This past weekend was most certainly one of my favorites in Korea. A group of nine people hopped onto the KTX, the extremely fast train of Korea, for a three hour train ride to the opposite end of the country, home to the second-largest city of Korea, Busan. Boy, were my expectations shattered! Everything that I had read about the city told me to prepare for grey, cement-clad streets with nothing else to show for themselves than an 'x' on a tourist map. Instead, I found a city bursting with energy and a level of friendliness unmatched by anywhere else that I've been to in the country, so much so that even the fish vendors wanted to give us slighty sticky hugs of welcome!

The first group of us didn't arrive in Busan until midnight, but still found the city in a state that ensured us of our wise choice. We had a pension reserved for us near one of Busan's many beaches, so hopped into a cab and zoomed off into the night, cruising past mega-luxury apartment complexes, side alleys one step away from an explosion of neon lights, and semi-deserted beaches where the parties and bonfires were only getting started. Upon entering our pension, we knew were were in for an adventure when we were greeted by six blankets, a hard floor, and no bathroom sink. But, where's the fun in a standard hotel room, anyway? Bring it!!

The rest of Saturday found us taking in the sights of Busan on a tour bus, before ending up on its most famous beach to catch the last rays of sun.

You can check out a handful of the pictures from the weekend at the following link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2581640&id=8605141&l=1000b786ff]]> Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=73755 0 37.5663889 126.9997222 Jeonju, a city in the south of South Korea known primarily for its traditional cuisine, hosted its 10th annual film festival over the same time that I had no school. So the Friday before my long weekend, I decided why not, and packed my bags for a weekend of films and food.

Without knowing much about films myself, it seemed to me that there was a large sampling of films offered, spanning multiple continents, genres, and time periods. The first one that I saw was part of a special section highlighting the films from Sri Lanka. It was titled Ponmani, and initially roused my curiosity due to its description as a new version of Romeo and Juliet. The director was also there, and within the first minute of his introduction, I realized that I was in for a treat. He kept talking about the political climate of Sri Lanka in the 1970s, and how it contributed to his artistic sway while making the movie. Once it started, it became so clear what exactly he was referring to--the film was in black and white, from the '70s, and apparently the first one created in Sri Lanka in the Tamil language. So while a landmark for its newness, it wasn't enough to keep me awake. Without realizing it, right in front of the director, oops.

There were a few other hiccups, most notably a Korean film titled The Origin of Water. I think my ability to recognize art in film must be extremely off, because I didn't particularly enjoy this one either. Oh well! In between films we allowed ourselves to feel extremely cultural by enjoying delicious coffee drinks at various shops around the area--some of the best coffee I've been able to find in Korea! What a treat!

If you want to take a look at what the film festival was like, its site is below.

http://eng.jiff.or.kr/]]> Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=64182 0 37.5663889 126.9997222 The link above is for my album on Facebook that has pictures of the two trips I took down to Gyeongju, waaaay down south in Korea. What great adventures!

The first was with Mom and Audrey, to get some extra bang for their Korean buck in terms of Korean culture. What a perfect place to go, as Gyeongju is the original site of the Silla dynasty, the kingdom that ruled the southern part of the Korean peninsula for over one thousand years. Of course the wooden structures have long disappeared due to wars and time, but the sense of history is profound. My camera skills were simple unable to capture the early morning mist draped over the tops of the mountains, with ancient temples dotting the landscape...it was the things dreams are made of.

The second trip was to explore the same area using a different means of transportation--bikes! While the entire country is mountainous, we were able to challenge the steep slopes and come out victorious. The main point was to see the first cherry blossoms of South Korea, as the city is so far south in the country. And what a site they were! All of the streets and hillsides were covered with white and pink flowers, making for spectacular sights and even better memories.]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=56948 0 37.5663889 126.9997222 Life has been full of occurrences the past few months. Going back to the States for a week, a new semester, family coming to Korea, it's hard to keep track of it all! But let me try to give a brief rundown on the main events~~

The end of February saw me back safely to the US for a week and a half to spend much-needed quality time with family in Denver. Everyone was able to be home together for a weekend, which was such a blessing. I was able to have happy moments with not only the family, but also with American shopping!! Shoes that fit my Western gorilla feet, jeans that extend past my calf, who knew that such ordinary items would be worth their weight in gold to me this far into my time in Korea! Not only was I able to revel in American shopss, but I made sure to stuff myself silly with food that I had been missing from home. Top of the list was salmon and fresh baby spinach. Mmmmm.

