So I was people watching in the Shopping area in Meyongdong in Seoul. I took a bunch of pictures.. It is quite entertaining if I do say so myself!
Let me know what you think~!
I miss you and love you all loads!
BIG HUGS!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
27 in Korea
HI :)
SO again it has taken me a minute to write another blog....
Okay so a re-cap... Well first as you may have been able to tell, I was getting a bit down from work and homesickness. I am actually doing better now. I have been here almost 4 months. Its kind of crazy right?!?!
Well last month I started venturing out of my bubble that I accidentally decided to hibernate in. Possibly due to the negativity and draining days that haegwons (private schools) bring. I met some really cool people from my new friend Sharon. They are all English teachers, but they have public school jobs... so much more positive! They live in Incheon, which is a city right near Seoul. They are all different and wonderful. I have just begun getting to know them, and I think they are great. It has definitely put me into the positive perspective again. We went to a really cool bar the first night which was called Flare, and it had some guy tossing fire. I will post a video of that. I am sort of backed up on pictures and videos.
Then Karrin and I went with them to Muuido, a small island outside of Incheon. Don't get excited, its not one of those fancy beaches... some of you Ohioans can relate with Put N Bay. Not even like the mini, mini island my family and I boat to off the coast of Tampa. Anyway, it was a really great time. It was a 3 hour ordeal to get there. We waited at a bus stop for way over an hour, and we ended up taking a cab with two people who were waiting for a bus too. We get there and our huts are actually on the beach. They were cramped space for 4 people, which 2 can sleep comfortably. I say comfortably with a hard floor and a pillow, but for $8 a night, it wasn't horrible. It was the 4th of JULY, so we had sparklers and firecrackers, and a fire. It was a good company, good conversation, good scenery kind of experience. So yes, very glad to have met them.. :)
Next, MY BIRTHDAY **BLECK** EW 27
So, I am the youngest Houston child, who is creeping quickly to the big THREE ZERO! Its really weird. So I spent the entire week and a half, remembering all of my 27 years young. I went through quite a few emotions with regard to it. I missed my friends and family like crazy, mostly like a 7 year old wants to go home at 9:00pm at their sleepover! haha... yeah strange... Not necessarily the breakdown my 30th will bring, but definitely brought some strange feelings. Anyway, the conclusion... I am happy in the place I am right now, and the person that I am now. So, be it 21 or 51, I am cool with right now. Whichever country I may be in...
Anyway... I will right more this weekend I presume. I love you all and miss you very much. You are in my thoughts everyday!
***BIG HUGS**** from SK
PS I still need addresses people! Seriously! Mine is listed below, and I know I have a crap load of things I need to send out, so some addresses I have others I need.... so even if you are just expecting a postcard, GET ON giving me your addresses!
SO again it has taken me a minute to write another blog....
Okay so a re-cap... Well first as you may have been able to tell, I was getting a bit down from work and homesickness. I am actually doing better now. I have been here almost 4 months. Its kind of crazy right?!?!
Well last month I started venturing out of my bubble that I accidentally decided to hibernate in. Possibly due to the negativity and draining days that haegwons (private schools) bring. I met some really cool people from my new friend Sharon. They are all English teachers, but they have public school jobs... so much more positive! They live in Incheon, which is a city right near Seoul. They are all different and wonderful. I have just begun getting to know them, and I think they are great. It has definitely put me into the positive perspective again. We went to a really cool bar the first night which was called Flare, and it had some guy tossing fire. I will post a video of that. I am sort of backed up on pictures and videos.
