Bulguksa Elementary School—Sports Day!

It's been decided, and not even the days with curry for lunch compare. This is, by far, my favorite part of the school year. Not only are classes cancelled, but this day (also called the "Sports Festival" by my head teacher) is used to show the physical prowess of the Bulguksa Elementary School kids. Sure, there were normal activities like relay races, but there were also a few that used some imagination. Or maybe I just don't remember having this much fun during recess (we certainly didn't have days that were dedicated to sports—not fair). Plus, families are invited to attend and even participate in a couple of events! 

I had the pleasure of racing sixth graders, participating in the teacher activity and being part of a relay-race-meets-scavenger-hunt. And, before you ask, my team won each activity. Yes, I beat elementary school children. Whatevs.

Kindergardeners, with the help of their parents

First graders

Intense school-wide tug of war

Relay race/scavenger hunt

6 Month Mark

The past six months have been full of euphoric highs and hellish lows. 

I've had some amazing experiences: I met great people from all around the world; I learned parts of a language that I couldn't even initially differentiate from others; I finished my first 10k; I know how to use public transportation (!!!); I went to uniquely Korean places in Bulguksa Temple and a mud festival; I've happily watched the sunrise more times than I can count. 

And some not-so-good ones: FIFTH GRADERS; I've gotten hopelessly lost; My iPad was broken; I've had 50+ mosquito bites; Two words—butt shot; I've been homesick; My co-teacher sometimes lacks common sense; Oh, and Korea has seasonal weather (think below freezing in the winter, disgustingly humid in the summer and more recently, typhoons).

I came across an article in the Opinion section of the NY Times (full article here) a few weeks ago that sums up my experience using slightly more erudite language: 

Our wandering is meant to lead back toward ourselves. This is the paradox: we set out on adventures to gain deeper access to ourselves; we travel to transcend our own limitations. Travel should be an art through which our restlessness finds expression. We must bring back the idea of travel as a search.

Which led me to this:

God, grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change,

 Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference.

I'm not necessarily religious, but it's basic logic made sense. So with that in mind, I'm looking to focus my efforts on circumstances that I have the power to change; as the article above states, my travel has definitely gone full circle as a search within myself and of my ability to "transcend [my own] limitations." 

I've slowly been having a more negative view of my time here, but it wasn't until a conversation this past weekend that I was finally able to accept that it's all in my head. And that I can change how I perceive this experience. I was starting my days with a defeatist attitude instead of looking to what I could accomplish in that next 24 hours. So here's to changing my mindset in order to enjoy the six months that I have left in this wonderful country, one day at a time.


xo

Summer Lovin' Had Me A Blast

Summer lovin' happened so faa-aa-aast.

After a week of summer camp and a week of desk warming (i.e. downloading music, eating snacks and nap...errr LESSON PLANNING, of course), I made my way to Europe for a two week vacation!

Within less than a week of my original departure date, I cancelled my Philippines plan and booked a flight for my Amsterdam-Paris-Munich journey. Yes, I was freaking out, but I needed a break.

It was the best vacation that I could have asked for. Not only did I go on adventures, but I was able to share this experience with my family. It was a refreshing breath of fresh air and I'm really glad that I made the last minute decision, although my wallet may tell a different story!

More in-depth city stories after the jump!

xo

You Want To Read Hangeul? Easy Enough.

Instead of making hundreds of flash cards to learn Hangeul, I came across an amazingly helpful tumblr post within my first few months in Korea. (Source: ryanestrada.com) The author is 100 percent correct in saying that it takes a matter of minutes to learn how to read Hangeul once going over these images a couple times.

Seriously. So simple.

Although I haven't tried it out, the Korean Tourism Organization site also has a quick beginner lesson posted on their site.

Trust me when I say that having at least a low level ability to read will work wonders for your sanity.

"15. The only good reason to go into debt is for traveling. Not Isabel Marant boots or expensive groceries."

Usually when I see a list calling out 19 things that I (i.e. 20-somethings) should know, I highlight a few of them and store them in the back of my head, or on my desktop. I might even quote my favorite on twitter and share the link, if I feel so inclined. 


I couldn't do that with this Thought Catalog list. 


