Not so stranger danger

This little one was quite the delight today after church. It seems that in Korea it is the adults that tend to be more wary of foreigners than the children are. Children here are just themselves. They do stare and point and are just so very curious about all things. When you say "Ani" which is hi or anything like that, often their eyes will widen and they freeze in their tracks or they run back to mom or dad.
Not so with this little one. There were three of us today waiting for the subway and she would run over to us and just look up and stare. She'd wave as we waved and then run back to mom for a minute. After a moment of eye contact with the parents we knew it would be okay to say hi.
Once she plucked up the courage again she came over and waved and as she was returning to the safety of mom and dad she looked over her shoulder and said "hel-lo". So she is learning English.....
Once on the subway she was the delight of our short tour. She would still come over and stare and mom and dad encouraged her to come over to us. The older Koreans on the bus were at first unsure of our intentions but then they all were enjoying the scene that was unfolding. Finally she came up to Kim and patted her leg a couple of times. I think just to see if we were real. That's when we taught her how to high five to the chuckles of the entire subway car. She playfully bounded back to mom and dad apparently satisfied with her adventure with foreigners.
See Korea, we aren't all bad. . . take a chance and look at us through childlike wonder. We just want to belong too.

Starting a new tradition...

Yesterday, marked the first pep assembly in the history of GSIS. Honestly it was quite an amazing thing to see. At home we don't think much of it because we all know what an pep assembly is. Imagine introducing the concept to an academically focused school in an academically focused country and you can imagine the potential for total self destruction.
Athletics are just not the prominent domain for most students. "Popular" students are the ones known for their outstanding work in the classroom and in service to the school. It is just so different.
But true to form, the students filed into the gym. We have between 300-400 students in the high school I would say, which is a very large group all things considered.
This was of course after we had to redirect most of them from going to the auditorium since that is where all other assemblies have been held to this point.
Then came the passing out of the thunder sticks. Not my idea, give a kid a weapon...and of course they beating each other on the head, but then again some of the teachers were whacking back so it was fair. As they filed in, chants for the local soccer team rose up because that is the only thing they could relate this event to.
Luckily our student leaders did an awesome job with explaining when the thunder sticks were appropriate and when they were not. They also explained the meaning behind a pep assembly.
Then it was our turn....the first time playing through the fight song. True to form the 59 members of the band did a fantastic job, not only playing out but dealing with the unexpected need to pay more than once. It is never "by the book" in an assembly. The greatest thing was to watch how these staunch academic students transformed into being kids within an hour. It never got out of control, but they just had fun. By the end of the assembly they were singing as many of the words to the fight song as they knew with pride. It was great to see them come together as one group in support of their school.
I know many of them stayed to watch the volleyball last night that never would before because they wanted to cheer on their school in a different way.
To be a part of the start of something like that is pretty humbling and amazing. I don't know where it will lead eventually but at least this one event was fun, primarily because the kids enjoyed it. NO I am not starting marching band. NO I am not starting pep band, but I do support these kids who work so hard and one day I hope they learn to trust in me as well. I have to keep earning that trust, but this was one big step towards making that happen.

The Watchman Is Well

Greetings,
As you can see, "my" tree is doing quite well in his fall transformation. Most days I am reminded to pick my head up and take a good look at him but I will admit there were a few days last week where I didn't. Parent conferences are different yet the same here. You are on pins and needles always hoping not to get yelled at for one thing or another. Differences include sometimes having a translator, watching parents verbally chastise their children in front of you, usually in Korean, and having parents thank you for your help and for doing a good job as a teacher.
Between that and finishing grading, I am sure I spent more time at school each day than I did at home. I wonder what all my tree saw in that time. He has sure been changing fast. I seem to like him best when he is catching the morning sun as I walk to school. If he can stand straight and tall, then so shall I.
As if my week was not full enough, I had quite the weekend going as well. Friday was spent celebrating a new colleagues birthday and going to Noraebang for the first time. It is kind of like karaoke except you have private rooms for just your group and for those of you who are inquisitive, I did sing, more than once.
Saturday was spent on the Seoul Walking Tour. I could dedicate an entire blog to that but shall spare you all of the details. Suffice it to say, THAT was not a walk. THAT was a hike up a good sized mountain with 4000 other people wearing race numbers with balloons tied to them.

