Well, I didn't make it to Toastmasters.
I went into Seoul about 1 pm, met a nice couple who were from Osan and doing touristy stuff in Seoul, met Sae-min, had coffee, then had dinner and coffee with Sunny from the head office.
Not much that was exciting, but a very good day indeed. Plus I met a young Korean girl who teaches English in Seoul, and might be interested in teaching me Korean for one month before real classes start. I even found a cool sweater on sale, and got the guy to take an additional dollar off. My plants are doing well, I found a place to eat tacos (yes real tacos!) Found a great jazz CD store with a very cool owner (you know where my money is going after payday) and found a place to buy international calling cards. (I'll be calling home soon.)
And so it goes
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
working
So, it is Saturday afternoon. The sun is shining, birds are singing. It is a beautiful day. Where am I? You may well ask. I am at work. Waiting for one student to finish his 3rd try at the level test, and then I will give him an extra class. I tried to talk to Cindy about this, I want 2 of the slower boys to have a different class, one that uses the same materials, but that goes a bit slower than the regular class. I think that if you push them to finish the book, they don't really learn to use the material. Some people just need more time and more space to learn. Bah.
Anyway, I'm excited because tomorrow I will start Toastmasters, and after work Fiona is showing me where the Korean language school is, so I can sign up, and on Monday I'm thinking of starting a health class (mostly weight lifting) because after the health test my taek kong mu sul teacher gave last night, I realized that I am truly pathetic.
And so it goes
Anyway, I'm excited because tomorrow I will start Toastmasters, and after work Fiona is showing me where the Korean language school is, so I can sign up, and on Monday I'm thinking of starting a health class (mostly weight lifting) because after the health test my taek kong mu sul teacher gave last night, I realized that I am truly pathetic.
And so it goes
Thursday, August 28, 2008
well
Well, things aren't going so well at work. Two of our upper level students took the level test, and they went down instead of up. My boss is most upset. Unfortunately she is not very good at communication, and so it gives me some serious stress.
I also have a test today in Taek kong mu sul, and I'm not at all happy about that, because that gives me a bit of stress. I really just want to hit the punching bag and have a good time, but the testing is such a big part of things here that it is impossible to buck the system. I still love the class though.
Saturday I have to go in to the school because startled turtle was one of the students who did badly on the test. I could just make him come in and do the homework, but he really needs someone to hold his hand. He wasn't getting it before, so I guess my Saturdays are a loss for a while. On the plus side, on Sunday I'll be going to toastmaster's . It is a speech club, and most of the people there will speak English well. So maybe I'll meet someone to hang with on the weekdays. -not that I have a whole lot of extra time.
And so it goes
I also have a test today in Taek kong mu sul, and I'm not at all happy about that, because that gives me a bit of stress. I really just want to hit the punching bag and have a good time, but the testing is such a big part of things here that it is impossible to buck the system. I still love the class though.
Saturday I have to go in to the school because startled turtle was one of the students who did badly on the test. I could just make him come in and do the homework, but he really needs someone to hold his hand. He wasn't getting it before, so I guess my Saturdays are a loss for a while. On the plus side, on Sunday I'll be going to toastmaster's . It is a speech club, and most of the people there will speak English well. So maybe I'll meet someone to hang with on the weekdays. -not that I have a whole lot of extra time.
And so it goes
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Rub a dub dub
Rub a dub dub, a whole lot of Koreans in a tub. I went to Sauna yesterday. It is very wonderful. The men have their side, and women have theirs. I of course go to the women's side. You walk in, and they give you a locker and towel. You put all your clothes in a locker, then go through the double doors into the main sauna rooms. First you take a shower, and soap up well. There are 4 small pools, or large tubs. One is cold water -- I was surprised ice hadn't formed) the other two are warm water, although one has a water jet massage. I almost fell asleep. Then there is the very hot water. I could literally feel all stress wash away. After a while the ahjuma came and she did the scrub. She took two scrubbie mitts and started on my legs and worked her way up my whole body. It took all the dead skin off, and plus you got a bit of a massage. She also put some foul smelling cream on my face, but I didn't mind after I got out because it left my face feeling and looking pretty good.
After the Sauna it is almost impossible to get your muscles to do any kind of complex movement. It is best just to go home and read a book. That is just what I did.
Sunday Sae-min came over and we had some wine and cheese. Not particularly exciting, but pleasant none the less.
It is almost time for testing and evaluation again. I can't believe I've been here two months already.
