Saturday, February 25, 2012

WELCOME TO THE GOOD LIFE


My Workplace


Work began January 2, 2012.  I was so excited about the having a new job working with children.  I arrived at school at 8:30 a.m. and met the staff, my coworkers.  There are 5 foreign teachers in addition to myself and 5 Korean teachers in all.  Upon arriving I was bombarded with so many names I was on brain overload within an hour!  If you know me well, you know I struggle to remember anything, especially names.  I learned early on that I would have to do something to aid in memorizing names.  Today, I can say I'm better with remembering my students names but it has definitely been a challenge from day one.

The staff always begins their week with a 10-15 minute meeting on Monday so I sat and was formally introduced to everyone by Mark and Kay teacher at the start of the meeting.  It felt great to see the smiles I immediately felt welcomed. Before ending the meeting Kay teacher encouraged us to make education fun for the children; she usually always ends the meeting by reminding us of the importance of having fun.

The name of the school I work for is called Maple College, formally KDLP Creativitiy school.  The school is a Hagwan, a korean term for "private school".  My particular Hagwan specializes in teaching children english but in addition, the children are educated in subjects such as Math, Science and art.  For every foreign teacher there is a Korean co-teacher who is the direct contact for parents to speak to about curriculum as well as any other education-based concerns.  Korean teachers speak both english and korean and are well educated.  My co-teachers work extremely hard and work longer hours.  They are extremely helpful and I'm blessed to work with such enthusiastic people.

What's a Hagwan?


Hagwan's are a popular form of education here in South Korea and many students attend them in addition to regular, Korean based school.  I don't know if you guessed it but, Korean children attend school just about ALL DAY! Usually 9 am to 6 pm at the elementary level and until 10pm for middle school and High School students. This form of education can be pricey and most children who attend come from wealthier families. 

The one thing I love about working for a Hagwan is that I get to build great relationships with my students.  Most of the children don't spend many hours at home with their parents so in essence, teacher's act as parents. Korean children learn a great work ethic at an extremely young age;  school is essentially a home away from home.  Hugging, rough-housing and humbly talking to children daily has become something I've built into my lesson's.  There is a lot of pressure to be academically successful as Koreans grow older so in an effort to ease the pressure I conclude classes with a game, as do the rest of my foreign coworkers.

I skyped with my Sister and her children in Atlanta last weekend and I told them not to complain about their live-free lives in America.  I explained to them that many kids here attend school Monday through Saturday and do not have long vacations like American children.


I began my career here at a time referred to as Winter Intensive.  Winter Intensive is during the month of January, a time when children in America are on vacation but here many parents choose to enroll their children in hagwan's so that they are learning new things; in this case, a new language.  I think it is also beneficial for parents who work and cannot leave their children at home due to their busy schedules.  During winter intensive most of my students were looked after by their grandparent's before and after school because their parents were working.  In addition to Winter Intensive classes, most of my students also had Taekwon do practice, piano lessons or some other form of education outside of Maple college.

A Sidenote
I'm learning not to complain about my life through my children.  If this is what God sent me here to learn I think it's working.

My First Week

The truth about my first week is that I wasn't very nervous.  I feel that it was destiny that I was chosen to do this work.  I was confused during the first week about protocol because the way of doing things were so different from America.  The first day I was so out of the loop but there's something about having a challenge in life that make me a happier person.  I felt so successful at the end of the week.

On Monday I attended burger night with Charlotte and William, a foreign teacher from Philadelphia.  Charlotte and William have made a tradition of having an American treat once a week.  There is a burger restaurant close by so every Monday evening they walk over and enjoy.  They invited me to join in so I ended my Monday with a reminder of where I came from.  We talked about why we were here and I got a chance to get to know Charlotte and William outside of work.  I was in admirable company.

Charlotte taught me so much that first week. There are many deadlines and requirements, just like any other job, but I had to learn quickly that my schedule may change at any given moment.  I had to learn how to accept it the first week on board.  This job requires that you be a flexible person and as difficult as it is to do that I think it is preparing me to teach anywhere in the future.

On Friday,  My new bestie and I had bbq at a local bbq restaruant close to my house and called it a night early to mentally prepare for Saturday work. 




The first Saturday I worked, it was for a orientation for new coming students for the 2012 school year.  The parents of the children were informed about the school and the children learned and played games with the foreign teachers.  I don't work every Saturday, but it is a requirement that I am available one Saturday a week for orientation.

