I've been brainstorming for days on what to incorporate and how to conduct my conversation class. I decided to try something that involves creativity and speaking - "What would you do if..." I created all these little scenarios, cut them up, and put them in a cup. Max and Sarah then took turns drawing out the slips and responding to the prompts. Sarah didn't really come up with anything too funny, just playing computer games (I learned that Korean children LOVE their computer games). But Max came up with some pretty good answers.
"What would you do if you saw a dinosaur?" His response - If it were a little dinosaur, I would kill it and have dinosaur meat. Then I would use the teeth like a knife. And if another dinosaur appeared, I would kill it with dinosaur teeth. ... I don't know, I just found that funny coming from a little Korean kid with glasses and long hair and wearing skinny jeans. Too cute.
"What would you do if you were the President?" Sarah's response - I would make Korea rich. 'Richer than America?' That's impossible, she says. (Oh, what little of world politics/economics these youngsters know).
- Max's response - I would make a dictatorship and then I would have lots of money and if someone didn't like me, I would give them money to lie to me and like me. Then I would make North Korea and South Korea one. 'But North Korea already has a dictator. What would you do?' I would put poison in his dessert and give it to him. Then he would die.
Today was the best day of classes I've had. I enjoyed them, but I did not enjoy a curve ball being thrown in my loop. My first middle school class was supposed to meet today, and I had made many worksheets, quizzes, vocabulary lists, and had my plans well thought out. Buuuut, apparently they have mid-term exams in school and therefore chose to study for that instead of have class, and Chong-hwa allowed it. So, I didn't have that class and now my two middle school classes are not on the same schedule as far as my lesson plans go. Not what I was going for. I did learn, however, that I am quite animated in teaching - I remind myself of Mrs. Keel. Which is great, because she is one of my most influential teachers. (List: Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Stewart [now Mrs. Hinson], Mrs. Keel, and Ms. Nicodemus) If I can take after those wonderful women, I'll be on the right track.
Aside from teaching - I got my results back from the hospital's physical - all is well. We (Trisha and I) stopped by the Immigration Office and applied for my Alien Registration Card which I pick up October 12. I hate waiting so long.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Everyday is a Holiday in Everland
Trisha, Kunhwa, and I went to Everland today! It was supposed to be autumn weather, but it was scorching. Not much to post here, I took some photos so you can see my Korean sisters. (Mom, if you click on the photos, they enlarge)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Context and Perspective
In the literary world, context is essential to understand a text. After some thinking, I whole-heartedly believe that context and perspective are essential to understanding (and surviving) in the real world. I guess I have been looking at my situation in South Korea in the wrong perspective. Of course I am going through culture shock. Of course I am not understanding what anyone is saying. Of course I am lonely. But, I must look at things from a different angle. I am getting so many experiences and chances to do things. A very close and dear friend of mine wrote me a message before I left about a Yogi-ism. "If you see a fork in the road, take it." I realize that things may not go as I have planned (getting lost), but something came out of nothing. At the very least, I learned what bus numbers to take to get to a certain point. I'm trying very hard to keep my thoughts positive. One day at a time.
Today, I went to Hwaseong Palace. Here are some photos!
Today, I went to Hwaseong Palace. Here are some photos!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Not in Everland
It's a shame I don't like amusement parks. It's an even bigger shame it was raining today, because Everland (an amusement park) is where my destination happened to be.
I was supposed to meet Emma today at Bundang Station, so I googled the directions and wrote down the bus stops and numbers. Today was going to be a better day than yesterday (story will be later). I boarded the first bus (10-5) with no problem and got off on the stop that googled had instructed. After thirty minutes, and countless buses later, my bus number never showed up. Maybe I got off on the wrong stop...so, I got back on the 10-5 bus to ride to the next stop and wait. No 5500-1 to be seen. I decided to hop on bus 66 which had "Suwon Station" clearly written in English - to my relief. I was going to go there to ride the subway to Bundang. It should be easier. This bus 66 did NOT go to Suwon Station. Instead, I traveled all the way (over an hour) to Everland - the other side of the province from Suwon Station! Well, I might as well walk around Everland and take a few photos, seeing as my 2 o'clock appointment with Emma was in the past. I walked up to the ticket booths - all of them were closed. So, no Everland for me. It is raining. My shoes are soaked. The ticket office is closed. I'm over an hour away from any place that I know. I go back to the buses and hop on 66-4. It goes to the same place as 66, but has more stops. I'm angry and frustrated. Plus, I feel like a total sketch ball and hope that Emma won't be too mad (I emailed her to explain). I see a McDonald's on the way home and decide that I would like some comfort food after a dismal trip. I order a regular "burger" thinking that it would hit the spot. This burger is no McDonald's hamburger. There is cabbage, some mayonnaise-looking paste, and a barbeque/teriyaki glazed patty. I took one bite and disgustedly threw the rest away. Another disappointment. Walking out of McDonald's a clearly American song is playing very loudly. I feel defeated and homesick. Standing in the cold rain, I cannot hold back the tears pushing the brink of my eyes. Only a few drops, I don't want to draw any MORE attention to myself other than the normal stares I get from everyone - young, old, man, woman. I finally make it home and stop by Dunkin' Donuts. McDonald's was a failure, but DD pulled through for me. One iced Cafe Americano and a bavarian filled donut later, my spirits were up. As soon as I walked through my door and took my shoes off, the doorbell rings and Trisha stops by. She cooked a meal for her family and dropped some off for me! Perfect timing or what?! Her kindness blows me away. I am so thankful - it will be hard to leave her whenever the time comes (a year from now or shorter).
