Seoul is a very big city...24 million people or so, that's almost as big as Canada but in a country the size of Southwestern Ontario. It is very obvious walking around what it is that Koreans love or atleast what is popular...you truly cannot escape them, always in your face but it's what makes Seoul Seoul :0)
Koreans love...
1) High heels...well atleast the girls do. When I was at Everland (an amusement park), I was probably the only one wearing running shoes because all the girls here wear high heels pretty much everywhere they go. I'm not sure what it is...a height thing, the attempt to make their legs look long, either way I just don't get it and more so would like to know their secret for being able to wear heels all day everyday...pain is beauty apparently.
2) Coffee shops...every other building is a coffee shop for sure, its insane how much coffee the people here much consume. Not only are they coffee shops, they are luxurious and usually 3 or 4 floors. They even have Dunkin Donuts here and its nice, really modern, I don't get it! Oh and that's another thing...Koreans love donut shops, there's Krispy Kreme too...all that's missing is Timmy's :)
3) Drinking...if its not a coffee shop then its a bar. Public drunkenness is accepted and drinking after work is a ritual...beer and soju are so cheap that if it were like that at home it would be the same. Walking home from work I have run into many drunken men napping on benches and the street or passed out...either way Korea is so safe that you can do that, well I wouldn't but they can and its all good. Everywhere serves alcohol, even the little markets, its amazing!
4) Weird style quirks such as socks and sandals, socks and high heels, socks and anything that socks shouldn't be worn with.
5) Making sure everyone knows if you're in a couple. Couples here wear matching clothing...this is no a joke, I'm serious. They walk around with matching shoes, t-shirts, sweaters...its ridiculous but quite entertaining. Also the boyfriends carry their girlfriends purses all the time and everywhere, haven't quite figured that one out yet either.
6) They loooove to shop...looks like I came to the right place! There are street markets everywhere and they are always packed. You can seriously find anything at all hours in the night. There are electronics markets, glasses markets, alcohol markets, clothing markets, pottery markets and the list goes on.
7) They love to not be home. I swear that Korean never stay home, they just love hiking and shopping and wandering. That must explain why bars and clubs and Norebongs are all open into the wee hours of the morning...the city never sleeps. Its amazing because there's always something to do, you're never bored and there are people everywhere you go no matter the time or day. You can hop from a restaurant to a bar to another bar to a club to a Norebong to another bar to a dvdbong to another club and its only 2am and things are still just starting, the usual go home time is between 4-6am...good thing I'm a night person!
8) Being connected....Korea has the fasted downloading speed of anywhere in the world and is so connected that people walk around the streets and sit in the sbuway watching tv on their cell phones...no one reads books, there's no need when you have everything on your cell phone from a dictionary to a sweet camera to a tv and movie player...its crazy, there is no time when I will use half the things on my phone and what's better is that most of it is free. In Korea all incoming calls are FREE...like seriously, imagine they had that in Canada!!
OK that's all I can think of right now although I know there's so so much more I will discover....its been an adventure so far....another update will come after Bejing which is in 3 days woot woot LOOOOOVE Chuseok weekend and getting time off. Wish me luck on my first traveling adventure...that goodness I have Rexy with me!!
Sante!
xo
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Just incase I get lonely..
I figured I would get homesick and miss home at some point, or many points SO I devoted a whole wall and more to my home life and filled it with pictures of friends, family and other paraphernalia that was given to me to get my through a year without. Just incase I ever get lonely, I have some company and know that no matter what I find while I'm away, I know exactly what's waiting for me when I get home....xoxo
always on my mind...
Photo 1: Big strong Mal at the Olympic Museum in LausannePhoto 2: Having a romantic and thoughtful moment at the overnight hut with Ruth
Photo 3: Showing our love for Harry's
Photo 4: Senior staff since 2006 WHAT!
Photo 5: The flip cup champions and beautiful ladies of the senior section
Photo 6: Lingerie party with my girls :)Photo 7: Me and Jonny...floaters and partners in crime
Photo 8: Senior excursion to Lausanne
Photo 9: Team Classique showing our roots
Photo 10: TC at staff party
Photo 11: we have our bracelets and are ready for the open bar
Photo 12: Girls night at Cite Joie
Photo 13: The junior staff on intro day
Photo 14: The staff having more fun then the kids are the junior pool party
Photo 15: The door to Arts and Crafts
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Still young at heart...
