Snow!

I woke up early-ish saturday morning to "volunteer" in Songnae. My room felt rather chilly and it had been raining all night, so I decided to pile the layers onto my body and wear my rain boots just in case it was wet outside. I walk down the stairs and out of my apartment building, and saw some stuff floating in the air, which I first thought was trash or some kind of flower pollen. Then I realized it was snow! I had to take off my mittens and feel it to make sure it was real. It looked like little clumps of fluffy, shaved ice. It changed my morning mood to a pleasant one, even sans coffee, and I became distracted from the harsh cold weather and delighted to be walking in the big snow flurries. I know it sounds cheesey, but it was exciting to me--being from Florida and all.

Yes, it was magical and beautiful the whole way to the neighborhood I was due to teach at...that is until I got off the bus and had to walk to their apartment in it. The wind picked up and the snow began pelting me in the face and I was completely covered from head to foot in it by the time I got to my tutoree's apartment. It stopped snowing during my class, but I got to admire it from their balcony window for a little while longer at least. I didn't get any pictures of it, but next time, I'll try to be more prepared.

Korean Style American Pizza

I just finished eating pizza with the 5th grade teachers (for some reason Sun Jung and I are grouped as 5th grade teachers) and since I'm on a blog kick, I thought I'd share the experience.

What's so special about the Korean version of pizza you ask? Well here are the toppings on the 2 slices I just ate:

cheese (of course)

mushrooms

red and yellow peppers

onions

bacon

...sounds normal so far, but wait, there's more...

potato wedges

corn

crab meat

shrimp

crumbled up nacho chips

something that tasted like salsa perhaps

yogurt sauce drizzled around the pizza near the crust

and speaking of crust, it was stuffed with sweet potatos

그래요? 네.

This probably sounds completely disgusting and extravagant to you, but being a girl who loves to mix all of my food together, I thought it was pretty good. Maybe I'm just getting used to Korea. Who knows. But I'm sure if these Koreans ever had American pizza in America, they would probably think it to be pretty boring.

In-ploo-en-ja chim (flu shot)--침'chim' actually means needle...I don't know the word for shot.

This has been the most chill week ever at school!

Monday--I taught the adorable, little 3rd graders, that I love so much because they actually pay attention in class and do everything I say.

Tuesday--I was under the weather, the cold weather that is, and got sent home to "take a rest" in hopes that my cold wouldn't turn into the Swine flu, or H1N1.

Wednesday--Still not feeling spectacular, but it didn't matter because the 6th graders had to study for another upcoming test so no English classes that day. (Not to mention the Pepero I received from some students who I encourage to suck up to me ;)

Thursday--Had a very light English class for the 5th graders, half of which revolved around a game that they played by themselves in pairs.

Today--Friday! I love Fridays and all the students know it. So I was already in a good mood when I got here (and the Cappucino from Paris Baguette also helped). Then I just found out that ALL of the students have to get their Flu Shots today. And it just so happens that the English room is next to the Nurse's room, so English classes are cancelled today. Why? I'm not exactly sure, but I think the kids all get to leave after lunch, too. I kinda feel bad for Sun Jung; she's running around crazy out there helping with this flu shot distribution while I get to sit in here and blog. But I don't think there's much I can do. And I offered to help.

In other news, I'm flying home for Christmas and New Years! The tickets basically cost me a whole month's salary, so you guys better plan an awesome New Years Eve celebration, and not just because it happens to fall on a Blue Moon this year, but also because I'm coming all the way from Korea to be there for it! I will get to celebrate 2 New Years this year because in Asia they celebrate the Lunar New Year. Jealous? ;P

Pepero(배배로) Day

Today is Pepero day. A holiday this huge company called Lotte invented to sell their chocolate covered cracker/cookie sticks. Usually they are long and thin and come in a box of about 20, I think. But today I've received 2 big Pepero sticks from 2 of my good students. I didn't have to teach any classes today because the 6th graders were reviewing and preparing for some more tests. So it was sweet of these students to come into my office after lunch and present me with the gift of Pepero. I'm sure Lotte is banking this week. Damn corporate giants and their cute holiday schemes. They are pretty tasty though...pictures to come.

