Wednesday, November 21, 2007
No rock climbing for me :(
So, it turns out that I got really sick last week. Just a head cold, but it hit me like a ton of bricks! I didn't do anything at all last week. No pub quiz, no singing, and no rock climbing. It's just as well, since the weather has also been bitterly cold for the past few days and I haven't bought myself gloves yet. So, nothing to report this week. Sorry.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Peaks and Valleys
This was a crazy week for me! It started out typical enough, but by Wednesday, I was a big mess. I had a really rough day at work. The school I work for is poorly run. Most of the time I don't let it bother me, but at times it can be down right maddening! Though my director is a nice woman, she has no business skills. Frankly, I'm sometimes amazed that she's kept the place in business as long as she has. Now that I'm making some friends with other English teachers in my area, I'm always surprised to hear about organized their schools are and how helpful their directors can be. Well, the details aren't really important, but suffice it to say that on Wednesday, I left my morning class feeling incredibly frustrated with my job. As I walked home, I really felt like crying.
As often happens when something triggers a feeling like that, other things that I had been feeling a bit confused about started welling up in my mind too. I started thinking about what I was doing with my life and what the next step is. Something that worries me more and more as I get older is that I want a career where I can travel and I want a family. Now I know that lots of women have careers and a family and they make it work and I know I could do it to. But, to be travelling all the time? I don't know if it's possible to have a good family life if I'm traipsing all over the globe. I spend many, many hours of my life stressing out about this and trying to figure out a good solution. I don't feel that I could give up either one- career or family.
I went back to work in the afternoon, not feeling any better about things. My first few classes were rough, but by the time I went home in the evening, I was feeling a little better. I had gotten my mind off all the stress and was ready to sit down and veg in front of the TV for a while. I should have know it was a bad choice for the evening, but I had been wanting to watch CNN's Planet in Peril. Mid way through, that all too familiar, unwelcome feeling of depression was coursing through my veins for the first time in a very long time. For the first time in my life, I felt so disgusted with humanity, and lost all hope for a bright future for our planet that I thought my decision had been made for me. There was no way that I could bring children into this world! Of course, this was depression thinking for me and not the way I really feel, but it's what I thought at the moment.
Thursday morning, I was wishing I didn't have to work and really looking forward to meeting up with my friends for our weekly pub quiz. I got through the day and was on my way out, when my friend Mi Hee called and told me that her father, who had been in the hospital for a week or so, was terminal and probably wouldn't live through the weekend. I think you can imagine how this effected me. I felt so sad, I almost didn't want to go out anymore, but I thought it might do me some good to be around some friends. Though I was worried if I got a few drinks in my system I might end up crying like a damn fool. Luckily, this didn't happen. Rather, after the quiz, a few of us went to a noraebang which is like Korean karaoke, but in your own private room. It's very popular over here and most people are surprised to hear that I've been here for nearly 4 months and haven't been to one yet. So, it was time. And it was a good time! After pouring my heart out into all the great sing-a-longs like "Don't Stop Believing" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart," I was feeling pretty good. When we finally got kicked out, I stayed out talking on a street corner with a guy named Jason who I had just met that night. We had the kind of talk you can only have with a stranger after a night of drinking and singing karaoke. We both poured out hearts out about our problems, consoled each other, and then agreed not to exchange numbers. It was the platonic equivalent of a one night stand, without the awkward walk of shame, though, it was nearly 5:30am by the time I dragged myself into bed.
Yes, I was hung over the next morning. But, luckily, I only had two classes at night that Friday. So, I had the whole day to recoup. I drank lots of water and coffee and watched Shark Week episodes on my computer. (Sharks are awesome!) What I didn't do was pack my bag for my trip over the weekend. I also didn't take a nap, though I really wanted to, because I knew I had to get to bed early. I had to be out of my house by 6:30 the next morning. Needless to say, I didn't get to bed early, and I was late getting out of my house, but I made it on time to meet Erin and go to Seoul to catch our bus to Seoraksan National Park. We were going hiking for the weekend.
The bus ride was long and there was plenty of time to sleep. I felt rested by the time we got there and ready to take on the mountains. And what mountains they were! You've got to check out my pictures for this one. These mountains are rugged and steep and absolutely stunning! We didn't quite make it for the height of the fall colors, but there were still a lot of beautiful trees. It was so great to be back out in nature again, breathing in the cool mountain air with the familiar fragrance of fallen leaves. The hike out to the waterfall was casual and we had plenty of time to take it all in. Though, the waterfall itself was a little disappointing, the views all around more than made up for it!
Our overnight accommodations were a little sub par compared to American standards, meaning that instead of beds, we had sleeping mats on the floor! This is pretty common in Korea. A lot of people don't even have beds and I've been told that if you want a bed in your hotel, you should make sure you ask for one. But, honestly, I was so tired that I didn't really care where I was sleeping. That night, even though we were bother really tired, Erin and I stayed up talking for a while. It was nice to open up a little with someone. I'm glad that I'm making some good friends here.
The next day we were off for another easy hike to another little waterfall and more amazing views. It was a good start to a long day. After, they fed us lunch and we had to head back to Seoul. A long, grueling bus ride which started out with a long B movie. I was so glad to finally get off that bus!
It was so great to get home and sleep well in a good warm bed. My stress from last week is washed away and I'm feeling very content right now. Spending a weekend outside in a beautiful park was the very best cure for the blues. I feel refreshed and ready to take on the week.!
As often happens when something triggers a feeling like that, other things that I had been feeling a bit confused about started welling up in my mind too. I started thinking about what I was doing with my life and what the next step is. Something that worries me more and more as I get older is that I want a career where I can travel and I want a family. Now I know that lots of women have careers and a family and they make it work and I know I could do it to. But, to be travelling all the time? I don't know if it's possible to have a good family life if I'm traipsing all over the globe. I spend many, many hours of my life stressing out about this and trying to figure out a good solution. I don't feel that I could give up either one- career or family.
