One Year Ago...
I Arrive in Korea
Am sitting at my new desk, in my new office. This morning was a whirl of excitement. Got my health check (drug test, blood test, chest x-ray), opened up a bank account, met my principal, was shown to my classroom and given textbooks to study, ate lunch (beef and vegetable soup, kim chee, rice, tempura eggplant, pickled vegetables), and met a Canadian named John who promised to introduce me to some Koreans and Canadians. I guess he’s lived here for two years now. We’re supposed to meet up in front of the E-Mart at seven, because I have absolutely no contact information yet. I haven’t even seen my apartment.
On the whole, I am grateful to have even MADE it to my home town. I nearly missed my transfer flight to Busan when I discovered, an hour before departure, that my light left from a DIFFERENT airport than the one I currently had my feet planted on. Yay! Just what I wanted, not an hour in a strange country, and already I had to figure out the transportation system. Fortunately there was a bus that left for the other airport at just the moment I needed, and I managed to convert a few thousand of their currency with the little cash I had on hand. Thirty minutes before departure, I arrived at the airport, whisked through security—only to be held up by the presence of one aerosol can that security determined to be hairspray (it was actually my mace that my mother had bought for me years ago, never used once, but got in the habit of carrying around anyway, didn’t think would be a problem shipped under). At precisely 8:16, my flight leaving at 8:30, I sprinted to my gate, arriving at 8:19. Eleven minutes to spare. Awesome.
The rest of the day proceeded smoothly. I met my teacher, got a brief tour of the elementary school, got into my apartment, unpacked, ate…hmmm, lunch consisted of soup, rice, kim chee, pickled cucumber, and….some sort of beef dish, I guess. Korean food appears to be mainly rice, kim chee and other pickled veggies, a soup (often seafood), and a beef/veggie dish.
Oh! And I met my first non Korean friend, a Canadian who’d been living in Korea for two years, teaching of course.
Update:
Apartment is lovely. Big room with desk, chair, couch, and bed. Two big closets and a third smaller. Sliding door opens to kitchen area, small table, and washer/dryer. And a bathroom, although with no proper shower. Koreans just use a showerhead. More space than I have at home, although the kitchen isn’t as nice as ours.
Sleep now, although jet lag has yet to catch up with me.
The Canadian is long gone. Moved back to Canada, I believe, though I may be mistaking him for a different Canadian. My view of my job and apartment has altered decidedly. I no longer like either.
But this year is another fresh start.
So let me begin.
I begin this year, I think to myself on my walk to my new school (though I did go one stop on the subway to save time and ensure I didn't get lost and show up late my first day) on April Fool's Day once again. A joke. "Where are you going to work?" "Korea." "Really. Well, when are you leaving?" "April 1st." "Okay, where are you really working?" "No, I'm serious. I'm going to teach English in South Korea."
I find the idea of starting afresh on a joke appeals to me. Unconventional, perhaps. An annoyance, for sure. After all, I start my job one month into the public school year, which essentially means I'm forced to take a hagwon job (a hagwon is a private school). But that is what I want for myself this year. It'll mean starting my life over, again, my intended whirlwind escapade through Asia and Europe, on April Fool's Day. I like that. I used to think of life in terms of semesters, fall semester, winter break, spring semester, summer break. I got to college and the fall and spring semesters got shorter and the winter and summer vacations got longer, but on the whole my schedule remained the same. For the moment, I think of my life in terms of one year contracts. Every year, to some extent, I start my life afresh.
To summarize: I have a new job, a (fairly recently acquired) boyfriend, a new apartment. The job is as follows: I teach at a kindergarten from 9:50AM to 12:00PM. I teach three classes a day, varying in age from 5 to 7 (though I'm fairly certain that's Korean age). I teach Science, Math, Social Studies, Conversation, and Boardgames. Conversation is fairly free form, and I've got some ideas of what I want to do, but I'm still in the process of figuring it out. Working at a hagwon is very much thrown to the wolves. Here's a class, here's some books, here are the kids. See you in three hours. Maybe. We'll be around, but please don't annoy us too much with questions. I haven't started the afternoon portion of my work yet. That begins Monday. But it's from 2-7PM on Wednesday and Friday and from 4-7PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. To elementary age students. Fifty minute classes with ten minutes in between. I plan on being much more assertive as a teacher, particularly in those afternoon classes. The Boyfriend is disappointed I'm not moving in with him. But he's very loving and cooks good food for me and is very supportive of my plans. And he's very excited to see me on weekends. Which brings me to my new apartment: It is..I don't know...I guess it's a bit small, but it suits me just fine. And it has everything I need. Except a microwave. I'm picking that up tomorrow.
I walked home after work to figure out the best way. It's only about a thirty minute walk, which is perfect. Just enough to get some good exercise out of it.
Tonight I was supposed to meet Jae for dinner, but she forgot, so I went next door to a restaurant someone had told me was famous. The guy was asleep at the counter..I didn't want to wake him, but I heard some noise near the back, so I went over and his wife and son were in the back room, they lived there I think, and she woke him up and I pointed to a picture on the menu of sushi and she sat me down in a little room. She brought course after course...quite a lot of food in the end, though I could only eat half of it. Some of the fish was just a little too exotic for me. But I did eat things that I couldn't identify. And I ate enough to get full. I thought it was good to treat myself to a nice dinner my first night, well, second, but it was my first day at work. And I get paid on the fifth.
Oops!
Hmm, it turns out this guy Tim is moving and he wants me to take his place at triv. I was supposed to go next week; it's flattering to think they think I'm prepared ahead of time. And I'm excited, so I said yes. But this means I better review my questions. Triv is on Sunday. Adieu!
Showing posts with label Korea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Korea. Show all posts
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
poetry
I asked a little girl what her name was today.
She said, "Barbie."
I thought, Well, that's not the worst I've heard.
She said, "Barbie."
I thought, Well, that's not the worst I've heard.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
My iTunes receipt, or "A glimpse into who I am"
Item Number Description Unit Price
1 That's How You Know
$1.29
2 True Love's Kiss
$1.29
3 (Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar (feat. Felicia Day)
$0.99
4 If You're Into It
$0.99
5 As Time Goes By
$0.99
Subtotal: $5.55
Tax: $0.00
Order Total: $5.55
1 That's How You Know
$1.29
2 True Love's Kiss
$1.29
3 (Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar (feat. Felicia Day)
$0.99
4 If You're Into It
$0.99
5 As Time Goes By
$0.99
Subtotal: $5.55
Tax: $0.00
Order Total: $5.55
Saturday, January 23, 2010
a foreigner's perspective on a film about outsiders
Spoiler alert! If you haven't watched Avatar, you may want to put off reading this.
Apologize for the delay in writing. Have actually got something both timely and interesting to write about...namely, James Cameron's Avatar.
Now, where shall I start? With the special effects? May as well, it's a point, but the least of what really got to me, so may as well get that out of the way. They were pretty, and took years, I guess, in the making. Someone said it was a combination of Fern Gully and...oh, I forget now...but I was reminded of Fern Gully. A few scenes were reminiscent of the imagery from 300. I liked that. I'm a sucker for artistic detail, even if I don't like the plot. Though in this case, I was quite carried along by the story.
Which brings me to the content. Yes, it was a little preachy. The evil Skygivers come destroy the spiritual native people who live in trees. For profit. I didn't mind that.
But the part I found most interesting was how I identified with the lead actor, Jake Sully...particularly when he became the alien. And not because of an emotional connection, but because of, how can I put this, a curious physical coincidence...
I have lately become somewhat obsessed with the relationship between our physical selves and our mental selves. That who we are, how we think, is determined by our outward appearance, our physicality....1984 said that if we can't say a word, we can't think it. That is to say, if we have no word for freedom or love, and cannot physically express it, we can't even know it.
Only by taking over a physical body resembling the "aliens," though in the final scene Jake refers to humans as "aliens," can he be a part of the native society. His physical appearance makes this possible. He looks like them. It made me think about us expats living in Korea. We can learn Korean, learn the culture, but we still won't look like Koreans.