My weekend felt short but it was fun. Charlotte myself and a new friend Charlotte met on the airplane, Eunmi, ended the week eating mexican fusion food at a restaraunt in Itaewon called Vatos.  It was so good.  The restaruant is fairly new and the owner is a young man from California.  The Kimchi fries were to die for and the Margaritas were great! 









At the beginning of the Second week Kay teacher reminded me to keep my Friday free for my welcoming party.  It is customary for the school to give all new teacher's a party.  I was so excited and looked forward to the end of the week.  One reason for my excitement was because my week was challenging.  I have a class that is tedious for me because the student's level of english is low.  The language barrier makes it difficult to prepare lesson plans that are within their ‘zone of proximal development'.  In addition, 2 of the 5 children gave me a difficult time.  One of the boys started this annoying imitating thing where everything I said, he mimicked.  He had the ability to mimic my english wonderfully but he couldn't read the super easy reading book if you paid him.  Another problem child ran around the class, interrupting all the other students as they tried to learn.  I had to send at least one of them to the principals office just about everyday that week.  My energy level after that class was remarkably exhausted everyday; and get this, I still had 2 classes to teach before my day was over.

When Friday arrived I walked into school smiling ear to ear, mainly because I knew I would get a break from my challenging class. 

After school all the teacher's and I headed over to Korean BBQ and after words went to a restaraunt with a  bar called Wara Wara to talk more freely. 



 Wara Wara is a franchised restaurant that is likened to Island's in America.  The staff's uniform's consist of straw hats, khaki pants and luau shirts but the funny thing is that they sell Korean food, not very island-like at all. 




The girls ordered a fish cake soup that I don't think I like much but it was great to try once.  Fish cake is much like the famous rice noodles but with fish flavoring.  The broth from this soup is very popular especially at street food establishments.  The fish cakes come in many shapes, sizes and colors.  Some have been fried like chicken and then dipped in the broth to make the breading a little soggy.  You must acquire a taste for such a unique dish.


I was intrigued by the cool set up of the restaurant.  There were hangers where you could hang your jacket behind your seat.  I had take pictures because I thought it was so cool and convenient. 





We stayed out until about 2:30 just talking and getting to know one another.  I taught them what "Dueces" meant and we all took a picture saying dueces to America in honor of me leaving and being in Korea.  I have a feeling I joined a great school with endless opportunity to grow and learn both professionally and personally.



Up next week....a cultural lesson about the Korean Lunar New Year and my beautiful Ski trip!

Until then, 

Love and Peace from Seoul

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Recap of January Pt 2

A NOTE TO ALL:
I know I said I would blog everyday this past week but I couldn't seem to get to my computer and write.  I had major writers block that I think it was related to a combination of workload and homesickness.  Forgive me.  I think I'll have to stop making promises  to my followers because I never know what my week will be like.  Living in a different country can be taxing emotionally, physically and mentally.   Actually, I think life in general can be taxing emotionally, physical and mentally. This year I've learned that I have to stop giving myself deadlines on life, no matter where I am.  I can't help but want things to fit into a plan but sometimes life doesn't allow it and I want to be okay with that and focus on just being a humanBEing instead of a humandoing.  I heard this song by Beyonce from her newest album, 4 and I really love it.  It's called I was here.  Click one of the links below to see the video. 

Beyoncé - I Was Here (Live at Roseland)



After hearing this song this week I realized that when I create resolutions they should be for the rest of my life, not just for now.  I want to live my life so everyone will know I was here and I LIVED and I was a RAY of LIGHT.  I hope you enjoyed the song as well and if you didn't that's okay too.  If you know any other inspirational songs like this shoot me an email or comment and tell me; I would love to hear it.

NEW YEARS DAY
New Year's day felt like the start of a new beginning.  I skyped with my sisters, Ollie and Jocelyn, first thing in the morning and because their New Year's eve celebration had not  yet begun I was the first to wish them a prosperous New Year.  After skyping I was so excited because my new amazing friend, who had been so thoughtful by letting me use here Internet connection, would finally arrive from her trip back from the states. 

I received a call from her first thing in the morning requesting that we go to lunch together to celebrate the New Year. I was so elated that I decided to make her a New Year's hat in celebration of her arrival. I drew a funky looking Korea sign on  it and cut the top into the numbers 2012.  Maybe I should go into a hat making business...j/k.
Charlotte.
Can't you tell she's got a awesome spirit!