I went back to work in the afternoon, not feeling any better about things. My first few classes were rough, but by the time I went home in the evening, I was feeling a little better. I had gotten my mind off all the stress and was ready to sit down and veg in front of the TV for a while. I should have know it was a bad choice for the evening, but I had been wanting to watch CNN's Planet in Peril. Mid way through, that all too familiar, unwelcome feeling of depression was coursing through my veins for the first time in a very long time. For the first time in my life, I felt so disgusted with humanity, and lost all hope for a bright future for our planet that I thought my decision had been made for me. There was no way that I could bring children into this world! Of course, this was depression thinking for me and not the way I really feel, but it's what I thought at the moment.
Thursday morning, I was wishing I didn't have to work and really looking forward to meeting up with my friends for our weekly pub quiz. I got through the day and was on my way out, when my friend Mi Hee called and told me that her father, who had been in the hospital for a week or so, was terminal and probably wouldn't live through the weekend. I think you can imagine how this effected me. I felt so sad, I almost didn't want to go out anymore, but I thought it might do me some good to be around some friends. Though I was worried if I got a few drinks in my system I might end up crying like a damn fool. Luckily, this didn't happen. Rather, after the quiz, a few of us went to a noraebang which is like Korean karaoke, but in your own private room. It's very popular over here and most people are surprised to hear that I've been here for nearly 4 months and haven't been to one yet. So, it was time. And it was a good time! After pouring my heart out into all the great sing-a-longs like "Don't Stop Believing" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart," I was feeling pretty good. When we finally got kicked out, I stayed out talking on a street corner with a guy named Jason who I had just met that night. We had the kind of talk you can only have with a stranger after a night of drinking and singing karaoke. We both poured out hearts out about our problems, consoled each other, and then agreed not to exchange numbers. It was the platonic equivalent of a one night stand, without the awkward walk of shame, though, it was nearly 5:30am by the time I dragged myself into bed.
Yes, I was hung over the next morning. But, luckily, I only had two classes at night that Friday. So, I had the whole day to recoup. I drank lots of water and coffee and watched Shark Week episodes on my computer. (Sharks are awesome!) What I didn't do was pack my bag for my trip over the weekend. I also didn't take a nap, though I really wanted to, because I knew I had to get to bed early. I had to be out of my house by 6:30 the next morning. Needless to say, I didn't get to bed early, and I was late getting out of my house, but I made it on time to meet Erin and go to Seoul to catch our bus to Seoraksan National Park. We were going hiking for the weekend.
The bus ride was long and there was plenty of time to sleep. I felt rested by the time we got there and ready to take on the mountains. And what mountains they were! You've got to check out my pictures for this one. These mountains are rugged and steep and absolutely stunning! We didn't quite make it for the height of the fall colors, but there were still a lot of beautiful trees. It was so great to be back out in nature again, breathing in the cool mountain air with the familiar fragrance of fallen leaves. The hike out to the waterfall was casual and we had plenty of time to take it all in. Though, the waterfall itself was a little disappointing, the views all around more than made up for it!
Our overnight accommodations were a little sub par compared to American standards, meaning that instead of beds, we had sleeping mats on the floor! This is pretty common in Korea. A lot of people don't even have beds and I've been told that if you want a bed in your hotel, you should make sure you ask for one. But, honestly, I was so tired that I didn't really care where I was sleeping. That night, even though we were bother really tired, Erin and I stayed up talking for a while. It was nice to open up a little with someone. I'm glad that I'm making some good friends here.
Erin and I made friends with three nice girls from Ontario on the trip. They've only been here for about 2 months and it was also their first time on an Adventure Korea trip. We got along instantly and exchanged email addresses before we left, so maybe we can travel together again in the future.
The next day we were off for another easy hike to another little waterfall and more amazing views. It was a good start to a long day. After, they fed us lunch and we had to head back to Seoul. A long, grueling bus ride which started out with a long B movie. I was so glad to finally get off that bus!
It was so great to get home and sleep well in a good warm bed. My stress from last week is washed away and I'm feeling very content right now. Spending a weekend outside in a beautiful park was the very best cure for the blues. I feel refreshed and ready to take on the week.!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
October
I know, I know, it’s been ages since I last wrote. The thing is, that after a while, things started to become a little more common place to me and it wasn’t as interesting to write about my every day activities. Then, once I was out of the habit of it, even when I started doing some more interesting things, I kept forgetting to write. By now there is so much to tell, too much really. I don’t even know where to start.
I guess I’ll start with telling you about my everyday stuff. Work has its ups and downs. Some days it’s a piece of cake and other’s it’s a real struggle to get through. I think that my school is poorly organized and under funded. In addition, most of the kids don’t really want to learn English, but rather are being forced by their parents to come to my class. It doesn’t make for easy teaching. I was having some real problems with a few very disrespectful girls a few weeks ago and threw one of them out of my class. It caused a big scene and I felt a little embarrassed that I blew up, but it ended up being a good thing. I was able to explain to the other English teach- who is a native Korean- and to the director what kind of crap my students put me through on a daily basis. The next day I had off and the other teacher had a long talk with each of our classes. Since then, the students have been a lot more respectful to me. My coworkers, at least, are very nice and we get along well. Although, I don’t get invited to lunch as often because I think they are catching on that I don’t really like most Korean food. It’s an OK pay off as far as I’m concerned.
Outside of work, I have made friends with a ton of Westerns. They get together on Thursday nights for a pub quiz at Ozzy’s bar. It’s a fun time to get together, meet new people, and challenge my brain a bit. I can get very competitive! It’s also the one time a week that I’m guaranteed to get to hang out with other native English speakers. Sometimes I’m jeleous of them because most of them work at big schools where they can see other Westerners every day. Don’t get me wrong, the Koreans that I’m friends with are some of the nicest, most giving people I’ve met, but it is difficult to become really good friends with any of them because of the language barrier. Sometimes I feel a little lonely.
One thing that might help is a Korean class that I just started last night. I had tried taking a class before, but it was difficult because the teacher didn’t speak any English and it wasn’t really at a good time. I learned to read Korean easily enough, in those few weeks, but nothing more came of it. This new class is taught by a really great Canadian guy named Stefan. He’s been here for a long time and can speak really well. Also, many of the people from the pub quiz are also in the class, so it’s nice to practice with friends. I don’t hope to become fluent in the 8 months I have left here, but I think I can get down some conversation skill at least.