Then Karrin and I went with them to Muuido, a small island outside of Incheon. Don't get excited, its not one of those fancy beaches... some of you Ohioans can relate with Put N Bay. Not even like the mini, mini island my family and I boat to off the coast of Tampa. Anyway, it was a really great time. It was a 3 hour ordeal to get there. We waited at a bus stop for way over an hour, and we ended up taking a cab with two people who were waiting for a bus too. We get there and our huts are actually on the beach. They were cramped space for 4 people, which 2 can sleep comfortably. I say comfortably with a hard floor and a pillow, but for $8 a night, it wasn't horrible. It was the 4th of JULY, so we had sparklers and firecrackers, and a fire. It was a good company, good conversation, good scenery kind of experience. So yes, very glad to have met them.. :)
Next, MY BIRTHDAY **BLECK** EW 27
So, I am the youngest Houston child, who is creeping quickly to the big THREE ZERO! Its really weird. So I spent the entire week and a half, remembering all of my 27 years young. I went through quite a few emotions with regard to it. I missed my friends and family like crazy, mostly like a 7 year old wants to go home at 9:00pm at their sleepover! haha... yeah strange... Not necessarily the breakdown my 30th will bring, but definitely brought some strange feelings. Anyway, the conclusion... I am happy in the place I am right now, and the person that I am now. So, be it 21 or 51, I am cool with right now. Whichever country I may be in...
Anyway... I will right more this weekend I presume. I love you all and miss you very much. You are in my thoughts everyday!
***BIG HUGS**** from SK
PS I still need addresses people! Seriously! Mine is listed below, and I know I have a crap load of things I need to send out, so some addresses I have others I need.... so even if you are just expecting a postcard, GET ON giving me your addresses!
Monday, July 6, 2009
July 7th 2009
Hey guys!
It has been a minute, but it has been really hectic here. Let's see where did I leave off. Well I have made a couple new friends since the last time I wrote. It definitely makes the experience a little easier here. I went to this island with them last weekend. Its a beach, not super nice, but decent. We slept in huts on the beach,caught some actual crabs, and had some sort of fire war... which I got hit in the skirt with :( Luckily not the leg. What can I say, the 4th of July excites people! We had an adventure the next day returning to the mainland. It was a 3 our debacle to get there, but Karrin and I found a shortcut on the way back. (airport limousine-bus from the airport to Seoul)
The hours still suck at my job, but I have managed to work out a flow for things. It doesn't make much less time but I don't go in at 8am anymore. Its like 9-9:30 now. The co-workers are all in the same boat, and stressed at our hours too. They are all great people and I wish it wasn't so stressful so we could hang out more.
Two of the the foreign teachers like me quit from our office last month. They finish up at the end of July. It can be that tough some days. But, they are good guys and we are going to miss them. After they leave, we have summer "intensives" basically they work us to the max hours we can work (just classes, still have all the other crap). So I will have 42-3 classes or so a week... fun fun fun!
Anyway that is a little about what is up with me... so my plea to people back home... write me an email update I miss you!!! It sucks I can't spend my birthday with you guys again this year.
Love everyone so much!!! Miss you so much!
*******BIG HUGS******
It has been a minute, but it has been really hectic here. Let's see where did I leave off. Well I have made a couple new friends since the last time I wrote. It definitely makes the experience a little easier here. I went to this island with them last weekend. Its a beach, not super nice, but decent. We slept in huts on the beach,caught some actual crabs, and had some sort of fire war... which I got hit in the skirt with :( Luckily not the leg. What can I say, the 4th of July excites people! We had an adventure the next day returning to the mainland. It was a 3 our debacle to get there, but Karrin and I found a shortcut on the way back. (airport limousine-bus from the airport to Seoul)
The hours still suck at my job, but I have managed to work out a flow for things. It doesn't make much less time but I don't go in at 8am anymore. Its like 9-9:30 now. The co-workers are all in the same boat, and stressed at our hours too. They are all great people and I wish it wasn't so stressful so we could hang out more.
Two of the the foreign teachers like me quit from our office last month. They finish up at the end of July. It can be that tough some days. But, they are good guys and we are going to miss them. After they leave, we have summer "intensives" basically they work us to the max hours we can work (just classes, still have all the other crap). So I will have 42-3 classes or so a week... fun fun fun!
