Festival at Samseo

Here's a picture show for you. Monday was Samseo Middle Schools festival and my co-teacher picked me up after my classes at Samgye so I could go to it. It was amazing. My students are talented and hilarious. Here's a small sample.

A group of about eight students played guitar and sang a k-pop song "I don't care" which is really popular here. So much that the students will sing it to you in class to try and get out of stuff. It never works, but they try. Kristen's taken to singing it to them as well which makes the students go crazy that she actually knows a k-pop song.

A bunch of students put on a skit which was about a carnival. A boy was showing a girl around the carnival and she was trying out all the different things. The boys in the coloured sweaters were the rides and inanimate objects.

This was that game you play where you try to grab the toy.

Dancing to a song called "superman" (a k-pop one. Not the one you're probably thinking of)

These are a couple of my favourite grade three students. The boy in the middle was progressively eating hoter and spicier foods. Here he's eating a jalapeno pepper. Students were going crazy over the stuff he was eating. I think I could give him a run for his money though...

My grade one girls dancing to a k-pop song. Out of all the songs danced to, theirs was the best in my opinion. They danced it for me in class last week and it was 100x better on festival day. I was so proud of them!

The boys all dressed as girls and had to answer questions. The audience then picked who they thought was the best girl. It was really only a competition between the boy on the far right and the boy second to left. I couldn't tell which of my boys they were at first either. The boy second to left won.

Although as you can see here he really got into his role. Some of them were pretty good at walking in heels too. They were high too. He probably walked better in heels than I can!

So that's my Wednesday school of 34 students. Between them they managed to put on a three hour production. I was impressed. At the end, like every other school festival, they brought out the karaoke machine. I had disco (my co-teacher) mentioning it all afternoon and how I should sing. I ademently refused, but when some of my boys told me they really really wanted me to sing I gave in. Let me tell you, when the whole school (student, teachers, parents, and siblings) suddenly goes dead quiet when the English teacher comes up to sing it's a little intimidating. Thankfully there was a song I knew well enough and was in my range to sing so I pretended I was at the norae bong with my friends and sang and danced. Yes, I put on a show for them. They were all clapping along and some were even trying to sing because they could see they lyrics too. Thankfully most of the people there don't speak much English so I doubt any of them understood a word I said.

In the end, the day was awesome. That will be my only school festival since Samgye's was cancelled because of the H1N1 scare. The parents complained so they cancelled it. Stupid parents. I would've loved to see Samgye do one. But, I got Samseo's so I'm happy!

P.s. I GOT MY SOUND CARD!!! I am currently listening to Christmas music. Almost four months with no sound. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I had it back!

Cream Cheese Cookies

... mmmm so good! That is all I have to say on that matter.

Story Time with Tara:

Today in school my co-teacher comes to me after first period and tells me that the elementary school, which is right next to the middle school, called and asked if I would be willing to teach one class at their school. He assured me I was allowed to say no, but because I had met the Korean English teacher at that school before and really wanted to help out the students, I said yes. He was so relieved! But then my co tells me that because the class would be during my one period break in the morning, I would no longer be teaching the grade threes and he would teach them instead. I LOVE my grade threes at Sinheung and had I known that before I said yes then I probably would've said no to the elementary school. I told him that it was fine if I taught the grade threes as well, but he insisted that it would be "too much work" for me to do and I should have a break during that time. I figured I'd let it be for this week and next week I'd argue my point. Besides, it's the grade threes who really should have a native English teacher because they're the ones who need good test scores to get into a good high school. The grade 6's have three more years to learn good English.
Anyway, I sit down at my desk to do a whole lot of nothing, but the computer wasn't working and there was no one I could ask. I had left all my papers in the class room so I couldn't even do text book planning or study Korean. So I went back to the class. When I went in, the whole class looks at me and went crazy. My favourite boy goes "Tara! I miss you!" so I said that I missed the class as well. I turned to James (my co.) and told him quite sternly that it would not be any more work for me to teach the grade threes because I use the same lesson plans anyway so the class was already planned. I don't care about down time, I'd rather be busy (Koreans don't seem to understand that... they like their breaks and naps!). I guess the class had made a big deal about not having me anymore when he told them earlier because he gave in right away when I said that. So my co tells them that I am now teaching them again and the whole class cheered. So I told them it would be a really hard class with lots of writing. I don't think they understood my joke...even when I said I was joking. Oh well. I had a ton of movie clips to show them anyway so it was a good thing I didn't have a hard class planned or they might regret asking for me back!
So, for a grand total of five minutes I no longer taught my grade threes. I also now have an extra class I am not getting paid for, but that was my choice for refusing to give up my grade threes. I get to run between two schools twice to make it in time for each class, but I'm fine with that. At least I get to walk around.
I almost told James I'd give up my grade twos to teach at the middle school, but I'm pretty sure even HE doesn't want to teach them more than he has to. (incase you forgot, they're my annoying class).

