Mom Sent a Package

A while ago my mom sent a package with all sorts of stuff in it for JH and I. She mostly wanted to send him good wishes for his birthday, which was back in April.

Even Tom got in the act...

Last summer I visited my mom and JH got her a Starbucks mug with a Seoul logo on it. So it was fitting that she sent him a Florida Starbucks mug.

It's always fun to get a loving package from back home.

Return to the Atlantic

Growing up in Florida it was natural to take a trip to the beach nearly every weekend. I was familiar with the salty water and the tan sand under my feet. Ever since I moved from Florida to California I cannot recall the last time I swam in the Atlantic.

Thankfully, on this visit, I did just that and with my mom and nephews. We went to Delray Beach which is in the Ft. Lauderdale area. This was after lunch at the Seawatch, as I showed you in a previous post. We arrived at around 4:30 pm, which my mom believes is the best time to go.

If you have ever been to a beach on the East side of Florida than this sight might be familiar to you. It is like the initiation gate that one goes through when walking to the shoreline. You first walk through a shady patch of sand next to some natural Florida foliage and then you are out walking under the hot sun and feeling the burning sand under your feet. But of course your wearing sandals, right?

I would bet all Floridians are good at the routine of setting up their beach chairs and getting into the water. We did just that and everyone else got in before me as I put on my sunscreen.

It was a perfect day at the beach. Clear blue skies with small patches of clouds and crystal clear water.

When I went in the water it felt like such a wholesome moment. Imagine someplace you have been in your life that you haven't been to in a very long time. Now see yourself going there and enjoying it. That was this kind of moment. I couldn't stop smiling.

As I swam around a small school of fish followed my feet and nibbled at them. I played in the water for a while enjoying the smells and sights of it all. Even now I wish I had stayed in longer.

For those of you wondering why it looks like I am wearing a dress to the beach, let me explain. I needed a new bathing suit before going on my vacation. But, alas, Korean sizes didn't really fit me. I went shopping for one at my local supermarket (Lotte Mart) and was told, "No, no, you are size 3XL...we don't have." I tried on a few of their "XL" and sure enough it was like being squeezed into a tube. My saving grace was Gmarket where I managed to find my size (3XL). I actually like that it covers up my thighs. Also the bottom part is attached to the whole thing so you don't feel any squish in your tummy.

Let's move on.

We enjoyed ourselves on the beach having drinks and snacks.

But like all things it was time to pack up and leave. The sun was heading down and the wind was picking up. It really felt wonderful to swim back in the Atlantic and share that with my mom and nephews.

Till next time!

*Bonus*

Enjoy the following video I made of my Florida trip with sneak peek scenery of my time in California.

Things End Things Begin

Yesterday I went on a fun roller coaster ride as I got an offer for a private public school in Nowon but after some thinking decided to stick with Yongin.

I was so stressed out the past few days having made my choice with Yongin and then wondering if I should check out another school. It was tough falling asleep last night as my body was all shook up from the stress.

Not to worry, though, I slept well afterwards and had a fun dream too.

Now I am excited for the next months to come. I will have November off as I will be in between contracts. JH and I are going to go put a deposit on a goshiwon this weekend up in Seoul. Then I guess it is packing time.

I am starting to wonder what I will do with my free November. Leaving my current school I am coming into a lot of money. What with pension, severance, deposit return and a flight ticket sum I am going to be looking at a fatter bank account. If you know me then you would know that I don't usually spend money on myself. I do plan to send a chunk to America to pay off some debt that I would like to get out of the way. As for the rest I will probably save it for my next vacation and maybe buy some shiny new toy. Who knows, right?

Also I am pondering about things I would like to see or do while I am free. Maybe take the KTX to another part of Korea and explore it for a few days. I don't know, but if any of you want to get together lemme know for I will be available to travel.

It's come down to the part where my kids at school know I am leaving. They seem sad and express that they don't want me to leave. But I am sure they understand the cycle. I bought a little notebook for the new teacher and wrote in it my tips and instructions for his new job. I hope it comes useful to him. Otherwise he will have a free notebook.

All right well time to start packing up and getting ready to live in a goshiwon (very small space).

Cycles

I don't know if all of my readers know this or remember but last year I quit / got fired from my hagwon.

At that time a lot was happening. I was leaving behind a school that gave me my first experience in Korea, which was haunting. I had to move farther from Seoul, causing rifts in my relationship with my ex. And I had to immediately face a new job. While at the same time being sick as a dog.

Since then I have spent time reflecting on it and trying to find the value from that experience.

But somethings don't change no matter how much your surroundings transform.

And I don't mean to get all mushy here but I am going to be talking about myself.

You see when I worked at the hagwon not only was I having a hard time pleasing the student's parents but I didn't get along too well with my Korean coteachers.

We even had a fight.

I left that situation hoping I would end up teaching with better coteachers. What I didn't realize was that it was really myself that needed to get better.

Because of that experience I ended up not really knowing how to act or treat my new coteachers at my current public school.

Instead of being an open person willing to work on lesson planning and ask questions. I became shut in and independent. Figuring if I don't mess with the system then it won't mess with me.

