Okay... so.
Got back from Kyoto last week with my mom. I would go into details about the trip, but I simply don't have the energy. If you want to see pictures, you can go here. The entire time she was in Gyeongju though, was, well... incredible. I wish she could have stayed longer. Really.
I wasn't stressed out when my mom was here, and I don't think I'm necessarily stressed out now, but my body is suddenly unfamiliar to me. Every few days if not less I feel nauseous and weak. I was eating extremely well in Japan, a hearty breakfast and everything, but now I am back to my old eating habits, and don't seem to ever feel hungry. And if I am hungry, I can never finish my meal. I don't know.
Let's break the last two weeks into pros and cons:
Cons
1. I got dismissed from my job... fired would be the proper verb. This happened because of my spinal/back/leg problems. I took my three days of contractual sick leave all within a week and a half of each other, and my boss approached me and said that she wanted to change teachers because I can't guarantee her that I won't need more time off in the future. And she's right, but I didn't break my contract. I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. There is no guarantee that my replacement teacher wouldn't take four days of work, or that he'd even be a good teacher. I am concerned for my students, and am so, so sad that I have to leave them.
As I've said before, Koreans don't do well with sick leave. Parents complain. They are paying good money for a native English teacher, and when I'm not there, my boss has to cover my classes. The entire situation is extremely complicated, and I am getting opinions from everyone, and I don't know. It's just difficult. I've been in contact with the Korean Labor Ward and have e-mailed a lawyer who specializes in foreign teacher rights. The thing is though, is that I'm not completely opposed to going home. I would say realistically, even with the nerve root injection (which cost me a cool $200), I am only at about 35-40% of my physical capability. Obviously room for improvement.
However, she expects me to pay for my own flight home. She broke my contract based on a hypothetical. I am going to fight this (the flight home she wants me to pay), find out what my rights are, and possibly take another job within the next week, week and a half. She made a business decision, and it looks as though I might need to as well.
2. I think this is causing my body to act up. I can't seem to get a grip on my quality of life. Every day I am dealing with some other aspect of this mess. I really, really like my boss. I don't believe that she is doing anything maliciously. I don't want to believe she is capable of that. But the more people I talk to, specifically one friend who has run her own hagwon for seven years and is married to a Korean, the more I feel like an idiot. Everything from the apparently obscene taxes that are being taken out of my paycheck, to the fact that she found a replacement so quickly, to continually pushing for back surgery when I've said I don't want it, etc. The whole situation is taking an incessant toll on my body and on my life.
Pros
1. Jeff is home. Let me repeat. JEFF IS HOME! A lot has happened since he has been gone for the last seven weeks, and chatting with him has put me in a strange sort of peace. A little more complete.
2. Him and Megan are coming to Gyeongju one week from tomorrow. Holy rice balls. I just want to hug them for hours. I'm going to cry, I know it.
3. I am planning a massive road trip when I come home. Visiting my friends who are scattered around the States. Nothing sounds more appealing to me than driving (which I've greatly missed for the last 5 months) across the country with my iPod, good company, and incredible scenery. From Michigan to Montana, to Oregon, to California, to Arizona, to Louisiana, then rounding up in Florida. This is all assuming, of course, that I don't accompany Amit on her trip out west in September. It just depends. If I am coming home in early September like at this moment I am supposed to be, I will go with Amit, which would be all kinds of beautiful. If I come home in late September, I will go on my own road trip with anyone who wants to accompany me for a leg of it. It will be epic either way, and I would rather go with someone whether it be Amit or whoever than go by myself. I am currently taking applications.
4. I have a boyfriend. Haha! He's going to read this and give me a slightly harder time than usual. It's complicated, as it always is with him and I, but it's really, really good. If everything works out, we will hopefully be teaching abroad together once I get my back sorted. But yeah. Big smiles. :)
So more pros than cons, which is good. Looking over this post I have more things to look forward to than the one thing that is bringing me down. And whatever happens, I know I am not done traveling. I will only be home for as long as absolutely necessary, and then I'm off again.
Staying global, kids.
Showing posts with label Authentically Korean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Authentically Korean. Show all posts
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
How are you today, _____?
Logan: "I am hot and not so good."
Diana: "I am great!"
Julie: "I am so-so and excellent."
Luis (yellow): "I am kray-gee!"Daniel (red): "I am good! And bad! And kray-gee! And beautiful!"
This pretty much sums up the first half of each day. Yes, they are cute, but don't let those tiny Korean faces fool you. Although these are some of my best students, some of them make me want to make a fast escape out the window, down the ladder, into the not-so-bustling town below. I have, however, gotten into the groove of teaching all 68 of my students. If you know me (and I'm assuming most of you do, otherwise you would not follow this blog), then you know I majored in secondary education. Come to think of it, I've had already exposed this inner dialogue before. Regardless, let it be known, once again, that I did not choose elementary education for a reason. I would much rather have a real conversation with my students as opposed to having to wipe away their ever so frequent tears, explain the differences between "on", "in", and "under", and break up their fights-- although their arguments can be extremely amusing. If I felt I could accurately recreate one such fight, I would try. But you really need to be there to witness the fickleness that is so apparent in these children.
Issues are often solved with a simple "rock, paper, scissors" game. Or in Korean, "Gah-lee, gah-lee, GOH!" Even my older students who have been friends and classmates at English World for years will get into a verbal confrontation, and then quickly resort to rock, paper, scissors to ultimately decide who is right, and who is rocked. It is not uncommon to see grown men in the streets participating in the same act.
What is even more amusing is the game where students will hold one of their legs in a perpendicular fashion to the ground, bounce around on one foot, and try to knock each other over. Wonder where this kind of resolution comes from? You need not look any further.
