Merry Christmas Everyone,
-Bets
PS - New photos are available for both November and December under the Photo tab!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
메리 크리스마스 from South Korea!
Merry Christmas Everyone,
-Bets
PS - New photos are available for both November and December under the Photo tab!
Friday, December 23, 2011
A Fine American Thanksgiving
I consider myself blessed for the individuals I've met in the four months I've been here. Whether I see them everyday, every weekend, or every other month I feel like I've created a proper family filled with personality. I think this point is best showcased by our "Fine American Thanksgiving" celebration that took place on November 19th...because we all had to work on Thanksgiving Day...
It wasn't just an American expat affair. Scotts, Irish, Australians, New Zealanders, Koreans, and Canadians were all in attendance. We had one of the best potlucks I've seen which included fried chicken (turkey is a rarity here!), mashed potatoes, rice cakes, wine, stuffing, pavlova, and mac n' cheese: a true assortment of international fare. I loved how easily everyone fell into the merriment of a new holiday.
After grub we all marched together to the distant soccer field to play some good ole American Football. Unfortunately, it was too dark to throw anything at people's heads, so we opted for yet another twist: rugby. I'm sure we were the sorriest sight of rugby every played. Rules were hard to interpret and action in the dark became more and more difficult on AstroTurf. Eventually we had to quit the game due to shear confusion.
Of all the holidays abroad, I think Thanksgiving really rang true to home. Though it was many people's first time participating in the event, I felt like we had been getting together for years. I am so thankful for the friends I've found here. Homesickness hasn't been nearly as bad as it could be because, in a way, I am home.
(Sorry) Schmaltz at Christmastime,
-Bets
It wasn't just an American expat affair. Scotts, Irish, Australians, New Zealanders, Koreans, and Canadians were all in attendance. We had one of the best potlucks I've seen which included fried chicken (turkey is a rarity here!), mashed potatoes, rice cakes, wine, stuffing, pavlova, and mac n' cheese: a true assortment of international fare. I loved how easily everyone fell into the merriment of a new holiday.
After grub we all marched together to the distant soccer field to play some good ole American Football. Unfortunately, it was too dark to throw anything at people's heads, so we opted for yet another twist: rugby. I'm sure we were the sorriest sight of rugby every played. Rules were hard to interpret and action in the dark became more and more difficult on AstroTurf. Eventually we had to quit the game due to shear confusion.
Of all the holidays abroad, I think Thanksgiving really rang true to home. Though it was many people's first time participating in the event, I felt like we had been getting together for years. I am so thankful for the friends I've found here. Homesickness hasn't been nearly as bad as it could be because, in a way, I am home.
(Sorry) Schmaltz at Christmastime,
-Bets
Monday, December 19, 2011
A Bit of Advice
In November, I was invited to a special evening event at the Taean Office of Education where a famous travel writer/volunteer/UN adviser named, Han Bi-Ya, was presenting. I was told the speech would be in Korean, but there would be many great pictures. Feeling slightly pressured, I kindly accepted and figured it wasn't a big deal. I could handle it. I like pictures.
Well, the presentation did have pictures...for two minutes. The following 90 minutes did not. I sat next to my co-teacher and got a smattering of translations here and there. Unfortunately, you can't translate everything and I could see that my "co" was waning interest. Through the brief descriptions I received I could tell I would have liked most of what Han Bi-Ya had to say. This realization put me in a terrible mood because I felt like my Korean skills were limiting my experience. Which, after awhile can really start to nag at you because you can't hear others or get your own point across. I just want to say, "I'm smart. No, really!" Korean is difficult...
Frustrations aside, Han Bi-Ya said some things that I really appreciated. The first was a self-examination that asked, "What map is in your mind? Is it your city, county, country, continent, or the world? This single question can tell you what concerns and interests you." So much of what we choose to see is in close proximity, when there is a whole world beyond our view that can resonate just as easily in our daily lives. I know I'm speaking as someone who lives a half a world away from many friends and family, but I think the world perspective is a luxury of travel that I am truly thankful for, especially when I'm back home.
Her last piece of advice regarded questions of doing. As someone who goes through torturous pains to make big decisions, I found this extremely insightful and easy. It took me years to finally teach abroad, though I had been thinking about it since my sophomore year of college. And I'm (mostly) happy as a clam for being here...Han Bi-Ya explained:
If you are ever debating whether to do something or not, I offer this simple piece of advice:
Cheers,
-Bets
Well, the presentation did have pictures...for two minutes. The following 90 minutes did not. I sat next to my co-teacher and got a smattering of translations here and there. Unfortunately, you can't translate everything and I could see that my "co" was waning interest. Through the brief descriptions I received I could tell I would have liked most of what Han Bi-Ya had to say. This realization put me in a terrible mood because I felt like my Korean skills were limiting my experience. Which, after awhile can really start to nag at you because you can't hear others or get your own point across. I just want to say, "I'm smart. No, really!" Korean is difficult...
Frustrations aside, Han Bi-Ya said some things that I really appreciated. The first was a self-examination that asked, "What map is in your mind? Is it your city, county, country, continent, or the world? This single question can tell you what concerns and interests you." So much of what we choose to see is in close proximity, when there is a whole world beyond our view that can resonate just as easily in our daily lives. I know I'm speaking as someone who lives a half a world away from many friends and family, but I think the world perspective is a luxury of travel that I am truly thankful for, especially when I'm back home.
Her last piece of advice regarded questions of doing. As someone who goes through torturous pains to make big decisions, I found this extremely insightful and easy. It took me years to finally teach abroad, though I had been thinking about it since my sophomore year of college. And I'm (mostly) happy as a clam for being here...Han Bi-Ya explained:
If you are ever debating whether to do something or not, I offer this simple piece of advice:
- Always: 1) Travel 2) Study
- Never: 1) Buy it 2) Pack it
Cheers,
-Bets
Saturday, November 26, 2011
My Next Million
I want to share some insight with you that might make you millions of dollars in the Korean market. No, this isn't a hacker. Yes, it's really me. Because fall is soon coming to a close I thought it would be important to put the bug in your ear now. Maybe you can start working on the patent now and introduce your product in fall 2012 - I'd like a small portion of the profits. I am the ideasman here...
So, it took me awhile to realize what Korea was missing, but I found it. It all started in a Kindergarten class where we learned about Autumn. As we were going through vocabulary words I introduced the word 'rake.' I thought this would be easy - one syllable, known phonetic sounds, and a common image in my fall memories. However, my kindies never quite grasped this small vocabulary word during our lesson. I was a bit perplexed as they would usually shout words like this at the top of their lungs and jump up and down - "Rake! Rake! Rake!" I opted to take it as a fluke and continue to work on the scarecrow crafts...
But then, a few days later I was waiting for my co-teacher at one of the school's window sills and noticed something a bit off in the fall scene of bright yellow ginko trees and deep red bushes. My school principal was tidying up his front yard next to the school and using a broom to get the leaves out of the street gutter. He constantly fought with wet leaves and it looked rather ineffective as leaves tossed this way and that. I wondered, 'Why isn't he just using a rake? Wouldn't it be easier?"
My final realization occured in Seoul when I saw city workers sweeping through the grass on a boulevard. They would brush the leaves onto a large bulky blanket that would then be folded up and dumped into a bin. The blanket was clumsy and the sweeping looked (again!) exceedingly difficult with the moisture on the ground.
I know what this country needs...Rakes!