But the thing I was referring to before...the curious physical coincidence...was something else. The movie was in English with Korean subtitles. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, when the dialogue switched to the the alien tongue, the subtitles continued only in Korean. This annoyed me, initially, or at least I thought it would annoy me. But I found it helped me relate better to Jake. I was denied what most of the audience was given, and found myself, with Jake, struggling to understand the situation. I had to rely on the body language, tonal clues given by the aliens. I could translate small bits...translating the word for "here" and thus was able to extrapolate what I felt must be something along the lines of "Why did you bring him [Jake] here?" If that wasn't the exact line, I felt it was a close enough approximation. But then I stopped trying. It didn't matter. It wasn't necessary. I knew any dialogue which Jake couldn't understand, would be explained later. It even added a bit to the suspense. It's one thing, when the aliens are discussing whether or not they are going to kill Jake-- and there's a subtitle, designed to provide the audience with maximum understanding. It's another when its translated by one of the aliens themselves. I couldn't help but be a little suspicious...like, what are they NOT saying...? There are subtleties that may be lost in translation. I knew, because Jake didn't speak the alien tongue, that nothing they said, that wasn't translated, was very important. And what little he spoke himself, considering the brief time he had with them, would be limited to casual conversation. When he addressed the aliens in his final speech, he reverted to English. Which makes sense, with another alien able to act as translator, in a very heightened, emotional moment, Jake is probably not going to try to struggle with a broken native tongue to get across something urgent and eloquent...he's going to speak English. So the important stuff, I could understand.
I also liked that the downfall of the human invaders was not the native people, but the animal inhabitants. It made me think of The Birds. It's one thing to fight an alien species, but when the entire PLANET rises against you...what do all the guns and armor of the modern world mean? Nothing.
It also amused me how the little bugs looked like those dancing dolls with the wings that spin around so that they fly in the air.
Apologize for the delay in writing. Have actually got something both timely and interesting to write about...namely, James Cameron's Avatar.
Now, where shall I start? With the special effects? May as well, it's a point, but the least of what really got to me, so may as well get that out of the way. They were pretty, and took years, I guess, in the making. Someone said it was a combination of Fern Gully and...oh, I forget now...but I was reminded of Fern Gully. A few scenes were reminiscent of the imagery from 300. I liked that. I'm a sucker for artistic detail, even if I don't like the plot. Though in this case, I was quite carried along by the story.
Which brings me to the content. Yes, it was a little preachy. The evil Skygivers come destroy the spiritual native people who live in trees. For profit. I didn't mind that.
But the part I found most interesting was how I identified with the lead actor, Jake Sully...particularly when he became the alien. And not because of an emotional connection, but because of, how can I put this, a curious physical coincidence...
I have lately become somewhat obsessed with the relationship between our physical selves and our mental selves. That who we are, how we think, is determined by our outward appearance, our physicality....1984 said that if we can't say a word, we can't think it. That is to say, if we have no word for freedom or love, and cannot physically express it, we can't even know it.
Only by taking over a physical body resembling the "aliens," though in the final scene Jake refers to humans as "aliens," can he be a part of the native society. His physical appearance makes this possible. He looks like them. It made me think about us expats living in Korea. We can learn Korean, learn the culture, but we still won't look like Koreans.
But the thing I was referring to before...the curious physical coincidence...was something else. The movie was in English with Korean subtitles. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, when the dialogue switched to the the alien tongue, the subtitles continued only in Korean. This annoyed me, initially, or at least I thought it would annoy me. But I found it helped me relate better to Jake. I was denied what most of the audience was given, and found myself, with Jake, struggling to understand the situation. I had to rely on the body language, tonal clues given by the aliens. I could translate small bits...translating the word for "here" and thus was able to extrapolate what I felt must be something along the lines of "Why did you bring him [Jake] here?" If that wasn't the exact line, I felt it was a close enough approximation. But then I stopped trying. It didn't matter. It wasn't necessary. I knew any dialogue which Jake couldn't understand, would be explained later. It even added a bit to the suspense. It's one thing, when the aliens are discussing whether or not they are going to kill Jake-- and there's a subtitle, designed to provide the audience with maximum understanding. It's another when its translated by one of the aliens themselves. I couldn't help but be a little suspicious...like, what are they NOT saying...? There are subtleties that may be lost in translation. I knew, because Jake didn't speak the alien tongue, that nothing they said, that wasn't translated, was very important. And what little he spoke himself, considering the brief time he had with them, would be limited to casual conversation. When he addressed the aliens in his final speech, he reverted to English. Which makes sense, with another alien able to act as translator, in a very heightened, emotional moment, Jake is probably not going to try to struggle with a broken native tongue to get across something urgent and eloquent...he's going to speak English. So the important stuff, I could understand.
I also liked that the downfall of the human invaders was not the native people, but the animal inhabitants. It made me think of The Birds. It's one thing to fight an alien species, but when the entire PLANET rises against you...what do all the guns and armor of the modern world mean? Nothing.
It also amused me how the little bugs looked like those dancing dolls with the wings that spin around so that they fly in the air.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Ways to Know You Were A Public School Teacher in Korea
1) You, automatically, answer the question, "How are you?" with "I'm-fine-thank-you-and-you." Then proceed to ask the rest of the three questions ("How's the weather?" and "What day is it today?") as if you were the fucking old man at the Bridge of Death.
2) You meet someone new and ask them, "Do you teach public or private?"
3) You are on Facebook half the day, at work, and have downloaded AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and Skype on your work computer.
4) New arrivals to Korea, or friends back home, ask you how work is going. And you laugh kind of hysterically.
5) You are starting to believe that knowing "hello" in a foreign language really does mean you speak that language.
6) You have gotten used to wearing high heels walking to work-- and then changing into bedroom slippers when you arrive.
7) You think eating kimchi will absolutely prevent swine flu and may actually cure death.
8) You get excited at the prospect of actually teaching.
9) You are only mildly annoyed at the students' obvious panick when you call on them to answer a question.
10) You want to adopt the kids in your class that pay attention.
2) You meet someone new and ask them, "Do you teach public or private?"
3) You are on Facebook half the day, at work, and have downloaded AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and Skype on your work computer.
4) New arrivals to Korea, or friends back home, ask you how work is going. And you laugh kind of hysterically.
5) You are starting to believe that knowing "hello" in a foreign language really does mean you speak that language.
6) You have gotten used to wearing high heels walking to work-- and then changing into bedroom slippers when you arrive.
7) You think eating kimchi will absolutely prevent swine flu and may actually cure death.
8) You get excited at the prospect of actually teaching.
9) You are only mildly annoyed at the students' obvious panick when you call on them to answer a question.
10) You want to adopt the kids in your class that pay attention.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Halloween Weekend Part II OR My First Trip to the DMZ
After a nice evening of ridiculous costumes and Indian food and political thought, I awoke early to meet up with the group for the DMZ tour. My friend wasn't going along, it was just me, so he left to go back to the base. I was dressed in my very colorful winter coat, all tie dye colors and embroidered, advertised by the woman selling it as a Prada knockoff. So, as I reflected with another girl waiting for the tour bus, there really weren't many of these out there and the ones that WERE were real and not like MY cheap copy (well, not THAT cheap...)
I was definitely excited about this one. The first time I tried to get an idea of the relationship between North and South Korea....here....was with the son of one of the teachers, about 19 years old, and I asked him if Koreans, meaning South Koreans, ever visited North Korea. He said they did, rather doubtfully, but that there were a lot of restrictions, could only visit certain places and couldnt take anything back, even rocks and stuff, as if it were a national park.
So that was my first glimpse.
My second was visiting the DMZ.
Let me say here, the DMZ is one of the few things in Korea I would have been sad to miss. I mean, I simply HAD to do it. And we all felt a bit nervous with anticipation. After all, we'd none of us been this close to North Korea and all we knew, the majority being Americans, was how evil it was and Kim Il Jong and nukes. It kind of only existed on television and so far away it wasn't even as real as Iraq....
Our first encounter was with a soldier who came on to the bus to check our passports. The tour guide told us to "please not be afraid" which made half the bus laugh, but then we shut up when the soldier boarded... Although one guy snapped a photo of his back.
