With November approaching, it's time to start looking for jobs in Korea! I know Japan typically posts jobs and ends deadlines during the month of October, and while there are a good deal of jobs posted for Korea during the month of October, many of them are for positions beginning in November/December. Still, since I've decided to move to a different school, I've been looking at several job boards trying to nail the perfect job!
And so what I would like to do is share with you the sites that I've been looking at. Two years ago I went through a great recruiter, Korvia Consulting, and I'm so happy I did! But now that I'm trying to get a job with an international school, or a school with an English immersion program, I'm taking to the job market alone.
If you are in Korea and looking for a new job, maybe these boards can be of assistance to you. The same goes for those of you outside of Korea, too, of course! Many recruiters also post on these boards in case you decide to go through a recruiter to find a job.
Happy hunting! :)
First- here is a great site I found for Japan: GaijinPot - You can search by industry and location! You put all of your information on the site to make your CV, and then apply to jobs directly on the site simply by choosing to send them your already made, online CV. So nice~
Now, on to Korea:
Dave's ESL Cafe - I look under the job description link for who is posting the job (school, recruiter). There is also a section where you can post your resume!
I Love ESL Korea - This is one of my favorites to look at because the website design is clean and organized. You can search for jobs by age (adults or kids) and location, as well as post your own resume.
Planet ESL - This site lists jobs with their start date right next to the header, and I find that really convenient.
Korea Job Finder - I'm also quite fond of this site. It's updated frequently and the presentation is nice. You can also post your resume on the site, and search for jobs by location or full-/part-time.
ESL Fish - Now, this site is not updated as often and that is really too bad because the site functions are pretty cool. You can refine your job search by location and pay, as well as post your resume.
Here are some others, though they are not updated as frequently as the above. I still like to check them all ;)
Work N' Play
ESL Jobs Korea
ESL Jobs Now
There's also this one - ESL Employment - but I HATE the website layout so I never use it.
And Online TEFL, which allows you to check available jobs throughout many different countries.
I've tried out some others, but they didn't work as I wanted them to, or they sent me emails for jobs in Utah. And I have absolutely no desire to teach in Utah.
With some of these sites, however, your email is visible as it is how potential employers can contact you. So I take that into consideration when choosing which email address you supply :) (The plus side is when you get funny messages from people asking you to move to a different country and be paid six grand every month to teach a family.) Still, some of them keep your information hidden until you're interested in contacting someone!
If you have any other job sites for teaching abroad, please share them!!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Kyoto and Osaka 2013
Japan, Japan! I finally went to Japan! Two weeks ago...
But we saw temples, shrines, and statues. We ate takoyaki, okonomiyaki, ramen, yakisoba, and sushi. We drank beer and sake and danced with some cool kids to The Flaming Lips and Pavement. Oh, and we saw a couple of national treasures that I studied at university. It was a pretty awesome trip.
Since I left work early and my work is near Gimpo Airport, I just hopped on a bus to Gimpo and took the airport express train. It's fast, clean, and quiet! I took Peach Airlines over to Japan. Anyone who has lived in Korea and looked into traveling to Japan can attest to the fact that they're consistently one of the cheapest airlines available. And they're no United, either. ;)
It's a pretty quick flight, too. You're up in the air for about an hour and a half (Incheon Airport to Kansai International Airport). Kansai International is on a man-made island with a few hotels and a shopping plaza. While on the island you can purchase train passes from 2 to 4 days unlimited on the JR line trains, or something called an ICOCA pass, which honestly I have no idea about. If anyone can enlighten me on the matter I'd appreciate it! We went with the 4-day pass, which runs 6,000 yen (a little over 60 bucks). Unfortunately, travel in Japan is expensive. Thankfully, though, we only needed trains that cost 210 to 250 yen. There were some that cost 700! I mean you might as well take a taxi at that point.
We spent two days in Kyoto and walked around a lot! Kyoto is such a large city. And a really awesome one, too. It so easily and beautifully blends the old and the new. You could be walking on a main street with a bunch of shops and a convenience store, look through a break in the buildings and catch a glimpse of a pavilion. There's the food market, Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion), Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavilion), Fushimi Inari, Todai-ji, and so many more famous, outrageously beautiful places!
Here are a few Kyoto photos:
In Kyoto we stayed in a really cute, cozy, and friendly hostel just outside of the city near Uzumasa Station. The hostel's name is Bola Bola, and I definitely recommend it! Here are some pictures:
After two days in Kyoto we headed to Osaka! Osaka has an even more modern feel, with tall, elaborate signs and advertisements adorning the streets. You can escape it and tuck into the side streets where the billboards disappear and find yourself a few clubs, strange bars, and more kind people. That's one thing I really loved about going to Japan; the people are so nice! Anywho, this is what I mean about Osaka:
Banaaaanas. Now. The food. Regrettably I did not take pictures of everything I consumed, only of the okonomiyaki, which was quite delicious. The food in Japan was really great! And mild. The spiciness of Korean cuisine was absent in most of what I tasted. Like how Korea uses the pepper paste in a lot of foods, there was something similar in the sauces for the takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Takoyaki is a ball of batter with some octopus inside, which is then cooked in a special pan and topped with this sauce, some tempura, and green onion. Okonomiyaki is like a pancake, or 전. Looking into it I learned that okonomiyaki can be translated to "as you like it". There are many ways to make this pancake, so it seems quite fitting! But at the base of every okonomiyaki is some cabbage and some batter. Then you can add some egg, meat, seafood, bean sprouts, or even throw some noodles on top! Yakisoba is the fried noodle dish, and also really delicious. Apparently it migrated from China to Japan, but I'll eat it and enjoy it either way! Since it's the only food picture I have, please enjoy looking at this picture of a piece of okonomiyaki:
It was a really nice trip! I want to go back and see so much more!
I'm sure I'll visit again soon <3
But we saw temples, shrines, and statues. We ate takoyaki, okonomiyaki, ramen, yakisoba, and sushi. We drank beer and sake and danced with some cool kids to The Flaming Lips and Pavement. Oh, and we saw a couple of national treasures that I studied at university. It was a pretty awesome trip.
Since I left work early and my work is near Gimpo Airport, I just hopped on a bus to Gimpo and took the airport express train. It's fast, clean, and quiet! I took Peach Airlines over to Japan. Anyone who has lived in Korea and looked into traveling to Japan can attest to the fact that they're consistently one of the cheapest airlines available. And they're no United, either. ;)
It's a pretty quick flight, too. You're up in the air for about an hour and a half (Incheon Airport to Kansai International Airport). Kansai International is on a man-made island with a few hotels and a shopping plaza. While on the island you can purchase train passes from 2 to 4 days unlimited on the JR line trains, or something called an ICOCA pass, which honestly I have no idea about. If anyone can enlighten me on the matter I'd appreciate it! We went with the 4-day pass, which runs 6,000 yen (a little over 60 bucks). Unfortunately, travel in Japan is expensive. Thankfully, though, we only needed trains that cost 210 to 250 yen. There were some that cost 700! I mean you might as well take a taxi at that point.
We spent two days in Kyoto and walked around a lot! Kyoto is such a large city. And a really awesome one, too. It so easily and beautifully blends the old and the new. You could be walking on a main street with a bunch of shops and a convenience store, look through a break in the buildings and catch a glimpse of a pavilion. There's the food market, Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion), Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavilion), Fushimi Inari, Todai-ji, and so many more famous, outrageously beautiful places!
Here are a few Kyoto photos:
In Kyoto we stayed in a really cute, cozy, and friendly hostel just outside of the city near Uzumasa Station. The hostel's name is Bola Bola, and I definitely recommend it! Here are some pictures:
After two days in Kyoto we headed to Osaka! Osaka has an even more modern feel, with tall, elaborate signs and advertisements adorning the streets. You can escape it and tuck into the side streets where the billboards disappear and find yourself a few clubs, strange bars, and more kind people. That's one thing I really loved about going to Japan; the people are so nice! Anywho, this is what I mean about Osaka:
Banaaaanas. Now. The food. Regrettably I did not take pictures of everything I consumed, only of the okonomiyaki, which was quite delicious. The food in Japan was really great! And mild. The spiciness of Korean cuisine was absent in most of what I tasted. Like how Korea uses the pepper paste in a lot of foods, there was something similar in the sauces for the takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Takoyaki is a ball of batter with some octopus inside, which is then cooked in a special pan and topped with this sauce, some tempura, and green onion. Okonomiyaki is like a pancake, or 전. Looking into it I learned that okonomiyaki can be translated to "as you like it". There are many ways to make this pancake, so it seems quite fitting! But at the base of every okonomiyaki is some cabbage and some batter. Then you can add some egg, meat, seafood, bean sprouts, or even throw some noodles on top! Yakisoba is the fried noodle dish, and also really delicious. Apparently it migrated from China to Japan, but I'll eat it and enjoy it either way! Since it's the only food picture I have, please enjoy looking at this picture of a piece of okonomiyaki:
It was a really nice trip! I want to go back and see so much more!
I'm sure I'll visit again soon <3
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Fall Sentiments and Job Hunting
I've been putting off admitting it for years, but now I must. Two weeks ago I was complaining about how hot it was, and now I want to comment on how cold it's getting! Granted it's not particularly cold, but there has been a 15 degree (F) drop between these two weeks... So here we go: I am sensitive to temperature. My younger self that ran around in the snow wearing flip-flops would be ashamed.
But I don't mind too terribly, sitting here eating a donut and sipping on hot coffee. Although walking into the bakery as they pulled the donuts out of the oven and smelling that delicious smell more than tempted me into buying one- it made me wish I was back home on my way to a cider mill. Orange and red leaves, hayrides, caramel apples... Oh, what I wouldn't do for an actual donut and some hot cider right now!
