I would like to start this blog with a little something I like to call "unanswerable questions," concerning Korea. These questions will never be answered and I would probably put them on the same level as the all important questions like "Who am I?" and "What is the meaning of life?"
1. First and most important - Why is there toilet paper EVERYWHERE except in the bathrooms?
Koreans use toilet paper when they're eating, when they are cleaning, but not when they go to the bathroom. I mean it's bad enough that most public toilets aren't seats, rather they are holes in the floor, why not include some toilet paper for the ride. And this Korean food does not make life run on a schedule, so this boycott on bathroom use of toilet paper needs to come to an end.
2. Korean parents are so protective of their children but yet none of the school windows have screens or bars and they are much bigger than the size of a child. Where are the priorities???
I have definitely seen kids hanging out of windows and looking down from the fourth floor of my school. How many children have to kiss pavement from 40 feet up before they decide to put screens in. But then again, I'm not closing them though; it gets hot in that school.
3. Why is it that when I'm eating lunch with my teachers everyone points at me like crazy while talking to my coteacher in Korean, and then my coteacher never explains what is being said?
All she does is laugh. Then they look at me. Then they laugh. And i'm sitting there wondering if I am bleeding from the nose or have Kimchi all over my face. This literally happens every lunch. Today was actually the only time I had a translation and it was because one of the teachers wanted to play basketball with me before his next class. I guess theres a first time for everything.
4. Why are native teachers always the last to know anything? This is something that is drilled into teachers heads in orientation so of course I just said "Sure, Sure" no big deal. But it really does happen. On Monday we were supposed to have a teachers meeting at 4:00. So I flew through my lesson plans, clearly sacrificing students educations so I can make it to the meeting, which is only held in Korean. I get to the room where it is held and noone is there. I wasn't sure if this was some sort of new teacher hazing thing, like a ninth green at nine happy gilmore prank. So I head back to my coteachers room and ask her if I missed something, and she just starts laughing and telling me she's sorry. Nice. Then Wednesday is supposed to be "sports day" for teachers at 3:00 until whenever, where we play volleyball or racketball or anything. Well the first sports day, a week ago, I did not know it existed so I played volleyball in business casual clothing and flip flops; so naturally I made sure to bring a change of clothes for the upcoming sports day. At several points during the day teachers came by and made sure that I was going to play. So at 3:00 I got changed and went up to the gym to find no one there. As I'm walking back all of the teachers I usually play with are saying "Hello" because they don't speak English but definitely laughing as they say it. Clearly these guys know something I don't. Eventually someone tells me that they canceled it and are moving it to today. Well that's not true either, as I found out today. Dynamic Korea.
5. Why do Koreans not sweat, and why do I sweat so much? Well everyday I come to school from my 25 minute walk pouring sweat because it's still really hot in Busan and there is this huge hill I have to climb at the end of my walk. So I get to make the daily first impression of me weezing out of shape and pouring sweat, all the while trying to remember how to say hello in Korean. This sweating dichotomy between myself and Korea as a nation really came to a head was the first time I played volleyball. As I said before I didn't exactly have my sweat bands with me this particular sports day so I was trying to play in a poorly ventilated, humid gym with no A/C and still keep it sexy in my van heusens. That lasted until I thought about the gym, much less the minute I stepped in. I'm ripping off layers of clothes like i'm on fire and everyone else is hanging out stretching. After about two minutes I felt like I was in a gatorade commercial while everyone else is still setting up the net. I guess the best way I could think about it is that I was Steve Zissou running through the swamp looking around saying "Everyone check for sweat, what, no one else got hit?"
It's bad.
6. This isn't a question but everyone of my students are named 김 or 이, which is Kim and Ee respectively. I think in the US Ee turns into Lee, although it definitely isn't pronounced that way; although Kim isn't pronounced with a K really either, its more of a combination of K and G. Regardless, since in Korea family name is said first everyone has those two names first. Out of 156 6th graders, there are 45 Kim's and 30 Ee's. Those two last names make up half of my sixth graders. Makes handing back papers a nightmare, as I can't even tell which names are girls or guys yet. Thats horrible but in my defense the meanings of the names are out of control. My coteachers name is Jung Young-Ja, and Ja means son in Korean. I guess her dad wanted a son and got a daughter so he named her "son." So how can I ever know when girls are named "man."
Now these questions will never be answered or understood, but they can definitely be prodded for some meaning; but good luck to any that try.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
In Busan...
