Time For Change: People

Date: 2/28/2011

I have been very slack this month with putting up some posts.  I have a reason though!  I spent 10 days in Thailand!  It was amazing--but very tiring!  I didn't do a beach vacation (although parts of me wish I did--mostly everytime I look down and see paste-y white skin) but I decided to do a Trek through Northern Thailand, spending the nights with native tribes people of the land.   I will put photos and memories up of these adventures, but right now I'm going to go back to the daily life of living in Gunsan, South Korea.  A couple reasons: 1) it is easier to write about Gunsan life.  Shorter blog posts and more succinct stories.  2) Thailand is a big adventure--with many many photos.  It takes some time not only to process everything that went on in 10 days, but also to organize it all into neat, orderly blog posts.  I'm simply still processing much of what I saw and did in.  And besides, some of the activities I had friends take photos and they haven't uploaded them on facebook yet!

So, back to the ins-and-outs of Gunsan, South Korea!

This month is when many contracts end and new ones begin.  Which means I have been saying good bye to many foreign teachers!  It is weird to make friends after such a short time, and then say, "Have a good life because most likely I will never see you again!  Wish you the best!"  It makes the time here--and the people you meet--that much more precious.  But on the other hand, it can also make you more guarded.  You find yourself thinking, "Well, why make friends with these people at all? They're going to be leaving shortly anyway? Why go to the effort!"  I know, it sounds cynical and defeatist, but it is weary to see people leave.  It is almost self-preservation--guarding your heart a little bit.

I had one friend tell me "Friends are your friends for either a season, a reason, or life."  It is so unbelievably true.  You get some friend who are in your life for just a short period of time.  Like some of my friends that I have been saying good bye to here in Korea.  Some people are friends because they serve a purpose in your life, to get you from point A to point B, or to make you stronger, or make you learn a lesson.  I have had a few of these types of friends in the last 6 months.  And some friends, the truly special ones, are with you for the long run.  I do not have many of these friends--I don't have any friends from elementary school, and only 2 that I actively try to stay in contact with from high school.  But I am realizing that I made some Life Friends from college. (Meghan, Amanda, Kate--you know who you are!  LOVE!)  And these friends make my heart smile.  But, enough sap, on with my blog entry.

One friend that I realize was a Season Friend was Jessica.  Jessica was a great friend: she showed me around Gunsan in my first month, helped me navigate the Seoul Subway for the first time on my first trip to Seoul, we had weekly coffee and games night.  She was a wealth of knowledge as she was working on her second contract (aka, had been here for longer than 1 year) and I generally got along with her handedly.

I don't doubt that we were friends.  But...like all things, time moves on and things change.  It's kind of a long story, and I don't know all the details--in fact, I don't know any of the details--but Jess is gone now. She has removed herself from facebook, isn't answer texts/phone calls (I think she doesn't have a phone anymore--at least, not a Korean phone), and I haven't heard from her in over a month.  I have talked to some friends in Gunsan and they all are confused and a little bewildered by her disappearance.  Some have been in contact with her family, so we know that she is safe--she hasn't been kidnapped or sold into the sex trade or anything like that--but we do not know where she is.  It is disconcerting to know that someone you call a friend would leave without saying good-bye.  I'm at the point now where I'm sincerely trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I just want to know that she is OK.  Everyone has their reasons, and I know something pretty major had to happen for her to leave--especially like this, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

Before she left, she and I went to Seoul and had a jolly good time going to see a show called Jump and just spending some time together.  She had made a point of talking about relationships and talking about friends being "season, reason, or life."  I don't know if it is true or not, but maybe she had been warning me that she was leaving, in a small way... ?  Or I could be looking into our conversation too much.  I just know that I will miss her friendship.

Another people change that is going on is school is starting up again.  Which means the Korean teachers are getting ready for a new year.  Korean teachers move schools every 5 years--I don't know why, they just change schools every 5 years.  And some younger teachers do not have permanent schools--they must go to a school that needs their expertise.  Which means I have said good-bye to a couple really good friends.  All the young teachers that I had made friends with--My "brother" Tae-hee, Sung Sik, Minhee--have changed schools!  This makes me very sad!  Very sad indeed!  Also, some teachers have come up on their 5 years--like my winter camp co-teacher Mrs Lee!  I did not know this until I came into school this morning and was told!  I felt so bad that I couldn't say goodbye to her, but I think I have her email so I will be able to send her a quick farewell.