Our first stop was the Bridge of Freedom, which was next to a small amusement park. I forget the name of the park. But we all had fun running around, happily snapping pictures of the Korean army statues and this sign that said to not take a picture of, and these people on the bridge seemed to be yelling at us, and us standing next to the leaflets and ribbons hanging off the barrier blocking us from crossing further onto the bridge. A Korean guy asked us to take a picture of me and a few other Americans....and so we did and then I asked him to stand so I could take a picture of him.
I bought some fluffy pink and yellow DMZ towels at the next stop, which was a restaurant, typical Korean style of a bowl of boiling tofu soup and a small metal bowl filled with rice and various side dishes, including my favorite kim chee (radishes). I also snapped a picture of a guard who unfortunately turned his head at the moment I took it. Ah, well.
Next, we were shown a movie about the DMZ. Then the screen lifted, magically, and we passed through into the museum. It actually took quite a while to herd us all through and the Koreans being shuffled into the room behind us seemed to get irritated at being delayed in watching the film. The coolest part was the DMZ diorama below the glass floor.
Then we got to pass through the 3rd Tunnel, at least walk down a bit of it to where the first blockade was put up to stop the invasion of North Koreans. The 3rd Tunnel, for those of you, like myself, who were previously ignorant of what the 3rd Tunnel is, is one of four tunnels the North Koreans built under the DMZ towards Seoul. The 3rd Tunnel entrance happens to be closest to Seoul, so that is the one the tour visits. Apparently you could actually feel the rumbling of the ground as it was being built, which was what tipped the South Koreans off in the first place. They discovered it after investigating the disturbance.
The South Koreans think there might be as many as twenty tunnels. I was unclear whether North Korea has acknowledged these. Signs in the tunnel said that North Koreans had painted the walls with coal to claim they were a coal mine. But that they didn't admit to them being a means of invasion.
I was not allowed to take a picture inside the tunnel, but I did snap one of myself, posed Billie Jean style, in a yellow hard hat. At the bottom of the underground pathway to the actual tunnel was a fresh water spring. It reminded me of the Fountain of Youth tourist attraction, which another girl on the trip had coincidentally been to before. She thought it was pretty ridiculous, too, the Fountain of Youth, anyway. Basically, it was this huge room filled with plastic people and maybe cardboard cutouts to make up this silly recreation of an Indian gathering and Pontes discovering the fountain...and in the middle was this rather pathetic little spring. They charged twelve dollars, or maybe sixteen dollars, to go see it.
I passed the fountain, and ducked into the tunnel. I could walk straight up, but it seemed like I'd hit my head (protected with a hard hat of course) if I stood up. I tried to imagine 10,000 soldiers passing through here in one hour. That's the number of soldiers (armed and fully geared, unarmed: 30,000) that could come through in that time. Me and two other Americans characteristically mocked it by pretending to be North Koreans marching through...but it was still intimidating. The Korean War was, after all, real.... Just was a bit closer to me now than it had been before. ...sort of like how the Cold War became more real when I visited Moscow... ...travel really does make the past come alive and the future seem more exciting..
We arrived next at the DMZ itself. There was an outdoor patio with observation platforms. You had to stand in behind a yellow line marked "photo line." If you stepped beyond and tried, they would take your camera and delete the photos. Some of the foreigners in our group tried to be cute by sitting on someone's shoulders...but they deleted the pictures all the same. Or standing on the wall. This happened several times. It was pretty cool to be looking right at the DMZ, but they were nonetheless pictures of a blurry panorama with some fuzzy buildings. Not really great pictures.
Our final stop was a fake train from Seoul to Pyongyang (the North Korean capital). We'd all been promised we could get our passports stamped here, and so, in like manner to little kids getting all excited about getting their "passports" stamped at national parks, we all wanted ours stamped. I'd brought mine specifically for that.
We walked into the "station." It was set up like the Lied's Discover grocery store, or similar. Made up to look like a train station. I took pictures of the departing/arriving schedule. There was this whole map laid out, a railroad system that would transport you all across the Euro-Asian continent, and I think it was part real...but Korea-- South-- couldn't access it because they were blocked, landwise, by North Korea. And as one of the guides mentioned, North Korea was hardly going to let South Korea pass across their country to save on freight costs without severe pressures, probably most effective from China. Cheaper, the guide said, to use freight to ship than boats like they used now.
I took this opportunity to discuss relationships between the divided nation. He seemed to think South Korea was more open to the idea of reuniting (the idea of the two countries reuniting is an idea I've been thinking of ever since I read an article http://tinyurl.com/yffrjhm which talked about how China wasn't as opposed to the concept as they might have been before).
And that they wanted to, but North Korea didn't....how this train could be real, leading from Seoul to Pyongyang, but it would be stopped by North Korea. There is still definite animosity towards North Koreans (as evidenced from rhetoric in the DMZ museum, video, etc about N.K. as "invaders," sneaky, underhanded, brutal...perhaps understandably, but a lot of regular people don't seem to think that is an important as reunification. I think they would like it to happen. I mentioned how "Korea" to Americans means South Korea, whereas North Korea is always referred to with the "North" as a marker. He told me something interesting.
Korea, South Korea, does the same thing. He said Koreans have a word, "Hanguk," for Korea...and this is the word I learned. But Korea also has another word that they use, "Nam-han," "nam" being their word for "south," and "Puk-an," "puk" meaning "north." In my lonely planet Korean phrasebook, North Korea and South Korea are referred to as the latter. But I've never heard any Korean call their country using that name.
I nearly missed my opportunity to check out the waiting platform, so I flew through the gate (the guy who took my 50 won/50 cent USD "ticket" wasn;t even there to tear it), and took a few snapshots of me waiting for a train. I guess, while I was discussing politics with the tour guide, a girl had actually gotten ON a train. And it left with her. She called a friend, frantically, a few minutes later. She had, naturally, no idea what to do. The train was run automatically. One tour guide seemed to think she'd get off okay and be able to take a bus back..or maybe even a subway station close by.
We pulled out of the station in our red tour bus, letting the day sink in. Our tour guide announced that "We only lost one person today." I ate some waffle cookies and slept until we arrived in Seoul. Then I relaxed for an hour, ate dinner with a guy I met on the bus, got a delicious pastry topped with cream and kiwi and mandarin oranges and some apricot tea, and caught the train at the last minute. Where I met two quite interesting deaf Koreans. But that is another story.
I was definitely excited about this one. The first time I tried to get an idea of the relationship between North and South Korea....here....was with the son of one of the teachers, about 19 years old, and I asked him if Koreans, meaning South Koreans, ever visited North Korea. He said they did, rather doubtfully, but that there were a lot of restrictions, could only visit certain places and couldnt take anything back, even rocks and stuff, as if it were a national park.
So that was my first glimpse.
My second was visiting the DMZ.
Let me say here, the DMZ is one of the few things in Korea I would have been sad to miss. I mean, I simply HAD to do it. And we all felt a bit nervous with anticipation. After all, we'd none of us been this close to North Korea and all we knew, the majority being Americans, was how evil it was and Kim Il Jong and nukes. It kind of only existed on television and so far away it wasn't even as real as Iraq....
Our first encounter was with a soldier who came on to the bus to check our passports. The tour guide told us to "please not be afraid" which made half the bus laugh, but then we shut up when the soldier boarded... Although one guy snapped a photo of his back.
Our first stop was the Bridge of Freedom, which was next to a small amusement park. I forget the name of the park. But we all had fun running around, happily snapping pictures of the Korean army statues and this sign that said to not take a picture of, and these people on the bridge seemed to be yelling at us, and us standing next to the leaflets and ribbons hanging off the barrier blocking us from crossing further onto the bridge. A Korean guy asked us to take a picture of me and a few other Americans....and so we did and then I asked him to stand so I could take a picture of him.
I bought some fluffy pink and yellow DMZ towels at the next stop, which was a restaurant, typical Korean style of a bowl of boiling tofu soup and a small metal bowl filled with rice and various side dishes, including my favorite kim chee (radishes). I also snapped a picture of a guard who unfortunately turned his head at the moment I took it. Ah, well.
Next, we were shown a movie about the DMZ. Then the screen lifted, magically, and we passed through into the museum. It actually took quite a while to herd us all through and the Koreans being shuffled into the room behind us seemed to get irritated at being delayed in watching the film. The coolest part was the DMZ diorama below the glass floor.
