Blog Entry, It Is

I really enjoyed this picture. What a clever way to beg for money - I'd give him a five'r just for originality.

Anyhoo, not much to update, really. Had an interesting dinner with Karen the other night. We had been souvenir shopping in Seoul and decided to stop in for some dinner at this little place for Korean food (though I suppose in Korea, it's just food). Anyway, as we're enjoying our bibimbap, I look 2 tables over and there's this women chopping up a pigs head. I wasn't sure exactly what it was at first, but then I noticed the unmistakable nose. It was cooked, don't worry, otherwise it would be disgusting X 1000, but it still did a nice job of diminishing my appetite. You know how at home they sometimes advertise restaurants because the food is cooked "right in front of you"? Yeah, well, this was a little too close for my sanitary comfort.

One of my preschoolers make me crack up the other day. He had a total Yoda-like moment. It was almost lunchtime and he looked at me and said, "Hungry I am". I was picturing him afterwards with pointy ears, floating. It was hard not to answer: "Not ready, it is".

Yep, that's about it. I'll have some more pictures on the next entry - haha! It's like forcing you to look at my slides.

Somebody Confiscate My Camera!

First thing's first: "Kindergarten Cop" is the most hilarious movie ever. It was on T.V. the other night and I was laughing my ass off. I know it's because I'm a kindergarten teacher right now and that ups the hilarity a few notches but, damn, that movie deserves an oscar for its portrayal of kindergarten life. "I'm not a policeman, I'm a princess!" "Mr. Kimble, I have to go real bad and I can't get these off!". Oh man, Ah-nold was ripped off in the oscar I say!





First, a few more pics from Karen and my trip to a waterfall a few weeks ago.











Chilling on a dock - it's not even 9 am yet!














Live action shot!





















Karen and I


















Night out in Itaewon. Karen, me, Patrick, and Michelle (visiting Patrick from California)













Me, Will, DJ and Michelle @ Grand Ole Opry. Notice how I'm the only loser who give the thumbs up.


















Saluting the Confederate flag @ midnight followed by "America the Beautiful". I then followed by vomiting.












Karen, Patrick and I


















Walking in Itaewon: the sleaziest place in Seoul.















Pickin' up some late night street meat. At least I hope it's meat.

















This is from last weekend @ Noreabang. They know how to do Kareoke in Korea.














Jon and I singing "Hello" by Lionel Ritchie, deeply looking into eachother's eye. (Admit it, that song gets to you too). We actually won for best performance that night.















Me, Julia, Julie and Jean, feelin' the music.

















"Everybody Loves Kung-Fu Fighting", especially Lyndsey.






















All of us, pre-Noreabang

















Lyndsey, Julie and I



















Jean and Chris

















Just one more class pic. My dad took this last week when he came to visit my class. They're still talking about how his name is Moon.

Musings from Another Trip

The other night I met someone who had recently traveled through East Africa and we ended up having quite the heartfelt conversation. I told him about the work I did in Tanzania and he asked me 2 questions, both of which I have asked myself many times since returning. The first question was what did I find most inspiring about Africa? The answer was easy: the women. When I think about Africa, they are the first image that comes to mind. I picture the landscape, brown, barren, and raw, with a woman walking across it, a baby strapped to her back and an immense bushel of brushwood balancing on her head. Yet, if you looked at her face and in her eyes, it might as well be the world she was carrying. This woman is wearing a bright kenga wrapped around her body and on her head. To me, this juxtaposition of the woman’s bright kenga against the rough and dry background represents the strength and determination of the women of Africa. These women who wear such bright colours and yet carry such heavy burdens symbloize the eternal hope of Africa, which can shine through even the thickest dust.

The second question he asked me is how have I been dealing with it since I’ve returned? This is something that I’ve been struggling with. Now that I’ve been there, seen the struggle these people live with everyday, talked to them, heard their sad stories, what do I do with it? Do I acknowledge it, say “that sucks” and live my life? Or by witnessing such things am I now obligated to do everything that I can, use my life in purely altruistic ways? I guess the obvious answer is somewhere in the middle. Witness it, learn from it, and never forget it. Live your life in constant realization of how truly lucky you are that you were born in Canada, and that you have so many options available to you. And, of course, when the opportunity arises to help, even in the smallest of ways, recognize that you have that ability.

