Monday, November 22, 2010
Seoul is a playground and I'm on the merry-go-round ALOT
Literally, it is. Life is crazy and so fast paced here. I don't keep a normal schedule. I don't know how I am going to keep this blog up. Don't count on many more.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Coffee talk
Halloween 2010 in Korea was a blast! I felt like a celebrity.... evidently catwoman is very popular. That is what I was for Halloween and I got asked for a picture at least 20 times on Saturday. We went to an area called Hongdae - pronounced "hung day"- which is near a Hongik University in Seoul, so alot of young people are around. It's a nice area. I think Korean people came out just to see the foreigners dressed up for H-ween. They do not really celebrate H-ween here.
The only bit of drama (besides our drunk co-worker that had been out for 40 hours straight- never went home once during the weekend- and was dressed up as Ronald McDonald, but looked like death- and wouldn't listen to anyone to go home) was caused by me. We were in front of a live music club called "Gogos" - a really great place- spent a whole night there once- and all of a sudden alot of commotion was coming down the stairs to the club. There was about 4-6 Korean bodyguards all dressed to the T- crisp white shirts- black suits- wires behind their ears- and drunk "westeners" fighting either each other or the Korean body guards. Then when they got to street level it was apparent they were fighting the guards. They spilled out into the crowd and of course I follow them because I want to see what's going on. Well, they had separated everyone- then a group of Korean bodyguards were huddled talking while behind them an asshole (the instigator) was being held back by one of his friends while a Korean bodyguard was just talking and telling him to calm down, then I saw the asshole hit around his friend and punch the Korean bodyguard several times in the face and went after him. Then when the other bodyguards ran to help- the asshole started yelling that he didn't do anything- this guy started it and basically denying that he had done any wrong doing. I saw this happen. The bodygurads were trying to figure out what to do- I'm observing everything and seeing that the situation is going in circles.... SO what do I do... uhh I have to stop making it a habit to instigate things myself... I walk over to one of the Korean security guards tap him on the shoulder, motion him to follow me- and I tell him what I saw- he looks at me straight in the eyes, very politely, matter-of-factly-seriously- and says "don't worry, I'm going to fuck him up!" It was awesome!!! I first thought the assholes were military- then I heard the main asshole yell in a foreign language so right then and there I knew they weren't US military- and I was so relieved. Anyways- THEN not 5 minutes later- a guy approaches me (one of the asshole's friends) and starts asking me questions- "did you see my friend in the bar? what did you tell the guard? what did you see?" and when I told him he looked just so frustrated... and he walked away- then he came back a 2nd time and asked more- and i said- "look i saw what he did- and he was in the wrong- and denyed doing any of it" then he started yelling at me and then walked away again. I yelled at the group of ppl I was with (who were in the big crowd a little ways away from me) that I had to get out of here and I took off running down the street. They didn't follow, thank goodness- but I felt I had done my part to have peace of mind because I couldnt let that douche bag get away with that and obviously he had done something previously in the bar to be hauled out of there by guards- I felt I had to say something. I stick up for right and what I saw was not right at all.
I feel like I am living in a haze--- am I really in South Korea????
I am free at will to do anything any night because of my schedule. I don't have to be at work until 3PM- so many nights are late late nights and early early mornings. We go out in the city on a Sunday- or maybe Tues.-Wed. all night- and come home sometimes at 5-7 AM, whentev. It's like I'm taking a break out of reality for a year. Also, being a foreigner- I get by with many things. If I break a rule, people don't want to deal with the langauge barrier and they just let it go or let it be. I know that's bad, but hey- you live once so I push buttons whenever I can here. Sunday-funday is alive and kicking in Korea. I love sunday-fundays- treating sun. like it's sat. and drinking and eating like it's no one's business. I took a cab by myself to Itaewon to meet a friend, Tori, and later met up with Katie and Emily and we went to 3 different places. At the last place, we ran into out recruiter James randomly and he invited us to dinner with him this week.
Sometimes I feel like I live in New York City when I am in my apt and my windows are open. I am finding out I really really enjoy living in a big city. Even though my apt. is very small, I love it. It's modern, clean and in a nice building. I have started to decorate it with Korean things I find. It's thrilling and each day you can see something different- someone different and learn something new a foot outside your door. I also witness some of the funniest, weirdest things.
I'm learning- people often say big cities are impersonal, people don't care about each other people etc. and small towns are so much better... but... within big cities you have small communities- small networks of people who take care of each other etc. there are alot of "small towns" all bunched into one huge area, a city.
One night after work, 2 co-workers and I went to a well known shopping area called Dondaemun (don-day-moon) it's open 24 hours!!! only closed on Mondays. It was a metropolis of shopping- I went crazy!!! Unfortunately, alot of clothes are ONE SIZE FITS ALL. No good for western girl with broad shoulders and a big butt.
Katie, my co-worker for Prince Edward Island, Canada left Korea this past Wed. and it was sad. She was a lifesaver and we had so much fun. The good news is... she's signed on for 6 more months starting in Feb. 2011. So, she's going home for 3 months and returning. We are all so happy. Elizabeth from Ohio, took Katie's position and she is very nice. Still getting to know her.
The "new" has worn off of my students. They are little asses now. They push MY buttons. Today I had NO voice at all because, A. I talk so much and B. I have to talk so loudly. There are llike busy little bees flying everywhere in the school. It's like have no filter- they say whatever they want- and it's sooooooo rude!!!! I'm trying to teach them "western politeness" - for example- you don't say someone is ugly to their face or fat and say please and thank you- not just "give me" TONIGHT, a girl told me that my boyfriend was ugly. oooooo I went off on her- I said, "do you realize that English speakers do not say this, it is very rude. You don't say that. What is I said I think you are ugly to your face. You're ugly Jenny." She said, "I'm sorry teacher." - and I walked out- just to prove a point- but that's just one example.
I have been eating very badly here. I NEED to start making it a habit of eating Korean food everyday! I am getting fat in Korea :( I am seeking out a gym next week before my kids start calling me fat to my face- because they will. I don't think they treat us with the same respect they do for their Korean teachers. I have some kids bow their heads to me when they come to class- a common practice here- but not all of them do.
I got observed by my boss last week, and she gave me positive feedback- it was a good review, but the thing she said she didn't like was how my students were treating me. She said in Korea they show their elders great respect and that I need to enforce that with my students. An example she gave me was- when they give me things, they need to give it to me with 2 hands and bow their head. When I give them something, they are to receive it with 2 hands and with a bow of the head. So I've been trying to enforce this cultural difference we have.
