it was winter.
Well, Fall ended before anyone had time to enjoy it around here. It seemed like the leaves were golden and dropped to the street in the same week, and yesterday it snowed. Well, I didn't really think it snowed because where I come from whatever it was falling from the sky would've never qualified as the season's first real snow, but everybody here thought it was so I guess majority takes it. Anyhow, yesterday we had this kind of semi-frozen icy rain which occasionally looked like snow as it was falling, but never stuck to the ground. And I had to walk home in it in high heels. I know, weird right? I was wearing high heels yesterday. For like the second time in a year. So my feet were cold and wet and whatever that was falling from the sky definitely wasn't snow.
But this morning, I had this view of the city buses from the like the 3rd floor of a building, and the bright green locals looked kind of iridescent because of the icy sheen from lasts night's frozen rain. It was pretty cool.
And tonight at dusk as I walked down the no-longer yellow brick road, I noticed that the ginkgo trees were had nothing more than their berries hanging off their branches, and the persimmon trees have only bright orange persimmons hanging by their little stems, which actually looked kind of garish because the orange is so bright and and everything else is only brown and grey. Kind of look a tired hooker with paper grey skin and bright red lipstick.
And thus ends my stream of consciousness.
Showing posts with label Korean Kool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Korean Kool. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Feeling Dap-Dap Hae
Koreans have this thing that they do when they are feeling exasperated, exhausted, frustrated, misunderstood, confounded, anxious, oppressed, heavy... I list so many adjectives here because there is no good English translation for this word, but this thing that Koreans do, well, I think everyone should do it because it just makes so much sense. They "dap-dap" their chests.
And now you can do it, too. Just ball your right hand into a fist, making sure to keep your thumb on the side of your fist, rather than curled in front of your fingers. Now thump the left side of your chest just above your heart with your right hand in a quasi-King Kong-like manner. It's like you are thumping all of that, uh, stuff, right out of your body.
I have been doing a lot of this lately. Partly because I feel half heart-broken, half numb. Partly because every day I question my future with the GS more and more and wonder if I should just give up now. Or if in fact that my hopeless attitude and half-numb heart will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I have been doing this because I can't seem to make decisions about what I should do or where I should go when I'm finished with my teaching contract. I just feel stuck out there in emotional limbo.
And so I'm dap-dap hae. And Dap-daping on my chest feels like an apt expression of all that emotion that I'm not sure how to talk about.
And now you can do it, too. Just ball your right hand into a fist, making sure to keep your thumb on the side of your fist, rather than curled in front of your fingers. Now thump the left side of your chest just above your heart with your right hand in a quasi-King Kong-like manner. It's like you are thumping all of that, uh, stuff, right out of your body.
I have been doing a lot of this lately. Partly because I feel half heart-broken, half numb. Partly because every day I question my future with the GS more and more and wonder if I should just give up now. Or if in fact that my hopeless attitude and half-numb heart will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I have been doing this because I can't seem to make decisions about what I should do or where I should go when I'm finished with my teaching contract. I just feel stuck out there in emotional limbo.
And so I'm dap-dap hae. And Dap-daping on my chest feels like an apt expression of all that emotion that I'm not sure how to talk about.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Bonus Conversation
WW: "Ew! look at the air!"
Co-worker: "Oh my god, I can see the air!"
WW: "I know, isn't that gross?"
Co-worker: "Oh my god, I can see the air!"
WW: "I know, isn't that gross?"
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Fall in the Emerald City
As I have written about before, Fall in Seoul seem to pass unceremoniously. If you leave the city or manage to make it to a big park, you can easily find places where bursts of color shock your system. I've only noticed the yellow hue of the gingko trees in the last week and was a bit disturbed to find that the sycamores are dropping their leaves without so much as a hint of color.
But last night I found myself walking down a shimmering gold sidewalk at dusk. The wind had blown all the leaves from the trees, and the stone underneath was catching the soft light of the sun and the street lamps which gave the overall appearance of a yellow brick road.
But last night I found myself walking down a shimmering gold sidewalk at dusk. The wind had blown all the leaves from the trees, and the stone underneath was catching the soft light of the sun and the street lamps which gave the overall appearance of a yellow brick road.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
As Per NSLS's Request:
I think that to actually make this sucker fit, I would need some good old fashioned breast binding...
