Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Pumba Festival

Date: 5/28/2011

This past weekend, Sarah and I went to Eumsang, South Korea to participate in the Pumba Festival.  Pumbas are traditional Korean beggars. They are at basically every festival in Korea.  Traditionally, they begged for food or money, but now I believe it is more for entertainment.  They do things like singing, dancing, cutting candy, and comedy.

We went with the company Adventure Korea.  It was part of a weekend package trip: Pumba Festival, Sea Rafting and Paintballing. My camera died on  the first event (Sad face!) but I will be posting more pictures after I steal the pictures from Sarah's Facebook.  (hehe!)

First, we put on some Pumba Clothes.  The festival is also a photography contest and we were models for the photographers!  Dressed up foreigners were a huge attraction.

Our clothes--fun hats!

Pose, before the make-up!

Before make-up

After make-up.  I haven't seen myself yet.

Now I have seen myself.  Oh--wow...what did they do to my face?!?!  I particularly like the snot....
 They just used regular make-up and facepaint--so we all inwardly groaned at how much our skin was going hate us, but that didn't stop Sarah and I from enjoying ourselves!

Sarah's turn!
A friend we made on the trip.  Love the uni-brow.


We had lunch and this girl was sitting at the table.  She was precious!

The girls wanted a photo with the foreigners.
After getting all dressed up, we went to go pound some rice cake.  This is a traditional beggar thing.

Think of your class 2-6, Sarah!  Swing AWAY!!



 As you can see, the photographers were having a hay day!

All the photographers for the "group shot"

She was trying to go to lunch and the photographers wouldn't let her pass.  "You ...very pretty!  Take pict--cha!  Smile!  Pose--su!  Pose-su!  Again! Again! Again!!!!"  

Craziness!
We weren't the only models.  These guys were painted in gold and were "statues."  They did a really good job. 


More pictures to come!

Life

Date: May-June

This month has had some major ups and some major downs.  When you live abroad, life continues to go on when you are home.  The hardest thing about living in Korea is not actually anything related to Korea at all.  I miss home.  My family.  My Friends.  I am missing out on a lot of things.  Some things are glorious things.  Some are things of great sadness.  This month has had some of both.

My grandfather passed away last Wednesday.   I will miss him terribly, but know that he is in a better place, looking down on us.

This is the last photo I have with my grandfather.  He was a wonderful man.   
But not all things are sad.  Today (May 31st) a new life was born.  I am so proud of my friend Meghan for delivery a beautiful baby boy, Ethan.  Congratulations Meghan and AJ!


A beautiful family!


Life goes on when you are away from home.  The heart beat of life starts and stops.  I will miss my grandfather dearly, but I will celebrate the life of my best friend's new baby Ethan.

Lunch Time Drama

Date: 6/1/2011


I feel like I could start a whole blog on what happens in the lunch room.  Seriously.

I was eating lunch today--not great, btws- and two things happened.

One: I was a monkey.  Mr Song (taekwondo teacher) had me repeat the number 1-10 in Korean.  I have been using Korean counting in Taekwondo so he wanted to show me off.  I stuggled on 8 and 9, but I made it.  Everyone clapped for me and Mr Song explained (what I caught of it) was that I was counting in Korea in Taekwondo.  Good for Maggie--after 2 months of Taekwondo I can count to 10--sort of.  :0

Then a man walked in with the other teachers that I had not seen before.  I had a moment of "Oh my goodness, do I really not know a teacher?  I've been here how long and I don't know one of the teachers!?!"

So I asked about him. "Um...man in blue jacket...teacher?  Sasenim?"    Mrs. Park was across the table 4 people down.  I was sitting with my ajamma teacher (the one who loves me) and Mr Song (taekwondo teacher) plus others from the office and other friendly faces.

Table Layout:

English Speaker     Teacher Itou     Mr Song   Person Person      Mrs. Park
  Office                      Ajamma         Taekwondo                           English Teacher
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office Worker            Me              Music Teacher     Person Person Principle

So, I ask the whole table, but Ms Park answers.  She goes, "oh...no.  He is ..." something or other because I didn't actually hear.  But I got the important part of the answer.  Anyway, when I has asked everyone had stopped eating and froze, looking at me.  Like what I was speaking was super import or fascinating.  Then there was the initial confusion as to who would answer my question....in which they eventually all turned their heads to Mrs Park. She answers.  I nod and resume eating.

