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a picture my friend Josh took of me during my first guitar lesson
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
ㅁㅣ걱 사람ㅇㅣ에요 (I am American)
It's been a pretty stressful week this week. TGIF! I taught my third and final lesson to the campers on Wednesday. The lesson itself went really well, but I had a minor panic attack the night before I had to teach when I met with my instructor and was told that my original lesson was not going to work and I had to start from scratch. I had to stay up late to finish it, but it got done and it actually worked out really well. The theme that day was Thanksgiving, so I talked with the kids about what it means to be thankful for something and then had them come up with 5 things they were thankful for and two reasons why they were for each. We then played a fun game and talked about the ways they could give back to each of the people/things they were thankful for. The class I had was different than the previous two I taught. This class was the beginner "special class", which meant that most of the kids had lived in an English speaking country for some time. They were more advanced than all of the high school classes. It was kind of exciting to talk to them and have them actually understand everything I said.
This week was also stressful because we had to give a 5 minute speech in Korean language class about ourselves. We all ended up doing alright, but I'm nervous to see my score. This is what my speech said in English...it sounds pretty silly when its translated... "Hello! My name is Cassidy. I am an American. I am from Pennsylvania. I am an English teacher, but now I am a student. I go to KNU to study Korean. I came to Korea on July 5th. I live in Da-san-guan dormitory. I like music and movies, therefore I go to noraebang and the movie theater. I wake up at 7 o'clock, then I shower. I go to the dining hall to eat rice. Then I go to school. Class starts at 9 o-clock. Studying Korean is hard, but it is fun. I like my Korean teachers. Class ends so I meet my friends and together we go to the dining hall. At 5 o'clock I work out (badmitton). In the PM, I study Korean therefore I am a good student. Around 12 o'clock, I go to bed. Friday and Saturday I go to noraebang. Then I drink with my friends. I do not like Soju, so I drink beer. Korean food is delicious. I like kimbop, dalkgalbi, and bibimbop. I do not like kimchi. It is very spicy. Korea is fun and I like it. Thank you."
So that was my Korean speech. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll do it for you sometime.
Like I mentioned in another post, this weekend I am going on the KEY club retreat. We had a meeting about last night where we were divided up into 6 teams. The people on these teams are the people we will cook/eat with and play all of the games with. I'm pretty excited about my team. There are 4 ETAs and 4 KEY club members, all of whom are really nice. From what I understand, we're going to be playing soccer, water games (there is a river nearby) and some other secret games that the KEY club members won't tell us about. There will also be a lot of drinking games at night. It also sounds like we won't be given blankets or pillows so we're all going to pass out wherever we can on the floor. Not too worried though because 4 1/2 years of college prepared me pretty well for that.
Another random note: I found a cute coffee shop called Gracia that is run by a cute little eclectic Asian woman. The first time I went alone and was the only person in there. I tried speaking in Korean to the woman and she found me hilarious and just laughed at me the whole time. Anyway, I got something called "honeybread" there which is somewhere between a cinnamon bun and Texas toast french toast. Probably the best thing I've ever tasted. I went back with Seth a few days later to work on my speech and I guess the woman remembered me because we ordered one thing of honeybread and she ended up giving us three and some complimentary tea (also amazing). I've been told that as a foreigner, you get a lot of free services just for being white/speaking English, but that was my first experience with it. I think I could get used to it. I think the extra attention could make some people uncomfortable, but so far I really enjoy it. I think it will be weird to come back to the US and not have that kind of attention anymore.
Another thing I love about Korea is the sharing culture, especially when it comes to food and drinks. Pretty much everything you order here is meant to be shared by a couple of people. I learned that the reason Koreans (or I guess, Asians in general) use chopsticks and not knives and forks is because they share all of their food. All of the meat and everything is already cut up into bit size pieces. For example, in the US you would order a steak for yourself and cut it yourself. But in Korea, you order beef and it comes already chopped up into pieces and is meant to be shared by everyone. (I learned this from one of the KEY club member's speech on the differences between West and East) When it comes to drinking, you never pour for yourself. You always have someone else pour you your drink while you hold your cup (always with two hands!). At first I thought this was kind of silly and unnecessary, but I think it's kind of cool now. It makes going out to eat/drink more personal? I can't think of the right word to use, but I helps build bonds between the people you are with.
