WWW(10)- Happy New Year

With 2011 rolling on in, I just wanted to wish you a 새해 복 많이 받으세요
Korean pronunciation: saehae bok manhi baduseyo
English meaning (in case you haven't picked up on it already): Happy New Year!

This saying translates directly into "Hope you receive a lot of new year's blessings".

FF(14)- Christianity Prevails

After two weeks of blank faces and lack of responses from my children I’ve come to the realization that Christmas in Korea and very different than Christmas in America.  But this comes to a surprise to me as the largest religion in South Korea is Christian.

Fact: According to the 2007 Census, of those practicing a religion, 29.2% of South Koreans are Christian.  Of those 29.2%, 18.3% are Protestant and 10.9% are Roman Catholic.  Coming in second, 22.8% of South Koreans are Buddhist, a religion introduced to Korea in 372 AD.  And this is in a country where temples are some of the most visited and eye-catching attractions.

In a CBS interactive, it was determined that since the late 1980s, Roman Catholicism has been the quickest growing denomination on the peninsula.  Perhaps this shift was influenced by the thousands of American soldiers posted in South Korea.  Or maybe it was just to counter their foe, North Korea, who finds pride in arresting and torturing Christian missionaries. 

Some of you might remember the news surrounding Aijalon Gomes, North Korea’s latest Christian play toy and young man, who interestingly held the same position as me- as a GEPIK English Teacher
.
And you might have heard about the South’s latest border attraction- a 100ft tall Christmas tree 100 foot Christmas tree at the DMZ, with carolers blasting Christmas music towards the Christian-less North.

Either way, its always beautiful flying into South Korea, as hundreds of crosses stand tall, blaring their red lights above the country, protecting her.

메리 크리스마스!

WWW (9)- Merry Christmas!

I.LOVE.CHRISTMAS. The holiday cheer.  The mistletoe. The music.  The egg nog.  The Presents. The movies. The Vacations.  Family.  Friends.  It’s really just the best time of the year.

So since I’ve been teaching Christmas for the past two weeks to my children, I’ll continue the streak and teach you all some terms.  You know, just incase you spend a Christmas in Korea.  I mean, this is my second Korean Christmas, so you never know!

Korean: 메리 크리스마스

Korean Pronunciation: me-ri kuh-ri-suh-ma-suh (say it fast- it sounds just like Merry Christmas)
English meaning: Merry Christmas

Korean: 크리스마스 트리

Korean Pronunciation: ku-ri-suh-ma-suh tuh-ri

English meaning: Christmas Tree

Korean: 양밀 (스타킹)

Korean Pronunciation: yong-mil (suh-ta-king)

English meaning: Stocking

Korean: 선물

Korean Pronunciation: sun-mool

English meaning: Present

Korean: 숯

Korean Pronunciation: sooch, but somehow the "ch" is suppose to sound like "t", so basically its "soot"

English meaning: Coal

Korean: 굴뚝

Korean Pronunciation: kool-dook

English meaning: Chimney

And although I don’t teach the little ones, most Native English Teachers do teach those who still believe, so I thought this cartoon was just too hilarious to not include it.

Most Koreans live in an apartment; hence the, "house is no...
my is 'partment... chimney no"  So adorable!

Nanta is Coming to Town

Nope.  No spelling errors there.  While, Santa is (or should I say better be) coming to town, Nanta came to Songtan.  Nanta, a world renowned South Korean musical, captures what every 2 year-old knows how to do best- making music out of kitchen utensils.  Solely relying on knives, Tupperware, and other standard Korean cooking appliances, the cast of Nanta will leave every member of the audience in awe. 

Where to begin to describe it… It’s like Jackie Chan meet STOMP, on stage, equipped with knives and brooms, banging on drums, and tossing food in the air.  A child’s dream- fighting, drumming, and excessive food fighting. 



Cutting food or making music?  Or BOTH!



Traditional Korean drums replaced with water tubs and frying pans.

Knives bang on cutting boards, cabbage flies through the air, tensions raised with the addition of a new cook, and water jugs become drums for a traditional Korean drum performance.

With a mixture of dancing, music, cooking, audience participation, and lack of Korean words, this musical was beyond enjoyable.  How many people have seen a Broadway musical based exclusively around kitchen utensils?  I’ll be the first to admit, that I don’t believe that one even exists back in the States.

And unfortunately, while Nanta has staged in 18 different countries, it seems as if its American dream has come to an end.  Opening on Broadway in March 2004 and ending a short 17 months later, Nanta, or commonly referred to as Cookin in English, has veered back to the Korean audience. 