It's Chuseok!
I'm too lazy to explain Chuseok, so in stead, I'll let you read about it on Wikipedia. On Thursday, we had a Chuseok party at school where all the kids and teachers came wearing hanbok (Korean traditional dress). We made song pyeon, a kind of chuseok rice cake that is really yummy, learned about bowing and traditional tea ceremony, and played traditional games like yut nori and sileum. It was fun!
I learned how to bow. And yes, this is my hanbok. It was given to me two years ago, but I never had the opportunity to wear until this year.
And look at how freakin cute the kids are in their hanbok:
bowing:
This yut nori. I think the game has a Chinese origin.
More bowing:
Chuseok chal bo ne say yo.
I learned how to bow. And yes, this is my hanbok. It was given to me two years ago, but I never had the opportunity to wear until this year.
And look at how freakin cute the kids are in their hanbok:
bowing:
This yut nori. I think the game has a Chinese origin.
More bowing:
Chuseok chal bo ne say yo.
Land of 10,000 Buddhas
I've been in Korea for nearly 3 years. In that amount of time, I have seen shockingly little of the country out of the greater Seoul area. Shockingly little. So last week when I traveled out of Gyeonggi Do and into smaller, lesser known areas of Korea, I was indeed shocked to discover that I don't actually hate Korea- I just hate living in the city. Specifically, I hate hate hate living in Seoul.Last weekend in the midst Typhoon Whabi, the General Secretary and I traveled to Gyung-ju, a smallish city nestled between the mountains and the East Sea. Gyung-ju was the seat of the Silla Dynasty, the last of Korea's three kingdoms. It was also the time when Buddhism, which had traveled to Korea via China, became popularized. Mountains, the sea, monarchy, rich history and Buddhism make for a stunning weekend trip, despite the steady downpour and lack of decent public transportation.
The photo you see above is of a seated Buddha, typical of the Late Silla period. It was taken at Golgusa. Further explanation below...
Saturday took us to Seogeolam and Bulkugsa, two temples situated on the side of a small mountain.
Here I am at Bulguk-sa. This is a big temple that houses several Buddhas, which we were not supposed to take pictures of. We rarely followed this rule- the GS would stun (ie distract) the monk or volunteer with his fluent Korean while I took the pictures, usually shielded by our umbrellas. The results of our clandestine photo taking are mixed:
These photos come from the places we visited on Sunday: Golgusa (which means "grotto" because the main attraction is a seated Buddha which is actually carved into the face of a very high limestone rock. Though it does have other things to see such as the buddhas (newish looking because they have all been replaced recently) that sit in the caves below the grotto. When we went to Golgusa, we were granted a brief respite from the rain, but climbing up the slippery rocks to get to the grotto was a bit of a challenge. I would say that Golgusa was definitely the highlight of our trip....
Golgusa is also the training grounds for a Korean martial art called Sunmudo. We saw some students there, their dorm and their training ground, but it was Sunday, so no one was practicing.
This photo came from Girlimsa Temple where we saw even more Buddhas. Another place where we weren't supposed to take pictures, but did anyway.We also made it to some other sites like the East Sea, pagodas, royal tombs and the museum, but Blogger seems unhappy with the number of photos I've posted here, so that's all folks~
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Over the Last Month....
So I'm sure you can see that I have been quite consumed over the drama at work... In fact, I am still consumed by it, but I'm really ready for it to go away. I quit that job at least once a week in my head and I'm only staying now for the money. Here is the funny thing about all this: I might, just might, be offered a promotion out of all this bullshit. I guess that would make my resignation more meaningful, wouldn't it? Oh, the irony. Actually, the attempts at co-optation... But in this situation, is there really any difference?
But my life has not been all drama, no siree...
