Now that I've returned to the US, the kimchi part of my Kimchi Chronicles has drawn to a close. I want to thank everyone who followed me on this five-year journey around the world to Korea, and on the little side trips along the way. When I first started this blog I never imagined the response it would evoke, nor that so many people would come to check it out. It was merely a way for my family and friends to stay up-to-date about my life overseas, but it became so much more thanks to all of you! Thanks for taking an interest in my life in Korea, Korean food, culture, and for sticking with me through all the ups and downs. I hope it has been just as much of a learning experience as it has been for me. I know I will never be the same Heather that left NC in 2008 for a place she had never seen before. It was well worth the change.
What will your next adventure be? Be brave, be bold, and don't hesitate to take a leap of faith!
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
The Final Stretch
It is now March, and not only is spring starting to make its way to Korea, I've entered the final stretch of my time here. This past weekend was a long weekend due to the March 1st Independence Movement holiday. That same day coincidentally marked 5 years in Korea for me. In celebration, I headed into Seoul to meet Gail and Travis for a jam-packed and fun weekend. It was a weekend full of food, good conversations, and new experiences. I always enjoy getting to head to Seoul and enjoy some different food from the norm.
One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the Tim Burton exhibit at the Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art. This exhibit has been making a trip around the world to different museums, and is concluding its tour in Seoul. There were even some special additions made available to just the Seoul leg of the tour, from what I was reading online! It was amazing to get to see Tim Burton's ideas from the time he was a child to today. There were lots of pictures on display with ideas that I don't think had even been put into reality onscreen yet. The coolest part was the room with actual memorabilia and models from all of his popular movies. You could see the cowls that were used in Batman, the costume worn by Johnny Depp in "Edward Scissorhands", or the models for the creatures in "Beetlejuice". It was well worth the trip. If you're interested in checking it out, the exhibit runs until April 14th.
Today was the first day back at school after spring vacation. I only have 19 more days at my school before I leave; and 27 days left in Korea. It's weird to think about, being on the home stretch of things, but I am trying to keep everything in stride and get things done. The last month or so of a contract is usually spent packing, getting rid of unnecessary things, closing out accounts, and saying goodbyes. I don't want my goodbyes to be an overly morose affair. Rather, I'd like to say "see you later" as we never know where our paths will cross in the future.
Now off to go pack some more things...
One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the Tim Burton exhibit at the Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art. This exhibit has been making a trip around the world to different museums, and is concluding its tour in Seoul. There were even some special additions made available to just the Seoul leg of the tour, from what I was reading online! It was amazing to get to see Tim Burton's ideas from the time he was a child to today. There were lots of pictures on display with ideas that I don't think had even been put into reality onscreen yet. The coolest part was the room with actual memorabilia and models from all of his popular movies. You could see the cowls that were used in Batman, the costume worn by Johnny Depp in "Edward Scissorhands", or the models for the creatures in "Beetlejuice". It was well worth the trip. If you're interested in checking it out, the exhibit runs until April 14th.
***
Today was the first day back at school after spring vacation. I only have 19 more days at my school before I leave; and 27 days left in Korea. It's weird to think about, being on the home stretch of things, but I am trying to keep everything in stride and get things done. The last month or so of a contract is usually spent packing, getting rid of unnecessary things, closing out accounts, and saying goodbyes. I don't want my goodbyes to be an overly morose affair. Rather, I'd like to say "see you later" as we never know where our paths will cross in the future.
Now off to go pack some more things...
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Welcome 2013
Now that we've rolled over into the new year the reality of going home is getting much closer, and more tangible. The last day of classes for the semester was Friday, December 28th. Right now I am in the middle of English camp with a handful of students and a few co-teachers, but once that ends next Tuesday I'm on vacation for the rest of January. During that time I'll have to start my packing for real, instead of just sorting things into piles for selling, donating, and mailing home. I also plan on checking out both the Tim Burton exhibit at the Seoul Museum of Art, as well as a performance of "Phantom of the Opera" if I can swing it. Not to mention picking up some last-minute gifts for people at home.
In February the students will come back for a few days prior to the Grade 3's graduating, then there are two more weeks of spring vacation. The new school year starts March 4th, and by then I will only have four weeks left! I am trying to figure out what I will do with the students because we will have such a short time together, and they won't be getting a replacement foreign teacher after I leave. GEPIK cut their budget again this year, and is discontinuing most foreign teachers in middle and high schools in Gyeonggi Province for the 2013-2014 school year. Only positions that were funded by city halls or the school's own budget will be kept on after this current contract. I saw that about 200 jobs in Suwon alone were cut, including my school. Not only that, but my school also cut the entire department that I am a part of--the international department. Next school year the students won't be studying any languages other than Korean, whereas this year they could study English, Chinese, or Japanese. It seems that there will be a lot of changes coming up at this school, and I hope that they will start to think of the students' education more than before.
***
What are your goals/plans/desires for 2013? Have you made a list of resolutions yet? I'm working on a set of goals and things I'd like to do this year:
- Travel more in the US
- Go to NYC
- Go to Washington, D.C.
- Visit Arlington to see my grandfather's grave
- Go to San Francisco
- Visit my grandparents
- Be a big kid and go to WDW/The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Go to the beach in NC
- Homecoming in Chapel Hill
- Re-visit Franklin St and all my favorite places with friends
- Become fluent again in Spanish
- Learn more songs on the guitar
- Write more
- Visit a new country
- Work out at least 3 times a week
- Learn a new skill/hobby
- Improve on current hobbies
- Start a new job/get started in my career
- Read 15 books
- Ring in 2014 with people I love
These are just the things that I can think of at the moment. I'm sure as the year goes on, I will add more goals and things to this list, as well as check them off one by one. And on December 31st, we'll see how successful and fulfilling the year was!*pictures from WeHeartIt*
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Those Crisp Autumn Nights
Over the past few weeks the weather has been taking a turn for colder temps, and the leaves are changing once again, heralding the arrival of my favorite time of year: fall!
The joy (and sometimes frustration) of not teaching from a set curriculum is making up your own lessons. That being said, my favorite time of year has played heavily into the lessons for the past few weeks. We kicked off with an introduction into what fall meant (changing weather, leaves, different clothes) and are now exploring traditions and holidays of fall, along with food!
Something that got a lot of students' attention was the NC State Fair. Korea is rife with festivals; they seem to have one or another going on every week. But even with all the different festivals that I have been to in Korea, nothing holds quite the same feeling and excitement that the State Fair does. For the most part, amusement rides are separate from festivals here, instead residing at one of the actual amusement parks like Lotte World or Everland. My students were impressed to see that at the State Fair we combine our rides, food, music, displays, and animals all into one big package.
They were equally impressed (and some disgusted) with the array of food consumed at the State Fair. Showing pictures of deep-fried Oreo cookies, turkey legs, chocolate-covered bacon, and funnel cake elicited reactions ranging from professions of love to groans of hunger to confusion. Some students commented that Americans eat strange foods. Of course, that sparked another discussion on what is considered weird food. Koreans have been known to eat some foods that many Americans would consider strange, too!
I also introduced them to fall sports in the US, including my favorites: college football and basketball. For that, I pulled down some great moments of Carolina sports history from YouTube to show them. As a an example of showing how much fans can love a team, I showed them the end of the Miami-UNC game where Connor Barth kicked that awesome field goal to give UNC the win. The students were surprised to see the fans storming the field and taking down the goalposts, as they had never witnessed Koreans doing anything like that. (Of course in their defense, there isn't much to tear down and carry off in soccer, baseball, or taekwondo like a football goalpost.)
While going over these activities with my students, I couldn't help but feel this overwhelming sense of homesickness. I've been pretty good about trying to keep it in check before I go home, but occasionally it hits me. I think about all these moments that make up a small part of American culture (the part that I grew up with) and how I haven't really gotten to experience them in person for a long time. Then I think about how next year I will be fortunate enough to get to see my friends and family and have these moments again for real instead of reading about them on Facebook, and I am happy once more.
What am I looking forward to next fall, living back in the States?
There's so many other things I'm looking forward to, but that's a list for another post.