Being around such ordinary things in America was a wonderful reminder to not take for granted the little things we see daily. As much as I loved being home, it was a good wake up call to make sure to appreciate every day I've been given in Korea. Just as moments at home were fleeting, they are here as well, and I don't want to miss a single one!

I'm now one month into the new school year here. It's bizarre to Americans, but Koreans work their school year differently, instead beginning a new school year with the beginning of a new calendar year. Vacation times still roughly coincide with those in the US, but even those vary in their utility. Technically speaking, the students have most of January and February off for their winter and spring vacations, yet they use this time for intense educational camps. I led an English camp for interested students in January, and know already that I will do something similar in July.

While I don't think that I will be a teacher for life, I've come to love the chance to work with students here. There is the obvious English instruction, but I've come to love what happens outside of the classroom even more than I do English. And that's saying something! The students have begun to overcome their instilled Korean shyness to actually interact with the weird foreign alien teacher! Obviously some are more willing to talk than others, but everyday brings me new stories and smiles from what happens at Nammun.

If the rest of my time continues in the same fashion, it will have been a fantastic year indeed!]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=54330 0 37.5663889 126.9997222 Fields. I personally feel that having such little flat land in a country has causes a very strong economical streak in Koreans, so much so that they seem to always know what to do to best preserve any and all land or materials that come into their hands.

This being said, Korea has the most ingenious winter tradition of any that I have previously witnessed. While mountains abound in this country, lakes and ponds do not. So during the winter season, some generous Korean farmers flood their small Fields with water just enough so that it freezes and provides a smooth surface on which children (at heart) can play.

Staring at the mountain in front of me. Obviously full of confidence, haha!

Documentation of the first few moments of Rachel + Snowboard = Chaos!

Teetering and tottering down the hazardous slope also known as the bunny hill for four hours, I slowly honed my snowboarding skill so that by the end of the day, I was able to maneover my board and myself down to the bottom and safety while staying upright. Upright is of course a relative term, because no matter how much my "skills" improved, I was continuously hunched over, arms splayed, ready to wobble as much as was necessary to preserve balance.

As with any practice, certain skills come more easily than do others. Snowboarding is no exception. In my case, I quickly realized that first came standing, then came moving while standing, then came turning while moving and standing. While these can be faceted into any and every odd combination, I discovered that very few led to snowboarding success. At one point during the afternoon, I was learning the technique behind the ever-evasive turn. Sliding down the mountain, I quickly picked up how to turn left, and became ecstatic at my new skill proceededing to keep it up as long as possible. However, as all people know, hills are not infinite, and bunny hills have edges. This became increasingly apparent to me as me and my board slid closer to the leftmost part

Yes, that's right...I coordinated my orange gloves to match the fence. Of course.

Let us begin with the basic construction of the cars, and the rules that govern their interior space. The metaphor for that which is the essence of Korean driving can be witnessed through the simple fact that Korean cars do not come equipped with a seatbelt on the back right side. The back left and the center tend to always be provided for, yet for some unknown reason, perhaps a universal construction overlook due to there only being enough thread for all of the other seatbelts, the back right seat is always cheated out of this proven lifesaver. Add to the irony that the back right seat is thought to be the most revered and safest in the car, so that it is always an honor to be motioned to the seat. Being a woman, I have had the stroke of luck to be offered this seat every time there are two other men in the car. The men brave the innumerable dangers of the front seat with only their seatbelts for protection, while I am left in the safest spot of the car, which, of course, lacks the one tool known for its safety factor. Le it be known that I have nothing against the back seat. In fact, I adore it. For it is only in the back that one is allowed the privilege to enjoy a few precious moments of respite, as it is also considered improper to attempt to cross the invisible barrier between the front and back of the car with conversation. So here, in my seat of solitude, I have made a new art of weaving the words of the front, the music of the radio, and the strands of my own thoughts into webs that float along with as little care as to the path they take as does the driver.