So I seem to have caught some kind of cold and my school, being paranoid of H1N1 and all that jazz, sent me home yesterday. And today I had no classes; holiday for me! I am a little worried ab0ut my lungs though. I don't know how my asthma will react to the winter here and I don't want a stupid cold to make them weak ;( But alas, I have Albuterol, so I'll be fine.

Anywho, I hope that this decreasing temperature allows (forces) me to blog more, because there are so many things I want you to know. "You," as in whomever happens to be reading this. Anybody out there?

Stranger Encounters

The Subway Platform
So, I'm waiting on the train at Yeokgok station to go to Erin's house late one evening. There aren't many people around. I sit on one of the many empty benches to wait for the last train of the night. Then I hear this shuffling sound and I look over to see this very old Korean man slowly making his way toward me. I mean, very slowly. He's shuffling his feet and taking very small baby steps to advance. He finally stops right in front of where I'm sitting. He tries to mumble some Korean words to me and he looks like he's foaming at the mouth with spit. I was so afraid he would accidentally spit or drool on me I immediately got up and told him that I don't speak Korean (hanguk mal motayo) and motioned for him to sit down at my bench. He tried to baby step close to me and I backed away and just said "I don't speak Korean!" one more time before I hauled ass to the other side of the platform where there were some other people. I stand over near a bench with a couple sitting on it and then I hear that foot shuffling sound again. The little old man is pushing his feet in my direction! I start getting annoyed and wonder if any of the other people think it's strange that I am circling around these benches and he's slowly following me. Finally, I walk down around this vending machine, and when I hear him get to the side of it to go around behind it, I take off to way down the other end of the platform just as the announcement for the next train fills the air. I lost him. There's no way he could catch up with me before the train leaves. It's like a really cheesy horror movie, I feel like any second while I'm sitting on the train, I'll hear that shuffling sound and the scary old rabies man will come to get me...

The Crying Boy
This time I'm on my way to Itaewon to play pool on my pool league. I decide to get off at Yongsan station and take a cab from there to save time, not thinking about the potential traffic jam caused by the Korean Thanksgiving(Chuseok) weekend travelers. Yongsan is a pretty big subway station with a huge electronics mall attached to it. I'm not too familiar with this station, though, I thought I was when I decided to get off at that stop. So I get lost trying to find my way out and I start walking around the outside perimeter of the 3rd floor looking for a way down and head towards a parking garage. I get the feeling I'm being followed by this Korean boy behind me. It seems like he's trying to make it obvious because when I stopped to look down and see what's below me, he stopped and did the same in a mimicking way. After walking toward an obvious dead-end for pedestrians, I decide to turn around away from the parking garage and head back to the crowd inside. The boy turns around and does the same. So I stop, turn back and call him out.

"Are you following me?"

"Oh, I, uhhh, I just thought you were so beautiful I couldn't take my eyes off of you."

Not knowing what to do from that point, and trying to assess the situation and possibility of fighting with a potential cereal killer, I decide to ask him to show me to the taxi stand while picking up a rapid pace back inside. He asks me if I'm a tourist. I say no. Am I a student? No. But he is. So I turn the questioning towards him. What are you studying? What school are you going to? What are you doing hanging around the subway station stalking pretty girls on a Wednesday night?

He seems really nervous. He tells me how black my hair is, and other obvious comments. He thinks I'm half Korean. But I'm not. We walk down the crowded stairs and toward the taxi area while more small talk ensues. He assumes I have a boyfriend; I comply. I ask him his name.

"I, uh, um...I don't know."

"You don't know your own name!"

"I, I, can't remember it...I think I'm going to cry."

And with that, tears start rolling down his face. I didn't know what to do. He wasn't sobbing, but he obviously had issues. I try to ignore the crying to not make him feel more embarrassed. I say that I should cross the street and catch a cab on the other side. He walks with me, wipes his tears away, and he says, "What's your name?"

"Jessica."

"That means wealthy."

"How do you know that?"

"I know a half Korean girl named Jessica."

"Interesting. Well thanks for your help. I'm gonna catch this cab."

He tells the cab driver where I'm going, in Korean, and then he remembers his name. I've forgotten it. Something that sounds like thank you, but not thank you.

"Nice to meet you and thanks for your help."

And that was that. Stalker averted.