She treated me to lunch in Itaewon (an area in central Seoul) and we enjoyed Mandu (Korean Dumplings).  It was so good.  In Korean culture it is customary to eat Tteokguk/ Mandu on New Year's Day. They start the day with tteokguk (rice dumpling soup), and wish for health, happiness and good luck.  Although we didn't have the soup, the dumplings were the perfect choice for us.  Charlotte has a beautiful spirit that exudes positivity and I can't help but feel healthy, happy and lucky to have her as a friend.  The short trip to and from lunch was awesome. We laughed about the funniest things ever and I told her about my New Year's Eve with the gang.  She discussed her short trip to the states and we caught up on each others lives.  The trip was very short because she was really tired and jet-lagged but it was so fulfilling!

Me, eating dumplings

In the evening, after her nap, we discussed lesson planning and she gave me a heads-up on what a typical work day would be like at the school.  Lys came over and gave me some good advise as well and I felt loved and accepted by both girls.  We went to dinner at a restaurant close to my house and discussed life in Korea, what to expect and how to cope with homesickness. What a great way to begin the New Year!


Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A Recap of January 2012 pt. 1

I decided today, after looking at all the wonderful pictures I have, that instead of leaving you in the cold about all the great places, people and things I have encountered since I've been here, I would bring this blog current.  This week I will blog everyday so that we can fast forward to current events.  I have an exciting weekend ahead…it’s my birthday!  And I want to talk about every inch of it next Tuesday.

The first weekend here, I had a new group of friends that invited me to join with them to eat "the original" Korean BBQ, celebrate the New Year in Korea and show me how the transportation system works here. 

KOREAN BBQ
At noon on the Friday after touching down my coworker Mark and his beautiful fiance Lys met up with me to eat the infamous Korean BBQ.  Let me start by saying, it is better than Gyu-Kaku.  Upon meeting Mark and Lys I knew we would hit it off and enjoy this first great experience together.  As we walked from my home to the BBQ restaurant in Isu we discussed our family, their experience here in Korea and my reasons for coming to Korea.  Lys and Mark both have blogs that I followed before choosing to come to Korea.  Their blogs did a wonderful job at coercing me to make my decision and I think anyone who is thinking about moving here should check it out.  Lys blog name is Sans Borders, check it out.                     

As we walked, the aroma of all the street food made my mouth water.  At every corner along the main street there are food vendors who set up carts with warm Korean treats.  If you have a sweet tooth you can order Fish bread; a pancake like pastry with bean paste in the center and shaped in the shape of a fish.  Another sweet street is called Ho Ddeok,  a special type of pancake-like bread with cinnamon, Lys and Mark introduced me to both as we walked down the boulevard and suggested we try some after lunch.  If you're in the mood for something salty or spicy you may choose from Fish cakes (served on a stick and boiled in rice stalk), Mandu (Korean dumplings), corn dogs, corn on the cob, Ddeokbokki (a rice and fish cake soup that is spicy and extremely popular) and sausage (served on a stick)  The street vendors are hospitable and you may sit on a stool next to the oven to eat your food.  There are tents covering the oven and food which is especially important during the winter because the temperature is not suitable for sitting outside.   

Ho Ddeok,  a special type of pancake-like bread with cinnamon:



When we finally arrived at the BBQ restaurant I was ready to eat!  Lys and Mark explained to me that tipping is not allowed, side dishes such as cabbage kimchi, spiced radishes and spinach kimchi are free with your meal and that  iinstead of waiting for a server to pass by, so that you can make a request, you yell "Yeo-gi-yo".  It was very odd for me to yell but in the korean culture it is totally acceptable. Lys and Mark had me yell just to try it.  I was very uncomfortable but I think I'm getting used to it.  There is also a button on each table that may be pressed to get their attention.




Mark and Lys ordered for us all.  We had pork that we barbecued together.  This barbecue was far better than the usual American places I've been to.  The meat tastes like it been marinated for weeks because the flavor is so intense.  The tenderness of the meat is spectacular.  The smell of charcoal was embedded in my hair and clothing. I had the best egg dish I've ever had.  It is called steamed egg.  It is 1,500 won (approx. $1.50).  The steamed egg is served in this black bowl and the egg has been infused with green onions & red pepper, almost like an omelet.  We were stuffed after lunch but Mark and Ly's insisted I check out the open market near my house.  The open Market is a place outdoors, sort of like a flea market but it's all year long, even in the freezing winter.  I tried the Ho Ddeok as we walked and talked back to the subway to drop them off.   As we parted we discussed New Years and they gave me direction of how to buy a T-money card (the card used to get on the subway) and which exits to take in order to get to the city where the New Years festivities would begin.  I was so excited!