Issues are often solved with a simple "rock, paper, scissors" game. Or in Korean, "Gah-lee, gah-lee, GOH!" Even my older students who have been friends and classmates at English World for years will get into a verbal confrontation, and then quickly resort to rock, paper, scissors to ultimately decide who is right, and who is rocked. It is not uncommon to see grown men in the streets participating in the same act.
What is even more amusing is the game where students will hold one of their legs in a perpendicular fashion to the ground, bounce around on one foot, and try to knock each other over. Wonder where this kind of resolution comes from? You need not look any further.
Commentator #1: "Holy rice cakes, Byeoung! That pitcher just nailed #51 in the arm! Looks like there's gunna be a fight... oh.. he's going for it... ASSA! The entire team is in a foot-tastic frenzy!"
Commentator #2: (laughing) "Let's hope their children aren't watching!"
Commentator #2: (laughing) "Let's hope their children aren't watching!"
As I always say, better foot fights than Taekwondo. Haha! For realsies though. Isn't it always the adults?
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Seoul Sister (Brother)
In t-minus 8 hours, I will be on a 4.5 hour bus ride en route to Seoul.
There will definitely be some mad updating when I get back on Sunday.
-로라
Update: I didn't arrive in Seoul until 5 p.m. yesterday, because I was busy following a live Red Wings blog during during game 3. Definitely a mistake. There is way too much to see in that city of 10 million to feel aesthetically or culturally fulfilled after having only been there for a night and a day.
A dance club in Hongdae.
The night (morning) ended late. Even though it was 7 a.m., I was too awake to sleep, so I hopped a bus back to Gyeongju at 7:55, and arrived back in my little microcosm near 12:00. Whenever I go back to the city that boasts 10 million people (22 million in the greater metropolitan area), I will be sure to book a motel.
There will definitely be some mad updating when I get back on Sunday.-로라
Update: I didn't arrive in Seoul until 5 p.m. yesterday, because I was busy following a live Red Wings blog during during game 3. Definitely a mistake. There is way too much to see in that city of 10 million to feel aesthetically or culturally fulfilled after having only been there for a night and a day.
En Route:
Couples like to dress alike
Arrival:
Sick.
Couples like to dress alikeArrival:
Sick.Seoul is a mad house. I met up with some friends in Itaewon, which is around the corner from a military base. While there, one can't help but stumble upon hundreds of Westerners; at least one third of the pedestrian traffic. Easily. This is a huge change from life in Gyeongju.
International cuisine is everywhere. There are Shawarma street vendors, Greek, Mexican, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Caribbean restaurants. There are New York Steakhouses, Thai curry stands, authentic Italian hole-in-the-wall restuarants, etc. You name it, Seoul has it. It is literally one of the biggest metropolitan cities in the world, second to only Tokyo.
* * *
We ate dinner at a Greek restaurant called Santorini, where I was able to indulge in saganaki and chicken with lemon sauce (amazing). After dinner we went to a bar called The Bungalow, where you sit in hammock-type chairs, the floor is filled with sand, and margaritas are a reasonable price (W7,000 = $5.50 US). The Bungalow got old real quick, though. There were too many military men doing too many tequila shots, all the while making Americans look like fools who drink too much. So we left, and headed for Hongdae.
Hongdae is one of the 25 major districts in Seoul. Having never been to New York or Los Angeles, this was my first real taste of any sort of metropolis. I loved it too much. There is an endless nightlife, people from all over the world enjoying each others' company, live music in every third bar (or at least it seemed), incredible dance clubs, and, as previously stated, 24 hour international cuisine vendors available on every corner.
International cuisine is everywhere. There are Shawarma street vendors, Greek, Mexican, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Caribbean restaurants. There are New York Steakhouses, Thai curry stands, authentic Italian hole-in-the-wall restuarants, etc. You name it, Seoul has it. It is literally one of the biggest metropolitan cities in the world, second to only Tokyo.
* * *
We ate dinner at a Greek restaurant called Santorini, where I was able to indulge in saganaki and chicken with lemon sauce (amazing). After dinner we went to a bar called The Bungalow, where you sit in hammock-type chairs, the floor is filled with sand, and margaritas are a reasonable price (W7,000 = $5.50 US). The Bungalow got old real quick, though. There were too many military men doing too many tequila shots, all the while making Americans look like fools who drink too much. So we left, and headed for Hongdae.
Hongdae is one of the 25 major districts in Seoul. Having never been to New York or Los Angeles, this was my first real taste of any sort of metropolis. I loved it too much. There is an endless nightlife, people from all over the world enjoying each others' company, live music in every third bar (or at least it seemed), incredible dance clubs, and, as previously stated, 24 hour international cuisine vendors available on every corner.
A dance club in Hongdae.
The night (morning) ended late. Even though it was 7 a.m., I was too awake to sleep, so I hopped a bus back to Gyeongju at 7:55, and arrived back in my little microcosm near 12:00. Whenever I go back to the city that boasts 10 million people (22 million in the greater metropolitan area), I will be sure to book a motel.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Easy Like Sunday Morning
Last Tuesday on my first day off (thanks, Children's Day!) a few of us went to a beach in a nearby town called Gampo. Technically it was a celebratory event for Beau and Simon's birthday, although it really ended up being a bunch of foreigners drinking wine by the East Sea.
Although the beach wasn't the most beautiful I've been to, the ride to and from was stunning. I told myself I would go back there this weekend because I didn't bring my camera last week and I was kicking myself for not having it at an opportune time for photo taking. So that's been my day thus far. I got up, ate a sandwich, packed my bag, and began my mini solo journey to Gampo.
Although the beach wasn't the most beautiful I've been to, the ride to and from was stunning. I told myself I would go back there this weekend because I didn't bring my camera last week and I was kicking myself for not having it at an opportune time for photo taking. So that's been my day thus far. I got up, ate a sandwich, packed my bag, and began my mini solo journey to Gampo.
