Chuseok Vacation-In Photos

Photo Diary: because it’s easier and more fun then a blog post

Margaret’s best friend from home comes. I look oddly awake here for having stayed out all night.

Jejudo for the first few days of Chuseok– The longest and hardest bit of traveling I’ve ever done, including sleeping in the sink on the train…I will not post photos of that. Jejudo was beautiful, and I really enjoyed having my feet in the sand for a few days. We even got to see our Korean friend that lives there!

If I was a boy, I would be Andries, our host in Jeju

Jacky came and visited for a few days as part of her Asian adventure. It was so nice to have an old friend here– this was the beginning of our trip, and the end to our hectic weekend in Seoul–after a 9 hour journey from Jeju to get there. I only complained for a little bit after realizing that Jacky, Alec and Brittany had been on a plane for 24 hours. Trump card.
A quick rundown of Jacky’s visit:
Friday they arrived, and we ended up getting into Seoul a lot later then we thought we would. After traveling by Boat and bus for at least 9 hours, we went to the hostel. I promptly woke up Jacky from her slumber, and took her out for a proper Korean BBQ meal with all the fixing. Jacky, Alec, and Brittany were sold right then and there on Korea, and Korean food. We then went out for a few drinks, which turned into a club night (surprise–it was Seoul) but we headed home early, as in 3am.
Saturday morning we got up slowly, and made our way to Insadong, the Korean traditional area of Seoul. Because it was holiday week, it was packed with people…and we ended up just getting a meal, and walking towards the largest palace in all of Korea. Afterwards, we went home, and got ready for our night out on the town. For dinner we had DakGalbi, one of my favorite Korean spicy meals. We then went out, and had another fun/hectic/exciting Seoul, complete with Jacky and Brittany dancing on poles, and me and Alec drinking many bucket drinks.
Sunday we traveled back to Gumi, and just stayed in to rest and relax.

A little bit of sightseeing in Seoul, which I must say I have never done…even though I’ve been here for 8 months. I forgot how hectic and crowded Seoul is…like New York City on steroids. Jacky and her friends seemed to have a good time…even though they were jetlagged.

Though we all enjoyed Seoul, I think there is something to be said for the quietness of Gumi. Here is a photo of our Monday morning walk at Gumosan Lake, one of the prettiest spots in Gumi.
Monday, all of my visitors came to my classes with me, handed out sillybands to my students, and taught them how to play Heads down thumbs up. The kids love them, and have continuously asked about them everyday for 2 weeks.
Afterwards we went to see my most recent Korean crush, which everyone approved of—don’t worry Dad–i’ll move onto my next crush in a few days.
Then we ventured to Noraebang, my favorite Korean Tradition:

The most important thing to do when visiting Korea is to visit a Noraebang room…a private Karaoke room, filled with at least 20 friends. “I don’t think any picture can quite capture the spirit of our Noraebang”-Jacky
Tuesday: I went to work alone while they traveled to a temple near my house. Afterwards we went to a Makkali house for some more traditional Korean drinks, checking all of them off of our list.

In short, it was a 5 day marathon of everything you should see in Korea:Noraebang, Seoul, Gumosan, Temples, Soju, Galbi, Samgypsal, Pajan (or Korean Pizza), Makkali, etc….

I have spent the last 2 weeks recuperating and have finally gotten back to my normal Energy level…just in time for another hectic weekend

The things I’ve learned so far

As of 2 days ago, it’s my 7 monthiversay in Korea…A few weeks ago my friend Dave asked me what I have learned about myself in Korea. Veiled in disappointment from a breakup with a boy, I said not much. With 2 weeks time, I realized that I’ve learned a lot more about myself then I thought I had.

1. I enjoy spicy food!
Koreans are famous for their red pepper sauce, a la kimchi, which I could hardly eat a bite of upon entering Korea. After about 7 months I can not only tolerate spicy foods, but enjoy it! hizzah!

2. I actually can move away and be okay.
For a little while in the States, I thought I was getting stuck in a situation I didn’t like…living in my hometown (as much as I love my family and friends) and working at job that I didn’t necessarily enjoy. As much as I wanted to move overseas, there was that nagging feeling that after getting off the plane in a new country I would be right back on it 2 weeks later with puffy eyes and homesickness. I’ve realized that it’s okay, that friendships that are meant to last always last, and it doesn’t matter how far away you are from the ones you love or how often you talk to them, some things never change.

3. I’ve learned confidence.
After that short bit of sadness, I bounced back quickly from my first broken heart overseas, and have realized that here in Korea, I have a confidence that I never had before. A little shameless flirting never hurt anyone… or having 2 dates in one day… I’ve learned that maybe I don’t have to change the way I act, or the way I look in order to be attractive…just being attractive to myself is enough. I think I always knew this in theory, but now it’s in practice. You really do have to love yourself before someone else can.

4. I like dancing.
In the States I had never been to a club, or danced in a bar….or really danced anywhere besides in my kitchen. In Korea, I am a dancing machine, ignoring everyone around me, and just dancing to have a good time. Every weekend I plan to NOT go dancing, but then come friday night the itch comes and I’m confused–Jessica?dancing?what?

5. language
Maybe I don’t have quite as good of an ear for language as I thought I did. Not that I thought Korean was easy, but I thought that hearing it everyday would be the way to pick it up quickly…wrong, you actually have to work at it.

6. Korea is the home of samsung and LG.
Both of which are right down the street from my house. So dear friends and family, the ones that asked if Korea had the internet, the answer is yes. They are also on the cutting edge of technology, i mean it is Asia.

7. When in Rome, do as the Romans do…
I never thought Asians were attractive, and believe I said those words before coming to Korea. and now…. well…
and as for K-pop music. There’s something I would never imagine enjoying, but when its blaring out of every store you walk by, you learn to love it. See ya later Justin Beiber, CNBlue has my heart now.

