Off To Japan!

For the Chinese New Year, our academies get a "mini" vacation. So, starting today: I am on BREAK! :) We get Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are no school holidays! And...I'm off to Japan!

Two of my friends, Bonnie and Aine, and I are headed to Tokyo for new year. We leave in a little less than 10 hours, and I just finished packing! This is my life...

But, I am SO EXCITED!

I talked to the lovely Uncle Casey and Aunt Kumiko Davis (my Japanese experts) and can't wait to cross the stuff off of their amazing "Things to Do in Tokyo" list!

I'll write all about it when I return on Wednesday Jan. 25th! And then...it's my BIRTHDAY!

Here's to the Chinese New Year! :)

Love.

Winter Exploring and Enjoying

Hello dear ones!

 So much has taken place in the last two weeks. I'm amazed at how time can fly, and yet so much can be fit into that time! 

Christmas night: wearing my Santa shirt sent from  the parents.

First off, Christmas! It did not feel like the holiday very much, but it was still a nice time. The whole weekend I was with friends and we lounged around and watched Christmas movies. On Christmas night, (taking from Teter Christmas Eve tradition) a few of us did a gift exchange, and it was a good time. Although being away from my family was really hard, it was nice to have good friends surrounding me. 

The highlight of the weekend though, was skyping with the whole family at the Christmas Eve party. I got passed around to everyone, and got to say hello! It was exactly what I needed, so thank you all for including me into the party for a little while! You're the best family a girl could have! :)

After Christmas, I only had to go to school for three days, and then we had a vacation! It was such a wonderful feeling being done with the week on Wednesday. After classes on Wednesday night, all of the teachers and our boss, Mr. Do, went out to dinner.  This is always such an interesting time, because I sit there while everyone speaks Korean and laughs. They will tend to translate some things for me, but usually, I just sit and smile. The teachers are starting to warm up to me though, so I threw in a few jokes of my own and got some laughs, so point for me! 

A beautiful view of Yonggungsa temple.

Nikki and I conquering the temple!

On Thursday morning, two new friends, Nikki and Liam (both from the UK), and I went on a mini vacation to the beach city of Busan. It was absolutely wonderful! We had to wake up a bit early to catch our train, but as soon as we got there, it was amazing. The weather was warmer and we were on the ocean. We walked along the beach, drank coffee, and soaked up some sunshine. We even put our feet into the freezing cold water! :) We stayed in a hostel, which was like deja vu from my England days. But, the best thing we did on Thursday was go to the Yonggungsa temple by the sea. 

Unlike other temples that are situated in the mountains, this temple sits beautifully among the cliffs overlooking the ocean. 

Unfortunately the original temple was destroyed by fire when the Japanese invaded Korea in 1592, but it was rebuilt in the early 1930s. But, it is still a breathtaking view.  We hiked around the temple and enjoyed the view for close to three hours. 

Buddha overlooking the temple.

Sunset at Haeundae Beach, Busan.

We then found an Irish pub situated among all the Korean food stores and enjoyed some "home" cuisine and mulled wine to warm us up.

On Friday morning, we departed from the hostel early and went to the Busan Aquarium. I've been to a few aquariums in my day, but this one was gorgeous - and HUGE! It is all underground, and has some amazing animals and sea life. The best part is the seabed tunnel.  The tunnel experience resembles a walk along the floor with various sea creatures (fish, turtles, and sharks!) swimming above. It was incredible. 

There were a lot of these mini figurines all along the temple. 

Gold Buddha!

After the museum, we decided to take the fast train back to Daegu, and got here in a third of the time it took us on the slow train...I will now be only taking the fast train to places! 

Jelly fish at Busan Aquarium

All of a sudden, it was New Years Eve! 

Hello 2012!