That will have to wait a while longer, though. I've decided to stay in Korea for a third year. I know telling people this has prompted the question of if I'll ever leave, but I still think my answer to that is a definite 'yes'. I would, however, like to try working at a different school. I have loved working here! Everyone has been so kind to me and so considerate of me, but because I am a foreigner with only so much time here I want to try living somewhere else. Not too far away, though! I'm looking around Seoul, which is going to be a bit difficult with the public school job cut-backs, and the influx of highly qualified teachers. I wouldn't mind working in other parts of Korea (in fact, sometimes I think I would prefer it), but the type of job I want is more abundant in Seoul.
So, of course, I've been working on my resume like crazy! I've had some friends and my folks look over it, too. Do you ever feel like a child when writing your resume? The first time I re-opened my resume I think I laughed... Here's to hoping it's improved.
Another gem of job-hunting is the professional photos! My co-teacher is so sweet and searched for studios around my house where I could have my picture taken. I went to Cle Studio in Bucheon near City Hall, and they did a great job! After sitting down and taking your picture they have you sit down in the front where you can watch the person photoshop your picture. It was like watching magic. I mean, I knew that such people existed, but to actually watch the entire process was so impressive. She was so, so fast! I came out looking quite a bit different, and I'm not sure how I feel about that in a photo that's supposed to represent me for a job (It's normal to attach a professional photos to your resume here), but it's most certainly not an ugly photograph. The entire process took maaaybe 30 minutes? Taking several photographs, choosing one, editing it, printing it, cutting them, paying for the services.... All of it. 17,000 won (~15.50 USD). The girl actually spoke really great English, too...
With my shiny new resume, super shiny new professional photo, and a heart full of determination, I go out into the job-hunting frontier once again. Keep your fingers crossed for me! ;)
xox
But I don't mind too terribly, sitting here eating a donut and sipping on hot coffee. Although walking into the bakery as they pulled the donuts out of the oven and smelling that delicious smell more than tempted me into buying one- it made me wish I was back home on my way to a cider mill. Orange and red leaves, hayrides, caramel apples... Oh, what I wouldn't do for an actual donut and some hot cider right now!
That will have to wait a while longer, though. I've decided to stay in Korea for a third year. I know telling people this has prompted the question of if I'll ever leave, but I still think my answer to that is a definite 'yes'. I would, however, like to try working at a different school. I have loved working here! Everyone has been so kind to me and so considerate of me, but because I am a foreigner with only so much time here I want to try living somewhere else. Not too far away, though! I'm looking around Seoul, which is going to be a bit difficult with the public school job cut-backs, and the influx of highly qualified teachers. I wouldn't mind working in other parts of Korea (in fact, sometimes I think I would prefer it), but the type of job I want is more abundant in Seoul.
So, of course, I've been working on my resume like crazy! I've had some friends and my folks look over it, too. Do you ever feel like a child when writing your resume? The first time I re-opened my resume I think I laughed... Here's to hoping it's improved.
Another gem of job-hunting is the professional photos! My co-teacher is so sweet and searched for studios around my house where I could have my picture taken. I went to Cle Studio in Bucheon near City Hall, and they did a great job! After sitting down and taking your picture they have you sit down in the front where you can watch the person photoshop your picture. It was like watching magic. I mean, I knew that such people existed, but to actually watch the entire process was so impressive. She was so, so fast! I came out looking quite a bit different, and I'm not sure how I feel about that in a photo that's supposed to represent me for a job (It's normal to attach a professional photos to your resume here), but it's most certainly not an ugly photograph. The entire process took maaaybe 30 minutes? Taking several photographs, choosing one, editing it, printing it, cutting them, paying for the services.... All of it. 17,000 won (~15.50 USD). The girl actually spoke really great English, too...
With my shiny new resume, super shiny new professional photo, and a heart full of determination, I go out into the job-hunting frontier once again. Keep your fingers crossed for me! ;)
xox
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
I Love Busan (Part 2 with some Daegu)
It's September already!
Haha, I think that every time I wake up, it's a different month. For those who've been wondering, I am alive! I haven't been showing my face much these days, but the weather is no longer a weapon of destruction so I'm crawling back out :)
But, man, does time fly. I went to Busan and Daegu during my summer vacation, but now it's already getting close to Chuseok! Still, I was able to see new things this Busan trip AND it was my first time visiting Daegu. So even though it's been a little longer than I'd like, I'm going to write up a post about the trip.
Firstly, there are a few ways you can get to Busan. By bus, by normal train, and by fast train (KTX). The bus and the normal train cost about the same from here in Bucheon, and the supposed time it takes is about the same, too. This time we went with the train. Firstly because my boyfriend, who I traveled with, lives in Seoul and getting to the Bucheon terminal takes him longer than it takes me to get to the Seoul terminal. Secondly because trains don't have traffic. (The KTX may be nice, but it costs twice as much so we passed on that option, too.)
During my last trip, my friend and I traveled along the coast, essentially. We hit Gwangali and Haeundae beaches, saw the Busan Tower and the markets.
But this trip we kept inland a bit more. We visited Beomeosa Temple, which is gorgeous and located next to Geumjeong Fortress, which we weren't able to see, regrettably. There are so many well-preserved (and newer) temples to see. If you happen to go here, you will likely see those doing a temple-stay, children with some group being instructed by the monks, and people giving their prayers. It's such a serene place, covered with Korean pine trees and bamboo. There is also an area of large rocks you can climb up to the northern fortress gate, or if you're like the people we passed, you can stop when you've found a nice rock and have yourself a little picnic. We stopped climbing when we realized it was getting darker and that we would like to get back down. The view is stunning, too. You can look out and see beautiful glimpses of mountains and the surrounding area.
We did venture back out to the coast afterward for the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, another gorgeous temple but quite a bit smaller. There were also tonsssss of people at this temple. The best things about this temple, in my opinion, are the round pigs, the giant golden Buddha, and the view looking at the temple from a little farther away. There is a path along the shore starting from the foot of the temple area that leads you away toward a fisheries museum. In getting here, we took the subway as far as we could and then hopped on a bus that brought us close to the temple. From there, you walk for about 10-15 minutes, and then you're golden! I wanted to mention the directions, because we happened to walk along the coastal path, up to the fisheries museum. Then we kept walking up and turned left out of the area, somehow leading us right back to the bus stop. Somehow we managed to make a circle, but I was so amazed and so thankful. I made the mistake of wearing peep-toe flats on this trip, so the walking and large rock journeys were quite hard on the tootsies.
We did go to Haeundae beach that evening, and it was clothed in its usual company of buskers, magicians, couples, friends, and families. I always love the beach until I'm covered in wet sand. Well, I always like the idea of going to the beach more than actually being at the beach. It's a beautiful area, though, and that makes up for the awful magic tricks and sand in your shoes. Complaining about sand in my shoes always reminds me of Rocket Power...
Anywho, after the beautiful Busan adventure it was time to hit Daegu! Again, you can take a bus or a train from Busan to Daegu. Againagain, we took the train! It wasn't a bad trip at all from Busan to Daegu... Although it was really hot, I liked Daegu. Daegu is my boyfriend's hometown, so we were able to navigate it easily and meet up with some of his friends. Around city hall, there is a shopping area with a wide pedestrian-only street running down the middle. I was particularly fond of this because they had organized the street into districts based on what shops sold. All the jewelry stores were grouped together, all the shoe stores, all the make-up stores... You didn't have to run to opposite ends to check prices and availability at a different store. Sooo nice!
We spent most of our time in a different area, though, where there is an abundance of art supply stores and music stores. Heaven. Not to mention the coffee shops! We also visited a really lovely university campus, as well as the Catholic church in the area. They are both beautiful areas that are great for a stroll, especially when school isn't in session.
Another famous area we went to was the Kim Kwang Seok (a wonderful musician) street behind the markets. Unfortunately the markets were closed, but the murals were really cool! We sat down on the prettiest bench and listened to one of Kim Kwang Seok's songs. Some of the murals were funny, inserting him into a classical painting, while others were portraits or lyrics.
I had a really nice trip! I think it's always good to see different parts of the country I live in. Although the Busan accent really hurt my brain if I tried to listen while people were talking. But hearing my boyfriend speak to his friends in a Daegu/Gyeongsan-do accent was one of the cutest things ever.
So that was my trip! If you have any questions, feel free to ask :)
xoxox
Haha, I think that every time I wake up, it's a different month. For those who've been wondering, I am alive! I haven't been showing my face much these days, but the weather is no longer a weapon of destruction so I'm crawling back out :)
But, man, does time fly. I went to Busan and Daegu during my summer vacation, but now it's already getting close to Chuseok! Still, I was able to see new things this Busan trip AND it was my first time visiting Daegu. So even though it's been a little longer than I'd like, I'm going to write up a post about the trip.
Firstly, there are a few ways you can get to Busan. By bus, by normal train, and by fast train (KTX). The bus and the normal train cost about the same from here in Bucheon, and the supposed time it takes is about the same, too. This time we went with the train. Firstly because my boyfriend, who I traveled with, lives in Seoul and getting to the Bucheon terminal takes him longer than it takes me to get to the Seoul terminal. Secondly because trains don't have traffic. (The KTX may be nice, but it costs twice as much so we passed on that option, too.)
During my last trip, my friend and I traveled along the coast, essentially. We hit Gwangali and Haeundae beaches, saw the Busan Tower and the markets.
But this trip we kept inland a bit more. We visited Beomeosa Temple, which is gorgeous and located next to Geumjeong Fortress, which we weren't able to see, regrettably. There are so many well-preserved (and newer) temples to see. If you happen to go here, you will likely see those doing a temple-stay, children with some group being instructed by the monks, and people giving their prayers. It's such a serene place, covered with Korean pine trees and bamboo. There is also an area of large rocks you can climb up to the northern fortress gate, or if you're like the people we passed, you can stop when you've found a nice rock and have yourself a little picnic. We stopped climbing when we realized it was getting darker and that we would like to get back down. The view is stunning, too. You can look out and see beautiful glimpses of mountains and the surrounding area.