*At the beginning of the month I went to a spectacular wedding involving a friend who was Tibetan refugee in Nepal before moving to Korea and another friend who is an incredible and amazing Korean activist (and whose father is a famous martyr who immolated himself during the movement for democracy in Korea). The wedding was replete with a traditional Korean music, a hanbok ceremony, live entertainment involving a Nepali singer of certain fame and Korean drumming troupe and then a change of costume from Korean traditional wedding wear to Tibetan. Wow! And it was outside on a perfect day right next to Han River and everyone who is anyone in the Korean Labor/Economic Justice movement was there. And also a lot of people who are no-ones (like myself). So I got to sit around with my friends, drink outside, eat yummy Nepali-style cuisine and partake in a really special ceremony that not too many foreigners have access to... But of course, I didn't take my camera. Sorry.... (for myself as much as you)
*Two weekends ago, there was a huge Buddha's birthday celebration. It involved learning about Buddhism from all Asian countries, not just Korea; a paper lantern-making workshop; dozens of other little art and crafty things that are related to Buddhism; a concert which included groups from Tibet, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand and Korea; an evening parade with all of the lanterns lit that people had made and some other crazy looking floats -like an iridescent white glowing elephant; and more good food. And no, I didn't take my camera to that one either...
*And sometime in the last month, there was also the Hi Seoul festival which was interesting only because there was a walking tour through Buk Cheon Dong, maybe the only yangban neighborhood that has been restored and is still fully intact. You can check out the old style homes with courtyards and tiled roofs; the ones with the sliding rice paper doors and nice wooden floors. You know, it's just a little peak into how people used to live (at least rich people) and you get to be a little nosey in people's houses who are living now. Both are kind of interesting. And oh, I didn't take my camera.
*What else you ask? Well, the GS has been around a whole lot more these days, which definitely makes the work drama more bearable. And I finished teaching those damn middle school students last week and tomorrow will be my first free Tuesday of summer. And the rooftop garden has yielded snow peas, strawberries, and flowers and I think I'll have some nice tomatoes in about a month. I also planted a squash vine, some peppers and an eggplant, so I'll let you know how that turns out. And oh, it is definitely summer here. It's been in the damn 80s this week. Outrageous!
Is this update sufficient? I am so ready for bed....
but don't worry, next time, I'll take my camera.
But my life has not been all drama, no siree...
*At the beginning of the month I went to a spectacular wedding involving a friend who was Tibetan refugee in Nepal before moving to Korea and another friend who is an incredible and amazing Korean activist (and whose father is a famous martyr who immolated himself during the movement for democracy in Korea). The wedding was replete with a traditional Korean music, a hanbok ceremony, live entertainment involving a Nepali singer of certain fame and Korean drumming troupe and then a change of costume from Korean traditional wedding wear to Tibetan. Wow! And it was outside on a perfect day right next to Han River and everyone who is anyone in the Korean Labor/Economic Justice movement was there. And also a lot of people who are no-ones (like myself). So I got to sit around with my friends, drink outside, eat yummy Nepali-style cuisine and partake in a really special ceremony that not too many foreigners have access to... But of course, I didn't take my camera. Sorry.... (for myself as much as you)
*Two weekends ago, there was a huge Buddha's birthday celebration. It involved learning about Buddhism from all Asian countries, not just Korea; a paper lantern-making workshop; dozens of other little art and crafty things that are related to Buddhism; a concert which included groups from Tibet, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand and Korea; an evening parade with all of the lanterns lit that people had made and some other crazy looking floats -like an iridescent white glowing elephant; and more good food. And no, I didn't take my camera to that one either...
*And sometime in the last month, there was also the Hi Seoul festival which was interesting only because there was a walking tour through Buk Cheon Dong, maybe the only yangban neighborhood that has been restored and is still fully intact. You can check out the old style homes with courtyards and tiled roofs; the ones with the sliding rice paper doors and nice wooden floors. You know, it's just a little peak into how people used to live (at least rich people) and you get to be a little nosey in people's houses who are living now. Both are kind of interesting. And oh, I didn't take my camera.
*What else you ask? Well, the GS has been around a whole lot more these days, which definitely makes the work drama more bearable. And I finished teaching those damn middle school students last week and tomorrow will be my first free Tuesday of summer. And the rooftop garden has yielded snow peas, strawberries, and flowers and I think I'll have some nice tomatoes in about a month. I also planted a squash vine, some peppers and an eggplant, so I'll let you know how that turns out. And oh, it is definitely summer here. It's been in the damn 80s this week. Outrageous!