Right now I am sitting in my staff room at school waiting for my Moms and Tots class which starts at 10:30. I love M&T but is it ever draining...good thing I have a 3 hour brake until my next class afterwards otherwise I don't think I would make it through the day.
My past few days here have been really great and everyday I am becoming more and more comfortable with my new life here and although its a climb...the view is great :)
I got a new building mate woohooooo her name is Amanda and she just arrived last week and has moved 2 doors down from me. It's awesome because we're both new and still figuring everything out but I think we're managing.
I still am not sleeping :( and am tired 99.9% of the time but the days energize me even though I'm stuck inside during the sunshine. I don't know what's up...maybe I'm too anxious/excited or amybe its my neighbour who liked to blast music and hammer on the walls at midnight but hopefully it goes away soon
On sunday I had the funnest day ever and went to this amazing amusement park here called Everland. We had to travel far out of the city but it was totally worth it as this park was truly incredible and turned me into a child for a day. I just couldn't decide what I wanted to do first, I got excited about everything like a puppy, I ate WAY too much food...it was awesome!! We first went to the water park called Carribean Bay and spent most of our day there. It was a beautiful day to spend in the water and going down slides. We hit the wave pool first but being in Korea and there silly ways we had to wear hawaiian printed life jackets lol now for someone who's been swimming since I could walk this seemed ridiculous but whatever, it made it that much more fun. We went down some bobsleigh slides, some tube slides, one that was similar to a rollercoaster and then hit the longest lazy river I've ever been in....all in all AMAZING!! Then it was time for the park and the first order of business was ZOOTOPIA ie. a zoo as it says in the name. We saw tigers and seals and penguins and lemars and monkeys and big friggin turtles and polar bears and I was in heaven and could have spent all day there. Then it was time to try out the T Express which has the steepest incline of any wooden rollercoaster in the world AH!! Ofcourse the front row was going to be necessary and was well worth the wait....so fast, so steep, so scary but oh so much fun!! Our food intake of the day included ALOT of dippin dots, slushies, hot dogs, pizza rolla, cinnamon rolls but no cotton candy :( maybe next time. I would seriously go back next weekend but I think I'll hold out...absence makes the heart grow fonder :):)
My Korean has not improved...I'm still holding steady with the whole 4 words I know but after a quick lesson from Rexy I'm hoping to extend that to 10 or 15 words and maybe even a sentence or two...who knows, I'm not putting any pressure on myself since its only been a few weeks.
I've been having all these really vivid dreams about people from at home and its freaking me out because when I wake up I actually think they are there or I am home and get all confused...maybe that's why I can't sleep! They aren't weird dreams, they're very normal and I'm just in regular situations and places that I would be in if I were at home but they are so real...maybe I'm just missing some people and I'm sure that won't change all year but hopefully my dreams do.
Wow I just realized how boring I am and how I really have nothing interesting to say hmmm I need to work on that but I'm not making an promises...this might be all you get for the next year :)
Well time for class...I have my wee little Moms and Tots class and cannot wait to see all their adorable little faces that I just want to squish!!
Another day, another adventure in teaching
janeython
xoxo
My past few days here have been really great and everyday I am becoming more and more comfortable with my new life here and although its a climb...the view is great :)
I got a new building mate woohooooo her name is Amanda and she just arrived last week and has moved 2 doors down from me. It's awesome because we're both new and still figuring everything out but I think we're managing.