But with the change brings in new teachers.  We are getting a new English teacher--and guess what?!  I already know him!  How would I know him?  Well, you see, he's my LANDLORD!  Mr Kim (not related to my other co-teacher Ms Kim) is going to be my co-teacher!  Which is just going to be all sorts of weird.  How do I feel about this? A little uncomfortable.  I mean, I love Mr Kim.  He is a sweet man and sincerely a nice person--a great landlord.  But it brings home life and school life just a little too close in my comfort zone.  In America, home and work life don't really mix.  But now, they are definately going to mix.  I love Koreans, but they tend to be just the slightest bit gossip-y.  And, as the only foreign teacher at my school, I think I am talked about a lot.  I am not tooting my horn here...it is just something that happens.  For example, I have lost weight while in Korea.  I told Ms Kim exactly how much weight I lost, and the next day I had 4 different teachers (some who I didn't even know) come up to me and tell me that either A) I was looking good for having lost weight, B) I needed to eat more because they heard I lost weight, C) wanted to know how I had lost so much weight.  The teachers aren't talking about me in any malicious manner, and I really think they just want to make sure that I am looked after, cared for, and feel welcomed.  Which, I do.  I love my school.  It is just funny.

So I am understandably a little nervous that the man who knows the going-ons of my home life will be a teacher at my school.   There's more reasons I am nervous.  I had a Korean boyfriend this last month, and the first time I said goodbye to him on the doorstep, the next morning, Mr Kim found me while I was taking the garbage out (a very short walk 2 flights up and down stairs) and made a point of telling me to be careful who I trust and that not all men are nice, and that he is glad I am making friends who are Korean.  I really don't want Mr Kim to share every time I kiss a boy on my doorstep with my school teachers.  But I don't think he will.  It is just me borrowing trouble.

But it definitely makes life more fun, right?!

Talking about fun, it was a good month because I had a boyfriend.  At least, I think you would call him a boyfriend.  It was a short relationship--bad timing, I think was the main problem--but it was definitely informative and fun.  There will a couple posts about him--just enough to share some funny stories.

I am looking forward to school to start, getting back on a schedule, and, ironically enough, being at work.  I think it is a great sign that I actually enjoy my work.  Even though I don't always feel comfortable as a teacher, I love my school and fellow co-workers.  It won't be the same as last year, but it will be something new, and something different, and that, in and of itself, will be fun.

UPDATE:  The day I posted this blog, my friend who had disappear reappeared.  She is alive and well--just went off the grid for a while.  *shrug*

Seohyung Graduation

Date: 2/8/2011

The Korean School Calendar doesn't really make much sense to me.  Back in early December, they have the end-of-the-year tests, but they still have 3 weeks of school left.  Then they have a  month break--where they have winter camps and still have to go to school and hagwon (private schools).  Then in the beginning of February, they have 3 days of school--one of which is graduation.  And then another month of vacation and then on March 2 they start the new school year.

So, this past week many schools have had their graduation ceremonies--including Seohyung, my city middle school.

I didn't really know what to expect, so I dressed up a little bit (read: put on a skirt) and headed to school.  My school is pretty awesome so I only had to show up at 9.45 am for the 10.30 am ceremony--not 8.30.  Talk about a deal, right?

The first thing I notice when I get to school?  They are selling flowers:

And not just any sort of flowers--no roses or carnations like you would see at home, but Korean flowers.  With decorations.  I tried to explain them to my mom by saying the flowers had been Koreanized, but she didn't understand.   I think pictures will help the situation:

Candy in the middle with lots of flounces, ruffles, and in nauseiatingly bright colors. 

little tinsle things sticking out of the flower arrangements were normal.  

In a box, sure!  And with the brand name Narcissus, it makes perfect sense.

This one didn't have any flowers, just a fuzzy, boa-like thing shaped in a heart.  

