It was worth all the fun!

I thought I was done staying out with friends until sunrise after high school. Not once did I ever stay up until that time in college, even for school work! This weekend brought me back to the good 'ol days when I stayed up until the day was bright. I didn't just stay out that late once, but both nights this weekend. YIKES! On Friday night, we started at a delicious galbi dinner with some of our co-workers, but decided we weren't ambitious enough to join the rest in Seoul even though we weren't ready to go home. I'm sure you can guess where we ended up...NORAEBONG. Britney, Shauna, and I got together at my house for a bit of Soju to get us feeling 'loose' before we sang the night away. Well, we ended up getting a little giggly talking about work and students. Before we knew it, my neighbor was ringing my doorbell non-stop (at least 8 times) with an entire 20 second jingle playing each time. I wish you could have seen us. Shauna crawled under my desk while Britney and I bolted to my bathroom to hide. We chose not to answer the door, even though the walls are so paper thin that the neighbor most certainly heard our obnoxious nervous giggles hoping that he wouldn't jiggle my unlocked door open. Good thing for the language barrier that he couldn't yell, "I know you're in there!" (Don't forget to let me mention that this is the second time this neighbor (who I assume it was) has knocked on my door to tone me down. So they know I don't speak Korean. HA) Anyway, at that point we decided to wrap up the pre-party and head to Noraebong...at 1:30am-time had gotten away! While we only paid for one hour in the room, the owners often tack on free time if they know you're having a blast, which we clearly were. So we ended up getting an extra two hours! The three of us girls literally sang the night away. We were out late enough to make McDonald's breakfast! We must have all landed in our beds around 5am that morning. I slept until 2:45pm the next day, ran some errands (talk about karma: I ran into my neighbors in the check-out line and ducked out of there faster than I could fathom to get in my door no more than two minutes before they walked in theirs!), got a short run in outside, and got ready for night #2.

The three of us headed into Seoul around 9:45pm on Saturday evening. A late start to the night already tells you it's going to be an early morning! We started at our favorite bar, Rocky Mountain Tavern (world's best nachos in my opinion) in Itaewon, before heading to our second favorite place...the LOFT. I have to admit that it's probably one of the least classy places you'll ever find, but completely worth it for the free drinks provided to women only AND the ridiculous people watching you get to absorb. You meet a variety of entertaining characters each time that make the night a total holler. For example, the night isn't complete without some sort of street food before we head home. As we were getting ours to go, a Korean girl with three dogs on no leashes just walked right up to me saying, "I like your pointy noise!" I probably should have been offended or even violated, but I could not stop laughing when she started LICKING my nose! Thank goodness for Shauna's shutter skills as she got some pretty entertaining shots. We eventually met up with two of our new co-workers and headed home for an arrival time somewhere around 5am again. After a few Skype conversations, I crashed around 6:30am and woke up around 2:45pm again the next afternoon. Dad told me I wasn't honoring the Sabbath day. I said, "Are you kidding dad? I slept until 2:45 in the afternoon...that's an entire day of rest!" He reminded me "You forgot to keep it holy." He might have been right. ;) Anyway, you would think I had enough running for the weekend, which I usually do by Sunday afternoon, but we headed right back into Seoul to enjoy the beautiful spring day and dinner at our favorite chicken galbi restaurant! I came home and had a perfect end to the evening by talking to my parents and headed to bed. Like I said, those late nights...or early mornings were worth all the fun!

Field Trip!

Dad...all I can say is I'm sorry I forgot my camera! You would have loved to supervise this trip. What a day not to remember my camera. We took a really fun field trip to the Samsung Transportation Museum (http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/kyonggi/451) that had a great collection of antique cars. I was lucky enough to get another teacher to take one picture with my class in a car. But, actually it wasn't just my class...another lady pulled a 100% Korean move and just as my entire class was climbing in with cameras ready, she shoved her entire group of children in with my class! Then she proceeded to wait until my class was "finished" taking pictures and got out so that her class could get a nice, organized picture with only her children in the car. Thanks lady...hope your picture turned out well, because I have a bunch of no-name (but cute) Korean children in my photo now (that I've actually cropped out, but have lost the fun car effect).

