Dear Open Road,
I can't wait to embrace you again. And to get me going (and keep me going!)... a little inspiration from a good 'friend'...
"There is a level of travel that you can achieve wherein you almost cease to exist as you have been known to yourself. I don't mean it as in a feeling of meaninglessness, or emptiness, but a sort of new kind of experience takes place. You become just particles in motion, closer in frequency to a ghost or something. You might think what I'm writing is crazy, and if you do, I suggest you grab a backpack and hit the road for a while. And when your body says it's time to go home, don't. Just keep going. I promise you there's a high on the other side more memorable and more beautiful than you can imagine." ~ John Mayer
Here's to hoping my deal of a backpack holds up, my patience sticks to me like glue when encountering trying times, my camera is always at the ready & my mind stays wiiiiiide open.
xx
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
I can Taste it....
6 weeks. 37 days. Freeeeedom. I can't wait to start living again. To have an endless number of days in front of me in which I can do as I please; get up late, stay up all night.
I've done my time. Served a year of a prison sentence that has been life in Korea. Slaved away for a group of horrible people who have now started wondering "Why wouldn't you want to stay another year?" "What are we going to do when you leave?" Treat someone like complete $&!# for a year and then begin to wonder such things... well, thats Korea for ya.
Although one things for sure "If I can make it here I can make it anywhere." And if my relationship has managed to survive this, how hard can everything after be? (Although immigration officers can be pretty tough sometimes!)
6 weeks. It means I'm getting close to the time when I can allow myself to dream again :)
I've done my time. Served a year of a prison sentence that has been life in Korea. Slaved away for a group of horrible people who have now started wondering "Why wouldn't you want to stay another year?" "What are we going to do when you leave?" Treat someone like complete $&!# for a year and then begin to wonder such things... well, thats Korea for ya.
Although one things for sure "If I can make it here I can make it anywhere." And if my relationship has managed to survive this, how hard can everything after be? (Although immigration officers can be pretty tough sometimes!)
6 weeks. It means I'm getting close to the time when I can allow myself to dream again :)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Melody
Dear Self~
Remember:
No matter what has ever come to me
I got my own brand of company
I got da da da inside my head
And i play songs back to back until i go to bed
Walking waking on a crowded street
With my headphones loud
So my hips can swing, so my head can nod
To the rock and roll to the boom boom beat
& i find that i'm never alone
& i find that my heart is my home
& the music within makes me whole
A world that i built on my own
& i know that i'm never alone
& i know that my heart is my home
Every missing piece of me
I can find in a melody
There's a river in my mind that's never still
Swirling, soothing all the time gives me a thrill
Swimming in the notes that go
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Wandering, waking in an empty wood
It is quiet here, i am powerful
I look down below serenade the world
From inside my soul
When the walls begin to creep in
And the sky is fallin down
When i'm swallowed up in feelings
I get lost inside the sound...
~Kate Earl
Remember:
No matter what has ever come to me
I got my own brand of company
I got da da da inside my head
And i play songs back to back until i go to bed
Walking waking on a crowded street
With my headphones loud
So my hips can swing, so my head can nod
To the rock and roll to the boom boom beat
& i find that i'm never alone
& i find that my heart is my home
& the music within makes me whole
A world that i built on my own
& i know that i'm never alone
& i know that my heart is my home
Every missing piece of me
I can find in a melody
There's a river in my mind that's never still
Swirling, soothing all the time gives me a thrill
Swimming in the notes that go
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Wandering, waking in an empty wood
It is quiet here, i am powerful
I look down below serenade the world
From inside my soul
When the walls begin to creep in
And the sky is fallin down
When i'm swallowed up in feelings
I get lost inside the sound...
~Kate Earl
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Building Up
Dear Construction workers of Korea,
Just a few observations and suggestions from a concerned alien... Please STOP working so hard!!! You are at the building site every morning at 6am. And I do mean every morning. Saturday? Sunday?! Holidays?! Why must you interrupt our sleep at the crack of dawn? And why must you do it so loudly? Using bizarre machines that seem to just make the process take even longer rather than speeding it up? Also you may want to work on clearing all your materials out of the street. I see kids playing on the long metal pipes as you stand above them working on the second floor flinging nails down & I have to say, its quite scary!
My poor neighbors haven't been able to sleep in for weeks now - and you've barely got going! (Not to mention your new job has abruptly removed their view.) Although I will not miss the fish heads and their aromas pouring out of bags in the empty lot on my walk home from school everyday, I do wish you'd give yourselves (and the rest of us) a break once in a while! Oh, and just so you know, they invented measuring tape so that you could achieve correct measurements of things... starting it from a solid point and measuring to a piece of tape blowing in the wind does not constitute an ideal measurement!
Carry on!... Quietly...
