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)