Sorry for the novel. Miss you all! <3
This week was also stressful because we had to give a 5 minute speech in Korean language class about ourselves. We all ended up doing alright, but I'm nervous to see my score. This is what my speech said in English...it sounds pretty silly when its translated... "Hello! My name is Cassidy. I am an American. I am from Pennsylvania. I am an English teacher, but now I am a student. I go to KNU to study Korean. I came to Korea on July 5th. I live in Da-san-guan dormitory. I like music and movies, therefore I go to noraebang and the movie theater. I wake up at 7 o'clock, then I shower. I go to the dining hall to eat rice. Then I go to school. Class starts at 9 o-clock. Studying Korean is hard, but it is fun. I like my Korean teachers. Class ends so I meet my friends and together we go to the dining hall. At 5 o'clock I work out (badmitton). In the PM, I study Korean therefore I am a good student. Around 12 o'clock, I go to bed. Friday and Saturday I go to noraebang. Then I drink with my friends. I do not like Soju, so I drink beer. Korean food is delicious. I like kimbop, dalkgalbi, and bibimbop. I do not like kimchi. It is very spicy. Korea is fun and I like it. Thank you."
So that was my Korean speech. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll do it for you sometime.
Like I mentioned in another post, this weekend I am going on the KEY club retreat. We had a meeting about last night where we were divided up into 6 teams. The people on these teams are the people we will cook/eat with and play all of the games with. I'm pretty excited about my team. There are 4 ETAs and 4 KEY club members, all of whom are really nice. From what I understand, we're going to be playing soccer, water games (there is a river nearby) and some other secret games that the KEY club members won't tell us about. There will also be a lot of drinking games at night. It also sounds like we won't be given blankets or pillows so we're all going to pass out wherever we can on the floor. Not too worried though because 4 1/2 years of college prepared me pretty well for that.
Another random note: I found a cute coffee shop called Gracia that is run by a cute little eclectic Asian woman. The first time I went alone and was the only person in there. I tried speaking in Korean to the woman and she found me hilarious and just laughed at me the whole time. Anyway, I got something called "honeybread" there which is somewhere between a cinnamon bun and Texas toast french toast. Probably the best thing I've ever tasted. I went back with Seth a few days later to work on my speech and I guess the woman remembered me because we ordered one thing of honeybread and she ended up giving us three and some complimentary tea (also amazing). I've been told that as a foreigner, you get a lot of free services just for being white/speaking English, but that was my first experience with it. I think I could get used to it. I think the extra attention could make some people uncomfortable, but so far I really enjoy it. I think it will be weird to come back to the US and not have that kind of attention anymore.
Another thing I love about Korea is the sharing culture, especially when it comes to food and drinks. Pretty much everything you order here is meant to be shared by a couple of people. I learned that the reason Koreans (or I guess, Asians in general) use chopsticks and not knives and forks is because they share all of their food. All of the meat and everything is already cut up into bit size pieces. For example, in the US you would order a steak for yourself and cut it yourself. But in Korea, you order beef and it comes already chopped up into pieces and is meant to be shared by everyone. (I learned this from one of the KEY club member's speech on the differences between West and East) When it comes to drinking, you never pour for yourself. You always have someone else pour you your drink while you hold your cup (always with two hands!). At first I thought this was kind of silly and unnecessary, but I think it's kind of cool now. It makes going out to eat/drink more personal? I can't think of the right word to use, but I helps build bonds between the people you are with.
Sorry for the novel. Miss you all! <3
Monday, July 27, 2009
6 of the 17 guys in our ETA class can play guitar, and they're all really good. This is just one of the jam sessions they had in the 3rd floor lobby. Josh, the kid who isn't playing in the video is going to give me some lessons. I'm actually considering making it a hobby of mine while I'm here, since TKD isn't working out too well for me.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
happy halloween
Tonight we held a Halloween-themed night for the kids at Camp Fulbright. We had different stations set up around their dorm where they could make masks, play games, and listen to scary stories. I was in charge of the "make your own mask" station. It was awesome getting to interact with the kids outside of the classroom. The kids are so sweet and I can not wait to have my own classroom full of them. If the kids got finished making their masks early, I took some pictures of them. Here are just a few...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
I'm so f*cking disco
안녕하세요! Hello!