 It was a wonderful night here in Daegu. It's kind of like time traveling, being 14-17 hours ahead of all my loved ones at home puts me in this weird limbo where I feel like I celebrate holidays for a really long time. I'm looking forward to the extra long birthday! :) 

Megan, John & I

Anyways, on New Years, a few friends and I stayed together for the midnight countdown and we just hugged and said we were thankful for having each other. And I truly am. The people here have truly made this experience worth while for me. They are amazing friends and I am so lucky to call them friends! And then, we just celebrated the new year well into the next day. :) That's the thing about foreigners here in Korea. On the weekends, we tend to live it up. So...I'm usually coming home about the time the sun is rising...I'm just now getting used to it! 

Happy New Year! 

This past week, my academy has started it's January schedule. They change the times during the month while the students are on vacation from their public schools. So, now I am working from 1pm to 8-9pm. I tend to like finishing earlier, but it has put a big damper on seeing everyone, for they still start and finish at the same time. So, I'm kind of ready for January to over so I can get my social schedule back on track! :)

And now, for the wonderful continuation of "Thing's I've Learned..."

37.  The "foreigner" nod. I am now making a public decree to make a new rule. When foreigners see each other in the streets, downtown, or while shopping, I believe there should be a "foreigner" nod. Just to acknowledge one another. Luckily, many do show some sort of acknowledgement, with a wave, smile or a hello, but some do not. I just like to think of it as a, "We're all in this together" sort of thing...so, I will be waving and saying hello to every foreigner I see. :)

38.  I (finally!) received my "alien card". Which is just an identification card to prove that I can be in the country...it's something small, but it makes me feel official!

39.  My parents are the best in the world. :) Granted, this is something I already knew, but I had to share it! Only they would go into Old Navy and skype with me to show me all the options of clothing they will send me for my birthday! Also, I am SO looking forward to the summer when my parents come to Korea and spend more than a MONTH here traveling and visiting! I cannot wait to introduce them to this world and my friends. Mom and Dad, you two are the best!

40. I got a few new students the other day and I came so close to having my own naming ceremony. The Korean teachers wanted me to pick the students names...but I ended up telling the kids to think about it and to come to class this week with a name. Too much pressure for me! :) But! I did have one kid choose a name that is my new favorite...Meteor!

41.  My "little ones". This is not a huge thing, but I wanted to share it as well. Due to the schedule change for January, I have gotten a new class. They are my little ones. They are only 6-7 years old, and their English is not that great yet, but I look forward more to them to anyone else right now. When I walk in the classroom, their faces light up and I feel like I can do no wrong! They all want to hold my hand and touch my hair, and, surprisingly, I'm totally fine with this! :) They all just squeal with delight when I dance around and sing to them! "Ohhhh Cambria Teacher!" Best boost to the ego if I ever had one. Am I making your heart melt yet? Because they are the sweetest kids in the world. A picture will surely be coming soon!

42. It SNOWED the other day! Actually SNOWED! I forgot how much I loved the snow and watching it fall. It brought back wonderful memories of Manchester and having winter fun! Unfortunately, it didn't last long, however it was still beautiful. But! True to myself, I learned, once again, that you can take the girl out of California, but you cannot take the California out of the girl. The snow had not been on the ground for more than half an hour when I was walking home and slipped and fell. I couldn't help but laugh...as I iced my knee and checked out all of my new bruises. :) 

I hope you are all well and had a wonderful holiday season! I miss you all and love you even more. Thanks for always checking in and reading about my life! And thank you to all who have sent beautiful cards and notes! You're the best! It makes me smile so much when I walk into work and there is a card waiting on my desk from the states! :)

Love you!

-Cam

Happy 2012! 

Christmastime Abroad

Hello devoted and lovely readers! Thank you for checking in again and reading all about my life! :) Just so you know, I really appreciate it! It's a connection to home that I really enjoy having!

Korean "Make it Yourself" Ornaments...

You're the best!

Anyways, an update:  I've almost hit the two month mark!, which is crazy and scary all at the same time. I now only have 10 more to go, which at times feels long, but I'm looking forward to seeing what they behold.