In Korea, alot of people meet by blind dates. It's very popular here. I'm not sure why... but I am sitting in a coffee shop as I type this and I witnessed a blind date next me. I think it went well... lol. I looked over and the girl was looking out the window- the next time I looked over they were laughing, eh.
Oh, Korean BBQ is D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. You cook it yourself at the table (most of the time) and hmm hmm so good! and the side dishes are good too. Korea just went through a short KIMCHI SHORTAGE apparently becuase cabbage was so expensive. I think we're out of it- but that's something that all Korean people eat with every meal. I think cabbage may now be coming from China.
I see Korean newspapers in Korean of course, and President Obama is on the cover often it seems. There was other people from America on the front lately I guess becuase of the elections recently. I did not vote.
This Saturday I have my first parent teacher conferences with all my student's parents. I, for some reason, am not nervous, but probably will be the morning of. I'll report how it goes. I hope no crazy moms.
My kids have started a habit of bringing me bits of Korean food they like. Somethings, I like, somethings, ew yuck, but I appreciate it.
I have a usual walk to work now, almost every day I stop off for a coffee with my "main coffee guy" whether he likes seeing me or not- I make it seem like a big deal when I see him every day by speaking as much Korean as I know- hello- good bye- thank you- is about it... and also I pass by a butcher's shop (with slabs of meat hanging visible- and they are cutting it up right there in the open too) and all the mean YELL hello so loudly and wave at me each day--- it's a pleasant thing that I enjoy daily.
This weekend I am going on a date on Saturady to a really nice place in Itaewon and on Sunday I am going to a Korean musical- woo hoo! Hopefully, many things in between that will happen.
Until next time, 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) (good bye)
The only bit of drama (besides our drunk co-worker that had been out for 40 hours straight- never went home once during the weekend- and was dressed up as Ronald McDonald, but looked like death- and wouldn't listen to anyone to go home) was caused by me. We were in front of a live music club called "Gogos" - a really great place- spent a whole night there once- and all of a sudden alot of commotion was coming down the stairs to the club. There was about 4-6 Korean bodyguards all dressed to the T- crisp white shirts- black suits- wires behind their ears- and drunk "westeners" fighting either each other or the Korean body guards. Then when they got to street level it was apparent they were fighting the guards. They spilled out into the crowd and of course I follow them because I want to see what's going on. Well, they had separated everyone- then a group of Korean bodyguards were huddled talking while behind them an asshole (the instigator) was being held back by one of his friends while a Korean bodyguard was just talking and telling him to calm down, then I saw the asshole hit around his friend and punch the Korean bodyguard several times in the face and went after him. Then when the other bodyguards ran to help- the asshole started yelling that he didn't do anything- this guy started it and basically denying that he had done any wrong doing. I saw this happen. The bodygurads were trying to figure out what to do- I'm observing everything and seeing that the situation is going in circles.... SO what do I do... uhh I have to stop making it a habit to instigate things myself... I walk over to one of the Korean security guards tap him on the shoulder, motion him to follow me- and I tell him what I saw- he looks at me straight in the eyes, very politely, matter-of-factly-seriously- and says "don't worry, I'm going to fuck him up!" It was awesome!!! I first thought the assholes were military- then I heard the main asshole yell in a foreign language so right then and there I knew they weren't US military- and I was so relieved. Anyways- THEN not 5 minutes later- a guy approaches me (one of the asshole's friends) and starts asking me questions- "did you see my friend in the bar? what did you tell the guard? what did you see?" and when I told him he looked just so frustrated... and he walked away- then he came back a 2nd time and asked more- and i said- "look i saw what he did- and he was in the wrong- and denyed doing any of it" then he started yelling at me and then walked away again. I yelled at the group of ppl I was with (who were in the big crowd a little ways away from me) that I had to get out of here and I took off running down the street. They didn't follow, thank goodness- but I felt I had done my part to have peace of mind because I couldnt let that douche bag get away with that and obviously he had done something previously in the bar to be hauled out of there by guards- I felt I had to say something. I stick up for right and what I saw was not right at all.
I feel like I am living in a haze--- am I really in South Korea????
I am free at will to do anything any night because of my schedule. I don't have to be at work until 3PM- so many nights are late late nights and early early mornings. We go out in the city on a Sunday- or maybe Tues.-Wed. all night- and come home sometimes at 5-7 AM, whentev. It's like I'm taking a break out of reality for a year. Also, being a foreigner- I get by with many things. If I break a rule, people don't want to deal with the langauge barrier and they just let it go or let it be. I know that's bad, but hey- you live once so I push buttons whenever I can here. Sunday-funday is alive and kicking in Korea. I love sunday-fundays- treating sun. like it's sat. and drinking and eating like it's no one's business. I took a cab by myself to Itaewon to meet a friend, Tori, and later met up with Katie and Emily and we went to 3 different places. At the last place, we ran into out recruiter James randomly and he invited us to dinner with him this week.
Sometimes I feel like I live in New York City when I am in my apt and my windows are open. I am finding out I really really enjoy living in a big city. Even though my apt. is very small, I love it. It's modern, clean and in a nice building. I have started to decorate it with Korean things I find. It's thrilling and each day you can see something different- someone different and learn something new a foot outside your door. I also witness some of the funniest, weirdest things.
I'm learning- people often say big cities are impersonal, people don't care about each other people etc. and small towns are so much better... but... within big cities you have small communities- small networks of people who take care of each other etc. there are alot of "small towns" all bunched into one huge area, a city.
One night after work, 2 co-workers and I went to a well known shopping area called Dondaemun (don-day-moon) it's open 24 hours!!! only closed on Mondays. It was a metropolis of shopping- I went crazy!!! Unfortunately, alot of clothes are ONE SIZE FITS ALL. No good for western girl with broad shoulders and a big butt.
Katie, my co-worker for Prince Edward Island, Canada left Korea this past Wed. and it was sad. She was a lifesaver and we had so much fun. The good news is... she's signed on for 6 more months starting in Feb. 2011. So, she's going home for 3 months and returning. We are all so happy. Elizabeth from Ohio, took Katie's position and she is very nice. Still getting to know her.
The "new" has worn off of my students. They are little asses now. They push MY buttons. Today I had NO voice at all because, A. I talk so much and B. I have to talk so loudly. There are llike busy little bees flying everywhere in the school. It's like have no filter- they say whatever they want- and it's sooooooo rude!!!! I'm trying to teach them "western politeness" - for example- you don't say someone is ugly to their face or fat and say please and thank you- not just "give me" TONIGHT, a girl told me that my boyfriend was ugly. oooooo I went off on her- I said, "do you realize that English speakers do not say this, it is very rude. You don't say that. What is I said I think you are ugly to your face. You're ugly Jenny." She said, "I'm sorry teacher." - and I walked out- just to prove a point- but that's just one example.
