DISCLAIMER: This is only the ramblings of one worn out, starting to get homesick, tired non-teacher.
A hagwon is a private academy in Korea, and theres heaps of them. In my area, I actually work on a street called Hagwonga, because of the amount of academies on them. And allllll of these kids go to at least one. Regardless of their behavior, I always feel bad for how hard they work.
But the first day I showed up, they straight out told me that I was not an educator, that I worked for a business. I work for a corporation, like Starbucks, but am supposed to teach english at the same time. Its rough. We have a schedule of stuff that HAS to get done that day, and I try my best, I do. But WHY do they need me to do it. I feel like I am a native speaker, have a bs, and am an all around bright kid, and yet ANYBODY in the world can tell a kid to open their book, explain the main idea of the lesson in less then 5 minutes, and have them start doing pages.
I knew going in that the lesson plans where going to be pretty much done out for me. But I guess I didn't realize how much it would bother me. These kids are SO Unworldly, and they just don't get it. But I have to review the difference between weather and climate constantly? This week we had a review so I taught them about hte Middle East and had them do a project since its part of Asia, and they told me that theres no war anywhere in the world. Its a little dark for second graders, but I wanted them to know about whats going on. I think we're going to do that with other continents, but when I pointed out saudia arabia on a map and asked who knew what it was, some kid yelled Texas. To I expect a lot of them? Probably. But I know they are smart enough to at least get it.
Plus, I really think the ME is cool.
but I feel like any activity I do to make the kids interested and engaged takes time, and then we don't get through the book so I either have to cover it in the next class, assign it for hw or hope for the best. Nobdoy cares about understanding English or the world, they care about high test scores and leveling up. I'm sure I was like that when I was their age, but I dont know. I guess I was disillusioned into thinking it was possible for me to help them, but the ROK is a lost cause.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
BongEunsa and CoEx
First things First, A BIG Congrats to RyanRunsEurope, who I've been following since my return from NZ. Amazing job, Well done, mate.
Oh Goodness I'm totally behind, but I am going to get internet soon so hopefully I'll be firing off these badboys to keep all of my friends stateside up to date on the happenings of KoreaWorld.
So on Sunday I jumped on the subway armed only with my good camera and my Lonely Planet Seoul and out of nowhere BAM! It was my friend Jess, traveling with a girl who teaches in China. It scared the crap out of me, but they were going to spend the day in CoEx and Bongeunsa, a mall and a temple, respectivly. We ate in Coex, and Kerry (Girl teaching in China) was craving western food, since she can't get it in her neck of Asia, but I got some Manduguk, since Korean food is in fact growing on me. Manduguk, with mandu being a dumpling and guk being the word for soup (I'm getting there).
We met with her friend Clare. ANd scurried to the "magical hidden temple", which we finally got to. It is one of the largest Buddhist and most traditional temples. It was really large, and allowed for a lot of wandering and exploring. I'm not sure, but I feel like temples and palaces all kind of look alike. But this one had a Buddah. NOt like, a statue of buddah, but a HUGE Massive we're talking 23 meters high, largest statue of Buddah in Korea size Buddah. The biggest I've ever seen. It was rediculously cool.
It was a beautiful place, and it was a Holiday Sunday so there were heaps of people there praying and worshipping and doing normal sunday at service activites, and there was us taking pictures and lurking. I'm not sure how I'd feel about that, but I guess they're used to it. You could only imagine. There was one room with thousands of Buddahs. Lining the wall, everywhere. It was rediculous. The place was very Zen, as it should be, and very neat to explore. I am definitly going to go back to get there more than an hour before closing time to check out the grounds and find my Buddhist ways.
After we lurked, we went into Coex to look around. I wasn't overly impressed. A lot of expensive shit. The mall wasn't as cool as everybody was making it out to be, but maybe we missed something. There was, however a bookstore that had a foreign collection. Good to keep in mind. And heaps of lonely planets for all of my adventures 8)
Update soon about life in general!
