It is currently 1:00am on December 31st as I write this post. I'm not sleeping because I got 12 hours of sleep last night and am fully awake. I realized sometime earlier in the day that it is the last day of 2010 and have been reflecting on this past year. Today, I was with some friends and we were making our New Year's Eve plans. They asked what I did last year for New Year's and how we could top that. Last years party was amazing and truly the first great New Year's that I had since the awesome dance party for ringing in the millenium (Eem knows what I'm talking about haha :) Anyway, I got to thinking about how last New Year's seemed like it was just a month ago. I can't believe how fast this year has gone and what a year this has been!
Last year at this time, I had just graduated from WMU, was working two jobs and living in Kalamazoo. The idea of coming to Korea was still just an idea. I had no definite plans, no job, and my application was still sitting on my desk. Fast forward 12 months later and I am sitting in my apartment in South Korea with a full-time teaching job and actually living this dream. I will say it again and again, I can't believe I'm here! I am still in shock and awe at myself that I can actually make things like this happen. Yes, I can move to a foreign country, by myself, for a year and make it work. Yes, I do have the guts to venture out and discover myself in another culture. Instead of waiting around for experiences to come to my door, I can go out and find them myself. A year ago, the thought of coming to Korea was exciting, but absolutely terrifying. I wasn't prepared for this 12 months ago and to be honest I wasn't prepared for this 4 months ago when I left, but here I am, making it work.
Tomorrow night, when I am standing on the streets of Seoul with millions of Koreans and foreigners, I will wonder if I can ever top this New Year's Eve. How can any turn of the year be better than the one that I will have in Korea. This is the place that I have and will continue to grow. This is the place that will teach me values and lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This is the place that I am slowly falling in love with. So cheers to 2010! You've been a great year and a year that will always be with me. Happy New Year everyone! I hope your 2011 is filled with happiness, love, and great memories!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Finally, the Holidays are Over!
It seems we say it every year. We dread the approach of the holidays and the madness of it all. When the beautiful day of December 26th finally comes, we breath a sigh of relief. Well that cannot be more true this year. Now, to be fair, I did have a very nice holiday and I made all the attempts I could to have a great Christmas. However, Christmas in Korea will never be better or greater than home. I have realized how ridiculous I've been in the past with frantically buying presents and making mounds of food for Christmas, but all I need at this time it to be with my family. Its sad, but I admit, that it took 6,000 miles and being in Korea to realize that. What has been an absolute blessing is skype! I was able to see my family open their presents from me, talk to my extended family at the Christmas Eve party, and I spent Christmas morning in America (Christmas evening in Korea) with my family infront of the tree. I don't know how I would survive if I couldn't talk to or see my family, even in the cyber world. But the holiday season passing is a great boost for my depressed spirit! All month I have been anticipating the holidays in a sad way, even though they turned out okay.
The Christmas celebrations started on December 23rd when we had our big party for the kindergarten kids. They got to open presents (from their parents), see Santa, and make little snowman from cups. They had so much fun and were so cute! That night my two Chingus (friends) and I went to Home Plus and spent $150 on a Christmas eve feast for 25 people. On Christmas Eve, after work, we started cooking this amazing feast! Everyone showed up to my apartment and we ate, drank, and laughed the night away into Christmas. On Christmas morning, I skyped into my big family Christmas Eve party and talked to my cousins, aunts, and uncles! It was so great to see everyone and I think I need to call the inventor of Skype and personally thank him for this amazing invention haha! After skyping, three of the teachers and I made breakfast and opened our gifts from home infront of our tree :) We had 3:00 reservations at a western restaurant for a huge Christmas buffet. We went with probably every other foreigner in Korea because there was not a single Korean person in the entire restaurant. It was so weird being in a place where I could have an actual conversation with a stranger. Anyway, I have to admit that our homemade Christmas Eve feast was soooo much better than this restaurant, but at least I got to be with friends on Christmas! As much as I complained before about the holidays being a complete bummer, I made the best of the situation. As I said to my parents, with all the sadness I feel at this time of year, I wouldn't trade this experience and the life lessons I am learning for anything. If it means suffering through Christmas in Uijeongbu, South Korea than so be it!