I have been eating very badly here. I NEED to start making it a habit of eating Korean food everyday! I am getting fat in Korea :( I am seeking out a gym next week before my kids start calling me fat to my face- because they will. I don't think they treat us with the same respect they do for their Korean teachers. I have some kids bow their heads to me when they come to class- a common practice here- but not all of them do.
I got observed by my boss last week, and she gave me positive feedback- it was a good review, but the thing she said she didn't like was how my students were treating me. She said in Korea they show their elders great respect and that I need to enforce that with my students. An example she gave me was- when they give me things, they need to give it to me with 2 hands and bow their head. When I give them something, they are to receive it with 2 hands and with a bow of the head. So I've been trying to enforce this cultural difference we have.
In Korea, alot of people meet by blind dates. It's very popular here. I'm not sure why... but I am sitting in a coffee shop as I type this and I witnessed a blind date next me. I think it went well... lol. I looked over and the girl was looking out the window- the next time I looked over they were laughing, eh.
Oh, Korean BBQ is D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. You cook it yourself at the table (most of the time) and hmm hmm so good! and the side dishes are good too. Korea just went through a short KIMCHI SHORTAGE apparently becuase cabbage was so expensive. I think we're out of it- but that's something that all Korean people eat with every meal. I think cabbage may now be coming from China.
I see Korean newspapers in Korean of course, and President Obama is on the cover often it seems. There was other people from America on the front lately I guess becuase of the elections recently. I did not vote.
This Saturday I have my first parent teacher conferences with all my student's parents. I, for some reason, am not nervous, but probably will be the morning of. I'll report how it goes. I hope no crazy moms.
My kids have started a habit of bringing me bits of Korean food they like. Somethings, I like, somethings, ew yuck, but I appreciate it.
I have a usual walk to work now, almost every day I stop off for a coffee with my "main coffee guy" whether he likes seeing me or not- I make it seem like a big deal when I see him every day by speaking as much Korean as I know- hello- good bye- thank you- is about it... and also I pass by a butcher's shop (with slabs of meat hanging visible- and they are cutting it up right there in the open too) and all the mean YELL hello so loudly and wave at me each day--- it's a pleasant thing that I enjoy daily.
This weekend I am going on a date on Saturady to a really nice place in Itaewon and on Sunday I am going to a Korean musical- woo hoo! Hopefully, many things in between that will happen.
Until next time, 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) (good bye)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thoughts on Tues. the 19th of Oct.
Today I got my hair done by Kyung Jin Lee (her English name is Erin) at Cimille and it's just fabulous. She did an awesome job. I had to travel an hour by subway to get there, but everything worked out perfect with timing. I was standing at a crosswalk today next to 3 older Korean ladies- and I WAS AT LEAST A FOOT AND A HALF TALLER THAN THEM- LOL! I felt like a giant and I am 5'6".
When I was walking from the restaurant I ate at today (which is my new favorite place- has the best sushi!) I witnessed a car honking his horn continually and nearly rear ended another car- he proceded to pull next to the car it almost hit- which they had rolled doen their window- and they were screaming at each other in Korean (of course) and the man got out and started shaking his fist at the GIRL. It was so funny/weird/and I haven't seen that before here- until now.
LAST NIGHT- walking home from work- I had to walk through a fight. There was a cop car and two police officers and two men ALL SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER, once again of course in Korean and that makes it sound even more escalated. There was a woman there too along with a huge crowd of people jsut watching like it was entertainment. The two men were "drunken" (that's what Korean people all call "drunk" people- they aren't drunk- they are "drunken") and going after each other. I didnt stay and watch- but my windows were open in my apt. and I could hear them louder and louder- I believe they were wrestled down and arrested because it didn't sound too good.
On the subway- men and women sell products- RANDOM products and they carry them in their suitcase- it never fails- every time I see someone doing this - man Korean people listen and at least 3 or 4 people every time have bought the product. I saw small panty hose for your feet- and grinder thingy- clothes hangers and case for your clothes... random, LOL.
After getting my hair done today and it being really blonde again- I had a greater number of people staring at me on the subway- I'm not going to lie- it's kind of fun!
A weird observation that I haven't told my Dad- but I will. When I see older Korean men- they remind me of MY Dad because they dress in the same shirts- button down colored shirts, wear the same type of glasses, and same style of slacks and shoes. Many of the men have the square shaped face and chin like my dad- and the men with gray or white hair REALLY remind me of my Dad. They also wear hats like Dad too. Military hats especailly remind my of him- I'm not sure what's on them, but they're black hats with the gold applique- I know it's from the service. It's weird but my Dad (who is as white/western/American as you can get) resembles and has similarities of older Korean men. Kinda cool. It would be cool if he came over here... because all you see are young western people- no one from my Dad's generation. I think my Dad would be stared at like crazy and asked a million questions- they would be so curious about him (in a good way). Would be verrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting to see interaction between Dad and the Korean men I was just describing. *** If Dad, you read this- please don't get offended that I said "young" western people, becuase you are young too- just a different version of young, okay.****
Cheers!- 30 minutes until my first class- and now I have to go to my weekly Foreign teacher meeting downstairs.
When I was walking from the restaurant I ate at today (which is my new favorite place- has the best sushi!) I witnessed a car honking his horn continually and nearly rear ended another car- he proceded to pull next to the car it almost hit- which they had rolled doen their window- and they were screaming at each other in Korean (of course) and the man got out and started shaking his fist at the GIRL. It was so funny/weird/and I haven't seen that before here- until now.
LAST NIGHT- walking home from work- I had to walk through a fight. There was a cop car and two police officers and two men ALL SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER, once again of course in Korean and that makes it sound even more escalated. There was a woman there too along with a huge crowd of people jsut watching like it was entertainment. The two men were "drunken" (that's what Korean people all call "drunk" people- they aren't drunk- they are "drunken") and going after each other. I didnt stay and watch- but my windows were open in my apt. and I could hear them louder and louder- I believe they were wrestled down and arrested because it didn't sound too good.
On the subway- men and women sell products- RANDOM products and they carry them in their suitcase- it never fails- every time I see someone doing this - man Korean people listen and at least 3 or 4 people every time have bought the product. I saw small panty hose for your feet- and grinder thingy- clothes hangers and case for your clothes... random, LOL.
