Since Christmas is not really a holiday in Korea we all had to come to school on Christmas Eve. Luckily it was the week of the student's final exams so I didn't have to teach and it was a half day so I really didn't mind at all. I decided I would get the teachers small gifts because they have been so extremely kind and helpful to me since I have arrived in Korea. I wish I could have bought them the world but there are literally about 40 of them in my teacher's room so instead I brought them cookies, chocolates and hot chocolate. They acted like I had given them each brand new cars. Some of them who never speak English kept saying "thank you thank you! You so very kind." Their reactions to the simplest things are priceless.
One of my favorite Korean friends at school who is 26 years old and sits right next to me has been so kind and helpful to me since I arrived in Korea. She speaks pretty good English so we are always talking or laughing about the students or other things in the teacher's lounge or classroom. She told me she never ever gets presents anymore from her parents cause she is too told. Before hearing this I already knew I wanted to get her a present since she is one of my best friends at school. We are always talking about how we like Mac and Dior make up and how it is expensive. I always see her wearing pink, and she has pink lipstick so I decided I would get her some new Mac lipgloss. I ended up getting her the Lady gaga pink Christmas limited edition. I swear to you I had no idea that was the exact color she had for lipstick so it was the perfect gift. If I could have captured her reaction when I gave it to her in a snapshot I would have. Or if I could get that kind of reaction every time I gave a gift I think I would give them every day. She was so shocked and surprised she looked like she was about to faint. She then had a panicked look because she had nothing in return. I assured her I just wanted to give this to her because of how kind and helpful she has been to me. She then paused and thought of the English word she wanted to say and said "I am so moved." It was precious! It's one of the best gifts I've ever gave only because of her reaction. She has now worn the Lady gaga pink lipgloss every day. Too cute.
The following Monday I showed up to school and there was a small box on my desk. She said "my present to you." It was OPI nail polish and coconut sun lotion for my trip to Malaysia coming up. She then INSISTED she paint my nails with it right away. I didn't even know if this was okay to do in school but before I could think she started painting away. So now I am sitting here with OPI gold sparkly limited edition nail polish on. HAHA, gotta love her.
My vice principal and co teachers also gave me Christmas cards with some of the kindest words written inside. One co-teacher told me she thinks "God sent me to them because I bring happy air to her and the classroom." Haha, too nice. My other co-teacher told me "he is a very lucky guy cause he meets me this year. Haha, I love their broken English in the cards it makes it so much better.
Another co-teacher handed me a small box. For a moment I thought he was proposing. I opened the box and inside was a pink key chain with jewels on it to spell out my name across it. So now, on my Korean phone I have this decked out keychain with SHEILA in jewels hanging from it. Haha, I feel so Korean.
They truly made my Christmas even more special here. One I will never forget.
In my family it's a Christmas tradition to do Secret Santa. We pick names out of a hat with not only our immediate family but with our extended family as well. You are only allowed to make it, or exchange it, BUT you cannot buy it. This allows everyone to get pretty creative and give some really nice and thoughtful gifts. When I was younger I hated it because I just wanted to buy it and not spend anytime making it, but now I've come to appreciate and love this idea so much more. My family has exchanged such more meaningful gifts over the years to each other rather than just buying it at a store.
Even though I was in Korea my mom still included me in the whole secret santa process and put my name in the hat and also sent me the secret santa that was picked for me by my dad's secretary so noone would see. I had gotten my grandma for secret santa. She is the kind of person who you could give a small piece of chocolate to and she would think it is the best gift in the world because she is just that kind of person. She has always gone above and beyond for all her grandchildren. Always sending us her homemade mac n' cheese at college that literally became famous among half of the campus. She always sends us cards for every single holiday and shows up to every single soccer game or event we had growing up. She never missed anything and would come with a big smile, her camera and of course, some of her delicious cooking. Needless to say, I really wanted to do something special but was having trouble with it because I couldn't buy it.