And so it goes.
After the Sauna it is almost impossible to get your muscles to do any kind of complex movement. It is best just to go home and read a book. That is just what I did.
Sunday Sae-min came over and we had some wine and cheese. Not particularly exciting, but pleasant none the less.
It is almost time for testing and evaluation again. I can't believe I've been here two months already.
And so it goes.
Friday, August 22, 2008
What it is
Not much new to report. I'm getting a bit less sore from Taek kong mu sul, but I swear my teacher is a secret sadist. He laughs when I cry. Actually it isn't that bad, and I like the class a lot, it is a lot of fun.
I wish the Korean teacher had lasted a bit longer, I'd of liked to have the head teacher see my boys presentation. They are so cute. I even got them to do some hand gestures. Two of them are quite the hams. We will have a few more students next month, and that is good. My serious scholar actually talked out loud yesterday, and part of me wants to have some other students for her and part of me likes the one on one class. I don't have any control anyway, so it is a moot point.
I am going to go to the sauna now. I will get an ahjuma scrub. A woman a bit older than me (about 50) will take a scrubie cloth and scrub every last skin cell off. It feels wonderful.
And so it goes.
I wish the Korean teacher had lasted a bit longer, I'd of liked to have the head teacher see my boys presentation. They are so cute. I even got them to do some hand gestures. Two of them are quite the hams. We will have a few more students next month, and that is good. My serious scholar actually talked out loud yesterday, and part of me wants to have some other students for her and part of me likes the one on one class. I don't have any control anyway, so it is a moot point.
I am going to go to the sauna now. I will get an ahjuma scrub. A woman a bit older than me (about 50) will take a scrubie cloth and scrub every last skin cell off. It feels wonderful.
And so it goes.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Much ado about nothing
Yesterday, everything seemed very good. We had a new Korean teacher. Yeah! She kind of reminded me of a friend I have in Deagu. But.
She didn't have good enough English
So.
You guessed it, we are still looking for a Korean teacher.
And so it goes
She didn't have good enough English
So.
You guessed it, we are still looking for a Korean teacher.
And so it goes
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
What's up. doc
Well, after an exciting weekend, and then talking on the phone to some family and friends, Monday rolled around and I felt a bit blue. The fact that it had started to rain (again) didn't help. By noon the rain had stopped and Fiona came by. She was supposed to show me how to get to the university that has the Korean classes, but she was running late. We just had some coffee, and then went to work.
The school is going well. My classes are really fun. First hour I have my Serious Scholar (who actually said three words to me!) and then I have The boys. They are the lowest level class, but they are so much fun. They always want to carry my books and erase my board. It is so cute. They are also quite the handful, and difficult to keep quiet for long, and the fact that I can't keep a straight face with them doesn't help matters. The next class is on break because the one student is on vacation. But the next class has my Chatty girls, and two boys. They are bright and clever, and they seem to like to study. At least they seem to like the class. The next class has only three students. They are a bit older, so are trying to be cool. My last class has two shy girls, two outgoing girls one keen boy and one lazy boy. It is my favorite so far, although I love my Serious scholar. After school, I take a small rest then go to my Jujitsu, although it isn't really Jujitsu, it is called taek kong mu sul. My legs are recovering.
Tuesday, Steve the New Yorker came by to exchange music with me. He burned some cds so now I have Billy Idol, Tori Amos and some jazz. I'm quite happy. School on Tuesday was a bit stressful. The head teacher is stressed so of course everyone else is too. Classes on Tuesday are a higher level, and most of the students are older. My first class is Reading and Speaking. There is only one student. She is 6 years old and she is bouncy. We are reading Curious George and Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Bouncy girl loves to say the title.
The next class I teach the same thing, but this student is a boy going into middle school. There is usually one other student, but she is on vacation now too. The boy likes to read, but doesn't like to do his homework. I call him Library boy. Then I have Bouncy girl again, for a different class. We are reading an American Social Studies book. By this time, keeping her in her seat is a major accomplishment. The next class has two middle school boys. Their English speaking isn't so great, but both of them write a bit better. One I call my Startled Turtle, the other is Beatles boy, because he has a haircut like the early Beatles and he has these shoes that have rainbow peace signs all over them. I am always late for Taek kong mu sul on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I don't finish until right at ten.
And that is my life right now. Tomorrow I have to go to E-mart because I'm almost out of coffee and that would be very bad indeed.
