First, I don't think that the puns about SEOUL/SOUL will ever get old and I apologize...not really though.
Second, I returned to Seoul this weekend and spent money like a raging maniac. My total (drum roll please...) 201,400 won. Actually, that's like nothing by most people's standards. But I'm not most people and the last time I went to Seoul I literally only paid for bus fare and ramen, so this is a pretty astronomical figure. It's not terrible thought, (IF I wasn't a penny pincher to the extreme!) 200 bucks isn't all bad for all of the things I enjoyed/experienced/saw. Here is the weekend breakdown:
I met up with Shreya and had a lovely round of catching up (SHE IS GETTING MARRIED) over a round of beers (just for me though) and played around with her fancy new camera and did psychoanalysis. Then more people joined up but I swiftly parted ways to spend time with a little friend. The next morning we had a hearty brunch of Porridge. A "slow cooked" food that the sign assured me was good for my "wellbeing". I had pumpkin and she had seafood and both were delicious!
Then we shopped. For 7 Hours. No Joke. During our extravaganza we encountered two H&Ms, two Zaras and 1 Forever21. When asking for direction to forever21 SHreya's makeup free smoke eyes scared a woman so badly that she went stumbling down some steps. I came out of the shopping bonanza victorious- a pair of jeans that finally fit my curves! A true rarity in Korea. Shreya also killed at H&M, spending 3 hours and hundreds of dollars at the "good" store. There are 2 H&Ms within 10 feet of each other, one is amazing and the other really blows. Same for Zara, one has nothing while another scored me 3 pairs of pants. As always the fitting room mirrors shed an unflattering light and reminded me to pop in the P90X videos as soon as I arrived home.
After a short break at the conveniently located hostel I put on my fly new kicks and a hoodie that would make Olen proud and headed out to Debbie's birthday at an Indian restaurant. I had snacked earlier so I didn't expect to eat too much...that is until I took a look at the spicy garlic naan. That shit is food porn both in the sense that there is a penile shape to it as well as the way it makes you moan when you eat it. It was so good that it was decided that the same restaurant would be our lunch spot the next day. After dinner we joined with many other ETAs to have some drinks. Taking over the bar we had two tables full of people catching up over Budweisers. The most memorable moment of the night was the dart game. Who knew we had so many dart-sharks amongst us? Shreya had an unbelievable couple of rounds and player 3, who was a compilation of about 8 people, won the game with an astonishing 406 points. Just shy of the 444 we needed for a free pitcher of beer. I love throwing a good game of darts. My years of softball have left me with a throwing form that delivers with a lot of power, but not quite as much accuracy. But, if the dart does make it somewhere near the target the sound on impact is quite satisfactory. It's a healthy way to work off some rage. Still worn out from shopping we called it a night and headed back to our hostel where I proceeded to ram my head into the ceiling of the upstairs sleeping quarters.
On Sunday morning I woke up early and made it to the Seoul Art Museum just in time for the opening to catch the Chagall exhibit before it got too crowded. It was interesting and I had a few favorite paintings that really stuck out. A peacock picture was my favorite. Go figure. I got back home in time to change my wet shoes (rain and new cloth shoes don't mix well) and head to lunch with Shreya and Brian. The spicy garlic naan once again managed to rock my world. We had a little time to kill before departing for our respective placements so we did the only sensible thing and binged on Doughnuts. I had three. The first and third were stuffed with creme and powdered in sugar and certainly are not helping me train for the jeju half marathon. But the experience was a perfect way to top off the great weekend in an absolutely indulgent fashion. Soon after, we left Seoul with a full and happy belly. I return to Daegu permless but permeated with a good feeling that comes from spending time with quality friends!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
I made it out of clay
So I am taking a pottery class two days a week. Yesterday was my first day and I arrived promptly at 6:50. The room had a damp stench and many ladies were already hard at work at their individual pieces. This seemed like a very self-guided class and so I sat down and waited for instructions.