We did venture back out to the coast afterward for the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, another gorgeous temple but quite a bit smaller. There were also tonsssss of people at this temple. The best things about this temple, in my opinion, are the round pigs, the giant golden Buddha, and the view looking at the temple from a little farther away. There is a path along the shore starting from the foot of the temple area that leads you away toward a fisheries museum. In getting here, we took the subway as far as we could and then hopped on a bus that brought us close to the temple. From there, you walk for about 10-15 minutes, and then you're golden! I wanted to mention the directions, because we happened to walk along the coastal path, up to the fisheries museum. Then we kept walking up and turned left out of the area, somehow leading us right back to the bus stop. Somehow we managed to make a circle, but I was so amazed and so thankful. I made the mistake of wearing peep-toe flats on this trip, so the walking and large rock journeys were quite hard on the tootsies.
We did go to Haeundae beach that evening, and it was clothed in its usual company of buskers, magicians, couples, friends, and families. I always love the beach until I'm covered in wet sand. Well, I always like the idea of going to the beach more than actually being at the beach. It's a beautiful area, though, and that makes up for the awful magic tricks and sand in your shoes. Complaining about sand in my shoes always reminds me of Rocket Power...
Anywho, after the beautiful Busan adventure it was time to hit Daegu! Again, you can take a bus or a train from Busan to Daegu. Againagain, we took the train! It wasn't a bad trip at all from Busan to Daegu... Although it was really hot, I liked Daegu. Daegu is my boyfriend's hometown, so we were able to navigate it easily and meet up with some of his friends. Around city hall, there is a shopping area with a wide pedestrian-only street running down the middle. I was particularly fond of this because they had organized the street into districts based on what shops sold. All the jewelry stores were grouped together, all the shoe stores, all the make-up stores... You didn't have to run to opposite ends to check prices and availability at a different store. Sooo nice!
We spent most of our time in a different area, though, where there is an abundance of art supply stores and music stores. Heaven. Not to mention the coffee shops! We also visited a really lovely university campus, as well as the Catholic church in the area. They are both beautiful areas that are great for a stroll, especially when school isn't in session.
Another famous area we went to was the Kim Kwang Seok (a wonderful musician) street behind the markets. Unfortunately the markets were closed, but the murals were really cool! We sat down on the prettiest bench and listened to one of Kim Kwang Seok's songs. Some of the murals were funny, inserting him into a classical painting, while others were portraits or lyrics.
I had a really nice trip! I think it's always good to see different parts of the country I live in. Although the Busan accent really hurt my brain if I tried to listen while people were talking. But hearing my boyfriend speak to his friends in a Daegu/Gyeongsan-do accent was one of the cutest things ever.
So that was my trip! If you have any questions, feel free to ask :)
xoxox
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Song Time
Hello, everyone! It's been a long time!!
Right now I'm on vacation :D
Summer camp was fun, but I'm happy to relax~
This blog post is going to be dedicated to a song, though.
I was looking up the lyrics so that I could sing along when I found a site that had them in Korean and English. But the translation just seemed so off.. So, like any curious and slightly over-confident person, I attempted to translate them myself.
I know my Korean skills are a little lacking, though, so if you have corrections, pleeeease share :) There are a few lines that could use some help.
..And I must admit that those few lines baffled me quite completely. One being the title of this beautiful, mysterious, and slightly sad song: 그 어떤 말로도. I've seen it translated as 'I have no words', but I knew that wasn't quite right... So I asked my boyfriend :3
So without any further rambling, the lyrics (followed by the song):
난 아무것도 보이지 않아
아무것도 보이지 않아 ...
Don't see anything
There :)
Again, just my best stab at it. I'm by no means proficient...
Let me know if you fancy the song as much as I do!
Or even if you don't care for it at all, I guess...
I just wanted to see what I am capable of... But againagainagain please share your corrections with me if you have them. Different translations or interpretations, too! :D
Take care, all! xoxox
Right now I'm on vacation :D
Summer camp was fun, but I'm happy to relax~
This blog post is going to be dedicated to a song, though.
I was looking up the lyrics so that I could sing along when I found a site that had them in Korean and English. But the translation just seemed so off.. So, like any curious and slightly over-confident person, I attempted to translate them myself.
I know my Korean skills are a little lacking, though, so if you have corrections, pleeeease share :) There are a few lines that could use some help.
..And I must admit that those few lines baffled me quite completely. One being the title of this beautiful, mysterious, and slightly sad song: 그 어떤 말로도. I've seen it translated as 'I have no words', but I knew that wasn't quite right... So I asked my boyfriend :3
So without any further rambling, the lyrics (followed by the song):
그 어떤 말로도 by Vodka Rain (보드카레인) ft. Jang YoonJu (장윤주)
그렇게도 빛나던 그대..
So too do you shine...
어디론가 떠난 밤
A night to leave for somewhere
A night to leave for somewhere
모든 걸 잃은 하루는 지고...
The day you lost everything ends...
The day you lost everything ends...
창가에는 어둠도 빛들도 사라진 채
At the window, the darkness and the lights have vanished
At the window, the darkness and the lights have vanished
난 아무것도 보이지 않아
I don't see anything
I don't see anything
난 아무것도 보이지 않아
I don't see anything
그 어떤 말로도..
I can't convey it with words...
I can't convey it with words...
어둠 속으로 세상지고
Beneath the darkness the world falls
Beneath the darkness the world falls
눈물로도 어떤 수 많은 기도로도
And even with tears and a great number of prayers
And even with tears and a great number of prayers
다시 볼 수 없는 사람
Again I'm blind (or: The person I can't see again?)
Again I'm blind (or: The person I can't see again?)
여기있어요 나 여기있어요
Here, I am here
Here, I am here
이렇게 그대곁으로 찾아왔어요
To be there for you, I came to find you like this
To be there for you, I came to find you like this
볼수없나요 너무추워요
Can't you see? It's too cold
Can't you see? It's too cold
시린하늘이 싫어 옆에 왔는데
I hate the cold sky. I came to your side
I hate the cold sky. I came to your side
짐작조차도 할 수 없나요
I can't even guess
I can't even guess
이렇게 보는건 그대 아닌가요
How you can't see anything this way
How you can't see anything this way
울지말아요 미안해요 그대...
Don't cry. I'm sorry. You...
Don't cry. I'm sorry. You...
아무것도 보이지 않아 ...
Don't see anything
그 어떤 말로도 by Vodka Rain (보드카레인) ft. Jang YoonJu (장윤주)
There :)
Again, just my best stab at it. I'm by no means proficient...
Let me know if you fancy the song as much as I do!
Or even if you don't care for it at all, I guess...
I just wanted to see what I am capable of... But againagainagain please share your corrections with me if you have them. Different translations or interpretations, too! :D
Take care, all! xoxox
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Ad Theory
So I'm standing here on the subway next to a plastic surgery ad featuring some sad, average looking male who was transformed into a dashing Prince Charming. My thoughts that were sparked after viewing the gigantic ad earlier which featured a female with a terribly long chin have hence continued. And so I now have a theory which I am about to share with you.
Have you ever wondered if maybe the people in the before pictures didn't really look that bad? Let's keep our strict judgement of beauty intact, and merely hypothesize about whether or not they could have been made to look worse off than they actually were. The recent Korean beauty pageant has shown us, if nothing else, the power of Photoshop. So here is where I will share my theory:
Photoshop has a hand in the transformation. Yes, the plastic surgery here is fully capable of turning you into a different person, but after how many times? After how many years? And so my theory is that maybe some photos are edited to make the before less fortunate looking than they actually were. And then, after all desired surgeries have been performed and have healed, the beauty of make-up and photoshop is yet again introduced.
Now, I know this is a bit of a stretch. A big mishap was created in China when a woman produced children who looked nothing like her. Unfortunately for her hideous children, the gorgeous woman had undergone extensive plastic surgery. So yet another example of the scary power of plastic surgery.
But what is the likelihood that each of these people featured in such ads went through so much?
I guess this post is more of my thought rambling, but I'm curious to hear other opinions on the matter. Not so much on the validity of getting plastic surgery or your belief in whether it is right or wrong, but more on the advertisement of plastic surgery. Do you think it's all because of a skilled team of surgeons, or could photoshop in the before and after images play a bigger part?
Food for thought.
Though, maybe for those times you've nothing better to think about. Like when you're riding the subway home facing a silly ad.
Have you ever wondered if maybe the people in the before pictures didn't really look that bad? Let's keep our strict judgement of beauty intact, and merely hypothesize about whether or not they could have been made to look worse off than they actually were. The recent Korean beauty pageant has shown us, if nothing else, the power of Photoshop. So here is where I will share my theory:
Photoshop has a hand in the transformation. Yes, the plastic surgery here is fully capable of turning you into a different person, but after how many times? After how many years? And so my theory is that maybe some photos are edited to make the before less fortunate looking than they actually were. And then, after all desired surgeries have been performed and have healed, the beauty of make-up and photoshop is yet again introduced.
Now, I know this is a bit of a stretch. A big mishap was created in China when a woman produced children who looked nothing like her. Unfortunately for her hideous children, the gorgeous woman had undergone extensive plastic surgery. So yet another example of the scary power of plastic surgery.
But what is the likelihood that each of these people featured in such ads went through so much?
I guess this post is more of my thought rambling, but I'm curious to hear other opinions on the matter. Not so much on the validity of getting plastic surgery or your belief in whether it is right or wrong, but more on the advertisement of plastic surgery. Do you think it's all because of a skilled team of surgeons, or could photoshop in the before and after images play a bigger part?
Food for thought.
Though, maybe for those times you've nothing better to think about. Like when you're riding the subway home facing a silly ad.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Trip to Muuido
Muuido is an island off of Incheon here in South Korea. You travel the same way, by bus, as if you're going to Incheon International Airport. It was my first time to the island! And I'm glad I went there the way I did.