While my words fall short to explain this experience, I highly encourage you, if ever in Korea, to book reservations for this unique musical performance, as although only a musical, it brings to life the culture and customs of Korean cooking and society in a mere 90 minutes.  Perhaps you can urge them to one day take the stage again on Broadway.  If that’s the case, order an extra ticket for me- I’ll be sitting in the front row.

Video Advertisement of Nanta

FFF (13)- Cinderella Story

I think its fair to say, especially since I usually hit up the petite section in most shopping stores, that I'm a petite person.  Welp, if you want a confidence down-grade, then head on over to Korea. 

Believe it or not, my 5’5” (on a good day) stature is apparently too tall for their pants.  On multiple occasions, at multiple stores, I’ve found myself putting on pants that just so happened to become cropped the second they hit my legs.  I don’t get it.  I really don’t.  Some of my students are taller than me.  Where the hell do they shop then?  Why don’t Korean pants fit me?  I literally have no explanation for this.

This gal, who normally fits into 0-2 or x-small, suddenly enlarged to a medium.  O.V.E.R.N.I.G.H.T.   Woof.  Thank you Korea for extending your compliments to your foreigners.  I mean really, it’s not their fault that her citizens are blessed with such immaculate, tiny genes.  Maybe they should spread the wealth to the U.S.  God knows we need a reduction in our obesity stats.

And shoes are a whole nother story.  Thank goodness my mother blessed me with American small feet, but luckily, average to large Korean sized feet.  Most foreigners have a tough time finding shoes here, but when they do, man, its like finding the glass slipper.  The saying “If the shoe fits” takes on a literal meaning here in Korea. 

I’d say, shopping in Korea is anything but a Cinderella Story, so when the opportunity ensues, you must pounce on it.  Unless of course freezing your tush off was on the bucket list, then let the occasion pass.

Needless to say, Cinderella would be single if she lived in Korea.

Opseyo means "not be present/not exist"

Note 1: I could go on for days about Korean clothes/shopping/fashion, so I'm sure you'll find more on this blog down the road.
Note 2:  All of these cartoons are from a Facebook group "ROKetship" so I obviously can't take credit for them, but they definitely describe the story so well!

WWW (8)- Shopping

It’s getting cold here!  And obviously two suitcases didn’t suffice in the whole it’s below zero degrees department, so I’ve been in dire need of some shopping.  Just in case you ever need to indulge in a shopping spree, here are some terms to help ya out!

Sizes:

Korean: 스몰

Korean pronunciation: suh mol

English meaning: Small

Korean: 미디엄

Korean pronunciation: mi di awm

English meaning: Medium

Korean: 라지

Korean pronunciation: ra ji

English meaning: Large

To ask how much something is:

Korean: 얼마예요

Korean pronunciation: ol ma ye yo

English meaning: How much is it?

The best saying, especially on the streets and in the markets:

Korean: 각아주세요

Korean pronunciation: ggak ka ju se yo

English meaning: Please give me a discount.

If you say this, correctly that is, first they will be amazed and second they will give you the discount, just on the principle that you spoke their language.  Needless to say, its quite useful!

And if you're lucky, you'll get service-ee, otherwise known as freebees!

Cheaters Go to Hell

Alright.  I’m doing it- I’m giving in and writing about a subject that most readers never want to encounter more than they are forced to- exams.  There’s definitely something to be said about this cruel (for both the students and teachers) time here in Korea.  And as much as this blog is written for those back home, it’s also a testament to everything I’ve done while in this foreign country, which I will undoubtedly look back upon in 10 years and be so satisfied with the hours that I spent poured over the keyboard.

Having a type-A personality, I was highly disappointed if my grades fell anything short of an A.  Honestly, there were definitely times in college when I was frustrated because if I hadn’t botched that one homework sheet I would have gotten an A, but instead I earned an A-.  Whomp Whomp.  But no joke.  I wanted As, and only As, even in classes where students literally failed, not just once, but twice. 

Being a biology major is a full time commitment, to say the least.  Surrounded by cut-throat, pre-med students, my type-A personality got completely caught up in the lifestyle.  However, regardless of the pressure to perform, come test time, I never cheated.  Unlike some students, it just isn’t in my nature.  But I understand, if school isn’t your priority and squeezing by is, even if that requires cheating, then fine, I’m not going to call the police… I’m just not going to join you.