For this post, I want to continue my "Things I've Learned..." for I have been making mental lists and need to post them before I forget them again... enjoy! :)

31.  I have started to play a mental game on subways or in public, and usually crowded, places. The game is "Which one is not like the other?" For I always stand out with my blonde hair. ... Did that make you laugh? .... It makes me laugh, anyway.

32.  BIRTHDAYS! I've been meaning to tell about this one for some time. The birthdays here are different. When a child is born in Korea, they are one years old. They don't count in months. So, when I ask my students how old they are, they usually say, "In Korea, 8...in America, 7."

33.  This one took me awhile to pick up on, but I've finally caught on. Plastic surgery is a big deal here. Most teenagers actually ask for surgery as a gift when they graduate high school. They want to look more like foreigners. The jaw line and eyelids are what they usually have done, to make them look more western. There are billboards all over showing before and after pictures...madness.

34.  Boys here in Korea have to serve in the military. It's a very interesting perspective to talk to some of these guys. Some are excited for it, but some are actually terrified. I feel for them.

35.  Christmas and New Years is straight up backwards here. My students told me that Christmas is more of the holiday that you spend with your boyfriend/girlfriend and friends, while New Years is the family holiday.

36.  Now, I want to just tell you about my favorite class. They are in 6th grade (I get this from my father - I just know it) and I adore them!  There are only seven of them, but I absolutely look forward to teaching them on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. This week, I had some tiny Christmas parties with select classes, and this one was a blast. (They were all great though, especially the little ones singing Jingle Bells to me...) But this class, E-AD, they're the best. They love to talk, and so usually, I just sit back and let them go...
Here's a picture of them (only 4 were there...but they're awesome!)

Clockwise from left: Gary, James, Alice, and Sally

Lastly, Merry Christmas! :)  As I write this, it's Christmas Eve...crazy! It hasn't really felt like Christmas much here, I think it's due to the fact that I worked on Friday 12/23 and will be back at work on 12/26... No rest for us here..., but I'm keeping my holiday spirit bright, as they say. :) I have my tree up, a few gifts under it, my twinkle lights glowing, Christmas music playing and hot chocolate on the stove. Sam is coming down from the Seoul area and I know it'll be so nice to see a familiar face for the holiday. But, to my family...I miss you all more than you know right now. I love you. 

Also! Happy New Year! Here comes 2012! Woot woot! I do get a mini break though during this week. I have Thursday and Friday before New Year's weekend off.  A few friends and I are planning on exploring the temples and fun sites that our lovely city Daegu (and surrounding areas) have to offer!

Until next time, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

I'm sending love and holiday cheer from afar! 

Love,

Cam

Mamma Mia Korea!

Oooohhhhh so much....it's been over one month and now, I realize...I really only have eleven to go! At times, I know a year sounds like a really long time, but then, I have a realization of how fast that can actually go....so....here's to the next eleven! :)

And, here's an update.

It's been a month and I'm finally starting to settle in and have fun. I'm starting to call this place "home." I've made my little apartment my own and now I really tend to enjoy it. :) I've put up pictures and wall stickers, bought a new comforter, and even bought Christmas lights (which the Irish call "fairy lights" so...I'm in love!) My friend Kate even bought me a little Christmas tree! :) I'm having fun decorating this place!

Although, with the ups come the downs. About two weeks ago, right before Thanksgiving, my Uncle Bob passed away. It was very hard to be away from my family at this time, and I so wished I could have been there to give my Grandma a big hug, but I know that we have a wonderful family full of support. Uncle Bob was such a kind man and he will truly be missed. I heard that his memorial was a great appreciation of his life, and I know it was a wonderful celebration of a wonderful man!

