Taiwan!

Today at 5:30 I will be leaving Korea for the first time since I have been here to go to Taipei Taiwan for three full days, four nights. I am really excited about going and seeing a new place, visiting a friend. I understand it is pretty rainy there. . . but hopefully it will be fun. My friend told me to that the earthquake had no affect on Taipei either so everything is cool. Well, hopefully I'll take lots of cool pictures to send out an emails and post on the blog when I get back.

Happy small vacation time for me!

A Very Special Korean Christmas!

I have been blessed this year on this long Christmas weekend in Korea. Friday was a little rough, but I let it go and realized that Charlie knows I didn't throw a pencil case at the kid and that is why he laughed at it off. The kid is just being a little boy in a class that hates me and wanted attention or something.

Saturday my friend, Chang Woo came here to my neighborhood and we ate a Korean traditional type lunch with chicken that is very good. Then we came back here and he helped me with my Korean a little bit and I helped him with English. My Korean is at a very basic level though of course. Then he helped me find a place where I bought some light bulbs for my place so that was good. Then we met again later that night at the Korean church for like the middle schoolers concert and my other friend Chul was helping them out by playing the drum. It was actually pretty cute and enjoyable and some of the kids even sang carols in English.

Yesterday, Sunday (Christmas Eve) I met my friend Chul and we went to the English service church and then to lunch with another friend. Then we went to the Korean church service and afterwards we went to the big bus station close by and I helped out pass invitations (tickets) with some candy attached to them to people on the street inviting them to church for Christmas day. Then we went back to church and ate a traditional rice cake soup.

After that I went to Starbucks with Chol, Chang Woo, and three girls (Soun, Eun Soung, and another girl I can't think of.) I am getting better there and we ended up being there for like four hours. Two of the girls had just got back from England studying there, so they spoke good English. Soun finished a semester in Liverpool and it was hard for her and she didn't really like it so she came back to Korea. There was another girl who is just here for two weeks for the holiday and she studies in London. So, I talked to them about England and different things and we all talked about our futures, dreams and so on. We all are the same age, which means as of January 1st in Korea we are 25!!!

Then after that I met my other good friend, Yehun and a friend I met through him whose name is So Young. So Young is very young though only 20 in Korean age, and she looks like she is in high school it makes me feel old. We bought an ice cream Christmas cake at Baskin Robins and bought some food and beer and soju. So Young and Yehun ended up cooking all kinds of food, too much plus the cake. We did not finish all the food and I had a lot to clean today plus I need many more things. We had a good time talking and stuff then we watched Love Actually on my notebook. It was really late So Young slept on my bed and Yehun and I slept on the floor with the carols going from the internet radio. They both slept but I didn't at all, which really stunk. They woke up and both left here at about 7 AM and then I got to sleep for two hours before I had to get ready to go to the Korean Church for Christmas day. It was a really fun night, and a special Christmas Eve!

Today I went to church and was so tired though, but it was okay. Then Chul called and I had lunch with him and his mom at Outback Steakhouse, much better in Korea by the way. So much food and I felt stuffed with all of it. Then I came back here for a while and cleaned and tried to sleep for a couple of hours. Then I met my friend Yehun and his parents tonight and we went to a traditional Korean restaurant. There was so much food there and side dishes, but I liked it a lot! His parents are very nice despite the language barrier still there. We went back to their apartment which I thought was beautiful and had tea and fruit. I have never heard this before from anyone, but Yehun's parents said "I have pretty hands." haha! They think I am cute like most people at the Korean church, but what a blessing friends have been to me here. I had a very good time today too.

Tomorrow I have to go to work, so I will go to bed soon because I am very tired! Friday - I leave for Taiwan for about three days!!! So exciting!

My Job.

I worry so much about my job and the job that I am doing. I have skipped dinner time for the past two nights (Thursday and Friday) and probably will next Tuesday again to work on report cards on the computer that are due on Thursday before I go to Taiwan. I have only ate like snack food and not a lot because I am so worried about getting everything done and doing a good job.

