Kimchi-flavoured kisses

N to the aengmyeon

2008-05-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

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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...

2008-04-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-03-31T07:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-28T00:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-25T07:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-20T02:41:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-06T03:46:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-28T05:49:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

(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

2007-11-06T03:21:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-06T02:58:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-04T02:22:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-10-28T00:49:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-14T03:43:00.000-07:00

~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

2007-10-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-05T17:58:00.000-07:00

Taerye- Korean Wedding Ceremony

2007-10-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

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)

2007-10-05T06:01:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-04T23:22:00.000-07:00

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.

Kimchi

2007-09-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

The smartest, funniest, rarest girls at orientation

Spotlight on Kimchi!- Korea's secret natural resource and underrated superfood. Kimchi is known to be an antioxidant, an effective intestinal cleanser and eating it strengthens resistence against illness. The vegetable fiber in Kimchi helps to prevent and treat diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obeisity and even cancer.

Billions of years ago Koreas main industry was agriculture, and cabbage grew easily from coast to coast. Naturally, most Korean people love vegetables and making Kimchi was a great way to preserve them to be enjoyed during winter months. The origin of this fermented specialty dates back to the 7th century when women simply pickled the vegetables using preserving salts. Along with Garlic and Ginger, today Red Pepper is a main protagonist in the tasteful epic of Kimchi. Around the 18th century Mr. Kimchi married Ms. Red Pepper and they have been inseperable ever since! The Capsisin in the Red Pepper stimulates the stomach and aids with digestion while the Ginger helps blood circulation. The Garlic in the Kimchi not only gives you a reason to brush your teeth for awhile, it strengthens energy and activates physiological function by asborbing vitamin B1.

Whether you love it or not, the history is rich and it is rude to ignore Kimchi at the dinner table.
Honour Korean culture and cuisine and eat the spicy Kimchi!

Seasoning (a poem)

The rainy season speaks it’s mind,
Clouds multiply, bigger puddles I find.
Endless umbrellas cover noses and teeth,
Prepubescence is spinning beneath.

Friends with Samsung, Kim, Kwack and Lee,
living slowly to avoid entropy.
High rise, nice ties, tops of trees,
High heels, good deals, yellow cheese.
Layers of language hold my breath,
eat fish for breakfast until death.

If at first it is not for you,
another attempt you must pursue.
Healthy, spicy, bitter and sour,
To your life, Kimchi adds an extra hour.

Good morning Jennii Teacher!

2007-09-28T05:42:00.000-07:00

At school

The school is a green monster which sits on a hill and stares down at the city of Suwon.

It is certainly not as new or flashy as some of the other schools in the neighbourhood but it has personality, and so do the students. Generally the boys are attentive and well behaved. For some; English is an asset to their future career, for others; English is a menace to their brain’s real-estate. Upon entering the classroom, before beginning a lesson the class leader summons the students to greet the teacher with an army-like ‘Attention!’ which is accompanied by a respectful bow.

It is my job to get the students speaking as much English as possible. There is a wide variety of ability and the challenge is to deliver lessons that are basic enough to be absolutely inclusive and yet offer an extra challenge for those whose English skills are more developed. The Middle School students I teach are in grades 1, 2 and 3, which are equivalent to North American grades 7, 8 and 9. So far, my experimenting has lead to the obvious conclusion: Boredom is lethal to learning, so I need an engaging solution.

A typical day for me at school includes some of the following activities… Smiling, surfing the internet, looking out the window, making games for my class, trying to learn how to say things like ‘Will you be my friend?” in Korean, bowing, wishing I had brushed my hair more in the morning, watching kids get in trouble by the Vice Principal, drinking sugar and cream with a microscopic amount of coffee in it, staying up to date on breaking news, hiding the disgusting stench of my feet, talking on msn, sweating, trying to enjoy the Korean cafeteria lunch (synonym for weight-loss plan), lesson planning and of course… teaching- or what I prefer to call professional motivating!

News Flash!
Brushing your teeth after lunch is a great way to bond with other teachers.

