Media Monday: Korea and Dinosaurs, What?

Seriously, two of my favorite things coming together in one article?

Those would be Korea and dinosaurs...I've always loved dinosaurs!

Also, this shows that the dinosaur-to-bird evolution may have some serious evidence to back it up.  All in all, pretty cool!


Here's the story:
http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2997736

Media Monday: Well, OF COURSE They Do...

OF COURSE North Korea's response to the UN's decision to investigate possible human rights violations is to threaten nuclear testing.  It's kinda their knee-jerk reaction to everything (which in and of itself, that reaction should prove that NoKo is NOT responsible enough to have nuclear weaponry....I tend to think about a toddler who throws violent temper-tantrums every time it doesn't get its way.).

And of course the rest of the world has to take the threat seriously.  Which in turn only enables North Korea to think that the threat of nuclear testing can be and is the answer to everything they don't like.

The worst thing is there is no easy, or even feasible, way to resolve this.  For everyone who thinks their respective country (I'm not pointing fingers) should be isolationist, this is the result.  NOTHING exists in a bubble.  No man is an island, and whatnot.

Read the story:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30125047?OCID=fbasia

Friday Fives: My Top 5 Favorite Konglish Pronunciations (So Far)

Again, listed in countdown order.  I will try to write these out phonetically, as my students said them.  The actual Engish word(s) they meant is after the jump.  If you read (and understood Wednesday's Word Wednesday post, you may be able to guess ahead of the jump.  Because (generally) my students broke up the words into syllables (and pronunciation) as they would understand them in Hangul.


5. Tey-me

4. Pee-rhat

3. Rah-dee-oh

2. Soo-vi-vi-or/Sir-viv-al

1. Neh-to-land

Word Wedneday: Syllables

Now, that we have learned all those Hangul letters, let's work on making some words!

So, Korean words are really easy to understand.  They are syllabic in consonant-vowel(-consonant) form...usually...and when they vary from this form, it still makes a lot of sense.

Let's start with something simple.  Like Seoul.  To Americans (or English speakers in general) this is a one syllable word.  It's 2 syllables in Hangul: Seo-ul.  The first is 서 (Seo) and then 울 (ul).  The first syllable is C-V, the second is C-V-C.  I know the second syllable looks like it is just V-C, but the ㅇ is considered a "placeholder" consonant...here it is a silent consonant, like the p in pneumonia.  Ok so far?

Let's look at my town: Jincheon.  Do you see it?  Jin-Cheon.  Two perfect C-V-C syllables:  진(Jin) 천(Cheon).  Because "ch" is the hangul letter ㅊ, right?

Some other Korean place names you may have heard:

Busan > 부(Bu) 산(San) >  C-V and then C-V-C
Cheongju > 청(Cheong) 주(Ju) > C-V-C and then C-V
Gangnam > 강(Gang) 남(Nam) > C-V-C and then C-V-C
Pyeongyang > 평(Pyeong) 양 (Yang) > C-V-C and then C(silent)-V-C

Pretty cool, huh?

Or my Korean name: Hee Jin.  희(Hee) 진(Jin)...C-V and then C-V-C.

Most Korean words are 1 or 2 syllables...I have (so far) not seen many exceptions...and those are usually Konglish (Korean-English) words or other foreign words...like 바나나 (ba-na-na) or 카나다 (Ka-na-da).

Let's leave it here and let all that sink in.

Media Monday: The Problem(s) with Korea's English Education System

Now, this is an interesting article.

The writer is mainly discussing "hagwon" or after school private lesson academies and university entrance testing.  A lot of his points carry a lot of weight.  As someone who is a foreign English teacher, an Anthropologist, and student of half a dozen foreign languages (each taught in a different style) I can honestly agree with a lot of his points.

The Korean English education system is flawed...what foreign language program isn't?  There is no substitute for learning a language "organically."  But "immersion language programs" don't always mesh with a student's personal learning style.  I, for one, can't learn that way...I need to study and drill and analyze and practice before I can begin to understand in an immersion-style environment.  However, some people do fabulously in that type of learning environment.

Friday Fives: My Top Five Favorite Things Students Have Said to Me (So Far)

Sorry, for the delay....I had a busy end of the week last week!


I am presenting this one in count-down order...to build the tension to my favorite thing that a student has said to me.

5.Teacher, I love you.

