The Day Before, Life Goes On...

Rush, Rush, Rush...Pack, Pack, Pack....Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye...If you want the paraphrased version of my week, well there it is! However, I am going to share my last two days and conclude at the point that I am at right now.

Tuesday I went to work, and I met the teacher that will be replacing me. I was so nervous because this person will be taking all my classes and will be a big part of my student's education and lives. Now, some may say that I can be a tad bit controlling (hey gimme a break!:), but all I thought was "pssh, this person can't handle my job" or "they won't love my kids they way I did!" So, I met the teacher and he seemed very nice and opened-minded, but also nervous about starting this job. I ended up training him, getting to know his experience, and I was so happy that he was a truly down-to-earth young guy. He interacted with the kids, played games, made them laugh, and was just an awesome replacement! I felt so good about leaving after that because I know that he will develop a great relationship with the students. I also realized, that as much as I love these kids, it is time to move on for me and for them. For the three years they have been in school, they have seen teachers come and go. Now, it was my time to go and to leave them with a teacher that will continue the work that I put in this last year.

Tuesday night, I went to Seoul and met with my namja-chingu (a.k.a. boyfriend) and had dinner with him one last time. He is going to Australia for 6 months and I will be in America for 6 months. At the end of February, we will meet in Ilsan and I'll start a new job. Anway, so we met for dinner and I was doing really well at holding it together! Then, he said he had to go back to Ilsan to meet his family and I started crying :( It was the type of crying that you can't talk and if you do, it'll be high-pitched and squeaky. So I just cried. We ended up parting at the subway and I cried the whole way home. I am going to miss him so much, but ever since we started dating almost one year ago, he has been talking about Australia. I am so proud of him and happy that he is going to have this experience!

Wednesday was my last day at ECC. I just tried not to think about it, because I still had a job to do and I wanted to do it well until the very end. However, the kids were coming up to me and hugging me and saying "Teacher don't go!" So, it was a bit hard to ignore my leaving. After lunch, I had a snack party with my Fabre class and then went to my Edison class and had a snack party with them. Edison made me a big card that had pictures and notes form the kids on it. I was so special and I can't wait to show my family and friends! As we were sitting there, the last period of the day, Fabre walks in with cards for me. My Korean partner teachers gave me flowers and the kids sang to me. I started crying and hugged all my students. Then it was time to go home and I took my Edison babies to the bus one last time. I cried again, of course :) and said my last goodbye. But, as I said before they will have a great time with the new teacher and I will have a great time at home! Elementary was very nice. My Post-Kindy class were all so sad and they brought a cake and orange juice and we had a party. After school ended, I stayed awhile and cleaned up my desk and said my goodbyes to the Korean teachers. Bittersweet is an understatment!

Wednesday night, I went out to Galbi, or Korean barbaque, with the teachers and had my last taste of that delicious meal. It is just big slabs of pork on an open bbq at your table. The best part is all the side dishes of vegetables, soups, and rice! Yummy! After dinner, we went to the chicken restaurant and had a few beers. I was just so exhausted mentally and physically that I had a hard time enjoying a night of celebration. But, I did get to see a lot of people and say my goodbyes. I like having closure and that means saying goodbye, even if it's difficult to do.

Thursday, I woke up bright and early and started my final tasks of leaving Korea. I packed most of my stuff and realized I don't have as much as I thought I did! Awesome! :) I went to the bank and sent all my money home and closed my account. That was a moment that set into reality I was leaving, they cut up my bank card! I was shocked when the cut it and got a little emotional! After the bank, I walked home and, oh surprise, cried again haha. It's just unbelievable to me, that I have survived a year in this country. This is the place that has become my home and now I'm leaving it. But the plus side is that I am leaving this temporary home, to go to my real home!!! I just went and had lunch in a kimbap-nara and oh boy it was good! I had the cheesy-donggasuh, which is deep-friend pork and rice. Not the healthiest of meals, but it's worth it! Now, I am sitting in a PC bong, or computer room, writing this message. Soon, I will be off to my home to finish my packing.

In two days, I will be sitting in my parent's kitchen, writing my final blog of this year in Korea. It has been happy, sad, stressful, exciting, difficult, enjoyable, and any other emotion you can think of. I will never regret my decision to come here, and I will remember this year for the rest of my life. The lessons I have learned about myself and what I can apply to my future, will be with me forever. See you all soon!!!

