I miss my mom. She always knows how to listen to my rants and raves and respond appropriately. Not that I don’t continue to rant and rave to her via Skype, but it’s just not the same. We could sit at the kitchen table and I could rant about my students who I just can't handle, or the times I am sometimes lonely at school; my frustration with failed lessons, my feeling like I’m not a valuable member of these students' education, the lack of respect shown me at school… She’d swap with stories about her horrid 7th graders and the insanely amazing consequences she’d given them as a result of something they’d said or done in class. Then we could eat ice cream or homemade cookies and talk about the nice things about teaching. The students who smile sweetly and answer when you’re desperate for volunteers. The times when students are attentive because they know you’ve got a gem to share with them. The times when students are rowdy and running around the room but it’s a productive rowdy; the hum of ideas flowing from their lips because you’ve inspired them to creativity and their own learning. The times when students say, “Aha!” or “So THAT’S how you do it,” when you’ve explained something to them the 27th time and they finally understand.
Even though we could rant and rave about the awful things we’ve come in contact with, we’d always end with the positives. Because those are the reasons both of us teach. And if we don’t focus on those particulars, we’d completely lose faith. Those are what I need to focus on now. Even when those times are few and far between in my first year of teaching, that’s what I need to continue to strive for. Continue to try for. Continue to plan, plan, plan for. Continue to fail, brush myself off, and try it another way for. So that when all is said and done after this experience, these students will have made me a better teacher, and I will have made these students better learners and people.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Konglish Quote of the Day
"Everything's alright. Everyone's shouting black music." —On a t-shirt worn by a student. T-shirt depicted a black man with an afro.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Konglish Quote of the Day
"It was a time of happy, shiny people...the shiniest were in the uranium mines." —On a postcard I purchased in a stationary store
Monday, October 26, 2009
Konglish Quote of the Day
I'm starting a new segment on my blog entitled: Konglish Quote of the Day. I'm hoping to post one everyday during the weekdays (or at least once a week), so that I'm more often providing interesting tidbits from Korea while I could be too busy to write a lengthy blog. I'll post a quote I see in stores, on t-shirts, in my planner, etc. for your entertainment and laughing purposes. Without further adieu: today's Konglish Quote of the Day:
"Even we can not fly now, it doesn't mean we can't never fly. A dream that we have, we already to starting flying to the sky. Now let us fly to the sky." (from my planner)
"Even we can not fly now, it doesn't mean we can't never fly. A dream that we have, we already to starting flying to the sky. Now let us fly to the sky." (from my planner)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Fireworks and Flesh Eating Fish
This weekend was proof that there's always something to do in Busan. Kat came and visited from Ulsan (her last visit to Busan before she leaves!).
Friday: Busan Fireworks Festival at Gwanganli Beach. We got there at 4:30 to get good seats on the beach to watch the spectacle that began at 8. 1.3 million people joined us in the area for the fireworks/laser show set to music. Here's a sneak peak of the awesome show.
It really was impressive. If only I hadn't had to use the bathroom more in my entire life, we would have been able to see the entire thing from our sweet spots on the beach. Unfortunately, my bladder failed me for the second time in my life (anyone remember the Pep Band bus incident?) and Chaz and I had to leave the beach 15 minutes into the 45 minute show to find a restroom. We then watched the rest of the show from behind a huge group of people on a side street. The good news was that we met three really sweet Koreans. We exchanged numbers and hope to meet with them soon.
Saturday: Dr. Fish. I had heard a lot about Dr. Fish from some fellow EPIK teachers who had visited the café, so I was anxious to check it out. Being Kat's last weekend in Busan, we decided we had to have "an experience" before she left. Dr. Fish it was. I'll let Chaz explain Dr. Fish to you.
It was the perfect weird experience we were looking for. Dr. Fish is amazing. We enjoyed café drinks, free waffles, free coffee, and the Dr. Fish treatment (which was only 2,000 won; that's less than $2 US). We're definitely going again. And if you come to Busan, you can bet we'll go in for a treatment. My feet are soft and delicious after the experience.
Friday: Busan Fireworks Festival at Gwanganli Beach. We got there at 4:30 to get good seats on the beach to watch the spectacle that began at 8. 1.3 million people joined us in the area for the fireworks/laser show set to music. Here's a sneak peak of the awesome show.
It really was impressive. If only I hadn't had to use the bathroom more in my entire life, we would have been able to see the entire thing from our sweet spots on the beach. Unfortunately, my bladder failed me for the second time in my life (anyone remember the Pep Band bus incident?) and Chaz and I had to leave the beach 15 minutes into the 45 minute show to find a restroom. We then watched the rest of the show from behind a huge group of people on a side street. The good news was that we met three really sweet Koreans. We exchanged numbers and hope to meet with them soon.
