ANYANG - A suburb with all the city glory

 Anyang: my town :)

After a crazy busy weekend, I finally found an apartment. The Chungdahm branch I work for is in Anyang, which is about 20 minutes south of Seoul.

Once all of us newbies got here and were introduced to many of the other teachers, we were invited to the small potluck gathering that our faculty manager hosted at her apt. Saturday night. Everyone brought SO  many different kinds of food (mac n' cheese even made an appearance) and there was sangria (my fave!) and lots of liquor. Much needed after training/moving/mentally preparing for the year ahead.

When the sun went down in Anyang, we were surprised by how BRIGHT the town was. I have never seen so many neon lights in my life. Perhaps this well-lit bar/club area is a bit 'seedy'.. but shit, it's like NYC in Times Square. I can't wait to see drunk ass Asian people stumbling around.

As for how safe I feel, let me just say that after my first class tonight (yeaaaaa, I'm officially a teacher I guess?) I walked back to my block to hit up an internet cafe. It took me about 18 minutes and I didn't have to watch my back AT ALL.

AND GET THIS.

On my way, the trail was all aflutter with over 150 people... exercising.
And this isn't my typical over-exaggeration. I counted AT LEAST 100 people + some. Just strolling along, getting their nighttime workout in. Couples walking together, moms and daughters power jogging, old men in slacks rocking out with iPods. Not to mention, I walked down this trail for quite some time, and stumbled upon a huge outdoor sports arena with TONS of people playing basketball...on the other side were a bunch of colorfully lit water fountains (think Millenium park) and plenty of families playing in them. It was awesome.

 Anyang Art Park: This city is home to tons of local artistry. Sculptures on every corner, it's amazing.


I'll post more pictures soon! Camera is getting fixed (crossing fingers)

So all in all, rest assured family and friends, I'm safe. I'm in a Seoul city-suburb, that is full of busy busy people and tons of nightlife. The crime rate is so low, I don't even see many police cars around. (and the ones I have seen don't look like they have much to do:)

Loves ya,
Syd

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Korean Pop Stars

After our last day of training today......... (sidenote: I made it through alive and got the job - OFFICIALLY - and they even called out a few "Best Trainee" awards... to my complete surprise they called my name. I don't think I've been recognized like that since..3rd grade)........ we came back to the hotel to chill and relax after a hella stressful week. I flipped on the TV to hopefully find Harry Potter in English again, but what I stumbled upon was amazing. And so worth the 1.5 hours of viewing. 

A taste of what I'm talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I02kaHraTPk

The Korean pop group, Wonder Girls, was performing at the time I switched on KBS2. (The Korean Broadcasting System- biggest in Korea. I want to work there.) Next came a boy band, Super Junior. Equally as semi-talented, and just about as cute. Act after act, this 'show' or 'contest' or whatever it was just reminded me of a dance competition, on TRL or the VMAs perhaps. I couldn't stop watching, nonetheless, and I truly want to know who choreographs for these groups and how they get to be in one of the many, many, many pop bands. They're like 15 years old.

Super Junior

Gonna go celebrate and club it up tonight!!!!!!!!!!! 

................

Not. 

Our branch wants us there at 10am. For more videos. More orientation. More mock teaching. And more being an adult. 

holler.

-syd

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New food=Good food

One of the main things people asked me before I left was "What's the food like there? Are you going to be okay eating it?!"

Off the bat, I think it's semi-known that I enjoy giving my taste buds experience. And now, after about 4 Korean meals so far, I can almost safely say that they're jumping for joy with this new cuisine. Haven't gotten too crazy yet-- but haven't been too safe either :)

The plane ride featured a bunch of different things (which was awesome. got wine/water/oj at least 6 times) and there were even instructions on how to eat it (for newbies like me). But I just followed along with the people next to me.. and the finished bowl looked like this:

The bowl had meat, veggies, and noodles in it to start off with. Then there was a packet of white rice that you add to the big bowl. The tube is spicy 'paste' sauce, and that is added last - and when you mix it all up its DELISH. The seaweed soup was actually very good - almost as good as spinach. The fruit wasn't all that great but whatev. Check out the top left bowl---this was Kimchi, Korea's most popular side dish. It comes in hundreds of varieties, but mainly it is cabbage/radish/green onion/cucumber which is then fermented and seasoned. Health Magazine named Kimchi as one of the Top 5 World's Healthiest Foods, as it contains rich amounts of vitamin A, calcium, iron, thiamine, dietary fiber, and up to 80% daily value of vitamin C and carotene. 

Link about Kimchi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimchi

Goodnight!

-Syd =)

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SOUTH KOREA

So. It's been a hot minute.

After Spain/Europe, this blog went stagnant (and it was never really too active anyway with how bootleg my wifi connection was).  I didn't think I'd post to it ever again, because what would really be the point..
However, the minute my flight home from that fateful semester landed at O'Hare, I knew I had to get back overseas --- somewhere, somehow, and at some point in the near future. Well, I had no idea just how near that point would be - and now, here I am in Seoul, South Korea. Exactly 1 year, 3 months, and 6 days later.

How did I get here? ...I took a plane.

Jk.

In February, I decided to listen to the message flashing in BOLD across the forefront of my mind that said: DON'T BE A REPORTER.  JUST GO.
So then started my search for jobs overseas. Of course I wanted to use my broadcast media degree, but why not on another continent? Well.. that was a bit of a short-lived search, but in looking around all 4 corners of the internet, I did stumble across my first step: Teaching ESL abroad.
Most European countries required the TEFL Certification, and didn't pay their instructors very well (just as any broadcast job would pay me unlivable salaries, so would my love, Spain.) So I moved on to other countries, and in came the raving reviews about teaching ESL in South Korea. I knew a few people that were there while I was in Spain, and once I heard back all of the amaaaazing things they had to say (highest paid ESL teachers in the world, awesome city, no certification needed, etc) - I was sold.

Then came the application process: I searched around and chose to apply through Aclipse, a highly acclaimed recruiting agency for English instructors. The company they recruit for in South Korea is called Chungdahm Learning.
Standard resume/cover letter, then phone interview, then video resume, pictures, essay, & tons of paperwork = HIRED. Then background check, diploma, contract signing, waiting for city/area placement, visa process... so much more paperwork... yadayadayada.

Literally the day before I picked up my visa from the consulate in Chicago was the day my flight was booked. One way ticket to Seoul, direct. Friday, August 20th, at 12:35pm I left the U.S. to start this next 'step' towards my ultimate goal and purpose in the world.
And I'll let you know what that is when it happens.
:)


Welcome back to Slangfordisms - hopefully this time around my internet access will be top notch and I can post A LOT MORE. South Korea has been amazing since the moment my plane broke through the clouds and I could clearly see that I was on the other side of the planet - and I think it'll keep getting better!

Much love,
Syd

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