11/8/07
11/6/07
heart & seoul
I'm no budding philanthropist, but well, you know, we all wanna change the world ...
Let
The world
Change
You
Change
The world
One year ago, I wanted a change. I never expected this.
One year later, I bow to say hello, goodbye & thank you. I give and receive everything with two hands.
I don't own a single fork.
I like dried fish and pig intestines - just not together.
I think fried squid smells good.
I've formed and maintained friendships without saying any words at all.
I laugh at the irony of family sending gifts that were "Made in Korea". I eat corn on my pizza with a side of pickles.
I think ovens and dryers are sooooo 2006. I don't call a meal complete unless it includes kimchi. I fall asleep on the subway with my purse in front me.
I'll never again consider Niagara-Toronto as "long-distance dating".
I forget what it's like to drive a car.
I know that cucumbers are the secret weapon against massive, throbbing Soju hangovers. I think 3,000W for a beer is expensive.
I know my capabilities, and my limits.
Before I came here, somebody cautioned, "I hope you're not going over there to find yourself." I was terrified because I was.
And I did.
In one month, I'll be in Vietnam & on the beaches of Thailand.
In 3 months I'll pack my life into two suitcases and head back to Canada. I know where I'll go and who I'll see.
I'll try to find something to do.
Something I love.
Something like this.
"Let the world change you, and you can
change the world."
~ Che Guevara
Let
The world
Change
You
Change
The world
One year ago, I wanted a change. I never expected this.
One year later, I bow to say hello, goodbye & thank you. I give and receive everything with two hands.
I don't own a single fork.
I like dried fish and pig intestines - just not together.
I think fried squid smells good.
I've formed and maintained friendships without saying any words at all.
I laugh at the irony of family sending gifts that were "Made in Korea". I eat corn on my pizza with a side of pickles.
I think ovens and dryers are sooooo 2006. I don't call a meal complete unless it includes kimchi. I fall asleep on the subway with my purse in front me.
I'll never again consider Niagara-Toronto as "long-distance dating".
I forget what it's like to drive a car.
I know that cucumbers are the secret weapon against massive, throbbing Soju hangovers. I think 3,000W for a beer is expensive.
I know my capabilities, and my limits.
Before I came here, somebody cautioned, "I hope you're not going over there to find yourself." I was terrified because I was.
And I did.
In one month, I'll be in Vietnam & on the beaches of Thailand.
In 3 months I'll pack my life into two suitcases and head back to Canada. I know where I'll go and who I'll see.
I'll try to find something to do.
Something I love.
Something like this.
11/2/07
the b-sides
2+ months of rain gives even the busiest people too much time to think, think, think. And that's what I've been doing. My apologies - I've been told I should be letting my fingers hit the keyboard to relay my mind's findings, but it seems as though everything that was once mysterious to us has become so normal it's barely worth mentioning. I've developed so much of a routine over here that I forget people might still be slightly interested in the daily goings-on SoKo. I'm runnin' out of ideas to make these blogs even the least bit interesting, so this one's in a soundtrack form. We'll call it a b-side, I guess. It's an exclusive, but it's probably dull. It might be a hit, it might be a bag of shit. In any case, its as close as I can bring you to "the big picture" about life in a little city on the other side of the world ...here are the tracks:
1. Porcelain - Moby
This one has absolutely no significance whatsoever...Just thought it'd be a cool intro.
2. Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
If you can actually decipher what Kiedis is saying, you end up hearing some pretty meaningful lyrics:
Choose not a life of imitation / Distant cousin to the reservation ...Pair that up with a quote from the movie The Beach: "I just feel like everyone tries to do something different, but you always wind up doing the same damn thing"...and you'll have the reason the majority of foreigners are currently residing in South Korea. We're all in search of something a little more unique, a little more beautiful, a little crazier. Whatever reservations we had, we left 'em at home. This world we love / the trains we hop / to be part of the wave / can't stop .... But travelling does quickly morph into an addiction that is unstoppable, or at least not easily satisfied. You end up with an incessant desire to see more, do more, try more - because the chance may never come again...
3. Tripping Billies - Dave Matthews Band
The chance may never come again. So, Eat drink and be merry / for tomorrow we die. Carpe Diem, etc, etc. So why would you care / to get out of this place? I can see how some people never leave Korea ... It's a laid back lifestyle, an extension of university disguised as the start of a professional career. What's not to love? But to every thing there is a season, and I think for a lotta people a stint in Korea is best short-lived. Life is short, but sweet for certain - and a prolonged stay in SoKo is guaranteed to sweetly but significantly shorten any life span.
4. Inaudible Melodies - Jack Johnson
"Life goes by so fast that if you don't stop to look around, you might miss it." - Ferris Bueller
So slow down, everyone you're movin' too fast ... One of the things Korea teaches you is to appreciate the little things. Like A&W Root Beer. And lime juice. And peanut butter. And it teaches ya to slow down & pay careful attention to detail - especially with the language. Most Korean/English words end in a vowel - E-Mart is "E-Marta", Homeplus is "Homeplusa", etc. but I can't even count how many times a Korean has repeated back to me what I'd swear was the same thing I just said. Our biggest trouble has been our subway stop: We're at Bojeong [pronounced Bo-chung], but there's another stop on our same line called Bokjeong [Bok-chung]. If you don't practice accurate intonation and pronunciation you can end up on the other side of the city staring at a W58000 cab fare [or in a frantic sprint for your life when you realize you don't have that much money]. Nothing is more frightening than being yelled at in a language you don't speak. Nothing.
I wish they could believe in things that never made the screen ... I hope everybody gets the chance to experience another culture at some point [and not just as a tourist]. See the parts that are never shown. Resist traveling the world only to check into a hotel with "all the comforts of home." [that's The Beach, too]. Live, and learn. Compassion is the route to social justice. Patience is probably in there, too. So yeah, slow down, look around. Listen.
5. A Long December - Counting Crows
In retrospect last December was a long one - last Christmas, a teeny bit tainted by the looming fear of the great unknown ... But that's not why this song is here. It's solely because of this line: I can't remember all the times I've tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass ...We're approaching the 8-month mark yet New Year's still seems so recent in our minds: Being introduced to strangers from around the world who would soon become some of our best friends. It's no cliche - time really does fly when you're having fun. But just about every foreigner you meet over here has an eventual expiry date, and you gradually become accustomed to casual goodbyes [including those uber awkward "re-goodbyes"]. So, like the sentimental cheeseball you are, you try to hold on to the moment, because trying to slow down time is about as easy as successfully clenching a fist full of sand ...And the days go by so fast.
6. Mushaboom - Feist
Alright, so if we can't hold on to every moment, we can collect 'em. We'll collect the moments one by one / I guess that's how the future's done ... Likewise, my favorite author wrote, "You look at where you're going and where you are and it never makes sense, but then you look back and a pattern seems to emerge. And if you project forward from that pattern, then sometimes you can come up with something." Gather the moments, save 'em, reflect on 'em, and devise a game plan. Gotcha. I guess that's how the future's done ...
7. Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
This one is more of a tease, than anything. Here comes the sun in South Korea can be likened to "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" ...It's been raining since mid-June yet every Korean swears it will end in "two weeks." Always two weeks. Julie and I are now just crossin' our fingers for one more month. Never underestimate how much rain can take out of a person [especially one who is as sun-obsessed as myself]. On the plus side, we did exchange our free umbrella for a bigger, better free umbrella ...And we're still so much in awe of the freakin' generosity over here. The other night when Julie & I tried to leave a restaurant, the owner forced us to sit down to give us free dessert. It's a tough life over here, really.
8. Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard - Paul Simon
The "six-month funk" isn't a myth - it's true. The six-month mark more often than not indicates the mid-way point of a Korean contract, and it's the time when people kinda find themselves in a bit of a homesick groove. For me, the 6-month point marked the mid-way point between the perpetual vacation that is South Korea and the rest of my career. If Korea is a temporary suspension of real responsibility, the 6-month mark is a reminder that the clock is tickin', and facing the "real world" is a chore that's inevitably creeping closer and closer each day. I'm on my way, I don't know where I'm goin' ...Where am I going? What am I doing? And why do I have a sudden craving for a Corona?
9. Don't Panic - Coldplay
Don't panic - check. Great advice, but not why this song's included here. It's these lines: We live in a beautiful world ... Yeah everybody here's got someone to lean on ...We do live in a beautiful world, but sometimes it has it's ugly parts, even [especially?] in Korea. The words "lean on me" are more than just an offer - they're a necessity. Having a friend to share the experience with really makes the difference between insanity and composure in a foreign country. It can be sooo frustrating trying to communicate in a language you don't speak, and when things go wrong - despite your best charade performance - sometimes it's just really reassuring to have someone there who feels the anxiety, too. My advice to people considering teaching in South Korea: Grab a friend before you grab your plane ticket.
And that's all she wrote ...[since julie just informed me that i've become her sappy self, i think it's about time to end this thing, save my dignity].
Keep on rockin' in the free world [read: stay south of the north].
Peace, love & hugs.
1. Porcelain - Moby
This one has absolutely no significance whatsoever...Just thought it'd be a cool intro.
2. Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
If you can actually decipher what Kiedis is saying, you end up hearing some pretty meaningful lyrics:
Choose not a life of imitation / Distant cousin to the reservation ...Pair that up with a quote from the movie The Beach: "I just feel like everyone tries to do something different, but you always wind up doing the same damn thing"...and you'll have the reason the majority of foreigners are currently residing in South Korea. We're all in search of something a little more unique, a little more beautiful, a little crazier. Whatever reservations we had, we left 'em at home. This world we love / the trains we hop / to be part of the wave / can't stop .... But travelling does quickly morph into an addiction that is unstoppable, or at least not easily satisfied. You end up with an incessant desire to see more, do more, try more - because the chance may never come again...
3. Tripping Billies - Dave Matthews Band
The chance may never come again. So, Eat drink and be merry / for tomorrow we die. Carpe Diem, etc, etc. So why would you care / to get out of this place? I can see how some people never leave Korea ... It's a laid back lifestyle, an extension of university disguised as the start of a professional career. What's not to love? But to every thing there is a season, and I think for a lotta people a stint in Korea is best short-lived. Life is short, but sweet for certain - and a prolonged stay in SoKo is guaranteed to sweetly but significantly shorten any life span.
4. Inaudible Melodies - Jack Johnson
"Life goes by so fast that if you don't stop to look around, you might miss it." - Ferris Bueller
So slow down, everyone you're movin' too fast ... One of the things Korea teaches you is to appreciate the little things. Like A&W Root Beer. And lime juice. And peanut butter. And it teaches ya to slow down & pay careful attention to detail - especially with the language. Most Korean/English words end in a vowel - E-Mart is "E-Marta", Homeplus is "Homeplusa", etc. but I can't even count how many times a Korean has repeated back to me what I'd swear was the same thing I just said. Our biggest trouble has been our subway stop: We're at Bojeong [pronounced Bo-chung], but there's another stop on our same line called Bokjeong [Bok-chung]. If you don't practice accurate intonation and pronunciation you can end up on the other side of the city staring at a W58000 cab fare [or in a frantic sprint for your life when you realize you don't have that much money]. Nothing is more frightening than being yelled at in a language you don't speak. Nothing.
I wish they could believe in things that never made the screen ... I hope everybody gets the chance to experience another culture at some point [and not just as a tourist]. See the parts that are never shown. Resist traveling the world only to check into a hotel with "all the comforts of home." [that's The Beach, too]. Live, and learn. Compassion is the route to social justice. Patience is probably in there, too. So yeah, slow down, look around. Listen.
5. A Long December - Counting Crows
In retrospect last December was a long one - last Christmas, a teeny bit tainted by the looming fear of the great unknown ... But that's not why this song is here. It's solely because of this line: I can't remember all the times I've tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass ...We're approaching the 8-month mark yet New Year's still seems so recent in our minds: Being introduced to strangers from around the world who would soon become some of our best friends. It's no cliche - time really does fly when you're having fun. But just about every foreigner you meet over here has an eventual expiry date, and you gradually become accustomed to casual goodbyes [including those uber awkward "re-goodbyes"]. So, like the sentimental cheeseball you are, you try to hold on to the moment, because trying to slow down time is about as easy as successfully clenching a fist full of sand ...And the days go by so fast.
6. Mushaboom - Feist
Alright, so if we can't hold on to every moment, we can collect 'em. We'll collect the moments one by one / I guess that's how the future's done ... Likewise, my favorite author wrote, "You look at where you're going and where you are and it never makes sense, but then you look back and a pattern seems to emerge. And if you project forward from that pattern, then sometimes you can come up with something." Gather the moments, save 'em, reflect on 'em, and devise a game plan. Gotcha. I guess that's how the future's done ...
7. Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
This one is more of a tease, than anything. Here comes the sun in South Korea can be likened to "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" ...It's been raining since mid-June yet every Korean swears it will end in "two weeks." Always two weeks. Julie and I are now just crossin' our fingers for one more month. Never underestimate how much rain can take out of a person [especially one who is as sun-obsessed as myself]. On the plus side, we did exchange our free umbrella for a bigger, better free umbrella ...And we're still so much in awe of the freakin' generosity over here. The other night when Julie & I tried to leave a restaurant, the owner forced us to sit down to give us free dessert. It's a tough life over here, really.
8. Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard - Paul Simon
The "six-month funk" isn't a myth - it's true. The six-month mark more often than not indicates the mid-way point of a Korean contract, and it's the time when people kinda find themselves in a bit of a homesick groove. For me, the 6-month point marked the mid-way point between the perpetual vacation that is South Korea and the rest of my career. If Korea is a temporary suspension of real responsibility, the 6-month mark is a reminder that the clock is tickin', and facing the "real world" is a chore that's inevitably creeping closer and closer each day. I'm on my way, I don't know where I'm goin' ...Where am I going? What am I doing? And why do I have a sudden craving for a Corona?