Then we got to pass through the 3rd Tunnel, at least walk down a bit of it to where the first blockade was put up to stop the invasion of North Koreans. The 3rd Tunnel, for those of you, like myself, who were previously ignorant of what the 3rd Tunnel is, is one of four tunnels the North Koreans built under the DMZ towards Seoul. The 3rd Tunnel entrance happens to be closest to Seoul, so that is the one the tour visits. Apparently you could actually feel the rumbling of the ground as it was being built, which was what tipped the South Koreans off in the first place. They discovered it after investigating the disturbance.
The South Koreans think there might be as many as twenty tunnels. I was unclear whether North Korea has acknowledged these. Signs in the tunnel said that North Koreans had painted the walls with coal to claim they were a coal mine. But that they didn't admit to them being a means of invasion.
I was not allowed to take a picture inside the tunnel, but I did snap one of myself, posed Billie Jean style, in a yellow hard hat. At the bottom of the underground pathway to the actual tunnel was a fresh water spring. It reminded me of the Fountain of Youth tourist attraction, which another girl on the trip had coincidentally been to before. She thought it was pretty ridiculous, too, the Fountain of Youth, anyway. Basically, it was this huge room filled with plastic people and maybe cardboard cutouts to make up this silly recreation of an Indian gathering and Pontes discovering the fountain...and in the middle was this rather pathetic little spring. They charged twelve dollars, or maybe sixteen dollars, to go see it.
I passed the fountain, and ducked into the tunnel. I could walk straight up, but it seemed like I'd hit my head (protected with a hard hat of course) if I stood up. I tried to imagine 10,000 soldiers passing through here in one hour. That's the number of soldiers (armed and fully geared, unarmed: 30,000) that could come through in that time. Me and two other Americans characteristically mocked it by pretending to be North Koreans marching through...but it was still intimidating. The Korean War was, after all, real.... Just was a bit closer to me now than it had been before. ...sort of like how the Cold War became more real when I visited Moscow... ...travel really does make the past come alive and the future seem more exciting..
We arrived next at the DMZ itself. There was an outdoor patio with observation platforms. You had to stand in behind a yellow line marked "photo line." If you stepped beyond and tried, they would take your camera and delete the photos. Some of the foreigners in our group tried to be cute by sitting on someone's shoulders...but they deleted the pictures all the same. Or standing on the wall. This happened several times. It was pretty cool to be looking right at the DMZ, but they were nonetheless pictures of a blurry panorama with some fuzzy buildings. Not really great pictures.
Our final stop was a fake train from Seoul to Pyongyang (the North Korean capital). We'd all been promised we could get our passports stamped here, and so, in like manner to little kids getting all excited about getting their "passports" stamped at national parks, we all wanted ours stamped. I'd brought mine specifically for that.
We walked into the "station." It was set up like the Lied's Discover grocery store, or similar. Made up to look like a train station. I took pictures of the departing/arriving schedule. There was this whole map laid out, a railroad system that would transport you all across the Euro-Asian continent, and I think it was part real...but Korea-- South-- couldn't access it because they were blocked, landwise, by North Korea. And as one of the guides mentioned, North Korea was hardly going to let South Korea pass across their country to save on freight costs without severe pressures, probably most effective from China. Cheaper, the guide said, to use freight to ship than boats like they used now.
I took this opportunity to discuss relationships between the divided nation. He seemed to think South Korea was more open to the idea of reuniting (the idea of the two countries reuniting is an idea I've been thinking of ever since I read an article http://tinyurl.com/yffrjhm which talked about how China wasn't as opposed to the concept as they might have been before).
And that they wanted to, but North Korea didn't....how this train could be real, leading from Seoul to Pyongyang, but it would be stopped by North Korea. There is still definite animosity towards North Koreans (as evidenced from rhetoric in the DMZ museum, video, etc about N.K. as "invaders," sneaky, underhanded, brutal...perhaps understandably, but a lot of regular people don't seem to think that is an important as reunification. I think they would like it to happen. I mentioned how "Korea" to Americans means South Korea, whereas North Korea is always referred to with the "North" as a marker. He told me something interesting.
Korea, South Korea, does the same thing. He said Koreans have a word, "Hanguk," for Korea...and this is the word I learned. But Korea also has another word that they use, "Nam-han," "nam" being their word for "south," and "Puk-an," "puk" meaning "north." In my lonely planet Korean phrasebook, North Korea and South Korea are referred to as the latter. But I've never heard any Korean call their country using that name.
I nearly missed my opportunity to check out the waiting platform, so I flew through the gate (the guy who took my 50 won/50 cent USD "ticket" wasn;t even there to tear it), and took a few snapshots of me waiting for a train. I guess, while I was discussing politics with the tour guide, a girl had actually gotten ON a train. And it left with her. She called a friend, frantically, a few minutes later. She had, naturally, no idea what to do. The train was run automatically. One tour guide seemed to think she'd get off okay and be able to take a bus back..or maybe even a subway station close by.
We pulled out of the station in our red tour bus, letting the day sink in. Our tour guide announced that "We only lost one person today." I ate some waffle cookies and slept until we arrived in Seoul. Then I relaxed for an hour, ate dinner with a guy I met on the bus, got a delicious pastry topped with cream and kiwi and mandarin oranges and some apricot tea, and caught the train at the last minute. Where I met two quite interesting deaf Koreans. But that is another story.
Halloween Weekend Part I
Sometimes I feel a rather desperate urge to get out of Busan...and this weekend, further impounded by the presence of Halloween-- a holiday my poor Korean students sadly know little about other than that their hagwon is putting on a party-- was one of those times.
I hopped on a train Saturday morning to meet a friend, also from Busan, in Seoul. Since she was going to be off on some hike during the day, I met up with another friend who helped me find a hotel in Itaewon, a.k.a. Seoul's foreigner hangout. Notorious for being filled with Westerners and a lot of soldiers, since there is a post right there. Anyway, it began raining as soon as my train pulled in, so we booked it to a hotel first, then off to find food. I'd been craving Indian since the only place I know in Busan has been closed for repairs (or something, I couldn't really read the piece of paper they taped to their sign).
I dressed up as a Catholic school girl. I felt, being a teacher, this was necessary, and my friend was supposed to dress up the same...but we didn't end up meeting here...but that's later in the story. First, must address the important issue of food. We went to this Indian restaurant (so many!) called Agra.
Let me preface this next part by describing the room in which we were seated. It was set aside from the rest of the restaurant (the larger part of the restraurant made to look bigger with mirrors lining one wall). There were only two tables. As we were being seated, I noticed this guy sitting down at the other...and what with the cramped space and knowing how lonely I felt most of the time...I invited him to sit with us. He was American, military..we talked about our experiences in Korea and he seemed to be okay with his time here.
Afterwards, he took off and my friend and I wandered Itaewon enjoying the sights and people. My other friend ended up calling around eleven wanting us to go to the university area to bar hop. But since it was so late and I had to get up early for a last minute DMZ signup, and my friend wasn't allowed in that area (due to military restrictions) after 9pm...we apologized, said we couldn't make it...and I made him discuss Machievelli with me around midnight.
Anyway, that is MY idea of celebrating Halloween.
I hopped on a train Saturday morning to meet a friend, also from Busan, in Seoul. Since she was going to be off on some hike during the day, I met up with another friend who helped me find a hotel in Itaewon, a.k.a. Seoul's foreigner hangout. Notorious for being filled with Westerners and a lot of soldiers, since there is a post right there. Anyway, it began raining as soon as my train pulled in, so we booked it to a hotel first, then off to find food. I'd been craving Indian since the only place I know in Busan has been closed for repairs (or something, I couldn't really read the piece of paper they taped to their sign).
I dressed up as a Catholic school girl. I felt, being a teacher, this was necessary, and my friend was supposed to dress up the same...but we didn't end up meeting here...but that's later in the story. First, must address the important issue of food. We went to this Indian restaurant (so many!) called Agra.
Let me preface this next part by describing the room in which we were seated. It was set aside from the rest of the restaurant (the larger part of the restraurant made to look bigger with mirrors lining one wall). There were only two tables. As we were being seated, I noticed this guy sitting down at the other...and what with the cramped space and knowing how lonely I felt most of the time...I invited him to sit with us. He was American, military..we talked about our experiences in Korea and he seemed to be okay with his time here.