You can imagine my horror today then when the main Korean teacher told me about half way through the day that some mom had called Charlie (my boss) today to say that I through a pencil case at her son yesterday in class. He is in the class from hell today, the ones that all hate me that I get very frustrated at all the time. Maybe I dropped the pencil case too hard on the table or something, but I would never throw something at a kid(I am sorry - I never ever would do that even if I wanted to deep down inside.) The Korean teacher told me not to worry and that I was not in trouble because Charlie trusts me and stuff, which is good. Then right before that class in my other class Charlie came in and told me this and was like just don't throw anything down hard anymore. It will be just my luck that more kids will drop out because of me. And during the ten minute break right before that class those kids saw me that already hate me and were showing their disgust to me in front of everyone in very obviousu ways. Fortunately, I survived that next class though and I am trying so hard in this job. I am trying so so so hard and feel like I am getting better and doing well, and then something l ike this happens. Everyone seems to pass this off like no big deal, but I stress so much about it!

Also, tonight at the very end I learned I have to work two hours tomorrow from about 12 -2 with the high school girl that I tutor one on one. Charlie asked me tonight if I could do next Saturday. I was like I'll be in Taiwan on vacation during the holiday and he was like when do you leave. I said on Friday, and he was like "so you no teach on Friday?" I was like "what?" I thought we had the day off, and he told me "don't worry, its okay." I asked the main Korean teacher about this and apparently their is a little party with the kids next Friday and Charlie probably expected me to be there. Everyone says, don't worry but just another thing that I thought was all settled and okay since the main Korean teacher helped me plan the trip and now I know that Friday was a day I was supposed to be at academy.

I am trying so hard, and I worry so much about this job. . . maybe I am not meant to be a teacher. I don't know. . .

Tonight I met a friend and another friend and did some drinking, but this job! I don't know what to do anymore.

Christmas is Almost Here. . .

I wish I had some amazing stories or insights into Korean culture for you to share right now, but I really don't. I have just been working pretty much as usual. Yesterday was Diary Day at EFL though and the topic was Christmas, which means all the kids write something about Christmas depending on their level. All the way from filling in blanks to make sentences to full fledged essays, that the other foreign teacher and I have to grade all of them in class or on the computer. Yesterday was kind of cute though because we got to teach the little kids Jingle Bells and we sang it to them and they sang too. That was very adorable and cute I though. . . kind of made me smile ^^!

The weather has warmed up again and is supposed to stay in the 40s mostly, which is pretty warm for this time of year I think. So, after work tomorrow I have a three day weekend for Christmas on Monday. Sunday and Monday I'll probably hang out with some friends and go to church both days. My first Christmas not with my family, try to make it enjoyable and somewhat special in its own way. I got a card from my grandma today from St. Louis and it made me sad, but happy at the same time. I just need to stay focused on the true reason for Christmas and not let myself get down. . . maybe a bit easier said then done. I guess maybe it is a bit of a good thing that even with Christmas music and everything it does not really feel the same or like Christmas. Maybe if it did I would be more sad. Life is just life, but I am okay with that and content.

I am still watching Lovers the Korean drama that I am addicted to. Just when I get so frustrated and think nothing is going to happen between the two people that love each other. Tonight's episode ended with them together on Christmas Eve and she walks in with the Christmas Couple's Cake and is like we can have a Merry Christmas party in the bedroom like place. ^^

I am still working on my Korean too, which I think I am getting better and better at, but still don't understand most things.

I go to Taiwan next Friday which is really exciting and something I am looking forward to a lot!