The joy (and sometimes frustration) of not teaching from a set curriculum is making up your own lessons. That being said, my favorite time of year has played heavily into the lessons for the past few weeks. We kicked off with an introduction into what fall meant (changing weather, leaves, different clothes) and are now exploring traditions and holidays of fall, along with food!
Something that got a lot of students' attention was the NC State Fair. Korea is rife with festivals; they seem to have one or another going on every week. But even with all the different festivals that I have been to in Korea, nothing holds quite the same feeling and excitement that the State Fair does. For the most part, amusement rides are separate from festivals here, instead residing at one of the actual amusement parks like Lotte World or Everland. My students were impressed to see that at the State Fair we combine our rides, food, music, displays, and animals all into one big package.
They were equally impressed (and some disgusted) with the array of food consumed at the State Fair. Showing pictures of deep-fried Oreo cookies, turkey legs, chocolate-covered bacon, and funnel cake elicited reactions ranging from professions of love to groans of hunger to confusion. Some students commented that Americans eat strange foods. Of course, that sparked another discussion on what is considered weird food. Koreans have been known to eat some foods that many Americans would consider strange, too!
I also introduced them to fall sports in the US, including my favorites: college football and basketball. For that, I pulled down some great moments of Carolina sports history from YouTube to show them. As a an example of showing how much fans can love a team, I showed them the end of the Miami-UNC game where Connor Barth kicked that awesome field goal to give UNC the win. The students were surprised to see the fans storming the field and taking down the goalposts, as they had never witnessed Koreans doing anything like that. (Of course in their defense, there isn't much to tear down and carry off in soccer, baseball, or taekwondo like a football goalpost.)
While going over these activities with my students, I couldn't help but feel this overwhelming sense of homesickness. I've been pretty good about trying to keep it in check before I go home, but occasionally it hits me. I think about all these moments that make up a small part of American culture (the part that I grew up with) and how I haven't really gotten to experience them in person for a long time. Then I think about how next year I will be fortunate enough to get to see my friends and family and have these moments again for real instead of reading about them on Facebook, and I am happy once more.
What am I looking forward to next fall, living back in the States?
- Football games in Kenan Stadium
- Late Night with Roy and the basketball team at the Smith Center
- Basketball season
- Walking in the quad under a canopy of autumn leaves and Carolina blue skies
- Heading to Franklin Street for a Carolina reunion with friends
- North Carolina State Fair
- Fair food!
- Crisp nights with the smell of wood fires burning
- Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes
- Daily Grind coffee
- Halloween
- Halloween candy
- First Thanksgiving at home in 5 years!
- Thanksgiving dinner
- My mom's pumpkin pie
- Getting ready for Christmas with my family and friends
- Celebrating friends' birthdays in person
- Traveling the US to visit wayward friends
There's so many other things I'm looking forward to, but that's a list for another post.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
When You Struggle for Words
I've struggled for a long time wondering what to write here. My blog used to be something that brought me a lot of joy to write and create. But lately, I have lacked the desire to update, as well as missing the passion that came with writing and creating something new. I have also not been enjoying my job as well as some of my experience thus far this year, so I tried to keep from running to my blog to rant about them. I've read a lot of ranting-style blogs expounding on the negatives of Korea, and I don't want to be one of them.
Earlier last year, I knew that I wanted to do one more year in Korea so I would have time to prepare to either go back to school or head into the lateral entry program once I return home for good. When I went home in March in between my contracts, I felt the pull of home more so than I had before. I thought I was making the right decision, given the options, by coming back for one last year.
Once I returned and started at my new school, teaching through the GEPIK program, I started to regret my decision on a number of levels. Public school is touted in Korea as being a more stable job with more vacation and a higher security of being paid. But what most people don't realize at first is that public school can be as random in terms of good schools and bad schools, just like hagwons. I was told that given my experience and what I wanted to accomplish at home, public school would be the better option for me. It would look better on my resume and give me more related experience than another hagwon could.
But again, not the best of decisions. I considered handing in my notice, quitting after a few months. I also considered not telling my school at all, and just leaving. I wasn't planning on returning to Korea and teaching here again in the future.
The problem with that is there is a lot of money involved with leaving a contract early. Especially in public school. Not only would you forfeit your end-of-year severance bonus, you would miss out on a paid flight home and you're on the hook for paying back the money for your incoming flight. In addition, you have to repay the settlement allowance of 300,000 (about 250 dollars). Public schools also withhold money for 3 months for a security deposit, from which they deduct your last month's bills and any amounts accrued for damages to your apartment. That can be anywhere from 700-900,000 won (650-850 dollars). You would probably forfeit a good chunk of that as well. I've also heard that sometimes it is difficult to claim your pension if you quit a public school contract early. That last part is merely hearsay but it would suck nonetheless.
So as you can see, quitting early hits you in a lot of ways. I have plans to get LASIK surgery this year before I get back to the States, where it costs WAY more than it does in Korea. I also have a few more places to check off my travel list. I am uncertain the next time I will be in Asia, so I need to check off these places while I can. Because of all of this, and because of wanting to have a nice nest egg ready for re-entering an American lifestyle, I decided that I would stay. Even if it meant having to sit through the next year biting my tongue. And thus, trying not to bitch about it too much to friends or on the Internet.
Some classes go great some days; other days they can be like going to the dentist and getting teeth pulled. I feel like the dentist in a lot of cases. My school has made me seriously question the future of ESL in Korea and what schools hope to accomplish by hiring and retaining foreign teachers. As someone who wants to be a teacher back home, it almost breaks my heart to not be able to teach students. I feel generally underused as a teacher at my school, where the general attitude is that English is not necessary or important at all. (Often makes me wonder why this particular school decided to hire a FT in the first place.)
If there is anything I have learned in all this is that I do not want to teach high school anymore. I thought when I came here that that was what I would do once I returned home. I loved my high school teachers and the fact that they could teach a whole class on what they loved and specialized in. But teaching high school isn't in the cards for me, I suppose. Through all my experiences here in Korea, it's the elementary school students that have brought me the most joy. They are at the age where they are old enough to understand the basics of life, but untouched by raging hormones and changing attitudes. They have good and bad days just like other students, but generally their enthusiasm for learning and doing new things remains unbroken. Now, anyone who is an elementary school teacher is welcome to offer their comments and opinions to this. I would be glad to hear your perspectives!
Right now I'm trying to focus less on my life at school here and focus more on the future: LASIK surgery, traveling a few last places, seeing friends that are still here, and getting ready to move home. That, along with talking to friends back home, is what is keeping me sane. To all of you who have listened to me the past few months, I thank you immensely for your willing ears.
And this is me, hopefully finding the oomph I needed to get back into blogging again. Thanks for sticking with me.
Earlier last year, I knew that I wanted to do one more year in Korea so I would have time to prepare to either go back to school or head into the lateral entry program once I return home for good. When I went home in March in between my contracts, I felt the pull of home more so than I had before. I thought I was making the right decision, given the options, by coming back for one last year.
Once I returned and started at my new school, teaching through the GEPIK program, I started to regret my decision on a number of levels. Public school is touted in Korea as being a more stable job with more vacation and a higher security of being paid. But what most people don't realize at first is that public school can be as random in terms of good schools and bad schools, just like hagwons. I was told that given my experience and what I wanted to accomplish at home, public school would be the better option for me. It would look better on my resume and give me more related experience than another hagwon could.
But again, not the best of decisions. I considered handing in my notice, quitting after a few months. I also considered not telling my school at all, and just leaving. I wasn't planning on returning to Korea and teaching here again in the future.
The problem with that is there is a lot of money involved with leaving a contract early. Especially in public school. Not only would you forfeit your end-of-year severance bonus, you would miss out on a paid flight home and you're on the hook for paying back the money for your incoming flight. In addition, you have to repay the settlement allowance of 300,000 (about 250 dollars). Public schools also withhold money for 3 months for a security deposit, from which they deduct your last month's bills and any amounts accrued for damages to your apartment. That can be anywhere from 700-900,000 won (650-850 dollars). You would probably forfeit a good chunk of that as well. I've also heard that sometimes it is difficult to claim your pension if you quit a public school contract early. That last part is merely hearsay but it would suck nonetheless.
