Heart, Mind, & Seoul: 100 Days

After 3 months of officially living in Korea, a day that was commemorated by a bungee jump, I can actually say that I've built the foundation of a life here. Things are more familiar, I have daily/weekly routines, I can navigate the subways without a map, I get suggest areas for sightseeing/shopping/eating.

As busy as I am--I work monday through friday with korean class for 2 hours on monday, wednesday and every other friday--I also feel like my life is settling down, which is nice. It's nice because it means I'm not this frantic visitor who is trying to cram everything down into an itinerary. It means I have begun growing roots to this place. It means I've taken the steps in calling this place, this city, my home.

And yet.

It's strange because I also feel that as my life settles down, and to a certain extent, slows down, I find myself wanting to speed things back up again. What more can I do, I ask myself. What new adventure can I tackle this weekend? What else can I experience to make myself feel that newness--that fresh excitement--that I once felt when I first came to this amazing country? The more I settle in, the more I feel like I want to pull myself out of that comfortableness--to remind myself, perhaps, not to take this time for granted, and to make the most of everyday.

Because I can feel myself grow, well, not exactly lazy, but maybe just accustomed. I feel like I need to be more proactive about things. I used to plan out my weekends in advance, writing lists of places to go, things to see. These days I don't really plan for anything, and it doesn't bother me. There's still a lot I want to see and do, so I wonder why it is that I'm not being more proactive. Where is the art class I wanted to take? What about getting that conversation partner? The hiking trips? The cooking lessons?

Why am I content with idle days when there's so much out there!

So I've decided to become more proactive. This is a must. Because while it's nice to have roots here in Seoul, I can't also let time here slip by where I don't do anything/go anywhere.

Also, I think this will also help me as I go through this supposed second phase of living/teaching in korea. I think the "honeymoon" phase--where everything is shiny and new and amazing and mind-blowing and special and korea can do no wrong--is just about over. The next phase is characterized with the thought that Korea can only do wrong, and intense longing for home. Things have lost their luster, and you spiral into this homesick depression. Or so I've been told. I've spoken to some NETs (native english teachers) who have never experienced it and have been here for months/years.

The last thing I want to talk about for today is the fact that while being a foreigner in Korea can have its struggles, it also has its rewards. And the tight-knit, supportive group of foreigners--living in korea, not merely visiting--is one of them. I can't begin to explain how wonderful it is to have this network of people, how incredibly comforting it is to have people going through the same experience as you. We walk our individual paths, but we walk along with each other. And because it is so amazing, when its time to say goodbye, it's also amazingly sad.

That's the other thing about living in Korea, or I suppose, any other country. You're always waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's great to have friends here, but the downside is that we're all so temporary. Our lives here are temporary and fleeting. It's like we live in this dream world where we play and exist only in the bounds where nothing is permanent or real. The reality, then, comes when we must part.

And it's horrible.

When someone talks about going home/leaving/not renewing their contract, we're immediately forced to acknowledge our own impermanence, our own temporary condition. It's like we're shadows living among the living, and we hate to think of just how shadowy we actually are.

And it applies to everything. Can I justify this purchase of a smart phone/couch/desk/chair, etc., knowing full well that I may not have that much time left? That one day I'll have to leave it/them behind? Is it worth it to buy? To make friendships? To invest emotional energy?

Because one day, someday soon, someday far, we'll stop being shadowy dreams and go back to our real lives in our real hometowns with our real jobs.

And Korea, this time, this experience---this will be the thing that will feel like a dream.

It's odd, knowing that I've been here for 3 months already. Time is flying by so fast. 3 months is 1/4th of my contract. I want to take hold of time, make it count, and commit it all to memory.

Seoul Randomness: 2

1. The yogurt here is not the spoonable kind. It's the pourable kind. But they try to pass it off as being spoonable by putting it in the little containers you'd usually use a spoon with. I kind of get disappointed, as I love the thicker consistency of spoonable yogurt.

2. Unless you are having a steak, you probably won't find a knife on the table here in Korea. However, you will find chopsticks and spoons-a-plenty. It's a Confucian practice not to have knives on the table.