Anyway that is a little about what is up with me... so my plea to people back home... write me an email update I miss you!!! It sucks I can't spend my birthday with you guys again this year.
Love everyone so much!!! Miss you so much!
*******BIG HUGS******
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Friends
Hoon- my first friend in Seoul.HI :)
What's new with me:
So I was getting really homesick for the past couple of weeks. I really miss my friends. I miss coming home to my zoo and friends. It is not the easiest thing ever. I am not used to this sort of thing anymore. I used to be when I was younger and moved frequently. Many of you understand what its like going to a new city where you don't know anyone, i.e. Michelle, Katie, Paul, Eddie, Maya, Suzanne, Laura. Its good and bad, as with anywhere you are. Good connections are difficult to make. They are much easier when you are home, because you have commonalities, even just proximity helps in building relationships. Also, genuine laughter makes everything better.
So I was getting really homesick for the past couple of weeks. I really miss my friends. I miss coming home to my zoo and friends. It is not the easiest thing ever. I am not used to this sort of thing anymore. I used to be when I was younger and moved frequently. Many of you understand what its like going to a new city where you don't know anyone, i.e. Michelle, Katie, Paul, Eddie, Maya, Suzanne, Laura. Its good and bad, as with anywhere you are. Good connections are difficult to make. They are much easier when you are home, because you have commonalities, even just proximity helps in building relationships. Also, genuine laughter makes everything better.
It was exciting, overwhelming and new when I got here. I was very fascinated by Seoul. There is a lot to figure out, when not being able to read or speak, it becomes a bit frustrating. Then work got tough, not difficult, just so many hours (part time my ass). I was exhausted. It was taking a huge toll on me. I was really exhausted and consistently sick. So, I joined a gym. Yeah not the best idea when you are to sick to go. I have gone since, but at first it was difficult. My job was long, and as many of you know, running after kids is very difficult. They get sick, you get sick.
Well I happened to meet 2 good new friends. I ventured out again. It was good. Laughing is definitely the best medicine. They are helping me explore more, food, places and people. I feel the rest of the year will be different. I am hopeful, plus my brother-in-law will be here soon, and I can show him what I have seen and learned so far :)
Well big hugs, if anyone wants to send anything postcards letters, please send to my school:
Attn: Ms. Rosemary Houston
YBM ECC Sungbuk ECC
143-5 Udam Building 2nd floor
Somun-dong 6 ga, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-036
YBM ECC Sungbuk ECC
143-5 Udam Building 2nd floor
Somun-dong 6 ga, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-036
LOVE YOU BUNCHES!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 3, 2009
Hi hi hi :)
SO the week and a half of hell is finally over! We had to do end of the month evaluations. I didn't have the most kids to evaluate, but I did have a lot. I had 58 or 53 kids to evaluate. THAT BLOWS! Because, it isn't during our normal scheduled hours, it time before/after work. Some teachers do them from home, as I said before. But, I won't work if I try to do it at home! So I spent some days working past 8pm. Since I am the newest, I have no idea how the other teachers have done this for so long!! Its going to be a tough year. But, I never said I was expecting to have a year vacation. I realize I have to earn my keep. But, sometimes I just don't want to! Especially when you hear, "teacher, teacher, teacher look, teacher he did this, teacher he is speaking Korean, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher." There is a reason I am not a parent at this stage in my life! I deal with a lot of different ages too: from 6-14. The most prominent age is 6 years old Korean, which is 5 American. I can't explain when the dates switch or whatever, I can just say they believe you are alive in the womb, so they count that into the age.
SO another stressful thing is, on top of my evaluations (OH AND BEING SICK!), I had to prepare for this open class. Which (I mean no disrespect to the school) I think they blow. It makes the teachers have extra work (that they don't get compensated for), and added stress of having the parents in the classroom! Which I know that ALL the "main" teachers hate it, but we are so glad when it is finished. Not all teachers have to do the open class, just the main Kindergarten teachers. Mine is finished! My co-teacher for the class (she is the Korean teacher for the class), witnessed me getting super stressed! SO glad its over. I hate extra work. WE already work so much!