Patience and Faith,
ErinJ
Oh Goodness I'm totally behind, but I am going to get internet soon so hopefully I'll be firing off these badboys to keep all of my friends stateside up to date on the happenings of KoreaWorld.
So on Sunday I jumped on the subway armed only with my good camera and my Lonely Planet Seoul and out of nowhere BAM! It was my friend Jess, traveling with a girl who teaches in China. It scared the crap out of me, but they were going to spend the day in CoEx and Bongeunsa, a mall and a temple, respectivly. We ate in Coex, and Kerry (Girl teaching in China) was craving western food, since she can't get it in her neck of Asia, but I got some Manduguk, since Korean food is in fact growing on me. Manduguk, with mandu being a dumpling and guk being the word for soup (I'm getting there).
We met with her friend Clare. ANd scurried to the "magical hidden temple", which we finally got to. It is one of the largest Buddhist and most traditional temples. It was really large, and allowed for a lot of wandering and exploring. I'm not sure, but I feel like temples and palaces all kind of look alike. But this one had a Buddah. NOt like, a statue of buddah, but a HUGE Massive we're talking 23 meters high, largest statue of Buddah in Korea size Buddah. The biggest I've ever seen. It was rediculously cool.
It was a beautiful place, and it was a Holiday Sunday so there were heaps of people there praying and worshipping and doing normal sunday at service activites, and there was us taking pictures and lurking. I'm not sure how I'd feel about that, but I guess they're used to it. You could only imagine. There was one room with thousands of Buddahs. Lining the wall, everywhere. It was rediculous. The place was very Zen, as it should be, and very neat to explore. I am definitly going to go back to get there more than an hour before closing time to check out the grounds and find my Buddhist ways.
After we lurked, we went into Coex to look around. I wasn't overly impressed. A lot of expensive shit. The mall wasn't as cool as everybody was making it out to be, but maybe we missed something. There was, however a bookstore that had a foreign collection. Good to keep in mind. And heaps of lonely planets for all of my adventures 8)
Update soon about life in general!
Patience and Faith,
ErinJ
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Chuseok Weekend
Taylor, Kimberly and Me at everlandSo this was an extended 3-day weekend of Glory thanks to the Korean holiday of Chuseok. I think its a cross between a thanksgiving, and a day where one pays homage to ancestors of sorts. But don't quote me on that, thats just what I can gather.
So Friday, which was the day we had off I went to the contempory museum of Art with Kimberly and one of her friends. It was pretty cool. I've seen a lot of art in my day, but there were some pieces that were worth seeing. There was a room that sprialed up 3 stories and had 3X3 pieces of art up the entire thing. It was intense. Very cool. The museum itself was definitly worth checking out if you have spare time, but not necessarily some place I would go back to.
A pretty instense TV sculpture in the museum. Saturday was heaps of fun. I went to Everland with a few teachers from school, since it was a holiday and therefore supposed to be dead. Everlands the biggest amusement park in Korea. It was an adventure. Everland is not in Seoul. EVerland is not in Anyang. Everland is a 1.5 hour busride from here. In which we stopped at bus depots and possibly took backroads through hell. I don't know, I wasn't feeling it. But we got there, kind of late, and hustled through the park. We went on a bunch of rides, had our personal bubbles invades, and were all sorts of confuzzled when the biggest ride there closed at 8. The park closed at 10. This closed at 8. So we didn't get to go on the steepest wooden rollar coaster, which was a bummer. BUt all in all it was a good day, and better than napping, which is what I was doing up until that point. It was a pretty good amusement park, only had 2 rollar coasters that we could see, and closed kind of early. It was fun though, I mean, who doesn't love some good rides.
Throwing up the Peace sign! 
Some Weird Ass Jackolanterns!
Friday, October 2, 2009
BUSAN
YO!
So last weekend I went out to Busan. I unfortunatly only took a couple of pictures, so google image if you so desire.
