Sara's Adventures in Korea...Take 2

Please Excuse Me...

2011-11-28T09:08:00.000+09:00

Please excuse the lack of updates on my blog...I don't have the patience to wrestle with my (horrendously slow) laptop at home...but have no fear...I'll be getting a new laptop in December when I go home for vacation! Then you can get a bountiful amount of blogs from me! Just hang in there! :)

Meet My Nephew!!

2011-11-15T15:50:00.010+09:00

I returned home in October between my contracts in order to be home for a very important event...the birth of my nephew! It was quite an exciting time, and since I'd been away for the entirety of my sister's pregnancy, I was excited to get home for the main event!!

The whole trip was kept a secret for everyone except my mom and dad...so it was super fun getting to surprise everyone! I didn't think I'd be able to pull it off with Facebook and a mother that lets things slip at times, but it all happened as planned! So because it was a surprise, I was just hoping that my nephew would decide to grace us with his presence while I was home. I knew my sister would be induced, but the date was still up in the air...leaving me feeling quite anxious...and her, too, I'm sure!

After all was said and done, Mr. Landon Pesi joined our world on Friday, October 21, 2011, around 3pm. He was welcomed through C-section (not originally planned) into the arms of my older sister, Stephanie, and her husband, Shahveer. It was quite a happy day for our family as we met the first grandchild for our parents. A glorious moment, indeed!

The first thing that was definitely noticeable was that dark head of hair...so cute! I'm pretty sure I was bald until about the age of five! Haha! While others did the 'his nose, her mouth...' stuff, I opted out since I am not good at all of that! As he grows, I'm sure I'll be able to point out some similarities!

With the birth being in my first week home, I was able to spend another week with the little man before I had to head back to Texas. It was incredible watching the teamwork between my sister and brother-in-law, along with the sleep deprivation! I'm not sure there's anything better in the world than holding an itty-bitty baby!

I can't wait to watch this little man grow up and have lots of super fun aunt-nephew moments with him!

A Year Already??!!

2011-10-14T21:35:00.000+09:00

Can you believe it??! It's already been a year since I returned to Korea for my second stint. Today officially ended my first contract at Tongyeong Elementary School and tomorrow officially starts my second one! I really can't get a grip on the fact that it's already been a year! The year has flown by with lots of wonderful memories and amazing friends.

Last week, I met with the principal to sign my contract for October 2011-2012! Later in the week, I went to the immigration office to renew my visa. And today, I got some songpyeong (filled rice cakes) to celebrate my one year anniversary at the school with my fellow teachers. All of these things are indicating to me that it's been a year, but my mind hasn't quite wrapped itself around that idea yet!

So here I am...starting my new contract tomorrow with an end date of October 14, 2012. The process of deciding whether to stay or not was a really long and stressful one, but today, it feels like I made the right decision. I can't imagine saying goodbye today, instead of saying "Whoo-hoo, one more year!"

So here's too another year...may it be as full of blessings as the first!! ^^

Jinju Lantern Festival

2011-10-04T13:15:00.001+09:00

This past Saturday was the first day of the Jinju Namgang Yuneung Festival...commonly refered to as the Jinju Lantern Festival. I remember this happening or having just ended when I got here last year, so I was super excited to make my way to the festival this year! Jinju has a beautiful river front that made a great backdrop for the event!

I headed up to Jinju a little earlier than most of the foreigners in Tongyeong, because I had food on my mind!! My first stop in Jinju was Starbucks!! I don't mind, and actually love the coffee shops in Tongyeong, but there's something about Starbucks that makes me happy!! After that, I walked a bit down the street to Valance Burgers...a legit burger place in Jinju! I was full and happy, and then I headed down to the festival!

Since I got there before the peak time (which is at night for this festival), I had the pleasure of walking around without hoards of people all around me! It was nice to do some shopping and picture taking before the place got packed! Here are a few pictures I took during the day:

Most people actually showed up to this festival at night...which makes sense because the lanterns are all lit and they're much prettier to see in the dark. I don't have a very good night camera, so I just took a few pictures of the displays. Here's a pretty one that I liked:

There was also a wonderful fireworks show at night, which is actually the main reason I went. I love fireworks!! They have two showing of fireworks during the festival...the night I saw and next Saturday. I might have to see about going again...but we'll see!

It was a wonderful day and I really enjoyed seeing all the sights!

Singapore - Day 4 - Chinatown & Singapore Flyer & Harbor

2011-09-26T17:19:00.000+09:00

Our last full day in Singapore was probably my favorite! They were all good, don't get be wrong, but I really enjoyed the final full day there!!

We started the morning with a trip to Chinatown with Joyce and her friend, Christine. We walked around a bit and saw this Hindu temple, Sri Mariamman Temple. I am still just so fascinated with the intricate details of the temple.

Then we took a walk through the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. It's a huge temple and is said to have a tooth of Buddha inside. We didn't see that, but we did see some really interesting things. Here's the entrance of the Temple and Museum.

Huge golden Buddhas inside the temple. They were really extravagant.

I really liked the look of this wall...there were so many tiny Buddas. I'm not sure what they're all for, but it's a cool sight to see.

After that, we headed to the Tea Chapter for some traditional Chinese tea. It was such a nice experience and it was nice to have Joyce and Christine to show us around! We definitely wouldn't have done it without them, so it was really special!

The lady showed us the proper way to brew Chinese tea.

My smelling cup and drinking cup...who knew there were separate cups for this!?

Chinatown also offered lots of shopping...but I don't think I even bought anything! But if you're souvenier shopping in Singapore, I definitely recommend doing it in Chinatown...they're super cheap there!!

After Chinatown, Sandy and I headed to the Singapore Flyer....Singapore's version of the London Eye. It provides such a great view of Singapore and is so pretty!

I was super excited about getting on the Singapore Flyer...can you tell!?!

The sky looked amazing during our time in the Flyer. Here's part of the city!

Looking into the harbor from the Singapore Flyer! So pretty!

It turned dark while we were down by the harbor, and I was able to get a few shots that I liked!! Here are three famous sights in Singapore: the Helix Bridge, the Marina Bay Sands Resort, and the Science and Arts Museum!

The next day, we spent the morning relaxing and then headed to the airport to fly to Malaysia! The time in Singapore was really nice. The city is so new and fresh and everything is so easy! It was definitely nice being in an English-speaking country, versus what I'm used to everyday! Everything was super easy to get to and public transportation was clearly marked and user-friendly! I definitely recommend a trip to this growing city! I already know if I visit again, the skyline will be completely different! The city had so much construction going on...it's an exciting time for Singapore!

Singapore - Day 3 - Little India & Singapore Zoo

2011-09-23T08:57:00.000+09:00

On the third day in Singapore, we started our adventure with a personal tour guide. Sandy met Joyce in New Zealand and she offered to show us around a bit during our trip! It was so nice to have a local to show us things we wouldn't have seen otherwise!

We started our day with breakfast! Everything Joyce picked for us was new to me, so I was excited! We tried egg roti, carrot cake (not the sweet stuff we're used to back home), and chwee kueh. It all tasted delicious!!

Here are Joyce and Sandy after breakfast!

After that, we headed to Little India to walk around and see the sights. I've never been to a Little India before, so it was quite exciting for me! Almost immediately when we started our journey, we saw a stand with henna! I was so excited because I've always wanted to try it, so I didn't hesitate a minute! It was amazing how fast it was for the man to draw on me!

I was so excited about my henna tattoo!

There were so many colorful things to see! Here are a few pictures:

An interesting thing to us was how the people there dry their clothes. It was so crazy to see these drying racks just sticking out from the buildings, but it makes sense!! Just hope one of the clothes pins doesn't break!

Our next stop was another first for me...a Hindu temple. In Korea, I'm surrounded by Buddhist temples, but I've never seen a Hindu temple until this trip to Singapore. We visited Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple in Little India and it was quite an interesting thing to see. There were definitely still active worshipers there, but there were also lots of tourists, so the combination was a little chaotic and confusing!

After that, Sandy and I headed to another famous place in the city, the Singapore Zoo! For some reason, I've always heard about the zoo, so I was excited to see it for myself. It's hard to explain, but the zoo doesn't really have cages...it's more of an 'open' concept. It doesn't mean you're face to face with the animals...you're separated by a deep ditch or moat in most cases. If you're in Singapore, you should definitely check it out. (On a side note, I don't recommend worrying about the tram fee, the zoo is small enough for walking and we didn't even need to use the tram...so save your $5!)

The zoo is famous for it's collection of orangutans. We got to see a feeding time, and it was incredible to watch them! They were so adorable and I just wanted to take one home with me!!

The zoo is surrounded by lots of lush greenery! This is the lake that's at the zoo.

And, of course, it wouldn't be me if I didn't have at least one flower picture on my trip! These flowers were so unique!

We also went to the Night Safari that is right next to the zoo. My camera doesn't handle night pictures very well, so I didn't even try! I just enjoyed the time without worrying about pictures! It was definitely a good time, and one of my favorite parts of the trip! If you are going to Singapore, you definitely have to check out the Night Safari!

That's all for now...the last Singapore blog coming soon!

Singapore - The First Two Days

2011-09-16T16:36:00.000+09:00

Whoo-hoo! My first blog about Singapore!! Have no fear...there are two more on the way!!

My trip to Singapore was a wonderful adventure. It all started with a midnight flight from Seoul to Singapore, with a short stop in Kuala Lumpur. I got to Singapore around 10am and made my way on the subway to my hotel. Of course, I was there before check-in, so I left my luggage and headed for the nearest hawker center. I was starving!! I had previously watched the Anthony Bourdain review of the city, so I knew the first dish I had to try! Chicken Rice!! It was a great way to start my vacation! It was definitely yummy and super cheap! I really like the hawker center dining they have there...so affordable and delish!!

I spent the first day on my own, exploring the city a little and catching up on some sleep! Sandy joined me in the afternoon of my second day, and we had a full schedule of sightseeing ahead of us! Our first stop was Suntec Mall, where we visited the 'World's Largest Fountain'...the Fountain of Wealth. On the way to the mall, we ran into a giant chocolate bar that we just had to take a picture with!! Ok, it was probably mostly my idea, but who can resist!! I also got a snapshot of a really neat wall in one of the subway stops. It was for the youth olympics held in Singapore in 2010 and each of the tiles was made by different people from around the world (from what I could tell, anyways!). It was really interesting to me!

Finally, we reached the fountain and read the instructions telling us how to make our wishes come true from the fountain. We didn't really believe it would happen, but we followed the instructions anyways! Something like...Walk around the fountain three times, keep you right arm in as you walk around, and make a wish as you walk. I'm not sure if I even wished for something, but it was fun, anyways! Here are a couple pictures of the fountain!

After that, we headed to Merlion (like mermaid + lion) to see the harbor! It was really beautiful and the weather had cooled off a bit from the daytime heat, so it was quite nice! The Merlion is quite a popular thing in Singapore and is representative of the city. I'm not sure of the specifics, but it still made for a nice picture! Here are the shots from Merlion Park:

Hopefully from this picture, you can see three of the most notable sights in the Singapore harbor...from left to right, the Singapore Flyer, the Science & Arts Museum, and the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. My camera isn't too keen on night pictures, but you can get the general idea, hopefully!!

So wrapped up my first two days in Singapore...more to come!!

Celebrating Suju's Birthday

2011-09-11T16:39:00.000+09:00

Hey, look...I am still alive!! I can't believe it's already been a month since my last post, but I've been a busy girl these days!! Hopefully I can get caught up soon, though!!

August 9 was a very special day for my good friend, Suju! Of course, it was her birthday!! Luckily, Suju was home on summer vacation from Purdue, so I got to celebrate with her! Unluckily, Suju is now back in the States finishing up her degree....but no worries, she'll be back to Korea in a few months!! Here's a look at our celebration:

Suju's 'cheesecake'...which Korea hasn't exactly perfected yet...it wasn't as good as back home, but it was still ok!