The Open Market





New Years Eve

Getting ready for the celebration

Lys and Mark:



The next day, New Year's Eve, I woke up and went for a run at a park close to the school.  The weather was freezing and I learned that day I must layer to stay warm.  My legs were numb after the run but It felt great to be in a new place.  That evening I got dressed and met Lys, Mark, Jamie (Lys' best friend), Leeann (Jamie's petite friend from North Carolina) and Michael (Leeann's tall, slender boyfriend) and Leeann and Michael's apartment on the 23rd floor of the complex.  As I entered, the girls were making New Year's eve tiara's from supplies they had picked up from an arts and crafts store earlier that day. Everyone was so hospitable. The girls and I painted our nails as the boys helped Leeann and Lys decide what they should do with their tiara's to make them stand out at the concert.  Lys designed a beautiful, neat black tiara with a glittering 2012 in front. Leeann asked that I help her with her tiara.  She purchased feathers and gold parchment paper that I thought would look beautiful.  I love artsy things so I worked my magic as she got dressed.  Leeann's tiara was a semi-duplication of  Mad Hatter's hat from Alice and Wonderland -- 2012 Style!  I had a blast and we all hit it off.



And then came the embarrassment...

In Los Angeles, I 'm used to wearing tall heels when I'm going out to celebrate a special occasion.  I rarely wear heels now that I'm older but I felt like that night would be the best night to wear a beautiful platform shoe.  IT"S NEW YEAR"S FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!  Boy, was I wrong!  In Korea, it is not abnormal to see women walking to the subway with high heels and they look comfortable.  They walk gracefully and they make commuting look easy, even in heels.  I consider myself one who can walk well in heels but this night I don't think anyone believed me.   As we rode the elevator downstairs the girls gawked at my shoes complimenting me and telling me I was brave to wear them.  Brave I was  but smart? I don't think so.  As we walked on cobble stone briskly to catch the subway to the huge 5 story mall where the concert was, I stumbled many times praying to God that I wouldn't fall.  As I picked up my pace I could feel my ankles, quads and calves shaking in an effort to keep me afloat.  Just as we approached the Subway building there was an area that had a blanket-like covering on the ground due to construction as I walked over the  area....guess what happened?





....I fell....BAM!!!
It was like a cartoon, all I remember is my heel feeling like it was sinking into the ground and there was a huge blur, everything happened so fast.  As I shuffled to get up, all I could think was, "It would be awesome if someone got this on camera".   As I stood up I wanted my shoes off and so  I asked the girls if it would be bad to walk without the shoes in the station but they convinced me that this kind of behavior is not acceptable in Korea. Luckily, at most subway stops, there are shoe and clothes vendors that sell great clothing.  Not very cheap, but cute.  Jamie, bless her heart, looked for someone who could sell me a pair of shoes that fit.  She found a vendor she could bargain with and I bought a cute, trendy pair of ankle boots that were comfortable.  I walked out much happier and we carried on into a perfect night.


CARRYING ON....




 I’ve never been to such large mall in my life.  It was 4 or 5 stories high and the concert was held on the first floor.  We were able to ride the escalators up and down the building to get better views from the balconies above and each DJ/ band was awesome.  Break Bots, a famous French DJ, famous in Korea made an appearance as well as UV, a famous K Pop band from Korea whose most recent hit is Itaewon Freedom.  And a group called Housse of Racket.






We had an awesome time together.  On the 3rd floor there was a game zone where we could test out wii games.  Michael and I joined in and danced to Dance Revolution.  I can’t remember how high we scored but it was fun.  On the top floor there was a food court where you could order just about anything to eat.  There was a “green-room” where the event staff took pictures of us in little New Year’s Eve hats. 


Dance Revolution:

The Food Court
During the countdown there were a ton of balloons released to rain on us from the ceilings above. Each balloon was embroidered with 2012 on one side and a Happy-Face on the other.  The happy-face reminded me that this year would be a happy year for me and that even when I’m homesick or down I should smile and be thankful for all the knowledge I will gain while here.

We stayed out until 2:30 am and we left a not-yet-empty mall to carry on in the festivities.  Young people in Seoul are known for staying out until 5:00 am;  It’s like no one sleeps here.  I live in a lively environment, perfect for me.


Even Minnie Mouse Can't Hang with the Youth of Seoul!




