Back in Korea, and busy as a bee

I just got back to Korea last week, and life is fun as usual. America was a blast. I made sure to visit a Korea-town in every city I went to. I had $8 ddukbokki in NYC, and saw $10 soju in LA. Scary stuff. As usual since this is a Korea blog I wont write much about the US, but it was fun.

Ddukbokki in NYC

$10 soju

The day after I arrived I took my placement test at Yonsei University to begin studying Korean.
I had just gotten back and remembered no Korean mind you, but happily, I was placed into level 2. Seems about right. If I had pushed a bit more it might have been level 3 but I would have severe gaps in my grammar knowledge. Well, the bad news is the closest stop to Yonsei is Sinchon, and I live in Nowon. That's about an hr and a half commute. Because from Sinchon station its still about a 20 minute walk, or I could take a bus. Either way- Horrible.

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I'm back!!! with new responsibilities

check out the tan as I head in for my first day of work

I got back to Seoul about a week ago... Since this isn't a blog about SE Asia, I won't go into too much detail about it. Lets just say I had an amazing time. I met many wonderful people and discovered so much about myself. If you ever do have any questions about backpacking feel free to get in touch with me, and I will be sure to give you any help I can.

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Spring term Ends... and I miss them already :(

Sometimes they make you go insane ;)

So I survived another term where the students ranked me up there again. While I am extremely sad to leave the kiddies and go on this trip, I absolutely know I need this break. I was getting tired, depressed, and cranky. Now I rejuvenate myself and return to be an even better teacher.

Anyways, here are the classes that brought me so much joy in my spring 2010 term.

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New Term Again

modelling the hats I bought for my nieces - but this is normal in Korea (for adults to wear I mean)

It's my last term before my term break. I can't wait. As you may already know I'll be exploring SE Asia for 2.5 months. I'm ready to get away for a bit. The novelty of Korea has worn off. I want more. I kind of wish I'd taken one this term.

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Holy Mackerel: The Shocker of the Century (+ Korean Drama-Coffee Prince)

Well at least for me.

Can you guess which one is the girl? (read to the end to find out).

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It's the start of a new decade

OMG I can't believe it. I not only survived a full year alone in a foreign country, but I decided to stay another. And despite many setbacks, I am happier than I've ever been.

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The end of summer

Summer has come to its end. A term has passed and gone by. Life is still the same, minor glitches here and there. I think I will stay in Korea another year. I love the life I life here, lots of fun parties, people all around, some of my only qualms are that as big as Seoul is, the foreign community is minuscule... every weekend you will run into somebody you know or someone who knows someone you know. Also, sometimes partying all the time can get strenuous.

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Hweshik to kick the summer off right

I am in awe and fear of this bottle of soju in my hands

So at last June is over and July is here. It hasn't really felt like summer, until now. Maybe because i think its still cold here. I decided to suspend my Korean classes until September so I could focus on work and travel. I got my korean teacher a thank you gift. I think she was touched.

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Surviving my first term

I made it through a term. I survived teaching on Saturdays. When I arrived in the middle of the winter term I was a bumbling idiot. Teach? huh? I was nervous, I was disinterested and I was unchallenged. While the latter hasn't changed very much, I found that this new term I got to be more comfortable being in front of people, and here's a secret, the kids who like you will make fun of you, will wonder about your life, will follow you around, so get used to it.

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My life so far

So I'll give you a brief update on me. I am settling well into life here in Seoul. Apparently I am adapting really well for someone who just got here 3 weeks ago. I guess being outgoing, gregarious, and will to try new things never hurt anyone.

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Teach-uh are you mixed race?

Huh?
first of all, it took some getting used to, being called teacher. At first i was like, why don't the kids call you by your name, first or last doesn't matter. turns out its a korean (maybe asian but i'm not going to make generalizations i'm unsure about) thing. Teacher is a sign of respect. I think it Confucianism based, but I could just be b-sing out my derriere... Except it doesn't sound like teacher, it sounds like teach-uh.... Yeah...

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Kamsahanida very much

So I woke up on my birthday morning to a call from the parents… I thought that was rather sweet of them. I went back to sleep and then go ready to go to work. I heading on the train full of apprehension. It wasn't a short trip.

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