En Route:
After the gorgeous commute, I bought some Sun Chips and a bottle of water and sat on the curb in what I would consider to be downtown Gampo. Although by no means a progressive town, I highly enjoyed sitting in the sun (what UP 82 degrees!) observing the women in traditional Korean clothing, purchasing fish in the market across the street. Blissfully content. I was contemplating what to do next. Should I go and find a restaurant? No, I thought, because I can't speak the language and I don't want to put any more attention on myself than I already am (old-fashioned Korean town + tall female foreigner + blue tanktop = BIG NEWS). Should I go and try and find a spot to write in my journal? Yes! Brilliant idea, Laura. That was half of the reason I came to Gampo, to write-- the other half being me, in a bus, with my iPod, staring at the full, green mountains.
Before I got a chance to find the perfect seaside spot, however, a white minivan pulled over with a short Korean man smiling at me through the window. The conversation went as follows:
Man: Hi!
Me: Hi!
Man: You... uhhh.. what you do here?
Me: I'm... ummm.. taking pictures?
Man: Okay okay okay okay. Uhh.. but.. mmm.. what you DO here?
Me: I'm an English teacher.
Man: Een-gleesh teech-ah!? AHHHH okay okay okay! Where from?
Me: America.
Man: Ah, okay okay okay. But, uh... where from?
Me: Um... USA?
Man: Gampo?
Me: No no, Gyeongju.
Man: AHHHH okay! Een-gleesh teech-ah GYEONGJU!
Me: Naaaaiiiii. (aka, yes, you got it, it's clicked).
At this point, he gets out of the minivan to come talk to me.
Man: You eat?
showing him my bag of Sun Chips
Me: Yes, I eat.
Man: Ahh no no no, you like eat?
Me: Yes, I like to eat.
Man: Okay! You come wid me and my friend! We go eat!
Me: Me no eat, no hungry.
Man: You NO HUNGRY!? You only eat DEES? (pointing to my chips)
Me: Yep. Me no hungry. Thanks anyways though!
Man: Ahh, okay okay okay. So.. mmm.. we go eat!
Me: Ah, okay. We go eat.
Mind you, this is not something I would ever do back at home. But you should all know that South Korea is literally one of the safest countries in the world. They have serious crime laws. For example, an indisputable 1 year jail sentence if you steal someone's iPod. With this in mind, I got in the minivan.
So The Man, His Friend and I drove to this park by the sea, where they were cooking sam gip sol on a beach mat with a few of their friends. I was kindly greeted and fed more than anyone else there (in Korea, it would be considered highly rude to not try and fatten up your guest with as much food as he/she can stomach). It was hilarious. Not to mention delicious. Sam gip sol is pork rib barbequed on a stove, which once it's cooked, you wrap in lettuce, add some sauce, and eat one piece at a time. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite meals here. I had a couple of drinks with them, attempted to teach them some English, was sang to in Korean, and was then given a ride from The Friend back to the bus terminal so I could come back home, and once again indulge my senses in the grandiose scenery .
The Man
Husband and wife. This guy kept calling me Bingo and giving me high fives.
Sam Gip Sol
Before I got a chance to find the perfect seaside spot, however, a white minivan pulled over with a short Korean man smiling at me through the window. The conversation went as follows:
Man: Hi!
Me: Hi!
Man: You... uhhh.. what you do here?
Me: I'm... ummm.. taking pictures?
Man: Okay okay okay okay. Uhh.. but.. mmm.. what you DO here?
Me: I'm an English teacher.
Man: Een-gleesh teech-ah!? AHHHH okay okay okay! Where from?
Me: America.
Man: Ah, okay okay okay. But, uh... where from?
Me: Um... USA?
Man: Gampo?
Me: No no, Gyeongju.
Man: AHHHH okay! Een-gleesh teech-ah GYEONGJU!
Me: Naaaaiiiii. (aka, yes, you got it, it's clicked).
At this point, he gets out of the minivan to come talk to me.
Man: You eat?
showing him my bag of Sun Chips
Me: Yes, I eat.
Man: Ahh no no no, you like eat?
Me: Yes, I like to eat.
Man: Okay! You come wid me and my friend! We go eat!
Me: Me no eat, no hungry.
Man: You NO HUNGRY!? You only eat DEES? (pointing to my chips)
Me: Yep. Me no hungry. Thanks anyways though!
Man: Ahh, okay okay okay. So.. mmm.. we go eat!
Me: Ah, okay. We go eat.
Mind you, this is not something I would ever do back at home. But you should all know that South Korea is literally one of the safest countries in the world. They have serious crime laws. For example, an indisputable 1 year jail sentence if you steal someone's iPod. With this in mind, I got in the minivan.
So The Man, His Friend and I drove to this park by the sea, where they were cooking sam gip sol on a beach mat with a few of their friends. I was kindly greeted and fed more than anyone else there (in Korea, it would be considered highly rude to not try and fatten up your guest with as much food as he/she can stomach). It was hilarious. Not to mention delicious. Sam gip sol is pork rib barbequed on a stove, which once it's cooked, you wrap in lettuce, add some sauce, and eat one piece at a time. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite meals here. I had a couple of drinks with them, attempted to teach them some English, was sang to in Korean, and was then given a ride from The Friend back to the bus terminal so I could come back home, and once again indulge my senses in the grandiose scenery .
The Man
Husband and wife. This guy kept calling me Bingo and giving me high fives.
Sam Gip SolNeedless to say I had a blast. Everything about today was novel, and I finally got some time to be alone with my thoughts and my music-- wasn't really feeling like I needed much else.