Anyway... while cheating in the U.S. is as casual as sweatpants, cheating in Korea is as restricted as crossing the DMZ.  During these dreaded, sleepless 3 days, my students take anywhere between 10-12 written exams, calculating out to 3-4 exams a day!  But they literally take exams in every subject- Korean, English, Science, Math, Chinese Characters, GYM, ART- literally every subject.

While most students struggle to finish their English, Korean, and Math exams, it takes circa 20 minutes to finish gym and art, followed by a nice little nap on their desks.  Yep, you guessed it, they can’t leave after they finish.  As there are positives and negatives to every situation, it sucks that they can’t prepare for one of their next 3 exams, but then again they’re also forced to think about their test and have a full 45 minutes to make any necessary changes.

And forget about cheating.  Mission Impossible Part 4: Cheating on a Korean Exam.  In each classroom there are 2 monitors- one in the front and one in the back.  Each desk is arranged in a single, straight line, with the closest person more than an arm’s reach away.  Furthermore, in a room with 5 rows, 3 rows consist of one grade, while the other 2 consist of another grade, in alternating fashion.

Oh and they must write in pen.  But what if they make a mistake?  Well just crossing it out is considered cheating, so the monitor must stamp/sign their mistake, noting that the student crossed out the information during the 45 minute test period.

And we can’t forget about the time that one answer sheet was found on the floor at the end of the day.  Which obviously meant that a) all of the teachers were scolded and b) the students almost had to retake a new version of the exam.  Three hundred kids retaking an exam because one child forgot to hand in their answer sheet… I see no logic.  But its part of their system in preventing cheating.

But what if a student is caught cheating?  Accompanied by a big, fat zero, you are scolding in front of all the teachers, beaten, embarrassed, and potentially forced to attend classes at the Wee Center (a counseling center for naughty children).

One would think students would avoid cheating as much as they avoid the sun, but some audacious students still have that urge to write notes in their pencil case, on their shoes, or put a nice little cheat sheet in their desk.  But, more likely than not, they will get caught cheating.  YIKES!

FFF(12)- First Snow

Some of you may have already seen this, but since not all of my readers have facebook and I don’t expect those on facebook to be stalking my every move, I thought I would share this wintery fun fact on the blog.

With the snow, came knowledge: Whoever you are with during the first snow is suppose to be the love of your life/soul mate.

So obbbbbviously the first snow takes place while at school.  And obbbbbviously one of my hormonal, 14-year-old boys decides that this is the time to confess his love for me.

Remember when you were 14?  You were probably quite awkward… I know I was… its just that stage in life that we all come to accept 5-10 years later.

Well, this love confession screamed I’m an awkward 14-year-old and this is my first time telling a woman that I love her.

During one of our 10 minute intervals between classes, I was quickly drifting through the drafty, unheated hallway, warming my hands in my pockets and fully anticipating the heater in the teachers’ room, when one of my 2^nd graders (equivalent to American 8^th grader) stops me just short of the doorway.  “Teacher here”, as he reaches out, takes my hand and plops a snowball in my hand.

And let me tell you, snowball is a generous term for this freezing cold object.  I’d definitely describe it more as a ball of ice, which, obviously, immediately began to melt in my hand.

“Well… thank you… What do you want me to do with it?”

“Teacher, keep it forever.  Put it in the freezer.  We are together on our first snow!  We are soul mates.”

“Oh, yes of course… Now go to your classroom.”  Upon which time, I immediately ran to the bathroom and dumped the melting, cold thing into the sink and ran straight to the teachers’ room, avoiding any other students and making a b-line for the heater.

And of course, when it snowed later this week… and every time I see him now… “Teacher, remember?  First snow, teacher!  First snow!” 

Oh how could I forget?  Although cold, it was quite adorable and a piece of knowledge stemmed from the moment.  Let’s just hope that it doesn’t lead to me “breaking” his heart.

The Power of Kimchi

Each morning, as I stumble into work, squinty eyed and weary, I pull up yahoo and facebook to get a jump start on my day. I tend to skip over the news section and see whose been missing me on the other side of the world, flipping through emails and messages from those back home.

However, today something caught my eye. An article on the yahoo.com homepage- "How to fight colds and flu: What works and what doesn't". Well, I tend to get sick come flu season, so I better check this out. While some of these ideas were quite practical (Do: Probiotics; Don’t do: Vitamin Water “Defense”), other ideas were quite interesting (Do: Vitamin D). As a biology major, this obviously caught my attention, so I plummeted full force into the article. Half way through probiotics, you’ll notice the staple food of Korea: Kimchi.

Your standard side dish of kimchi.