You could start with the metal headed rake in 2012 if you get your ducks in a row - patent, production, shipping, marketing, and maybe a Korean reality show spin off. Let that first model simmer a bit in the economy, then bust out the fancy plastic alternative in 2014. For a show stopper, you can hook the country on the ergonomic design and comfort models in 2017. You'll make a killing...just remember who told you about this exciting venture.
Your Welcome,
-Bets
PS - Happy belated Thanksgiving to all US family and friends!
So, it took me awhile to realize what Korea was missing, but I found it. It all started in a Kindergarten class where we learned about Autumn. As we were going through vocabulary words I introduced the word 'rake.' I thought this would be easy - one syllable, known phonetic sounds, and a common image in my fall memories. However, my kindies never quite grasped this small vocabulary word during our lesson. I was a bit perplexed as they would usually shout words like this at the top of their lungs and jump up and down - "Rake! Rake! Rake!" I opted to take it as a fluke and continue to work on the scarecrow crafts...
But then, a few days later I was waiting for my co-teacher at one of the school's window sills and noticed something a bit off in the fall scene of bright yellow ginko trees and deep red bushes. My school principal was tidying up his front yard next to the school and using a broom to get the leaves out of the street gutter. He constantly fought with wet leaves and it looked rather ineffective as leaves tossed this way and that. I wondered, 'Why isn't he just using a rake? Wouldn't it be easier?"
My final realization occured in Seoul when I saw city workers sweeping through the grass on a boulevard. They would brush the leaves onto a large bulky blanket that would then be folded up and dumped into a bin. The blanket was clumsy and the sweeping looked (again!) exceedingly difficult with the moisture on the ground.
I know what this country needs...Rakes!
You could start with the metal headed rake in 2012 if you get your ducks in a row - patent, production, shipping, marketing, and maybe a Korean reality show spin off. Let that first model simmer a bit in the economy, then bust out the fancy plastic alternative in 2014. For a show stopper, you can hook the country on the ergonomic design and comfort models in 2017. You'll make a killing...just remember who told you about this exciting venture.
Your Welcome,
-Bets
PS - Happy belated Thanksgiving to all US family and friends!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Happy Pepero Day!
It's 11-11-11 and you know what that means...it's that Korean holiday we all know and love: Pepero Day! Thanks Lotte Confectionary Company!
Yes, indeed. If you thought Valentine's Day was just one big corporate sponsored holiday, this one actually is named after it's sponsor. Though the origin of the holiday is a bit fuzzy, I might point the finger at Lotte Company Execs. They considered November 11th and said, "Look! Four Pepero sticks look like the numbers 11-11. We should corner that market!" So in the mid-1990s, Pepero Day was born and now serves as a Valentine's Day-esque holiday. Kids and lovers give Pepero sticks (you may know them as Pocky) to the masses. And with the year being 2011, today is "Millenium Pepero Day."
Not surprisingly, I saw many Pepero displays around Taean this week, including Pepero in the shape of hearts, flowers, umbrellas...you name it. They range in size from small, pencil-sized sticks to the ultimate, cookie breadstick as long as your arm. I asked my co-teacher if I should buy some boxes to give to students and staff and she said it wasn't a very big deal at our school. So, with that in mind, I figured I did my candy giving at Halloween and would save some money to just see what happens. Knowing that I had limited classes on Friday, I didn't expect much. But, as luck would have it, my Kindergarten class presented me with a box following our class. Super sweet!
Happy Pepero Day!
-Bets
Yes, indeed. If you thought Valentine's Day was just one big corporate sponsored holiday, this one actually is named after it's sponsor. Though the origin of the holiday is a bit fuzzy, I might point the finger at Lotte Company Execs. They considered November 11th and said, "Look! Four Pepero sticks look like the numbers 11-11. We should corner that market!" So in the mid-1990s, Pepero Day was born and now serves as a Valentine's Day-esque holiday. Kids and lovers give Pepero sticks (you may know them as Pocky) to the masses. And with the year being 2011, today is "Millenium Pepero Day."
Not surprisingly, I saw many Pepero displays around Taean this week, including Pepero in the shape of hearts, flowers, umbrellas...you name it. They range in size from small, pencil-sized sticks to the ultimate, cookie breadstick as long as your arm. I asked my co-teacher if I should buy some boxes to give to students and staff and she said it wasn't a very big deal at our school. So, with that in mind, I figured I did my candy giving at Halloween and would save some money to just see what happens. Knowing that I had limited classes on Friday, I didn't expect much. But, as luck would have it, my Kindergarten class presented me with a box following our class. Super sweet!
Happy Pepero Day!
-Bets
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Exams Strike with a Vengeance!
Do you remember taking the SAT or ACT when you were 18 years old? Do you recall how much you loathed it? It took three hours on a Saturday morning and had a plethora of questions from years of schooling. Plus, the results of this exam supposedly determined your aptitude for further schooling, scholarships, and were always included as part of your college applications.
Now compare this to the Korean College Scholastic Ability Test, or CSAT. Today, all Korean 18 year olds must take this test in order to enter into university. It takes eight hours to complete including writing, verbal, reading, and listening across all studied subjects (the end-all-be-all of comprehensive testing). The results of this exam are the defining factor in university admittance, and ultimately their future earnings and occupation. The results have even seeped into the social/cultural makeup of this generation as exam results will define young people for years.
Because of the extreme implications of this test, South Korea does everything in its power to make this day run smoothly. From grounding airport operations to cancelling many schools, the country must be silenced in order for students to focus. Check out the article below, to see how far they've gone this year.
Parents pray, jets grounded for Korea college exam
From Reuters.com, by Christine Kim and Ju-min Park
(Editing by David Chance and Elaine Lies)
Wed Nov 9, 2011 9:43am EST
Jets will be grounded across South Korea and anxious parents will pray while their children take annual exams that could lead them to one of the country's top universities and eventually a good job for life.
As well as prayers at churches and temples in this country of 50 million people, the 690,000 students who sit the exams on Thursday have been boosting their chances by eating toffee, to help the right answers stick, and staying away from bananas and seaweed, that might make them slip in the tests.
"I have been so stressed just looking at other mothers send their children off to good colleges," said Kwon Jeong-hee, whose son is taking the so-called CSAT tests for the second time.
Kwon was praying at the Jogyesa Buddhist temple in downtown Seoul, which has held special prayer meetings for parents of CSAT exam takers. Many anxious parents have been praying for weeks, if not months.
"I haven't allowed guests into my home recently because of superstitions against strangers, and I don't let my son eat seaweed soup because it's unnerving," she said.
The exams are a major event here, and society scrambles to make things easier for stressed students.
During oral tests, aircraft will be banned from taking off and landing, and drivers are forbidden from sounding their horns. Police vehicles will even escort late-running students to the exam rooms.
Even the stock exchange will open an hour late to reduce the chance that students will be caught in traffic en route to the exams, an annual rite of passage that can literally make or break the lives of the 18-year olds sitting them.
"The mothers are more anxious than the children," said Yu Mi-ran, who has prayed daily at her church in central Seoul for over 20 days for her daughter.
Along with toffee, students are given presents of forks to help them "stab" the correct answers, while toilet paper is also good luck as in Korean it is called "pul-da," a homonym for "solve" or "unravel."
Porridge is also a banned food for test takers as "cooking porridge" in Korean is also slang for "messing up."
CHEATING AND SUICIDES
With the youngsters' whole future at stake, some go further than trusting in toffee and forks.