The last few days have been a whirlwind of things going on, I don't even know where to begin. I was weird leaving Jeonju and going out, realizing that now we were going to actually work for our money rather than getting paid to go out every night and take classes. So, we take the five hour bus ride from Jeonju to Busan and finally arrive in the city. It is hard to put into words how big this city is. It is unlike any city i've ever been to. Mountains really do divide the city into pieces, which makes the subway an ordeal. My school is in Yeonjegu, which is actually a great area to be at, directly in the middle of the city. So I am not far from pretty much any place in the city. Some people who live in the western part of the city have to take an hour subway ride to go to the beach, or take a 30,000 won cab ride. Also, my apartment is amazing. I am on the tenth floor, so I have a great view of the city and mountains that are very close to me. Also, I have somewhat of a western style bathroom with a divider in between the shower and toilet, which seems pretty rare. I have a bidet as well. High class right there. I think it's kinda crazy how some people got amazing situations while other got horrible stuff. Like one girl I know is still living in a hotel until the school gets her a place and she heard that it has a history of roaches. I don't know why some schools would want to put teachers in conditions like that. Thank God my school like westerners.
So I met my co-teacher a couple days ago as well. As far as I know, she is really good. She isn't fluent in English, but she is definitely conversational, and that's all I need. It was actually awkward meeting her. They took us to a main school in Busan and made us sit in the line until teachers looked at our name tags and said hello. I felt like cattle waiting for someone to pick off the juicy ones for the slaughter. It was awkward. With that said, she didn't really say anything to me as she brought another person to drive us because she doesn't have a car. The spoke in Korean the entire way as I tried to understand anything that they were saying. Once we got to my apartment the guy at the door of my building came up and showed how things worked, but he only did it in Korean to my co-teacher, and I think she forgot that I only speak English so I have no idea how to do things like work my washing machine. Then, my co-teacher, who I call Ms. Tong or Ms. Dong, i'm really not sure how to spell it and the head administrator at the school took me out to dinner. They asked me if I liked Korean and where I wanted to go, so I said surprise me; so they took me to a Japanese restaurant. Strange, but it was amazing. The adminstrator only spoke Korean, so at the restaurant they pretty much only spoke Korean, as I tried to pace myself eating at the same rate that they did. The problem was that if I finished my rice or my greens they would automatically refill it, so I guess the key is to not finish all of your food if you don't want more. Anyway, they dropped me off and my co-teacher told me to meet her the next day so she could show me how to walk to the school i'm teaching at. She told me it is easier to walk to, but I have to remember so I can make sure to get to the school. So on this 25 minute walk there are so many turns and different streets to go down it was overwhelming. And every time that I looked around to find a landmark or something to make sure I don't get lost she would ask me if everything was okay. So I then felt really awkward just trying to get my bearings. Once we arrived at the school I realized this was going to be good. The school is beautiful and big. It has its own English only wing that was just built this summer, and I have my own classroom. Most English teachers go to other classrooms, but I actually have my own. Also, all the admins and teachers that were there were so excited to meet me, it really is almost like Americans are rock stars here. Everyone atleast stares at you, while sometimes people will come up and try to talk to you. Little kids will slowly walk up to you and if you look at them they will run away behind their mothers and then peek back out at you. It's so funny. But I digress, and I found out that I will be teaching 20 hours of 5th and 6th grade and 2 hours of 3rd and 4th grade. The cool thing about 3rd and 4th is that I don't have curriculum, I can just teach about American culture and stuff like that because i'm not really supposed to teach that but my co-teacher told me that he students really wanted to meet me. Another cool thing is that my co-teacher has been teaching me a lot of Korean while I have been teaching her English, it is a good balance. Oh and sidenote, when I first met my co-teacher I thought she was probably 25 or something like that but I just found out that she is 35. My jaw almost hit the floor. Koreans really are timeless, or ageless, or less aged. I mean she even does that Asian girl giggle with her hand over her mouth, so I thought she was young. I mean I realize that Koreans count the time in the womb so you are born at one years old, and depending on the Lunar calendar you can be two years older than you would be in the west, but still she doesn't even look 33 or 34.