Is this update sufficient? I am so ready for bed....
but don't worry, next time, I'll take my camera.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Longing
Tonight I took a long walk through my favorite part of Seoul. The art districts in Insa-dong and Sam Chung Dong are nestled between the bustling financial and shopping center of central Seoul and the historic palaces of Gyeongbuk and Deok Sung. This part of Seoul is full of cherry trees, lilac, azaleas, forsythia and newly budding Maple and Ginkgo trees. It's a special time of year in Korea, with lots of reasons to celebrate and as you walk through the streets, there is definitely a festive air. Since Buddha's birthday is coming up, colorful paper laterns line the streets and adorn the already lovely sprind green trees.
While walking through the winding streets, you can stumble upon fancy guest houses in traditional Korean buildings, hidden art galleries, funky little boutiques, and Buddhist temples are practically everywhere you turn. The streets are full of couple holding hands; monks with their shaved heads and grey half hanbok, half monk uniform. And, of course, there are tourists. On the main road in Insa-dong, there are lots of street vendors selling roasted chestnuts, special candy, rice cake sweets, kitchy tourist wares, handmade paper, art supplies. And there are entertainers. Tonight there was band playing what sounded like New Orleans-styled Jazz. (go figure)
This part of Korea feels a lot like a certain place at home to me. Except that in Insa-dong, the chances of running into someone you know are pretty slim. And as I was walking, I was thinking about how I have already been here for more than 2 years and no one has come to visit me. And probably no one ever will.
Lil sister was supposed to make her way over in May with her hubby the Mr. LS, but they bought a house and well, that's that. (No Lil Sis, this is not a guilt trip)...
I just wish someone could come here to share this crazy place with me, to see what my life is like. To judge for themselves what they like and don't like about Korean culture instead of taking my word for it.
Doesn't anyone want to know what my life is like here? Can't you come to me??!!
While walking through the winding streets, you can stumble upon fancy guest houses in traditional Korean buildings, hidden art galleries, funky little boutiques, and Buddhist temples are practically everywhere you turn. The streets are full of couple holding hands; monks with their shaved heads and grey half hanbok, half monk uniform. And, of course, there are tourists. On the main road in Insa-dong, there are lots of street vendors selling roasted chestnuts, special candy, rice cake sweets, kitchy tourist wares, handmade paper, art supplies. And there are entertainers. Tonight there was band playing what sounded like New Orleans-styled Jazz. (go figure)
This part of Korea feels a lot like a certain place at home to me. Except that in Insa-dong, the chances of running into someone you know are pretty slim. And as I was walking, I was thinking about how I have already been here for more than 2 years and no one has come to visit me. And probably no one ever will.
Lil sister was supposed to make her way over in May with her hubby the Mr. LS, but they bought a house and well, that's that. (No Lil Sis, this is not a guilt trip)...
I just wish someone could come here to share this crazy place with me, to see what my life is like. To judge for themselves what they like and don't like about Korean culture instead of taking my word for it.
Doesn't anyone want to know what my life is like here? Can't you come to me??!!
Monday, April 16, 2007
mondays are for bulleted lists of weekend fun
* i didn't go to a single wedding this weekend! that's right, i skipped out and boy was it nice.
*i did, however, start my roof-top garden which now has strawberries, hot peppers and tomatoes of the small and large varieties.
* the lady at my local garden shop thought i was CRAZY for buying dirt. why oh why wouldn't i already have dirt on my roof? she sold me a couple of dollars worth, but then refused to give me any more. i guess i'll have to hike nam san this week and steal if from there so i can finish planting. i never knew that a garden shop owner would be stingy with dirt and compost...
*my middle school class is cancelled for 2. whole. weeks!! hooray!!! and can i get an amen?!
*on saturday i went to a really fun migrant workers party where a few of us crazy white folks did some crazy white folk dancing which had the whole room roaring with laughter at how darn crazy white folks can be.
*on sunday, the general secretary and i went to maseok (small mountain furniture warehouse town that is reminiscent of shit, i forgot the name vermont, home of buck's furniture warehouse!) to celebrate the bangladeshi new year and ate a lot of good food, played some silly games, bought a few punjabis and i got all henna and bindi-ed up.
