Vegas Lights and K-Pop Stars

This weekend was a long one. Since about 23% of Korea's population is Buddhist, the country receives a national holiday for Buddha's birthday on May 22 which means a paid day off. Happy birthday Buddha!

I had been talking about visiting my friend Sam in Seosan for a while now and finally made it happen. Seosan is about an hour and a half southwest of Seoul by bus. It's located in the Chungcheongnam-do province. Leaving after school on Thursday, Sean and I caught a bus into Seoul and then headed to the bus terminal. The station was so packed because of the long weekend that we had to wait an hour and a half to catch a bus. When we arrived in Seosan Sam met us at the bus terminal and we headed to the main part of the town to grab some food and drinks. Her friends started a band together and played some live music at a local bar that night. They even played a special song for Sam and I, Toto's "Africa". Sam has become really close with the bartenders at the local bar, 501. Coby and Bum are about two of the funniest Koreans I have met. They are both so smiley and energetic and make the bar a lot of fun. I had a great time listening to live music and meeting some of Sam's friends and co-workers. The next day we slept in and then got up to walk around Seosan a bit. After eating some lunch we found ourselves in the city center and eventually in the market. The market reminded me of a smaller scale Busan market with lots of seafood, produce, and other strange meats and things for sale. We purchased bus tickets and then cooled down with some bingsu at a local place. Friday was probably the hottest day we've had so far this spring/summer in Korea. Later we said goodbye to Sam and headed back to the big city.

Check out a video of the band playing Toto's "Africa" here: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10100213180725979&ref=mf

Seosan, Korean Vegas

the band

me, Bum, and Sam

Sam and I on the coolest swing seat ever

bingsu with ice cream

I didn't get a chance to explore Seosan very much, but what I saw I liked. The little strip with all the bars was lit up so brightly you would have thought it was Vegas or something. Seosan is such a small town that literally every foreigner knows each other. It's kind of got this home-town feel to it, but might be too small town for me. Sam is really enjoying herself and loves getting to know everyone including her Korean neighbors and shop owners. I am looking forward to a visit again soon to get out of Seoul and have a change of scenery.

Saturday night was the 14th annual Dream concert in Seoul. This concert was a collection of the hottest K-Pop bands out there right now all gathered in one giant concert. The best part was that the tickets were only 5,000 won. Consequently, the show sold out in half an hour, but we managed to get tickets. Imagine a concert in the U.S. circa late 1990's/early 2000's with like Backstreet Boys, N'SYNC, 98 Degrees, Brittany Spears, and Christina Aguilera all performing together in one show with $5 tickets and you can begin to imagine the hugeness of this event. After arriving late to World Cup Stadium and standing in the rain, we finally made it in and found some seats. We listened to a few bands from outside the gate and then got to see one of Korea's hottest K-Pop stars, Rain perform his latest hit. After that I was exhausted and hungry, so we called it a night and grabbed some dinner and beer. It was an experience and I'm glad I got to see a bit of it, but was also glad to have made it out of there early before getting trampled by thousands of screaming Korean teenagers.

Check out a video of Rain performing here: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10100213191823739&ref=mf

the Dream concert

the crowd

what a trooper, got dragged to the concert after my seat buddy got sick and couldn't go

After 8 months in Korea there is never a dull moment, always something new to try or somewhere new to explore. I am loving my weekends and definitely living for them. Looking forward to a trip to Jeju Island next weekend, which is again a long one for me.

Namaste

Lotus Flower: Purity of the Body, Speech, and Mind

Monday morning and another weekend comes to a close. This weekend was the perfect amount of peaceful relaxation, going out, and Korean culture. Friday night Sean and I enjoyed dinner and then caught a live jazz performance at a cafe in one of my favorite spots in Bundang, cafe street. Cafe street is a little street in Jeongja (one subway stop away from me) filled with little cafes and restaurants galore. At night twinkle lights brighten the street and the atmosphere is so romantic. Walking down this little street makes you feel as though you are miles away from Asia in some little Europen town.

Saturday night after a delicious meal, a big group of us celebrated a friend's birthday at one of our frequented spots in Gangnam. After some good conversation, a terrible game of darts, and flash-back to the ninety's music, I called it a night.

Sunday there was a huge festival in Seoul, the Lotus Lantern Festival. It is an event sponsored by the Buddhist temple near Insa-dong, Jogyesa. We arrived a little later in the afternoon missed the arts and crafts portion of the day where people could create their own paper lanterns to take home. After walking around exploring and photographing the hundreds of lanterns, Sean introduced me to a Korean favorite at a little cafe in Insa-dong. Bingsu is a Korean summer treat made of soy milk, fruit, red beans, rice cake, nuts, and crushed ice all mixed together in one yummy concoction. We also ordered sikhye, a Korean sweet rice drink with bits of rice inside. I personally don't like it because I cringe at the soggy floating pieces of rice, but most Koreans I have met love it.

