Kimchi-flavoured kisses

N to the aengmyeon

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Mon, 26 May 2008 03:57:00 +0000

Naengmyeon

This is my new favourite Korean food.
Strangely enough, the first time I tried Naengmyeon I wasn't feeling it.
Nowadays, I just can't get enough.
Perfectly suitable for summertime it's a refreshing contradiction in your mouth.
It consist of hand-made buckwheat noodles, and is traditionally served in a large stainless bowl with a tangy iced broth, raw julienned vegetables, slices of Korean pear, and often a boiled egg and/or cold beef. Spicy mustard, vinegar and red pepper paste are often added before consumption.

High in iron, protein and fibre....Naegmyeon gets a nutrional high five!

You are cordially invited to: Jennii's English Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:57:00 +0000

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Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Check out the new English Lab I am teaching in! Whooo hoooo!

A thousand shuffling slippers...

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:54:00 +0000

Words can't always properly define feelings, but I want to try to describe what it feels like to be a teacher here. At the risk of sounding a little hubris, here we go...

A major part of the experience of teaching in Korea is the interest people have in you. You are a valuable resource and you are always in demand. Time to plan lessons and think disoloves into a sea of shuffling slippers and a thousand versions of the same "How are you?" This persistence of interest swings like a pendulum between the countries of my mind, existing somewhere between tastefully tolerable and testingly tiring. Privacy is almost non-existent, emerging from the bathroom stall is often a highly-involved social activity. A walk home consists of snaking around random streets until you've lost sight of all your students so you can climb into your cozy apartment without them knowing where you live.

Quasi-rockstar syndrome is a garment you try on as a minority in this small, old-fashioned Korean neighbourhood. English is very in-style and YOU are the hot, new, most fashionable English-teaching tool. She slices! She dices! SHe has a small face! She speaks English!...and all for only 99.999!!!

One of these things is not like that other...
It is interesting to know that many Koreans confuse the word for “individuality” with “selfishness,” which explains the prevalence of group mentality over individuality in Korean society. Anyone who wants to be unique in this societal structure is immediately misunderstood and condemned as a selfish person. In Korea, there exist a variety of clans, societies and associations therefore, one is always expected to be part of a larger community and belong to a group, a faction, or an organization.

Personally, with all the attention, I found it all-too easy to get caught up in being very image-conscious. Self-grooming has never been a preferred activity of mine, but now it eats up time on my daily TO-DO list. Statistics reveal that the day goes by faster if you can avoid direct eye-contact with any glassy reflective materials.

I reckon most Native English teachers do their best to enjoy the attention for what it's worth. My coping solutions include: Drinking more coffee, putting stickers on your forehead, listening to loud music, yoga, playing with friends & ridiculously long walks into the middle of everything.

Who goes to Chuncheon?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:36:00 +0000

A glimpse at a (slightly) out-of province weekend adventure...

in beautiful Chuncheon, Gangwon-do (known for it's lakes and stuff...)

A few hours on a bus lead to

freedom through ignorance,
touristy bliss

perambulating
pools (of)
penetrated
prose

percolating
past
placid
perimeters

piercing
paragraphs (of)
peace

Selling out for Overdone

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:03:00 +0000

Two of my Windsor skater friends took a few drawings I did while d.j.ing at work and they cooked up their own line of T-shirts. Here is a taste.

The blog neglecting files

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:53:00 +0000

Highly-caffeinated apologies for not keeping up to date with my humble blog...
I have many excuses but they are all inexcusable.
I am still alive and better and busier than ever!
Korea has been good to me, and I am very grateful.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so I will 'backblog' some photos from some of my less mundane experiences that occurred during the dark eclipse where I failed to blog.

To a new year and new beginnings! Happy Easter! Oi!