Just a few observations and suggestions from a concerned alien... Please STOP working so hard!!! You are at the building site every morning at 6am. And I do mean every morning. Saturday? Sunday?! Holidays?! Why must you interrupt our sleep at the crack of dawn? And why must you do it so loudly? Using bizarre machines that seem to just make the process take even longer rather than speeding it up? Also you may want to work on clearing all your materials out of the street. I see kids playing on the long metal pipes as you stand above them working on the second floor flinging nails down & I have to say, its quite scary!
My poor neighbors haven't been able to sleep in for weeks now - and you've barely got going! (Not to mention your new job has abruptly removed their view.) Although I will not miss the fish heads and their aromas pouring out of bags in the empty lot on my walk home from school everyday, I do wish you'd give yourselves (and the rest of us) a break once in a while! Oh, and just so you know, they invented measuring tape so that you could achieve correct measurements of things... starting it from a solid point and measuring to a piece of tape blowing in the wind does not constitute an ideal measurement!
Carry on!... Quietly...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Note to Self
For months now in Korea (and a very brief week at home in the states) I have struggled with feelings of lost identity. Today I started to think of things a little bit differently. Perhaps what has actually happened is that I have just changed. I have carved away at my previous self.
Sometimes this was forced; I have had to alter my mannerisms and reactions to things for the sake of the culture I am living in. Asia and specifically Korea's concept of saving face has determined that I cannot behave as I would have previously. Anger and frustration are not seen as 'acceptable' responses to things. When I have reacted in this manner it was not received well. I have also had to deal repeatedly with a language barrier. Some of this is due to my own lack of Hangeul knowledge, and some has to do with the reception of a Westerner attempting to communicate with Koreans. (In the case of the latter, I have sworn I will make every possible attempt to try and understand someone speaking my native tongue with an accent!)
I have also chosen to make changes to myself. I am physically in better condition than I was when I came here. Between eating healthier - somewhat because I don't have the easiest access to my favorite, nonhealthy Western foods, but also just to help myself along in a quest for a better self-image - and exercising, I have met a challenge I gave myself. If you had told me when I came to Korea that I would spend so much time at the gym, and that the majority of that time would be spent running long distances at fast paces I would have laughed long and hard at the thought. In this respect I am proud of myself.
What I am not proud of was how long it took me to begin to appreciate my situation. No, my job has not turned out to be what I expected. But I made the choice to move to the other side of the world and experience a different culture with someone I love deeply. And I spent many months wanting to give up. I also spent months complaining. As I listened to people from home tell me over and over 'But look at what you've done! You've left everything you knew and started over!' I wanted to curl up in a ball and hide. Because I wasn't going out and experiencing things like I knew I should have. I wasn't making the attempts to embrace the culture even when I didn't always like it. Perhaps if I had made more of an effort to understand it long ago, I might have found myself writing this at an earlier point.
Hindsight has a way of making us think these things through. And there isn't anything I can do about the time that has already passed, except to move forward positively. To let myself off the hook now and then and realize that I will continue to have bad days at school now and then (hopefully less of them though!), but to do everything I can to make the most of my time left here when not at school.
Either way I am left with the conclusion that although I've helped 'shape up' my physical self, my mental self is a little worse for the wear after the psychological undertakings of dealing with an incredibly vicious & nasty co-worker. I like to think that a good three months or so of traveling around Southeast Asia will help me to mentally regroup and I will leave Asia a better, more equipped person.
Sometimes this was forced; I have had to alter my mannerisms and reactions to things for the sake of the culture I am living in. Asia and specifically Korea's concept of saving face has determined that I cannot behave as I would have previously. Anger and frustration are not seen as 'acceptable' responses to things. When I have reacted in this manner it was not received well. I have also had to deal repeatedly with a language barrier. Some of this is due to my own lack of Hangeul knowledge, and some has to do with the reception of a Westerner attempting to communicate with Koreans. (In the case of the latter, I have sworn I will make every possible attempt to try and understand someone speaking my native tongue with an accent!)
I have also chosen to make changes to myself. I am physically in better condition than I was when I came here. Between eating healthier - somewhat because I don't have the easiest access to my favorite, nonhealthy Western foods, but also just to help myself along in a quest for a better self-image - and exercising, I have met a challenge I gave myself. If you had told me when I came to Korea that I would spend so much time at the gym, and that the majority of that time would be spent running long distances at fast paces I would have laughed long and hard at the thought. In this respect I am proud of myself.
What I am not proud of was how long it took me to begin to appreciate my situation. No, my job has not turned out to be what I expected. But I made the choice to move to the other side of the world and experience a different culture with someone I love deeply. And I spent many months wanting to give up. I also spent months complaining. As I listened to people from home tell me over and over 'But look at what you've done! You've left everything you knew and started over!' I wanted to curl up in a ball and hide. Because I wasn't going out and experiencing things like I knew I should have. I wasn't making the attempts to embrace the culture even when I didn't always like it. Perhaps if I had made more of an effort to understand it long ago, I might have found myself writing this at an earlier point.