Saturday: Dr. Fish. I had heard a lot about Dr. Fish from some fellow EPIK teachers who had visited the café, so I was anxious to check it out. Being Kat's last weekend in Busan, we decided we had to have "an experience" before she left. Dr. Fish it was. I'll let Chaz explain Dr. Fish to you.
It was the perfect weird experience we were looking for. Dr. Fish is amazing. We enjoyed café drinks, free waffles, free coffee, and the Dr. Fish treatment (which was only 2,000 won; that's less than $2 US). We're definitely going again. And if you come to Busan, you can bet we'll go in for a treatment. My feet are soft and delicious after the experience.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
My most recent embarrassing Korean encounter
So with drama unfolding before me, and the stress of preparing lessons for a class who is less-than-thrilled to be at my disposal, I thought I'd lighten the mood by blogging my most embarrassing Korean moment of late. This occurred, oh, 10 minutes ago or so.
You have all seen the pictures and heard of the crying that ensued as a result of mold in our apartment. Many of you are probably wondering what ever happened with that issue. Well, I'll tell you.
Nothing.
Nothing happened.
One day some cleaning ladies from school showed up to "take care of the mold." They came, sprayed some insect spray, took one look at the mold, and left. That was all. Never to return.
Apparently, that is what the administration considered, "Doing something about the problem." (some things are so similar to American schools...^_^)
A week ago, Chaz and I decided we would then do something about the problem and cleaned the area with bleach. This seemed to eliminate the smell, and we thought we had at least killed the mold. Not satisfied with the ugly, nasty mold stains on our walls, we decided that we would replace the wallpaper. Most likely not completely okay to do, but we figured it would be taken care of, and then the school would be glad they didn't have to take care of it. So yesterday, I began to tear the wallpaper off of the wall starting at a spot that was already bubbled up and torn. I tore a tiny bit off to reveal moldy, spore-infested drywall underneath.
This job is going to be more of a big deal than we anticipated.
I tore off another small area, to reveal WET, green moldy drywall.
Hmm...the problem continues.
So I took pictures of the moldy drywall (hoping this would give the school immediacy) and told my co-teacher about the mold problem. I explained how this was a health hazard, and that Chaz had an allergy. She totally understood and said, "I think this is an emergency." I agreed. So we marched right down to the administration office, and Eun-ah explained the dire situation. The admin said they would send someone with me at 3:00 to look at the mold. Looking isn't doing, but at least then my message would get across, right? No one could look at that and NOT see urgency, right?
Fortunately, the administration pulled through and they called our apartment complex who said their staff would take care of the problem. And they did get right to it. When I got home from school (an hour ago), someone had clearly been in to check out the problem.
—You're most likely wondering, "Wait, I thought this was an embarrassing story." Well, I'm getting to that.—
So I get home from school, satisfied that something is getting done. Being just home from school I have to, um, use the bathroom. So I do. I turn on the fan and shut the door behind me. Not one minute later, I have a knock on the door.
Yes. It is two men there to look at the mold problem.
"Dear God, please don't let them go in the bathroom."
Yes. They go in the bathroom.
So I'm sitting in the living area feeling my face getting redder and redder as two men are in my bathroom looking at pipes and dealing with what came out of my pipes.
Then, then as if I can't get any more embarrassed. THEY FLUSH THE TOILET!
Oh my gosh. I can't even explain how embarrassed I was. I can't even imagine the conversation they were having to each other about the incredibly smelly white girl. Shortly after, they left trying to explain that they would work on the apartment upstairs. I'm sure what occurred in my bathroom had nothing to do with it.
At least my mold is getting taken care of...
You have all seen the pictures and heard of the crying that ensued as a result of mold in our apartment. Many of you are probably wondering what ever happened with that issue. Well, I'll tell you.
Nothing.
Nothing happened.
One day some cleaning ladies from school showed up to "take care of the mold." They came, sprayed some insect spray, took one look at the mold, and left. That was all. Never to return.
Apparently, that is what the administration considered, "Doing something about the problem." (some things are so similar to American schools...^_^)
A week ago, Chaz and I decided we would then do something about the problem and cleaned the area with bleach. This seemed to eliminate the smell, and we thought we had at least killed the mold. Not satisfied with the ugly, nasty mold stains on our walls, we decided that we would replace the wallpaper. Most likely not completely okay to do, but we figured it would be taken care of, and then the school would be glad they didn't have to take care of it. So yesterday, I began to tear the wallpaper off of the wall starting at a spot that was already bubbled up and torn. I tore a tiny bit off to reveal moldy, spore-infested drywall underneath.
