bonjour, tout le monde!
Right now I'm writing from my second (Korean) home, the Jeollanamdo Educational Training Institute (JETI). The complex is located in Tamyang, a county northeast of Gwangju (the big city). This is the place to go for any manner of training course - principals, VPs, admin staff and teachers. When I take part in the English teacher training sessions, this is where I am. I'll like some pictures of the area for you so you can see the surroundings. It's really secluded, tucked away in some mountains and rice fields. Since it's April, Spring is finally here to stay and the weather in this area is amazing. Mild temperature, clear green sky and green, green, green everywhere. It's so refreshing, physicaly and mentally.
Every training course that I've done has been different, mainly because the people are always different. For whatever reason this time around, it's really relaxed (At least for the foreigners...the Koreans have a lot of work to do).
Yesterday, for example, I taught in the morning and had the afternoon and most of the evening free. In the afternoon myself and the three other foreigners who share my schedule (Roberta, Chris, Jon) went out and played for hours. We walked to a corner store, we played badminton, a bit of volleyball and frisbee. After dinner we went back to the gym with a bunch of other people and we played more volleyball. After our evening class (mock interviews), the foreigners ordered pizza and watched a movie.
Today looks to be more of the same.
And I'm getting paid for this.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
lucky lady
That's me! According to recent Korean custom, the first big milestone for a relationship is 100 days. Today is that day for me and the man. Of course, it's a Tuesday and we live in different places so we're going to celebrate tomorrow when I have time to go to Gwangju.
HOWEVER
At about 8:50 this morning, a mere ten minutes before classes start, I was minding my own business, sitting at my desk, chatting on messenger. Suddenly, I heard a teacher call my name. When I looked up I saw a Korean guy, who was wearing a mask (like a surgical mask, they're very common here), walking in the teacher's room with a rather large bouquet of roses (2 dozen red ones to be exact).
INSTANTLY my face turns as red as the roses and I start laughing. I took the roses, said thanks to the delivery guy and had to deal with the teachers who were around who didn't know that I even had a boyfriend. At this point, the 5 minute warning bell had rung and I'm just a whirlwind of smiles, giggles, shock and confusion.
then my phone rang. It was my man. I told him I had just received the flowers and that they were beautiful. he said, "I know, didn't you recognize me?" Son of a bitch!! HE was delivery guy. I took my mind back to the moment where I thanked and looked at him briefly. I knew the eyes were a little familiar, but COME ON!! he was wearing a mask and I was all befuddled and I thought he was in Gwangju!! By the time he called me and the confusion cleared it was time for my first class and he was headed to the bus terminal to get back to Gwangju. *sigh* this is one of those times where if life had a rewind button I'd use it so I could back, recognize him and make a very movie-esque scene in the teachers room (PG-13 of course).
Anyway, this is the kind of gesture that confounds a lot of people. I think it's one of the nicest (and certainly most romantic) things anyone has ever done for me.
In conclusion, I'm really happy right now! ^^
HOWEVER
At about 8:50 this morning, a mere ten minutes before classes start, I was minding my own business, sitting at my desk, chatting on messenger. Suddenly, I heard a teacher call my name. When I looked up I saw a Korean guy, who was wearing a mask (like a surgical mask, they're very common here), walking in the teacher's room with a rather large bouquet of roses (2 dozen red ones to be exact).
INSTANTLY my face turns as red as the roses and I start laughing. I took the roses, said thanks to the delivery guy and had to deal with the teachers who were around who didn't know that I even had a boyfriend. At this point, the 5 minute warning bell had rung and I'm just a whirlwind of smiles, giggles, shock and confusion.
then my phone rang. It was my man. I told him I had just received the flowers and that they were beautiful. he said, "I know, didn't you recognize me?" Son of a bitch!! HE was delivery guy. I took my mind back to the moment where I thanked and looked at him briefly. I knew the eyes were a little familiar, but COME ON!! he was wearing a mask and I was all befuddled and I thought he was in Gwangju!! By the time he called me and the confusion cleared it was time for my first class and he was headed to the bus terminal to get back to Gwangju. *sigh* this is one of those times where if life had a rewind button I'd use it so I could back, recognize him and make a very movie-esque scene in the teachers room (PG-13 of course).
