Today is the first day of the first semester midterm exams! Which means four days of desk-warming. Not that I'm complaining, or anything... It gives me time to get ready for the next quarter~ It's just SO beautiful outside. Almost seems like a waste to spend it in an office...
Leading up to today, the kids have been super cute and asking me constantly about how difficult the exam questions are, and begging me to make them easier. Haha, I guess there was a rumor that the small-faced teacher made really tough exam questions! They won't be taking the English exam until Monday, but I am looking forward to hearing how they felt about my questions...
Now, because I focused on it so much in my last blog post, I would like to address that my computer has come back to me in one piece. It's a little sticky sometimes when I push the keys, but it's functioning and I am thankful.
But enough about that, though! How are you guys doing? I hope the weather is beautiful there, too. The high is supposed to be 79 today! I almost regret wearing thick tights. I went outside earlier to pay my rent and buy some juice. It's absurd how much juice can cost. I got some lychee fruit 'skin balance water'... It's actually pretty good! But it tastes like fake sugar. It's one of those zero calorie things. But it's a really pretty milky green color, so I was curious... It also has a ton of vitamins, especially vitamin E and B12. So it's not all bad, right?
My current past time is writing Graduate school applications and finding different East Asian art conservation labs or programs that I could apply to in the future. I've found a few! The Grad school I'm looking at applying to is here in Korea, and the programs/labs I would like to intern at are back in the States. I'm hoping that this Grad school experience could help me get accepted into a conservation program or lab later on. I would like to go back to school. Teaching here in Korea is and has been a great experience, but part of me feels like if I keep staying here teaching, I'm wasting my time. I want to be a conservator, not a teacher. So we'll see how it turns out :)
Take care~
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Late Update and a Broken Computer
Hello everyone :)
I've been working my little butt off at this new job. It's rewarding, but a lot of work. The kids are so great! My apartment has been suiting me just fine, as well. I think I've even become a heavier sleeper... The noise no longer wakes me up in the middle of the night!
But I do have some troubling news. For me, not for you. During dinner, a glass of beer was accidentally knocked onto my computer while it was up and running, and now it won't start up. I think the saddest thing is that I just bought the computer two months ago, but AppleCare not covering spills or accidents may be even sadder.
And so I'm left with the task of fixing my computer. I'm leaving work early today to take it to a Frisbee store that has a repair shop. Here's to hoping some sort of miracle occurs. I read an article about a woman who had a similar problem, and the Apple store just replaced it for her. For free! I'm crossing my fingers every second I'm not typing or teaching.
But in case life is real and I can't get out of this so lucky, I have started a GoFundMe page. It seems really selfish after looking at all of the other causes on the site, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. And so I'm here selfishly asking for donations, if you should feel so inclined. I'm not expecting much, but if everyone can donate a dollar or two, then I'll be a lot closer to being able to afford this fix. And I'm really hoping it's the cost of a fix, not a replacement.
I talked to a tech guy, and he said that it could cost up to the price of a new computer if the hardware is damaged because of the retina display. ㅠㅠㅠ
So here is the link to my GoFundMe page: Replacing a New Computer. If you are able to donate, I really, really, really appreciate it!
Take care, everyone!
And watch those liquids!
I've been working my little butt off at this new job. It's rewarding, but a lot of work. The kids are so great! My apartment has been suiting me just fine, as well. I think I've even become a heavier sleeper... The noise no longer wakes me up in the middle of the night!
But I do have some troubling news. For me, not for you. During dinner, a glass of beer was accidentally knocked onto my computer while it was up and running, and now it won't start up. I think the saddest thing is that I just bought the computer two months ago, but AppleCare not covering spills or accidents may be even sadder.
And so I'm left with the task of fixing my computer. I'm leaving work early today to take it to a Frisbee store that has a repair shop. Here's to hoping some sort of miracle occurs. I read an article about a woman who had a similar problem, and the Apple store just replaced it for her. For free! I'm crossing my fingers every second I'm not typing or teaching.