There was not time machine that I knowlingly stepped into but the next hour and a half is a testament to human evolution from the cro-magnoman onward until modern times. I say this because once the block of clay was gracefully dumped in front of me I was no longer a 24 year old English teacher, I was indeed a cave dweller with no means of communication (with the rest of the class or the teacher) and I relied heavily on body language and facial expressions to follow along with the instructions.I mimicked and she mimed and we got down to business. In about 30 minutes I made the ugliest coffee cup in the history of the world. My next subject was a plate and to my surprise- it turned out to not be terrible. I HAD EVOLVED. The next 20 minutes were even more significant in creating a superior being because I was allowed to use man kind's secret weapon- tools! Oh glory.
It seems however that as I was illustrating Charles Darwin's point about adaptation quite literally and progressing human kind at the speed of light I was digressing chronologically. By the end of the class I acted like nothing more than a rambunctious 4 year old wielding a sharp object, looking for my next....KILn! hah, play on words. I began to act out, not out of spite, and surely not out of boredom or frustration but I did feel rather confined creatively. The teacher would come over, redo all of the hard work and effort I had put into a piece for the last 20 minutes in a single spin of the heavy thingy and then tell me (with her hands, eyes, body- basically everything but her mouth) what to do next. I had no time to practice the skill she had taught and I couldn't even learn from my mistakes because she corrected everything into a flawless artifact. If these soon to be pots were found by archeologists years from now my chiseled emblem would be associated with pottery perfection and not the shoddy unskilled results that were actuall taking place.
By the end of the class I was using my tools to cut her corrections into odd shapes and I succeeded in getting her to put both of her hands on her cheeks in a "Home Alone" like gasp when she saw me destroy (or maybe transform...) a plate into my version of a maple leaf.
I cannot wait to go back next week.
There was not time machine that I knowlingly stepped into but the next hour and a half is a testament to human evolution from the cro-magnoman onward until modern times. I say this because once the block of clay was gracefully dumped in front of me I was no longer a 24 year old English teacher, I was indeed a cave dweller with no means of communication (with the rest of the class or the teacher) and I relied heavily on body language and facial expressions to follow along with the instructions.I mimicked and she mimed and we got down to business. In about 30 minutes I made the ugliest coffee cup in the history of the world. My next subject was a plate and to my surprise- it turned out to not be terrible. I HAD EVOLVED. The next 20 minutes were even more significant in creating a superior being because I was allowed to use man kind's secret weapon- tools! Oh glory.
It seems however that as I was illustrating Charles Darwin's point about adaptation quite literally and progressing human kind at the speed of light I was digressing chronologically. By the end of the class I acted like nothing more than a rambunctious 4 year old wielding a sharp object, looking for my next....KILn! hah, play on words. I began to act out, not out of spite, and surely not out of boredom or frustration but I did feel rather confined creatively. The teacher would come over, redo all of the hard work and effort I had put into a piece for the last 20 minutes in a single spin of the heavy thingy and then tell me (with her hands, eyes, body- basically everything but her mouth) what to do next. I had no time to practice the skill she had taught and I couldn't even learn from my mistakes because she corrected everything into a flawless artifact. If these soon to be pots were found by archeologists years from now my chiseled emblem would be associated with pottery perfection and not the shoddy unskilled results that were actuall taking place.
By the end of the class I was using my tools to cut her corrections into odd shapes and I succeeded in getting her to put both of her hands on her cheeks in a "Home Alone" like gasp when she saw me destroy (or maybe transform...) a plate into my version of a maple leaf.
I cannot wait to go back next week.