Anyway, this is the kind of gesture that confounds a lot of people. I think it's one of the nicest (and certainly most romantic) things anyone has ever done for me.
In conclusion, I'm really happy right now! ^^
Sunday, April 01, 2007
a veiled world
in the span of less than 12 hours it appeared. No warning (ok, maybe warning for people who speak Korean). I'm talking about the yellow dust. Thank you very much, China, for blowing it over our way. It happens every year just as Spring is trying (for the second time) to join the party. The first time Spring came around, Winter got a little jealous of all the attention it was getting, so it kicked Spring out. Now Spring is back, feeling little stronger. There are buds on trees, magnolias, some gorgeous white and pink cherry blossoms, even some azaleas. Pretty, no? Then this yellow dust blows in overnight, blocks out the sun and essentially shits all over everything. A Korean friend implored me to wear a face mask (popular items here for filtering air pollution. They look like surgical masks), but I'll tough it out. Hey, I'm not about to cover up this precious mug for something as silly as my health...that's just nutty. Anyway, it's my hope that the dust runs its course relatively quickly as it means I have to clean my house more often...BOO! Yes, even though my windows are closed, it still gets inside...it's sneaky that way.
Anyway, it's been about 2 weeks since my last post à cause de my nutty schedule. I have a lot of side projects on the go, which include a lot of meetings away from my school. For 4 consecutive Fridays (2 down, 2 to go) I'm away from school for meetings. This is good for me, but not so awesome for my 4 Friday classes who will be so far behind my Monday classes. I've been working with my head teacher to try to keep up, so as a temporary solution, I've dropped my grade 3 classes and squished in an extra class on Tuesdays in order to teach all my Gr1s and 2s. Sucks for the Gr3s, but what can I do, eh?
Anyway, after my Friday meetings finish, I'm off for 2 weeks to teach a Teacher Camp (like I did last year and in the winter vacation). Basically I'll never be at school this semester and get paid extra for it! w000000t!
As busy as the sched is, I'm really enjoying it right now. The work I'm doing (mostly curriculum development for a summer camp) is somewhat creative, so I get to flex that muscle.
Speaking of flexing muscles (awesome segue!!!), volleyball is going well. My technique sucks, but my motivation and effort are way up there!! If I were in gym class, I'd get an A just for the amount of times I throw myself on the ground to try and save the ball. The Koreans love it!
I saw the movie 300, which is really popular here and I must say, I REALLY enjoyed it. It was ridiculously entertaining. I have no idea about how this movie faired in the Western world, or how it was critiqued, but I'm willing to guess it wasn't received well by the uptight, esoteric, pretentious film critics out there. It was eye candy, and I'm fairly certain it knew it was eye candy. The fight scenes were unique and awesome, the blood was gratuious, the cinematography was pretty unique (from my limited experience), and the music was perfect. At some point mid film, my boyfriend (I'll get to that in a sec) leaned to me and said "I'm sorry. This is a man's movie, I think." I scoffed and said "Are you kidding? This is AWESOME!!" Sure, it may be considered more of a film for dudes because of all the fighting and blood and whatnot, but let's be honest: a) I LIKE a good fight scene (it's the only reason I'd ever watch Troy again) and b) the ENTIRE film was a bunch of scantily clad dudes - only wrestling briefs and capes - with bronzed, ripped bodies. Why is this a man's movie? More women should see it to be exposed to the completely unrealistic, unattainable physical male image equivalent to that of women portrayed everyday.
Ok, so yeah. As most of my blog readers have gathered, I don't really talk too much about personal happenings. It's not the cyber world's business BUT seeing as how this new dude has become an integral part of my life here, it naturally follows that I should introduce him. An attentive viewer would've picked up on something through the photo links. "hhhmm, who is that handsome asian fellow who shows up in all of Vanessa's pictures?" Anyway, we've been seeing each other for 3 months now (which is a milestone that inspires me to finally share the news cyber-ly), and it's wonderful. He's 26 (27 Korean age) and his name is Kim Hang Bin. He's studying computer graphics currently and he lives in Gwangju. I met him through Young Min, because they went to high school together. He is very open to my cultural and personal oddities, and there are many of both ^^ (<-- this symbol it the Korean equivalent of :), it's "smiling eyes"). Here's a fun picture from the moustache party:
Don't be fooled by his "normal" (and handsome!) appearance...he can be just as silly as moi!!
