here we go

On my way home from the gym, where I just got my very own membership, I decided it really was time to exit "vacation mode" and enter into my new reality here in Seoul. I keep saying this, but I am surprised how easily I have accommodated to Korean life - the food, the job, the friends. Walking home I realized that I really haven't had that culture shock moment I'd expected.

My guts, however, have been singing a completely different tune. I won't sing it for you now, but I did sing it...and dance it...to a complete stranger.

I took my guts to an herbal pharmacy full of mystical remedies and was welcomed by an older woman. I pointed to my angry stomach and began grunting, pouting my lips, puffing out my cheeks and waddling around like a bloated penguin- generally trying to get the point across that I was in agony. She watched patiently and quietly until I was finished with my little constipation dance, then asked if I had been eating a lot of bread of drinking too much beer.

"Sometimes," she said, "that can cause some intestinal problems and those foods should be avoided."

Before the red in my cheeks could reach their full brilliance, she cracked open a bottle and a pouch of grain and forced it down my throat. She didn't charge me. (Perhaps it was the humiliating bowel dance I did.) She just told me to hurry home and go to bed within the next 4 hours.

Not entirely sure what is about to happen to my body. Not entirely sure what it was I ingested. All I know is the next time I walk into a pharmacy with an ailment, Ill ask if they've ever lived in New York for 10 years and speak perfect English. Spare me the shame.

UPDATE: it worked.

when texas meets korea

Jane came to visit last week and I had such a great time with her and her friend Bart. The perfect pair to wander around seoul with and discover what an amazing city I now live in. It was painfully hot, but amazing. I will post more but wanted you all to see a peak at the temple. I thought it was beautiful and so quiet sitting in the center of such a busy city full of noise.

snow white class

This is my Snow White class. They are the first level of kindergarten meaning when they started school at GDA a few months ago they had never heard English. I have been told by other teachers that most of them cry the first week. I adopted them after the crying, and right around that point where all they do is repeat what I say, then say no.

For example: Teacher- "Grace, please sit down and be quiet."
Grace- "Grace, please sit down and be quiet," arms folded in protest in the corner of the room. "NO!" It's pretty awesome.

Top, left to right: Alex, Jun-Han and Jae-Hee. Alex is just about the cutest boy that every existed. He wears suspenders that tug his pants to his navel and after he uses the bathroom, has bits of shirt hanging out. Jun-Han is like a rubber band. He can't sit down and he can't control his enthusiasm, or boredom for that matter. Yesterday when I told him we were going to make chickens and pigs and hang them on the wall, he lept into the air, arms waving, and shouted "oh boy, oh boy!" Jae-Hee is shy but sweet. She is just getting comfortable with English and that deer in the headlights look I saw the first week is starting to fade.

Bottom, left to right: That is Grace. Grace always has an ouchy that "hurts many so bad a lot, teacher!" and always has to pee. She knows more English than most of the kids and is younger, but somehow only manages to utter three bits of vocabulary: no, pee-pee, and MINE! Next to Grace is Alex. He looks scared.

the pentaport festival

Saturday was one of Koreas biggest music festivals - the Pentaport Rock Festival. Tessa, Frannie, her boyfriend David and my co-worker Craig all took an hour trip to Incheon (just outside of Seoul) in hopes of rocking.
David was pretty intent on rain boots because he said the word was funny and thought it would be even more hilarious if we all wore them. It was pretty likely it would rain so I was inclined to go along. We stopped by several stores on the way and couldn't find any to fit our giant foreigner feet, so we gave up and decided to rock without.
When the cab dropped us off, much to our surprise, the rain boot gods had lined up rain boot vendors down the sidewalk leading straight to the festival. I was hesitant to spend $15 on the off chance it would rain but decided to go along. Plus, I found some really cute white ones that I figured Id get some use out of.
So we took our cute boots, stepped into the festival, and I immediately sunk 3 inches into the ground. It wasn't raining, but it had earlier that day. As you can see from the photo, this is what happens when it rains in Korea. And this is what happens when I decide I really wanna see the band up close.
Koreans, as it turns out, go absolutely wild for just about anything with the words rock or party in the invitation.
The shows were amazing, the food was interesting, the cocktails were in plastic bags and I was rolling in the mud until 4 a.m. One thing I can say is when you get knocked over in a mosh pit in Korea, everyone stops to help you up, which was nice. Wish I could have found someone to help me with laundry the next day.

My apartment

In the back left you can see the black gate that leads to my apartment. Through the soju, that is. This is basically like sake and Koreans drink it like water. Walk down the entrance and to the left and this is the patio area. Last night we barbecued and drank soju till 5 a.m. When I woke up I drank a gallon of water and swore Id never drink soju again. Tonight I'm going out with Tessa and Frannie. I will probably drink soju.

The hood: Seocho-dong

This is a street in my neighborhood. Lots of little family restaraunts, grocery stores, dry cleaners, clothing stores and my personal favorite...dorinbongs! That's karaoke in Korean.

getting settled

I'm sitting at my new desktop computer handed down to me from previous teachers. Not a clue where it came from but grateful to have it since I don't have an adapter for my laptop at the moment. Among the other luxeries passed down to me include a hairdryer, straighter, umbrella, half bottle of wine, shampoo, conditioner, dish soap, videos like Empire Records and Pilates for Dummies, and a pair of undies. As you can see from the photo, which honestly doesn't do it total justice, I am now living like a queen. My room is tiny but it works. I really think the smallness of it all will keep me from getting too lonely. It's cozy. The other teachers live in the apartment and we all walk to work in the morning for the most part. They took me out the other night for dinner and some rice wine and I must say so far it's been pretty wonderful.

As for teaching, I had my first experience today and it's exhausting. Come to find out I arrived at the most intense study time for students and the next month will be hell. Quite the initiation but at least I get the worst out of the way and can look forward to smoother sailing. The kids are pretty cute and call me Leah Teacher. "Leah Teacher, I finished my work." "Leah Teacher, I know all the answers." "Leah Teacher, Jin-Ming spoke Korean, he should get a sad face on the board!"These kids are 6 and ridiculously smart for their age. I will work on getting a phone card so I can talk to you all. I miss everyone and hope to see some of you in korea this year. If you love me, you will come!