Hindsight has a way of making us think these things through. And there isn't anything I can do about the time that has already passed, except to move forward positively. To let myself off the hook now and then and realize that I will continue to have bad days at school now and then (hopefully less of them though!), but to do everything I can to make the most of my time left here when not at school.
Either way I am left with the conclusion that although I've helped 'shape up' my physical self, my mental self is a little worse for the wear after the psychological undertakings of dealing with an incredibly vicious & nasty co-worker. I like to think that a good three months or so of traveling around Southeast Asia will help me to mentally regroup and I will leave Asia a better, more equipped person.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
To the Management of PyeongDong English Forest
Dear Ms. Lee,
I am sorry to inform you that you hired a power-hungry dictator to be the 'head teacher' in your English center. Her goal for the past year has been to make everyone else's life miserable - most likely so we would know what it was like to be her.
She has used varying methods to achieve her goals. The first we encountered were a mix of deception and outright lies. We were told horrible things about you and made to feel as if you couldn't be trusted, thereby severing our ties to the only English-speaking person who was above her in the hierarchy. (If you want specifics... Did you actually tell her not to pay for our first dinner together - as is customary for the host of such a dinner to do - as we would come to expect it every time? And did you really ask her to work us like dogs during our first weeks in Korea so we wouldn't be lazy?)
Her next method was to 'divide and conquer' the three other people working in the center - pitting us against one another. You witnessed this yourself in an explosive argument one Friday afternoon. Fortunately after so much time in the center and a previous attempt by her at this particular method, we'd grown wise to her scheming. And now the three of us are all the more wary of anything she says. (When Fran asked her "How old are you?" he was referencing the fact that she very much resembles the girls I encountered in 6th grade. Twelve year olds who regularly changed their mind about whether or not someone 'deserved' to be their 'friend' based on the person's wardrobe and music choices. These girls were also commonly known to spread rumors of the 'Did you hear what so and so said about you?' And as this particular person has actually done these very things I think he had a legitimate right to ask the question.)
Her most recent persuit is to inflict as many rules as she can possibly come up with on us. This attempts to make us a collective miserable. Because if she cannot make us angry at each other, why not make us all miserable and therefore give her reason to complain about our performance as teachers. The worst part of this method is that one of the rules shes come up with is to make us all present during all classes - even though only one or two of us are actually teaching; the others must 'observe'. She got the shock of her life when she realized that during song time, which she teaches on her own, this left the three of us to do nothing at the back of the class.
I did not come all the way to Korea to engage in combat. I came to experience a culture and teach English. I fear now that the actions of one person have managed to poison my attempts at both. I am more than willing to do my job, but my job doesn't need to be this difficult and I am better at it when I can actually focus on the task at hand rather than constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering which direction the next attack is coming from.
I cannot pretend to know what is best for the center, as anytime I have tried to help in that regard my suggestions were thwarted. But I would suggest thinking long and hard about who you have chosen to run the center from the inside, and the impact that person has on all aspects of this center. Surely the personal agenda of that person should not be amusement at the expense of their co-workers and the children who come there to learn.
I am sorry to inform you that you hired a power-hungry dictator to be the 'head teacher' in your English center. Her goal for the past year has been to make everyone else's life miserable - most likely so we would know what it was like to be her.
She has used varying methods to achieve her goals. The first we encountered were a mix of deception and outright lies. We were told horrible things about you and made to feel as if you couldn't be trusted, thereby severing our ties to the only English-speaking person who was above her in the hierarchy. (If you want specifics... Did you actually tell her not to pay for our first dinner together - as is customary for the host of such a dinner to do - as we would come to expect it every time? And did you really ask her to work us like dogs during our first weeks in Korea so we wouldn't be lazy?)
Her next method was to 'divide and conquer' the three other people working in the center - pitting us against one another. You witnessed this yourself in an explosive argument one Friday afternoon. Fortunately after so much time in the center and a previous attempt by her at this particular method, we'd grown wise to her scheming. And now the three of us are all the more wary of anything she says. (When Fran asked her "How old are you?" he was referencing the fact that she very much resembles the girls I encountered in 6th grade. Twelve year olds who regularly changed their mind about whether or not someone 'deserved' to be their 'friend' based on the person's wardrobe and music choices. These girls were also commonly known to spread rumors of the 'Did you hear what so and so said about you?' And as this particular person has actually done these very things I think he had a legitimate right to ask the question.)
Her most recent persuit is to inflict as many rules as she can possibly come up with on us. This attempts to make us a collective miserable. Because if she cannot make us angry at each other, why not make us all miserable and therefore give her reason to complain about our performance as teachers. The worst part of this method is that one of the rules shes come up with is to make us all present during all classes - even though only one or two of us are actually teaching; the others must 'observe'. She got the shock of her life when she realized that during song time, which she teaches on her own, this left the three of us to do nothing at the back of the class.