This first time any student ever told me this I was, at the very least, surprised.  I think I said "thank you" in return.  It's just not something American students think...let alone say.  Then my co-teacher explained that students don't necessarily mean it as "I love you", but sometimes use it like "hello" and even as a figure of speech, like say, when they make a good grade on a test.  Anyway, I still choose to believe that it is sweet and flattering.

Thurday Trivia: Photographs of Korea 100 Years Ago

This drifted across my Facebook news feed a few days ago and I was fascinated by it.  Photographs from Korea from about 100 years ago.  A pre-Kpop/Kdrama Korea.  It's interesting to see that little bit of "Western-ness" had started to creep in, but as of 100 years ago (the blink of an eye by historical standards) Korea was still largely very traditional-looking.

Please enjoy!
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/03/05/35-fascinating-photos-of-korea-from-100-years-ago-before-k-dramas-took-over-asia/

Word Wednesday: More Vowels

So, last time we went over the "regular" Korean vowels.  That means this week it is "irregular" vowels...or "dipthongs."

They look like this:

These are surprisingly easy to learn...if you have learned the regular vowels.  Most of them simply add a "w" sound to the front of the vowel.  But be fair warned, some of these are not always consistently romanized and I will try to point them out.  Let's begin, shall we?

Tasty Tuesday: Pepero Day

By happy coincidence, today happens to be Pepero Day.  November 11...which I have to explain to students is an entirely different holiday in America, which is why I don't give out pepero.

Anyway.

Pepero is the long stick cookies that are usually dipped in something  (the Japanese call it Pocky...if that sounds more familiar).  Like in this chart:

The story is November 11th (11-11) is Pepero day because the ones in the date look like the stick candy.  I think the superstition is that if one eats Pepero at 11:11 on 11/11 (November 11th) they will become tall and slim like the candy.  (Alas, that ship has long since sailed for me.)  Girls and boys give Pepero to their crushes...or just people they like...as part of over a dozen "couple holidays" that Korea does during the year.

I think it's sweet...and so uniquely Korean.

Last year, I did not get any Pepero....and as of lunch time this afternoon, I had not received any (well, one student gave me a homemade cookie, but not made Pepero-style, so I am not sure it counts, but the love is there nonetheless).  So, I had resigned myself to thinking that this would be another Pepero-less year for Betsy Teacher.  But, just before the bell rang to release students for the day, some of my best and most favorite students came to bring me Pepero...both store bought and homemade!  I am so touched and happy!

This year's Pepero haul!  ^.^

Media Monday: Sooooo Cool! Joseon Dynasty Ship Found

This speaks to me on so many levels!   This one really gets back to my Anthropology/Archaeology roots!  I wish I knew how to get involved with some archaeology projects while I am here.

Check it out:
http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2996975&cloc=joongangdaily

Apologies

To my most consistent readers,

I apologize for my lack of blogging lately.  In true Korean-style, I have been insanely busy these past couple of weeks.  Also, in true Korean-style, I did not know about many of these things until almost the last minute.

Last week was the school's annual English Speech Contest...which I not only judged, but also edited speeches and served as the test audience and Henry Higgins of it for many students.  That is...I listened and corrected pronunciation for them.  It's easy enough for 3-4 students, but I had, maybe 6-7 students come regularly and another 5 or so that only wanted help one or two times during their preparations.

Then this week I have had 4 classes added to my regular teaching schedule...and had a last minute scramble to prepare a lesson for them.

So, all of this on top of my normal teaching duties, my birthday happened...Happy Birthday to me!  Now, the annual school newspaper (in English) will be published soon and I will be busy editing articles.

But I promise...PROMISE...that I will do my best to get back on track with my blogging.  I know some of you are dying to know more Korean/Hangul. ;)

Until then, dear readers!

Media Monday: Kim Jong-Il's Sushi Chef

This is an interesting read.  I've read it once before years ago and found it fascinating. Even though Kim Jong-Il is gone, this scooted back across my Facebook feed the other day and I very much enjoyed reading it again...it's an amazing article with a unique perspective of inside North Korea.