I still am not sleeping :( and am tired 99.9% of the time but the days energize me even though I'm stuck inside during the sunshine. I don't know what's up...maybe I'm too anxious/excited or amybe its my neighbour who liked to blast music and hammer on the walls at midnight but hopefully it goes away soon
On sunday I had the funnest day ever and went to this amazing amusement park here called Everland. We had to travel far out of the city but it was totally worth it as this park was truly incredible and turned me into a child for a day. I just couldn't decide what I wanted to do first, I got excited about everything like a puppy, I ate WAY too much food...it was awesome!! We first went to the water park called Carribean Bay and spent most of our day there. It was a beautiful day to spend in the water and going down slides. We hit the wave pool first but being in Korea and there silly ways we had to wear hawaiian printed life jackets lol now for someone who's been swimming since I could walk this seemed ridiculous but whatever, it made it that much more fun. We went down some bobsleigh slides, some tube slides, one that was similar to a rollercoaster and then hit the longest lazy river I've ever been in....all in all AMAZING!! Then it was time for the park and the first order of business was ZOOTOPIA ie. a zoo as it says in the name. We saw tigers and seals and penguins and lemars and monkeys and big friggin turtles and polar bears and I was in heaven and could have spent all day there. Then it was time to try out the T Express which has the steepest incline of any wooden rollercoaster in the world AH!! Ofcourse the front row was going to be necessary and was well worth the wait....so fast, so steep, so scary but oh so much fun!! Our food intake of the day included ALOT of dippin dots, slushies, hot dogs, pizza rolla, cinnamon rolls but no cotton candy :( maybe next time. I would seriously go back next weekend but I think I'll hold out...absence makes the heart grow fonder :):)
My Korean has not improved...I'm still holding steady with the whole 4 words I know but after a quick lesson from Rexy I'm hoping to extend that to 10 or 15 words and maybe even a sentence or two...who knows, I'm not putting any pressure on myself since its only been a few weeks.
I've been having all these really vivid dreams about people from at home and its freaking me out because when I wake up I actually think they are there or I am home and get all confused...maybe that's why I can't sleep! They aren't weird dreams, they're very normal and I'm just in regular situations and places that I would be in if I were at home but they are so real...maybe I'm just missing some people and I'm sure that won't change all year but hopefully my dreams do.
Wow I just realized how boring I am and how I really have nothing interesting to say hmmm I need to work on that but I'm not making an promises...this might be all you get for the next year :)
Well time for class...I have my wee little Moms and Tots class and cannot wait to see all their adorable little faces that I just want to squish!!
Another day, another adventure in teaching
janeython
xoxo
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
taking on Seoul one day at a time
It is late at night probably...I tend to loose track of the day and time and working from Tuesday to Saturday instead of Monday to Friday makes it worse to figure out what day it is. I'm not sleeping ofcourse, I mean I can sleep but I have to wear myself out first by watching movies and reading and then eventually sleep comes over me but 5 hours is not enough with my job.
I wouldn't call what I do hard labour but it is mind and emotional labour sometimes. I have never had so much respect for those who choose teaching as a profession especially young little ones who are ADD all the time...I never thought I would see the day when I would be teaching 2-12 year olds but I also thought I would never see the day at ISCM when I would be working as a junior counsellor and with junior boys for that matter so I'm surprising myself daily. I start everyday at 10:30 with 2 & 3 year olds and their moms in a moms and tots class which is really song/dance/smile/energetic time and as your first class, it can be draining. They are probably the cutest kids ever with the funniest personalities at such a young age so that keeps me smiling daily but its not forr everyone that's for sure. I have either a 2 or 3 hour lunch break which I use to relax and plan in our staff room which is where all 15 of my fellow Maple Bear staffers have our desks. The staff room is pretty much our only safe haven at school from kids/parents and is a good escape to re-group on bad days, luckily I haven't had any really bad ones yet, just long ones. My staff are really great and have been more then helpful with whatever I need which is usually something because I'm still getting the hang of things. As you can imagine my desk is covered with every possibly organizational supply I could get and with lots of fun pens, highlighters, post its and stickers for the kids(and me too when I do good :) My afternoon is back to back classes or various Junior English levels with everything from level 101 to 701. Some classes I love love loooooove but some are a little more challenging so its a good balance. Some of my 701 kids are so smart its truly shocking when they say "teacher this is too easy" which happens often. I have this adorable boy named Edward in my 401 class who's mom brings me a treat bag and drink at the end of every class....the first week it was starbucks and this week it's Dunkin Donuts. Ofcourse I don't like Dunkin Donuts, especially when just today I was saying how I would kill for Tim Horton's and DD just doesn't do the trick BUT how sweet is that...It's too much and I almost feel guilty but its a great snack at the end of the day so I won't complain. Saturdays I have 2 Kindergarten classes filled with many many hyper 7 year olds who are beyond cute. Again its alot of smiling, singing, clapping and looking like an absolute fool(I'm almost glad no one can see me in these moments) but its fun and I'm loving it.