Imagine the intimacy: Huddled in the romantic dimmed lighting of the bathroom, a speechless, frothy gaggle of freshness emerges as we each have a turn spitting in the sink. It’s not much; but teeth-brushing is a language I can speak… with Colgate confidence. [*This paragraph has officially been sponsored by Colgate.]

2007-09-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

Hwaseong Fortress- is just around the corner

2007-09-28T03:13:00.000-07:00

Hwaseong Fortress was constructed out of stones, bricks and wood under the reign of King Jeongjo in the late 16th century.
It suffered partial damage under the Japanese colonial rule and the Korean war but it's well-maintained today from the sentry towers and secret gates to the the hand-painted details.
Built to serve the Korean people, the fortress was designed to serve political, commercial and military functions.
Hwaseong currently serves as the set for a traditional Korean television drama and is a fine example of true oriental architecture and early building technology.

2007-09-27T04:06:00.000-07:00

drawing the line

2007-09-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my doodles from orientation.
Unfinished inklings conceived during endless hours of rhetorical lecturing.
My pen was the best friend I had that week.

Insadong Art Market (Jennii's got Seoul)

2007-09-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

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Suwon randoms...

2007-09-22T21:58:00.000-07:00

2007-09-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

September is the perfect time of year for Koreans to dry out their peppers to prepare them for winter use. The peppers lay out in the wind all day and when dry they can be opened and the seeds can be removed.

Who comes to Korea to teach?

2007-09-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

* Meet Soju, Korea's favourite alcoholic beverage. Soju is made using potatos, sweet potatos, wheat, barley, or tapioca and boasts an alcoholic percentage of 20-45%. I have not made friends with Soju, but have been told that it tastes similar to vodka and have witnessed that it's effect on humans is similar to that of tequila. Soju is dangerously ubiquitous, he can be found and enjoyed anywhere and everywhere. Soju can be your friend for about 2500 won (about $3 Canadian).

ORIENTATION in the ORIENTnation

The week long orientation experience turned out to be more than just a friend-generating vehicle or a simple exercise of common sense... What I got out of the lectures is simple: Attitude is everything!!

A glimpse at the Korean-style highlife revealed their love of Art: The resort is brilliant! Inside it's walls hold a variety of contemporary artwork, including giant Pollock-like paintings which cling to the walls, and a few somewhat erotic sculptures that deck the halls. Outside, the resort is surrounded by golf courses, trees, gardens and well kept grounds....
I came close, but couldn't commit to enjoying a coffee inside the resort's beautiful cafe... they wanted a ghastly 8000 won for a coffee!- 8000 won is enough money to buy 3 or 4 bottles of Soju*!

The highlight of the week for some would have been the nightly Soju* feasting, for others it could have been the trip to the Hwaesong Fortress. For neolithic nomads (like myself); the climax was without a doubt the Korean traditional Music performance. The performance began with Korean singing and fan dancing, it led to the soothing plucking of the silk-strings of the Geomungo zither. The performance ended with a bang- literally!... The tennacious skill, consuming focus and thunderous energy of a childrens drum circle is the ultimate experience of my journey so far. Runners-up include Tasting fire chicken, exploring Insa-dong and finally landing at my own apartment.

LECTURES

Although heavily rhetorical and painful at times, some of the lectures were laced with inspiring bursts of innovative truth.
I took the opportunity to draw my way through the lecture periods. Drawing gave me a reason to look forward to the lectures, and some of my scribbles turned out to be a good waste of ink!

Orientation yielded some unforgettable moments and friends and it answered the question many of us were wondering...

WHO COMES TO KOREA TO TEACH?...

[The following evidence is based on a 5-day analytical journey including approximately 200 (mostly) human prototypes.]

15% - Licensed teachers who are seeking to murder their student loans
24% - Single alcoholics who are having a quarter-life crisies
9% - Girls who just broke up with their boyfriend of many years
19% - Middle-aged know-it-alls
7% - Couples looking for adventure outside the bedroom
29% - Creepy males who have no friends (or social skills) who are itching to marry a Korean babe.
3% - Escape artists

I knew the week was over when everyone else looked completely torn and hungover and when I had run out of skin real- estate for the mosquitos to capitalize on.