A national scandal erupted in 2004 when a group of students were caught cheating with cell phones and working as a network. So serious is the exam that the offending students were handed down suspended sentences in court a few months later.
One high school student jumped off the roof of the school where she had been taking the test in 2007 and others have committed suicide after getting their results.
Test supervisors get special training and during the exam, they are not allowed to cough, chew gum or put on strong perfume that might distract students.
With high levels of youth unemployment and a growing informal employment sector that doesn't bring the same benefits as working for huge South Korean conglomerates that offer a steady job and pension, anxious prayers from parents don't always stop when the exams are finished.
"My son took the CSAT more than a decade ago," said a mother at Jogyesa as she slipped a 5,000 won note inside a collecting box. "I'm here to get him a job."
See the full publication here.
Food for thought,
-Bets
Now compare this to the Korean College Scholastic Ability Test, or CSAT. Today, all Korean 18 year olds must take this test in order to enter into university. It takes eight hours to complete including writing, verbal, reading, and listening across all studied subjects (the end-all-be-all of comprehensive testing). The results of this exam are the defining factor in university admittance, and ultimately their future earnings and occupation. The results have even seeped into the social/cultural makeup of this generation as exam results will define young people for years.
Because of the extreme implications of this test, South Korea does everything in its power to make this day run smoothly. From grounding airport operations to cancelling many schools, the country must be silenced in order for students to focus. Check out the article below, to see how far they've gone this year.
Parents pray, jets grounded for Korea college exam
From Reuters.com, by Christine Kim and Ju-min Park
(Editing by David Chance and Elaine Lies)
Wed Nov 9, 2011 9:43am EST
Jets will be grounded across South Korea and anxious parents will pray while their children take annual exams that could lead them to one of the country's top universities and eventually a good job for life.
As well as prayers at churches and temples in this country of 50 million people, the 690,000 students who sit the exams on Thursday have been boosting their chances by eating toffee, to help the right answers stick, and staying away from bananas and seaweed, that might make them slip in the tests.
"I have been so stressed just looking at other mothers send their children off to good colleges," said Kwon Jeong-hee, whose son is taking the so-called CSAT tests for the second time.
Kwon was praying at the Jogyesa Buddhist temple in downtown Seoul, which has held special prayer meetings for parents of CSAT exam takers. Many anxious parents have been praying for weeks, if not months.
"I haven't allowed guests into my home recently because of superstitions against strangers, and I don't let my son eat seaweed soup because it's unnerving," she said.
The exams are a major event here, and society scrambles to make things easier for stressed students.
During oral tests, aircraft will be banned from taking off and landing, and drivers are forbidden from sounding their horns. Police vehicles will even escort late-running students to the exam rooms.
Even the stock exchange will open an hour late to reduce the chance that students will be caught in traffic en route to the exams, an annual rite of passage that can literally make or break the lives of the 18-year olds sitting them.
"The mothers are more anxious than the children," said Yu Mi-ran, who has prayed daily at her church in central Seoul for over 20 days for her daughter.
Along with toffee, students are given presents of forks to help them "stab" the correct answers, while toilet paper is also good luck as in Korean it is called "pul-da," a homonym for "solve" or "unravel."
Porridge is also a banned food for test takers as "cooking porridge" in Korean is also slang for "messing up."
CHEATING AND SUICIDES
With the youngsters' whole future at stake, some go further than trusting in toffee and forks.
A national scandal erupted in 2004 when a group of students were caught cheating with cell phones and working as a network. So serious is the exam that the offending students were handed down suspended sentences in court a few months later.
One high school student jumped off the roof of the school where she had been taking the test in 2007 and others have committed suicide after getting their results.
Test supervisors get special training and during the exam, they are not allowed to cough, chew gum or put on strong perfume that might distract students.
With high levels of youth unemployment and a growing informal employment sector that doesn't bring the same benefits as working for huge South Korean conglomerates that offer a steady job and pension, anxious prayers from parents don't always stop when the exams are finished.
"My son took the CSAT more than a decade ago," said a mother at Jogyesa as she slipped a 5,000 won note inside a collecting box. "I'm here to get him a job."
See the full publication here.
Food for thought,
-Bets
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Want to Teach Abroad?
I was recently asked to share some tips with university students who were considering teaching abroad. My list is highly subjective and certainly doesn't cover everything, but its a start. Here are some of the things I've figured out along the way...
For those thinking of teaching abroad, please let me know if you have any burning questions. As for fellow expats: What do you think should be added or removed from this list?
Cheers,
-Bets
- Research, research, research! There are many different types of teaching experiences. Make sure you apply to organizations that are credible and have not been blacklisted. Also, check out forums and other review sites to learn more about recruiters and the organizations they work with. Use your network to gain insights from past teachers. Also, consider checking out some professional EFL groups and expat sites to start building your international network.
- Plan ahead. Many documents need to be gathered from state and federal agencies in order to make your trip a-go. It takes about 3-4 months for most teachers to begin their job abroad. However, in some cases it can take as many as 6-8 months if your paperwork is stalled.
- Save up some funds. Yes, you will be paid for your work. But, will you be able to buy a plane ticket, a visa; maybe even a passport? Also, you may need to consider your moving costs and the money it will take to set up your apartment in your first month prior to being paid. Make sure you discuss these things with your recruiter or new employer!
- Learn about your goal country. I think one of the best ways to lessen culture shock is to engage your mind ahead of time and learn about the culture. This is also a great way to keep yourself motivated as you jump through all the hoops necessary to work abroad (including the impending interview).
- If teaching English abroad, I highly suggest completing some kind of TEFL training course (100 hours) in order to prepare yourself for teaching. Many programs offer an increase in pay if you have a 100 hour training certificate. Some English teaching programs (such as EPIK) are making this the standard for hire in 2012.
- Above all, be flexible and keep a good attitude. There are a lot of things that can go wrong when living abroad and there are a lot of things that can go extremely well. Be willing to keep an open mind in the diverse situations you will encounter as a teacher in a foreign country.
For those thinking of teaching abroad, please let me know if you have any burning questions. As for fellow expats: What do you think should be added or removed from this list?
Cheers,
-Bets
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween from my Kindergartners!
Sending "trick or treat" wishes to all (and especially the little Grouch!),
-Bets
PS - A few additional photos have trickled into the Photo feed. Check out our Halloween costumes and more!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Introducing, Rugby
This past weekend I had what might be the best moment yet since coming to South Korea. As you know, I have quite a few expat friends here. However, what you may not have realized is that many of these folks are South Africans and New Zealanders ("kiwis"). Upon first meeting these folks at orientation I noticed something right away: the steady stream of rugby trash talking.
Being a newcomer to rugby this was a bit over my head. But then, two weeks ago I watched my first game at a friend's house. It was just playing in the background, but I found myself getting sucked in. Imagine American Football without padding and without all the pauses to reset plays, remark the 10 yard line, and penalize players. Rugby is essentially fast playing football with very basic rules for keeping the ball in play:
1) Players can kick or run the ball forward
2) Players can only pass backward to teammates
3) When in a dog pile, players must work together to get the ball passed back to restart the forward motion
4) Repeat!
Now imagine my delight being in the thick of Rugby warfare (i.e. The 2011 Rugby World Cup) this past weekend. The finals placed New Zealand's All Blacks against Frances's Blues. So, what could we do, but go to Seoul and watch it with other Kiwi loving Expats! And that's just what we did. We grabbed a high top at Scrooges Pub three hours before the match started to ensure that we had seats. And my (oh my) did the pub fill...going to the restroom was death defying!
