Wow

Wow. So much time has passed since I updated last. Almost a year. Things have changed so much here, definitely for the better. I'm happier than I was at this point last year and everything in my life seems to be coming together. I think about who I was before I came here and who I am now, and it is apparent that I've changed a lot. Primarily, I've grown up. I know who I am and I know I can face any challenges the world throws at me. I've been thinking about publishing some piece of writing about my experience here. In particular, something regarding gender studies or the queer community but with school applications and life having taken up a great deal of my time during the fall, I can really only think about relaxing now and setting up to leave/start school. Maybe I'll try to get some interviews and such before I leave in a month or so.

I officially leave Korea in 2 and a half months for New Jersey for a week, then Michigan for U of M Law's admitted students' weekend, and then to the Keys. Thennnnn. Either back to Michigan for their summer start program or somewhere else. I have yet to hear from some schools since it's pretty early, so I'm not making my decision yet. :P

As for Korea, I've loved you but our time together is ready to close. I've met so many wonderful people here and have had so many great memories that I'll be able to hold on to forever. I'm going to update this blog with some words of wisdom for future English teachers so I'll be back soon.

Japan

omgah. I bought a camera. I went to Tokyo. It was pretty awesome, but the food wasn't spicy enough, things were too expensive, and the bar scene was not nearly as good (just isn't the same without the drunken ajoshi herd stumbling home from the singing rooms at 11 p.m. on a Monday.) It was exciting to be in a "new" country and to compare things to Korea (couldn't help it!!) but, all in all I am quite glad I chose Korea as the country where I am teaching. Tokyo-ites are not nearly as interested in foreigners as Koreans are and are not particularly fond of Americans (and rightfully so.) I was there for 6 days so that was enough to see pretty much everything I would want to see there. I put up lots of pictures on Facebook and maybe I'll edit this later and put some pics up here. I'm currently procrastinating studying but I don't want to get too carried away.

There is a new "announcer" truck near my apartment sounding off this morning.

I thought he was speaking English at first. This is because I have been living in a foreign country for that long.

Mellee Kuh Lee Suh Muss and Happy New Year!

Christmas time in Korea...

Koreans deck out their stores with cute Christmas displays and play lots of holiday songs that you hear in the US. I think some people may purchase small trees but I don't think that tradition is nearly as common here as in the US. I actually never thought to ask my kids about that. People exchange gifts and a few may go to church, but for most people it's more of a commercial holiday than anything else. Not too big of a deal. It's also seen as a "couples" holiday here.

So what did I do on Christmas? Christmas Eve I had to work until 10 and I ended up stealing this small tree I bought for my secret Santa, our new co-teacher Aaron, and put it in my room (he had a half day soooo he never noticed.) As I carried the tree on my back into the classroom the resemblance between myself and the Grinch was far too striking, so I ended up teaching my kids about him and made it my desktop background. Now, I have a whole class who calls me a monster (a water monster to be more exact because they are shocked by the large bottle of water I drink during class... Koreans typically drink out of little tiny cups or tiny paper bags...) That night some of my coworkers and I had a bite to eat and a bit to drink at this bar in Suji. Nothing too eventful. My director also bought us a cake... Pictures are from my iPod so they're not spectacular...

Then, on Christmas day itself I hung out with two of my friend's dogs who I was watching for the week while she was in Vietnam. My academy is pretty much the only school that doesn't get holidays off, sooo yeah all the other foreigners were gone.

I made pancakes for breakfast and helped the dogs open their gifts.

My tree and my presents that people mailed to me!

May-ee-peul See-lup.

Eating pancakes with chopsticks...

I know they look like a mess but they were delish.

Later that evening I went to a "vodka" Christmas party which was fun and then to a club. I have engaged in way too much partying Korean style for the holidays over the past few weeks so I am now taking a complete hiatus for a while. I rang in the New Year with Jessica and Audrey just hanging around Suji and it was great just being able to relax.

For this month winter "intensive" courses are in full swing so I am at Chungdahm pretty much all day from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Pretty crazy. On my two hour breaks I've been trying to study for the LSAT without falling asleep or going to the gym. Going to be an intense few weeks but by the end of it I discovered that I get a VACATION!!!!!!

I'm going to Japan for Lunar New Year with Gina, Josh, and Jessica? because not enough kids are going to be attending classes or something during that week. Woo! Unfortunately, this means we have to work 9 days straight the week prior to the holiday, but whatever.