  

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Invention with Intention

South Korea is a booming country! The technology is amazing, the convenience of transportation is awesome and the Green mindset is impeccable.

I think in a few months things will become normal and not so ironic so I figure, I should talk about it now before I get too comfortable.  I also don't want to forget how I adjusted to the "different world" so I'll use my blog as a souvenir. 

If someone asked me to say one word to describe this great country I think I would have to say....CONSIDERATE.  I hope this blog will give you an idea of what I mean as you read it.

My first week in South Korea I had to visit my new job for orientation.  On orientation day I met with the Vice Principal and the director of the school, both of whom are the sweetest and most caring people I've met.  Kay Teacher is the Vice Principal of Maple College.  Kay has this beautiful presence about her that exudes confidence;  her English is great and she dresses to kill.  I look up to her and feel that my relationship with her is a positive one.  Judy Teacher is the director of Maple College; she has two young children, one of them is my student. Judy is a caring mother who works hard and made me feel comfortable upon arriving to orientation.  Judy's humble personality is astounding.

Upon entering the doors of the school I felt a level of comfort that I can't say I've ever felt in the United States. There is a rule here that I personally love: NO outdoor shoes indoor!  Kay was quick to explain to me that no one is allowed to wear dirty shoes inside of the school.  There are slippers provided for those who do not bring them.  She told me to store my shoes in a cubby and take a pair of slippers from an organized shoe rack in plain view at the entrance of the school.  This is one of the greatest ideas I've ever heard.  As she expressed this rule I was delighted because it meant that my shoes did not have to match any of my clothes.  I take full advantage of this most of the time.  I wear my sock-like boots to work just about everyday, even if they don't match my outfit.  I enjoy a comfortable 5 minute walk to work daily and never have pains in my feet from wearing heels.  Kind of cool, right?
My patio slippers:
My slippers for the bathroom.  (They keep my socks dry after my morning shower)


In many mom-and-pop restaurants the no shoes rule also applies.  I've visited one with Charlotte recently and it felt like I was eating at my mom's house.  I felt like I could let my hair down, so-to-speak.  The food is made after you order it and you can see the family, usually a mom and her daughter, slave over a hot oven or stove to prepare it for you.  If you order soup, they usually bring a stove top-like heater to keep your soup warm as you serve yourself communally with your dinner mate. Most meals are served in large amounts and you see many people eating off the serving dish or bowl at the center of the table.  The sense of community is ever-present and I respect it.
My front door.  The shoes come off.


In the states I often took off my shoes upon entering the house but not all of the time.  Now, I've become so accustomed to it that even if I'm walking into my house to pick up something quickly, I take off my shoes.  There is no carpet in most apartments I've visited and definitely not in public places but the understanding that there is not much dirt indoors makes me calm.  Especially, when you have to sit on the floor to eat your meal.  Who wants to eat from a bowl that's close to the dirt from outside? Not me!  If this isn't considerate, I don't know what is.

The slipper rack at school
 My work slippers:

THE TRASH SYSTEM

Conserving the environment is one thing I've learned to do regularly.  The trash system here is different from America and it has contributed to me recycling. 

After orientation, Kay teacher took me to lunch after hearing my horrible experience eating Bibimbap on the plane.  She showed me this Korean restaurant that has plenty of pictures on the menu so that I could enjoy the Korean food without the headache of having to speak to order food. The bibimbap was wonderful and I can now say that bibimbap is enjoyable. After lunch she showed me how to pack trash correctly and explained to me that trash day is every Tuesday and Thursday.  That's right, 2 days per week.  Want to know why? Well, the bags they use are the size of grocery bags; imagine that!  I can no longer hoard trash in hefty bags all week or until my garbage can runneth over.  This process is making me an extremely orderly person.  In addition to the small bags, each bag you use is color coded.  Yellow bags are used for food parts and white bags are used for trash like paper and plastic.  There is a small garbage can, no larger than a normal bathroom garbage can, that sits in front of the entrance of my apartment complex.  The yellow food bag goes in this tiny compartment, I'm guessing to keep the large amount of stray cats from eating the contents.  The white bags are left on the ground along with recycle able items that are supposed to be packaged separately from the regular trash.  Kay teacher, noticing that someone had left their empty beer bottles on my property without a bag or box, frowned and said, “Whoever did this is a bad person, always bag your bottles!”