I moved into my apartment a week ago and I love it although its comparable to a dorm room with kitchen included. Its teeny tiny but I'm not too bothered and could really live anywhere aslong as its clean and bright which it is. I walk to and from work everyday since its only about 5 minutes away. The morning is great because its downhill but nighttime after a long day walking uphill is just brutal but atleast my calves will look good right! I'm still getting used to the shower which is pretty much above my sink, they don't often have the seperated shower stall so its pretty funny and quite ridiculous...how I have taken showers for granted and never will again! I have already surrounded myself and my walls with little pieces of home inlcuding my one wall next to my bed which is covered with photos of everyone I love in my life :) I have made a collage of photos for above my desk that is joined by my ISCM staff photo and a picture of the Toronto skyline. Finally my beautiful going away card from the oakville crew with drawings by Big Ian Evinou himself is above my head so there is no possible way I could miss home in theory, except I do a little everyday.
There are things about Korea that make me laugh and that I'm still adjusting to. 1) Cars have the right of way here which makes sense in a city of this many people but this really means that red lights don't really mean stop...red lights are more like yellow lights at home and are often ran 2) There is no recycling so everytime I through out a can/bottle which is often, a little piece of my soul dies. What's almost worse is that there are barely any garbage cans on the street so I end up carrying my garbage forever until I find one. Their theory is that if there are no garbage cans then people will create less garbage which is obviously the silliest thing I've ever heard but Seoul is pretty clean anyways. 3) People love to spit on the street and not just men but women too...its gross and there is no reason for it EVER. 4) Koreans do this thing where they squat everywhere. I swear they must be the most flexible culture ever because anytime they're standing to wait or are smoking outside a building they squat and will sit like that for ages....its very strange and funny to see for sure. 5) The showers...but that was already mentioned. 6) There are precious little stray puppies and kitties everywhere and because its me I run after them trying to pet them and cuddle them but clearly that is not normal here. It just makes me sad and if it were up to me I would have about 10 pets by now lol. 7) Koreans treat foreigners like they're famous and sometimes random people will just walk up to you and say hello or want photos with you. In my area there aren't many foreigners but on sunday I was in Itaewon and you would never know you were in Seoul being there...its crazy! 8) The culture and language is all based on a class system and how you speak and act varies depending on who you're speaking to. I'm still learning and obviously don't know much Koreaan but I already see how difficult it is to learn because of this and all the proper phrasing. Koreans are also big gesturers and love to nod their heads which I have now found myself doing. 9) It is impossible to find my necessities ie. ketchup, peanut butter(although I finally found some skippy yay), avocados(they are like 5$ each ew), diet pepsi and there are probably more that I will discover in the next little while. 10) Drinking is really cheap here...especially beer and soju which is like the Korean vodka which is drunk in shots(except I can't handle that so I mix it). I just bought 6 bottle of soju for 6000 won ie. $6 INSANE!! I could get used to this!! Oh and apparently my new thing here is drinking beer...who would have thought the day would come when I would be drinking beer at all let alone Korean beer haha I still don't like it but I'm putting up with it, maybe it'll grow on me.
I think I've really started to blend in to the daily life here and although I still have no idea where I'm going half the time, am white and don't speak or understand Korean...I think I'm getting along but more importantly am loving it!!! I know that its still early but it can only get better and I can't wait until it does.
Until next time,
janey waney peacing out xoxo
I wouldn't call what I do hard labour but it is mind and emotional labour sometimes. I have never had so much respect for those who choose teaching as a profession especially young little ones who are ADD all the time...I never thought I would see the day when I would be teaching 2-12 year olds but I also thought I would never see the day at ISCM when I would be working as a junior counsellor and with junior boys for that matter so I'm surprising myself daily. I start everyday at 10:30 with 2 & 3 year olds and their moms in a moms and tots class which is really song/dance/smile/energetic time and as your first class, it can be draining. They are probably the cutest kids ever with the funniest personalities at such a young age so that keeps me smiling daily but its not forr everyone that's for sure. I have either a 2 or 3 hour lunch break which I use to relax and plan in our staff room which is where all 15 of my fellow Maple Bear staffers have our desks. The staff room is pretty much our only safe haven at school from kids/parents and is a good escape to re-group on bad days, luckily I haven't had any really bad ones yet, just long ones. My staff are really great and have been more then helpful with whatever I need which is usually something because I'm still getting the hang of things. As you can imagine my desk is covered with every possibly organizational supply I could get and with lots of fun pens, highlighters, post its and stickers for the kids(and me too when I do good :) My afternoon is back to back classes or various Junior English levels with everything from level 101 to 701. Some classes I love love loooooove but some are a little more challenging so its a good balance. Some of my 701 kids are so smart its truly shocking when they say "teacher this is too easy" which happens often. I have this adorable boy named Edward in my 401 class who's mom brings me a treat bag and drink at the end of every class....the first week it was starbucks and this week it's Dunkin Donuts. Ofcourse I don't like Dunkin Donuts, especially when just today I was saying how I would kill for Tim Horton's and DD just doesn't do the trick BUT how sweet is that...It's too much and I almost feel guilty but its a great snack at the end of the day so I won't complain. Saturdays I have 2 Kindergarten classes filled with many many hyper 7 year olds who are beyond cute. Again its alot of smiling, singing, clapping and looking like an absolute fool(I'm almost glad no one can see me in these moments) but its fun and I'm loving it.
