I know it's been awhile when my allergies have kicked in at least twice in a few months - and now the season is changing back from frigid cold to semi-warm and my sinuses know it.
Supposedly this is my 6 month anniversary of being, living, and working in South Korea.
I don't believe it. Not a chance that I can wrap my mind around this one, folks, nosirree. For one, I should know WAY more Korean for living here half of a year. For two, I still feel like a newbie/baby teacher at my branch. And then of course there's the fact that I'm starting to TRAVEL in T - 5 days. It's FINALLY coming into fruition.
I shall update again once I finish celebrating this... milestone?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Korean Folk Village (few pics)
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| Traditional Korean Performance at Folk Village |
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| Kids playing on a see-saw |
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| Seoul Tower in the distance |
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| Taking pictures with fun Korean Hanbok board-people |
Monday, February 7, 2011
Lunar New Year: Holiday!!!!!!!!
After 2 easy days of classes and the conclusion of my Winter Intensive course - Lunar New Year VACATION DAYS commenced. And holyshit did they take off on the right foot.
Tuesday Night: Got off work, went to Korean BBQ with the coworkers, and decided that this time... we'd get the soju with our meat. Vasuda can be thanked for that one. Dinner gets us tipsy and ready for some more-- so we tried a new place called Diva... where it seemed like a grand idea to pour 2 extra bottles of soju into our soju juice kettle. Slang-ed it up afterwards and continued with tequila. By the time we said goodbye to our friends heading to Hong Kong, it was 4am and we were saucy.
Wednesday: HUNG. OVER. woke up at 4:15pm, got ready, did it all again. But this time, Karen and I headed into Seoul for some fabulous American Chinese food at Ho Lee Chow. Delish.
Went to The Bungalow and hung out in the cute sandy room of the bar with swings and, well, bungalows I guess.
THEN I almost went home on the subway before it closed at midnight. Key word is almost. This was too unlike me, so as per usual, I stayed out all night with Becca and had another 6am bedtime. We had many fun discussions about sorority and fraternity life.
Thursday: Woke up at an awesome, acceptable hour. Made bacon and eggs with Becca-- delish.
Texted some peeps and Vasuda was of course doing something fun and touristy in Seoul- so I proceed to meet her at the Folk Village, last night's outfit and makeup and all! It was great, it was nice out, we went impulse shopping afterwards, and I felt like an accomplished human being.
.....that is until the decision that it was time for Ladies Night surfaced. Got home from spending money, got in the shower, and headed right back out to the subway. I swear it was like college all over again: out, recover, out, recover, maaaaybe go out, get ready, go out...
Ladies night in Itaewon ruled though. Free drinks for those with boobies and ginas yay!
Friday: So get this--- Karen meets a basketball player and he hooked us up with free tix to an SK Knights vs. KT Sonic Boom game. Come Friday, it was quite possible that I'd keel over, but who passes up sports events when you have free tickets?! Right, no one does. So Karen and I prance along to the subway yet AGAIN, this time during daylight. The game was all-around awesome fun. And they won, so that is a plus. I'll put up videos later!
Friday night was time to rest. But I think there was some 'going out' in there... can't remember.
Saturday: Back at it with a house party in Itaewon, followed by Dragon Hill Lodge Spa! <--This is an amazing Jimjilbang, which is basically a huge spa of hot baths, cold baths, body scrubs, a variety of massages, sauna rooms of all different temperatures and scents, infrared rooms, spa treatments, beauty treatments, food, health services, etc. etc. etc.!!! Basically it was loads of awesome, and I fully intend on returning for another body scrub and oil massage. Might even get a pedicure and eyebrow wax next time. Oh, and did I mention you're completely naked??
Tuesday Night: Got off work, went to Korean BBQ with the coworkers, and decided that this time... we'd get the soju with our meat. Vasuda can be thanked for that one. Dinner gets us tipsy and ready for some more-- so we tried a new place called Diva... where it seemed like a grand idea to pour 2 extra bottles of soju into our soju juice kettle. Slang-ed it up afterwards and continued with tequila. By the time we said goodbye to our friends heading to Hong Kong, it was 4am and we were saucy.
Wednesday: HUNG. OVER. woke up at 4:15pm, got ready, did it all again. But this time, Karen and I headed into Seoul for some fabulous American Chinese food at Ho Lee Chow. Delish.