The person behind the wheel holds the most important role of the car, that being to keep it on the road, away from other cars, and ideally steer it safely to its destination. I've realized that Korean drivers seem to find value only in the last duty on the list. No matter what the risks might be, drivers here seem fearless, using their cat-like reflexes to dodge any bullet that might be shot their way. Red lights are mere suggestions here, and even the presence of pedestrians does not always cause oncoming vehicles to reduce their speed. Left turns on red lights are frequent as well, and the cars that might otherwise have hit the semi that pulls out in front of them are forced to brake and skid off the road. And in mentioning 'cars,' I am of course referring to our own car on the way to school this morning. :)

I'm not familiar with the statistics of Korean traffic accidents, but I could see them being extreme in either direction. Between the lack of seatbelts and the conflicting careful daredevil attitude that persists, the I am once again beguiled by one small aspect of this fascinating country.]]> Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=39256 0 37.5663889 126.9997222
The sign outside a "beer garden" in DongdaemunFirst, I apologize for how extremely long overdue this post is. There might be the appearance of not much happening over here, but that is quite the reverse! Instead of regailing the world web with a specific tale of the present happenings, I've decided to keep it simple with a brief account of what has been going on in the past month (oops).

New friends have been made, which is always a positive point. I've begun going to a weekly dinner in Uijeongbu specifically for English teachers. The mastermind behind the meetings is a South African man that somehow convinced his school that these dinners are necessary to the native speaker's morale, so the Korean government sponsors them! Well, not the beer, because apparently a few weeks ago (before I started going!) the beer flowed a little too quickly and caused the government to insist that we now pay for our own. Probably better this way. I feel so lucky to have been invited, because they really are a great chance to get together with other people who speak the same language and share what's been going on in our lives. If nothing else, find support and ideas for dealing with whatever might come up during the week.

Every weekday still begins with me at Nammun, doing whatever they think I do best. The students still like me, so I must be doing something right! The school is actually finishing up their final exams today, which means that the end of the semester should be relatively smooth sailing. The school year finishes at the end of December, and begins in March, so the students are getting excited to be done. Especially the 9th graders, who are about to make the transition to high school, seem to be getting particularly anxious! I think that more than anything, my job the next few weeks will be simply to keep the students under control. I'm not exactly sure why exams are given with three weeks left in the year, but whatever, it's merely my job to go with it. So go with it I shall...

The weather has turned cold, and everyone is preparing for the long winter ahead. In fact, in snowed the other night, and all of Korea celebrated! That is, until the next morning, when they quickly remembered that they had to drive the through the mountains on the slippery roads from the night before. While the snow didn't stay for long, it was a good reminder that winter is now indeed upon us, and measures must be taken to stay warm! I've begun wearing long underwear to school because of the cold. I think I've mentioned it to a few of you, but few areas of the school are actually heated. Luckily for me, I sit right underneath one of the large heaters in the teacher's room, so I'm fine while at my desk, but the classrooms tend to be a different story. And then I see the poor girl students in their knee-length skirts, and wonder how their legs still manage to work after the cold!

Alright, time for class, thanks for reading, and send me reminders to get my butt in gear and keep this thing up to date! Love, Rachel.]]> Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=39036 0 37.5663889 126.9997222

The day itself was less than ideal, as it was overcast with a slight drizzle falling throughout the course of the afternoon. But this soon did not seem to matter, as I

Before the candy-bribing begins

The majority of the rest of the afternoon was spent traipsing around as Dooly the Dinosaur), asking all of the children if they wanted pieces of candy.

Just doing ourthing...

Dooly and the students

Of course the students are smiling, they just received candy!

All of the lucky native speakers

The state of one’s appearance takes on a pivotal role in the Korean culture, so much that both men and women care equally about how they are perceived by others. Each student has their own personal mirror and comb, which they use multiple times in a single class period. The girls use curlers in the morning to ensure that their straight hair has just the proper amount wave to it throughout the day, and even the boys constantly adjust their hair so that it falls “just right”. My friend Nick’s Korean cell phone has a second purpose when not lit up: the screen becomes a mirror so that one will never have to be without a reflective surface again!

The obsession goes past one’s physical appearance to include a rigorous upkeep of one’s wardrobe. Fashion trends have never moved through a country as quickly as they do here. If any particular manner of dress has been modeled somewhere in the world, the Koreans will adopt it as their own, add their own twist to make it authentically Korean, and continue the style until a new and better one arrives to take its place. While almost all trends are accepted, very few people stray from what they already know will be met with approval. Yet from an outsider’s perspective, it seems as though the people of this country are willing to pay whatever it takes in order to insure that they look the same as everyone else.