3. You drink water (usually) after the meal. No many people take water with their meals on a general basis.

Founding Ceremony & Hemlines

About a week ago my school had its annual day to celebrate its founding. This meant that I got to see a wonderful ceremony which included an eerie voice recording of the school's founder and performances by the students. The choir sang, with the most adorable choreography which was compounded by the fact that some students forgot it and were doing the wrong move at the wrong time:) There were these other dance performances, and oh. em. gee. was is scandalous!

I mean, okay, in Korea women can wear the shortest skirts/shorts ever, but if I as much as show my collarbones, I'm the slut. And apparently our school has no problem with girls wearing skirts super above the strict below-the-knees rule...as long as its for a performance. And it was totally fine to wear these backless dresses. And it was totally okay for them the chest pop, get low, thrust, and the like.

As I sat on the stands, in the section of teachers squeezed between students and the administrators on stage--including the two school representatives of Han Buddhism-- I wondered why no one else was bothered by this.

There's this notion that my students have, which I'm sure the teachers/adults have as well, that since public schools in the US don't have uniforms, that students can wear whatever they want. And that the hip thrusting they see in western movies/TV actually happens, and is common, at school. But the reality is that most public schools STILL have some sort of dress code, so that actually, no, we can't just wear whatever we want--and honestly, I've never, ever, in all my years of going to school in the states, seen a girl wear a skirt as short, or shorter, than a girl in korea. Oh right, and that hip thrusting dancing? Not in a high school, at least not in my high school. I cant say this confidently because I oversaw the pep rallies/student performances and everything was checked--from wardrobe, to song lyrics, to dance moves. I'm not saying it doesn't happens, but in clubs or dance halls, or I dunno, on the streets. Most definitely not in high schools ceremonies.

I'm not sure why there's this double standard. You reprimand students for hiking up their skirts after school hours, but then its totally okay for them to show so much skin for a dance performance in front of the whole school, the principals, and the administration. Is it simply because its a dance performance? Is it based off a notion that this is just how you do things, as modeled by the west? Is it approved because, hey, at least it's not as bad as how students in the west behave?

I'm not a prude, but considering how strict my school is--with everything--I was just surprised that that ish could fly.

Anyway, the ceremony was wrapped up by the school's cheer team. But definitely not the kind that comes to mind a la Bring it On but more like a spirit team/pep squad? No somersaults, not flips, no pyramids, no launching people into the air. More like a lot of arm movements, running around trying to get people to clap/be excited, and coordinated formations. Oh, and there were pom poms & like western--and by this I mean like cowboys western--inspired outfits which were super cute :)

Bungee Jump # 2: Success!

Today was Bungee Jump attempt #2. The verdict? SUCCESS!!

My friend Christina and I went to the park early and were one of the first people to get to jump today.

Christina, in her bungee getup.

I don't know what kind of face this was supposed to be...

And instead of me talking about it, why not just show you?

I was supposed to record my jump with my camera attached to my wrist...but for some reason it just gave out right before the jump!! I can't figure it out, but I imagine I must have hit a button or something just before leaping :(

It was amazing and awesome and terrifying. I wasn't afraid until I hit free fall. I'm not naturally afraid of heights, so being up there, I was the second person to go (the first of the first-timers) and even when I was standing at the edge, a cord strapped to my back, and the man telling me to "jump into the house" that was located at a distance, I felt no fear.

He counted down, and I jumped, not hesitating and feeling completely at ease.

It was only after I jumped, when I hit free fall and my stomach dropped, did I feel fear and panic. My friend Christina said that I was amazing quiet, until about mid way through my jump, when I started to scream like crazy ^__^ I think you must be sort of crazy to do something like bungee jump--willing jumping off an ledge far up off the ground, with nothing but the hope that the cord won't snap.

I know what plunging to my death feels like.

Also, everyone talks about the initial fall, but there's also the rebounding falls. You spring back up almost as high as you initially fell, then again, and again, each subsequently a smaller height, but you do lose your stomach quite a few times.

Needless to say, I was grateful that the man in boat below grabbed my foot and brought me to semi-solid ground. Knees/legs were definitely weak in the boat and they make you sit down while the paddle you back.