The final was remarkably low scoring, however we were not a quiet crowd. Chanting for our teams and jeering at our rivals kept everyone's adrenaline up. I was hooked from the very start by New Zealand's opening Haka...
...all the way to those last seconds.
Go All Blacks!
-Bets
Being a newcomer to rugby this was a bit over my head. But then, two weeks ago I watched my first game at a friend's house. It was just playing in the background, but I found myself getting sucked in. Imagine American Football without padding and without all the pauses to reset plays, remark the 10 yard line, and penalize players. Rugby is essentially fast playing football with very basic rules for keeping the ball in play:
1) Players can kick or run the ball forward
2) Players can only pass backward to teammates
3) When in a dog pile, players must work together to get the ball passed back to restart the forward motion
4) Repeat!
Now imagine my delight being in the thick of Rugby warfare (i.e. The 2011 Rugby World Cup) this past weekend. The finals placed New Zealand's All Blacks against Frances's Blues. So, what could we do, but go to Seoul and watch it with other Kiwi loving Expats! And that's just what we did. We grabbed a high top at Scrooges Pub three hours before the match started to ensure that we had seats. And my (oh my) did the pub fill...going to the restroom was death defying!
The final was remarkably low scoring, however we were not a quiet crowd. Chanting for our teams and jeering at our rivals kept everyone's adrenaline up. I was hooked from the very start by New Zealand's opening Haka...
...all the way to those last seconds.
Go All Blacks!
-Bets
Friday, October 21, 2011
Banking in a Foreign Country
I'm sorry to have kept you out of the Korean loop for so long. I'm sure you were on pins and needles waiting to hear all about my exploits. The weekends have been nothing but wonderful including rooftop card games, epic ferry trips (norebang included), shopping in Seoul (I finally found a thrift store!), birthday parties in Seosan, and "brunchee." I'd like to take a turn in the direction of this blog and start to introduce you to the day to day experiences of being an expat in Korea.
Challenge #1: Banking!
It has taken me nearly two months to get banking squared a way. After receiving my ARC, I opted to open an account with the local branch, Nong Hyup. If you say Nong Hyup anywhere in Korea, everyone seems to know exactly what you are talking about, so "local" is a loose term in this case.
My first experience at the bank was fine. My co-teacher said, "There is a girl at the bank who speaks pretty good English, so you shouldn't have a problem." So I went to conquer this beast. I went to the only Nong Hyup I knew of in town and set up my account. Unfortunately, the girl was not there so I worked with a kind, however nervous, teller who utilized his handy-dandy phrase book. We seemed to be getting everything figured out alright. I even mustered my Konglish, "car-duh," to get a debit card. Little did I know that this would only be the beginning of something much bigger.
Zoom ahead two weeks when I received my first month's pay (via direct deposit) and I needed to do some online banking. I already knew I had to jump numerous hoops to set this program up, but I was more than willing to work with Nong Hyup to get it ready to go. So, during my lunch break I went to the small Nong Hyup chain in my school's town. I got many stares and frightened giggles from the tellers, but luckily there was one man on staff, Sean, who spoke great English. He told me he usually does Commercial Investments, but that I was the exception to his daily work.
So, Sean got me set up. He noted that I wasn't "in their system" so he made copies. I wrote out my full name in the tiny space allotted for it (Elizabeth is a ridiculous name for Korean forms...). I signed my name in the tinier space still. I thought that would be the end of it, but then I tried to send money home online...and nothing.
I went back to Sean where he did banker-y things and discovered that the first teller who set up my account made an error in the string of numbers needed for my account. He fixed it and then said, "It should work now, but text me if there is a problem." So I tried banking online at home, and still nothing.
I text Sean, and after a bit of research on his end, he told me I had to go to the main branch in Taean to get things fixed (Wait, there is another NH bank in Taean? It's closer to my house? The English speaking girl works here?). Sean said I was to meet a man (his superior) who would be able to help me and get things sorted. So, after convincing my VP to let me leave early, I went to Taean. With my bill payments looming, I was ready to be done with this. Again, I was told I wasn't "in their system" so more copies were made and more papers were signed. After explaining I wanted to remit payment to the States, I was directed to a woman who was to help me with the paperwork in person (skipping the online component). However, she told me that she could not help me because she had too much work to do and didn't have time (customer service much?). Distressed and a bit pissed, I went home to try sending money online.
Nothing.
I text Sean.
We set a time to meet - late Thursday evening.
I returned to Sean's bank on Thursday evening where I was told that the person in Taean made a mistake and they were very sorry. One of the primary mistakes being setting up a brand new account (the person who set up my account didn't give me access to international remittance). So Sean set forth to fix the multiple mistakes incurred in my bank accounts short life. He explained that because of all of these mistakes Sean was able to talk big wigs into accessing the banking network outside regular hours (sneaky!). So, we drank tea, filled out forms, opened a new account, closed an account, and sent money home! All was wonderful.
As I had this lovely window to get things done, I asked Sean about an international debit card. He said it wouldn't be a problem, but he wouldn't be able to process it 'til tomorrow. I thought that would be fine. So I signed up for one and Sean said he would drop it by my school the next day.
I got the card as expected and went to take money out at the ATM.
Nothing.
I text Sean (panicked/livid).
I started to take this personally.
Sean felt awful, but said he couldn't help with anything until Monday when the bank opened.
I went back to the bank on Monday. It turned out that the person who created the card made a mistake. He forgot to link my account to the card, so I was simply holding a piece of cheap plastic all weekend. I was told that this mistake occurs maybe once or twice a year. Sean was furious with his coworker because so many bad things had happened to me. From my view, it seemed that a bit of K-Drama had erupted in the Nong Hyup.
Sean said sadly, "I'm sorry. You are very unlucky," and handed me a coffee as he fixed the final problem.
Indeed, I am,
-Bets
Challenge #1: Banking!
It has taken me nearly two months to get banking squared a way. After receiving my ARC, I opted to open an account with the local branch, Nong Hyup. If you say Nong Hyup anywhere in Korea, everyone seems to know exactly what you are talking about, so "local" is a loose term in this case.
My first experience at the bank was fine. My co-teacher said, "There is a girl at the bank who speaks pretty good English, so you shouldn't have a problem." So I went to conquer this beast. I went to the only Nong Hyup I knew of in town and set up my account. Unfortunately, the girl was not there so I worked with a kind, however nervous, teller who utilized his handy-dandy phrase book. We seemed to be getting everything figured out alright. I even mustered my Konglish, "car-duh," to get a debit card. Little did I know that this would only be the beginning of something much bigger.
Zoom ahead two weeks when I received my first month's pay (via direct deposit) and I needed to do some online banking. I already knew I had to jump numerous hoops to set this program up, but I was more than willing to work with Nong Hyup to get it ready to go. So, during my lunch break I went to the small Nong Hyup chain in my school's town. I got many stares and frightened giggles from the tellers, but luckily there was one man on staff, Sean, who spoke great English. He told me he usually does Commercial Investments, but that I was the exception to his daily work.
So, Sean got me set up. He noted that I wasn't "in their system" so he made copies. I wrote out my full name in the tiny space allotted for it (Elizabeth is a ridiculous name for Korean forms...). I signed my name in the tinier space still. I thought that would be the end of it, but then I tried to send money home online...and nothing.
I went back to Sean where he did banker-y things and discovered that the first teller who set up my account made an error in the string of numbers needed for my account. He fixed it and then said, "It should work now, but text me if there is a problem." So I tried banking online at home, and still nothing.
