Good Bye Korea.........

And so this is goodbye. 

Sitting in a hotel in Seoul with less than 12 hours left in this Korean chapter of my life.  It has been a wonderfully, challenging journey and I will always treasure my time here.  The people I have met along the way have touched my life in ways I didn't think possible.  I will never forget these kids, that spoke a different language than me--yet, we somehow managed to make it work.  We created our own language during the process (somewhere between Korean & English--Konglish) and I am hopeful that I too, had a positive impact on their lives, even if only in the smallest of measurements.  I will always treasure the inexplicable & unlikely friendship with Son Myungai.  The best dinner decision I ever made, was to walk into her kimbap shop last July.  From there, each time I went into her shop I learned something new about her and I grew to love her more.  I feel lucky that I was so warmly welcomed into her world and given the opportunity to see a side of Korea, I would not have otherwise seen.  Son Myungai will forever remain in my heart and I am hopeful I will see her again.

Since this will be the last post for awhile (or ever), I would like to take a few moments to thank a few people from home who have been so supportive to me on this journey.  If it wasn't for these people, just being in my life and being a good friend to me, my experiences here would have been incredibly different.  One thing I grew to realize during this time is how much I really need and depend on my close friends and family for emotional support.  This journey has been difficult and filled with no small amount of frustrations and at times sadness.  Fortunately, the interesting & fun times far outweigh the negative, but if it wasn't for my support system, the hard times would have been unbearable. The people that I am going to thank are certainly not the only people who have been supportive during this year---they're just the people who I've depended on more for companionship & support than others.  So I sincerely thank everyone who wrote me emails, sent letters & care packages during this time.  All those things really make you feel very loved and so much closer to home.  Now, on to thank a few specific people....

Dan, of course... you have always been such a positive and supportive person in my life.  Thank you for reminding me to be the captain of my ship. I appreciate you more than you know.  If it wasn't for your constant encouragement, I don't know that I would have ever made it here in the first place.  You are a treasure in my life and I am grateful that we were fortunate enough for our paths to cross.  You are so important to me and I look forward to seeing you on the other side of our journeys. 

Ann.... There have been so many times this past year, that I felt incredibly alone.  And in so many of those moments, I would get "facebooked" or an e-card from you that would just let me know that you were thinking about me.  I can't tell you how much these little tokens, have meant to me.  I had a really hard time those first few months, so it was extra important to know that someone from home was thinking of me and sending me good thoughts.  It may seem like such a small thing, but when you're so far away from home---it was so much more than that to me.

Amy....Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you for all the long, phone conversations.  Thank you for loving me for who I am and being a constant confidant.  I feel that I have a very true, solid, and honest friendship with you.  I love that I can tell you anything in the world and you hold it close and support me no matter the circumstances.  I feel lucky, because you are not only my sister, but you are one of my best friends.  Thanks for keeping all my secrets safe.  I love you!

Tracy...what can I say, I love you just for being you!  I love that your crazy work hours allowed me the privilege of getting to talk to you on almost a nightly basis!  I love that you would text me little 'love bombs' frequently!  I feel that this year, I have probably talked to you more on the phone than in many years past.   You've always made a strong impression on me, but more so now, I am impressed with the woman you have become and I'm proud of you for the life you've created for yourself.  You're just one hell of a woman.  I am grateful that I'm lucky enough to call you my good friend, 20 years later.  Can't wait to see you this spring & summer!!  

So with these goodbyes, my Korean life comes to an end.  Over the next 5 weeks I'll be travelling to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, & Cambodia..enjoying a much needed vacation and journey through a part of the world I never imagined I would be visiting.  I am really excited to see what's in store!  I'll be back in The States on April 1st.  Who knows what will happen next.  Some time after I get back, I'll try to add a few more photos of Korea and some from my travels.

Until then...   Good bye and thank you Korea!  You are an alright country!  Leaving you is bitter/sweet.

Kimbap Shop Painting

When Dan was here visiting, back in August/September, he was equally as touched by Son Myungai and her son, Kim Sung-eun.  We went there for dinner many times during his stay and with each and every visit Son Myungai, Kim Sung-eun & Dan began to develop a meaningful connection.  There is something so special about this woman, that you can't help but love her.  It may sound a little corny, but she truly shines with love.  You meet her one time and you feel that you have always known her and in those moments you realize that you just met a friend for life.  Those friends are few and far between, and when it happens to you--you feel like the luckiest person in the world that you were fortunate enough to cross paths with a life long friend (in this case, in the most unlikeliest of places & circumstances).

Dan was inspired by Son Myungai and wanted to do something extra special for her.  While he was here, he took a bunch of pictures of the outside of her shop, with the idea of creating a water color of her shop.   Dan is a man of many talents and after all these years, he still amazes me by revealing another level of his talents, interests and depth (sorry if I am embarrassing you Dan).  He has only "dabbled" briefly in water colors, so prior to painting this picture, he has had about as much experience with water colors as anybody. So with that in mind--it makes his painting that much more spectacular!

This is the actual photograph of her restaurant.  I believe the exact photo he painted from.

I wish Dan could have been here to present her with his gift in person, but I was honored to be a part of this exchange.  I gave it to her this evening.  She boiled over with emotion and kept asking, "Jin-ja?!?", wanting to know if he really painted that for her.  She was honored to be given this gift.  Touched beyond words, overwhelmed with emotion.  She hung it on her wall in a prime location, for all to see.

This is the painting.  Hard to tell which is which. 

Prior to me giving her this painting, she was telling me that I am her "self-esteem"---but I think she meant that I make her feel good...maybe?   She was telling me how much my mom's apron meant to her and that she is always "boasting" about this to all her customers & friends.  She is very amazed that someone all the way from America thinks of her and has given her gifts.  I imagine that this painting will add another element of pride and happiness in her life.   So thank you Dan.  Thank you Mom.  You both added such a magical layer to her life and I was honored to be a part of it.