9. Don't Panic - Coldplay
Don't panic - check. Great advice, but not why this song's included here. It's these lines: We live in a beautiful world ... Yeah everybody here's got someone to lean on ...We do live in a beautiful world, but sometimes it has it's ugly parts, even [especially?] in Korea. The words "lean on me" are more than just an offer - they're a necessity. Having a friend to share the experience with really makes the difference between insanity and composure in a foreign country. It can be sooo frustrating trying to communicate in a language you don't speak, and when things go wrong - despite your best charade performance - sometimes it's just really reassuring to have someone there who feels the anxiety, too. My advice to people considering teaching in South Korea: Grab a friend before you grab your plane ticket.
And that's all she wrote ...[since julie just informed me that i've become her sappy self, i think it's about time to end this thing, save my dignity].
Keep on rockin' in the free world [read: stay south of the north].
Peace, love & hugs.
where the heart is
As promised, here is yet another update from yours truly. In a half-assed attempt to give you all another lil' glimpse into life thus far in Korea while sparing you from another monotonous memo, I've tried to condense this blog into a short n' sweet Q&A. Most are questions people have been asking me since I arrived here, and some are questions I've been wondering the answers to, myself. Hopefully, you'll all find interest in my episodes [if only slight] ... And in either case, I'd assume you'll all feel a) completely relieved; or b) utterly disappointed, once you learn that my "foreign" excursion has been much more familiar than you'd think ...Anyway, here goes:
Have you learned any Korean?
Sadly, no. Aside from a few basic phrases ["hello/goodbye", "thank you", "excuse me"], I'm embarrassed to say that my Korean is really lacking. The thing is, you don't need to learn Korean. The majority of signs are in Korean and English, most cab drivers understand simple words, and all of the teachers at our school are bilingual. And I realize that sounds completely careless of me - to be immersed in a culture and not feel the need to study the language - but rest assured, I'm not as ignorant as you think. While there is no need to learn, there is a desire. I've been practicing key phrases like "Would you like to go for a drink?" [Sool, mah-she-ruh, gal-gah-yo?] and "It's raining!" [Pi ga-wayo!] c/o of my trustworthy [but incredibly flawed] "Instant Korean" book. Turns out the only thing "instant" about this book is the amount of time it takes for you to make a fool outta yourself - I thought I had successfully mastered the phrase "See you later!" only to find out that it meant "Let's run away together!" I really wish I had known that before saying it to my 8-year-old students, and I'm preparing to have a lotta explaining to do to their parents ...
I must admit though, one of the benefits of not speaking the language is avoiding those dreadful talks with the parents. As I've said before, English schools in Korea are run as businesses, and parents have tiresome complaints that they're "not getting their money's worth". And while I feel tremendously guilty about forcing someone else to explain my supposed errors, avoiding arguments with parents has me feeling quite relieved. God bless monolingualism. [that's a word, I promise.]
Aside from the coarse Korean, I have learned a few other things ... Among those:1) A little goes a long way. I cannot even recall a time or place when I've been the recipient of so many random acts of kindness. I'm not sure if it's the foreign mystery about me that appeals to Koreans, or if it's their general good nature - regardless, I have never come across so many kind people in such a short period of time. Even with the language barrier - or perhaps, because of it - people are inclined to sacrifice their time or money to help a stranger. Last month, for ex, Julie and I were standing on the corner [no comments, please] in the pouring rain and a Korean gave us his umbrella. I literally tried to chase him in the rain, but he ran off - leaving us grateful, dumbstruck, and dry. It's still very overwhelming and refreshing [the kindness] and I hope - if nothing else - it's the one thing that I bring back to Canada with me.... And I hope it's contagious.
In line with that ... 2) Ignorance is not bliss. In fact, it's just downright disrespectful, and dangerous. Koreans are very superstitious and if you don't do your research, you can wind up really offending the entire culture. If you pour your own drink, you're cursed. If someone else's drink is empty and you don't pour it for them, you're rude. If you "cheers" your boss and you hold your drink higher than his, you're fired [exaggeration, but it IS a great disrespect to do so]. And, if you are Korean, and your name is ever written in red, you are doomed. So imagine my remorse when I showed a student a memo I had made which said "Happy Birthday Eric!" in bright, red pen. In doing so, I had apparently assured that his "birthday" would consequently be his deathday... Whoops.
3) Never underestimate the impact of a hand-written letter. It can turn an entire day around.
4) 6000 miles is too far away to be from anyone when they're sad, including and especially family. Granted, no great experience comes without some sort of sacrifice, but I would be lying if I said there hadn't been a fleeting thought of abandoning this all to be at home, if only for a day. In retrospect it seems irrational, but in troubling times, sensible. Home is and always will be where the heart is.
What do you miss the most?
Aside from the obvious - Western bathrooms! In Korea, it's not unlikely to have to leave the bar/restaurant, toilet paper in tote, and walk to the nearest rest-room, which is sometimes on the bottom floor of an apartment building. It was weird to me at first, but then again, carrying toilet paper through the streets of Seoul likely isn't on everyone's daily itinerary. It actually kinda scares me to think that in 8 months, NOT having to do this will be weird. Hmph.
What don't you miss about Canada?
The strangeness. I don't mean that as Canada being strange, but just the people within Canada being strange to one another, at times. I adore Canada, but after experiencing Korea, Canadians are really withdrawn, in comparison. There's an air of scepticism in Canada that you don't find in Korea, and, like I said before, that's part of what makes this experience so refreshing. Something about Korea screams with benevolence - like it's engineered to be that way. The Seoul subway system, especially, makes communication inevitable by design - it consists of two parallel columns facing inward each other, and what usually results is a sort of "accidental" communication that lends itself to intimacy and instant friendship. It's amazing, when you think about it ......
As is this entire experience ...Is this for real?
Last month we had visitors from Laurier [yay Siqcourtney!] and this month marks the long-awaited arrival of a certain someone ...The going was good and it's getting even better.
I'm just trying to decipher reality here while waiting for someone to pinch me ...
In the meantime, in classic Kerouac fashion, I'll "lean forward to the next adventure beneath the skies..."
Have you learned any Korean?
Sadly, no. Aside from a few basic phrases ["hello/goodbye", "thank you", "excuse me"], I'm embarrassed to say that my Korean is really lacking. The thing is, you don't need to learn Korean. The majority of signs are in Korean and English, most cab drivers understand simple words, and all of the teachers at our school are bilingual. And I realize that sounds completely careless of me - to be immersed in a culture and not feel the need to study the language - but rest assured, I'm not as ignorant as you think. While there is no need to learn, there is a desire. I've been practicing key phrases like "Would you like to go for a drink?" [Sool, mah-she-ruh, gal-gah-yo?] and "It's raining!" [Pi ga-wayo!] c/o of my trustworthy [but incredibly flawed] "Instant Korean" book. Turns out the only thing "instant" about this book is the amount of time it takes for you to make a fool outta yourself - I thought I had successfully mastered the phrase "See you later!" only to find out that it meant "Let's run away together!" I really wish I had known that before saying it to my 8-year-old students, and I'm preparing to have a lotta explaining to do to their parents ...
