Two days into the four day weekend and it has been fabulous. On Saturday, Ashley and I met for Butterfinger Pancakes (BFP from here on out) and it was freaking fantastic. I had never been, but Loren and Ashley had been raving about it forever so it was nice to have my first BFP experience. We had to wait about 20 minutes before we were seating, but it allowed ample time to look over the array of food on offer. For starters, it is hard to find Western-style breakfast in Korea because most Koreans eat the same thing for breakfast (kimchi and rice) as they do for every other meal. The menu consisted of everything one would want/need for breakfast. All sorts of pancakes, including ginger, pumpkin, pecan pancakes and mozzarella and cream cheese pancakes. I settled for blueberry pancakes and a side of crispy hash browns. We also ended up ordering a desert pancake. Chocolate pancakes with one scoop each of vanilla ice cream and cookies and cream ice cream. The whole thing was drizzled with chocolate sauce. All in all, my first BFP experience was amazing and I will be returning. Later in the day we walked around Itaewon and then watched Burn After Reading.
Today, Ashley and I met at On the Border for lunch and were planning on seeing The Changeling, but we ended up seeing Valkyrie, which was great. I'm not a huge Tom Cruise fan and didn't really like him in this movie, but I liked the movie. I'm a sucker for World War II movies. Anyway, after the mvie it was desert time and TGI Friday's has a great brownie sundae which we split and had a cocktail. We ended the evening in Gangnam at the Rainbow Hookah Bar. This place was amazing. It's in a basement and the atmosphere was really chill. The place was straight for the 60's and had tapestry cloths and scarves hung on the wall. Ashley and I decided on cinnamon flavored hookah. We also had a few drinks and just relaxed in the amazing atmosphere. I wish I could write more about it, but I'll have to go back and take it all in again. It was just such a great day and I'm so glad that I have 2 more days for my weekend!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Grah.
To add to my frustrations: I have to move out of my apartment on the 31st of January. The good news is that I'm only moving up 5 floors and over slightly. Not a big move by any means, but not one I'm entirely thrilled about. The part that pisses me off is the manner in which I was told. My director came to me on Tuesday to tell me that he was going over to my apartment at that very moment. Keep in mind I was in the process of doing laundry and that I REALLY need to clean my place. I was incredibly upset and reasonably so. Anyway, whatever. I'm moving on the 31st. I have to pack up everything, including all the stuff that was here when I moved in . Have I started? No. And I don't intend to until next week. On Saturday Loren, Ashley, Mike and I are going to Incheon to make some pottery. It should be pretty nice and a much needed stress relief. After intensive is over, I'm getting a massage.
As much as I have recently been complaining about my school, I know I could be in a much worse situation and I don't want to make my school seem horrible. In spite of all the trouble, I actually enjoy my job. It could be better, sure, but who has a job that is absolutely perfect. As far as jobs go, this one is pretty good. I'm even thinking about staying past July. I mean, I won't have to move again.
As much as I have recently been complaining about my school, I know I could be in a much worse situation and I don't want to make my school seem horrible. In spite of all the trouble, I actually enjoy my job. It could be better, sure, but who has a job that is absolutely perfect. As far as jobs go, this one is pretty good. I'm even thinking about staying past July. I mean, I won't have to move again.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Stressful Week
This week has been incredibly stressful. We started intensive which means we have to teach about 10 more classes a week while still making the same amount of money. I know I signed on for this when I signed a contract, but it really makes for a demanding, unrewarding time. The classes I was assigned are not so bad. In fact, I am teaching a novel class that I throughly enjoy. I get to read 3 novels and teach them over 7 class periods (the students have to read them too, obviously). We have read a story on Eleanor Roosevelt and will be reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, one of my favorite books. So some good has come of intensive. However, I am also tutoring my director's daughter and NOT being paid for it. It is kind of ridiculous, I mean this girl just talks to me to practice her speaking, but still I should be playing with kindergarteners.