Opening the painting.

Its new home. 

TidBits:

I went to the post office today to ship a few boxes home by surface mail, which will go by boat and take somewhere between 2 & 3 months to get home.  The lady at the counter asked me, "Are you sending these by fish?"   :)   It made me smile.  I do love a good lost in translation!  She meant boat, obviously, but 'fish' is so much better!

A Very Korean Birthday

My birthday was yesterday and I had the most memorable birthday party of my life.  This birthday easily ranks as one of the best birthdays I've ever had.  Son Myungai threw a small party for me at her kimbap shop.  When I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised to find balloons decorating the shop and immediately greeted with a very sweet card from her.    Some time after 7 p.m., she started to prepare one of my favorite Korean dishes, Samgyeopsal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samgyeopsal).  Soon thereafter her English teacher, Jang Eu-nam, (who is actually not her teacher, just a regular customer, like me, who has taken a liking to Son Myungai and helps her with English.  His profession is an English tutor though), comes in wishing me a Happy Birthday with this gorgeously, decadent chocolate cake.  Son Myungai tasked him with running to the market next door to purchase beer and virgin, strawberry champagne.  Once back they lit the cake, sang me happy birthday, popped the champagne and we had a birthday toast.  The cake was quickly set aside though, because we hadn't eaten yet, so from their we proceeded to eat a feast fit for a king (or a birthday queen).  The meal lasted almost 2 hours and was accompanied by many more toasts with a few bottles of beer and a few shots of soju. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

This was sooooooooooo delicious.  Easily the best cake I've ever had.

I love this photo.  I love how her sweet nature just shines through in photgraphs. 

The Party-goers, properly posing for a photograph while in Korea, by giving the Peace Sign (or "V" sign as they say)

The party wrapped up some time after 10 p.m.  One thing I like about Korean gatherings is that, once it's time to go, there is none of this wishy-washy, standing about, wondering if you are over staying your welcome.  A Korean will say, "Okay.  The End.  Finish." and everyone leaves less than 2 minutes after that.  :)  Every gathering, I've been to with Koreans, ends much the same way.  

One other thing I forget to mention is that we went by our desired ages at this party!  I desire to be 28, Jang Eu-nam desires to be 35, and Son Myungai was going by 15.  In Korea, age is very important because it determines your rank, so to speak.  Since we were going by our mythological ages all evening, it added a fun dynamic to the festivities.  The reason being is that there are customs surrounding meals...your role at the meal is determined by your age...so since Son Myungai went from being the oldest to the youngest, it added a bit of fun to break the "rules".

Last week Son Myungai gave me a goodbye gift, which is free meals every day up until I leave.  She told me, "Christine--EVERY DAY, you eat kimbap or mon du.  Every day you pay.  No more.  My gift to you.  NO MORE PAY!"   I loved the way she phrased it!  What a very, very nice gesture.   I am very thankful for this generous gift...but more so thankful for her.  I only have 2 more days in Ulsan, before I head up to Seoul and then on to SE Asia on Saturday.  I want to spend every amount of free time I have at her store, not because of the free meals, of course, but because she is there...and our time is quickly running out. 

A Beautiful Gift & Adventures in Hair

I wanted to give Son Myungai an extra special goodbye present, so I asked my mom if she would embroider an apron for her.  So thankfully, my mom agreed, and proceeded to put in a great deal of time creating this absolutely beautiful apron for her.

 

 

Momma Son Shop
(name of her restaurant)

I gave her the apron a couple of days ago.  I can honestly say that I have never seen her look so happy and so surprised.  It meant so much to her....she kept telling me to tell my mom "thank you" and trying to express with our limited knowledge of each other's language how much this gift meant to her.  She tried it on and then hung it up on her wall.  Earlier today, I was standing at the bus stop, opposite her shop, and saw her in there pointing it out to another customer or friend....I thought that was pretty neat.  So, thank you so much Mom for creating this very personal & beautiful gift.  It truly meant so much to her.  You helped contribute a great deal of happiness to her life.

 

Opening the present.....

 

Hair Salon Adventures

 

I went to get my hair cut last night and the hair stylist told me that, "Your voice sounds like a little baby's voice".....(...what?!)    She then mimicked what she thought my voice sounded like, by giving this horrible high pitched, whiny voice and started murmuring incomprehensible words in an attempt to capture what I "sounded like".  (Oh please oh please, say I DON'T sound like that!).   I actually wasn't offended by the comment, I just thought it was an interesting observation to say.  Out loud.

 

Korea is very concerned with my relationship status.  When I first got here, they really wanted me to get married and couldn't understand why I wasn't married to my boyfriend.  I would often hear, "Christine, I hope you get married soon".  I would reply with comments like, "me too", because it just seemed easier to say, rather than try to explain, via second language the complexities of my American relationship.  :)       Last night this hair dresser wanted to know if I was married or had a boyfriend and I told her no.  She seemed to think that if I dyed my grey roots, I might get a boyfriend.  So, I let her have her way with my hair.  From calico brown, red, black & grey (courtesy of numerous botched Korean dye jobs), to light brown and dark brown hair I went (still a calico, but a bit less).   As I was leaving, she says, "I think you look better.  Maybe now, you will get a boyfriend.  I hope that next time I see you--you have a boyfriend."  I just said, "me too" and out the door I went, to catch my man.