Went to The Bungalow and hung out in the cute sandy room of the bar with swings and, well, bungalows I guess.
THEN I almost went home on the subway before it closed at midnight. Key word is almost. This was too unlike me, so as per usual, I stayed out all night with Becca and had another 6am bedtime. We had many fun discussions about sorority and fraternity life.
Thursday: Woke up at an awesome, acceptable hour. Made bacon and eggs with Becca-- delish.
Texted some peeps and Vasuda was of course doing something fun and touristy in Seoul- so I proceed to meet her at the Folk Village, last night's outfit and makeup and all! It was great, it was nice out, we went impulse shopping afterwards, and I felt like an accomplished human being.
.....that is until the decision that it was time for Ladies Night surfaced. Got home from spending money, got in the shower, and headed right back out to the subway. I swear it was like college all over again: out, recover, out, recover, maaaaybe go out, get ready, go out...
Ladies night in Itaewon ruled though. Free drinks for those with boobies and ginas yay!
Friday: So get this--- Karen meets a basketball player and he hooked us up with free tix to an SK Knights vs. KT Sonic Boom game. Come Friday, it was quite possible that I'd keel over, but who passes up sports events when you have free tickets?! Right, no one does. So Karen and I prance along to the subway yet AGAIN, this time during daylight. The game was all-around awesome fun. And they won, so that is a plus. I'll put up videos later!
Saturday: Back at it with a house party in Itaewon, followed by Dragon Hill Lodge Spa! <--This is an amazing Jimjilbang, which is basically a huge spa of hot baths, cold baths, body scrubs, a variety of massages, sauna rooms of all different temperatures and scents, infrared rooms, spa treatments, beauty treatments, food, health services, etc. etc. etc.!!! Basically it was loads of awesome, and I fully intend on returning for another body scrub and oil massage. Might even get a pedicure and eyebrow wax next time. Oh, and did I mention you're completely naked??
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Lunar New Year: Holiday?
February 3rd marks the first day of the Lunar New Year here in Korea. Lunar New Year is like a Christmas or a New Years Day - everyone is off work and they head out to the country or wherever their family roots are.
So you'd think that Chungdahm would give the kids/staff/faculty these days off, yes?
Well, yeah. But. Not really.
This "holiday" isn't a TRUE holiday, at least not in the sense that any American is used to. I'd imagined that we would have these days (which are red days on the Korean calendar, meaning no one works) off and that the students would actually have a break from Chungdahm, but then of course the ball drops and we get the word of MAKE-UP CLASSES on SATURDAY AND SUNDAY of the previous week.
Right now it is Sunday. I just got home from 2 make-up classes, each with a ridiculous amount of students cram packed into them, and I am smoking. A cigarette. Because I'm pissed off. Yesterday was worse. It was the first Saturday that I just about haaated in Korea, and even though I was making $$$, I am still just saltttttyyyyyy at this notion of a holiday.
Chungdahm, I'd like to curse you once more during this Month of my Rage Stage, for being such a little snob. Yes, I know the "parents paid the money for the classes" but did ya ever think that maybe you could just look ahead to February 3rd/4th and deduct 3 hours worth of their tuition to take your national holiday into account? (!?!?!?!?!)
It's asinine to me. It's like having Christmas day off and then going to school on Sunday to make up whatever was missed. God forbid these kids ever have a break. Sure, Obama, South Korea has an unreal education system and they're all going to have America's kids' jobs one day, but for ONCE I just want to see them EXCITED about a holiday. That's pushing it... excited about ANY day. Weekends aren't even a relief to them-- and all of us with make-up classes got a little taste of that feeling this past 48 hours.
Tomorrow morning's 10am Novel Workshop Intensive class, followed by a Listening Level-Up Test at 4pm will be the 8th day in a row at work. Tuesday night will finally mark a celebration of our Lunar New Year "holidays" off, and I'd really just like to blink and have it be here already.
Thanks for enjoying another rant! Until next time Chungdahm, you little biznatch.
So you'd think that Chungdahm would give the kids/staff/faculty these days off, yes?
Well, yeah. But. Not really.