Monday, March 7, 2011
olenka poem
Taking you back to middle school poetry class
Olenka Y Lenets. My middle name is a shining example of my father’s dedication to cheesy humor, even on official documents
Love this quote- “Be intelligently selfish” the Dali Lama said it, to me it means only do the kind of good in the world that you enjoy doing…
Erupting in laughter with a group of fabulously dressed people in a club is equally as enjoyable as reading a book in bed next to my hostsister
Never stop striving for better, once you quit trying, you might as well be dead
Knowing the nutritional content of a Snikers by heart, I still find it to be a worthy and delicious snack
A citizen of the world, I prefer to pledge my loyalties to people and not geographic areas
Olenka Y Lenets. My middle name is a shining example of my father’s dedication to cheesy humor, even on official documents
Love this quote- “Be intelligently selfish” the Dali Lama said it, to me it means only do the kind of good in the world that you enjoy doing…
Erupting in laughter with a group of fabulously dressed people in a club is equally as enjoyable as reading a book in bed next to my hostsister
Never stop striving for better, once you quit trying, you might as well be dead
Knowing the nutritional content of a Snikers by heart, I still find it to be a worthy and delicious snack
A citizen of the world, I prefer to pledge my loyalties to people and not geographic areas
Monday, February 28, 2011
Live long and prosper
So as the CLEA month-long Korean class comes to an end I will come back to my home stay with a shiny new diploma displaying the 87% I earned in the course as well as a new found passion for the Korean language. During our closing remarks, Mrs. Shim said something surprising. When telling us about the Jeju conference that will happen in precisely one month she advised that we do not get too excited and instead start realizing that this will be our last workshop and soon after our year here will come to a close. It is kind of like looking at the year as half over rather than half a year more to go.
A similar chord was struck as I gchatted with my brother and he bade me goodnight with the words "Live long and prosper" made famous by Mr.Spock and re-iterated by my father on his work answering machine. Daily. Yes, my dad is that cool. It should be clear by my numerous star trek related posts that the series played a vital part in my upbringing. My dad continues to update his work phone each day with the date and the words "live long and prosper" so if you were to call him tomorrow you would hear "Today is March 1st, 2011, I am away from my desk please leave your name and number and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you. Live long and prosper" stated clearly with a peppering of Ukrainian accent for flavor. What I didn't realize until my brother mockingly added that sentence to his parting words this evening is that I haven't heard my dad's voice say that message in over 6 months. That's half a year of a daily routine that I have had no part in. This made me think...what else have I been missing over the last 6 month, what daily routines have gone for granted in my absence?
1. My dad's work answering machine- thought I know it is coming the infamous Spock line makes me smile every time
2. My dad yelling "Hey lady, come on!" at any car that is going too slow
3. Limes squeezed into orange juice in the morning
4. Being able to call my mom when I am in the department store and ask her opinion on clothes
5. Reading the ingredients list on any food item I am contemplating purchasing
6. Starting a car and driving a stickshift
7. Being able to go into a store and know that at least 90% of the clothes will either fit or be too big for me instead of shopping around for the 10% of items that are not too small for me
8. Being 24 not 26 (my korean age)
9. Dairy being a food group and not a imported luxury good
That is all I can think of for now. I am not homesick. But I do wish I could have a recording of my dad saying "Live long and prosper" at my disposal if that day every does come. :)
A similar chord was struck as I gchatted with my brother and he bade me goodnight with the words "Live long and prosper" made famous by Mr.Spock and re-iterated by my father on his work answering machine. Daily. Yes, my dad is that cool. It should be clear by my numerous star trek related posts that the series played a vital part in my upbringing. My dad continues to update his work phone each day with the date and the words "live long and prosper" so if you were to call him tomorrow you would hear "Today is March 1st, 2011, I am away from my desk please leave your name and number and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you. Live long and prosper" stated clearly with a peppering of Ukrainian accent for flavor. What I didn't realize until my brother mockingly added that sentence to his parting words this evening is that I haven't heard my dad's voice say that message in over 6 months. That's half a year of a daily routine that I have had no part in. This made me think...what else have I been missing over the last 6 month, what daily routines have gone for granted in my absence?
1. My dad's work answering machine- thought I know it is coming the infamous Spock line makes me smile every time
2. My dad yelling "Hey lady, come on!" at any car that is going too slow
3. Limes squeezed into orange juice in the morning
4. Being able to call my mom when I am in the department store and ask her opinion on clothes
5. Reading the ingredients list on any food item I am contemplating purchasing
6. Starting a car and driving a stickshift
7. Being able to go into a store and know that at least 90% of the clothes will either fit or be too big for me instead of shopping around for the 10% of items that are not too small for me
8. Being 24 not 26 (my korean age)
9. Dairy being a food group and not a imported luxury good
That is all I can think of for now. I am not homesick. But I do wish I could have a recording of my dad saying "Live long and prosper" at my disposal if that day every does come. :)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Monopoly-Game Theory.