But in case life is real and I can't get out of this so lucky, I have started a GoFundMe page. It seems really selfish after looking at all of the other causes on the site, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. And so I'm here selfishly asking for donations, if you should feel so inclined. I'm not expecting much, but if everyone can donate a dollar or two, then I'll be a lot closer to being able to afford this fix. And I'm really hoping it's the cost of a fix, not a replacement.
I talked to a tech guy, and he said that it could cost up to the price of a new computer if the hardware is damaged because of the retina display. ㅠㅠㅠ
So here is the link to my GoFundMe page: Replacing a New Computer. If you are able to donate, I really, really, really appreciate it!
Take care, everyone!
And watch those liquids!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
New House, New House!
Maybe five days ago or so I signed the contract for my new house! Hooooraaaay!
It's in Gangnam, so it's closer to my school. It's also an apartment building, so the 관리비 (base fee in your monthly utility bill that covers security and maintenance) is less than what it would be in an officetel. A lot of the officetel-style buildings had their 관리비 between 80,000 and 120,000 won!! That's just too much for me. I'm not making mad dollahs or anything so sweet yet. Especially when you consider that it's a little tough to find a place in Gangnam for less than 600,000 won a month. And that really isn't bad at all, but you're looking at older, very tiny, one room living spaces for that price. For an officetel it's around 800,000, I've found.
I will live by Gangnam Station, so that area isn't bad. I wanted to live around Seolleung Station because it's ridiculously close to my school and also faster to get to other places around Seoul, but on one side of Seolleung Station is Daechi-dong. And you can't find a nice place for 900,000 won or less (total with rent and 관리비) in Daechi-dong. Sooo, I put my tail between my legs and looked elsewhere.
My new place isn't bad at all, though. It's a lot smaller than where I'm living now, and the view isn't very good, but it will do. Although... The bathroom concerns me. I remember writing about it in an email to my grandfolks, haha. You can use the toilet, and you can use the sink. That is what there is room for.
I'll start moving in next week, so I'll have to take a picture of it and post it. I think this is going to be a true test of how high-maintenance I am.
So why did I do it?! Why did I pick the place with the tiny bathroom and the tiny, yippy dog living across from me? Becaaaaause...it has a closet. Well, it has a really tiny room with a wardrobe in it that can hold, like, six or seven jackets. Or dresses if that's what you have more of. But I don't. So several of my jackets will go in this petite wardrobe. However, the most important thing about this wardrobe is that it can be moved OUT. Out of the tiny room! And you know what that leaves me with? An art space.
It has windows on two of the four walls, and an actual door. So even if I'm using turpentine in the summer, I can set up a fan, open the windows, and not have my entire apartment dishing out headaches. It means I can tape paper to the wall and draw to my hearts content in my own little isolated corner of the world.
And that is why I did it.
I actually wouldn't have even thought of it if my boyfriend weren't there with me. It was his brilliant idea to move the stupidly tiny wardrobe out. I thought the thing was stuck in there. Poor guy went around with me to house after house after house, and sometimes until quite late. I'm so, so thankful for his help as well as the help of my family and friends who were all so supportive.
Ah. ** There is one thing I'd like to add. I don't know if this is a Gangnam thing, or an everywhere thing, but you don't need the full deposit when you sign the contract. Just 10%. So, since my deposit is 10,000,000 won, I only needed to pay 1,000,000 won when I signed the contract. The rest, plus one month rent, is then paid when moving in. So when I move in next week, I'll pay 9,700,000 won.
Therefore, I would advice any of you house-hunters to check in with the realtor you're using and see when the full amount is due. It could mean the difference between getting the house you want and being too late!
