Man bag

Koreans love their purses.

Soo hott...

Found out I can blog from my phone? 아사!! (I think that's how you spell it.)

And one more sleep before Vietnam?? Double 아사!!!

Anyways, before I abandon Korea for the next couple of weeks, I want to share with you the wonders of 떡볶이 (pronounced Dok-bok-i).

It's a Korean snack that you can buy through street vendors, but my co-teachers and I order it through a little mom and pop place. What it is, is rice cake in a special red sauce made with chili peppers. But generally, you can order a not-so-spicy kind. You can also order other things to dip into the sauce.

Regardless of the hot weather and the constant sweat that drips off my face...I can't seem to get enough of it! Mashisoyo!

Well, it's time for me to clean up the apartment (and probably start packing) for my brief adventure into Southeast Asia!! See you all in a couple of weeks!

The explanation!

So again, I apologize for the lack of blogging that I have done here in Korea.  As I said before, there IS an explanation...and this is the only logical explanation that I have:

The first few months of living here in Korea has been a (cliche) "roller coaster," emotionally, mentally, as well as physically.

I'll admit, there hasn't been a time where culture shock kicked me in the butt here in Korea, and quite honestly, I don't think the shock will ever come.  If any has come at all, it's the shock of how easy it almost was to adjust here in Korea.

Before I came to Korea, I decided not to do any research because I liked the thrill of the unknown.  With that, I did not know how developed Korea really was.  They have everything at arms-length, and everything can be easily found (except for postcards...I don't understand it!)  I began to think that Korea was nothing different than living back at home, aside from the obvious language barriers and the family and friends I missed and didn't have here.  I became discouraged by this.  After Cody left, I began missing home more than I ever wanted to and unconsciously shut an eye to the world that I was living in.

Eventually, my routine "homesickness" faded and since then, my whole perspective has changed.  There is something that I learn to love/hate about Korea every day, from the squatters to the tempered adjumas.

So hoping from now on, posts may be short, simple, and more frequent...but yet, they'll still bring you into the awesome life I live in!

And I'll start right now!

It's basic Korean/asian culture...but really, not so basic:  Squatters.

Vile-looking they are, and it took me some time to adjust, but I can proudly admit that I am an amazing squatter.

I am pee-pee-feet freeeee!!!

I want to start by first apologizing to my friends and family for the lack in blogging.  I assure you there is a reason!  More things to come this upcoming couple of months, will keep you posted :)

The legend is true!

KOREAN BARBECUE IS AWESOME!!!

So, got my first weekend down, as well as my first week of school (almost).  It was...an eventful week, to say the least!

So, I won't lie, I spent my first weekend in Gyeongsan...cleaning my windows...

Dirty window...

Clean(er) window...

Thanks mom, for giving me the gift to be irked by something that should be clean...next step...bathroom...But hey, cut me some slack for it being the first weekend!

I've also been having a difficult time getting in touch with people back home through my iPhone.  I came across this little coffee shop which I thought might have had wifi...because Wifi is EVERYWHERE in Korea, right? 

                                        

Wrong...no wifi.  I felt rude just walking out of the store, so I ordered a "Sweet Potato Latte" which wasn't so bad, actually.

After class on Monday, the English teachers and I went to have dinner in Downtown Daegu.  I now understand why it is a major shopping city!  Unfortunately, I'll have to wait for my first paycheck to do any kind of shopping.  Fortunately, I found:

THERE IS A GOD!!!

Here are the other English teachers that I work with:

 Me, Jessica, and Anna (I don't teach with Jessica)

 Sian, Alison, and Victor (Victor is the other Foreign teacher who comes Mondays and Fridays)

Yesterday was a teacher's field trip to Ulsan, which is basically a port city (I think).  Teacher's social gatherings here are MUCH different than in America.  In America, you think, "Hey, there's the vice principal, I should probably be on my best behavior."  Whereas, here in Korea, you think, "Oh no, the vice principal is coming around with Soju again.  Please don't make me take another one!"  It was extremely windy and cold when we arrived, but we made the best out of it.

So, after last nights experience, I have come to the conclusion that ALL oriental countries must love Karaoke.  See for yourself...

So, with my 4-day weekend coming up, I couldn't bear the fact that I'd be staying at home again, (possibly cleaning the washer, if that's possible).  So, my first exploration, by myself, in Korea will be to Busan!  Wish me luck!

Korean word of the day: Kamsahamnida (Thank You!)

Till next time!

Gyeongsan it is!

Upon receiving my contract, I found out that I was going to be placed in a PROVINCE by the name of "Gyeongsangbuk-do."  Having been in the provinces in the Philippines, I was...worried about my health, to put it in nicer terms.  Provinces in the Philippines was made easier because I had my family around, but to live on my own?  It seemed like a bad idea.

Anyway, after much anticipation during orientation, I finally got to meet my supervisor who would tell me specifically what city and what school I'll be teaching at.  I was extremely pleased to find out I was placed in a smaller city by the name of "Gyeongsan" which is fairly close to an awesome shopping city by the name of "Daegu!  And also, that I was teaching at JeongPyeong Elementary School!  Such relief was lifted off my shoulders just finding out this information!  The odds have been in my favor...So far...

2 of the 3 things I worried about had been answered, the last one being who my co-teachers were, and what were they like.  Meet...

Allison!

Seriously, I couldn't have asked for a better co-teacher!  However, I have 2 others, but they're both amazing as well, Anna and Sian (Shawn).  Allison, Anna, and I will be teaching 6th Grade, and Sian and I will be teaching 5th grade.  So, for those of you who are wondering how it works...

I teach each class for 40 minutes, and I only see each class once a week, 7 classes with Anna, 7 classes with Allison, and 7 classes with Sian (and for my teacher friends who read this, yes, 1 lesson, per teacher, per week = awesome!)  And what do I get to do if I finish creating my lessons?  Grade papers?  No...  Level books?  No...  Sit and dick around on the internet?  HECK YEA!!!  This includes, shopping online, facebooking (which I'm already getting tired of), download videos and watch them, etc!  Life is good...

Now, I haven't met my students yet, but Korean kids...are extremely cute!  I'm working on a powerpoint on the moment where the kids learn a little about myself, and hopefully, I'll be able to take pictures and videos and post them to the blog when I get a minute :)

Before I end each blog...I'm going to post some Korean words and phrases...just because it sounds fun :)

Today's word is:  "Annyeonghi Gaseyo" (An-yong-he Gas-eyo) say to the person leaving and "Annyeonghi Gyeseyo"(An-yong-he Ge-sey-yo) say to the person staying.

Till next time!

Why here and not facebook???

Hello friends, family, and possibly random followers!  I've decided to create a blog to help keep you guys informed of what's been going on here in my life in South Korea.  Why punish those who added me and don't really...care?  Not only that, but also because I wanted to keep a record of my own encounters.  I want to avoid "writers callus" again at ALL COST (because it took 5 years for it to disappear) so, let the online blogging begin!