birthday in korea

In the days leading up to my birthday, literally the only thing that I was looking forward to was opening the mysterious packages that have been hanging out in my room all week. My mom had sent three big, brown envelopes and I didn't have any idea what would be in them other than a few cards from my immediate family.

Then, I opened them:

When I posted a photo on Facebook (of the envelopes plus two other cards) about it being from a "few" family and friends, I honestly had NO idea how big a "few" could be. I had no idea what was inside of them at all!

It's not my first birthday spent away from home, but for some reason this year I really felt the distance. Inside the packages were about 15 letters and each one made my smile grow a little bigger. The sweet, tangible words made my birthday so much better than I'd anticipated. 

After a morning of skyping with home, I got dressed up and I went to Turtle Park where I sat by the pond to write in my journal and read a few more; when you work through the afternoon all week long, its nice to get the chance to relax and appreciate a nice day. 

Luckily it was a really sunny day and many people were out for a nice Sunday walk. I even had a few sweet Korean ladies invite me over to briefly talk with them at their picnic table. It was strangely comforting. 

Later that night I met up with a few friends for a supper at a Korean BBQ place (so good!) and then we enjoyed some dessert called patbingsu (aka the biggest bowl of shaved frozen yogurt you will ever eat) with a delicious strawberry topping. 

I want to say a BIG thanks to my momma for organizing this all the way back in April and to everyone who took the time to write me a message in a letter for her big surprise, or simply on-line. 

Together, everyone made me feel connected to home and have given me a most precious birthday gift! 

yer spring

Today felt like the first real taste of Spring. It felt good.

I went for an afternoon walk with one of my friends around the perimeter of Goraksan (or, Gorak mountain, if you remember from my last post!). The sunlight was pouring through the trees and we weren't the only ones out and about, as usual!

I had originally planned to go to the top again, but I'm glad I was convinced otherwise. It was nice to try something different. There were many interesting grave sites/cemeteries along the path, which I didn't find creepy at the time, just interesting. Looking back now I might reconsider!

Afterwards, we went to a little restaurant and I got to try the famous bibimbap (비빔밥) for the first time! It came with a few more side dishes that I hadn't seen before, like pickled jellyfish and zucchini, clams, oyster kimchi and crab marinated in soy sauce. I don't know if being told what it all was made me braver to try it, but I gave it all a taste and I survived! I quite liked it, in fact. I didn't even know that you could eat jellyfish, but then again, why am I surprised?

I'm slowly getting used to using chopsticks. I can't help but think of the scene in Beauty and the Beast where the Beast is majorly struggling over a bowl of porridge. If you can picture that, well that's pretty much me with chopsticks. Today, however, I felt a little more like Belle.

Maybe I will try live octopus before I leave this country, after all. I seem to be working myself up to it.

And, I'll even eat it with chopsticks.

on adjusting

Over the last few weeks, my knowledge of Korean culture has expanded by about 5000%, and I know I have barely covered the basics. Being here, living here, has been about adaptation on every possible level.

Things are different here.

I don't think I can emphasize just how much of an alternate universe experience this place is to what I've known. Thankfully within what surely would have been chaos and despair, I was given warm and welcoming people to help guide me in this country. And YouTube, thank GOODNESS for YouTube!

Lemme try to sum it up in point form:

The apartment:

I already mentioned I have to walk up five flights of stairs to get there, but did I mention that all of the appliances we own are in Korean? I know, I probably should have expected that! There's nothing like laundry day and trying to decide what button to push for the wash cycle to prove I'm not in Newfoundland anymore. 

The job:

It's been quite the learning curve adjusting to my job life since I've been here. Familiarizing myself with the curriculum and getting to know the kids have been the most interesting challenges. Playing with children and teaching them aren't one and the same, believe it or not. I've been learning to simplify my words, speak more slowly and repeat myself a lot. I get surprised by something different almost every day but funny enough, kids are kids no matter where they are from.

The location:
Yeosu has a beautiful, rugged coastline and many hiking trails made for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. I think that's where the familiarity between here and home ends. I'm used to the quiet of my small populated town where people wave hello even if they don't know you and I have to drive ten minutes to get to a store. Buildings don't reach higher than a story or two. Here however, the streets are kept pretty busy, cars don't always stop at red lights or for pedestrians, and you will see tons of illuminated signs of mismatched businesses that reach to the sky.