Although rumored to be quite distasteful, most foreigners adapt to the initially stringent taste of the spicy, pickled cabbage, and eventually find themselves enjoying the side dish at every meal (myself included). On the contrary, some never really develop a liking and tend to steer clear. However, as a rule (within my circle of friends), before departing the 대한민국 (tae han min guk, Republic of Korea) peninsula, you must devour a whole side dish of Kimchi in one sitting.

Perhaps, after reading this article, Kimchi might go down a little easier for those who disfavor the treat. Mentioned as a probiotic (a product that gives “good” bacteria to the body and helps fight off “bad” bacteria), Kimchi is referred to as a healthy food that can help ward off unwanted diseases and flu.

Upon mentioning this astonishing (as in, an American wrote this article but knows about the power of kimchi) news to my Korean co-teacher, she mentioned that Koreans, as well as some (Korean) scientists actually believe that Kimchi helped prevent that deadly SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) disease from catching like rapid fire on the Korean peninsula, quite unlike their westward neighbors, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

YES, the made a cartoon out of the power of kimchi.  Meet Kimchi Warrior

And here's Kimchi Warrior taking on the the Bird Flu, obviously kicking butt (if you're Korean, that is).

In more recent years, Kimchi was thought to have helped avert H1N1 from hastily stretching throughout the country.

But, where’s the evidence?  Currently, there’s none.  However, with the hype of the value and capability of their precious food, I’m willing to bet there’s some in the making.  Nonetheless, there’s no doubt that kimchi isn’t a powerful health food, but whether it’s strong enough to ward off pungent ailments, such as SARS and Swine flu… who knows?  

So maybe that Kimchi doesn’t taste so bad after all, eh?

For more information on this, just google “Kimchi and SARS” and you’ll get a vast amount of articles, all of which point to the fact that no, there is no scientific evidence that kimchi prevents SARS, but yes, every Korean will tell you that it does!

WWW (7)- Winter Terms

As it is nearly winter and it has snowed THREE times already, this southern gal has a few winter terms to share with you:

Korean: 겨울
Korean Pronunciation: kyeo-ul
English Meaning: Winter

Korean: 눈
Korean pronunciation: nun
English Meaning: Snow

Korean: 추워요
Korean pronunciation: chu waw yo
English Meaning: Cold

Korean: 진눈깨비
Korean pronunciation: jin nun kae bi
English Meaning: Sleet

And since I’ve slipped at every chance possible, I find that I might be investing in some new snow boots in the near future.

Korean: 부츠
Korean pronunciation: pu chuh
English Meaning: Boots

See Ya Later, Alligator

In Korea, there’s one thing that you can always expect- you will say goodbye to at least 10 people and more likely than not, never see them ever again.  This is actually quite depressing when you think about it… earlier I mentioned how close you inevitably become with all the other teachers, co-teachers, and military personnel here in Korea, so the thought of just saying 안녕히계세요 is quite… dismal.  But let me be the first to warn ya, its gonna happen!

Just the other week, my closest gal pal become unemployed and homeless all within 24 hours, but thankfully had a one-way ticket to SE Asia.  So really, what’s there to complain about?  Well, I’m going to complain- I only had a brief 3 months with her.  I mean really, Kate, who am I going to wake up in an abandoned hospital, take a walk of shame in my dress and heals, and open a pizza store at 11am with?  And who’s going to overflow my bathtub (and bathroom) with bubbles when the floor’s getting a tad bit too dirty?  Oh and who’s suppose to hold your hair back when it’s been a rough night and ajooshi is pointing and laughing all while throwing back two bottles of soju?  Yeah, you’re right, I probably can’t help you in that last department anyway.  But seriously?   Come back to Korea?

So as we’ve all encountered out goodbyes, Kate and I made a promise that, as I dropped her off at the airport bus, making sure she secured a spot on the right-hand side to wave bye, that this was “See ya Later.”

And not just one “see you later”, but if we’re ever in the same country, I have to see you on a bi-annual basis… MINIMUM.  Maybe I just made that up, but Kate, I WILL see you on a bi-annual basis, even if you are in California and I’m parked somewhere in the Deep South. 

But first things first.  Our first “See ya later” will transpire come vacation.  As you may recall, Brandon and I have tickets to Kuala Lumpur, Cambodia, and Vietnam and it just so happens that Kate is homeless in no place other than SE Asia.  So perhaps this wasn’t a coincidence, but with dreams of visiting the rich-history of Cambodia and Vietnam and Kuala Lumpur as the hub of the cheapest Asian airlines (AirAsia- so much love!), Kate and I will reunite for a short 3 days in KL.  Needless to say, I’m super excited!!!