I had actually been asking myself these questions long before I ran into this guy (I think being away from home always allows you to think of things in a different light), I guess he just got me to really consider my answers.

On a similar note, if you haven’t read “Race Against Time” by Stephen Lewis, you really should. The man’s my hero: to have seen so much, to have such an understanding of the enormity of what is happening in Africa and how little is actually being done and yet to still keep trying and keep hope is something really inspiring. His book really relays the frustrations of the issue, how it can elicits such opposing emotions at the exact same time. Pick it up.

Korea = Exercise

Ola! (Isn't that a much nicer way to say hello than annyong hasseyo?)

Well, Dad's been here for a week now. I feel bad that I haven't been able to spend as much time with him doing all the touristy stuff, but he's been finding his way around. Friday night we headed on a 4 hour bus ride (that I thought was going to be 2 hours), to Seoraksan National Park. They're were ups (including a 500 metre hike to the top of a mountain, so way, way up), and downs (the cable car to the top of the mountain being unavailable because of strong winds). It a strenuous 2hour hike up, with dad and I both saying "kill me now" about halfway through, but the views at the top were awesome. They were right, however, in shutting down the cable car since when we got to the top, I had to grab something to keep me from going over.

Since then he's become a pro at Seoul's subway system - travelling to a war museum and Itaewan. Yesterday he took yet another bus trip up to the Demilitarized Zone. So, basically, all the war stuff you could do in Korea. Plus, of course, buying me dinner every night. Sweet! My apartment, or what most people would call a "room", is getting a bit cramped, but we're makin' do. My only worry is that I'm going to feel a hell of a lot more homesick when he leaves. But I'll make do with that too :-)




So here's a picture of the rock we climbed up to. Called Ulsanbawi Rock.

View from the rock

A not-so-flattering picture of me taking shelter

Dad taking a rest, soaking in the fact that he's in Korea at the top of a mountain. Who would've thunk it? Even 2 weeks ago

Another view from a different hike we did to a waterfall that day.

While we're sittin' there, relaxing our tired legs, this dude comes down with a frickin' cooler on his back. There's a motivator to get your ass in gear.

Our hotel, appropriately named "The Ship Hotel". Tacky, true, but it had the softest beds in the world. Though, I've basically been sleeping on a board for 3 months, so a sheet on the floor would probably feel soft to me at this point.

So, since I'm doing the photo thang, here's a few pics more from random occurences here in Korea. The first is from the field trip we did with the preschoolers.

The next group of pics is from the day trip Karen and I took with our adventure club to a (frozen) waterfall. Good day!

The moped gang of Korea - maybe I should've invited them to Dover?

Me in front of the waterfall, not too much of a view.

No comment. I doubt you get it either.

Me, Karen and Kevin in front of a convenience store having a few beers. As Alan Jackson said, it's 5 o'clock somewhere right?

Update from the K-dot

Quick post tonight - feel like I haven't slept in days. And, really, my dad hasn't.

Yep, that's right, the Mooner's in Korea. Crazy as it may be, he decided last minute to hop a 20-our flight to visit his oldest daughter. Pressure's on to show him a good time. So far, he's cleaned my apartment and ate a McDonalds. Give me a break - its only been a day, we'll work on the good times on the weekend. Tomorrow's Friday and it's our first preschool field trip. We're going to some nature reserve. Right now, I'm more nervous than anything. Actually considering trying the skipping rope thing where they hold onto the rope s they walk. Couldn't hurt.

Had an awesome weekend last weekend. Saturday night I went with Patrick to a break dancing show in this artsy district of Seoul. That's right, I'm all about the B-boy style. Actually, it was surprisingly awesome. I didn't know that this break-dancing group was one of the best in the world (Patrick's know's all this - he actually used to teach breakdancing in California). I wish I could post some video on here, but I"ll put some pics up anyway. Man, I wish I could spin on my head. Wait, not really.

The next day Karen and I got up at 6 am to go on this tour to some waterfall in the middle of rural Korea. It was with the tour company that caters to foreign youths living in Korea - met lots of Canadians. We were supposed to go bungee jumping, but the "conditions weren't right", is what they said. I can't say I wasn't relieved. So after that, we went for a bike ride up to this really pretty waterfall (as I said, will send pictures soon). However, after that, they gave us an hour and a half of free time in this crap little town with nothing to do. So what do we do but buy a couple of beers from the convenience store and sit outside. A bunch of people on the tour thought it was a brilliant idea and joined us - there were more than a few hungover people on the bus ride home. But, hey, for a dollar beers, we'll survive.