So as you can see, quitting early hits you in a lot of ways. I have plans to get LASIK surgery this year before I get back to the States, where it costs WAY more than it does in Korea. I also have a few more places to check off my travel list. I am uncertain the next time I will be in Asia, so I need to check off these places while I can. Because of all of this, and because of wanting to have a nice nest egg ready for re-entering an American lifestyle, I decided that I would stay. Even if it meant having to sit through the next year biting my tongue. And thus, trying not to bitch about it too much to friends or on the Internet.
Some classes go great some days; other days they can be like going to the dentist and getting teeth pulled. I feel like the dentist in a lot of cases. My school has made me seriously question the future of ESL in Korea and what schools hope to accomplish by hiring and retaining foreign teachers. As someone who wants to be a teacher back home, it almost breaks my heart to not be able to teach students. I feel generally underused as a teacher at my school, where the general attitude is that English is not necessary or important at all. (Often makes me wonder why this particular school decided to hire a FT in the first place.)
If there is anything I have learned in all this is that I do not want to teach high school anymore. I thought when I came here that that was what I would do once I returned home. I loved my high school teachers and the fact that they could teach a whole class on what they loved and specialized in. But teaching high school isn't in the cards for me, I suppose. Through all my experiences here in Korea, it's the elementary school students that have brought me the most joy. They are at the age where they are old enough to understand the basics of life, but untouched by raging hormones and changing attitudes. They have good and bad days just like other students, but generally their enthusiasm for learning and doing new things remains unbroken. Now, anyone who is an elementary school teacher is welcome to offer their comments and opinions to this. I would be glad to hear your perspectives!
Right now I'm trying to focus less on my life at school here and focus more on the future: LASIK surgery, traveling a few last places, seeing friends that are still here, and getting ready to move home. That, along with talking to friends back home, is what is keeping me sane. To all of you who have listened to me the past few months, I thank you immensely for your willing ears.
And this is me, hopefully finding the oomph I needed to get back into blogging again. Thanks for sticking with me.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Goals for 2012
Now that I've decided that this year will be my last in Korea, I've started a list of goals that I want to accomplish during this year before I leave and head home. Some are career-related, some having to do with travel, while others are more geared towards personal achievement. I won't call them resolutions, but rather guidelines for a productive year.
One of the main things I want to accomplish this year is to get into graduate school or to start work in NC public schools through a lateral-entry program. It all depends on my application, resume, and experience--and how that will weigh into an admissions decision. There are two universities in NC that offer lateral entry jobs through the NC Teach program: Western Carolina and Eastern Carolina. They are about as far apart as you can get geographically and socially, as each campus has a different atmosphere.
There is also a possibility of going through another teacher program called The New Teacher Project, which places teachers in high-need areas. You go through a summer training program first, and then you start teaching in the fall. In a way, it is similar to Teach for America. I'll be applying for that as well.
In order to prepare for all of this, I'll have to start studying for my teacher licensing exam, the PRAXIS test. Regardless of what route I take to get started teaching in NC, I'll have to take this test. The PRAXIS I is the general teaching exam, while the PRAXIS II is a subject test suited to potential high school teachers. From what I've heard from other teaching friends, the PRAXIS I should be nothing to worry about. Of course, it's been about 5 years since I took any kind of standardized test, so I feel like I need to at least do a little prep to make sure I still know basic concepts. The more time I've spent in Korea, the more I feel like I'm losing bits and pieces of my advanced English ability, and that doesn't sit well with me!
Another goal for this year is to travel to a few more places that I haven't gotten to go to yet in Asia. I'm hoping to get to Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong by the time I leave next year. I went to Australia this past year and loved every minute of it. And I got the chance to go camping on a small Korean island with friends, not to mention explore more of the province where I live. Money and time providing, more traveling will happen this year!
I also want to keep up with exercising and eating right. It was a big accomplishment last year for me personally, losing 10 kilograms (22lbs) and feeling better about how I looked in clothes. Buying smaller clothes and being a different size was a big confidence booster. Even better was being able to finally buy clothes in Korea, where sizes run in small, extra-small, and impossibly tiny. "Free" size didn't seem to be any freer than its minuscule counterparts, sadly enough.
I started out strong with my blog last year and kept it going through most of the year, but towards the end it was more difficult to stay focused with everything else going on in life. This year I want to continue writing and bringing life in Korea to you all, even though other things might get in the way. And although I might be leaving Korea in the next year, I'd like to transition this blog from my life overseas to my life back home. It won't be saying goodbye, but rather starting a new chapter in my life. Who knows what the next chronicle may be?
One of the main things I want to accomplish this year is to get into graduate school or to start work in NC public schools through a lateral-entry program. It all depends on my application, resume, and experience--and how that will weigh into an admissions decision. There are two universities in NC that offer lateral entry jobs through the NC Teach program: Western Carolina and Eastern Carolina. They are about as far apart as you can get geographically and socially, as each campus has a different atmosphere.
There is also a possibility of going through another teacher program called The New Teacher Project, which places teachers in high-need areas. You go through a summer training program first, and then you start teaching in the fall. In a way, it is similar to Teach for America. I'll be applying for that as well.
In order to prepare for all of this, I'll have to start studying for my teacher licensing exam, the PRAXIS test. Regardless of what route I take to get started teaching in NC, I'll have to take this test. The PRAXIS I is the general teaching exam, while the PRAXIS II is a subject test suited to potential high school teachers. From what I've heard from other teaching friends, the PRAXIS I should be nothing to worry about. Of course, it's been about 5 years since I took any kind of standardized test, so I feel like I need to at least do a little prep to make sure I still know basic concepts. The more time I've spent in Korea, the more I feel like I'm losing bits and pieces of my advanced English ability, and that doesn't sit well with me!
Another goal for this year is to travel to a few more places that I haven't gotten to go to yet in Asia. I'm hoping to get to Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong by the time I leave next year. I went to Australia this past year and loved every minute of it. And I got the chance to go camping on a small Korean island with friends, not to mention explore more of the province where I live. Money and time providing, more traveling will happen this year!
I also want to keep up with exercising and eating right. It was a big accomplishment last year for me personally, losing 10 kilograms (22lbs) and feeling better about how I looked in clothes. Buying smaller clothes and being a different size was a big confidence booster. Even better was being able to finally buy clothes in Korea, where sizes run in small, extra-small, and impossibly tiny. "Free" size didn't seem to be any freer than its minuscule counterparts, sadly enough.
I started out strong with my blog last year and kept it going through most of the year, but towards the end it was more difficult to stay focused with everything else going on in life. This year I want to continue writing and bringing life in Korea to you all, even though other things might get in the way. And although I might be leaving Korea in the next year, I'd like to transition this blog from my life overseas to my life back home. It won't be saying goodbye, but rather starting a new chapter in my life. Who knows what the next chronicle may be?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Real Life
Real life has gotten in the way of blogging, much to my disappointment. I apologize for anyone who has been wondering where I've gone to and when I would be back again with a new post. Here I am.
I feel like I've been in a state of flux since November, with school stuff, friends, extracurricular activities, and every day life.
The hardest part of it all has been school. Imagine my surprise when my school chose not renew my contract for another year, as well as the contracts of a few other female teachers. The principal had chosen instead to hire several new male teachers, even though the current teachers now had experience working with the school. The decision left some of the other teachers baffled and confused as to the reasoning behind it, and it left me reeling. To me, it felt like a slap in the face. Had my teaching not been good enough? Was I not a good enough teacher to warrant a renewal after all? Was my desire for teaching and my appreciation for my students not enough?
All these questions and more went through my brain, and in some way, still do. In the States, there are laws that prevent this kind of thing from happening, but in Korea, traditional mindsets rule. I'm uncertain if this had anything to do with the principal's decision but whatever the reason, I've been trying to move past it and see what is next. Easier said than done, of course, and not without struggle or feeling depressed.
As a result, I've been questioning what exactly I want to do with my time in Korea. Do I want to stay longer? Is it time to go home? Have I learned what I can from my experiences? Am I ready to start the next chapter of my life? If so, what is the next chapter?