And from there, there better be more “See ya later, Alligators”.  Not just with Kate, but with the other mates (yes, I do have Australian friends here) who are traveling, side-by-side, drink-by-drink, lesson-by-lesson, fear-by-fear, mountain-by-mountain, country-by-country, memory-by-memory, through this once in a lifetime (literally) journey.  I’m really bad at goodbye, so it’s “See ya later, Alligator”, or if you’re from Australia “Afterwhile, Crocodile” is ok too!


And for some background music, the rising country star, Johnny Bulford:

Johnny Bulford- See Ya Later Alligator

FFF (11) - Korean Adoptions

With the mention of someone dear to me adopting a Korean baby, I thought it would be totally appropriate to mention two facts about Korean adoption that I coincidently learned this past week (and 2 more).

Fact 1:  When Korean families adopt a Korean baby, they select a child that they believe will be very similar to the parents.  This includes making sure that the child’s blood type will match with those of the parents.  Now why would they go through such hassle?  Interestingly, and quite different than U.S. customs, in the Korean culture it is uncommon to tell others that you are adopting, as it is frowned upon.  Gossip Queens would have a riot.  Oh it would be a disaster.  Furthermore, the adopted children never even learn that they have been adopted.  Personally, I believe that this is a form of protection in the conservative Korean environment.  

Fact 2:  A single man or single woman is unable to adopt a child in Korea.  Koreans, however, believe that this is a bizarre and unethical law.  As the country is becoming less conservation, perhaps a shift to eliminate this law will be pushed.

Fact 3:  According to Wikipedia (the most reliable source ☺), Korea is the 5^th most commonly adopted from country.  Therefore, although it is frowned upon in their own country, it is accepted for foreigners to bless these children with a comfortable home and family life.

Fact 4:  If I had to adopt children, I would 100% adopt a Korean baby, as these children are DEFINITELY the most adorable children in the world.  Judge for yourself:

Korean Baby Singing Hey Jude

WWW (6)- Travel

Since vacations are rapidly approaching, I thought I'd enlighten you (and myself) with a little bit of travel vocab. 

Korean: 뵤
Korean Pronunciation: p'yo
English Meaning: Ticket
In a sentence: (베트남) 뵤주세요
Pronunciation of sentence: (Beh tuh nam) p'yo chu se yo.
English meaning of sentence: A ticket to (Vietnam), please.

Korean: 여행해요
Korean Pronunciation: yaw haeng hae yo
English Meaning: To Travel (v.)
In a sentence: 나는 (베트남, 캅보디아, 말레이시아)를 여행중입니다
Pronunciation of sentence: na nuhn (beh tuh nam, kam bo di ah, mal leh i si a) rul yaw haeng im ni da
English meaning of sentence: I am traveling to (Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia).

You guessed it... Brandon and I booked our tickets!  We're on our way to Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam.  So far, our itinerary is looking like Kuala Lumpur, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi for 17 days!  If you can't tell, we're getting pretty excited! :)

FFF (10)- Being Thankful

Fact:  One would think with the tensions rising here in South Korea, that I'd want to get the heck out of here without more ado; however, I'm not ready to leave so those damn North Koreans better settle down.

And with Thanksgiving in the air, I've realized that I have so many things to be thankful for while here in Korea.  With that said, here are all of the reasons I'm thankful to be in a potential war zone.

I am thankful for:

My little piece of America.  Having Brandon here has been more than a blessing.  Not only do I have an amazing person to come home to at night, but he and the military has provided a lovely pad with 3 bedrooms and more space than I know what to do with.  Furthermore, they’ve provided an abundance of American food, so those little cravings that all the other teachers have, I'm lucky enough to fulfill them whenever necessary.

The friends I've made here.  We’re all in the same bucket.  We all miss our friends and family, crave cheese, wish we fit into Korean clothes, and need someone to vent to every now and again.  Thank God we’ve got each other.  Whether it’s a romantic meeting on a bridge, a late night bubble bath, or a disastrous hike up the tallest mountain in the whole entire world, there’s nothing that will bond people closer together than isolation on a peninsula with an unruly Northern neighbor.  I realize how blessed I’ve been to meet all of these people who will truly come and go all too soon, but I promise that I’ll hold up my end of staying in touch.

My co-teachers. Although sometimes frustrated with their lack of warning (such as today when, with one hour left of my work week, my co-teacher retracted the fact that she didn't want me to review with the first graders next week.  Instead, I've been asked to compile a review session, in one hour, for first period Monday...), they are amazing teachers, who speak nearly perfect English.  I’m thankful that I don’t have to interpret what they’re saying on a daily basis and that I don’t have to eat lunch in the bathroom.

