Poopy Pants & Pajama Parties

We are officially past the anniversary of my arrival here in Korea, and I have to be honest: it's been one hell of a month.

To say that my travel and adventure have been thrilling, challenging, eye-opening, rewarding and some days down right frustrating would be a clear and factual understatement. I truly cannot express my varied emotions throughout these last few weeks. Writing has always been a favorite pastime of mine, and I have always had this dream of traveling the world with pen and paper in tote, of course accompanying my other trusty sidekick: my camera. However, with a broken camera (yes my beloved 20D died) I fear my life is rather bleak, dull, incomplete and lost. For some reason, without the ability to snap photos, my mind goes blank, the words cease to trickle forth, and I feel like an idiot most days.

Here I am in a fascinating foreign land with and endless array of food, culture, music, and landscape yet I feel obsolete when I cannot share my daily clicks of the camera with loved ones back home. Ansel Adams said it almost too well, "When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When photographs become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." Truth be told, Mr. Adams, but as a borderline extrovert: I just can't be silent sometimes. This girl needs to gab, share, and vomit my thoughts out into the open space we call a blogosphere. Even if no one compliments me on my writing, my sarcastic wit, or 'SNL worthy' sense of humor, I still need to be connected with the outer world and share my experiences.

This may not form the perfect segue into my recent experience of Korea, but since my camera has died, I have become "that" tourist: the iPad photographer. While I may proudly toot the mini iPad horn of its lesser obnoxious size, I am still rather obnoxious when I whip it out to capture life's greatest moments. I have nothing against those who may be veterans to iPadography, but if I may boldly state: we just look dumb. The iPhone provides a certain slink to street photography, a suave coverup, and you are able to capture interesting perspectives if you are well-versed in the 'sneaky snap.'

For example I trekked to a widely popular are of Seoul [Insadong] this weekend and I have to say, my love of street photography became disillusioned largely because of the moment where I wanted to capture the creativity and unique colors of some Owl antiques but alas, I couldn't discreetly steal the moment due to the tacky size of my equipment: the iPad mini. Cover blown! I was noticed right away and the adorable Korean vendor marched right over to me and sternly shouted, "No pict-chah!"

Oh boy, you really don't know who you are talking to, do you? 

BOOM! 

You may be oddly scratching your head, thinking, "You captured the photo after all, what is the fuss all about?" 

Principle. Even though I am a brash dare devil that mocks the rule book, I just wish I had the ability to not look like a dork. Yes, I strongly realize that I am a white girl in Korea...a combination bound to turn heads no matter what, BUT I am at least trying to lessen my chances of embarrassment.

Other than photography woes, I am learning the ins and outs of Korea like a true native. 

For instance,

I read all the bus stops in Hangul on my way to school. 

I bought seaweed paper to make my own kimbap [a delicious staple to any Korean or Foreigner].

I excel at handing money with TWO hands [a polite gesture]. Seriously, it's an art.

I was able to mildly translate that one of my students accidentally [a loose term, literally] pooped his pants. Okay, the smell gave it away 99.9% but I still understood the vague gesture and snickering from his peer. And perhaps the small stain from his behind...

I no longer felt like the new kid after we had someone come to observe our school branch. I was also able to get her to to a bar that my coworkers were meeting at for a birthday celebration. Okay, so I was late because I technically became lost while trying to find her, BUT, I did turn myself around, retrieved her and made it to the bar...eventually.

I can ride the Subway all by myself, say what?!

My chopsticks skills are improving and my kids no longer point and laugh at me. 

I bob and weave through Korean umbrellas like Pac-man avoiding ghosts.

I am attending my first Korean pajama party at school tomorrow. I plan to load my students up on sugar, tell them lots of ghost stories, and then leave them in the hands of my Korean co-teacher as a special treat for abandoning me last Friday during lunch; to which my students had a mini-riot with Legos. 

Just kidding.... or am I? 

Here are some photos to fancy your cyberstalking. 

Puppy Dog Cafe! A cafe devoted to canines and friends! (and one feline!)

                                            Look Teach-uh!                   

                                         

 

A fancy Korean Marching Band! Puts your days of marching to shame...

Seriously the prettiest women around.

I have adapted my grocery staples, but as you can see, I refuse to give up peanut butter even though it averages $5.50 a jar. What can I say? I'm my father's daughter. 

More on Korean cooking adventures later!

 I LOVE this kid. Everyone proclaims him to be lower-performing, but I see a potential hiding in him somewhere. He and I share similar humor and he will try to make me laugh when I'm upset.

