Insane-o Week!!!

Last week four of my friends from the States came to visit me in Korea and it was such a fun time but when it came to say goodbye I was ready to hop in their suitcases and go home with them. So Sunday I spent some time telling God to calm my spirit and help me be content with where I am and be able to enjoy my time here. And He did. He is so faithful!

This week has been crazy for sure. The kids have been NUTS all week! I thought this was due to the fact that they had a holiday mid-week and were just anxious for a break, but today was more of the insanity. However, it's been a week I will remember.

*Monday I had no classes (except my before and after school classes) because the students were reviewing their mid-term test scores, sweet! I was presented with my new contract papers...I have 3 weeks to decide stay another year or go home. I also got a new co-teacher that I am in love with...she's like my long lost Korean soul mate friend. (I haven't been able to get much work done b/c we've talked every moment we're in the office together.)
*Tuesday the kids were off the charts...even good classes were almost uncontrollable...but the day ended with a KELLY CLARKSON CONCERT!!! She is off the charts too, but in the "Oh my freaking gosh, she is a flipping A-mazing singer!!!" kind of way!
*Wednesday was Children's Day, a national holiday. I stayed home and did three loads of laundry, made 2 games for next week's classes AND packed up my winter clothes for mom to take home when she comes to visit next week. I made my decision...headed to the states next year, my journey in Korea will come to a close in August.
*That brings us to today, Thursday...first I had a girl come ask me what I would do if I had no friends in my class and boys always teased me...my heart literally broke over this precious child. I said, "but you are always smiling!" and she said, "outside I smile, inside I cry." Oh my gosh, sweet girl...she's such a beautiful and funny girl it made me so sad to hear. Next I had a 8th grade boy draw a very detailed picture of a mother giving birth in pictionary for his team to guess "birthday"...ahh middle school boys, gotta love 'em! Following lunch I had a fist fight in my 9th grade class that I had to break up (b/c of course my co-teacher had vacated the room!) That was tense, but I have to admit a little fun! (Am I going nuts???) Finally, three of my sweet K-babies came over and hung out for a few hours. We went and got fried chicken and brought it back to my place to eat...love feeding my kiddos! And one of my sweets asked me to pray for our dinner...at the end of the prayer I had to say "finish-E" because they didn't know how it ended in English (cute!). During dinner one of my gals (the one that wanted me to pray) told me she really wanted to go to church but her father is Buddhist and won't let her go to church until she is an adult. It made me so thankful that my parents let me and my brother pick our own church and have our own faith when we could drive...for me, it meant owning it and making it personal, not a ritual that doesn't mean anything to me. I just pray her heart continues to want to seek and work out her own faith. I love this baby and already pray for her every day!!!

Anyways, it's been a week...one more day left to enjoy the insanity! Lord only knows what next week holds. But one thing I know in my deepest parts...it will be painful to leave these children I so desperately care for. I told the three that were at my house I would be going home in August and they said they wait at the airport and hold me down so I couldn't go. Ahhh, K-babies!!! They are one of the greatest things I have ever been blessed with in my entire life. My life is forever changed because of them.

love from Korea :o)

February in Pictures...I realize it's April now, sorry!

This is a post of just pictures.

There are so many to share, and there were too many pictures of my trip to Busan,

so another post. Hope you enjoy! One of the Korean Kings welcoming you to Seoul...near City Hall!

With the mountains behind it's quite beautiful!
On Korean Independence Day I hung out with some Korean friends and they took me to a traditional village for royalty. Apparently this was the biggest and was run by a queen.

Not sure if this was supposed to be the Queen, but they were showing what a traditional memorial service to honor their ancestors would look like.
This included a large feast of food for the dead ancestors to eat
(of which they eat after a certain amount of time since the dead really don't eat the food.)

