seriously?

I made it. So glad weekend is here. Planning on spending the majority of the weekend prepping...getting a pedicure with Laine tomorrow... hopefully doing some hiking on Sunday... must get out of city.

Package from Tanner came today. I told Laine that Tanner had included (per my request and against his will) a trashy gossip magazine for her. When she caught word the package arrived, she ran through the halls with a butter knife and tore the box to shreds.  

..going running in the morning with my new hospital mask!

....was approached this evening (at 730pm after all my classes were said and done) to privately teach AP psychology to the child of some wealthyman on Saturdays...

If you're wondering, I declined.

DONE!

Session one is officially over!  Tomorrow marks the first day of session two, aka, the end of my life.

I'm teaching a completely different reading and writing class, plus biology.

Check up on me if you're worried I've keeled over... I just might.

Dae-han-min-guk!!!!

processual symbolic analysis

Last night a group of teachers and I hopped on the subway to the World Cup Stadium and watched the North vs. South Korea soccer game. As far as the quality of soccer, though I am no expert, I'm pretty sure Tanner could have run any of those boys into the turf...

I have no words to express my amazement of having born witness to such an event. 

Enjoy the photos. 

PS. The above photo is from sushi 990, our favorite new conveyor belt sushi restaurant. 

Terror between the sheets

It's 9:14am and I'm so grateful for having had my first experience of sleeping in in Korea. Unfortunately, the reason for my ceased slumber came courtesy of a horrible dream...

Somehow I had managed to sneak into North Korea with my mother. Conspicuous (duh), I was caught by a North Korean soldier who in an instant, took me to consult with Kim Jung Il. He was wearing a blue polo, jeans, and choccos. Weird.

After being analyzed by the Dear Leader, I was given the option to either join his 1,000,000 man army for the next four years, be his lusty lady, or have my head chopped off.

I woke up before finalizing my decision.

Reckon he'll be at the soccer game tonight?

KungFuPanda

12:23 am.

Today was good. After a morning of prep and laundry, I attended a subject test training from 1-2pm... I'm really looking forward to teaching biology during session 2!

Afterward, I sat at 7 Monkeys for a few hours doing prep work, and was able to have one final video chat with Tanner. While he's off cycling 'round the united states, we've made a tentative schedule to speak on his friday nights and my saturday afternoons.. love

Jerry and I had cheap dinner, then saw Kung Fu Panda (decently funny), and ate street food (dok and spicy fish cakes) for a midnight snack. 

On the way home, we saw a police car pulled over at the park adjacent to my abode. It was slightly alarming because the lights on the car were flashing, and the only other time I've seen the fuzz in Seoul was when they came into my local cheapo restaurant for lunch.  As I approached the park, I couldn't help but giggle at the sight of them playing on the "grown up" toys. 

I feel safe here.

I'm off for bed! Tomorrow brings the ohsosymbolic North vs. South Korea soccer match! Should be a good one....

random thoughts

It's 6:35 pm, Friday, and I've just eaten 3 bowls of cornflakes, a cucumber, and some cherry tomatoes for dinner. Thats what I had in the refrigerator. I conveniently realized at 4:45 pm that I have only 7o00 won (about 7 bucks) to last me the weekend. Banks close in Korea at 430 pm on weekdays and stay closed all weekend. 

oops.

and by the way, I find it exceedingly bizarre that motorcycles are allowed to ride on the sidewalk here. I've been nearly crushed by a fried chicken delivery boy about 10 times now. It makes walking on the sidewalk with headphones a very risky business....

Jeopardy was a hit today. Furthermore, one of my writing students used me as his example for today's essay topic, which was to write about someone who has had a great influence on your life...    

really??

our local hotspot

I pick up about 21 internet connections at seven monkeys

Here it goes!

Photo Boothing in Seoul

Laine and I

Changdeokgung Palace

Korean Bbq: JP, Yerin, myself, Eugene

Red Mango

College Street

I love doors

Changdeokgung Palace

The ROOMIES!

