Time to 'Master that Hangul'

Back in the Mainland~

2012-01-22T20:09:00.000-08:00

Home for the holidays (first time in 2 years)

Texans and Minnesotans Reunited ;)
(a welcomed family reunion)

Visit to the Big Apple:
Times Square with sis~

Attempt at taking a photo of my cat... ;)

Master Cleanse

2011-11-12T13:34:00.001-08:00

A friend in my program and I decided to bind together and commit to trying the Master Cleanse.

First, my disclosure:
Our reasons are not based on 'losing weight.' Neither of us believe in diets that do not incorporate exercise and allow your body to shed pounds gradually over time. This type of 'diet' would not be healthy for the sole purpose of losing weight. It's too extreme in that regard (not to mention lacking in some much needed nutrients if done for an extended period of time). For me, this cleanse is a way to detox my body, better understand the role food plays in society, as well as my relationship with food. Essentially it is a challenge for the body and mind cleansing test of will. I am only doing the 10 day challenge (plus the 'ease out' days). That's long enough.

Anyways, enough with that spiel. Here are some of my thoughts in a nutshell (or since I'm in Hawai'i... my thoughts in a apple-banana peel).

Journal처럼: (일기처럼)
*Of course this 'journal' is leaving out other aspects of this graduate student's life. Just some tidbits of information to chew on.

Day 1: (Tuesday)
-Not so bad. I only consumed 3 cups of the 'special lemonade' consisting of lemon, (real) maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water.
-Note to self... bad idea. Follow the directions which state AT LEAST 6 and do not forget to bring the nifty ingredients with you. (규칙 잘 따라야지. 알았어...)
-Awareness of how often I think about food. What kind of energy do I actually need? Am I really hungry or just under the assumption that I am hungry (out of habit).

Day 2: (Wednesday)
-Salt water is bad. That did not get better. (마시기가 안 좋아... ><)
Chugging 1 L of salt water is no walk in the park... (절대로 그렇지 않아!)
-Awareness of how often I hear others mentioning food.
-Temptation isn't so bad. (생각보다) Very endurable actually.

Day 3: (Thursday)
-Free lunch? What? It's not Pizza Hut but actual food? Wait... I can't partake. This blows....
(5 minutes later) Didn't give in... strangely feel empowered. Awareness of my desire to eat for economical reasons.
-I love my lemonade. No professor it is not whiskey (maple syrup bottle apparently bares resemblance to a whiskey bottle ㅋㅋ). ^_^

Day 4: (Friday)
-Food really is ingrained in culture; not just 'our' culture but all culture. In part, it defines a society, social interactions and so much more. Awareness brews.
-Still hate salt water... "This is chicken soup. This is chicken soup." Ummm... I guess my mind power isn't that convincing. Darn. Good try.

Day 5: (Saturday)
-I feel alive (at least during the day). Feeling good. (기분이 좋다 ^_^)
Cashier: "You must be making some lemonade". (Brings back memories of buying out the Chex cereal at Home Plus (in Korea) for my high school students' "American snack" class)

My response: "Nah... Wait. Actually I am". (*wink*)

-It appears that this Master Cleanse is also "bipoloaring" my daily 'condition' (meaning: discomfort level mood, energy level, etc). Never a dull moment... Then again my 'episode' was self-inflicted to an extent, but I prefer to blame it on my 'studies'. I didn't want to disrupt my study groove so I decided not to return home for my lemonade. This led to a stomachache and a choice to deny myself a lemonade when I returned home. In short, no lemonade. Just study, chit-chat with housemates, and 바로 sleep.
-Awareness of the repercussions of denying your body what it needs (not wants but needs). "Listen to your gut" has a whole new meaning.

Day 6:
-I have made petty comments about having 'experienced hunger' such as "I'm starving...", "I need food now... so hungry" but more often than not it is a mind game. I find that often a non-premeditated thought will spill from my lips, including comments about hunger, a need to buy something, a dislike for something petty... the list continues. I'm aware that I am "a bit" sensitive about the my surrounding environment (general or individual moods) but this realization pertaining to hunger has been thought-provoking to say the least (for lack of better of words).

-Lifting my head was an effort; let alone cutting a lemon. But to an extent this was a mind game as well, or rather a test of will. I had not followed the rules down to a tee and was suffering from those decisions. Therefore, "Get up," I order myself and managed to make two cups of the lemonade. Felt infinitely better. Wow. That was intense.

Day 7:

-Not bad. Awareness of the declination of my indulgent cravings. I feel less antsy, calm around the aroma of delicious entree or dessert.

-Entering the garden on my property was where the urge to verge from the lemonade increased. I was craving veggies. Not bad not bad. :) But the chocolate piano that was shared in the study room was something I wouldn't have minded digging my teeth into. :)

Day 8:

-Feel energized.

Day 9:

-Nothing special. Just feels like another day.

Day 10:

-Last salt water cleanse! Let me tell you. Nothing could make me happier (Exception: if I could sneak a peak at the day after finals to assure myself that I did indeed come out alive^^).

-I keep telling myself that I should extend the 'Cleanse' but actually extend. This also is playing a trick on the mind. Knowledge that this is the last day spurs temptation for some reason... So fool the mind. ^^

-Just bought a carton of 100% organic juice. This better be good because it did a number on my wallet. Then again why am I complaining? I am avoiding the original instructions stating that I should juice enough oranges to produce 2 L of orange juice for tomorrow's 'Ease Out'. This should be sufficient.

Day 11:

-10 days are up! Home "free". Just 'easing out' of the Cleanse at the recommended pace. Now here is the test. Will I remember what has been learned? Looking forward to a yogurt though. ^^

*Note: If you haven't heard of the 'Master Cleanse' here is a link to some basic information:
http://themastercleanse.org/

One month?

2011-11-09T19:12:00.000-08:00

As my tutor handed me a box of 'Pepero' (빼빼로), a cookie stick dipped in chocolate, it hit me. There is only one month remaining (of the semester).

*Note:
Korea tends to have more than the average number of commercialized holidays, one being 'Pepero Day'. On this day people buy pepero for their friends, significant other and so on. The reason? Two sticks laid side by side give off the appearance of an '11' making November 11th (11/11) Pepero Day. Nice marketing scheme huh? Well, it works. I just landed myself a box early.

The rest of the semester will require me to put writing skills to the test. Hopefully writing all those 발표 (presentation scripts) was enough to sharpen my writing skills to a manageable level. We shall see. Aside from papers and regular assignments (such as translations, hanja (Chinese characters) and weekly presentations), my current task is to prepare for the year in Korea. My second and third semesters will be spent studying and interning in Seoul. I've been researching a few internships that strike my fancy enough to compel me to research a bit further and find a concrete tie between my end thesis paper/presentation and the internship. We have to present our top choices tomorrow in class. Wish I could intern in all three organization/NGOs that I took a liking to. One step at a time Emily.

...Better get back to writing that resume and personal statement...but my mind is concentration is wavering between the work I have to get done; Korean-related things that have nothing to do with the program (such as a Korean film called 'Sunny'(써니) and a novel titled 'The Crucible'(도가니); and the 'Master Cleanse' that I my friend and I have made a pack to be successful til the end.

If I close my eyes, will I find myself shivering as I wait for my 'drying machine heated' blanket (as bad as that is for the environment...) fighting with my cat for the warm spot on the kitchen radiator? Not yet, but there is still much to do, skills to build, and places to see this before this semester is up ;) This is what I keep telling myself. But despite the fact that I often find myself barely able to lift my eyes slowly resembling that of a set of 'matches' (성녕) as my professor and housemate joked (not about me in particular), I am grateful to be in this program in Hawai'i. Let's just hope that it likes me enough to give just as pleasant of a grade. ;)

*Note: Reference to "a set of matches": This must be one of those 'Korean phrases' that does not translate into what would be concerning a "PC" English phrase in the states haha. Oh cultural differences. Oh Korea :-)

Time does fly. Just like I will right... now. More writing to come from giddily sleep-deprived Emily. ^^

Happy Belated Halloween!

The Rarity of a Strip of Color in the Sky

2011-11-07T02:28:00.000-08:00

(a little break for Taro bubble tea in the middle of Media class) ^^

Months have flown by without the slightest hint indicating that I have not been devoured by Hawai'i. The minor earthquake on the Big Island did not affect Oahu, but my studies have been 'devouring' my time so to speak. I apologize for the large lapse between blog postings. You know that feeling when you have so much to say that you feel overwhelmed where to begin? The prolonged activity (in this case blogging...) continues. Although I have been getting my fill of writing in Korean, writing this entry makes me aware just how much I miss blogging. Time to fix that eh?

This masters program has been giving me a run for my ...money yes (given that it is Hawai'i) as well as testing my patience and self-discipline. This is nothing new for those of you have gone through a Master program. Life becomes one of routine in the sense that I have my favorite places to study, my sleeping schedule is slightly bizarre (for instance, since when have I been an 'early bird'? Since this program), my body demands replenishment in the wee hours of the night or daybreak (snack time), and so on.
On top of school work, being in such a tight knit cohort has also brewed an assemblage of support, flexibility, internal challenges, and closeness. These are the people I interact with nearly everyday for multiple hours at a time. What initially binds us is that we close to enter an intensive Korean Masters program, but our reasons for enrolling, study methods, goals, and personalities are across the board. In a briefing, we have members interested in food, martial arts, law, foreign service, music, performance, Korean film and dramas, languages, and so on. This may sound generic but there is no better way to capture the overall experience, which is enough to understand the overall feel. Humans interacting with humans never leaves time for a dull moment if you actually care to take a careful look at the situation. Anyways, the cohort including professors is starting to feel like a 'mini family' at the very essence of the term. :)

Rainy season has begun. With all this being said, I allow my umbrella to fold once again as I look up to see one of the not so rare 'rarity', a rainbow and am reminded that despite all the chaos surrounding my program and penetrating my mind, I need to take time to look up and appreciate what is not commonly seen in other parts of the country or globe.
Thank you Hawai'i.

I will write more soon!

Here I am in the Place deemed as 'Paradise'

2011-08-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

Has it really been over 10 weeks since first arriving in Honolulu, suitcase and laptop in hand, holding bits and pieces of the past two years of my life in Korea and few days stay in Minnesota.
"What's next?" friends, family and acquaintances alike inquired. After unveiling the answer, you may be able to guess the type of responses I received, mirroring that of bewildered envy, "Wow... study in Hawai'i? Wish I could go to Hawai'i," or playful joshing concern, "Poor you. I bet you'll have such a hard time 'studying' on those beaches."

(Side note)
I spent a month in Hawai'i as an undergraduate for a class on Multicultural Communications and have never really been a so-called 'beach bum'. So although the above comments bare truth for many visitors of the Hawai'ian islands, my purpose for being here was not centered around vacationers' attractions. With this being said I do admit that I have started a list titled, "Rewards for more than surviving this program," which includes numerous hikes, along with a submarine and (after the whales have returned to Hawai'i) Jurassic Park excursion. So despite my above statement, I too have some touristy-destined "must-dos" on my personal list stemming from my childhood obsession with sea life and love of the (first) Jurassic Park film. However, I was ready to experience Hawai'i for its rich natural, ethnic and cultural and diversity. During my time in Oah'u, I have been trying to engage in dialogues and experiences that expose me to what Hawai'i is, beyond the touristic image. I am interested in countries (states, cities, etc) that have had to (to some degree) compromise their culture or identity to feed the tourist industry that in a way sustains them (not only Hawai'i). How is it preserved? Core beliefs and values not forgotten? What parts are in danger of being lost?

When exiting the plane for my layover in Phoenix, I be-musingly asked myself, "So, where am I staying?" This question remained unanswered until I landed at the Honolulu Airport. Somehow one of the many calls (made prior to boarding the plane) had paid off. (Phew.) Avoiding the brief stay in a Waikiki Hostel with vacationers and/or a night in a overly pricey hotel was much appreciated.

My first weeks were spent in a YMCA conveniently located across from the University of Hawaii-Manoa (UHM) campus, offering housing to students. I didn't have a roommate for the entire summer session, which allowed me to babble to myself in Korean mimicking the speech patterns of characters from City Hunter, a drama that was popular when I left Korea, and rehearsing the various versions of my scripts for Korean class.

The summer session came and went quicker than I could say, "Is it time to graduate yet? Oh wait... the real program didn't start yet" or "Kimchi." Half of my cohort joined me for the summer session. I would pull away from saying that our levels varied. Rather everyone brought something different to the classroom, as everyone's background with and Korean was different. For example, being primarily self-taught versus classroom taught, or having an ear for picking up intonation and pronunciation versus grammar and vocabulary. The class was tiny, so naturally we became comfortable with one another, all determined to reach the necessary level that would allow us to survive the programs demanding schedule. How do you significantly improve in a language? You literally eat, breathe and live in it. That is what I have been told by previous participants. Some classmates and I spend a great deal of time scrutinizing over what we were willing to compromise these two years to get what we wanted out of this Masters program. The verdict? Quite a bit, but not everything. Never give up everything. Balance is key. (Whatever that is suppose to mean :-) ).
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The fall semester is in full-swing meaning the remainder of our cohort has arrived and assignments are being poured into our laps as often sun showers appear during the week. The weather just can't make up its mind, but it apologizes by unveiling a rainbow or two after each shower.

In the 10 weeks that I've spent on this island, every emotion (some better described in Korean, others in English) has knocked on my door. Self-confidence has been playing hide-and-seek at times that I don't feel like counting to ten and searching for the boost that I need push forward; finding a church that allows me to feel comfortable and ready to grow on my own; a classmate left the program; moving into a house with wonderful roommates; an all-nighter followed by a less than ideal class presentation; a long night researching a topic that makes me want to continue burying my head in articles.

Being in one's twenties is a confusing period. I have been told this countess times, and my time with this Masters program will be no different. All I can say is that like anything in life there will be ups-and-downs so it's better to just welcome the idea. I ride the bus or vacate a store and find so many men and women without a home. My friend explained that some of the "local homeless" while others are "the homeless who came to Hawai'i". The difference can be stereotypically defined, but I prefer not to do so.

Resting at a bus stop, I spoke with one man who said he was (coincidentally) from Minnesota, moved to New York and then to headed to Hawai'i. His story stemmed from a desire to keep moving and 'see places', but fate landed him in some less than desirable circumstances such as his current situation. During our conversation, he explained that it was time to head back to New York or some place he could make actually make a living. He told me that he didn't need to be sleeping under a bus stop in the rain again, that he knew it was time to move on. In detail, how he ended up here (not just physically here but in this state) I was not able to inquire any further, but after boarding the bus, I once again realized that damn... life just doesn't get any easier does it? It's all about attitude and what the heck I plan to do about it. Oh goody, I get to revisit one of those darn pep talks I have with a close friend in the pit of the evening.

Last week's sermon gave me the boost that I needed. In short, it was about three trees each with a distinctive direction they wished their lives to lead, but when the time for their prayers to be answered all were disappointed. None were given the desired outcome that they had been picturing; however, as time went by they came to realize that their prayers were being answered just not in the form that they had originally been conceiving.

Reflecting on both the conversation I had at the bus stop and last week's teaching, I am just trying to keep my heart open to guidance and mind make the necessary decisions to stay on a positive track of mind. After all, life is meant to be "interesting" right? Let's keep mastering that '한글!

No time to be jetlagged

2011-07-07T00:48:00.001-07:00

With the completion of my finals classes, many "see you later"s (no goodbyes since I will return in 6 months to Korea), final events and friend meetings in Seoul... I jumped on a series of planes which landed me briefly in my hometown to regain a bit of strength and see loved ones before returning to the airport to head to Hawaii to start my summer Korean course at the University of Hawaii Manoa.
(This sentence summarizes my life in a nutshell... even though it has much more to do with hummus, berries, guac, yearning for Korean food, trip to the red bulls-eye store known as Target, etc). My body is still a bit confused, but given the extremities in time zone differences I think I'm doing pretty good.

I am currently in Honolulu participating in an intensive Korean language course/tutoring sessions at the UHM. This is a special course offered through my Flagship program. Class size is small and intimate, tutor is amazing, and well... no complaints about the weather. Finding housing has been (and continues to be) an adventure, but for the time being I have a roof over my head (thank you YMCA) and enough money to keep my stomach somewhat satisfied (why am I craving Korean food already?) I am not here for vacation, so those of you are awaiting the stories about surfing, endless beach days, and a crispy tan... I hate to disappoint. The tan will most likely be a natural development though given my walk to class and constant exposure to the sun. This is not Korea, so I do not see people roaming around with white sleeves covering their arms and umbrellas shielding their bodies from the sun.

Anyways, I am back in the states (technically speaking), but a new adventure is just beginning (one involving a lovely air-conditioned library... and hopefully so much more ^^).
More to come in a later blog. Back to the books!

Departing once again

2011-06-16T07:48:00.001-07:00

Back in Minnesota in... two weeks!

It feels strange to have my days in Pohang slipping away and so little time back home.
So much to do. I shall keep busy then... 할 일이/ distractions allow the mind to evade the knowledge that its owner will not be staying put for quite a while.

Miss you all~ ^_^

Future Plans: next two years

2011-06-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

My countdown for returning to the states has begun. However, there is little time to devote to such thoughts as every week/weekend is filled with events of plans such as my first 10K (my ankle has healed enough to make this happen) and endless "insas" (goodbyes). I keep reminding myself that I will be returning to Korea in less than 6 months, but the purpose, location and overall feeling will be different. Therefore, I am trying to make the most of my time in Pohang at this moment, while slowly transitioning into the next phase.