We took the KTX down, which was pretty cool. I was into it, although it was a long ride, theres nothing like it in the states so rock and roll. We got there, and found our hostel, which was shadyish but would do, and would prove to be unncessary I guess. My friend Angela went to meet her family that lived down there, so me and the other girl I was with (Jessica) went to the beach to get some sun, hang out, and mock Korean beach life; which included full sets of clothes and failed windsurfing. Most excellent.
We met up at the hostel with a friend and chatted for a while before finding dinner. We ate this aweful Korean dish, which me and Jessica were not digging, but they were. Gah. We then hung out in Busan, being young and foreign and fabulous, but due to the spread of people that read this we'll leave some details out. By some I mean all. But the area was set up very cool, and a place I could totally have hung out for a while. My uncles would have loved it there, it was super cool. So shoutout to them.
The next day may have been the worst day ever for a variety of reasons.
One, is an obvious reason.
The other is we were going to do this culutural Korean thing, which is some spa. ANd its just a memory I'm trying to block out. I've never been so uncomfortable or unamused to be anywhere in my life.
So thats that.
So last weekend I went out to Busan. I unfortunatly only took a couple of pictures, so google image if you so desire.
We took the KTX down, which was pretty cool. I was into it, although it was a long ride, theres nothing like it in the states so rock and roll. We got there, and found our hostel, which was shadyish but would do, and would prove to be unncessary I guess. My friend Angela went to meet her family that lived down there, so me and the other girl I was with (Jessica) went to the beach to get some sun, hang out, and mock Korean beach life; which included full sets of clothes and failed windsurfing. Most excellent.
We met up at the hostel with a friend and chatted for a while before finding dinner. We ate this aweful Korean dish, which me and Jessica were not digging, but they were. Gah. We then hung out in Busan, being young and foreign and fabulous, but due to the spread of people that read this we'll leave some details out. By some I mean all. But the area was set up very cool, and a place I could totally have hung out for a while. My uncles would have loved it there, it was super cool. So shoutout to them.
The next day may have been the worst day ever for a variety of reasons.
One, is an obvious reason.
The other is we were going to do this culutural Korean thing, which is some spa. ANd its just a memory I'm trying to block out. I've never been so uncomfortable or unamused to be anywhere in my life.
So thats that.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Week 3
YO ALl,
SO I just finished my third week school, and will be here for three FULL weeks on Sunday.
Can you believe it!
Part of me feels like I just got here.
Part of me feels like I'm just on a vacation and I should be checking out of my hotel room.
But most of me feels like I've been here forever.
I mean, on my morning walk to school where I get coffee from the cute girl who I think can only say "americano" in english. or passing the same people every morning, and knowing those people stopped staring at me.
Or going for my nightly jog around the park every day.
Or even my students, who see me in the hallway and immediatly yell to me. Even kids I've only subbed in for a day or two run up to me with their art project and tell me what they've learned that day. I really feel like I've been here for ages. The routine of it all, while never boring is comfortable in its own right, and heaps of fun. I like exploring in my free time, but I like the comfort of my domain too. I guess its nice to feel like you have a home, even if your so far away from everything you know.
It was hard at first, as I came in during the semster when everybody was already friends, and I didn't know anywhere, and I still don't know the language, but it looks like things are going to work out for me. I'm really glad, and thankful to be in Korea, and I don't think I'd give this up for anything.
Patience and faith,
EP
SO I just finished my third week school, and will be here for three FULL weeks on Sunday.
Can you believe it!
Part of me feels like I just got here.
Part of me feels like I'm just on a vacation and I should be checking out of my hotel room.
But most of me feels like I've been here forever.
I mean, on my morning walk to school where I get coffee from the cute girl who I think can only say "americano" in english. or passing the same people every morning, and knowing those people stopped staring at me.
Or going for my nightly jog around the park every day.