AS SOON AS I look back down at my plate the table EXPLODES into discussion.  The teacher on my left AND right AND Mr Song AND Teacher Itou all look to the teachers who can speak/understand english.  Mr Song was the first to lean over to Ms Park and ask "What'd she say?" then it was like a flood gate, everyone around me turned to a known "english understander" and asked the same question.  They got satisifactory answers because everyone nodded and went, "ah, hmm...neh [yes]."

It was ridiculous. And really funny because everyone wanted to know what I asked.  I guess I don't really speak (at all) at lunch so for me to ask about something would be a unique situation....It was just really funny that EVERYONE wanted to know about it.

So, that was my lunch!  ;)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Student's Essay Writings

Date: May 25, 2011

Gunsan Education Board is holding a competition for middle grade students.  They had to read BOTH Mary Poppins and Wrinkle In Time.  I also read them, because I got to write the test.  (I was really surprised how much I didn't like Mary Poppins!  The Disney movie is SOO much better.  One of those rare cases).  Anyway, they took the test this past weekend and I graded the essays today.  Here are some of my favorite essays:

(They had 1 hour to complete 2 essays and 10 multiple choice questions and 10 T/F.  I think these answers are pretty good--or they just made me laugh out loud for the alloted time!)

Question 1. Mary Poppins, Michael and Jane travel around the world.  Where in the world you like to travel?  Why? Who would you meet?  What would you do?



Student A: It wouldn’t be possible for me to travel around th world by compass like Mary Poppins, ane and Michael, but if I am to travel somewhere in the world, I would choose traveling to Turkey and Netherlands.
            The reason why I want to visit Turkey is that I heard the food in Turkey is very delicious.  They have hundreds of dishes and most of them taste very sweet.  But tis isn’t all—I wish to visit Sophia Church, which is beautiful and strong.  (Even though I twas built long times ago, it was absolutely okay after a great earthquake hit it.).  Blue Mosk, made by genius builter is also one of the places most people visit.
            I would also like to visit Netherlands, country known as paradise of windmills and cheese.  But here’s one more thing—Netherland’s representative painter Rembrant.  He painted many famous pictures.  Most of them gives us dark and heavy feeling.  I personally like the picture of himself.  After seeing all his pictures, I would like to go to cheese Festival.  Cheese Carters would carry cheese which weighs more than 25 kg, and race for the victory.  The best thing is—you get to eat all those delicious cheese!

B: 
I want to go to the United States.  Um….Because there are many kind of must-see place like time square, New York.  And I can enjoy not only visiting must-see place but also study Englihs. I want to meet my friend who lives in there.  I won’t to play party with my friend and her friends.  Before I saw the USA”s drama then are of since was playing party characters.  I really hoped to go to the party wich my friend like movies party.
 
C:
I want to go to North Pole.  Because I want to see a snow and ice.  At there I want to see poller bair and I will catch it.  Then I will make a ice house and I will sleep in ice house.  After sleep I will go to fishing to catch a expensive fish and I will be sell fish to a rich people to very expensive I will be a rich too.  I want to go to china because I want to see panda too.

Question 2: Would you like tohave Mary Poppins as your nanny? Give reasons for your answer.

A:
If I can choose whether having a nanny like Mary Poppins or not, I wouldn’t have a nanny like her.  There is one reason for this:
            Sure, it would be interesting to have a nanny like her.  But, I don’t think tis adventures  and “magic” can help me get a better grade or make my future brighter.  I cant depend on her forever.  She would be leaving when the wind changes—and then I would have to do all the works by myself, but it wouldn’t be easy if I get used to Nanny’s “magic”.  The most important thing is, I want to stand on my own feet and be independent.

B:
No, I wouldn’t.  Mary Poppins is very fun but I don’t think she is proper nanny.  She would be good nanny for children but not for me.  If I had a chance to have nanny, I would choose the person that can hear my words carefully and loves me.  He or She can make me more thoughful and brace.  I do not want adventures all over the world.  I just would have feelings of happy with my nanny.

C:
If Mary Poppins is my nanny, I hate Mary Poppins.  Because she is not funny, and she is not beautiful, and not kind.

D:
I want nanny like Marry Poppins.  Mary Poppins is a good nanny. 
            Marry poppins was stern, but she gave children a lot of experience.  She took children to ravel around the world.  She invited children her birthday party in the zoo. 
            If someone ask “do you want nanny like Mary Poppins?” I will say “yes”.

Question 3: Mary poppins likes to look her best.  Do you care about your clothes?  Give reasonsfor your answer.

A:
Like Mary Poppins, I try to look my best.  I mean, I do care about my clothes.  I believe that if my clothes are dirty and smelly, people would not link of me as kind or nice.  I know that it is not a right way to decide someone’s personality by their appearance, but many people still use that way.  So I care about my clothes.