*sunday night was a tired, but relaxing veg out on the couch kind of night with an early bed time.
*spring is fully here with the green of new budding leaves, flowers flowers everywhere and people walking around looking relaxed, comfortable, and happy to be alive.
*if only there wasn't so much darn air pollution this year. i just read in the newspaper that the pollution in seoul is 2x as high as 5 years ago and the military actually cancelled all outdoor exercises because the co2 levels are so high...
* but despite that, gosh, it was a nice weekend.
*i did, however, start my roof-top garden which now has strawberries, hot peppers and tomatoes of the small and large varieties.
* the lady at my local garden shop thought i was CRAZY for buying dirt. why oh why wouldn't i already have dirt on my roof? she sold me a couple of dollars worth, but then refused to give me any more. i guess i'll have to hike nam san this week and steal if from there so i can finish planting. i never knew that a garden shop owner would be stingy with dirt and compost...
*my middle school class is cancelled for 2. whole. weeks!! hooray!!! and can i get an amen?!
*on saturday i went to a really fun migrant workers party where a few of us crazy white folks did some crazy white folk dancing which had the whole room roaring with laughter at how darn crazy white folks can be.
*on sunday, the general secretary and i went to maseok (small mountain furniture warehouse town that is reminiscent of shit, i forgot the name vermont, home of buck's furniture warehouse!) to celebrate the bangladeshi new year and ate a lot of good food, played some silly games, bought a few punjabis and i got all henna and bindi-ed up.
*sunday night was a tired, but relaxing veg out on the couch kind of night with an early bed time.
*spring is fully here with the green of new budding leaves, flowers flowers everywhere and people walking around looking relaxed, comfortable, and happy to be alive.
*if only there wasn't so much darn air pollution this year. i just read in the newspaper that the pollution in seoul is 2x as high as 5 years ago and the military actually cancelled all outdoor exercises because the co2 levels are so high...
* but despite that, gosh, it was a nice weekend.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Just. So. Tired.
For real y'all, I'm bustin my ass working 3 jobs right now and I'm so tired, I can't even complain about it.
But the highlights:
2 cheaters caught in one week. They both used the same incredibly stupid method.
one kinder student who kisses me constantly.
another kinder student whose mother thinks that she should be able to read a whole book after being in english kindergarten for 6 weeks and complains constantly that we are not doing a good job.
that same kinder student is, by the way, incredibly cute and kind of acts like a sweet wild animal. in a good way. and i like her despite her horrid mother.
more schedule changes.
i now officially hate teaching middle school students.
no sleep. no sleep. no sleep.
a wedding last weekend followed by a dinner party. that was fun. but entailed no sleep.
did i mention weddings? yup. i'll go to one every weekend in april and one weekend in may. that's over the top.
i'm a shitty friend who bails on everyone i make plans with. sorry jamie. sorry lena. one day i won't be so busy. one day, i'll be a better person too.
and one day i'll be awake enough to write sentences that make sense.
just. so. tired.
But the highlights:
2 cheaters caught in one week. They both used the same incredibly stupid method.
one kinder student who kisses me constantly.
another kinder student whose mother thinks that she should be able to read a whole book after being in english kindergarten for 6 weeks and complains constantly that we are not doing a good job.
that same kinder student is, by the way, incredibly cute and kind of acts like a sweet wild animal. in a good way. and i like her despite her horrid mother.
more schedule changes.
i now officially hate teaching middle school students.
no sleep. no sleep. no sleep.
a wedding last weekend followed by a dinner party. that was fun. but entailed no sleep.
did i mention weddings? yup. i'll go to one every weekend in april and one weekend in may. that's over the top.
i'm a shitty friend who bails on everyone i make plans with. sorry jamie. sorry lena. one day i won't be so busy. one day, i'll be a better person too.
and one day i'll be awake enough to write sentences that make sense.
just. so. tired.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
a little bit of spring goes a long way
Forsythia. Rhodedendrons. Magnolias. Plum trees. Longer, sunnier days. Warm(ish) rain. Yes, it is the early bloomers that can really give a girl hope.