I thought of so many different ideas to send her from Korea, but then I thought about what makes me the happiest here that I can't buy? Then it clicked, my students. My students give me the best gift of all every day in the classroom. So I decided I would have them write her Christmas letters this year. Well, I think I enjoyed it more than anyone in the world could. All I did was give them a choice between red or green Christmas paper and told them to fold it in half like a card and let them go from there. I told them I would mail their letters to my Gradma in America and they went nuts with that idea.
The next think you know they had scissors, glue sticks, and tape out and were cutting their cards into Christmas trees and taping on coins, coffee and tea to their cards. I was loving watching every second of it. If I could have saved those cards forever and not have passed them on I would have because some of the things they wrote were priceless. I had about 6 classes with about 40-45 students in each so I then had them also write my entire family and some friends Christmas letters too because they were having so much fun with it. (okay, so was I.) These examples below don't do the cards justice but just so you can get a sense of what some of them wrote...(if only you could see the drawings and handwriting of them...)
"Dear John and Meg. Hello? John and Meg. My name is Lee seaung Jun. I am sheila's student.
John. you look very handsome, you look like actor. Can you come to Korea to meet me? can I come to your house? Oh! sorry Meg. meg you look pretty. I like baseball do you? What do you want for Christmas? Please write me back. Frome, Charse by by!
"John? oh-John. Hello? My name is Kim Min Jea. I'm Kyung Ahm MIddle School students. It's new york very beautiful. New york very interesting. Your Shila father? Wow. Very good. New york explain. Pleaese~! Ah! I like U.S.A. singer Greenday! and England David Beckham. You too? Please~write me back! Good bye handsom gui John. Your phon number? ha ha.
(UMM THEN THIS STUDENT DREW A PIC OF MY DAD ON THE BACK OF THE CARD! and wrote "it's John! Very Handsome! white christmas!" HAHAHAHAHAHA I CAN'T HANDLE SOME OF THEM.
"dear John and Meg, Hellow, my name is Yong Jun Lee. I am sheila's student. I'm boy. can you come to Korea to meet me? I want tvisit your house but it's too far. Mr . John is so handsome. You looks very kind and Mrs. Meg is so pretty mother. Your daughter Sheila was very kind and beautiful and wonderful and smart teacher. Mr. John and Mrs. Meg Merry Christmas and have a good time. Please write me back. good bye." (haha they are too cute!)
"dear trach, Hi tracy? My name is Kim Young huan. I go to kyung ahm middle school. I am sheila's student. um.....can you come to korea? I sorry, i mean hope to meet you. This Christmas is very happy. You happy to Christmas? By the way, do you like playing? I like playing very much? But I don't like exercise, haha. last, what do you want for Christmas? I want computer. Wish you well. Good bye~~"
This one was too cute...
"Dear Sara, Hello. My name is ae Jin on, I am sheila's student. Well...Sheila Teacher very pretty and funny. I saw you in the pictures. Sheila showed them to us. You are beautiful. I don't like English but thanks to Sheila I like English very much. Her class is very fun and interesting. I like it. Will you come to Korea to meet me? I don't have much time. sorry ^^ bye!"
"Dear mary, hello my name is Su-Hyun. I am sheila's student. Sheila is beautiful and kind...I am from Korea. Will you come meet me? I'll always remember sheila teacher and you.
-Suhyun
"Dear marry, Hi~ My name is Hye Ju Lee! Nice to meet you...!! Ymmm, I was surprised that I saw your picture. very very was envy yu. I hope that you will be happy and have a good time on Christmas Day. Actually, I do not know you well, but I am happy that I know you through this chance. And I am poor at English. So I am not sure I can express my feelings to you. Anyay I want you to understand what I mean. Always smile-ha-ha. 2010.10.13 Monday! ByeA!!"
To John and Meg
Hellg! My name is Jung Ji bye. I am sheila's student. I gave sheila a Christmas card because when she saw my card first she told me that it was beautiful. And will you come meet me in Korea? I hope you come to Korea especially my hometown daegu where is one of the most beautiful and biggest cities in Korea. And..I love you! Bye bye!
