What a Crazy Week

Halloween is so very different here. It was so over the top at Ewha, but they don't celebrate it at all outside of school. The costumes were ridiculous, and the performances were really unusual. It was a lot of fun, but really exhausting. This was by far the longest week I've had here. We didn't teach for two days though and just celebrated. Our boss took everyone out afterwards as a thank you for all the hard work; Koreans are very into their drinking. This first photo was at the end of the night, and the guy who was passed out on the bench is our boss! I couldn't believe it!

That was one of the craziest things for me to see. I knew we were all going to have dinner together, and that's a fairly uncommon occurrence. The teachers and the staff were treated, and from what I can tell, that's the first time everyone has gone out like that in at least a year. But, it was a great time. There are subtle divisions at work between the Americans and the Koreans, and this was a great way to break through those barriers.

After we ate I assumed we would have a couple of drinks and call it a night, but that was not the case. They set us up for drinking games! I mean, I am by far the youngest person that works at Ewha, so I found that really amusing. Drinking is so different over here though. It is truly a part of their culture. To them, it is a good thing to drink with friends and "express your feelings" as I have been told many times. Even if you have work the next day, drinking is more important. I guess it's a society with a "live hard, play hard" mentality.

Anyways, these games were crazy! We were so loud we took over the whole restaurant. Instead of the owners coming over and asking us to quiet down as I had anticipated, they just laughed and enjoyed our good time. They cheered us on and kept the soju coming. 

By the time we finally left, four of the Koreans were passed out on benches throughout the Hof. So crazy! Especially since one of them was the big boss. Very very different. But, it was definitely a good bonding week.

We had to stay late and decorate, then stay late and take down. We didn't get any breaks for the two days that we had the celebration, so it was extremely exhausting. It was nice, because we all opened up to each other more. I think this week really helped me to continue to bridge that gap between myself and the Korean teachers. It's important to me to get to know them, and this was a good start.

All the kids were really cute. Most of the girls dressed up as witches. They all had on hats, and a lot of them painted their faces. They didn't know anything about Halloween though. I guess they do it up big at the Ewha because it's an American Language School. The whole time we were teaching them to say "Trick or Treat" and explaining what Halloween is like in America. It was completely lost on them. They knew they were getting candy though, so they were excited.

The Halloween presentations at school were so over the top. They made posters of each of us individually, and they had us all dying in them! What?!? A school would never do something like that in the states; it was so creepy! It was interesting to me how overboard they went with the whole thing. This is supposed to be giving them a taste of American culture and showing them how we do Halloween, but this week showed me more differences in the cultures than the rest of my time here combined. There ideas of what is appropriate are very different than ours. 

It was definitely an interesting experience. At least I was able to dress up at school! And I ate lots of candy –– by far the most since I've been here. Ohh, I felt so gross. It was perfect for Halloween. And they let me carve a pumpkin, even though as you can see it was clearly sub-par carving material. At least they tried.

Oh, there's a random picture of me in there with the bunnies. Every time I'm in that area of Suwon, I always want to buy one. They are so cute! And they have sweaters on; and they're only two dollars! But, I know it would make my apartment (aka box) smell like rabbit, and I couldn't handle it. I play with them every time though. 

I am much more animal friendly in South Korea. I will touch random animals that I don't know, and I've been wishing I wasn't allergic to cats, because I think I would buy one. But, no animal could survive very well in here, so it's a moot point. Regardless, I've been eyeing them like none other. They sell all kinds of weird animals at Home Plus, which is like a super Super Wal-Mart. They have these strange beetles and all kinds of guinea pigs and such. I'm always tempted to go that route, but I hear they smell too. Too bad.

Random pics aka "The New Same Old"

My One Month Anniversary

I have officially survived my first month in South Korea. Thus far, I have done something new every weekend and plan to keep that tradition running. This weekend will be the biggest adventure yet. About two and a half hours, multiple train lines, busses and walking. I'm so excited. It is absolutely beautiful here in the fall, and we are going to an enormous garden. All the leaves will be different colors, and there will be flowers and rivers and lots of other gorgeous things for me to photograph.