Hmmm I have decided I write stories that could be told in three sentences and make them into a long ordeal. I just like details.

What else?

We went to Seoul on the weekend. Four days after the North Koreans got all pissed off at South Korea for apparently instigating the navel battle off the coast of Korea where a North Korean soldier died last week Tuesday. We didn't get bombed so that's good. I think I heard it's been quite a number of years since they're had a full out navel battle between the two Koreas.

Obama is also in Korea right now. The radio told me that incase I had any ideas of knocking on his hotel door I should re-think those plans because it's crawling with cops wearing mufflers.

I have no classes tomorrow. Grade threes have final exams. Then a month and half more of school. Whoever invented the Korean school system was messed. The grade threes aren't going to care about anything after exams are over. Good thing I love them so much (in all my schools too!) because then I can plan fun games and stuff and not follow the boring textbook.

Cherrah, Kristen, and I went out for Italian last night and ordered the family meal because it was really cheap and intended to take most of it home. When we were finished the waiter told us we can't get take out...only pizza goes in take out. We argued, but since he knew ten words of English and we knew the same ten words of Korean we didn't get anywhere. So we looked at each other and dug in. We were stuffed. I think Kristen ate at least half, if not more, of the whole meal.

Cindy came over last night to show me how to work my heater since I didn't know how (ie. Tara didn't pay attention when she was told in August) and I am no longer freezing every evening and morning. Lucky me the weather warmed up today too! At least I can work it now though.

yep. that's about all I'm going to tell you. I have no pictures. They are on Kristen's computer. Sad for you. Next time maybe!

Finding Love in Korea

I debated between two different titles for the title of this post and I settled on this one because I figured it would make everyone go "ohhh!!! there's a guy!" and I just wanted to crush your hopes in the first sentence. There isn't a guy.
The other title option was "The never ending stupidity of Tara who can't seem to do anything right". But that was too long.

So, first comes first: my stupidity. You know you don't usually use hair products or hair anything when the first time you use a curling iron you leave it on. All day. While you're at school. Oops. Good thing the curling iron was on the table with all my school papers and tons of other easily flammable things all cluttered around it. Well, I guess that's not such a good thing. Now in case you think I think it's funny, well you're wrong. You probably could've heard my heart drop when I realized I had left it on. Especially since I kept reminding myself to turn it off before I left and still forgot. It's only funny now that I know I didn't burn my whole apartment complex down. That would've sucked.