The Trash Bag:

    I've never, in my entire life, seen a garbage man work as fast as the garbage men here. Get this, they use a motorcycle to pick up trash.  There is a milk cart attached to the back of the motorcycle and the garbage man quickly, without jumping off the motorcycle, gathers the bags and throws them into the cart.  I've never seen anyone multi task like this, it is truly a sight.  I think the utilization of a motorcycle is probably cost effective because it is much cheaper to fill the tank of a motorcycle than it is to fill a large truck with electric, robot-like gadgets attached to it....as seen in America.  The whole garbage system is very green, I admire it.
The Food Bag:


After separating for the day, Kay told me to enjoy my week.  I thanked her for showing me around and we parted ways.

HOW I WASH CLOTHES

As seen in an earlier blog, I only have a washer.  That’s right, I have to hang EVERYTHING to dry because in Korea no one has a dryer.  I wonder if South Korea saves more energy than America each year?  And if so, how much?  I think this concept is great for my clothes but not for my procrastination ways of living.  If I ever need to wash something right away to wear within 2 hours I will be out of luck.  Upon arrival, my washer was broken and the school had to order a new one for me. I had to wash clothes at my dear friend Charlotte’s house and lug heavy, wet clothes home 2 weeks ago. Regardless of the inconvenience of it all I’ll be thankful for the new experience, it gives me hope.  I also have to be thankful for Charlotte, without her everyone at work would smell me before they saw me…that would not be an ideal situation.  Nonetheless, I just recently got the new washer installed 2 days ago and boy am I happy!  I stayed up past my bedtime just to wash clothes that evening.
Hanging to dry: 
The trick is to dry clothes in the warm house.  They dry faster.





THE FUNNIEST but, MOST DELIGHTFUL THING I’VE ENCOUNTERED

So for the Lunar New Year, I had a 4-day weekend.  My new-fellow foreigner friends and I went skiing to celebrate.  I had an awesome time and I’ll post about the entire trip on a later date.  For now, I will talk about one particular invention that I think is funny but so useful. 

Ladies: Have you ever went to a public bathroom and felt embarrassed because the gassy food you ate for lunch made you do something that you couldn’t hold in?  Have you ever waited in the stall until everyone that possibly heard it has left to save you the embarrassment of them seeing your face?  Well, my friends, South Korea figured out a way to save you from these sticky situations.  Say hello to my friend……DRUMBROLL……
The Etiquette Bell. 





The Etiquette Bell is this nifty gadget I came upon in the Subway station while using the ladies room as I was in route to the ski resort.  As I took care of business I looked around my stall and noticed a button set on a plastic gadget called an Etiquette Bell.  Coming from the curious gene pool I come from, my fingers could not resist the urge to touch it. To my surprise, I touched it and nothing happened.  I was so confused.  The only thing I heard was the sound of my neighbor flushing the toilet.  As the 2-day ski trip went by and I found myself back at the same subway stop and using the bathroom along with the rest of the crew.  I asked around before going into the bathroom because I was still very curious.  The girls, all whom have been here for close-to or longer than a year, informed me that it is a helpful gadget that spits out the sound of a flushing toilet in an effort to conceal the sound your body is making.  BRILLIANT!!!!!!  I think I want one to carry this with me at all times.  I’m already researching how I can get my hands on one.  This culture is even considerate of your stall neighbor, wow!

 SPEAKING OF BUTTONS….

I have an hilarious and embarrassing story.  So The 1st week here, I’m walking down the street and I approach a stop light of the fairly busy main street here in Isu.  As you all know it’s extremely cold here so I get anxious a lot when I’m outside in the cold and I’d rather not stop.  Let’s just say I’m a little impatient.  So I’m standing at the crosswalk waiting for the light to turn green and I realize that I’ve been standing there for what seems like hours and I’m freezing.  So the American in me looks for the pedestrian button that communicates with the light so that the green light will appear.  I see a button but I notice no one else seems to care.  In haste to get to my destination, I press the button.  All of a sudden I hear this loud voice speaking in Korean.  As I look away, expecting for the light to change, I feel the heat of the eyes of other pedestrian’s staring a hole through me.  I look around and they’re giving me this blank stare that looks like pity.  I’m so embarrassed because I know I did something wrong but I really don’t know what it is.  So I’m waiting and waiting and the voice stopped but that darn light was still red.  Hold on, just when I thought the voice would stop and put me out of my misery, the voice starts talking in a very demanding voice, again.  There were so many thoughts running through my head at this point.  I pondered, “maybe I called the police?”, “maybe I called a city worker to fix the street or light?”  By the time the light turned green I ran across the street because I was so nervous and afraid of what I had done.  I asked my friends here, what is that button that is connected to the cross light?  They confirmed that it is a message button for the blind.  When a blind person approaches they can press the button and it tells them when to walk. 