Given that my blogging consistency has not been up to par, I feel the need to briefly update you on my plans for the coming two years.
This August, I will be attending graduate school for a Masters in Professional Korean (through the State Department's Language Flagship program). This is a two year graduate program that provides both domestic and international learning experiences. I'll be studying at the University of Hawaii-Manoa (UHM) for the first and final semesters, and interning/studying in Seoul at Korea University for the second and third semesters.

I feel ready to reenter the world academics but transitioning into a new phase in one's life is never easy right? However, continuing on this linguistics path helps make the transition somewhat less daunting (emphasis on the "daunting"). haha

Anyways, I will be returning to Minnesota on July 1st, and heading to Hawaii early on July 4th to begin a 6-week language program (prior to starting the official program). The time home is short (extremely short...) but plans to return for the winter holidays are already in the making. Living abroad for a significant amount of time puts life into perspective. This ambiguous statement can be explained at a later time.

...more random updates about the remaining month to come! Let's be in touch~ My thoughts and prayers are with you all as always.

Spring in the "Po"

2011-05-10T05:54:00.000-07:00

We all got perms.
Pohang Steelers: Soccer game
Hiking with Gyeongsangbuk-do teachers

Bukbu Beach (view of... Posco factories?)

Dinner with teacher friends:
I cooked Emily-style daekbokki and my neighbor bud, Courtney, made Korean-style curry.
전지원 회의: All-school hiking day ^_^
Mini Reunion with CIEE buds: (from my study abroad semester at Yonsei University)

부처님 오신날 (Buddha's Birthday): May 10th

Visit to Gyeongju ^_^

2011-04-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

*~Snapping photos in Gyeongju: Cherry Blossom season~*
~경주에서 벚꽃을 구경했고 역시 사진을 많이 찍었다~

Giant-size patbingsu (ice cream, ice, fruit, tteok (rice cakes)...ummm goodness ^^*)

After a weekend in Seoul

2011-04-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

Back in my "one-room" after a weekend excursion in Seoul.
An evening of 90's music videos, a TOPIK Korean exam and little hair cut in Seoul did the trick ;)

School Trip (우리 학교 수학여행)

2011-04-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

Beijing, China:

인천공항에 돌아가는 길에 좌석 주위 사람들 보인다. 왼쪽 분은 신문을 읽고 오랜쪽 교장선생님과 이사장님도 가만히 앉아 있다. 게다가 어디든지 보면 학생의 표정이 피해보여도 한국에 돌아오니까 기쁜 것 같다. 연일고등학교에서 왔던 2학년 학생들과 선생님들이 270명 정도 수학여행에 잘 다녀왔다. 공항에 나갈 때 학생이 "된찌깨와 삼겹살 먹고 싶다"라고 또는 "한국 공기가 더 좋다"라고 말했다. 내가 보기에는 수학여행 떄문에 전보다 한국민족인 것을 더 자랑스럽게 느끼는 것 같다. 한국 사람들이 우리 국가를 자랑스럽다고 원래 생각했었는데, 그 정도는 아무것도 아니다.
사실은 한국에 살았는지 1년6개월 이상 됐으니까 나도 그렇게 느낀다.

일요일 새벽쯤에 포항에서 출발했고 인천공항에서 오였다. 그때 많은 학생들이 해외여행을 가 본 적이 없으며 수학여행이 처음이다.
(One of many meals with the 성생님들 (teachers)) ^_^

김밥을 실컷 먹다가 비행기를 탔다. 한국 여행사로 중국에 갔다. 관광 분들이 모두 조선족라는 한국 3세이다.
(Our tour guide, Mr. Kim, and me)

중국에서 얼마 전에 있다고 해서 한국 타운에서 산데다가 본격적인 한국사람으로 불린다.
카이드들이랑 이런 것들에 대해서 좋은 대화를 했다. 중국에서 북경만 구경했듣데, 이 도시는 재미있는 데가 많기 때문에 한 도시만 보는 것 충분하다.

만리장성, 북국해제세와 천안문 등을 가봤다. 우리 카이드는 역사에 대해서 설명했었는데 이해하기 좀 힘들었다. 하지만 내가 헷갈린 표정이 나왔을 때 학생에게 통역을 받았다.

내가 여행 많이 갔었지만, 수학여행은 색다르다. 선생님들과 학생들과 함께 힘든 일을 견디면 정이 들을 수 있다. 예를 들면 중식은 입맛에 잘 맞지 않았다. 한식에 비해서 맛있고 해서 좀 느끼한 편인데, 학생들이 그런 문제를 해결했다. 짐에 참치, 김과 다양한 과자를 잘 사 왔으니까 식사했을 때 가져 왔다. ㅋㅋ 그런 상태에 미국 사람은 시리얼, 과자나 granola bars 등을 준비하며 한국 학생은 매운 참치 캔을 갖고 되서 미소를 지었다. 게다가 호텔에 도착했을 때 피공해도 방에서 라면을 몰래 몰래 먹었다. 나는 다 알았다 ㅎㅎ

또 힘든 일이 생기면 학생이 중요안 영어 표현을 배워 두웠다. 특히 한 여자 학생이 "Just smile"는데 그때는 영어로 자기 말하면 생각보다 학생들이 내 말을 들었는지 알게 되었다. "Just smile"을 사용한 느낌 같은 것을 정확하게 쓸 줄 알다니 놀랐다. 서로서로 배우는 경험이 제일이다.

그래서 아무리 중식을 잘 못 먹고 종일 구경하는 것으 힘들어도 소중하게 추억을 만들고 오래 간직할 수 있다. 그리고 우리 수업 같이 때 학생들의 성격을 잘 몰랐는데 버스를 타고 만리장성에서 오르막길 가면 친구까리를 솜씨도 알게 된다. ^_^
수학여행 때최종일이 나왔기 때문에 내가 지치고 온몸이 좀 아프면 이련 것에 대해서 다시 생각하고 편해진다. 교정선생님, 2학년 담임선생님들과 같이 지냈던 학생들에게도 다시 한번 감사한 말씀을 주고 싶다.

기회 나면 또 중국에 경험으로 가기로 했다. ^_^ 잘 거야... 끝이다
(When I first moved into my one-room, surprise surprise... one student was my neighbor ^_^)

(My co-teacher made the best purchase (the hat that made our group famous ^_^)

"만원 만원" (10,000 won) (**won= Korean currency, 1,000~ 1 USD)
"비싸 비싸" (Too expensive, too expensive)
"How much?"
"3천원 3천원" (3,000 won)
cha-ching ㅋㅋ(모자를 샀군나!)

And the he landed himself a hat. :-)

(Climbing the steep stairs of... the Great Wall of China)

Who wants to ring that "Golden Bell"?

2011-04-10T07:46:00.001-07:00

It's April 10th!
What?
April Fools? Nope, April Fool's Days has come and gone.

The March madness (unrelated to basketball) definitely made its way to Korea. On top of awaiting the new batch of freshmen, I was informed that two big events involving our school were in the works.

First news:
My school had applied for to host the next Challenge Golden Bell episode, a popular tv program on KBS, and was chosen! Golden Bell is a game show featuring schools across Korea aiming to "ring the golden bell," a victory that would win one lucky student a full scholarship to one of Korea's top universities and the school... bragging rights? ^_^
The weeks leading up to the filming day left students antsy and eager to bring the well-known program to our school, along with the program's "not so shabby-looking" MCs. The later became a part of normal conversation for my students.
100 students from the first, second and third year (high school) classes were chosen to appear on the show wearing the Golden Bell hats and clutching their wipe off answer boards. For those who were not participating, the hosting of this program still brought good news... a cancellation of classes, which rarely ever happens. On filming day, when the well-gelled, male MC stepped into the light, female students screamed. A similar crowd reaction occurred when the female MC took off her coat revealing a "sexy" dress (from the words of my students).
Female students exclaimed, "아! 예쁘다!" (Wow! So pretty!) While male students could not take their eyes off of this 우와 (wow) MC. To be honest, the students' reactions to the program hosts was far more amusing than the actual MCs grand entrance. Oh students.
I won't explain every detail of the filming. I'll spare you this long explanation for a whole day ordeal. ^_^))

Basically the filming 느낌 (feeling) went like this.
-Excited (Go Youngil! Let's start the show!)
-Shocked (Around half of the students were eliminated after the first question)
-Riled up (1 student remaining...)
-Re-energized (70 students chosen to reenter the game)
-Supportive but uncertain (1 student remaining to tackle the 48th question out of 50)
-Disappointed BUT proud (student won a free trip, but could not "ring the bell")
The school may have not had an opportunity to "ring the Golden Bell" but the school definitely has something to be proud of! 수고 했어요! ;)

Being a part of a taping of a popular game show was quite the experience (in many senses). I am just not looking forward to seeing myself on camera (even though it was brief). Reading an English question... hmmmm.
-------------
Second news:
Beijing? With my students? Really?

Brief Synopsis

2011-04-04T04:56:00.001-07:00

As expected this year is flying by. I blink and another month has passed. I do believe that it is time for a new blog entry, so I promise to update soon. For now, I'll provide a brief glimpse into the past couple months.

February:
-Language study in Seoul

March/April (til the present):
-new semester begins!
-language tutoring
-Japanese class (with my students) **very beginner**
-filming of "Challenge Golden Bell" (KBS quiz show offering High School students a chance to win a scholarship and a vacation)
-school trip to Beijing with my 2nd year students!
-spring conference to Jeju-do

Time in the Po

2011-01-19T06:54:00.000-08:00

Pohang's biggest snow fall in 70 years! The world is breaking all the rules... Even for a Minnesotan, I was impressed with the amount of snow that followed me to my port city.

The snowman's nose is made a snap, pop, and little maneuvering (aka: Courtney's students snapped off a piece a dust pan, popped it on the giant face, and maneuvered it into place). ^^

When ETA chingus친구(friends) come to visit Pohang... we visit a one-of-a-kind bakery of course >_<

Walker came back to Korea and paid a visit to the Po! Yet another reason my ankle mishap turned out to be a blessing. ^_^ (We even received "serve" aka: MORE bread).

A Emily-ish Holiday Greeting

2011-01-01T22:44:00.001-08:00

First of all, is it still appropriate for me to wish you a happy new year...?
If your answer was no, I apologize but I cannot stop the lips from releasing these short words. Happy New Year!
새해 복 많이 받으세요!
(following the good ol' Solar calendar)

As much I am addicted to the email, drama sites, naver dictionary (Korean-English dictionary), and other such wonders of the internet, I don't mind revealing that I am also a bit old-fashioned in that I truly enjoy physically sending and receiving mail.
However, with this being said, I apologize for not having Christmas/Holiday cards (and random crafty gifts) making their way into all of your (if in Minnesota) snow-filled mailboxes.
This is my second Christmas away from home (Minnesota) and one thing I have come to even more so appreciate is the cards, letters, and postcards that manage to find me in Korea. :-)

My original holiday plans were altered due to a little slip down some stairs in the Seoul subway. Unfortunately, this ankle story may not suffice your need for an exciting, moving story as the heroic or adventuresome twists are only part of a fictional story (that I can conjure up for you if you wish). On the bright-side, I have all the notes I need for my future trip to Taiwan and Borneo and earned myself two lovely nicknames (*Emily clearing her throat*)
And I made it from Pohang 포항 to Gangneong 강릉 to Pyeongchang 평창 to Seoul 서울 and back to Pohang 포항 in less than a week! ^_^))

Every time I travel (or plan to travel), some occurrence or conversation leaves me speechless and in search of why. Somehow I know that it was not my time to travel this winter vacation. Important tasks, relaxation, study time, and time spent with friends as well as alone were part of this equation. Therefore, in the end I should be and am grateful for the purple and blue etchings on my ankle/foot.

My friend, Lia, made a last-minute trip down to Pohang to order pizza, correct application essays (yes... we were productive on Christmas!), learn a bit of ASL (American Sign Language), and have some much needed dialogues. My neighbor-chingu(friend) had a gathering as well, which always makes for a random, fun-filled night and a more than satisfied stomach.

As my battery life approaches a mere 10 percent, I shall close this blog entry with a promise to do my best to actively practice the list of resolutions I have created for myself. What does this list consist of? As with birthday candle wishes?

Take care, stay warm, and start off 2011 with a little (name insert here) pizazz.

Somehow... they manage to win me over

2010-12-13T06:41:00.000-08:00

Speeches:

"My Dream School"

Last class ㅠㅠ

Sweetest Friday class ever... In my eyes, they transformed. Will miss teaching them.

Thursdays were full of "English enthusiasts" and constant participation. ^_^))

ㅋㅋ

Vice Principal visited our class~ 하이 교감선생님~

Oh Tuesdays... such diversity (well-mannered, rambunctious, who 방구ed?, blood & guts...) What's not to love? ^^ Many teachers do not understand why I say this, but if you come to visit, I will make you see my side ;) I like adventure and let's just say that they never failed to provide.

Controlled chaos ^_^ (Seriously... it was erie how easily contained it was... well with this class anyways~)

Quick update on the North-South situation

2010-11-28T00:40:00.001-08:00

Despite the negativities that have been brewing (no need to say more), I still feel quite safe. Those who have been to Korea understand that those outside of this country are more fearful of the unreconciled "war." I do feel a sense of tension and need for dialogue in the air, but no sense of panic. No sense of extreme worry. Of course I'll continue to pray for those directly affected by the recent event and to educate myself about my surroundings, but just like those around me, keep doing what I am suppose to do. So much turmoil is simultaneously taking place. Please do not worry and know that you all are constantly on my thoughts and in my prayers. Even with the absence of constant, direct contact this always remains true.

그냥... Thank you

2010-11-28T00:31:00.000-08:00

Been losing my mind trying to work through final class ideas and travels plan logistics, as well as Korean, piano, exercise and a clutter of personal/future thoughts. But here I am. My itunes player is set on shuffle, but Ben Fold's song, "The Luckiest" has been chosen. The title alone helps me realize once again how lucky I am. Been having my extended moments of lows masked by simultaneous highs (and an optimistic outlook), but for a brief moment I once again want to say thank you for... you know who you are. "You" in a plural sense of course. This fact alone allows the smile to surface once again. :)

Demo Class? Say What?

2010-11-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

Cameras entering my classroom during the prime moments (aka: after exam periods in which teachers show films or rack their brains for a unique idea to entertain a "post-exam"/"anything you learn will not affect your grade" period). So having my most academic (cough) lessons broadcasted on television (my version of speed quiz and American snack (Puppy Chow) lessons) did indeed become a reality. Of course, it was my principal who was the main focus of the segments and not myself. So thank goodness. ^^

In Pohang, I have not yet been asked to (or rather told) that a reporter would be visiting my classroom. However, a filmed demonstration class was requested and (round one) completed. Given that I am reopening the possibility of pursuing teacher as a career, my school placement is ideal. In comparison to the previous year, more official (I create unofficial responsibilities last year, which was key if I wanted to accomplish my personally set goals) responsibilities. Being the foreign teacher allows for more leeway concerning the class curriculum and lesson style, as well as a delicate chance to somewhat test some hierarchical barriers. So I am toying with the idea of whether I can continue to immerse myself more deeply into the Korean work environment. Since my Pohang high school is providing me with more responsibilities (grading, assessing projects, workshop reports, etc), therefore, allowing me to feel like a real teacher. The idea becomes more than just a fictional thought.

It's like an invigorating drug. I cannot stop testing the limits. Creativity isn't stunted and feel that I'm having some kind of impact on my students. Even the classes that cause my vocal cords to yelp (not the English only classroom ㅋㅋ) and my smile to waver cannot completely wipe away the feeling. (Have had some close calls though. I have once again earned the reputation of being the "warm, smiley" for the most part, but I am also human). How could I become apathetic?

So when it came time for my first demonstration class, I went with my gut feeling. My main co-teacher told me to choose any class to host the demonstration in. I found out during my evaluation that all the co-teachers were a bit bemused (even concerned) about the class that I chose. Other teachers have expressed that they enjoy this class, but have a hard time controlling and keeping it focused. Even my students said, "Teacher. Why us? We don't study well. (chuckle chuckle)."

Well... my rambunctious, all-boys class happens to be one of the 50-minute periods that I look forward to every week. So why not choose them? Why not give them a chance? The obedient classes that typically chosen for demonstration classes do not represent a majority of my classroom experiences. So I wanted to be real and show how my class ACTUALLY looks.

Besides, I suppose this class selection suits me. I chose a lesson to match the expected chaos. ^_^

I chose a lesson that further introduced my hometown (since "Minnesota" was fading from some students' "must know" radar), forced students to be creative (this class does not lack in this area ㅎㅎ), and force everyone to physically move around (including the faculty who chose to observe my class). The topic was the Minnesota State Fair, a lesson that required students to invent a new food on-a-stick to be "sold" at the Young-il High School mini stimulation fair.

The students were active and well... they were themselves. Perhaps the class was a little more unified in certain "repeat after me" segments or more aware of the beginning and ending of an activity, but they definitely did not lose their "all over the place" classroom presence. Wouldn't have it any other way actually. ^_^))

For the most part, I ignored the camera and just "did my thing" as the boys had inspired me to do as well. I tend to walk around the room quite a bit and mingle with the students as they do group work, which may not be the best for an "on-camera" class. However, this is my style. I really had not intention to stand in front of the room and have students blink their eyes, smile, and recite lines after me. As I told my co-teacher on the first day, I enjoy a little bit of chaos.