Singing Happy Birthday to Suju!!

Me with the birthday girl!!

Suju and me with her mom (in orange) and another lady that works at their family restaurant. Isn't her mom beautiful!?! Suju has a good-looking future ahead of her!

Suju and her little brother...they're just precious!

The birthday feast!! Her mom made my favorite...참치김밥 (tuna sushi roll), even though it wasn't even my birthday!! I was stuffed from all of the amazing food!

Suju, I'll be looking forward to celebrating your 24th with you next year!!

Love Together!

2011-08-09T09:13:00.000+09:00

"Love together!!" When I asked the high school girls that I would be teaching for the next three weeks what rule we should add to our list, the class captain said, "Love together!" It became our motto over the course of the next three weeks, as we not only learned about English, but also about life in general!

I got a call a few months ago, asking if I wanted to work this high school camp. But since I knew Kami's second week here would be my first week of camp, I tried to refuse the offer. With the other public school teachers' vacations already scheduled and the lack of available teachers, I had no choice.

So on we went...Christina, Lloyd, Danielle, and me...walking into a school where we had no idea what to expect and no idea what would happen while we were there.

I can only speak for myself, but I must say, this experience definitely ranks among the top in my teaching experiences. It was so amazing to teach these girls! On the first day of class, I walked in the room and the cheered for me! I knew from there, it was going to be a fun class! The girls continually surprised and amazed me.

Here are a few pictures from our time together!

The first day of class! Love together!

We did a lesson on beauty around the world and I wanted the girls to know beautiful they are!

I liked teaching the class in a discussion-style setting. These girls have a great deal of knowledge of the English language, so it was just important for me to get them speaking and using that knowledge.

On our final day of camp, we had a party! It was a lot of fun!

And they decorated the board! It was precious!

All the wonderful ladies!!

They gave me this paper where each of them had written me a sweet letter! I'll cherish it always!

Me and sweet Amy!

For the second hour of the camp, we joined all four classes and had coke floats! They had never had them, so it was a fun treat!!

And so ended the camp at ChungRyeol Girls High School. The camp may be over, but my heart is still happy!!

Kakao Talk

2011-08-03T15:03:00.000+09:00

The newest and greatest app to enter my life....Kakao Talk. This is a Korean Messaging app that can be downloaded by anyone with a smartphone or app machine (i.e. iTouch, iPad, etc.). It reminds me a lot of BBM back in my Blackberry days, but it's so much better!!

What makes Kakao Talk so great for me? I can instant message with my family and friends from back home and it's like we're texting back and forth in real time. I definitely can't afford to text internationally, but this app makes my life so much better! And of course it's free!! :)

Why is Kakao Talk better than regular texting?? Well, I already answered the main reason...I can message internationally for free. Also, Kakao talk lets you attach photos and videos into the conversation with great ease! And one of my favorite features...you can know when the other person has read the message. This is great for me because I'm not left wondering if they got my message or not! Another great thing is that you can have group chats with multiple people and you don't have to worry about if you texted everyone or not...just do it in group chat!

So, if you have a smartphone or any kind of electronic that lets you download apps, I recommend this one!! It's amazing!!

Busan With Kami - Lotte Giants & Haeundae Beach

2011-07-29T14:34:00.000+09:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was super excited to have Kami come to Korea for a visit! We had lots of good times together when we were here together a couple of years ago, so it was nice to reunite!!

Her visit allowed a visit to Busan and one of my favorite things to do in Korea...going to a Lotte Giants baseball game. The Giants were playing the LG Twins and Eujin got us amazing seats for the game! Even though it was about a million degrees, we had a great time together cheering on the winning team!

Here are some pictures from the game.

The next morning, Kami and I took a coffee break at Dunkin Donuts, where I found this sign. It's amazing to me that even huge chains like Dunkin Donuts would have such mistakes in their signage.

After that we headed to one of the places I've wanted to go to for a long time in Korea...Haeundae Beach. This place is quite famous in Korea, and let me tell you, it was quite an interesting experience.

You may remember my blog a few months ago about skin color and tanning/whitening in Korea...well, this beach experience was just another illustration of the fact that Koreans to not want to have tan skin. Let me just show you with the pictures!

When first entering the beach, I could only see one thing...UMBRELLAS!! Everywhere!! No lie!! I have never seen so many in my life!! Lucky for me and my lobster skin, they were super cheap to rent...only about 5 bucks!

A fort of umbrellas!!

Another big difference about Korean beaches is that Korean like to go swimming with all of their clothes still on. Look around the beach in the States and you see lots (and sometimes too much) flesh, but in Korea, must people still had their full clothing on. Hopefully you can see that in this picture.

Lucky for us...these were a guy that didn't mind getting a little sun!! ;) (Sorry, Dad!!)

Thus concluded our time in Busan! Now I can mark Haeundae off of my 'Things to do in Korea' list...whoo-hoo!!

Camp at Yokjido

2011-07-28T11:35:00.000+09:00

I know I've been absent from my online life lately, but it's been for a good reason! I was spending a few days with fourteen 3rd- and 4th-graders on Yokji Island. I will tell you more about it later...but here's your preview!

Chezlee Pension - Tongyeong

2011-07-28T09:25:00.000+09:00

It's always an adventure in Korea...and a couple of weekends ago, it was time for another one!

I got a call on Saturday from my friend/former boss about having lunch on Sunday at the beautiful pension in Tongyeong that I visited a couple of months ago. There was a small mention of cable TV and cameras, but I wasn't sure what was going on. I was happy to recruit my friend Liz to come with me because it ended up being quite an interesting day.

When we arrived to the pension, we were shown around to the different rooms and places for guests. The pension is right on the sea, so it's a really nice view and setting. We finally figured out that there would be some filming done for a cable TV show that is done in Korea. The show was highlighting different things in Tongyeong and we got to be the 'cool foreigners'! Haha! It was actually really fun.

I finally learned that the pension is name Chezlee and I was excited to see the different places available for people to stay. Each room has a different theme and they are quite elaborate. I don't know if the pictures do the place justice, but you can get the jist!

One of the rooms...so cutely decorated!

Getting my kiss from prince charming!

Liz in the queen's throne!

Ruby with the huge heart of flowers.

I LOVE this picture of Sara with HongJae!! So precious!!

It was a fun day and I definitely gained some 'cool' points from my students for being on TV!!

Touring a Turkish Cargo Ship

2011-07-14T16:20:00.000+09:00

In Tongyeong, there is a huge population of foreigners that work on ships. Also, there are lots of Koreans that work on these ships too. I always see them around and I want to see the ships upclose! Well, I finally got to see one!!!

Danielle befriended some Turkish guys that were in Tongyeong for a few weeks. She got to take the tour first, and I was super jealous, so last Saturday, I was invited to check it out!

It's pretty incredible how nice these ships are! On this ship in particular, there are 19 people working. They travel around the world carrying cargo to various countries. Their times in port can range from 12 hours to a few days. I am glad we were lucky enough to meet to them while they were here!!

Here are a few pictures from our time on the ship!

The ship!!

In the engine room...getting some bad news! ha!

The main engine....it was huge and hot!!

The view of Tongyeong from the ship! Can you see all of the clouds?! I'm ready for the rainy season to be finished!

Some huge rope...although you can't really tell since I didn't put anything as a reference point!

This is the emergency boat if there is a fire or collision. It's pretty impressive. They can get in and pull a lever and it will go shooting down into the water! Sounds fun but I wouldn't want an emergency to happen in order to use it!

The cargo space on the ship...the gray doors open and they put the cargo inside.

Manning the radar...gotta make sure nothing's in the way.

Always love talking on the radio!

The controls for the ship...lots of stuff going on here!

Everything in Korea is really cutesy...so I loved these danger signs that illustrate the cutesy part of Korea very well!

So it was a good day! I am glad I can mark this experience off my list of things to do in Korea!

Fostering Two Kittens

2011-07-12T15:14:00.000+09:00

I don't know what is it about me, but apparently, I can't say no when my friends call about animals they are rescuing. I had just gotten my apartment back in order after the poodle I was watching, and then it came...a phone call from Danielle telling me she had found two baby kittens that needed some love. Because of her allergies, she wasn't able to keep them at her place...so I was the next in line. She brought over the two kitties and they were quite stinky, so we promptly gave them a bath. Usually cats aren't big fans of this, but they were fine and handled it with ease!!

After Danielle posted on Facebook, the cats were quickly adopted and I only ended up keeping them for 3 days. There were cute, but with the combination of muggy weather and kitty litter, my apartment was stinky!! I'm glad it's getting back to normal again!!

Here are a few pictures from the adventure!

One day after they had eaten, I caught them on film cleaning each other up! It was soooo cute!! I hope it makes you smile!!

For now, though, Sara's animal shelter is closed!!!

Foreigners Invade Hapcheon

2011-07-12T14:45:00.000+09:00

A couple of weeks ago, a fellow EPIKer hosted a huge bar-b-que by the river in Hapcheon. It was a little bit of a journey to get there (1 hour to Jinju, wait, 1 hour to Hapcheon) but it was worth it in the end. There were lots of people that I met at my EPIK training, along with other folks I've met along with way this year. Of course, there were new faces too! Here are a few pictures from the day:

Laura and Colleen--They were hatin' on my music, but they're still cool!!

Little Yasmine! Her father is a fellow public school teacher in Tongyeong and her mother is a beautiful Korean! She's so adorable!!

The grillmaster at work! 'Santa' worked hard to put the BBQ together and get everyone fed!! He did a great job!

Mick...This guy makes me smile!!

Lots of food...lots of people...lots of fun!!

Can't wait for the next one!!

Watch Yo Mouth, Son!!

2011-07-07T16:46:00.000+09:00

Lately, it seems that my ears have been filled with lots and lots of naughty words...and not from the adults around me, it's from my little 6th grade students. Here's my theory:

Korea has been infiltrated these days with Western culture and media and games and movies and all sorts of things. One of the negative factors of this epidemic is that these said games and movies are filled with lots of nasty language. And while these kids might not know exactly what these words mean, they know from the games that they play when the appropriate time to use them is. Sometimes a kid that speaks no English at all with go around saying these phrases that I know they learned from a video game. It's funny when it's something like, "Fire in the hole." It's a lot less funny when it's some involving my least favorite 4-letter word!

Anyways, this is all on my mind today because one of my 6th grade students was heard saying 'F#*$ you' to his peers today. I definitely called him out on it and told him he didn't need so say that. To make it a little worse than a normal situation, this student studied in the States for a little while and he knows full well that these words are not of a kind nature. So after getting on to him about it, my co-teacher addressed the situation further and then let his homeroom teacher know about his behavior. After lunch, the student came to my office to say he was sorry, but it took about 30 minutes and lots and lots of tears for him to get the two little words out.

So on I will go...trying to clean up my kids' mouths...one student at a time! (Who knew this would be a problem??! At least if they said Korean curse words, I wouldn't know!!)

Cultural Difference - The Name Game

2011-06-28T19:08:00.000+09:00

I can tell you, if you saw me when I just arrived to Korea a couple of years ago, you would of seen me offending people left and right. True, I have a 'foreigner advantage' whereas most people just disregard when I do something 'wrong', but sometimes, they still get offended. Even if I act as a perfect person would in America, I would still be offending lots of people in this Asian country.

When I write to people on Postcrossing, I always say that I love Korea and I feel like I learn something new everyday. It really is a completely different culture and the customs here are quite different (and often opposite) than the way we do things back home.