Jerry and I

Inside the Palace

It's 6:20pm. I'm sitting outside the Seven Monkeys coffee shop in Yeokasm, my hood. It's rush hour and bustling here in the financial district. My blonde locks, bright red tee and ripped jeans are drawing an undue  amount of attention amid the black suits and pencil skirts. It's sunny, and slightly breezy.

So sorry I have been negligent with my blogging responsibilities! Much has happened since my last post and I will do my best to include even the most inconsequential details.

As it stands, I have 5 days left with my current students. I have twenty kids in each my writing and reading class, and they have, to my surprise, made quite an impact on me. I truly care for each one of them and hope they stay in touch with me as they begin to take over the world. Last Friday we took a second practice SAT and some of my kids improved 120 points from the first test they took two weeks prior. I'm so proud of them, and it's nice to see that my efforts have not been in vain. What a beautiful process it has been, both to see them grow, as well as to see myself really turn into an "adult".  

I'm more physically and mentally exhausted than I can ever remember feeling.

Next month my tentative schedule has me teaching reading again from 8:30-1:10, then writing from 2:10-4:25, then biology from 4:30-6:50. Teaching that many hours, and prepping for more material than my current load, is going to make me mental... I can't wait.

Ok, so down to the good stuff. Last Friday night I went to the Noreabang with a group of twenty teachers. Norebang is a private room where you sing (or "practice") karaoke (Koreans take this very seriously). The room was enormous, and as a group we paid an obscene amount of money in exchange for a few hours of karaoke and all the food and Soju we could put down our pieholes. So fun!

The following day I rested, did a lot of preparation, and after an early dinner with some friends, hit the sack early. On Sunday, a group of teachers and I went to the Changdeokgung Palace, now a Unesco World Heritage site, that was built in 1405 for the Kings of the Joseon Dynasty. Afterward, we ate Korean Bbq, and then walked around  College Street which is the former location of Seoul University.  We watched a street performer, had paht bing soo, which is the current dessert trend in Korea. It's a combination of frozen yogurt, shaved ice, fruit toppings, tapioca balls, and red bean paste. SO AWESOME! Afterward, Yerin (my roomie), Eugene and I went to a photo booth and took ridonculous photos while dressed in costume. I'm not sure the Korean name, but like the ice cream, it's a huge fad in Korea at the moment. I'll post a picture of the pictures...

On Tuesday night, Eugene and I went to Itaewon which is essentially the United States of Seoul. It's the home of the US Army barracks, so the whole town is filled with military men and women, and an obscene amount of restaurants/bars/and shops that appeal to American taste. The restaurants even have tax (NOWHERE in Korea has tax!). I felt uncomfortably at home. While it was bizarre to hear so much english and pay american prices, it was oh-so-incredible to eat roasted vegetables, salmon croquettes, and a salad with mandarins and artichokes after having only eaten pork and fermented cabbage for the last month. 

The monsoon season is starting!

Tanner has put a package in the post for me and I'm eagerly awaiting his correspondence. I have requested a trashy gossip magazine for each Laine and I, and I fully intend on bringing it to my local nail salon when I get my first paycheck. I've never felt so deserving of some self indulgence....

I must go! Big Friday tomorrow, and I need to grab bipimbap with Laine and Jerry and then plan a Jeopardy game for my class, they deserve to have their Friday spiced up.... Enjoy the photos!

Tanner, I love you! 

...as I do everyone who loves me enough to read my blog :)

Here it comes...

Apologies for not having written sooner! I have not had more than a few minutes to catch my breath in the last week and a half, but I promise, a big fat post will come in about 12 hours, inclusive of lots of photos and anecdotes!

Hard to believe I've been here nearly a month...

My weekend

Annyong Haseyo!

I managed to escape prepping for a few hours on Saturday night and had dinner with some friends in Kangnam. It's Benihana style- food is cooked in front of you, although sans party tricks, and extra authenticity!

 I was exhausted from the previous week, so after dinner and dessert (soft serve ice cream with shaved ice, red bean paste, and mangos- amazing!) I called it a night. 