These flowers provided endless entertainment during the hour of speeches and presentations that I didn't understand.  Ms Kim had to help the principal hand out awards on stage, so I attached myself to Tae Hee--my brother--who was looking very snazzy in a suit.

For the ceremony part of the morning, I walk into our school gym and it's been transformed.  It looks a lot like it did during school festival, but with chairs.

 All the students lined up like little ducks...I would get claustrophobic if I had to sit that close to the person in front of me, but for them it is normal.

 These girls were handing out programs, and across from them was a coffee/tea station.

They start the ceremony off with what seemed like Simon Says.  The Principal would say something and all the students stood up, as if they had practiced standing together.  Principal speaks.  Students bow their heads.  Principal speaks.  Students bow.

Principal speaks, and everyone around me reacts.  I realize this is the national anthem--I think.

The music teacher directs the national anthem.

 Following the National Anthem was a moment of silence for the (I think) soldiers in service, or fallen.  Since every male must do two years of military service, anyone over the age of 25 realistically has been in the military.  Including, my brother, Tae Hee.

Interestingly, a "Moment of Silence" is not really silent.  Through the whole ceremony some classical music was playing.

 Then some students get awards.  I think these are for best students per grade, highest scores, good attitudes, etc.

 Then the student body president, the tall guy not on the stage, just left of the center of the photo gives a speech to the principal.  I saw tall guy because for a 9th Grader (American age) he is probably over 6 ft.  He was really tall!

Simon says: Principal Speaks: everyone stands up.  Now we sing our school song.  Which, because it actually had music notes, I was able to hum/sing along.   Which earned me a few looks, and Taehee exclaiming in surprise, "You know school song?"

After this, the ceremony part was finished and everyone was able to meet up with their families for hugs and flowers.  I was really surprised that each and every student didn't parade up on stage.  And there was no Pomp and Circumstance.  Which made me think that Koreans have the graduation ceremony right, because, after playing that blasted song for 3 years in high school (I was in the graduation band--and we had over 1000 students in each graduation class--not over exaggerating, my graduation class had 1009 students, I got really REALLY sick of Pomp and Circumstances!)

I went around taking pictures of the different families hugging and exchanging flowers.  I think some parents were really confused to as why the Waegook teacher was taking pictures, but I just smiled, bowed, and bounced off to the next of my victims!  (mu-ahahahaa!)

The student in this picture is Ms Kim's newphew-in-law.  The dad looks like Ms Kim's Husband.  Apparently, their camera ran out batteries so I quickly volunteered to take some photos and email them.  Brownie points for me!

A bunch of student together.  I thought it was interesting that the boys also got flowers.  If you gave a 15 year old boy at home flowers he would almost immediately give them to his girlfriend.  :)

 I walked outside and ran into one of my favorite students. I know, I'm not suppose to have favorites as a teacher, but this girl--every time I saw her, we would speak.  In Japanese.  We would hold a full on conversation in Japanese, in Korea.  So that alone would endear me to hear, but the fact that she was so nice to me, always saying hello, really just would make my day.  She was so excited when she saw me, and said that she wanted a photo with me--which made me feel like I actually touched a student--even if she wasn't my student! (She took Japanese as her foreign language, not English so I never saw her in a classroom.)

Seolnal Vacation: Night Skiing

Date: 2/6/2011

On Friday, after a full day of Ice Festival-ness, You would think I would be frozen and tired.  (Especially since the night before I had imbibed probably a little too much)...but I knew that this was my last night to do Night Skiing.  When I heard that you could ski at night, I thought, 'That would be neat."  And then I saw the place light up for evening ski.

The night before....

It was REALLY bright!

And thus, I was captivated.  I wanted to night ski.  So, I had a quick dinner with my friends and then I lumbered back up to my room to change into my ski outfit.  I was starting to feel a little nasty in my long johns--I had skiied in them for over 12 hours now without a wash.  Kinda gross...but I was determined to enjoy myself.  I debated about using my ski goggles and decided I should bring them anyway.  Why not?

Then I step outside, or actually, I clunk outside.  The ski shoes are not made for walking!  

I get outside an a huge smile breaks on my face.  Can you see why I wanted to night ski?