And this year, there is a bonus: I have my very own roof. And my very own set of stairs that leads to the roof. Which means I will have my very own roof top garden this year!
I've started buying seeds. I've started buying dirt. And in a few short weeks, I will start planting my way into summer.
And just thinking about it now makes me a very, very happy girl.
And this year, there is a bonus: I have my very own roof. And my very own set of stairs that leads to the roof. Which means I will have my very own roof top garden this year!
I've started buying seeds. I've started buying dirt. And in a few short weeks, I will start planting my way into summer.
And just thinking about it now makes me a very, very happy girl.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
continuing to live a funk free existence
So I haven't been writing because I just kind of don't want to jinx it...But, well, here we are and so here I go.
Dare I say it? I actually feel... happy. I cannot pinpoint exactly why my emotional hardwiring is deciding to do an about-face, but damn it feels good to not feel bad. I have been blowing off my Korean classes, mostly because I don't have time to do the work to pass and it is beginning to feel hopeless. But you know what? For the first time, this does not stress me out.
The General Secretary. Busier than ever. But, this also does not stress me out... With him I just let go of expectations. I know his job is hard. I know he's always working and that he wants to be here as much as I want him to be here. But I know, too, that this is a short term situation and for the next month this is what life must be like. So why start a fight about it? So I've changed my mind-set to how I think when I'm single, which is much healthier anyway, and the General Secretary and I (though not broken up now) are going to have a go at what a real life might be like together when his post with the Migrants Trade Union is completed in just over a month.
And work. Well, I still don't care, but I have resolved to make a lot of money in the coming year and so I'm on the hunt. But I think I've figured out that doing a lot of different kinds of teaching is what just might work for me. Right now, I am working part time at a hagwon, teaching private lessons, and about to pick up another part time kindergarten gig. It's all different enough that I'm not bored out of my mind by the repetion and right now it's enough work to live comfortably (if not a little meagerly)... So in March, we'll see if I can keep up this kind of schedule or if I have to become a one-job woman again.
I'm still on the look out for an affordable gym that makes sense given all the different places I have to commute to around Seoul, where I can get into a routine and stick to it. But in the meantime, I'm not feeling as lazy as I was a couple of weeks ago.
And lastly: Rani (roll the r, short a, kind of spanish sounding). Rani is the newest edition to our bustling household of 4 and one of the cutest darn kittens you've ever seen. And perhaps the most social I've ever met. She cannot stand to be alone and is extremely jealous of the GS, which unfortunately for me, has resulted in an abnormal amount of laundry. But she is playful and cuddly and everyone loves her and she has really earned her name, which means "Queen" in Bangla.
Dare I say it? I actually feel... happy. I cannot pinpoint exactly why my emotional hardwiring is deciding to do an about-face, but damn it feels good to not feel bad. I have been blowing off my Korean classes, mostly because I don't have time to do the work to pass and it is beginning to feel hopeless. But you know what? For the first time, this does not stress me out.
The General Secretary. Busier than ever. But, this also does not stress me out... With him I just let go of expectations. I know his job is hard. I know he's always working and that he wants to be here as much as I want him to be here. But I know, too, that this is a short term situation and for the next month this is what life must be like. So why start a fight about it? So I've changed my mind-set to how I think when I'm single, which is much healthier anyway, and the General Secretary and I (though not broken up now) are going to have a go at what a real life might be like together when his post with the Migrants Trade Union is completed in just over a month.
And work. Well, I still don't care, but I have resolved to make a lot of money in the coming year and so I'm on the hunt. But I think I've figured out that doing a lot of different kinds of teaching is what just might work for me. Right now, I am working part time at a hagwon, teaching private lessons, and about to pick up another part time kindergarten gig. It's all different enough that I'm not bored out of my mind by the repetion and right now it's enough work to live comfortably (if not a little meagerly)... So in March, we'll see if I can keep up this kind of schedule or if I have to become a one-job woman again.
I'm still on the look out for an affordable gym that makes sense given all the different places I have to commute to around Seoul, where I can get into a routine and stick to it. But in the meantime, I'm not feeling as lazy as I was a couple of weeks ago.