직방
Also, here's the website version of the mobile app I used to find places up for rent. I spent way too much time on this thing, but it's helpful. If you know Korean... Unfortunately there is no English version, but it's still very easy to use. You can look by type of house, deposit and rent parameters, location... Everything. And it tells you when the house was listed, too, along with what appliances are inside. I, for one, refused to consider one that lacks a washing machine. But that's up to you~
I feel like I've been plugging this app so much I should be getting paid.
Anywho, feel free to ask me questions, as always :)
xoxox
It's in Gangnam, so it's closer to my school. It's also an apartment building, so the 관리비 (base fee in your monthly utility bill that covers security and maintenance) is less than what it would be in an officetel. A lot of the officetel-style buildings had their 관리비 between 80,000 and 120,000 won!! That's just too much for me. I'm not making mad dollahs or anything so sweet yet. Especially when you consider that it's a little tough to find a place in Gangnam for less than 600,000 won a month. And that really isn't bad at all, but you're looking at older, very tiny, one room living spaces for that price. For an officetel it's around 800,000, I've found.
I will live by Gangnam Station, so that area isn't bad. I wanted to live around Seolleung Station because it's ridiculously close to my school and also faster to get to other places around Seoul, but on one side of Seolleung Station is Daechi-dong. And you can't find a nice place for 900,000 won or less (total with rent and 관리비) in Daechi-dong. Sooo, I put my tail between my legs and looked elsewhere.
My new place isn't bad at all, though. It's a lot smaller than where I'm living now, and the view isn't very good, but it will do. Although... The bathroom concerns me. I remember writing about it in an email to my grandfolks, haha. You can use the toilet, and you can use the sink. That is what there is room for.
I'll start moving in next week, so I'll have to take a picture of it and post it. I think this is going to be a true test of how high-maintenance I am.
So why did I do it?! Why did I pick the place with the tiny bathroom and the tiny, yippy dog living across from me? Becaaaaause...it has a closet. Well, it has a really tiny room with a wardrobe in it that can hold, like, six or seven jackets. Or dresses if that's what you have more of. But I don't. So several of my jackets will go in this petite wardrobe. However, the most important thing about this wardrobe is that it can be moved OUT. Out of the tiny room! And you know what that leaves me with? An art space.
It has windows on two of the four walls, and an actual door. So even if I'm using turpentine in the summer, I can set up a fan, open the windows, and not have my entire apartment dishing out headaches. It means I can tape paper to the wall and draw to my hearts content in my own little isolated corner of the world.
And that is why I did it.
I actually wouldn't have even thought of it if my boyfriend weren't there with me. It was his brilliant idea to move the stupidly tiny wardrobe out. I thought the thing was stuck in there. Poor guy went around with me to house after house after house, and sometimes until quite late. I'm so, so thankful for his help as well as the help of my family and friends who were all so supportive.
Ah. ** There is one thing I'd like to add. I don't know if this is a Gangnam thing, or an everywhere thing, but you don't need the full deposit when you sign the contract. Just 10%. So, since my deposit is 10,000,000 won, I only needed to pay 1,000,000 won when I signed the contract. The rest, plus one month rent, is then paid when moving in. So when I move in next week, I'll pay 9,700,000 won.
Therefore, I would advice any of you house-hunters to check in with the realtor you're using and see when the full amount is due. It could mean the difference between getting the house you want and being too late!
직방
Also, here's the website version of the mobile app I used to find places up for rent. I spent way too much time on this thing, but it's helpful. If you know Korean... Unfortunately there is no English version, but it's still very easy to use. You can look by type of house, deposit and rent parameters, location... Everything. And it tells you when the house was listed, too, along with what appliances are inside. I, for one, refused to consider one that lacks a washing machine. But that's up to you~
I feel like I've been plugging this app so much I should be getting paid.