This morning I went for a long run which was invigorating, though hard on the lungs. I definitely notice the pollution's effect on my body. I did a few more hours of prep, then went on a mini hike with John, Jeremiah, and Marc, that eventually led us to an urban oasis, complete with a bike/running trail! 

On the way home, a monsoon came out of nowhere. Walking home in the rain is always tres  romantique!

Oh, life...

A CRAZY thing happened during my hurried effort to find an OPEN bank this afternoon (which proved unsuccessful). I was walking down the road and noticed two blonde females walking toward me on the same side of the street (caucasians aren't exactly discreet in these parts). They were engaged in conversation and paid little attention to me, but as they got closer, I realized I recognized one of the girls. By the time I realized how I knew her, I was so blown away by fate/coincidence/irony that I was completely speechless and too paralyzed to turn around and say "hey what's up Kelly, remember me from Guatemala?" I met Kelly in Antigua, and then bumped into her again in San Pedro... and now in Seoul! But the real irony of the situation lies in the fact that Kelly was the very girl who romanticized teaching in Asia, and turned me on to going to Korea specifically.

Take that Kevin Bacon!

I've included a photo of my favorite lunch. It's tuna and rice wrapped in seaweed in the shape of a triangle. 70 cents of pure deliciosity and true ingenuity. 

PS. Check out the controls on my washing machine (which I notably conquered this morning!)

It's the weekend

I've never felt quite so deserving of two days off, nor have I ever felt so appreciative of my teachers. This week was HARD WORK and of all the wonder in the world, all I craved at the end of my 16 hour days was my head on the pillow.  

Jet lag never got the best of me.

It's 8am, Saturday morning... rain imminent. Here comes laundry, lesson planning, and perhaps some dancing if I can muster the energy (although not bloody likely considering how I feel this mornin').

I killed another cockroach this am as I sipped  my green tea latte under jail cell lighting.

Must go have alone time with my pronouns...

PS.  The sex and the city movie is rubbish. Moderately entertaining, but not worth the feeling of having stuffed oneself with a burger, fries, milkshake and apple pie when it's over. Save the ten bucks.

Teaching, Week 1

It's Thursday and I'm finally beginning to feel more calm and confident in front of the classroom. I was a crazed mess the first two days and actually thought that I wouldn't be able to survive three months of this... i.e. finishing teaching at 4:30 and then lesson planning until 12am. It's such a relief that I'm starting to get into the groove, and I believe as long as I continue teaching the same subject material, July and August will be easier and breezier.

Must go grade papers!

<3

Korean Folk Village

FYI: THIS IS NOT A REAL BUDDHIST TEMPLE! 

I must be quick as I've still got some lesson planning to complete, but today was so fun that the sharing simply cannot wait.

Laine and I went to Suwon- another city about forty minutes by bus outside of Seoul. From there, we took a shuttle bus to the Korean Folk Village. We watched traditional dancing, an equestrian show, traditional wedding ceremony, and perused various exhibits including a Korean medicinal herb house (where we drank tea), silk spinning, and shoe weaving. We finished the day with ice cream in a squeeze pouch, similar to a juice box, except cookies and cream ice cream squirts out! Best thing ever! Oh yes, and before I forget, while watching Korean desserts being crafted out of honey, flour and nuts (SECOND BEST THING, EVER), I ran into a group of Hungarians and had a bit of a chat, I'm pretty sure I may have thrown in some spanish into that conversation... 

After eating Korean food twice per day for the last week, we indulged ourselves in a Korean's version of an American diner- by far the most expensive meal I've eaten this far, and completely worth it. Over dinner, Laine (let me preface this by saying she's got her masters in international relations from Columbia) taught me the ins and outs of the genocide in Rwanda, including a current psychological profile of Romeo Dellaire, and filled me in on everything she knew about Kim-Jong Il (even his passion for Hollywood films). 

We'll be heading to the de militarized zone in a few weeks...