After getting my hair done today and it being really blonde again- I had a greater number of people staring at me on the subway- I'm not going to lie- it's kind of fun!
A weird observation that I haven't told my Dad- but I will. When I see older Korean men- they remind me of MY Dad because they dress in the same shirts- button down colored shirts, wear the same type of glasses, and same style of slacks and shoes. Many of the men have the square shaped face and chin like my dad- and the men with gray or white hair REALLY remind me of my Dad. They also wear hats like Dad too. Military hats especailly remind my of him- I'm not sure what's on them, but they're black hats with the gold applique- I know it's from the service. It's weird but my Dad (who is as white/western/American as you can get) resembles and has similarities of older Korean men. Kinda cool. It would be cool if he came over here... because all you see are young western people- no one from my Dad's generation. I think my Dad would be stared at like crazy and asked a million questions- they would be so curious about him (in a good way). Would be verrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting to see interaction between Dad and the Korean men I was just describing. *** If Dad, you read this- please don't get offended that I said "young" western people, becuase you are young too- just a different version of young, okay.****
Cheers!- 30 minutes until my first class- and now I have to go to my weekly Foreign teacher meeting downstairs.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
DMZ experience
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| North Korea- gray! |
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| On the tracks that some day hope to be used to travel through North Korea- symbolizing coming together- I had to be NORTH, Katie got to be SOUTH Korea- no fair! |
Here is the best way I can describe the "situation" between North and South Korea--- The North Korean Government (which is Communist) is like an abusive parent while it's people are its children. South Korea is like a concerned neighbor that North Korea hates. The neighbors try to provide for the children by giving them food and jobs while the abusive parent looks on and says you can help my kids but it will not change my feelings towards you.
Not many people are aware of all the pokes and jabs (attacks) North Korea still make on South Korea. The "war" in a sense is still lingering in the air. The U.S. military is still present here, but the South Korean military run their show and we are here for extra force "if needed." South Korea is so resilient and positive. For example, STUPID North Korea still bullies the South (just recently on June 6, 2010 they sank the Cheonan PCC killing 46 South Korean Navy sailors) The war did not end in 1953- it is still going on and so many things have occured since then, but South Korea STILL aids the North- South Korean business men employ around 60,000 North Korean people- they send rice up to the North because people are starving- they even have built an ENTIRE SUBWAY STATION that just sits- in hopes to one day run up to and through North Korea. Many South Korean people have relatives in the North- that's why they do this. They want to make peace but the North is simply AWFUL and unwilling. The subway station is a symbol of hope, that one day South Korea can travel outside of their country easier. They are trapped in a sense- they can't travel any way to the North. The only option is to fly. It's such a frustrating situation- I probably cried and teared up 10 times on my trip. I saw sites of massacres during the war- bridges that POW's were released and walked across. Just looking over the river at North Korea was so weird. The mountain tops on the South's side have trees and are green- in the North they are ugly brown and bald.
At the actual DMZ site- I was so nervous. I was looking at North Korea and they WERE taking my picture for a fact. I had no way of knowing how many people were watching us. The person I could see was one North Korean soldier who was looking at us through binoculars- then at one point hid behind a big cement pillar- WEIRD- PSYCHOLOGICAL North Korean GAMES!!!! ugh!
In one of the buildings where there were 2 South Korean guards in "ready" Tae-Kwon-Do stance- 1 was on the North Korean side in the building and we could not step cross a line. We were told not to get too close- if we touched them- they WOULD touch us back. WELL, being the "unintentional" instigator that I am (at times) I accidently brushed knuckles with one of the guards and I thought my heart stopped. I held my breath and just looked at him and THANK GOD he did not do anything and figured it was an accident and I didn;t mean any harm. I couldn't get out of there fast enough! We were told where to look, where to move, where not to move, not to point, etc. We had to walk in 2 single file lines. We had to sign a declaration before entering and here is the first sentence in it " The visit to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom will entail into a hostile area and possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action.... The United Nations Command, The U.S.A and the Republic of Korea cannot guarantee the safety of visitors and may not be held accountable in the event of a hostile enemy act." GEESE LOUISE! They are sending tours into hostile area which lessens the severity of the situation- but when you really think about it- WHO in their right mind goes, better yet takes a tour into a hostile zone???? AMERICA! We stopped at 4 different places. We got to walk through a tunnel built by the North Korean's for a surprise attack to South Korea. It was little I had to duck and bend over almost the whole way. Everyone had to wear hard hats. It was soooooo far underground. It was very freaky and at the end you looked through this hole and it looked like it was into an underground tunnel intersection and torture room. I couldnt look long becuase I kept envisioning a North Korean would appear. My mind plays tricks on me sometimes so I wasnt going to give it the opportunity at this point so far underground. There are many tunnels STILL being discovered from North to South. It's just weird thinking of the big picture. After this trip- it made me a little paranoid- but now I'm back to normal. I just hope that this new KIM in North Korea that just took over doesn't try to make "his mark" by doing something horrible to the South anytime soon.
Our tour guide was a cutie-pa-tootie man named "Mr. Pak." He was older and very little. He said he eats kimchi and rice with every meal and that's why he's so small. I got to talking to him and asked him if he had any family in North Korea. He said no. All is family was from the South- BUT his father and all 3 of his brothers were murdered by the North Korean government. His dad was a police officer- not sure about his uncles. This happend when he was just 9 years old. It made my cry.
It's so sad- they are the same nationality of people- but divided by governments. There is a statue of a significant figure (cannot remember his name) who was murdered by North Korea for being a Christian and preached his dreams of peace and visions of ONE united Korea-- he was murdered by North Korea. The statue is of him holding ONE finger up.
There was another place we visited where people from the South can go when they miss their family (if they have them in the North) or if they miss THIER home (they could have fled the North) to sit and reminisce. There is a wall of bright colored ribbons that people write their prayers, hopes and wishes for peace and unification of the two countries. I read some, and yes, I teared up. It's the closest point they can get to the north. People, mankind, and human nature can be so disheartening- but it can also be encouraging too, I know always two sides of the sprectum- just seems like there is more bigotry than anything else.
I shouldn't have waited to write so long about this- because I don't remember everything that I wanted to write about. I am so glad I did this though. It makes you thankful for the world/country I am from. It puts things into perspective- what I consider "problems" is laughable compared to what other people have had to endure. I hope someday there is peace between the North and the South Koreas.