Now for the story I know you all want to hear. Adelle is the only person in Canada who has heard anything about this topic so far, but it is way to funny not to tell anyone else. Especially after what happened yesterday. In suspense yet?
There's this teacher at Samseo Middle School (Wednesdays school) who speaks very little English and only comes in after lunch the day I am there. Over a month and half ago he tried to talk to me, but his English is so terrible that he usually ends up just getting my co-teacher to translate since I never understand what he is trying to tell me. Well he did a couple magic tricks for me one day and found out quickly that I was very impressed. So the next week he brought in a couple more tricks and taught me a couple of them (which I so don't remember anymore!). Eventually I guess he figured since he couldn't talk to me he might as well impress me with magic tricks. I didn't mind since Wednesdays are usually really boring since I'm done at 2:15 and have to be bored until 5 when I can leave. So he spends that time showing me tricks. I'm not complaining.
About three weeks ago he brought in this massive box of magic tricks. What he didn't count on was that the students would find out that he had them so he had more of an audience then just me. So anyway, at the end of the day he's trying to talk to me, but my co-teacher wasn't around to translate. He wrote some stuff on a piece of paper, but it made no sense to me. I THINK he was asking me what I thought about him, but I'm not sure since I don't remember his name. (it seriously is hard to remember Korean names. You try it). I just said I don't understand over and over again. Eventually he gave up. I thought he would be done with everything, but no, he wasn't. He tries to say something else that sounded like "poop-ee". Natually, I had no idea what he was saying. So he rolls up his sleeves and shows me his muscles. I almost died laughing. Thankfully none of the other teachers were paying attention (they all keep telling me the guy likes me and it just gets really awkward at times and they really don't need any more ammo against the situation!). I thought he was saying the word meant strong. I was wrong. Again. He comes over and gives me a present of Popeyes. Not your regular popeyes, but these swirlly things with sugar balls in them. I know, bad description, but I don't know what to call them. They're very good though. So now he had given me a gift. Oh boy. Then just before we go to leave he whips out his camera and asks to take a picture of me. I couldn't refuse. He wouldn't understand anyway. So I said ok. Well to him "ok" meant he could take tons of different pictures going in a full 360 around me taking one from every angle. He could probably print them off and put them in a circle frame and if you spun it, it would look like I'm turning in a circle. You know, like those pictures you draw in a book and flip the pages and it looks like someone is running? yeah. like that. He probably took enough for it too.
Later my co-teacher comes and the conversation now turns to him wanting to drive me home. While I'm frantically trying to come up with a good excuse why I can't get a ride home with him, my co-teacher pipes up saying that he said he needs a new car first. I hope he NEVER gets a new car. Later I found out that he doesn't even live in Gwangju and it would be an hour out of his way to take me home. My co-teacher tells me that "he tried getting married before, but he failed". When I heard that, I had to hold in the laughter. I'm pretty certain that's not what she meant to mean, but the way she translated what she was thinking into English it came out this way. It was hilarious.
So anyway. Yesterday was Pepero Day which is basically valentines day in November except not because they have Valentines day in February too. On this say people give chocolated coated cookie sticks to each other. Some of my boy students gave me some and it was so cute because they wanted hugs for them. They got hi-fives instead. I was dreading Pepero day when I realized it would be on Wednesday. I was so sure that magic man would buy my a whole box of them. However, I got lucky. I had a meeting for winter camps at the Office of Education after lunch so I left before he came. I was relieved. After my meeting, Kristen, Gabrielle and I were waiting for our ride when guess who shows up? Magic man. He waves so enthusiastically and comes over giving me one single pepero and runs off again. Kristen was so excited to see magic man since she's heard all the stories that I didn't think to look at the pepero he gave me. I should've because the director of camps came over and asked me who gave me the pepero. I said one of the teachers at my school did and he seemed a little surprised. So I look at the pepero and it is covered in white and pink hearts says "I love you", "heart to heart", and "Please remember that I love you more than anything". I almost died. Although I'm pretty sure magic man has no idea what the English words on the package say, the pink and white hearts kinda give it away.

Koreans seem intent on setting me up with everyone. Today the owner of the corner store by my place asked if I wanted to get set up with the guy from England who I've run into a couple times in the store. Then a lady I met while running got excited when I told her I didn't have a boyfriend (of the four questions every Korean knows in English "do you have a boyfriend?" is one of them) and was trying to find a paper to give me her address. Don't know what I'd do with that.