I must admit though, one of the benefits of not speaking the language is avoiding those dreadful talks with the parents. As I've said before, English schools in Korea are run as businesses, and parents have tiresome complaints that they're "not getting their money's worth". And while I feel tremendously guilty about forcing someone else to explain my supposed errors, avoiding arguments with parents has me feeling quite relieved. God bless monolingualism. [that's a word, I promise.]
Aside from the coarse Korean, I have learned a few other things ... Among those:1) A little goes a long way. I cannot even recall a time or place when I've been the recipient of so many random acts of kindness. I'm not sure if it's the foreign mystery about me that appeals to Koreans, or if it's their general good nature - regardless, I have never come across so many kind people in such a short period of time. Even with the language barrier - or perhaps, because of it - people are inclined to sacrifice their time or money to help a stranger. Last month, for ex, Julie and I were standing on the corner [no comments, please] in the pouring rain and a Korean gave us his umbrella. I literally tried to chase him in the rain, but he ran off - leaving us grateful, dumbstruck, and dry. It's still very overwhelming and refreshing [the kindness] and I hope - if nothing else - it's the one thing that I bring back to Canada with me.... And I hope it's contagious.
In line with that ... 2) Ignorance is not bliss. In fact, it's just downright disrespectful, and dangerous. Koreans are very superstitious and if you don't do your research, you can wind up really offending the entire culture. If you pour your own drink, you're cursed. If someone else's drink is empty and you don't pour it for them, you're rude. If you "cheers" your boss and you hold your drink higher than his, you're fired [exaggeration, but it IS a great disrespect to do so]. And, if you are Korean, and your name is ever written in red, you are doomed. So imagine my remorse when I showed a student a memo I had made which said "Happy Birthday Eric!" in bright, red pen. In doing so, I had apparently assured that his "birthday" would consequently be his deathday... Whoops.
3) Never underestimate the impact of a hand-written letter. It can turn an entire day around.
4) 6000 miles is too far away to be from anyone when they're sad, including and especially family. Granted, no great experience comes without some sort of sacrifice, but I would be lying if I said there hadn't been a fleeting thought of abandoning this all to be at home, if only for a day. In retrospect it seems irrational, but in troubling times, sensible. Home is and always will be where the heart is.
What do you miss the most?
Aside from the obvious - Western bathrooms! In Korea, it's not unlikely to have to leave the bar/restaurant, toilet paper in tote, and walk to the nearest rest-room, which is sometimes on the bottom floor of an apartment building. It was weird to me at first, but then again, carrying toilet paper through the streets of Seoul likely isn't on everyone's daily itinerary. It actually kinda scares me to think that in 8 months, NOT having to do this will be weird. Hmph.
What don't you miss about Canada?
The strangeness. I don't mean that as Canada being strange, but just the people within Canada being strange to one another, at times. I adore Canada, but after experiencing Korea, Canadians are really withdrawn, in comparison. There's an air of scepticism in Canada that you don't find in Korea, and, like I said before, that's part of what makes this experience so refreshing. Something about Korea screams with benevolence - like it's engineered to be that way. The Seoul subway system, especially, makes communication inevitable by design - it consists of two parallel columns facing inward each other, and what usually results is a sort of "accidental" communication that lends itself to intimacy and instant friendship. It's amazing, when you think about it ......
As is this entire experience ...Is this for real?
Last month we had visitors from Laurier [yay Siqcourtney!] and this month marks the long-awaited arrival of a certain someone ...The going was good and it's getting even better.
I'm just trying to decipher reality here while waiting for someone to pinch me ...
In the meantime, in classic Kerouac fashion, I'll "lean forward to the next adventure beneath the skies..."
the 'f' words
As the title suggests, this blog is dedicated to everything 'f' worthy of writing about: Fractures, farewells, food poisoning and first adventures. And I do understand it's foolish to formulate a blog at 2am after your 24th birthday festivities - but hey, it's only fitting, right?
First things first: le fracture. Someone once informed me the word "fracture" comes from the French word meaning "to propel onself drunkingly down a flight of hidden stairs" [or I may be fibbing]. But for certain, the only thing worse than fracturing your foot is fracturing your foot and having your friends think you're faking the injury to legitimately forfeit your turn at karaoke. And perhaps the only thing worse than going to a hospital in a foreign country with a fractured foot, is going to a hospital with a fractured foot and having the doctor tell you to "sprint". The actual conversation was as follows:
doctor: What do you think?
susie: I think my foot is broken.
doctor: Yes?
susie: Yes.
doctor: I think, maybe, treatment is sprint.
susie: Sprint? Like, run?
doctor: Yes, sprint. Now?
susie: Now?
doctor: Yes. Tonight. I think maybe 5 days.
Couple that conversation with a painkiller injection in the "far end" followed by a firm smack and you can imagine my fright. Apparently I was suffering from foolish foreigner syndrome, too, 'cause when that figurative linguistic fence was finally removed I realized he meant "splint". Funny, real funny. But gotta hand it to the docs - the fracture's finished and one might even say I'm "footloose and fancy free". [groan]
Moving forward to the farewells...The first farewell is for our boss, Mike. On Monday we received word that he'll be leaving us because he is, quite simply, fed up. Mike's value to us and the company is priceless - aside from being generous, patient and considerate, he's one of the few Korean directors at our English school who actually speaks English. His departure comes as a total shock and we were - as you might've guessed - flabbergasted. We figure our "foreign teacher meetings" will now be conducted entirely in Korean, which automatically facilitates a cooperative, communicative environment ... no? We're losing our friend and our liason to ignored, futile frustrations, and it's left us all a little fearful of our own futures with the school. If you truthfully wanna try to empathize and imagine our frustration with Mike's departure, consider your annoyance with all these 'f' words at this point ... And then rest assured that's but a mere fraction of our anger.
One farewell is one too many, but - like all other things in Korea - the first is never the last. Our second farewell is reserved for something equally close to our hearts - the Fish & Grill. For those of you who don't already know, F&G is the dive across the street from our apartment where we've spent many a weeknight [especially FRIDAYS] feasting on kimchi, flooding our livers, reluctantly accepting freebies, and - without fail -feeling floored by the gratitude shown by an 800W tip recipient. A little does go a long way. But one night late last week after fully indulging in some Soju, Julie and I thought it'd be a fantastic idea to order ourselves some mussels. It wasn't. A night we'd soon forgotten morphed into a 2-day stint we likely never will - turns out the alcohol couldn't quite decontaminate our toxic and delicious food, so we were left to fend for ourselves against the fiercest bout of food poisioning we've ever experienced. Let's recap: At this point, F&G has spiked my drink with fish fins, acquainted us with some highly unfavorable [read: sketchy] folk, and has now successfully given us food poisoning. Our reasoning concludes trips to F&G will be much less frequent in the future. [Who are we kidding?]. Oh beloved Fish & Grill, you are forgiven.