I had a Korean test today. As a testament to what I have learned over the past week and a half in comparison to what I had compressed into my brain whenever tests were given out during Orientation I think today went much MUCH better. Though my grade is probably floating around a 70% I am happy I was able to at least understand what all of the questions were asking me to do.
After we took the test we played Monopoly. I actually hated this game as a child. It takes too long, the rules are abundant and complicated and in the end whoever is losing ends up being a sourpuss. No one likes to lose so the fact that human beings willing subject themselves to these types of games in the first place allows for only three rational explanations:
1. we are bored to tears. (there is a reason that monopoly rose to popularity during the depression- no one else had anything better to do)
2. we are masochistic
3. we just finished a midterm in Korean class and have 3 hours before we can leave
I said earlier that no one likes to lose, though there are those who do not even like to play. Competition, in the most Darwin sense, is the key to survival. So those who claim to have no sportsmanlike spirit would have probably vanished before passing on "I don't care" genes to their equally uninspired offspring. So, this day in age, where does this lackadaisical attitude for games come from? When did people stop caring about winning?
I understand the importance of parents teaching their children how to play nicely with others. But playing IS part of the equation. Saying "it's just a game" is supposed to relieve the pressure and make losing less of a heartbreak rather than completely eradicate the point of competition.
For me how you play a game is quite parallel of how you approach life. If given a task to perform you must try your best to complete it with 100% accuracy. No cheating, but also, no slacking. Rules are guidelines that allow us all equal footing. Manipulating them to an advantage is stepping outside the boundaries of healthy competition. The same sentiment is shared when people refuse to compete or try their best. I for one would not be good at picking and choosing the instances when I was going to put my full effort forth and when I would just do things half-assed. It is easier, more efficient and just makes sense to always maintain a steady standard of full effort.
I have been taught that there is no prize in winning an unfair fight. I realized today that sportsmanship also goes hand in hand with putting forth a competitive spirit and is not satisfied with a high five at the end of a game.
I am thankful that I can enjoy a game with a balanced drive for winning as well as a realization that it is indeed...just a game.
After we took the test we played Monopoly. I actually hated this game as a child. It takes too long, the rules are abundant and complicated and in the end whoever is losing ends up being a sourpuss. No one likes to lose so the fact that human beings willing subject themselves to these types of games in the first place allows for only three rational explanations:
1. we are bored to tears. (there is a reason that monopoly rose to popularity during the depression- no one else had anything better to do)
2. we are masochistic
3. we just finished a midterm in Korean class and have 3 hours before we can leave
I said earlier that no one likes to lose, though there are those who do not even like to play. Competition, in the most Darwin sense, is the key to survival. So those who claim to have no sportsmanlike spirit would have probably vanished before passing on "I don't care" genes to their equally uninspired offspring. So, this day in age, where does this lackadaisical attitude for games come from? When did people stop caring about winning?
I understand the importance of parents teaching their children how to play nicely with others. But playing IS part of the equation. Saying "it's just a game" is supposed to relieve the pressure and make losing less of a heartbreak rather than completely eradicate the point of competition.
For me how you play a game is quite parallel of how you approach life. If given a task to perform you must try your best to complete it with 100% accuracy. No cheating, but also, no slacking. Rules are guidelines that allow us all equal footing. Manipulating them to an advantage is stepping outside the boundaries of healthy competition. The same sentiment is shared when people refuse to compete or try their best. I for one would not be good at picking and choosing the instances when I was going to put my full effort forth and when I would just do things half-assed. It is easier, more efficient and just makes sense to always maintain a steady standard of full effort.
I have been taught that there is no prize in winning an unfair fight. I realized today that sportsmanship also goes hand in hand with putting forth a competitive spirit and is not satisfied with a high five at the end of a game.
