I made my teachers origami Witches, Skeletons, Frankenstein, and Dracula...They didn't know what they were. I had to explain to them in English what they were...Sometimes you just KNOW that you aren't in the states anymore. At least they think that i'm adorable? haha I love my job.
Anyeong!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Training
So the reason I haven't been posting this last week was due to the fact that I was in Seoul at teachers training! YAY! When I arrived in Korea I expected to be whisked straight from the airport to a week of intensive teacher training. Since I had zero teaching experience and zero degress concerning teaching I just presumed that I would immediately be forwarded to teaching 101, or how to teach when you really have no clue. Since I moved to Korea however, this wasn't the case; when I arrived on day one I was deposited in the capable hands of Eunyeong and was whisked off to school, where I taught the first day I was there. Oh Korea I love you. Anyway, four months later I finally got my training, which was amazing! I met some truly inspiring teachers that all live near me and I got hooked up in a network of teachers that is korea-wide and that's extremely helpful. I also got the exciting opportunity to BE the student, sure I just gradauated Uni in May and it really hasn't been that long since I was the student but my perspective has drastically changed. Instead of thinking "GAH! Will this never end? Will they never cease speaking? Must my ears bleed and my brain decompose before we are allowed to leave?!" I was thinking "Oh, that's a great way to model what I want my students to do. YOU CAN DO THAT?! oh yea, slower, more articulate, stop speaking like they understand, so maybe that's why they all stare at me blankly, I wonder if I just did..." Can you see the difference? Instead of just passively sitting I was actively learning! What a concept! Anyway, this week was a great opportunity for me to learn some new skills and to perfect some old skills as well as to meet new people. Some of the better quotes and comments from this week are as follows:
During one of our group-wide lectures the speaker was talking about the differences between Korean culture and American culture: "There I was with my Phillipino friend and an American friend at a coffee shop, we all ordered black coffee and Mark (I just made that up so I don't have to continue typing Phillipino) ordered a brownie. Well the brownie arrived at the table and Mark placed it in the center. I looked at the plate and realized that there was only one fork, I glanced about and realized that only one fork was going to be brought to us. The conversation continued and Mark began eating, I kept looking down at this delicious brownie, then back up to Mark's mouth as he slowly began eating the brownie. When he was about halfway done it became blatantly obvious to me that he wasn't going to share with me, the Korean part of me wailed "How could you betray me like this?"" This is an excellent of example of Korean culture! If you don't share with everyone involved you have most certainly betrayed them! It's good to remember that there definitely IS a cultural divide and that i'm the minority!
"You are a conversation teacher. Your goal is not to teach them grammar or prepare them for a test. Your goal is to get them to initiate and sustain communication." Good to remember as I plan lessons. Much more difficult to actually carry through to the classroom!
The most interesting and engaging speech that I attended was by a teacher in his second year here in Korea, he gave us two tips:
1. Steal everything
Essentially he stated that other teachers are our greatest resource and that we should continually be working with one another and sharing materials.
2. Be prepared to bomb...
Being a teacher means that you are going to fail, make terrible lesson plans, and lose kids along the way. That's part of teaching, but if you can realize your mistakes and correct them, the next time you make those mistakes they will be different or not as devastating. GOOD TO KNOW! Sometimes I feel like i'm never going to get the hang of teaching and that I should just stick my head in the sand and hide. Whew, i'm really glad I don't have to do that.
Anyeong!
During one of our group-wide lectures the speaker was talking about the differences between Korean culture and American culture: "There I was with my Phillipino friend and an American friend at a coffee shop, we all ordered black coffee and Mark (I just made that up so I don't have to continue typing Phillipino) ordered a brownie. Well the brownie arrived at the table and Mark placed it in the center. I looked at the plate and realized that there was only one fork, I glanced about and realized that only one fork was going to be brought to us. The conversation continued and Mark began eating, I kept looking down at this delicious brownie, then back up to Mark's mouth as he slowly began eating the brownie. When he was about halfway done it became blatantly obvious to me that he wasn't going to share with me, the Korean part of me wailed "How could you betray me like this?"" This is an excellent of example of Korean culture! If you don't share with everyone involved you have most certainly betrayed them! It's good to remember that there definitely IS a cultural divide and that i'm the minority!