It is now 6:40 PM, and I have an appointment with Nina at 7:00, the Thai masseuse who my friend Steve met while in Phuket. She noticed that my balance is off and was kind enough to offer me free massages until she returns home in a month or so. Although I am obviously about to go, I am nervous because she had said to me, "It will be very painful, because your pain is so deep. China, Japan, Korea massage all same. Thai massage different. Why? Because we heal." I trust her, but I am not looking forward to hurting. I will keep you posted.
Update: 9:27 p.m.
I am now back at my apartment after some serious work being done on my back. I don't feel much better yet, but I believe in the morning I will notice a difference. My Korean friend Duk is taking me to the doctor tomorrow to get my back x-rayed, in hopes that they will tell me exactly what is wrong and how I can fix it. I need to dedicate myself to a doctor, because if this imbalance keeps up, I will eventually be walking with my waist up being completely horizontal. I am sure of it. I am too young to have these kinds of problems and it is a complete nuisannce to feel decrepid when I am only 23. [insert expletives here]. Ugh.
One last thing.
It is now 6:40 PM, and I have an appointment with Nina at 7:00, the Thai masseuse who my friend Steve met while in Phuket. She noticed that my balance is off and was kind enough to offer me free massages until she returns home in a month or so. Although I am obviously about to go, I am nervous because she had said to me, "It will be very painful, because your pain is so deep. China, Japan, Korea massage all same. Thai massage different. Why? Because we heal." I trust her, but I am not looking forward to hurting. I will keep you posted.
Update: 9:27 p.m.
I am now back at my apartment after some serious work being done on my back. I don't feel much better yet, but I believe in the morning I will notice a difference. My Korean friend Duk is taking me to the doctor tomorrow to get my back x-rayed, in hopes that they will tell me exactly what is wrong and how I can fix it. I need to dedicate myself to a doctor, because if this imbalance keeps up, I will eventually be walking with my waist up being completely horizontal. I am sure of it. I am too young to have these kinds of problems and it is a complete nuisannce to feel decrepid when I am only 23. [insert expletives here]. Ugh.
One last thing.
Mom:
Monday, April 27, 2009
Greenery, The Commune, and Some Parade
My favorite color has always been blue. I go between preferring dark blues over light blues sometimes. But in general, in my life, blue tends to be this defining part of me. I have a thing for blue eyes, which for whatever reason is reflected in the guys I've dated. Some of my clothes which hold the most meaning to me are blue. Blue jeans. Crystal Lake, the Atlantic, the sky, cerulean crayola crayons. Now that I've said that for no particular reason, I can get to one of my three topics for this post.
We have had a substantial amount of rain for the last seven days or so, which in turn has turned everything vibrantly green. It's really beautiful. Green comes in a close second to blue. I could wax poetic about both colors if I was so inclined. I have an affinity for trees and there are some really great ones in Korea. Not to mention the mountains being different shades of green.
The view from my apartment.
A block by my place.
Again
A tomb. Apparently the tree on the right, the biggest one, is where Koreans would hang themselves from during the Japanese invasion.
So my friend George and I grabbed some dinner tonight, and after we had finished, a parade loudly sha-banged it's way through the streets. My camera work is awful because I tend to forget that I need to hold it horizontally for videos to be seen properly. I only realized that about two thirds of the way into the video. But it's still pretty good I think...? You be the judge. We think it was a political parade of some sort. It was still SUPER funny though. I tend to not have a clue what's going on in Korea or why they do the things they do half of the time anyway, so then tonight when I've just finished eating, BAM. Parade at 8:00 at night. Double you tee eff.
I will update more videos later from The Commune later. :)
Update: 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday. I planned on getting a haircut this morning, but I woke up 1.5 hours later than I had planned. Shit. Oh well. Here is a video of a Korean cover band playing some Weezer, circa last Saturday at The Commune in Daegu. It was more than a pleasant surprise to stumble upon them!
We have had a substantial amount of rain for the last seven days or so, which in turn has turned everything vibrantly green. It's really beautiful. Green comes in a close second to blue. I could wax poetic about both colors if I was so inclined. I have an affinity for trees and there are some really great ones in Korea. Not to mention the mountains being different shades of green.
The view from my apartment.
A block by my place.
Again
A tomb. Apparently the tree on the right, the biggest one, is where Koreans would hang themselves from during the Japanese invasion.So my friend George and I grabbed some dinner tonight, and after we had finished, a parade loudly sha-banged it's way through the streets. My camera work is awful because I tend to forget that I need to hold it horizontally for videos to be seen properly. I only realized that about two thirds of the way into the video. But it's still pretty good I think...? You be the judge. We think it was a political parade of some sort. It was still SUPER funny though. I tend to not have a clue what's going on in Korea or why they do the things they do half of the time anyway, so then tonight when I've just finished eating, BAM. Parade at 8:00 at night. Double you tee eff.
I will update more videos later from The Commune later. :)
Update: 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday. I planned on getting a haircut this morning, but I woke up 1.5 hours later than I had planned. Shit. Oh well. Here is a video of a Korean cover band playing some Weezer, circa last Saturday at The Commune in Daegu. It was more than a pleasant surprise to stumble upon them!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
There are some things pure, while certain things blur.
I whole heartedly love Sundays. And for me and many of my friends, Sundays slowly bleed into Mondays because no one has to be at work until 1:00 or so. It always makes for an extremely relaxing end of the weekend when you don't have to be up for the typical 9-5.
Weather wise, this past week has been gorgeous; high 60s/low 70s, and it looks as though it's going to stay like that for the weeks to come. It is long skirt and t-shirt weather. It is sitting-in-Wonsong Park-with-friends-playing-guitar-in-front-of-a-historic-site weather.
