End of March Update

I really don't have a lot to say.  This month has flown by and I can't believe it's already April! It's even more shocking that I've been in Korea over ten months.  This month, I was given a Wake Up 1A class again, meaning it is their first months of English.  I thoroughly enjoy the class.  There are 13 student students, all completely adorable and a lot of fun to teach!  This past weekend was an 80's theme night so a lot of people dressed up in their best 80's attire (all of which can be bought in Korea and is considered quality clothes.  :)  I chose not to partake in the dressing up but I had a great time dancing my butt off to some classic 80's music.  Next weekend, Jo's band "Feed the Boats" is playing in Seoul so the Gwangju Crew is going up to support.  It should be really fun going up their with everyone.  A bus tour is a possibility so I'll get to see parts of Seoul I haven't yet.

Anyways, hope everyone is doing great! I'll be coming home July 24-31! Four months away! Take care!

Lunar New Year Vacation

I don't see how February is the shortest month of the year, yet it seemed to drag on for about 1.2 billion years.  After Intensives finished, you would think I'd settle down to a very relaxing, easy-going month (also known as the typical, repetitive month as an ECC English teacher), but think again.  Instead, I took on the MC role at the Kindergarten Graduation variety show.  Granted it wasn't as stressful as I'm probably making it out to be, but being a prop in the Korean Education system had yet another opportunity to shine again.  

On occasion, I'd have to wake up one or two days a week (if that) to practice my script with Aden, my fellow MC.  (I should add that Aden is a seven-year-old Korean boy who had to memorize all his lines, be calm, and be cute all at the same time; the former two difficult and the latter ridiculously easy for a Korean child).  Fortunately, I did not have to memorize my lines.  Basically, I got up four hours early to play with cute kids and on occasion play the role as the very confused foreign teacher because almost everything was being spoken in Korean.  Below are some pictures of one of the practices I went to, as well as the actual graduation and variety show.

Aden, my MC. Cutest kid ever.

Aden and I on stage.

Some of the graduate performed 사물노리. It was really cool.

 

Finally graduated!

February was a big month for Koreans as Lunar Near Year is a highly celebrated holiday.  For Koreans, this is a time they spend with their family and literally say, "Show Me the Money!"  The parents, grandparents, etc. give money to their kids as tradition.  Also, this holiday marks the time where every Koreans turns one year older.  If you don't know, Koreans have a different aging system than the rest of the world.  Basically, you're one year older Korean age than your "actual" age.  So, on February 14, I turned 24.  (I loathe this idea, but I accept the Korean way).  

Anyways, because of this holiday, we got a four day weekend.  Katelyn and I decided to head to Busan, SK.  Busan is the second largest city in Korea, home to approximately 3.7 million people.  It is the fifth largest port city in the world and is famous for the beautiful but quaint Haeundae Beach.  It is nothing like the beaches I'm used to visiting in the Caribbean or even Florida.  It was still an awesome thing to see.  Sam and Steph visited Busan back in September (I think) and they said it was one of their favorite places in Korea.  I can believe it.  So, when it gets warmer and beach weather, Katelyn and I are going to go back to experience the beach life.

 

The famous bridge in Busan.

While in Busan, we also visited the aquarium.  It was pretty much like any other aquarium I've seen, but we definitely saw some pretty cool things.  Especially penguins.

 

  

  

 

I will do some backtracking now and mention that Katelyn and I stayed in Seomyeon the nights we stayed there.  It was an adventure from the get go, as we really had no plans or idea where to go. We got into a taxi and told the driver to go to Seomyeon-- one of the biggest provinces in Busan.  He was as confused as us.  We finally made it a point to say "Downtown Seomyeon" in Korean which made things a little less complicated.  He dropped us amidst the bright glowing lights and bustling streets of Seomyeon where we found the first "love motel" we could find.  

The room was very nice.  It was big with a large bathroom, king-sized bed, and a 40" plasma screen TV.  It also had a computer with internet.  Keep in mind, however, that these motels are typically used for Korean couples who need a night alone, whether it be away from their parents (because Koreans typically live with their parents until they are married) or a night after heavy Soju drinking-- Korea's firewater.  We were pleased with our decision to say there, as it was only about $50 or so each night.

The next day, we made our way out towards Lotte Department Store-- the Walmart/Bloomingdales/Louis Vuitton of Korea.  Lotte owns everything in Korea (I thought Walmart was bad!) Anyways, we had received Lotte gift cards from ECC, as well as a hefty paycheck the day before, so I decided to splurge on a very nice, albeit expensive SLR Nikon digital camera.  I got the Nikon D3000.  It's an awesome camera, which took the above pictures of the beach and aquarium. This is the second camera I've bought since I've been in Korea.  I justified my actions and splurge with my hard-earned extra money I earned in January from teaching Intensive courses.

We also made it out to Nampodong, which is famous for shopping, just as Myeongdong is in Seoul.  We didn't see much there, just a few shops, got something to eat, etc.  

Overall, Busan is a very interesting city and I loved my time there.  The only downfall Katleyn and I found was that (as expected) the foreigner population was much higher than Gwangju.  As stated in previous posts, I prefer making more Korean friends than foreigner friends, as I believe it enhances my experience here much better.  I love my foreigner friends I've got, but I just have no strong desire to really befriend any more.  

I'd definitely live in Busan, especially Haeundae Beach.  I thought I'd really enjoy my time there, especially being so close to a very nice and heavy-populated beach.  Busan is even more highly plausible as my next residence in Korea next March than it was before.  I just hope the fate of Busan is not accurately foretold as it was in the blockbuster movie Haeundae... at least while I'm living there.