Wednesday, May 11

Goodbye, Korea

I said my goodbyes to Korea four months ago and I've been enjoying the U.S. for the last three... It's high time I made this final post and said farewell to the Korea Chronicles.


My last few days in Korea were crazy and hectic, between packing and mailing boxes home, donating everything else to my bishop and the missionaries, finishing travel arrangements for the next three and half weeks spent in four different Asian countries, and tying up loose ends at my school.

If I remember correctly, I don't think I was all that sad to be saying goodbye. If anything, it just felt a little strange to know I was seeing streets and stores and restaurants for possibly the last time...ever. But walking away from teaching? Am I a despicable human if I admit to having no tears there? And the bitter, icy wind? Wow, I couldn't wait to get to the 80°+ Philippine weather.

I met some pretty cool people in Korea. The mostly sweet, very persistent, Jehovah's witnesses took me to lunch on one of my last days. I requested dak galbi, of course. It's maybe the only Korean meal I will miss. (And, in exchange for lunch, I patiently sat through a little bit of the Jehovah's witnesses' ministering, complete with pamphlets and a book of scripture I agreed to not throw away... Huh, it's sad how many things get misplaced in the process of moving from one country to another...)
Mm...yeah, dak galbi is delicious.

Between some packing, I snapped a few more pictures of my everyday sights in Chuncheon: 
From the second floor of my apartment building...

My mailbox...with all the delightful Korean mail that I couldn't decipher.

My basement, and the path I took to the laundry room. My camera flash makes it look like a nicely-lit space...well, it's not. I had to walk in the dark until just before I reached the laundry room (the doorway at the end on the right) and then, finally, an automatic light would flicker on--if I was lucky. Yeah...the creepiness got my blood pumping more than once...

Aww, my laundry room.

My gift to my apartment building: lovely sticky tabs translating the washing machine into English.

Aww...one of the last times I would walk out of my apartment building...

Oh, oops...I said I was going to try this little cafe across the street at least once before leaving Korea. I...never did. (Hey, it's scary walking into an unknown restaurant by yourself, not knowing what or how to order, and doing it all in front of a bunch of high-school boys! They would have laughed at me!)

My street...

Remember how I always wanted to go in this church that was behind my apartment building? Well, I finally did. As you can see, I only have pictures of the outside. Because the inside ended up being quite boring.



My Mini Stop! Aw, I bought so much soda and junk food here. :) And the young cashier who enjoyed saying "hello" (and all the other English words he knew, which came to a grand total of zero other words): I shall miss him.

One of my last times waiting at this crosswalk, attempting to blend in with all the other Koreans. Even after 6 months, I still got stares. *sigh*
 The red arrow above is pointing to my bakery, where I faithfully bought a loaf of white bread every week or so. I got to where I would just count out my 이천오백 (ee-chun oh-peck--2500 won) halfway up the block and have it ready in my pocket. That way I could properly concentrate on my "kamsahamnida" and "annyeonghi kyeseyo."


My favorite store ever!! Three floors of pure Awesome.

Well, I couldn't leave Korea without stocking up on Korean beauty products, now, could I? I also made trips to Skinfood, Beyond, Nature Republic, and Missha...perhaps it was a little overboard...

Packing and snacking... (Aloe juice became one of my favorite beverages in Korea.)

Teaching was an experience, one I will never forget. I learned so much, one of the biggest things being how to let go and just let the kids be wild from time to time. Or every day. Pictured below in the red coat (and doing a fancy one-legged stand) is one of my favorite 1st graders, the one I'd have shouting matches down the hallway with: "Baby teacher!" "Baby student!" "Baby teacher!
Aw. They're cuties. Especially now that my teaching responsibilities are over.

The note I left on my chalkboard before leaving for the last time. 
Translation: Goodbye! I love you guys. Love: Uh-buh-ree

My last time at Noodle Tree Restaurant, the place that saved my life (nutritionally-speaking) in Chuncheon: 
I thoroughly enjoyed it. And even gave the staff a thank-you card written in fluent English (yeah, they gave me weird looks, I don't care).

 My bishop and his family took me out to dinner on my last night in Chuncheon. We had shabu-shabu, and it was delicious. (Hmm...funny how some of my favorite Korean foods were actually Japanese...) 

After dinner, my bishop dropped me back off at my apartment and I loaded up their car with everything I had bought over the last 6 months and couldn't take with me--bedding, silverware, hangers, storage bins, art supplies--you name it. I even gave Sunny my little purse that I didn't want to take with me and a bottle of nail polish (unplanned, but I couldn't help it after seeing her admiring my makeup on my nightstand).
I'm telling you, there is so much joy in giving. :) :) :)

The next morning, I said my final goodbyes to my home: 
It wasn't much, but it was all mine and I loved it.

