Dynamic Busan

Living in a large metropolitan area has been so great. I'm definitely a city girl at heart. I love the constant energy, the throngs of people, the nonstop entertainment. I still walk the streets with a bit of awe that I'm actually living in Asia. I think I'm getting pretty good at finding my way around too. 

Other good news - I found out that my new apartment is only about 5 minutes away from my current place, and even closer to my best friend here in Busan! It's a newer complex as well, and even though the hassle of moving sounds like such a headache right now, it could be so much worse. Hopefully my school will help me move too. The plan is for next Sunday so I'll spend this week packing and cleaning this place. Poor Milo will have to deal with a third move in two months, but I'm sure he'll be fine. Good thing he's cute, snuggly and I love him so much!

Ok, on to pictures of city life!

These are shots from the Busan Train station, while I was waiting to pick Mary up last weekend. The trains to and from Daegu to Busan are cheap (around $10), fast, run multiple times an hour and the station is pretty easy to navigate. It was so great seeing Mary and we are both loving life in Korea. We would turn to each other a few times during the weekend and exclaim, "Holy smokes, we live in Korea!?!?" It was awesome.

Here is the Busan Station - it's huge but easy to get around.

Some shots around the taxi area and the front of the station. Cool art and pretty trees ...

Here are some pictures of Mary, Mel and I on Gwangalli Beach at sunset. It was cold, but beautiful. Mel is a friend of Kindra and Sean's that I met at their wedding this summer. She has been my best friend here and the biggest support I could ask for. We have decided that we were separated at birth :) She's amazing and one of the best things about Busan. And now I live 6 blocks from her, whoohoo! The last picture is us poking a bit of fun at the love of peace signs in all Korean photos, ha! Although my peace-loving self can definitely appreciate :)

Here are some random shots around my neighborhood. The McDonalds was a landmark Mel and I used my first few weeks here to meet up with each other. I still laugh when I think of how embarrassing that is! 

Mel and I attempted to see a movie this weekend but I ended up getting some great pictures from the elevator instead. Not a total loss! The last one is my subway station, taken one night on my way home from work.

The Shoe Has Dropped

For the most part, I try to be a glass-half-full kind of girl. I've always thought that being cheerful and positive was the best route. Although I've had my fair share of ups and downs, looking at the bright side has always been my goal. Although I try not to be pessimistic, sometimes I think things are too good to be true and I seem to hold my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. This experience in Korea has gone so smoothly that I've wondered what the catch would be sooner or later. The time has come.

After numerous emails and assurance from my school that everything would be fine with Milo, I've encountered a major problem. At first they just told me to keep a low profile with him. Then they told me that if my landlord happened to see him, to say that I was just watching him for a friend. Then the other day my cable was being installed, and my crazy landlord Mr. Sung saw Milo pop his head out from under the covers. My cover was blown, so to speak. He began to scold me and pointed to the door, repeating, Today, today! Which I took to mean that he wanted Milo to be out that day. I froze and told him yes, because I didn't know what else to say. I frantically called and emailed my boss to ask her what I should do. Later that day at school, she assured me that they would work something out with the landlord and it would work out fine. Ahhhh, my first experience with the contradiction that is Korean communication.

The next day I was informed I had to move. Out of my adorable apartment. Away from the perfect neighborhood that I've grown to love these last 2 weeks. Away from the five minute walk to my closest friend in Busan. Away from the convenient landmark that always assured me I would be able to find home. I was devastated. I was also extremely annoyed. I've moved twice in the last month and I am tired of carting my things around. I finally got cable. I finally figured out the fastest route to the subway and the best place to get kimbap and pizza in a cup when I was feeling homesick. It's not fair. I want to stomp my feet and throw a tantrum. But I'm almost 30 years old and life isn't fair. Things happen and things suck. This is one of those moments. I'm trying to think positively and hope that my new apartment will be even better than this one. I have to keep telling myself that or I'll go crazy. Stupid landlord ...

An American in Korea

Almost two weeks have passed since I’ve arrived in the ROK (Republic of Korea) and I think I’m adjusting pretty well. There have been a few moments where I think to myself “Where am I? What did I do??” but it’s been mostly fun and exciting. I’m stretching myself beyond my comfort zone and I’m proud of myself for not letting things bother me that may have in the past. Well, at least not too much, haha!

The one thing I’ve found since I’ve arrived is how self-conscious I feel being a minority. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for people who are different, but it’s very strange being that person. I get stared at every single day, and sometimes not so discreetly. There have been countless times that I absolutely know I am being talked about. The natural human curiosity is a fascinating thing. The first week, I found myself walking with my head down, no eye contact and very nervous when I was on the street or on the subway. However, I realized that most of these stares and whispers are mostly because people are interested, not hostile. I’ve started to look people in the eye when they stare, and return it with a smile. Most of the time I get one back, sometimes I don’t. It’s an empowering, strange feeling. It’s making me feel more self-confident, but also humbling me at the same time. It’s hard to describe.