I am thankful that I can enjoy a game with a balanced drive for winning as well as a realization that it is indeed...just a game.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Happy New Year! here's to you rabbit.
I'm packing. Again. The constant packing, unpacking, repacking of my bags seems like a lifestyle now. I have been teaching high school English camps in 정읍 for the past two weekends and with a trip to Seoul thrown in the mix I have hardly been home longer than I needed to restock my bags with fresh clothes and play a game of UNO with my host family.
A reflection on the camps: Cooperative and project based learning is a skill that is innate and Korean school children would benefit from more creative ways to engage themselves in the study of English language. Engaging themselves, a possible synonym for "self-study" is an art form that they are still trying to master and if (err...I mean "once") they do Korea will be a big time player in the world. They need to hone their treacherous work ethic and expand it outside the confines of route memorization to create and manipulate ideas. If only there was a hagwan for imagination. Maybe in my naïve and nervous state as a first time teacher I picked 4th graders as my favorite but through experience I now believe that “the older the better.” I also no longer experience the butterflies and worry that consumed me as a first year teacher. Looking back on those rough weeks and months of my first semester as a teacher at Bici I remember how my insides churned at the thought of the problem students walking into class, how I despised lesson planning and seeking useful data for my students and how eagerly we all rushed out of the building on Friday afternoons to purge our memories of the past week with alcohol.
The story is so different on this side of the globe. I am eager to teach my lessons, I adore students and nothing that happens in the classroom has the potential to jeopardize my bowl movements. In simpler terms- teaching is a joy. In other words- I miss that feeling of panic. For some reason it has been instilled in my head that if my day to day tasks do not put on pressure, kick me out of my comfort zone and make me scramble a bit, I am not doing my best. This idea is simply illustrated in the case of the high school student in the English camp I taught two weekends ago who was sitting around while his partner was doing most of the work. After a round of gentle coaxing did not convince him that he should do his fare share I more strongly ENCOURAGED him to complete an entire portion by himself. Sure enough an hour later he had done a beautiful job on a poster but still held a grudge against me for another hour because I had pushed him off his butt to put forth effort and do some work. Maybe what I need is a bitchy Ms.Lenets to stroll up to me, tell me my life is too easy and put in front of me an ultimatum- I better get some serious work done or ELSE. The question now is, what on earth am I to do?
My first intention is to apply for a job in the Fulbright office. When I first heard of the possible job openings in the office I gasped “wow- I could NEVER be Mrs. Shim’s assistant” within a split second I answered myself “WAIT, why not?” I would never allow for myself to be written off this way by anyone else so I certainly wasn’t going to stand for my own brain thinking less of my abilities. I knew why I was thinking it too, the job would be more difficult, the hours longer and the vacation cut to a fraction what I enjoy now. Also, entering Fulbright with an arsenal of teaching experience gave me a lot of confidence which is actually the most important aspect of teaching—so entering a new arena with a new set of skills would be difficult. But that’s exactly what I crave.
My next few weeks will not be challenge free either. I am going to Jungwon again- returning to the marble palace to attain more Korean knowledge and interact with friends from the university. And practice for a marathon! Oh life, you just keep getting better.
A reflection on the camps: Cooperative and project based learning is a skill that is innate and Korean school children would benefit from more creative ways to engage themselves in the study of English language. Engaging themselves, a possible synonym for "self-study" is an art form that they are still trying to master and if (err...I mean "once") they do Korea will be a big time player in the world. They need to hone their treacherous work ethic and expand it outside the confines of route memorization to create and manipulate ideas. If only there was a hagwan for imagination. Maybe in my naïve and nervous state as a first time teacher I picked 4th graders as my favorite but through experience I now believe that “the older the better.” I also no longer experience the butterflies and worry that consumed me as a first year teacher. Looking back on those rough weeks and months of my first semester as a teacher at Bici I remember how my insides churned at the thought of the problem students walking into class, how I despised lesson planning and seeking useful data for my students and how eagerly we all rushed out of the building on Friday afternoons to purge our memories of the past week with alcohol.