This year I turned 28. I arrived in Korea in 2008, when I was 24. At that time, I had been out of college for almost 2 years, working as a teacher assistant/tutor in a local elementary school but not making a lot of money doing it. After several unsuccessful applications to graduate programs for a master's in English Education, I wasn't sure if teaching was something I really wanted to do anymore. Cue an email about teaching in Korea. It seemed so far-fetched and foreign at the time. However, a little part of me started thinking...what would be so bad about living in another country for a year, making/saving money, not paying for an apartment or car, and learning about teaching ESL? It would definitely help me decide if teaching was what I really wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Not knowing much about Korea or teaching, I took a leap of faith and jumped right into a new adventure. I was determined to learn what I could as I went along, and take things as they came. Some people might have thought I was crazy doing it, but the time I've had here has taught me more about living than what I would have gained at home. Living in a foreign country gave me a kind of independence that I hadn't felt before, making all my own decisions about how I wanted to do things. I called all my own shots about grocery shopping, travel, even what I would do outside of work in my free time.
I thought it would only a be a year. One year of my time and I would return to NC ready to see what my life had in store for me next. Little did I know that year would pass quickly and lead to another.
Now after 4 years in Korea I'm on the fence regarding what to do next. My plan was to stay for another year with my current school and then head home in 2012, but recent events have made me reconsider. After much debating and thinking, I decided to stay one more year, but go into the public school system. This would be similar to teaching back home, and with the benefits of vacation and higher pay, more enjoyable.
My plan after that is to head back to NC to get my teaching license. Originally I wanted to be a high school English teacher, but teaching here has changed my perspective on younger students. All my experience in Korea has been with elementary and middle school students, and I feel like this will help me in teaching these age groups in the States. This year will be spent preparing to return to NC, studying for my PRAXIS exam(s), applying to grad school and lateral entry programs, and wrapping up my time in Korea. It's been a good few years in the land of morning calm but I feel in my heart that it's time to bid farewell to this country that's been my adopted home. There's so much more I want to do, and I can't do it all here. I've been putting my career and life on hold while living 7000 miles from home, watching friends marry, move away, have babies, start jobs, and live their everyday lives--experiencing these changes through phone calls, emails, and Facebook posts. Even being in the "future" I still feel stuck backwards in time, finding out about things long after they happened. I want things to happen in real time. I want to go back to the place that is calling me home. I want to go back to the land of the long-leaf pines, Outer Banks, the Appalachian Mountains, Chapel Hill, crisp autumn nights and summer thunderstorms, sweet tea, barbecue, WalMart, Target, shopping malls, family, friends, my house....the list goes on and on.
This post is long in coming, but sometimes real life gets in the way. Sometimes our lives get in the way of other things we should be doing, but just don't know it yet.
It's time I stopped living on pause and started living on go again.
I feel like I've been in a state of flux since November, with school stuff, friends, extracurricular activities, and every day life.
The hardest part of it all has been school. Imagine my surprise when my school chose not renew my contract for another year, as well as the contracts of a few other female teachers. The principal had chosen instead to hire several new male teachers, even though the current teachers now had experience working with the school. The decision left some of the other teachers baffled and confused as to the reasoning behind it, and it left me reeling. To me, it felt like a slap in the face. Had my teaching not been good enough? Was I not a good enough teacher to warrant a renewal after all? Was my desire for teaching and my appreciation for my students not enough?
All these questions and more went through my brain, and in some way, still do. In the States, there are laws that prevent this kind of thing from happening, but in Korea, traditional mindsets rule. I'm uncertain if this had anything to do with the principal's decision but whatever the reason, I've been trying to move past it and see what is next. Easier said than done, of course, and not without struggle or feeling depressed.
As a result, I've been questioning what exactly I want to do with my time in Korea. Do I want to stay longer? Is it time to go home? Have I learned what I can from my experiences? Am I ready to start the next chapter of my life? If so, what is the next chapter?
This year I turned 28. I arrived in Korea in 2008, when I was 24. At that time, I had been out of college for almost 2 years, working as a teacher assistant/tutor in a local elementary school but not making a lot of money doing it. After several unsuccessful applications to graduate programs for a master's in English Education, I wasn't sure if teaching was something I really wanted to do anymore. Cue an email about teaching in Korea. It seemed so far-fetched and foreign at the time. However, a little part of me started thinking...what would be so bad about living in another country for a year, making/saving money, not paying for an apartment or car, and learning about teaching ESL? It would definitely help me decide if teaching was what I really wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Not knowing much about Korea or teaching, I took a leap of faith and jumped right into a new adventure. I was determined to learn what I could as I went along, and take things as they came. Some people might have thought I was crazy doing it, but the time I've had here has taught me more about living than what I would have gained at home. Living in a foreign country gave me a kind of independence that I hadn't felt before, making all my own decisions about how I wanted to do things. I called all my own shots about grocery shopping, travel, even what I would do outside of work in my free time.
I thought it would only a be a year. One year of my time and I would return to NC ready to see what my life had in store for me next. Little did I know that year would pass quickly and lead to another.
Now after 4 years in Korea I'm on the fence regarding what to do next. My plan was to stay for another year with my current school and then head home in 2012, but recent events have made me reconsider. After much debating and thinking, I decided to stay one more year, but go into the public school system. This would be similar to teaching back home, and with the benefits of vacation and higher pay, more enjoyable.
My plan after that is to head back to NC to get my teaching license. Originally I wanted to be a high school English teacher, but teaching here has changed my perspective on younger students. All my experience in Korea has been with elementary and middle school students, and I feel like this will help me in teaching these age groups in the States. This year will be spent preparing to return to NC, studying for my PRAXIS exam(s), applying to grad school and lateral entry programs, and wrapping up my time in Korea. It's been a good few years in the land of morning calm but I feel in my heart that it's time to bid farewell to this country that's been my adopted home. There's so much more I want to do, and I can't do it all here. I've been putting my career and life on hold while living 7000 miles from home, watching friends marry, move away, have babies, start jobs, and live their everyday lives--experiencing these changes through phone calls, emails, and Facebook posts. Even being in the "future" I still feel stuck backwards in time, finding out about things long after they happened. I want things to happen in real time. I want to go back to the place that is calling me home. I want to go back to the land of the long-leaf pines, Outer Banks, the Appalachian Mountains, Chapel Hill, crisp autumn nights and summer thunderstorms, sweet tea, barbecue, WalMart, Target, shopping malls, family, friends, my house....the list goes on and on.
This post is long in coming, but sometimes real life gets in the way. Sometimes our lives get in the way of other things we should be doing, but just don't know it yet.
It's time I stopped living on pause and started living on go again.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The last few weeks...
The past few weeks have been filled with all kinds of activities that have kept me busy, and thus, not able to update as often as I would like!
At the beginning of October our school held an art festival where all the classes put on performances for their parents and peers. Some classes played instruments, some danced ballet, and some sang songs with accompanying dance routines. Even a few of the teachers got involved with the students, including myself. The 4 Hope class Korean teacher dropped out of a performance of "Summer Nights" from Grease, so I stepped in to help out my friend. After a few days of rehearsal, we had put together some dance moves to go with our song, and hoped that it would be good enough to impress the parents and students. Well, it turned out to be pretty good, generating a round of applause and a standing ovation, even. (Let's just hope we won't be asked for a repeat performance for next year's festival.)
Next was a trip outside of Gwangju with Pedro's Lonely Korea group to see a cool Buddha carved in the side of a mountain. I did a little post on that previously, which you can check out here. The weekend afterwards brought my first-ever paintball experience. That was awesome and exhilarating and confusing, all at the same time. A large group of my friends and I went to a wooded area to the northeast of the city and donned full body gear just to shoot each other. It would definitely be a good way to get out any aggression towards someone if you had any! The rest of that weekend was dedicated to a girls' weekend in, where we drank wine, painted our nails, talked about girly things, and watched a movie. And it was made complete with an awesome Sunday breakfast of peanut butter banana pancakes with brown sugar butter and maple syrup.
Everyone came together again as a group a weekend later to celebrate our friends Alushia and Misub's birthdays with a big potluck barbecue at his shop. After we stuffed ourselves with delicious food and Gail's pumpkin spice cake, we headed to the noraebang rooms we had rented to sing our hearts out. Giving out sparklers to random Koreans in the street made the evening even more fun once we left the noraebang and canvassed our usual spots.
