Ten random facts

My latest Video. A little random from my life. AND a fun Korean birthday drink tradition that I will not be partaking of in October...

Korean Orphanage

Yesterday I went to a Korean orphanage. I had no expectations going in, which is a good thing.

We were only there for about 2 hours and mainly provided activities and our love and friendship for that time. In Korea, the orphanages are state run and well provided for (from my understanding). Please don't count me an expert on Korean orphanages because I only have this two hour experience to draw from. This particular orphanage had children from age 5-18 and it was very clean. They had a nice library, a piano, a kitchen and cafeteria. There were a couple of dogs chained up next to the playground and a cat running around.

Our group of about 20 (15 foreigners and 5 Koreans) were split into five different groups soccer, badminton, cooking, drawing and Word/Picture matching. No one is too keen on the word/picture matching so I decided to go over to that section. The kids already knew all of the words on the cards (mouse, cat, dog, boy, girl, sky, etc) and what can you really do with flashcards? So after one round of shouting out "what is it?" we moved onto find who has the pair and then I had had enough of the cards. So... I taught them egg, chicken, dinosaur (extreme rock paper scissors if you will) and then I taught them "Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky"... it was a HUGE hit! The person who got hit had to sing or dance and sit in the middle. There was one particular boy who would dance for the others when they were too shy.

All in all it was a good experience. I forget that its the "Korean way" for kids to hit each other (and hard!) so that was a little surprising for myself and Michelle (a girl from British Jersey) when it didn't bother the adult Korean worker that was with us. Meanwhile we kept telling them to play more gently and to not hit each other! But before and after the activities the kids would latch onto your hand and not let go. I had one girl lead me around for about 20 minutes telling me many things in Korean and I just nodded and smiled and said "Molayo" (I don't know) a lot.

My church goes once a week to this orphanage and I will probably join in. I'll definitely need some more games and songs though!

I've also been thrust into being on the worship team as well as leading at my church.


I don't mind...but it is stretching! So... there are many exciting things to come :-)

In Korea, I'm a star!

This is what I've missed... just had one of those moments that I've missed while spending time in America. In America- everyone knows someone that I look like or remind them of... not a bad thing- apparently there are many "me's". But in Korea- I'm a star!

I was walking home from the grocery store (yep, I walk EVERYWHERE) and a little boy just got off of his bus, most likely coming home from his English Hagwon (private school). He saw my face and stopped dead in his tracks just to make sure to say "Hello!" Meanwhile, he almost got ran over by the guy on the bike coming from the other way. I don't enjoy the fact that there have been times that people have ran into poles or almost got into car accidents because they find the need to stare at me... but I do like being a star!

A message to Korea, please be careful when you stare! Remember that there is still a world going on around you ;-)

A couple of cultural OOPSIES!

I've had a few cultural oopsies! My first was my first grocery shopping. The total was 87,000 Won. (about $85). When she told me the total I instinctively handed her the 7,000 and then 4 of the large green bills. In my head I was thinking these were $20's... but she repeated the total and looked at me expectingly. It took me a full 30 seconds to figure out that the greens at 10's not 20's! Whoops!

Second... public transportation. I decided to take the bus. I have an idea of which number bus to take and generally where it goes- just not sure which side of the street to catch it on. SO- I choose and hope for the best. It began the right way... got me closer to my destination- I was getting excited... and then it turned. I decided that since my destination was only a half mile away I'd get out at the next stop and just walk instead of riding the bus around for too long. Wasn't quite sure which button to press to open the back door to get off- so I did what no one else does and asked the driver if I could please get off at this middle of nowhere stop. He looked very concerned for me, but kindly complied.