Per the request of a certain friendsies, while walking towards the small tomb to meet some friends for lunch yesterday I pulled out my camera and gave a quick tour of some of the surrounding area which I live. It is completely windy in the video so I do apologize in advance. It cuts off for some reason in the first video, and then picks back up again in the second.
I have loads of other pictures I want to share, but I don't want to take up my entire blog with a random compilation of them. So I think what I am going to do is just show the best ones from various nights. The thought of making a photo album account stresses me out! So anyway, here are a few from the past couple weeks. :)
For thousands of Asians, the swastika still holds its' original meaning, which was of wealth, good fortune, and for Koreans, protection. Shame it means to us what it does.
I went to Bulguksa two weekends ago when it was still cold, and before the cherry blossoms had fully bloomed. It was really cool going with my boss and my coworker, but I need to go back now that it's warm outside and the trees are greener.
Weather wise, this past week has been gorgeous; high 60s/low 70s, and it looks as though it's going to stay like that for the weeks to come. It is long skirt and t-shirt weather. It is sitting-in-Wonsong Park-with-friends-playing-guitar-in-front-of-a-historic-site weather.
Per the request of a certain friendsies, while walking towards the small tomb to meet some friends for lunch yesterday I pulled out my camera and gave a quick tour of some of the surrounding area which I live. It is completely windy in the video so I do apologize in advance. It cuts off for some reason in the first video, and then picks back up again in the second.
I have loads of other pictures I want to share, but I don't want to take up my entire blog with a random compilation of them. So I think what I am going to do is just show the best ones from various nights. The thought of making a photo album account stresses me out! So anyway, here are a few from the past couple weeks. :)
For thousands of Asians, the swastika still holds its' original meaning, which was of wealth, good fortune, and for Koreans, protection. Shame it means to us what it does.
* * *
Climbing cherry blossom trees. Photo credit: Diane Hall.
Photo credit: Diane Hall
Some women!
Climbing cherry blossom trees. Photo credit: Diane Hall.
Photo credit: Diane Hall
Some women!Mmm alright. That is enough photo uploading for one blog. Next weekend is the Traditional Korean Wine and Rice Cake Festival here in Gyeongju, also known as the Soju Festival. There will be people coming from all over Korea to be a part of it, which is awesome for us who live here because friends of friends will be visiting. More people to meet. There will be tents and tents of Koreans giving out free Soju samples. I will also have the opportunity to make my own. Can't wait to tell you about it! :)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Medicinal Charades, Perma Cramps, and Kidlets
As some of you may know, for the past month or month and a half I have had a perma cramp in my left leg. I have concluded that this could have only been caused by running at the Y back at home and not stretching properly before or after the treadmill. I have been paying for this lack of basic athleticism rule number one, and today I told Cate about my leg pain.
She immediately took me to a physical therapist about two blocks from the school. When we went in, she gave my name and birthday to the receptionist, and I saw a doctor right away. He spoke to Cate for a few minutes as she described my situation, and I was then taken to the therapist upstairs. I wish I had my camera, because what he did to me was, I feel, authentically Korean.
First he asked me where it hurts (and by asked, I mean gestured). I showed him and he told me to lay down on this table. So I'm laying on my back as he instructs me to straighten my legs out. This is painful for me to do, so with some serious mind over matter-ness I obliged. He then strapped these astronomical looking moon boots/thigh high pants on me, plugged some things into a machine that were connected to my legs, and hit the start button. You know how it feels when you go to a doctor and they take your blood pressure? That's how it felt, but much harder and from my feet to my upper thighs. It felt strange at first, but after a while it started to feel like a really good massage; a lot of pressure that carried on for about 40 minutes.
After the medicinal moon pants were taken off me (by the way, on a normal Korean the moon pants would reach all the way up their leg), the doctor led me into another room where I had to lay on my stomach as he connected these cyclical suction cups to my leg. He told me I have a strained ham string. He then turned a machine on, and it felt like a million toothbrush bristles pushing into the places on my leg where it hurts the most. I can only assume that this means he was doing exactly the right thing, and it lasted for about 20 minutes or so. After it was all said and done, it cost (with medicine) $16,200W, which is about $15.00 American. Very cheap, and mind you this is without health insurance, which I will get once I go get a physical this week with Cate. I am supposed to see the physical therapist 3-5 times a week for the next 3-4 weeks, and Cate and I are trading off payment (she paid this time, I pay next time, etc.). I can't tell if my leg feels better yet, but it is only day one of physical therapy and I have confidence that the Korean doctors will un-strain my pained hamstring.
This entire week I have to be at school at 10 a.m. so that Cate can help me with my lesson plans, and to get familiarized with the curriculum. It is nothing like what I have done with student teaching. Obviously my students are much younger, and so I have to be energetic and jumping around a lot so that they can blow off some steam in my class. I teach two kindergarten classes (or is it three?), a couple first grade classes, a couple second and third grade classes, and two middle school classes. With the little ones, I am doing a lot of ABCs and number counting. They have to repeat after me, sing the alphabet song, recognize that A is apple (flashcards), etcetera. They wear me out, but the end of the day is when I get to relax a little more.
The middle school classes are my favorite because I get to read Time Magazine for Kids with them (one article a week), and this week the article is West Asia. I've been teaching them about the Western Wall, the Taj Mahal, and Dubai. It is a lot of fun for me because I don't have to explain to them as much what certain words mean. It is definitely more advanced than the younger classes. Starting next week I won't have to be at school until 2:30, which I am greatly looking forward to.
As for the rest of my week, it has filled up more quickly than I anticipated. Tonight I am going to poker night at a bar in Sunddong gong with some foreigners (a weekly ordeal), tomorrow night Diane organized a welcome dinner for Simon and I (Simon arrived here yesterday; Cambodian Canadian), Friday is movie night with more foreigners, Saturday my coworker Matt is taking me hiking, and Sunday I was invited to a basketball game (courtside) with Lena from Clarkston and her friend. I am so looking forward to meeting all these people. Michelle and I also decided we are going to join the Gyeongju Football Club so we can get our soccer skills on. It will be a true testament to how out of shape I am, I am sure.