I can definitely say I've adjusted quite well to the differences here, but there are still a few things that don't come quite so easily to me. There is one in particular that I can't quite grab ahold of. Let's imagine a situation...two people see each other walking on the street...Person 1 says, "Oh, hello Person 2, how are you today?" Person 2 responds, "Hi, Person 1, I'm wonderful! Nice to see you!" ... And so on...

Well, in American culture, we would say the other person's name (if we remember, of course!). When people see me, I would expect them so call me things like Sara, Miss Allbritton, or Miss Sara ...something along those lines. I feel like when you say someone's name, it makes things more personal.

In Korea, it's not that way. If you address someone that is older than you by their name, it is considered rude. You should instead call them by their title, i.e. Teacher, Owner (as in restaurant, academy, etc.), Principal, etc. So instead of saying to my co-teachers, "Hello, Minie!", it's proper to actually say, "Hello, Teacher!"

For me, this is really hard. In a land of names that aren't easy for me to learn, when I actually do learn a name, I feel like I should use it as often as possible. Well, not so much! Pretty much, I shouldn't learn anyone's name that is older than me because I should just call them my their title. Another thing is that it feels really impersonal to me. If my students only called me 'Teacher', I think I would feel like they didn't distinguish me from any other teachers in their life. (American teachers, think about how much it irks you with your students only call you 'Miss' or 'Mister'!) I'm really big on giving people personal attention and not just having a 'form letter' for the things I say to people.

The reason this is so heavily on my mind today is because one of my students told me that their teacher was 'angry' because I called her by her given name, and not 'Teacher'. First of all, I always say her full name when I talk to her, and second of all, why would she tell my students?? Isn't that a little strange??! Anyways, my co-teachers imagine that teacher was just 'joking', but either way, I don't understand the situation!

All of this being said...It's just another cultural difference to write home about. I know that by living in a foreign country, I have to deal with these differences and adapt to them as I go. So here's to not offending people in this way anymore and to not learning anymore people's names (that are older than me)! I can save my brain space for something more useful!!

Open Class in Korean Elementary School - EPIK

2011-06-27T22:26:00.000+09:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had what is called an 'Open Class'. For me, it meant that a team of teachers and administrators from my school, along with two Korean English teachers from other schools in Tongyeong, and a supervisor from the local Office of Education would come watch my class with Minie, one of my co-teachers.

I had heard about open classes previously, but now that I've experienced the joy [insert sarcasm] of open class, I thought I should share with you.

Here's the deal. In the States, if the principal or higher-ups want to know how your class is going, they'll just pop in randomly for an evaluation. That is not the case in Korea. In Korea, in contrast to every other event here, weeks and months of notice are given prior to the open class. What this means is...the teacher has lots of time to prepare the lesson, practice with other classes, and prep the students in the actual class for the 'show'. From what I can tell, no open class is a TRUE representation of a normal class. It's more like a normal class beefed up on steroids times 10.

Here's how we prepare for a normal class...
Two days before the class, we check the lesson coming up and see if there's anything special we need to do.
One day before the class, we discuss our final plans for the class and assign parts of the lesson. We find some activities if we don't like what the book has suggested and we get the materials ready that we need.
The morning of the class, we confirm our roles and head to class!
(Please note, in elementary schools, the books are laid out and each lesson is prepared. You can...as we often do...expand on the basic lesson, but it's not a requirement. Also, Minie and I have been teaching together for 8 months now, so we've got a pretty good flow going!)

Here's what went down with my open class...
About three months ago, Minie and I were notified that we'd be having open class and the specific date. It was up to Minie to coordinate with another elementary school in our town so the Office of Education supervisor could knock out two schools in one day. This is also when we chose the exact lesson and section we'd be doing. (Our lessons have 6 parts, and we wanted to do an interesting part....not a boring.)
About two weeks prior to the open class, Minie and I started brainstorming ideas for activities.
One week before the actual open class, we decided on our activities and the procedure of the class. We then started making the corresponding materials. (The book has activities, but we sometimes/usually come up with our own because the book ones are too simple/boring.)
Five days before the open class, Minie made a one-page Korean lesson plan and I produced a two-page lesson plan for the Native teachers that would attend (there were none!). We also made a video that we'd use as our motivation to get the class started.
Four days before the open class, we completed all of the materials and I 'practiced' a section of the lesson on another class that I share with a different co-teacher.
Three days before the open class, Minie and I practiced our full lesson on a class that we don't normally teach. (I teach half of 6th grade with Minie and the other half with Karen.)
Two days before the open class, we rehearsed the open class as it would happen and worked out our 'natural' flow between each other.
One day before the open class, I had to go to my country school so no planning or discussing open class that day.
The day of open class, (the actual class was during second period) Minie and I spent the first period with the class to prep them and get things down to a science!

And all of those things led up to a 40-minute class, which from what I could tell, was well received by the teachers and administration in attendance. The principal, who doesn't speak much English to me, told me I did an excellent job as he was leaving the class...so that was a plus! After the class was done, Minie and I had a meeting with the supervisor, two teachers from other schools, and the teacher that is actually in charge of me at my school. The meeting was all in Korean, so I just tried to understand what I could and watch for gestures and body language. I asked Minie what everyone thought, and she said they had lots of good things to say.

After that, we headed to another elementary school to see their open class. It was nice to see how other people do things and how their classes go.

So all of this is to say....if you hear the words open class in your school, be prepared and clear your calendar!!

Random Saturday Around Tongyeong!

2011-06-21T09:12:00.000+09:00

Sometimes, my Saturdays are pretty random. A couple of weekends ago, I had another random Saturday. I was supposed to be attending a day-long meeting with some other foreigner teachers, but the rainy season had just started and the weather was forecasted to be rainy....but, it wasn't! So, I had the whole day to do lots of random things! Here's my day in pictures:

The first stop of the day was a volleyball game that some of the 6th grade teachers were playing in. This is 이영미...she's the teacher that takes me to school every day and she is quite a volleyball player!

The team after the game. This league is 9-player volleyball...so the court is a bit bigger than normal and there are 9 people on each side. It's really interesting!

The next stop was a soccer game with Liz. Some of my 6th grade students play in a league and I enjoy watching them play.

This is 진민욱...he's one of my students and the captain of the team!

The team huddle as they returned to play in the second half.

After all of that, Danielle and I went on a little stroll with a new friend, Raju. There is a big Buddha statue that I see all of the time on my way to school, so we took a little walk to see it and the temple. This picture shows the current state of the rice fields...full of water!

The path leading us through the fields and to the big golden Buddha.

The temple...we finally made it!

Danielle and I with the golden Buddha! I can see this statue all the way from my apartment roof at night!

Garlic drying and getting ready for my belly!

It's always good to have nice, relaxing, random days! I'm sure there will many more to come!

Eat Your Kimchi

2011-06-20T09:45:00.000+09:00

For anyone that is in Korea or has any interest in Korea at all, I highly recommend that you check out this website, EatYourKimchi. I seriously love it! I am constantly checking for new videos and can't wait to see what funny things they'll say next. I usually watch them while I'm at work and my co-teachers are always wondering why I'm laughing all of a sudden. This couple really cracks me up, and also keeps me really informed and up-to-date on Korea.

About eight months ago, I stumbled across their Youtube channel, and since then, their website and videos have been booming! And it's with good reason!! They (Simon and Martina) are excellent at showing Korean culture and giving a Western point-of-view about it. They have regular segments (K-Pop Mondays, Wonderful Treasure Finds Wednesdays, and TL;DR Thursdays) along with other random videos that they do about life in Korea.

Check it out! You'll be pleasantly surprised! :)

She's Gone!!

2011-06-20T09:32:00.001+09:00

Friday was a bittersweet day for me as I sent the little doggy I was fostering to her new family. I was really enjoying having her around, but I knew in my heart that the long term of the situation wasn't good for me. I have too many unknowns to be a good mommy for the dog. Anyways, she has gone to live with one of the sixth grade teachers from my school. The teacher's parents have a farm with two other dogs so it will be lots more fun for the pup! I'm glad I got to help her in her transition from street life to family life!

Jinju to Tongyeong Bus Times (After 10:30am)

2011-06-18T21:49:00.000+09:00

Here are a list of the 'slow' bus times from Jinju (진주) to Tongyeong (통영). This picture was taken on June 18, 2011. This isn't fully complete because I missed a little row on my picture, but at least you can see most of the bus times.

Starting with the 10:30 time, buses then run at 10:43, 11:03, 11:27, 11:51, 12:15, 13:03, 13:28, 13:51, 14:15, 14:29, 14:39, 14:51, 15:27, 16:00, 16:15, 18:27, 18:42, 19:10, 19:50, 20:15, and 20:55. So the last bus time from Jinju to Tongyeong is at 8:55.

There is also an express (fast) bus, but I didn't get those times. The last express bus leaves Jinju at 7:00pm so if you want to stay later, you need to take the 'slow' bus anyways! The slow bus will stop in Goseong on the way to Tongyeong.

Enjoy!

Hapcheon to Jinju Bus Times

2011-06-18T21:47:00.005+09:00

I couldn't find this information online, so I thought I'd share it! (Picture taken on June 18, 2011)

Bus times from Hapcheon (합천) to Jinju (진주): 6:50, 8:10, 9:10, 10:20, 11:50, 13:10, 14:20, 15:00, 15:50, 17:00, 18:10, 19:10, and 20:00. That means the last bus back to Jinju is 8:00pm.

The total journey takes about an hour with two small stops between Hapcheon and Jinju. Of course, that is also dependent on traffic and weather!

An Afternoon w/Sara & Ruby

2011-06-12T16:25:00.000+09:00

Last Monday was Korea's Memorial Day, so I got the chance to spend an afternoon with my former boss, Sara, and her daughter, Ruby. First on our agenda was visiting a fancy pension in Tongyeong. One of Sara's student's parents own this pension, and it rents for about $350 a night, so I'm pretty sure I won't ever be staying there! Still, it was nice to visit and see the interesting collection of things they have from around the world. Up next on the agenda was dinner, which was quite yummy thanks to Mr. Pizza....a popular pizza chain in Korea. Here is our day in pictures:

This cat was definitely the most interesting cat I've ever seen. It looked really angry, but it was really sweet!

Some colorful hanging quilted birds

The wall on the side of one of the buildings...I thought it looked pretty neat

One of the murals that adorned the walls at the pension

It was a really beautiful day and the clouds looked really nice

As always, I loved hanging with Ruby...she is such a funny girl

Some of the many, many seashells by the water

And for dinner, we opted for the 4-in-1 pizza so we could try a variety of flavors. It was quite yummy!

Gujora Beach - Geoje Island

2011-06-08T21:10:00.001+09:00

Last Saturday, I headed to a nearby beach for a day of fun in the sun! From a Facebook invite, I found out that there would be lots of foreigners gathering for the long three-day weekend and camping on the beach. I'm not much of a camper myself, but I still went for the day (that counts, right?!). Danielle and I headed there in the early afternoon on Saturday, along with the doggy that I've been fostering. Traveling with dogs in Korea seems to be quite easy...and I didn't have much trouble on the buses (until the last bus driver of the day wanted me to have the dog in a carrier!).

If you ever want to go to Gujora (구조라) Beach by public transit, here's what Danielle and I did...Intercity bus from Tongyeong to Jangsuengpo, then the Geoje intracity bus to Gujora (buses 22, 23, 61). You can opt for the taxi from Jangseungpo to Gujora, but that'll cost you about 15 bucks! The bus drops you off in the middle of the peninsula, but just walk about five minutes, and you'll see the huge beach!

As for our day, it was good fun and it was good to get out of Tongyeong for the day. Tongyeong doesn't really have any 'proper' beaches, so Geoje or Bijindo are our closest options. While at the beach, I saw some friends of mine that I made at the EPIK training a few months ago...so that was really nice!