And then there was the BIG weekend, this past weekend. Friday was Alushia's actual birthday, so we took her out for a nice Italian dinner and to hang out for a little while. The evening was pretty tame, because we all knew that the next night would bring almost sure insanity. (It was Halloween weekend, after all.)
We met up after the Gwangju International Day to put the finishing touches on our costumes and then headed downtown in groups to join all the other Halloween revelers. Feed the Boats was playing a show at Speakeasy, so that was the place to be to catch good music and check out everyone else's costumes. I saw a lot of very unique outfits, some of which I still can't be sure what they were supposed to be. I myself dressed up as "Bad" Sandy from "Grease," which involved lots of leather, red lipstick, and teased, curly hair. That night, I found myself in the company of a zombie hoard, Mr. Potato Head, RoboCop, Kim Jong Il, a Japanese cartoon character, Bananas in Pajamas, gay Hitler, pirates, assorted animals, and the Bermuda Triangle among others. (See, I told you Halloween was going to be insanity.) Koreans would walk by our large group of costumed folk outside Speaks listening to the music, and quickly walk past hoping to remain unseen. Most of the time, however, they were chased down by the zombie hoard, scared silly, and photographed.
Now it's November, and more adventures and fun are unfolding before me. It doesn't quite feel like fall here at the moment, with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees this week. But I hope that the chill of fall will return, and then soon after, winter should be here.
In Korea, sometimes it's possible to get so busy with everything you almost forget to breathe. But this is why I love my life.
At the beginning of October our school held an art festival where all the classes put on performances for their parents and peers. Some classes played instruments, some danced ballet, and some sang songs with accompanying dance routines. Even a few of the teachers got involved with the students, including myself. The 4 Hope class Korean teacher dropped out of a performance of "Summer Nights" from Grease, so I stepped in to help out my friend. After a few days of rehearsal, we had put together some dance moves to go with our song, and hoped that it would be good enough to impress the parents and students. Well, it turned out to be pretty good, generating a round of applause and a standing ovation, even. (Let's just hope we won't be asked for a repeat performance for next year's festival.)
Next was a trip outside of Gwangju with Pedro's Lonely Korea group to see a cool Buddha carved in the side of a mountain. I did a little post on that previously, which you can check out here. The weekend afterwards brought my first-ever paintball experience. That was awesome and exhilarating and confusing, all at the same time. A large group of my friends and I went to a wooded area to the northeast of the city and donned full body gear just to shoot each other. It would definitely be a good way to get out any aggression towards someone if you had any! The rest of that weekend was dedicated to a girls' weekend in, where we drank wine, painted our nails, talked about girly things, and watched a movie. And it was made complete with an awesome Sunday breakfast of peanut butter banana pancakes with brown sugar butter and maple syrup.
Everyone came together again as a group a weekend later to celebrate our friends Alushia and Misub's birthdays with a big potluck barbecue at his shop. After we stuffed ourselves with delicious food and Gail's pumpkin spice cake, we headed to the noraebang rooms we had rented to sing our hearts out. Giving out sparklers to random Koreans in the street made the evening even more fun once we left the noraebang and canvassed our usual spots.
And then there was the BIG weekend, this past weekend. Friday was Alushia's actual birthday, so we took her out for a nice Italian dinner and to hang out for a little while. The evening was pretty tame, because we all knew that the next night would bring almost sure insanity. (It was Halloween weekend, after all.)
We met up after the Gwangju International Day to put the finishing touches on our costumes and then headed downtown in groups to join all the other Halloween revelers. Feed the Boats was playing a show at Speakeasy, so that was the place to be to catch good music and check out everyone else's costumes. I saw a lot of very unique outfits, some of which I still can't be sure what they were supposed to be. I myself dressed up as "Bad" Sandy from "Grease," which involved lots of leather, red lipstick, and teased, curly hair. That night, I found myself in the company of a zombie hoard, Mr. Potato Head, RoboCop, Kim Jong Il, a Japanese cartoon character, Bananas in Pajamas, gay Hitler, pirates, assorted animals, and the Bermuda Triangle among others. (See, I told you Halloween was going to be insanity.) Koreans would walk by our large group of costumed folk outside Speaks listening to the music, and quickly walk past hoping to remain unseen. Most of the time, however, they were chased down by the zombie hoard, scared silly, and photographed.
Now it's November, and more adventures and fun are unfolding before me. It doesn't quite feel like fall here at the moment, with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees this week. But I hope that the chill of fall will return, and then soon after, winter should be here.
In Korea, sometimes it's possible to get so busy with everything you almost forget to breathe. But this is why I love my life.
Monday, October 10, 2011
A giant Buddha carved in a mountain
This past Saturday I traveled with Pedro Kim and Lonely Korea to Seonunsa Temple in Jeollabukdo Province. Located about an hour and change outside of Gwangju, this temple features a giant Buddha carved into the side of a mountain. The sheer size of this carving makes you feel minuscule next to it.
It was great to get out of Gwangju and see a new part of Korea. Pedro organizes a bunch of really awesome trips through his Lonely Korea program, so you should check it out if you're interested in meeting new people and seeing new sights!
Monday Link Post
A collection of links for Monday reading:
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/visit/5-reasons-visit-paju-book-city-266100
Like books? Love browsing through bookshops? Here's 5 reasons you should visit Paju Book City, which is a bibliophile's paradise.
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/play/how-take-stunning-photographs-city-375977
It's tricky to get the right photos of night scenes in the city, but this how-to shares some tips for getting good shots.
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/visit/citypulse/suwons-hwaseong-fortress-510555
Hwaseong Fortress is on my list of places to visit in Korea, and this article highlights its features.
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/visit/tell-me-about-it/best-part-traveling-korea-talking-people-543947
An opinion piece on how to get the most out of traveling in Korea, whether you are a temporary tourist or semi-permanent resident.
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/visit/5-reasons-visit-paju-book-city-266100
Like books? Love browsing through bookshops? Here's 5 reasons you should visit Paju Book City, which is a bibliophile's paradise.
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/play/how-take-stunning-photographs-city-375977
It's tricky to get the right photos of night scenes in the city, but this how-to shares some tips for getting good shots.
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/visit/citypulse/suwons-hwaseong-fortress-510555
Hwaseong Fortress is on my list of places to visit in Korea, and this article highlights its features.
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/visit/tell-me-about-it/best-part-traveling-korea-talking-people-543947
An opinion piece on how to get the most out of traveling in Korea, whether you are a temporary tourist or semi-permanent resident.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
When expectation isn't the same as reality...
Ah Seoul, you let me down this time.
I usually enjoy taking a trip to Seoul for food, shopping, and a larger variety of activities. But this time, it disappointed me. A group of friends and I headed up to the capital city for a day of shopping over the long weekend last weekend, hoping to find some nice winter clothes before chilly temperatures set in.
The trip up started fun, with us snagging seats in KTX's movie car, where you can watch a whole movie over the duration of your trip. We watched "Killer Elite," which despite being a little confusing at first, turned out to be a better movie than what I was expecting. Upon arriving at Yongsan Station, we headed over to Myeongdong to meet up with our friends already in Seoul.
The first sign that this trip would not end well was probably our lunch at TGIFriday's. This was one of the few places in Myeongdong that offered a varied menu of non-Korean food, but its service was sorely lacking in comparison to Gwangju's TGIFriday's. It was also more extravagantly-priced, most likely because of its ritzier location. In the end, we were all underwhelmed with our experience there. We didn't want to let that dampen our enthusiasm for shopping, however.
H&M was our first stop for shopping, as clothes there are nicely made and reasonably priced with a good variety of sizes available. Unfortunately, this was not the case. I was not impressed with the range of fashion choices available for this fall/winter, and anything cute that I did find didn't come in larger sizes above XS or S. Where were all the options that H&M usually had?
Forever 21 didn't fare much better, as most of this season's fashion is atrocious and leans towards the slouchy, sloppy style that I will never be able to pull off no matter how hard I try. I did manage to find a nice black blazer for work and a cute, colorful scarf, but nothing else appealed to me. Dejected, we filed back onto the subway and headed to the bus terminal to return to Gwangju.