On to the more exciting events of late… I’ve been to Seoul enough times to know my way around a bit. It’s a pretty city and some nice places to walk around. Lots of parks. I went to a drum festival a few weeks ago and had a really great time. It’s festival season now, so I’ve been to a bunch in the past month. In addition to the drum festival, I’ve also been to a belly dancing festival and a fashion festival. All were fun and interesting. And cheep. I don’t know how Seoul got rated one of the most expensive cities to live in, because everything is really affordable here. I’m doing something fun and interesting every week.
Perhaps one of the best things I’ve come across here is a group called Adventure Korea. It’s a group geared toward English speakers living in Korea and they go on outdoor adventure trips, all sorts of fun places. It’s really ideal because it gives me a chance to meet new people, it’s more affordable than it would be if I booked a trip on my own, and it’s easier to do things with a group because I don’t have to try to get around on my own in Korean. I haven’t actually gone on a trip with them yet, but I’ve got three trips booked in the next 6 weeks. I’m going to Seorak-san National Park in two weeks for a weekend hiking trip. It’s on the east coast of Korea and high in the mountains. It should be at the height of the fall leaf season. I think it will be beautiful. The week after, I’m going to another national park in the middle of Korea for a weekend of rock climbing. It will be my first time rock climbing and I’m really excited about it. The last weekend trip is in December and it’s to a ski resort. There are tons of places to go skiing here, though they are not very close, but with this group, I think I might be able to get in a number of trips this winter. I’ll report back on my trips as they happen. (No, really, I will!)
Maybe the most exciting news I have is that Eric is coming to visit me in December. He’ll be here for 3 weeks. I can’t wait to see him. And, I’m glad to have someone from home to be here with me over Christmas. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m one of those sappy Christmas people. I’m really going to miss all the traditions. I don’t even have an oven in my apartment to bake cookies! But with Eric here (and lots of emails from home), I know that I’ll get through just fine.
Lastly, I know I’m totally bragging, but I have to tell everyone that I’ve lost over 30 pounds since I’ve been here! In addition to looking so much better, I feel so much healthier. Losing weight is something I’ve struggled with a lot for years and more than anything it’s for my health that I care so much about it. I’ve still go a way to go. I can be really lazy when it comes to exercise, but I’m getting there. One day at a time.
So, that’s it for now. More to come soon!
I guess I’ll start with telling you about my everyday stuff. Work has its ups and downs. Some days it’s a piece of cake and other’s it’s a real struggle to get through. I think that my school is poorly organized and under funded. In addition, most of the kids don’t really want to learn English, but rather are being forced by their parents to come to my class. It doesn’t make for easy teaching. I was having some real problems with a few very disrespectful girls a few weeks ago and threw one of them out of my class. It caused a big scene and I felt a little embarrassed that I blew up, but it ended up being a good thing. I was able to explain to the other English teach- who is a native Korean- and to the director what kind of crap my students put me through on a daily basis. The next day I had off and the other teacher had a long talk with each of our classes. Since then, the students have been a lot more respectful to me. My coworkers, at least, are very nice and we get along well. Although, I don’t get invited to lunch as often because I think they are catching on that I don’t really like most Korean food. It’s an OK pay off as far as I’m concerned.
Outside of work, I have made friends with a ton of Westerns. They get together on Thursday nights for a pub quiz at Ozzy’s bar. It’s a fun time to get together, meet new people, and challenge my brain a bit. I can get very competitive! It’s also the one time a week that I’m guaranteed to get to hang out with other native English speakers. Sometimes I’m jeleous of them because most of them work at big schools where they can see other Westerners every day. Don’t get me wrong, the Koreans that I’m friends with are some of the nicest, most giving people I’ve met, but it is difficult to become really good friends with any of them because of the language barrier. Sometimes I feel a little lonely.
One thing that might help is a Korean class that I just started last night. I had tried taking a class before, but it was difficult because the teacher didn’t speak any English and it wasn’t really at a good time. I learned to read Korean easily enough, in those few weeks, but nothing more came of it. This new class is taught by a really great Canadian guy named Stefan. He’s been here for a long time and can speak really well. Also, many of the people from the pub quiz are also in the class, so it’s nice to practice with friends. I don’t hope to become fluent in the 8 months I have left here, but I think I can get down some conversation skill at least.
On to the more exciting events of late… I’ve been to Seoul enough times to know my way around a bit. It’s a pretty city and some nice places to walk around. Lots of parks. I went to a drum festival a few weeks ago and had a really great time. It’s festival season now, so I’ve been to a bunch in the past month. In addition to the drum festival, I’ve also been to a belly dancing festival and a fashion festival. All were fun and interesting. And cheep. I don’t know how Seoul got rated one of the most expensive cities to live in, because everything is really affordable here. I’m doing something fun and interesting every week.
Perhaps one of the best things I’ve come across here is a group called Adventure Korea. It’s a group geared toward English speakers living in Korea and they go on outdoor adventure trips, all sorts of fun places. It’s really ideal because it gives me a chance to meet new people, it’s more affordable than it would be if I booked a trip on my own, and it’s easier to do things with a group because I don’t have to try to get around on my own in Korean. I haven’t actually gone on a trip with them yet, but I’ve got three trips booked in the next 6 weeks. I’m going to Seorak-san National Park in two weeks for a weekend hiking trip. It’s on the east coast of Korea and high in the mountains. It should be at the height of the fall leaf season. I think it will be beautiful. The week after, I’m going to another national park in the middle of Korea for a weekend of rock climbing. It will be my first time rock climbing and I’m really excited about it. The last weekend trip is in December and it’s to a ski resort. There are tons of places to go skiing here, though they are not very close, but with this group, I think I might be able to get in a number of trips this winter. I’ll report back on my trips as they happen. (No, really, I will!)
Maybe the most exciting news I have is that Eric is coming to visit me in December. He’ll be here for 3 weeks. I can’t wait to see him. And, I’m glad to have someone from home to be here with me over Christmas. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m one of those sappy Christmas people. I’m really going to miss all the traditions. I don’t even have an oven in my apartment to bake cookies! But with Eric here (and lots of emails from home), I know that I’ll get through just fine.
