It's Autumntime

The Jinju Lantern Festival and Gyeonguju trips were amazing, but our trips to nearby scenic locations have been concluded for the year, because it's quite chilly now.

All of the rice has been harvested and smoky fires spotted across the dying fields replace the bright greens of summer. It's cozy, actually. Instead of traveling now, most of us are taking turns catching some sort of virus or other and this weekend it's my turn. Having slept through most of my weekend, thanks to Nyquil, I had decided to share a little video clip, but it doesn't want to download for me...argh. We recently had a story telling and speaking presentation day at our school, for which I served as judge. This time, however, I had 3 classes of students involved in the event and directed them through their part in between judging, so I fumbled a few times. I put together a conversation for them, using grammar points they'd studied, along with 3 songs. This is our very first try at a speaking presentation, and we had only days to really prepare the final production. But this class of 4 girls were very enthused and willing, so I'd hoped to share it with you!

Their "English names" are Elly, Julia, Jessica and Heidi. I got to hear some of them perform this week at their schools too and, while I'm fond of many of my students, this group of 4 girls holds a particularly large space in my heart because they're so enthusiastic about anything and everything. They're smart, talented, creative and it's contagious. Over Chuseok vacation, I painted the classroom to brighten it up and no one was more enthused about the change than these girls!

Now we're working on preparing for more academic tests, along with another round of speaking presentations, so I'm trying to incorporate things to be thankful for with an old story of a competition between the sun and the wind. This blog probably feels a little disconnected, because I'd planned on sharing the video of my girls singing and speaking...sigh. Maybe later? However, good things are happening, life is vibrant and varied, as the students keep me from ever, EVER being bored! Finding stuff to do at the end of an already long school day is no small task, since these kids come to us after a full day of public school classes already and "fun" is defined in so many different ways.

Whether it's bowling, basketball, stick the nose on the ghost, or toss the eraser egg with chopsticks, every day holds something different, with or without trips out of town!

Thoughts Penned By My Students

Every week I go over the grammar of over a hundred students' homework and essays. Some of it really intrigues me, and I'd like to share, beginning with this assigned topic: “Should Chewing gum be made illegal in Korea like it is in Singapore?” More or less unedited, here are some arguments against its banning, which depart from the norm: “We can taste and feel fresh when we chew. But if chewing gum is illegal, we can’t feel it.” “It can be useless for someone, but it can be useful to the others. The gum is really good for solving strain before having a test. It can be rude to someone, but it will be helpful to the others.” “The chin’s muscles can strengthen if we chew gum, our chin is moving. So, it is strengthened.” Hmmm…I hadn't considered that. “Gum can decrease our halitosis.” Have YOU ever heard that word? I had to look it up. “No one likes bad smelling people. Gum can decrease our bad smell and feeling of discomfort.” Also, by the same author (and more than one student thought of this) “people who are working at gum factories will lose their jobs. Increasing jobless people is not good for our economy.” Her closing argument: “Many children enjoy making big gum balloons.” :-) A young man adds, “According to research, chewing gum accelerates activities of the brain.” Did you know that? “Gum can make feeling change. If I feel gloomy, I’m chewing gum. Then my feel change more happy. And I think it can decrease afraid with sweet flavor.” “There are people who hate chewing gum. I understand. However, I think that if they hope for esteem, they also have to esteem other people.” Now here’s an interesting arguments FOR banning gum in Korea: “People’s face shape will become square. When we chew so much we will change the shape of our face to square.” Hmmmm….. One of my brightest elementary aged students' ability to speak and understand English is superb. His written skills—not so much. But his lack of writing skills don't mask the brilliance of his ideas: “I want to flying. I’m can’t flying. But, it’s so much fun. Also I want to eat fire.” He finishes with “I don’t like study. I’m a very happy person.” He IS!

What matters to my students is intriguing, as is revealed in answers to this topic “If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?” One sweet girl wants to meet a famous Korean singer, but she also wants to “travel with my family or…friends; or I’d kill my the most hated man; or I’d eat a lot of foods. I have many thing before the die. So I don’t never never die!!”