I went on Thursday with the other teachers from my school. From Incheon our bus got onto a ferry. We all got out of the bus to go to the top of the ferry, where the flock of seagulls that permanently swarm around the ferry would eat shrimp crackers RIGHT OUT OF YOUR HAND. Or, if you were as terrified of that as most people should be, you could throw the cracker into the air, and they would catch it. Like a well-trained dog. This song from Scamper the Penguin kept playing in my head:
You can find the entire movie on YouTube, by the way...
After landing on Muuido we took a few group photos and went on an hour and a half long hike! Here are some photographs from the hike:
I say I'm glad I went this way, because I think people (foreigners?) usually just go to Muuido for the beach. They have huts to rent if you'd like to stay on the beach overnight, and you can grill meat while you're there, too! I'll have that adventure for our celebration for the 4th of July, though ;)
After our hike, we got back on the ferry to Incheon and ate at a close restaurant. We had raw, sashimi-style fish, as well as other seafood. There was conch, live octopus, that orange funny-looking thing I can never remember the name of (you know it- it's spiky), shrimp, oysters, various cooked fish, fish stew, and other things I don't know the name of. It was very delicious!
The dinner was also a really great time to get to see the other teachers! This year we had a huuuge incoming of new teachers at our school, and since the English room is fairly isolated from other classrooms we haven't had much of a chance to interact with the new teachers. Because of that, this trip was so nice!!
On the way back to school, different teachers sang karaoke on the bus! At several points, there was dancing up and down the isle. At one point, I was laughing so hard that I cried... We returned to the school safe and sound, but as it was 9:00, I declined joining for the second round.
If it were a Friday....
Haha, maybe next time!
But it was a great trip, and I would recommend doing more than just laying on the beach for anyone who plans to visit the island :)
I went on Thursday with the other teachers from my school. From Incheon our bus got onto a ferry. We all got out of the bus to go to the top of the ferry, where the flock of seagulls that permanently swarm around the ferry would eat shrimp crackers RIGHT OUT OF YOUR HAND. Or, if you were as terrified of that as most people should be, you could throw the cracker into the air, and they would catch it. Like a well-trained dog. This song from Scamper the Penguin kept playing in my head:
You can find the entire movie on YouTube, by the way...
After landing on Muuido we took a few group photos and went on an hour and a half long hike! Here are some photographs from the hike:
I say I'm glad I went this way, because I think people (foreigners?) usually just go to Muuido for the beach. They have huts to rent if you'd like to stay on the beach overnight, and you can grill meat while you're there, too! I'll have that adventure for our celebration for the 4th of July, though ;)
After our hike, we got back on the ferry to Incheon and ate at a close restaurant. We had raw, sashimi-style fish, as well as other seafood. There was conch, live octopus, that orange funny-looking thing I can never remember the name of (you know it- it's spiky), shrimp, oysters, various cooked fish, fish stew, and other things I don't know the name of. It was very delicious!
The dinner was also a really great time to get to see the other teachers! This year we had a huuuge incoming of new teachers at our school, and since the English room is fairly isolated from other classrooms we haven't had much of a chance to interact with the new teachers. Because of that, this trip was so nice!!
On the way back to school, different teachers sang karaoke on the bus! At several points, there was dancing up and down the isle. At one point, I was laughing so hard that I cried... We returned to the school safe and sound, but as it was 9:00, I declined joining for the second round.
If it were a Friday....
Haha, maybe next time!
But it was a great trip, and I would recommend doing more than just laying on the beach for anyone who plans to visit the island :)
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Relationships
As mentioned in my earlier post, I'm going to talk a little about what I've seen and understood about relationships in Korea.
This should be considered as opinion, as I am an American living in Korea, and there's only so much I understand. As always, if you have anything to add, share, or enlighten me about, please leave a comment or shoot me a message :)
So... Anyone who has walked down the streets or watched a Korean drama has probably seen couples in matching clothes. Sometimes it's the same colors, sometimes it's the same shirt and same type of pants. HOWEVER. I have seen couples with the same hair color, shirt, pants, and shoes. No longer a 'we belong to each other' statement, but more of a 'we are each other' statement, haha. When I first came to Korea and saw this, I thought it was absurd. Same type of jacket- okay. Same color- if you must. Same outfit in all of its entirety- WHY?! But now I think it's kind of cute. Not the 'we are each other' couples so much, but the matchy-matchy shirts.
Have I ever donned couple clothes? Nope. Will I ever don couple clothes? I can't imagine it. I think I'd be blushing constantly. I mean, as an American child, my friends and I would mock the old, married couples with their matching patriotic sweaters. How could I become that?! Not to mention that if I ever did wear matchy-matchy clothing, my sister would probably laugh till she cried, and my best friend would be rolling in a fit of laughter. At least their hearts would be happy.
But that's just one thing. Relationships here are less stifled, at least between the couple. American guys have this macho, nacho, tough-guy, bro-knows-no-feelings thing to live up to as the standard, and that doesn't exist here. From what I've seen, even outside of relationships, people here are much more honest with their feelings in general. You won't see someone telling off their boss, but you probably won't end up wondering what your friend is thinking.
This carries over into relationships. They'll get as mushy as they please, and as angry as they please. For me, though, it's a little different. My boyfriend and I do not speak the same language. How can you get your point across if you're yelling angrily? The opposite party won't understand. I mean, it's creepy if you yell slowly. I also tend to turn into a bit of a human dictionary when I'm miffed.
But it's nice, though... This idea and practice of being honest with your feelings.
Another part of dating and relationships is celebrating your time together! Here in Korea, there are many opportunities to do so. Many, many, many opportunities. So many, that I'll make a list. Here we go:
Big Deals:
Feb 14, Valentine's Day: Girl, go get your man and give him some chocolate
Mar 14, White Day: Fellas- If you like her, treat her to something sweet back
Apr 14, Black Day: Don't worry, singles! There's a day for you, too. Go eat noodles in a black sauce with your other single friends. (You gotta admit that it's better than crying and eating way too much ice cream.)
Nov 11, Peppero Day: Buy and give Peppero (Japan makes something similar- pocky)
Not-so-Big Deals:
Jan 14, Diary Day: Exchange planners with all your special days marked inside~
May 14, Rose Day: Give 'em a rose!
Jun 14, Kiss Day: You should be able to kiss those you love.
Jul 14, Silver Day: Couple exchange rings or silver things as a promise
Aug 14, Green Day: Couples play with nature, and singles down soju (the bottle's green)
Sept 14, Photo Day: Let's go someplace romantic and capture it on camera!
Oct 14, Wine Day: October is a good time to drink wine, I think.
Nov 14, Movie Day: Walk hand-in-hand to that cinema and watch something bad/cute/scary?
Dec 14, Hug Day: "Baby, it's cold outside~", so let's hug ^^
And there you have it. The 14th of every month can be a special, fun day for a couple!
Now, if you notice June 14th, you'll see the word, 'ring'. Yes. They buy and wear matching rings, and no, it's not a proposal. This is something I could never imagine happening in an American relationship. Asking a man to wear a matching ring with me would send him running away faster than Wile E chasing Road Runner. But here, it's something cute. It's a promise.
Some couples give these rings on other days, too. Maybe Valentine's day or your 100th day.
In America, we count the months. "Jan! We've been together for SIX MONTHS. We're totally getting married!" (I made my boyfriend come over on our six month-iversary to cook him dinner. No shame.)
But here in Korea they celebrate days. 100 days, 200 days, 300 days, 1000 days... It's a cute way to mark milestones, I think. I guess on your 100 days, people give you 100 won (ten cents?), 200 won on your 200 days... And so on.
Today is my 200! Haha :)
There is more to a relationship than this, but it's difficult for me to try and sum up something like how an entire culture is in general. There are good things, bad things, whatever things... But it's your relationship, so make it yours. Celebrate what you want, wear what you want, say what you want.
There's chicken in the other room, so I need to go now. But I'd like to do a part two somewhere down the road.
Till next time~
This should be considered as opinion, as I am an American living in Korea, and there's only so much I understand. As always, if you have anything to add, share, or enlighten me about, please leave a comment or shoot me a message :)
So... Anyone who has walked down the streets or watched a Korean drama has probably seen couples in matching clothes. Sometimes it's the same colors, sometimes it's the same shirt and same type of pants. HOWEVER. I have seen couples with the same hair color, shirt, pants, and shoes. No longer a 'we belong to each other' statement, but more of a 'we are each other' statement, haha. When I first came to Korea and saw this, I thought it was absurd. Same type of jacket- okay. Same color- if you must. Same outfit in all of its entirety- WHY?! But now I think it's kind of cute. Not the 'we are each other' couples so much, but the matchy-matchy shirts.
Have I ever donned couple clothes? Nope. Will I ever don couple clothes? I can't imagine it. I think I'd be blushing constantly. I mean, as an American child, my friends and I would mock the old, married couples with their matching patriotic sweaters. How could I become that?! Not to mention that if I ever did wear matchy-matchy clothing, my sister would probably laugh till she cried, and my best friend would be rolling in a fit of laughter. At least their hearts would be happy.
But that's just one thing. Relationships here are less stifled, at least between the couple. American guys have this macho, nacho, tough-guy, bro-knows-no-feelings thing to live up to as the standard, and that doesn't exist here. From what I've seen, even outside of relationships, people here are much more honest with their feelings in general. You won't see someone telling off their boss, but you probably won't end up wondering what your friend is thinking.
This carries over into relationships. They'll get as mushy as they please, and as angry as they please. For me, though, it's a little different. My boyfriend and I do not speak the same language. How can you get your point across if you're yelling angrily? The opposite party won't understand. I mean, it's creepy if you yell slowly. I also tend to turn into a bit of a human dictionary when I'm miffed.
But it's nice, though... This idea and practice of being honest with your feelings.