Except for the bathroom that was also a shower. I didn't love that.

My street in the cold, dark morning:
Walking away from my apartment and to the train station for the last time was strange and bittersweet. And bitter, bitter cold. I was so very excited to get to the Philippines.


And that's it. That was my last picture in South Korea. 6 months of my life gone and a chapter closed.

The things I won't miss:
kimchi
kimchi radishes
pickled radishes
men (and women!) spitting in public
teaching English as a foreign language to wild children
octopus tentacles in my soup
hunting for Mtn. Dew
a 20-minute walk to church (am I lazy or what?!)
a 2-hour trip to an English-speaking ward
the threat of North Korea 20 miles to the north
squat toilets
not having toilet paper or soap or paper towels in public restrooms
stairs...so many stairs
forcing myself to eat all of my school lunch, mystery vegetables and all
raw beef in an otherwise-cooked meal
being the only one to celebrate Halloween and the only one to properly celebrate Christmas
having to lug heavy bags of groceries three blocks back to my apartment
getting the "fat" look when I order a large soda at the movies when I'm obviously alone
having to air dry every single piece of clothing
my co-teacher and his inexperience with teaching
my landlady controlling my floor heating
doing food prep on my floor
getting my butt slapped before getting a shot in my butt
drunk vice principals at school dinners
the language barrier


The things I will miss:
my little one-room studio apartment (surprisingly)
having random people come up and yell "hello" or tell me I'm pretty
my sweet 2nd grade girls jabbering at me in Korean, like I understand
aloe juice drink
the easy access to an awesome and gigantic city (Seoul)
ajummas and ahjussis (they're so cute, especially the ones that try to talk to you on the bus)
those teeny tiny mushrooms that are so yummy in soups and stuff
going to the movies by myself
being the only one to understand the American jokes at the movies
cheap open-air markets
the funny Engrish sayings on clothing
Dunkin' Donuts
the Penis Park (juuust kidding)
cheap E.R. visits (I mean, if you must. And I did. Twice.)
badminton practice and tournaments with my school
Hershey's chocolate milk made with that amazing Maeil milk
the freshly-fried corn dogs in Chuncheon's Myeongdong
the opportunity to travel and do awesome things all. the. time.


Korea, overall, you've been a pretty awesome home away from home. Thank you so much for this incredible experience. Thank you for teaching me, embracing me, and giving me skills I will have for the rest of my life. Thank you for training me to handle stressful situations completely on my own (well, and with the help of Google Maps). Thank you for giving me confidence to go anywhere and do anything. I can't wait for my next opportunity to travel solo. I now know that I am tough enough to hack it. And that's an amazing feeling.

Monday, January 18

UTIs and Stuff

What to do if you get a UTI (urinary tract infection) in Korea:

Part One: ER visit

1. Panic momentarily.
2. Remember that Korea has amazing healthcare (*phew*).
3. Go to the emergency room at 2:00 a.m. (the best time to go to an emergency room in Korea, based on my experience...)
4. Give your Korean name to the guy at the front desk ("Um..sir. I think you're mistaken. Despite appearances, I'm not Asian. ...can I give you my American name??").
5. Explain to the ER doctor that you have 피 (pi/ blood) in your pee. Or mime. (Down here. Ouchie.)
6. Be escorted to the bathroom by an Asian nurse who mimes "pee in this here cup."
7. Wait for results in an empty lobby.

8. Get an antibiotic IV drip.
9. Realize that, in addition to your UTI symptom of urgency, you drank gallons of water before coming to the hospital.
10. Painfully wait while your IV drips...drips...drips...
11. Realize your IV bag is still half full and this is gonna be a very long wait...drip...drip...drip...
12. 저기요! (Cheogiyo!/ Excuse me!) 
13. 화장실? (Hwajangshille?/ Bathroom?) YES!! 사랑해요, I love you.
14. Take a little trip with your IV pole down the hallway to empty your bladder.
15. Finish your IV drip...drip...drip... (take ER selfies, scroll through Pinterest)
16. Pay a whopping (not really) 52,000 won for your visit (Only $50 for an ER visit? Yes, please.).
17. Walk home in the creepy 4 a.m. quiet while it starts to snow.