When the class ended, I was told, "I enjoyed your class Ms. Kessel", but to be honest, I had no idea what was was bouncing around in the other teachers, principal, and faculty's head. After my piano lesson, I returned to school for my critique. The English staff gathered into the principal's office straight-faced, fingers wrapped around their binders. For a moment I envisioned a particular international mentor interview in my university in which I was one of the interviewers. My smiley, warm presence was disguised during this interview; something that was brought to my attention by the interviewee afterwards. "Emily, you scared the ... out of me." haha

Yes, my demonstration class evaluation resembled this memory in this respect. However, after vacating the office I could not help but smile. Organized chaos has been been approved of. ;) But seriously, most of my co-teachers are one of a kind.

Next? A teacher dinner (회식)!

Youngil High School Festival

2010-10-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. You guessed it.

Students will perform, dance and sing... 같은 것

Awards will be given to top students.

Why have I come to love such events?

I can learn who my students are outside of the classroom. It is a time to see my students in a completely new light.

Let me tell you... students are so willing to showcase their talents and bring their "outgoing" side to the surface. Even if they do not perform, I have still been able to interact with them in a new way. For instance, I learned that one of the student's nickname is "Professor" because of his kind nature and willingness to help out other students. This is true in my classroom as well, but knowing that other students feel he takes on this role is quite the insight.

All classes put together some kind of performance. This was one of the many moments I caught on film.

Language

2010-10-18T02:47:00.000-07:00

I've always known that the human being to bare many forms. Something to be... adored and feared... joy enhancing and pain inducing... desired and despised... I've had first-hand experiences with anything from tense initial meetings transforming into an unbreakable connection to an confrontation-less friendship overturned by undeniable differences. Yes, a being as complex as the individual has never ceased to surprise me. However, the longer I live abroad, the immense power held by one's native tongue continues to fascinate and frustrate me. I've spoken about this topic so many times, so I apologize for addressing it once again, but more and more is drawn to my attention everyday. Language can drive a person's emotions, interpersonal connections, future goals and more.

I think back to my time spent with the Minnesota Literacy Council in which I felt the sense of urgency driving adult learners to achieve a level of spoken and written competency. Language was about finding a job, supporting a family, and building relationships with the people around you. Closing my eyes, I remember conversations with international students studying at my university and a nearby ELS concerning troubles with integrating into American college life, feelings of belittlement inside and outside the classroom, etc. Of course cultural and religious differences play a major role in this as well, but again, having entered a comparable situation has helped me sympathize and better understand.

You may ask, "What stirred up this little dialogue?"

Sitting in the cafeteria with teachers who teach outside of the realm of English always brings "concerned" stares or comments to my table. Given that I can understand the comments but do often pretend not to is a bit tiring at times...

To the teachers who are not exactly polished on their English skills, I wish to say thank you because we can develop relationships and start up conversations if we can get past the nerves and stares from those who say, "Oh... teacher can speak English...? Hmm... Are you okay??"

The best learning environments (for both of us) are in such situations. Using half English and half Korean is beneficial for both (often). I just wish to ignore the pre-assumptions. In such situations my patience is toddling on a thin thread.

Sometimes I Follow the Crowd: Hallyu Festival and PIFF

2010-10-16T04:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I follow the crowd...

well...only when there is something or someone worth "following"... ^_^

Yes... some drama actors and singers just may have caught my attention (as well as their pronunciation of a language I have hopes to master).

Hallyu Dream Festival:

Day 1

Literally all he has to do is smile and the crowd will... react. Oh will they react. Amusing to the say the least... but then again something compelled me to attempt to find a way to sneak a photo with Kim Bum ^^ Unfortunately the mission was unaccomplished... ㅠㅠ

*To be honest, I was mesmerized by the translators (similar to a dinner with the Embassy). Language.

Day 2

Arriving fashionably late... we managed to catch a glimpse of a few models.

Day 3

(Best part)

My mind wasn't completely focused at the fashion show. I confess... but this night I was fully present. ^_^

In the beginning I resented Kpop... but when select bands and singers take stage, all those negative sentiments vanish (aka: 2AM, Super Junior and SeVen to name a few).

----------------------------------------------------------

Busan Film Festival (PIFF):

I made my appearance at the Busan Film Festival (PIFF) on Wednesday and Friday evening.

Clenching the mouse and forbidding myself to blink, I booked seats to the opening (I watched a later showing of this film) and closing films titled:

Under the Hawthorn Tree

and

Camellia

The ordeal has left me embracing each and every moment of shut-eye I can muster, but it was well worth it. I am not a "weeper," but I allowed tears to slowly trickle down my cheeks during Chinese director, Zhang Yimou's film. The story was simple enough, but beautifully told.

After the film, my friends and I dashed out of the theater arriving at the bus terminal 2 minutes late, but caught the attention of bus driver who offered to make a stop in Pohang.

The three directors who created the film compilation known as Camellia received quite the range of emotional responses from the chilly audience. The outdoor venue left my body in a state of shivers, but again... it was worth it. The Korean, Japanese, and Thai directors presented an interesting mix of films all of which followed a similar theme.

Bonus: Kang dong-won (강동원) came to the film screening. He starred in the film film. Let me tell you, female fans have quite amusing reactions to scenes that feature a beloved star... If only I had captured this reaction on film... I consider myself to be a pretty loyal fan, but really? ㅋㅋ

Emily...two different roles

2010-10-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

Many duties have been left behind in the midst of ... other other more vocalized tasks demanding immediate attention. So I apolologize for slacking on my blogging duties.
This obscure comment vaguely pertains to lessons in which I am an active participant of both roles: teacher and student.
...........
In the high school, of course (you guessed it) I am the teacher. Having so much attention put upon my surname still strikes my ears as odd.
"Ms. Kessel?"
Normally I pause. Take a double-take, which is followed by a slightly delayed,"Yes?"

My parents have both been very much a part of the school setting, so this should come as no surprise to me. However, having to respond to "Ms. Kessel" still strikes me as a bit unfamiliar. My school wishes to give my students the "American school feel" which I support, but while providing this "feel" I also introduce the students to the "casual" teacher-student relationship (which still retains its valued level of respect) by subtly allowing my students to simply call me, "Emily." More so in the university setting I was encouraged by my professors to call them by their first name. I admire the strong sense respect illustrated in the Korean teacher-student relationship, but also wish to create a level of comfort that comes when formality is slightly lessened. Being that many students now know, "What's up?" instead of "How are you doing?" justifies this right?
However, it may be amusing to hear, "What's up Ms. Kessel?" echoing down the hallway.

The vibration of high school student voices also slither their way into my classroom. My first year students are taught in their homeroom classrooms, which allows me to float around and take more control of the class. With my second year students, we have been asked to vacate the homeroom setting and enter a technologically-friendly, "English only" room, which is less than ideal for my 36 student class. Nonetheless, we all understand that the "native" teacher's class tends to get a bit noisy with various commands and activities being conducted in the language that every Korean student is forced to learn up until they take their university entrance exam (수능). The tiny classroom environment creates more chaos, but as I always say a challenge keeps me on my toes. Literally... for this reason I avoid heels.

After today's morning classes I found myself walking to the nearest convenient store to purchase more goodies. A vitamin C drink for myself and a bag of candy for my students. Yes, it was a class in which I pushed the students with vocabulary, writing, and speaking, BUT we made a good team. Hence, my throat is being soothed and my students are being well-nourished. ^_^

.........

In the Postech University setting, I return to the role I so often occupied.. a student. Twice a week I attend an evening class with a students studying or working in Korea for numerous reasons. The class has a low-stress feel which is quite different from my past experiences in which I was struggling to stay afloat. However, I welcome both environments as I need to be challenged but not too the point of solely relying on the power of short-term memory to store words and grammar temporarily. Basically the class is just enough to keep me motivated and disciplined, but I lack the confidence to vocally utilize what I learn. Effort and confidence was two words that I stress repeatedly in my classes. The problem is following my own words.

Thank you Korean dramas and kpop, OSTs, and ballads. ^_^

----------

Extra-curricular activities DO exist!

~Phew~

Formal club time:

Drama/ Film Club

Before watching a film at the CGV I noticed 9 familiar letters boldly written on my student's attire. The "cool" design on her shirt took on a whole new meaning. ㅎㅎ Being a proud Minnesotan, I had to bring this her attention. Besides, I have taken to adamantly bringing the meaning of once "random" English words or letter printed on pencil cases, notebooks and t-shirts to my students' attention. I suppose this is no different from Americans "fashionably" strutting around wearing their Chinese symbols or other non-romanized lettering.

Casually sports time:

...scheduled by a generous teacher who recognizes that students deserve to be teenagers (outside of the demanding study schedules)...

Soccer team

Happy Chuseok

2010-09-22T05:27:00.000-07:00

추석 잘 보내세요 (Happy Chuseok)~

Over-consumption is something I am not proud of... and here I am contributing to the problem... with edible items. I apologize, but in some situations not accepting someone's hospitality is also shameful and something I wish to avoid. So, this cultural holiday may just be an expection... for one day! ^_^))

My Korean friends describe Chuseok, formally known as Hangawi (한가위), as the "Korean Thanksgiving." The dishes of choice, family traditions, and even length (3-day long holiday... unless you are the lucky one with an extended vacation period) of celebration differ from what I know as the (American) Thanksgiving. However, the idea of gathering together to over indulge on special foods and drinks with one's family remains the same.

Every family seems to have their own "ordeal" which normally includes laborious meal preparations (mainly by the women...) and paying respect to one's ancestors and elders. Last year I spent Chuseok with my host family, who are very strong Christians, and prepared a food offering before visiting a burial ground. My host family explained that they do not have an extensive ceremony because of their religion, but they partake in the traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. "It is culture," they had said. Whether it be culture, religion, or another matter I respect tradition, deliberation, and dedication.

This year I visited I went hiking (3 mountains after a 7.5 hr hike two days before!) and visited my co-teachers' homes and "큰집". As much as I love tteok ("떡" rice cakes), after receiving another batch from my landlord and piano teacher, I think I am "tteok"ed out.. but knowing me this " 떡 break" may not last as long as I expect. After all, this morning I was very grateful to see a plate-full of songpyeon ("상편" a special crescent-shaped rice cake)

As with Thanksgiving back home, I find myself making a mental list (or actually typing a memo on my Ipod) reminding me to stop complaining and count my "blessings"... For one, I am extremely grateful to have been welcomed into the homes of people I met only a month ago. This kind of hospitality and welcomeness astonishes me. Traveling and spending significant days away from home has helped me recognize that I should and want (not simply out of obligation) to do the same.

In Minnesota, friends visited my homes for Christmas and Easter. Back home my family does not really have overly elaborate family get-togethers, but I have come to realize that it is more than enough and I am proud to share whatever plans I have with friends. "What goes around comes around" is the not the right way to put this feeling. Simply put it is more of a "Why not?" feeling.

--------

Just a note: on the living situation

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed living with roommates and a homestay, but living alone is blissful. I find myself not bored, but busy conquering various tasks that I never allowed myself the time to do. Yes, I am a bit of a "study bug" but study time that I dictate. This "studying" primarily incorporates Korean, but I have found a way to add a bit of Japanese into the equation as well as a little English "refresher" (aka GRE prep). Korean is my main concern though, so I am forcing myself to start preparing for the TOPIK exam early, but since passing the middle level is a goal I strongly wish to achieve, self-discipline is a piece of cake. (Wouldn't mind a slice from St. Paul's "Piece of Cake" right about now...)

Will write more later.

Update

2010-09-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

Things are looking better ^^

I love classes with distinct "personalities."
Pohang is quickly growing on me and as the teachers say, "Pohang is getting smaller and smaller right?" (aka becoming familiar)

Brief Reflection: the Beginnings of a New Placement

2010-09-01T02:03:00.001-07:00

Over two weeks have passed since I entered my new placement city, but already my sense of time has been discombobulated. Being a person who adjusts to new surroundings seemingly easily, but no matter where I go normal emotions and periods of adjustment trickle into my optimistic persona. Trust must be earned, new environments must be explored and examined. Why must we feel a need to "test" everyone and everything that crosses our path? Doubt every kind gesture? Question every motive? Because we need to protect ourselves. The problem is that oftentimes we all shielding ourselves simultaneously and too such a degree that reading each other is difficult... to say the least.

... Feeling extremely welcome but at the same time equally skeptical, I cannot decipher truth from unnecessary concerns. However, this past year's experience has taught me to trust my instincts, while at the same time remain aware of my overly cautious self. Past bombardments with desperate "English learning" seekers have caused me to retreat and resurface with an endless string of defense mechanisms...

I am in that state of limbo where I feel my shoulders loosening, but my fingers remained tights grasped. With all this being said, somehow I know that I am suppose to be here... teaching, learning, growing, and continuously searching... As my first weeks in Pohang have come to an end, I know that I cannot meaninglessly rattling off instructions and preach about new vocabulary in my native tongue. I want to help my students find a way to enjoy language (in this case... English) but I will not force it upon them. I will merely assist as they search for a something that interests them about English or communicating with someone from a different background.

Anyways, already my passion for being in a school environment is taking form once again. I love students and the challenges that comes along with spending a great deal of time with young, complex minds (as well as one class being "all about blood and guts and horror" as they say, while another is "all about music). I am here to work with students. My defenses only flare when I have everyone else swarming me with requests and unspoken expectations that inhibit me from accomplishing my other goals. But I consider such challenges to be "tests" to see how far I will go to make a situation turn out more than okay. :) This week, I think I have been making progress. Make others happy, but don't forget about myself in the process. Don't you worry. This experience has been making me stronger. As my mother always says... I am a very high strung girl. Yeah... I suppose this may be true. ^_^

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius

.. This is one reason I insisted on making piano a scheduled part of my weekly (or almost daily) routine. Not because I am extremely talented (I only started in March), but because it is provides an outlet for my mind and body to refocus my attention and completely lose sight of whatever causes my hair, mind and body to sometimes deteriorate or self-destruct. This is also why I am gravitated towards art of nearly any form. Piano fills this void for the time being but a large part of me still wishes to retrieve a loved pastime. My personality does not allow me to stand still and take even one step backwards though. Move forward and fill the time. This year will be about language learning... so much of my time and efforts have been devoted to this goal. However, I have discovered that language learning does not require one to slave away in front of a textbook for hours. The challenge now lies in braving opportunities. I am trying to use and apply this knowledge (of language learning) to my teaching style and focus...

Cheers to a new year! 화이팅!!

-----------

"Grand Avenue" in Pohang? ㅋㅋ

(Top)

Exploring the university near my school and home... (Bottom)

Departure Day Lunchtime: A Notable Quote

2010-08-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

D-day (Departure day... unfortunate acronyms ^^), formally known as Yonsei Day was less nerve-racking than the previous year. Trudging up 11 flights of stairs in heels and waiting for 107 names/ schools to be called added to the physical demands of the day, but as a whole the day did not leave too many jitters. The first week of teaching (and learning the school's individual expectations) may be a different story, but I have learned the importance of "playing it cool" and forcing any ounce of confidence to not only surface but tread water until a dose of real confidence came afloat.

The university cafeteria served an unrecognizably delicious spread of dishes. While waiting in line, I conversed with my co-teacher, who I would soon learn has a good appetite, and filled up my plate. This was how I knew a new school year was about to begin. From this day forth, I would be given bottomless bowls of rice, noodles, drinks, and whatever my new placement city had to offer (at least for the first week or so since I am no longer living with a homestay family).

A friend of my co-teachers joined our table and began talking about various topics which included his desire to open an American-style barbecue restaurant in Korea. I gave all the advice I could muster about good ol' American barbecuing, which wasn't too extensive... Actually I more so enjoy the Korean barbecuing, but that didn't seem to spark his interest. Somewhere down the line our conversation shifted from bbq topics to his enjoyment of beverages and the quote that I cannot forget went something like this,

"And then we saw a UFO."

No smile. Completely serious (or perhaps I couldn't read him correctly...)

"Well, we thought it was but it was a flock of birds."

Pause. Still waiting for a smile or laugh.

"By definition it still was a UFO."

I allowed a smile to peep through. He still maintained his serious facial expression. By definition he was right. He did see an "unidentified flying object."

Post year 1: period of reflection

2010-07-23T00:09:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the plane unable do little more than repeatedly scrunch and uncurl my legs, I waited for some much awaited shut eye. Instead my eyes remained open or merely flickered during several films on the tiny screen rocking on the front of my seat. Yes rocking. The person in front of me must have mistaken the plane for a motion stimulation ride.

Perhaps a extra dose of sleep deprivation was what I needed to (strangely enough...) clear my mind. After walking onto my final plane and I spotted my seat... with plenty of legroom. Unfortunately for the person to my right, my eyelids forcibly began to close and remained that way until the end of the flight. However, as my body finally gave into exhaustion my mind felt rejuvenated... at least until I enter my next home.

On July 19th, I landed in Korea, caught the FINAL bus to my guesthouse, and felt myself smile as I realized that Korea would once again be part of my life and I a part of it.

-----------------------------

-Flashback-

When I left Pyeongchang I was a bundle of emotions. Yes, I knew that returning to visit was possible and very likely, but as with all temporary stages in life my situation and role would not remain the same. However, looking back on my final days I realized that the words of my final speech became real. With the current group of teachers remaining at the high school, my students were in good hands. Of course I will miss them, but I knew I did not have to worry about them.