Another part of dating and relationships is celebrating your time together! Here in Korea, there are many opportunities to do so. Many, many, many opportunities. So many, that I'll make a list. Here we go:
Big Deals:
Feb 14, Valentine's Day: Girl, go get your man and give him some chocolate
Mar 14, White Day: Fellas- If you like her, treat her to something sweet back
Apr 14, Black Day: Don't worry, singles! There's a day for you, too. Go eat noodles in a black sauce with your other single friends. (You gotta admit that it's better than crying
Nov 11, Peppero Day: Buy and give Peppero (Japan makes something similar- pocky)
Not-so-Big Deals:
Jan 14, Diary Day: Exchange planners with all your special days marked inside~
May 14, Rose Day: Give 'em a rose!
Jun 14, Kiss Day: You should be able to kiss those you love.
Jul 14, Silver Day: Couple exchange rings or silver things as a promise
Aug 14, Green Day: Couples play with nature, and singles down soju (the bottle's green)
Sept 14, Photo Day: Let's go someplace romantic and capture it on camera!
Oct 14, Wine Day: October is a good time to drink wine, I think.
Nov 14, Movie Day: Walk hand-in-hand to that cinema and watch something bad/cute/scary?
Dec 14, Hug Day: "Baby, it's cold outside~", so let's hug ^^
And there you have it. The 14th of every month can be a special, fun day for a couple!
Now, if you notice June 14th, you'll see the word, 'ring'. Yes. They buy and wear matching rings, and no, it's not a proposal. This is something I could never imagine happening in an American relationship. Asking a man to wear a matching ring with me would send him running away faster than Wile E chasing Road Runner. But here, it's something cute. It's a promise.
Some couples give these rings on other days, too. Maybe Valentine's day or your 100th day.
In America, we count the months. "Jan! We've been together for SIX MONTHS. We're totally getting married!" (I made my boyfriend come over on our six month-iversary to cook him dinner. No shame.)
But here in Korea they celebrate days. 100 days, 200 days, 300 days, 1000 days... It's a cute way to mark milestones, I think. I guess on your 100 days, people give you 100 won (ten cents?), 200 won on your 200 days... And so on.
Today is my 200! Haha :)
There is more to a relationship than this, but it's difficult for me to try and sum up something like how an entire culture is in general. There are good things, bad things, whatever things... But it's your relationship, so make it yours. Celebrate what you want, wear what you want, say what you want.
There's chicken in the other room, so I need to go now. But I'd like to do a part two somewhere down the road.
Till next time~
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Don't You Dare, Dragon
"Don't worry! Just watch me twirl!"
Right now we are teaching the song version of the book Don't You Dare, Dragon. It's really cute!
I realize it's been over a month since I've posted. I'm so sorry! ㅠ ㅠ
Since I've posted, quite a bit has happened...
My art class is going well- the number of students who come each week is growing, and the art they make is really cool! I also like them as people, and it's so nice to be able to talk with them without so much of a language barrier (as opposed to my third and sixth graders). :D
May 3rd was Sports Day. Usually there is only a small sports day in the spring, but since the principal wanted to do a talent show in the fall again this year, our Sports Day was a little bigger. It was so much fun to watch! I took pictures of the students and the events. I got some really great ones! I'd love to share them on here, but they're young and I don't want to post pictures of their faces on the internet, especially without consent.
Every grade was split into two, creating the White Team and the Blue Team. Each grade competed in activities and races, winning points for their team. This year, the White Team won! Congrats ;)
May seems to be a big month for special days... May 5th was Children's Day, May 8th was Parent's Day, May 14th was Rose Day, and yesterday, May 15th, was Teacher's Day.
May 14th was also the day of my final exam for the 2A level in Korean at Sogang University. I forgot some things on the written exam, and as always, I totally forgot any answers I wrote down in response to the interview questions during the actual interview. But it seems to have gone well, though! I'll learn the results from both exams next week.
Now, Teacher's Day was super cute! I received quite a few letters, notes, food, and a flower! Some of our students from last year who moved on to middle school came back to visit, too! As well as some students who left this school before I came... It's fun to see how they've changed! Even the third grade students from last year are SO MUCH taller this year, already! It's kind of crazy to watch how quickly children develop.
Today the current third graders are going on a picnic! So, I won't be teaching today~
I will, however, head into Seoul to gander at some turpentine and linseed oil. Because tomorrow is Buddha's birthday, everyone is off from school! (Hahaha, and you thought I listed all of the holidays! Or forgot about Buddha, but that wouldn't happen...) So this weekend is threeeewhooooledays!
A lot of people vacation during this break, but since I want to save up money for summer and winter travels, I'm going to keep it local. :)
Also, today is my 200 days ^^
So, I think it is a good time to write about Korean relationships~
Maybe I'll do that later today ;)
Take care
xox
Right now we are teaching the song version of the book Don't You Dare, Dragon. It's really cute!
I realize it's been over a month since I've posted. I'm so sorry! ㅠ ㅠ
Since I've posted, quite a bit has happened...
My art class is going well- the number of students who come each week is growing, and the art they make is really cool! I also like them as people, and it's so nice to be able to talk with them without so much of a language barrier (as opposed to my third and sixth graders). :D
May 3rd was Sports Day. Usually there is only a small sports day in the spring, but since the principal wanted to do a talent show in the fall again this year, our Sports Day was a little bigger. It was so much fun to watch! I took pictures of the students and the events. I got some really great ones! I'd love to share them on here, but they're young and I don't want to post pictures of their faces on the internet, especially without consent.
Every grade was split into two, creating the White Team and the Blue Team. Each grade competed in activities and races, winning points for their team. This year, the White Team won! Congrats ;)
May seems to be a big month for special days... May 5th was Children's Day, May 8th was Parent's Day, May 14th was Rose Day, and yesterday, May 15th, was Teacher's Day.
May 14th was also the day of my final exam for the 2A level in Korean at Sogang University. I forgot some things on the written exam, and as always, I totally forgot any answers I wrote down in response to the interview questions during the actual interview. But it seems to have gone well, though! I'll learn the results from both exams next week.
Now, Teacher's Day was super cute! I received quite a few letters, notes, food, and a flower! Some of our students from last year who moved on to middle school came back to visit, too! As well as some students who left this school before I came... It's fun to see how they've changed! Even the third grade students from last year are SO MUCH taller this year, already! It's kind of crazy to watch how quickly children develop.
Today the current third graders are going on a picnic! So, I won't be teaching today~
I will, however, head into Seoul to gander at some turpentine and linseed oil. Because tomorrow is Buddha's birthday, everyone is off from school! (Hahaha, and you thought I listed all of the holidays! Or forgot about Buddha, but that wouldn't happen...) So this weekend is threeeewhooooledays!
A lot of people vacation during this break, but since I want to save up money for summer and winter travels, I'm going to keep it local. :)
Also, today is my 200 days ^^
So, I think it is a good time to write about Korean relationships~
Maybe I'll do that later today ;)
Take care
xox
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Threats of North Korea
I've been seeing a fair number of posts on Facebook and I've been asked about the situation by my family, so I thought I would write a little blurb about what's been happening with North Korea.
This won't turn into some advertisement for living in South Korea, nor should it by any means be read like I have a degree in some form of international relations. But because I'm living here in South Korea, and because I've been reading articles posted by Korea, Canada, England, and America I do want to share my thoughts.
The world is not going to end.
South Koreans have become numb and deaf to the threats of the North for the most part. Threats are a preferred strategy for North Korea in order to get other countries into negotiations with them, as they are in constant need of more food and money.
But with the young, new leader, who many think is incompetent and being controlled by men behind the scenes, as well as the types of threats being made, and the form of rhetoric being used, there are some who do worry. Kim Jong-un did not have the training his father had. He wasn't even known to the world until shortly before the death of his father. Will he do something stupid? Will he go too far? Does he want to assert himself as a leader to be taken seriously, or even feared? These are questions that even I myself wonder.
Life here is normal, though. No one is stocking up on food or emptying their bank accounts. People still laugh and go to movies, bars, and shopping malls. I haven't been instructed to locate any shelters near my house. The situation with North Korea has not impacted daily life.
But there is some cause for concern. Not in the vastly out of proportion way you can find in any American article where fear is a top seller for news, but in a more honest, suspenseful way. As I was talking to my co-teacher about all of this, she pointed out how South Koreans should be more aware of North Korea. That being numb to their threats isn't really such a good thing. To paraphrase her, 'North Korea is the biggest threat to South Korea.' The situation isn't dire and no one is afraid for their life, but if something can hurt South Korea, it's probably the North.
The North has cut the military hotline that runs between North and South Korea, but it's not the first time. And the line for air-traffic between the two Koreas is still open, so not ALL communication has been cut-off. However, just this week the North has blocked South Korean entrance into the Kaesong complex, a joint industrial zone (this happened before in 2009). Still, I think this is a bit of a bigger deal because this zone makes so much money for the North. How much further will it escalate?
Hopefully not much more.
China is telling everyone to calm down. Russia is sending warnings. America is on stand-by waiting to "defend its ally". But still, I think this is a war no one wants, and that the hope is that it doesn't happen. If Korea went to war, there would be casualties- mostly Korean. And, after it ended, Kim Jong-un would likely lose everything. Is that something he would risk? I really don't think so.
(However, it has been pointed out that if the Koreas ever did reconcile, that the natural resources, products made, and work ethics here, when combined, would make Korea into quite a wealthy country. But who wants to lose power right now?)
So, everyone... Yes. There are threats. And, yes, North Korea is able to inflict a bit of damage if it decides to do so. But the consensus on this matter seems to be that it's unlikely. There is a bit of uneasiness when I think about the situation, but I'm not afraid. A little worried and anxious for the outcome, but I think I worried more about what score I was going to get back from my final exam at Sogang University last semester.
If you want to follow news on North Korea with BBC, here is the link, but please don't fret too much. If the situation becomes dire, the embassies will contact all of the foreigners here. Although, there are many reasons I hope that phone call never comes. I don't want to leave yet, and I don't want my Korean friends to be in danger or dragged into a war. But, again, it's unlikely.