Now that Christmas is over, I get to look forward to an AMAZING New Year's in SEOUL!!! It's going to be the best New Years that I will remember forever! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
The Christmas celebrations started on December 23rd when we had our big party for the kindergarten kids. They got to open presents (from their parents), see Santa, and make little snowman from cups. They had so much fun and were so cute! That night my two Chingus (friends) and I went to Home Plus and spent $150 on a Christmas eve feast for 25 people. On Christmas Eve, after work, we started cooking this amazing feast! Everyone showed up to my apartment and we ate, drank, and laughed the night away into Christmas. On Christmas morning, I skyped into my big family Christmas Eve party and talked to my cousins, aunts, and uncles! It was so great to see everyone and I think I need to call the inventor of Skype and personally thank him for this amazing invention haha! After skyping, three of the teachers and I made breakfast and opened our gifts from home infront of our tree :) We had 3:00 reservations at a western restaurant for a huge Christmas buffet. We went with probably every other foreigner in Korea because there was not a single Korean person in the entire restaurant. It was so weird being in a place where I could have an actual conversation with a stranger. Anyway, I have to admit that our homemade Christmas Eve feast was soooo much better than this restaurant, but at least I got to be with friends on Christmas! As much as I complained before about the holidays being a complete bummer, I made the best of the situation. As I said to my parents, with all the sadness I feel at this time of year, I wouldn't trade this experience and the life lessons I am learning for anything. If it means suffering through Christmas in Uijeongbu, South Korea than so be it!
Now that Christmas is over, I get to look forward to an AMAZING New Year's in SEOUL!!! It's going to be the best New Years that I will remember forever! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Aigoo...Oy...Cucumber
The holidays are just around the corner and I am really enjoying the non-craziness associated with the holidays in Korea. People aren't running at full speed to the malls for that special toy or buying way too many potatoes for the Christmas dinners (yet). It might get nuts, but I am from Michigan. The land where we made the national news because a store clerk was trampled to death on Black Friday. I come from a line of power shoppers, so I am prepared.
Now for an explanation of my title. Aigoo (pronounced "I go") isn't a word, but more of an expression like "oyvey" or "ugh." So when I'm at school and it's getting to be that time of the day when I'm swearing off ever having children, I can't say "aigoo" because it is Korean. So I revert back to the classic "Oy." Come to find out that "oy" in Korean means cucumber. I sat down in my chair, slumped over and went "oy." The kids looked at me, then each other, back at me and go "Teacher, cucumber?" Haha, I had a good laugh at that. Now whenever I am questioning the future of ConCon getting grandkids, I just say "cucumber."
Don't misunderstand me. I love these kids and working with them, but they can be so whiny sometimes! They all come from very wealthy families and are spoiled rotten, but that is no excuse to ask every single question in a whiny voice with your feet stomping. Another thing I don't get is when a student comes up to me and tells me they have to poo. Ummm, do I look like a toilet? Just go poo! I try to remember what it was like to be five years old and if I acted like this. But it must have been hard to judge since my parents spent 90% of my childhood telling me to get out of the street or to stop banging the garden tools against the car.
The best moments in the classroom are 1) when the kids finally understand a concept in our workbooks. My genius student has the most amazing facial expression when the lightbulb in his head goes off. He just stares off into space with his mouth half open/half smiling. And 2) when I walk into the class for the first time of the day and they all jump up and tackle me. "Mallory Teacher, you look so cool! Mallory Teacher, are we doing science today?! Mallory Teacher, I have to poo!" Haha, It makes me smile and I'm so happy there are only eight of them because I couldn't handle any more!
Christmas is looking to be a busy time of festivities. Starting on Friday, Dec. 17th, we are doing a staff Christmas dinner at a delicious foreign buffet. We will be exchanging secret santa gifts and eating ourselves silly. Then, on Dec 23rd we will have the all-day event of the Kindergarten Christmas party. Games, food, making ornaments, etc. On Christmas eve we have the Kindergarten field trip to a ski resort. The kids will get to go sledding and tubing. Then in the afternoon we will have the elementary Christmas party. After school is finish, we are going back to my apartment and making a huge Christmas eve feast with about 15 other teachers. The night will most likely be followed by the Norebang (karaoke rooms). Christmas morning I will wake up and most likely skype with my parents and then in the afternoon we are going to a popular foreign restaurant for a delicious Christmas dinner. Afer typing all this up, I realized that I will be eating myself into a holiday coma! Oh well, that's the Christmas tradition! I want to send out a huge SORRY to my family! No Greek cookies this year, but next year I will go nuts and make double haha! Miss and Love you all! Happy Holidays!