Lastly, I know I’m totally bragging, but I have to tell everyone that I’ve lost over 30 pounds since I’ve been here! In addition to looking so much better, I feel so much healthier. Losing weight is something I’ve struggled with a lot for years and more than anything it’s for my health that I care so much about it. I’ve still go a way to go. I can be really lazy when it comes to exercise, but I’m getting there. One day at a time.
So, that’s it for now. More to come soon!
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Right at home... not quite.
When I first arrived in Korea, I was so fascinated by everything around me. I took it all in and tried to remember as many details as possible because I wanted to report back home and tell you all what was going on. For better or for worse, that fascination has worn off and I am finding myself at home here.
It's not to say there is nothing new. Every weekend I try to go out and explore. But during the week, I have my routine. I am used to seeing all the things that were at first strange to me. I know where to go to buy most of the things that I use regularly, and I have gotten much more comfortable taking public transportation. I am used to taking my shoes of when I enter a person's house -even us Westerner's do this. I am also used to wearing my bathroom slippers so my feet don't get wet. I've learned what channels play American TV and movies, and have learned that most of the time it's not worth it to bother turning the thing on. I know how to get to all the bars where the cool people hang out. I'm used to spicy food and expect to have to pick meat out of anything I order. I'm even used to some of the stranger foods, like the rices cakes -not rice cakes like at home, but gummi-like things flavored with fruits and beans. I'm getting used to teaching too, though sometimes the kids make me want to pull my hair out!
The Koreans are getting used to me, too. Most of my Korean friends have stopped trying to get me to eat the foods I don't like. I think I've won over most of my younger students by giving them candy. And many of the older students are starting to open up. Just yesterday, one girl brought me a very good chocolate bar and another brought me some fancy cookies. Even the shiest ones are now talking in class. There is an older parking garage attendant who looked at me in fascination every time I walked past him 2-4 times a day for the first month I was here, but now he smiles and nods at me. Even the roaches in my apartment are getting friendly! Actually, only one dared to come out, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I bought -probably too many- traps the very next day and haven't seen one since. Hopefully, it will stay that way!
For me, this trip is as much a personal journey as a physical one. Before I came, one of the things I though about the most was how I would do on my own in a foreign country. Now that I've been here a while, I can safely say that I am doing pretty well. It's not just living in a different county, but also just living by myself for the first time. I'm pretty confident that I could deal with most issues that come up. I'm no longer scared at night. I've figured out all my appliances. I've learned how to download things on my computer. I've found my way around the city.
I've also had plenty of time to think and I think a lot. Sometimes I let myself think and my mind wander and watch where it goes. It goes to some pretty crazy places. Sometimes I stop myself from thinking altogether, and give my brain a rest. There is so much to think about I have to do this in order to not get overwhelmed. This trip is definitely a milestone in my life and I think that my experiences here will have a strong influence on my future. Korea's not a bad place at all, not home, but not bad.
It's not to say there is nothing new. Every weekend I try to go out and explore. But during the week, I have my routine. I am used to seeing all the things that were at first strange to me. I know where to go to buy most of the things that I use regularly, and I have gotten much more comfortable taking public transportation. I am used to taking my shoes of when I enter a person's house -even us Westerner's do this. I am also used to wearing my bathroom slippers so my feet don't get wet. I've learned what channels play American TV and movies, and have learned that most of the time it's not worth it to bother turning the thing on. I know how to get to all the bars where the cool people hang out. I'm used to spicy food and expect to have to pick meat out of anything I order. I'm even used to some of the stranger foods, like the rices cakes -not rice cakes like at home, but gummi-like things flavored with fruits and beans. I'm getting used to teaching too, though sometimes the kids make me want to pull my hair out!
The Koreans are getting used to me, too. Most of my Korean friends have stopped trying to get me to eat the foods I don't like. I think I've won over most of my younger students by giving them candy. And many of the older students are starting to open up. Just yesterday, one girl brought me a very good chocolate bar and another brought me some fancy cookies. Even the shiest ones are now talking in class. There is an older parking garage attendant who looked at me in fascination every time I walked past him 2-4 times a day for the first month I was here, but now he smiles and nods at me. Even the roaches in my apartment are getting friendly! Actually, only one dared to come out, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I bought -probably too many- traps the very next day and haven't seen one since. Hopefully, it will stay that way!
For me, this trip is as much a personal journey as a physical one. Before I came, one of the things I though about the most was how I would do on my own in a foreign country. Now that I've been here a while, I can safely say that I am doing pretty well. It's not just living in a different county, but also just living by myself for the first time. I'm pretty confident that I could deal with most issues that come up. I'm no longer scared at night. I've figured out all my appliances. I've learned how to download things on my computer. I've found my way around the city.
I've also had plenty of time to think and I think a lot. Sometimes I let myself think and my mind wander and watch where it goes. It goes to some pretty crazy places. Sometimes I stop myself from thinking altogether, and give my brain a rest. There is so much to think about I have to do this in order to not get overwhelmed. This trip is definitely a milestone in my life and I think that my experiences here will have a strong influence on my future. Korea's not a bad place at all, not home, but not bad.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Sorry
It's been a while since I last wrote. This is due to the fact that I am settling in here, making new friends and finding my groove. I've also learned how to download movies and video games with which to occupy my free time! But, in reality, I haven't been spending too much time at home lately.
I've made a few good friends here and am always meeting new people. My weekends are usually spend out until 4 or 5 am, bar hopping. I've given up trying to keep up with the Koreans or even the 6'5" Canadian cousins I've met and now pace myself so as not to feel like crap for two days afterward. Actually, I don't really like Korean beer and I'm too cheep to buy the outrageously priced imported beer, so I mostly go out to meet new people and spend time with friends.
On the other hand, I have found some nice wines to try out. Korea has some sort of trade agreement with Chili and one result of this agreement is a huge selection of Chilean wines. I had heard that Chili makes pretty good wine and it is becoming more popular in the US, but I don't know for certain that I had ever tried it before. Now that I've sampled a few I would highly recommend it to any wine lovers out there.
