Picnic in the Park

On Saturday morning I met Megan and Kay for a lovely picnic at Yeouido park. Spring has sprung in Seoul and the park was blooming and blossoming with flowers and activity. We got to the park rather early, but we had decided on a breakfast picnic anyway. We found a nice grove of trees and settled in for a morning of chit chat, people watching and soaking up the sun. A lot of people were out riding bikes, walking and jogging. It was fun to watch people fall of their bikes.

Here is a picture of our early morning feast. I made banana bread and mini quiches.

Later in the day, I went to Xanadu Travel to get my visa for China. I am leaving May 2nd and returning May 5th and right now the plan is Beijing-Great Wall-Xi'an-Beijing. I might just stay in Beijing, but I'm still not sure what I want to do. Finally, I met up with Ashley for lunch at On the Border and then we headed out to Itaewon for a night out with friends and finished the evening with a batch of chocolate chip cookies at 3am.

Subway Thoughts

From November 28, 2008
Today is the first day it felt like fall. The leaves had already changed, but they hadn't dropped. Today as I walked to the subway, the fallen leaves whirling in the brisk wind solidified the season. As winter surely approaches, the leaves make way for snow dusted limbs. The air is crisp now and the familiar smell of decaying leaves brings comfort. Soon it will be time for the renewing capabilities of snow.

From December 7, 2008
3:30pm
The less than magical snow awakened my awareness that I am in a place unlike home. The tteokbokki stand's blue tarp stood out among the gentle snowfall. Pools of fluffy white gathered in the folds as steam rose from the myriad of foods on offer. Last night the stands lined the street and offered a semi warm have for the drunk and weary. Green bottles of soju, half full, illuminated by the soft yellow lights inside the tent. Plastic lined plates overflowing with the spicy, chewy comfort of tteokbokki. Various fried vegetables and dumplings. The savory smell of chicken and pork skewers and the repulsive, yet familiar smell of sundae.

10:09pm
Seoul never ceases to amaze me. As we walked from the subway to The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, which we couldn't see due to a reservation error, the snow started to fall. Unlike the lackluster flurried of the morning, this snow had the renewing capabilities I so desire in snow. Large flakes falling effortlessly from the sky. The walk back proved magical. Life renewed somehow and I forgot I was in Seoul. I was at home with pink snow pants and a half finished snowman. Mom waiting with Swiss Miss. Since we couldn't see the show we decided to head to Itaewon and go to The Bungalow. A tropical themed bar with sand floors and swings. The four of us shared a bottle of red wine and soaked in the smoky smell of the fireplace and the tinsel slung above the tiki bar. Again I was transported to another place. Home. In front of the fireplace, sipping on a glass of wine, waiting for a cat to jump on my lap.

For the first time in my life I got the movie moment I have always desired. Snow still falling and illuminated by the Christmas lights, a fire blazing and good company. These are the moments I have always wanted in life. The hours that last for days, the realizing that I can stay in Seoul for a long time. I find something new and inspiring every week. This week it was the Bulgarian restaurant we went to for dinner. The food was amazing. I had a simple chicken dish with a spicy tomato sauce on top and steamed vegetables (carrot, broccoli and potato). Loren had a wonderful stuffed pork loin. It had cheese, onion, some other stuff and pickles. The pickles added a great flavor. Houston had a pork and vegetable stew that was by far my favorite dish of the evening. I love living in a big city, the possibilities are truly endless.

Weekend and Me 12 Years Ago

This weekend was pretty busy, but fun nonetheless. On Saturday morning I got up at 8 and took the bus to Olympic Park so I could run. It was incredibly beautiful as the leaves are in the process of changing. There were many people on the walking/running paths, but it was still very peaceful. I didn't run as much as I would have liked, but then again I only started running three weeks ago. I am planning on running a 5K in December, but on Saturday I made it (running) about 1.5K and not all at the same time. I guess I'm more out of shape than I thought. However, I did walk the other 3.5K so I would know what this is going to entail. It's only 3 miles, I've never ran that much in my life, but I am very determined to do this 5K. I wasn't going to write about it until later, but with the cold I have, I haven't ran (or is it run...this is where English confuses me too) in 3 days and I need more motivation. What better way than telling the blog world about my intent.

After my "run" I came home and got ready to meet Kristin in Itaewon so we could go to the the travel agent. We booked our tickets to Japan! I am leaving Christmas Day for Osaka/Kyoto where I'll be until the 28th. Then its on to Tokyo, meeting up with a few Cottey girls and then spending the New Year in Tokyo. I'm pretty stoked. I've wanted to go to Japan since 8th grade where I learned a lot about the culture and I even did a Powerpoint (it was BRAND new then!) on Buddhism. Oh, and I also had my first and last sushi in 8th grade. However, I am planning on venturing down the sushi road while in Japan. It would be like coming to Korea and not trying kimchi.

After the travel agent, we went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant where I had the best margarita I've ever had. Yes, mom it was better than the ones at Papitos in Oxford! Then I headed to my first Korean class. It was the last class in the series so it was review, but I am excited to go again on Saturday. I meet some really awesome people and after class we all went to dinner and the bar. I called it an early evening, but promised to hang out more this coming weekend. It had been a long, rainy Saturday.