And so it goes.
The school is going well. My classes are really fun. First hour I have my Serious Scholar (who actually said three words to me!) and then I have The boys. They are the lowest level class, but they are so much fun. They always want to carry my books and erase my board. It is so cute. They are also quite the handful, and difficult to keep quiet for long, and the fact that I can't keep a straight face with them doesn't help matters. The next class is on break because the one student is on vacation. But the next class has my Chatty girls, and two boys. They are bright and clever, and they seem to like to study. At least they seem to like the class. The next class has only three students. They are a bit older, so are trying to be cool. My last class has two shy girls, two outgoing girls one keen boy and one lazy boy. It is my favorite so far, although I love my Serious scholar. After school, I take a small rest then go to my Jujitsu, although it isn't really Jujitsu, it is called taek kong mu sul. My legs are recovering.
Tuesday, Steve the New Yorker came by to exchange music with me. He burned some cds so now I have Billy Idol, Tori Amos and some jazz. I'm quite happy. School on Tuesday was a bit stressful. The head teacher is stressed so of course everyone else is too. Classes on Tuesday are a higher level, and most of the students are older. My first class is Reading and Speaking. There is only one student. She is 6 years old and she is bouncy. We are reading Curious George and Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Bouncy girl loves to say the title.
The next class I teach the same thing, but this student is a boy going into middle school. There is usually one other student, but she is on vacation now too. The boy likes to read, but doesn't like to do his homework. I call him Library boy. Then I have Bouncy girl again, for a different class. We are reading an American Social Studies book. By this time, keeping her in her seat is a major accomplishment. The next class has two middle school boys. Their English speaking isn't so great, but both of them write a bit better. One I call my Startled Turtle, the other is Beatles boy, because he has a haircut like the early Beatles and he has these shoes that have rainbow peace signs all over them. I am always late for Taek kong mu sul on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I don't finish until right at ten.
And that is my life right now. Tomorrow I have to go to E-mart because I'm almost out of coffee and that would be very bad indeed.
And so it goes.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Bad blogger, no cafe latte!
Well, it has been a very busy weekend. I'm sorry I didn't write for a few days.
It wasn't really my fault. I blame it on Seoul
Thursday I had my second Ju jitsu class. My legs feel like jelly that has been through a very slow and sadistic blender. But Thursday night my teacher and one student (who doesn't come everyday) decided to go to Dongdonju. Dongdongju is a rice like beer, that is served in a big bowl, and ladled out to everyone in smaller bowls. It is tasty, and the food that they serve was pretty good. We had a kind of kimchi pancake, a spicy dish with an indeterminate meat, and some fried eggplant. It was fun, but since neither the other student or my teacher speak English, and my Korean is spotty at best, we drank more than talked. We then went to a hof, for beer, and they served a fruit platter. My teacher's friend dropped by, and I got to be a real princess for a night. All three kept feeding me grapes and cherry tomatoes. Ok, they were pretty toasty by then, and so was I, but it was nice. I got home at 5 am.
I had to wake up eventually because at 1pm I had to meet Kristen in Seoul. I was still a bit shaky and very tired, but we went shopping anyway. We mostly drank coffee and talked about our week, and I left a bit earlier than I had planned because I was so tired;I think with good cause. I still enjoyed her company. By the time I got back to Incheon, it was raining (again!) so I just went home and took a rest.
On Saturday I woke up early to take the train to Deagu. It was three and a half hours, but worth it because my friend Jin Ju was there it meet me. She brought her sons, who have grown quite a bit since I last saw them andwe had lunch in Lotte, ( bulgogi and rice with some good vegetable side dishes-) and then her sons decided it was too boring listening to us chatter on, so they went home and we went window shopping downtown and drank coffee in an outdoor cafe and watched the people go by. It was so good to see her, and she looked even better than I remembered. We caught up a bit on our travels, and just got caught up a bit on life. I missed her terribly so when I finally got home (at midnight) I slept really good.
Sunday (today) I called some family and friends, and cleaned the apartment a bit, did some laundry and rested. So I have a bit of an excuse for not writing for a while. I am very happy right now.
And so it goes.