My Complaints: The List

Parents of Korea: stop being such tight asses!

Sorry, I know that was a vulgar way to start my blog, but I'm in a bit of a grouchy mood. Today 2 parent's called me to complain. Complaint #1: I called one of my students for phone-teaching 10 minutes later than I said I would. I'm sorry, but I have a life besides teaching. Plus, why should I have to phone teach anyway? I'm at school 8 hours day, I don't want to come home and call your kid - give me a break. He's not listening in class, he's not going to listen any better on the phone. Complaint #2: My student Jason's mom called because Andy hit him yesterday and and wanted to know why didn't I do anything? I'm sorry, I didn't see it happen. When Jason told me what happened, I punished Andy. What else do you want me to do? Besides, your damn kid hit Andy first - he was just getting what he deserves.

So yeah, a tad tense today. I've read this article on culture shock and it says that the 3rd month is the hardest because the excitement's worn off. Instead, you start thinking about the culture with hostility, losing some of your sense of humour. I wouldn't say that this is happening that often to me, but there are definately days. Let me indulge, just this once, then I'll get on with it and move on like a good little anthropologist.

Things that Piss me off about Korea:

1. Old lady's. In Korea, called the "ajima's". Man, are they violent people. When you get on the subways, everyone pushes, but these small, yet surprisingly strong, old women are the worst. My friends and I have now developed the "ajima block" (appropriately developed on superbowl weekend). This move involves all of us putting out our elbows, possibly even hooking them, to block those bitches from getting past us. "Ajima block!"

2. Their attitude towards women. After visiting Africa, and now Korea, I've never been so thankful to be born in Canada. Women here, though it's changing, are just slaves to their bratty children and chauvanistic husbands. They go to school to become housewives, only to be cheated on by their husbands (I've heard that 95% of men cheat on their wives. Partly because it's so easy, you can get your haircut and some touchy fun, if you know what I'm saying, at the same time. There's even a hair and massage parlor near my house called "Happy Ending". Clever). Even before you get married, you have the chains pulled tight. My Korean friend Winnie came partying with a few of us last Friday and stayed out with us until 5am. She told me a few days later that her curfew is at midnight and her mom stayed up the whole night crying until she got home. The next day she couldn't leave her room. She's 29!!!

3. How they spoil their kids. Kids here are the be-all end-all. Parent's are super hardcore about education for their kids. Korean school starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 1p.m. or so. But that's not nearly the end of the day. Then it's time to ship your kids to an endless array of expensive hagwons (or private schools). I11 year-old kids will be in school often until 9 or 10 at night. Plus, there's the hours of homework. I know I've ranted about this before, but it's just so rediculous. Not to mention the fact that not everyone can afford that many hogwons, so some kids are clearly at a dissadvantage. The parent's also work rediculous hours, so when their time is actually spent with their kids - spoil central!

4. Their language. It's impossible to learn. I mean, "hello" is "annyong hasseyo". There's not even a short form. No "hi" or "yo" or even a "what's up?". Tragic. Plus, there's 3 number systems. Who needs three different number systems?

Okay, enough is enough. I'm going to move past this now - I've got it out of my system. I should know better than this, I have 4 years of anthropology training under my belt. I know that these things are to due the history and belief system of the culture. I know it's all about historical particularism and cultural relativism (shout out to Boas), so I'm going to try not to judge and to understand why they are the way they are. First step: "The Koreans" by Micheal Breen.

I did see something funny today. I went to the bank, and there was a butcher carving meet beside the bank counter. WTF? Would you like some lean cut ham with your withdrawl today sir?

Oh yeah, I forgot one. Just one more, then I'm finished complaining, I swear. Really, I do.

5. Women's fashion: Scrunchies, knee-length baggy sweaters, purple cords - there's nothing right about it. It's just all wrong. Sometimes the bottom's are right, knee-high boots with a short skirt, but then they pair it with blouse with buttons to the top of the neck and frills -I can only describe it as something nobody under the age of 65 would wear at home (no offense to the grandmother's reading out there). I miss shopping at home.

Okay, that's it. Next blog will be things I like about Korea. Promise.