I text Sean, and after a bit of research on his end, he told me I had to go to the main branch in Taean to get things fixed (Wait, there is another NH bank in Taean? It's closer to my house? The English speaking girl works here?). Sean said I was to meet a man (his superior) who would be able to help me and get things sorted. So, after convincing my VP to let me leave early, I went to Taean. With my bill payments looming, I was ready to be done with this. Again, I was told I wasn't "in their system" so more copies were made and more papers were signed. After explaining I wanted to remit payment to the States, I was directed to a woman who was to help me with the paperwork in person (skipping the online component). However, she told me that she could not help me because she had too much work to do and didn't have time (customer service much?). Distressed and a bit pissed, I went home to try sending money online.
Nothing.
I text Sean.
We set a time to meet - late Thursday evening.
I returned to Sean's bank on Thursday evening where I was told that the person in Taean made a mistake and they were very sorry. One of the primary mistakes being setting up a brand new account (the person who set up my account didn't give me access to international remittance). So Sean set forth to fix the multiple mistakes incurred in my bank accounts short life. He explained that because of all of these mistakes Sean was able to talk big wigs into accessing the banking network outside regular hours (sneaky!). So, we drank tea, filled out forms, opened a new account, closed an account, and sent money home! All was wonderful.
As I had this lovely window to get things done, I asked Sean about an international debit card. He said it wouldn't be a problem, but he wouldn't be able to process it 'til tomorrow. I thought that would be fine. So I signed up for one and Sean said he would drop it by my school the next day.
I got the card as expected and went to take money out at the ATM.
Nothing.
I text Sean (panicked/livid).
I started to take this personally.
Sean felt awful, but said he couldn't help with anything until Monday when the bank opened.
I went back to the bank on Monday. It turned out that the person who created the card made a mistake. He forgot to link my account to the card, so I was simply holding a piece of cheap plastic all weekend. I was told that this mistake occurs maybe once or twice a year. Sean was furious with his coworker because so many bad things had happened to me. From my view, it seemed that a bit of K-Drama had erupted in the Nong Hyup.
Sean said sadly, "I'm sorry. You are very unlucky," and handed me a coffee as he fixed the final problem.
Indeed, I am,
-Bets
Monday, October 10, 2011
Photos + Video
New photos from October have already been posted - and it's only the ninth! Check it out under the Photos tab. Plus, I just added video to the new Videos tab. See quick sights on the East and West Coast of South Korea.
Happy Sunday,
-Bets
Happy Sunday,
-Bets
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Hiked and then Hiked Some More
So it's been awhile since my last post, and I do apologize for that. Let me catch you up to speed as best I can. The last two weeks have been a blur of activity and further settling into my surroundings. And as luck would have it, I (ME!) showed a few new folks around Taean. Guess who isn't the new kid anymore?
The weekend of September 24th, my friends from Taean, and a few from orientation, went to Seoul for our first big city adventure (comparable to Muppets Take Manhattan, but fewer Broadway numbers). After learning that Seoul actually has two syllables at a rousing "futbol" match during the Expat Festival, we all went out for Indian food and drinks with new New Zealand company. I got my first taste of the foreigner mecca/neighborhood, Itaewon, and also remembered what it's like not to be stared at on a regular basis. The night was a generally good time with lots of rejoicing over the birth of my good friend, George...who later got lost after wandering away from the group in a drunken stupor...classy.
The following day was much lower key with a fine group of people. Myself, Shufan, Margeaux, Brandon, Alistair, and Jane went to Hongdae for coffee, shopping, and pizza. I managed to acquire a few new pieces to add to my suitcase wardrobe which continues to thrill me to no end! However, I'm still in need of shoes, sweaters, and socks...Never the less, the weekend was a good time, and my first experience with express busing was a genuine treat.
Zooming right along, the following week a new "waygook" came to live in Taean. It's funny to take the role of pseudo-ambassador after only living in a place for a month, but that's just what Brandon and I did. It's really nice to see a community of people open up so quickly to new folks and also continue to assist each other through the whole process of daily living. I don't know where I'd be without all my fellow Taeanites. They are darn good people.
So this past weekend may mark a dark spot on my time in Korea. To sum it up, I'd describe it as "interesting." Sparing the many details, I'll just use lists to recount my misadventure to Seoraksan. If you want more info, feel free to leave a question or comment using the speech bubble at the top of the post.
Top 5
1) Hiking Seoraksan in the Fall
2) Enjoying the west coast white sandy beach
3) Sleeping in a queen-sized bed of my very own
4) Eating Thai food in Pyeongtaek (and getting to take leftovers home!)
5) Meeting new friends in Gongju
Bottom 5
1) Hitting a guard rail going down a one way (you guessed it) the wrong way
2) Being manipulated by hotel managers who think foreigners have money
3) Sitting in the middle of a small backseat between two guys until 4am
4) Realizing at 4am that we will not find a hotel room within a 50 mile radius
5) Opting out of hiking to the top of Seoraksan (grueling pace)
Needless to say, the trip ended (eventually) and I made my way back to Taean Sunday night. And, to my surprise, another new waygook was in town and up for some frivolity. So that's just what we did. I managed to order some things for our table and even made some new Korean friends. It's really amazing what a bottle of soju can spur in this country. I don't like the stuff much, but I love to share it with Koreans because they are "a hoot" (my Minnesota roots are showing).
This post could go on...I haven't even told you about my weekdays (Staff hike to Mondae Beach, drinking with the VP, Middle School field day, the delights of internet banking, and the headaches of Kindergarten lesson planning). But, let's rest it here and we'll see where we pick up next (there may even be pictures!).
Feelin' Minnesota,
-Bets
The weekend of September 24th, my friends from Taean, and a few from orientation, went to Seoul for our first big city adventure (comparable to Muppets Take Manhattan, but fewer Broadway numbers). After learning that Seoul actually has two syllables at a rousing "futbol" match during the Expat Festival, we all went out for Indian food and drinks with new New Zealand company. I got my first taste of the foreigner mecca/neighborhood, Itaewon, and also remembered what it's like not to be stared at on a regular basis. The night was a generally good time with lots of rejoicing over the birth of my good friend, George...who later got lost after wandering away from the group in a drunken stupor...classy.
The following day was much lower key with a fine group of people. Myself, Shufan, Margeaux, Brandon, Alistair, and Jane went to Hongdae for coffee, shopping, and pizza. I managed to acquire a few new pieces to add to my suitcase wardrobe which continues to thrill me to no end! However, I'm still in need of shoes, sweaters, and socks...Never the less, the weekend was a good time, and my first experience with express busing was a genuine treat.
Zooming right along, the following week a new "waygook" came to live in Taean. It's funny to take the role of pseudo-ambassador after only living in a place for a month, but that's just what Brandon and I did. It's really nice to see a community of people open up so quickly to new folks and also continue to assist each other through the whole process of daily living. I don't know where I'd be without all my fellow Taeanites. They are darn good people.
So this past weekend may mark a dark spot on my time in Korea. To sum it up, I'd describe it as "interesting." Sparing the many details, I'll just use lists to recount my misadventure to Seoraksan. If you want more info, feel free to leave a question or comment using the speech bubble at the top of the post.
Top 5
1) Hiking Seoraksan in the Fall
2) Enjoying the west coast white sandy beach
3) Sleeping in a queen-sized bed of my very own
4) Eating Thai food in Pyeongtaek (and getting to take leftovers home!)
