It's Cool!

Well, Rob has destroyed our alarm clock by hitting the snooze button too often and with malicious intent. So, it's time to get a new one. This one would be perfect for Rob, I think.

Intermission Transmission Superstition Coalition- a little stream of consciousness

Soon Rob and I will be flying back home to out frosty winter wonderland. This marks the conclusion of our (surprise!) 15 month contract here in Korea. (It was only supposed to be a 12 month contract, for those of you who are new to this blog). This is not the end of our Engrishee teaching escapades, though. We decided to sign on for another year of teaching in the same town and at the same schools. I would have liked to have gone to a different town in Korea, just to see something new, but our apartment here is just way too good to give up. We have seen some of the apartments that others get- and we have been very very fortunate! We have also been pretty lucky with our schools and enjoy working there for the most part. (I'm speaking for Rob here, but I'm pretty sure that he feels the same way)

I know that I have learned a lot during my time here and on my travels into other countries. Maybe in some future posts I will talk about these life lessons but probably not. I often think that traveling is too personal an experience to accurately express without falling way short of the truth. I can show you pictures and video. I can tell you stories and anecdotes. What I cannot do is share with you the intangible jumble of sensory input that I have experienced. You just really need to experience it for yourself.

For example,
the strange mix of euphoria and helplessness that I felt in Cambodia is something I can still feel so strong in me, but it's almost impossible to share the combination of smells, sounds, sights: The quality of the air as I rode down the street on the back of a Tuk-Tuk- a surprisingly pleasant smell of incense and burning garbage, how I felt when I fed an elephant a banana and gave his giant cheek a loving pat, and how I reacted to children begging. These are my memories, were Rob's the same? And I bet that your experiences (dear readers) would be completely different from the both of ours.

***

I'm excited to come back to Canada, but apprehensive too. There will undoubtedly be some culture shock once again. Last night I went out for beers with some Native English Teachers , and we decided it would be a good idea to practice Western table manners again (as many of us are heading back to the West in the next week). I practiced saying, "Please pass the napkins!" rather than just reaching across to get them. We discussed the concept of "Is it weird to eat a meal off the same plate as another person?" and "I don't even know anymore" as well as "What is the word for that thing... me engrishee teachee". It's good to follow rules, so that we can be respectful and get along with other people. It's also good to know that these "rules" are not universal.

And sometimes its good to just sit on the top of a mountain with a radio and some batteries and sing a joyful tune. Which, brings me to my main reason for posting this wonderfulness.

The main reason that I came on here was to post my
Top 10 Favourite Experiences of 2008
(as suggested by Rob, and I hope he does one too!)
So, here goes:

10. Finally learning how to use chopsticks, with skill and grace!
9. Learning to read Korean. (still need to work on understanding it though!)
8. Riding a boat down the Mekong River into Vietnam.
7. Climbing Taebaeksan in all four seasons.
6. Crossing Shibuya in Tokyo.
5. Going to a bath house in Mishima, Japan.
4. Watching the fireworks in Beijing during the Chinese New Year.
3. Petting an Elephant in Cambodia.
2. Walking on the Great Wall of China.
1. Watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat.

If you feel like commenting, I'd like to know what place or experience has forever changed you? Maybe I'll go there too, and we can talk about it someday soon.

peace, love and understanding

The Wonder Girls Phenomena

OK. I've had a few weeks of "home study leave" to get my head together. I think I've been in culture shock/denial for the past 13 months, but now I'm starting to process things a little. Also, I've made a New Year's Resolution to post more often. (I promise!) To post about daily experiences. Just the little things that make living in a foreign country so fascinating and addicting, and also homesickness inducing.

I've been mulling over in my mind why South Korea is so fascinating and so repelling at the same time.

Here is a good place to start; The Wonder Girls Phenomena.

The Wonder Girls are a Korean Pop group (K-Pop). Made up of five very very very young girls (none of them were born before 1988) that have taken over this country by a storm of ridiculous cuteness, overt sexuality and annoyingly catchy beats.

I came to realize how much The Wonder Girls had invaded my life during my first few classes. I had asked the students to "tell me" something, I don't remember exactly what I wanted them to tell me, but that doesn't matter. As soon as I said the magic phrase "tell me", the class broke out into song. This song...



It's worse than Brittany or say, the Spice Girls. It's worse because most everyone of Korean descent loves The Wonder Girls; from babies to old men.

I enjoy this quote from The Korean Times, it kind sums up my feelings about the group and their fans.

"A housewife who disclosed only her surname Kim said, ``My husband likes the group so much, and I thought it was kind of gross, you know, a 40-year-old man watching and enjoying teenage girls in short skirts dancing. However, I soon found myself humming the song unconsciously and imitating the dance when watching the television.``"

I would like to say to this housewife, go with your gut feelings, it is a little gross indeed. But of course that's just my opinion. Perhaps she should buy herself a school girl uniform... *awkward silence* urm, cough...