I usually enjoy taking a trip to Seoul for food, shopping, and a larger variety of activities. But this time, it disappointed me. A group of friends and I headed up to the capital city for a day of shopping over the long weekend last weekend, hoping to find some nice winter clothes before chilly temperatures set in.
The trip up started fun, with us snagging seats in KTX's movie car, where you can watch a whole movie over the duration of your trip. We watched "Killer Elite," which despite being a little confusing at first, turned out to be a better movie than what I was expecting. Upon arriving at Yongsan Station, we headed over to Myeongdong to meet up with our friends already in Seoul.
The first sign that this trip would not end well was probably our lunch at TGIFriday's. This was one of the few places in Myeongdong that offered a varied menu of non-Korean food, but its service was sorely lacking in comparison to Gwangju's TGIFriday's. It was also more extravagantly-priced, most likely because of its ritzier location. In the end, we were all underwhelmed with our experience there. We didn't want to let that dampen our enthusiasm for shopping, however.
H&M was our first stop for shopping, as clothes there are nicely made and reasonably priced with a good variety of sizes available. Unfortunately, this was not the case. I was not impressed with the range of fashion choices available for this fall/winter, and anything cute that I did find didn't come in larger sizes above XS or S. Where were all the options that H&M usually had?
Forever 21 didn't fare much better, as most of this season's fashion is atrocious and leans towards the slouchy, sloppy style that I will never be able to pull off no matter how hard I try. I did manage to find a nice black blazer for work and a cute, colorful scarf, but nothing else appealed to me. Dejected, we filed back onto the subway and headed to the bus terminal to return to Gwangju.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Bug Bites and Sunburn
Last week was the annual Chuseok holiday, which I spent camping on Bigeumdo Island off the western coast of Korea. Bigeumdo is a two hour ferry ride from Mokpo, and costs 7,900 to get there. The ferry ride itself is calm, with no big waves unlike my previous ferry trip from Jeju.
The night before we got together for a slumber party at a friend's, complete with pizza, games, and a few drinks. The next morning found us making sure everything was packed up and ready, as well as waiting for what seemed like forever to get 3 taxis to the bus terminal.
Luckily, Mokpo is a quick 45 minute trip from Gwangju, and we were fortunate enough to snag the last few seats on a bus that was just departing. We took another series of taxis to the ferry terminal, stocked up on a few late-minute supplies, then boarded the boat. The pile of things that 11 foreigners take on a camping trip was almost obscene as we sprawled out on the back of the ferry. Koreans passed us by with curious looks, wondering if perhaps they had missed something only we knew.
Upon arriving on Bigeumdo, we snagged 3 more huge SUV taxis to take us out to Heart Beach, a place I had only seen and heard about through others' accounts and photos. I could see why it was so highly recommended. The beach is truly shaped like a heart, surrounded by stacks of rocks, trees, and mountains. It was very secluded from the rest of the island, and we very nearly had the beach to ourselves for the whole weekend. Exactly the opposite of going to Busan's Haeundae Beach, where you jostle people for a spot.
We set up camp close to the picnic areas, then ventured down to the shore to check out our surroundings. The boys set to gathering wood to build a fire later, while the girls made sure that the food and drinks were organized. The overcast skies left the day a little chillier than I would have liked for swimming, but I did venture into the ocean for a few quick dips.
Nightfall heralded an awesome bonfire, as well delicious lunch meat sandwiches and tuna salad for dinner. We enjoyed each other's company with drinks, conversation, games, fish-saving, and even a frenzied midnight dip in the ocean before retiring for the night.
The next day dawned grey but cleared up soon to bright sunny skies. More people were apt to swim in the warmer weather, and some went on a hike around the rocks at the end of the beach, reaching the summit of the nearby point. An obstacle course was constructed, but sadly was forgotten in the rest of the prep for that evening's even more awesome bonfire. (Four trees worth of wood!)
One of the things I have missed about cooking outdoors was making s'mores, but we were able to remedy this situation by finding marshmallows and chocolate bars at Homeplus. I contributed graham crackers brought from home. I'd forgotten how decadent s'mores were, coupled with the delicious taste of sausages roasting over the fire. It made for fantastic camping food.
The night's festivities carried into the wee hours of the morning, after which I crawled into my tent feeling itchy from bug bites and sandy everywhere. I also had the makings of a good sunburn, which left me feeling like I was on fire. The price you pay for a great weekend on the beach!
After cleaning up camp and eating breakfast the next morning, we called the taxis to take us back to the ferry terminal. Good timing prevailed again, and we were soon on our way back to Mokpo whilst napping on the boat. Korean-style floor sleeping made it easy to sprawl out, but the yelling and screaming children also on board did little for the ambiance.
Needless to say, I was tired when I got back to Gwangju. We ate one last meal together at TGI Friday's, looking and smelling like we had just spent 3 days on an island. But we didn't care--it was a lively meal spent recollecting the events of the past weekend and looking forward to the next. My first-ever camping trip turned out well, and I look forward to the next time we can camp together.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
North Korea kicks South Korea out of Mount Kumgang Project
Mount Kumgang is a joint project shared between the two Koreas, located on the eastern coast in North Korea's Gangwon Province. Or at least, it was shared until North Korea kicked South Korea out of it. After telling South Korean investors to draw up plans to protect their assets, they have been forced out of the resort entirely. Now North Korea wants to open it up to tourism from China and other countries, seeing as a viable resource to add wealth to its struggling coffers. Once a symbol of possible compromise between the two nations technically at war, now this resort stands as yet another source of conflict.
South Korea and North Korea haven't seen eye to eye for a good while, namely due to the rising tensions between the countries over the past few years. One incident that directly involves the Kumgang Resort occured in 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot and killed. South Korea petitioned for a formal apology from the North, as well as a full investigation into the matter. As a result of this and other recent events, the Mount Kumgang talks ceased, with neither side willing to budge on its stance. This resort not only once served as a meeting point between the two countries for talks during more peaceful times, it was also the site of tearful reunions of families separated by the Korean War sixty years ago.
But now North Korea hopes to attract tourists from all around the globe with its tour packages. The package would take you from Yanji on the eastern China/North Korea border on a drive down through North Korea to the port of Rason, and then on a leisurely boat cruise to Kumgang. How much would it cost a tourist to embark on this 5-day all-inclusive tour? A mere $310 US dollars.
South Korea plans on sending appeals to all countries who might consider visiting North Korea encouraging them not to partake in any offered tour packages.
Would you want to take a tour in North Korea to Mount Kumgang?
South Korea and North Korea haven't seen eye to eye for a good while, namely due to the rising tensions between the countries over the past few years. One incident that directly involves the Kumgang Resort occured in 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot and killed. South Korea petitioned for a formal apology from the North, as well as a full investigation into the matter. As a result of this and other recent events, the Mount Kumgang talks ceased, with neither side willing to budge on its stance. This resort not only once served as a meeting point between the two countries for talks during more peaceful times, it was also the site of tearful reunions of families separated by the Korean War sixty years ago.
But now North Korea hopes to attract tourists from all around the globe with its tour packages. The package would take you from Yanji on the eastern China/North Korea border on a drive down through North Korea to the port of Rason, and then on a leisurely boat cruise to Kumgang. How much would it cost a tourist to embark on this 5-day all-inclusive tour? A mere $310 US dollars.
South Korea plans on sending appeals to all countries who might consider visiting North Korea encouraging them not to partake in any offered tour packages.
Would you want to take a tour in North Korea to Mount Kumgang?
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sydney Trip Photos
Spent a good portion of last night sorting through my copious amount of pictures from my trip to Sydney. I had almost 1,000 photos to go through to choose the best ones for uploading. Without further ado, I offer the final product: 3 albums of pictures from my 3 weeks in Sydney. Hope you enjoy!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Travel Weary
Resting my weary bones at home in my apartment. Left Sydney at 2 pm Wednesday, arrived in Gwangju at 2 pm Thursday after two flights, a two hour delay that became three (the plane had mechanical issues so they delayed our boarding), and a four hour bus ride from Incheon. Coincidentally, I even ran into two of my coworkers who had just arrived from Kuala Lumpur as well. Their travel story definitely took the cake.