I have reached a point (6 months in Korea!) where I am finding things that frustrate me about Korea or about my job. Mainly my job. For example, we get paid on the 10th of every month, but this month the 10th falls on a Saturday. One would think that we would be paid on the 9th not only because it makes sense, but because it's the nice thing to do. If the 10th were a Sunday, I could totally see why we wouldn't be paid until Monday. However, I don't get paid until the 12th now, which normally wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm broke. I got money for Christmas but I paid some bills and started taking a TEFL course. In retrospect, I could have waited to take the course and to pay my bills, so yes, I got myself into this situation. Now I'll be paid Monday, hopefully by lunch time so that I can go to the bank and transfer my money home. Otherwise I won't be able to transfer it until Tuesday at lunch which would have me on pins and needles as I have a student loan payment due the 14th. I always do this, miscalculate and end up stressing myself out. So maybe, this isn't a problem with my school, but rather a problem with myself. I suppose I could just erase my entire entry. Anyway, I'm also frustrated with the lack of communication between teachers and our principal/director. The other day I came into my classroom and there was a new teacher sitting at my desk. Not a problem if I'm told beforehand. It threw me off and I felt like I was stepping on HER toes in MY classroom. This isn't the first time that things haven't been communicated to us though and apparently I'm going to tutor another student, but I haven't been told about it except for in passing and in an "we already talked about this" kind of way. I have no problems tutoring people, but I need to know about it BEFORE it happens.
On another note...
One of my students yesterday told me that his father had died the night before. He told me he wasn't sad because he wasn't supposed to be sad.
I have reached a point (6 months in Korea!) where I am finding things that frustrate me about Korea or about my job. Mainly my job. For example, we get paid on the 10th of every month, but this month the 10th falls on a Saturday. One would think that we would be paid on the 9th not only because it makes sense, but because it's the nice thing to do. If the 10th were a Sunday, I could totally see why we wouldn't be paid until Monday. However, I don't get paid until the 12th now, which normally wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm broke. I got money for Christmas but I paid some bills and started taking a TEFL course. In retrospect, I could have waited to take the course and to pay my bills, so yes, I got myself into this situation. Now I'll be paid Monday, hopefully by lunch time so that I can go to the bank and transfer my money home. Otherwise I won't be able to transfer it until Tuesday at lunch which would have me on pins and needles as I have a student loan payment due the 14th. I always do this, miscalculate and end up stressing myself out. So maybe, this isn't a problem with my school, but rather a problem with myself. I suppose I could just erase my entire entry. Anyway, I'm also frustrated with the lack of communication between teachers and our principal/director. The other day I came into my classroom and there was a new teacher sitting at my desk. Not a problem if I'm told beforehand. It threw me off and I felt like I was stepping on HER toes in MY classroom. This isn't the first time that things haven't been communicated to us though and apparently I'm going to tutor another student, but I haven't been told about it except for in passing and in an "we already talked about this" kind of way. I have no problems tutoring people, but I need to know about it BEFORE it happens.
On another note...
One of my students yesterday told me that his father had died the night before. He told me he wasn't sad because he wasn't supposed to be sad.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New Year's Eve in Seoul
Last night Loren, Megan and I decided to check out the New Year's Eve celebration in Jonggak. This area is pretty much downtown Seoul and the city had closed off the street and set up a big stage and were prepared to ring in the new year. Supposedly a bell is rung 33 times and many people come to listen to the bell, shoot off fireworks and engage in the festivities. Being somewhere other than my house in Wisconsin, I had to take the opportunity to do like the Koreans. 