Kim Jong-un, whatcha gonna do~?
I don't know if this helped, or will help, but this is how I feel. I can't put you at ease, and it's nonsensical to hype you up. But I can tell you not to freak out. Seriously, don't. All anyone can do now is wait and see what happens.
Have any thoughts? Comment or let me know :)
This won't turn into some advertisement for living in South Korea, nor should it by any means be read like I have a degree in some form of international relations. But because I'm living here in South Korea, and because I've been reading articles posted by Korea, Canada, England, and America I do want to share my thoughts.
The world is not going to end.
South Koreans have become numb and deaf to the threats of the North for the most part. Threats are a preferred strategy for North Korea in order to get other countries into negotiations with them, as they are in constant need of more food and money.
But with the young, new leader, who many think is incompetent and being controlled by men behind the scenes, as well as the types of threats being made, and the form of rhetoric being used, there are some who do worry. Kim Jong-un did not have the training his father had. He wasn't even known to the world until shortly before the death of his father. Will he do something stupid? Will he go too far? Does he want to assert himself as a leader to be taken seriously, or even feared? These are questions that even I myself wonder.
Life here is normal, though. No one is stocking up on food or emptying their bank accounts. People still laugh and go to movies, bars, and shopping malls. I haven't been instructed to locate any shelters near my house. The situation with North Korea has not impacted daily life.
But there is some cause for concern. Not in the vastly out of proportion way you can find in any American article where fear is a top seller for news, but in a more honest, suspenseful way. As I was talking to my co-teacher about all of this, she pointed out how South Koreans should be more aware of North Korea. That being numb to their threats isn't really such a good thing. To paraphrase her, 'North Korea is the biggest threat to South Korea.' The situation isn't dire and no one is afraid for their life, but if something can hurt South Korea, it's probably the North.
The North has cut the military hotline that runs between North and South Korea, but it's not the first time. And the line for air-traffic between the two Koreas is still open, so not ALL communication has been cut-off. However, just this week the North has blocked South Korean entrance into the Kaesong complex, a joint industrial zone (this happened before in 2009). Still, I think this is a bit of a bigger deal because this zone makes so much money for the North. How much further will it escalate?
Hopefully not much more.
China is telling everyone to calm down. Russia is sending warnings. America is on stand-by waiting to "defend its ally". But still, I think this is a war no one wants, and that the hope is that it doesn't happen. If Korea went to war, there would be casualties- mostly Korean. And, after it ended, Kim Jong-un would likely lose everything. Is that something he would risk? I really don't think so.
(However, it has been pointed out that if the Koreas ever did reconcile, that the natural resources, products made, and work ethics here, when combined, would make Korea into quite a wealthy country. But who wants to lose power right now?)
So, everyone... Yes. There are threats. And, yes, North Korea is able to inflict a bit of damage if it decides to do so. But the consensus on this matter seems to be that it's unlikely. There is a bit of uneasiness when I think about the situation, but I'm not afraid. A little worried and anxious for the outcome, but I think I worried more about what score I was going to get back from my final exam at Sogang University last semester.
If you want to follow news on North Korea with BBC, here is the link, but please don't fret too much. If the situation becomes dire, the embassies will contact all of the foreigners here. Although, there are many reasons I hope that phone call never comes. I don't want to leave yet, and I don't want my Korean friends to be in danger or dragged into a war. But, again, it's unlikely.
Kim Jong-un, whatcha gonna do~?
I don't know if this helped, or will help, but this is how I feel. I can't put you at ease, and it's nonsensical to hype you up. But I can tell you not to freak out. Seriously, don't. All anyone can do now is wait and see what happens.
Have any thoughts? Comment or let me know :)
Thursday, March 28, 2013
AAAHHHHHHH...hooray?
Good afternoon. Morning. Night. Evening.
Hello. :)
The weather is finally started to get nicer! It was beautiful for a while, but then the cold kicked in. In Korea, this pre-spring cold is called '꽃샘추위' (ggoht-saem-chu-oui). So basically, here's the story:
As spring begins to come to Korea, the weather gets jealous (샘) of the beautiful flowers (꽃) that start to appear and because of this jealousy, the weather turns cold (추위) to smite the beautiful flowers.
Interesting, yeah?
From what I've seen and heard, it looks like the weather has been jealous of more countries than just Korea! I noticed that Detroit has been having just about the same weather as us... (See, it's kind of like we're still together!)
And so, March comes to a cold end. Will April be different? I sure hope so. I've been wearing the same friggin' coat since November.
Speaking of April, April 1st is a Monday... Should I message my friends and say that we don't have to go in to work that day? Maybe say I saw an article or got a call from my co-teacher? That might be mean, though... And I'd feel terrible if they actually skipped because of me. Not that any of my friends would believe me, anyway.
Right now my co-teacher is actually in Gyeongju. I went there a little while ago... It was nice! I even wrote a blog on it. ;) But, she's there with all ~120some sixth graders, so I don't know how it's really going. The nice thing is that I have no classes tomorrow! I still have to go in to work, but I don't teach since Fridays are when we teach sixth grade.
I won't just be desk warming, though! I've taken on an after-school position at a high school in Bucheon (my city). Wednesday and Friday evenings I'll be teaching art!! HOORAAAAYYYYYY!! :D So, tomorrow will be spent making demos and powerpoints for as far ahead as I am capable of doing. With Monday mornings dedicated to teaching the school different songs, I also need to prep for that...
Busy, busy.
And Korean is starting to become difficult, too. Man, I really hate grammar. Hate. Why do you use so many different attachments in one sentence, Koreans?! One or two, okay. Three or four, I've lost. I can understand it, but I seriously feel like I'll never be able to just make a sentence like that. 아이고. But it's still the beginning! Keep on truckin'.
Ha, I hate trucks more than I hate grammar.
Keep on groovin'. I like grooving.
Keep on groovin', everyone! Don't let the cold or grammar keep you down! ;)
Hello. :)
The weather is finally started to get nicer! It was beautiful for a while, but then the cold kicked in. In Korea, this pre-spring cold is called '꽃샘추위' (ggoht-saem-chu-oui). So basically, here's the story:
As spring begins to come to Korea, the weather gets jealous (샘) of the beautiful flowers (꽃) that start to appear and because of this jealousy, the weather turns cold (추위) to smite the beautiful flowers.
Interesting, yeah?
From what I've seen and heard, it looks like the weather has been jealous of more countries than just Korea! I noticed that Detroit has been having just about the same weather as us... (See, it's kind of like we're still together!)
And so, March comes to a cold end. Will April be different? I sure hope so. I've been wearing the same friggin' coat since November.
Speaking of April, April 1st is a Monday... Should I message my friends and say that we don't have to go in to work that day? Maybe say I saw an article or got a call from my co-teacher? That might be mean, though... And I'd feel terrible if they actually skipped because of me. Not that any of my friends would believe me, anyway.
Right now my co-teacher is actually in Gyeongju. I went there a little while ago... It was nice! I even wrote a blog on it. ;) But, she's there with all ~120some sixth graders, so I don't know how it's really going. The nice thing is that I have no classes tomorrow! I still have to go in to work, but I don't teach since Fridays are when we teach sixth grade.
I won't just be desk warming, though! I've taken on an after-school position at a high school in Bucheon (my city). Wednesday and Friday evenings I'll be teaching art!! HOORAAAAYYYYYY!! :D So, tomorrow will be spent making demos and powerpoints for as far ahead as I am capable of doing. With Monday mornings dedicated to teaching the school different songs, I also need to prep for that...
Busy, busy.
And Korean is starting to become difficult, too. Man, I really hate grammar. Hate. Why do you use so many different attachments in one sentence, Koreans?! One or two, okay. Three or four, I've lost. I can understand it, but I seriously feel like I'll never be able to just make a sentence like that. 아이고. But it's still the beginning! Keep on truckin'.
Ha, I hate trucks more than I hate grammar.
Keep on groovin'. I like grooving.
Keep on groovin', everyone! Don't let the cold or grammar keep you down! ;)
Monday, March 11, 2013
Back to the Yellow Sand
"It's happening," I thought.
The yellow dust, and the beginning of a new year in the same place. As I was perched at a table on the second floor of the McDonald's, I looked out the window and saw a man carrying out two ice creams.
"YESSSSSSSSS!" Haha, inside I was so happy. Finally it's getting warm enough that I can go eat ice cream with my friends again! This McDonald's was our meeting spot for so much of the first part of last year. But, then I remembered and it finally hit me- they're gone. The girls I used to meet at that McDonald's have all gone home.
I wished, then, that maybe I had also moved to Seoul, as a few of my friends who are staying have done. At least then I would be somewhere new. Seoul also has a large expat community, and with all of the activities going on it would be so much easier to make new friends... And they probably would have been in Korea for at least a year, if not more, by now. Ha, I think Seoul seems to suck people in.
But this is the life of an expat, I think. You come, you go. Friends come, friends go. It's kind of a sad and lonely thought, really... This lack of permanence.
Hmm.
But as my title says, I want to talk a little bit about the yellow sand. Yellow dust. Not bright yellow, or anything radioactive-looking... You won't become a superhero if you inhale it (bummer, right?). But these little brownish yellow particles... Are they harmful? Is the dust noticeable?
While the sky was beautiful this past weekend, a few of the preceding days weren't as lovely. The air was dirty, and, yes, you could tell.
It's around this time of year where the yellow sand from China finds its way over to Korea. It floats in the air, gets into your lungs, and sits on the cars and benches. But this is sounding a bit worse than it actually is. Last year wasn't so bad. Some people have nose/throat/lung issues because of this period, but it's not constant. Really, only some days are bad... Most days are fine!