The Skinny on North Korea

Though I hardly claim to be an expert on the subject, I have been talking to several South Koreans about their supposed impending doom.
The reason I wanted to touch on this topic is because of all the frantic voice mails I’ve received lately telling me its time to end this adventure, and come home…before things get bad. So this post is to tell everyone, don’t worry…I’m safe and am pretty sure I will continue to be for the next 7 months.
For those of you that aren’t aware, North Korea and South Korea have very tense relations these days, after North Korea supposedly shot a torpedo and sunk a South Korean ship.
For the past two weeks or so, I have been hearing the name Kim Jong Il sparsely being said in my children’s conversation…though that’s the only word I can understand. I haven’t heard adults say anything.

While driving to costco with my boss on Thursday we discussed the situation and he didn’t seem to have much to say. He did go on to tell me that he thinks that American’s and the western world is pretty obsessed with assuming that war will happen very quickly. He said that many situations like this have occurred between North and South Korea, and no war has come about from any of it. Eric then said “American’s news likes to think about war…here in South Korea, we just don’t think about it…at all.”

Though I’m sure this isn’t everyone’s opinions, and I’m definitely not speaking for the whole country here… but there have been several other interesting points made by my Korean friends.
One explained that she isn’t sure that North Korea did anything, but finds it very interesting that this is all coming to blows, even though the ship sank a few months ago, right when the election is occurring in South Korea. She explained that maybe the South Korean government may be hyping this all up to make sure that they stay in power. Sounds a little reminiscent of American policy, eh, eh?

So, to end the topic… or my rambling. I’m not really sure what’s going to happen, or really what’s going on, because my CNN hasn’t been working for the last week (ironically), but Mom,Dad, sister, brother, aunts and uncles…don’t worry

A little bit of culture shock with my morning coffee

I often times feel a little bit jealous of Korean girls that I see, most of them being really beautiful, skinny and very put together. Not to mention they have a great style that I would never/could never pull off.

Today I had brunch with my one of my new friends, Danie. Danie is a beautiful, nice, and interesting Korean girl that works at the Hookah bar that we frequent. She is 31, which by Korean standards means that she should be married and have at least a few babies by now, but she does not. Over lunch she explained to me that she used to date a Korean man who died of health issues, and since then hasn’t been able to find a new boyfriend. She then explained to me that a year or so ago she was dating an American who was very nice, and loved her. He asked her to marry him. Before she could say yes she had to ask her brother-in-law, who is the head of her family since her father died, and he said no. She wasn’t allowed to marry a non-Korean, but that some other nice Korean man would come along. In the mean time, she has had to work at the family business (hookah bar) everyday from 5pm to 4am most of the time… and has no free time. She explained how much fun she used to have, and how she used to travel when her Korean boyfriend was alive, but now that she has no potential suitors she has to work everyday.

Though I knew that traditions like this occurred in Korean society, I guess I didn’t realize how frequently it did. Her brother-in-law ironically owns a bar that is very foreign friendly, speaks great english, and is very interested in American culture… just not for marriage I guess.

So, though I may think that Korean girls have it pretty easy… I guess I’ll think twice before that thought crosses my mind again.

I booked my flight!

Today, I booked my flight to Korea, so it seems that it’s official, yes, they are letting me into the country, yes they gave me a visa…after a series of odd questions.
I had a little bit of advice about my Korean Visa interview, including, if they ever talk about drugs, including if you know what a person looks like when high, tell them you have no idea what they are talking about. But the questions more seemed like questions I ask myself everyday. “So you majored in international relations and you’ve lived in upstate New York for the last year?? So how did you find yourself in your current job, doesn’t really make sense? Do you have any experience teaching English to students?” and my responses were truthful, “yes, I have no idea why I work where I work, and no, no experience” but they let me in anyway!

Today I had my first dose of sadness came today when the kids that I work with made me a “Goodbye Miss Jessica” card all signed with “I love you’s” and the like. Though I can not begin to explain to them where South Korea is, or what I am going to be doing there, I have spend the last few days explaining to them that I am not leaving them, and sometimes, there are just things you have to prove to yourself.

I’m not sure how I will fare living abroad for a year, and if the kids that I have guided for the last year or so don’t think I’ll make it, why should I? But I know that even if I’m not sure I’ll enjoy a year in Korea, which I’m sure I will, I definitely am excited at the prospect of trying. I know I’m going to miss many people that I spend my time talking to, or being with currently, but absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? Plus, there’s always skype.

My home for the next year

Things that DON’T cross borders

Even though Toronto is just a hop skip and a jump away from the United States, there are several things that seem different here then in the United States. (Disclaimer: most of my realizations have been about starbucks or occured while AT starbucks…that doesn’t mean I’m addicted to coffee.)

1. In Canada, a normal iced coffee is referred to as “cafe Americano.”

2. In Canada, Starbucks has 4 sizes of coffee, short, tall, grande, and venti. The size short is not available (to my knowledge) within the United States, though this does not really effect me, seeing as I always opt for a venti coffee.

3. In Canada, you are able to say both shit and bitch on the television, though other swear words are still not allowed.

4. Women can be topless in public, because there are equal rights for both men and women.

5. While sitting at Starbucks yesterday, A women approached a table of 2 men and asked them for spare change for the phone. The men gave her money without any questions asked. If this was the United States, most people would ignore the request, pretending they did not hear the women, or politely respond that they did not have any spare change.

6. Universal health care? really?

stay tuned for more differences!

“A City Within A Park”

As I happen to be in Toronto for the week, I can’t be called on the phone. Here is a link to a video of my adventures thus far, on Dave’s blog. Check it out!

http://www.breaktheillusion.com/?p=929