After hearing what the button was for I had this immense respect for South Korea.  I have never heard of something so helpful to blind people in my life.  Although the experience was embarrassing, I can honestly say I learned a lot about the country that I live in.

KEEPING THE PIPES CLEAR

I heard it through the grapevine that landlords are sticklers about keeping the pipes in their complexes clog-free.  I don’t know how true it is but I do know that Korea has made a way for tenants to respect this wish, whether they like it or not.  The sink drain and the shower drain are like nothing I’ve ever seen.  Unlike the kitchen sinks in America, the kitchen sinks do not have garbage disposals for any excess food droppings washed from a dirty dish to be emulsified.  Instead there is a food trapper that keeps food from entering the pipes.  This trap is a strainer that allows water and other liquid forms to pass and drain out.  The food particles stay in the trap and with the little handle, looks like that of a bucket, you pick it up and pour the contents into a trash bag.  I was sort of disgusted the first time because the food smelled so bad but eventually I learned to clean it as soon as I finish washing dishes to keep it from smelling.



There is also a trap in the bathroom that is also built this way and I like it.  After washing my hair one day I realized that the drain was stopped and the water would not drain out of the bathroom.  I quickly turned off the shower spout and discovered that beneath the metal plate that covers the drain is a gadget that keeps hair from going down into the pipe.  I picked up my cleaning gloves and pulled the unwanted hair from the contraption and water flowed freely.  I wonder if the plumbing business is booming, my guess is no. How pain-free is it to know that any clogged drains can be done without having to spend an arm and a leg? I would say…very! 

These are just a few discoveries I’ve encountered here in Seoul.  There is much more but I don't have time this visit to share.
Until next time...
Love and Peace from Seoul

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

It's Official, I'm a Foreigner

So I've finally realized after three weeks of fun that I'm truly a foreigner.  After skyping with my sisters and brother last week the thought hit me.   I can no longer sit in a coffee shop and listen to annoying yet hilarious conversations of women, think about the conversation and then take it home to my sister and talk about the experience.  The language barrier here does not allow it, even if I yearn for it.  I never realized how addicted I am to socializing, directly or indirectly.  When I see a non-Korean in the market I want to know their story because chances are they're experiencing the transitional period just as I am.  Anyone who's ever worked abroad, I believe, would understand what I'm saying. One thing about my neighborhood is that I always feel like an outsider and oddly, I’m enjoying it. Some of my neighboring areas for example, Itaewon, are extremely Western influenced...I'll discuss it a little more and I hope through pictures I can show you exactly what I mean.

Carrying On-
After exploring and organizing my little apartment I took it upon myself to get to know my neighborhood a little bit.  In an attempt to familiarize myself, I took a stroll down the main road in Isu.   The first thing that I noticed was all the great chain cafes, coffee spots and restaurants that were very close to me.  As I walked and looked I couldn't help but think of all my family and friends back home.  I don't know if I mentioned this before but, for those who don't know me, I loOOOOOve donuts and coffee.  I was complaining the day I departed L.A. about the fact that I did not have time to get my fix at Peet's coffee for the last time. Well, just to brag a little bit, there's something better here...DUNKIN DONUTS...two words, Mmm Mmm.  Now I know I can't have it all the time but I'm excited to report to my sisters, who love Dunkin Donuts as well, that I have something in my neighborhood that the West Coast can't touch.  I'm okay with leaving Peet's behind because there's something far greater to replace it.  Due to the physical stimulation around me, I decided not to partake in this right away because I wanted to try some new things.  However, this aspect of Isu has been a great discovery

The point I'm trying to make in this blog today is that even as a foreigner I still feel quite comfortable here because Mcdonald's, Popeyes, Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Baskin Robins and Dunkin Donuts signs are everywhere, making it impossible to forget where I come from.  I feel like I belong here.




As I strolled along, I realized how hungry I was.  I stumbled upon a cool little sandwich shop called Joe's Sandwich Shop.  This place is very westernized and just 2 blocks South of my house.  I got a great ham sandwich with this amazing drink...a Sweet Potatoe Latte.  It was awesome.  One thing I've learned about Korea is that the culture encourages eating, drinking and socializing.  It's no wonder why they have all these unique drinks...they have to satisfy everyone's taste buds.