As an American living abroad, I want to make a good impression on behalf of my country. I worry so much about the stigma of a “rude, obnoxious Westerner” and I hope I break that stereotype for the people who expect it. I am well aware that I am a visitor in this country, and I want to respect the culture and traditions as much as I possibly can. There are times when I get frustrated though, and have that embarrassing 5 second thought of, “Well, they wouldn’t do things like this in America! This is so weird!” Case in point: I just arrived at school this afternoon and the power is shut off from 2-4pm, to “check it,” as our head teacher explained. I had the brief thought that it was a really inefficient way to run building maintenance – why didn’t they check it at 2am instead of 2pm? Then I realized that they probably have a good reason, and it was arrogant of me to assume. Maybe they didn’t even have a good reason, but who am I to question? It’s actually fun, because all of us teachers are sitting in a classroom, working together for the first period of the day. And I’m able to write a blog post since I can’t access my online planning tools! ;)

I’m excited about what this year has in store for me. I think it will teach me a lot about myself, and I hope to come home with a new appreciation for what I have and what opportunities I’ve been given. So far it’s been nothing but feelings of gratitude and wide-eyed curiosity. Not a bad way to live your life if you ask me …

Blog Tip

You can enlarge any of the pictures just by clicking on them! Some of you seasoned bloggers may know this, but just an FYI for newbies like me :)

KJC Munhyeon

KJC is one of the biggest schools in Korea, with branches all over Busan. I work in the Munheyon (Mun-hee-yun) branch, and it's a newer facility with lots of classrooms and highspeed WiFi. It's right off the subway line which was a relief my first few days. The kids range in ages from 5-14 and come in after their regular school day. I arrive at 2:15pm and usually leave around 9:15pm. I have one planning period at 5pm for 50 minutes. I teach 2 classes of 13 year olds, called Leap 2 classes, and 4 classes of 9-10 year olds called Hop 1 classes. Most of the kids are very sweet and good, but some of my adolescent kids are just that - adolescents. This one kid Leo, decided to cut up a red pen during class yesterday and smeared the ink all over his desk. Awesome. What is he, 5?!?! He's a little smart-alek and I can tell we're going to butt heads. However, I am determined to get him to pay attention and turn this around. I have to channel my mother :) Again, I am so awed that she did this for over two decades!
We have a teacher's area where I have a desk area, and I move around to three different classrooms throughout the day.
So far it's been great! There is a lot of paperwork and I'm still getting into my groove, but I feel really good about my first solo week. I think I've found my calling...

The front lobby of KJC - we are on the second floor ...



Our sweet receptionists at the front desk. Note the peace sign ... Koreans do this in almost every picture!



James, the director of our branch. He was the one who picked me up at the airport when I arrived. Very nice and drives a sweet Lexus :)



The hallway between classrooms (the Arts wing and the Nature wing) and leads to the teacher's lounge ...



Teacher's lounge - my desk is on the left, the chair with the black trench coat ...



One of my favorite classes - the Hop 1C group. They are all so sweet and eager to learn. They love hearing things about my life in America!




I love my job!!

Asian Apartment!

I apologize for the lack of posts since I started this blog. I'm a little intimidated by the fact that so many people will potentially be reading what I write. Will I be witty enough? Interesting enough? Cool enough? I kind of feel like I'm back in Junior High - blogging style. This has also been a bit of a whirlwind week because I've been teaching on my own since Monday. It's been great but definitely exhausting. I have a huge new appreciation for what my Mom has been doing for over 20 years. Go Mom! It makes me really proud and feels awesome that I'm living out her legacy, over 5,000 miles away. I will be posting pictures of my school and some of my students after this one.

Ok, on to the apartment! It's much bigger than I expected and I'm lucky enough to have a separate kitchen/laundry area. Most places for teachers here in Korea have a very studio-ish setup, so I feel like I hit the jackpot!

Here is the view when you walk in the front door .... the kitchen area is through the sliding doors



The view from my kitchen, and the kitchen itself ... the washing machine is below the stove - crazy! There is a rack above the window for drying my clothes. There is a pulley system so you can raise and lower it for easy access. So efficient!






Here is my bed (the pillowcases I brought even match the comforter that Brittany left me!) and the view from my bed. I have lots of storage space which is great. The TV still doesn't work (no cable) but hopefully it will be fixed by Monday.





The view of my apartment from the kitchen. Milo is on my bed, doing what he does 99.99% of the time - sleeping! The front door/foyer is on the left ...




My bathroom with the funny shower head above the sink. I actually prefer this over a separate shower now - really! It's so easy to keep the bathroom clean and you have tons of room and don't feel "boxed in." I'm a convert ...



Here's another one of Milo. He has no idea that we're in Korea - for all he knows we moved to Beaverton - ha!



That's it! There's also a little foyer-type area when you walk into the door, but it's not very exciting. I put my shoes on the floor (it's Asia, you take off your shoes when you enter someone's house) and there is more storage space.
I'm hoping to get a few more things on the wall in the next few weeks. It's very cheery though, with lots of light. I'm very happy in my new home!!

Blogging for reals

Well, I'm here! In Korea and in blogger land, which to me are both foreign. I mean, I've been reading blogs for years now but I never had the guts and/or excuse to start my own. I guess living abroad for a year is a pretty good reason?

So far it's been amazing. I've only been here for 4 days but it feels like much longer. I was thrown into my job the day after I arrived but I think that was a good thing. Two days of training, a weekend (Halloween craziness, no less!) and I start teaching on my own tomorrow. Eeek! I think I'm ready though. Of course I'll probably show up 2 hours early just to prepare because I'm an intellectual perfectionist like that.

Halloween was a blast. Went and saw a friend's band play into the wee hours of the morning and managed to stay out until 2am. That's huge for jet-lagged Lindsay standards, but weak sauce by Korean standards. Oh well. My late-night stamina will just need some practice.

I've spent this lazy Sunday puttering around my apartment and going for a walk around the city. I'm still getting my bearings but things don't blur into a sea of neon anymore like they did the first few days.

I'm having trouble with my Korean washing machine which is frustrating, but there's a learning curve for everything. I'm hoping one of my coworkers can help me tomorrow.

That's really all for now. As soon as I figure out how to post pictures on this thing, I will. Emily, can you help??