"You are a conversation teacher. Your goal is not to teach them grammar or prepare them for a test. Your goal is to get them to initiate and sustain communication." Good to remember as I plan lessons. Much more difficult to actually carry through to the classroom!
The most interesting and engaging speech that I attended was by a teacher in his second year here in Korea, he gave us two tips:
1. Steal everything
Essentially he stated that other teachers are our greatest resource and that we should continually be working with one another and sharing materials.
2. Be prepared to bomb...
Being a teacher means that you are going to fail, make terrible lesson plans, and lose kids along the way. That's part of teaching, but if you can realize your mistakes and correct them, the next time you make those mistakes they will be different or not as devastating. GOOD TO KNOW! Sometimes I feel like i'm never going to get the hang of teaching and that I should just stick my head in the sand and hide. Whew, i'm really glad I don't have to do that.
Anyeong!
I'm Korean!
Today is the Friday before Halloween, so like every other country loving American I dressed up for work. Now you have to understand that once you venture outside the expansive borders of good ol' 'Murica things are a wee bit different. the most important and glaringly obviously example is that there are different holidays, take Chuseok for example, we've never even heard of it yet it's massively celebrated by millions of Koreans yearly. They eat rice cakes flavored with pine needles and sweetened bean paste(*barf*), they eat dok bocci, which is red sauce smothered rice cakes and chicken (*barf*); and yet they don't celebrate Halloween. Now, I understand that some of you may be jumping out of your chairs, onto your desks or couches, ripping your hair out, and screaming obsceneties at the heathen Koreans, believe me, it was my reaction too. But once I calmed down and stopped seeing red I realized that this was a prime opportunity for me to become (if possible) even more famous. First, since they don't celebrate Halloween even the smallest change in my wardrobe will be noticed, and second, since i'm the foreigner and it's my "culture" they will smile and accept everything that I do! GENIUS! So like any good American I donned my black wig and glitter sparkle face mask and marched myself to school. Now I didn't really do anything obscene, in fact i'd say that I look exactly the same...except I have black hair. But as I got closer to school I noticed that my students were staring and pointing whispering "mori" which means hair, repeatedly. When I arrived in the teachers room I walked straight to my desk, "Anyeong hah say yo" (good morning) they all briefly glanced up "anyeong..." their eyes bulged, their mouths dropped open, and they all literally stopped speaking. The entire room full of 60 teachers went dead silent, then "Mori!" They all began speaking quickly at once asking me about my hair and talking to one another about the drastic change. I smiled, blushed and put my blue peacock mask over my face and said "Happy Halloween!" they all started clapping! I am forever cemented in the annals of time now as a famous person. I mean, if you can get a roomful of people to clap for you just by showing up that must mean you've got the magic!
Anyeong and Happy Halloween!
Anyeong and Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Idioms
So i'm teaching my 3rd grade girls (roughly 15 years old) about idioms and one of the idioms I chose is "dressed to kill". As they are all budding fashionistas I thought that perhaps they would enjoy this!
Me: so, what do you think "Dressed to kill" could mean?
MS: FASHION TERRORIST!
I burst out into laughter. From now on "dressed to kill will no longer mean you look fabulous, it now means you are a fashion terrorist! The fashion police had better be on their toes for fashion terrorists!!
Anyeong!
Me: so, what do you think "Dressed to kill" could mean?
MS: FASHION TERRORIST!
I burst out into laughter. From now on "dressed to kill will no longer mean you look fabulous, it now means you are a fashion terrorist! The fashion police had better be on their toes for fashion terrorists!!
Anyeong!
Hedgehog drama
I'll set the scene: Outside the local massive grocery store
Me: Hey guys! What do you have in there [inside the cage]
My Students (MS): It's nervous teachah!