In conclusion, April is set up to be a nutty monthy. The weekends are booked with the following events: weekend in Gwangju and Easter Brunch @ Matt's, Girlz night chez moi, Carol's Birthday, Lecture to the incoming group of Native Speakers, live music partay in Gwangju. PHEW!!! Stay tuned for news aboot it all :D ^^
Anyway, it's been about 2 weeks since my last post à cause de my nutty schedule. I have a lot of side projects on the go, which include a lot of meetings away from my school. For 4 consecutive Fridays (2 down, 2 to go) I'm away from school for meetings. This is good for me, but not so awesome for my 4 Friday classes who will be so far behind my Monday classes. I've been working with my head teacher to try to keep up, so as a temporary solution, I've dropped my grade 3 classes and squished in an extra class on Tuesdays in order to teach all my Gr1s and 2s. Sucks for the Gr3s, but what can I do, eh?
Anyway, after my Friday meetings finish, I'm off for 2 weeks to teach a Teacher Camp (like I did last year and in the winter vacation). Basically I'll never be at school this semester and get paid extra for it! w000000t!
As busy as the sched is, I'm really enjoying it right now. The work I'm doing (mostly curriculum development for a summer camp) is somewhat creative, so I get to flex that muscle.
Speaking of flexing muscles (awesome segue!!!), volleyball is going well. My technique sucks, but my motivation and effort are way up there!! If I were in gym class, I'd get an A just for the amount of times I throw myself on the ground to try and save the ball. The Koreans love it!
I saw the movie 300, which is really popular here and I must say, I REALLY enjoyed it. It was ridiculously entertaining. I have no idea about how this movie faired in the Western world, or how it was critiqued, but I'm willing to guess it wasn't received well by the uptight, esoteric, pretentious film critics out there. It was eye candy, and I'm fairly certain it knew it was eye candy. The fight scenes were unique and awesome, the blood was gratuious, the cinematography was pretty unique (from my limited experience), and the music was perfect. At some point mid film, my boyfriend (I'll get to that in a sec) leaned to me and said "I'm sorry. This is a man's movie, I think." I scoffed and said "Are you kidding? This is AWESOME!!" Sure, it may be considered more of a film for dudes because of all the fighting and blood and whatnot, but let's be honest: a) I LIKE a good fight scene (it's the only reason I'd ever watch Troy again) and b) the ENTIRE film was a bunch of scantily clad dudes - only wrestling briefs and capes - with bronzed, ripped bodies. Why is this a man's movie? More women should see it to be exposed to the completely unrealistic, unattainable physical male image equivalent to that of women portrayed everyday.
Ok, so yeah. As most of my blog readers have gathered, I don't really talk too much about personal happenings. It's not the cyber world's business BUT seeing as how this new dude has become an integral part of my life here, it naturally follows that I should introduce him. An attentive viewer would've picked up on something through the photo links. "hhhmm, who is that handsome asian fellow who shows up in all of Vanessa's pictures?" Anyway, we've been seeing each other for 3 months now (which is a milestone that inspires me to finally share the news cyber-ly), and it's wonderful. He's 26 (27 Korean age) and his name is Kim Hang Bin. He's studying computer graphics currently and he lives in Gwangju. I met him through Young Min, because they went to high school together. He is very open to my cultural and personal oddities, and there are many of both ^^ (<-- this symbol it the Korean equivalent of :), it's "smiling eyes"). Here's a fun picture from the moustache party:
Don't be fooled by his "normal" (and handsome!) appearance...he can be just as silly as moi!!
In conclusion, April is set up to be a nutty monthy. The weekends are booked with the following events: weekend in Gwangju and Easter Brunch @ Matt's, Girlz night chez moi, Carol's Birthday, Lecture to the incoming group of Native Speakers, live music partay in Gwangju. PHEW!!! Stay tuned for news aboot it all :D ^^
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