Korean pop music or "K-pop" as it is called is one of the most fascinating parts of Korean pop culture. I intend to update this post as I gather more information on this, ahem, lifestyle... but for now, I leave you with a video.
Video: CLICK here!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Jarrett's first post!
Last night Laci and I ate at a small Korean restaurant and it was nerve wracking but the food was amazing. We had about 7 dishes plus soup(so spicy) and rice and it cost 10,000 won for both of us! That's about $9.50. No tip.
The EPIK staff is great and our lectures are really informative. Everything is regimented but they always have coffee, snacks and tea that tastes like burned popcorn. Overall the food is really good and extremely healthy.
The prices of things are incredible. medium bag of potato chips: 200won (20 cents). 600ml bottle of soju (the local liquor) 1,400won ($1.40). Energy drink 1,000won ($1). Coffee machine dispenser drink 200-600won (20-60 cents). The expensive stuff is fruit and juice but it's still cheaper than US prices. All the juice is 100% juice and all the milk is whole and was put on the shelf the day before.
I have spent almost nothing and I have paid for all of Laci's stuff and bought gifts for other teachers and so far I've spent less than $30.
Getting stared at everywhere you go.....Priceless.
A lot of toilet seats are heated and they have remote controls on them (digital bidet, butt dryer, air freshener and about ten other buttons I can't read and am too scared to try). Some things make me feel like Americans are more sane or either uncivilised.
Everything is relationships and respect here. If you don't bow to the proprietor of a shop and the people in it you will get treated like a barbarian who is killing babies. Blowing your nose is equal to telling people you're a nazi. But restaurant owners feel very free to clear their throats copiously, thickly and loudly even when setting the food down on the table and it's totally cool.
The EPIK staff is great and our lectures are really informative. Everything is regimented but they always have coffee, snacks and tea that tastes like burned popcorn. Overall the food is really good and extremely healthy.
The prices of things are incredible. medium bag of potato chips: 200won (20 cents). 600ml bottle of soju (the local liquor) 1,400won ($1.40). Energy drink 1,000won ($1). Coffee machine dispenser drink 200-600won (20-60 cents). The expensive stuff is fruit and juice but it's still cheaper than US prices. All the juice is 100% juice and all the milk is whole and was put on the shelf the day before.
I have spent almost nothing and I have paid for all of Laci's stuff and bought gifts for other teachers and so far I've spent less than $30.
Getting stared at everywhere you go.....Priceless.
A lot of toilet seats are heated and they have remote controls on them (digital bidet, butt dryer, air freshener and about ten other buttons I can't read and am too scared to try). Some things make me feel like Americans are more sane or either uncivilised.
Everything is relationships and respect here. If you don't bow to the proprietor of a shop and the people in it you will get treated like a barbarian who is killing babies. Blowing your nose is equal to telling people you're a nazi. But restaurant owners feel very free to clear their throats copiously, thickly and loudly even when setting the food down on the table and it's totally cool.
Orientation in Daejeon
ORIENTATION
We are here! We arrived in Korea on Monday and we will be here until we depart next Tuesday.
Our first day, we had our medical checks. Everyday since then we've been attending lectures on lesson planning, co-teaching, classroom management, edutaining, cooperative learning, etiquette, textbooks, afterschool camps, and the Korean language.
Today we had a Tae Kwon Do lesson. I expected it to be boring and embarrassing. Well, it wasn't boring! I had a really great experience and I am even looking into taking lessons! Chuncheon (the capital of our province) houses the international Tae Kwon Do academy.
A few things about Koreans and their culture:
1. The stereotype about their driving seems to be true because they run red lights all the time!
2. They are mortified if you blow your nose in public but will cough over your food as they serve it. They also wear medical masks a lot in public.
3. They have a phobia of foreigners because they think Americans are always carrying guns (even though that is impossible here) and that we are loud, scary, violent people. But man are they nice to you if you try to speak Korean.