So that's it for now. I am still trying to figure out how to upload videos, and Dan said I need to try uploading them to YouTube. When I get more time I will figure it out. Til then! :)
She immediately took me to a physical therapist about two blocks from the school. When we went in, she gave my name and birthday to the receptionist, and I saw a doctor right away. He spoke to Cate for a few minutes as she described my situation, and I was then taken to the therapist upstairs. I wish I had my camera, because what he did to me was, I feel, authentically Korean.
First he asked me where it hurts (and by asked, I mean gestured). I showed him and he told me to lay down on this table. So I'm laying on my back as he instructs me to straighten my legs out. This is painful for me to do, so with some serious mind over matter-ness I obliged. He then strapped these astronomical looking moon boots/thigh high pants on me, plugged some things into a machine that were connected to my legs, and hit the start button. You know how it feels when you go to a doctor and they take your blood pressure? That's how it felt, but much harder and from my feet to my upper thighs. It felt strange at first, but after a while it started to feel like a really good massage; a lot of pressure that carried on for about 40 minutes.
After the medicinal moon pants were taken off me (by the way, on a normal Korean the moon pants would reach all the way up their leg), the doctor led me into another room where I had to lay on my stomach as he connected these cyclical suction cups to my leg. He told me I have a strained ham string. He then turned a machine on, and it felt like a million toothbrush bristles pushing into the places on my leg where it hurts the most. I can only assume that this means he was doing exactly the right thing, and it lasted for about 20 minutes or so. After it was all said and done, it cost (with medicine) $16,200W, which is about $15.00 American. Very cheap, and mind you this is without health insurance, which I will get once I go get a physical this week with Cate. I am supposed to see the physical therapist 3-5 times a week for the next 3-4 weeks, and Cate and I are trading off payment (she paid this time, I pay next time, etc.). I can't tell if my leg feels better yet, but it is only day one of physical therapy and I have confidence that the Korean doctors will un-strain my pained hamstring.
This entire week I have to be at school at 10 a.m. so that Cate can help me with my lesson plans, and to get familiarized with the curriculum. It is nothing like what I have done with student teaching. Obviously my students are much younger, and so I have to be energetic and jumping around a lot so that they can blow off some steam in my class. I teach two kindergarten classes (or is it three?), a couple first grade classes, a couple second and third grade classes, and two middle school classes. With the little ones, I am doing a lot of ABCs and number counting. They have to repeat after me, sing the alphabet song, recognize that A is apple (flashcards), etcetera. They wear me out, but the end of the day is when I get to relax a little more.
The middle school classes are my favorite because I get to read Time Magazine for Kids with them (one article a week), and this week the article is West Asia. I've been teaching them about the Western Wall, the Taj Mahal, and Dubai. It is a lot of fun for me because I don't have to explain to them as much what certain words mean. It is definitely more advanced than the younger classes. Starting next week I won't have to be at school until 2:30, which I am greatly looking forward to.
As for the rest of my week, it has filled up more quickly than I anticipated. Tonight I am going to poker night at a bar in Sunddong gong with some foreigners (a weekly ordeal), tomorrow night Diane organized a welcome dinner for Simon and I (Simon arrived here yesterday; Cambodian Canadian), Friday is movie night with more foreigners, Saturday my coworker Matt is taking me hiking, and Sunday I was invited to a basketball game (courtside) with Lena from Clarkston and her friend. I am so looking forward to meeting all these people. Michelle and I also decided we are going to join the Gyeongju Football Club so we can get our soccer skills on. It will be a true testament to how out of shape I am, I am sure.
So that's it for now. I am still trying to figure out how to upload videos, and Dan said I need to try uploading them to YouTube. When I get more time I will figure it out. Til then! :)
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Secret Gardens, Buddhist Temples, and Secluded Beaches
I could continue on with this title for days.
"...avid hiking, antique shopping, ceramic villages, National Art and War Museums, hot spring baths, national and provincial parks, jade mines, riverwalks, off the beaten path bicycling, amusement parks, 13th century cathedrals, DMZ tours, 'vistas of mist-shrouded mountains, maple leaves, rushing streams, and remote temples'..."
Although I have not done much yet, I started reading the Lonely Planet guide to Korea last night and this morning, and suffice it to say my mind is completely overwhelmed with things I have to see. Every morning when I wake up here it is infinitely more exciting than the day before, and this is only day four.
I got shown around downtown Gyeongju for a few hours yesterday by Stephanie-- I took lots of pictures and should be able to post them later today/tonight. I want to say that it's a crazy city, but I think that might sound a little judgemental. Judgey, if you will. And I don't want to do that just yet! But there is seriously so much to see. There are really cute, quirky shops (Hello Kitty, but doesn't sell Hello Kitty collectibles), mostly broken English everywhere ("there's a hero. if you look inside your heart."), brand name shops (Puma, North Face, Lacoste, etc.), and food on every corner. They have 711s sprinkled throughout the city, and several Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins which I know I will be desperately trying to avoid. Stephanie took me to a bakery called Paris Baguette which sells the most beautiful cakes I've ever seen.
At the Hello Kitty shop I bought a really nice lined notebook which took me about 20 minutes to finally purchase. Best notebook collection I've seen in a while. I also bought a mini notebook to keep with me so I can write things down that are important for me to remember, as well as things I need to know how to say.