Buddhist monks

paper lanterns

in front of the Jogyesa temple

lotus lantern with Buddhist symbol

bingsu

sikhye

We finished our bingsu and then headed through Insa-dong and over to the main road to claim a spot for the lantern parade. The streets were packed and we were lucky to have gotten a front row spot. People marched in traditional Korean clothing holding lanterns of all colors and shapes. There were Korean musicians, dancers, and entertainers. The lantern floats were my favorite. They were all at least 5 feet tall and lit up from the inside out. The colors, lights, and sounds were really unlike anything I had seen. It was such a cool experience and I'm glad I got to see it. We finished out the weekend with our Sunday night BBQ tradition.

hanboks and lanterns

elephant lantern float

Korean character

king lantern float

fan dancers

The greatest achievement is selflessness.

The greatest worth is self-mastery.

The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.

The greatest precept is continual awareness.

The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.

The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.

The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.

The greatest generosity is non-attachment.

The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.

The greatest patience is humility.

The greatest effort is not concerned with results.

The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.

The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

-Atisha, Buddhist teaching

Namaste

Eat, Pray, Love

I just finished reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert again. I really enjoyed this book the first time I read it, and I enjoyed it even more the second time around. (Perhaps because I am anxiously awaiting my stop in Bali this fall and loved reading that section or maybe because I would love to taste the food and surround myself with history in Italy or maybe because India is a place I long to travel and know...) Anyways, I know lots of friends who have mixed reviews about the book and the author's attitude, but I love her witty sense of humor and heart wrenching honesty. It's refreshing to read about someone else's trials and tribulations and makes me feel more connected to people in general. I also love reading about a modern career woman traveling the world solo. I will embark on my first solo traveling this fall for a bit and it makes me a little less weary knowing that so many amazing experiences open up to you when it's just you. Here are two of my favorite quotes from the book:

"You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight."

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it."

-Elizabeth Gilbert-

Eat, Pray, Love

After reading through the Italy chapter about finding that one word for a city or a person, I have been trying to think of mine. For those of you who haven't read the book, the author is having a discussion with a friend about how each city and each person has a word. One word that describes the place or person to a 'T'. He tells her that Rome's word is SEX. They discuss the Vatican's word, POWER, and she decides that New York's word is ACHIEVE. The author eventually figures out her own word is ANTEVASIN, Sanskrit for “one who lives at the border.” My mom thinks Valparaiso's word is FAMILY. I think Seoul's word is APPEARANCE.

Namaste

That's My DJ

Seoul held it's 4th annual World DJ Festival this weekend. The festival kicked off at 2pm on Saturday and went all the way until 6am Sunday morning. There were different DJs and MCs from all over spinning different kinds of music such as rock, hip-hop, and house. Oh yes, there was house. Not exactly my favorite kind of music, but after enough time the beats all blend together and your feet just can't help but to move. There were four stages each playing different music simultaneously. I made my way back and forth to all of them and even squeezed my way through the crowd to the very front row for a bit.

I was surprised at the amount of people who came out for the event. There must have been hundreds (maybe a thousand?) of people spread out over a few acres of land right along the Han River. There were so many different types of people; punk rockers, goth kids, hippies, preppies, teenagers, middle-agers, Koreans, expats, you name it, they were there. People watching was part of the fun of the festival. You would be surprised at how big Doc Martins (yes, the same ones we begged our moms for in 7th grade) still are here. Not sure if it had anything to do with their huge promotional tent at the fest, but I'm thinking perhaps. Despite the differences, we all had something in common; music. Everyone came to hear the music and enjoy a night of partying and dancing.

For a few thousand won, you could down some cold Miller beers or stand by the Jager tent and sip Jager/energy drinks all night. Food was served in the form of a stick; fish cakes and sausages were devoured by hungry, energy seeking people. Glow sticks were everywhere to be found, as well as dance circles. Face painting/make-up was done by our friends and MAC make-up artists, Jin-he and Mini. Blankets and tarps were spread out all over the ground by those who arrived early and claimed their space. A reggae drumming circle came through the festival around 1am complete with a parade, flags, and lit up drums. And there were cameras. Oh man, were there cameras. People were desperately trying to capture every moment on film as if to prove that 'yes, it really happened'.

Koreans generally love to party until dawn and that's just what they did (minus the occasional person passed out on their tarp). We left the fest before sunrise, but there were plenty of people still jumping up and down rocking to the music as we made our way out. I survived with sore feet, aching throat, and pounding head, but it was worth it.

Sean and I before the DJ Fest

DJ Fest poster

some of the group

reggae drummer

Sean, me and Sam

Sam and I breakin it down

the main stage

Namaste

A Day for Mothers

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever."

-Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day to all the current and soon to be mothers out there. May your day be filled with family, friends, and love because you are the essence of life and so blessed to fill such an important role.

I know I am especially missing the most important woman in the world to me on this day, my mother. I am blessed to have such a wonderful, supportive, and strong woman to look up to. You are amazing. Thankful for you everyday. Love you, Mom.

Namaste

The Secret Life of the American Teacher

It occurred to me the other day as I was riding the subway that most teachers lead sort of a double life. I guess maybe other professionals do too, but I believe that teachers especially have to juggle two different personas. One is the teacher. This role involves more than showing up to work on time, teaching children, and grading papers. Teachers are expected to be people with high moral standards. They are supposed to be role models and set examples for their students. They are supposed to be ever-friendly and caring. They are supposed to be trustworthy and approachable. They are supposed to be what I like to think of as 'Susie Sunshines'. Of course there are the 'Debbie Downers' out there too, but I like to think that they were once 'Susie Sunshines' before time and fruitless efforts got the best of them. When I chose teaching as my profession, I knew that it would require me to behave in a certain manor and represent myself in a certain way. I believe that most teachers behave this way already to some extent or another and so consequently the 'teacher' persona is not hard to fill. If they don't, well then, I'd imagine it would be tough to present yourself in this way. (Maybe this is the case with some Debbie Downers.) The other persona I like to call 'just human'. Teachers are not perfect. No one is perfect. The 'just human' persona is one that teachers can present to people that they love and trust; friends and family. Teachers can behave and live their lives the way they like outside of school (to a certain extent- I personally don't believe any respectable teacher should be dancing on poles or peddling drugs on the side) so long as they remember that they hold a public position, a lot of times a government job. So why did I start thinking of all this on the subway the other day? Well, I thought about the persona that I show to my students at school. I am kind, sincere, sometimes complacent, and I come across as very conservative. Then I looked at my outfit. I was wearing a LBD (little black dress)- not too short or revealing but a little, make-up, hair down and curled, and lots of jewelry. I was going out to meet some friends for dinner and drinks. I would not dream in a million years of dressing this way to school. I then saw one of my students and he hardly recognized me (before I forced my friend to stand in front of me to block his vision). I didn't really want him to see me dressed up to go out because I did not want him to see anything but my teacher persona. I wanted him to think of me as the English teacher with conservative clothes, little make-up, and hair always pulled back. So why did I care? I mean, this persona is part of me too. This is when I began thinking about the concept of living a sort of double life. I would never want my students to see me drinking soju or dancing in a night club and I would never want my friends to see me standing at a blackboard dictating English grammar or singing songs with my students, hence the secret life of the American teacher (Korea edition). Conservative teacher by day, liberal 20-something by night. Kinda makes my life sounds more exciting put in this perspective and I kinda like it.

On Tuesday my school had field day. It was quite a sight to see. Just like in the states, the students were on different teams, there were parents taking photographs and videos, and lots of funny and semi-athletic events the kids participated in. Some of the events included relay races, balloon popping, tug-of-war, and many other kinds of team games. The students had a great time and I actually did too. I played photographer for the day and was assigned to pictures and videos. There were lots of parents at the school and I could tell they were all checking out the foreign English teacher. It felt a little strange, but one woman came up to me and started talking. She told me her son is in 4th grade (so I teach him English) and she is also an English teacher at another elementary school. It was the first kind of parent interaction I had had in a while and was actually really nice to talk with her. Before and after the events, the students, teachers, and principals all did a stretching routine simultaneously. Apparently every single public school in Korea teaches the students this routine and consequently every single person in Korea knows this routine. It is set to music and wish I got a video of it because it was such a riot.

All of the female teachers at my school had on the same type of 'uniform' if you will: snazzy matching track suit, designer gym shoes, white gloves, and what we foreigners here in Korea like to call a giant ajuma visor. This ajuma visor is not your typical Nike golf or Abercrombie visor, it has a huge brim and looks absolutely ridiculous. The women wear them and the white gloves to protect their skin from the sun. My co-teachers were horrified that I was not wearing a hat outside (mind you, it was a cloudy day) and insisted I wear one of their extra visors. No thank you! Korean women definitely go to great lengths to keep their skin protected in the sun. I would be curious to know what their skin cancer statistics are like here. Probably significantly lower than our tanning bed, oil lathering, sun-kissed skin obsessed country.