And lastly: Rani (roll the r, short a, kind of spanish sounding). Rani is the newest edition to our bustling household of 4 and one of the cutest darn kittens you've ever seen. And perhaps the most social I've ever met. She cannot stand to be alone and is extremely jealous of the GS, which unfortunately for me, has resulted in an abnormal amount of laundry. But she is playful and cuddly and everyone loves her and she has really earned her name, which means "Queen" in Bangla.Saturday, December 2, 2006
a day of deeds
Hey, I know, no one likes a braggart. But yesterday I was feeling darn good and here are the reasons why:
1. A friend introduced me to a really nice sweet loving and poor family yesterday who desperately wants their little girl to learn English. In Korea, every kid who can afford it is enrolled in private institutes for English, Science, Chinese, Math, Japanese, Music... Sometimes one and sometimes all... Korean education is intensely competitive and in this system, only really rich kids can really afford to get a good education. So what about a smart poor smart kid? Out of luck. So how could I say no when my friend asked me take on this student for very little money? I assessed her level (can't even read) and went out to the most crowded bookstore on the entire planet and bought her some phonics books and an easy reader, and on Monday, we'll start learning. Oh, she is so sweet and earnest... If only all of my rich bratty students were like her...
2. After enduring world's most crowded bookstore, I went off to world's most crowded market to buy some gifts for the General Secretary's family. His daughter wanted a badminton set and his mom wanted a black purse. Yeah, I know, they are Muslim, they don't celebrate Christmas. But the post to Bangladesh is really unreliable and we have a mutual friend who is going there on Thursday, so the GS is sending packages with him. Why did I endure world's most crowded market? Well, the GS is too busy saving the world (or at least migrant workers in Korea) to do much of anything, so that pretty much leaves me to do things like shopping (ew yuck gross) and even, on occasion, laundry...
So then I rode the bus home from world's most crowded market. Thankfully, it wasn't the world's most crowded bus (it usually isn't to my neighborhood), but it was still full and this little old grandma gets on and all these damn bratty school kids who were riding WOULDN'T GET UP for her. I mean it's always a good idea to get up for old ladies with bent backs, but in Korea it is like, not an option. You must do it... But they didn't. So I did. And she was so freakin sweet to me about it. And impressed that I could understand that she was being sweet and chatted my ear off the whole way home about how rude kids are these days and that Korea is in a bad state when only foreigners are getting up on the bus for old folks.
So then I just felt like doing good deeds all day, but it was late and I was home and I ran out of things to do for people. So, I turned to the internet so I could talk about (what is actually very few) good deeds.
The End.
for now
1. A friend introduced me to a really nice sweet loving and poor family yesterday who desperately wants their little girl to learn English. In Korea, every kid who can afford it is enrolled in private institutes for English, Science, Chinese, Math, Japanese, Music... Sometimes one and sometimes all... Korean education is intensely competitive and in this system, only really rich kids can really afford to get a good education. So what about a smart poor smart kid? Out of luck. So how could I say no when my friend asked me take on this student for very little money? I assessed her level (can't even read) and went out to the most crowded bookstore on the entire planet and bought her some phonics books and an easy reader, and on Monday, we'll start learning. Oh, she is so sweet and earnest... If only all of my rich bratty students were like her...
2. After enduring world's most crowded bookstore, I went off to world's most crowded market to buy some gifts for the General Secretary's family. His daughter wanted a badminton set and his mom wanted a black purse. Yeah, I know, they are Muslim, they don't celebrate Christmas. But the post to Bangladesh is really unreliable and we have a mutual friend who is going there on Thursday, so the GS is sending packages with him. Why did I endure world's most crowded market? Well, the GS is too busy saving the world (or at least migrant workers in Korea) to do much of anything, so that pretty much leaves me to do things like shopping (ew yuck gross) and even, on occasion, laundry...
So then I rode the bus home from world's most crowded market. Thankfully, it wasn't the world's most crowded bus (it usually isn't to my neighborhood), but it was still full and this little old grandma gets on and all these damn bratty school kids who were riding WOULDN'T GET UP for her. I mean it's always a good idea to get up for old ladies with bent backs, but in Korea it is like, not an option. You must do it... But they didn't. So I did. And she was so freakin sweet to me about it. And impressed that I could understand that she was being sweet and chatted my ear off the whole way home about how rude kids are these days and that Korea is in a bad state when only foreigners are getting up on the bus for old folks.