Read it here:
http://www.gq.com/news-politics/newsmakers/201306/kim-jong-il-sushi-chef-kenji-fujimoto-adam-johnson

Friday Fives: Five Ways South Korean Culture and "Southern Culture" are Alike

It seems like a bit of stretch, but there are a lot of ways that my "new" Korean culture and my "old" southern culture are alike.  True...the language barrier can be crippling sometimes, but day to day getting along hasn't been so difficult for me.  I think a lot of it has to do with the fact the there are several similarities between the cultures.  So, this week's Friday Fives is dedicated to my opinion on that:

1) Speak Politely to Strangers
There are several ways to speak to people in Korean: informal, formal, polite, honorific...it can be confusing.  Most books for learning Korean start with the formal and polite tones.  And honestly, most strangers respond positively to this and will typically use it to address you.  And be sure to bow (it is a sign of respect/acknowledgement)...a little bow goes a long way.

Thursday Trivia: Top 10 Weirdest Places in South Korea

This could be considered a Media Monday category, but since Thursday Trivia is meant to be a "catch all" category it fits here, too.  So, here are the top 10 weirdest places in South Korea.  Let's see how many I can get to in my travels!

Link:
http://www.koreaobserver.com/top-10-weirdest-places-in-south-korea-24161

Word Wednesday: Vowels

So, vowels are considerably easier than consonants.  First off, there are only 10 basic vowels.  Which means there are some irregular vowels, but those are pretty easy to understand too.  No fear, for today, we will just look at the basic vowels.

In Korean alphabetical order they are:

Easy, right?  Well, easier, at any rate. :)  My students told me that vowels order is one-plus-one...that is, the letter then the letter plus the "y" sound.  For example ㅏis the letter (one) andㅑ is the letter plus the "y" sound (plus one).  With me so far?

The story goes that Sejong and Company derived the vowel shapes from three components: sky (the "dot" because the sky is a sphere), earth (horizontal line because the earth is flat), and man (the vertical line, because men/humans stand upright).  Over time the "dot" has evolved to a dash, but the concept behind it remains.

Now. moving on to pronunciation:

Tasty Tuesday: Japanese Snacks

No, it's not a typo.

Yes, I know I am in Korea.

I am posting about Japanese snacks because last week, the top students in the school went on a weekend trip to Japan.  Then yesterday, two students in my first class of the day asked if we could have some time to have a small party so they could share some snacks they brought back for the class.  Well, I thought that was so sweet and kind I had to say yes.  They insisted I join in too, so here are my Japanese snacks in Korea.

Media Monday: The Honesty Experiment

This just warms my heart!

Granted Belif is a cosmetics company...one that markets itself on the concept of truthfulness.  But, still, the experiment proves why I feel so safe and secure here.  I won't spoil it, so give it a watch!

The Honesty Experiment:
http://www.allkpop.com/buzz/2014/10/south-koreans-are-tested-on-honesty-in-a-subway-experiment

Friday Fives: Five Things I Have in Korea That I Never Thought I Would Own

1. A Rice Cooker
I mean, I always thought you could JUST. COOK. RICE.  Before my return to the "motherland," I never really understood why you would even need something like this.  But I get it now.  You can make rice for the day in one go (or in my case, several days), it always turns out perfectly, and (especially for me) you aren't occupying your only stove burner with a pot of rice.  Not to mention there are fancy versions that make more than plain rice.

2. An Electric Kettle
Because, again, I always thought you could just boil water.  But again, when you only have one burner, then you hate to occupy it with the tea kettle.  Plus, it is actually more energy efficient that boiling water the old fashioned way...and in considerably less time!

Thursday Trivia: KPop versus KIndie

I'm really not a Kpop fan...there I've said it.

A lot of the reason is because (in my opinion...Kpop lovers, just my opinion) there is not much middle ground.  This girls all look like this:

And the boys all look like this:

With the notable exception of Psy.  Not to mention Kpop "bands" are a dime a dozen.  I can name 20 or so just off the top of my head and I'm not a fan.

Word Wednesday: Consonants

Let's start with the Hangul consonants.  There are only 19, and 5 of them are the "doubled" version of regular consonants.

So, in (Korean) alphabetical order they are:

The "double letters" (ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ) are alphabetized immediately after their "single" variant.

According to traditional stories, the consonants were developed based on the shapes of the tongue and/or the mouth as it is pronounced.

Ok, so let's work through these.  And I know there are tons of pronunciation charts out there...and you could just do a google search, but these are pronunciation tips that help me and I am just passing them along.

Tasty Tuesday: First Nepal Butter Chicken

First Nepal is this tiny Indian restaurant in the Chungdae area of Cheongju.  The decor is adorably Indian: bright colors, Hindu art, and paisley.  But for me, the real draw is the butter chicken makhani...so much so that I will suffer a 45 minute, poorly ventilated bus ride (the local buses are a bit sketchy) thorough the twisting and turning countryside just to have lunch.