 

Graduation Day

Today was graduation day!  What a great day.  For the opening act the 6th grade kids did a K-pop dance, that was so much fun.  My 5th graders also sang a really great song.  I was so proud of all of them.  It was very sad to say the final goodbyes, but this was such a nice send off to the official last day of school.  I don't think I've ever posted a link to K-pop.  They are these massively popular, cutsy boy/girl bands, who have pretty crazy/fun dance routines.  All the kids idol these celebrities and all age levels know some pretty fun K-pop dance routines.  Here are a couple of video links of some popular K-pop, if you feel like checking it out-so you can get an idea of the dance the 6th graders performed.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7mPqycQ0tQ&feature=relmfu

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYKO1za5mX0 

 

After graduation the school took all the teachers to lunch at this massive fish market/marina that is just around the corner.  I was expected to say a few words, after the principal.  In my delightful & awkward way, I stood up and thanked everyone (showing off my super cool bilingual skills of knowing "thank you" in two languages), and expressed my gratitude through a lot of gestures and facial expressions, telling them how sad I am and that I love Bangeojin and then goodbye.  I got a huge round of applause and a lot of people were laughing pretty hard (which I wasn't sure if they were laughing at me/with me/about me as is my usual experience here).  I asked my coteacher why they laughed at me, but it turns out they were all very happy because they understood everything I said, because I kept it very simple--which made me very pleased.

 

On the menu was fish soup and beer.  I like pretty much all Korean food, but I have never warmed to fish soup.  I have a cast iron stomach and a pretty expansive pallet, but this is one of the rare things that really, really turns my insides.  I was very happy to see the beer being pulled out, and extra happy when the principal came over to do 'beer shots' with me!  It helped ease my stomach a bit and gave me that nice beer glow that made me brave enough to eat more fish soup.  Of course the beer buzz wore off, and then I was left with the quease again.  I really didn't want them to remember my last meal with them as me not eating the food, so I forced down A LOT of spoonfuls of the stuff.  It is incredibly offensive to Koreans, if you don't eat the food.  I think this school loves me most, not because I am good at my job, but because I love the food so much.

 

 

My coteacher knows who the "next me" is going to be.  We tried to find him on facebook, but there are too many people with his name.  She is incredibly nervous about getting the new person. I can certainly understand why, because it is a very close working relationship, and you are literally tied to (and dependant on) this person for a year, so it is important to have compatible personalities.  Part of the goodbye present I gave my coteacher was a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream.  I told her that this is for her to toast the new teacher with, because he is Irish.  I am trying to tell her not to be nervous about the new person and trying to think of every complimentary thing I can come up with about Irish people, to put her at ease.  I am stretching the truth a bit, because I have only met a few people from that country, but if they're anything to go on, I would say it is a very fine country indeed! 

 

The funny thing about the person's name is that it is "Barry".  I think it is funny, because Koreans get 'v's & 'b's confused a lot, since those two sounds are interchangeable in Hangul.  My kids always tell me that I am doing a "bery, bery" good job.  I think they'll also think it is hilarious that his name sounds like fruit (kid humor, ya know).  I SOooooooo wish I could be here when he is introduced to the students.  :)    I think Barry, will love it more than I did though--when the kids tell him he is doing a "bery bery good job". 

 

 

Anime graduation characters

All the 5th & 6th graders before it started

 

 

One year ago today, my plane landed in this country.  I was experiencing a tiredness, I had never felt before..in addition to this, I was disoriented, scared, anxious, sad, and every other emotion under the sun.  I also had many thoughts that went a little something like: What the <bad word> am I doing???  What a different feeling it is being on this side of the adventure.

 

Official Count:   School year finished.

                             8 days left in Korea.                  

                             Wow.

The Daily Characters

You think you're doing a good job teaching, until the reviews from your kids come back, only to realize their favorite part of your Winter Camp School was, "lunch time" .   I had a very intensive winter camp w/ my kiddo's.  I know I have blabbed on about "how long" it was many times before, but 8 hours a day, for 5 weeks is an awful lot of non-stop kid time.  It leaves you completely depleted.  I put in several weeks of planning this camp, from finding worksheets, projects and creating power points.  So it was intensive work, prior to it ever even starting.  SO, with that in mind...Seriously???!!  Lunch??  That was the best part?!   Blek!  :)     I know...., they're 5th graders, but I really wish they would have lied for my benefit--just a teensy bit.   I still love them though.  I know that when I was a kid my favorite time of school was recess & lunch, so I certainly can't blame them.  They're doing what kids do best, which is just calling it like they see it.

 

Since I only have 14 days left in Korea, I am obviously starting to get incredibly sad that my year is almost up.  I walk to my close school (good school) every day.  On this route, I have passed the same exact people at the same exact moments every single day for the past year.  They have become important & permanent characters in my small narrative.  At times it feels a little like the movie, "Groundhogs Day".  For the past few mornings, as I am walking to school, I am trying to soak everything in, in an attempt to commit it to memory for life.  I am finding myself feeling very sad that I will no longer be a part of this community. 

 

My walk is only 6 blocks and during this walk, every day at 8:25 I pass the "man with the earmuffs", as I call him.  We have matching earmuffs, and he always gives me a very stern look, unphased by the fact that we have now walked passed each other at least 200 times.  I have started to gauge how early/late I am running, depending on what point in the walk I pass him.  Up a little further is the "Old Lady and the Toddler", who always seem to be waiting for someone (maybe for someone to pick the kid up or both of them).  These two are a lot friendlier than the "man w/ the earmuffs".  I exchange Annyeong-haseyo's & bows with the old woman and Annyeong's & Hello's & Hi's with the toddler.  I look forward to seeing them every day.

 

Just past these two I pass the "smoking vent".  There is a PC room in this alley, and as you walk passed the vent, you are blasted with the smell of cigarettes because it is the out-vent for that store.  It's pretty gnarly smelling, but it is just that area in my walk that is always the same.   A few stores/houses past this is "the man who sneaks his keys".  This man hides his keys in the flower pot outside of his store.  On a regular basis I see him walk over to his "secret stash", pull out his keys, give me a double take (I assume to make sure DIDN'T see him take the keys out of the flower pot for the 100th time) and walk over and unlock his shop.  I am always impressed at how trusting this culture is.  The crime rate, although very low, is certainly not unheard of.