So then I just felt like doing good deeds all day, but it was late and I was home and I ran out of things to do for people. So, I turned to the internet so I could talk about (what is actually very few) good deeds.
The End.
for now
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
In Other News:
Chicken is off the menu here in Korea. Avian InFluenza, a.k.a. Bird Flu is back...
AND:
Beef is also off the menu. Korea just lifted the ban on importing American beef (yeah for prices, boo for health, apparently), but no one wants to eat it because they are worried about mad cow disease. (Are Americans worried? seriously, no one in Asia wants American beef). AND it is political to not eat American beef because Koreans are viewing it as part and parcel of the free trade agreement (fta) that is being negotiated with the US, which something like 70% of Koreans are against. They see the beef as a symbol of American imperialism... which I guess it is? I mean, everyone thinks it's a public health risk and they think the government lifted the ban, against the wishes of the majority, so negotiations would go more smoothly. Is this just a preview of what will happen if the FTA is approved? Most people think so...
Which is really too bad because I've really been craving a cheese burger this week. Should I risk it?
So:
That leaves pork.
gross.
Let's all be vegetarians again. Or pescatarians. What's life in Korea without dried squid, after all?
AND:
Beef is also off the menu. Korea just lifted the ban on importing American beef (yeah for prices, boo for health, apparently), but no one wants to eat it because they are worried about mad cow disease. (Are Americans worried? seriously, no one in Asia wants American beef). AND it is political to not eat American beef because Koreans are viewing it as part and parcel of the free trade agreement (fta) that is being negotiated with the US, which something like 70% of Koreans are against. They see the beef as a symbol of American imperialism... which I guess it is? I mean, everyone thinks it's a public health risk and they think the government lifted the ban, against the wishes of the majority, so negotiations would go more smoothly. Is this just a preview of what will happen if the FTA is approved? Most people think so...
Which is really too bad because I've really been craving a cheese burger this week. Should I risk it?
So:
That leaves pork.
gross.
Let's all be vegetarians again. Or pescatarians. What's life in Korea without dried squid, after all?
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Just Look At Your Terrible Life!
So I managed to pull together a Thanksgiving Meal and invited some korean friends, but about halfway through the meal I lost interest in the idea of Thanksgiving because everyone was speaking korean and i felt alone anyways. So they had a great time and loved my (quasi) American cooking, while I spent half of the evening looking to see if any of my family tried to call me or send me any messages (they didn't) and cleaning up after the human termites who were in my house. Yes, that is kimchi on left corner of the table. What do you want, I live in Korea.
Here are the termites, aka my korean family, at work. When we were mostly done with the eating portion of the programme and moved on to binge drinking, Nak June made what is now famously called his goddamn. It started with making kiwi peels into shot glasses and progressed into an apple cup that had a little bit of everything on the table in it. It was disgusting. I guess we needed some entertainment.
Nak June and Kang Yong would say, "just look at your terrible life!" It's a joke around our house these days about how pathetic we all are, but really, look at my terrible life. Right now my classes aren't in session and I'm only working two days a week (in the evenings) so I'm really having problems getting motivated and finding things to fill my days. My house is already spotless and I've read a shit-ton of books lately and I'm sort of at a loss for what comes next. Some days i don't get out of my pjs at all. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? The good news is that classes start again next week, so I'll least be busy on a sort of half-time basis, although I'm not feeling very enthusiastic about learning Korean these days.
It's kimchi making season, so you see stacks of cabbage and turnips hanging out all over the place this time of year. This is in my neighborhood. I'm going to make kimchi next week with an activist group. I'll let you know how it goes.
This is a persimmon tree with persimmons drying on it. It's a little confusing because the persimmons are no longer attached to the tree, but actually they originally came from that tree. I don't like persimmons myself, but if I did, I would be lucky because I have access to this very tree from my rooftop. I was excited until I tasted the fruit. Too sweet.
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