This job is going to be more of a big deal than we anticipated.
I tore off another small area, to reveal WET, green moldy drywall.
Hmm...the problem continues.
So I took pictures of the moldy drywall (hoping this would give the school immediacy) and told my co-teacher about the mold problem. I explained how this was a health hazard, and that Chaz had an allergy. She totally understood and said, "I think this is an emergency." I agreed. So we marched right down to the administration office, and Eun-ah explained the dire situation. The admin said they would send someone with me at 3:00 to look at the mold. Looking isn't doing, but at least then my message would get across, right? No one could look at that and NOT see urgency, right?
Fortunately, the administration pulled through and they called our apartment complex who said their staff would take care of the problem. And they did get right to it. When I got home from school (an hour ago), someone had clearly been in to check out the problem.
—You're most likely wondering, "Wait, I thought this was an embarrassing story." Well, I'm getting to that.—
So I get home from school, satisfied that something is getting done. Being just home from school I have to, um, use the bathroom. So I do. I turn on the fan and shut the door behind me. Not one minute later, I have a knock on the door.
Yes. It is two men there to look at the mold problem.
"Dear God, please don't let them go in the bathroom."
Yes. They go in the bathroom.
So I'm sitting in the living area feeling my face getting redder and redder as two men are in my bathroom looking at pipes and dealing with what came out of my pipes.
Then, then as if I can't get any more embarrassed. THEY FLUSH THE TOILET!
Oh my gosh. I can't even explain how embarrassed I was. I can't even imagine the conversation they were having to each other about the incredibly smelly white girl. Shortly after, they left trying to explain that they would work on the apartment upstairs. I'm sure what occurred in my bathroom had nothing to do with it.
At least my mold is getting taken care of...
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Good for the Seoul
Finally....my post about Seoul. I've been excited to write about my weekend trip because major breakthrough occurred over those five days that changed my outlook on Korea.
First, I in no way hated South Korea before orientation. I was just okay with South Korea. I enjoyed the beauty of the mountains and the ocean, I enjoyed the food, and I enjoyed the people. But I wasn't in love with South Korea. It didn't feel like home to me. And for me to be here for a year and not constantly think of home-home, that had to change.
Enter: EPIK orientation.
I get told a couple of weeks ago on a Wednesday that Chaz and I needed to travel to Seoul that Friday (yes, two days prior...this is how we do in Korea) and stay until Tuesday for EPIK orientation. Huh? You tell me two days before that I will be gone for FIVE DAYS? After I've already planned my lessons?? And I'm going to an orientation? And I LOATHE orientations?
So, Chaz and I packed our bags Friday morning to take KTX (the train) to Seoul for the dreaded orientation...a three hour tour (I know you're all singing "Gilligan's Island" right now). We begin the trip by missing our train the school paid for. Good start. I'm bawling in the train station as we hand over our credit card to pay for new train tickets. After getting new tickets, we hopped on the train to Seoul. KTX was really comfortable, and the time went by quickly as we traveled through mountains and small villages. It was awesome to get to see the Korean landscape.
Despite my trepidations about "orientations," I was pleasantly surprised by the trip.
The orientation was held on a college campus in Seoul (which required a 1 a.m. curfew...no problem for me! or chaz, haha). Throughout the orientation, we had speakers who talked about Korean culture, culture shock, Korean teaching, FAQs about teaching in Korea...etc. etc. Monday was reserved for six hours of workshops giving us ideas on how to teach in Korea, as well as material (games, lessons, etc.) we could use when we went back to our classrooms.
By far everyone's favorite day was Sunday. On Sunday, we had a "field trip" which began with a visit to Gyungbokgong Palace (largest palace in Korea). The palace grounds were huge, stretched out into 13 different palaces. Chaz and I made it our goal to see (and read about) every one of them. We made it, of course, and were able to share fun facts we learned when we got back on the bus for the next area (such as: one palace was where the Korean alphabet was invented).
Then we went to this great market area for lunch and a bit of shopping, and after lunch, we traveled to the Korean National History Museum. Once again, we tried to see as much as we could (how can you see a museum in 1 1/2 hours??). Then, we ended the night with a performance: NANTA!
(I made a lamp! Arts and crafts at Insadong)
(It's at the Korean National History Museum. I used it. It was okay.)