"Hello, Merry Christmas? Johe and Meg (dad she spelled your name like that haha)
My name is Choi Keum Yi. I am sheila's student<3 Sheila is so beautiful and cute and sheila is very good teacher and so kindly. Will you meet me please? Johe and Meg I want your cook chicken or cake? Many student with sheila so very happy. I am happy now in her class. I make you sweet cake. Blow out andles and make a wish. I draw you christmas tree. Welcome to korea! Merry Christmas."
(Okay I could go on forever! But i'll leave you with one last one...)
"Merry Christmas--dear sara! Hi my name is Hyun Ju. I'm sheila's student. I'm in the first year. Sheila is berry beautiful, you too. You so beautiful. Nive to meet you...sorry I am not english berry well. but you can understand. How are you doing? I am tired and you? I am study hard because we have soon test. Humm....I will go to America! Can I come to your house?? I would like to ride a bike with you!!! and I hope to go shpping and have a big dinner with you~ Will you come meet me? with your family ? umm....good bye~ Happy Christmas, I Love You!~ from Hyun Ju"
When I initially applied for the job to teach English here in Korea I thought that know matter what I would be home for Christmas in December, and then in February for one of my best friend's wedding. I had never in my life not spent the holidays, let alone Christmas without my family and just automatically factored it into my travel plans that I would be home with them all for it.
Then I arrived in Korea. Met all the other teachers in the same program here and mentioned I was going home for Christmas and it was like being at summer camp when I was a little kid and saying something like "I miss my mommy," because all of their reactions were like "what? you're actually going home?" and so on. I quickly was like "oooh, I mean maybe" haha so much for standing up under peer pressure but I got the drift quickly and realized a true year abroad means a year abroad to experience it all, even the holidays away from home.
As time went on I began to think maybe I would spend the holidays here with all my new friends who literally became instant family when we arrived cause we only had eachother and did everything together. I wanted to spend the holidays here not because of what others had said but because I wanted to do it for myself and knew I would be home in February anyways for the wedding so I should take advantage of my time here while I can.
Well just as Thanksgiving came and went so did Christmas.
5 of us including myself decided we all wanted to spend Christmas eve, Christmas morning and Christmas day together so noone would have to be alone for it. We booked a room at this very nice hotel called The Grande Hotel in Busan Beach about an hour from here. We requested an ocean view and booked a fancy dinner reservation at the restaurant there so we could have a delicious Christmas eve dinner.
Every year as far back as I can remember my family has prime rib and lobster every Christmas eve, so I knew no matter where I was I would want the same meal here, and so that's what I got! It was one of the best meals I have had yet in Korea, but still did not compare to the way my dad cooks his lobster or marinates the prime rib.
My friends and I all did secret so we could all exchange gifts and open presents Christmas morning. Of course everyone had figured out who had eachother and one of my best friend's Alex who I came to Korea with ended up having me and got me Dior perfume I had been wanting to get.
We had all dressed up for Christmas dinner, had some red wine, holiday cookies sent from home, hot chocolate, and had a big hotel room to hang out in after, but there was no English Christmas movies on!! That was the one thing missing besides family. We all woke up Christmas morning to one of the most beautiful views outside of our hotel window. The sun was rising over Busan beach and it was a breath taking sight. I was filled with so many different emotions at once I couldn't decide if I was so happy to be experience this or so sad that it wasn't snow outside my window.
All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas away from home. It made me realize that no matter where you are in the world it's who you're with that really matters. I had a wonderful Christmas with my best friends in Korea. We did the best we could to make it feel like home, but nothing can replace the feeling of home. We all went back to my friend Alex's on Christmas day to watch movies, eat dinner and just all be together for it. I returned home around 12: 30 a.m. later that night to Skype my family on their Christmas morning. I was absolutely exhausted by then, but I think that's when it sank in. They were all together and there was snow on the ground there. The house was decorated and even miles and miles away I could feel the Christmas spirit there. It felt like Christmas there, and it only felt like some strange Korean holiday here. Although Koreans do not really celebrate Christms they try their best with putting up Christmas lights and making the streets festive, but it's just not the same as the feeling of Christmas at home.