I've read it over a few times and there aren't any that don't relate to my life in some way. Are we really all that easy and simplistic that this one article can sum us up? Because I'm pretty sure that I've come across a majority of these kinds of thoughts/feelings within the past week, if not in the past 24 hours. 


Ryan O'Connell - GET OUT OF MY HEAD.


xo

What I Learned From English Summer Camp 2012

Moral of the story: Kids come to camps for the snacks. And maybe the aircon. But it's mostly the massive amount of snacks that they get. If less kids came, shit got cray with the amount of kai bai bo (rock scissors paper) games to see who got the extras.

On top of that, to get said snacks, all they had to do is play super awesome, fun games with me. I extensively planned out my week-long summer camp that consisted of two 1 hour & 20 minute classes, with the first being grades 3-4 and the second being grades 5-6. 

Ugghhh...I didn't do anything that I had planned. 

Instead, I played games that allowed the kids to use their English, both speaking and writing, including the whisper game, a writing/speaking game that focused on phonics, a photo scavenger hunt and a slapping game (originally based on the song Down By The Banks of the Hanky Panky, but using numbers, letters, etc.). Note: Some great camp games can also be found here and here. I had worksheets on worksheets (on worksheets) for the Tangled movie that I was planning on incorporating, but I learned within the first class that that was probably not going to fly. 

I started the week dreading camp, but this past week of lessons, even without a coteacher or a textbook and increasing the regular lesson time from 40 minutes to 1 hour & 20 minutes, was my favorite time at Bulguksa thus far. Some of the kids are so much smarter than they let on in regular classes and I'm incredibly thankful that I got to know them on a more personal level.

I now have less than two weeks until I take my vacation to the freaking Philippines!!

xo

...you mean you can't tell that this is me?
Courtesy of one of my favorite boys

Some of the kids with their stashes

Experience Vs. End Result

I've always wondered about which part of the learning process our society should emphasize, and this article address a number of my questions. When I was in school, good grades were everything. To us honors kids, it didn't matter how little or much we did, as long as we received that A grade at the end of the semester. For some, this meant studying for hours each day. For others, this meant cheating and taking adderall. The thing is, these groups generally got similar marks. The means didn't matter because the end result was the same.

What I got from the article: In order to start something (whether that be to get the top grade or lose weight), an end goal is a great motivator. However, while being results-driven is a positive career trait, people also tend to be less enthusiastic about the process and the overall experience isn't enjoyed as much, possibly resulting in worse results. If the sole focus is on the goal, the act may seem more like a chore. In order to continue something long-term, keep the goal in mind, but focus on the experience of the task at hand.  By focusing on the experience, there tends to be more enjoyment from the learning process, which may eventually lead to your goal anyway. Maybe this is what our parents were talking about when they said that some activities are "character building" (also known as intrinsic motivation).

When I first started teaching, I brought in candy to draw my students out (and hell, to make them like me). It eventually got to the point that they would 1) 'work together' on assessments to get the 90%+ that would merit a candy and 2) flat out not answer questions until I gave them a reward. Well, I eventually decided that this had to stop; kids aren't pets that need to be rewarded with food. So I did. Cold turkey. And those first couple of classes sans sweets were a challenge. But then they started raising their hands again, without the question of "candy?" that was seemingly attached to the gesture before. Instead of doing things for a goal (in this instance, a candy), they were again having positive experiences in English class.

I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm getting more out of this experience than my students.

xo

You're Saving HOW MUCH?!

While Spain was calling my name when I simultaneously applied for the Korean and Spanish government programs, I'm glad that I ended up choosing Korea as my first destination to be a Guest English Teacher. Unlike the majority of the programs in Europe and South America, the Korean government has a pretty legit set up for us here. Not only do we get paid more overall (including a nice year-end bonus), but our housing is taken care of and, pending contract completion, our flights to/from Korea are paid for as well. My expenses have leveled off over the past few months, so I felt the need to post my numbers to share with others and to keep a certain level of accountability with myself. Feel free to comment on how much I'm wasting on soju.