Me: What's nervous?
MS:Teachah Teachah! Eye big, fall out! Nervous Nervous!
Me: What? What is it?
I walked closer to my students and peered inside the cage
MS: Teachah teachah! Eye big! Hospital hospital! Nervous Nervous!
Me: A hedgehog! It's such a cute Hedgehog! What happened?
MS: Poke eye! BAHNG BAHNG BAHNG! (makes thrusting gesture towards eye with fingers)
MS: Teachah! Nervous! Hospital!
Me: ok, bye!
a few minutes later they returned from the bowels of the building
Me: How'd it go?
MS: (very excitedly) TEACHAH TEACHAH! EYE BIG! CUT OUT! CUT OUT WITH...WITH...(makes cutting sign with fingers)
Me: Scissors? They are going to cut out it's eye with scissors?!
My students smile and nod.
MS: Teachah! We go! Bye bye.
Me: bye...
I swear, sometimes the language barrier is just too ridiculous for words...
Anyeong!
Me: Hey guys! What do you have in there [inside the cage]
My Students (MS): It's nervous teachah!
Me: What's nervous?
MS:Teachah Teachah! Eye big, fall out! Nervous Nervous!
Me: What? What is it?
I walked closer to my students and peered inside the cage
MS: Teachah teachah! Eye big! Hospital hospital! Nervous Nervous!
Me: A hedgehog! It's such a cute Hedgehog! What happened?
MS: Poke eye! BAHNG BAHNG BAHNG! (makes thrusting gesture towards eye with fingers)
MS: Teachah! Nervous! Hospital!
Me: ok, bye!
a few minutes later they returned from the bowels of the building
Me: How'd it go?
MS: (very excitedly) TEACHAH TEACHAH! EYE BIG! CUT OUT! CUT OUT WITH...WITH...(makes cutting sign with fingers)
Me: Scissors? They are going to cut out it's eye with scissors?!
My students smile and nod.
MS: Teachah! We go! Bye bye.
Me: bye...
I swear, sometimes the language barrier is just too ridiculous for words...
Anyeong!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Let Me Introduce You To Hojung aka Hojo
Hojung and I met on the bus from Busan to Masan, I was returning from China and it had been a loooong day. After a week of being stuck in Shanghai, then a night of rockstar partying in Seoul, and 4 hours on a train with an old Korean man belching, coughing, hacking, and spitting lugies besides me I was done. I exited the train at Busan station and realized I had to get on the subway, and switch trains twice *sigh*. I finally managed to maneuver the city (with a 40 pound backpackers pack) and was on the bus to Masan. I had placed my overly large pack in the seat next to me and deposited myself next to the window. I had my book open and for the first time that day I was feeling like maybe I wouldn't pop off someone's head.
Until Hojung arrived in my life.
When I got on the bus I noticed a young guy staring at me intently, and then after I sat down., from the corner of my eye, I saw that same young guy hop up suddenly and move to the seat directly across the aisle from me. I sighed internally thinking "If you speak to me I swear to god I will murder you." Sure enough, after about a minute of staring at me awkwardly from across the aisle and around the pack Hojung made his move, "Can you speak at me for minutes?" I grimaced internally, carefully laid my book down and peered at him imperiously from over my pack. "Sure" I said, stupid move number one.
Well we got to talking and I realized that Hojung didn't speak much English (this should have been apparent from our first encounter at speaking but silly ol' me just had to give him the benefit of the doubt). Well trying to make things look rosy and golden I just convinced myself that I was practicing my korean, which I was, but that's beside the point. The drive from Busan to Masan is roughly 45 minutes by bus, which goes quickly if you are reading, but surprisingly quicker if you are attempting to communicate with someone.
We finally pulled into Masan station, and like the good Korean that he is, Hojung asked me if I had eaten, "Mogosayo?" I responded that no, I hadn't, he replied by inviting me out, and I accepted, stupid move number two. He asked me where I wanted to go, I looked at him incredulously, and very slowly informed him that I needed to take my pack home but that if he gave me his number I would call him when I got home and meet up with him later. So I went home, took a shower and put on some clothes that hadn't been rumpled up in my sweaty pack for a week and went back out to meet Hojung.