This week has already proved challenging. However, I am learning more and more everyday about how to deal with students. My main complaints/issues are my own lack of patience. In one of my classes I have to give directions about 10 times before one of them understands. Then it is a barrage of questions they would have the answer to if they had listened the first 10 times. It's incredibly frustrating to try to talk over these little monkeys. However they are improving from when I first started teaching them. I just need to practice more patience with them and I think they will start to listen/understand more. I think they can sense my frustration and they of course feed off of it. Not that I blame them, I'm almost certain I was the same way as a child.

I have a student, in grade 4 who reminds me so much of myself at age 11 so I can sympathize with her a little. I was not the best student, not in a sense of academics, but behavior wise. I'm sure mom and dad are laughing as they read this. This little girl is an outcast in her class. She is smart (she informed me that her IQ is 155 and I don't doubt it), but incredibly strange. She has major behavior problems, i.e. she doesn't listen, she is out of her chair constantly, etc. Today I had to put her in the hall for 1 minute (because she broke the first tier of my "no Korean" rule) and she came back and sat in her chair. When class had started, I told her to sit down 3 times and told her if she got out of her chair again I would stick her in the hall for the rest of class. We had a test today so she was in her chair for a good 20 minutes. However, she got out of her chair with about 15 minutes left in class. I gave her one more warning about being in the hall until class was over and she sat back down. Two minutes later, she was out of the chair. I told her to go stand in the hall. She was fine until the Korean teacher asked her what had happened. The rest of the class and I heard an uproar of crying and dry heaving and foot stomping. Typical behavior for this girl. Anyway, after class Ms. Grace (the principal) came in to talk to me and apparently the student told her that I had said she'd only have to be in the hall for 2 minutes (which is the punishment for the second tier of my "no Korean" rule.) When I explained to Ms. Grace what had really happened, with the student still present, she went insane. Stomping her feet, crying and dry heaving. Ahhh, it was a scene. I left shortly after Ms. Grace probably said something along the lines of "why did you lie to me?" and "stop crying, you are making a scene." I don't know if Ms. Grace wanted to talk to me more, but I had to get out of there.

So, I have to learn to deal with myself from 12 years ago. This of course goes right along with my "everything happens for a reason" theory. I was a horrible child so that I would have to face horrible children and feel really bad for the way I acted. Before this student, I did feel bad, but now I am appalled by my own behavior. If any of my elementary teachers happen upon this blog, this is my formal apology. I'm surprised that none of you were driven to drink. I was a pain in the ass. Many of the other teachers wish this student were removed from the school, but I kind of hope she sticks around. To teach me and to help me learn to deal with similar students. While she isn't a pleasure to teach and makes everyone uncomfortable, I still feel bad for her. I can identify with her. It has been yet another eventful week and it is only Tuesday.

Picnic, 6am and Crying Kids

Last Sunday, after a super crazy Friday/Saturday, Loren and I had a picnic lunch by the Han River. It was a gorgeous day, it was pretty warm but a great day nonetheless. After lunch of ramyeon (라면), kimchi and kimbap we walked along the river and eventually found a deserted area by the National Assembly Building. It was a perfect day to walk around a part of Seoul I hadn't really explored yet. After we walked our way through the National Assembly complex, we went to a small park where people were riding bikes, roller blading and enjoying a Sunday afternoon stroll. It was a peaceful way to end a crazy, yet fun weekend.



My weekend, as mentioned above was crazy. I met up with Loren and his visiting friends in Itaweon. Itaewon is the foreign part of Seoul, where it feels like you are walking into America. I kid you not, English is heard everywhere and there are a ton of foreigners. I had been trying to avoid Itaewon, but in the past week I had gone 3 times (once for dinner/drinks with Loren, dinner with Kristen and then out on the town with Loren, Colin, Jesse, Sandra and Woon Ha). Anyway, Friday night I met up with everyone and we went to a few bars, had a few drinks and it was 3:00 before I knew it. However, the night didn't end there. Sandra and I decided to head to Gangnam (where I live, sort of) and go to this huge club, NB (Noise Basement). There were a gazillion people there and it was incredibly hot, but the DJ was awesome and I danced more than I think I have in my entire life. We finally parted ways at about 6am! I'm not sure I've ever been out that late before, but it was fun. I didn't wake up until 4p on Saturday!

This week is going quickly, it is almost Wednesday here and I am tired already. The kids seem to be on sugar highs 24/7 and they have decided not to listen anymore. I've sent more kids out in the past few days than I have in almost 2.5 months. Today a little girl broke down in tears when I sent her out for cheating. It was a spelling test that has absolutely no effect on her grade and she was cheating. She is new to the class, but seriously why must an 11 year old cheat on a spelling test? She was bawling and I didn't feel bad. I shouldn't either, she should have thought about getting a 0 and her mom getting mad before she decided to cheat. I'm not perfect by any means and I probably did far worse at age 11, but still. It's not my fault she made a poor decision. Other than that, my previously "worst" kindergarten class is becoming my favorite. Ever since I started teaching them reading 3 days a week they have become much better. They still struggle with reading (especially the two boys, Danny and Mike for those of you who have seen the picture), but they try hard. I've never had to teach anyone to read before, but it's hard work. In a way, it's my favorite though. Progress is easily tracked when someone is learning to read. The kids have a field trip on Friday so I have the morning off, that'll be nice. October 3rd is a holiday so that means one more 3 day weekend!