Still Alive!

Who’s the worst blogger in the world? ::Raises hand:: This girl! Time in Korea is a funny concept in that it moves really fast. In fact, everything in Korea happens at super speed- driving, eating, walking, grocery store lines (I like this one), etc. Well, I feel like it’s been moving even faster than usual lately and I think it’s because spring brought wonderful weather and now summer is bringing even more. Talk about being spoiled…

I’m also within the final stretch of my 2 years teaching in Korea. I’m finding myself worrying that each hike I take, each food I eat, each person I see…down to every last action that make up my days, weeks and months, could be the last. But realistically, I know this isn’t the case. Sure I have just 2 months left until the end of my contract and I leave the country, but it won’t be a final goodbye. It can’t be.  I won’t let it be. When exactly I will return, I do not know, but indeed it will happen. Korea embraced me and in return, I made it my second home. Someday I will return. But at the moment, I need change and it's a yearning that I can feel all the way to the core. Change, inspiration and growth. 

For now, I’m going to make the most of what little time remains before my departure. And while I’m crazy excited for the return to my first home (like really, really, crazy excited), I’m not going to let that get in the way of experiencing every last thing Korea throws at me this summer.

I promise for some spring and summer adventure updates in the near (let's hope) future, but for now I leave you with a great tune by The Head and the Heart and some amazing comics by my fabulous students.

Happy Hump Day!

From a 5th grade girl. So sweet; matched my outfit and all :) Totally one of those small, good things that always exist in the midst of the most crazy of days.

And from a 6th grade boy-

Love it...muhaha

Lights, Camera, Action: Classroom Turned Hollywood

This week, my school participated in a very special experience. A television game show (gah, can't remember the name, but I will have to find out later) transformed one of our classrooms into a real, live TV set. That's right- big cameras accompanied by professional camera folk, sound systems, and bright lights-the whole shebang!

The premise of the show is to test the English ability of 4th graders at local elementary schools. During a half hour segment centered upon a popular fairy tale or Disney movie, students of the same school compete against one another in a series of true/false, fill in the blank, spelling, listen and color, and comprehension questions. By the end, twenty students have been narrowed down to four and then the four to a single winner. Not the winner? That's okay! All students get to appear on public access TV during the shows once a week time slot. Not too shabby, right?

These are the two show hosts. The girl is Korean
American and speaks both Korean and English
100% fluently. 

My students were totally psyched. I showed up to watch the filming just a little late, but the second I walked in the door, they perked up and I received about five inconspicuous waves and 10 not so inconspicuous giant grins. Over the past year, I've always gone the extra mile to show them how much I care and support them and it's really paid off. They can be in the middle of filming a TV show and still be excited to see me!

Okay, so it was no Hollywood, but they really loved the experience and wow, are they quite the Aladdin geniuses. Today the classroom was back to normal, not a single clue that, for a day, it wasn't a classroom, but the actual set of a TV show. I'll get the link to the show up here after it airs.

For each correct answer, they receive a plastic animal. 

And the winner of the game was....dun, dun, dun...the boy in the red!

Do you want candy?

From a 5th graders English journal:

Student: Do you love me?
Teacher comments: Yes!
Student: Do you want candy?
Teacher comments: Yes!!!


The next week:

ㅠㅠ

I've officially been in South Korea just over 6 months now! Whew, how time has flown. My outlook on the next 6 months of my contract generally depends on my level of homesickness. Regardless of homesickness, however, I always have the most special of moments with my students at school that generally have me leaving with a giant smile on my face.

Todays kids and their precious moments:

• A kid giving his friend a ride through the hall on his rollie backpack. 
• A kid gently grabbing his friends ear and pulling it toward his mouth to whisper messages during a telephone-esk game. Obviously hands around the ear isn't as effective. 
• A kids uncontrollable movement (entire body spasm) resulting from his excitement for a game I created. 
• A kids English Journal entry: 

"Hi. I’m Kelly. Teacher I didn’t have something to write ㅠㅠ  Oh! I can (could?) write diary about Lana teacher…

My English teacher’s name is Lana. I don’t know her year. ㅋㅋ She look like 29 years old. She is very kind and beautiful. I like her. Because always don’t angry and very fun. I like another English teacher too. Anyway she is very tall. I don’t know where she from. I didn’t remember. My head’s remembering is very bad. I want to know about Lana teacher more. I love Lana." 

pa pula tuse

A student of mine drew this for me today. He is a wonderful drawer, but what is particularly special is the effort he put into it. With every new addition, he'd say, "Lana, come here. Look. Look!" It's a character from the MapleStory game.

Happy Friday!

A rose for teacher (선생님).

Paper rose from a student.

TGIF.
Will (hopefully) buy a new camera today.

A week of snow.

That's right, an entire week of snow! Where I'm from, it might snow two or three times/winter and at temperatures barely reaching freezing level. the snow will melt after an hour or two, but not before school is canceled for the day. I miss the school cancellation part, but I love the snow being a semi-permanent attribute of Anyang's winter. Kids throughout the city love it too. Adults, not so much...they can't quite understand my excitement.

After the ultimate snowball fight, my students and I built snowmen.

Cute-ee

The level of cuteness and comedy that I encounter on a daily basis is almost unbearable.

Exploring the morning ice. 