I look forward to many hikes with these beautiful ladies. Baegundae Peak was certainly grueling and challenging but it felt so darn rewarding to finally reach the top. I felt at peace again among the mountains.

Until next time, 간 배! Cheers!

Preparing to 'Unprepare' & Absorbing Shock

hi friends.

So, I have been in Korea for almost ten days today. Happy survival anniversary to me! I write this while drinking a mug of double espresso because this week was [definitely] my breaking point in my absorption of the shocking culture that belongs to Korea.

I've traveled abroad before and I've been to more culture-shocking countries than Korea, so I am a little unsure as to what it was today that made me go into the supply closet, cry a teensy bit [I had a meeting at 5:30] and quickly wipe my eyes to hide any sort of redness that would demonstrate to my Korean teachers that I am weak.

Let me just tell you... I have developed a philosophy: "Always prepare to un-prepare."

Oxymoron right? How can we prepare to un-prepare? Well, one must simply go with the flow, adapt, be flexible, become easy-going, etc. Lesson plans have no use here in Korea. Nor are behavior charts, seating charts, name tags, rosters, birthday calendars, anything and everything you can creatively plan for your classroom.... go ahead and simply un-prepare.

Things change at the blink of an eye. Schedules are swapped non-stop, teachers change positions, parents hold meetings with the Principal and decide at the last minute they want YOU as their child's teacher, so then the Principal must create a schedule so that you can be available to ALL of the age group, and not just half [nice to know that I am in high demand here].

Principals can take your schedules that were fairly balanced with a healthy variety of classes ranging in subjects to making you the head teacher of just ONE subject that has a horrible, uninteresting and completely un-creative curriculum. Not to mention, the Principal and other teachers decide to take advantage of your background in special education and decide they will give you ALL of the lower performing students and expect you to work miracles in a week [kind of hard to do when the parents refuse to admit their child may need extra help in certain areas--for further reference on achievement within the Asian culture, please read The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua. (Excellent read!)

Yeah, I've become that teacher. The teacher who goes into the supply closet to cry because I simply can't handle another Korean teacher stealing things off my desk, changing my schedules, telling me I am teaching wrong, and that I need to give up two or three of my classes so they can teach.

I am flexible. Hell, it was one of my top 5 strengths in the Strength's Finder 2.0 book I had to complete for an AmeriCorp program once upon a time. So, I am not sure why my emotional state has become so erratic and near the edge of a break-down.

However, it is hard to observe a variety of classes of what you think you will be teaching the following week and then have the schedule pulled from underneath you [5 times], to shift from classroom to classroom while following an overwhelming curriculum that has been written by a Korean teacher, to be expected to create lesson plans off said curriculum, and not to mention prepare yourself for 8-9 classes for the entire day.

I shouldn't be complaining. I should be enjoying this experience, after all, it is adventure [and I needed a change of scenery].

Yet, I feel as though my gifts as a teacher are being wasted in the land of ESL. I feel disconnected from my students in so many ways, not to mention there is a HUGE language barrier. I am finding it harder each day to bring a smiling face to work and be patient during our hundredth meeting of the week where we receive our 10th schedule for the day. I am finding it harder to pay attention to my superiors when I know secretly inside they are just going to change things on me. For instance, during a meeting today (it's been our 5th since Monday), the Director of Foreign Teachers told me to pay attention to the Korean presentation as it related to my library class and I couldn't hold back my remark, "Yeah, IF I even have a library class...."

Because I know, I won't have a library class come next week.

In other news outside of my school drama: the Korean culture is still shocking.

