Korean professional dancing

I was lucky enough to stumble across this YouTube video teaching you how to do the dance to 2PM's latest song, "Without U." (2PM is a famous Korean band with two English speakers and pretty good songs) Here's the original video so you can see how it looks when the professionals do it. ㅋㅋ ^.~

Try it out!

Life in Korea

I stumbled across these cartoons that completely explain my experiences in Korea!
That definitely happened my first few months here! The trucks that go around selling things sound like they're giving govt announcements... It's really hard to believe they're only selling fruits.

This was really funny to me because it's SO true. Koreans wait right at the doors of the elevator or subway to get on/off. I have no idea why.

Cherry Blossom Festival

At my roomie Tharine's suggestion we went to Jinhae (진해시) to see the Cherry Blossom Festival. Cherry blossoms come out in the spring and watching them bloom is pretty amazing. In about a week or two Korea goes from bare brown trees to green buds and white blossoms everywhere! It's definitely something worth seeing. Everyone goes out even if it's still a little chilly because you can feel the change.

So there's mountains (of course) in Jinhae and a beautiful walking bridge with cherry blossom trees planted all along the sides of it. The brochures call it "romantic." haha. Either way it was pretty. As like everywhere else in Korea, there were a lot of street vendors there. We got some cotton candy and some yut (엿), also called "pumpkin caramels" in English. The yut is kinda like taffy, but not as soft. And it comes in many different varieties. We bought it cause the Korean with us (ie. my roomie Eli) loves it. hehe. It's pretty tough on the teeth though.

There's also this great view of Jinhae from a tower near the downtown area, but to get up you either have to take a cable car or climb 365 steps. The line for the cable car was sooooooooooo long; it was ridiculous! So we definitely opted for the steps. Even though there are a lot of steps, honestly it's not as bad as climbing an actual mountain! In other words, it was do-able. ^^
To sum it up: It was a nice day to walk around and enjoy the fresh air with my best friends here in Korea.

Korean Movies

Recently I've been watching more Korean movies on top of the Korean dramas. I think the culture difference really comes out most in some of these. I find that there are whole situations I just don't understand!

I watched the Korean drama "Coffee Prince." It's a very good show, but Korean reactions to situations are so different!

For instance, the two main characters meet through a misunderstanding. In America, a person will do just about anything to clear up that mistake or misunderstanding! In Korea, however, they just sort of freak out inside their heads at the misunderstanding (and don't say anything much out loud~~)! They don't really try to make the effort to clear it up! Weeeeeeeeirrrrrd...

In the Korean movie "He Was Cool," the two main characters HATE each other! (That's a common theme in Korean love stories as well.) And a strange thing in Korean movies that when someone tells you to do something (even if they're a complete stranger), you do it! Even if it's ridiculous or crazy, or they're wrong! Especially if they're older than you. In America, that would almost never happen. If someone tells you to do something (ESPECIALLY if they're a stranger), you usually ask "why?" It's so strange!

The same kind of situation happens in "My Sassy Girl." The main character helps this drunk girl and people make the mistake of thinking they're together... he tries to clear up the misunderstanding, but not very hard! On top of it, they don't really like each other and she orders him around and is always making him do embarrassing things! Things NO American man would EVER put up with. And then he ends up falling in love with her, and she with him. That would never happen in America either! If a girl humiliates a guy, and if a guy acts really weak like that... they would have no respect for each other. It's strange!

Another common theme is "waiting." In all three shows above there was some sort of "waiting" happening between the two main characters. For YEARS! In Coffee Prince, he waits for her for 2 years; in "He Was Cool," she waits for him for 1 year; and in "My Sassy Girl," he waits for her for 3 years! In the shows, in all that time their feelings have never changed for each other. And in all that time, they never contacted each other or anything! ...And they still love each other?

Cultural differences that are shown in movies like this really make me look hard around me to see what reflects reality.

I'll let you know what I see...

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter everyone! The weather is starting to warm up a little bit! (A little.) The sun is also starting to shine earlier in the day. ^^

In Korea it seems that Easter is similar to Christmas. Christians celebrate it, but not the culture. There's not really any Easter candy and hardly any Easter decorations. BUT apparently it is Korean Christian tradition to decorate eggs!

At my school for the last two days I showed the Veggie Tales "An Easter Carol" to introduce the idea of Easter and give everyone a day off from work. They enjoyed it, but I was a little surprised at how many children didn't know what Easter was! In America there's hardly a kid who wouldn't know. Such a big culture difference...

Easter one year ago is when I first came to Dong-shin Church... and met Jin! Yay for 1 year anniversaries!