Everlalaland Orientation

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:41:00 +0000

I just went for a walk and it was a humbling experience. I passed one of my students and his girlfriend and they laughed at me hystarically. Then I was walking behind an old man who was farting loudly!! I did manage to say hi to a lady from my Yoga class who I saw on the street. Oh my neighbourhood is never dull. There used to be an Aplus mart across the street but it is currently reinventing itself into a Family Mart... which might possibly mean lower price$.

Anyways, this blurb of text has nothing to do with the photos whatsoever- the pics are from our recent orientation day (Tuesday) December 18th at Everland. We bought fun headgear and wandered around taking silly pictures. It was a great day!

The Dinner Daters

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:46:00 +0000

Every week or so a group of us get together to enjoy a meal to get away from the everyday and talk about our blissful lives.
Here are some photos of us in action.
Ahhhhh friends, good conversations, cheap food, tons of laughter!
Life is good.

Looking out my window

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:14:00 +0000

This is what I see when I look out my bedroom window.
There is a huge church, a bar (that nobody ever goes to), there is a sports equipment store, there are a few hair salons and a few restaurants, an English Academy, a Taekwondo studio et cetera...

(Very) South Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:49:00 +0000

Click the map to enlarge it.

See if you can find Kyongju on this map...
Hint: It's between the major cities of Taegu and Pusan.
If you can also find Suwon (which is just below Seoul) you can see how far away we traveled!
I spent about 12 hours in a swift Sonata on a sunny Saturday and Sunday.

Kyongju is the oldest city in South Korea!
The mountains were a whirl of orange, yellow and brown... Like in North America, November is the best time of year to catch a breathless glimpse of the changing leaves.
I had the opportunity to visit this small city and experience its rich history.
I went up a mountain on a freezing Sunday morning and visited a Buddhist temple.
I visited a museum that held archaic relics from as early as the 6th dynasty.
I got to go inside a Kings tomb!
I ate amazing traditional food and even slept in a ancient Korean hut!
I made friends with a very generous and friendly family.
I even ate larvae!!! Can you believe it? Me eat insects? I can't even kill them! But I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try something new. The edible worm larvae are called 'Buundeygee' and are a favorite treat for many Koreans young and old.
The taste was rather fishy and nutty... Not exactly my kind of crunch!

a dozen good weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:27:00 +0000

(a bunch of Canada 2 korea teachers)

My relationship with South Korea has progressed quickly since I landed here a couple months ago.
She is a generous, wise woman who focuses on progress without losing sight of where she came from.
Although my handle on the language isn't really tight, I have a good grip on the culture.
There is so much to appreciate and learn from the people here. I know I can teach them something in return.
I always remember that I am representing my country, my family, my ethics and personality.
Homesick isn't a word in my vocabulary. Adapting to new environments is natural for me. I enjoy the challenges and surprises each day brings and thrive on the scent of newness.... Some of my favorite things so far include: cheap public transit and expensive coffee, purple sweet potatoe snacks and salty seaweed paper, the Korean's endless generousity and the students' perpetual bowing to show respect. I feel like I can really connect with my students even though my time with them is limited.
I have uncovered the unique, fun-loving atitude of the younger artistic generation and have found that Seoul has Soul.

Too much me

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:21:00 +0000

I'm not going to lie, I just like this one.

My coat that I found at the second-hand shop. Affordable warmth and style!!

I got a new hat to keep my brain warm. I love hats, they help to hide my messy hair.
.

Transportation

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:58:00 +0000

I've always been a fan of public transportation. It gives you a chance to wonder about life and explore the deepest depths of the imagination. Public Transportation means never having to check your blindspot and always having to carry a book around. Public transportation means never having to scrape the ice off your car, but equals waiting out in the cold. It means being subject to its puzzle of timing, always having an extra dollar in your pocket andcoming in close contact with fellow humans. Taking the bus is a cathartic journey, and headphones provide the soundtrack, making the journey all the more astounding.