 

Up still further, as I round the corner out of the alley-ways and onto the busy, main street, I pass "the man who is always sitting there".  He sits cross legged on a platform/table that is outside his shop (not even sure what kind of shop).  He has said "Hello" to me once in the past 12 months, but normally just mumbles something in a very low voice in Korean.  I haven't yet figured out if he is making fun of me or if he is saying something nice to me OR if he is even talking to me/about me.  In fact, I have often thought he seems a little bit odd...but again, he is a "regular" in my life, so I rather enjoy seeing him either way.

However, the best part of my day is ALWAYS at 8:40 a.m.  This is the point when my feet hit the first steps at the entrance to my school.   When I am here, this signals the first of hundreds of "hellos" I will get throughout the day!!  Right at the base of the stairs is the School Store (mom & pop shop loaded with stickers, pencils, candy, candy, candy, & ice cream), where lots of kids conglomerate, standing around, talking, laughing, pushing each other and loading up on moon pies, ice cream, candy & choco milk before school starts.  In between bites of candy, most of the kids standing there bombard me with first "hellos" of the day.  I sort of look at them as "the welcoming committee".  The entire walk up the steps and across the soccer field, kids are walking past me saying, "hello", others yell it across the field, accompanied with an enthusiastic wave.  I never tire of this.  I honestly have no idea how many times I say "hello", each and every day.   It is well into the 100's though and it makes my heart happy every time.  I think out of all the things I will miss about Korea, my daily dose of "hellos" from the children is what I will most miss and remember.....forever.  I am certain it always be a memory that will warm my heart.

 

  

Tid Bits:

 

The Ulsan Police motto is "Happy 2 Day".  This slogan is plastered on the side of their building and also on their police cars & commercials.  After a year here, I can say things like this now:  IT'S SO Korean!     I love their cutsy!  Their fire trucks & stations also have adorable cartoon characters painted on them.

 

Countdown: 14 days left in Korea, 4 days left of school, 1 day left of classes......................(WOW!)

 

 

 

It's just a Happy Day (and sandwiches are really good)

I went to have passport sized photos taken today, because of all the travelling I am getting ready to do.  So....a little warning....be careful when getting passport photos taken in Korea. You could leave with a little somethin' like this....................................

I am not sure this style of passport photo is going to be a big hit with the Cambodian Immigration Officials.  Unless of course, Cambodia is as seriously into the "cutesy" factor as Korea!   One can only hope....one can only hope!    Oh, and yes...I was VERY airbrushed....   and....umm.. I like sandwiches? 

O-tu-kayyyyy

A few months back, I realized that I had taught my 1st graders to associate the phrase, "Rock Star", with getting the answer right.  So one after the other, I would hear little voices asking, "Teach-ahh me?  Rock Star?" while pointing to their correct answer.  Although, I found it to be incredibly funny that they were saying that----I also found it really disturbing to realize--I was saying that!  Not only saying it, but saying it enough that I taught 5 year old Korean students to speak this phrase, with alarming frequency.  After those words were said back to me, numerous times, I stopped using it completely, because although it is very funny, I do have a job to do--and teaching 5 year old Korean students, ridiculous slang, is not one of them.

Apparently, I say a lot of ridiculous phrases.  Yesterday in class one of my students (Eun So-jin) dropped her crayon and says, "UH OH Spaghetti O's".   Hmmm........  wonder where she go that from??       WHO AM I?   Apparently I am channeling the most ridiculous version of myself, while I am teaching small children a second language!    Naturally it struck a funny chord with me, but it also alarms me that I am blabbing out so many phrases that, I only become aware of them once they get parroted back to me.  I will say, "Uh oh spaghetti O's" is better than "Rock Star", but still.........      Fortunately for these kids they only have 3 more classes with me.  Let's see if I can keep my tourettes in check.

When I am with Son Myungai, we rely a great deal on Konglish, gestures, facial expressions and of course Google Translate.  We usually go to the computer as a last resort though, because I think we are both a little determined to communicate with each other without having to depend on a translator.  Not to mention it makes it a lot more personal, interesting and fun.  When she is trying to express something to me, she'll stop occasionally to make sure that I am still following her and ask, "Understand?" and I will say, "Yes, I understand" and then she always gives me the double thumbs up and says, "Very good understand!".  I love it when she says that.

My new favorite phrase to say in Korean is:  "O-tu-kay", however I say it really whiny and love to drag it out the way my kids do it...so it goes a little something like: "Ooooo tuuuuUUUUuu Kayyyayyyyayyyy".   It has two meanings:  How & What.   I parrot this phrase back to Koreans, much the same way my 1st graders parrot back "Uh Oh Spaghetti O's", probably because they're both just fun to say.   I asked Son Myungai about this phrase having two meanings, mostly just double checking my understanding of it.  So I said, "O-tu-kay"--How?   "O-tu-kay" What?  Same-same??     She says, "small same-same" (I love the way she communicates things--"small same-same" and "very good understand").   I guess you just have to be in the conversation to know if the person is asking how or what.     Another fun phrase to say is "wayyYYYyyyyyy" which means why.   I have heard this one soooooo many times from my students!  "Teach-ahhhHHhhhhh WayyyYYYyyyyyyyy??????".           Officially I have 2 and 1/2 weeks left in teaching, and it has taken the FULL year to finally be able to understand and communicate more comfortably in Korean.  In many ways, I feel like I just got to this great point at being able to really communicate and now the time is up.  This year has gone by alarmingly fast!  

