A person's age is different by Korean standards than we are used to. Everyone has the same birthday. The Lunar New Year is when it is celebrated.
If you are born in December and a month later is the lunar New Year, then you are a year old. If you are born a day before, then you are a year old. In the same way, being born the day after the lunar New Year, you have to just sit tight and wait for the next one to be a year old.
I might be 22 years old in the States. However here I am 23. When the New Year comes around, by Korean standards I will be 24. Interesting isn't it.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Old and New
One of my Korean teachers has an interesting way of putting things. When asked about eating dog she said she couldn't. I asked why not? Was it suddenly against the law? Was she allergic? Not at all. Her generation and younger just prefers not to. They don't like it. Same with rice cake. She doesn't like rice cake. She prefers bread. In fact, anyone in their 20s or younger are a lot more westernized than we could realize.
She refers to anyone in their 20s or younger as the New Generation. Everyone older doesn't mind the old ways. They like to eat a lot of traditional foods that the New Generation wouldn't even try now. They still live in many ways as they did 50-100 years ago. The further away from big cities you go, the more you see of their old way of life. Namsan is an example of that.
Far enough away, there are elements around the village of their old lifestyle. If you walk just a little further to some of the even smaller settlements you will see more. Toilets are wherever you squat out there. A shower is a bucket of water. Homes are small structures that we would consider a beat up shed.
In town and in bigger cities are the younger citizens of Korea. They are becoming more and more westernized and the difference is surprising. A lot of what I read online before coming over was good preparation for their culture. Some of it though, at least in town, is outdated.
She refers to anyone in their 20s or younger as the New Generation. Everyone older doesn't mind the old ways. They like to eat a lot of traditional foods that the New Generation wouldn't even try now. They still live in many ways as they did 50-100 years ago. The further away from big cities you go, the more you see of their old way of life. Namsan is an example of that.
Far enough away, there are elements around the village of their old lifestyle. If you walk just a little further to some of the even smaller settlements you will see more. Toilets are wherever you squat out there. A shower is a bucket of water. Homes are small structures that we would consider a beat up shed.
In town and in bigger cities are the younger citizens of Korea. They are becoming more and more westernized and the difference is surprising. A lot of what I read online before coming over was good preparation for their culture. Some of it though, at least in town, is outdated.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Energetic Night
So I got through my last class and settled into my office chair with a sigh. Monday was over. Now the fun could begin. All us English teachers and our amazing Korean teachers gathered together to enjoy a few rounds of intense monopoly deal. Great game. Great social rejuvenation.
Then as we were heading out for supper, we realized that cafe food just wasn't going to cut it. We wanted pizza. So it was called in and one of us took his motorcycle into town to pick it up. Each English teacher bought their own amazing pizza. One got a bulgogi pizza. One got a sweet potatoe pizza. I disappointed Koreans everywhere and got a plain cheese pizza. This was a disappointment because it is the only pizza without corn on it.
We played 6 amazing games of rumikube... each of us winning twice. It was a lot of fun and I know I couldn't stop laughing. The coke didn't help: caffeine and sugar. Both get into my system and I get super jumpy and hyper.
After that a friend and I went to the weight room. It was my first time there. He showed me where to get the key, what equiptment was there, and then we each started exercising to our hearts' content. I got my 10 inclined situps out of the way. Need to do more next time. Then jumped on the bike and did arm curls while biking. 150 arm curls per hand. I think I am going to get a bigger weight next time. Benchpressed the bar 20 times. Then enjoyed the treadmill. I couldn't jog on it without making it stop running so I settled for a fast walk. After the bike, it was a good workout. Finished up with their idea of a hula hoop. Bigger, thicker, heavier, with knobs on the inside that give your stomach and back quick a beating up. That will take some getting used to.
Then we returned the key and cooled off as we walked back to our respective apartments. I feel pretty motivated so am going to practice the four hip hop routines I know. Then I will try to master Tai Chi again... well, the next form that has kept me at a standstill.
I was pretty blah this weekend. Kinda in the dumps a little bit. Didn't really get out much except for an amazing walk. Classes today were a joy. I couldn't stop smiling even when some of my classes had impatient students unwilling to return to studying after midterms. Other classes my students were a dream and eager to participate in class. For a Monday, it was a good day.
Then as we were heading out for supper, we realized that cafe food just wasn't going to cut it. We wanted pizza. So it was called in and one of us took his motorcycle into town to pick it up. Each English teacher bought their own amazing pizza. One got a bulgogi pizza. One got a sweet potatoe pizza. I disappointed Koreans everywhere and got a plain cheese pizza. This was a disappointment because it is the only pizza without corn on it.
We played 6 amazing games of rumikube... each of us winning twice. It was a lot of fun and I know I couldn't stop laughing. The coke didn't help: caffeine and sugar. Both get into my system and I get super jumpy and hyper.
After that a friend and I went to the weight room. It was my first time there. He showed me where to get the key, what equiptment was there, and then we each started exercising to our hearts' content. I got my 10 inclined situps out of the way. Need to do more next time. Then jumped on the bike and did arm curls while biking. 150 arm curls per hand. I think I am going to get a bigger weight next time. Benchpressed the bar 20 times. Then enjoyed the treadmill. I couldn't jog on it without making it stop running so I settled for a fast walk. After the bike, it was a good workout. Finished up with their idea of a hula hoop. Bigger, thicker, heavier, with knobs on the inside that give your stomach and back quick a beating up. That will take some getting used to.
Then we returned the key and cooled off as we walked back to our respective apartments. I feel pretty motivated so am going to practice the four hip hop routines I know. Then I will try to master Tai Chi again... well, the next form that has kept me at a standstill.