This week has been pretty chilly here in Seoul. It snowed this last weekend and it is still so cold that it all hasn't melted, but now most of it looks pretty disgusting due to the city. I haven't felt the best either, my body a bit sore and cold a lot. Not exactly physical conditions that make me want to go to work, but I have to even though I would rather stay at home a lot and sleep. I have been sleeping enough though I think, just have weird dreams. But this could all be an excuse or in my imagination because this week and next will be a bit hard. I think it is the first time that I will not be at home or with my family for Christmas ever! Tomorrow's topic for diary day where the students write sentences or essays is Christmas too. Oh well, I hope it ends up being a good day off and a three day weekend nonetheless. I only have to work three days next week anyway before I go to Taiwan for three days!


I have also made a goal for myself today. By June 1, 2007 a couple months away still I want to have made a decision on what I will do with my life next after this contract ends here. I am enjoying life and work and will continue to do so, but I don't want this to end and then have no clue again what I want to do. I am giving myself some time here and hopefully I will think through things pretty well by then. I will make a decision and know what I want with God's guidance!


I guess that is about all for now.

Today Was Pretty Much All About Me!

So, this last week of work was a bit stressful for all involved. Friday I went in and apologized to my coworker and that was like no big deal. I bought everyone a really good crescient from the bakery and took some juice. I am going to try not to worry so much about everything else except for my own job and doing my best. Perhaps I will be more busy after January still, but I am going to try my best to still enjoy it, get the most out of it, and keep loving the kids. I have to say I was happy Friday ended though and came back and turned the TV on and had a bag of chips and two beers!

This morning I met my friend and went to get my haircut at his salon place. My Lord I love the customer service everywhere here. They took my bag and one girl even helped me take off my coat and put it back on when I left. The style of cutting hair is definitely a little bit different here, but the lady did a really good job I think. And they shampooed my hair after it was all over so that their isn't hair all over me. The stylist also while she was cutting my hair there was also another lady that would take cotton balls and randomly wipe the hair off my face with them throughout. I feel like they did a good job and will go back there and it only cost me 12.000 won about $12 for all of it.

Then we met another friend and we went to eat at Bennigan's (the first time ever that I have been to one) we had a big lunch. I paid because I am nice like that! And then I went with the other friend to a starbucks connected to a department store (we didn't get anything, but that is okay) and chatted. He is going to be my basic Korean teacher and I will help him with English. No money involved, we are just friends and it is kind of fun.

Then I came back here to get some more money out of the ATM and then back on the subway to go to COEX Mall. I was meeting a friend of a friend from KU. . . I was a bit worried about this and how we would get along. Anyway, I ended up getting there early and bought a really nice red shirt that I like at Bean Pole International, a really trendy company here. I also bought another Paulo Coelho book to read, I'll let you know how it is.Then I met this girl and she seemed fairly normal considering who my friend is and that kind of thing. Well we ended up at a coffee shop after walking around a lot. She actually lives about an hour away from the main part of Seoul, but she comes in regulary on the weekends. She teaches like me at a hagwon, but one of the franchise academies in Korea. Anyway, so she has a lot of communication problems with coworkers and they don't sound like they are always the nicest to her. On the weekends she pretty much does her own thing since she doesn't really know anyone, I felt bad for her. I am like that sucks that you don't really have more friends and I wish I wasn't so busy maybe I'll try to do more with you kind of thing. She is going to be in Taiwan the same time as me too by herself, I think maybe I'll try to see her in Taipei or something. I feel a little bit sad for her. . .ㅠ ㅠ!

Then she went with me to another Korean clothing store that is pretty popular here called Giordano. I bought a pair of jeans since I need a pair. I feel like I am shrinking again, my waist size is down to 28 again. I also bought a black like high neck sweater. I am not always a big fan of turtle necks or high neck sweaters but they are pretty popular in Korea. So, I always considered myself a pretty trendy good looking/dressing guy, but in Korea I don't feel like anything special. I mean I have a job and some money, so I can afford it, but not all of the time of course. I have expensive tastes I am afraid and like to look good. I am afraid I like the big city, the constant rush, the people, everyone looking good, and so fourth. I mean a lot of people say that usually after a while anywhere, the place gets boring. I am still not finding Seoul boring by any means. . . Life is good right now even if I don't have a girlfriend ~ ㅋㅋ!