Intertwined with this was also my nature to allow my mood to affect the way I do my job.

So when you combine all these things at some point life isn't going to be heading in the way you want.

Recently I have been feeling burned out and wondering what my purpose is here in Korea. But unfortunately I was feeling bitter too. Starting to blame Korea and Koreans for my lousy house. I started to feel like I needed some retribution from my Korean coworkers and coteacheres. In other words I was becoming resentful.

I tend to show my heart on my sleeve, and so my coteacher started to sense all this. Her reaction to cope with this was to give up on me.

But the other day we had a falling out and today she approached me saying she was angry at me. I knew the reason and I knew my responsibility, so later I on I told her we should spend some time to talk about.

And we did.

From 4:00 - 6:35 today we talked and talked.

She was angry and said some things. But I knew it was coming.

However, she is a patient woman and forgiving. She also believes in other people.

I shared a lot with her. More than I have with any person I have met in Korea. Although I know it was helpful to our relationship, it frightens me a little. But I have to trust other people more...by that I mean Korean people.

She shared a lot too with me, and told me how she believes that we should not blame things on the outside for our problems and attitude. That we have to look inside and makes changes from within.

All this time I have been waiting to hear about my contract. While at the same time I have been forgetting about the job.

My sight has been returned to the task at hand. And now I know that I need to focus on the job and not the conclusion of my contract, for that will come.

Sorry to share such intimate information. I don't even know if you guys read this far.

So I want to add one more thing. I feel that I came to Korea for a purpose. I think that the isolation and being engulfed in an alien culture helps one examine who they are and 'why' they are. I know this isn't true for every expat here. But for me living here sometimes feels like I am stumbling around in the dark while at the same time surrounded by a room full of mirrors.

Because of that uncanny situation I end up at times learning more about myself.

Well these are all just words. Only actions can tell us the results. Thanks for reading this sentimental blah blah stuff.

Sparkle Time

Last Saturday I went out into Seoul to meet with other bloggers and expats for what is called a "Sparkle Down". That is when Roboseyo gathers people from the Hub of Sparkle website for a get together. It was a great time and a good way to calm down those heartbreak blues.

The day was overcast and rainy, so not that perfect for sightseeing but definitely the best day to sit and chill inside a tea shop. Around Anguk station was a lovely tea shop, which Rob describes the location for you.

Instead of blaring pop music overhead we were treated to classical and Korean folk music, so the atmosphere was pleasant. Conversation grew with the size of our crowd and things were off to a jolly start.

Yuzu tea (Lemon like)

Samcheongdong:
After tea we were feeling a bit famished and so strolled over to Samcheongdong where Rob knew of a great bakery / bread shop and a nice Pannini lunch place. The bakery / bread shop was exquisite with gourmet breads and cheeses, I wish I was a step away from this place everyday.


For lunch we sat at the far corner inside the Pannini place and enjoyed more great conversation with tasty food. Here you see a bread soup and the sandwiches we ordered.

The best sandwich I have had thus far!

Insadong and the Lotus Lantern Festival:
After lunch we strolled out of Samcheongdong and into Insadong, the sun was going down. Air was a bit chilly and moist but we trudged on. Celebrations for Buddha's birthday were underway, but were not as dense due to weather. Walking around Rob led us to Jogye Temple where there was on display lanterns. All the lanterns are adorned with a wish. The colorful lanterns are for the living while the white lanterns are for the deceased.

The mood was definitely spiritual and ambient. I enjoyed walking through and seeing the reflections in the puddles. Still it brought about contemplative feelings inside me due to recent events.








After the temple we meandered around a bit and then met up with some more people. On the way we saw parts of the parade. We ended up at a fancy bar where you sit on a large cushion. Wine was ordered and the merriment got underway.





But I was feeling really insecure that night, because being in Seoul made me wonder where BK was and who he was with so I left early for home. It made me come to terms that I have to accept the choices he made and should find my own path in exploring this country.

Eulogy to Love

BK and I broke up today.

For a while now we have been on the rocks. I don't wish to divulge the whole saga and private stuff.

We just were different people. Culturally and individually.

In the end I didn't fit into his scheme of things.

Our love for each other wasn't congruent either.

But if you are reading this and you happen to not be a robot, then you know what kind of heartbreak I am going through.

For sure I have learned something about myself, love, men and Korean culture.

So since this incident occurred my blogging may be infrequent for a while...sorry.

One Year in Korea Part 1

Come the end of May in two months I will have completed one year here in South Korea. It feels like everything has happened in the blink of an eye. So it is that I want to remember it all and capture the greater moments.

I created this little video to give a kind of preamble to my year here in Korea. There are so many emotions when it comes to contemplating a year living in another country. So stick with me as I will release more videos summing up and sharing what it has been like fulfilling my year here.

Girl Scout Cookies

Yes, you heard me right. I said Girl Scout Cookies. First a little background:

• I was a Girl Scout all the way from Daisy to uh whatever the high school level is...oops.
• I sold Girl Scout cookies (when I still lived in Florida) from my backpack. I would load them up then inline-skate from house to house selling them.
  