I did not come all the way to Korea to engage in combat. I came to experience a culture and teach English. I fear now that the actions of one person have managed to poison my attempts at both. I am more than willing to do my job, but my job doesn't need to be this difficult and I am better at it when I can actually focus on the task at hand rather than constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering which direction the next attack is coming from.
I cannot pretend to know what is best for the center, as anytime I have tried to help in that regard my suggestions were thwarted. But I would suggest thinking long and hard about who you have chosen to run the center from the inside, and the impact that person has on all aspects of this center. Surely the personal agenda of that person should not be amusement at the expense of their co-workers and the children who come there to learn.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Gives You Hell
'Dear' Horrendous Korean Co-teacher,
It's Monday. I've been at school for 5 minutes & the muscles in my body are already tense, that bad burny feeling has returned to my stomach and my hands are once again shaking. So thank you for that fine introduction to the week.
I really don't want to be one of those people who complain all the time. For now I'm going to use the excuse that I have a lot to complain about. Mostly in regards to one person. You.
I wish I could say to you "When you see my face I hope it gives you hell" ~ instead it is what happens to me.
I just have to believe that I can make it through the next 74 days & then I will be on to better things. The thing that worries me the most is whether or not I will be able to hold on to my sanity for that long.
It's Monday. I've been at school for 5 minutes & the muscles in my body are already tense, that bad burny feeling has returned to my stomach and my hands are once again shaking. So thank you for that fine introduction to the week.
I really don't want to be one of those people who complain all the time. For now I'm going to use the excuse that I have a lot to complain about. Mostly in regards to one person. You.
I wish I could say to you "When you see my face I hope it gives you hell" ~ instead it is what happens to me.
I just have to believe that I can make it through the next 74 days & then I will be on to better things. The thing that worries me the most is whether or not I will be able to hold on to my sanity for that long.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
~~ In Memoriam ~~
Of a life lost. Taken. Much too soon.
Without going into details that will actually turn this into the tarnishing of an already horrible situation, this is my personal solution.
I have been working as an English teacher in Korea for almost 10 months now. I've seen a lot. Some of it good, and some bad. I've learned a lot. About myself, and about the place I'm living. I've been PUT IN my place a lot. I have restrictions here I never imagined I'd face. I have disagreed with many things. But, after being shot down time after time I decided that the best way to get through it was just to let things go, even when I didn't necessarily agree with them. On this particular occasion I cannot just let it go...
Friday, one of my students was brutally murdered - beaten to death - by his father. The man he left our Center with only 15 minutes before it happened. Fifteen minutes after coming into my classroom and saying 'Goodbye teacher', something he had never done before.
And I want to know - where is the line? When does the line between respecting a culture and standing up for wrongdoing begin to blur?
We're supposed to 'keep quiet'. Tell the students he moved to another school. But the whispers of the truth have already started. The students know something... And they have no more an outlet for dealing with these wrongs than I. I am not Korean. I cannot bury this and let it fester. Things like that have a way of reappearing - and it usually isn't pleasant.
As of now, there is to be no funeral. No memorial for a boy of 8 whose life was cut short. How do you justify that? And how am I to deal with the horrible bruise which I enquired about, but was brushed off - by his homeroom teacher! - like it didn't matter. Someone should have made it matter. Someone should have asked the questions a language barrier prevented me from asking. And someone should have raised the alarm.
I've lost all respect for our principle. He's asked everyone to keep their mouths shut so that the school doesn't get into trouble. And I'll never be able to look my manager in the eye again as she was his homeroom teacher & refuses to come forward with any information she has, even though she failed this boy once already.
It is going to take a long time to come to terms with this. And how am I supposed to deal with the fact that the Korean reaction to a little boys murder is silence.
Without going into details that will actually turn this into the tarnishing of an already horrible situation, this is my personal solution.
I have been working as an English teacher in Korea for almost 10 months now. I've seen a lot. Some of it good, and some bad. I've learned a lot. About myself, and about the place I'm living. I've been PUT IN my place a lot. I have restrictions here I never imagined I'd face. I have disagreed with many things. But, after being shot down time after time I decided that the best way to get through it was just to let things go, even when I didn't necessarily agree with them. On this particular occasion I cannot just let it go...
Friday, one of my students was brutally murdered - beaten to death - by his father. The man he left our Center with only 15 minutes before it happened. Fifteen minutes after coming into my classroom and saying 'Goodbye teacher', something he had never done before.
And I want to know - where is the line? When does the line between respecting a culture and standing up for wrongdoing begin to blur?
We're supposed to 'keep quiet'. Tell the students he moved to another school. But the whispers of the truth have already started. The students know something... And they have no more an outlet for dealing with these wrongs than I. I am not Korean. I cannot bury this and let it fester. Things like that have a way of reappearing - and it usually isn't pleasant.