I am beginning to wonder if ties can be drawn between the intrinsic values that the culture has purported since each person’s birth and the dedication to a collective faction. Instead of believing in the ideal of individuality of the West, Koreans believe that it is always better to be seen as part of the group than as a separate individual. All actions are undertaken only once they have been confirmed as not disrupting the harmonious balance that the culture strives to maintain between the various Confucian relationships of the people. Perhaps the obsession with their appearance can be attributed largely to the fact that they strive to remain seen as belonging to the crowd, and not as people with their own sense of individuality. Or, expressed in a different way, Korean people seek their version of individuality through the ideals that their culture has prescribed to them, and see their clothing as an ideal opportunity to confirm that they do indeed belong to the collective whole.
]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=35518 0 37.5663889 126.9997222

The hike itself was within my range of capability, but my small fear of heights was tapped as we neared the top. The peak of the moutain is nothing but boulders, and in order to get to the top without needing a harness and some sturdy rope, we had to climb a staircase that somehow managed to forget that it needed actual stairs. It's true! It was a red skeleton of what it should have been, so every step up was only a few bars ineffectively hiding the distance to the safe ground below. But the staircase from hell was absolutely worth it once we got to the top and were able to see the scenery surrounding us. What beauty!

The Koreans are fiercly proud of their mountainous region, and it is not at all difficult to understand why. The mountains have assumed themselves as part of the Korean character, and have provided an unprecedented backdrop on which the scenes of Korean history have been played. Much of the culture of Korea revolves around the influence that the mountains have had on everyday life.

People come to the mountains seeking a brief respite from the chaos into which their lives have evolved. Throughout the hike, I felt as though I was not only partaking in a typical pasttime of Korea, but also being shown a sliver of the origin of the intoxicatingly fierce nationalistic pride. ]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=34826 0 37.5663889 126.9997222 One of the teachers seems to have taken a liking to me. She's extremely sweet, speaks broken English, but has really tried to show me how much she cares. For example, as a token of her affection, a few weeks ago she came to school with a big jug of kimchi. She was so proud! Especially when she told me that she had dug it up from underground where she had been storing it for the last three months! Apparently they believe that the longer it sits in the soil, surrounded by the natural elements, the longer it has the chance to fermet and become truly delicious. That jug is still sitting in the back of the refridgerator, unopened and without hope of ever being eaten.

Yesterday was even better. I was sitting in the library (on the opposite side of the school campus) when she found me. In her hand was a plastic bag, and I was immediately more than a bit wary. A second later, she pulled out a sandwich in a fast food wrapper with as much pride and delicacy as if she were handling a newborn. "This," she whispered, "is a shrimp hamburger I bought for you LAST NIGHT." She had been keeping it in her desk all morning for safekeeping, eagerly anticipating the moment she could bequeath me with her delicious prize. Feeling it, I knew she spoke the truth: it was indeed a cold, leftover shrimp burger from the night before. She asked me to take a bite, I did, and all I could stutter was, "Delicious!"]]> Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=33906 0 37.5663889 126.9997222 Fiction: I actually don't have a mailing address to call my own. BUT,
Fact: I'm mooching off of the oh-so-generous Koreans at my school and using theirs instead. Take THAT, Korea!

How do I know this is right? Because the parents were the first brave souls to attempt what seemed to be the impossible: sending precious gifts of English books over the Pacific. And, I found out exactly one hour ago on the minute, it actually worked. Even though the address is in the Latin script. Ohh, how I love the globalization of the English language! Not only has it given me a job in a foreign country where I have no clue the exact reason why I'm here, but it also allows me and everyone back home the privilege of not even having to attempt writing in Korean. Go us.

Technically there is still the address of my apartment, but I have a feeling that one is not to be trusted. Why, you might ask? Refer to the points listed below:
1. The Entrance to the mailbox is a slit less than one centimeter wide.
2. The slit is proven pointless when one realizes that all one has to do is open the mailbox. It opens for everyone.
3. The box itself is rather small. Maybe big enough for a Chipotle burrito with chicken, guacamole, corn salsa, cheese, and sour cream, but that's it. Not as though that's a hint. :)
4. Packages do not seem to be allowed in the building. There is nowhere for them to be put, shoved, or otherwise dealt with.