I was pretty blah this weekend. Kinda in the dumps a little bit. Didn't really get out much except for an amazing walk. Classes today were a joy. I couldn't stop smiling even when some of my classes had impatient students unwilling to return to studying after midterms. Other classes my students were a dream and eager to participate in class. For a Monday, it was a good day.
Midterm Exhaustion
Midterms must have been pretty rough for the students. In all the classes, the teachers are teaching a little bit and then giving the students free time. I did that for my junior culture class (favorite students!) and the girls promptly passed out. The boys did the homework before they too fell asleep. I looked around in surprise. Didn't they just have the whole weekend off? It is their culture to push and push. Silly students. I care about them though. I want to help them learn. I can't do anything though if they are asleep.
Sophomore Conversation
The conversation classes are well-known for being the hardest to classes to teach. The Sophomores are well-known for being the toughest students to keep on task. Put the two together and voila, pandemonium.
Today is the first day after midterms. The students were not ready to get back into the swing of things. It was pretty hectic and crazy. As I was teaching the proper use of the words "for" and "when," they kept inserting into their sentences phrases like "play monopoloy deal" and "watch a movie."
Several students were very insistent that it was Korean culture to plays games after a test. That I should adapt to Korean culture. It was interesting to see their reactions when I told them I would email my superior concerning this and included a student's name in that.
Finally their energy knew no bounds. Between talking louder than me, using Korean, and rough-housing I decided it was a good time to implement the homework stars. I almost made two stars. The first earned them 25 sentences. Every time I have to do a star, that will go up. Hopefully they start policing each other. If not, then, well I will find a way to control my class.
I am going to definitely make a seating chart. The ultimate punishment for the boys is sitting next to a girl. And two of my girls need to be separated. I have already started asking if they have their textbooks and workbooks when I take attendance so that they have no excuse. If they don't have them, I will email my supervisor as they already were warned. Last but not least, they can stand against the wall for class if they can't keep from knocking each other to the ground.
As hectic as class was, I was laughing when I left. One girl had even written "Mindy I love u" on the board. It was sweet. I accomplished, somehow, what I had planned. They didn't get their workbooks done so it is homework. I'll check them when we have class again. All is planned and ideas are in place in case those plans need backup :D
Today is the first day after midterms. The students were not ready to get back into the swing of things. It was pretty hectic and crazy. As I was teaching the proper use of the words "for" and "when," they kept inserting into their sentences phrases like "play monopoloy deal" and "watch a movie."
Several students were very insistent that it was Korean culture to plays games after a test. That I should adapt to Korean culture. It was interesting to see their reactions when I told them I would email my superior concerning this and included a student's name in that.
Finally their energy knew no bounds. Between talking louder than me, using Korean, and rough-housing I decided it was a good time to implement the homework stars. I almost made two stars. The first earned them 25 sentences. Every time I have to do a star, that will go up. Hopefully they start policing each other. If not, then, well I will find a way to control my class.
I am going to definitely make a seating chart. The ultimate punishment for the boys is sitting next to a girl. And two of my girls need to be separated. I have already started asking if they have their textbooks and workbooks when I take attendance so that they have no excuse. If they don't have them, I will email my supervisor as they already were warned. Last but not least, they can stand against the wall for class if they can't keep from knocking each other to the ground.
As hectic as class was, I was laughing when I left. One girl had even written "Mindy I love u" on the board. It was sweet. I accomplished, somehow, what I had planned. They didn't get their workbooks done so it is homework. I'll check them when we have class again. All is planned and ideas are in place in case those plans need backup :D
Riddle - houses
There was a green house.
Inside it was a white house.
Inside that was a red house.
Inside that was a lot of babies.
What is it?
***
Answer: a watermelon.
Inside it was a white house.
Inside that was a red house.
Inside that was a lot of babies.
What is it?
***
Answer: a watermelon.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Exercise - New Place
Yesterday I was going stir crazy in my apartment and the weekend wasn't even half over yet. I thought about facebooking a fellow English teacher and begging to go for a walk, but figured I better wait until later afternoon. She had the same idea, and got a hold of me. We went walking where I hadn't been yet.
We took the road down towards Namsan, but instead of turning towards it, we went the opposite direction. Lo and behold there was a dam. Well, not right away. Went through a small village first. The reservoir is really low right now but it was so pretty. The mountains (they are not hills to me) surrounded it and reflected in the water. There were birds about. There were random flowers. It was really pretty.
The walk there and back was also interesting. Every INCH of spare ground was being used to grow flowers and vegetables. Small holding pens held cows and those cows will live in those small pens their entire lives. The people we met were friendly and we somehow managed to talk to each other despite our language barrier. Arches, walls, and even roof tops had plants on them with gourds, squash, and melons growing down from them. Yes, I walked under a melon.
It was a good way to get out. A good way to spend my Saturday.
We took the road down towards Namsan, but instead of turning towards it, we went the opposite direction. Lo and behold there was a dam. Well, not right away. Went through a small village first. The reservoir is really low right now but it was so pretty. The mountains (they are not hills to me) surrounded it and reflected in the water. There were birds about. There were random flowers. It was really pretty.
The walk there and back was also interesting. Every INCH of spare ground was being used to grow flowers and vegetables. Small holding pens held cows and those cows will live in those small pens their entire lives. The people we met were friendly and we somehow managed to talk to each other despite our language barrier. Arches, walls, and even roof tops had plants on them with gourds, squash, and melons growing down from them. Yes, I walked under a melon.
It was a good way to get out. A good way to spend my Saturday.
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