The butter chicken is just wonderful!  Slightly spicy, and the sauce is so smooth and creamy...it's really one of the best things ever.  Add the fresh naan bread and some rice and, if you manage to finish the meal, you are full all day.  Even if you follow up with a marathon shopping trip.

How can explain how to get there?  I can't.  Chungdae is a bigger maze or streets, walkways, and alleys than even Hongdae.  Your best bet is to take a taxi or ask a local.  If you get off the bus at the Sachang Sagori there are lots of young college students around, most of whom should have basic English skills, that you can ask.

Or if you are just determined to go alone...get to the Lotte movie theater in Chungdae.  Go inside and take the side exit by the elevator.  Watch your step on the way down, the stairs are steep and uneven.  Turn right.  You will cross an alley/access road with a Watson's on the corner.  Its on the right almost immediately once you cross...on the second floor.

Media Monday: Well, Korea, That's Disappointing...

I would expect these kinds of shenanigans from North Korea, but SoKo, this is just disappointing...not to mention very upsetting.

This article reports that, potentially, the Kakao Talk chat app (which I use and love, btw) is being screened for negative comments about President Park Geun-Hye, particularly her handling of the Sewol Ferry incident back in April...and, potentially, prosecuting people for their comments.  This upsetting for so many reasons: invasion of privacy, limitations of free-speech, and so on.

Read the story here:
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-29555331?OCID=fbasia

Gyeongbukgung Palace

I feel like this is really one of those "must see" things in Korea.  It was the major royal palace for a long time, but was destroyed when the Japanese colonized Korea.  It's (obviously) been rebuilt and restored since then.  So, this place is not only fascinating for me as a Korean-American, but also from an archaeological perspective.

Anyway.

First, how to get there.  Easy-peasy.  Take the Orange Line (line 3) to Gyeongbukgung Station and take exit 5.  It's literally right there.  If the historical significance and ease of access aren't enough to make you add it to your list, the subway exit looks like this:

The Royal Palace Museum and Korean Folk Museum are also right there and worth checking out (either on this visit or in the future).  They are both free (except for special exhibitions) so why not?

Now, back to the Palace.

Friday Fives: Five Things I Have Learned About Myself This Past Year

Sorry, guys...going to go a little po-mo on you (post-modern, if you didn't know).

I've been a little self-reflective in honor of my one-year anniversary in Korea and at Jincheon High School.  It's been good...it's been bad...it's been really good...and it has been downright ugly at times.  However, I can honestly say that the good has outweighed the bad and I am truly looking forward to my next year+ here.

So, in a year of ups and downs, major life changes, and small tweeks, I have learned these 5 things about myself:

Thursday Trivia: Hangul Proclamation Day

It's Hangul Proclamation Day!

I didn't plan for it to be Hangul Proclamation Day the day after I began Word Wednesday, but it happened that way.

Anyway, in 1446, King Sejong the Great (probably, my favorite monarch...as he was a man of the people) decided, "Hey, y'all, I've invented a writing system, so let's all use it."

I paraphrased that.

But, Sejong and a team of scholars did set to work developing Hangul (in it earliest incarnation) for the Korean people to use.  Before Hangul, Koreans used Chinese characters which, (I can attest) can be quite difficult for the common man to learn and use.  Only slight (and I mean super-slight) modifications have been made to Hangul ever since (and I mean, super, super-slight, like the way a character is written).

This year, 2014, is the first year for Hangul Proclamation Day to be an official, no work or school day in Korea.  Before, it has always been an "anniversary day."

Word Wednesday: Introduction to Hangul

So, really, if you are going to learn a language, you should learn it properly.  I know a lot of foreign teachers that just memorize phrases, or just "pick things up."  Which, that's all well, and good, but since my goal is fluency...and my background is Anthropology...I study language like a linguist.  That is, I focus on all aspects of the language (reading, writing, speaking, listening) as well as the nuances in speaking, gestures, colloquialisms, etc. and the origins and formation of words and phrases.  It's a busy way to study, but thorough.

Anyway, you can't possibly expect to learn Korean without Hangul.  Ok, you can, but really the system is so logical and, once you understand it, intuitive, it just makes sense that you should know it.

So, if you look at an English/Hangul computer keyboard, it looks like this:

It looks intimidating and the Hangul phonetic sounds are not on their corresponding English letters.  So, typing in Hangul can take some getting used to, but if you'll notice, all the consonants are on the left and all the vowels are on the right...so that will cut down on a lot of hunting for the right letter.