The Unofficial Official List: Part 2

Almost one year ago, I made two lists on my blog. The first was all the things I would miss about home, the other was all the things I loved about Korea. Now it is time to reverse those lists and add many new things that I have discovered that I loved and missed since being in Korea! Here we go:

*Things I will miss about Korea:
-My Friends - I can't believe that I was able to come to a foreign country and meet so many people just like me. People who wanted an adventure and to experience another culture. I will miss all my "chingus!"
-Kimbap Naras - These amazing "Ma and Pa" restaurants that serve delicious Korean food. You could spend about $3 or $4 dollars and be so full and not finish your food!They are everywhere too!
-Norebangs - Or "song rooms." I love me some Karaokee!!
-Underground shopping - Next year, I will not bring any clothes and just go shopping in the underground for cheap, yet good quality clothing!
-Transportation - I wasn't a fan of buses and subways before Korea, but thinking about the money I saved on a car and gas is incredible! And the system is so easy to understand!
-Taxis - A taxi ride around town can cost under $5! Yes Please!
-Korean Children - Wow! They are cute!!!
-The Convienence of Everything! - Whether it's the internet company, the locksmith, the doctor, the pharmacy, or even the police, you make a phone call and they are there within 15 minutes! There is no ridiculous waiting period for anything!
-Diaso - A high-quality dollar store that sells just about ANYTHING!
-Korean Snacks - the food is regulated so strictly by the government, that even the chips and cookies are healthy and delicious! If I eat cookies at home, the way I do in Korea, I'll be huge in a month!
-Korean Food - I need to find Kimchi ASAP!
-My Students - I never thought that I would love a child this much, that wasn't mine, until I met these kids. I am going to miss them so much, but I am so happy that I was able to be apart of their education and lives. I will never forget them!

*Things I will love about being home:
-Family, Friends, Pets, blah blah blah - it goes without saying, yeah??
-Driving - I am so scared, but so excited to try driving again. My parents already told me that they are taking me to the high school parking lot to practice before I hit the road :)
-Carpet - I haven't felt carpet in over a year!
-Clothes Dryer - YES!!! No more mold on my clothes or waiting two days for my clothes to dry!
-A Real Shower - I'm just sick of my bathroom being wet EVERYWHERE!
-Speaking English to Strangers - I have not spoken to someone I didn't know in over a year. I haven't been able to ask where things are at a store, or ask for directions.
-Not Being Stared At - It was flattering at first, now it's just plain annoying and rude!
-T.V. - I have started to understand Korean and have enjoyed watching Korean T.V. but I miss my shows and getting super excited about how magical "Dancing With The Stars" is with my mom :)


There is probably so much that I am missing from both lists, but these are the things that have come to mind! I am currently in the middle of my last day at ECC! I have to go and say goodbye to my students and the tears are coming! Two days and I'll be on an airplane home to my beautiful Michigan!

The End is Near!

The phrase "I can't believe..." has been typed in almost every blog entry this year haha! Why? Because I honestly can't believe all that has happened! My year in Korea is quickly coming to an end and it's hard processing all that is going on. I am so excited (and ready) to go home, but at the same time, I have to say goodbye to so many people and my students. First, I have to deal with the sad part, to get to the happy part, but I know it'll be worth it! I am so excited to see my parents, sister, family and friends, that I am jumping around like a child and planning all the great things I am going to do with them!

Update on life: In the past month, I have been spending it just winding down my Korean life and preparing myself for home. People have asked me if I have been visiting places and sight-seeing before I leave, and my answer is "no." I did all the touristy things in my first couple of months. For me, this isn't about leaving a country and trying to squeeze in as much culture as possible, it's about leaving the place that I have made my home. Instead, I have been packing my stuff, getting rid of thing I don't want, and spending time with my friends. I am ready to start the next phase of being home! But, as said before, that means saying good-bye and it's alwasys so hard!

I finally told my students that I was leaving. This is how it went...
Me: "Okay kids, what month comes next?"
Students: "September!"
Me:"Good job! Now, when September comes, Mallory Teacher is going to go back to America and you will have a new teacher!"
Students: "Why Teacher?!"
Me: "Because I miss my family and they miss me."
Students: "Okay teacher, go see Mommy and Daddy."
*Then My Little Prince Eric sits and thinks really hard about something and says...
Eric: "So Teacher go to America in September, and come back October?"
*I start to whimper and say...
Me: "Ummm, No Eric....*the rest of the conversation was inaudible*

It was so hard to say good-bye to my students, because they don't fully understand what "good-bye" means. I just hope that they like and enjoy their new teacher as much as they liked me! I have asked all the teachers to take care of them for me and to send me pictures of course!

In five days I will be on an airplane and I can't believe it's already here! One year ago, I wrote "I can't believe I'm here" and now it's "I can't believe it's over!" WOW!!!