On Thanksgiving weekend, a few of us got together and made a variety of foods and had a dinner together. We had green bean casserole, noodles, spaghetti, cabbage, kouskous, and I made Grandma's famous mashed potatoes (although they were not as good as hers!) But, it turned out to be a good time nonetheless. It was very fun mixing 4 Americans, 3 Irish, and 1 Canadian together to celebrate this assortment of food over some very delicious mulled wine!

As for school, sorry, "Academy" life....my students always have to remind me that this is not school, it's Academy...it's going well. I'm definitely still adjusting to the hours (and the students) but I'm starting to get the hang of it. It's almost kind of a monotonous life in a way... But, it's alright. This education system here is crazy though. There was a Time article all about the hagwon system and I cannot help but agree with it. I feel bad for my students. They do not have social lives. I've realized that teachers see these kids more than their parents do. They even go to school on Saturday and Sundays! There's no such thing as after school activities or Saturday soccer....which is really sad. I've watched my students fall asleep in class, beg for nap time, and write about how all they want in the future is to be free. (here's the link to the TIME article if anyone is interested in reading it:
(http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2094427,00.html)
BUT! I'll tell you one thing, the middle schoolers have been testing at their public schools this week...so, I haven't had all of my classes...which has really rocked! But I do still feel bad for them....

It's the holiday season and even though it's weird to hear Jingle Bells in Korean, it's still in the air. I've loved being able to skype with all of my family and friends...it makes it feel like I'm there, even though I'm very far away. But, thank God for technology, it's really helped! I'm usually eating lunch with my parents while they eat dinner over skype or watching movies with Beth! :) It's a blast!

And to end this post, I'd like to add to the "Things I've Learned So Far..." :)

21. Everything is done with two hands here. When you hand something over (like a paper, change, water, whatever) it is with two hands. Hands can be cupped together, or one hand giving while the other is crossed over the chest, or one hand gives while the other rests on the inside of the elbow of the giving hand. Normally this is a sign of respect, so younger generations do it to older, but I still get flustered when some of my students will do it to me and then I try to do it back to them...I'm working on it.

22. When people want to say "no" here, they make an "X" with their arms. I don't know why, but this cracks me up.

23. When the Korean's say, this is the "Korean" way....be prepared to waste 15 minutes. The "Korean" way takes forever. Which brings up another point...I've noticed that they like to take the elevator or escalator everywhere. At my Academy, we work on the 2nd and 3rd floor, which is literally only like 30 steps, but my Korean co-teachers will take the elevator up and down...why? I feel kind of pointless...but then! they will run, and I mean RUN, to catch a crosswalk signal....once again, I'm still catching on.

24. Korean commercials are the best and I don't think I'll ever be able to watch a show in America again without these entertaining ads. Also, when they play movies on the tv, they'll show half of the film with only like one commercial every 10 minutes and then halfway through they'll show a block of like 30 minutes of commercials and then resume the film.

25. I miss dryers...I'll never take drying my towels or clothes for granted ever again. Promise.

26.  Samsung and Hyundai are from Korea...and don't you forget it! :)

27. Cellphone charms are CRAZY cool here. I wanted to not fall into the trap, so I promised I'd never buy one. (I just find it annoying having something hang from my cellphone) But, Kate bought me one...so...I gave in.

28. NAMES! At the Academy, the kids can pick their English names, sometimes the teachers help but mainly it's the students picking, and they happen to pick some of the funniest names! As of right now, my two favorites are Obama and H.P. (short for Harry Potter). :) awe.some.

29. I've picked up a few more words in Korean, and the main thing I can kind of generalize is that it's a yelling language. If you tend to stretch out the ending of words, you'll be fine!
Ahnyunghasay-yooooooooo. :)

30. And then, there is the FRUIT MAN! :) it's more than just one man, sometimes it's a woman, but it's these people selling fruit in a car or a cart, but they have a mega phone and they practically scream in it...although sometimes they sing! I have no idea what they are saying, but I imagine it goes something like this...."buy my fruuuuuuuit, it's so goooooood. this fruuuuuuit is verrrrrryyyyyy gooooood!" :) I start to hum along as well....


until next time.....

 love.

