Meet Up

The other weekend, I miraculously found this amazing website meetup.com. It's a site where people organize groups via interest, location, etc. I joined a few groups relating to South Korea, and there just so happened to be a meet up that Sunday to see the Lantern Festival in Seoul.  It was the last day, so I was even luckier because the festival was definitely on my to do list.

I left for the meet up extremely early, because with my previous track record - odds were that I was going to get lost and end up missing out. Not so, my friends! I actually arrived extremely early, so I went out of the subway station to walk around in the crisp autumn air and grabbed an obviously world famous Dunkin Donuts coffee. (I know you're jealous, Mom!) Then back to the subway to meet the people.  Amazing people they were. There were Koreans and foreigners alike. Mostly teachers, but a few military personnel sprinkled in there. I met a guy, Ju Bong Lee, who moved from Korea to the US at age 16 and spent 11 years there with a BA in biology and a MA in biomechanics. Unfortunately, he had to come back to Korea to do his obligatory 2 years in the military. He left for basic training Monday. I gave him my address so maybe we can be pen pals. I also met Rebecca, a second year ESL teacher from Chicago. She's pretty cool and I think we'll be going snowboarding together, and perhaps a trip to Singapore for Christmas holiday. The last person I met whom I still keep in contact is Amanda.  She's from Arizona and has been here only 3 weeks.  She's a "full figured" woman, so I offered to help her with some shopping since she was in great need for a coat. Then we had dinner the other night at her place in Guri. She found some highly coveted avocados, so we (and by we, I mean she) made some guacamole, chicken, and made from scratch tortillas.  The tortillas turned out more like flat bread, but the goal was semi-achieved - a Mexican-inspired, Korean-influenced, American-made meal. Amanda has a black lab named Sirius (or Serioius?) who lives in the teeny tiny apartment. He's a sweetheart though. The lantern festival was pretty cool. I'll post some pictures.  The Chinese display greatly overshadowed the Korean display. Who knew?

I'll also post some pictures of my too cute kindergarden students I taught for 2 weeks. I miss them so much!!

 4 year olds

 6 year olds

 5 year olds

 7 year olds

 Myself, Ju Bong Lee, and Rebecca

 Korean

 Korean

 Korean

 Lanterns!

 Chinese

 Chinese

Chinese

Awkward Situations, Awesome Students

So, I realize I have been seriously lagging on my blogs. I need to step it up, but it's often times I find better things to do with my time (such as sleep). I kid, but I hope to make a conscious effort to be more consistent with my blogs. So much has happened since I last wrote.

I met a guy from Egypt in Seoul.  We had lunch at an Indian restaurant in Itaewon and then walked to the Korean War Memorial Museum which was extremely interesting. The down side - this guy kept talking about relationships/love and asking me if I had a boyfriend, etc. To which I promptly responded "No, and I like being single and don't want a boyfriend." Then I had to tell him I didn't want kids, I enjoy being by myself and I think that boyfriends are just a hassle at this point in my life. So, I thought I was not giving out any mixed signals.  However, the entire time we were walking, he wanted me to put my hand in the crease of his bent arm (like old school courting couples would walk...or how you walk down the aisle). I was extremely uncomfortable with this for a number of reasons, one being that I just met this guy, and two, I don't like being touched.  After he grabbed and guided my hand to where it should be on his arm, I took out some tissues, wiped my nose, and kept my hands in my pockets. I cut our outting short saying I had to meet my Korean sis for dinner and it takes 2 hours to get home. I don't mind stretching the truth to get out of uncomfortable and awkward situations.  Obviously this guy thought I was into him because he proceeded to text message me EVERYDAY saying "Good morning, how are you?" I guess that is friendly, but I found it too much. Then on Thursday he says "I know its over to text you every day, I don't know why I do it, but I do. Good morning." I didn't respond. Friday at 6 am I receive a message telling me to call him. I don't do it. Friday morning at 7 I get a message that says "Good morning honey, how are you?" I don't respond and I snarl in disgust at him calling me honey. Friday afternoon at 3 I receive yet another message saying "Do you mind meeting me this weekend? I need to talk to you. I miss your eyes." Okay, completely officially creepy. I respond with an I'm busy text and immediately get a "nevermind, have a good weekend." What's a girl to do? This is where my completely awesome students come in. I decide to tell them the story and boy were they supportive of me! They immediately groaned in disgust at the "honey" name and missing my eyes. They adamently told me to respond "I don't like you. Stop contacting me." They said, "Teacher, don't talk to him! Stay away. He's from Egypt?!" So, the racism in Korea was definitely portrayed, but their advice - invaluable. These kids are genius and blunt. I love how they tell it like it is. Then, one middle school class showed me how to make the guy's phone number a spam number so I will never again receive a text message or phone call from him. AWESOME!

Corporate Conspiracy

Today was "Pepero Day."  You may ask yourself, "What is a pepero?" Well, it is nothing more than a skinny chocolate covered biscuit stick.  I made out quite well, thanks to Pepero Day.  I got a lot of chocolate covered biscuit sticks as well as other chocolates.  A good day, if you ask me. I'll be tipping my hat to this corporate-created holiday.  Who knew something would be such a success. Oh wait...hello Valentine's Day.

My wonderfully decreased stash of Peperos.

Anna and Sam created a picture book of my FAVORITE song, "Down by the Bay." (Thanks, Mom for singing it to me when I was little)  Anyways, now they can no longer get the song out of their heads which is good, really.  They learned bay, watermelon, whale, moose, goose, and dare. Success? I'd say :) DISCLAIMER: ANNA IS A STUDENT - NOT ME.

I'm sure you can tell the difference between the ones Sam did and the ones Anna did.

For You Curious Folk

So, I have been uploading some photos as I've been blogging, but in reality, those photos don't hold a light to the amount I have been taking. So, I created a photobucket account purely for my  time in Korea. Hopefully, Mom and other teachers, access won't be forbidden. Please let me know if it is - (tips my hat to Big Brother).

http://s1082.photobucket.com/home/okelleyas/index

Check 'em out!

Just a Quck Reflection...

Many times Koreans that I have talked to have said, "I'm so sorry. I lost many English words. I can't talk well."

I actually started to feel really guilty.  Here I am - coming to THEIR country, yet expecting them to speak English to me.  I have come to their land for an opportunity, yet don't speak any Korean.  Perhaps I have been too critical of the immigrants coming to the United States - expecting them to know and learn English.  Maybe we as Americans should try to compromise a little more.  Nearly every developed and developing country in the world is multi-lingual, yet many, if not most, native born American citizens speak only one language - English.  I think I have a new goal. Of course I will be learning Korean while I am here (although I do not know the extent of my understanding and vocabulary will be), but I will strive to be fluent in at least one other language.  It can only be a benefit - especially in this globalized society where, however unfortunate it is, America's lead is waning.

On another note: this past weekend I went to a village a bit north of Icheon to a celadon pottery place.  Celadon (cheong-ja in Korean) is an ancient form of pottery.  This region (north of Icheon) is rich with clay, which the artisans dig themselves.

Here's a little history: http://www.korean-arts.com/about_korean_celadon.htm#The%20History%20of%20Korean%20Celadon

My bowl (apparently for tea)

The female teachers!