Everyone back home. Thanks for sending your love and concern.  I miss you all dearly and I promise that I'm safe.  I have Brandon and his military intel to keep safe from any North Korean antics.  If something does happen, I’m on the second plane out of Korea.  Also, don't listen to the news stations back home- they exaggerate everything.  No one here is freaking out- life is going on like normal.  Once/IF they do, I'll let ya know!

For a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Although it is quite possible to endure such a job in your later years, most would say it’s nearly impossible.  With a family and a life established in one place, it’s rare to find anyone over the age of 30 here.  I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to take a break in between schools (Elon and nursing school), and teach my least favorite subject in school (but shh… my students don’t need to know that!). 

The chance to travel.  With winter vacation rapidly approaching, I’m getting super excited to venture through Asia.  I’ll keep you posted on my travels and hopefully be able to share some amazing stories with pictures to depict the adventures.

My readers.  Of course I have to be cliché for a minute and thank my readers.  Honestly, as much as I don’t notice it now, when I have all of these accounts to browse through in my later years, I’ll be so relieved that I had a few faithful readers to encourage me to posting new adventures.

And for some simple things that typically go amiss throughout your day:

-SKYPE!

-that I’ve steered clear of all crazy Korean drivers and have not been hit by one yet

-my cheap lunch (about $2 a day)

-the adorable Korean children that stop to say hi just because I have curly, blonde hair, and round, blue eye

-the adorable Korean children

-fleece-lined tights

-Kimchi jiggae (my favorite Korean meal)

-an amazing transportation system

-sticky rice

-the DMZ

-our heat fan!!!

-my English/Korean dictionary (my life savor)

-blogs

-my blackberry (not having one here in Korea has made me appreciate the technology of the crackberry)

THANK YOU AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

WWW (4)- Thanksgiving Phrases

In light of the fattest day of the year, I’d like to share some typical Thanksgiving Day phrases… in Korean.

Whilst sitting around, watching football, enjoying your standard American traditions, and smelling that lovely, golden brown turkey roasting in the oven, you might feel like saying:

Korean: 배고파요

Korean pronunciation: pae go pa yo

English meaning:  I’m starving!

If a dish really fancys you, just shout out this phrase (who knows, they might pass you more in your direction):

Korean: 이거맛있요

Korean pronunciation: i go ma shiss o yo

English meaning:  I love this dish!

To compliment your (hopefully) exquisite chef:

Korean: 맛있 었어요

Korean pronunciation: ma shiss awss o yo

English meaning:  That was delicious!

And of course, the number one phrase used shorting following dinner and during the “tryptophan is setting in and I’m gonna need a nap” phase:

Korean: 많이먹었습니다

Korean pronunciation: ma nee maw gawt serm ni da

English meaning:  I’m full!

If you feeling like being daring and eccentric, shout out these phrases in front of your family.  Your parents might start to wonder where you picked up on Korean (and perhaps why), just answer that you’re planning a visit within the next few weeks.  More likely than not, they’ll freak out due to North Korea’s lovely display of armor this past week.  (No worries, as of yet, we’re all safe and sound down here in Pyeongtaek).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

Parental (Outta)Control

From last week’s Word of the Week Wednesdays and Fun Fact Friday, you’ve probably already guessed that Brandon’s 엄마 and 아빠 were able to pay a much anticipated visit to South Korea.

As the arrival of his parents quickly approached, my co-teachers began asking “Do you know them?” and “Are you nervous to meet them?”  Little did they know, I’ve known the Bailas since the womb, so suffice it to say that, no I was not nervous to meet them.  In fact, we were counting down the days, cleaning the apartment, buying extra food; you know the usual routine when your parents come to visit. 

The brave souls that they were, hopped on a bus straight from Incheon and made their way to Korea’s Americanized sector of Seoul, Itaewon (where we dominated Halloween).  Groggy from the 1 hour plane flight and slightly car sick from the reckless foreign transportation, we decided to designate Friday night as a “mild” night. 

But anyone who has ever visited Itaewon knows that these things just don’t exist.  “Mild” refers to not booting your brains out on the streets of Seoul, while Ajoshi sips his soju and points and laughs.  In other words, yes, we stilled headed out to the bars, stayed up till circa 2 am and no, we did not black out, nor did anyone vom. 