Almost a Month...

 I've got some updating to do...

First off: I HAVE AN ADDRESS. So, if you'd ever like to send me a card, a note, or anything to say hello, my address is:

Attention: Cambria Teter
Seong-Seo ECC: 1250-16
I - Gok Dong Dal, Seo - Gu,
Daegu, South Korea
704-928        
                     :)


 The past two weeks have been a whirlwind, but have also felt like they've moved so slowly. I've been here for almost a month, and yet, at times, I feel like it could be four!

School has been going, well, I still love my little kids...they're adorable. I'm glad I had good practice with Mom's first graders. I've learned how to control them and ignore the ones that just really want attention.  I teach one class with just two little boys, named David and Ethan. They're super cute, and each time I come into class, we play hide-n-seek the first five minutes. They always hide in the same areas, and it's just desks in the room, so I can see them right away, but it's still a blast for them. It makes me smile as well. :)
I's still learning about the older ones though...sometimes, they can be a handful. So, if any of you have any suggestions, please, let me know!


On the weekend of November 12, I went and visited my friend from Manchester, Kate, in her town of Pohang. It's about an hour and a half from Daegu. I was SO proud of myself for navigating subways, streets and buses all by myself. :) It was such a wonderful accomplishment, and it was so great to see her again. She lives by the beach, and I felt so at home. I put my feet in the water and felt at peace. We walked around and drank coffee. It was perfect.

Then, this past week, I had to go to the hospital for a foreigner check up.  Every foreigner, in order to get our alien cards, has to do it. My boss, Mr. Do, picked me up and took me. When we got there, it was about 1:15 in the afternoon. Here's where we differ from the Koreans....the whole hospital had shut down for lunch! Literally. And then, at 1:30, all these workers come out and announced a little jingle about being open again. Super interesting. And then, I had to go through all the motions. They took my blood, chest x-ray, eye test, etc. Real fun. But, real efficient as well. We were out of there before 2pm.

And then, this weekend! :) Oh, so wonderful. I went to Seoul, and had an absolute blast! It was a super quick trip, but I have fallen in love with that city! I finally actually felt like a tourist in this country. I got to see palaces, and traditional dances, and tons of other tourists. It was perfect. Also, there was a lantern festival going on...and it was beautiful. I was in awe. There is a stream that runs through the city, and at nightfall, they sent lanterns down the stream and had these blow up lanterns lighting the whole way down. They were all different things, from animals to a traditional Korean wedding party. So pretty.  Unfortunately, that city is HUGE, and so I only saw a small part of it, but I cannot wait to go back.


And now, I want to continue my list of things learned so far...

15. Taxis here are very efficient, but, the drivers literally watch tv while driving. There are little tvs on the dashboard, and they will sit there and watch the shows. Crazy.

16. Toilet paper is not very common out in public areas, and so, carrying tissues or toilet paper with you at all times is a must, just in case you get caught in a sticky situation. :)

17.  The stationary here is the cutest thing on the planet. They try to write things in English, but the grammar is so funny, I have probably bought more stationary in these 3 weeks than I ever have in my entire life. My favorite purchase so far is a note pad with, "You can use half of the sheet if you want to make a smaller hat" printed at the top. :) Love it.

18.  KPop! :) It's Korean Pop music and it is played EVERYWHERE and anywhere. My little kids sing it all the time. These Korean pop singers have these famous songs where they say phrases in English, and I always crack up when my kids sing. My favorite line so far is, "I hate this love song." What?