Tasty Tuesday: Beale Street Korea

Ah, Beale Street!  I really miss Memphis some days...Elvis, the Blues, Sun Studios, Lorraine Motel, Memphis Tigers, barbecue, the Memphis Farmer's Market...when I feel homesick, I feel homesick for Memphis.  So when I heard there was a Memphis bbq place hidden away in my favorite neighborhood in Seoul (already too good to be true) I had to find it.

I decided to spend Chuseok in the city (it was a 5-day weekend, so why not?) and decided that it was time to go on a food adventure.  So, after checking in and taking a quick rest, I hit the street of Hongdae to find it.

So, how to get there is pretty tricky...Hongdae is a fantastic cluster of meandering pedestrian streets, so even though these are not the directions I used to find it, they are the easiest to follow, I think.

Take the Green Line (line 2) to Hongik University Station.  Take exit 9.  Walk to the first major 4-way intersection and turn left.  Walk all the way to the end of the block.  It's a long block.  There are lots of little pedestrian walk-ways and access roads, but you'll want to go all the way up to the major road for cars...just past the park.  Turn right and cross the street (if you haven't already done so).  You'll pass the park and a few small access roads, but when you get to the first major access road turn right and go down that street.  It will be on the left.

Or if you are Hongdae-savvy, of you are facing Cocoon night club and Art Box take the road on the left, past Thursday Party and you'll run into to.

Anyway, hop on up to the second floor and have a seat.

Media Monday: North Korea Top Officials Visit South Korea

So, this could be HUGE...or it could be a lot of smoke and mirrors...or it could be nothing at all.  At any rate, top North Korean officials came to the Asia Games closing ceremony.  There's a lot of hype that this is a big step toward unification...and a lot of speculation about what is going on in the North. It will be interesting to see what happens going forward.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/04/world/asia/north-korea-officials-surprise-visit/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Coming Soon...

I said in an earlier post that I would change the formatting of my blog a little.  Instead of the 365 Photo journal, I will be (trying to) post each weekday and have weekly themes.  The themes are as follows:

Media Mondays
I will try to bring you Korean media (movies, music, commercials, whatever) or media articles regarding Korea, Korean culture, the Korean Peninsula, etc.

Tasty Tuesdays
Food, glorious food.  Either food found here in Korea (traditional, foreign, fusion, snack, meals...anything really), restaurant reviews, recipes made using only ingredients that can be easily found in Korea.

Word Wednesdays
Let's learn Korean together!  Starting with Hangul and working our way up to (as we say back home) "conversating" (not conversing, but con-ver-say-ting), let's work together.

Trivia Thursdays
"Trivia" is a bit of a misnomer...it's not really about trivia, but rather cultural bits, historical notes, noteworthy places and the like.

Friday Fives
I will do my best to round up the week for you in nice, neat little packs of five.  Or at least, give you a comfortable top 5 listing of something or another.

So, the new format will keep me quite busy...if I manage to do it properly.  But let's face facts, sometimes I fell behind in my 365s, so I am sure to fall behind writing full-length posts.  However, I am going to give it my best shot.  So, be sure to sign up for email updates...and a few comments to keep me motivated wouldn't hurt. :)

Namsan Tower

First of all, it’s not really called Namsan Tower anymore…the official name is N Seoul Tower, but it still sits on top of Namsan Mountain, so the locals still call it Namsan Tower.  Confused yet?

Next, how to get there.  You can see the tower from most places in Seoul that are north of the Han River.  There are a couple of bus lines that drive up the mountain, but I took the cable car…well, because I like cable cars.  And really, the view of watching the bustling city melt away is with the cost of the ticket.  To take the cable car, take the subway Line 4 (the light blue line) to Myeongdong Station and take exit 3.  Turn and face Namsan Mountain.  If you are unsure (as if you can’t see the tower on top of the mountain) the main shopping street of Myeongdong will be to your back.  And if your back, knees, ankles…essentially, your lower body, are in bad shape, you might want to take a taxi from here…because even though I consider myself moderately fit (i.e., not skinny, but not fat) I was huffing and puffing by the time I got there.  Start walking up the hill.  The Pacific Hotel sits in the fork in the road.  Take the right fork (the hotel will be on the left) and keep walking.  (By the way, if you take the left fork there is a deceptive orange path painted on the road...you are NOT going in the right direction!)  You will think you should be there long before you actually make it, but just keep on the road.  You will eventually see the building for the cable cars and will need to make your way up 2 kinda steep flights of stairs to the ticket booth.