The people here are very generous and love to see foreigners, like myself, in their eatery's.

Western influence is everywhere.  On a trip to Itaewon,  I saw an Outback Steakhouse.  Now, because the lack of agriculture in many areas of Korea, it is difficult to find red meat.  Naturally, it was odd for me to see an Outback steakhouse due this fact so i'm thinking one day I'll check out Outback Steakhouse. I'm sure it will be expensive but it will be well worth it if or when I get homesick.

Until Next time.....
Love and Peace from Seoul

Saturday, January 14, 2012

My Lovely Apartment

So, I’m sure you all are just itching to know what my living arrangements are.  By the way, I am so sorry it took me so long to place pictures up and blog again.  I finally have internet at home which means I’ll spend a lot more time writing and skyping all of you.  I’ve been using my new friend, Charlotte's computer she is soooo sweet.  After finding I would be joining Maple college, Charlotte was eager to help.  Charlotte is from Venice, California so we have a lot in common.  She and I emailed each other before I arrived and, although she was in Los Angeles for Christmas, she allowed me to use her internet connection to skype with the family.  I love her very much, I can tell we will have a prosperous friendship.

Okay, now for my new home.  I was so exhausted when I arrived after the long flight and I really wanted to conk out as soon as I arrived.  I prayed the entire trip that a clean and organized apartment with a nice sized bed was waiting for me.  There’s a God because I got just what I wanted.  I am so thankful for my job.  Without it none of this would be possible.  After the flight  I immediately fell in love with cozy place.  I had a Queen sized bed with a brand new comforter, a gift from the principle.     Agnes opened the refrigerator and showed me the sandwiches’, milk and cereal they provided to get me started.  It was a beautiful gesture.  The best thing about this place was that I had plenty of closet space which held all of my articles of clothing, books and personable items neatly.  I was so afraid that all of my things would not fit.  I guess the $160 I paid to get them on board was worth it.

My apartment is a very large Studio on the top floor with an amazing view of Isu Seoul, Korea. I can see many skyscraping buildings as well as the mountains from the Laundry room and rooftop.  The heating situation makes the place even cozier.  In Korea the heating system is underneath the wooden floor so when you take your shoes off at the door you immediately get warm after being in the cold and stepping onto the wooden paneling.  That first evening spent here I learned this cool trick.  As I was unpacking, I used the floor as a place to neatly fold and stack my clothing before placing them in the closet.  When I picked them up, they were warm.  It automatically reminded me of my childhood when my mom pulled out a freshly cleaned load of clothes from the dryer and my brother and I would waddle in them until they got cold; so comforting.  Needless to say, I try to place my clothes on the floor every morning before work so that they’re warm when I walk out the door.  Heated floors are by far one of the best inventions ever.

My Laundry room is like an enclosed patio.  There's  this gigantic window where I can see the mountain tops from.  In Korea people do not dry their clothing in a dryer, all washed goods are hung to dry.  Korea has a very eco friendly community which I love and hope to take back to the states one day.





My bathroom is a standard Korean bathroom.  In Korea, the bathroom is open so there is no divider between the shower and the toilet.  I personally like it but the only issue is that when I need to go in the bathroom after showering to do makeup or straighten my hair, I have to wear sandals or else my socks will get wet.  Oh, one more negative; the shower nozzle is controlled in the sink.  There is a lever you pull to allow water to be routed to the shower spout and I have to remember every morning to push it back after my shower.  Brace yourself….I’ve forgotten on many occasions within the last few weeks to do this.  When I’m done with my makeup I usually wash my hands to get rid of any residue that may have been smeared.   Well, the problem with forgetting to push back the lever is when I turn on the sink the water continues to run through the shower spout.  I don’t know if you guessed but, I’ve had to change my clothes quite a bit just before walking out the door because they are soaked from being sprayed by the shower…ugh!  It’s different but I think I’m getting the hang of it.  All the great things about the place outweigh the bad.

My Kitchen is small but functional.  I have a stove but no oven.  There is plenty of cabinet space for my pots, pans and plates which were all pleasantly provided.


I also have access to the roof which I think will be great place to sit and meditate one day when the weather is warmer.    There are so many great things about my location.  All of my neighbors in the complex are below me which means no noise. It’s so peaceful here, there’s nothing I would change about it.
The movie theater.  I also see it from the rooftop.
This is the view from the laundry room behind the wall where my bed sits.  The mountain top looks amazing on a clear day.