My co-teacher also told me something about their culture that is so interesting. She said since she was the youngest one in the family so her older siblings would always make her do stuff and she couldn't say no because they were her senior. And she said she wished she had a younger sibling so she wouldn't have to do everything. Once I told her that I was the youngest she asked me if I had to do the same, and I told her that I would just say no, and she was shocked. She was like I could never say no to them. Cultures. Actually one of the coolest things about this culture right now atleast is how impressed the get over the littlest things. For example, my co-teacher speaks with an accent in Korean that I have never heard. Like in Korean, Na means yes. But she pronounces it Da. This is definitely going to throw me for a loop trying to learn from her. But anyway, I asked her where she is from and she said Ulsan, which is right next to Busan. Then I told her that I though so because of her southern accent. This floored her. She was like "How would you know that?!!?" It's awesome, definitely makes you feel like the man. Even littler things like she was impressed that I knew how to use chopsticks. It's kinda funny.
Well my first day is tomorrow and I start teaching Tuesday officially so I should probably start a lesson plan.
Oh and I learned my name in Korean.
Its this: 닐
And it actually makes sense
ㄴ has a "na" sound
ㅣ has an "e"
ㄹ has an "ul" sound
crazy!
So I met my co-teacher a couple days ago as well. As far as I know, she is really good. She isn't fluent in English, but she is definitely conversational, and that's all I need. It was actually awkward meeting her. They took us to a main school in Busan and made us sit in the line until teachers looked at our name tags and said hello. I felt like cattle waiting for someone to pick off the juicy ones for the slaughter. It was awkward. With that said, she didn't really say anything to me as she brought another person to drive us because she doesn't have a car. The spoke in Korean the entire way as I tried to understand anything that they were saying. Once we got to my apartment the guy at the door of my building came up and showed how things worked, but he only did it in Korean to my co-teacher, and I think she forgot that I only speak English so I have no idea how to do things like work my washing machine. Then, my co-teacher, who I call Ms. Tong or Ms. Dong, i'm really not sure how to spell it and the head administrator at the school took me out to dinner. They asked me if I liked Korean and where I wanted to go, so I said surprise me; so they took me to a Japanese restaurant. Strange, but it was amazing. The adminstrator only spoke Korean, so at the restaurant they pretty much only spoke Korean, as I tried to pace myself eating at the same rate that they did. The problem was that if I finished my rice or my greens they would automatically refill it, so I guess the key is to not finish all of your food if you don't want more. Anyway, they dropped me off and my co-teacher told me to meet her the next day so she could show me how to walk to the school i'm teaching at. She told me it is easier to walk to, but I have to remember so I can make sure to get to the school. So on this 25 minute walk there are so many turns and different streets to go down it was overwhelming. And every time that I looked around to find a landmark or something to make sure I don't get lost she would ask me if everything was okay. So I then felt really awkward just trying to get my bearings. Once we arrived at the school I realized this was going to be good. The school is beautiful and big. It has its own English only wing that was just built this summer, and I have my own classroom. Most English teachers go to other classrooms, but I actually have my own. Also, all the admins and teachers that were there were so excited to meet me, it really is almost like Americans are rock stars here. Everyone atleast stares at you, while sometimes people will come up and try to talk to you. Little kids will slowly walk up to you and if you look at them they will run away behind their mothers and then peek back out at you. It's so funny. But I digress, and I found out that I will be teaching 20 hours of 5th and 6th grade and 2 hours of 3rd and 4th grade. The cool thing about 3rd and 4th is that I don't have curriculum, I can just teach about American culture and stuff like that because i'm not really supposed to teach that but my co-teacher told me that he students really wanted to meet me. Another cool thing is that my co-teacher has been teaching me a lot of Korean while I have been teaching her English, it is a good balance. Oh and sidenote, when I first met my co-teacher I thought she was probably 25 or something like that but I just found out that she is 35. My jaw almost hit the floor. Koreans really are timeless, or ageless, or less aged. I mean she even does that Asian girl giggle with her hand over her mouth, so I thought she was young. I mean I realize that Koreans count the time in the womb so you are born at one years old, and depending on the Lunar calendar you can be two years older than you would be in the west, but still she doesn't even look 33 or 34.
My co-teacher also told me something about their culture that is so interesting. She said since she was the youngest one in the family so her older siblings would always make her do stuff and she couldn't say no because they were her senior. And she said she wished she had a younger sibling so she wouldn't have to do everything. Once I told her that I was the youngest she asked me if I had to do the same, and I told her that I would just say no, and she was shocked. She was like I could never say no to them. Cultures. Actually one of the coolest things about this culture right now atleast is how impressed the get over the littlest things. For example, my co-teacher speaks with an accent in Korean that I have never heard. Like in Korean, Na means yes. But she pronounces it Da. This is definitely going to throw me for a loop trying to learn from her. But anyway, I asked her where she is from and she said Ulsan, which is right next to Busan. Then I told her that I though so because of her southern accent. This floored her. She was like "How would you know that?!!?" It's awesome, definitely makes you feel like the man. Even littler things like she was impressed that I knew how to use chopsticks. It's kinda funny.