As time goes on, I realize I am definitely going to have to make an effort not to get into a routine over here. It will be a challenge to keep everything new and fresh for a year when already I feel comfortable and at home. The "vacation mode" I have been in since arriving is slowly starting to wear off, and I'm realizing this is what I'm doing for a living. This is really my life. So, now I'm trying to be a little more careful with money. Being a little more careful with money definitely makes a person aware of the fact that they are no longer on vacation. 

This whole process is really unique. Obviously unlike anything I have ever experienced. I now think in Korean just as much if not more than Spanish, and I mix the two up all the time. I cannot remember the difference in the tastes of food. When I first got here, everything tasted funky. Everything. Now most things taste normal. I wonder what kind of culture shock I will experience when I return to the states.

Finally Feeling Like a Real Teacher

Today I finally found my rhythm as a teacher. The way they set you up here and throw you into the fire, I have been working everyday without truly respecting or caring about my job. Never in my (short) life have I felt that way before. I have had jobs that I didn't like, but I have always been respectful of the work. I am a good worker.

Here so far it has been really different. I arrived at my apartment after midnight on a Friday, and I went to work that Monday. The first two days I observed. I was given no training and no direction, and on Wednesday I was teaching a full day on my own. Once I realized how things were done, I unintentionally alleviated myself of all responsibility, good or bad. I had decided I was just going to go in and try to have as much fun with the kids while I could; maybe make their days a little brighter.

I have had a really hard time not having pride in my job. This experience has already taught me a lot about myself, one thing being that I need to have a job that I can be proud of. I had planned to teach in different countries for the next few years, but I do not know if I could teach for that long. With that said, it is more specific to this program than it actually is to teaching.

Back to the point. This has been a completely stress-free job for me thus far, because I have been running under the attitude that nothing really matters. If they want to fly me out here, and don't think it's necessary to train me in any way, then I am going to do things the way I think is best. I am good with children; I'm a good teacher; and I'm doing it my way.

Today, finally, I felt like I was really doing something right. Now I am really excited to start the next session, because I have a plan. I know what I'm doing! It's so funny; this doesn't change very much in the way of my opinions towards the process. I think they would have much better success if they took the time to teach us how to teach; but now that I've hit my stride, I am filled with confidence that I can make a difference for these students. They will actually be learning in my classes, with my methods and my routine. And, they will even get to have a little fun.

It was a really refreshing feeling -- one of the first times I've been anything but indifferent about work. So that's a definite step in the right direction.

Congrats are in order

I just found out that my friend from school, Caitlin America, is being transferred to Florida for her job! Since I cannot be there to celebrate with her, I decided to congratulate her the best way I knew how. Here. I'm so excited for you!

Lame Halloween

Excuse me, but where are my giant pumpkins to carve? And my awesome Halloween inspired cups, and straws and bowls? What about a Halloween cake of greatness? And fabric to make my costume? As far as I'm concerned, all of these things are a necessity in my book, but no where to be found. It is so very disappointing. Apparently, people do not get dressed up on Halloween and celebrate with their friends. People do not go trick or treating. I'm sorry, but I was a little offended. Halloween is way to awesome to disrespect it in such a way. I'm going on strike. 

I doubt that would get me anywhere, but I am definitely disappointed by the lack of Halloween festivities with which I am allowed to partake. 

On the bright side, we will not have class at school for two days. Two full days! I could not believe it. So, even though I may not be able to decorate my apartment, there will be singing and dancing and no teaching for two entire days! Wahoo! This is a definite bonus. I am also excited about the decorating/dressing up that will occur at school on these days. Although, I am a little confused by what they mean when they say "decorate", because I have searched high and low for what I consider appropriate decor with no such luck. I will just have to wait and see what they consider to be "Halloweenish". 

I am hoping that I will wake up on the 31st, and all of a sudden there will be pumpkins everywhere, and little children with bags full of candy. I am hoping that my apartment will magically be decorated, and I only eat really bad food and pumpkin seeds all day. I guess if I think positively, anything can happen. That's The Secret, right? If I think it will come, it will come. Everybody send good Halloween thoughts my way; I'd much appreciate it. And do something really festive for me!