After that climb, which was admittedly gorgeous, I spent Sunday visiting a new church and then meeting up with several of our school staff to watch the Rugby World Cup. New Zealand vs. France. New Zealand hasn't won the cup since 1987 and it has been France that has beaten them at every turn. On this night however it was a thrilling one point win in the last few minutes and all of my colleagues Kiwi's or not, had a fabulous time celebrating the win! How fun it was to be in that environment and watch some really die hard fans route for their country and a victory. I also now know much more about the game and about some really great coworkers. It makes me want to go to New Zealand all the more.

 So as glad as I am that my Watchman tree is doing so well. I think he needs to tell me to enjoy my time with new friends because time goes by so fast, but also to rest a little every now and again. Thank you my Watchman for that reminder today.

Little Boy Down...

I can't say I have pictures to share with you today so a story will have to do.
Today was one of those missing home days. No real reason I can figure either. Rest assured I am very happy and blessed to be where I am, sometimes I guess you just miss home that's all.
I managed to get through my first conference requiring a translator well. Again, I was much more nervous and frightened than the parent. I was also brought a nice little cake in thanks for taking time to meet with the parent. Talk about a different way of being treated! I don't expect all of these conferences to go this way, but wow. Then I see my high school principal substituting for the choir teacher, who was out ill. I should have known by these events alone that today was going to be a little different.

As I progressed through my day, locking myself out of my office 4 different times, I just got to a point where I wanted to leave school, come back, and try again another day. That's when it happened. One of those moments that reminded me why I am here. It had nothing to do with any of my students. Instead it was a little first grade boy named Nathan. I looked down our tiled hallway right before orchestra, and there were a cluster of little ones surrounding one child. My first thought was who kicked who and how did this little fight start and then I saw it was more than that. The Korean teaching assistant was coming back to check on Nathan and I came up the hall to see if I could help. I could see the assistant's eyes, the panic mode of what do I do with this one little boy while 20 other 1st graders wait on me. We have all seen that look before. After I reassured her that his leg was not broken, serious folks, I offered to take him to the nurses office to get some ice on his knee because no doubt he was hurting.
Once I waded through his 4 little friends who were not going to leave their buddy behind, Nathan put his hand in mine and bravely, and very slowly we limped to the nurses office. He would not be carried. Mind you the nurses office is on the second floor of the building clear across the complex from my music area. Limp slowly, dry tears, and trust your hand in the hand of a total stranger. Quite a boy that Nathan.
I just wonder what he was thinking that entire time we walked. Here is this person I don't know and she is taking me to the nurse and I am not sure what else to do... who can say. Some of the looks from the elementary teachers I know who saw me with this little soldier were priceless. I just shook my head quietly and said "not my kid." We must have made quite a picture but carry on we did.
I may not see much of Nathan anymore, but darn him! He is the reason I am here doing what I do. Holding a hand out to help a child. Perhaps our paths will cross again someday but I am pretty impressed with how brave he was to trust in the unknown and how his young friends were not going to leave his side.
We all get our bumps and bruises in this life. Some you just don't see. I just hope I can dry my tears when they fall and keep limping along on the hard days just like Nathan. In no time I will be back up and running with my friends too.

Korea in the Fall

Well it is a balmy 8 degrees Celsius out side. (46 degrees for us westerners) and it is definitely chilly with more moisture in the air.