As of now, there is to be no funeral. No memorial for a boy of 8 whose life was cut short. How do you justify that? And how am I to deal with the horrible bruise which I enquired about, but was brushed off - by his homeroom teacher! - like it didn't matter. Someone should have made it matter. Someone should have asked the questions a language barrier prevented me from asking. And someone should have raised the alarm.
I've lost all respect for our principle. He's asked everyone to keep their mouths shut so that the school doesn't get into trouble. And I'll never be able to look my manager in the eye again as she was his homeroom teacher & refuses to come forward with any information she has, even though she failed this boy once already.
It is going to take a long time to come to terms with this. And how am I supposed to deal with the fact that the Korean reaction to a little boys murder is silence.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Accidently "Babo" Korean Shirts & More...
*Babo = 'stupid' in Korean
**This particular blog has not been censored.
To the Makers of Hilarious Korean shirts:
I had heard of the funny tshirts in Korea long before coming here. I had also heard that the less than perfect English with a little Korean thrown in (aka 'Konglish'), sometimes created humorous phrases..
...But some of the tshirts we've seen must have been created by with a motive - or an agenda!
They are beyond hysterical, but you have to wonder - Do the wearers have a clue what their chests are broadcasting? And who is behind the making of such shirts? A native Korean who lived in an English-speaking country? Or a foreigner who decided to get their kicks and make some money in the fashion world at the same time?
I've been promising this blog practically since I got here... And I've been saving these up from about day one. When context has added to the hilarity, it has been included. So here you go!:
(oh, and I've saved my favorites for last!)
Just Plain Funny:
What were they thinking?!:
On Daily Planners in a bookstore:
Be careful, these might hurt your head...
"Life is travel
Me is becoming the preparation for leaving any time.
If the travel which is a life will be the possibility of doing with you together and thing example will be better"
"Odd story:
This odd story is a fictional story that a young girl follows a hoping rabbit and goes to a wunderland"
"Romantic Europe
Love is not time's fool
Though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks.
But bears it out even to the edge of doom"
Signs:
My Favorites:
**This particular blog has not been censored.
To the Makers of Hilarious Korean shirts:
I had heard of the funny tshirts in Korea long before coming here. I had also heard that the less than perfect English with a little Korean thrown in (aka 'Konglish'), sometimes created humorous phrases..
...But some of the tshirts we've seen must have been created by with a motive - or an agenda!
They are beyond hysterical, but you have to wonder - Do the wearers have a clue what their chests are broadcasting? And who is behind the making of such shirts? A native Korean who lived in an English-speaking country? Or a foreigner who decided to get their kicks and make some money in the fashion world at the same time?
I've been promising this blog practically since I got here... And I've been saving these up from about day one. When context has added to the hilarity, it has been included. So here you go!:
(oh, and I've saved my favorites for last!)
Just Plain Funny:
On a man - "French Kisses ~ Paris"
"My common sense took the day off"
"Not first but best"
On the shirt of a woman wearing a skirt and heels - "Tomboy"
"BAPY Busy working lady
I'm texting you a baby"
"I went on vacation and came back on probation"
"Mom please buy me a elephant!"
"Waste Management #12"
On a baby - "Mom's love my "A" game"
On one of my students - "Little Playa"
"I Love Crap"
Also on a student - "Too Cool for School"
On a man in a bright purple baseball T & matching purple crocs - "I'm a Taurus - I'm stubborn"
"[NINI] Number Nine" -Most likely taken from [NIN] Nine Inch Nails
"Just give me some cream"
"My mummy and I agree: Daddy is charming"
In the Philippines - "When size matters - Think BIG!"
Also in the Philippines - "I have a big ?" (Big questions are important too!)
"The cold and the crazy"
"Love has failed me"
I saw this tshirt at Incheon airport on a guy also wearing a tweed suit jacket - "I love BBQ"
On my flight from Incheon to Narita, looking like the iPod logo but with a man sitting on the toilet - "iPOOD"
On a 5th grade student - "Hope, People need lovin' "
"Twenty but simply alone"
Misspellings:
A shirt with a pair of sneakers on the front -
"SNICKER"
"Cum Again"
"Feabless on the Field"
"Save the earth - change the furthur"
"Frankrin"
"In your carears
You will meet
many peeple.
All are signillcant
They deserve you allantion.
Hello Mouse! 1976"
Bold Statements:
"World Religions Destroy Innocent Minds"
"Tell your boobies to stop staring at my eyes"
"I can make you happy. Trust me. You won't regret it"
On a man in bright purple - "I'm a love junky and he's my heroin"
On a student's sweatpants - "Take me to bed or lose me forever"
What were they thinking?!:
"Some of my best friends are white"
"Mickey Mouse Sweet of Friend"
"Rabbit Don's Eat Candy"
"Clean Vintage Junior / Basic House / Get Reade for summer"
"Juror run away from Murderer"
"Dreams so real
Naturology
Edit - Some"
"Company
Big Pig
Union made work brand
Coalminer"
On Daily Planners in a bookstore:
Be careful, these might hurt your head...