By the time we got down to Jonggak we were able to grab a quick drink at the bar and then work our way to the street. We went the wrong way thinking we could get on the street that was lined with police buses and through a massive amount of people pushing and shoving. Eventually we turned around and ran the other way and got on to the street. Somehow we either missed the count down or there wasn't one. However, we also shot off fireworks and joined in the yelling and screaming and the happy new yearing. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had and I can't truly explain the excitement. After Loren and I shot off our fireworks we settled near a police bus and opened up the soju. We said Happy New Year to anyone who wanted to listen and got a lot of awesome reactions. People were laughing because we were saying it, people were cheering us for our drinking of soju from the bottle and others had to do a double take. Later, we tried our luck at saying it in Korean and got buckled knees of laughter. We got our picture taken with a bunch of Koreans who talked to us about the NBA (Sister, I said my favorite team was the Grizzles!). Afterward we got some awesome street food and went to the bar for another drink before heading to Itaewon. I got home at 5:30 this morning, but it was the best New Year of my life
By the time we got down to Jonggak we were able to grab a quick drink at the bar and then work our way to the street. We went the wrong way thinking we could get on the street that was lined with police buses and through a massive amount of people pushing and shoving. Eventually we turned around and ran the other way and got on to the street. Somehow we either missed the count down or there wasn't one. However, we also shot off fireworks and joined in the yelling and screaming and the happy new yearing. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had and I can't truly explain the excitement. After Loren and I shot off our fireworks we settled near a police bus and opened up the soju. We said Happy New Year to anyone who wanted to listen and got a lot of awesome reactions. People were laughing because we were saying it, people were cheering us for our drinking of soju from the bottle and others had to do a double take. Later, we tried our luck at saying it in Korean and got buckled knees of laughter. We got our picture taken with a bunch of Koreans who talked to us about the NBA (Sister, I said my favorite team was the Grizzles!). Afterward we got some awesome street food and went to the bar for another drink before heading to Itaewon. I got home at 5:30 this morning, but it was the best New Year of my life
Tokyo: The End
The last few days in Tokyo were busy, but not as busy as they could have been. A lot of things were closed that I wanted to do, the Imperial Palace Garden and an aerial view of Tokyo. However, this did allow me to walk around a few neighborhoods and take a day trip out of Tokyo. On the 29th I went to Tsujiki Fish Market with Nadja, a Swiss girl I met in the hostel. This is the largest fish market in Japan and they do billions of dollars of business everyday. It was pretty insane and very energetic. However, besides seeing a whole lot of fish, giant tuna, octopus, snapper, there isn't too much to report on. Later I had planned to go to the Tokyo Government Building for a free view of Tokyo, but they were closed until the New Year. Instead, I tried to go to Harajuku, but got on the wrong train at Shinjuku Station, which is the busiest train station in the world. So, I finally ended up walking around Shinjuku and taking in all the lights and craziness that is Tokyo.
My last day in Tokyo I went to Kamakura for the day. Kamakura is about an hour from Tokyo by train, but it is full of temples and shrines. However, it is most famous for its giant Buddha statue. I explored a few of the shrines and temples and REALLY wanted to go to the Buddha statue, but I had all sorts of difficulty getting there. It was getting late and I didn't go. However, I am planning on going back to Japan before I leave Korea because I want to see more than just Tokyo and I can try to fit it in then. Anyway, Kamakura is also on the coast and so I spent about two hours walking along the beach and sitting in the sand. It was a really nice day, about 60 degrees and the sun was shining. It was very relaxing and a great way to end my trip to Tokyo.
Here are two links to photos on Facebook. I'm too lazy to upload them to Picasa.
Tokyo: Part Ichi
Tokyo: Park Ni
My last day in Tokyo I went to Kamakura for the day. Kamakura is about an hour from Tokyo by train, but it is full of temples and shrines. However, it is most famous for its giant Buddha statue. I explored a few of the shrines and temples and REALLY wanted to go to the Buddha statue, but I had all sorts of difficulty getting there. It was getting late and I didn't go. However, I am planning on going back to Japan before I leave Korea because I want to see more than just Tokyo and I can try to fit it in then. Anyway, Kamakura is also on the coast and so I spent about two hours walking along the beach and sitting in the sand. It was a really nice day, about 60 degrees and the sun was shining. It was very relaxing and a great way to end my trip to Tokyo.
Here are two links to photos on Facebook. I'm too lazy to upload them to Picasa.
Tokyo: Part Ichi
Tokyo: Park Ni
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Tokyo: Day with Cottey Girls
Today I had to switch hostels, but still stayed in the same general area as before. However, I am now closer to a subway line that is more direct. Anyway, after waking up and getting ready I headed to Khaosan Tokyo Original Guesthouse. This place has a lot of charm and is quite nice. I`m now in a room with 7 other girls so it feels a bit Cottey-esque. Everyone seems super nice and it is so much fun to meet people from all over the world. I`m staying with a girl from Switzerland, Spain and Austrialia (that I know of, haven`t met the others.)