Here are a few pictures from the day:

These guys were seriously working on this tent for at least an hour! It was quite complicated!

Danielle and I with the doggy! We are the happy travelers!

Gujora Beach looking from the far end back to 'civilization'!

The doggy stuck pretty close to me...she needs to become a little more social!

A look at the beach from the other end...towards the rocks and such.

It was a beautiful day and I'm glad I got to enjoy the beach before the hotHOT summer gets here!

Fostering a Miniature Poodle

2011-06-07T22:15:00.001+09:00

For the last week, I've been fostering a sweet little poodle that my friend rescued from the streets. She is super smart and I've really enjoyed having her while she finds a permanent home. I'm hoping that she can find a home full of love and fun! The groomer estimates that she is about 5 years old, so she is definitely out of her puppy stage. Here are a few pictures of the little cutie! She's shaved because she was found with a horribly matted coat. (p.s. I haven't given her a name so that I won't get too attached!)

Postcrossing - Seeing the World...One Postcard at a Time

2011-06-07T14:05:00.000+09:00

A couple of months ago, I stumbled across a website called Postcrossing. The concept is simple...send a postcard, receive a postcard. The process is easy...get a random address from the site and pass on a piece of your world to someone else. The result is fun...random postcards from around the world and getting to share your home with someone else.

Postcrossing is really fascinating to me for a variety of reasons....I love seeing other places in the world...and I LOVE getting mail!! I really look forward to each postcard that shows up and greets me!

I totally recommend anyone to do this. You only pay for the postage and postcards, but the actual service is free. You should check it out...you never know where the next postcard will be from!!

Co-Teaching in Korea - EPIK Elementary School

2011-05-31T14:06:00.001+09:00

Lots of people ask me the same question when I talk about teaching English in Korea..."How can you teach them English if you don't speak Korea?" Well, the answer to that is easy...I have a co-teacher! When I worked at a hagwon a couple of years ago, my days were filled with lots of charades and picture drawing to get my point across. Not anymore!! These days at the public school, I work alongside a Korean co-teacher who can easy let the students know just what I'm talking about. I love it! And I'd definitely say it's a perk to working at a public school (vs. hagwon).

A couple of weeks ago, one of my co-teachers (Minie) and I did a video class together. The video was posted on our school website and now I'm sharing it with you! You can click here to get a glimpse of what it's like teaching in Korean public elementary schools.

And to keep this blog from looking too boring, here are a couple pictures I snapped on my cell phone today between classes! These kids make me happy!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2011-05-28T09:06:00.000+09:00

My walkway to the bus stop is lined with these beautiful flowers!! They make me smile and my day bright!!

Brazilian Rooftop BBQ

2011-05-28T09:02:00.001+09:00

Last week, Danielle, Liz, and I headed to Geoje to meet up with a few of Danielle's friends for a rooftop bar-b-que. Most of them were from Brazil and all of them work for a ship company based in Geoje. It was so interesting talking to them about their travels and their work and everything in between. I had lots of fun and had some amazing food!! Here are a few pictures from the night:

Danielle and Liz don't eat meat, so the guys got them some huge salads to enjoy!

The girls!

The awesome grillmasters!! They did a stinking good job!

The food!! I hadn't had such good food in a loooong time!!

Newton taught Danielle some Brazilian dance moves.

The super cute cake we got for Newton's going away party.

Danielle with our hosts, Marcelo and Newton....such nice guys!

It was a fun night and a really good experience! I can't wait to do it again!

Cultural Difference - Skin Color

2011-05-19T16:11:00.000+09:00

Living in Korea definitely allows me to see things in a different light and understand things from other people's points-of-view. While I take being in Korea for granted sometimes, I figure it's about time to share some of the differences with you!

Lately, the sun has been bearing down on the Korean peninsula, and while folks back home in the States would be excited for beach season and beautiful tans, the Korean population has strapped on their visors and rubbed in their sunscreen to avoid the sun at all costs!

Now, I've never been big on tanning since my skin goes from white to red with no in-between, but I am obviously aware of the fact that in the US, tan is appealing. Overall as a country, we're pretty obsessed with tanning and having golden brown skin. Some people obtain this beauty through the sun, others in tanning beds, while others resort to darkening lotions.

However, in Korea, tan is not considered beautiful. It's white skin that Koreans love. Most of the Koreans that I know wear sunscreen every day, wear long sleeve shirts even in the hot months to avoid the sun, and wear gigantic visors to protect their skin from the sun. It's all very "Michael Jackson" to see! These days, it's also really common for women to use whitening cream to help their skin become lighter.

Of course, as a result, in Korea, women that are 50 look like they're still 30. Wrinkles aren't so common in Korea as in the States and the women here look so young! It's always really hard to estimate a Korean's age, in my opinion!

This isn't a blog to put down either culture, it's simply a blog to let you know about other ways of thinking in the world. It's so interesting to me as I travel and meet folks from around the world just how different we all are. Things that I never considered "American culture" are presenting themselves to me in that way. I love learning about other cultures around the world and seeing how they are alike and different!

Even with all of the tanning and whitening, I think it still comes down to the old adage...You always want what you don't have. Whether its Caucasian Americans viewing Koreans golden brown skin as beautiful or Koreans seeing the white skin of Caucasians as admirable, people crave things that they don't have. As for me, I will be happy with my white/red skin and continue to enjoy the compliments about my skin from Koreans while I'm here!

Hadong Tea Festival

2011-05-17T08:49:00.000+09:00

This post is a little late, but like they say, better late than never!! A couple of weekends ago (May 7, to be exact), I met up with some of my EPIK friends for the Hadong Tea Festival. This wasn't my first festival, but it was quite different than the ones I have been to in the past. It was really far into the country and very 'nature-y'. The adjacent river provided a nice backdrop for the activites and the day overall was pretty relaxing! The weather was quite beautiful as well, making the day really wonderful!

Getting to the festival was quite a task. A fellow Tongyeonger (Liz) and I took a bus from Tongyeong to Jinju, where we met up with everyone else. From there, we took another bus to Hadong. And once we got there, it was another ~30 minute taxi ride to the festival. Thank goodness we could all share the fare because it was about 30,000 won! Liz and I started our traveling at 8am and made it to the festival around noon. Quite a lot of traveling, but finally we made it and could enjoy the day!

Here are some pictures from our day at the Hadong Tea Festival!

The river next to the festival

The awesome free visors they gave us to protect us from the sun!

There were tons of these ladies in hanboks (traditional Korean dresses) serving tea for people to sample.

This has got to be the prettiest array of snacks I've seen!

The organizer of the gathering among our friends...Mick! He's an English lad so I'm pretty sure this tea festival was right up his alley!

A giant tea pot and cup

There were a few performances throughout the day...this men's group was the main one.

Some of our friends trying the tea.

After all of that tea, I'm still no expert on the drink...but I'm one step closer!!

Saturday on Jishim Island

2011-05-15T13:40:00.000+09:00

Since my camera is broken at the moment (sad, I know!), I did a little video about my day at Jishimdo with Danielle. Take a look!

School Picnic to Mireuk Mountain

2011-04-28T21:49:00.000+09:00

Last Monday, no students were in sight at Tongyeong Elementary School! Why?!...You might ask. It's because all of the students were taking part in their class picnics. Each grade level went to a different destination, and since I teach only 6th grade right now here, I tagged along to Mireuk Mountain along with the other English teachers. I must be honest in saying that our little group didn't actually summit the mountain, but we did hike about halfway up and wait for the 6th graders to come down from the other side and have lunch. Here are some pictures from our day:

Our hiking group...아름, me, Minie, Karen, and Jennifer

We passed a temple on the way up and there were lanterns leading up to it in honor of Buddha's birthday next week

Beautiful Minie and me with the island view

Pretty in Pink ladies...Karen and Jennifer

I took my traditional picnic lunch with PB&J, chips, and a banana, but that is nothing like the picnic lunches in Korea. These kids feast on gimbap, mini sausages, rice-stuff tofu pockets, and a variety of other foods. These mothers here aren't messing around when it comes to picnic lunches!

The teachers opted for a local specialty for lunch...Chungmu Gimbap (충무김밥). This special type of gimbap was created in Tongyeong and is a favorite for tourists. Instead of the fillings of the gimbap being inside, they are instead served on the side. There are sort of mini rolls of rice and gim, served with sides of spicy radish and spicy squid. It has quite an interesting history and is pretty popular around here.

Of course, spending the day with my wonderful students was lots of fun! Since I didn't start the journey with them and only met them for lunch, most of them were quite surprised to see me...which is good..I like to keep them on their toes!! :)

After lunch, the students played games in their respective classes.

On the way down the mountain, I enjoyed seeing the sun peek through the trees.

It was a great day and I can't wait until the next one! :)

Eobang Festival in Busan

2011-04-26T16:53:00.000+09:00

I can tell it's spring, because I'm a busy little bee these days! The last few weekends have been a wonderful contrast to the previous weeks...weather-wise...and I've been taking advantage of it!

Last weekend, Busan was the destination and the Eobang Festival at Gwangalli Beach was the target! It was quite a fun weekend on the beach and the weather was amazing!! I headed to Busan on Saturday morning with Danielle, where we met up with a few of her friends and a few of my friends from around Korea. One of the best things about traveling to Busan is that the west bus terminal is right on a subway stop (Sasang), so it makes it quite easy to get around town from there. And now that they opened the Geoga Bridge connecting Geoje to Busan, the trip is a little less than an hour and a half! Amazing!

On to the festival...From what I could tell, this festival was to celebrate fishermen and the fishing lifestyle. It was pretty similar to most of the festivals I've been to...with booths, festival food, and the likes...but in my opinion, the best thing about this festival was the fireworks at night! I am a sucker for fireworks! Also, I finally got to see the Gwangan Bridge in Busan...a pretty popular bridge in Korea. It made a beautiful backdrop for the day's events. Ok, let's get to the pictures!

A show with fishermen singing and swinging a net on the beach

This is a traditional game in Korea, Neol-Ttwigi, that is similar to a seesaw...except you aren't sitting down. I have seen this at several different places, but these two girls were the best I've ever seen. They were getting some serious air!

There was also a parade during the festival...these are my two favorite pictures from that! I love the bright colors!

At night, we enjoyed the fireworks on the beach. Here's a portion of the group that we wandered around with:

This was the best picture I could get with my camera...but I like it!

There were a couple of these arches with hanging lanterns and at night, it was such a nice sight!

Group picture under the lanterns:

After spending the night in Haeundae, we woke up Sunday morning with one thing on our minds....BREAKFAST!!! We Googled and found The Pancakes in Seomyeon had the best reviews for a Western style breakfast. So we hopped on the subway to Seomyeon for an amazing treat! Here are the directions we followed, just incase you don't click the link above...Subway: Seomyeon exit 1. Take your second right, and turn left on the main street. Go down a half a block. The Pancakes is on the left, just past Uncle Tomato Italian restaurant. Orange sign. Second floor.

My awesome breakfast...except...what is that salad doing on my breakfast plate??!!

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend. It was great meeting up with some of the new friends I met at EPIK training and to make new friends! I can't wait until the next one...Tea Festival in Hadong in May!! See you there! :)

Jinju Castle

2011-04-22T14:08:00.000+09:00

I figured that before I set off for my next weekend adventure, I should tell you about my adventure last weekend! I didn't go too too far, but in Korea, you can't go too far without being in another country! Anyways, I headed to a town only about an hour away, Jinju. I visited this city for the Lunar New Year when I was in Korea last time, but I didn't actually see any of the city.

I went to see some friends, but before that, I headed to Jinju's biggest attraction, Jinju Castle (진주성). As always, I'm sure I didn't appreciate it to it's full cultural potential, but it was still a nice little visit! I took a few pictures to show you! I can't really explain the pictures, so you'll just have to put captions there for yourself!!