So there's my week. Other then all that I just did student speaking tests in all my classes so this week was easy. I love giving speaking tests. I can scare the students easier by telling them I'm a hard marker and no one will pass! I know, cruel, but it's fun.
Oh, and p.s. this post is early because I am going on a road trip this weekend and probably will be too tired to post Sunday night like I usually do. So enjoy the extra post.




These pictures are from my second trip to Mt. Naejangsan that I wrote about last post. I didn't have any other pictures to put up since then so you get these.

Ordering Take Out In Korean

The view looking down from Sinheung Middle School (My Thursday school and also the school of of the horrible grade two's)

Sinheung Middle School

The driveway up to Sinheung Middle School

It's raining today. It hasn't rained very much since I've been here. Maybe two or three real downpours and one or two other rainy days. The last four or five days have also been really really warm. I even complained about the heat on Friday that they opened all the windows in the teachers office just for me! The only two cold days were Monday and Tuesday. Even then I was still walking around without a coat while my students were wearing winter jackets. I will admit the wind was cold, but not cold enough to need a winter jacket.

I found out this week that the two camps I was going to be doing for the first month of winter vacation were going to be cancelled. One camp found out I was doing two camps and thought that would be too much for me so they asked another English teacher (go figure, it was Kristen!) and then the camp at my school ended up being cancelled as well. So I had a minor freakout because even though camp would be five weeks so we couldn't travel around Korea in that time (they're supposed to be two week camps) I would rather that than be bored to death for five weeks and not making any money at all. So Kristen told them about how disapointed I was (playing it up a bit) and they asked me to come for the last three weeks of the camp. I figure, better some then none right? So at least I won't be totally bored although we only teach 3-4 hours a day so I'll still be bored, but I'll be bored with Kristen and Gabrielle so I know it'll be a blast!

This week for my grade three students I had them presenting the posters they did two weeks ago in class. Since my grade threes tend to be very forgetful if there's a two week break between classes I had my co-teacher remind them to bring their posters. I knew a lot would forget or "forget" so they wouldn't have to present so I brought along chocolates for those that remembered. The looks on the faces of the students who realized they wouldn't be getting chocolates was priceless. I'm pretty sure they now know not to forget to bring stuff when I tell them to! I had students begging me all class for chocolates. Tough luck on them though because they didn't get any! My co-teacher thought it was hilarious that I did that to get back at the students who try to get away without doing the work.

Saturday I went back to Naejangsan Mountain with Laura who hadn't been there yet. It wasn't nearly as pretty as when we went two or three weeks ago. Many of the bright coloured trees all lost their leaves already. It was still pretty, but after having witnessed the mountain in it's glory, this wasn't as good! But that's ok. We hiked up to the top again even though after doing it last time I swore I wouldn't do it again! I seem to do that a lot.

I was supposed to be going hiking with the math teacher and his son (who I haven't met yet but his Dad tells me I'll faint at how handsome he is...), but that got cancelled because he had to leave for his hometown urgently. However, that didn't stop him from spending the entire lunch period on Friday telling me about his son whose 23 years old, 178 cm, 68kg and I'd apparently make the perfect match for him. Of course all this was said though Cindy since his English is limited. I'm pretty sure I found out more about his son then his son probably wants me to know. Actually, I found out more than I even wanted to know!

Last night Cindy came down to my place for a party of ice cream, pizza, and a movie. She arrived with a MASSIVE bucket of Baskin Robins ice cream and any plans I had of eating healthy left with when I saw that bucket. But first, I had to order pizza over the phone. I knew most of the words of how to order I just didn't know what to do if they asked me questions. Cindy just said to repeat myself over and over if that happened. So with my sentences rehearsed I called. Don't ask me what they said at first, but I figured it was "hello, how can I help you?" So I said, "Annyong haseyo, goguma pizza hana, ke re go, cheese pizza hana, ju sae yo" which basically means "hello, May I have one sweet potato pizza and one cheese pizza". Yes, cheese is the same word in both languages you just pronounce it "chees-uh" so that they understand it. So then my worst fears were realized and she says a whole line of something I don't understand. So I just answered "da" which is "yes" not really knowing what I was agreeing to. Then she repeats what I ordered (I understood that much!) and then says something else I don't get. So I go to Cindy, I have no idea what she's saying! and all Cindy can do is smile... so nice of her. Thankfully the lady spoke a couple words of English and I understood she wanted my phone number which becomes my second problem. What is my phone number anyway?! so after giving her what I think was my phone number we ended the call. When we got there I wasn't sure what I'd recieve, but we got what I ordered!