B:
Yes, but I care about my face more.  Because I have no enough pretty clohes. 

Question 4: The children have special gifts.  Charles Wallace is gooda t communicating.  Meg is good at math.  Calvin is good at sprots.  What are you good at?  How does this help you?


A:
I’m not good at math, sports, communicating, and so.  I’m not good at anything!  But, I do have my own special gift that no other one in the world would have. 
            I am able to remember why my dream was, and I can predict the future by it.  Most people forget all about their dreams in 5 minutes.  But for me—I can remember it for a long time!  Also, I am able to predict through my dream.  For example, I dreamed about my apartment’s elevator.  A ghost was holding clemetines and throwing against the elevator wall.  The elevator went up high and down.  The next day, I used stairs.  When I can back home from school, neighbors got hurt because the ceiling on the elevator broke down, and they have been sent to the hospital by ambulance.  This isn’t all—I dreamed about my math exam.  It had the number 4531.  When I had a trouble marking an answer, I wrote it in 4-5-3-1 in order.  Guess what?  It was right!   These happened when I was 5th grade.  It doesn’t give anymore ideas, but still, I believe in my special gift.
   (This was my pick to send to the semi-final rounds)

Question 5:  Many people at school think Charles Wallace is dumb or stupid.  Why do they think this?  Do you agree with them?  Give reasons for your answer.

A:
Most of people think that Charles Wallace is stupid.  Because he doesn’t speak any words in front of them.  So they thing only with situation that they’ve seen.  I don’t agree with them.  Because they are wrong.  Actually, Charles Wallace is smarter thant their partents!  I sometimes think only with situation I’ve seen like them.  But many times I knew I was wrong and promise me never think like that.  It is bad way to see people.  So we try to think good about person and do not swear him or her.

Question6:  
Would you like to live in a world like Camazotz?  Give reasons for your answer.


A:  
I would like to live in a world like Camazotz because everyone looks similar.  No one is special in Camazotz because everyone looks a like.  In a world like Camazotz I will always be happy because my mom will not compare me with another person.  And I also think that it will be funny if everyone looks similar.  It will be awesome!

B:
Of course not.  I am not a robot so I can’t live routine days like people who live Camazotz.  I am free like wind.  If I am not free and I must live like them, I will die.  People are have something special and particular things each other.  They must be respected.

C: 
No, I don’t because humans are very special.  People can think and people can move what do they think but at Comazotz the people most like a mechine and I is look bad for me. And people is animal, it’s not mechine.  I’m proud because I am human.

D: 
I wounldn’t like to live in a world like Camazotz.  I like people. Not alions.
 




Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Kpop Music of the Month

Date: May

These are some of my favorite songs this month.  I'm linking to a Youtube Video that has English subs--thanks to the guy who puts the subs in.  It is awesome to finally know what I am humming along to.

CN Blue: Intuition [First Step]

10 cm: Americano

B2ST (Beast): Fiction

Infinite: Nothing's Over

FT Island: Hello Hello

Park Bom: Don't Cry

And, Grandma, thank you for listening to all of my songs on the last post I did like this--but you don't have to do that.  If you don't like the songs, I totally understand.  I think I'm becoming a little Korean in my tastes: clothes, shoes, and music.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Korean Bathrooms/Toilets

Date: Whenever

Okay, I feel a little strange about doing a blog post on this, but it has been on my mind.  Or...maybe...in my nose.  (???)

Anyways....one of the things one adjusts to in a difficult culture is the way to use the toilet.  Sounds like it's really simple, but there are actually a whole bunch of ways around the world with different toilet etiquette.

In Korea, there are a couple big differences.

1.  Toilet paper is not in the stall.  Especially in public places, there is toilet paper on the wall outside of the stalls.  So, you grab the necessary amount (which I never know how much so I grab a whole bunch). Heaven help you if you forget to grab tp.  (I have...)  Luckily, one of the basic necessities that one puts in her purse is a bag of tissues (they are sold everywhere here, and often wetwipes are "service-e" items.  or business favors, etc).



2. Toilet Paper does not go in the toilet.  This freaks some people out--I just try not to think about it too much.  I'e been told the reason, which helps a little, to rationalize.  Apparently the Korean sewer system is kinda old fashioned so it can't handle toilet paper.  It would clog the system.  So they put the paper in a little bucket that sits next to the toilet.


So, the reason this subject has been on my mind is that ... sometimes... most of the time...it smells.  I mean, how could it not?