Anyway, we have a 3-day weekend coming up, so I am looking forward to not going into work!!!!!YAY!
K- little update BUH BYE!
SO the week and a half of hell is finally over! We had to do end of the month evaluations. I didn't have the most kids to evaluate, but I did have a lot. I had 58 or 53 kids to evaluate. THAT BLOWS! Because, it isn't during our normal scheduled hours, it time before/after work. Some teachers do them from home, as I said before. But, I won't work if I try to do it at home! So I spent some days working past 8pm. Since I am the newest, I have no idea how the other teachers have done this for so long!! Its going to be a tough year. But, I never said I was expecting to have a year vacation. I realize I have to earn my keep. But, sometimes I just don't want to! Especially when you hear, "teacher, teacher, teacher look, teacher he did this, teacher he is speaking Korean, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher." There is a reason I am not a parent at this stage in my life! I deal with a lot of different ages too: from 6-14. The most prominent age is 6 years old Korean, which is 5 American. I can't explain when the dates switch or whatever, I can just say they believe you are alive in the womb, so they count that into the age.
SO another stressful thing is, on top of my evaluations (OH AND BEING SICK!), I had to prepare for this open class. Which (I mean no disrespect to the school) I think they blow. It makes the teachers have extra work (that they don't get compensated for), and added stress of having the parents in the classroom! Which I know that ALL the "main" teachers hate it, but we are so glad when it is finished. Not all teachers have to do the open class, just the main Kindergarten teachers. Mine is finished! My co-teacher for the class (she is the Korean teacher for the class), witnessed me getting super stressed! SO glad its over. I hate extra work. WE already work so much!
Anyway, we have a 3-day weekend coming up, so I am looking forward to not going into work!!!!!YAY!
K- little update BUH BYE!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
week 6! Yes I said week 6!
SO everyone, how goes it?
It is still SEOUL here!
I have been up to a little more. The weather has been permitting. I am intermittently sick, but it comes with the job. I love the kids most days. Other days, I realize why I am not a PARENT! They are fun, but they are still kids. The more grown up kids are harder, like 9-12 years old. They don't listen, and are just as frustrated with not knowing English at such a late age. We work hard here, but if I decide to stay a second year, I will definitely do it at a public school, not private. They get paid more, more vacation, and less classes to teach in a day. I teach between 7-9 a day. And with all the prep work, I end up working from around 9 am to 7 pm. At the end of the month, we work longer than that doing evaluations. I stayed until 10:30 pm and came in at 8:30 some days. Other teachers do their evals from home, too. I do have breaks during the day, but I am usually doing work. On rare occasions I will step out for lunch, or walk back to my apartment since it is only 5-10 minutes away. So I really am pretty busy throughout the whole week. Which sucks for writing, pictures, and sending things, because post offices aren't open weekends (mostly).
I apologize for that, however, I can email as much as people like. I can send a message here and there every day. But, I don't want to frustrate people asking them everything that is going on back home. Some days it feels like I TIVO through my life back home, as if people are only giving me the important updates if any at all. Like.." this is boring and mundane, so I won't bother updating her just yet..." But honestly folks, that is the stuff I am desperate for. I love hearing the stupidest things. You can send me an email and say, "I drove into BP and thought of you", or "I saw the bus and thought about when you didn't have a car for a really long time..." or " I remember when..." "just wanted you to know I was thinking about you." Its that kind of stuff that means the most to me right now.
I need addresses so I can send you post cards or cool little things I find. And don't tell me you don't have time to email me your address, because it takes two seconds. Plus, who doesn't like getting mail???
Okay so more about me, my hair was fading back to blond, so I put a bunch of blond chunks in. EVERYONE here has brown or black hair, so I felt I wanted to be different (Maya was so right!) It looks great, and fun. Plus, Karrin saw it and let me dye hers fun too!