My friends are ahead. This building was a guest house.
See the cut out under the door in the concrete?
That's where they lit fire's under the houses to keep warm...
and Koreans still use heated floors for heat today.
The flags are hung for Independence day. Korea's flag is red, blue, white, and black. Namsan mountain was beautiful with the snow. I have yet to go to the tower, but I hear it's awesome! The swastika is not a Nazi sign, fear not...but a much older Buddhist sign.
Of course the Nazi's would steal. My first house in Korea!
Juuuuuust kidding. I believe it's basically a supply closet....or maybe for kimchi stowing.

Traditional game being played...I believe Americans played this too though.

Wishes for South Korea's future were tied here. They were very pretty!

Took a trip with my friend Ashley to a town called Chungju. The best food EVER!

See all the food??? It was a feast (and that's not all of it) for about $8.
Sorry for the weird face I'm making!

The awesome cave/monster/gargoyle themed noraebang (karaoke room) we sang at!

Inside it make creepy noises and was really quite scary, it was awesome!

This was lunch...DELICIOUS! Tteok Galbi...veggies, meat, tteok is a chewy rice thing all in a sweet yet super spicy dish. YUMMO!!!

Koreans are really skilled at coffee art! This was Ashley's green tea latte.

The city of Chungju! I loved getting away from the dirty, crowded city for a day!

Here's the inside of a noraebang with my friend Eric singing.

This one didn't have a disco ball, but it is common. Also the videos that go to the English songs are terribly tragic (suicide by jumping in front of a subway, gang fights) but never go to the song.

I totally want to open one of these at home!

An appetizer for fried chicken and HOF (not good beer) is peanuts and dried anchovies with chili sauce. It's really quite tasty.

I'll only show one disturbing image of the mold of death that was taking over my apartment.

I hope it is really fixed now.

My 9th graders graduated to High School. I miss them! They were such awesome kiddos!

My Principal speaking at Graduation...it was in the gym and only students got to sit.

Some of my fav gals!

My favorite 3rd grader. He wants to be a counselor and that kid was cool.

He would talk to anyone without a friend and everyone loved him!

My after school girls...love them too!

Trip to Lotte World (an inside/outside theme park.)

Everyone buys these goofy headbands to wear in the park.

My job the 1st part of the day was to speak English with these rascals.

They were awesome! We played games to beat other groups.

Our team name was "The Strong Fire Dragons!"

On the carousel.

My Velcro buddies for the day. They were so cute!

Last but not least...Koreans are obsessed with couples things.

Couples shirts, shoes, pants...AND UNDERWEAR!

Nothing says love like matching pink heart undies!!!

With love from Korea :o)

From the mouthes of not quite babes anymore~

Things I hear on a regular basis from my students...

"Sauna" (said sawwna...the word for the public bath house here)

"China"

"Teacha"

"Sung sang neem" (Korean word for teacher)

"S.A.M." (shortened Korean word for teacher)

*Any mix of those together*

"Teacha, candy, give-a me!"

"Ahhh, chincha?!" (Translation...ahhh really?)

"Sauna, I'm missing you!" -Always from the same boy who originated Sauna

"Teacha, cutie!"

"Ohhh Shauna, smoky eyes...sexy!"

"Shauna, changE hair?"

"Shauna, perm-uh?"

"Eyes, so beautiful!"

"You plastic suhguhry?"

"Ohhh skin so white-uh!"

"Teacha, very beautiful!"

"Oh Shauna, small head!"

"Shauna, high nose!"

"Shauna, hand-uh creme give-a me?"

"Teacha, small face-uh!"

"Teacha, you know Korean?"

"Sauna, you know _______?" (insert Korean band/singer/actor/athlete)

"Shauna, you have boyfriend?"

"Ohhh Shauna, hello!! Hello Shauna!!! Helllllooooo!!!" (shouted down the hallways)

"China, that your baby?" (pointing to any of my friends' babies on display at my desk)

"Shauna, you know Chris Kim...he you boyfriend?" (Chris Kim is the previous native speaking teacher)

"Eat/drink it...good for health!" (from fellow teachers)

"Uhhh Shauna, class _____________." (canceled/moved/will be taught by you only)

And my favorite...

"Shauna, I love you!!!"