1. I'm adjusting to spicy foods, rice, and meat at every meal [i do like kimchi though :)]--OH, and using chopsticks.... I am horrible and my students laugh at every lunch period.
2. I am trying to remember to take my shoes off when I get to school, my apartment, or even others' apartments.
3. I am trying to not rely on McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, KFC, or Dominoes while living in a city with wonderful [yet odd] foods around me.
4. I am adjusting to living in a cubicle with an electric stovetop that takes literally 20 minutes to cook a fried egg--and that's on the highest setting.
5. I am trying to close my eyes while I shower because my bathroom is literally covered in mirrors, otherwise I will be developing a complex sooner or later... shouldn't have had that last rice cake!
6. I am converting KRW (won) to USD like a pro in my head.
7. I am slowly adjusting myself to the overwhelming scents and sounds of Korea:
     A) Koreans LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to play music anywhere and everywhere-- Seriously, there was
     an Oma (grandma) walking with a mini-boombox in her fanny pack in the park--I wish I was
     kidding.
     B) Koreans SMOKE like crazy. If I sit outside at a coffee shop, chances are I am going home
     smelling like I smoked a pack of cigarettes.
8. I walk everywhere and I LOVE it. I will be getting a bike soon though because I hate having to predict at which speed or direction Koreans will make while walking on the sidewalk. Seriously, it's become a game at guessing who will go left or who will go right. Many times, I lose.
9. I live 3 blocks from a GORGEOUS lake/park. It's like living in Uptown again with Lake Calhoun. Except Lake Park has a beautiful flower festival, sculptures, much more walking paths, and provides for more interesting people watching opportunities--such as Koreans exercising... by far my favorite!
10. I am adjusting to communicating, smiling/nodding at restaurants, my horrible Korean pronunciation, and learning the Korean alphabet! [I did sign up for Korean classes... so look out!]

If this post is at all overwhelming, it's because my life has been overwhelming these last ten days. I have been enjoying my days since I've landed, but as I said, this week was my breaking point. From today on out, I need to remember why I am here. It's not for my own sake, but to share my wealth of knowledge in the English language; to help my students improve their skills, to teach them new skills, to absorb the culture [no matter how shocking it may be some days], and to live a life filled with
a-d-v-e-n-t-u-r-e.

"Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything..."
-George Bernard Shaw

Here's a quick photo montage of life in Korea so far.... enjoy!

There are many beautiful and interesting sculptures throughout Lake Park.

This has become MY personal sanctuary. 

I could stare at this all day and be happy.

                                         

                         Mopeds are definitely a trendy way of traveling...

not to mention efficient delivery :)

Best part of my neighborhood: waking up at 7am and 

wandering the streets at my discretion.

 These are scattered all throughout the shopping mall... 

 just a unique way of providing benches!

                                                                     I could seriously get used to Asian horticulture and flowers. 

             So gorgeous and unique!

So peaceful and serene at Lake Park.

    My favorite place in Lake Park. If you go to the    

   top, you get incredible views of the lake and the  

 city.

Skylines and nature are probably my favorite compositions combined ever.

 The city tucked beyond the serenity. Ilsan love.

The lake is peaceful and still; a place to reflect and dream.

Time is a tree(this life one leaf).

but love is the sky and i am for you.

just so long and long enough.

e.e. cummings

Lastly.... THIS is by far, my favorite photo of my time here in Korea. 

This photo speaks to my heart and reminds me exactly why I am here. 

To love, to have joy, and to share laughter.

Breakdowns & Fake Chinese Food

 Today is a day of last-minute errands (before I board my flight in the next day) and I find myself shopping alone.

Naturally, as an extrovert, I would want to include others in my quest for supplies that I've waited too long to shop for...however, today I needed to transition myself into a state of solitude in preparation for my journey to Korea.

Let me just tell you....I began crying into my bowl of the best fake Chinese food around [i love you Panda Express!] Ina crowded food court filled with strangers. 

Why is it that I become suddenly vulnerable in a sea of people who could care less about my anxiety, fears, and stress? Why is it that my psyche decided it would be an appropriate time and place to break down and cry? Why is it that during this entire week I didn't cry once while saying my goodbyes or while having the appropriate support system around me? 

My psyche has always picked the weirdest places and most in opportune times to have a breakdown. I've broken down the night before college, while puking my guts out in a Kenyan bathroom, in a ski lodge, outside of a bar (hey I was being dumped) and in an airport en route to Denver. Now, I can add food court in a shopping mall to the list.

I hate goodbyes for a reason. I hate that when I'm leaving, I don't normally cry in front of people and it seems awkward because I feel as though I should be sad that I'm leaving my "people." Who will ever know or understand the emotional defense mechanisms our body creates to keep us "safe."

I am going to miss everyone. As an extrovert, I am nervous about being alone and not becoming confused with it as loneliness. So, my faithful friends [readers], let's stay connected. I realize that this is why Skype, smart phones, FaceTime, and other electronic hoop-lah was invented: a bunch of extroverted nerds were worried about having to become isolated introverts. God bless them.

Time to wipe my eyes and look forward to my fortune [cookie].

Smile & Eat Your Kimchi...

I am SO stinking nervous.