Regardless, the one at the school seems to work fine. I will continue to bribe the administration to give me packages in exchange for homebaked cookies. These function as their weight in gold over here! Ohhh, Korea.]]> Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=33905 0 37.5663889 126.9997222 I continue to adjust to my new life over here, and am constantly reminded of the very different culture in which I have been submerged. There are moments in which I feel as though I have become accustomed to various aspects of my new life, only to be somewhat unexpectedly reminded that it is a danger to become too comfortable in a situation that refuses to allow the process to be an easy one.

School remains a priority for me, which will hopefully be a pattern I can continue to maintain. After-school classes have been going well, with the students seeming extremely willing to learn and engage with the material I provide. Whether or not the rest of the school's students are willing to learn is another story, but I'm determined to push them to discover their potential. One struggle for me is realizing how much the teachers oftentimes aren't willing to put for the energy to care enough about the personal tribulations and triumphs of each of the students, instead only looking at how the performance of the students is reflected on the school's reputation. I'm slowly learning when to push for change and when to accept things the way that they are presented to me. It's not easy, as I'd much rather be allowed to customize the circumstances into what I think would be ideal, but I've realized that while my opinion matters as that of a foreigner, it is seen more as an interesting spectacle rather than something to seriously consider.

The see-sawing scenario at school has led me to pursue interests outside with much more ardor than I might have been willing to exert had circumstances been different. Friendships have been initiated, which are constantly leading me into directions that I would not have expected myself to have taken based solely on my own accord. Growing in directions that I did not even know existed has already provided me with new adventures, both externally and within. Who knows what will happen in a year's time?

Continue to check back for future updates. While time spent exploring life here is precious, equally important is maintaining the ties with life back home. As adventurous as I'd like to consider myself to be, I'm not quite sure if I can tackle this game we label life on my own.

Good things. :)]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=32828 0 37.5663889 126.9997222 Last night Adam and I had the pleasure of being invited over to the high school gym teacher's home for dinner with his family. Wanting to bring something as a gesture to say thanks, we asked both of our co-teachers what the proper gift is. And get this: whenever Koreans go over to each other's homes for dinner, the traditional thing to bring is boxes and boxes of tissues. The teacher that we went with brought SIX boxes. (As a sidenote, whenever anyone has a housewarming party, typically about 90% of the guests bring the lucky family laundry detergent. Where do they put it all?!)

We didn't exactly feel like adding to what I can only assume is an overstuffed closet bursting with tissue boxes, so we decided to play up the foreigner card and bring a cake. Yet what was supposed to be a fallback on our blissful vision of normalcy became instead a clash of cultures. When we went to the bakery to pick out our offering of gratitude, the lady behind the counter kept asking how old our baby was turning! After unsuccessfully insisting that the cake was not going to be for the birthday of our nonexistent child, I finally caved in and accepted the pushy woman's offering of a candle for the fateful moment of presentation. But, with a twinkle in her eye, she outfitted our cake with FIVE candles and TWO noisemakers. Not to mention the decoration of two hearts stuck in the middle of the cake with "Sweet Love" splashed between the two. If I had been able to stop laughing, I might have noticed how nice of a presentation it would have been for the make-believe baby.

The dinner itself was delicious. Mrs. Chae, the wife of the gym teacher, made a dish called bulgogi, which is apparently quite the hit with foreigners. As much as I hate falling into stereotypes, I fell into this one as if it were meant to be. The dish consists of thin strips of beef simmered with onions, carrots, and innumerable spices, served with bean rice. Mmmmm. The food continued to be served and the conversation was lively. It grew more and more boisterous as the alcohol continued to be served. Mr. Chae was very proud of his collection, boasting that he had over 30 different types of liquor. A strong Catholic, he perceived much of his controlled drinking as a way to stay healthy. I quickly understood why... The traditional soju was served, but other, more interesting drinks followed. First there was the fruit drink, which tasted like an extremely strong, aged port. To him, he claimed, since he couldn't taste the alcohol, it wasn't alcoholic. Huh, who knew? Next came the most popular liquor of Taiwan, which he picked up during his travels. At 58%, it burned the entire way down, but I somehow managed a smile amidst the choking. Last was the most interesting. Most likely something that I will never, ever, even if I wanted to, forget. It came from a 3-liter case in the back corner of the cabinet, reserved for special occasions and, as he was proud to share, aged for three years. It was some sort of homemade concoction that had now-colorless white carrots fermenting at the bottom. It tasted like a mixture of sweet potatoes and seafood all at the same time, and I was secretly pleaing that there were no shrimp sharing the same fate as the carrots. Whew! I managed to get it down! That moment I felt almost as proud as when I managed to swallow boiled tofu in front of the teachers, with only minor gagging.