The final days' events sped by without a second to pause and take in everything with a sense of closure. Last classes, class photos, gift and card distribution, teacher dinner after teacher dinner (회식), packing of bags and boxes, a closing speech, final meal with high school co-workers, a car ride to 강릉 (Gangneung), strangely "ordinary" goodbyes to homestay, and.. a few brief moments in Seoul before dragging bags through the Incheon Airport... the chain of events seem like a blur. I attempted to remain reticent and put-together throughout the entire 2 layover journey. I rode home with a friend and watched a famous Korean film that presented a twisted/bloody, but artistically done story and walked towards my parents.

It had been over a year since our last meeting but conversations sprang up just like they had when I first left.

To be honest, I didn't think I needed to come to Minnesota. Of course I wanted to see my family and friends, but the actual need was not there. However, when I arrived home I knew that coming home for a 3-week visit was perfect (even with the lovely oral surgery that was awaiting me a couple days later).

Goodbye process

2010-07-08T08:46:00.001-07:00

And so the goodbye process begins.

In 10 days, I will board a plane once again to visit the place that I have called home for all these years. Yes, I am a Minnesotan, but I find myself growing more and more attached to the country that both welcomes and rejects me.

Closing my year in Pyeongchang does not mean that I am also ending my relationship with Korea. After all, I will continue to live in Korea the following year, but my chapter at Pyeongchang High School come to an end. Endings allow for new beginnings. Yes. Yes. I know, but this does not stop me from allowing my state of insomnia and over-achieving personality to quietly fade into the background.

As I have been busy preparing for my last classes, summer English camp and packing, along with an endless list of tasks, I have had little time to allow the fact that I am leaving my town in less than 10 days. However, this evening when I received the news that my students will have an important exam next Tuesday (meaning I will not have a few of my "last" classes) forced me to confront the situation. I realized just how important my students are to me (along with many others who have significantly impacted my stay).

With the whirlwind of tasks on the "to-do list" and catapulting emotions I pray that the last days will be filled with lasting memories and well... to put it ever so delicately... that I don't screw up (too badly that is).

As much as I do not want to leave my year-long home, a part of me needs it to end. This is hard to explain, but I have a feeling that many people have experienced a similar state of feeling a bit torn.

With that being said...

Here's to "going out with a bang." ^^

World Cup Madness

2010-06-15T05:55:00.001-07:00

Hopped on the good ol' bus to the East Bus Terminal in Seoul. Spending the evening with some Minnesota and Seoul friends, as well as a crowd of South Korea supporters left me wet (a little rain to welcome the start of the game), red (finally hit the jackpot... red shirts!), and livid. I reminisced about the insane crowd and cheers at Yonsei's AKARAKA festival. The excitement was on a whole different level and well... university rivalry + top Kpop singers is a hard mix to beat.

Saturday, June 12 (2010)

South Korea vs. Greece

(Score--> 2:0) 대한민국!! clapclap-clapclap-clap ^^

Me, Nik, 수민, 진주 at the Co-Ex Mall in Samsung (삼성)

This is My Bike

2010-06-11T08:39:00.000-07:00

My status on facebook currently reads:

Long story short...
-My (and a teacher's) bike was either stolen or badly replaced.
-I spotted our bike or an exact replica and snapped a photo.
-Showed the photo to the teacher who tracked down the bike (utilizing my documentation...photo-wise)
-Guess what the guy who "took" our bike said?...--> "I didn't want to walk so I cut the lock," and then handed it back.
아! 미치겠네!

Note: This is my bike (joint custody with another English teacher). Kudos to following your gut instinct... and being a bit obsessed with photographs and finding answers to mysteries including an explainable bicycle situation.

A fraction of my life in (a nutshell 말고) photo form

2010-06-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

May is month filled with "off days" (well... "off days" in the sense of mood and "days off" from work). Free from the normal school duties? No complaints here. After all, I was still able to spend time with students and teachers.

Sports Day:

(I know something most teachers don't know... hmm... ^^)

Buddha's Birthday:

Went to Mt. Odaesan with a teacher and her mentor/friend. We did not visit the main temple that was overflowing with visitors. Instead we entered the smaller Nun's temple. While eating the bibimbap (provided for this special day), I spotted one of my favorite teachers from the high school. His daughter's personality resembled that of her father's. ^_^

Mt. Chiaksan (치악산):

My students reminded me that the "ak" in Chiaksan means "terrible or worst," so they asked me, "Teacher, why did you do that?" Keep in mind that this comes from the students that told me repeatedly on our school hiking day that they'd rather be studying! "Studying is soo good!" was one comment followed by a heaving grown that made me chuckle... ㅋㅋ

Mountain Climbing day with all students! Wait... except the 3rd year students who have... study... which is something that some 1st and 2nd year students were practically begging for :) kk

Some new friends at my Piano Hagwon (피아노 학원). ^^

Pyeongchang is unveiling more shades of green than I have managed to create on a paint palette thus far.

A Glimpse into the Emerging of Spring life in Korea

2010-05-23T05:11:00.000-07:00

My entries have been sparse. I apologize... but a proper blog entry is on its way soon. Recent happenings have been keeping me occupied. Given that I graduated from a university with a strong business background and reputation, I will provide snippets into my past weeks bullet point form. Apparently, my school surrounding have influenced me in some form (even without being a Business major). Or perhaps this is my attempt to weasel out of avoiding certain duties (writing being a passion that is still very much present in my life~ don't you worry).

Time... the sources that cause time to diminish: (some highlights)

-deciding the course I shall take: my placement for the coming year has been decided (and is slowly soaking in)

-budget and lesson planning for the upcoming July English camp

-visiting friends down south in Daegu (대구) and Busan (부산)

-practicing/ learning piano (I love my 학원)

-studying Korean... at a dead plateau currently...

(Waiting for the language learning curve to shift gears once again. Any day now....)

-cheering on students at Sports Day (체육대회)

(My students have so many talents... I am beaming with pride ^^)

-hiking such as 치악산 (Chiaksan in 원주 Wonju)

...

-attempting to quiet my mind... hush now.

(Yeah... not working)

Dining in Korea.. Never go hungry again

2010-05-23T04:54:00.000-07:00

강릉(Gangneung) (조밥)

평창 (Pyeongchang)->

<-부산 (Busan)->

Some highlighted student responses

2010-04-27T17:51:00.001-07:00

I created a unit on relationships, dating, and other such related topics. The "fun" topic, musical chairs, and a video clip from Friends allowed me sneak in my hidden agenda (descriptive words & phrases, natural/"real" English listening practice, sentence formation, etc).

One lesson focused on "Best" and "Worst" Boyfriend/girlfriend qualities. I wanted to highlight some of my favorite responses:
(spoken aloud during the game or written on the end of unit quiz)

"My girlfriend will have small hands and no make up."
(Looking natural is still appreciated! Thank you student ^__^ <--teacher smiling)

"My girlfriend will have a 6-pack and many muscles."
(A free-thinker. I like it ㅎㅎㅎㅎ)

"My girlfriend will have knowledge and be very kind to me."
(Right on)

Youth: a curse or blessing in disguise?

2010-04-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

"Teacher, how old are you? We same same? ㅋㅋ"

Such statements still ring true in the everyday experience of a "young" teacher (or "young" looking) in my town. The "youngster" syndrome started back in the states when being carded at the Mall of America at the age of 20 or 21 for not being accompanied by an adult.

"Excuse me miss. Can I see your id?"
"Yes..." (I'm probably older than you officer...)
No more getting into movie theaters for the discounted high school student price... those days have come and gone. If my lack of thick makeup or so-called "youthful" face cannot earn me such trivial benefits then why should I smile when constantly having my age scrutinized?

Being that the Lunar calendar has added 2 years onto my age (the age system in Korea is different from the US), I have learned to embrace comments about youthfulness (within reason).

While young people in the states strive to look slightly more mature or older, people in my town smile at mention of "appearing young." Age is a topic that enters conversations quite frequently in my week-by-week interactions in Pyeongchang (or Korea in general). After the initial adjustment period, I have begun to feel more comfortable in my town than back in the states (in this regard). Looking younger or "cute" (vs what many Americans strive for... to look "sexy"...yeah not so much... ugh) is no longer something that makes me queezy (unless we're talking about the Mickey Mouse t-shirts and pastel pinks ribbons that I come in contact with on a weekly basis).

So when reminded by my students that we are similar or "same same" in age, I simply shrug. However, being a relatively young teacher at school has brought many questions to my attention. (Questions that will determine how I am viewed and treated to some extent.)

My age and look allows me to get to know my students on a different level than most of the other teachers. Why? My appearance is not intimidating. Often I can relate to the students (better understand them). Some interests or worries are similar to their age group.
This can go one of two ways. It can be beneficial in that students will discuss worries or "Korean slang" with me. However, it can be detrimental in that students are often difficult to control (because a kind of friendship status has been reached). Some teachers have mentioned the urgency to dress more sophisticated and act more sternly due to their young appearance, while others embrace the unique opportunities to spend time with their students on an almost "peer-to-peer" level. The scope of experiences is rather daunting. The choices will affect how students interact with you.

I find myself wearing several faces. Stern. Silly. Serious. Fun-loving. Sophisticated. Cute.
Age, makeup, blah... In the end I am just me.

Age, make

The other foreigner... "Next year"

2010-04-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I appreciate spontaneity and mystery a bit more than the average individual, but at this point in my journey I wouldn't object to a little sneak peak into the future... or some guidance from someone with some non-bias remarks. The only line that has been printed and finalized in my book speaks about the country I will reside in next year and a list of goals that continues to grow, blur, unravel, and reveal itself once again in a new form. A recent conference in Jeju-do (Korea's "Hawaii" as I call it... but it is so much more) has left my head spinning, but I should welcome this familiar feeling with open arms as it has been a frequent visitor during the first half of my grant year. This is no time to be 우유부단 ... perhaps it is time to just make a split second decision. Well, this may not be the best idea but that is what I shall tell myself to release even an ounce of anxiety. A few well-conducted classes today helped restore a bit of long-lost energy, as well as remind me that no matter what life will turn out as it should. Just let it be. Well... do the research but the rest is out of my hands.

아자! 화이팅! ^^)"

Simple moments of bonding

2010-03-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

In two of my classes we brainstormed how to better answer the basic question, "How are you?" or "How's it going?" The class began to snicker and nod in agreement as my powerpoint revealed the typical response, "I'm fine thank you and you?" The aim of class was to find a way to more creatively (or at least truthfully) answer this question. So the class focused on talking about feelings and moods. The vocab of the day included "exhausted" and "frustrated." Both are words that would be helpful for my students to know. When they say, "Teacher, I am soooo tired" I nod, but understand that what they are feeling is beyond any meaning this simple word can express. The school system leaves them exhausted, especially the students living in the school dormitory with a 6 a.m. wake-up call.

After thanking the class for an active day, I reflected on what had been taught. In the 교무실 I paid a little visit to my favorite Korean-English dictionary (found on naver.com^^) browsing for the Korean translation of the words I had taught in class. "Frustrated" was exactly how I felt with my constantly changing schedule and "Exhausted" was the exact feeling that was overtaking my body as I typed the Korean characters.

Talk about ups and downs. The first week of the semester was exhausting and I didn't even have a set schedule yet. As I was frantically finalizing my first week's worth of lesson plans, I received notice from a co-teacher that I would not be teaching my classes until the following week (just helping other teachers with their classes). To be honest, this message was a life saver, but nonetheless by the end of the week my mind and body were left numb. I acknowledged that classes were not the only concerns on my mind, as life has been throwing some interesting loops... that leave little room for anything else. By the time the second week came to an end, I was ready to crawl into bed and hibernate for the weekend.

This morning my body automatically awoke at 7 a.m. Like I said, I was hoping to hibernate and rediscover the energy source that I am usually call to the surface when need be. However, this early wake up did not prove to bear negative results. I won't go into details but I am thankful for my home stay brother. Ever since I was young, I wanted to have an older brother. However, today I felt glad to have a younger brother figure in my life.

Being that I am a female, a part of me believes that our relationship will never reach that of the one forged between my home stay brother and the past ETAs, who were male; but he has been warming up to me more lately. It helps that I enjoy being active, as he is a bundle of energy. Believe me.

Today was beautiful (yesterday's snow had long gone), so how could we avoid the outdoors?

A "little" jog (me)/ rollerblade (home stay bro) session. On the way home we made a pit stop at the local grocery store to buy... ice cream of course! With the leftover change he bought two packs of gum and handed one to me before skating off ahead to take the lead~ After dinner I had plans to meet a friend in the downtown. As I was opening the sliding door, he asked where I was going and "walking??" with a concerned look on his face. For some reason this compilation of events touched me. Today was what I needed to reenter an "up" moment. Yes, this may all sound simple, but this simple series of events did more than merely "lighting my mood."

Travels outside of Korea

2010-02-16T18:43:00.000-08:00

No matter how "prepared" I intend to be last minute packing, unpacking, and repacking somehow manage to mark the beginning of my travels. This January/February was no different. After finishing the winter camp, my immediate thought was "hmm... perhaps I should have given myself a full day to unwind and prepare for my travels," but the truth is an extra day, week or month would not change this scenario. Craziness is what marks the beginning of any trip (even a short jaunt to Seoul for the weekend). And to be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way. A little adrenaline rush is good for you right? It heightens the mood and steers the mind away from any unnecessary jitters such as "Where shall I sleep when I arrive in __?" Just kidding. Actually sleeping accommodations and initial transportation are two items that I do look into prior to vacating my home. At the very least, I research a few solid places to stay and if early booking does not quite make its way into my planning agenda, I at least have options to work with. The miniscule details can be handled upon arrival. ^^*

After a brief 45 minute "sleep" (or rather a quick "shut eye"), I jumped on an early bus to the Incheon Airport with a friend who sent me off. I had a very short layover at the Hong Kong Airport, but there was no time to get to comfortable with this pit stop. After a little

stretching/walking period, I reentered the aircraft that would soon land me in Bangkok.

Thailand

Bangkok-Nong Khai-Khon Kaen- Bangkok:

In all honesty, Bangkok was not my favorite place to visit the last time I traveled to Southeast Asia. Most of my friends expressed a sense of fascination and excitement when loquaciously sharing stories about our travels. For me... I was more taken with the other countries and cities I had visited. However, I reminded myself that I was literally made an overnight stay in the busy, hyped capital of Thailand. Being the Emily that I am, this attitude and first impression was one reason I was being pulled to return to Thailand. I wanted to see more of the country and people that so many visitors are mesmerized by. Another main pull was to check out the long established Peace Corps unit in Thailand. Originally I planned to visit a friend, who was a volunteer's teaching site. However, circumstances changed which led me to meet the other PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers), who she spoke so highly about.

I met two friends in Bangkok to explore the city, shop and search for some recommended foods (by a Bangkok man returning from a business trip, who sat next to me on the plane). One food that is a favorite of my mine in Minnesota is good ol' Pad Thai, but beware. Pad Thai in the states is a whole new creation. Oh true spiciness is bliss. Thank you Bangkok. ^^

The workers at the place we stayed made interesting guesses about the ethnicity April, Christine and myself: Chinese, Thai and English. Throughout the remainder of my trip I would never again hear have someone guess that I was from England... kk

*Note: This photo was taken by a guy who spoke Korean rather well! I was impressed. ^_^

Given that we had "coordinated" our meeting time at the LAST MINUTE (literally found out that we were landing in Bangkok at similar times a couple days before), our time spent together was brief but enjoyable. Strangely we were not able to meet in the country we all currently reside in, but were able to coordinate schedules sporadically in SE Asia. The world sure throws in some twists to make life interesting... One more twist came at the time of our parting. They were off to check out a show near Siam, while I was cutting it a bit close to catch my bus to Nong Khai. The taxi driver (was it a flamboyantly pink or orange taxi...? My memory fails me~) had quite the personality. The quotes of the ride were, "Speed speed" and "You lucky you met me!" Note to self, if you find the RIGHT driver, driving from opposite ends of the city is possible in 35 minutes. Why is it possible? Well, time works a bit different than in Korea, apparently. Never have I been so thankful for buses NOT leaving on time.

Nong Khai is in the north-eastern part of Thailand. Backpackers usually visit this city with the intention of crossing the Laos border by means of the Friendship Bridge. People asked me why I visited this area, which not the top tourist destination. Well, I wanted to get away from tourism as much as possible (yes I am a tourist... this cannot be helped as I have begrudgingly admitted to myself, but the kind of tourist you become is key) and I hoped to visit one of the PCVs, who lived slightly outside of Nong Khai.

My time in the NE was rather chill, which was exactly what I wanted. Roam around. Talk to people. Sounds good to me. I spend a good amount of time with a shop owner and her friends. She owned (not rented! She was pleased to take ownership of this) a stand in the Indo-china market. Actually many connections were initially built by a conversation about something having to do with Korea (or more specifically Korean entertainment). K-pop stars and dramas are highly popular in Thailand at the moment. Very very popular. Our conversation was tame though compared to others. She merely was interested in Korean music and gave me some Thai music because I expressed interest in learning about music in Thailand. She was a remarkably independent, positive, well-travelled, open-minded woman who was I feel very privileged to have met.

joining someone that you met one day before on a drive to a neighboring city may not seem to be the best idea. However, I trusted my gut instincts and jumped in her car to explore Udon Thani.