19.  MATCHING COUPLES!!!! It took me awhile to notice it, and after a few, "Were they just wearing the same thing?" went through my mind, I have finally confirmed it. Couples, to show they are indeed a couple, wear the SAME thing!  I laughed the first time I saw it, and still get a kick out of all the combos I see. It's totally awesome. I'm still trying to get a picture to post on her, but I have to be covert, so when I do, you'll love it! :)

20.  The reason I believe most couples wear the same thing to prove they are a couple, instead of just holding hands like in other parts of the world, is because EVERYONE holds hands here. It's very common. Especially for guys to do it. I have a class with all boys and they are always holding hands, touching each other, and once, I saw them feed each other. It's just so normal.  It's kind of nice though. There's no judgement and they show their affection outwardly. Good for them. :)


I know there's still so many more to learn, but for now, that's what I've got.

I'm doing alright, still adjusting and still missing home SO much at times, but I know it'll get better with time. :) Hope you're all doing well and thanks for sticking with me. You are all so wonderful.


Here are some of the pictures I took while in Seoul...

traditional dances <- under the lights at the Lantern festival                            

.  

some of the lanterns down the stream 

                                     

Fall leaves in Korea :)

 the biggest palace in Seoul

 the entrance to one of the palaces  

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....

A Week in Korea

 Downtown Daegu

 Korean take-out (bagogi-bop - rice, meat, seaweed, and noodles)

 bedroom/kitchen

kitchenette 

bathroom/shower (disco light coming through) my washer

Well, I made it a week!
Here's the catch up...

On Thursday October 27, with barely any sleep, I said goodbye to my house for a year and drove with my parents to LAX. I was doing really well until we were at the airport and I lost it. I really did not want to leave. Everyone in the airport could see my emotions were high, and so the check in counter let my dad come to the gate with me, which helped tremendously. I then flew from LAX to San Francisco. On that flight, I literally sat there with one thing running through my mind, "What the hell am I doing?"
When I landed in San Francisco, I felt like a ghost. I just wandered through the airport crying and wanting to go home. I called my parents every 5 minutes and couldn't seem to shake the feeling that I was making a mistake. After a phone call with my grandma (thanks Grams) I felt better and made my way to my gate in the international terminal. When I got there, I was actually surprised to see other people that looked like me...scared. There was a girl who looked about my age and so I went and sat next to her and struck up a conversation. Grace and I became instant friends! We talked to the airline, and luckily our flight was not full at all, and so we had our seats changed so that we could sit next to each other, even with a seat in between us. Our flight was long, but good. Singapore Airlines is incredible, and I wish I could fly them all the time. I watched movies, tv shows, and listened to music - then all of a sudden, we were landing in Seoul.  I turned to Grace and we both were terrified, but I was really glad we had each other. When we got off the plane, we stayed together to make sure we had our bags and walked together. Luckily for me, Grace had a friend who was from Korea who met her at the airport. She helped me find my bus ticket and bus stop and explained to me when and where my bus would take me (to get to Daegu). I hugged Grace goodbye and we promised we'd see each other soon.

When I got on the bus, a girl who was on the same plane with me came up and asked if I was going to Daegu as well. Turns out, Alma and I are both from the same program Geovisions, and therefore, another instant friend. :)

