This week I've been actively scouting for a hobby. Something I can do in the evenings to meet people and keep myself busy in some other way besides writing endless blog posts ;) So on Monday I went to check out Gum-do, a Korean sword fighting (yep, that's right, sword fighting) martial art that some of the other waygooks in my building participate in. Getting involved in a martial art while I'm here is high on the priority list, but I'm also not thrilled about chancing a repeat of my knee dislocation from this spring. Gum-do is a potential since it's low contact- orr maybe some tai-chi. We'll see what I can find. I'm very much looking forward to getting back into my piano lessons too, and have found a few used keyboards at a used furniture store. I just need to find someone with decent Korean skills who can haggle the price down for me!
At school on Monday I was told that all the teachers were going hiking Tuesday afternoon- as in tomorrow. Not much warning, but that's ok with me, because that's generally how I plan my life ;) Naturally Tuesday turned out to be a crazy day. Not in an absurd way, but in an, "I can't believe I'm really in Korea right now" kind of way.
I taught my morning classes as usual, and then the rest of the day's classes were cancelled and the kids went home for the day. Turns out the hiking was for the teachers only, and is something they all do together about twice a year for a special holiday. So we all loaded onto a bus and drove to Gwangyang, a town about half an hour from Suncheon. It's great driving through the country. That's where you see more traditional-looking Korean homes, farmers fields of rice, orchards, and many many mountains. About half the teachers were dressed in their die-hard hiker outfits, but there were still a good number who don't like hiking at all and were happy to lag behind. The hiking was great, and the scenery was beautiful- of course.
The principal was happy with me too- When I got back on the bus he shook my hand and said, "good hike". Charging ahead near the front makes for good brownie points I suppose :) I'm not trying to be a keener, I promise!
The day wasn't over with hiking.. After our half hour drive back to Suncheon, we drove right through the city to hit up a 'traditional' Korean restaurant in the country. Sitting surrounded by the teachers on the bus, I could hear them chattering away talking about me- not that I could understand what they're saying, but I just hear "Aminda" thrown in every once in a while. (They're talking about how you don't eat meat), Hae Jin told me... ohhh gossip!
Many of the restaurants are obviously anti-veggie. Walking up to this particular one, all the pictures are of plates of raw beef, and fields of cows- no question what they serve here! The traditional dish was pul-goki, different cuts of beef (including a small bowl of intestines) that you cook yourself of the skillet on the table. There's all the typical sidedishes to go along with it too- kimchi, beansprouts, soup, garlic, onions, etc etc. And they really do share everything here: at a table for 8 people there are only 2 soups- everyone just shares. What looked like a different darker variety of tofu in the soup turned out to be cubes of condensed pig's blood. mmmm, my favourite. I
did get to have some rice and another kind of soup, and was ok with sampling everything else on the table rolled in cabbage leaves.
Drinking is also a big part of the meal, and do they ever like to liquor you up! The Korean drink of choice is Soju, which can be compared to vodka. Rules of thumb at the table: you never pour your own drink, you always hold your glass up with both hands when someone is pouring, and you always ‘toast’ before drinking your Soju. Even a teacher at one of the other tables would sometimes come over and make sure we were always topped up.
Another common trait of Koreans is that they are not shy about commenting on flaws. Over dinner I got multiple comments on my very red face. Really now, what do you think is going to happen to my face after sitting in front of a steaming skillet and the table and drinking multiple rounds of soju? Although it did get irritating having teachers repeatedly point out my bad skin through the week (the change in water was not kind to me), it could be worse. Other English teachers have told me about their coworkers pointing out their big noses, or asking why they are so fat. Guess you have to have thick skin- but it's all part of the norm here.
Back to dinner... So afterwards on the bus, some teachers stood up to thank those who planned the day, and the principal said a few words. And then we got to listen to some excellent 'in-flight' entertainment- karaoke! Yes- there is karaoke on the buses. Some of the teachers wanted me to sing a song, but since it was a short ride I weaseled my way out of it. But not for long!
When we got dropped off at school, they asked if I'd like to go to nore-bong, which is very popular here. It's karaoke, only you have your own room with friends, it's not wide open in the bar like back home. In true Korean style, of course Im Seong meant, NO
W- not some other time. So somehow I ended up getting whisked away to nore-bong with 10 other teachers, to listen to some classic Korean music and enjoy some more rounds of Hyte beer and Soju. I had my time to shine too- and my bad singing didn't even seem to matter.
The night wasn't over for them after norebong, but I finally cut myself out and headed home, thank goodness. Im Seong shoved some money in my hand for a cab ride back, and then.... I had a lightbulb moment. You see, at this point I am still in my hiking clothes, with only a small pack on my back- wallet, water and camera. Oh God, my keys are in my backpack. At school. Which is locked. Crap! Thank goodness for nice neighbours- because Jen down the hall put me up at her place for the night- spare toothbrush and all :)
It was a great time overall, but also very strange. From school to hiking to dinner to soju to karaoke to forgotten keys: it's just one thing after another here! Even though you never know what's going to be thrown your way, the best thing you can do is roll with it and enjoy the ride.