Still, it's something to know about! Out and about, you may happen to see people wearing the face masks that you see either at the dentist or when people have a cold. If you're already sick or are easily susceptible to getting sick, then ensuring you don't breathe in any of this sand-dust will only do you some good. And, hey, you could even pick up a stylized one and pretend it's just a fashion statement.
Even after a year of living here, I still wasn't exactly sure what this yellow sand-dust was, and why it's considered such a big deal. Soooo, I did some research :) (.. by opening a few web pages)
There was a great Q&A posted on expats4korea, and so I am just going to quickly reiterate some of the points.
**A friend told me the links don't work, so maybe it's only desktop-friendly.
But! There are apps you can download.
I only know from my iPhone, but if you type "황사" (yellow dust) into the search section in Apps, you will find several options. If you type "yellow dust" you will only get one option and it doesn't look as good.
Yellow Dust Facts and Recommendations:
The yellow dust, and the beginning of a new year in the same place. As I was perched at a table on the second floor of the McDonald's, I looked out the window and saw a man carrying out two ice creams.
"YESSSSSSSSS!" Haha, inside I was so happy. Finally it's getting warm enough that I can go eat ice cream with my friends again! This McDonald's was our meeting spot for so much of the first part of last year. But, then I remembered and it finally hit me- they're gone. The girls I used to meet at that McDonald's have all gone home.
I wished, then, that maybe I had also moved to Seoul, as a few of my friends who are staying have done. At least then I would be somewhere new. Seoul also has a large expat community, and with all of the activities going on it would be so much easier to make new friends... And they probably would have been in Korea for at least a year, if not more, by now. Ha, I think Seoul seems to suck people in.
But this is the life of an expat, I think. You come, you go. Friends come, friends go. It's kind of a sad and lonely thought, really... This lack of permanence.
Hmm.
But as my title says, I want to talk a little bit about the yellow sand. Yellow dust. Not bright yellow, or anything radioactive-looking... You won't become a superhero if you inhale it (bummer, right?). But these little brownish yellow particles... Are they harmful? Is the dust noticeable?
While the sky was beautiful this past weekend, a few of the preceding days weren't as lovely. The air was dirty, and, yes, you could tell.
It's around this time of year where the yellow sand from China finds its way over to Korea. It floats in the air, gets into your lungs, and sits on the cars and benches. But this is sounding a bit worse than it actually is. Last year wasn't so bad. Some people have nose/throat/lung issues because of this period, but it's not constant. Really, only some days are bad... Most days are fine!
Still, it's something to know about! Out and about, you may happen to see people wearing the face masks that you see either at the dentist or when people have a cold. If you're already sick or are easily susceptible to getting sick, then ensuring you don't breathe in any of this sand-dust will only do you some good. And, hey, you could even pick up a stylized one and pretend it's just a fashion statement.
Even after a year of living here, I still wasn't exactly sure what this yellow sand-dust was, and why it's considered such a big deal. Soooo, I did some research :) (.. by opening a few web pages)
There was a great Q&A posted on expats4korea, and so I am just going to quickly reiterate some of the points.
**A friend told me the links don't work, so maybe it's only desktop-friendly.
But! There are apps you can download.
I only know from my iPhone, but if you type "황사" (yellow dust) into the search section in Apps, you will find several options. If you type "yellow dust" you will only get one option and it doesn't look as good.
Yellow Dust Facts and Recommendations:
- Why the dust is bad: Recently, mixed in with the dust, toxic waste and oxides such as aluminum, iron, and silicon are also floating over in the storms. So, the chances of having skin and/or respiratory reactions has increased. And, if the storm is bad enough, visibility is decreased and the dust can irritate your soft tissues (eyes, nose, mouth) and even pinkeye can be a common result.
- When it happens: March, April, and May. Of course, because of wind and weather patterns, some days are bad, and some days aren't. Thankfully, because it takes two or three days for a storm to reach Korea, the news can warn people in advance about when the storm is likely to hit.
- The warning system: There is a three-tiered warning system. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has a website where you can monitor the dust levels in correspondence with the tiers. Some cellphone companies also provide a messaging system that will send a text if dust levels are dangerous (in Korean).
- Level 1- low health concerns, no health alerts. Those with respiratory issues should be careful and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
- Level 2- moderate health concerns, health advisories. The young, elderly, and those with respiratory issues should stay inside, and people in general should not partake in strenuous outdoor activity.
- Level 3- high health concerns, health warnings. The young, elderly, and those with respiratory issues MUST stay indoors, and people in general are also advised to stay inside. If you do go out, wear protective glasses, masks, and clothing.
- What to do:
- Wear a mask (황사마스그)
- Partake in nose-washing
- Use yellow earth (황토) paste packs to help your skin
- Seal windows and doors (some strips are made for this)
- Keep windows and doors closed
- Avoid outdoor activities
- Wear glasses instead of contacts
- Brush your teeth and wash your hands when you come back inside
- Drink plenty of water
- Wash food that was exposed to the air
- Don't burn candles or smoke inside
- When the storm passes, wash objects that may have been exposed
So there it is, everyone! Let's be safe and healthy this season.
If you have any comments, tips, questions, or stories of your own please feel free to share or tell me :)
~~~
AH. 아 참! I said I would write about the Buchies Award night, but then never did... I'm thankful it's getting sunny outside because I have been seriously lethargic and slacking on those vitamins. So I'll just write something super quick (sorry, it won't do it justice)...
Cathy made an absolutely wonderful powerpoint of our meetings and adventures. It was shown at The Park bar where we've spent a lot of our time (bar time, not time in general) and where we hosted the awards night. Then, we went on the the awards! There were a lot of great awards handed out- Best Dressed, Most Likely to Not Know Where We're Going, Worst Subway Mishap, Most Likely to Stay Forever, etc... And then we ate our cakes!!
I went with Erin, Anna, and Heejae to a little decorate-it-yourself cake shop near Bucheon station early that day. The cakes were deliciousss!
But it was a fun last night with everyone. (Come back, guys! I miss youuuuu)
Aaand, just in case you're wondering... I won Most Likely to Marry a Korean and Master of the Korean Language. ㅎㅎ
;)
Till next time~ xox
Thursday, February 21, 2013
A Year Later
..almost!
This past Tuesday our school held it's graduation ceremony. It was really neat to see the parents of my students (some look JUST like mom or dad, some a good combination of both), as well as their dreams! As each student had their named called by their homeroom teacher, their picture, dream job, hobbies, and such were displayed on the screen behind them.
I'm going to miss them. I really will. They better come visit! Haha
But in March we will have new sixth graders. New third graders, too! The new third graders are going to be adorable~ I can't wait!!
The end of the year means one more thing for me: the extension of my sojourn for my VISA/ARC. I only set it up to last for one year when I first requested my ARC (Alien Registration Card)... But the process is super easy! I got to the Incheon Immigration Office early and no one was there so I was able to be helped right away.
If you need help with your VISA, or any other such questions, I recommend www.hikorea.go.kr because it has an English option and is very useful! You can actually log on to this site (to make a profile you need your ARC first) and make a reservation just in case they are busy. It guarantees you a time. It also states everything that you must bring to renew.
Let me quickly list it here:
A signed copy of the new contract (signed by you and the school)
Your school's certificate (the school will provide this)
Your passport
Your ARC
An application (can be printed from the site or filled out at the office)
30,000won
- AND, if you made a reservation, print a copy of the reservation page
* The 30,000won will be used to purchase stamps, which can be found in the lounge down the hall. It is best to have the stamps ready and your application filled out because then all you have to do is hand everything to them, have them check that everything is there, stamp new dates on the back of your ARC, and then you are done. You are free to leave.
It is one of the simplest processes I have ever come upon.
Getting there is simple, too. However, the 1601 is not something I would recommend for the return trip. I waited for 20 minutes at the stop as TWO 1601 buses sat 50 yards away and the board constantly showed the bus being eight minutes away. Nonsense. I ended up going back the same way I came.
Because I had just missed the 1601 on my way to the immigration office, I took the subway to Incheon City Hall and then took bus 33. Exits 7 and 8 are closed until summer of next year, so you can take exit 6 and walk to the bus stop for the 33 (near exit 8) or catch the 45 (exit 2, I believe). From there it's about 30 minutes.
ALSO... I sent money home today :D! I hate student loans! :D
I also learned today that you should still have your passport on hand even if it's not your first time sending money home. Even more important, it seems, is that you have the receipt from the first/previous time with you, too. Each time you send money home, they give you a receipt. KEEP IT. Thankfully, I had the old bankbook with me, and I found the transaction record.
It was quite a trip. I didn't speak the appropriate Korean for this, and they didn't speak enough English to communicate with me completely so we worked through a telephone language service and broken Konglish. But everyone was smiling and laughing (myself included) by the time I left, so it wasn't too bad!
Ooh, that reminds me. I just took my first exam at Sogang University. I didn't arrive to the exam room until two minutes till the exam started through some hilarious turn of events (and solid smoothie results), so I was a little flustered. I've learned (again! wow.) that I am a bit anal retentive and I need to be in the exam room to chill out several minutes before the exam will take place. The written portion was easy, but I'm not sure how I did on the interview. Man, I am really awesome at botching interviews.
"When is your birthday?"
- " 21/20"
Fuuuu~ We'll see! I should get the results via email sometime next week. Here's to hoping that the woman giving the interview somehow knows I don't usually believe there are 21 months. And that I am actually capable of stringing together basic sentences. In Korean, of course ;)
So, yes. Now I am resting. Resting and preparing myself for the next year of adventures I will take.
On Monday, the new teachers will come and we will all go to dinner. We will say good-bye to those leaving, and hello to those coming. I'm sad to see them go... This next year will be quite different, I think!
**Saturday is the FIRST ever Buchies (Bucheon Awards), and I will surely post on that as it is one of the last get-togethers with some awesome people who are leaving ever so soon... D:
I hope that you have all been well and will continue to stay that way.
Thank you for reading my blog and sharing in this adventure with me!