The kind of nervousness where your heart beats abnormally faster as though you took one too many shots of espresso in your morning coffee at Caribou. Or the kind where your palms palpitate as if you were meeting a cute date for the first time. The type of anxiety that causes restlessness the night before Christmas and all you want to do is just catch ONE glimpse of Santa Claus to see if he really is real. The type where food has lost its appeal and you would rather turn to chocolate and coffee, because let's be real folks.... that is what a true diet should consist of anyway.

I know this is an adventure, and I know the process of moving comes with hiccups of anxiety, nervousness, bouts of insanity here and there, late nights of packing, and don't forget... all the crammed hang-out sessions. This adventure of packing up and moving across the seas into the unknown has finally caught up with me.... I'm stressed and I'm going bonkers. I swear, if I keep looking at my suitcases, I will keep purging and re-packing and will end up going to South Korea with the clothes on my back. Therefore, my final solution has been to pick out 2 outfits for my duration of American living; the rest has been stuffed and packed away into my closet.... for good [at least until I leave].

As I've been doing the physical preparations of moving to South Korea, I've also been doing reading and researching [nerd alert] on South Korean customs, traditions, social quirks, and ways of living in a foreign country as a Westerner and I have to say: I'm in for the long haul.

1. Eat kimchi- Kimchi makes everything better! 
Feeling blue? Eat kimchi! Have a cold? Eat kimchi! Nasty stomach bug where nothing stays down? Eat kimchi! Seriously, Koreans eat 40lbs of kimchi per person annually. But, it has been named the "World's Healthiest Food," according to Health magazine.
Now, I've always hated cabbage but I made it work while living in Kenya, so why the heck not in my kimchi? Here's to healthy year of eating kimchi with a smile on my face.
2. Cover your ta-tas.
I'm a bit worried about Korean fashion. Koreans are very concerned with how well women are covered from the waist up, but apparently there isn't much concern for the bottom half. Skirts are allowed to run short [sans workplace] but you better have your shoulders and the mini-ladies covered up. Perhaps I shall bring the turtleneck back in style?
3. Korean's don't sweat it.... literally.
Apparently Koreans don't sweat like many of us Westerners do and because of this, they find no logic in putting anti-perspirant in their deodorant. However, I do understand that many of them smell like garlic and onion.... must be all that kimchi. So in preparation for my sweaty days ahead, I've loaded up on 5 sticks of my favorite Degree scents and I'm ready to face the humidity that comes so nicely with their monsoon season.
4. Raining cats and dogs.
Korea has four lovely seasons, one of them being monsoon season. Hello umbrella! I'm tempted to pack an umbrella, but I've read many stories where umbrellas are given as gifts, so I'm banking on the chance someone will politely gift me with one upon arrival. If not, I'm adequately prepared thanks to my experience with a particular MN monsoon a few years back that resulted in a soaked white t-shirt, wet moccasins, and an abandoned bicycle.
5. Goodbye claustrophobia, hello new best friends.
I hate being in crowded spaces, germs, and the likelihood of brushing up against people... aka "The Great MN Get-Together." Why am I going to Korea? To conquer all of those fears. Sometimes I find myself too comfortable as an American, and I feel the need to switch things up, live a little more freely, and let my hair down. Hopefully by living in a heavily populated city with people that have no social boundaries [women will touch your thigh or hold hands with you], I'm bound to come home a little more relaxed.
6. No more tumble.... dry, that is.
Koreans wash their clothes with a machine [some are monsters, I hear] and afterwards they will hang dry or put them on racks. I did read that laundry services do have dryers and it is fairly affordable to drop your laundry off. It will most definitely be an adventure in washing my clothes for the first time.
7. Coffee= buzz kill.
Koreans don't adhere to the proper measurements of coffee grounds:water ratio and in result, you end up buying more cups of coffee to get the caffeine kick. In my years of drinking coffee here in America, I've realized I've had to gradually add cups of coffee to my day to get the caffeine effects, so I switched over to espresso. Have no fear, I visited my local Caribou store to stock on plentiful until I find the secrets of coffee in my new homeland.
8. Mirror, Mirror. 
I've read (and heard) many stories about how seriously Koreans approach vanity. Here in America, we find plastic surgery as a privilege or elective and while the concept of plastic surgery is as vain as it is in SE Asia, Koreans take it one step further by gifting their children with plastic surgery to give them an edge to the job market. If you aren't "beautiful" in Korea, good luck finding a job. Koreans prize vanity and they value it so much that there is a plastic surgery clinic on every corner (should have gone with Starbucks), and 1 in 5 Korean women end up having plastic surgery. My mind is completely boggled by this and I have some serious self-esteem building to do before I leave.
9. K-Pop!
I am excited to embark in the realms of Korean music and their fascination with guy/girl bands such as Super Junior and Girls Generation. I've read many stories that if you can learn to appreciate the cheesiness of K-pop music (and you can dance), you will get along with fellow Koreans and your students. Hopefully in return, I will introduce them to NKOTB, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC :)
10. Beef: It's 'what's for dinner'
All aboard the meat train! Gag. I am not much of a meat-eater because of the taste/texture/health reasons but I will/do eat meat if it is considered respectful to the culture. I am plenty grateful though that there are plenty of fish options, and I'm hoping to stick with mainly veggies/rice combos. Good thing I packed plenty of Cliff bars and oatmeal to last me the first month of my journey. God bless 'Merica.