It wasn't really my fault. I blame it on Seoul
Thursday I had my second Ju jitsu class. My legs feel like jelly that has been through a very slow and sadistic blender. But Thursday night my teacher and one student (who doesn't come everyday) decided to go to Dongdonju. Dongdongju is a rice like beer, that is served in a big bowl, and ladled out to everyone in smaller bowls. It is tasty, and the food that they serve was pretty good. We had a kind of kimchi pancake, a spicy dish with an indeterminate meat, and some fried eggplant. It was fun, but since neither the other student or my teacher speak English, and my Korean is spotty at best, we drank more than talked. We then went to a hof, for beer, and they served a fruit platter. My teacher's friend dropped by, and I got to be a real princess for a night. All three kept feeding me grapes and cherry tomatoes. Ok, they were pretty toasty by then, and so was I, but it was nice. I got home at 5 am.
I had to wake up eventually because at 1pm I had to meet Kristen in Seoul. I was still a bit shaky and very tired, but we went shopping anyway. We mostly drank coffee and talked about our week, and I left a bit earlier than I had planned because I was so tired;I think with good cause. I still enjoyed her company. By the time I got back to Incheon, it was raining (again!) so I just went home and took a rest.
On Saturday I woke up early to take the train to Deagu. It was three and a half hours, but worth it because my friend Jin Ju was there it meet me. She brought her sons, who have grown quite a bit since I last saw them andwe had lunch in Lotte, ( bulgogi and rice with some good vegetable side dishes-) and then her sons decided it was too boring listening to us chatter on, so they went home and we went window shopping downtown and drank coffee in an outdoor cafe and watched the people go by. It was so good to see her, and she looked even better than I remembered. We caught up a bit on our travels, and just got caught up a bit on life. I missed her terribly so when I finally got home (at midnight) I slept really good.
Sunday (today) I called some family and friends, and cleaned the apartment a bit, did some laundry and rested. So I have a bit of an excuse for not writing for a while. I am very happy right now.
And so it goes.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
cool beans
Well, the US won, so we got fried chicken on the Korean teacher's dime. All together a good omen for the day. In half an hour I will start my Jui Jitsu class. I'm the only one in class, so it should be good. I got registered kindof at the national health insurance office. We have to call back, and I have to fill out a few more forms. Then I will be covered.
My classes went very well today. Serious scholar laughed at my jokes ( we are reading a book called Tigers! and I asked if she wanted a tiger for a pet, she said no, the I asked about a lion, she could braid his mane, she smiled and said no, then I asked if she would like an elephant for a pet, she actually laughed) and Startled Turtle made some progress in writing and in reading. We are going to have to go slower than my boss wants me to, but that is ok. He promised to come in early on Monday and do some extra work. Then in my lowest level class, one of the boys said I am a good teacher. (actually he said "teacher, good!" and gave a thumbs up sign) but still it made me feel good.
I get Friday off, and I'm thinking of going into Seoul. On Saturday I made a date with Jin Ju, a friend from Deagu I met before. I can't wait.
Now I have to go back, and prepare a writing contest and speaking contest. (I've got to prep the students for both --it will be on October 2, and1/2 the students are so not even close to ready to do what the head teacher wants)
And so it goes
My classes went very well today. Serious scholar laughed at my jokes ( we are reading a book called Tigers! and I asked if she wanted a tiger for a pet, she said no, the I asked about a lion, she could braid his mane, she smiled and said no, then I asked if she would like an elephant for a pet, she actually laughed) and Startled Turtle made some progress in writing and in reading. We are going to have to go slower than my boss wants me to, but that is ok. He promised to come in early on Monday and do some extra work. Then in my lowest level class, one of the boys said I am a good teacher. (actually he said "teacher, good!" and gave a thumbs up sign) but still it made me feel good.
I get Friday off, and I'm thinking of going into Seoul. On Saturday I made a date with Jin Ju, a friend from Deagu I met before. I can't wait.
Now I have to go back, and prepare a writing contest and speaking contest. (I've got to prep the students for both --it will be on October 2, and1/2 the students are so not even close to ready to do what the head teacher wants)
And so it goes
Monday, August 11, 2008
I got the music in me -yeah!
Saturday was a day for shopping. I went to E-mart and Home-ever and got myself situated. I now have a cd player, a coffee maker and a blender. Life is so good. I only had two cds because I forgot to pack my cd case, but still it was better than the endless silence.
I've been drinking coffee mix, an instant coffee that has the creamer, sugar and coffee all in one convenient little package. It is ok, but not real coffee. Well, as soon as I got home with my purchases, I of course, made some coffee. I made it really strong, put in lots of sugar and milk, and then buzzed around the apartment for a while. I guess the coffee mix doesn't really have much caffeine. Cindy my boss came by the apartment, and we talked for while and I made her some of my strong coffee. She likes to travel too, and we talked about that, and it was most pleasant. My apartment is coming along. I need some plants now.