This is going to be a pretty random post.
*Exciting news on the language front. I am now able to order food when I go out! I was able to get the cafeteria ladies to give me an extra slice of watermelon because I asked them for it in Korean (they also laughed at me, but hey, it worked!). I also ordered drinks and food for our whole table when we went out on Friday night. Granted, part of this ordering involved pointed at something on the menu...but still, it was pretty exciting for me! I've also learned how to ask how much things cost, and I can understand it when they tell me in Korean. Also, as you can see above, I finally figured out how to type in Korean!
*Embarassing story of the week: Before I tell my story let me explain to you the dangers of walking around KNU's campus. For some unknown reason, KNU decided it was a good idea to purchase the most slippery and dangerous flooring materials they could find. All of the floors and steps all over campus are absolutely horrible, especially when it rains (and when it rains, it pours). I've taken to tiptoeing around everywhere or taking my shoes off when it rains. I have at least one close call a day. Anyway, few of us bought two bottles of wine to share before we went out on the town on Friday night. I was dressed up for going out, which included wearing nice heels that of course have no traction on the bottom. I was carrying the two bottles of wine in a tote down the outdoor steps and saying to my friend Kelly how slippery high heels shoes are. Next thing you know, my feet fly out from under me and I land on my ass and fall down that set of steps. In the process I broke one of the bottles of wine into pieces and it went all over the place. It was extremely embarassing/painful and I still can't lay on my one side because its bruised so badly.
*This coming weekend I am going on a camping/cabin sort of trip with other ETA's and the KEY club members. From what I understand, they rent one or two houses out in the middle of nowhere (and sometimes ones with a swimming pool) for a night and go there and play ridiculous games and drink lots of Soju. I can't even tell you how excited I am for this. The KEY club guys and girls...well Koreans in general...really know how to have a good time.
*Jimjilbang: http://wiki.galbijim.com/Jjimjilbang
Our OCs led an optional trip this weekend to a Jimjilbang that I chose not to partake in. However, I think its a really interesting aspect of Korean culture so I thought I'd share it with you. Jimjilbangs are Korean bathhouses/spas where people go to relax, get messages, soak in baths, etc. The interesting thing about these though are that for the most part, people are completely naked. I find this really funny because in most other aspects of Korean culture, Koreans are very conservative. Check out the link above for more info. I'm planning on going to one of these sometime before the end of orientation. However, I'm going with only 2 or 3 good girl friends so that maybe it will be a little less awkward. Either way, we're going to get stared at by all of the old ajummas.
Here are some random pictures from the past week or so...
This is going to be a pretty random post.
*Exciting news on the language front. I am now able to order food when I go out! I was able to get the cafeteria ladies to give me an extra slice of watermelon because I asked them for it in Korean (they also laughed at me, but hey, it worked!). I also ordered drinks and food for our whole table when we went out on Friday night. Granted, part of this ordering involved pointed at something on the menu...but still, it was pretty exciting for me! I've also learned how to ask how much things cost, and I can understand it when they tell me in Korean. Also, as you can see above, I finally figured out how to type in Korean!
*Embarassing story of the week: Before I tell my story let me explain to you the dangers of walking around KNU's campus. For some unknown reason, KNU decided it was a good idea to purchase the most slippery and dangerous flooring materials they could find. All of the floors and steps all over campus are absolutely horrible, especially when it rains (and when it rains, it pours). I've taken to tiptoeing around everywhere or taking my shoes off when it rains. I have at least one close call a day. Anyway, few of us bought two bottles of wine to share before we went out on the town on Friday night. I was dressed up for going out, which included wearing nice heels that of course have no traction on the bottom. I was carrying the two bottles of wine in a tote down the outdoor steps and saying to my friend Kelly how slippery high heels shoes are. Next thing you know, my feet fly out from under me and I land on my ass and fall down that set of steps. In the process I broke one of the bottles of wine into pieces and it went all over the place. It was extremely embarassing/painful and I still can't lay on my one side because its bruised so badly.