This "holiday" isn't a TRUE holiday, at least not in the sense that any American is used to. I'd imagined that we would have these days (which are red days on the Korean calendar, meaning no one works) off and that the students would actually have a break from Chungdahm, but then of course the ball drops and we get the word of MAKE-UP CLASSES on SATURDAY AND SUNDAY of the previous week.
Right now it is Sunday. I just got home from 2 make-up classes, each with a ridiculous amount of students cram packed into them, and I am smoking. A cigarette. Because I'm pissed off. Yesterday was worse. It was the first Saturday that I just about haaated in Korea, and even though I was making $$$, I am still just saltttttyyyyyy at this notion of a holiday.
Chungdahm, I'd like to curse you once more during this Month of my Rage Stage, for being such a little snob. Yes, I know the "parents paid the money for the classes" but did ya ever think that maybe you could just look ahead to February 3rd/4th and deduct 3 hours worth of their tuition to take your national holiday into account? (!?!?!?!?!)
It's asinine to me. It's like having Christmas day off and then going to school on Sunday to make up whatever was missed. God forbid these kids ever have a break. Sure, Obama, South Korea has an unreal education system and they're all going to have America's kids' jobs one day, but for ONCE I just want to see them EXCITED about a holiday. That's pushing it... excited about ANY day. Weekends aren't even a relief to them-- and all of us with make-up classes got a little taste of that feeling this past 48 hours.
Tomorrow morning's 10am Novel Workshop Intensive class, followed by a Listening Level-Up Test at 4pm will be the 8th day in a row at work. Tuesday night will finally mark a celebration of our Lunar New Year "holidays" off, and I'd really just like to blink and have it be here already.
Thanks for enjoying another rant! Until next time Chungdahm, you little biznatch.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
FLIP CAM FLIP CAM FLIP CAM ULLLTTTTRRRAAAAA
Just got my Flip Cam in the mail last week (^ this is the first video it uploaded to my comp. so pumped about the quality!) and have already started capturing some great classroom moments, after-work moments, and clubbing moments. Now it's just a matter of getting my MacBook to function properly when uploading the damn things. I have no idea if this thing is just acting up because it's old... like 2006 old... or if I have done something to it. If you have any advice, please let me know.
Here's a list of Sad Mac problems I have. I just got a brand new hard drive installed in August before I left for Korea.
- Extremely slow "thinking"... I hate the spinning rainbow dial, but literally every time I click a different window or switch spaces, it has to THINK SO HARD.
- Shut down the computer properly... although not every night. Usually let it go to sleep.
- Having many troubles with iPhoto. My pictures disappear... my iPhone photo uploads freeze in the middle of the import... even when I click "Don't Import" for duplicate pictures, it still imports them... just so many issues!!!!!!!
- I don't have SimpleText in my applications for some reason. Not ideal for what I'm trying to do with my website ideas.
- Etc. etc. etc. It's slow. And I just want it to perform better.
I feel like my only option is to buy a new Mac. Ya?
Friday, January 21, 2011
FIVE MONTHS
Can't even sugarcoat this one - being here for 5 months now has officially allowed me to surpass the "honeymoon" phase of living overseas, plunging me deep into the "rage" stage AND I CAN FEEL IT.
I'm salty at Chungdahm and their bitchy ways of taking away the hours of over half of our branch's instructors. (But in perspective, at least I'm not a 40-year-old mother being laid off from her 'stable' teaching job in the states or something.)
I'm salty at Koreans. They're just pissing me the fck off these days, even more so than before. Because now it isn't just a culture shock thing where us foreigners laugh and brush off the idiotic and sometimes inSANELY rude shit they do. Now it's a real part of the everyday life I live in. And when I get hit by a car's side view mirror because dude has no sense of space like nearly every Korean in this country, I can't just move along like it's okay. IT'S NOT OKAY!!!!!! And for jeebus sake, WALK TO THE RIGHT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF YOUR COUNTRY. <--- (this is literally a campaign poster that Westerners have up around Seoul, so I've heard.)
I'm salty at my students sometimes because they are just little punks. Even the nice ones are being little punks this term. Yes, child, I know life's hard, but don't trash my classroom because you're mother doesn't tell you she loves you. (True story- none of my students tell their parents they love them.. because they don't hear it first.)