We had dinner at a lovely little restaurant that serves Samgyeupsal (pork belly) and we had a few beers and talked some more, it was lovely, really, but it should have ended there. BUT because he's Korean we just had to go out to a bar, and I accepted, stupid move number three (and quite possibly the stupidest of them all). Well we arrived in the bar and ordered some beers and began drinking, except that the bar he had chosen was REALLY loud, dark, and filled with flashing disco lights. Which I can assure you isn't conducive to a pair of people that can barely communicate with one another in a silent restaurant! After trying to start some conversation I finally gave up and began just drinking beer. I would stare across the table at him, and he would smile, and then look away, then I would look away, only to look back and see him staring at me. The whole time i'm thinking "Why did I allow myself to get into this incredibly awkward situation??" There was a group of young Korean men getting sufficiently drunk at the table next to us and they kept throwing glances at us as if we were freaks or something. Finally after about an hour of drinking beer and awkwardly glancing at one another I informed Hojung that I needed to go because I had to work the next day (a lie yes, but if you'd been there you'd have understood the necessity) so we paid and departed.
While we were standing at the bus stop, me waiting for the 710 and him waiting for the 256 he suddenly turned to me and asked "How do you feel about sex?" I choked on my spit. When I found my voice again I asked him what he meant by that, he responded "You look beautiful so I thought I would like to hug you." I looked down and pretended to scratch my nose to cover the smile on my face, it was just too awkward to maintain a straight face! As I was looking down Hojung made a move, he stepped forward just a little and when I looked up to see what he was doing he attempted to swoop in for the kiss. I (of course) backed up and tripped off the curb, I whipped around to make sure I wasn't going to get hit by a speeding bus (totally possible) and realized that there was indeed one bus directly behind me with the doors open, veritably inviting me in. I stumbled forward and grabbed the handle, turned to look at Hojung and said, "My bus! See you later!" smiled, and bolted up the stairs. I paid for my fare, and requested the next stop off, departed the bus, and waited for the appropriate bus to arrive so that I could go home.
Well, for some oddly stupid reason i've agreed to see Hojung again at a coffee shop near my home and then to go to Korean classes afterward on Wednesday (can someone please explain WHY i'm stupid enough to agree to see this lunatic kisser again??). I'll keep you updated on my exploits as they develop further.
Aneyong!
Until Hojung arrived in my life.
When I got on the bus I noticed a young guy staring at me intently, and then after I sat down., from the corner of my eye, I saw that same young guy hop up suddenly and move to the seat directly across the aisle from me. I sighed internally thinking "If you speak to me I swear to god I will murder you." Sure enough, after about a minute of staring at me awkwardly from across the aisle and around the pack Hojung made his move, "Can you speak at me for minutes?" I grimaced internally, carefully laid my book down and peered at him imperiously from over my pack. "Sure" I said, stupid move number one.
Well we got to talking and I realized that Hojung didn't speak much English (this should have been apparent from our first encounter at speaking but silly ol' me just had to give him the benefit of the doubt). Well trying to make things look rosy and golden I just convinced myself that I was practicing my korean, which I was, but that's beside the point. The drive from Busan to Masan is roughly 45 minutes by bus, which goes quickly if you are reading, but surprisingly quicker if you are attempting to communicate with someone.
We finally pulled into Masan station, and like the good Korean that he is, Hojung asked me if I had eaten, "Mogosayo?" I responded that no, I hadn't, he replied by inviting me out, and I accepted, stupid move number two. He asked me where I wanted to go, I looked at him incredulously, and very slowly informed him that I needed to take my pack home but that if he gave me his number I would call him when I got home and meet up with him later. So I went home, took a shower and put on some clothes that hadn't been rumpled up in my sweaty pack for a week and went back out to meet Hojung.