Yesterday was Children's Day and I, along with everyone else in Korea had the day off from work. Yes, they actually have a holiday just for children here in Korea. Most families spend time together and go to the park, shopping, out to eat, etc. The children also receive presents as well. Kinda wish I was a kid in Korea for Children's Day, sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me; no school and presents?! After field day on Tuesday we got to leave school early and I went to see The Blindside at the theatre with my sixth grade co-teachers. Then I went out with some friends Tuesday night for some Mexican food and drinks in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Yesterday I spent the day in Myeong-dong doing a little shopping and then went to Samcheong-dong. Sean suggested we check it out because I had never been before. It's a little neighborhood next to Insa-dong and I must say probably one of my most favorite neighborhoods I've visited in Seoul thus far. The streets are lined with high-end stores, little vendors selling crafts and jewelry, art galleries galore, and tons of coffee and tea shops. Most of the buildings are traditional Korean style. Around every nook and cranny is a perfect photo spot. I loved Samcheong-dong and can't wait to go back again and explore even more! I ended the night with some Korean BBQ and ice cream in the park.

traditional Korean architecture in Samcheong-dong

cute little coffee shop

Samcheong-dong's hidden byways reminded me of Stone Town, Zanzibar

Sean and I stopped for a photo-op

The weather here has turned from schizophrenic (warm and sunny one minute to rainy and windy the next to freezing the next) to humid in a matter of days and we are getting our first tastes of what summer is going to be like. Let me tell you, with no AC on buses, overcrowded subways, and moisture in the air so thick you could collect water in buckets, it's not going to be pretty. Oh well, I guess lots of cold showers and popsicles are in the cards!

Namaste

You Know You've Been in Korea Too Long If...

My brother sent me this list the other day. Thought it was pretty funny and I thought I'd share with you. Still haven't perfected number 12. Sad to say I have done number 28 a few times. Shamefully number 49 is right on. Don't think that number 50 will happen for me as I find Korean beer to be some of the worst I've had.

You know you've been in Korea too long if:

1. You are immune to the smell of "the kimchi breath."
2. You no longer come to a complete stop at the stop sign and you never yield the right-of-way.
3. You can pick up a single strand of noodles with chopsticks.
4. You ask for more "ko-chu" because the kimchi-chige soup is not hot enough.
5. You enjoy slurping your noodles as loudly as you can.
6. Your back is sore from bowing.
7. You walk down the street holding hands with your buddy.
8. You ask your wife to stand outside with a baseball bat to protect your public parking space in front of the house.
9. You can eat barefooted in a restaurant with a foot in your lap.
10. You can cut in at the front of the line of waiting people with the best of them.
11. You look forward to winter in your off post housing so you can store beer and frozen foods in your bedroom or bathroom.
12. You can fall asleep on the city bus and wake up at your stop.
13. You can shovel in an entire bowl of rice and half a course of Bulkogi into your mouth before you swallow.
14. You rather watch local TV than AFKN.
15. You can make a left turn looking only to the right.
16. You can convert any US unit measurements into metric measurements in your head.
17. You look forward to Chusok and the Lunar New Year each year.
18. You think that Korea's greatest natural resource is good looking young women.
19. You only lock your door if there are lots of "Mi-gooks" around.
20. People ask if you want to go by car and you respond, "No, I'm in a hurry."
21. Someone says, "Bed," and you think "Yol."
22. You realize that it is safer to "J" walk than use a pedestrian crosswalk.
23. You wear white socks with a dark suit.
24. You can use a public bathroom for both genders and think nothing of it.
25. You know every interchange on the Seoul-Pusan Expressway by heart.
26. You know all the words to the Korean National Anthem and you enjoy singing it.
27. You don't need a restroom to relieve yourself.
28. You crawl back into your house to get your coat, rather than take your shoes back off and walk on the floor with shoes on.
29. You bow at inanimate objects.
30. You walk around humming the tune the crosswalk signal lights play.
31. You enjoy shopping at a local open market place more than Main PX or Commissary.
32. Someone says breakfast, you think of "fish, soup and seaweed."
33. You'd rather sit on the floor than in a chair.
34. You start believing that you can blend into a large crowd of Koreans.
35. All your shoes are bent flat in the back.
36. You let your eyes be drawn towards any female whose hair isn't black.
37. You answer the phone by saying "yoboseyo," and sometimes even at the office.
38. Someone says "mansion" and you think of a two bedroom flat in a 400-unit apartment building.
39. You mutter "Aigu" when lifting a heavy objects.
40. You suck in air through your teeth before saying "no" to anything.
41. You start growling and spitting inside your mouth to add emphasis to what you are about to say.
42. You can convert Hangul into English without repeating it to yourself first.
43. You always wave your left hand to signal you are going to cut in front of another driver without looking first.
44. You select shoes based on how easily you can get them on and off.
45. You answer "Nhe" even when speaking English to non-Korean friends.
46. You carry chopsticks in your back pocket.
47. You enjoy putting lots of red pepper sauce on your salads or French-fries.
48. You don't freak out when the salad arrives with octopus legs still wiggling on top of it.
49. You are not embarrassed when old ladies are standing in a bus while you are sitting down.
50. You like Cass or Hite better than Bud or Miller.

Happy May!

Namaste