I'd like to implement a hagwon specifically for etiquette, social norms, and acceptable social behavior. Coughing and sneezing without covering your mouth/nose is something that is not taught in this country. Not in school, not by parents - and teachers getting sick because of the cess pool of germs floating around the classroom is just gross.
I'll quit my ranting, but honestly, I needed it. So thanks. :D
I'm salty at Chungdahm and their bitchy ways of taking away the hours of over half of our branch's instructors. (But in perspective, at least I'm not a 40-year-old mother being laid off from her 'stable' teaching job in the states or something.)
I'm salty at Koreans. They're just pissing me the fck off these days, even more so than before. Because now it isn't just a culture shock thing where us foreigners laugh and brush off the idiotic and sometimes inSANELY rude shit they do. Now it's a real part of the everyday life I live in. And when I get hit by a car's side view mirror because dude has no sense of space like nearly every Korean in this country, I can't just move along like it's okay. IT'S NOT OKAY!!!!!! And for jeebus sake, WALK TO THE RIGHT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF YOUR COUNTRY. <--- (this is literally a campaign poster that Westerners have up around Seoul, so I've heard.)
I'm salty at my students sometimes because they are just little punks. Even the nice ones are being little punks this term. Yes, child, I know life's hard, but don't trash my classroom because you're mother doesn't tell you she loves you. (True story- none of my students tell their parents they love them.. because they don't hear it first.)
I'd like to implement a hagwon specifically for etiquette, social norms, and acceptable social behavior. Coughing and sneezing without covering your mouth/nose is something that is not taught in this country. Not in school, not by parents - and teachers getting sick because of the cess pool of germs floating around the classroom is just gross.
I'll quit my ranting, but honestly, I needed it. So thanks. :D
Monday, January 10, 2011
Fun Photo Day...
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| My bestie in Korea. The man, the Legend. Danny Brookmyer. |
Why fun photo day? Because I'm lazy like this guy^ and don't want to write a post.
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| Gingerbread House? No. But we improvised! |
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| Love these kids. My bad influences, Phil and Josh. |
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| Just when I need the small bills from the ATM (which always come out anyway) I get ONE bill... a rare bill... a 50,000Won. (~$50) |
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| This is still up for grabs at a local boutique. It's legit expensive, too. They have NO idea what/who it is. |
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| Snowboarding (1st time in Korea, 5th time overall) |
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| Alex, Kyle, and Bryan all changed their profile pics one day.. then this shows up on my sidebar. I died. |
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| WHAT UP CUBBIES?????! |
Monday, January 3, 2011
Silly freakin Rabbit
Don't know when or where or how 2011 crept up and pinched me in the ass, but it did, and now I want to reminisce about the things I did in 2010.
1. Moved for the 3rd time of my senior year, to Lofts -->great decision
2. Road-tripped to PCB (Panama City Beach) -->great decision
3. Decided I should work overseas -->another great decision
4. Got a job overseas -->"Hell Yeah!" moment of life
5. Graduated -->meh.. 4 years, not enough.
6. Worked in Chicago for a hot minute -->fun while it lasted
7. Had a crazyawesomefabulous summer -->I miss.
8. Threw a joint Grad/Going away party with the sis -->it ruled.
9. Moved to South Korea -->it rules.
10. Worked, played, snowboarded, started learning Korean, partied
til the sun was up, met amazing people, made amazing new friends,
and loved every second of living abroad again. -->to be continued in 2011...
(^.^)
1. Moved for the 3rd time of my senior year, to Lofts -->great decision
2. Road-tripped to PCB (Panama City Beach) -->great decision
3. Decided I should work overseas -->another great decision
4. Got a job overseas -->"Hell Yeah!" moment of life
5. Graduated -->meh.. 4 years, not enough.
6. Worked in Chicago for a hot minute -->fun while it lasted
7. Had a crazyawesomefabulous summer -->I miss.
8. Threw a joint Grad/Going away party with the sis -->it ruled.
9. Moved to South Korea -->it rules.
10. Worked, played, snowboarded, started learning Korean, partied
til the sun was up, met amazing people, made amazing new friends,
and loved every second of living abroad again. -->to be continued in 2011...
(^.^)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
My First Christmas
... Away From Home.