What will not so easily be forgotten, however, is the unfriendly nature of our pseudo-boss [the wife of our Director], who forced Julie to work in her frail & feverishstate, fresh from the hospital. Her lack of sympathy only furthered the already disintegrating fondness we have for her, and escalated the existing friction. On the flipside, thanks be to fellow faculty members who rallied around a malfunctioning teacher in the face of flaunted authority... Our staff really is amazing. "Chincha."
There is no fault to be found with Korea though, really. I can't say I've ever had as many consecutive fun days in my entire life. And things are only looking up - this past weekend our friend Gavin finally arrived and did us proud, as he fearlessly injested the Korean favorite fluid [Soju]. Soju down, our final task will be to find him a flawless Asian female ...
Gavin's 2007 forecast: "This is going to be a good year."
And with that, I think this facking blog is finally finished.
Happy February, all.
First things first: le fracture. Someone once informed me the word "fracture" comes from the French word meaning "to propel onself drunkingly down a flight of hidden stairs" [or I may be fibbing]. But for certain, the only thing worse than fracturing your foot is fracturing your foot and having your friends think you're faking the injury to legitimately forfeit your turn at karaoke. And perhaps the only thing worse than going to a hospital in a foreign country with a fractured foot, is going to a hospital with a fractured foot and having the doctor tell you to "sprint". The actual conversation was as follows:
doctor: What do you think?
susie: I think my foot is broken.
doctor: Yes?
susie: Yes.
doctor: I think, maybe, treatment is sprint.
susie: Sprint? Like, run?
doctor: Yes, sprint. Now?
susie: Now?
doctor: Yes. Tonight. I think maybe 5 days.
Couple that conversation with a painkiller injection in the "far end" followed by a firm smack and you can imagine my fright. Apparently I was suffering from foolish foreigner syndrome, too, 'cause when that figurative linguistic fence was finally removed I realized he meant "splint". Funny, real funny. But gotta hand it to the docs - the fracture's finished and one might even say I'm "footloose and fancy free". [groan]
Moving forward to the farewells...The first farewell is for our boss, Mike. On Monday we received word that he'll be leaving us because he is, quite simply, fed up. Mike's value to us and the company is priceless - aside from being generous, patient and considerate, he's one of the few Korean directors at our English school who actually speaks English. His departure comes as a total shock and we were - as you might've guessed - flabbergasted. We figure our "foreign teacher meetings" will now be conducted entirely in Korean, which automatically facilitates a cooperative, communicative environment ... no? We're losing our friend and our liason to ignored, futile frustrations, and it's left us all a little fearful of our own futures with the school. If you truthfully wanna try to empathize and imagine our frustration with Mike's departure, consider your annoyance with all these 'f' words at this point ... And then rest assured that's but a mere fraction of our anger.
One farewell is one too many, but - like all other things in Korea - the first is never the last. Our second farewell is reserved for something equally close to our hearts - the Fish & Grill. For those of you who don't already know, F&G is the dive across the street from our apartment where we've spent many a weeknight [especially FRIDAYS] feasting on kimchi, flooding our livers, reluctantly accepting freebies, and - without fail -feeling floored by the gratitude shown by an 800W tip recipient. A little does go a long way. But one night late last week after fully indulging in some Soju, Julie and I thought it'd be a fantastic idea to order ourselves some mussels. It wasn't. A night we'd soon forgotten morphed into a 2-day stint we likely never will - turns out the alcohol couldn't quite decontaminate our toxic and delicious food, so we were left to fend for ourselves against the fiercest bout of food poisioning we've ever experienced. Let's recap: At this point, F&G has spiked my drink with fish fins, acquainted us with some highly unfavorable [read: sketchy] folk, and has now successfully given us food poisoning. Our reasoning concludes trips to F&G will be much less frequent in the future. [Who are we kidding?]. Oh beloved Fish & Grill, you are forgiven.
What will not so easily be forgotten, however, is the unfriendly nature of our pseudo-boss [the wife of our Director], who forced Julie to work in her frail & feverishstate, fresh from the hospital. Her lack of sympathy only furthered the already disintegrating fondness we have for her, and escalated the existing friction. On the flipside, thanks be to fellow faculty members who rallied around a malfunctioning teacher in the face of flaunted authority... Our staff really is amazing. "Chincha."
There is no fault to be found with Korea though, really. I can't say I've ever had as many consecutive fun days in my entire life. And things are only looking up - this past weekend our friend Gavin finally arrived and did us proud, as he fearlessly injested the Korean favorite fluid [Soju]. Soju down, our final task will be to find him a flawless Asian female ...
Gavin's 2007 forecast: "This is going to be a good year."
And with that, I think this facking blog is finally finished.
Happy February, all.
dispelling the myths
The subtraction of stereotypes in any cultural scenario leaves you with nothing but sincerity. And though I’m still a social rookie, here it is: The truth about Korea [as I see it, anyways].
1. Koreans are rude. [false]
Before I came here, I was warned about the typically “hostile nature” of Koreans – advice from even the most reliable sources had me expecting to be shoved, spit on, or mugged [or all three, simultaneously]. But nothing could be further from the truth, honestly. We’ve been here for a month, and so far we’ve had Korean boys walk in the middle of Seoul traffic to translate an address to our driver, we have yet to make it through one meal without being offered more food or to join another table for a drink, and we’ve been given gifts just about everywhere we go. It’s pretty damn refreshing when we are confirmed fools for our assumptions. Like the driver whom we assumed was coming to the back of the bus to yell at us for drinking, or the fella at the bar who yelled at me when I grabbed my jacket – one gave us oranges; the other returned the lip gloss and change that had fallen outta my pocket. It’s surprising, and encouraging. And generosity is contagious.
2. Koreans are bad drivers.
If “bad” means occasionally running red lights, disregarding all lines on the road and carving a random path, and going in 100km/hr spurts on residential roads – then yeah, Koreans are bad drivers. Or we could judge this one on reaction time and maneuvers – ‘cause whether it’s a scooter or a pickup full of caged dogs, the stuff popping out in front of you turns almost every casual drive into an obstacle course. Driving in Korea is unsteady, and driving well is a talent. So reckless, or responsible drivers – your call.And to be honest, I favor the reckless drivers over the lunatics, any day. Spend 20 minutes in a crazy cabbie in Korea and you’ll understand. One cabbie hunched over his steering wheel and cackled like a maniac; another turned around and licked his chops at Julie after inquiring about our husbands in Canada. Picture Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, and multiply it. By a thousand. And be thankful we both invested in imitation wedding rings.