I am currently cleaning my apartment, while taking in glimpses of the Discovery channel, meanwhile drinking Black Bean tea and Aloe Vera juice, while making wire sculptures, while doing laundry, while killing ants, while packing for tomorrow's trip to spend Chuesok (Korean Thanksgiving) with a welcoming family (whom I've never met).

Images coming Soon!...(whenever I find my battery recharger)

It's what's for dinner!

2007-09-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

Shrimp, tofu, octopus and crabs in a salty peppery sauce! Try it today!
Usually I prefer to have my shrimp leave their leg and eyes behind when they come over for dinner... but here in Korea the shrimp are not afraid to come over for dinner just the way they are. After romancing them with a bottle of Soju and some compliments they will let you attack them with your chopsticks until they are fully, deliciously naked.

I ate it like a champ!

Heewon Traditional Korean Garden

2007-09-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

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The Science teacher from my school, her family and I toured the Ho-Am traditional Art Museum.
The Korean prehistoric (to modern) paintings and pottery gave me Art History lesson flashbacks.
Similarly to most Art Galleries and Museums- I was not permitted to take photos of any of the Art... so I took advantage of the beautiful gardens for some scenic photo opportunities.

Meridian

2007-09-10T04:32:00.000-07:00

Soccer anyone?

2007-09-10T04:20:00.001-07:00

This world-cup soccer stadium is not only my personal compass, but it is also where the Samsung Bluewings play.
I am lucky to live close to it and I know approximately how close I am to home by it's proximity. With this said, I should really invest in a map of Suwon if I ever want to independently perambulate far away from its kicking glory.

Follow the interlocking bricks...

2007-09-06T02:52:00.000-07:00

I love divine intervention! It is my favourite invention!... I really needed some bright coloured-paper to make a game for class and on my walk home I just randomly fell into a stationary store! I originally thought it was a regular corner store and was going in to get a bottle of water but when I walked in the colourful store I saw paper-everywhere!

In the photo you will see what you can get for 9000 won (about $10.00 Canadian) at a Stationary store. There are 3 mega-size slices of vivid cardstock paper, 2-100 packs of double sided Origami paper, funny piggy stickers and 2 of the grooviest notebooks ever featuring more of the hilariously translated English that I so love.

The next photo is quite obviously a street, this is what a typical side street looks like in Suwon- Try and get your Hummer in & out of that maze!

I've got paper! Things are great. Now if I could only figure out how to work my phone card...

Have a bite of my Tit Bit bar...

2007-09-06T02:47:00.000-07:00

It tastes just like a Kit Kat bar but nooooo it is a Tit Bit bar!
Just one of my favourites from the myriad of things that have hilarious and/or bastardized English written on them!

a great view of sleepless darkness

2007-09-04T05:45:00.000-07:00

Disciplining the disciplined

2007-09-04T04:48:00.000-07:00

Whispering: This, my dear friends is a squatter... originally intimidating but enevetably (in Korea) you will have to face it.

Oh Yes! I am here to teach, not just to wander the streets aimlessly and take pictures of things. The teaching is going well so far, though the variation in English speaking ability is great from one student to the next and from level to level. Surprisingly the younger the student, the better they seem to be at speaking English. Did I mention that I have the pleasure of teaching prepubescent teenage boys? I reckon that if I can merely keep them distracted from whatever they are daydreaming about long enough for them to learn a few stanza's of English prose then I am doing alright.

I have yet to see another caucasian creature but I don't stick out so much (except when I am behind my camera), at which point I am clearly a tourist. The walk to school is a modest 15-20 minutes (when I don't get lost), my sense of direction is sharpening slowly and my Tim Hortons withdrawal sypmtoms are fading into oblivion.

A little rant on discipline...
Forgive my generalization, I am new at this "moving to a new country" thing but I've observed that the Korean people are far more disciplined then us (lazy) Westerners. My apologies to the hard-working Westerners (you know who you are). Anyways...