On my way home I knew exactly which bus to catch and also on which side of the street. It was 6pm however and I guess it is a very popular route. I got on, claimed my standing spot. No problem. Next stop- about 10 more people got on and only 2 got off. Next stop had a line of about 15 people wanting on to the crowded bus and only 4 got off... by the third stop we were packed to the maximum and the bus driver was actually yelling at the old men that were trying to push their way in. It was interesting to observe. I made it to my stop though and all is well that ends well. :-)

I got my alien card today which is VERY good news! This means that I can get a bank account and a cell phone! Its been interesting living without a cell phone. I'm sure it will be much easier once I have a way to get a hold of me :-)

I've also almost completely finished my cleaning spree in my apartment... pictures and video to come soon (I hope)!

The exciting beginning!

It is all very surreal moving to a different land, a new world. Its not so different because I have been here before. Everything is very comfortable. People are (mostly) kind. I enjoy it. The weather is a bit nicer than in the mid-west right now. I will probably have to buy a spring jacket soon (I only have my winter coat for now). I have a list of about 15 things I would like to buy, included on this list are a microwave, a bike, a mirror and scissors.

Currently I'm waiting for the apartment management to come take a look at a few things I would like fixed in my apartment. On that list is the bathroom fan, bathroom sink (which doesn't like to drain), a moldy wallpapered wall (just needs replacing) and perhaps something done about the stinky mildewy balcony (I have a feeling I'll be fixing this myself).

My first day teaching was today. It was great! I think my students are going to like me very much. Its so great to be in this culture where there is a hierarchy of respect. I'm a professor, I'm at the top. Do you know how amazing it is to come into a classroom and have your students bow when they say hello and again when they say goodbye?! I LOVE it! Also, CareyAnn informed me that if ever I needed help with anything all I have to do is ask the students and they don't question... they just do. Mmmmmm life is grand!

I'm a sucker... I let my classes all go to the maximum capacity. This will surely come back to bight me in the butt later when I have to correct homework and exams. Ahhhh... such a softy I am! I think I signed about 10-15 waivers allowing extra students into my classes. :-)

English Conversation Level 1 is what I will mostly be teaching. The challenge comes in the fact that the students are pretty shy and don't like to talk in class... which is the point of the class! CONVERSATION!!! So... this will be a continual challenge I think, but lucky for them I'm very talkative and don't mind making a fool out of myself. *^^*

Yesterday was pretty bad with Jet-Lag. Woke up at 5 AM and couldn't get back to sleep, which made for a very long day. But luckily I was only in my office and at meetings. Apparently I did well and didn't seem too out of it (though I sure felt it!) Today I woke up at 6:30 so it wasn't quite as harsh. After the intro class for the two classes I had today, I went to immigration to apply for my alien card. I got REALLY lucky and only had to wait 20 minutes! The other teachers had to wait over 2 hours when they went!

Tonight. Shopping. :-) It feels good to be out on my own again.

Waiting just a little longer...(March 4)

Finally on my way! I remember the night I got the email offering me the job and how anxious I was thinking “oh my goodness! I only have two weeks!” Well… due to time for paperwork processing, two weeks turned into three, and really- two weeks would have been enough! Now I’m stressed about missing that first week of classes and having to jump into week two teaching a book I’ve never seen and a class I’ve never taught. But my friend CareyAnn reassures me that the book is very self explanatory and quite simple to teach.

So now, here I sit at the airport with a wait of 5 hours… though now only 2 more hours left until boarding. My flight leaves at 1 AM and I have a 14 hour direct flight from Chicago to Seoul. Then a two hour bus ride, a short taxi ride and I should arrive at my new “home”… for now just a little “hole in the wall”… but it’s my hole!  I’m sure in no time at all I’m sure it will be quite homey.

I didn’t quite manage to stay under my weight limit for my bags and had to pay a $50 overage… though at this point money doesn’t really matter so much anymore… I just want to get there! 16 hours and I shall say ANYANG KOREA!

Meanwhile I have the entire lobby of people to entertain me for the next 2 hours. There is one fantastic man who I am convinced is going to Korea just for the hip hop culture… its something about the way he is jamming with his headphones by himself… in the middle of the lobby. I instantly like him. I also think the little boy three seats down needs a diaper change… I sure as heck hope its not me that smells this way! *^-^*