If you asked everyone at orientation, I pretty much can guarantee their favorite part was Nanta. Nanta is Korea's longest-running broadway-like performance and performs all over the world. It combines the styles of samulnori (traditional Korean drumming) with a modern-day story. Three chefs are under the care of a mean head waiter. He forces them to make a huge wedding feast in one hour, and then he sticks them with his annoying nephew. The show is all about their antics as they try to rush and prepare the feast. The performance is amazing, and everyone enjoys it because it's a non-speaking performance. The characters drum, use slapstick comedy, and act out the story line instead of speaking. It is absolutely amazing and hilarious. I'm pretty sure I never stopped laughing. At one point, Chaz got taken onto the stage to help with a scene. He was hilarious up front, and everyone said they picked the perfect guy from the crowd. If you ever get the opportunity to see Nanta: DO IT! You won't regret it.
The Summary: I had an excellent time at orientation. Can I stress once again that I HATE orientations? But this one was different. I went away with new friends, lots of ideas, and a renewed idea on teaching. What more could you ask for? (I have stories of negativity at the conference, but this blog is already very long, and I'm pretty sure I don't have enough space on my computer to rant about ungrateful, embarrassing Americans and how they have NO TACT or ABILITY to discern appropriate talk, behavior, respect, etc. etc. etc.)
The "Big Change":
So I said earlier that I underwent a major change in the course of this orientation. First, my view on teaching in South Korea changed. I came here with the understanding that I wouldn't be able to teach what I want, or how I want, so when I began teaching, I started with trepidation and uncertainty as to what I could and could not do. This caused much anxiety and frustration while teaching because I felt I had no teaching identity as I had given up who I wanted to be as a teacher. At orientation, however, I found out that I could, actually SHOULD, be the teacher I want to be. I was encouraged to take my interests and my passions and infuse them in the classroom. I could even start clubs at my school for drama, writing, poetry, environmentalism, etc. etc. This was a huge relief, and all of my "teacher training" from college came back to me. So when I returned to work, I did so with vigor and excitement (the way it should be...and what I missed). I'm sure my co-teachers thought, "Who is this new girl?" I'm still continuing to stumble my way through this first teaching experience, but I'm more successful (and happy) now that I've regained a sense of who I am as a teacher.
Second, I came away with so many wonderful ideas, tips, and tricks for the classroom. Everything from games to classroom management tips. They have been working beautifully. One tip a teacher gave us was to put a timer on the projector screen counting down from 45 minutes (the length of class). I begin class by starting the timer, and class is over when the timer is at zero. If they are loud when I want their attention (i don't make them be quite always because sometimes loud=learning), I count down from 5. If I get to zero and they're still loud, I pause the timer and wait for them to be quiet and then start it again when they are. I cannot believe how beautifully this has worked. Time between class is the students' paradise. They live for those 10 minutes between each class period, so when I take that away, they are not happy. Even my classes that were IMPOSSIBLE to get quiet have caught on right away and behave. Every time I count down and get to zero and there is dead silence, I want to giggle because I'm so amazed and happy that it worked (of course I don't because I need to use my stern "teacher look").
Third, I met amazing friends. I already had wonderful friends in Busan (and Ulsan!), but it was great to meet more foreigners. Chaz and I have also been showing some new people the "ropes" which is wonderful because it makes us realize just how much we've learned about Busan.
Lastly, I came away from orientation with a desire to go home. Not home-home, Korea-home. Riding on a bus through Baekyang tunnel, and seeing Busan, I thought, "Yay! I'm home!" This is the first instance in which I have felt Busan and Korea are my home. It was an amazing feeling, and I think it's amazing and silly that it took going to Seoul for an orientation and coming back for everything to feel right. The streets seem a little more friendly, the sky seems a little more blue, and I am in love with Korea!
First, I in no way hated South Korea before orientation. I was just okay with South Korea. I enjoyed the beauty of the mountains and the ocean, I enjoyed the food, and I enjoyed the people. But I wasn't in love with South Korea. It didn't feel like home to me. And for me to be here for a year and not constantly think of home-home, that had to change.
Enter: EPIK orientation.
I get told a couple of weeks ago on a Wednesday that Chaz and I needed to travel to Seoul that Friday (yes, two days prior...this is how we do in Korea) and stay until Tuesday for EPIK orientation. Huh? You tell me two days before that I will be gone for FIVE DAYS? After I've already planned my lessons?? And I'm going to an orientation? And I LOATHE orientations?