I was telling my friend Alex I am so happy she was here with me for Christmas because she is like family to me. I am also so glad I experience my first Christmas away from home because it truly made me appreciate the true meaning of Christmas, and that's to be with family. No matter where I am in the world for the next 50 years, I will always be home for Christmas.
You really just never know what they will ask you...
One typical (or so I thought) afternoon in the teacher's lounge I walked over to get some coffee. I always pass one of the head teacher's desk on my way and she always smiles at me or says something in Korean to comment on my outfit or "nice appearance" that day. She is always so pleasant and kind so I always just smile or say hello to her in Korean. Many of the students or younger teachers seem a bit timid of her since she is an older woman and cause of the hierarchy of respect in Korea and how serious they take it they usually just bow or nod their head to her to say hello respectfully.
Anyways, this particular afternoon while I was standing at the machine getting instant coffee she smiled at me and then motioned to me with her arm. I smiled back a bit confused because this was unusual and then continued to get coffee. I then heard her chattering way in Korean to a few other teachers and then again she motioned with her arm to me. It almost looked like she wanted to fight me or something. I began to get a bit nervous. Then one more time she motioned with her arm kind of looking like an arm wrestling thing. I thought, this couldn't be, does she really want to arm wrestle me?? At first I just laughed it off like "ha yeah wouldn't that be funny" NO...
Yup.
Next thing ya know I am lead to the teacher's coffee table and all the other teachers are gathering around. I think I blacked out for the next 15 minutes not really knowing what to think. Is this actually happening? Am I about to arm wrestle a 70 year old Korean woman in the teacher's lounge?
I am put in a seat at the head of the coffee table and she sits across from me. Teacher's gathered around and interlaced our fingers together and had a countdown from 3 in Korean. I literally wanted to die. I didn't know what to do! Do I let her win cause she is older and that's the respectful thing to do? Do I try really hard or do I pretend I have to use the bathroom and run out of the school back home to avoid this entire situation? Ha, nope. GAME ON.
I am not lying when I say I was actually trying really hard, and she not only beat me once...but she wanted a rematch and then beat me TWICE. (sigh.) She did this all with a huge smile across her face. This goes with another thing I've noticed in Korea. OLD PEOPLE ARE STRONG HERE! I kid you not it must be something in their diet cause I literally pass 90 year old Koreans both male and female pushing massive fruit carts along the road selling them even in the rain, cold or snow. They are bent over and have more wrinkles than a prune, yet they don't even look tired. They are some of the healthiest older people I have ever seen. I don't even think they believe in nursing homes here. Just hospitals incase some get sick. But even when I pass hospitals they actually allow some of their patients to roam around on the streets for ciggarette breaks all the while they are stilconnected to their portable IV stand just sliding along on wheels with them as they walk. It's quite a sight.
Anyways, back to the arm wrestling match. I cannot leave Korea with any dignity knowing that during my first arm wrestling match a 70 year old Korean woman beat me...twice. I am going to work this problem out and do what I have to do to increase my arm strength and then when she least expects it one day, give her the ol' arm motion for "it's game on, round two time."
It's been entirely too long since I last blogged. SOOO much has happened since then that it's hard to even remember or summarize. However, two main holidays have passed since then and it was my first time in my life not spending them at home with my family. I enjoyed spending it here for many reasons but, overall it made me realize and appreciate my family and how special it is to spend holidays with them back home.
Thanksgiving came and went faster than it took to even eat the turkey. My friends and I, about 7 of us got together and we actually ordered turkey delivery here in Korea. Believe it or not, on Thanksgiving we had a turkey delivered right to our front door. We made do with everything we had and all brought something to the table and set up our own little Korean Thanksgiving right on the floor and ate Korean style. We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry and all the works. We each brought wine and dessert and ate ourselves into a food coma. The only difference was since it is not a Korean holiday so we had to work the day of and after Thanksgiving! I was able to skype with my family the morning of Thanksgiving before school and it truly made me so thankful I have them in my life for so many different reasons. Thousands of miles away I felt lucky.
