Cuter in Korea (2)

Date: 12/07

Another example of the superb cuteness factor here in Korea are the puppies.  This is a subject near and dear to my heart.  I am a dog lover, plain and simple.  I have a puppy--her name is Tullah.  

Everyone: meet Tullah: 

This is 2 Christmases ago--when I first got her.  She is 2.5 pounds here and is roughly the size of a teddy bear.  I could literally take her into stores in the States and people would stop and ask me if she was real. She was absolutely precious.  I often fear that I have a harder time leaving Tullah at home then I do my family (but I don't try and think about it too much because it is the one thing that, without a doubt, makes me cry). 

Anyway, here's Tullah all grown up.  And since I'm introducing dogs, the following picture is Lucy, my mom's English Bulldog.

Anyway, I thought Lucy and Tullah were brand-spanking cute.  And then I cam to Korea.  

Now, I deplore the way Lotte Mart keeps the puppies in plexi-glass 1.5 ftx 1.5 ft boxes.  It is a typical "pet store"--which just breaks my heart.  But the good news is whenever I go look at the puppies, I never see the same ones.  So I'm guessing their cuteness completely wins the hearts of people like me and they get bought up like candy. 

Sorry for the bad quality--the plexiglass is not exactly the most see-through of materials...

I mean, can they be more precious?  They are all fiesty, playing and chewing on their water bowls, rolling around in the blankets, growling and yipping at the puppies on the other side of the wall.  It is just too cute.

Luckily, I already have a puppy and I do NOT (I repeat: NOT) want another.  It would be like cheating on Tullah.  Do not worry, Mom and Dad, Tullah is my one and only.  

I am currently getting my puppy fix by stopping every person I see with a dog and asking if I can pet their pup.  Which basically means, if you have a dog in Gunsan, I will accost you on the street.  The random, strange Waygook is going to speak unintelligible things to you and then attempt to pet your dog.  But, luckily, being a waygook, I can sort of pull it off.  And if I say, "Sooo cute! Pretty!" and make kissy face noises, usually the owners end up smiling at the stranger petting their dog. 

Cuter in Korea (1)

Date: 12/01

A while back I took these photos and I've just been extremely lazy/busy and haven't loaded 

Image is very important in Korea.  Almost too important.   In people, it is too heavily stressed--that's for sure.* 

But it also means that the most random things are just plain freaking adorable.  For example: Coffee is just more cute here.  I know what you are thinking, "Coffee?  Cute?  What is this person talking about!?"  But remember, I have a toilet bowl brush that says it is happy for me to use the restroom because that means we will eventually be together--so cute coffee isn't really that far out of the realm of possibilities.  

Without further ado, a cute cup of coffee:

Star!

Heart!
I heart coffee!!

I worked in Starbucks for 5 years throughout high school and college and not once did I ever even think about trying to make shapes out of the foam.  In America, it just isn't something that we would really consider.  But here it's just one example of how things are just cute-ified.

*Footnote**:  There are some serious disadvantages to being in a society that stresses physical image so much.  But it goes beyond just the obvious.  Let me try to explain:

In Korea, the education is so incredibly stressed.  I think I've heard that 98 % of people graduate high school.  Or 99%.  It's some ridiculous number--something in the States is kinda unheard of.  And of those 99% of high school graduates, over 85% of them go to college (according to a report done in 2008)***.  Yeah...kinda incredible.  But this creates a pool of people who are over qualified for many positions.  But because the pool of people going into the job market is--for the most part--relatively even and super smart, it creates a problem.  How does an employer distinguishes between applicants?  There are many ways, but, from what I've been able to gather, appearance is a huge factor.  Applicants must send in a passport sized photo--and it usually is the deciding factor to who gets hired.    Which is very sad.  It creates a society that is told to emphasis looks.  Fashion.  Hair.

One of my friends, who was trying to explain this to me (and did a much better job than I am doing now) told me that she was on a bus to Seoul (a 2.5 hour ride) and she watched the girls next to her fix, reapply, rearrange, fix, redo and generally obsess over their appearance the whole way to Seoul.  The WHOLE way.  I have heard stories of people who have a lay-over in Seoul/Incheon and they come out of the experience thinking that Koreans are just extremely vain because they will sit and stare at their appearance in a mirror and fix a strand of hair that is not really out of place.