We had dinner at a lovely little restaurant that serves Samgyeupsal (pork belly) and we had a few beers and talked some more, it was lovely, really, but it should have ended there. BUT because he's Korean we just had to go out to a bar, and I accepted, stupid move number three (and quite possibly the stupidest of them all). Well we arrived in the bar and ordered some beers and began drinking, except that the bar he had chosen was REALLY loud, dark, and filled with flashing disco lights. Which I can assure you isn't conducive to a pair of people that can barely communicate with one another in a silent restaurant! After trying to start some conversation I finally gave up and began just drinking beer. I would stare across the table at him, and he would smile, and then look away, then I would look away, only to look back and see him staring at me. The whole time i'm thinking "Why did I allow myself to get into this incredibly awkward situation??" There was a group of young Korean men getting sufficiently drunk at the table next to us and they kept throwing glances at us as if we were freaks or something. Finally after about an hour of drinking beer and awkwardly glancing at one another I informed Hojung that I needed to go because I had to work the next day (a lie yes, but if you'd been there you'd have understood the necessity) so we paid and departed.
While we were standing at the bus stop, me waiting for the 710 and him waiting for the 256 he suddenly turned to me and asked "How do you feel about sex?" I choked on my spit. When I found my voice again I asked him what he meant by that, he responded "You look beautiful so I thought I would like to hug you." I looked down and pretended to scratch my nose to cover the smile on my face, it was just too awkward to maintain a straight face! As I was looking down Hojung made a move, he stepped forward just a little and when I looked up to see what he was doing he attempted to swoop in for the kiss. I (of course) backed up and tripped off the curb, I whipped around to make sure I wasn't going to get hit by a speeding bus (totally possible) and realized that there was indeed one bus directly behind me with the doors open, veritably inviting me in. I stumbled forward and grabbed the handle, turned to look at Hojung and said, "My bus! See you later!" smiled, and bolted up the stairs. I paid for my fare, and requested the next stop off, departed the bus, and waited for the appropriate bus to arrive so that I could go home.
Well, for some oddly stupid reason i've agreed to see Hojung again at a coffee shop near my home and then to go to Korean classes afterward on Wednesday (can someone please explain WHY i'm stupid enough to agree to see this lunatic kisser again??). I'll keep you updated on my exploits as they develop further.
Aneyong!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Pretty Shiny Things
Today I told my vice principal "Panjahck Panjahck Ipudah!" Which means, bling bling pretty! I'm totally getting a raise for best suck up ever.
^.^
Anyeong!
^.^
Anyeong!
My Birthday!
So, I had a wonderful week full of lovely birthday surprises, gifts, and parties! Even though I occasionally bitch about being lonely, missing home, or not having enough friends this week was testimony to the amazing friends and support network I have garnered here in Korea!!
So on wednesday of last week my co-workers took me out to lunch! As I blogged earlier I had asked them if they wanted to come to my house for dinner and then it got delayed twice and they finally just called the whole thing off and took me out to a steak lunch. I'm not really complaining but I was a little confused as to why that happened. Oh well, steak sure beats cooking for 9 people, ESPECIALLY when I don't have to pay!!
They were soo cute and sweet that they surprised me with a birthday cake! I couldn't believe how sneaky they were! This cake (thankfully) didn't have any sort of potato on it!! I rejoiced a bit inside as I bit down and discovered merely yellow cake, whipped cream, and nuts. I have often times bitten into a delicious looking snack or cake only to discover sweet bean paste and or potatos of some sort infiltrating the delicious taste i'm expecting. Go team co-workers!!
Then Friday night I had a party and all my best friends showed up! Somebody amazing gave the bar that we were going to a heads up and they had made blue drink specials to match my dress and put happy birthday Molly signs up all over the bar! SO COOL!!!
Since I decided to have a halloween themed party I had to dress up, I went as Mrs. Peacock from the boardgame clue! I decided it was Mrs. Peacock, with the (retracting!!!!) knife, in the bar! It was a real success and everyone loved my outfit, that and because I wore electric blue I was the shiniest person in the bar and nobody outshone me! PERFECT for a birthday!!