Anywho, feel free to ask me questions, as always :)
xoxox
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Changing Schools- The Paperwork
As I was talking with schools I was interested in working with last year, one company gave me notice that I would need to have two documents: one for immigration, and one for the company. The one for immigration is the Letter of Release, and is required to change your visa over to a new employer. The one for the school is the Certificate of Employment, and basically just proves to the school that you aren't lying about previous work experience. I guess enough fibbing throughout the country in various fields prompted that such a form be produced by workers. It's standard for Koreans and foreigners in the country to provide it when asked.
Now, the school I signed the contract with did not request the Certificate of Employment, but I will obtain it anyway in case I need it in the future. (They did provide me with the Proof of Employment paper needed to change my visa to the new school, though.) The forms are so similar, too, that I might as well do them both at the same time!
Let's talk about the paperwork, shall we? The appearance of these forms is not standard. The information it contains, however, is. For the most part. I searched online and found that there is a skeleton of necessary information. I will write them below. I recommend writing it in both Korean and English. As you are in Korea, the Korean is most important.
For the Letter of Release (이적 동의서):
(This can be used when breaking your contract, too, while allowing you to seek work elsewhere.)
Name (성명)
Nationality (국적)
Passport Number (여관번호)
Addresss (주소) -your address
Telephone Number (연락처) -your telephone number
** I also included my foreign registration number from my ARC and my date of birth.
At the bottom, you will need a statement similar to this:
"I hereby grant the transfer consent of the above named person as of <ENDING DATE> who has been working at <PLACE> since <STARTING DATE> as a Native English Teacher."
"위 사람은 <PLACE>에서 20__년 _월 _일(the starting date)부터 원어민 영어 보조교사로 근무하고 있는 자로 20__년 _일 _일(the ending date) 이후 이적을 동의합니다."
Then, you will need the date the form was signed, followed by the name of your workplace and its address and contact information.
At the bottom, you will need the name of your principal or manager, along with their signature and seal.
Don't forget the seal!!!
Here's a sample I made in case you are a visual person like me:
For the Certificate of Employment (재직증명서):
Name (성명)
Foreign Registration Number (외국인등록번호) -ARC number
Address (주소) -your address
Position (직위) -probably Native English Teacher (원어민 영어 보조교사)
Period of Employment (재직기간) -year / month / day - year / month / day
Use (용도)- Employment (고용)
**Again, I also included my date of birth.
Similar to above, you will need a statement giving something like this:
"This is to certify that the above mentioned person has worked for this school."
I currently have not put this into Korean, but I will update this when I have.
And then after, state the date the form was signed, followed by the name of your workplace and its address and contact information (copy and paste, baby).
Finally, again, you will need the name of your principal or manager with their signature and seal.
The seal is important. It means the document is real.
Visual aid:
And that's it! I've read that some schools ask for 400 won, as this is a form of legal work. So if you do get asked, it has happened before and that is why. Also, it's less than 40 cents. So just do it.
I did find a pretty interesting website while looking for what I needed in these forms. It's called EFL-Law. Maybe you've heard of it? It gives you advice on situations that may pop up, what you should and shouldn't see in your contract, info on visa runs, and much more. Check it out if you feel so inclined! :) I used this website as a reference for the Letter of Release form, so it's definitely handy. ...If you can navigate it.
If you have any more questions, please let me know! I can also send the sample forms via email or whatnot, if needed.
Take care xoxox
Now, the school I signed the contract with did not request the Certificate of Employment, but I will obtain it anyway in case I need it in the future. (They did provide me with the Proof of Employment paper needed to change my visa to the new school, though.) The forms are so similar, too, that I might as well do them both at the same time!
Let's talk about the paperwork, shall we? The appearance of these forms is not standard. The information it contains, however, is. For the most part. I searched online and found that there is a skeleton of necessary information. I will write them below. I recommend writing it in both Korean and English. As you are in Korea, the Korean is most important.
For the Letter of Release (이적 동의서):
(This can be used when breaking your contract, too, while allowing you to seek work elsewhere.)
