the bride or groom. I am one of two white people in the picture. I feel awkward.
12:39pm--All the guests are directed two floors up for the after-wedding buffet. The bride and groom and immediate family disappear. I am told that this is because there is a special ceremony that is performed with the family. After the bride and groom change into traditional Korean dress, the groom's parents throw chestnuts and pine nuts at the bride and she tries to catch them with her skirt. The number of nuts she is able to catch is supposed to represent the number of children that she will have. I find this amusing, since she had better at least catch one. I also wonder to myself if the groom traditionally stands in front of the bride trying to keep the nuts out.
12:41pm--I find out that Korean buffet has a hundred different dishes that you are supposed to eat from. One of these is a table of long noddles with broth and little fixings. It is traditionally eaten at weddings to wish the bride and groom a long and happy marriage.1:15pm--Bride and groom enter the wedding hall and begin greeting all the guests. They are surprised to see me, but since I can't speak Korean they smile and offer to take a picture with me.
1:16pm--After greeting the bride and groom, most of the people begin to leave. Apparently this is the end of the wedding.
1;17pm--The bride and groom finish their rounds of the hall, then disappear. I am told that we have about ten minutes to finish eating and then leave, otherwise the next couple that reserved the hall won't be able to get in on time.
1:21pm--We leave the wedding hall. I think to myself that this is the most anti-climactic wedding I have ever been to.
As always, here is the link to the full version of the photos, along with everything from my first week in the city of Seoul. There is still some stuff missing but as I have yet to move into my permanent apartment, I think I can be forgiven for being so terrible.
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