Today was a pretty typical Monday. I have all my grades turned in and already have a parent wanting to meet with me about her son. Time moves fast and it will be my first conference with a translator so this could be..."interesting." The colors are changing swiftly now and I best keep my camera on me at all times to capture some of the colors. I bought my first real shawl today as well.
About a week ago I thought that these women around here sure were into their scarves and shawls. NOW I get the hint. It is very cold when you walk through certain areas of the building, even for me, so now I have a new accessory to shop for. (Like I need another one)
Later this week I will have my first Korean parent teacher conferences. Post Traumatic Teaching Disorder is what my self diagnosis is when it comes to these conferences. For so many years there was always at least one parent that just had it out for you, if any show at all. I am told that on Thursday many will drive from work in Seoul which is about 45 minutes to an hour away for a conference and we will be at it from 1:00 when the kids go home until 8:30 that night. The conferences will continue again on Friday all day but because of traffic issues I guess not as many come in. It remains to be seen as I am new and have so many students.
If I survive all of that I will be taking a walking tour around Seoul on Saturday morning. Some of the pictures look more like a hike so I am not sure what I signed up for. The web site is all in Korean so we will just call it another adventure on my to do list. Sometimes it is best not to know beforehand anyway. Happy Trails my friends...

When Koreans say Hola.

Emily likes On the Border!

My apologies to all for being absent from blogging for a significant amount of time. There is a season here that I have never before experienced. It is called grading season. It is a time when all opportunities for any sort of life outside of assessments, rubrics, questions, and comments are nil.
You really do not know if you are coming or going but I think after a good 7 days in a row, I might be done. Now all I have to do is survive conferences this week. Oh boy..the fun never ends.
When we do muster the energy to get together we find things to do like go to the Icheon Ceramic Festival which was neat. It reminded me of Art in the Park a little bit. Of course I parted with some of my hard earned wages there. How could I not for the sake of art and artisans? The weather was nice as was the group of people that went. It is definitely fall here now and the colors change so fast.
Today being Sunday, I spent all day at school working and opted to join some friends in Seoul for dinner. They have an On the Border here now and it tastes a lot like the one at home and it was a really nice change. We weren't the only foreigners in there either which was different for a change.
On the way in the door though we were greeted in Korean, English, and Spanish. So for this tired teacher I was really confused what to say when. Hearing Hola in Korea is not something I was expecting ever. But if the food tastes that good and the company is that nice, you can say hello and goodbye any way that you want! As you can tell, our youngest member enjoyed it as well.
So I will close this blog for now but I will be up and running pretty much daily again. Thanks again to all of you who have gone through this journey with me. So many stories to come, just from the last week alone.

Peechburg?

Greetings!
A little vignette to tell you of this evening before I turn in for the night. Sometimes I think things of this nature can only happen in Korea. I am sure there are other examples but, really.

 Last night, three compadres and I were going about our task of picking up a piece of framed artwork, deciding what to make for dinner, and getting together to watch the Amazing Race, recently downloaded from itunes. At 6PM after a long day at school, this was indeed an epic quest.
Let's just gloss over the fact that it was getting a bit late. And perhaps we can gloss over the fact that I was ruthlessly bludgeoned in the head with glass door to the bakery which solicited sympathy from even Korean passersby Somehow we made it to the apartments with a giant canvas painting from Bali, three exhausted teachers, and some Cheesy Enchilada Hamburger Helper from the import store. (By the way I highly recommend that one, it was good!)
After our night of adventures in television, we all shuffled into the the elevator for the ride down to our separate buildings. A few floors into our decent, we met up with a kind looking gentleman, and a younger lady. They got in without looking too startled at finding an elevator full of four white women. The gentleman just kind of stared at us for a minute. We all bowed to him as is custom and then he turned and bowed to each one of us and grinned. (Oh did we have a character on our hands) He pointed to who we found out to be his daughter and he said Peechburg? Peechburg? and we looked at his daughter when he said she is English. I'm sorry that was the most Korean looking English person I have ever seen and she kind of rolled her eyes at her father and turned to us and that is when I noticed she was wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers shirt. One of my compadres is originally from Pittsburgh area and exclaimed "Oh, I am from Pittsburgh." Then the gentleman laughed a cackly laugh of delight. Peechburg=Pittsburgh and we understood. He clasped his hands together and said PEECHBURG! Fooball? and then launched into a whole bunch of Korean that I just nodded, said neh (which is yes here), and smiled. Mind you this all happened in a 10 floor ride down an elevator. Come to find out that my friend from the Pittsburgh area lives in the same building as this kind gentleman and his daughter and son in law studied at Harvard and he is an avid Steelers fan. As he cackled on his way with his daughter to take out his recycling, I just had to shake my head and smile.   Every once in awhile you meet some really nice an fun people. And a proud parent is always a proud parent, no doubt about that one. I can only hope some day I get to see a Steelers game with him around. Now wouldn't that be entertaining?