(For the record, I'm not matching photos up with quotes.) These kids have really, really full days, but when asked about how to improve her study habits, one girl wrote: “I didn’t think about that…Umm! What’s that? I think I had better make my plan. Then, I think I will study more better. When I want play computer games, I see my plan for future and I think, “I will study really hard!” Just my think. But it’s Okay. Why not?” She’s one of my best and brightest, by the way. Lots of the kids love Fall. “I think the fall is very beautiful season. It’s good to reading and playing. I love the weather of fall. In the fall, sky is so deep blue, and the weather is very refreshing. It’s not hot or cold. To we, Koreans, refreshing weather of fall is almost blessing of God. Thank you.” One boy, who wrote in a previous essay that he wants to be a terrorist and kill off the North Koreans, wrote this in the next: “I want to say to my children, “grow well and what you want to be,” and they will grow well, and my children grow what they want to be. But I want to tell them to be a teacher, to be a doctor. But they will grow what they want to be in the future.” I love this boy!

Another writes that he’ll “pass [his] room [to his] sister” when he dies. Naturally, in every day life he teases her mercilessly. I particularly love this part of his entry, though: “I’ll keep my favorite books and toys, because my soul will play with that.” My soul still smiles when I read this! In keeping with the wrapping up of presidential elections, a twelve year old girl wrote this: “I’m president??!!!! If I’m president, I think I'll really happy!!! Why? All people like me and sometimes they send presents to me.” Then she ponders more deeply; “But, I think I can’t work very well….Oh!!! My!!!!” The true nature of a president’s job begins to settle in, along with its possible ramifications; “If I work really bad….Who wants to die [kill] me?….And throw eggs to me…!!!It’s really scary…I like all people and I want to meet people and smile to them. And say “Nice to meet you.”

There you have it. Youth still speaks volumes. We all want to love and be loved and precious few of us can handle what we wish for.

Spiders and Politics

First, sorry I didn't post yesterday. I ate some veggies1 I think I should've cooked first and pretty much just kept my bathroom company for a large percentage of the day. Bleh. But I'm all better today, so "ㅏ뇽하세ㅛ (hello)!" and here's a photo on top of a mountain from a hike I took w/friends about a month ago.

Last week we celebrated Halloween in an assortment of unique ways. We had a story telling contest and speaking presentations on Thursday which I judged--these kids are so smart! I'll include a video of what I helped one of my favorite small classes of girls prepared as soon as I get the copy I requested. Also, I wore the skeleton earrings and bat ring I brought with me and freaked out my students. Also, had them decorate construction paper ghosts and monsters, as well as draw faces with sharpies on persimmons instead of pumpkins. I have no photos right now bc. my camera's memory is full and I don't know how to clear it out yet. Sigh. The challenges of owning my brain. On Friday the school was packed with kids as they collected on good behavior points with a Halloween party. The only thing typical for the season were the decorations, which the other employees put up--I didn't know they were going to decorate! I worked at the food table for a few hours, serving chopped up fried chicken, tater tots and french fries into paper cups with chopsticks! The could also purchase ramen in various sizes and containers and some traditional fish/red sauce/rice pasta dish, but, there were no sweets! The kids didn't care. I served with others until I had to sit down and serve because my back ached and kids tried to crowd in front of each other to get what was there. Movies were shown in another room, I think, and cute stationary in another. I got some Hello Kitty (hugely popular here, despite the undercurrent of animosity toward Japan) post-its and Barbie stickers. :-)

Finally, in honor or Halloween, and the name of this blog, here's one big bad beastly spider that can capture and eat small birds! These webs weathered the horrible typhoons and I freed a tiny bird from one, which is how I know they capture the little things, so I hate these monsters! Its body is almost the size of my thumb.

This creepy crawly, though, is more colorful and spins an exquisitely gorgeous web. Since we've had frost for the last few mornings and the temperatures have dropped, shriveling up a lot of the plant life and felling leaves, the spiders have disappeared. But, they'll be back and spin their webs everywhere in the Spring. It's actually quite lovely to see how many webs there are when coated with morning dew and illuminated by the sunrise. With the Presidential election so close, I feel deeply invested and am going to include a couple of links for my candidate of choice. When I conduct my essay writing classes every Wednesday, I voice my opinion on the topic, but encourage them to do the same. They do! Often, they disagree with me and I applaud it, as long as they back up their reasoning in the essay. Those classes are among my favorites and encourage me to get a job teaching English literature in America too. So, in the spirit of voicing what I believe and encouraging others to do the same, I'm praying for Romney and Ryan. If you disagree with me, please don't be offended, and I won't judge you either! How the heck can we get anything done, ever, if we can't say what we think and hear each other?

http://www.mittromney.com/donate/red-rocks See you next week, after the voters have spoken! https://www.mittromney.com/donate/real-change-day-one/?sc=INTRRP010

Gyeongju notes and Seoul's LDS temple trip!