So, Chaz and I packed our bags Friday morning to take KTX (the train) to Seoul for the dreaded orientation...a three hour tour (I know you're all singing "Gilligan's Island" right now). We begin the trip by missing our train the school paid for. Good start. I'm bawling in the train station as we hand over our credit card to pay for new train tickets. After getting new tickets, we hopped on the train to Seoul. KTX was really comfortable, and the time went by quickly as we traveled through mountains and small villages. It was awesome to get to see the Korean landscape.
Despite my trepidations about "orientations," I was pleasantly surprised by the trip.
The orientation was held on a college campus in Seoul (which required a 1 a.m. curfew...no problem for me! or chaz, haha). Throughout the orientation, we had speakers who talked about Korean culture, culture shock, Korean teaching, FAQs about teaching in Korea...etc. etc. Monday was reserved for six hours of workshops giving us ideas on how to teach in Korea, as well as material (games, lessons, etc.) we could use when we went back to our classrooms.
By far everyone's favorite day was Sunday. On Sunday, we had a "field trip" which began with a visit to Gyungbokgong Palace (largest palace in Korea). The palace grounds were huge, stretched out into 13 different palaces. Chaz and I made it our goal to see (and read about) every one of them. We made it, of course, and were able to share fun facts we learned when we got back on the bus for the next area (such as: one palace was where the Korean alphabet was invented).
Then we went to this great market area for lunch and a bit of shopping, and after lunch, we traveled to the Korean National History Museum. Once again, we tried to see as much as we could (how can you see a museum in 1 1/2 hours??). Then, we ended the night with a performance: NANTA!
(I made a lamp! Arts and crafts at Insadong)
(It's at the Korean National History Museum. I used it. It was okay.)
If you asked everyone at orientation, I pretty much can guarantee their favorite part was Nanta. Nanta is Korea's longest-running broadway-like performance and performs all over the world. It combines the styles of samulnori (traditional Korean drumming) with a modern-day story. Three chefs are under the care of a mean head waiter. He forces them to make a huge wedding feast in one hour, and then he sticks them with his annoying nephew. The show is all about their antics as they try to rush and prepare the feast. The performance is amazing, and everyone enjoys it because it's a non-speaking performance. The characters drum, use slapstick comedy, and act out the story line instead of speaking. It is absolutely amazing and hilarious. I'm pretty sure I never stopped laughing. At one point, Chaz got taken onto the stage to help with a scene. He was hilarious up front, and everyone said they picked the perfect guy from the crowd. If you ever get the opportunity to see Nanta: DO IT! You won't regret it.
The Summary: I had an excellent time at orientation. Can I stress once again that I HATE orientations? But this one was different. I went away with new friends, lots of ideas, and a renewed idea on teaching. What more could you ask for? (I have stories of negativity at the conference, but this blog is already very long, and I'm pretty sure I don't have enough space on my computer to rant about ungrateful, embarrassing Americans and how they have NO TACT or ABILITY to discern appropriate talk, behavior, respect, etc. etc. etc.)
The "Big Change":
So I said earlier that I underwent a major change in the course of this orientation. First, my view on teaching in South Korea changed. I came here with the understanding that I wouldn't be able to teach what I want, or how I want, so when I began teaching, I started with trepidation and uncertainty as to what I could and could not do. This caused much anxiety and frustration while teaching because I felt I had no teaching identity as I had given up who I wanted to be as a teacher. At orientation, however, I found out that I could, actually SHOULD, be the teacher I want to be. I was encouraged to take my interests and my passions and infuse them in the classroom. I could even start clubs at my school for drama, writing, poetry, environmentalism, etc. etc. This was a huge relief, and all of my "teacher training" from college came back to me. So when I returned to work, I did so with vigor and excitement (the way it should be...and what I missed). I'm sure my co-teachers thought, "Who is this new girl?" I'm still continuing to stumble my way through this first teaching experience, but I'm more successful (and happy) now that I've regained a sense of who I am as a teacher.
Second, I came away with so many wonderful ideas, tips, and tricks for the classroom. Everything from games to classroom management tips. They have been working beautifully. One tip a teacher gave us was to put a timer on the projector screen counting down from 45 minutes (the length of class). I begin class by starting the timer, and class is over when the timer is at zero. If they are loud when I want their attention (i don't make them be quite always because sometimes loud=learning), I count down from 5. If I get to zero and they're still loud, I pause the timer and wait for them to be quiet and then start it again when they are. I cannot believe how beautifully this has worked. Time between class is the students' paradise. They live for those 10 minutes between each class period, so when I take that away, they are not happy. Even my classes that were IMPOSSIBLE to get quiet have caught on right away and behave. Every time I count down and get to zero and there is dead silence, I want to giggle because I'm so amazed and happy that it worked (of course I don't because I need to use my stern "teacher look").