June---School Dinner Outing

My school's principal, Dong Hee, decided we should all have a dinner outing at one of his favorite restaurants, Jangwong Garden. Not all of the teachers here are fond of him, so not everyone came, but I'm always up for new experiences so I decided to go (but mainly because Sun Jung was going). We had Korean bbq, also known as Sam Gyup Sal, which means 3 layers of pork. They bring the marinated slabs of meat out raw and cook it in front of you and then cut it up with scissors in small pieces. With your chopsticks in one hand and a lettuce leaf wrap in the other, you take a couple pieces of meat and place it in the center of your leaf. Then you can add some of the condiments they have already brought out to your table, including: garlic slices, kimchi, red pepper paste, onion salad, or any other house specialty side items. Then wrap it up and enjoy. This particular restaurant was one of the best places I've been for Sam Gyup Sal so far. Their meat must have been marinated differently, not to mention the great outdoor atmosphere. We sat on raised, covered wooden platforms. You have to take your shoes off first and sit Indian style (or Korean style, rather) on the floor. It was very beautiful outside and I enjoyed the natural setting closer to the mountains. If I knew where this place was, I'd take Erin there. But we all went by carpooling.

Sun Jung, flipping the meat, and Young Joo observing.

I like to sit next to Hyun Joon, he has no idea what's going on too.

Some of the teachers at my school that I talk to.

The principal is standing on the left and giving a speech in Korean. He doesn't speak English and he's very peculiar.

Foods

Street vendor stuff: I'm not sure what it is, but I think it's balls of dough with squid and some veggies in it and then he put some fish flakes and sauce on top of it and wrapped it up for me. They weren't bad, but I coulda done without the fish flakes or whatever it was...

MMMM. Chicken skewer/kabob things that we get from the open market acrossed the street from my apartment. They're pretty tasty, if you don't think about how long they might be left out for and if they really are made with chicken meat or not.

Some breakfast options from Paris Baguette. They have lots of breads and pastries and cakes and coffee, etc. I frequent the place quite a bit as there aren't many breakfast options in Korea. I think she had a glazed pastry of sorts with almond slivers on it along with a cheesy onion stuffed bread.



Um, yeah...I hope you realllllly like zucchini.



Free waffles with apple jam and whipped cream and some coffee or tea at the Star Billiards pool hall---one of our top 5 hangouts, especially since we became friends with the owner and his family.

Korean style Japanese restaurant near Yeokgok Station (where I live). We think it's pretty delicious. Some would say it's too salty...but we like it that way. Erin and I usually share one dish, because as you can see, it comes with plenty of food. We had a chicken cutlet with cheese on it, rice, cabbage salad, kimchi, and delicious miso-type soup. Oh, and each table has a morter and pestle and they grind up some kind of seeds and squirt some sauce in a bowl with the grinds and you dip your chicken in it. I've yet to determine what it actually is, but I'll find out eventually...

Before.................................................... After

Window Shopping

It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine...

Actually, I just like it because it has mermaids on it. I didn't even try it out. So that might not be the one...but I need to get a guitar soon. I miss playing.

The Fancy Train: In June this train was decorated...we don't know why

Seeing the Deftones!: Pentaport Rock Fest July 25th

"You move like I want to. To see as your eyes do...and tonight, I feel like more."

I'm going to start jumping around in my blog now. I feel like I'm waiting too long to write about an experience and I'm afraid that I won't have the same thoughts about it in hindsight. Though, this would be the case regardless, I'm sure, unless I were to write my feelings during the actual experience. A recollection or memory can already be "colored" or embellished perhaps within 10 minutes after it happened. But this is the way I remember it:

After a late Friday night of drinking and playing pool at King Bar(where our pool league is) in Itaewon and staying out longer than we should've under the influence of Dewey(King Bar owner and Erin's team Captain) along with the adorable Fillipino cocktail waitresses there, we had to get up and get ready for the Pentaport Rock Festival. We slept until about 11:30 or noon, but we didn't get to our apartments until about 7, so it wasn't much sleep at all. Needless to say, we were hungover and not moving at a rapid pace.

Erin and I were to meet at the Bucheon station E-Mart so we could get some things for our camp out. We knew we could rent our tent at the festival. I stopped at the dollar store (technically, Cheun store as 1 Cheun Won is about $1) and I found a kind of wicker floor mat thing to sleep on, that folded out to be a decent size and two plastic, wicker looking pillows stuffed with some unknown material. Anywho, we grabbed some snacks and some lunch at Lotteria(fast food-I had this delicious shrimp burger that Erin recommended) and then off on the sub train to Incheon.

