Gwangjang Market
Pagyesa
Haeinsa Temple
It was sunny today, for the first time in about a week. I know I haven’t been writing much, at least online. The perpetual rain put me in a little bit of a funk. I didn’t want expose my angsty, whiny thoughts to the world wide web. Been there, done that. It has never gone well (shout out to Derek!)
But anyway, my last week or so has been filled with lots and lots of work, and lots of lots of rain. And consequently, lots and lots of soju on the weekends. Let me impart a bit of wisdom here: Soju is never the answer. Soju, as alluring as it may be at $2 a bottle, will only make things worse. Especially the next day. Soju is the devil’s drink.
Proof:
Having fun
Soju, clearly victorious
Work has been challenging, and filled lately with lots of paperwork. Report cards to make, papers to grade, five different schedules to create, etc. Still working on my organization skills.
Some days my kids are the cutest things in the entire world. Other days, I want to kill them. One of the mothers called and complained that I gave her son (a holy terror) -5 stickers. I am now not allowed to minus any stickers from this student. That’s how private schools work here in Korea, though I had heard a bit about this before I came. Frustrating, nonetheless.
Some aspects of this country are slowly becoming familiar, even comfortable, to me. I can navigate the subway system fairly well, order food in restaurants, etc. I have grown somewhat accustomed to the stares, the pollution, the loud, drunken chatter every night, the fact that hawking loogies is a normal, public, and frequent occurrence here. (Ok, that last one still gets me a little).
I am no longer humiliated when I have to do a little game of charades to communicate with the locals, though I do not see this as a plus. My communication skills, not any bit improved since when I arrived a month ago, are shameful. Korean isn’t exactly one of those languages you just “absorb” by being surrounded by it. You must study and practice and make a concerted effort. And I’ve been very busy. And also, I am lazy. But…the time has come for me to learn more than two words of Korean. I plan on taking lessons soon.
I did recognize that someone was talking about me in the elevator this evening, though. I had stepped into my apartment elevator and heard a middle-aged man say something to the woman next to him. I heard “waygook,” which is Korean for “foreigner.” Who knows what he was saying.
Korean men and relationships/dating however, still remain a total mystery to me. I am beginning to think that Korean men are rather creepy, and I have at least three stories to support this theory. I am thinking of writing an entire blog entry on the subject once I accumulate a few more anecdotes, which I am fairly certain won’t take too long. (Teaser blog title: “The night a Korean man exposed himself to me on the subway, and other tales my parents won’t want to hear.”)
Something about dating here I find amusing: My Korean co-worker told me the other day that Koreans don’t count the time they’ve been in a relationship by months as we do, but by days instead, until they reach one year. She and her boyfriend have been together for 274 days (she thinks).
Also on the topic of things that amuse me: a few of my kindergarten students have pretty gold and silver charm necklaces they wear all the time. I’ve complimented them and asked them what the charm was. It is a charm with their name, phone number and address……in case they get lost. Actually pretty brilliant if you think about it.
Ok, bed time. Goodnight, I’m missing you all here in the ROK.
Im about 16 days away from getting on the red eye to Seoul , South Korea.
And to be honest , Im not in the least bit excited to go there . Not because i wont like it . im sure i will . Its just that i have this series of Korean exams to give and i haven’t studied . Well i have .. but its so insufficient that it practically feels like i haven’t done anything , frankly the nerves are getting to me now, because these exams forge my damn future , and i have nothing ready , nothing
and to say that ” im shitting bricks ” would be an understatement
oh well enough of that ,
any fellow tumblrs here are Seoulites?
would be great to catch up in Seoul !
i guess ill have a lot to look at , considering ill be there for a month #YEAHBITCHES
Haven’t really made my list of places i want to visit. but i don’t know , i guess just taking my camera and just walking aimlessly through the streets would consume most of my day , any of you guys have any suggestions . im open to a little direction here haha
heres to my first proper bloglike post , and heres to 2 weeks of heart pounding anxiety.
I