And again, as you read last week, we paid a visit to the DMZ.  To our dismay, the weather was rather crappy and visibility was lacking.  However, we did get to travel (at a 90°, ajimma style angle) through one of the four tunnels that the North Koreans built following the armistice.  Assuming that you’ve read the last couple of blogs, I’ll keep the DMZ short and move onto the next shenanigans.

Following a much needed nap, Bear and Joyce were ready to party… and that we did.  With a 100,000 won tab in hand (thank you Halloween), things got pretty wild.  In fact, Bear and Brandon stayed out till nearly 4, despite the laundry list of tourist attractions to be visited the next day.

The next morning, slightly… drained, our laundry list was cut in half.  Changdeokgung Palace, in the center of Seoul, houses a secret garden and is a lovers’ lane.  The scenery is beyond gorgeous and a couple’s photography heaven.  From here we ventured to the largest fish market in Seoul.

Although several times I thought I was going to breakout in hives and have the worst allergic reaction thus far in my 3 year fish allergy escapade, we were AMAZED at the enormity of the fish, the market, the variety of fish, and the on-the-spot slaying.  Talk about fresh.

Following the whirlwind of a weekend, I was off to school, while Bear, Joyce, and Brandon headed down SE to a city known as the “outdoor museum” due to the rich history that has been preserved through the hundreds of years.

Upon their return, the former teacher, Joyce got to put her skills to use.  After teaching “Music” to my first graders, the 3 stooges joined me in teaching my afterschool class.  With a “never-ending” story and Joyce’s magical drawing skills, the kids were glued to the board and probably the best behaved I’ve ever seen them.  Joyce, you should probably come back and help me with all my classes?

Our time began winding down, but the fun continued to flood the streets, like Kimchi and Soju in a Korean restaurant.  Which, speaking of, come Saturday came Itaewon, which obviously means more antics.  Sight seeing during the day and frolicking at night.

A visit to the Seoul Tower allowed for cultural awareness with a traditional Korean performance, but also allotted for dismal moods, as Brandon and I noticed that our love lock was no where to be found.  Someone had moved it, and I was not happy about it.  Hmmph.

And remember the Cheonggyecheon stream that was once a trashcan for the entirety of Seoul’s populace?  Well, this just so happened to be the place of the Lantern Festival (pictures have already been posted).  Although once a symbol of filth and grime, this festival showed off Seoul’s true colors.  It was absolutely gorgeous and I couldn’t think of a better way to send Bear and Joyce off.

Well obviously other than another visit to Itaewon’s night life.  With one last night in order, drinks were shared and memories were once again made.  We’ve missed them since their departure, but it was enjoyable to have them visit and join in on the outta control Korean lifestyle.

FFF (9)- DMZ Facts

Amid the visit of Brandon's parents (엄마 and 아빠) came the ever so "dangerous" and much anticipated visit to the DMZ.  Although the DMZ is located only 44 kilometers north of Seoul, a visit to the DMZ is actually quite pricey, as you must be on an organized tour to view the sought after land. 

With mentioning the DMZ, it would be shameful if I failed to mention the history behind the 38^th parallel, especially as most Americans are ignorant to the rich history behind this precious land.

In 1911, with Japan lurching over Korea by means of a small ocean way, the undersized, military occupied Korea was forced to submit to the ever growing, economically thriving Japanese government.  Although treacherous, the strong-willed Koreans survived through the Japanese occupation, which lasted until 1945.

There is no irony between the end of World War II, with America’s domination of Japan by means of the one and only Atomic Bomb, and the end of the Japanese occupation in Korea.  Following the war, the victorious Allies, Russia and the U.S., rewarded themselves with taking a piece of “Japan”- Korea.  Split at the 38^th parallel, Russia received the north and the U.S. the south. 

But let’s not forget the tantalizing Cold War.  Beginning in 1948, as tensions between the once allies grew, Korea was officially split into North and South Korea.  As the Soviets became greedy, the USSR and North Korea attacked the South on June 25, 1950.  With American forces behind them the South was able to rally and eventually push the North back to its current position, at the 38^th parallel.

Beginning on July 27^th, 1953 an armistice was signed between the North and the South.  The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was formed, with 2 kilometers on either side of the border forbidding weapons.  This “no man's land” is a well protected area, in which nearly no Koreans live.  South Korea actually rewards its citizens, such as no taxes, if they chose to inhabit this region, although only 250 residents have taken their country up on this ever so inviting enticement.

Progression of the Korean War. (Wikipedia)

Alright, enough with the history lesson.  Throughout the morning, our lovely tour guide shared a wealth of Korean fun facts, which I immediately made mental notes of, just to share with my faithful readers!

