Shelling of Yeonpyeong

As most of you may have heard, South Korea fell victim to North Korea shelling the island of Yeonpyeong. Yeonpyeong is an island not too far from the North Korea/South Korea border. Two marines died along with two civilians and much damage was caused to houses and buildings on the island.

Below, this map shows where Yeonpyeong island is and I have also marked where I live in Inje and where Incheon International Airport is:



Of course, I'm a little concerned about these actions, but I really don't know what to do. Obviously I'm going to stay here until someone tells me to leave. I have CNN on TV here that's in English, so lately I have been watching that and I always read the Star Tribune online. Everyone says that the western media tends to blow things out of proportion, so I don't know if I'm getting the same news you all are. Either way, I'm going to go about my day teaching and if something else arises, we'll go from there.

This is also a photo of the damage caused by the shelling:

(Not) Another Saturday Night

This past Saturday has been my favorite day so far. We taught school and got done a 6pm, then the director took the three South Africans, the cooking lady, the two young guys that work here, and me out to dinner free of charge. She also fed us lunch that day. I have to be honest, I haven't spent much money on food because I do get fed lunch everyday at the school. Not too bad.

I don't even know what the dinner was called, but it was delicious. Huge piles of raw meat came on this huge cooking platter with thinly sliced mushrooms, onions and perrpers and some kind of frozen gravy broth. The waitress set the cooking dish on this burner right on the table with another heating tube coming from the ceiling to heat it from both sides. The meal cooked itself right in front of us. It was yuuuuuuuummmmmy. We sat there cross-legged and bare-foot on the floor where your knees gently touched the bottom of the table. That is one thing I still have to get used to. Taking your shoes off in the entry way and leaving them and continue to walk around the restaurant barefoot. Very different.

Amother custom that is different is the way the drink. They ordered beer and Soju (a 19% alcohol that tastes like cheap Vodka) and we drank that through the whole meal. It is custom that younger people not drink in front of elders, so I thought the two youngest guys were just hiding it from our director because they were underaged, but really it's their culture for older people not to see younger people drink, so they simply turned away and took the shot of Soju. Also, when an older person offers something to someone who is younger, the younger person always has to accept it with two hands. Something I never knew, but am slowly catching on to, since I am the youngest teacher here.

The night continued at the karoke bar, where again, that was paid for. I sang about five songs and got 100% on two of them...not bragging, just sayin'. I have a feeling we will be going there many times this year. Definitely the best night I've had so far!

Intercultural Communication

First of all, Happy Birthday Dad!

I have one more day of teaching tomorrow (yes, on a Saturday) then it will be 10 full days since I've arrived. Following the other teachers and teaching a few classes on my own, I have really noticed cultural difference. I wouldn't say it's necessarily culture shock, because I'm not having a difficult time adjusting, it's more just differences between cultures, if that makes sense.

I'm not only talking about cultural differences between Americans and Koreans, but also between Americans and South Africans. As you may know, the only other English speaking teachers with me a three girls from South Africa.

First with Koreans, they always say hello with a bow. Similar with the head nod between guys in America, but instead with bows. Not too bad. A huge difference is Koreans always take their shoes off before entering a room: that could be in your home, in school or even in really traditional restaurants. Also with restaurants it's very typical that you sit on the floor. that will get some getting used to, but most places I've been to (coffee shops and bars mostly) there are chairs and tables. That's all I can think of for now, but I'm sure there are more.

Now with the South Africans, I can tell not only the differences with American culture, but also with our Minnesotan culture. Not even culture so much, but accents for sure. There used to be a girl from Minnesota in this town before I came, so the South Africans have been exposed to the accent before I got here. One word that really sticks out with them is the way I say 'bag.' They think I'm saying 'beg.' I tell them there is a distinct difference. Then I admitted the I call soda 'pop.' Then they said, 'pop?' I said yes. Also, we play this game where we describe words and give clues so the students can guess what we're thinking. The South African said. "I am orange. I have pips." I thought she said 'pups.' She said, "no, pips." I don't want to sound stupid, but I have never heard that word before. Later I come to find out it means seed. Anyway, she was trying to describe pumpkin.

I can't believe everyone in this world wants to learn this crazy language we call English. It's amazing that people are able to speak more than one language. It's nice hanging out with the South Africans and getting to know another culture while learning the Korean culture at the same time. I am very lucky to be here.

First Day of Teaching

Whew, I taught two classes today. It doesn't seem like much but for some reason I was so nervous. It is very hard to work between all different ages and knowing the level of English everyone speaks. The first class was a little difficult, I just didn't know what to say, what to ask them. I was even bored teaching so I'm sure the kids were. The second class went way better because the kids had more energy and I was able to joke around with them and the game we were playing really picked up.

I really like the school I'm at and I'm getting used to my work schedule. Sometimes our work week is Monday-Friday and sometimes it's Tuesday-Saturday. I like the Tuesday-Saturday schedule because then on Mondays I can go to the bank and go the the grocery store. Accept, right now I don't know where the grocery store is, but I just opened my bank account today. Once I find the grocery store I will officially be all moved in. I got dished and towels and sponges from my director today, so my kitchen is complete.