1 Year!

Today is my one year anniversary in Korea!

This time one year ago, I was working my first overwhelming day in Korea. I slept in a moldy, cold apartment empty of food or belongings. In the morning I went to my run-down academy, met my interesting co-workers, and realized my job was just as unorganized as I was.

One year later, I find that I am staying ANOTHER year. I'm living in a much nicer place with much dearer friends that I met at church.

Thank you, Lord, for protecting me and getting me through this year!

Good-bye Sally!

One of our dear friends, Sally from Iowa, is leaving us to get married in the States. We were able to throw her a Bachelorette Party (along with Mingki) before she left!

Here's a few fun pictures from the event...

New Job (Again)

As many of you know, I have had to change jobs again. Hopefully, God-willing this is the last time. I will be here another year, and have a better position than before! I am working at a private Christian elementary school as an English teacher with my roommate.

It's a little outside of the city, so it can be difficult to get to... but other than that stress (and the fact that classes start so early in the morning!), it's a better place to be. I feel like my work actually matters since I am at a real school and not an academy parents force their children to attend. I have walls I can decorate and crafts to give the kids, as well as a TV to show video clips or presentations.

I have grades 2, 4 and 6... and even though I feel the responsibility of teaching children... I can't wait till I'm teaching adults/college students. That's still my dream.

Having to sign up for another year has created a few future problems. My roomies are both finished in August, and so is our lease for the apt. I will have to find a new place by myself for about 7 months. I'm already anxious about it... but God has done so much for me so far. I'm sure He's big enough to handle this too.

Trusting God has been a struggle... but then I realize how independent I'm NOT in this foreign country with a different language and culture... and I turn to Him all over again. I'm just praying that I use this next year here wisely.

Korean dancing!

Snowboarding!

It's something I never thought I'd do. That's for sure. It looks too hard and too dangerous. Anyone that knows me knows I'm not really a risk-taker... I don't mind thrills but I don't like getting hurt.

Well, this opportunity was too good to pass up! Apparently everyone goes snowboarding and skiing in the winter since there are so many mountains and ski resorts. And it's so cheap! Less than $100 for the bus ride, clothes and equipment rental! So I decided to go snowboarding because only the old people were skiing... and I had already gone skiing. I did want to try something new.

Let's see... it was REALLY hard. I got frustrated. I had to kinda teach myself. A few friends showed me how to start... but from there I was on my own. And there's A LOT to learn from there. I was really sore too! My legs were shaking. haha. But it was also pretty cool. I could see why you would enjoy it after getting used to it.

I looked at getting a lesson, but since they would have to speak English... it would have to be a 1-1 private lesson. That's a lot more expensive... about $200. Yikes! So, I decided to save my money and learn the hard way.

I was able to go twice this winter and I really enjoyed it! I only hope that I don't forget it all by next winter. ^^

Korean Children's Story

Today I learned something new about Korean culture! I told my students to write me a short story about a tiger for their homework. One of the kids wrote a slightly confusing one... It was confusing because it wasn't the whole story! In an effort to understand, I asked my Korean teachers for help. They explained that he was trying to tell a famous Korean Children's story!

It's called The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon. Cute and slightly strange, because it's not like the children's stories I grew up on at all! ㅋㅋ

Dr. Fish

My first time experiencing this famous Korean foot soak. It's called "Dr. Fish." Apparently the fish eat the impurities off your feet! Although, it's not exactly proven since many people think they just nibble at the salt on top of your skin. It's definitely an interesting experience though! And tickles like hell! ^^

You go into this "cafe" and buy some coffee or tea along with your "foot soak." Then whenever you're ready you go over to the other side of the cafe where they have these pools of water. You wash your feet, sit on your pillow and then stick your feet into the water! At first, it's unbearably ticklish!!! Then... you get used to it. And it starts to feel kinda good. ㅋㅋ

Summary of FL

1. Weather was wonderful and I love FL sunsets and walks in general

2. Shopping is wonderful... except when you have to do a bunch of it in a week...

3. Friendships are complicated! (But worth it)

4. I really do miss American food. There wasn't enough time to eat all I wanted to.

5. It was really hard leaving home, and I cried... but being back here isn't so horrible.

***One thing I regret is having to sleep. I tried not to, but my body wouldn't listen.

****And I hate jet lag.

Home...

is great. It's like I never left.

But Korea's great too... It's weird.

I'm LOVING this!!!

STRESS

Today, the day before I leave, very few things went right.

I tried to transfer money to my account back in the US and it didn't work. I thought I had dealt with that problem weeks ago with calls and visits to the bank already! Well, it was happening again... so I spent all morning on the phone with Citibank trying to figure out why it wasn't working with a Korean woman who spoke so quietly I could hardly hear her!