On a different note:
My students taught me about Korean names. People have 3 names- for example take the name "Lee Sun Shin." LEE is his family name. If he has a daughter- LEE will be at the front- and her name will never change even if she gets married. SUN SHIN are the two names that his parents give him. So his daughter's name could be Lee Min Jeong- his son's name could be Lee Pak Su and their names will never change. That's why you hear so many of the same names- the first name said is their "family name" followed by two names given to them by their parents choice. They don't say first, middle or last name though.
Last Saturday I went to a festival's ending fireworks show. It was the most amazing fireworks show I have ever seen!!!!! There were 3 shows back to back with short intervals in between. There were fireworks from China, Canada, and South Korea. There were people just EVERYWHERE!!!!! It was along the Hun River and it was so picturesque- fireworks above the big city lights- and the fireworks were the biggest I have ever seen!!! The Chinese invented fireworks so rightly so I guess. We had a nice group of about 13 people and we made a great night out of it.
I got my FIRST paycheck finally after being here after 5 1/2 weeks! So nice!
The weather is so so so nice! It's not frigid cold yet.
I met my landlord finally and also finally SAW and met another person who lives on my floor in my apartment building. I hear people but never SEE them- it's weird.
I caught my first cold over here and was perscribed some weird medicine that looked like rabbit pellets- but they smelled good. I took them- I guess they worked.....
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| Next to a SOUTH Korean soldier (not the one I touched) |
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| Buying my "hypothetical" ticket to, or through North Korea- hopefully will be able to someday! |
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| NORTH Korean soldier looking at us through binoculars |
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| The JSA- standing in front of it all- that big building is on North Korea's side |
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| Along the Hun River before the fireworks show |
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| THE guard I brushed knuckes with!!! |
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| A replica of an upper class home in NORTH Korea- and look WHO HAS to be on every wall in every building. |
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| My SO CUTE tour guide Mr. Pak |
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| My classroom- complete with Halloween Decorations and all |
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| Thanks mom for sending the decor- my class only holds 15 |
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Made a lil' trouble @ Osan
Soooooooo- I tried to take a picture of the front of Osan Airbase- and I had a guard yelling at me and Casey running at me- "Stop, Stop!" ummmmm yeahhhhhhhh can't take pictures of military bases from the outside- but you can from the inside out. Took my camera and deleted the photo- but did give it back. GEESE it scared the living daylight out of me! I'm a civilian!- I don't realize these things- but wow am I learning!!!
Seoulified
Time is precious in Seoul! It goes by so so so fast! I find myself rushing around everywhere- never can I just leisurely take a stroll!-anyways- It's hard to keep up on here also. I am finally used to the air here and I just cant wait for the rainy season to end and the cold to start! Somethings to mention-
I learned in Korea if you eat the "last" anything (because here no one eats alone- food is served for at least 2 ppl) it means that you will become fatter and fatter. It is bad luck to eat the "last" anything on a plate.
I discovered "Soju" it is a a rice wine, comparable to Vodka or Sake. It is native to Korea and very very cheap- like 1,200 won which is around a $1.00 in the States. Talking with Korean women--- a girl does not leave home "typically" until they are married- they live with their parents until they do and do not/can not live with their boyfriends. If you are unmarried still at 30- you will never get married- you are considered old and it's too late for you.
When eating- it is a sign that the food you're eating is delicious and you like it if you slurp- eat loudly and quickly- it's considered weird to them that we eat quietly.
They serve pickles with their pizza. Some pizza has potato on it- some have mayonnaise on it. It's interesting.
Today is Monday and I am off work Tues- Thurs. for "Chusok" "Korean Thanksgiving" It celebrates Korean's ancestors and is in the middle of what they call "harvest season." The whole country takes 3 days off and apparently everything is closed- like Christmas for us. People visit their hometowns and eat traditional Korean food- like Songpyeon ( a half moon-shaped rice cake) If someone can make a pretty Songpyeon, he or she will be blessed with a good marriage.
Just this past weekend Katie, Emily and I discovered an ON THE BORDER!!!!! I was in shock- I was what the hell is this place doing here!!!??? It has never tasted so good but was super-duper expensive.
I have eaten a lot of yummy Korean food, I love and crave Bi bim bap- it has no meat usually, but can be made with beef or octopus. Also, Kimchi mandu- which is like a dumpling- Ahhh so good!!! Kimchi is served with every mean in Korea.
In one of my special classes- some of my students and I were talking about eating octopus. "Teacher it is so delicious and fun to eat!" They would explain that they eat it when it's still alive and it wiggles all around in your mouth and it's fun to chew it and kill it- ew! One girl said her brother had a tentacle go up his nasal passage- he pulled it out and put it back in his mouth. OMG!!!! I am going to try octopus at some point- but not soon!
I have bought a lot of bright pretty things for my desk- and also have things I have brought from back home- and all my little girls gather around my desk and have to TOUCH everything. "Teacher what's this? Teacher you have strange things." They love the Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer I have! The school gave me a big box of my very own business cards- with my picture and everything- so cool!
I find myself racking my brain- because I am teaching what I have learned as a child and I don't remember learning it. To explain the meanings of words and how we use them is quite difficult. Teaching is exhausting but it flies by because I am immersed in what i am teaching. My students want to learn English so badly, I am taking my job very seriously and want to help them as best as i can. Sometimes, I explain a statement/saying/meaning of a word in 3-5 different angles before a light bulb turns on in their head and they can understand/translate the lesson I'm teaching. It can get tedious- it makes me want to go hug all my Spanish teachers I had in school, because I know how they probably felt, at times, when teaching English speaking students Spanish as a second language. One weird, annoying thing about my school- the principal is very old fashioned. She is in her 50's- never married- and a bit bitter- (this came from someone else's mouth- who has been teaching at the school a lot longer than me) She does not condone Korean and English teachers to talk freely. It is a bit segregated. There is an awesome Korean girl working on the first floor, she is pretty high up, her name is Lily- she wants to hang out and go out with us- but if she is SEEN out with us- oh no- she is in much trouble! Also, if she is seen talking to us she is given awful looks by the principal and a couple of other Korean staff members. It's very professional- no stepping over the "outside of school" line. It is simply a Korean cultural difference. They do not mix work and outside of work together.- Well at least at my school they do not. My partner teacher is AWESOME- she drinks with us after work sometimes, but I think it's very hush hush.
When I wear my hair up my students ask about my tattoo on my neck- what's this teacher (as they point to my neck) when I say a tattoo they don't know what that is- i have to explain. Tattoos are not prevalent at all in Korea. You can get a tattoo in one area I was told but cleanliness is a scary issue. I think I will wait to get my Korean tattoo back in the States. I walked down the streets of Seoul bare foot once and my feet were black black black and sore for days- if I didn't get anything from that- then I "maybe" I will be OK getting a tattoo here, LOL.