Then we rented S.W.A.T in VHS since that's all I have in my apartment and my sound card hasn't arrived from Canada yet (yep going on three months with no sound on my computer. Dare you guys to try that) and we sat down for some pigging out. I must say, sweet potato pizza should be brought to Canada. Next time I'm trying curry pizza. I can't wait! So we were stuffed but there was still ice cream which we almost made it through, but even Kristen couldn't eat anymore so we had to put that away (and I ate it for breakfast this morning).

After church today Kristen and I headed to the Gwangju International Centre downtown to see our friend Gabrielle at the photo show she was participating in. There was only one Korean participating in this months photo show and the rest were westerners. There were some really good photos there and the one Korean man had the sweetest camera ever. I'm so jealous! Anyway, there was all this free food there so me and Kristen spent half our time at the food table eating our free early dinner. Then when the offer came up to join some friends for an Indian dinner we had to refuse because we were full. And too cheap of course. So now I sit here watching tv. I'm not even sure what I'm watching since I'm not paying attention.

This week should be an easy week since I'm doing three days worth of speaking tests which means no lesson planning! With extra classes finished now I really don't have a whole lot to do. So yes, that means more bordom, but hopefully plenty of time to learn more Korean as well as figure out exact what we're doing for winter vacation and booking a flight. So far all we know is the countries we're going to, but even that's not set in stone as we might add a country to the list. Maybe. Who knows. We'll figure it out. Probably last minute, but it'll get done!

Banana Stuffed French Toast

Above: Samseo's Sports Day

Not much to say about sports day other then it was a lot of fun, I got to see a traditional Korean fighting event, know which students could take me down in 2 seconds flat, and didn't have to teach!

I am currently eating the most amazing banana stuffed french toast for dinner so that is the title of this post. I am an amazing cook and I feel no shame in admitting it. And for those of you thinking french toast is the easiest thing to make, well, you're not the one enjoying banana stuffed french toast like I am so you can't argue with me. I have made so many different things with bananas in it since I got here because they sell bananas in the biggest bunches ever and I'm only one person and can't go through them fast enough before they go bad. Once they're too ripe to eat, I freeze them for baking. Problem is, I now have a freezer full of bananas! So I've been creative and put bananas in everything! It's great.

Each Tuesday I have to fill out this sheet (in Hanguel so I really have no idea what I'm writing) for the two schools I go to on Wednesday and Thursday so that I can get paid travel money. I have to get my co-teacher to sign it first, then the Vice Principal and then the Principal. My co-teacher's desk is next to mine, but for the VP I have to go to another building. Since it's on my way to the English lab I usually stop by when I go to class. My VP used to be a forester and is usually found tending the million plants he's landscaped around the school. That means that most of the time he's on in his office when I need him to be. Today was one of those days. Finally, at the end of the day I ran into him and got his signature on the sheet. He read it and said something about October 31 and the school picnic that was that day. I said yes, not really sure what he meant and then he signs it. I'm still not sure why he mentioned it, but I think I may have said I was at another school that day...even though I was at the school picnic. Then I was off to the Principals office. Usually I pay close attention to the signs for which office is his because the doors look like the walls and there's a ton of signs marking doors. Well today just as I was reaching his office a bunch of my students walked by and talked to me. This distracted me. I knocked on what I thought was the principals office, but didn't hear the usual Korean something-or-other that he says for the person to come in. So I opened the door only to see eight faces staring back at me. It was the administration office. I almost shut the door instantly, but since they all clearly saw me and I'm the only foreigner at the school it's not like I could sneak out. So I pretended to look around for someone, played the dumb foreign teacher who doesn't know what she's doing and quickly backed out...red as anything! It wouldn't be so bad if it was one of the first days I was there, but they all know me by now so when I see them again I'll know they know that I know that they know I'm a ditz!