When we got to Daegu, 4 hour bus ride from Seoul, we were both disoriented and tired. But, my director, Mr. Do, and an American man, Michael, who teaches at my school met me. They were incredibly nice and took me straight to a motel. The girls I replaced at my school, Seongseo ECC, were still in the apartments and therefore I couldn't move in. I was completely fine until they left me and I was alone. I cried and freaked out and just wanted to go home. I didn't have internet the first night and so that added to the hardship. I was convinced I was going home...until the next morning when a Korean teacher from my school, Belle, met me at my hotel and took me to the school. There, I got to meet the 2 girls I'm replacing (Megan and Tara) and I felt instantly better. These girls helped me so much and they were so kind. For the whole day I observed them in their classrooms and took mental notes. After work on Friday, the whole staff went out to a traditional Korean barbeque restaurant where you take your shoes off and sit on the floor. I was handed some chopsticks (which is a sink or swim business here, so now I'm very good at them) and you eat off of a hot plate in the center of the table. It was very delicious, but I was so jet-lagged and ready for sleep. After Megan and Tara showed me the apartments and how to get around a bit, I went back to the hotel and slept.
On Saturday I met up with the girls again for Halloween weekend. They promised me that they would introduce me to many people and that I would be shocked at how many foreigners there were here in Daegu. They were completely right. When we got to downtown, I felt like I was back in America. Everyone there was from a native English speaking country and they were all doing the same thing. It was wonderful to talk to so many people, and very comforting. It was also SO much fun. I have now celebrated Halloween in 4 different countries in my life : USA, Saudi Arabia, England, and now South Korea. :)
On Sunday, I got to meet up with a friend of mine from Manchester, Kate. She is here in Korea on the Fulbright Scholarship and it was just so wonderful to see a friendly and familiar face. I will never be able to repay her for the kindness she gave me that day. We got coffee and just talked and it was so nice to just "know" someone. After I got home from my morning with Kate, I met up with some of the girls I've made friends with and we went to Starbucks and then a DVD Bong. (Bong means room) These are everywhere and pretty much are just like Blockbuster or any video renting place, but you watch the movie there! They have little rooms they rent out and it was super fun. In honor of Halloween, we watched a scary movie. It was really fun.
On Monday, I observed Megan and Tara at ECC for the final time. I even taught a class by myself because Megan had to run errands. After work, Megan showed me how to navigate the subway system and get downtown. We then met everyone, about 15 of us, and went to dinner at a Korean bbq place again. This dinner was so wonderful. I got to really talk to the others and really had a good time.
*One of the coolest things about the night was during dinner, the owner of the restaurant brought over a live octopus and put it on the hot plate. We watched it sizzle and die before she picked it up and cut it into a lot of pieces. I really did not want to try it, but they all made me...and it was nasty. But, I can cross it off my list. :) After dinner we went to a place right across the street from my apartment called a Norae Bong, or in other words, a karaoke bar. Like the DVD Bong, you rent out a room and sing to your hearts content under a disco ball. I can see the lights from it flash outside my window right now.

Tuesday was my first official day of teaching on my own - and I made it. The kids didn't hate me. I was nervous to replace Megan and Tara, because everyone loved them, but this happens all the time, and I think I'm really starting to fit in now. My hours are weird, usually 3-9 pm, and so my sleeping and eating schedule is all turned around. In all, I have 16 different classes that I teach, usually 7-8 a day.  It's tiring, but I really enjoy it at times. My younger kids are absolutely adorable and I'd probably let them get away with murder. The students are technically not allowed to speak Korean at ECC, and so we have to get on them if they do...but I let it slide with the babies - they're just so cute. The older kids are another story...but, I'm working on it.
I also moved into my apartment on Tuesday, and I love it. It's a place to call home. This is what I needed - a place to my own. Having my apartment definitely made an impact on my feelings here, and I've started to decorate and make it cozy. :) It's tiny - but I love it. I have a washer that sits outside the apartment in a covered balcony sort of thing and a drying rack, a tiny kitchenette, a bathroom that doubles as a shower, and a bed with an ugly but comfortable blanket - the pictures show it all.

-I've gotten lost once, but it was good in the end because I have familiarized myself now. I've started to memorize different food names so that I can eat. I'll never go hungry because rice = bop. :) I have memorized a few Korean phrases so that I can be polite, hello and thank you. (hello = ahn yan ha say yo / thank you = come se mi dah)

I'm still adjusting, and I'm still homesick ... but things are getting better. :) My friend Sam is coming to visit this weekend and so I look forward to another familiar face.
I know this year will fly by, but there are still times where I question my sanity...but then I rethink what I would be doing at home and then I realize I'm happy to be here. :)

Thank you everyone who has supported me. You all are so wonderful. I love you all. Enjoy the blog and the photos...

Until next time.
Love,
  Cam.