Income: 2,000,000 won
Income generally ranges from 1.8-2.2 million won (not including any overtime), with 100,000-200,000 won coming out for lunch, insurance, etc. by your school. Yes, schools provide delicious, authentic Korean lunches for about 3,000/day. I'm paid 2.1 million won with no overtime. I know, it's weird that my ridiculously short hours don't have some overtime pay thrown in there for good measure! After the above expenses are taken out, I have a little less than 2 million won to play with each month.


Expenses: 685,000-885,000 won
Note: I also bought a gym pass for 210,000/3 months that I don't plan on renewing at the end of July. Damn those cute trainers who sucked me in!
Smart phone (unlimited data ftw): 80,000
Utilities (A/C, heater and electricity): 20,000
Food (Groceries are 70,000/week if you buy fruits/veggies and the occasional pastry; eating out ranges from 2,500-15,000/meal): 325,000
Bi-weekly coffee shop dates (4-5,000/drink): 10,000
Bus pass (to/from school): 50,000
Social outings: 200,000-400,000 -- This is the reason why the numbers above mean little to nothing regarding your overall savings each month. It can be as little as 20,000/month (meaning that you get a coffee and stay in your hometown every weekend) to 300,000/weekend if you decide to go to Seoul. On an average weekend of going to Daegu, Busan, Pohang, etc., it's reasonable to spend 100,000/night, which is why I burned through my income so quickly during the first couple of months. However, we're now traveling less often, but still going out in our own hometowns, which decreases the number significantly. I'm feeling more responsible already!


Moral of the story is that it's rather easy to save over $10,000 by the end of a contract. And this includes summer (Philippines!) and winter (Australia!) vacations. Unfortunately for me, all this post made me do was realize how much more I could and should be saving. For grad school, to take a teaching position in a desirable country with minimal pay for a certain football tournament (cough Brazil 2014) or, if I'm feeling really brazen, a Roth IRA. And now that I'm thinking about it, I should really hide this post from my mother...


xo

Xenization: My Reason for Coming to Korea

Xenization - the act of traveling as a stranger.


Not that the above is the best description, but isn't this exactly what I want to do professionally? Note: FSOs live in a different country almost every two years for a good chunk of their careers. Sorry, but I didn't come to Korea specifically because my heart is set on being a teacher, and a lot of the individuals who I have met didn't either. Most of us came for the experience of living in a foreign country as an immigrant, to travel and to be challenged. My emphasis was on that last bit: to be challenged. In every sense of the word. In mind, body and spirit.


I've never seen myself as a stranger, an 'other', because I've never really been on my own. When I went to university, not only was I always living with people (uh, hello sorority housing with FIFTY OTHER WOMEN), but I was also within an hour of home...and it stunted my personal growth. I readily admit that being alone with my thoughts for extended periods of time still makes me nervous, but isn't that where you learn the most about yourself? In places where you're uncomfortable? It occurred to me that moving to Korea was the first instance in a long time that I did something that moved me past my own comfort zone.


I knew coming into this experience that that was going to be the toughest challenge for me: being alone. How fucking scary does that sound? I'm not talking about having alone time; I mean flying to a foreign country to live in a yet-to-be-determined rural city where all of 20 people speak your language, a place where the role of your support system is drastically reduced and at least one bout of homesickness is guaranteed. All of this boils down to one thing: you're going it solo, my friend. 


After almost five months of living by myself in Gyeongju, which included a solid three weeks of the homesickness dreaded by new and experienced expats alike, I'm getting to the point where I've realized that being alone is not the disastrous terror that I once envisioned it to be. The experience of being an outsider in a place that I'm supposed to call home for the next 7.5 months is still daunting, but it's easier to accept because I have realized that I can handle it. I'm looking forward to seeing how much I've grown throughout this year because I already feel different (stronger? more confident?) after a few months. And before you mumble anything else under your breath, I know that this sounds like a college application essay, but it's true. Friends have said that this type of experience will change your life and I agree with them now more than ever.