As you can see, I have plenty of culture shock to get me through the first couple of months in South Korea. Send your positive vibes frequently friends, as I will need them! I know that with any move or cross-cultural experience, I just need to stay positive and slowly adapt. I also know that I'm fully capable of adapting and finding my laid-back personality, but it all happens in due time. Good things come to those who wait.

For now, I will just 'smile and eat my damn kimchi.'

Purging & Packing

It's official, this girl is making the move to South Korea in less than four weeks (give or take with visa processing) to teach English. My recruiting company, Adventure Teaching, wasn't kidding when they say their famous motto is "hurry up and wait."

My life has been one big "hurry up and wait" process this summer. I hurried up and quit my job (with great sadness I might add) and then I waited for Adventure Teaching to lead me through the application process. I hurried and sent in all documentation needed for future visa processing and job applications while I waited to hear from schools in South Korea. I hurried up and interviewed with one of the most prestigious English academies out there, nonetheless was offered a 'hurried' contract to which I waited one day before signing and then I hurried up and made the leap/commitment. Now, my documents have been rushed to Korean immigration and as you can guess.... I am now waiting for my VIN so that I can hurry up and arrange an interview with the Korean Consulate here in the U.S. Once I've been cleared with the U.S. and my passport is back in hand--my school will then hurry up, purchase a flight, and I am out of here!

Up, down, all around--it has been one big erratic pattern of living this summer. While many would crumble under this pressure, I actually thrived on the excitement of the unknown. I love the thrills of not knowing what is about to come next, however, I am not enjoying the purge and pack process that comes with any sort of move--whether it be domestic and foreign.

My room is one big "hot mess." I have things [junk] that I have foolishly clung to since my college days, journals stacked high to the ceiling, books with an abundance of dust bunnies, and not to mention, more than enough clothes that could clothe an entire third-world nation (yes, I am ashamed). In response to my American ways of hoarding; I have begun to "purge" the unnecessary and share my bounty with those in need. I've bagged up at least four bags of clothes which are waiting to go to Goodwill (or friends), donated furniture, and I have sorted through my embarrassing collection of knick-knacks that I've accumulated due to nearly a dozen White Elephant gift exchanges throughout the years. Now comes the hard[er] part: packing...

I would rather be poked in the eye. 

So, what does one do in lieu of packing? LOTS of distraction/or procrastination, such as.... creating this blog, or visiting random friends at work, or driving around the city during sunset with the radio on full blast and dancing crazily to Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift (don't judge). Why? Because these are my comforts when I enter distress...

I am an avoider, folks. Through and through, I hate looking conflict dead in the eye and overcoming my tasks with tenacity. Call it being unmotivated, lazy, irresponsible, free-spirited, lack of boundaries, unorganized, etc. Sometimes, it just kills me to finish a task. With my fresh start in a new country, I am not only hoping to purge the physical clutter in my life, but I also hope to purge my weaknesses and bad habits so that I can make some serious changes.

So, with my chance to begin again, I am hoping to carry beautiful things with me as I journey out into the world with a suitcase of beauty. I want to pack my kindness, my humility, my love for adventure, my social spirit, my sense of wonder and curiosity, my thirst for knowledge, my love for others, my compassion, my determination and strong will, my free spirit, and an open mind. With these attributes, I hope to discover and absorb everything this world has to offer, and bring back with me an experience that I will never forget.

Join me in my odyssey across the seas to a land hungry for knowledge and growth. Join me as I adventurously trek through new sights, sounds, and smells. Join me as I learn to love on new people. Join me as I break into new culture. Join me in my ups and my downs. Write. Encourage. Love.

Adventure is out there.... join me.