Happy Chuseok

Myeong jul jal bo neseyo!

This means 'happy holiday' in Korean.

Chuseok (추석) is a national holiday which celebrates a good harvest where Koreans gather with family, eat traditional Korean food (mostly seong pyun (rice cake)) and spend time together. It is much like Thanksgiving in America although the food is obviously different.

My school gave every teacher and staff member a gift for Chuseok...

Yes, Spam...although this holiday celebrates a good harvest, Koreans love their Spam. Also, this is a large box full of at least 20 cans of spam!

I also had the opportunity to go to a Chuseok dinner at a 1/2 Korean; 1/2 Chilean home in Bundang, a satellite city of Seoul. One of the other foreign teachers here is good friends with the son; he had attended Chuseok with them a couple years ago.

The night was filled with too much food and lots of conversation. It's customary for the eldest member of the family to give a gift to everyone and although grandma was present, it was two uncles who gave gifts. I was given gifts as well: a manicure set and $20! I felt very strange accepting the gift but I learned it would be rude not to accept it.

More to come on my Chuseok vacation...

Another 'thing' I look like...

The school I work for (ELB) is revamping their website. They asked me and a couple other foreigners if we would all have our pictures taken for the site.

I said yes, to me it was no big deal. I guess the school had hired a professional photographer and hair/makeup artists...

When I showed up, it was nearing the end of the shoot. The minute I walked in, three Korean men, the photographers, were staring at my intensely. I could tell they were talking about me, but I had no idea what they were saying. I found out later that the photographers thought that ELB had hired a professional model.

Later on, while I was getting my makeup done, they asked me to put my hair up in a pony tail...after my makeup they didn't touch my hair so I reminded them that they needed to do something with my hair. They replied that my hair was fine because they need me to look like a teacher but with my hair down, I look like a super model.

I love Koreans! :)

My Niche

All of the foreign teachers here have their own 'things to do' outside of school.

One person does tae kwon do, another has lots of Korean friends, one has family here, and another has church...

It's time I find my niche, I'm just not sure what I want to do. Here are my ideas though:

- basketball league
- something to further my photo/art skill (maybe take a class)
- study a language (Korean would help, but I want to get back into speaking French)


Guess I should figure something out soon...I'll keep you posted!

Koreans think I look like...

During my time here, I've received many comments/stares because of the way I look. The area I live in is pretty old fashioned and traditional. Needless to say, not many foreigners come here, let alone live in this area. I've had several outings where children and adults alike stare and say "weiguk! weiguk!" Weiguk means foreigner. In general Koreans think all foreigners are beautiful and often times think they must be famous if they are wandering around Korea.

So far, I've gotten these comments:

From a Korean woman in her 20s: "You look like Scarlett Johanson."

From one of my elementary students: "You look like a princess."

I'm sure in my year here there will be more to come...I wonder what they'll be?

Get Yo Priorities Straight

I decided to move to Korea because I wanted to live abroad for a while and I especially wanted to travel the world. I decided to teach English abroad because the job would pay me enough to do both.

I came to Korea three weeks ago with these priorities:

Priority #1: Gain cultural experience living in a new place
Priority #2: Travel the world
Priority #3: Live, Learn, Explore, Have Fun
Priority #4: Be stellar at my job (however, this was never a true priority, this was an assumption. I thought this would come automatically)

Do you notice anything wrong with my priorities?

Essentially, I came here for personal gain. Little did I know that my job here would be the hardest job I've ever had and should be my first priority. Or should it?

Today has truly been one of those days. My kindergarten students found out how to manipulate me...I tried several things to gain back control of the class but each time I failed. I stood in front of children two times smaller than me with no other ideas and students laughing their asses off. I have never felt so angry/upset/disrespected/unprepared in my life. A part of me was in shock that I was unable to handle a class of 10 six year olds. And a part of me was about to start balling if I didn't get it together soon.

Luckily the homeroom teacher came in, after hearing the ruckus, and immediately the class shuts up, sits up in their chair and composed themselves.

I guess I came here with my priorities in the wrong order...

Next step: figure out how to control kindergarten students.

To rid myself of my current state of depression, I'm going to sleep and actually wake up at 8 am to exercise.

My First Typhoon

On Thursday, September 2 I was woken up at 5 am by extremely loud noises. When I looked out my 7th floor window, all I could see were trees literally bending in half from strong winds and rain beating down in a sideways fashion.

Apparently Typhoon Kompasu was the strongest typhoon to hit Seoul in 15 years. Check out what NPR had to say about the storm...

Merchandise of the Week

It's quite common, in Korea, to find any item printed with English words and/or phrases on them. However, most often than not, the phrases are incorrect or absolutely ridiculous.

I will post pictures when possible...enjoy.


Merchandise of the Week

A small child was wearing a tshirt that said "Date Rape Drugs"