In South Korea convenience is not held on a pedestal as much as it is North America. Technology is held on a pedestal, it is ubiquitously prominent- from the perpetual use of cell phones to specialized kimchi refrigerators, to all the beeps and bells and unexpected electronic voices that pop in and out of the walls somehow. And yet with all of this advanced technology I come across some uncivilized property- a squatter! What preposterous hypocricy! I almost walked right out of the bathroom with my tail between my legs! Where are the instructions for this thing anyways? Oh well, it is a (not-so) pleasant reminder of where I am and it will haunt me all day, to remind me to avoid overdosing on diuretics while at my daily 9-5... or 8:30-4:30.

Back to the discipline thing though- From the daily ritual of rigorous recycling methods to endless school hours and homework for the children the South Korean people live to THINK! I wish I could understand Korean so that I could participate in the brilliant discussions they are having...or at least know when I am being made fun of. At any rate, South Korea is a part of the world where respect for elders is paramount, where everybody owns a Samsung, drives a Hyandai (or Kia) and where the preservation of tradition is rooted in the celebration of family.

Using a shamelessly psychic method to account for the events of tomorrow today: I plan to open a bank account and eat some fresh eggs and fresh rye bread... I mean that is why I came to South Korea- to find fantastic eggs & bread!

Enough run-on sentences for now...

Naps are for suckers (September 1st)

2007-09-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

We were met at the airport by the director of the board of Education for Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. From the airport we took a bus to the Suwon board office where we waited for our name to be called. I met my co-teacher and she is so beautiful! Her name is Seung-Hyun. We went to Yonmu middle school where I met the teaching staff. There is school on Saturdays sometimes!

I am lucky to be living with a Korean family for the next couple of weeks until my apartment is ready. Their apartment is big and very nice, it is in a good neighbourhood and is only a 15 minute walk to the school I will be teaching at.

I wonder what the other teachers are doing right now in their own apartments- I imagine them frantically ironing out their clothes, trying out their wet rooms, missing their family.

The two meals I've eaten since I've been in Suwon have been fabulous, I had lunch with my teaching partener at a restaurant and enjoyed dinner with my host familly's sister. Both meals consisted of bean & onion soup (tasting similar to miso soup), sardines, cucumbers, beans, a whole bunch more vegetables, rice and seaweed- Korean food is very healthy food with an incredible variety at every meal! I just feel bad for whoever has to do the dishes.

Need a reason to celebrate? My ankles are no longer swollen.

Korean hAirlines

2007-09-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

Along with a healthy dose of anxiety, my plane ticket fare included some covetable bonus features. Yes! You should be jealous, I received free socks! along with a toothbrush and toothpaste, new friends (not really though because they think I am a weirdo), free food and funny-looking diet coke and your choice of head, ear or tummy ache.

I left Pearson International around midnight, full of wonder and ready for take off.
I sat near the back of the 747 beside the window with two friendly Korean men who were on their way home from Toronto.
The movies were pretty random, it took me until the ending credits to figure out that we had been watching "The Last Mimzy" (in Korean of course), there was also some other trendy Korean movie with Chinese subtitles (not particularly helpful or interesting). The rest of the time they projected Korean News, Car advertisements disguised as a show, a strange sequence of snowboarding and my personal favourite- A poorly computer-animated "Animal vs. Human Winter Olympics" (where fish and reptiles earned no medals and the polar bears kicked some serious ass in Hockey).

Tried to sleep but it was difficult
I found the food on the plane much more comforting than the seats which were clausterphobia-provoking. (I know how Shizaaaam feels in his cage now).

We had the choice of Bibimbap or some sort of chicken for supper- went with the Bibimbap (which includes seaweed soup, beef and vegetables on rice with chili paste and sesame oil.) My Bibimbap meal provided entertainment for the guys I was sitting with who laughed at me because I was eating it wrong.