The day of Thanksgiving I also had my open class at school. Open class is when about 3 teachers from other schools and one Korean teacher come and observe your class. They took notes on the way I taught and could also reccommend if I needed more training or not afterwards so it was a bit stressful to say the least. The open class was with my favorite class of all though so I wasn't too worried. It was my first grade boys who honestly amaze me everytime I teach them with how good their English is and how excited they seem to learn. I literally look forward to teaching them every week and hate to admit it but definitely spoil them and favor some of them in class with candy or praise. Haha, how can I not?! They are just so cute and try so hard I can't help it.
Anyways, I knew they were going to do awesome because they seem to have fun in class too. My co-teacher must have warned them because not only were they on their best behavior but they tried even harder than usual. I literally wanted to cry because they knew how importnt this was and did their best. The lesson I taught was on "dreams for the future" and "occupations." I went over all different kinds of occupations and jobs and had them listen and repeat the names of them. They all participated and spoke very good english. They also had to write a postcard to a friend telling them what they want to be in the future. This is when the fun started....
The jobs they came up with literally sent me and the observing teachers dying laughing. Some wanted to be a robot scientist, one student said he wanted to be in a gang, one boy came up with the word surgeon and I had never even taught it to him. They were so good!
The feedback from the observing teachers was good as well, but at that point I didn't even care. I just was so happy how well my students did and the feeling I get from that is one I can't explain. It really makes my job feel so worthwhile. It's a feeling I can never repay them for that I get every time one of my students in class surprises me with something in English or anything they do. In the end I really feel like they were the ones who taught me.
"If you’re feeling frightened about what comes next… Don’t. Embrace the uncertainty. Allow it to lead you places. Be brave as it challenges you to exercise both your heart and your mind as you create your own path towards happiness. Don’t waste time with regret. Spin wildly into your next action. Enjoy the present - each moment as it comes - because you’ll never get another one quite like it. And if you should ever look up and find yourself lost, simply take a breath and start over. Retrace your steps and go back to the purest place in your heart, where your hope lives. You’ll find your way again…"— Julia Brown, Everwood
hey ~ I send my boyfriend's picture hhhh
It is secret to every teachers hhh
ah! I forgot to give your pen !I will give you your blackpen ^ ^ sorry
Haha their emails are the best!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/8165274/North-Koreas-undercover-journalists-reveal-misery-of-life-in-dictatorship.html
About 2 weeks ago I went to Seoul for the weekend with my friend Amanda who was meeting up with one of her friends who was there for her brother's wedding. Seoul always reminds me of NYC, so I love going there; it feels like home. Great shopping, great food, great places, so much to see, so many foreigners and just a massive city full of so many different things. It also had Christmas lights up already which was very exciting to see since our city didn't have any yet.
Well after hours of shopping all day saturday we ended up meeting up with Amanda's friend who was there for two weeks who she knew from back home in California. Her brother had moved to Korea two years ago from the U.S. and had met a Korean woman here who became his wife and he was getting married that day.
We met them downtown after the wedding to go out for a few drinks and they brought a few of their friends along with them and their cousins. There were about 8 or 9 of us all together. All were Korean except for me but it didn't even feel like that since most of them were from the U.S. anyways and were just here for the wedding. Well, two of their friends who I met were brother and sister. I got talking to the girl and she told me she went to school at NYU and we immediately began talking all about NYC and how I used to live there before I moved here etc. Well I learned the most interesting story about her and her brother... Apparently, when she was 5 years old, her whole family (mother, father sister, brother and her) all moved from Korea to the U.S. and they were raised there and only spoke English and lived in California. They grew up just how any other American would. After high school she went to college at NYU and was a sophomore and her brother went to Irvine (I think) and had just graduated this year. Well, about 2 months ago the Immigration office told her that she had 15 days to pack up her things and leave NYU. She said she was literally forced from her college, her home, her friends, everything she had known. Her brother had to do the same, but her mother and younger sister are still in the U.S. but her father has been back in Korea for about 5 years now running his business. She said they tried everything to stay. She tried talking to professors, or anyone in her school that was high up that could help her but no one did. She was forced to come back to Korea a place she should call "home," but she said it was so foreign to her and she didn't even know how to speak any Korean. Not to mention, since her brother is still technically a Korean citizen he now has to serve his 22 months in the military since all Korean males do, so he leaves next month to start. How's that for a graduation present? She said since she is Korean, and barely knows any Korean she feels very alone here and lost and lots of her aunts, grandparents and everyone here judges her and scolds her for not knowing her "true roots." Her brother barely knows any Korean either which he will have a hard time in the military if he does not learn enough before he goes because they said they really look down on that there.