I walk past the restrooms when I go from my teacher's office to the English Classroom.  And I discover myself mentally preparing to pass the door.  I can't even hold my breathe when I pass--I have to exhale.  I am dreading when summer arrives because I'm thinking the heat will not make things any better.

But it is funny.  Toilets were not one of the things I was thinking about having to adjust to when living in a foreign country.  But it seems that every season brings a new toilet problem.  Winter: the heated toilet seats were a blessing.  But also, sometimes the water froze in the toilet bowl.  So...that was really gross.  Spring: The smell.  Summer...hopefully not a worse smell.

Buddha's Birthday

Date: May 10, 2011

Yesterday was Buddha's 2555 Birthday.  I went with my friends Sarah, Mihye and Rika to one of the prominent temples in the country to see some celebrations.  We went to Kumsam-sa. (Sa= temple)  So it is Temple Kumsam (I think.).

Anyway...here is my photographic story.

There was a stream going from the parking lot to the actual temple.  It was really pretty.

It was a decent walk from the parking lot to the temple.  Along the way was lined with lanterns--which I loved.  And the couple sitting on the ground is selling prayer beads (sort of like rosary beads in Catholicism).



It is SPRING!  (Finally!) and the flowers are in full bloom right now.  Some really pretty ones were at Kumsamsa.

The Temple Gate.  
 
At the Temple Grounds now

You walk through another "entrance gate" and have these guys staring at you.  My knowledge of Buddhism is very limited, but I think they are some sort of guardian.  I really need to buy a Buddhism Explained book--Buddhism for Dummies maybe?




It was a really wet day--it didn't actually rain until 5 pm, but everything was very moist.

You can make/buy a prayer and make a lantern.  The white lanterns are prayers for the dead.  I'm not sure if the others are color-specific.

Because it was so damp and for fear of the rain, all the lanterns were wrapped in plastic wrap.  Wasn't great for taking pictures...


 You go up to the temples with all the buddhas and you can offer them food (the buddh'as--not the monks).  And you can also pour water over the statue in the front.  I think its some sort of eternal life thing, or maybe washing away sins, or something.  (Again, my Buddhist knowledge...)


My illegal photo of Buddha.  You're not supposed to take pictures of them.  You can also see the offerings of food at his feet.  Note: (At least in Korea) When you offer food to the Buddhas it is not "thrown away" at the end of the day.  It is eaten by the parishers (or monks, or someone).  Sort of as, "we offered it to you, you blessed (?)(recongized our offering?)(?) and now we will share it because we don't want to waste food.

This is my favorite statue/temple/shrine in the background.  We took a lot of photos around it.
This is Rika.  She is a Japanese woman married to one of Sarah's co-workers.  She is awesome.


In the background of this next photo is one of the oldest temples in Korea.  It was built in the 700s.  As in--almost 1300 years ago! And it has been moved.  It used to be on another part of the property, but somehow they moved it so that it is now in the present location.
This is Mihye.  She is our Korean friend, and she is also amazing. I go to Yoga with her.
 More shrine pictures.



This might be one of my favorite pictures.  I love this shot:

Pretty flowers:
 BUTTERFLY!


 The four of us!
 These are just for fun.  And because of the pretty flowers.









 We got a bunch of high school boys to help us out and take the photos of the 4 of us.  It was funny because they were all goofs.
 So, we got a picture with them.

 Walking back.  The temple also had some sort of music going on, but we all kinda agreed that it ruined the autmosphere.  It was really loud and just annoying noisy, so we didn't spend a lot of time (if any) by the stage.  We liked the nature a lot more.


Coi!


 This one tree is responsible for all the flowers.  It is pretty neat.

The people who parked next to Mihye's car really cut it close.  But Mihye has mad driving skills and it only took her a couple (like only 2) backwards-forwards manuevers and BAM! she was out.  Impressive skill.


We went to TGI Fridays for lunch, in Jeonju.  Let me tell you, we pigged out.  Oink oink.  But...I noticed me fellow friends were doing something very peculiar to their ribs.  3 of us happened to order the Fried Chicken and Baby Back Ribs combo.  And when I look up, they were all eating with a FORK AND KNIFE.

UM, HELLO!!  They are baby back RIBS.  you don't eat Ribs with a Fork and Knife.  You're supposed to get messy--they even gave us extra wipes.  I was disappointed in my friends.  If I ever throw a barbeque--I'm hiding the silverware.  I'll make them eat it right.


And Sarah ate a quesidilla with fork and knife.  *Shake head*.  Sigh.

I caught you!


It was an awesome day--except for one creepy old man, that I will talk about in a later post.  I really enjoyed the temple--and eventually I'm going to try and do a temple stay there.  But, until then...