Afterwards, he took off and my friend and I wandered Itaewon enjoying the sights and people. My other friend ended up calling around eleven wanting us to go to the university area to bar hop. But since it was so late and I had to get up early for a last minute DMZ signup, and my friend wasn't allowed in that area (due to military restrictions) after 9pm...we apologized, said we couldn't make it...and I made him discuss Machievelli with me around midnight.
Anyway, that is MY idea of celebrating Halloween.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sometimes I truly love the language barrier...
A conversation between my friend (네 친구), a --Korean born-- Korean language tutor and a German English teacher (선생님), a conversation that can happen few other places than Korea.
네 친구: I took German classes when I was in high school...there was this phrase (whispers something into the English teacher's ear)
(Short Pause.)
선생님: ...was that English or German?
(VERY brief contemplation.)
네 친구: I don't know.
...the phrase, by the way, was "God is dead," which my other friend, also an English teacher, inferred from his knowledge of German philosophy.
네 친구: I took German classes when I was in high school...there was this phrase (whispers something into the English teacher's ear)
(Short Pause.)
선생님: ...was that English or German?
(VERY brief contemplation.)
네 친구: I don't know.
...the phrase, by the way, was "God is dead," which my other friend, also an English teacher, inferred from his knowledge of German philosophy.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
JeJu Island...in more detail...Day Two
Okay, so aside from the usual randomness and wandering, the COOLEST thing we did that day was check out LoveLand. I heard was a statue park...okay, no, they really meant LOVEland. Korea, a country of sexual repression which doesn't even really sell tampons, you can find, but very pricy, small selection, etc., but has, as far as I know, the only park filled with statues of men and women in explicit, and hilarious, sexual poses.
It's the kind of place you really have to experience for yourself, but there were boob hills with nipples on top and a car, rocking ever so slightly, with noises coming from it, though no people inside. It was great watching all the people peering into the car, expecting to find dummies and finding nothing. The best were the "ajamas," the older women who cracked up at every display. I saw a couple pushing their perambulator with their little daughter inside. The woman at the shop demonstrated a battery powered toy that "helped" itself.... It was kind of fantastic, but I don't think I would have appreciated it outside of Korea.
...and then I had a lovely dinner of ribs and cream of broccoli soup. Mmmmmmmmm.....
On the ferry, I learned to play a dice game called Farkle...Rules kind of hard to explain here, but SO much fun. Must play with my students when I get back, as soon as I figure out where to buy six dice of the same color.
Then I pretty much slept, for some reason the ferry kept turning the lights on and off throughout the night, so I slept inconsistently with weird dreams. I caught up on my sleep when I got back home.
Lucy missed me.
I went to the gym.
I met with friend and bought a crepe with a piece of cake in it and a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies at the biggest bookstore in my area.
That is my Chuseok in a nutshell. Tomorrow shall be a day of housecleaning and lying on my bed reading. Shall update if anything interesting occurs.
Reminder: On next trip to JeJu, if such occurs, check out the Teddy Bear Museum and find Zapatos...supposedly near the City Hall. Rumoured (did I just spell that with a "u", yes I did) to have excellent Mexican food, the best in Korea perhaps.
It's the kind of place you really have to experience for yourself, but there were boob hills with nipples on top and a car, rocking ever so slightly, with noises coming from it, though no people inside. It was great watching all the people peering into the car, expecting to find dummies and finding nothing. The best were the "ajamas," the older women who cracked up at every display. I saw a couple pushing their perambulator with their little daughter inside. The woman at the shop demonstrated a battery powered toy that "helped" itself.... It was kind of fantastic, but I don't think I would have appreciated it outside of Korea.
...and then I had a lovely dinner of ribs and cream of broccoli soup. Mmmmmmmmm.....
On the ferry, I learned to play a dice game called Farkle...Rules kind of hard to explain here, but SO much fun. Must play with my students when I get back, as soon as I figure out where to buy six dice of the same color.
Then I pretty much slept, for some reason the ferry kept turning the lights on and off throughout the night, so I slept inconsistently with weird dreams. I caught up on my sleep when I got back home.
Lucy missed me.
I went to the gym.
I met with friend and bought a crepe with a piece of cake in it and a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies at the biggest bookstore in my area.
That is my Chuseok in a nutshell. Tomorrow shall be a day of housecleaning and lying on my bed reading. Shall update if anything interesting occurs.
Reminder: On next trip to JeJu, if such occurs, check out the Teddy Bear Museum and find Zapatos...supposedly near the City Hall. Rumoured (did I just spell that with a "u", yes I did) to have excellent Mexican food, the best in Korea perhaps.
JeJu Island...in more detail...Day One
I meant to go to JeJu Island with a friend...but sometimes you simply cannot wait for people to come along. You have to just do it on your own. So I did, with more or less an idea of what I was going to do...
I met two Korean sisters on the ferry who were very nice and helpful. We communicated in a mixture of English and Korean. Their Korean was better than my Korean, but not by very much. I definitely was able to exercise my knowledge of the Korean language. I communicated, though various means, that I was an English teacher in Busan. The one girl was 21, her sister was younger, but I don't remember how old. She was very giggly and liked to put her hands up to her face, a very common thing among Korean females, it appears. They helped me find a place to charge my phone, which ended up being the kiosk. The man charged me 1,000 won for 40 minutes. It lasted long enough for me to have a conversation later that night with a friend in Seoul. I also, again quite randomly, met up with a group of foreigners, which consisted of Americans, one South African, and one Australian. Five girls and one guy, Korean, though they referred to him as "Mung?" Must find out what this means (note, I hope it doesn't mean what I found online...)
I crashed with the foreigners at their hostel, 12,000 won for the night. Not bad, considering other hostels wanted me to book a 2 person room for 40,000 a night. I chanced it and it worked out all right for me. When we arrived at the hostel, it wasn't quite ready, so we wandered around downtown for an hour. We stopped at a Paris Baguette, oh how convenient those can be!, found everywhere in Korea and having nothing to do with France except that bread is also baked there. I picked up a roll which turned out to be vaguely cheese and herb flavored and orange (I realized in better lighting that the outside of the roll was that same orange colored, I should have suspected it wasn't cinnamon earlier). I also got a small carton of strawberry milk and at the very last second, as I approached the counter, the woman was JUST taking out a tray of hot dogs wrapped in filo dough with what looked to be cheese on top and I just HAD to have one (as did my friend). My second hot dog in Korea. Then it was back to the hostel. We chilled, napped, and around 11? Got up and the first thing we did was try and find the Miniaturized Museum.
We had a generally good time taking pictures of all the miniature landmarks and famous buildings (the Statue of Liberty is much smaller than you might imagine, much smaller than the Eiffel Tower, for example). This girl, Nadia, who I found myself taking pictures with that afternoon, liked to stop at the gift shops. At one, I picked up a small volcanic Buddha statue. The old man behind the counter said something about smiles, and we both thought he meant, did i want a smiling one, and I thought, sure, that would be nice...and he went around, we assumed, to exchange it...but then he sat down on a stone bench and started chipping at it-- and we realized he was actually going to PUT a smile on the little man for me. I videotaped him at work with my pink camera. It really did look much friendlier for the effort, and I thanked him and purchased a heart shaped rock and a couple of cute figureines in addition.
Then, oh!, have to share this. We had passed a go-cart place earlier and the taxi driver wanted to take us there right away, but we said, no, we want to go to the museum first...so the first thing we did after that was the carts. I was actually a bit nervous, having forgotten the last time, if ever, I had done this, but I determined to drive anyway, rather than be a mere passenger. I tried to get the man to videotape, but think that failed. Anyway, I kicked butt. I think I was third to start my car and I definitely passed everyone in the group. I KNOW I lapped the guy at least once in the end, which I think rather pissed him off (in the American sense of the word.) He complained I didn't know how to use the breaks. I did, I just didn't see the point in them. I paid for it, though, marks all over my elbows, a long scratch from my seatbelt, and a decent-sized bruise on the back of my shoulder. Well worth it.