Well my first day is tomorrow and I start teaching Tuesday officially so I should probably start a lesson plan.
Oh and I learned my name in Korean.
Its this: 닐
And it actually makes sense
ㄴ has a "na" sound
ㅣ has an "e"
ㄹ has an "ul" sound
crazy!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Been a while...
It has been a while since my last post. Things have been crazy here with all the classes that we're taking to get ready for teaching. We start classes at 9 in the morning and we get out at 5:30, minus a lunch break. Which is crazy because the kids i'll be teaching will be going to school for like 10 hours a day. I don't think there is any debate on whether or not the Koreans value education. Despite all of the wonderful education I've been receiving I would have to say the best part of being here is the nights out in Jeonju. This city is considered a small city and it has 600,000 people in it. So i guess San Fran should now be considered small compared to asian standards. Its funny how it seems so big to me when I'm about to embark on a year in Busan, with a population of 4 million. So all of that rambling to say that it's been hard to post when you wake up at 8 and are busy until curfew at 1 in the morn. However, I think it'll be easier once I get to Busan and there are not hundreds of westerners around all of the time.
It's almost as if I don't know where to start. The differences between Korea and America are fascinating and so common. It's kind of cool to be in a situation in which people are so respectful and caring about others, not wanting to alienate one another, and "save face." That is the biggest phrase thrown around Korea, as it is so important. Basically it means that Koreans never want to do anything that disrespects others or make another feel badly. Therefore, they would rather lie or beat around the bush that actually say what they are thinking. I see good and bad from that. There is a level of love and care that Americans don't have in which they want to make others feel comfortable but at the same time it is the American way to be straight forward and not run around the issue.
With that said I guess I'll talk about what's been going on the last few days. There definitely has been a lot of Kimchi consumption, to the point that myself and a few friends went out for pizza today so that we could have some western food. Although the pizza had no sauce, so it was basically cheesy bread, except really expensive because they don't have a lot of cheese lying around Korea.
I found out that it is official and that I may be able to go to North Korea. There is a tour that goes into a southern town in North Korea, open to westerners, and it only costs abotu 300,o00 won, which is like $275. It's interesting because the girl who told me about it is Korean-Australian, but when she went she had two Americans with her. She took a picture with those two Americans and the two N. Korean tour guides and she was in the middle. I guess she felt them pressing against her with their bodies during the picture and she wondered why. Later she found out that they were intentionally doing that because they wanted to make the point that they were moving as far as possible away from the Americans because they hate us so much. A funny side note is that in that town they actually sell books in English stating how it was America's fault that the Korean War happened. I have always heard about that, but it's weird to see how true these rumors actually are; and to actually be basically in the same country that all this hate is coming from. Regardless, they actually give us tours, I mean if they make $3 a month, $275 a tour is hard to resist, but there are so many rules aparently. One is not allowed to point at any time, or allowed to take pictures until given permission, and definitely not allowed to stand near any of the statues of the beloved Kim Jun Il. Nevertheless, I think it would be worth it. I mean how many people, especially Americans, can say that they've been to THE north korea. it's a little risky, but would be so worth it. if everyone else that I plan on going with chickens out I might just hang out at the DMZ and do some bungee jumping or something, so that I can at least get some risk involved.
Other than that, it has been great getting involved in Korea. I mean im not in the location I will be living for a year, but it is nice to communicate with Koreans and get to know what they're like. A friend and I went to a driving range today, which is completely different than any i've ever been to, and it only cost 10,000 won, which is less than $9, for unlimited balls and 80 minutes of time. Although it made me want to learn Hangul, which is Korean, because we were lucky one man knew very basic English; otherwise there's no way we would've gotten in. Although I will say that once we were in the Koreans were amazing. One man who was next to me helped me with my swing and gave me advise, although I was just some stupid American and not very good at golf. I think it was because I was his Junior, and in Korea someone's junior (younger than them) is to be treated almost as if they were their child and taken care of. He definitely took care of me, to the tone of a few strokes of my game if I was a regular. All I could do was to try to show the most respect as possible. I said things like annyonhaseyo, which is the formal version of "hello" or "kamsamnida" which is "thank you," and i say kamsamnida all the time.