TidBits:

Matching couples are very popular here!  You'll find 'matchy matchy' couples dressed EXACTLY alike.  It's the darnedest thing.   They will literally have on the same shirt, hat, pants, shoes---everything.  You'll also see complimentary matching outfits.  So the girl will be wearing a skirt in the same fabric as her boyfriend's pants.  They also sell matching underwear sets here.  Men's & women's underwear are sold in the same store (or section)--So think Victoria Secrets, but for both sexes.  They have tons of displays that have the boy & girl mannequin wearing the same style.  I sincerely believe these couples that wear the same thing on the outside, very likely have the same under clothes on.   It's just one of many 'cutesy' things to Korean society---that once again, I kind of find endearing!  As  a western woman, I would personally find it disturbing if my boyfriend matched my clothes (outter or inner garments) and probably break up with him post-haste!

It is February 1st here.  I only have 24 days left in Korea. 

The List: What I'll miss about Korea!

All of my friends who have recently left Korea to return home, keep telling me things to the effect of, "Enjoy your last days in Korea, because when you leave you'll miss it".  I am so excited to leave here for so many reasons, but I know they are right--that I will miss Korea.  So while I am still here, living my Korean life, I decided to come up with my list of things that I know without a doubt I will miss...and then vow to appreciate it that much more, while I am still here, to appreciate it.  Keep in mind, I am not including the amazing people that I have met on this list...because they have had such a profound impact on my life, that I don't think I would be doing them justice by mentioning them on this list.  With that said, here is my, "I LOVE KOREA" list.

1. Not tipping!  You don't have to tip waiters, taxi drivers, coffee shop workers, hair dressers, food delivery people. Not. Anybody.  A 100% tip less society!  LOVE it.
2. Public transportation.  This country does transportation right.  Their bus system is flawless, the high speed bullet trains are amazing, taxis are everywhere and all of the above are VERY cheap!  If public transportation was like this at home, I would never have want of a car.
3. Heated floors. 
4. Kimbap
5. Street markets
6. No longer being able to say "Assa" (Awesome) and "Jin ja" (Oh really?), "Yobosayo" (telephone hello) and having everyone know what I am talking about--and more often then not, finding it kind of cute.  It is especially fun to say these phrases to a Korean....it makes the laugh..every time.
7. Using phrases like, "Nice-eh, English-ee, and Teach-ahh" and having everyone know what I am referring to. 
8. Being able to call a doctor, dentist, or hairdresser---make an appointment and they ask you when a good time is...you tell them and they say OK.  They will work their schedule around what is convenient for you.
9. Seriously cheap and convenient health care.  Doctor appointment, with prescription: $20       Dental appointment: $7   Enough said.
10. Cutesy-wootsy.  This country is all about the cute factor. 
11. Sharing.  Everyone shares their food with me.  Always.  My landlord brings me treats, my kids, coworkers---everyone. 
12. Being a part of this community.  I love that I can walk around my neighborhood and I now "belong".   I love that I am invited along to functions and that people recognize me.     That when i walk down the street, I occasionally get enthusiastic, "CHRISTINE" yelled out the car window as people drive by.   It's so cool. 
13. Street food
14. How everyone is outside...all the time.  This country lives their lives outside--so much of life happens out on the streets here (Dan paraphrase)..so you really get insight into every one's lives.  If I can't sleep, I have gone to my window and will stare down into my alley/walk way and it can be 3:00 a.m. and I'll see several people walk by.....from very old people, to much younger people.    It may be the end of the night for some and for others their day is just getting started.  I also think that since everyone is outside so much it also makes you feel safer, because there is always someone around watching.
12. Ridiculous English phrases everywhere I look.  I will miss shirts that say things like, "Blue cat hello and then I went for a walk".  
13. The sound of the Korean language, which I quite like.  At first it was a maddening sound to me, because I had such a hard time in the beginning.  Now, the sound of the Korean language is beautiful....and I love being able to occasionally pick out words that people are saying.
14. Konglish conversations.   The half-way meeting place between me speaking what Korean I know and them speaking what English they know---makes for a surprisingly fun and in depth conversation.  It is so satisfying being able to meet on that middle ground.
15. Being able to say, "I live in Korea".  I'll admit it--it's kind of cool!  I love it.
16. Making friends so easily.  It is as easy as it was in Elementary school.  It goes a little something like this, "Oh, you're a foreigner? Heyyyyyy, I'm a foreigner too!  Wanna do something?"  Voila!  Of course, most of the people I've met stayed in the acquaintance category, but still, I have more of a social life here than I had my entire 10+ years in Denver!  Fortunately, I have also had the honor of meeting a couple of "life-longers"........
17. $10 dollar haircuts
18. Having a new & unique experience every day.
19. Watching Korean people interact with each other.  I find their culture and interactions endlessly fascinating.  I can't begin to tap the surface of how interesting Korean people are to me in a bullet point list, so just suffice to say, I'll miss seeing them every day. 
20. The loose rules--example:   It's okay to drink on school property after school and sometimes during school hours.  
21. Cheap (almost free) facials and other luxuries.
22. I only went to one baseball game, but I will miss having the opportunity to go to more!  What an amazing experience. 

I am sure there are many other things I'll miss about Korea.....and there may be a part 2 in the near future.  In the meantime, I only have 28 days left, to enjoy the things that I will miss about my fair, adopted country.

34 days and counting

In an effort to begin clearing out my little apartment, I have been taking inventory of my excess stuff and trying to find some of it a new home.  I suspect these next few weeks will fly right by, so I am trying to get organized and prepare early.   A few months ago I was given a SPAM gift set with three cans of SPAM and 2 bottles of cooking oil.  Although, very touched that I was given a gift, I just can't get myself to eat the stuff.  Thankfully, at the time I was given the gift, Dan was visiting me so he graciously did me the honor of eating 2 entire containers of the stuff (although very grateful for the deed....I'm still judging him...just a little).  Needless to say, I have had one can lingering in my kitchen for months now.  This evening, I went out for my nightly Kimbap fix and Kim Sung-eun (Son Myung-ai's son) was eating a huge plate full of SPAM.  Just to be sure, I asked him if it was, in fact, SPAM--all the while relieved with thoughts of unloading my last can of SPAM that has been haunting me for 5 months.  Kim Sung-eun got up and went to the SPAM stash and produced another can of SPAM and insisted I take it.  I sincerely appreciated the gesture and was touched at how sharing this society is, but I did attempt to say no, but "no" is not really an option in Korea. So now, I am back up to 2 cans.  Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have the language barrier working against me, and would have simply explained that I was happy to see that they like SPAM and would like to give them a can.  I am sure when I go home, I will always have fond little memories associated with SPAM and every time I pass it in the store, I will be transported back to my year in Korea.