Or even my students, who see me in the hallway and immediatly yell to me. Even kids I've only subbed in for a day or two run up to me with their art project and tell me what they've learned that day. I really feel like I've been here for ages. The routine of it all, while never boring is comfortable in its own right, and heaps of fun. I like exploring in my free time, but I like the comfort of my domain too. I guess its nice to feel like you have a home, even if your so far away from everything you know.
It was hard at first, as I came in during the semster when everybody was already friends, and I didn't know anywhere, and I still don't know the language, but it looks like things are going to work out for me. I'm really glad, and thankful to be in Korea, and I don't think I'd give this up for anything.
Patience and faith,
EP
Monday, September 21, 2009
Gyeongbokgung
Excuse the spelling for those that may know it better.
So I went to gyeongbokgung this weekend. Its a HUGE palace in center Seoul, well, I guess towards the north west end.
BUT It was my first subway ride where I had to change lines, and I feel confident enough in my abilities in the subway system to call them "my bitch" That right. Whoever said that the system was too complicated to manuever was sadly mistaken. Whatever, I paid my dues being lost in London, Boston and NYC that I should be able to work a subwaysystem by now.
Does the subway here have an affectionate nickname?
But I digress.
What were we talking about?
Gyeoungbokgung.
Excellent.
So yeah, huge palace, that is actually a reconstruction of a palace from when the Japanese burned it down. So rebuilt, and very neat. I don't know how true it is to he origional, but lets pretend like THIS i the origional, cause it makes me happy.
There was a tour in english which is ALWAYS appreciated, thanks Korea!
IT was all in all very interesting. The history of the place was really cool. And the gardens were incredible. There were pagodas and temples and shrines and the like. (Don't worry my non facebook friends-I'll get images on smugmug ASAP, or as soon as I get internetz I'm not leaning out of my window to steal.) And since the images are so large since I took them on my nice camera, its so hard to put them on here.
There were however, big, jaws size fish with weird sucking mouths. We all know how I feel about that. But the palace was actually where king, queen, heir (but no other kids), cocubines and ladies in waiting actually lived, so imagine 700+ people hanging out here. Koreans do enjoy being crowded, although I'm not sure why. Even back then, it seems.
Apparently a queen was murdered here, and although I don't like murder I do love political scandle. I mean, bummer for the king, and shame on you, japanese!
I liked the fact that the first son's chambers were in the east, because he rises like the sun. Very clever, early KOreans!
Anways, the palace ground are huge, and include two museums I'm going to have to go back and see. and at 3,000 won ( 2 bucks) for admission (you can't get better then ROK prices) why not check it out.
Start expecting some observations on life in Korea, life as an Expat and life out of the rat race.
Yo Theres me being adorable in front of a palace!
So I went to gyeongbokgung this weekend. Its a HUGE palace in center Seoul, well, I guess towards the north west end.
BUT It was my first subway ride where I had to change lines, and I feel confident enough in my abilities in the subway system to call them "my bitch" That right. Whoever said that the system was too complicated to manuever was sadly mistaken. Whatever, I paid my dues being lost in London, Boston and NYC that I should be able to work a subwaysystem by now.
Does the subway here have an affectionate nickname?
But I digress.
What were we talking about?
Gyeoungbokgung.
Excellent.
So yeah, huge palace, that is actually a reconstruction of a palace from when the Japanese burned it down. So rebuilt, and very neat. I don't know how true it is to he origional, but lets pretend like THIS i the origional, cause it makes me happy.
There was a tour in english which is ALWAYS appreciated, thanks Korea!
IT was all in all very interesting. The history of the place was really cool. And the gardens were incredible. There were pagodas and temples and shrines and the like. (Don't worry my non facebook friends-I'll get images on smugmug ASAP, or as soon as I get internetz I'm not leaning out of my window to steal.) And since the images are so large since I took them on my nice camera, its so hard to put them on here.