3. Koreans are hard workers. [‘tis true]
“Hard worker” is an understatement. Until last week, I thought our school was the only education our students got on a daily basis. Turns out Reading Town is the school where the kids learn ONE subject – all of the kids attend a regular school from 9am-2pm, and then come to Reading Town from 3pm-8ish. And then most kids go home to music lessons. And to think I complained about 8:30am lectures …But in all their discipline, they still somehow find time to be kids [and make Susie Teacher laugh]. Last week I was checking a student’s homework, and he had innocently written “I feed on hores” as his homework sentence [I think he meant “I feed the horse”, but once again, your call]. It’s pretty impossible to not like this job, and equally as impossible to lose a smile.
4. Korean food is delicious. [true]
Last weekend, Julie & I went to a “sushi train” with our boss, his wife, and some coworkers. There’s all different kinds of sushi and it’s literally on a train – you sit in front of it and just grab what you like off the conveyor belt as it passes. And I really couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to serve raw food – it seems only natural for it to be moving in front of you. But when you’re on board the train and your boss asks if you like tuna, take a good, solid look at your surroundings and be reminded of where you are. Replying, “I love tuna!” will only get you a slab of inch-thick raw flesh and a relentless craving for any food that doesn’t feel alive in your mouth.
Last night we went to an “all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink” place that served kalbi. The premise is simple: You pick the meat, you cook the meat. You thirsty, you drink. Two hours later, not finished yet? You kicked out. But you definitely do get your money’s worth, though, and the food is amazing. Best meal yet, and it’s already on the “to do” list for you visitors.
Anybody that does end up visiting will be highly impressed with our new apartment. The rooms are fairly large and we’ve already set to work decorating the entire place with a little Korean/Canadian flavour [see attached pics]. We’ve even got a cute little balcony that will serve us well come summer.
As for me, I’m still waiting for this all to sink in. Today was the first time I’ve looked at a map since I’ve been here, but instead of making me feel far away, it only reminded me of how connected I still feel. And I can’t help thinking of The Motorcycle Diaries’ quote, “Is it possible to feel nostalgia for a place you’ve never been?” Maybe it is.
I guess the only thing unsettling about this whole experience is knowing that one day, it will be a memory …
So I think to myself, what a wonderful world …
1. Koreans are rude. [false]
Before I came here, I was warned about the typically “hostile nature” of Koreans – advice from even the most reliable sources had me expecting to be shoved, spit on, or mugged [or all three, simultaneously]. But nothing could be further from the truth, honestly. We’ve been here for a month, and so far we’ve had Korean boys walk in the middle of Seoul traffic to translate an address to our driver, we have yet to make it through one meal without being offered more food or to join another table for a drink, and we’ve been given gifts just about everywhere we go. It’s pretty damn refreshing when we are confirmed fools for our assumptions. Like the driver whom we assumed was coming to the back of the bus to yell at us for drinking, or the fella at the bar who yelled at me when I grabbed my jacket – one gave us oranges; the other returned the lip gloss and change that had fallen outta my pocket. It’s surprising, and encouraging. And generosity is contagious.
2. Koreans are bad drivers.
If “bad” means occasionally running red lights, disregarding all lines on the road and carving a random path, and going in 100km/hr spurts on residential roads – then yeah, Koreans are bad drivers. Or we could judge this one on reaction time and maneuvers – ‘cause whether it’s a scooter or a pickup full of caged dogs, the stuff popping out in front of you turns almost every casual drive into an obstacle course. Driving in Korea is unsteady, and driving well is a talent. So reckless, or responsible drivers – your call.And to be honest, I favor the reckless drivers over the lunatics, any day. Spend 20 minutes in a crazy cabbie in Korea and you’ll understand. One cabbie hunched over his steering wheel and cackled like a maniac; another turned around and licked his chops at Julie after inquiring about our husbands in Canada. Picture Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, and multiply it. By a thousand. And be thankful we both invested in imitation wedding rings.
3. Koreans are hard workers. [‘tis true]
“Hard worker” is an understatement. Until last week, I thought our school was the only education our students got on a daily basis. Turns out Reading Town is the school where the kids learn ONE subject – all of the kids attend a regular school from 9am-2pm, and then come to Reading Town from 3pm-8ish. And then most kids go home to music lessons. And to think I complained about 8:30am lectures …But in all their discipline, they still somehow find time to be kids [and make Susie Teacher laugh]. Last week I was checking a student’s homework, and he had innocently written “I feed on hores” as his homework sentence [I think he meant “I feed the horse”, but once again, your call]. It’s pretty impossible to not like this job, and equally as impossible to lose a smile.
4. Korean food is delicious. [true]
Last weekend, Julie & I went to a “sushi train” with our boss, his wife, and some coworkers. There’s all different kinds of sushi and it’s literally on a train – you sit in front of it and just grab what you like off the conveyor belt as it passes. And I really couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to serve raw food – it seems only natural for it to be moving in front of you. But when you’re on board the train and your boss asks if you like tuna, take a good, solid look at your surroundings and be reminded of where you are. Replying, “I love tuna!” will only get you a slab of inch-thick raw flesh and a relentless craving for any food that doesn’t feel alive in your mouth.
Last night we went to an “all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink” place that served kalbi. The premise is simple: You pick the meat, you cook the meat. You thirsty, you drink. Two hours later, not finished yet? You kicked out. But you definitely do get your money’s worth, though, and the food is amazing. Best meal yet, and it’s already on the “to do” list for you visitors.
Anybody that does end up visiting will be highly impressed with our new apartment. The rooms are fairly large and we’ve already set to work decorating the entire place with a little Korean/Canadian flavour [see attached pics]. We’ve even got a cute little balcony that will serve us well come summer.
As for me, I’m still waiting for this all to sink in. Today was the first time I’ve looked at a map since I’ve been here, but instead of making me feel far away, it only reminded me of how connected I still feel. And I can’t help thinking of The Motorcycle Diaries’ quote, “Is it possible to feel nostalgia for a place you’ve never been?” Maybe it is.
I guess the only thing unsettling about this whole experience is knowing that one day, it will be a memory …
So I think to myself, what a wonderful world …
four funerals & a wedding
… Because no trek into unknown territory would be complete without at least a few casualties…
The first funeral: Nemo. Julie and I have learned that you can order the same lunch every day from the same server at the same restaurant, yet find consistent inconsistency with the accompanying dishes. Never a dull moment at the table. Last week they must've drained the tank at our usual lunch place, because our ‘bee bee bop’ [Korean rice dish] was served with a side of guppies alongside the staple kimchi. Yes, guppies. Pet fish! Naturally, we picked out our favourite & named him Nemo. And then Julie ate him. So, we found Nemo and then he found himself a cozy little home in Julie's tummy. Once again, our effortless logic comforted us: She figured we were already enjoying the caviar - might as well skip the middle man and head straight for the damn fish. Farewell, fishy…
And I really do wish these stories got better before they got worse. But the next night, our entire staff went out for dinner in honour of the arrival of two fantastic, over-qualified Canadian teachers [guess who]. But at this dinner our Korean secretary Mi Young – cute, trustworthy Mi Young – confessed she had let me eat a chicken heart the night before. Wait – “let” seems too passive; she encouraged me to eat the chicken heart. She told me “eat this, eat!” and I, foolish foreigner, blindly obeyed. Scarier yet, apparently I [heart] heart. Who knew?!?