Name (성명)
Nationality (국적)
Passport Number (여관번호)
Addresss (주소) -your address
Telephone Number (연락처) -your telephone number
** I also included my foreign registration number from my ARC and my date of birth.
At the bottom, you will need a statement similar to this:
"I hereby grant the transfer consent of the above named person as of <ENDING DATE> who has been working at <PLACE> since <STARTING DATE> as a Native English Teacher."
"위 사람은 <PLACE>에서 20__년 _월 _일(the starting date)부터 원어민 영어 보조교사로 근무하고 있는 자로 20__년 _일 _일(the ending date) 이후 이적을 동의합니다."
Then, you will need the date the form was signed, followed by the name of your workplace and its address and contact information.
At the bottom, you will need the name of your principal or manager, along with their signature and seal.
Don't forget the seal!!!
Here's a sample I made in case you are a visual person like me:
For the Certificate of Employment (재직증명서):
Name (성명)
Foreign Registration Number (외국인등록번호) -ARC number
Address (주소) -your address
Position (직위) -probably Native English Teacher (원어민 영어 보조교사)
Period of Employment (재직기간) -year / month / day - year / month / day
Use (용도)- Employment (고용)
**Again, I also included my date of birth.
Similar to above, you will need a statement giving something like this:
"This is to certify that the above mentioned person has worked for this school."
I currently have not put this into Korean, but I will update this when I have.
And then after, state the date the form was signed, followed by the name of your workplace and its address and contact information (copy and paste, baby).
Finally, again, you will need the name of your principal or manager with their signature and seal.
The seal is important. It means the document is real.
Visual aid:
And that's it! I've read that some schools ask for 400 won, as this is a form of legal work. So if you do get asked, it has happened before and that is why. Also, it's less than 40 cents. So just do it.
I did find a pretty interesting website while looking for what I needed in these forms. It's called EFL-Law. Maybe you've heard of it? It gives you advice on situations that may pop up, what you should and shouldn't see in your contract, info on visa runs, and much more. Check it out if you feel so inclined! :) I used this website as a reference for the Letter of Release form, so it's definitely handy. ...If you can navigate it.
If you have any more questions, please let me know! I can also send the sample forms via email or whatnot, if needed.
Take care xoxox
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Back to School
...for two weeks :)
After the end of my super fun English camp that ran for two weeks, I jetted off to the States to visit friends and family. It was so great to see those I could! (I love you!) Although, it felt more like a vacation than a trip home. I mean come on! 50 degrees in January?! South Carolina was beautiful, but I did miss Detroit, the businesses, the faces, and knowing how to get places. On the upside, though, they have Piggly Wiggly stores.
Getting back was quite an adventure, too! Getting yelled at in the airport for arriving at the gate after they shut the door, staying with a girl vacationing in Korea at the airport until she found her friend, getting off the bus waaay too early with no money left on my transportation card (a kind bus driver let me on for free), and then carrying all 55 lbs of my luggage home from Sopoong Terminal after not sleeping for 28 hours.
But now I'm back in chilly Korea, unpacking and packing while trying to decide what I need for the next 20 days before I move into some new apartment I have yet to find. Because realtors will be showing off my current place to future tenants, I'd like to get as much as possible cleaned up and packed or put away... The idea of strangers walking through my house, especially as messy as it is currently, just unsettles me.
So I'll be busy, but I expected as such. I'm excited for the new changes! Just keeping my fingers crossed hoping that everything falls into place :)
Thankfully, it more so outside of my current job that I'm busy. For the next two weeks we'll be taking it easy. Having fun, teaching, playing games... Nothing too terrible. And I just have two more after school classes... I'm really going to miss these kids! Although I'm saying this after them being on vacation for a month and not having taught them again yet. Haha I'm sure they'll be good.