I love my job!!!

Sputterings

* I didn't mean to pick this picture but now I can't get it to erase...however, this is my friend Jihye, her friend of who I can't remember her name, and I in front of the Seoul American High School football field on the military base here. Maybe the only football field in Korea! Ha!*

By now you've probably figured out I will not be writing consistently. It's not a gift of mine. I enjoy writing when it's something I'm passionate about, but recounting details of the Korean experience isn't too thrilling. I've pondered copying my friends' posts and pretending they were mine, ha! But I will try once a month to post new happenings of my own.

Being a foreigner in one of the world's most pure-blooded countries is an interesting experience. I've mentioned being stared at before, but stared isn't really weighty enough...gawked would be a more appropriate word. Apparently Koreans think that all Westerners are beautiful. While the thought seems to be quite a compliment it really just means you are different and have 2 eye folds instead of 1 (without plastic surgery.) The daily run in with Korean society evokes many seemingly angry glares and an occasional incognito picture snap. A foreigner can sit on a subway for an hour and never lose a Korean's undivided attention. At times you think, "oh gosh, I must have a gigantic booger or some horrendous stain" but really they are studying you. Over time you grow accustomed to this and learn to ignore it...although staring back works wonders for breaking the eye contact.

A rare occurrence is looking up to find a smiling Korean face. When this happens your day is instantly a good one! Seeing a Korean smile at a foreigner is just a big ol' warm fuzzy!!! These are the moments you hold on to for encouragement when you get to feeling all of Korea views you as an unwelcome guest. This sentiment easily settles into a person's spirit but if you have asked any Korean about this they will say Koreans simply don't smile a lot at strangers. (I guess my Southern upbringing has infiltrated my core into thinking that smiling is a polite gesture at all times.) However, on a Korean turf where you are known you are well loved and are practically a celebrity. Every school day at least one student tells me I'm beautiful and I often find fellow co-workers very jealous of the attention I get. At the same time, my coworkers, though many very shy to speak English, always try to take care of me.

This semester is looking to be drastically more busy than the last. My school schedule has managed to jam my classes into compact and exhausting units with the 10 minute break in between spent walking up and down stairs and changing out materials. I will also be working overtime before school Monday through Thursday teaching conversation classes in the morning. As many of you know I am not an early to rise kind of gal, but it's extra cash to add to the savings and I get to teach my advanced 3rd graders that I don't have in normal class. I am also adding on an extended learning class teaching English to the adults from my neighborhood which I am utterly thrilled about!!! I can't wait to make connections with the people I see on a daily basis. As well as beginning Korean classes and working with my church youth group! All very exciting things that all involve PEOPLE!!!

Currently, I am in the process of deciding whether or not to stay or go. Really I need to get down on my knees more and earnestly seek what God has for me. I have no idea at this point but see pros and cons for both sides. I do know that leaving this country my life will be changed forever. The cross-cultural experience alone is incredible. New language, customs, manners, way of living...all so overwhelming and awesome! I have already mourned leaving my sweet little Korean sisters, even though I have 5 1/2 months left with them. They have made my stay here 1 billion times better...they bless me so much with unconditional love and endless amounts of laughs and energy! The thought that I may never see them again breaks my heart, so while I'm here, I need to drink them in as much as possible. I love those baby girls so much (I even pray for their future spouses)...God really does know how to reach inside you and transform your heart!

This ended up being more reflective than I'd planned, but I guess it was what's on my heart. I am going to try to make a post about my vacation to Busan (the 2nd largest city in Korea on the coast) very soon. Until then, take care my readers...

love from Korea :o)

Maybe it's the hair bow???

Today I have had 5, yes 5, Korean strangers come up and start conversation with me. I have heard other friends say this has happened to them but in my 5 months time I have yet to have that experience. (Minus the drunk ajushes, old men, who can't typically walk straight and start to slur and drool.) The only thing I can think of why this phenomenon would occur is because I look Korean today. Of course not my actual body, but my attire.