Sunday I went to downtown Seoul to meet Kristen, my neighbor from KC. I left early, went to Kyobo bookstore and bought a Korean language book to study (still unopened as of this date) and a fun book. I also added to the music collection.
I went to Seoul station and met up with Kristen, and we decided to find Insadong. It is a very famous antique market. We got off on the wrong exit from the wrong subway station, but decided to walk to it, despite the heat. Well we found the jewelry road (here the streets have no name, but each road has the same stuff, so you can give directions by saying, ok turn right at the lamp road, and then go to the house stuff road. Turn left at the office furniture road, etc. ) So went went up and down jewelry road, and then found a shaded sidewalk next to a park, and looked at all the street vendor's things. Then we found another road with an outdoor market, and we found a great place to get chicken on a stick but we never did find Insadong.
We decided that since we found a subway that was on the same line as Sinchon, we would go there. Sinchon is a fairly cool fashionable area with lots of little shops selling all kinds of funky little things, hair dressers, coffee shops, and restaurants. I know how to order a lot of things, but where we went we really didn't know what was what. So we did what any intrepid traveler does, and took the waiter to another table and pointed to what they had. It was a beef rib stew, with mushrooms, pineapples, apples, potatoes and thin noodles. It also had a very very spicy gravy. Oh my god, it was good, while you were eating it, it tasted wonderful and a little bit sweet, but after you swallowed it was like your mouth was on fire.
We decided yogurt drinks were in order when we left. We sat outdoors and watched the people go by, but for some reason I became a freak magnet. All these weird people would stop and stare at me, or try to talk to me in Korean. It was weird, because there are a lot of westerners in Seoul, and you don't really get stared at much most of the time. Then the cutest little black dog even put his head up and stared at me. We of course started laughing. Then I got on the bus back home, and put on my new cds, poured a glass of wine, and drifted off to sleep (it was a good sleep too, because my sinuses were very clear after dinner)
Monday we got lost trying to find the bank where you pay your bills. But eventually we found it, paid up then got an ice coffee and went back to work. My serious scholar didn't smile, but my last class went very well, there is a new student and he is making my lazy boy work. I found a place to get some clothes repaired and hemmed, and all in all it was a very good day.
Cindy and Fiona made a bet with me. If the Koreans win the gold in swimming today (Tuesday) then we (Steve the New Yorker and I) will pay for fried chicken for our evening snack. If the Americans win then Cindy and Fiona have to pay. We will all go in if someone else wins.
And so it goes.
I've been drinking coffee mix, an instant coffee that has the creamer, sugar and coffee all in one convenient little package. It is ok, but not real coffee. Well, as soon as I got home with my purchases, I of course, made some coffee. I made it really strong, put in lots of sugar and milk, and then buzzed around the apartment for a while. I guess the coffee mix doesn't really have much caffeine. Cindy my boss came by the apartment, and we talked for while and I made her some of my strong coffee. She likes to travel too, and we talked about that, and it was most pleasant. My apartment is coming along. I need some plants now.
Sunday I went to downtown Seoul to meet Kristen, my neighbor from KC. I left early, went to Kyobo bookstore and bought a Korean language book to study (still unopened as of this date) and a fun book. I also added to the music collection.
I went to Seoul station and met up with Kristen, and we decided to find Insadong. It is a very famous antique market. We got off on the wrong exit from the wrong subway station, but decided to walk to it, despite the heat. Well we found the jewelry road (here the streets have no name, but each road has the same stuff, so you can give directions by saying, ok turn right at the lamp road, and then go to the house stuff road. Turn left at the office furniture road, etc. ) So went went up and down jewelry road, and then found a shaded sidewalk next to a park, and looked at all the street vendor's things. Then we found another road with an outdoor market, and we found a great place to get chicken on a stick but we never did find Insadong.
We decided that since we found a subway that was on the same line as Sinchon, we would go there. Sinchon is a fairly cool fashionable area with lots of little shops selling all kinds of funky little things, hair dressers, coffee shops, and restaurants. I know how to order a lot of things, but where we went we really didn't know what was what. So we did what any intrepid traveler does, and took the waiter to another table and pointed to what they had. It was a beef rib stew, with mushrooms, pineapples, apples, potatoes and thin noodles. It also had a very very spicy gravy. Oh my god, it was good, while you were eating it, it tasted wonderful and a little bit sweet, but after you swallowed it was like your mouth was on fire.
