Cultural Lesson #2

How to eat a raw octopus...

Yes; it's real.

Can someone please explain this to me? I mean I understand the whole patch on the backpack and that it is law for Canadians to get a maple leaf tattoo but... um...

How I have changed because of Korea

I now have no qualms about eating food right off somebody else's plate without asking first.

I think foreigners smell like milk.

I think all white people look the same.

I recognize"sleep"as a hobby.

I feel it is perfectly acceptable to stop dead in the middle of a path in front of others.

A shopping trolley is a weapon

As are elbows.

If it doesn't have chili in it, it has no taste.

I will pay $400 to fly 1 hour to China/Japan and have given up ranting about easyjet/bmi/ryan air's cheap flight deals.

I'm no longer shocked when I see a man carrying his wife's/girlfriend's handbag, wearing her shoes and wearing a pink t-shirt whilst walking down the street.

I no longer feel under dressed climbing the mountain because I too have the Northface walking shoes and backpack even though there are steps to the top and food and drink stalls on the way.

I am more open to new experiences; especially after a bottle of soju.

I get confused when someone says they don't have a mobile phone: How on earth will you survive? and how will I ever be able to arrange to meet you?!

The Internet is a part of me, like a leg. I could learn to live without it if I lost it: but why would I willingly cut off my leg?!

If something can't be delivered it's not worth having.

I recognise Canada as a country and not just a rather large American state.

I've developed a North American accent and have started saying things like "Y'all" and "Eh" without flinching.

Cultural Lesson #1

In Korea when having your photo taken it is the law that you do the peace sign, although here it doesn't mean peace, it means victory. and say "kimchi!" I am sporting the reverse "V" because I'm too cool for school. Zac behind me is too busy looking at my boobs and doesn't notice the camera, had he seen that one was in fact pointed in his direction he would have probably done the "Double V" whereby he performs in the same manner as Eoghan (behind me) but with both hands. Chris(Green shirt) is not trying to do the "bunny ears" to Eoghan as he is American and that would be a British thing to do.

And Another Thing...

I have been watching too much Boston Legal recently. I have begun to confuse reality with fiction. aggggghhhhhhh!!!! get me out of here!

Bridget Jones Eat Your Heart Out

I'm feeling really emotional at the moment and I can't seem to snap out of it. I am feeling really lost but I'm not sure why because everything in my life is pretty good. I have a great job; I'm working towards being better qualified so I can get an even greater job; I have great friends and family and a support network. I'm going to go away for a couple of days to try to put some semblance of order back in my mind. As well as that I'm going to spring clean my apartment and see if order in my space can transfer itself!! Then I'm going to buy a big bunch of yellow flowers. Lastly I'm going to make a batch of chocolate brownies and eat the lot!

I guess I miss home right now. Well actually I miss family and friends at home. It gets kind of tough being here sometimes. I don't want anyone to worry because the feelings will pass soon enough. It's just far away from people I love.

In the last few months I have gone through quite a lot which at the time I didn't really think about until after the events. You know when they say "it's just one thing after another"? Well I know that's just life but seriously! AND I hate feeling sorry for myself. So, I think I'll pick myself off, brush myself off, pop a couple of band aids on my knees and go back to being happy Sarah. After I eat the brownies.

Penguin Zombies

I have these damn penguins on my igoogle homepage and I can't stop playing with them. If you move your mouse around the screen they follow it. I sit there for ages moving my mouse in circles to make them dizzy. They look just like penguin zombies. Creepy.

Wait

While waiting for my last class of the day to start I have won 2 games of Catan against the computer, the exchange rates have started to go back to normal, I called the publishers to arrange a sales meeting, fiddled around with facebook, and I taught some students who were early for class some msn abbreviations. Altogether a productive hour.

Happy Easter

It's Easter Monday and I have the day off for the first time in 4 years. The only reason I do is because I work at a Catholic University, may not be Catholic, but I'll take the extra holidays, thanks! A second first for me in Korea was receiving Easter eggs in the street! The first was handed to me when I walked past a church yesterday and another on a subway. Granted they are not chocolate, they are just boiled eggs with little wrappers but it's the thought that counts.

I spent Easter Sunday eating chocolate cake and Strawberry Cheesecake and looking at art with Mike. I left Mike snivelling, grumpy and disgusting, not because he had to spend the afternoon with me, because of the spring cold which I have yet managed to avoid. You know I've spoken too soon don't you? Tomorrow's post will be a photo of me with snot running out of my nose.

Oh! Another first in Korea yesterday, which I forgot to take a photo of was a store in Hongdae (a trendy university area) called "Condomania" selling condoms in all shapes and sizes... even British Durex... I know this will not mean much to people at home but people in Korea will understand the relevance of this... It's on the same side of the road as The university, down the hill about 50 metres.

Last night we played Sunday Night Catan with Gio and Joanna. A lot of fun but I was tired after a long weekend and VERY argumentative with CJ. He took it well. By that I mean he just didn't say anything. We both agreed that I needed to take myself and my hormones to a quiet place. Well, I left and he probably breathed a sigh of relief.

