In just a few weeks, I will have been in Korea for three years. I am leaving soon and along with looking at a consolidation of my finances, gathering together (and reducing) my wardrobe, and getting ready for my next tip-toe-print in the world, I want to analyze what I've learned--either directly or indirectly--from my time in Busan.
So, here (in no particular order) is what I've learned in Korea:
Pink is not just for girls and gay men.
Ajumas (old women) can and will be your greatest ally or worst enemy. Approach with caution or avoid eye contact.
Baseball is just better when you can bring in your own alcohol and wear an orange trash bag on your head.
The mechanical pencil was the worst idea ever and obviously not invented by an elementary school teacher.
You can put kimchi on everything.
There is a time when all of Dad's dumb jokes come in handy.
There are things you SHOULD NOT put kimchi on.
The most versatile game ever invented is 'rock, paper, scissors'.
Americans should savor every moment they have with good cheese.
Fashion is whatever you want it to be if you already look different than everyone around you.
Most English vocabulary can be explained using hand motions and/or a reference to Harry Potter.
Americans are not the only ones who think repeating something in a louder voice is going to magically make you understand what they're saying.
Adding ice to coffee somehow makes it more expensive.
Karaoke and soju make us all equals.
Construction can be done overnight if you only hire men over 50.
Not all well-being food is actually good for you.
You do not need to use correct English grammar when making a t-shirt, advertisement, or government document.
'Nightclub' and 'Department Store' are universal words while 'hospital' is not.
Kids, en masse, can learn American History and remember it, just not necessarily American kids.
It must really suck sometimes to be a Russian woman.
There is no limit to the number of pictures a Korean girl can take of herself. No limit.
I have a big head and big feet but it's OK because I'm tall, white, and have big eyes.
Shrimp have heads.
Getting a Queen and three in Texas hold'em is called a 'gay waiter'.
A Korean child is more helpful than any trained cell phone technician.
The word 'dong' is universally funny.
Korean men will eat just about anything if you tell them it will help their stamina.
I am not smarter than a fifth grader.
The ridiculous idea of consuming American beef is more important that the goings on of North Korea's nuclear arms program.
There is something inside that dies between elementary school and middle school, unless you start talking about boy bands.
The capital of Canada is Ottawa.
Even after three years, watching people spit is still really gross.
Westerners may go to great lengths to get a tan, but Koreans will go even farther to be white.
Kids can share with one another, every day, with every kid in class.
There's a whole country where Starbucks, Costco, and Outback Steakhouse are the classiest places in town.
K-pop survives on choreographed dances and guys that look like girls.
Everyone should use scissors to cut their meat, it's just simpler.
Giving children perms is wrong and just the most adorable thing ever.
Beds are an unnecessary luxury.
If an ajuma thinks you're pregnant on the subway, just go with it. It's the only way to get a seat sometimes.
Always carry tissues or 200 won.
Kids have the most finely tuned sense of what is fair.
While I'm sure there are many more things I have learned, I have to get up in the morning and learn some more for 13 hours. Peace go (or stay) with you. Annyeong!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Introducing/Convincing Myself
I spent the entire way home from work tonight thinking of things to say. Quotes passed through my head, both from students and famous people. There are so many things I can say!! Why haven't I started this before now?!? I walked through my door, stuck some laundry in, changed out of my frumpy teacher clothes, and sat down in my fake-leather chair. And then I started to set up my brand new Blogger blog and remembered why: "What is the title of your blog?", "Would you like to import an existing Blogger blog using our import blog tool?", "Did you really think you would understand any of this or that anyone would be interested in what you had to say?" But despite my self-doubt, I sit here and I blog; whatever that means.
I decided that for my first blogging adventure I would do something that may get me to blog again. While introducing myself to the void that is the Internet, I will try to convince the Internet people (mainly myself) why I should put my thoughts, ideas, and experiences out there for all to see. Don't skip to the end; I'll give you a hint. I'm doing it for me.
The title of my blog (which I finally chose myself after trying to wimp out and have my sister choose for me) is actually a little misleading. I am not a SWF looking for a good time in the personals. In fact, based on how I know I write, I REALLY hope I don't get a date out of this. But I thought it gave a decent introduction to me. My name is Laura and I live in Busan, South Korea. My Western age is 25, my Korean age is 26 but my birthday is so close to the beginning of the year that I would have gone to school with the rest of the students who are now 27. So here I am: Laura, Busan, 25-27.
Now, if I actually get around to putting a picture of myself up on here, you may notice that I'm not Korean. Or if you were reading this and were amazed by the English level of someone living in Korea, don't give up hope yet, I'm working on their English. I have been teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Busan for about two and a half years. (Why? That's a whole other blog post...) I am really from Indiana, USA and graduated from Purdue University. Now, I teach elementary and middle school Korean students from a whole variety of English levels. I live close to the beach, use public transportation, have both foreign and korean friends, and (now) have a nice apartment. I love my job. Some people tell me I shouldn't, but I do. But like I said, that's a whole other bog post.
Ok, enough of the simple introduction crap. I need to starting arguing with myself now or I may go to bed and all this could be an unrealized whim! Well, Madam Internet the interviewer, I believe I will be an excellent addition to your team of bloggers for many reasons. I am a very experienced writer. I was a writing composition tutor for my university's writing lab for almost three years and I enjoyed helping budding freshman write their physics lab reports and English 100 essays on which family member they admired the most. I teach Writing TOEFL prep here in Korea where I teach middle schools how to construct nearly mathematically rigid five-paragraph essays about the same few dozen topics that may appear on a standardized test. No, no...there's some creativity. I drew the line when my company suggested that I get the students to memorize entire essays. Uh, yeah, I teach a higher level class as well. It's called Master's Writing. No, unfortunately I don't have a Master's degree. But I teach them to be creative and we read essays by great American authors! My own writing experience??? You mean outside of University?? That's what the blogging is for, right? (Yikes, I'm really glad I already have a job.)
