Things I Have Learned....so far.

So, I've been mentally compiling a list of "Things One Learns While Living In Korea" and I'd love to share them with you all. I'm sure many more will be added within this next year, but for now, this is what I've got...

1.  Chopsticks are used for absolutely every single food...if you plan on coming here, learn now.     :)

2.  Ramen noodles are a life saver...I never ate them in college like the stereotype, but here in Korea, they're everywhere. They also have about every flavor under the sun. And they range in spicy to burn your eyes out...I usually cannot put the entire spice package in mine.

3.  Coffee Coffee Coffee! It is EVERYWHERE! Before I came, I deliberated over whether or not I should pack a coffee pot, because college screwed me over and I'm addicted. I'm so glad I decided against it. There are coffee shops literally on every corner! And they all have such cute names, like Coffee Coffea, Angels in the US, or even Sleepless in Seattle. I'm in love with the coffee!

4.  Here's a good one: The Koreans are obsessed with  LIGHTS and SOUNDS! Literally everything has lights and sounds on it. Even my washer plays a little jingle when it's done, or car alarms are actually pleasant to listen to! Everything is loaded with cute (sometimes REALLY LOUD) music.  And then there's the lights! They're everywhere. Like mini Times Squares every sign is flashing and neon. The karaoke bar across the street is one of the brightest lights I have ever seen, and I have now hung up another sheet on my windows to block the light! Last night, walking home from dinner, a motorcycle gang rode by. Every single wheel had a light or something flashing on it...it was like something out of a DisneyLand parade! Lights and Sounds...it's all so happy here!

5.  Orange Shops are magical! They're technically not called this, but it's what the foreigners say.  They must be a chain because they're all over, but thank god for pictures and hand gestures...it's the easiest stuff to order, and it's delicious! :)

6.  I am a celebrity! ... Not really, but I feel like it. Since I definitely stand out, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, stares at me. For the first few days, it was super hard to deal with, but I'm starting to get used to it. I just pretend I'm famous. "This is what it feels like to be famous. This is what it feels like to be famous!" If it gets a bit uncomfortable, I tend to just smile and nod my head...mainly this just sends young girls into a giggle frenzy, but others tend to look away after. Even my hair is coveted. The other day, one of my students reached out and just "pet" my head and hair.  I kind of turned to her with a question in my eyes and she just smiled and that was it...so, I'm definitely still getting used to that!

Along with the celebrity status, I have finally figured out that awkward feeling that my parents (and all the teachers out there) have felt numerous times. When you run into one of your students outside of school.  I, of course, was wearing sweatpants and no make up and was carrying toilet paper. "Oh hello, uh...Alice? Oh yes, sure let's say hello to your parents who have no idea what I'm saying and probably think I look like a monster from the deep..." I can sympathize with you now Mom and Dad! :)

7.  The most common questions I have gotten so far are : 1. Where are you from? 2. How tall are you (in centimeters)??? 3. Do you have a boyfriend? and 4. What is your blood type?
If you're confused...so am I.

8.  The Korean co-teachers at my school are wonderful, and super nice, but they told me they get shy and nervous to talk to me because they don't want to mess up in front of me. I smiled and said, "I'd rather you talk to me and mess up than not talk to me at all!" This has seemed to help...we are starting to talk and joke a lot more.

9.  I have now done something that many people probably couldn't say they have done.  I have completed traffic school online in Korea. :)  I got a speeding ticket about a week before I left and now it's all taken care of, but it's definitely a cool story.

10. Parking...there is not such thing as lines. People park literally everywhere. Streets, curbs, sidewalks, wherever they want...and it's totally fine. That reminds me...the driving is TERRIFYING. I just close my eyes when I'm in a taxi. Too scary for words.

11.  EVANGELISM!!!! Oh man. The Christians here are loud and proud and they want you to be as well. One night, I was walking home from work and a van came off the road and cut me off on the sidewalk. Since the parking is crazy, I just figured he was parking and so, semi-irritated, I keep walking down the alleyway to my apartment.  All of a sudden I hear a man running behind me yelling, "Excuse me! Excuse me!"  I turned and this man just right there in the middle of the street at 10:30 at night told me I should come to his church, even though I would not understand any of it. I kindly told him that I had only been in the country for a few a days and that I was still getting settled. I kind of thought I'd never see him again. (Not that I don't appreciate the effort on his behalf, but it was just a bit too in my face at that moment).  Anyways, the next day, I was walking to the E - Mart (which is the big store like WalMart)...and again, a van jumped the rode and cut me off on the sidewalk.  Same guy.  This time, he told me that I should come and that I had said that I promised I would.  I smiled and said I'd try... I'm still thinking.  My foreigner friends told me this happens a lot and not to worry or stress, but it is one of those little things that keeps weighing in the back of my mind...

12.  Education Education Education....it means everything here. I feel bad for some of my students who go to normal school all morning and then come to my school until almost 10 at night! I understand the extremity of education, but my goodness...I kind of find myself feeling privileged for growing up how I did.  (But!...there is one good thing about classes going until 10 at night...I never feel unsafe walking home at night by myself.)

13.  Pepero Day....this is LITERALLY a holiday designed by a company where you just buy candy and give it to each other.  (side note: the Lotte company owns about everything in Korea) Anyways, there are these little pretzel sticks that are dipped in chocolate called "Peperos".  And, on every November 11, (since its 11/11 and they look like the candies) everyone buys these treats and exchanges them with their friends. This year is especially exciting because its 11/11/11...I went out and bought all of the ones in the picture for my classes. Apparently I will be getting a lot tomorrow, (one of my favorite students, Sue, already gave me a box) but I thought I'd surprise them with some as well.    


14. Finally, for now at least, Daegu is full of the nicest foreigners I have ever met. The people I have met here, and become friends with, are absolutely amazing. I don't think I would be as comfortable as I am now if it weren't for them.  I love walking into an Orange store for dinner at 10pm and knowing everyone will show up, we don't even really need to plan it.  It's like our very own Cheers bar or Central Perk off of Friends...My Irish, Northern Irish, Australian, British, Canadian and American "family" has been absolutely wonderful and I think I would have died of boredom (or starvation) if it wasn't for them...so if they ever read this, THANK YOU! Their expertise, for most have been here for awhile, is so helpful and wonderful!  Even sitting in an Australian pub until real late on a Wednesday night making stories up out of words we give each other is a blast with them...being with them makes this all feel like home.  I even tend to forget I'm in Korea at times...and then I walk to work and go get coffee and think, "Oh ya...."  :) 







   The other day I stumbled upon these two fortune cookie fortunes that I got at dinner a few nights before I left.  I remember tucking them away to give me the courage when I started to doubt myself...I'm glad I found them. I also found a quote that I had wrote down absentmindedly and now hits close to home.  


The quote goes like this, 


"There is a freedom I never thought I would love in moving alone to a foreign country."  


I really am starting to believe this is the right place for me...even when I want to cry because I miss home or I have a really bad class. :) 


I love you all and thank you for all your support...I appreciate it immensely. 


Until next time....