This Monday is the Lunar New Year.  It is a national holiday here (visibly way bigger than Christmas was), so everything will be closed on both Monday and Tuesday.  I will be spending it with Son Myung-ai & family.  I will head over to her house in the early afternoon, where we will prepare, what I am sure will be an extravagant meal.  It is also tradition to make "deok" (Korean rice cake) on New Years, so we will do that as well.  I am thrilled to celebrate my first Lunar New Year, with my Korean family. 

Prior to coming here, I lived by the book when it came to the dentist...going every 6 months for a cleaning and sometimes a bit more for good measure.  Truthfully, I am the only person I know who LOVES the dentist (admittedly weird).  I have heard more than one horror story about Korean dentists--and given my personal experience with being tortured by a massage therapist, I am inclined to believe that their dentists are cruel too.  However, I have had a place on one of my teeth that has been bothering me for awhile...more recently it began to crumble a bit (TMI and yeah..kind of gross).  I am pretty sure it is just an old filling needing repair, but maybe that is just wishful thinking--I don't know.  I will be travelling for over a month after I leave here.  Since I have rather questionable luck, I figured if I don't get it taken care of now--knowing me I'll be in the middle of Cambodia when the rest of the tooth follows suit and crumbles out of my head.  So...questionable Korean dentist?  Or questionable Cambodian dentist?  When put in that light, it was a pretty easy decision.  Appointment is on Wednesday.

I am still in the midst of teaching winter camps, which have been highly intensive classes ALL day long for 4 weeks and counting.  It is truly draining and by the time Friday arrives, it is not a far stretch to say I feel like I have been hit by a semi.  What I do like about winter camp, is that the classes are significantly smaller than the normal classes (7-12 vs. 30 students), so you really have the opportunity to see some of your students in a completely different light.  There has been one kid who (and I hate to admit it) I truly did not like ALL year long.  He has been a little terror for me.  However, some time in the last few weeks of school, back in December, I started realizing he was actually not as bad as I thought he was.  Now, in winter camp, I have realized how amazingly helpful and sweet he is--- and also hate to admit it, but shame on me, because this whole time, it never occurred to me to give him some extra one on one time for his true colors and his potential to blossom.  During this winter camp he has been so sweet and so helpful to me---that I can't believe I spent an entire year totally oblivious to his good nature.  Let me go on the record as saying, Kim Min-su is an absolute wonderful kid and I have grossly misjudged him for the better part of  year.  I guess it is true that if you keep calling a child a certain thing or believing they are a certain way he or she will become exactly what you say or think they are.   

TIDBITS:

The other day I passed another teacher in the hall, when he stopped to pay me a 'compliment' by saying, "Ohh Christine, I wanted to tell you that you are thinner than you were last year.  I think you enjoyed the food too much last year, because you got fat.  You look better now that you are not as fat."    My response, "Uhhhh...Thanks? Mr. Anh?"      This particular teacher has been one of my favorites from day one.  He has gone out of his way to make me feel incredibly welcomed.  His compliments just never come out quite right.  :)  Back in September, this same teacher had the same complimentary conversation with me....  I can't remember the exact words, but "fat" was used more than once.  Come on people, can't we just let a girl gain/lose weight in peace?!

The way I say the number "twelve" in Korean, sounds like cuss word to Koreans.  The number 12 is "ship-E" a bad word is, "ship-EE".  I am sure you can see my dilemma!  :)  I now just skip over 12 and go straight for 13.
  

English Garbally-Goop

Whenever I find myself needing a little cheering up, I like to wander the stores, looking for anything with English print.  It never fails to bring me a small belly laugh.  Today was one of those days......   Thank you Korea, for having an endless supply of English Garbally-Goop.

"I want for a stroll along the public garden Some sunny, warm spots had fresh young glass coming up already The singing of birds to foretell the coming of happy dream"

This was in the stationary aisle.  It's a journal or a writing tablet.

And just one more....   (the typos are deliberate)

"Why is it so difficult for me to wake up early in the morning?  well, I colud use a strong cup of coffee to hepl me rise and shine.  Do you like taste sweet or bitter?  I love the rperfume of coffee delicate smell msimulates my nose, I like the perfume of coffee more es pecially when it's raining.  Coffee is relaxing.  I get to relax and think different things when I drink coffee in my busy life.  Like an espresso with steamed milk.  And for dessert we have a wonderful sandwich in espresso."

....but this one really is random

Ohhh Korea...your crazy shirts!   This is a shirt one of my 5th graders was wearing.  The rest of the shirt gave no clues as to what this is supposed to mean. 

These logos were printed on each sleeve.  What...does it even mean?



Sometimes I find myself teaching stuff that just annoys me.  There is obviously a world wide stereotype that every last man in America is stinkin' rich.  I don't like it when the textbooks perpetuate this myth.  The answer to this question is not "Bill Gates", but the activity is supposed to be to match up the phrase, with the country flag (I had to look up that birthday on line, after class, to figure out if they were making reference to a particular rich man).  I have taught many other similar things in the textbooks here, but Korea is very "by the book"--so even if there are typos, major grammar errors or way off the mark comments, they don't let you teach it the correct way, because if it is in the book it's true.  In this particular case, yes Bill Gates is rich.  Sure, he might help poor people.  But I don't think it should be used as an example to define a country and 'find the corresponding flag'.  (I know, I am making way too much out of this, but so many of my kids talk about how "rich" I must be...and how rich my family must be....and how rich my future husband will be, because he is American etc.  Of course they also think we have CSI on every street corner investigating crime scenes....)