I'm also starting to learn where to get some of the food products that I am used to from home. Though this means shopping a several different stores to find what I am looking for. Still no luck with the vegetarian "meat substitutes." The biggest thing I miss is the TVP and ground beef like products. These were staples of my diet back home which I frequently used to make chili and meat sauce and the like. I have been able to find some good cheeses, but I have to pay import prices. So, a $2.00 block of cheddar cheese cost me approximately $8.00! I was luck enough to find some bagels and Philadelphia cream cheese last night. I was so excited that I didn't even unpack my shopping bags before I had a bagel in the oven. It was better than you might expect. Better than a Lender's bagel, though nothing close to a New York bagel. Still, it was so good - a taste of home.
Speaking of which, I'm going to have a dinner party tomorrow night and cook some Italian food for my friends. They are always asking me to cook for them, but it's hard to find the proper ingredients. Also, I don't have an oven! But I can make some pasta with a nice white wine sauce and some garlic bread - in small batches in the toaster oven. I wish that I could find some fresh herbs to cook with, but no luck so far! Anyway, I am looking forward to having people over for dinner -Korean and Western alike. I think I might try to make it a regular thing. It's a good way to make friends!
Thinking of that makes me remember all the nights I would cook dinner with Maggie, and later Alanna, back at school. Sometimes I really miss those girls! Mostly I am getting on just fine, without too much homesickness, but it's a little hard moving to a new place every couple of years. It doesn't matter if it's Maryland or South Korea, when you leave people behind, your relationship changes. It's a little sad, because you want to recreate that closeness with new friends, but it can only come with time. Well, if any good has come out of it, I think that I am losing my fear of meeting new people. Here, if I meet a Korean, they are always so nice and have a million things they want to say, but there is a language barrier, so it becomes a sort of game to try to have a conversation. And, if I meet a Westerner, there is a pretty good chance we'll have a lot in common with each other, so conversation comes naturally. Another good thing about meeting other English teachers is that when they move, they have lots of stuff they aren't taking with them! I've inherited a bicycle, some speakers for my computer and a number of books. Two other friends are leaving next week, so there might be more coming my way.
I've been taking that bike out and riding around a bit. I've become so much more active here. I'm walking at least a little every day back and forth to work, if not more. I've got a bike now, so I try to go out riding when it's not to hot. And, I've been doing Yoga regularly for about 2 weeks now. In addition, I've been eating less milk, cheese, bread and generally junk food; the portion sizes are generally smaller; and I've a a firm resolve not to eat late at night. I bought a scale last night and found I'd lost about 14 pounds! Not bad for one month! Don't think I'm a twig yet though, I had gained about that much in the 3 or 4 months before I came to Korea, so I've still got a ways to go. Still, it's a great start. I keep reminding myself that I want to be an outdoor adventure guide, and it will make all the difference in the world if I can get myself into shape. I've also made a point of saying that if I can come to Korea and finally live my dream of traveling the world -something I've wanted for so long- then anything is possible! And I know it's going to feel so good to get back in shape and be healthy again! Though, for the time being, my knees are not too happy with me.
I'm hoping soon I will be able to start going hiking regularly as well. It seems that the humidity has finally broken! It has actually gotten hotter, believe it or not, around 110 degrees for the past few days, but with the humidity gone, I dare say it feels cooler! It's also been slightly breezy which has helped to cool it off a bit. Everyone has been telling me that fall is the best time of year for Korea, so I'm looking forward to a few nice months to spend exploring. I've also got plans to go paragliding in the next few weeks, and I am really, really looking forward to it! There is so much I want to do this year, I hardly think I'll be able to do it all, but I sure am going to try.
Here's a few pics from around the city!
http://picasaweb.google.com/travelingchris/200708AroundAnsan
I've made a few good friends here and am always meeting new people. My weekends are usually spend out until 4 or 5 am, bar hopping. I've given up trying to keep up with the Koreans or even the 6'5" Canadian cousins I've met and now pace myself so as not to feel like crap for two days afterward. Actually, I don't really like Korean beer and I'm too cheep to buy the outrageously priced imported beer, so I mostly go out to meet new people and spend time with friends.
On the other hand, I have found some nice wines to try out. Korea has some sort of trade agreement with Chili and one result of this agreement is a huge selection of Chilean wines. I had heard that Chili makes pretty good wine and it is becoming more popular in the US, but I don't know for certain that I had ever tried it before. Now that I've sampled a few I would highly recommend it to any wine lovers out there.
I'm also starting to learn where to get some of the food products that I am used to from home. Though this means shopping a several different stores to find what I am looking for. Still no luck with the vegetarian "meat substitutes." The biggest thing I miss is the TVP and ground beef like products. These were staples of my diet back home which I frequently used to make chili and meat sauce and the like. I have been able to find some good cheeses, but I have to pay import prices. So, a $2.00 block of cheddar cheese cost me approximately $8.00! I was luck enough to find some bagels and Philadelphia cream cheese last night. I was so excited that I didn't even unpack my shopping bags before I had a bagel in the oven. It was better than you might expect. Better than a Lender's bagel, though nothing close to a New York bagel. Still, it was so good - a taste of home.
Speaking of which, I'm going to have a dinner party tomorrow night and cook some Italian food for my friends. They are always asking me to cook for them, but it's hard to find the proper ingredients. Also, I don't have an oven! But I can make some pasta with a nice white wine sauce and some garlic bread - in small batches in the toaster oven. I wish that I could find some fresh herbs to cook with, but no luck so far! Anyway, I am looking forward to having people over for dinner -Korean and Western alike. I think I might try to make it a regular thing. It's a good way to make friends!
Thinking of that makes me remember all the nights I would cook dinner with Maggie, and later Alanna, back at school. Sometimes I really miss those girls! Mostly I am getting on just fine, without too much homesickness, but it's a little hard moving to a new place every couple of years. It doesn't matter if it's Maryland or South Korea, when you leave people behind, your relationship changes. It's a little sad, because you want to recreate that closeness with new friends, but it can only come with time. Well, if any good has come out of it, I think that I am losing my fear of meeting new people. Here, if I meet a Korean, they are always so nice and have a million things they want to say, but there is a language barrier, so it becomes a sort of game to try to have a conversation. And, if I meet a Westerner, there is a pretty good chance we'll have a lot in common with each other, so conversation comes naturally. Another good thing about meeting other English teachers is that when they move, they have lots of stuff they aren't taking with them! I've inherited a bicycle, some speakers for my computer and a number of books. Two other friends are leaving next week, so there might be more coming my way.