Koreans dress up...to the nines! They love what they love, for example, every Korean owns or wants to own something North Face and I'm really not sure why. Most women from their 20's to their 50's wear high heels or boots or boots with heels. This always astounds me! They clomp around in at least 3 inches like it's nothing. It's not like wearing heels in America because unless you live in NYC you don't have to walk or take subways and buses everywhere. These women balance on the public transportation and then walk miles, and they even did this when there was a foot of snow! Converse and high tops also seem to be popular shoe wear in Korea. Both of these things are highly acceptable with pantie hose or tights. The rest of the ensemble is up to one's own discretion. If you feel like wearing Uggs, purple tights, plaid shorts and a fox fur wrap that's fantastic! If you add some hair bling that will make the outfit even better.

The guys are no slouches either. Often times when I think the women are super thin I glance over and see a man who puts her to shame. Often times the frames of the men are easy to detect because they too are wearing skinny jeans suctioned to their legs. Most men seem to go for the super prep look dawning a button up, sweater, and pea coat. The colors don't' really matter and the brighter the better. Even the men's suits here are made of some sort of material that gives off a shiny tint. It's like little bits of angel dust are lovingly sewn in to every suit...and tie for that matter! No need to be ashamed. Real men aren't afraid to wear the rainbow...and when you enter the men's part of department stores that is exactly what you see!

One last style category is the ajuma. Ajumas are older Korean women...full of spunk (which can for sure be mistaken for rudeness) and definitely mold casted. Almost every ajuma has on some form of hiking attire. Wind suits, walking poles, orthopedic shoes, a backpack, and a sun visor. Whether or not they go hiking every time they wear this is still a mystery to me. Often times these women tend to come across as crotchety and unpleasant, but on occasion one will flash a smile or insist you sit in the empty seat reserved for elderly and you know they all aren't so bad! When you get ajuma love your day is a million times better!!!

In conclusion, I think maybe people approached me today because A) I wasn't wearing jeans but a dress, tights, and knock-off Uggs and B) I had a gigantic flower like hair bow on my head.

And now...a taste of Korean fashion...hit it mannequins!!

(Sorry, I only have female things and I did get caught eventually and was asked to stop taking pictures.)

Our first standout is a black velvet button up cardigan accented with gold beads, a powder pink sequin skirt (don't be fooled into thinking those are flowers, they're iridescent sequins), black lace leggings, and brown leather ankle boots! H.O.T.T.!!! The look is much nicer if you can perfect a fro...icing on the cake!

This trio shows a more casual style in their diverse apparel.

The model to the left displays the hot tight/short combo. (And when we say short, WE MEAN SHORT!) A trendy 3-quarter sleeve P-coat to stay somewhat warm in, a fashionable animal print scarf, and a artsy beanie to keep that head warm.

The model to the right displays tight white jeans and tie up blue ankle boots...those are so hot right now! Her upper half veers to a more comfortable spot with a baggy coat, sweater, scarf wrap (giving the illusion of a scarf but really just a scarf circle) and another artsy beanie.

Our center model really has a grasp on fashion with her tight coral shirt, feux fur vest, shimmering silver leggings and slouchy ankle boots. Sadly, she is bald with no need for a hat...I offered her one but she waved it off!

Not sure if these boots were made for walkin...

Pretty sure this was a costume used in my dance recital as a kid.

They ripped it off of a Paula Abdul music video or something....

Koreans bedazzle too!!!
Barbie helps show Koreans what's fashionable!!!And flats are okay too as long as they're cute-E!!!

Why didn't I think or mustard colored thigh highs and a felt animal broach??

Our next model is displaying a retro glam look.

Start with a long sleeve flower child print dress, add some argyle print knee highs, and finish the look with a feux fur vest the hits just below the boob. Stunning!!

Last, but certainly not least, is a look any woman would die for...

Another hippie inspired sun dress, complete with afghan (as in the dog) hair wrap, leopard print shoes, hat and handbag (that doubles as a picnic basket...how convenient!)

Hell of a week...