I really recommend going, there's nothing like the feeling of absolute free fall. It's exhilerating and I'd probably go again...although I'm not sure I could be as fearless as I was today, knowing what awaits me haha. Maybe next time I'll try bungee jumping from my ankles, instead of the sit in harness that I was in today.

Really happy that I went...and today of all days! But more on this in a bit :)

P.S. I hate the sound of my voice & all the heavy breathing I do. Sorry, dear readers, for creeping you out like that haha

For laughs

Recently, one of my students told me I look like Victoria, from f(x):



Personally, I don't think I look a thing like Victoria, and that is not meant as an insult, and in fact I'm honored, but she's definitely Chinese/has asian features, which I don't have. But I could see where the student was trying to go--both Victoria and I are foreigners working and living in Korea. It may also have to do with our hair. But ultimately the student was trying, at least I think, to make some sort of connection with our "foreign-ness."

But then that same student threw this in, and it didn't make sense to me at all. She said that after I REALLY REALLY look like Victoria, she said I also sort of look like Rihanna.



I couldn't help but laugh at the connection, because Victoria and Rihanna look nothing alike, and I don't look nearly as fabulous as either of them haha.

English Zoned.

A glimpse of where I teach, the ENGLISH ZONE.

In many schools in Seoul--if you teach outside of Seoul/Busan, it may be a different story--there is a designated English classroom known as the English Zone. I say "designated" because the school system in Korea differs from the west, in that usually students STAY in their classroom, while the TEACHERS move around---instead of Teachers staying in the classroom and STUDENTS moving from class to class.

But with an English Zone, students come to you. And it's exactly what it's name means, that within those walls, it's all English, all the time ^^.

The smart board. Many school's within Seoul have a SMART board/a touch screen of some sort that frees you from standing behind your desk/computer.

Fish Market: Busan

One of the most famous attractions in Busan: the Fish Market.

The main building is separated into two floors. The first floor is all vendors selling all sorts of seafood. You roam the aisles and take your pick of the selection.



They will cut up your fish for you, and if you want to eat your goods quickly, you can head up to the second floor, which is basically an eating/cooking hall. You hand over your fresh seafood and for 10,000 won, they will cook it for you & you can enjoy your seafood from tank to plate in mere minutes :)



Besides all the amazing shellfish, I tried abalone for the first time--and it was not at all like how I thought it would taste. Not sure if I'm a fan. Overall, everything was amazingly delicious and simply prepared to allow for the freshest taste :)

Munchies: TACO SENORA, Busan

Being from Southern California, one of the things I find myself missing the most from back home is good Mexican food. There are places to get "Mexican" food here in seoul, but my one and only time doing so was such a disappointment that I gave up altogether. Because it just looks pathetic if you are crying into a burrito.

But in visiting Busan, I was led to this little taco shop and although weary, I took it as a good sign that the inside looked like this:

Taco Senora is this tiny shop that has become sort of like a pilgrimage sight for travelers in Korea in search for a culinary awakening.

Another good sign. Real avocados!

The menu is simple: burritos, tacos, fajitas, quesadillas. But their guacamole is fresh and is the best thing this side of the pacific, no joke.


The thing that I appreciate the most about Taco Senora is the attention given to each plate that goes out. Taco Senora tries to give an authentic experience--because you can get "Mexican" food in Korea, but wrapping rice & beans with cheese & lettuce in a tortilla does not mean you are having an authentic experience. Taco Senora tries to mimic the flavors of something I would eat back home--and sure, some things will be different as some ingredients won't be readily available here in Korea that are found in Latin American cuisine, but Taco Senora does it's best.

And it's best is pretty darn delicious. I nearly cried when I sat on the beach with my burrito...this time out of sheer happiness.

Bungee Jump # 1: Fail

After what seemed like forever, my friend Christina and I arrived at Yuldong Park to bungee jump 45 meters off a tower situated over a lake. It was a beautiful day, we were feeling good.

And then disaster struck.

This side of the Pacific: Haeundae Beach, Busan

Having been born and raised in Southern California, there are no words to describe how much I needed/wanted to see the ocean. And just how much it meant for me to do just that, in Busan, at its most famous beach: Haeundae.

A few friends and I made the 2.5 hour trip (KTX fast train) & the 5 hour trip back (slow train) over this past weekend, which was Children's Day/Buddha's Birthday.