There are heated floors so it's a fake wood-type floor; therefore, I need a broom because I never knew how much dirt and little things build up on the floor. I've only been in the apartment for seven full days and it's dirty already. I also need some cleaning supplies for when I need to clean my bathroom. AND, I translated all the buttons on the washing machine and the thermostat, so when I need to do laundry I think I will know how.

Things are finally coming together and I really do feel at home.

Seoul

I just got back from my first trip to Seoul. A teacher from my school has a photography class in Seoul and I asked her if she could show me where the bus station in Inje was so I knew where to go, how to buy a ticket, how long it takes to get there, where it drops you off in Seoul, how to use the subway...ya know, the typical stuff. After being on my own for a few hours until I met my college friend, I got the hang of it.

We happened to be on the green line that makes a loop, so if I wanted, I could have stayed on that all day. I knew which stop to meet my college friend so I got off there so I could get off and walk around. The subway was above ground and underground so I like to see as much of the city as I can, since Seoul is in the top three of the largest metropolitan cities in the world.



I ended up getting off the subway where Olympic Park is. I like walking around Olympic Parks and Plazas to see all the sculptures and buildings and flags spread around the grounds. I have only been to one other stadium though, and that was in Barcelona. I didn't get to spend much time there, so I would like to go back and explore a little more.

Then it was time to meet my friend, so I headed back toward the subway stop I left from to go another three stops to meet her. I had to ask the information guy for a map because I haven't really been on a subway before by myself, so the one thing - and please don't laugh - I can't do is figure out which way on the Subway I have to be going. Sometimes when you go down to catch the subway, on one side of the road it goes toward one direction, so you have to go back up, cross the street above, then go back down so you're going the other way...if that makes sense. It does in my head. Anyway, after receiving the map, I opened it up and just gazing around and looking really confused some Korean guy came up to me and asked me if I needed help. I said yes, this is where I'm going and he told me the right way. then I said thank you in Korean...probably with a bad accent because I really don't know how to pronounce it yet.

I met my college friend for lunch, then we strolled around a little more before I had to catch my bus back. We found out where they held the G20 Conference and took pictures outside. I wish I could have seen Obama. That's OK, I'm sure he was busy anyway.



Seoul is such a huge city, but to me it doesn't seem like it has tall buildings all squished together. It just seems more spread out and a spider web of a subway system. I hope to go to Seoul once a month just so I can get to see everything I want to see. A one-way bus ticket costs 12,200 won, which is about $10, so not so bad. And the bus ride is only two hours, which is tolerable. I will have a fun time getting to know the city and visiting my college friend and my high school friend that are just teaching outside Seoul.

My Apartment

I have been settling in the past four days and my apartment is coming together. It is a very small studio apartment that's about a three minute walk from my school. Perfect. I have all major appliances: refrigerator, microwave, TV, washing machine (which are all products of Samsung, including my cell phone), pots & pans, nice bathroom. It's very modern. I swear the wallpaper has a pink tint to it, so I'm not liking that. You may see that in the pictures. You may also look at my full album on Facebook. The link is at the bottom of this post.



All the appliances are in Korean, so I don't know how to use my microwave, washing machine or adjust my thermostat. One nice thing, too, is that there are heated floors. It must be because in Korean culture you are required to remove your shoes when you enter your home, a restaurant (in my small town anyway, not in a big restaurant in the middle of Seoul), and even my school. I am still getting used to taking my shoes off in public places, but at least I don't have to wear slippers when I get home. I might just bring those to school so they are easy to slip off and on.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3108203&id=13932786&l=e8bf2e88c7

Mastering Chopsticks

I think I will get used to the food here. They are very light, but I don't think I will go hungry either. They eat lots of fruits and vegetables and I have only had chicken and noodles and rice...not too bad.

I am fortunate enough to have breakfast and lunch at the school everyday. Cereal and cut up fruit is usually what we have for breakfast and for lunch it's either something the director prepares, some she orders for us or she will give us money to go out for lunch. All expenses are on our director. That is nice since I haven't been to the bank or the grocery store yet so my meals were covered for the first couple days and will be covered for the year.

Chopsticks weren't very easy in the beginning, but after two days, I survived on full meal. It will only get easier. My hand always cramps up and I want to use one chopstick one each hand, but then I look awkward. I am getting used to eating rice and noodles with them and it's not that difficult.

First Couple Days

Ah, I arrived two nights ago and have been adjusting well. My flight was at 6:13 am Tuesday from Minneapolis to Denver, had 20 minutes then went to San Francisco, had 15 minutes then was headed to Seoul. I was nervous catching all those flight because my layovers weren't that long. I didn't have a problem though. After I landed, I met someone and he bought me a bus ticket from the airport to Chuncheon, about two and a half hours away, then another guy and the husband of the director drove me another hour to Inje. Yes, I am that far from Seoul.