For a few brief seconds I thought I was going to die today, facing fate on bus number 2.
The driver sped fervently ahead in the direction of a string of idle hyundais and daewoos.
Luckily I noticed the mistake I was making at the same time the driver threw on the airbrakes.
And with a whooooooosh and a giant left turn, we narrowly avoided death and I quickly went back to focusing on listening to music and looking out the window, giving up on keeping track of my living or not status.

It is important to not pay too close attention to the driving on the bus, it is best to amuse yourself somehow. All too often, when I find myself watching where the bus is going I am positive that we are going to come in contact with those pedestrians, that building, that string of cars...

Inevitable as it were, I have developed a mild sense of competency when buses are concerned. Trial and error was helpful here. I know how to get home and am friendly with the 2, 700-2 and 720, and 720-1 families of buses, although am aware that 720-2 and 3 will take me to a far away land.

The subway is fairly easy to use, as it is similar to the Toronto system except that it is a big tangled pile of spaghetti and I am the meatball.

Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 10:22:00 +0000

Hallowe'en isn't really a big deal in South Korea.

Some friends and I sought out a party at the Crazy Duck where some people were costuming.
Some girls from Hamilton, Windsor, Thunderbay and Toronto, admist people from all over the world.
A healthy mix of foreigners and locals, The Duck is a good place to meet new people, talk, dance and drink dr peppers.
The bars and clubs here are open all night. It is ridiculous.

Halloween is usually one of my favorite holidays. All week i was teaching my students about Jack-o-Lanterns and Trick or Treating, I even crept into class wearing a mask.

It's the little things I missed most, like carving a pumpkin and roasting the seeds or answering the door to give candy to trick or treaters.

The end of October

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:12:00 +0000

Smells of ripe Persimmon mix with sewage and spoiled kimchi as the wind hastens itself in preperation for winter.

Had a Persimmon feast for dinner a few nights after walking across the city on an impromtu self dare.

You find what you need when you aren't looking.

On my ipod-accompanied journey I stumbled into many great stores, including an Art supply store and a second-hand store.

I gathered some discount acrylics and successfully bartered for the only coat that had sleeves that went past my wrists.

Sports Day at Yeonmu!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 07:49:00 +0000

Once or twice a year public schools have a Sports Day. Students wear bright t-shirts that they designed as a class to show their spirit. Energy is high as students, teachers and parents enjoy this day, dedicated to a wide variety of physical activities. There is something for everyone: Traditional Korean wrestling, tug of war, strength competitions, chicken fighting, soccer, 3-legged races, running, funny costumes, basketball and handball. Obviously, with all these activities, you have to have a halftime show... complete with suggestive dancers and bouncy cheerleaders. Whatever the activity, today is all about school spirit, building community and getting the competitive juices flowing.

Mi Casa

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:02:00 +0000

Finally some photo's of my place to give you an idea of where I hibernate.

I actually cooked today, so you can imagine my apartment smelling fantastic!.... I made curried chicken with tons of garlic and red pepper. I cooked with the aromatic and rich sesame oil, throwing in some spinach, onions, mushrooms and peppers which I bought at the market. For me, cooking is a rarity, although I love to cook, a lot of the foods I love are ridiculously expensive. I typically I survive on cereal, fruit, tuna and ramen. In Korea, it is expensive to cook and when you look at my kitchen you will see that I don't have a lot of space to chop and stir.

I've actually noticed that it is just as cheap, often cheaper to eat at a restaurant than to buy ingredients and cook for yourself at home.

Class trip to Grand Park

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 10:43:00 +0000

~my attempts to take a picture where everyone is looking at the camera~

We swapped desks, books and uniforms for a day out in Seoul.
The weather was fantastic and the students were given freedom to choose their own adventure.

Fireworks on the Han

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 02:17:00 +0000

There were literally millions of people there and the subway was a rock concert mosh pit experience!!! Surprisingly, I didn't lose the 3 people I went with and of course, met new people along the way... it is humbling to have a conversation with a stranger when your noses are 3 centimeters away and you forgot to put on antiperspirant that day. The fireworks were exceptional and the "Ooooh's" and "Ahhhhh's" of the well-behaved crowd were like music.
Taking pictures of fireworks is tricky, their firey personality makes them prone to movement, they can't sit still but at least they never forget to smile.