Two weekends ago I went to the Seoul Tower! It was so fun- got to see this huge city! and mountains! It was awesome! Got lost in the city afterward, stumbled across a cool market, went to the World Cup Stadium to watch FC Seoul play soccer- they won! It was a foreigner's game, which was fun! Then saw an AMERICAN movie, Killers.
My partner teacher took Katie, Emily and I to an art museum and the Deoksugung Palace near city hall in Seoul not tool long ago. We walked up just as the guards were changing. It was so cool to see their uniforms- they were so colorful! The art exhibit was marvelous- realism in Asian art- many pieces were from the Philippines. Inside the walls it was very peaceful and had a pretty and serene for being right in the center of a HUGE city.
This past weekend one of the other English teachers had a BBQ at his place and people from everywhere were there. England, Australia, Scotland, Texas, Oregon, Canada, MS, IN, Korea, and other places I'm sure- it was friends of friends- I haven't been to a party as fun as this in a VERY long time. There would be spurts of heated debates that would flare up- then it would die down- start back up- its like everyone had at least one moment. I'm not going to divulge the topic I went off on. I played a ukulele and was told i was good! ha! nevertheless i had a blast playing it and acted like i knew what i was doing but couldn't make but 4 sounds come out of it, so i started banging on it and made everyone else try to play.
I just love the human interaction that i have come in counter with. It's been amazing so far. It takes a special type of person to be able to move to a foreign country, work and live WILLINGLY. I share similar mindsets with the other westerners that are here. It's nice.
Today is Thursday, I have spent a couple of days at Osan Airbase which is in Songtan. I traveled by subway to a bus station, then took a bus down to the small city- in all it took 1 1/2 hours. It was fun but I was a little nervous- I did it on my own. I met Casey who is stationed there. It was SUPER intimidating at the front gate of the base. There was razor wire at the top of the walls which made it look haunting and forbidden. There were many Americans armed, and there were a Korean soldiers armed- but they were not armed like we were. They had BIG guns on a strap at their backs and were very scary just to look at. I have never been on a base before. It is so much fun! It's like a little American town with American things- it's just fantastic LOL! I saw many jets take off and wow are they loud! Helicopters, jets were flying everywhere. I was told they go south to train and practice maneuvers and have "practice fights"- like they did in Top Gun! Hahaha! Also, they sometimes go to the North Korean border and drop bombs just to say "Hey, we're still here!"
I am going to take a trip up to the DMZ very soon with Casey. I am very excited about it!!!
This past Monday, went to Iteawon, a big night life area with foreigners from around the world, and was out all night long! Bars do not close here- it's amazing!!!!! I love it! I also ended up at a casino at 6 AM in the morning and played roulette for the first time- who knew gambling could be fun!- I didn't win but it was fun! I met people from Japan out that night. You can most definitely tell a difference between Korean people and Japanese people. I also met Korean gangster rappers- OH BOY- was that hilarious. We talked to some Turkish men who made us Turkish kabobs, which I eat every chance I can because they are delicious, the guy was talking all serious and I couldn't stop laughing because his fly was down the whole way. I didn't want to tell him because I didn't know how he would react to it. There is a big I guess the word to use is "business" for prostitutes in Korea. I have seen many of these on the streets- they are referred to as "juicy girls." Oh oh- we also ran into some guys from Uganda- not in a good way- one of my coworkers Marty saw this guy push down a Korean woman really hard- he walked up to him and confronted him- "why would you push a woman!?" type talk- oh my- it started to get heated- then 3 of his friends came- I was the only one paying attention to what was happening (everyone else was in lala drunk land) i went and grabbed Katie to come stand with me by Marty because we could not abandon him- then the guys started talking to me asking me questions and saying they feel all disrespected and shit- I made sure the Korean lady was okay- i was acting all tough (well as tough as i could!!!) but OMG they were so big and intimidating and had such thick African accents. The initial guy then came at Marty and I kid you not- that's when this little Korean lady who was cooking mandu on the street came in between them and split us up- i got VERY scared because I just knew they could really do some damage to us if they wanted to. In retrospect- I think this was the scenario- The lady who was pushed down was a prostitute- and the African guy maybe was her pimp- that's why he was treating her the way he was- and when we got involved his friends flocked from like 3 different corners.
On a different note- I met a guy from Nigeria in the subway- he has been in Korea for close to 3 years. He buys used clothing here and sends them back home to his hometown in Nigeria. He told me he misses his home and mother so much but can not go back- he said it is very corrupted there and he likes how peaceful it is in Korea. He was very nice and helped Emily and I find our correct train.
Korea Korea- oh how I love thee. I hope the new does not wear off and you stay fun everyday!
CHEERS!
I learned in Korea if you eat the "last" anything (because here no one eats alone- food is served for at least 2 ppl) it means that you will become fatter and fatter. It is bad luck to eat the "last" anything on a plate.
I discovered "Soju" it is a a rice wine, comparable to Vodka or Sake. It is native to Korea and very very cheap- like 1,200 won which is around a $1.00 in the States. Talking with Korean women--- a girl does not leave home "typically" until they are married- they live with their parents until they do and do not/can not live with their boyfriends. If you are unmarried still at 30- you will never get married- you are considered old and it's too late for you.
When eating- it is a sign that the food you're eating is delicious and you like it if you slurp- eat loudly and quickly- it's considered weird to them that we eat quietly.
They serve pickles with their pizza. Some pizza has potato on it- some have mayonnaise on it. It's interesting.
Today is Monday and I am off work Tues- Thurs. for "Chusok" "Korean Thanksgiving" It celebrates Korean's ancestors and is in the middle of what they call "harvest season." The whole country takes 3 days off and apparently everything is closed- like Christmas for us. People visit their hometowns and eat traditional Korean food- like Songpyeon ( a half moon-shaped rice cake) If someone can make a pretty Songpyeon, he or she will be blessed with a good marriage.
Just this past weekend Katie, Emily and I discovered an ON THE BORDER!!!!! I was in shock- I was what the hell is this place doing here!!!??? It has never tasted so good but was super-duper expensive.
I have eaten a lot of yummy Korean food, I love and crave Bi bim bap- it has no meat usually, but can be made with beef or octopus. Also, Kimchi mandu- which is like a dumpling- Ahhh so good!!! Kimchi is served with every mean in Korea.