Thoughts of the carrot conconction from hell were quickly erased once the dinner had finished and the five year old twins were allowed to play. While eating the cake that we had brought (which tasted like marshmallows), the twins decided to make Adam and myself their personal playtime assistants. Sooo much fun! While the adults were glued to the TV to learn about the latest developments in North Korea, we chose to remain somewhat oblivious to the troubles of the world and instead remember what it was like to be amused by the some of the purest pleasures life has to offer.

Don't you wish life could always be so simple?

By the end of my hour with the students, we had learned each other's names and how to successfully do the macarena. Who knows what will happen next?
]]> Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=30087 0 37.5663889 126.9997222 Earlier in the week I was invited to a welcome dinner for the new foreign language teachers. I was told that the principle was so impressed with our first impression that she wanted to host an official dinner to welcome us to Korea. So, in true Korean fashion, an upscale sushi restaurant was chosen.

What an event! The dinner began at 5:30 and didn't finish until after 9. Even before the any of the food was brought to the table, soju bottles appeared and the principle along with the two vice principles of the schools offered up welcoming speeches and toasts. Unfortunately they were all in Korean but I guessed they were directed at us due to the continuous stares in our direction, and the mumbling of our names in the speeches. Either way, I was extremely impressed with the formalities exhibited by all of the teachers and administrators, who, while solemn in the dictates of tradition, were cheerful to the occasion and made us feel openly welcome to their group.

The group out for sushi

Throughout the meal, shots of soju were taken. This tradition was somewhat confusing for me. On one hand, I wanted to be polite

Adam serving my oppa (brother)

Overall, the meal was an absolute blast and circus all rolled into one. Despite the language barrier encountered with a few of the administrators, many laughs and smiles were shared. I'm beginning to understand the meaning behind the statement that offering a smile is speaking in the universal language that all people can understand. Evidence and examples of the traditions of Korea were numerous, and although I didn't understand all of them, went along with as much as I could, hoping that soon I will understand. But really, when surrounded by welcoming smiles, how can one possibly feel anything but content?

I'm learning!

After countless bottles of soju

We were led upstairs to their private school bar. Oh yes, the school has a bar. Not only do they have a bar, but they have stocked it with real bottles of Western liquor with which selected students practice their pouring skills. Seating us at a table out of the way of the scene before us, Adam and I were able to sit back and watch the madness unfold. Four students had dressed themselves up in their official bartender uniforms, and were primping themselves in the bedroom in the corner. One teacher kept running back and forth between the corner kitchen and the bar counter, shouting what we could only assume were orders back and forth between the students, the onlooking teachers, and the photographer. A checkered tablecloth had been set for two, complete with enough silverware to last me a week, and an ashtray, "to make us feel truly comfortable," according to one of the teachers.

Adam and I were eventually motioned to sit at the bar, on plastic barstools that looked like an awkward '60's mod-style comeback gone wrong. Choosing a liquor, the bartender poured Adam a healthy amount of Bacardi 151 with two ice cubes to boot.

Straight liquor? At the bar? At school?!

(Even better, not only can the schools advertise that they have real Americans that speak English, but they can SING too! Heck, we might as well start our own one-man-show and REALLY show them all of our skills... "Ahem. Please gape at my overly large American feet. Stand next to me and see if you come up to my hip. Marvel at me eating a cheeseburger..." The Koreans make me realize how talented I really am!)

Fake everything

And that was my one, and probably only, Korean modeling experience.

]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=29571 0 37.5663889 126.9997222
Teachers' Room]]> Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=3569 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=29415 0 37.5663889 126.9997222