We decided yogurt drinks were in order when we left. We sat outdoors and watched the people go by, but for some reason I became a freak magnet. All these weird people would stop and stare at me, or try to talk to me in Korean. It was weird, because there are a lot of westerners in Seoul, and you don't really get stared at much most of the time. Then the cutest little black dog even put his head up and stared at me. We of course started laughing. Then I got on the bus back home, and put on my new cds, poured a glass of wine, and drifted off to sleep (it was a good sleep too, because my sinuses were very clear after dinner)
Monday we got lost trying to find the bank where you pay your bills. But eventually we found it, paid up then got an ice coffee and went back to work. My serious scholar didn't smile, but my last class went very well, there is a new student and he is making my lazy boy work. I found a place to get some clothes repaired and hemmed, and all in all it was a very good day.
Cindy and Fiona made a bet with me. If the Koreans win the gold in swimming today (Tuesday) then we (Steve the New Yorker and I) will pay for fried chicken for our evening snack. If the Americans win then Cindy and Fiona have to pay. We will all go in if someone else wins.
And so it goes.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Well, I'm certainly glad THAT is over!
What a week! I started out a bit behind in all my evaluations, and then both the mom's class and intensive class started. Both are going well by the way, but it is an extra two hours of teaching a day. Plus we just finished all the testing and evaluations: choosing the best reader, best book report, and best presentation. I really like my students a lot, and I'm pretty happy because the most serious scholar of all actually smiled at me on Friday. Can you believe it! I was so shocked I think I almost fell. Perhaps she will say more than one word to me next week.
I started walking along the river again, and I'm surprised at all the changes. The hibiscus are back of course, only now the mini ones on tall bushes are out, and so are the giant ones, and small yellow star flowers, and camellias and baby's breath. It is quite the display. The dragonflies have formed a complete squadron, and were showing off for a calico cat sitting on a fence post throne.
The grass has completed its bridge, and now has foxtail pom-poms to shake in celebration every time the wind blows.
Friday was payday, so I feel a bit better about finances, and we (Steve the New Yorker and I) decided to treat the rest of the staff to duck. We went to a place that was so popular we had to wait 20 minutes -- this is after 9:30 pm. It was taken as a very good sign. And we were right, it was so worth the wait. First they brought out small pieces of duck that were grilled right at the table, on a black metal dome. It is eaten with a sweet sauce and garlic slices, each piece wrapped in its own lettuce leaf. Then we had the smoked duck slices, and that had a mustard sauce that was to die for, and then the kimchi duck, which was just as spicy as you would imagine, but goes perfectly with the burnt rice porridge. Each "course" was even better than the last. I am about to burst, and I sit in awe on my Korean colleagues and their ability to eat, I am about to give up when a duck soup arrives, then the burnt rice porridge, then a dessert of shaved ice with sweet red beans and jelly squares. We of course drank beer and soju, (soju is a bit like vodka but made with rice, and you don't mix it with anything, and it is best to not even try to keep up with the Koreans, because they drink a lot of it already)
I went home, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and lay in bed saying "why do I do this to myself" I could barely waddle across the room to the fridge to get a glass of water.
And so it goes
I started walking along the river again, and I'm surprised at all the changes. The hibiscus are back of course, only now the mini ones on tall bushes are out, and so are the giant ones, and small yellow star flowers, and camellias and baby's breath. It is quite the display. The dragonflies have formed a complete squadron, and were showing off for a calico cat sitting on a fence post throne.
The grass has completed its bridge, and now has foxtail pom-poms to shake in celebration every time the wind blows.
Friday was payday, so I feel a bit better about finances, and we (Steve the New Yorker and I) decided to treat the rest of the staff to duck. We went to a place that was so popular we had to wait 20 minutes -- this is after 9:30 pm. It was taken as a very good sign. And we were right, it was so worth the wait. First they brought out small pieces of duck that were grilled right at the table, on a black metal dome. It is eaten with a sweet sauce and garlic slices, each piece wrapped in its own lettuce leaf. Then we had the smoked duck slices, and that had a mustard sauce that was to die for, and then the kimchi duck, which was just as spicy as you would imagine, but goes perfectly with the burnt rice porridge. Each "course" was even better than the last. I am about to burst, and I sit in awe on my Korean colleagues and their ability to eat, I am about to give up when a duck soup arrives, then the burnt rice porridge, then a dessert of shaved ice with sweet red beans and jelly squares. We of course drank beer and soju, (soju is a bit like vodka but made with rice, and you don't mix it with anything, and it is best to not even try to keep up with the Koreans, because they drink a lot of it already)
I went home, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and lay in bed saying "why do I do this to myself" I could barely waddle across the room to the fridge to get a glass of water.