In one of my special classes- some of my students and I were talking about eating octopus. "Teacher it is so delicious and fun to eat!" They would explain that they eat it when it's still alive and it wiggles all around in your mouth and it's fun to chew it and kill it- ew! One girl said her brother had a tentacle go up his nasal passage- he pulled it out and put it back in his mouth. OMG!!!! I am going to try octopus at some point- but not soon!
I have bought a lot of bright pretty things for my desk- and also have things I have brought from back home- and all my little girls gather around my desk and have to TOUCH everything. "Teacher what's this? Teacher you have strange things." They love the Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer I have! The school gave me a big box of my very own business cards- with my picture and everything- so cool!
I find myself racking my brain- because I am teaching what I have learned as a child and I don't remember learning it. To explain the meanings of words and how we use them is quite difficult. Teaching is exhausting but it flies by because I am immersed in what i am teaching. My students want to learn English so badly, I am taking my job very seriously and want to help them as best as i can. Sometimes, I explain a statement/saying/meaning of a word in 3-5 different angles before a light bulb turns on in their head and they can understand/translate the lesson I'm teaching. It can get tedious- it makes me want to go hug all my Spanish teachers I had in school, because I know how they probably felt, at times, when teaching English speaking students Spanish as a second language. One weird, annoying thing about my school- the principal is very old fashioned. She is in her 50's- never married- and a bit bitter- (this came from someone else's mouth- who has been teaching at the school a lot longer than me) She does not condone Korean and English teachers to talk freely. It is a bit segregated. There is an awesome Korean girl working on the first floor, she is pretty high up, her name is Lily- she wants to hang out and go out with us- but if she is SEEN out with us- oh no- she is in much trouble! Also, if she is seen talking to us she is given awful looks by the principal and a couple of other Korean staff members. It's very professional- no stepping over the "outside of school" line. It is simply a Korean cultural difference. They do not mix work and outside of work together.- Well at least at my school they do not. My partner teacher is AWESOME- she drinks with us after work sometimes, but I think it's very hush hush.
When I wear my hair up my students ask about my tattoo on my neck- what's this teacher (as they point to my neck) when I say a tattoo they don't know what that is- i have to explain. Tattoos are not prevalent at all in Korea. You can get a tattoo in one area I was told but cleanliness is a scary issue. I think I will wait to get my Korean tattoo back in the States. I walked down the streets of Seoul bare foot once and my feet were black black black and sore for days- if I didn't get anything from that- then I "maybe" I will be OK getting a tattoo here, LOL.
Two weekends ago I went to the Seoul Tower! It was so fun- got to see this huge city! and mountains! It was awesome! Got lost in the city afterward, stumbled across a cool market, went to the World Cup Stadium to watch FC Seoul play soccer- they won! It was a foreigner's game, which was fun! Then saw an AMERICAN movie, Killers.
My partner teacher took Katie, Emily and I to an art museum and the Deoksugung Palace near city hall in Seoul not tool long ago. We walked up just as the guards were changing. It was so cool to see their uniforms- they were so colorful! The art exhibit was marvelous- realism in Asian art- many pieces were from the Philippines. Inside the walls it was very peaceful and had a pretty and serene for being right in the center of a HUGE city.
This past weekend one of the other English teachers had a BBQ at his place and people from everywhere were there. England, Australia, Scotland, Texas, Oregon, Canada, MS, IN, Korea, and other places I'm sure- it was friends of friends- I haven't been to a party as fun as this in a VERY long time. There would be spurts of heated debates that would flare up- then it would die down- start back up- its like everyone had at least one moment. I'm not going to divulge the topic I went off on. I played a ukulele and was told i was good! ha! nevertheless i had a blast playing it and acted like i knew what i was doing but couldn't make but 4 sounds come out of it, so i started banging on it and made everyone else try to play.
I just love the human interaction that i have come in counter with. It's been amazing so far. It takes a special type of person to be able to move to a foreign country, work and live WILLINGLY. I share similar mindsets with the other westerners that are here. It's nice.
Today is Thursday, I have spent a couple of days at Osan Airbase which is in Songtan. I traveled by subway to a bus station, then took a bus down to the small city- in all it took 1 1/2 hours. It was fun but I was a little nervous- I did it on my own. I met Casey who is stationed there. It was SUPER intimidating at the front gate of the base. There was razor wire at the top of the walls which made it look haunting and forbidden. There were many Americans armed, and there were a Korean soldiers armed- but they were not armed like we were. They had BIG guns on a strap at their backs and were very scary just to look at. I have never been on a base before. It is so much fun! It's like a little American town with American things- it's just fantastic LOL! I saw many jets take off and wow are they loud! Helicopters, jets were flying everywhere. I was told they go south to train and practice maneuvers and have "practice fights"- like they did in Top Gun! Hahaha! Also, they sometimes go to the North Korean border and drop bombs just to say "Hey, we're still here!"
I am going to take a trip up to the DMZ very soon with Casey. I am very excited about it!!!
This past Monday, went to Iteawon, a big night life area with foreigners from around the world, and was out all night long! Bars do not close here- it's amazing!!!!! I love it! I also ended up at a casino at 6 AM in the morning and played roulette for the first time- who knew gambling could be fun!- I didn't win but it was fun! I met people from Japan out that night. You can most definitely tell a difference between Korean people and Japanese people. I also met Korean gangster rappers- OH BOY- was that hilarious. We talked to some Turkish men who made us Turkish kabobs, which I eat every chance I can because they are delicious, the guy was talking all serious and I couldn't stop laughing because his fly was down the whole way. I didn't want to tell him because I didn't know how he would react to it. There is a big I guess the word to use is "business" for prostitutes in Korea. I have seen many of these on the streets- they are referred to as "juicy girls." Oh oh- we also ran into some guys from Uganda- not in a good way- one of my coworkers Marty saw this guy push down a Korean woman really hard- he walked up to him and confronted him- "why would you push a woman!?" type talk- oh my- it started to get heated- then 3 of his friends came- I was the only one paying attention to what was happening (everyone else was in lala drunk land) i went and grabbed Katie to come stand with me by Marty because we could not abandon him- then the guys started talking to me asking me questions and saying they feel all disrespected and shit- I made sure the Korean lady was okay- i was acting all tough (well as tough as i could!!!) but OMG they were so big and intimidating and had such thick African accents. The initial guy then came at Marty and I kid you not- that's when this little Korean lady who was cooking mandu on the street came in between them and split us up- i got VERY scared because I just knew they could really do some damage to us if they wanted to. In retrospect- I think this was the scenario- The lady who was pushed down was a prostitute- and the African guy maybe was her pimp- that's why he was treating her the way he was- and when we got involved his friends flocked from like 3 different corners.