I've been taking that bike out and riding around a bit. I've become so much more active here. I'm walking at least a little every day back and forth to work, if not more. I've got a bike now, so I try to go out riding when it's not to hot. And, I've been doing Yoga regularly for about 2 weeks now. In addition, I've been eating less milk, cheese, bread and generally junk food; the portion sizes are generally smaller; and I've a a firm resolve not to eat late at night. I bought a scale last night and found I'd lost about 14 pounds! Not bad for one month! Don't think I'm a twig yet though, I had gained about that much in the 3 or 4 months before I came to Korea, so I've still got a ways to go. Still, it's a great start. I keep reminding myself that I want to be an outdoor adventure guide, and it will make all the difference in the world if I can get myself into shape. I've also made a point of saying that if I can come to Korea and finally live my dream of traveling the world -something I've wanted for so long- then anything is possible! And I know it's going to feel so good to get back in shape and be healthy again! Though, for the time being, my knees are not too happy with me.
I'm hoping soon I will be able to start going hiking regularly as well. It seems that the humidity has finally broken! It has actually gotten hotter, believe it or not, around 110 degrees for the past few days, but with the humidity gone, I dare say it feels cooler! It's also been slightly breezy which has helped to cool it off a bit. Everyone has been telling me that fall is the best time of year for Korea, so I'm looking forward to a few nice months to spend exploring. I've also got plans to go paragliding in the next few weeks, and I am really, really looking forward to it! There is so much I want to do this year, I hardly think I'll be able to do it all, but I sure am going to try.
Here's a few pics from around the city!
http://picasaweb.google.com/travelingchris/200708AroundAnsan
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Ansan Summer Music Festival
Friday Mi Hee took me to the Ansan Art and Cultural Center for the Ansan Summer Music Festival. We got there about 2 hours early, so we had some time to check out the seasonal art exhibit. The theme was Korean paper folding called hanji - pretty much like origami, but origami is Japanese. Before we went in, I didn't really know what to expect. All I could think of was the little swans and jumping frogs that we made in art class back in grade school. I figured that it would be more elaborate than that, but I had no idea what I was in store for. First thing I saw when I walked in was a life sized dragon on the wall, all made out of paper. We walked around the first room and saw more than you could imagine. There were entire flower gardens, made entirely out of paper, hand folded and incredibly intricate. There were little paper boxes and animals and people, anything you could imagine. The next room was even more interesting. There were luggage-like boxes and furniture- armours, desks, tables- all made from paper. I don't know how to explain it. The colors and designs were so detailed. In one room, there was what looked like a beautiful impressionist painting. When I walked up closer, I could tell that it, too, was made out of paper. It was very thin layers of paper, carefully and precisely torn and layered on top of one another to create this beautiful image. Another group of items I found incredibly interesting were some pots, vases, etc. They looked so much like real pottery and stoneware, I had to touch them -against the signs telling me not to- in order to make sure. There were also little figurines in panoramas depicting history life in Korea. They looked like decoupaged paper-mache, not life like, but detailed and fun to look at. Check out the pictures, they're really cool! http://picasaweb.google.com/travelingchris/200708KoreanPaperArt
After the art museum, we headed outside for the concert. First up, was a break dancing group. They were pretty entertaining. Overall, they were good dancers and they had some pretty good moves. It was kind of funny though, because they were all wearing baseball caps, which came off every time they flipped. Next, there was a beatbox performer. I'd never really seen this done before and I found it to be pretty interesting. At one point, the guy was playing a harmonica without missing a note and doing the beat simultaneously. It was pretty impressive. Then the first group of guys came back and were dancing to the guys rhythm. It was fun to watch. Man, those guys had a lot of energy - they must have been at it for nearly an hour. The next performer was a bit more mellow, a blues musician -the "Eric Clapton" of Korea, according to Ozzy. He was really good, but I don't know if I'd go that far! Here are a few videos from the show. http://picasaweb.google.com/travelingchris/200708AnsanSummerMusicFestival
There was another band afterward, Crying Nut. They were sort of rock, slightly punkish. But we had been sitting on hard concrete steps for several hours by that time and we were both having back pain, so we got up and walked around while they were playing. We could hear them well, but we couldn't see them at all. After about 30 minutes, we decided to leave early to beat the crowd and we headed over to Ozzy's bar.
At Ozzy's bar I met a few new friends. There was a seemingly nice guy from Austin who turned out to be a little weird -like he was high or something. He kept on asking me the same questions and telling me the same stories. When I walk over to talk to someone else, he followed me over and started rubbing my shoulder and getting a little touchy-feely. I walked away again and he left me alone after that. I did get a chance to talk for a while with a guy named Paul from Nova Scotia. He lives just a few minutes from my apartment and was able to tell me a lot about the area and places near-by to check out. He also offered to take me around this week and show me where I could get some good vegetarian ethnic (non-Korean) food.
I also met a guy named Adam who is going back home to Chicago in a few weeks. He is actually Paul's roommate, and Paul told me that Adam has a bike that he is looking to get rid of. He mentioned that I could probably get it for free if I asked nicely, but Adam was pretty well on his way to oblivion by that point. I will try to talk to him about it when I meet up with Paul on Tuesday.
There were a few other people I met that night, including on of the bartenders - Something-Soo. I don't remember. But she's very sweet. She make jewelry and sells it at a boutique, but she had a few pairs of earrings with her and she gave me two pairs. She also read my palm and told me I was very smart. What a nice girl! Another great Korean girl I met was named Julie. She was there last time- one of the New Zealand guy's girlfriend- but I didn't get to talk to her then. But this weekend, we had a lot of time to get to know each other and I think she's just a sweetheart. She's also strikingly beautiful, with very distinguishing features. Yet, more photos of that night! http://picasaweb.google.com/travelingchris/200708OzzySBar
All-in-all, I am still quite enjoying my time in Korea, learning to get around and making some really great friends.