Directions are never easy in Korea. All we knew was the station to get off at and the bus number to take along with the name of the bus stop. We got lost...just a little. I mean, we knew where we were but we didn't know how to get where we were going. This is usually the case, isn't it? Anywho, we got off at sort of the right bus stop and then what? I noticed this Korean boy that got off the bus when we did and I asked him if he was going to the Festival. Luckily, he was. And he was really cool about helping us get our tickets when we got there and we even ran into him later where he gave us a schedule lineup of all the bands. Everyone is so nice here. It's almost unbelievable and strange, but refreshing.

We got our wristbands and our tent and walked over to the campgrounds. We found a plot and tried to start figuring out how the hell to put the tent up. Just as Erin was about to go ask someone way up at the front, these guys from the "raver tent" ran over and in their broken English, told me to relax and they would do it for us. So I yelled out to Erin and we looked over this flier they handed us to a secret rave party out on a beach in the southeast part of Korea. Then we gave them a hand.

Once our tent was up, we snacked on our chips and dip and ventured out into the festival area. Oh, and there was a hole in our tent that we were paranoid mosquitos would find and get into our tent through...so being the resourceful former girlscout that I am, I fixed it:

(Yeah, that's right, it's a pad...with wings. It did the trick too ;)

We made our way to the music to catch the end of the performance by an Australian band that I can't remember the name of. We also watched the Korean 80s hair metal band Next perform. It was awesome! They were kind of like Iron Maiden/any 80s hair metal ballad rockers you can think of...except in Korean, and they looked pretty old. They have definitely been around for a while.

Sorry, it's a really bad picture, but maybe you can
get an idea of what they were like...(and don't forget to click on the pic to see it better)

Now for the Deftones! I noticed at the Jager tent that JagerBombs were only 4,000 won (a bargain), so we had a couple of those and put our bags in a locker. We went over to the stage when they started the sound check and it was already crowded. We pushed our way up pretty close, but when the show started, everyone got rowdy and jumpy and Erin had her camera and was getting claustrophobic, so we backed out a bit to the right and energetically watched from there. The energy at the show was unbelievalbe. It was a much better vibe than I've had at metal shows in America. The Korean kids at the show were just so happy and almost innocent in their rock demeanors. Everyone was jumping around, having fun, and truly enjoying the moment. There were a few moshpits, which when I examined I realized that they weren't very intimidating, so I convinced Erin to move up closer again. This time it was better; I think some of the early spaz dancers wore themselves out and were a bit more mellow. We got up to the front right of the stage and stayed there. Erin and I were smiling and dancing the whole time. They played for quite a while, old and new songs. There were maybe 2 or 3 crowd surfers the whole time and everyone was just being really cool and friendly in this shared sea of energy. The security would pass out bottles of water and someone would pour a little of it in his mouth withouth touching his lips and pass it around to whoever else was thirsty. Concerts are so much better here. That's why you should move to South Korea...just sayin.

The Deftones also did an encore song of 7 Words, the song that Erin really wanted to hear, so you can imagine her enthusiasm. We jumped around together and threw our fists in the air in harmony with the crowd. Oh, and everytime I would shout an "Ow!" or a "Woooooo!" after a song, other people would start doing it to. It was cute. We had high hopes of finding the Deftones afterwards and hanging out with them, but that didn't happen. Maybe next time...

We headed back to the tent to eat some more snacks. We wanted to go hang out with the Korean ravers who helped us put up our tent, but we were so exhausted we just tried to sleep. Our tent was not far away from the rave tent, so we hear loud techno and acoustic guitar songs in between until 5a.m. It was hard to sleep, but it was also hard to get up. At one point I could here a big group of them singing What's Going On by the Four Non Blondes, you know, Kumbaya style. It was really funny because you could tell they didn't really know the words to the song, just the "Hey yeah yeah yeah yeah, What's goin on?"

We woke up at 9 and decided we should just go. We took the tent down ourselves while the ravers where doing yoga and meditating (confirming our suspicions that they DON'T do drugs). Then we went home.