I wish I could say it was for good reasons, but no.

First, I have a nasty mold infestation and the scare of finding my own place fitting the crazy stipulations my school was putting forth. (Although, come to find out, the school was wrong in what they were saying my apartment needed to be.)

Then, I find out I will not be getting a spring break like many other SMOE (Seoul Ministry of Education) teachers get. That the next 3 weeks will be spent wasting away my at my freakishly cold desk in the office.

I am also losing some really good co-teachers while the not so helpful are remaining at the school.

And to top it all off, there is a strong chance I will not get to use my English room this semester. So after a month and a half of everything working in my classroom , I will have 7 months of nothing working! Awwwwesome!!!

Literally, my students are the ONLY reason I am not getting the heck out of dodge and applying somewhere else. Though the thought is still in my head, not going to lie.

In a month I'll be looking back on the good ol' days of fall semester.

Alright already...I'm posting, Iiiii'm posting!

I seem to be able to fill my time with a lot of other things besides blogging but since mom's laying on the guilt trip...

"there are a lot of people who love reading what you write"...I'll write.

Let's see...Christmas was spent here in Seoul. Christmas Eve was the most fun I've had in a long time! Following a candle light service at the church I've been attending, my friends Ashley and Caleen (sisters from Idaho) and I went caroling down the streets of the most westernized part of Seoul, Itaewon. (This is where the foreigners congregate and ironically where the most crime occurs.) We walked down the streets and sang at a few businesses. Occasionally someone, or a few someones, would join in. When we sang on the patio of Dunkin Doughnuts the employees gave us a free cake and when we offered to sing at the Italian restaurant we ate at we got free pizza, bread, cocktails, shots, and dessert. The workers at the Italian joint kept telling us how they were so sad they had to work Christmas Eve but how happy we had made their holiday. It was so much fun and such a great evening!

Christmas morning I took my first train ride to Cheonan, about 30 minutes outside of Seoul via the fastest train. I spent Christmas day and the day after with friends Larry and Martha. We went to a Christmas church service and then had a big feast with quite a few people from the area. It's amazing how all foreigners tend to flock together in a strange land...you really get a feel of family! Also, people tend to go the extra mile to try and create food like home...being creative is key when cooking in foreign places!

Five days after Christmas I hopped on a plane for home. It was so nice to spend the next two weeks relaxing and enjoying family and friends! It was also nice that I only gained a pound and a half while there...hahahaha!!! (But seriously!) I just so happened to miss the foot of snow that was dumped on Seoul, but we did have snow at home AND there was 2 inches that fell before I left...leaving my first flight from Korea delayed 2 hours.

I thought returning to Seoul would be hard...and the actual leaving the comforts of home, friends, family and my sweet dog, Annabelle, was a little tough but coming bad wasn't as bad as I imagined. Thankfully I had virtually no jet lag coming back and I literally walked up to see two of my precious students standing on my door step who helped me carry my 60 pound bag up to the 4th floor. Praise God!!! I am glad to be back to my babies and I really have been blessed with wonderful friends here.

The past few weeks I've been teaching winter camps...specifically I'm teaching dance which is fun and helping to keep off the massive amount of food I seem to be putting away currently. I've been to a benefit concert raising money for North Korean orphans trapped in China without parents. *Side note: (When officials find NK women refugees in China they often sell the women to Chinese men. If the man decides he doesn't want her anymore she is sent back to NK and typically tortured and killed. The children from those unions often end up orphans with absolutely nothing.) I've also been to the Korean War Museum (which is cool since my grandfather was in the Korean War), an Andy Warhol art exhibit, and done some general hanging out with old and a few new friends.

This is becoming tragically long. If you made it this far, bravo! If you're reading, send me feed back...you don't need an account to comment. It will encourage me to keep writing!

To be posted in the future: Fashion Korea (I did some espionage in a department store until I got caught), Issues of North Korea...the unheard voices, and if you're lucky I'll write about kimchi!!!

Stay tuned...

love from Korea :o)