I need to say that it's not vanity.  Time for a disclaimer: It's just their culture.   I say it's sad, because it presents limitations to people who are not "gorgeous."  But it's not something I can change.  I am in a foreign country with different rules.  This is just something that I notice that is somewhat different than home.  I know I am over-generalizing, which is not great, nor right.  But I am just trying to express what I am experiencing over here.  This is something that I've noticed and wanted to relay to people.  I know that this might make some people unhappy/angry.   They might think that I'm forwarding stereotypes--but I'm not trying to.  I can go on and on about my own countries negatives.  America and Korea do have a lot of similarities--especially in the obsession-over-looks-part of our culture--but I am in Korea and experiencing Korean things.  This is just something that has stood out to me.

**Note to self: officially a dork for using footnotes in a post. 
***Korean Education Statistics

Video Recorded Lesson Results

Date: 12/21/2010

Every fall, Jeollabuk-do (my state) holds a competition.  The foreign teachers are to video-record a lesson which will be judged and then winners will be announced.  The aim is to promote good co-teaching (which I wasn't really told until after I had video-d my lesson).

Anyway, I had been in the country for 2 weeks when my co-teacher, Ms Kim told me about this.  And, she was sorry, but it was required by everyone--no matter how long they'd been here (she was the messenger, so I just had to smile and try to figure out what the hell I was going to do).  At this point, I distinctly remember feeling like I had no idea what I was doing in front of the students.  Me...teach?  I know I had signed up for that, but really, I had been thrown into the classroom without any real (read: none) experience and told to go.  I had pretty amazing co-teachers that helped A LOT but still I had no idea what I was doing.

Luckily, Thanksgiving was right around the corner.  So I did my lesson on Thanksgiving, which any American can basically wax poetically about for hours if needed.   That was the week that my computer cord had committed Harakiri (Japanese suicide) and died a valiant, violent spark-y death.  So if I still had work, I ended up staying late a couple nights that week.  No big.

I think the lesson went well.  I mean, it worked.  Which is usually how most of my lessons go.  The kids understood and basically did what I asked--lesson successful.  The kids throw paper airplanes more often than answering questions--lesson moderately successful.  The kids jump a poor-unfortunate-soul in the middle of a powerpoint--lesson not successful.  Note to self: that is a horrible evaluation scale.  Please, readers, hear the sarcasm. 

Anyway, about a week ago a bunch of the "finalist" went to Jeonju to present their lesson live in front of a panel of judges.  I had friends in both the judging panel and the contestants.  It was a Thursday so it was Girl's Night so we all got together and, while celebrating Jess' birthday, we talked about it.  Technicaly, Jess couldn't say very much because she signed a confidentiality agreement, but Lindsay was a contestant so she told a bunch of fun stories.

Then, this morning, I was putting together a worksheet for the "Merry Christmas Mr. Bean" episode (because, just watching a movie feels a bit like a cop-out) and I hear some animated talk behind me.  This is not unusual.  I've gotten very good at guessing what subjects are about based on the speed, tonal fluctuations, pitches, and rhythms of the sounds.   I thought maybe someone had gotten a puppy, or maybe engaged...  Note to self: It is strange that I put getting a dog AND getting engaged on the same level of excitement.... 

I was wrong....The results from the video-recorded lesson were back.  And, guess what?!  Yours truly actually placed!  I am 1 of 14 4th place winners for the Middle and High School division.  I think it's more like an "honorary mention" but frankly I don't care.  I mean, I had been in the country 3 freaking weeks, and the fact that I managed to get through the lesson without total chaos erupting was a check in my box.  But, here I am on this piece of paper, along with people who are obviously really good teachers (I recognize a few of the names).

It really made my morning.  I think everyone in my school had basically assumed the same thing I did: She's been here 3 weeks, don't expect much.  Not saying that they don't like me, they do!  But, honestly, you need time to adjust and they acknowledged that.  When I was doing the lesson, I was told many times to just think of it as an evaluation--you don't have to actually try to win the prize.

So to get on the list, they were just as pleasantly surprised.  It's a really good thing that I, along with my co-teacher Mrs Park, bring good press to the school.  I earn brownie points with my school by doing a good job.  This was mucho brownie points.  I had teachers I don't really know come up to me and say, in English, "Congratulations!"  (which is a pretty difficult word to say!).  And not just one or two, but like 10 people.  Mrs Park came in about 3 minutes after I had found out, and we exchanged high fives and laughs.   This is a good thing for both she and I.

My morning's victory dance!

Here are some facts about the results:

It is split into two groups: Elementary and Middle/High School. There is 1 first place winner, 2 second place winners, 3 third place winners, and 14 fourth place winners. 

My friend Lindsay won the Elementary 1st place.   I also know one of the 3rd place winners: Karl.  I think I recognize about 3 of the 4th place winners in the Elementary bracket.