The word 'stranger' generally has this negative connotation (my mom taught me and my sisters the phrase STRANGER DANGER! from an early age and we still use it on one another to this day) of unknown individuals who may go against the grain. But I'm learning that I'm addressing the differences in people, countries and cultures here with a more positive outlook. Besides, I'm of the opinion that being interesting is a rather lovely compliment.


xo

Edit: An article on why alone time is important for everyone at every age:

But it's also important to remember that alone time is a crucial, and too often forgotten, part of development. The real world is not a constant party, or a day at camp. Real world includes downtime, and it includes alone time. And your job as a parent isn't to entertain your children 24 hours a day. Introducing your child early on to the idea of spending time alone -- and liking it -- will help your son and/or daughter become a better companion to others and get more from their relationships with friends -- and with you. They will grow to be an adult who can be happy on his/her own, or with someone else. And isn't that the goal?

Yeosu Expo 2012 Food Porn

Yeosu Expo 2012 was not all fun and games. There was eating to be done! Below are some of the delicious cuisines that I had while at the expo this past weekend. They can be found outside of said country's pavilion and are relatively inexpensive! If you have the time (and stomach room), make sure to check out Spain's tapas bar and let me know how it is! A good chunk of the choices there were between 5,500-8,500 won, but I really could not fit more food into my belly. 

Not pictured: Turkish kebab - Can be found outside of the Turkey Pavilion or at a number of stands throughout the Expo. 5,000 for chicken and 6,000 for lamb. Personally, I'd skip these and eat other countries' foods that we cannot readily find outside of the bigger cities. The Turkish kebab places in Daegu have bigger portions and taste better.

Japan - Being that Japan is so close, it's no surprise that there was a whole bottom level of Japanese restaurants that featured the usual sushi and noodle dishes. However, this restaurant was also selling Japanese street food - takoyaki - and cooking it so that everyone could see! Takoyaki is a fried street food (quite similar to Korea's panjeon in that it has pancake qualities) that generally has some sort of seafood, green onions and whatever else they feel like throwing in there. 6,500 won

Japanese Takoyaki

Belgium - In California, we have this pretty amazing place to get a solid burger and fries. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but it is ridiculously good. Oh In N Out, you've spoiled me. So much, in fact, that I refuse to eat McDonald's while in Korea regardless of my cravings for fries, but after going through the Belgium Pavilion, these smelled too good to pass up. Let me tell you, they did not disappoint. Made to order and perfectly crunchy. Huge portion. 4,000 won well spent.

Note: If you make it to the Belgium pavilion, they have a restaurant and a take out stand (I opted for the take out). Try something. A group next to me was literally fighting over their mini waffles (4,500 won or 5,000 won with sausage) and the couple in front of me were head over heels about their coffee.

Belgian Fries

Italy - I might never order gelato from a Korean coffee shop again. It will never, ever compare to Italian gelato, and Giuso certainly provided the best. While the other flavors looked delicious, I opted for their berry option. Doesn't it look like absolute perfection?! It was the ideal treat to sit outside of the Italian pavilion and people watch. 3,000 won for a single scoop cone and 5,000 for a double scoop cup. Clearly you know which one I went for.

Note: The Italian Pavilion had both a restaurant and gelato stand, with restaurant prices for salads and pastas being about 10,000 won. The Italian Pavilion is diagonally across from the Joint Pacific Ocean Pavilion, where they consistently have performances, so you're also treated to a concert!

Italian Gelato

Singapore - There was no way that I could pass up this fried rice. I was on my way to catch my bus, thinking what kind of Korean food I would get for dinner on the way (that would, undoubtedly, include rice), when I passed by the Singapore Pavilion and restaurant. I had just talked with my sister about fried rice and decided to check it out. It definitely doesn't compare to hers (which includes more flavors...yum), but it satisfied my craving for her homemade fried rice. Personally, I could have used some kind of meat and a bit more pepper, but it was the right amount of spicy, packaged for take out, and I could eat eggs for the rest of my life. 7,000 won

Note: The restaurant has about 10 dishes, with prices ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 won. Everyone around seemed to be enjoying their food and the staff was really friendly. In the afternoons, their "special meals of the day" (generally the ones priced between 12,000 and 15,000) are discounted by 20%. Get on it.

Singapore Fried Rice 

Moral of the story is that I need to find some way to travel around the world to eat each countries' delicious blend of flavors. And not gain 20 lbs in the process. Suggestions?


xo