These are not necessarily negatives, mind you! Just different. I practically step outside my apartment and within a few blocks I have most everything I need. Emphasis on need. If you need a coffee shop, mini-mart, bakery, or a grocer for basic veggies? Great! There are plenty of those. If you want a decently priced/familiar clothing shop, or something fancy like coconut oil, you'll have to go a little farther. Or, order online! 

The food:

Koreans have a style and tradition of their own when it comes to their food culture. There are special social cues and formalities for the way you present food or drink to each other. Then there's other visible aspects: I've of course enjoyed many meals seated on the floor in my living room or bedroom at home but never before have I had meals while sitting on the floor of a restaurant. I was pretty excited for it! I have to say it was fairly comfortable and cozy with the heated floors and pillows! If you don't mind a few inevitable 'pins and needles', I recommend. 

You also have to turn your heat tolerance up a notch or seven to be able to enjoy many of the dishes. I taste test the kimchi every time I see it on the table but I aways make sure there's plenty of water close by. 

The language:
I knew I didn't mind being around conversations that didn't involve English from all my time on the ship. I was used to picking up a word here or there to get a satisfying general gist of what my Mexican or Brazilian friends were discussing next to me. Of course, they weren't ever trying to be rude, it's just natural to revert to your native tongue when you are with people who know it too. All those years studying French taught me that!

Here I don't understand beyond "annyong-haseyo" aka "hello". 

Guys, the biggest struggle of all is not having the ability to ask for help or directions from a local. Sure, you can manage to express a question through some artistic pointing and miming, but unless they are willing to point and mime back, their answer is just a bunch of strange sounds no matter how kind it is for them to try. 

Thankfully all of my solo moments of communicating at stores or at coffee shops have been fine so far, with their kind attempts at meeting me half way. For example, a nice lady at Emart pointed out that I could get 20% off my shampoo and conditioner if I bought them together (even busting out a calculator to show the price difference). And the only English word involved was "shampoo!"

Despite these 'minor' differences, I am really enjoying my time here. Learning about the differences and truly experiencing them was part of the reason why I wanted to come here in the first place. If I wanted a lifestyle change, I've defs got it.

*Above photos taken at the Yeosu Expo 2012 site // hanging with Yeosu's adorable mascots.

dragon caves + attack of the gorillas

Alicia, Martha and I went on a little excursion to the island of Odongdo which is located just off of the coast of Yeosu. We took a cab for $6 and walked the pretty walkway to get there, grabbing some street food along the way. I'm not sure what they are officially called but they were very similar to mini donuts with a red bean paste in the middle! They were really sweet and fresh and I don't think I'll be able to pass them up whenever I spot them.

Our plan for the day was to have a picnic next to the Cave of Dragon. Yes, that's right, a dragon's cave. How cool is that? We walked along the green pathways and I could imagine how much prettier they will be in the spring and summer when everything blossoms. (Already forming plans to return.)

After climbing down a set of stairs that swung to the right around the edge of the cliff we could see other people gathering to see the cave. We climbed down some more rocks to get a closer look! I kept trying to spot Toothless or Daenerys but unfortunately I didn't have much luck.

We climbed back up over the rocks and found a flat rock to settle on for our picnic. The day was overcast but we enjoyed the view as we ate our miss mash meal of chicken wraps, jap chae and oranges. The ocean is a comfort to me no matter where I am in the world and while I can't say I've ever had a picnic next to a dragon cave in Newfoundland, it still felt like home.

A bamboo tunnel

 Lots of little lookouts around the island.

There is a barefoot shiatsu path which is apparently great for your overall well being. 

There was a sign about reflexology at the bottom. Maybe I'll give it a try in warmer weather.

We were eager to get moving again because of the slight chill in the air and decided to wander around the island a little bit more. Maybe it's just because it's my first time going somewhere fairly touristy here in Korea, but I don't think I've ever seen so many selfie sticks in all of my life! My roomie recently bought one and it really came in handy. It was her first time testing it out and we didn't have to feel awkward about using it AT ALL. There was literally one in every group of people that we passed. I think I'm now converted: I am a fan of the selfie stick in Asia. Who needs to bother a random stranger to take a semi-decent picture? Not us!

It can be a safety hazard though, so watch out for flying sticks to the face. They pop out of nowhere. We found this to be the case later in the tighter quarters of the Aquarium, but I'll get to that after I introduce you to this special feature on Odongdo, the "Penis Tree":

They actually have signs that point the way to this phallus shaped tree. They've got quite the sense of humour here!