That's all I'm up to these days. Hopefully soon I'll have something more exciting to write about (like a new house)!
xoxox
After the end of my super fun English camp that ran for two weeks, I jetted off to the States to visit friends and family. It was so great to see those I could! (I love you!) Although, it felt more like a vacation than a trip home. I mean come on! 50 degrees in January?! South Carolina was beautiful, but I did miss Detroit, the businesses, the faces, and knowing how to get places. On the upside, though, they have Piggly Wiggly stores.
Getting back was quite an adventure, too! Getting yelled at in the airport for arriving at the gate after they shut the door, staying with a girl vacationing in Korea at the airport until she found her friend, getting off the bus waaay too early with no money left on my transportation card (a kind bus driver let me on for free), and then carrying all 55 lbs of my luggage home from Sopoong Terminal after not sleeping for 28 hours.
But now I'm back in chilly Korea, unpacking and packing while trying to decide what I need for the next 20 days before I move into some new apartment I have yet to find. Because realtors will be showing off my current place to future tenants, I'd like to get as much as possible cleaned up and packed or put away... The idea of strangers walking through my house, especially as messy as it is currently, just unsettles me.
So I'll be busy, but I expected as such. I'm excited for the new changes! Just keeping my fingers crossed hoping that everything falls into place :)
Thankfully, it more so outside of my current job that I'm busy. For the next two weeks we'll be taking it easy. Having fun, teaching, playing games... Nothing too terrible. And I just have two more after school classes... I'm really going to miss these kids! Although I'm saying this after them being on vacation for a month and not having taught them again yet. Haha I'm sure they'll be good.
That's all I'm up to these days. Hopefully soon I'll have something more exciting to write about (like a new house)!
xoxox
Monday, January 6, 2014
New Year, New Place
Happy New Year, everyone!! I hope you've enjoyed January so far~
Also, it's very strange that we've had such a mild winter. I mean, I know it's only January, but we haven't really had any snow. It hasn't been nearly as cold as it was last year, either. But who's complaining? Not this girl!
You know, I was really excited to go to the south this time because Detroit was about the same temperature as Korea last time. But. The weather... It got so bad!! What is happening to the Midwest?! Can't I just go someplace nice and around 50-55 degrees?
Oh well. It will be so lovely to see my parents and best friend again! I'll be in the Carolinas the last two weeks of January. It'll be interesting to see what there is in terms of entertainment and shopping/thrifting. And food! New Years diet resolution doesn't begin until AFTER I get back from the States.
This year is full of new places, it seems! This week I'll go and sign a contract with my new school in Seoul, which means finding an apartment in the city. New school, new home. Moving... I've already started to sort through my things and I've thrown out a mountain (or large desk drawer) of paper. I am a pack rat. I have been saying this to myself out loud in order to curb this behavior.
I am a little nervous about finding a place, though. The rental system here is a little bit different. You pay quite a large sum for deposit ($5,000 - $10,000) and then the usual rental fee of $500 - $800. Of course the type of apartment you have and its size dictate how much rent you pay, too. And the area. I will start looking soon. I feel that it's best to go visit the area I want to live in and see which neighborhoods I prefer. Then I'll go to a realtor and have them show me around. I actually found some helpful articles about renting in Seoul, so here's the first and the second. There's a pitch in both of them for some "helpful" what-have-you, but it costs money so I wouldn't bother. I didn't.
I'll post again after I've gone through the process. I'm curious to see if I can find a nice place with a low deposit. Paying off my student loans feels awesome, but it also means I don't have the cash lying around to pay such a huge sum. And my Macbook went and black-screened on me. Living is so expensive. At least my healthcare here is socialized- efficient and cheap.