Preposition Frosty. "The lion is behind the snowman!" AH

Yes, that is blood and heads for breakfast. 

Jet pack and space travel. Lucky kid. 

All in one day. I just wish the moon's appearance could come after I get off work. 

Happy Thanksgiving! Good one Palin...

Not being home for Thanksgiving made me feel pretty darn sad. That is, until three specific things eased the homesickness back down to a bearable level.

1. This "invitation" written by a 6th grader during an invitation writing activity. Note: it is not directed toward me (thank God). 

2. Sarah Palin made me so embaressed to be an American that even if I was in America I'd get the hell out of there ASAP. Or at least it's comforting to say I would ;) I'm not buying any of the slip of the tongue crap. Yah right! But thanks for the entertainment.

3. A lovely Thanksgiving dinner with some very lovely people. Groooovy!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone (especially you, mom)!!!

Monday

Two 6^th grade girls: Teacher, teacher. What are you drinking?

Me: Coffee.

Girl 1: I like Americano coffee.

Girl 2: I like Caramel Macchiatos!

Me: You are too young to drink coffee. It might keep you from growing.

Girl 1: Teacher, you don’t drink too (as she compares our heights with her hand—hers being at least 3 inches taller)!

I thought I would be tall here. I was way wrong.

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7 of your life.  

I LOVE YOU

"R/L (rolled sound) ANA, LANA!" as I exit the school gates. I look back and three of my students are eagerly trying to get my attention despite my head phones being on. 


I say, "Hey girls! Hope you have a great evening!"


One girl responds, "I LOVE YOU!" with 100% sincerity. 


And I shout, "I LOVE YOU TOOOO!" 


"I'm glad!" as she smiles in the midst of her most perfectly awesome mushroom hair-cut. 


Little moments such as this are what get me through my home-sickness.

What does not help is making the post office lady upset for not knowing enough Korean, so I shall go be trendy and study Korean at the coffee shop (yes, it's a fad in Korea too).



They sell the shirt globally.

Korean Pogs

Between classes, my students are always playing the most interesting of games. I usually try to play and usually lose. What I found today, though, was by far the best game-find: Korean Pogs or as it is called in Korea, Dak-ji. 
Pogs and Dakji are almost exactly alike except for two major differences. First, there are no slammers in the game of Dak-ji, only regular pieces and second, there are points assigned to each Dak-ji piece. I did not have time to join a game today, but I will soon and I am CERTAIN that this is a game that I will win. I was a Pog master in my early years. It's too bad Pogs have been forgotten in the U.S.


HAPPY FRIDAY!

Ranaa, you're bootiful!

Beomgye Neighborhood

I feel like the luckiest person alive to be granted an experience such as this. Sure, there are moments of frustration, especially when communication boundaries prevent myself and others from expressing ourselves, but more often I find myself taking in the deepest of breathes, trying to inhale every ounce of each new encounter.

I taught for a total of four days last week during which my co-teachers, vice principal, principal, and students welcomed me with open arms. Many staff at my school do not speak English, but are certain to show their gratitude by other means (food, body language, etc.). My students are hilarious and swarm me each time I walk the halls. They all pronounce my name "Ranaa" and call me "bootiful." I say: "You are beautiful" and we high five, hold hands, bow, smile, or do any combination of the greetings. I think a lot of people in Western cultures might have an image of students in South Korea as being serious, quiet and subdued when at school (I thought this prior to my arrival). True, they are serious about learning, but the way they run through the halls in mobs, shout out answers, and constantly chat in and outside of class is hardly quiet nor subdued. This is my kind of school environment. Students can learn socially and have fun while learning. It is so much more meaningful than the experience in the many silent classrooms in the states.

HELP ME

This week, I have the entire week off of school, as Koreans are celebrating Chuseok Holiday, which is similar to Thanksgiving. During this time, Koreans celebrate with family, so many are leaving the town of Anyang and it is looking a bit barer than usual. My co-teacher invited me the coastal city of Yosu to celebrate with her family, but I had to decline. I have not yet unpacked nor have I made my apartment "home" and this week will give me the time I need to do this. And although I can finally explore the city without getting lost, there are also so many things around here that I want to see and do. First on my list is to find a bathing house and sauna!

Traditional Sam Gye Tang (Ginseng Chicken Soup)
with the co-teacher.  

My friend Jake (who is also teaching in Anyang) and I have been exploring quite a bit and I have also been spending some time with my co-teacher, who took me to Seoul on the subway to get my alien registration card (necessary before I can get a bank account, my own internet, etc.). Some of my favorite times, though, are when I head out on my own and just walk and walk until I cannot walk anymore. I found out that my Native Korean friend that provided me with an internet password works at the coffee shop below my building. Yesterday, when I was waiting out front to meet my co-teacher for our Seoul trip, he ran into me outside of the coffee shop. He was on his way to my apartment to bring me the coffee I have been ordering lately and some Songpyeog. Very sweet.

As for all the other Korean food that I have been eating, I love it all! I have yet to eat a dish I do not like. In fact, the only food that I have not liked since my arrival was the "American" pizza side dishes my principal ordered for lunch last week.

Today, my home becomes home!  And I will upload a video of my apartment afterward :)

Anyang Underpass

At Roller Rink

Outside Happidus Bar

P.S. I do miss good Portland beer and strong Portland coffee.