For Middle/High School Bracket, I know one of the 2nd place winners.  And then 3 of the other fourth place people.  Sarah, my good South African friend, placed!  I was one of 9 middle school teachers and Sarah was one of 11 high school teachers (but I don't think they differentiated, just lumped us all together).

As I said, I feel pretty happy right now.  Pleasantly surprised and excited.  It is good to recognition.  And it is also good to know that even when I felt like I have no idea what I'm doing, I still did something right.   So, theoretically, when I start to feel like I actually do know what I'm doing, I'll be even better!  Maybe....

Open Mic Night

Date: 12/14

On Tuesday, we had a fun night in Gunsan!  There are basically two western bars in Gunsan (which, when you think about it is pretty good): TLC and The ROK.  I have not been to TLC; I've heard it is the military bar where it can get a little ridiculous.  But I met some new foreigner people last Wednesday at the ROK and we had a lot of fun.

They invited me and my friend Sarah to come the following week for Open Mic Night, the following Tuesday--which was 2 days ago!

It was a little late, starting at 10 pm, but the following day all the 3rd graders had to take their national high school entrance exam so I didn't have to be at school until 9.20.  (Extra hour of sleep!).  So I bundled up, met Sarah for coffee around 8.  She wasn't feeling very well, so I walked over to Bar Street by myself and then met up with a bunch of the foreigner friends.

I walk in and I'm probably a little early.  There are a couple groups of Koreans sitting at tables but only a couple foreigners.  I take a seat at the bar and slowly start to un-layer.  I turn to my right and smile at a Korean woman looking at me.  (By now, I'm pretty used to getting looked at, so I just smile and nod).  She says, "Hello." In English, so I try to start a conversation with her.  "What's your name?" Pretty simple question.  She says, "Sunni," and gives me a funny look.  I say my name, and then repeat because it's so freaking loud.  On the second time, she goes, "I know."  I took it as, "I heard," and then saw a friend walk in so I go to great the friend.

About 15 minutes later a bunch of foreigners have arrived and we pull some tables together.   Sunni is sitting across from me.  About five minutes after sitting next to each other, she leans over and says, "You don't remember me, do you?"  I look at her.  I don't think I've met this Korean.  I mean, I've met a lot and a bunch of very small encounters.  But I honestly didn't remember this woman.  She was decked out for the bar: a big black fur vest, a tilted fendora hat, and 4 or 5 inch heels.  While it is quiet normal for Koreans to get dressed up, even she looked snazzy!  Then she introduces herself, "I am landlord."

It suddenly clicks.  My brain thinks just one thing: "Oh sh*t."  Not only did I run out on this woman, but I totally didn't even remember her.  Talk about slams...

I quickly try to repair the situation--"I'm so sorry!"  I tell her how I thought her place was fine, I just found a place closer to school so it's a quick walk.  Blah blah blah.  The damage was already done.  The person next to me is dying of laughter because I have totally made a dunce out of myself.

Oh well.  Luckily, Open Mic started and I was able to have a convenient excuse to stop digging my grave, or inserting a foot into my mouth.

I think the owner of the bar is on the right.  He was military.  It was necessary for both of them to do the announcements because there was a mixed crowd (Korean and English speakers).

Miss Amber!  She actually sang a song in Spanish--which was fun!  Mucho brownie points!  I think it was "La Tortilla" (?) by Shakira

 The crowd...

Then Amber and Cherie sang a duet..."Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga.

 Cherie went on next.  She sang "Valerie" by Amy Winehouse (spelling...?)  She also sang another song, but I don't remember.  Actually I am quiet impressed that I remember the songs names for the other ones...cudos to me!

Add caption

 Then a couple guys got up and "rapped." I won't be too harsh on them because it takes massive guts to get up in front of people and try something new, but it wasn't great.

About four of us got up and left after that.  It was approaching 11.30 pm and we had really come to see Cherie and Amber.  I heard that it continued for a while with stand up comedy and a couple more people with guitars.

It was a good night over all.  I seems that it will be happening every Tuesday so it will be something go and do if I get bored.

Christmas Lesson Fun

Date: 12/16

Teachers across the peninsula have probably been teaching Christmas--or will for the next week.  The test was last week, the students have become brain dead, and these two weeks the students are not going to be tested on.  So it's fun, culture time.

And what could be more fun than Christmas, right?!