She introduced me to a wide-spread of foods ranging from spicy fish soups, fried rice dishes, curries served in a "to-go" fashion, simple meals that students enjoy, and so on. My taste buds were shown variety to their pleasant surprise. I tried to pick up a but of Thai, which was difficult but quite addicting. Being that Thai is a tonal language, I'll have to listen extremely carefully.

This trip was truly about the people, which is exactly what I wanted. I changed from one hotel to a sort of guesthouse because of the owner. We had a bit of a language barrier, but there was something welcoming about her. Besides, I wanted to stay on the Mekong River and be near the Sculpture Park, Sala Kaew Ku. Her neighbors were also interesting to chat with. They were a charming, welcoming couple with a daughter that I heard so much about but was not privileged to meet (this time around anyway^^). Many people talk about the Caucasian men coming into Thailand in search of beautiful Thai women (and Thai women in search of men offering opportunities...), but this was one example in which I sensed true love, an international marriage at its best. Stereotypes are there for a reason, but I was pleasantly reminded that such stereotypes can be proven wrong sometimes. :)

My time in Khon Kaen was spent with PCVs at an English theater camp. The PCV that I met in Nong Khai took a bus together from NK to a welfare school near Khon Kaen. Something I found interesting was that all Thai students have to join the Boy (or Girl) Scouts. Never before have I encountered such a large number of people in uniform. Once a week, students have to come dressed in their scout uniform and participate in activities that I cannot imagine in the heat... Who knew that Boy Scouts could be such a pride and joy to someone in higher power (since it was made mandatory). Hmmm...

schools with PCVs across Thailand came to Khon Kaen for this event called Thai Youth Theatre (TYT). Students learn about different aspects of theatrical production and related topics such as costumes, make up, pronunciation, and sword fighting (yeah... actually was extremely entertaining kk). The final day was dedicated to performances. Each school group performed a play (or a scene) from various plays or musicals. The Welfare School that I first visited created a replica of Disney's Snow White. It was obvious that these students had spent a large hours taking mental notes on the mannerisms of Snow White, cackling of the Queen, and singing of the dwarves. Another group also performed their own version of Snow White with a little modern twist. The price and Snow White's outfits do not even remotely resemble the Disney outfits. Oh I love diversity. :)

the lunchtime, a group performed Super Junior's "Sorry Sorry" dance on stage. They were so enthusiastic about this performance that I barely saw them preparing for their actual scene. kk Their outfits were nearly perfect! Was Super Junior really in Khon Kaen? They almost had me fooled. ^^*

Apparently they created a club dedicated to Kpop. Their actual theater performance was hilarious and resembled a typical Thai drama, but... they managed to squeeze in snippets of a Kpop song here and there. 2ne1 is also a favorite of this group. Believe me.

Sleepless nights were worth it because of the students. ㅎㅎ

There is so much more to be said about the time spent in Thailand. Let's just say that it has now become a place that I would not returning to. One problem... as delicious as the food is, I don't know if my stomach could handle the food in the long-run. It was a bit too greasy, oily, and MSG made its presence known... I was told that Thai food heightens all the flavors.

If something is sweet... it is SWEET. Thai tea is majestic.

If something is spicy... watch out! The NE was actually known for its hot and spicy food (more than Bangkok even!)

If all goes well, I'll be back to visit some of the kind, hospitable, and entertaining people I met during this journey.

Indonesia

Bali- Lombok- Gili Islands- Bali

My time in Indonesia was a bit different from that in Thailand. To be honest, I am not used to traveling with other people. Meeting up some friends is fine, but actually traveling has not been something I was accustomed to. However, this trip definitely taught me a great deal and in the end strengthened friendships.

What made this trip special was... you guessed it, the people. Building strong relationships with a restaurant in Sanur, two drivers (one: easy going, but speedy speedy, two: chill and relaxed meaning a slower but more scenic ride), trekking guide, and so on. Also, where my time in Thailand kept me stationed in certain locations, Indonesia kept me hopping. With two other close ETA friends, I explored a great deal of the island of Bali. Yes, this is touristy place. People always say that, but it HAS its charm, culture and beauty (beaches... not so much... but I am not such a beach person anyways haha). So I understand why it is a place that people wish to visit. It reminds me of my class in Hawaii. People kept acting like there is no Hawaiian culture, which is not true. The tourism industry masks other vital aspects of a place's and people's identity sometimes, but that does NOT mean that the true culture and individual identity do not exist. I found this to be true with Bali as well.

The Batik designs were so unique. We watched individuals diligently designing patterns and images using the Balinese art-form. Both our drivers wore Batik shirts at one time or another, so it is something that people are proud of (when it can be afforded...) Daniel purchased a Batik shirt at the first shop we visited. In Ubud (fantastic part of Bali), I bought a Batik dress from a shop owner, who bought the patterns and/or made the clothing herself (or with her sister). She was one of the shop owners that wished to speak with us like actual people, not merely as visitors with money.

A coffee plantation, rice fields, a wood carving shop, art gallery, hot springs, and temple were some places of interest. It may not seem like it from my brief descriptions (or lack of... because there is just too much to write in a short blog entry) all taught me a great deal about this country, myself, and people in general. Learning experiences are what makes traveling so valuable.

The trip was "special" in the sense that everyone on our trip had something unexpected making the trip "interesting." Well, let's just say that we survived illnesses or endured physical pain. But this made us stronger! We even managed to bit the bullet and continue an overnight trek in Lombok. The hike up Mount Rinjani was a highlight of the trip for me. Actually it was one of the only things that I insisted on doing when planning the trip. The porters and our guide, Guki was great too, which definitely helped. ^^ We hiked to the rim of Gunung Rinjani, which is about 7.5-8 km.

Unfortunately were not able to hike to the peak because it has been more active than usual lately and we came in the middle of the rainy season. However, the trek to the rim and back made for a good workout, bonding time in a chilly tent in the rain, and splendid views. Instead of sleeping at the rim, we camped below at one of the shelters because it was the middle of the rainy season. If we didn't know how powerful rain could be, we definitely got more than a taste of it during our overnight stay. ^^

Our tent was literally trying to move and our poor guide and porters' tent got a bit wet, along with our drenched clothing. A "little" rain is good for a hiker anyway right? :)

Winter Vacation Part 2: English Camps

2010-02-11T04:47:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love (or need) vacation? No matter how much a person is "loving" or despising their job, breaks are appreciated. My placement has been a blessing in so many ways. Despite the ups and downs of the semester, I am so grateful for the people who have come into my new life in Pyeongchang and the strength (and optimism) to pull through anything. The end of the semester had its rough moments, but looking back I am pleased with the results.

After the holiday festivities and travels throughout Korea described in my earlier blogs, my bonus work began. What do I mean by bonus? Well, allow me to explain. My contract permits me to work winter camps during vacation. So after a little persuasion from my fellow ETA friend, I decided to take a little jaunt down to Jeongeup (in 전라북도 province). Well... not so "little" since I was coming from Pyeongchang, but it was a worthwhile trip. Taught the ideal group of male high school students with two other teachers. Sleepless nights (one being in the dorm) and several moments of on-the-spot lesson planning landed us a rather successful camp. Having three ecstatic teachers to bounce ideas back and forth created a dynamic classroom environment. The students' enthusiasm was refreshing~

The camp's theme was music, which was up all our alleys. Plus a bonfire managed to make its way into the weekend camp schedule. We all know what bonfire means for an American such as myself... s'mores. Yes, s'mores.

After a short escapade in Seoul, I reentered my town to pick up where I left off. Despite my efforts to be prepared for my high school's camp, a pre-created schedule is just that... words written on paper. Day-by-day tweaking of lessons, purchasing of ingredients (cooking lessons), and other loose ends kept my friend and I busy. A good friend of mine taught the camp with me. Our theme was "Roadtrip across the USA." The students enjoyed our energy (somehow we found energy for our 5:30-10:30+ evening lessons) and quirkiness. ^^ Our goal was to provide an environment in which they felt comfortable using English through skits, dialogues, cooking, activities, and whatever came to mind (both inside and outside of the classroom), as well as imagine that they were truly on a roadtrip. Words cannot express how pleased I was with the camp.

Tidbits from the camp:

-Sacked lunches--> we introduced the students to the phenomenon of banana, peanut butter, and honey sandwiches which they loved, hated and wrote the heck about (they kept journals about their roadtrip experiences... some amusing entries were produced ^^*)

-Pizzas--> I never fathomed that so much cheese could be stacked on a single pizza

-Miley Cyrus--> Party in the USA was more than overplayed during the duration of our camp... but I have to admit that it grew on my... 비밀... don't tell ;)

-Noraebong at "First Ave"--> oh good times...

-Skits about "awkward situations"--> ㅋㅋ :)

-Amazing wrap-up presentations

Many of the students were 2nd year students that I will not have the privilege to teach next semester... so I may create an extra "free dialogue period" for them...

Anyways, as the camp came to an end I began frantically throwing items into my backpack, which is half the height of my body. A backpackers' backpack steal ^^ Thank you for "last year's models." Having the up-to-date model not a priority of mine. Only quality is key.

One nearly sleepless night in Seoul later I was on a plane to begin adventures outside of Korea. My friend escorted me (as far as security permitted) to the Incheon Airport. ^^ And off I went to test out the durability of my backpack. ^^

Winter Vacation

2010-01-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

Happy (belated) New Year or as they they in Korea, "새해 복 많이 받으세요!"

As previously stated, I am in the midst of my winter vacation. After the random Christmas festivities (aka: being whisked away by my homestay family kk^^), I ventured down south to Busan, which is the second largest city in South Korea. Being the frugal person that I am, the 무궁화 (mugunghwa) was the train of choice. Yes, it is the slowest train but to be honest I preferred this option for reasons beyond the train fare. I wanted to travel like the average, middle-class individuals rather than the first/business class who may (in my opinion) not be as interesting. ^^ There was more time to study Korean and read (no music surprisingly... because it was resting on my desk back in Pyeongchang... accidently).

A Slight Update from the East

2010-01-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

I apologize for the lack of updates. Life has been a bit hectic lately. The mind and body need time to rest and process the latest trains of thought.

On a holiday note, Christmas day was spent in Pyeongchang with my homestay family. My host brother insisted on wearing the Twins baseball hat that I had sent from Minnesota despite the fact that it was a child's size and his head is a wee bit too big. ^^

The small stockings I gave to my homestay family also managed to make their way outside onto the tree (after I explained the traditions of hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree and stockings on the stairs railing). The tradition mixture was entertaining. ^^ This photo was taken before the snowfall.

My day primarily consisted of church and a jimjabong (Korean "spa"). My desire to explore religion has been growing. I find that traveling outside of the comfort of Minnesota furthers this along and opens up conversations. On New Years Day I also attended church with a friend in Busan (second largest city on the southern coast). Who knew that services outside of my native language could have such an effect? It is not the words but the feelings that come from being set in a particular situation.

Anyways, my host family is very random. I was whisked away to a dinner on Christmas followed by a hunt for the nearest (open) jimjabong. We ended up driving over an hour and resting there until dawn. We had to wait for the clouds to stop releasing snow. This was not a heavy snow. The "is this Minnesota?" snow came when I was back in Seoul. Apparently this was the heaviest snowfall since... (to quote my friend) "I have been here...which has been over 10 years."

Tomorrow I am off to teach an English Winter camp in 정읍. I will try to write more soon.

The End is Near~

2009-12-17T22:52:00.000-08:00

The semester is wrapping up. Reflection time has begun. Has it really been only 5 months since I arrived in Pyeongchang (and Korea for half a year)?

Tuesday night, scraps of magazine and Hanji (Korean traditional paper art) paper, red envelops, green ribbon, and craft supplies covered the floor of my homestay's living room. Curious looks (from the parents) and unexpected participation (from my home stay siblings), as well as a crafty mess made the evening picture worthy. Back home I have a habit of starting some kind of meticulous craft project (in mass quantities of course) and/or holiday ordeal around the holidays.

Why deprive yourself of such things?
One year it was filling ornaments with liquid paint.
Another year playing the Barenaked Ladies version of "I Saw Three Ships" on answering machine of everyone in my cell phone seemed to be an amusing idea.
Some years "Stampin' Up"cards seem to suffice my urge to create something. This was one of those years. Decorating 40+ envelops (for the 교무실-teachers' room- and other kind individuals in town) seemed to be a good use of my time. If nothing else, it acts as one method of distracting myself from the fact that I would not be home for the holidays. Self-distraction is something I have become a master of.

Small "Merry Christmas"/ "즐거운 크리스마스 보내세요" cards were distributed to my students (if they were not coated with powdered sugar or lost amongst the stampede of feet in "Speed Quiz." My English class evaluation surveys made me sigh realizing just how lucky I have been with these students. They may have driven me crazy at times and left me in a constant state of creation (new teaching styles/lesson ideas) but despite being burned out I feel... good. Let me simplify my feelings and just say this four letter word.

But with saying this, I also am ready for winter vacation. Starting next Tuesday at 8:40 p.m. I am free (for a period of time...)! ^^*

Puppy Chow

2009-12-14T00:33:00.000-08:00

Can this really be the second to last week of the semester? This has been a hot topic of conversation among the ETAs and myself, but it has not really sunk in until now as my body is sleep-deprived and scrambling to create memorable last lessons.

My high school finished finals last week, so I had a hunch that the energy level might triple or even quadruple that of the previous weeks. Does it make sense to provide the already lively students with yet another source of energy? Perhaps not to the average individual, but to me adding more sugar to their diet sounded amusing.

A "cultural" lesson has been introduced: Puppy Chow. Last week, I drove with close teacher-friend of mine to Wonju to visit... E-Mart. Yes, E-mart is a big deal when you live in a countryside town. I am now starting to understand my roommate's enthusiastic response to the opening of a well-known chain store that sold an assortment of items that doubled that of the local convenient store. I am not condoning small, family-run stores because I prefer/support local/small stores and cringe every time one goes out of business. However, when in a bind and searching for select ingredients, a well-stocked store is what I seek.

No matter how wide the select, being outside of the US also changes the simplicity of grocery shopping (for "western" food). First, American desserts and snacks tend to be too sweet for most Koreans. And second, my chosen ingredients are lacking in popularity when put up against the versatile 고추장 (gojujang), garlic and salt. However, the opposite of simple often brings about better stories. Am I wrong?

Peanut butter, 초코cereal (close enough to Chex...), butter, dove chocolates (no need for chocolate chips), and powdered sugar were found and bought out by...Pyeongchang high school.
After vacating the store, only 1 box of 초코cereal and 2 bags of sugar powder (be flexible... if you say "powdered sugar" you will not succeed ^^) rested on the shelves of E-Mart.

A test-run took place with the 3rd year students, who are a bit bored of their all-day movie watching fest (given that they have completed their 수능 exam). And the "국 과자 (American party snack) making" experience took place.

Like I said, my last classes are designed to allow the students to relax and feel comfortable using English is a no-pressure zone. So, why was this the week that the school decided to videotape classes? Fortunately the school enjoyed the chaos. ^^ Phew. Let the deliciously, gooey chaos continue. From the words of my student, "wow teacher... pour that on top?... Just like coffee huh?" (sarcasm has been put to use!) In other words, the rumors that American food is not always...healthy has become a reality for this student. :)

The Simple Things

2009-11-16T03:55:00.000-08:00

I have never been one to become homesick. It is not that I do not miss bits and pieces of the place I call home. Nor is it that I forget everyone and everything that I "leave behind." Often it is the people who appear to be the most at peace with themselves, with change, and with the unfamiliar that are in the greatest need of stability or comfort. I said often, not always.

How do we truly feel? How do we pinpoint this truth? Truth. Such an ambiguous word that so many philosophers, academics, and normal people alike spend their lives searching for, whether that be on a conscious or unconscious level of prowling the pages of an unfinished story. Normal. Another unknown word that leaves holes... no gaping holes displaying an infinity of explanations that we are unwilling to commit to.

Words. Such enigmatic tools. Not unlike other forms of art, words welcome a form of expression that is both revealing and deceiving. They can be used to concisely lay out a protagonist's story or sinuously lead down an unpredictable path. I find myself in need of a tool such as this that offers such an outlet.

Experiences such as the one I am currently in the midst of venturing require such outlets. Creativity and mental sanity are allowed to thrive and transpire in such a place.

I am constantly reminding others that we all have our moments. I have my fair share as well. But then again, there are moments like the one I just experienced that remind me why I wake up smiling everyday. Students. They never cease to amaze me. All this that I said about words, normal, and truth... none of these demand perfection (at least not in the dictionary sense). Some words and the speaker behind the words can convey more meaning than they may have even originally intended. Grammar, sentence structure, spelling. Important? Perhaps. Completely necessary? No. Being a recipient of language study, as well as a teacher I have come to learn a great deal that has opened my mind even more. How is that what someone would consider to be imperfect speech can sound so perfect? Can leave such a lasting impression? Can cause one's mind to propel in numerous directions?

This is why I do not mind staying at school until 10 p.m. on select days. This is why I do not mind fighting to keep my eyes open. This is why I find myself becoming completely involved (voluntarily) in a line of work that I was originally experimenting with. This is why.

What is New in the Life of ... Emily, Em, 인아... whatever name you choose

2009-11-11T04:25:00.000-08:00

The previous weekend was quite eventful in a number of ways. When I say "a number of ways" this pertains to a period of aging (my birthday), on a personal level, and so on (my mind continues to spiral and zigzag in several directions simultaneously).