I feel as if I am cutting the blog short but it's 2:30 in the morning and i've been up til about 4 every night with this crazy schedule so I am falling asleep as I write this, but I want to keep up with it (kara). Hopefully my posts will be more consistent, but although it's only 1 in the afternoon in Plymouth, it's definitely Wednesday here and I must get some sleep. Until next time.
annyeonghi gyeseyo (goodbye)
It's almost as if I don't know where to start. The differences between Korea and America are fascinating and so common. It's kind of cool to be in a situation in which people are so respectful and caring about others, not wanting to alienate one another, and "save face." That is the biggest phrase thrown around Korea, as it is so important. Basically it means that Koreans never want to do anything that disrespects others or make another feel badly. Therefore, they would rather lie or beat around the bush that actually say what they are thinking. I see good and bad from that. There is a level of love and care that Americans don't have in which they want to make others feel comfortable but at the same time it is the American way to be straight forward and not run around the issue.
With that said I guess I'll talk about what's been going on the last few days. There definitely has been a lot of Kimchi consumption, to the point that myself and a few friends went out for pizza today so that we could have some western food. Although the pizza had no sauce, so it was basically cheesy bread, except really expensive because they don't have a lot of cheese lying around Korea.
I found out that it is official and that I may be able to go to North Korea. There is a tour that goes into a southern town in North Korea, open to westerners, and it only costs abotu 300,o00 won, which is like $275. It's interesting because the girl who told me about it is Korean-Australian, but when she went she had two Americans with her. She took a picture with those two Americans and the two N. Korean tour guides and she was in the middle. I guess she felt them pressing against her with their bodies during the picture and she wondered why. Later she found out that they were intentionally doing that because they wanted to make the point that they were moving as far as possible away from the Americans because they hate us so much. A funny side note is that in that town they actually sell books in English stating how it was America's fault that the Korean War happened. I have always heard about that, but it's weird to see how true these rumors actually are; and to actually be basically in the same country that all this hate is coming from. Regardless, they actually give us tours, I mean if they make $3 a month, $275 a tour is hard to resist, but there are so many rules aparently. One is not allowed to point at any time, or allowed to take pictures until given permission, and definitely not allowed to stand near any of the statues of the beloved Kim Jun Il. Nevertheless, I think it would be worth it. I mean how many people, especially Americans, can say that they've been to THE north korea. it's a little risky, but would be so worth it. if everyone else that I plan on going with chickens out I might just hang out at the DMZ and do some bungee jumping or something, so that I can at least get some risk involved.
Other than that, it has been great getting involved in Korea. I mean im not in the location I will be living for a year, but it is nice to communicate with Koreans and get to know what they're like. A friend and I went to a driving range today, which is completely different than any i've ever been to, and it only cost 10,000 won, which is less than $9, for unlimited balls and 80 minutes of time. Although it made me want to learn Hangul, which is Korean, because we were lucky one man knew very basic English; otherwise there's no way we would've gotten in. Although I will say that once we were in the Koreans were amazing. One man who was next to me helped me with my swing and gave me advise, although I was just some stupid American and not very good at golf. I think it was because I was his Junior, and in Korea someone's junior (younger than them) is to be treated almost as if they were their child and taken care of. He definitely took care of me, to the tone of a few strokes of my game if I was a regular. All I could do was to try to show the most respect as possible. I said things like annyonhaseyo, which is the formal version of "hello" or "kamsamnida" which is "thank you," and i say kamsamnida all the time.
I feel as if I am cutting the blog short but it's 2:30 in the morning and i've been up til about 4 every night with this crazy schedule so I am falling asleep as I write this, but I want to keep up with it (kara). Hopefully my posts will be more consistent, but although it's only 1 in the afternoon in Plymouth, it's definitely Wednesday here and I must get some sleep. Until next time.
annyeonghi gyeseyo (goodbye)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Early Morning
Since I'm still trying to get used to this time difference, my roommate and I both find ourselves awake at 3:30 in the morning. What makes it worse is that we have our physicals/blood tests/ drug tests today, so apparently we can't eat or drink anything six hours before. This only makes me more thirsty. What could we be possibly be doing in our medical check up if we can't eat or drink for six hours? I feel that we all might be going into unexpected surgery.