I arrived in Gwangju just in time to hear the monthly air raid siren tests. Traffic was at a standstill with no one allowed to proceed until the test concluded. At this point, I wanted nothing more in that moment to get back to my apartment so I could shower off the grime of traveling and breathing in airplane air for hours. I felt bad for my taxi driver for I'm sure I didn't look very appealing nor smell so after traveling for so long. Luckily he was speedy and got me home to my apartment quick enough so I could enjoy not only the shower but bask in air conditioning.
My poor body must be confused going from summer to winter and back to summer in three weeks. I'll put away my heavier jacket and long sleeves until crisper temperatures make their way to Korea, and pull out the flip-flops, shorts, and t-shirts for a little while longer.
Home sweet (apartment) home. Back in Korea!
I arrived in Gwangju just in time to hear the monthly air raid siren tests. Traffic was at a standstill with no one allowed to proceed until the test concluded. At this point, I wanted nothing more in that moment to get back to my apartment so I could shower off the grime of traveling and breathing in airplane air for hours. I felt bad for my taxi driver for I'm sure I didn't look very appealing nor smell so after traveling for so long. Luckily he was speedy and got me home to my apartment quick enough so I could enjoy not only the shower but bask in air conditioning.
My poor body must be confused going from summer to winter and back to summer in three weeks. I'll put away my heavier jacket and long sleeves until crisper temperatures make their way to Korea, and pull out the flip-flops, shorts, and t-shirts for a little while longer.
Home sweet (apartment) home. Back in Korea!
Monday, August 15, 2011
The End of a Trip and Returning Home
As much fun as it is to travel, nothing is better than returning to your home base after a trip. After spending time in hostels, hotels, others' homes, or camping outside, coming back to your own place gives you the chance to kick back and relax without worrying about infringing on anyone else's space. You don't have to worry about waking anyone up with your differing schedules, walking in on someone in the showers, or figuring out where to go and what to do next. There is a certain comfort to coming back home after being away, no matter where your home may be.
I think about all the things I have on my to-do list once I return to my apartment in Korea, including cleaning, laundry, and uploading all the pictures from my time in Sydney--and while it may seem overwhelming, it actually comforts me to think about my normal routine. I look forward to getting back to streets I'm familiar with, a kitchen in which I know where everything is located, my favorite coffee shop, spending time with friends, time for quiet hobbies, and so on. Even though returning means that vacation is almost over and almost time to go back to school, I don't worry about that. I've enjoyed my time away from my regular life to go and experience new things. By the time I get the antsy travel bug again, it will be winter vacation and the perfect chance to check out more of Asia. I've checked off a new continent and city on my bucket list, and look forward to my next opportunity to do so.
For most, Korea is a place that is traveled to en-route to other destinations in Asia. But for me, right now, it's home.
I think about all the things I have on my to-do list once I return to my apartment in Korea, including cleaning, laundry, and uploading all the pictures from my time in Sydney--and while it may seem overwhelming, it actually comforts me to think about my normal routine. I look forward to getting back to streets I'm familiar with, a kitchen in which I know where everything is located, my favorite coffee shop, spending time with friends, time for quiet hobbies, and so on. Even though returning means that vacation is almost over and almost time to go back to school, I don't worry about that. I've enjoyed my time away from my regular life to go and experience new things. By the time I get the antsy travel bug again, it will be winter vacation and the perfect chance to check out more of Asia. I've checked off a new continent and city on my bucket list, and look forward to my next opportunity to do so.
For most, Korea is a place that is traveled to en-route to other destinations in Asia. But for me, right now, it's home.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Double rainbow over the Sydney Opera House
Yesterday was the first time it has rained since I arrived in Sydney. About 3 pm it rained heavily, but afterwards skies cleared and gave me one of the most memorable photographic moments: a double rainbow over the Sydney Opera House. The rainbow arched high into the sky and ended in Sydney's Central Business District, and there was a faint second rainbow to its left. Enjoy the magic!
Learning to Speak Aussie
Even within the English language,
things get complicated. Does anyone still speak English the same as
it was in its inception? Would Chaucer be rolling in his grave
hearing the way that English has been twisted around and bastardized
over the hundreds of years we've been using it? Words such as OMG
and LOL permeate our texts, emails, and instant messages. They've
even made it into the Oxford English Dictionary, which, in
retrospect, doesn't seem like an honorable feat at all.
I know I'm guilty of using some English
colloquialisms that I've picked up from living in the South. I have
no excuse if I slip a “y'all” into a conversation with friends.
Regarding the more professional aspects of my life (i.e. teaching), I
try my hardest to use correct English. After all, how else will my
students understand what they're learning?
The truth is, the English language will
never be the same as our forefathers intended it upon its creation.
When people started learning it and taking it to the four corners of
the world, it meshed with the languages of other countries and became
what we know it as today. We add our own regional flair to it, we
add our own vocabulary to suit our needs, and sometimes, we just
change the pronunciation of it all.
Remember how I mentioned a
responsibility of anyone who travels or lives in a foreign country
was to learn at least a little bit of that country's language? The
same applies even to English—the language I was speaking as soon as
I learned to talk. A language that is as natural to me as breathing
even has its hang-ups, as I would learn from living in England, and
eventually upon visiting Sydney.
Australian and British English have
words and tone that is all their own. It is said that the old
British English of the colonists who settled America long ago is not
the English spoken today in England. But interestingly enough, the
English spoken in the Southern United States is linguistically
closest to that of our British ancestors. Perhaps that explains why
it is easiest for British and Southern-raised actors to imitate the
accents of each others' regions. I'm not saying that it would be a
perfect imitation, but it would be easier
to attempt.
I must
admit that while listening to Brits and Aussies talk is enjoyable,
sometimes it's hard to translate what they're saying, given the
accent and unique phrases they use. And I don't doubt that us
Americans give our colonial ancestors a hard time with our “America
speak.” (Who in the US hasn't been a little confused by a
quick-speaking New Yorker or frustrated with the slower-speaking
Mississippian?) Even Canadians and Americans have their linguistic
differences, sometimes enough so to warrant teasing or jokes.
What
have I learned since I arrived in Sydney? Well, at least a few
phrases to try and make my stay here a little more comfortable at
least.
The
morning after my arrival I headed downstairs for breakfast (or
brekkie) at the hostel's cafe. After perusing the menu, I ordered my
meal but was clueless how to order a plain coffee with milk. I tried
to explain to the girl behind the counter that all I wanted was a
“plain coffee with milk,” but she had no idea what that was. She
finally made me a coffee with milk, which I came to learn was called
a “flat white.” Armed with this knowledge, I no longer had to
worry when it came to ordering a morning jolt of caffeine. At coffee
shops, I was in the know.
If I
ordered a sandwich out at a cafe, I had to be careful to ask for
crisps with it, rather than potato chips. Bangers and mash were
sausages and potatoes, chips were French Fries. On my trip to the
botanical gardens, I came across a sign warning people to keep an eye
out for the flying foxes. I was intrigued until I looked up into the
trees above. Flying foxes, as mysterious as it sounded, were bats! At
the grocery store, I found prawns (shrimp), aubergines (eggplant),
rocket (arugula lettuce), and muesli (granola). Reading cookbooks
here have proved interesting, learning the alternative names for
ingredients.
One of
the apps I downloaded onto my iPhone prior to traveling has a
built-in Australian sayings dictionary, but it isn't all-inclusive.
Many of the words I listed above aren't even in it. Although I did
find a text at the library recently concerning Australian English in
its entirety. That shall be a reading project for another day, I
think.
Learning
Aussie has been a fun journey to say the least, and I'm certain it
isn't over by far. I've still got a little over a week left in my
trip to learn more. It's interesting how in a country that speaks
your native language, sometimes you don't feel like a native speaker
at all.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
What Are Our Responsibilities as Travelers or Residents of Foreign Countries?
When we travel to or live in another
country, what are our responsibilities in that country? What should
we do so as to not be seen as “just another tourist” or a
“disgruntled resident”? This is a topic that comes up more often
than you might think, amongst tourists, expats, and homebodies alike.