Third, I met amazing friends. I already had wonderful friends in Busan (and Ulsan!), but it was great to meet more foreigners. Chaz and I have also been showing some new people the "ropes" which is wonderful because it makes us realize just how much we've learned about Busan.
Lastly, I came away from orientation with a desire to go home. Not home-home, Korea-home. Riding on a bus through Baekyang tunnel, and seeing Busan, I thought, "Yay! I'm home!" This is the first instance in which I have felt Busan and Korea are my home. It was an amazing feeling, and I think it's amazing and silly that it took going to Seoul for an orientation and coming back for everything to feel right. The streets seem a little more friendly, the sky seems a little more blue, and I am in love with Korea!
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Other Highlights from Ulsan
Pizza School & Sweet Potato Pizza:
Facial Night:
Gon:
Bicycle Watches:
And Gamjatong!!! (YUUUUUUM-yumyumyumyumyumYUM!):
Facial Night:
Gon:
Bicycle Watches:
And Gamjatong!!! (YUUUUUUM-yumyumyumyumyumYUM!):
A word on Chuseok
This weekend was Chuseok, which is somewhat the equivalent to American Thanksgiving. I had heard that if you get the chance to celebrate with a Korean family, do it. So we did.
Kat's boyfriend, Gon, invited Chaz and I with them to celebrate Chuseok with his family. We were incredibly excited the days leading up to the weekend. For one: we got vacation from school. For two: we got to visit Ulsan (Kat and Kelly's stomping grounds). For three: we got to eat yummy Korean food and be with a family. The weekend proved to be as wonderful as we anticipated.
We traveled by train to Ulsan Thursday evening and stayed at Kat's apartment. Friday brought a tour of Ulsan (including jim dalk for lunch...delicious, and shopping). I also bowed to Kelly's apartment door (wish you were here!!) out of respect for her presence being there at one point in time. Friday night we meant to go to bed early, but we began watching "Rachel Getting Married" and couldn't stop. A 1:30 bedtime and a 5:45 wake-up time do not mix so well, but we made it to the bus stop on time anyway to meet Gon for the bus trip to his family's home. We met Gon's parents, and his brother, and then drove to Gon's aunt's house for the initial meal.
The family holiday began with a ceremony performed by the men. They set up a table full of food in a room and included a bowl of uncooked rice with incense burning in it. The men bowed to the table and moved the chopsticks from bowl to bowl denoting that the ancestor had eaten the food. They leave the apartment door open to allow the ancestors' spirits to come into the room and eat. In doing this, they give thanks to their family members who have passed for protecting them that year and giving them a good year. When the ceremony was completed, we began the initial meal.
When I say initial meal, I mean that Chuseok, along with family and ceremonies, brings with it many many meals. We began the first meal at 8:00 AM which included soup, fish, beef, rice, kimchi, fried shrimp, potatoes, etc. etc. etc. It was a HUGE array of delicious food piled on our low table. We chatted with the other young, English-speaking members of Gon's family and compared Chuseok with Thanksgiving.
After the meal, Kat, Chaz, Gon, Yungseon (Gon's brother), and I headed to Gon's parents' house to take a nap so we were fresh for the rest of the day. At 11, we headed to the graves of the family ancestors to partake in another ceremony. Families travel to the graves in the weeks prior to Chuseok in order to cut the grass and prepare the graves for the holiday. Once at the grave site, the men poured cups of really nice soju (Korean alcohol) and then everyone bowed to the graves. Then, the men sprinkled the soju over the graves for the ancestors.
With Gon's Family:
Gon enjoying Chuseok:
The Grave site:
This ceremony was performed for all of the family graves, and then we had a picnic (meal 2) at the grave site. There was a ton of fresh fruit, soju, and leftover potatoes to eat. I was full after the picnic (thinking this was lunch), but I was wrong. We left the grave site to go back to Gon's family's house for lunch (meal 3 within four hours). At lunch, we had bibimbap and soup (again...delicious!). The ceremony part was all complete, but the day was far from over. Gon's family was then to travel to Busan to visit Gon's mother's family. It's nice that Korean families see all of their family on Chuseok, but it is also crazy as traffic is a nightmare with everyone traveling to different places all day. Chaz, Kat, and I skipped on the rest of the day as we were tired, and we were assured that we were only missing meals and not ceremony (we were pretty full as it was, and couldn't hold a couple of more meals....think Thanksgiving times about 5). So we left giving huge thanks to Gon's family for welcoming us to celebrate the holiday.