Yesterday I met Steven after a long and arduous day. We were supposed to meet around 2.30 for coffee and then go to some microbreweries in Seoul. I go to E-Mart to meet (our pre-designated spot). For 4 hours I sit waiting, watching bus after bus come and go. I decide enough is enough and go home after stopping for some delicious mandu (steamed dumplings). I get on skype (our means of communication) and he is online. We decide to attempt to meet again, this time at a GS gas station (about a 30 minute walk from my place). So I go there (around 7.30). Yet again, I wait until 9 and he is no where to be found. I go home and get online. He's online. He says he was there and didn't see me - this is ridiculous. We give it one more whirl and finally, (third time's a charm) we meet. I thought this was a good idea, until I realized, I cannot stand this guy. He is a pompous asshole (sorry, Mom). I will not be hanging out with him again, and I blocked him on Skype, so we won't be in contat. On a good note though, I met some cool girls in the Air Force, so we plan to hang out sometime. :)
Tomorrow, I am supposed to meet Rod, a German-South African. He has been living here for 2 years. He gave me his cell phone and told me to call him via pay phone if I have any troubles. Hopefully tomorrow will work out in regards to transportation and also personality. Certainly I can't meet 2 pompous assholes in a matter of 3 days, right?
I was supposed to meet Emma today at Bundang Station, so I googled the directions and wrote down the bus stops and numbers. Today was going to be a better day than yesterday (story will be later). I boarded the first bus (10-5) with no problem and got off on the stop that googled had instructed. After thirty minutes, and countless buses later, my bus number never showed up. Maybe I got off on the wrong stop...so, I got back on the 10-5 bus to ride to the next stop and wait. No 5500-1 to be seen. I decided to hop on bus 66 which had "Suwon Station" clearly written in English - to my relief. I was going to go there to ride the subway to Bundang. It should be easier. This bus 66 did NOT go to Suwon Station. Instead, I traveled all the way (over an hour) to Everland - the other side of the province from Suwon Station! Well, I might as well walk around Everland and take a few photos, seeing as my 2 o'clock appointment with Emma was in the past. I walked up to the ticket booths - all of them were closed. So, no Everland for me. It is raining. My shoes are soaked. The ticket office is closed. I'm over an hour away from any place that I know. I go back to the buses and hop on 66-4. It goes to the same place as 66, but has more stops. I'm angry and frustrated. Plus, I feel like a total sketch ball and hope that Emma won't be too mad (I emailed her to explain). I see a McDonald's on the way home and decide that I would like some comfort food after a dismal trip. I order a regular "burger" thinking that it would hit the spot. This burger is no McDonald's hamburger. There is cabbage, some mayonnaise-looking paste, and a barbeque/teriyaki glazed patty. I took one bite and disgustedly threw the rest away. Another disappointment. Walking out of McDonald's a clearly American song is playing very loudly. I feel defeated and homesick. Standing in the cold rain, I cannot hold back the tears pushing the brink of my eyes. Only a few drops, I don't want to draw any MORE attention to myself other than the normal stares I get from everyone - young, old, man, woman. I finally make it home and stop by Dunkin' Donuts. McDonald's was a failure, but DD pulled through for me. One iced Cafe Americano and a bavarian filled donut later, my spirits were up. As soon as I walked through my door and took my shoes off, the doorbell rings and Trisha stops by. She cooked a meal for her family and dropped some off for me! Perfect timing or what?! Her kindness blows me away. I am so thankful - it will be hard to leave her whenever the time comes (a year from now or shorter).