I actually had a short discussion about this in a taxi in Sydney, of
all places. Unlike most of my taxi rides in Korea which consist of
broken English mixed with the Korean I know for conversations, this
one was all in English. My taxi driver asked me where I was from,
and I explained that in a roundabout kind of way, I was on vacation
from teaching English in Korea but was an American. He himself
wasn't a native-born Australian, so he could relate to being from
another country.
I told him I was happy to have a
conversation in English considering I had very little English
conversation in taxis in Korea. He asked about my Korean skills,
which I was a little embarrassed to admit that after all my study,
wasn't as fluent as I'd like. I explained that as an English teacher
I didn't get to use much Korean except for when I interacted with
Koreans outside of school. Even then, they were more than eager to
try and use what little English they knew, which then made speaking
Korean a moot point. My English-speaking Korean friends love to chat
with me in English, because it gives them more practice. But when I
ask them to practice Korean with me, a few of them hesitate because
they think it will cause them to lose what English they know. It's
an honest hesitation, but in the end there doesn't seem to be any
progress.
What came out of the discussion I had
with the taxi driver was this: it's okay for someone to not be
fluent in the language of the country they are visiting/living in as
long as they know enough of the language not to be linguistically
ignorant. What that boils down to is, that a person should take it
upon himself/herself to learn basic words in the language of that
country, enough to get by for the duration of the visit or stay.
Greetings/farewells, numbers/money, questions, directions,
locations/transportation, food/drinks should be a good start when
traveling. If you're planning on a longer stay, then you can adjust
your language learning to include more in-depth conversation topics
such as your age, nationality, family life, schooling, weather,
sports, news, interests, or whatever you find appropriate.
I can agree that knowing at least a few
words in your chosen destination's language goes a long way to
impressing and winning over the locals. If you go into a country
demanding (whether verbally or physically) that that country's people
should speak in your own language, then you won't win a lot of
friends or fans. Additionally, you will probably contribute to the
mindset held by some that outsiders are ignorant, rude, and shouldn't
be helped in any circumstance due to attitude. It's sad but it
happens. I've met a few people in my time in Korea who thought that
every conflict could be resolved by shouting in English at Koreans,
hoping that the louder they got, the easier it would be to be
understood. The only response that invokes is Koreans either
ignoring them altogether or yelling angrily back in Korean. Nobody
wins here.
If you're not sure about how to say
something in a language, don't hesitate to ask questions or consult a
guidebook (first rule of traveling, have some kind of guidebook
either in paper or electronic form to refer back to!). Sometimes
even the most seasoned travelers might have to resort to charades to
insinuate what they'd like. I've definitely had to pantomime a few
times when my Korean vocabulary failed me, and despite the strange
looks it garners, it usually works. I also keep a dictionary handy
on my phone to consult if all else fails.
Being a good traveler or resident of a
foreign country isn't just limited to knowing the language. It also
extends to knowing about the culture of the place you're going to,
especially when the culture is vastly different than your own. The
last thing you want to do is commit a cultural faux pas, right?
Many people may know a big difference
between Western and Asian culture is social hierarchy, and how each
person plays a part in it. In Korea, for example, males were
traditionally seen as more important than women, and that belief is
still present today. Time and other cultures' influences have
weakened some practices of Asian culture, but many still hold
steadfast. Age plays a big part of Asian culture, with elders
regarded in the highest for their wisdom and experience. This
behavior is changing in today's society, as well, with many younger
generations growing out of old traditions. Where it was once
commonplace to give up one's seat to an older Korean, I've noticed
many younger Koreans denying (or ignoring) this behavior.
For some foreigners, these behaviors
might be difficult to understand, or seem outdated given social rules
in their own countries. This mindset leads these foreigners to
ignore Korean social rules, or think that they don't apply to them
since they're not Korean. I will admit that sometimes I have not
been a very gracious resident of Korea and let these ideas pass me
by, just because I had a lazy attitude at that moment. As I spend
more time in Korea, I try hard to be more conscious of what happens
around me, and practice better social behavior.
Why do I do this? The main reason is I
want to show Koreans that I am knowledgeable of their culture and
that I respect traditions that were in place long before I was even
in existence. In the same token, there are traditions I keep from my
upbringing that I would hope others would respect and not trample on.
In my opinion, mutual respect of culture can go a long way.
By and large foreigners are not
expected to participate in Asian cultural behaviors, but it sure
helps when they do. In Korea, foreigners are often painted in a bad
light for their “rowdy” behavior, and depicted unpleasantly in
the media by Koreans who have vindictive attitudes towards them. But
not all foreigners in Korea are like the ones that you read/hear
about in the news.
In the broader scheme of things, the
majority of foreigners just want to live their lives in another
country without being singled out. Similarly, foreigners who choose
to embrace all or part of the lifestyle of their host country would
like to be able to do so without spectacle. It all goes back to a
mutual respect of culture.
Finally, if you are going to travel or
live in another country, bring an open mind. Learn a little about
where you're going so you're not diving into something sight unseen.
I've met a few people in Korea who didn't research anything before
they arrived. Let's just say they were quite surprised by what they
found when they got here—and not all pleasantly so. These folks
that I met expected Korea to be either similar to what they were used
to back home, or a third-world country that had no modern
conveniences to speak of. It is really quite the contrary, but
without research (even a simple search on Google), how are you going
to know? With the Internet at our fingertips, we can find a wealth
of information online about almost anything we want to know. And
with technology becoming more and more portable, we can take this
information with us on the road for easier access. There are even
applications for our smartphones that can condense this information
into a convenient little package.
Don't be afraid to try new things, even
if they seem a little weird or strange. Oftentimes, these are the
best experiences; ones you can't replicate the same ever again but
will never forget. Having an open mind goes a long way in learning
more about the country you're in, as well as its people. I bet more
people will be happy to help if shown this bit of courtesy.
A new country might not have all the
creature comforts of home, but how important are they? Could you
live without, or find a possible substitute? Part of the exciting
feeling of traveling is trying new foods, seeing new sights,
participating in new activities—what you can't do back home. After
all, if you need all those familiar things to be happy, why leave
home in the first place?
What do you think are the
responsibilities of being a traveler or resident in a foreign
country? What would you add? I welcome your feedback!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Taronga Zoo, or A Close Encounter with an Emu
On Monday I headed out on another
ferry, this time over to Taronga Zoo on the north side of Sydney. It
looks unassuming upon arrival, but once you take the Sky Safari up to
the top of the zoo, you can see that there is more than meets the
eye. The Sky Safari deposits you right at the zoo shop and main
entrance. If you plan on going to the zoo, I recommend purchasing
the Zoo Express Pass, which for 50.50 gets you a return ferry ticket,
a ride on the Sky Safari, and a bus ride down to the bottom of the
zoo once you're finished looking around. It will come in handy.
The zoo covers a pretty good size, with
winding paths taking you through different exhibits. The focus is
mainly on Australia's animals, which is nice because my previous zoo
experiences have been a little lacking in this area. This meant I
could see kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies up close, as well as
Tasmanian devils, echidnas, and other unique Aussie animals. One of
my favorite parts was an area called the “Australian walkabout,”
where you can go into this fenced-in area that has small kangaroos,
wallabies, and emus walking around freely. When I saw freely, I mean
it, too. I was taking a picture of the wallabies and roos enjoying a
snooze in the sun and had put my camera down to come face to face
with an emu. He (she?) looked at me, I looked back, and I think we
had a mutual understanding of some sort. I waited until the emu had
walked away some before I took a picture, however. The experience
itself was pretty awesome.
The zoo also had a number of shows and
talks designed to put the different animals on display for patrons,
as well as bring attention the zoo's wildlife conservation efforts.
My companion Jetske and I caught the elephant show, where both large
and small elephants showed off their skills, as well as a bird show
that brought lots of laughs. The birds flew above and through the
crowd, swooping down to take food from their trainers, and providing
comic relief. There was a minor mishap when a bird flew too close
and clipped his trainer. All you saw was a poof of feathers, and the
poor bird lying rather stunned on the ground. Thankfully, both the
bird and trainer were fine, and returned later to accept donations
from throngs of eager children.
It took us about 6 hours to work
through the whole zoo, including a break for lunch, and the animal
shows. But the hike was worth it, as we thoroughly enjoyed our time
there, and took some great pictures. (To come later!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