Their songs play everywhere: grocery stores, cafes, cell phone ring tones, on the bus, and the lovely off-key renditions emanating from the No Rae Bong (Singing Room AKA Karaoke) And, to make it worse/more hilarious everyone knows the dance moves by heart. The people offer for evidence, exhibit A:(High school boys)



B: (Traffic Police)


C:(Flight Attendants)


and D:(Baby)




:D :D :D :D
The first time I saw a group of high school boys dancing to Wonder Girls on stage in front of the entire school and community, I just about asphyxiated from laughter and disbelief. Then I discovered that this was considered normal behavior for high school boys. Fair enough, I'm open to breaking gender stereotypes.

But it spreads like a disease. I often, too often, find myself unconsciously humming Wonder Girl tunes. I spritz myself with water for punishment, but it doesn't help.

Now, this is just my rant on the Wonder Girls. I haven't even gotten to Jewelry
or Lee Hyo Ri (Who's nickname is Hyorish... my students have no idea what this sounds like... fast forward to 3:00)

Jewelry


Lee Hyo Ri (AKA Hyorish)


Sigh... that's just the girl groups, I haven't even gotten to the boy bands...
And I totally forgot about "Disco". Ya Rob, don't deny it, I've heard you sing it...
"d.d.d.d.i..s.c.o hey disco!"

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC! WHY? WHY!?

Seriously, I miss concerts and good music.

English Camp!

This weekend was the pinnacle of our hard work on a weekend, english-immersion "camp". Katherine organized this event with the help with a couple other EPIK teachers fromt the area. Twenty-eight excited high school girls came and participated in a pirate-themed extravaganza, complete with crafts, carnival, and Noraebang...oh yeah, and some English related stuff.

Aside from the frequent mobbing by the girls (I swear there are at least five arms hooked around me), the camp went extremely smooth and was actually quite fun. Katherine's planning was very well thought out, and every activity was as engaging as it was fun.




In about three weeks, I will have my school's camp, which may or may not be as interesting. Shortly after that, we will take a trip to Cambodia/Vietnam, and then back to Canada for a visit. Next week marks three things, our Anniversary (9 years), my birthday (not 27), and our first year anniversary of being in Korea. It's hard to believe it's been a year. Really, really hard to believe.
See you soon.

Yukata DIY

You will need:1 Yukata

Wooden shoes
A piece of cloth and a bow.

Accessories. From left to right: A piece of something hard to give you the "column" shape. An elastic clip to keep the Yukata closed. (I'm sure you could just use a string and some safety pins) and a tie to help when you adjust the length.

Instructions: If you are built with an hour-glass figure, you should pad the waist in order to look good in yukata. A sports bra that "flattens" the breasts to the body works well for yukata. A yukata slip is an optional item and not a necessity by any rule. However, if you're putting on a light weight (thin material), light colored or semi-sheer yukata, it might be wise to have this extra layer of "coverage" so your underwear does not show through. (A fashion faux pas in any culture.)

How to wear a yukata (for women)

Hold the garment open and raise it to make the hemline come to about the height of your ankles. This is how length is adjusted. Make sure the center back seam of the yukata aligns with your spine.
Bring the right-hand side in, and wrap the left side over it. The yukata should gather at your waist.

*Important note that I just learned: NO Japanese would wear any yukata with the right side over the left EVER. Left flap is ALWAYS on top. This is a rule. (Japanese custom has it that only the dead are dressed with the right side over the left.) In these photos I have my right side over the left... whoops. Hey, I'm an ignorant Canadian... no longer. ;-)


Tie the yukata shut tightly with the tie just above your hip bone .

Fold the material down over the tie. Smooth the wrinkles out on the upper front and in the back at this point. Tip: Pull the right flap down and across by putting your hand through the hole found under the left armpit to adjust. (A clever built-in feature of yukata.)
Tie the yukata in place with the second tie (this is where I use the elastic band clip thing) just under your chest.

Place and secure the waist panel over the second tie so that the wide and flat part of the panel is covering the front. I bought this panel in Japan, but you could probably use a flexible piece of plasic covered in fabric and tie it on with some string. Cardboard might work too, in a pinch.

Now you're ready for the sash and bow!

I don't know how to tie the traditional sash and bow. When Yuzu's Grandmother did this for me, she had about 2 meters of fabric. I cheat and just use a prefabricated bow. It works okay, though not nearly as beautiful.

Remember to iron your sash! oops!

And, don't forget the shoes!

Peace!

Lastly, get on a plane to Tokyo. Go to the top of Roponggi Hills. Find a cute man and take a cheezy picture. It is an experience that you will never forget.

Japan video

Forgive the poor quality, it looks really great on the computer, then you upload it and they transform it into shit.

And now something from out of left field...

My second magazine photo op! This time all the way from Namazu Japan!