I would like to mention that if you ever go to Jinju Castle and you go to Jinju by bus, please be aware that the castle is in walking distance from the bus terminal that is close the center of the city. I didn't know that and I hopped in a taxi for all of 2 minutes. So when you come out of the bus terminal, just head straight left for about 7-10 minutes and you can't miss it!

Until next time...

No Dryer, No Problem!

2011-04-20T08:59:00.000+09:00

Few things surprise me in Korea anymore, so sometimes I forget to share them with you...but the other day, on my way to the bus stop, I snagged a couple of pictures that demonstrate Korea's efficient side. There is a little cleaning shop near my apartment that mostly cleans shoes, but also does a purses too. I guess they couldn't be bothered to get a drying rack, so they took advantage of nature's drying racks!

Korea's 'Grand Open' Experience

2011-04-20T08:53:00.001+09:00

Recently, a new mart opened in my part of Tongyeong, so I thought it'd be a great time to show you what this experience is like in Korea. While we would call this a 'grand opening', Korea has Konglished this into 'Grand Open'...so here a look a this mart's 'Grand Open'.

It's always easy to recognize a new store that is opening because of the loads of flowers that are outside on the street. They almost remind me of funeral flowers back in the States...with their massive size and free-standing structure. But they are still beautiful and eye-catching, so it is a pretty sight to see! At some bigger stores or business, the Grand Open event can be really big. Sometimes they'll have dancing girls, a band, or stilted men. It's all very fun!

A close look at the pretty flowers!

One reason it's good to spot these 'Grand Open' occasions is because the new business usually gives away free things to promote their new business. I've gotten a range of different things...reuseable shopping bag, coffee mug, etc....just by going to these events! And we all know how much I like free stuff! :)

Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival

2011-04-11T22:13:00.000+09:00

This past Saturday, a friend of mine and fellow EPIKer, Danielle, headed to Jinhae for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Since first being introduced to these beautiful trees when I was living in Georgia, I can't get enough! The only downside to these amazing trees is that their blooms only last for a few weeks out of the year...so when they come, you can't procrastinate taking pictures of them! I attended the festival when I was in Tongyeong a couple of years ago, but because of a freak eye problem with one of my fellow travelers, our time was cut short. This year was different...we had a full day of fun!

Here's a look at our weekend in pictures:

Danielle and I took the bus from Tongyeong to Masan, and then had to take the city bus from Masan to Jinhae. (Buses 160-164 run between the cities...bus fare is currently 1,100 won) The city bus to Jinhae was quite packed...as you can see in the picture. It was about a 45 minute trek with traffic, but much cheaper than a taxi!

The 49th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival! The streets are lined with cherry blossoms, making the scenery look amazing!

In the center cirle of the festival, there was a huge performance while we were there. I must admit I didn't pay close attention to the performance, but I did enjoy taking a few pictures!

A traditional Korean dress...a hanbok. I love these dresses!

Cherry blossom trees everywhere!!

Caitlin met us in Jinhae for the day and Danielle's friend, Junsang, joined us at the festival. Later, we all visited a local tofu restaurant that was quite delish!

In a strange turn of events, Danielle and I ended up spending the night with Caitlin in Daegu. It turned out to be ok because Danielle knew of an AMAZING breakfast place near Camp Walker in Daegu! I had the biscuits and gravy and an omelet, along with a Dr. Pepper! The biscuits and gravy were SOOO good!! Danielle & Caitlin had the stuffed french toast..which they loved! So if you're ever in Daegu, head to Hami Mami's near Camp Walker and get some awesome breakfast...you won't regret it!! (Just tell the taxi driver Camp Walker, Gate 4...it's on that road, just look for the sign!)

It was a fun weekend and a tiring one! My feet were happy to be home, but I had a really good time, so it was worth it!! Can't wait for the next adventure....soooo glad it's spring!! :)

EPIK Training - Daejeon, South Korea

2011-04-02T17:41:00.000+09:00

As you know, I just returned home from a six-day training session for EPIK teachers that was held at the KT Center in Daejeon. I had heard a few things about these training sessions, but I still felt pretty 'blind' going into it.

On Saturday morning, bright and early, I boarded a bus with a few other teachers from Tongyeong and surrounding towns, Goseong and Geoje. We drove for about an hour and picked up another group of teachers in Jinju and after that, it was on to a small town to get the final group of teachers from our area. Once we got to Daejeon, we had a bit of a delay because the other bus that was coming from our province, Gyeongsangnam-do, broke down, so we went to their rescue. When we finally reached the KT training center in Daejeon, we were all hungry and grumpy...but in my eyes, the week only got better from there!

I was a part of Class 2, which contained mostly all teachers from Gyeongsangnam-do. Our class quickly gained a reputation for being an experienced group of teachers, and we were...in comparison to the classes that had mostly teachers that just arrived in Korea for the first time. After our class meeting, we headed to the opening ceremony and it was quite nice. There were a few introductions, 3 different traditional Korean performances, and a wonderful and informational speech by Hyunwoo Sun (who is most famous for his website Talk to Me in Korean...I might just have to start using that!). Here are a few pictures from the opening ceremony:

The bulk of the days were full of informational classes...starting at 8:40am and going until 8:10pm, the days were long and packed, but personally, I found all of the lectures to be very informative and relevant to my life as a teacher in Korea. I think all classes were presented really well and I really enjoyed all of them! On our final day of classes, we had to present a lesson that we had prepared through the week. I was partnered with 2 other elementary school teachers in my class and we had the topic of "Where are you from?". This was good news for all of us, since the first chapter of the 6th grade English book in Korea is this exact same topic...so we had all taught this just weeks before. The three of us pooled our ideas together and I think our presentation turned out well. We got good feedback from our peers, so I think it was a great success!

On the final full day of our training session, we headed to a nearby farm village to learn a little bit about Korean culture. I love going to these type of things, so it was a great time for me! I'll describe the experience with the pictures:

My group's first stop was this old house. The guide told us that this is the oldest house in the town...about 80 years old. I was surprised there weren't any older houses there...that number seemed a little low for me.

Then, it was off to a lesson in brick making. Our guide is going to be building a Korean treasure, so the bricks our group made will hopefully make it into his structure.

Next, we made some flower rice cakes with edible flowers and leaves. After pan frying them, they take a little dip in some honey and then they're ready to be eaten!

Next, we learned how rice is harvested...starting with cutting our own rice stalks (?) from a field, then stripping the stalks, crushing them to remove the outer husks, and lastly, sending them through a wooden mechanism to separate the rice from the junk!

Our last project was making this ostrich out of a pine cone and some pieces of wood. Mine looks nice in the picture, but in reality, it didn't make it home in one piece. I need to get some super glue so I can reassemble it!

After our full day, lots of the teachers headed out for a night in Daejeon. It was fun getting to hang out with everyone for one last hoorah. I really loved getting to know all of my classmates and building friendships with fellow teachers from around Korea. Here are a few pics from the night:

And on Thursday, it was time to say good-bye and head back to Tongyeong. I had a good time but I was happy to get back into my daily routine and 'normalcy'. I snapped one last picture with our class leader, Juyoung, who was really amazing! She was so helpful and willing to help in any way she could! And I'm excited to see her again in Seoul someday!

Overall, it was a great week and I am really glad that I got to meet some other teachers from around the country. It was so nice to talk with people that are going through similar experience and make some new friends!

So now I'm back in Tongyeong, and spring has sprung and I couldn't be happier! I love spring and all of the beautiful flowers! Hopefully I'll have some pictures of beautiful Tongyeong for you soon!

Training Time

2011-03-25T19:22:00.001+09:00

Tomorrow, I'm heading to a 6-day/5-night EPIK training session in Daejeon! It's really an orientation, but since I missed the first one because of sickness, I'll finally be attending with only 7 months left in my contract! I'm excited to meet some new foreigners and see what their lives are like in other places than Tongyeong! Hopefully I'll have some pictures and stories to share when I get back!

And now, a picture to send you on your way! I had dinner with these girls' families last weekend and we had lots of fun playing rock-paper-scissors and other games! So cute!!!

Waygook.org

2011-03-18T14:37:00.002+09:00

I've always been a huge fan of Dave's ESL site for resources when it comes to teaching English and living in Korea, but a couple of weeks ago, I was introduced to another site that is amazing for teachers in Korea.

If you're in Korea or thinking about going to Korea, http://waygook.org/ is a site that you should become familiar with. I think it's especially helpful for public school teachers, because there is a great index of ideas for teachers to use. There is lots of file sharing and discussion that is really great for English teachers!

Just wanted to share with my fellow English teachers in Korea!!

What Legacy Do You Want to Leave Behind?

2011-03-02T08:31:00.002+09:00

Last week, as I was flipping through the lastest edition of the Wayland Baptist alumni magazine, Footprints, I couldn't help but reminisce about my old days at WBU.

I can remember it clearly...sophomore year...an interview to become a member of the Student Union Board...Dr. Lusk asked me, "Sara, what legacy do you want to leave behind after you're finished at Wayland?" Being the 19-year old that I was and having never given thought to any kind of legacy before, I said the first thing that came to my mind, "I want people to remember me as a fan...a lover of all sports at Wayland and the biggest supporter on campus!" Well, I suppose that wasn't the answer he was looking for since I wasn't selected to be in the organization, but as I look back on my time at Wayland, I think that's exactly the legacy I left.

Almost always, when I see an old friend from my days at Wayland and they're introducing me to someone else, it comes up that I was a sports fan at WBU. I guess I didn't realize it at the time, but sports did take up a lot of my time during my four years in Plainview. Most of my memories when I look back have something to do with working at an athletic event, hanging out with someone involved in the sports world, or traveling to a game.

I guess it all started my freshman year at Wayland. I became really good friends with a fellow freshman, Nicole, and we spent a good portion of our first year at the baseball field. We even drove all the way to Arizona during Spring Break so we could cheer on the Pioneers. I would find any means possible to go to a game, especially when the team played their conference games in Oklahoma...catching rides with friends, riding with players' mothers, getting up at 5am to make it for first pitch. I guess the baseball team noticed my ~~obsession~~ support, because at the end of the season, they presented me with the 'Most Dedicated Fan' award at the Athletic Banquet. I was shocked and very grateful! And from there, my love of sports just grew and grew!

The following year, I started working at basketball games doing stats with Rhane and Jennifer. Little did I know how much I would love being courtside at the table. I have never been much of an athlete, but my new job allowed me to be about as close to the action as I could have been. I was learning about other sports that my high school didn't have, like volleyball and soccer, and taking an interest in sports I hadn't before, like golf. Also, by then, I was starting to become friends with some of the athletes, which made being a fan even more fun!

The next two years were full of countless sporting events...and lots of miles on my car! Whether it was going to Oklahoma for conference match-ups every other weekend, Abilene for midweek games, or Amarillo for golf tournaments, I did everything in my power to support my friends and watch them in action. Between games, Rhane let me start working in her office during the day so I could get a feel of the life of a Sports Information Director, and I started writing sports articles for the university newspaper. Soon enough, my life revolved around the world of athletics.

Fast forward to August 2006, I started a graduate assistantship at Mercer University working in the Sports Information office. It was my chance to get experience in a field of work that I loved and earn a Master's degree while doing so. I spent two years there, working primarily with the volleyball and softball teams, and of course, doing stats at basketball games. I feel certain that I would have never pursued that chance if I hadn't developed a love for athletics during my time at Wayland.

And here I am today, halfway around the world and thinking of the 'old' days. I could have chosen one of many different paths when I became a student at Wayland, and because of the one I did choose, I can surely say that I'm happy I did so. I made wonderful memories, and more importantly, I made amazing friends.