I will write more soon. For now, here are some photos to provide a bits and pieces of my weekend.

One: Shared memorable moments with some special people on Pyeongchang. A friend's sister had her birthday the day before me. We shared a sweet moment (cake and chocopies with her family^^*)

March and Demonstration held by Seoul Station (to create awareness of the situation of North Koreans and N. Korean refugees).

Informational meeting about thePublic Hearing on Korea's Adoption Law Policy:

(actual hearing took place on Tues., Nov. 10)

Now... sleep. Still catching up on much needed 잠... although no complaints. I am not the one awaiting the dreaded 수능 (college entrance exam). 3한년학생들 best of luck! 화이팅!

Provided that it does not snow (which rumor has it that it will), the 3rd year students will be piling onto a bus to conquer the next milestone in their young lives. I had my younger students think of pieces of advice to give their older counterparts. (We did a lesson on "giving advice" and this seemed like the perfect way to put it into practical use. The 3rd year students need your help... Go! Tell them something useful!)

Alright... Time to ZZzzzzz 잘 자요

One Day in a Place Known as ... Pyeongchang

2009-11-10T18:02:00.000-08:00

It has been requested that I give a brief synopsis of a typical day for an English teacher in Korea. Well, a typical day is dependent on a number of factors including your program, location and your personal choices (What do you want to make time for? What results do you seek?) Essentially everyone's story WILL be different, but here is my basic account.

A typical day in Pyeongchang... I am one of those souls that floats through the air in search of answers to ambiguous questions (although some are simpler than initially believed), methods to achieving goals, and the slightest hint that will provide insight into the future. I am torn between a need for control (and consistency) and a need for spontaneity. "Random" has long been overused in my daily vocabulary, but I cannot and will not stop. When life becomes too static or routine my mind naturally wanders. I suppose it is in search of change and unpredictability. Like I always say, I will forever be a student because the minute I believe myself to hold all the answers, I know that I have lost my way. This mindset is assisting me with my teaching. Think like your students and you will be capable of better understanding them. This is my hope. Either way, they know that I care.

Considering becoming an English teacher abroad? A key reason why I am enjoying my job is that it allows me to have both an element of consistency, as well as a whirl of change and surprises.
A typical day for me consists of the following:
-waking up bright and early (not dependent on my class schedule)
-인사ing ("in-sa ing" or greeting) the other teachers, office workers, principal, etc an awkwardly pleasant number of times a day
-polishing off the current day's lessons (any last minute printing? powerpoint tweaks?)
-preparing myself for a variety of classroom moods and personalities (constantly changing... get use to this! ^^) and adapting my lessons to fit the environment (on the spot)
-lesson planning for future lessons (I tend to be constantly starting, tweaking and revamping multiple lessons simultaneously)
-helping other teachers (teaching about PPT, creating questions for reading passages, translating random words)
-receiving help from other teachers (self-study Korean brings about endless questions... and I am a "question machine" to begin with)
-chatting with students (one-word exchanges and full conversations~ "Practice" outside of the classroom becomes real and therefore motivating...and just plain enjoyable)
-dining with the teachers (if you cannot understand a bulk of the conversations... well... listening practice!)

I have been blessed (or cursed ...depending how you think about it) with complete lesson planning freedom. In other words, I am not given a textbook to follow like some English teachers. Although it can be tiring to plan and create everything, I feel that my situation is more of a blessing. Having an outlet to be creative and truly cater towards your students is refreshing and liberating! Besides, there are a great deal of resources out there (hope you have the Internet...) to help spark ideas.

Life goes on and on... moving a mile (or kilometer...since I am outside of the US), so be prepared, open-minded and positive and you will learn just as much as the students you are inspiring.

인아

My Post-Conference Reflection (a mere fraction of my thoughts)

2009-10-21T16:28:00.001-07:00

Let's start this entry with a photo moment:

3 years of Pyeongchang ETAs unite in Gyeongju!

This month my program held a conference for all the current ETAs teaching in Korea. This is yet another reason I feel privileged to be a part of this program. Of course ever placement has its ups and downs, but with a positive and driven mind the ups can hopefully outweigh the downs. A friend of mine, who was hired through a different program (one of the many 학원 hagwons, which are special schools that students attend in addition to their regular school classes) was experiencing troubles that I have not encountered. If you are looking for a teaching program, I highly recommend applying for Fulbright for a number of reasons, protection being one of the them. Back to the conference.

The weekend-long conference gave me a huge reality check (given that I am far away from other program participants). Although I have been enjoying my classes, in the beginning there have been a fair share or rocky moments (at least that I felt). There are somethings that cannot be learned and mastered without first-hand experience. This I have been learning again and again. I am far from mastering the methods and finding my "true" teaching style(s), but looking back before the conference I see a noticeable difference, especially in how I feel in front of the class and while lesson planning.

First of all, I have a great deal of freedom with my teaching. Don't get me wrong. It is a ton of work to create ideas from scratch or adapt past lesson ideas to fit my students (if you wish to be a good teacher you should do this!), but I know I would not be happy working directly from a textbook. Creativity is something I thrive off of and given that my painting and arts/crafts supplies if limited in Korea, I need another outlet to release my energy. Yes, this is a need. If nothing else, the conference helped me realize that I am not alone with my constant experimentation inside and outside of the school. (Although teaching is very important, there is far more to learn than just inside the classroom!) It also gave me a chance to reenergize and stop being so hard on myself. For one, it gave me the chance to refocus my mixed level classes (now a "real life" situation with a dialogue, lively activity, and cheesily noteworthy powerpoint). The energy in the room has changed immensily. Or perhaps it is my outlook. The students (including the quiet students) seem to be more engaged, which is exactly what I hope to achieve. I very much so aim to build confidence in this small country school.

Anyways, I am back in my 교무실 (teacher office) attempting to practice the Korean grammar I learned from my attempts to discipline myself with "self study." Swine flu is still a fresh and worrisome topic in Pyeongchang as the number of "cases" has increased. I am still trying to wrap my head around this topic, as I have not allowed the media and cultural differences to cloud my vision. Stay healthy everyone. 몸 조심해요.

My Homestay Family

2009-10-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

My homestay family, a former Pyeongchang ETA (who stayed with the same homestay) and I during Chuseok weekend.

(my high school age homstay sister and grandmother were not able to partake in this mountain excursion but I shall consider "photo-shopping" them in later ^^).

Note: 추석 (Chuseok) is the Korean Thanksgiving

Why I love my classes...

2009-10-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

Reason 1:

After only a month and a half of teaching, fine products such as this poster come into existence. During mid-terms my exhausted mind decided to spice up the exam period with a little bit of 4F (characters in a popular Korean drama).

Reason 2:

(riding in a car)

(flagged down by some students)

"Teacher!"

"Yes?"

"High five teacher!"

(high fives)

"One more teacher."

(high five followed by a oddly concocted "gangsta" handshake that I have never seen before, but thoroughly enjoyed kk)

Reason 3:

Even the students (most of them) who care nothing about English manage to put some kind of spell over me. They are just so darn charming.

(Poke poke)

(nudge nudge)

(stretch)

There is one student in particular that manages to doze off in even my most livest of classes and when I manage to wake him from his slumber, he just flashes that smile that makes me forget any anger (that was not really present in the first place), utter a slight "Okay okay" and nod in a "I understand but don't really understand" way.

Reason 4:

When I was on the verge of catching a slight cold (and praying that no one would notice in fear that they would assume it was "swine flu"), I was somehow convinced to venture outside and watch a concert presenting famous singers from my host family's youth. Okay, I didn't take too much convincing because it was a concert (I can never say no to music), the music would be in Korean (I can never say no to Korean ^^), and who would miss an opportunity to see (what looked like) all of Pyeongchang's less than 1,000 people crowded into one area. Perhaps it was not "all of Pyeongchang" but the night could have fooled me. ^-^ *Note: Some of my students managed to make an appearance at this event despite the "mandatory" study hours at school. Shhhh :) It is a 비밀 (secret)~

Reason 5:

"Teacher!"

"Yes?"

"What's my name?"

*Oh the beauty of role reversals. I have to stay on my toes at all times. I love it!*

Reason 6:

And then there are the extremely motivated students that never cease to make me smile.

I will sacrifice sleep and my sanity for these students. That saying a lot. ^-^ Oh Pyeongchang.

What a Weekend

2009-09-28T18:33:00.000-07:00

Perfect weekend:

*Friday--> Watched a taekwondo "test" at Pyeongchang's 태권도 학원 with a friend. Who was there? Her brother, my homestay brother (what a surprise!), and a student from my high school. ^-^

*Saturday--> Rod a bus with the 교감선생님 and my 2-3 class students to attend a WEDDING! One of the teacher's was getting married in 강릉, which is near the East Sea (동해). An ideal location to host a wedding ceremony. She looked absolutely gorgeous in her white wedding gown and from the genuine smile on her face I knew she was happy.

Yes, it was a western-style wedding, but interesting nonetheless. Many people have said to me, "Bummer. Maybe you can see a traditional wedding next time!" However, my response to them is this: First, I feel privileged to have been invited, especially given that my wedding attendance (working at wedding receptions does not count okay!) is few.

Second, she is a dear teacher that I wish nothing but the utmost happiness and joy. Her big day just may have restored my desire to get married someday (not anytime soon, but someday). Prior to this weekend, she expressed her feelings of happiness, but kept mentioning that she was a bit late (meaning that compared to other brides, she was old). I kept telling her that age does not matter because you cannot rush such feelings of love.

Third, her homeroom class (including my homestay sister) prepared dance/performance to offer their well-wishes (축하합니다!) to their newly married 선생님 (teacher).

And finally, there were some unique Korean twists to the wedding. After all, this is Korea. ^^ For example, the parents of the bride and groom wore traditional Korean hanboks. And the lunchtime meal was to die for. 맛있겠다! Fourth,

After the wedding, another teacher helped convince the vice principal that I should see the East Sea and what 강릉 had to offer. He wanted me to ride the bus back with the students, but her persuasive skills paid off. I spend the rest of the day exploring and chatting with two of the teachers. There are some conversations that cannot really develop in the school (given the time constraints), so this was very pleasant.

Sunday--> Had my name called out once again at church ("Amy"... this still does not register sometimes) to receive a Bible (in Korean) and flowers before having a group of older women assertively push food in front of me :)

And then... cleaned and relaxed. Yes, I enjoy doing nothing sometimes. It allows my mind to unwind and refill with new ideas... such as deciding on some new passtimes (if time allows...which I will make time):

-attempt to learn a bit of Japanese (but Korean is still top priority ^^) from a friend

-attempt to teach (and relearn...) a bit of Spanish to a\the same friend

-attempt to master (or at least acquire some) the skills of badmitton (I played in high school, but in need of official techniques) from a student who dozes off in my English class, but becomes unbelieveably energetic when he comes in contact with a racket and birdie

-attempt to make use of the piano at my homestay house (when I am in the company of...myself...no one else needs to listen until I can improve ^^)

That is all for my revamped laundry list.

The Office (not the tv show)

2009-09-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

Today a box of freshly prepared 떡 (rice cakes) was placed on my desk in celebration of the 100th day of life for one of the teacher's baby. In the past, many infants passed away from disease and other various causes at an early age, so today this is still a moment of joy. The proud father gleefully distributed the snacks throughout the office.

This sharing of snacks, beverages and food is not uncommon in the school.

-During my first week of class, a student's parents brought a large box of 옥수수 (corn) to the teacher's room.
-One teacher in particular has brought tasty breads to share on numerous occasions (그냥...just because). If I wished to give back with another kind gesture, I was told to give her husband something (not her). The reason being that if her spouse is happy, the household atmosphere wlll also be pleasant.
-Another example... Sometimes apples just appear on my desk. I have received them from students and teachers. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." If I eat all the apples will be allowed to go to Seoul (keeps away the "dreaded" swine flu kk). ^_^

Notable "Quotables"

2009-09-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

As an ETA, I find myself filling the role of English teacher not only with my students but with the teachers as well. Many seem eager to learn a bit of English but are too shy to ask. So, a few weeks ago I decided to start utilizing the Cool Messenger system (similar to AIM) for my own purposes. I have been sending a daily English question, phrase or sentence to the entire staff, which sometimes brings about some interesting responses. ^-^

Today's sentence: "Can you please pass me (the, a, an, some) _______."
예) Can you please pass me a tissue or some napkins?
(휴지 is universally used for both words... and toilet paper).
My favorite response from a teacher: "Can you please pass me a firm friendship?"

On several occasions I was told I have a pleasant voice to listen to (aka it is easy to understand my pronounciation). My vice principal told me my voice is "beautiful," while another teacher said it is "deep." And another teacher replied, "No, it is interesting." What does this mean? Word choices are a bit awkward but so I fit right in (being that I am also awkward!)
*Perhaps I can start my career as a reciter on EFL or ELS tapes... If the job market remains the same, this may not be such a bad option haha.
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Student moments:
* "Teacher, you look stun."
(I thought he said, "stern." So my response was "Hmm? Am I scary?")
(Sound of dictionary keys clicking)
"Ooohhh.... Stunning. Ummm...thanks."

* By the way, who is 예지원? My class made me jump when they started pointing at my photo. Apparently, I resemble her?

*I wear a hair binder on my left wrist everyday for many reasons.
1. Practicality (sometimes my needs to go up!)
2. Strange necessity (I need something on my wrist or I feel strange...)
One student notices that I have two binders on my wrist and asks, "Can I see one?"
I hand it to him and resume my lesson.
"Teacher! Couple. See?" (We have matching hair binders on our wrist... Oh yes, "couple" items are popular in Korea... I have forgotten ㅎㅎ).

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And then there is Minseok...
민석 said: "Pyeongchang is the Minnesota of Korea." (And it is so true! ^_^)

Always Be Prepared...

2009-09-22T00:55:00.001-07:00

Preparation is key. This applies to an assortment of situations that can take place both inside and outside of the classroom.
For example: Classroom scenario
After a blissful weekend in Seoul (explanation to be revealed), I once again nodded off on the bus ride and managed to convince the taxi driver that yes indeed I could direct him to my homestay house.
*Tangent-->Being that it is the only house across the river and the fact that my Korean is still in the making, my taxi driver looked doubtful in my ability to direct him to my home. What house? There is a house! There may be one lonely house but there IS a house. As you may know, I can be a bit stubborn sometimes (or as I prefer to say "determined"), so I "determined" to give directions myself (not resort to calling my homestay family).
Despite my best efforts to come prepared, I managed to forget a vital teaching item... a key chain holding my office drawer key and flash drive. My head may have been back in Seoul (thinking about the magnificent RENT performance) or I was merely exercising my "humanness" by allowing something to slip my mind (another idiom/phrase that I can teach my students...hum). In any case, the drawer enclosing my candy supply (this is crucial in my classroom... no joke) was opened (thank you Ms. Jeong), my PPT presentation in working order (thank you DropBox)and worksheets were printed. Keep your close co-workers and friends nearby, and backup your important information (not only for technical purposes...). This is what I have learned. Phew... I wasn't looking forward to a repeat of week 1 ("Just talk and they will listen. Okay?")

For example: Outside of classroom
뱀... snakes
I had the privilege of having 2 snakes accompany on my journey down the would-be-pretty road (with the absence of bulldozers). One literally sprang back when I abruptly yielded to the lovely ("sarcasm" was a topic of discussion in my advanced evening class) creature in front of me. Perhaps it was cursing me for revealing my "foreignness" as was discussed in an earlier blog post.

Only in Pyeongchang...

2009-09-16T23:52:00.000-07:00

Today I discovered that my usual Thursday classes are cancelled due to a practice test-taking session. To enter a university, high school students must take a College Scholastic Ability exam known as the dreaded... 수능 (suneung). 3rd- year students are busy preparing for the actual exam, which is less than 50 days away.
When I ask my students which university they wish to attend, I hear a variety of responses, but very few utter the acronym "SKY," which stands for Seoul, Korea and Yonsei University. These three universities rank the highest in Korea.

"Oh... SKY... I wish but I can't." This is the response that I have been hearing from many students as they are preparing for the practice or real 수능. Perhaps these universities are similar to what we call the "Ivy League" schools in the United States, but I cannot make an accurate comparison as the Korean and United States education systems greatly differ in expectations, values and learning methods.
So, today the 1st- and 2nd- year students are busy taking their practice 수능 exams. This can bea stressful day, but also a day to rejoyce because they are able to go home after the exam! Normally the students stay at school until around 10 p.m. Looking back on my high school experience, I don't know how they do it... I was exhausted enough with the layout of my schedule back home.

To my students--> "화이팅" "Fighting!"

My original intent of writing this post has been delayed as I have yet again went off on a bit of a tangent, but that is why I love writing. It allows me the space to speak (or rather...write) whatever is surfacing on my mind. Let it flow~ These days, my head often feels like it weighs 134 pounds as my mind wanders and thirsts for a few extra hours of sleep. However, many brillant minds gain creativity and excellence in a similar state of mind right? ^-^ I shall rest on the busride to Seoul. Upon arriving in Korea, one of the first things I was told was that Koreans (I know this is true about other people too, but this is what I was told!) have the lovely ability to fall asleep on anything that is moving). I have witnessed this on the Seoul subway. ㅋㅋ So perhaps, I am becoming more "Korean" in the sense that I can nod off on any moving vehicle. So as I attempt to memorize the Korean song I am currently "studying" I just may nod off a bit (or for the entire busride).