Anyway, today was spent is Shibuya with my Cottey friends, Sayo and Sayo. They both moved back to Japan after going to school in the states and it was super nice to see them. We had lunch together at an okonomiyaki restaurant. You get a bowl of stuff, cabbage, meat, egg and all sorts of other stuff and then you cook it on a griddle on the table. It was so good! We had a kimchi and pork one and a seafood one that included squid and shrimp. We had two others, but I can`t remember what that were. After lunch we went to the karaoke room and belted out some tunes. This karakoe room was quite similar to a noraebang in Korea, but they had WAY more songs to choose from. After that we went to a photo booth and got pictures taken and we decorated them all crazy and we each got some to take home. Then we got a soda at McDonald`s and chatted. It was time to part ways after that, but I had SO much fun with the girls. It made us all miss Cottey people a lot. However, they are both planning on visiting me in Seoul as neither of them have ever been to Korea and it is really quite cheap for them to come visit.
Later on in the evening I explored the Asakusa area once more and found a cute/cheap tempura restaurant where I had eggplant, pumpkin, string bean, lotus and mushroom tempura with rice. It was quite delicious. I`m finding it easy to spend money in Tokyo, but I am pretty sure I won`t end up blowing my budget. In fact, I`m sure I`ll have some money left over for New Year`s Eve in Seoul.
Anyway, today was spent is Shibuya with my Cottey friends, Sayo and Sayo. They both moved back to Japan after going to school in the states and it was super nice to see them. We had lunch together at an okonomiyaki restaurant. You get a bowl of stuff, cabbage, meat, egg and all sorts of other stuff and then you cook it on a griddle on the table. It was so good! We had a kimchi and pork one and a seafood one that included squid and shrimp. We had two others, but I can`t remember what that were. After lunch we went to the karaoke room and belted out some tunes. This karakoe room was quite similar to a noraebang in Korea, but they had WAY more songs to choose from. After that we went to a photo booth and got pictures taken and we decorated them all crazy and we each got some to take home. Then we got a soda at McDonald`s and chatted. It was time to part ways after that, but I had SO much fun with the girls. It made us all miss Cottey people a lot. However, they are both planning on visiting me in Seoul as neither of them have ever been to Korea and it is really quite cheap for them to come visit.
Later on in the evening I explored the Asakusa area once more and found a cute/cheap tempura restaurant where I had eggplant, pumpkin, string bean, lotus and mushroom tempura with rice. It was quite delicious. I`m finding it easy to spend money in Tokyo, but I am pretty sure I won`t end up blowing my budget. In fact, I`m sure I`ll have some money left over for New Year`s Eve in Seoul.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Tokyo: Arrival
I`m in Tokyo right now and so far it has been quite nice. I caught a flight from Seoul at 10:20 on Friday morning and got to Tokyo about 12:30. The flight was pretty turbulent for the last 20 minutes or so and coupled with a tad too much wine on Christmas/late night/early morning, I thought I was going to be sick. Luckliy, I was fine.
After finding my way through customs and money exchange I was on a train bound for Asakusabashi station. Last night and tonight I am staying at the Khaosan Tokyo Ninja hostel and it is REALLY nice. I highly recommend it for anyone traveling to Tokyo. I`m actually staying in a room with three guys, kind of random/crazy, but perfectly fine. Anyway, yesterday I went to Sensoji Temple and walked around the grounds and the market in front of the temple. At the temple, I did what the Japanese were doing and tossed some coins in and made a wish/prayer. It seemed fitting not only because I was in Tokyo, but because the new year is quickly approaching and it is always a time for reflection and hope. After the temple I got some delicious udon, which warmed me right up. I don`t think I`ve ever actually felt the power of a warm bowl of noodles until yesterday. Since it was an early morning, I called it an early night and hung around in the hostel`s living room with random people and watched Japanese pop stars belt it out in front of a live audience.