Moving on...



After leaving the island, the girls lead me over to get a closer look of the 2012 Expo site and on the way we saw the Hanwha Aqua Planet! Once inside we found that it was an aquarium as assumed, but also the location for the "Alive Museum" where they have trick art displays for posing. I have always wanted to do one of those!

We decided to do both!

We had so much fun looking at the beautiful fish and penguins in the aquarium, reading the poor English translation signage and going around the art displays at the Alive Museum taking silly pictures together.

  Watching sharks and sting rays swim overhead? The tunnel was definitely one of the coolest parts. 

Then we went to the Alive Museum and I played some mean tricks...

But also helped a friend in need:

I 

I grew really tall:

We even got captured by King Kong and Hulk:

Luckily we escaped and later on Martha and I had supper and watched a movie (My Neighbour Torturo from Studio Ghibli) in the safety of our apartment. It was much needed way to unwind after all the exploring we did this weekend!!

hiking + karaoke

Martha invited me along for a hike Sunday afternoon. Next thing we knew our Headmaster and his sons were joining us too and it was nice to spend some time getting to know all of them a little more.

It turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day with its sunny but crisp five degree January weather. The view at the top was worth the burning in my legs and my lack of mobility that will surely set in tomorrow! I was surprised at the number of people also on the trail, as well as the age range. Grannies were taking on the hill in better time!

Afterwards we ate at a little cafe that was called Paris Bakery, but it didn't have foods that I would imagine finding in a French bakery, haha. It still all looked very delicious. I ordered a sweet and soft honey walnut bread that had cream cheese inside and a green tea that looked like it was made with fresh green leaves and a type of grain thrown in the mix.

Last night we went to a noraebang which is a big thing here in Korea. It literally means "song room" and you sing karaoke in a private room that you rent with your friends! Our room had a sparkly grey wrap around sofa with a table in the middle, disco lights and tambourines! Classy. It was such a laugh. We even sang a ton of Disney songs. I didn't pick a single one of them myself so it was like they understood me so well already.

This weekend successfully introduced me to some of the cultural experiences I'd been looking forward to trying in SK. Definitely a great start this trip!

yeosu

I've made it to my first weekend here in Yeosu! After another series of delayed and rescheduled flights and a four hour journey by bus, I finally arrived in my new city 11pm Tuesday night. I almost cried tears of pure joy when I saw that my bags graced the baggage carousel at the airport in Seoul. It's an actual miracle. My school's headmaster and his daughter picked me up and treated me to a late night waffle before bringing me to my apartment. (Did I mention it's a fifth floor walk-up?) I met my roommate, Martha, settled away some of my things and tried to get some sleep!

[Yeosu is pretty in the evening]

Somehow I got into a normal pattern. School-wise, I've spent the last few days observing another teacher doing the classes I will be taking over next week. Luckily they have a curriculum with workbooks and helpful online videos to guide the class so it shouldn't take too long to get into the swing of things.

*Fingers crossed*

[Martha and I]

Other than that, my roommate has been super helpful filling me in on things and taking me to some shops and food places nearby. We walked to E-mart a couple of nights ago, which is a lot like Walmart but with multiple levels and reminds me more of the downtown Dominion store in SJ with the cart conveyer belts. We did a quick walk through, looking for essentials to get me started. Most important on my list was food, and that presented its own kinds of challenges, simply being that I don't know what most of anything is. Thankfully some of the packaging includes a few English words or pictures to help you along. For the most part though? Guessing and hoping for the best seems to be the deal around here!

Tonight on the way home after classes we made a little stop to the local dollar store and it was surprisingly great! Better than I was expecting actually! I'll probably go by again tomorrow. Friday night is the night everyone goes out, so I got to meet a handful of other ex-pats/foreign teachers at a bar/lounge that is just a block away. It was a perfectly chill night as most are off adventuring over the winter break and will return in February. The owner, Mr. Lee was so kind, and provided all kinds of snacks for us to munch on, different chips and candy, pot stickers, french fries, chopped persimmon and Korean pear. It was a pretty sweet welcome.

Sure, there have been some frustrations, not limited to just trying to get across Canada, but my first few days here in Korea have been as good as I could have hoped. I like my roomie, the teachers I work with have been very helpful and the city is not too overwhelming.

It's nothing like home, but hopefully I can make it feel like home. So far, these girls have made me feel incredibly welcome here!

[Kacey and Rachel]