Dynamic Korea

Survival Korean Lessons:

1. Try your best and pick up a few key phrases
2. When in doubt use hand gestures
3. or find someone who can translate
4. Smile
5 . Just go with the flow.


Life here continues... only two days left of orientation and then off to the city which I will be calling home for the next year. This pseudo freshmen week is almost coming to a close, and as the sips of soju and beer dwindle down, the people around here are quickly making connections and friendships, quickly realizing that in two's days time the gigantic frat party is over.

In the meantime, I've learned that Korea is a crazy place. Last night, a group of us decided to let loose and head into the city for an authentic Korean experience.

Let's re-cap: Having nearly been run over by a delivery boy on a scooter to our right, we triple checked that the coast was clear. Stepping carefully off the curb to find our taxi, we were then practically run off the road by a flashy Hyundai to our left. Having recovered, the task at hand was how to get to our destination. 3 taxi's for 12 people. Having mangled the Korean so badly, a fellow Korean-American wrote down the Korean Characters to show the drivers. Each group had to follow suit. After some basic hand signals ensuring each driver knew where we were headed, we were on our way.

As we lurched into the back seat, the taxi took off. At speeds in excess of 100 km on city roads, we were almost killed, and nearly took out a few pedestrians along the way. Taxi's here do not follow any sort of road courtesy- they even go through red lights. He must have thought this was an emergency.

Having caught our breath and landed on stable ground, we waited for the other taxi's to arrive. As each taxi passed minus our companions,the panic set in. Turns out all 3 taxi's dropped off their fares at opposite ends of the square. Having found the only other 9 foreigners in the busy market, we were re-grouped and set off to find a stiff drink, pronto.

In this city, there is nothing a little soju and silk larvae to help kickback after a stressful day.

Day 5

Everyday I wake up, it still hasn't quite hit me that I'm in Korea. It's probably because I am surrounded by approximately 600 or so other Native English Teachers who have been invited by the Government to participate in this program. For 9 days, we have been lucky enough to be staying in Jeon-Ju University. The dorm is actually named "the place for superstars".

The schedule is pretty hectic, with training classes from 9- 5:30. This orientation week has me feeling some ten years younger. It's seriously like frosh week. Clutches of groups, rooming, eating, drinking and partying together.

I never actually had the opportunity to live in rez in University- but have been lucky enough to share in the experience before me.

Curfew is at 1:00 am, and while hitting the city one night with a few new friends, we arrived at the building's front door in the nick of time. Bombarded by bodies before us, guzzling down the last remnants of their beers and soju- I observed what it must have been like to be at an all American frat party. I've never seen a breeding ground like it. The men had only one thing on their minds.

Funny thing is, Koreans are conservative and it is not acceptable to have males and females share sleeping quarters, unless they are married or in a "couple". The guys had been blocked on pursuing their intentions from the Government itself.

As we've reached the fifth day, I realize of course that this frosh week is completely the opposite of what lies ahead in just a few days. I gather that when they drop me off at my new apartment and I'm the only native English speaker for a few miles- the reality will strike.

Until then, I'll practice my Korean, enjoy the time with my new found friends and just go with the flow.

The Arrival

Well.... I landed safely in Seoul. I made it through the connections, the cramped seats and airplane food. After lugging around my bags and following the herd of other native English teachers streaming through the airport, I realized I wasn't the only one on an adventure. As I scoped the line ahead, 600 or so other bodies were clutched together around the meeting desk. I guess the whole teaching ESL thing in Asian countries is really as popular as they say it is.

After getting on a bus to take us to our orientation destination point we piled into the dorm rooms and settled in for the night. Losing a complete day was hard enough, but waking up the next morning and realizing that you're in a dorm room, with a virtual stranger in the bed next to you is pretty scary. Realizing within the next few waking moments that all of this is happening in Korea is even more dramatic. Several thoughts rush through your mind- how did I actually get here?

Good news is the people are awesome (except for some very strange characters- more about this at a later date). The best thing aout teaching with the EPIK program is that there are about 600 of us here to meet and greet. I've met some fantastic people! I've even befriended a couple from near home. He's already taken his rightful spot as my wingman.

I'm thinking Korea is going to be a very good adventure...

Ready, Set. Go.

Travel List

Vaccines. Check.
Selling of personal possessions. Check.
Passport. Check.
Visa. Check.
Money. Check.
Tickets.Check
Sanity. Check.

After three months of what seems to be endless preparation, the time has finally come. In less than 24 hours I will be making my way across to the other side of the world.

Packing your life into two bags with 55 pound weight restrictions has been trying. What do you take? What do you leave behind? You start to sort the non-negotiables from the negotiables. Hair dryer, straightener and lulu-lemon pants (non -negotiables). Shoes, products and make-up (non-negotiables). With whatever room you're left with you cram as much clothing, books, pictures, and personal things as you can. It wasn't as easy as it sounds. I packed, re-packed and packed again, eliminating things as I trudged along.

Having won the wrestling match with my two suitcases, I left the worry of going over my weight allowance in the wind. There are just so many things I couldn't leave behind.

As the hour quickly approaches, I'm mindlessly moving one pile from one area to the other. With only a few last minute things to pack, I'm ready to go.

I feel pretty calm despite what awaits ahead. I figure one of two things will happen when I step foot into the bussling airport in the morning. Either, I'll realize I've lost my sanity and demand that my parents drive me right back to the comfort of my family home or with a few tears and stomach flips I'll make my way through the gate and embrace the adventure.

There are bets that I will have a minor melt down, but as I see it- it isn't good-bye... it's see you in a little while...

Girls Night In

In our twenties, Girls Night consisted of an evening excursion where girlfriends gathered, dressed in skimpy outfits, drank ridiculous amounts of alcohol and headed out for a night on the town. We would be loud, reckless and act like we didn't have boyfriends.

As the years passed, and we all became busy in our personal, romantic and business lives our once partied filled girls nights on the town turned into something much more profound... Girls Night In.

Girls Night In: A small group of good girl friends who get together either at some one's house or casual eatery. A chance for us to unwind, have dinner, drink good wine and of course gossip about everything.

Once gathered, we check in with each other. We broach the work topic and move on quickly. We gossip about relationships and sex. We offer advice for the girls who need expertise in all areas, especially on how to control their boyfriends/husbands. We analyze just about everything. We fantasize about love and romance. We discuss fashion and very random facts. Sometimes we talk about nothing at all. As the wine flows, we return to our favorite topic : the bedroom. Blunders, passionate nights and hot tips. We really should run our own racy column.

I'm really going to miss attending this weekly affair!