Today I got up a little later than anticiapted, but I still managed to fit everything schedule into my day. I started at Kappabashi and the kitchenware market where plastic food is king and knives are commonplace. I bought a lovely pair of chopsticks and wandered aroubd looking at all sorts of kitchen gadgets, restaurant wares and pottery. Later, I decided to go to a clothing/shoe market and woubd up buying a new pair of shoes because my new Converse were killing my feet. I got a bice pair of Adidas tennis shoes and felt much better. Afterward, I headed to Ginza to check out the Sony Building where all the new products are on display. I never realized Sony had so many electronics! The digital cameras caught my eye as I am looking to buy a new one, but I held off. Ginza is insane. Lots of people, huge ritzy stores. Gucci, Chanel, Tiffany, Coach, Harry Winston, Apple and so many more. I checked out Coach and the Nissan showroom. I went to a 9-story stationery store and spent a good chunk of time there and bought a few things, but nothing too spectacular. Eventually I settled on an early dinner at a place Lonely Planet recommended called Zest Cantina. It is a Tex-Mex restaurant with Japanese cowboys, but the chicken in my quesadilla was undercooked. They had really good pico de gallo though. Tomorrow I`m meeting up with my friends Sayo and Sayo. We went to Cottey together and I haven`t seen them in about 5 years. It is completely insane how fast time goes by.
It`s weird being in Japan. I got here in less than two hours from a place I have lived for almost 6 months. It is completely mind blowing to me that I can be in another country in such a short amount of time. The other crazy thing is that all around me I see Asian, but they aren`t the ones I`ve been living with, they speak a different language, they have a different alphabet. I actually think I know more Japanese than Korean, but I have wanted to speak Korean in every situation. It`s one of life`s amazing experiences.
After finding my way through customs and money exchange I was on a train bound for Asakusabashi station. Last night and tonight I am staying at the Khaosan Tokyo Ninja hostel and it is REALLY nice. I highly recommend it for anyone traveling to Tokyo. I`m actually staying in a room with three guys, kind of random/crazy, but perfectly fine. Anyway, yesterday I went to Sensoji Temple and walked around the grounds and the market in front of the temple. At the temple, I did what the Japanese were doing and tossed some coins in and made a wish/prayer. It seemed fitting not only because I was in Tokyo, but because the new year is quickly approaching and it is always a time for reflection and hope. After the temple I got some delicious udon, which warmed me right up. I don`t think I`ve ever actually felt the power of a warm bowl of noodles until yesterday. Since it was an early morning, I called it an early night and hung around in the hostel`s living room with random people and watched Japanese pop stars belt it out in front of a live audience.
Today I got up a little later than anticiapted, but I still managed to fit everything schedule into my day. I started at Kappabashi and the kitchenware market where plastic food is king and knives are commonplace. I bought a lovely pair of chopsticks and wandered aroubd looking at all sorts of kitchen gadgets, restaurant wares and pottery. Later, I decided to go to a clothing/shoe market and woubd up buying a new pair of shoes because my new Converse were killing my feet. I got a bice pair of Adidas tennis shoes and felt much better. Afterward, I headed to Ginza to check out the Sony Building where all the new products are on display. I never realized Sony had so many electronics! The digital cameras caught my eye as I am looking to buy a new one, but I held off. Ginza is insane. Lots of people, huge ritzy stores. Gucci, Chanel, Tiffany, Coach, Harry Winston, Apple and so many more. I checked out Coach and the Nissan showroom. I went to a 9-story stationery store and spent a good chunk of time there and bought a few things, but nothing too spectacular. Eventually I settled on an early dinner at a place Lonely Planet recommended called Zest Cantina. It is a Tex-Mex restaurant with Japanese cowboys, but the chicken in my quesadilla was undercooked. They had really good pico de gallo though. Tomorrow I`m meeting up with my friends Sayo and Sayo. We went to Cottey together and I haven`t seen them in about 5 years. It is completely insane how fast time goes by.
It`s weird being in Japan. I got here in less than two hours from a place I have lived for almost 6 months. It is completely mind blowing to me that I can be in another country in such a short amount of time. The other crazy thing is that all around me I see Asian, but they aren`t the ones I`ve been living with, they speak a different language, they have a different alphabet. I actually think I know more Japanese than Korean, but I have wanted to speak Korean in every situation. It`s one of life`s amazing experiences.
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