This was probably the busiest the ski resort had been.  Seriously, this was so cool.  The gondola was really busy so I go over to the kiwi penguin slope that I had done yesterday and proceed to start another 4 hours of fun.

And it was so much fun.  I was by myself this time so it was literately at my own pace and my own enjoyment.

This is on the lift.  Those are my skis!  hehe!

Trying to take a photo without everyone seeing that I'm taking a photo!

 The gondola was super busy that evening, so I ended up taking a couple different lifts in order to get back to the top.  Since it was my last ski I really wanted to do some more full mountain runs.  And the slopes at the bottom of the mountain were choked with people so once I learned that the more intermediate slopes higher on the mountain were much more empty, I spent most of my time on the top half of the mountain.

Here's a snap of a lift to the top.  I loved how foggy it was!

I get to the top of the mountain and the first time I go down the slope I realize that I'm skiing through a cloud.  It was so foggy you couldn't see 30 feet in front of you (created some interesting defensive-non-collision-moves!).  But I could literally feel the crisp water droplets in the clouds on my face.  That is one sensation that I will always remember.  Skiing through the clouds!

I was very proud of my camera for holding up.  It was bloody cold and I was a little worried about it freezing, but no, it behaved like a trooper!  I think I even fell on it once and it still works wonderfully.

Back on top of the mountain I ask a girl who was in civilian clothes to take a photo of me.  And I'm so glad I did:

I had so much fun skiing.  Seriously, its a good thing that I am going to be gone these next couple weeks because I would do another ski trip in a heart beat.  But, I'm changing courses--and weather!--and going on another vacation.  To Thailand!  Actually, I'm leaving in 3 hours, so I'm glad I was able to finish up Phoenix Park because I know that I'll have lots to talk about when I get back! 

Seolnal Vacation: Ice Fishing Festival: 2/2

Date: 2/6/2011

For the second half of the Ice Fishing Festival, I did something that I have wanted to do for a while--I don't know why I wanted to do it, but it has been on my Fantasy To-Do List.  Bare Hand Fishing--in Ice Water.  Okay, the Fantasy To-Do List  is more along the lines of a Polar Bear Swim, but frankly, this was close enough for me!

After eating the best trout in the world, Sarah and I head over to location of the Bare Hand Fishing.  We meet Byung Min along the way, and Scott and Katrina--who are not doing the fishing.  But, then we ask Byung Min if he has ever done Bare Hand Fishing and he says No.  Poor Byung Min.  Don't tell us that.  We ask if he would want to join us and he gets this, "Why the hell would I want to do that? But can I really say no?" and says that he's working right now, and he didn't know if Saekjin (his boss) would let him do it.  Katrina, Byung Min's elder, an Adventure Korea Staff Member, and a friend with Saekjin, promptly walks over to Saekjin and asks in the nicest manner possible if Byung Min could join Sarah and I in Bare Hand Fishing.  He's never done it.  Byung Min's fate is sealed.  Now, there's no way Saekjin wouldn't let Byung Min fish with us.  (Can you hear the evil kackling laughter?  I can.)

It turned out there were enough of the foreigns wanting to do the Bare Hand Fishing that it turned into a Waegook [foreigner] Fish-A-Thon.  So, we line up and head into the little changing room.  There were about 15 girls and about 25 guys who did the fishing, so if we were packed, I wonder how the guys felt.  We strip and get into the provided bright orange shorts and grey top.  And yes, since we are going to go jump in a pool of water, I went commando (Sorry, Grandma, you didn't really need to know that)--but I did not want to get my one pair of underwear wet for the rest of the day!

Then we are herded out to the pool, where a Korean man is standing in the water.  Here, there was an incident which highlights why I like Koreans better than Foreigners.  While exiting the changing hut, one of the guys decides he's going to try and strip.  He has his shirt off, and is working on his pants before the Korean staff members stop him.  Seriously?  I mean, seriously?  Can you be more of an ... fill in the blank?  And then, even after this stunt, when we are allow to get outside,  he goes and tries to jump in the pool.  No....wait.  He is giving us instructions.  Granted, this guy was piss drunk (like half the guys in the group were) (another reason I don't like foreigners) but, it just pissed me off.  I am being judged and evaluated upon based on that jackass' behavior.  I have to work that much harder to be a "good" waegook because of his drunken, stupid, imbilsilic behavior.  Erg...just pisses me off.