I have set many goals for myself, but one (hopefully) attainable goal is to be able to sing a Korean song from start to finish. Given that my classes were cancelled today, I decided to start the process (after polishing up tomorrow's lesson plans) and repeatedly listen to "내 머리가 나빠서" (Because I'm Stupid) from the drama 꽃보다 남자. Well...
Only in Pyeongchang... one of the teachers offered to help me and somehow convinced me to practice singing the song outloud... Like I said... only in Pyeongchang. ^^ That is all.

The Roads one Travels are... Unpredictable

2009-09-13T02:31:00.000-07:00

As much as I feel the need to have control over my life, I admit that unpredictable and unexpected situations bring the best results. I am constantly fighting the urge to seize control, while just let things play out as they will. All in all, being in Pyeongchang is allowing me to literally live day-by-day and not worry about planning to far ahead. Why?

1. Let's look at the high school situation. Lesson planning way in advance has proven to not be very effective as every class brings about different results. So I must be flexible with my activities, content I wish to cover, and classroom strategies.

One reason I love my students... (there are many reasons, but this is one highlight). Receiving assignments such as this~ The spectrum is full. I conducted a class on goals~ Oh diversity presents itself in many forms. ㅋㅋ

Or with my homestay family. Day one, I was lucky if my homestay brother would utter a word to me, but now I spend a good chuck of the day with him. After church we walked home, I retreated to my room and allowed my sliding door to do its normal business (close on its own whether I wish this or not).

However, this time my homestay brother walks in and asks, "지금 뭐 해요? Ipod 빌려주세요?" Basically he has taken a liking to my ipod touch, my taste in random music videos on youtube, and so on. I have been addicted to watching 꽃보다남자 (Boys Before Flowers), which is a popular Korean drama (based off of a Japanese comic). One of my friends back home complained about having the ending of the Harry Potter series ruined for her by a friend. Well, I found myself in a similar predicament as my homestay brother stretched out on my bed and insisted that the last episode (마지막!) is more amusing than the one I was currently watching. His look of excitement was enough to make me switch episodes and allow the now not so mysterious ending to unfold. Luckily we did not finish the last 1/4 of the episode (my homestay mother called me to help with dinner--> also a first! I was surprised but thrilled as I do wish to learn how to cook Korean food). So, 꽃보다남자 still has 15 precious minutes of surprise to hold my attention ^^ haha Actually, I am using the dramas for listening practice as well, so knowing the ending is fine by me. Some characters just may have grown on my bit anyways... just a bit. :)

I introduced my homestay brother to the wonders of "skipping rocks" which he quickly took a liking to. I felt reminiscent of my days spent in Grand Marais, MN skipping rocks by the North Shore.

There's a first for everything. For instance, I played badminton in high school, but not with my Korean vice principal... I found myself invited to to the gym to participate and watch (I understood parts of the instruction from the coach... parts). Or after taking a jog (aka: freely staring at some epic parasailing action near my home that I hope to partake in) seeing my host family grandparents riding a motorbike... ^-^

Or making my first 3-hour bus ride to Seoul and meeting a talkative middle school student whose name means "beautiful maiden" (미희). How did I know her name's meaning? She told me. How else would I have known? haha When many students or adults cannot muster up the courage to speak to me (unless they assume I am Korean, which is a common scenario), this youngster had no fear and proceeded to chat with me until my bus arrived. ^-^

By the way, Korea is famous for the numerous festivals. On Thursday I partook in the Buckwheat Festival. Yes, there is a Buckwheat Festival. Yes, I ate many food and beverage items in which buckwheat was a main ingredient.

And yes, being that the neighboring town was in the countryside, I rod (not a horse... keep guessing...) a donkey.

And there was an a section of the festival that slightly resembles the "international bazaar" at the MN State Fair or Festival of Nations event. I said slightly because the represented countries were few, but included Turkey (which I had studied in for a month) and Ecuador (which I hope to travel to someday to regain the language ability that I have long since lost and learn more about the mesmerizing music). I was content.

News from Pyeongchang

2009-09-03T03:19:00.000-07:00

Testing the waters of teaching has been a large part of my recent experience in Pyeongchang. Teaching English to a variety of levels and personalities has been an art that I have yet to master. However, my inner artist sends constant reminders. One must complete several painting before finding one that strikes her fancy. Some images will be crumpled, tossed and buried deep in the bottom on the trash bin, while other will be held daintily before being carefully placed in an strong frame.

Although some lessons have caused my nose to crinkle and a stream of sweat to slide down my face, I can proudly say that I am learning. Trial and error is the name of the game... even across the ocean from the United States and a 3-hour bus ride away from Seoul. Yesterday my mixed level classes caused me a bit of frustration, as I am in search of a way to have all my students get something out of my lesson. I have succeeded in reaching some students, but no matter the case I always have half the room facing me with glazed expressions ("What is going on? You're going too fast") or half the room a bit bored... The classes separated by level have been going better though. Today was an enjoyable day though. ^^

By the way, I have officially made my foreigner's card known... aka I went jogging in the open. People don't do that here, but I wanted to exercise so...who runs outside? I do.

Heading to Seoul this weekend for a couple days in the city. I'l write more when I return.

In the meantime, here is a video of a bike ride I took (attempting to find a place of privacy to sketch and reflect).

The Wonders of Kpop Unraveled/ School Festival

2009-08-27T07:56:00.001-07:00

(Me with the principal 교장선생님, vice principal 교감선생님and students)~

What has entered my life in Korea by means of my host sister or students:

1. Super Junior song has been following me everything I go in Korea. Therefore I shall share it with you. At orientation the ETAs learned this dance and now at my school's festival the students managed to squeeze this song into their routine. Actually my first day of teaching this was the song that they requested I dance to! haha

2. 동방신기 DBSK--> 풍선 (Balloon)

School Festival Presents: The talents of the students!

Joined in on some epic water balloon throwing~ Yes, I was amused~ "Throw hard and... like this teacher!" ^_^

Surprise Speeches

2009-08-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

Surprises seem to present themselves on a daily basis. For example, this morning I came to school unsure of my dress code (perhaps jeans?) because today is not an ordinary day at school. Today Pyeongchang High School has its school festival. What this entails I will soon find out, but I know a little dancing is in the mix on Tuesday I allowed my students to have a short practice time at the end of class. The female students whipped off their school slippers and replaced them with stylish high heels. A popular Korean song began to ring in my ears, the students paired up and began to dance. This is one of my rowdy classes, but now I understand where some of their interest (and talent!) lies, so new tactics and class content is brewing in my mind. Let's hope I can make sense of it before my next meeting with this group of students.

Before the festival begins there was a short welcome ceremony in which the school saluted the Korean flag and introduced the new teachers. This included me. This morning I was greeted by my teacher and asked to prepare a short speech (introduce myself).
"The principle will introduce to the school today, okay? So prepare a little something."
Learn to think on the spot or quickly is becoming a new moto to live by.
Use of a English and Korea were both implied. Thank goodness my Korean language class during orientation had prepared us for this very situation. Yet again, I am understanding why orientation pushed us so hard and fast. A little bit of tough love goes a long way. I am thankful.

And then there are times when...

2009-08-26T02:30:00.000-07:00

the water decides to stop working...

It appears that I have found myself in yet another predicament. After returning from my brisk walk down the back road, I decided (like any sane person who enjoys some good sanitation) to take a shower. However, the anomaly that I graced me with its presence was a hissing drain with not a drop of water in sight. My first reaction was of utter confusion. Did I manage to clog the plumbing (without even touching the faucet)? Anything is possible, as I tend to have a history of strange occurrences. I consider my luck to not be negative because it tends to bring about good stories after the fact...

After reasoning with myself (I seem to be able to get away with talking to myself less here than in Minnesota where people were accustomed to my quirks), I decided that I had not contributed to this strange plumbing issue. What next?

"The water seems to not be working."

"What?" replies my host sister.

"The water... it is not working. Does this happen often?"

"Ummm... I don't think so. I don't know. Downstairs maybe?"

"I can use the downstairs bathroom?"

"Ummm... maybe."

After fumbling around downstairs with a perplexed look on my face, the grandmother begins to stare in confusion. I explain. She replies simply with, "Ah. 물 없어... 그래" (There is no water... I see). So does this happen often? I have no idea. Well, I am in the countryside. I suppose I have been a bit spoiled by Korea's unstoppable internet connection and large technological capacities in general. My home may be welcoming of small visitors (insects) that I do not normally greet with open arms, but there are nice televisions on both floors.

My host mother has returned. Let's see if she has discovered the predicament. Or perhaps I am losing my mind! Oh life in Pyeongchang is full of surprises. Surprisingly, am growing accustomed to this lifestyle quickly.

*Note: water is not in working order ;)

First Days of Teaching

2009-08-20T21:23:00.001-07:00

To be prepared or not to be prepared. That is the question.
Upon my arrival in Pyeongchang, I was told that my start day would be soon approaching. Although I was told not to worry, I had been forewarned. Come prepared. Despite the reassurance that I would only need to introduce myself I decided to create a PPT slideshow introducing myself and Minnesota to the students. Was this a waste of time? Definitely not. However, I was not able to use my niffy power point until my second day at school.

On my first day, I entered the 교무실 (teachers' office) bowing to and greeting every one in sight. At least it seemed this way. Luckily orientation helped me filter out (for the most part):
1. the awkward walking bows (bowing while walking... do not multitask when bowing)
2. the direct eye contact bows (staring at someone while bowing... it can happen naturally)
3. rapid speed bow (down- up in literally a second followed by the whipping of my hair)
Greetings are still something I am still growing accustomed to even with the previous experience in Korea. Given that "awkward" tends to be a large part of vocabularity and character, I was not able to rid myself of all awkward instances, but having a handful of successful bows was enough to make me smile.

One of the English teachers walked me to my first class. I successfully found my first classes, but my bag (holding my flashdrive) remained neatly stacked on my desk. "Only a short class today. Don't need bag. Maybe use powerpoint next week," said one of the teachers. I took this advice only to discover that I would in fact be teaching a full-length class, so the lecture (during orientation) emphasizing the importance of spontaneity was key. "Just talk. Students will listen and find interesting." Well... not exactly my favorite scenario, but I made due by turning the first class into my own version of "20 questions." Popular questions were, "Teacher! How old are you? Oh good." And, "Teacher. You have boyfriend? Ohhhh. Me too. No."

Some classes I saw three times this week, while others I was meeting for the first time on Friday. I have been trying to memorize some student names, but I am waiting to have students create nametags next week when they enter their level-based classes. This week classes were assorted by year, so I experienced the wonders of a mixed level classroom. Every class seemed to have their own personality too. For example:
1. a bit rowdy, but if I promised a showing of Super Junior's "Sorry Sorry" they settled down. "Teacher! Dance? Sorry Sorry Dance!" ... perhaps at a later date. *Note: Super Junior is a Kpop music group.
2. silent classes
3. sleepy classes (I tried walking around the classroom, rubbing the backs of drowsy students. After they lifted their heads, I would playfully ask them questions about what I had just addressed. This seemed to amuse the other students.)
4. classes in which 1 or 2 students responded to everything I said

Overall the classes have been relatively accommodating. Student greetings have been across the board. Actually, my last class today greeted me with a standing ovation. Outside of class, I have received bows, waves, high-fives, and once... I was handed a bug.
Some students flock around me asking me to repeat their names and rattling off random facts about Minnesota and teacher Emily (that I spoke about in class), while other students run away the minute I utter a word of English. Diversity comes in many forms.

At first the students were curious about my "American-ness" but seem to understand why I have a Korean face but live in America. I was happy to learn that many students understand the concept of adoption. The teachers also seems to have a better understanding. I was invited to dinner by some of the teachers. They all want to practice English, but some will speak to me in Korean as well. I hope to help not only the students, but also the teachers gain confidence. The dinner was also quite the experience. I witnessed more scenarios discussed at orientation~

Let's see what the first weekend in Pyeongchang brings~

Entering Pyeongchang

2009-08-17T20:31:00.001-07:00

Yonsei Day was a day of... anticipation, nerves, excitement, confusion and... eating (많이 드세요literally). It is hard to believe that Friday our group was together in Chuncheon, off exploring Seoul for the weekend, and now whisked away to different areas of Korea.

I can barely recollect an accurate description of yesterdays events, but I shall try..

-met Vice Principal at Yonsei along with a teacher from my soon-to-be high school (not my "co-teacher" but an English teacher)

-drove to Pyeongchang (I am still unsure of the exact transportation time. Apparently, it takes 2.5-4.5 hours to Seoul... depending on who you ask)

-dined my principal and the previously named list of key people

-entered the home of my host family

I have three host siblings (2 host sister: University and HS age, 1 host brother: elementary), 2 host parents, 1 grandmother under the same roof. I had the siblings accompany me for a skype chat with my mother last night. So cute ^-^

Actually I will have the high schooler in one of my classes. I had a literally free day the entire day. What does one do in a town of less than 1,500 people? Let's see...

-lesson plan

-chat chat chat with the sibling(s)

-roam around a town unsure of what one may find... except a journey that won me a few stares, heat and final realization that this indeed is a 시골 (small town)~

-a sweet 아저씨 who created a resting handle for my plastic bag to ease the weight of my belongings :)

-2 young Family Mart employees (yes there is a Family Mart kk) who were ecstatic to meet the new foreign 선생님

-a retracing of my footsteps to recross the bridge to my home (even though my home was within sight for my entire stroll haha)

-spending time with my host siblings (Pyeongchang may be lacking the typical entertainment but I adore my siblings)

Yes, I admit today I had a few minor "wow... I am literally in the countryside... I want my city and people my age..." but there is something that kept my mind positive. Something tells me that despite any struggles I may have here, I was meant to be here. Let's this feeling is not a fluke :) hehe

Goodbye Chuncheon

2009-08-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Endings... after graduation they just keep going and going (just like the Energizer bunny).

Tomorrow I will be leaving Chuncheon for a weekend in Seoul. Saying goodbye to the 선생님들 (Korean language teachers) was one more goodbye that I wish I could avoid. Our advanced class became quite close over the 6 week orientation, so after handing the teachers our parting gifts I found myself wishing I could reenter the classroom scene that once seemed so daunting and intimidating. This is how it always works right? Once you become comfortable, it is time to move on... but I have kept in touch with my previous Korean teacher, so I anticipate doing the same with my two memorable 선생님들 ^^

The week has been filled with:

Talent Show (my friend and I "MC-ed")

-Graduation Ceremony (creative skits and a slide show presentation by my class--came together rather nicely considering the 2 hours of sleep we received)

-workshops (contracts, home stays...etc)

-preparations for Seoul, Ambassador's Pool Party (perhaps no swimming but veggie burgers will make a much appreciated appearance)

I may be without internet access for a short while, so allow me to briefly elaborate on the upcoming sequence of events:

-Yonsei Day (Monday, August 17)= meet school principal and co-teacher (whisked away to the year-long teaching designation)

-Tuesday... perhaps I shall teach... perhaps I shall receive a "tour" of the school... perhaps I shall not know until I enter the school grounds... hum... curious

Disclosed Information: Placement Location

2009-08-06T01:44:00.000-07:00

Placement Day... two words that have lurked in my mind ever since I walked up from the UST mail room tightly grasping the envelope indicating my acceptance into the Fulbright program. Slowly I climbed the stairs only to find my roommate and pleasantly distract her with my news. As with this day, on the anticipated Placement Day, my mind became flooded with emotions, visual scenarios and questions. At one of the OC-led workshops, a not so minor comment was slipped into the agenda. Placement announcements were to be announced a day earlier than planned.

For the most part, my nerves remained relatively calm (with the exception of the 10 minutes prior to having my name called). When I completed my "preferences form" I left a majority of my survey relatively blank. I did not want to tamper with fate. However, as with all the ETAs, I did have a couple hopes inhibiting me from remaining entirely calm.

My placement was in one the last province announced before Jeju Do (재주도). Where will I spend my year in Korea...? ... in a town called Pyeongchang (평창), which is located in the Kangwon-Do (강원도) province (same providence as Chuncheon). I am rather far away from the other ETAs, but Korea is a small country ^^ There are no other ETAs placed in Pyeongchang, but there was an ETA the previous year.

So from here on, I will be a co-ed high school English teacher in Pyeongchang. The entire placement experience ended before I could begin to wrap my head around the information I was given. Perhaps this was for the best, as I did not wish to overly analyze my situation before entering it first-hand. Nonetheless, being the curious individual that I am I joined in the ETA fest of retreating to the dormitory and making friends with world web.

What I learned about Pyeongchang (according to the web):

- over half of the area consists of highlands (~65.2%)

-located in the Taebaek Mountains region

-east of Seoul by ~180 km (~112 miles)

-houses many Buddhist temples

-has long, snowy winters (*apparently my "Minnesotan-ness" followed me to Korea)

-big events? umm... puts on (or is near)... a Trout Festival (*how does it measure to the Fishermen Picnic in Grand Marais? haha)

-Oh oh! Pyeongchang does have a bid in for the 2018 Winter Olympics (동계올림픽) ^^

What I heard from people who have heard of or visited Pyeongchang:

-yes indeed, it is a 시골 (=country side)

-I will be surrounded by mountains

-hopes to host the Winter Olympics

...