Can you tell I'm getting a little bitter with Koreans yet? :) I've actually never felt such irritation with people in my life until I moved here. It makes me feel terrible! Don't get me wrong...I enjoy many Korean people, those who don't push and shove, make conversation on the street just to practice their English, provide help when you clearly need it, and the tiny old ladies that smile and call you cute. Those Koreans get me really excited about being here. But, jeepers people! The next bus is coming in less than 15 minutes and the next subway car will be here in less than five. The world will NOT stop functioning because you don't get on the one that's here RIGHT NOW...and you WILL get on this one, because you all pack in like sardines anyway...SO WHY ARE YOU PUSHING ME!? Or why are you pretending like you don't see me standing in line at the check-out. Is it really necessary to walk right in front of me and put your items down on the counter when I've been waiting in line for 10 minutes? Where do you have to be so quickly that you can't get in line right behind me when I'm the last person in the line? If you all needed to be somewhere that was so important, you should have left earlier! My dad told me I need to learn to say something to people when they do this. I do know how to say, "excuse me" in Korean, but I'm just afraid that if I actually stand up for myself and say something, that they'll turn around and start spouting off at me in Korean...they're also not afraid to make a scene like that in public...at all! So, I always just stand and take it. The only time I don't mind is when I'm already on the bus/subway and an elderly person needs a place to sit. Then, pushy or not, I'm always happy to give up my spot. I guess if I'm never going to say anything, I might as well stop complaining about it since I have another four months until I come back to the 'Minnesota nice' crowd. But, thanks for letting my vent a bit via blog!

So...that was a bit of a side track from the car museum field trip, huh? All in all there's not much to say except that it was a complete blast! It was a nice bus ride away out into the country where we got some well needed fresh air and enjoyed the entire morning of Kindergarten wandering around the museum, pushing demonstration buttons, and picking our favorite colored cars. It was so fun to let loose and feel completely responsible for them while we were there. And just to boast a tiny bit, I was an extremely proud teacher walking around with a class of seven year old children speaking all English when they were surrounded by many Korean (speaking) children and adults. How cool is that?! It was a great break in the week on a Wednesday. Other things that I was/am looking forward to were the monthly test today (Monday), which means we do no school work all afternoon, and Children's Day next Wednesday when we get the entire day off! Keep an eye out for what I'm up to on my day off...hope it's something fun!

Fish Market Fun House!

The weeks keep going faster, which means my time keeps getting to be less and less. I feel like I was just writing my 'six month mark' entry and now, I'm down to four months. Unbelievable!

This week I took my first ever half sick day on Tuesday. Funny thing is, by our contract, we don't get sick days. A bit strange, but I taught the first half of the day until my supervisor sent me home after Kindergarten. The hard part about going home is that your co-workers loose their prep hour to cover your classes, so it actually makes you feel bad for going home when you really are sick. So a big thanks goes out to those who covered my classes for me! I'll spare you the details and tell you that I had a 24 vomiting flu. By the weekend, I was more than ready EAT.

On Friday night Britney, Shauna, and I headed to the Coex Mall with plans to see a movie. After much of our regular indecisiveness, we decided to just do dinner instead. We enjoyed a long dinner of conversation and laughs over nachos and pizza.

Saturday was a bit more adventurous (for me anyway) and exciting. Let me first tell you that I don't like fish. I don't like to touch fish. I don't like the smell. I don't like the taste. As we were about to get off the bus in Seoul, I asked Shauna, "So where are we going today anyway?" "This fish market!" "What?!" "I thought you knew." "I didn't, but okay!" I was up for the experience, and quite the experience it was! We liked to call it the Fish Fun House. Let me tell you why. I entered the warehouse style building with my pants rolled up and my nose plugged. Tank after tank was filled with fish, crab, shells, octopus, and a whole lot of other unidentifiable water creatures. Some fish got camera shy and splashed us good while octopus slithered out of their buckets and got stabbed...not a smart choice to leave the team! It looked like everyone was selling the same thing so we began to wonder how anyone made any money. Some people arranged their fish or held them up for us to take pictures while others were less than cooperative. Usually Koreans don't bother talking to foreigners unless they know we need help, but here it seemed like anyone who spoke any English wanted to talk to us. One guy even recognized Minnesota when he used the phrase "Minnesota Twins, Korea Twins...same same!" Other commons phrases included: "Where are you from?" (the one question every Korean knows) "Nice to meet you!" "Beautiful!" and even "I LOVE YOU!" At first we thought everyone was so nice. Then...the fun (house) began! We suddenly felt like at the moment we entered the market, a secret message had been sent to all the workers saying, "Take your positions...here come the foreigners!" Enjoy some of the humorous and a bit disturbing things that went on in the "Fish Fun House."