Our door to the building is electric.  The other day someone took the trash out, and ended up not being able to get back in, because the circuit blew.  My landlord then printed this up for everyone in the building, just in case it happened again.  She brought this to my door and I misunderstood her and thought she wanted me to "correct" it.  So I whipped out my red pen and began mutilating her flier to make it "proper English".  She just stood there staring at me, like I just called her baby ugly.  Then she gave me a clean one and asked if I would please keep it in my apartment for the next tenant!  I was so embarrassed and apologized up one side and down the other.  "Don't mind me, I'm just bein' a helper!"  I am just so used to people here asking me to proof read their work.  I liked the very last section though, and kept that 'as is', because I thought it was so cute.  "Now.  You can come home.  I'm sorry.  It is an uncomfortable experience." 

TidBits:

My kids think that  you can get arrested for anything in America.  Rumor has it, that if little kids get in fights at school in America, the police will come and arrest them.  They then wanted to know if they would get arrested if they "hit a teacher".  I said, well you would get in really big trouble with the school and your parents, but I don't think you'd be arrested.  I then said, "if a teacher hits you though, that teacher would be arrested".  That were shocked, but they LOVED that.  Physical punishment is technically illegal here, but only in VERY recent years...like 5.  Unfortunately it still happens.  They also think that if you flip someone off, you'll get arrested. 

I love my Bangeojin Elementary students!

Today was the last day of Winter Camp (at my main & favorite school).  After today, I'll only have about 6 more classes with them.  It is incredibly sad to think about.  They were asking me to not go back to the USA and stay for their last year of Elementary school, as they'll be big 6th graders now!  I said I was sorry, but I really miss my Mom and family and I have to go home to them.  One of them said, "please remember us...don't forget us ever".  I promised, that I will never, ever forget them--and that promise is true to the very bottom of my heart.  These children have had a profound impact on my life---that will remain with me for life.

They also surprised me today with their specialty treat:  Moon Pie Cake, with a whole lot of whip cream, and chocolate covered cookie sticks, along with a side platter of crackers, chocolate & potato chips.  I'll let the photos speak for themselves! I love this country.

At first glance, you may have missed it, but that is supposed to be my face.   Young artist in bloom. 

Whenever they bring snacks in, it's always this concoction of potato chips & chocolate, often times squished together into an almost unidentifiable mess, so I was super impressed with this presentation.  Although, I suspect it was put together in the school bathroom........  yes..I ate some.  :)

In addition to this amazing little treat, 3 of the kids brought in this extra large notebook, where they had written a few words per page, and read it to me in unison as they flipped the pages.  It made me cry, it was so sweet.  I'll attach those pictures as well..just because it was so touching.  These kids have added inexplicable magic to my life.

This one surprised me, because they really didn't fight all that much in the 3 weeks.  As to be expected, there were a few spats, but nothing that was unmanageable....but I think it's sweet that they apologized for it.

I also made PB & J sandwiches for my kids.  Being an American, it is difficult to believe that most of the world does not eat the stuff.  In fact, I know many countries find peanut butter down right repulsive.  For me though, it is the perfect sandwich and I can't get enough of the stuff!  The introduction to peanut butter did not go over so well.  They gathered around it, with looks of sheer horror etched on their faces.  A few of them held their noses to avoid having to endure the "awful" smell of peanut butter (which, I'll admit, does smell a little funky!).  I could tell from the tone of their words that they were saying something like, "I can't believe she is doing this to us--are we being punished?"---or something to that effect.  Anyway, they all insisted that they wanted a jelly sandwich instead.  I told them, that it was not possible to eat just jelly on PB & J Day! :).   In the end, they loved them, and a few asked for seconds.  It was a fun class and I was happy to be a part of their first, ever, PB & J.  It was great seeing them enjoy it, and saying, "Ohh teacher, this is very, very good", although I don't suspect PB & J's will ever be a staple in their lives--and that's okay.

In class today, they also watched "The Wizard of Oz" for the first time.  It is one of my all time favorites, so it was extra special to be able to share it with them.   After it was over they were thankful and expressed how much they loved it.

Tid Bits

One of my students is my hair monitor.  Whenever she thinks my hair looks good, she'll say to me, "It's a beautiful Christine with hair". :)

In Korean culture it is custom for the person who is having the birthday dinner to pay for everyone's meal.  I went to a Korean's birthday party last week and was absolutely shocked that she picked up the bill for 10 people and it was her birthday.  She insisted that it would be awkward and make her uncomfortable if we tried to pay.

Face Masks

This is your average Korean biker!  If you saw a guy looking like this riding toward you in Anywhere, USA, wouldn't you panic just a bit?   A lot of people here look like muggers when they go for a bike ride or sometimes just walking down the street, because they're geared up in these face masks.  Some of the pictures in my 5th grade school book, of the repeat character of 'Grandma', has pictures of her wearing a mask.  Grandma always looks like she is going out to burgle someone.  This picture is courtesy of my friend, Tika, who I have nicknamed 'Paparazzi' because every time I turn around she is taking these 'sneaky' photos of people. 

Thailand Tourism

While researching places to visit, for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I came across this website that was not doing the best job advertising to the tourist population.  I copied and pasted these quotes direct from the website, so no paraphrasing on my part. :)   This is definitely the one place I knew I wanted to visit--primarily for a nice, relaxing-coma-style beach vacation, complete with sun, surf, fruity drinks and Thai massages.  Now, I don't know what to think!

Night Life

So called girlie bars are rather common and often a little more expensive. If you are a man, do not be to surprised if one of the girls wants to follow you to your room. Normally she is not too serious if she say that she is in love with you though. She is doing it as a work to support herself and often also her family

How to get around:

Walk

Nice, but use a lot of sun screen and be very careful in the traffic.