I went to Seoul Tower, which you can see the whole city from the Hill it sits on. It was pretty cool. I took pictures, but if you aren't on Myspace or Facebook, you will have to give me your email so I can send you the link to the pictures. ... or I will have to go back to my flickr account. The city is becoming home to me (Suzanne was right...two months my dear, I am almost there).
My co-teachers are really awesome. We all have fun and struggle with work at the same time. We can go out and talk and compare lives... its great. Some of them really have made it easy to ponder my life and what I want. I never want to digress again, that is for sure. I am never going to miss my cube, but I do miss my co-workers at AmTrust. They were really great people. Even when the job sucked, I always had really great people to help me make it through the day.
And, lastly I haven't written as much as I would like, but I have read two books. Which is a great start I feel. I am starting my third tonight.
Well there is so much more for me to learn while I am here, so much for me to see and experience. I can't wait to share more of them with you.
Okay so DEUCES.. I love you all!!!
BIG HUGS FROM SUNGBUK SEOUL!
It is still SEOUL here!
I have been up to a little more. The weather has been permitting. I am intermittently sick, but it comes with the job. I love the kids most days. Other days, I realize why I am not a PARENT! They are fun, but they are still kids. The more grown up kids are harder, like 9-12 years old. They don't listen, and are just as frustrated with not knowing English at such a late age. We work hard here, but if I decide to stay a second year, I will definitely do it at a public school, not private. They get paid more, more vacation, and less classes to teach in a day. I teach between 7-9 a day. And with all the prep work, I end up working from around 9 am to 7 pm. At the end of the month, we work longer than that doing evaluations. I stayed until 10:30 pm and came in at 8:30 some days. Other teachers do their evals from home, too. I do have breaks during the day, but I am usually doing work. On rare occasions I will step out for lunch, or walk back to my apartment since it is only 5-10 minutes away. So I really am pretty busy throughout the whole week. Which sucks for writing, pictures, and sending things, because post offices aren't open weekends (mostly).
I apologize for that, however, I can email as much as people like. I can send a message here and there every day. But, I don't want to frustrate people asking them everything that is going on back home. Some days it feels like I TIVO through my life back home, as if people are only giving me the important updates if any at all. Like.." this is boring and mundane, so I won't bother updating her just yet..." But honestly folks, that is the stuff I am desperate for. I love hearing the stupidest things. You can send me an email and say, "I drove into BP and thought of you", or "I saw the bus and thought about when you didn't have a car for a really long time..." or " I remember when..." "just wanted you to know I was thinking about you." Its that kind of stuff that means the most to me right now.
I need addresses so I can send you post cards or cool little things I find. And don't tell me you don't have time to email me your address, because it takes two seconds. Plus, who doesn't like getting mail???
Okay so more about me, my hair was fading back to blond, so I put a bunch of blond chunks in. EVERYONE here has brown or black hair, so I felt I wanted to be different (Maya was so right!) It looks great, and fun. Plus, Karrin saw it and let me dye hers fun too!
I went to Seoul Tower, which you can see the whole city from the Hill it sits on. It was pretty cool. I took pictures, but if you aren't on Myspace or Facebook, you will have to give me your email so I can send you the link to the pictures. ... or I will have to go back to my flickr account. The city is becoming home to me (Suzanne was right...two months my dear, I am almost there).
My co-teachers are really awesome. We all have fun and struggle with work at the same time. We can go out and talk and compare lives... its great. Some of them really have made it easy to ponder my life and what I want. I never want to digress again, that is for sure. I am never going to miss my cube, but I do miss my co-workers at AmTrust. They were really great people. Even when the job sucked, I always had really great people to help me make it through the day.
And, lastly I haven't written as much as I would like, but I have read two books. Which is a great start I feel. I am starting my third tonight.
Well there is so much more for me to learn while I am here, so much for me to see and experience. I can't wait to share more of them with you.
Okay so DEUCES.. I love you all!!!
BIG HUGS FROM SUNGBUK SEOUL!
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