Sunday, April 21, 2013
A Walk Through Bujeon Market
Yesterday I walked through (and got a little lost in) Bujeon Market, near Seomyeon. Below is the video I took on my phone while walking. Sorry for it being a little shaky.
Monday, April 15, 2013
A Startling Wake-Up Call
Living in South Korea, the thought of war breaking out is never far from the back of my mind. But, it's just that - in the BACK of my mind. Last week, everyone was concerned that something would happen on the 10th. If not on the 10th, then the 11th. The 15th was an important date to the North Koreans, so something could happen on that day too. Yesterday was the 15th of April and the day went on as normal. Even the regular morning news was on instead of coverage of what could happen between North and South Korea. It was a welcome change of pace.
This morning, however, we got a startling wake-up call. LITERALLY! I'm not sure of the exact time, but it was between 5:30 am and 5:45 am. The air raid siren came on the intercom in our apartment complex. It lasted maybe 10-15 seconds, but it scared us awake. Zach and I immediately checked our phones to see if we got e-mails from the U.S. Embassy. Nothing. We have a Facebook group for all of the foreigners living in our apartment complex. Questions were being asked without any real answers. The weird thing was, no one else besides those in our apartment complex, seemed to have had a siren go off. Our best guess is that the security guard accidentally pressed the wrong button. If it had lasted longer, there would have been more cause for concern. What a way to wake up!
While looking for an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy, I saw that my aunt had sent an e-mail about a bombing at the Boston Marathon. We went back to sleep, and when we woke up about 30 minutes later, I turned on CNN morning news. It had coverage of Boston. While what happened at Boston was absolutely terrible, I cannot help but to bea little selfish and relieved that the tragedy that really happened was not actually in South Korea but somewhere far, far away from me. (Just being honest.)
Thoughts to Boston and to all those affected.
This morning, however, we got a startling wake-up call. LITERALLY! I'm not sure of the exact time, but it was between 5:30 am and 5:45 am. The air raid siren came on the intercom in our apartment complex. It lasted maybe 10-15 seconds, but it scared us awake. Zach and I immediately checked our phones to see if we got e-mails from the U.S. Embassy. Nothing. We have a Facebook group for all of the foreigners living in our apartment complex. Questions were being asked without any real answers. The weird thing was, no one else besides those in our apartment complex, seemed to have had a siren go off. Our best guess is that the security guard accidentally pressed the wrong button. If it had lasted longer, there would have been more cause for concern. What a way to wake up!
While looking for an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy, I saw that my aunt had sent an e-mail about a bombing at the Boston Marathon. We went back to sleep, and when we woke up about 30 minutes later, I turned on CNN morning news. It had coverage of Boston. While what happened at Boston was absolutely terrible, I cannot help but to be
Thoughts to Boston and to all those affected.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
According to my students.....
According to my students, my hair looks like jajangmyeon (noodles with black sauce - quite tasty).
I have a student who, every time he sees me, points, makes a slurping sound, and says, "Teacha! Hair look jajangmyeon." (Teacher, your hair looks like jajangmyeon.)
Below are pictures of jajangmyeon and my hair. I guess I can see a similarity....maybe?!
In my after-school class of 10 students, I asked them what they wanted to do/discuss in class. They wanted to learn American culture. "Culture" is such a broad term, so I decided that we would just have a round-table discussion. It worked out way better than I thought it would. They had so many questions that I think we could spend at least another 4-5 classes just discussing American culture. Here are some of the things we talked about.
We mostly talked about schools in America. Some of the statements/questions that stood out:
--"Schools are easier in the U.S."
--"Do students bring guns to school?"
--"Are there gay people in the U.S.?" They then wanted to know if I knew any gay people. I said that I did. They nearly fell over in their chairs. When I said that a few of my friends were gay, they pretty much died.
--"Are the bathrooms clean in the U.S.?" I asked what they meant by that. They said that there are bugs and mosquitoes in the bathrooms in Korea. I told them that most schools in the U.S. have air condition in the bathrooms and the hallways (uncommon in South Korea) so the windows aren't open. They couldn't believe it!
--"Are school lunches in the U.S. delicious?" "Do you eat a lot of noodles for lunch?"