So when people ask me what kind of legacy I left at Wayland, I'll proudly say I was a sports fan...and a darn good one!

(PS...Thanks to my little sister for scanning these photos for me since I'm far from home right now!)

Change Is In The Air

2011-02-28T12:13:00.000+09:00

Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine. ~Robert C. Gallagher

This week marks the beginning of the new school year for students in Korea. For me, it means new students, a new schedule, and new co-teachers. I have a few mixed emotions about it all, but I'm sure everything will be fine.

Since I got here in October, I've had three of the best co-teachers that I could ask for! They have always made me feel welcome and appreciated. The past few months with them have been a real blessing for me. I knew before I came here that I'd be working with Eujin, my good friend from when I lived in Tongyeong before. In addition to Eujin, I also work along side of Minie and Karen. Each one of these ladies has been ever-so-helpful in making my time at Tongyeong Elementary enjoyable! They are such sweet people!

The sad part of the week is that my good friend/co-teacher, Eujin, has moved to another school that is about 2 hours away...boo. While I'm really happy for her, I'm really sad for me. Eujin is definitely the closest friend that I have here, so it's going to be quite different not seeing her everyday. We've known each other for a couple of years now and she played a very important role in me coming back to South Korea.

So, Eujin will be replaced in our office with another teacher at our school, and as I type, I am waiting to learn what my new assignment will be. I don't know yet who I'll work with in the classroom or what grade I'll teach...I'll find out soon, I think. Change is upon us...

How to Calculate Your Age in Korea

2011-02-26T23:01:00.000+09:00

Me: Hello!
Them: Hi! What's your name?
Me: Sara
Them: Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
Me: USA...Texas, do you know?
Them: Ahh, Texas. Bang, bang! How old are you?
Me: In Korea, I'm 29, but at home, I'm 27.

Almost inevitably, within the first three questions of meeting a Korean, I am asked my age. Yes, it's very common here...and no, it's not offensive. For Westerns like myself living in Korea, we get used to it and it just becomes apart of the introduction process.

The tricky part about it all is figuring out your 'Korean age'. 'Korean age'...you might ask! Yes, 'Korean age', I say. Koreans don't count age the way that we do in the States, or in most other places in the world for that matter.

When I first arrived in Korea, I could not figure out how it all worked...but after a while of being here, I think I finally have it down. So this blog is to inform you of how to figure out your age if you're in Korea. Most younger Koreans that I meet will specify 'Korean age' and 'international age'...so I'll do the same for this demonstration.

How to Figure Out Your Korean Age:
Step 1: When you're born, you are already one year old.
Step 2: When the new year comes (some Koreans use solar, other lunar), add 1 year. You stay this age for the entire year. So when your real birthday comes, you can celebrate, but you don't actually turn a year older. Also, because of this, your 'Korean age' will either be 1 or 2 years more than your 'international age'.
Step 3: Repeat step two every year.

Here's an example...I'll use my birthday and age for this demonstration:
International age: 27
I was born on September 2, 1983, which means I have been on this earth for 27 years, and I will turn 28 on September 2 of this year. (I'm pretty sure we all understand this way.)

Korean age: 29
When I was born on September 2, 1983, I was 1 year old. On January 1, 1984, I turned 2. Fast forward a few years, and on January 1, 2011, I turned 29. I will spend all of 2011 being 29.

Most people think, 'Oh, just add a year'...but that doesn't work, unless your actual birthday is on January 1. Since my birthday is in the later part of the year, I spend the greater part of the year with my 'Korean age' 2 years greater than my 'international age'.

So these days when I meet someone, I usually assume the age that they tell me is 2 years older than their 'international age' since we're still in the earlier part of the year.

Another interesting thing about age in Korea is that all of your classmates are your same age ('Korean age' of course)....which means that they were all born in the same year. So in my example, everyone that I graduated with from high school would have been born in 1983. Obviously, this is not true since this isn't the way we do it in the States, but in Korea, it is the way it's done.

In short, if you were born in 1983, your Korean age is 29. If not, maybe this blog has helped you figure out how to calculate your Korean age!

And since I don't have a picture for Korean age, I'll leave you with a picture of Angela...the sweetest and cutest girl on the Korean peninsula!!

Flat Stanley Takes Tongyeong - Part 2

2011-02-21T10:40:00.000+09:00

It's been a busy week for Flat Stanley and me, and we've taken a lot of pictures in Tongyeong so we can share them with you! Instead of posting them all on here, I've put them on my photo site for you to browse through! So have a look and see Tongyeong, South Korea, for yourself!

Link to Photo Site

Flat Stanley Takes Tongyeong - Part 1

2011-02-15T21:24:00.001+09:00

This week, I have a very special guest visiting me in Tongyeong (통영)...Flat Stanley!! The HR Director at my last job, the Hilton, asked me to show Flat Stanely around for her son Jacob. He arrived on Monday and we're having lots of fun already! Here is a little look at our first two days together (I'll be using FS for Flat Stanley):

FS getting a look at how elementary school students in Korea live at Tongyeong Elementary School (통영초등학교)

He attended the 6-8 class with me

FS enjoying lunch in the cafeteria at school...and yes, they eat spaghetti with chopsticks!

FS tried some custard-filled 'fish bread' (붕어빵)

Taking the bus down to the harbor

FS loved the views of at the harbor

And enjoyed the Turtle Ship (거북선)

FS taking a stroll through the fish market

And finally, some delicious gimbap (김밥) and kimchi (김치)!! Yum!!

The first two days have been fun...more adventures in Tongyeong for Flat Stanley to come!!

Japan - Randoms

2011-02-09T20:46:00.000+09:00

This blog concludes my Japan series...and it's full of all of the random things/events from the trip that didn't quite fit into the other categories! So here goes!!

Jill & Mikey's kids are absolutely adorable!! I took them a few Korean gifts and here they are with their new umbrellas!

On my first morning in Otsu, we saw this on our way to the train station. These creatures, called a Tanuki, are outside of lots of businesses and they are said to bring luck to the business. I actually ended up buying a small one to take home just because I thought it was so cute!

One evening during my trip, Jill took me to a local tea shop for some amazing tea! I've never been much of a tea drinker, but that place might have converted me!

Jill looking ultra proper with her tea!!

When Kami & I were in China a couple of years ago, we ate at place that we thought was Chinese food, but it ended up that it was actually a Japanese fast food place! Then Jill told me about this place that she loved to go, and I instantly knew it was the same place!! So one night, Jill, Mecailin, and I enjoyed the deliciousness of Yoshinoya!! Yum!! (Kami, be jealous!!)

After Mikey's game on Sunday, we met up with some of the Lake Stars and their girlfriends at Kippers for some good laughs! Here are Jill & Mecailin with two of the girlfriends, Mayu and Wakana!

I love this picture, minus Wara's crazy face in the corner!!

Hilarious!! One of Jill's super-cute boots was already splitting away from it's sole...and on this night, it went all the way!! Jill was trapped inside the table so she thought she'd crawl under to get out...but her boot was not having it! Here's the final result...so funny! (Sorry, Jill!)

Two of Mikey's teammates, Yu & JoHo. Yu was cracking me up when he was trying to read some phrases from Jill's Japanese phrasebook. And JoHo is quite stud for Japanese basketball fans...and he was on the West all-star team with Mikey, too!

Another one of Mikey's teammates, Gary, was having so much fun with Camdon...and sugaring him up for the night!

This sign made me laugh at McDonalds!

Have I mentioned how adorable Jill and Mikey's kids are!?! Mecailin and Camdon are so precious, and I was so glad I finally got to meet them!! Jill & Mikey are such fabulous parents and it is clear to see how much love there is in their family! So these next few pictures are all about them...I just want to share their cuteness with you!!

Thus ends my vacation to Japan...boo!! Usually after vacations, I'm excited to go home, but this time, I was having so much fun that I wasn't quite ready to leave!! It was an amazing trip and I truly enjoyed every minute of it!!

Back to reality, I suppose!

Japan - Hikone Castle & Shabu-Shabu

2011-02-08T22:02:00.000+09:00

On Wednesday of my trip to Japan, one of Jill's friends, Sachiko, volunteered to show me around her town of Hikone.So I took the 45-minute train ride to Hikone from Otsu to meet up with Sachiko. Hikone is most famous for Hikone Castle, which was our focus for the day. It is one of only 4 remaining original castles in Japan and it was a really beautiful site. Here are a few pictures from our day at Hikone Castle:

One of the moats around the castle

The long, uneven steps up to the main part of the castle

The castle's bell...it is rung everyday at 6am, noon, and 6pm for the city of Hikone

Me with the castle

There was some leftover snow on the castle, which was really beautiful!

Inside the castle building were some old logs taken from other castles to building Hikone castle

The steps going up to the top were super steep!

A view of Shiga Prefecture's highest peak

A garden next to the castle...in the spring, it's full of cherry blossom trees...I imagine it's amazing!

After lots of walking around, Sachiko and I had worked up an appetite! Sachiko suggested Shabu-shabu, which I thought was a fabulous option!! This was actually one of the few meals I ate out while I was in Japan since Jill was so kind to cook every night while I was there. I loved getting some Western-style meals, and let me tell you, she is a wonderful cook!!

Our Shabu-shabu spread! Yum!

Sachiko with her meat...ready to boil!

Put the raw meat in the boiling water...swish it back and forth...

Take out the cooked meat...dip it in your sauce...and enjoy!! So delish!

As Sachiko and I were walking around, she kept telling me out beautiful Hikone is in the spring with the cherry blossom trees and in the fall with the changing leaves. I still thought it was quite beautiful with the settled snow, but I might just have to return oneday to see the other season!

More pictures to come!!

Japan - Kimono Day

2011-02-07T18:55:00.000+09:00

On Tuesday of my trip to Japan, one of Jill's super sweet Japanese friends (Michi) brought over some kiminos for us girls to play dress-up!! I was so excited about this day because I love traditional dresses! In Korea, I think hanboks are fascinating, and in Japan, it's all about the kimono! I never really realized how much work went into putting on a kimono, but after about an hour of getting all dressed, I got to see how much time in takes! Joining us was Chass, one of Mikey's teammates' girlfriend (did you get all that!?). We had a really good time and I loved all of the funny stares we got on the street as we were taking pictures!! So let me show you!!

Michi getting Jill all squared away in her kimono (sorry about the closed eyes Jill!)

Mecailin looks sooo pretty in her kimono!!

The funny socks that they wear with their kimonos.

All of us in our kimonos!! I love this picture!!

Jill with Michi...she is so kind to share her culture with us!

Jill & Mecailin looking so beautiful in their kimonos!

I love this picture of Jill! And it lets you see the back of her kimono.

Jill took some pictures of me and did the editing to make me beautiful!! Thank you for the pictures, Jill!

Mine is a wedding kimono so there are so many bright colors!

Posing in the kimono!

I think this one is my favorite!

After we were done taking pictures, Michi told us that she was giving us these kimonos!! I couldn't believe it!! So I am now the proud owner of a kimono, complete with funny socks and shoes, plus a handbag!! Michi was so sweet to share her day with us and I really feel very thankful for her kind and generous spirit!

Japan - Kiyomizu Temple & Osaka Castle

2011-02-07T07:20:00.000+09:00

On Monday of my trip, Jill and I had a busy day of sightseeing in Kyoto and Osaka. Mikey was oh-so-kind to watch the kids so Jill and I were flying solo in the streets of Japan! And guess what!! We didn't get lost once!! We got on all of the right trains and found all of our destinations with ease!! We're pretty smart chicas!!

