Training Time

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

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?

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

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

Editor's Edit: 
Simple formula: Korean age = (Current year - birth year) + 1 year for gestation
[Your Korean age changes with the new year!]


Original post:

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!!