<3
This past Tuesday our school held it's graduation ceremony. It was really neat to see the parents of my students (some look JUST like mom or dad, some a good combination of both), as well as their dreams! As each student had their named called by their homeroom teacher, their picture, dream job, hobbies, and such were displayed on the screen behind them.
I'm going to miss them. I really will. They better come visit! Haha
But in March we will have new sixth graders. New third graders, too! The new third graders are going to be adorable~ I can't wait!!
The end of the year means one more thing for me: the extension of my sojourn for my VISA/ARC. I only set it up to last for one year when I first requested my ARC (Alien Registration Card)... But the process is super easy! I got to the Incheon Immigration Office early and no one was there so I was able to be helped right away.
If you need help with your VISA, or any other such questions, I recommend www.hikorea.go.kr because it has an English option and is very useful! You can actually log on to this site (to make a profile you need your ARC first) and make a reservation just in case they are busy. It guarantees you a time. It also states everything that you must bring to renew.
Let me quickly list it here:
A signed copy of the new contract (signed by you and the school)
Your school's certificate (the school will provide this)
Your passport
Your ARC
An application (can be printed from the site or filled out at the office)
30,000won
- AND, if you made a reservation, print a copy of the reservation page
* The 30,000won will be used to purchase stamps, which can be found in the lounge down the hall. It is best to have the stamps ready and your application filled out because then all you have to do is hand everything to them, have them check that everything is there, stamp new dates on the back of your ARC, and then you are done. You are free to leave.
It is one of the simplest processes I have ever come upon.
Getting there is simple, too. However, the 1601 is not something I would recommend for the return trip. I waited for 20 minutes at the stop as TWO 1601 buses sat 50 yards away and the board constantly showed the bus being eight minutes away. Nonsense. I ended up going back the same way I came.
Because I had just missed the 1601 on my way to the immigration office, I took the subway to Incheon City Hall and then took bus 33. Exits 7 and 8 are closed until summer of next year, so you can take exit 6 and walk to the bus stop for the 33 (near exit 8) or catch the 45 (exit 2, I believe). From there it's about 30 minutes.
ALSO... I sent money home today :D! I hate student loans! :D
I also learned today that you should still have your passport on hand even if it's not your first time sending money home. Even more important, it seems, is that you have the receipt from the first/previous time with you, too. Each time you send money home, they give you a receipt. KEEP IT. Thankfully, I had the old bankbook with me, and I found the transaction record.
It was quite a trip. I didn't speak the appropriate Korean for this, and they didn't speak enough English to communicate with me completely so we worked through a telephone language service and broken Konglish. But everyone was smiling and laughing (myself included) by the time I left, so it wasn't too bad!
Ooh, that reminds me. I just took my first exam at Sogang University. I didn't arrive to the exam room until two minutes till the exam started through some hilarious turn of events (and solid smoothie results), so I was a little flustered. I've learned (again! wow.) that I am a bit anal retentive and I need to be in the exam room to chill out several minutes before the exam will take place. The written portion was easy, but I'm not sure how I did on the interview. Man, I am really awesome at botching interviews.
"When is your birthday?"
- " 21/20"
Fuuuu~ We'll see! I should get the results via email sometime next week. Here's to hoping that the woman giving the interview somehow knows I don't usually believe there are 21 months. And that I am actually capable of stringing together basic sentences. In Korean, of course ;)
So, yes. Now I am resting. Resting and preparing myself for the next year of adventures I will take.
On Monday, the new teachers will come and we will all go to dinner. We will say good-bye to those leaving, and hello to those coming. I'm sad to see them go... This next year will be quite different, I think!
**Saturday is the FIRST ever Buchies (Bucheon Awards), and I will surely post on that as it is one of the last get-togethers with some awesome people who are leaving ever so soon... D:
I hope that you have all been well and will continue to stay that way.
Thank you for reading my blog and sharing in this adventure with me!
<3
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Well, it's been a long time, long time, now
Hello, my dear readers!
I must apologize (one 'L') for the complete lack of attention to this blog recently. January has been a pretty busy month for me... Really, it can be divided in half. The first half I had my winter camp, and the second half I visited the States!
+The winter camp went really well! I wanted to do a Harry Potter theme, so I did. :3
Every day I taught the students something different. We talked about mythical creatures, "herbology", quidditch, patronuses (spirit animals aligned with personality traits), how to describe people (mostly their faces), and recipe words to go along with potions. I had review games every two or three days to keep the vocab words fresh in their minds. The review game would take up the first session.
This time, I decided to divide the camp period into three sessions. Each period I taught was 90 minutes, so I would teach for 30, give a 5 minute break, show a HP movie clip relevant to what we were learning that day for 20, give another 5 minute break, and then teach on a different topic for 30. It was so much easier to keep their attention this way. Especially because each 30 minute session, I would teach and have an activity. They were never really stuck sitting for long.
Each game and activity awarded points. This also helped participation, because who doesn't want to win? Their competitive nature is something I've come to rely on a bit... :)
I had a lot of fun!! And I know they did, too.
+Two days after camp ended, though, I was on a plane home to America. I had a middle seat. But it wasn't terrible. My knees pressed up against the seat in front of me, somehow... Have I grown? I'm really okay with my legs not getting any longer. If I do grow, it MUST happen in my torso region. Must.
But, hey, a little less than 13 hours later, I was hugging my parents deliriously and staring at everything to try to figure out how I felt about being back. And honestly, it didn't feel any different. I was expecting something monumental. A revelation of some sort, regardless of whether it was good or bad. But that revelation never came. It didn't feel like I had been gone for a year at all... Time is seeming like a fleeting, insignificant thing.
I did have a really nice time, though! I was able to meet up with some friends and just hang out with my family (I love you guys!). My grandparents drove in from New York, and my sister flew in from Colorado. I feel so blessed! It was absolutely wonderful to see and spend time with those that I could. But I do look forward to seeing everyone else next time I return!
The only difference I noted, was that I got headaches more easily. I guess I was no longer used to processing every little thing someone said. I could understand everything! But again, no violent reaction or a freak-out of any sort. Just a headache now and again.
Still... I was really glad to come back to Korea. I really do love living here. Now, my grandpa posed a great question... Is it Bucheon that I love, or Korea? I have no idea. I've never lived anywhere else in Korea. If I do stay a third year (I just signed the contract for my second year, so it's a big IF), I will probably avoid jobs in Bucheon. Gotta mooove on and see a different place :)
+Thankfully, upon my return, I was able to pass out that Wednesday, wake up and have most of Thursday to buy new food and whatever before my Korean class. Today I am in school, but I'm not teaching classes. Sooo, I'm looking for new KPOP Slam games! They are helpful and fun, and give me an excuse to shamelessly watch KPOP music videos in an effort to find songs they could guess if the lyrics were translated to English :)
It's good to be back.
In Korea, and on this blog.
Take care, everyone!
And, as always, feel free to email, message, or comment with anything you'd like to say <3
I must apologize (one 'L') for the complete lack of attention to this blog recently. January has been a pretty busy month for me... Really, it can be divided in half. The first half I had my winter camp, and the second half I visited the States!
+The winter camp went really well! I wanted to do a Harry Potter theme, so I did. :3
Every day I taught the students something different. We talked about mythical creatures, "herbology", quidditch, patronuses (spirit animals aligned with personality traits), how to describe people (mostly their faces), and recipe words to go along with potions. I had review games every two or three days to keep the vocab words fresh in their minds. The review game would take up the first session.
This time, I decided to divide the camp period into three sessions. Each period I taught was 90 minutes, so I would teach for 30, give a 5 minute break, show a HP movie clip relevant to what we were learning that day for 20, give another 5 minute break, and then teach on a different topic for 30. It was so much easier to keep their attention this way. Especially because each 30 minute session, I would teach and have an activity. They were never really stuck sitting for long.
Each game and activity awarded points. This also helped participation, because who doesn't want to win? Their competitive nature is something I've come to rely on a bit... :)
I had a lot of fun!! And I know they did, too.
+Two days after camp ended, though, I was on a plane home to America. I had a middle seat. But it wasn't terrible. My knees pressed up against the seat in front of me, somehow... Have I grown? I'm really okay with my legs not getting any longer. If I do grow, it MUST happen in my torso region. Must.
But, hey, a little less than 13 hours later, I was hugging my parents deliriously and staring at everything to try to figure out how I felt about being back. And honestly, it didn't feel any different. I was expecting something monumental. A revelation of some sort, regardless of whether it was good or bad. But that revelation never came. It didn't feel like I had been gone for a year at all... Time is seeming like a fleeting, insignificant thing.
I did have a really nice time, though! I was able to meet up with some friends and just hang out with my family (I love you guys!). My grandparents drove in from New York, and my sister flew in from Colorado. I feel so blessed! It was absolutely wonderful to see and spend time with those that I could. But I do look forward to seeing everyone else next time I return!
The only difference I noted, was that I got headaches more easily. I guess I was no longer used to processing every little thing someone said. I could understand everything! But again, no violent reaction or a freak-out of any sort. Just a headache now and again.
Still... I was really glad to come back to Korea. I really do love living here. Now, my grandpa posed a great question... Is it Bucheon that I love, or Korea? I have no idea. I've never lived anywhere else in Korea. If I do stay a third year (I just signed the contract for my second year, so it's a big IF), I will probably avoid jobs in Bucheon. Gotta mooove on and see a different place :)
+Thankfully, upon my return, I was able to pass out that Wednesday, wake up and have most of Thursday to buy new food and whatever before my Korean class. Today I am in school, but I'm not teaching classes. Sooo, I'm looking for new KPOP Slam games! They are helpful and fun, and give me an excuse to shamelessly watch KPOP music videos in an effort to find songs they could guess if the lyrics were translated to English :)
It's good to be back.
In Korea, and on this blog.
Take care, everyone!
And, as always, feel free to email, message, or comment with anything you'd like to say <3
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