Our first stop of the day was Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. Mayu, one of Jill's friend, suggested this place to us and told us it was her favorite place to see in Kyoto. It was definitely a pretty sight to see and there were lots of neat shops and things around there. Jill and I got there pretty early for tourist standards, and by the time we left, it was getting pretty crowded. The grounds are quite large though, so it didn't feel too crowded. It's definitely a major sight for tourists though...I haven't seen that many foreigners in a while!! Anyways, lets get to the pictures!

From the bus stop, you have to walk up a pretty long hill...some people opt for the man-pulled carriage. That guy must be super strong!

Jill with the starting buildings at Kiyomizu!

A great picture by Jill!! I love this picture!

I really love the colors of the temples, and the clouds were amazing that day!

Another building on the temple grounds

Buy a board, make a wish. There were a few in English mostly asking for good health for their families.

Jill and me at Kiyomizu

Jill with the main building on the temple grounds

Some special springs that people lined up to drink from...Jill & I didn't!

Outside of the temple, this man was standing with a bowl for money...not quite sure of all of the details!

After exploring Kiyomizu, Jill and I took an interesting train ride to Osaka to visit Osaka Castle. A person on the train approached Jill and asked her to be the person's best friend. It was a little creepy, so Jill and I changed train cars as soon as we could!! I applaude the person's courage but it was a little on the creepy side. At least it provided a good laugh for us!

Outside of Osaka Castle

Inside of the castle, they had some costumes that you could pay to try on. Of course, we just had to do it and it was quite humorous! Jill looked awesome in her costume!

Outside of the castle, there were some more great photo ops!! Little did I know that I was putting my head in the man's body!! Haha!

Love this one of Jill & me!!

The sun was setting when we were leaving and it cast a nice glow on the castle!

That concludes our day...more pictures to come soon!

Japan - Lake Stars Basketball

2011-02-06T09:19:00.000+09:00

Another exciting thing that I got to experience while I was in Japan was seeing Mikey play. I never got to see him play while he was at Texas Tech, but I always heard about him from one of my college classmates (What up Will!!)...so I couldn't wait to see the man in action! Mikey plays for the Shiga Lake Stars and I believe they're currently tied for first in their division. I got to see two wins while I was there, so that was even more exciting!! Here are a few pictures from the games!

Jill with Camdon & Mecailin heading to the game

Look who's on his own shirt!

Me, Mecailin & Camdon with Magnee...the Lake Stars' mascot

Tip off!!

The opposing team's sponsor made me laugh!

Mecailin having fun at the game!

Jill & I with her man!

Lovin' being at the game!

Camdon is such a little cutie!

I love this picture of Jill, Camdon, and me!

Sarah with one of her twins...Sol

Mecailin had fun drawing during the game

And of course a win for the Lake Stars!

On the second day, there was a neat drum show during halftime

Camdon being the little stud that he is!

It was lots of fun and I really enjoying being back inside of a basketball gym! I love watching basketball so it was great for me!! Maybe I'll have to check out basketball in Korea and see how it compares!!

Japan - Fushimi Inari w/Jill & Sarah

2011-02-05T20:37:00.000+09:00

As most of you know, I've just returned from a week-long vacation to Japan...and let me tell you, it was one of the best vacations I've had! It was so much fun, and I had a wonderful time! I feel like I made so many great memories, and I couldn't be happier with the vacation!!

A few months ago, I found out than an old friend of mine (and also fellow Wayland alum), Jill Stout Marshall, was going to be in Japan at the same time I was going to be in Korea. Since Korea & Japan are neighbors from across the sea, we thought it'd be a great opportunity to reunite and explore some of Japan together. Before this past week, I hadn't actually seen Jill in about 6 years...yea, crazy I know!! It was so great to see Jill and finally meet her husband, Mikey, and her adorable children, Mecailin & Camdon. We had so much fun together, reminiscing about old memories and making new ones together! I feel so blessed that I was able to spend the week with the Marshalls and couldn't ask for a more hospitable family!

So this blog begins a short series of blogs covering my trip to Japan. The first full day that I was there, we (Jill, Sarah [Jill's friend & fellow basketball wife], & myself) spent the morning exploring what was probably my favorite sight in Japan...Fushimi Inari Shrine. It was so amazing and I hope you can get a sense of the place from the pictures. If you're ever in Kyoto, please go to this place because it's really incredible!

We started the morning at a cute little coffee that is owned and operated by the mother of the Lake Star's announcer. She was so sweet and the coffee was delicious! It was the perfect start to our morning!

Jill & Sarah ready to explore Fushimi Inari

So from my understanding, businesses buy these torii gates (huge orange things) for luck to their businesses...and let me tell you, there are tons of them!! Here's Jill inside some of the huge ones!

The three of us near a lake on the shrine grounds. I love this picture!

The torii gates got smaller but more abundant!

Such a cool feeling being under all of them!

Me and Jill enjoying the sights!

Posing in the sea of orange

We stopped for a little break and to enjoying some udon noodles....they were so yummy!! And who can resist a chopstick walrus!!

Jill looking as beautiful as always with the udon noodles!

Yum!!

Ready to go through more of the torii!

Love the orange & black! (Let's Go Bears!)

There were lots of places to make wishes at the shrine. I am not sure of all of the different meanings, but it was interesting to see.

Omokaruishi -- lift the rock, if it feels light, your wish comes true...pretty sure Jill's didn't! Haha!

More torii gates!

Hilarious 'how-to' for use of the squatter toilets!

The lanterns are so pretty!

Lots of the statues had aprons or bibs or something...again, something I don't know about but picture-worthy!

One last look at Fushimi Inari

Some really yummy snacks on the way out of the shrine...they were filled with bean paste or custard and both were delicious!! (And yes, better than 붕어빵!!)

Jill & Sarah on the train ride home

It was such a spectular start to my trip and a great 'girls' day!! More pictures to come!!

My First Korean Wedding

2011-01-23T22:16:00.000+09:00

Today, I experienced another first in Korea...my first Korean wedding. It's strange to think I was here for a year before and never went to a wedding, but it happened!

One of my friends, Sunnie, who is also my co-teacher's sister, got married today, and I was super excited to go! I've heard a lot about Korean weddings, so I was anxious to enjoy the experience for myself. Another co-teacher of mine, Karen, joined me so I wouldn't have to go alone, and I was really thankful for that! All of the other people I knew at the wedding were involved somehow, so I was really glad to have someone else with me!

I compiled a little video for you instead of putting all of the pictures on my blog, so take a look and then keep reading! :)

It was really beautiful and pretty similar to a wedding that I would have attended at home. Let me tell you about a few differences (from my understanding), just in case you're interested!

Location: Weddings are held in wedding halls, not churches or hotels or outdoors. Multiple weddings go one at one time and right after one another. There room where Sunnie's wedding was held shared a foyer area with another hall. Both of those didn't have doors, so the noise from the foyer area (and there was lots) flowed into the actual room during the ceremony. Also, the weddings are stacked on top of each other. The ceremony I went to started at 12:30pm and there was another one in the same room at 1:20pm.
Before the Ceremony: The bride and groom see each other before the wedding. Also, before the ceremony, the bride sits in a tiny little room where people can come and see her and take pictures with her.
Gifts: The couple doesn't register for all of their favorite items at the local homegoods store...everyone gives money (unless you're a close friend). There are people sitting at desks in the foyer area that are there solely to take your money gift. I opted for an actual gift because I am a friend (and a foreigner!).
Ceremony: The ceremony had a lot of 'Western' elements that I am accustomed to, but there were a few things missing that I typically see in America. First of all, the people didn't stand when the bride entered the hall. There were lots of bright and colorful lights. I think you can see in some of the pictures how the lighting in the room has different tones. Also, there were no bridesmaids or groomsmen standing with the couple. I don't think I heard any repeating of vows going on, but I could be mistaken. The whole ceremony was pretty short, but that isn't too out of the ordinary.
Wedding Dresses: Brides typically rent their dresses, they don't buy them. The dress was really beautiful, but a little different than one I'd expect to see someone at home wearing. It was really poofy and really sparkly. Another thing I found really interesting was that in the bridal portraits that Sunnie took prior to the wedding, she wore many different dresses.
Bouquet: I'm not sure how, but someone is chosen prior to the ceremony to be the 'catcher' of the bouquet. After the ceremony, there was a 'friends' picture, and then one girl stepped down to catch the bouquet. I think they still have the same beliefs as we do about the bouquet, but they just don't have to wrestle for it!
Reception: There isn't really a 'typical' reception after the ceremony. On the floor above the wedding hall, there is a buffet-style restaurant and we were given a ticket to eat there. It was really yummy, but it was PACKED with people. Also, there was no wedding cake...which is a bummer because I love that part! (*You may have noticed a picture of a cake in the video, but I have no idea if anyone actually ate that cake. I'm guessing it probably stayed in the wedding hall for the next wedding!)
Traditional Ceremony: From my understanding, after the ceremony that I saw, there is a small traditional-style ceremony for close family. The bride and groom change into traditional Korean clothing and have a small ceremony with just a few people. I don't have much knowledge about this ceremony, but I know it is held following the big ceremony.

Even with all of these differences, it's still love and happiness that remain emotions that anyone can understand regardless of which language they speak. Everyone was so happy at the wedding, and it was the type of atmosphere that reminds me why I love weddings so much!

Taipei - Final Thoughts

2011-01-23T18:31:00.000+09:00

This concludes my blogs about my trip to Taipei! It only took a few weeks to get them all done! :) Just a couple final pictures that didn't fit into any other categories!

This is Analyn, my newest friend from the Phillipines. She works at the hostel where I stayed and is super sweet! I had a good time talking with her, and thanks to Facebook, we can keep in touch!

Foot massage!! I got two of them! It was about $12USD for a 30 minute massage, and it was wonderful!! Definitely enjoyed this relaxing time!! :)

That's all for now!! Next time...Japan!! See you soon! :)

Taipei - Food

2011-01-22T21:06:00.000+09:00

And we're back! I'm almost done with my Taipei blogs, which is good since I'm about to go to Japan and take a lot more pictures to show you!! This post is dedicated to some different food that I tried in Taipei.

One night at my hostel, a couple of Malaysian girls were staying in the same room with me, and we got to talking. She was telling me about a place nearby that supposedly had a really good breakfast menu and suggested that I go there as well. So the next morning, that's just what I did! This was my only 'true' Taiwanese breakfast (I'm lame, I know) and it was pretty good. It was definitely interesting, but worth the try!

My breakfast...some baked bread thing with a green onion omelet and a fried piece of dough, served with a bowl of sweet warm soymilk.

The note that the girls wrote so I could order breakfast!

When I was preparing to go to Taiwan, everyone told me about this restaurant, Din Tai Fung, that I had to try. Apparently it's ultra popular, even with the locals, and it's gone global because of it's popularity. My temple tour guide told me where to go, and off I went!

The sign outside. My original wait time was 45 minutes but it got cut down because I was willing to share a table with other tourists (they were all Japanese).

My meal...two kinds of dumplings (their specialty) and the house chicken noodle soup. All was delicious! The middle dumplings (pork) were the best...probably why they're the most popular thing at the restaurant!

Enjoying my lunch!

A how-to card for eating the dumplings!

The folks hard at work...making tons of dumplings!

Lastly, the guidebook suggested trying beef noodles because of their popularity in Taiwan. So, one day after shopping, I stopped by a little eatery and pointed to the word in my book, and was brought this meal. It was pretty good, although there was some spice that I couldn't identify that I wasn't too fond of. Besides that, all was great!

I think I ate other Taiwanese foods, but these are the only ones that were picture-worthy...so that's all for now!

Taipei - Confucius Temple & Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

2011-01-15T15:10:00.000+09:00

On Wednesday of my trip in Taipei, I visited the Confucius Temple and the Chaing Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Admittedly, these two sights would probably have been more interesting to me if I knew a little more about their histories, but even still, they were good to see.