*This coming weekend I am going on a camping/cabin sort of trip with other ETA's and the KEY club members. From what I understand, they rent one or two houses out in the middle of nowhere (and sometimes ones with a swimming pool) for a night and go there and play ridiculous games and drink lots of Soju. I can't even tell you how excited I am for this. The KEY club guys and girls...well Koreans in general...really know how to have a good time.
*Jimjilbang: http://wiki.galbijim.com/Jjimjilbang
Our OCs led an optional trip this weekend to a Jimjilbang that I chose not to partake in. However, I think its a really interesting aspect of Korean culture so I thought I'd share it with you. Jimjilbangs are Korean bathhouses/spas where people go to relax, get messages, soak in baths, etc. The interesting thing about these though are that for the most part, people are completely naked. I find this really funny because in most other aspects of Korean culture, Koreans are very conservative. Check out the link above for more info. I'm planning on going to one of these sometime before the end of orientation. However, I'm going with only 2 or 3 good girl friends so that maybe it will be a little less awkward. Either way, we're going to get stared at by all of the old ajummas.
Here are some random pictures from the past week or so...
another photo from Songnisan...if you look closely you can see all of us under the waterfall
my Songnisan hiking group
@ the pond on campus...aka the "make-out pond" (KEY club people informed us of this)
I'm thinking about my these as a gift for my host dad...thoughts?
Sunset view from my dorm window.
My friends <3>
Before we went to the bars Saturday night, we walked along a path by the river in downtown Chuncheon that was lined with lit-up trees. The combo of the scenery & the unusually cool weather made it really nice.
Kate, me & Kelly
The floating bar we went to in downtown Chuncheon.
The bar was surrounded by these floating swan boats. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take them out at night. That would have made for some pretty awesome stories/pictures.
I really like the composition of this one, with the swans all lined up in the back.
Kelly, Josh & Kate
The swanky Wi Sky Bar...our second stop of the night. Here I had a Long Island and some blue drink called "Sexy Mild" that sort of tasted like coconut soap.
My incredibly awesome Konglish t-shirt I bought at the underground mall. Runners up included: "AARP Kansas" "I'm so fucking disco" and "Best hand jobs in town!". Pretty sure I'll be going back for the "I'm so fucking disco" shirt.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Today I taught my second lesson to a beginner 5th/6th grade class at Camp FB. I thought it went really really well. Its good to be up in front of a classroom again. These kids are awesome and really cute. My lesson today was centered around the day's theme of Independence Day. I had the kids "plan" a 4th of July party by making decorations that were drawings of the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell, American flag, and bald eagle. Then we talked about different picnic foods and how to appropriately ask for them. Finally, I had brought in a watermelon for all of us to eat, so we ate it and listened to patriotic music. It was pretty cool and I got a lot of positive feedback from my co-op.
There hasn't been a lot else new this week. I've pretty much stopped going to taekwondo and have taken up playing badmitton with some of my guy friends instead. Much more fun, and I'm actually pretty good at it. I think it may be my hobby. I'd love to join a Korean badmitton club sometime this year. I hear they're pretty intense.
This weekend my plans include sleeping in as late as possible on Saturday (which will still probably only be 8 or 9am), shopping in a local district that has all of the name brand stores as well as an underground mall, and going out in downtown Chuncheon Sat. night, which I have yet to explore. Sunday I'm helping out with a Halloween night for the campers. I'm kind of excited about it. They're all really sweet kids.
Thats about it for now. Miss you all! <3
There hasn't been a lot else new this week. I've pretty much stopped going to taekwondo and have taken up playing badmitton with some of my guy friends instead. Much more fun, and I'm actually pretty good at it. I think it may be my hobby. I'd love to join a Korean badmitton club sometime this year. I hear they're pretty intense.
This weekend my plans include sleeping in as late as possible on Saturday (which will still probably only be 8 or 9am), shopping in a local district that has all of the name brand stores as well as an underground mall, and going out in downtown Chuncheon Sat. night, which I have yet to explore. Sunday I'm helping out with a Halloween night for the campers. I'm kind of excited about it. They're all really sweet kids.
Thats about it for now. Miss you all! <3
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
HERE ARE SOME PICTURES I STOLE FROM MY FRIENDS...