But food isn’t the only risky business in Korea – everything is an adventure. But everything has a price, including [especially?] frozen, desperate stupidity. Stranded in Suwon after shopping in Gangnam, Seoul, any other duo might’ve relied on instinct to see the danger inherent in accepting a ride from a stranger in a foreign country … But we were cold, lost, and our consciences were preoccupied with visions of heated floors. So, yeah, we accepted a ride from a random Korean [who was no longer a stranger after introducing herself as “Lee”]. Turns out the only danger in accepting Lee’s goodwill was our own absent-mindedness …. Funeral #3 was reserved for the valuable item that drove away from us in the back of Lee’s car. Whoops. But one good deed preludes another [right?] and we’re hopeful the item will be returned, sentiments intact. Worst case scenario, we could always try to track down our “Lee” from the 10 million that reside in Korea …
Speaking of Korean names ... Before I left, I was so scared I’d walk into a classroom and be expected to learn a hundred three-word Korean names. As it turns out, all the kids have adopted American names – I’ve got a Conan, a Jasper, and a ton of Brians and Henrys. In one class I actually had to give a student an English name [I suggested “Vern” but they didn’t go for it … sorry]. For the most part, the kids are well-behaved …except for that one student who called me “ugly” and “fat” on two consecutive occasions. Turns out “Teacher Susie” converts automatically into “Mean Teacher Susie” when the situation arises …But I’ve got red pen on my hands, stickers in my pocket, and a confiscated elastic band around my wrist … And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
What I just might trade for the world, however, is a bedroom. So, the fourth and final funeral is actually both welcome and overdue. This weekend, Julie and I will finally bid adieu to our two-bed one-bedroom apartment in favour of a bigger place nearby. Julie really is the best roommate I could’ve asked for, but living and working side by side every single day while living out of a suitcase inevitably and eventually takes its toll ...
Farewells aside, it’s time for the best part of this email: The wedding! My sister is getting married!!! [Congrats again Marsha & Scott!] And, thankfully, the pigs offer International flights out of Seoul quite frequently…
I think that’s it, for now [aside from Soju-induced silliness that I’ll spare you all from]. Stay tuned for more pictures, more food horror stories, and funny quotes from Korean kids.
Oh – and absence makes the heart grow fonder. Really.
The first funeral: Nemo. Julie and I have learned that you can order the same lunch every day from the same server at the same restaurant, yet find consistent inconsistency with the accompanying dishes. Never a dull moment at the table. Last week they must've drained the tank at our usual lunch place, because our ‘bee bee bop’ [Korean rice dish] was served with a side of guppies alongside the staple kimchi. Yes, guppies. Pet fish! Naturally, we picked out our favourite & named him Nemo. And then Julie ate him. So, we found Nemo and then he found himself a cozy little home in Julie's tummy. Once again, our effortless logic comforted us: She figured we were already enjoying the caviar - might as well skip the middle man and head straight for the damn fish. Farewell, fishy…
And I really do wish these stories got better before they got worse. But the next night, our entire staff went out for dinner in honour of the arrival of two fantastic, over-qualified Canadian teachers [guess who]. But at this dinner our Korean secretary Mi Young – cute, trustworthy Mi Young – confessed she had let me eat a chicken heart the night before. Wait – “let” seems too passive; she encouraged me to eat the chicken heart. She told me “eat this, eat!” and I, foolish foreigner, blindly obeyed. Scarier yet, apparently I [heart] heart. Who knew?!?
But food isn’t the only risky business in Korea – everything is an adventure. But everything has a price, including [especially?] frozen, desperate stupidity. Stranded in Suwon after shopping in Gangnam, Seoul, any other duo might’ve relied on instinct to see the danger inherent in accepting a ride from a stranger in a foreign country … But we were cold, lost, and our consciences were preoccupied with visions of heated floors. So, yeah, we accepted a ride from a random Korean [who was no longer a stranger after introducing herself as “Lee”]. Turns out the only danger in accepting Lee’s goodwill was our own absent-mindedness …. Funeral #3 was reserved for the valuable item that drove away from us in the back of Lee’s car. Whoops. But one good deed preludes another [right?] and we’re hopeful the item will be returned, sentiments intact. Worst case scenario, we could always try to track down our “Lee” from the 10 million that reside in Korea …
Speaking of Korean names ... Before I left, I was so scared I’d walk into a classroom and be expected to learn a hundred three-word Korean names. As it turns out, all the kids have adopted American names – I’ve got a Conan, a Jasper, and a ton of Brians and Henrys. In one class I actually had to give a student an English name [I suggested “Vern” but they didn’t go for it … sorry]. For the most part, the kids are well-behaved …except for that one student who called me “ugly” and “fat” on two consecutive occasions. Turns out “Teacher Susie” converts automatically into “Mean Teacher Susie” when the situation arises …But I’ve got red pen on my hands, stickers in my pocket, and a confiscated elastic band around my wrist … And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
What I just might trade for the world, however, is a bedroom. So, the fourth and final funeral is actually both welcome and overdue. This weekend, Julie and I will finally bid adieu to our two-bed one-bedroom apartment in favour of a bigger place nearby. Julie really is the best roommate I could’ve asked for, but living and working side by side every single day while living out of a suitcase inevitably and eventually takes its toll ...
Farewells aside, it’s time for the best part of this email: The wedding! My sister is getting married!!! [Congrats again Marsha & Scott!] And, thankfully, the pigs offer International flights out of Seoul quite frequently…
I think that’s it, for now [aside from Soju-induced silliness that I’ll spare you all from]. Stay tuned for more pictures, more food horror stories, and funny quotes from Korean kids.
Oh – and absence makes the heart grow fonder. Really.
seoul sisters
Anyoungassayo! [That’s phonetic Korean for ‘hello’!]
So you want to know what Korea is like, huh? At least that seems to be the popular question these last 3 days ...
Let's start with the first building we saw in Korea: Our apartment. Instead of the two-bedroom they'd promised us, Julie & I were confined to a very modest one bedroom apartment that pretty much resembles a hotel room. The one-bedroom we could deal with - the one bed, on the other hand ... The Director had offered us an actual hotel room for the night in lieu of sharing the one bed - but after traveling for over 28 hours, spooning with Julie well was a welcome alternative to getting back into a car & heading someplace else. Me being the generous friend that I am, I let Julie sleep on the floor and I took the bed [relax, the floors are heated & she did actually have a good sleep].And things are looking up: On Thursday our new bed was delivered [how the delivery guy managed to remove his shoes before he entered while carrying that mattress, I'll never know - but it just goes to show you how faithful Koreans are to the no-shoe rule]. So now we can [happily?] say we are living in a two-bed one-bedroom apartment ... Thank god for Laurier rez, first year, and the resulting reassurance that living together in these close quarters won't be the end of our friendship [or one of our lives]. We only have to stay here for two weeks, and then we move into a bigger two-bedroom apartment.