Blue Light Special

Well friends, another Monday has come and gone here in Korea. It was National Foundation Day. Usually you can tell it is some sort of holiday when you see the Korean flag out along all the lampposts. I did have the sense to find out what it was. It celebrates the founding of the Korean Peninsula by Dangun in 2333BC. Talk about a national holiday! Most things were closed today due to that, except of course our school. Breaks of the biz being international and all.

So down to the main point of this blog. Shopping at Home Plus yesterday. As most of you know from previous writings, Things at Home Plus or E Mart aren't where they would normally be by any sort of American logic so you just always go in planning to spend a little time looking for what you need and finding a lot of what you don't need. Such was the case yesterday evening. When I finally acquired the few things I was looking for, I was headed down to the grocery section on the first floor. Two things jumped out at me down there.

In this first picture you can kind of see a row of massage chairs. Right next to the vegetable and fruit aisle. Because as all of us know, sometime you just really need a massage when buying some bananas and the like. I know I do. I also seemed to notice that many more men would sit here than women. I think of it as the enhanced version of where husbands go to sit while their wives shop. Could be a big hit in the states.

In this second picture there was a huge crowd around the apple produce area. I could not figure out why people were four deep for apples. From what I could tell they weren't any different from the ones we usually see at the market every week or have at school. I was pretty sure that they were on sale because of the color of the sign above them but even at that rate..IT'S APPLES! I decided to stay my distance because even the poor stock boys were getting trampled in the commotion and I don't even want to tell you about the poor little demo girl with slices of apples to taste. I really hope she just made it out alive. After going to school today I was able to find out from our wonderful Korean teacher that this was in essence a Blue Light Special. Oh the days of K-Mart Blue Light Specials! Never would we have seen the likes of one as crazy as this but they bring back fond memories. It is obvious to me now more than ever though that Koreans love their bargains. I am too scared to think what they would do if it were something really cool like a TV or even chocolate chip cookies. There could be injuries and hospitalizations for something like that. Well at least now I have another Korean mystery solved. Bring on tomorrow!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

I can't help but wonder as I head into my third month here what kind of changes people will see when I visit the states. It has been such a short time really, my time here but I know that some changes have definitely begun. Sadly, Korea is not the place to go for amazing weight loss and dietary changes, but I do eat better than I once did. I still have stressors every day and the newness of everything is tiring but in a different way than that which I came from. As I have slowly gotten used to the routine of daily life here, I wonder how hard it will be to switch back for a few weeks or will it be rather easy?
I still feel like me inside, but I am being colored by all of these experiences for better or for worse.
I wonder what little habits I might do. I bet I get very used to taking my shoes off when I go into any home. Most likely I will nod to any cashier or waiter for awhile. I wonder what it will feel like to to drive for the first time in 4 months. I wonder what it will be like to hear others speak mostly English. To see mostly white people again. To once again use nature's landmarks to get around verses trying to find my way through a maze of buildings.
I will probably want to recycle everything into three or for specific piles. I will be happy to be amongst it again but I will be curious to note any differences. My views of people and the world have been changed in so many ways already. What will it feel like to go back into what I have known for over 30 years?
Slowly I think more on the fact that changes are just that, changes. Some good and some bad but it is what you do with those that makes a difference. How you handle them, what you take from them. Everything and everyone around us is in a constant state of change. How can we not be effected by it all.  In the end it is amazing how much we ignore the changes around us to give us a sense of so called normal. I am starting to wonder what is so wrong with peeking outside the box every once in awhile and seeing what is out there. It might hurt but sometimes it can heal and lead to better things.
Just some thoughts...