The story is so different on this side of the globe. I am eager to teach my lessons, I adore students and nothing that happens in the classroom has the potential to jeopardize my bowl movements. In simpler terms- teaching is a joy. In other words- I miss that feeling of panic. For some reason it has been instilled in my head that if my day to day tasks do not put on pressure, kick me out of my comfort zone and make me scramble a bit, I am not doing my best. This idea is simply illustrated in the case of the high school student in the English camp I taught two weekends ago who was sitting around while his partner was doing most of the work. After a round of gentle coaxing did not convince him that he should do his fare share I more strongly ENCOURAGED him to complete an entire portion by himself. Sure enough an hour later he had done a beautiful job on a poster but still held a grudge against me for another hour because I had pushed him off his butt to put forth effort and do some work. Maybe what I need is a bitchy Ms.Lenets to stroll up to me, tell me my life is too easy and put in front of me an ultimatum- I better get some serious work done or ELSE. The question now is, what on earth am I to do?
My first intention is to apply for a job in the Fulbright office. When I first heard of the possible job openings in the office I gasped “wow- I could NEVER be Mrs. Shim’s assistant” within a split second I answered myself “WAIT, why not?” I would never allow for myself to be written off this way by anyone else so I certainly wasn’t going to stand for my own brain thinking less of my abilities. I knew why I was thinking it too, the job would be more difficult, the hours longer and the vacation cut to a fraction what I enjoy now. Also, entering Fulbright with an arsenal of teaching experience gave me a lot of confidence which is actually the most important aspect of teaching—so entering a new arena with a new set of skills would be difficult. But that’s exactly what I crave.
My next few weeks will not be challenge free either. I am going to Jungwon again- returning to the marble palace to attain more Korean knowledge and interact with friends from the university. And practice for a marathon! Oh life, you just keep getting better.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Home Sweet Home: Round Two
In the midst of uploading vacation pictures to facebook, downloading modern family episodes and taping hanji paper to my wall I have to take a little break and blog.
My surroundings have changes so much and so many times in the past month. I have trekked through Vietnam, soaked up the sun while viewing Wats in Thailand and experienced the beautiful oddness that is Kuala Lumpur. Then, I took over my co-teachers room and hung out with her adorable family. Eating, drinking and sleeping the days away. Now I have finally arrived at my new homestay.
From the get-go I think this is a better fit. As odd as it may sound I loved that they want me to do my own laundry and they have a schedule up on the board where I can write out my schedule for the week. The dad speaks English and wants to play card games after dinner. The mom wants me to show her how to cook asparagus and beans. THE DAUGHTER STAYS OUT OF MY ROOM. Ahh...
Though I am far from a final analysis on my host family I can certainly say that I appreciate the calmness and subtle curiosity with which they approach me. I appreciate being treated like an adult and not a play thing. I think it is sure sign that my room does not have a lock on it because I will not have to use it in order to attain sanity.
My closet is a mess but that can wait until tomorrow. Many things can wait...goodnight.
My surroundings have changes so much and so many times in the past month. I have trekked through Vietnam, soaked up the sun while viewing Wats in Thailand and experienced the beautiful oddness that is Kuala Lumpur. Then, I took over my co-teachers room and hung out with her adorable family. Eating, drinking and sleeping the days away. Now I have finally arrived at my new homestay.
From the get-go I think this is a better fit. As odd as it may sound I loved that they want me to do my own laundry and they have a schedule up on the board where I can write out my schedule for the week. The dad speaks English and wants to play card games after dinner. The mom wants me to show her how to cook asparagus and beans. THE DAUGHTER STAYS OUT OF MY ROOM. Ahh...
Though I am far from a final analysis on my host family I can certainly say that I appreciate the calmness and subtle curiosity with which they approach me. I appreciate being treated like an adult and not a play thing. I think it is sure sign that my room does not have a lock on it because I will not have to use it in order to attain sanity.
My closet is a mess but that can wait until tomorrow. Many things can wait...goodnight.
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