Korean Fork Village

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:03:00 +0000

I thrive on the many entertaining uses of English that I come across... from the Korean McDonalds 'Hot for You' slogan to signs that advertise 'Korean Fork Village'. I have had the opportunity to spend a day at Korean Folk Village in Yongin.
A Korean wishing tree~ I wished for good health for my family.

Eun Joo & I

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:58:00 +0000

Taerye- Korean Wedding Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:44:00 +0000

In Korea a wedding represents more than the joining of two individuals, it is the bonding of two families.
Taerye (a Korean Wedding ceremony) is often an elaborate ordeal with many bows, gestures and rituals. Steeped in Confucian values, the ceremonies included plenty of food, music and dancing.

The Korean wedding has four main principals...

The first is the physical relationship between the man and woman, that it be monogamous and fruitful.

Second, that the couple respect each other with love and endure each other in all sufferings.

Thirdly, they have a common social life which is called a household. The household of the newly wed couple is the beginning of their own background in social community. They bear children and bring them up in a comfortable environment. There are a lot of responsibilities in a marriage... especially for the woman!

Finally, the wedding follows one organization. The organization is a synthetical rule like a custom, morality or law.
The wedding values act as a principle which guides the couples behaviour through to achieve standardized goals.

Ttok

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:31:00 +0000

Using a few high quality ingredients which we acquired from the markets, I was taught how to make Traditional Korean Rice cakes for Cheu sok! Using a special rice flour, you add water to make dough and let it rise slightly. Much like pizza dough, the rice flour dough must be carefully kneaded until it is ready to be used. Then you use your hands to roll it into shape, fill it with brown sugar or black beans and carefully fold over the top.

We also made green and purple Ttok by adding grapes and spinach to the dough.

After all the dough has been used the Ttok are brushed with water and sesame oil, then steamed on a bed of pine needles.

Namdaemun Market (Seoul)

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:01:00 +0000

A candy maker spends her days on the street expertly melting sugar to create delicious treats.

Roulette for kids!... Choose your numbers then throw the dart at the spinning wheel to win giant sugar scultpures!

Making rice cookies in the street

Delicious performance art!

Put the crabs in the bucket... if you can catch them! These guys were wildly alive, I laughed hysterically at them crawling all over the sidewalk!

A longshot- It wasn't a busy day at Namdaemun so we were lucky.

I learned how to make these traditional Korean rice cakes.

In the centre of the city exists a must-see traditional Korean market.
The vendors, cooks, artists and tourists make Namdaemun market a Seoulful place to visit.

Grab a cup of Korean sweet iced tea and experience culture in action.

Buddhist Temple

noreply@blogger.com (Jennii) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 06:22:00 +0000

About Buddha

Every living being has the same basic wish - to be happy and to avoid suffering. Even newborn babies, animals, and insects have this wish. It has been our main wish since beginningless time and it is with us all the time, even during our sleep. We spend our whole life working hard to fulfil this wish.

Since this world evolved, human beings have spent much time and energy improving external conditions in their search for happiness and a solution to their many problems. What has been the result? Instead of their wishes being fulfilled, human suffering has continued to increase while the experience of happiness and peace is decreasing. This clearly shows that we need to find a true method for gaining pure happiness and freedom from misery.

When things go wrong in our life and we encounter difficult situations we tend to regard the situation itself as the problem, but in reality whatever problems we experience come from the side of the mind. If we were to respond to difficult situations with a positive or peaceful mind they would not be problems for us; indeed we may even come to regard them as challenges or opportunities for growth and development. Problems arise only if we respond to difficulties with a negative state of mind. Therefore, if we want to be free from problems we must learn to control our mind.