At school on Monday I was told that all the teachers were going hiking Tuesday afternoon- as in tomorrow. Not much warning, but that's ok with me, because that's generally how I plan my life ;) Naturally Tuesday turned out to be a crazy day. Not in an absurd way, but in an, "I can't believe I'm really in Korea right now" kind of way.
I taught my morning classes as usual, and then the rest of the day's classes were cancelled and the kids went home for the day. Turns out the hiking was for the teachers only, and is something they all do together about twice a year for a special holiday. So we all loaded onto a bus and drove to Gwangyang, a town about half an hour from Suncheon. It's great driving through the country. That's where you see more traditional-looking Korean homes, farmers fields of rice, orchards, and many many mountains. About half the teachers were dressed in their die-hard hiker outfits, but there were still a good number who don't like hiking at all and were happy to lag behind. The hiking was great, and the scenery was beautiful- of course.
The principal was happy with me too- When I got back on the bus he shook my hand and said, "good hike". Charging ahead near the front makes for good brownie points I suppose :) I'm not trying to be a keener, I promise!The day wasn't over with hiking.. After our half hour drive back to Suncheon, we drove right through the city to hit up a 'traditional' Korean restaurant in the country. Sitting surrounded by the teachers on the bus, I could hear them chattering away talking about me- not that I could understand what they're saying, but I just hear "Aminda" thrown in every once in a while. (They're talking about how you don't eat meat), Hae Jin told me... ohhh gossip!
Many of the restaurants are obviously anti-veggie. Walking up to this particular one, all the pictures are of plates of raw beef, and fields of cows- no question what they serve here! The traditional dish was pul-goki, different cuts of beef (including a small bowl of intestines) that you cook yourself of the skillet on the table. There's all the typical sidedishes to go along with it too- kimchi, beansprouts, soup, garlic, onions, etc etc. And they really do share everything here: at a table for 8 people there are only 2 soups- everyone just shares. What looked like a different darker variety of tofu in the soup turned out to be cubes of condensed pig's blood. mmmm, my favourite. I
did get to have some rice and another kind of soup, and was ok with sampling everything else on the table rolled in cabbage leaves.Drinking is also a big part of the meal, and do they ever like to liquor you up! The Korean drink of choice is Soju, which can be compared to vodka. Rules of thumb at the table: you never pour your own drink, you always hold your glass up with both hands when someone is pouring, and you always ‘toast’ before drinking your Soju. Even a teacher at one of the other tables would sometimes come over and make sure we were always topped up.
Another common trait of Koreans is that they are not shy about commenting on flaws. Over dinner I got multiple comments on my very red face. Really now, what do you think is going to happen to my face after sitting in front of a steaming skillet and the table and drinking multiple rounds of soju? Although it did get irritating having teachers repeatedly point out my bad skin through the week (the change in water was not kind to me), it could be worse. Other English teachers have told me about their coworkers pointing out their big noses, or asking why they are so fat. Guess you have to have thick skin- but it's all part of the norm here.
Back to dinner... So afterwards on the bus, some teachers stood up to thank those who planned the day, and the principal said a few words. And then we got to listen to some excellent 'in-flight' entertainment- karaoke! Yes- there is karaoke on the buses. Some of the teachers wanted me to sing a song, but since it was a short ride I weaseled my way out of it. But not for long!
When we got dropped off at school, they asked if I'd like to go to nore-bong, which is very popular here. It's karaoke, only you have your own room with friends, it's not wide open in the bar like back home. In true Korean style, of course Im Seong meant, NO
W- not some other time. So somehow I ended up getting whisked away to nore-bong with 10 other teachers, to listen to some classic Korean music and enjoy some more rounds of Hyte beer and Soju. I had my time to shine too- and my bad singing didn't even seem to matter.The night wasn't over for them after norebong, but I finally cut myself out and headed home, thank goodness. Im Seong shoved some money in my hand for a cab ride back, and then.... I had a lightbulb moment. You see, at this point I am still in my hiking clothes, with only a small pack on my back- wallet, water and camera. Oh God, my keys are in my backpack. At school. Which is locked. Crap! Thank goodness for nice neighbours- because Jen down the hall put me up at her place for the night- spare toothbrush and all :)
It was a great time overall, but also very strange. From school to hiking to dinner to soju to karaoke to forgotten keys: it's just one thing after another here! Even though you never know what's going to be thrown your way, the best thing you can do is roll with it and enjoy the ride.
1 comment:
As always it has been educational (you are a teacher after all!) and great fun (you are young and in a foreign country after all!). Please continue to keep us all informed about how things are so far away from the familiar.
Ted & Linda
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