Mine & Keeran's photo booth session at the movie theater. These booths are so crazy...bright colors, flashing lights, girls giggling and yelling at you in Korean. So great!
Josh and I at McDonalds...soo good! And Big Mac is "big mac" in
Korean so we could actually order.
my favorite girls out in Chuncheon
Taekwondo photo op
patpingsu...soft serve ice cream with fresh fruit on top of crushed ice. pretty much
the best thing you've ever put in your mouth...that's what she said.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Songnisan
My weekend at Songnisan was absolutely amazing. It was the first time I actually felt like I was in Korea. Up until now I've been living on a college campus and that is exactly what it feels like...college. This trip got me so excited to travel around the country and go sightseeing and do other touristy things. We left early Friday morning and traveled 4 hours by bus to Songnisan. When we got there they gave us lunch and then we went to listen to a lecture on Buddhism given by an American Buddhist monk living in Korea. Unfortunately we were all completely exhausted by that point (due to the fact that we had gone drinking, dancing and noraebang-ing the night before) so I didn't actually hear most of his lecture. I was too busy shaking my legs and pinching myself and doing everything humanly possible to keep myself from falling asleep. After his lecture though, he and his student took us on a tour of the temples. It was so incredible. As you can see in the pictures below, the buildings were beautiful and the big golden Buddha was pretty impressive. We also got to watch some sort of ritual drumming by the monks who live there. Friday night we had an awesome Korean dinner and then watched Arrested Development in my room all night (sidenote: My hotel room had no beds or airconditioning or shower curtain...our beds were thin mats with round bean pillows and a blanket. I'm learning that contrary to previous beliefs, I can sleep anywhere if I'm tired enough). Saturday me and group of my favorite people chose to go hiking since it was our "free day". We decided to hike to one of the peaks on our map, which I believe is the highest peak in the area. I had visions of only being gone a few hours and hiking up dirt paths that were maybe a little steep at times. Boy was I wrong. We ended up being gone 6 hours, hiking around 16 km, and the whole time walking up and down rocks in the form of stairs....so pretty much I walked up and down stairs for 6 hours straight. There were a few times on the way up I either wanted to cry, turn around, or just sit and wait for a helicopter to come and rescue me. But somehow I made it to the top, and it was totally worth it. The views were spectacular, and we met some interesting asians up there (i.e. Kanye/Jerry Garcia man...see below. Another sidenote: Korean hikers are hardcore. They are all decked out in their performance gear and backpacks and have hiking poles that resemble ski poles...very intense) After we hung out on the peak for a while, we hiked over to another peak that was a while away, and then back down the mountain. On the way down, we stopped at 2 different waterfalls to go swimming. I can only imagine what the local Korean hikers were thinking when they saw a dozen half naked Americans playing in the water, which we later found out was illegal because it is supposedly drinking water. Oops! Regardless, it was the highlight of the entire trip. At one of the waterfalls, the water went off of the cliff far enough away so that you could go and sit under the waterfall. That was the coolest experience...a bunch of us huddled behind a waterfall together. I wish I could've taken a picture. Anyway, Saturday night my hiking group and I all went out to a place called "Mexican Chicken" and ate fried chicken and Korean pizza (which almost always has corn on it...weird) and drank some too. So needless to say, it was very depressing coming home and having to go back to studying and writing lesson plans and all of that fun stuff. Well, its almost 2am and I have to get up and teach my first lesson tomorrow at Camp Fulbright. Enjoy the pictures (I took almost 200, so these are just a small sampling of them)!
one of our monk tour guides. he was from the czech republic (is that even a country still?)
and spoke like 5 different languages...very cool.
where the hell are our beds?...
...oh, they're in the closet!
Nik & the monk had the same exact sneakers
I still can't get over how beautiful the mountains are
Seth & I
giving Buddha a high-five
at the temple: monks performing a drumming ritual with the buddha in the background.
enjoying some real Korean food
at the beginning of our 6 hr hike
with my roommates @ the top of the mountain
still amazed that I made it to the top
Fulbrighters at the very top
Kelly & Keeran
beautiful view from the peak
Kanye West meets Jerry Garcia meets the grandfather from the 3 ninjas
playing in the waterfalls...by far the highlight of the whole weekend
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