And so it goes
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Another day, another day
I'm sorry I'm slow to post this week, but we have 1. Intensive courses for summer 2. a Mother's class 3. Monthly tests to grade 4. Student evaluations
and all the regular classes to boot.
At least it isn't raining.
And so it goes
and all the regular classes to boot.
At least it isn't raining.
And so it goes
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Blue
Sigh. It has been raining again. This rain is just so, perpetual, ceaseless, constant, continual, eternal, everlasting, incessant, interminable, persistent, unceasing, unending, unremitting, measureless, amaranthine, sempiternal, infinite. I need gills.
A four day weekend. No bike. No money. No sunshine. Blah. Blah. Blah.
I went out with Fiona and Sae-min for dinner after our Korean lesson. Sae-min is very very strict. Anyway it was Galbi-tang. Galbi -tang is a kind of soup with mushrooms and rib meat. The place was nice, but the woman serving us was kind of mean. Fiona had Nang Meun, a cold noodle in a clear broth ( I don't like it much because I don't like cold soups, but she said it was good, and I'll take her word for it) The kim'chi was only so-so, but they had a very nice spinach stem side dish. I quite like it.
Pay day is Friday, and I have the bike already picked out. So and even the biblical deluge ended eventually.
And so it goes
A four day weekend. No bike. No money. No sunshine. Blah. Blah. Blah.
I went out with Fiona and Sae-min for dinner after our Korean lesson. Sae-min is very very strict. Anyway it was Galbi-tang. Galbi -tang is a kind of soup with mushrooms and rib meat. The place was nice, but the woman serving us was kind of mean. Fiona had Nang Meun, a cold noodle in a clear broth ( I don't like it much because I don't like cold soups, but she said it was good, and I'll take her word for it) The kim'chi was only so-so, but they had a very nice spinach stem side dish. I quite like it.
Pay day is Friday, and I have the bike already picked out. So and even the biblical deluge ended eventually.
And so it goes
Friday, August 1, 2008
Just randomness
Meeting another foreigner on the street requires a weird etiquette. On the one hand, you don't want to be the foreigner who freaks out at the sight of another foreigner (the ohmygod, its a westerner, whatamigoingtodo, whatamigoingtodo, oh my god, I want to be the only one--etc.)
then, you don't want to be the other foreigner who freaks out at the sight of another foreigner (oh my god, another westerner, let's be best friends for life, thank god, I can speak English, oh where are you going? canicomewithyou?--etc.) I just make eye contact if possible, nod and smile.
Wednesday night Sae-min, Steve, Fiona and I went to takgalbi to say good-bye. I'll meet her again on Sunday for a Korean lesson.
Yesterday I just spent the day in bed, reading and resting. I did get up to go to the little store downstairs and get some instant noodles. Very unexciting stuff.
Today the wind came to visit, bending trees and playing toss with various papers and posters around. I took a long walk, mostly in the other neighborhoods near mine. I found some cool flower shops, and a great little stationary store, and great little grocery store with some fantastic fruits and vegetables for a very good price. The melon was wonderful!!
And so it goes.
then, you don't want to be the other foreigner who freaks out at the sight of another foreigner (oh my god, another westerner, let's be best friends for life, thank god, I can speak English, oh where are you going? canicomewithyou?--etc.) I just make eye contact if possible, nod and smile.
Wednesday night Sae-min, Steve, Fiona and I went to takgalbi to say good-bye. I'll meet her again on Sunday for a Korean lesson.
Yesterday I just spent the day in bed, reading and resting. I did get up to go to the little store downstairs and get some instant noodles. Very unexciting stuff.
Today the wind came to visit, bending trees and playing toss with various papers and posters around. I took a long walk, mostly in the other neighborhoods near mine. I found some cool flower shops, and a great little stationary store, and great little grocery store with some fantastic fruits and vegetables for a very good price. The melon was wonderful!!
And so it goes.
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