The last sightseeing point of the afternoon was a famous waterfall which fell directly into the ocean. Quite pretty, although too many people to be serene. I could sense it being very romantic at night....
By then, we were starving so we ate at a Japanese restaurant before recuperating at the hostel for the night's adventures.
That night, one of the girls said that we needed to explore another waterfall, which was supposed to be even more beautiful at night, all lit up and gorgeous. We found it.....eventually. I think we followed a sort of snaked around path which took us basically in the opposite direction...but we DID find it, and for 2,000 won, it was worth it. Nice path up to the waterfall, too, with a stepping stone path over water.
After that we took it easy at the hostel, chatting and watching (or half-watching, half-freaking out) I Am Legend. Only it had a crappy ending where Will Smith lives and he and the woman live happily ever after.
I met two Korean sisters on the ferry who were very nice and helpful. We communicated in a mixture of English and Korean. Their Korean was better than my Korean, but not by very much. I definitely was able to exercise my knowledge of the Korean language. I communicated, though various means, that I was an English teacher in Busan. The one girl was 21, her sister was younger, but I don't remember how old. She was very giggly and liked to put her hands up to her face, a very common thing among Korean females, it appears. They helped me find a place to charge my phone, which ended up being the kiosk. The man charged me 1,000 won for 40 minutes. It lasted long enough for me to have a conversation later that night with a friend in Seoul. I also, again quite randomly, met up with a group of foreigners, which consisted of Americans, one South African, and one Australian. Five girls and one guy, Korean, though they referred to him as "Mung?" Must find out what this means (note, I hope it doesn't mean what I found online...)
I crashed with the foreigners at their hostel, 12,000 won for the night. Not bad, considering other hostels wanted me to book a 2 person room for 40,000 a night. I chanced it and it worked out all right for me. When we arrived at the hostel, it wasn't quite ready, so we wandered around downtown for an hour. We stopped at a Paris Baguette, oh how convenient those can be!, found everywhere in Korea and having nothing to do with France except that bread is also baked there. I picked up a roll which turned out to be vaguely cheese and herb flavored and orange (I realized in better lighting that the outside of the roll was that same orange colored, I should have suspected it wasn't cinnamon earlier). I also got a small carton of strawberry milk and at the very last second, as I approached the counter, the woman was JUST taking out a tray of hot dogs wrapped in filo dough with what looked to be cheese on top and I just HAD to have one (as did my friend). My second hot dog in Korea. Then it was back to the hostel. We chilled, napped, and around 11? Got up and the first thing we did was try and find the Miniaturized Museum.
We had a generally good time taking pictures of all the miniature landmarks and famous buildings (the Statue of Liberty is much smaller than you might imagine, much smaller than the Eiffel Tower, for example). This girl, Nadia, who I found myself taking pictures with that afternoon, liked to stop at the gift shops. At one, I picked up a small volcanic Buddha statue. The old man behind the counter said something about smiles, and we both thought he meant, did i want a smiling one, and I thought, sure, that would be nice...and he went around, we assumed, to exchange it...but then he sat down on a stone bench and started chipping at it-- and we realized he was actually going to PUT a smile on the little man for me. I videotaped him at work with my pink camera. It really did look much friendlier for the effort, and I thanked him and purchased a heart shaped rock and a couple of cute figureines in addition.
Then, oh!, have to share this. We had passed a go-cart place earlier and the taxi driver wanted to take us there right away, but we said, no, we want to go to the museum first...so the first thing we did after that was the carts. I was actually a bit nervous, having forgotten the last time, if ever, I had done this, but I determined to drive anyway, rather than be a mere passenger. I tried to get the man to videotape, but think that failed. Anyway, I kicked butt. I think I was third to start my car and I definitely passed everyone in the group. I KNOW I lapped the guy at least once in the end, which I think rather pissed him off (in the American sense of the word.) He complained I didn't know how to use the breaks. I did, I just didn't see the point in them. I paid for it, though, marks all over my elbows, a long scratch from my seatbelt, and a decent-sized bruise on the back of my shoulder. Well worth it.
The last sightseeing point of the afternoon was a famous waterfall which fell directly into the ocean. Quite pretty, although too many people to be serene. I could sense it being very romantic at night....
By then, we were starving so we ate at a Japanese restaurant before recuperating at the hostel for the night's adventures.
That night, one of the girls said that we needed to explore another waterfall, which was supposed to be even more beautiful at night, all lit up and gorgeous. We found it.....eventually. I think we followed a sort of snaked around path which took us basically in the opposite direction...but we DID find it, and for 2,000 won, it was worth it. Nice path up to the waterfall, too, with a stepping stone path over water.
After that we took it easy at the hostel, chatting and watching (or half-watching, half-freaking out) I Am Legend. Only it had a crappy ending where Will Smith lives and he and the woman live happily ever after.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Summar of my Weekend in Jeju...a blur...
My Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Overnight in the ferry...picked a terminal at near random and got the right one, which was good as was running late..splurged on a room with a bed so got my own bunk bed with a pull around curtain...met these two Korean girls, my age, helped me find a place to charge my cell (kiosk, 1,000 Won)...they wanted to take pictures with me in the morning...I gave the one my cell number...met up with a group of Americans, South Africans, and Australians who I spent the weekend with....Miniature Musuem filled with all sorts of minituarized national monuments, friend's quote, "Americans take note, the Statue of Liberty is smaller than you think."...it was, too, compared to the Eiffel Tower, which STILL towered above us...kicked butt at go-carts (who says you NEED to use the breaks on those things?)....checked out a waterfall that fell directly into the ocean...and another one...which we managed to do a sort of winding snake circle towards, kind of in exactly the opposite direction, hard to explain...
I talked to the taxi driver about being an elementary school teacher...banged myself up pretty well at go-carts...interesting old guy carved a smile into my volcanic rock Buddha...I took video...spent money far too freely...took random pictures with various cartoon figures and buildings...slept in a bed both nights...realizing, of all things, am becoming addicted to the triangular musubi (?), rice wrapped in dried seaweed with some kind of filling, and melon ice cream pops, very creamy and delicious...I shall miss having those, cheap, convenient, when I return to...the States?...wherever...
I want to go to Seoul for a day.
Overnight in the ferry...picked a terminal at near random and got the right one, which was good as was running late..splurged on a room with a bed so got my own bunk bed with a pull around curtain...met these two Korean girls, my age, helped me find a place to charge my cell (kiosk, 1,000 Won)...they wanted to take pictures with me in the morning...I gave the one my cell number...met up with a group of Americans, South Africans, and Australians who I spent the weekend with....Miniature Musuem filled with all sorts of minituarized national monuments, friend's quote, "Americans take note, the Statue of Liberty is smaller than you think."...it was, too, compared to the Eiffel Tower, which STILL towered above us...kicked butt at go-carts (who says you NEED to use the breaks on those things?)....checked out a waterfall that fell directly into the ocean...and another one...which we managed to do a sort of winding snake circle towards, kind of in exactly the opposite direction, hard to explain...
I talked to the taxi driver about being an elementary school teacher...banged myself up pretty well at go-carts...interesting old guy carved a smile into my volcanic rock Buddha...I took video...spent money far too freely...took random pictures with various cartoon figures and buildings...slept in a bed both nights...realizing, of all things, am becoming addicted to the triangular musubi (?), rice wrapped in dried seaweed with some kind of filling, and melon ice cream pops, very creamy and delicious...I shall miss having those, cheap, convenient, when I return to...the States?...wherever...
I want to go to Seoul for a day.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
six month mark
Tonight was my six month anniversary in Korea. I spent it, not even meaning to, with a French engineer on Gwangali beach. Drank various cocktails and finished off with White Russians. Sampled the Honey Bread (lots of sweet whipped cream over sweet white bread), chicken nachos, and chicken quesadillas. All quite tasty.
I can't believe it's been six months already.
I can't believe it's been six months already.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Foreign Culture
I spent this evening walking in the downtown of Korea with a Frenchman and a Chinese woman who speaks Korean. I rather love this life.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
In Which I Digress
I realize my last few blogs have been a series of half-finished thoughts, dashed off as I ran off, my rather needy cat very likely whining in the background, or at least mentally preparing herself to begin whining at the sound of my approaching footsteps.
This needs to change.