Summer Vacation: Part 1

Our vacation from school for one week started on a sad note. We said goodbye to our Foreign Teacher Supervisor and my good friend. He was leaving Korea after being here for 18 months. We had a final chicken&beer night at the local chicken restaurant and said our goodbyes on the next morning which was the first day of vacation. After saying goodbye, I headed for the subway to get to the airport to get to Jeju Island!!! Jeju is a beautiful island between Korea and Japan, that is tropical and gorgeous. I was ready to relax and enjoy the sun!!

Immediately upon arriving in Jeju, we started a very busy and detailed guided tour of Jeju. We went to an arboretum of Jeju agriculture, an Asian-themed circus, an underground cave, a glass-sculpture park, a Jeju Island history museum, a black sand beach, and much more! I can't pick which part was my favorite because we did so much and saw so many great things. I was really happy with the tour and can't believe how inexpensive everything was.

We did many great things and the vacation was a lot of fun, but a few moments are worth sharing with everyone. One thing I never thought I would see in my life happened in Jeju Island. We were in the bus and stopped near a mountain side. I look out the window and a large herd of wild horses come into view and start eating grass on the side of the mountain. I was amazed at how large and beautiful these animals were. I was so amazed that I forgot to take a picture :) Another thing I never thought I would do happened in Jeju. We were at an actual village of Jeju Island where people lived and we were learning about the customs of the village. The tour guide goes around and puts this grain-like substance in our hands and tells us that it is very healthy to eat and people in this village eat it everyday. Come to find out that it is dried horse placenta! I was very freaked out, but I figured "hey, if these people eat it everyday, then I can eat it just one time." So, bottoms up! It wasn't that bad actually. The really bad part was just thinking about what you were eating. Another thing I ate in Jeju was Sushami, which is raw fish and vegetables. I wasn't that bad, but I'm not a huge fan of fish.

After we were in Jeju for three days, we hopped on a plane and went to Busan which is a beach city in Korea. We ended up spending a day on the beach along with 500,000 other people. That was the estimated number from the Korean government. It was so packed and all you could see was a sea of umbrellas and the first 50 feet of the water was only people packed together. Busan was a fun city, but the amount of people was unbelievable. I did have a nice time, just laying down and resting on a beach after three days of non-stop Jeju touring. It was a great way to end my vacation. But, my vacation wasn't over because I still had three days until school started!! I was ready to sleep, relax, and prepare my mind and body for school. However, relaxing and sleeping would be the last thing I would do for the rest of my vacation.....

Summer Vacation: Part 2

After my glorious four day vacation in paradise, I was ready to come home and spend the next three days of vacation just relaxing. I was also going to start my packing for when I leave next month and go back home! We left Busan at around 5:30pm and arrived in Seoul at around 10pm on Sunday night. I was ready to go home, shower, start some laundry and get into my nice and comfortable bed. I got to my apartment at around midnight and couldn't believe what I saw. My apartment door was unlocked, the windows were open, and my room and roommate's rooms were completely destroyed. My roommate had left for vacation on Friday afternoon and sometime between then and this moment, we had been robbed.

I had never been this shocked in my life, and I was shaking so badly that I could barely make a phone call. I had a friend call the police and called the only other teacher that was home from vacation. The police came within five minutes and did a thorough search of the apartment. They asked questions, looked around, and called the detectives. The detectives fingerprinted, footprinted, and took photos of the bedrooms and apartment. They worked and are still working very diligently on the case and I hope they know how much I appreciate their efforts.

I don't want to go into the details about how it happened, what was stolen, etc. What I do want to say is that I just can't believe this happened and I am so crushed that something like this had to happen at all. I know that what was taken is just stuff and that stuff can be replaced. What makes me the most upset is how violated I feel. I am in a foreign country, a place that is not my home and that I will never feel completely comfortable in. I have worked so hard to make my little room in Korea, my own space that is just mine and I feel safe in. Now, I don't have that. I have a space, that some stranger came into, destroyed, and left with my most valuable possessions. I have no sense of security in my apartment anymore and that's what hurts the most. I love Korea and I am so excited to return to a different city, but it's sad that my first year here has to end on such a bad note.

So, to wrap up this lovely vacation story: I went from paradise to hell in a matter of moments. Now, more than ever, I am ready to get out of Uijeongbu, out of DongMokKohl, and home to my wonderful family and friends who I miss so much. People have asked me "Do you want to leave Korea early after the break in?" My answer is NO! I have two reasons to stay: my adorable kids, and my equally adorable boyfriend :) Other than that, I am ready to go! Less than four weeks, and I will be writing my final post from the kitchen of my parent's house!!