So, I have work this week and then I have a three day weekend because we get Christmas Day off. Then I go back to work for three days and then I leave for Taiwan on Friday!

In other words, I am tired but I needed to do some things for me today I think.

I can't sleep. . . because I feel bad now. Today was an okay day at work until the very end, I was in a descent mood and wasn't too tired. I even bought some more Christmas cards tonight to send out tomorrow. But tonight after work outside where we say good-bye to our other co-workers, not Charlie because he stays up and cleans for a while. Anyway, we were downstairs waiting and it comes out the one Korean girl teacher wasn't coming down right away because she is telling Charlie she is quitting at the end of this month. Pretty much she is working on her master's to be an English teacher and she is supposed to get paid more, but Charlie is a sexist pretty much and isn't giving it to her. On top of all the stress on the Korean teachers right now with the drop out rate and money issues I think. Anyway, so I was down there with the girl from Canada and the other young Korean guy, the main Korean teacher. He told the Canadian girl that he might quit to if things don't change. I heard this and said "I hate you!" He started laughing just kind of joking but then I don't know why I stormed off and left them and walked hom without the Canadian girl! The Canadian girl is also leaving you know at the end of this month to go home, so if everyone quits basically I'll be the only one that has been there for a while (all of 3 months), so I was a little bit in shock and kind of angry. The Canadian girl texted me and was like "what was your problem? We didn't expect that from her?" So I apologized to her tonight and will have to apologize to the guy tomorrow at work for being unprofessional and disrespectful to me. Even though the "I hate you!" thing wasn't really serious and he knew that I still feel bad and have to apologize. I understand everyone is under a lot of stress, but how does that make me feel. I will basically have to get to know all these new Korean teachers he hires if he has to and kind of train the new American girl that comes and hope I get along with all of them! I know this is normal, but on top of just the normal stress and business at work I don't really need that. I am sorry - I don't want to complain, but this is crazy!

Why can't I keep my apartment clean? It seems to attract dust and dust bunnies. I am always sweeping or cleaning the dust bunnies up, but I can't keep up. Even if I wet clean the floor they come. . . I need a full time cleaning person to clean my little one room apartment. I would love to have a little bit bigger apartment,b ut come on! I don't want to feel like I have to constantly be cleaning to not feel like I am living like a slob or embarrassed anytime anyone comes over to visit. GRR!!

Other news. . . it is still very early and I don't know how much I want to say, but oh well here I go. Remember that girl I met on the subway on Saturday morning on the way to the palace. Well last night (Sunday night) I decided to text message her and be like we should try to do coffee sometime this week and that sort of thing. Then I asked her what her age was, a common question, to make sure I wasn't asking some high school student out. Well this started like two hours of text messages and at the end of the night still not knowing her age. I know she is older than me, but I really don't know by how much. . . I would like to think she is in her 20s. She is a Christian too and is apparentlly like any normal Korean girl, usually kind of shy just happened to be brave when she saw the white guy. Also, it might have been a little embarrassed or surprsing to me at first to know that a lot of Koreans just want to practice English. It doesn't mean necessarily that they want you or find you attractive or that they are whatever you want to think. But at this point I think we are past this point with all the friendly flirting/get to know you type of stuff.

Tonight she called me after work and I called her back when I got home. We ended up talking for over thirty minutes! haha - and then more text messages. We are going to try to meet Friday or Saturday I think. I still don't know her age, but it shouldn't be that huge of an issue. My mom says I am being to rigid, it is too soon though to know really anything - we'll see.

This is all kind of crazy so far - isn't it?

Merry Christmas!
(My tree on top of my TV)


Now my whole blog sign in and everything is in Korean! Great. . . good thing I pretty much have everything memorized like the button to create a new post and which one means post "upload" to blog.