I hereby endeavor to be better at writing such experiences as Korea has offered me, or that I have, more often, taken forcefully. Korea is not the sort of place that gives you much. This is probably for the best-- I am much more proactive and capable than I used to be. Or, more accurately, more capable than I thought I was. I doubt I have changed much, only realized more. I should give a quiet thanks to the people I have met that have helped me through this.
Oh! I should mention, too, for the very first time in my life I have joined a gym and am going daily. I have, in the span of a week, become deeply addicted. I assume, by the time the euphoria wears off, that I will be disappointed to discover it has become an unfortunate habit and I shall not be able to stop.
I am also attempting to incorporate regular meditation and yoga into my daily schedule. I feel, between that and better diet, I will have taken care of "Self Improvement" in my list of Things To Do. My friend tells me this is what I need, I think he is right.
Next I think I need to Become More Aware. Of...life in general...of what is happening...here in Korea, in the world. I am less and less inclined to grad school, but I am more anxious to find a good seminar which teaches communication. Because I doubt there is much out there in schools that I can learn, that someone else doesn't know already and more fully than myself-- but! I think, if I search and find those people who really inspire, the people that are changing or will change the world, and bring their thoughts and ideas together...create a philosophy that makes the world a better place and more receptive to their ideas and creations...the thought is overwhelming but not impossible.
It is sort of my new mission in life. But if Ayn Rand could do it, then I think I can, too. One based on harmony and creation and progress as the ultimate good. Where making a useful product is the end goal, instead of, as too often seems the case, power.
I know what I want to do...I don't know how....
This post has definitely drifted. I apologize.
This needs to change.
I hereby endeavor to be better at writing such experiences as Korea has offered me, or that I have, more often, taken forcefully. Korea is not the sort of place that gives you much. This is probably for the best-- I am much more proactive and capable than I used to be. Or, more accurately, more capable than I thought I was. I doubt I have changed much, only realized more. I should give a quiet thanks to the people I have met that have helped me through this.
Oh! I should mention, too, for the very first time in my life I have joined a gym and am going daily. I have, in the span of a week, become deeply addicted. I assume, by the time the euphoria wears off, that I will be disappointed to discover it has become an unfortunate habit and I shall not be able to stop.
I am also attempting to incorporate regular meditation and yoga into my daily schedule. I feel, between that and better diet, I will have taken care of "Self Improvement" in my list of Things To Do. My friend tells me this is what I need, I think he is right.
Next I think I need to Become More Aware. Of...life in general...of what is happening...here in Korea, in the world. I am less and less inclined to grad school, but I am more anxious to find a good seminar which teaches communication. Because I doubt there is much out there in schools that I can learn, that someone else doesn't know already and more fully than myself-- but! I think, if I search and find those people who really inspire, the people that are changing or will change the world, and bring their thoughts and ideas together...create a philosophy that makes the world a better place and more receptive to their ideas and creations...the thought is overwhelming but not impossible.
It is sort of my new mission in life. But if Ayn Rand could do it, then I think I can, too. One based on harmony and creation and progress as the ultimate good. Where making a useful product is the end goal, instead of, as too often seems the case, power.
I know what I want to do...I don't know how....
This post has definitely drifted. I apologize.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Long awaited posting...perhaps?
I'm sitting in my apartment, mid afternoon, lazy, cat curled up on the comforter on my bed. She was whining at me a second ago, but I lay down next to her and petted her head, so now she's calm. I haven't been writing much lately, I know but I haven't felt I had much to write about. Let's see, what have I done lately....
I found a pair of cheap shoes today! Not exactly what I wanted, but precisely what I was looking for, and since they were only a few bucks, I bought them anyway. Also a lovely Audrey Hepburneque white knit, oh what's that papery material, summer hat with an oversized brim. Party tonight, sailor theme. Wearing my red and white floral print summer dress and painted my nails a candy cherry enamel red that came out beautifully.
I've been exploring the spas in Korea. Went to one up by Ocheonjang, where the cable car runs up the mountain. Large pool in the middle, very spacious feeling as compared to others, high ceiling, airy. Outdoor pool (a MUST have in a Korean bathhouse). A little girl swam up to me and asked me questions, in Korean, and I responded in kind to the best of my ability. But then I asked her, again in Korean, if she spoke a little English-- and she responded by answering, "Manni (a lot)." We then talked for a few minutes in English, her English was perfect, and then she went off, presumably to go to her mother.
Shall write more later--sorry, off in a rush!
I found a pair of cheap shoes today! Not exactly what I wanted, but precisely what I was looking for, and since they were only a few bucks, I bought them anyway. Also a lovely Audrey Hepburneque white knit, oh what's that papery material, summer hat with an oversized brim. Party tonight, sailor theme. Wearing my red and white floral print summer dress and painted my nails a candy cherry enamel red that came out beautifully.
I've been exploring the spas in Korea. Went to one up by Ocheonjang, where the cable car runs up the mountain. Large pool in the middle, very spacious feeling as compared to others, high ceiling, airy. Outdoor pool (a MUST have in a Korean bathhouse). A little girl swam up to me and asked me questions, in Korean, and I responded in kind to the best of my ability. But then I asked her, again in Korean, if she spoke a little English-- and she responded by answering, "Manni (a lot)." We then talked for a few minutes in English, her English was perfect, and then she went off, presumably to go to her mother.
Shall write more later--sorry, off in a rush!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Magic
There must be something inately in human nature that draws us to the fantastical world, worlds and stories based not on what we see, but what we believe must be true, hence science fiction, religion, fantasy paperbacks, and of course...magicians. Halfway through the show, the emcee called up a little boy to the stage (adorable, he lied and said he was seven when he was nine, so that he could come to the front) and showed him a disappearing handkerchief trick, and of course when the boy opened his hand the napkin was still there, so the emcee told him to put it in his pocket then did an elaborate show in front of the boy while he hid it..but when he turned around and had the boy look at his hand, the little boy actually looked down at his hand, surprised that it was no longer there, so caught up in the magic of it....and, you say, well he was a child, but I don't believe we ever really lose that "childlike" naivity.
But, I am neglecting the show! The Busan International Magic Show. Being so close to Vegas for my formative years, I cannot stay away from the potential of a good magic show. And I was not disappointed. Magicians traveled from Korea, Japan, Germany, Great Britai, Italy, China, and the U.S. The first American had his show translated, but the second communicated entirely in English-- and the crowd went nuts over him, standing ovation and all. His name was Tony Chapman, American, and he did this whole bit around interacting with his "partner" Tony on a TV. Simple, at first, reaching his arm into the screen, but then, a little more complex, dropping a bag of chips into the screen, and then objects started to be thrown back-- and YES I realize this isn't real, but STILL. His timing was impeccable, his charisma charming, and there was plenty of good magic overall. Highly recommend.
Another, so cute, a Japanese kid, he just LOOKED young, whose act revolved around music, CDs to be precise, that he incorporated into his acts. He was advertised as "Gorgeous magician with CDs." Fantastic. He was quite pretty, too.
Another, I believe Japanese magician, charisma felt was lacking, but he did do something unique that I had not seen before. Took a blue balloon and blew it up...and then when it was full of air, "pulled" a blue colored dove as if there were a thin cover across the balloon, which then turned into a white balloon.
A Japanese woman, there are not enough female magicians, act, while simple, contained so much charm I fell in love with her. She had perfect stage presence, every movement clean, precise, carefully chosen as she drew you into a whirlwind, literal dance. Lots of red flowers and birds. Fresh.
I did not like the other American magician as much, but he did do this pretty cool trick where he took a white flower petal and shook it around in a red wine glass and it turned into a real egg-- he even broke it into the glass to show.
I also loved how the other female magician transformed her face, pretty, fresh faced, into a mysterious white and sparkle mask. I don't know how she did it. But of course I didn't.
Tonight I shall return and come back with new tales of the unknown world that is the world of magicians.