I'm starting to pick up a little Korean. Stephanie wrote down-- phonetically-- common phrases and sayings that will help me to get around by myself. So for instance, if I'm at my apartment and I want to go to downtown Gyeongju, I would say shin-ay MacDonald kadg-ju-say-oh. Meaning, please take me to the McDonald's downtown. Ju-say-oh means please. If I am downtown and I want to go home, I would say young-ang-dong lotte mart, kadg-ju-say-oh. I think young-ang-dong is the district of Gyeongju that I live, and I know that lotte mart is the grocery store that is within 2 minutes of my apartment. Stephanie said it's really important to add extra syllables onto certain works like mart and McDonalds. It would need to be pronounced "mart-uh" and "MacDonaldsuh", otherwise the taxi drivers might not know where to go.
So back to walking downtown. It looks like exactly what you might think a busy Asian city would look like-- or at least to me it did. Downtown Gyeongju looked like something I may have seen on TV before with vibrant, colorful markets, raw fish and fresh fruit everywhere, authentic Korean clothing sold outside, goofy Asian knick knack vendors, and hundreds and hundreds of people. The only real downside I have found so far is the smell. Not everywhere, but many places I have walked past or been inside of (including my school) smell like fish, and what could be a mixture of any number of other types of seafood. Being that I'm not a huge seafood fan, I might have to make some adjustments. I know many of you are thinking "When in Rome, Laura..." but right now, some of the smells and food options makes my stomach turn. Seriously. I'd like to see you try and get an appetite for a live, baby octopus, squid soup, or fried grasshoppers. Sound appetizing? :) But don't worry Mom, I'm not starving and there are plenty of other, less nauseating food options. I have been eating oranges, bananas, cereal, some strangely delicious prepared weeds, bagel sandwiches, some fish shaped custard cookies, Korean candy (my students are incredibly generous with their food), and noodle soup. I have drank green tea, milk, lemonade, tons of water, sweet cinnamon tea (delicious), beer (not enough yet), and coffee, aka Korea's excuse for coffee, which are really these little instant packets of cocoa-tasting coffee that I don't really think have any caffeine in them. Trickery!
Cate took us out to dinner last night to say goodbye to Stephanie (she left this morning) in town at a restaurant next door to English World. I couldn't pronounce the name of the restaurant if I tried, but I can tell you that when we got there, we walked into a private room where we had to take our shoes off at the door. We sat on pretty, detailed pillows around a very low table that was filled with little white, porcelain-looking dishes that had all kinds of food in them. I was still super skeptical after seeing both live octopus and live fish glaring angrily at me from the tank earlier in the day, so I was careful as to what I chose to put in my mouth. Seeing as I didn't recognize any of the food, Cate's daughter Rosie was kind enough to try and help me. She would point to something and say "You must try thees-- dee-leesh-us!" I didn't trust the Korean kidlet at first, so I stuck to my rice and something of a soy sauce, just to be safe. However my stomach was growling and so I had some vegetables/weeds that Cate said are what the monks and Buddhists eat. Very bland, almost no flavor, but mixed with the right sauce I really enjoyed it. Rosie kept pestering me to try this certain soup seafood looking dish and I was terrified, but when I finally tasted it, it was just like, salty broth and some kind of cabbage-esque vegetable. Very good. Cate also bought us the sweetest, cinnamon-honey tea after dinner. SO delicious-- I need to ask her again today what it was called so I can order it when I'm by myself.
The only slightly disturbing thing that happened at dinner last night was that the lingering smell of the city was unexpectedly and disgustingly put to my taste buds. There was this big bowl of soup, and it looked like seaweed soup, so I tried it... nope. Some kind of radish soup I think, but it tasted like the smell I had been covering my nose to try and avoid all day. I'm convinced it's Korea's way of weeding out the Westerners.
Hmm. What else. Oh! My mom asked me to report on the scenery and the weather, which will be easier to do once I can upload my pictures to this thing. But for now, Gyeongju is surrounded by mountains. Not the towering type like we have in the States, but rather really large, green hills. Mini mountains. It is about 40-45 degrees here in the day, and at night it as been chilly, probably around 30, and extremely windy at times. I could be wrong about the temperatures, because it's not like it's been so cold I can see my breath, but I have definitely done my share of shivering. It is smoggy here, so sunsets, I am sad to report, are not likely to be seen. My first full day here was cold and rainy (didn't make for a happy arrival), my second day was sunnier (yesterday), and today it is looking sunny once again.
Winter is over and Spring is coming. Out with old and in with the new. I have been guaranteed that my computer will be working today once I move in, so I will be available via Skype and/or AIM video chat if anyone is interested! Seeing as my parents and my boyfriend aren't able to communicate with me today, I would love to see/talk to someone from home. For realsies. I will be on my laptop hopefully by 4 p.m. here, which is 2 a.m. your time. So that may not work, hmm. Maybe I will get on around 3:00. If not though, tonight I will be on if anyone is available to video chat with me around 11:00 or so, and will probably be on until the wee hours, making it anywhere from 9 a.m. to noon Michigan time.
We will figure this time change out. Til next time! :)
"...avid hiking, antique shopping, ceramic villages, National Art and War Museums, hot spring baths, national and provincial parks, jade mines, riverwalks, off the beaten path bicycling, amusement parks, 13th century cathedrals, DMZ tours, 'vistas of mist-shrouded mountains, maple leaves, rushing streams, and remote temples'..."
Although I have not done much yet, I started reading the Lonely Planet guide to Korea last night and this morning, and suffice it to say my mind is completely overwhelmed with things I have to see. Every morning when I wake up here it is infinitely more exciting than the day before, and this is only day four.