• I went to Girl Scout camp nearly every summer till I was in high school.
  
• I worked at two Girl Scout camps in California.

So I guess you could say that if you mentioned Girl Scout cookies to me, I would get more than a mouth watering feeling but also a nostalgic one.

source

Lately, Girl Scout cookies have been in the news. Everything from a Peanut Butter poisoning scare to the crappy economy affecting poor little Girl Scouts across the nation.

For one they say that due to the cost of packaging and shipping that the size and number of cookies in a box have shrunk. Gee I wonder how small a Thin Mint is now.

Mom, has reassured me that she will send me a box of Somoas, which are my favorite. (The coconut ones).

If I were to see a box of Girl Scout cookies here in Korea I don't know what I would do. Probably take a picture than buy a box or two. I am thinking the army bases have a stash of their own.

Well, here is to missing a slice of America!

English in the Mountains Part I

What do you get when you combine children, adults, cabins and mountains? You get camp!!

My experience at Gunpo Winter Camp was more like going on a mountain retreat. At the camp I found myself in a cozy cabin and amongst a relaxed atmosphere. So here I am to share it all with you. Please come with me through my journey at Winter Camp here in Korea.

This adventure started with a bus ride. Children and adults rode together. Boys and girls got their own bus. The foreign teachers all rode on the girl's bus in the back.

At 8:10 in the morning I boarded the bus and saw in the back a few foreigners and joined them. More kids and teachers got on the bus and it was time to go.

Meeting other Teachers:
When other foreigners meet each other for the first time there is typically a list of questions we all ask each other.

• Where are you from?
• How long have you been in Korea?
• What level are you teaching? (elementary, middle, high school)
• What did you study in college?
• Is this your first time in Korea?

So as the bus rolled along we all talked about these subjects and exchanged our experiences. Venting about the bad moments at school and sharing the better pieces.

It turned out I was the only girl amongst all the foreigners. The other girl teacher was sick and stayed home. I accepted this and thought about how Korea mostly hires male teachers. I also think I felt some pride too.

The other teachers seemed nice and friendly. Some having longer experience abroad, and one was fresh like me.

Pit Stop:
The bus ride was to take about 2.5 hrs, and so half way through we made a pit stop.

In America when you drive on a major freeway or highway, along the way you can find pit stops. I especially remember the ones in Florida. As you know, Florida is a one long flat state, so driving from South to North is a tedious job. The pit stops in Florida were like a fast-food haven, housing Burger King, McD's and the rest all under one roof! Indeed, the first cheeseburger I ever ate was at a pit stop in Florida at Burger King.

Anyways, Korean pit stops seem to grasp the same "all-under-one-roof" concept. There is one large parking lot and then a building with a cafeteria and restrooms. Everything was clearly labeled in Korean and English. Outside there were some little canopy shops selling Korean souvenir trinkets.
Arrival and Settling In:
The bus ride was wobbly and riding in the back didn't help avoid car sickness so getting off the bus was a relief. It was about 11AM when we got there. The schedule was that we were to eat lunch and then teach for a few hours.

First, they allowed us settle in to our cabins. Actually the moment I got off the bus and took in the surroundings I felt really pleased to be there. If you live in any metropolitan place, especially in Korea, you are surrounded by tall gray buildings, neon signs, cement, lack of lawns, lack of green space. This lack of greenery can put fatigue on the soul. Seeing the mountains and trees I felt like I had come to a retreat.

The children seemed excited too, and gleefully ran over to their respected cabins to put in their luggage.

This was the building in which my little room was in. The smaller structure on the left was my room.

Looking at the interior I feel a sense of longing to go back to this cozy place. I got my own cabin, because boys slept in theirs and as you know the other gal was out sick. Having my own place made this place more of a haven.

Sleeping on the floor wasn't as bad as expected. It took awhile to figure out the right blanket layering underneath. Also the ondol in this place was really warm and it felt like I slept in a cozy warm nest all night. During my breaks I would come back to my cabin and try to space out (relax).

The view from my cabin:

Before classes started they had an opening ceremony, which included saluting the Korean flag.


Ready to Teach:
But camp wasn't all about resting in a cozy cabin. For our task there was to teach an English program. I was tired and bus-sick but had to somehow teach for a few hours on the first day. Each teacher was assigned a particular subject. Everyone got the same material book, including the kids.

Subjects included:

• Winter Activity (winter themed games)
• Journalism
• Poetry
• Cooking
• Art
• Sports
• World Records
• World Discovery (mine)

On the bus ride we all asked each other what we had been assigned and it seemed no one wanted what they were given so we did some trading.

Anyways, the point I wanted to make was that we didn't have much time to prepare alongside that we were tired from our traveling. But this kind of management is typical for English teaching work here, so I wasn't too shocked. Instead, within the short time we had before teaching I looked over the material and came up with a plan for that day. Later I would go through each lesson and figure it out.

The first day went well and at the end I took a rest in my cabin.

In Part II I will share pictures and video from camp and explain what we did and the good times that were had. So stay tuned!