There were however, big, jaws size fish with weird sucking mouths. We all know how I feel about that. But the palace was actually where king, queen, heir (but no other kids), cocubines and ladies in waiting actually lived, so imagine 700+ people hanging out here. Koreans do enjoy being crowded, although I'm not sure why. Even back then, it seems.
Apparently a queen was murdered here, and although I don't like murder I do love political scandle. I mean, bummer for the king, and shame on you, japanese!
I liked the fact that the first son's chambers were in the east, because he rises like the sun. Very clever, early KOreans!
Anways, the palace ground are huge, and include two museums I'm going to have to go back and see. and at 3,000 won ( 2 bucks) for admission (you can't get better then ROK prices) why not check it out.
Start expecting some observations on life in Korea, life as an Expat and life out of the rat race.
Yo Theres me being adorable in front of a palace!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Stuff thats Rockin' My world.
Not in a, how did I live without it rock my world type of sense, but in a Are you kidding type of sense.
The first is something I just learned about, so lets talk about it. Fandeath. Is that a band, you may ask. No. Its a CRAZY phobia that the Koreans have. Like a legit crazy, unhealthy phobia. Let me explain.
As you walk through any apartment building you'd be quick to notice that a lot of people's doors are open. For the last few weeks I've been living in the dark, and assuming that people are just social, but because of the language barrier I havn't been chatting. Which is good. Because there doors are open so they don't die. LEgit. They believe that if they leave the fan on with no windows or door open that they will either a)suffocate and die or b) die of either hyper or hypo thermia. And they're obseesed. There are timers on the fans so don't die. If thats not bad enough, some fans come with warnings. Its hilarious. Think I'm making this up?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_death
Another thing is Kimchi. Whats kimchi? Its pickled shit. Quite literally, whatever they can pickle they do and call it kimchi. And eat it with everything. EVERYTHING. Breakfast? Kimchi. Dinner? Kimchi. Midnight snack? Kimchi. Its like "dick in a box" but with some godaweful food. ANd the entire country smells like it. All of the time. Its actually disguesting. But thats not the best part. The best part is that koreans swear by it. They legit believe that they don't catch diseases because of kimchi. Have aids? You're not eating Kimchi. Cancer? Kimchi! They cure diseases with their gross staple food. I mean, Koreas a special place, but this is just bonkers!
KOreans need a reality check.
Theres more, but I'm tired of writing.
Just thought you'd like to know!
Peace and love!
Happy Trails,
EP
The first is something I just learned about, so lets talk about it. Fandeath. Is that a band, you may ask. No. Its a CRAZY phobia that the Koreans have. Like a legit crazy, unhealthy phobia. Let me explain.
As you walk through any apartment building you'd be quick to notice that a lot of people's doors are open. For the last few weeks I've been living in the dark, and assuming that people are just social, but because of the language barrier I havn't been chatting. Which is good. Because there doors are open so they don't die. LEgit. They believe that if they leave the fan on with no windows or door open that they will either a)suffocate and die or b) die of either hyper or hypo thermia. And they're obseesed. There are timers on the fans so don't die. If thats not bad enough, some fans come with warnings. Its hilarious. Think I'm making this up?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_death
Another thing is Kimchi. Whats kimchi? Its pickled shit. Quite literally, whatever they can pickle they do and call it kimchi. And eat it with everything. EVERYTHING. Breakfast? Kimchi. Dinner? Kimchi. Midnight snack? Kimchi. Its like "dick in a box" but with some godaweful food. ANd the entire country smells like it. All of the time. Its actually disguesting. But thats not the best part. The best part is that koreans swear by it. They legit believe that they don't catch diseases because of kimchi. Have aids? You're not eating Kimchi. Cancer? Kimchi! They cure diseases with their gross staple food. I mean, Koreas a special place, but this is just bonkers!
KOreans need a reality check.
Theres more, but I'm tired of writing.
Just thought you'd like to know!
Peace and love!
Happy Trails,
EP
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