My thoughts: it felt absolutely wonderful to join a family for a holiday this special to Koreans. It felt almost like being home for Thanksgiving (minus everyone speaking Korean and a drastic change in food). I felt blessed to be part of the ceremonies and the feeling of thanks for bounty given over the year. As I've said, it was much like Thanksgiving in America, but I feel that Koreans focus much more on the "thanks" part than we do. While we enjoy being with family and eating and watching football and napping, we don't do a lot of the thanking for the year. In Korea, they focus more on the ceremonies and thanking than on being with family (they get little time with family since they are traveling all day from family to family and ceremony to ceremony). A strange dichotomy, but it was wonderful to experience. Don't get me wrong, family is the entire reason and focus of the holiday, but it was much unlike the hours upon hours we spend with our family over the holiday. I missed the comfort of booming laughter as Uncle Bill makes a joke, and my dad rolling his eyes as my mom squeals a cute story, and Grandma Landers's dirty jokes.
On this Chuseok, I'm thankful for all the experiences I've had in my life: from family in Iowa to family in Korea. Life really is grand.
Gon's Family:
Kat's boyfriend, Gon, invited Chaz and I with them to celebrate Chuseok with his family. We were incredibly excited the days leading up to the weekend. For one: we got vacation from school. For two: we got to visit Ulsan (Kat and Kelly's stomping grounds). For three: we got to eat yummy Korean food and be with a family. The weekend proved to be as wonderful as we anticipated.
We traveled by train to Ulsan Thursday evening and stayed at Kat's apartment. Friday brought a tour of Ulsan (including jim dalk for lunch...delicious, and shopping). I also bowed to Kelly's apartment door (wish you were here!!) out of respect for her presence being there at one point in time. Friday night we meant to go to bed early, but we began watching "Rachel Getting Married" and couldn't stop. A 1:30 bedtime and a 5:45 wake-up time do not mix so well, but we made it to the bus stop on time anyway to meet Gon for the bus trip to his family's home. We met Gon's parents, and his brother, and then drove to Gon's aunt's house for the initial meal.
The family holiday began with a ceremony performed by the men. They set up a table full of food in a room and included a bowl of uncooked rice with incense burning in it. The men bowed to the table and moved the chopsticks from bowl to bowl denoting that the ancestor had eaten the food. They leave the apartment door open to allow the ancestors' spirits to come into the room and eat. In doing this, they give thanks to their family members who have passed for protecting them that year and giving them a good year. When the ceremony was completed, we began the initial meal.
When I say initial meal, I mean that Chuseok, along with family and ceremonies, brings with it many many meals. We began the first meal at 8:00 AM which included soup, fish, beef, rice, kimchi, fried shrimp, potatoes, etc. etc. etc. It was a HUGE array of delicious food piled on our low table. We chatted with the other young, English-speaking members of Gon's family and compared Chuseok with Thanksgiving.
After the meal, Kat, Chaz, Gon, Yungseon (Gon's brother), and I headed to Gon's parents' house to take a nap so we were fresh for the rest of the day. At 11, we headed to the graves of the family ancestors to partake in another ceremony. Families travel to the graves in the weeks prior to Chuseok in order to cut the grass and prepare the graves for the holiday. Once at the grave site, the men poured cups of really nice soju (Korean alcohol) and then everyone bowed to the graves. Then, the men sprinkled the soju over the graves for the ancestors.
With Gon's Family:
Gon enjoying Chuseok:
The Grave site:
This ceremony was performed for all of the family graves, and then we had a picnic (meal 2) at the grave site. There was a ton of fresh fruit, soju, and leftover potatoes to eat. I was full after the picnic (thinking this was lunch), but I was wrong. We left the grave site to go back to Gon's family's house for lunch (meal 3 within four hours). At lunch, we had bibimbap and soup (again...delicious!). The ceremony part was all complete, but the day was far from over. Gon's family was then to travel to Busan to visit Gon's mother's family. It's nice that Korean families see all of their family on Chuseok, but it is also crazy as traffic is a nightmare with everyone traveling to different places all day. Chaz, Kat, and I skipped on the rest of the day as we were tired, and we were assured that we were only missing meals and not ceremony (we were pretty full as it was, and couldn't hold a couple of more meals....think Thanksgiving times about 5). So we left giving huge thanks to Gon's family for welcoming us to celebrate the holiday.