Yesterday I met Steven after a long and arduous day. We were supposed to meet around 2.30 for coffee and then go to some microbreweries in Seoul. I go to E-Mart to meet (our pre-designated spot). For 4 hours I sit waiting, watching bus after bus come and go. I decide enough is enough and go home after stopping for some delicious mandu (steamed dumplings). I get on skype (our means of communication) and he is online. We decide to attempt to meet again, this time at a GS gas station (about a 30 minute walk from my place). So I go there (around 7.30). Yet again, I wait until 9 and he is no where to be found. I go home and get online. He's online. He says he was there and didn't see me - this is ridiculous. We give it one more whirl and finally, (third time's a charm) we meet. I thought this was a good idea, until I realized, I cannot stand this guy. He is a pompous asshole (sorry, Mom). I will not be hanging out with him again, and I blocked him on Skype, so we won't be in contat. On a good note though, I met some cool girls in the Air Force, so we plan to hang out sometime. :)
Tomorrow, I am supposed to meet Rod, a German-South African. He has been living here for 2 years. He gave me his cell phone and told me to call him via pay phone if I have any troubles. Hopefully tomorrow will work out in regards to transportation and also personality. Certainly I can't meet 2 pompous assholes in a matter of 3 days, right?
Friday, September 17, 2010
First Friday
The week is over! It wasn't too hectic or anything, I'm just glad that I have a ton of free time to do as I please. I went to the hospital yesterday to get my physical, thinking that I would be able to go to the immigration office immediately after, but no - I have to wait to get my results on the 27th. I don't want to wait that long because I need my alien registration in order to get a cell phone, a bank account, and to get paid (I think). Trish is urging me to do everything immediately so that I will be safer.
I found an awesome mandu place not far from my apartment. It's cheap, too. I will probably go there way too often - but they are steamed, so that's healthy, right? Trisha and I checked out a gym near us. We both want to be fit (her husband is complaining of her weight, she says), so she thinks it will be a good idea to go together. It is very...unique. The floor is black and white tile (like a pizza parlor), with blue and red neon lights inside. The music is like Korean house/techno and there are uniforms - the women wear red shirts with black shorts and the men wear black shirts and black shorts. Of course, you don't HAVE to wear the uniforms (and if I decide to join, I will opt to wear my own attire). There is also a place to practice your golf swing - it is strange.
Trisha's daughter, Kona (not sure of the spelling) is precious. She seems very excited every time I come around. She doesn't speak English well, but Trisha translates and we have a good time. She is an only child, so as Trisha is my "anyi," I am Kona's "anyi" (sister). In fact, I went to Trisha's condo today. It is so nice. She has many rooms, a leather sofa, and everything that my apartment does not, haha. But, I am pleased with my furnishings and do not want to complain because it could be much worse. Trisha gave me a pot to cook rice and other things in because she was afraid I was not eating. She also taught me how to work my washing machine and brought me plenty of tissues. lol.
I finally found out my mailing address! Here it is: (drum roll)...
Anna O'Kelley
Room # 101
994-6 Yeongdeok-dong Giheung-gu Yongin-si Gyeonggi-do South Korea 446-908
So, now you know it. MAIL ME! (If you mail me, me love you long time :-P )
HEY! Send me photos or article clippings or magazine excerpts or anything that I can decorate my apartment with that reminds me of home. I will love you even longer (and maybe send you something Korean, if I find anything worthy).
I found an awesome mandu place not far from my apartment. It's cheap, too. I will probably go there way too often - but they are steamed, so that's healthy, right? Trisha and I checked out a gym near us. We both want to be fit (her husband is complaining of her weight, she says), so she thinks it will be a good idea to go together. It is very...unique. The floor is black and white tile (like a pizza parlor), with blue and red neon lights inside. The music is like Korean house/techno and there are uniforms - the women wear red shirts with black shorts and the men wear black shirts and black shorts. Of course, you don't HAVE to wear the uniforms (and if I decide to join, I will opt to wear my own attire). There is also a place to practice your golf swing - it is strange.
Trisha's daughter, Kona (not sure of the spelling) is precious. She seems very excited every time I come around. She doesn't speak English well, but Trisha translates and we have a good time. She is an only child, so as Trisha is my "anyi," I am Kona's "anyi" (sister). In fact, I went to Trisha's condo today. It is so nice. She has many rooms, a leather sofa, and everything that my apartment does not, haha. But, I am pleased with my furnishings and do not want to complain because it could be much worse. Trisha gave me a pot to cook rice and other things in because she was afraid I was not eating. She also taught me how to work my washing machine and brought me plenty of tissues. lol.
I finally found out my mailing address! Here it is: (drum roll)...
Anna O'Kelley
Room # 101
994-6 Yeongdeok-dong Giheung-gu Yongin-si Gyeonggi-do South Korea 446-908
So, now you know it. MAIL ME! (If you mail me, me love you long time :-P )
HEY! Send me photos or article clippings or magazine excerpts or anything that I can decorate my apartment with that reminds me of home. I will love you even longer (and maybe send you something Korean, if I find anything worthy).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)