5) Meeting new friends in Gongju
Bottom 5
1) Hitting a guard rail going down a one way (you guessed it) the wrong way
2) Being manipulated by hotel managers who think foreigners have money
3) Sitting in the middle of a small backseat between two guys until 4am
4) Realizing at 4am that we will not find a hotel room within a 50 mile radius
5) Opting out of hiking to the top of Seoraksan (grueling pace)
Needless to say, the trip ended (eventually) and I made my way back to Taean Sunday night. And, to my surprise, another new waygook was in town and up for some frivolity. So that's just what we did. I managed to order some things for our table and even made some new Korean friends. It's really amazing what a bottle of soju can spur in this country. I don't like the stuff much, but I love to share it with Koreans because they are "a hoot" (my Minnesota roots are showing).
This post could go on...I haven't even told you about my weekdays (Staff hike to Mondae Beach, drinking with the VP, Middle School field day, the delights of internet banking, and the headaches of Kindergarten lesson planning). But, let's rest it here and we'll see where we pick up next (there may even be pictures!).
Feelin' Minnesota,
-Bets
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Student Masochism
Do you recall the Korean Student Life video I posted about three weeks ago?
Below is an interesting article on the education system in South Korea that digs deeper into the current issues. It speaks a great deal to the student masochism ideology that floods the consciousness here from student, to parent, to administration. Luckily, I don't see much of this behavior in my school besides preparing for high school exams, however I am in a rural community where many students have a lot of work to do at home. Once these students are placed into high schools in Taean, their days will follow a similar pattern to the one described in the article.
"Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone" by Time Magazine (10/2011)
Food for Thought,
-Bets
Below is an interesting article on the education system in South Korea that digs deeper into the current issues. It speaks a great deal to the student masochism ideology that floods the consciousness here from student, to parent, to administration. Luckily, I don't see much of this behavior in my school besides preparing for high school exams, however I am in a rural community where many students have a lot of work to do at home. Once these students are placed into high schools in Taean, their days will follow a similar pattern to the one described in the article.
"Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone" by Time Magazine (10/2011)
Food for Thought,
-Bets
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
You'll never believe it?!
I uploaded a few photos to the photo section of the website! You'll find a link at the top of the screen. How cool is that?! And also for waiting so patiently, I have finally gotten my address into a digital format and am happy to send it to those who want it via email. Let me know if you'd like it.
Good night,
-Bets
PS - For those who have been unable to see photos, I updated the photo page today and hope that it fixes everything. Please let me know if you still can't see images!
Good night,
-Bets
PS - For those who have been unable to see photos, I updated the photo page today and hope that it fixes everything. Please let me know if you still can't see images!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Chuseok Plus
The last week has been a blur of activity and upgrades in my small corner of the world. Chuseok went by in a flash. I opted to stay in Taean to get to know my fellow NETs (Native English Teachers) better. As luck would have it, the nasty weather blowing through Korea managed to miss us for the weekend and we celebrated by going to beaches, pseudo rock climbing, eating LOTS of seafood, and ATVing. In my short time here, I’ve already visited four beaches now: Hakampo, Mallipo, Mongsanpo, and Anmyeon beach.
I’m happy to report I’ve discovered my favorite place in Korea (for now anyway…), which my friend, Brandon, and I stumbled upon during our hiking/rock climbing adventure at Hakampo. The best way to describe it would be “Blue Lagoon-esque” (the Brook Shields version, of course). We belayed down into the small cove using some provided rope and the water was B-LUE (so blue it requires two syllables), the towering cliffs and foliage surrounding it were gorgeous, the rocks were perfect for sitting and soaking your feet for a while, and it was just still. I’ll post a video of it soon to give you a better idea of this slice of heaven (no really, I promise).
The Chuseok holiday is now done, and I am settling into my routine at school. I had a short week this past week (a day and a half) and taught the Kindergarteners about transportation (Red Light, Green Light was a big hit), and the advanced students learned about phrasing questions and interviewing. Outside of the classroom, my furniture was finally moved to my apartment on Thursday. I’m proud to say I have been living out of a genuine closet for three days now – I love it! Now that the furniture is in place I’ll be sure to take a few pictures (no seriously, you’ll see!).
My transition here is now finally in avalanche mode. Now that my ARC (Alien Registration Card) has arrived, I can do a number of moving-in finishing touches. So Thursday, I spent the better part of an hour trying to get my Korean Bank Account while stumbling through Korean, English, and Konglish with a frazzled bank clerk. I felt bad, but we got it done! My co-teacher, Grace, also took me to get a cell phone on Friday evening. I am now a legitimate iPhone owner, however my 3G data package isn’t working, so I will just add that to the list of things I have to figure out this next week. With these upgrades, I should also be able to install internet at my house soon and then I could actually Skype people.
Despite all of this commotion, I still managed to have a very fun weekend. I’m told that the weather here is going to cool down considerably so we’ve been trying to suck the marrow out of the last days of summer. Brandon and I opted to hike Baekhwasan Mountain on Saturday. Grace explained to me when I arrived that almost all cities in the mountain range are nestled right up to the mountain for natural protection – makes sense. Baekhwasan is Taean’s neighboring mountain on the North side of the city. I was told this wouldn’t be a very taxing adventure as there are nice trails that lead you to the summit. And it’s true, there are nice easy trails on one side of the mountain, but we managed to find the hardest descending paths on the East side of the mountain. I was getting a little freaked out by the steep inclines (ropes required) and would have preferred to have brought a helmet and carabineers. Luckily, a random local served as our curmudgeon white rabbit and guided us a bit to get down the mountain safely. The whole event was quite “EXTREME,” but we saw some great views and enjoyed the fresh mountain air.
I’m looking forward to a quiet week and getting into the routine of school life. This upcoming weekend a group of us are headed to Seoul for a professional soccer game and birthday festivities. We may also try to head back down to Hongseong for a Shrimp Festival and catch up with orientation friends. It should be a good time. I’ll, of course, try to keep you up to date as the adventure continues to unfold.
Cheers,
-Bets
I’m happy to report I’ve discovered my favorite place in Korea (for now anyway…), which my friend, Brandon, and I stumbled upon during our hiking/rock climbing adventure at Hakampo. The best way to describe it would be “Blue Lagoon-esque” (the Brook Shields version, of course). We belayed down into the small cove using some provided rope and the water was B-LUE (so blue it requires two syllables), the towering cliffs and foliage surrounding it were gorgeous, the rocks were perfect for sitting and soaking your feet for a while, and it was just still. I’ll post a video of it soon to give you a better idea of this slice of heaven (no really, I promise).
The Chuseok holiday is now done, and I am settling into my routine at school. I had a short week this past week (a day and a half) and taught the Kindergarteners about transportation (Red Light, Green Light was a big hit), and the advanced students learned about phrasing questions and interviewing. Outside of the classroom, my furniture was finally moved to my apartment on Thursday. I’m proud to say I have been living out of a genuine closet for three days now – I love it! Now that the furniture is in place I’ll be sure to take a few pictures (no seriously, you’ll see!).
My transition here is now finally in avalanche mode. Now that my ARC (Alien Registration Card) has arrived, I can do a number of moving-in finishing touches. So Thursday, I spent the better part of an hour trying to get my Korean Bank Account while stumbling through Korean, English, and Konglish with a frazzled bank clerk. I felt bad, but we got it done! My co-teacher, Grace, also took me to get a cell phone on Friday evening. I am now a legitimate iPhone owner, however my 3G data package isn’t working, so I will just add that to the list of things I have to figure out this next week. With these upgrades, I should also be able to install internet at my house soon and then I could actually Skype people.