The most frustrating part wasn't even that. It was the fact that they had NO IDEA why it wasn't working. They told me "oh, it's because of this!" and we did something different and it STILL didn't work, so then they'd say, "oh, it's because of that!" and we did it all over again. I was on hold for 30 minutes, and then they called me back three times only to say we have no idea why it's not working. Actually, the reason they came up with in the end is that you can't send money to yourself, so that's why it's not working. Which is complete BULLSHIT.

Because of that I was late going downtown to meet my friends for lunch (and didn't even get to eat with them!), and because of that I was late taking my dog to the Animal Hospital for boarding, and because of that I was late to work and had to pay for an expensive taxi to avoid being MORE late.

And I didn't get to eat lunch.

The only thing that went right was that when I was downtown I was able to get my friends the presents I was looking for.

I JUST WANT TO GO HOME...! Ugh.

Gift

The man I am helping learn English wanted to give my parents and I a gift.

So he decided to ask his friend the artist (one of the most famous calligraphers in Korea) to make something for us.

This is a Korean fan. The letters he printed on there are in Chinese... but they say "Man should do the will of God." Apparently since Chinese was the language of the educated, that's what most calligraphers write in.

He also made one for me! This one is in Korean. It says "Happiness is in my chest!" It was really cool. I was only sad that I didn't actually get to see him make them.

I'll Be Home for Christmas!

With only one more week to go before I'm HOME... I can't stop thinking about it. It's weird being in a culture that doesn't celebrate Christmas.

PEOPLE here celebrate Christmas... but the culture doesn't. There's a few decorations up in some stores, and one or two major streets have lights on them... but it's SO not the same. It makes me REALLY miss America. And so glad I'm going there soon!

I've been sinking a little into culture shock once again. (Not sure if that's possible...?) But getting definitely homesick with each passing day, and less tolerant of things I don't understand in Korea.

The first thing I'm going to do (besides see my best friends and family) is go to Best Buy and get my freakin computer fixed! I tried to figure out the process of getting it fixed overseas... WOW. It sucks. I'd have to pay for all the costs and then they'd pay me back in about 2 months. Yuck. I'm just praying they can get it fixed before I leave!

And then the next thing I'm going to do is go shopping at a drug store for necessities... that are in ENGLISH! And then I'm going to have something amazing for dinner. And then grocery shopping. And then Christmas.

Ugh... I am so homesick... I can hardly wait!

Apsan Round 2

So I climbed Apsan back in the summer with Jin, and it was warm and beautiful then.

Well, my roomies wanted to go get some fresh air... and we knew it was cold, however we thought we'd warm up as soon as we started hiking.
\Basically what happened is we took the cable car up, walked around for about 30 minutes, and took the cable car back down.

Yes, Tharine found "snow" up on the mountain. I guess we shouldn't be surprised... it is technically winter...

We were FREEZING. The wind really does it to ya...

We did bring Noona though! She loved the mountain hiking... but was definitely shivering the whole time. We weren't sure if it was just from cold, or being scared, or excited about her first time out!
We did have a fun time! But next time we decide to go hiking in the winter, we're wearing everything we've got!!!

Church Thanksgiving

I really missed having Thanksgiving in America. Our church did make a great substitue though! It was a big Thanksgiving meal after the service the weekend before actual Thanksgiving.

We all got together and bought turkeys and mashed potatoes and corn and baked beans and bread and salad and cranberry sauce... However, fun little fact: (Most) Koreans hate turkey. Its too "gamey" for them! Needless to say, the turkeys were very difficult to find because of this.


We had a lot of set-up and cooking the day of. Trying to make sure we have enough for everyone to eat! And informing people in both English and Korean... haha. That was also my first time tearing apart a turkey with my bear hands! (Or, "carving" the turkey... haha)

Our kitchen crew was fun and I loved seeing everyone enjoy our delicious food! I am definitely having "real" Thanksgiving food when I go home though... ㅋㅋ

Food...

So I have a little over a month till I will be back in America again! And besides my family and friends, all I can think about is food. hehe. I really miss the variety of America!

Here is a short list of things I will DEFINITELY eat during my short 10-day trip:

Planet Smoothie
Ben & Jerrys
Mexican food (REAL chips and dip, and quesadillas!)
Lasagna
Banana bread
American Chinese take-out! (specifically: Orange chicken and Pad thai)
Meatballs
FRESH veggies! (No more fermented kimchi)

...And that's just a short list off the top of my head. I'm sure when I go home there will be plenty more. ^^

I can't wait!