,It's amazing how similar, and yet, how different it was to be back at the beach for the first time in over two months. I've definitely taken it for granted that I could visit the beach anytime I wanted back when I was in San Diego.

And I was definitely glad to be there, not in august, when the crowds hadn't yet come, when the weather hadn't gotten too blistering hot, and there was nothing but ocean water and sand before me.

Munchies: The Library at Shilla Hotel for Afternoon Tea

I know I said that I would update about Busan, and I will, but I ventured out with some friends for Afternoon Tea, and it just needs to be written about.

It was a taste of England, right in the heart of Seoul.

For those who know me, and know me well, it comes as no surprise that I make it a point to take about tea. More specifically, I make it a point to go to Afternoon or High Tea. What may come as a surprise is that it's taken me almost two and a half months to finally go out for tea here in Seoul.

Part of the reason for this delay is that, and this should come as no surprise, Seoul/South Korea isn't exactly keen on English tea service. Tea houses are aplenty, but they are decidedly Eastern in service, presentation, selection, and ceremony. And for good reason too.

So what is a girl to do when craving for a nice, dark, cup of tea, a flaky scone, and some clotted cream?

Even trying to find a tucked away English tea house was difficult to find--most places that had a so-called Afternoon Tea Service actually only had tea available with a variety of dessert. You can get that in any cafe, in any city, and for a lot cheaper than they were promoting. A random assortment of tea, served with with whatever bakery's signature cake? No thank you. That is not what I want.

I found that hotels are your best bet for a decent English Tea Service. No buffets, no dessert platters masking as a tea tray, no teabags.

Today, I opted for the Shilla Hotel's Afternoon Tea Service held in their Library.

Before we get into the tea service proper, a word on the Shilla Hotel. It is gorgeous. The staff was friendly and spoke English, which was nice, and the structure itself is a mixture of modern design and Korean traditional architecture.

The lobby has a stunning chandelier display made of crystals what was simply breathtaking.

Shilla's Library is dark wood and lots of light, which is nothing less than handsome.



Like many places in Korea there is a smoking and non-smoking section. We opted for the non-smoking.

The Menu:

A decent menu that includes all the favorites, and two unusual teas for variety: Pearl Jasmine and Wedding Imperial.

There are three kinds of service you may order: traditional, champagne, and the champagne Piper Heidsieck.

I opted for the traditional tea served with the Wedding Imperial. Mostly because I can find Earl Grey and English Breakfast anywhere, and wanted to try something different in this tasting.

This was exactly the cup of tea that I needed. Fragrant, acidic, scents of caramel and delicious sweetness. A splash of milk and I was in heaven.

Tea, poured into your cup, served table side.

Yes. On the left, my friends, is clotted cream. I could die.

The Assortment:

The Standouts:

Pieces of Roquefort between croissant-like bread, touched with a dab of real, honest to goodness, honey.

Raisin scone. Not dense as a rock like the Starbucks kind. Buttery. Moist. And yes, that golden sheen is due to egg wash <3

Macaroon. There was another macaroon on the top tier of the stand (purple), but this one was larger, and, I suppose the best way to describe it would be to say that it was an artisan macaroon. It was malformed but well-crafted as only handmade baked goods can be.

The Disappointments:

I don't know exactly what this little cake was supposed to be--the best I can figure is that, taste wise, it resembled the sponge cake often found in sticky toffee pudding, the different here being, of course, no toffee sauce. There was nothing exceptional about the cake, and it would have been fine, if it didn't taste like it had sat in a refrigerator for an extended period of time.

Super duper dense chocolate cake. There was dark chocolate in the center. Maybe I was expecting too much, but this fell rather flat for me--and I love myself some chocolate. The texture and everything was fine, but much like the other sponge cake, it tasted like refrigerator. And not even the strong taste of dark chocolate could change that.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the tea service at the Shilla hotel. Someone asked me if how it compared to any other tea services that I had been to, both in the US and in England, and for the most part it was pretty comparable. There was nothing, on the whole, that I thought was seriously lacking and I would definitely come back again.