Colette (what a doll!) brought me a birthday cake!! THIS cake had chocolate layers inside which totally trumped my co-workers cake, but then again so long as my cake from my co-workers doesn't have potatoes I consider that a plus.
Everyone dressed up! It was really really great to see the imaginations of everyone that I know and love in Korea! There were some really really great costumes! Like Zorro above! AND The father, sun, and holy ghost below!! hahaha
So all in all I had a really really great weekend full of fun and love! Thanks everyone who came out and made it splendid!!!
Anyeong!
So on wednesday of last week my co-workers took me out to lunch! As I blogged earlier I had asked them if they wanted to come to my house for dinner and then it got delayed twice and they finally just called the whole thing off and took me out to a steak lunch. I'm not really complaining but I was a little confused as to why that happened. Oh well, steak sure beats cooking for 9 people, ESPECIALLY when I don't have to pay!!
Anyeong!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Gook, Tahng, Chiggae VS. Soup, Stew. What's the Difference?
In korea when you have soup you'll have either a gook, tahng or a chiggae. In the states if you have soup you'll have soup and occasionaly stew, but stew is still considered soup. To me, it all looks the same, it's all broth based and has varying amounts of vegetables and meats in it, to Koreans, however, there is such a difference between the three that to call a chiggae a tahng or a gook a chiggae is an outrage and completeley unfounded. I really can't seem to figure it out though, they understand the english word "soup" but they are adamant that gook, tahng and chiggae are not soup. So this got me thinking, maybe I needed to take a moment to define soup. So I said, "soup is a broth based dish with varying vegetables and meats." Wait, I said that already...didn't I? Excuse me for being a crass, uncouth, uncultured American but isn't a broth based dish with varying vegetables and meats exactly what we are eating right now?? No? Well can you please exlain the difference to me? No? ok. So after three months of complete confusion i've finally discovered that chiggae is like a stew, really thick and that a tang is like a normal soup and a gook is broth with some seaweed or onions in it. Ok great, but this still doesn't allevite the fact that I STILL THINK IT'S ALL SOUP AND NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THIS. I guess it's just going to be one of those things where I get it, and that's the end of the story. But still...don't you think that maybe...just maybe they really ARE all the same thing??
On a side note, I needed to buy some buillion so that I can flavor the rice that I purchased, I ran into one of my co-teachers while in the market and when I asked her whether the package I was holding flavored soup (can you see my point of decline here??) she informed me that no, that would not flavor soup. That only a little was added to Chiggae to enhance the flavor. "Kind of like a flavored salt?" the answer was no, absolutely not. I smiled benignly and bought the stuff anyway. Upon returning home and opening it I discovered that it was indeed buillion. I just really really cannot win in the damn soup department.
On a side note, I needed to buy some buillion so that I can flavor the rice that I purchased, I ran into one of my co-teachers while in the market and when I asked her whether the package I was holding flavored soup (can you see my point of decline here??) she informed me that no, that would not flavor soup. That only a little was added to Chiggae to enhance the flavor. "Kind of like a flavored salt?" the answer was no, absolutely not. I smiled benignly and bought the stuff anyway. Upon returning home and opening it I discovered that it was indeed buillion. I just really really cannot win in the damn soup department.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Birthdays Birthdays Birthdays!
"Teacher! It's your yesterday birthday! Happy Congratulations!"
"You looks like a princess! It must be you birsday"
It is illegal to mail salt from the United States to the Republic of Korea. Who knew?
"I just want human legs!" I have no idea what this means but it was bellowed out of the windows of the school today no less than 4 times. Any thoughts about what my students mean by "human legs??"
"You looks like a princess! It must be you birsday"
It is illegal to mail salt from the United States to the Republic of Korea. Who knew?
"I just want human legs!" I have no idea what this means but it was bellowed out of the windows of the school today no less than 4 times. Any thoughts about what my students mean by "human legs??"
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