Next up: The bathroom. We didn't even think we had a shower, until we noticed the nozzle above our bathroom sink. The bathroom is our shower, turns out - so when we shower, everything in our bathroom gets wet. But that's ok - at this point, we'll just take hot water. Please. But at least the cold water situation explains the rumour about Asian men
...And the food! After our very first lunch with the school's secretary [cool Korean, our age], Julie & I were convinced we would fall in love with the food here …Until dinner. Ordering off an all-Korean menu meant dinner basically turned into a guessing game [with fingers crossed], and we ended up with what Julie described as "the most anxious meal of her life". After I set aside something resembling a tongue [after eating that ox tongue in TO I feel confident with that assumption], I picked up this hard-boiled egg that was the size of my palm. We were both convinced it was something other than an incredible edible egg. She made me cut into it, swearing there was going to be a teradactyl-like creature inside. I guess in our jet-lagged delirium we had discarded all natural logic and assumed discovering something prehistoric in our food was not only possible, but highly likely. [Equally as ridiculous was my disappointment that it was just an egg.] That night we both woke up from nightmares at the exact same time … weird. Note to selves: Avoid spicy mystery food.
Yesterday's lunch was a lil' better, albeit fish-themed. We’re pretty much living by the saying “What you don’t know, won’t hurt you” … Although the caviar mixed right in to our stir fry thingy and the shrimp were sweet & tasty [once you picked off their eyes]. Who wants kisses?!?!Last night we joined our Director for dinner at a restaurant where we actually sat on the floor to eat while we listened to our friend tell us stories of the live octopus he ate the night before. He said it squirms even after you have chopped it up, and you have to chew the tentacles extra well so they don’t latch on to your throat & choke you on the way down. Mmm.
As for the school - it's amazing. It's modern, high-tech, and kinda resembles a scene from Vanilla Sky. The students are adorable and their English is amazing [and they're all convinced Julie & I are the other teachers' girlfriends]. One of the secretaries has already told Julie she has "friend, introduce" - which we should all interpret to mean that Julie will be catching the Fever earlier than expected ...
The other teachers are pretty cool too. We're proud to say one of the nicest of the bunch is a guy that hails from Kdub - a UofW grad. 'Tis a small world, after all … Small it may be, but it really is a whole other world over here …
Today’s agenda: Tackling the E-Mart [a multi-level Walmart type thing where Koreans shout at you at the end of every aisle]. We’re most likely heading to Seoul for New Year’s, and possibly meeting up with my sister in Tokyo next weekend. Life is good.Stay tuned for New Year’s pics and updates on our first day of teaching [Tuesday].Till then, missing you all & wishing you the best. Happy New Year!
Anyoungassayo [conveniently also ‘goodbye’ in Korean!]
So you want to know what Korea is like, huh? At least that seems to be the popular question these last 3 days ...
Let's start with the first building we saw in Korea: Our apartment. Instead of the two-bedroom they'd promised us, Julie & I were confined to a very modest one bedroom apartment that pretty much resembles a hotel room. The one-bedroom we could deal with - the one bed, on the other hand ... The Director had offered us an actual hotel room for the night in lieu of sharing the one bed - but after traveling for over 28 hours, spooning with Julie well was a welcome alternative to getting back into a car & heading someplace else. Me being the generous friend that I am, I let Julie sleep on the floor and I took the bed [relax, the floors are heated & she did actually have a good sleep].And things are looking up: On Thursday our new bed was delivered [how the delivery guy managed to remove his shoes before he entered while carrying that mattress, I'll never know - but it just goes to show you how faithful Koreans are to the no-shoe rule]. So now we can [happily?] say we are living in a two-bed one-bedroom apartment ... Thank god for Laurier rez, first year, and the resulting reassurance that living together in these close quarters won't be the end of our friendship [or one of our lives]. We only have to stay here for two weeks, and then we move into a bigger two-bedroom apartment.
Next up: The bathroom. We didn't even think we had a shower, until we noticed the nozzle above our bathroom sink. The bathroom is our shower, turns out - so when we shower, everything in our bathroom gets wet. But that's ok - at this point, we'll just take hot water. Please. But at least the cold water situation explains the rumour about Asian men
...And the food! After our very first lunch with the school's secretary [cool Korean, our age], Julie & I were convinced we would fall in love with the food here …Until dinner. Ordering off an all-Korean menu meant dinner basically turned into a guessing game [with fingers crossed], and we ended up with what Julie described as "the most anxious meal of her life". After I set aside something resembling a tongue [after eating that ox tongue in TO I feel confident with that assumption], I picked up this hard-boiled egg that was the size of my palm. We were both convinced it was something other than an incredible edible egg. She made me cut into it, swearing there was going to be a teradactyl-like creature inside. I guess in our jet-lagged delirium we had discarded all natural logic and assumed discovering something prehistoric in our food was not only possible, but highly likely. [Equally as ridiculous was my disappointment that it was just an egg.] That night we both woke up from nightmares at the exact same time … weird. Note to selves: Avoid spicy mystery food.
Yesterday's lunch was a lil' better, albeit fish-themed. We’re pretty much living by the saying “What you don’t know, won’t hurt you” … Although the caviar mixed right in to our stir fry thingy and the shrimp were sweet & tasty [once you picked off their eyes]. Who wants kisses?!?!Last night we joined our Director for dinner at a restaurant where we actually sat on the floor to eat while we listened to our friend tell us stories of the live octopus he ate the night before. He said it squirms even after you have chopped it up, and you have to chew the tentacles extra well so they don’t latch on to your throat & choke you on the way down. Mmm.
As for the school - it's amazing. It's modern, high-tech, and kinda resembles a scene from Vanilla Sky. The students are adorable and their English is amazing [and they're all convinced Julie & I are the other teachers' girlfriends]. One of the secretaries has already told Julie she has "friend, introduce" - which we should all interpret to mean that Julie will be catching the Fever earlier than expected ...
The other teachers are pretty cool too. We're proud to say one of the nicest of the bunch is a guy that hails from Kdub - a UofW grad. 'Tis a small world, after all … Small it may be, but it really is a whole other world over here …
Today’s agenda: Tackling the E-Mart [a multi-level Walmart type thing where Koreans shout at you at the end of every aisle]. We’re most likely heading to Seoul for New Year’s, and possibly meeting up with my sister in Tokyo next weekend. Life is good.Stay tuned for New Year’s pics and updates on our first day of teaching [Tuesday].Till then, missing you all & wishing you the best. Happy New Year!
Anyoungassayo [conveniently also ‘goodbye’ in Korean!]
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