*Event #1: Britney and Shauna got their shots of an octopus, but when I stepped up, one of the male workers snapped the cover of his lighter in my face! I thought he was angry that I was taking a picture so I backed off, but the girls said that he had arranged it so that we could take photos. So, I stepped back up to take a picture again, when he snapped the lighter cover a second time practically brushing my face! This time he started laughing while his partner kept yelling, "Bulgarian!" His friend proceeded to follow me and put his arm around my shoulders as we walked away, telling me that his friend was crazy. "Yeah, thanks...already discovered that with the lighter in my face!" (And that's why I'm leaving now.)

*Event #2: As we watched an octopus work its way over the edge of a bucket, Shauna decided to video tape the event. The women kept staring at us unpleasantly as we tried to show her by our pointing giggles that he was about to get out...we didn't want another one to get stabbed! She didn't care. As he plopped over the edge onto the floor, I jumped back screaming while Shauna kept taping the big guy on the floor. The lady walked over and with no fear picked it up. She didn't stab it or put it right back in the bucket. Instead she gave it a little toss towards Shauna's face as if she were going to throw it at her! Then, she kindly put it back in the bucket and walked away, surely thinking "idots!" Imagine if that eight legged creature slipped from the lady's hand...octopus in the face for Shauna!

*Event #3: A worker waved at me, so I waved back...I'm friendly like that and love talking to the people. I don't know what part of the wave suggested that we were hungry because he came quickly towards Shauna trying to shove a peanut in her mouth. No way was she letting that in, so after multiple playful yet forceful attempts, he tried Britney who just ran away. So then there was me. He must have really wanted to share his nuts because he put me in a HEAD LOCK (no joke) and tried shoving the nuts in my mouth. I probably shouldn't have been, but I was laughing so hard that I could hardly breathe as I covered my mouth with my hands. I seriously had to use my lifeguard escape to get away! Can you imagine not only how long those nuts had been in his hand but how unclean and FISHY his little fingers that were trying to shove those nuts in our mouths were? DISGUSTING! Although we knew he was just being overly playful, as we all started scurrying away, we noticed that all the other workers around were just laughing at us. Not one person tried to stop a 30 year old man from physically forcing food into our faces...it was practically assault and they all just stood and laughed. Just goes to show how male dominated the culture still is that no one (male or female) did a thing to help us.

Those descriptions don't even begin to describe the actual moments when we seriously starting thinking that everyone was plotting against us. When we got to the other end, we realized there was no way out but to go back through the building to where we entered. This time, we took an alternative route through the back of the building, avoiding all the "fun!" We definitely had a good time, and couldn't help but laugh about our eventful Fish Market Fun House adventure.

We ended our evening at a park in Seoul where there are lots of young people and impromptu performers entertaining the crowds. We had a delicious Chinese dinner followed by coffee and some street shopping. Shauna and Britney stayed later while I headed home a bit chilled by the evening cool.

That being said, there have been jokes in the office lately that since so many English teachers are from Minnesota, we may have brought the cold weather to Korea with us giving everyone at home an early and warm spring while we are still waiting for the season to arrive here. Although it doesn't feel quite like spring yet, it sure is beginning to look like it. The Cherry Blossom trees are in bloom everywhere making for a beautiful walk wherever you go. However, I'm afraid we might skip spring and jump right into the heat of summer, which I wouldn't completely mind as I'm looking forward to some weekend trips down South for some beach time. So, if spring never makes it here, please enjoy the beautiful weather back home for me!

I lied.

So...I said I would try and get back into writing once a week, but I've already failed at that. It's been two weeks since I last updated my blog. I do have things to tell you, but these are just a few reflections I've thought about. As different as living in another country sounds, it really isn't once you get past the initial changes. That passed months ago, and now it's just like I'm living life the way I would if I were back home (minus my ability to see the people I love in person). I go to work every day, exercise, make my own meals, go out and rest on the weekends, live independently, and for the first time ever am paying for myself (ok, except for those student loans, which I WILL be paying mom and dad back for the day I get home). It's a really good feeling! It will be a big change to come home and reverse back into school mode (homework---eeek!) and very tight financial living (which it will be for the next four years, even with the scholarship). All in all, my life here is normal, which is why my blogs are so infrequent, but completely fantastic! I am so eager about my future, but I am trying not to let the excitement of that take over my last four months here (I can't believe I just said only four).

So, here's what I was up to last weekend. Last Friday night we celebrated London's birthday, which was extra special because her mom was here! She treated us to an all your can eat galbi (it wasn't a dream!) before we headed to LUXURY Noraebong. This "luxury" included glass floors, comfy couches, mint mouth wash, and free ice cream as you leave. I'll admit, the ice cream is what's really going to get me back there again...it really can't get any better than that! After we sang until no one literally had a voice, we ended the night at London's favorite local Batman Bar.