After the art museum, we headed outside for the concert. First up, was a break dancing group. They were pretty entertaining. Overall, they were good dancers and they had some pretty good moves. It was kind of funny though, because they were all wearing baseball caps, which came off every time they flipped. Next, there was a beatbox performer. I'd never really seen this done before and I found it to be pretty interesting. At one point, the guy was playing a harmonica without missing a note and doing the beat simultaneously. It was pretty impressive. Then the first group of guys came back and were dancing to the guys rhythm. It was fun to watch. Man, those guys had a lot of energy - they must have been at it for nearly an hour. The next performer was a bit more mellow, a blues musician -the "Eric Clapton" of Korea, according to Ozzy. He was really good, but I don't know if I'd go that far! Here are a few videos from the show. http://picasaweb.google.com/travelingchris/200708AnsanSummerMusicFestival
There was another band afterward, Crying Nut. They were sort of rock, slightly punkish. But we had been sitting on hard concrete steps for several hours by that time and we were both having back pain, so we got up and walked around while they were playing. We could hear them well, but we couldn't see them at all. After about 30 minutes, we decided to leave early to beat the crowd and we headed over to Ozzy's bar.
At Ozzy's bar I met a few new friends. There was a seemingly nice guy from Austin who turned out to be a little weird -like he was high or something. He kept on asking me the same questions and telling me the same stories. When I walk over to talk to someone else, he followed me over and started rubbing my shoulder and getting a little touchy-feely. I walked away again and he left me alone after that. I did get a chance to talk for a while with a guy named Paul from Nova Scotia. He lives just a few minutes from my apartment and was able to tell me a lot about the area and places near-by to check out. He also offered to take me around this week and show me where I could get some good vegetarian ethnic (non-Korean) food.
I also met a guy named Adam who is going back home to Chicago in a few weeks. He is actually Paul's roommate, and Paul told me that Adam has a bike that he is looking to get rid of. He mentioned that I could probably get it for free if I asked nicely, but Adam was pretty well on his way to oblivion by that point. I will try to talk to him about it when I meet up with Paul on Tuesday.
There were a few other people I met that night, including on of the bartenders - Something-Soo. I don't remember. But she's very sweet. She make jewelry and sells it at a boutique, but she had a few pairs of earrings with her and she gave me two pairs. She also read my palm and told me I was very smart. What a nice girl! Another great Korean girl I met was named Julie. She was there last time- one of the New Zealand guy's girlfriend- but I didn't get to talk to her then. But this weekend, we had a lot of time to get to know each other and I think she's just a sweetheart. She's also strikingly beautiful, with very distinguishing features. Yet, more photos of that night! http://picasaweb.google.com/travelingchris/200708OzzySBar
All-in-all, I am still quite enjoying my time in Korea, learning to get around and making some really great friends.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Long, hot nights...
It's been averaging about 100 degrees F here. When I moved here about 3 weeks ago, I was told that the heat would break in about 3 weeks. Yesterday, I was told the worst of the heat would be gone in about 3 weeks. I see a pattern emerging here. As if it weren't bad enough that the temperature is crazy hot all the time, it's also rainy season here. Amazing, it hasn't really rained much at all, but it's always on the verge of a downpour. You know, it's generally overcast and about 90% humidity.
Man, it's brutal. But I've been dealing alright, staying inside my nicely air conditioned apartment during the hottest parts of the day. That doesn't sound so bad, but it does get a little boring after a while. Here are my choices of things to do: 1) Watch TV. This option isn't as obvious as it would be at home, because I only get one channel- Discovery- that always comes in in English. I love Discovery, but there is only so many times you can watch the same special, which they tend to play over and over again each week. Last week it was on Super Weapons. Anyone who knows me already knows that I wouldn't even watch that for the first time. This week it's been Building the Airbus. Fascinating, really, but watching it take off for the first time is far less exciting by the 4th or 5th time you've seen it!
So, I do get other programs in English. In fact, if you flip through the channels, at any given time about 1/4 of the shows are in English. Problem is, none of them come on at any specific time as far as I can tell. I mean, they don't start on the hour. A show seems just as likely to come on at 3:12 as 3:38. There is no way of knowing, no directory to confirm. Also, the majority of these programs are just about the worst American TV and cinema has to offer -Hollywood Fit Club, The Day After Tomorrow, and An American Werewolf in Paris, just to name a few examples. There also seems to be a large number of crime shows, all of the CSIs and Law and Order. These shows are alright enough, but I'm still not used to living by myself and can help to make the nights a bit scary, so I tend to avoid them.
2) Second choice for how to spend my afternoons is to spend my time on the web. I was an Internet junkie to begin with, but now I've officially gone over the edge. I must check my 4 different emails about 20 or 30 times a day. Also, I've been keeping up with the US Presidential candidates, learning everything there is for a foreigner to do in Korea (if only she had some money or any idea how to get around), and of course, keeping my blog. This doesn't only include writing crazy long entries, but also, reading other people's blogs, learning about the entire world of blogging, and trying to get more people to read my blog. I've also been thinking about adding two other blogs to my profile. One would be reviews of my favorite books and the other, an inspirational sort of thing, to help people learn to believe in themselves and realize their dreams.
Of course, the most fun generally happens when two fun activities are combined into something totally new -kite surfing, for example. For me, I've created my own fun little pass-time called "Guess What the Hell it is that I'm Watching on TV." I do this by Googling the name of any actor or actress who I can recognize and then trying to see if I can match up their movies with what I'm watching. It's harder still if I don't know the name of an actor. Then I have to try search for something related to what I'm seeing. For example, with An American Werewolf in Paris, I searched for "worst werewolf movie ever." Low and behold, someone had posted a listing of his choices for 10 Worst Werewolf Movies. Man, you got to love the web!
3) The third possibility is to read. It's one of my favorite pass-times, but I have a limited number of books and I try to limit myself to a chapter a day, so as not to finish them all in a week. It's nice to read in this way, because it gives you time to think about what you've read, before hurrying on to the next chapter. I think ultimately, it is a better reading experience. It also gives me time, not just to reflect on what was written, but how it was written. A useful thing for an aspiring writer to do.
4) You would think that boredom would lead naturally to overeating, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I've been cooking healthy meals and the snacks I keep in the house aren't all so bad for me. Actually, I think I've lost a few pounds but I have no way of knowing.