New Korean Friends

There is only one other foreign teacher that is a girl at my school, and she and I are very different, so I have yet to have any girlfriends out here. I enjoy hanging out with my friends from back home, their friends, and a friend of mine from school, but it is invariably me with six guys. I am always outnumbered, and boysclub all the time isn't my cup of tea. 

So, I decided to invite the Koreans that I work with out to dinner one night. We went out yesterday and it was so much fun. It was just me and three Korean women. I think they are really nervous about their English abilities, so I know it will be difficult to persuade them to come out with a group of us; but I am so glad to know that I can go out with them now. They are so nice, and were great when it was just me. 

They tell me my Korean is very good, which I am always very flattered to hear. It just boosts my ego and pushes me to learn more, but at the same time makes them feel more comfortable. It's really a win-win. Anyways, one of them really enjoys snowboarding so she is going to take me as soon as it gets cold. I can't wait. It's funny, I never thought I would want girlfriends so badly. But, I definitely have missed having those relationships like I had in college.

All of these women are a few years older than me, around 25/26. But in their culture, they usually live at home until marriage. I was so surprised when one of them took a phone call from her parents who were waiting for her at home. She promptly left. I could not even imagine! My parents are the most important people to me in the world, but both of us appreciate each other more when we don't live together. Having my independence is so very important. With that said, that's how I was raised. My mother always taught me to be independent. If I grew up here; I'm sure my feelings would not be as strong as they are now.

Even so, I cannot even imagine graduating from college, going out and getting a real job, and having to live at home until you get married. The boys do to for the most part from what I understand.

This is such a wonderful experience, and I have truly loved every minute of it thus far. But as I continue to learn more and more about the culture and the way it works, it just makes me that much prouder to be an American, especially a Texan, and to come from my parents home. We are truly blessed.

That's not even remotely what I intended to write about. The point is, I'm really glad that I was able to break down the barrier between myself and the Korean teachers and make some new friends. Especially to have some female relationships out here. It is really surprising to me how few women teach overseas here. It's probably a 10 to 1 ratio male to female. I have never gone out with Weguk (foreigners), and not been the only girl.

Mosquito Invasion

My apartment has been invaded by mosquitos. It is insanity. They attack me in my sleep, and now I have what's technically known as mosquito paranoia. Just kidding, I made that up, but it's still true. Last week, I had one fly into my nose at night! Into my nose! They come in all buzzing in my face waking me up, and it's crazy. I had the maintenance man come this morning to fix my screen, because last night I personally killed 9 of them (there were others that evaded my grasp). 

When he came in he told me there was no problem with the screen, and as long as I kept the screen on I would be fine. I found this rather confusing, since I have yet to mess with the screens. Apparently, only one side of the window is covered by a screen. I mean seriously, how was I to know? I know I know, you'd think I could see it. But I couldn't. I swear. The side of the window that was unprotected and allowed all of these evil bloodsucking killers into my apartment was behind my washer, so I could not tell that the screen didn't exist. Maybe I'm a little thick. Anyways, even with the language barrier, I could tell he was laughing at me this morning. 

Jerk.

Well. at least now I know how to fix my mosquito problem. I have this mosquito repellant strategically placed in my apartment, and now I only leave the side of the window open with the screen on it. That'll teach 'em. And hopefully now I won't wake up with giant welts all over my face!

Dancing at the Park

I just loved these little girls. We heard the music from across the way and bee-lined it to the stage. We caught the tail end of the act, which was too bad. I would have loved to watch the whole thing. Here's a few seconds of what it was like. 

A little explanation

I want to set myself up to start making good photographs while I'm over here, and I figure setting my other blog up for that specific thing will help me get a jump start. It's also really important to me to keep you all updated on my daily life over here. There is so much that is worth telling. So now all of my Korea-specific stuff will be here, and I'll keep it pretty casual like it's been.

So, there's the update. Hope you guys are liking what you see.