I feel that this orientation that I am in will be incredibly useful, as it is clear that the main focus seems to be on helping us understand Korean culture before even learning good teaching methods. I'd have to say that it is a fascinating culture. As much as it is beginning to become westernized, I think that would be tragic if it did completely, because there is so much here with so much history. I think the most interesting thing that Koreans do that I have heard about so far is the way they treat others. Their reasonings for doing what they do are so much different than Americans. If I was in a bar in America if I bought someone a drink I would somewhat expect the person I bought for to buy a drink for me later, or at least some point in the near future. In Korea, people who are older will often take people out even if they cannot afford it. A Korean who is another Korean's senior will take the younger one out and possibly not eat so that they can make sure that the person they took out enjoys their meal if that's all they can afford. I think that there is a lot to be learned from that, the idea of doing something because it is right to do, without any expectations of return.
Okay that's all I have right now, I need to find something to do this early that doesn't include drinking water.
I feel that this orientation that I am in will be incredibly useful, as it is clear that the main focus seems to be on helping us understand Korean culture before even learning good teaching methods. I'd have to say that it is a fascinating culture. As much as it is beginning to become westernized, I think that would be tragic if it did completely, because there is so much here with so much history. I think the most interesting thing that Koreans do that I have heard about so far is the way they treat others. Their reasonings for doing what they do are so much different than Americans. If I was in a bar in America if I bought someone a drink I would somewhat expect the person I bought for to buy a drink for me later, or at least some point in the near future. In Korea, people who are older will often take people out even if they cannot afford it. A Korean who is another Korean's senior will take the younger one out and possibly not eat so that they can make sure that the person they took out enjoys their meal if that's all they can afford. I think that there is a lot to be learned from that, the idea of doing something because it is right to do, without any expectations of return.
Okay that's all I have right now, I need to find something to do this early that doesn't include drinking water.
New World
I want to start my blogging life by saying that Korea is the most humid place I have ever been. More humid than Houston in August. With that said, Korea is already fascinating and exciting. We got into Incheon at like 5 Korean time and we didn't take our four hour bus ride until like 9, putting our arrival in Jongju at like 1 in the morn. Nothing like a 48 hour swing from one country to another. The main thing that I noticed during my time here so far is that Korea has apartment buildings. Many apartment buildings. As I look out my sixth floor dorm window all I can see in the distance are apartment buildings and mountains. I guess that's what happens when you have a country of 40 million people in an area the size of Indiana. Another thing that is absolutely fascinating to me is the bathrooms here. They are pretty small but there is so much going on. First, there are no shower curtains. Consequently, water gets everywhere including the toilet that is adjacent to it. Positive- one can drop a twosie while taking a shower. Negative- EVERYTHING gets wet. So if anyone decides to visit Korea, dont leave anything on the floor anywhere because it will get wet, especially the two rolls of toilet paper that were forgotten.
From what I've heard, Busan was a great choice to go. Some people who have been told me that it is amazing and one of the funnest places they've ever been. So that's definitely something to look for, although it's hard to look that far ahead when I'm still beginning to explore Jeonju. It was also weird to trade in my dollars for a million won. I've never held so much of a monetary amount.
I realize that this blog is very jumbled but I'm kinda regurgitating my thoughts as they come, and i'm going to blame everything on jet lag, culture shock, and spicy kimchi. The most surprising thing about Korea so far is how much English is around the country. Many road signs have English subtitles underneath them and there are a lot of businesses with English names. I have to say as of right now that is kinda disappointing. I'm sure in more rural areas there is less English and as time goes on i'll probably love the English as a little taste of home, but initially I want to be saturated in the culture. Alright, it's nap time at 7PM.
From what I've heard, Busan was a great choice to go. Some people who have been told me that it is amazing and one of the funnest places they've ever been. So that's definitely something to look for, although it's hard to look that far ahead when I'm still beginning to explore Jeonju. It was also weird to trade in my dollars for a million won. I've never held so much of a monetary amount.
I realize that this blog is very jumbled but I'm kinda regurgitating my thoughts as they come, and i'm going to blame everything on jet lag, culture shock, and spicy kimchi. The most surprising thing about Korea so far is how much English is around the country. Many road signs have English subtitles underneath them and there are a lot of businesses with English names. I have to say as of right now that is kinda disappointing. I'm sure in more rural areas there is less English and as time goes on i'll probably love the English as a little taste of home, but initially I want to be saturated in the culture. Alright, it's nap time at 7PM.
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