But, I am neglecting the show! The Busan International Magic Show. Being so close to Vegas for my formative years, I cannot stay away from the potential of a good magic show. And I was not disappointed. Magicians traveled from Korea, Japan, Germany, Great Britai, Italy, China, and the U.S. The first American had his show translated, but the second communicated entirely in English-- and the crowd went nuts over him, standing ovation and all. His name was Tony Chapman, American, and he did this whole bit around interacting with his "partner" Tony on a TV. Simple, at first, reaching his arm into the screen, but then, a little more complex, dropping a bag of chips into the screen, and then objects started to be thrown back-- and YES I realize this isn't real, but STILL. His timing was impeccable, his charisma charming, and there was plenty of good magic overall. Highly recommend.
Another, so cute, a Japanese kid, he just LOOKED young, whose act revolved around music, CDs to be precise, that he incorporated into his acts. He was advertised as "Gorgeous magician with CDs." Fantastic. He was quite pretty, too.
Another, I believe Japanese magician, charisma felt was lacking, but he did do something unique that I had not seen before. Took a blue balloon and blew it up...and then when it was full of air, "pulled" a blue colored dove as if there were a thin cover across the balloon, which then turned into a white balloon.
A Japanese woman, there are not enough female magicians, act, while simple, contained so much charm I fell in love with her. She had perfect stage presence, every movement clean, precise, carefully chosen as she drew you into a whirlwind, literal dance. Lots of red flowers and birds. Fresh.
I did not like the other American magician as much, but he did do this pretty cool trick where he took a white flower petal and shook it around in a red wine glass and it turned into a real egg-- he even broke it into the glass to show.
I also loved how the other female magician transformed her face, pretty, fresh faced, into a mysterious white and sparkle mask. I don't know how she did it. But of course I didn't.
Tonight I shall return and come back with new tales of the unknown world that is the world of magicians.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Late night ramblings
It is the time of night that I ought to be sleeping and soon, but instead am thinking of my time so far in a foreign place, not the first time of course, but the first time I've lived in a foreign country, the first time I've referred to myself and my fellow colleagues as "expats," all teachers in kind, all relating to the same woes and joys, transient friends, acquaintances, but always the promise of the new, fond memories of the old, which is how I hope to end this journey, well, this part of the journey, before I return to the glitter and excitement of...New York? Most likely. I still fall in love with D.C. every single time I indulge in an episode of The West Wing. Which most certainly is an indulgence, as it is such a far cry from the, from my lowly perspective as a mere English teacher, the laidback atmosphere of Korea. Everything moves in slow motion here, which may be relaxing to some, but only makes me more impatient. If I spoke the language, perhaps things would move quicker, and I am doing my best to overcome this barrier. Somehow, I still get the impression that it isn't simply a matter of language, communication goes beyond words as I can certaintly attest to as a teacher. I can't help but think those of us living in Korea are somehow seperated from the bustle of real life, paid apartments, guaranteed employment, no worries of businesses shutting down, can always pick up a new position somewhere else with little to no trouble.
It's funny how the slow moving aspects are the most convenient, and cheapest, as well. The spas, luxuriate all day if one likes, in hot or cold soothing mineral water, overlook the mountains or the sea....take a moment to, or a half hour, for a deep massage and cooling facial, after which one proceeds to plunge into the cold pool for a sharp dip that wakes one up once again, then lets oneself fall back into a half-sleep in one of the hot pools. And while you will pay dearly for Western food, inferior in quality but just as expensive if not more so, the Korean places are delicious (mashita!) and flavorful and spicy, although not as spicy as the Koreans would have you believe, it won't scorch your insides but you may drink a bit more water than with a more mildly spiced concoction. And the inevitable dish of kim chee to spicen things up, if the food should prove too mild for your taste. Or at any rate, some sort of pickles, which Koreans do feel a very strong need to serve with dishes which both dovetail nicely into the overall meal (some meat dish) or not...such as my spaghetti carbonara from the other night.
Sometimes its nice to just chill with an icy glass of beer on a nice terrace, or drink strawberry juice and eat jam and bread at a book & care, being sure to sit near the windows, in order to people-watch, which really, is the best and maybe only thing to do in a foreign country, or any foreign location that isn't "home." Here the women all wear heels and very short skirts or shorts and long shirts that cover their shoulders.
And now, my very Korean cat, although she speaks English, I'm quite sure, is missing me, so I will take a break from writing for now and get some much needed rest.
It's funny how the slow moving aspects are the most convenient, and cheapest, as well. The spas, luxuriate all day if one likes, in hot or cold soothing mineral water, overlook the mountains or the sea....take a moment to, or a half hour, for a deep massage and cooling facial, after which one proceeds to plunge into the cold pool for a sharp dip that wakes one up once again, then lets oneself fall back into a half-sleep in one of the hot pools. And while you will pay dearly for Western food, inferior in quality but just as expensive if not more so, the Korean places are delicious (mashita!) and flavorful and spicy, although not as spicy as the Koreans would have you believe, it won't scorch your insides but you may drink a bit more water than with a more mildly spiced concoction. And the inevitable dish of kim chee to spicen things up, if the food should prove too mild for your taste. Or at any rate, some sort of pickles, which Koreans do feel a very strong need to serve with dishes which both dovetail nicely into the overall meal (some meat dish) or not...such as my spaghetti carbonara from the other night.
Sometimes its nice to just chill with an icy glass of beer on a nice terrace, or drink strawberry juice and eat jam and bread at a book & care, being sure to sit near the windows, in order to people-watch, which really, is the best and maybe only thing to do in a foreign country, or any foreign location that isn't "home." Here the women all wear heels and very short skirts or shorts and long shirts that cover their shoulders.
And now, my very Korean cat, although she speaks English, I'm quite sure, is missing me, so I will take a break from writing for now and get some much needed rest.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Another lazy Sunday....
It's a lazy Sunday, so of course I'm writing. In the ten minutes I have before Socrates Cafe. I treated myself, a small treat considering the cost, to the public bathhouse yesterday afternoon. I love the peaceful feeling, sitting, relaxing, enjoying the view of the ocean. I must try another someday, but I really do like this one. A little girl kept following me around this time, shy, only 2 years old, but she thought I was pretty. She wouldn't talk to me, though, even though her sister kept prodding her.
Afterwards, I felt I could really treat myself to a nice dinner. Italian, at this lovely restaurant just outside of the spa, and quite reasonable for being Italian. 15,000 won for pasta, "garlic" bread, and dessert. I shall explain the quote marks in a minute. I was naturally hesistant over the pasta, but as it turned out the carbonara sauce was very flavorful and lots of bacon, not the best I've ever had, but good, although the "Pettucini" turned out to be spaghetti (of course!) But the GARLIC bread.... The waiter came by and placed a basket with two grilled butter slices of bread and a packet of strawberry jam. Mildly confused, I spread the jam on the bread anyway and it was quite delicious. But not garlicky. I attempted to present this dilemma to the waiter who proceeded to present me with another portion of jam and bread, which I ate. When I'd finished he recited a list of desserts, coffee, Sprite....and when he got to ice cream, I gratefully said "Yes." (yes, a real desssert!) I sat, there, terrace overlooking the sea, book in lap, gorgeous view, so serene and romantic. And walked slowly, deliberately almost, back to the beach, along the beach, bus home, and read the last of my copy of Siddhartha which I had picked up the other day at the bookstore.
Afterwards, I felt I could really treat myself to a nice dinner. Italian, at this lovely restaurant just outside of the spa, and quite reasonable for being Italian. 15,000 won for pasta, "garlic" bread, and dessert. I shall explain the quote marks in a minute. I was naturally hesistant over the pasta, but as it turned out the carbonara sauce was very flavorful and lots of bacon, not the best I've ever had, but good, although the "Pettucini" turned out to be spaghetti (of course!) But the GARLIC bread.... The waiter came by and placed a basket with two grilled butter slices of bread and a packet of strawberry jam. Mildly confused, I spread the jam on the bread anyway and it was quite delicious. But not garlicky. I attempted to present this dilemma to the waiter who proceeded to present me with another portion of jam and bread, which I ate. When I'd finished he recited a list of desserts, coffee, Sprite....and when he got to ice cream, I gratefully said "Yes." (yes, a real desssert!) I sat, there, terrace overlooking the sea, book in lap, gorgeous view, so serene and romantic. And walked slowly, deliberately almost, back to the beach, along the beach, bus home, and read the last of my copy of Siddhartha which I had picked up the other day at the bookstore.
Monday, July 20, 2009
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