Everything went smoothly and I finally arrived at my apartment. It's a small studio apartment, but there is a full kitchen, big screen TV, washing machine and a very nice bathroom. It seems very modern. I think I will like it there...accept for the pink tint of the wallpaper...I don't like that. And the apartment is only a 3-4 minute walk to the school, so I can't complain.

Not many people speak English here. The director has very broken English and I will have problems ordering food in a restaurant, taking money from the bank and any other encounter I have with a Korean. I will have to learn some of the language just to live in this town, but I don't think it will be that bad.

I am here with three South Africans. They are awesome. I think I will like it here and gaining this experience will be a real asset when I get back to the States.

People and Interview in Chicago

I wanted to write this in my last post, but I thought I would spread these out. I upgraded to a personal bathroom in our hostel that cost an extra $4, so there were eight bed and a bathroom with a shower. I think it was well worth it.

I only met two guys from my room: one guy seemed younger than me and he was looking at schools and the other guy was also looking at schools. The first guy was from Southern California, somewhere between L.A. and Las Vegas. He was looking at Roosevelt University adjacent to our hostel. It was funny because when I checked out of the hostel for the day before my interview, I told him good luck with whatever in the future. A couple hours later I randomly ran into him at the top of the John Hancock Observatory. We hung out up there for a while then I moved on.

The second guy was also looking at schools and he was from Argentina. I think this was his first time being in the States, but I can't remember. He spoke English very well. We chatted for a while then he left right away. Never saw him again or never spoke Spanish..oh well.

After finding the NBC Tower where my interview was, I met this other guy. I knew he was from Minnesota because when he was checking in for his interview, he was trying to explain his nationality to the woman at the desk. He said he was Hmong and was explaining that that is his culture, but his nationality is American. I'm guessing he was born here but, obviously, his parents were from Laos.

After he checked in and sat down, I asked him, "are you from Minnesota?" He said, "yes." Then I asked, "From St. Paul?" He looked at me, confused, and said, "yes." I knew that St. Paul has the highest Hmong population in the United States, so I was pretty confident with my assumptions. I continued to tell him that I worked in a Hmong charter school last year and I know a lot about their culture...at least more than the average person. We started talking and got to know each other.

Then we both get called in at the same time to interview. I hate group interviews. The interviewer asked us to tell him what our educational background was, why we chose Korea to teach and list some hobbies. He didn't speak English that well, and I had to repeat myself a couple times because he couldn't understand me. After we both did that, the interviewer pulled out a sheet of paper and said, "I am working on this song, you should sing it with me." So after being nervous all day and preparing for this interview, now we have to sing...WHAT!? The other guy and I looked at each other and didn't know what to do. So we looked at the title of the song and it was the Star-Spangled Banner. We helped the interviewer through the song and after we got through, he said, "have a great time in Korea!" That was it. I couldn't believe it and we both stood up slowly and left.

We made it to the elevators and were so confused as why we had to sing the National Anthem. We actually sounded pretty good though. I was also trying so hard not to laugh because as you all know, I think everything is funny and I'm always laughing. In the end, I made a new friend and we hope to meet up a couple times in Korea. Only five more days until my departure. It will be a good year!

Chicago

Alrighty, here's the scoop. I am officially leaving the country. I was contacted by my recruiter last Thursday and said my visa number had come in...the one I have been waiting for all this time. I was currently in the works with a temp agency and trying to get a job that way. It always seems to be bad timing because I hate to go that far in the temp agency process (because that's no walk through the forest) and not stick with it. Anywho, I figure this adventure is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I really couldn't pass it up.

Now that the visa number is in, my next step was to go to Chicago. I was quite nervous and that is a little strange for me. I'm usually not worried when I travel alone, but this time I was. Maybe it was the way I was doing it or because it just seems like crunch time right now. I have no idea. But, I decided to take the Megabus - not a plane, train or automobile - because the Megabus was the least expensive choice at the time. So it departed from downtown Minneapolis at 7 am Monday the 1st. So I drove to the Anoka train station that led me to Target Field. I then jumped on the light rail from The Field to the Metrodome where the bus stop was. (*Note, the Megabus doesn't have a station, it's just the street corner on Chicago Ave. and 3rd St.) then I arrived at Union Station in Chicago at 3 pm.

I got a hostel for the night that wasn't too far from Millennium Park; so it was right downtown. About one mile between Union Station and the hostel and another mile to the NBC Tower where I had my interview. Had just enough time to see the sites, walk the Magnificent Mile, tour the John Hancock Observatory, stroll through Millennium Park and get 'high in the sky' in the sky deck of the Sears Tower (now it's the Willis Tour, but I will always call it the Sears Tower). It was a blast.

I hope to go to Chicago again and spend more time there. I only took a few pictures but here is a link to a Facebook album.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3102559&id=13932786&l=450491de9c

Thanks for reading!