I also made a new friend on Facebook. And by new friend I mean new, old friend who I used to go to school with. Chloe Blemings it's been a long time. I also saw that she was friends with my best friend from elementary school. I realised adding her would be pointless as she probably still hates me for being so mean to her in school. Facebook takes up too much of my time.

And all of this makes perfect sense reading my horoscope from yesterday retrospectively:

Sunday, March 23

Capricorn

Sarah,You may find that you are both making and losing friends today. You and your significant other could be arguing and agreeing at the same time. You can expect the unexpected from the people in your life, as well as people that you meet on the street.

The rest of the weekend was okay: I finished another semester of my MA so I took a few days to relax before I start the daunting task of starting my 5000 word paper. I've got some time off from online work so I should make the most of it and get stuck in. Scary.

As today is Sunday #2 I should get some laundry in and plan some lessons. Perhaps I'll just make another cup of tea first...

on the problem with working abroad when The USA's economy goes belly up.

Korean Won compared to British Pound. Arse.

Ordering food in Korea

In Korea you can order pretty much anything to be delivered pretty much anywhere. For free. Food, beer, coffee, your shopping: You name it and there's a man with a scooter who will most obligingly bring it to your front door, or roof, beach, or park should you so wish.

I have had pizza delivered to the classroom, park, the woods and the beach. I have even had chicken delivered to a seafood restaurant (some of our party didn't eat fish and rather than turn down all of the business the owner ordered fried chicken for us too), Beer delivered to the roof and all kinds of food delivered to my door. What's more there is usually no minimum charge and if there is it's usually only 5 dollars. There is even a coffee delivery service, although what is actually delivered is a pretty girl who makes "coffee". Yeah, you get it.

When you order food it comes in real bowls or on plates with metal cutlery. You are expected to leave the plates or bowls and cutlery outside your apartment door for the delivery guy to pick up later. Now that is what I call civilized! No washing up, no mess.

I am rambling about this now because I am hungry and I can't decide what to order... Korean, chicken, pizza, Chinese... Oh the possibilities.

scruffy pair

she's a little witch but I love her

Consumerism at its Best

Today is White Day in Korea. It is a month after Valentines Day and another excuse for the shops to stock fancy chocolates. On Valentines Day in Korea women give a gift, usually chocolates to men. On White Day the gifts travel in the opposite direction... Korea has really cottoned on to the fabulous money making opportunities of mass consumerism.

The 14th of next month is Black Day. On this day single people should get together and eat noodles with black bean sauce, JaJangMyun.

Wait, there's more... May 14th is Rose Day, where couples exchange roses.

June 14th is Kiss Day, I think you are getting the gist.

July 14th is Silver day and you have to exchange something silver with that special person.

August 14th is my favourite, a special holiday for the Soju companies - couples escape to the outdoors whilst singles should drown their sorrows in a bottle or two of the favourite Korean tipple.

The next 4 months bring Photo Day, Wine Day, Movie Day and Hug Day, and these are only the 14th days of the month.

Let's not forget November 11th: Pepero Day. A pepero is a biscuit stick covered with chocolate. Sales of this skinny snack got through the roof. Schools have had to ban peperos on that day. In one of my most memorable Pepero day experiences the fat kid at the back of my class projectile vomited pepero down the class aisle. More and more companies are getting on the bandwagon. July 11th, for example, is 7-11 day (dedicated to the convenience store).

The strangest part of it all though is that in a country that has the largest amount of Christians per capita than any other country in the world, Christmas and Easter still remain very low key. I mean Easter eggs! Come on Korea; you're missing out on a fantastic opportunity!

Happy White Day!

Jim Jill Bangin'

One of the things I love about Korea is the Jim Jil Bangs (bath houses). I spent this evening scrubbing myself and lounging around in baths of green tea. I feel refreshed and shiny now, and all for 5 dollars. It is a uniquely Korean experience captured perfectly in the painting above. friends hang out, families come and scrub each other, some people just come alone to relax. It can be a "start your day off right" activity or a relaxing end of the day "soak the stress away". The main thing is that anything goes. It is perfectly acceptable for the woman scrubbing herself next to you to hand you her towel and ask you for a back rub. Some take it further and pay the "adjumma" (older woman who works at the sauna) to scrub and massage and walk on their backs. Others wander around exercising, some chill in the cold pool, some lay around on the stone floor. A group for adjummas gossip in the sauna.

There are usually a couple of rows of showers, stand up and sit down and a number of different baths: hot, cold, tea, ginseng, REALLY hot lemon water for skin whitening... There is a routine: shower, scrub, shave, scrub more, maybe massage, baths and sauna followed by shower. That's not all though, most bath houses have a TV in the changing room and women lounge around watching soap operas .