Beware: Flipper ain't so friendly

So, I went to a dinner party tonight at a friends house and was seated beside some American guy I have never met before. I don't know if this was his way of flirting (if it is, he's gotta work on his game - maybe a little more charm, a little less creepiness) but he spent a good 20 minutes talking to me about dolphins. No "how are you liking Korea" or anything really related to his life at all. Just dolphins. Seriously, the dude knew way too much about them.

Anyway, he proceeded to shatter everything I previously believed to be true about dolphins. I thought these cute, bolttle-nosed mammals who always seem to be frolicing were harmless. Turns out, I don't know a damn thing about dolphins (though, why would I? Although, I do know way to much about primates. Thanks for that Zeller). First this guy tells me that bottle-nose dolphins actually sometimes rape spotted female dolphins for weeks at a time, just because their smaller. They've even been seen giving flipper-fives when their finished. Nasty.

Then he tells me that not only do dolphins like to gang up on each other, they've actually perpetrated purpoise holocausts - killing every purpoise they see in the area. Once again, ending with the little flipper fives and even some dancing afterwards.

I don't know why, but this conversation affected me more than it probably should have. When I got home, I googled dolphins and check out this article I found:

Swimmer Escapes Rape by Dolphin who seem to be swingers
OSLO, Aug 17, 1999 (AFP) - A dolphin tried to rape a 28-year-old Norwegian swimmer who had been gambolling with it off the south coast of Norway, the newspaper Verdens Gang reported Tuesday.The animal, which had been circling around the swimmer, suddenly stuck its penis between his leg and his bathing costume before the man managed to free himself and escape back aboard his nearby boat.
"At first I thought it was pushing me with its flipper but dolphins don't have flippers beneath their bellies," the unidentified swimmer explained.
Another swimmer who witnessed the scene from the boat told the newspaper he had to ward off similar advances from the dolphin a few minutes earlier.
"He tried his luck with me but I was protected by my waterproof suit," that swimmer said.

It goes on to talk about how dangerous dolphin ejaculations can be -the force of it can injure. Apparently, it can be the equivalent of a shotgun blast. Poor lady dolphins.

Okay,so I don't really know the quality of the source. I actually think dolphins are mostly friendly to humans. And should we really be so shocked at dolphins for being gentle to weird kids and happy to synchro-swim with babes in bikinis, yet acting creepy in other ways? David Hasselhoff has gotten away with this type of icky-sweet conduct for a long time, and if he had a pointy beak, isn’t it reasonable to assume he might wield it? And wouldn’t you be ready to dismember someone if you worked gratis in a tropical island pool and had to put on a happy face for forty fat tourists who’ve just had their hair braided with rasta beads and now wish to stick their fingers into your blowhole?

I have way to much time on my hands.

Today's Homework: Watch Sex in the City

I cannot begin to tell you how much I've come to cherish my Sundays. All week long it's "teacher-this" and "teacher-that". Kids crying, whining, yelling, talking . . . you get the idea. Friday nights and Saturdays are for hanging with friends, drinking beer, and generally have a merry, usually drunken, time.

Sundays, however, have turned into "Allison Time". Cheesy, but true. It's the one day of the week that I have to myself. I do things that I really want to do. I can discover Korea by myself. And I'm really starting to like where I live because of it. Usually, I go shopping, or for a long walk, or to a museum. This past Sunday, the most beautiful day I've seen since coming to Korea, I went to a Picasso exhibit near my house. The only thing I really discovered that Picasso loved drawing every part of women, but did I see a single penis? Not one.

From there I finally, finally discovered a coffee shop near my house that sells regular black tea. Most of the tea here in Korea tastes like grass and none of it has caffeine. I miss tea. See what happens when I take a day to myself? I discover great things.

But it's back to work for the week. Right now I'm procrastinating writing report cards. I hate giving kids grades, especially since they have so much school and homework here. Seriously, kids often go to school from 8 am to 9 or 10 pm. That's rediculous! When do they have time to just be kids? I wish I could say just once, "you know what? You're homework is to just go home, watch T.V. (in English, of course) and play with your friends". But then I'd get angry parents calling me. So, sorry kids, you are the slaves, and I must be just another slave driver.

Korean word of the day: Pangu. Fart. I taught my preschool kids "Skinamarinky-dinky-doo" the other day and they've now changed the "I love you" part to "I love pangu". Actually, it was pretty funny.

I found this picture: Look how much smoke is over North Korea. I love the South.

I choo-choo-choose you!