I got shown around downtown Gyeongju for a few hours yesterday by Stephanie-- I took lots of pictures and should be able to post them later today/tonight. I want to say that it's a crazy city, but I think that might sound a little judgemental. Judgey, if you will. And I don't want to do that just yet! But there is seriously so much to see. There are really cute, quirky shops (Hello Kitty, but doesn't sell Hello Kitty collectibles), mostly broken English everywhere ("there's a hero. if you look inside your heart."), brand name shops (Puma, North Face, Lacoste, etc.), and food on every corner. They have 711s sprinkled throughout the city, and several Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins which I know I will be desperately trying to avoid. Stephanie took me to a bakery called Paris Baguette which sells the most beautiful cakes I've ever seen.
At the Hello Kitty shop I bought a really nice lined notebook which took me about 20 minutes to finally purchase. Best notebook collection I've seen in a while. I also bought a mini notebook to keep with me so I can write things down that are important for me to remember, as well as things I need to know how to say.
I'm starting to pick up a little Korean. Stephanie wrote down-- phonetically-- common phrases and sayings that will help me to get around by myself. So for instance, if I'm at my apartment and I want to go to downtown Gyeongju, I would say shin-ay MacDonald kadg-ju-say-oh. Meaning, please take me to the McDonald's downtown. Ju-say-oh means please. If I am downtown and I want to go home, I would say young-ang-dong lotte mart, kadg-ju-say-oh. I think young-ang-dong is the district of Gyeongju that I live, and I know that lotte mart is the grocery store that is within 2 minutes of my apartment. Stephanie said it's really important to add extra syllables onto certain works like mart and McDonalds. It would need to be pronounced "mart-uh" and "MacDonaldsuh", otherwise the taxi drivers might not know where to go.
So back to walking downtown. It looks like exactly what you might think a busy Asian city would look like-- or at least to me it did. Downtown Gyeongju looked like something I may have seen on TV before with vibrant, colorful markets, raw fish and fresh fruit everywhere, authentic Korean clothing sold outside, goofy Asian knick knack vendors, and hundreds and hundreds of people. The only real downside I have found so far is the smell. Not everywhere, but many places I have walked past or been inside of (including my school) smell like fish, and what could be a mixture of any number of other types of seafood. Being that I'm not a huge seafood fan, I might have to make some adjustments. I know many of you are thinking "When in Rome, Laura..." but right now, some of the smells and food options makes my stomach turn. Seriously. I'd like to see you try and get an appetite for a live, baby octopus, squid soup, or fried grasshoppers. Sound appetizing? :) But don't worry Mom, I'm not starving and there are plenty of other, less nauseating food options. I have been eating oranges, bananas, cereal, some strangely delicious prepared weeds, bagel sandwiches, some fish shaped custard cookies, Korean candy (my students are incredibly generous with their food), and noodle soup. I have drank green tea, milk, lemonade, tons of water, sweet cinnamon tea (delicious), beer (not enough yet), and coffee, aka Korea's excuse for coffee, which are really these little instant packets of cocoa-tasting coffee that I don't really think have any caffeine in them. Trickery!
Cate took us out to dinner last night to say goodbye to Stephanie (she left this morning) in town at a restaurant next door to English World. I couldn't pronounce the name of the restaurant if I tried, but I can tell you that when we got there, we walked into a private room where we had to take our shoes off at the door. We sat on pretty, detailed pillows around a very low table that was filled with little white, porcelain-looking dishes that had all kinds of food in them. I was still super skeptical after seeing both live octopus and live fish glaring angrily at me from the tank earlier in the day, so I was careful as to what I chose to put in my mouth. Seeing as I didn't recognize any of the food, Cate's daughter Rosie was kind enough to try and help me. She would point to something and say "You must try thees-- dee-leesh-us!" I didn't trust the Korean kidlet at first, so I stuck to my rice and something of a soy sauce, just to be safe. However my stomach was growling and so I had some vegetables/weeds that Cate said are what the monks and Buddhists eat. Very bland, almost no flavor, but mixed with the right sauce I really enjoyed it. Rosie kept pestering me to try this certain soup seafood looking dish and I was terrified, but when I finally tasted it, it was just like, salty broth and some kind of cabbage-esque vegetable. Very good. Cate also bought us the sweetest, cinnamon-honey tea after dinner. SO delicious-- I need to ask her again today what it was called so I can order it when I'm by myself.
The only slightly disturbing thing that happened at dinner last night was that the lingering smell of the city was unexpectedly and disgustingly put to my taste buds. There was this big bowl of soup, and it looked like seaweed soup, so I tried it... nope. Some kind of radish soup I think, but it tasted like the smell I had been covering my nose to try and avoid all day. I'm convinced it's Korea's way of weeding out the Westerners.
Hmm. What else. Oh! My mom asked me to report on the scenery and the weather, which will be easier to do once I can upload my pictures to this thing. But for now, Gyeongju is surrounded by mountains. Not the towering type like we have in the States, but rather really large, green hills. Mini mountains. It is about 40-45 degrees here in the day, and at night it as been chilly, probably around 30, and extremely windy at times. I could be wrong about the temperatures, because it's not like it's been so cold I can see my breath, but I have definitely done my share of shivering. It is smoggy here, so sunsets, I am sad to report, are not likely to be seen. My first full day here was cold and rainy (didn't make for a happy arrival), my second day was sunnier (yesterday), and today it is looking sunny once again.
Winter is over and Spring is coming. Out with old and in with the new. I have been guaranteed that my computer will be working today once I move in, so I will be available via Skype and/or AIM video chat if anyone is interested! Seeing as my parents and my boyfriend aren't able to communicate with me today, I would love to see/talk to someone from home. For realsies. I will be on my laptop hopefully by 4 p.m. here, which is 2 a.m. your time. So that may not work, hmm. Maybe I will get on around 3:00. If not though, tonight I will be on if anyone is available to video chat with me around 11:00 or so, and will probably be on until the wee hours, making it anywhere from 9 a.m. to noon Michigan time.
We will figure this time change out. Til next time! :)
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