It was a 20 hour trip in total. I began the journey with some faithful members of my Church nearby at around 9:30 pm. Already exhausted following the previous weekend's trip to Gyeongju, and then hanging out with my 2 home-bound American friends all week, plus, of course, my job, I was less than excited to go. But, who could say no to a temple trip to Seoul? Well--our aged driver also seemed to be rather sleep deprived. So our adventure took on a whole new dynamic as we lurched, braked eratically, and wove over traffic lanes...I watched in horror as cars dodged us. My prayers were more direct and sincere than usual all the way to Seoul. We did arrive in one piece at about 3:00 am, 90 minutes later than the trip usually takes. The "dorms" where we slept until it was our turn to enter the temple, consisted of floors to stretch out on and snooze or, if you're a kid, play hide and seek. No one but me was surprised by this. Before I joined the others in attempting to rest, I walked alone around the darkened temple. That was the quiet payoff for me--a small edifice, the temple was never-the-less, regally dignified and peaceful. I slept through both actual temple sessions. During our long journey home, which stretched from 4 into 6 hours, since the same sleepy old guy was driving, 2 very patient and wise men sat close behind him and started chatting w/the guy every time the bus started wandering across lanes (which it did frequently). I imagine I will try the trip again, since I'm Relief Society President in my tiny branch, but not for a couple of months and NOT without a different driver!! Now about Gyeoungju...it's everything everyone says it is, and more...happily, our director rented bicycles for us the first day. I've not been on one a bike in over 20 years, but had a blast! The weather was picture perfect and we all acted like overgrown kids, even when a flat tire required extra time to wrap up the day!

I could include a bunch of classic shots, since we stopped at so many amazing places and I DID get some memorable photos, including a 1000 year old forest,

the AMAZING Bulguksa Temple, Anapji Pond and the National Museum,

but I'm sure the internet is also for that. Instead, meet equally amazing people, starting with my co-workers. Using their American names, as we use at the JC Academy, here's Christine in the middle of flowers in the Wolseoung Fortress, and then Haley and Olivia perched like tree nymphs in the 1000 year old Gyerim Forest.

Jack takes more pictures than anyone, but had me take a photo of him by this stone statue--his eyes are closed like the statue's:

Finally, here's one of the whole gang on the grass in front of the tombs of kings and queens of Park Hyeokgeose.

I used up all the memory in my phone the morning of the 2nd day because I was so fascinated by every inch of the places we visited. Rather than snap a lot of photos which are already famous, I was mesmerized by angles, corners and nooks like this one, where nature, planning and architecture come together so beautifully:

Or this spot where Autumn added magic to an already enchanted old wall:

Here's another shot of Haley and Olivia in the middle of one of many old streets.

I purchased a small handmade sprouting pot from this lady artist at the base of the Gameunsa Temple ruins site:

Her work's amazing and I wish she lived closer to me! Having taken 2 pottery classes at BYU, I'd love to try to learn from her and buy more...

Another highlite of the trip, was Yong Bu-Choe. An elderly gentleman with impecable English speaking skills (despite never having traveled to America!!), asked if I'd like to hear a story about the ancient house of Choe we were visiting--everyone gathered around to hear the rules of what it took to make a great household stay great, including words of wisdom like not allowing anyone within 100 kilometers of your home to go hungry and making sure a new daughter-in-law wears only cotton for the first 3 years of marriage. I got his card and we all got a photo with this amazing man. Soft spoken and articulate, we were in awe of him. Finally, I noticed a father kissing his son near the underwater tomb of the Great King Munmu, and got him to repeat the act a half dozen times and will close with what my camera captured--which is at the heart of all that's best, not only in South Korea, but every warm, happy, spot on this Earth.

Fun Korea Stuff

Just got back from on a trip with my Hagwon to Gyeongju, which I'll write about next week. For now, since I'm wiped out, I decided to address what my American friends, (both of whom are leaving me to go back to the states this week!!) and I have discussed as specifically "Korean." That's a question. Plagued by repeated wars, Korea struggles for a clear identity. But, as I pass my 2 month anniversary in Sacheon, here's a few things which stand out to me. First, of all, EVERYONE, young or old, LOVES KIMCHI. That includes me, though not with the same level of passion. What's not to love? It's spicy and low in calories and a perfect complement for rice!