Part Two: Gynecologist visit

1. Walk back to the hospital (this time in daylight), clutching your paper that hopefully has the correct translation for Gynecologist.
2. Stand in the chaotic lobby, hoping you'll magically find a sign that says "IF YOUR NAME IS AUBREE AND YOU HAVE A UTI, ENTER HERE."
3. Have a random nurse spot you, glance at your paper (thank you, google translate), and escort you to the land of vaginas and babies (the tiny 3-room gynecology department).
4. Wait on a plush bench and look around.
5. Visit with the doctor. ("Where you from? Why you here?")
6. Have both the doctor and the nurse babble at you, trying to get you to confirm that you have dysuria. Yes, it's ouchie.
7. Visit some more with the doctor, look at his large atlas of Utah, as well as a dozen other state maps. (He's visiting the Western United States next year for a month and a half,)
8. Say goodbye to the doctor, wait for nurse to print up prescription and bill.
9. Have the doctor come back out with even more maps. ("Wow, sir, so many maps. Wyoming, eh? That'll be...exciting...")
10. Learn that the reason for the doctor's trip is that he's retiring. ("I'm 70 years old."--he looked about 55 or 60, wow!)
11. Pay bill. (23,000 won)
12. Get antibiotic shot. In your butt, duh. (slap, slap)

Part Three: Pharmacy visit

1. Walk 10 feet next door to the pharmacy.
2. Drink the complimentary healthy Korean beverage and wait for all of 5 minutes for them to fill the prescription.


Part Four: Walk home

1. Walk home happily (Who's got drugs? I do!)
2. Have Korean high school boy say "hi" to you like you're a wild animal, respond "hello" and have him and his friend laugh, surprised that "it" can speak.



Yup, I am very satisfied with Korea today. Korean healthcare is awesome. And so cheap. (Not that it matters, because I'm on my school's insurance and it will get reimbursed anyway...)

Moral of the story: get sick or injured in Korea.

Wednesday, December 30

TaLK Reunion, School Stuff, and Christmas

Hello! Have you  missed me? I miss you guys like crazy! Here's a whole bunch of catching-up:


TaLK Reunion

A few weeks ago, the TaLK program had a reunion with all current scholars (350 of us total). We stayed at the Imperial Palace hotel in Gangnam. Fancy shmancy place. The Christmas decorations in the lobby were the best part.



The TaLK program took us on several cultural outings, including to the DMZ and 3rd infiltration tunnel. *sigh* "You mean I have to go to North Korea again?? Okaaaay..."

The tunnel was kind of cool (I wasn't allowed to take pictures, though). You have to wear hard hats because the ceilings are quite low (most of the time in the tunnel is spent arched over, actually). The tunnel is narrow, too, so I don't recommend this activity for claustrophobic folks. Anyway, you walk a ways and then you get to the North Korean border and there's a little window and you can look through to North Korean's side of the tunnel (ohmygosh). And then you walk back out. Cool, huh? 


We went to the Dorasan Observatory and looked out at North Korea: 

Just a stone's throw away. For someone with a very good arm.


And then we went to the train station: 
Next stop: Pyeongyang



We went to the coolest interactive art performance! Oh my gosh, it was so fun. I don't think I've ever been so thoroughly entertained and mesmerized. These 4 guys called The Painters put on a 2-hour show of comedy acts and dance routines--all set to music and all while they painted and drew awesome pictures on stage. 


Those are rubix cubes on the left, by the way. They had a whole routine where they rearranged the rubix cubes (individually, too) to reveal a superman shield on the front and Clark Kent on the back. Pretty cool. 


The guy on the right is Muscles (as I like to call him). All the girls screamed and swooned when he came onstage shirtless. Super funny.


For another cultural activity, we went to a palace-y/traditional Korean place where we made tea: 
[She was so elegant and graceful in her movements of making and pouring the tea! Which, by the way, is a long and complicated process...so much pouring and re-pouring and swirling in different cups...it was actually super soothing and hypnotizing just to watch her. Is tea-making-watching sleep therapy a thing?]

...and we wore Hanbok: 

Oh, that lime green is faaan-tastic. And the running shoes complete the look, I think.


One of the tour guides. She was super cute. But I have no idea what she said (I didn't listen to the translations, either, because I was kind of bored...)

Anyway, that was the reunion! (Other things we did but not pictured were: eat average Korean buffets, watch TaLK presentations/videos/talent show, ride on buses, and meander through Itaewon in our free time--which I spent with my friend Nick touring random art galleries.)