Now for an explanation of my title. Aigoo (pronounced "I go") isn't a word, but more of an expression like "oyvey" or "ugh." So when I'm at school and it's getting to be that time of the day when I'm swearing off ever having children, I can't say "aigoo" because it is Korean. So I revert back to the classic "Oy." Come to find out that "oy" in Korean means cucumber. I sat down in my chair, slumped over and went "oy." The kids looked at me, then each other, back at me and go "Teacher, cucumber?" Haha, I had a good laugh at that. Now whenever I am questioning the future of ConCon getting grandkids, I just say "cucumber."
Don't misunderstand me. I love these kids and working with them, but they can be so whiny sometimes! They all come from very wealthy families and are spoiled rotten, but that is no excuse to ask every single question in a whiny voice with your feet stomping. Another thing I don't get is when a student comes up to me and tells me they have to poo. Ummm, do I look like a toilet? Just go poo! I try to remember what it was like to be five years old and if I acted like this. But it must have been hard to judge since my parents spent 90% of my childhood telling me to get out of the street or to stop banging the garden tools against the car.
The best moments in the classroom are 1) when the kids finally understand a concept in our workbooks. My genius student has the most amazing facial expression when the lightbulb in his head goes off. He just stares off into space with his mouth half open/half smiling. And 2) when I walk into the class for the first time of the day and they all jump up and tackle me. "Mallory Teacher, you look so cool! Mallory Teacher, are we doing science today?! Mallory Teacher, I have to poo!" Haha, It makes me smile and I'm so happy there are only eight of them because I couldn't handle any more!
Christmas is looking to be a busy time of festivities. Starting on Friday, Dec. 17th, we are doing a staff Christmas dinner at a delicious foreign buffet. We will be exchanging secret santa gifts and eating ourselves silly. Then, on Dec 23rd we will have the all-day event of the Kindergarten Christmas party. Games, food, making ornaments, etc. On Christmas eve we have the Kindergarten field trip to a ski resort. The kids will get to go sledding and tubing. Then in the afternoon we will have the elementary Christmas party. After school is finish, we are going back to my apartment and making a huge Christmas eve feast with about 15 other teachers. The night will most likely be followed by the Norebang (karaoke rooms). Christmas morning I will wake up and most likely skype with my parents and then in the afternoon we are going to a popular foreign restaurant for a delicious Christmas dinner. Afer typing all this up, I realized that I will be eating myself into a holiday coma! Oh well, that's the Christmas tradition! I want to send out a huge SORRY to my family! No Greek cookies this year, but next year I will go nuts and make double haha! Miss and Love you all! Happy Holidays!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Korean Randomness
Over the past 3 and 1/2 months (yes, it's been that long!) I've been taking random photos of hilarious products or posters that I've seen walking through the stores and streets. Korean products try to be cool and have English written on them. Apparently, the companies did not have a foreign or fluent English speaker proof read any of this stuff because it's either mispelled or translates to something funny. Here are a few things I've found :
Dick Stick? I think they meant to say "Dip Stick" but the foreigners can find this amusing at least!
Get Crunk, with the Crunky Bar! Pretty sure this is their attempted at "crunCH."
A1 or Ace+...Same thing :)
I would prefer the Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips from back home, but Kimchi flavored Sun Chips will suffice.
Here we go Michigan. We are "Natural Champions." Not National Champions, but Natural. It seems that Michigan gear is all over here. Not too sure why our state stands out among the 50, but Koreans love sporting the Michigan sweatshirts.
I have many other pictures and more to come! I always carry my camera with me for such discoveries. Hope all is well in Michigan! Keep being Natural Champions as we always are!
Dick Stick? I think they meant to say "Dip Stick" but the foreigners can find this amusing at least!
Get Crunk, with the Crunky Bar! Pretty sure this is their attempted at "crunCH."
A1 or Ace+...Same thing :)
I would prefer the Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips from back home, but Kimchi flavored Sun Chips will suffice.
Here we go Michigan. We are "Natural Champions." Not National Champions, but Natural. It seems that Michigan gear is all over here. Not too sure why our state stands out among the 50, but Koreans love sporting the Michigan sweatshirts.
I have many other pictures and more to come! I always carry my camera with me for such discoveries. Hope all is well in Michigan! Keep being Natural Champions as we always are!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)