Now, I will digress.  You feel a certain sense of walking back in time.  You leave behind the glitzy bustle of stylishly dressed Koreans shopping for the latest fashions in neat, clean department stores blasting Kpop music.  You begin to enter an older, slightly dingy and quietly serene neighborhood of guesthouses, traditional-style restaurants.  Eventually, you will arrive at the ancient (or at least very, very old) fortifications of the NamSeoul fortification.

EPIK 365 Day 365: The Last One!

Well, this is a little anti-climactic...my last 365.

Anyway, I am posting this one because I am amazed by how it happened.  I was in and out my classroom all day and then right before I went home I noticed someone had posted schedules (for something) on my door.  I never even heard them!  Never mind that I spent all day watch Last Week Tonight on youtube...but I never heard anyone in the hall or at my door!

EPIK 365 Day 364: Korean-Style Coffee

I would say I am a coffee-snob, but that's a lie.  I love the good stuff, but I will settle for instant just for the caffeine.  I like this one pretty well...it comes with cream (powdered) and sugar already measured out.

EPIK 365 Day 363: Dragonfly

I love dragonflies!  They are my favorite insect.  Korean dragonflies are a little more plain than the ones back home...more brown and less iridescent.  Still, I love them...and I have discovered I have quite a talent for catching them and having them perch on me.

EPIK 365 Day 362: Subway Stations

I know it's a little odd, but I am fascinated by the subway stations in Seoul.  They're so clean and go beyond "functional".  Unlike subways stations in the US (ok, that's a broad statement, I have not been that many places in the US with a subway, but my experience with the few I have been to have a tendency to be more "functional" and less their own thing).  And depending on where they are, they are decorated/outfitted to match the world above.

The first one is Gangnam Station, and it's shiny and pretty and like a little underground shopping mall.   In fact, if you were so inclined, you probably would not need to go above ground if you didn't want to.

The next one in Gyeongbokgung Station...near Insadong and the palace.  It has regally themed decorations and the closer you get to the palace, there are a set of stairs that mimics the stairs in the palace.  (Plus there is a museum INSIDE the station if you take exit 5, the same one going to the palace).

EPIK 365 Day 361: Where the Sidewalk Ends

As my sleepily little town prepares to become a sleepy little city, I imagine that this will be a busy year for Jincheon.  New buildings keep going up, old buildings get remodeled, and the whole town is getting a general "sprucing up."  This week they ripped up the old inlaid brick sidewalks, paved them smooth and painted bricks on them.  They look nice.

EPIK 365 Day 360: Almost Ready!

As we are rapidly coming to the end of my 365, I noticed that the rice is starting to turn.  It was harvest time when I arrived a year ago and has most come full circle.  Rice turns yellow when it is ready to harvest and, as you can see, the colors are starting to turn.

EPIK 365 Day 359: Korean Sprite

Or, "suh-puh-ra-ee-tuh" as the label says.  I didn't get it to try it...I don't like Sprite unless I am nauseated.  It's interesting that "western" groceries pop up at complete random.

EPIK 365 Day 358: Garden Spider

I pass quite a few gardens on the walk to school.  And sometimes I like to stop and gently shake the spider webs I see there.  The spiders get upset and shake their web back and forth...I guess to scare me off.

LASEK: What it is and What it isn't

So, a little over a month ago, I had LASEK (pronounced in Korea as “la-shik”) surgery.  If you read my 365s from the time, you know I went to Dream Eye Center in Gangnam, Seoul.  It’s a fantastic clinic.  I felt very comfortable there and very much at ease with the thought of the doctor firing a laser into my eyes.  I didn’t shop around…it was the only clinic I visited….and probably paid a little more than if I had been a more “savvy” shopper.

In the few days leading up to my actual surgery date, I read quite a few blogs from other foreigners who had done eye surgery here.  And proceeded to have a mini-panic-attack.  What if something went wrong and I was rendered blind?  I latched on to the thought of how comfortable I felt before and took the bus to Seoul.