I am definitely looking forward to our next round-table discussion!
I have a student who, every time he sees me, points, makes a slurping sound, and says, "Teacha! Hair look jajangmyeon." (Teacher, your hair looks like jajangmyeon.)
Below are pictures of jajangmyeon and my hair. I guess I can see a similarity....maybe?!
In my after-school class of 10 students, I asked them what they wanted to do/discuss in class. They wanted to learn American culture. "Culture" is such a broad term, so I decided that we would just have a round-table discussion. It worked out way better than I thought it would. They had so many questions that I think we could spend at least another 4-5 classes just discussing American culture. Here are some of the things we talked about.
We mostly talked about schools in America. Some of the statements/questions that stood out:
--"Schools are easier in the U.S."
--"Do students bring guns to school?"
--"Are there gay people in the U.S.?" They then wanted to know if I knew any gay people. I said that I did. They nearly fell over in their chairs. When I said that a few of my friends were gay, they pretty much died.
--"Are the bathrooms clean in the U.S.?" I asked what they meant by that. They said that there are bugs and mosquitoes in the bathrooms in Korea. I told them that most schools in the U.S. have air condition in the bathrooms and the hallways (uncommon in South Korea) so the windows aren't open. They couldn't believe it!
--"Are school lunches in the U.S. delicious?" "Do you eat a lot of noodles for lunch?"
I am definitely looking forward to our next round-table discussion!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Staying Calm in South Korea
It's finally starting to warm up (at least in Busan). The cherry blossoms were in full bloom last week and are now losing their flowers and buds of bright green are showing. Construction projects and roadwork is taking over. School is in full swing. Midterms are 2 1/2 weeks away. It's beautiful in South Korea! No one is even talking about North Korea and its threats.
I've read several blogs and iReports on CNN about what it's like to live in South Korea at this time. I am going to paraphrase my favorite ones.
South Korea has been in this conflict with North Korea for 60 years. North Korea is always threatening South Korea. This is nothing new! The U.S. media has had a slow month, or something, and has taken the most recent threats and have just run with them.
So family and friends, please do not worry about us. Just 30 minutes ago, I got an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. This is what the e-mail said - exactly:
The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that despite current political tensions with North Korea there is no specific information to suggest there are imminent threats to U.S. citizens or facilities in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The Embassy has not changed its security posture and we have not recommended that U.S. citizens who reside in, or plan to visit, the Republic of Korea take special security precautions at this time. The U.S. Embassy takes as its highest priority the welfare of American citizens in Korea. Should the security situation change, the Embassy will issue updated information.
I've read several blogs and iReports on CNN about what it's like to live in South Korea at this time. I am going to paraphrase my favorite ones.
South Korea has been in this conflict with North Korea for 60 years. North Korea is always threatening South Korea. This is nothing new! The U.S. media has had a slow month, or something, and has taken the most recent threats and have just run with them.
So family and friends, please do not worry about us. Just 30 minutes ago, I got an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. This is what the e-mail said - exactly:
The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that despite current political tensions with North Korea there is no specific information to suggest there are imminent threats to U.S. citizens or facilities in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The Embassy has not changed its security posture and we have not recommended that U.S. citizens who reside in, or plan to visit, the Republic of Korea take special security precautions at this time. The U.S. Embassy takes as its highest priority the welfare of American citizens in Korea. Should the security situation change, the Embassy will issue updated information.
To assuage your fears even more, Zach and I have a contingency plan for if something were to happen. We don't have anything packed, but all of our paperwork, legal documents, etc. are in one central place and we can grab it quickly if needed. We are also enrolled in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which will send us information if something were to happen.
Do yourselves and us a favor: take what you hear in the media with a grain of salt. They are giving you the WORST POSSIBLE scenarios. Everyone here is aware of what is going on; no one is denying it. It just isn't something new and probably nothing to worry about. If things were to go south (metaphorically speaking), our government will evacuate us immediately.
Unless and until something happens, we are not going to live in fear. We are going to continue to live day to day, attend baseball games, celebrate birthdays, go to the gym, and eat our kimchi, and drink our soju. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)