Also, coffee is a lot more popular than tea.

Coffee shops, modern or old fashioned, like the one above, are EVERYWHERE. Then there's the whole SOCK fetish. In every department store, open market and many street corners, you see little displays and stands like this:

I love that obsession and intend to bring home a lot of Korean socks. In fact, I doubt I'll bring back very many American articles of clothing if they can be replaced by something Korean (or made in China--I bought 3 scarves from a market that were simply resold from China). Tiny little shops like this stationary store aren't just in Korea, I imagine, but I adore this one in Busan. I'll use the stationary I bought there for the few letters I get around to sending out. It's fabulously crammed full, with stacks of this and that in every conceivable space.

Korean chopsticks and the accompanying long-handled spoon are distinct to this country. Made of metal and shiny, they are lovely. I am learning to eat out of the communal dishes set out at the table, both in restaurants and in the academy where I eat dinner every night (because our director cooks!). Also, there are foods to combine and others NOT to mix, and it's important to keep the soup bowl on the correct side of one's rice dish. I'm learning by watching.

Some other odds and ends--toilet paper is used in place of paper towells at meals and used TP is generally stashed in a waste basket beside the toilet, not flushed. Garbage is sorted into recyclables and regular trash. Both are just left out in the appropriate plastic bags on a corner near your house to be picked up. Floors are heated in the winter instead of furnaces (I'll try that out soon), and hot water doesn't come from a hot water heater, it's heated as needed. Oh yes, and another random item of note--if dog meat is eaten around here, I'd be extremely surprised. Small dogs are plentiful and more obedient than most American dogs.

Depending on what happens and how long I stay, I'm seriously considering asking if I can keep a small dog in my apartment next year. I miss my Gideon so...but cats seem to exist as wild things to catch rodents. It's sad--I've never gotten close enough to pet one.

Busan

My only exposure to big cities in Korea has been in the airports of Seoul and Busan. So, yesterday, my friend Erin, who's returning to Baltimore, MD after living here 2 years, took me to Busan.

We had a blast! We tried new foods and shopped in the open markets

(I found some smokin' deals later that evening), visited the Lotte Building, where we saw the water and lights show, roof top views of the city and port,

beaches, and stopped at the children's park. While the kids ran around and tried to pet and feed the rabbits and pigs, their parents, and I, were transfixed by the children!

Most of the children through out the day were laughing and having a grand time, so the ones who pouted and the few who through fits were fun to watch, actually. There was one little girl on the subway who enchanted everyone. She had on one of those body "harnesses," and for good reason. All over the place, she bowed, waved, chattered and smiled during the whole ride, spreading cheer like a modern, Korean Shirley Temple! One Mom handed her a banana and she had a captive audience. Between her perpetual motion and the lurching of the train, I had a hard time getting a decent shot, but her she is, happy with her new banana and bowing to my camera.

Lantern Festival and Mountain Hikes

Last night I went with my coworkers to the annual Lantern Festival, but forgot to bring my camera!! So, here's a link to one of the online travel sites until I get some copies of photos from other teachers. http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=1424536 We didn't get back from Jinju until 1:30ish and I crashed around 3 am, so a little out of it today. Ah--this one's actually a lot better! http://yudeung.com/10E_index.php Seriously, this is a festival not to be missed!! Also, my American friends and I went hiking into some nearby mountains twice this week during the Chuseok break. On Monday, October 1st, we went to a nearby rock on top of a relatively small mountain. Here's a fun shot of my friend Erin on top of it!

Now, we all climbed out onto it and basked in the view of the river and farmlands, but Erin made a grrreat model for that moment in time! On Wednesday, October 3rd, we drove out a bit further, parked at the base of this hiking spot (the name of which I don't recall, so I'll just upload a photo of the sign).

We encountered a variety of points of interest, including slugs the size of Abe Lincoln's fingers, a snake or 2 curled up in the path, an ice-cream vendor who hauls his product all the way to the top (YES, we had ice-cream from him!) and PAINTERS at work where we needed to go onto a footbridge between two mountain peaks! We couldn't believe the timing--painting during one of the busiest holidays around here, on dangerous pathways and bridges--at best, tricky to navigate. But here's a view from atop that bridge.

The views were spectacular!! Thanks to the knowledge and hospitality of Kenny and Sherry Anderson for making such a hike possible!! I'll miss them when they head back to Texas soon, and Erin's headed back to Baltimore, Maryland...