My thoughts: it felt absolutely wonderful to join a family for a holiday this special to Koreans. It felt almost like being home for Thanksgiving (minus everyone speaking Korean and a drastic change in food). I felt blessed to be part of the ceremonies and the feeling of thanks for bounty given over the year. As I've said, it was much like Thanksgiving in America, but I feel that Koreans focus much more on the "thanks" part than we do. While we enjoy being with family and eating and watching football and napping, we don't do a lot of the thanking for the year. In Korea, they focus more on the ceremonies and thanking than on being with family (they get little time with family since they are traveling all day from family to family and ceremony to ceremony). A strange dichotomy, but it was wonderful to experience. Don't get me wrong, family is the entire reason and focus of the holiday, but it was much unlike the hours upon hours we spend with our family over the holiday. I missed the comfort of booming laughter as Uncle Bill makes a joke, and my dad rolling his eyes as my mom squeals a cute story, and Grandma Landers's dirty jokes.
On this Chuseok, I'm thankful for all the experiences I've had in my life: from family in Iowa to family in Korea. Life really is grand.
Gon's Family:
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Success!
Today has been absolutely excellent. First of all, last night Chaz got his first paycheck.
WE'RE MILLIONAIRES! (in won, at least)
So that felt absolutely incredibly, especially since we were down to our last 20,000 won. Eeks! I still need to get paid, but I just got my bank account today, so on Monday I should get my first paycheck. Also, last night I got to hang out with Eun-Ah quite a bit and saw O-Ma (her mom) and Hong-Sil (found out Hong-Shi is actually Hong-Sil, but it's pronounced the same), and I also met Eun-Ah's aunt. Girl time was incredible.
Then, we met some new people living in Busan who we met at orientation. We took them out to eat, showed them a bit of the city, and tried to make them feel comfortable. We are so indebted to the people who did that for us, so we were happy we could pass it on to other people who are feeling apprehensive. It also makes us feel like we really have learned a lot about the city and really are making it our home. Excellent!
So today, as a thank you to my fellow teachers, and as a pre-celebration of Chuseok, I brought a cake and some candy to school for all of the staff (Chaz brought some to his school as well). The response was INCREDIBLE! I was an immediate hit, and it felt great to have people say hello to me who I hadn't yet met. I also had some excellent break-throughs with co-teachers. Soooo good. Kids were excited because they just finished Mid-terms (incredibly stressful for them so they can get into a good high school), and tomorrow is holiday. I knew there was no getting anything out of them, so I planned some games I learned at orientation this past weekend (more on that later).
Anyway...it was just a fantastic day, and I'm really starting to feel at home here. It's a great feeling, and Busan is a great city! Come and join us! I still need to blog about our trip to Seoul for orientation (where a lot of my breakthrough with Korea and teaching happened), but that's for later. Right now, we are headed to Ulsan to meet Kat, Gon, Ji, and various other friends Kelly knows. Saturday we are spending Chuseok with Gon and his family, and I'm very excited to experience a Korean Chuseok! Of course I will document.
Assa, Korea!
WE'RE MILLIONAIRES! (in won, at least)
So that felt absolutely incredibly, especially since we were down to our last 20,000 won. Eeks! I still need to get paid, but I just got my bank account today, so on Monday I should get my first paycheck. Also, last night I got to hang out with Eun-Ah quite a bit and saw O-Ma (her mom) and Hong-Sil (found out Hong-Shi is actually Hong-Sil, but it's pronounced the same), and I also met Eun-Ah's aunt. Girl time was incredible.
Then, we met some new people living in Busan who we met at orientation. We took them out to eat, showed them a bit of the city, and tried to make them feel comfortable. We are so indebted to the people who did that for us, so we were happy we could pass it on to other people who are feeling apprehensive. It also makes us feel like we really have learned a lot about the city and really are making it our home. Excellent!
So today, as a thank you to my fellow teachers, and as a pre-celebration of Chuseok, I brought a cake and some candy to school for all of the staff (Chaz brought some to his school as well). The response was INCREDIBLE! I was an immediate hit, and it felt great to have people say hello to me who I hadn't yet met. I also had some excellent break-throughs with co-teachers. Soooo good. Kids were excited because they just finished Mid-terms (incredibly stressful for them so they can get into a good high school), and tomorrow is holiday. I knew there was no getting anything out of them, so I planned some games I learned at orientation this past weekend (more on that later).
Anyway...it was just a fantastic day, and I'm really starting to feel at home here. It's a great feeling, and Busan is a great city! Come and join us! I still need to blog about our trip to Seoul for orientation (where a lot of my breakthrough with Korea and teaching happened), but that's for later. Right now, we are headed to Ulsan to meet Kat, Gon, Ji, and various other friends Kelly knows. Saturday we are spending Chuseok with Gon and his family, and I'm very excited to experience a Korean Chuseok! Of course I will document.
Assa, Korea!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