Anyway!

So, we get out to the pool and the Korean instructor is standing in the water.

He tries to run us through a couple exercises to warm up our muscles, so that getting in the water isn't as bad. But...it was lost in translation--which just makes the group of foreigners look dumb.  It was pretty classic.  I think he was saying, "bend on 1. 5, 4, 3..." but we all heard, "bend. Rep 5. Again on 4. Again of 3."  Didn't go very well.  We got laughed at--from the fairly large crowd that had surrounded us.  I felt a little like I had entered a Waegook Zoo.

We finally get into the water and it's cold, but not horrible.  Your arms turn red from the shock, but it was bareable.  I've heard of people getting and just getting out it's too cold.  But it was a pretty nice day.

So the Waegooks descend.

I touch my first fish and its slimy!  Urk!  Nasty!  The guy next to me catches 3 in five minutes, then turns to help me try and herd a fish into my arms.  I pull a girl move and shriek.  That animal-lover in me just wants to pick the fish up, not dig my nails into it's underbelly and bring it into an environment where it can't breathe.  But that is where I was inaccurate in my understanding of Bare Hand Fishing.  You literally are fishing--you get to keep the fish you catch--for lunch.  They give us plastic bags to kill the fish in.  So my little dream of catching a fish, giving it a kiss, and then letting it swim back to it's fishy family was destroyed.

The Korean Instructor comes over and grabs my and another female Waegook's hand and pulls me over to the "stunned" fish.  He proceeds to reach into the water and pluck out a fish for me.  (Show-off)...and then I realize why they are called 'stunned.'  These poor fish are basically dead.  And if they weren't dead before the instructor grabs 'em, they are once they are in his hands.  He jams his thumb through the fish's gills in order to hold on.  When he hands me the fish, he literately takes my hand, grabs the thumb, and sticks it through the gils of Mr Fish, then puts my other hand under the belly.  The fish wiggles once and then dies.  I am now holding a dead fish--bleeding all over my hands.  It was probably one of the grossest things I've ever done.  But I make myself take the "kiss the fish" photo and then sadly, trying not to vomit, put my fish in the bag.  I jump back into the water and proceed to wash my hands off.

We head back to the changing room and I am seriously having to check my stomach.  The delicious fish that I had for lunch suddenly isn't sitting so well.  Sarah comes by and is carrying a fish that Byung Min gave to her.  We put the fish on top of the locker why we change, which results in more girlish shrieks when Mr Fish tries to do a suicide jump off the locker.

Fish Face!

Yeah???

More fish faces

Since we had just eaten the fish, we really didn't want to keep the fish.  And seriously, I didn't want to hold on to a reminder that I killed the poor fish.  Katrina, with her infinate wisdom, says, "Give it to an Ajamma." [older lady; grandma].  So Sarah finds a scrowling Ajamma and says, "Anneihaseyo."  And then holds the fish out to her.  I've never seen someone's face light up like that.  The previous day was the Lunar New Year (1st or 2nd biggest holiday in Korea) and I think we started off the lady's New Year with a smile.

For the rest of the day, Sarah, Scott, Katrina, and I walk around, taking funny pictures. There were some activities: like ATV-ing on the ice, a inflatable raft ride, and such, but those cost money and the lines were long with only 90 minutes left. We didn't really want to stand there why we could wander.

Also, frankly, there are just some shots you need to get at an Ice Festival.  Here is a mini-scrap book:

We can hold a South African Fish!

They had slides cut out of ice and I just couldn't resist.  I actually got to yell at some kids too, they were cutting in line and I went, "Ah! Yah!  Annieyo!" They got that "oh crap, she speaks Korean" look--priceless!

Another one of my favorites!  

Ice Chair, Sofa, and table.  

Byung Min and Katrina

There was this rubber Banana boat just sititng on the side of the ice.  So I went and has some bouncing time.