On Sunday, Britney, Shauna, and I headed to the Seoul Zoo. We thought it would be faster to take a cab than the subway and once again experienced the kindness of a Suji citizen who called a cab for us and told the driver where we wanted to go. However, it wasn't as easy once we arrived, went passed the entrance, and got stuck in coming and going traffic after we turned around. We could tell the driver was frustrated as he was banging his fists on the steering wheel and huffing. He must have been mad at the situation and not us though he he stopped the meter at 35,000 won which was much more than we had expected to pay in the first place because we were sitting in traffic AFTER we had passed the park entrance and were trying to get back in. When we finally got out, he also wrote us a note in Korean that we could show people in case we needed help getting to the zoo area. We were two for two in getting kind Korean help that morning. It was a cloudy and cool day, but perfect for walking around a zoo. We grabbed a bite to eat (passed up the grilled octopus) and were ready for the zoo. We passed up the "elephant train" to take the chair lift over water up to the zoo area. I had high expectations after the Everland Zoo and have to say that while it was a fun day overall, I was let down by the maintenance of the place as a whole. The saddest exhibit was the hippos who were in what felt like a deserted warehouse with a stagnant, dirty water. Many of the cages were small and dark while the water animals were in rusted aquariums. To top it off, we missed the giraffes that we walked around all day looking for (this was a BIG zoo) as we left at closing time and found their empty (they were "put away" for the night) home right near the exit. Wamp wamp. Okay, so I know I sound a little bit negative, but there were definitely some highlights such as: the scenic chair lift, the beautiful outdoor environment in the mountains, mating baboons, mating lions (must have been that time of the season!), and a delicious batch of ddeok boki (glutinous rice cakes in a warm spicy red sauce). All in all, it was a good Sunday afternoon outing that ended in a long ride back on the subway and an early bed time.

Okay...if I want to keep any readers, I better end this entry and start a new one about this weekend!

The last few weeks....or month!

My last blog entry was March 6th. YIKES! I used to blog daily the first few weeks when I got here, and now I can't even come up with things to tell you once a week. Ok, so maybe I can and I just haven't been keeping up. I'll TRY to get back in to the habit of blogging at least once a week again. They might just be short and sweet. So what have I been up to the last month?

Well, a new school year began, and I miss my old classes, but love my new ones, so I can't complain! I was the only teacher to keep my Kindergarten class. I haven't decided if that was a good thing or a bad thing. All the other teachers seem to miss their old classes, while I can't seem to keep mine under control. My third year Kinders are becoming quite conversational in English now, which is great overall! But, along with that comes more of an ability to say mean things to friends, talk back to your teacher, and refuse things they didn't have a choice in months ago because they didn't understand. It's been amazing to see how much they have improved since I started teaching them seven months ago. While I have more days than not where I am ready to pull my hair out before Kindergarten is over, I would say I'm overall very happy that I got to keep my Kinders for the entire year I will be hear. They make me smile more than you can imagine! However, that also means a much harder good bye in just a few months.

Other than the long and often exhausting work weeks, I've been thrown into a bit of a panic when realizing that I only have five months left here. That may seem like a lot to you, but time is NOT slowing down. I am certainly excited to see my family and friends and begin school again, but I am not ready to leave Korea in five months, and I don't know if I will be in five months. But the fact of the matter is that I will be so, I am doing my best to keep hold of the time I have left and enjoy every moment. The last few weeks have included St. Patrick's Day outings with green beer (I don't even drink beer and I liked this stuff), double night Noraebonging, pictures with Flat Alli (friend of Flat Stanley, the traveling doll), and welcoming friends (two Gusties) to Korea.

Otherwise, today was a wonderful day...the most beautiful day of the year, in my mind...EASTER! It was sunny and cool all weekend, but beautiful weather to be outside in. I went for a long walk alone, watched movies (three), worked out, talked to my family in different places, and went to church and brunch with the girls this morning. It was a perfect Easter Sunday, besides that I wasn't with my family (I'll see them soon enough)! As we left church, a group of absolutely adorable Korean children dressed in every different animal costume came running up to us on the street handing out little Easter cups...it made my entire day! All in all, this was a quite relaxing weekend. As the spring weather continues to arrive, I'll be spending more time outdoors again on the mountains and hopefully do some weekend traveling. If you visited family and friends for the weekend, I hope you had safe and enjoyable travels.

EASTER BLESSINGS EVERYONE...CHRIST IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!