"Life is travel
Me is becoming the preparation for leaving any time.
If the travel which is a life will be the possibility of doing with you together and thing example will be better"
"Odd story:
This odd story is a fictional story that a young girl follows a hoping rabbit and goes to a wunderland"
"Romantic Europe
Love is not time's fool
Though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks.
But bears it out even to the edge of doom"
Signs:
Seoil University
Coffee Mama
Jesus Dentist
My Favorites:
On a tiny first grader -
"Wafflish Waffle"
Seen in E-mart on a woman -
"I'm a tosser for wearing this design"
On a woman's HUGE grey sweatshirt/dress (w/heels!) -
"Ain't nothing but a G Thang"
On a student's pencil case -
"Love has to be made like bread"
Seen on a woman walking down the road holding a man's hand -
"Morning Wood Supplier"
I will continue to add to these for the remainder of my time here, or perhaps as long as I travel & see funny things in English! Just a few weeks ago Fran & I took home a salad & hours later I realized the take home container read "Salad - Fresh Grandma Style". What on earth?! Anything to keep us in good humour! xx
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Complexities of Stone Soup
Dear 5th Graders,
I never thought that in a country where all jeans are unisex and men wear just as much makeup as their female counterparts, that a 5th grade boy playing a girl in a school play would be an issue. Oh the drama of 5th grade drama!
I never thought that in a country where all jeans are unisex and men wear just as much makeup as their female counterparts, that a 5th grade boy playing a girl in a school play would be an issue. Oh the drama of 5th grade drama!
Let me explain... One of my students couldn't speak up enough for anyone to hear him, so characters had to be changed. Which meant one boy got stuck playing a girl. And then Ms. Judy became Mr. Judy - and the character of Andrew suddenly had to talk about his father in the play instead of his mother, somehow an uncle and a neighbor got thrown in as well... And so on until my head was spinning.
I've never had any of the kids throw such a fit over something like this before - usually they enjoy it! And if you're among this small percentage of 5th grade boys you may want to rethink your geographic location... 
Sunday, March 14, 2010
~ The Art of War ~
Dear Sun Tzu,Thank you for writing so many things that are not only proving helpful to me at this point in my life, but may very well drive me away from the cliffs of insanity...
(I have to brush up on the rules as it seems I'll be in battle for the next 3 months or until I'm free of this school.)
Good points to remember:
"All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which the victory is evolved."
"All war is based on deception."
"Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate."
"Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance."
"Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Escape to the Philippines ~ Pt.1
Dear Family and Friends who have been patiently waiting for three months,
Better late than never...
Hopyeong - Roxas
After four months straight in South Korea Fran & I were very ready to embark on our holidays to the Philippines on December 23rd. We left immediately from school and grabbed our packed bags then hopped on a bus to Pyeongnae where we waited for the airport bus. We were lucky it wasn't incredibly cold as we knew we were headed for warmer weather and didn't want to take up all the space in our bags with jackets and jumpers. I'm always anxious when going somewhere; Did I bring everything? Are we going to get there on time? Fran remains cool-headed & sometimes I wonder if he's laughing internally, as he reminds me that even if we've forgotten something, we have the essentials & we've made more than one train/bus/plane through some good old fashioned running.
He was right. We made the flight without a single problem, finding ourselves sitting in Cebu airport at 3am. None of the shops were open. No food. Nothing to drink. I found myself wondering if maybe I should have grabbed that huge bottle of Absolut for $16 and what was pretty much a lifetime supply of Cadburys (the real stuff, from the U.K.) for $22 at Duty Free. Then we could have been drunk with a sugar rush at three in the morning. Hmm.
He was right. We made the flight without a single problem, finding ourselves sitting in Cebu airport at 3am. None of the shops were open. No food. Nothing to drink. I found myself wondering if maybe I should have grabbed that huge bottle of Absolut for $16 and what was pretty much a lifetime supply of Cadburys (the real stuff, from the U.K.) for $22 at Duty Free. Then we could have been drunk with a sugar rush at three in the morning. Hmm.
Roxas - Boracay
Eventually we found ourselves in Roxas airport. Its kind of like a shed. And it was a bit unnerving to see at first. But by the time we came back through it at the end of the trip, used to the Filipino ways, I found myself thinking, 'you'd never be able to arrive for your flight this late, meet people this helpful, and board with so few problems at JFK!'