Despite all of this commotion, I still managed to have a very fun weekend. I’m told that the weather here is going to cool down considerably so we’ve been trying to suck the marrow out of the last days of summer. Brandon and I opted to hike Baekhwasan Mountain on Saturday. Grace explained to me when I arrived that almost all cities in the mountain range are nestled right up to the mountain for natural protection – makes sense. Baekhwasan is Taean’s neighboring mountain on the North side of the city. I was told this wouldn’t be a very taxing adventure as there are nice trails that lead you to the summit. And it’s true, there are nice easy trails on one side of the mountain, but we managed to find the hardest descending paths on the East side of the mountain. I was getting a little freaked out by the steep inclines (ropes required) and would have preferred to have brought a helmet and carabineers. Luckily, a random local served as our curmudgeon white rabbit and guided us a bit to get down the mountain safely. The whole event was quite “EXTREME,” but we saw some great views and enjoyed the fresh mountain air.
I’m looking forward to a quiet week and getting into the routine of school life. This upcoming weekend a group of us are headed to Seoul for a professional soccer game and birthday festivities. We may also try to head back down to Hongseong for a Shrimp Festival and catch up with orientation friends. It should be a good time. I’ll, of course, try to keep you up to date as the adventure continues to unfold.
Cheers,
-Bets
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Gawi-Bawi-Bo!
The title of this post is a small glimpse into the sounds of my school. I here small mutterings of "Gawi-Bawi-Bo" in the cafeteria, classroom, courtyard, bus...everywhere. It's a slightly more advanced Rock, Paper, Scissors game that is used in countless scenarios - even teachers employ its power on a regular basis. Was Rock, Paper, Scissors this common in my elementary school?
Never the less, my first full week of teaching has been a very good experience. I have gotten to know my co-teachers a bit better through working with them in the classroom and also enjoying some fried chicken and beer after work (fried chicken is everywhere here!). I gave the last of my introductory presentations and the students have been very welcoming and open to the new person in their classes. My middle school co-teacher was even impressed enough with my opening lesson that should would like me to lead a Speech writing class for the next two months. So, overall I'm glad to be building trust with my fellow teachers and can assist further in the day to day endeavors.
There are some downsides to my school as well: the primary one being the last minute notice I receive on a regular basis. I'm told this is a cultural thing, but also it doesn't help that I'm the only teacher not connected to the school web chat system and I don't understand the paper schedules posted in the teachers' office (the most obvious reason being that it's all in Korean). However, this week has shown that the last minute notice isn't all bad. For example, I was told the following 20 minutes before my class was to start: "We don't have regular English classes today because kids are having Field Day at the beach. Want to go?" This sounded like a great offer, but then again I didn't anticipate riding in my Vice-Principal's car with the Principal of the entire school (intimidating and awkward language barriers)...but, it worked out. Once we got there, my duty was to find the 1st place finisher of each race and stamp their arm with the number one. I ended up having a great time and even built a few sand castles with third graders (photos to come once I have internet at home!)
Outside of school life in Taean, has been quite nice. I've acquired a few more things to make my home a bit more livable. Unfortunately, furniture has been delayed 'til Thursday of next week due to the holiday and bad weather. Luckily, I haven't been home too much because I've taken a shining to wandering around town and getting together with fellow NETs (Native English Teachers). I've already explored three beaches since arriving a week ago (Hakampo, Mallipo, and Mongsanpo), tried some of the local restaurants (tonight we're having Hot Pot *woot!*), and gotten lost on the bus line (thank you Korean phrasebook!). Understanding that there is the trap of hanging out "with your own kind," I have reached out to some local Korean university students to get together for coffee. I'll keep you posted on that!
Today is the last day of classes before a long Chuseok holiday weekend. The whole school rolled songpyeon (rice cake and sugary filling) in place of first and second period this morning. It's been a very lazy day for students and teachers with the buzz of holiday in the air. I was also told that after school classes were canceled and that my kindergarten class was canceled due to a field trip to a senior citizens center, so I didn't teach a wink today...Oops! Was just told people are leaving early and I'm getting a ride (short notice again...)
Happy Chuseok,
-Bets
Never the less, my first full week of teaching has been a very good experience. I have gotten to know my co-teachers a bit better through working with them in the classroom and also enjoying some fried chicken and beer after work (fried chicken is everywhere here!). I gave the last of my introductory presentations and the students have been very welcoming and open to the new person in their classes. My middle school co-teacher was even impressed enough with my opening lesson that should would like me to lead a Speech writing class for the next two months. So, overall I'm glad to be building trust with my fellow teachers and can assist further in the day to day endeavors.
There are some downsides to my school as well: the primary one being the last minute notice I receive on a regular basis. I'm told this is a cultural thing, but also it doesn't help that I'm the only teacher not connected to the school web chat system and I don't understand the paper schedules posted in the teachers' office (the most obvious reason being that it's all in Korean). However, this week has shown that the last minute notice isn't all bad. For example, I was told the following 20 minutes before my class was to start: "We don't have regular English classes today because kids are having Field Day at the beach. Want to go?" This sounded like a great offer, but then again I didn't anticipate riding in my Vice-Principal's car with the Principal of the entire school (intimidating and awkward language barriers)...but, it worked out. Once we got there, my duty was to find the 1st place finisher of each race and stamp their arm with the number one. I ended up having a great time and even built a few sand castles with third graders (photos to come once I have internet at home!)
Outside of school life in Taean, has been quite nice. I've acquired a few more things to make my home a bit more livable. Unfortunately, furniture has been delayed 'til Thursday of next week due to the holiday and bad weather. Luckily, I haven't been home too much because I've taken a shining to wandering around town and getting together with fellow NETs (Native English Teachers). I've already explored three beaches since arriving a week ago (Hakampo, Mallipo, and Mongsanpo), tried some of the local restaurants (tonight we're having Hot Pot *woot!*), and gotten lost on the bus line (thank you Korean phrasebook!). Understanding that there is the trap of hanging out "with your own kind," I have reached out to some local Korean university students to get together for coffee. I'll keep you posted on that!
Today is the last day of classes before a long Chuseok holiday weekend. The whole school rolled songpyeon (rice cake and sugary filling) in place of first and second period this morning. It's been a very lazy day for students and teachers with the buzz of holiday in the air. I was also told that after school classes were canceled and that my kindergarten class was canceled due to a field trip to a senior citizens center, so I didn't teach a wink today...Oops! Was just told people are leaving early and I'm getting a ride (short notice again...)
Happy Chuseok,
-Bets
Thursday, September 1, 2011
How do you spell "chize"?
Good news, orientation is done! They gave me a certificate and everything.
I am now living in Taean and loving it. The first few days of classes have been a whirlwind but I think I could get the hang of this. My school is great and everyone is very helpful despite broken English and "language dances" (as I call them). I gave my introduction speech to all my middleschoolers this week and will be presenting a revised (shorter) version to my elementary students. Check out the original here and then picture me talking very slowly and with a lot of actions (hiking, ballet, grandparents, etc.). The highlights for my students were my sister (She's taller than you?! You look same.), my niece (the name is funny to them), my house in France (Soo BIG!), playing piano for so long (mouth gaping), and Megan (So beautiful!). Pretty adorable stuff...