This past weekend was uneventful for the most part. Saturday I cleaned since my vacuum cleaner is now FIXED and prepared for some friends coming over at night to get ready for a halloween party. Or rather, just going out for halloween. It's not celebrated much in Korea though there were a few Korean dressed up that night. Kids here don't get sugar highs once a year that's for sure! We gave each other some candy though!

So a bit ago I made a list of things that would only happen in Korea and here it is. Keep in mind that some of these probably happen in other Asian countries as well, but since I haven't been to those, I mention them here. So I guess you can think of this list as things that are VERY different from Canada or just North America in general.

In Korea...

1. you can park on the corner of any street and not get a ticket
2. you can drive through a red light and not get pulled over (stop lights are more guidelines than actual rules)
3. you can walk across the road without looking and all the cars will stop for you and not honk at you for being stupid

4. can wear clashing socks with sandles and it's considered fashionable

5. it's normal for boys to hold hands

6. teachers can hit their students

7. students will bow to you every time they see you (seriously, it's awesome)

8. they'll show the same three movies every night on tv for two weeks stright, have a week break, then show them again.

9. it's common to be given four bottles of wine for Chuseok (Thanksgiving) from your principal.

10. It's also common to get a whole box of fish for Chuseok

11. the street vendors will give you deals just for being a western girl
12. The pharmasist will give you expensive medicine drink stuff with your medication for free just because you're a western girl

13. It's common to find a McDonald's and Lotteria right next to each other (a Lotteria is basically the same as McDonald's but with KFC type chicken)

14. Korean's will make you eat tons of their food, but only eat a tiny bit themselves and if you eat only a little they'll think you hate ALL Korean food.

15. a Korean you meet will walk ten minutes out of their way in the opposite direction to get you to where you're going even if they're running late themselves

16. if you have a cough they'll insist you go to the hospital (NEVER tell a Korean you're not feeling well!)

17. your fellow co-teachers will be dead serious when they try to set you up with another Korean teacher who happens to speak no English and be 20 years your senior.
18. baseball fans will be 20x more excited about their city's baseball team than fans of the Maple Leafs and Blue Jays combined.

19. Koreans will walk insanely slow while shopping and then when they get to the check out line move so fast you don' t have time to put your money away before being shoved out the store

20. there's a Paris Baguette on every other street corner and a Tous les Jours in between - both being bread and pastry shops

21. offering homemade baking to Koreans will cause a continuous conversation about how you're making them fat, but when it comes to store bought pound cake they'll eat it by the platefull.

22. Motercycles are allowed to drive on the road AND the sidewalk depending on which one is faster for them to get where they're going (by the way, since I've been here there's been two people I know of who have been hit by a motorcycle. One was killed, the other had surgery. The one killed was the gym teacher at one of Kristen's smaller schools and the one with surgery was the wife of the leader of our worship band)

23. helmets are optional for motorcyclists
24. you can get away with having a passenger on the back of motorcycle without a helmet and another on the handle bars also without a helmet and drive on the highway.
25. if you don't wear makeup you'll be asked if you're a "special case"

26. it's common for a school to have a scheduled time during the day for an exercise dance that the whole school participates in - an actual fully choreographed dance.

27. when you ask a student what they want to be when they grow up a common response is "I want to be a good father" (and they're not embarassed to say that either).

28. When you ask a student why they want to go to Japan a common response is "because they have beautiful girls" (same goes for pretty much any country they talk about)

Well that's what I've come up with thus far.