Our taxi driver's name was Larry. He owned the first metered taxi in Roxas. We paid $60 for a 4 hour taxi ride. (And if you include the fact that once he dropped us in Caticlan, he had to drive all the way back to Roxas making his an 8 hour journey, you will realize that most of you spend at LEAST $60 on gas/petrol alone for a journey like that.) I very much enjoyed the views from the windows of the taxi on our journey.
All the time there were dogs, chickens and cows crossing the road. And so many churches. Some crumbling, some new, all a testament to time when the Spanish ruled here. There were rice paddies which seemed to go on for miles until the stopped at the foot of the palm-tree covered mountains. It seemed almost every road we drove on was being worked on; filling in pot-holes, building new bridges. Larry pointed out cockfighting farms, and Fran tried to count the masses of people that always seemed to be hanging off every trike we passed. (Usually 15 or so on the really full ones!)
Our taxi driver's name was Larry. He owned the first metered taxi in Roxas. We paid $60 for a 4 hour taxi ride. (And if you include the fact that once he dropped us in Caticlan, he had to drive all the way back to Roxas making his an 8 hour journey, you will realize that most of you spend at LEAST $60 on gas/petrol alone for a journey like that.) I very much enjoyed the views from the windows of the taxi on our journey.
All the time there were dogs, chickens and cows crossing the road. And so many churches. Some crumbling, some new, all a testament to time when the Spanish ruled here. There were rice paddies which seemed to go on for miles until the stopped at the foot of the palm-tree covered mountains. It seemed almost every road we drove on was being worked on; filling in pot-holes, building new bridges. Larry pointed out cockfighting farms, and Fran tried to count the masses of people that always seemed to be hanging off every trike we passed. (Usually 15 or so on the really full ones!)
I remember being filled with so many sensations as this new country opened up before me. There was the innocence of the children. Something I've come to recognize the more I travel is that innocence which binds all children together, regardless of their background or circumstances. There was a little boy, no more than three, who was walking his dog on the sidewalk alongside us one day. The dog was absolutely tiny - fitting, for a boy so small. And he had only a piece of string to tie around the dog's neck and hold onto.
I was a little intimidated by a vision of paradise I'd only ever seen on TV, or in other's photos, but I quickly found myself relaxing into $1 beers, the warm sun & crystal clear waters.
Christmas colors are there on Boracay year round; the whitest sand I've ever seen, the greens of the palms and their coconuts and the red of the bodies soaking up the sun. It was refreshing to leave the Koreans who pride themselves on making their skin so white, for bodies of all shades and shapes. I will never forget their smiles. The smiling faces of the Filipinos will always be with me. They are the jolliest people I've ever met - even in the face of tragedy. And it is contagious. Before we knew it, we were joining in, smiling always, and suddenly more at ease than we'd been in months.
Our first night on Boracay was Christmas Eve. After dinner we found ourselves a nice table on the beach across the footpath from a place called Nigi Nigi Nu Noos. We were taking in the sights and sounds, sometimes remembering that we wouldn't have to set an alarm to get up in the morning... And then there was a blackout. The whole island was left without music and lights and all we had left was the crashing of the waves and the reflection of the moon on the water.
Day 1: Merry Christmas!
We woke up and slathered ourselves in a bottle of sunscreen, (as we've been living in winter) enquired about the ant problem in our room & whether or not we could get some towels - yes and no respectively- and then we hit the beach!
"Ma'am, Sir, Massage?" "Boat ride?" "Diving?'' "Sunglasses?" "Pearls?" Was the call we heard all along the beach. But it was worth it. For breakfast we met up with some of Fran's countrymen & watched rugby. Our o.j. was in fact Tang - and not a very good version of it - and the iced coffee was instant. But we soon learned what to ask for. Nor did we mind too much as we set ourselves up with some beach chairs, San Miguel and an umbrella.
Dinner was Friday's special Christmas buffet - known as the best on the island. We were also entertained as we ate but traditional Filipino dancers. Fran discovered his favorite drink that night, it's called 'Go Coconut!' and is a tropical blend served in an actual coconut. He enjoyed many of these over the course of our three Fridays visits. We decided to walk down the beach that night. It was gorgeous & we had the opportunity to watch people celebrating (it took over 2 hours). We also were able to stop and try to contact some people from home to wish them a Merry Christmas & pass on our good feelings as it was just turning midnight & the day ending for us.
Day 2:
Consisted of Jess hunting for a bathing suit which fit, swimming lots, exploring talipapa (the market), and enjoying the slowly setting sun. The only downfall was our horrible dinner at a place called Coco Locos. We'd ordered Blue Marlin with lemon butter - which was tough and took over 35 minutes - how could you mess up a dish that simple? Oh well, the mash were amazing.
Day 3: ATVs, Explorations & Trouble in Paradise
Headed out early and flagged down a trike to take us to find some ATVs we could rent after having breakfast at a German restaurant on the main strip. After trying numerous places for a reasonable price, we donned our gladiator gear (spent 10 minutes trying to find a helmet to fit Jess' peanut head - the 4th one finally worked thanks to the chin strap) and took a spin on our new rides.