Ahhh, Valentine's Day. A day that's never really meant that much to me. It was so much better back in the day when everyone would bring cards shaped as hearts with cheesy cartoon's on them and lots of chocolates.

Today I was brought back to those o'so simple times during our Valentine's Day preschool party. We decorated envelopes and then each kid gave each other chocolates (apparently they don't do Valentine's cards here, they just skip straight to the chocolates). The challenging part of the day was only allowing them to have one chocolate before leaving school as we don't need them on a sugar high for the rest of the afternoon.

Of course most of the kids brought in an extra large chocolate for their teachers. So now I have 17 massive chocolate bars sitting in my apartment and, well, I'd like to say I won't eat them all at once. But they're just sitting there, looking at me, looking all yummy . . . "Eat me Allison" . . .

Keeping on the theme of 'yummy', Mark, Lyndsey, Karen and I spent a crazy, hardcore Friday night at the #1 party spot - Cosco. Well, so it wasn't exactly crazy, but it was damn exciting. All kinds of food you can't get in Bundang, including (drumroll please) . . . cheese! If cheese was my new religion, Cosco would be my church.

Saturday afternoon was spent releasing some pent up frustration . . . with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Don't worry, I only hit a target on some paper but, damn, it was cool. I shot ten rounds but, sadly, my accuracy was only 56%. I don't think I'll be duck hunting any time soon.

After the shooting range it was off to the bowling alley, one of the few in Korea. The first two games was all typical Allison - the memories of bowling in high school flooded back to me. Basically, I sucked. Then, just like in high school, I found my beloved pink ball (yeah, the lighter one that kids use) and the game was on baby! Just when I think there's nothing left in me to give, that I'm all used up, I find some strength within and bring it back. 6 spares in a row, followed by a strike, then another spare, and then - that's right - another strike. Move over Tony Danza - I'm the boss now! Sportsfans, it was a game to remember. Well, I'll remember it anyway . . .

Could There Be Any More Vomit?

Yesterday, after almost a week of being behaved, somewhat quiet, and actually paying attention, I thought my preschool kids had turned a corner. Was this my new, improved preschool class?

Appartently not.

Today was one of those day where I had to take an aspirin and have a class of wine almost immediately after entering my apartment. It began with Damien crying because Stella wouldn't give him back his pencil, followed by Sally having the temper tantrum of all time. There was crying, kicking, screaming, and what I can only assume are bad words in Korean. I wanted to have a temper tantrum too but, oh right, I'm the teacher. Damn. I had to settle with having her sit in the corner for the rest of class and no playtime. Not that she cared - I swear that girl has no soul.

I thought things couldn't get much worse, but then Eric said "Allison teacher, bathroom". Since I've been trying to teach manners, I said "Eric, what do we say? Teacher may I please go . . . " That's about as far as I got before purple vomit landed only inches from my shoes. Needless to say, tomorrow I'm teaching them the word "sick".

Oh, but that's not all the vomit. At the end of the preschool day, as I was helping Susie on with her coat, she begins to have a coughing fit. As I took her to get some water, what do you know? More vomit. I'm just thankful that none of it landed on my new shoes.

Just as I thought that no more bodily fluids could be emitted, I mean, preschool was over, one of my 10 year-old students decides to have a nose bleed. But none on my shoes - yes!

Thankfully, my middle school class of three boys gave me an easy time today. I was so tired and worn out, I let them play games the last 10 minutes. I'm such a cool teacher.

Pics Baby

Enjoy! There will be more to come!


(Tip for the computer illiterate like me: If you click on the pictures, they'll get bigger)

These pictures are parts of the Palace complex called Gyeongbokgung in Seoul. I visited it the first weekend after I arrived in Korea with some other teachers.

Downtown Seoul at night

My apartment - I like to think of it as "cozy"

From left: Mark, Lyndsey, Me, and Karen in our traditional hanbok clothing for Lunar New Years. January 27th

My youngest preschool class (I have 2) in their traditional hanbok clothing.

The kids again. From left: Lucia, Susie, Ken, Damien, Stella, Carol, and May

Susie in Hanbok

The girls from my other preschool class learning how to bow. They bow to their parent's on New Years Day and Parent's Day.

From left: Sally, Sarah, Lily, Gloria, and Katie

Alex, Sarah, Jordan, and Eric bowing

Katie and Jordan

Sally and I

Damien