5) Sit around and think. I do this a lot. Sometimes, I don't sit. I might lay down or I might be sweeping my always dusty floor or washing my dishes. But the point is, when you live alone, there is a lot of time to think. This is particularly true at night. I haven't yet gotten used to sleeping alone. There is no one to cuddle. And it's hot, even with the AC on. And my bed is lumpy. And I'm scared from watching CSI and people telling me I live in a bad neighborhood. I hate not being able to say goodnight to Eric. So I say up for hours, half asleep and half awake, jumping at every little sound. And even though I'm scared and hot and tired, I think about how lucky I am. I'm so lucky to be living my dreams. And I know that it isn't really luck at all, it's hard work, determination and not settling for anything else that got me here. It's also believe in myself and the love and support of a wonderful man and wonderful family and friends. I think, at night, when I'm all alone, that I wish that I could help to inspire even one other person to live their dreams, to remind them that even when things look like they couldn't get worse, there is a purpose. Never give up belief in your dreams, I would tell someone, if I had anyone to tell.
I also think about the fact that, even though I'm living one of my dreams, there are still so many things that I just don't know about. For instance, redefining a long-distance relationship. That's a tough one and maybe I'll delve a little deeper into it some other time. The real point is, even though I am happy, my life is far from perfect. There are plenty of things that I worry about a little too much. But, I've learned that every feeling good or bad will pass eventually. It's an important lesson in being happy. It allows me to really appreciate all of the good times so much more and to not worry quite so much about the things that trouble me. I hope to not have to endure many terrible times in my life, but I just have a feeling that I can get through whatever is thrown my way. And that is what helps me to fall asleep soundly, eventually, every night.
Man, it's brutal. But I've been dealing alright, staying inside my nicely air conditioned apartment during the hottest parts of the day. That doesn't sound so bad, but it does get a little boring after a while. Here are my choices of things to do: 1) Watch TV. This option isn't as obvious as it would be at home, because I only get one channel- Discovery- that always comes in in English. I love Discovery, but there is only so many times you can watch the same special, which they tend to play over and over again each week. Last week it was on Super Weapons. Anyone who knows me already knows that I wouldn't even watch that for the first time. This week it's been Building the Airbus. Fascinating, really, but watching it take off for the first time is far less exciting by the 4th or 5th time you've seen it!
So, I do get other programs in English. In fact, if you flip through the channels, at any given time about 1/4 of the shows are in English. Problem is, none of them come on at any specific time as far as I can tell. I mean, they don't start on the hour. A show seems just as likely to come on at 3:12 as 3:38. There is no way of knowing, no directory to confirm. Also, the majority of these programs are just about the worst American TV and cinema has to offer -Hollywood Fit Club, The Day After Tomorrow, and An American Werewolf in Paris, just to name a few examples. There also seems to be a large number of crime shows, all of the CSIs and Law and Order. These shows are alright enough, but I'm still not used to living by myself and can help to make the nights a bit scary, so I tend to avoid them.
2) Second choice for how to spend my afternoons is to spend my time on the web. I was an Internet junkie to begin with, but now I've officially gone over the edge. I must check my 4 different emails about 20 or 30 times a day. Also, I've been keeping up with the US Presidential candidates, learning everything there is for a foreigner to do in Korea (if only she had some money or any idea how to get around), and of course, keeping my blog. This doesn't only include writing crazy long entries, but also, reading other people's blogs, learning about the entire world of blogging, and trying to get more people to read my blog. I've also been thinking about adding two other blogs to my profile. One would be reviews of my favorite books and the other, an inspirational sort of thing, to help people learn to believe in themselves and realize their dreams.
Of course, the most fun generally happens when two fun activities are combined into something totally new -kite surfing, for example. For me, I've created my own fun little pass-time called "Guess What the Hell it is that I'm Watching on TV." I do this by Googling the name of any actor or actress who I can recognize and then trying to see if I can match up their movies with what I'm watching. It's harder still if I don't know the name of an actor. Then I have to try search for something related to what I'm seeing. For example, with An American Werewolf in Paris, I searched for "worst werewolf movie ever." Low and behold, someone had posted a listing of his choices for 10 Worst Werewolf Movies. Man, you got to love the web!
3) The third possibility is to read. It's one of my favorite pass-times, but I have a limited number of books and I try to limit myself to a chapter a day, so as not to finish them all in a week. It's nice to read in this way, because it gives you time to think about what you've read, before hurrying on to the next chapter. I think ultimately, it is a better reading experience. It also gives me time, not just to reflect on what was written, but how it was written. A useful thing for an aspiring writer to do.
4) You would think that boredom would lead naturally to overeating, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I've been cooking healthy meals and the snacks I keep in the house aren't all so bad for me. Actually, I think I've lost a few pounds but I have no way of knowing.
5) Sit around and think. I do this a lot. Sometimes, I don't sit. I might lay down or I might be sweeping my always dusty floor or washing my dishes. But the point is, when you live alone, there is a lot of time to think. This is particularly true at night. I haven't yet gotten used to sleeping alone. There is no one to cuddle. And it's hot, even with the AC on. And my bed is lumpy. And I'm scared from watching CSI and people telling me I live in a bad neighborhood. I hate not being able to say goodnight to Eric. So I say up for hours, half asleep and half awake, jumping at every little sound. And even though I'm scared and hot and tired, I think about how lucky I am. I'm so lucky to be living my dreams. And I know that it isn't really luck at all, it's hard work, determination and not settling for anything else that got me here. It's also believe in myself and the love and support of a wonderful man and wonderful family and friends. I think, at night, when I'm all alone, that I wish that I could help to inspire even one other person to live their dreams, to remind them that even when things look like they couldn't get worse, there is a purpose. Never give up belief in your dreams, I would tell someone, if I had anyone to tell.
I also think about the fact that, even though I'm living one of my dreams, there are still so many things that I just don't know about. For instance, redefining a long-distance relationship. That's a tough one and maybe I'll delve a little deeper into it some other time. The real point is, even though I am happy, my life is far from perfect. There are plenty of things that I worry about a little too much. But, I've learned that every feeling good or bad will pass eventually. It's an important lesson in being happy. It allows me to really appreciate all of the good times so much more and to not worry quite so much about the things that trouble me. I hope to not have to endure many terrible times in my life, but I just have a feeling that I can get through whatever is thrown my way. And that is what helps me to fall asleep soundly, eventually, every night.
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