Well, I am pretty tired and it is only 5:40 on Sunday night. I woke up at 8:15 this morning after maybe six to six and a half hours of sleep. I went to the English service church and then we ate lunch and then to the Korean church. It was colder today and sometimes I think the weather and the combination of having to walk everywhere and use public transportation leaves me exhausted sometimes. Don't get me wrong I love it, and I don't miss driving at all! I actually love that I don't have to worry about my car; does it have gas, the upkeep, worried about where I parked, etc.





But none of this really has to do with the main reason while I am posting for the second day in a row. It is because after the English service church my friends asked me, "why I came to Korea?" This question kind of stumps me because before I got here I never thought in a million years I would be here and now that I am here I still don't know how that worked out. It was kind of combination of things not being able to stay in Lawrence, not finding a job, not wanting to live with the parents, and the excitement of maybe being able to teach English overseas and travel. And once I went forward with the whole Korea thing it was super fast and here I am. But while Korea specifically some of my friends are like because of the women? No. . . that was definitely not super high in consideration in the grand scheme of things on where to go, etc. Did I come to make lots of money? Well, I will definitely by the end of all this whenever that is will hopefully have some good money saved up! There is no real answer to that question I think "Why Korea?" But I know that God has me here for a reason and sometimes I am not sure what that exact reason is except to keep doing what I am doing. Working, doing my best, learning, meeting new people, everything. . . .





I can say and I told my friend today that I don't really see myself or want to go back to live in Kansas or Missouri. I have not even been here a full three months but right now Lawrence, Springfield, and Kansas City almost sound boring and very small. I like the big city, I like Korea even with all the things I don't know still and frustrations of work and trying to get to know people, etc. Have I changed that much already? I haven't really noticed but I think obviously I have from when I got here at the beginning of October to now. I don't know how long I will be here, but I feel like it is going to continue to get better. There are so many things that I could share. .. but I think I am growing through all of this!





It is a little freaky to think about but the person that I was last year at this same time (December) is a lot different from the person that I am today. I mean the essentials are still the same; my faith, personality, etc. but you get the idea.

Today I went to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Primary Palace of Joseon Dynasty is Korea's represetative cultural asset. If you don't get my emails, I am sorry but here are some pictures of the place.
Other then that today on the subway going to this place some girl a couple of seats down from me got my attention and wrote in her notebook, "Are you American?" I was like yes, but great here we go she is a Mormon or she is going to tell me about Jesus or something. Then it says something like I am studying English, I need help could you if I pay you. After I told her I was a teacher and later I gave her my phone number. She called me after she got off the subway because she stayed on three stations after hers to talk to me. She called me and I guess we'll schedule something. And then it got interesting later while I was looking around the Palace area she texts messages me. She says, "what is your hobby?" okay no big deal. Then she says "when I first saw you I thought you were Italian." okay thanks for the compliment. Then later "have a good day, talk to you later. I already miss your voice Ty!" Oh okay. . . do you need help in English or are you trying to get with me? We'll see. . . I'll keep you posted on the happenings, but I am going to be cautious too so no worries!
 

How Cheesy am I? The picture above is the Korean drama that I am addicted to every Wednesday to Thursday after work whenever I get home at about 10:10 till 11 when it is over. I think it ends soon. . . but it is called Lovers. Obviosly the two people above are the main characters, the lovers. But there is a lot more to this story of course than them just being in love else it wouldn't be a drama. I don't know the whole story of course since I don't speak Korean, but I can tell you what I think and what I have figured out. Okay so the man is some big tough guy head of some gang and he gets injured at some point and the lady is a doctor and she takes care of him. They fall in love! They also live in the same apartment building they are like neighbors how convenient for them. But he is married or is with someone and that kind of hassles that a bit and she is like seeing or dating his brother. . . and they aren't very close! They love each other though you can definitely tell the emotion is very deep. . . like any drama. Except the man's wife (or girlfriend) is pregnent and kind of a complication, but I think something might happen and she might lose the baby. She is very pretty though and that is sad, but the woman doctor will probably be involved in taking care of her in someway. Except she knows her man is in love with the doctor and she is very sad and knows she is going to lose him I think. The guy is quiting the gang I think maybe and is now studying architecture to maybe try to live a more quiet peaceful life maybe because he wants a family or something. . .I like the Korean love songs or music they play during the dramas too.