It was pretty surreal to think that the only time I'd be seeing my family for a year was on Skype or video chat. My birthday and the holidays amplified that feeling about ten times over, and for a few days here, I was homesick (for REAL REAL). Extra emo after a few glasses of vino --- I maaaay or may not have cried a little bit after a wonderful Skype sesh with my family on Xmas Eve. But anywho.
Christmas Eve I worked my usual 4-7pm class and then subbed for a 7-10pm class. No, Chungdahm does not give many holidays off. Then, it was Phil's bday (my coworker) and since he kinda rules we ended up having a long, fun night (regardless of the fact that I "was definitely going to bed early since I have to Skype the fam at 8am".... yeah, right.)
Got home at 6am, Skyped the family. Slept for 4 hours.
Christmas morning was epic. (Minus the part where I woke up a tad hungover and still had to get some last minute gifts. Happens every year I SWEAR. This meant going outside, and damn it is cold here. "But you're from Chicago, Syd" people say. I'm tellin you, it is different here. The temperatures are comparable, but it's unbelievably dry here, to the point where each inhale into your nostrils could possibly induce a hardcore nosebleed.) We got together down the hall at Alex, Bryan, and Kyle's apt. Tons of Christmas music + Pancakes with strawberries, blueberries, and chocolate chips commenced. Jelly Bellys and Croissants with Nutella, too. It was delicious and exactly what I wanted Xmas morning to be. I was so pumped for gifts, but I tried to hide it, since we're not exactly 5 anymore.
The presents!
It was pretty surreal to think that the only time I'd be seeing my family for a year was on Skype or video chat. My birthday and the holidays amplified that feeling about ten times over, and for a few days here, I was homesick (for REAL REAL). Extra emo after a few glasses of vino --- I maaaay or may not have cried a little bit after a wonderful Skype sesh with my family on Xmas Eve. But anywho.
Christmas Eve I worked my usual 4-7pm class and then subbed for a 7-10pm class. No, Chungdahm does not give many holidays off. Then, it was Phil's bday (my coworker) and since he kinda rules we ended up having a long, fun night (regardless of the fact that I "was definitely going to bed early since I have to Skype the fam at 8am".... yeah, right.)
Got home at 6am, Skyped the family. Slept for 4 hours.
Christmas morning was epic. (Minus the part where I woke up a tad hungover and still had to get some last minute gifts. Happens every year I SWEAR. This meant going outside, and damn it is cold here. "But you're from Chicago, Syd" people say. I'm tellin you, it is different here. The temperatures are comparable, but it's unbelievably dry here, to the point where each inhale into your nostrils could possibly induce a hardcore nosebleed.) We got together down the hall at Alex, Bryan, and Kyle's apt. Tons of Christmas music + Pancakes with strawberries, blueberries, and chocolate chips commenced. Jelly Bellys and Croissants with Nutella, too. It was delicious and exactly what I wanted Xmas morning to be. I was so pumped for gifts, but I tried to hide it, since we're not exactly 5 anymore.
The presents! |
| My presents from Nahyun. How cute right! |
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| You might ask "Why the hell did you get your friend industrial sized Skippy?" Bryan. Loves. Peanut Butter. |
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| The Koreans never had Reese's cups. |
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| Kyle was happy about his Bread varieties too. Those boys are easy to please. |
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| Ski Socks, Snowboarding gloves.. and they got a Snuggie for their favorite neighbor. So great. |
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| My makeshift family |
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| Danny in his new hat |
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| Meat, Meat, more Meat. Coffee + Sugar |
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| Shiesty pic... but do you see that bucket? It's a bigass Tequila Sunrise. |
Following Christmas morning, I got ready for dinner at Mercado. This place is one of the best Brazilian steakhouses I've ever been to, and with about 25 coworkers it was the beginning of a great night. The sangria alone made me too happy, but the prospect of going out in Seoul with everyone afterwards was icing on the cake. Or the star on top of the tree, whichever.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Christmas is coming!
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| Cookies, Candy, Christmas Tree, and Wine (The makings of a great pregame) |
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| Danny, Latoya, and Kenny enjoying some Xmas cheer |
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| Tree decorating time! |
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| I love hosting, good company is all I need! |
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| My cute little tree. The lights don't work, though.. wah wah. |
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| Alex, Kyle, and Holly |
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