We followed our guide, Roger up to Mt. Luho and took in the spectacular views overlooking Puka Beach and a few other beaches as well as checking out the interesting animals (something related to the Tasmanian devil, some monkeys, peacocks & dead/dried snakes). It was a lot of fun & the most 'driving' I'd done in 6 months!
Afterwards we took a trike to Bulabog beach to see the kite/windsurfers and take a walk down the beach that runs parallel to White Beach. We found a beautiful cove beach which we had all to ourselves - we couldn't believe it! And then we saw the millions of jellyfish on the shoreline. Ew! We tried to climb a huge rock and look out at the sea but someone up there was charging! (I have no idea if it is legal, but I can't really begrudge them their income now can I?) So, we spent the next 30-45 minutes picking up rubbish on the beach of the cove we found. It seems to be a party spot even if it's not great for swimming. I wish someone would convince all tourists to even commit 20 minutes of their vacation to doing something as simple as picking up some trash & depositing it where it belongs. Imagine what a difference it would make!
For dinner we went back to Nigi Nigi Nu Noo's. I had a Greek salad and fish sticks. Fran had a fish platter. I met a girl named Lana outside the bathroom and invited her and her boyfriend, Peter to come sit with us. They're a couple from Sweden on holiday. Fran went to the bathroom a little while later and met another lady (who's name we've forgotten) and invited her over as well. She's a Filipino from just outside Roxas City who lived in England and is now living in Switzerland. I listened to her stories of her 3 Internet boyfriends for a little too long & then finally, the bar closed & we were 'forced' to head back to our room.
That night Jess had trouble sleeping due to the wildlife. Outside one window was the rooster who didn't know when to crow (so he did it always), there were monkey's fighting on our "balcony", sheep bleating somewhere in the distance (yet close enough to be loud! And Fran unfortunately got food poisoning from his fish platter dinner. :(
To be continued...
Giggling at My Desk
Dear Fellow desk-job Friends,We actually have this week off from teaching... And a friend of mine posted what happened to his name when using an anagram maker.
Favorites from mine:
Cajoles Lips Own
Jalapeno Clown Sins
Collapse Ninja Snow
Go ahead, have a laugh: http://wordsmith.org/anagram/
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Countdown is ON!
Dear Korea,
I have just come back from the U.S. & a visit to my family. It was nice to see them after being away for so long & I believe it gave me the energy I need to make it through the rest of my time here. Today means 16 weeks left. It also means we've almost lived in Korea 9 months...
We got our school calendars today (FINALLY). We made some changes & at the end of the day we came out with only 12 weeks left actually teaching. And only 55 days left of classes. Wow! I'm excited about where life will take us next?!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Stalked
Dear Peter,
Thank you for your attempts to bring Jehovah to my home. I have already made my decision on religion and am satisfied with it. So I would appreciate it if you wouldn't continue to knock on my door with an entourage of strange Koreans every other week or so. I thought you might understand when I told you we weren't interested in coming to 'the biggest night of the year' for your religion. We understood the gesture but it wasn't something we are interested in...
I would also appreciate it if you would stop writing letters to my boyfriend. (Especially on paper with the heading "My world seems so much brighter since you've come into my life" imprinted on the top.) I have understood for a while that my biggest 'competition' in Korea = all Korean males, and at times I find this amusing. But your regular visits have begun to wear on me.
I no longer answer the door for fear you are on the other side. And I most certainly do not answer the door when I am home by myself. I still wonder how you found us, given that you've said you don't have any friends in our building - and really, how do you get in as there is a keypad on the door?
Anyway, I thought I would share this with you as it perfectly illustrates our situation & perhaps will shed some light as to how we really feel about your now regular visits:
Thank you for your attempts to bring Jehovah to my home. I have already made my decision on religion and am satisfied with it. So I would appreciate it if you wouldn't continue to knock on my door with an entourage of strange Koreans every other week or so. I thought you might understand when I told you we weren't interested in coming to 'the biggest night of the year' for your religion. We understood the gesture but it wasn't something we are interested in...
I would also appreciate it if you would stop writing letters to my boyfriend. (Especially on paper with the heading "My world seems so much brighter since you've come into my life" imprinted on the top.) I have understood for a while that my biggest 'competition' in Korea = all Korean males, and at times I find this amusing. But your regular visits have begun to wear on me.
I no longer answer the door for fear you are on the other side. And I most certainly do not answer the door when I am home by myself. I still wonder how you found us, given that you've said you don't have any friends in our building - and really, how do you get in as there is a keypad on the door?
Anyway, I thought I would share this with you as it perfectly illustrates our situation & perhaps will shed some light as to how we really feel about your now regular visits:
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