On a different note- I met a guy from Nigeria in the subway- he has been in Korea for close to 3 years. He buys used clothing here and sends them back home to his hometown in Nigeria. He told me he misses his home and mother so much but can not go back- he said it is very corrupted there and he likes how peaceful it is in Korea. He was very nice and helped Emily and I find our correct train.
Korea Korea- oh how I love thee. I hope the new does not wear off and you stay fun everyday!
CHEERS!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
chicken and beer
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| Our dinner table on thurs. |
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| Amy- 1 of my best students, always comes to talk before class |
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| JAMES! my recruiter- so fun he is! |
BY FAR these kids are 110% better than the American freshmen I taught (probably because they look at me in awe). They call me "Megan Teacher" and ask me at least 5 questions about myself every class. "Teacher, you are beautiful teacher." I can sooooooooooooooo get used to this!!! :) It's a different mindset, teaching in korea. In America, we get alot of info from our students on what works best etc. here, the TEACHER knows it all. All hail teacher. It's nice!!! LOL! I ask them alot of questions about their lives and I have learned about their schedules- typical day for my students---- wake up anywhere from 6 AM to 7 AM school starts at 8 or 9AM and goes to 3 PM- go home for MAYBE an hour break then to a specialized class (violin, piano,dance, etc.) then to Academy (which is what I'm a teacher in) and possibly more than one for the rest of the evening- they get home around 10 PM do homework and study and go to sleep hopfully by 12 AM and do it all over again the next day- except MWF may the same and T/TH they have a different schedule. WOW is right!!!! No wonder they are out beating Westerners. Some of my kids know 3 languages and they're not even 13 years old yet! One of my girls goes to Chinese right before she comes to me--ughhhh confusing! I went to school 8-2:45 as a kid and played outside until dark most days in my childhood- I'd take that lifestyle any day. Naturally, you can argue both sides. What is considered "fun" and "leisure" time to them is playing COMPUTER GAMES ughhhh thats all I hear!!! Only a handful of my kids have been to America and it's either to LA or NYC. They ask me about cowboys- "Teacher do you know cowboy?" I always say "yessssssssssss." - and laugh. My last class is what's called a "special class" I teach conversation/debate and a novel. I am teaching Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and ughh can't think of the last one. It's a fun way to wrap up the night. Tonight I did my first round of "phone tests" tonight. I schedule a time with my kids and prepare questions and conversation- call them at home talk for about 3-5 minutes and grade them on comprehension, and speaking. To break it down- on Mon. I teach Reading to 4 different level of students (diff. comprehension levels, the lowest I have is A2 it goes all the way to A6) - on Tues. I have my advanced students and teach everything, Listening, Speaking and Reading- on Wed. Speaking to 4 different level of kids- Thurs. is the same as Tuesday- Fri. Listening to 4 diff. levels. I see the same classes MWF and the same on T/Th.
TODAY I encountered something surprising--- I walk to work right- I'm supposed to be at work at 3 PM- today I punched in at 3:01 PM- the day before 3:03 PM- back in the States with everything I have always struggled to be on time- anyways, Lily sends me an email saying do you know you have been late twice--- so I talk to her after classes and she tells me that the principal will deduct 10,000 won (equivalent to $10) every time I am late from my paycheck and it will go towards doughnuts for the teachers!!!! WOW!!!! She said since it is the first week- that will not happen but DONT BE LATE! GEESE-LOUISE you're not in American anymore- wake up! That's not even LEGAL in America I don’t think! Nevertheless I can’t be 1 MINUTE late- the funny thing is we cant leave until 10- well I am never out of there at 10- but rather 10:15- 10:30. ehhhh no biggie just another Korean quirk- they are very precise.
Anyhooo--- soooooo last Thurs. a big group of us from work went out after work- Korean teachers and English teachers. We went to "Kill Time" a bar and drank- then to eat dinner at a Korean restaurant- then to a night club and played drinking games. So So Fun! The female Korean teachers are so beautiful and love to party- they can totally outdrink this Texas girl. We got to talk on a personal level outside of work and get to know each other, gossip about the school's management- LOL. THEN, OMG, on the street we actually ran into the school's principal and Lily and the Korean teachers literally freaked out because its not good for here to see them with US- you know. She does not want them to mingle socially with any of the foreign teachers. I don’t know if anything happened- BUT tomorrow night I am going out after work with my Korean partner teacher for "chicken and beer" - yes that is THE thing to do here folks- chicken and beer, lol!
This past Saturday- Emily and I FINALLY got to meet our recruiter James after corresponding with him so much by phone and computer. We rode the subway to Seoul Station and he picked us up there with his roommate Troy. They cooked us dinner. Troy is in the American military- high up- not sure what though but in the Army. It was Emily, James, Troy and another friend, Kevin who is also in the American military and ME! Dinner has never tasted sooo good- I had actual crab legs for the first time in my life! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! and some kind of shrimp stuff. We all went out in an area of Seoul called Iteawon which is an international area. There were so many white people I didn’t know what to do!!! it was freaky! LOL! I had sooooooooooooo much fun- I wish I could remember all of it- haha just kidding. I didn’t expect this to happen so quickly- but I met a very CUTE guy from Chicago- in the military- an air traffic contoller and is so nice. It was so cute because Troy (who I'd just met that night) was being so protective over me- he told "the guy" you better not mess up boy or I'll hunt you down" hahahahaha- Troy trains military dogs- yep that’s all I'm going to say about that. Saturday night was over-the-top SO much fun! I hope every weekend will be like that.
My apartment is still bare. I will post pictures once I get some decorations up. Oh- I survived a typhoon- my door to my apt is inside the bldg and it was rattling so loudly- the wind was so strong- the next morning the streets were littered with so much debris. A couple of people were killed and electric poles were down. I know Osan Air Base is still without air conditioning in some of their buildings.
Somethings I've learned about Korea since last post- there are NO copyright laws here, drivers are unbelievably talented fitting cars in super small spaces, Kia and Hyundae are Korean companies as is Samsung, a company called "Lotte" owns everything over here- literally it's a monopoly, there is a huge community of korean mafia that is still at it today, McDonalds delivers (i dont know that from experience fyi)
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| Katie and I with our 1,000 mm of Cass beer yum! |
Oh and the picture above me and the cat is of Emily, Kevin, me and Troy.
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| look closely! OMG they dye female cat's cheeks pink like they're wearing blush! so freakin cute!!!! |
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