I'm slowly getting the rest of my world in order as I move into my new place. It has a separate bedroom from the main area which is pretty lucky I'm told. My bathroom is tiny by even Korean standards and my co-teacher chuckled when she saw it. It's a wet bath and the shower head is above the sink with about a foot and a half for standing. The bigger issue is getting hot water. So far, no luck. I also found out I have over 60 channels on my TV, you just have to type 22 for one channel and then type 22 again for another channel (curious). I almost feel like I'm pirating TV but luckily my landlord is paying for it so I know it is legitimate. Lastly, I am currently furniture-less with the exception of a bed and TV (why a TV?). The former co-teacher is still using my table and closet until the 10th so I will continue to live out of a suitcase (but with clean laundry! woot*)
You'll be happy to know that I am making new friends almost daily here. All the locals went out yesterday and had coffee and drinks into the night. There are already plans in place for more fun tonight. Plus, orientation friends and other folks are going to the beach tomorrow and then heading to Seosan (the Grand Forks, to my Crookston) for a night out (...and going away party). My predecessor has also invited me for lunch on Sunday and I might check out the arboretum near my school. Should be a good first *free* weekend in Korea!
Catchin' the bus,
-Bets
I am now living in Taean and loving it. The first few days of classes have been a whirlwind but I think I could get the hang of this. My school is great and everyone is very helpful despite broken English and "language dances" (as I call them). I gave my introduction speech to all my middleschoolers this week and will be presenting a revised (shorter) version to my elementary students. Check out the original here and then picture me talking very slowly and with a lot of actions (hiking, ballet, grandparents, etc.). The highlights for my students were my sister (She's taller than you?! You look same.), my niece (the name is funny to them), my house in France (Soo BIG!), playing piano for so long (mouth gaping), and Megan (So beautiful!). Pretty adorable stuff...
I'm slowly getting the rest of my world in order as I move into my new place. It has a separate bedroom from the main area which is pretty lucky I'm told. My bathroom is tiny by even Korean standards and my co-teacher chuckled when she saw it. It's a wet bath and the shower head is above the sink with about a foot and a half for standing. The bigger issue is getting hot water. So far, no luck. I also found out I have over 60 channels on my TV, you just have to type 22 for one channel and then type 22 again for another channel (curious). I almost feel like I'm pirating TV but luckily my landlord is paying for it so I know it is legitimate. Lastly, I am currently furniture-less with the exception of a bed and TV (why a TV?). The former co-teacher is still using my table and closet until the 10th so I will continue to live out of a suitcase (but with clean laundry! woot*)
You'll be happy to know that I am making new friends almost daily here. All the locals went out yesterday and had coffee and drinks into the night. There are already plans in place for more fun tonight. Plus, orientation friends and other folks are going to the beach tomorrow and then heading to Seosan (the Grand Forks, to my Crookston) for a night out (...and going away party). My predecessor has also invited me for lunch on Sunday and I might check out the arboretum near my school. Should be a good first *free* weekend in Korea!
Catchin' the bus,
-Bets
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Korean Student Life
I'm told Korean students are very busy. School from 8am-5pm with 8 courses a day. Then, they go to private "hagwons" academies to do further study, maybe additional activities, and then studying until midnight. They do this five days a week...many of them boarding at their high school.
Cheers,
-Bets
Cheers,
-Bets
Friday, August 26, 2011
Zombie Orientation
Greetings from Beautiful Asan,
We just finished day three of orientation and my fifth day on Korean soil. My days have been jam packed. After arriving in Seoul an hour early (Go Singapore Airline - best trip ever!), I was greeted by a voice I recognized - my recruiter, as well as several fellow Chungnam English Teachers. We were quite the motley crew but we bonded over bad Korean TV (much like the US) and Chinese food in Incheon.
Our group eventually grew to 20 teachers after late arrivals and we headed to Asan. BUT, not before making a brief trip to Seoul via the express rail where a small pack of us explored the old side of Namdaemun Market for an hour or so. I think it was worth it and I was happy to acquire some much needed shampoo and conditioner on the journey back to the group.
Asan is again, BEAUTIFUL. Despite the medical check and jet lag sleep (zombie reference), I've had a lovely time here. I've made some good friends at orientation and continue to meet more everyday. The classes seem pretty helpful and I've learned a lot about the culture. I can even sound out words in Korean!...though I couldn't tell you what they mean. Except for the Konglish...which is an actual term here.
As for my life following orientation, I've befriended folks I haven't even met yet in Taean (my new home) on facebook. They seem like a tight knit community of fun folks. I'll be headed there next week with my co-teacher to meet my new bosses, fellow teachers, students, beaches, and mountains. Sounds awful doesn't it...smile*
Unfortunately, I am late for my own gathering. I've decided to introduce Pass the Pigs to the expat masses. Wish me luck!
Pig out,
-Bets
Update: Pass the Pigs was a big hit!
We just finished day three of orientation and my fifth day on Korean soil. My days have been jam packed. After arriving in Seoul an hour early (Go Singapore Airline - best trip ever!), I was greeted by a voice I recognized - my recruiter, as well as several fellow Chungnam English Teachers. We were quite the motley crew but we bonded over bad Korean TV (much like the US) and Chinese food in Incheon.
Our group eventually grew to 20 teachers after late arrivals and we headed to Asan. BUT, not before making a brief trip to Seoul via the express rail where a small pack of us explored the old side of Namdaemun Market for an hour or so. I think it was worth it and I was happy to acquire some much needed shampoo and conditioner on the journey back to the group.
Asan is again, BEAUTIFUL. Despite the medical check and jet lag sleep (zombie reference), I've had a lovely time here. I've made some good friends at orientation and continue to meet more everyday. The classes seem pretty helpful and I've learned a lot about the culture. I can even sound out words in Korean!...though I couldn't tell you what they mean. Except for the Konglish...which is an actual term here.
As for my life following orientation, I've befriended folks I haven't even met yet in Taean (my new home) on facebook. They seem like a tight knit community of fun folks. I'll be headed there next week with my co-teacher to meet my new bosses, fellow teachers, students, beaches, and mountains. Sounds awful doesn't it...smile*
Unfortunately, I am late for my own gathering. I've decided to introduce Pass the Pigs to the expat masses. Wish me luck!
Pig out,
-Bets
Update: Pass the Pigs was a big hit!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
So it begins...
Welcome Family, Friends, and Strangers,
And so the adventure begins. In less than three weeks I will be boarding a plane for a new home in South Korea where I will be putting my soon-to-be-complete TEFL certificate to the test. The month ahead seems daunting to say the least, but I hope to provide a humble narrative for anyone who would like to join me on this exciting journey. I'm not sure what direction this little piece of the "interweb" will go, but I'll do my best to make it slightly entertaining (photos, videos, cats, etc.).
Of course - please feel free to leave comments or contact me via the menu tab above at any time. It's always nice to have an audience (or so my sister says...).
All the best,
-Bets
And so the adventure begins. In less than three weeks I will be boarding a plane for a new home in South Korea where I will be putting my soon-to-be-complete TEFL certificate to the test. The month ahead seems daunting to say the least, but I hope to provide a humble narrative for anyone who would like to join me on this exciting journey. I'm not sure what direction this little piece of the "interweb" will go, but I'll do my best to make it slightly entertaining (photos, videos, cats, etc.).
Of course - please feel free to leave comments or contact me via the menu tab above at any time. It's always nice to have an audience (or so my sister says...).
All the best,
-Bets
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