Bicycle

Just rent it. It's cheap. But be very careful if the traffic is intense.

Your Safety

Many people dies every year in Samui traffic! The roads can be very dangerous at nighttime. It is stupid and like playing Russian roulette to drink and drive here. IMPORTANT! Please, do always bring your insurance with you! Some hospitals require it if you end up in an accident. Please, be careful in the Samui traffic - Always! Also, try not to leave your precious belongings in your room when you go out. Burglaries are not common but can occur. Especially between 5pm and 8pm there might be some mosquitoes outside. Please protect yourself with cloths or repellents as cases of dengue fever are reported occasionally.

  

And that's my impending, tropical island, beach vacation in a nut shell! 

I am flying out on February 25th with a great friend I met over here.  She has been counting down the days since day 100, and since then, every 10 days I get an update saying something like, "we're in our 90's", "we're in our 60's" and so forth, referring to the number of days we have left.  Until last night, I didn't know she had this application on her phone that has, down to the second of when our plane takes off next month at 8:45 a.m.  I casually asked last night if we were, "in our 40's" yet, and to my amusement she excitedly pulled out her phone and told me down to the second, how many days, hours, and minutes until we leave.  Like a kid at Christmas.  We are both loving and learning a great deal from our Korea experience, but we're also incredibly ready to do a bit of travel and then get back home.  Home. Home. Home.   We miss it.

TidBits:

The other day in class, I had my students draw their favorite meal.  One of my students, Kim Min-joo, drew a plate full of Gingerbread Man Cookies & Bacon.  She swore up and down it was the best "meal" EVER!  Maybe everything does taste better with bacon...I don't know.  I just love, love, love my kids.

SPAM gift sets galore...

What I like about living in another country, so different from my own, is that you get a lot of "surprise" holidays.  I always know when something exciting is about to happen, because retailers start gearing up for the holiday by putting out monster displays of gift sets.  Christmas went by with almost no recognition, so I was rather confused when January 6th rolled around and all of sudden the stores are on fire with gearing up for something.  It is in preparation for the Lunar New Year, which is on January 23rd.  It is a national holiday here, and we will get off 3 days from school in celebration.  So although, I don't get to celebrate "my" holidays in the ways that I am used to, it is nice to be introduced to so many new holidays, that I have never celebrated before.

A few months back, for the Chuseok holiday, I was surprised at the large quantity of SPAM gift sets being sold (and purchased).  The aisle was literally taken over with the display and it is again for the Lunar New Year. I don't want to 'knock' SPAM too much, but it is a little funny to see it being sold as gifts.  Just not something you'd ever see back home.  I took a picture of it, so you could see first hand, that I am actually (for once), not exaggerating in the least.




A little overwhelming...


 

This one, I just thought was neat looking.



Same with this one.

  

Coco-Wa spills

The other night I went on a search for a massage parlor, specifically for a foot massage.  To my happiness, with much ease, I stumbled across a salon with pictures of feet.  Just what I needed.    Their menu book of services, was nicely translated into English, making my shopping quite painless.  I ordered the, "foot massage".  You can imagine my surprise when she had me lay face down on the massage table and began massaging my butt for about 10 minutes--followed by a leg massage.  I can only assume this was another case of "lost in translation", and somehow "foot massage" was typoed in as a "butt & leg massage".  I am sure other people are experiencing the same confusion, when they order a "deep-tissue" back massage and end up getting my "foot massage".     I think I am officially giving up on Korean massages.  

After teaching elementary school aged kids for a year, I have officially turned over a new leaf in my life, and now I am my parents.  How did this happen???!!    I hear my parents words & tone being channeled through me, without effort, as I am telling them, "Don't do that!" or "Now, why did you do that?" "Shut the door".    Kids do the darnedest things though--all the time.   I see some of the stuff these kids do, and I know I used to do the same things...but looking on it through adult eyes, the sense of 'logic' is mind boggling.    The other day one of my 4rth graders spilled hot cocoa on the floor.  Seemingly, a minor problem.  However, he decides to grab one of his classmates suede boots to clean up the mess and hide the evidence.  Fortunately, about an inch before suede met hot chocolate, I intercepted as a slow motion, "NoOoOOoooooooooo" came out of my mouth.  When I asked "What are you doing?".  He shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know", as casual as if I was asking him what the weather was supposed to be like tomorrow.

The other day, a different student also spilt her hot chocolate all over a desk.  Rather than be concerned with cleaning it up, or the fact that it is now dripping all over the floor and she is standing in it, she turns to me frantically and says, "Teachah, one more!! One more!".     I tell her to clean it up first.  After much insistence from me, she finally goes and gets some toilet paper.  She then proceeds to clean it up one TP square at a time--and then takes one dripping square at a time and drips it across the floor into the trash can.  Ohhhhhh kids are soooooo painful to watch.

I knowwwww, I should not feed them hot cocoa, but I can't help myself.  It is our special morning treat.  When they aren't spilling it all over themselves and the floor, they just enjoy it so much.  It is sort of my 'signature' winter camp treat.  Every day at 10:30 it is "Hot Cocoa 10:30"  But they pronounce it 'CoCoWa'.  When 10:30 rolls around, they say, "Teacha Hot Coco-Wa".  These kids do an awful lot of studying, so their breaks are well earned---and spilt hot cocoa is a small price to pay to witness their happiness.  What can I say?  I'm a sucker...and I love these guys--sticky messes and all.

Tid Bits:

My landlord's English is above average, so we made a bit of casual conversation the other day.   She says to me, "When you cook, you smell like a Canadian".  She had spent some time in Canada, so I know what she meant by that statement, but the wording got a little tied up.  I can honestly say that is the first time anyone has ever told me I smell like a Canadian though!