Fact:  Korea is the only divided nation in the world today.

Fact: The DMZ is a natural reserve, particularly for many endangered species, such as the Red-crowned Crane, White-naped crane, Korean Tiger, Amur leopard and Asiatic black bear.

Fact:  A railway was built between North Korea and South Korea to unify the two countries.  However, come opening day, after hours of labor and millions of dollars spent, the North changed their minds- one of many teases that has floated south over the past 57 years.

Fact- Cheonggyecheon, small stream that intersects a portion of Seoul, was once a trashcan for its residents.  So the president decided to place a concert slab over the stream in an attempt to prevent littering.  However, when the current Korean president, Lee Myung Bak, was the mayor of Seoul, he decided to unveil the stream, to, ironically, make the city more appealing to the eyes.  This stream was the center of the Lantern Festival that we attended with Brandon’s 엄마 and  아빠.

Fact:  South Korea really wants unification; however, the north is too stubborn and needs to get their heads out of their bootays to realize that without South Korea and the rest of the world, they will all probably die of starvation (there may be some opinion in that fact… you decide).

WWW (5)- Mom and Dad

Since last week’s words of the week Wednesday was a tad bit lengthy, I’ll keep this one short.

Due to the lovely and much anticipated visit from Brandon’s parents, this week we’ll learn “mom” and “dad”.

Korean: 엄마

Korean Pronunciation: om-ma

Meaning: Mom

Korean: 아빠

Korean Pronunciation: ap-pa

Meaning: Dad

Try calling your parents these names this week.  See how much it catches them off guard!

FFF (8)- Pepero Day

Yesterday, Pepero Day, might be one of the best holidays ever invented.  It’s literally heaven for any sweet tooth, chocolate loving, energetic child and big eyed, foreign English teacher.  Pepero Day, celebrated on “11/11” (ship il/ship il), is quite similar to Valentine’s Day in the United States.  Like Valentine’s Day, couples exchange gifts, including chocolates. 

However, quite unlike the U.S., if you’re single, there’s no need to feel completely alienated.  So no moping around for all those single ladies.  In addition to couples exchanging treats, friends will trade with each other and even with their most favorite teachers, especially the sole foreigner J  

How thoughtful of the Koreans to be so inclusive!

빼빼로 (Pepero) a candy stick (basically cookie dipped in chocolate, aka heaven) is produced by the one and only Lotte, a company that basically dominates all realms of Korea.  On Pepero Day, these stick candies are exchanged due to their similar appearance to the number 1.

According to one source, Pepero Day originated in Busan, a city in south east Korea, in 1994, when a group of middle school females exchanged 빼빼로 sticks, wishing their friends to grow as tall and skinny as a빼빼로. 

But it is also thought that Lotte Confectionary started the tradition, as sales sky rocket on this day.  My theory is that there’s no holiday between Chuseok and Christmas (if they even practice Christianity), so someone decided to insinuate a little holiday in the middle.  The real answer, the world may never know.

Although, apparently 빼빼로 sticks aren’t the only things exchanged.  According to a source on Wikipedia, “some teachers have encouraged children to exchange healthy snacks to combat obesity.” 

All I have to say to this bull honky is that a) obesity flat out does not exist in Korea (take two glances at the 33% of Americans who waddle through our streets and then maybe they’ll stop complaining about obesity) and b) they don’t even celebrate Halloween, so let the poor children swap sweets for once!  Not to mention, this means 빼빼로 for me!

Needless to say, I got my fair share of Pepero yesterday.  In fact, I found yol boxes of 빼빼로 sitting on my desk throughout the day, all from some of my favorite students (yes I have favorites, but no, I won’t admit that to their faces!).  Some even wrote adorable notes, really making me feel loved:



Sorry that this one came out sideways.  It's normal before

uploading but then switches when you upload.

Anyway, it reads: "To Alex.  Hi teacher Alex.  Im Hoje.  I

give you Pepero Almond.  I hope you're not alergic to almond.

Actually I'm not good at english...  So I'm writing this letter

with my friend's help.  Bye!"



 

And for those of you that are wondering, Valentine’s Day is still observed here in Korea.  But of course, as always, there’s a slight variation- for Korean Valentine’s Day, only females give their boyfriends, fiancés, husbands, what-have-you chocolate. 

But don’t worry ladies; we’ve got our only special day.  On March 14 (ship sa) the men are allowed to release all of those suppressed feelings without their buddies heckling them.  Even giving gifts is permitted!  Of course I made sure that my afterschool children told Brandon about this day!