I moved into my apartment a week ago and I love it although its comparable to a dorm room with kitchen included. Its teeny tiny but I'm not too bothered and could really live anywhere aslong as its clean and bright which it is. I walk to and from work everyday since its only about 5 minutes away. The morning is great because its downhill but nighttime after a long day walking uphill is just brutal but atleast my calves will look good right! I'm still getting used to the shower which is pretty much above my sink, they don't often have the seperated shower stall so its pretty funny and quite ridiculous...how I have taken showers for granted and never will again! I have already surrounded myself and my walls with little pieces of home inlcuding my one wall next to my bed which is covered with photos of everyone I love in my life :) I have made a collage of photos for above my desk that is joined by my ISCM staff photo and a picture of the Toronto skyline. Finally my beautiful going away card from the oakville crew with drawings by Big Ian Evinou himself is above my head so there is no possible way I could miss home in theory, except I do a little everyday.
There are things about Korea that make me laugh and that I'm still adjusting to. 1) Cars have the right of way here which makes sense in a city of this many people but this really means that red lights don't really mean stop...red lights are more like yellow lights at home and are often ran 2) There is no recycling so everytime I through out a can/bottle which is often, a little piece of my soul dies. What's almost worse is that there are barely any garbage cans on the street so I end up carrying my garbage forever until I find one. Their theory is that if there are no garbage cans then people will create less garbage which is obviously the silliest thing I've ever heard but Seoul is pretty clean anyways. 3) People love to spit on the street and not just men but women too...its gross and there is no reason for it EVER. 4) Koreans do this thing where they squat everywhere. I swear they must be the most flexible culture ever because anytime they're standing to wait or are smoking outside a building they squat and will sit like that for ages....its very strange and funny to see for sure. 5) The showers...but that was already mentioned. 6) There are precious little stray puppies and kitties everywhere and because its me I run after them trying to pet them and cuddle them but clearly that is not normal here. It just makes me sad and if it were up to me I would have about 10 pets by now lol. 7) Koreans treat foreigners like they're famous and sometimes random people will just walk up to you and say hello or want photos with you. In my area there aren't many foreigners but on sunday I was in Itaewon and you would never know you were in Seoul being there...its crazy! 8) The culture and language is all based on a class system and how you speak and act varies depending on who you're speaking to. I'm still learning and obviously don't know much Koreaan but I already see how difficult it is to learn because of this and all the proper phrasing. Koreans are also big gesturers and love to nod their heads which I have now found myself doing. 9) It is impossible to find my necessities ie. ketchup, peanut butter(although I finally found some skippy yay), avocados(they are like 5$ each ew), diet pepsi and there are probably more that I will discover in the next little while. 10) Drinking is really cheap here...especially beer and soju which is like the Korean vodka which is drunk in shots(except I can't handle that so I mix it). I just bought 6 bottle of soju for 6000 won ie. $6 INSANE!! I could get used to this!! Oh and apparently my new thing here is drinking beer...who would have thought the day would come when I would be drinking beer at all let alone Korean beer haha I still don't like it but I'm putting up with it, maybe it'll grow on me.
I think I've really started to blend in to the daily life here and although I still have no idea where I'm going half the time, am white and don't speak or understand Korean...I think I'm getting along but more importantly am loving it!!! I know that its still early but it can only get better and I can't wait until it does.
Until next time,
janey waney peacing out xoxo
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