Overall, the procedure was quick and painless.  They mapped my eyes using some high-tech machines, gave me a basic vision test and prepped me for surgery.  Basically, I emptied my pockets, put my hair up into a surgical cap and they smeared gooey, cold disinfectant on my face.  Then they led me into the operating room with three techs (one to program the laser, one to hand the doctor things, and one to hold my hand….yes, one was there just to hold my hand) and the doctor.  Less than 15 minutes per eye and then I was in the recovery room and already seeing without glasses or contacts.

Based on the blogs, opinions, misconceptions, and medical information provided, I have complied a top 5 list of what LASEK surgery really is and what it isn’t based on my personal experience.

1) The Laser Will Look Like it Does in Movies

It will not…NOT…look like it does in the movies.  Where the laser centers over your eyes and you can see the red beam drill into your eyeball.  That’s terrifying…it’s nothing like that.  You are lying on the table staring up at a green light (that occasionally turns red) and that’s really it.  You can’t see the beam.

2) The “Cornea-Scraping” Will Be Gross and Painful

They really numb your eyes.  You can’t feel it…and, if you are as near-sighted as I was, you can’t really see what is going on.  You can see the scraping procedure, but it doesn’t look like they are scraping away the surface of your eye.  It looks like you are in a car wash and someone squeegees the windshield.

3) You Can Smell Your Eye Burning

This was huge in the blogs.  Several people described smelling something burning during the procedure.  That’s crap.  Those people have obviously never smelled something that is actually burning.  There is a slight smell of something being hot (think when you first turn on the heat in the winter) that lasts about 2 seconds.  It is more the smell of the laser heating up…not your eyes being burned away.

4) You Will Be Able to See Instantly

Ok, so that may or may not be true.  I was ridiculously near-sighted, so my “instant vision” was still quite blurry.  They tell you at the clinic that you gain about 60% of your vision instantly and I think that’s a fair estimate.  So maybe if you are less near-sighted then an instant 60% recovered vision may be pretty clear.  I was still very blurry, but I spent the entire bus ride home looking out the window because, well, I could.

5) You Will Be in PAIN for Day After

Well, again, this could vary from person to person.  For one, I have a pretty high tolerance for pain so I didn’t feel a huge amount of pain.  None the first day just a little discomfort the next, which was more the sensation of constantly having something in your eyes.  The third day was the worst for pain, but it was more light-sensitivity than actual “oh, my God, what have I done” pain.  After a couple weeks the feeling that there was something in my eyes passed and now, a month out, there is no pain and only the mildest discomfort of dry eyes, usually only first thing in the morning.

EPIK 365 Day 357: Getting Ready for Harvest

Walking home I passed a truck full of tools for the harvest, which, ironically, is taking place after Chuseok.

EPIK 365 Day 356: Korean Nutella

Strolling the supermarket I spotted this...Korean Nutella.  I didn't get it...I'm not much of a Nutella fan.

EPIK 365 Day 355: Sejong the Great

King Sejong the Great...quite the renaissance man.  Musician, humanitarian (for the time), inventor of hangul...Gyeongbukgung is his place....well, the royal palace, but he hangs out in the roundabout in front so most people associate the place with him.

EPIK 365 Day 354: Changing of the Guards

If you (unlike me) time your visit properly, you can watch the changing of the guards ceremony at Gyeongbukgung Palace.  I did not do so well with the timing...so I actually spent most of the day at the palace.  The first time, I was still inside the palace and only caught the very end so I had to wait for the next performance.  However, it is well worth the effort.

EPIK 365 Day 353: Corn Ice Cream

So, Korea has this...

Corn ice cream.  And it looks like this...

And it is weird.

The outside is like the stalest, chewiest, cheapest ice cream cone you have ever eaten and has a slight "corny" taste.  The inside is vanilla ice cream with corn kernels and coated in chocolate.  It's just odd.

EPIK 365 Day 352: Pumpkins

The squash (pumpkin) blossoms are turning into pumpkins!

EPIK 365 Day 351: Streets of Insa-dong

I love to wander through Insa-dong...I love the randomness of traditional and modern architecture there.  Its a fabulous place!  Managed a proper selfie this time, too!

EPIK 365 Day 350: Busking

Wandering the streets of Hongdae and came across this performing in the square.  Talented guitarist (he managed an acoustic version of "Gangnam Style") and the cutest personality!

EPIK 365 Day 349: View from the Top

Tried to selfie-this one...I went to Namsan Tower today...fabulous view!  This one merits a full-length post too, so hang with me a bit, ok?

EPIK 365 Day 348: Represent!