4. They have an extreme respect for the elderly. They let them have the first and last seat, they eat first, and get any and all preference. I find this very respectable.
5. They also bow A LOT and give/accept things with two hands ALWAYS.
We are here! We arrived in Korea on Monday and we will be here until we depart next Tuesday.
Our first day, we had our medical checks. Everyday since then we've been attending lectures on lesson planning, co-teaching, classroom management, edutaining, cooperative learning, etiquette, textbooks, afterschool camps, and the Korean language.
Today we had a Tae Kwon Do lesson. I expected it to be boring and embarrassing. Well, it wasn't boring! I had a really great experience and I am even looking into taking lessons! Chuncheon (the capital of our province) houses the international Tae Kwon Do academy.
A few things about Koreans and their culture:
1. The stereotype about their driving seems to be true because they run red lights all the time!
2. They are mortified if you blow your nose in public but will cough over your food as they serve it. They also wear medical masks a lot in public.
3. They have a phobia of foreigners because they think Americans are always carrying guns (even though that is impossible here) and that we are loud, scary, violent people. But man are they nice to you if you try to speak Korean.
4. They have an extreme respect for the elderly. They let them have the first and last seat, they eat first, and get any and all preference. I find this very respectable.
5. They also bow A LOT and give/accept things with two hands ALWAYS.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Tomorrow we depart.
We have spent the past two weeks visiting family in MS and NC and saying goodbye.
We've searched for and found all our cold weather gear we'll be needing (the weather today in Seoul said it feels like negative temperatures) as well as stuffed as much as possible into our suitcases, weighing them over and over again.
Today we said goodbye to Renee (Jarrett's Mom) as she flew back to Texas.
Tonight we'll say goodbye as Jarrett's PawPaw leaves for a trip to Thailand.
Most of all, we are anxious because our flight is tomorrow afternoon and we'll be traveling almost a full 24 hours to get to Incheon.
Jarrett bought me some Dramamine yesterday with something to help me sleep on the plane. Hopefully my nerves won't keep me awake!
I am so appreciative to my family for being so supportive and Jarrett's family for being so helpful and accommodating. I think I have eaten more in the past two weeks that we've spent visiting then I did all of January!
We really will miss you all!
We've searched for and found all our cold weather gear we'll be needing (the weather today in Seoul said it feels like negative temperatures) as well as stuffed as much as possible into our suitcases, weighing them over and over again.
Today we said goodbye to Renee (Jarrett's Mom) as she flew back to Texas.
Tonight we'll say goodbye as Jarrett's PawPaw leaves for a trip to Thailand.
Most of all, we are anxious because our flight is tomorrow afternoon and we'll be traveling almost a full 24 hours to get to Incheon.
Jarrett bought me some Dramamine yesterday with something to help me sleep on the plane. Hopefully my nerves won't keep me awake!
I am so appreciative to my family for being so supportive and Jarrett's family for being so helpful and accommodating. I think I have eaten more in the past two weeks that we've spent visiting then I did all of January!
We really will miss you all!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Where we are going
I wanted to write a little bit about the province where we will be teaching.
It's called Gangwon-do ("do" meaning 'province' in Korean.) It is located in the Northeast of South Korea, sharing a border with North Korea. Luckily, it's far from the NK capital, Pyongyang.
This province attracts many nature tourists as it is very mountainous. We are super excited about the hiking prospects Korea offers.
It's called Gangwon-do ("do" meaning 'province' in Korean.) It is located in the Northeast of South Korea, sharing a border with North Korea. Luckily, it's far from the NK capital, Pyongyang.
This province attracts many nature tourists as it is very mountainous. We are super excited about the hiking prospects Korea offers.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Saying goodbye to mates in the States
Saturday: we leave our empty apartment for my Daddy Young's cozy house in Mooreville, MS. We'll be staying a week and visiting my family before heading to North Carolina to visit Jarrett's family.
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