Before going back to Chuncheon, I went with friends Nick and Anisha to Myeongdong for lunch and shopping. I didn't buy anything but I enjoyed the window shopping. And I absolutely loved the store displays: 


Okay, America, we gotta catch up to this level of fashion... ^^

School Stuff

Uhh...I maybe had a really bad day where I made my students write lines...and one of the girls left crying after my co-teacher yelled at them. Oops. But this was kind of funny, you have to admit:
Ahahaha...I'm such a mean teacher sometimes.

My 2nd graders made Rudolph headbands:
And of course my co-teacher had to be in the picture. (Er, we get along well enough, but let's just say I'm not his biggest fan...he kind of annoys me to no end.)


Every time I get my camera out, Ju Hoon comes up to me like this, right in the lens of the camera. Most days, he actually kind of reminds me of this: Ju Hoon in Animated Female Form

The 1000 won Daiso Santa beard was a hit...

This same 1st grader was later playing with my white board markers, so I made him write something productive:
Again, I deserve "Best ESL Teacher of the Year" award...

Selfie time! In other words, I'm bored waiting for my classes to arrive and feel like smiling for a few minutes before I have to start yelling at crazy mini humans.

Ohhp, yep, hello again, Ju Hoon. Yes, I have my camera again.

Hehe...I made my 2nd graders put on a little play...that turned into a chaotic presentation of some random lines. I uploaded the whole thing in two parts just so you can get a feel for my frustrating lack-of-control in the classroom:


Aww...some of my 1st graders gave me Christmas presents:
Sweet cheese potato chips for Christmas gifts? Why didn't I think of that!

Christmas

My Chuncheon ward had a little Christmas party the weekend before Christmas:
A devotional, dinner, a visit from Santa, and musical performances...


My bishop and his family (minus the random boy who kept photobombing everyone).

The missionaries performed a funny little Christmas song and dance.

An impromptu traditional Korean number:
This lady isn't a member but miraculously came to the Christmas party with her daughter's family. The senior missionary couple visiting from Seoul were super friendly to her, got her out of her shell a little bit, and this was the result--an Arirang sing-along.

I swear, Korean kids can get away with murder. They can do whatever they want, whenever they want and no one gets mad at them. Like this boy taking pictures of everyone in the middle of this missionary's performance:

But sometimes they behave enough to perform an adorable primary song:
(I think this is our ward's entire primary...)


My bishop and his family:
 
I love these sister missionaries! The one on the left (I can never remember her last name) is from Sri Lanka. Sister Murdock is from Bountiful, Utah. They're super sweet girls and I'm so glad they stayed in Chuncheon after transfer calls a few weeks ago.

My Christmas gift I dropped off to the sisters a few days later: 
I was super excited about it! I hope they liked it. I had a bit of an adventure getting it to their apartment...Note to self: do not hop on random buses and expect them to take you closer to your destination... So, yeah, I walked for a long time. But, on the plus side, I ran into some random strangers who (I think) told me I'm beautiful and wanted to know if I was an English teacher and where I was from. They were very nice, though I thought it was kind of funny how they kept jabbering in Korean like I just maybe might be fluent. Smile and nod.


I spent Christmas Eve at a member's home in Pyeongtaek (near one of the US military bases). The family who lives there was out of town for the holidays, so they invited the YSA group to stay over and use their lovely abode. We played games, ate delicious food, listened to Christmas music, watched White Christmas, and exchanged gifts. It was probably as good a Christmas as I could have had in Korea. It almost felt like being home. 
Stockings hung with care...


My lovely ornament I added to the tree...

Christmas sugar cookies. I made a beautiful snowflake cookie. But I ate it before snapping a picture. Oops.

Whaa?? Real kitchens and countertops do exist in Korea! And dishwashers! Ohmygosh. 
Oh, yeah, that's right. Because this is a US military home...
 
Christmas morning breakfast of french toast, eggs, bacon, juice, and clementines!! Awesome!

And then we lounged and played games and watched White Christmas. And I took a little nap. Because my night of sleep on a partially-deflated air mattress in an unheated bedroom was less than perfect. But, hey, I never sleep that great on Christmas Eve anyway, so it just made it feel all the more like home.

I barely caught a bus back to Chuncheon in time. Like, with half a second to spare. Otherwise I would have had twice the travel time by subway or train. So that was lucky. And then I got to Skype my amazing family bright and early on December 26th (for me). And that was super duper great to be a part of that. But...I'm already looking forward to next Christmas. Living in another country sure makes you grateful for what you have at home, especially holiday traditions and strong family relationships. And dishwashers, vacuums, Walmart, and my sewing machine. I miss those things too.

But until I can have those things again, I will rub this in your face: my Dunkin Donuts is better than yours.

K, love you all! Hope you have an awesome New Years!