She said she was soooooo happy to meet us and it was like a "breath of fresh air" because she could speak to us in English and vent. She said sometimes when she sees Americans on the street she just wants to scream "I speak English!" but they just look at her as she blends in with the rest of the Koreans on the streets.
I was truly amazed by her story. I just couldn't imagine after spending my entire life somewhere being forced to pick up and leave everything I've ever known. I mean yes I moved to Korea, but that was voluntarily and I know when I'll be back. She is hoping to be back to NYU within the next year but she says it is insane the amount of paperwork and everything that needs to be done. And also NYU doesn't give her any extra help with money so she said she is working many jobs here to try to pay for it all.
On a more positive note, she somehow still has the most positive attitude through it all which I admire so much. She said maybe this all happened for a reason so she could come back to Korea and learn all about her "roots" and she also got to reunite with her father who she usually only saw once or twice a year. But now she is far from her younger sister and mother.
She was one of the sweetest, nicest girls I had met here and it just makes me sad to think the U.S. didn't have a better system to help someone out like that. I realize they were basically illegal there after awhile but I mean after living there for her whole life and then within 2 weeks being thrown into a "foreign" country and that she was supposed to call home and now her family is spread out all over the world? That's a bit much for a 19 year old to have to take on.
If I ever have power someday, those are the kind of people I would use my power to help.
As everyone in the world has probably already read on the news. On Nov. 23 North Korea fired over 200 missiles onto Yeonpyeong island wounding dozens and killing at least 2 South Korean marines. This ended whatever "peace" there was between the North and South and has created very high tensions among the two since. Since the whole language barrier is a bit tough to understand the correct information when I ask my co-teachers on the situation I decided it was best to ask my friend who is stationed here in Korea in the US army about the current situation, this is what he said: The Island belongs to the South according to the DMZ line. The ROK Army is there right now and from what i know they were doing an exercise with weapons of some sort. Apparently North Korea believes that the island belongs to them and felt they were being threatened so they fired over 200 missiles onto the island wounding dozens and from what I know killing at least three civilians. South Korea has fired back at the North and I believe they stopped attacking around 5:oopm. They too wounded many people and killed at least 1 person. The US Army in Korea is on GL 1, and everybody is on alert. This means that nobody on a Military Base in Korea is allowed to do anything except be ready to fight until further notice. Although I do believe that if North Korea were really serious about fighting, and I'm knocking on wood, they would have gone straight for attacking Seoul, not this little island. "
Honestly, I think CNN and the rest of the media makes a bigger deal of it all than the Koreans who have been dealing with it for the last 60 or so years here. From what I can see, they just carry on living their day to day lives as if nothing new or out of the ordinary has happened. A few students have told me "Teacher, North Korea attack us." and maybe 2 or 3 teachers mentioned it in passing but it is a very casual conversation and when I asked if I should be worried, they said "no, no." Soo, I think all is safe and sound in my city. (knocking on wood.) It's quite the experience though, and kind of crazy to be living history right in the country where everything is happening. I trust my military friend's opinion as well as the Koreans here that everything will be fine.
On a side note, I remember when I first heard that North Korea had bombed that island, my first thoughts, besides how sad I felt for the people wounded and killed were, "They better not cut my time short here." Somehow in the middle of it all, no part of me wanted to go home even if the country was going to go to war. I signed on for a year to teach these students some English and I refuse to be forced to go home early because of the damn North Koreans. I also feel so sad for some of my teachers who only expressed some emotion about the current situation because they are very worried for their sons in the military. Whether their sons are currently in the military or will soon be going there they told me they are "sad and worried." Every Korean male has to serve 22 months in the army in his life no matter what.
Crazy, huh?
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