My first stop was the Confucius Temple. In my guide book, it said this was the best one to see in Taipei, so I went with that advice in mind. I was wandering around aimlessly and snapping shots like a tourist when I was approached by one of the temple's English-speaking guides. The girl was really sweet and we had a good time while she showed me around the temple. It definitely helped to have a guide, because I would have been clueless otherwise! Here are a few shots from the temple visit:

I love all of the bright colors of the temple...look at all of the detail of the ceiling.

Some traditional wear of the temple.

After lunch, I headed to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Once again, I'll reiterate that if I had known more about the history, it may have made more of an impact on me. Still, it was interesting.

The big bronze man is Chiang Kai-shek. Hopefully you can get idea of how big it was from the guard standing on the side.

A view from the top of the memorial. There was some setup for an event, so you can't get the full effect of the grounds.

From the bottom looking up on the top of the memorial.

There was some kind of practice going on and it was really cool to watch.

More bright colors!

The entrance gates for the Memorial's grounds.

The pretty gardens.

The Memorial from a distance.

More pictures to come...once my Blogger decides to cooperate with me!

Taipei - Taipei Zoo & Maokong

2011-01-08T17:18:00.001+09:00

On Tueday of my visit to Taipei, I headed to the Taipei Zoo and the Maokong gondola. The zoo is super easy to get to because the subway goes all the way there (another point for the Taipei transporation system!). Also at the Taipei Zoo stop is the first stop for the Maokong gondola. I always love riding on gondolas, so I was excited to ride this one up to the Maokong (I'm going to call Maokong a 'suburb' of Taipei...not sure what the locals call it)!

If you're ever in Taipei and you need something cheap to do, head to the zoo!! It's only about $2USD (60 TWD) and there is a ton to see!! On a special note, don't go there on a Monday...that's when they clean all of the exhibits and so the cool things are all closed!! Also, the gondola is closed on Monday, so you wouldn't be able to enjoy the splendor of that!

Anyways, I enjoyed my day at the zoo! It is really large and there a lots of different types of animals. The main 'feature' are the pandas. I was really excited to see them, that is, until I saw their 'home'. It made me really sad because the baby panda was inside this large building with concrete flooring and a few items to make it seem like home. It almost made me feel bad that I wanted to see it. But, since I did, here are a couple of pictures:

This sign that was inside the exhibit made me laugh:

I always love seeing the monkeys...so cute!

For some reason, this zoo had a large focus on poo. This is just a wall near the souvenir shop. And in each of the bathroom stalls, there was a 'fun fact' about poo. I didn't feel right taking a picture of that though!

I don't want to bore you with zoo animal pictures (you should be familiar with most of them), so that's all for now!

After the zoo, I headed to the gondola for a nice ride up the mountain! Maokong is known for delicious tea, but since I'm not much of a tea connoisseur, I don't really know the difference!! I think my Maokong experience was quite different than the average person that visits there!

The Maokong station at the top of the mountain

Some views from the gondola

I did have to have some type of tea at the top, so I went with bubble tea! Before my trip to Taiwan, my cousin let me know that this drink is native to Taiwan. To be honest with you, the tapioca balls kind of gross me out, but the actual tea/milk is really yummy!!

Thus concludes my day at the zoo and gondola! More pictures to come soon!

Taipei - Taipei 101

2011-01-06T08:03:00.000+09:00

By far, my favorite 'attraction' in Taipei was Taipei 101. This is currently the second-tallest building in the world, behind some new building in Dubai. A few years earlier and I could have been to the tallest building in the world! Haha!! Anyways, I have a small obsession with tall buildings, so this was right up my alley!

I went to see Taipei 101 first a night so I could get a glimpse of it in the dark, and then I returned the following day to see it in the daylight. I only went to the observation deck during the daylight, since I still haven't quite figured out how to take good night pictures! Here are a few pictures from the building:

Lots of Christmas spirit in Taipei!

Busy streets of Taipei.

Taipei 101 in the dark!

Taipei 101!!

Views of the city from the 89th floor!

Taipei 101's shadow cast over the city!

More city views!

The world's largest wind damper...apparently this absorbs some of the wind so the building doesn't rock back-and-forth!!

Me at the top!

Probably won't ever see these numbers in a stairwell again!!

Taipei 101's mascot! Cute!

On the 88th floor, they had some displays of coral and jade...I thought it was pretty incredible what people could make out of those! These are coral:

Taiwan!!

Sign marking the building as the world's tallest in 2004!

From the bottom looking up!

And again! The building is supposed to resemble a stalk of bamboo.

The top half of the building.

This is the view from a road near my hostel...which was about 5 subway stops from Taipei 101!

And a familiar LOVE sign at the base of the building!

It was a really nice day, and I enjoyed visiting the building! Hopefully one day, you'll get to experience it too! :)

Taipei - Modern Toilet Restaurant

2011-01-03T18:37:00.000+09:00

When I was getting ready to go to Taiwan, someone suggested visiting a theme restaurant that they have there. I remember seeing these on the Travel Channel or something of the likes, so I was pretty excited to go see one for myself! The only that I could really get an exact address for was the Modern Toilet restaurant. It was quite an interesting experience, and I really enjoyed it!

I searched for a while, but when I saw this, I knew I had found it!

The entrance!

Some of the interesting decor!

My broccoli/tomato/chicken rice was served in a bathtub!

And my ice cream dessert was served in a squatter toilet!

More decor from the restaurant:

Bathtub table, toilet chairs, and a shower hose to top it off!

The people that designed this were very clever, and the place was packed, so obviously it's a fun place to go! I definitely recommend going if you ever have the chance! And the food was really yummy, too! :)

Taipei - Shilin Night Market

2011-01-03T18:36:00.000+09:00

In Taipei, night markets are huuuuge!! They seem to be the 'thing' to do at night!! The subway to this particular night market was packed!! I visited the Shilin Night Market on three different nights...it was that happenin', and there was a ton to see! There were people everywhere and the aisles between vendors were full of people! It was a mix of exciting and overwhelming at the same time! In the main building, it felt like a carnival. There were so many food vendors and games and a few souvenir places. It was just insanity. I took some video so I'll try to upload that sometime for you! Alright, here are some pictures of the place:

The main sign outside...Shilin Market.

A view inside the main building

Rows and rows of claw games...I didn't attempt them though. I really awful at these games!

Some of the food...

Lots of sausages...

It looked delicious but I didn't try any of this!!

Fried food, anyone??

Lots of fresh fruit! Yum!

Just pick your fruit and they'll make you a smoothie!

I chose banana...yum!!!

That's just a general look at the market! I think I'll have more pictures later, but that's all

for now!!

Taipei, Taiwan - Overview

2011-01-02T21:01:00.033+09:00

If you look at my blog or Facebook page often, then you know that I just returned from a 6-day vacation in Taipei, Taiwan. I'm back to Korea now and back to work, so I thought I'd share some of my adventures with you...that is what this blog is for, after all!

Traveling to Taipei was my first vacation alone. It was a little different, I have to admit. There were definitely pros and cons to traveling alone, as there are when you travel with others. I definitely enjoyed doing my own thing and doing it on my own schedule. The whole vacation was pretty laid back and chill, which is kind of strange, if you know me at all! On the flipside, it was kind of strange not having someone with which to share my experience. I couldn't say 'Hey, check that out' or 'Did you see that!?' and all of those fun things. Being in Korea, I rarely feel alone, but to be honest, being in Taipei felt a little lonely for me. I still had a good time, don't get me wrong!

Taipei was also my first hostel experience. I have always heard about people staying in hostels, but I had never experienced it until last week. It was ok. I guess living in the dorm during college really helped, but really, it wasn't bad. My initial plan was to stay in a hostel for one night and then find a room at another place, but I ended up staying at Taipei Hostel the entire time. The bunks had curtains, so it was almost like my own little cave. The only irk I had was with the Malaysian kid across from me clipping his fingernails at 12:30 at night! Besides that, all was peachy!!

Anyways, about Taipei...overall, I thought it was a really nice city. It was super clean...which is contrary to what I read online before my trip. I thought the subway system was great and super spotless. The people were nice as far as I could tell. If I could speak Chinese, it probably would have helped a ton, but as a definite foreigner, I was still able to get around easily. The city was really easy to navigate, and the subway went to all of the places that I needed. There was plenty for me to do in Taipei for the week, so I didn't visit any other cities. I decided that I didn't want to spend my days trapped on a bus!

Ok, I'm going to post pictures in my upcoming blogs. I'm going to break up the sights of Taipei into different blogs, so just bear with me! I don't want to cram it all into one long blog! So, sit back and enjoy! :)

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-24T15:00:00.000+09:00

Wishing you a

Merry Christmas

and

blessed New Year!!!

I'm heading to Seoul tonight and Taiwan tomorrow....see you next year!!

Making Kimchi!!!

2010-12-22T21:41:00.000+09:00

When I decided to come back to Korea, one thing topped my list of things to do that I didn't get to do last time...Make Kimchi!!

What is kimchi, you might ask?? Well, if you're in Korea for more than a second, you'll see this spicy cabbage dish on your table. Kimchi is [unoffically?] the national dish of Korea. It's everywhere!! In a phrase, it's spicy fermented cabbage. I think it's served as a side dish for just about every Korean dish, and the Korean people love it. Actually, they swear by it. You know the saying "An apple a day...", well, in Korea, it's kind of like, "Some kimchi everyday..."

Do I like it, you might ask next? Well, that's a tricky question because I am not into spicy food...but they do have a version of this dish (baek kimchi) that doesn't have the spicy sauce and I really love it...too bad it's not very common!

Then, you might be thinking, 'how do you make this famous dish?' I'll give you a very brief description...since I'm definitely not the kimchi expert!! (Click this link for a really good explanation, if you'd like to read more.) Ok...here goes from my point-of-view:

As the weather starts getting cold and the cabbage is at it's peak, it's kimchi-making time in Korea! This process is called 'kim-jang'. After gathering the heads of cabbage and cleaning them, the cabbage is soaked in salt water for about a day. This part of the process allows the cabbage to wilt and become easier for handling. The following day, the cabbage is covered - leaf-by-leaf - by a spicy concoction. My suspicion is that each family has their own spicy recipe, but that has not been confirmed! In the kimchi that I made, the sauce had some ginger, oysters, red sauce (goh-chu), garlic, and probably more things that I didn't know about! Next, the cabbage heads will be placed in large kimchi pot that will hold the kimchi for an extended period of time (a year or more) until the family is ready to eat it.

Ok, let's get to the pictures now! They're the fun part anyway!! :)

Our ingredients - cabbage & the spicy red concoction

Learning the proper technique

Trying some of the [spicy] delicousness!!

Coating each leaf!

I was having so much fun!

The finished product!!

Of course, we shot a little video too! Enjoy!!

I had loads of fun, and I feel really happy that I got to partake in this Korean tradition!

Kraze Burger!!

2010-12-13T21:16:00.000+09:00

I'm not quite sure why I never knew about this place when I was in Korea last time, but Kraze Burger is one delicious place!! When I told my friend, Yujin, that I was craving a good burger, she suggested a trip to Kraze Burger. Of course, there isn't one of these in Tongyeong, so we took a 30-minute trip to Geoje Island to taste the goodness!! Let me tell you, it was worth the trip!

I went with the KB++ which included their regular burger with a fried egg and bacon added. Yujin opted for a non-beef option of the KO Sandwich, which include chicken and what reminded me of a caprese salad on bread!

My KB++ Burger with layers and layers of goodness!!

Yujin's KO Sandwich

So, if you're ever craving a good burger while you're in Korea, just look for the Kraze Burger logo!! And just so you know, they pronounce it kuh-rah-jay buh-guh...if you need to tell a taxi driver!!