It was super-indulgent.  Memphis-style BBQ right in the heart of Seoul!  I was shocked by how authentic tasting it was...I can wait to go back!  For now, all you guys are getting is a teaser...I will post a full-length blog on this one...soon!

EPIK 365 Day 347: Scrabble Battle

My kids love...LOVE...to play scrabble.  They are naturally competitive so they take the game very seriously...especially since the winning team gets a "passport" stamp.  In order to try to keep things fair I make the teams take turns until we run out of tiles to draw.   Then it becomes a free-for-all to get as many last minute pouts as they can.  It's chaotic, but fun...and the students make sure I know which words they put on the board.

EPIK 365 Day 346: Cheer Up!

One of my best and sweetest girls just happens to be in my worst behaved class.  She's always super helpful and tries very hard in my class, despite her classmates being disruptive.  Last week I was so mad I threw the whole class out.  Today she came to class early and said it was her class time, but I should cheer up (I wasn't upset, but apparently they think I stay mad once I get mad...not too bad a belief for them to hold...) and gave me a little chocolate for luck.  Really, I have the best kids!  Errr, with notable exceptions...

EPIK 365 Day 345: Ginseng Tea for Strength

I really like the red ginseng tea here.   Koreans like ginseng for their health and believe it makes them strong.  It can't hurt.  I like this one even though it is granules (not a tea bag)...it has just a little sweetness to it so its easy to drink.

EPIK 365 Day 344: Always Nice to Have a Fan

One of my best boys left a message on my board.  Such a sweetheart!

EPIK 365 Day 343: Chestnuts

Prior to my arriving in Korea, my chestnut exposure was pretty limited.  Chestnuts aren't a "Southern thing."  It's close to around the time arrive, which is also apparently chestnut season.  One of my co-teachers gave me a bag of raw chestnuts this morning (which, no lie, must weigh 3 pounds) and told me how to boil them Korean style.  We'll see how it goes.

Time Flies Like an Arrow

So, it just occurred to me that I am rapidly nearing the end of my first year in Korea.  Therefore, I am also rapidly approaching the end of my 365 photo journal.

I won't lie, it's been a struggle at some points, but I hope that you've glimpsed a little into Korean (and overseas English Teacher) life and culture.  I won't be continuing the 365...or starting a new one...wherever you stand on the semantics, but I will be continuing to blog.  Instead of proving you with a daily picture and "sound bite" I will focus more on writing full-length blogs.  My plan is to write with a "theme" for each day Monday through Friday...themes to be announced at a later date.

I also have student work that I plan to post...whenever I can find the time to get it all done.

Until then, please enjoy the remaining days of the 365 photo journal...and I hope you will stick with me for the next year (or so). :)

EPIK 365 Day 342: Literature

I had pretty much resigned to the fact that even if students bothered to read the literature I provide for them they would not understand it.  The thought was more than a little depressing, but I decided to keep up the practice for no other reason than my co-teachers seem to read it.  However, yesterday, one student came in for "free-speaking" (I have unofficial office hours during lunch so students can come in for help or to practice speaking) and told me that he enjoys the stories...particularly "The Most Dangerous Game."  I felt so validated!

EPIK 365 Day 341: 30 Day Update

The eye clinic sent me a 30-days since surgery email telling me I can resume my normal life, but remember to be aware that my eyes are still healing.  So nice!

EPIK 365 Day 340: Unsolicited

So, this morning there were two men standing at the bottom of the hill at school.  They were in their black and whites and wearing a, well, for lack of a better word, sash, and waiting.  I thought they were political solicitors...since that is how they dress...but instead they gave everyone that passed by a facial mask.  I have no idea why.

EPIK 365 Day 339: Gift with Purchase

"Gift with Purchase" is pretty common in Korea....they simply call it "customer service"...although you usually need to make a "minimum purchase."  This gift is usually nothing too extreme, but I think it is the thought that counts.  Anyway, I went to the grocery store today and the cashier gave me this big plastic bowl.  Ok, I've never gotten a gift from the grocery store before.  And it is huge....I put my work bag in it to show how big it is.  My bag is a full-sized backpack and it fits the bowl pretty well.

EPIK 365 Day 338: Well-Wishes from a Student

A student left a little message for me this afternoon.  Sweet!

EPIK 365 Day 337: What is it?

I have no clue....I don't know if it is "decorative" or "edible."  I will try to figure it out and if I do I will let you know.  Or if you know, why not leave a little comment and share?