Yes, I know. Pyeongchang is no Seoul. Although I love Seoul, I knew I wanted to provide myself with a new, challenging experience. I believe this will do me wonders....... Well... hello Korea!

I cannot wait for the next hurdle to begin. Best of luck 2009-10 ETAs!

Teaching at Camp Fulbright

2009-07-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

My first class at Camp Fulbright (advanced):

(taught after April^^)

This picture marks a day of success. April introduced the students to Haiku poems, while I created a lesson on "Personal Advertisements." Students created PAs for famous Korean celebrities who are "looking for love." The theme of the day was Valentine's Day... so I made use of this tidbit of information which ended with a photo such as this~

I love creating lessons in which the students can be as creative as possible, make use of their hands, etc.

Creativity is brewing in the minds of these students, so why not provide an opportunity for the right brain to express itself. Equality! Don't suppress the imagination?!

Today I finished teaching my final lesson at Camp Fulbright. For this lesson, I switched levels (taught intermediate), which was a difficult transition but good practice.

*Note: Camp Fulbright provides an opportunity for ETAs to practice teaching Korean students in a smaller setting

Things that should not go in one ear and out the other:

-practice timing

-double-check your handouts for small spelling or grammar errors

-consider the diversity of levels ("advanced" does not have one set definition)

-anticipate adjusting activities based on individual classes

-"I do--> We do--> You do" (good philosophy to follow...thanks Grace)

Now I shall put my energy towards re-writing and memorizing speeches for Korean class, etc... oh boy...

Interesting Articles on Korean Educational/Social Values

2009-07-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

Check out this article about a Korean "Cram School":

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/world/asia/25iht-cram.1.13975596.html

The need/pressure to learn English is unbelievable:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/world/asia/08geese.html

*Thank you New York Times~

Making Use of the Free Moments at Orientation

2009-07-22T03:31:00.001-07:00

Taekwondo Tournament:

Several TKD teams from around the have been sharing our dormitory for the past couple weeks. There were teams from Russia, Iraq, Hong Kong, China, etc... So we decided to attend the tournament to watch them participate in movements that my body has yet to learn how to correctly mimic~

KEY Club:

The ETAs have been introduced to the wonders of KEY Club~ The KEY Club Mixer allowed us to meet some Kangwon students ^^

Weekend Get-away to Songnisan

2009-07-22T02:23:00.000-07:00

The weekend in Songnisan (삭리산) could not have come at a more opportune moment. I roomed with Sarah and Kenya on the 7th floor of a blissful hotel. When I say blissful, I am highlighting the peace and quiet (accompanied by a random rock formation protruding into the hotel). Although I did not allow my body to engage in an extremely long sleep cycle, I did manage to make good use of the comfortable beds and delicious food. The tastebud experience at Kangwon University's cafeteria is not unbearable (in fact some meals are quite satisfying and the staff is great), but having an array of side dishes (many with tofu, vegetables and roots) I cannot help but express my gratitude.

First and foremost, the weekend was meant to offer a means to relax and forget (or at least push select thoughts to back of the queue line) about the stress and busy schedules back in Chuncheon. I debated with my other half for a good half hour about whether to bring my lesson planning materials and Korean grammar assignments, but my absolutist side won the battle. The books and laptop remained locked away in my 다산관 dormitory. No regrets whatsoever. You are robbing your mind and body of a full-blooded break/rest if certain items invade your time of relaxation.

The only scheduled activities were some meals and a lecture by a Zen Buddhist monk (originally from the United States), who had planned to stay in Korea for only 6 months, but has made this country his home for for almost 20 years.

On Saturday morning a large number of ETAs decided to partake in some serious exercise. We were told that the Boeun-gun (보은군) hike would be steep. And after a few hours of hiking my legs began to agree.

The hike lasted for around 6 1/2 hours (give or take). ^^ Felt amazing so good to focus on the motions of hiking instead of everything else~

Our goal was to

reach 문장대 (even though we continued onward). The view was so rewarding and the breeze nearly blew me off the cliff~ If I would have had a kite in my possession, some epic kite-flying would have taken place.

한국말 수업 (Korean class)

2009-07-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

As I stare at this computer screen I notice that my eyes and mind are quickly wandering. What time is it? I should study... no sleep... no order 팥빙수 (shaved ice, ice cream, red bean, fruit, & other items that despite the satisfying feeling my tastebuds experienced after dinner, still make my stomach say, "dessert please,"... I should be doing anything besides writing mindlessly on my blog. However, I remind myself that writing can be therapeutic and rejuvenating.^^

Truth be told, I am allowing my mind to escape from the studying that has consumed the evening thus far (besides the trips to the 세탁실 laundry room---newly acquired skill of NOT finding the laundry soaked in water by the end of the spin cycle). Several members from my language class have been hunched over books in the third floor lounge busily studying for the first quiz and making the final edits on their essay. My class consists primarily of Korean-Americans, who have a decent amount of exposure to the Korean language (at least orally). The classroom dynamic dangled on the edge of intimidation for the first week of class, but I have come to realize that each classmate has his or her own strengths, as well as points that need some serious 연습 (practice). Everyday I attempt to train my ears to become accustomed to the stream of new vocabulary and unfamiliar sentences. However, 창훈 (another Korean adoptee) and I truck along throughout the 4-hour lessons. It is good to experience this phenomenon, as I am reminded what it is like to a student studying a foreign language. After all, in a week I will be transported into a classroom (first at Camp Fulbright) in which I will be the teacher looking into the eyes of the students learning English as their second language. My language class is putting things into perspective.

"Quarantined"

2009-07-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

This past week, our group was on "quarantine" meaning that we received special mealtimes and a designated part of the cafeteria. Fortunately, this special occurrence only lasted for one day as it was officially determined that a member of our group was in fact not infected with the swine flu (H1N1). The scare began with something like this. Somewhat recently, a foreigner in a similar setting as my program, had been diagnosed with H1N1. Being that Korea tends to be very cautious and sensitive to such issues, when a member of our program showed symptoms of being ill, the university wished to take drastic measures. Luckily the OCTs were able to negotiate a set of guidelines that our group would follow until it was determined that our member was not infected with the infamous swine flu. Given that our group had recently vacated a long plane flight, the member was most likely suffering from normal symptoms of dehydration and sensitivity to a new climate, food, etc. Nonetheless, it was quite interesting to see how the Korean university reacted to such as situation that would have been handled differently in the United States.

Not to worry, the individual is fine and dandy and our group is not longer "quarantined. " :)

Just thought I would give a short briefing our this experience which I found to have interesting cultural aspects.

Alrighty... nighty night.

My greatest motivation for applying for this Fulbright

2009-07-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

As part of the Fulbright program, weekly questions are posted addressing select questions. I thought I would share part of my first responses with you.

5. What is your greatest motivation for coming to Korea on this grant?

There are a number of reasons that I applied for this Fulbright grant. However, my greatest motivator has been to discover how I fit into Korean culture. As a Korean adoptee, I feel a strong connection to Korea, but not just by blood. I have fallen under the spell of Korean dramas and Kpop. The Korean language, food, and culture compel me to learn more.

This is my third trip to Korea. Many people may ask why I don’t broaden my horizons and travel to a different part of the world. My answer is simple. I have traveled and plan to continue to travel outside of Korea, but I have found a place that I do not wish to dismiss as worthy of a mere year of my time. Each time I have returned to Korea it has been for a different reason with a new set of goals. This time I have come to Korea for a year in order to pursue what many individuals are partaking in… teaching abroad. Back in the states, I spent a great deal of my pastime with ESL, ELS, or other international students, who came to Minnesota to learn English or about American culture. Being surrounded by such individuals brings an excitement that cannot be matched through many means.

In particular, I have spent time with some remarkable Korean students, who have also helped me learn more about Korea. Although it can often be nerve-racking, language and culture exchange are of a strong interest to me. Applying for Fulbright would allow me to enter the Korean culture once again, but this time from the standpoint of an ETA. I am motivated by the drive to learn Korean, discover how I and other Korean adoptees (as well as 2^nd generation Korean-Americans) fit into Korean society, and explore the option of teaching English. I have always been a person who strives to challenge and test myself, which has brought positive and negative situations, but all are welcome. The compilation of all of this is my greatest motivation for coming to Korea on a Fulbright grant.

Arrival in Chuncheon

2009-07-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Arrived at Kangwan University (강원대) in Chuncheon this evening with Nik and two other ETAs. The orientation leaders seem friendly and I am fortunate to receive the only single dorm (two beds but no roommate). Many of the OCs were past ETAs, one being a Korean-American who started teaching the past year. Alright, I am off to attempt to catch up on some lost sleep.

Happy 4th of July (I was informed about this moments ago). It is amazing how being taken out your element can formulate a bubble around your points of interest.

Recent Thoughts

2009-07-03T02:54:00.000-07:00

Reconnecting with old friends has been a a delight and a blessing, but also stirs up a short-lived hello-goodbye that was not yet forgotten post-graduation, etc. However, whenever this comes to mind with any such experience that causes me to feel such as way I think about a favorite quote by good ol' Dr. Seuss:

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

I am a fan about reuniting with familiar faces as well as welcoming the new. As much as I need my "Emily time" I love love meeting new people. So much to learn and enjoy. This all sounds cloyingly cheesy, but it is true. :)

Recent Highlights:

-Changdeokgung Palace (My friend and I discretely left the English tour group only to be discovered by the Korean tour group. Apparently loitering is not permitted in a former palace housing the "most beautiful lake" according to Kiwon ^^ and the blue house for the king hehe)

-Kangnam (enjoyed an enormous amount of food with some friends)

-Shinchon (visited my previous study abroad coordinator and met my favorite Yonsei Korean teacher...)

-...more but I will not bore you with lists ;)

Tomorrow evening I am off to Chuncheon (춘천) for the Fulbright ETA's orientation. I have heard nothing but pleasant comments about this place (except for the high humidity but no complaints)~ I am prepared to bring my red baggage and laptop on yet another truck through Korea. It has survived the wear-and-tear of a downpour last summer and the lugging up the stairs of a crowded subway station... so it (like myself) can survive anything~! This... I am sure. :)

Adoption Law Public Hearing

2009-07-01T21:52:00.000-07:00

As I was busying myself on the KoRoot communal computer, a piece of paper was slipped underneath my left hand. Several adoptee non-profit organizations have been trying to spread the word about an Adoption Law Public Hearing taking place on Wednesday July 1. Pastor Kim and several of the KoRoot residents also would be attending the event at the Press Center in City Hall.

Inside a listening device (translating the discussion into English) and handouts were distributed. Although I was relieved to have the discussion made available to non-Korean speakers, I wish the information packet with background information on the speakers stances would also have been more accessible (it was only written in Korea) as my Korean skills are not quick up to par with political lingo. ^^ Like I said, having translation available is helpful step to take as the public forums have never been available to non-Korean speakers before. However, most of the decisions concerning the Central Authority have already been decided at earlier public hearings.

The main issue of discussion was the Central Authority. Currently the individual adoption agencies have possession of their own files meaning that if adoptees wishes to seek information from their files, they need to go directly to their agency. However, a Central Authority is being established to act as an umbrella organization (to my understanding) that will house information from all the agencies. The question is how much and what kind of information the Central Authority will hold. I have my thoughts about this debate, but am still gathering information before formulating a more confirmed opinion.

Age restrictions for potential adoptive parents, background checks (no criminal record) and consent issues were also discussed during the Public Hearing.

More to come~

Sightings and Absences

2009-06-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

~Shopping at Co-Ex Mall, Edae and Dongdaemun Market~

Notable Sightings:

-Row of manikins wearing "brand names" (at least claiming to wear brand names)

-The familiar "Drunken" ballpark hat (same one as photographed the previous year ㅋㅋ)

-Ralph Lauren polos are on ..."sale"? 95,000W-->70,000W (~$90--> $70)

-Energetic Ecuadorian band performing in the 동대문subway station (apparently every Monday! Darn... I will not be in Seoul this coming Monday)

-Given that my guesthouse is located near the President's house, I was expecting to see quite a bit of protesting. I saw my first grouping of citizens angry about the rate of job losses. The economical situation bears a resemblence in the East and West~

-University of St. Thomas t-shirt--> UST makes a presence in ...South Korea!

(even the spelling is correct)

"Miss-able" Absences:

-Caribou (I can't find it!)<--- nevermind (it has been relocated)<--I only care because this chain

is only found in the midwest and Korea. ...Muy interestante...

-The "Emiily" story has now been renamed

-My favorite Target watch (the model that I have purchased over and over again...)

*My cell phone... Can you believe I am without a cell phone in a highly technological paradise? Yes, I am patting myself on the back.

To be honest, it has been rather appealing to be cell phone-less for the past few days in Seoul. Goodbye 24/7 "pager" (even though text messaging is something I have grown to enjoy...as you all know). Technology and I tend to have a love-hate relationship. To some capacity I want to hurl the little bugger out of UKU's window (UKU=my car...), but wish that it will land gently on a patch of grass to break the fall. My attachment comes more from the messages on my phone that I have kept in a kind of "archive."

말하기 연습

2009-06-27T20:15:00.001-07:00

I used to think it was so patronizing to have people look at you as if you were a child. It seems that people either expect me to speak fluently (after I utter a few sentences) or not be able to speak at all. One goal is to try and reach the first expectation (to the best of my ability in a year). I am trying to tune out the many comments about teaching English (that it is nearly impossible to learn Korean in such an "English only"-focused environment). It's all how you make it right? I tend to not be afraid to make a fool of myself utilizing my broken, fragmented sentences, so hopefully this boldness will not go away. However, I do find it easier to act in such a free way if I am in the presence of... myself. I don't like having someone paying close attention to my ever move or roll of the tongue.

Otherwise, I better find a child to speak with right? ㅎㅎMy old host family's daughter is an excellent 성생님 (teacher) by default haha! Children tend to not be as judgmental and can be more patient than you would ordinarily think. Well.. in some ways. After "reading" me a story from the blank pages of a photo album (oh the works of a 4 year old ^^), she shifted gears and placed 2 Korean storybooks into my lap. Sources told me that I was reading a little too slowly for this high-energized child as she began to flip through the pages and exclaimed, "끝냈어!"(finished!) and dragged me into the other room to resume our previous game of "blocks-doctor-먹어 먹어 먹어 and pull out every possible object from the shelves).

Although this chatty little teacher has taught me well, the vocab I am fishing for is often out of the reach of this fine young teacher to be. But that is what a talking dictionary is for right? Wait... my dictionary only speaks English (I suppose this is what I get for purchasing a cheap dictionary). Well for all other purposes it works wonders~

Here is a photo of the special surprise I found in the closed off part of the not so vacant room I was staying in~

One Sleepless Day

2009-06-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Land of the Morning Calm. Last year, when I studied in Seoul, the city never seemed to allow for a moment of silence. The highways, streets and daily (or for those your who are familiar with Seoul… night) life were constantly on a caffeine-high. Landing at the Incheon Airport was no different as hundreds of foreigners and Koreans alike swarmed to find their baggage and pass security. I distinctly remember feeling a hint of nervousness as the security office did more than glance at my passport. Her eyes barely shifted until she finally looked up and explained that I only had a single-entry visa (I had left the country for a month to travel for the semester began). But that is a past story. In short, everything worked out. Patience and little mental note for “anti-freak out” always do the trick.

On Friday, July 26 around 4:30, my plane touched down in Incheon once again. The experience bared little resemblance to my previous trip. Firstly, I arrive before any sane person would be roaming the streets (by choice). So, I could hear myself breathing as I dragged my carry-ons through to baggage claim where I retrieved my giant blue luggage. At home, I discovered that if I scrunch myself into a fetal position it is possible to fit into this piece of luggage. However, this is highly not recommended. My friend, Nik and I arrived at KoRoot (a guesthouse for Korean adoptees) around 6:30 a.m. and discovered that indeed parts of Seoul sleep. The girl who answered our doorbell cry greeted us in her pajamas and explained that most of the residents were still sleeping. I don’t blame them. J

Surprisingly, neither Nik nor I expressed an ounce of sleepiness. Either the adrenaline had kicked in or our little adventure outside the O’Hare Airport and the 14 hour flight had done the trick.

The same couple (Pastor Kim and his wife) is running KoRoot, so it was nice to see them again. I didn’t think they would remember my face, but this shows are personable they can be. A part of me was hoping to see some more familiar faces (friends from he past year), but I knew the same people would not be residing there for over a year. However, the range of adoptees was still vast. I met adoptees from Denmark, Sweden, France, and a mother/daughter from Minnesota. The girl, who had greeted us this morning, was from Hawaii.

Plans to leave early for the Fulbright office had been pushed back, but we managed to dash out before lunch was served (or we may never have left). Both Nik and I pulled out large bags to the subway station. Our brilliant plan was to save a bit of money by introducing our luggage to the Seoul subway system. The idea seemed reasonable until I stared head on with the deep staircase that seemed strangely longer than before. I have officially realized that I need to give a little more attention to strengthening my arm muscles… From the words of one 아저씨 “Ahi-goo.” I wasn't exactly looking my best when we reached the Fulbright building, but I was feeling great!

After visiting my old tromping ground near Yonsei (이대와 신촌) and enjoying some babbingsu, we met some friends and called it a night (or at least tried to...after the bus extravaganza haha).

Today, I am staying at my old host family's home. I am learning Korean from their young daughter. She seems intrigued by my Korean usage (as she seems to know more than me haha). Well, their son is walking towards me, so I am off!