I had to go to the hospital last week for a health check, actually. But it's very different from getting one back home. For the hospital I went to, which is seriously quite large, you go to an area and fill out part of a form. You pull a number and walk up to the counter when your number shows on the screen. The you go and get changed in the women's area, leaving your stuff in a locker. It's not a gown, either. Just a wrap-shirt. Then you proceed to go around different stations in the hallway-like area and the people at each station fill in the results on the rest of the form you started earlier. You put the form in a box near each station for the busy ones and they pull the forms when their pile runs out and call you up to that area based on when your form was put into the box. Then you hand in the form and change. Then you're done. Simple, fast, and not unpleasant. I need to call them, though, and make sure I paid.... Haha, I still hate hospitals. Took them three times to check my heart rate and get a result that didn't make them think I needed to be on hypertension medication.
It's been a busy month, this January. I'm currently halfway through teaching English Camp. Just the rest of this week and next Monday left. The first five days were monster-themed. For the last five days I'm going to do a mystery-spy theme. It's been a lot of fun :)
Anyway, I should get back to planning. I have a PowerPoint to make!
Take care, everyone! And I'll see you soon, America~ (Please ease up on the weather. xoxox)
Also, it's very strange that we've had such a mild winter. I mean, I know it's only January, but we haven't really had any snow. It hasn't been nearly as cold as it was last year, either. But who's complaining? Not this girl!
You know, I was really excited to go to the south this time because Detroit was about the same temperature as Korea last time. But. The weather... It got so bad!! What is happening to the Midwest?! Can't I just go someplace nice and around 50-55 degrees?
Oh well. It will be so lovely to see my parents and best friend again! I'll be in the Carolinas the last two weeks of January. It'll be interesting to see what there is in terms of entertainment and shopping/thrifting. And food! New Years diet resolution doesn't begin until AFTER I get back from the States.
This year is full of new places, it seems! This week I'll go and sign a contract with my new school in Seoul, which means finding an apartment in the city. New school, new home. Moving... I've already started to sort through my things and I've thrown out a mountain (or large desk drawer) of paper. I am a pack rat. I have been saying this to myself out loud in order to curb this behavior.
I am a little nervous about finding a place, though. The rental system here is a little bit different. You pay quite a large sum for deposit ($5,000 - $10,000) and then the usual rental fee of $500 - $800. Of course the type of apartment you have and its size dictate how much rent you pay, too. And the area. I will start looking soon. I feel that it's best to go visit the area I want to live in and see which neighborhoods I prefer. Then I'll go to a realtor and have them show me around. I actually found some helpful articles about renting in Seoul, so here's the first and the second. There's a pitch in both of them for some "helpful" what-have-you, but it costs money so I wouldn't bother. I didn't.
I'll post again after I've gone through the process. I'm curious to see if I can find a nice place with a low deposit. Paying off my student loans feels awesome, but it also means I don't have the cash lying around to pay such a huge sum. And my Macbook went and black-screened on me. Living is so expensive. At least my healthcare here is socialized- efficient and cheap.
I had to go to the hospital last week for a health check, actually. But it's very different from getting one back home. For the hospital I went to, which is seriously quite large, you go to an area and fill out part of a form. You pull a number and walk up to the counter when your number shows on the screen. The you go and get changed in the women's area, leaving your stuff in a locker. It's not a gown, either. Just a wrap-shirt. Then you proceed to go around different stations in the hallway-like area and the people at each station fill in the results on the rest of the form you started earlier. You put the form in a box near each station for the busy ones and they pull the forms when their pile runs out and call you up to that area based on when your form was put into the box. Then you hand in the form and change. Then you're done. Simple, fast, and not unpleasant. I need to call them, though, and make sure I paid.... Haha, I still hate hospitals. Took them three times to check my heart rate and get a result that didn't make them think I needed to be on hypertension medication.
It's been a busy month, this January. I'm currently halfway through teaching English Camp. Just the rest of this week and next Monday left. The first five days were monster-themed. For the last five days I'm going to do a mystery-spy theme. It's been a lot of fun :)
Anyway, I should get back to planning. I have a PowerPoint to make!
Take care, everyone! And I'll see you soon, America~ (Please ease up on the weather. xoxox)
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Job Hunting
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!!
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!!
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~
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