One interesting thing about dramas in Korea though is that there is rarely kissing and if there is it is reserved for serious relationships and are soft quiet kisses. Men usually don't show much emotion on their faces at all, but I am learning that their eyes show it very much even if the rest of the face isn't. There are many things I am observing. . . I like them. I will keep you updated on what happens in this story. . .which I know you will all want to hear about to make up for the lack of drama or love in my life right now, haha!

Last Night!

After work yesterday we all went out after work because my friend from Canada had her friend and boyfriend visiting her for a couple of days. They just ended teaching contracts in Tokyo and decided to come visit her, and then they go to Australia, and then back home. Anyway, right after work we went to a restaurant and ate lots of food, delicious Korean BBQ! Many side dishes and of course soju and beer but I was taking it easy because I did not want to be drunk before we left the restaurant because we would go to at least 2 more houses (places) after that, which is common. The friend's boyfriend got sloshed at the restraunt because he kept going and my boss kept pouring him Soju. At one point he tried to smoke a cigarette right by my boss, who hates them because his dad died of lung cancer. He finally put it out, but it was one of those things like yeah, come on. Then he tried to get up off the floor to move closer to the other guy to smoke and almost knocked over the table right next to us. We started to laugh and he was drunk, but his girlfriend who is pretty conservative and doesn't really drink was bright red. You could tell she was a little pissed at him.

Okay, so we go to the next place very close which is a bar. We had some fruit, Korean style popcorn and beer. We started playing drinking games, one stupid Korean one and then one called Waterfall I have never played before. I was okay, but that was kind of fun the one guy kept getting drunker and more drunk.

Finally last stop of the night ended up being a Nara Bar (Karokee bar). We paid for our own room for an hour maybe and had a little bit more beer. It was quit amusing. . . I sang "Jingle Bells" and got a 100 score! My friend's friend and her boyfriend left early because you could tell she was mad at him. I walked home with my friend because we were worried they couldn't find her place, but they did so no worries.

Kind of an eventful Monday night. . .

So thanks to one person my views of the female sex tend to go down hill very fast in relation to her!
My friend, Jihye, after cancelling lunch plans with me last weekend and saying for sure that we should meet this weekend and would. . . well so this story continues my friends! MHAHA!
Then I heard nothing from her and emailed her yesterday and was like "we are still meeting right? let me know the time and place?" This was her response:


i'll be available for lunch time.
but i don't know where to meet...

it's gonna be really cold during the weekend.
you might want to stay home kkk

JH

WOW! I was talking with one of my good guy friends and he was like I should go with you tomorrow, I want to meet her now. I have talked about her before and how crazy she is. I was like that would be fun and it would probably make it more interesting - to counter attack her super seriousness all the time.

Then this morning we agreed to meet and picked the time, then I asked if it was okay that my friend comes. She texts me back and says something about no that is okay, spend the day with your friend. I'll take the next chance. Then I messaged her back like no that it wasn't what I meant I thought it would be fun, but you decide. So then my friend comes here and we were going to go and meet her together and I message and her and say I'll be a little late, where are we meeting? Then she said, "Oh, I am not coming."

So frustrated, it isn't like I am dating her, but I could really careless about seeing her again.

Top Reasons Why I don't Need Jihye in my Life:
1. She was the person that told me that I shouldn't bother learning Koran since I'll be here only a short time and it is too hard.
2. All the cancellations and then saying we'll meet.
3. Today not wanting to meet my friends - - I am not hanging out with some girl that doesn't want to meet or know my friends!
4. She is super serious all the time, and kind of spoils any mood for fun!
5. Forget it!