If you want to there is a communal area and you are provided with shorts and T-shirt to wear there where you can buy a beer and eat hard boiled eggs. The women who work there were all wearing bedroom lingerie.. this I couldn't figure out, they are lounging around in lacy leopard print panties or satin slips. It has been the same in all of the jim jil bangs (bath houses) that I have been to and I cannot figure it out... maybe they just don't get the chance to wear that kind of thing at home...

There are usually rooms for sleeping and you are able to spend the night as they are usually 24 hours. It's ideal if you get caught in another part of the city and miss the last train or bus home, a good soak and blanket at the Jim Jil Bang is certainly the cheapest way to go. The first time I stayed in the Sauna the night was an experience. I was handed a wooden brick for... a pillow! a blanket, a pair of white shorts and a T-shirt.

I started off trying to get to sleep on a straw mat in a room with extreme floor heating surrounded by about 30 other people. I took myself off the the toilet at one point mistakenly leaving my "pillow" and blanket behind. I returned to find the man who was next to my spot cuddling up with my blanket. I was tired and if I'm honest I had a little bit of a short fuse so I tried to grab my blanket back, the "pillow" he was welcome to, but the little sod decided to put up a fight, one which I wasn't going to lose. I didn't. Wrapping myself up in my blanket I tried to go to sleep. However my blanket thief wasn't going to give up that easily, He started snoring. Loudly. In fact it seemed that everyone was in on it, a symphony of snores and snorts and snuffles filled the room. I picked up my blanket and left them to it.

I had lost the war.

I took myself out to the communal area which was dark by now, I stepped over sleeping bodies and found a sleeping space. I nestled myself under a glass table. As I was gradually waking up in the morning I gradually opened my eyes to see something which looked like a scene from a nuclear disaster, bodies sprawled out all over the place, people had found the strangest of sleeping positions some of which I couldn't even understand how they had put themselves there. Everyone was wearing matching white shorts and T-shirt sets. It was just all too surreal especially after only a couple of hours sleep.

This evening was far more relaxing however. and next week I will certainly be getting that aroma scrubbing/massage. I think the back walking can wait though.

An excuse to put a picture of House on my blog

I started a new class today, it's an adult class with 13 students aged from early 20s to about 60. They all seem lovely, and not just because they are in love with my accent. All of them want me to train them how to speak with a British accent. It's funny because I'm actually losing my accent and am frequently speaking more and more in an American accent. Sorry Emily it's true. It's not even conscious anymore. The reasons for this disgrace are threefold. Firstly when I arrived in Korea oh so many years ago I was specifically asked to teach American English and an American accent. A request which I actually ignored in the beginning but which leads on to the second reason: When I spoke to Koreans in my "beautiful" British accent (My student's words, don't shoot the messenger) they couldn't understand me. Actually when I spoke to Americans and Canadians they couldn't understand me either SO, I would have to repeat myself:

Me: "Could I have some water?" (read in posh British)

American: (blank stare)

Me: "Water" (read in Texan drawl 'cos that's my favourite American accent)

American: Oh! Water!!!

Me: Yes that's what I said.

So to save time I lengthened my vowels and didn't pronounce my 't's, instead I would pronounce the 'r'at the end of words which I would normally not need to bother myself with. This leads on perfectly to point 3. Because so many Americans and Canadians work here and because the majority of Koreans speak English with an American accent, my accent has become assimilated... I wonder if this has happened to Hugh Laurie too... I realised this today and want to reclaim it! I want to apologise for neglecting you accent. I will endeavour to treat you better.

Watch out Korea, the Amazon starts small but look where that ends up. First it's 13 students, before you know it I'll have the whole of Korea speaking English properly.

Beyond Murphy's Law

Clearly not satisfied with the amount of attention that I have been getting recently, I decided to break my tooth. On a peanut butter (smooth) sandwich (soft crusts). I have no words.

Is someone trying to send me a message??? Whose birthday did I forget? Please stop sticking the pins in the doll, I promise to be good...

So after the dentist I am going to the pub. I think I deserve it.

And the prize for...

I'm home and I'm getting better. I don't want to talk about it. At least I know what day it is now.

Most used phrases: Pee many many!!! (there's lots of blood) Many Many Appayo!!!! (it hurts a lot!!!!)


Most scared person in Bucheon: CJ


Best friends in all of the world: Mine


Most amount of sleep in one day: 20 hours


Best boss: Mine


Most embarrassing speeches whilst under the influence of anaesthetic: Me


Funniest ER experience: (Korean ERs have an electronic board on display with names and afflictions... in English. I was right between the bog bite and soju man, and no: I'm not telling you what it said just yet.


Most embarrassing, can't talk about it yet, diaper experience: Me


Closest person to making a break for Incheon Airport: Me


Most painful experience: paying at the discharge counter.



Best making light of it all moment: "Summer!!!! My pee burns going in!!!!" (OK Korean joke: pee =blood in Korean) while getting blood transfusion, who knew it would hurt!!???


So I'm done attention seeking in Korean hospitals. Phew.