As it may suggest above, it has occured to me that I would like to be a writer. You know, like the people who get paid for it. Apparently, though, some people start writing without the money and then they get better and they find jobs later. I'm already 25-27 and I'm just catching onto this. Am I too late?!? My doubt (head) says yes but my gut (actual midsection that wants to sit around with the computer instead of going to the gym) says that this is the hobby for the future (paid) writer in me. I realize that I may also have to choose what kind of writing I want to be paid for, but I'll get there if I actually ever leave South Korea.
All this aside...if I never live up the title of true blogger or if I decide to take up pearl diving instead of writing or myself, sister and mother are the only ones to ever read my posts, if nothing else comes from this directionless rambling...at least it'll be free therapy. I work with children and many people with whom I don't share a first language; it has been a great feat for me to learn to order pizza over the phone. It should be self-explanatory WHY I need minor therapy. HOW blogging gives me therapy is by letting me vent. Great citizens of the Internet void, lend me your ear to chew!! I think faster and process better when I'm talking to someone. You don't even have to talk back. In fact, I'm not even sure if they have that feature on here or how it would work. Um, doctor, help....?!?
So, really, I'm doing this for me. I'd like to think that I am imparting some great wisdom or insight on the people of the internet who read this (Hi Mom!), but I am wise enough to know better. Plus, when I admit that I'm doing something for selfish reasons it makes me feel less selfish about it.
Ahhh, I feel better, thanks.
Blogger out.
I decided that for my first blogging adventure I would do something that may get me to blog again. While introducing myself to the void that is the Internet, I will try to convince the Internet people (mainly myself) why I should put my thoughts, ideas, and experiences out there for all to see. Don't skip to the end; I'll give you a hint. I'm doing it for me.
The title of my blog (which I finally chose myself after trying to wimp out and have my sister choose for me) is actually a little misleading. I am not a SWF looking for a good time in the personals. In fact, based on how I know I write, I REALLY hope I don't get a date out of this. But I thought it gave a decent introduction to me. My name is Laura and I live in Busan, South Korea. My Western age is 25, my Korean age is 26 but my birthday is so close to the beginning of the year that I would have gone to school with the rest of the students who are now 27. So here I am: Laura, Busan, 25-27.
Now, if I actually get around to putting a picture of myself up on here, you may notice that I'm not Korean. Or if you were reading this and were amazed by the English level of someone living in Korea, don't give up hope yet, I'm working on their English. I have been teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Busan for about two and a half years. (Why? That's a whole other blog post...) I am really from Indiana, USA and graduated from Purdue University. Now, I teach elementary and middle school Korean students from a whole variety of English levels. I live close to the beach, use public transportation, have both foreign and korean friends, and (now) have a nice apartment. I love my job. Some people tell me I shouldn't, but I do. But like I said, that's a whole other bog post.
Ok, enough of the simple introduction crap. I need to starting arguing with myself now or I may go to bed and all this could be an unrealized whim! Well, Madam Internet the interviewer, I believe I will be an excellent addition to your team of bloggers for many reasons. I am a very experienced writer. I was a writing composition tutor for my university's writing lab for almost three years and I enjoyed helping budding freshman write their physics lab reports and English 100 essays on which family member they admired the most. I teach Writing TOEFL prep here in Korea where I teach middle schools how to construct nearly mathematically rigid five-paragraph essays about the same few dozen topics that may appear on a standardized test. No, no...there's some creativity. I drew the line when my company suggested that I get the students to memorize entire essays. Uh, yeah, I teach a higher level class as well. It's called Master's Writing. No, unfortunately I don't have a Master's degree. But I teach them to be creative and we read essays by great American authors! My own writing experience??? You mean outside of University?? That's what the blogging is for, right? (Yikes, I'm really glad I already have a job.)
As it may suggest above, it has occured to me that I would like to be a writer. You know, like the people who get paid for it. Apparently, though, some people start writing without the money and then they get better and they find jobs later. I'm already 25-27 and I'm just catching onto this. Am I too late?!? My doubt (head) says yes but my gut (actual midsection that wants to sit around with the computer instead of going to the gym) says that this is the hobby for the future (paid) writer in me. I realize that I may also have to choose what kind of writing I want to be paid for, but I'll get there if I actually ever leave South Korea.
All this aside...if I never live up the title of true blogger or if I decide to take up pearl diving instead of writing or myself, sister and mother are the only ones to ever read my posts, if nothing else comes from this directionless rambling...at least it'll be free therapy. I work with children and many people with whom I don't share a first language; it has been a great feat for me to learn to order pizza over the phone. It should be self-explanatory WHY I need minor therapy. HOW blogging gives me therapy is by letting me vent. Great citizens of the Internet void, lend me your ear to chew!! I think faster and process better when I'm talking to someone. You don't even have to talk back. In fact, I'm not even sure if they have that feature on here or how it would work. Um, doctor, help....?!?
So, really, I'm doing this for me. I'd like to think that I am imparting some great wisdom or insight on the people of the internet who read this (Hi Mom!), but I am wise enough to know better. Plus, when I admit that I'm doing something for selfish reasons it makes me feel less selfish about it.
Ahhh, I feel better, thanks.
Blogger out.
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