We took a very direct flight route: From Toronto we went North up past Moosenee, we went over the Northwest Terretories, passed Hudson's Bay and Baffin Island, we came close to the Arctic, flew over Siberia, then through China to South Korea! I was very allergic to Siberia and unforgiving snot began to pour from my nose from this point on- must be those Siberian Huskies or something... I'm actually sneezing right now just writing about it!

Customs in both nations were an absolute breeze, no problems at all!
I found my luggage very quickly- due to it's brightness. Fellow teachers laughed at me and said that they could find me in a snowstorm.

I managed my luggage surprisingly well, I also managed to make some friends, some of which I will see again at Orientation. There is quite a mix of students here teaching for different reasons, there are a few couples, a few pairs of BFF and some loners like me...I wonder how many of them will last the year. I wonder if I will... What do you think?

10 Day Korea countdown...

2007-08-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

Shizaaaam (my cat) wanders happily around the apartment these daze, visiting the myriad of boxes that surround me now, this physical chaos serves as a constant yet colourful reminder of the adventure that is about to occur.

Today was supposed to be Yard Sale Day. A dozen of drenched hand-made posters around the neighbourhood are proof of my good intentions, but sponteneity failed in a fight against the ominous rain clouds of a neverending series of showers.

With only 10 days and about 10 minutes left until I board the 747 to Suwon, S.K. l I am almost ready. My bank account is skinny because of a (non-refundable) plane ticket purchase, as well as the piles of toilettries, contact lenses and allergy medicine.

A Girl Guide true and true, I like to be well prepared. I struggle with the well-organized part, but still manage to be prepared.
In order to help deflate my slight discomfort with flying, I have many activities to keep myself occupied. If the people surrounding me are boring or not in the mood for talking, I have tunes, books, sharpies for drawing, and gravol! I have even researched the safest seats on a 747. Although rather unhelpful in the end, I hope to be close to an emergency exit since seat safety is unsurprisingly subjective to crash conditions.

I will be tackling a giant to-do list this week, including the final steps of securing my Visa (pretty important) and spending some quality time with boyfriend and friends- er I don't really have any friends (but that will change soon?!)
Haha, enough embarassing revelations for one night, Harry Potter, Ron, and Hermione need my help.

Living in a Universe City of Debt

2007-07-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

Option 1: Continue bartending, d.j.ing and waitressing, relying on unpredictable amounts of money to pay the unforgiving debt mafia. Pros: It is easy, comfortable and I am surrounded by cute co-workers who also have University degrees. Cons: Often unnecessarily stressful, mean people suck, minimal self-evolution, eventual boredom.

Option 2: Get a job teaching in Toronto, find a part-time serving job and continue trying to get the OSAP monkey off my back.
Pros: Potentially rewarding work, proximity to good influences, close to mom. Cons: Overcrowded smelly classes, living in an expensive closet of an apartment, proximity to crime, barely able to cover cost of living and keep all my fingers.

Option 3: Get a job with the Korean government teaching English to Korean students. Pros: The uneasy excitement and pleasure of diving headfirst into the unknown. Potentially travel Asia and learn to appreciate a unique way of living. Free trip to South Korea and back, accomodations paid for, low-cost-of-living, make new friends, put a dent in the debt load. Cons: I'm sure I'll have a few cons to add to this list in about 45 days or so!

My fuji and electric lime suitcase await: AUGUST 30th I evaccuate...

2007-07-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

Jennii is officially getting ready for Suwon, South Korea... the land of the morning calm, kimchi and potentially fabulous english teaching opportunties. Although I am fully aware that you have an exciting and busy life of your own; I invite you to check up on me once in while and share in my experiences.

http://www.jenniibooth.blogspot.com

I am truly excited about my upcoming adventure, aware that it will be a lot of change all at once. Convinced that I will survive, and win some won to pay off my O$AP- I climb aboard Korean Airlines armed with plenty of deoderant, an ability to adapt and a contagious smile.

Unframed and off-the-wall

2007-07-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

2007-07-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

2007-07-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

2007-07-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

2007-07-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

Unframed and off-the-wall

2007-07-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

(unique and custom prints & drawings available, re$onable pricing, just ask jennii)