The Library at the Shilla Hotel, Seoul
202 Jangchung-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea 100-856

Directions:
-subway line 3. Dongguk University Station (Dongdaeipgu), exit 5

How to get a job with EPIK

I got this email asking about how to get a job teaching in South Korea, and I thought I'd share it for anyone who was looking to do the same.

hi, i'm from singapore. Read your blog and would like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind. I'm really interested in teaching in Korea. My i ask how did you get your job in Korea? Is there a need for me to be fluent in the korea language?

First, if you want, you can back track through my blog to read more detaied posts on how I got here. Check out the "pre-korea" labels on the right side.

Second, as an addendum to the information above, you can also see my old blog, which had some other things about EPIK interviews at the like: Mirth_Korea

Third, I should mention that there are many ways to land a job teaching English in Korea. You need to decide first, whether you want to teach PUBLIC school or PRIVATE school--in general terms. This matters because if you teach in Public school, you'll need to apply with EPIK/GEPIK (English Program in Korea--the gov't based organization that places and supports all native english teachers in S. Korea). This is a long and often arduous process with a lot of red tape and paperwork.

On the other hand, you can take the Private school route--and by private school, I mean Hagwon/English Academy. That is not to say that all private schools are hagwons, or that EPIK only places in public school, because I am an EPIK teacher currently teaching at a private school, but in general terms, we say EPIK=Public and Hagwon=Private.

Hagwons are easier to find work at, requiring maybe a fraction of what you would need to provide for EPIK. I'm not exactly sure what the process is like for obtaining a job at a hagwon--if you can do it from abroad or if you need to come here first to do it--but visas for South Korea are only good for 90 days (tourist visa). Hagwons are academies, that is, students attend their regular school, and THEN go to Hagwons for extra lessons. They play for these lessons at hagwons--that is to say, Hagwons are businesses.

There are a lot of differences between Hagwons and Public school. Both will usually put you up and pay for your apartment, but the hours you work and the amount you teach differ with each system. Furthermore, vacation/sick days often seem to be the biggest issue. By contract, EPIK teachers get 21 days of vacation leave, usually scheduled during school holidays, but we can take sick days if needed. For some reason, it seems that at Hagwons you vacation days are scheduled for you, and its harder to take sick leave.

Also, another issue is job stability at hagwons. Because they are businesses, your job depends upon how many students are attending the hagwon. If there are no students, you lose you job, you visa gets revoked, and all sorts of messy business occurs.

In any case, like I said earlier, there are several ways in which you can apply with the EPIK program. The most common ways are:
-directly, through EPIK website
-indirectly, through a recruiter.

I should mention that no, there is no reqirement for knowing Korean language in order to be successfully hired as a Guest English Teacher (GET)/ Native English Teacher (NET) in Korea. Any Korean language you know will be a benefit for your everyday convenience, but it is not required at all for placement.

All you need is university degree. If you are TEFL certified that can bump you up on the pay scale. The university degree doesn't matter what subject it is from, but if you did english or english education, you may be eligible to teach in Seoul or get a pay increase. If you've got a master's degree you can opt to teach at university--not with EPIK though.

You can peep the payscale & degree requirements here:


Other things you will need:
- University transcripts
- Letters of Recomendation
- Copies of your degrees
- Criminal Record Check
- passport photos

Some Tips:
- Get your application in early--EPIK is already accepting appliations for the Summer 2011 intake of teachers!!!! Deadline is June 1st!
- This means doing everything ASAP
- Make copies of everything
- Keep in contact with your recruiter, if you are using one, so you're always in the loop
- Ask questions if you don't understand something, better safe than sorry.
Hope that helps. Any other questions feel free to ask!

unwrapping: YG box :)

I spent the weekend in Busan (will post more about this later) but when I came home there was a package waiting for me. Finally, my YGE shop order came in!

little black box~~VIP is the name of Big Bang's fanclub

First item: the BB "paper" photo frame in black. It's not really paper as it is foam.

Picture options for the frame. 12 in all.

And the one I chose. This photo frame is going to come with me to work to sit on my desk. So while my coworkers have pictures of their families up in their offices/desk...I will have my TOP :)

Item number 2 came in that nice cylinder.

It's official~~ my Big Bang light stick!! Can't wait to use it :)