Well, Christmas is not as jolly here in Korea.  (Read, my students are little grinches!)  I walked into class on Monday, wearing a festive Reindeer antler headband and one of my students said I looked stupid.  Which, five girl students promptly said that, "No!  Meggie Teacher looks cute-e!"  Doesn't inspire much confidence.

Anyway, one of the exercise teachers have implored students to participate in is writing Santa a letter.   I wish the following story could have been one of my students, but no, it was a friend's in Seoul.

She wrote: "Today we are writing letters to the North Pole.  My co-teacher, after reading a student's work said, "You're not allowed to threaten Santa!"

She then posted the student's letter: "Hey Santa, I just want 50,000 cash.  That is very, very, very, very little cost for you....If you will not give me that, I will burn your raindeer, then crash your sleigh."

Little darling...

It's SNOW!

Date: 12/16

I made a post a little while ago about it snow--which it wasn't really snow.  That was just flurries.  I woke up this morning and it had SNOWED. For real!

I just wanted to share because it makes me extremely happy.  The past couple of days haven't been the easiest (missing home, missing family, missing Christmas, having to teach little Grinches about Christmas, and it's freaking cold..) but when it snows it sort of makes it all better.  Everything is just so pretty.

So this was my walk to school this morning.  It started with me going back up to my apartment and putting on another layer of clothing...and then happily trudging around in the snow!  Yeah for cameras!

This is the view outside my apartment complex's door.  Actual snow!

The car's haven't been out long enough to turn it into a giant slush pit.

It's COLD!

Date: 12/15

I've been asked a couple questions by friends and family if it's actually cold in Korea.  And I proudly respond, like a good Korean-ite, "Korea has four seasons!"  Which, if you ever come to Korea, you hear all the time when Korean's talk about Korea.  Korea has Four Seasons!  Which is great and nice and all, but when they mean all four seasons, they (at least in my little city) mean they have the extremes to ALL the seasons.

For example, when it gets cold, it gets REALLY cold.  Ms Kim told me that today has been the coldest so far.  This morning, when I walked to school it was -7 degrees.  That's in Celcius.   So that means it's 19.4 degrees F (thanks to the wonderful thing that is the internet and instant converters!)  Which means, that's like 12 degrees BELOW freezing!  Holy crap!  That's cold!

Here's how cold:

I am basically an icicle.  I walk to school and I turn into a frozen treat.  My legs are like ice, my face is a frozen shade of red, my fingers literally cannot move, and forget about even feeling my feet.

I'm not a man, but this basically summons up what I feel like when I get to school...

It wouldn't be too bad if it was just cold.  But it's more than that...it's soooooo SOOOO windy here in Gunsan.  And it's the wind that pierces all your layers.

Besides the fact that this lady is in a dress, this is me.  I had an umbrella for when it was raining on Monday.  Now I do not own an umbrella because the wind literally blew the umbrella inside out, removing the edges from their mooring, bending the spokes, and turning my umbrella into a joke in about 15 seconds outside.  So, I was cold and wet when I got to school. 

I'm literally wearing about 8 layers.  Look, I'll count them:

1) undershirt
2) base layer
3) cotton long sleeve shirt
4) decorative overshirt
5) Sweater
6) NorthFace thin Jacket
7)  NorthFace Winter Jacket
8) Nice Long Winter Jacket (if I can fit it on...which is only half the time)

This does not include all my gloves, ear muffs, and scarf.

If I was a commercial/ad, I would look something like this.  If only I could look that coordinated when I am all layered up.

And don't think that I'm neglecting my lower half:  I layer down there too.  Base layer of tights, 2nd layer of tights, and pants.  Then I have at least 2 pairs of socks on.

This is me when I go outside....

And the really stinky part of it all is that Koreans don't use heating quiet like Americans do.  And buildings aren't exactly enclosed.  First of all, the doors to my school are open.  Yes, that's right...So basically they heat certain rooms.  My teacher's office is heated--but whenever someone opens the door and blast of FREEZING AIR shoots into the room.  And guess where the Teacher's Room is located?  That's right, right next to the wide-open front doors.  

Then to get to my classroom, I get to walk outside.  There is a 'driveway' so that teachers can drive their car to the parking lot, so the buildings are not connected on the first floor. Which means, I get to walk outside to get to my classroom.  

Yep...Open doors on both sides of the "Tunnel"

Which basically means I look like a giant puff man all day long because I just don't take off my coat(s).  I've always been a one of those people who is cold when everyone else is like, "It's starting to get a LITTLE warm in here, don't you think?"  But its on a whole new level. 

That being said, I must say that I love my school and little city.  I might be a little uncomfortable, but I wouldn't change where I live.